Podcast Summary: Cate & Ty Break It Down

Episode: Parenting Bias & Fighting for Empathy

Date: September 10, 2025
Hosts: Tyler & Catelynn Baltierra

Overview

In this episode, Tyler and Catelynn Baltierra move beyond their “Teen Mom” fame to discuss the real-life challenges of parenting, navigating school choices, online judgment, and the importance of empathy. The couple offers a candid look into their family's recent experiences, their perspective on homeschooling vs. public education, the societal stigma around mental health and neurodiversity, and how small acts of kindness can make a big impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Family Updates & Parenting Realities ([00:08]–[05:51])

• Post-Labor Day Recap: Cate and Ty share highlights from their family’s Labor Day celebration, including hosting friends, cooking, and managing meal preparations while balancing parenting duties.
• Children Returning to School: Their kids are back in school; with sickness (allergies/viruses) quickly circulating in the household—an all-too-familiar challenge for parents each fall.
• Emotional Milestones: Their youngest, Raya, starts full-time school, sparking mixed emotions, especially for Tyler:
  • Tyler: "I don’t know, but...she’s the last one. Hit me." ([04:18])
  • Catelynn explains: Her positive outlook stems from trust in their teachers and knowing Raya is supported.

2. Homeschooling vs. Public/Private Schooling ([06:23]–[22:18])

• Socialization and Life Lessons:
  • Cate and Ty believe that in-person schooling offers crucial social development, exposure to diversity, and opportunities to build different types of relationships.
    • Tyler: "School, there’s a lot more to it than just academics." ([09:12])
    • Catelynn: “She’s with an amazing teacher...who’s had every single one of our children.” ([06:23])
• Homeschool Debate: They reflect on social media feedback after posting about sending their kids to public school. Tyler feels homeschool parents often convey “Holier than thou” attitudes in comments.
  • Tyler: "All you homeschooling parents – you don’t have to tell me you’re better than me. I’m giving it to you." ([08:00])
  • The couple acknowledges homeschooling works for some but express concerns about bias in at-home education and the challenges of eliminating parental “teaching bias.”
    • Tyler: “How do you eliminate bias?...Are they going to teach about Martin Luther King?” ([10:04])
    • Catelynn: “Some people homeschool...because they want them taught certain things and not others.” ([10:24])
  • They discuss the value of public schools in providing access to diverse knowledge, regulated curriculums, and broader perspectives.
• Concerns Over Curriculum Restrictions: Both are unnerved by national trends to ban certain books or restrict topics in both public and private education.
  • Tyler: "I don’t want a whole generation of dumb-dumbs," voicing worry about children potentially missing out on scientific or historical truths due to educational bias. ([16:08])
• Vetting Schools: Cate stresses importance of researching schools’ values and curriculums before enrolling kids.

3. Parenting Vulnerabilities & Online Judgment ([23:17]–[43:11])

• Navigating Sick Kids and School Absences: The hosts discuss the stress of managing unexpected illnesses and balancing attendance with the kids’ well-being.
  • Catelynn: “Some things you just gotta go with your gut.” ([23:47])
• Dealing with Social Media Judgment: Tyler shares his shock at the cruelty and lack of empathy in comments about his autism diagnosis.
  • Catelynn: “...the people that, some people on there, I’m like, you’re just disgusting.” ([25:44])
• Society’s Empathy Problem: The hosts lament the cultural trend toward doubting or shaming those with mental health or neurodiversity diagnoses.
  • Tyler: “How have we gotten here to society where...you’re going to literally shame [people]...for having it?” ([28:18])
• “Ableism” Defined: Tyler explains the term for discrimination against people with disabilities; Cate calls for basic compassion.
• Advice to Listeners: Stand up when you see cruel behavior, both online and offline.
  • Tyler: “You need to do more than just be kind. You need to call out the cruelty when you see it.” ([37:24])
• Reflection on Trolls & Bullies: Discussion about how trolls often project their own unhappiness and that “healed people” don’t invest in hate or online negativity.
  • Tyler: “Secure, healing individuals...do not go on anyone’s public post and be unnecessarily cruel.” ([39:15])

Notable Exchange

• Tyler (on diagnosis shame):
  "If someone said, ‘Oh my god, I just got diagnosed with whatever... I got PTSD.’ [People say] ‘Right, you got PTSD. Right?’ Like, what the f*** is going on?" ([31:18])

4. Empathy Education: Small Acts & Advocacy ([43:11]–[56:47])

• Vulnerability is Strength: Tyler notes that sharing struggles helps others, even if it opens them up to judgment.
  • Catelynn: “You're contributing to people possibly killing themselves and doing permanent harm.” ([43:01])
• Encouragement to Practice Kindness: Cate urges actively spreading kindness, especially to strangers, and standing up for others.
  • Catelynn: "Remember to be kind to people...Just stand up for people. No matter what." ([56:11])

5. Lighter Moments & Family Life ([44:00]–[49:48])

• Random “Did You Know?” Facts: Tyler’s penchant for sharing weird and interesting trivia, from cold water “negative calories” to animal biology, is highlighted with loving exasperation by Catelynn. Their daughter Nova has inherited the same curiosity.
• Rescuing Dogs: The couple recently adopted a nervous rescue dog, Baxter, sharing the challenges of building a traumatised pet’s confidence.
  • Catelynn: “If you’re ready for a dog...please go look at your shelters.” ([55:09])

Memorable Quotes

• Tyler (on homeschooling bias):
  “How do you eliminate bias?...Are you gonna teach them that the Earth is so many billion years old? Or that it’s 6,000 years old, based off the Bible?” ([11:11])
• Catelynn (on education approach):
  “I wouldn’t be able to do it...Sourdough making, whatever co-op meetings you have. Okay. I ain’t that parent.” ([07:37])
• Tyler (calling out online hate): "Kindness is so easy, guys. Why is it so hard for people to choose in your brain?" ([35:49])
• Catelynn (urging defense of others):
  “Stand up for all types of people.” ([31:54])
• Tyler:
  “Healed…individuals do not leave unnecessarily cruel comments on public posts.” ([39:02])

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:08-05:51 | Family updates, Labor Day recap, school transitions, and emotional milestones with their youngest starting school | | 06:23-13:10 | Homeschool vs. public/private school debate, socialization, and concerns about bias | | 15:17-22:18 | Curriculum censorship concerns, vetting schools, and family values in education | | 23:17-24:56 | Navigating kids’ sickness, school attendance, parental instincts | | 25:44-43:11 | Social media judgment, diagnosis stigma, society’s empathy deficit, and fighting ableism | | 44:00-49:48 | Random trivia exchanges, family fun, and learning moments | | 51:01-56:11 | Rescuing a new dog, animal adoption advocacy, and making nervous pets feel safe | | 56:11-56:47 | Takeaway: Practicing daily kindness and bystander empathy |

Conclusion

Tyler and Catelynn’s raw, unscripted reflections offer a heartfelt look into modern parenting, the personal challenges of neurodiversity, and the persistent need for empathy in today’s skeptical digital world. The Baltierra’s emphasize choosing public education for social and developmental reasons, balancing love with logic in parenting, and taking everyday opportunities to stand up for kindness. Their call to action: Be kind, speak up against cruelty, and remember that behind every screen is a real person.