Mamas In Progress

The Mamas talk to author, award-winning blogger, and actress Amy B. Chesler  about her new true crime memoir, WORKING FOR JUSTICE and her journey of healing following the murder of her mother.  Amy is from Southern California. She discovered her passion for the literary and film worlds as early as she can remember, and has been voraciously reading, writing, and performing ever since. However, it wasn’t until surviving domestic violence and freeing herself from an early life of abuse that she began to pursue her dreams professionally. Amy’s journey has led her to contribute work to many popular publications, including several Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, TODAY Parents, and the Elephant Journal, as well as media appearances with the DVD Netflix blog, Life of Mom, Home and Family, and more. She is thrilled to be sharing her memoir, despite it being very heavy, and hopes she can help lighten other victim’s loads in the process. While not parenting, blogging, cooking, reading, traveling, and healing, Amy is happiest at home with her family. For a full collection of her published works, visit Amy’s Amazon Author page.-----------For more on Amy:Follow on Instagram + Facebook @amybcheslerVisit amybchesler.comAnd check out Amy's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1642937541--------------For more on Mamas in Progress:Follow on Instagram + Facebook @mamasinprogressSubscribe & watch on YouTube @BlackOakTVSend an email to: mamasinprogress@gmail.com

The Mamas chat with Sharlena Bernard who is the creator of the luxury handbag and accessory brand, Sous Sus. Inspired by Sharlena's love of dance, Sous Sus means "to rise up" in the language of ballet. With this same spirit, when you carry a Sous Sus handbag you carry yourself a little differently.Sharlena shares her secrets for how to build a thriving brand in a competitive industry while juggling life as a wife and mom of 3 young children.To connect with Sharlena and check out the latest Sous Sus collections:Visit https://soussus.comFollow on social (IG, Twitter & Facebook) @soussusofficial------------------For more on Mamas In Progress:Follow on Facebook & IG @mamasinprogressWatch & subscribe on YouTube @BlackOakTVSend an email to: mamasinprogress@gmail.com

Will 2021 be a "Hot Mom Summer" OR a "Soccer Mom Summer" for you? The Mamas share their summer plans with a fun, lighthearted discussion.For more on Mamas In Progress:Follow on IG & Facebook @mamasinprogressWatch & Subscribe on YouTube @BlackOakTVSend an email to mamasinprogress@gmail.com

The Mamas dish on their Mother's Day plans, their #momgoals and their favorite boss mamas & MILFs in honor of Mother's Day!For more on Mamas In Progress:Follow on IG + FB @mamasinprogressWatch & subscribe on YouTube @blackoaktvSend an email to mamasinprogress@gmail.com

The Mamas discuss spring cleaning and more with Robyn Reynolds aka the Diva Organizer who is a certified professional organizer and a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO). Robyn launched her company, Organize 2 Harmonize, in  2008. Her clients include stay at home moms, busy executives, celebs and pretty much everyone!For more on Robyn:Visit Organize 2 HarmonizeFollow on social @Organize2HarmonizeFor more on Mamas In Progress:Follow on social @mamasinprogressWatch on YouTube @blackoaktvEmail mamasinprogress@gmail.com

The Mamas get  real and raw about the highs and lows of what it's been like to parent this past year during a global pandemic, social unrest and more!For any parent who needs someone to talk to but doesn't know where to start, please reach out to the National Parent Helpline at 855-427-2736And you can check out the NY Times Primal Scream at this link:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/06/insider/primal-scream-section.html--------------For more on the Mamas:Follow on social @mamasinprogressWatch & subscribe on YouTube @BlackOakTVEmail us at: mamasinprogress@gmail.com

The Mamas speak with educational consultant and founder of @Admissionisms Dr. Khia Thomas about key tools and resources to help high schoolers successfully navigate the road to college. Dr. Khia Thomas is a proud graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and the University of Michigan, where she earned a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology.Thanks to her hard work, motivation, and persistence at Stanton College Preparatory School, in Jacksonville, Florida, she embarked on her college career with several academic scholarships under her belt. She graduated without having to pay a dime in college costs. She doubled down on a doctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan, which paid for virtually all costs associated with her Ph.D. program. As a psychologist, Dr. Khia forged an area of research expertise in adolescent development and the transition to adulthood, and has presented at national conferences and published in academic journals and texts. She began her post-graduate career in mental health research, and soon found herself longing to return to higher education. In 2011, she accepted a full-time faculty position at Broward College, and has earned high praise as a gifted teacher, mentor, and student advocate.For more on Dr. Khia:Visit admissionisms.comFollow on social @admissionismsFor more on Mamas In Progress:Follow on social @MamasInProgressSubscribe on YouTube @BlackOakTVSend an email  to mamasinprogress@gmail.com

The Mamas have a candid discussion about her commitment to improving the physical and mental health of teens and young adults with medical doctor Denise Hunter, MD aka Dr. D-Nice Beaugelin. Dr. D-Nice is an Adolescent Wellness Specialist. She has been a medical doctor for over 20 years. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine and has completed hours of training towards board certification in Functional Medicine. She’s also been a youth leader for over 30 years and a trained youth motivational speaker. Her training in improv and storytelling helps her presentations to be delightfully engaging. Dr. D-Nice also currently serves on the Wake County Public School Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC).For more on Dr. D-Nice and her classes & programs:Follow her on IG @dr.dnicebeaugelinVisit her website & sign up for her newsletter  https://www.wisdomteethinger.com/---------------------------------------For more on Mamas In Progress:Follow on IG & Facebook @mamasinprogressWatch & subscribe on YouTube @BlackOakTVEmail us at mamasinprogress@gmail.com

You may have seen her most recently on the hit TV show All American, or on Tyler Perry's Sistas or in dozens of other TV and film appearances. And now she's coming through with a word on the Mamas in Progress podcast! The Mamas were thrilled to talk with award-wining "multiartist" Keena Ferguson about her  journey as  an actor, writer, producer, director, voice artist and more, as she also balances motherhood and family life.Keena has not let pandemic-life slow her down from showing the world her talent. She's continued working, coaching other creatives & content creators, and even released a powerful 1-minute film titled "Stopped" that she wrote and directed. And on top of all of this, she's also days away from welcoming her 2nd child! ------------------For more on Keena:Follow her on Instagram @keenastarSubscribe on YouTube @keenaferguson (and check out "Stopped")Visit her coaching website www.nowgogetitdone.com and keenaferguson.com-------------------For more on Mamas in Progress:Follow on Instagram & Facebook @mamasinprogressSubscribe and watch on YouTube @blackoaktvSend an email to mamasinprogress@gmail.com

The Mamas pause to reflect on the first quarter of 2021 with a lighthearted episode as they share their top "mama rants" and "mama wins."For more info on the Mamas:Follow on Instagram and Facebook @mamasinprogressSend an email to mamasinprogress@gmail.comWatch & subscribe on YouTube @BlackOakTV

The Mamas are joined by best-selling author and TV/film writer Kim Collier!Kim is an avid writer, publisher and entrepreneur.  For over 15 years, she’s been perfecting her craft.  With 10 novels of her own, Kim has also  ghostwritten 5 other books. Her series, My Man’s Best Friend, sold over 150,000 copies on Amazon -- making her  a bestselling author. Kim's writing career took off by participating in various esteemed writing programs such as: The Bill Cosby Writing Workshop, The ABC Writing Fellowship as well as Warner Bros. Comedy Writing Program. These experiences led to a staff writing position on the CW sitcom Girlfriends. She  later branched off to other avenues of writing such as screenplays, stage plays and books. Kim  believes  that writing is a journey and that success comes with patience, diligence and a lot of hard work. -------------------For more info on Kim:Follow on Instagram @browngirlswhowriteSend an email to kim@browngirlswhowriteVisit browngirlswhowrite.com---------------------For more on the Mamas:Follow on Instagram & Facebook @MamasInProgressSend an email to: mamasinprogress@gmail.comWatch on YouTube @blackoaktv

This episode is for every mom who has any questions about the Covid-19 vaccine. The Mamas  are joined by  board certified family physician, Ana Sofia Lopes Johnson, MD.  Dr. Lopes Johnson is a graduate from Tufts University Medical School in Boston and the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Residency Program in Miami.  Her career interests include cardiovascular wellness, women’s health and preventive medicine.  She has received the Humanism in Medicine Award and is multilingual. She speaks Portuguese, Spanish and Creole.She is the immediate past President of the Association of Black Women Physicians. In addition to maintaining her Cape Verdean roots, she is an avid fitness enthusiast who enjoys cooking and spending time with her family. She is married to a Trinidad native, Trent, a local Los Angeles business man.  They have three children.-------For more on Dr. Lopes Johnson and the Association of Black Women Physicians:Visit https://www.blackwomenphysicians.org/about-us/Follow on Instagram @blackwomenphysiciansFollow on Facebook @AssociationofBlackWomenPhysiciansEmail ABWPCORRESPONDENCE@GMAIL.COM-----------------For more on the Mamas:Follow on Instagram & Facebook @mamasinprogressEmail mamasinprogress@gmail.comSubscribe on YouTube @blackoaktv

The Mamas welcome The Mom Forum's Elisha Beach for a candid conversation about "Love Yourself." Elisha Beach, a.k.a. a professional mom complete with a B.A. in Child Development, is a birth mom of 3, adoptive mom of 1 and a stepmom of 4 step-“adults"... 8 kids in total  (and a dog).  She is also wife to actor  Michael Beach and they have been happily married since 2007 despite the fact that she must always be right, is a terrible housekeeper, laundry avoider, and rarely organizes the refrigerator.She is a former professional ballet dancer who still practices her pirouettes and arabesque in the kitchen while making home cooked meals. She loves to share home cooking tips on her live Facebook show What’s For Dinner Wednesdays. She manages to keep her sanity through all the chaos by surrounding herself with momma friends, avidly practicing self care and sharing her truth about mom life through blogging. In 2017, she founded The Mom Forum and it has since expanded to include the video series Best Mom Friends and #MomLife, Facebook Live series Monday Mom Chat and What’s for Dinner Wednesdays, and in person events and workshops such as the Mom Self-care Workshop and Moms’ Night Out.The Mom Forum Podcast launched In July 2018 and features intimate mom-to-mom conversations sharing the journey to and through motherhood.In 2018, Elisha released The Mom Self-care Planner, a workbook to help moms create personal self-care plans for their daily life and is working to launch her virtual self-care bootcamp.-------------------For more on Elisha follow on IG @mylifeisabeach and @themomforumOr send an email to: elisha@themom-forum.com--------------------For more on Mamas In Progress:Follow on Facebook & Instagram @mamasinprogress.  Email us at mamasinprogress@gmail.comWatch on YouTube @blackoaktv

The Mamas are joined by entrepreneur and "mama in progress" Karla Miller.A little over 5 years ago, Karla and her husband started "The Union" in Memphis, TN. They create date night events for married couples to help promote fun in marriage and connect with other like-minded married couples.Karla has also  created a daily spiral desk calendar, “Cherishing Your Union- Daily Inspirations to Uplift Your Marriage,” that is filled with prayers, scriptures, questions to ask your spouse, nuggets of wisdom and date night ideas for each day of the year that can be used year after year. Karla was inspired to create it to help couples find little ways to keep their marriage exciting every day of the year, instead of only during our date night events. You can find out more about it and purchase here: https://www.theunion-datenight.com/products/cherishing-your-union-calendar And for more on Karla:Go to www.theunion-datenight.comFollow on IG: @iam_karlamarie and @ the_union_datenight 

The Mamas are joined by Rhonda Richards-Smith who is an award-winning psychotherapist & relationship expert to discuss love and relationships.Originally from the Bay Area, Rhonda is a graduate of the USC  with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. She is also a graduate of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, where she obtained her Masters. Her advice has been featured in Oprah Magazine, US Weekly Magazine, The Huffington Post, Bravo TV, Forbes, Teen Vogue, and Glamour Magazine  and the list goes on. Rhonda is passionate about helping others on the path toward self-love and healthy relationships.  She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two girls.For more on Rhonda:Follow on Instagram @rhondasmithlcsw Like on Facebook @RhondaTheRelationshipExpertAnd visit https://www.rhondasmithlcsw.comFor more on Mamas in Progress:Follow on Instagram and Facebook @mamasinprogress Watch on YouTube @blackoaktvSend an email to: mamasinprogress@gmail.com

Wrapping up the MOM BOSS series, the Mamas talk to Portia Wood, Esq who is a generational wealth planning attorney and mom.Portia is a Partner at Wood Legal Group, LLP and works tirelessly to help people protect their assets and provide for the transfer of resources and values to their families. She helps clients avoid probate, save on taxes, protect their hard-earned savings and preserve wealth at the generational transfer. She concentrates in the areas of Legacy Wealth Planning and asset protection planning.To find out more about Portia and Wood Legal Group, LLP:Instagram & Facebook - Follow @woodlegalgroup Clubhouse - Follow @portiawoodesq and join the "Black Trust Fund Kids Club" on ClubhouseVisit woodlegalgroup.com---------------------------------For more on Mamas in Progress:Follow @mamasinprogress on Instagram & FacebookWatch on YouTube @blackoaktvSend an email to: mamasinprogress@gmail.com

Continuing the MOM BOSS series, the Mamas share their thoughts and tips on how to "boss up" personally and professionally as a mom in 2021. Check out this candid discussion as they share their own personal experiences and the important lessons they've learned along the way.For more info on Mamas In Progress:Follow on IG/Facebook @mamasinprogressSend an email to: mamasinprogress@gmail.comWatch on YouTube @blackoaktv

The Mamas are joined by international MOM BOSS, Juanita Ingram.Juanita Ingram is an American mother, lawyer, philanthropist, and producer living in Taiwan. Juanita and her family relocated from the states to London for her husband's job, and then on to Taiwan, where they have been living during COVID. Her story is remarkable as her area was one of the first to shut down due to COVID and has now re-opened back up. Additionally, she and her family and African American so they have also navigated the BLM movement in a foreign country. Navigating moving/parenting/schooling in a new country is hard enough but with the added pressures of a pandemic and civil rights movement, Juanita has some interesting insights to share.And you can watch her journey on her family's reality show, THE EXPATS: INTERNATIONAL INGRAMS, which follows the family's international adventures and struggles as a black American family living, working, and learning abroad. Watch all of Season 1 now on Amazon Prime. For more on Juanita...Follow on IG @iamjuanitaingram and @theexpatsshowVisit online at https://www.expatsshow.com AND https://www.purposeproduction.org-------For more on Mamas in Progress:Follow on Facebook & IG @mamasinprogressWatch on YouTube @BlackOakTVEmail mamasinprogress@gmail.com

For the first episode of the 2021 MOM BOSS series, the Mamas are joined by Hope Farmby aka Yogi Hope to discuss the facts and benefits about yoga for parents and kids!Hope just launched her own  yoga studio  that provides a full range of yoga classes, workshops and retreats that nourish the body, mind and spirit. She specializes in classes for people of color in Hatha yoga, Vinyasa Flow and Restorative classes.  Right now classes are primarily online, but she is offering some small, intimate in-person classes as well. She is also introducing “Baked” yoga, a cannabis infused yoga class that moves participants deeper into mediation and movement. This private in-person class is sponsored by Hope's own cannabis brand, Mama’s Flower Garden.  She is  also married and a mom of two.For more on Hope:Follow on Facebook @YogiHopeEmail yogihopefarmby@gmail.comFollow on IG @MamasFlowergarden--------For more on Mamas in Progress:Follow on Facebook & IG @mamasinprogressWatch on YouTube @BlackOakTVEmail mamasinprogress@gmail.com

The Mamas put 2020 to bed one last and final time with a few reflections and, of course, a few rants!They also share their intentions and hopes for 2021 in this funny and candid episode. Check it out!For more on Mamas in Progress:Follow on IG/Facebook @mamasinprogressWatch on YouTube @blackoaktvSend a note to: mamasinprogress@gmail.com