Cate & Ty Break It Down

Episode: Our Furry Soulmates & Listener Confessions
Date: August 20, 2025
Hosts: Catelynn & Tyler Baltierra
Podcast: PodcastOne

Overview

In this heartfelt and candid episode, Catelynn and Tyler open up about the recent loss of their beloved family dog, reflecting on the deep bonds between humans and their pets, the pain of grief, and the ways animals shape their lives. The couple shares stories about their pets past and present—often with humor and warmth—while also fielding anonymous, outrageous, and touching listener confessions. The episode is a raw mix of tears, laughter, and real talk on grief, family, spirituality, and human nature.

Episode Highlights & Key Topics

1. Grieving the Loss of a Furry Family Member

(00:30 – 14:00)

• Catelynn shares the loss of her 16½-year-old dog, Caddy:
  • Caddy passed away three days prior, dying in Catelynn’s arms, which was both “beautiful but also traumatizing at the same time.” (01:09)
  • The dog entered Catelynn’s life soon after placing Carly for adoption. “She was just like my baby. She was with me through everything.” (01:10)
• Tyler and Catelynn reflect on the inevitability of losing pets:
  • “Why the hell do we do this to ourselves?” (Catelynn, 01:24)
  • “We know our heartbreak is inevitable, and we do it anyway.” (Tyler, 03:45)
• Unexpected death despite Caddy’s apparent vitality:
  • “I don’t think you expected it, because she was acting completely normal... wasn’t limping, wasn’t gasping, wasn’t doing nothing.” (Tyler, 01:54)
• Death lived and mourned in real time:
  • They rushed Caddy to the vet, but “she just passed away in my arms in the car.” (Catelynn, 02:49)
  • Tyler comforts Catelynn: “She wouldn’t have had an easy passing within anyone else's arms.” (03:03)
• Finding gratitude amidst grief:
  • “Try to find some gratitude in it.” (Tyler, 05:03)
  • Catelynn shares hope for spiritual signs from Caddy and interprets a surprise gift—a stained glass chihuahua sent by a friend—as a possible “sign” from her lost pup. (06:29)
• The irreplaceable bond:
  • “She was with me through all the sh*t I was going through when I got her, like, she was our baby.” (Catelynn, 07:59)

2. Emotional Impact on Family & Parenting Through Loss

(13:28 – 16:48)

• How the kids handle pet loss:
  • Tyler jokes, “I’m a little like, hey, will you be a little more sad?” describing their children’s pragmatic reactions. (13:29)
  • The children are focused on comforting Catelynn, with Nova “always trying to make you feel better,” and Rya confused and quietly concerned by her mother’s grief. (14:01)
  • Catelynn feels it’s healthy for the kids to see real emotion, noting, “It’s okay for the kids to see you sad. Yeah, I think it’s healthy.” (14:09)
• Memories of “starting out” with pets:
  • Reminisce about spending their last cash in their early years to buy Caddy and “having milk crates as a couch.” (15:13)
  • “She cost me like $600… and we did it ‘cause she looked exactly like Spike.” (15:24)

3. Daily Life & Coping Strategies

(16:48 – 20:43)

• Navigating life while grieving:
  • The day of Caddy’s death involved juggling loss with practicalities—“We had orientation, by the way, for Nova’s middle school… It was overwhelming, to be honest.” (16:22)
  • Praise for their local veterinary clinic and the empathy shown by the vet tech: “You guys are amazing pet owners… you love your pets and you’re amazing.” (18:17)

4. More Pet Tales: Cats, Chaos & Furry Antics

(20:43 – 26:12)

• Other pets in the Baltierra household:
  • Discussion of the differences between dogs and cats in how they handle—or hide—the end of life.
  • Tyler’s evolving relationship with their cat, Shadow, from annoyance (“I didn’t want the cat”) to genuine affection (“she just picked me… her persistence paid off”).
  • Shadow’s wild side: “I wouldn’t be surprised one day she brings up a bald eagle.” (25:15)
  • Stories of Shadow hunting—catching bunnies, blue jays, and even trying to bring a squirrel inside.

5. Children Growing Up, Milestones, and Parental Reflection

(26:12 – 35:17)

• Upcoming events & shifting family routines:
  • Preparing for Raya’s fourth birthday party, with a Little Mermaid theme, and the start of a new school year for the kids.
  • Reflections on the bittersweetness of the “last baby” hitting milestones:
    • “When you have your last baby, the new firsts are your last.” (28:14)
    • Tyler admits to counting how many times he hugs or holds the youngest now. (28:46)
• Nova and Tyler’s shopping trip:
  • Heartwarming father-daughter bonding in a department store dressing room, culminating with a stranger saying, “You’re such a good dad.” (31:10)
  • Tyler prioritizes Nova’s own style and self-confidence: “Your opinion matters, not mine. You like it? I’m not answering unless you tell me if you like it first.” (30:45)

6. Listener Confessions

(35:34 – 48:30)

• Transition to anonymous, sometimes outrageous crowd submissions, mixing humor and serious reflection.
• Notable listener confessions include:
  • Someone requested to be defecated on by a partner—Catelynn reads the story and Tyler is hilariously disgusted.
    • “This is the stuff that makes you question our species… This is where we haven't evolved!” (Tyler, 37:01)
  • Adultery confession: An engaged listener admits to a fling with a coworker. Both hosts are blunt:
    • “That’s messed up. You should probably break off the engagement.” (Catelynn, 38:56)
    • Tyler responds: “You owe it to them. Engage in the fling—maybe it’s your soulmate, who f*cking knows, but you should do some self-reflection.” (39:03)
  • Adoption secret: Adoption mom tells her family twins died, when actually she placed them for adoption—sparks a somber moment.
  • “I pick my nose and eat my boogers”: Tyler’s disgust is palpable—“You are the bottom of the abysmal disgust.” (40:30)
  • Listener says, “I’m getting divorced after 35 years. You guys gave me the strength.”
    • Both hosts are awed by the gravity/impact and wish her well.
    • “Maybe keep us updated… I would love to hear where you’re at five months down the line.” (Tyler, 41:57)
  • Intern’s affair with married pastor (which “blew up”):
    • “You be… God told me you can’t be doing that because you’re contributing to this.” (Tyler, 43:16)
    • Discussion on hypocrisy and drama in religious communities, referencing scandals in organized religion.
  • Twin Flames & Curses: Listener believes her “twin flame” is under a love curse.
    • Explanations of the twin flame concept both as “soulmate” and cautionary tales about related cults and Netflix documentaries.
    • Tyler analogizes the power of curses/prayer: “Prayer is just a really intense manifestation technique.” (49:02)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Catelynn on pet grief:

  • “She literally died in my arms… beautiful but then also traumatizing at the same time.” (01:09)
  • “Why the hell do we do this to ourselves?” (01:26)

• Tyler’s empathy:

  • “She didn’t want to… she wouldn’t have had an easy passing in anyone else’s arms.” (03:03)
  • “We know our heartbreak is inevitable, and we do it anyway.” (03:45)
  • “Your opinion matters, not mine. You like it? I’m not answering unless you tell me if you like it first.” (30:45)

• On spirituality and signs:

  • “I personally think that animals reincarnate and come back and try to find their person, their soul tribe.” (Catelynn, 05:43)
  • “That’s divine intervention right there.” (Tyler, 10:48)

• On moving forward:

  • “Life just keeps moving every day. All of a sudden the sun still rises.” (Tyler, 16:07)

• On confessions:

  • “This is the stuff that makes you question our species… This is where we haven’t evolved!” (Tyler, 37:01)
  • “Guess what? I don’t trust you as an adult.” (Tyler, 40:58 – about eating boogers)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pet Loss & Grief: 00:30 – 14:00
• Kids & Grief: 13:28 – 16:48
• Juggling Family & Life Changes: 16:48 – 20:43
• Pet Antics (Shadow, the cat): 20:43 – 26:12
• Milestones & Parenthood Reflections: 26:12 – 35:17
• Listener Confessions: 35:34 – 48:30
  • Bodily fluids confession: 36:06
  • Infidelity confession: 38:47
  • Adoption secrecy: 39:58
  • Divorce after 35 years: 41:23
  • Pastor affair: 42:49
  • Twin flames & curses: 45:43
• Spiritual/Metaphysical Chatter: 47:14 – 50:38

Tone and Language

• The episode balances raw, unfiltered emotion (“I don’t want to cry—but…”) with humor (“let’s curse this [Trump’s] ass”), candid relationship real talk, and open conversation about spirituality, grief, and the weird quirks of humanity.
• The dynamic between Cate and Ty is warm, bantering, and supportive—even when the topics veer into dark, strange, or hilarious territory.

Summary

This episode offers comfort for anyone grieving a pet and delivers classic Cate and Ty wisdom on relationships, family, and resilience. The listener confessions segment brings levity, shock, and honest advice, making space for catharsis and genuine connection. The episode closes with spiritual musings, pop culture references, and updates on their evolving family life, leaving listeners with both a sense of solidarity in loss and hopefulness for what comes next.