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 by curiosity, by the unexpected, and by the quiet bravery it takes to follow a path without knowing where it leads. Along the way, there are detours, discoveries, and the kind of moments that stay with us long after the adventure ends.

So settle in. Let’s step into this together—one breath, one mile, one unfolding moment at a time.

• (00:00:01) - What I Learned From Camping With My Ex-Husband
• (00:08:38) - What I Wish I Knew About Backpacking
• (00:18:32) - Camping at the Grand Canyon
• (00:20:55) - Backpacking Trips

Looking Ahead: The Future of Milkweed and Monarchs

• (00:00:01) - No More Milkweed and Monarchs Podcast

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 carried inside them.

In today’s episode, I’m taking you back to those first weeks — to the dentist visits that shook us, the school moments that pushed me into full mama‑bear mode, and the unexpected lessons that taught all three of us what it means to belong to one another. These stories aren’t polished. They’re real, vulnerable, and foundational to who we became as a family.

So settle in. This is a chapter about resilience, advocacy, and the quiet beginnings of trust — the early days with our girls.

• (00:00:01) - The Journey of Bringing a Daughter to the US
• (00:08:45) - The Romanian school system's failure to help parents
• (00:18:12) - An American Parent's role in teaching her daughter to swim

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 to lovingly call “the mayor,” we’ll take a moment to explore the five stages of death and dying—those emotional currents that shape the experience of anyone facing a terminal diagnosis, as well as the loved ones who walk beside them. These stages aren’t neat or predictable, but they are deeply human, and they form the backdrop for the story you’re about to hear.

In this episode, you’ll meet a man whose warmth and charisma lit up every hallway he walked down, and a wife whose fierce devotion became both his anchor and his shield. Their journey is one of hope, denial, courage, and love—and ultimately, a reminder of how fragile and precious our time together truly is.

Let’s begin.

• (00:00:00) - The 5 Stages of Death and Dying
• (00:08:26) - One patient's battle with a terminal brain tumor
• (00:19:54) - The Death of a Cancer Patient on a Tropical Island

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 routines became powerful lessons in balance, community, and stewardship. You’ll hear stories of family traditions, unexpected treasures found in the woods, and how these practices have carried forward across generations. This episode is a reminder that the habits we nurture—whether playful or purposeful—can ripple outward to create lasting impact.

• (00:00:01) - Both of My Parents Bowled For Years
• (00:09:48) - Living With My Dad For A Week
• (00:17:39) - Growing Up on a Trash Pickup Team
• (00:24:37) - Pick Up the Trash

"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 ventured beyond the safety of the harbor—and discovered just how small we can feel against the vastness of the sea."

• (00:00:01) - I lived on Guam for 4 years
• (00:09:29) - What I Wish I
• (00:16:50) - A Severe Squall Forces the Boat Back Into the Harbor
• (00:25:07) - How to Tell a True Story

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 surprise us when we least expect it. Join me as I share the story of how one meal, one night, and one unexpected hospital stay shaped the way I see food, friendship, and the fragility of health.

• (00:00:01) - Waitress: Fate or Hard Work?
• (00:08:13) - Symptoms of appendicitis after vomiting for hours
• (00:15:54) - Appendixitis Survivor Never Ate Quarter Pounder With Cheese Again

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 found joy, freedom, and connection in the most unexpected of places. It’s a story about community, about how children see the world without filters, and about how a shared Coke bottle became a symbol of something much bigger.

So grab a cup of something warm, settle in, and let’s journey together to a time when the world felt just a little more open, and a lot more kind.

• (00:00:00) - Growing Up With My Brother
• (00:09:44) - The African-American Parents of Detroit Lions and Tiger baseball
• (00:17:54) - Black and White at Hillsdale College