Lori Lyons Asked Her Husbandโs Ex-Wife to Be Her Babyโs GodmotherโAnd It Changed Everything
Lori Lyons shares how she built a joyful, peaceful blended family with her husbandโs ex-wifeโfrom open adoption to co-parenting with deep mutual respect. A Hall of Fame sports writer, stepmom, and adoptive mom, Lori proves that with empathy and intention, families after divorce can thrive. A must-listen on blended families, step-parenting, and divorce recovery.
From NICU to National Brand: How Two Dads Built Baby Food Empire Kekoa Foods From Love
Two dads. One brave baby. A family built through love, surrogacy, and a NICU miracle. In this episode of A Fresh Story, Danny Auld and David Fullner share how their journey to fatherhood inspired Kekoa Foods, their organic baby food brand. From starting a family through surrogacy to launching a purpose-driven business, this powerful story explores parenting, life transitions, and entrepreneurship.
From Grief to Giant Cookies: How Chloe Sexton Built Her Family and Her Brand
After losing her mom to brain cancer and becoming guardian to her little sister, Chloe Sexton turned heartbreak into hopeโbuilding a viral bakery, Chloeโs Giant Cookies. In this emotional episode of A Fresh Story, Chloe shares how grief, guardianship, and resilience shaped her journey as a business owner, single mom, and TikTok creator. A powerful story of love, loss, and fresh starts.
The Emotional Journey of Being a Gestational Surrogate with Emily Westerfield
In this episode of A Fresh Story, Emily Westerfield shares her transformative journey from surrogate to surrogacy agency owner. Discover the emotional and logistical aspects of surrogacy, the importance of psychological readiness, and the powerful bonds formed with intended parents.
A Motherโs Worst Nightmare: Baylie Grogan, Shawnee Baker, and the Paperwork That Couldโve Changed Everything
After losing her daughter Baylie Grogan in a tragic college accident, Shawnee Baker became an advocate for healthcare proxy awareness and college safety reform. In this powerful episode, Shawnee shares Baylieโs heartbreaking story and why every family needs legal protections in place for young adults. We discuss medical decision-making, toxicology laws, and the mission behind the Baylieโs Wish Foundation. A must-listen for all parents.
How Trystan Reese Became a Dad, an Advocate, and a Voice for Trans Families
Transgender father Trystan Reese shares his powerful journey through adoption, trans fatherhood, and building a blended LGBTQ+ family. From unexpected parenthood to raising a neurodivergent child, Trystan opens up about love, identity, and resilience. A must-listen on modern parenting, chosen family, and redefining fatherhood.
Family, Rewritten: How Olivia Howell Created Her Own Definition of Home
After divorce turned her world upside down, Olivia Howell began rebuilding her life from the ground upโwith honesty, intention, and love. In this episode of A Fresh Story, she shares how she created a joyful, modern family with her two sons, overcame postpartum depression, and found strength through tradition, support, and self-trust.
When Home is a Person: Building a Family From Miles Apart with Jenny Dreizen
What happens when love finds you across an ocean? In this episode of A Fresh Story, Olivia sits down with her sister, Genevieve Dreizen, to talk about the beautifully complex journey of building a lifeโand a familyโacross continents. From a chance meeting in Scotland to the quiet triumphs of long-distance love, this is a story that blends vulnerability, resilience, and deep-rooted connection.
A Fresh Story Podcast: 2025 Season 11 Kickoff: The Family Season, โHow did you create your family?โ
In the kickoff episode of A Fresh Storyโs new Family Season, sisters and co-hosts Jenny Dreizen and Olivia Howell sit down to reflect on the evolution of their podcast, with over 200 episodes under their belt, the duo shares how their fascination with storytellingโand particularly stories rooted in family dynamicsโhas shaped both their show and their own understanding of identity.