Episodi

  • Ep 112: Mothering Through the Darkness: Lessons Inspired by The Mystics Almanac

    Ep 112: Mothering Through the Darkness: Lessons Inspired by The Mystics Almanac
    Dec 18 2025
    Welcome to this special episode, one I recorded in the days leading up to the holidays and the winter solstice, the darkest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This season, when the nights are long and the light feels scarce, invites us to pause, reflect, and seek warmth and meaning in intentional ways. And this year especially, the darkness has felt more than seasonal. In the face of heartbreaking events unfolding in the world, I've found myself needing practices and perspectives more than ever that help me stay grounded, connected, and hopeful. It was from this place that I found myself returning again to the Mystics Almanac. This fall, I had the honor of contributing another piece to the Almanac, a powerful creation by my friend and mentor Lindsay Pera. Years ago, inspired by the enduring legacy of the Farmers Almanac, Lindsay envisioned something similar but more mystical—an annual guide grounded in her beautifully illustrated Oracle Deck, woven with astrological insights, divinations, and reflective writings from a diverse circle of contributors. The Mystics Almanac isn't just a book of forecasts and dates. In Lindsay's own words, it's a mirror, a guide, and a reminder that we are not alone on this path. I've turned to the Almanac for this reason myself over the years; and it was especially poignant and supportive of me and my family in the days before my father passed away. The months before writing my piece for the Almanac felt incredibly heavy. In my own motherhood journey and in our country and the world, it seemed that not only were things in crisis, but that they were collapsing. Past stories, systems, and patterns revealed their cracks, leaving me disoriented and searching for new footing. I returned often to the Mystics Almanac and drew cards from the Mystics Oracle Deck. Again and again, I pulled the "Fear" and the "Beneath" cards, mirrors of all I was experiencing in the not knowing. As I sat with these cards, I realized that my personal feelings were also reflected in our collective story. Echoes of History As I listen to and read from historians, I keep noticing how much this moment echoes others in our history. The turbulence and backlash of Reconstruction, when newly won freedoms were met with violence and suppression. The Gilded Age, when vast inequality and political corruption left ordinary people struggling while the wealthy few consolidated power. The 1930s, when economic collapse and widespread fear created conditions that allowed authoritarian movements to rise across the world. Each of these times brought real devastation and loss. And yet, they also carried seeds of transformation. Reconstruction, though violently cut short, planted the roots that later grew into the Civil Rights Movement. The abuses of the Gilded Age gave rise to reforms in the Progressive Era. The despair of the Depression led to the New Deal, the creation of social safety nets, and labor rights that reshaped American life. And though the 1930s brought the world to war, its aftermath renewed global commitments to democracy, human rights, and rebuilding, even if those commitments have been fragile and incomplete. History does not repeat, but it does rhyme. Life moves in spirals, not straight lines. We return to familiar struggles, facing injustice, violence, and division, but when they arrive again, we are not the same as before. We come with new perspective, new resilience, and often hard-earned wisdom we did not have the last time around. Guiding Lights This summer and fall, I found myself asking "how should we navigate this new ring of the spiral?" How might we mother ourselves, our children, and our communities through the darkness of collapse without losing faith that something transformative is taking root beneath it all? Just as the Mystics Almanac draws on cards to illuminate the energies of the year, I decided to turn to the Mother's Quest Podcast as my own kind of oracle, revisiting conversations from episodes with mothers whose wisdom can light our way. Three voices called to me most strongly: the Mystics Almanac's own intuitive strategist Lindsay Pera, From Scratch author, producer and screenwriter Tembi Locke, and the Revolutionary Love Project civil rights leader Valarie Kaur. Lindsay's words deepened the concept of the spiral itself as a guide. Life, she confirms is not linear but more like a nautilus shell, circling back with new perspective. Challenges return, not as failures, but as invitations to greet them with greater compassion for ourselves and others. She likens our lives to the rings of a tree, each year holding stories of hardship and growth. What once felt like collapse can, with time, be recognized as part of a larger pattern of healing and becoming. Tembi reminded me of the power of ancestry and constellations. Raised by an "ecosystem of women," her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she carries the resilience and faith they instilled. She told ...
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    35 min
  • Ep 111: Living Resistance: A Call for These Times with Poet Kaitlin Curtice

    Ep 111: Living Resistance: A Call for These Times with Poet Kaitlin Curtice
    Aug 1 2025
    In a world heavy with heartbreak and injustice, I've been searching for ways to stay grounded in my humanity…ways to resist not only despair, but also the systems of harm and oppression around us. My guest today, Kaitlin Curtice, calls this practice living resistance. Kaitlin is an award-winning author, poet, and citizen of the Potawatomi Nation who writes and speaks at the intersections of spirituality, identity, and collective healing. Through her work, including her book Living Resistance and her upcoming release Everything Is a Story, she invites us to become more fully ourselves, to honor the gifts we already hold, and to let those gifts ripple out in love, courage, and care for the world. Her life has been shaped by liminality, existing between her Native American heritage and a Southern Baptist Christian upbringing. This in-between space has given her a unique lens on how we find belonging and move toward healing in a fractured world. In our conversation, Kaitlin shares how resistance is not a single act but a continuous practice of becoming and being. She reflects on how it can be gentle and fierce, personal and political, and she offers practices for grounding ourselves in the midst of life's spiral journeys. We closed with her Resistance Commitment—a poetic call to action that reminds us that living resistance means tending to our inner lives while courageously shaping our collective future. I'm so grateful to my friend and former guest Rachel Macy Stafford, who first connected me to Kaitlin. Rachel's dedication to Kaitlin in this episode captures what Kaitlin offers the world—a call to link the best parts of ourselves so we can move forward together. Topics Discussed in this Episode: Growing up in liminality, navigating the complexity between Native American and Southern Baptist culturesThe cyclical, spiral nature of growth and how we revisit challenges with new wisdomDiscovering your unique voice and purpose through what has "always been there for you"Living resistance as a daily practice, using our everyday lives to push back against injustice and nurture a sense of wholenessEmbodiment practices that can reconnect you with your body after traumaHow rock climbing became Kaitlin's family's practice for presence and connectionBuilding community in both physical and virtual spaces and the importance of "third places" where you can be fully yourselfSeasonal living as an alternative to linear goal-settingThe power of words, poetry, and storytelling as forms of spiritual activism and as sources of healing About Kaitlin Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships. Kaitlin leads workshops and retreats, as well as lectures and keynote presentations, ranging from panels at the Aspen Climate Conference to speaking at the Chautauqua Institution and at universities, private retreat centers, and churches across the country. In 2020 Kaitlin's award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God won Georgia Author of the Year in the religion category. Native explores the relationship between American Christianity and Indigenous peoples, drawing on Kaitlin's experiences as a Potawatomi woman. In 2023, Kaitlin released two books, first, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, which examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth, and second, her first children's book called Winter's Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature, which is the premier book in a series of four books on the four seasons coming out with Convergent, RandomHouse Books. Her second book in the series called Summer's Magic was released in 2024. Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes essays and poetry for The Liminality Journal and spends her time supporting other authors as they navigate the world of publishing. Kaitlin lives near Philadelphia with her partner, two dogs, and two kids. Connect with Kaitlin: Website | www.kaitlincurtice.comInstagram | www.instagram.com/kaitlincurtice Explore Kaitlin's Writing: "Living Resistance" by Kaitlin Curtice "Everything is a Story" by Kaitlin Curtice – available for preorder Liminality Journal (Kaitlin's Substack) This Episode's Challenge: Kaitlin offered us a beautiful challenge to shift from linear ...
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    50 min
  • We Bought the Block: Building Legacy, Love and Community in South LA With Joe Ward-Wallace

    We Bought the Block: Building Legacy, Love and Community in South LA With Joe Ward-Wallace
    Jun 13 2025
    Welcome to this special Father's Day episode of the Mother's Quest Podcast. Each year, I feature a father who is not only present for his own family but also answering a larger call to lead and serve in the world. This year, all signs pointed to me interviewing Joe Ward-Wallace! Joe is a retired firefighter, impact entrepreneur, and community organizer, known and appreciated for co-founding South LA Cafe - a Black-owned, family-run coffee shop, market, and cultural center rooted in the heart of South Central Los Angeles. Alongside his wife Celia, and their two daughters, Joe has created more than a business, they've built a movement: one grounded in racial and economic justice, food access, and belonging. Today, South LA Cafe spans multiple locations, and includes partnerships inside the Natural History Museum and the Hollywood Bowl, expanding their reach while staying rooted in purpose. At South LA Market, through their weekly grocery giveaway, they've distributed over 33,000 bags of food to thousands of community members, given with dignity and care. Joe is also the Co-CEO and President of the South LA Community Foundation, which breaks the shackles of systemic oppression and inequality by creating, building, and empowering an equitable, healthy, and sustainable South Central community for all. He leads these initiatives with power and purpose and as I discovered in this conversation, a preparedness for what might emerge, honed from his decades-long career as a firefighter. We recorded this episode just after an epic snapshot moment, the very day that Joe and Celia received the keys to the first South LA Cafe building that they own. By purchasing the historic space from a fellow Black community member, they ensured the building would continue serving the community's legacy, protected from the forces of gentrification. In our conversation, Joe and I reflected on the deeper roots of that moment and what it meant to grow up with little material wealth, yet rich in love, culture, and resilience. He shared stories of his mother Vonnie, whose strength and spirit laid the foundation for his values, and how her legacy lives on through his commitment to service and entrepreneurship. As I reflect on our conversation, what stays with me most is Joe's unwavering commitment to both joy and justice and how he's investing in community not to extract, but to build lineage. His story is one of saying yes to seeds of dreams before knowing exactly how they'd unfold and watching them grow into something even more beautiful than imagined. Through South LA Cafe, through his family, and through every act of service, Joe reminds us that legacy isn't built on perfection, but on preparation, culture and connection. Topics Discussed in this Episode: Joe's childhood, his mother's impact, and the story of how she took a leap of faith to purchase their home in South Central The transition Joe made from firefighter to community business leader Lessons in work ethic, preparation, and grit passed down to and from his daughters The story behind founding South LA Cafe and how it has evolved since then The South LA Grocery Giveaway, a joyful cornerstone of their mission The importance of balancing hard work with intentional rest and self-investment The emotional power and legacy of owning their own building, a stand against gentrification, and the words from a celebratory post I asked Joe to read out loud (this brought me to tears!) The reflection that brought Joe to tears about how far he has come, which he jokingly referred to as his "Oprah" interview moment. About Joe Ward-Wallace Joe Ward-Wallace is the Co-Founder of South LA Cafe is a Black-owned, family-owned, community coffee shop, market, and cultural center located in the heart of South Central Los Angeles. The South LA Cafe team exists to serve the community, fight racial and economic inequality, and provide equal access to food. Their mission is to provide a safe space for local residents as well as equal access to fresh, healthy and affordable food. Additionally, he is the Co-CEO & President of the South LA Community Foundation, a 501c3 non profit organization which aims to break the shackles of systemic oppression and inequality by creating, building, and empowering an equitable, healthy, and sustainable South Central community for all. Mr. Ward-Wallace has over three decades experience in business and also helps to lead The Ward-Wallace Group, Coaching and Consulting Firm which supports entrepreneurs, leaders, activists, and athletes to create, launch, and scale world-changing ideas and is professional keynote speaker. Learn more about his work at www.southlacafe.com. Connect with Joe Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/joe.ward.wallace/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-ward-wallace-11ba6739 South LA Cafe Website | https://southlacafe.myshopify.com/ Joe and Celia's podcast: "In the Mix with Celia and Joe" The Legacy of Vonnie...
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    51 min
  • Turning Toward One Another with Rabbi Sharon Brous

    Turning Toward One Another with Rabbi Sharon Brous
    May 22 2025
    At a time when so many of us feel brokenhearted by the ongoing pain, uncertainty and polarization in our world, Rabbi Sharon Brous has been a grounding force and a guiding light for me and so many. She is the senior rabbi and founder of IKAR, a leading-edge Jewish community based in Los Angeles, known for weaving together soulful spirituality, social justice, and deep belonging. A graduate of Columbia University for both her undergraduate and then her M.A. in Human Rights and ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, she is widely recognized as one of the most influential rabbis in America. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, and her 2016  TED talk, "Reclaiming Religion," has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people. Most recently, she has made an impact with her book The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World, which offers a powerful roadmap for healing through presence, connection, and care. I first learned about Rabbi Brous from my podcast guest, Valerie Kaur, author of See No Stranger, whose Revolutionary Love Project is deeply aligned with Rabbi Brous' message of compassion and collective responsibility. Since then, I've turned again and again to Rabbi Brous' sermons—words that name difficult truths and pathways forward with honesty, courage, and humanity. Often, it felt as though her messages came just before the headlines—as if she were speaking directly into the emotional moment that was about to unfold. When I reached out to see if she might be open to a conversation, I was surprised and deeply grateful when she said yes. In this conversation, Rabbi Brous shares about her unexpected path to becoming a rabbi, how her mother's love shaped her, how faith became a foundation for her activism, and why the call to build Beloved Community starts with the people right around us. We explore the Loneliness Epidemic, the necessity of joy, and how we can hold multiple truths at once, even in a time of deep polarization. We also speak about the extraordinary power of small acts of courage—like two bereaved fathers—one Israeli and one Palestinian—who found connection in shared grief and chose to build something healing from that pain. Again and again, Rabbi Brous reminds us that even in the face of heartbreak, we are not powerless. She invites us to begin simply—by noticing when we want to pull away, and choosing instead to turn toward. To offer compassion instead of judgment. To show up, even when we don't have the perfect words. And to remember that healing begins not in sweeping solutions, but in small, courageous acts of connection. I hope this episode meets you where you are, acknowledges your pain and then also, as it did me, renews a sense of purpose and hope. Topics Discussed in this Episode: Rabbi Brous' unexpected path to becoming a rabbi The power of showing up: why small acts of presence matter Joy as a spiritual necessity, not a luxury Engaging children in honest conversations and sharing our sadness The Loneliness Epidemic and how to reconnect with our communities Holding space for both Jewish and Palestinian grief We don't have to choose sides—being pro-humanity vs. pro-conflict How to have difficult conversations with people who think differently The importance of Sabbath rest and reclaiming time for ourselves A simple practice to build connection: greeting your neighbors Why turning toward one another—with compassion, curiosity, and care—is a radical act Practices Shared in the Episode Just Show Up: Whether it's a funeral, a phone call, or dropping off food—presence is powerful. Joy Breaks: 18 minutes a day of joy (music, dancing, walking, cake) as a spiritual necessity, not a luxury. Shabbat and Sacred Rest: Weekly unplugging as a personal and cultural act of resilience. Know Your Neighbors: Say hello, build micro-connection. Start the beloved community where you live. Stay at the Table: When it's hard, when it's uncomfortable—stay. Get curious. Reclaim humanity. About Sharon Brous Sharon Brous is the senior and founding rabbi of IKAR, a leading edge Jewish community based in Los Angeles, and author of The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Heal Our Hearts and Mend Our Broken World, a national bestseller. Brous offered the invocation at the Democratic National Convention in 2024, led the Hanukkah candle lighting with the Vice President and Second Gentleman in 2023, and the White House Passover Seder in 2021. She blessed President Biden and Vice President Harris at the Inaugural National Prayer Service in 2021, and in 2013, she blessed President Obama and Vice President Biden. She was named #1 on the Newsweek/The Daily Beast list of most influential Rabbis in America, and has been recognized by The Forward and Jerusalem Post as among the most influential Jews alive today. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times,...
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    51 min
  • Ep. 108: E.P.I.C. Life Dreams and Unicorn Teams with Jen Kem

    Ep. 108: E.P.I.C. Life Dreams and Unicorn Teams with Jen Kem
    May 9 2025
    Hello and Welcome to Season Ten of the Mother's Quest Podcast. It's hard to believe it's been nearly a decade since I first opened the metaphorical door to Mother's Quest—sparked by the day two birds got trapped in my house and helped me realize it was time to stop staying stuck; it was time to say "yes" to Mother's Quest. As I reflect on all I've built and the new E.P.I.C. dreams I want to bring to life, I've been thinking about the who behind our what—the people who support us, complement our strengths, and help us realize our biggest visions. That's why it felt so aligned to start this season in conversation with Jen Kem—a values-driven mother and entrepreneur who models strategic leadership and collaboration, masterfully gathering the right people—who she calls unicorns—to help her reach her ambitious goals, all while being deeply present for her family. Named a top brand strategist by Forbes, Jen specializes in launching innovative ideas with high-performing teams. Her Unicorn Innovation Model™ has supported brands like the Oprah Winfrey Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Oracle, as well as New York Times bestselling authors and visionary entrepreneurs. In her newly released book, Unicorn Team: The Nine Leadership Types You Need to Launch Your Big Ideas with Speed and Success, Jen shares an innovation playbook for building collaborative, values-aligned teams. It's a book meant not just to be read, but used—again and again—as a practical guide to help you stop building alone and start bringing your dream to life with the right support. In this episode, Jen shares what it means to move through life and leadership in creationship—to surround ourselves with people who not only help you build, but help you become. Through stories of growing up in Hawaii alongside her Filipina matriarchs, to the wisdom she's integrating in what she calls her "5.0 upgrade," Jen invites us into a conversation about identity, intention, and interdependence. She shares the power of returning to the most essential parts of ourselves, of navigating what she calls ever-present "pressure, friction, and noise," and of focusing our creative energy on the right hard things. Through it all, she reminds us that our authentic presence is a powerful form of leadership—and that our boldest, most E.P.I.C. dreams are meant to be realized together. Topics Discussed in This Episode: Jen's upbringing in a multi-generational Filipino family in Hawaii and how it shaped her values, identity, and entrepreneurial path How she's reconnecting with the bold, curious spirit she embodied at age 9—and why her "5.0 upgrade" is about honoring that essence The idea of exfoliation—removing layers that no longer serve us to return to our true selves Jen's definition of creationship—a fusion of creativity and meaningful, values-driven relationships Insights into her Unicorn Innovation Model™—and how it helps bring bold ideas to life with the right people at the right time Why the who matters more than the how or what—and how to build a Unicorn Team that aligns with your dream A framework for navigating "pressure, friction, and noise" and learning to focus on the right hard things How presence—not perfection—guides Jen's approach to motherhood and leadership About Jen Kem Named as a top brand strategist by Forbes, Jen Kem specializes in launching innovative ideas with high-performing teams. Kem's Unicorn Innovation Model has been used by iconic brands like the Oprah Winfrey Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Oracle, as well as numerous New York Times bestselling authors, keynote speakers, and business and thought leaders. In her book Unicorn Team: The Nine Leadership Types You Need to Launch Your Big Ideas with Speed and Success, Kem shares the innovation playbook on how to build the most collaborative, harmonious, and motivated team to achieve extraordinary results. Originally from Hawaii, Kem lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and kids. Connect with Jen Kem Website: https://www.JenniferKem.com YouTube: www.JenniferKem.com/YouTube Instagram: @jennifer.kem // https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.kem/ Facebook: @JenniferKemComm // https://www.facebook.com/JenniferKemComm/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenniferkem This Episode's Challenge: Jen Kem invites us to rethink how we bring our ideas to life by focusing on the who before the how. She challenges us to take the 3-2-1 Unicorn Sprint—choosing a meaningful idea and committing 100 days to bringing it to life. Instead of getting stuck in over-planning or perfectionism, she encourages us to take action, test our ideas, and reflect on whether we have the right people in place to support our vision. The key to success isn't just the idea itself—it's the team that helps make it real. Jen Kem's Book: Unicorn Team: The Nine Leadership Types You Need to Launch Your Big Ideas with Speed and Success Related Episodes and ...
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    53 min
  • Ep 107: Start the Year with Resilience: Ayurvedic Wisdom for Tough Times with Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh

    Ep 107: Start the Year with Resilience: Ayurvedic Wisdom for Tough Times with Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh
    Jan 23 2025
    Welcome to this episode of the Mother's Quest Podcast—the first of 2025 and the final episode of Season Nine before I take a winter break and prepare to launch Season Ten in the spring. As I sat down for this conversation with Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh just before the holiday break, I had no idea of the enormity of the challenges we would face as we began this new year. The toxins we're navigating—from the CA wildfires to the impact of this new presidential term —are overwhelming. This makes Avanti's wisdom feel especially vital right now. In this episode, Avanti shares intentional practices for protection and healing especially in the midst of adversity, and she invites us to honor this month as a season for slowing down and resting, rather than leaping into the pressure of a "new year, new you" mindset. My own desire to take a pause this winter led me to invite Avanti back to the podcast. If you didn't catch our first conversation, I encourage you to go back and listen—it's an incredible exploration of her journey from ER doctor to an Ayurveda wellness expert, bridging Eastern and Western medicine to help people live healthier, more intentional lives. She's the host of The Healing Catalyst podcast, the author of The Health Catalyst, and her latest book, The Longevity Formula: Ayurvedic Principles to Reduce Inflammation, Increase Cellular Repair, and Live with Vitality was just released. Through all these vehicles, she translates ancient healing principles into accessible practices for modern living. During our conversation, you'll hear how, while writing Longevity Formula, Avanti was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She was confronted with the humbling truth that even as a healer dedicated to healthy living, she couldn't prevent this diagnosis—or the aggressive treatments it required. Yet, through her journey, she found that Ayurveda, while not a cure-all, provided powerful tools to support her body's healing, resilience, and ability to navigate such adversity. By sharing her story along the way through her treatment, she became a beacon of hope for others. This episode left me with a renewed commitment to start this year with a slower, more reflective pace. It reminded me to follow nature's rhythms and embrace this season as a time for pause and reconnection. This isn't about resolutions or quick fixes to the challenges—it's about giving ourselves the space to breathe and protective practices that will build our resilience for whatever lies ahead. Topics Discussed in this Episode: Dr. Avanti Kumar Singh's journey to writing The Longevity Formula. Avanti's quest to help people tap into their inner wisdom for healing. How Ayurveda principles align with modern science. The transformative power of reflection during milestone moments. The humbling lesson Avanti learned through her breast cancer journey. Practical longevity practices: fasting, morning light exposure, and meditation. How Ayurveda protects and prepares us for life's unexpected challenges. The health benefits of connection and combating loneliness. The idea of shared moments of awe as a source of healing. Redefining New Year's resolutions by aligning with nature's cycles. The role of ancient wisdom in navigating modern challenges. Slowing down and prioritizing health during the holiday season and new year. About Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh, is an Ayurveda Wellness Expert on a mission to show how Ayurveda is a health catalyst to achieve optimal wellness in modern life. After receiving her Bachelor's in Art History from the University of Chicago, she went on to receive her medical degree from Rush University Medical College. While working as an ER physician, she experienced first-hand the limitations of Western medicine. To learn more, Avanti began a 10-year wellness journey during which she studied energy healing and yoga therapy and became a practitioner of the 5,000-year-old ancient healing tradition known as Ayurveda. Today, Dr. Kumar-Singh bridges the gap between Western and Eastern medicine, helping patients, students, and holistic practitioners discover the healing wisdom within. Dr. Kumar-Singh is also a sought-after speaker and the host of The Healing Catalyst podcast. Over the last 20 years of her training, study and research, Avanti has shared her expertise with Fortune 500 companies, elite undergraduate and graduate institutions, and at prestigious industry and medical conferences. She has been featured in the Huffington Post, Thrive Global and Mind Body Green and served as the co-lead facilitator of the Faculty Scholars Program in Integrative Healthcare at the OSHER Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Medicine. She is also a certified plant-based professional and a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT, October 2020). Dr. Kumar-Singh currently resides in Chicago with her husband Kanwar, her son Zayn and her daughter Isha. The Health Catalyst is her first...
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    56 min
  • Ep 106: The Secret to Impacting Our Democracy with States Project's Melissa Walker

    Ep 106: The Secret to Impacting Our Democracy with States Project's Melissa Walker
    Oct 24 2024
    As I bring you this episode, we are less than two weeks from the 2024 U.S. Election. In preparation for this moment, I seized the opportunity to sit down with Melissa Walker, a children's book author turned powerful political advocate, instrumental in the founding of an organization called The States Project. Melissa's path to The States Project was paved in the election results of 2016 which, like it did for so many of us, became a catalyst for activism. Looking for a way to get more intimately involved in our democratic process, her journey took a powerful turn when she attended a holiday party where then New York state senator Daniel Squadron, opened her eyes to the influence of state governments. She learned that issues—like education, healthcare, civil rights, and voting rights—are often decided in state capitals, not Washington, D.C. This spark led her to gather other mothers and children's book authors in her own living room to create what they called a States Project Giving Circle. That group went on to help flip legislative seats in Virginia in 2017, impacting the balance of power enough in that state that they expanded healthcare for 400,000 Virginians that year. Fast forward to 2024 and the States Project Giving Circles grow to over 200 across the country while my Mom Fran and I were searching for how we could transform our anxiety and fear to make an impact in this year's election. The answer came from my niece Nicole, whose work with The States Project inspired us to start our own Giving Circle, which we named "Generations" for the three generations of women we sought to engage. It was also Nicole who invited Melissa to join our Circle on Zoom, where Melissa helped us make a strategic decision to pick Pennsylvania to direct our funds. This episode is the invitation we ALL need right now—to look beyond the obvious and consider how strategic political giving in key states can create profound ripple effects across the country. Melissa helps us realize that by coming together with shared values and a sense of purpose, we can light the way for change. In these critical weeks before the 2024 U.S. election, I hope Melissa's E.P.I.C. life journey and her wisdom inspire all of us to use our power to make a difference—and to bring someone else along. Whether you join our Giving Circle or decide to come together with a community of your own, this episode reminds us that we have agency…and that collective, strategic action, even in small steps, can shift the course of our democracy. Join Us in Our "Generations" States Project Giving Circle! As mothers and daughters... we know that the stakes in this election couldn't be higher for ourselves and future generations. Many of us are feeling a deep desire to make a meaningful impact but are unsure how best to channel our resources. That's why we've come together to form a States Project Giving Circle focusing on a powerful and often overlooked area of change—state legislatures. In collaboration with The States Project, we are uniting across generations—mothers, daughters, family, and friends—to drive transformative change at the state level. State legislatures play a critical role in shaping policies that affect our daily lives, from education and healthcare to voting rights and environmental protection. Yet, they often receive far less attention and funding than national races. Our Circle selected the state of PA and we are almost at our goal. Help us cross the finish line! Learn how you can make an impact by clicking HERE Topics Discussed in this Episode: Melissa's journey into political engagement post-2016 election and her quest to help people look beyond the first glance to engage strategically and purposefully. How Melissa balances the "doer" qualities of her mother alongside the "thinker" qualities of her father. The holiday party with then New York State Senator Daniel Squadron that became the "spark moment" that helped Melissa realize the power of state legislatures. Melissa's leadership in the formation and expansion of States Project Giving Circles to promote collective political giving and community engagement. Why a few states like Pennsylvania, the one we selected for our Generations Giving Circle, can also impact the presidential election. Melissa's two daughters, and how they have become advocates for educating about state legislatures. How Melissa weaves in WT (aka window time) into her day to give her space to reflect and how little shifts like reading the news from a newspaper instead of her phone helps her stay more present with her children. The "epic snapshot moments" that have touched Melissa, from participating in Stand Up for the States with stars like Octavia Spencer to the thousands of conversations she has facilitated in Zoom rooms and living rooms across the country. About Melissa Walker Melissa Walker, Head of Giving Circles at The States Project. Melissa is the author of 10 ...
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    46 min
  • Ep 105: The Evolution of Parenting Teens and Beyond with Parent Coach Casey O'Roarty

    Ep 105: The Evolution of Parenting Teens and Beyond with Parent Coach Casey O'Roarty
    Oct 3 2024
    I'm excited to share this conversation with my longtime fellow podcasting friend and parenting guide, Casey O'Roarty. Casey is a positive discipline trainer, certified coach and facilitator of personal growth and development, who encourages parents to discover the purpose of our journey. Through workshops, live and online classes, individual coaching, a published book, and her Joyful Courage Podcast, Casey helps us reconnect to our own empowerment and excitement in parenting, providing us with tools and a shift of mindset that allows us to deepen relationships with ourselves and our families. In recent years, as Casey's own children have grown and flown, Casey has shifted her focus to supporting parents of tweens, teens and young adults. As I'm navigating fall school-year transitions—sending Ryan off to his junior year of college and guiding my youngest Jacob, now 12, as he starts middle school, I knew I wanted to interview Casey, so that I could anchor into her wisdom, humor and heart-centered approach to parenting during this pivotal time. In this episode, we dive into the heart of Casey's E.P.I.C. life journey, from her experiences growing up as a child of divorce to her deep and supportive relationship with her daughter, Rowan. Casey shares openly about the ways that she had to evolve her own parenting and trust in the process, when Rowan's mental health challenges in high school led Rowan to chart an untraditional path. We also talk about the gifts of midlife—self-awareness, personal growth, and the new adventures that come when we embrace our roles as "bird launchers" vs. empty nesters. This conversation left me deeply reflective about motherhood, the unpredictable twists and turns it brings, and the ways we can seek trust, connection, and even stillness in the midst of it all. I hope this conversation, and a Spark Session that Casey and I will collaborate on this fall, invite you to evolve your parenting, finding new ways to nurture connection with your children and within yourself. Topics Discussed in this Episode: How Casey's strained relationship with her mother transformed into a supportive one, with the birth of her first child as a catalyst for the transformation. Casey learned to embrace uncertainty and trust the evolving process of parenting when her daughter Rowan experienced mental health challenges and charted an untraditional path in high school and beyond. Casey's positive discipline coaching practice has evolved to support parents of tween, teens and young adults, plus some of the tools she shares to help parents navigate tumultuous times. Casey's refusal to fear a future that has not manifested or created suffering if it is not needed. The empowering perspective Casey holds on midlife, seeing it as a time of self-awareness, integrating personal growth with new life experiences. About Casey O'Roarty Casey O'Roarty, Med, is a facilitator of personal growth and development. Her work encourages parents to discover the purpose of their journey, while also providing them with tools and a shift of mindset that allows them to deepen their relationships with themselves and their families. As a Positive Discipline Trainer since 2007 and certified coach, Casey has led countless groups through workshops and classes that have left them feeling empowered and excited about parenting. She also offers an engaging podcast, live and online classes, and individual coaching at www.besproutable.com/teens. Her first book, Joyful Courage: Calming the Drama and Taking Control of YOUR Parenting Journey was published May 20th, 2019. Casey lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and loves any time she can get with her launched kiddos. Connect with Casey: 6 week class starts Tuesday Sept 24th - www.besproutable.com/teens/positive-discipline-classes/#deep-dive-classes Parenting Classes: www.besproutable.com/elementary/parent-coaching/ Website: www.besproutable.com/teens/ IG: @joyful_courage FB Group for parents of teens: www.facebook.com/groups/jcforparentsofteens This Episode's Challenge: Casey invites us to dedicate space and time for self-reflection, whether through journaling, voice memos or using the Insight Timer. She also invited parents to join her six-week positive discipline class, which started September 24 but is still under way. Stay tuned for more details on a Spark Session we are organizing together "Nurturing Connection While Launching Our Kids." Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next: An Honest Conversation with Rowan About Her Journey of Mental Health & Self Discovery with Casey and Rowan O'Roarty Ep 102: Milestone Hike Revisited: A Mother Son Neurodiversity Journey Alfred Adler: Theory and Application DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Book mentioned: "The Baby Catcher" by Peggy Vincent (memoir of a midwife) This Episode is Dedicated by Elsie Escobar Hello, I'm Elsie Escobar, and I'm honored to dedicate this ...
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    53 min