Directing Life: How Motherhood Shaped The Career Reboot Of Christine Swanson
Release Date: 12/16/2024
Mom To MORE
In this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey welcomes Cristan Crocker—a former actress turned stay-at-home mom turned celebrated documentary filmmaker and producer. Known for powerful projects like The Other F Word and Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie, Cristan is co-founder of Rare Bird Films, where she tells stories that unpack identity, challenge societal norms, and celebrate change. Cristan shares how raising twin boys and a third son in the Pacific Palisades shaped her creative lens, giving her new perspective, purpose, and persistence. Deeply committed to both family and...
info_outlineMom To MORE
We’re hitting rewind with this encore replay of the Mom to MORE® debut episode, featuring a bold reinvention that set the tone for everything that followed. Meet Ellen Friedlander. Originally from Upstate New York, Ellen has lived a life of creativity, movement and reinvention. She has lived in numerous cities across the United States, as well as fifteen years abroad in Hong Kong where she raised her two children. After moving back to the States with her kids and becoming an empty-nester, Ellen moved to Los Angeles in order to pursue her lifelong dream of being an artist. Ellen’s...
info_outlineMom To MORE
In this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey chats with Ali Essig—a former Capitol Hill communications director who now empowers women from the kitchen and the Pilates studio. As a holistic plant-based nutritionist, Pilates instructor, and mom of six (including twin boys!), Ali is the founder of PlantWhys, where she helps women heal from the inside out through plant-predominant eating and core-focused movement. Ali’s journey began when her husband suffered a stroke at just 37. Paired with the early loss of her father, this sparked a deep dive into holistic wellness and a shift that...
info_outlineMom To MORE
In this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey chats with Ashley Flanagan Slaughter, founder of Sweat for Smiles—a new and unique organization that brings together fitness, wellness, and philanthropy through energizing community events. A former NCAA Division I swimmer and certified nutrition coach, Ashley has raised over $31,000 for charitable causes while inspiring others to move with purpose. Ashley’s story is one of intentional reinvention. Motivated by her own health journey and passion for giving back, she created Sweat for Smiles as a way to connect people through movement and...
info_outlineMom To MORE
In this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey chats with Lisa Johnson, co-founder of Been There, Got Out and a powerful voice for women navigating high-conflict relationships and legal battles. Lisa is a certified domestic violence advocate, high-conflict divorce strategist, and self-represented litigant whose case was published in the Connecticut Law Journal, a rare honor for a self-represented litigant. Her testimony helped pass Jennifer’s Law in Connecticut, expanding domestic violence definitions to include coercive control. Her reinvention began as she fought to protect her...
info_outlineMom To MORE
In this special Mother's Day mini episode of Mom to MORE®, Sharon reflects on what ducks can teach us about reinvention after motherhood. Sharon shares why your ducks don’t need to be in a row to start your next chapter—and how the messy work you’re already doing is moving you forward. It's the pep talk every mom needs today. Looking for More? Follow @momtomore on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. @Sharon Macey on LinkedIn. Keep an eye out for episode #37 of the Mom to MORE® podcast where Sharon is joined by Lisa Johnson, co-founder of Been There Got Out, a high conflict...
info_outlineMom To MORE
In this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey chats with Neha Ruch, a visionary redefining the narrative around motherhood, ambition, and career. Neha is the founder of Mother Untitled, a platform empowering ambitious women who choose to pause or downshift their careers for family life. A Stanford MBA and former brand strategist, she launched Mother Untitled in 2017 to dignify the caregiving years and reframe career breaks. Her debut book, The Power Pause, is already making waves for its empowering take on modern motherhood and identity. Tune in as Sharon and Neha unpack the stereotypes...
info_outlineMom To MORE
In this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey chats with Jennifer Rawlings, a fearless force in comedy, filmmaking, and motherhood. Jennifer is an award-winning performer, writer, and documentarian whose sharp humor has taken her from comedy clubs to war zones. She’s done over 350 military shows, given three TEDx Talks, and created the acclaimed documentary Forgotten Voices: Women in Bosnia, now used at Harvard and UCLA as part of their curriculum. She’s also a proud mom of five. Jennifer shares the tension between motherhood and ambition, from driving carpool in her robe to...
info_outlineMom To MORE
In this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey chats with Natalie Silverstein, a powerhouse in the world of service, philanthropy, and family engagement. Natalie is an author, speaker, nonprofit founder, and advocate for youth and family service. She wrote Simple Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving Back and The Busy Teen’s Guide to Making a Difference, both of which provide practical ways for families to incorporate service into their lives. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Simple Acts, Big Impact, where she celebrates young changemakers. Natalie shares her journey...
info_outlineMom To MORE
In this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey chats with Kathleen Smith, founder of MorphMom, a multimedia platform dedicated to educating, inspiring, empowering, and connecting women as they navigate their next chapters. After earning degrees from Holy Cross and Georgetown Law, Kathleen served as an assistant prosecutor before stepping away from her career to raise her children. She soon realized re-entering the workforce wasn’t as simple as she had hoped. This inspired her to create MorphMom, a space where women could share their journeys, support one another, and find inspiration to...
info_outlineIn this episode of Mom to MORE®, host Sharon Macey is joined by visionary storyteller and mom, Christine Swanson, a multiple award-winning director recognized for her powerful and heartfelt filmmaking.
Christine Swanson, a Detroit native, earned a BA from Notre Dame and an MFA in film from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where she was recognized as one of its most promising filmmakers. Her career includes developing and directing projects for major studios such as HBO, Lionsgate, BET Films, and Warner Bros.
Tune in as Sharon and Christine delve into the challenges of balancing motherhood with creative ambitions. Christine shares how she took a 15-year “timeout” to focus on raising her four children and the profound lessons she gained from that season of life.
This episode also explores Christine’s return to filmmaking, her journey through significant family challenges, and her latest project, the award-winning film Albany Road.
This inspiring dialogue celebrates resilience, creativity, and faith, reminding moms everywhere to embrace every chapter of their journey with joy and purpose.
[00:00] Introduction
[02:38] Christine’s story, raising four children in Los Angeles and Charlotte
[04:07] Why Christine paused her career for a 15-year “timeout”
[06:02] Lessons learned as a stay-at-home mom
[10:06] How motherhood shaped Christine’s directing style
[18:04] Overcoming financial and personal challenges
[22:06] Returning to filmmaking and Christine’s journey to success
[23:00] Discussing her new feature film, Albany Road
[27:01] The strength of women in Christine’s stories
[30:28] Finding joy in less
[31:07] Where to Find Christine Online
Meet My Guest Christine Swanson:
Website: FaithFilmWorks.com
Albany Road Instagram: @albanyroadmovie
Instagram: @Cswanson44
Looking for More? Follow @momtomore on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. @Sharon Macey on LinkedIn.
Keep an eye out for episode #28 of the Mom to MORE™ podcast where Sharon is joined by Jo Piazza, international best-selling author, acclaimed podcast host, mom and so much more…. Coming soon - you won’t want to miss it ♥