Welcome to Defrost the Chicken—the podcast where we get real about the chaos of parenting.
This is a space for moms, dads, and anyone in the trenches of parenthood to feel seen, heard, and a little less alone. From sleepless nights to forgotten dinners (yes, we meant to defrost the chicken), we’re talking about the messy, beautiful, and downright hilarious side of raising tiny humans.
We’ll cover everything from postpartum struggles to parenting wins and WTF moments—with stories from parents who are living it too.
Heads up: explicit language is used. Because sometimes, “what the fork” just doesn’t cut it.
So pour the coffee (or wine), and let’s defrost the chicken—together.
Parenting Legal Adults: Letting Go Without Losing Your Mind
Natalie Calderon shares her personal experience parenting a 19-year-old son who briefly moved out after clashing over rules, responsibility and independence. She reflects on the transition from strict parenting to learning to let go, the realities of bills, jobs, and car ownership, and the emotional ups and downs of seeing a child grow into a legal adult.The episode includes a candid conversation with her son about his perspective, lessons learned, and how their family rebuilt communication and boundaries.
8 Sept 2025
Advocate, Pray, Repeat: Parenting Through Childhood Cancer
In this episode of Defrosted Chicken, host Natalie Calderon sits down with Mayra, a mom and realtor, to share her family’s experience after her son was diagnosed with leukemia. They discuss the shock of diagnosis, navigating medical care, advocating for a child, the emotional and physical effects of treatment, and how faith and community support kept them going.
Honest and hopeful, this conversation explores sibling dynamics, returning to school, practical needs (like gift cards and local resources), and small ways listeners can help families facing childhood cancer.
after recording and release of the episode mayra reached out to let me know she gave incorrect information about her sons diagnoses. Luisito acutally has B Cell high risk leukemia. Prayers and love to her and her family !
If anyone would like to reach out to mayra here is here instagram handle - @mayraygomezrealtor
as discussed in the episode here is the instagram for the nonprofit organization that helps families with children fighting childhood cancer. @mamabearsfcc or go to www.mbfcc.org
30 May 2025
Between the Posts: The Uncurated Truth
Host Natalie Calderon examines the pressures of social media on parenting, revealing the importance of authenticity over curated online perfection in an interview episode.
2 May 2025
From "I Do" to "I Don't": Amanda's Journey
In this powerful episode of Defrost the Chicken, host Natalie Calderon sits down with Amanda, who bravely recounts her emotional journey through divorce. Amanda opens up about the painful decision to separate from her husband, whose struggles with addiction and infidelity deeply impacted their marriage. She shares how these experiences shaped her perspective and ultimately led her to prioritize the well-being of herself and her daughter.
From meeting her husband as a teenager to enduring emotional abuse, Amanda speaks candidly about the internal battles she faced and the strength it took to walk away. She discusses the pivotal role therapy played in her healing process and how she rebuilt her identity through self-care and resilience.
Amanda’s story is a reminder that choosing yourself—and your peace—can be the first step toward a brighter future. Her message about not settling for less and finding balance after trauma offers hope to listeners navigating similar struggles.
18 Apr 2025
Different Births, Same Love: A Tale of Two C-Sections
In this deeply personal episode of Defrost the Chicken, Natalie opens up about her journey through two C-sections—each one filled with its own lessons, challenges, and moments of unexpected strength. In honor of C-Section Awareness Month, she shares her story.
Through candid reflections, historical insights, and a whole lot of heart, Natalie shares how a quiet, undeniable presence guided her to make a last-minute decision—one that ultimately saved her daughter’s life. This experience has sparked a journey of restoring her faith in God, reminding her that even in uncertainty, there is grace, purpose, and something greater at work.
Join her as she creates space for understanding, healing, and connection—especially for those navigating the tender and transformative world of motherhood.
5 Apr 2025
Building Trust with Your Teen: A Parenting Journey
In this episode of "Defrost the Chicken," host Natalie Calderon and guest Paula explore the vital topic of creating open lines of communication with children. Paula shares her personal experiences and challenges as a single mother raising her 19-year-old son. She emphasizes the importance of building trust and fostering an environment where children feel comfortable discussing sensitive topics. The conversation highlights the complexities of modern parenting, from handling teenage relationships to balancing discipline and support.
The episode delves into Paula's journey of raising her son alone, the effects of maintaining a close mother-son relationship, and the lessons learned from past parenting decisions. Paula opens up about a significant incident involving her son and the measures taken to address it, underscoring the value of trust and understanding between parent and child. Through heartfelt anecdotes and candid discussions, this episode provides valuable insights for parents striving to create a safe space for their children.
22 Mar 2025
Defrosting Loss of Identity in Motherhood
Join host Natalie Calderon in this episode of 'Defrost the Chicken' as she sits down with Diane to explore the intricate journey of motherhood. Together, they delve into the often unspoken challenges of losing one's identity as a mother. With candid conversations and personal anecdotes, Natalie and Diane shed light on the emotional transitions women face, from balancing friendships and marriage to managing expectations within traditional upbringings.
Through their engaging discussion, they highlight the importance of maintaining individuality and the struggle to prioritize self-care amidst the demands of everyday life. This episode offers comfort and camaraderie to mothers who feel overwhelmed yet determined to find themselves again. Tune in for a supportive and honest dialogue that resonates with anyone navigating the evolving roles of womanhood and motherhood.
5 Mar 2025
Defrosting Motherless Mothering
Becoming a parent while missing either a maternal or paternal role model can be hard. It comes with its very own set of struggles. In this episode we talk about some of the very common things motherless mothers deal with. We discuss parts in Hope Edelman's book Motherless Mothers along with some of my personal experiences with this. I hope you enjoy it! follow me on instagram @ defrostthechicken and send me a message on your thoughts !
Happy parenting ya'll
21 Feb 2025
Defrosting Cycle Breaking
What are some things that your parents did that you would not do with your children?
That is the question I asked a bunch of parents I know and we will be discussing some of those answers along with my own. Breaking cycles can be hard sometimes, but I think we all have a few things from our childhood that we carry on into adulthood. It's those things that really shape us into the parents we end up becoming.
12 Feb 2025
Defrosting Maternity Leave
While we revisit episode one for a just a bit, we will also be discussing the struggles of maternity leave. is the time mothers get enough time? I guess that depends on where you live. Let's talk about how maternity leave and paternity leave are different here in the U.S vs. other countries. We will also be discuss some common stressors that new moms go through during this delicate time at home with their babies.
5 Feb 2025
Defrosting my truth
Being a good parent is not for the weak. There are so many moving pieces to parenthood and a million ways to fuck it up. On this first episode join me as I take you on a ride inside the mind of a mother dealing with PPA & PPD. It's me , I'm that mother. This is my truth and my healing journey. This episode will not only give you an idea of who I am but explain why I decided to tell a bunch of strangers the one thing in my life i'm most ashamed about. :::Mental Health Matters:::
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,308
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 47 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
48
Social presence
0
YouTube
64
Engagement
51
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