The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby

Eva Benefield shares her extraordinary story of loss, survival, and finding a way forward after her family became the center of the infamous “Black Swan Murder” case. She opens up about losing both of her parents at a young age, her complicated relationship with her stepmother Ashley, taking the stand in her father’s trial, and navigating grief while the world watched. Plus, Eva shares how humor, running, writing, and building Ghost Cowboy helped her create a life beyond the headlines.

Eva's insta: @evathefreakindiva

Link to Eva's memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Girl-Surviving-Murder_A-Memoir/dp/1668043351/

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Follow The Unplanned Podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/unplanned__podcast/
https://www.tiktok.com/@unplanned_podcast

Listen to the pod on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToDA4ufQuWuEgMq07zN6t

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unplanned-podcast/id1669604504

Follow Matt & Abby:
Abby's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/abbyelizabethoward/
Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_matt_howard_/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@matt_and_abby
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mattandabb
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MattandAbby

Mascara is restocking September 15th! Sign up here for updates: https://www.biswell-beauty.com/

Chapters:
00:57 - Losing my mom at 14
04:34 - Meeting Ashley
07:12 - My father's murder
08:04 - Finding out my dad was dating a 23 year old
13:36 - Getting married after 13 days
14:20 - Life with Ashley
24:50 - Ballet company
32:22 - Escalation to the murder
39:17 - Murder and the aftermath
57:01 - Media attention
01:00:43 - True crime industry
01:03:24 - Testifying in my dad's murder trial
01:09:05 - sentencing
01:12:28 - trial updates
01:16:04 - Response to my book, Ghost Girl

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Three weeks postpartum and we’re officially back in the newborn trenches! We’re talking sleepless nights, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, mom guilt, adjusting to life with three kids, and the new rules keeping our marriage intact through it all. Plus, we share what’s been different about the newborn stage the third time around.

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Follow The Unplanned Podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/unplanned__podcast/
https://www.tiktok.com/@unplanned_podcast

Listen to the pod on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToDA4ufQuWuEgMq07zN6t

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unplanned-podcast/id1669604504

Follow Matt & Abby:
Abby's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/abbyelizabethoward/
Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_matt_howard_/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@matt_and_abby
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mattandabb
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MattandAbby

Mascara is restocking September 15th! Sign up here for updates: https://www.biswell-beauty.com/

Chapters:
01:58 - Postpartum
03:13 - Placenta Pills
03:44 - Hemorrhage
08:00 - Community
09:53 - Newborn sleep
22:04 - Paw Patrol Movie
24:00 - Toddlers regressing
25:26 - Mom guilt
29:44 - Pretzel
32:54 - Legoland
36:53 - Birthdays
38:30 - Pirate party
43:43 - Postpartum rules
46:41 - Nursing
50:15 - Parents in town
56:07 - Night feedings
59:41 - Loading 3 kids in a car
01:02:57 - 1st postpartum date
01:05:18 - working out
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This episode has been sitting in the vault for two years, and we’re finally getting to share it with you.

We’re so grateful to The Bucket List Family for joining us and for allowing us to share this never-before-seen conversation while Abby is taking time to heal and enjoy maternity leave. We talk about raising fearless kids, traveling the world as a family, their unconventional parenting philosophy, close calls with crocodiles and great white sharks, and what they’ve learned from nearly a decade of adventure together.

We hope you enjoy this special episode as much as we loved recording it. ❤️

Bucket List Fam insta: @thebucketlistfamily
National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel book: amazon.com

Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping at https://nutrafol.com with promo code UNPLANNEDPOD.

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Cash App:
Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/kssum24w #CashAppPod
Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement, for the Sutton debit flex card at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-sutton and for the Bancorp debit flex card at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/debit-flex-card-agreement-bancorp. Savings and Offers provided by Cash App, a Block Inc. brand. Offers may not be affiliated with third party merchants.
Parents and legal guardians can open a managed account for kids 6-12.
Cash App will pass through a portion of the interest paid on your savings balance held in an account for the benefit of Cash App customers at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. To earn interest on your Cash App savings balance, you need to have sponsor approval. Exceptions may apply. Savings yield rate is subject to change. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.

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Follow The Unplanned Podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/unplanned__podcast/
https://www.tiktok.com/@unplanned_podcast

Listen to the pod on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToDA4ufQuWuEgMq07zN6t

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unplanned-podcast/id1669604504

Follow Matt & Abby:
Abby's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/abbyelizabethoward/
Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_matt_howard_/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@matt_and_abby
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mattandabb
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MattandAbby

Mascara is sold out! Thank you guys so much! Sign up here for updates on restock: https://www.biswell-beauty.com/

Chapters:
04:42 - Traveling with babies
06:23 - Meeting on Mormon missions
20:57 - Becoming the Bucket List Fam
30:35 - Where we find joy
34:53 - Kid friendly travel
37:03 - Frugal travel
40:42 - What to pack
42:35 - Language barriers
43:44 - Safety when traveling
45:31 - Finding community while traveling
46:48 - letting our kids swim with sharks
54:39 - Teaching our kids to be adventurous
01:05:52 - Being of service
01:14:09 - Surfing with my kids
01:18:08 - Working with National Geographic
01:23:03 - Hidden gems
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Matt and Abby introduce their newest addition to the family and share the full story of his whirlwind arrival! From Abby’s doctor accidentally breaking her water and an unexpectedly fast labor to getting the VBAC she hoped for, they open up about welcoming their rainbow baby after loss. Plus, they share the realities of postpartum life, breastfeeding, baby blues, and why Matt is turning Abby’s placenta into pills.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: To explore coverage, visit https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/UNPLANNED
The ASPCA® is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance

Momcozy: Right now you can get 10% off the Night Pro Bottle Warmer and 10% when you pre-order the DeepClean Bottle Washer D8 at https://momcozy.com with code UNPLANNED.

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Follow The Unplanned Podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/unplanned__podcast/
https://www.tiktok.com/@unplanned_podcast

Listen to the pod on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToDA4ufQuWuEgMq07zN6t

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unplanned-podcast/id1669604504

Follow Matt & Abby:
Abby's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/abbyelizabethoward/
Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_matt_howard_/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@matt_and_abby
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mattandabb
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MattandAbby

Mascara is sold out! Thank you guys so much! Sign up here for updates on restock: https://www.biswell-beauty.com/

Chapters:
00:31 - Baby and name reveal!
02:54 - Going into labor
11:26 - Contractions
14:52 - Epidural
24:26 - VBAC
28:23 - Redemptive birth after loss
35:54 - Introducing new baby to the family
40:36 - Postpartum plan
42:08 - Getting released from the hospital
49:33 - Breastfeeding
52:11 - Doula
58:02 - Mental health postpartum
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Kaydee Church, better known online as “the steak girl,” and her fiancé Tyson join us to talk about unexpectedly getting pregnant at 20, becoming parents before marriage, and navigating their new life in the public eye. They open up about their daughter’s scary trip to the NICU, losing $12,000 in a TikTok scam, dealing with judgment online, and how viral fame has changed their lives.

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Osea: Get 10% off your first order sitewide at https://oseamalibu.com with code UNPLANNED.

NOBL: NOBL gives you real travel peace of mind — security, design, and convenience all in one. Head to https://NOBLTravel.com for 46% off your entire order! #NOBL #adventure

Betterhelp Visit https://betterhelp.com/unplannedpodcast #adventure

Chilipad: Visit https://www.sleep.me/UNPLANNED to get up to $255 off your Chilipad 2.0 with code UNPLANNED, plus free shipping and a 30-day sleep trial.

Kaydee insta: @kaydeechurch

Follow The Unplanned Podcast:
https://www.instagram.com/unplanned__podcast/
https://www.tiktok.com/@unplanned_podcast

Listen to the pod on Spotify/ Apple Podcasts:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1ToDA4ufQuWuEgMq07zN6t

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unplanned-podcast/id1669604504

Follow Matt & Abby:
Abby's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/abbyelizabethoward/
Matt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/_matt_howard_/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@matt_and_abby
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mattandabb
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@MattandAbby

Mascara is sold out! Thank you guys so much! Sign up here for updates on restock: https://www.biswell-beauty.com/

Chapters:
00:53 - Carnivore diet
04:02 - Starting a family young
05:38 - Meet cute
07:10 - Living with family
08:12 - Going viral
16:35 - Finding out we were pregnant
25:42 - My first pregnancy
36:18 - Getting engaged
38:20 - Planning our wedding
46:00 - Online backlash
48:00 - Finding out the gender of my baby
49:00 - Postpartum
48:53 - Breastfeeding
01:00:35 - Making content together
01:04:30 - Brant Rivera Collab
01:08:13 - Audience questions
01:20:17 - Who's More Likely
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