Unicorn Girl – Episode 1: “Love, Your Favorite Unicorn”

Main Theme & Overview

This debut episode of Unicorn Girl dives deep into the enigmatic life of Candace Rivera—mother, entrepreneur, nonprofit founder, and social media sensation known as “One Fierce Mama.” Hosted by award-winning journalist Charlie Webster, the episode unpacks Candace’s carefully crafted persona and her rapid rise within online women's groups before her seemingly perfect world begins to unravel. Using interviews, social posts, and first-hand accounts, the episode explores the allure, complexity, and cracks in Candace’s fairytale, leaving listeners to wonder: was she a visionary or a master of deception?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Social Media Unicorn: The Myth of Candace Rivera

• Candace’s online identity: Through the Instagram handle One Fierce Mama, Candace presents a relentless schedule blending business, motherhood, activism, and glamor. Her daily to-do lists, posted as Stories, project an image of effortless accomplishment and constant motion. (00:18–01:38)

  • Sample post:
    • “4:40 AM drop off Eldestad Airport soccer tournament. 6:55 am Snuggles with youngest before school.” (00:18–00:25)
    • “156 check safe house. Take stock of donations. 3:51 phone rings. It's a survivor. She's six months sober. So proud of her.” (00:50–00:59)

• Candace’s ultimate goal: To have seven companies, all generating seven figures, running before age 40. (03:04–03:33)

  • Quote (Candace explaining her ambition):
    • “My goal was to have seven companies that were seven figures running before 40. We're two years away.” (03:27)

2. The Origin Story: Book Group Sisterhood (“The 500”)

• For the Love group: Candace’s story begins in an exclusive Facebook group created by author Jen Hatmaker to promote her book For The Love. Out of thousands of applicants, 500 women were selected—a group that quickly transformed into a tight-knit, support-focused virtual community. (05:15–07:52)

  • Quote (Anneliese):
    • “Even though these 500 people lived all over the country, there was quickly just like a closeness about us. So that's where I first met Candace, kind of virtually before we met in person.” (08:14)

• Candace’s captivating presence: Known for her humorous, self-deprecating posts and oversharing about personal life, Candace became a “people magnet” in the group, culminating at an in-person book launch party where she cemented her “unicorn” status by showing up in a rubber unicorn mask. (09:55–14:39)

  • Quote (Erin):
    • “She was like the sun. Everybody just was drawn to her. She brought this unicorn head that she would wear, so that became the joke. And then it was, she's a one of a kind. She's a unicorn.” (13:36)

• Memorable moment: Candace’s viral video parading a unicorn mask at Starbucks, ordering a “unicorn unicorn drink.” (14:51)

  • Quote (Brandy):
    • “It was shared a gajillion times and I could not stop laughing. It was so funny. This girl is so funny. I love her.” (14:51)

3. Vulnerability & The Cracks Appear

• Shift in tone: Candace’s posts become more vulnerable, detailing marital struggles, suspected infidelity, and financial mistakes (notably, withdrawing from her husband’s 401k to pay school bills). The group becomes a lifeline during her unraveling marriage. (16:55–21:01)

  • Quote (Candace):
    • “I withdrew a large sum of money from his 401k...I realized I basically took all of his money that could have been earning a large interest.” (19:59–20:23)

• Online and offline support: Members like Erin provide physical refuge when Candace flees with her children during the separation. The online group’s judgment of Patrick (Candace’s ex) is shaped solely by her narrative. (21:22–22:27)

4. Building (and Losing) Community in Real Life (MOPS Group)

• Candace’s leadership: After moving to Utah, Candace embeds herself in the MOPS organization (a Christian mothers’ group), becoming a charismatic leader and support figure. She shares her story of infant loss each October and projects an image of having it all—much to the admiration and envy of fellow moms. (23:11–25:35)

  • Quote (Lacey):
    • “She had it all. People liked her. The church loved her. She always had her hand in everything...I really struggled with postpartum...and so I really needed something. I had worked up until I had my first baby. And so getting me out of the house was really important at the time.” (24:12–24:52)

• Blurring fact and fiction: Others (like Lacey and Danielle) are sometimes confused by inconsistencies—Candace sometimes claims to be a nurse, sometimes a stay-at-home mom. (26:23–26:56)

• Social life: Candace hosts parties and sleepovers, dazzling her circle with humor and outlandish stories—like being catfished using her own photos or wild medical tales from the ER. (27:35–29:15)

5. Divorce, Heartbreak, and Escaping Real Life

• Divorce finalized: The breakdown of Candace’s marriage is shared in real time with her online “tribe.” (32:58–33:41)

  • Quote (Candace):
    • “My heart is heavy. I'm getting divorced. Struggling. So many emotions. I love you all. I hate to be such a mess lately. I feel like I keep saying, how could it get any worse? And God's like, hold my beer. Lol." (32:58)

• Volunteering in Ukraine: With newfound time, Candace claims to use her nursing skills to escort orphans from Ukraine to the U.S., though not all her acquaintances were aware of her career as a nurse, raising some skepticism. (34:09–35:37)

• Losing more than marriage: While in Ukraine, Candace misses a custody hearing and loses both custody of her boys and possession of her house. (37:13–37:30)

  • Quote (Candace):
    • “He took full custody and possession of the home...Of course we have immediately put in a motion to set aside due to the whole was in Ukraine and couldn't get home.” (37:30–37:44)

• Seeds of doubt: Among her core supporters, skepticism grows about Candace’s stories and her ability to be in all places at once, “like a soap opera.” (37:56–39:07)

6. Excess, Exhibition, and the Next Act

• Maintaining appearances: Even as her life falls apart, Candace continues to play hostess, lead her group, and present a glamorous, unruffled front—even persuading friends into boudoir photo sessions at her home. (39:23–41:35)

• Foreshadowing future drama: The episode closes with a montage hinting at escalating stakes—cash hoards, guns, foreign intrigue, and schemes. Friends describe wild stories: Turkish prisons, US consulate impersonations, and more. (42:17–43:11)

  • Quote (Lacey, preview):
    • “I see Candace’s door open, and she has a ton of cash. 300 grand as far as my eyes could see. She hands me the phone really quick, and she’s like, pretend you’re the U.S. consulate.” (42:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Candace puts it all out there:

  • “Things I've been told this year. A single mom can't do all that and still be a good mom. You're not qualified. There's no way that could be real. You're fake.” (02:00)

• Book group bonding:

  • “We called ourselves the 500 because 5,000 people applied. 500 were accepted. So those 500 felt really special.” (08:05)

• On Candace’s humor:

  • “I'm staying at my sister in law's house for five days. Five days y’all...I have poop fright. The sun goes down on day number three...Pray for day four. I may be on the verge of death.” (09:55–10:36)

• Her intoxicating charm:

  • “She just was unicorn Candace. That's who she was.” (Anneliese, 15:21)

• On living a double life:

  • “She always looked like she was ready to go downtown...for me was hopeful, like, oh, once I get my crap together, once I get out of this fog, I can, I can be like that.” (30:13–31:17, Lacey)

• Foreshadowing drama:

  • “She will ravel in this. There’s always an undertone about her having a documentary made about her.” (43:11–43:15, Anneliese)

Timeline/Timestamps of Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |---------------------------------------------|---------------| | Introduction to Candace Rivera | 00:01–02:27 | | For the Love Book Group | 05:15–11:39 | | In-person meetup and Candace as unicorn | 11:39–15:34 | | Shifting tone: marital troubles | 16:55–21:01 | | MOPS and Utah community invasion | 22:21–31:17 | | Divorce, heartbreak, career confusion | 31:28–34:52 | | Volunteering in Ukraine, custody loss | 34:52–37:44 | | Seeds of skepticism among friends | 37:56–39:07 | | Candace’s hosting & dazzling leadership | 39:23–41:35 | | Teasers of upcoming drama | 42:17–43:11 |

Original Tone and Style

Charlie Webster’s narration strikes a balance between skepticism and empathy, pulling listeners into both the legend and the reality of Candace. Interviewees recall events with warmth, bewilderment, and sometimes admiration—all tinged with a growing sense of unease. Candace’s own words (through social posts) are often funny, self-deprecating, and compulsively oversharing, adding genuine texture to the narrative.

Episode Summary

“Love, Your Favorite Unicorn” sets the stage for a wild, mind-bending ride through the contradictory, compelling life of Candace Rivera. The first episode constructs the myth—social media perfection, community queen, lone survivor—while immediately hinting at deception, burnout, and things too good (or too wild) to be true. By the end, listeners are left craving answers to the tantalizing puzzle that is Unicorn Girl.

Listen next for: guns, government intrigue, cash hoards, wild schemes, and the question—who is the real Candace Rivera?