New York Times and USA Today-bestselling and award-winning children's writer, Jennifer L. Holm, is known for “Our Only May Amelia” (a book inspired by her a great aunt’s diary), “Penny From Heaven”, and “Turtle in Paradise”. Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on several graphic novel series including the “Babymouse” series, which has sold over 3.2 million copies and won the Eisner Award, the “Sunny” series, which is a NY Times-bestseller, and finally, the “Squish” series, which was turned into an animated series and aired on HBO MAX. Her latest novel, “The Lion of Mars” is a USA Today - bestseller. Jennifer talks about her American mom Penny who raised five children and worked as a nurse. From Penny, we learn about creating your own family rituals, family history, and teaching girls they are equal to boys. Jennifer is also sharing how she became a children’s book author and what she learned from writing for children. One of her lessons: we don’t do our kids any favors by shielding them.

To learn more about Jennifer and her books, please visit her website. 

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

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

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In this Christmas special, you host Ana Tajder talks with her son Kai about Christmas and lessons he learned from her. To his mom’s surprise, Kai (10) talks about some deep lessons that are actually good to remember around this festive time of the year: to be grateful for basic things in life such as health, home, warmth and food; to not wish time away expecting something better to come your way; to be present (and sometimes to just do nothing); and that things are often better than they seem. And with these beautiful lessons, Kai and I are wishing you Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! 

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]

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

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Visual artist and choreographer from Croatia, Nina Kurtela, talks about working in Ana’s mom Jagoda Kaloper’s art studio, researching her creative legacy, and learning from her. As Jagoda’s lessons, Nina shared being diversified and not defining yourself as just one thing/profession/position; surrounding yourself with people and bringing them together; and being persistent and not giving up on yourself, even after longer breaks, or during the struggles of midlife. Nina also talked about her mom, from whom she learned the same lesson - do not give up on yourself - but from a different angle.

To learn more about Nina, and see the archive of Jagoda Kaloper's creative work, please visit Nina's art collective's website 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]

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

Connect with Ana on social media:

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I'm respoting this episode form 2021 becuase it inspires us to stay positive and happy despite challenging times - a message we need right now. Munira Premji, HR Expert and author of “Choosing Hope: One Woman. Three Cancers” is one of the happiest and most inspiring people I have ever met. Allow her to shine some joy at you while she talks about her beautiful Tanzanian mom Zerakhanu. Munira shares Zera’s inspiring lessons on gracefully accepting what is; loving life; curiosity and continuous learning; not letting difficulties in life affect you; and - exercise. Brimming with optimism and hope, Munira also shares important lessons she learned through her battle with three advanced cancers: breast cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma. Three years after our conversation, Munira continues to share light and inspiration through her beautiful work.

To learn more about Munira, her book, and her work, please visit her website here.

Or find her on Instagram here. 

To read Ana's lessons from her family's cancer lessons, visit 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]

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

Connect with Ana on social media:

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Psychiatrist, coach working with immigrant women, and the Executive Director at Minnesota Department of Human Services, Dr. Soniya Hirachan, talks about her Nepalese mother Asha (meaning “hope” in Nepalese) who grew up in a remote village in the mountains of the Himalayas. Every summer, mama Asha walked for a whole week to reach the nearest city where she helped her father sell the produce from their farm. Later in life, Asha built a profitable restaurant business and sent her children to the best schools in Nepal, India and the US. Asha teaches us about beating the odds, creating new opportunities for the next generations, resilience, hope, humbleness, independence, and accepting that it’s ok to be different. 

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

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

Connect with Ana on social media:

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Rhiana Spring is an award-winning international human rights expert and entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Spring ACT, which launched "Sophia" - the world's first chatbot empowering survivors of domestic violence. She tells us about her work using modern technology to support human rights across the globe. Rhiana also talks about her Welsh mother Lorraine, a nurse and acupuncturist, who left home at 16, traveled the whole world, moved 51 times, raised two children, wrote books, and touched many people’s hearts. From Lorraine, we learn how unconditional support and love can give wings and power; to be our authentic selves; that life is an adventure; and that we can simultaneously be open, warm and nurturing - and strong. Rhiana also spoke about why we should be teaching self-love to our children.

To learn more about Rhiana and her fascinating work, please visit the Spring ACT website 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]

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

Connect with Ana on social media:

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Singer, musician and writer, Orenda Fink is famous for being one half of the duo “Azure Ray”. Orenda just published her beautiful first memoir “The Witch’s Daughter: My Mother, Her Magic, and the Madness That Bound Us”, about her relationship with her mother suffering from borderline narcissistic personality, which made her fight with everyone, including her three daughters. Orenda tells us about her career in indie music, about writing her fascinating and deeply inspiring book, and about becoming a certified Jungian coach. From her mother, we learn that no one is all bad or all good; that art is a priceless form for catharsis and self-expression; and the power of magical thinking. Orenda also spoke about self-mothering, about individuation, about going No Contact with one’s family.

To learn more about Orenda and to order her book, please visit her website. 

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]

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

Connect with Ana on social media:

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Author of her family memoir “Once Our Lives”, Qin Sun Stubis, shares lessons she learned from her Chinese mom Yan. Yan was given away by her mother as a baby, and struggled keeping her four daughters from starvation while her husband was a political prisoner for 14 years. We learn about the history of China, and about the Chinese historical bias against female children (the worst version being female infanticide). Yan teaches us about the power of education to break generational patterns; that we’re much stronger than we can imagine; that we can find a way – even to survive – by being creative and not giving up. Qin also talks about her mother, like many mothers, not being able to teach her self-care and self-esteem. And she talks about the holy responsibility mothers have, and the power to transform next generations through connecting with their children.   

To learn more about Qin and her book, please visite her website. 

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]

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

Connect with Ana on social media:

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American activist, organizer, writer, TV producer, feminist, president of Soapbox, Inc., and a long-time consultant to the American feminist icon Gloria Steinem, Amy Richards, shares lessons she learned both from her mom, and from over 30 years of working closely with Gloria. Amy also gives us a brief history of feminism and explains why it’s just as important now as it ever was, and talks about the female shared experience. From her American mom Karen, we learn about tenacity; not getting caught in drama; that what makes you different can make you stronger; humbleness; showing up; and accepting help. From Gloria, we learn to live your values; that you can learn something from everyone; to be a good friend; and ask and work hard for things you want.

To learn more about Amy, please visit her website. 

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]

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

Connect with Ana on social media:

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As the thrid Replay episode of Summer 2024, here's episode 86 with best-selling author, book critic and journalist, Meredith Maran, who shares a deeply inspiring story about how, after a lifetime of aversions and conflict, she and her mom Rita became friends when Meredith was 69 and Rita 93.

This story is a great reminder of how a crisis (in this case COVID) forces us to re-evaluate things and focus on what really matteres in life. We learn so much from these exceptional ladies: not to give up before a miracle; that no one is just good or evil (not even our mothers); that anger is like drinking poison; and that people do change – even at 93. Or 69.

To learn more about Meredith, visit her website. 

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]

To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here.

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

Connect with Ana on social media:

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