She Has The Mic

In this episode I am talking with Ann Imig, the founder of the nationwide storytelling series and book LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER. A decade later LTYM continues Giving Motherhood A Microphone on stages all over the country (60 cities to date, and counting!).

"In 2010 Ann decided Mother's Day was lacking; instead of being solely a retail-driven holiday, the focus should be family. By brining our community together to share personal stories abut our mothers, we could get back to the core of why mothering is important. That year she organized a live reading, and so "Listen To Your Mother" was born.

Like the live readings, the anthology Listen To Your Mother is a brutally honest look at modern motherhood. It showcases the experiences of ordinary people of different races, genders, and ages and takes readers on a journey through mother in all of its complexity, diversity and humor.

...the contributors' stories share their experiences with adoption, assimilation, and emptying nests; first-time motherhood, foster parenting, and infertility; LGBTQ parenting, special needs parenting, and surrogacy; step-mothering, never mothering, and mothering through illness.

Whether you are one, have one, or know one, Listen To Your Mother is an emotional whirlwind that is guaranteed to entertain, amuse, and enlighten."

- Listen To Your Mother, What She Said Then, What We're Saying Now, edited by Ann Imig

Ann is an also an award-winning writer, speaker, and performer who spends most of her time signing permission slips and sweeping up cat litter.

www.annimig.com

Listen To Your Mother: What She Said Then, What We're Saying Now, edited by Ann Imig

Have you ever wanted to write a book?

In her early thirties Brooke Warner left a major publishing company because she wanted all women's voices to be heard, not only celebrities. She wanted to create a place where our voices and stories are valued, and celebrated.

And that is why she created She Writes Press. In her interview, Brooke shares with us what pursuing a fulfilling career means to her.

Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress, president of Warner Coaching Inc., and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-light Your Book, What's Your Book?, and three books on memoir. Brooke is a TEDx speaker, weekly podcaster, and the former Executive Editor of Seal Press.

Pharadja Andrews is the founder of Wholeistic Nurse and my guest today. Pharadja shares with us what it means to be black during COVID, and how prejudice pervades healthcare. From her own personal story, and witnessing what other patients have experienced, Pharadja relates the harmful effects on the black community.

Pharadja is a registered nurse with a holistic twist. As a Wholesistic Nurse she helps her clients with overall health and mental wellbeing; especially in the African American, African, Caribbean, and Latino communities. As a result of struggling with her own thyroid and inflammation issues, Pharadja began her own research, and soon discovered whole, natural foods. This set her on a path to wellness. She has now made it her life goal to help other women, especially women of color, to overcome illness through natural eating and exercising. Pharadja educates her clients and provides them with resources to attain good health and wellbeing, at an affordable rate. Pharadja is committed to helping her fellow black woman because she knows what is owed to her community. Equality in healthcare is something the world needs to see, because we are family.

My guest today is Helen Taylor, author of the new book, "Why Women Read Fiction".

Helen's book is one born out of love, for all of the stories she has read, and read by the hundreds of women she has interviewed. It is a collection of cherished memories from childhood reading, book clubs and "cheap sweet vacations" as Stephen King's mother said.

Helen says, "When you read fiction you are escaping from who you are. When I read a book I go into somebody else's consciousness. I go into experiences that I've never had."

And I feel the same way! At the end of the day, no matter what has happened, I know I have my book to look forward to. It's like taking up a conversation with a friend again. Reading is comforting, thrilling, and illuminating all at the same time. Reading has always allowed me a way to see the world without even leaving my own home.

I'm besotted with stories! And that is why it was a pure delight to talk with Helen Taylor. "Why Women Read Fiction" is a book you will revel in. It had me smiling page, after page.

Helen's book is available on Amazon here: Why Women Read Fiction.

So grab a cup of tea, and listen in to this oh-so-lovely interview.

What does it mean to have a social impact business?

My guest Brigette Iarusso shares that having a profitable business means as an entrepreneur you are able to give sustainably to causes, and create positive, lasting change in our world.

Brigette is a sought-after international speaker who is committed to creating dynamic and engaging events that empower, motivate and accelerate diverse value-driven entrepreneurs and business leaders.

She is an experienced coach & facilitator who is committed to connecting change leaders and supporting global social entrepreneurship. She enables purpose-driven businesses to design a sustainable revenue model and inclusive organizational culture that has a positive impact on people and planet.

Shawnrey Notto is a Quirky Queen, guiding womxn to reclaim and embody self-love, pleasure, and joy, so they can show up powerfully and uniquely themselves.

In our interview Shawnrey shares her own story of early trauma, and how dance became her form of expression, and ultimately, freedom. Shawnrey blends 15+ years of dance and performance art, sensual intimacy coaching, and mindfulness. The result is something interactive and dynamic, where we use our whole bodies to heal cycles of shame and suppression. She believes that we can change the world starting with our relationships with our own bodies.

Visit Shawnrey on her website

And on Facebook

And on Instagram

Kendall Heaton MSW is the go-to mama for help navigating the early years of parenthood, through mindful parenting. In this episode Kendall gives us glimpse into the issues facing pre-natal and early childhood parents, and strategies we can use to feel more grounded, and calm during this time. Kendall's deep knowledge and warm approach to counseling is reassuring, and provides hope for adapting to our current challenges.

Kendall is a social worker, child development specialist, and Mindful Life Coach for Parents. She loves supporting parents and expectant parents to navigate the ups and downs of their parenthood journeys with mindfulness, acceptance, support, and ease. She supports parents and parents-to-be through one-on-one coaching, group programs, workshops, and her free Facebook group- Mindful Parenthood Community.

Visit Kendall on her website at: www.kendallheaton.com

What a wonderful interview! Michelle Mitchell is warm, compassionate and marvelously adept at understanding teens, and how to help in challenging times. Michelle shares with us her insights into the teen brain (ahhh!) and what they are really needing from us during the pandemic. It's not what you might think-it's actually about "leaning out" as Michelle says. This is an opportunity to build capacity through adversity. Learning how to adapt and thrive can also mean allowing for messiness.

Michelle Mitchell is an award-winning speaker, and bestselling parenting author. She has been termed 'the teenage expert' by the Australian media and is sought after for her compassionate and grounded advice for parenting tweens and teens.

Michelle started her career as a teacher, but soon discovered a special interest in wellbeing. She left teaching in 2000 to found Youth Excel, a 'boutique' health promotion charity which delivered tailor made life skills programs and psychological services to thousands of young people and their families.

Today she uses her experience to write and speak in schools, community events and through media.

www.michellemitchell.com

Follow Michelle on Instagram

and on Facebook

Books

Everyday Resilience: Helping Kids Handle Friendship, Drama, Academic Pressure and the Self-doubt of Growing Up by Michelle Mitchell

My guest today is Bianca Peay. On Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020, the citizens of San Ramon, California, came together for the Black Lives Matter peaceful protest, organized by Bianca.

In front of city hall, to a crowd of hundreds of people, Bianca spoke: "We are all simply trying to get through life. But there is nothing simple about being black in America."

In telling her own story at the rally, Bianca tells the crowd that she was born in Philadelphia, and lived in a one bedroom apartment with her mom. They needed food stamps to eat. Only when her mom cut off her dreadlocks and straightened her hair was she able to get a job in corporate America and change their financial situation. Years later, they now live in an affluent area of San Ramon. Bianca says, "We didn't just walk into this neighborhood, we struggled, and we deserve to be here. We are tired, we are fed up, and we deserve basic human rights. I feel like we as a community can make that happen. I wish peace and love and justice to every person here. I pray for positive energy and harmony, despite our cultural differences. It is beautiful that we live in a community so diverse. I want us to all live in peace. "

Bianca has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family since 2013. Last September she graduated from cosmetology school. She loves to do hair for fun and luckily has been able to make a job out of it. Bianca is also a sucker for some good food, a quality movie, and surrounding herself with people that bring love and good energy.

Join me in listening to Bianca's story.

In this fascinating interview, my guest Teresa Lodato CPCC talks about how to deepen self awareness and innate skills, helping us to build resiliency and balance. As a result of her own healing journey, Teresa shares with us practices that support the mind-body connection, that transformed her life.

Teresa Lodato is an author and thought leader in conscious leadership & relationship coaching, she leverages over 20 years in relationship-based sales, communication and psychology to empower her clients.

She also support leaders and their teams achieve greater results using cutting edge techniques to lead with focus, and increased connection, especially in challenging times.

As a professionally certified coach, Teresa leads her clients to live their lives with clarity, wisdom and grace.

Visit Teresa on her website at: https://teresalodato.com/