Balcony Time with the Girlfriend Mafia

This recent graduate provides his perspective on personal mental health struggles in high school, and he shares his truth about observing peers who struggled during the school day. He also speaks on the current severity of punishments at school, and how it differs from his mother's generation.  

I meet with a friend that began teaching through the Alternative Teacher Certification Program and left the system not long after due to the effects on her family unit, future goals, and the inability to utilize her education and knowledge as a professional. She discusses her insight and experience as an elementary special education teacher.  

I meet with recent graduates to discuss their time under this current curriculum. Both former students discuss what they expected from high school versus the reality of their experience. These incredible young adults share their insight to daily struggles with teens, and give advice to parents of high schoolers. 

This episode provides insight to the current curriculum and pupil appraisals from the teacher persepctive. This teacher taught elementary and middle school, and ultimately left her calling to pursue another career. Why is it that the teachers speaking up on behalf of the students are considered the problem?    *The Pupil Appraisal goal is to advocate for the child and evaluate any deficits in needs, and ways to compensate for those needs. It is used to enhance outcomes for the student academically and behaviorally. 

In this super sized epsiode, I meet with a colleague that became a licensed mental health professional after teaching elementary school in two states. This interviewee was born to empower and educate others. She provides both an academic and therapeutic perspective to the teaching role in schools.  

This episode is dedicated to India! Beatrice and Elle welcome India to Balcony Time, and start a conversation with listeners. Beatrice discusses her newfound spiritual journey, and how this new avenue of self-care has improved her mind, body, and soul thus far.  Follow @thegirlfriendmafia on Instagram to continue the conversation. Share your thoughts, stories, struggles, and achievements with the Girlfriend Mafia! 

Elle and a high school teacher discuss professionalism within their school system. Or the lack thereof....Allegedly. 

Elle and Teacher #3 discuss the politics behind the state's curriculum, and how those politics have affected the classroom. 

The teacher from Spotlight Series #1 began teaching in another state. Carrie shares her observations and experiences in this new school system, and compares it to the previous state's system. Carrie's husband joins Balcony Time and talks about how working in the school system can seep into relationships and home life.  

Elle interviews an employee of a community after-school program. He provides a glimpse into the life, politics, and racial perspective of the education system in what is considered one of the best parishes in the state. 

Elle learns about the veiled elementary school landscape through her second teacher interview. 

Elle Sloan dives into her first teacher interview and public school discussion. When Elle and Carrie began their careers in the school system, they truly had no idea what they were walking into....

Elle and Beatrice host friends Natalie and Anastasia for a Balcony Time about mental health for school staff members. Natalie is the mother to a special needs child who is starting his school career; while Anastasia is a former employee of the Louisiana public school system. Anastasia shares her journey as a teacher, and why respecting mental health of employees is vital for a positive school atmosphere.  

Elle Sloan meets up with the Girlfriend Mafia political correspondent, Jackson. The pair chat about the controversy surrounding mask mandates, and mail-in voting.  Recorded 7/10/20  

Elle hosts teachers, Elena and Carrie, on this special episode of Balcony Time. The ladies discuss their experiences with the alternative diploma track for students in Louisiana. The ladies were nervous to broach this subject. Although they believe in the alternative diploma program (with some improvements needed), they do not agree with how it is being utilized in the school system.  

The Girlfriend Mafia stands in solidarity with the black community. Elle, Tori, Darcy and Beatrice discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, white privilege, and how each mafia member will contribute to positive change. 

Every situation has a silver lining. COVID is quite the situation, yet it too possesses silver linings. Elle, Darcy, and Tori voice their perspective and opinions on positive aspects of the pandemic. 

Victoria, "Tori", returned back to work in the salon post COVID quarantine. Although she had a positive attitude towards the transition, she was surprised by her first day back....

Elle Sloan interviews the GM's unofficial political correspondent, Jackson. After leading a productive and robust career in Washington, D.C., Elle taps into his knowledge and insight to discuss the governor's handling of the pandemic, resources, and how to utilize your vote when you are unimpressed with all of your choices. 

Elle meets with young Dwight once again for a bonus episode of random topics from Harry Potter, 80s movies, school, video games, apps, and of lastly, Canadian syrup.  This episode is appropriate for all ages.   

For the first time in history, teachers are truly being appreciated by their communities. Elle Sloan interviews Elena about being a teacher during the quarantine. Do students actually have to turn in assignments? What is expected of teachers during the pandemic? Will the school year improve next year because of the pandemic? 

Dwight is an 11 year old, and a real life Stranger Things kid. He shares his perspective about online schooling during the pandemic, and how he is staying connected with peers and entertaining himself. 

Elle Sloan interviews Dave and Nicole about their 18 year bond. As a single lady, Elle wants to learn the secret to a marathon relationship. The couple discusses balancing their careers as a firefighter and hospital personnel. They also rank the importance of communication, sex, and humor in their marriage.  

Elle and Tori travel to New Orleans for a weekend getaway to divulge in photography, eating and day drinking.  Sidenote: The day the ladies left to come home, the first case of the Coronavirus in Nola was announced. Elle and Tori are social distancing, and have not shown any symptoms. 

Elle and Beatrice interview Adam about his perspective as a member of the LGBT community in our southern city. He discusses his transition, and the journey that led to his incredible self-discovery. 

After UFC 247, Andrea Lee shook off a loss to return home to her #1 job. Motherhood. Complete with the background noises of laundry and cooking dinner, the Girlfriend Mafia interviews Andrea at her home about coping with the results of her controversial fight. Her daughter, Ainslee, joins the interview and plays a dangerous game of Bean-Boozled with the ladies. #UFC247Redo  

Elle Sloan continues interviewing a parent about her role as a mother, how she empowers her eldest son and daughter as teenagers, and how she plans to use her voice as an advocate for bettering our schools. 

Elle Sloan interviews a parent about her role as a mother and advocate for bettering our schools. She shares her perspective about having a teen with mental health issues, our school system, and how she plans to use her voice in a productive manner to elicit change. 

Balcony Time by the ocean continues.... What does failure look like in a friendship? What kind of friends are you keeping? 

Relax and enjoy the sound of the waves as the Girlfriend Mafia tackle friendships while on location at the beach. The ladies cover friendship dynamics at work and in their personal lives, as well as the horrendous habits they had to change to improve their own relationships. 

We are a product of how we are raised, so how does that translate into relationships? What does success in a relationship look like to you? Fun fact: You CAN wipe your tears with cashmere....

Darcy continues the conversation about this thing called love. The ladies share how much time their relationships occupy their thoughts, and what they feel is missing from the dating dynamic. 

Darcy begins her series on relationships by addressing the different facets of romantic love each of the ladies is experiencing. Marriages, divorces, dating, celibacy, oh my!

The Girlfriend Mafia travel to the place where balcony time originated. The girls celebrate their vacation by lounging on their gorgeous, ocean view balcony, listening to the waves, and sharing the ridiculous stories that make us....us. 

Andrea Lee spends Balcony Time with the Girlfriend Mafia. Andrea answers fan questions and also allows us behind the veil of the KGB persona. The ladies of the Girlfriend Mafia are schooled on the mindset and education of one of the top females fighters in the UFC.

The Girlfriend Mafia discuss what coping techniques were used to cushion the stress they experienced during the heat of the summer months. Some of these techniques are utterly ridiculous, but that is why they are great! Coping with negative energy is as fun as you make it!     

The Girlfriend Mafia share some of the humor and horrors of their online dating experiences. 

The ladies of the Girlfriend Mafia share their experiences with unprofessional behavior in the workplace. Although incompetent behavior is unbecoming, it does make for a great story....

The Girlfriend Mafia's Victoria Collins shares the perilous consequences of being a follower.

The Girlfriend Mafia reminisce about childhood, being raised in the South, and how they tried to defy most of it....

The Girlfriend Mafia address the "Keeping Up with the Joneses" phenomenon in the South. Wedding edition.