Dear Chelsea – Minisode: Didn’t Make the Cut with Chelsea + Catherine
Date: February 13, 2026
Podcast: Dear Chelsea (iHeartPodcasts)
Hosts: Chelsea Handler & Kathryn Law
Main Theme
This minisode centers around listener follow-ups and a candid advice session about wedding guest list drama. Chelsea Handle and Kathryn Law offer their signature blend of humor, empathy, and practical wisdom, responding to how listeners’ lives have evolved after their advice and helping one caller navigate the difficult decision of not inviting some friends to a destination wedding.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Listener Updates and Advice Outcomes
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Follow-Up from Lauren
- Context: Lauren previously sought advice about moving to a bigger city for better dating prospects.
- Update: She’s moving to Madison, Wisconsin, on May 1, and plans to attend Chelsea’s St. Louis show.
- Quote:
“I am officially moving to Madison, Wisconsin, May 1st…thanks again for the awesome opportunity to be on the show and to Chelsea for her great advice.” – Lauren [04:13]
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Hosts’ Reflections on Moving and Shaking Things Up
- Chelsea reiterates her belief in the value of making bold moves for personal growth.
- Anecdotes about comics Caleb Heron and Nikki Glaser relocating for fresh starts.
- Quote:
“I'm always encouraging people to move. That really changes the energy up.” – Chelsea Handler [04:44]
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Follow-Up from Ethan
- Context: Ethan had a long-distance relationship dilemma.
- Update: He and his partner decided to remain long-distance friends for now, emphasizing a healthy, pressure-free dynamic.
- Quote:
“We’ve decided to be long distance friends for now and let things develop naturally. It feels healthy and pressure free.” – Ethan [05:48]
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Hosts Reflect on Not Ruining Lives
- A comedic interlude about whether their advice has gone awry.
- Quote:
“We haven’t ruined any lives yet.” – Chelsea Handler [06:06]
2. Advice Call: Wedding Guest List Dilemma
Caller: Marie, 28, about to get married
Situation:
Marie is having a destination wedding with a strict 100-person cap. She’s part of a tight-knit college friend group of about 20 women, but can only invite 17 of them. She feels confident in the decision but worries about the feelings of the 3 friends not invited and is anxious about how to handle their inevitable discovery when save-the-dates go out.
Advice Segment: [10:26–16:58]
Marie’s Core Question
Is it better to say nothing and let it play out, or to address the guest exclusion beforehand with kindness and tact?
Insightful Discussion & Guidance
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Chelsea’s Initial Take:
- Three is a “tricky number” to exclude; it feels targeted.
- Suggests proactively reaching out to those three friends with sensitivity, perhaps with a card or a kind gesture.
- Quote:
“I definitely think three is a tricky number to leave out out of 20. So I think that's a little sensitive. So I think you should treat it with some sensitivity and reach out to the three girls beforehand…” – Chelsea Handler [12:52]
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Practical Suggestions:
- Send a heartfelt message explaining the venue cap and need to compromise on the guest list.
- Reassure the friends of their continued value and importance in her life.
- Consider sending a small thoughtful token to acknowledge their friendship.
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Marie’s Concern:
- She’s the first in the group not to invite everyone, which feels uncomfortable.
- Wonders aloud about how rare it is to inform someone they aren't invited.
- Chelsea’s Reassurance:
“If they've all been included in everything, I think you should double down…your friendship is very meaningful to me. I don't want you to take this as a sign that it's not…But I think it will be appreciated more so than them finding out, because then there's awkwardness and there's tension.” [14:16]
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Kathryn’s Suggestions:
- Reinforce the venue’s hard cap so it’s clear the exclusion isn’t personal.
- Maybe set up a separate group chat for those invited to reduce inadvertent hurt via group chat chatter.
- Quote:
“Not everyone from our big group is invited, but I wanted to have a separate chat here since it's a destination wedding...and just kind of letting them know not everybody from the group is getting a save the date.” – Kathryn Law [15:47]
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Marie’s Reflection:
- Grateful for the advice, recognizing the importance of acknowledgment over silence.
- Expresses gratitude for her friends and the challenge of having to make hard choices.
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Chelsea’s Parting Wisdom:
- “Try and focus on the positive, I guess…You’re getting married.” [16:52]
3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:44 | Chelsea Handler | “I'm always encouraging people to move. That really changes the energy up.” | | 05:48 | Ethan (via email) | “We’ve decided to be long distance friends for now and let things develop naturally. It feels healthy and pressure free.” | | 12:52 | Chelsea Handler | “I definitely think three is a tricky number to leave out out of 20. So I think that's a little sensitive…” | | 14:16 | Chelsea Handler | “If they've all been included in everything, I think you should double down…your friendship is very meaningful to me. I don't want you to take this as a sign that it's not.” | | 15:47 | Kathryn Law | “Not everyone from our big group is invited…just kind of letting them know not everybody from the group is getting a save the date.” | | 16:52 | Chelsea Handler | “Well, you’re getting married. Try and focus on the positive, I guess.” |
4. Episode Timestamps
- 01:42–02:13: Intro, promo, Chelsea’s tour announcements
- 03:49–06:09: Listener follow-ups (Lauren moves; Ethan and partner’s update)
- 10:26–16:58: Main advice call with Marie – wedding guest list dilemma
- 16:52–end: Wrap-up remarks and tour reminders
Episode Tone & Style
The episode maintains Chelsea and Kathryn’s trademark friendly, candid, and irreverent tone. They approach sensitive questions with empathy but aren’t afraid to be direct or inject humor. The conversational flow, honesty, and relatability are consistent throughout, making the advice feel both actionable and emotionally resonant.
Summary
This minisode highlights the ongoing relationships Dear Chelsea has with its listeners—many return to share how Chelsea’s advice shaped their choices. The main advice segment offers an honest, compassionate strategy for excluding friends from a milestone event without damaging longstanding bonds. The episode is both entertaining and filled with real-life wisdom for anyone navigating adulthood’s tricky social situations.