Should Have Listened to My Mother Podcast Jackie Tantillo

Stephen DiJoseph and his mother Angelina had a wonderful relationship. Stephen credits both his parents for all of their support especially when it came to allowing him to follow his passion for music. It was Angelina who wanted Stephen to follow his musical interests because it was something that she was unable to pursue throughout her life. A mom's love for her son, lead her on a search for ten years, trying to get an accurate diagnosis of his tics/fidgeting condition. Tourette Syndrome is what the final diagnosis was and Stephen takes his talent, sense of humor and his tics with him everywhere he goes including on and off the stage.

This week on SHLTMM, my guest, author and poet, Anthony McDuffie Jr, shares stories of his childhood struggles beginning after the loss of his father and looking for love and support in the wrong places. His mother, Shottie, had several children to take care of and was distraught as well. She tried to guide her son, but it took fifteen years in prison before she saw her son turn his life around. He now understands that his mother was trying to help him, but he wasn't ready to listen. Now Anthony is speaking with and listening to many young kids in similar situations and offering words of encouragement and advice.

My Guest, Moksha, is the founder of Sovereign Eats, a wellness and raw food company where she advocates for health and wellbeing. Born and raised on the Caribbean island Country, Grenada, just north of Trinidad and Tobago, her relationship with the earth and indigenous foods of Grenada are still dear to her heart. When you hear Moksha's stories you'll find that from a very young age she thought outside the box, outside of the traditions of her culture and I admire that quite a bit. She held her ground according to her beliefs, not those based on her country's historical past. Moksha will share stories of her mother, Cecilia, through out this episode.

"When I was a young kid it was great having lots of family around, someone to hang out with," says Kevin Jerome, "but getting evicted and moving over and over again got old." Hear the stories of my guest, Kevin Jerome, who learned at an early age that he may just have to figure things out on his own regardless of his large family.

My guest, Costas Schuler, was born and raised in the suburbs of Athens, Greece. As a young boy he would summer with his family on the Greek Island Ikaria. Ikaria is where his mother, Lemonia or Lemon, spent many years as a child and an adult in the village at the top of the Island. Costas says, "she was a farmer. She grew up in the land. She grew up on the land and in the land." You'll hear stories of how Costas's parents met in Australia and their life in Greece and America.

This is the story of a mom who was a dreamer and a rebel. She's one of a large family raised during the depression, so she knew well enough about hard work and empty stomachs. And according to my guest, Robert W. Norris (Bob), his mother Kay, was very, very fair to others, she was a great listener and didn't judge people.