Shows
Thank You, MamaReplay - Raising Amazing Women: Wanjiku Kiarie on Forgiveness; Honesty; Investing; and Raising Strong DaughtersWanjiku Kiarie, an accountant and podcaster from Kenya, talks about her mama Frasia, a teacher who raised and supported her four daughters during her husband’s battle with drinking. The episode is bursting with lessons on finding God; forgiving and giving; working hard, saving and investing; raising amazing women; and honesty. Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…” newsletter here. To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about “Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on...
2025-08-1934 min
Thank You, MamaReplay - Get Up Where You Fall Down: Xue Hongyan on Starting Anew in Your 50s; Entrepreneurship; Not Giving Up; Courage and ResilienceThis episode is a bit different, because in this episode you host Ana Tajder will tell you her guest’s mother’s story. To Ana’s big shock, because of technical difficulties with recording between US and China, the recording of this beautiful interview turned out blank. But Ana believed mama Chen’s inspiring story had to be shared, so she shared it herself, using notes she took during the interview. Ana’s guest is a Beijing based artist and industrial design professor Xue Hongyan. Xue talks about her mom Chen who, after a life of hard work in a factory...
2025-08-0512 min
Thank You, MamaReplay - The Mom & The Bhagwan: Ronit Plank on Forgiving; People’s Actions Not Reflecting Who You Are; Expressing Feelings; and Some People Being Able to ChangeAuthor and podcast host Ronit Plank, author of “Home is a Made-Up Place” and “When She Comes Back”, talks about her mom who left six year old Ronit and her four year old sister to move to India and follow guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the center of Netflix documentary “Wild Wild Country”. In this incredible story of personal development, Ronit shares how she forgave her mother and created a strong relationship with her. We learn that while most people don’t change, some do; that the way people treat you shows who they are - not who you are; the importance...
2025-07-2230 min
Thank You, MamaReplay - Nevertheless She Prevailed: Ashura Kayupayupa on Perseverance; Hope; Patience; and Focusing on YourLawyer from Tanzania specialized in human rights, Ashura Kayupayupa, talks about her mother Rose, who, after her husband was killed in a car accident, was disowned by his family. Ashura tells us about widow abuse and witch-hunt, a problem that’s still widespread in Africa. But mama Rose stayed strong, re-built her life and started her small agricultural business. Rose teaches us about hope, endurance, hard work, patience, and focusing on your own life. We also learn not to ponder on why something happened to us, but to make the best out of any situation. Subscribe to Ana...
2025-07-0828 min
Thank You, MamaWhat Belongs to You: Nida Sophasarun on Finding Your Voice; Understanding What Truly Belongs to You; Mysticism; and Trusting YourselfA published poet, author of “Novice”, and mom, Nida Sophrasarun talks about how her poetry is influenced by her family on two ends: on one end, it was her family’s inability to communicate emotions that lead her to finding her voice in poetry. On the other end, the birth of her son lead her to finding herself again through writing. Nida talks about her Thai mom Kobkua, “a tiger”, as Nida describes her, from whom Nida learned important lessons, in spite of their challenging relationship. Nida talks about showing love and connecting through food; about the solace of mysticism...
2025-06-1056 min
Thank You, MamaReplay - It’s not Your Pain: Dr. Julienne Shin on Letting Go of Your Mother's Pain; the Importance of a Mother-Child Relationship; and Emotional IntelligenceA mother, a US Marine Corps combat veteran and a Navy psychologist, Dr. Julienne Shin, talks about lessons she learned through her difficult relationship with her Filipino mom Corazon. We learn about the impact of a mother's relationships with her child at a young age, about not holding on to your parents’ pain; and about the importance of emotional intelligence. Julienne also shares some amazing things she learned through writing her dissertation about mothers in combat. Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…” newsletter here. To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please s...
2025-05-1334 min
Thank You, MamaCompassion for Yourself: Suzy Hopkins and Hallie Bateman on Domestic Violence; What to Expect in Relationships; Walking Through Grief; Asking for Help; and TalkingAuthors of “What To Do When I’m Gone” and “What to Do When You Get Dumped”, a mother-daughter team, share their mothers’ lessons. Suzy Hopkins is a former newspaper reporter and magazine publisher. Her daughter Hallie Bateman is a freelance writer and illustrator based in Los Angeles whose work has been published by The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Awl and others. Suzy talks about her mother, a soft-spoken librarian, and mother of six, who suffered domestic abuse and managed to leave the marriage after 30 years - only after she found out her husband had a mistress. W...
2025-04-2947 min
Thank You, MamaTake Risks: Audrey Kodjo on the Importance of Values and Roots; Women as the Backbone of a Family; the Power of Prayer; and Risk-takingProject Associate at UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) and co-founder of Diaspora Creatives, Audrey Kodjo tells us about her mom Lucy, who, in spite of having the status of a queen in Benin, had to master many obstacles both in her childhood and adulthood – from being a foster child to facing marital challenges. We learn about Benin, and what it means to be a queen there, but we also learn many life-lessons about teaching your children values and strong roots; why women are the backbone of a family; the eternal split between family and your dreams; the power of...
2025-04-1530 min
Thank You, MamaSee the Invisible: Alejandra Wild Proano on Allowing Different Versions of Our Mothers and Ourselves; Seeing the Invisible; Protecting our Relationships; and Not Seeing Things in Black and WhitePsychodynamic psychotherapist, Alejandra Wild Proano, talks about her Ecuadorian mom Desiree, and shares her inspiring story. Desiree went from the first female guide through the Amazon to finding herself widowed, with two small children, a foreigner in the US. Not giving up, she took classes and became a licensed psychotherapist. We learn many wonderful lessons from Desiree: to follow your path and never give up; to see the invisible - the spiritual, energetic, magical side of our existence; to protect our relationships by cherishing what’s important and letting go of small things; and to not see things in bl...
2025-04-0135 min
Thank You, MamaAsk Why: Briana Chen on Love of Learning; Questioning in Order to Grow and Find Motivation; and Giving Back by Thinking of the UnderprivilegedDr. Briana Chen is a postdoctoral neuroscientist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she researches sex differences in stress resistance and psychiatric disorders. Briana is particularly interested in developing sex-specific treatments for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She won numerous awards for her scientific work and was included in Forbes 2023 list of 30 under 30. Briana shares her Chinese mom May's lessons on the value of education, continuous learning, and curiosity about the world; about how important it is to question things and to always try understanding the “why” – as Briana explained, this helps her to find motivation for her scientific work a...
2025-03-1836 min
Thank You, MamaBecome an Interesting Person: Zeva Bellel on Following Your Interests and Expanding Perspectives; Knowing You Deserve Better; and a Healthy Relationship with MoneyCareer and leadership coach based in Paris but originally from New York, Zeva Bellel, talks about her mom Karen, an artist from Brooklyn. Karen teaches us about becoming interesting people by following our curiosity; not getting hooked on a specific goal because it seemed right and good to others but thinking about choices that would expand our perspective and personality; building a healthy relationship with money; and recognizing what we want, and knowing that we deserve it. Zeva also talks about coaching and why it offers help our friends and family cannot provide. She also talks about always knowing...
2025-03-0429 min
Thank You, MamaLove Shouldn’t Hurt: Tammie Denyse on Leaving Painful Relationships; the Power of Community; Taking Care of Others; Faith; and ForgivenessFounder of “Carrie’s Touch”, a non-profit supporting Black women during their breast cancer battles, Tammie Denyse, talks about her mom Carrie, whom she lost at the tender age of 11 to domestic violence. Tammie shares Carrie’s lessons on unconditional love, faith, and the power to say no, and to leave painful relationships. Tammie also talks about her own experiences which turned her into a survivor. We’re learning from her not only about surviving life’s biggest challenges, and the incredible strength we carry inside, but also about the power of forgiveness, about faith, community, and the importance of supportin...
2025-02-1828 min
Thank You, MamaLove Fiercely: Adina Belloli on Bravery; the Impermanence of Life; the Power of Feelings; and Loving FiercelyGrief specialist and psychotherapist with multiple degrees in psychology, psychotherapy, and international healthcare, public policy, and economics, Adina Belloli is also the founder of the international charity “In-Visible” (which served 1.7 mio meals to children in the Philippines), founder of the “Motherless Mothers” community, and host of “Motherhood Beyond Books” podcast. Adina tells us the incredible story of her American mom Marilyn who did the impossible to be able to marry the love of her life, but was tragically killed in a car accident by a drunk driver when Adina was only six months old. Marylin was such an exceptional person, that...
2025-02-0432 min
Thank You, MamaKnow Your Value: Katia Vlachos on Reinvention; Self-Validation; the Trap of the “Good Girl” modus; and NurturingReinvention coach, author of "Uncaged" and "A Great Move", speaker, and meditation teacher, Katia Vlachos was - before her own reinvention - a security and defense analyst. Katia talks about exiting the “good girl” mode, which often functions as a cage, about reinventing ourselves, especially if we feel stuck, and about self-mothering. She shares her Greek mother Natasha’s lessons on nurturing others (but she warns this can lead to self-sacrifice); resilience and discipline; and self-validation – which, as she explains, doesn’t necessarily equate with self-love. To learn more about Katia, her coaching and her books, please visit her...
2025-01-2131 min
Thank You, MamaCreate Your Own Rituals: Jennifer L. Holm on Family Rituals; Creating Your Own Rules; Family History; and Teaching EqualityNew York Times and USA Today-bestselling and award-winning children's writer, Jennifer L. Holm, is known for “Our Only May Amelia” (a book inspired by her a great aunt’s diary), “Penny From Heaven”, and “Turtle in Paradise”. Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on several graphic novel series including the “Babymouse” series, which has sold over 3.2 million copies and won the Eisner Award, the “Sunny” series, which is a NY Times-bestseller, and finally, the “Squish” series, which was turned into an animated series and aired on HBO MAX. Her latest novel, “The Lion of Mars” is a USA Today - bestseller. Jennifer t...
2025-01-0827 min
Thank You, MamaChristmas Lessons: Kai Kelman on Gratitude; Doing Nothing; Discipline & Patience; Not Wishing the Time Away; and Things Often Being Better Than They SeemIn this Christmas special, you host Ana Tajder talks with her son Kai about Christmas and lessons he learned from her. To his mom’s surprise, Kai (10) talks about some deep lessons that are actually good to remember around this festive time of the year: to be grateful for basic things in life such as health, home, warmth and food; to not wish time away expecting something better to come your way; to be present (and sometimes to just do nothing); and that things are often better than they seem. And with these beautiful lessons, Kai and I are wi...
2024-12-2419 min
Thank You, MamaDon’t Give Up on Yourself: Nina Kurtela on the Struggles of Midlife; Living Your Full Potential; and Staying DiversifiedVisual artist and choreographer from Croatia, Nina Kurtela, talks about working in Ana’s mom Jagoda Kaloper’s art studio, researching her creative legacy, and learning from her. As Jagoda’s lessons, Nina shared being diversified and not defining yourself as just one thing/profession/position; surrounding yourself with people and bringing them together; and being persistent and not giving up on yourself, even after longer breaks, or during the struggles of midlife. Nina also talked about her mom, from whom she learned the same lesson - do not give up on yourself - but from a different angle. T...
2024-12-1137 min
Thank You, MamaReplay - Fighting Back With Love: Munira Premji on Gracefully Accepting What Is; Being In the World, Not of the World; Purpose and CuriosityI'm respoting this episode form 2021 becuase it inspires us to stay positive and happy despite challenging times - a message we need right now. Munira Premji, HR Expert and author of “Choosing Hope: One Woman. Three Cancers” is one of the happiest and most inspiring people I have ever met. Allow her to shine some joy at you while she talks about her beautiful Tanzanian mom Zerakhanu. Munira shares Zera’s inspiring lessons on gracefully accepting what is; loving life; curiosity and continuous learning; not letting difficulties in life affect you; and - exercise. Brimming with optimism and hope, Munira...
2024-11-1241 min
Thank You, MamaReplay - Mama Hope: Dr. Soniya Hirachan on Beating the Odds, Resilience; Humbleness; and the Courage to be DifferentPsychiatrist, coach working with immigrant women, and the Executive Director at Minnesota Department of Human Services, Dr. Soniya Hirachan, talks about her Nepalese mother Asha (meaning “hope” in Nepalese) who grew up in a remote village in the mountains of the Himalayas. Every summer, mama Asha walked for a whole week to reach the nearest city where she helped her father sell the produce from their farm. Later in life, Asha built a profitable restaurant business and sent her children to the best schools in Nepal, India and the US. Asha teaches us about beating the odds, creating new oppo...
2024-10-2929 min
Thank You, MamaLife is an Adventure: Rhiana Spring on Unconditional Support; Being Your Authentic Self; Seeing Life as an Adventure; and Being both Compassionate and nurturing, and strongRhiana Spring is an award-winning international human rights expert and entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Spring ACT, which launched "Sophia" - the world's first chatbot empowering survivors of domestic violence. She tells us about her work using modern technology to support human rights across the globe. Rhiana also talks about her Welsh mother Lorraine, a nurse and acupuncturist, who left home at 16, traveled the whole world, moved 51 times, raised two children, wrote books, and touched many people’s hearts. From Lorraine, we learn how unconditional support and love can give wings and power; to be our authentic selves; that li...
2024-10-1632 min
Thank You, MamaMagical Thinking: Orenda Fink on Art; Individuation; Borderline Narcissistic Parents; and Going No ContactSinger, musician and writer, Orenda Fink is famous for being one half of the duo “Azure Ray”. Orenda just published her beautiful first memoir “The Witch’s Daughter: My Mother, Her Magic, and the Madness That Bound Us”, about her relationship with her mother suffering from borderline narcissistic personality, which made her fight with everyone, including her three daughters. Orenda tells us about her career in indie music, about writing her fascinating and deeply inspiring book, and about becoming a certified Jungian coach. From her mother, we learn that no one is all bad or all good; that art is a price...
2024-10-0128 min
Thank You, MamaThe Holy Responsibility: Qin Sun Stubis on Responsibilities of Motherhood; Education; Perseverance; and CreativityAuthor of her family memoir “Once Our Lives”, Qin Sun Stubis, shares lessons she learned from her Chinese mom Yan. Yan was given away by her mother as a baby, and struggled keeping her four daughters from starvation while her husband was a political prisoner for 14 years. We learn about the history of China, and about the Chinese historical bias against female children (the worst version being female infanticide). Yan teaches us about the power of education to break generational patterns; that we’re much stronger than we can imagine; that we can find a way – even to survive – by being c...
2024-09-1732 min
Thank You, MamaLive Your Values: Amy Richards on Lessons From Mom Karen and Gloria SteinemAmerican activist, organizer, writer, TV producer, feminist, president of Soapbox, Inc., and a long-time consultant to the American feminist icon Gloria Steinem, Amy Richards, shares lessons she learned both from her mom, and from over 30 years of working closely with Gloria. Amy also gives us a brief history of feminism and explains why it’s just as important now as it ever was, and talks about the female shared experience. From her American mom Karen, we learn about tenacity; not getting caught in drama; that what makes you different can make you stronger; humbleness; showing up; and accepting help. Fr...
2024-09-0331 min
Thank You, MamaReplay - Mom’s First Hug at 69: Meredith Maran on Not Giving Up; Noone being Just Good or Evil; Anger; and ChangeAs the thrid Replay episode of Summer 2024, here's episode 86 with best-selling author, book critic and journalist, Meredith Maran, who shares a deeply inspiring story about how, after a lifetime of aversions and conflict, she and her mom Rita became friends when Meredith was 69 and Rita 93. This story is a great reminder of how a crisis (in this case COVID) forces us to re-evaluate things and focus on what really matteres in life. We learn so much from these exceptional ladies: not to give up before a miracle; that no one is just good or evil (not even...
2024-08-2038 min
Thank You, MamaReplay - You Choose: Dr. Özlem Yüce Petronczki on Overcoming Boundaries and Supporting Your Children to GreatnessThe second episode in our Summer of 2024 Replay is episode 17 with the Molecular Biologist Dr. Özlem Yüce Petronczki. This is one of the very early interviews, but one that stayed deeply anchored in my heart for a few reasons: we learn how incredibly strong women are and how are able to beat all odds. We also learn how powerful gentle and loving support is in helping our children to achieve great things. But also: since my move back to Vienna, Özlem became a dear friend. Özlem talks about her amazing Turkish mama Fatma who wasn’t allowed...
2024-08-0634 min
Thank You, MamaReplay - My Mama: Ana Tajder and Jagoda Kaloper on Loving Life; Leaving a Mark; Being Your Own Source of Happiness; Ageing Gracefully; Having it All; and MindfulnessAs the first epiosde for our summer 2024 replay, I'd like to share with you episode 17, in which I shared the most important lessons I learned from my mama Jagoda Kaloper. As I just turned 50 and shared with you 50 lessons I've learned in 50 years, I thought it might be interesting to hear which of these I've learned from my own mother. My incredible mama Jagoda ("strawberry" in Croatian - thus the podcast design) was a celebrated actress and visual artist - but more importantly, she was a big "mensch" and an incredible (yet definitely not perfect) mama. Losing he...
2024-07-2328 min
Thank You, Mama50 Years, 50 Lessons: Ana Tajder Shares her Life-LessonsIn this special episode, Ana celebrates her 50th birthady with you! As this podcast is all about life-lessons, she recorded this episode in which she shares 50 lessons she has learned in 50 years. Learn about gratitude, mindfulness, meditation, courage, self-protection, burnout, self-care, ageing, breathing, evolving, celebrating, and so much more. If you’d like to find a transcript of the episode, please visit the blog section of Ana's website. Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…” newsletter here. To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net To...
2024-07-0517 min
Thank You, MamaThe Magic of Forgiving: Dr. Erica Elliott on Giving Love; Forgiving your Mom; Finding Joy; and Never Wasting a Bad ExperienceFamily Medicine doctor and author of “Medicine and Miracles” and “From Mountains to Medicine”, Dr. Erica Elliott, shares the story of her breakdown in her early 20s which, under the guidance of a skilled psychotherapist, lead to finding her true self at this early age. This lead to another breakthrough: Erica found love and forgiveness for her Swiss mom who was a very harsh mother. This changed not only their relationships, but Erica’s parents’ marriage, the dynamics of the whole family, and even the new generations. Erica shares this inspiring story and other deep lessons she learned both from her mom...
2024-06-2529 min
Thank You, MamaChill Out!: Valarie Tutuh on the Magical Act of Balancing a Career Ambitions and Taking a Break; Independence and Accepting Support; Serving Others and Taking Care of YourselfAccount Manager at a leading pharmaceutical company and owner of a boutique, Valarie Tutuh shares her incredible professional journey which involved counseling and owning an executive protection agency – all while raising two children by herself. Watching her mom's life of service and care for others, Valarie decided to do things differently and follow a professional path. What she wished she knew: you don't have to do everythign by yorself. Valarie shares lessons she learned from her American mom Emma: to be independent and able to take care of yourself and your children; to invest into education and learn from li...
2024-06-1234 min
Thank You, MamaCelebrate Every Day: Lara Johnson on Giving Yourself Credit; Showing Up; Forgiving Flaws and Improving with Each Generation; and Following Your DreamsA mom of four, life coach and host of “Mom on Purpose” podcast, Lara Johnson, talks about the non-profit she co-founded to help young terminally ill parents, and about her work with coaching mothers in which she teaches the most important lesson: to avoid the state of not-enoughness by celebrating your daily small achievements. She tells us about her mom Valerie who had five children but managed to pursue her careers as a nurse, and later a flight-attendant. We learn from Valerie to appreciate previous generations and forgive their flaws and continue improving with each generation; to have a sens...
2024-05-2823 min
Thank You, MamaDon’t Be Mean to Yourself: Angie Banicki on Using Your Voice; Trusting Your Intuition; and Generational HealingHigh-profile entertainment publicist turned tarot card reader to Hollywood stars, Angie Banicki, talks about her professional transition, about her experiences with reading cards, and about her new tarot deck “Explorer of the Soul”. Angie tells us about her mom Andrea who at first was uncomfortable about Angie’s new career but with time learned to embrace it. From Andrea and Angie, we learn to use our voices and share ourselves with the world; to be open minded in order to support others; to trust in our intuition; and to heal for the sake of our children. To learn mo...
2024-05-1432 min
Thank You, MamaSaying No: Adela Mehić-Džanić on Being Independent; Marriage as a Partnership; Being Stoic; and Acting Against Domestic ViolenceTelecom engineer Adela Mehić-Džanić talks about her Bosnian mom Fadila who passed away during the Bosnian war in 1993. In spite of losing her at only seven years old, Adela learned many important lessons from her mother: how vitally important it is for women to be financially independent; that a marriage should be a partnership; that we must act against domestic violence; that women need support to leave abusive relationships; but mostly to be stoic and not complain about challenges life serves us. You can connect with Adela on LinkedIn here. Subscribe to Ana's new...
2024-04-3035 min
Thank You, MamaPractice Your Happiness Muscle: Catherine Sanderson on Happiness; Courage; Ageing well; Perseverance; Family; and Raising TeenagersProfessor of Psychology and author of numerous books incl. “The Positive Shift”, Catherine Sanderson, teaches us that although some of us are born “not happy” (something she’s witnessed with her mother), we can change this by making conscious decisions. As a special treat, Catherine shares her tips on how to do this in this episode. Connected to this, she talks about her research on courage and healthy ageing. Catherine tells us the story of her American mom Judith who bravely faced all challenges life served her to build an impressive career while being a mother of two. We learn from...
2024-04-1629 min
Thank You, MamaMake Lemonade: Danielle Fette on Dealing with Challenges; Money not Buying Happiness; Unconditional Love; and Boundaries and People PleasingA nurse and expert on tissue regeneration, co-Founder & CMO of FetTech, a biotech company specialized in the healing process, Danielle Fette shares her American mom Jill’s lessons. Jill grew up in extreme poverty, married her high-school sweetheart and had a perfect family life until her husband betrayed her. Now in her 70s, Jill is living her best life with her partner and her two daughters and their families in Florida. From Jill, we learn that the second act can be our happiest; that there will always be challenges and we just have to deal with them; about unconditional lo...
2024-04-0229 min
Thank You, MamaEvery Moment is Precious: Saundra Dalton-Smith on 7 types of Rest; a Strong Sense of Self; Having Multiple Mothers; and Expressing our LoveInternal medicine physician, work-life integration researcher and author of “Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity”, Saundra Dalton-Smith talks about burning out when she became a working mother, which inspired her to write her book about the seven kinds of rest and become an advocate for restoring wellbeing in workplace. Saundra lost her birth-mother during childbirth and was raised by her American great-grandmother Fanny, who lived to be 103. Fanny teaches us about having a strong sense of self; about listening to your body and eating well; and about enjoying nature and the still mome...
2024-03-1931 min
Thank You, MamaBe Authentically You; Dr. Sharon Blackie on Tenacity; Healing From an Unhealthy Mother-Daughter Relationship; and BurnoutAward-winning writer, mythologist specialized in Celtic Studies, and a psychologist, Sharon Blackie, is also the bestselling author of “If Women Rose Rooted”. Sharon talks about her work with the feminine in myths, fairy tales and folklore and how these traditions can help us deal with issues we women are dealing with such as menopause, burnout, and the mother-daughter relationship. Sharon also talks about her mother Doris with whom she had a difficult relationship due to Doris’ alcoholism and controlling nature, and how she managed to distance, and heal, herself from this relationship, partially through learning how to fly a plane...
2024-03-0532 min
Thank You, MamaFind the “More” You Need: Rosjke Hasseldine on Identifying and Voicing Your Needs; Mother Blaming; and the Culture of Female ServiceTherapist, coach and teacher specialized in mother-daughter relationships Rosjke Hasseldine, is also the author of “Mother-Daughter Puzzle” and founder of Mother-Daughter Coaching International. She talks about the major topics she deals with in her work: mother blaming and estrangement, mapping your mother-daughter history, patriarchy and culture of female service, and identifying your needs and voicing them. She also talks about her mother Tineke who was born in Indonesia, raised in the Netherlands, spent two years in a Japanese camp during WWII, and later immigrated to New Zealand. Tineke was a mother of five who sacrificed her teaching career to take...
2024-02-2039 min
Thank You, MamaTalk About It!: Dunja Bonacci-Skenderovic on Preventing Violence Against Women; Showing Your Emotions; Sharing Domestic Work; and Working Hard but Sometimes Doing NothingDunja Bonacci-Skenderovic is an independent consultant for elimination of violence against women. In the beginning of our interview, Dunja gives us an overview of types of violence women globally are facing today (from domestic violence, rape, trafficking, to femicide), shares some statistics, and shares what we can do to prevent violence against women - not only as women, but also as mothers. Dunja also talks about her Croatian mother Tanja, a mom of three, who was a rare female professor of engineering in former Yugoslavia (now Croatia), had a drivers license when her husband didn’t, always insisted on al...
2024-02-0639 min
Thank You, MamaCan Work be Self-Care?: Lisa Friscia on Taking Care of Others; Being Considerate and Inclusive; Setting Boundaries; and Work as Self-CareLisa Friscia, Leadership Coach and founder of Franca Consulting, talks about her mother Franca who immigrated from Italy to America via Canada as a child, and later quit her corporate job to take care of her three daughters. Mama Franca teaches us to take care of people through details; to create a space where everyone is welcome and included; to respect those who have less; and to know your privilege and give back. Lisa talks about her own professional path from a teacher to the head of HR for a group of 25 schools, her dealing with burnout, and her...
2024-01-2328 min
Thank You, MamaLife is in the Moment: Janice Malone on Cooking as Self Care; Leaning on Faith; Decluttering; and Knowing That Life Brings ChangeJanice Malone is the founder and CEO of “Vivian’s Door”, an award-winning NPO assisting minority-owned entrepreneurs implement their ideas and grow their businesses. Janice is a mother of two who quit corporate America to become an entrepeneur in her early fifties, and subsequently found “Vivian’s Door” in her early sixties. She talks about her American mother Pearlie who was a mother of 15 (yes, you read this right) and taught Janice to find solace in cooking; to lean on faith trusting that God will make way where we see none; to keep a clean house; and to have patience beca...
2024-01-0941 min
Thank You, MamaLearning from the Mother of God: Dr. Christine Valters Paintner on Empowering Others; Turning Challenges into Gifts, the Power of Older Age; the Sacred Feminine; and Showing Up in LifeIn this beautiful Christmas special, we’re learning from the most famous of all mothers: Mary, the Mother of God. My guest Christine Valters Paintner is the author of “Birthing the Holy: Wisdom from Mary to Nurture Creativity and Renewal”. Christine has a PhD in Christian Spirituality, is an abbess and the author of over twenty books on spirituality. Christine tells us about her American mother Suzanne, a United Nations employee, who struggled with rheumatoid arthritis but turned her suffering into a gift for others as she earned an MA in social studies to became an advocate for people with d...
2023-12-1940 min
Thank You, MamaLife is Magically Messy: Einat Nathan on Connecting With Others; Acknowledging All Emotions; People Pleasing; and Messiness of LifeEinat Nathan is a mother of five, a parenting expert, a counselor, and the bestselling author of a parenting book called “My Everything”, which got translated in 11 languages. Einat talks about her Israeli mother Miriam who died at a young age from Multiple Sclerosis. From Miriam, we learn about connecting to others and being able to rely on yourself; about beauty and importance of the whole spectrum of emotions; and about learning not to be a people pleaser. Einat openly talks about raising five children and having a career, about stillbirth, and raising an autistic child. From her, we lear...
2023-12-0537 min
Thank You, MamaMother Earth's Lessons: Jojo Mehta on the Cyclical Aspect of Life; the Bigger Perspective; Being Part of a Whole; Connecting to Land; and EcocideJojo Mehta is a co-founder of “Stop Ecocide”, the global campaign to make ecocide (destroying the environment) a crime at the International Criminal Court. Jojo shares lessons she had learned from her mother, singer and poet Jehanne Mehta, whose work is deeply connected to nature and her Celtic roots, but also lessons she had learned from Mother Earth. From Jehanne, we learn about grounding and finding joy in connecting with our land and planet Earth; about writing and love of language; and the fine balance of simultaneously liberating and supporting our children. From Mother Earth, we learn to recognize that...
2023-11-2140 min
Thank You, MamaThe Mind-Baby Problem: Julie Phillips on Balancing Demands of Motherhood With Work; How Much Freedom Do Kids Need; and Setting BoundariesAuthor of “The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Mothering and the Mind-Baby Problem”, Julie Phillips, talks about what she learned through writing a book about the intimate struggles of brilliant 20th century artists as they tried to balance the demands of creative work with the demands of motherhood. Jullie's lesson: we can keep centered in our creative space even if we do it in little bits. Julie also shares her mom Kit's lessons on being curious and wanting to understand the world by naming things; connecting with loved ones by reading out loud; and the value of not pare...
2023-11-0735 min
Thank You, MamaAge is not an Excuse: Parveen Talpur on Personal Development; Determination; and the Fight for Women’s EqualityBeating all odds, as a young female student, in a country ruled by men, archeologist and writer Parveen Talpur single-handedly set wheels in motion for the establishment of the Department of Archeology at the University in Karachi, Pakistan. She went on to Cornell University, where she worked on decipherment of the ancient script from the Indus Valley Civilization, and publish a few books. Parveen tells us about her mother Zeib, who as a newly married woman lived in purdah (women’s segregation). After giving birth to six children, Zeib moved with her family to the city, received education and st...
2023-10-2440 min
Thank You, MamaYou’re Enough: Kate Kripke on High-Achieving Moms; Unconditional Love; Questioning Self-Sacrifice; Self-Acceptance and Self-LovePsychotherapist, coach and consultant, author of “Reinventing Supermom”, co-host of “Motherhood Uncut” podcast, and founder of “Parent and Family wellness Center”, Kate Kripke, talks about her family legacy of strong and successful women. Kate’s great-great aunt Margaret Fuller was a pioneer in suffrage, the first American female war correspondent and the author of the first major feminist book in United States. Her mother Margaret was a groundbreaking lawyer, a leading expert in mediation and arbitration in New York in the ‘70s, who kept breaking glass ceilings. Kate tells us how her mother ran herself to the ground to achieve great th...
2023-10-1036 min
Thank You, MamaLead, Don’t Follow: Zora Benhamou on Menopause; Healthy Ageing; Roots; and People PleasingGerontologist, biohacker and advocate for women’s health during the menopausal journey, Zora Benhamou, is also a host of “Hack my Age” podcast. Zora’s motto is “Menopause is inevitable, but suffering is optional.” Zora lost her Ukrainian mom Anastasia to breast cancer at the tender age of 23. She shares her mother’s lessons on never forgetting where you come from; taking care of yourself by always looking your best, while also caring for your health; death being a solitary experience; and not caring what people think. Zora also talks about her work with menopause, about making healthy choices, about being a...
2023-09-2650 min
Thank You, MamaYou Do You: Deb Rubin on Following Your Own Path; Giving Your Emotions Room; Raising Adolescent Daughters; and Practicing Conscious ListeningPsychotherapist specialized in the “Mother Daughter Journey”, and co-host of “Motherhood Uncut” podcast, Deb Rubin, talks about her American mom Lois. Lois is a mother of two who went back to school to earn her Bachelor’s Degree once her daughters left for college – which beautifully teaches us that it’s never too late to take the next step. We also learn from Lois to be true to ourselves and follow our unique paths, and to honor our emotions and give them room in order to not get stuck in them. Deb also shares many wisdoms she gained in her long experi...
2023-09-1237 min
Thank You, MamaYou Deserve a Full Cup: Michelle Grosser on Not Losing Ourselves in Others; Self-Worth; Calm and ResilienceMichelle Grosser is a former attorney and law professor turned mom, motherhood coach, and host of “The Calm Mom” podcast, in which she discusses high-impact habits, work-life rhythms, parenting, marriage, spirituality, and more. Michelle talks about her mom Nancy, who worked while raising five children, which resulted in burnout, and later she divorced her husband – only to fall in love with him again. From Nancy, we learn not to give all of us away until there’s nothing left; that we have infinite worth just by our existence; and that we’re more resilient than we think. Michelle also talks abou...
2023-08-2946 min
Thank You, MamaMotherhood as a Choice: Sara Petersen on Influencer Moms; Feminism; and Keeping a Sense of HumorSara Petersen is the author of “Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture”. Her essays about feminism, domesticity, and motherhood have appeared in the New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Washington Post, InStyle, Glamour, and elsewhere. Sara shares her American mom’s lessons on connecting with the natural world, finding pleasure in small things in life, and keeping a sense of humor in difficult situations. Sara also talks about feminism, avoiding the empty-nester syndrome, the image of the ideal mother, and teaching our daughters that motherhood is a choice. You can learn more about Sara on he...
2023-08-1522 min
Thank You, MamaTake Care of You!: Kanwal L. Haq talks about Women’s Health; Self-Care; and Making a ChangeKanwal L. Haq is a Medical Anthropologist specialized in Women’s Health and author of "Taking Care of You: The Empowered Woman's Guide to Better Health". She talks about her Pakistani mom Zahida who has been struggling with a connective tissue disease for more than 20 years. Zahida’s stuggle inspired Kanwal to dedicate her work to women’s health. From Zahida, we learn that if you believe in something, you have everything you need inside of you to make your dreams true; that education and knowledge is something no one can take away from you; and the importance of commun...
2023-08-0129 min
Thank You, MamaMama’s Tribe: Fabiana Hoy on Faith; Having a Tribe of Women; and Finding Good and Beauty in EverythingInterior designer Fabiana Hoy talks about her Peruvian mother Maria del Rosario and shares many valuable lessons she learned from her, like having faith (Rosario hosts a weekly prayer group of 45 women, which Fabiana joins from South Africa by Zoom), being a present mom, the importance of having a tribe of women (having these friends is Rosario’s way of self-care). She also teaches us to find beauty and good, even in the simplest situations, and to care for others. Fabiana also speaks about wishing her mother was able to have woman-to-woman conversations with her, and about accepting that a...
2023-07-1833 min
Thank You, MamaHold on to Your Daughter: Hilary Truong on Raising Teenage Girls; Turning Your Passion Into Profession; and Managing Your Kids’ Social Media and Phone UsageHilary Truong is a therapist for teen girls, and a mother-daughter relationship expert. She talks about her mother Nancy, who raised four children and turned her love for cooking into running a cooking school. From mom Nancy, we learn about empathy, caring for others, and connecting with the world around you; that it’s possible to support your family by doing something you love; and that you always make it work out, always find a way. Hilary also talks about raising teenage daughters, about managing your children’s social media and phone usage, and about learning to take care of y...
2023-07-0430 min
Thank You, MamaAttention to Detail: Kanchan Koya on Self-Care, Attention to Detail, Learning How to Fail, and Cooking with SpicesKanchan Koya, author of “Spice Spice Baby”, combines her PhD in Molecular Biology from Harvard and her training from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to bring healing spices and their health benefits to kids and families everywhere. Kanchan talks about her Sindhi mother Shohba who taught her about the importance of self-care, and that self-care can be simple; to put her emphasis on education and career first, because “every donkey can get married.”; to pay attention to detail and use this to slow down and be present; and to have fun with making herself look presentable. Kanchan also talks about le...
2023-06-2039 min
Thank You, MamaThink 5 Steps Ahead: Zoryana Kushpler on Planning Ahead, Decision Making and Preparing for Your Third Act.Zoryana Kushpler is an opera singer who performed with the Vienna Opera, Carnegie Hall, and Royal Albert Hall. She talks about her Ukrainian mom Ada (herself a pianist), and shares her lessons on resolving your problems by yourself, making decisions and sticking to them, previewing every situation a few steps ahead, finishing what you started, and thinking about what you’re going to do in your 60s, 70s and 80s. Zoryana also talks about inheriting her intuition from her mom, and being grateful about her mom always focusing on Zoryana’s career instead of pushing her to get married and...
2023-06-0639 min
Thank You, MamaAppreciating the Little Things: Wendy Battles on Reinventing Yourself, Being Unstoppable and Navigating DisappointmentsCybersecurity Awareness Expert, Change Management Specialist, and Host of “Reinvention Rebels” (a podcast for women 50-90 years young ready to reinvent themselves), Wendy Battles, shares her American mom Elaine’s lessons. Elaine started a new life after the divorce in in her 50’s, and is teaching us to not let anything stop you from doing what you want, ge back to the community, appreciate little things, and value quality over quantity. Wendy also talks about navigating disappointments, learning from failures, the fine balance between quality and negative perfectionism, and about it never being too late to reinvent yourself. To lea...
2023-05-2339 min
Thank You, MamaBe Gentle With Yourself: Judith Holofernes on Being a Rock Star, Healing from Burnout and Reinventing YourselfSinger, musician, songwriter and author Judith Holofernes (of German band “Wir Sind Helden”) talks about achieving – and then quitting - her dream life of a rock star in order to heal from burnout and reinvent herself. Judith shares the biggest lesson she learned on her fascinating journey, and also talks about growing up with her lesbian mom in a small town in Germany. Judith shares mama Cornelia’s lessons on tolerance, openness, curiosity and willingness to learn, and keeping a wide view on politics and history. Judith also talks about motherhood, entertainment industry, writing, life in Berlin, and ADHD. You...
2023-05-0948 min
Thank You, MamaUnapologetically Yourself: Jennifer Arthurton on Believing in Yourself, Following Your Heart, Not Taking Things Too Seriously, and Fabolous MidlifeCreator and host of “Old Chicks Know Shit”, Jennifer Arthurton, talks about her Irish mom Eilish, who left home at 17 to move to Germany, and later moved with her husband to the Caribbean, and then Canada. Eilish was always a free spirit, true to herself, never taking herself or any problem too seriously, experimenting with life, and believing in a power greater than us. Jennifer shares her lessons on believing in yourself, knowing that you can find a solution to every problem, being unapologetically yourself, and believing in a greater power. She also talks about lessons she learned from her...
2023-04-2534 min
Thank You, MamaChoice of Attitude: Ruth Nolan on women’s independence, being an empty nester and choosing how you see things.Author, professor and a former wildland firefighter Ruth Nolan, shares her American mom Beverly’s lessons on being kind to people and teaching everyone with respect; choosing your attitude in life; being independent in voice, career, selfhood and financially; and it never being too late to explore life. Ruth also talks about why the struggle for independence often skips generations, why women can never stop fighting for their rights, and about the experience of being an empty nester after her daughter and her mother moved away. Learn more about Ruth here. To subscribe to Ana's ne...
2023-04-1137 min
Thank You, MamaRaising Quirky Children: Tijana Lukovic on raising resilient children, nurturing their authenticity, and self-sacrificing mothers.Illustrator Tijana Lukovic talks about her Serbian mom Ljiljana’s lessons: How do we raise quirky children with acceptance, and nurture their authenticity? Does motherhood need to equate to self-sacrifice? Is me-time selfish? How do we raise resilient children? What is wrong with being overprotective mothers? How can we support our children through burnout and dark times? Tijana also speaks about how becoming a mother to a little girl inspired her beautiful illustrations of “sacred women” surrounded with nature and magic. You can see Tijana’s work on her Instagram here. You can purchase her illustrations on her website here.
2023-03-2835 min
Thank You, MamaReinventing Family: Eva Feldman on Defining "Woman" and "Family", Dealing with Panic Attacks and Avoiding Impulsive Behavior Eva Feldman is a psychologist and psycho-educational influencer. On her Instagram feed @TooMuchEva, she shares wisdom and inspiration to help us analyze our inner life, including many of her Croatian mom Lada’s lessons. In this beautiful episode, we learn from Lada that when someone throws you a ball, you don’t need to catch it. To believe them when they say they’re not good enough for you. That every panic attack is weaker than the one before, and that in order to manage it, you should dive into panic instead of fighting it. To beware of partners who pu...
2023-02-2848 min
Thank You, MamaHearing Your Mother's Story: Nayomi Munaweera on healing the mother-daughter relationship, listening to people's stories and finding happiness. Nayomi Munaweera is the award-winning author of novels “Island of a Thousand Mirrors” and “What Lies Between Us”. She has been named one of “Twelve Women of Color Writers You Need to Know” by Bustle Magazine and “One of the Asian American Women Writers Who are Going to Change the World” by Electric Literature. Nayomi talks about her Sri Lankan mom Upamali who first immigrated to Nigeria and then to the USA, where she founded and successfully ran Montessori schools. We learn about how important it is to hear our mother’s (or anyone’s) story, about divorce and finding new happiness...
2023-02-1444 min
Thank You, MamaEmotional Availability: Amanda Craig on parenting tweens, connecting with our children, education, and finding purpose.Amanda Craig is a licensed marriage and family therapist in NYC and Connecticut, and the author of “Who Are You and What Have You Done With My Kid: Connect with Your Tween While They Are Still Listening.” Amanda talks about creating an early emotional connection with our children, about why she wrote a book about parenting tweens, and about her American mom Sharon, a single mother who worked three jobs to provide for her two daughters. Amanda shares lessons she learned from her mother about substance use and parenting, education as source of independence and self-confidence, about taking care of y...
2023-01-3131 min
Thank You, MamaSimplicity and Strength: Arlyn Kostelac on being a stay-at-home mom, sexual abuse, and living a simple life.Stay-at-home mom Arlyn Kostelac talks about her Philipino mom Felina’s life and lessons. We learn about harsh circumstances of being a working-class woman in the Philippines, about loss, sexual abuse in families, domestic violence, and femicide. From mama Felina, we learn lessons on resilience and hard work, self-sacrifice for your children, and being resourceful and creative. We also learn that we are stronger than we think, that we shouldn’t care too much about other people’s opinions of us, about being content, and about the importance of friendships. Arlyn also talks about her decision to be a stay-a...
2023-01-1638 min
Thank You, MamaFailure is Not an Option: Doroteja Gradistanac on staying authentic, being your own source of recognition, and feminism.Doroteja Gradištanac, Head of the Austrian radio station “FM4”, shares her Serbian mother Lola’s lessons. Lola finished medical school while pregnant with Doroteja, and moved to Austria together with her husband and older son for a job in an Austrian hospital - and a better life for her family - leaving eight months old Dodo behind for two years. She went on to build a career as an anesthesiologist, create a new life in a foreign country, raise two children, and successfully battle cancer. From mama Lola, we learn to not blindly follow group pressure; to not feel gu...
2023-01-0343 min
Thank You, MamaGuided Meditation: Relax, Rejuvenate and Center Yourself.As a holiday special, instead of an episode, I’d like to give you a little gift in form of a guided meditation. Since I started meditating in 2000 as part of my tai-chi practice, meditation stayed my daily habit. It has helped me to stay sane and healthy through all these years marked by many challenges. If you’ve never meditated before, maybe I can motivate you to start. If meditation is part of your practice, maybe I can bring some new aspects to it. If you find my voice soothing, it’s a bonus - and a special gift f...
2022-12-2022 min
Thank You, MamaThe Power of Your Voice: Gayle Brandeis on Listening to Your Intuition, Knowing You Can Make a Difference, and Healing from Loss.Gayle Brandeis is the award-winning author of the memoir “The Art of Misdiagnosis: Surviving My Mother's Suicide”, the novel in poems “Many Restless Concerns", as well as several novels, a poetry collection, and a writing guide. Her essay collection “Drawing Breath” will be released in 2023. Gayle’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Salon, and more. In this episode, Gayle talks about healing from her mother’s suicide, living with her delusions, and using writing to instigate change. From Gayle’s mom Arlene, we learn about using art and creativity as a source of meaning and joy, listeni...
2022-12-0639 min
Thank You, MamaSurviving by Adapting: Dana Rimawi on Dealing with Change, Faith, and Reinventing Yourself an any Age.Dana Rimawi is the CEO and founder of A’myn, a company that promotes social justice through rugs designed and hand-made by local artisans and refugees. She talks about her Palestinian mother Fairuz who was forced to leave her home in West Palestine in 1948 and has since lived in Jordan, Syria, USA and Saudi Arabia. Mama Fairuz teaches us about being adaptable and flexible, reinventing yourself at any age, being financially independent, thinking positive and visualizing, having faith, growing from any given situation, and always learning and working. We talked about the experience of being a refugee, and how it...
2022-11-2236 min
Thank You, MamaFrom a Daughter to a Child: Regina V. Carico on Healing from Sexual Abuse, Body Positivity, and Gender Fluidity.l.A paramedic, and a sexual abuse awareness advocate, Regina V. Carrico, talks about their own experience as a sexual abuse survivor and what we are still missing in child sexual abuse prevention. Regina also talks about gender identity and being gender fluid. They share lessons they learned from their mom Bozena, a Polish nurse, on cultural appreciation and curiosity; love for learning; financial and practical independence, and gardening. Regina talks about wishing they learned from their mother how to take a break, how to love their body, how to be non-judgmental, and how to talk about their feelings. We...
2022-11-0835 min
Thank You, MamaLiving Life Passionately: Dr. Wendy Smith in Both/And Thinking, Community, and Allowing Time for Fun.Professor of Business Administration at the University of Delaware and co-author of “Both/And Thinking”, Dr. Wendy Smith, shares three of her Canadian mom Jewel’s most important lessons: It’s all about people, so create a community; focus on possibilities, not obstacles; and make time for fun in life. We also spoke about Wendy’s work with strategic paradoxes, and how now, more than ever, we need to shift from either/or thinking to both/and thinking. Wendy discusses this “inclusive” way of thinking and shares a few tips on using it every day to grow from dilemmas (like balancing...
2022-10-2538 min
Thank You, MamaValues and Wings: Natasha Mahtani on Values, Faith and Arranged Marriages.Relationship and Divorce Coach, Natasha Mahtani, shares her Sindhi Indian mom’s lessons on giving children values and wings, having faith in something bigger than yourself, and the fine line between tolerance and enabling unaccaptable behavior. We also spoke about Sindhi Hindus and why they moved all around the world (Natasha was born in Liberia, West Africa), about breaking generational cycles, about semi-arranged marriages, and about our mothers learning self-care from us. To learn more about Natasha and her work, please visit her website. To follow her om social media, find her on Instagram. T...
2022-10-1134 min
Thank You, MamaDoing It the Other WayCathi Hanauer is the New York Times bestselling author of three novels and two essay anthologies, including the 2002 bestseller "The Bitch in the House" and the follow-up, "The Bitch is Back," which was an NPR “Best Book” of 2016. She’s published articles, essays, and criticism in The New York Times, the Washington Post, Elle, O, Real Simple, and many other magazines, and is the founder, along with her husband, Dan Jones, of The New York Times “Modern Love” column. Cathi talks about her American mom Bette who got married at 20 and raised four children while making her controlling husb...
2022-09-2736 min
Thank You, MamaShowing Up For LifeDeb Flashenberg is the founder and director of “Prenatal Yoga Center”, the first of its kind in New York City. Deb shares how her American mom Harriet rebuilt her life, showing up for her children after her husband passed away in an accident and leaving her a widow at 55. We learn from Harriet about being in (but not wallowing in) dark times; making your friends into your family; allowing yourself to enjoy life; and resilience and hard work. We also hear a recipe for a joyous “3rd act”; what it was like being a child in the 1970’s - and how ou...
2022-09-1332 min
Thank You, MamaSetting Your GoalsElizabeth Yang is the CEO and founder of Yang Law Offices based in Los Angeles, and a best-selling author with a total of 6 books including “Social Marriage”. Elizabeth shares her Taiwanese/Chinese mother Kelly’s fascinating immigration story, and her lessons on being organized and setting goals; being independent and self-sufficient; the importance of learning and education; resilience; and the importance of learning languages. Elizabeth also spoke about creating your own mother figure, Transformational Training, The Secret, and manifesting. To learn more about Elizabeth, please visit her website. To contact Ana, please send your mail to: inf...
2022-08-3039 min
Thank You, MamaWomen are AmazingWelcome to episode 100! Trade unionist Tanja Vicas, shares lessons she learned from her Austrian/Canadian mom Ingrid, a prison guard and parole officer. We learn about how amazing we women are; being true to yourself; taking a break when you need one; being honest; being true to yourself and not letting anyone define who you are; and importance of education and financial independence. Tanja also talks about the difficult times her parents faced as young Austrian immigrants in Canada, their resilience and hard work. She also describes her work at the Austrian Trade Union. To contact Ana...
2022-08-1634 min
Thank You, MamaLiving ConsciouslyCEO and business consultant specialized in sustainability, Thekla Wilkening, is a co-author of “Bio-Pizza Dilema”. Thekla shares lessons she learned from her German mom Heidrun on being a bold woman; living consciously; having understanding and patience for people; and Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative (act the way you want others to act). We also talked about sustainability and about cultural differences. To learn more about Thekla, please visit her website. To contact Ana, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about “Thank You, Mama" and to subscribe to the newsletter, please vi...
2022-08-0232 min
Thank You, MamaHer Own WomanBook author, journalist and editor Joanna Czechowska shares lessons she learned from her English mother Christine on being a good conversationalist; being thrifty, making things and never wasting anything; being strong-minded and never following the “herd”; loving literature and words; and loving music. Joanna also talks about her mother’s Catholic faith sometimes being too strict, which made her learn that people, with their imperfections and frailty, are more important than dogma. Joanna also talks about her books “The Black Madonna of Derby” and “The Sweetest Enemy”, based on the experiences of her childhood in a Polish community in t...
2022-07-1938 min
Thank You, MamaBeing BoldKaren C.L. Anderson, author of “Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters”, talks about her work with complicated mother-daughter relationships, and shares her American mom Cynthia’s lessons on being bold, spirited, unexpected, and getting what you want; not being afraid of traveling by yourself; being adventurous with food and cooking; and hating one’s body and shaming oneself. Karen talks about wishing her mother taught her that women have been socialized to believe that there's something wrong with them because it protects them in a culture that doesn't value women equally, and punishes women when they don't conform to the norms of...
2022-07-0543 min
Thank You, MamaCreating Strong Family TiesPrehistoric archeologist, Dr. Katharina Rebay-Salisbury, talks about her research on motherhood in prehistory and about our romanticized idea of giving birth in the old times; how our bodies have changed through evolution; the history of birth complications and c-sections; and the identity change when becoming a mother. Katharina shares her Austrian mom Monika’s lessons on juggling work and family; creating strong family ties; love of learning and travelling; but also struggling with not having time for friendships or relaxing. She also talks about how we, as senior women, must make the fusion of work and motherhood easier for the ne...
2022-06-2144 min
Thank You, MamaHappy New Year!In this mini holiday episode, Ana is making two big exceptions, and welcoming a guest who is male and very young. Kai shares lessons he learned from his Croatian & Austrian mama – your host Ana – on the importance of imagination, being alive, cuddling, using chi, not fighting, appreciating your ancestors, and speaking different languages. Together, we’re wishing you merry Christmas, happy holidays and all the best in 2021! For more about "Thank You, Mama" please visit: http://www.tajder.com/ To contact Ana, please send a mail to: info@thankyoumama.net
2020-12-2707 min
Thank You, MamaGet up Where You Fall DownThis episode is a bit different, because in this episode you host Ana Tajder will tell you her guest’s mother’s story. Because of technical difficulties with recording between US and China, the recording of the interview turned out blank, but Ana believed mama Chen’s inspiring story must be shared, so she shared it herself. Ana’s guest is the Beijing based artist and industrial design professor Xue Hongyan. Xue talks about her mom Chen who, after a life of hard work in a factory, started her own business at 50. Listen for a glimpse into a life of a wor...
2020-11-0312 min
Thank You, MamaBe the BestPersonal chef Ana Kasparova talks about her Armenian mother Margarita who lost both of her parents at a very young age, and had to escape her home in Azerbaijan under very dramatic circumstances because of ethnic cleansing. Today, Margarita runs her very successful bi-lingual school in Bellevue, Washington. We hear about her lessons on strength, focus, determination, hard work, modesty, and gratefulness. To learn more about Chef Ana and her services, visit: https://www.anakasparova.com/ For more about "Thank You, Mama" please visit: http://www.tajder.com/ I would love to hear...
2020-10-2736 min
Thank You, MamaHealing the Mother WoundRev. Michelle is a metaphysical minister, family constellation facilitator, and a clinical hypnotist helping women to heal their “Mother Wound”. Michelle talks about her mother Karen who was an addict and lost her three children to foster homes, and shares the very profound lessons she learned from her: that we have to find compassion for the full woman our mother is, that we are inter-dependent with our ancestor, that we can never escape what we reject, and that our healing is tied to our mother’s healing. For more about Rev. Michelle, please visit: https://revchelle.com/
2020-10-2033 min
Thank You, MamaDon’t Be a Victim Psychologist, author and homicide survivor, Dr. Jan Canty, talks about her mom Lou’s lessons on seeing setbacks as an opportunity, remembering there’s always someone that has it worse then you, being grateful, and treating others how you want to be treated. Jan also talks about her experience of being a homicide survivor, her battle with cancer, adopting her special needs daughters, her inspiring trips to Africa, cross-cultural psychotherapy, importance of imperfect parents, and facing sexism in 1950s America. For more about Jan and her work, please visit: http://www.jancantyphd.com/ For more abou...
2020-10-1337 min
Thank You, MamaYou Have to PlayFrance Winddance Twine is a sociology professor and author of “A White Side of Black Britain”, which examines interracial parenting among white English and Irish mothers of children whose fathers are of African-Caribbean heritage. Winddance talks about her mother Lois and her many lessons on embracing diversity, value of cultural capital, women’s friendships, enjoying life, discipline, self-reliance, and respecting our parents' secrets. Winddance also talks about racism, art as a bridge between cultures, importance of sexual education, and knowing that our mothers did the best they could. For more about "Thank You, Mama" please visit: http://www.taj...
2020-10-0642 min
Thank You, MamaModern MotherhoodThis special episode deals with the academic discourse on modern motherhood. Social anthropologist Dr. Charlotte Faircloth, author of “Militant Lactivism”, talks about her research on attachment parenting, about how (and why) motherhood has changed through history, about the intensity of modern motherhood, and shifts in parenting culture. Charlotte also shares very practical lessons she learned from her British mom Carolyn, a specialist early years teacher. For more about "Thank You, Mama" please visit: http://www.tajder.com/ To contact Ana, please send a mail to: info@thankyoumama.net
2020-09-2929 min
Thank You, MamaLife is Not a Fairy TaleDr. Zsuzsa Berend, a sociology professor at UCLA and author of “The Online World of Surrogacy”, talks about her Hungarian mother Rosa, who at 14 was the only Holocaust survivor in her family. Zsuzsa shares Rosa’s touching story of abandonment, survival and depression, and talks about lessons she learned from her: the consequences of not dealing with trauma, the danger of believing in fairy tales, and the effects of over-protective parenting. Zsuzsa also shortly talks about surrogacy and motherhood. For more about "Thank You, Mama" please visit: http://www.tajder.com/ To contact Ana, please send a...
2020-09-2235 min
Thank You, MamaMama's RitualsAmbi Kavanagh, author, astrologer, reiki master and sound healer from Los Angeles, talks about her Sri Lankan mom Rajeswary’s lessons on faith, rituals, discipline, self-care, humility, getting help, and owning a home. Ambi's website: https://alchemywithambi.com/ For more about Ana and "Thank You, Mama": http://www.tajder.com/ To contact Ana, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net
2020-09-1539 min
Thank You, MamaNevertheless She PrevailedAshura Kayupayupa, a lawyer from Tanzania specialized in human rights, talks about her mother Rose, who, after her husband was killed in a car accident, was disowned by his family. In this episode, we learn about widow abuse, a problem that’s still widespread in Africa. But mama Rose prevailed, and from her, we learn about hope, endurance, hard work, patience, and focusing on your life. We also learn that what truly matters is what we make out of a difficult situation, not why it had happened to us. For more about "Thank You, Mama" please visit: ht...
2020-09-0828 min
Thank You, MamaActs of KindnessAnnie Averett is a mom of three from Seattle where she runs a small teaching and children's safety business. She talks about her mom Grady who runs her own HR consulting company. Grady taught Annie not to fall in love with the mirror, to be kind to others, and if failing - to fail with pride. For more information about Annie, please visit her business website: https://teaching-hands.com/ For more information about Ana and "Thank You, Mama" please visit: http://www.tajder.com/ You can contact Ana by mail: info@thankyoumama.net
2020-09-0130 min
Thank You, MamaDoing Hard ThingsSloane Ketchum is a business tycoon, best-selling author, coach and public speaker from Hawaii. Sloane talks about her mom Shelley who grew up in traditional Chinese culture, and her lessons on changing oppressing traditions, determining your future, and getting out of hard situations. Sloane also talks about her experience of being a teen mom, about not letting your circumstances to define you, and allowing yourself and others to sometimes not be ok. More about Sloane: http://www.sloaneketcham.com/ More about "Thank You, Mama": http://www.tajder.com/ You can contact Ana at...
2020-08-2527 min
Thank You, MamaUnexpected LessonsIntuitive and creative coach, Mara Marchesi, shares lessons she learned through healing herself in order to change her relationship with her mom. We learn that we need to accept people as they are (including their limitations), that we can only change (or heal) ourselves, not others, that we can change old patterns by managing our emotions before responding, and that we have everything we need inside of ourselves. For more about Ana and "Thank You, Mama": http://www.tajder.com/ If you'd like to contact Ana, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net
2020-08-1830 min
Thank You, MamaMama YogiSophia Wise One, a singer, speaker, teacher and transformational storyteller, shares her mom Grace’s lessons on loving your body, applying yoga to your life, making decisions, and accepting change. From Sophia, we learn about empowering stories behind yoga poses, ancestral healing, chronic fatigue syndrome, letting things roll off your back, and saying “No". More about Sophia: https://www.sophiawiseone.com/ More about "Thank You, Mama": http://www.tajder.com/ If you'd like to contact Ana, please send an email to: info@thankyoumama.net
2020-08-1128 min
Thank You, MamaBelieving is AchievingHamidah Thanawala, a financial consultant from New Jersey, talks about her Burmese mama Zubeda, and her numerous lessons. We learn to be content with what we have, to give, to celebrate life, that we are the owners of our experience, that trouble comes our way to teach us something, and that believing is achieving. We hear a very unique marriage story and as a little extra, we also learn how to prepare a Burmese dish called Kaukshwe. Hamidah's podcast "Sharing Life Lessons": https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sharing-life-lessons/id1495248815?uo=4 More about "Thank You...
2020-08-0433 min
Thank You, MamaStanding AloneWriter, co-author and editor of several life-style books, and a true New Yorker, Caitlin Leffel, talks about her mom Victoria, whom she lost when she was only 23. From Victoria, we learn to value our happiness, turn our passion into a profession, and that children do not guarantee happiness. Caitlin also talks about her experience of losing a mom, facing death with respect and dignity, the process of letting our mamas go, and learning to stand on our own. For more about "Thank You, Mama" go to: http://www.tajder.com/ To contact Ana, please send...
2020-07-2836 min
Thank You, MamaMama HopePsychiatrist and coach Dr. Soniya Hirachan talks about her Nepalese mama Asha (“hope” in Nepalese) who grew up in the Himalayas, and every summer walked for a week to the nearest city to help her father sell the produce from their farm. Later in life, Asha built a profitable restaurant business and sent her children to the best schools in Nepal, India and the US. She teaches us about resilience, hope, humbleness, independence, and that it’s ok to be different. The Pumping Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pumping-podcast-l-motherhood-babies-family/id1474667560 For more about Ana an...
2020-07-2129 min
Thank You, MamaThe Mindful Millionaire’s MomLeisa Peterson is a money and business coach, and author of “The Mindful Millionaire” (coming out today!). Leisa talks about her mom Jacquie, who was a hippie in Berkley during the ‘70s. Jacquie faced many struggles but always worked hard to support her children. We learn from her to not let the past dictate your future, to be independent and do whatever it takes to provide for your family, to be strong and never let them see you sweat. We also learn about the importance of savings and having a “nest egg”, and to take care of our mental health. An...
2020-07-1434 min
Thank You, MamaYou Are Not Your TraumaSusan Moylan-Coombs is an Australian First Nations woman, and an advocate for social justice. A member of the Stolen Generations, Susan talks about lessons she learned from both her adoptive mother and her biological mother. We learn that some situations are often not about you - it’s about others, that sometimes you should just walk away, and to not allow trauma to dictate who you are. We also learn about Australian history, the Stolen Generations, Australia’s First Peoples, and how their wisdom could help save the planet. To learn more about Susan and her work, go h...
2020-07-0744 min
Thank You, MamaMy MamaIn this solo episode, your host Ana Tajder talks about her mama, Jagoda Kaloper. Mama Jagoda was a celebrated actress and visual artist from Croatia and the reason Ana started this podcast. Ana shares the most important lessons she learned from her incredible mama about passionately loving life, leaving a mark, being your own source of happiness, aging gracefully, having it all by taking one step at the time, and being present and connected.
2020-06-1628 min
Thank You, MamaTrailerOur mothers’ lessons are an immense treasure, which so many of us never articulate. This podcast does just that: award-winning author and journalist Ana Tajder talks to women of different backgrounds, nationalities, ages and professions who share the most valuable lessons they learned from their mothers. This weekly trip around the world should allow the colorful experiences and wisdom of global mothers to inspire, motivate, and maybe teach the listeners a lesson or two.
2020-03-0801 min