The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby

Episode: Our Emergency Room Visit & the Cost of Miscarriage in America
Date: December 31, 2025

Episode Overview

In this candid episode, Matt and Abby share a deeply personal look into recent family emergencies, focusing on their first trip to the ER with their child and the overwhelming financial realities of healthcare in America. Balancing lighthearted family stories about their dog Pretzel and nostalgic college memories, they dive into an honest, emotional, and sometimes frustrated discussion about medical bills, access, privilege, and the urgent need for change in the US healthcare system.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Their Golden Retriever, Pretzel

• [00:28–07:56]
• Abby and Matt answer listener questions about their new puppy, Pretzel, including how they chose her name (from a TV show), her personality, and the practicalities of adding a dog to a family with young children.
• Abby shares:
  “I love how cuddly she is. She will just let me hold her in my arms like a baby. And we walk around and look at Christmas lights.” [03:31]
• Discussion on dog parenting strategies, managing shedding, and their decision to keep Pretzel mostly on the lower floor.

2. A Trip Down Memory Lane: Missouri & College Days

• [08:45–21:34]
• The couple recounts their nostalgic weekend trip to Springfield, Missouri, revisiting their college haunts, first jobs, and reconnecting with old friends.
• Abby reflects on feeling at home in Springfield and driving past their old low-income housing:
  “I realized being in Springfield, I know the streets and I know the areas better than I know Arizona, which is weird to me…” [14:01]
• Matt talks emotionally about working as a substitute teacher in low-income schools, and the importance of compassion for both students and teachers:
  “These teachers, … are sacrificing so much of their time with their own kids, working for low pay in their off time… just out of passion at that point.” [16:37]

3. Confronting Privilege & Perspective-Shifting Moments

• [19:16–21:34]
• Story of a neighbor’s daughter in their old apartment complex, the realities of poverty, and how living alongside struggling families shaped their empathy and view on privilege.
• Matt:
  “Some people are starting way below basic needs being met. And I think that was just… a really good perspective that we got early in our marriage… Just so much gratitude. But also, it really set a foundation of compassion in our lives…” [20:09]

4. Silver Dollar City VIP Experience

• [22:44–33:46]
• Matt & Abby give a lively review of Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, detailing holiday traditions, the magic of VIP treatment, standout food, and funny family anecdotes — from audience-shy parents to their son’s crush on the saloon performers.
• Abby:
  “We have never, ever had a VIP experience… Having a guide who was getting us to the front of the line for every ride… I felt guilty. It was so good.” [24:38]
• Memorable moment: Matt’s dad “army crawling” out of an interactive show at Disney due to audience anxiety. [25:55]

5. ER Emergency with Their Child

• [33:46–43:54]
• The heart of the episode: The couple shares the story of their son’s head injury at Silver Dollar City — the fear, the ambulance ride, the hospital care, and the emotional aftermath as parents.
• Matt:
  “I felt the most like a parent I’ve ever been… I just wanted to trade places with him so badly… But he’s really such a trooper.” [38:03]
• Abby on aftershock:
  “The next day, the only thing I could think about was just like, I’m so glad our kid’s okay… I didn’t give myself time to process.” [42:57]

6. The Shocking Cost of Medical Care in America

• [44:10–62:35]
• Transparent discussion about the staggering bills: $6,281 for their son's ER visit (not counting the ambulance), $35,000+ for Abby’s miscarriage, and past bills for childbirth and anesthesia.
• Matt:
  “Whenever I do anything else in my life, they don’t set the price based on… a series of questions about myself before they set the price. I would like to get the price of what they… used.” [46:36]
• Abby:
  “We can afford to pay this $6,200 bill, but there’s a lot of people that can’t… That should be something that at least is affordable for the average American.” [47:05]
• Notable frustration:
  • The lack of transparent pricing
  • Arbitrary discounts if you call the hospital
  • The emotional toll and administrative labyrinth for patients
  • Consent issues: not being told (or able to anticipate) costs at the time of decision-making

7. The Hidden Trauma of Medical Debt & Systemic Flaws

• [51:16–62:35]
• They tally up their medical bills (over $45,000) and reflect on how, had this happened when they were newlyweds in low-income housing, it “would have changed the trajectory of our life.” [59:15]
• Matt:
  “We deserve transparent pricing. We deserve to give full consent…” [59:26]
• Abby:
  “I feel like it’s highway robbery. Like, it’s a legal way that companies are able to rob the American people.” [60:39]

8. Calls for Change & Closing Reflections

• [62:35–66:15]
• Both express gratitude that their family is financially stable, but want to use their platform to amplify the voices of those caught in medical debt cycles. They encourage listeners to share ideas and recommend expert guests.
• Matt:
  “I know that we’re not the only family affected by this… maybe the right ear can listen…” [61:13]
• Abby:
  “I just think that in… one of the wealthiest countries in the world, there’s no reason we can’t have some basic medical needs that are… covered through our tax dollars or affordable.” [65:15]

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Abby on financial shock:
  “Six years ago… getting a bill like we’re getting now would have devastated [us] financially.” [00:54]

• Matt on empathy and privilege:
  “Some people are starting… at a great advantage in life, and some people are starting way below basic needs being met… just making me emotional thinking about… perspective that we got early in our marriage…” [20:09]

• On ER costs:
  “For all the medical care… the subtotal was $9,605.50.” [45:58]
  “For a three-hour emergency room visit with one CT scan… there’s no way that’s a nearly $20,000 bill.” [55:00]

• On the emotional cost of injuries:
  “He was totally calmed down by then… it took a couple years off my life probably.” [42:32]

• On systemic issues:
  “Capitalism has F’d up the medical industry in America.” [48:01]
  “We don’t know the price of things before you’re getting the care…” [54:55]

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:28–07:56] – Meet Pretzel: Puppy Q&A
• [08:45–21:34] – Missouri trip, college nostalgia, privilege reflections
• [22:44–33:46] – Silver Dollar City stories & VIP experience
• [33:46–43:54] – Emergency room visit: what happened & emotional aftermath
• [44:10–62:35] – Medical costs: real numbers & the system’s failures
• [62:35–66:15] – Calls for change, gratitude, and closing thoughts

Tone & Style

• Warm, conversational, and honest
• Balances humor and nostalgia with vulnerability and social critique
• Empathetic, service-oriented: repeatedly acknowledging the privileges they now have, concerned for equity and fairness for all

Summary Takeaways

If you’re unable to listen, this episode offers:

• Intimate, relatable family stories that illustrate the joys and challenges of young parenthood.
• An unfiltered look at America’s broken healthcare billing systems—complete with concrete numbers that drive home the issue.
• A heartfelt plea for change, transparency, and compassion—for everyday Americans at the mercy of unpredictable medical costs.
• A clear call to action: If you have expert insight or activism ideas, Matt and Abby want to hear from their community.

End Note:
This episode is a thoughtful blend of family life, financial vulnerability, and advocacy. Matt & Abby’s willingness to share their medical scares — and the financial chaos that followed — puts a deeply personal face on a national crisis.