Mother's Quest Podcast

Welcome to this special Father’s Day episode of the Mother’s Quest Podcast. Each year, I feature a father who is not only present for his own family but also answering a larger call to lead and serve in the world. This year, all signs pointed to me interviewing Joe Ward-Wallace! Joe is a retired firefighter, impact entrepreneur, and community organizer, known and appreciated for co-founding South LA Cafe - a Black-owned, family-run coffee shop, market, and cultural center rooted in the heart of South Central Los Angeles. Alongside his wife Celia, and their two daughters, Joe has created more than a business, they’ve built a movement: one grounded in racial and economic justice, food access, and belonging. Today, South LA Cafe spans multiple locations, and includes partnerships inside the Natural History Museum and the Hollywood Bowl, expanding their reach while staying rooted in purpose. At South LA Market, through their weekly grocery giveaway, they've distributed over 33,000 bags of food to thousands of community members, given with dignity and care. Joe is also the Co-CEO and President of the South LA Community Foundation, which breaks the shackles of systemic oppression and inequality by creating, building, and empowering an equitable, healthy, and sustainable South Central community for all. He leads these initiatives with power and purpose and as I discovered in this conversation, a preparedness  for what might emerge, honed from his decades-long career as a firefighter. We recorded this episode just after an epic snapshot moment, the very day that Joe and Celia received the keys to the first South LA Cafe building that they own. By purchasing the historic space from a fellow Black community member, they ensured the building would continue serving the community’s legacy, protected from the forces of gentrification. In our conversation, Joe and I reflected on the deeper roots of that moment and what it meant to grow up with little material wealth, yet rich in love, culture, and resilience. He shared stories of his mother Vonnie, whose strength and spirit laid the foundation for his values, and how her legacy lives on through his commitment to service and entrepreneurship. As I reflect on our conversation, what stays with me most is Joe’s unwavering commitment to both joy and justice and how he’s investing in community not to extract, but to build lineage. His story is one of saying yes to seeds of dreams before knowing exactly how they’d unfold and watching them grow into something even more beautiful than imagined. Through South LA Cafe, through his family, and through every act of service, Joe reminds us that legacy isn’t built on perfection, but on preparation, culture and connection. Topics Discussed in this Episode: Joe’s childhood, his mother’s impact, and the story of how she  took a leap of faith to purchase their home in South Central  The transition Joe made from firefighter to community business leader  Lessons in work ethic, preparation, and grit passed down to and from his daughters The story behind founding South LA Cafe and how it has evolved since then The South LA Grocery Giveaway, a joyful cornerstone of their mission The importance of balancing hard work with intentional rest and self-investment The emotional power and legacy of owning their own building, a stand against gentrification, and the words from a celebratory post I asked Joe to read out loud (this brought me to tears!)   The reflection that brought Joe to tears about how far he has come, which he jokingly referred to as his “Oprah” interview moment.  About Joe Ward-Wallace Joe Ward-Wallace is the Co-Founder of South LA Cafe is a Black-owned, family-owned, community coffee shop, market, and cultural center located in the heart of South Central Los Angeles. The South LA Cafe team exists to serve the community, fight racial and economic inequality, and provide equal access to food. Their mission is to provide a safe space for local residents as well as equal access to fresh, healthy and affordable food. Additionally, he is the Co-CEO & President of the South LA Community Foundation, a 501c3 non profit organization which aims to break the shackles of systemic oppression and inequality by creating, building, and empowering an equitable, healthy, and sustainable South Central community for all. Mr. Ward-Wallace has over three decades experience in business and also helps to lead The Ward-Wallace Group, Coaching and Consulting Firm which supports entrepreneurs, leaders, activists, and athletes to create, launch, and scale world-changing ideas and is professional keynote speaker.  Learn more about his work at www.southlacafe.com. Connect with Joe Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/joe.ward.wallace/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-ward-wallace-11ba6739 South LA Cafe Website | https://southlacafe.myshopify.com/ Joe and Celia's podcast: “In the Mix with Celia and Joe” The Legacy of Vonnie, Joe’s mother This Episode’s Challenge: Joe challenges each of us to help just one neighbor. Ask them what they need, and then do it. Maybe it’s running an errand, checking in with a meal, or simply being present and available. Joe reminded me that this simple act is what sparked South LA Cafe’s grocery giveaway, something that has now served thousands and become the heartbeat of his community work. He emphasized that this small act, when done collectively, can help rebuild a sense of connection and community. Related Episodes or Resources Mentioned in the Episode:  Ep 109: Turning Toward One Another with Rabbi Sharon Brous Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women A New Way of Life Reentry Program The Instagram Post Joe Read titled “We Bought the Block”   The Legacy of Vonnie, Joe’s mother   This Episode is Dedicated by Eric Mann With financial support from Lindsay Pera “This is Eric Mann, co-director of the Labor/Community Strategy Center, a civil rights group in South Central L.A. I am here in praise of Joe Ward-Wallace and the magnificent new 48th Street South L.A. Café. Joe is my son-in-law but he calls me dad and I call him son. He and my daughter, Celia Ward-Wallace, are a powerful team for social justice. Joe begins and ends as a Black Man in South Central Los Angeles. From that clear and solid identity he approaches all problems from the interests of the Black and South Central communities—and from there to all humanity. He has suffered insults and injuries from a racially hostile society and yet fights back mainly through his creative expression and drive for innovation. He just keeps inventing stuff.  The story of how Joe and Celia were able to purchase Mel’s Diner, an iconic South-Central landmark, rescue it from the gentrifiers, and keep it in the Black community is a story of miracles. As Joe says, The 48th Street South L.A. Café is a sacred container that reclaimed the land of our ancestors. Thank God there was a Black family able to weather market pressure to find dedicated Black buyers. Let’s all work to help fund future adventures in that tradition. As there is some sense of despair today, the answer can only take place through building and expanding organizations—the Labor/Community Strategy Center, South LA Café, and Mother’s Quest. And great organizations still need great organizers—and Joe Ward Wallace is in the NBA finals.” About the Labor/Community Strategy Center The Labor/Community Strategy Center (www.thestrategycenter.org) is a civil rights and climate justice organization in South Central LA addressing “the totality of urban life” Our Bus Riders Union served 500,000 LA Bus Riders 50 percent of whom are Latinx, 20 percent of whom are Black, and 60 percent are women, all very low-income. We also work in the Los Angeles public schools fighting for the rights of all students but especially the remaining 50,00 Black students when once there were 150,000. We also are part of the LACI South Central E-Bike Lending Library and our Black Folks on Bikes where we train low-income riders to use electric bikes for errands, mobility, and jobs. Finally, our Strategy and Soul Movement Center is the home of our Strategy and Soul bookstore and film theater.  We have served the LA Community since 1989 and now in South Central since 2015, are an integral part of the city-wide movement for social justice. Our website is www.thestrategy.org,  www.instagram.com/fightsoulcities/https:// www.facebook.com/FightForTheSoulOfTheCities/   Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of passing our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at Ko-Fi.com.    Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest  

At a time when so many of us feel brokenhearted by the ongoing pain, uncertainty and polarization in our world, Rabbi Sharon Brous has been a grounding force and a guiding light for me and so many. She is the senior rabbi and founder of IKAR, a leading-edge Jewish community based in Los Angeles, known for weaving together soulful spirituality, social justice, and deep belonging. A graduate of Columbia University for both her undergraduate and then her M.A. in Human Rights and ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, she is widely recognized as one of the most influential rabbis in America. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, and her 2016  TED talk, “Reclaiming Religion,” has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people. Most recently, she has made an impact with her book The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World, which offers a powerful roadmap for healing through presence, connection, and care. I first learned about Rabbi Brous from my podcast guest, Valerie Kaur, author of See No Stranger, whose Revolutionary Love Project is deeply aligned with Rabbi Brous’ message of compassion and collective responsibility. Since then, I’ve turned again and again to Rabbi Brous’ sermons—words that name difficult truths and pathways forward with honesty, courage, and humanity. Often, it felt as though her messages came just before the headlines—as if she were speaking directly into the emotional moment that was about to unfold. When I reached out to see if she might be open to a conversation, I was surprised and deeply grateful when she said yes. In this conversation, Rabbi Brous shares about her unexpected path to becoming a rabbi, how her mother’s love shaped her, how faith became a foundation for her activism, and why the call to build Beloved Community starts with the people right around us. We explore the Loneliness Epidemic, the necessity of joy, and how we can hold multiple truths at once, even in a time of deep polarization. We also speak about the extraordinary power of small acts of courage—like two bereaved fathers—one Israeli and one Palestinian—who found connection in shared grief and chose to build something healing from that pain. Again and again, Rabbi Brous reminds us that even in the face of heartbreak, we are not powerless. She invites us to begin simply—by noticing when we want to pull away, and choosing instead to turn toward. To offer compassion instead of judgment. To show up, even when we don’t have the perfect words. And to remember that healing begins not in sweeping solutions, but in small, courageous acts of connection. I hope this episode meets you where you are, acknowledges your pain and then also, as it did me, renews a sense of purpose and hope. Topics Discussed in this Episode: Rabbi Brous’ unexpected path to becoming a rabbi The power of showing up: why small acts of presence matter Joy as a spiritual necessity, not a luxury Engaging children in honest conversations and sharing our sadness The Loneliness Epidemic and how to reconnect with our communities Holding space for both Jewish and Palestinian grief We don’t have to choose sides—being pro-humanity vs. pro-conflict How to have difficult conversations with people who think differently The importance of Sabbath rest and reclaiming time for ourselves A simple practice to build connection: greeting your neighbors Why turning toward one another—with compassion, curiosity, and care—is a radical act Practices Shared in the Episode Just Show Up: Whether it's a funeral, a phone call, or dropping off food—presence is powerful. Joy Breaks: 18 minutes a day of joy (music, dancing, walking, cake) as a spiritual necessity, not a luxury. Shabbat and Sacred Rest: Weekly unplugging as a personal and cultural act of resilience. Know Your Neighbors: Say hello, build micro-connection. Start the beloved community where you live. Stay at the Table: When it’s hard, when it’s uncomfortable—stay. Get curious. Reclaim humanity. About Sharon Brous Sharon Brous is the senior and founding rabbi of IKAR, a leading edge Jewish community based in Los Angeles, and author of The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Heal Our Hearts and Mend Our Broken World, a national bestseller. Brous offered the invocation at the Democratic National Convention in 2024, led the Hanukkah candle lighting with the Vice President and Second Gentleman in 2023, and the White House Passover Seder in 2021. She blessed President Biden and Vice President Harris at the Inaugural National Prayer Service in 2021, and in 2013, she blessed President Obama and Vice President Biden. She was named #1 on the Newsweek/The Daily Beast list of most influential Rabbis in America, and has been recognized by The Forward and Jerusalem Post as among the most influential Jews alive today. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, and her 2016 TED talk, “Reclaiming Religion,” has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people. Brous is in the inaugural cohort of Auburn Seminary‘s Senior Fellows program, which unites top faith leaders working on the frontlines for justice, she sits on the faculty of REBOOT, and serves on the International Council of the New Israel Fund and national steering committee for the Poor People’s Campaign. A graduate of Columbia University (both undergraduate and M.A. in Human Rights), she was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.   Connect with Rabbi Sharon Brous Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sharonbrous/?hl=en Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/RabbiSharonBrous/ Twitter | https://x.com/sharonbrous?lang=en   Connect with IKAR Website | https://ikar.org/ YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/user/IKARlosangeles/videos Podcast | https://open.spotify.com/show/1YLHXlESNuxBMEOWoyfLP5?si=446b4210c2ea429e&nd=1&dlsi=e5872b69315d4a84 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/weareikar/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/IKARLosAngeles/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikar-los-angeles TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@weareikar?lang=en Book by Rabbi Sharon Brous:  The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World – Rabbi Sharon Brous   This Episode’s Challenge: Rabbi Sharon challenges us to take one small action to turn toward instead of pulling away. Go for a short walk in your neighborhood and say hello to people you pass. When someone you know is struggling, check in—call, text, or just show up. If a conversation feels difficult, stay curious. Ask questions instead of shutting down. Sometimes, the smallest acts of connection can create the biggest shifts. Let’s choose to turn toward one another. Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next:  Joint ceremony for American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum  TED Talk featuring Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon – “A Palestinian and an Israeli, face to face” Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide On a Quest for Peace and Reconciliation Parents Circle Interview With Layla Alsheikh and Robi Damelin Mother’s Quest Campaign in Support of the Parents Circle Ep 100: Mothering As Revolutionary Love   This Episode is Dedicated to Hanne Mintz by her daughter Marina Mintz Marina Mintz is an entrepreneur and consultant based in Los Angeles, California. She spent most of her career in the translation/localization and sustainability industries. For the past 15 years at Paragon Language Services, the company her mother founded and she recently sold, she helped clients in the entertainment industry make sure their scripts and characters were linguistically and culturally accurate, helped creative agencies reach larger audiences both at home and abroad, and worked with NGOs and government agencies to ensure constituent access regardless of language. Before joining Paragon, Marina was a sustainability and green building consultant who worked with private companies to implement sustainable building and operational practices as well as with event producers to reduce waste and energy usage in music festivals and live events. She was part of the team responsible for creating and implementing an ambitious sustainability plan for the Live Earth Concert series. She also used her expertise and passion to help Paragon design and furnish the company office and implement a recycling and waste reduction plan which ultimately helped attain EcoVadis silver certification. Marina graduated with a BA in Rhetoric and a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies from the University of California at Berkeley and also attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin – Madison Insititue for Environmental Studies where her focus was green building. Outside of work, Marina enjoys volunteering with and raising money for organizations like Alexandria House, Advot and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, hiking in the mountains around LA, attending events – from sports to the opera, and is currently training an adorable six  month-old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Ziggy along with her husband, Chad.   Connect with Marina Mintz: LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-mintz   Organization Marina Supports: Alexandria House | https://www.msalexhouse.com/ Advot | https://www.advot.org/ Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation | https://www.curemeso.org/   Don’t Freakout Friday - Join Us! In this episode with Rabbi Sharon Brous, we talk about the importance of turning toward one another during difficult times. Our conversation inspired me to create a weekly online gathering where for one power hour, we could connect to ourselves and one another, to activism we could do together on the call, and to planting seeds for our rest and renewal over the weekend. There is so much to freak out about right now, but if this calls to you, I hope you’ll pause the doomscrolling and join us for Don’t Freakout Friday. Register here. Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of passing our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at Ko-Fi.com.    Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest  

Hello and Welcome to Season Ten of the Mother’s Quest Podcast. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a decade since I first opened the metaphorical door to Mother’s Quest—sparked by the day two birds got trapped in my house and helped me realize it was time to stop staying stuck; it was time to say “yes” to Mother’s Quest.  As I reflect on all I’ve built and the new E.P.I.C. dreams I want to bring to life, I’ve been thinking about the who behind our what—the people who support us, complement our strengths, and help us realize our biggest visions. That’s why it felt so aligned to start this season in conversation with Jen Kem—a values-driven mother and entrepreneur who models strategic leadership and collaboration, masterfully gathering the right people—who she calls unicorns—to help her reach her ambitious goals, all while being deeply present for her family. Named a top brand strategist by Forbes, Jen specializes in launching innovative ideas with high-performing teams. Her Unicorn Innovation Model™ has supported brands like the Oprah Winfrey Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Oracle, as well as New York Times bestselling authors and visionary entrepreneurs. In her newly released book, Unicorn Team: The Nine Leadership Types You Need to Launch Your Big Ideas with Speed and Success, Jen shares an innovation playbook for building collaborative, values-aligned teams. It’s a book meant not just to be read, but used—again and again—as a practical guide to help you stop building alone and start bringing your dream to life with the right support. In this episode, Jen shares what it means to move through life and leadership in creationship—to surround ourselves with people who not only help you build, but help you become. Through stories of growing up in Hawaii alongside her Filipina matriarchs, to the wisdom she’s integrating in what she calls her “5.0 upgrade,” Jen invites us into a conversation about identity, intention, and interdependence. She shares the power of returning to the most essential parts of ourselves, of navigating what she calls ever-present “pressure, friction, and noise,” and of focusing our creative energy on the right hard things. Through it all, she reminds us that our authentic presence is a powerful form of leadership—and that our boldest, most E.P.I.C. dreams are meant to be realized together.    Topics Discussed in This Episode: Jen’s upbringing in a multi-generational Filipino family in Hawaii and how it shaped her values, identity, and entrepreneurial path How she’s reconnecting with the bold, curious spirit she embodied at age 9—and why her “5.0 upgrade” is about honoring that essence The idea of exfoliation—removing layers that no longer serve us to return to our true selves Jen’s definition of creationship—a fusion of creativity and meaningful, values-driven relationships Insights into her Unicorn Innovation Model™—and how it helps bring bold ideas to life with the right people at the right time Why the who matters more than the how or what—and how to build a Unicorn Team that aligns with your dream A framework for navigating “pressure, friction, and noise” and learning to focus on the right hard things How presence—not perfection—guides Jen’s approach to motherhood and leadership   About Jen Kem Named as a top brand strategist by Forbes, Jen Kem specializes in launching innovative ideas with high-performing teams. Kem's Unicorn Innovation Model has been used by iconic brands like the Oprah Winfrey Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Oracle, as well as numerous New York Times bestselling authors, keynote speakers, and business and thought leaders. In her book Unicorn Team: The Nine Leadership Types You Need to Launch Your Big Ideas with Speed and Success, Kem shares the innovation playbook on how to build the most collaborative, harmonious, and motivated team to achieve extraordinary results. Originally from Hawaii, Kem lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and kids.   Connect with Jen Kem Website: https://www.JenniferKem.com YouTube: www.JenniferKem.com/YouTube Instagram: @jennifer.kem // https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.kem/ Facebook: @JenniferKemComm // https://www.facebook.com/JenniferKemComm/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenniferkem   This Episode’s Challenge: Jen Kem invites us to rethink how we bring our ideas to life by focusing on the who before the how. She challenges us to take the 3-2-1 Unicorn Sprint—choosing a meaningful idea and committing 100 days to bringing it to life. Instead of getting stuck in over-planning or perfectionism, she encourages us to take action, test our ideas, and reflect on whether we have the right people in place to support our vision. The key to success isn’t just the idea itself—it’s the team that helps make it real. Jen Kem’s Book: Unicorn Team: The Nine Leadership Types You Need to Launch Your Big Ideas with Speed and Success  Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next:  Ep 95: An Anti-Hustle Guide To Living Your E.P.I.C. Life with She Build’s Jadah Sellner Open Our Own Doors: My Book Creation Journey Mary Grace's Book Club   This Episode is Dedicated by Alexandra Franzen Alexandra Franzen is an award-winning editor, entrepreneur, and the creator of more than 10 bestselling books and card decks. She collaborates with top publishers like Penguin/Random House and Chronicle, and has been featured in The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times Small Business Blog, Fast Company, and Forbes. In addition, she works with a small number of clients as a writing partner, helping her clients get publishing deals and create powerful books that change readers' lives.  Client projects include Unicorn Team by Jen Kem (USA Today Bestseller), We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers (Wall Street Journal Bestseller), Your Next Level Life by Karen Arrington (NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Instructional Literary Work), and many more.  She's also the co-founder of One Idea Books and Gifts, a bookstore that celebrates books written by women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ voices.  Alex deleted all of her social media accounts 10 years ago and now runs a popular newsletter (named one of the "14 Newsletters You Need in Your Inbox" by Brit+Co) where she shares writing tips and inspiring true stories. https://www.alexandrafranzen.com Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of exceeding our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at Ko-Fi.com.    Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest  

Welcome to this episode of the Mother’s Quest Podcast—the first of 2025 and the final episode of Season Nine before I take a winter break and prepare to launch Season Ten in the spring. As I sat down for this conversation with Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh just before the holiday break, I had no idea of the enormity of the challenges we would face as we began this new year. The toxins we’re navigating—from the CA wildfires to the impact of this new presidential term —are overwhelming.  This makes Avanti’s wisdom feel especially vital right now. In this episode, Avanti shares intentional practices for protection and healing especially in the midst of adversity, and she invites us to honor this month as a season for slowing down and resting, rather than leaping into the pressure of a “new year, new you” mindset. My own desire to take a pause this winter led me to invite Avanti back to the podcast. If you didn’t catch our first conversation, I encourage you to go back and listen—it’s an incredible exploration of her journey from ER doctor to an Ayurveda wellness expert, bridging Eastern and Western medicine to help people live healthier, more intentional lives. She’s the host of The Healing Catalyst podcast, the author of The Health Catalyst, and her latest book, The Longevity Formula: Ayurvedic Principles to Reduce Inflammation, Increase Cellular Repair, and Live with Vitality was just released. Through all these vehicles, she translates ancient healing principles into accessible practices for modern living. During our conversation, you’ll hear how, while writing Longevity Formula, Avanti was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She was confronted with the humbling truth that even as a healer dedicated to healthy living, she couldn’t prevent this diagnosis—or the aggressive treatments it required. Yet, through her journey, she found that Ayurveda, while not a cure-all, provided powerful tools to support her body’s healing, resilience, and ability to navigate such adversity. By sharing her story along the way through her treatment, she became a beacon of hope for others. This episode left me with a renewed commitment to start this year with a slower, more reflective pace. It reminded me to follow nature’s rhythms and embrace this season as a time for pause and reconnection. This isn’t about resolutions or quick fixes to the challenges—it’s about giving ourselves the space to breathe and protective practices that will build our resilience for whatever lies ahead. Topics Discussed in this Episode: Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh’s journey to writing The Longevity Formula. Avanti’s quest to help people tap into their inner wisdom for healing.  How Ayurveda principles align with modern science. The transformative power of reflection during milestone moments. The humbling lesson Avanti learned through her breast cancer journey.  Practical longevity practices: fasting, morning light exposure, and meditation. How Ayurveda protects and prepares us for life’s unexpected challenges. The health benefits of connection and combating loneliness. The idea of shared moments of awe as a source of healing. Redefining New Year’s resolutions by aligning with nature’s cycles. The role of ancient wisdom in navigating modern challenges. Slowing down and prioritizing health during the holiday season and new year.   About Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh, is an Ayurveda Wellness Expert on a mission to show how Ayurveda is a health catalyst to achieve optimal wellness in modern life. After receiving her Bachelor's in Art History from the University of Chicago, she went on to receive her medical degree from Rush University Medical College. While working as an ER physician, she experienced first-hand the limitations of Western medicine. To learn more, Avanti began a 10-year wellness journey during which she studied energy healing and yoga therapy and became a practitioner of the 5,000-year-old ancient healing tradition known as Ayurveda.  Today, Dr. Kumar-Singh bridges the gap between Western and Eastern medicine, helping patients, students, and holistic practitioners discover the healing wisdom within. Dr. Kumar-Singh is also a sought-after speaker and the host of The Healing Catalyst podcast. Over the last 20 years of her training, study and research, Avanti has shared her expertise with Fortune 500 companies, elite undergraduate and graduate institutions, and at prestigious industry and medical conferences. She has been featured in the Huffington Post, Thrive Global and Mind Body Green and served as the co-lead facilitator of the Faculty Scholars Program in Integrative Healthcare at the OSHER Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Medicine. She is also a certified plant-based professional and a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT, October 2020). Dr. Kumar-Singh currently resides in Chicago with her husband Kanwar, her son Zayn and her daughter Isha. The Health Catalyst is her first book.   Connect with Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh Website | www.avantikumarsingh.com Instagram | @avantikumarsingh LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/avanti-kumar-singh-md This Episode’s Challenge: Dr. Avanti invites us to go against the grain of the “New Year, New You” mentality. Instead of diving into resolutions in January, she encourages us to follow nature’s lead. Take time to rest, reflect, and reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. Save goal-setting and big changes for February, when the world begins to thaw, and new possibilities emerge. Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh’s Books: The Longevity Formula: Ayurvedic Principles to Reduce Inflammation, Increase Cellular Repair, and Live with Vitality  The Health Catalyst: How To Harness the Power of Ayurveda To Self-Heal and Achieve Optimal Wellness Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next:  Ep 59: The Healer Lies Within through Ayurveda with Avanti Kumar Singh Ep 102: Milestone Hike Revisited: A Mother Son Neurodiversity Journey Ep 104: Calm, Compassion, Clarity: Election 2024 Ep 106: The Secret to Impacting Our Democracy with States Project’s Melissa Walker   This Episode is Dedicated by Alexia Vernon Dubbed a "Moxie Maven" by the White House Office of Public Engagement for her renowned approach to communication and leadership development, Alexia Vernon is the CEO of Step into Your Moxie and the award-winning author of Step into Your Moxie: Amplify Your Voice, Visibility, and Influence in the World. Alexia delivers keynotes, coaching, and training for coaches, consultants, and entrepreneurs as well as Fortune 500 companies like Google, Amazon, and Zappos and healthcare organizations such as St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Dignity Health, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Culture of Health Leaders. The creator of the first-of-its-kind Step into Your Moxie® vocal empowerment certification program, Alexia is committed to helping her clients speak up for themselves and their big ideas, and call people to take action. She also works with clients to increase their visibility and stand out as trusted thought leaders through speaking engagements and TED-style talks, media interviews, and experiential corporate training programs. You can learn more about Alexia Vernon and Step into Your Moxie at StepIntoYourMoxie.com.   My DCIS and patient advocacy journey- https://stepintoyourmoxie.com/dcis-patient-advocacy-story/   Connect with Alexia Facebook | www.facebook.com/alexia.vernon Instagram | @alexiavernon LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/alexiavernon/   Join us for our Upcoming Virtual Milestone Hike Over the years, I have learned that January never begins the year the way I hope it will.  So, as an annual tradition, I facilitate an opportunity for a fresh start in February with a live Virtual Milestone Hike on Zoom that allows us to use the metaphor of an ascent and descent (no actual hiking required!) to close a chapter and begin again.  If you’ll be ready for a do-over and want reflective space to make meaning of the year that ended and set intentions for what’s ahead, join us! Visit https://mothersquest.com/milestone-hike/ to register. Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at Ko-Fi.com.    Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest  

As I bring you this episode, we are less than two weeks from the 2024 U.S. Election. In preparation for this moment, I seized the opportunity to sit down with Melissa Walker, a children's book author turned powerful political advocate, instrumental in the founding of an organization called The States Project.  Melissa’s path to The States Project was paved in the election results of 2016 which, like it did for so many of us, became a catalyst for activism. Looking for a way to get more intimately involved in our democratic process, her journey took a powerful turn when she attended a holiday party where then New York state senator Daniel Squadron, opened her eyes to the influence of state governments. She learned that issues—like education, healthcare, civil rights, and voting rights—are often decided in state capitals, not Washington, D.C. This spark led her to gather other mothers and children's book authors in her own living room to create what they called a States Project Giving Circle. That group went on to help flip legislative seats in Virginia in 2017, impacting the balance of power enough in that state that they expanded healthcare for 400,000 Virginians that year. Fast forward to 2024 and the States Project Giving Circles grow to over 200 across the country while my Mom Fran and I were searching for how we could transform our anxiety and fear to make an impact in this year’s election. The answer came from my niece Nicole, whose work with The States Project inspired us to start our own Giving Circle, which we named “Generations” for the three generations of women we sought to engage. It was also Nicole who invited Melissa to join our Circle on Zoom, where Melissa helped us make a strategic decision to pick Pennsylvania to direct our funds.  This episode is the invitation we ALL need right now—to look beyond the obvious and consider how strategic political giving in key states can create profound ripple effects across the country. Melissa helps us realize that by coming together with shared values and a sense of purpose, we can light the way for change. In these critical weeks before the 2024 U.S. election, I hope Melissa’s E.P.I.C. life journey and her wisdom inspire all of us to use our power to make a difference—and to bring someone else along. Whether you join our Giving Circle or decide to come together with a community of your own, this episode reminds us that we have agency…and that collective, strategic action, even in small steps, can shift the course of our democracy. Join Us in Our “Generations” States Project Giving Circle! As mothers and daughters... we know that the stakes in this election couldn’t be higher for ourselves and future generations. Many of us are feeling a deep desire to make a meaningful impact but are unsure how best to channel our resources. That’s why we’ve come together to form a States Project Giving Circle focusing on a powerful and often overlooked area of change—state legislatures. In collaboration with The States Project, we are uniting across generations—mothers, daughters, family, and friends—to drive transformative change at the state level. State legislatures play a critical role in shaping policies that affect our daily lives, from education and healthcare to voting rights and environmental protection. Yet, they often receive far less attention and funding than national races. Our Circle selected the state of PA and we are almost at our goal. Help us cross the finish line! Learn how you can make an impact by clicking HERE Topics Discussed in this Episode: Melissa's journey into political engagement post-2016 election and her quest to help people look beyond the first glance to engage strategically and purposefully.  How Melissa balances the “doer” qualities of her mother alongside the “thinker” qualities of her father.   The holiday party with then New York State Senator Daniel Squadron that became the “spark moment” that helped Melissa realize the power of state legislatures.  Melissa’s leadership in the formation and expansion of States Project Giving Circles to promote collective political giving and community engagement. Why a few states like Pennsylvania, the one we selected for our Generations Giving Circle, can also impact the presidential election.  Melissa’s two daughters, and how they have become advocates for educating about state legislatures.  How Melissa weaves in WT (aka window time) into her day to give her space to reflect and how little shifts like reading the news from a newspaper instead of her phone helps her stay more present with her children.  The “epic snapshot moments” that have touched Melissa, from participating in Stand Up for the States with stars like Octavia Spencer to the thousands of conversations she has facilitated in Zoom rooms and living rooms across the country. About Melissa Walker Melissa Walker, Head of Giving Circles at The States Project. Melissa is the author of 10 novels for young adults and children. A former magazine editor, she now enjoys gathering people together to share stories about how they can pool their resources and change the balance of power in state legislatures — in fact, she helps organize over 200 Giving Circles across the country working on this mission. She is a graduate of Vassar College who hails from Chapel Hill, NC, and her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and Teen Vogue. The States Project aims to highlight the importance of state legislatures in shaping American lives and improving democracy. They provide resources to help state lawmakers effectively govern and push for necessary changes​. Connect with Melissa Website | www.melissacwalker.com LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/melissacwalker The States Project Website | statesproject.org X | @melissacwalker This Episode’s Challenge: Melissa invites us to reflect on how we can come together, not just in times of crisis, but proactively. Her challenge: think about how you can mobilize your community. Invite one friend to bring another, forming a powerful group that can create meaningful change, whether by starting a States Project Giving Circle or another form of collective effort. Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next:  Episode 104: Calm, Compassion, Clarity in the 2024 Election https://mothersquest.com/episode104/  MOM THE VOTE: Election Impact Advice To Light Your Way https://mothersquest.com/mom-the-vote-election-impact-advice-to-light-your-way/  Learn about States Project Giving Circles https://statesproject.org/get-involved/giving-circles/  Watch a quick video about why state legislatures matter https://youtu.be/Kv68pp104UQ?si=TV74BJHUVNe4rr23  Generations : A States Project Giving Circle https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/wj6hg3K/Generations-A-States-Project-Giving-Circle  This Episode is Dedicated by Nicole Lettiere   About Nicole  Nicole Lettiere is a Principal of Industry Partnerships at The States Project, where she focuses on building impactful collaborations that drive change at the state level. She also serves as a Strategic Consultant at Propper Daley, a social impact agency where she has been applying her expertise in social innovation for over six years. Nicole’s career began in education as a middle school science teacher with Teach for America in New Orleans, where she created an arts-integrated science curriculum in partnership with the national Turnaround Arts program. A proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she was honored with the Joel Skornicka Service Award for her leadership in developing college readiness programs for underserved communities. Connect with Nicole Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-lettiere  -- Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at Ko-Fi.com.  Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest  

I’m excited to share this conversation with my longtime fellow podcasting friend and parenting guide, Casey O’Roarty. Casey is a positive discipline trainer, certified coach and facilitator of personal growth and development, who encourages parents to discover the purpose of our journey. Through workshops, live and online classes, individual coaching, a published book, and her Joyful Courage Podcast, Casey helps us reconnect to our own empowerment and excitement in parenting, providing us with tools and a shift of mindset that allows us to deepen relationships with ourselves and our families. In recent years, as Casey’s own children have grown and flown, Casey has shifted her focus to supporting parents of tweens, teens and young adults. As I’m navigating fall school-year transitions—sending Ryan off to his junior year of college and guiding my youngest Jacob, now 12, as he starts middle school, I knew I wanted to interview Casey, so that I could anchor into her wisdom, humor and heart-centered approach to parenting during this pivotal time. In this episode, we dive into the heart of Casey’s E.P.I.C. life journey, from her experiences growing up as a child of divorce to her deep and supportive relationship with her daughter, Rowan. Casey shares openly about the ways that she had to evolve her own parenting and trust in the process, when Rowan’s mental health challenges in high school led Rowan to chart an untraditional path. We also talk about the gifts of midlife—self-awareness, personal growth, and the new adventures that come when we embrace our roles as “bird launchers” vs. empty nesters. This conversation left me deeply reflective about motherhood, the unpredictable twists and turns it brings, and the ways we can seek trust, connection, and even stillness in the midst of it all. I hope this conversation, and a Spark Session that Casey and I will collaborate on this fall, invite you to evolve your parenting, finding new ways to nurture connection with your children and within yourself.  Topics Discussed in this Episode: How Casey’s strained relationship with her mother transformed into a supportive one, with the birth of her first child as a catalyst for the transformation.  Casey learned to embrace uncertainty and trust the evolving process of parenting when her daughter Rowan experienced mental health challenges and charted an untraditional path in high school and beyond.  Casey’s positive discipline coaching practice has evolved to support parents of tween, teens and young adults, plus some of the tools she shares to help parents navigate tumultuous times.  Casey’s refusal to fear a future that has not manifested or created suffering if it is not needed.  The empowering perspective Casey holds on midlife, seeing it as a time of self-awareness, integrating personal growth with new life experiences.   About Casey O’Roarty  Casey O’Roarty, Med, is a facilitator of personal growth and development.  Her work encourages parents to discover the purpose of their journey, while also providing them with tools and a shift of mindset that allows them to deepen their relationships with themselves and their families. As a Positive Discipline Trainer since 2007 and certified coach, Casey has led countless groups through workshops and classes that have left them feeling empowered and excited about parenting. She also offers an engaging podcast, live and online classes, and individual coaching at www.besproutable.com/teens.  Her first book, Joyful Courage: Calming the Drama and Taking Control of YOUR Parenting Journey was published May 20th, 2019. Casey lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and loves any time she can get with her launched kiddos.   Connect with Casey: 6 week class starts Tuesday Sept 24th - www.besproutable.com/teens/positive-discipline-classes/#deep-dive-classes Parenting Classes: www.besproutable.com/elementary/parent-coaching/ Website: www.besproutable.com/teens/ IG: @joyful_courage FB Group for parents of teens: www.facebook.com/groups/jcforparentsofteens This Episode’s Challenge: Casey invites us to dedicate space and time for self-reflection, whether through journaling, voice memos or using the Insight Timer. She also invited parents to join her six-week positive discipline class, which started September 24 but is still under way. Stay tuned for more details on a Spark Session we are organizing together “Nurturing Connection While Launching Our Kids.”  Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next:  An Honest Conversation with Rowan About Her Journey of Mental Health & Self Discovery with Casey and Rowan O’Roarty Ep 102: Milestone Hike Revisited: A Mother Son Neurodiversity Journey Alfred Adler: Theory and Application  DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Book mentioned: "The Baby Catcher" by Peggy Vincent (memoir of a midwife)   This Episode is Dedicated by Elsie Escobar Hello, I'm Elsie Escobar, and I'm honored to dedicate this episode of the Mother's Quest podcast to Casey O’Roarty. I met Casey for the first time in 2015 when she was part of a mastermind that I was co-running at the time. From 2015 to now, Casey has worked with me often, and I've been honored to continue to mentor her and really help her with her podcast, Joyful Courage. The gift of getting to know Casey has been incredible. I've always been a big believer that those I work with have something to teach me, and every time a new person comes to work with me directly, I feel there's something I need to learn as well. And this has never been more true than with Casey. Casey has turned out to be my guide more than once, but more importantly recently, because I now have teenagers—two teenagers that I am a mama of. One of them, as Casey would say, is my teacher and continues to teach me the things I need to learn. At times, it's been scary, anxiety-inducing, dark, and hopeless. These are just some of the feelings that have come and gone lately. Really being able to listen to Casey's wisdom on parenting as my coach and hear her voice on her podcast, I'm not sure what I would have done, particularly this past year. She was instrumental in holding my hand across a very precarious bridge, and I just want to say thank you. I love you, Casey. You're amazing. ABOUT ELSIE ESCOBAR Elsie Escobar is a dedicated advocate, mentor, and a leading voice in the podcasting industry with over 17 years of experience. A fierce champion for diversity and representation, Elsie has consistently pushed the boundaries to elevate underrepresented voices in the space. As the Director of Community and Content at Libsyn, she is the creative powerhouse behind “The Feed: The Official Libsyn Podcast,” which has just marked its 10th anniversary with over 1.6 million downloads. Elsie leads content strategy, concept development, and fosters meaningful engagement with podcasters across the globe. Her impact extends beyond her role at Libsyn. Elsie has pioneered innovative content and social media strategies, inspired the creation of the society and culture track at Podcast Movement, and was honored with an induction into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame. Elsie co-founded She Podcasts, the first large-scale community for women and non-binary podcasters, where her passion and commitment inspired a vibrant space for over 20,000 members to connect, learn, and nurture each other’s growth. She is also known for her educational contributions, offering workshops, webinars, and meet-ups designed to empower podcasters at every stage of their journey. Through initiatives like #ClaimPodParity, she amplifies the voices of female audio creators, and as a spokesperson for Edison’s Latino Podcast Listening Report, she highlights the influence of Latino voices in podcasting. She is deeply involved with the BIPOC Podcast Creators initiative, supporting multicultural creators to find their footing and flourish in the industry. Through all her efforts, Elsie has built and nurtured a vibrant podcasting community, inspiring countless individuals to discover their voice, embrace their unique journeys, and succeed in the ever-evolving podcasting landscape.   Connect with Elsie Escobar Website | elsieescobar.com Instagram | @theelsieescobar X (Twitter) @TheElsieEscobar LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/elsieescobar   BIG NEWS! Mother’s Quest is a finalist for the Signal Awards, which honors the best in podcasting, judged by a collective of industry trailblazers. We're up for bronze, silver, or gold in the Family and Childraising Category—and we’re also in the running for the Listener’s Choice Award. That’s where you come in! Head to mothersquest.com/vote to cast your vote and help us win!   Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.  Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest

I’m excited to share with you this special episode featuring bite-sized messages from past podcast guests with practices to help us stay grounded, find calm, and regulate our nervous systems in these final days leading up to the 2024 U.S. election! The inspiration for it… A few weeks ago, amid some election anxiety and inspired by my friend Katie Hanus, I committed to just 10 minutes of meditation. Lying on my back, I looked up at the wind moving through a beautiful redwood tree in my backyard. As I watched, I listened to the sound of a nearby wind chime. My breath began to slow, my racing thoughts calmed, and I could think and feel more clearly again. If you want a little taste of this moment, you can watch the video I shared on Instagram @mothersquestpod These are wild, heartbreaking, hopeful, and scary times, and the stakes are high. There is tragedy abroad and in our own communities, and it often feels like democracy itself is on the line. Mothers in my circle, especially, are trying to figure out how to show up for our children, contribute to this election, care for ourselves, and weave together a stronger community. That moment under the redwood tree reminded me of the importance of finding calm and clarity within the storm. So, I reached out to a few of my amazing podcast guests for some perspectives and practices we can use during this time. I invite you to listen, try some of the practices in real-time as you do, and consider adding one or more of these to your daily routine. I’m grateful to Valarie Kaur, Dr. Elisa Song, Jamie Greenwood, Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh and Jenjii Hysten for saying “yes ” to my invitation when I reached out in need and sharing these thoughtful contributions with us. I encourage you to follow them and tune into my past podcast episodes with them for more wisdom. After listening, I felt more calm, clear and ready to contribute. If you listened to this episode and try any of the practices they recommend, I’d love to know how they are supporting you. Share in the Mother’s Quest Facebook Group or on instagram and tag me @mothersquestpod. I’d also love to hear any of your own practices or those you’ve learned from others that are helping you. Ending with a reminder that we do not have to do this alone and some words I wrote in a Medium post I referenced from 2016. After getting support then, much like I just did now, I shared… “I feel like I am breathing now for the first time in over a week, and though moments of fear, sadness and outrage still come, instead of pushing them down, I am breathing them in, mixing them with equal parts hopefulness and love, and a commitment to do my part to take action.” Topics Discussed: Valerie Kaur guides us through a powerful meditation to connect with our full range of emotions, including grief and anger Dr Elisa Song shares a simple yet effective mindfulness practice called "Stop, Look, and Listen" that both kids and adults can use Jamie Greenwood offers invitations for self-compassion, finding joy during chaotic times and catching our breath  Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh teaches us how to use breathwork to gain clarity when focusing on the inhale and calm by focusing on the exhale Jenjii Hysten shares three profound life lessons birthed from grief and challenge    About Valarie Kaur: VALARIE KAUR is a renowned civil rights leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, educator, innovator, author of the #1 LA Times Bestseller SEE NO STRANGER, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. Valarie burst into global consciousness when her 2016 Watch Night Service address went viral with 40 million views worldwide. Her question “Is this the darkness of the tomb – or the darkness of the womb?” reframes the historical moment and is now a mantra for people fighting for change. Valarie became an activist when a Sikh father and family friend Balbir Singh Sodhi was the first person murdered in hate violence in the aftermath of 9/11. For two decades, in his memory, Valarie led visionary campaigns to tell untold stories and change policy on issues ranging from hate crimes to digital freedom. Her work ignited a national movement to reclaim love as a force for justice. In 2021, she led the People’s Inauguration, inspiring millions of Americans to renew their role in building a healthy, multiracial democracy. Today, the Revolutionary Love Project is seeding networked communities of practice across the country, equipping people with the practical tools to build beloved community and transform the nation from inside out. In the last two decades, Valarie has won policy change on multiple fronts – hate crimes, racial profiling, immigration detention, solitary confinement, Internet freedom, and more. She founded Groundswell Movement, Faithful Internet, and the Yale Visual Law Project to equip advocates at the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and justice. Valarie has been a regular TV commentator on MSNBC and contributor to CNN, NPR, PBS, the Hill, Huffington Post, and the Washington Post. She is a celebrated prophetic voice and has spoken widely, including at President Biden’s Inaugural Prayer Service. Valarie earned degrees at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale Law School, and holds several honorary doctorates. In Fall 2022, President Biden honored Valarie at the White House in the first-ever Uniters Ceremony, naming her as one of 16 leaders whose work is healing America. A daughter of Punjabi farmers, Valarie grew up on the farmlands of California, where her family has lived for more than a century. Her grandfather gave her Sikh wisdom through stories and songs that showed the way of the sant-sipahi, sage-warrior. The sage loves; the warrior fights — it is a path of revolutionary love. Connect with Valarie: Website | valariekaur.com Facebook | www.facebook.com/valarie.kaur.page Instagram | @valariekaur World of Wonder by Valerie Kaur   About Dr. Elisa Song, MD Dr. Elisa Song, MD is an integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, and mom to 2 thriving children. In her integrative pediatric practice, Whole Family Wellness, she’s helped 1000s of kids get to the root causes of their health concerns and helped their parents understand how to help their children thrive – body, mind, and spirit – by integrating conventional pediatrics with functional medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and essential oils. Dr. Song created Healthy Kids Happy Kids as an online holistic pediatric resource to help practitioners and parents bridge the gap between conventional and integrative pediatrics with an evidence-based, pediatrician-backed approach. Her new book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids released on May 14, 2024 teaches parents and children how to create Microbiome Magic for a lifetime of resilient bodies, brains, and immune systems. Connect with Dr. Elisa X (Twitter) @ElisaSongMD Facebook | Healthy Kids Happy Kids Instagram | @healthykids_happykids Website | healthykidshappykids.com Healthy Kids, Happy Kids: An Integrative Pediatrician's Guide to Whole Child Resilience by Dr. Elisa Song   About Jamie Greenwood: Jamie Greenwood is a self care and leadership coach and the founder of Homecoming, a 6 month group coaching program that teaches big-dreaming, high-achieving women how to set boundaries and find home in themselves, without an ounce of guilt. With over 15 years experience, Jamie specializes in helping women get really clear on who they are, how they want to live and then actually doing it on their own terms. Jamie is also the host of The Path Home, a podcast that explores the many facets of home, how we find home in ourselves and how we create a sense of home in our work, our relationships, our communities and in the future we want to see. When Jamie’s not coaching, speaking, or podcasting, you can find her running after her 14 year old, 6 year old and 4 year old daughters and wondering what’s for dinner. Connect with Jamie: Website | https://jamiegreenwood.co/ Podcast | https://jamiegreenwood.co/the-path-home-podcast Facebook | www.facebook.com/jamie.m.greenwood Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jamiegreenwoodcoaching/ The Path Home Podcast |  Jamie Greenwood    About Avanti Kumar-Singh Avanti Kumar-Singh is a physician who, after medical training in emergency medicine, began a journey to find her joy again- and to help people truly heal. Realizing that you can “quit your job but you can’t quit your calling”, Avanti set out to discover what really makes people healthy and what predisposes them to illness.She is now on a mission to evolve the conversation and to create a movement in which medical professionals reclaim the “art” of medicine and become heart-centered, healing catalysts that practice true medicine and support self-healing in their patients. Over the 20 years of her training, study and research, Avanti has shared her expertise with Fortune 500 companies, elite undergraduate and graduate institutions and at prestigious industry and medical conferences. She has also been featured in the Huffington Post and was a member of upwave.com’s review board—Turner media’s former health and wellness entertainment brand. Avanti is currently the co-lead facilitator of the Faculty Scholars Program in Integrative Healthcare at the OSHER Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. Avanti holds a BA in Art History from the University of Chicago and an MD from Rush University College of Medicine. She is also a certified plant-based professional and a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT). Avanti lives in Chicago with her husband and two children. Her first book, Ayurveda for Everyone, will be published in late 2019. Connect with Avanti Instagram | @avantikumarsingh LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/avanti-kumar-singh-md Facebook | www.facebook.com/groups/ayurvedaforeveryonewithdravanti The Healing Catalyst Podcast | Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh   About Jenjii Hysten Jenjii Hysten is an advocate, teacher, lifelong learner, facilitator, author, and a visionary with over 20 years of experience in the education and human services arenas. She is devoted to creating dynamic and engaging learning opportunities through coaching and technical assistance to build the capacity of educational and youth development organizations throughout the Bay Area. In addition to leading Blaze Consulting Group, she provides intensive training and facilitation to support resident service divisions of major public housing developers throughout the state of California. Utilizing her Bachelor of Art, Interdisciplinary Studies degree from UC Berkeley with a focus on Urban Economic Development, Jenjii quickly assesses complex organizational issues and needs to develop creative solutions to help solve problems. Jenjii is a poignant speaker and storyteller with a gift for making people feel loved right where they are. Beloved for her ability to bring diverse groups of people together, Jenjii inspires leaders to have honest, heart opening conversations that lead to action. She shows audiences how to turn trauma into a catalyst for transformation for one’s self and the larger world. Jenjii’s background at the intersections of: executive coaching, anti-racist training, innovative design, curriculum development, women entrepreneurship, education & youth development, make her a go-to keynote speaker, coach and consultant for organizations, associations, and conferences across industries and sectors. Prior to launching Blaze Consulting Group, Jenjii was the founding Executive Director of Saving Our Sisters, Saving Our Selves, a charter school Dean of Students. Jenjii is also the author of Beyond the Hashtag: The Spirit, Heart and Love of Black Men. Connect with Jenjii Website | blazeconsulting.group Instagram | @jenjiifaith LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/jenjii-hysten-407aa045   Listen to These Full Episodes: Ep 100: Mothering as Revolutionary Love Ep 06: Healthy and Happy with Dr. Elisa Song Coming Home To Ourselves with Self-Care Coach Jamie Greenwood The Healer Lies Within through Ayurveda with Avanti Kumar-Singh Encore: Living Out Loud with Jenjii Hysten For More Election Wisdom:  MOM THE VOTE: Election Impact Advice To Light Your Way   Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.  Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest

I’m honored to share this special Father’s Day edition of the Mother’s Quest Podcast. This episode features my friend  Jeff Steinberg, whose commitment to the lessons of the civil rights movement can shine a light for us now, during another pivotal time in our nation’s history. Jeff and I first crossed paths when our sons, Ryan and Journey, now 20 years old, became inseparable friends in preschool. While waiting to pick up our kids, I instantly connected with Jeff as I learned about the transformative work he was doing as Executive Director of Sojourn to the Past, also known as the Sojourn Project. Years before I would create Mother’s Quest, Jeff modeled the power of forging his own purposeful path. After 14 years of teaching A.P. American History, Jeff founded Sojourn to move beyond the limitations of the classroom, delving students into the lessons of the civil rights movement and bringing history to life.  Through week-long journeys to the South, students visit historic locations, delve into primary source materials, hear from Civil Rights icons, and engage in deep discussions. By stepping out of the classroom, students are immersed in a shared history not covered in our textbooks. They return empowered to drive personal, social, and civic change in their own communities. Since his first trip in 1999, Jeff has received tremendous recognition for his impact, receiving state and national awards including The Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. (Advancing Nonviolence Through Generations of Exceptional Leadership) Award and the National Arts and Humanities Youth Programs Award. He has led over 19,000 students and community adults on these transformative journeys, shaping their futures in profound ways. I loved this opportunity to go deep with Jeff into the lessons learned through Sojourn, the belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things and that we all have a role to play to speak out against injustice. Jeff shares honestly about his own personal grappling with our nation’s history, the principles of nonviolence, and the issues we face today, including the horrors unfolding in Israel and Palestine and the student protests here. While you might not agree with everything he says, I hope the thoughtful perspectives he shares inspires you, as it did me, to say yes to a sojourn trip of your own and to move with authenticity into your own transformational activism.  Topics Discussed in this Episode How Jeff’s family and particularly his older brother, who played speeches of MLK and Bobby Kennedy while Jeff was growing up, influenced his commitment to social justice.  Jeff’s path from teaching A.P. American History to founding Sojourn to the Past, bringing civil rights history to life through immersive student journeys. The importance of connecting our children, in developmentally appropriate ways, to our nation’s challenges and how Jeff raised his sons to explore their own authentic path to allyship. The impact of the principles of nonviolence on Jeff’s life and how finding his own inner peace is a work in progress.  The work Sojourn is doing to reform policing and the justice system through bringing officers and district attorneys on the trips.  Why shame and guilt are destructive feelings and how to shift to empowerment and responsibility instead.  The lack of knowledge of our shared history and who Jeff believes are our nation’s real founding fathers and mothers.  Jeff’s personal reflections on the horrors unfolding in Israel and Palestine and the responsibility he feels as an American Jew to speak out against the oppression of the Palestinian people.  His respect for student activism and the conversation he recently had with a student protester at one of the university encampments.  The importance of dialogue, reciprocity, and building shared compassion.   About Jeff Steinberg After 14 years of teaching Advanced Placement U.S. History, “Mr. Steinberg” founded Sojourn to the Past out of a passion for exploring civil rights and the desire to provide a transformational and experiential educational experience for his students. He has designed rigorous, relevant, and standards-based curriculum filled with rich primary source documents, in the hopes that students will benefit from exploring systemic injustices of the past as a means to better understand and address our current challenges. Mr. Steinberg has led over eight thousand students through Sojourn’s living history lesson, along the path of the Civil Rights Movement, through five states in the Southern United States. Additionally, he makes hundreds of interactive presentations annually across the country on the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement. For his efforts, Mr. Steinberg and the organization have received numerous state and national awards including: The Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. (Advancing Nonviolence Through Generations of Exceptional Leadership) Award, and the National Arts and Humanities Youth Programs Award. Connect with Jeff and Sojourn LinkedIn | Jeff Steinberg Website | www.sojournproject.org Instagram | @sojournproject   This Episode’s Challenge Jeff gives us all an open invitation to join one of the Sojourn project trips and immerse ourselves in the living history and lessons of the civil rights movement. He encourages us to explore the written texts and documentaries that they use on the trips at this link. And, he invites us to think about how we can each use our voices to be allies and find our own authentic, transformative path to activism.     About Sojourn Project For over 20 years and through 100+ study trips to the American Deep South and Washington, D.C., Sojourn Project has been immersing people from diverse backgrounds in academic, transformative weeklong moving-classroom Journeys. Along the path and through the lens of the Modern Civil Rights Movement and America’s struggles for liberty. Living history. Learning about sacrifices made and lives taken to achieve the right to vote and equality. Our greatest hope is for people to recognize that they too can stand up to injustice and do extraordinary things. A California-based nonprofit, Sojourn has been honored by the United States Congress as the longest-running social justice education and outreach program of its kind. Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next From Mother’s Quest:  Ep 55: From Grief to Advocacy and a Circle of Mothers Ep 75: A Call for Kinetic Partnership with While Black’s Darius Hicks  EP33: Beyond the Trauma: Legacy, Compassion and Change with Mothers Against Police Brutality Co-Founder Sara Mokuria Ep 82: Honoring Black Mothers with Anna Malaika Tubbs author of The Three Mothers  Sojourn Recommended Resources:  Minnijean Brown-Trickey, a Sojourn to the Past on YouTube Power Documentary on Netflix Movie: Origin based on the Isabel Wilkerson book Caste Notes on Virginia by Thomas Jefferson Slavery by Another Name by Isabel Wilkerson Caste by Isabel Wilkerson Walking with the Wind by John Lewis Song for Cesar: A Documentary SOJOURN PROJECT Media Archives: Book/Documentary List Six Principles of Non-Violence  Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock   This Episode is Dedicated by Kristi Donna Ng Kristi Donna Ng is an award-winning screenwriter, actress, producer and hula dancer. Her short films have been screened at the Boston Asian American Film Festival, Syracuse International Film Festival (1st Place Winner), The Barrow Group's 48 Hour Film Festival (Two-time Audience Award Winner) and The Sparrow Film Project where she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Award. Select theatre credits: Heartstrings (Atlantic Theater Company), Joker (National Queer Theatre), Same Time Next Week (Joust Theatre Company), Love/Sick (PaperKids Theatre Company). Kristi received her Masters Degree in Politics from New York University and previously worked at Human Rights Watch.   Instagram: @krisdng Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.  Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest  

A mother and her son, Ryan Neale, reflect on a milestone hike from his 13th to 20th birthday, discussing growth, maturity, and lessons learned. They delve into embracing neurodiversity, self-discovery, overcoming rejection, building confidence, and the transformative journey of embracing autism. The conversation highlights personal growth, resilience, acceptance, and the importance of embracing one's unique identity.

Welcome to this last conversation of 2023, with coach, teacher, small group and retreat facilitator at Revolution from Home, mother of four daughters and author of the book Motherwhelmed, Beth Berry. Beth says she has revolution in her bones. It began when she was seventeen and pumping milk in the bathroom of her high school for her now-grown eldest daughter. It has since gradually evolved into a tender, fiery conviction to reclaim motherhood from every disempowering personal and cultural story she can wrap her head and heart around. Beth has spent thousands of hours mentoring and supporting mothers through their process of self-discovery, self-reclamation, and dream realization, reminding us of our worthiness and reframing our importance as changemakers. One of the mothers Beth has mentored is Katie Hanus, one of the members of my very first Mother’s Quest Virtual Circle, created over five years ago. Katie and the other members of that first Circle and I are in almost daily conversation together on Voxer where we share the ups and downs of our epic lives and the lessons we’re learning from guides who help light our way. It was through Katie that I first heard about Beth’s transformative work and hoped I could one day interview her for the podcast.  Building deep relationships among mothers is something Beth invites us to explore as her challenge in this episode. Without the web of connections that used to come in the form of a village,  we blame ourselves when we’re unable to live up to superhuman standards with subhuman levels of support. Beth also offers a beautiful opportunity to invest and care for ourselves through tending to what she calls our soul fire, a representation of the things that restore and sustain us. She invites us to think about how we can add not just quick-burning kindling to this soul fire, but the big logs that can burn steadily. I hope this conversation can be a spark for you to put yourself at the center during this holiday and new year season, commit to building rich, meaningful connections with other mothers where you live, and add some long-burning logs to your soul fire. In so doing, may 2024 become a year for a revolution and reclamation from home of your own.    About Beth Berry Beth Berry is a coach, teacher, small group and retreat facilitator, mother of four daughters and author of Motherwhelmed. A revolutionary at heart, she helps mothers get more of what they want and need to feel fulfilled and empowered despite the odds. She believes that self-aware, self-compassionate, well-supported mothers who know themselves to be worthy of pleasure and joy-filled lives are powerful beyond measure and essential to the healing of the world.   Connect with Beth Berry Website | revolutionfromhome.com Instagram | @revolutionfromhome Facebook | Revolution from Home   Topics Discussed in this Episode: The ways in which we inherit our mothers’ “hand me downs” and the ones that shaped Beth and planted seeds for her own revolution. The series of spark moments, most of which she says were not pretty, that set Beth on living her epic life. Beth’s intuitive approach to motherhood and how she practiced mindful engagement with her children from the beginning, even at the age of 17 when she had her first daughter. The deep sense of purpose she feels for changing the narratives around motherhood and shifting the systems that invisibilize the unpaid caregiving of mothers.  The power of tending to our soul fire. Why some of the entitlement she notices in her daughters gives her hope for a more empowered generation of mothers in the future.   How internalized narratives of hyper-individualism can hinder connection between mothers. The post-it Beth has on her computer that says “A well rested woman is dangerous”    Books Beth Mentions: Beth Berry’s Book | Motherwhelmed Jaiya John Book | Freedom: Medicine Words for Your Brave Revolution Clarissa Pinkola Estés Book | Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype Toko-pa Turner Book | Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home Pete Walker: books, biography, latest update Kimberly Ann Johnson Book | Call of the Wild: How We Heal Trauma, Awaken Our Own Power, and Use It For Good Sonya Renee Taylor: Books Adrienne Maree Brown Books Esther Perel: Books  Eve Rodsky Book | Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live) (Reese's Book Club) Angela Garbes Book | Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change Other Related Episodes You Might Enjoy Next:  Reclaiming Our Time and Creativity with Eve Rodsky Slay Your Dragon of Self Doubt with Returning Guest Katherine Wintsch Ep 98: Sometimes Change Sucks “Reflections at the 5 year Anniversary of the Manifesto Challenge” With Graeme Seabrook Ep 41: Reclaiming Ourselves in Motherhood ~A Mother’s Day Special~ with Graeme Seabrook   This Episode’s Challenge:  Beth challenges you to pause and reflect when you feel like you're not doing enough. Ask yourself who benefits from that belief and who is harmed by it. Explore the reasons behind the pressure to over-function and consider if there might be healthier ways to self-soothe and achieve your desired life. She also invites us to invest in building relationships with mothers where we live, beginning to restore a sense of village that we have lost. Brave new connections in your community. Knock on some doors in your neighborhood.   The Mother’s Quest Holiday and New Year Gift Guide:  Put yourself on your priority list and choose something for yourself this holiday season from our Gift Guide. Take a peek inside and see some of my favorite things that I’ve curated for you, including the 2024 Live Your EPIC Year planners. https://mothersquest.com/2024-planners/ Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 reviews to honor 100 episodes this Season Eight of the Mother’s Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.    Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest