Podcasts about My Mother

Dan Clouser, author and podcast host, shares his journey from running a youth sports organization for 30 years to full-time RV life while hosting "The Journey of My Mother's Son" podcast. He emphasizes that growth only happens outside your comfort zone and reveals how years of coaching taught him that life, like baseball, is a game where you're either winning or learning. Dan discusses the power of authentic storytelling, the importance of listening without judgment, and how genuine conversations reveal that people have far more in common than they realize.  Key Takeaways Growth requires discomfort - You can only grow outside your comfort zone, whether that's being pushed or making a conscious decision to step into uncomfortable territory You're either winning or learning - Failure is only truly failure if you don't learn something from it; every loss contains a lesson that can prevent future defeats Authentic connection beats perfect branding - Being willing to show your face, share your story, and be vulnerable creates deeper connections than hiding behind logos or polished facades Listen to understand, not to respond - Real conversations happen when you listen to understand someone's perspective rather than just waiting for your turn to speak About Dan Clouser Dan Clouser is an author, blogger, podcast host, speaker, and consultant who founded and operated the Berkshire Baseball & Softball Club (later the BIG Vision Foundation) for 30 years. The organization ran youth sports teams, tournaments, and a 130-acre sports complex, where he dedicated his career to teaching leadership and life lessons to young people. In 2019, he and his wife Sandy answered what they felt was a calling to leave their comfort zone and embark on a cross-country RV journey. Inspired by his late mother Loretta Magary—a free spirit who took her own transformative travels in the 1980s—they sold most of their possessions and hit the road with their golden retriever, Youkilis, to continue her legacy of giving back through volunteering and storytelling. Through speaking engagements, writing, and podcasting, he shares the stories of the "many little people in many little places doing many little things" who are making a difference in the world. His mission is to inspire others to take their own steps toward positive change, honoring the belief that collective small actions can transform the world. Following Youkilis's passing in April 2024, he and Sandy continue their journey together, documenting the remarkable people they meet along the way. In This Episode [00:00] Welcome to the show! [04:38] Meet Dan Clouser [05:51] Comfort Zones [11:37] A Game of Failure [16:42] Journey of My Mother's Son [21:54] Creating Personal Connection [29:08] Understanding Someone's Why [34:14] "A Good Boy's Journey" [37:11] Connect With Dan [40:04] Outro Quotes "Growth only happens when you're uncomfortable. You can't grow any other way." - Dan Clouser "You're either winning or learning. It's only a failure if you don't learn something from that failure." - Dan Clouser "All of us as human beings have a lot more in common than what we don't. We're a lot more alike than we are different." - Dan Clouser "Understanding is not necessarily agreeing." - Dan Clouser "This is the first shot that we've all had at this life. We're all going through this the first time with no experience of what's coming next." - Dan Clouser Guest Links Find Dan Clouser online Follow Dan Clouser on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter Check out Dan's latest book: A Good Boy's Journey Links  FREE Workshop Available "How to Consistently Earn Over $100k Per Year in Video Production While Working Less Than 40 Hours Per Week" Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group  Follow Ryan Koral on Instagram Follow Grow Your Video Business on Instagram Check out the full show notes

In this episode of the Show Up or Shut Up Podcast, host Wendy Solganik interviews mixed media artist Roxanne Evans Stout. Wendy announces that Roxanne will be joining Fodder School 5 as a first-time instructor. The conversation delves into Roxanne's artistic journey which began in her childhood in Santa Monica and evolved through various stages, including her experiences growing up in different places due to her father's Air Force career, her education in the sciences at Humboldt State, and her eventual shift to a more free-form, mixed media art style. Roxanne talks about her teaching career, her close relationship with her mother who was also an artist, and how her mother's passing intensified her commitment to art. The episode also explores Roxanne's teaching experiences in locations like Santa Fe and her upcoming workshop in Italy. Wendy and Roxanne discuss the unique elements of Roxanne's art, including her use of neutral colors, texture, and inspiration from nature. Roxanne shares her excitement for the new projects in Fodder School 5 and drops hints about her plans for the artistic journey ahead.00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest02:37 Roxanne's Early Life and Artistic Beginnings04:04 Life in Santa Monica and Artistic Influences07:48 College Years and Meeting Her Husband13:23 Life in Northern California and Early Art Career20:43 Teaching Career and Artistic Evolution22:46 Developing a Unique Artistic Style25:35 The Influence of Blogging and Artist Books29:15 Collections and Inspirations35:27 The Story Behind the Work Table36:38 Challenges of Building a Custom Table37:49 Creating an Inspiring Studio Space39:35 The Evolution of My Art Journey40:15 Teaching and Workshops43:13 Artist Residencies and Their Impact46:38 Upcoming Workshops and Inspirations52:58 Exploring My Color Palette58:31 Influence of My Mother's Art01:06:03 Conclusion and Future Plans

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother's Son podcast, we return from a one month hiatus with a monologue. Today marks five years that we have been traveling full-time in our RV.  It also marks the first time in the history of the Journey of My Mother's Son podcast that an entire month passed without an episode being released.  Why the break?  Well, many of you know that Sandy had been in the hospital for eight days back in July.  I you missed that, you can read the details about us looking forward to Brighter Days by clicking this link. One of the things that I talk about in this return episode is our need as humans to be able to make adjustments when life throws us a curve ball.  That's what Sandy and I had to do last month.  We planning on kicking off the presale campaign for my newest book, A Good Boy's Journey on my birthday and the book was initially slated to be released today.  Obviously, that didn't happen.  Instead, we spent my birthday with Sandy getting a kidney biopsy, so we made some adjustments.  The presale campaign kicked off later than expected and the publication date will be later this month, but that's ok, we made the adjustment.  Sandy's health was the priority and still is. Just remember in your own life, when life throws you those curve balls, you just have to bear down and make the adjustment. If you're interested in purchasing a copy of my newest book in the the presale campaign, be sure to do so now by clicking on the link below: A Good Boy's Journey Presale Campaign

From the streets of Philadelphia to a life transformed by Jesus, this is Ben's powerful journey of redemption. Once trapped in addiction, crime, and near-death encounters, God's relentless love rescued him and called him into ministry. Today, Ben preaches in prisons, ministers to the homeless, and leads “The Table Ministry,” bringing hope and restoration to the hurting. His story is proof that no one is too far gone for God's grace.Listen on Podcast Spotify Podcast ⇨ https://spoti.fi/3RBKdq3Apple Podcast ⇨ https://apple.co/3evzCuuConnect with ushttps://www.facebook.com/delafetestimonieshttps://www.instagram.com/delafetestimonies/Connect with BenWebsite ⇨ Thetableministry.comEmail ⇨ info@thetableministry.comCredits:Testimony by Ben RosarioDirected by Eric Villatoro Interviewed by Eric Villatoro Edited By Darvin RamirezAudio Mixed by Paul Nicholas Production Assistant: Darvin RamirezTestimony Recorded in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDelafé Testimonies is a global evangelistic project with the mission of creating the world's largest archive of Jesus testimonies until His return. Chapters00:00 Introduction00:21 My Mother's Faith03:10 My Mother Receives a Prophetic Word 05:51 I Did Not Know The Voice of God 07:20 Smoking Weed & Drinking Alcohol at A Young Age 08:22 My Introduction To Hard Drugs 10:23 The Darkest Moments in My Life 14:57 God Begins Speaking To Me Through Dreams 17:58 My Transformation Begins 19:58 Surrendering My Life To Jesus 20:36 God's Protection in My Life 24:46 The Power of a Praying Mother 27:51 Serving Within Prisons Early into My Walk31:47 God Calls Me To The Streets 34:51 Seeing Souls Get Saved In The Streets of Philadelphia39:17 Loving The Unloved and Unwanted 42:08 Being Led To Pour into The Youth 44:49 The Lord Calls Me Into Full Time Ministry 47:13 The Lord Calls Me To The Streets Of Kensington  51:26 Washing Feet in the Streets 54:57 Leaving My Job To Pastor in Philadelphia57:36 Prayer For Those Who Want To Give Their Lives To Jesus 01:00:23 Who is Jesus to You? 01:00:42 Final WordsGOD Sent Me to Preach in the STREETS of KENSINGTON

We recently had the pleasure of hosting international bestselling author J.L. Witterick on The Writing Community Chat Show, a show recently ranked among the top 10 writing podcasts in the UK. In a wide-ranging and insightful conversation, Jennifer, a master of emotional depth and compelling narratives, shared her journey from a high-stakes career in finance to becoming a globally recognized author. The interview offered a glimpse into her creative process and the powerful themes of her work.Check out her website here.From Finance to Fiction: A Journey of PassionJL Witterick's career path is a story of its own. She was a successful professional in the investment world, even co-founding her own firm, before a documentary inspired her to make a life-altering change. She revealed that her motivation stemmed from the profound emotional connection her books created with readers, a feeling she found more meaningful than the world of finance. Her belief that "anyone can learn to do anything if they want it badly enough" is a powerful message for aspiring writers from any background. Her debut novel, My Mother's Secret, was a testament to this, becoming a worldwide sensation and being translated into 10 languages.The Creative Process: Authenticity and EmotionDuring our chat, JL offered some invaluable advice for other authors. She emphasized that her writing is driven by passion rather than strategy, and that every story, regardless of genre, must feel authentic and be well-researched. She believes the key to a successful novel is creating characters that readers truly care about. She also revealed that her next novel, Stronger, is about 80% complete and is based on a true story from Taiwan. When asked for her most important advice to writers, she offered a classic truth: "everyone's first draft is shit," reminding everyone that perseverance is key.Exploring "The Truth"The conversation also delved into her latest book, You Can't Take the Truth, a young adult dystopian romance. JL described the novel as being about the "transformational power of love." The story is set in a society where people use a dream-inducing drug called "The Truth" to escape their mundane reality. She explained that the love story between the main characters, Flo and Day, serves as the anchor for the plot, which explores themes of appearance versus reality. Her writing style is fast-paced and focuses on the core identity of her characters, making her books accessible and engaging for a broad audience. The book is available now on Amazon. BUY IT HERE.Watch the interview here! Or head over to YouTube. Please consider liking the video, leaving comments, and subscribing. It will help like-minded people find us.

Have a request for an upcoming segment? Send me a Text Message! It was a blockbuster weekend with the release of FREAKIER FRIDAY and WEAPONS, and smaller releases SKETCH and MY MOTHER'S WEDDING, as well as the streaming film THE PICKUP. Are any of them worth your time? Listen and find out!Follow on Instagram and Letterboxd @seeitorshoveitSupport the showInterested in becoming an official supporter or just want to buy me a popcorn? Click the Support the Show link above!

Mitch holes up in a private gym for two weeks with his newly acquired sidekick slash personal trainer Andy Richter to transform himself into a muscle-bound caped detective.Endnotes:Louie Anderson, Hi Mom: Stories for My Mother, But You Can Read Them Too (Touchstone Books, New York, 2018) p. ; Capsule Summary: Continuing the Hi Dad formula, a series of letters to the deceased matriarch of the Anderson clan. Thankfully, less traumatized and more jovial than the earlier book, but still weighted down by the plodding conceit. Most interesting aspect is the creation of Christine Baskets as a tribute to his mom and a poignant third (fourth? fifth?) act in a long and varied career. Side note: the hardest I have ever laughed was watching Louie Anderson live at the Paramount Theatre in 1991 with my father. He did a bit about stubbing his toe that had both of us gasping for air and literally falling out of our seats. Cara and I also saw him deliver the JFL keynote address in 2019 afterwhich he posed for selfies with us and was very comforting regarding our recently deceased cat Carl. His books are more therapeutic than hilarious, but he'll always have a very warm place in my heart. Slack Score: 2; Snark Score: 7; Overall FCA ranking: 176Zarna Garg, This American Woman; A One-in-a-Billiion Memoir (Ballantine, New York, 2025) p.227; Capsule Summary: A comedian origin story very much unlike any other. Garg didn't grow up dreaming of being Joan Rivers or anything like that, in fact, she seems to have barely understood that stand up comedy existed before her daughter essentially dared her into it, following a string of entrepreneurial failures. Hers is a story of brutal impoverishment and hardship as a homeless youth on the streets of Mumbai and extraordinary wealth and privelege at various other times of her life. Like her hero and champion Kevin Hart, she is unabashedly ambitious and driven by financial rapacity. I don't love that, and her prolonged tales of frustration with her children's $100,000/year elementary school education were not something I  found very relateable/easily identified with. Nevertheless, she is a talented writer and a funny human, and occupies a unique cultural perspective in the world of stand up, which is invaluable and her daughter apparently truly cares for her more than any teenager has ever cared for a parent, so that says everything you need to know about her value as a human. Slack Score: -7; Snark Score: 9; Overall FCA ranking: 115Trrevor Noah, Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood (One World, New York, 2016) p. 43; Capsule Summary: Regardless of your opinion of Noah as a stand up or Daily Show host (pretty mid on both fronts as far as I'm concerned) there's no question that this is a top tier FCB. Noah's story of growing up in South Africa semi-secretly (see the title) is riveting, wryly engaging, and tremendously moving, especially the last chapter on his mother. ; Slack Score: -9; Snark Score: 12; Overall FCA ranking: 8unstoppablefarce.com #comedy #standup #speculativefiction #speculativememoir #neilhamburger #longmontpotioncastle #elephantgraveyard #edinburgh #onemanshow

For this "Quick Screen" episode, Michael checked out the brand new theatrical film "My Mother's Wedding". What are some of his thoughts of this dramedy film starring Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham, Kristin Scott Thomas, Freida Pinto, and Thibault de Montalembert? Check it out and see!Be a part of the conversation!E-mail the show at screennerdspodcast@gmail.comFollow the show on Twitter @screennerdspodLike the show on Facebook (Search for Screen Nerds Podcast and find the page there)Follow the show on Instagram and Threads just search screennerdspodcastCheck out the show on Bluesky just search screennerdspodcastBe sure to check out the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods, Overcast, Amazon Music or your podcast catcher of choice! (and please share rate and review!)Want to share your thoughts on the podcast? Send me an e-mail!Thanks to Frankie Creel for the artwork

Lots of movies this week on the show. 11 of them to be precise with full reviews from Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy. Steve flies solo with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan back in the wrong bodies (Freakier Friday) plus a new serial killer thriller (Strange Harvest) and a documentary focusing on the fandom of Eminem (Stans). Erik looks at a story of young sisters trying to avoid being separated after their mom dies (What We Hide). There's an actual music documentary about an artist taken too soon (It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley) and another pending paternal anxiety with a sci-fi twist (Descendent). An all-star cast forms Kristen Scott-Thomas' personal directorial debut (My Mother's Wedding) and Eddie Murphy teams up with Pete Davidson for some armored truck action (The Pickup). A young girl's drawings come to life causing havoc around town (Sketch). The pair catch up on the new reboot of a comedy classic (The Naked Gun) and finish off with the mysterious disappearance of children from the director of Barbarian (Weapons).3:25 - Freakier Friday12:13 - What We Hide18:29 - Strange Harvest23:20 - Stans29:20 - Descendent39:09 - It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley47:23 - My Mother's Wedding57:52 – The Pickup1:07:50 - Sketch1:19:09 - The Naked Gun1:33:58 - WeaponsCLICK ON THE FILMS TO RENT OR PURCHASE AND HELP OUT THE MOVIE MADNESS PODCASTBe sure to check outChicago Screening Schedule - All the films coming to theaters and streamingPhysical Media Schedule - Click & Buy upcoming titles for your library.(Direct purchases help the Movie Madness podcast with a few pennies.)Erik's Linktree - Where you can follow Erik and his work anywhere and everywhere.The Movie Madness Podcast has been recognized by Million Podcasts as one of the Top 100 Best Movie Review Podcasts as well as in the Top 60 Film Festival Podcasts and Top 100 Cinephile Podcasts. MillionPodcasts is an intelligently curated, all-in-one podcast database for discovering and contacting podcast hosts and producers in your niche perfect for PR pitches and collaborations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit erikthemovieman.substack.com

A chance at a new life. by  r a wallace. Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories.  Chapter 3: Regrets? Wendy I woke the next morning lying beside a man who wasn't my husband and felt good about it. I didn't feel a bit of guilt as I looked at him. I'd done two, one-night stands in my life and wasn't excited with what I found next to me in the morning. One of the reasons I had sworn off drinking before meeting my husband. The amazing part was, I didn't feel a bit horny at the moment and wondered if that was going to be a problem–would he want more from me now?As I lay there I wondered if he had saved my life, not merely by accident because of the baseball, but because he saw I was troubled and stayed with me, so I wouldn't try to use the pistol again. That was what I had intended. I simply didn't know if he had or not, but probably. His bringing me home with him had certainly changed my thinking in that regard. I'd been ready to end my life over a man Robb felt wasn't worthy of my consideration. Not that the passion he had shown as he lay into me didn't tell me I was desirable to at least one man. It had a tremendous effect on me for reasons I didn't fully understand, and maybe never would. I felt a movement, then Robb rolled over toward me, his eyes open. When he saw me looking at him he smiled, causing me smile back. “Could you spare a kiss this morning? He asked. "You mean could I spare a kiss and something else?” “A kiss and then you let me hold you for a while. The something else is up to you.” I laughed as I rolled over onto him, “Make way mister, you're going to get an armful of woman.” I snuggled into him and heard him reply. “You mean an armful of beautiful woman.” The words melted me immediately. If he had wanted to control me for his pleasure, he had me–no contest. We lay together not speaking for a while, his hands caressing my leg and arm. I kissed his neck a few times, then snuggled and closed my eyes again–he pulled me closer. I could hear his heart beating, feel his chest rise and fall, and smell him. When was the last time I had been so intimate and comfortable with a man? I couldn't remember for sure. It was sad, but I couldn't, not even with my husband. Shit! My husband. I was going to have to go home and face him today. Would he even notice I hadn't come home? If he did would he even care? Knowing him, his only concern was that I would make him look bad–his wife not home and obedient where she should be. He would push for me to attend Fellowship with him in the afternoon to keep up appearances with the congregation. I pushed the thought away as my stomach tightened. I'd make this time with Robb last another hour, then face the reality of my life. At this juncture I realized I had one to live thanks to someone who cared enough for a woman crying on a park bench to intervene. It was as incredible as it seemed I realized. I was lying in bed with a man in my panties after he had promised to do what I asked of him to end my despair. “Are you hungry?” He asked. “Yes, actually I am.” “Does scrambled eggs, corned-beefed hash, and toast sound good to you?” The words made my mouth start to water. I realized I hadn't eaten but the Danish since the previous morning. My stomach gave an audible growl and I placed my hand over it as if it would hush it. “I'll take that as a ‘yes'”, he laughed lightly. “I have to pee,” I slid out of bed and headed for the bathroom. I finished my business, washed my hands, than looked into the mirror while running my fingers through my hair. I thought I looked hideous. Then I thought again about why I was here in the first place. That's what a tart looks like. At least a satisfied one. I swallowed hard, opened the bathroom door, and walked into the bedroom to see Robb sitting on the edge of the bed in his briefs. When he saw me his jaw dropped. “My god! Wendy, you're gorgeous. Drop dead gorgeous.” I stopped dead in my tracks, looking down to see my breasts standing proud, my flat stomach, pantie clad pelvis, my shapely legs, and my red polished toenails. The sunlight coming in through the window hitting my skin warmed it ever so slightly. I looked up at him as he rose from the bed with a smile. I wasn't sure what he was going to do– grab me and take me without asking? “My turn. Why don't you get dressed, I'll join you in a minute, so we can eat.” The bathroom door closed and I walked to where my blouse and skirt lie on the floor. His words, his expression, his smile of obvious delight with my appearance all came back to me. I put my bra on, finished dressing, and sat on the edge of the bed looking around. The bedroom was tastefully decorated and there was no sign in the form of a photograph, or other articles suggesting he had a girlfriend. Okay, if he was unattached that made it easier, I wasn't the 'other woman'. At least I hoped I wasn't. I knew who my husband was screwing when I saw them from the hallway– she headed the prayer group that met on Friday nights almost every week. I had gone to several of them and stopped going as it was too much for me– touting how a woman should respect her husband and honor his wishes even if she weren't entirely onboard with it. Yes, she espoused Christian women bear the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Well, so much for faithfulness and self-control parts. Peace might work too if you spelled it 'piece' and added two words. She was thin, with big boobs, and blonde hair that came out of a bottle. I'd met her husband twice and he made my husband look really good by comparison. It was obvious to me some of her prayers hadn't been answered. That, or God's plan for her was as flawed as my own. My husband was so deep into her they never noticed I was in the house. I had simply left in tears, devastated at the sight. Robb I was a little nervous as I opened my eyes–was she going to be ashamed, guilty, for what we'd done last night? Seeing her in the dim light the night before gave me hints she was well-endowed. It hadn't taken much effort to get her to orgasm. In fact, I had hardly gotten started when she gasped, and I felt her muscles contact around me. When she got on top she didn't hold anything back– she went all out. It was when she walked out of the bathroom that I saw her in full light for the first time– she was absolutely beautiful. Her husband had to be a real piece of work to walk away from someone like her. I was pleased I'd taken a low profile approach and brought her into my arms to comfort her when we woke. When she smiled her teeth showed from between nicely formed lips, her blue eyes sparkled. Though I knew it unwise to feel so protective, it made me want to never let her go. I reminded myself again she was separated from her husband, not divorced. She could go back to him, they could work things out. There are always two sides to a story– I could be the one to ruin their marriage. I had to admit it bothered me. Shit, what was I thinking? After what I saw, this woman was hurting and I had done the right thing by her. Don't overthink this dude, she needed someone, and you were there. Wendy I sat with a glass of orange juice as he made breakfast. I felt a little awkward just sitting there doing nothing. My husband would never cook because that was a woman's job. I tried to lighten the mood a little by asking Robb what he had planned for the day– at least it was a safe question. “I volunteer at the Community Food Bank, so I'll be working there most of the afternoon.” “Really, that sounds nice, I bet you meet a lot of interesting people there.” “I do, but sometimes it's hard to see how many people with young children have to rely on it. I never knew how many people live right on the edge until I started there. It makes me appreciate I have a good education and a well-paying job.” “So, what do you do?” “Computer Aided Design, CAD, for an engineering firm. It pays well and has regular hours. How about you?” It struck me that after talking with him for hours I'd never mentioned my job once. But, then in my emotional state that was the last thing on my mind. “I work as a clerical for a law firm, close to a paralegal I guess, but they don't pay me for that.” “Wendy, I have to ask. How are you feeling? Are you going to be ready to go home and feel safe?” “He's not abusive physically, so I'm not worried about that. But, in all honesty I'm dreading having to spend the afternoon with him, and I know he'll demand it.” “Do you want to stay another few hours?” “Thanks, but I know I should go home, take a shower, and get into some fresh clothes. I'm going to have to deal with it and a few hours here won't change anything. Robb, about last night. Thank you, I mean that. I needed what you gave me. You saved me from hurting myself.” “I think you should get some professional help. That is if you can afford it.” “I can't, but I'll deal with this. I've been putting off making the decision, but after yesterday I know I'm damned if I don't.” “What decision is that?” “I want to get a divorce and move on with my life. Thanks to you, I recognize killing myself wasn't the way to punish him. He would have won in a way, and I don't want that. Call it what you will, a form of revenge in a way, if I leave him. I have friends, family, and a job that pays enough to live on if I do.” We sat silent for a minute, eating in silence. Then I looked up at him with a smile. “I promise not to do something stupid.” “I want to believe that,” he replied with a firm expression. I reached for my shoulder bag hanging on the empty chair next to me, and took out the pistol, handing it to him butt first. “Here, keep this.” He took the pistol from my hand and placed it on the counter behind him, then looked at me. “I suppose I should take you home.” “Yes, but not home. Back to the park, I can walk from there, I don't…” “I know. You don't need to say it. I wouldn't want to make things any harder for you.” “Thank you for being so understanding.” “Wendy, give me your phone so I can put my contact information in it. Just in case… well… in case you need a friend again. By the way, you stayed with my wife Cindy and me last night. You know her from… let's see… she's one of your clients from work.” I took my phone out and handed it to him. When he gave it back I checked and saw he had put in 'Robb, Com. Food Bank'. I looked at him with a frown. “Just in case someone looks at your contacts. No reason for a man's first and last name to show up– it might cause problems. If someone asks, you may decide to volunteer, and I'm the contact person.” I was pretty much lost in thought as he drove me to the park. I felt myself tense, my stomach going into knots. I got out before Robb could attempt to open the door for me and looked back into the car– my emotions mixed with good and bad. “Robb, thank you. I know it sounds lame, but you made a difference, a big one. I can't explain why I asked you to do what I asked of you, maybe it was because I wanted to feel like a desirable woman again.” “Wendy, I can't pretend to know you, all I can say is you deserve to be happy. Please, don't throw your life away, do what you need to do to move your life forward. If you ever need a friend to lean on call me. I promise to be there for you.” I watched as he drove away, then turned and took the first step back to a life filled with problems. Regardless of the outcome, I had a life to rebuild and I was determined to make it better. It was time to face my demons. Robb had given me that chance– I wasn't going to waste it. I had always been strong in the face of adversity and the one time I had faltered there was someone who cared enough to pull me through. I would always be grateful to him. Chapter 4: Reflections Robb Well, this had been two of the strangest days in my life. I save a woman from killing herself, comfort her by having sex with her, feed her breakfast, and drop her off to return to a husband who doesn't deserve her. Sure, I was recovering from a failed relationship of long standing, but I had never come close to committing suicide despite the pain. But, depression affects people in different ways and some can climb out of it, others can't without help. I hoped Wendy had the strength to do what she needed to do to make her life better. I drove home wondering if I would ever get a phone call from her in the future. After walking in the door I went to put things away in the kitchen– there was the pistol sitting where I had left it. I hefted it, it had been a long time since I had fired a pistol in the military; it still felt familiar. I walked to the bedroom and to the closet, opened my fire safe, and placed it inside along with the rounds I had taken out of the clip. Wendy I walked the fifteen minutes home thinking of what I would need to do. I walked in the door after seeing his car in the driveway– he was home. He was sitting in front of the TV watching a car race when I walked in. “Where have you been? We have to get ready for church in a few hours you know.” “I stayed with a friend last night. Sorry, I should have called, or left a text.” He looked at me with a wicked grin, “You go to the bedroom and take your clothes off. We haven't done it in a while, and I'm feeling you might be good about now.” I froze, my stomach went tight. If there was something I didn't want from him that was it. “I'm not in the mood right now, maybe later.” “I'm not interested if you're in the mood, get yourself in the mood. I'll be in after the race is over in about ten minutes.” “Honey, I'm sorry, I really don't want to, maybe after church this afternoon.” He looked at me with a scowl. “You're my wife, that means you listen to what I need, and give it when I want it. It's probably those pills you take to avoid getting pregnant. I hear they mess up a woman's mind too. It's time for you to stop taking them.” 'There's nothing wrong with my mind that getting away from you for a while won't solve. You haven't touched me in six months, and now you want me to flop onto my back for you. Well, it's not going to happen this time.“ He turned the volume down on the TV and stared at me with hard eyes, "What are you saying, you're not going to be a wife?” “What! Be a wife only when you want to be a husband! Why don't you be a husband to me instead of spending all your time with Joanne Winston,” my voice going shrill. “Joanne has nothing to do with this,” he thundered. “I'm grateful for that. My Lord, I guess you having her bent over the sofa, your cock inside her didn't mean anything.” I saw is face grow taut, his jaw moving slightly, but he didn't say anything. “Yes, I walked in and saw the both of you. You were so intent on screwing her you didn't even hear, or see me. I'm going to divorce your ass.” “You can't talk to me that way. I had a moment of weakness and I've prayed for forgiveness. I want to make it up to you.” “Oh, so you can go around screwing her for months and you expect me to forgive you. I guess I'm not the hardcore Christian woman you thought I was. I'm going to pack my clothes and things I need and find someplace else to live until the divorce is final.” He stormed towards me, grabbed my blouse and torn it open, his eyes wild, “You're in my house, you are my wife, I'm going to have you as is my right. Now, we can do it the hard way, or the easy way. But, I'm going to get my due out of you.” I knew I wasn't going to be able to stop him, he was much too large for me to resist him. My mind scrambled to find a way to tamp things down. For the first time I was afraid of being raped– by my own husband. Maybe I wasn't thinking straight, but it was the only thing that came to mind. “Well, it's about time you showed some real interest in these,” as I placed my hands under my breasts and pushed them up. I saw a look of confusion on his face. He stopped, his hands went down to his sides as his eyes remained glued on my heaving chest. I swallowed hard, it was taking every bit of strength for me to take a step toward him. I planted a kiss on his cheek, my stomach protesting, then forced a smile. “Finish watching your race, then come in and treat me as your wife. I went off the pill a month ago if you want to know.” I watched as he sat back down on the sofa, his temper had settled. I was sure he didn't even think my comment about Joanne made a difference– as far as he was concerned he'd been forgiven by the Lord. Well, I wasn't the Lord and the memory of them at the sofa was fresh in my mind. He was going to hell as far as I was concerned and I knew he would have company. He looked at me, his face stoic. “This will be over in about seven minutes. Glad you came to your senses.” His words made me want to heave. I rushed down the hall, into our bedroom, pulled out a suitcase and jammed underwear, a bra, some blouses, a few pairs of slacks, and two pairs of shoes into it. I slipped out the door into the garage as he stared at the TV. I didn't have much, but it would be enough for a few days until I could come back for more. The asshole wasn't ever going to touch me again. I rushed to my car and was away as fast as I could go, the tires squealing as I drove off. My last look was of him standing in front of the garage in my rear-view mirror– I had gotten away. I got as far as the park and pulled onto a side street and called my parents. They lived about two hours away where my husband wasn't likely to go. After a minute to settle myself, I called and told them I was coming to spend the night and would leave early for work in the morning. I Explained I would tell them what was going on when I got there. I started driving and felt my hands tremble as I gripped the steering wheel. He had intended on taking me regardless of what I wanted and the fear was now manifesting itself. I settled down after a while and the drive to my parents' home was enough time for me to reflect on my three years with him. Three full years of my life down the drain because I wasn't mature enough to know better– our relationship had gone bad after no more than a year. We had disagreed on one thing after another, at first small things, then major things– like having children, and having money in a savings account. I spilled everything to my parents, well… not everything. The pistol and Robb I omitted not wanting to admit I had been so desperate. They sat silent and let me talk and when I was finished told me they understood and would help me in any way they could. I took my suitcase into the guest bedroom and sat down on the bed. I opened the suitcase to see what I had selected in my haste to get out of the house hoping there was the right combination to wear to work the next day. I slept poorly, tossing and turning, thinking I had screwed my life up big time. I had sought revenge on by husband by sleeping with a total stranger and realized I would never use it against him. I didn't want to look like that kind of woman. He had his righteous Christian woman and the Lord had forgiven him. What did I have now? I felt asleep and jerked up with a start when the alarm went off. Chapter 5: Freudian Slip? Wendy I drove to work and stumbled into the office half awake. I struggled through the day and realized I hadn't made arrangements for a place to stay for the night. It didn't make sense to drive all the way back to my parents' house again. I hadn't closed my savings account, or made it a joint account after we married– now happy I hadn't. I went to the ATM and withdrew enough money for the week to stay in a cheap motel. It would do for the time being and I decided I wasn't going to go back for my clothes either– I'd shop for what I needed. The account was healthy enough to support me for a while, so at least I felt better about that. After work I drove to the cheapest place I knew, committing for one night. I walked into the room, put my suitcase on the chair, and fell exhausted onto the bed. I woke up three hours later feeling hungry and decided to walk down the street to a fast food place for a salad. I had put my phone on silent and when I looked at it found there were multiple calls, and text messages from my husband. I deleted all of them and blocked his number. No sense in talking with him, he could do that through my lawyer, and I'd find one before the end of the week. The week went along and the women at work knew something was up. I finally revealed I'd left my husband and was living in a motel. One of the single women offered me a room in her apartment saying she didn't use it for anything other than storing a few boxes of stuff. I accepted her offer and moved in two days later after buying a used single bed and bedding to make it up from a thrift shop. I needed to stretch my money as far as I could not knowing how long it would be before I could end my marriage. Clara was a godsend, she was always such a happy person, her personality was exactly what I needed, and I found my mood improved as the days went by. We shared expenses for food, so that helped too. The biggest change after a few days was I didn't feel stressed as much as I had before. I didn't realize how much it was taking out of me having to deal with my husband day in and day out. I found a lawyer and gave him the go ahead to do whatever was needed. He told me if my husband didn't contest the filing it could be done in a month at a modest cost. Under state law I was entitled to half of our real assets and funds held in joint accounts at the time of the filing. A week later I had diverted my paycheck to my new checking account. I was feeling better about the decision I had made when my husband showed up in the lobby of the building asking to see me. My lawyer told me it was best not to talk with him unless someone were with me, even if it were not him. I told the receptionist to tell him I was in a meeting for the rest of the day. I found out later he left after a few minutes saying he would try to see me later obviously unhappy. I was eating supper with Clara when my phone rang, it was my mother. I decided to ignore it and call her back after we finished eating. I walked into my bedroom for privacy, went to my contacts, and touched the screen. A male voice answered, thinking it was my dad who had picked up. “Hi Dad, this is Wendy. How are you?” There was a long pause, then. “Wendy, this is Robb. Are you okay?” Surprised, I stammered out a reply, then regained my composure. “How are you?” “Good, work and doing the volunteer stuff, nothing unusual. But, why are you calling me?” I didn't want to hurt his feelings by telling him I hadn't meant to call him. I was trying to come up with a plausible explanation when he offered. “You called my number by mistake didn't you?” “Yes, I'm sorry. I never took your number out of my contacts.” “I understand. So, things are going well with you and your husband?” “No. I'm in the process of getting a divorce. I'm living with a friend in her apartment until I get things settled. I hope my lawyer will have good news for me by next week.” That's great, ugh, well… not great news… “Robb, it's okay. I understand it's awkward.” “Good, it's good to know you're moving your life forward and you're safe. Well, I'll let you get back to whomever you meant to call.” “Thanks.” I replied not knowing exactly what else to say. I saw the call end and this time pressed the number for my mother: Roberta, not Robb. I would remove Robb's information after talking with her. My Mother answered and told me my husband had called her asking if she knew where I was living. I felt my heart go into my stomach. He was stilling looking for me. “Honey, I told him I didn't know where. I won't repeat what he said, it would only upset you. Your father and I think you're doing the right thing. Be strong, see this through, and when things settle down you'll find a man that's good for you.” That was my mother, always looking for the silver lining. We talked for another half hour and then I put my phone down. I would call my lawyer tomorrow and see if he had anything to tell me. I opened my contacts to delete Robb's number, my finger almost touching the screen when I pulled it back. I probably should have thanked him again for helping me. I'd call him back, then delete it after we finished talking. I selected his name, waited for the dial tone, and for him to pick up. “Robb here.” “Robb, it's Wendy again.” There was a pause. “You're alright aren't you?” I laughed. “Yes, I'm fine. I thought I should call you back and thank you again for helping me.” “Okay, you know I'm pleased you're alright. You sound good, I can almost see your smile. I remember what you look like when you wear one.” I felt myself smiling like a fool, I remembered when I had smiled at him that way. Memoires flooded my mine and I felt myself go warm remembering being in bed with him the following morning. There was a long pause between us, then I started to say something just has he did, we both stopped, another pause. “Go ahead, what did you have to say,” he offered. “I don't know, what did you want to say?” Another pause, I felt myself tense wondering now if I should have called him. “Wendy, are you free tonight?” “Yes. Well not free, but reasonable,” I replied flippantly. I heard him laugh. “Reasonable works for me. How about I come and pick you up and we can go out for a coffee.” “Robb, I'm still married. I want to, but I'm not sure it's a good idea.” “I understand, it makes sense, sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking straight.” “Robb, I would say yes otherwise. Really, I would.” - to be continued.. By R A Wallace for Literotica

A chance at a new life. by  r a wallace. Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories.  Chapter 3: Regrets? Wendy I woke the next morning lying beside a man who wasn't my husband and felt good about it. I didn't feel a bit of guilt as I looked at him. I'd done two, one-night stands in my life and wasn't excited with what I found next to me in the morning. One of the reasons I had sworn off drinking before meeting my husband. The amazing part was, I didn't feel a bit horny at the moment and wondered if that was going to be a problem–would he want more from me now?As I lay there I wondered if he had saved my life, not merely by accident because of the baseball, but because he saw I was troubled and stayed with me, so I wouldn't try to use the pistol again. That was what I had intended. I simply didn't know if he had or not, but probably. His bringing me home with him had certainly changed my thinking in that regard. I'd been ready to end my life over a man Robb felt wasn't worthy of my consideration. Not that the passion he had shown as he lay into me didn't tell me I was desirable to at least one man. It had a tremendous effect on me for reasons I didn't fully understand, and maybe never would. I felt a movement, then Robb rolled over toward me, his eyes open. When he saw me looking at him he smiled, causing me smile back. “Could you spare a kiss this morning? He asked. "You mean could I spare a kiss and something else?” “A kiss and then you let me hold you for a while. The something else is up to you.” I laughed as I rolled over onto him, “Make way mister, you're going to get an armful of woman.” I snuggled into him and heard him reply. “You mean an armful of beautiful woman.” The words melted me immediately. If he had wanted to control me for his pleasure, he had me–no contest. We lay together not speaking for a while, his hands caressing my leg and arm. I kissed his neck a few times, then snuggled and closed my eyes again–he pulled me closer. I could hear his heart beating, feel his chest rise and fall, and smell him. When was the last time I had been so intimate and comfortable with a man? I couldn't remember for sure. It was sad, but I couldn't, not even with my husband. Shit! My husband. I was going to have to go home and face him today. Would he even notice I hadn't come home? If he did would he even care? Knowing him, his only concern was that I would make him look bad–his wife not home and obedient where she should be. He would push for me to attend Fellowship with him in the afternoon to keep up appearances with the congregation. I pushed the thought away as my stomach tightened. I'd make this time with Robb last another hour, then face the reality of my life. At this juncture I realized I had one to live thanks to someone who cared enough for a woman crying on a park bench to intervene. It was as incredible as it seemed I realized. I was lying in bed with a man in my panties after he had promised to do what I asked of him to end my despair. “Are you hungry?” He asked. “Yes, actually I am.” “Does scrambled eggs, corned-beefed hash, and toast sound good to you?” The words made my mouth start to water. I realized I hadn't eaten but the Danish since the previous morning. My stomach gave an audible growl and I placed my hand over it as if it would hush it. “I'll take that as a ‘yes'”, he laughed lightly. “I have to pee,” I slid out of bed and headed for the bathroom. I finished my business, washed my hands, than looked into the mirror while running my fingers through my hair. I thought I looked hideous. Then I thought again about why I was here in the first place. That's what a tart looks like. At least a satisfied one. I swallowed hard, opened the bathroom door, and walked into the bedroom to see Robb sitting on the edge of the bed in his briefs. When he saw me his jaw dropped. “My god! Wendy, you're gorgeous. Drop dead gorgeous.” I stopped dead in my tracks, looking down to see my breasts standing proud, my flat stomach, pantie clad pelvis, my shapely legs, and my red polished toenails. The sunlight coming in through the window hitting my skin warmed it ever so slightly. I looked up at him as he rose from the bed with a smile. I wasn't sure what he was going to do– grab me and take me without asking? “My turn. Why don't you get dressed, I'll join you in a minute, so we can eat.” The bathroom door closed and I walked to where my blouse and skirt lie on the floor. His words, his expression, his smile of obvious delight with my appearance all came back to me. I put my bra on, finished dressing, and sat on the edge of the bed looking around. The bedroom was tastefully decorated and there was no sign in the form of a photograph, or other articles suggesting he had a girlfriend. Okay, if he was unattached that made it easier, I wasn't the 'other woman'. At least I hoped I wasn't. I knew who my husband was screwing when I saw them from the hallway– she headed the prayer group that met on Friday nights almost every week. I had gone to several of them and stopped going as it was too much for me– touting how a woman should respect her husband and honor his wishes even if she weren't entirely onboard with it. Yes, she espoused Christian women bear the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Well, so much for faithfulness and self-control parts. Peace might work too if you spelled it 'piece' and added two words. She was thin, with big boobs, and blonde hair that came out of a bottle. I'd met her husband twice and he made my husband look really good by comparison. It was obvious to me some of her prayers hadn't been answered. That, or God's plan for her was as flawed as my own. My husband was so deep into her they never noticed I was in the house. I had simply left in tears, devastated at the sight. Robb I was a little nervous as I opened my eyes–was she going to be ashamed, guilty, for what we'd done last night? Seeing her in the dim light the night before gave me hints she was well-endowed. It hadn't taken much effort to get her to orgasm. In fact, I had hardly gotten started when she gasped, and I felt her muscles contact around me. When she got on top she didn't hold anything back– she went all out. It was when she walked out of the bathroom that I saw her in full light for the first time– she was absolutely beautiful. Her husband had to be a real piece of work to walk away from someone like her. I was pleased I'd taken a low profile approach and brought her into my arms to comfort her when we woke. When she smiled her teeth showed from between nicely formed lips, her blue eyes sparkled. Though I knew it unwise to feel so protective, it made me want to never let her go. I reminded myself again she was separated from her husband, not divorced. She could go back to him, they could work things out. There are always two sides to a story– I could be the one to ruin their marriage. I had to admit it bothered me. Shit, what was I thinking? After what I saw, this woman was hurting and I had done the right thing by her. Don't overthink this dude, she needed someone, and you were there. Wendy I sat with a glass of orange juice as he made breakfast. I felt a little awkward just sitting there doing nothing. My husband would never cook because that was a woman's job. I tried to lighten the mood a little by asking Robb what he had planned for the day– at least it was a safe question. “I volunteer at the Community Food Bank, so I'll be working there most of the afternoon.” “Really, that sounds nice, I bet you meet a lot of interesting people there.” “I do, but sometimes it's hard to see how many people with young children have to rely on it. I never knew how many people live right on the edge until I started there. It makes me appreciate I have a good education and a well-paying job.” “So, what do you do?” “Computer Aided Design, CAD, for an engineering firm. It pays well and has regular hours. How about you?” It struck me that after talking with him for hours I'd never mentioned my job once. But, then in my emotional state that was the last thing on my mind. “I work as a clerical for a law firm, close to a paralegal I guess, but they don't pay me for that.” “Wendy, I have to ask. How are you feeling? Are you going to be ready to go home and feel safe?” “He's not abusive physically, so I'm not worried about that. But, in all honesty I'm dreading having to spend the afternoon with him, and I know he'll demand it.” “Do you want to stay another few hours?” “Thanks, but I know I should go home, take a shower, and get into some fresh clothes. I'm going to have to deal with it and a few hours here won't change anything. Robb, about last night. Thank you, I mean that. I needed what you gave me. You saved me from hurting myself.” “I think you should get some professional help. That is if you can afford it.” “I can't, but I'll deal with this. I've been putting off making the decision, but after yesterday I know I'm damned if I don't.” “What decision is that?” “I want to get a divorce and move on with my life. Thanks to you, I recognize killing myself wasn't the way to punish him. He would have won in a way, and I don't want that. Call it what you will, a form of revenge in a way, if I leave him. I have friends, family, and a job that pays enough to live on if I do.” We sat silent for a minute, eating in silence. Then I looked up at him with a smile. “I promise not to do something stupid.” “I want to believe that,” he replied with a firm expression. I reached for my shoulder bag hanging on the empty chair next to me, and took out the pistol, handing it to him butt first. “Here, keep this.” He took the pistol from my hand and placed it on the counter behind him, then looked at me. “I suppose I should take you home.” “Yes, but not home. Back to the park, I can walk from there, I don't…” “I know. You don't need to say it. I wouldn't want to make things any harder for you.” “Thank you for being so understanding.” “Wendy, give me your phone so I can put my contact information in it. Just in case… well… in case you need a friend again. By the way, you stayed with my wife Cindy and me last night. You know her from… let's see… she's one of your clients from work.” I took my phone out and handed it to him. When he gave it back I checked and saw he had put in 'Robb, Com. Food Bank'. I looked at him with a frown. “Just in case someone looks at your contacts. No reason for a man's first and last name to show up– it might cause problems. If someone asks, you may decide to volunteer, and I'm the contact person.” I was pretty much lost in thought as he drove me to the park. I felt myself tense, my stomach going into knots. I got out before Robb could attempt to open the door for me and looked back into the car– my emotions mixed with good and bad. “Robb, thank you. I know it sounds lame, but you made a difference, a big one. I can't explain why I asked you to do what I asked of you, maybe it was because I wanted to feel like a desirable woman again.” “Wendy, I can't pretend to know you, all I can say is you deserve to be happy. Please, don't throw your life away, do what you need to do to move your life forward. If you ever need a friend to lean on call me. I promise to be there for you.” I watched as he drove away, then turned and took the first step back to a life filled with problems. Regardless of the outcome, I had a life to rebuild and I was determined to make it better. It was time to face my demons. Robb had given me that chance– I wasn't going to waste it. I had always been strong in the face of adversity and the one time I had faltered there was someone who cared enough to pull me through. I would always be grateful to him. Chapter 4: Reflections Robb Well, this had been two of the strangest days in my life. I save a woman from killing herself, comfort her by having sex with her, feed her breakfast, and drop her off to return to a husband who doesn't deserve her. Sure, I was recovering from a failed relationship of long standing, but I had never come close to committing suicide despite the pain. But, depression affects people in different ways and some can climb out of it, others can't without help. I hoped Wendy had the strength to do what she needed to do to make her life better. I drove home wondering if I would ever get a phone call from her in the future. After walking in the door I went to put things away in the kitchen– there was the pistol sitting where I had left it. I hefted it, it had been a long time since I had fired a pistol in the military; it still felt familiar. I walked to the bedroom and to the closet, opened my fire safe, and placed it inside along with the rounds I had taken out of the clip. Wendy I walked the fifteen minutes home thinking of what I would need to do. I walked in the door after seeing his car in the driveway– he was home. He was sitting in front of the TV watching a car race when I walked in. “Where have you been? We have to get ready for church in a few hours you know.” “I stayed with a friend last night. Sorry, I should have called, or left a text.” He looked at me with a wicked grin, “You go to the bedroom and take your clothes off. We haven't done it in a while, and I'm feeling you might be good about now.” I froze, my stomach went tight. If there was something I didn't want from him that was it. “I'm not in the mood right now, maybe later.” “I'm not interested if you're in the mood, get yourself in the mood. I'll be in after the race is over in about ten minutes.” “Honey, I'm sorry, I really don't want to, maybe after church this afternoon.” He looked at me with a scowl. “You're my wife, that means you listen to what I need, and give it when I want it. It's probably those pills you take to avoid getting pregnant. I hear they mess up a woman's mind too. It's time for you to stop taking them.” 'There's nothing wrong with my mind that getting away from you for a while won't solve. You haven't touched me in six months, and now you want me to flop onto my back for you. Well, it's not going to happen this time.“ He turned the volume down on the TV and stared at me with hard eyes, "What are you saying, you're not going to be a wife?” “What! Be a wife only when you want to be a husband! Why don't you be a husband to me instead of spending all your time with Joanne Winston,” my voice going shrill. “Joanne has nothing to do with this,” he thundered. “I'm grateful for that. My Lord, I guess you having her bent over the sofa, your cock inside her didn't mean anything.” I saw is face grow taut, his jaw moving slightly, but he didn't say anything. “Yes, I walked in and saw the both of you. You were so intent on screwing her you didn't even hear, or see me. I'm going to divorce your ass.” “You can't talk to me that way. I had a moment of weakness and I've prayed for forgiveness. I want to make it up to you.” “Oh, so you can go around screwing her for months and you expect me to forgive you. I guess I'm not the hardcore Christian woman you thought I was. I'm going to pack my clothes and things I need and find someplace else to live until the divorce is final.” He stormed towards me, grabbed my blouse and torn it open, his eyes wild, “You're in my house, you are my wife, I'm going to have you as is my right. Now, we can do it the hard way, or the easy way. But, I'm going to get my due out of you.” I knew I wasn't going to be able to stop him, he was much too large for me to resist him. My mind scrambled to find a way to tamp things down. For the first time I was afraid of being raped– by my own husband. Maybe I wasn't thinking straight, but it was the only thing that came to mind. “Well, it's about time you showed some real interest in these,” as I placed my hands under my breasts and pushed them up. I saw a look of confusion on his face. He stopped, his hands went down to his sides as his eyes remained glued on my heaving chest. I swallowed hard, it was taking every bit of strength for me to take a step toward him. I planted a kiss on his cheek, my stomach protesting, then forced a smile. “Finish watching your race, then come in and treat me as your wife. I went off the pill a month ago if you want to know.” I watched as he sat back down on the sofa, his temper had settled. I was sure he didn't even think my comment about Joanne made a difference– as far as he was concerned he'd been forgiven by the Lord. Well, I wasn't the Lord and the memory of them at the sofa was fresh in my mind. He was going to hell as far as I was concerned and I knew he would have company. He looked at me, his face stoic. “This will be over in about seven minutes. Glad you came to your senses.” His words made me want to heave. I rushed down the hall, into our bedroom, pulled out a suitcase and jammed underwear, a bra, some blouses, a few pairs of slacks, and two pairs of shoes into it. I slipped out the door into the garage as he stared at the TV. I didn't have much, but it would be enough for a few days until I could come back for more. The asshole wasn't ever going to touch me again. I rushed to my car and was away as fast as I could go, the tires squealing as I drove off. My last look was of him standing in front of the garage in my rear-view mirror– I had gotten away. I got as far as the park and pulled onto a side street and called my parents. They lived about two hours away where my husband wasn't likely to go. After a minute to settle myself, I called and told them I was coming to spend the night and would leave early for work in the morning. I Explained I would tell them what was going on when I got there. I started driving and felt my hands tremble as I gripped the steering wheel. He had intended on taking me regardless of what I wanted and the fear was now manifesting itself. I settled down after a while and the drive to my parents' home was enough time for me to reflect on my three years with him. Three full years of my life down the drain because I wasn't mature enough to know better– our relationship had gone bad after no more than a year. We had disagreed on one thing after another, at first small things, then major things– like having children, and having money in a savings account. I spilled everything to my parents, well… not everything. The pistol and Robb I omitted not wanting to admit I had been so desperate. They sat silent and let me talk and when I was finished told me they understood and would help me in any way they could. I took my suitcase into the guest bedroom and sat down on the bed. I opened the suitcase to see what I had selected in my haste to get out of the house hoping there was the right combination to wear to work the next day. I slept poorly, tossing and turning, thinking I had screwed my life up big time. I had sought revenge on by husband by sleeping with a total stranger and realized I would never use it against him. I didn't want to look like that kind of woman. He had his righteous Christian woman and the Lord had forgiven him. What did I have now? I felt asleep and jerked up with a start when the alarm went off. Chapter 5: Freudian Slip? Wendy I drove to work and stumbled into the office half awake. I struggled through the day and realized I hadn't made arrangements for a place to stay for the night. It didn't make sense to drive all the way back to my parents' house again. I hadn't closed my savings account, or made it a joint account after we married– now happy I hadn't. I went to the ATM and withdrew enough money for the week to stay in a cheap motel. It would do for the time being and I decided I wasn't going to go back for my clothes either– I'd shop for what I needed. The account was healthy enough to support me for a while, so at least I felt better about that. After work I drove to the cheapest place I knew, committing for one night. I walked into the room, put my suitcase on the chair, and fell exhausted onto the bed. I woke up three hours later feeling hungry and decided to walk down the street to a fast food place for a salad. I had put my phone on silent and when I looked at it found there were multiple calls, and text messages from my husband. I deleted all of them and blocked his number. No sense in talking with him, he could do that through my lawyer, and I'd find one before the end of the week. The week went along and the women at work knew something was up. I finally revealed I'd left my husband and was living in a motel. One of the single women offered me a room in her apartment saying she didn't use it for anything other than storing a few boxes of stuff. I accepted her offer and moved in two days later after buying a used single bed and bedding to make it up from a thrift shop. I needed to stretch my money as far as I could not knowing how long it would be before I could end my marriage. Clara was a godsend, she was always such a happy person, her personality was exactly what I needed, and I found my mood improved as the days went by. We shared expenses for food, so that helped too. The biggest change after a few days was I didn't feel stressed as much as I had before. I didn't realize how much it was taking out of me having to deal with my husband day in and day out. I found a lawyer and gave him the go ahead to do whatever was needed. He told me if my husband didn't contest the filing it could be done in a month at a modest cost. Under state law I was entitled to half of our real assets and funds held in joint accounts at the time of the filing. A week later I had diverted my paycheck to my new checking account. I was feeling better about the decision I had made when my husband showed up in the lobby of the building asking to see me. My lawyer told me it was best not to talk with him unless someone were with me, even if it were not him. I told the receptionist to tell him I was in a meeting for the rest of the day. I found out later he left after a few minutes saying he would try to see me later obviously unhappy. I was eating supper with Clara when my phone rang, it was my mother. I decided to ignore it and call her back after we finished eating. I walked into my bedroom for privacy, went to my contacts, and touched the screen. A male voice answered, thinking it was my dad who had picked up. “Hi Dad, this is Wendy. How are you?” There was a long pause, then. “Wendy, this is Robb. Are you okay?” Surprised, I stammered out a reply, then regained my composure. “How are you?” “Good, work and doing the volunteer stuff, nothing unusual. But, why are you calling me?” I didn't want to hurt his feelings by telling him I hadn't meant to call him. I was trying to come up with a plausible explanation when he offered. “You called my number by mistake didn't you?” “Yes, I'm sorry. I never took your number out of my contacts.” “I understand. So, things are going well with you and your husband?” “No. I'm in the process of getting a divorce. I'm living with a friend in her apartment until I get things settled. I hope my lawyer will have good news for me by next week.” That's great, ugh, well… not great news… “Robb, it's okay. I understand it's awkward.” “Good, it's good to know you're moving your life forward and you're safe. Well, I'll let you get back to whomever you meant to call.” “Thanks.” I replied not knowing exactly what else to say. I saw the call end and this time pressed the number for my mother: Roberta, not Robb. I would remove Robb's information after talking with her. My Mother answered and told me my husband had called her asking if she knew where I was living. I felt my heart go into my stomach. He was stilling looking for me. “Honey, I told him I didn't know where. I won't repeat what he said, it would only upset you. Your father and I think you're doing the right thing. Be strong, see this through, and when things settle down you'll find a man that's good for you.” That was my mother, always looking for the silver lining. We talked for another half hour and then I put my phone down. I would call my lawyer tomorrow and see if he had anything to tell me. I opened my contacts to delete Robb's number, my finger almost touching the screen when I pulled it back. I probably should have thanked him again for helping me. I'd call him back, then delete it after we finished talking. I selected his name, waited for the dial tone, and for him to pick up. “Robb here.” “Robb, it's Wendy again.” There was a pause. “You're alright aren't you?” I laughed. “Yes, I'm fine. I thought I should call you back and thank you again for helping me.” “Okay, you know I'm pleased you're alright. You sound good, I can almost see your smile. I remember what you look like when you wear one.” I felt myself smiling like a fool, I remembered when I had smiled at him that way. Memoires flooded my mine and I felt myself go warm remembering being in bed with him the following morning. There was a long pause between us, then I started to say something just has he did, we both stopped, another pause. “Go ahead, what did you have to say,” he offered. “I don't know, what did you want to say?” Another pause, I felt myself tense wondering now if I should have called him. “Wendy, are you free tonight?” “Yes. Well not free, but reasonable,” I replied flippantly. I heard him laugh. “Reasonable works for me. How about I come and pick you up and we can go out for a coffee.” “Robb, I'm still married. I want to, but I'm not sure it's a good idea.” “I understand, it makes sense, sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking straight.” “Robb, I would say yes otherwise. Really, I would.” - to be continued.. By R A Wallace for Literotica

This week, a wildfire the size of Paris ripped through Southern France, temperatures soared in Spain and an extraordinary UN meeting aimed at reining in the global production of plastic took place in Geneva. But across the ocean in the United States, Trump's MAGA movement is rolling back plans to mitigate climate change. David Wallace-Wells is an opinion writer for the New York Times who wrote the book "The Uninhabitable Earth" and he spoke to Christiane from New York.  Also on today's show: Kristin Scott Thomas, Director and Actor, “My Mother's Wedding”; Anna Merlan, Senior Reporter, Mother Jones   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Kristin Scott Thomas (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The English Patient) was six years old, her father, a Royal Navy pilot, died in service. Then her mother remarried another Royal Navy pilot, who also died in service when she was 11. Now, the Oscar-nominated British actor is playing a character inspired by her twice-widowed mother in a new film called “My Mother's Wedding.” It's also Kristin's directorial debut. She joins guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the film, the unreliability of memory, and how she got her big break thanks to Prince.

Coming up on today's Movie Show, Andy reviews Freakier Friday -22 years after Tess and Anna endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might strike twice.   They will also review Sketch, Weapons, Cloud, My Mother's Wedding, and It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley.  Virginia Pearce with the Utah Film Commission stops by to talk about all the film projects happening in Utah!  Andy will review the Prime Video movie, The Pickup - A routine cash pickup turns into a deadly pursuit when two mismatched armored truck drivers are ambushed by ruthless criminals with plans beyond the cash. They will also review Stolen: Heist of the Century on Netflix.  In addition, they will look at streaming series like Wednesday S2 on Netflix and the return of King of the Hill S14 on Hulu.  Here are some honorable mentions:       

Sometimes familiarity is what audiences want, and Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan deliver just that in “Freakier Friday,” the sequel to their 2003 comic fantasy, “Freaky Friday.” This time out, […] The post Freeze Frame: “Freakier Friday” (PG), “Weapons” (R), “Sketch” (PG), “My Mother’s Wedding” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

Adam did not see Freakier Friday or Weapons and instead saw My Mother's Wedding. This was a poor decision.

CinemAddicts Episode 306 features movies releasing the week of Friday, August 8, 2025. Movies reviewed include Shaman, Sudan Remember Us, Birthrite, My Mother's Wedding and Sketch. ***Eric Holmes and I love the movie To Kill A Wolf. For more info on the film, check out its official site.  Timestamps (00:22) - This Week's Movie Lineup (10:07) - Shaman (Images: Well Go USA Entertainment) (23:25) - My Mother's Wedding (30:16) - Together (34:37) - Wolf Cop (39:38) - Sketch  (56:48) - Bruce Purkey reviews Sudan, Remember Us (Images: Watermelon Pictures) (01:05:00) - Birthrite (01:10:31) - Smoke (01:16:56) - Clear Cut (01:23:27) - Superman  ***If you use our Amazon SiteStripe and/or Links for your Purchases, we receive a slight commission. Thanks for your support! CinemAddicts Info: Like Our CinemAddicts Facebook Page Join our CinemAddicts Facebook Group for daily movie recommendations. Join our CinemAddicts Patreon for a Monthly Bonus Episode and Early access to Spoilers and Interviews! Our email: editor@deepestdream.com Shop our CinemAddicts Merch store (shirts, hoodies, mugs) Our Website is Find Your Films Thanks to our Patreon Community Ryan Smith Stephen Schrock Susan Charles Peterson Nelson B. McClintock Diana Van De Kamp Pete Abeyta Tyler Andula Stephen Mand Edmund Mendez Abbie Schmidt Jeff Tait Robert Prakash Kristen Chris M Jeremy Chappell Lewis Longshadow Iver Alex Clayton Daniel Hulbert Andrew Martin Angela Clark Myron Freeman Kayn Kalmbach Aaron Fordham Tracy Peters Grant Boston Ken Cunningham Erik Chavez  

"My Mother's Wedding" is a comedy-drama film directed by Kristin Scott Thomas from a screenplay she co-wrote with John Micklethwait. It stars Scott Thomas alongside Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham, Freida Pinto, and Thibault de Montalembert. It tells the story of three sisters who return to their family home to attend the wedding of their twice-widowed mother. Scott Thomas was kind enough to spend a few minutes speaking with us about her experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released in theaters on August 8th from Vertical. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joanna Sokol, author of “A Real Emergency – Stories from the Ambulance,” shares heartfelt, and sometimes hilarious, experiences as an EMT and describes how they've shaped her understanding of our medical care system. Then, author Jill Bialosky discusses her new book, “The End of the Beginning: A Personal History of My Mother,” which explores the many facets of grief through the lens of her mother's life, losses, and extraordinary resilience.

Dr. Jen Caudle shares important tips on how to stay safe in the blazing summer heat. Also, the story behind a woman-owned ice cream business and the incredible journey of the entrepreneur who built a delicious empire. Plus, Kristin Scott Thomas stops by to catch up and talk about making her directorial debut with the film ‘My Mother's Wedding.' And, best-selling author Ana Huang shares a list of buzzy new books to check out — from thrillers to romance.

– “We can't let her know what we're up to.”We clambered up on the breakwater and made our way, in the dark, out to its very end. S. G. (Sandy) Benson lives in Warne, North Carolina, where she is a member of the North Carolina Writers Network-West. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, and she received awards from the Nebraska Press Women. She published her first book in 2021, My Mother's Keeper: One Family's Journey Through Dementia. Her second book, Dear Folks: Letters Home from World War II, 1943-1946 was released in 2024. She is working on a collection of autobiographic short stories, Girls Can't Do That. Details at https://www.sandygbenson.com/

This week, Eric and Josh are joined by Ren, who did the animation for the Mayfair coming soon and feature presentation bumpers! They chat about: Animation Show n Tell Ottawa, Leica vs Laika, aspect ratios, movie running times, end credits, DVD extended cuts, The Life Of Chuck, The Naked Gun, The X-Files, American Gigolo, and more! They also mention the movies screening the week of Friday August 8 - Thursday August 14: Sorry Baby, My Mother's Wedding, Thief, Magnolia, The Philadelphia Story, and Eddington!

Kristin Scott Thomas, the Academy Award-nominated actress from "The English Patient," talks with correspondent Lee Cowan about the childhood trauma that inspired her to co-write and direct "My Mother's Wedding." She also talks about her collaboration with actors as a director, and what she learned from other directors; her debut in Prince's "Under the Cherry Moon"; and overcoming her shyness. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Tracy Smith. In our cover story, Ben Mankiewicz goes behind the curtain of a new immersive version of the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz.” Also: Erin Moriarty investigates the high error rate of urine drug tests that can have devastating consequences; David Pogue sits down with singer Michael Feinstein; Lee Cowan profiles actress Kristin Scott Thomas, who has directed her first film, “My Mother's Wedding”; and Jim Axelrod looks back on late-night TV legend Johnny Carson. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Send us a textIf you've ever felt guilt around money decisions, or unsure of how to take control of your finances, this conversation is going to speak right to your soul.Bola Sokunbi is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), finance expert, bestselling author of the books, "Choosing To Prosper", "My Wealth Plan Workbook", and the 3-part Clever Girl Finance Book Series, speaker, and founder of Clever Girl Finance, one of the largest personal finance media/education platforms for women in the U.S.She gets honest about her early savings journey (yes, while working a demanding consulting job), the “treat yourself” purchases that felt good until they didn't, and the moment she realized her closet was literally stacked with missed investment opportunities.We also talk about the quiet but powerful influence of her mother, a woman who paved the way by choosing courage, moving across the world, and starting over so Bola could have more opportunities. And now? She's helping women everywhere rewrite their own stories with real tools, zero shame, and an unapologetic reminder that you deserve to live life on your own terms.01:08 Meet Bola: Founder of Clever Girl Finance02:02 Inspiration from My Mother's Financial Journey05:35 Lessons Learned12:13 The Importance of Financial Knowledge and Consistency16:34 Creative Strategies for Saving Money at Work17:55 The Realities of Extreme Budgeting20:59 Reflecting on Financial Mistakes and Lessons22:48 Empowering Women with Financial ResourcesQuiet, consistent money moves are where the real power lives. Join us for Money Talks on July 24 and learn how to build wealth behind the scenes- no drama, just solid strategies that put your values and your future first. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!Got a unique financial story to share? We want to hear it!  Or are you a professional who helps women with money? If you're a financial coach, attorney, CPA, or work in any area that empowers women financially, we'd love to hear from you too! Your story could inspire our community of women. Fill out our intake form here!Follow & connect with Bola:LinkedInWebsite Connect with us! Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTok LinkedIn YouTube Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financial concerns. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive financial tips delivered weekly here! Explore our free guides to help you on your financial journey

This episode features "Finding Love in a Time Loop: A How-To Guide" by Leah Cypess (©2025 by Leah Cypess) and "You Knit Me Together in My Mother's Womb" by Paul Crenshaw (©2025 by Paul Crenshaw), both read by Justine Eyre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we've learned from “Dear Crinkle,” giving advice is HARD. So we're getting tips from the woman who made it look easy - Amy Dickinson of “Ask Amy” fame! Then, what if we already ignored the best advice? It's “I Should've Listened to My Mother!” GUEST Amy Dickinson amydickinson.com HOUSE BAND Gary Johnson SPONSORS Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/[PAULA]! #honeylovepod Go to Dupe.com today and find similar products for less. It's 100% free to use. Stop wasting money on brand names and start saving with Dupe.com today. Get started at factormeals.com/paula50off and use code paula50off to get 50 percent off plus FREE shipping on your first box. Go to Quince.com/nobody for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns! Right now save twenty percent on your FIRST order and get a free cat toy at PrettyLitter.com/paula Go to helixsleep.com/paula for 27% Off Sitewide Exclusive for listeners of Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone! Get 15% off OneSkin with the code PAULA at https://www.oneskin.co/  #oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast! In today's episode, we're here to help you go from feeling overwhelmed and unfulfilled to enjoying balanced relationships and rediscovering your passions without sacrificing your professional success.Nana Ponceleon, is a speaker,  an integration and synergy coach, a recovering controller, an actress and a life explorer. She is a TEDx speaker, with her talk reaching 80,000+ views, an impressive achievement considering most TEDx talks have less than 1,000 views. Nana had a corporate career, having worked for companies such as Phillip Brothers (the commodities division of the late Salomon Brothers) and the tech giant Microsoft, where she spent 12 years in sales, among others. After resigning from Microsoft, she worked as a consultant for several years.She is also deeply passionate about the arts and storytelling. This led her to make a bold career shift, and today she is an award-winning actress, having performed in over 45 films and theater productions. One of her most notable roles was as the lead actress in the play My Mother's Severed Head, produced by the one and only Bruce Willis in 2021 in New York City. Additionally, she is one of the lead actors in the upcoming film CLIKA, produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Music, set to be released soon in 1,500 theaters nationwide.She is the founder of Act Feminine, which is currently transitioning into WoMen (We, Women, Men), a movement envisioning a world where women and men collaborate, cooperate, and co-create their world together. She is passionate about making this a reality and she is doing so through her speaking engagements, workshops, and 1-on-1 coachings. Nana is also an advisor at the Florence Belsky Charitable Foundation, a member of the League of Professional Theatre Women in NYC, and The Hollywood Club LA, formerly The Woman's Club of Hollywood. She is also a regular volunteer for the Isha Foundation.Connect with Nana Here: https://www.instagram.com/nanaponceleon/https://www.facebook.com/Nana.Ponceleon/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nana-ponceleon-b17272/https://www.nanaponceleon.com/To take the "Discover Your Leading Energy Type" Survey go here. https://stan.store/nanaponceleon (click on the  "Discover Your Leading Energy Type" button)Grab the freebie here: https://stan.store/nanaponceleon/p/a-time-to-explore-with-nana===================================If you enjoyed this episode, remember to hit the like button and subscribe. Then share this episode with your friends.Thanks for watching the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast. This podcast is part of the Digital Trailblazer family of podcasts. To learn more about Digital Trailblazer and what we do to help entrepreneurs, go to DigitalTrailblazer.com.Are you a coach, consultant, expert, or online course creator? Then we'd love to invite you to our FREE Facebook Group where you can learn the best strategies to land more high-ticket clients and customers. QUICK LINKS: APPLY TO BE FEATURED: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/podcast-guest-applicationDIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: https://digitaltrailblazer.com/

Send us a textChoreographer and author Rebe Huntman discusses her memoir, how Afro-Cuban culture influenced her worldview, and how that translates into her writing.▬Visit Rebe's website:https://www.rebehuntman.com/Grab a copy of My Mother in Havana:https://www.rebehuntman.com/mymotherinhavanaCheck out Rebe's socials:https://www.instagram.com/rebehuntman/https://www.facebook.com/rebehuntmanauthor/ https://www.pinterest.com/rebehuntman/

Abbie and Chelsea talk about summer programs and books featuring strong women.  Books discussed include:Matriarch by Tina KnowlesThe House of My Mother by Shari FrankeMaria by Michelle Moran

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Rebe Huntman, author of the book My Mother in Havana. Rebe's memoir traces her search to connect with her mother—thirty years after her death—among the gods and saints of Cuba. A former professional Latin and Afro-Cuban dancer and choreographer, for over a decade Rebe directed Chicago's award-winning Danza Viva Center for World Dance, Art & Music and its resident dance company, One World Dance Theater. She collaborates with native artists in Cuba and South America, and has been featured in LATINA Magazine, Chicago Magazine, and the Chicago Tribune, and on Fox and ABC.   Rebe's essays, stories, and poems appear or are forthcoming in such places as The Southern Review, The Missouri Review, Parabola, Ninth Letter, The Cincinnati Review, and the PINCH, and have earned her an Ohio Individual Excellence Award as well as fellowships from the Macondo Writers' Conference, Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Ragdale Foundation, PLAYA Residency, Hambidge Center, and Brush Creek Foundation. She holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from The Ohio State University and lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and Delaware, Ohio. Find her at www. rebehuntman.com and on Instagram @rebehuntman.   In my book review, I stated My Mother in Havana is a profound look at a woman who lost her mother at a young age and continues to grieve for years. It isn't until she goes to Havana that she finally finds peace.   I fully expected to learn that Rebe's mother was Cuban - but she's not. However, Rebe's research about mothers and symbols of motherhood led to her Cuba where the Virgin Mary and the Cuban goddess of love, Ochún, are often intertwined. She wanted to understand this connection - and by doing so, she found healing.   Rebe started life as a dancer and choreographer, and she shines a beautiful light on Cuban dances and rituals along with their gods and saints. I was mesmerized by her ability to throw off her Western upbringing and fully immerse herself in the culture as she tried to discover what makes a mother, what defines the divine feminine, and what she remembered of her own mother.   I loved learning about the Afro-Cuban culture, their spiritual views, and the broader concept of motherhood. I think anyone who is a mother - or has a mother - will enjoy this book.   Subscribe to Online for Authors to learn about more great books! https://www.youtube.com/@onlineforauthors?sub_confirmation=1   Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3576519880426290   You can follow Author Rebe Huntman Website: https://www.rebehuntman.com/ IG: @rebehuntman FB: @rebehuntmanauthor   Purchase My Mother in Havana on Amazon: Paperback: https://amzn.to/3Hnowtn Ebook: https://amzn.to/4mLUPCj   Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor IG: @terimbrown_author X: @terimbrown1   Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors   #rebehuntman #mymotherinhavana #memoir #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

You know how some birthdays feel bigger than others?My son just turned 13, and it hit me hard—in the best way.In this deeply personal episode of Branding Room Only, I reflect on seven powerful lessons my son has taught me. These lessons have shaped not only how I parent, but how I lead, communicate, and show up in the world. From courage and joy to boundaries and the boldness to ask for what you want, his influence, even at this young age, already runs deep.Because sometimes the most meaningful branding lessons come from the people closest to us.We often talk about personal branding in terms of LinkedIn, pitches, and positioning. But the truth is, your brand is shaped just as much by who you are at home—in moments of love, challenge, and growth—as it is in the boardroom.1:34 – The power of resilience my son started showing at one year old3:07 – Why I admire and want to emulate his audacity to ask (despite it testing my patience)4:04 – How Austin brings me joy and the realization he taught me about its gifts5:06 – The importance of having boundaries, standards, and self-respect6:13 – How my son reminds me of authenticity and its importance to branding7:01 – The difference between confidence and courage that he displays7:57 – The most transformative lesson of all that I continue to learn from Austin dailyMentioned In 7 Powerful Branding Lessons I've Learned From My SonDonate to Hassenfeld Children's HospitalPersonal Branding Strategy SessionsSubscribe to The Branding Room Only on YouTubePaula's ResourcesLessons from My Mother, Hopes for My Daughter: On Mothering and What We Carry ForwardCall to ActionFollow & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform! Want more branding insights? Join Paula's newsletter for expert tips and exclusive content! Subscribe HereSponsor for this episodeThis episode is brought to you by PGE Consulting Group LLC.PGE Consulting Group LLC empowers individuals and organizations to lead with purpose, presence, and impact. Specializing in leadership development and personal branding, we offer keynotes, custom programming, consulting, and strategic advising—all designed to elevate influence and performance at every level.Founded and led by Paula Edgar, our work centers on practical strategies that enhance professional development, strengthen workplace culture, and drive meaningful, measurable change.To learn more about Paula and her services, go to www.paulaedgar.com or contact her at info@paulaedgar.com, and follow Paula Edgar and the PGE Consulting Group LLC on LinkedIn.

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother's Son podcast, I talk with Ken Miller. From an Ivy League graduate to homeless addict, and ultimately a respected keynote speaker and mentor, Ken Miller has lived every side of the human experience. Now, he shares his journey to inspire others to rise above their past, embrace their true identity, and build lives of purpose. Ken believes it's never too late to rise, rebuild, and thrive. Ken Miller's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, redemption, and choice. Born into challenging circumstances, Ken rose to become a National Merit Scholar and an Ivy League graduate, but a spiral of addiction and poor decisions led him to the streets, homelessness, and incarceration. After years in a cycle of regret and hardship, Ken faced a turning point: he made the decision to rebuild his life. Released from prison with nothing but a small box of belongings and $28, Ken committed to a path of positive choices, resilience, and authenticity. Today, he is a successful consultant, speaker, and mentor, dedicated to inspiring others to embrace their true identity and make choices that lead to a fulfilling life. Through his story, Ken empowers audiences to rise above their past and create lives of purpose, proving that no matter how far one has fallen, it is always possible to rise, rebuild, and thrive. To find out more about Ken, check out his website at https://kenmillerspeaks.com.

This week on the pod, Jen and Brett sat down with Professor Mo Ogrodnik from NYU. They talked about Mo's new book Gulf, featuring stories from women in the Gulf States. They also covered the impact of international education, shifting geopolitics in the region, and Brett's experience as one of Mo's students.Mo's Recommendations:Secondhand Time by Svetlana AlexievichWe Do Not Part by Han KangThe Autobiography of My Mother by Jamaica KincaidThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday.If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

On this episode of Groove with Portia, I'm joined by grief recovery mentor, photographer, and author Helen Fernald, whose book Love, Helen: Letters to My Mother came from years of pouring her heart onto the page. After losing her mother, father, and experiencing two miscarriages, Helen turned to writing as a way to release what couldn't be said out loud. And through that process, she found her voice—and her healing.We dive deep into how creativity can be a lifeline through grief. Helen shares what it was like to cry while writing, wrestle with anger, and find peace in remembering. We also talk about the pressure to hide our pain, especially as women, and the importance of making space for real emotion—without shame.This conversation is an invitation to be honest with yourself about where you are in your grief and to trust that expression—whether through tears, writing, or silence—is powerful. Grief isn't the enemy.Sometimes, it's the teacher.Connect with Helen: https://helenfernald.com/

What would compel a woman from Ohio to fly to Havana in search of her deceased mother—three decades after her passing? Meet Rebe Huntman, author of My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic & Miracle, whose powerful story of loss, grief, and rebirth will leave you spellbound. At 19, Rebe lost her mother to cancer. But it wasn't until 30 years later that her healing truly began—when she followed a spiritual call to Cuba and stepped into the mystical world of Afro-Cuban religions. Through seances, Santeria, and communion with gods, ghosts, and saints, Rebe discovered more than ancestral wisdom—she found her mother again. In this intimate interview, Rebe shares how her journey through Afro-Cuban traditions redefined grief and why these vibrant practices helped her reconnect with what was lost but never gone. This is a story of magic, miracles, and the transformative power of spiritual seeking across borders and beliefs. Ready to be inspired and uplifted? Don't miss it!WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIMONvLg74M&list=PL7judgDzhkAWmfyB5r5WgFD6ahombBvoh&index=3IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THINGS LIKE:Navigating grief that resurfaces decades later.Seeking connection with deceased loved ones through spiritual traditions.The power of seances and mediumship in bridging the gap between worlds.The value of pilgrimage as a tool for healing and self-discovery.Creating personal rituals to honor ancestors and maintain connection.How writing can be a transformative act of healing.Learning from Afro-Cuban spiritual traditions like Santeria and Spiritism.Understanding the role of gods, ghosts, and saints in everyday life.Embracing the messy, multifaceted nature of life and identity.Finding joy by confronting vulnerability and accepting imperfection.The concept of becoming an ancestor and leaving a positive legacy.SOME QUESTIONS IRENE ASKS REBE:How did you initially react to losing your mom? What was your relationship with her like?Who helped you speak to your mother from beyond the grave?Share some of the things that you learned from the gods and goddesses of Cuba.What would you like to tell us about your book and about why you created it?You recommend writing as a healing tool. Why?If healing grief offers us the opportunity to keep the dead close, how does it act as an invitation to create space and rituals in our lives?What is the Rebe tip for finding joy in life?---✨ Grief & Rebirth: Healing Resources & Tools ✨

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother's Son podcast, I talk with Teri M. Brown. Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M. Brown came into this world with an imagination full of stories to tell. She now calls the North Carolina coast home, and the peaceful nature of the sea has been a great source of inspiration for her creativity. Not letting 2020 get the best of her, Teri chose to go on an adventure that changed her outlook on life. She and her husband, Bruce, rode a tandem bicycle across the United States from Astoria, Oregon to Washington DC, successfully raising money for Toys for Tots. She learned she is stronger than she realized and capable of anything she sets her mind to. Teri graduated from UNC Greensboro with a multitude of degrees – majors in Elementary Education and Psychology and minors in Math and Sociology – she just couldn't settle on one thing! While homeschooling her four children, she began her writing career by focusing on small businesses, writing articles, blog posts, and website content. During this time, Teri published five nonfiction self-help books dealing with real estate and finance, receiving "First Runner Up" in the Eric Hoffman Book Awards for 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home Now, finalist in the USA Best Books Awards for How To Open and Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorate, and Real Estate Staging Business and for 301 Simple Things You Can Do To Sell Your Home Now, and Honorable Mention in Foreword Magazine's Book of the Year Award for Private Mortgage Investing. In 2017, after finally getting out of an emotionally abusive 14-year marriage, Teri began dabbling in fiction, a lifelong dream. Upon winning the First Annual Anita Bloom Ornoff Award for Inspirational Short Story for a piece about her grandfather, she began writing in earnest, and published her debut novel in 2022, Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, a historical fiction set in Ukraine. Her second novel published in 2023, An Enemy Like Me, takes place during WWII. Her latest novel, Daughters of Green Mountain Gap, a generational story about Appalachian healers came out in January 2024. In June 2024, her short story, The Youngest Lighthouse Keeper, came out in the anthology Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women. Her latest book, 10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure (Feb 2025), is an inspirational look at the life lessons she learned riding across the United States on a tandem bicycle. In April, her first children's book, Little Lola and Her Big Dream launched. Teri is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author who loves word games, reading, bumming on the beach, taking photos, singing in the shower, hunting for bargains, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and mentoring others – especially youth and women who are having trouble discovering their worth. To find out more about Teri, you can check out her website at https://terimbrown.com/.

We are back with another word association episode and it had us STRESSED. But it was funny and a favorite of yours for sure; thanks to all our instagram friends that submitted words for us! We also spend some time talking about our dental fears, true crime podcasts, and F1 of course. We have a little of everything for you today!   Make sure to join us next week for our book club, Silver Elite! There's still time to join us!   Currently Reading: Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli  Silver Elite by Dani Francis House of My Mother by Shari Franke Releasing 10 by Chloe Walsh Constantine by E.L. Stevens Come hang out with us on Instagram!

The massive costs of caregiving can be a big surprise to most people. It is an expensive undertaking in the best of circumstances and can be a full time job. BETH PINSKER, a columnist at Marketwatch and the author of the new book, "My Mother's Money- A Finanical Guide to Caregiving" takes us through her experience. There are many great tips to help get support for this difficult experience. https://youtu.be/WNYLOR_Pvw8?si=8dS2LPG3vfe1FWIX https://www.amazon.com/My-Mothers-Money-Financial-Caregiving-ebook/dp/B0DW3RLJSF/ https://open.spotify.com/episode/120pb9198YPecMzPir7RyC?si=mqlnY7XmRA-gtRzfJemq_w Outline 00:00 Introduction to Caregiving and Aging 02:15 The Importance of Planning Ahead 08:28 Navigating Legal and Financial Caregiving 10:33 Understanding the Emotional and Physical Toll 14:29 Making Informed Decisions for Loved Ones 19:40 Financial Planning for End-of-Life Care 25:28 Essential Documents and Digital Access Transcript Introduction to Caregiving and Aging Frazer Rice (00:04)This is a real treat for me in the sense that I have had personal experience around this. Your book, which we'll get into in just a second, is going to be coming out in November. I think it's going to be an important resource for pretty much anyone who has ⁓ any exposure to aging or anything like that or any sort of caregiving. Give us a little bit of a sense of the timing of the book first and we'll get that out of the way, far away. Beth Pinsker (00:35)Great, you know what, we're all in this together and nobody's gonna escape any of this. You will either need to care for somebody or you're gonna need to be cared for yourself at some point in time. Like it's inescapable. you ⁓ know, we're all, we all need this information. The reason I put it together was because I couldn't find it out there when I went looking for it. When my mom got sick, there wasn't a resource that told me how to deal with the things that I had to deal with. Being a CFP and being a retirement columnist and a journalist, I got the caregiving information. Then I wanted to put it out there for other people to benefit from it so they could plan a little bit better or get through whatever they were stuck in the middle of. I pulled together a bunch of columns I had written and brought in them out. I interviewed a lot of people, like almost 100 people, especially for this book. Over the years as a journalist, I've interviewed probably, you a thousand people about, you know, planning and estate planning and all of that stuff that goes into it. This book is coming out November 4th from a Penguin Random House imprint. You can pre-order it on bethpinsker.com or through the publishers portal. Hopefully you'll see it everywhere and every bookstore you go to. Frazer Rice (01:51)One of the concepts of the book that I think is vital is that it's important to have these steps. This caregiving analysis, this process established while everyone is at least a little bit on the top of their game. That you're not making decisions under maximum stress, either emotional, financial or otherwise. Maybe take us through a little bit about how you came to that realization and how you articulated that. The Importance of Planning Ahead for Caregiving Beth Pinsker (02:06) Yeah, so I got a call from my mom ⁓ one day. You know, she's perfectly fine, 76 year old, and she's like, I'm gonna have surgery. It's gonna be a big one. I'm gonna get my back operated on so that I can continue to walk. She really wanted to be able to walk and she was losing her abilities. The thing we need, we needed two things. We needed a power of attorney for ⁓ financial needs and a healthcare proxy because she was going to be incapacitated for a certain amount of time. We didn't know how much and we needed those documents. If we would not have had those documents, my life would have been an utter disaster. It was already really hard with those documents,...

Sally Challen killed her husband after four decades of coercive control, and spent eight years in prison before her conviction was quashed following decided campaigning from her family who produced evidence of years of gaslighting and manipulation at the hands of her husband.The high profile case put a spotlight on coercive control and how insidious it is.Her son, domestic abuse campaigner and author of ‘The Unthinkable: A Story of Control, Violence and My Mother', David Challen, joins Seán to discuss.Image: Hachette UK

Episode 552 - J L Witterick - Big Ideas Don't Need Big Words, Support That Authors Need, Love is the Common ThreadJL Witterick is an international bestselling author. Her books are enjoyed in 10 languages around the world. She loves to tell stories that are inspirational and moving. My Mother's Secret, her first novel, has been selected to teach courage and compassion in many schools.The ideas for her stories can come from the most unlikely of places. Her latest creation, It Was Always Her, was the result of a dream that was so emotionally charged that she could not let it go. In the middle of the night, she started writing!. Time travel and the question of what we would do with a second chance have always fascinated her, and she wove these concepts into this novel.Writing is a passion for her and she hopes that readers will enjoy her books as much as she enjoyed writing them. She cherishes her family, her friends, her dog, her cats…and her stories.https://witterickbooks.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!https://buymeacoffee.com/truemediaca

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother's Son podcast, I talk with Greg Berg. Sandy and I met Greg and his wife, Deb at their Harvest Host location, TCB Ranch in Phoenix, Arizona. While we were there, we tried BEMER Therapy.  It's an amazing technology that increases blood flow.  As soon as we had completed the therapy, I wanted to have Greg on the show to talk about this amazing technology. To find out more about Bemer Therapy, check out this link: https://umustsee.net/UZM6BH

"My Mother, the Supervillain" by Benjamin Blattberg (©2025 by by Benjamin Blattberg) read by Roxanne Hernandez, "See Now the Misfortune of the Thinking Tenax" by Lowry Poletti (©2025 by Lowry Poletti) read by Stefan Rudnicki, and "When the Faerie King Toured the Human Realm" by Vanessa Fogg (©2025 by Vanessa Fogg) read by Susan Hanfield. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Dan invites back a favorite guest, author and poet Jill Bialosky, to talk about her new memoir The End Is the Beginning: A Personal History of My Mother.  Jill shares with Dr. Dan how the pandemic, the isolation of grief, and her mother's decline due to Alzheimer's inspired her to write this book as a way to preserve her mother's life and legacy. Dan and Jill explore the complexities of parenthood and daughterhood, the weight of generational trauma, and much more. Their conversation reveals that healing can come through storytelling and sharing. Today's conversation inspires us to consider the full lives our parents lived before we ever knew them. More than a literary conversation, today's episode is a universal one about family, memory, loss, grief, and ultimately love. For more information www.jillbialosky.com and follow @jillbialosky on Instagram. Please listen to Dr. Dan's previous interview with Jill about her extraordinary memoir History of a Suicide: My Sister's Unfinished Life. Please listen, follow, rate, and review Make It a Great One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @drdanpeters on social media. Visit www.drdanpeters.com and send your questions or guest pitches to podcast@drdanpeters.com. We have this moment, this day, and this life—let's make it a great one. – Dr. Dan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the summer of 1872, when elderly drifter Franklin Evans arrived at his sister's New Hampshire farmhouse, no one suspected that the shambling vagabond was actually a monster who had been stalking and butchering children across New England for nearly a decade—until his own grand-niece became his final victim and the truth about the unsolved Joyce murders finally came to light.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…(Sorry, this information has been lost over time.)SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…The Devil's Bible: http://www.ancientpages.com/2014/06/15/codex-gigas-devils-bible-ancient-secrets-worlds-largest-book/Legend of Lucy Keyes: http://paranormalstories.blogspot.com/2009/09/legend-of-lucy-keyes.htmlNorthwood Murderer: https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/northwood/The Ghost On The Road: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/27/the-ghost-on-the-road/Old Hag Experiences: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/26/old-hag-experiences/The Haunted Toy Phone: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/22/haunted-toy-phone/Vodknik, The Czech Evil Water Sprite: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/19/vodnik-czech-evil-water-sprite/ | Extracted from the book “The Czech Republic – The Most Haunted Country in the World” http://amzn.to/2yJVdtkNot a Customer: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/15/not-a-customer/  | Extracted from the terrifying book – “Kanashibari: True Encounters With the Paranormal In Japan” by Thomas Bauerle http://amzn.to/2wY8CM7Black Eyed Kids in Louisiana: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/14/black-eyed-kids-lousiana/  The Saints Who Could Be In Two Places At Once: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/13/saints-two-places/  | From the book “Ghosts of the Living” by G. Michael Vasey http://amzn.to/2wXZQh0The Black Eyed Car Fatality: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/12/black-eyed-car-fatality/  | From the book by G. Michael Vasey “The Chilling, True Terror of the Black-Eyed Kids: A Chilling Compilation”http://amzn.to/2xHq7UAThe Quarry In Winter: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/11/the-quarry-in-winter/  The Black Eyed Stalker: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/06/black-eyed-stalker/ My Mother's Cat: https://www.myhauntedlifetoo.com/2017/09/04/my-mothers-cat/  | By Thomas Bauerle from the book “Kanashibari: True Encounters With the Paranormal In Japan”  http://amzn.to/2wY8CM7  Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library= = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: September 29, 2017CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/NorthwoodMurderer

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother's Son podcast, I talk with Christian Ray Flores. Christian was born in Moscow, Russia to a Chilean father and a Russian mother. The family moved to Chile when Christian was nine months old. During the 1973 military coup of Augusto Pinochet, Christian's father, Americo Flores, was arrested along with thousands of others and spent time in one of the infamous concentration camps. His mother Larisa and two children went into hiding under an assumed name and with a fake Argentinian passport. After Americo's release, the family spent some time in a UN refugee camp and was granted asylum in Germany, moving to Munich. After living in Germany and Russia, Americo and Larisa moved to Mozambique, at the government's invitation, which was recruiting international professionals after a mass exodus of Portuguese upon the nation's independence. Christian learned four languages by age nine: Russian, Spanish, English, and Portuguese. After his parents' divorce, Christian returned to Russia with his mother and sister in 1983. Christian got a master's degree in economics in 1991 from the RUDN University in Moscow. In 1993, Christian released his first single in Russia and became an instant success, winning awards like Generation ‘93 and Ovation in 1996 and playing nationwide. Back-to-back top ten hits culminated in his number one single, "Our Generation" – an anthem of freedom and change. It became a song widely used as the anthem of Boris Yeltsin's election campaign. Christian campaigned for Yeltsin as part of the Russian version of Rock the Vote, credited to giving Yeltsin the youth vote and victory in the campaign. After moving to the US in 2004, Christian worked for the international charity HOPE Worldwide, serving as a country director for Latin America, focusing on health care and education in nine different countries. He also developed and directed the Positive Choice education program, implemented around the US and internationally in Mexico, Jamaica, Indonesia. Christian co-founded a production company, Hollywood World, in Los Angeles with his wife, Deb de Flores. Hollywood World allowed international artists to work with top Hollywood producers and directors. Among other projects, Christian did voice acting for the English and Spanish versions of Masha and the Bear, a popular animated TV series. After moving to Austin, Texas, Christian and Deb co-founded (with Brandon Knicely) Third Drive, raising millions of dollars for startups and creating digital media projects for emerging businesses, public personalities and non-profit organizations. Christian speaks to audiences in the US and internationally, hosts the Headspace with Christian Ray Flores podcast and YouTube Channel dedicated to success in career and calling Headapace newsletter. His short film Dance With Me was selected to several international film festivals, and its title song was released on all major music platforms. In the first days of the war in Ukraine, the Ascend Mission Fund launched the Ukraine Relief Network, serving refugees in Ukraine. Christian and Deb personally visited Ukraine in September 2022. In 2022, Christian and Deb launched the Xponential career coaching program for high achievers. Christian and Deb have been active in Christian ministry in the US, Eastern Europe, and Latin America for two decades. They lead The Tribe, a community of faith in Austin, Texas. Ray frequently speaks to different audiences in the US and overseas. They are also active in philanthropy through their charity Ascend Mission Fund and projects like the Ascend Academy in Mozambique that lifts children out of poverty through developing character, communication, and computer skills. To find out more about Christian, you can check out his website at https://www.christianrayflores.com/.

Michael Corleone Blanco didn't have a typical childhood. As the youngest son of “Cocaine Godmother” Griselda Blanco, his earliest memories of his life include stories of family love and loyalty, opulence and violence. In this gripping episode, Corleone Blanco tells his story of growing up amongst the Medellín Cartel and the operations of his mother's own cocaine distribution business and reflects on how his experiences have shaped who he is today.   About Michael Corleone Blanco: Born August 5, 1978, in Medellín – Michael Corleone Blanco is an author and entrepreneur with an incredible past. His mother, Griselda Blanco, and three brothers led one of the biggest Colombian drug cartel operations in history. After years of trying to follow in his family's footsteps, he finally began living the legitimate life that his mother and brothers always wanted him to have.   Buy Michael Corleone Blanco's book, “My Mother, the Godmother.”  Produced by The Mob Museum. To watch episodes of this podcast, visit YouTube For behind-the-scenes photos, merchandise and exclusive content, visit insidethelife.org For more on the Museum visit themobmuseum.org This program is presented by The Mob Museum and includes views and opinions of independent panelists and/or interviewees that do not necessarily reflect or represent the stance of The Mob Museum. Factual statements made by panelists/interviewees have also not been vetted by the Museum, and the Museum does not assert that such statements are truthful. All statements should be understood as the individual's perspective rather than a view expressed by The Mob Museum. This program has been made available by The Mob Museum for the private, non-commercial use of its audience. Such private use is intended for informational and educational purposes only. This program is subject to copyright protection, and those seeking to utilize the program or portions thereof, for anything other than private use should contact The Mob Museum at PR@themobmuseum.org.  

Dawn Staley is a woman of many titles: five-time WNBA all-star, Olympic gold medalist, head coach and now an author. In her first book, Staley reflects on the lessons that made her who she is today. Amna Nawaz spoke with Staley about her love of basketball and her new memoir, "Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Dawn Staley helped Team USA's women's basketball team win gold at the ‘96 Olympics. It was the highlight of her career. Yet she fell into a depression that was so bad, she didn't even want to look at a basketball. Nothing prepared her to process reaching such a milestone. She was left asking herself: now what? With a resumé is full of career-highs (hi, 3x national champ), Dawn says the real reward isn't the trophy – it's all the work it took to get there. Dawn gets into it all in her new memoir, “Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three”.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Dawn also shares:    How many shoes she has in her collection (sneakerheads beware) Why she aspired to play in the NBA – instead of the WNBA – growing up  How the taboo nature of mental health stopped her from asking for help post-Olympics Why she was insulted when approached for a coaching job  The one thing she wants to see change for women athletes this year PS: Dawn's memoir is out now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices