Mother's Quest Podcast

I'm excited to bring you this conversation with Danielle Dutton, acclaimed Margaret the First author, whose own mother instilled an appreciation for reading and education early in her life. Danielle and I spent many family holidays together growing up because our mothers have been life-long friends. But, it's been years since I've spoken with Danielle and it was such a joy to hear about the E.P.I.C life she is living. Danielle is the author of three books, most recently Margaret the First, based on the life of Margaret Cavendish, a 17th century Duchess who wrote and published poems, plays and other works during a time when "being a writer" was not an option for most women. In addition to being an author herself, Danielle also co-founded, with her husband, the independent press called Dorothy, a publishing project. The press came from her own desire to create more space for innovative works by female authors. It is named for her great aunt, a librarian who drove a bookmobile through the backroads of Southern California, delivering books to underserved desert communities. Born and raised in California, Danielle now lives in Missouri, where she teaches in the writing program at Washington University in St. Louis and enjoys time with her husband and eight year old son, both writers themselves. Danielle and I talked about the small steps she took along the way in her life, from working in a book store in England to taking a writing class and then applying for her MFA on a whim, that brought her to where she is today. She shares with honesty how she has moved through depression and anxiety and how she has become a kinder person since becoming a mother to her son, who she says is hilarious and her favorite person in the world. We also discuss the importance of a mindful daily practice. How Buddhist meditation has begun to transform the way she thinks about herself, helping her to go down the "right roads" in her thoughts. And she shares how the books she has authored came from both a mindset of patience and a commitment to daily writing. I found Danielle to be totally delightful and was inspired by her honesty, her sincerity and this way in which she comes across at the same time relatable and brilliant. I hope you will join me in exploring the resources she shared in Buddhist meditation and also in following through on her challenge to read more, read books we wouldn't normally read, and make time and space for a writing project of our own to emerge. Topics discussed in this episode: The impact Danielle's mother had on her life and on her own journey as a mother The unique gifts her great aunt, a librarian, sent her as a child that planted seeds for Dorothy, the feminist press Danielle co-created Danielle's struggle with anxiety and depression and how mindfulness and meditation has helped her The various, but significant, shifts that Danielle has experienced to get to where she is today How her son is her favorite person and how becoming a mother has changed her The need Danielle saw in the cultural conversation of including more women writers and their voices in the literary world Neuroplasticity, the brain's capacity to change and adapt How her press became part of Danielle's support network and why a community of self is also important Resources mentioned in this episode: Dorothy, a publishing project - Danielle's press Danielle's book, Margaret the First: A Novel The Wallcreeper by Nell Zink On Being with Krista Tippett, a podcast Tara Brach, a psychologist and proponent of Buddhist meditation Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill by Matthieu Ricard Modeh Ani Morning Prayer/Song (version by my cantor Elena Jagoda) that I sing each day after a short morning meditation A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf Announcements: If you haven't yet visited the website, I want to invite you to head over to mothersquest.com to explore some of the ways you can get more connected. At the site, you can sign up for our email list to have show notes delivered to your inbox, click the link to join the Facebook group and press record to leave a voice message for me. Help me Create the Finale!! - I would love to hear your favorite moments from the podcast and how what you're learning impacts your E.P.I.C. life. I plan to highlight those moments from the different episodes, and your voices, in the season finale coming in early April. So do head over to mothersquest.com by March 31st and use the voice message tool to tell me who you are, your favorite moment, and the impact it's had on you. Finally, I invite you to schedule a free 15 minute planning session where I can help you bring more intention to your life using the Live Your E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheets which you can download for FREE at www.mothersquest.com/reflectionsheets. Email me at julie@mothersquest.com to set a time. A big THANK YOU to our "patrons" for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial and/or in-kind support: Claire Fry who dedicated this week's episode of the podcast Divya Silbermann Rachel Winter Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast --- Want to join the patrons above and help support more meaningful conversations such as these? Visit the Mother's Quest Patreon Page to become a regular patron or visit this link www.mothersquest.com/be-a-supporter to make a one-time donation. If you would like to "dedicate" an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com

The value of putting yourself in someone else's perspective, with compassion, is something that this week's guest, filmmaker and activist Paola Mendoza, consciously creates through her storytelling. And, boldly moving forward through difficult times is something Paola talks passionately about-- as she reflects on how she moved from feelings of failure after the election and rose up, channelling those emotions into a passionate co-creation of the Women's March--what became the largest world-wide gathering in history. In addition to being a key organizer and the Artistic Director of the Women's March on Washington, Paola is an acclaimed actress, director, screenwriter, and author. She was recently named one of Filmmaker Magazine 25 New Faces of Independent Film for her body of work which includes Refinery 29, BROKEN TAIL LIGHT, FREE LIKE THE BIRDS, and Z for ZENDAYA. She made her narrative directorial debut with the film she wrote, starred in and co-directed about her mother, Entre Nos, which had its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival and was awarded Honorable Mention. Entre Nos told the deeply personal story of Paola, her brother, and her mother's journey as immigrants to the United States from Colombia and the challenges they experienced. It went on to win over twenty awards at film festivals from around the world and ultimately became the novel, The Ones Who Don't Stay. Paola shares about the impact her mother had on her, what it was like to tell her mother's story, the role of art in building compassion, and what it means to step into activism from a place of love, and the things you stand for, but also for what you boldly stand against. We spent time talking about moving past fear, sacrificing your privilege, and teaching your children to do the same in order to help others. These were things Paola powerfully demonstrated just two days after we recorded this interview, when she was arrested for civil disobedience at the Day Without a Woman strike in New York City. Paola is a strong force but also has a softness about her, which comes through as she talks about her relationship with her four year old son, Mateo, how time with him is part of her self-care, and how they spend what they call "Adventure Fridays" together. I heard about her solid partnership with fellow activist, entrepreneur and storyteller Michael Skolnik and about the E.P.I.C. snapshot moment Michael captured of Paola taking in all she created the day of the Women's March in D.C. Looking back, I'm amazed that Paola was so present during her conversation with me given what she was in the midst of organizing just days later. I could tell she did so because she wanted me and those listening to know how important it is to take action based on our beliefs, that activism takes many shades and forms, and that with privilege comes tremendous responsibility to participate in our political system and stand for social justice. Topics discussed in this episode: The profound impact her mother had on Paola's life, and what it was like to tell her mother's courageous story as an immigrant to the U.S., in her film Entre Nos Paola's way of connecting with her son through "Adventure Fridays" The role of art and activism in growing compassion in other people The importance of emphasizing both what you stand for and also what you stand against With privilege comes responsibility, and how Paola hopes to teach her son to sacrifice his privilege to help other people Ultimately, it's not about falling or failing, it's about how you rise up and how Paola's metaphor of "running a relay" sustains her activism Paola's challenge to us to "participate"…to get involved in a local issue and attend a town hall meeting during the next congressional recess. Resources mentioned in this episode: Entre Nos, Paola stars in this film (which she also wrote and directed) based on her family's experiences of coming to the United States from Colombia The Ones Who Don't Stay, Paola's novel which came from the film Entre Nos This article where Paola talks about the Women's March being about what we are for Ep 06: Healthy and Happy with Dr. Elisa Song where we talk about "special time" with our children The Women's March Unity Principles of the Women's March A Day Without a Woman A Quote by Audre Lorde: "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." More About Audre Lorde & Audre Lorde's Work Indivisible, a website by former Congressional staffers who reveal best practices for making Congress listen Focus on our Goodness: A Framework for my Activism Inspired by my Four-year Old My recent solocast where I talk about wanting to step more into activism and why I reached out to Paola here Announcements If you haven't yet visited the website, I want to invite you to head over to mothersquest.com to explore some of the ways you can get more connected. At the site, you can sign up for our email list to have show notes delivered to your inbox, click the link to join the Facebook group and press record to leave a voice message for me. Help me Create the Finale!! - I would love to hear which are your favorite moments from the podcast and how what you are hearing and learning is impacting your E.P.I.C. life. I plan to highlight those moments from the different episodes, and your voices, in the season finale coming in early April. So do head over to mothersquest.com and use the voice message tool to tell me who you are, your favorite moment, and the impact it has had on you. Finally, I invite you to schedule a free 15 minute planning session where I can help you bring more intention to your life using the Live Your E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheets which you can download for FREE at www.mothersquest.com/reflectionsheets. Email me at julie@mothersquest.com to set a time. A big THANK YOU to our "patrons" for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial support: Divya Silbermann who dedicated this week's episode Rachel Winter Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast Want to join the patrons above and help support more meaningful conversations such as these? Visit the Mother's Quest Patreon Page to become a regular patron or visit this link www.mothersquest.com/be-a-supporter to make a one-time donation. If you would like to "dedicate" an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com

I'm excited to share this Episode #15 with you-- a conversation with Karen Baker, a mentor of mine who played a pivotal role in connecting me to a career of service. It's not surprising because connecting people to service is Karen's super power. Karen has been making matches her whole life, but she currently brings this gift to her role as the Chief Service Officer of CaliforniaVolunteers, where she serves under Governor Brown. Karen has 20 years of innovative leadership in all facets of the service and volunteering sector, including local and national non-profits and federal agencies. In 2008, she was appointed by Former California Governor Schwarzenegger to serve as the first-in-the-nation state cabinet Secretary of Service and Volunteering. Karen is also an amazing mom to 2 children, Ella and Christopher, both adopted at birth by Karen and her husband. In our conversation, we talk about the ways in which Karen's parents and seven siblings inspired her to be of service to others, how she brings that service to her work at CaliforniaVolunteers, and how she has learned to put needs out there and watch as a community rises up to meet them, most recently experienced as Karen led efforts to respond to the Oroville Dam disaster. We also talk about her experience parenting children with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, how she using a morning playlist and thoughtful nighttime ritual in between the "madness in the middle," to ground herself and her children, and how she is learning to take time and find new ways to invest in herself and her relationships. It was a total joy for me to reconnect with my mentor Karen and I left the conversation so appreciative of the work she does in my state of California, reminded of the importance of using our superpowers to benefit others, and inspired to engage my own children in service. I hope you too find this conversation an inspiration to uncover and channel your family's superpowers to create a service legacy. Topics discussed in this episode: How Karen used her superpower, helping people find their vocation and passion, to set me on my career path after college The lesson Karen's civically-minded parents imparted to her and her siblings of the duty to people who have no one else to support them Book-ending your day between the "madness in the middle" with a morning playlist and a thoughtful question before bedtime Moving from isolation to community when raising children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) The power of putting your needs out there and having faith that the right people will come into your work and life to fill those needs Living a life of service and utilizing your superpowers to give and receive positive energy and find solutions Karen's recent E.P.I.C. life moment when she was called by to respond to the Oroville Dam disaster and saw a community rise up to meet the needs Resources mentioned in this episode: Heart of Los Angeles Youth, the incredible organization that Karen connected me to that set me on my career path after college. CaliforniaVolunteers - addresses state and community challenges by investing in high impact service solutions, while leveraging public, private, and nonprofit partnerships and resources. AmeriCorps - provides thousands of Americans of all ages, abilities and backgrounds with intensive full- and part-time opportunities to serve their communities and build the capacity of grassroots organizations to meet local environmental, educational, public safety, or other human needs. http://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/AmeriCorps/ Being Boss Podcast - Episode 79 - The Chalkboard Method Mother's Quest Podcast - Episode 14 with Amanda Steinberg of the DailyWorth E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheets to help you start recording weekly intentions and daily gratitude. Democracy jeans, the E.P.I.C. jeans, created by my very own sister, that Karen Baker and I were both wearing when we sat down to do our interview Announcements If you haven't yet visited the website, I want to invite you to head over to mothersquest.com to explore some of the ways you can get more connected. At the site, you can sign up for our email list to have show notes delivered to your inbox, click the link to join the Facebook group and press record to leave a voice message for me. I would love to hear which are your favorite moments from the podcast and how what you are hearing and learning is impacting your E.P.I.C. life. I plan to highlight those moments from the different episodes, and your voices, in the season finale coming in early April. So do head over to mothersquest.com and use the voice message tool to help me create an amazing season finale. Finally, I invite you to schedule a free 15 minute planning session where I can help you bring more intention to your life using the Live Your E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheets which you can download for FREE at www.mothersquest.com/reflectionsheets. A big THANK YOU to our "patrons" for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial support: Rachel Winter Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast Want to join the patrons above and help support more meaningful conversations such as these? Visit the Mother's Quest Patreon Page to become a regular patron or visit this link www.mothersquest.com/be-a-supporter to make a one-time donation. If you would like to "dedicate" an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com

Hello and welcome to Episode #14, the first interview in the extended season of the Mother's Quest Podcast. Starting with today's interview of Amanda Steinberg, I'm excited to bring you six more episodes to light our way to an E.P.I.C. life. I reached out to Amanda because I am ready to re-write my money story and she was uniquely qualified to guide me. Amanda is the Founder and CEO of DailyWorth.com and just published a book titled "WORTH IT: Your Life, Your Money, Your Terms". This past summer, Amanda was chosen as one of Oprah Winfrey's SuperSoul 100 and recently was named to Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business – all for good reason: she has revolutionized the relationship between women and their finances. Amanda empowers women to explore the equation between their self-worth and their net-worth and to resist the conventions that keep us from viewing money as a source of personal power. In our interview, with her new book as a back-drop, Amanda shares candidly about the ways her mother shaped her relationship with money, how after a divorce she re-built her life and re-wrote her money story when she found herself in debt and under the weight of a mortgage she couldn't sustain, and how founding the Daily Worth and now Worth FM is breaking the mold by bringing information and resources about money to women in unique ways. Amanda and I talk candidly about how her book, and a spreadsheet she shared in her Facebook group, inspired me to sit down with my husband, for the first time in our 20 year marriage, to understand our finances and determine our net worth, the number Amanda talks about as mattering most. Amanda's honesty, humor and ability to make a conversation about money and investing in ourselves accessible has already shifted my life. I hope you too will be inspired by Amanda to break your own molds, find your worth, and re-define your relationship with money. Topics discussed in this episode: Breaking the mold of societal norms for women and mothers The gift of sharing our mistakes and imperfections with our children How Amanda invites her children into discussions about money and shows them, through her example, how money can be used as an engine for change Redefining women's relationship with money through a metaphor of roots and wings. How you can identify your "money type" and how the Worth FM platform will customize advice based on your type The benefit of playing video games for experiencing failure as something that will happen again and again The importance of taking risks and how the "cost" of taking a risk may actually be lower than the cost of not. Resources mentioned in this episode: This article referencing the Harvard study which outlined that love and household chores are among the most important things to provide your children for their success. DailyWorth - Helping women earn more, save more, and spend smarter. The DailyWorth Newsletter - sign up here. WORTH IT: Your Life, Your Money, Your Terms by Amanda Steinberg. Worth It Facebook Group you can join after purchase of the book. MoneyType™ Assessment - Reveals your unique perspective when it comes to money. Your MoneyType™ Report will give you insights into how you think about and manage money. WorthFM - a savings and investment platform designed to guide you step-by-step. One Light Global - An organization that helps create global peace through providing direct humanitarian aid to people in crisis, assisting them in establishing successful new lives, helping them heal from the devastation of war and trauma, and establishing platforms for peace and collaboration between groups in conflict. A big THANK YOU to our "patrons" for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial support: Rachel Winter, who provided a "dedication" to Felicity Huffman in today's episode Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast Announcements: Much gratitude for everyone who spread the news of my extended season to help reach more moms with these conversations by supporting the ThunderClap Campaign. I invite you to schedule a free 15 minute planning session where I can help you bring more intention to your life using the Live Your E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheets which you can download for FREE at www.mothersquest.com/reflectionsheets. Click here to schedule a call.

I am filled with excitement and gratitude as I bring you this Episode #13, a solocast. It is an opportunity for me to reflect on the milestone of completing the first twelve episodes I set out to record when I launched the podcast, the common themes and lessons I have found among them, and the ways in which my life has been enriched as a result. I open with honesty about the challenge I had recording this solocast and how and why I decided to bring you an unedited second version, one in which I didn't worry about flaws or strive for perfection. I also share a dedication with you to a woman whose words have been an anchor for me the last few months, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés. I let you in on some areas in my life where I am feeling challenged and how I carefully selected topics and guests in the extended season, another six episodes, to support me in these areas. Finally, I let you know about a few ways you can lend your support, through spreading the news of the extended season utilizing my Thunderclap campaign or by helping me create the finale, calling in with your favorite moments and the ways in which they have impacted you. In this episode I share: How coaching from Episode #9 guest Amber Lilyestrom and a visit to Dr. Angela Wu helped me record a second version of the solocast with more ease Highlights of a "Letter to a Young Activist" and other words from Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, that have been an anchor for me The three P's I have seen weave through all the podcast episodes, the Power of Perspective, the Power of Metaphor and the Power of Connection My desire to grow in how I approach money, become a better activist, nurture my creativity, and make quality time for my children... and how that influenced the next six episodes. Some background on the confirmed guests: Daily Worth CEO Amanda Steinberg, Karen Baker of California Volunteers, Paola Mendoza, Creative Director of the Women's March, Danielle Dutton, author of Margaret the First and founder of the Dorothy Project, and my very own son, in honor of his milestone birthday. My plans for the season finale and how you can bring your perspective and voice to it Resources mentioned in this episode: Do Not Lose Heart; We were made For These Times by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés website - www.clarissapinkolaestes.com Focus on our Goodness: A Framework for my Activism Inspired by my Four-year Old posted on the Mother's Quest blog in January 2017 The She Podcasts Facebook Group Dr. Angela C. Wu's Healing Center The First Season of the Mother's Quest Podcast Ep 00: Planting Seeds for Mother's Quest – An Introduction Ep 01: The Spiritual Mindset of Abundance with Navjit Kandola Ep 02: Unmasking Motherhood with Katherine Wintsch Ep 03: Cultivating a Healthy Family with Michelle Ratcliffe Ep 04: Taking Center Stage as a Go Girl! with Lynn Johnson and Allison Kenny Ep 05: Live your E.P.I.C. Life to Help Your Children Thrive Ep 06: Healthy and Happy with Dr. Elisa Song Ep 07: Living Out Loud with Jenjii Hysten Ep 08: Empathy, Acts of Kindness and Climbing Mountains with Erika Greff Ep 09: The Soul-Fueled Truth with Amber Lilyestrom Ep 10: Choosing Gratitude and Glitter with Nancy Netherland Ep 11: "Flawed" with Truth Bomb Mom Kristina Kuzmic Ep 12: Breaking Bread and Building Bridges with Saadia Ahmed A big THANK YOU to our "patrons" for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial support: Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast Announcements: As you know, I will be extending the season for six more episodes! And if you would be open to spreading the news of my extended season, sign-up today for my ThunderClap Campaign. With your help, the day the extended season launches on March 2nd, there can be a thunderous announcement on social media to help reach more moms with these conversations. Still available for download is the Live Your E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheets to help us record our weekly intentions using the E.P.I.C. Framework and reflect at the end of each day on that one positive thing we want to focus on. You can get the free download at mothersquest.com/reflectionsheets. --- Want to join the patrons above and help support more meaningful conversations such as these? Visit the Mother's Quest Patreon Page to become a regular patron or visit this link www.mothersquest.com/be-a-supporter to make a one-time donation. If you would like to "dedicate" an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com

In Episode #12, I am honored to share this enlightening conversation with Saadia Ahmed, who I reached out to after the recent executive order on immigration to find out how I could become an ally to the Muslim community. Saadia and her husband live in Los Gatos, California with their two children. She is a talented Financial Advisor serving high-level women professionals and entrepreneurs, couples and families. She is actively engaged in her local community, is a member of Watermark, and is passionate about issues and opportunities in the areas of education and empowerment of women. She is also a bridge builder, and in this episode, she shares that after 9/11, she became heavily involved in outreach for her community and proactively pursued inter-faith dialogue as a way to find common ground with others. We talk about some of the stereotypes held about Muslim women, how she has stepped into and developed leadership among the women in her community, and our mutual desire to reach out beyond our bubble, with curiosity, to better understand people with different beliefs. Saadia and I have decided to become partners in this effort and plan to "break bread" together with other women to build understanding. This is the challenge we offer to you as well. I hope you leave this conversation, as I did, inspired to learn more about the people around us, and the shared values that we all hold dear, no matter how different we may seem. Topics discussed in this episode: The importance of building bridges of communication with our children and with those who are different from us. Saadia's move to the U.S. because of religious persecution in Pakistan. The recent executive order on travel and immigration and how to become an ally to the Muslim community Celebrating diversity through faith and reaching out to build bridges through "breaking bread." The importance of the examples we set for our children and of honoring our children's individuality and views Resources mentioned in this episode: The Awakened Family by Shefali Tsabary The True Islam Campaign - where you can explore eleven truths about Islam and sign up to become a Muslim Ally My blog post "Focus on Our Goodness" where I reflected on moving from negativity into action after the immigration ban Unbubble to get connected online to people with differing viewpoints A big THANK YOU to our "patrons" for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial support: Caren and Debbie Lieberman who dedicated this week's episode to our mother Fran Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast Announcements: This episode #12 marks an important milestone. It is the number of episodes I set out to complete in my first season. I didn't know what to expect when I started out on this podcasting path, but it has been all I hoped for and more. So much more that I did decide to extend the first season another 6 episodes to take us through to April. The next episode will be another solocast and an opportunity for me to reflect on common themes from the first twelve episodes and some of the ways in which these interviews have enriched my life. And, I will give you a preview of the interviews ahead, so make sure to listen in on that episode for all the details. And, if you would be open to spreading the news of my extended season, stay tuned for a link to my ThunderClap campaign. With your help, the day the extended season launches, there can be a thunderous announcement on social media to help reach more moms with these conversations. Finally, I heard from so many of you that you loved last week's episode with Kristina Kuzmik, the Truth Bomb Mom and that you, like me, are up for her positivity challenge. I created the Live Your E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheets to help us record our weekly intentions using the EPIC Framework and reflect at the end of each day on that one positive thing we want to focus on. You can get the free download at mothersquest.com/reflectionsheets. --- Want to join the patrons above and help support more meaningful conversations such as these? Visit the Mother's Quest Patreon Page to become a regular patron or visit this link www.mothersquest.com/be-a-supporter to make a one-time donation. If you would like to "dedicate" an upcoming episode, email me at julie@mothersquest.com

I am excited to share this vulnerable conversation with the Truth Bomb Mom, Kristina Kuzmic. Energetic, funny, and honest, Kristina has an in-your-face perspective on issues of parenting and life in general. She has become a Youtube sensation with her "mom-centric" videos about raising children and juggling all of life's challenges, with over 200 million views across media outlets and websites worldwide. Kristina and her husband currently live in Southern California, where her most important, rewarding, and exhausting careers include being a sanitation engineer, chef, chauffeur, and conflict resolution guru for her three (mostly satisfied) clients – her children. In this episode, we talk about Kristina's experience growing up in America, shaped by an escape from war-torn Croatia. She shares how on a whim, she went from being a divorced mother on food stamps to winning a cooking show on Oprah's OWN Network in 2011. How her satirical YouTube video, "4 Reasons Women Should NEVER Breastfeed in Public," went viral and why Kristina believes it is her community that is responsible for her reaching a half a million followers. We get honest and emotional about our flaws and insecurities but also our impact and the power of sharing these with our children. Finally, we reflect on our shared experience of losing a baby in utero and how for both of us, focusing on just one positive thing on that day shifted our perspective and changed everything. I hope you leave this conversation, as I did, inspired to keep turning the pages in the chapter of your E.P.I.C.life, staying true to your mission, owning your flaws, and paying attention to one positive thing every day. I was so grateful for this time with Kristina and I know you will be too. Topics discussed in this episode: How growing up in war-torn Croatia and her subsequent immigration to the U.S. impacted her life How her mother influenced her parenting by striking a healthy balance between enforcing rules and fostering joy Why she named her company "Flawed" and how she has let go of perfection Her journey from Oprah to YouTube The importance of community and of women who champion each other How to turn down the volume on our inner critics What my son said to me that Kristina says she will never forget Resources mentioned in this episode: Kristina's viral video: 4 Reasons Women Should Never Breastfeed in Public (a sarcastic take on the arguments against breastfeeding) Visit Kristina on YouTube: www.youtube.com/stickycook Visit Kristina on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KristinaKuzmic Mother's Quest Theory of Change Previous Mother's Quest Episodes Mentioned: Ep 09: The Soul-Fueled Truth with Amber Lilyestrom and Ep 00: Planting Seeds for Mother's Quest – An Introduction Elizabeth Gilbert's book Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear Kristina's Positivity Challenge - and sign up here to download the free "E.P.I.C. Life Planning and Reflection Sheet" and start capturing your gratitude daily. A big THANK YOU to our "patrons" for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial support: Cameron Miranda - who provided a "dedication" for this episode Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast Would you like to dedicate a podcast episode to a special mother in your life? Leave me a note here and I will get back to you with all the details! Do you enjoy this podcast and want to support more meaningful conversations such as these? Visit the Mother's Quest Patreon Page to become a regular patron or visit this link - www.mothersquest.com/be-a-supporter to make a one-time donation.

I am thrilled to share this heartwarming conversation with Nancy Netherland, a healthcare advocate and a self-proclaimed mom-ologist with on-the-mom training in infectious disease, hepatology, rheumatology, gastrointestinology, and glitterology. Nancy is also a healer and an artist. She is a mom to two mermaids ages 9 and 10 and works as a writer and data strategist for non-profit and safety-net healthcare entities. In the past five years, she has helped secure over $100-million in grant funding, influenced international policy, and provided research for publications and speeches presented before the UN, WHO and the US Congress. In our conversation, we explore how Nancy's parents instilled a sense that anything is possible, something she has needed to draw on as she faced the loss of her husband and the serious, chronic illnesses of her daughters. She shares how she and her girls cultivate generosity and pay that generosity forward through something they created called "gratitools." And, we talk about how she has developed relationships with other parents of sick children, despite their vastly differing viewpoints, a message deeply needed during today's divided times. I was moved to tears by Nancy and how she consciously chooses gratitude to ensure she and her children experience joy and laughter in the midst of adversity. I hope you will join me in saying yes to Nancy's challenge... to find the magic not only in the everyday, but especially in the midst of something hard. Topics discussed in this episode: How her parents influenced her childhood by teaching her that anything is possible Resiliency and mindfulness during traumatic events The importance of creating magic in our lives "Gratituding" as a verb Her favorite book "Man's Search for Meaning" Advocating for your children's health The importance of community, especially as a caretaker Building deep relationships with people of differing viewpoints Resources mentioned in this episode: Gratitool Choosing Gratitude Hepatitis C information Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Commonweal - where Nancy learned her framework for self-care Clinical Trials a site that is open to the public to find life saving clinical trials UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital A big THANK YOU to our first "patrons" for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial support: Fran and David Lieberman - who provided a "dedication" for this episode Cameron Miranda Debbie and Alan Goore Jenise and Marianne of the Sustainable Living Podcast Do you enjoy this podcast and want to support more meaningful conversations such as these? Visit the Mother's Quest Patreon Page to become a regular patron or visit this link - www.mothersquest.com/be-a-supporter to make a one-time donation.

In this interview, I am excited to share a deeply personal and reflective conversation with Amber Lilyestrom, a transformational branding and business strategist, writer, speaker and host of The Soul Fueled CEO Podcast. Amber has also been a coach and champion for me as I've created Mother's Quest and leads a community of soul-fueled CEO's that has become an important source of support. From the moment she answers my first question, you will experience how Amber brings this combination of simultaneous vulnerability and crystal clarity. She brings those gifts along with her own trial and error experiences as an entrepreneur and mother to help visionaries, leaders and what she calls "disruptivators" turn their passions into heart-centered brands and thriving businesses. It was the birth of her daughter, and becoming a mother, that caused her to proactively design her life and business after working for 10 years in collegiate athletics marketing for her alma mater, the University of New Hampshire. And, it is her desire to seize life, new experiences and new opportunities that led her to become Mrs. New Hampshire 2016. In our conversation, Amber shares how speaking our truth allows us to live joy-filled lives. She opens up about her traumatic experience as a childhood survivor of sexual abuse, how that event shaped her relationship with her mother, and how it also shaped her own journey in motherhood and business. I loved hearing about how Amber lives her E.P.I.C life by coming home to herself and therefore coming home to the ones she loves. I left the conversation grounded and ready to let go of judgment, to live my truth and to design my life. Topics discussed in this episode: How Amber's entrepreneurial mother influenced her life The profound importance of speaking your truth and how Amber is helping other survivors of childhood sexual abuse through sharing hers How Amber's near-death experience during the birth of her daughter inspired her to live her life differently Having the courage to have hard conversations Helping women "come home" to themselves Letting go of judgment and pursuing something for the fun of it The Law of Attraction Weaving intentional actions for yourself into your life in order to be your best self Resources mentioned in this episode: Emerging Women's Power Circles, where I connected with a circle of champions and supporters during the time I was launching Mother's Quest http://www.emergingwomen.com/power-circles/ Amber's interview on The Mighty Mommies Show Podcast with Whitney Lang:http://www.whitneylang.com/podcast-blog/2017/1/7/heart-centered-momming-with-amber-lilyestrom where she shares the full story of the birth of her daughter Amber's podcast, The Soul-Fueled CEO The Soul Fueled CEO™ Academy Amber's website to sign up for email updates and find her social media handles www.amberlilyestrom.com Haven New Hampshire, an organization supporting men, women, and children affected by domestic and sexual violence: http://havennh.org/ Abraham Hicks Do you enjoy this podcast and want to support more meaningful conversations such as these? Visit the Mother's Quest Patreon Page to become a regular patron or visit this link - www.mothersquest.com/be-a-supporter to make a one-time donation.

In this interview, I am excited to share a thoughtful and honest conversation with wife, mother, freelance television anchor/reporter, volunteer for philanthropic causes and entrepreneur, Erika Greff. Erika lives in the heart of New York City with her husband and two sons, ages 13 and 12. I came to know her over the summer, when we were both grieving for the loss of our mutual friend, Leslie Fischer. Erika and I talk about how her boys comforted her the day of Leslie's funeral and wanted to take positive action in Leslie's honor that day. In our conversation, she shares the ways in which she and her husband have encouraged her sons to focus on empathy, gratitude and daily acts of service, which her sons document on a website they created called budgetphilanthropist.com. We also discuss how Erika has found herself at a career crossroads, after 18 years as an on-air correspondent for PBS's Nightly Business Report. And, how freelance journalism has given her an opportunity to engage herself and her boys in conscious decision-making about the projects she pursues. She gets honest about her new entrepreneurial passion, a media company to inform children about the news in their world. And she shares how she perseveres through frustration to find the path to her vision, even going mountain-climbing with her boys to symbolically face the fear of failure in her new venture. I hope you get inspired, as I did, about consciously instilling the values of kindness, empathy and acts of service in your children. And that you realize you are not alone if you too are struggling to make a new vision become real. I feel enriched by the generosity Erika so freely shares and excited to explore the resources she recommended to become a "financial grownup" and to cultivate daily kindness in my children. I am grateful she and I have connected and I know our friend Leslie would be too. Topics discussed in this episode: How Erika's parents taught her that self-esteem is about the things you do, not the things you have The way Erika's children practice and document daily acts of kindness Driving in the car and bedtime as great opportunities to connect with your children Involving your children in decision-making about your own life and career The challenges of pursuing a new venture and working through fear of failure The concept of a favor bank – help other people and they will help you in return Resources mentioned in this episode: The Budget Philanthropist – the website where Erika's son's chronicle their acts of kindness. The specific blog post where Erika's children reflect on how they supported their mother the day of Leslie's funeral How to Be a Financial Grownup by Bobbi Rebell Random Acts of Kindness – Become a RAKtivist Episode 00 of the Mother's Quest Podcast where I reflect on the Mother's Quest Mantra inspired by Leslie Do you enjoy this podcast and want to support more meaningful conversations such as these? Visit the Mother's Quest Patreon Page to become a regular patron or visit this link - www.mothersquest.com/be-a-supporter to make a one-time donation.