⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I’ve kept it in the public archive because Aubrey’s story speaks to identity shifts, emotional honesty, and the courage to follow an inner knowing.

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After navigating postpartum depression and feeling out of sync in stay-at-home motherhood, Aubrey Vejvoda started listening to the quiet signs pulling her in a new direction.

In this conversation, she shares why she left photography, how hypnosis helped her reconnect with herself, and what it means to move forward by tuning inward.

⚠️ Content note: This episode ends with a short guided hypnosis for relaxation. If you’re driving or multitasking, come back when you’re able to sit still and fully listen.

Topics Covered

• The emotional weight of not loving stay-at-home motherhood
• Identity shifts that surfaced after postpartum depression
• Leaving photography after recognizing red flags
• The difference between hypnosis and meditation
• How Aubrey works with the “future self” through hypnosis
• Using subconscious tools to reconnect with your own voice
• A short, guided relaxation hypnosis to close the episode

Where Aubrey Is Now:

Since this episode aired, Aubrey (they/them) has shifted into the world of expressive arts and advocacy. They’re currently studying to become a licensed art therapist, with a focus on trauma-informed care, youth empowerment, and social justice through creativity.

Connect with Katie and access the archived episode resources here: 

→ dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-archive

Jessica Hachey is a photographer based in Ontario, Canada. I’ve admired how she prioritizes her love for nature and even records herself getting out into the wild!

We talk about:

• Her brave adventures into the backcountry
• How her daughter starting school full time was much different than she thought it would be… as she found herself staring at the computer like, “what am I supposed to do now?” and various things she’s done to begin moving out of this heavy place she felt in.
• Then, Jessica describes the losses of loved ones she’s walked through and how documenting has shifted through those losses starting from the inside out
• & more!

Enjoy the story.

FULL SHOW NOTES: http://www.dangerouslygoodstories.com/076

⚠️ Note: This episode is from the Intentional Documentary® era. I’ve kept it in the archive because Michelle’s reflections on creativity, parenting, and artistic evolution are still deeply grounding, especially if you’re navigating life transitions or letting go of creative rules.

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Michelle McKay returns for a conversation about navigating separation, motherhood, and the quiet shifts that shaped her creative work.

We talk about letting go of perfection, showing up through uncertainty, and finding new rhythms in both life and art.

Topics covered:

• Navigating separation, single parenting, and business simultaneously
• Evolving her artist identity: “photographer” to “photographic artist”
• Letting go of perfectionism in editing and memory-keeping
• The impact of in-person vs. online client reveals
• Finding local “social influencers” to grow a photography business
• Real talk on mom guilt, presence, and permission to seek
• Creating and launching Beautiful Ordinary Lightroom Presets
• Michelle’s iconic photo and what it revealed about noticing joy

Where Michelle Is Now:

Michelle McKay is a poetic photographic artist, writer, and educator based in Geelong, Australia. She continues to create honest, artful family portraits and now leads We Are Memory Catchers — an international community and educational space for photographers drawn to real-life storytelling. Her work centers the beauty in the everyday and the stories worth preserving before they slip away.

Connect with Michelle and access the archived episode resources here: 

→ dangerouslygoodstories.com/intentional-documentary-archive