Mother's Quest Podcast

This September 11, 2023, I had the honor of holding space for an intimate conversation with civil rights leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, educator, and best-selling author of the book SEE NO STRANGER, Valarie Kaur. The fact that we were recording on September 11th was meaningful, because the tragic event that had taken place 22 years ago shaped Valarie in profound ways and set her on a path that she never expected. Valarie became an activist after a man of the same Sikh faith, a father and family friend she called uncle, Balbir Singh Sodhi, was the first person murdered in hate violence in the aftermath of 9/11. For two decades in his memory, Valarie led visionary campaigns to tell untold stories and change policy on issues ranging from hate crimes to solitary confinement to digital freedom. Along the way, she earned degrees at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale Law School. Today, Valarie is the mother of two children and as you'll hear her share, the experience of becoming a mother inspired her to birth the Revolutionary Love Project, which supports communities with practical tools to transform the nation from inside out. Revolutionary love, Valarie says, “is the choice to labor for others, for opponents, and for ourselves. Love is sweet labor — fierce, bloody, imperfect, life-giving, a choice we make. And it begins with wonder. You can look at anyone and say: You are a part of me I don't yet know. From there, we begin to transform the world around us, and inside us.” There is a lightness and hopefulness in the tone of our conversation that we wouldn't have in the same way if we recorded the conversation today. I'm grateful for it. Valarie thanked me at the end for giving her the deepest breath she had in a long time. During a time in our country and world, where so many seem to be disconnected from a sense of our common humanity and divisions between us are widening, I hope this conversation is a deep breath for you. Because as Valarie says as she evokes the metaphor of a midwife in her famous Watch Night speech, linked in the show notes, we must first breathe and then we push. The mother asks "what if this darkness we face is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb?" Today we breathe and tomorrow we will labor in revolutionary love.    About Valarie Kaur: VALARIE KAUR is a renowned civil rights leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, educator, innovator, author of the #1 LA Times Bestseller SEE NO STRANGER, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. Valarie burst into global consciousness when her 2016 Watch Night Service address went viral with 40 million views worldwide. Her question “Is this the darkness of the tomb – or the darkness of the womb?” reframes the historical moment and is now a mantra for people fighting for change. Valarie became an activist when a Sikh father and family friend Balbir Singh Sodhi was the first person murdered in hate violence in the aftermath of 9/11. For two decades, in his memory, Valarie led visionary campaigns to tell untold stories and change policy on issues ranging from hate crimes to digital freedom. Her work ignited a national movement to reclaim love as a force for justice. In 2021, she led the People's Inauguration, inspiring millions of Americans to renew their role in building a healthy, multiracial democracy. Today, the Revolutionary Love Project is seeding networked communities of practice across the country, equipping people with the practical tools to build beloved community and transform the nation from inside out. In the last two decades, Valarie has won policy change on multiple fronts – hate crimes, racial profiling, immigration detention, solitary confinement, Internet freedom, and more. She founded Groundswell Movement, Faithful Internet, and the Yale Visual Law Project to equip advocates at the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and justice. Valarie has been a regular TV commentator on MSNBC and contributor to CNN, NPR, PBS, the Hill, Huffington Post, and the Washington Post. She is a celebrated prophetic voice and has spoken widely, including at President Biden's Inaugural Prayer Service. Valarie earned degrees at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale Law School, and holds several honorary doctorates. In Fall 2022, President Biden honored Valarie at the White House in the first-ever Uniters Ceremony, naming her as one of 16 leaders whose work is healing America. A daughter of Punjabi farmers, Valarie grew up on the farmlands of California, where her family has lived for more than a century. Her grandfather gave her Sikh wisdom through stories and songs that showed the way of the sant-sipahi, sage-warrior. The sage loves; the warrior fights — it is a path of revolutionary love.   Connect with Valarie: Website | valariekaur.com Facebook | www.facebook.com/valarie.kaur.page Instagram | @valariekaur Resources from Valarie: Revolutionary Love Project Website  See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love Valarie's TED Talk: 3 Lessons of Revolutionary Love in a Time of Rage Valarie's Famous Watch Night Speech: Breathe and Push  The Revolutionary Love Training Course  9/11 20th Anniversary Learning Hub Wise Woman Guided Inquiry    Topics Discussed in this Episode: Valarie's story about the birth of her son, with her mother by her side, and the lessons she learned about motherhood from that experience. Mothering as a verb and how mothering often feels like walking through a ring of fire.  The experiences that set Valarie on a path of activism after 9/11 and the surprising spark moment she learned from her grieving aunt.  How becoming a mother changed Valarie's orientation from activism fighting against hate to activism fighting for revolutionary love. Valarie's experience moving to the Rainforest to reflect on all she learned and write her book See No Stranger.   Revolutionary love as the call of our times. Valarie's epic snapshot moment nursing her daughter while she was at the White House being honored. The quote from Audrey Lorde that reminds Valarie to care for and invest in herself - “We can learn to mother ourselves.”  The Wise Woman ritual Valarie experienced with two of her Sikh friends and the meditation she offers to help you tap into your inner Wise Woman.  The lullaby Valarie wrote and sang for her daughter that will become a children's book, “World of Wonder.”    This Episode's Challenge:  Valarie says that the root of love is wonder and sings us a lullaby she wrote for her daughter about wonder. She encourages us to wonder about our partners, our children, our friendships, and beyond. Wondering about each other is a revolutionary process in a society that wants to shut down our ability to look at one another's faces and say “You are a part of me I don't yet now.” It's so simple but it can change everything and help us birth a better world.    Other Episodes Mentioned in this Conversation:  Good Life Project Podcast Interview of Valarie Kaur  Planting Seeds for Mother's Quest Episode 00     About This Episode's Dedication By Shelly Tygielski: This is the 100th episode of the Mother's Quest Podcast. It feels fitting to mark this occasion with a powerful conversation about Revolutionary Love with renowned civil rights leader Valarie Kaur. Valarie talks about Revolutionary Love as sweet labor and this podcast, since I launched it 7 years ago in 2016, has always been a labor of love. So too has been my form of mission-aligned sponsorship, where rather than seeking corporate sponsors, I invite one mother to dedicate each episode and to make a contribution to support Mother's Quest. In honor of this milestone, I invited Shelly Tygielski, founder of Pandemic of Love, and an Advisory Board Member of Global Empowerment Mission to dedicate. Instead of contributing to Mother's Quest, I made a contribution to the Global Empowerment Mission. I hope you'll join me in celebrating this 100th episode milestone by sharing this important conversation you're about to hear and by making a donation to the Global Empowerment Mission.   Shelly's Dedication: I would like to dedicate this episode of the Mother's Quest podcast to all the mothers of young, innocent children who are caught in the crossfire of war. May these children grow up in a world that is free from hate and injustice. May they be free from suffering. May they have access to opportunities and never be devoid of hopes and dreams. As the founder of Pandemic of Love and an advisory board member of Global Empowerment Mission, we are currently providing aid to Israelis and to Palestinians. When people ask us to choose a side, we say we have. We are on the side of love. Or as Valerie Kaur says it is the best, revolutionary love. So to learn more about how you can support our efforts, please visit globalempowermentmission.org.    Donate here:  https://www.globalempowermentmission.org/mission/israel-hamas-war/ Connect with Shelly Tygielski: Website | shellytygielski.com ; pandemicoflove.com ; partnersinkindproductions.com Instagram | @mindfulskatergirl Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). As Mother's Quest approaches 100 episodes, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 reviews to honor 100 episodes this Season Eight of the Mother's Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.    Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest

This month, I was planning to record a special solocast to welcome in our 100th episode of the podcast. Instead, three days before my son Jacob's scheduled knee surgery on July 11th, I got diagnosed with shingles. I'm recovering well and so is Jacob thankfully. But it really caused me to revisit my relationship with my body. There was a need for forgiveness all the way around, a rebuilding of trust and a recommitment to myself. In case you're not familiar, shingles is the re-emergence of the chicken pox virus, which if you've ever had chicken pox lives dormant in your nerves and tends to come out later in life during a period of high stress or when your immune system is low. I should have gotten the shingles vaccine when I turned 50, around the time that I originally recorded this Dear Body episode I'm resharing with you today. Unfortunately, I had getting the vaccine in the back of my mind and never took care of it, leaving myself susceptible.  So, if you had chickenpox as a child, are over 50 or have issues with your immune system, this is your friendly reminder and PSA to go get your shingles vaccine. For me to get shingles when I was worried about my son's surgery felt like a betrayal from my own body and the last thing I needed. But, a few things happened that are helping me to see this as an opportunity to make meaning and change. 1) The first person I called for guidance when I got the diagnosis was Dr. Samantha Brody, a podcast guest from 2019, when she released her book Overcoming Overwhelm, who has since become a friend and advisor. When I called her, Samantha reminded me that she had had shingles and shared some about her experience. I was surprised however, when a few days after my diagnosis I put shingles in my FB search to see if there was any wisdom I might find and came upon a post from Samantha from 2018, letting people know she had shingles because she was stressed out about her book launch and needed to ask for help. Did anyone know of any podcasts where she could share about her book she wrote? In the comments, I found the tag to me and Mother's Quest that must have brought me and Samantha together in the first place. This was a reminder to relisten to my episode with Samantha, so relevant, and trust again that sometimes the universe connects you to what you will need in the future. 2) I had several helpful therapy sessions during these weeks of recovery where I uncovered a few things. One, the incredible parallel between my own open heart surgery at the age of 10, to repair a hole in my heart, and Jacob's knee surgery at the age of 10 to repair a hole in his knee, from a condition called osteochondritis dissecans. We realized there may be some leftover trauma from my own experience that was adding some additional stress, even if only in my subconscious. I'm now giving myself some space and grace to look back on that experience and see if there is anything that needs some extra care and healing.  3) Finally, this whole experience has helped me acknowledge that I'm often more stressed out than I realize. Most often, I mask my stress with a smile. And I allow my nervous system to be in a perpetual state of go go go. My therapist suggested that I should take my foot off the gas more when I'm in park. I love a good metaphor. There is a lot going on in my life and sometimes I can't relax, but I can make an effort to be in park more often and when I'm in park, really allow myself to shut down and restore. I'm clearly on a quest for this, so may work to find some special podcast guests who are experts on this topic. Stay tuned. I thought I'd invite all of us to listen to the Dear Body episode again and then also my conversation with Samantha Brody, linked in the show notes, with a fresh perspective. Is there something your body is trying to communicate to you? A “tell” as Samantha would say. What values are most important to you right now? And then how might that impact the commitment letter you write to your body? I'll report back in the Mother's Quest Facebook Group and would love to hear from you too!  Wishing us all many moments of taking our foot off the gas while safely in park, good health and a restoration of trust between our body and ourselves as we close out the summer.   Announcement for my fellow Neurodivergent Listeners: Sign Up for “Creating Your Personal 504 Plan” Summer Workshop with Briar Harvey Heard of a 504 plan? A blueprint for how a child with a disability will have access to the accomodations and supports that will help them access their education? The truth is, a blueprint for support shouldn't just be relegated to education and can be a model for adults as well! Friday, August 4th @ 11 am PST 2pm ET join Mother's Quest Member, and someone who has been an amazing coach for my family, Briar Harvey, for a Summer Workshop where you'll discover the power of creating a Personal 504 Plan that truly caters to your unique needs. Briar will walk us through the process of constructing a plan that goes beyond standard frameworks, accounting for your individual experiences and circumstances. By the end of this session, you'll have a dynamic, personalized 504 plan that empowers you to navigate life's challenges more effectively. I'm a proud affiliate and have signed me and my college son up too. Learn more about this workshop and others in her summer series here.    More about Briar: Briar Harvey is a storyteller and systems witch. She believes that everything has a story and exists within a system. The trick then, is figuring out how to change the rules and tell a better story. She works with companies that are led by neurospicy minds (ADHD, autism, chronic depression, anxiety, all the fun stuff) or those that employ them, in order to create the systems and processes that work for them. In her free time, she writes stuff and records podcasts. She's the founder of The Neurodiversity Media Network, a collaborative and accessible media company that is hosting and curating all the news that is relevant to neurospicy folx.   Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: https://mothersquest.com/ep-94-dear-body-reflections-on-embracing-and-embodying-50/   You can also listen to this episode: Ep 69: Overcoming Overwhelm with Dr. Samantha Brody  Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).As Mother's Quest approaches 100 episodes, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 reviews to honor 100 episodes this Season Eight of the Mother's Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.  Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest

I'm honored to share this special Father's Day Episode featuring my very own father-in-law, David Neale. I started dating my husband Chris when I was only 19, so I realize David has been a source of inspiration and guidance in my life for over 30 years. How lucky I am to have had his example of leadership, impact, and joy for life to light my way for my entire adulthood!  The inspiration for this episode was sparked several months ago at a big milestone birthday celebration David organized to honor his 80th year. That celebration was also the launch of a new fund he initiated through the San Jose Rotary, inspired by his experience as a grandparent to my two boys, Ryan who is autistic, and Jacob who navigates dyslexia, ADHD and dysgraphia.  In this episode, we explore the stories and wisdom of David's life, including his childhood in England, his move to Montreal and then San Jose, CA, his impactful work as the founder and CEO of The Core Companies, and all the thoughtful ways he shows up as a grandfather. We also talk about the Youth Empowerment Neurodiversity Fund, which Ryan and I have had the honor of helping to shape, alongside David and other Rotary committee members.  One of David's most significant contributions in leadership has come through his innovative thinking and outside-the-box solutions for redevelopment housing, including the creation of Art Ark, an innovative housing community for artists in San Jose, Willow Housing, a Veteran's housing project in Menlo Park, CA that includes access to critical support services, and most recently the Agrihood in Santa Clara, CA, a unique affordable housing project that includes retail and has an Urban Farm at its center.   His achievements are many, but as David says, his success did not happen in a straight line. His life journey was filled with plot twists, pivots, and even a few failures. Through it all, with my mother-in-law Anne by his side, he continued to believe in himself and his dreams. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did and leave inspired as I am to keep persevering through challenges, opening ourselves to new perspectives and out-of-the-box thinking, and knowing that each setback may bring us closer to all we've ever wanted.   About David Neale: David Neale is a leader and visionary in real estate development, known for his commitment to community building and for his innovative approaches to affordable housing and redevelopment. A career that began in 1978 in Montreal brought David to San Jose, CA in the 1980s and led him to found The Core Companies in 1989. As CEO of The Core Companies, David has built a vibrant company and spearheaded transformative projects that have left a lasting imprint on the communities they serve. Notable projects Core has completed with David at the helm include Art Ark, an innovative housing community for artists in San Jose, Willow Housing, a Veteran's housing project in Menlo Park, CA that includes access to critical support services, and most recently the Agrihood in Santa Clara, CA, a unique affordable housing project that includes retail and has an Urban Farm at its center.   His leadership also extends into community engagement and education. David spent 16 years on the board of directors for the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and served as a founding member of the non-profit First Community Housing. His almost two decades of service on the San Jose Rotary recently led David to initiate a new Youth Empowerment Neurodiversity Fund, inspired by David's experience with two of his grandchildren who are neurodivergent. Throughout his career, David exemplified a commitment to building projects that not only enhance the physical landscape but also uplift the lives of individuals and communities. His greatest accomplishment however is the family he has built with his wife of over 60 years, including his two children, and his four grandchildren.  Connect with David: The Core Companies website  David's profile on LinkedIn San Jose Rotary Youth Empowerment Neurodiversity Fund Link to Donate (select the specific fund from the pull-down menu) Topics Discussed in this Episode: David's childhood experiences in England and his mother's transition from a stay-at-home mom to small retail store business partner. The influence of David's father's ambition on his pursuit of independence and his adventures around the world. The political upheaval in Montreal during the 1970s that led David to pursue his fate and a life and career near San Jose, CA.  David's reflections on spending time with his grandchildren and mentoring them on life skills and overcoming challenges David's individual toasts at a recent family dinner, celebrating each grandchild's unique qualities and stages in life, one example of how he mindfully engages with them. David's efforts to understand and champion his neurodivergent grandsons, Ryan and Jacob, and his leadership in starting the Youth Neurodiversity Empowerment Fund through the San Jose Rotary. David's impactful career in building communities, particularly in affordable housing, including the creation of the artist housing project, Art Ark. Also why building housing communities requires more than just the physical structures.  Reflections on personal lessons learned, through many pivots and failures, and his advice for us about how to more fully live our E.P.I.C. lives.  This Episode's Challenge:  David invites us to embrace the understanding that life is not a straight line. He encourages us to adapt and pivot to new circumstances, recognizing that daily adjustments may be necessary. Despite the obstacles that may arise, David urges us to never give up on pursuing our goals and to engage in activities that we truly love. By cultivating a passion for what you do, he believes that success will naturally follow. David also emphasizes the importance of asking questions and maintaining an inquisitive mindset, as continuous learning is a fundamental aspect of personal growth. As we move through our own epic life journey, David's invitation is to embrace failures as valuable lessons and to persevere with unwavering determination, knowing that each setback brings you closer to your ultimate destination. This Episode is dedicated by:  Jacob Neale, David's youngest grandchild. Jacob can also be heard in the recording for last year's Father's Day episode with Normal Sucks author and fellow dyslexic ADHDer Jonathan Mooney. Listen to the episode here: https://mothersquest.com/different-is-not-deficient-with-normal-sucks-author-jonathan-mooney/ You Might Also Be Interested In These Father's Day Special Episodes Here Comes the Sun: A Solocast on Death, Grief, and Love Ep 75: A Call for Kinetic Partnership with While Black's Darius Hicks Ep 44: A Family Legacy of Service and Leadership with California Assemblymember Rob Bonta Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).As Mother's Quest approaches 100 episodes, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 reviews to honor 100 episodes this Season Eight of the Mother's Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.  Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest  

In 2018, I sat down for a special Mother's Day episode with Graeme Seabrook, a life coach and maternal health advocate, affectionately known by the thousands of mothers she supported as the "Mom for Moms." We hit it off immediately, delving deep into her Motherhood Bill of Rights and my E.P.I.C. life framework, and noticing that both had become manifestos for how we wanted to live our lives while raising our children. During that episode, we co-created what we called a Manifesto Challenge, inviting other mothers to create their own. And afterward, we would reconnect in some way each May, grateful to know that the episode and the challenge could spark an opportunity for others to reclaim themselves in motherhood. In 2021, Graeme became ill and spent the next several years in bed, visiting doctors, and coming to terms with the fact that she had somehow suffered brain damage. Along the way, she realized she would need to burn her manifesto down to the ground before creating it anew. Living and mothering through hard and sometimes life-threatening times, and now feeling a little better, she has reemerged, reframing her work in the world as a front-porch philosopher who writes about the intersection between modern motherhood and humanity. When I read a recent blog post from Graeme and realized this would be the five-year anniversary of the Manifesto Challenge, I reached out. I asked if she felt up to recording a special episode with me, where we could interview one another, reflect on the changes and challenges in our lives, and reconnect about the power of manifestos.  I'm so glad that Graeme said yes to my invitation and I'm honored to share this episode with you. Our hour together was more unstructured than my typical interviews, real and unfiltered, and filled with Graeme's signature blend of laughter, tears and powerful insights. I hope you'll leave this conversation, as Graeme and I both did, open to the truth that change sometimes sucks, but that there can be unexpected joys discovered along the way, and that there is always power in owning and sharing our stories. About Graeme Seabrook : Graeme Seabrook was once a life coach and maternal mental health advocate who supported thousands of mothers. Since becoming disabled in 2021, she has reframed her work in the world and is now a front-porch philosopher who writes about the intersection between modern motherhood and humanity. When she's not tending her garden, knitting on her porch, or playing video games with her kids, you can find her on Instagram or on her website - graemeseabrook.com. Connect with Graeme Seabrook: Website | graemeseabrook.com Instagram | @graemeseabrook  Learn more about one of Graeme's unexpected joys, gardening, and how you can support her with her gardening dream here. Topics Discussed in this Episode: Graeme's experience navigating illness and disability, core experiences that have shaped her life over the last two years The old and negative narratives about herself that Graeme has finally learned, in her bones, are untrue  Author Octavia Butler's words that have resonated for Graeme about change, and Graeme's honest reflection that “sometimes change sucks”  My wishes for Mother's Day, everything from a sauna to a million Mom manifestos  The recommendation from Graeme's neurologist that resulted in a new passion, knitting, that she can do from her bed  My son's knee condition, osteochondritis dissecans, a “change that sucks” and some of the unexpected joys we have discovered even in the midst of it  The words of wisdom Graeme has for me, a parent trying to support a child with a physical disability  What I'm embracing at this stage of my life  How Graeme's husband and friends have shown up for her in amazing ways and what it has taught her about her own worthiness Graeme's commitment to write a mini-manifesto and why it's more than ok to make it small  An invitation to participate in this year's 7 day Manifesto Challenge, a self-guided course   Other Episodes Mentioned in this Conversation:  Ep 41: Reclaiming Ourselves in Motherhood ~A Mother's Day Special~ with Graeme Seabrook https://mothersquest.com/ep41-graemeseabrook/ Ep 94: Dear Body: Reflections on Embracing and Embodying 50 https://mothersquest.com/ep-94-dear-body-reflections-on-embracing-and-embodying-50/ Ep 97: Reclaiming Our Time and Creativity through Fair Play in the Household with Eve Rodsky and special guest Co-host Caren Lettiere https://mothersquest.com/ep-97-reclaiming-our-time-and-creativity-through-fair-play-in-the-household-with-eve-rodsky-and-special-guest-co-host-caren-lettiere/ This Episode's Challenge: Are you feeling lost or trapped in motherhood? Would you like to connect with your purpose and reclaim yourself? Join us in the Mother's Quest 7-day Manifesto Challenge and explore important questions, through a self-guided course,  that will help you create a manifesto as a guiding light. Let's open doors together and choose ourselves in honor of Mother's Day.. Sign up here.  Mother's Quest May - Join Us!  Happy Mother's Quest May! This month, we're celebrating all the incredible mothers (and those who mother!) on a quest to live an E.P.I.C. life - one that's Engaged, Purposeful, Intentional, and Connected. Mother's Day is approaching, and we want you to invest in yourself by following along as we share resources, opportunities, and inspiration. One invitation we hope you say “yes” to is our fifth annual Mother's Quest Manifesto Challenge! Create a powerful manifesto to guide your life with our 7-day course for just $7, culminating in a live celebration on Sunday May 21st 11 am PST on Zoom. Season Eight of the Mother's Quest podcast is also starting this month, featuring a special 5-year anniversary conversation with the manifesto challenge co-creator, Graeme Seabrook. Join us this Mother's Quest May as we come together to support, inspire, and uplift each other on our journeys as mothers and “whole human beings” as Graeme always says. Sign up for the Mother's Quest Manifesto Challenge, join the Mother's Quest email list and become a member of the MQ Facebook group. Invest in yourself this Mother's Day! Mother's Quest May Gift Guide  Find a gift for yourself or a Mom you love! One day, Mother's Day, isn't enough, so this Gift Guide should be a source for inspiration all month long. See the specially curated items here.  --- Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest

Welcome to this special Season Seven finale episode of the Mother's Quest Podcast, released on International Women's Day 2023. It feels like just right timing to bring this conversation to you, but the seeds for this episode have been germinating since last spring, when Jill Daniel of Happy Women Dinners came to me with an invitation. She asked whether my sister Caren, founder of Democracy Clothing, might be interested in hosting a brunch at her house in Los Angeles with best-selling author Eve Rodsky. I had recently learned about Eve's groundbreaking work, where she transformed her own “blueberries breakdown” into a catalyst for social change, applying her Harvard-trained background in organizational management to ask the simple yet profound question: What would happen if we treated our homes as our most important organizations? Her New York Times bestselling book and Reese's Book Club Pick, Fair Play, a gamified life-management system that helps partners rebalance their domestic workload and reimagine their relationship, has elevated the cultural conversation about the value of unpaid labor and care. In her highly anticipated follow-up, Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World, Eve explores the cross-section between the science of creativity, productivity, and resilience. Her journey and the tenets of both books came together in the Fair Play Documentary, a film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom in partnership with Hello Sunshine. Needless to say, I encouraged Caren to say “yes” to this opportunity. I knew there would be synergy between Caren's journey creating her hugely successful Unicorn brand Democracy Clothing, while raising two children and running a household, and Eve's message. Jill gathered an incredible community of women for brunch that day where we gifted all of them with size inclusive Democracy jeans through a try-on experience that was empowering and a conversation between Jill, Caren and Eve that was profound. When Eve said yes to being a guest on my podcast and it came time to interview her, I knew I wanted to include Caren in this conversation. What follows is an intimate look at the values and insights Eve has woven into her two books and an exploration of what Eve has learned about living an E.P.I.C. life. As Eve shares at the end of this episode, the Mother's Quest Podcast and this conversation between the three of us is also “unicorn space.” We're so grateful to share it with you. We hope that what you hear sparks conversations with your own partner and children that bring to light and make more fair the division of labor in your household and that you use this as a permission slip to reclaim your own time and creativity in your E.P.I.C. life. Content Note: Eve speaks in powerful ways and sometimes that includes a few carefully chosen bad words.  I encourage you to listen to this episode in privacy or to pop in some ear buds if you are with your children. About Eve Rodsky: Eve Rodsky transformed a “blueberries breakdown” into a catalyst for social change when she applied her Harvard-trained background in organizational management to ask the simple yet profound question: What would happen if we treated our homes as our most important organizations? Her New York Times bestselling book and Reese's Book Club Pick, Fair Play, a gamified life-management system that helps partners rebalance their domestic workload and reimagine their relationship, has elevated the cultural conversation about the value of unpaid labor and care. In her highly anticipated follow-up, Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World, Rodsky explores the cross-section between the science of creativity, productivity, and resilience. Described as the ‘antidote to physical, mental, and emotional burnout,' Rodsky aims to inspire a new narrative around the equality of time and the individual right to personal time choice that influences sustainable and lasting change on a policy level. Rodsky's work is backed by Hello Sunshine—Reese Witherspoon's media company whose mission is to change the narrative for women through storytelling. Rodsky was born and raised by a single mom in New York City and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband Seth and their three children. Connect with Eve: Website | www.everodsky.com  Website | www.fairplaylife.com  LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/everodsky  Facebook |  www.facebook.com/everodsky  Instagram | @everodsky  Eve's Books and Documentary Mentioned in this Episode: Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World by Eve Rodsky: www.amazon.com/Find-Your-Unicorn-Space-Creative Fair Play by Eve Rodsky: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live): www.amazon.com/Fair-Play-Game-Changing-Solution-When-ebook/ Fair Play Documentary: www.fairplaylife.com/documentary  Fair Play Cards https://www.fairplaylife.com/the-cards About this Episode's Co-Host Caren Lattiere: Caren Lettiere is the Founder and President of Democracy Clothing, the casual lifestyle brand designed for the modern, multitasking woman who grew up with fashion, then got busy with life. Caren is fueled by a passion for making fashion accessible, affordable and ageless. Best known for its “Ab”solution jeans with fit technology, Democracy Clothing embraces women of all shapes and sizes, providing them with confidence-building clothing that helps them look good and feel good, while doing good. Since launching the Democracy brand, Caren has successfully led her dynamic dream team through a period of unprecedented growth. In November 2019, Democracy launched their e-commerce site, www.democracyclothing.com, to facilitate an even closer connection to the brand's loyal customers. Following the expansion into e-commerce, Caren helped secure a partnership with HSN and has become Democracy's spokesperson to a live nationwide audience. With her knack for storytelling and her authentic enthusiasm in front of the camera, Democracy has risen through the ranks at HSN establishing a following for it's multigenerational appeal. Alongside Democracy, Caren's proudest accomplishment is the fulfilling family life she's built with her husband of over 30 years, David, and their amazing kids Nicole and Josh. Connect with Caren: Website | democracyclothing.com  LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/carenlettiere  Facebook | www.facebook.com/democracyjeans  Instagram | @carenlettiere  Topics Discussed in this Episode: Eve's experience as a “parental child” supporting her disabled brother and caring for her single mother The influences that led Eve to believe she could do it all  How Eve's big dreams of smashing glass ceilings turned into smashing peas after she became a mother The erasure of identity that happens for mothers and why we have to fight for an E.P.I.C. life  We deserve permission to be unavailable from our roles and to do so takes power and unlearning  Fair Play as a movement to reclaim our time and the toxic time messages that get in the way of our reclamation  The importance of making our invisible labor visible with our children  Why women feel ashamed to admit that the division of labor in their home is not fair The number one issue Eve heard from men about why they hated home life and how the boundaries, systems, and communication formula can shift that Using Fair Play's Card Deck to engage in mindful conversation about domestic life with our families   Eve's description of Unicorn Space as an outlet for our passion and purpose Eve's 3 C's: Curiosity, Connection, & Completion  The biggest key to mother's granting permission to invest in themselves  This Episode's Challenge:  Eve challenges us to discover once again, our individual identity separate from our roles. She wants us to look for a trusted accountability partner, and report to that person one day next week, that you prioritized doing something outside of your roles as a parent, partner or professional. Take one day off and do something completely for yourself.  We welcome you to share your report in the Mother's Quest Facebook Group so we can inspire one another! This Episode is dedicated by Bridgid Coulter Cheadle Bridgid Coulter Cheadle is an award winning, serial entrepreneur and philanthropist with a decades long history of advocating for access to education and protection of the environment. Bridgid is celebrated for her family's philanthropic work with a focus on climate change, social justice, political decency, women's equity and education for the historically marginalized. Principal of her eponymous design studio, a boutique interior and design-build firm with offices in Santa Monica and Hawaii, her focus is on residential, hospitality, creative office space and furniture design. Established over fifteen years ago, Bridgid approaches each project whether for an individual client, a brand or design-build development; as an artistic venture whilst providing exceptional development from concept to administration. Her well recognized signature textile collections incorporate her own personal painting and design work that have been inspired by her avid travel and perception of nature. In 2018 Bridgid founded Blackbird Collective, a for-profit public benefit corporation and the preeminent private membership collective for women of color and allies to create positive social and economic change for each other and the world. In its exquisitely designed Culver City Flagship location, Blackbird is a curated network of work, wellbeing and creative programming studios offering inspired space for entrepreneurs, makers, storytellers, executives, practitioners, trailblazers, content creators and changemakers to gather and work both individually and together, both in person and virtually — grounded by a love of storytelling. With professional resources shared with aligned peers, experts and practitioners to support productivity, wellbeing, creativity and advocacy; Blackbird is a joy-filled place in aligned community where you don't have to go it alone — where wellbeing includes the full spectrum of wellness to include nourishment of the physical, mental self with societal belonging. In 2020, Bridgid founded Blackbird Alliance, the non-profit sister organization to the collective, to further support advancement through sponsorship, mentorship and technical training. She is a graduate of UCLA and serves on several company boards. In her free time, Bridgid enjoys fine art, playing board games, and solving the ongoing puzzle of juggling family life with her acting, entrepreneurial, and interior design careers. She is the proud mother of two with the most supportive hubby; and she enjoys board games—and the puzzle of juggling family life with acting and interior design. Connect with Bridgid Coulter Cheadle Instagram: @simplybridgid Website: http://bridgidcoulter.com Facebook: Bridgid Coulter Design Twitter: @bridgidcoulter   You Might Like to Tune Into These Other Related Episodes: Episode with Caren – https://mothersquest.com/ep56-carenlettiere/ Episode with Graeme Seabrook – https://mothersquest.com/ep61-graemeseabrook/ Episode with Jamie Greenwood – https://mothersquest.com/ep-96-coming-home-to-ourselves-with-self-care-coach-jamie-greenwood/ Special Thanks To Jill Daniel of Happy Women DinnersHappy Women Dinners is the brainchild of food writer, gourmet cook, and publicist Jill Daniel.  As a food writer, Jill wrote about food from one coast of the country to the other. She is the owner of Dinner-Licious, she serves up delicious organic dinners to families around the San Francisco Bay Area. With Happy Women Dinners, Jill has brought together fantastic food and speakers with a focus on women.  Happy Women Dinners events are held in intimate settings and limited to small groups of women. Jill Daniel – LinkedIn Happy Women Dinners Instagram @jillconnection Happy Women Dinners Facebook Page AnnouncementThe Mother's Quest Podcast will take a break between seasons until May. Make sure to sign up for email updates at mothersquest.com and join the free Facebook Group at www.mothersquest.com/community to stay connected and  informed about all the good things coming.

In 2016, on a leap of faith, I signed up for something called a Power Circle and was guided through a six month process by this amazing facilitator Jamie Greenwood. In the space that Jamie held for a small group of us, I said out loud my dreams for Mother's Quest for the first time, and at Jamie's urging, started a Facebook Group for the community I hoped to grow in my journey. Six plus years, almost a 100 podcast episodes, and over a thousand FB Group members later, Jamie has become a mother herself, and has evolved her coaching practice into one that that teaches big-dreaming, high-achieving women, many of them mothers, how to set boundaries and find home within ourselves, without an ounce of guilt. Jamie is also the host of The Path Home, a podcast that explores the many facets of home, how we find home in ourselves and how we create a sense of home in our work, our relationships, our communities and in the future we want to see. When we arrived to this interview as 2022 was coming to a close, Jamie and I were both in the midst of juggling health and wellness challenges with our children. The conversation that unfolded was the reminder we both needed of the power of self-care, of how grateful we are for the flexibility to reorganize things to care for our children when needed, and of finding and communicating our boundaries. Jamie has found a definition she loves…”boundaries are the safe distance at which I can love you and I can love myself.”   I loved this intimate conversation with the coach that helped me find my way at the start of Mother's Quest. In listening, I hope you are reminded, as I was, to slow down, to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us, to trust ourselves to set boundaries, to connect to what we're hungry for and to be brave enough to say it out loud. I hope this episode helps you come home to yourself.  This Episode's Challenge:  Part of coming home to ourselves is about bravery. Reach out to people for connection, and you might be surprised that you can build an instant community. Know that If you have a hunger for something, others likely have that hunger too. Ask yourself, “what kind of connection am I hungry for in my relationships and in my own community?” Then reach out.     About Jamie Greenwood: Jamie Greenwood is a self care and leadership coach and the founder of Homecoming, a 6 month group coaching program that teaches big-dreaming, high-achieving women how to set boundaries and find home in themselves, without an ounce of guilt. With over 15 years experience, Jamie specializes in helping women get really clear on who they are, how they want to live and then actually doing it on their own terms.  Jamie is also the host of The Path Home, a podcast that explores the many facets of home, how we find home in ourselves and how we create a sense of home in our work, our relationships, our communities and in the future we want to see. When Jamie's not coaching, speaking, or podcasting, you can find her running after her 14 year old, 6 year old and 4 year old daughters and wondering what's for dinner.   Connect with Jamie: Website | https://jamiegreenwood.co/ Podcast | https://jamiegreenwood.co/the-path-home-podcast Facebook | www.facebook.com/jamie.m.greenwood Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jamiegreenwoodcoaching/   Topics Discussed in this Episode: Navigating disappointment and that feeling of taking one step forward two steps back when challenges come up with our children How Jamie takes care of her children's needs without compromising her own What Jamie says to her children at breakfast that demonstrates to them that she matters too Jamie's favorite definition of “boundaries”…it's so beautiful! The importance of speaking our truth and why we should not use a “gratitude bypass” to obscure it.  Jamie's experience on Instagram and why she stopped using it   Making space to be quiet and to connect with our own wisdom Being brave and reaching out others   Resources Mentioned: Ep 94: Dear Body: Reflections on Embracing and Embodying 50 http://mothersquest.com/ep-94-dear-body-reflections-on-embracing-and-embodying-50/ Ep 95: An Anti-Hustle Guide To Living Your E.P.I.C. Life with She Build's Jadah Sellner https://mothersquest.com/ep-95-an-anti-hustle-guide-to-living-your-e-p-i-c-life-with-she-builds-jadah-sellner/ The Path Home Podcast | https://jamiegreenwood.co/the-path-home-podcast Homecoming | https://jamiegreenwood.co/homecoming   This Episode is Dedicated by Maria Ross Maria Ross is a speaker, facilitator, author, and empathy advocate who believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive. She's spent decades helping forward-thinking leaders and teams connect and engage through empathy to accelerate growth and impact. Maria has authored multiple books, including her most recent title, The Empathy Edge: Harnessing the Value of Compassion as an Engine for Success and also hosts The Empathy Edge podcast.  Maria has appeared in many prominent media outlets, including MSNBC, NPR, Wisdom from the Top with Guy Raz (NPR), Forbes.com, Entrepreneur, and Thrive Global. She has spoken to audiences ranging from TEDx audiences to Salesforce to The 3% Conference and has conducted empathy workshops for leading organizations such as TBWA, CHRISTUS Health and New York Life. Her thought leadership writing has appeared in multiple publications including Entrepreneur.com, Newsweek, and Huffington Post. Maria lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and young son and serves clients worldwide.   Maria's Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariajross/ Instagram: @redslicemaria //  https://www.instagram.com/redslicemaria/ Twitter: @redslice // https://www.twitter.com/redslice Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redslice YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mariajross   The Spark Your E.P.I.C. Year Workshop: A Virtual Milestone Hike Is Coming February 11th!  I want to invite you to one of my favorite new year traditions. It's a Spark Your E.P.I.C. Year Workshop, in the form of a reflective Virtual Milestone Hike that will help us pack up the learning from the year that has ended and set intentions for the one ahead.  No sweating required since we'll be in the comfort of our own home. To learn more and sign up, visit www.tinyurl.com/sparkyourepicyear23. Spaces are limited and I hope you will claim one. Mother's Quest is a podcast and community for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).   Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest

I am honored to bring you back to a powerful and important conversation with a woman who deeply impacted my life and my children's life, Ashia Ray of Raising Luminaries and Books for Littles. Thousands of parents like me seek Ashia's help in finding the best books to foster age-appropriate conversations with our children about white supremacy, cissexism, ableism, and other issues. Her thoughtfully researched and child-tested book lists, at BooksForLittles.com and in her private group is a big help for parents like me.  Grab this opportunity to widen and deepen your awareness, understanding and advocacy for neurodiversity, and how we can fight all the isms, smashing the kyriarchy (the intersection of them all) through the power of books.  Additionally, delve deeply into how Ashia experiences the world as an autistic adult and mother. I hope this episode will make you want to be a kinder, and more inclusive human being.    Much appreciation, — Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: http://mothersquest.com/ep67-ashiaray/   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

2022 is almost over; it's time to reflect and set intentions for the upcoming new year!  As I thought about what episode I wanted to bring back to you, I kept coming to this conversation with the Truth Bomb Mom Kristina Kuzmic. One of the most powerful takeaways of this episode is how owning her flaws and sharing them vulnerably with her children has become a key to living her epic life.  If your 2022 has been anything like my year, there have been a lot of things that didn't go exactly as planned. But I hope this conversation gives us all permission to look at the things that didn't go right, and possibly to see how there might be some powerful lessons, special gifts, or even as Kristina says "one good thing" we can identify in them.  I also wanted to let you know that the Mother's Quest Live Your EPIC Year Planner has arrived! It comes in so many different formats, and it's filled with all the signature reflection practices that I've been building over the last six years. And I hope if you're looking for a planner you might find what's just right for you. I'm currently doing a giveaway on Instagram www.instagram.com/mothersquestpod. It's so easy to enter. And it would really help me to spread the word about these incredible planners. So I hope you'll hop over to @mothersquestpod, sign up for the giveaway, take a look at the planners and see if there's one that's calling to you. The planners and this conversation will not only give us the opportunity to identify some things that we're taking away from the flaws in our life, but also set some powerful intentions for 2023.  I hope you love this conversation. Have a meaningful close to your year and a beautiful start to your new year. Get your Live Your EPIC Life Planner today – now is always a good time to say “yes” to your EPIC Life. Pick Your Planner Now Much appreciation, Julie  — Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: http://mothersquest.com/encore-kristinakuzmic/   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

This Throwback Thursday episode releases just one day after winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, the darkest day of the year which also marks the moment when we begin to usher in more light. It's also just days after the anniversary of my father's death.  What I've learned again and again with the waves of grief that come and go, is that life is the other side of death, love the other side of grief, and light is always on the other side of darkness.  I hope this solocast episode, about the lessons I learned during my Dad's death and afterward, might provide some guidance to you or someone you know going through a similar experience with a loved one. Wishing you more life, love and light this holiday season. Much appreciation, — Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: http://mothersquest.com/here-comes-the-sun-a-solocast-on-death-grief-and-love/  Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

I'm honored to share this throwback episode with a mentor and coach who has had a tremendous impact on the person and parent I am today, Leslie Medine. I released this episode on December 21st, 2020, on the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, in honor of a great coach Leslie and I had in common, Edd Conboy, who passed away in March of the same year. You'll notice it's longer than my usual ones and I also hope you'll find tremendous value in listening. Find a cozy spot and a cup of tea and settle in. Or if you are more limited in your time, listen for some while, and then press pause and come back when you're ready. Make sure not to listen with your little ones present as there is some colorful language. Seize the time and space for yourself. And let the light in. Much appreciation, — Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: www.mothersquest.com/80    Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the wAay and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/    

I'm honored to share this throwback episode with best-selling, award-winning, children's recording artist Laurie Berkner. Laurie's music bridges a divide between parents and their children and invites connection, joy and meaning. In our conversation, I was compelled by the stories Laurie shared about families whose children have cancer and listen to her music for comfort in the hospital or whose children have autism and their first words were the names of Laurie's songs. I hope that through this episode, you also experience renewed faith in ripple effects beyond what we first imagine and a reverence for following the rhythm in our lives, if we make the space to listen.   Much appreciation, — Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: http://mothersquest.com/ep38-laurieberkner/   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/    

Sharing this Throwback Thursday episode with Dr. Samantha Brody, author of Overcoming Overwhelm: Dismantle Your Stress from the Inside Out. She is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, and the founder of Evergreen Natural Health Center in Portland, OR.   I invite you to press pause, to release something from your to do list today, so that you have a little more space to listen in to this reflective conversation with Dr. Samantha. Then follow through as I will with the “values” exercise she gives us as our challenge   Much appreciation, — Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: http://mothersquest.com/ep69-samanthabrody/   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/    

This Throwback Thursday, in honor of Transgender Remembrance Day that just passed and the memory of the five people who were killed this week at the LGBTQ+ Club Q, we reshare this episode with transgender model and activist Corey Rae and her mother Judy Blank. May the love and courage explored in this episode inspire us all to be a champion for the transgender community. If you're interested in supporting the Club Q community, please visit https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/COHealingFund Much appreciation, — Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 70: Blazing a Transgender Trail with Corey Rae and her mother Judy Blank   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

In 2015, when Mother's Quest was still a dream in my heart, I heard an interview with an inspiring mother, Jadah Sellner, on the Good Life Project Podcast. She and her partner had co-created what became in a short time a viral phenomenon and seven figure flourishing business, called Simple Green Smoothies, built on a premise: add greens to a smoothie each day and see how it could spark change within. From that moment forward, I found inspiration in Jadah's journey and know that her quest planted seeds for me to pursue mine. I noticed that she led with heart and followed her dreams while staying committed to being present for her daughter. I learned from her as I watched her bring forward the Simple Green Smoothies book that became a best-seller, as she took to the TEDx stage integrating her spoken word poetry into her message, as she made the difficult decision to leave Simple Green Smoothies when she realized it was no longer fulfilling her, and when she pressed pause on her work to grieve and heal after a series of profound personal losses.  Today, as the founder of Jadah Sellner Media, Inc., and She Builds Collective and host of the Lead with Love Podcast, Jadah helps women build their businesses and their lives in a way that works for them—with love. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, daughter, and dog, Beesly. And this week, she culminated another journey that spanned years, that she allowed to slow cook in its own right timing, with the release of her new book published by Harper Collins, She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life. In this conversation, with each E.P.I.C. Guidepost we explore, Jadah shares with heart, humor, metaphor and tangible examples, how she brings an ease-filled, anti-hustle approach to engaging with her daughter, to pursuing her purposeful impact, to investing in herself and to building deep relationships, a practice she learned as an adult, when she changed childhood patterns and decided to bloom where she is planted. Every chapter of Jadah's new book and every EPIC guidepost exploration in this episode is an invitation for us to choose an intentional empowering and nurturing perspective for living our E.P.I.C. lives.  If you've been seeking a more sustainable path, free from burnout and rooted in your well-being, I hope that Jadah's book and this conversation help you claim a new way forward. Because as Jadah says,  “Collectively we know that the hustle culture isn't working for us. We build differently; we Build with L.O.V.E.” About Jadah Sellner: Jadah Sellner is a bestselling author, business coach, international keynote and TEDx speaker, poet, and host of Lead with Love podcast. She's the coauthor of the bestselling book Simple Green Smoothies and has been featured in Forbes; O, The Oprah Magazine; and the Wall Street Journal. As the founder of Jadah Sellner Media, Inc., and She Builds Collective, Jadah helps women build their businesses and their lives in a way that works for them—with love. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, daughter, and dog, Beesly.   Connect with Jadah: Website | jadahsellner.com/about/ Facebook | www.facebook.com/jadahsellner/ Twitter | @JadahSellner Instagram | @jadahsellner  LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/jadahsellner/   Topics Discussed in this Episode: The gift of pursuing her creativity that Jadah's mother gave to her The moment when Jadah disrupted childhood patterns and decided to bloom where she was planted  What Jadah is most on a quest for today…learning how to receive love as much as she gives Jadah's suggestions for creating no-judgement spaces to help our children to open up and express themselves The slow cooker vs. pressure cooker analogy approach for how to detox from hustle culture in life and business Different approaches in different seasons of your life: pausing, pivoting, or accelerating push The importance of investing in yourself by gathering your support squad 5 minute suggestions for “state change” you can feel in your body Masterminds and how they help generate ideas and solutions from one person to another Simple practices to try when life starts to feel out of alignment   Resources Mentioned: She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life www.amazon.com/She-Builds-Anti-Hustle-Business-Nourish-ebook/dp/B09RWWHXHD Simple Green Smoothies: 100+ Tasty Recipes to Lose Weight, Gain Energy, and Feel Great in Your Body www.amazon.com/Simple-Green-Smoothies-Recipes-Weight/dp/1623366410 Episode where I first heard Jadah on the Good Life Project Podcast. https://www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast/jadah-jen-simple-green-smoothies/ The Mother's Quest Manifesto Challege Self-Guided Course which links to a FB live recording Jadah shared  in the Mother's Quest Community.    This Episode's Challenge:  Nurture your life by cultivating relationships. Jadah challenges you to 10 seconds of bravery. Find a way to connect with someone you want to go deeper with; send them a text or an audio message, invite them to a cafe or a walk, send them an email. Try letting someone know how they have impacted your life without expecting anything in return.    This Episode is dedicated by Jennifer Kem Jennifer Kem is a San Francisco Bay Area-based brand building and leadership expert who gets entrepreneurs seen, heard, and paid for being themselves.  She's the creator of the Master Brand Method: a framework to develop powerful brands that win customers' hearts, which she uses in strategic consulting for emerging entrepreneurs, celebrity brands like Oprah Winfrey Network and Steve Harvey, and major corporations including Verizon, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Bank of Hawaii.  She is a successful owner of three multimillion-dollar businesses and the proud mother of three children. Title: Brand Futurist and CEO of Master Brand Institute    Links Website: https://www.JenniferKem.com YouTube: www.JenniferKem.com/YouTube Instagram: @jennifer.kem // https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.kem/ Facebook: @JenniferKemComm // https://www.facebook.com/JenniferKemComm/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenniferkem Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JenniferKem_ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jenniferkem/   Gift from Jen for the Mother's Quest Community JenniferKem.com/MOTHERSQUEST - gives you full access to her signature Brand Archetype Assessment, a $250 value.     Mother's Quest is a podcast and community for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest  

This Throwback Thursday episode arrives as final votes are being counted in the 2022 elections in the United States. It's a full circle moment to revisit this powerful conversation from 2017 with community activist, TedX speaker, author of the book ​​”Black Brown and Political: Get Informed, Get Empowered and Change the Game,” and founder of the Powerhouse Academy, Chandra Brooks. In this conversation those five years ago, Chandra inspired me to get back out and canvas in support of a local candidate, Noelia Corzo, during her first run for school board in my community. Last night, my son Jacob and I, who volunteered together, celebrated with Noelia and her supporters as she received the initial promising results for her run as County Supervisor. If the votes continue in her favor, Noelia will be the first Latina woman Supervisor in our County. I'm honored to reshare this episode and acknowledge all the activists like Chandra and candidates like Noelia who have the courage and commitment to step into the arena, to sit at the table and own their power. Original Show Notes I'm honored to share this episode #32 of the podcast with Chandra Brooks, who has become a friend and a generous thought partner for me in recent months. Chandra is a wife, mother of four, a grandmother, author, entrepreneur and the Northern California Staff Director for SEIU-United Service Workers West.  Born and raised in San Jose, CA, she's passionate about civil rights, social justice, and improving voter outcomes and civic engagement in communities of color.   She's also an appointed commissioner for Santa Clara County's Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, Chair of the Justice and Advocacy Committee and elected Delegate for The California Democratic Party. In 2017 Chandra launched The SocialPreneur, a purpose driven business that prepares potential candidates to run for political office and mentors women to own their power and leadership within their company, business, and/or community. I reached out to Chandra because I wanted to talk with her the week that she released her new book, “Black, Brown & Political: Get Informed, Get Empowered and Change the Game” which provides easy to navigate tips and inspiration to help women of color get involved in local politics. In this episode, we got to dive deep into the influences which drove Chandra to own her voice and reach her fullest potential. She shares how her mother led her by example to stand up for herself as a woman at a young age and how her uncle unknowingly sparked her to strive for greatness after he doubted her future success when she became pregnant as a teenager.  And, we uncover how Chandra's ambition, value for education, and commitment to political leadership helps her inspire generations today, from her 12 year old son to the women she mentors, to sit at the table and own their power. I didn't realize when I scheduled the interview with Chandra that we would be talking the day before the November 2017 elections. The conversation couldn't have come at a better time, and her challenge inspired me to go out and do another round of precinct walking with my 5 year old that afternoon. It was thrilling to wake up the next day to news that so many women of color, including one woman my son and I had supported the day before, had been elected. Chandra, with her new book as a resource, is a powerful force to fuel this growing movement of women stepping into more leadership. I hope this conversation will inspire you, as it has me, to be part of this movement and to more fully own our power to make a difference. This episode dedicated by: Titilayo Tinubu Ali of Own Your Expertise in honor of her mother, Dr. Gloria Bromell Tinubu Topics discussed in this episode: How Chandra intended to release her book a year after the 2016 elections to encourage people to reflect on the decisions they made the year before and realize the importance of being politically involved Chandra's strong, opinionated, and independent mother and how she set an example for Chandra to not be subservient to men How Chandra intentionally teaches her children about social justice issues and about their heritage The lack of access Chandra witnessed to vocational training and education for women in a local prison, compared to the men, and how she's using her leverage as Commissioner to change that. What happened when Chandra's uncle told her “Your life is over, you might as well prepare to be on welfare” after she announced she was pregnant as a teenager. How Chandra's fascination and observation of people in leadership planted seeds for her becoming an entrepreneur The importance of seeking out mentors and coaches and not being afraid to reach out and ask for help Chandra's call to action for us to get more engaged in our local community politics Resources mentioned in this episode: Chandra Brook's Mother on a Quest Feature Chandra's purpose-driven company The SocialPreneur Women Podcasters in Solidarity Black, Brown & Political: Get Informed, Get Empowered and Change the Game! National School Board Association Commission on the Status of Women – the County of Santa Clara This Week's Challenge: Get involved as a leader in your local community.. Join a school board, commission, or neighborhood association. Use your influence and privilege to support communities in need and leaders of color.

As the election in the United States approaches, I'm honored to bring back these words of wisdom from a diverse group of mothers working toward a brighter future in this special episode “Mom the Vote.” Original Show Notes At the time of this episode's release, we are at a crossroads in the United States. This election of 2020 is one of the most important in our history. As activist Michael Skolnik says, the election is not 7 days away. The election is now.  What can we do in our last few days before the conclusion of the election of 2020? Like so many of you, I am asking myself what matters most and what I can do that can have an impact in these 7 days. When I feel myself swirling, I remember I don't have to figure this out alone. So, I reached out to you, fellow mothers and grandmothers, many of you activists, and asked for your words of wisdom.  Ahead, I have 7 pieces of advice, reflections or calls to action, that we can all connect to for guidance and inspiration each day ahead. This is an election minisode…because I wanted these to be bite-sized and easy to digest. Please join me in taking these words in, taking action, and paying the messages forward to other mothers in your network.  I hope this minisode has you, as it does me, ready to dig in, to connect to community, to engage in multiple ways, to vote for our children, to remember why this matters, to get the vote out with women of color and make sure their votes count, and to mother like an organizer. Together, we can do this! #momthevote #votelikeamother #momsrising Thank you to Jen Jenkins Dohner for the beautiful “VOTE” podcast art. Find her work, Postcards for Progress here. Episode Highlights: The election is not 7 days away…the election is now and we can look to one another for how to use these days to the fullest.  Why it matters to dig into propositions and ballot measures you might not understand. Our election is not just about us as individuals, it's about us as a society. How we can use discernment and tap into our community to get us through. Register today for Nicole Lee's Way Station, happening Friday to support you in that. 5 ways that you can get engaged through MomsRising. All the reasons why we should vote for our children. How elections can be a joyful time for families. The critical role that women of color voters play in this election and how we can make their vote count. Sign up here to text bank with She the People Wednesday. Wise advice from a life-long organizer, mother and grandmother working to galvanize voting from and for domestic workers through Hand in Hand and her Caring Majority Facebook Group. Resources Recommended by Our Mother Contributors: The event Nicole Lee is co-facilitating:Way Station  5 Ways to Help Get Out the Vote from MomsRising She the People Black-Led Organizing Fund California Voter Guide Vote411 Lose the Cape Vol 4: The Mom's Guide to Becoming Socially & Politically Engaged (& How to Raise Tiny Activists), 2nd Edition 7 Pieces of Advice From Our Contributors: Advice #1 – Nancy Cavillones – Dig into Ballot Measures Because They Matter to Someone Nancy Cavillones is an indie author's best friend and is on a mission to keep authors sane by handling the minutiae of their online presence and communications. She's been online in some form or other since 1993, and still has the AOL dial-up tone stuck in her head. (Interested in the full history? Check out her LinkedIn.) She enjoys taking the scenic route, forcing her kids to appreciate nature, and spending time in New York City by herself in a desperate attempt to recapture her college days. Originally from Upstate NY by way of Long Island, Nancy recently relocated to Northern California with her family from Redding, Connecticut.  Nancy is the co-editor of Lose the Cape Mom's Guide to Becoming Socially and Politically Engaged (And Rising Tiny Activists, Too!). Where to reach Nancy: The Real Nani Twitter @va4indieauthors LinkedIn @ncavillones Lose the Cape Mom's Guide to Becoming Socially and Politically Engaged (And Rising Tiny Activists, Too!). Advice #2 – Nicole Lee – Reach Out Personally to Voters, Use Discernment and Connect to Community Nicole Lee is a diversity, equity and inclusion expert, leadership coach, nationally recognized speaker and strategist who regularly consults with nonprofits, schools, businesses and political and social movements to improve their climate for themselves and all those that they serve. She is the founder of Inclusive Life™ and co-founder of the Lee Bayard Group LLC and Black Movement-Law Project (BMLP). For almost a decade she served as President of TransAfrica, working with leaders across the globe to advocate for a just U.S. foreign policy. Nicole is a prolific speaker who has given testimony to the U.S. Congress, the United Nations and other international bodies. She has been a commentator on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and BBC. She has been recognized for her outstanding contributions in the private and public sectors through numerous awards, including Congressional Black Caucus, Running Starts “Women to Watch”, Black Women's Roundtable TrailBlazer, Global Leadership and the National Newspapers Publishers Association's Press Champion Award. She is both an attorney and an intuitive coach. Through this unique blend, she has contributed to movements in the U.S. and abroad through human rights documentation, coaching and holding space in difficult situations.  One of her proudest moments was working alongside civil rights icon Bill Lucy, the architect of the historic Memphis sanitation strike  for a national commemoration of the life of his good friend Nelson Mandela. Nicole lives in Washington, DC with her husband, political scientist Marc Bayard, children and three pets.  Where to reach Nicole: Nicole Lee website Register for WayStation Facebook Twitter @nicoleclee Instagram @nicoleleeil Advice #3 – Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner – Find Five Ways to Engage Through MomsRising Kristin is the Executive Director/CEO and Co-Founder of MomsRising and Board President of the MomsRising Education Fund. She has been involved in public policy and grassroots engagement for more than two decades and has received numerous accolades for her work. She is also an award-winning author of books and articles, frequent public speaker, media contributor, and host of the radio program “Breaking Through with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner (Powered by MomsRising).” Kristin is also a former political director, policy analyst, and political strategy consultant for non-profit organizations and foundations. Where to reach Kristin: Moms Rising 5 Ways to Help Get Out the Vote from MomsRising Facebook Twitter @MomsRising  Instagram @momsrising Advice #4 – Kalima Salahuddin – Vote for Our Children and Have Them Join You in the Process Kalimah Salahuddin currently serves as President for the Jefferson Union High School District Board of Education She is the immediate Past President of the San Mateo County School Boards Association (SMCSBA) were she served for two years and continues to serve as the Coordinator for the SMCSBA Equity Network.  At the County level she serves on the COVID-19 Recovery Council and the Advisory Council for the Equity initiative. She was one of the founding members of the REACH Coalition to increase equity and community health for all. She also was recently appointed to the Board of the Housing Leadership Council and previously served as a Board Member for Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco where she has been a regular site volunteer.  She is currently employed at Exelixis as a Coordinator on the Investor Relations / Public Affairs team and is mother to three wonderful adults. Advice #5 – Jena Schwartz – Connect to All the Reasons That Voting Matters Jena is an extroverted introvert, a lover of trees and fresh water swimming and babies and bulldogs, and a rabbi at heart. All of her works, from writing groups to retreats to individual coaching, editing, and mentoring, is devoted to creating safe and brave spaces where we get to write, share, and connect. She has been blogging as a practice since 2007. She works with people who struggle to value their writing if/when it's not “productive” or clearly “going somewhere.” Where to Reach Jena: Read Jena's Full Facebook Post Jena Schwartz website Facebook Instagram @jenaschwartz Advice #6 – Aimee Allison – Get Out the Vote and Make Sure Every Vote Counts From Critical Women of Color Voters Aimee Allison is founder and president of She the People, a national network elevating the voice and power of women of color. She brings together voters, organizers, and elected leaders in a movement grounded in values of love, justice, belonging, and democracy. In 2018, Ms. Allison was one of the primary architects of the “year of women of color in politics.” In April 2019, she convened the first presidential forum for women of color, reaching a quarter of the American population. A democratic innovator and visionary, Ms. Allison leads national efforts to build inclusive, multiracial coalitions led by women of color. She leverages media, research and analysis to increase voter engagement and advocate for racial, economic and gender justice. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Hill, Essence, Teen Vogue and Newsweek. In the early 1990's, Ms. Allison earned a rare honorable discharge from the U.S. Army as a conscientious objector and works today to support courageous, moral leadership. Aimee Allison holds a B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University. Author of Army of None, she has appeared in hundreds of outlets including MSNBC, CNN, the Washington Post, Associated Press and NPR. She is building a political home for a million women of color, nationally and in battleground states. She was featured in Politico's 2019 Powerlist.  Where to Reach Aimee: Aimee Allison website She The People LinkedIn Instagram @aimee_allison Sign up for Wednesday Text Banking with She the People  Tune into the full conversation with @Aimee Allison on political impact and fundraising released earlier on the podcast ℅ How Women Lead Advice #7 – Lian Hurst Mann – Remember Elections Are About Legacy…And Mother Like an Organizer Lian is a longtime organizer and faculty of the National School for Strategic Organizing (www.thestrategycenter.org). She is currently working with Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network. Where To Reach Lian: Instagram @herwisdomgrows  Hand in Hand – The Domestic Employers Network Caring Majority Rising Facebook Group

In honor of Mother's Quest turning 5, all season we've been sharing Throwback Thursday episodes from the archives. I've been excitedly anticipating resharing this episode with you with actress, author of the memoir From Scratch, and now co-creator and executive producer of the Netflix series by the same name, Tembi Locke. Since the limited series release just a few days ago, From Scratch has already climbed to the Top Ten in 74 countries and has captured the hearts of so many. Throughout my day today, I've been alternating between watching the show and relistening to my episode with Tembi, also beautifully dedicated by her sister and show co-creator Attica Locke. The combination of the two has rekindled an appreciation in me for honoring our ancestors, for the power of answering the call of our heroes journey, and of looking for light in the darkness to guide us through challenging times. Tembi says at the beginning of our conversation that she hoped it would be evergreen and we could find new meaning if we returned to it in a different time. That intention came true. This episode is a gift that feels just right for today. Like it did for me, I hope it provides the wisdom, inspiration and light you seek right now.  More About the Netflix Series ‘From Scratch' Watch From Scratch on NetflixNY Times Article: In ‘From Scratch,' the Locke Sisters Tell a Story of Love, Loss and Food Mother's Quest Inspiration Guide: Volume 1 Engage Tembi's episode is just one of many featured in the Mother's Quest Inspiration Guide, part personal memoir, part reflective journal, drawing on over 70+ interviews on the Mother's Quest Podcast. Learn more about the Guide and order your copy here. You can find the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 76: Light For These Pandemic Times: Space, Grace & Love Planted Across Generations with Tembi Locke Much appreciation, Julie Neale

For this weeks' Throwback Thursday, I'm excited to do a podcast exchange with Mother's Quest member and fellow podcaster Casey O'Rourty. Casey is a positive discipline trainer and parent coach and host of the Joyful Courage Podcast. When Casey and I talked about sharing favorite episodes on one another's feeds, I knew just which one I wanted to bring to you. It's a powerful, vulnerable conversation between Casey and her daughter Rowan, about Rowan's mental health challenges with anxiety and depression. I remember I first heard this episode when my son Ryan was going through a hard time in high school. Listening to Rowan's courage and self-reflection gave me so much empathy and insight. And listening to Casey's humility and honesty about the challenges of navigating her daughter's challenges, invited me to reflect on how I could be supportive to Ryan during his. In fact, we listened to part of it together and it opened channels of communication in a beautiful way. I hope you get as much as I did from this conversation and when you're done, that you download Joyful Courage on your favorite podcast app so you can check out Casey's other incredible episodes. Much appreciation, Julie Neale ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES My guest today is Rowan O'Roarty. Rowan is my oldest child, she will be 18 in January, and one of my biggest teachers of personal growth. As we all do, we learn who we are as parents, through our relationships with our children. Rowan made me a mom, and continues to influence who I am in the world as I navigate what it means to mother her. Rowan has been through her own journey of personal discovery over the past few years, maneuvering mental health challenges, dropping out of school, completing her GED, and stepping in to big responsibility while her dad and I were gone for 2 months going through my husband's cancer treatment. I am honored that she is willing to come share herself and her journey so candidly with you all today. Takeaways from the show: Where the anxiety started When Rowan became aware of her anxiety Things we did that helped Rowan cope with depression and anxiety Panic attacks  Navigating anxiety attacks and how parents can be supportive What depression feels like Things parents can do that are helpful to their teen's mental health Dialectical behavioral therapy Realizing only YOU can change your experience What Rowan has learned about herself these past few years Mental health and high school Rowan's freshman year Opting into online school Dropping out of school and gaining parent's support The GED test Plans for the future ABOUT THE JOYFUL COURAGE PODCAST Joyful Courage Parenting Podcast is a weekly show that is designed to entertain and inform as host, Casey O'Roarty tease apart all there is to learn on the parenting journey. The solo shows and expert guests interviews are packed full of useful nuggets for parents to take away and integrate into their own experience. — Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

This fall, I was honored to participate as a community host for a reboot of a Zibby Owens podcast, now called Moms Don't Have Time to Move and Shake. The reflection and recording of the episode was transformative for me, shifting the way I think about my body, especially in this stage of my life, at the age of 50. I asked Zibby and team if I could share the solocast on the Mother's Quest feed as well and they said "yes." So, I'm thrilled to bring this conversation to you here. If you're interested in hearing the voices and stories of the additional community hosts for the season, follow the show notes for the link or add the podcast on any of your favorite podcast apps. They are each powerful in their own way. I hope you enjoy this deeply personal episode, originally recorded for Moms Don't Have Time to Move & Shake, a Zcast production. ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES At the age of 50 and post menopause, life and leadership coach, mom to 2 differently wired boys, podcaster, and founder of Mother's Quest, Julie Neale, is on a mission to fully embrace her body during this new season of life. In this deeply personal solocast, through the power of reflection, Julie shares 3 guiding principles that are helping her in her relationship with her body, epic snapshot moments of times when she felt most embodied throughout her life, and a commitment letter she wrote from herself to her body. Whatever age and stage you are in, Julie invites you to take her challenge and try these reflective practices yourself and hopes that this conversation sparks a reclamation of your own. Find the show notes Julie mentions here. About Moms Don't Have Time to Move and Shake  Zibby Owens, the host of award-winning literary podcast Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books, brings you a conversational talk show, woman-to-woman, designed to help you feel better in your body. In July 2022, the former Moms Don't Have Time to Lose Weight podcast transformed into the all-new, community-hosted podcast, Moms Don't Have Time to Move & Shake! A Zcast production. Music by Morning Moon Music. Listen to the podcast here ONE-ON-ONE COACHING WITH JULIE Want to schedule a coaching session to move through the process of writing a letter to your body too with me as your guide? Reach out to me at julie@mothersquest.com and we can set up a session. 

This October, taking a cue from the leaves on the trees this fall season, I'll share episodes that invite us to release the societal and internal pressures that disempower and confine us in the "role" of motherhood. Let's examine them through powerful conversations with Mother's Quest Podcast guests, and then take small steps to let them go! For this week's Throwback Thursday, I want to bring back the second interview I ever recorded back in 2016, with entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and author Katherine Wintsch. In our conversation, Katherine shares how she learned to let go of people-pleasing and mommy guilt, and instead got curious, learned to love herself and designed a life that fulfills her. We talk about the power of revealing the truth about motherhood and that it's absolutely OK to not be OK and to not have all the answers. You can find the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 02: Unmasking Motherhood with Katherine Wintsch If you love this episode, you'll also want to listen to a second interview I recorded with Katherine after she published her book Slay Your Dragon of Self Doubt. Find the show notes here: Ep 58: Slay Your Dragon of Self-Doubt with Returning Guest Katherine Wintsch Much appreciation, Julie Neale --- Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

This Throwback Thursday, I wanted to bring back a powerful episode I released a year ago, with two mothers, Layla and Robi from the Parents Circle, who are working toward peace and reconciliation in Israel and Palestine. Alongside the release of the episode, I set an intention to raise $10,000 and to invite listeners to open their virtual doors to the Parents Circle. During these “Days of Awe” between the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement, a time of reflection, I'm noticing places where I fell short last year, where I could better in my own life. This time of Teshuvah, or Returning, is a reminder that we can always begin again. So I bring this episode back with a renewed intention to raise awareness and to complete our $10,000 goal, only $2500 more to go. Visit parentscirclefriends.org/mothersquest to learn more, make a contribution and reach out to the Parents Circle to invite mothers like Layla and Robi to your virtual synagogues, mosques, churches, schools and organizations. Wishing you a sweet new year, a mindful turning of the seasons and your own opportunity to return to what matters. Much appreciation, Julie Neale — Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: On a Quest for Peace and Reconciliation Parents Circle Interview With Layla Alsheikh and Robi Damelin   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

I'm honored to bring you this special part two with dyslexic writer, award winning author, entrepreneur and activist Jonathan Mooney, this time interviewed by my neurodivergent college freshman son, Ryan Neale. If you haven't yet listened to part one for a full exploration of Jonathan's E.P.I.C. life journey, I encourage you to go to that episode next. This episode, inspired by part one, was Ryan's opportunity, just before he left for college, to ask Jonathan for wisdom and guidance about how to flourish at a university while being neurodivergent. What unfolded was that and so much more. In this episode, I passed the microphone completely to Ryan, sat back and listened to him and Jonathan uncover how we can all learn and live outside the lines and stop faking normal. I invite you to listen to this conversation with the same sense of curiosity and trust. I hope you will arrive at the end as Ryan, Jonathan and I all did, personally transformed by the experience.     About Jonathan Mooney: Jonathan Mooney is a dyslexic writer and activist who did not learn to read until he was 12 years old. He is a graduate of Brown University and holds an honors degree in English Literature. At Brown, he became the co-founder of Project Eye-To-Eye, a widely duplicated mentoring program for disabled students. He is also a winner of the prestigious Truman Scholarship for graduate studies in creative writing and education and was a national finalist for the Rhodes scholarship. Jonathan Mooney's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, HBO, NPR, ABC News, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe. A nationally recognized advocate for neurological and physical diversity, he's been speaking across the nation about neurological and physical diversity for two decades, inspiring those who live with differences and calling for change. He has published three books: The Short Bus, Learning Outside the Lines, and Normal Sucks.   Connect with Jonathan: Website | www.jonathanmooney.com  Facebook | www.facebook.com/TheJonathanMooney  Twitter | @_jonathanmooney  Instagram | @thejonathanmooney  LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/jonathan-mooney  Jonathan's Books Mentioned in this Episode: Normal Sucks: How to Live, Learn, and Thrive Outside the Lines : www.amazon.com/normalsucks Learning outside the Lines: www.amazon.com/Learning_Outside_the_Lines     About Ryan Neale: Ryan Neale is a neurodivergent UCLA Freshman from San Mateo, California. His parents discovered he was differently wired when he was 18 months old but he has been in mainstream education for his academic career, with most people around him not knowing about some of the struggles that he faces. His experiences masking his neuro differences have given him a unique perspective on many of the struggles neurodiverse people face, such as public stigma, internalized ableism, and the ever-present desire to fit in. As he has begun advocating more for his needs, he has high hopes to use his perspective and communication skills to increase public understanding of neurodiversity, and hopefully create a more inclusive society for everyone. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, coaching youth sports, roughhousing with his little brother, and diving headfirst into his many fantasy special interests. He is thrilled to have participated in the 2022 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit on a K-12 student panel. You can listen to the panel here. Read Ryan's journey to “I got in!” - This Magic Moment - New UCLA Students Journeys to Acceptance   Connect with Ryan:  Instagram | www.instagram.com/ryanjeneale    Topics Discussed in this Episode: How Ryan got introduced to Jonathan and his book Normal Sucks  Jonathan's invitation to Ryan to lean into his “badassness”  How Jonathan transcended the obstacles in his path as a neurodivergent young adult with ADHD and dyslexia on his way to Brown College The biggest barrier for Jonathan on his path: the internalized messages that he was stupid, lazy, crazy The key question Jonathan says we should be asking instead of “how smart are you?” How and why an F on an English final became an inflection point for Jonathan in his advocacy journey   How neurodiverse students can survive and thrive in a flawed system    The importance of meta-cognition Why we should reframe our language from “diagnosis” to “assessment” that identifies both the challenges and strengths of being neurodiverse. The importance of seeking out people in your life that can help you build self-knowledge and find the good in you What Ryan and Jonathan think Batman has to teach neurodiverse students The negative impact of trying to pass or mask as “normal” and what helped Jonathan move from shame to pride in his own journey    Jonathan's message to “find your crew” and do something to contribute and make the world better The commitment Ryan is making as he embarks on his college journey Resources and Topics Mentioned: Free tools for testing your Signature learning strengths: www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths  www.thrively.com  Speech-to-Text App: otter.ai  Eye-to-Eye: www.jonathanmooney.com/project/eyetoeye    Related Podcast Episodes: Listen to these Next Ep 90: Different is not Deficient with Normal Sucks Author Jonathan Mooney Ep 87: Embracing Neurodiversity and Being an Adult with Julie Lythcott-Haims and Ryan Neale   This Episode's Challenge:  Jonathan challenges us to not ask yourself, “are you going to be successful?” but instead,  to hold yourself accountable to be successful in the right way.  He wants us to stop hiding and be out and proud of our differences that make us special. This way, we can give to the community with purpose, pride, and passion.   This Episode is dedicated by Cindy McCormick: Some people are lucky enough to have a career doing EXACTLY what they were born to do - Cindy is one of them. She loves running Cindy McCormick College Advising (CMCA,) but more importantly, she thrives on guiding high school students along their paths to college. She received her B.A., teaching credential, and Masters in Education from UCLA; instructional writing certification from UC Santa Barbara; and college counseling certificate from UC San Diego. With the highest standards in education, training, and ethics, she believes in getting to know her students thoroughly while relentlessly researching schools to ultimately guide kids to their best fit college homes. Before college advising, Cindy taught school in both Westchester County, NY and Southern California, and then specialized as a college application and essay writing instructor. She also served as a PTA President and a team manager of a global top-ranked STEM student team for ten years.   As a mother of five children, Gifted And Talented educator, autism specialist, and Spanish bilingual instructor, Cindy embraces diverse abilities, perspectives and backgrounds. Her wide variety of experiences allow her to bond with all kinds of teenage personalities and interests; she delights in getting to know each student, motivating and coaching them, and ultimately customizing their unique college plans. In her downtime, she loves spending time with her family of 6 men, running marathons in beautiful places, and cuddling her Goldendoodle, Ollie.   Connect with Cindy:  Facebook | www.facebook.com/cmcollegeadvising  Instagram | @cmcollegeadvising LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-mccormick-cmca Website | www.cindymccormickcollegeadvising.com    Announcements: Our Fall Virtual Milestone Hike Is Here! Ready to press pause and set YOUR course for an intentional new school year? Our kids have had new beginnings… now it's time for us! Sign up today for the fall Mother's Quest Virtual Milestone Hike and a powerful interactive experience like none other. Intrigued? Check out the links below for more info and to register for one of two upcoming dates:  Tuesday Sept 27 - https://mailchi.mp/mothersquest/septvirtualhike22  Saturday Oct. 1st - https://mailchi.mp/mothersquest/octvirtualhike22  It's Pay from the Heart to make it accessible to anyone who wants to come. Hope to see you there! P.S. Have a friend who would like to join? Invite them along. Always better to hike with a friend   Mother's Quest Circle: Next Chapter Edition We will be opening the registration for the Mother's Quest Virtual Circle soon! I'm facilitating a Mother's Quest Virtual Circle in November for moms like me who have children going off to their next chapter (whether that is college, trade school, travel or the workforce)  Our children's next chapter is a window of opportunity for us to invest in ourselves in new ways. Doing it in community with like-minded mothers is always powerful.    — Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest    

“Each of us has that innate ability to attain and maintain our own optimal health – the real healer lies within.” — Avanti Kumar Singh Touching on each E.P.I.C guidepost on this Throwback Thursday episode, Avanti shares how Ayurveda can become a powerful lens for living a healthy, reflective life, one where we open our minds, and tap into our own ability to provide counter-balance to the things that are troubling us and support our own healing. Within that frame, we touched on so many topics, from Ayurveda and parenting to menopause, intermittent fasting and how to support our children as they transition to college and beyond. Avanti gives us a challenge to explore our daily routines, identify any trouble spots and then apply the teachings of Ayurveda to craft our own remedies. This month in the Mother's Quest Facebook Group, we're focused on the big transitions under way for our children and ourselves during this back to school season. To join the group and the conversation, visit www.mothersquest.com/community. Much appreciation, Julie Neale --- Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 59: The Healer Lies Within through Ayurveda with Avanti Kumar Singh   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

This month in the Mother's Quest Facebook Group, we're focused on the big transitions under way for our children and ourselves during this back to school season. To join the group and the conversation, visit www.mothersquest.com/community. This topic feels especially important for me this year, because in just one week, we pack up our car to drive our son Ryan to LA to start his college freshman experience.  As the day gets closer, we find ourselves savoring the moments, creating extra quality family time, and making space for conversations about all the things that matter. I found myself returning to the messages and inspiration of this conversation with best-selling author of Boys and Sex, Peggy Orenstein and thought you might need it too. Whether you have a boy just entering adolescence or off to college, I hope this episode provides perspective and support to open, and continue having honest conversations, to help your boys navigate the terrain of young male sexuality in today's world.     Much appreciation, — Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 71: Talking about Boys and Sex with Peggy Orenstein   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/  

This Throwback Thursday's minisode is inspired by the photos, posts and stories from so many of you about your children's new beginnings at the start of this school year. Recorded a few years ago, it outlines my secret to a powerful start that we can share with our children…an experience called a “Milestone Hike” that I've done in person and now virtually for many years. In this Minisode I Talk About: How/when I learned about the importance of ending well to begin well at the youth development organization Alternatives in Action  The transformative Milestone Hike Experience I had on my 40th birthday How I've used the same components of that hike to acknowledge milestones with my son Ryan (we even recorded a podcast episode about one on his 13th birthday!) including Back to School Milestone Hikes The ways I have taken that experience to create signature Mother's Quest opportunities for reflection Hope this supports you or a mother preparing for Back to School in your life!  Also, I'd love to hear from YOU: What are your Back to School Rituals that help you start the year well? Please join us in the Mother's Quest Facebook Group to share or email me at julie@mothersquest.com Much appreciation, Julie Neale — Listen to my episode with Ryan that we recorded after our Milestone Hike on his 13th birthday. He has grown and changed so much since then and will be starting college in just a few weeks. I'm so glad we have this almost like a time capsule of that period in his life.  http://mothersquest.com/ep-18-yolo-you-only-live-once-and-other-milestone-reflections-with-ryan-neale/ Fall 2022 Spark Your E.P.I.C. Year Virtual Hike – Two Dates! If you'd like to go on a reflective milestone hike (virtually!) with me and others from the Mother's Quest Community by your side, we've opened up registration for the Fall Spark Your E.P.I.C. Year Virtual Hike. Choose from two dates:   You can sign up here for Thursday, Sept 29th from Noon – 1:30 pm PST: https://mailchi.mp/mothersquest/septvirtualhike22 You can sign up here for Saturday, Oct 1st from 10 – 12:30 pm PSt: https://mailchi.mp/mothersquest/octvirtualhike22 Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: Back to School Milestone Hike: My Secret to Starting The School Year Well Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Today's show with keynote speaker, business and leadership coach and Step into Your Moxie® facilitator Sara Dean, was five years in the making and worth the wait! Sara is the creator and host of the Shameless Mom Academy Podcast, a top rated podcast with over 600 episodes and 5 million downloads.  As you'll hear her share in this conversation, Sara's biggest passion is helping women own their space.  After enduring her own identity crisis following the birth of her son, Sara took her background in psychology/health/wellness and rebuilt her identity, one step at a time.   Today, Sara motivates and inspires women to stop shrinking and start shining and she's been stretching herself to do the same, moving beyond her podcast microphone and onto new stages, including speaking for Amazon, the City of Seattle, Charles Schwab, Inspired Mama, WE Ignite, Alt Summit, and She Podcasts Live to name a few.  Sara's ability to show up,  with a  “sticktoitiveness” she says is in her DNA, enables her to achieve incredible things, like training for the triathlon she is in the midst of now. What I so appreciate about where Sara is on her journey, is her intention to move beyond the doing for doing sake to a thoughtfulness about what matters most and why, a shift she opens up about.  I hope this conversation, and the challenge Sara offers us to cut the crap and calm the chaos, inspires us to show up as Sara does, with humility and bravery, honesty and humor, and as she says, shameless #everydamnday.   About Sara: Sara Dean is a keynote speaker, a business and leadership coach, and a Step into Your Moxie® facilitator.  She is also the creator and host of the Shameless Mom Academy Podcast, a top rated podcast with 5 million downloads.  Sara's biggest passion is helping women own their space.  After enduring her own identity crisis following the birth of her son, Sara took her background in psychology/health/ wellness and rebuilt her identity, one step at a time.  Sara motivates and inspires women to stop shrinking and start shining #everydamnday.   Sara has spoken for Amazon, the City of Seattle, Charles Schwab, Inspired Mama, WE Ignite, Alt Summit, and She Podcasts Live.  She has been featured on the Dr Phil Show.   When she's not supporting Shameless Moms, you'll find Sara with her husband and 10 year old son – trying to keep up on video game jargon and baseball stats.   Connect with Sara: Website | www.shamelessmom.com  Shameless Mom Academy Podcast |  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shameless-mom-academy/id1092674204  Free Facebook Group | www.shamelessmom.com/facebook Instagram | @shamelessmomacademy  LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks   Topics Discussed in this Episode: The social media post Sara shared five years ago that made me want to meet her at our first podcasting conference!  The impact on Sara of being raised by her mother who was a nun for 16 years  The power of routine and the need for flexibility Why showing up is in Sara's DNA   How Sara is moving out of her comfort zone to have more impact  Using rejection as fuel to keep going  Sara's simple self-care tip for investing in herself  Going back to what makes us feel reconnected with ourselves  The power of finding  your people in the same place and time as you  What it means to Sara to be a “Shameless Mom”   Resources and Topics Mentioned Join Sara's upcoming free workshop, How to Calm Your Chaos & Let Go of Your Crap: shamelessmom.com/calm www.shamelessmom.com  You Might Also Want To Listen to My Interview with Sara On Her Podcast: https://shamelessmom.com/episode/julie-neale-and-caren-lettiere-sisters-making-magic-in-e-p-i-c-ways/   This Episode's Challenge: Calm your chaos and let go of your crap. Sara wants you to think of what you really need right now, and how you can let go of extraneous junk in order to get what you want out of the season you're in. Join us at Sara's free online workshop entitled, “How to Calm Your Chaos and Let Go of Your Crap”. You can register at shamelssmom.com/calm and let her know Mother's Quest sent you. Happening on September 13, 4pm pacific time (7pm eastern time) and September 14, 10 am pacific time (1pm eastern time). Sara invites you to reevaluate how you're spending your time and energy, give yourself permission to create a schedule and systems you love, invest in relationships that give you life, stop over giving and stop overlooking your own needs. We hope to see you there!   This Episode is dedicated by Nikita Burks-Hale: Nikita Burks-Hale (she/her) is the CEO and Chief Coloring Officer at Headphones and Crayons, a space for amplifying voice, sound, and color. As an Alignment Coach, she journeys and supports creatives, podcasters, and entrepreneurs as they create podcasts and launch new business initiatives that feel good without losing themselves in the process. As a Coloring Practitioner, Nikita integrates connection, community building, dialogue, and healing, all through the art of coloring. Nikita is a journeyer in every sense of the word and truly believes that life is a journey and you must be open to its endless possibilities. Her coaching and personal beliefs are centered around living your imperfect journey to the FULLest by: Showing Up Being Vulnerable Practicing Grace and Gratitude Be A Bada** And Enjoying the Ride When she is not coaching, podcasting, aligning, or coloring, you can find her watching the latest Disney movies with her wife Jessica and her two young kids, Adonis and Remy. Connect with Nikita: Instagram: @headphonesandcrayons TikTok: @headphonesandcrayons Website: www.colorfullcrew.com My episode on Nikita's podcast – Discovery as a Catalyst and an Awakening with Julie Neale   Announcement: Step into Your Moxie® Certification Training with Alexia (Lex) Vernon Sara Dean and I are aligned in our commitment to using our voices and also to supporting fellow mothers to do the same. Another thing we share in common is mutual respect and appreciation for our speaker coach Lex Vernon. A few years ago, I had the honor of interviewing Lex for the podcast and this fall, I'm excited to participate in a Step into Your Moxie® Certification Training  she is leading. I'm also a proud affiliate partner of Lex's courses. If you're a coach, consultant or organizational leader looking for a proven system and training to help your clients find their voice and develop the confidence to use it, Lex and this training may be for you. Follow the links below to learn more and to sign up for a free upcoming workshops Lex is leading and be sure to tell her Mother's Quest sent you her way. If it ends up being the right fit, I look forward to learning alongside you at the Step Into Your Moxie training this fall.  Step into Your Moxie® Certification Training https://stepintoyourmoxie.com/certification/ Free Workshop: 4 Mistakes Coaches, Trainers, and Managers Make That Undermine People's Speaking Success https://stepintoyourmoxie.com/speaking-mistakes/ Hear my episode on the podcast with Lex here: http://mothersquest.com/tag/alexia-vernon/ **As an affiliate partner, Mother's Quest will receive a commission if you participate in the training an list my name as a referral source on the Certification application. I only recommend people and programs that I believe wholeheartedly in, and Lex  tops that list.

As I record this opening today, I'm filled with emotion because I just dropped off my son Ryan at UCLA for his freshmen orientation. Check the show notes for more reflections about this epic snapshot moment. Last night, Ryan and I stayed up late talking about what he wants to study in college and more importantly, how we hope his college and career journey will be one that lights him up.  It had me thinking about this conversation with Good Life Project podcaster Jonathan Fields. Jonathan is the creator of SparkTypes and a new podcast Sparked, which helps you find work that makes you come alive. Jonathan and I recorded this episode a few years ago, just before Jonathan was getting ready to take his daughter to her freshmen year in college. It's filled with heart, insight and wisdom and a reminder that no matter what chapter we or our children are starting, it's always the right time to ask ourselves the big questions about who we are and what we are here to do. Epic Snapshot Moment Reflections with Ryan He's off to orientation and going to UCLA a month from now I didn't do the college reveal post in the spring, though I've told many of you personally, because I think so much emphasis during that time gets placed on what school kids do or don't get into. I want to be part of the conversation that reminds us that college is not the only path our children can take after high school and that there are so many schools that are beautiful matches for students. But today, with tears streaming down my face as I go on a walk post orientation drop-off, I really wanted to share this with you… Ryan is going to UCLA! Omg Ryan is going to UCLA!! I want to share it because: - UCLA is where Chris and I met over 30 years ago and where I took my first independent moves to becoming the person I am today. - From the time we started going to UCLA's family camp Bruin Woods, Ryan has dreamed about attending, mastering the 8 clap at a young age, going to UCLA basketball sleepaway camp and putting UCLA on his 9th grade vision board. - Ryan worked with my dear friend from UCLA @cindykmcc on his college search application and essays. With neurodivergent boys of her own, she was so patient with Ryan and adapted the process to meet him where he was. - Ryan's conversation last fall with Julie Lythcott-Haims on the podcast was part of Ryan's journey to embracing and celebrating who he is, prompted him to do his college essays voice to text, and to be authentic about his life journey and identity in his essays. - Finally…because my Dad, who died in December, would be so thrilled that he is here, with my mother down the street, and a family support system of aunts  uncles and cousins if Ryan needs them. While there were challenging days on his journey where we could not imagine him ready to do this, Ryan has grown so much. He is as prepared as he could be for this next chapter. We are so proud of him and excited for him, but more than that he is so proud of himself and excited himself. It seems Ryan was fated to go to UCLA. Dreams can come true. But they do when, as my Dad always said, you pursue your fate. And wow did Ryan do that!   To hear more about Ryan's journey: YOLO (You Only Live Once) and other Milestone Reflections with Ryan Neale Embracing Neurodiversity and Being an Adult with Julie Lythcott-Haims and Ryan Neale   Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 63: A Maker's Journey to a Good Life with Jonathan Fields   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

I hope you've been listening over the past few months to our Throwback Thursday series…episodes I'm curating from the archives for you to listen to again, or for the first time, if they are new to you. This Throwback Thursday, there were so many reasons I decided to select this episode titled “Weaving our Ancestral Threads with Genealogist Nicka Smith.” First, Nicka has had some incredible recent accomplishments that I would love for you to explore. One in particular, is the debut of her first short film entitled “A Dream Delivered: The Lost Letters of Hawkins Wilson” about one family's story that Nicka explains is an exceptional example of why it's important to thread the past to the present. The second reason I decided to share this episode was because of a call I received today. It was from a woman who was a former student of my grandmother Molla, who found and heard my episode with my father, David Lieberman. This woman was searching for years to learn about her mentor who she lost touch with and I've been searching for years to find students who benefited from my grandmother's teaching. Now, because of the power of podcasting and a reverence for threading the past to the present, we've found one another. All of this feels especially poignant because it's still within the first year of my father's death. As I welcome you to listen to this episode, I'm sending special love out to all of us missing our loved ones and wishes that the wisdom from Nicka in this conversation, inspires us anew to weave our own threads from past to the present, and to use our loved one's legacies as inspiration for living our lives to the fullest. Resources Mentioned in Opening A Dream Delivered: The Lost Letters of Hawkins Wilson details the life of Hawkins Wilson, a formerly enslaved man who utilized the Freedmen's Bureau to try to reconnect with his family. Hawkins' letters have been seen everywhere from the National Archives website to text books and more. The letters so clearly describe the destructiveness of enslavement while also showing the hopes the formerly enslaved had in repairing the havoc the slavery system caused their families. Hawkins' May 11, 1867 letter drafted at the Freedmen's Bureau in Galveston, Texas – the site of the first ever Juneteenth – includes a detailed account of which specific slaveholders enslaved his family members and important details such as the locations where they were enslaved. Those of us who do genealogy research know how incredible Hawkins' account is, yet we also know that there are a lot of factors out of our control that determine whether or not we can find out more about him and his family despite the large amount of information he gave. Did Hawkins and his family ever reunite? Do records that document his enslavement still exist? All of these questions, and more, are answered in the short film. You can view the film at www.ancestry.com/BlackHistory Ep 43: Love of Family and Pursuing our Fate ~A Father's Day Special~ with David Lieberman   Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 50: Weaving our Ancestral Threads with Genealogist Nicka Smith   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

I'm excited to revisit this episode with Kalika Yap, a serial entrepreneur, inventor, intentional mother, and business leader. Kalika is from more humble beginnings. She came from a big family born in the Philippines in the time of Martial Law that then moved to a low income community in Hawaii. Growing up, she had strong influences from her mother who is a teacher and her father who is an entrepreneur. Along with her husband, she now imparts these family influences or “Ohana” and a focus on “Core Values”  to her two daughters. We covered a lot of ground in this interview and I felt like I filled my E.P.I.C. Life Toolkit with powerful strategies: to focus on values, develop keystone habits, and consciously choose a life of service. I left the conversation inspired by Kalika to pursue our entrepreneurial dreams and empower other women to do the same, all while being a present and intentional parent. Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 22: Core Values, Ohana and Keystone Habits With Kalika Yap Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Last week on the podcast I shared a solocast about the power of manifestos and the many ways that we can express them. I was reminded that my first episode of the podcast, called “Planting Seeds for Mother's Quest” was a manifesto itself, an expression of where I had been, where I was headed, and a commitment for how I wanted to live my life. I decided this was a great time to reshare the episode. I hope this episode, and the solocast I recorded last week, may inspire you to take some time for reflection and create a manifesto of your own. If you'd like a process to support you along the way, check out the link to the Mother's Quest Manifesto Challenge, a self-guided course, created just for this purpose, in the show notes. Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 00: Planting Seeds for Mother's Quest – An Introduction   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Ever wanted to create a manifesto, a personal declaration of how you want to live your life? In this new solocast on the podcast, I share my story of creating manifestos, more about what they are, the many different ways that we can express them, and an invitation for you to create your own!In this Episode: The full circle moment with my two children this summer that reminded me of the power of having a manifesto.  The meaning and origin of the word manifesto.How I came to create my first manifesto through a course with Jonathan Fields of the Good Life Project Podcast.  Five different suggestions for expressing a manifesto. A reading of my Becoming 50 Manifesto that I created through Book Spine Poetry. This Episode's Challenge:  Create your own manifesto. Share it with us in the Mother's Quest Facebook Community, email it to julie@mothersquest.com or tell someone special in your life. Declare it to others to make it real. If you'd like some support to move you through a reflective process to help you clarify your manifesto, we've created a self-guided Manifesto Challenge Course in Mother's Quest MemberVault.Resources/Episodes Mentioned: Ep 00: Planting Seeds for Mother's Quest – An Introduction Ep 63: A Maker's Journey to a Good Life with Jonathan Fields Ep 61: Reclaiming Ourselves in Motherhood: Revisited with Graeme Seabrook Ep 89: Seeking Wonder and Mondo Beyondo Manifestos with Andrea Scher Manifesto Challenge Course - A 7-day self-guided experience that will move you through a series of reflective prompts to support you in creating or refining a “manifesto” of your own My Becoming 50 Manifesto:Child of the Moon Wonder Seeker Conduit of Big Magic  I Am My Mother's Daughter And also descended from Women Who Run With Wolves Daring Greatly I choose to Live Love Now To grow An Awakened Family Raising Happiness In myself, my Partner and my Children From Scratch Bird by Bird Tapping the potential of my Divergent Mind I will build Conscious Community Rooted in Just Mercy Sparked By the Essence of Who I Am And Who We Are We Should All Be Millionaires Materially and Metaphorically Living in Stress Free ProsperityTapping the Power of Emergent Strategy Alongside my  Wolfpack Learning and living in a Spiral I will remember we are always Becoming  And that You Were Born For This   You can purchase the books named in the Becoming 50 Manifesto here.

This month, in the Mother's Quest Community, we've been celebrating the power of books. It made me think about this past episode with my mother Fran and her dear friend Sandy Klasky about their then 50 year old book club. This year, the book club will be turning 55 and is still going strong, even through the pandemic.  Listen to this conversation, and you'll be inspired by the importance of friendship, the potential of books to bring people together, and the lessons we can learn from two grandmothers who have been through challenging times in our country and have lessons to share with us about what got them through. Other Invitations To Celebrate the Power of Books: ✨Listen to this episode with author Andrea Scher where I talk about the Becoming 50 Manifesto I wrote using book spine poetry. I was inspired by an idea in Andrea's book Wonder Seeker. ✨Check out my Becoming 50 Manifesto Book List and Purchase a book of your own from the list for your summer reading.  ✨Get a copy of the Mother's Quest Inspiration Guide or gift a copy to a special mother in your life ✨Sign up for the Tiny Book Course from my friends at Get it Done Productions and write a book of your own! Code JulieNeale will get you 10% off the course. Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full shownotes from the original episode here: EP34: Season Two Finale: The Power of Friendship and a 50 Year-Old Book Club with Fran Lieberman and Sandy Klasky   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

This Throwback Thursday episode comes to you while I'm away on vacation at my happy place, UCLA's Bruin Woods in Lake Arrowhead.While here for the week, I've made it an annual tradition to take off all my social media apps from my phone, truly unplug, and be present. The inspiration for this came from this week's guest, Rachel Macy Stafford, whose personal commitment to putting down her phone and becoming a Hands-Free Mama led to a Hands-Free Movement, several powerful books, and most recently to a new audio journey called Soul Shift Sessions through a partnership with Sounds True. You can follow the link to explore this for yourself in the show notes. This episode was originally recorded during a challenging time in our pandemic, March of 2020, while we were sheltering in place and just after the killing of George Floyd. There is no question that we face continued challenges. I hope this episode sparks renewed hope in the power of presence, fulfilling our unique purpose, and authentic connection. You can purchase Rachel's new Soul Shift Sessions audio journey here.    This Week's Challenge:   For this week's challenge, Rachel encourages us to think about any hurtful comments, or criticism, consciously and unconsciously, that we've been carrying around that's holding us back from truly fulfilling our purpose. Reflect on it and slowly turn that pain into purpose. This Episode is Dedicated by Samantha Arsenault   Samantha Arsenault Livingstone is an Olympic gold medalist, high-performance consultant, mental health educator, speaker, and entrepreneur – and she's a mother of four and recovering perfectionist. Samantha holds a master's degree in education and spent six years teaching high school science and coaching swimming. After a near-death experience with her then 12- month old daughter, Samantha knew it was time to pay forward all she's learned about achievement, emotional resilience, rising from failure, and finding happiness.   In 2016, Samantha founded Livingstone High Performance in response to the mental health crisis impacting adolescents across the globe, specifically those in the athletic arena. LHP provides pillars of support to organizations, teams, and individuals to elevate mental health and improve performance, and build a more empowered village. In addition to private and group coaching, Samantha offers online courses and consults with teams and organizations on athlete wellness initiatives, leadership, strategic planning, rising skills, and developing high-performance cultures. She is a certified instructor of Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement and Mental Health First Aid.   Samantha is an engaging public speaker who has more than 19 years of experience, which includes her TEDx Talk: The Weight of Gold: An Olympian's Path to Recovery. She's been featured as a keynote speaker, expert panelist, workshop facilitator, and seminar leader. She's worked with high-school, collegiate, and professional athletes in a group and 1:1 setting; school districts; athletic departments; coaching organizations; women in business groups; wellness entrepreneurs; and national governing bodies, most notably, USA Swimming.   Samantha and her husband, Rob, live in the Berkshires with their four girls. To learn more about her offerings, go over to www.samanthalivingstone.com.   To learn more about her offerings, go over to www.samanthalivingstone.com. You can join Samantha's FREE 5-Day I AM CHALLENGE at www.samanthalivingstone.com/i-am-challenge     • Facebook @slivingstonewellness • Instagram @slivingstn • Linkedin @sarsenaultlivingstone In This Episode We Talk About:   • The way Rachel's mother gave her the gift of “presence” even when she couldn't be physically present.   • Rachel's quest for purpose and the legacy she wants to leave • How reflecting on the question “How do I do it all?” on a run one day became the “spark moment” that pushed Rachel to choose herself • What Rachel means by her connection to her “dreamer girl” • Why facing the truth is really just the beginning • What it means when Rachel says to her children “I want to love you by your book.”  • Hands-Free Mama as a way of being • The pressure and insecurity of online life and how screentime distraction becomes the biggest obstacle to living purpose-filled • The 3 roles that will allow us to walk beside our kids • Finding your place of refuge and helping your kids find theirs • How we can “find our people” by doing the things our heart calls us to do • The tear-filled pledge I made to Rachel, reading from a promise in her book on p.57    Full Episode Show Notes   Check out the full shownotes from the original episode here: Ep 74: Living and Loving with Authenticity with Hands Free Mama Rachel Macy Stafford   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

In the wake of the reversal of Roe v Wade, 49 years since women finally received the constitutional right to abortion, women across the country are rising up to have our voices heard. I knew this moment called for bringing back this powerful 2017 conversation with mother, filmmaker, author, and activist Paola Mendoza.   This interview occurred just over five years ago, months after the first Women's March, which Paola helped create as their Artistic Director, and days before the Day Without a Woman Strike. As this episode reaches you, women are preparing to gather in Washington D.C. again in another mass protest. Whether or not we go to a protest, I hope this conversation reinspires us to get active again, participate and lead the political charge. Because as Paola tells us “we need to remember we have the power to create the world that we want but we all have to be engaged.”    You can listen to Paola's abortion story here which she tells in a video series from The Meteor, a collective of writers, filmmakers, organizers, and artists who are committed to moving the world forward against injustice.   Just before the 2020 election, I had the honor of interviewing Paola again with the co-author Abby Sher, of her thought-provoking novel Sanctuary. You can listen to that powerful episode next here. Topics Discussed in this Episode: • The profound impact her mother had on Paola's life, and what it was like to tell her mother's courageous story as an immigrant to the U.S., in her film Entre Nos • Paola's way of connecting with her son through “Adventure Fridays” • The role of art and activism in growing compassion in other people • The importance of emphasizing both what you stand for and also what you stand against • With privilege comes responsibility, and how Paola hopes to teach her son to sacrifice his privilege to help other people • Ultimately, it's not about falling or failing, it's about how you rise up and how Paola's metaphor of “running a relay” sustains her activism • Paola's challenge to us to “participate”…to get involved in a local issue and attend a town hall meeting during the next congressional recess.   Resources Mentioned: • Entre Nos,  Paola stars in this film (which she also wrote and directed) based on her family's experiences of coming to the United States from Colombia • The Ones Who Don't Stay, Paola's novel which came from the film Entre Nos • This article where Paola talks about the Women's March being about what we are for • Ep 06: Healthy and Happy with Dr. Elisa Song where we talk about “special time” with our children • The Women's March • Unity Principles of the Women's March • A Day Without a Woman • A Quote by Audre Lorde: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” More About Audre Lorde & Audre Lorde's Work • Indivisible, a website by former Congressional staffers who reveal best practices for making Congress listen • Focus on our Goodness: A Framework for my Activism Inspired by my Four-year Old • My recent solocast where I talk about wanting to step more into activism and why I reached out to Paola here   Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full shownotes from the original episode here: Ep 16: Rising Up with Paola Mendoza Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

For this Throwback Thursday, just after Father's Day, I knew I wanted to bring you this episode with my friend, an incredible father and podcaster at the While Black Podcast, Darius Hicks.    This past week in the United States, in addition to Father's Day, we also acknowledged Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) an annual commemoration of the effective end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War. It came when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to ensure all those enslaved were freed, a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. It's considered the longest-running African American holiday and last year in 2021 became a federal holiday.    For those of us who are not Black, Juneteenth is an opportunity to learn more about the history of slavery, to reflect on how much more is needed for Black people to be truly free in this country, and to recommit to antiracism.    Just over a month since a white gunman killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, one of the deadliest racist massacres in recent U.S. history, this conversation with Darius is a necessary call to action to learn more and identify how we can be part of the change that is needed.    Darius gifted us with exceptional insight, perspective, and vulnerability in this conversation. I'm honored to share it with you again.   So join us in this episode as we celebrate amazing fathers all over the world!   About Darius:   Darius has always displayed an entrepreneurial and activist spirit. Since his youth, he has dedicated his time to those around him in hopes of bettering them while he better himself. It began by volunteering as a camp counselor from middle school through high school, and grew via mentorship and tutoring in college all the way to his membership role in the 100 Black Men and as an advocate for African Americans through his work on the While Black Podcast. Vince wholeheartedly believes James Baldwin's quote “To be Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be a rage almost all the time”. However, he chooses to channel that rage into a place that allows him to change the narrative on black folks while he helps to empower those same black folks.   Earning his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Southern University A&M in Baton Rouge LA (1999) and his MBA from Queens University in Charlotte NC (2005), Vince has gained valuable experience in multiple industries.   He has excelled in multiple industries and enjoyed a career spanning 20+ years with opportunities in Engineering, Consumer packaged goods, Corporate retail giants, and now the Social/tech industry.   In addition, he is a successful entrepreneur and founder of Aveo Big and Tall Golf Apparel which rose to become the #1 big and tall golf apparel offering in Golfsmith stores and was distributed nationally and internationally via various outlets including but not limited to Dicks Sporting Good, GolfSmith, and Golf Galaxy. He has since sold the rights to the Aveo name and divested from the company.   However, he has altered his focus by aligning his passions with his promise and ensuring his time is invested accordingly as he focuses on improving the black world and the global community through and with black people. His latest endeavor is laser-focused on impacting and improving the people around him. Specifically, he is the creator and co-host of the While Black Podcast a podcast focused on empowering, educating, and inspiring African Americans to go and grow. While Black tells stories by, from, and for African Americans and pairs those stories with expert and credible guests who can communicate wisdom and success strategies helping us to achieve, accomplish, and overcome.   Connect with Darius: • Facebook: @whileblackpodcast • Instagram: @while_black • Twitter: @Whileblackpc   Topics Discussed in this Episode: • The universal language and common connection among mothers of all races and how Darius and I both believe mothers will be critical to making change  • Darius' quest to be authentically who he is as a 6'4, 300-pound dark-skinned Black man. How he has struggled to stand tall and shine while also consciously shrinking because people's first reaction to him is fear   • The question about fatherhood Darius asks himself all the time…” How do I raise fearless children when I am a fearful parent?”  • A heartbreaking but powerful “epic snapshot moment” with his son made Darius realize his words were getting through to him and that his son would be part of making change • How those committed to anti-racism and new to this can begin and the reason why Darius seeks “partnership” over saviorism or “help” • The three-fold challenge Darius gave us, including the specific movies that Darius thinks we should all watch to shift our understanding and perspective • How we all need each other to get free    Resources Mentioned: • While Black Podcast • Ahmaud Arbery Is All of Us – Can I Live?  • American Son|Netflix • When They See Us|Netflix • 13TH|Netflix • Ep 07: Living Out Loud with Jenjii Hysten • Revisited: Beyond the Trauma: Legacy, Compassion and Change with Mothers Against Police Brutality Co-Founder Sara Mokuria • Ep 55: From Grief to Advocacy and a Circle of Mothers with Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton • Desiree Adaway and Diversity is an Asset  • Podcast Movement • Justice for Josiah   This Episode's Challenge:   Darius gave us a threefold challenge:   • There is bias inside all of us. We all have it. Try our very best to recognize when our unconscious bias fires. Try to pay attention every time we see or meet a Black person…if our initial intent is to walk in the other direction, stop for a moment and ask yourself why?  • Meet someone new and be the first one to say hello and to really see the humanity in them. • Be more intentional in our actions and in whatever media we digest so that we are aware of what's really happening and what others are really going through. Specifically, watch the movies American Son, 13th, and When They See Us This Episode is dedicated by:   Herve Clermont is an actor, voice-over artist, and Host, and was a National brand ambassador for Remy Martin for over 8 years. He discovered his passion for acting at Georgetown University, where he was in school as a pre-med major, and needed to fulfill electives.  He is the son of a proud Haitian Doctor and nurse, he always joked he “could play one.” He began his professional acting career in 2000 with a contract Role on One Life To Live, and has co-starred and guest-starred on various prime-time shows: Law & Order, CSI Miami, Cane, 24, Criminal Minds, Scandal, Guys with Kids, New Girl, The Mick, NCIS, NCIS LA, Dice, Veronica Mars, Mr. Iglesias, and many others.    Herve has been recurring on John Singleton's Snowfall for the last 3 seasons, before landing a series cast member on Tyler Perry's Ruthless. His voice-over career includes announcing at celebrity fund-raisers, branding and promotional videos, industrials, and promotional TV and radio commercials, including ones for Beyonce, an international Jazz festival, and currently is the voice behind Cintas and on camera.    Herve's hosting experience includes live events with BMW, VH-l, Harmon/ Kardon, and Remy Martin. He has also worked on a pilot in front of the camera as a Studio host in the entertainment industry, interviewing celebrities and keeping the audience up-to-date with the latest entertainment news.   Visit The J.E. Clermont Foundation Hope for the Children of Haiti for more about the Foundation that furthers Herve's father's legacy   Instagram @Plantinghopela – to learn about Herve's wife's venture that creates beautiful plants with contributions supporting the Foundation in Haiti and charitable efforts in LA.   Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full shownotes from the original episode here: Ep 75: A Call for Kinetic Partnership with While Black's Darius Hicks Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Welcome to this year's special Father's Day episode with Jonathan Mooney, an amazing father who is also a dyslexic writer, speaker, activist, and self-described “do-gooder.” Jonathan didn't learn to read until he was 12-years-old, was told he would be a high school dropout, and end up in jail.   But, instead, he forged a path to Brown University where he co-founded an organization and co-wrote a book to help neurodivergent students like himself succeed in college, all on the way to graduating with an honors degree in English. He's since become a champion for neurological and physical diversity for more than two decades, and his award-winning advocacy projects have been featured in major media outlets including the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, HBO, NPR, Fast company, and many others.In this episode, Jonathan goes deep and wide about the pervasive impact of institutionalized and cultural ableism and his quest to help himself and others with differences understand they are not deficient. We hear the powerful story of Jonathan's own mother and how she inspired him to reframe his language and his thinking about his differences. And Jonathan walks us through how systemic change can not only make our world more inclusive for people with differences, but through universal design, make things better for everyone. You'll want to listen to this episode with a pen and paper, prepare to rewind and listen again, and then get ready for a part two with Jonathan and my neurodivergent son Ryan. He's off to college in the fall and eager to learn from Jonathan, not only about how he can thrive but also about how he can use his voice for advocacy and help make his university more inclusive for all. I hope you enjoy this first of two with Jonathan Mooney and have a wonderful Father's Day!   More About Jonathan:   Jonathan Mooney is a dyslexic writer and activist who did not learn to read until he was 12 years old. He is a graduate of Brown University and holds an honors degree in English Literature. At Brown, he became the co-founder of Project Eye-To-Eye, a widely duplicated mentoring program for disabled students. He is also a winner of the prestigious Truman Scholarship for graduate studies in creative writing and education and was a national finalist for the Rhodes scholarship.Jonathan Mooney's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, HBO, NPR, ABC News, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe. A nationally recognized advocate for neurological and physical diversity, he's been speaking across the nation about neurological and physical diversity for two decades, inspiring those who live with differences and calling for change. He has published three books: The Short Bus, Learning Outside the Lines, and Normal Sucks.   Connect with Jonathan:   • Website | jonathanmooney.com • LinkedIn | Jonathan Mooney • Twitter | @_JonathanMooney Topics Discussed in this Episode: • Gratitude for past podcast guest Julie Lythcott-Haims who introduced me and my neurodivergent son Ryan to Jonathan's latest book and inspired this episode.  • Jonathan's mission to help youth who are different not to feel deficient. • How a response from Jonathan's mother the day he was diagnosed inspired his book's title Normal Sucks. • Jonathan's square peg in a round hole experience as a child, struggling with dyslexia and ADD, and how he changed his paradigm. • The question Jonathan asks himself every day that helps him challenge the myth of human sameness as he parents his three boys. • The heroic work of trying to extricate ourselves from our society's embedded institutionalized and cultural ableism. • The problem with accommodation for some models and the power of accommodations for all approaches through universal design. • Moving the onus of change from the individual to the system around us • A story about Dave Cole, a fellow transfer student at Brown University, who taught Jonathan the power of being authentic.  • Jonathan's commitment to building community pride for people who are neurodivergent and the organization Eye to Eye he co-created with Dave Cole in college with this mission. • The letter Jonathan writes to his boys in his book that had me in tears as we closed the episode • Stay tuned for a special Part Two conversation with Jonathan and Ryan, who is headed to university in the fall, about how to support neurodivergent students in college.    Resources Mentioned:   • Jonathan's Books and Normal Sucks: How to Live, Learn, and Thrive Outside the Lines • Embracing Neurodiversity and Being an Adult with Julie Lythcott-Haims and Ryan Neale • Ep 26: Surrender and Embracing Difference with Debbie Reber of TILT Parenting for “Differently-Wired” Kids • Eye to Eye: A Mentoring, Advocacy, and Movement Building Organization by Jonathan Mooney This Episode's Challenge: ​​The judges of normality are present everywhere Jonathan says. Jonathan's journey of thriving came because somebody, Dave Cole, wouldn't fake being normal. Jonathan's challenge to us is to stop faking normal. Celebrate every day and in every person the power of different. This Episode is dedicated by: Briary Harvey    As a storyteller and systems witch for more than a decade, Briar has helped so many people figure out what their next step is, and how to take life as it comes. With her first book underway, she still continues to write about business, productivity, feminism, trauma, and mental health in her own little corner of the internet.   Connect with Briar:   • Website | briarharvey.com • Facebook | Briar Harvey • Instagram | @thebriarharvey • LinkedIn | Briar Harvey Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Hello, and welcome to the second special episode this month of the mother's quest podcast in honor of Father's Day! With someone I've known and admired for over a decade through our connection as alternatives and action, California Assemblymember Rob Bonta. This month of June has been a time to focus on the amazing fathers in our lives, it's also been primary election month in many communities.    When I thought about who I could interview who was both an amazing father and committed to a life of public service, Rob immediately came to mind when we pressed record on this interview. Rob has just been elected for a fourth term to the California state assemblies 18th district, where he represents the cities of Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro and in 2012 became the first Filipino American legislator in the 165-year history of California.   So join us in this episode as we celebrate amazing fathers all over the world!   About Rob: From a young age, Rob saw and experienced firsthand how those with limited power and wealth were so frequently cheated and taken advantage of by those who hold both. With his parents teaching him that harm against one is a crime to all, Rob made the decision to become a public servant– serving justice for those that hailed from his circumstances.   Growing up and becoming a legislator, Rob rose to become a national leader on criminal justice issues and is the first Filipino-American to serve as California's Attorney General.   Connect with Rob:   Instagram | @robbonta Topics Discussed in this Episode: • The activist and public service seeds were planted in Rob and his siblings from his parents and Rob's E.P.I.C. snapshop childhood memories in the presence of César Chávez and organizing for Mexican American Farmworkers' rights. • How Rob's parents fled the Philippines for the security of the family before the Martial Law era of Ferdinand Marcos • The way that Rob and his wife, Mialisa, make time for each child and share with their kids what they love and care • The many causes Rob is championing in his role as Assemblymember. • Rob's position on the gravity of solving the problem of police violence in our country, an exploration of two new California bills aimed at reducing police violence, and the requests I made of Rob to go further in his commitment. • How being in his home community restores and fulfills Rob and how his love of soccer, since the days that he served as captain of Yale's Soccer team,  continues to be a way that Rob invests in his own well-being. • Rob and Mialisa's love story, how they continue staying together, and the extended family that supports them • Rob's awareness that this interview provided an opportunity to “Get off of the dance floor and onto the balcony” to survey the big picture and reflect • What Rob really thinks is the enemy of democracy and his challenge for all of us   Full Episode Show Notes   Check out the full shownotes from the original episode here: Ep 44: A Family Legacy of Service and Leadership with California Assemblymember Rob Bonta Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

This Throwback Thursday, in the wake of the recent horrific gun violence in Buffalo, Uvalde, and countless other cities across the country, I knew I needed to bring forward this special episode of the Mother's Quest Podcast with mother, activist, and co-founder of the Trayvon Martin Foundation, Sybrina Fulton.   The tragic news has felt all the more real because I recently returned from Sybrina Fulton's Circle of Mothers Healing Retreat in Florida. I volunteered as an Ambassador for the second time since the original recording of this episode, alongside my sister Caren Lettiere, bringing Democracy Clothing jeans for each of the 70 mothers who came to find solidarity and empowerment among others who also lost a child to gun violence.   Together, we witnessed their tears and heard their stories. There are no words to describe the heartache that stays with them. But what brought Caren and I hope is that we also witnessed their resilience and their power. So many like Sybrina, have found ways to turn pain into purpose. They shouldn't need to do this. Or be expected to do this. But they do anyway.   In honor of Circle of Mothers, Caren and the Democracy team have been inviting customers to add on donations to any purchase to the Trayvon Martin Foundation at their website to support the event. I also had the opportunity to write a blog post featuring Sybrina's story of impact on the Democracy blog, linked here.    I'm deeply committed to continuing to raise awareness and funds through a GoFundMe I set up years ago here. As we're all feeling helpless in the wake of continued violence, I encourage you to join me in listening to Sybrina's story, reading the post linked above, and investing in the mothers impacted most by grief. They are also closest to forging a solution.   Topics Discussed in this Episode:   • What Sybrina wishes everyone would know about approaching a conversation with a mother who has lost a child. • My then 14-year-old son's question to Sybrina about what it feels like when your calling and the powerful work you're doing is sparked by a tremendous loss. • Why we need systemic and cultural change, and more awareness-raising conversations, to keep young people of color safe from racial profiling. • The tragic death of Chinedu Okobi, an unarmed young black man who was tasered to death by San Mateo County deputies, just 20 minutes from my own home. • The importance for grieving mothers to remember the things that they used to love and what Sybrina's joyful outlet is • The Circle of Mothers and how the idea to create it came to Sybrina in a dream. • Sybrina's challenge for all of us is to open our hearts and to reach out to mothers, across differences, who have lost their children to let them know we care. • Why investing in mothers is the most powerful lever to impact gun control.   Original Episode Show Notes   Check out the full shownotes from the original episode here: Ep 55: From Grief to Advocacy and a Circle of Mothers with Trayvon Martin's Mother Sybrina Fulton   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life.   Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).   Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Welcome back to another Throwback Thursday episode!   Hard to believe, but my oldest son Ryan is graduating from High School! So for this Thursday, I really wanted to bring back this first episode I ever recorded with him, at the milestone of his 13th birthday, just before his bar mitzvah.    This revisited version also includes the speech Ryan wrote at his middle school graduation, where we spoke so openly about his challenges with feelings of depression and anxiety during that time in his life. I hope that Ryan being so open about how he was feeling also inspires you or anyone you may share this with to speak up this mental health awareness month, as we continue to break the stigma around getting help.   So join me today as we honor Ryan in celebrating his graduation and moving on to the next chapter of his life in college!   This Episode is Dedicated by: Dr. Monisha Vasa Dr. Monisha Vasa is a board-certified addiction psychiatrist, in practice since 2008. Currently, she spends her time serving as a volunteer clinical faculty member at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, under the Department of Family Medicine. She helps in the training of medical students and is an active member in the Medical Humanities program— where she participates actively in utilizing literature to support medical education.   With Dr. Vasa treating an array of mental health disorders, anxiety disorders, and much much more, she uses her special training for the well-being of many people, believing in her philosophy that a comprehensive understanding of each individual takes time, empathy, and attention to give them the best treatment possible.   Topics Discussed in this Episode:   Headstart, a special program for preschool-aged children from low-income communities that provides access to early childhood education The GATE Program (Gifted And Talented Education Program) national links and background information. Ryan participates in our local school district's program. Divergent Series by Veronica Roth “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” – Wayne Gretzky Erik Newton, The Together Show Sports Illustrated Kid Reporter, a unique program Ryan has applied to which gives selected children ages 10 – 14 an opportunity to write and broadcast about sports UCLA Bruin Woods where I was a counselor in college and where we all go to “camp” each summer as a family   Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full shownotes from the original episode here: Ep 18: YOLO (You Only Live Once) and other Milestone Reflections with Ryan Neale   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life.   Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).   Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/ 

“We need these manifestos. We need each other. And we need each other's stories.”  — Graeme Seabrook For Season Seven, I'm excited to introduce our Throwback Thursdays segments! In honor of Mother's Quest turning 5 (such a great milestone!) we will be revisiting older episodes from the archives with messages that resonate more than ever. Whether you've heard the episode before, or its entirely new to you, I hope you find some treasures in these conversations that help you more fully live your E.P.I.C life. This Thursday, in honor of our Mother's Quest May Manifesto Challenge, I wanted to bring back this episode with Graeme Seabrook, known as “the Mom for Moms” which started the Challenge four years ago. Graeme bases her approach to coaching on the belief that you need to put yourself first in order for you to thrive. Following a traumatizing birth experience and postpartum depression with  anxiety and PTSD, Graeme started her healing journey by teaching mothers and women to reclaim their humanity in a world and culture that expects women to be superhuman. Listen in as Graeme shares with us the disillusionment she experienced in her first months of motherhood, and how she reached out for support to reclaim her life, something she then paid forward by creating and holding space for other mothers. You'll also hear us lay out the inspiration for the Manifesto Challenge which has become an annual tradition. Unfortunately, Graeme has been ill over the last year. She's set up a GoFundMe to help fund her medical expenses. Proceeds from the Manifesto Challenge Course this month, now a self-guided journey with Reflection Journal, will go to Graeme's GoFundMe. After she has given so much to our community, we now have an opportunity to support her!  Not up for the Manifesto Challenge this year, or want to make an additional contribution?  You can help Graeme's healing journey by going directly to her GoFundMe: Fundraiser by Graeme Seabrook: Help Graeme Heal   This Year's Manifesto Challenge + Live Zoom Celebration with Andrea Scher: Join us for this year's Manifesto Challenge! At the Mother's Quest MemberVault, register for the Challenge and move through a reflective process, with video recordings and a special journal to capture your thoughts. All will lead you to create a guiding framework, or manifesto, that can become an anchor for how you want to live your life. Then celebrate with me, recent podcast guest Andrea Scher and fellow MQ community members on May 24th. Register here for the live zoom event. Visit here for the episode with Andrea Pay from the heart proceeds benefit Graeme's GoFundMe.  Register here for self-guided experience: https://mothersquest.vipmembervault.com/.../courses/view/6 Mother's Day has passed but it's the right time to invest in ourselves.  Reflect. Create. Celebrate.   Topics Discussed in this Episode: The experiences that shaped Graeme's childhood and conception of motherhood, including her observations of her own mother's experience parenting, the many times her family moved, and how her home and heart landed in Charleston Graeme's honest retelling of her early months of motherhood where she remembers holding her baby and feeling like there was a wall between them The E.P.I.C. spark moment that came when she shared her story online and received an outpouring of messages from other mothers going through the same experiences Graeme's “true truths” and the concept from her current favorite author, Octavia Butler, about God Graeme's description of the Ten Articles in the Mother's Bill of Rights, how she champions and helps mothers reclaim themselves through this framework, and the support she offers in her Mom Center. Graeme's E.P.I.C. Snapshot moment revealed reflections on the legacy of our matriarchs, the mothers we claim for ourselves, and how we can become the ancestor we aspire to now. A description of our co-created #OneMinuteMomManifesto challenge.   Full Episode Show Notes Check out the full show notes from the original episode here: Ep 41: Reclaiming Ourselves in Motherhood ~A Mother's Day Special~ with Graeme Seabrook   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/ 

Welcome to this first episode of Season Seven of the Mother's Quest Podcast!   Today's episode was sparked by an experience I had on my most recent big milestone birthday. The morning of December 1st, I turned 50 and the podcast, which was a 45th birthday present to myself, turned 5.   As I often do, I began my morning practice reading a book on my bedside table; the one I grabbed this time was a new one I had purchased called Wonder Seeker. Inspired by an idea within the gorgeously photographed pages, I hopped out of bed, wandered over to my bookshelf, pulled books from the shelves that were speaking to me on this occasion, and before I knew it had organized them into a pile which that became my "Manifesto for Becoming 50."    There was such spontaneity, joy, and ease in this creative endeavor...qualities that emanate from the book Wonder Seeker and qualities I had long admired in Wonder Seeker's author Andrea Scher.    So, when it came time to launch the new season and invite a guest to anchor our month-long Mother's Quest May invitation to reclaim our E.P.I.C. lives in the Mother's Quest Community, I knew just who to ask. What a delight it was when Andrea Scher said yes!    Andrea is an author, artist, and life coach whose work is driven by her belief in the transformative power of creativity for joy and wellbeing. For nearly two decades, through her award-winning blog Superhero Journal, her Creative Superheroes podcast, and her bestselling e-courses, Andrea has thrilled others with their own power to find the magic all around them.   Her new book, Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy straddles the world of creativity and mindfulness - playfully inspiring readers to live more vibrant lives full of presence, joy, and connection.    Like the book, I felt like this whole conversation straddled the world of creativity and mindfulness. Andrea shares with us where she developed her unique lens of looking at things through "wonder goggles" as she calls them, about the big dreams she calls Mondo Beyondo, how she loved herself and her children through her divorce, and where she's finding joy today. Talking with Andrea reminded me that our creative endeavors have ripple effects we may not even know and that we don't need permission to pursue the things that we love.    I hope you love this conversation as much as I did and open yourself to seeking more wonder in your life. I also invite you to join me and Andrea in saying "yes" to our own Mondo Beyondo dreams, to our own creativity, and to creating our own Manifestos, by signing up for the Manifesto Challenge, linked in the show notes, tapping into some of the creative ideas for expression from Wonder Seeker, like the book spine poetry I drew inspiration from, and then joining Andrea and me on May 24th to celebrate what we're creating and manifesting together.    About Andrea:   Andrea Scher is an author, artist, and life coach whose work is driven by her belief in the transformative power of creativity for joy and wellbeing. For nearly two decades, through her award-winning blog Superhero Journal, her Creative Superheroes podcast, and her bestselling e-courses, Andrea has thrilled others with their own power to find the magic all around them.   Her new book, Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy (HarperCollins) straddles the world of creativity and mindfulness - playfully inspiring readers to live more vibrant lives full of presence, joy, and connection.    You can learn more about Andrea on her website or follow her on Instagram!    Connect with Andrea: Website | andreascher.com Instagram | @andreascher Facebook | Andrea Scher Website | Blog Website | Podcast   Topics Discussed in this Episode:   What Andrea means by “Mondo Beyondo” and some of our Mondo Beyondo moments.  How Andrea mindfully engaged with her children through the experience of her divorce. The simple somatic practice Andrea uses when she sees something she wants more of in her life. What women were taught growing up about pursuing what we desire and what Andrea thinks we need to shift. Manifesting and creating blueprints for our life goals. How you can see things from a new perspective and from different angles. Andrea's magical journey to bringing her book Wonder Seeker to publication, something both 25 years in the making and that came to fruition in mere months. Andrea's most recent “Wonder Date” experience with bioluminescent algae on Tomales Bay.  Our joint challenge to you is to create a Mondo Beyondo Manifesto of your own.    Resources Mentioned: Mother's Quest May Gift Guide Episode 61: Reclaiming Ourselves in Motherhood: Revisited with Graeme Seabrook Mothers Quest: Right Livelihood, Magic, and Meaning with Lindsay Pera of the Modern Mystics Institute Wonder Seeker by Andrea Sher Andrea Sher's eCourses Sunset Bioluminescence Kayak Tour   This Episode's Challenge:   This Mother's Quest May, say “yes” to the annual 7-day Manifesto Challenge, which you can access in the Mother's Quest MemberVault. Then create your own Manifesto, utilizing the creative ideas, like the book spine poetry that inspired my “Becoming 50 Manifesto,” from Andrea's Wonder Seekers book. Finally, you can join me and Andrea for a celebration of our creativity, Mondo Beyondo dreams, and our Manifestos (or Manifestos still in the making!) on May 24th at noon PST. Register here.   This Episode is dedicated by: Jamie Greenwood Jamie Greenwood is a self-care and leadership coach and the founder of Homecoming, a 6-month group coaching program that teaches big-dreaming, high-achieving women how to take exquisite care of themselves, without an ounce of guilt.  With over 15 years of experience, Jamie specializes in helping women get really clear on who they are, how they want to live, and then actually doing it on their own terms.    Jamie is also the host of The Path Home, a podcast that explores the many facets of the home, how we find a home in ourselves, and how we create a sense of home in our work, our relationships, our communities, and in the future we want to see.   When Jamie's not coaching, speaking, or podcasting, you can find her running after her 5-year-old and 3-year-old daughters and wondering what's for dinner.   Connect with Jamie: Website | jamiegreenwood.co Instagram | @jamiegreenwoodcoaching TikTok | @jamiegreenwoodcoaching   Mother's Quest May Gift Guide Need a little inspiration to invest in yourself? Check out our Mother's Quest Mother's Day Gift Guide! Choose yourself and say yes to taking time off! Buy something meaningful to you, sign up for the Manifesto Challenge, or contribute to a cause you care about– there's something for all mothers here! Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Welcome back to the Mother's Quest Podcast.   I know it's been a while– a long while.    When my father, David Lieberman, died in December, I put the podcast on pause. And in many ways, it felt like I also put parts of my life on pause. But after months of navigating waves of grief, I'm finding my way back into my life and back to my voice.   Through laughter and tears, I recorded a special solocast to officially close out Season Six of the Mother's Quest Podcast so I can begin again. It felt like part of my healing to share my stories with you and I'm hopeful that there may be something in these reflections that can be meaningful and healing for you too.     Death is one of the few things we can all count on in our lives. And yet it's one of the things we are most reluctant to talk about. I hope this exploration of my experience during my father's death, and the lessons I learned, might support you to open yourself to conversations about death. In so doing, you'll open yourself more fully to life and love.    "There is nothing so whole as a broken heart" – a quote I cut out in a magazine while working on my vision board the other day. It resonated immediately. There were so many people, only a few of you who I mention by name in this episode (but you know who you are!) whose wisdom, compassion and caring made moving through this painful process not only bearable but at times beautiful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You helped me and my family stay whole and I am so grateful.  Lessons To Guide You Through the Death of a Loved One In this episode, I walk you through the eight lessons I learned through my father's death, my grief, and most importantly– my love for my Dad and my family.    1) Look for the Signs  2) Find Your Guides  3) Closure Can be Healing  4) Lean Into Your Rituals. Make Them Your Own.  5) Let Laughter In and Invite the Possibility that the Unexpected Can be a Gift  6) Release Perfectionism and Shame  7) Open Your Heart and Ride the Waves  8) Have the Conversations    This Episode's Challenge: While it's not easy to talk about, having conversations about death is one of the best ways to prepare ourselves and those around us for when the time comes– because we'll never know when it might happen. So say "yes" to conversations about death and dying. Use the resources at Death over Dinner to gather with friends and family for these conversations.  Also have meaningful conversations, and consider recording them, like I did with my father, with the important people in your lives. Finally, enjoy the journey, cherish the dash between the years from when you were born and when you will die and continually ask yourself the question "What is it you want to do with your one wild and precious life?"   Resources and Podcast Episodes Mentioned: Love of Family and Pursuing our Fate with David Lieberman – A Father's Day Special Mystics Oracle Deck  YouTube | The Dash Summer Day by Mary Oliver Death Over Dinner: The Most Forgiving Place for Difficult Situations Jewish Hospice Center of Los Angeles  Right Livelihood, Magic, and Meaning with Lindsay Pera of the Modern Mystics Institute Embracing Neurodiversity and Being an Adult with Julie Lythcott-Haims and Ryan Neale   Special note about this episode: These reflections are based on my experience navigating the death of my father who lived a full and happy life until the age of 84. I am certain that losing a child or someone of any age to a traumatic situation is a whole different experience. I do want to share a link to an episode I recorded with Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, who tragically lost her son in senseless gun violence. I invite you to listen to this episode for a different and important perspective on grief: From Grief to Advocacy and a Circle of Mothers with Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton.   This Episode Is Dedicated By: Donna Helete   Donna Helete thrives in the realm of human connection.  She's a regenerative grief coach, bereavement counselor, relationship tender, mentor, educator, and community builder with experience in non-profit leadership. She holds space for conversations around grief, love, life, and death.  She walks a path toward elderhood, bringing with her real life credentials which include the death of her husband of 28 years in September 2015.  Through her experience, she emphasizes the regenerative nature of grief, which allows us to be renewed again and again.  To learn more about her work, visit donnahelete.com and learn about her one on one sessions and workshop offerings. Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

I'm excited to welcome you to a special episode of the Mother's Quest Podcast that I am extremely grateful for, just in time for Thanksgiving, featuring the amazing Julie Lythcott-Haims and my 17-year-old son Ryan Neale. Julie is an incredible mother to two, a former Stanford Dean and New York Times bestselling author of the anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult, which gave rise to a TED Talk that has more than 5 million views. Her second book is the critically-acclaimed and award-winning prose poetry memoir Real American, which illustrates her experience as a Black and biracial person in white spaces. I'm so fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview Julie for the podcast several years ago when that book was first released. When I heard about Julie's new book Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, I knew I wanted to invite her back to the podcast again. And, I hoped that my son Ryan, on the threshold of adulthood himself, would join us in the conversation. The stars aligned and Ryan was available the day of the interview, enabling Julie, Ryan, and I to explore the concepts of her book, about navigating adulthood and embracing our differences, especially our neurodiversity, in deeply personal and relevant ways.  In this episode, I'm also excited to share a dedication from Deborah Reber, former podcast guest, fellow mother on a quest, and host of the TiLT Parenting Podcast.Deborah's heart-felt dedication honors Julie and other mothers raising neurodivergent children. I could not agree more with Deborah's assessment about what an exceptional human Julie is, about the power of Julie's commitment to put the stories of a diverse group of young people with different identities on the pages of her book, and about the impact of Julie's work for normalizing and honoring differences.  As you hear our conversation unfold, I know you'll be as struck as I was by Julie's wisdom and humility as she talks with Ryan, helping him to understand that he deserves to be cherished for who he is, that he can approach things like writing in ways that work for his differently-wired mind, and that he can seek out environments, like college, that enables him to play to his strengths and allow him to thrive. Since our conversation, Ryan was able to take Julie's advice to heart, using voice to text without shame to write his personal statement for college applications and sharing his personal insights on a panel at the recent Stanford Neurodiversity Summit. You can follow the link in the show notes to listen.Finally, this conversation is a demonstration that there is no destination to becoming an adult, but an ongoing journey of learning and discovery, that parents and their children can support one another in reciprocity with curiosity, and that we can all benefit from asking ourselves the question from Mary Oliver's famous poem, that Julie gives us as our challenge, “What is it that we want to do with our one wild and precious life?”As we approach Thanksgiving, the five-year birthday of the launch of Mother's Quest, and my 50th birthday, I can say there is nothing I'd rather do than hold space for a conversation like this one and share it with you.   About Julie: Julie Lythcott-Haims believes in humans and is deeply interested in what gets in our way. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the anti-helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult which gave rise to a TED Talk that has more than 5 million views. Her second book is the critically-acclaimed and award-winning prose poetry memoir Real American, which illustrates her experience as a Black and biracial person in white spaces. A third book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, is out now. Julie is a former corporate lawyer and Stanford dean, and she holds a BA from Stanford, a JD from Harvard, and an MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts. She serves on the board of Common Sense Media, and on the advisory board of LeanIn.Org, and she is a former board member at Foundation for a College Education, Global Citizen Year, The Writers Grotto, and Challenge Success. She volunteers with the hospital program No One Dies Alone. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her partner of over thirty years, their itinerant young adults, and her mother.    Connect with Julie:  Website  Twitter Instagram LinkedIn   About RyanRyan Neale is a neurodivergent 12th Grader from San Mateo, California. His parents discovered he was differently wired when he was 18 months old but he has been in fully mainstream education for his academic career, with most people around him not knowing about some of the struggles that he faces. His experiences publicly masking his neuro differences have given him a unique perspective on many of the struggles neurodiverse people face, such as public stigma, ableism, and the ever-present desire to fit in. As he has begun advocating more for his needs, he has high hopes to use his perspective and communication skills to increase public understanding of neurodiversity, and hopefully create a more inclusive society for everyone. In his free time, he enjoys playing varsity basketball for his high school team, coaching youth sports, roughhousing with his little brother, and diving headfirst into his many fantasy special interests. He is thrilled to have participated in this fall's Stanford Neurodiversity Summit on a K-12 student panel. You can listen to the panel here. Connect with Ryan:  Instagram   Topics Discussed in this Episode: How Julie's experience listening to students as a Stanford Dean and raising her own children led her to write a book about young adults The painful admission Julie shared about overlooking her own son Sawyer's challenges with ADHD and anxiety and the poignant moment when her son acknowledged Julie's shift in understanding him  The ways that Ryan identifies as neurodivergent, how he has adapted, and the pain he has experienced trying to fit in a neurotypical world  Julie's advice to Ryan about embracing who he is Her recommendation of the book Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney  The revelations parents can take from Julie's book How to help young adults figure out what next steps to take on their path to becoming an adult  The lessons Julie has personally gained from writing her books Julie's words of wisdom for Ryan on how to move through his resistance of writing by trying methods that might work better for his differences and strengths  The biggest takeaway that Julie learned in her research and in her own journey writing the book about how to be vulnerable and connected and open to the support of others so that you don't have to feel alone Julie's challenge for all of us that can help us live our best lives as adults   Resources and Topics Mentioned: Ep 52: Third Chapters, Raising Adults, and Loving Ourselves with Julie Lythcott-Haims  Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney  Julie's books Julie's Ted talk    This Episode's Challenge: Ask yourself the question from Mary Oliver's famous poem, “what do I want to do with this one wild and precious life?” Explore what would you do if it was only up to you...if nobody else's opinion really mattered. Go to a quiet place, a shower, out in nature, or on a hammock and ask yourself "What is the work that brings me joy? What are the places and spaces where I feel valued and seen?" This Episode is dedicated by Deborah Reber Debbie Reber is a parenting activist, New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and speaker who moved her career in a more personal direction in 2016 when she founded TiLT Parenting, a top resource for parents like her who are raising differently wired children. The TiLT Parenting Podcast has grown to be a top podcast in Kids & Family, with more than 3 million downloads and a slate of guests that includes high-profile thought leaders across the parenting and education space. A certified Positive Discipline trainer and a regular contributor to Psychology Today and ADDitude Magazine, Debbie's newest book is Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World. In November 2018, she spoke at TEDxAmsterdam, delivering a talk entitled Why the Future Will Be Differently Wired. In the summer of 2020, she co-created the Parenting in Place Masterclass series. Prior to launching TiLT, Debbie spent more than fifteen years writing inspiring books for women and teens, including Doable: The Girls' Guide to Accomplishing Just About Anything, Language of Love, Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You, In Their Shoes: Extraordinary Women Describe Their Amazing Careers, and more than a dozen preschool books based on the series Blue's Clues. In 2008, she had the privilege of creating and editing the first-ever series of teen-authored memoirs, Louder Than Words. Before becoming a solopreneur, Debbie worked in TV and video production, producing documentaries and PSAs for CARE and UNICEF, working on Blue's Clues, and developing original series for Cartoon Network. She has an MA in Media Studies from the New School for Social Research and a BA in Communications from Pennsylvania State University. In 2019, her husband, and 17-year-old twice-exceptional son relocated to Brooklyn, NY after living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands for five years.    Connect with Deborah: https://tiltparenting.com https://instagram.com/tiltparenting https://facebook.com/groups/tilttogether https://twitter.com/tiltparenting   You can also check out my conversation with Debbie on the Mother's Quest Podcast about embracing differences here! Announcement:   Special Q & A Brunch with Julie Lythcott-Haims Join Mother's Quest and Happy Women Dinners for a special opportunity to receive Julie's new book, get it personally signed, and enjoy brunch and a Q & A with Julie at Julie Neale's private home in the SF Peninsula. Cost is $125 and includes brunch and a copy of the signed book. Email jill@happywomendinners.com to secure your spot ASAP. Tickets are sold out with the exception of a small number for Mother's Quest listeners and members.    Mother's Quest is Turning Five - Celebrate With Us! On December 1st, Mother's Quest will be celebrating it's 5th birthday. To honor this milestone, we are having a virtual celebration with poetry, music, toasts and more.  If you've been impacted by Mother's Quest and have wishes to share for our next chapter, I'd love for you to join us. Email hello@Mothersquest.com to get all the details and RSVP.    Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

I'm honored to share this special episode of the Mother's Quest Podcast. Thank you for showing up to this important conversation about two mothers and their quest for peace and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel. Thank you for choosing to press play.  If ever there was a year demanding us to "show up" this has been one. From COVID to floods and fires and refugee crises...our consciousness has had a lot to hold. It can be all too easy to shut down. To throw up our hands. And to say "what can I do?" That question "what can I do?" is one I asked myself during the crisis that unfolded in Palestine and Israel In May of 2021. For days, watching the horrifying headlines, I felt powerless. Then several truths came to me and an intention to find a path to action which I shared in a FB post, like sending a wish to the universe. The very next day, the “guides” I was looking for appeared.  In a conversation with my mother, I learned about the Parents Circle, an incredible organization of Palestinians and Israelis who have lost children or family members in the conflict, and instead of turning to revenge, come together to work toward peace and reconciliation. Soon after, I found myself recording a conversation with Layla Alsheikh, a Palestinian mother originally born in Jordan, who lost her son Qussay at the age of 6 months old. And Robi Damelin,  an Israeli mother, originally from South Africa, who lost her adult son David while he was serving in the army. Although today's topic is especially heavy - one of loss and tremendous grief, Layla and Robi share their narratives with us for a specific purpose - to help us understand their experience and to support their efforts in bringing Palestinian and Israeli mothers in particular together to work toward change. Inspired by all they shared with me, the week after we recorded, I began to raise money toward a fund to help them bring together bereaved Palestinian and Israeli mothers of the Parents Circle. Along the way, I've been moved by so many mothers who have already contributed. Mothers like Jena Schwartz, who dedicates this episode with a beautiful poem she shares at the end of this conversation. Jena was the first to donate and her powerful words are an invitation to you to say “yes” to this cause.  To date we have raised $5,000, half of the $10,000 goal I set. And we have more to go. Though the height of the crisis in May has receded from the headlines, violence continues in many forms, and the path for peace and reconciliation is needed more than ever.  I ask you to listen with an open heart, to follow the links in the show notes to learn more, to contribute in any amount meaningful to you, and to amplify the voices of Layla, Robi and others like them, mothers closest to this conflict. They are a key to any path forward.   In this episode we talk about: The experiences of two mothers Robi and Layla - one Israeli and one Palestianian -  who lost children in the conflict and turned their grief into a quest for peace and reconciliation. The tremendous power of listening to bereaved mothers' stories.  How Robi and Layla each got involved with The Parent's Circle, an organization of Palestinian and Israelis that brings bereaved parents and family members together in solidarity.  How you can help support the Parent Circle and promote peace and reconciliation among Israeli and Palestinian families. The importance of not importing the conflict into our own countriesWhy we shouldn't position ourselves as Pro-Palestinian or Pro-Israeli but Pro- Peace. How Robi and Layla sustain themselves and find continued hope, even in their loss.  Opportunities to get involved and how we can specifically support the mothers of the Parents Circle to come together.  Poet Jena Schwartz' powerful poem “The Undefended Heart” and an invitation to contribute.    This episode's challenge:  Both Layla and Robi challenge us to join them in fighting for peace instead of violence in the following ways:  Contribute to the fund to help them bring together Palestinian and Israeli mothers Invite representatives of the Parents Circles to your groups, synagogues, churches, mosques and organizations to share their story.  Follow the work of the Parents Circle and participate in their educational and awareness-building opportunities About Layla: Layla Alsheikh was born and raised in Jordan. She had a peaceful and normal upbringing and graduated with a degree in accounting and business management. She eventually met her husband in Jordan 1999 and moved to Bethlehem, where her husband lived for the wedding. However, a few years later tragedy struck her life.   In 2002, her 6 months old son, Qussay, became ill and Israeli soldiers prevented Layla from taking him to the hospital for more than five hours. Qussay soon died from the lack of timely treatment. Layla joined the Parents Circle in 2016. Following her son's death, she never thought of revenge, but rather has devoted her time and energy to ensuring a better, more peaceful future for her children.   About Robi: Robi Damelin was originally from South Africa and came to Israel in 1967. She originally came to Israel as a volunteer after the “Six Day War”. Her real plan was to live in the states but after spending time in Israel she developed a love-hate relationship with the place. She eventually got married and had two kids here. Unfortunately, Robi's son, David, was killed by a Palestinian sniper in 2002 while guarding a checkpoint near a settlement during his army reserve service. She speaks to Israelis, Palestinians, and audiences all over the world to demand that reconciliation be a part of any peace agreement. Robi was named a 2015 Woman of Impact by Women in the World.   Follow Robi:  Website Twitter     About the Parents Circle The Parents Circle – Families Forum is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization made up of more than 600 bereaved families. Their common bond is that they have lost a close family member to the conflict. But instead of choosing revenge, they have chosen a path of reconciliation. American Friends of the Parents Circle – Families Forum shares the human side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the American public in order to foster a peace and reconciliation process. The Parents Circle Policies: We work towards an end to violence and towards achieving an accepted political agreement. The members of the Parents Circle oppose the Occupation and believe that it is possible to end the conflict.  They wish  to influence the public and in turn, decision makers, to choose reconciliation and the path of peace over violence and war.   Our goal is to create a framework of reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians to support any political peace agreement.   To prevent further bereavement and to avoid the use of bereavement for further violence and retribution.     Connect with the Parents Circle  Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube     This Episode is Dedicated by: Jena Schwartz  Jena Schwartz is a writing coach, poet, and activist in Western Massachusetts whose work is deeply rooted in Jewish values. As a mother herself, "The Undefended Heart" emerged as a prayer of sorts out of her own yearning for peace in the face of so much injustice and suffering in Israel/Palestine. Connect with Jena: Website Facebook  Twitter  Instagram LinkedIn   Additional Reading/Listening: Mother's Quest Blog Post which introduces the Mother's Quest Fundraising Campaign  Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine - Book recommended by the Parents Circle to better understand the conflict Ep 55: From Grief to Advocacy and a Circle of Mothers with Trayvon Martin's Mother Sybrina Fulton - Episode referenced which also explores turning grief into action and healing.   Special thanks to Shehla Sa Ni, Kris Zarnoch, Jen Fornal, and Bear Beat Productions for their help and care in editing this episode “Swirling in a sea of uncertainty My voice, tenuously found over the last few years, silent again I don't know enough, I tell myself But deep down, feel this to be untrue In the quiet of my late-night scrolling, searching for answers I never find, instead I reveal some truths within. We are all deeply connected The harm to one mother and her child is harm to every mother and every child, regardless of our differences A history of oppression and casting out can never justify more of the same Extremism in any form becomes a cancer Silence and doing nothing is a choice. A choice I cannot make. So I will remember I am not alone There are guides all around me And ways to make an impact that will reveal themselves If I just take the first step.” Julie Neale FB Post May 17, 2021 

I'm honored to share this special episode with a woman who has been an incredible source of wisdom, support, and guidance in my life, a mentor and teacher who has helped me claim the “mystic” in me, Lindsay Pera. Lindsay and I connected in a magical way at a group dinner in San Francisco about four years ago. Though she was seated at the other end of a long table, she came up to me before the evening ended to say “I have this feeling I'm supposed to talk with you!” We had a delightful conversation and parted ways. But several months later, when my youngest son Jacob received a Lyme disease diagnosis, I searched in one of my Facebook groups for someone who had experience with the disease, and Lindsay's name popped up again and again. I reached out to her for guidance and after an almost two-hour phone conversation, I learned about how she discovered she had chronic Lyme disease and had passed it along in utero to two of her children. I hung up with tremendous admiration for her motherhood journey, a plan of action to navigate Jacob's care, and also knowing that Lindsay would become a trusted resource in my life. Blending strategy honed from her career as an analyst at Accenture with her intuition as the founder of a new paradigm business called the Modern Mystics Institute, Lindsay is a source of inspiration and guidance for so many others like me. We all benefit from transformational courses she has created like the Journey to Right Livelihood which you'll hear more about, her books the Mystics Path and the Mystics Almanac, the Mystics Oracle Deck she created with her partner Sarah Love and her membership community, the Mystics Society.  The idea that we can care for ourselves and the children in our lives, even through significant health and developmental challenges, and do work we love, blending all the parts of who we are, stepping into our leadership and legacy, and finding magic and gratitude along the way, is something Lindsay demonstrates herself. And she illuminates it all for us in this conversation. From her decision to move her family to a multigenerational homestead and creating the Modern Mystics Institute, to how she's navigated having chronic Lyme and now long-haul COVID, this discussion is a beautiful weaving of all the ways Lindsay slows down in her life to manifest and notice what she's grateful for, even when things are difficult. Her gratitude practice, which she started in a “spark moment” when she found beauty in the sunset during one of her darkest days, begins its 11th year of 365 days just as this episode is being shared.I was so grateful for this time with Lindsay. I hope you'll find time to slow down and listen to this beautiful conversation, so you can find strands of what Lindsay shares that are meant for you, and that help you weave some new magic and meaning in your E.P.I.C. life. Connect with Lindsay Website Instagram Facebook   This episode is dedicated by: Hi! I'm Selina Davis, and I am honored to dedicate this episode of the Mother's Quest podcast to Lindsay Pera, my friendtor. What's a friendtor? Well, that is a friend and mentor all wrapped up in one. Over the years, Lindsay has helped me learn how to gather all the things I know to create the right livelihood. Lindsay even introduced me to Julie as a Mystic, because of our similar path in disability and special needs parenting. I am a person of a multifaceted lifestyle, so I've learned to create a business with blogging and podcasting, all while creating a special education advocacy practice, life coaching, and management consulting, with an emerging community called Spectrum Mother. Without the help of Julie and Lindsay, I never would have realized how to gather and align my life and my work with being a mother to a special needs child who is severely neurodivergent. Thanks to them, I am reminded to always live an EPIC life and claim my right to livelihood. Thank you again so much! -- Selina Davis is the founder of Trillium Consultancy and Spectrum Mother, both of which are emerging communities dedicated to connecting caregivers virtually in respite and retreat offerings, as well as training and supporting parents to become advocates.  Selina is a cis-gendered woman, a woman of color, mother, social justice advocate, and former social services clerical administrator. She parents a teenage son with profound neurodiversity and who also has an additional diagnosis of intellectual and developmental delay, as well as mental health challenges. Selina has also earned certifications and education-based degrees specific to advocacy.    Selina is truly passionate about children, women, and caregivers and believes it's time to start supporting one another by hosting virtual and in-person retreats. She continues sharing her message through her podcasts, “The Parental Advocate Strategist” and “Strong as a Mother”. She is also running a series called 52 Weeks, 52 Caregivers which aims on showcasing the stories of a caregiver each week.  You can connect with Selina on Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to join her community on Patreon and to sign up for her upcoming virtual retreat by clicking this link, as well as her SPECial EDition Training and Strategies Hub! Topics Discussed in this Episode: The sacred trinity of mothers who raised Lindsay: her biological mother, her stepmother, and the woman who cared for her daily while her mother worked as a trailblazing leader at Hewlett Packard The internal voice that said "this is killing you" every time Lindsay walked out the door to her fast-paced management consulting firm  The chronic Lyme diagnosis that Lindsay discovered after her third child was born with serious neurological issues. A moment of total defeat that transformed into a moment of gratitude and a daily gratitude practice that Lindsay has maintained for over a decade. Lindsay's family's journey of healing from COVID and what was different for her this time on the "spiral" or "nautilus" of coping with chronic illness. Lindsay's perspective about how to apply ancient learning traditions for modern times without appropriating, capitalizing, and extracting. The annual program Journey to Right Livelihood, rooted in the Buddhist tradition, that helps us identify our soul purpose and path, sacred commerce, and our leadership and legacy. As we grapple with current crises, like climate change, Lindsay's belief that we all came in for these times. The importance of tending to our "taproot" placing ourselves at the "center of our rings” and her "YOU" acronym for building connections. Resources and Topics Mentioned: The Mystics Path Journey to Right Livelihood a powerful program that includes live masterclasses, an instructional portal with videos and resources and a private FB community during the 8-week course. This is my affiliate link and if you participate in the program, you will also get a special Mother's Quest bonus.    This Episode's Challenge: Next time you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or despondent about what you are facing in our world, slow down to allow yourself to see, feel and experience what you're grateful for and take the next aligned step from that place.   The Mother's Quest Marketplace I'm excited to share about a new resource on the website, where I've curated a collection of my favorite courses, products, books, and more, all created by Mother's Quest members or podcast guests. From Lindsay Pera's Journey to Right Livelihood, which you'll hear more about in this episode, to my own recently published book the “Mother's Quest Inspiration Guide,” I hope you'll find something on the Marketplace page that will light the way on your epic life journey. Visit www.mothersquest.com/marketplace to take a peek! Journey to Right Livelihood (JTRL) Led by Lindsay Pera...JTRL is a powerful program that includes live masterclasses, an instructional portal with videos and resources and a private FB community during the 8-week course. As a Mother's Quest affiliate partner, I'll be offering a special bonus if you participate in the program. And I'll be there right alongside you, learning and stepping more fully into my Right Livelihood. Join us if this calls to you! More about Journey to Right Livelihood Right Livelihood IS for you Do you ever tell yourself that you simply can't make money doing what you love? Do you sometimes feel as though you can have financial success OR you can be happy, but you can't have both? Do you believe that you must sacrifice one for the other because they are mutually exclusive? We see it all around us, don't we? People staying in careers they hate Stuck in chronic patterns of lack and scarcity Overworking and overwhelmed as they watch their health and happiness deteriorate An overarching outlook in our Western Culture toward the "bottom line" at the expense of people, our planet, relationships and our values It's time to shift these myths It is your time to claim... Purpose, Path, and... Right Livelihood Calling together a circle of women (and men) On the next step of their life evolution (expansion) journey Who feel, deeply, that there is more for them in this life Who are looking to create a stronger alignment between their work and their inner calling Willing to make meaningful changes with meaningful actions Seeking a community full of support and powerful guidance Sign up through the Mother's Quest Affiliate link here. Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

I'm honored to share this special episode of the Mother's Quest Podcast, an interview of  me, led by Mother's Quest member Sneha Jhanb for her YouTube Channel Shift2Prosperity. In our conversation, Sneha helped me reflect on my Mother's Quest journey, how that led me to writing my first book and lessons learned along the way. "The Mother's Quest Inspiration Guide Vol 1. Engage" officially launched on Sunday, with a book-signing at my favorite local book store Reach and Teach and a reception at our home afterward. The experience itself was what I call an "epic snapshot moment."  My son Ryan introduced me with humor and heart, my husband Chris took video (and remembered to bring pens for signing!) Jacob sat next to me and tapped my shoulder throughout the reading to tell me things! And I got to look out at a lovely gathering of friends and Mother's Quest members who asked thoughtful questions that helped me make meaning of my experience. Special thanks to my friend  Remee who helped me with the book throughout the process and came to take photos. An especially sweet element was the chance to showcase the books of other Mother's Quest members who created Tiny Books and to share the event with two of those authors, Jenjii Hysten, Heather Anderson. Lena Velasquez, Leslie Tagorda and Cameron Miranda were there in spirit. I'm so grateful to Alexandra Franzen and  Lindsey Smith of the Tiny Book Course for guiding me to becoming an author with ease and joy. I'm grateful for every podcast guest, guide, and community member who has enriched my life on this E.P.I.C. journey the last five years and whose wisdom is infused in the pages. And I'm grateful to my family for inspiring me every day to become the fullest version of myself. Hope this moment of gratitude, and the interview that follows, might be a nudge for you to say "yes" to a dream of your own or invest in yourself in some new way. If a dream inside you is to become an author...The Tiny Book Course begins again in September and registration closes this Friday, August 20th. I'll be working on Vol. 2 (and maybe a children's book with my kids!) and would love to create and celebrate alongside you. Feel free to reach out for more information or visit this link. There are also packages available that provide more one-on-one support for your book creation.  I am filled with gratitude. Especially as so much in our world is challenging, it's powerful to celebrate the goodness in front of us and the responsibility and possibility to make an impact. I hope this tiny book has big ripples.   About Sneha Jhanb Sneha Jhanb is an Engineer turned Spirit Junkie. She is passionate about making small changes to see bigger impacts in her life as well as every life that she touches. She likes to empower her tribe with her experiences, knowledge, and tools in mindfulness, financial services, energy healing and stress management to help them find stress-free prosperity. She regularly posts self-help videos, meditations, tarot and oracle readings, and more. With her, you will find all things practical and all things spiritual, all created to help you lead a conscious and prosperous life. Get a FREE chapter of her book "Stress-Free Prosperity: A Mindful path To Joy, Abundance and Wealth" here: https://shift2prosperity.com   Follow Sneha Jhanb  Website  YouTube Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn   Tiny Book Course Tiny Book Course - Begins 9/1 2021 Enrollment Closes August 20th!   Have you dreamed about writing a book? But you don't want a “DIY” experience. You want to hire the best in the business, work with seasoned pros, and receive the highest level of support. This is for you. Learn more here.   Book Production Services If more support is what you are looking for, you may want to explore their Book Production Package which includes copyediting and proofreading on your book manuscript, interior layout, and cover design to create a stunning book that you'll be proud to share—and sell! Learn more here.   

This Father's Day 2021, many of us are re-emerging and with so much change, I find myself wanting to return to words of wisdom that can ground me during this time of transition. Rather than recording a new episode with a father this year, I'm putting together an episode to highlight my favorite insights from fathers I've interviewed since the podcast began. So stay tuned for that episode coming out soon. In the meantime, I wanted to re-release this full interview with my very own father, David Lieberman, with a dedication by my son Ryan, whose voice no longer sounds anything like this. Though so much has changed, the words from the dedication and the interview itself feel as true and powerful as ever. Sending love to my own Dad this Father's Day and wishes for all of you to discover or rediscover connection and inspiration from the fathers and father figures in your life. Much appreciation, P.S. Know someone who would love this conversation? Pay this forward to a friend who may be interested. Original Show Notes Love of Family and Pursuing our Fate ~A Father's Day Special~ with David Lieberman What an honor it is to bring you this episode with my own father as one of two I'm having with men on the podcast this month in honor of Father's Day. Two things sparked my interest in having my father on the show now…first, a desire to feel more connected to my grandmother Molla, my father's mother, who passed away years before I was born from pancreatic cancer. I wanted to hear from my Dad about his experience of his mother, how she shaped him, and the ways he notices her spirit living on in us today. Related to this, I recently went to a workshop to learn about uncovering our family ancestry and at that workshop they discussed the power of oral histories. My Dad is a storyteller and I wanted to use this amazing platform to capture his stories and life lessons, for me, for my children and the Mother's Quest Community. The episode is an exploration of my father's E.P.I.C. life, how his mother's passion as a voice and elocution teacher shaped him into the powerful speaker and human being he is today, the moment he first saw my mom when she was just 11 years old, how he built a career and a family, and a love of golf to help him cope with the effects of Type 1 Diabetes. And, how he views love of family and the pursuit of fate as a theme that runs through it all. This episode's dedication was shared by Vanessa Couto, an astrologist who considers fate and what's written “in the stars” for us as part of her exploration and practice. Vanessa honored her father Guido with this dedication and reflected on the ways that fate, legacy, and character help us live a life of purpose. I loved reflecting on these same elements of my father's life in this conversation. I wasn't surprised that there were moments that made my Dad and I laugh and cry during along the way. But, I was surprised by the insights that emerged…about the ways in which my grandmother and my father's qualities live in me. I've known I'm much like my mother, but it wasn't until the end of this conversation that I realized that the “seeker” in me, the one who is always on a quest, comes from my father. My Dad believes that fate play a role in all of our lives, but that we must actively pursue it to fully realize it. Our challenge this month is to reflect on the moments in our lives when we chose to pursue our fate and what happened as a result. Also, to notice and seize the new opportunities and possibilities that call us to take action today in our E.P.I.C. lives. In honor of Father's Day, I'd like to add one more challenge that we didn't discuss in the interview but came to me as I wrote this introduction. Seek out the father or father figures in your life to ask them about and record the stories, lessons and insights they have to pass along to this and future generations. I promise you'll learn something powerful about yourself and how to more fully live your E.P.I.C. life. **Stick around till the end for some light and funny bloopers from the interview. This episode dedicated by: Vanessa Couto – Artist, Astrologer, and Teacher. Visit her website at www.vanessacouto.com and connect on Facebook  Topics Discussed in this Episode: My father's view on fate and how it has been a thread weaving through his whole E.P.I.C. life The ways my grandmother shaped my father and the thing she said to him that sealed his fate for a life he loved in California How fate brought my father and mother together, from his first site of her receiving a drama lesson from his mother, to summers as children and teens in a bungalow colony, to 50 plus years of marriage. Where the seeds for his playful nature and love for his children and grandchildren were planted early in his life How he pursued a career in a business he built, the people he met and helped along the way, and the importance of being a person of integrity The impact of Type 1 Diabetes and stress on his life and how his love of golf became his remedy Some funny stories of crazy things that happened to him, several involving the Wall Street Journal, and one that you may want to turn the volume down on if your children are listening with you. The favorite toasts passed down to him by his mother This Week's Challenge: There are three challenges this week: One from me, to look back on our lives, notice the moments when we chose to seek our fate, the impact that has had on us, and to share it with our family members One from my father to continue to seek out our fate, taking action on opportunities even when we're not certain what might come from it And one that emerged from my son Ryan, to share this episode with the fathers or father figures in your life, let them know how you appreciate them, and explore and record their stories and lessons learned. Other Special Episodes with the People in My Life: Ep 40: Live the Movie Version of Your Life with Oscar®-Nominated Producer Rachel Winter, my childhood best friend Ep 34: Season Two Finale: The Power of Friendship and a 50 Year-Old Book Club with Fran Lieberman, my mother, and her friend Sandy Klasky Ep 18: YOLO (You Only Live Once) and other Milestone Reflectionswith my son Ryan Neale Ep 17: A Mindful Writer's Practice with family friend Danielle Dutton   Support the Podcast If you'd like to make a contribution to Mother's Quest to support Season Four of the Podcast and/or help provide coaching scholarships for mothers, follow this link to make a contribution. If you would like to “dedicate” an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

Welcome to Season Six of the Mother’s Quest Podcast and this special Mother’s Day episode, which shines a light on the untold stories and far-reaching impact of mothers and in particular Black mothers. For this episode, I had the honor of talking with Anna Malaika Tubbs, the brilliant biographer of the groundbreaking book The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation.In addition to being a mother to a 1 year old boy with another child on the way, Anna is an author, advocate, educator, scholar and Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at the University of Cambridge. Growing up abroad and influenced by her exposure to all kinds of cultures and beliefs, and by her own mother’s work advocating internationally for women’s and children’s rights, Anna uses an intersectional lens to advocate for women of color and to educate others. During her time as an undergraduate student at Stanford University, Anna took from what she’d seen in her parents’ work and began honing her own identity as an activist. As the First Partner of Stockton, CA, she co-authored the first-ever “Report on the Status of Women in Stockton” to guide future policy decisions with the experiences of diverse women in mind. She’s published articles featured in the Huffington Post, For Harriet, Darling Magazine and Blavity, on issues ranging from mass incarceration to the forced sterilization of Black women, as well as the importance of feminism, intersectionality, and inclusivity. Throughout all her work and writing, she draws on her personal experience and extensive research to examine and make relevant gender and race issues in the US, especially the pervasive erasure of Black women. In this incredible debut book, The Three Mothers, Anna celebrates Black motherhood by telling the story of the three women who raised and shaped some of America’s most pivotal civil rights heroes: Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin. Alberta King, Louise Little and Berdis Baldwin were all born at the beginning of the 20th century, all were forced to contend with the prejudices of Jim Crow as Black women, all forged their own unique paths, using their beliefs and talents to shape not only their children but those around them, and all three had to bury their children, two of them after losing their sons to gun violence. In these mothers and their stories, amidst the pain and grief, there also existed vibrancy, love and conviction. One of my biggest takeaways from my conversation with Anna is the importance of acknowledging the continued injustices that Black women endure today and that although Black women continue to experience tremendous grief, they also experience joy and they are not “a conquered victim," but are living through life as whole human beings. My Mother’s Day wish is that you will find time and space to slow down and truly listen to Anna’s insights about the mothers whose stories she so beautifully tells, that you will get and read her book The Three Mothers, and that you’ll join me in saying “yes” to Anna’s challenge. She asks that all of us advance our understanding of different forms of motherhood. Picking up books she says, especially those that focus on Black mothers and Black motherhood, can bring healing for everybody.   Much appreciation, P.S. Know someone who would love this conversation? Pay this forward to a friend who may be interested. This Episode is Dedicated by: Sybrina Fulton After the death of her beloved son, Trayvon Benjamin Martin, in February 2012, Sybrina Fulton was charged with a new mission. A desire to transform family tragedy into social change allowed her to establish the Trayvon Martin Foundation in March 2012. As Fulton traverses the globe, she passionately embarks on a journey designed to bring awareness to senseless gun violence and serves as an advocate to families, the catalyst for her dream project, the “Circle of Mothers.” Winning the national support of president-elect Hillary Clinton, Fulton rallied to the forefront in 2016 at the Democratic National Convention with a cadre of African American trailblazing women known as “Mothers of the Movement.” The women, connected by tragedy, are the inspiration behind  “Black Lives Matter.” In 2017, Fulton co-authored her first book, Rest in Power, The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, a memoir recounting the death of her son, and the subject of a six-part docuseries, Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story, produced by hip-hop mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter for Paramount Network and BET (July 2018). Bestowed with many distinguished awards, Sybrina Fulton has represented the United States at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss racial discrimination; the National Urban League, Black Lives Matter, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, The Triumph Awards (2016), Essence Festival & Conference (2017, 2018), and was selected as the White House’s guest of honor for the unveiling of former President Barak Obama’s initiative, “My Brother’s Keeper.” Fulton is also one of the 2018 recipients of VH1’s Trailblazer Honor Award. A Miami native and graduate of Florida Memorial University, Sybrina Fulton, along with her son, Jahvaris, are on a mission to build better, safer communities. She is a proud member of the Miami Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Metropolitan Dade County Section of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. She created the Circle of Mothers to bring together mothers who have lost children or family members to senseless gun violence for the purpose of healing, empowerment, and fellowship towards the larger aim of community building.    Connect with Sybrina: Facebook  Twitter  Instagram Trayvon Martin Foundation   Give a Mother’s Day Gift: Help mothers heal from the loss of a loved one by supporting and donating to the Circle of Mothers, Sybrina’s weekend retreat for mothers who have lost a child to gun violence. You can support the cause here. Special thanks to Jill Daniel of Happy Women Dinners for introducing us to Anna and her work!    In This Episode We Talk About: Anna's commitment to fighting the erasure of Black women's stories. What inspired Anna to focus her first book on the mothers of sons of the Civil Rights Movement. How painful moments like George Floyd's murder, and joyful moments like Stacy Abram's organizing in Georgia, had Anna editing and adding more relevance right up until the book was published. Anna’s decision to focus on MLK Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin as the three famous sons, and their mothers, Alberta King, Louise Little, and Berdis Baldwin whose stories she would tell. The lessons revealed in Anna's book that all mothers can learn from across the E.P.I.C. guideposts. The importance of acknowledging that Black women are "not a conquered victim" but living through life as a whole human being. Anna's challenge for all mothers listening to expand our awareness through reading and her hope that this book will be seen as a celebration of Black womanhood.   This Episode's Challenge: Anna invites us to think about what we can all read to advance our understanding of different forms of motherhood. Picking up books that focus on Black mothers and Black motherhood can bring healing for everybody. The more we are informed, the more conscious we become.  Anna’s next recommendation after finishing her book: The Power of Purpose by Alicia Garza which begins with a powerful description of the impact of Alicia’s mother on her.    Learn More More About Anna: Anna Malaika Tubbs is an Author, advocate, educator, and a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at the University of Cambridge. Anna grew up abroad in Dubai, Mexico, Sweden, Estonia, and Azerbaijan. Influenced by her exposure to all kinds of cultures and beliefs, Anna is inspired to bring people together through the celebration of difference. Motivated by her mother’s work advocating for women’s and children’s rights around the world, Anna uses an intersectional lens to advocate for women of color and educate others. During her time as an undergraduate student at Stanford University, Anna took from what she’d seen in her parents’ work and began honing her own identity as an activist. She served as the president of Stanford’s Black Student Union when she was only a sophomore and she was also the Executive Director of Stanford’s Alternative Spring Break. In these roles, she organized rallies and events focused on the concerns of the Black community, she fundraised money for women’s clinics in the Bay Area and grew her passion for advocacy and social justice. As the First Partner of Stockton, CA, she co-authored the first-ever “Report on the Status of Women in Stockton” to help guide future policy decisions with the experiences of diverse women in mind. Anna is also a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant who has worked with companies and individuals interested in progressing their DEI goals. Anna has published articles on issues ranging from mass incarceration to the forced sterilization of Black women, as well as the importance of feminism, intersectionality, and inclusivity. Her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, For Harriet, Darling Magazine, and Blavity. Her first book, titled The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation, is being published by Flatiron Books in February 2021.Grab a copy of Anna’s The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation HERE! Follow Anna: Twitter Instagram Anna Malaika Tubbs’ Website   Additional Resources: The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart by Alicia Garza Documentary: I Am Not Your Negro. Based on the unfinished manuscript by James Baldwin  Mother’s Quest Ep 55: From Grief to Advocacy and a Circle of Mothers with Trayvon Martin’s Mother Sybrina Fulton     Announcements: It’s Mother’s Quest May! Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you’ll seize this holiday as an opportunity to say “yes” to yourself. We’ve declared it Mother’s Quest May in our community and have so many wonderful things to share with you as the month progresses:  The podcast season launch with this episode My first publication the Mother’s Quest Inspiration Guide A self-guided version of the annual Mother’s Quest Manifesto Challenge  And a live virtual “Yes Day for Moms” that I’m co-facilitating with the amazing Graeme Seabrook.  Join the free Facebook Group and sign up for email updates at www.mothersquest.com to learn all the details and come along with us during this special month.     Acknowledgments: A big THANK YOU to our “patrons” for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial and/or in-kind support: Amanda Kruger Hill Graeme Seabrook Anne Armstrong Herve Clermont Samantha Arsenault Vickie Giambra Casey O'Roarty of Joyful Courage Kathie Moehlig or TransFamily Support Services Anne Ferguson of MamaFuel On the Move and etsuko Kubo Kate Amoo-Gottfried Nicole Lee Olivia Parr-Rud "Vince" of the While Black Podcast Sara Brannin-Mooser Lindsay Pera Julie Castro Abrams Alexia Vernon Brooke Markevicius Democracy Clothing Michael Skolnik Helgi Maki Kari Azuma Tamara Sobomehin Katie Krimitsos Carrie Caulfield Arick Rachel Rosen Chandra Brooks Jen Simon Monisha Vasa Celia Ward-Wallace Vanessa Couto Desiree Adaway Rachel Steinman Katie Hanus Denise Barreto Sage B. Hobbs Samantha Nolan-Smith Jody Smith Emily Cretella Collette Flanagan Titilayo Tinubu Ali Carly Magnus Hurt Lizzy Russinko Suzanne Brown Mara Berns Langer Mallory Schlabach Katharine Earhart Jessica Kupferman Jen Jenkins Dohner Genese Harris Tonya Rineer Liane Louie-Badua Cristin Downs Erin Kendall Niko Osoteo Erik Newton Claire Fry Divya Silbermann Rachel Winter Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore The Sustainable Living Podcast Samantha Arsenault Attica Locke   Support the Podcast If you’d like to make a contribution to Mother’s Quest to support Season Four of the Podcast and/or help provide coaching scholarships for mothers, follow this link to make a contribution. If you would like to “dedicate” an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

In loving memory of Edd Conboy, who through the gift of reflection helped me see myself so that I may also see others. I’m honored to bring you this special bite-sized reflection from my own E.P.I.C. Life as a bonus to Season Five.  The show has been on a pause between seasons and will begin again in May, in time for Mother’s Day. Until then, I invite you to catch up on episodes that you’ve missed, including the Season Five finale with my mentor and former colleague, Leslie Medine. The finale was dedicated to Edd Conboy, a special person who was a coach to both of us and led us for years through a process called Adult Reflection. Edd suffered from a stroke and passed away on March 20, 2020. In my conversation with Leslie, I committed to writing and recording a love letter to Edd and sharing it on the podcast. It was therapeutic to write the letter, share it with others from my Reflection Circle grieving Edd’s loss, and to record it for you. Thank you for listening and witnessing. I hope learning about Edd’s impact will touch you and inspire you to think about someone in your life who you’d like to honor. Dear Edd, As I write this, I hope that you know how loved you are. How much you are missed. And how much you have made an everlasting impact on me and so many of us. It’s hard to believe it has been a year since you died. You slipped into a coma, just as the world was slipping into what has felt like an alternate reality. In December, I interviewed Leslie for the podcast and held space for the ways that you impacted her. In perfect synchronicity, before I released that episode, I found an email that you wrote at the same time of year, the winter solstice 15 years ago, on the darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Your words reminded me that the light we so often seek, especially in our darkest days, resides within ourselves. Which was so fitting, because one of your greatest gifts was to create reflective space, get curious and ask a powerful, illuminating question that would help me, Leslie and so many others find our answers within. As we reach this anniversary of your death, we are reemerging in many ways. We are also approaching another seasonal milestone, the spring equinox, which miraculously occurs this year today, on March 20th, the anniversary of your passing. Therefore, this moment that we remember and honor you, as I record this to bright sunshine and spring flowers blooming, is the moment that represents the balance of light, of new beginnings, a festival of awakening, and rebirth. I’ve been wondering what messages you have for us Edd. What are you trying to tell us about darkness and light? About seasons? About the power of pause and reflection? About moving from darkness to light. And seeing again in new ways.  These were the words you shared in that email at the winter solstice:   “For the last few months I have had the great good fortune to be surrounded by some extraordinary young people (some of them are on this list!).   Gradually, they are infusing me with hope, and even a little faith.   Being with them has brought me to realize just how much I am dependent on them to make meaning of my life long after I am gone.  I am aware more keenly than ever that this moment I call a lifetime is all I have right now.  And that awareness is unimaginably liberating – a healing gift that lightens the load when I can stay in that awareness.   I hope within this expansive moment, we all have many more little moments to share, moments like glass beads for all of us to string together.” I thought about these glass beads that you speak of...and realized they are a metaphor for what you created in our lifetime with you. You brought us clarity, you brought us connection, you instilled in us the realization that we can be and bring our fullest selves to one another, that we can love and be loved for who we are and who we are becoming.  In your presence, I learned to hold tension, to examine thoughts and feelings, even when they're uncomfortable, so that I could see and understand myself in new ways. With your coaching, I learned that when things feel the most overwhelming, it’s because I’m holding too much or trying to hold too much by myself, and that so much more is possible when I welcome others in. You helped us realize that alone we are but single glass beads, but that we can create something of beauty and value when we come together. Edd, I wonder if your spirit is aware somehow of the legacy you have left us. If you know that you brought us together again, some of us who had not been in regular communication with one another for over a decade. After your passing, we met on zoom every first Sunday for the entire last year, a challenging year filled with wildfires, sheltering in place, racial reckonings, and one of the most historic elections of our lifetime. We acknowledged that we could not have made it through the year without one another and without your lessons. The last time we gathered, we honored the anniversary of your passing. We imagined a virtual unveiling of your headstone and what words we each would inscribe on it. These are the words I shared and offer to you.   In loving memory of Edd Conboy, who through the gift of reflection helped me see myself so that I may also see others. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have known you Edd, to have been coached by you, apprenticed by you, and known by you. Your legacy truly lives on in all of us.  

I’m honored to share this special finale interview of Season Five of the Mother’s Quest Podcast. Each season, I invite one person from my inner circle to interview for the finale. And this time, I knew exactly who I wanted to be in conversation with...a mentor and coach who has had a tremendous impact on the person and parent I am today, Leslie Medine.  I’m releasing this episode on December 21st, 2020, on the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, in honor of a great coach Leslie and I had in common, Edd Conboy, who passed away in March of this year. In perfect synchronicity, before I recorded the interview, I found an email from Edd written at the solstice 15 years ago, that reminded me that the light we so often seek, especially in our darkest days, resides within ourselves. It’s fitting, because one of Edd’s greatest gifts was to create reflective space, get curious and ask a powerful, illuminating question that would help me, Leslie and so many others find our answers within. Leslie and I met and worked alongside one another for a decade at a youth organization she founded in Alameda, CA called Alternatives in Action, referred to at the time as the Home Project. It was there that I also came to know and love Edd, as he led us through a practice the staff would do weekly on Fridays that we called Reflection. Known locally and nationally as an expert in youth development, leadership and empowerment, Leslie created the Home Project and countless other organizations from the ground up in her 50 years of work in the world. She ventured into the education field at the age of 16 as a founding member of the first experimental public high school in New York State. Since 1975, Leslie founded eight schools in the San Francisco Bay Area serving infants through high school students within both the private and public sectors in addition to a Teacher’s College. In February of 2019, she retired as Executive Director of On The Move, an organization focused on the next generation of emerging leaders throughout California, culminating that chapter of her career through writing and performing an incredibly powerful one-woman show for her community called “To be Continued.” I hadn’t connected very much with Leslie since seeing her at her show, until I received an email, just as we were preparing to shelter in place last March, informing me that Edd had suffered a massive stroke and was in a coma. A week later, he passed away. But the group of us who had come together via Zoom in honor of Edd, in the midst of the pandemic, began to meet virtually the first Sunday of each month, continuing to share stories about Edd and his impact, and keeping his legacy alive through our reflective practice. We have been meeting ever since. One of those in our group is Dr. Amanda Kruger Hill, a youth alum of the Home Project, and now the Executive Director of the Cowen Institute and a Professor at Tulane University, who brings us this episode’s dedication. In the dedication, Amanda shares beautifully the impact that Leslie has had in her life and frames the themes of the conversation to come. As Leslie and I discuss, “to do great work in the world, you must be known and know others.” I’m so grateful to know Amanda, to know Leslie and the principles, practices and stories that she weaves together in this episode, and to know Edd, who continues to light the way for us, and remind us how to strive for greatness, even now. A final note about this episode. You’ll notice it’s longer than my usual ones and I also hope you’ll find tremendous value in listening. I decided there was no part I wanted to cut and also that I wanted to give you the opportunity to listen to it in its entirety, rather than releasing in two parts. So, if you have more time, find a cozy spot and a cup of tea and settle in. Or if you are more limited in your time, listen for some while, and then press pause and come back when you’re ready. Make sure not to listen with your little ones present as there is some colorful language. Seize the time and space for yourself. And let the light in. Much appreciation, P.S. Know someone who would love this conversation? Pay this forward to a friend who may be interested. This Episode is Dedicated by: Dr. Amanda Kruger Hill Dr. Amanda Kruger Hill is an award-winning educational leader with a deep commitment to young people’s growth and development. She is the Executive Director of the Cowen Institute and a Professor at Tulane University.  Dr. Amanda was a design team member for BASE, the first youth-initiated high school in the United States, the Reach Institute for School Leadership, and New Harmony High, an award-winning XQ Super School. She is a former high school teacher and principal. Prior to leading the Cowen Institute, she was Director of School Reviews with New Schools for New Orleans (NSNO).  Dr. Amanda holds her Master’s in Educational Leadership, Principal Licensure, and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. Amanda received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johns Hopkins University. She has served as an adjunct faculty member with Columbia University, Tulane University, and Relay Graduate School of Education. She also serves on various task forces for the Department of Education. Amanda enjoys living in New Orleans with her husband, Graham, and sons, Benjamin and Louis. Follow Amanda on Social Media: Twitter Facebook Instagram   In This Episode We Talk About: Leslie's quest was to transcend the difficulties in her childhood and be emotionally well as an adult. How a $200K fundraising challenge prompted Leslie to hire Edd as her coach and the running track that became a metaphor for this challenge and so much more.  What Leslie learned on that track: about insight following action, moving forward even if it's through tears, and that the race ends 6 feet past the finish line. What a great coach can do for you and why we can’t hold our own bar and jump over it. The difference between perfection and excellence.   Seeing children as our younger equals and the two things Leslie believes children most need. The powerful question Edd would ask Leslie when she was in the "spin cycle" that helped her connect to her own inner wisdom.  The difference between personal and private and personal authority vs. positional authority. Choosing In and Choosing Out and the bell from 1895 that became an ever-present part of Home Project culture.  The Practice of Reflection and the premise that emotional clarity plus critical thinking leads to effective action.  The Tarot Card I picked the morning of our interview, the "Unseen Card," and Leslie’s belief that all creative people start in the place of not knowing.  The importance of asking for help. The story about "The Iceberg" that Home Project youth brought to the Board of the Levi Strauss Corporation and the epic quote spoken by Casey Fenton at age 15 that emerged from it. This Episode’s Challenge: Inspired by the stories we told about Edd after his stroke and passing, and also by the new book of love letters by Mother’s Quest member Jenjii Hysten, to the Black men in her life, this episode’s challenge is about writing or speaking love letters of our own. Leslie encourages us to think of a person who has had a tremendous impact in our life. If they’re not aware, let them know; if you haven’t told them, think about what’s stopping you. Reflect, then take action! She also encourages us to write to our children, telling them what we see and appreciate in them. Learn More About Leslie Medine: Leslie has served as school principal, fund development director, board member, parent educator, community organizer, coach, facilities developer/manager and public relations director in all of the organizations she has run. Most of these roles were happening simultaneously! She is known locally and nationally as an expert in youth development, leadership and empowerment by funders, field experts and program directors. Her work has been documented in articles in field and research publications, in print, radio and TV outlets and in a film documentary called “We Are Here Together”.  Leslie is known for her boundless energy, contagious enthusiasm and an uncanny ability to bring together the right people at the right time to make things happen in what appears to be at the speed of light. She has never had more than four months to open a program and get it up and running. She has always held this rigorous standard of highly effective work for other organizational leaders who have been coached by her and in over 40 organizations. In February 2019 as Leslie was closing her chapter as an organizational leader, she wrote and performed a one woman show for her community of friends and colleagues called “To be Continued”. Its purpose was to share the personal and professional experiences that shaped her life. Currently Leslie is in the process of figuring out “re-wirement” through coaching individual leaders and volunteering time in the areas of youth-led programming, voter education for new citizens, arts-based storytelling projects as well as two short documentary films.  If you’d like to reach out to Leslie to work with her or to learn about how you can view her one-woman show, email her at lmedine@comcast.net. Follow On the Move on Social Media: Facebook Twitter Instagram Leslie Medine Email: lmedine@comcast.net Organizations That Leslie Founded Mentioned: On the Move Alternatives in Action (formerly known as The Home Project) Email Mentioned in the Episode From Edd Conboy Dear Friends, The year is winding up or down now – I never know which one it is – and I wanted to take a moment to let you know that you are in my thoughts, and (such as they are) in my prayers. As I went through my address book, it was a wonderful task to conjure up an image of each one of you as I added your name to this small group list. These times, dark though they may seem, are the times we have.  For the last few months I have had the great good fortune to be surrounded by some extraordinary young people (some of them are on this list!).  Gradually, they are infusing me with hope, and even a little faith.   Being with them has brought me to realize just how much I am dependent on them to make meaning of my life long after I am gone.  I am aware more keenly than ever that this moment I call a lifetime is all I have right now.  And that awareness is unimaginably liberating – a healing gift that lightens the load when I can stay in that awareness.   I hope within this expansive moment, we all have many more little moments to share, moments like glass beads for all of us to string  together. Here is a link to a short meditation I wrote on the shortest day of the year entitled, The Price of Redemption.  It is one of those small glass beads that I wanted to add to the string. Be kind to yourself, take care of a stranger, and, as always, be very careful out there. Much love, Edd The Price of Redemption Additional Resources: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Beyond The Hashtag: The Spirit, Heart and Love of Black Men by Jenji F Hysten Shop The Mystics Oracle Deck The Unseen Card | Modern Mystics Institute Announcements: Mother's Quest Caregiver Circle Join me and podcast guest, wellness expert and mom to two daughters with rare and chronic illnesses, Nancy Netherland in our first ever Mother’s Quest Caregiver Circle!! I am beyond honored and excited to open registration for the first Mother's Quest Circle to embark in 2021, especially for Caregivers of children who are differently-wired, have disabilities and/or unique health needs. Doubly honored to co-facilitate with MQ Circle alum, podcast guest, and self-proclaimed "momologist" Nancy Netherland. Nancy will be bringing her first-hand experience caring for her children with wellness practices to the Circle. Ready to invest in yourself? And find community as you start your new year? Join us! Not for you, but know someone who might be interested? Please help us spread the word. We start next week! Join us in the Mother’s Quest Facebook Group   At the time I’m releasing this episode, during the COVID-19 global pandemic, so many of us are seeking ways to connect with one another, even while needing to stay physically apart. If you identify with being a mother on a quest and you’re not yet a member of the free private Mother’s Quest Facebook Group, I invite you to join us for opportunities to learn together, to share what we have to offer one another and where we need support, and to find ways to make meaning of all we’re going through right now. Visit www.motherquest.com/community to join and I’d be honored to welcome you in.  Season Five of the Mother’s Podcast is Under Way! – Help us Spread the Word   If you enjoy the Mother’s Quest Podcast, we’d love your support in sharing this or another favorite episode with a mother you think would appreciate it too!  Another way to help spread the word is to leave a review at Apple Podcasts. Instructions for leaving a review are here: How to leave a rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad On your iOS mobile device, launch Apple’s Podcast app. Tap the Search tab in the lower right corner of the screen. Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review. … Tap the Reviews tab, then tap “Write a Review” at the bottom of the screen. Acknowledgments: A big THANK YOU to our “patrons” for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial and/or in-kind support: Amanda Kruger Hill Graeme Seabrook Anne Armstrong Herve Clermont Samantha Arsenault Vickie Giambra Casey O'Roarty of Joyful Courage Kathie Moehlig or TransFamily Support Services Anne Ferguson of MamaFuel On the Move and etsuko Kubo Kate Amoo-Gottfried Nicole Lee Olivia Parr-Rud "Vince" of the While Black Podcast Sara Brannin-Mooser Lindsay Pera Julie Castro Abrams Alexia Vernon Brooke Markevicius Democracy Clothing Michael Skolnik Helgi Maki Kari Azuma Tamara Sobomehin Katie Krimitsos Carrie Caulfield Arick Rachel Rosen Chandra Brooks Jen Simon Monisha Vasa Celia Ward-Wallace Vanessa Couto Desiree Adaway Rachel Steinman Katie Hanus Denise Barreto  Sage B. Hobbs  Samantha Nolan-Smith Jody Smith Emily Cretella Collette Flanagan Titilayo Tinubu Ali  Carly Magnus Hurt Lizzy Russinko  Suzanne Brown Mara Berns Langer Mallory Schlabach  Katharine Earhart Jessica Kupferman Jen Jenkins Dohner Genese Harris Tonya Rineer Liane Louie-Badua Cristin Downs  Erin Kendall  Niko Osoteo  Erik Newton  Claire Fry Divya Silbermann Rachel Winter Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore The Sustainable Living Podcast Samantha Arsenault Attica Locke Support the Podcast If you’d like to make a contribution to Mother’s Quest to support Season Four of the Podcast and/or help provide coaching scholarships for mothers, follow this link to make a contribution. If you would like to “dedicate” an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

At the time of this episode’s release, we are at a crossroads in the United States. This election of 2020 is one of the most important in our history. As activist Michael Skolnik says, the election is not 7 days away. The election is now.  What can we do in our last few days before the conclusion of the election of 2020? Like so many of you, I am asking myself what matters most and what I can do that can have an impact in these 7 days. When I feel myself swirling, I remember I don’t have to figure this out alone. So, I reached out to you, fellow mothers and grandmothers, many of you activists, and asked for your words of wisdom.  Ahead, I have 7 pieces of advice, reflections or calls to action, that we can all connect to for guidance and inspiration each day ahead. This is an election minisode...because I wanted these to be bite-sized and easy to digest. Please join me in taking these words in, taking action, and paying the messages forward to other mothers in your network.  I hope this minisode has you, as it does me, ready to dig in, to connect to community, to engage in multiple ways, to vote for our children, to remember why this matters, to get the vote out with women of color and make sure their votes count, and to mother like an organizer. Together, we can do this! #momthevote #votelikeamother #momsrisingThank you to Jen Jenkins Dohner for the beautiful “VOTE” podcast art. Find her work, Postcards for Progress here. Episode Highlights: The election is not 7 days away...the election is now and we can look to one another for how to use these days to the fullest.  Why it matters to dig into propositions and ballot measures you might not understand. Our election is not just about us as individuals, it's about us as a society. How we can use discernment and tap into our community to get us through. Register today for Nicole Lee’s Way Station, happening Friday to support you in that. 5 ways that you can get engaged through MomsRising. All the reasons why we should vote for our children. How elections can be a joyful time for families. The critical role that women of color voters play in this election and how we can make their vote count. Sign up here to text bank with She the People Wednesday. Wise advice from a life-long organizer, mother and grandmother working to galvanize voting from and for domestic workers through Hand in Hand and her Caring Majority Facebook Group. Resources Recommended by Our Mother Contributors: The event Nicole Lee is co-facilitating:Way Station  5 Ways to Help Get Out the Vote from MomsRising She the People Black-Led Organizing Fund California Voter Guide Vote411 Lose the Cape Vol 4: The Mom's Guide to Becoming Socially & Politically Engaged (& How to Raise Tiny Activists), 2nd Edition 7 Pieces of Advice From Our Contributors: Advice #1 - Nancy Cavillones - Dig into Ballot Measures Because They Matter to Someone Nancy Cavillones is an indie author’s best friend and is on a mission to keep authors sane by handling the minutiae of their online presence and communications. She’s been online in some form or other since 1993, and still has the AOL dial-up tone stuck in her head. (Interested in the full history? Check out her LinkedIn.) She enjoys taking the scenic route, forcing her kids to appreciate nature, and spending time in New York City by herself in a desperate attempt to recapture her college days. Originally from Upstate NY by way of Long Island, Nancy recently relocated to Northern California with her family from Redding, Connecticut.  Nancy is the co-editor of Lose the Cape Mom’s Guide to Becoming Socially and Politically Engaged (And Rising Tiny Activists, Too!). Where to reach Nancy: The Real Nani Twitter @va4indieauthors LinkedIn @ncavillones Lose the Cape Mom’s Guide to Becoming Socially and Politically Engaged (And Rising Tiny Activists, Too!). Advice #2 - Nicole Lee - Reach Out Personally to Voters, Use Discernment and Connect to Community Nicole Lee is a diversity, equity and inclusion expert, leadership coach, nationally recognized speaker and strategist who regularly consults with nonprofits, schools, businesses and political and social movements to improve their climate for themselves and all those that they serve. She is the founder of Inclusive Life™ and co-founder of the Lee Bayard Group LLC and Black Movement-Law Project (BMLP). For almost a decade she served as President of TransAfrica, working with leaders across the globe to advocate for a just U.S. foreign policy. Nicole is a prolific speaker who has given testimony to the U.S. Congress, the United Nations and other international bodies. She has been a commentator on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and BBC. She has been recognized for her outstanding contributions in the private and public sectors through numerous awards, including Congressional Black Caucus, Running Starts “Women to Watch”, Black Women’s Roundtable TrailBlazer, Global Leadership and the National Newspapers Publishers Association’s Press Champion Award. She is both an attorney and an intuitive coach. Through this unique blend, she has contributed to movements in the U.S. and abroad through human rights documentation, coaching and holding space in difficult situations.  One of her proudest moments was working alongside civil rights icon Bill Lucy, the architect of the historic Memphis sanitation strike  for a national commemoration of the life of his good friend Nelson Mandela. Nicole lives in Washington, DC with her husband, political scientist Marc Bayard, children and three pets.  Where to reach Nicole: Nicole Lee website Register for WayStation Facebook Twitter @nicoleclee Instagram @nicoleleeil Advice #3 - Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner - Find Five Ways to Engage Through MomsRising Kristin is the Executive Director/CEO and Co-Founder of MomsRising and Board President of the MomsRising Education Fund. She has been involved in public policy and grassroots engagement for more than two decades and has received numerous accolades for her work. She is also an award-winning author of books and articles, frequent public speaker, media contributor, and host of the radio program “Breaking Through with Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner (Powered by MomsRising).” Kristin is also a former political director, policy analyst, and political strategy consultant for non-profit organizations and foundations. Where to reach Kristin: Moms Rising Facebook Twitter @MomsRising  Instagram @momsrising Advice #4 - Kalima Salahuddin - Vote for Our Children and Have Them Join You in the Process Kalimah Salahuddin currently serves as President for the Jefferson Union High School District Board of Education She is the immediate Past President of the San Mateo County School Boards Association (SMCSBA) were she served for two years and continues to serve as the Coordinator for the SMCSBA Equity Network.  At the County level she serves on the COVID-19 Recovery Council and the Advisory Council for the Equity initiative. She was one of the founding members of the REACH Coalition to increase equity and community health for all. She also was recently appointed to the Board of the Housing Leadership Council and previously served as a Board Member for Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco where she has been a regular site volunteer.  She is currently employed at Exelixis as a Coordinator on the Investor Relations / Public Affairs team and is mother to three wonderful adults. Advice #5 - Jena Schwartz - Connect to All the Reasons That Voting Matters Jena is an extroverted introvert, a lover of trees and fresh water swimming and babies and bulldogs, and a rabbi at heart. All of her works, from writing groups to retreats to individual coaching, editing, and mentoring, is devoted to creating safe and brave spaces where we get to write, share, and connect. She has been blogging as a practice since 2007. She works with people who struggle to value their writing if/when it's not "productive" or clearly "going somewhere." Where to Reach Jena: Read Jena’s Full Facebook Post Jena Schwartz website Facebook Instagram @jenaschwartz Advice #6 - Aimee Allison - Get Out the Vote and Make Sure Every Vote Counts From Critical Women of Color Voters Aimee Allison is founder and president of She the People, a national network elevating the voice and power of women of color. She brings together voters, organizers, and elected leaders in a movement grounded in values of love, justice, belonging, and democracy. In 2018, Ms. Allison was one of the primary architects of the “year of women of color in politics.” In April 2019, she convened the first presidential forum for women of color, reaching a quarter of the American population. A democratic innovator and visionary, Ms. Allison leads national efforts to build inclusive, multiracial coalitions led by women of color. She leverages media, research and analysis to increase voter engagement and advocate for racial, economic and gender justice. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Hill, Essence, Teen Vogue and Newsweek. In the early 1990’s, Ms. Allison earned a rare honorable discharge from the U.S. Army as a conscientious objector and works today to support courageous, moral leadership. Aimee Allison holds a B.A. and M.A. from Stanford University. Author of Army of None, she has appeared in hundreds of outlets including MSNBC, CNN, the Washington Post, Associated Press and NPR. She is building a political home for a million women of color, nationally and in battleground states. She was featured in Politico’s 2019 Powerlist.  Where to Reach Aimee: Aimee Allison website She The People LinkedIn Instagram @aimee_allison Sign up for Wednesday Text Banking with She the People  Tune into the full conversation with @Aimee Allison on political impact and fundraising released earlier on the podcast ℅ How Women Lead Advice #7 - Lian Hurst Mann - Remember Elections Are About Legacy...And Mother Like an Organizer Bio coming soon: see show notes at www.mothersquest.com/podcast to view Where To Reach Lian: Instagram @herwisdomgrows  Hand in Hand - The Domestic Employers Network Caring Majority Rising Facebook Group