Mother Up!

Mother Up!

By Mama's Comfort CampSociety & CultureDocumentary
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Mother Up! episodes

  • Ep 4: With Love, in our Shared Struggle, with Michelle Courtney Berry

    With Love, in our shared struggle: a conversation with Michelle Courtney Berry, an Ithaca based African American coach, businesswoman, and a formidable speaker and activist. We talk about activism while sheltering in place,  and self-care challenges, especially when doing anti-racist work. Then we get on our soapbox about the problems caused by the pressure to be “super mother” and how the mythology of the strong black superwoman affected her personal and professional life. We talk about how the discomfort of white women can be lethal to black men and women, and Michelle tells us the heartbreaking story of how racism lead to the stealing of an entire lake. 

    Michelle Courtney Berry is certified NLP Master Coach and Practitioner for Health and Wellness as well as an author, speaker, trainer, actor, performing artist, playwright, poet, humorist, and nature lover who helps improve the quality of people’s lives by helping them manage stress, time, conflict, and competing priorities. Michelle is a former Alternate Acting Mayor and Alderperson for the City of Ithaca, a former White House TV reporter, and she's is a 2x TEDx and SXSW speaker who has opened for Maya Angelou and the Dalai Lama. She holds a graduate degree in Organizational Behavior and Risk Communication from Cornell University. She is the Founder and CEO of her consulting company Courtney Consulting Enterprises, LLC.

    Visit Michelle's website here: https://www.michellecourtneyberry.com/

    Subscribe to her excellent blog: https://www.michellecourtneyberry.com/blog

    Watch Michelle's Facebook live video chat every Thursday: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.berry/videos/vb.805244867/10158312892684868/?type=3


    Michelle has been donating her services to our community for years, and since the beginning of the pandemic, she’s increased her support to individuals in need and the entire community via Mutual Aid Tompkins. We encourage you to support her work with your donations on Venmo @Michelle-Berry-32

    The documentary about the story of Luxton Lake mentioned in the episode can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/fsG4YKsGpcE 

    - - -

    This podcast is hosted by Yael Daphna Saar, founder of Mama's Comfort Camp.

    Mothers of all ages and stages are welcome to join the Mama's Comfort Camp safe-space forums here: www.facebook.com/groups/mamas.comfort.camp/

    Mother Up! and Mama's Comfort Camp are projects of the Center for Transformative Action, a Cornell University affiliate. www.centerfortransformativeaction.org

    Our theme song: is “We are the Answer" by Grey Gary, you can find more of their terrific music at www.greygary.com

    Visit us at www.MotherUp.org. Much love, hugs all around.

    46 min
  • Ep 3: Mutual Aid and Building Antiracist Relationships with Phoebe Brown and Juliana Garcia

    A conversation with the Ithaca #BlackLivesMatter activists and founders of the Mutual Aid Tompkins grassroots networks Phoebe Brown and Juliana Garcia, just before the Women's Rally for black lives in Ithaca, NY.  We've had some technical problems while recording, so in this episode, the story value is higher than the production value,


    Watch the speeches from the women's rally here: https://www.facebook.com/watchparty/3126641297401161/
    In this episode, Phoebe, Juliana and I talk about building real relationships for anti-racist work, feeding each other during COVID, the gap in the experience of black parents and white parents, and the actions white parents can take to so their kids and themselves will be less likely to behave in unintentionally racist ways (for example, learn about the racism in Dr. Seuss books here: https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/its-time-to-talk-about-dr-seuss).
    We dedicated the episode to Breonna Taylor, and encourage you to donate to the #sayhername project: https://aapf.org/sayhername
    and the Breonna Taylor memorial fund. https://www.gofundme.com/f/9v4q2-justice-for-breonna-taylor

    Phoebe Brown works for the ALLIANCE OF FAMILIES FOR JUSTICE: https://afj-ny.org/
    and the Multicultural Resource Center: http://www.multiculturalresourcecenter.org/
    Juliana Garcia works for Cornell Cooperative Extention parenting division, and both of them started the Mutual Aid Tompkins movement.

    Find Mutual Aid Tompkins:
    Website: https://mutualaidtompkins.com/food-sharing/contribute
    The main discussion group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/209042093515340/
    The Discussion group for stocking the food cabinets: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2602977416468789/
    Map to the food cabinet locations: https://mutualaidtompkins.com/food-sharing/locations

    - - -

    This podcast is hosted by Yael Daphna Saar, founder of Mama's Comfort Camp.

    Mothers of all ages and stages are welcome to join the Mama's Comfort Camp safe-space forums here: www.facebook.com/groups/mamas.comfort.camp/

    Mother Up! and Mama's Comfort Camp are projects of the Center for Transformative Action, a Cornell University affiliate. www.centerfortransformativeaction.org

    Our theme song: is “We are the Answer" by Grey Gary, you can find more of their terrific music at www.greygary.com

    Visit us at www.MotherUp.org.


    Much love, hugs all around.

    55 min
  • Ep. 2: Discomfort and Comfortitude, with Christa Núñez of Ubuntu Library

    Christa Núñez is an African American wife and mother, farmer, writer, educator, researcher, scholar and servant to communities. We discuss how Mama's Comfort Camp, our community of mothers from around the world is responding to the crisis of racial injustice, and of Christa’s work to bring literacy and access to farming and nature to children and farmers of color. We also talk about her Learning Farm and the fledgling Ubuntu Library and about the concept of ComFortitude, so central to both of our work. This lead us to a conversation about class and race and food deserts, and what’s wrong with unsolicited advice… 

    This episode was recorded and edited in days of extreme racial injustice. We dedicate this episode to George Floyd, his family, especially his mother. And to all the black and brown people murdered in racist America and around the world.

    Please consider donating to the George Floyd Memorial Fund here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
    Our conversation goes deep and can be triggering to some; we invite listeners to recognize this discomfort as a path to our evolution. 

    Show Links:
    The Learning Farm (amazing online summer programs!): https://learningfarm.org
    Ubuntu Lab is going through a name change, it will soon be called Ubuntu Library. Sign up here:
    http://www.khubainternational.org/ IF CHILD RECEIVING BOOKS IS BIPOC/AFRICAN DIASPORA SUBSCRIPTION IS FREE .
    Donate a Buffalo Street Books gift card to the Ubunto Library: www.buffalostreetbooks.com/buffalo-street-books-gift-card
    Address for donations of existing gift cards: 272 Enfield Falls Rd Ithaca, NY 14850 

    Our contemplation break song:

    HOW MANY MORE, by Stone Cold Miracle
    (look for them on Spotify)
    Lyrics BY DUSTIN STUHR
    Vocals by SingTrece (www.singtrece.com) 

    THERE'S BEEN A COMMOTION

    DOWN ON THE CORNER OF FEAR AND HATE...
    ANOTHER UNARMED MAN
    DIDN'T STICK UP HIS HANDS
    NOW THEY SPREADING THE TAPE 

    THERE'S BEEN A PROMOTION

    OF THE IDEA THAT WE ARE FREE...
    RIGHT HERE FROM WHERE I STAND
    THIS AINT NO PROMISE LAND
    IF THERE AINT NO JUSTICE
    THERE AINT NO LIBERTY

    CHORUS:
    HOW MAY MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIE
    BEFORE WE KNOW THE REASON WHY
    AIN'T NOTHING BUT FEAR THAT DRIVES THIS TRAIN
    NOTHING TO LOSE BUT EVERYTHING TO GAIN 

    I BELIEVE IN THE NOTION

    THAT TO SEE LOVE I'VE GOT TO BE LOVE...
    I DONT KNOW WHERE I STAND
    HOW DO I LOVE THE MAN THAT
    KILLED MY BROTHER MAN 

    CHORUS: HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIE...

    BEFORE WE KNOW THE REASON WHY...
    AIN'T NOTHING BUT FEAR THAT DRIVES THIS TRAIN
    NOTHING TO LOSE BUT EVERYTHING TO GAIN 

    - - -

    This podcast is hosted by Yael Daphna Saar, founder of Mama's Comfort Camp. 

    Mothers of all ages and stages are welcome to join the Mama's Comfort Camp safespace forums here: www.facebook.com/groups/mamas.comfort.camp/ 

    Mother Up! and Mama's Comfort Camp are projects of the Center for Transformative Action, a Cornell University affiliate. www.centerfortransformativeaction.org 

    Our theme song: is “We are the Answer" by Grey Gary, you can find more of their terrific music at www.greygary.com 

    Visit us at www.MotherUp.org.

    44 min
  • Ep 1: Can we have a society that works for everyone? A conversation with Anke Wessels of the Center for Transformative Action

    In our first "official"  episode, Yael Saar, Founder of Mama's Comfort Camp and Mother Up! and Anke Wessels, Executive Director of Center for Transformative Action have a conversation about the changes of mindest, workplace standards, and economic conditions that could pave the way to a healthy society in which everyone is more likely to thrive.

    This is not quite an interview, Yael and Anke have a conversation among equals that goes into their deep yearnings, concerns, and gratitude.
    The Center for Transformative Action is the nonprofit fiscal sponsor Mother Up! which means Anke is Yael's boss, and this episode is an invitation for a new paradigm for work relationships for all.

    Mother Up! is a production of Mama's Comfort Camp (MCC), an emotional support network where moms of all ages and stages, from around the world and across the street, are seen, heard, and held. Our motto is: Moms don't need more advice, we need more support. Our safe-space forums are healing, transformative, and fertile ground for creative projects, like this podcast.
    All who identify as mothers are invited to join our lovingly moderated Facebook group here: www.facebook.com/groups/mamas.comfort.camp

    This podcast is hosted by Yael Daphna Saar, founder of MCC. 

    Mother Up! and Mama's Comfort Camp are projects of the Center for Transformative Action, a Cornell University affiliate. www.centerfortransformativeaction.org/

    Our theme song: is “We are the Answer" by Grey Gary, you can find more of their terrific music at www.greygary.com 

    You can learn more about the Mother Up! Initiative and our programs to amplify the voices of parents and caregivers at www.MotherUp.org.

    59 min
  • Prequel: Mothers and Politics During Quarantine

    In which Yael Saar, the founder of MCC is testing and practicing the podcasting thing with the help of Liz Hartman, an Ithaca mother of two young boys with a penchant for political activism. She’s here to encourage us to amplify the influence of parents on policymaking, by lending our support to political candidates committed to policies that support the needs of parents and children. We will cover how she got involved, what she actually does to support candidates she believes in, and how it all fits into her busy life as a mom of two boys during quarantine time. We will also cover what you need to know about absentee voting in NY state in the June 23rd primary. Link to the application: https://www.elections.ny.gov/votingabsentee.html

    Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this episode are individual and do not constitute an endorsement by MCC or Mother Up of any political candidate or party.  As a nonprofit project of the Center for Transformative Action, we can engage in voter education but we are prohibited from participating in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. We are grateful for Liz’s compliance with this prohibition, and I’m really impressed at how she managed to avoid naming candidates while sharing her motivation and her personal evolution, as well as giving us ideas for practical ways we can get involved too.


    Edit: After the episode was recorded, NY state brought the presidential primary back on the ballot: https://www.chronicle-express.com/news/20200515/new-yorks-democratic-presidential-primary-june-23-reinstated-after-yang-sanders-sue-state-appeals

    Mother Up! is a production of Mama's Comfort Camp, an emotional support network where moms of all ages and stages, from around the world and across the street, are seen, heard, and held. Our motto is: Moms don't need more advice, we need more support. Our safe-space forums are healing, transformative, and fertile ground for creative projects, like this podcast. All who identify as mothers are invited to join our lovingly moderated Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mamas.comfort.camp

    This podcast is hosted by Yael Daphna Saar, founder of MCC.

    Mother Up! and Mama's Comfort Camp are projects of the Center for Transformative Action, a Cornell University affiliate.

    Our theme song: is “We are the Answer" by Grey Gary, you can find more of their terrific music at www.greygary.com

    You can learn more about the Mother Up! Initiative and our programs to amplify the voices of parents and caregivers at www.MotherUp.org.



    43 min
  • Mother's Day greetings and musings on lowering our standards so we can fully show up.

    In which Yael Daphna Saar, Founder of Mama's Comfort Camp and Mother Up!, Shows up despite not being quite ready, and how it is actually perfect, in a self-kindness sort of way.

    Mother Up! is a podcast and an initiative dedicated to amplifying the voices of mothers and caregivers. It was born inside the Mama's Comfort Camp, an international support network where mothers from around the world have been supporting each other lovingly for over 8 years. Today we revealed our new website, in which you can find out about our other creative expression programs like Motherhood is a Joke and TEDx Nurture. Come see us at https://motherup.org/
    Mamas of all ages and stages are invited to join our safe space forum at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mamas.comfort.camp
    Happy Mother's Day.
    Hugs all around. 
    ~ Yael 

    12 min

About Mother Up!

From the publisher's feed

Mother Up! is a call to action to evolve into a nurturing society by prioritizing caring over profits and pursue social justice. We urge EVERYONE (all genders/ages) to act as if the survival of the species is at the mercy of our choices—economic, political, and cultural.