Milkweed & Monarchs

Every adventure has a beginning, though it rarely announces itself with fanfare. More often, it starts in the middle of an ordinary day—when a question lingers a little longer than usual, or a small shift inside nudges us toward something new. This story begins in that familiar place, where life is still happening around us, but something in us knows it’s time to pay attention.

This isn’...

Every adventure begins with a moment—small, almost forgettable—when something inside us whispers that life is about to shift. Sometimes it’s a choice. Sometimes it’s a chance. And sometimes it’s simply the feeling that the ground beneath us is nudging us forward, asking us to trust what we can’t yet see.

In today’s episode, I’m inviting you into one of those journeys. It’s a story shaped...

Some stories arrive softly, and others enter our lives like a storm — disorienting, humbling, and transformative all at once. When my daughters first came to the United States, we stepped into a season filled with new language, new routines, and new fears we didn’t yet have words for. Those early days were tender and chaotic, threaded with moments that tested my resolve and revealed just...

Welcome back to Milkweed & Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today’s episode invites you into one of the most unforgettable patient journeys I witnessed during my years in the brain tumor clinic. This story isn’t just about illness—it’s about the human spirit, the ways we cope with devastating news, and the quiet strength that carries families through the unthinkable.

Before we meet the p...

Welcome back to Milkweed & Monarchs! In today’s episode, Dawn Klem takes us on a heartfelt journey through the everyday habits that shaped her childhood and continue to inspire her life today. From her mother’s bowling league nights that offered a glimpse into women’s camaraderie and teamwork, to her father’s passion for keeping nature clean and instilling responsibility, Dawn shares...

"Welcome back to Milkweed & Monarchs. In today’s episode, we’re setting sail into one of the most unforgettable chapters of my time on Guam. What began as a simple afternoon of sailing with friends quickly turned into a harrowing encounter with the raw power of the Pacific. It’s a story of beauty, fear, resilience, and the kind of memories that stay with you for a lifetime. Join me a...

Sometimes the smallest choices—like what we order for lunch—can lead to the biggest twists in our lives. In this episode of Milkweed & Monarchs, I take you back to my 18-year-old self, a waitress at the Old 99, navigating work, friendships, and the excitement of a simple Quarter Pounder with cheese. What started as an ordinary day turned into an unforgettable lesson about fate, resil...

Hi friends, and welcome back to Milkweed & Monarchs. I’m your host, Dawn Klem, and today I’m inviting you into a memory that’s etched into my heart—a story of childhood innocence, unexpected friendships, and the quiet magic of growing up in a simpler time.

In this episode, I take you back to the early 1960s, to a hill overlooking the football field at Hillsdale College, where my litt...

Welcome back to Milkweed & Monarchs, where stories bloom with heart and humor. In this episode, Dawn takes us deep into the soul of Michigan football culture—from high school championships and family traditions to the unforgettable clash between Michigan State and Notre Dame. What starts as a joyful reunion with Midwest sports fervor quickly turns into a passionate tale of fairness, ...

There are moments in life when everything shifts—quietly, unexpectedly, like the hush before a monarch takes flight. In today’s episode, we explore one of those turning points. It’s a story stitched together with vulnerability, courage, and the kind of grace that only comes from weathering the storm. Whether you’re in the middle of your own metamorphosis or simply seeking a reminder that...

Welcome back to Milkweed & Monarchs, where stories bloom with resilience, connection, and the quiet power of transformation. I’m your host, Dawn Klem.

Today’s episode is a tribute—raw, personal, and deeply human. It’s about my Aunt Sue: a woman whose life was stitched together with compassion, quiet strength, and an unwavering devotion to others. From her years as a social worker to ...

Welcome to Milkweed & Monarchs – Episode 57: The Limousine

Hi everyone, I’m Dawn Klem, and today I’m taking you on a ride—literally and emotionally. In this heartfelt episode, I share the story of how Craig and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary in a way that completely defied my “plain Jane” nature. From cryptic clues and single roses to a surprise limousine ride and a pearl...

Welcome to Milkweed & Monarchs — the podcast where stories bloom and quirks are celebrated. I’m your host, Dawn Klem, and today we’re diving into a tale that’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.

In this episode, The Periscope, I reflect on the beauty of embracing our oddities — those little quirks that make us uniquely ourselves. From childhood insomnia to toe-wiggling anxiety, I s...

In this episode of Milkweed and Monarchs, I invite you into one of the most defining moments of my nursing career—a story that captures the grit, heart, and sometimes the fire it takes to truly advocate for a patient. Over four decades in health care taught me many things, but nothing more enduring than the responsibility to speak up when others can’t. Today, I share a raw and honest acc...

Welcome back to Milkweed and Monarchs, where stories bloom with resilience and connection. I’m Dawn Klem, and today I’m inviting you into one of the most profound chapters of my nursing career—the moment I stepped into the role of a brain tumor navigator.

This wasn’t just a job change. It was a soul-shifting experience that arrived late in my professional journey, yet left the deepest im...

The Fire Hydrant: There are stories we tell because they make people laugh—and then there are stories we carry, quietly, because they remind us who we were and how far we’ve come. This one happens to be both.

In today’s episode of Milkweed & Monarchs, I’m sharing a tale I’ve never been proud of, one that still makes me cringe and laugh in equal measure. It begins with an anxious sixt...

The Journey In this episode, we explore what it means to truly move forward—not just across miles, but through moments that shape us. It’s the story of letting go, reaching back, and learning to hold both joy and uncertainty in the same hand. From the quiet ache of change to the unexpected beauty found along the way, this is a reflection on resilience, belonging, and the invisible thread...

In this episode of Milkweed & Monarchs, I take you on a journey that begins on a quiet soybean farm in northern Ohio and winds through hospital corridors, hunting trails, and the sacred spaces of human connection. "The Hunter" is more than a story about one man's diagnosis—it's about dignity, purpose, and the heartbreaking choices we sometimes face in the face of loss. This one chang...