In this powerful and deeply moving episode, host Elizabeth Tiglao Guss sits down with lawyer and Hawaii resident Caroline Elliot to talk about letting go of the dream of motherhood, rebuilding life after grief, and choosing to live with intention. Caroline shares the emotional journey behind her decision to close the chapter on having children, leave her North Carolina home, and boldly move to Honolulu with her husband and their two dogs. This is a conversation about courage, healing, mental health, and the freedom of choosing a new path—even when it’s incredibly hard.

What You’ll Learn:

• What it’s like to grieve the dream of motherhood
• How Caroline and her husband made the decision to stop fertility treatments
• The emotional impact of living in a home built for children when children don’t come
• Why Caroline says moving to Hawaii was a form of reclaiming her life
• How therapy and conscious choice helped her heal and reconnect with her partner
• The importance of designing a life that reflects who you are now, not who you thought you’d be

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

Elizabeth opens up about her lifelong struggle with self-worth and the deep belief that she’s not enough, a belief rooted in childhood and compounded by years of infertility. Through reflection and a simple meditation that repeats the words “you are enough,” she shares how she’s beginning to rewrite that story with compassion and tenderness. This episode is an invitation to anyone carrying silent grief, shame, or self-doubt to pause, breathe, and begin offering themselves the love they truly deserve.

What You’ll Hear:

• The surprising power of a meditation that repeats “you are enough”
• How childhood patterns and infertility shaped Elizabeth’s self-worth
• The quiet ways we judge and disconnect from our bodies
• A compassionate reframing of how we speak to ourselves
• A reminder that healing begins with grace, not criticism
• Encouragement to practice being, not just doing, and to believe you are worthy just as you are

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

Mentioned in this episode:

After the amazing response to our fireside chat around Mother’s Day, I'm doing a summer series, and I am so excited for this! The theme for this first Fireside Chat is "Life Pivots." I'm hosting this conversation on Friday, July 11th 5pm Pacific Time, with two special guests who've navigated this terrain. We'll discuss the identity challenges that come with childlessness and how to rebuild a life that feels meaningful when Plan A falls through…And I think it’s conversations like this that our community needs. Click on the link below to learn more and sign up for free! I hope you will join us live.

https://bychance.myflodesk.com/1-summerfiresidechat

In this episode, Elizabeth shares how tapping meditation (EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique) has helped her reconnect with herself and regulate her nervous system during difficult seasons of life, including infertility and burnout. She walks you through a gentle, guided tapping session specifically created for women who are childless not by choice, offering space to acknowledge grief, soften into healing, and begin rewriting your story with love and self-compassion.

What You’ll Hear:

• What tapping meditation (EFT) is and how it works
• Elizabeth’s personal journey with EFT and why it’s become a daily practice
• A guided tapping meditation for women who are childless not by choice
• How this practice supports emotional regulation and healing
• Gentle reminders that your story matters and you are not alone

Resources mentioned in this video:

https://www.thetappingsolution.com/

Scroll down this page, and you will find the video on how to ta

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

Mentioned in this episode:

After the amazing response to our fireside chat around Mother’s Day, I'm doing a summer series, and I am so excited for this! The theme for this first Fireside Chat is "Life Pivots." I'm hosting this conversation on Friday, July 11th 5pm Pacific Time, with two special guests who've navigated this terrain. We'll discuss the identity challenges that come with childlessness and how to rebuild a life that feels meaningful when Plan A falls through…And I think it’s conversations like this that our community needs. Click on the link below to learn more and sign up for free! I hope you will join us live.

https://bychance.myflodesk.com/1-summerfiresidechat

In this episode, Elizabeth invites you into a gentler rhythm of summer, one that’s not defined by packed calendars, family vacations, or Instagram-worthy plans. Instead, she explores what it means to reclaim summer as a childless woman and lean into a slower, more intentional pace.

From backyard mornings to feel-good K-dramas (need to know a good one? Send Elizabeth a DM and she'll give you recs!), Elizabeth shares what her version of summer joy looks like, and why giving yourself permission to rest isn’t laziness...it’s radical self-love. Whether you’re craving ease, healing, or simply a season that feels good for your soul, this episode reminds you that your summer gets to look like yours. No guilt, no pressure Just presence.

What you’ll hear:

• Why summer can look different (and freeing!) for those without kids
• How to embrace ease instead of productivity
• Ways to reclaim childlike joy through simple pleasures
• The healing power of doing “nothing” and choosing slow living
• Why K-dramas are Elizabeth’s new favorite mental escape (with recs!)
• Encouragement to release the “shoulds” and follow what feels good

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

Mentioned in this episode:

After the amazing response to our fireside chat around Mother’s Day, I'm doing a summer series, and I am so excited for this! The theme for this first Fireside Chat is "Life Pivots." I'm hosting this conversation on Friday, July 11th 5pm Pacific Time, with two special guests who've navigated this terrain. We'll discuss the identity challenges that come with childlessness and how to rebuild a life that feels meaningful when Plan A falls through…And I think it’s conversations like this that our community needs. Click on the link below to learn more and sign up for free! I hope you will join us live.

https://bychance.myflodesk.com/1-summerfiresidechat

In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with her husband, Victor, for a raw and vulnerable conversation on Father’s Day. This is a day that carries quiet complexity for those navigating life without children and inside this episode, what starts as a casual check-in turns into a heartfelt exchange about grief, identity, societal pressure, and the silent ways men often carry loss.

Victor opens up about how Father’s Day really feels for him, what it’s like to grieve without clear rituals or community, and the emotional weight of letting go of a dream he never thought he’d have to release. Together, they reflect on shared grief, gender differences in emotional processing, and how this journey continues to evolve over time.

Whether you’re walking this path with a partner or solo, this episode offers insight, connection, and comfort in knowing that you are not alone—and that grief, while it may never fully disappear, can soften with time.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• A vulnerable, unscripted conversation about the emotional impact of Father’s Day
• How men process childlessness differently than women—and why it’s often invisible
• Why it’s important to acknowledge “silent grief”
• Reflections on guilt, identity, and healing as a couple
• The power of honest conversations in relationships

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

Mentioned in this episode:

After the amazing response to our fireside chat around Mother’s Day, I'm doing a summer series, and I am so excited for this! The theme for this first Fireside Chat is "Life Pivots." I'm hosting this conversation on Friday, July 11th 5pm Pacific Time, with two special guests who've navigated this terrain. We'll discuss the identity challenges that come with childlessness and how to rebuild a life that feels meaningful when Plan A falls through…And I think it’s conversations like this that our community needs. Click on the link below to learn more and sign up for free! I hope you will join us live.

https://bychance.myflodesk.com/1-summerfiresidechat

In this heartfelt solo episode of By Chance, Elizabeth opens up about the tender reality of being in an emotional in-between space. She had a different topic planned—but instead, she chose to show up exactly as she is. No sugarcoating. No pretending. Just real talk about the loneliness, the inner questioning, and the quiet doubts that surface in the messy middle of life. If you’ve been feeling a little off lately or wondering if you’re doing enough, this episode is here to remind you: you are not alone.

You’ll hear:

• Why life doesn’t always feel like sunshine and joy, even after beautiful experiences
• What it means to let things be messy instead of trying to fix them
• How emotional fog and creative burnout show up (and how to name it)
• The reality of working from home, running a business, and feeling isolated
• What small rituals can ground you during tough seasons
• Why rest, prayer, and gentle self-compassion matter more than ever
• A loving reminder that this, too, shall pass

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

Mentioned in this episode:

After the amazing response to our fireside chat around Mother’s Day, I'm doing a summer series, and I am so excited for this! The theme for this first Fireside Chat is "Life Pivots." I'm hosting this conversation on Friday, July 11th 5pm Pacific Time, with two special guests who've navigated this terrain. We'll discuss the identity challenges that come with childlessness and how to rebuild a life that feels meaningful when Plan A falls through…And I think it’s conversations like this that our community needs. Click on the link below to learn more and sign up for free! I hope you will join us live.

https://bychance.myflodesk.com/1-summerfiresidechat

In today's episode, Elizabeth shares a powerful reflection that surfaced during a recent tapping meditation. As she continues to embrace the transitions of midlife and the complexities of a child-free path, she opens up about the subtle yet profound fears many may carry—ones that often go unspoken. From the fear of being alone to wondering about legacy, invisibility, and connection, Elizabeth gives these emotions a voice in hopes of releasing their quiet grip and creating space for peace, clarity, and possibility.

What you’ll learn:

• What tapping meditation is and why it’s especially powerful for emotional release
• The surprising fears that surfaced around being child-free
• How acknowledging quiet fears can shift your mindset
• Why giving language to internal emotions can help you move forward
• The beauty of redefining completeness and fulfillment

Questions answered in this episode:

• What is tapping meditation (EFT) and how does it work?
• How do subconscious fears impact healing and growth?
• What kinds of fears are common for women navigating life without children?
• Can naming your fears really change how you feel?
• What does a meaningful, child-free life look like beyond the traditional narrative?

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

Mentioned in this episode:

After the amazing response to our fireside chat around Mother’s Day, I'm doing a summer series, and I am so excited for this! The theme for this first Fireside Chat is "Life Pivots." I'm hosting this conversation on Friday, July 11th 5pm Pacific Time, with two special guests who've navigated this terrain. We'll discuss the identity challenges that come with childlessness and how to rebuild a life that feels meaningful when Plan A falls through…And I think it’s conversations like this that our community needs. Click on the link below to learn more and sign up for free! I hope you will join us live.

https://bychance.myflodesk.com/1-summerfiresidechat

Elizabeth's husband Victor joins her behind the mic in this episode to share highlights from their recent cruise through the beautiful Croatia! From the stunning Adriatic coastline to meaningful conversations with new friends, this episode is a heartfelt reflection and reminder of what it means to explore the world as a childless couple, the immense and healing joy of intentional travel, and the unexpected comfort of meeting others on similar paths. With laughter, gratitude, and a few noodles in tow, they recount how Croatia exceeded all expectations.

What you’ll learn:

• How small-group travel fosters deeper, more intimate connections
• What it’s like to travel with friends as a couple without children
• Reflections on aging, activity, and redefining the future as a childless-by-chance couple
• The power of meeting like-minded travelers from around the world
• Why shoulder-season travel is often the best-kept secret
• Balancing group dynamics with personal exploration on a cruise
• How travel has shifted from an escape to a source of healing and perspective
• Emotional takeaways from spontaneous connections, including with another childless woman
• The benefits of traveling with parents who don’t center every conversation on their kids
• Why Croatia’s natural and historical beauty left such a lasting impact

Questions answered in this episode:

• What makes a small cruise ideal for couples without children?
• How does travel look different when you’re childless by chance?
• What’s it like to travel with friends who are parents but still prioritize adventure?
• How can travel help you process grief, growth, and purpose?
• What does Croatia offer that surprised Elizabeth and Victor the most?

Connect with Elizabeth:

IG: @bychanceavenue

Stay connected & up to date with all things By Chance

Want to share your story? Apply to be a guest!

Mentioned in this episode:

After the amazing response to our fireside chat around Mother’s Day, I'm doing a summer series, and I am so excited for this! The theme for this first Fireside Chat is "Life Pivots." I'm hosting this conversation on Friday, July 11th 5pm Pacific Time, with two special guests who've navigated this terrain. We'll discuss the identity challenges that come with childlessness and how to rebuild a life that feels meaningful when Plan A falls through…And I think it’s conversations like this that our community needs. Click on the link below to learn more and sign up for free! I hope you will join us live.

https://bychance.myflodesk.com/1-summerfiresidechat