Encore Episode: She Chose to Go Back

Part two of my conversation with Tiffany Baker Larnicol picks up where part one left off, and it is the harder half of the story. Tiffany talks about choosing to go back to a place most people spend their whole lives trying to leave, and what home actually means once you have seen what she has seen.

In this episode, Tiffany walks through what it was like living in Dubai when the missile and drone strikes began this year, the night she and her husband decided to evacuate with two hours' notice, crossing the Oman border alone as an American woman, and the decision that brought her back to Dubai on her own, weeks later, to stay.

Guest — Tiffany Baker Larnicol:

• Instagram: @tiffanybakerlarnicol
• Timestamps:
  00:01 Why we're revisiting this conversation
  01:13 Welcome to StorySessions
  01:29 Why Dubai, and what surprised her most
  10:09 Fast forward to February 28th
  12:11 The first alert: "take shelter"
  16:10 Evacuating her husband's team from Saudi
  17:38 Trying and failing to reach the State Department
  20:18 Her birthday, and the sound of her husband's voice
  22:36 The drone that wasn't intercepted
  23:52 "That's it, we're leaving"
  24:16 Two hours to pack "like you're never coming back"
  28:30 Crossing the Oman border alone
  32:13 Five weeks in Paris, then choosing to go back
  35:02 "This is not how the story's gonna end"
  41:45 What she has learned about the people around her
  45:05 The biggest lesson: "just be present and listen"
  47:13 What's next

  If this conversation moves you, share it. That is how StorySessions, the Podcast grows.

  Listen and follow StorySessions™, the Podcast:
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  www.storysessionsthepodcast.riverside.com
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  My book, Who Do You Think You Are?
  Direct from the publisher: https://books.by/w-brand-publishing#who-do-you-think-you-are
  Amazon: https://a.co/d/0etzONCV

  Follow me: @lauralynauthor

This episode is a deeply personal reflection on one woman’s experience witnessing her daughter’s wedding dress journey, and how it illuminated her own transitions, mortality, and growth. It’s a raw, honest look at how we change as we watch others step into new chapters of life—and how those moments shape us for the future.

In this episode:

• The emotional power of shopping for a wedding dress and the symbolism of generational heritage
• The moment of realization, watching her daughter try on dresses, and seeing herself in her
• The transformation from bride to mother of the bride and the shift in identity
• Reflections on mortality, approaching 57, and the fleeting nature of time
• The significance of doors opening and closing in life’s ongoing stories
• How watching loved ones change can help us define who we are going forward
• The importance of sharing your own stories and reflections to foster connection and growth

Timestamps:

00:00 - Opening and personal context of the episode
01:25 - The significance of sharing stories and life lessons
02:11 - A trip to Florida to help find her daughter’s wedding dress
03:52 - Exploring generational heirlooms and nostalgia in wedding dresses
04:40 - The emotional experience in the dress shops and expressing self
05:34 - Watching her daughter in the wedding dress, feeling her transformation
06:47 - The mirror moment and recognizing her own past as a bride
08:14 - Transitioning from the bride to the mother of the bride
09:05 - Contemplating mortality and the passing of time
10:34 - Facing the reality of aging and new roles
11:18 - The metaphor of doors opening and closing in life
12:21 - Reflecting on witnessing loved ones begin new chapters
13:53 - How stories evolve and our lives are forever intertwined with change
14:49 - Inviting listeners to reflect on their own transformational moments
15:34 - An open call for stories and reflections from the audience
16:51 - Expressing gratitude and encouraging sharing and community
17:21 - Final encouragement: Your story matters

Resources & Links:

• StorySessions.live — Join the community and explore more episodes
• Book: Who Do You Think You Are? by Laura Lyn Donahue — Dive deeper into the themes of identity and transformation

Connect with Laura Lyn Donahue:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Remember:

Your story isn’t finished. Every chapter, every shift, every farewell and new beginning shapes who we are meant to become. Share your story—because it matters.

JuLee Brand has spent three decades helping people find their voice--first through graphic design and television, then as the founder of W. Brand Publishing, and now through StorySessions Live.

In this conversation, Laura Lyn sits down with her longtime friend and publisher to talk about the difference between traditional, hybrid, and independent publishing, why JuLee built a company around the conviction that stories deserve to exist, and the deeply personal loss that inspired StorySessions Live, a conversation-based way to capture stories for people who don't think of themselves as writers.

They talk about accessibility, memory care, veterans who never told their stories, and what it really means to listen. Because as JuLee says, "stories matter" isn't just a tagline, it's the whole mission.

Connect with JuLee Brand:

• W Brand Publishing: wbrandpublishing.com
• StorySessions Live: storysessions.live
• StorySessions Live podcast page: storysessions.live/podcast
• W Brand Publishing social: @wbrandpub
• StorySessions Live social: @storysessions_live