True belonging isn’t just about being surrounded by people and fitting the mold– it’s about being seen and valued for who we truly are, imperfections and all. Today’s guest discovered this enlightenment when she embraced her voice, shared her story, and found community along the way. This week on the podcast, Mary Hoefler joins us for a vulnerable and empowering conversation about belonging, authenticity, and the power of telling your story. Episode 7 of Connection from Here is about how storytelling fosters authentic community and empathy.
After finding herself on stage during an expanded state of consciousness, Mary Hoefler decided that it was about time to get writing and start talking. She found herself on The Moth stage for the first time in July of 2023 and never looked back. A 2025 Moth Grand Slam winner and a six-time StorySlam winner, Mary has also been showing up at venues all over Chicago to tell her truth. In her stories, she shares with bravery and vulnerability what it is like to feel invisible at her age and her lifelong journey of wanting to be seen and picked. Although storytelling is clearly in her DNA, it doesn’t pay the bills, so Mary spends her days as a psychotherapist, encouraging clients to find their voice, get loud, and share their own stories without any edits…because why edit who we are?!!
Topics covered:
- The complex dynamics of being raised in an immigrant community, where survival and conformity were values, but true belonging and individuality were harder to find.
- Using storytelling as a tool to reclaim one’s identity and connect with others in an authentic way.
- The difference between “fitting in” and truly finding belonging by showing up as our true, messy selves.
- Insights into finding and building community as an adult, embracing solitude, and holding space for others’ unique stories.
Watch the episode on YouTube here!
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, telling us what you found insightful!
Learn more about HopeBase at https://www.gethopebase.com/ and our community at https://hopebasecommunity.mn.co/
Connect with Mary:
Psychology Today | Mary Hoefler
The Moth Stories:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RKJl_72bxPmcSKAhNYGe_7krfbfOSYOR
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d61g9kWucRUUaVtaGM3MsPYVUlXvZrBL/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QQf70imBXDW6HXYRfDuPmgwS87OITjyU/view
Stay Connected:
Join the HopeBase Community!
A caring, inclusive community for those seeking real connection, thoughtful conversations, & support.
Start your free trial today at: https://hopebasecommunity.mn.co/plans/1524592?bundle_token=33729f35dfaaa9fea5bc9fc3fdde4a68&utm_source=manual
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.