Thank You, Mama
Award-winning author and journalist Ana Tajder interviews women from around the world about the most valuable lessons they learned from their mothers. Each episode shares personal stories and cultural wisdom passed down from mother to daughter. The podcast aims to inspire and empower listeners through these global perspectives. New episodes are released biweekly.
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Reclaiming Your Self-Worth: Stacey Lindsay on Listening to Yourself, Honoring Your Daydreams, and Pursuing Personal Freedom
Journalist and editor Stacey Lindsay, author of Being 40: The Decade of Letting Go and Embracing Who We Are, joins us to discuss self-worth, self-compassion, joy, and the importance of listening to our own truth rather than society's expectations. Stacey shares the complicated story of her mother, who left their family when Stacey was 16 after years of trying to be everything a wife and mother "sh
Love and Independence: Isabel Allende on Unconditional Love; Raising Feminists; Always Staying Independent; Manners; and Putting Effort Behind Your Talents
In this very special episode of Thank You, Mama, Ana speaks with Isabel Allende, one of the most widely read authors in the world. Isabel is the beloved Chilean author of more than thirty books, including The House of the Spirits, Eva Luna, Paula, Daughter of Fortune, and The Soul of a Woman. Her work has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide, been translated into more than 40 languages, and
How's Your Daughtering?: Dr. Allison Alford on Daughtering vs. Mothering; Not Giving Up Too Quickly; Education; and Faith
192. How's Your Daughtering? Dr. Allison Alford on Daughtering vs. Mothering, Not Giving Up Too Quickly, Education, and Faith Associate professor and author of Good Daughtering: The Work You've Always Done, the Credit You've Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough, Dr. Allison Alford talks about her American mother, Pamela, who became a family therapist after her daughters reached adoles
Reclaiming Mothering: Elinor Cleghorn on Being Strong and Kind; Good Humour; the Power of Knowing Who We Are; and Not Trying to Fix Everything
Dr. Elinor Cleghorn is a feminist cultural historian, writer, and researcher, and the author of the critically acclaimed Unwell Women and A Woman's Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering. In this episode, Elinor talks about her British mother, Sarah, who raised her as a single mother, later had two more children, and fostered 50 children. From Sarah, we learn about what makes a great mo
Unedited - Reclaiming Mothering: Elinor Cleghorn on Being Strong and Kind; Good Humour; the Power of Knowing Who We Are; and Not Trying to Fix Everything
This is the long, unedited version of the episode 191 with Dr. Elinor Cleghorn, a feminist cultural historian, writer, and researcher, and the author of the critically acclaimed Unwell Women and A Woman's Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering. In this episode, Elinor talks about her British mother, Sarah, who raised her as a single mother, later had two more children, and fostered 50 c
What We Keep: Zinzi Clemmons on Teaching Feminism Through Modeling; Demanding Respect; Mothering; and Modeling Healthy Relationships to Our Children
American award-winning writer Zinzi Clemmons, author of What We Lose and Freedom, talks about her South African mother, Dorothy — an activist and teacher who devoted her life to serving underprivileged Black children. Dorothy teaches us to raise independent daughters by modelling feminism, not just talking about it; to demand respect in every relationship; to show our children what healthy love l
Make Order Out of Chaos: Maira Kalman on Living with Purpose and Meaning, Surrounding Yourself with Beauty, and Surviving with a Sense of Humor
American artist, illustrator, writer, and designer Maira Kalman, author of Women Holding Things, Sara Berman's Closet, and many other illustrated books, talks about her Belarus-born Jewish mother, Sara. After leaving her husband in Tel Aviv, Sara began a new life in New York — and, at 60, finally found her true identity, and her happiest self. From Sara, we learn about making order out of chaos, s
New Episodes Coming on Tuesday!
Thank You, Mama is back with new episodes, as Ana Tajder speaks with women from around the world about the most important lessons they learned from their mothers. This season explores women, mothers, and their wisdom — through books. Listen to the trailer for a short preview of the fascinating guests and conversations waiting for you from May 12. New episodes will be published weekly on Tuesdays.
Of Lessons, Books, and Seasons: Why Thank You, Mama Is Moving to a Seasonal Format
Since launching Thank You, Mama on International Women's Day 2020, I've had the privilege of speaking with extraordinary women from around the world—artists and scientists, CEOs and stay-at-home moms, bestselling authors, pop stars, retirees, and entrepreneurs—about their mothers, their legacies, and the lessons that shape who we become. Across 183 episodes, these conversations have shared deeply
Heading East to Reach the West: Mitra Jordan on Not Letting Circumstances Define You; Women's Resilience Through Iran's Revolutions; Following Your Own Path; and the Courage to Act Counterintuitively
Originally published in 2021, I'm replaying this remarkable interview in solidarity with the courageous women of Iran and to offer you historical context for the protests unfolding today. Retired preschool teacher Mitra Jordan reflects on the life and legacy of her mother, Sattareh Farman Farmaian - widely regarded as the mother of social work in Iran and author of Daughter of Persia (highly recom
Honor Life: Elodie Ferchaud on Loving Life; Re-Bouncing from Challenges; Keeping a Positive Outlook; Balancing a Passion with Motherhood; and Exploring New Cultures
Elodie Ferchaud is a co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Boundless Life, where she helps families slow-travel the world while ensuring their children receive a high-quality education. A mother of four raising her children across borders, Elodie is building a global company while juggling school runs, bedtime negotiations, and night feeds. She speaks about her mother, Françoise, a music teache
Replay - Learning from Mary, Mother of God: Dr. Christine Valters Paintner on the Sacred Feminine; Being a Loving Witness of Life; and Turning Challenges into Helping Others
It's Christmas, and we're celebrating the birth of Jesus, so it's the perfect time to think about his mother, Mary. While she is omnipresent in Christianity - especially in Christian art - we know very little about her. This is why I was very excited to learn more about, and from, her through my guest, Dr. Christine Valters Paintner. Christine is the author of Birthing the Holy: Wisdom from Mary t
Brave is Beautiful: Ana Hebra Flaster on Courage; the Immigrant Experience; Making a Difference; and Choosing Happiness
Former software engineer Ana Hebra Flaster has written extensively about Cuba and the Cuban-American experience for major U.S. publications including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe, as well as on her acclaimed Substack, @CubaCurious. Her memoir, "Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town," traces her famil
The Guise of Perfection: Amy Weinland Daughters on Memories, Letting Go of Perfection, Standing Up for Yourself, and Why the Best May Still Be Ahead
Sports journalist and author of Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter and You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened, Amy Weinland Daughters, shares the life lessons she learned from her American mom, Sue: the danger of hiding behind a "perfect" façade, the trap of letting others define who you are, and the inspiring fact tha
Don't Stay Stuck: Dacia Moore on Depression; Work Ethic; Faith; Getting Help; and Guiding our Children
Dacia Moore, licensed counselor and founder of Second Wind Counseling & Consulting, has dedicated her career to helping African Americans understand the benefits of therapy, take a proactive approach to mental wellness, and become their best selves. She's the author of Why Are So Many Students So Angry? and the forthcoming From Stuck to Unstoppable. In this episode, Dacia traces her mission back
Ignore It: Sairan Aqrawi on Midlife; Trust and Patience; Taking Action; Owning Your Voice and Knowing When to Let Go
Engineer and Midlife Business Strategist Sairan Aqrawi shares her inspiring journey from Iraq to a new life in the United States—and the extraordinary story of her mother, Sidika, who was married at 14, became a mother at 15, and went on to raise seven children. From Sidika, we learn the power of patience and trust in divine timing; the wisdom of letting go of small grievances; the importance
Where Does Your Validation Come From?: Julie Cobalt on Conflict Resolution; Finding Validation in Taking Care of Others; Shifting Perspective to Understand Others; and Acting Instead of Reacting
Julie Cobalt is an attorney with over 25 years of experience as a Conflict Resolution Expert with 1,200 successful mediations accomplished. After many years of working with large companies, Julie is now supporting families in resolving their conflicts, and offering workshops on navigating challenging times such as divorce. Julie shared a story of her mom who was always seeking validation through h
Breaking the Cycle: Becky Barnicoat on Achieving Your Dream Career Through Persistence; Listening to Your Body; Motherhood as a Source of Fulfilment; and Learning from Our Mothers' Stories
Sometimes, on occasions that are getting rarer and rarer, Instagram can be a place of great discoveries, and Becky Barnicoat was one of those for me. A cartoonist published by The New Yorker, Grazia, The New Statesman, The Guardian, BuzzFeed, New York Magazine, Private Eye and Netflix, she had recently published her deeply funny and touching graphic memoir "Cry When the Baby Cries". For years, her
Replay - Raising Amazing Women: Wanjiku Kiarie on Forgiveness; Honesty; Investing; and Raising Strong Daughters
Wanjiku Kiarie, an accountant and podcaster from Kenya, talks about her mama Frasia, a teacher who raised and supported her four daughters during her husband's battle with drinking. The episode is bursting with lessons on finding God; forgiving and giving; working hard, saving and investing; raising amazing women; and honesty. Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here. To contact Ana,
Replay - Get Up Where You Fall Down: Xue Hongyan on Starting Anew in Your 50s; Entrepreneurship; Not Giving Up; Courage and Resilience
This episode is a bit different, because in this episode you host Ana Tajder will tell you her guest's mother's story. To Ana's big shock, because of technical difficulties with recording between US and China, the recording of this beautiful interview turned out blank. But Ana believed mama Chen's inspiring story had to be shared, so she shared it herself, using notes she took during the interview
Replay - The Mom & The Bhagwan: Ronit Plank on Forgiving; People's Actions Not Reflecting Who You Are; Expressing Feelings; and Some People Being Able to Change
Author and podcast host Ronit Plank, author of "Home is a Made-Up Place" and "When She Comes Back", talks about her mom who left six year old Ronit and her four year old sister to move to India and follow guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the center of Netflix documentary "Wild Wild Country". In this incredible story of personal development, Ronit shares how she forgave her mother and created a strong
Replay - Nevertheless She Prevailed: Ashura Kayupayupa on Perseverance; Hope; Patience; and Focusing on Your
Lawyer from Tanzania specialized in human rights, Ashura Kayupayupa, talks about her mother Rose, who, after her husband was killed in a car accident, was disowned by his family. Ashura tells us about widow abuse and witch-hunt, a problem that's still widespread in Africa. But mama Rose stayed strong, re-built her life and started her small agricultural business. Rose teaches us about hope, endura
You Decide What "All" Is: Jenn Hildreth and Aimee Leone on Having it All; Mothers' Moxie; Lifting Others; Continuously Evolving; and Doing Tough Things
Emmy-winning ESPN broadcaster Jenn Hildreth and FOX Sports Senior Vice President Talent Relations Aimee Leone, talk about "Tough as a Mother: Women in Sports, Working Moms, and the Shared Traits That Empower Us All", their anthology offering an intimate look at the lives of iconic women in sports and their journeys of balancing family and career. Jenn also talks about her mom Sandra, from whom sh
What Belongs to You: Nida Sophasarun on Finding Your Voice; Understanding What Truly Belongs to You; Mysticism; and Trusting Yourself
A published poet, author of "Novice", and mom, Nida Sophrasarun talks about how her poetry is influenced by her family on two ends: on one end, it was her family's inability to communicate emotions that lead her to finding her voice in poetry. On the other end, the birth of her son lead her to finding herself again through writing. Nida talks about her Thai mom Kobkua, "a tiger", as Nida describes
Make Your Decision Right: Dr. Ellen Langer on Mindfulness; Ageing; Mind and Body Unity; and Smiling
Widely known as the "Mother of Mindfulness", Dr. Ellen Langer is a foundational figure in the study of mindfulness outside of meditation traditions. Dr. Langer is the first woman to ever receive tenure in psychology at Harvard, where she has researched, in her own lab, mindfulness for over 40 years. Dr. Langer has published well over 200 research articles and 13 best-selling books, ("Mindfulness",
Replay - It's not Your Pain: Dr. Julienne Shin on Letting Go of Your Mother's Pain; the Importance of a Mother-Child Relationship; and Emotional Intelligence
A mother, a US Marine Corps combat veteran and a Navy psychologist, Dr. Julienne Shin, talks about lessons she learned through her difficult relationship with her Filipino mom Corazon. We learn about the impact of a mother's relationships with her child at a young age, about not holding on to your parents' pain; and about the importance of emotional intelligence. Julienne also shares some amaz
Compassion for Yourself: Suzy Hopkins and Hallie Bateman on Domestic Violence; What to Expect in Relationships; Walking Through Grief; Asking for Help; and Talking
Authors of "What To Do When I'm Gone" and "What to Do When You Get Dumped", a mother-daughter team, share their mothers' lessons. Suzy Hopkins is a former newspaper reporter and magazine publisher. Her daughter Hallie Bateman is a freelance writer and illustrator based in Los Angeles whose work has been published by The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Awl and others. Suzy talks about
Take Risks: Audrey Kodjo on the Importance of Values and Roots; Women as the Backbone of a Family; the Power of Prayer; and Risk-taking
Project Associate at UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) and co-founder of Diaspora Creatives, Audrey Kodjo tells us about her mom Lucy, who, in spite of having the status of a queen in Benin, had to master many obstacles both in her childhood and adulthood – from being a foster child to facing marital challenges. We learn about Benin, and what it means to be a queen there,
See the Invisible: Alejandra Wild Proano on Allowing Different Versions of Our Mothers and Ourselves; Seeing the Invisible; Protecting our Relationships; and Not Seeing Things in Black and White
Psychodynamic psychotherapist, Alejandra Wild Proano, talks about her Ecuadorian mom Desiree, and shares her inspiring story. Desiree went from the first female guide through the Amazon to finding herself widowed, with two small children, a foreigner in the US. Not giving up, she took classes and became a licensed psychotherapist. We learn many wonderful lessons from Desiree: to follow your path a
Ask Why: Briana Chen on Love of Learning; Questioning in Order to Grow and Find Motivation; and Giving Back by Thinking of the Underprivileged
Dr. Briana Chen is a postdoctoral neuroscientist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she researches sex differences in stress resistance and psychiatric disorders. Briana is particularly interested in developing sex-specific treatments for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She won numerous awards for her scientific work and was included in Forbes 2023 list of 30 under 30. Briana share
Become an Interesting Person: Zeva Bellel on Following Your Interests and Expanding Perspectives; Knowing You Deserve Better; and a Healthy Relationship with Money
Career and leadership coach based in Paris but originally from New York, Zeva Bellel, talks about her mom Karen, an artist from Brooklyn. Karen teaches us about becoming interesting people by following our curiosity; not getting hooked on a specific goal because it seemed right and good to others but thinking about choices that would expand our perspective and personality; building a healthy relat
Love Shouldn't Hurt: Tammie Denyse on Leaving Painful Relationships; the Power of Community; Taking Care of Others; Faith; and Forgiveness
Founder of "Carrie's Touch", a non-profit supporting Black women during their breast cancer battles, Tammie Denyse, talks about her mom Carrie, whom she lost at the tender age of 11 to domestic violence. Tammie shares Carrie's lessons on unconditional love, faith, and the power to say no, and to leave painful relationships. Tammie also talks about her own experiences which turned her into a surviv
Love Fiercely: Adina Belloli on Bravery; the Impermanence of Life; the Power of Feelings; and Loving Fiercely
Grief specialist and psychotherapist with multiple degrees in psychology, psychotherapy, and international healthcare, public policy, and economics, Adina Belloli is also the founder of the international charity "In-Visible" (which served 1.7 mio meals to children in the Philippines), founder of the "Motherless Mothers" community, and host of "Motherhood Beyond Books" podcast. Adina tells us the i
Know Your Value: Katia Vlachos on Reinvention; Self-Validation; the Trap of the "Good Girl" modus; and Nurturing
Reinvention coach, author of "Uncaged" and "A Great Move", speaker, and meditation teacher, Katia Vlachos was - before her own reinvention - a security and defense analyst. Katia talks about exiting the "good girl" mode, which often functions as a cage, about reinventing ourselves, especially if we feel stuck, and about self-mothering. She shares her Greek mother Natasha's lessons on nurturing oth
Create Your Own Rituals: Jennifer L. Holm on Family Rituals; Creating Your Own Rules; Family History; and Teaching Equality
New York Times and USA Today-bestselling and award-winning children's writer, Jennifer L. Holm, is known for "Our Only May Amelia" (a book inspired by her a great aunt's diary), "Penny From Heaven", and "Turtle in Paradise". Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on several graphic novel series including the "Babymouse" series, which has sold over 3.2 million copies and won the Eisn
Christmas Lessons: Kai Kelman on Gratitude; Doing Nothing; Discipline & Patience; Not Wishing the Time Away; and Things Often Being Better Than They Seem
In this Christmas special, you host Ana Tajder talks with her son Kai about Christmas and lessons he learned from her. To his mom's surprise, Kai (10) talks about some deep lessons that are actually good to remember around this festive time of the year: to be grateful for basic things in life such as health, home, warmth and food; to not wish time away expecting something better to come your way;
Don't Give Up on Yourself: Nina Kurtela on the Struggles of Midlife; Living Your Full Potential; and Staying Diversified
Visual artist and choreographer from Croatia, Nina Kurtela, talks about working in Ana's mom Jagoda Kaloper's art studio, researching her creative legacy, and learning from her. As Jagoda's lessons, Nina shared being diversified and not defining yourself as just one thing/profession/position; surrounding yourself with people and bringing them together; and being persistent and not giving up on you
Replay - Fighting Back With Love: Munira Premji on Gracefully Accepting What Is; Being In the World, Not of the World; Purpose and Curiosity
I'm respoting this episode form 2021 becuase it inspires us to stay positive and happy despite challenging times - a message we need right now. Munira Premji, HR Expert and author of "Choosing Hope: One Woman. Three Cancers" is one of the happiest and most inspiring people I have ever met. Allow her to shine some joy at you while she talks about her beautiful Tanzanian mom Zerakhanu. Munira shares
Replay - Mama Hope: Dr. Soniya Hirachan on Beating the Odds, Resilience; Humbleness; and the Courage to be Different
Psychiatrist, coach working with immigrant women, and the Executive Director at Minnesota Department of Human Services, Dr. Soniya Hirachan, talks about her Nepalese mother Asha (meaning "hope" in Nepalese) who grew up in a remote village in the mountains of the Himalayas. Every summer, mama Asha walked for a whole week to reach the nearest city where she helped her father sell the produce from th
Life is an Adventure: Rhiana Spring on Unconditional Support; Being Your Authentic Self; Seeing Life as an Adventure; and Being both Compassionate and nurturing, and strong
Rhiana Spring is an award-winning international human rights expert and entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Spring ACT, which launched "Sophia" - the world's first chatbot empowering survivors of domestic violence. She tells us about her work using modern technology to support human rights across the globe. Rhiana also talks about her Welsh mother Lorraine, a nurse and acupuncturist, who left home at
Magical Thinking: Orenda Fink on Art; Individuation; Borderline Narcissistic Parents; and Going No Contact
Singer, musician and writer, Orenda Fink is famous for being one half of the duo "Azure Ray". Orenda just published her beautiful first memoir "The Witch's Daughter: My Mother, Her Magic, and the Madness That Bound Us", about her relationship with her mother suffering from borderline narcissistic personality, which made her fight with everyone, including her three daughters. Orenda tells us about
The Holy Responsibility: Qin Sun Stubis on Responsibilities of Motherhood; Education; Perseverance; and Creativity
Author of her family memoir "Once Our Lives", Qin Sun Stubis, shares lessons she learned from her Chinese mom Yan. Yan was given away by her mother as a baby, and struggled keeping her four daughters from starvation while her husband was a political prisoner for 14 years. We learn about the history of China, and about the Chinese historical bias against female children (the worst version being fem
Live Your Values: Amy Richards on Lessons by Gloria Steinem: Learn from Everyone; Work Hard; Ask for What You Want; Be a Good Friend
American activist, organizer, writer, TV producer, feminist, president of Soapbox, Inc., and a long-time consultant to the American feminist icon Gloria Steinem, Amy Richards, shares lessons she learned both from her mom, and from over 30 years of working closely with Gloria. Amy also gives us a brief history of feminism and explains why it's just as important now as it ever was, and talks about t
Replay - Mom's First Hug at 69: Meredith Maran on Not Giving Up; Noone being Just Good or Evil; Anger; and Change
As the thrid Replay episode of Summer 2024, here's episode 86 with best-selling author, book critic and journalist, Meredith Maran, who shares a deeply inspiring story about how, after a lifetime of aversions and conflict, she and her mom Rita became friends when Meredith was 69 and Rita 93. This story is a great reminder of how a crisis (in this case COVID) forces us to re-evaluate things and foc
Replay - You Choose: Dr. Özlem Yüce Petronczki on Overcoming Boundaries and Supporting Your Children to Greatness
The second episode in our Summer of 2024 Replay is episode 17 with the Molecular Biologist Dr. Özlem Yüce Petronczki. This is one of the very early interviews, but one that stayed deeply anchored in my heart for a few reasons: we learn how incredibly strong women are and how are able to beat all odds. We also learn how powerful gentle and loving support is in helping our children to achieve great
Replay - My Mama: Ana Tajder and Jagoda Kaloper on Loving Life; Leaving a Mark; Being Your Own Source of Happiness; Ageing Gracefully; Having it All; and Mindfulness
As the first epiosde for our summer 2024 replay, I'd like to share with you episode 17, in which I shared the most important lessons I learned from my mama Jagoda Kaloper. As I just turned 50 and shared with you 50 lessons I've learned in 50 years, I thought it might be interesting to hear which of these I've learned from my own mother. My incredible mama Jagoda ("strawberry" in Croatian - thus t
50 Years, 50 Lessons: Ana Tajder Shares her Life-Lessons
In this special episode, Ana celebrates her 50th birthady with you! As this podcast is all about life-lessons, she recorded this episode in which she shares 50 lessons she has learned in 50 years. Learn about gratitude, mindfulness, meditation, courage, self-protection, burnout, self-care, ageing, breathing, evolving, celebrating, and so much more. If you'd like to find a transcript of the episode
The Magic of Forgiving: Dr. Erica Elliott on Giving Love; Forgiving your Mom; Finding Joy; and Never Wasting a Bad Experience
Family Medicine doctor and author of "Medicine and Miracles" and "From Mountains to Medicine", Dr. Erica Elliott, shares the story of her breakdown in her early 20s which, under the guidance of a skilled psychotherapist, lead to finding her true self at this early age. This lead to another breakthrough: Erica found love and forgiveness for her Swiss mom who was a very harsh mother. This changed no
Chill Out!: Valarie Tutuh on the Magical Act of Balancing a Career Ambitions and Taking a Break; Independence and Accepting Support; Serving Others and Taking Care of Yourself
Account Manager at a leading pharmaceutical company and owner of a boutique, Valarie Tutuh shares her incredible professional journey which involved counseling and owning an executive protection agency – all while raising two children by herself. Watching her mom's life of service and care for others, Valarie decided to do things differently and follow a professional path. What she wished she knew
Celebrate Every Day: Lara Johnson on Giving Yourself Credit; Showing Up; Forgiving Flaws and Improving with Each Generation; and Following Your Dreams
A mom of four, life coach and host of "Mom on Purpose" podcast, Lara Johnson, talks about the non-profit she co-founded to help young terminally ill parents, and about her work with coaching mothers in which she teaches the most important lesson: to avoid the state of not-enoughness by celebrating your daily small achievements. She tells us about her mom Valerie who had five children but managed t
Don't Be Mean to Yourself: Angie Banicki on Using Your Voice; Trusting Your Intuition; and Generational Healing
High-profile entertainment publicist turned tarot card reader to Hollywood stars, Angie Banicki, talks about her professional transition, about her experiences with reading cards, and about her new tarot deck "Explorer of the Soul". Angie tells us about her mom Andrea who at first was uncomfortable about Angie's new career but with time learned to embrace it. From Andrea and Angie, we learn to u
Saying No: Adela Mehić-Džanić on Being Independent; Marriage as a Partnership; Being Stoic; and Acting Against Domestic Violence
Telecom engineer Adela Mehić-Džanić talks about her Bosnian mom Fadila who passed away during the Bosnian war in 1993. In spite of losing her at only seven years old, Adela learned many important lessons from her mother: how vitally important it is for women to be financially independent; that a marriage should be a partnership; that we must act against domestic violence; that women need support t
Practice Your Happiness Muscle: Catherine Sanderson on Happiness; Courage; Ageing well; Perseverance; Family; and Raising Teenagers
Professor of Psychology and author of numerous books incl. "The Positive Shift", Catherine Sanderson, teaches us that although some of us are born "not happy" (something she's witnessed with her mother), we can change this by making conscious decisions. As a special treat, Catherine shares her tips on how to do this in this episode. Connected to this, she talks about her research on courage and h
Make Lemonade: Danielle Fette on Dealing with Challenges; Money not Buying Happiness; Unconditional Love; and Boundaries and People Pleasing
A nurse and expert on tissue regeneration, co-Founder & CMO of FetTech, a biotech company specialized in the healing process, Danielle Fette shares her American mom Jill's lessons. Jill grew up in extreme poverty, married her high-school sweetheart and had a perfect family life until her husband betrayed her. Now in her 70s, Jill is living her best life with her partner and her two daughters and t
Every Moment is Precious: Saundra Dalton-Smith on 7 types of Rest; a Strong Sense of Self; Having Multiple Mothers; and Expressing our Love
Internal medicine physician, work-life integration researcher and author of "Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity", Saundra Dalton-Smith talks about burning out when she became a working mother, which inspired her to write her book about the seven kinds of rest and become an advocate for restoring wellbeing in workplace. Saundra lost her birth-mother during childb
Be Authentically You; Dr. Sharon Blackie on Tenacity; Healing From an Unhealthy Mother-Daughter Relationship; and Burnout
Award-winning writer, mythologist specialized in Celtic Studies, and a psychologist, Sharon Blackie, is also the bestselling author of "If Women Rose Rooted". Sharon talks about her work with the feminine in myths, fairy tales and folklore and how these traditions can help us deal with issues we women are dealing with such as menopause, burnout, and the mother-daughter relationship. Sharon also ta
Find the "More" You Need: Rosjke Hasseldine on Identifying and Voicing Your Needs; Mother Blaming; and the Culture of Female Service
Therapist, coach and teacher specialized in mother-daughter relationships Rosjke Hasseldine, is also the author of "Mother-Daughter Puzzle" and founder of Mother-Daughter Coaching International. She talks about the major topics she deals with in her work: mother blaming and estrangement, mapping your mother-daughter history, patriarchy and culture of female service, and identifying your needs and
Talk About It!: Dunja Bonacci-Skenderovic on Preventing Violence Against Women; Showing Your Emotions; Sharing Domestic Work; and Working Hard but Sometimes Doing Nothing
Dunja Bonacci-Skenderovic is an independent consultant for elimination of violence against women. In the beginning of our interview, Dunja gives us an overview of types of violence women globally are facing today (from domestic violence, rape, trafficking, to femicide), shares some statistics, and shares what we can do to prevent violence against women - not only as women, but also as mothers. Dun
Can Work be Self-Care?: Lisa Friscia on Taking Care of Others; Being Considerate and Inclusive; Setting Boundaries; and Work as Self-Care
Lisa Friscia, Leadership Coach and founder of Franca Consulting, talks about her mother Franca who immigrated from Italy to America via Canada as a child, and later quit her corporate job to take care of her three daughters. Mama Franca teaches us to take care of people through details; to create a space where everyone is welcome and included; to respect those who have less; and to know your privi
Life is in the Moment: Janice Malone on Cooking as Self Care; Leaning on Faith; Decluttering; and Knowing That Life Brings Change
Janice Malone is the founder and CEO of "Vivian's Door", an award-winning NPO assisting minority-owned entrepreneurs implement their ideas and grow their businesses. Janice is a mother of two who quit corporate America to become an entrepeneur in her early fifties, and subsequently found "Vivian's Door" in her early sixties. She talks about her American mother Pearlie who was a mother of 15 (yes,
Learning from the Mother of God: Dr. Christine Valters Paintner on Empowering Others; Turning Challenges into Gifts, the Power of Older Age; the Sacred Feminine; and Showing Up in Life
In this beautiful Christmas special, we're learning from the most famous of all mothers: Mary, the Mother of God. My guest Christine Valters Paintner is the author of "Birthing the Holy: Wisdom from Mary to Nurture Creativity and Renewal". Christine has a PhD in Christian Spirituality, is an abbess and the author of over twenty books on spirituality. Christine tells us about her American mother Su
Life is Magically Messy: Einat Nathan on Connecting With Others; Acknowledging All Emotions; People Pleasing; and Messiness of Life
Einat Nathan is a mother of five, a parenting expert, a counselor, and the bestselling author of a parenting book called "My Everything", which got translated in 11 languages. Einat talks about her Israeli mother Miriam who died at a young age from Multiple Sclerosis. From Miriam, we learn about connecting to others and being able to rely on yourself; about beauty and importance of the whole spect
Mother Earth's Lessons: Jojo Mehta on the Cyclical Aspect of Life; the Bigger Perspective; Being Part of a Whole; Connecting to Land; and Ecocide
Jojo Mehta is a co-founder of "Stop Ecocide", the global campaign to make ecocide (destroying the environment) a crime at the International Criminal Court. Jojo shares lessons she had learned from her mother, singer and poet Jehanne Mehta, whose work is deeply connected to nature and her Celtic roots, but also lessons she had learned from Mother Earth. From Jehanne, we learn about grounding and fi
The Mind-Baby Problem: Julie Phillips on Balancing Demands of Motherhood With Work; How Much Freedom Do Kids Need; and Setting Boundaries
Author of "The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Mothering and the Mind-Baby Problem", Julie Phillips, talks about what she learned through writing a book about the intimate struggles of brilliant 20th century artists as they tried to balance the demands of creative work with the demands of motherhood. Jullie's lesson: we can keep centered in our creative space even if we do it in little bits.
Age is not an Excuse: Parveen Talpur on Personal Development; Determination; and the Fight for Women's Equality
Beating all odds, as a young female student, in a country ruled by men, archeologist and writer Parveen Talpur single-handedly set wheels in motion for the establishment of the Department of Archeology at the University in Karachi, Pakistan. She went on to Cornell University, where she worked on decipherment of the ancient script from the Indus Valley Civilization, and publish a few books. Parveen
You're Enough: Kate Kripke on High-Achieving Moms; Unconditional Love; Questioning Self-Sacrifice; Self-Acceptance and Self-Love
Psychotherapist, coach and consultant, author of "Reinventing Supermom", co-host of "Motherhood Uncut" podcast, and founder of "Parent and Family wellness Center", Kate Kripke, talks about her family legacy of strong and successful women. Kate's great-great aunt Margaret Fuller was a pioneer in suffrage, the first American female war correspondent and the author of the first major feminist book in
Lead, Don't Follow: Zora Benhamou on Menopause; Healthy Ageing; Roots; and People Pleasing
Gerontologist, biohacker and advocate for women's health during the menopausal journey, Zora Benhamou, is also a host of "Hack my Age" podcast. Zora's motto is "Menopause is inevitable, but suffering is optional." Zora lost her Ukrainian mom Anastasia to breast cancer at the tender age of 23. She shares her mother's lessons on never forgetting where you come from; taking care of yourself by always
You Do You: Deb Rubin on Following Your Own Path; Giving Your Emotions Room; Raising Adolescent Daughters; and Practicing Conscious Listening
Psychotherapist specialized in the "Mother Daughter Journey", and co-host of "Motherhood Uncut" podcast, Deb Rubin, talks about her American mom Lois. Lois is a mother of two who went back to school to earn her Bachelor's Degree once her daughters left for college – which beautifully teaches us that it's never too late to take the next step. We also learn from Lois to be true to ourselves and foll
You Deserve a Full Cup: Michelle Grosser on Not Losing Ourselves in Others; Self-Worth; Calm and Resilience
Michelle Grosser is a former attorney and law professor turned mom, motherhood coach, and host of "The Calm Mom" podcast, in which she discusses high-impact habits, work-life rhythms, parenting, marriage, spirituality, and more. Michelle talks about her mom Nancy, who worked while raising five children, which resulted in burnout, and later she divorced her husband – only to fall in love with him a
Motherhood as a Choice: Sara Petersen on Influencer Moms; Feminism; and Keeping a Sense of Humor
Sara Petersen is the author of "Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture". Her essays about feminism, domesticity, and motherhood have appeared in the New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, Washington Post, InStyle, Glamour, and elsewhere. Sara shares her American mom's lessons on connecting with the natural world, finding pleasure in small things in life, and
Take Care of You!: Kanwal L. Haq talks about Women's Health; Self-Care; and Making a Change
Kanwal L. Haq is a Medical Anthropologist specialized in Women's Health and author of "Taking Care of You: The Empowered Woman's Guide to Better Health". She talks about her Pakistani mom Zahida who has been struggling with a connective tissue disease for more than 20 years. Zahida's stuggle inspired Kanwal to dedicate her work to women's health. From Zahida, we learn that if you believe in someth
Mama's Tribe: Fabiana Hoy on Faith; Having a Tribe of Women; and Finding Good and Beauty in Everything
Interior designer Fabiana Hoy talks about her Peruvian mother Maria del Rosario and shares many valuable lessons she learned from her, like having faith (Rosario hosts a weekly prayer group of 45 women, which Fabiana joins from South Africa by Zoom), being a present mom, the importance of having a tribe of women (having these friends is Rosario's way of self-care). She also teaches us to find beau
Hold on to Your Daughter: Hilary Truong on Raising Teenage Girls; Turning Your Passion Into Profession; and Managing Your Kids' Social Media and Phone Usage
Hilary Truong is a therapist for teen girls, and a mother-daughter relationship expert. She talks about her mother Nancy, who raised four children and turned her love for cooking into running a cooking school. From mom Nancy, we learn about empathy, caring for others, and connecting with the world around you; that it's possible to support your family by doing something you love; and that you alway
Attention to Detail: Kanchan Koya on Self-Care, Attention to Detail, Learning How to Fail, and Cooking with Spices
Kanchan Koya, author of "Spice Spice Baby", combines her PhD in Molecular Biology from Harvard and her training from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to bring healing spices and their health benefits to kids and families everywhere. Kanchan talks about her Sindhi mother Shohba who taught her about the importance of self-care, and that self-care can be simple; to put her emphasis on education
Think 5 Steps Ahead: Zoryana Kushpler on Planning Ahead, Decision Making and Preparing for Your Third Act.
Zoryana Kushpler is an opera singer who performed with the Vienna Opera, Carnegie Hall, and Royal Albert Hall. She talks about her Ukrainian mom Ada (herself a pianist), and shares her lessons on resolving your problems by yourself, making decisions and sticking to them, previewing every situation a few steps ahead, finishing what you started, and thinking about what you're going to do in your 60s
Appreciating the Little Things: Wendy Battles on Reinventing Yourself, Being Unstoppable and Navigating Disappointments
Cybersecurity Awareness Expert, Change Management Specialist, and Host of "Reinvention Rebels" (a podcast for women 50-90 years young ready to reinvent themselves), Wendy Battles, shares her American mom Elaine's lessons. Elaine started a new life after the divorce in in her 50's, and is teaching us to not let anything stop you from doing what you want, ge back to the community, appreciate little
Be Gentle With Yourself: Judith Holofernes on Being a Rock Star, Healing from Burnout and Reinventing Yourself
Singer, musician, songwriter and author Judith Holofernes (of German band "Wir Sind Helden") talks about achieving – and then quitting - her dream life of a rock star in order to heal from burnout and reinvent herself. Judith shares the biggest lesson she learned on her fascinating journey, and also talks about growing up with her lesbian mom in a small town in Germany. Judith shares mama Corneli
Unapologetically Yourself: Jennifer Arthurton on Believing in Yourself, Following Your Heart, Not Taking Things Too Seriously, and Fabolous Midlife
Creator and host of "Old Chicks Know Shit", Jennifer Arthurton, talks about her Irish mom Eilish, who left home at 17 to move to Germany, and later moved with her husband to the Caribbean, and then Canada. Eilish was always a free spirit, true to herself, never taking herself or any problem too seriously, experimenting with life, and believing in a power greater than us. Jennifer shares her lesson
Choice of Attitude: Ruth Nolan on women's independence, being an empty nester and choosing how you see things.
Author, professor and a former wildland firefighter Ruth Nolan, shares her American mom Beverly's lessons on being kind to people and teaching everyone with respect; choosing your attitude in life; being independent in voice, career, selfhood and financially; and it never being too late to explore life. Ruth also talks about why the struggle for independence often skips generations, why women can
Raising Quirky Children: Tijana Lukovic on raising resilient children, nurturing their authenticity, and self-sacrificing mothers.
Illustrator Tijana Lukovic talks about her Serbian mom Ljiljana's lessons: How do we raise quirky children with acceptance, and nurture their authenticity? Does motherhood need to equate to self-sacrifice? Is me-time selfish? How do we raise resilient children? What is wrong with being overprotective mothers? How can we support our children through burnout and dark times? Tijana also speaks about
