Should Have Listened to My Mother Podcast

When your mom makes all the little things in life magical, who needs the big things? Jen Hale's mother, Nancy  taught music lessons in the evening and was home taking care of the 3 girls during the day.  This week's guest, Jen Hale, recalls her mom's spirit, wisdom, patience and compassion in moments when not  every mother and/or father could -the moments when a parent is filled with fear for thei...

Dr. Ramani's parents repeatedly explained to their daughter  that education was the most important thing  in her life in order to be respected and taken seriously . There was  no way around potential bias toward a young Indian woman regardless of the fact that she was born in the United States and  an American citizen. The oldest of two daughters, Dr. Ramani took this responsibility very seriously...

So much thought goes into the conversations that a mother has with her daughter about becoming a woman.  A wonderful book for adolescent and pre-adolescent girls, "The Alchemy of Womanhood",  is a wholesome and poetic take on becoming familiar with the beauty and power of your own body as a young lady.   Author, actor and director, Dolores Rice, who's husband is Andrew McCarthy, considers herself...

Imagine your home is abuzz, young inspired graduate students coming and going discussing literature, your parents writing their own works plus editing for others.   This is how Anya describes her childhood. Her parents met while working at John's Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. Once Anya was born, the family moved onto Baton Rouge, La. where  mom and dad both got jobs as  writing professors a...

 "Have I Taught You Everything I Know", a book of daily entries, sheds light on who exactly McGrath's mom was/is and helps clarify her mom's personality and life choices and philosophies.  Monette and her mom were always two peas in a pod regardless of the complicated family history....(with 8 sets of parents and two divorces). "I had put my mom on a pedestal and later learned that no one is perfe...

My guest was a baby when her unmarried teen mom left her with her abusive grandmother for ten years, and yet she harbors no ill will toward anyone.  "i was always told, I could never do nothin right," LeQuita mentions though she seems to have done everything right. She kept moving forward in life as though what was given her had no real consequences-she knew from a young age that there was 'more'....

Jay and his mother were joined at the hip back then and still today even though Doris now lives on the west coast and he on the east.  Doris and Jay had a great understanding and mutual respect for each other. They had plenty of "she and I" moment Jay fondly recalls, when they would go shopping together over the weekend. Doris was a single mom and worked as a Social Worker at the Bronx Court House...

While Lisa was growing up, she and her family travelled  quite a bit, usually related to her father's work in New York, Texas, California and London. One of Lisa's fondest memories of her mother was sitting down together and having tea and talking about anything and everything including boys. "You have to look at the way a guy behaves and not just what he says" her mom would say.  Lisa always felt...

Sara, Allison's mother, "was all about lightness, air, love, encouragement and positivity," says Allison. "She let me live my life. She never really went out of her way to advise me or critique my life, and I respect her for that." Allison continues by saying "my mother cultivated independence in her children and she encouraged us to always tell the truth."  "Honesty and integrity"  were essential...

Her mother's strength, one of many wonderful characteristics,  helped my guest through some really tough times, including my her dad's death, job elimination, her mom's death and a divorce.  Both mother and daughter survived  big life transitions and had to reinvent themselves.   When your mother makes you feel like you're the most important person in the room, that's a great feeling. When your mo...

Dawn and I met in college and I'm so glad we got to spend some time together to talk about her mother, Erma Jean O'Connor. Erma Jean grew up on a farm in upstate New York.  She was one of seven children, 6 girls and 1 boy and she had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh. A no nonsense woman, Erma Jean's 3 kids were her top priority.  After time as a victim of abuse and an alcoholic husban...

After decades of working in the art world in some of the  most highly regarded  galleries in  Soho, and throughout NYC, Andrew Sarewitz, has started putting pen to paper for his own nonfiction works. Hear excerpts from his deeply personal story "In The First Person" as well as stories of his relationship with his mother.  When it came time to tell his mom something very important,  she was in deni...

How would you feel after your sister told you that " mom wished she could have left you at the hospital after you were born." Well that was a crushing blow to my guest, but because of the help from her grandparents, Precious was able to mend her broken heart. At the age of 15, Precious moved into her grandparents house and under their loving roof, she began to heal. Her paternal grandmother, also...

Patricia and Marty, Marie's parents thought they were doing the right thing and being very responsible and conscientious until one comment from someone they respected and  admired rocked their world. That was an unfortunate yet fortunate life changing experience, one that Marie Manuchehri and her family have built their life's path  around to this day. Marie believes her intuitive abilities go bac...

Her bosses wanted her to shut up and do her work, says Cate of her mother's bosses, but that was not who Helen was.  Helen grew up in South Carolina, one of three children raised by a farming family. Her mother insisted she leave the farming life to her younger brothers and go to college. Within a few years, she was one of 5 women to graduate  from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill....

Her mother Ann was glamorous, graceful and spiritual, says Ann Miceli Teed of her loving mother.  One of 5 children and her mother's name sake, both Anns had a very special relationship.  My guest's father sang in the chorus on broadway and her mother worked at Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan before moving upstate New York. Though Ann's mother has passed, she feels her mother's presence and guidanc...

 Erik has always loved music, performing, dance and laughter. He didn't like school. Erik's mother, Gerri, was very clear from the beginning  on how exactly he was to get through high school. As an english teacher, she knew the benefits of a great education and wasn't about to let him slip through her fingers. Nor was she going to take any part in his decision to not get out of bed, which meant, s...

After working in the financial services industry  for decades, Lisa Taitt-Stevenson left the corporate world to help the world.  Lisa strongly believes that "life should not be lived within the box, or outside of the box, life should be lived as if there is no box." She has pursued her calling as a Life Coach,  podcast host, author and motivational conversationalist, "planting seeds of self-love o...

My guest, Greg Shaffer, the 2nd oldest of the four boys, is the founder and president of The Shaffer Security Group based in Texas. He is a retired FBI tactical instructor, active shooter expert,  counter terrorism team trainer  and more.  Greg is the author of the best-selling book, “Stay Safe – Security Secrets for Today‘s Dangerous World”. Considering his background and busy schedule, Greg coul...

Hannah refers to her mother as a saint and her hero.  As a child, my guest, remembers her mother's great sense of humor, dancing and listening to music, learning about bug and butterflies and the significance of faith. Rebecca, Hannah's mother endured much pain and sorrow as a young girl fleeing the Nazi's in Europe. At 17, Rebecca, on her own, immigrated to America with her younger brother.  The...

At a young age, Gordon started out his career working with sound, lighting and special effects in theatre and completing his B.A. in radio, television and film. Gordon Firemark certainly had enough credentials for a very successful career. Yet apparently it wasn't enough, or maybe, he eventually came around and listened to his mother:) He got a law degree and is  most generous with his time and ex...

  Marcie Coronado has travelled quite a bit, yet always comes back to Medanales, New Mexico. It's high arid dessert and a farming community where the main source of water is the Rio Chama. Between a lack of water and adverse weather conditions, it was often a struggle. Her father's side of the family is part hispanic, by way of Mexico and her mother's side of the family is native to New Mexico.  ...

When Breeze got teased at school because he didn't look Italian enough, his mother would say, "Next time tell them you're 'FBI'-Full Blooded Italian!   Maryann or mom as Breeze  referred to her, used humor regularly to handle all kinds of situations, including difficult coworkers and clients where she was an executive secretary for 40 years. When Maryann was younger, she wanted to be Carol Burnett...

Shortly before Jean Walters' mother died, she told her daughter " I never  understood you, but I really do respect you."  That meant a lot to Jean as the two had often butted heads over the years. The challenges with her mother early on in life influenced her career and that she is thankful for. Jean's latest book,  "The Journey From Anxiety To Peace-Practical Steps to Handle Fear, Embrace Struggl...

My guests were brave enough to open up and share their emotional stories and experiences regarding their mother. The mother/daughter - mother/son relationship is sometimes one of the most complicated relationships you'll ever have to navigate.  I admire my guests and their willingness to trust me and truly express themselves, whether it brought tears or laughter. Hopefully by sharing these stories...