Milkweed & Monarchs
Welcome to our podcast Milkweed & Monarchs
Episodes
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...
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...
This episode of Milkweed & Monarchs, titled "Divine Intervention," is an intimate and heartfelt reflection on friendship, redemption, and fate. Dawn Klem, the host, recounts her deep bond with a tight-knit group of friends from Hillsdale, Michigan, and the ways life inevitably pulled them in different directions.
She shares a touching story of her attempt to reconnect with her old fr...
Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I share the story of Kate—a patient who became a friend, a fighter who defied expectations, and a presence that lingers long after she’s gone.
Kate’s journey began in an elevator, where a simple exchange turned into an unforgettable connection. Months later, I found myself sitting across from her in a hospital room, ...
Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I take you back to an unforgettable experience—the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500.
For my husband, Craig, cars have always been more than just machines—they’re a passion, a lifelong fascination that started with childhood trips to stock car races and evolved into a love for Formula One and IndyCar. So when our daughters su...
Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I share the story of how I unexpectedly became a runner—motivated not by personal ambition, but by the desire to encourage my daughters to embrace team sports.
Growing up, I never considered myself an athlete. I was a cheerleader, but I always wished my mother had pushed me toward something more—perhaps cross country or track. W...
Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I dedicate this episode to the teachers who shape lives in ways they may never fully realize.
Teachers often don’t get the appreciation they deserve. Behind the scenes, they work tirelessly to guide, encourage, and uplift students, sometimes in ways that go unnoticed. But for me, three teachers stand out—three women ...
Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I take you back to a childhood moment that shaped my imagination and curiosity in unexpected ways.
Growing up in Hillsdale, Michigan, I was surrounded by stories—ones my mother read to me, ones I saw on television, and ones I created in my own mind. Two stories in particular stuck with me: The Princess and the Pea an...
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