By Chance Avenue

Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss talks with friends Doreen, John, and Jada about her growth from feeling like a victim to advocating for women through her podcast, sharing support she once lacked while navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, adoption ending, divorce, depression, and mental health challenges. They describe how she and Victor have moved forward, embraced a child-free life, strengthened their relationship, and found joy through travel and interests like mahjong and BTS, while acknowledging grief still comes in waves and “what if” thoughts remain. The group discusses mutual envy between parents and non-parents, reframing “it must be nice,” and accepting different life paths. Friends praise Elizabeth’s voice and resilience, encourage prioritizing her own happiness, and John urges giving friends the chance to support rather than carrying burdens alone.

• Doreen Praises Growth
• Why This Podcast Exists
• Life After Childlessness
• Friends Reflect On Resilience
• John On Strength And Joy
• Grief Still Comes In Waves
• Envy Goes Both Ways
• That Must Be Nice
• Living With The What Ifs
• Choosing Joy In Midlife
• Proud Of Your Journey
• Parting Words And Support
• Closing Thanks And Love

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss talks with longtime friends John and Jada about how miscarriage, IVF, and years of infertility created an unspoken disconnect as her friends assumed she was “fine” and would reach out if needed, partly because their friendship wasn’t phone-call heavy and because she had Victor for support. Elizabeth explains she felt lonely, in a “season of waiting,” hesitant to burden others, and doubted people could truly understand, craving empathy and validation; John connects this to her past depression when others offered fixes instead of understanding. Jada shares regret for not checking in more and urges Elizabeth not to feel like a burden, emphasizing listening over advice. They reflect that both sides were worried about each other, affirm the friendship endured despite different life paths, and conclude with the insight to “give it a chance” by reaching out and letting friends be there.

• Miscarriage Silence
• Friendship Disconnect
• John Explains Distance
• Kids Talk Balance
• Misaligned Feelings
• Jada Heartfelt Apology
• Asking For Help
• Need For Empathy
• Victim Mindset Shift
• Give It A Chance
• Closing Gratitude

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss reunites with longtime friends John, his wife Jada, and childhood friend Doreen to discuss how friendships can shift when some friends have kids and others don’t, and to reflect on Elizabeth’s years of infertility, miscarriage, IUI/IVF treatments, and an adoption process that included a failed adoption. They recall a fallout after John and Jada’s 2013 marriage and reconnecting around 2018–2019, when Elizabeth was near the end of IVF. John and Jada admit they assumed she would eventually have a baby and feel emotional and guilty realizing she may have been “silently suffering” while they were busy raising kids. Elizabeth explains she felt loneliness and “years of waiting,” hesitated to vent because she didn’t want to burden friends, and often downplayed her pain.

• Why This Conversation Matters
• Meet the OG Squad
• Fallout and Reconnection Timeline
• Miscarriage IVF and Adoption Memories
• Feeling Alone Through Infertility
• Did We Really Disconnect
• The Waiting Season Explained
• Silent Suffering and Regrets
• How Friendship Can Show Up
• Closing Reflections on Giving

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss shares her new obsession with American mahjong, describing how she discovered its colorful, beautifully designed tiles online, took a private lesson to learn the game, and quickly began collecting sets. She contrasts it with the traditional mahjong she knew growing up in Filipino/Asian households, which she associated with gambling, and explains that mahjong is having a broader cultural moment beyond “older people.” Elizabeth loves the social, multi-generational community aspect—gathering with friends, meeting new people in a low-pressure way, and even playing at home with her husband Victor—more than competition or strict rules. She connects this hobby to her larger message on redefining life after infertility and grief by rediscovering what genuinely lights you up, and invites listeners to message her for beginner resources and future retreat ideas.

• From Fangirl to Mahjong
• Mahjong Has a Moment
• Discovering American Tiles
• Finding My Own Thing
• Social Game and Community
• Tiles Tablescapes Collecting
• How We Play and Adapt
• The Bigger Life Message
• Invite Resources and Retreats
• Closing and Next Week

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss shares how buying BTS concert tickets and becoming an “Army” fangirl unexpectedly brought her lightness after over a decade of heavy seasons, including infertility treatments, failed adoptions, and a hard year for her family. After initially scrolling past a BTS Netflix concert, she clicked a replay and docuseries, got hooked, and binge-watched years of content while bonding with her longtime best friend, who fell into the rabbit hole at the same time; her husband Victor has been supportive. Elizabeth describes asking her therapist if her growing obsession was healthy, and being told it reflected new space created by detaching from what no longer served her and allowing simple joy without deeper purpose. She encourages women, including those facing infertility, to give themselves permission to feel uncomplicated fun, and signs off referencing a BTS song “Swim” about continuing forward.

• Confession Time
• BTS Finds You
• Meet the Army
• Rabbit Hole Bonding
• Tickets and Obsession
• Therapist Green Light
• Healing Feels Light
• Permission to Enjoy
• Secret Out Sign Off
• One Last Song

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IG: @bychanceavenue

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Checking In Three Years After Choosing a Childfree Life: Elizabeth and Victor Reflect

Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss welcomes Victor back after months away to check in three years after they decided to stop pursuing children following a nearly 10-year infertility and adoption journey. They reflect on a recent Joshua Tree anniversary staycation that felt “full circle,” since they originally went there to make their decision. Victor shares he has reached greater acceptance and peace, with occasional “road not taken” awareness rather than regret, and has learned to enjoy meaningful uncle moments with his nephews and friends’ kids while acknowledging fatherly instincts. Elizabeth discusses ongoing curiosity about Victor’s internal experience, notes her own surprise at becoming more social, and they express gratitude for their childfree life, relationships, travel, and continued growth together.

• Victor Returns
• Joshua Tree Full Circle
• Three Years Later
• Road Not Taken
• Uncle Moments
• Did We Try Enough
• Trust And Curiosity
• Gratitude Without Kids
• What Surprised Us
• Healing And Closing

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IG: @bychanceavenue

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Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss shares how dancing freely with a friend made her realize she hadn’t felt comfortable in her body in years, leading her to discuss reclaiming her body after her infertility journey. After moving to California, she became pregnant and miscarried, then spent about seven years doing IUI and IVF, experiencing significant body changes, weight gain, and deep resentment—especially because the treatments did not result in a child. Through her 40s and into menopause, her weight fluctuated and felt hard to manage despite trying “everything.” At 51, with consistent support and hormone replacement therapy finally stabilizing her hormones, weight began to come off, which also felt like releasing emotional baggage. She emphasizes this isn’t a weight-loss story but about feeling strong, at home in her body, and encouraging others to find their own way back through compassion and forgiveness.

• Dancing Without Shame
• Reclaiming My Body
• Miscarriage and IVF Changes
• Resentment and Fluctuations
• Menopause Wake Up Call
• Not a Weight Loss Story
• Aging Stronger Mindset
• Finding Your Way Back
• Feeling Home Again
• Final Thanks and Goodbye

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss shares that her cat, Tula, turns 14 in August and will have an end-of-month ultrasound to check her kidneys, which brings her anxiety despite normal blood work a few months ago; Tula is also on thyroid medication and a prescription diet. Elizabeth explains how Tula has been her constant companion since before she and Victor married, staying by her side through years of IVF treatments, losses, and grief, especially as Elizabeth works from home and Tula follows her everywhere. She reflects on the difficulty of watching Tula age and challenges the idea that worry or anticipatory grief is less valid because it’s “just a cat,” encouraging listeners to embrace and feel proud of loving and spoiling their pets without justification, while noting she dislikes the term “cat mama.”

Welcome and Vet Anxiety

Why Tula Means So Much

Health Updates and Ultrasound

Pet Love Is Real Love

Celebrate and Be Present

No Shame in Spoiling

Cat Mama Side Note

Birthday Thanks and Goodbye

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss shares how a strained back forced her to cancel a road trip with visiting friends after several hectic weeks of travel, hosting, late nights, weekend swimming and snorkeling, and worsening neck and lower-back pain despite regular chiropractor visits. Lying in pain, she notices an old belief resurfacing: that she isn’t “allowed” to slow down because she doesn’t have kids and therefore lacks a valid reason to be tired. She reflects on how caregiving and motherhood are often treated as the only visible, acceptable justification for exhaustion, and how that belief led her to push through. Choosing to stay home, she returns to the chiropractor and truly rests—going to bed early and taking guilt-free naps—reminding listeners that rest doesn’t need to be earned, and that caring for body and mind is essential to sustaining joy, freedom, and a life rebuilt intentionally.

• Back Pain Road Trip Cancelled
• Weeks of Nonstop Busy
• The Guilt of Rest
• Where That Belief Came From
• Choosing Real Rest
• Making Joy Sustainable
• You Don’t Need Permission

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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Host Elizabeth Tiglao-Guss shares how, when traveling, hosting gatherings, or hearing about college tuition, she now feels genuine relief and freedom about not having children—feelings that sometimes bring guilt because she and Victor wanted kids for a long time and went through infertility treatments. She reflects that freedom used to be a “silver lining” she leaned on during intense grief, but has shifted into simply being her life now, including spontaneous trips, quiet, and time with friends. She reassures listeners that healing isn’t linear: those still grieving don’t need to rush, and those further along are allowed to feel both relief and guilt without explaining or choosing between them.

• Big Realization
• Relief Without Kids
• Freedom Becomes Life
• Message for Fellow Grievers
• Embracing Both Feelings

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

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