Dear Family,

Oona Hanson is a parent coach who has been in education for over twenty years and supports parents of teens and tweens going through the rough stuff and challenges of life after her child dealt with an eating disorder. Passionate about helping parents raise kids who have a healthy relationship with food and their body, Oona writes and gives talks on fostering body image resilience and lowering the risk for eating disorders.

During the pandemic summer of 2020, she launched her Common Sense Camp, offering a framework for teaching kids essential life skills at home, like kitchen confidence, DIY, personal finance, laundry and cleaning, safety and emergency preparedness, being city savvy, social skills, and even anti-racism.

Oona holds a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology and a Master's Degree in English. Her work has been featured widely, including on CNN, Good Morning America, Good Day LA, Today, Grown & Flown, PopSugar, and Maria Shriver's "Sunday Paper." She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

Oona holds a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology and a Master's Degree in English. Her work has been featured widely, including on CNN, Good Morning America, Good Day LA, Today, Grown & Flown, PopSugar, and Maria Shriver's "Sunday Paper." She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Oona Hanson's Website

Oona Hanson on Instagram

Oona Hanson on Twitter

Oona Hanson - Parent Coaching- Facebook

Parenting Without Diet Culture- Facebook

Common Sense Camp Parent Guide

Fearing the Black Body by Dr. Sabrina Strings

Grown and Flown- Dear Family, Podcast Episode

Oona Hanson's Article on Family Rituals

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

*Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Priscilla Molina is the voice of a new and diverse generation, someone we all need to pay attention to. Growing up, she frequently went to work with her parents who immigrated from Guatemala, doing homework while her mom cleaned houses or her father fixed someone's leaky pipes. While some may have seen her parents as laborers, she saw leaders, inspiring her to lead her community and help those in need.

When Priscilla was in middle school, she became very interested in why her brother became homeless, was thinking about conspiracy theories, was very paranoid, and became violent towards himself after learning he was schizophrenic, a term her family had never heard of. It became her responsibility at a young age to accompany her parents to the psychiatrist to translate the English for them, pushing Priscilla to mature early on and to become interested in the mental health field.

Priscilla is the first generation in her family to go to college and she's just graduated from UCLA this summer with a Bachelor in Science in Psychobiology and a Minors in Latin American Studies and Public Health. She is passionate about bridging the gaps between underserved communities and mental health resources. She's worked as a research assistant in the Culture and Anxiety Lab for Mental Health Advances looking at the relationship between barriers to mental health care and intent to seek services. She's interested in health literacy tools to engage depressed LatinX adults. She's worked with first-generation college students leading large scale programming and academic and emotional counseling for the ChicanX/LatinX communities.

Priscilla is a student leader within Global Medical Missions Alliance where she's developed culturally sensitive training and has served as a translator for the medical teams who provided aid abroad to Mexico, Cambodia, and other underserved countries in regard to health care. In her free time, Priscilla enjoys playing the piano at her church, shooting hoops with friends, and adventuring to new places with loved ones. Her desire to help others is infectious and there is no doubt her leadership skills will continue to make her community stronger and better.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

UCLA Newsroom- Thanks to Family, Graduating Senior is Driven to Bridge Cultural Gaps

Priscilla's Podcast- Covid19 and Suicidality

Priscialla Molina on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

*Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Parenting is a 24-hour gig you don't get paid for but at least it's priceless!!! This solo-podcast is sure to boost your happiness and create a more blissful family life. We discuss things like:

*Putting yourself first and being selfish

*Being an open-book role model

*Letting your kids be a little bit naughty

*Discussing sad and tragic stories

*Encouraging them to talk to strangers and handle dangerous tools

*Leaving your kids is good for the soul

*Allowing them to fail, fall, stumble, and suffer without rescuing them

Listen to hear this and so much more.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Essay- 24 Ways to Be the Happiest and Greatest Parent- A Counterintuitive List

Lisa Heffernan on Dear Family, the Podcast

Grown and Flown Book

Rachel's Essay on Sharenting

Rachel's Podcast on Sharenting

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

*Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Tracy Hargen is a born and bred Southern girl. Even though she did a stint in New York and New Jersey after meeting her Yankee husband, she currently lives in Georgia. She finds it hilarious when her gigantic Harlequin Great Dane and her tiny black and white Chinese Crested run through her office when she's on an important client call.

Tracy has worked in Corporate America for over 30 years, but her passions are writing and removing the shame and stigma around mental health issues. Look for her work on GrownandFlown.com, The Mighty.com, LoveWhatMatters.com and in the books "You Do You!" and "Grown and Flown."

Will, Tracy's youngest son, always seemed happy and involved in school activities. When he asked, "Mom, can we talk?" she stopped and listened, ultimately helping him get out of the darkness of depression and feel the light again. Tracy is a soon-to-be empty-nester once again when Will, who moved home after graduating college in May, begins a consulting job in Boston.

Tracy reminds us all that we don't always know what is behind happy faces and when your child asks for help, stop everything, and listen without judgment. It's important!

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Tracy Hargen's Instagram

Tracy on Twitter

Tracy on Facebook

"Mom Can We Talk" Essay on Grown & Flown

Don't Give Up Signs

Dear Family, Podcast Interview with Lisa Heffernan from Grown and Flown

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

***Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Today we have three generations of one amazing family, Barbara Bruner, a mother and grandmother, Dedan Bruner, a father and son, and Ella Bruner, a daughter and granddaughter. The Bruner's are here today to discuss healthy single parenting and co-parenting and to dispel any myths about Black parenting while shining a light on the power and positivity of diversity.

Ella Bruner is 9 years old and attends school in Washington DC. She loves dancing, singing, fashion, sports, and helping others. Her perfect day includes great weather, spending time with friends on the playground, and an after-school playdate.

Dedan Bruner is a California-born Washington DC transplant who enjoys photography, writing, and exploring the Nation's Capitol with his daughter, Ella. When not romping through Rock Creek Park, working on his podcast, Dad Genes, or writing for his blog, "On Fathering," he can be found training for his next triathlon.

Dedan Bruner is also a licensed attorney and policy advocate who conducts comprehensive investigations of school-based grievance allegations. Over the last 10 years, he's advocated for equal employment opportunities using his strong relationships with federal, regional, state, and local governmental organizations while also mentoring young black men.

Barbara Bruner is Dedan's proud mother and Ella's proud grandmother who became a single mother a month after graduating college. After a 23-year career in pharmaceutical and medical product sales, she made the transition from a corporate employee to community service. She completed her second term on the Scripps College Board of Trustees helping to establish the Carter Center Executive Briefing Sponsorship, an opportunity made available for the past twelve years for at least 16 students.

Barbara has been a child advocate for over 20 years supporting the local Court Appointed Special Advocate programs speaking up on behalf of children who may have been abused or neglected. Barbara loves to travel, do yoga, write, read, and participate in church activities. She especially enjoys visiting public and private gardens the world over and she treasures her relationship with her son and her granddaughter.

You are going to fall in love with this spectacular family!

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Dedan's On Fathering Blog

Dad Genes Podcast

Dedan and Ella's Daily Constitutional Article

Barbara's Essay, "Once a Mother, Always a Mother"

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

*Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Imagine eavesdropping on a mother and daughter's most intimate, honest, and raw therapy session where they hash out the past and share family secrets in hopes of coming to a life-changing understanding. Also, imagine laughing at some truly wild and unbelievable stories. Imagine no further because this 50th Dear Family, podcast episode is all of that and more!

Laurie Kallen Schwent is a creative and eccentric self-proclaimed comedian and empath, an artist who dabbles in watercolor and photography, a restaurant owner, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a loyal friend, and a dog lover. Laurie's bipolar likely was triggered when she was fourteen and discovered her mother's suicide from an overdose of pills and alcohol. Laurie was not diagnosed as bipolar until her late 60s because she ran from a mental illness label because she didn't want to be like her parents, considering her father would end up taking his life as well.

Laurie is a woman I've worried about my whole life for fear she'd follow in her parent's footsteps. During the current pandemic, she ended up in a mental health unit after a severe bout of paranoia and anxiety. Laurie is a true survivor in every sense of the word. She's here today to share her story with the intention of helping others to not feel the shame from mental illness and to rid the stigma that goes with it.

This is a story about generational trauma and mental illness running in your family for generations. This is a story about turning into your parents even when you want to be nothing like them. This is a story about how ridding shame and stigma and replacing it with love and compassion can save not just a mother-daughter relationship, but also a life.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Dan's the Grub Shack Restaurant on Yelp

The Bipolar Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know by David Miklowitz

Suicide Prevention Hotline/Phone Number

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

*Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Janice Hayes Kyser is a biracial woman who grew up with a front-row view of race relations. Born to a Black Alabaman father and to a White British mother, she saw firsthand how her mother's White allyship educated others in the 60s and how her father was not treated as an equal in both the air force and in life in general.

Janice adopted a Black son from the foster care system when he was just three years old. She became a mental health advocate when dealing with her son's PTSD and his special education needs by using her knowledgeable and compassionate voice to get involved on boards and in establishments that were often White-only.

Words are Janice's passion and her saving grace. She's an award-winning journalist whose articles have been published in USA Today, The Detroit News, The Seattle Times, and Essence Magazine, among many others. Janice has conducted media relations, speech writing, and reputation management for several Fortune 100 companies. Currently, Janice is a freelance journalist based in Las Vegas where she writes about a variety of topics including social justice, race, health, and adoption.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Janice Kyser on Medium

Janice Kyser on Twitter

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

*Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

"Mama!" we heard George Floyd call to a woman who died two years earlier, a sacred invocation, like a prayer invoking God's presence because mothers are our first protectors.

When George called for his Mama, he called on me too. After our newborn wails after inhaling its first breath, we exhale with relief. We instantly begin to consider their safety with the underlying desire for them to inherit a bright future. Instinctually we become Mama Bears who will do anything in our power to protect our beloved cubs.

George Floyd laying prostrate and gasping for air as he called for his Mama was a heartbreaking call to all White mothers to take a deeper look at our White privilege and the history of systemic racism. Regardless of race, socio-economic status, religion, sexuality, or age, if you are a Mama Bear, no one fucks with our babies…even our grown gentle cubs, who like George Floyd were 6 foot 6 and played college football and basketball.

When George Floyd's precious and beautiful daughter, Gianna announced her daddy changed the world, every mother's heart expanded with love. We cried tears of sadness because she'd have to grow up seeing images of her father's despicable death and the cruel fact that he was taken away from her but. But we also cried tears of happiness because her daddy did and will continue to change the world by bringing a global awareness of the need for justice and love for all.

George was laid to rest next to his Mama. I know Larcenia Floyd welcomed him with a big Mama Bear hug like no other. I imagine she said, "You changed the world."

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Essay- George Floyd Summoned All Mothers When He Called for His Mama

Vote Like a Mother

Mothers Against Police Brutality

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

*Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Gregg Garfield is the owner of CardConnect E.V. and Chip In, a credit card processing company. His girlfriend, Anneliese Johnson (AJ) is a mother of two teenage daughters and a wealth manager. Gregg and AJ heartedly support the peaceful protests for Black Lives Matter, but they're concerned about the spread of coronavirus as large groups stand elbow to elbow with many civilians, cops, and firefighters not wearing masks. They know first hand the horrific effects of this novel virus that flourishes in crowds.

When Gregg Garfield left for a ski trip adventure in Italy at the end of February, he had no idea 10 days later he would begin his most difficult journey to date- fighting for his life. On March 5, Gregg became Patient Zero as he checked himself into St. Joseph's Providence Hospital in Burbank with serious Covid-19 symptoms.

Gregg was put on a ventilator for 31 days and was given a less than 1% chance of survival. He had four collapsed lungs, kidney failure, got MRSA, had a pulmonary embolism, and had sepsis all over his body...and yet he survived. His "Village" prayed for him, toasted him nightly with tequila- his favorite, meditated, danced, and supported him in unmeasurable ways. Sixty-four days after entering the hospital with EMTs wearing hazmat suits, he walked out holding his girlfriend, AJ's, and his sister's, Stephanie Garfield-Bruno's arms.

The sustained lack of circulation to his fingers and toes caused them to turn black, similar to a frostbite injury. He is scheduled for additional surgeries for amputation and will need more physical and occupational therapy. His lust for life, gratitude to be alive, and will to conquer any mountain make him a true walking hero who will eventually have bionic fingers.

In this episode, Gregg and AJ share the harrowing story of his miraculous survival and how Patient Zero became an iconic image of hope, not just for the incredible doctors and nurses who treated him, but for the other patients and their families dealing with this very unpredictable novel virus. Gregg and AJ are here today to educate and inspire, and I promise you will love their love story.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Gregg Garfield Covid 19 Patient Zero Go Fund Me Page

Gregg on Ellentube

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

*Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.

Pirie Jones Grossman was born and raised in South Texas. She grew up with a bipolar and schizophrenic mother who struggled with drugs and alcohol. When Pirie was just five years old, her mother put a gun to her head and was later institutionalized. Pirie developed a depth of self-loathing and a need to be loved that would follow her into multiple marriages.

Despite it all, Pirie went on to become a model, actress, and TV host for E!, Fox Television, NBC, CBS, and ABC interviewing visionaries like Maya Angelou. Pirie has firsthand experience about how aging can feel disempowering and intimidating, making her the perfect co-host for her podcast, Own Your Throne with her friend, Diane Chandler. Her goal is to empower women to reject media stereotypes, reinvent themselves, own their power, wisdom, and value, and to embrace their inner queen.

Pire has been the Co-Chair for the Special Olympics International World Winter Games in Idaho and she's worked with the Dalai Lama. She's the founder of the "Love is Louder" Brain Health Summit with suicide survivor, Kevin Hines, focusing on teenage depression and suicide. Her TedX talk is called, "How to Heal a Community from Suicide."

With a Masters in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica, Pirie spreads her message through a blend of life coaching and event production. She's shared the stage with leading influential figures in the personal development space such as Deepak Chopra and she is a contributing writer for Thrive Global. Pirie lives in Sun Valley, Idaho with her two teenagers who are on the road to being Olympic skiers. Pirie is here to remind us all that love comes from within.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

Pirie Jones Grossman Website

Pirie Jones Grossman on Instagram

Own Your Own Throne Website

Own Your Own Throne on Instagram

Own Your Own Throne on Facebook

How to Help a Community Heal from Suicide | Pirie Grossman | TEDxSunValley

Soul Success: Stories and Lessons of Female Leaders Who Turned Piles of Sh*t Into Nuggets of Gold by Megan McCann

Buey Grossman (Pirie's son)- Video and article in Time about his blindfolded kayaking senior project in the time of Covid-19

CONNECT WITH US!

*Dear Family, Podcast Page

*Write Now Rachel Website

*Rachel's Blog @Medium

*Rachel's Twitter

*Facebook

*Instagram

PLEASE JOIN:

*Dear Family Members, the Private Facebook Group

WAYS TO HELP THE PODCAST:

*PLEASE Leave a 5-Star Review and

***Listen and Subscribe via iTunes!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Stitcher!!!

***Listen and Subscribe via Spotify!!!

Thank you! Your support means the world to me. Wishing you love, happiness, and good mental health always.