Milkweed & Monarchs

Some stories feel dramatic in the moment not because of what actually happened, but because of what we didn’t know. This episode is one of those. For years, I carried the weight of thinking I had done something wrong — replaying conversations, filling in the silence with blame, trying to make sense of a situation no one ever explained to me. What I didn’t realize then was that the truth was missing, not my worth. ...

There are stories women carry in their bones — stories of being dismissed, doubted, or dragged through systems that were supposed to protect them. Stories of judges who didn’t listen, lawyers who didn’t care, and a culture that still asks women to be both the evidence and the advocate for their own suffering.

This episode is the final chapter of my life with my narcissistic ex‑husband. It’s the chapter where...

Today’s episode is different. It’s heavier, more vulnerable, and rooted in a truth I carried quietly for a long time. What you’re about to hear isn’t easy — not for me to say, and not always easy to take in. But it is part of my life, part of what shaped me, and part of why I tell stories at all.

I believe in honesty. I believe in naming what happened. And I believe that even the hardest chapters deser...

Some stories break your heart a little, but somehow leave it bigger than before. Today’s episode is one of those. It’s a reminder that even in the hardest moments, people show up for one another in ways that are quiet, unexpected, and deeply human. This isn’t a story about perfection or happy endings. It’s a story about kindness, about the way we carry each other, and about the beauty that can rise out of so...

Some people enter our lives as teachers. Others as companions. And then there are the ones — like my brother — who arrive as walking, talking tests of patience.

Growing up with him was… a lot. He could push every button I had, sometimes just by breathing in my direction. I spent years thinking he was simply determined to make my life harder. But as I got older, I began to see the currents underneath his behavior ...

There are some stories that sit in two places at once—where your heart aches and softens at the same time. This episode is one of those. It’s a chapter filled with endings and beginnings, with the kind of tenderness that only shows up when life asks you to hold joy in one hand and grief in the other.

Today, I’m sharing something that’s both sad and good, heavy and hopeful. It’s a reminder that we don&r...

Some stories don’t start with sunshine — they start with rain clouds rolling in over Lake Michigan, muddy shoes, frizzy hair, and a husband with a stubborn streak of optimism. Today’s episode is one of those stories.

In this chapter of Milkweed & Monarchs, I’m taking you with Craig and me on a lighthouse adventure up the northern coast — the kind of day that begins as a simple escape from a long wi...

Welcome to Episode 71 — which feels impossible, because somehow we’ve arrived at that number one story, one lesson, one wild detour at a time.

Today’s episode is one of those stories that didn’t wait its turn or arrive neatly wrapped. It barged in, made itself comfortable, and demanded to be told. And honestly? I’m glad it did.

This chapter is messy in the most human way — full of unexpected turn...

Some stories arrive gently. This is not one of those stories.

Today’s episode is a full‑tilt ride through one of the most chaotic chapters of my life — a time when I was juggling graduate school, managing an oncology unit, navigating the emotional hurricane of IVF, and trying to plan a trip to Wales for a wedding I was genuinely thrilled to attend… until life, hormones, and fate had other plans.

What begins as a ...

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’t an escape from real life;...

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 sto...

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 how much courage two young girls...

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 patient we came ...

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 how these simple rou...

"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 as I revisit the day we vent...

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, resilience, and the way life can surpr...

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 little brother and I foun...