StepStories Podcast

By Robin Breuner

StepStories is an honest and heartfelt podcast exploring the real-life experiences of blended families. Host Robin Breuner, who has lived life as both a stepdaughter and a mother,

... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about StepStories Podcast:

How many episodes does StepStories Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.

StepStories Podcast episodes:

July 09, 2026 Ep. 29 – Christina Nelson: Radical Stepmom
Step Stories Podcast Host Robin Breuner welcomes Christina Nelson from the Radical Stepmoms podcast to discuss the realities of step motherhood and creating a safe space to talk about the good, bad, and ugly of raising a step child. Christina explains the contradictions stepmoms face, the pressure of others’ expectations, and how stepmoms can feel conditional in their own families despite major sacrifices. She shares her story of meeting her husband when he had a three-year-old son, being in her stepson’s life for 13 years, and later having a daughter together, plus how their 50/50 parenting plan in Washington State provides structure even when it’s inconsistently followed. She highlights keeping kids out of adult conflict, the importance of communication and respect, navigating siblings across two homes, and the need for boundaries with ex-partners. As a licensed clinical social worker, she describes coaching stepmoms and couples to define the stepmom’s role, strengthen partner connection, and avoid “coming in too hot,” reminding stepmoms they have nothing to prove.

Christina Nelson
Email:           radicalstepmomspodcast
Website:       radicalstepmomspodcast.com
Instagram:    IG/radicalstepmomspodcast

Robin Breuner
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast:  StepStories Podcast
Threads:  @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast YouTube
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
46min
July 09, 2026 Ep. 31 – Dr. Rob Scheer: A Child Just Needs to Feel Loved
On this week’s episode of the Step Stories Podcast, host Robin Bruener interviews Dr. Rob Scheer, a former foster child who entered care at 12 carrying belongings in a trash bag, was pushed out at 18, and later joined the U.S. Navy to build a future. Rob and his husband Reece built their family through foster care, adopting five children—each arriving with a trash bag and significant trauma—and sharing lessons on consistency, grace, empathy, and unconditional love. Rob describes creating Comfort Cases to replace trash bags with backpacks filled with essentials and comfort items, delivering over 320,000 to all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. He discusses transracial parenting, forgiveness, therapy, maintaining connections to birth families, adopting an 18-year-old without a stipend, and the reward of never giving up, highlighted by son Makai’s progress despite fetal alcohol syndrome.

Rob Scheer:
Email: [email protected]
Website:      https://comfortcases.org/
Facebook:     FB/comfortcases
Instagram:     IG/comfortcases/
TikTok: TTcomfort cases
Youtube:        YT/comfortcases
Linkedin:     LI/comfort cases inc
Podcast:        podcasts

Robin Breuner
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast:  StepStories Podcast
Threads:  @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast YouTube
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
41min
July 02, 2026 Ep. 30 – Debbie Loeffler: How a Stepfather’s Example Paved the Way for a Future Stepmother
On this week’s episode of the Step Stories podcast, host
Robin Breuner interviews Debbie Loeffler about her path into step motherhood and what helped her build strong relationships in a blended family. Debbie shares how her parents’ divorce and her stepfather’s confident, “let the kids come to you” approach shaped the way she first met and bonded with her husband’s two children. She discusses delaying introductions, maintaining boundaries, and navigating a stepson’s anxious, difficult teen years while recognizing discipline should come from the biological parents. Debbie emphasizes starting with goodwill, staying out of ex-spouse conflict, and being proactively kind to the children’s mother—calling her on Mother’s Day and never speaking negatively—because it affects how kids show up at your home. She reflects on the payoff as a grandmother with close adult stepkids.

Debbie Loeffler
Email: [email protected]

Robin Breuner
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast:  StepStories Podcast
Threads:  @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast
YouTube

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
44min
June 25, 2026 Ep. 29 – Christina Nelson: Radical Stepmoms
Step Stories Podcast Host Robin Breuner welcomes Christina
Nelson from the Radical Stepmoms podcast to discuss the realities of step
motherhood and creating a safe space to talk about the good, bad, and ugly of raising a step child. Christina explains the contradictions stepmoms face, the pressure of others’ expectations, and how stepmoms can feel conditional in their own families despite major sacrifices. She shares her story of meeting her husband when he had a three-year-old son, being in her stepson’s life for 13 years, and later having a daughter together, plus how their 50/50 parenting plan in Washington State provides structure even when it’s inconsistently followed. She highlights keeping kids out of adult conflict, the importance of communication and respect, navigating siblings across two homes, and the need for boundaries with ex-partners. As a licensed clinical social worker, she describes coaching stepmoms and couples to define the stepmom’s role, strengthen partner connection, and avoid “coming in too hot,” reminding stepmoms they have nothing to prove.

Christina Nelson
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radical-stepmoms/id1462908324
Email:            radicalstepmomspodcast
Website:        radicalstepmomspodcast.com
Instagram:     IG/radicalstepmomspodcast

Robin Breuner
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast:  StepStories Podcast
Threads:  @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast
YouTube

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
...more
49min
June 18, 2026 Ep. 28 – Mallary Tenore Tarpley: Fighting Family Upheaval One Bite at a Time
In this week’s episode of the Step Stories podcast, Host Robin Breuner interviews UT Austin writing professor and journalist Mallary Tenore Tarpley about her memoir, Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery, and how losing her mother to metastatic breast cancer at 11 shaped her grief, identity, and anorexia. They discuss the “middle place” between acute illness and full recovery, why eating disorders can be driven by control, trauma, and genetic/environmental factors, and how stereotypes like “skinny white affluent girl” limit recognition and care. Mallary shares how her father dating and later remarrying intensified her disordered behaviors, her treatment experience and relapses, and how openness, storytelling, and ongoing check-ins support healing for grieving children and stepparents. They also touch on GLP-1 drugs and the need for broader resources.

Mallary Tenore Tarpley
Email:           [email protected]
Website (personal): mallarytenoretarpley
Facebook:    fb/Mallary Tenore
Instagram:    ig/mallarytenoretarpley
LinkedIn:      in/mallary tenore tarpley
Substack:     mallary.substack
Books: SLIP (hardcover), SLIP (paperback), SLIP(spanish)

Robin Breuner
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast:  StepStories Podcast
Threads:  @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast YouTube
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
55min
June 11, 2026 Ep. 27 – Kiki Goshay: Fostering Inclusivity in Family and in Caring for the World
In this week’s episode of the Step Stories podcast, Host Robin Breuner interviews filmmaker and environmental advocate Kiki Goshay about blended families, divorce, and fostering. Kiki describes being split between parents after her Irish Catholic parents’ divorce, the pain of parents who didn’t respect each other, and how her father’s new wife limited time with him. She recounts her mother’s later remarriage into a 12-child household that felt like two families under one roof, emphasizing that love and belonging take time and shouldn’t be forced. Kiki shares why she became a foster mom, the challenges of caring for children with trauma, and why she now focuses on infants. She explains how she maintains a close, inclusive extended family with her ex-husband, his partner, and their child, advocating for “adding” relationships rather than cutting people off. She also mentions her film “Empowered Energy Heroes,” streaming on Tubi and on PBS.

Kiki Goshay
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://captainplanetfoundation.org/about/our-people/kiki-goshay/
Facebook: fb@kikigoshay
Instagram: @Kikigosh

Robin Breuner
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast:  StepStories Podcast
Threads:  @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast YouTube
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
45min
June 04, 2026 BEST OF: Julia Nurse - A Mother’s Love Is Never Lost
In this week’s best of episode of the Step Stories podcast, host Robin Breuner talks with Julia Nurse, who shares her powerful story of growing up as the youngest of 12 siblings after losing her mother to breast cancer at the age of nine. Julia reflects on the chaotic yet nurturing environment of her large family, the struggles her father faced, and the invaluable support of her older siblings. Now a birth and postpartum doula in San Francisco, Julia discusses how her past has shaped her vocation in nurturing others through major life transitions. Along the way, she emphasizes the importance of finding support systems, honoring the legacy of loved ones, and engaging in personal healing practices.

And thank you for supporting our sponsors:

What’s Poppin’ Penny
Website: https://whatspoppinpenny.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4BlpnEqNXgMVlBZrNK4jIs

Julia Nurse
Email: [email protected]
Website: Sacredcyclesbirth
Instagram: @sacredcyclesbirth

Robin Breuner
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast:  StepStories Podcast
Threads:  @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast YouTube
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
49min
May 28, 2026 BEST OF - Patrick Giamanco: You’ve Just Gotta Be There
In this week’s heartwarming episode of the Step Stories Podcast, host Robin Breuner welcomes Patrick Giamanco, a devoted stepfather of three daughters. Patrick shares his incredible journey from meeting his wife Katie to becoming a crucial part of her daughters' lives. Robin and Patrick discuss the significant challenges and rewarding moments of stepparenting, touching on the importance of patience, presence, and strategic involvement. Patrick recounts personal anecdotes, from his early days of making breakfast for the girls to their unforgettable family trips, offering valuable insights into building strong, nurturing relationships. This episode is packed with genuine advice and uplifting stories that are sure to resonate with stepparents and blended families alike.

Patrick Giamanco
Email:                [email protected]
Website:    www.patrickgiamanco.com
Patrick Giancomo @ EdwardJones
Instagram: patg_artwork
Linkedin:   PatrickGiamanco

Robin Breuner
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin: RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast: StepStories Podcast
Threads: @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast YouTube
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
44min
May 21, 2026 Ep. 26 – Donna Kendrick: Widow, Wisdom and Wealth
On this week’s episode of the Step Stories Podcast, Host Robin Breuner introduces financial advisor Donna Kendrick, host of Widow Wisdom and Wealth and author of A Guide to Widowhood and The Life Stages Financial Guides. Donna recounts losing her first husband in 2013 while raising three kids after years abroad in Rome, leaving the workforce, and relying on prior planning such as estate documents and life insurance. She explains why many widows switch financial advisors and how her experience led her to build a practice serving widows and families in transition, including divorce. Donna discusses blending her family after remarrying in 2022, combining six children through the pandemic and later navigating his ex-wife’s illness. She shares practical blended-family financial steps: inventory assets and debts, clarify “mine/yours/ours,” review credit reports and beneficiaries, use prenups, update estate documents, address the family home, and consider neutral executors to help keep peace.

And thank you for supporting our sponsors:

What’s Poppin’ Penny
Website: https://whatspoppinpenny.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4BlpnEqNXgMVlBZrNK4jIs

Donna Kendrick
Get your financial house in order in just 6 weeks. Each week, Donna will send you an email with video instruction on a simple task you can complete – those things you’ve been putting off but know are important. Access it here:
https://donnajeankendrick.com/6-week-challenge/

Email:     [email protected]
Website:        donnajeankendrick.com
Facebook:       fb@DonnaJeanKendrick
Instagram:       IG@donnajeankendrick
TikTok:    Donna Jean Kendrick
Youtube: @donnajeankendrick
Books:    A Guide for Widowhood
               A Guide for Blended
Famiilies
The Divorce Money Map
Podcasts: Widow & Wisdom

Robin Breuner
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast:  StepStories Podcast
Threads:  @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast YouTube
TikTok:   www.tiktok.com/@stepstoriespodcast/video/7569378260706938126
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
46min
May 14, 2026 Ep. 25 – Carly Schwartz: I’ll Try Anything Twice
On this week’s episode of the Step Stories Podcast, host Robin Breuner interviews author and journalist Carly Schwartz about her memoir “I’ll Try Anything Twice: Misadventures of a Self-Medicated Life,” her journalism career (Northwestern Medill, editor-in-chief of the San Francisco Examiner, founding HuffPost San Francisco), and her current storytelling work in climate tech, robotics, and responsible AI. Carly describes growing up in Connecticut after leaving San Francisco as a baby, intense emotions and overachievement, and a family history of depression, suicide, and bipolar disorder. She discusses her parents’ divorce during her freshman year of college, her own escalating depression, substance abuse, study abroad struggles, suicide attempt, treatment, and returning to Northwestern to graduate. Carly explains her father’s later marriage to her stepmother and the family’s adjustment from distance to intentional connection, emphasizing sibling bonds, recovery, chosen family, and community.

And thank you for supporting our sponsors:

What’s Poppin’ Penny
Website: https://whatspoppinpenny.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4BlpnEqNXgMVlBZrNK4jIs

Carly Schwartz:
Email:      [email protected]
Website: carly.ink
Instagram: @carlicita
LinkedIn: in/carlicita
Books:     I'll Try Anything Twice

Robin Breuner
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  www.robinbreuner.com
Instagram: stepstoriespodcastIG
Facebook: stepstoriespodcastFB
Linkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkIN
Podcast:  StepStories Podcast
Threads:  @robinbreuner
YouTube: StepStories Podcast YouTube
TikTok:    www.tiktok.com/@stepstoriespodcast/video/7569378260706938126
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
...more
50min

FAQs about StepStories Podcast:

How many episodes does StepStories Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 50 episodes available.