Libsyn Directory

Replay - Fighting Back With Love: Munira Premji on Gracefully Accepting What Is; Being In the World, Not of the World; Purpose and Curiosity

Thank You, Mama

Release Date: 11/12/2024

Of Lessons, Books, and Seasons: Why Thank You, Mama Is Moving to a Seasonal Format

Thank You, Mama

Since launching Thank You, Mama on International Women’s Day 2020, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with extraordinary women from around the world—artists and scientists, CEOs and stay-at-home moms, bestselling authors, pop stars, retirees, and entrepreneurs—about their mothers, their legacies, and the lessons that shape who we become. Across 183 episodes, these conversations have shared deeply personal stories and hard-won wisdom, revealing how universal our experiences are as women, daughters, and sometimes mothers. They’ve reminded me that being a woman means belonging to a...

Heading East to Reach the West: Mitra Jordan on Not Letting Circumstances Define You; Women’s Resilience Through Iran’s Revolutions; Following Your Own Path; and the Courage to Act Counterintuitively

Thank You, Mama

Originally published in 2021, I’m replaying this remarkable interview in solidarity with the courageous women of Iran and to offer you historical context for the protests unfolding today. Retired preschool teacher Mitra Jordan reflects on the life and legacy of her mother, Sattareh Farman Farmaian - widely regarded as the mother of social work in Iran and author of Daughter of Persia (highly recommended). Sattareh was raised in a royal harem as one of 36 children born to the ruling prince of the Qajar dynasty. She earned a degree in sociology from the University of Southern California,...

Honor Life: Elodie Ferchaud on Loving Life; Re-Bouncing from Challenges; Keeping a Positive Outlook; Balancing a Passion with Motherhood; and Exploring New Cultures

Thank You, Mama

Elodie Ferchaud is a co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Boundless Life, where she helps families slow-travel the world while ensuring their children receive a high-quality education. A mother of four raising her children across borders, Elodie is building a global company while juggling school runs, bedtime negotiations, and night feeds. She speaks about her mother, Françoise, a music teacher who successfully balanced her passions and career with being a deeply present parent, and who showed extraordinary resilience through her battle with cancer, followed by the devastating loss...

Replay - Learning from Mary, Mother of God: Dr. Christine Valters Paintner on the Sacred Feminine; Being a Loving Witness of Life; and Turning Challenges into Helping Others

Thank You, Mama

It’s Christmas, and we’re celebrating the birth of Jesus, so it’s the perfect time to think about his mother, Mary. While she is omnipresent in Christianity - especially in Christian art - we know very little about her. This is why I was very excited to learn more about, and from, her through my guest, Dr. Christine Valters Paintner. Christine is the author of Birthing the Holy: Wisdom from Mary to Nurture Creativity and Renewal. She has a PhD in Christian spirituality, is an abbess, and is the author of more than twenty books on spirituality. Christine tells us about her American...

Brave is Beautiful: Ana Hebra Flaster on Courage; the Immigrant Experience; Making a Difference; and Choosing Happiness

Thank You, Mama

Former software engineer Ana Hebra Flaster has written extensively about Cuba and the Cuban-American experience for major U.S. publications including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe, as well as on her acclaimed Substack, @CubaCurious. Her memoir, “Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town,” traces her family’s remarkable journey from post-revolutionary Havana to a snowy mill town in New England. In our conversation, Ana reflects on the realities of immigration, the legacy of the Cuban...

The Guise of Perfection: Amy Weinland Daughters on Memories, Letting Go of Perfection, Standing Up for Yourself, and Why the Best May Still Be Ahead

Thank You, Mama

Sports journalist and author of Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter and You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened, Amy Weinland Daughters, shares the life lessons she learned from her American mom, Sue: the danger of hiding behind a “perfect” façade, the trap of letting others define who you are, and the inspiring fact that your current chapter isn’t your whole story — because the best may still lie ahead. She also speaks about being guided by love, embracing a “why not?” mindset, and being open-minded....

Don’t Stay Stuck: Dacia Moore on Depression; Work Ethic; Faith; Getting Help; and Guiding our Children

Thank You, Mama

Dacia Moore, licensed counselor and founder of Second Wind Counseling & Consulting, has dedicated her career to helping African Americans understand the benefits of therapy, take a proactive approach to mental wellness, and become their best selves. She’s the author of Why Are So Many Students So Angry? and the forthcoming From Stuck to Unstoppable. In this episode, Dacia traces her mission back to her Jamaican mother, Dorothy, whose struggle with depression became a living picture of what it means to be “stuck.” Watching Dorothy’s pain - and her resilience - taught Dacia...

Ignore It: Sairan Aqrawi on Midlife; Trust and Patience; Taking Action; Owning Your Voice and Knowing When to Let Go

Thank You, Mama

Engineer and Midlife Business Strategist Sairan Aqrawi shares her inspiring journey from Iraq to a new life in the United States—and the extraordinary story of her mother, Sidika, who was married at 14, became a mother at 15, and went on to raise seven children. From Sidika, we learn the power of patience and trust in divine timing; the wisdom of letting go of small grievances; the importance of choosing grace over noise, and of not seeking validation from others. She reminds us that not everything will unfold as we wish—and that sometimes, peace means letting go. Sairan also...

Where Does Your Validation Come From?: Julie Cobalt on Conflict Resolution; Finding Validation in Taking Care of Others; Shifting Perspective to Understand Others; and Acting Instead of Reacting

Thank You, Mama

Julie Cobalt is an attorney with over 25 years of experience as a Conflict Resolution Expert with 1,200 successful mediations accomplished. After many years of working with large companies, Julie is now supporting families in resolving their conflicts, and offering workshops on navigating challenging times such as divorce. Julie shared a story of her mom who was always seeking validation through helping people outside of her family. This led to a fascinating conversation about the balance of taking care of others with taking care of yourself, but also questioning whom you seek validation from...

Breaking the Cycle: Becky Barnicoat on Achieving Your Dream Career Through Persistence; Listening to Your Body; Motherhood as a Source of Fulfilment; and Learning from Our Mothers' Stories

Thank You, Mama

Sometimes, on occasions that are getting rarer and rarer, Instagram can be a place of great discoveries, and Becky Barnicoat was one of those for me. A cartoonist published by The New Yorker, Grazia, The New Statesman, The Guardian, BuzzFeed, New York Magazine, Private Eye and Netflix, she had recently published her deeply funny and touching graphic memoir “Cry When the Baby Cries”. For years, her observations of daily life and motherhood made me burst out laughing (often when I needed it the most). So join me as I finally get to laugh together with Becky! Hear her inspiring story...

More Episodes

I'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 also shares important lessons she learned through her battle with three advanced cancers: breast cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma. Three years after our conversation, Munira continues to share light and inspiration through her beautiful work.

To learn more about Munira, her book, and her work, please visit her website here.

Or find her on Instagram here.

To read Ana's lessons from her family's cancer lessons, visit here.

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

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