Thank You, Mama

Journalist and editor Stacey Lindsay, author of Being 40: The Decade of Letting Go and Embracing Who We Are, joins us to discuss self-worth, self-compassion, joy, and the importance of listening to our own truth rather than society's expectations.

Stacey shares the complicated story of her mother, who left their family when Stacey was 16 after years of trying to be everything a wife and mother "should" be. Her departure began a long journey toward understanding and forgiveness—and ultimately taught Stacey that women can change their lives, pursue adventure, pursue their personal freedom, and begin again at any age.

We talk about mothering ourselves, honoring the "unlived life" within us, saying our daydreams aloud, and protecting our self-worth from anything that might chip away at it. Stacey reminds us that we contain multitudes: we can hold love and pain, forgiveness and truth, responsibility and personal freedom, all at the same time.

To learn more about Stacey and her book, please visit her wesite here.

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In this very special episode of Thank You, Mama, Ana speaks with Isabel Allende, one of the most widely read authors in the world. Isabel is the beloved Chilean author of more than thirty books, including The House of the Spirits, Eva Luna, Paula, Daughter of Fortune, and The Soul of a Woman. Her work has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide, been translated into more than 40 languages, and appeared on bestseller lists around the world.

In this intimate conversation, Isabel reflects on her mother, Panchita — a talented painter who never fully developed her gifts because she was raised to depend on men. From watching Panchita's life, Isabel learned some of her most important life-lessons: to protect her independence, to be able to support herself, to put real effort behind her talents, to love her children unconditionally, and to fill life with elegance, beauty, and refinement.

Isabel also talks about motherhood, parenting, feminism, raising feminists, women's rights, manners, her lifelong love of work, and how writing letters to her mother helped make her a writer. She reflects on mothers and daughters, the wisdom women pass across generations, and the surprising ingredient needed for love and relationship in later life.

For more about Isabel, please visit her website here.

For more about her foundation, visit here.

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To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: [email protected]

For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net

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192. How's Your Daughtering? Dr. Allison Alford on Daughtering vs. Mothering, Not Giving Up Too Quickly, Education, and Faith

Associate professor and author of Good Daughtering: The Work You've Always Done, the Credit You've Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough, Dr. Allison Alford talks about her American mother, Pamela, who became a family therapist after her daughters reached adolescence.

Pamela taught Allison about the importance of education, leaning on faith for strength, and not being too quick to judge - because people can surprise you when you give them a chance.

Allison also reflects on her research into the communication between mothers and daughters, the unspoken expectations society places on women, the ways women are often cast as mothers, and how the language we use to describe our relationships shapes the way we live our lives.

Dr. Elinor Cleghorn is a feminist cultural historian, writer, and researcher, and the author of the critically acclaimed Unwell Women and A Woman's Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering.

In this episode, Elinor talks about her British mother, Sarah, who raised her as a single mother, later had two more children, and fostered 50 children. From Sarah, we learn about what makes a great mother; the importance of good humour; how to be both strong and kind; the difference between being kind and always being "nice"; and why we do not need to fix everything.

From Elinor, we learn about why medicine has so often failed to understand women's illnesses; the radical history of motherhood; the ways patriarchy has used and constrained mothering; the commercialization of menopause; and many other fascinating topics.

To learn more about Elinor and her work, please visit her Instagram here.

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For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net

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This is the long, unedited version of the episode 191 with Dr. Elinor Cleghorn, a feminist cultural historian, writer, and researcher, and the author of the critically acclaimed Unwell Women and A Woman's Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering.

In this episode, Elinor talks about her British mother, Sarah, who raised her as a single mother, later had two more children, and fostered 50 children. From Sarah, we learn about what makes a great mother; the importance of good humour; how to be both strong and kind; the difference between being kind and always being "nice"; and why we do not need to fix everything.

From Elinor, we learn about why medicine has so often failed to understand women's illnesses; the radical history of motherhood; the ways patriarchy has used and constrained mothering; the commercialization of menopause; and many other fascinating topics.

To learn more about Elinor and her work, please visit her Instagram here.

Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here.

To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: [email protected]

For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net

Connect with Ana on social media:

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American award-winning writer Zinzi Clemmons, author of What We Lose and Freedom, talks about her South African mother, Dorothy — an activist and teacher who devoted her life to serving underprivileged Black children.

Dorothy teaches us to raise independent daughters by modelling feminism, not just talking about it; to demand respect in every relationship; to show our children what healthy love looks like; and to always have the means to leave if a relationship no longer works.

Zinzi also reflects on grief, writing, the realities of apartheid, and the deep connection between teaching and mothering.

To learn more about Zinzi and her work, visit her website here.

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To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: [email protected]

For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net

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American artist, illustrator, writer, and designer Maira Kalman, author of Women Holding Things, Sara Berman's Closet, and many other illustrated books, talks about her Belarus-born Jewish mother, Sara.

After leaving her husband in Tel Aviv, Sara began a new life in New York — and, at 60, finally found her true identity, and her happiest self. From Sara, we learn about making order out of chaos, surrounding ourselves with beautiful things, trusting our own vision instead of seeking outside approval, and living with meaning, purpose, and humor.

To learn more about Maira and her work, visit her website here.

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To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: [email protected]

For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net

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Thank You, Mama is back with new episodes, as Ana Tajder speaks with women from around the world about the most important lessons they learned from their mothers.

This season explores women, mothers, and their wisdom — through books.

Listen to the trailer for a short preview of the fascinating guests and conversations waiting for you from May 12. New episodes will be published weekly on Tuesdays.

Since launching Thank You, Mama on International Women's Day 2020, I've had the privilege of speaking with extraordinary women from around the world—artists and scientists, CEOs and stay-at-home moms, bestselling authors, pop stars, retirees, and entrepreneurs—about their mothers, their legacies, and the lessons that shape who we become. Across 183 episodes, these conversations have shared deeply personal stories and hard-won wisdom, revealing how universal our experiences are as women, daughters, and sometimes mothers. They've reminded me that being a woman means belonging to a global sisterhood—one we too often forget to draw strength from—and they've changed me profoundly, making me more grounded, grateful, and connected.

That growing treasure chest of maternal wisdom has made it clear that it's time to begin work on the Thank You, Mama book, which will gather and share these lessons from mothers around the world. Writing it requires time, reflection, and the same care that has always guided the podcast. To make space for that work while continuing the show sustainably, Thank You, Mama will move to a seasonal format, with episodes released in two seasons each year—spring and fall—separated by intentional breaks. This shift allows the podcast and book to inform one another while keeping the conversations thoughtful and meaningful. Thank you, dear listeners, for being part of this journey and community. The next season of Thank You, Mama will launch later this spring, and I can't wait to share it with you.

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To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: [email protected]

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Originally published in 2021, I'm replaying this remarkable interview in solidarity with the courageous women of Iran and to offer you historical context for the protests unfolding today. Retired preschool teacher Mitra Jordan reflects on the life and legacy of her mother, Sattareh Farman Farmaian - widely regarded as the mother of social work in Iran and author of Daughter of Persia (highly recommended).

Sattareh was raised in a royal harem as one of 36 children born to the ruling prince of the Qajar dynasty. She earned a degree in sociology from the University of Southern California, worked for the United Nations in Iraq, and then returned to Iran to found the country's first school of social work. Under her leadership, the school flourished, training hundreds of social workers and launching programs in family planning, women's education, and orphan care, with strong support from Farah Diba, wife of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

In 1979, the Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini forced Sattareh, at age 58, to abandon her life's work and flee Iran. She rebuilt her career in the United States, passing her exams and becoming a practicing social worker in Los Angeles.

Mitra shares the lessons her mother lived by: the importance of education and self-reliance, the courage to follow one's own path, the refusal to be defined by your circumstances, and the often-overlooked mental benefits of physical exercise.

You will find "Daughter of Persia" by Sattareh Farman Farmaian here.

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To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: [email protected]

For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net

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