For The Hayters: The Stories We Survive

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses teen pregnancy, adoption, and cancer diagnosis. Jamie Shoemaker’s life has never been a straight line. From navigating a high-pressure teen pregnancy in a conservative church to choosing a private open adoption at fifteen, Jamie has spent her life breaking cycles. She’s been an egg donor, a mother, and a fierce advocate for her own body—a skill that became a...

RIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses late-term stillbirth, medical trauma, and postpartum hemorrhaging. "I didn't even have to hear the words. I could read it all over her face." Alyssa was 38 weeks pregnant—at the finish line—when the world stopped. In this raw conversation, Alyssa walks us through the devastating loss of her first daughter, Marianna Yvette, and the terrifying medical crisis th...

Becky has beef with the word budget. It feels restrictive. It feels like failure waiting to happen. It feels like getting grounded. So in this episode of Wallet Therapy, Becky and Alex are flipping the script. We’re retiring the word “budget” and replacing it with something that doesn’t make your nervous system panic: a spending plan. Inside this episode, we cover: Why 84% of people “fail” at budg...

This episode discusses severe alcoholism, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Please listen with care. I sat down with Nicole, a mother of five who lived a "normal" life on the outside while a dark hole was swallowing her from the inside. From her first blackout at thirteen to drinking a Costco-sized handle of vodka every 24 hours, Nicole’s story is a harrowing look at how addiction isolates...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses the sudden loss of a parent and substance abuse recovery. When Kylie lost her mother unexpectedly in 2024, her life shifted in an instant. She didn't just lose her mom; she became the legal guardian of her teenage brother, Josh. But she wasn't alone. Her husband, Griff, didn't hesitate. Without a formal meeting or a long debate, he stepped into the role of a...

Welcome to the very first episode of our Wallet Therapy miniseries! Ever feel like everyone else got the "how to be an adult with money" memo except for you? You’re not alone. In this kickoff episode, sisters Becky and Alex pull back the curtain on their own bank accounts. Becky gets real about her "add to cart" addiction and the overwhelm of looking at a bank statement , while Alex shares how she...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses addiction, overdose, sudden death of a parent, and self-harm. When Kylie was 21, she got the call every child of an addict dreads: her mother had overdosed. While her mother eventually found sobriety, her sudden passing in 2024 left Kylie with a choice that wasn't really a choice at all. Within 48 hours, she had to fight the state of Massachusetts to keep he...

One sister is a professional Finance Coach (Alex). The other... has a shopping cart habit she’s not exactly ready to discuss (Becky). Welcome to Wallet Therapy , a new miniseries living right here in the For The Hayters feed. We’re bridging the gap between "I should probably save money" and "But look how cute this is in person." Join us every other Thursday for a real conversation about the messy,...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses medical trauma, brain tumors, miscarriage, and infant loss. "I’m going to be strong for you." It’s the vow every caregiver makes, but rarely do we talk about the crushing weight of that promise. Ryan Leonard joins me to pull back the curtain on what it’s actually like to be the "well-spouse." When his wife Cheryl—who had already survived two brain tumors—exp...

TRIGGER WARNING: TW: This episode discusses addiction, abandonment, child medical trauma, and miscarriage. Daniella became a mom at 20, expecting a "normal" transition into adulthood. Instead, she found herself navigating a high-risk pregnancy, a disconnect with her newborn that lasted nearly a year, and a partner lost to addiction. But the fight was just beginning. From holding her two-week-old s...

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses postpartum depression, suicidal ideation in children, chronic pain, and mental health crises. When Katie sat down with me, she described a moment leaning over her 6-month-old’s crib, crying so hard that her baby stopped crying out of shock. That was the moment she knew she was in the "vortex." After a 20-year career in nursing, Katie found herself battling s...

This episode discusses death of a minor, emotional abuse, family estrangement, and traumatic birth/NICU experiences. Ciyla Fletcher is only 25, but she has lived a dozen lifetimes. From moving 15 times before adulthood to being raised by grandparents while her parents drifted in and out, Ciyla learned early on that "chaos felt like safety." But the hits didn't stop at childhood instability. At 16,...

Trigger Warning: This episode includes detailed discussion of miscarriage (including missed miscarriage and medication-assisted miscarriage), grief, medical trauma/insensitive care, anxiety/SSRI withdrawal, and fertility-related testing. Please take care of yourself while listening. Today’s episode of For The Hayters features Kim Gordon, who shares the reality of navigating two miscarriages—and th...

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of postpartum depression, self harm thoughts, pregnancy loss, intimate partner violence, and death and grief. Today’s episode of For The Hayters features Teri, a mom who has lived through postpartum depression, the loss of her father and two brothers, and the work of building a blended family while healing from an abusive relationship. Teri shares...

Trigger warning This episode discusses pregnancy loss medical trauma and grief. Today’s episode of For The Hayters shares Melissa’s powerful and emotional journey through high risk pregnancies cesarean scar complications postpartum depression ectopic pregnancies NICU life and the devastating loss of her mother. Melissa opens up about becoming a mom at 26 navigating two emergency C sections experie...

Trigger Warning for pregnancy loss stillbirth miscarriage trauma and postpartum mental health Today’s episode of For The Hayters shares Kassie’s powerful story of losing her daughter Sutton at 21 weeks. Kassie walked into her routine anatomy scan expecting the same relief she felt with her first pregnancy. Instead she heard the words every parent fears. There is no heartbeat. Kassie opens up about...

Trigger Warning This episode discusses medical trauma chronic sorrow seizure activity and the emotional realities of caring for a medically complex child. Please take care while listening. Today’s episode of For The Hayters shares Misty’s story of raising her seven year old son, Jackson, who lives with IQSEC2, a rare and severely debilitating genetic disorder. Misty opens up about the shock of a n...

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses infertility medical dismissal and emotional health struggles. Please take care while listening. Today’s episode of For The Hayters shares Sonia’s powerful story of navigating PCOS infertility and years of medical dismissal. After missing periods for months at a time sudden unexplained weight gain and countless negative pregnancy tests she knew something was...

Today’s episode of For The Hayters shares Katie’s powerful story of growing up in a home filled with emotional abuse, scapegoating, and toxic family dynamics. For years, she believed she was the problem. She believed she was unlovable. She believed something was wrong with her. After a lifetime of manipulation, guilt, and feeling invisible, Katie made the hardest choice she has ever made. She walk...

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses grief, military loss, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Please listen with care and step away if you need to protect your peace. In Part 2 of Crystal’s story, she reads letters her late husband Jake wrote from boot camp, recounts the day she received the knock at the door every military wife fears, and opens up about the long journey of healing that followe...

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of childhood trauma, addiction, sexual abuse, and grief related to military loss. Please take care while listening and skip this episode if you need to protect your own peace. At just 19, Crystal’s world shattered when her husband Jake — her high school sweetheart and best friend — was killed in Afghanistan. In this two-part episode, she opens up a...

TW: Medical trauma, hospitalization of a child, discussion of seizures Today’s episode of For The Hayters shares Jordan’s powerful story of parenting a medically complex child. Her daughter, Reagan, was diagnosed with infantile spasms — a rare and serious form of epilepsy — at just nine months old. Jordan opens up about the first signs she noticed, the overwhelming journey through hospital stays,...

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions about miscarriage, infertility, pregnancy loss, and fertility treatments which may be difficult for some listeners. In this episode of For The Hayters, Shaheena shares her powerful story of navigating multiple miscarriages, years of infertility, and two pregnancies during the height of COVID. Her journey through grief, IVF, and motherhood is a rem...

This week on For The Hayters, Sara shares what it means to heal as a first-generation Latina. From being called “toxic” for setting boundaries to redefining what peace looks like inside her culture, her story is about courage, forgiveness, and breaking generational cycles. Sara opens up about her mental health journey, postpartum struggles, and the guilt that comes with choosing yourself when your...

So many of us carry guilt for what we didn’t do. Mira loved her grandfather deeply — yet she was the only one in her family who didn’t visit him in the hospital to say goodbye. For nearly ten years she has wrestled with shame, isolation, and the long road back to grace. Today, Mira opens up about love that lasts, forgiveness that takes time, and learning to let joy sit beside grief. If you’ve ever...