The Check In!

Georgia Wellman on Losing her Mom at 17yo, Sobriety & Becoming an Influencer | Grief Around Mother’s Day Part 2

If you follow Georgia Wellman online, you're one of the nearly 300,000 people who know her for her comforting routines, honest life updates, humor, relationship content, and the way she makes everyday life feel both beautiful and real. But in this episode, you get to hear more of the story behind what people see online. In Part 2 of the Grief Around Mother’s Day series, Georgia opens up about losing her mom to cancer at 17, feeling alone in grief, getting sober in her early 20s, leaving a stable corporate career, and the path that led her to becoming an influencer. We talk about what it’s really like to grow an audience online, the video that changed everything, the pressure of being perceived, the difference between going viral and building a community, and how hard it can be when your job is tied so closely to your identity. Since recording, Georgia has also shared that she’s exploring a return to the corporate world, which makes this conversation even more relevant. Because changing your plans doesn’t mean you failed. Sometimes it means you’re growing, being honest, & paying attention to what you need. This episode is for the girl or woman who feels behind, feels lost, is rethinking her path, or wonders if everyone else got the memo on how to “figure life out.” It’s about grief, identity, sobriety, career pivots, social media pressure, relationships, and the reminder that you don’t have to do life alone. If you’re new here from Georgia’s world, welcome! I’m Dillan, a therapist, mom, and host of The Check In! with Dillan, where we talk about the deeper stories behind who we’re becoming. In this episode, we talk about: * losing a parent as a teenager * grief and feeling unsupported * getting sober in your 20s * leaving Google and changing career paths * how Georgia became a full-time influencer * growing an audience on social media * going viral vs. building real connection * life online vs. real life * relationships, identity, and emotional growth * why changing your mind doesn’t mean you failed * why community matters so much Connect with us: Dillan / The Check In!: @checkinwithdillan Georgia: @georgiawellman Ellen | music: @elliezelie If this episode resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and come hang out with me on Instagram at @checkinwithdillan

Grief Around Mother’s Day Part 1: Losing a Child, Faith, Marriage & Finding Hope After Loss with Angie VanAntwerp

In this deeply moving episode of The Check in! with Dillan, Dillan begins the Grief Around Mother’s Day series with Angie VanAntwerp. Angie shares the story of losing her son, Conner, just before his fourth birthday, while she was newly pregnant and parenting a toddler. Together, Dillan and Angie talk about child loss, Mother’s Day after grief, faith, marriage, parenting surviving children, trauma in the nervous system, and the power of community support. This conversation is for bereaved mothers, grieving families, people supporting someone through loss, and anyone learning how to sit with pain without rushing to fix it. Resources mentioned: Lory’s Place, a grief support center for children, adults, and families; GriefShare, a grief support group program often hosted by churches; Holding On to Hope by Nancy Guthrie; and Respite Retreat, a retreat for couples grieving the death of a child. Additional support: The Compassionate Friends offers peer support for families grieving the death of a child, sibling, or grandchild. For immediate emotional crisis support, call or text 988. Follow Dillan on Instagram: @checkinwithdillan

Is AI Really Hurting Kids? Teens, Social Media & Digital Safety | Kirsten Haglund Part 2

AI, social media, screen time, teen mental health...it can feel like every headline is telling parents to panic. What if fear isn’t the most helpful starting point? In this episode of The Check-In with Dillan, I’m joined by Kirsten Haglund [speaker, researcher, and communications professional] for a nuanced conversation about young people, technology, AI, and digital safety. Kirsten shares her research on AI and youth mental health through the University of Zurich, including her work connected to the Frontiers in Digital Child Safety initiative with the University of Zurich, TUM Think Tank, and Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. Together, we talk about why simply banning technology may not build the skills kids need, how fear-based narratives can sometimes increase anxiety, and why digital safety has to involve more than just parents. We explore social media, AI chatbots, education, cheating, creativity, screen time, neurodivergence, resilience, and what it means to help kids build capacity instead of just control. This conversation does not give a one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, it asks better questions: How do we help kids stay safe without making technology taboo?How do we build digital resilience?How do we protect childhood while also preparing young people for the world they are actually growing up in? Resources mentioned in this episode include: * Frontiers in Digital Child Safety — TUM Think Tank, University of Zurich, and Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University * Kirsten Müller-Daubermann’s thesis: It Depends How We Grow Up With It: Designing a Child-Centered Digital Environment That Supports Rights This episode is for parents, therapists, educators, and anyone trying to raise or support thoughtful, capable, connected kids in a rapidly changing digital world.

What Happens After Winning Miss America at 19yo? Kirsten Haglund | Part 1

A single conversation can change the trajectory of your life… even if the other person never remembers it. In Part 1 of this conversation, Kirsten Haglund reflects on her journey from winning Miss America at 19 to building a life that finally feels aligned. What looks glamorous on the outside often carries pressure, isolation, and the weight of becoming who the world expects you to be. Kirsten shares what that year was actually like—living out of a suitcase, constantly performing, and navigating the emotional highs and lows mostly on her own. We talk about:– The hidden cost of high-achievement environments– Why nothing in life works out the way you plan (and why that’s a good thing)– How small, seemingly insignificant moments can shape someone’s life– Letting go of rigid plans to create a life that actually fits This isn’t just a conversation about pageants—it’s about identity, pressure, and becoming. In Part 2, we shift into Kirsten’s research on AI and youth mental health—and her perspective might challenge everything you’ve been told about technology and kids.

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention & Why It Matters for Families, Workplaces, and Communities | Brook Thomas -Forensic Interviewer & Mayor

Child sexual abuse is more common—and more misunderstood—than most people realize. And its impact doesn’t stop in childhood—it shapes families, workplaces, and entire communities. In this episode, I sit down with Brook Thomas from the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) to break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes—and what every adult needs to know to better protect kids. We talk about how abuse happens, why it often goes undisclosed for years, and how to respond in a way that supports a child instead of shutting them down. But we also go bigger—exploring how unaddressed trauma shows up later in life, impacting relationships, mental health, and even workplace productivity. This is why prevention and parent education aren’t just personal—they’re economic. This isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness, education, and knowing what to do. * What the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) does * Why most abuse is committed by someone the child knows * How grooming works—and why it’s often missed * What to say (and not say) if a child discloses * The difference between safe, unsafe, and confusing touch * How to talk to youth about body safety * How trauma impacts development, adulthood, and relationships * Why businesses and communities should invest in preventative family and mental health support * How early intervention improves long-term outcomes—for individuals and the workforce If you’re a parent, educator, business leader, or someone who wants to be a safe adult in a child’s life—this conversation matters. If you or someone you know needs support: * RAINN 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | rainn.org * Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) You can also contact your local Children’s Advocacy Center for free support and services. (269) 556-9640 [https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJwFwcsNgzAMAFD1Wqk7-FJxxBG4OIzAFsFOGhA_JQiF7Xnv_an_tTHjmJYYisVX_8XCbFCIzI-DpeC0x9K1DWtHrISKTWuHSuK0aPJblcHptYuTG8Rvp0-QT5j37I8I6_QALMEdlg&q=children%27s+advocacy+center+st+joseph+mi&oq=childrns+advocacy+cente&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqEggCEC4YDRivARjHARiSAxiABDIGCAAQRRg5Mg8IARAAGA0YsQMYyQMYgAQyEggCEC4YDRivARjHARiSAxiABDIPCAMQLhgNGK8BGMcBGIAEMgkIBBAAGA0YgAQyDwgFEC4YDRivARjHARiABDIJCAYQABgNGIAEMg8IBxAuGA0YrwEYxwEYgAQyCQgIEAAYDRiABDIJCAkQABgNGIAE0gEINjA0MWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#] For parent education workshops, speaking, or business inquiries with Dillan Koch: 📧 hello@parentingteengirls.com