Barely Famous with Kail Lowry
Episode: The Friend Became Family With Emily Fortner
Release Date: February 6, 2026
Guests: Emily Fortner (Friend, former kindergarten teacher, special education case manager)
Host: Kail Lowry
Episode Overview
In this heartfelt, candid episode, Kail sits down with her longtime best friend, Emily Fortner, for a deep dive into their friendship, life as single moms, and the realities of teaching. They reflect on how their bond began, the challenges Emily faces as a teacher and single parent, the emotional labor of both roles, and offer raw perspectives on motherhood, boundaries, friendship, and navigating life in the public eye.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Origin of Kail & Emily’s Friendship
- Met when Emily was Lincoln’s kindergarten teacher, around seven years ago ([01:47]).
- Emily knew of Kail from Teen Mom and her older son having attended the school ([02:15]).
- Their friendship developed naturally, sparked by personal life struggles and similarities ([03:05]).
Memorable moment:
"We were sharing. We got really personal really quick. I think we just really connected." – Emily, [03:03]
- Their kids became “literal besties,” leading to a family-like bond where both families spend holidays together ([04:41], [05:08]).
2. Emily’s Teaching Career & Evolving Roles
- Emily started as a kindergarten teacher, then moved to special education at various levels ([05:36]–[07:26], [09:18], [10:05]).
- She currently works as a special education case manager for high school students, supporting kids with IEPs and emotional/learning disabilities ([05:36]).
- Describes the exhaustion of teaching all day and coming home to parent as a single mom ([06:26]), underlining the lack of understanding among people (especially men) about the “mental and emotional load” involved ([07:22], [14:12]).
Quote:
"My job doesn't require a lot of physical work, but it's very taxing mentally and emotionally." – Emily, [07:22]
3. Single Motherhood: Challenges & Survival
- Emily has been a single mom for nearly the entirety of their friendship ([06:20]).
- Discusses the mental load and “never-ending” demands of parenting as the default parent without support ([08:42], [10:05]).
Quote:
"If I don't do it, who will? ...I just have to keep going." – Emily, [10:05]
- Kail commiserates, noting the combination of being a parent, teacher, and managing the household is harder than any physical job ([07:26]–[08:12]).
4. The Hidden Emotional Toll of Teaching
- Emily talks about the emotional exhaustiveness of being responsible for students who come with their own traumas and hardships ([15:10]–[16:32]).
- She often feels like a counselor and is deeply affected by students’ struggles at home, fostering relationships but knowing her support is limited ([15:10]–[18:33]).
Quote:
“There are days where I come home after hearing stories about my students … and it’s hard. … You just hope that they come back tomorrow.” – Emily, [15:10]
- Kail shares her own experience of surviving high school with only one trusted adult and reflects on the long-term impact teachers can have ([16:56]–[18:06]).
5. Student-Teacher Relationships & Boundaries
- The blurred line between supporting students and the legal/professional boundaries teachers must maintain ([21:03]–[23:13]).
- Mandated reporting and how teachers can help or connect with families in need, but also the limitations and risks ([21:28]–[23:13]).
- Both discuss the lasting influence of these connections (Emily stays in touch with former students some 17 years later, helping shape their lives, e.g. "Johnny’s" story, [18:33]–[20:54]).
Memorable moment:
“He was tough... He is a business owner now. He owns a gutter company. And he still reaches out to me... You meant so much to me. Thank you so much.” – Emily, [19:57]
6. Reality of Teacher Pay & Having to Take Side Gigs
- Emily, despite having two master’s degrees, had to bartend and work additional jobs to provide for her family ([32:12]–[34:37]).
- Both critique the persistent underpayment of teachers, forcing many to leave or seek higher-paid but less family-compatible positions ([34:10]–[35:55], [38:11]–[39:46]).
Quote:
"It's rough... At the time I had two in daycare, I'm a single mom, no financial support. So I did have to take on a second job to be able to survive." – Emily, [32:56]
7. Parenting Logistics and Professional Trade-Offs
- They discuss the impossible calculus single parents must do when considering higher-paying jobs but facing increased childcare/commute/logistical costs ([38:11]–[40:24]).
- Both stress the importance of being present for their kids, even at financial cost.
- Kail: “At the point that you would be using your additional funds at another job to put them back in daycare, it’s no longer worth it.” ([39:46])
8. On Friendships & Authenticity
- A segment inspired by listener questions explores why Kail and Emily’s friendship has endured while others have not ([42:42]–[47:13]).
- Emily credits the genuine, organic nature of their bond, lack of ulterior motives, and good communication ([45:04]–[47:15]).
Quote:
"It's never really been...like business, and I really consider you like my sister, basically." – Emily, [46:54]
- Humorous riff on the “spy/flunky” rumors and their intertwined family life ([46:25]–[47:13]).
9. Dating as a Single Mom: Boundaries, Misconceptions, Growth
- Emily and Kail discuss their differing approaches to introducing partners to children; Emily is highly protective, while Kail has embraced a more expedited, realistic approach ([52:33]–[55:01]).
- Non-negotiables in dating now include: partner must have their own place, steady job, active involvement with their own children, and no longer make excuses for others' red flags ([57:34]–[58:44]).
- Both reflect on therapy, self-awareness, and learning to enforce boundaries – in parenting, relationships, and self-care ([59:45]–[61:47]).
10. Parenting Guilt & Mental Load
- Emotional conversation about making time for oneself vs. guilt about not “doing enough” with kids ([63:58]–[65:45]).
- Reassurances and reminders that “you cannot pour from an empty cup.” ([64:13])
- Kail voices fears about what her kids will remember, and Emily offers comfort that children cherish many everyday moments ([65:29]–[66:13]).
11. Rapid Fire: Light-Hearted Closing Questions
- The episode closes with a rapid-fire segment about personal preferences and parenting quirks (coffee vs. ghost, target vs. Amazon, quiet night vs. spontaneous plans, etc.) ([62:08]–[67:45]).
- Kail and Emily also text their kids in real time to see how they'd each describe their mom in one word, leading to laughs over answers like “interesting” and “medicated” ([72:31]–[73:13]).
12. Parting Advice for Single Moms
“Keep going... There’s days where it is tough to even pull yourself out of bed...you’re just tired...But the days can be really, really long, but the years are really short, and someday, we’re gonna miss it.” – Emily, [70:17]–[72:07]
Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps
-
On the friendship’s spark:
“We were sharing. We got really personal really quick. I think we just really connected.” – Emily, [03:03] -
On the mental/emotional load of teaching & motherhood:
“My job doesn’t require a lot of physical work, but it’s very taxing mentally and emotionally.” – Emily, [07:22] -
On society underestimating the work of moms/teachers:
“There’s no other job... harder than the mental load of full time single parenthood after a 9 to 5.” – Kail, [07:26] -
Story about lasting teacher-student connections:
“He was tough...He is a business owner now. He owns a gutter company. And he still reaches out to me...You meant so much to me. Thank you so much.” – Emily, [19:57] -
On their unbreakable friendship:
"It's never really been...like business, and I really consider you like my sister, basically." – Emily, [46:54] -
On dating boundaries:
“If you do not spend time with your own children, bye. If you do not have a steady job...bye.” – Emily, [58:24]
Important Timestamps by Segment
- [01:47–05:14] – How their friendship evolved, how their kids bonded
- [06:26–13:17] – Single mom life, teaching burnout, emotional exhaustion
- [15:10–18:33] – The emotional toll of teaching, relating to students in trauma
- [18:33–20:54] – Making an impact: Staying in touch with students over the years
- [32:12–35:55] – Teacher pay crisis and juggling additional work
- [38:11–40:24] – Weighing higher pay with the cost to family logistics
- [42:42–47:15] – How their friendship survived “Teen Mom” fame and rumors
- [52:33–59:45] – Dating: boundaries, single mom misconceptions, growth
- [63:58–66:13] – Parenting guilt, balancing me-time and “mom-time”
- [72:07–73:13] – One-word descriptions from their kids, advice to single moms
Where to Find Emily
- Instagram: @EmilyRay27
- Bookstagram: @EmilyRayReads
- Facebook: Emily Fortner
Summary for Non-Listeners
This episode offers an unvarnished look at the real-life struggles and joys of single motherhood, the taxing reality of being a teacher today, and the rare value of authentic, drama-free friendship. Kail and Emily pour honesty, wit, and mutual support into their discussion, making it a thoughtful, relatable listen—especially for single moms, teachers, and anyone who’s wrestled with the guilt-trap of “doing enough.” The laughter, vulnerability, and lived experience shine through, leaving the listener with reassurance, camaraderie, and plenty to ponder about boundaries, self-worth, and the small moments that mean the most.