Discover
Thank You, Mama
Thank You, Mama
Author: Ana Tajder
Subscribed: 15Played: 1,598Subscribe
Share
© Ana Tajder 2020
Description
Award-winning author and journalist Ana Tajder talks to women from all over the world who share most valuable lessons they learned from their mothers. This biweekly trip around the world should allow the colorful experiences and wisdom of global mothers to inspire, empower, and maybe teach the listeners a lesson or two.
183 Episodes
Reverse
Sports journalist and author of Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter and You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened, Amy Weinland Daughters, shares the life lessons she learned from her American mom, Sue: the danger of hiding behind a "perfect" façade, the trap of letting others define who you are, and the inspiring fact that your current chapter isn't your whole story — because the best may still lie ahead. She also speaks about being guided by love, embracing a "why not?" mindset, and being open-minded. Amy also reflects on the cathartic experience of writing her memoir, in which she gets to witness three days of her childhood as a grown-up bystander, the surprising pliability of memory, the practice of re-parenting ourselves, and the wisdom that comes from learning through other people's lives. For more about Amy and her books, please visit her 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Dacia Moore, licensed counselor and founder of Second Wind Counseling & Consulting, has dedicated her career to helping African Americans understand the benefits of therapy, take a proactive approach to mental wellness, and become their best selves. She's the author of Why Are So Many Students So Angry? and the forthcoming From Stuck to Unstoppable. In this episode, Dacia traces her mission back to her Jamaican mother, Dorothy, whose struggle with depression became a living picture of what it means to be "stuck." Watching Dorothy's pain - and her resilience - taught Dacia that staying stuck has a cost, and that faith, work ethic, and getting help are how we move again. We talk about recognizing when to ask for support and take a break, knowing when to let go and move on, navigating depression with compassion, and guiding our children with the hard-earned wisdom of our own experiences. To learn more about Second Wind, visit their website here. To subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter visit here. To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net To connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Engineer and Midlife Business Strategist Sairan Aqrawi shares her inspiring journey from Iraq to a new life in the United States—and the extraordinary story of her mother, Sidika, who was married at 14, became a mother at 15, and went on to raise seven children. From Sidika, we learn the power of patience and trust in divine timing; the wisdom of letting go of small grievances; the importance of choosing grace over noise, and of not seeking validation from others. She reminds us that not everything will unfold as we wish—and that sometimes, peace means letting go. Sairan also reflects on the lessons she's learned as an immigrant, a mother, and a business coach: to own your voice, to take action ("because action is confidence"), to see midlife as a triumph and a new fruitful phase, and to remember that sometimes you need to pause—and recalibrate. 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Julie Cobalt is an attorney with over 25 years of experience as a Conflict Resolution Expert with 1,200 successful mediations accomplished. After many years of working with large companies, Julie is now supporting families in resolving their conflicts, and offering workshops on navigating challenging times such as divorce. Julie shared a story of her mom who was always seeking validation through helping people outside of her family. This led to a fascinating conversation about the balance of taking care of others with taking care of yourself, but also questioning whom you seek validation from and why; how to shift perspective to see where the other person is coming from; and the importance of understanding before you react. Julie shared her inner journey of working on her relationship with her mother, and also the biggest lesson she learned as a Conflict Resolution Expert - she kindly shared her theory of "3 Buckets" which can help soften any relationship. A big thank you to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for sending such an amazing guest my way! To learn more about Julie, her coaching and workshops, please visit her 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Sometimes, on occasions that are getting rarer and rarer, Instagram can be a place of great discoveries, and Becky Barnicoat was one of those for me. A cartoonist published by The New Yorker, Grazia, The New Statesman, The Guardian, BuzzFeed, New York Magazine, Private Eye and Netflix, she had recently published her deeply funny and touching graphic memoir "Cry When the Baby Cries". For years, her observations of daily life and motherhood made me burst out laughing (often when I needed it the most). So join me as I finally get to laugh together with Becky! Hear her inspiring story about becoming a succesful cartoonist after years of hearing she wasn't good enough, and was dreaming of a job that didn't exist. And learn wise lessons from her and her mom Catherina about motherhood being a source the fulfilment, about creating a warm home through routine and light, about teaching our duaghters through our stories, and breaking generational cycles. To learn more about Becky, her work, and her new book, visit her website here, or her Instagram profile 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Wanjiku Kiarie, an accountant and podcaster from Kenya, talks about her mama Frasia, a teacher who raised and supported her four daughters during her husband's battle with drinking. The episode is bursting with lessons on finding God; forgiving and giving; working hard, saving and investing; raising amazing women; and honesty. 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
This episode is a bit different, because in this episode you host Ana Tajder will tell you her guest's mother's story. To Ana's big shock, because of technical difficulties with recording between US and China, the recording of this beautiful interview turned out blank. But Ana believed mama Chen's inspiring story had to be shared, so she shared it herself, using notes she took during the interview. Ana's guest is a Beijing based artist and industrial design professor Xue Hongyan. Xue talks about her mom Chen who, after a life of hard work in a factory, started her own business at 50. Listen for a glimpse into a life of a working-class woman in China, and for important lessons on hard work, resilience, and courage to start a new professional phase in your 50s. 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Author and podcast host Ronit Plank, author of "Home is a Made-Up Place" and "When She Comes Back", talks about her mom who left six year old Ronit and her four year old sister to move to India and follow guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the center of Netflix documentary "Wild Wild Country". In this incredible story of personal development, Ronit shares how she forgave her mother and created a strong relationship with her. We learn that while most people don't change, some do; that the way people treat you shows who they are - not who you are; the importance of expressing feelings in a vulnerable and constructive way; and to always use more herbs than the recipe calls for. To learn more about Ronit and her work, visit her 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Lawyer from Tanzania specialized in human rights, Ashura Kayupayupa, talks about her mother Rose, who, after her husband was killed in a car accident, was disowned by his family. Ashura tells us about widow abuse and witch-hunt, a problem that's still widespread in Africa. But mama Rose stayed strong, re-built her life and started her small agricultural business. Rose teaches us about hope, endurance, hard work, patience, and focusing on your own life. We also learn not to ponder on why something happened to us, but to make the best out of any situation. 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Emmy-winning ESPN broadcaster Jenn Hildreth and FOX Sports Senior Vice President Talent Relations Aimee Leone, talk about "Tough as a Mother: Women in Sports, Working Moms, and the Shared Traits That Empower Us All", their anthology offering an intimate look at the lives of iconic women in sports and their journeys of balancing family and career. Jenn also talks about her mom Sandra, from whom she learned to love, have courage and strength, always do her best, and find her own way of doing things. Aimee talks about her mom Diane, from whom she learned to always keep evolving, be accepting of others, face her fears, and not to overthink. Aimee and Jenn also talk about what "having it all" means and if it's possible, about moxie, prioritizing, and lifting others. To order "Tough as a Mother" please 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
A published poet, author of "Novice", and mom, Nida Sophrasarun talks about how her poetry is influenced by her family on two ends: on one end, it was her family's inability to communicate emotions that lead her to finding her voice in poetry. On the other end, the birth of her son lead her to finding herself again through writing. Nida talks about her Thai mom Kobkua, "a tiger", as Nida describes her, from whom Nida learned important lessons, in spite of their challenging relationship. Nida talks about showing love and connecting through food; about the solace of mysticism; about finding her unique voice; and understanding what really belongs to us - and what is just an illusion. Nida also read her poem "Starling" for us. To order Nida's book of poems "Novice", go here. You can read Nida's beautiful poem Violent Femmes 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Widely known as the "Mother of Mindfulness", Dr. Ellen Langer is a foundational figure in the study of mindfulness outside of meditation traditions. Dr. Langer is the first woman to ever receive tenure in psychology at Harvard, where she has researched, in her own lab, mindfulness for over 40 years. Dr. Langer has published well over 200 research articles and 13 best-selling books, ("Mindfulness", "The Mindful Body", "The Art of Noticing", "Counter Clockwise", and "The Power of Mindful Learning") in which she has written on the illusion of control, aging, stress, decision-making, and health without meditation. In our interview, Dr. Langer talks about these topics, and also shares lessons she has learned from her American mom Sylvia. To learn more about Dr. Langer, visit her website here. To order her latest book, 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: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajde
A mother, a US Marine Corps combat veteran and a Navy psychologist, Dr. Julienne Shin, talks about lessons she learned through her difficult relationship with her Filipino mom Corazon. We learn about the impact of a mother's relationships with her child at a young age, about not holding on to your parents' pain; and about the importance of emotional intelligence. Julienne also shares some amazing things she learned through writing her dissertation about mothers in combat. 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: info@thankyoumama.net 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: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Authors of "What To Do When I'm Gone" and "What to Do When You Get Dumped", a mother-daughter team, share their mothers' lessons. Suzy Hopkins is a former newspaper reporter and magazine publisher. Her daughter Hallie Bateman is a freelance writer and illustrator based in Los Angeles whose work has been published by The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Awl and others. Suzy talks about her mother, a soft-spoken librarian, and mother of six, who suffered domestic abuse and managed to leave the marriage after 30 years - only after she found out her husband had a mistress. We learn about leaving the moment somebody lifts a hand to you; about asking for help; talking about elephants in the room; and knowing what you have the right to expect from a relationship. While Suzy learned what not to follow, Hallie learned from Suzy's example: how important it is to talk about everything; the power of unconditional love; and turning the sense of discovery and question-asking into art. Suzy also talks about recovering from grief after her husband or 30 years surprisingly asked for a divorce, a process which took four years, during which she wrote highly inspiring and comforting "What to do When You Get Dumped". To learn more about Suzy, follow her on Instagram here. To learn more about Hallie, visit her 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: info@thankyoumama.net 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: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Project Associate at UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) and co-founder of Diaspora Creatives, Audrey Kodjo tells us about her mom Lucy, who, in spite of having the status of a queen in Benin, had to master many obstacles both in her childhood and adulthood – from being a foster child to facing marital challenges. We learn about Benin, and what it means to be a queen there, but we also learn many life-lessons about teaching your children values and strong roots; why women are the backbone of a family; the eternal split between family and your dreams; the power of spirituality; and why it's important to take risks. To learn more about Diaspora Creatives, visit their 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: info@thankyoumama.net 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: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Psychodynamic psychotherapist, Alejandra Wild Proano, talks about her Ecuadorian mom Desiree, and shares her inspiring story. Desiree went from the first female guide through the Amazon to finding herself widowed, with two small children, a foreigner in the US. Not giving up, she took classes and became a licensed psychotherapist. We learn many wonderful lessons from Desiree: to follow your path and never give up; to see the invisible - the spiritual, energetic, magical side of our existence; to protect our relationships by cherishing what's important and letting go of small things; and to not see things in black and white. Alejandra and I also talk about many different phases in a woman's life, and about allowing our mothers – and ourselves - to be different things at different times. To learn more about Alejandra, please visit her 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: info@thankyoumama.net 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: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Dr. Briana Chen is a postdoctoral neuroscientist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, where she researches sex differences in stress resistance and psychiatric disorders. Briana is particularly interested in developing sex-specific treatments for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She won numerous awards for her scientific work and was included in Forbes 2023 list of 30 under 30. Briana shares her Chinese mom May's lessons on the value of education, continuous learning, and curiosity about the world; about how important it is to question things and to always try understanding the "why" – as Briana explained, this helps her to find motivation for her scientific work and for pursuing grants and awards for her research. Finally, we learn about giving back – for Briana, it meant using her research to support those who are often overseen by the scientific and medical establishment – in her case, women. To learn more about Briana and her work, please visit her 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: info@thankyoumama.net 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: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Career and leadership coach based in Paris but originally from New York, Zeva Bellel, talks about her mom Karen, an artist from Brooklyn. Karen teaches us about becoming interesting people by following our curiosity; not getting hooked on a specific goal because it seemed right and good to others but thinking about choices that would expand our perspective and personality; building a healthy relationship with money; and recognizing what we want, and knowing that we deserve it. Zeva also talks about coaching and why it offers help our friends and family cannot provide. She also talks about always knowing she wanted to live and Paris and making the big move - which made her dreams come true. To learn more about Zeva and her work, 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: info@thankyoumama.net 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: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Founder of "Carrie's Touch", a non-profit supporting Black women during their breast cancer battles, Tammie Denyse, talks about her mom Carrie, whom she lost at the tender age of 11 to domestic violence. Tammie shares Carrie's lessons on unconditional love, faith, and the power to say no, and to leave painful relationships. Tammie also talks about her own experiences which turned her into a survivor. We're learning from her not only about surviving life's biggest challenges, and the incredible strength we carry inside, but also about the power of forgiveness, about faith, community, and the importance of supporting others. To learn more about Tammie and "Carrie's Touch", please visit their 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: info@thankyoumama.net 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: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder
Grief specialist and psychotherapist with multiple degrees in psychology, psychotherapy, and international healthcare, public policy, and economics, Adina Belloli is also the founder of the international charity "In-Visible" (which served 1.7 mio meals to children in the Philippines), founder of the "Motherless Mothers" community, and host of "Motherhood Beyond Books" podcast. Adina tells us the incredible story of her American mom Marilyn who did the impossible to be able to marry the love of her life, but was tragically killed in a car accident by a drunk driver when Adina was only six months old. Marylin was such an exceptional person, that even in her absence, she taught Adina some of life's most important lessons. Adina talks about bravery, which can help us achieve the impossible; about being aware of the impermanence of life and thus living with intention, gratitude and appreciation; about the power of the full spectrum of emotions; and about loving fiercely, and intentionally communicating our love. To learn more about Adina and her work, 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: info@thankyoumama.net 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: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder





Wow this is great Ciku. Always learning from you .Love and light