What Belongs to You: Nida Sophasarun on Finding Your Voice; Understanding What Truly Belongs to You; Mysticism; and Trusting Yourself
Release Date: 06/10/2025
What We Keep: Zinzi Clemmons on Teaching Feminism Through Modeling; Demanding Respect; Mothering; and Modeling Healthy Relationships to Our Children
Thank You, Mama
American award-winning writer Zinzi Clemmons, author of What We Lose and Freedom, talks about her South African mother, Dorothy — an activist and teacher who devoted her life to serving underprivileged Black children. Dorothy teaches us to raise independent daughters by modelling feminism, not just talking about it; to demand respect in every relationship; to show our children what healthy love looks like; and to always have the means to leave if a relationship no longer works. Zinzi also reflects on grief, writing, the realities of apartheid, and the deep connection between teaching and...
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Make Order Out of Chaos: Maira Kalman on Living with Purpose and Meaning, Surrounding Yourself with Beauty, and Surviving with a Sense of Humor
Thank You, Mama
American artist, illustrator, writer, and designer Maira Kalman, author of Women Holding Things, Sara Berman’s Closet, and many other illustrated books, talks about her Belarus-born Jewish mother, Sara. After leaving her husband in Tel Aviv, Sara began a new life in New York — and, at 60, finally found her true identity, and her happiest self. From Sara, we learn about making order out of chaos, surrounding ourselves with beautiful things, trusting our own vision instead of seeking outside approval, and living with meaning, purpose, and humor. To learn more about Maira and her work, visit...
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New Episodes Coming on Tuesday!
Thank You, Mama
Thank You, Mama is back with new episodes, as Ana Tajder speaks with women from around the world about the most important lessons they learned from their mothers. This season explores women, mothers, and their wisdom — through books. Listen to the trailer for a short preview of the fascinating guests and conversations waiting for you from May 12. New episodes will be published weekly on Tuesdays.
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
info_outlineA published poet, author of “Novice”, and mom, Nida Sophrasarun talks about how her poetry is influenced by her family on two ends: on one end, it was her family’s inability to communicate emotions that lead her to finding her voice in poetry. On the other end, the birth of her son lead her to finding herself again through writing. Nida talks about her Thai mom Kobkua, “a tiger”, as Nida describes her, from whom Nida learned important lessons, in spite of their challenging relationship. Nida talks about showing love and connecting through food; about the solace of mysticism; about finding her unique voice; and understanding what really belongs to us - and what is just an illusion. Nida also read her poem "Starling" for us.
To order Nida's book of poems "Novice", go here.
You can read Nida's beautiful poem Violent Femmes here.
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