Dear Chelsea — Minisode: Lap Time with Chelsea + Catherine

Podcast: Dear Chelsea
Host: Chelsea Handler, with co-host Catherine Law
Release Date: January 16, 2026

Episode Overview

This lighthearted and heartfelt minisode centers around letters from listeners sharing life updates and seeking relationship advice. Chelsea Handler and her co-host Catherine Law provide their trademark honest, humorous, and candid opinions. The highlight is a touching call from a couple, Elizabeth and Danny, who discuss maintaining a healthy, passionate relationship after past trauma.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up: Life Updates from Chelsea and Catherine

• Chelsea shares winter updates from Whistler (02:12)

  • Chelsea describes having a house full of 18-year-old boys, one of whom was injured skiing:

    “One of them just got into a bad ski... He went to the ER. Hopefully his parents will deal with that.” (02:27)

• Reflections on Skiing and Risk

  • Catherine admits she's too scared to ski; Chelsea says if you haven’t tried it, maybe don’t.

    “If you haven’t tried it yet, don’t try it.” – Chelsea (02:39)

  • Chelsea emphasizes she does not "drop in" from cliffs:

    “No, I don’t drop in. I'm not dropping in like that... I’m not at that level and I never will be.” (02:58)

2. Long-Term Listener Updates: Sammy’s Family Saga

• Follow-up from Sammy (listener) on a previously discussed polyamorous family situation (03:41)

  • Sammy has moved out and found independence ("studio apartment less than a mile from the beach").
  • Her sister’s poly situation led to a divorce; sister is now with her girlfriend.
  • Sammy highlights the importance of not owning others’ problems:

    “Other people’s problems are not my own and I don’t need to take them on.” (05:10)

• Chelsea responds:

  “There really is no truer sentiment—other people’s problems are not your own. We should all be telling—that should be something we wake up and say to ourselves every single day.” (05:44)

  • Chelsea discusses the importance of healthy boundaries:

    “Let people do their thing. Like, you can’t control the outcome of other people’s lives. You can’t even control the outcome of your own life...” (05:52)

• Catherine expands on boundaries:

  “You can’t actually set a boundary with someone else. You can only change your own behavior. The boundary has to pertain to you essentially.” (06:25)

3. Call-In Segment: Elizabeth & Danny’s Love Story

[Start: 10:15]

Elizabeth’s Letter

• Background (10:22)

  • 44-year-old mom of three, survived a toxic relationship—a manipulative, married, and unemployed man.
  • Credits Chelsea’s work and podcasts with her personal transformation.
  • After defining what she wanted in a partner, she met Danny; now in a happy, six-month relationship.

• Questions posed:

  • “What tools or practices do you recommend to keep a relationship healthy and full of passion over the long haul?”

Chelsea’s Advice

• Enjoy the present and create unique rituals:

  “When we're happy and things are going well, we need to remind ourselves... Writing things to each other is really powerful. Forming rituals with each other that are new, that you've never done with anyone else, makes something feel even more special.” (12:40)

• On space and missing each other:

  “It's really good to miss each other. So don't ever be scared about that. A couple of days apart is always kind of a good thing to keep you missing each other.” (13:36) “There's an art to being apart—to missing each other for a couple of days here and there. That's nice; it prolongs that honeymoon phase.” (14:18)

• Encouragement for “Lap Time” ritual:

  “Well, that sounds like you guys already have your ritual. I don't know if it should be called lap time—it sounds like that's a little, like, Santa Claus adjacent, but whatever. Do your thing.” (15:03)

Catherine’s Addition

• On handling conflict and therapy:

  “When things do come up... if something’s come up three or more times... go talk to a therapist together. Couples counseling is not just when things are going bad, it’s also for when you’re just not connecting on something.” (15:47)

• Chelsea on preemptive therapy:

  “Preemptive therapy is always good... Maybe you won’t have any fucking problems. Who knows?” (16:24)

Notable Practice: Family Constellations

• Danny describes "constellations" (17:19)

  • A type of group therapy where participants represent family members, focusing on energy and feelings as interpreted by a therapist.

    “You represent a person... where the energy field flows through that person... Many times you don't know, it's a group thing, you're helping other people.” (17:19)

• Chelsea recommendations:

  "There's an episode, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sex, Love and Goop on Netflix... Where she explores it. Very interesting." (18:23)

4. Broader Reflections: Why More Women Are in Happy Relationships

• Changing attitudes in women (19:05)
  • Chelsea and Catherine reflect on women’s increasing unwillingness to "put up with less."

    “Do you think the reason that we're seeing this sort of influx of women who are actually in happy relationships is just because they're not going to put up with less, like, women as a—” (19:00) “Putting up with less bullshit? I like that. You know, that makes me happy. Younger girls are like that, too. Like all these young girls, I don't want a boyfriend... I think it really... comes from feeling, like, not seen... you need an addition, not a subtraction.” – Chelsea (19:10-19:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Other people's problems are not your own." – Chelsea (05:44)
• "You can't control the outcome of other people's lives. You can't even control the outcome of your own life." – Chelsea (05:52)
• "When you change the standards of what you accept, then that changes who comes into your life." – Chelsea (16:58)
• "Connecting and communication are key... Don't be afraid of breaks. Don't be afraid of missing each other. I think that enhances things and prolongs the honeymoon phase." – Chelsea (15:03-15:36)
• "Preemptive therapy is always good, too. Maybe you won’t have any fucking problems. Who knows?" – Chelsea (16:24)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 02:10 | Chelsea's winter update, skiing chat | | 03:41 | Sammy’s polyamorous family follow-up | | 05:44 | Chelsea on not owning others’ problems | | 06:25 | Catherine on boundaries | | 10:15 | Introduction of Elizabeth & Danny’s call | | 12:31 | Chelsea’s advice for maintaining connection | | 14:40 | "Lap time" ritual described by Danny | | 15:47 | Catherine on couples therapy | | 17:19 | Danny describes family constellation therapy | | 19:05 | Reflections on women demanding better relationships |

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is warm, open-hearted, and honest, with Chelsea’s signature quick wit and warmth. Listeners are treated both to playful banter (e.g., jokes about “lap time” and “premarital sex”, 13:36), as well as practical, emotionally intelligent advice about boundaries, self-care, and intentional partnership.

Summary for New Listeners

You don’t need to have heard earlier episodes to appreciate this one. Whether updating a saga from a previously featured listener or holding space for a couple basking in newfound love, Chelsea and Catherine blend straightforward advice with plenty of laughs and a focus on personal growth. If you’re seeking reassurance, clarity, or a reminder to seek relationships that add to your life rather than subtract from it, this is a must-listen.

For advice or to submit your own story, write: DearChelseaPodcast@gmail.com