Podcast in Progress: Strength, Disability, Friendship, and Figuring It Out as We Go

Starting a podcast sounded like a great idea over coffee.

We had a story to tell—many stories, actually. Stories of motherhood, disability, heartbreak, laughter that comes with a little dark humor, and the kind of friendship that holds you up when you’re not sure you can keep going. We thought, maybe if we share our stories, someone else out there will feel a little less alone.

So we did it. We hit record...when we remembered to.

And let us tell you: it’s been a beautiful mess ever since.

The Real Talk of Starting a Podcast

We knew we weren’t aiming for polished perfection. But we didn’t realize how awkward it would be to hear our own voices played back at us.

 “Do I really sound like that?” (Yes. Apparently, we do.) 

We’d write too much for one episode and then suddenly freeze on another, wondering: Is this too much? Is this not enough? Will sharing this help someone—or just expose a wound we’re still trying to heal?

And while we were overthinking our words, we were also… underthinking the setup.

We hooked up extra lighting to a lamp - do we see the irony in that? Lights… hooked to lights. It was like duct-taping confidence onto chaos. The ring light sat on top of the lamp like a beacon of false hope—because even perfect lighting can’t undo decades of multitasking and caffeine dependency.

Then there is the editing. That’s a whole other story. Let’s just say we’ve gained a deep appreciation for every podcast producer who’s ever made someone else sound good. Because it turns out, making people sound good is not just hard—it’s an art form!

We also didn’t anticipate the many snafus associated with starting this adventure.  Like how we did a full practice round one day to prepare for the next day’s recording – only for the camera to stop working completely on Janine’s computer when it actually counted. So we scrambled to set up a remote video solution… which worked great, except her mouth and her voice weren’t even close to synced. Think: badly dubbed 80s movie. Thankfully, this is not a YouTube channel.

While we are talking audio, how about the small transition piece we added after recording the first episode - yes, we know it sounds way louder than the rest.  We’re still learning how to even things out. And exporting files? Uploading to different platforms? We’re learning by doing, and messing up plenty along the way.

Walking the Line Between Real and Respectful

One of the hardest parts has been figuring out how much to share. We want to be honest, raw, and real—but we also want to protect our families and keep sacred the parts of the story that belong just to us. We’ve learned to pause and ask:

Does this serve the mission? Does this build connection, or just create noise?

Because at the heart of all of this—at the heart of Strength Happens—is a mission. We want to create a space where stories matter. Where the “strong” moms and caregivers and friends don’t have to hold it all together. Where it’s okay to admit that sometimes strength looks like Diet Coke runs, long walks, crying in the car, or asking for help.

And where friendship is the thing that makes survival possible.

More Than a Podcast

This podcast is more than a project. It’s a lifeline. A love letter to the people who’ve walked this road with us—and to the ones just starting the journey. It’s for the medical mommas who’ve fought to be heard, the dads who held it together as they appeal an insurance claim, the professionals who care so deeply for their patients, and the friends who show up when no one else knows how. If one episode, one story, one moment of truth helps someone feel seen—that’s why we’re doing this.

We’re figuring it out as we go. But maybe that’s part of the point.

If you haven't already, check out our podcast, Strength Happens on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Music and Follow Us on Instagram or Tik Tok for morebehind the scenes fun!

For now, we post podcasts bi-weekly - Episode 2 drops July 9th: Diagnosis Day.

Thanks for being here with us.