Thank You, Mama

Economist Elisa Sitbon talks about her Tunisian Jewish mom Corinne and her lessons on being open-minded and establishing meaningful connections, not depending on others to make you happy, being incorruptible in a relationship, taking risks, and things not always being as bad as they seem.  

In 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...

Molecular Biologist Dr. Özlem Yüce Petronczki talks about her amazing mama who wasn't allowed to go to school but pushed her daughters to complete PhDs. Listen for mama Fatma's lessons on being open-minded, honest and non-judgmental, on women's strength and courage, on overcoming boundaries and pushing your children to live up to their potential. And as a little extra, learn about Alevism and wome...

Mindset coach Dr. Manuela Powell, a former breast cancer surgeon at the famous Sloan Kettering Hospital in NYC, talks about her Brazilian mother Andrea, a psychologist who taught her to stop and think, to consciously decide what you want from life, that you can build a successful new career in your 40s, and that you'll never feel ready for big things in life - so you should just do them. Having de...

Wanjiku 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.

Stephanie Mitchell, a game producer from Seattle, talks about her mom Tanya who raised her three children as a single mother while working as a bar tender. We learn about hard work, being a people's person, how much independence is too much, and the importance of recognising and dealing with addiction running in the family.

Monica Cermeno, former performance testing engineer at Boeing, talks about her Mexican mama Fina, a seamstress who became a business owner. We learn to control our actions and not other people's, that good deeds come back three times, about working hard and making the best out of our circumstances, and the importance of saying "I love you."

In this special mini episode, seven little girls, Olivia, Elise, Gabriella, Lola, Sophia, Penny and Bailey, share the lessons they learned from their mothers. You will learn how to protect lettuce from naughty bunnies, avoid fighting, speak Spanish, Korean and Slovak, make lasagna, jump rope, that we all actually have many mamas who will love us forever, no matter how many mistakes we make, and ma...

Writer and podcaster Ronit Plank talks about her mom who left to follow Guru Bhagwan in India. 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 of expressing feelings in a vulnerable and constructive way; and to always use more herbs than the recipe calls for.

Ines Abejon, a stylist from Madrid, talks about her mom Pilar who grew up in Spain during Franco's dictatorship and became a successful lawyer, happy wife and mother of three. From her, we learn the importance of staying independent within a marriage, what makes the right partner, to always look the part, and that no one is perfect .  

Karen DiConcetto is a TV-writer and a former pop-star from New York. Karen talks about her New Jersey mom Kathy, a nurse who bounced back from a divorce in her sixties and is now happily married. We learn from Kathy that it's never too late for a fresh start, to be authentic, not to take things personally, and that we don't need to do everything ourselves.

Roxanne Derhodge, a therapist and consultant specialized in resilience, talks about her mother Carol from Trinidad who had six children, and teaches us about caring for others, unconditional love, but also the importance of self-love, setting boundaries, and walking away when things aren't working. 

Kathryn Sermak was Bette Davis' personal assistant and best friend during the last ten years of Davis' life. Davis wasn't Sermak's mom, but we're making an exception for the Hollywood legend, and celebrating her birthday by learning from her about marching to the beat of your own drum, owning your mistakes,  making decisions , trusting your instincts, and living life to the fullest.

Doris W Lee, a former marketing expert, now a busy mom of three, is sharing her mama Sophia, a nurse from South Korea who is teaching us about being brave but also kind and sweet, having a healthy suspicion of people, not taking the first thing you get, and empowering your children by teaching them about sex. 

Los Angeles based TV and movie actress Laura Allen talks about her stay-at- home-mom Julie, from whom she learned the importance of a career, the courage to age naturally, respect for other women, and how to embrace change.   

Jaynie Jackson, a music talent manager from Los Angeles talks about her mom Florence who beat cancer in her seventies, and raised her nine children with a strong sense of religion, altruism and love for performing arts. Mama Florence teaches us the power of prayer, family values, art of sharing, loving and serving people, and living your passion.

Claire Bidwell Smith, best-selling author of three books on loss (The Rules of Inheritance, After This, Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief), a grief therapist, and a Charleston-based mom of three (or six!), lost her mama Sally when she was only 18. From Claire, we learn about "healthy grief" and that there is no right way to grieve . From mama Sally, a food stylist, we learn to embrace the messin...

Rupa Chawla, a retired United Nations employee from Austria and India, talks about her Burmese mother Ada who, at 86, is still the pillar of the family. Ada still meditates and practices yoga every day, and teaches us about gentle honesty, real strength, life without judgement, being self-contained, the magic of letting things be, and the blessings of gratitude .

Our 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 m...