Ramblings of a Restless Mind

Jen and co-host Dejah open by joking about aging, “over the hill,” and Halloween as they prepare to take Deja’s unfinished travel bus on its first campground trip for their annual decorated Yogi Bear/Jellystone Halloween outing (complete with fog machines and adult Jell-O shots). They welcome guest Nakisha, a Texas-raised new Raleigh resident and director of the Child Advocacy Center at SAFEchild, who discusses starting over in her 40s, how she tried to make friends through a community post, and what the Advocacy Center does: providing a safe, coordinated place for children to share abuse details once through non-leading forensic interviews, medical evaluations, and family advocacy with partner agencies. The conversation also covers secondary trauma support for staff, self-care, the importance of funding/donations, and ends with light Q&A, including the “hot dog sandwich” debate and a listener voicemail about speaking up.00:00 Turning 41 and Over the Hill00:45 Bus Trip and Campground Plans02:21 Halloween Camping Traditions04:57 Meet Nakisha from SAFEchild08:37 Texas to Raleigh and BBQ Talk11:14 Making Friends as an Adult21:51 Inflatable Unicorn and Bio Bits26:18 What SAFEchild Advocacy Center Does29:28 Forensic Interviews Explained33:55 Why Supporting Kids Matters40:18 Secondary Trauma and Staff Care41:13 SEA CERT Explained42:53 Coworker Support Limits44:38 Team Intervention Moment48:48 Funding and Staff Needs49:47 Funny Tummy Feelings Impact55:57 Parent Trust in Interviews58:35 After Work Self Care01:02:12 Rapid Fire Fun Questions01:10:20 Listener Voicemail on Speaking Up01:20:33 Closing Thanks and Takeaways

In this episode of Ramblings of a Restless Mind, co-hosts Jen and Dejah welcome Melanie Shekita, an assistant district attorney in Wake County with nearly 28 years at the DA’s office and team leader of the Special Victims Unit, longtime SafeChild partner, and former volunteer firefighter. Melanie shares how she became involved with SafeChild, the growth of the organization and its Child Advocacy Center, and why a nonprofit-based, child-friendly forensic interview model matters for reducing retraumatization and improving accountability. The conversation covers the far-reaching impact of sexual abuse on families, the need for CAC services across counties, and the realities of secondary trauma for prosecutors and investigators, along with Melanie’s coping outlets like cycling and her rescue dogs. They end with lighter listener questions and opinions on everyday debates.00:00 Bravery and Healing00:36 Show Intro and Jingle01:37 Meet Melanie Shekita03:35 Bio and Firefighter Life04:41 Belichick Side Rant06:19 SafeChild Gala Story08:08 One in Four Kids11:46 DA Path to SVU13:57 Building the Advocacy Center17:02 New SafeChild Facility18:41 Fundraising and Foster Care24:12 Volunteer Firefighting Origin26:14 Coping With Trauma34:10 Remote Testimony for Kids35:28 Safe Child Forensic Interviews36:44 Expanding CAC Services39:38 Hot Dog Sandwich Debate41:03 Song Stuck on Repeat42:05 AI Fears and Regulation46:48 Voicemail Petty Hills52:36 Cancel Culture and Comments57:00 Wrap Up and Dog Talk

Jen and DeJah return from a summer hiatus to recap recent meaningful episodes (including a Mother’s Day special with their mom and a guest appearance by Tim “Big Sarge” from Sons of Liberty, with a live shoot planned in October). They ramble about highlights from a largely unplanned West Coast trip—San Francisco (Alcatraz, Ghirardelli, driving the Golden Gate Bridge), the Redwoods, Humboldt County ranch stay with dispensary tours and an infinity-pool “spiritual” moment, and Portland during Pride Weekend, including an Airbnb heat/AC struggle and a late-night “plum massacre.” Joe describes a Michigan family trip to a deer farm and updates progress on DeJah's bus-to-RV conversion. The conversation turns to politics and free speech around Macklemore being removed from an Ed Sheeran lineup by stadium owners, potential concert cancellation impacts, voting-roll concerns, and a tribute to Dolly Parton’s legacy and Imagination Library support.00:00 Back From Hiatus00:54 Recapping Big Episodes01:45 Joe Joins On Camera03:03 Summer Heat Talk03:46 West Coast Trip Begins04:22 San Francisco Highlights07:16 Humboldt Ranch Retreat08:23 Redwoods And Portland09:43 Plum Tree Airbnb Chaos12:50 Cooling Hacks And Pride Weekend14:44 Back Home And Fall Hopes14:58 Joe Summer And Boone Heat16:26 Michigan Trip Deer Farm Debate18:21 Barndominium Airbnb Talk19:35 Albino Deer Banter20:09 Bus Build Update21:38 Tariffs And Gas Rant22:57 Ed Sheeran Show Risk24:08 Macklemore Controversy27:44 Free Speech And Money32:26 Sponsor Break33:43 Concerts As Safe Spaces37:26 Dolly Parton Tribute45:28 Dolly Quotes And Legacy47:08 Wrap Up And Vote

Jen and DeJah welcome Tim “Big Sarge,” founder of Sons of Liberty, a veteran-led activist content community that grew from a Facebook rant page into a multi-platform presence after viral posts and a later Facebook takedown. Big Sarge explains how he used pro-patriot branding to counter MAGA narratives, shifted from historical “Confederate Heritage Month” content to viral “truck rant” videos, and then stepped back due to fatigue and audience pressure for entertainment over substance. He emphasizes that the work he most wants supported is their Tuesday 7 PM Eastern YouTube livestream interviews with progressive, non-establishment candidates (including Courage Caucus and impeachment-supporting contenders), urging viewers to get informed and vote. The conversation also covers protest safety resources, veterans’ political diversity, party dynamics, merch origins like “brisket and titties,” and the need for renewed protest music.00:00 Vote Over Virality00:43 Meet Big Sarge05:17 Sons of Liberty Origins08:11 Viral Growth and Takedowns12:09 Truck Rants and Brand Dilution16:29 Candidate Interviews Matter28:33 Protest Safety and Education31:27 Sponsor Break NC Estate Solutions32:25 Veterans Finding a Voice34:40 MAGA vs GOP and Veteran Policy39:25 Trust But Verify40:22 MAGA Infighting Watch45:02 GOP Discipline Vs Left47:23 Reclaiming Symbols48:40 Brisket And Titties54:08 Hot Dog Philosophy56:34 Where Did Protest Music Go01:04:55 Activist Festival Blueprint01:09:17 Support Artists And Activism01:11:48 Where To Watch Streams01:14:28 Closing Thanks And Call01:16:46 Podcast Outro Voicemail

Motherhood, Boundaries, and Single-Mom Strength | Ramblings of a Restless MindIn this episode, the host interviews her mom about motherhood, parenting, and family, including stories from labor and delivery and how witnessing birth can change perspectives. They discuss parenting as choosing battles, setting boundaries, following through with discipline, building respect without relying on patriarchal “wait till your dad gets home” dynamics, and the challenges of raising kids in a device-driven culture. The conversation also covers societal pressure around having children and gratitude for a mom who never judged her daughter for not becoming a parent. The mom shares what helped her children through divorce—perseverance, honest communication about life changes, and refusing to speak badly about their father—plus how she coped with kids leaving home by embracing each life chapter, loosening “apron strings,” and trusting the values she taught. The episode closes with appreciation for chosen family, love, and resilience.00:00 Meet Mom and Gigi00:26 Reality of Childbirth01:02 Pain Relief and Respect02:52 Picking Battles as Parents03:39 Mom as Authority05:23 Boundaries and Teaching07:12 Discipline and Follow Through12:11 Tech and Kid Independence14:06 Choosing Childfree Without Shame16:17 Society Shifts on Parenthood18:57 A Welcoming No Judgment Home19:52 Questioning and Gratitude20:22 Divorce Single Mom Question23:12 Kids Perspective and Co Parenting25:32 Strength Through Divorce27:32 Lioness Tribute and Sponsor28:49 Empty Nest Heartache32:37 Letting Go and Trust35:37 Respect and Check Ins37:58 Proud Mom Moments39:20 Family Love and Farewell