Chad Wolf grew up in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, on a dirt road outside of Charleston, in a double wide trailer with a Pentecostal Holiness church on Sundays and a shipyard worker dad who apparently did classified things on nuclear submarines that he can only now talk about. He came to LA at 20, lied his way into an internship for Diane Warren, ended up living in a Swedish musician's house, became friends with Max Martin, and made a record (with a platinum single) that got played at weddings and on The Hills and in rom-coms for a decade.

And then he lost everything. The band, the money, marriages, his house, eventually his car. He lived out of that car for six months, delivered for Postmates in a Range Rover that eventually got repossessed, and never once stopped showing up to take his son to school. This one is a perfect Father's Day episode. Not because Chad got everything right, but because of how honest he is about getting it wrong, and how clear it is that his son - and the art of truly LOVING - saved him.

Full show notes with alll the links: muthalife.substack.com

Instagram: @mutha.life @thecarolinaliar

Produced by: Mutha Life

Music by: Ronen Landa

It's a podcast first: A parent doing an IRL interview with us…while breastfeeding the entire time. AND SHE REMAINED COHERENT?! That's heroic stuff, in my book. Not to mention, there was a toddler with a tummy ache and grandpa as backup in tow downstairs. The level of composure was just…very elite. Luckily I got to spend an hour with Emily Beyda - novelist, journalist, writer of the wildly popular KCRW newsletter Backseat Babies - and find out where all this zen master energy comes from. And let me tell you - the breastfeeding while interview matches the backstory to a T.

Full show notes with alll the links: muthalife.substack.com

Instagram: @mutha.life @emilybeyda

Produced by: Mutha Life

Music by: Ronen Landa

When we first hung out with Vanessa Dew, co-founder of Health-Ade Kombucha, about a year and a half ago, she was figuring out what life looked like after selling her business baby. She was navigating purpose and parenthood in a new chapter, finding ways to support her community after the LA fires, and quietly letting go of any need to feel relevant just for the sake of it (ahem, the inspiration for this week's episode title).

Since we last spoke, she has been keeping very busy. Traveling loads with her family. Being in her feelings about a recently graduated kindergartner. Building her community on Substack. Launching the Aline Foundation to support women through wellness grants. And, oh, did I mention we are breaking news right now?! (Tune in to hear it)

Full show notes with alll the links: muthalife.substack.com

Instagram: @mutha.life @vanessadew_

Produced by: Mutha Life

Music by: Ronen Landa