Podcast Summary

Podcast: Cate & Ty Break It Down
Episode: ENCORE Bringing The Truth To Light with Jordy Cray
Host: PodcastOne
Date: November 26, 2025
Guests: Jordy Cray
Hosts: Catelynn (“Cate”) and Tyler (“Ty”) Baltierra

Overview

This episode of “Cate & Ty Break It Down” explores the complex realities of public adoption, trauma, and internet perception through a heart-to-heart conversation with Jordy Cray, a Teen Mom historian and TikTok commentator. Cate and Ty, who documented the adoption of their daughter Carly on MTV’s "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom," address longstanding controversies, misconceptions, and interpersonal tensions with Carly’s adoptive parents. Together with Jordy, they dissect the public narrative around their adoption journey, discuss boundaries, advocate for adoptees, and candidly reflect on their own mistakes, hopes, and regrets.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Jordy’s Introduction & Social Media Background

• Jordy shares their rise on TikTok as a “Teen Mom historian” and pop culture commentator, currently with nearly 600,000 followers.
• Discusses how the platform has enabled fresh, diverse perspectives and debates on old reality TV content.
  "People got a lot of opinions on ‘Teen Mom’… now we have a whole new generation of watchers." (Ty, 03:01)

The Ethics of Sharing Their Adoption Story

• Cate & Ty respond to Jordy's criticism that their public airing of adoption struggles might be seen as seeking sympathy or manipulating public support:
  • Ty asks, “So where do we cross the line with sharing our story as reality TV people…and when does it turn into manipulation?” (Ty, 06:55)
  • Cate emphasizes their intentions: representation for birth parents, adoptive parents, and, most importantly, adoptees.
    "If Carly has a chance of being able to see that we never stop trying, she deserves to know that." (Kate, 06:00)
  • Jordy acknowledges their rights, but worries public venting provokes hostility for everyone involved.

Ongoing Conflict with Carly’s Adoptive Parents (Brandon and Teresa)

• Detailed breakdown of escalating communication breakdowns, especially after Cate pressed for updates and continued sending gifts post-blocking.
• Reveal of behind-the-scenes issues: missed visits, unreturned messages, and the recent, hard line from Carly’s adoptive parents:
  "They're no longer allowed to send gifts to our house. It is disrespectful." (Kate relaying Teresa, 15:15)

The “Sympathy Manipulation” Accusation

• Jordy clarifies their earlier criticism about Cate & Ty seeking sympathy. Ty and Cate challenge the double standard—reality TV stars are expected to be vulnerable, but get criticized for it.
• Cate reflects on the possible inherited trauma and emotional patterns from their upbringing with addicted parents.
• Ty highlights the intent: "The end goal…is truth…for Carly to know these things, and not be put in the dark." (Ty, 39:55)

Sharing on Social Media As Advocacy

• Cate shares that many adoptees and birth parents encourage her to remain public, to provide proof for Carly—now or someday—of their continued love and attempts.
• Jordy’s perspective begins to shift as Cate and Ty reveal facts unknown to the public, especially about the monetary and public relations decisions Brandon & Teresa have made over the years.
  • "When it's beneficial for them to exploit Carly...if it made the adoption look really good, they were gonna do it." (Ty, 19:36)

Hypocrisy & Boundaries

• Cate & Ty detail how Brandon & Teresa’s boundaries have shifted (ex. profiting from photos, shifting expectations about “approved” content).
  • "Why is the moral ground keep moving? (Ty, 36:11)
• Reveal Brandon & Teresa accepted magazine deals, MTV compensation, and set shifting rules over time, contradicting the perception that Cate & Ty alone exploit their story.

Reform and the Need for Adoption Transparency & Advocacy

• Emphasis on how being young and under-informed affected their choices:
  "There were only four people involved in this agreement, and two of them were children...when you find out [B&T] originally wanted closed [adoption], why did you not just say, 'we’re not a good fit'?" (Ty, 32:03)
• Cate advises: young or prospective birth parents need legal protection, thorough education—and support/adoption should be the last resort.
• Mental health and adoption trauma were never discussed with them at the time.

Adoptee-Centered Advocacy

• Ty and Cate insist the adoptee’s feelings need to come first; if they knew for sure Carly wanted distance, they would honor it.
• Fear Carly will interpret silence or lack of gifts as them “giving up.” "All we ever wanted was to know our bio parents tried...so it’s about this kid, and she deserves this." (Ty, 41:20)

The OnlyFans Controversy & Taking Accountability

• Jordy pushes on community backlash for Cate & Ty’s OnlyFans involvement, especially given prior criticism of co-star Farrah Abraham.
  • Both admit their views have evolved, accept past hypocrisy, and stress changing values and taking down their account when it might harm Carly.
• Cate and Ty reiterate: people should be allowed to change their minds, and the goal is to “take accountability for what we did wrong and own it.” (Kate, 45:31)

Regrets and Lessons Learned

• Both admit they would have done things differently, most notably with more information and support; warn others to be extremely diligent and proactive in choosing adoptive parents and legal representation.
• Advocate for adoption reform:
  “Adoption should be the very last thing that you look at as an option. There are options, there are grants, there are foundations that can help you.” (Ty, 64:17)
• Candid reflection on trauma after adoption and generational impact.

Final Reflections & Jordy’s Takeaways

• Jordy says her stance has softened:
  "Although I think venting is not a great idea just because of the negativity it attracts. But…Brandon and Theresa's hands are not clean. It's messy. It's not black and white: this whole thing is grey." (Jordy, 61:36)
• Agreement that there’s no roadmap for this unique, public adoption.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On adoption’s public impact:
  “If Carly has a chance of being able to see that we never stop trying, she deserves to know that.” (Kate, 06:00)
• On boundaries/manipulation:
  “Where does the line cross from just sharing our story…to manipulation to get sympathy or recruit people?” (Ty, 06:55)
• On the double standard of sharing pain:
  "Every time we've talked about the good, it's always praised... But the one time I say it hurts, and I'm sad, people are like, 'Sit down.'" (Kate, 37:57)
• On the shifting boundaries with adoptive parents:
  “Why is the moral ground keep moving?” (Ty, 36:11)
• On taking accountability:
  “We acknowledged we were wrong…Is it not safe that things change, your opinions change, people evolve?” (Ty, 55:23)
• On adoptee advocacy:
  “The priority needs to be the adoptees…they’re the ones most affected by this choice of adoption.” (Ty, 40:27)
• Jordy’s conclusion:
  "It's messy. It's not black and white: this whole thing is grey…there’s no roadmap for you guys." (Jordy, 61:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:06 | Jordy joins, introductions, social media background (“Teen Mom historian”) | | 02:23 | How Jordy got started on TikTok, why “Teen Mom” content resonates | | 03:22 | Discussion on public perception of Cate & Ty’s adoption sharing; first debate on “manipulation” | | 04:44 | Cate explains their goal: visibility and proof for Carly | | 07:10 | “Where’s the line?”—Discussion about storytelling and sympathy | | 08:15 | Cate details timeline of being blocked by Carly’s adoptive parents | | 13:14 | Lighthearted Crumbl Cookie debate | | 15:11 | Cate reveals adoptive parents have banned gifts, impact on Carly | | 17:09 | Explaining boundary/money issues & hypocrisy of Brandon and Teresa | | 19:36 | When “exploiting” Carly benefited the adoptive family | | 21:23 | “They financially benefited…so it’s hypocritical” | | 22:08 | Last in-person visit with Carly: the Instagram “back of the head” controversy | | 23:07 | Tea spilled: MTV “exclusive photo” and compensation | | 26:04 | Cate discusses PTSD and emotional aftermath of these conflicts | | 27:20 | Ty: “If Carly asked to stop, we would—cut-off blindsides us” | | 36:11 | “Why is the moral ground keep moving?”—shifting boundaries and exposure | | 38:34 | Ty: “If you’re going to have an opinion, have all the information” | | 41:20 | “All we ever wanted was to know our bio parents tried…”—Prioritizing the adoptee | | 49:09 | Ty: “When Carly comes to us with questions, we’ll be honest”—adoptive family openness | | 54:54 | Facing OnlyFans backlash; comparison with Farrah’s experience | | 64:17 | Advice for young people considering adoption—“should be a last resort” | | 66:45 | On birth parents needing stronger legal support and mental health considerations | | 69:05 | Wrap-up—agreement on mutual understanding & advocacy moving forward |

Tone & Takeaways

This episode is genuinely heartfelt, often raw, and sometimes confrontational but always in pursuit of clarity and accountability. Cate & Ty are candid about their emotional struggles, regrets, and evolving views; Jordy brings constructive criticism but is open to learning, ultimately shifting to a more empathetic perspective. The hosts aim to strip away tabloid narratives to reveal the complexity—and ultimate humanity—of family, loss, and public living.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Is Essential

• Gives deep insight into realities of open adoption, manipulation narratives, and why so-called “boundaries” are rarely simple.
• Models a nuanced debate about mistakes, shifting beliefs, and the need for transparency—without shying from difficult emotions.
• Puts adoptees at the forefront of the discussion, showing how internet communities and reality TV intersect with private family grief and advocacy.

A must-listen for anyone interested in adoption ethics, social media’s impact on family, or the life-long aftermath of teenage decisions made on camera.