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...

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...

 "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'....

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...

After recording, producing and editing 20 episodes of "Should Have Listened To My Mother", I wanted to go back and revisit where I began.  My two guests, Joan Hamberg and  Christopheren Nomura couldn't be more different-different generations, different cultural backgrounds and yet their mother's and their mother's messages were very similar.   I believe a good education is a crucial component of  ...

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...

In appreciation to all of Should  Have Listened To My Mother's guests and their moms, a big thank you for sharing your stories, lessons and insight as to your mother's journey.  We are shaped by our mother's actions in one way shape or form. Are you who you are today because of or in spite of your mother? Happy Mother's Day    "Should Have Listened To My Mother" is an ongoing conversation about mo...

By the time Gail Mitchell was a young teenager, she was already taking drawing classes at a level way beyond her years.  She pursued art through college and today she's still creating beautiful pieces which have many layers and beg you to ask questions.  She's most grateful to both her parents for their loving relationship which was proof of their commitment to each other and the family. Ellen Mit...

Did your mother ever suggest you take a 'SeaMester'-a semester off from college to sail to the caribbean and keep a journal? Or maybe your mom convinced your dad to quit his job and jump in the car for a once in a lifetime family vacation to Alaska? Or how about, forgo Christmas in order to participate in an anti Vietnam war protest in DC? Most likely not, but Tim Wacker's mother did . Ronnie Wack...

When Terry Viscount's parents met, his mother, Joan, was a cashier.  She never worked again till after all seven kids were out of the house. Due to necessity, she took a job helping the elderly.  That's what Joan was truly all about-she always put everyone else first before taking care of herself.  Terry credits his mom for her calm demeanor and compassion for others.  She saved her pennies wisely...

In the late 70's, at the age of 15, Mark Heingartner (MC), became one of the first Burton Board representatives for Jake Burton Carpenter in Vermont.  In the beginning, Mark helped build the snowboards then became one of the first riders/competitors for Burton and travelled Internationally introducing the world to Burton Boards for many years.   After one year of college, Mark decided it wasn't fo...

His personality was likened to an onion-"way too many layers". That's what someone said to Jim Lackey about his personality.  Sometimes we build up these defense mechanisms in order to protect ourselves from the outside world and to not let anyone in. Jim's mother, Geraldine Louise Good,  was a teen mom who went on to complete her undergraduate and graduate degrees while raising 2 children. Her ad...

Are there regrets for a first generation American whose parents emigrated to the United States from Haiti?   Absolutely,  especially when your parents had to work tirelessly so they could pay bills,  put food on the table and send you  to college.  Life was not easy, yet it never stopped Mike's parents from working hard. Having an ambitious mother, demonstrated that you do whatever you need to do...

After the sudden death of her husband, left with 3 daughters, Kim Miller's mother, Anne, had to manage the reality of being a single parent in 1960.   Anne Miller was a survivor. She always taught her children  about fighting against injustices and to do whatever it took to make the world a better place. My guest, Kim Miller, retells the stories of life under the roof with an abusive step father a...

Attorney, Tami Steckler, formerly of the Legal Aid Society in New York, finds it very comforting to have many children under her roof. That's because she and her husband are foster parents and have helped many families get back on their feet. Tami was raised in a similar environment as a child on Long Island where her mother, also an attorney, welcomed anyone in need into their home. She's very gr...

Swapping dates at her High School Prom was the beginning of  wonderful love affair. Down the road however, life had a different plan. Learning from her past and relying on her life experiences has enabled Maggie to become who she is today as a therapist, helping children and  adults build from their points of strength. What helped Maggie put one foot in front of the other in a time of crisis, were...

From a family of academics, Anne just didn't quite fit in as a teen.  But sometimes life's winding path brings you unexpectedly to the head of the pack.  Mary Elizabeth, Anne's mom, earned two Masters degrees, raised 5 children and was a major influence in her life. What most would consider a devastating event in one's life, turns out to be a Godsend and the beginning of a fairytale.  Anne says "I...

Spirituality was a constant in Josephine's life. She relied on it daily to get through each day.  The shock, devastation and sadness of suddenly loosing her husband with 8 children to care for was overwhelming. It seems that her youngest child,  had some of the answers, or so it seemed.  "She let me be me" says Maryellen Cole.   Maryellen considers herself very fortunate to have had such a strong...

She calls herself a 'professional southerner. Though tradition notwithstanding, Nancy often felt more like a tomboy than a young lady. She often felt that she didn't fit in and it wasn't just because she loved to wear blue jeans. "You can't do that because you're a girl" is something that Nancy heard on a regular basis. After more than 2 decades of working in the construction industry, Nancy final...

From braving a grueling transatlantic trip from Poland, to sleeping on the docks in Port Chester, NY, Shirley's mother and her family never gave up their hopes of becoming American citizens.  Shirley's parents worked hard and provided for the family by running a General Store. Luck would have it that a good book in a cozy nook brought pleasure to both women.  At 91, Shirley Gordon reflects back on...

Before I met Roger Evans, I had no real idea what growing up in rural North Carolina in the 1940's was like.  One of 10 children, Roger sheds light on growing up on a farm and who exactly was the disciplinarian in the house.  His soothing tone and easy manner opens a remarkable window into his amazing life during this challenging era in the south. "Should Have Listened To My Mother" is an ongoing...

My first guest has a bit of a puzzle to try and solve regarding her mom.  Feature film Production Supervisor, Peggy Robinson's mom was a New York City foundling but Peg didn't find out till much later in life. So, do you try and piece things together or do you 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' and move on? Very wise words that sure came in handy later on. Having your Doctoral degree and then w...

'Project Sunshine' is a children's organization which makes things a little brighter for children who are hospitalized. My first guest, Lisa Stamm, is a long time employee and shares when and how her interests began as a volunteer and what some of the greatest lessons her free spirited and nontraditional mother taught her. "You are  just like mom" is a common sentiment my second guest,  Leesa Ande...