We're back from a longer than planned break and with a new look! "The Story Hollow," formerly known as the AID Podcast, has been months in the making. Our new name reflects our mission to create a community—a haven we lovingly call "The Hollow"—where everyone can explore healing and growth at their own pace. Check out Patreon.com/thestoryhollow for more details.

In today's episode, I'm joined by my wife as we begin sharing something very personal: our journey towards starting our family. We decided to share it openly with the world because as we were going through it, we didn’t really have anyone to talk to about it and we felt incredibly alone. Our hope with this series is that if you are going through a fertility journey yourself, the relatability factor helps you, just knowing someone else’s story is similar to yours, and that you’re not alone. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, from debating if we even wanted kids, to aligning on how we'd raise them, and discussing everything from schooling to discipline. We explored the financials, the ins and outs of insurance policy, and spent countless hours finding the perfect doctor and fertility clinic.

Potential Trigger warnings for the series: miscarriages, abortion, references to death, isolation during a pandemic, and the stages of grief. There are also some graphic descriptions of some events.

In this two part episode, I dive into a conversation with guest storyteller, Shrig, about how an unexpected journey into dog walking offered her a unique form of healing and the space she needed to process her trauma. We explore the light-hearted side of healing, blending personal stories with pop culture references that brought laughter and a lightness to the discussion. It's a reminder that the path to recovery from deep-seated pain doesn't always have to be heavy; it can also be filled with moments of joy, laughter, and a rediscovery of happiness. Join us as Shrig shares how these walks with dogs not only helped her to move through the past, but also showed her how much she's grown and that joy can indeed find its way back into our lives.

Potential trigger tags: Religious trauma, domestic abuse, physical abuse.

In this two part episode, I dive into a conversation with guest storyteller, Shrig, about how an unexpected journey into dog walking offered her a unique form of healing and the space she needed to process her trauma. We explore the light-hearted side of healing, blending personal stories with pop culture references that brought laughter and a lightness to the discussion. It's a reminder that the path to recovery from deep-seated pain doesn't always have to be heavy; it can also be filled with moments of joy, laughter, and a rediscovery of happiness. Join us as Shrig shares how these walks with dogs not only helped her to move through the past, but also showed her how much she's grown and that joy can indeed find its way back into our lives.

Potential trigger tags: Religious trauma, domestic abuse, physical abuse.