The Suspense of Raising Kids (with Hayley DeRoche)

The Suspense of Raising Kids (with Hayley DeRoche)

From It's a Lot by Emily Hessney Lynch

April 28, 2026 · 48 min · Season 1 · Episode 25

About this episode

Emily Hessney Lynch talks with Hayley DeRoche about parenting, grief, and the complexities of social media.

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of losing a loved one to suicide. There are no graphic details, but we do talk about grief at length in the second half of the show. Please take care while listening. Content creator, librarian, comedian, and mom Hayley DeRoche (they/she), the creator of the viral 'Sad Beige' phenomenon, joins host Emily Hessney Lynch for a conversation about algorithms, having boundaries as an influencer, staying true to yourself creatively, her détournement poetry, and why they stay on social media despite the downsides. In the second half of the show, we dive into Hayley's experiences fostering and later adopting a child, navigating transracial adoption, parenting through grief, and how freeing it is when your kids get old enough that you don't have to watch their every move. We also talk about the excitement of not knowing who your kid will become and the joy of watching them grow up. Links: Hayley's book, Dress Your Baby in Sage and Taupe: A Handbook for the Sad Beige Parent , is out now! Grab a copy at your favorite indie bookstore or request it from your local library. For more of Hayley's work, follow them on TikTok or Instagram , or check…

People in this episode

Host: Emily Hessney Lynch

Guest: Hayley DeRoche

Topics covered

  • grief
  • parenting
  • adoption
  • social media
  • creativity
  • boundaries

Keywords

  • grief
  • parenting
  • adoption
  • social media
  • Sad Beige
  • creativity
  • boundaries

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lunchador Podcast Network, Joe Bean Roasters

Books & works: Dress Your Baby in Sage and Taupe: A Handbook for the Sad Beige Parent

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