Mother's Quest Podcast

Julie Neale
  • 4.9 (54)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Monthly

Are you a mom who is ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life? A few months before a big milestone birthday, host Julie Neale, a life and leadership coach, community builder and mom to two high-energy boys, decided to stop sidelining her dreams and become the hero of her own journey. She created this show to help light her way by gathering words of wisdom and lessons learned from other mothers further ahead on their quest. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, engaging mindfully with their children (E), passionately and purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), investing in themselves (I), and connecting to a strong support network (C). Come along with Julie and you are sure to find some treasures of your own.

  1. Jun 19

    Father's Day Special: Four Fathers on the E.P.I.C. Framework

    Welcome to this Father's Day special of the Mother's Quest Podcast. This year, I decided to reach out to the husbands and life partners of incredible mothers I've interviewed on the podcast in the past, inviting four extraordinary fathers to share their reflections on living an E.P.I.C. life.  E.P.I.C. is a metaphor for answering the call of our own hero's journey and also an acronym mnemonic for the guideposts that help us live that life while we are raising our kids. E - Engaging mindfully with our children, P- Pursuing our passionate and purposeful impact, I - Investing in ourselves, and C- Connecting to a strong support network. Each father offers a glimpse into what they've been on a quest for, insights into one of the guideposts from the E.P.I.C. framework, and an invitation to try something that will help us more fully live our E.P.I.C. lives.  Together, these four fathers bring perspectives shaped by different faith traditions, cultures, and lived experiences. And they all offer a masterclass on what it takes to parent and live life fully, with strength and humility. Thank you Rabbi Hugh Seid-Valencia, Iftikhar Ahmed, Franklin Hysten, and George Brian Sellner for entrusting us with your reflections, and for the love and intention you bring to fatherhood and to living your lives. And thank you Tricia, Saadia, Jenjii, and Jadah, the mothers whose voices have shaped this podcast over the last decade, and whose connection with me inspired this episode. All of these contributions felt like a gift for me. Wherever you are listening, whether you are a father yourself, parenting alongside one, or maybe missing one, I hope this conversation is a gift for you too. Happy Father's Day. This Episode Features: Rabbi Hugh Seid-Valencia, Chief Community Officer at Jewish Silicon Valley, who teaches and lectures on Jewish approaches to leadership, meditation, and parenting. Hugh, the husband of my recent podcast guest Tricia Creason-Valencia, reflects on Engaging mindfully with our children, the practice of stepping up and stepping back as a father, the Jewish humility teaching of how much space to take up in a relationship, and how a lifelong practice of martial arts informed his approach to parenting. Iftikhar Ahmed, co-founder of Kaizen Financial Strategies and co-author with his wife Saadia of A Planning Guide for American Muslims. Iftikhar, who came to financial services after a first career in engineering and tech leadership, reflects on Pursuing our passionate and purposeful impact, the Kaizen philosophy of small steps leading to big results, drawing passion from those who find happiness through helping others, and being a role model for his children. Franklin Hysten, founding partner of Blaze Consulting Group and a coach and facilitator of more than 20 years developing leaders in nonprofits and public sector organizations. Franklin, the husband of my Episode 7 guest Jenjii Hysten, reflects on Investing in ourselves, the solo three-week journey to London where he sat with himself and his journal, the courage to ask for support through therapy and men's groups, and the shift from a love language of service to what he calls "the ministry of presence." George Brian Sellner, founder of One Heart Music and One Heart Men's Circle, whose work draws from Jungian archetypes, Internal Family Systems, somatic practices, mythology, and contemplative traditions. George, the husband of my Episode 95 guest Jadah Sellner, reflects on Connecting to a strong support network, the couples meeting practice he and Jadah have held for years, the daily blessing he sends his daughter Zoe, and creating safe spaces for men to show up emotionally. Topics Discussed in this Episode: Hugh on the practice of stepping up and stepping back as a father, and the Jewish humility teaching behind it "Be careful of what works" and the trap of imposing our will on our children How Tai Chi shapes Hugh's approach to redirecting energy rather than meeting force with force Iftikhar on the Kaizen philosophy of small steps leading to big results, applied to raising children Drawing passion from those who find happiness through helping others, not wealth or fame Why Iftikhar believes we cannot achieve significant goals alone, and the value of teaching children to work with others Franklin's solo three-week journey to London and the journal questions that changed him The courage to ask for support through therapy, men's groups, and coaching Shifting from a love language of service to what Franklin calls "the ministry of presence" with our children The couples meeting practice George and Jadah have held for years The daily blessing George sends his daughter, now as a voice memo since she left for college One Heart Men's Circle and why men need spaces to be held without being fixed About Our Guests:   Rabbi Hugh Seid-Valencia, Chief Community Officer, Jewish Silicon Valley In his current role, Rabbi Hugh serves as a primary connector between Jewish Silicon Valley and the wider regional Jewish community's professional and lay leadership, sparking a spirit of creativity and innovation, and helping establish a culture of collaboration. He  previously served as Jewish Community Liaison for VITAS Healthcare and prior to that, spent ten years teaching Jewish Studies at Kehillah Jewish High School in Palo Alto, where he served most recently as Director of Israel and Jewish Studies Curricula. After studying at Deep Springs College, he earned a B.A. with Highest Honors in English Literature from UC Berkeley and received his rabbinical training from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He has completed both the Rabbinic Leadership Training Program and the Tikkun Middot Training Program of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and is an alumnus of the Mandel Executive Leadership Program. He teaches and lectures on Jewish approaches to: leadership, meditation, parenting, perspectives on the afterlife, ethical dilemmas in extending life, and reading and writing ethical wills. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-seid-valencia-7244a899 Facebook: www.facebook.com/hseidvalencia   Iftikhar Ahmed As a Co-founder, Managing Partner, and Principal Advisor, Iftikhar Ahmed serves as a financial advisor and investment professional who focuses on strategies that help clients pursue their goals and prepare for various market conditions. Prior to a career change to the financial services industry, Iftikhar worked for 20+ years in the high-tech sector in engineering, business, and leadership roles.    Iftikhar's experience spans working in the United States as well as internationally. His previous experience in the tech sector included roles at Cisco Systems, Mobilink (a Motorola venture), and ABM Data Systems. Prior to co-founding Kaizen Financial Strategies, Iftikhar served his clients as a Financial Advisor in affiliation with Waddell & Reed, Inc.   Iftikhar is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® practitioner and also holds the Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA™) designation. Iftikhar is current on his Series 7 and Series 66 securities registrations and Life and Health insurance licenses from California department of insurance (CA License #0I63476). He has a BS in Electrical Engineering and a master's in information systems management.   In 2026, Iftikhar and Saadia co-authored a book "Personal Finance & Inheritance in Islam: A Planning Guide for American Muslims" to address the recurring questions they received from Muslim clients, especially around aligning financial planning and inheritance decisions with their personal values.    Iftikhar and his wife, Saadia Ahmed, live in the South Bay with their two children. He is actively engaged in the local community and various philanthropic endeavors, and is passionate about entrepreneurship, education, and technological and social innovations. Website: www.kfstrategies.us Book: www.kfstrategies.us/copy-resource-book LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/iftiahmed   Franklin Hysten Franklin Hysten is the Founding Partner of Blaze Consulting Group focused on developing leaders and strengthening communities. He has worked with dozens of nonprofit and public sector organizations from across California to advance effective programming, leadership development, and systems change. With over 3 daccades of experience in coaching, facilitation, and strategic planning, and a deep commitment to youth and family empowerment, Franklin is driven by his belief in the power of community and collaboration. He is inspired by Oakland's spirit of resilience and innovation. As a coach and facilitator, he helps any team or organization with clarity, communication, and connection to experience transformative growth, through utilizing his strategic vision, facilitation expertise, and heart-centered leadership. Franklin lives in the East Bay with his wife Jenjii, two sons and Goddaughter.   Website: hblazeconsulting.group/team LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/franklinhysten   George B. Sellner George Brian Sellner is a musician, educator, and men's work facilitator dedicated to helping people live more connected, creative, and wholehearted lives. For over 17 years, he has worked with children and families through One Heart Music, using song, movement, and play to cultivate confidence, compassion, and community. Alongside his work with families, George founded One Heart Men's Circle, where he guides men through practices of emotional awareness, embodiment, accountability, and authentic connection. Drawing from Jungian archetypes, Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic practices, mythology, and contemplative traditions, he creates spaces where men can step out of isolation and into deeper relationships with themselves and others. George believes that music, ritual, play, and honest conversation are essential medicines for our modern world. H

    47 min
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    Jun 19 ·  Bonus

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  3. May 7

    Fierce Love, Grief and Showing Up Anyway with Tricia Creason-Valencia

    I'm honored to share this special Mother's Day episode with my friend Tricia Creason-Valencia, recorded live in the UnMuted Studio at PowerHouse, the creative event space Tricia co-founded in San Jose. Tricia and I first came into each other's lives while collaborating on the Autism Storytelling Project. Then, she said yes to spending a full day together for a new offering I was piloting called Spark Your EPIC Life in a Day. On a Milestone Hike, during lunch and then coaching in my garden afterwards, Tricia reflected on what she was grieving in the aftermath of Covid, made commitments to herself that could pave a way forward, and named out loud big dreams to become a speaker and find a creative room of her own to pursue her artistic expression. Her bio today blends the powerful pieces of her past with the dreams she has now realized. She is an Emmy-nominated director, producer, and motivational speaker whose documentary films have won multiple awards and screened at film festivals and on public television nationally. She holds an MFA in Cinema from San Francisco State and a BA in Social Sciences from UC Berkeley, and has taught filmmaking at Santa Clara University, UC Santa Cruz, San Francisco State, and high schools. She co-founded PowerHouse, a podcast and media production studio and event space for women+ creatives in San Jose. And she is the 2026 Creative Ambassador for the City of San José, currently producing a city-wide multimedia project called "I am/We Are: Our Stories Connect Us."  As a loving daughter and the mother of two children who came to her through adoption, she has lived through some of the hardest chapters that mothering and caregiving can bring. The day we recorded, Tricia almost canceled. She was carrying a profound anticipatory grief because her mother, Barbara, who had dementia, was in hospice. But we decided together to show up anyway and be with whatever came into the room. Her mom has since passed away, and in a voice note she sent me recently, Tricia said of our coming together that it was "A testimony to all the things that we have on our hearts and on our minds as mamas who are being pulled by our babies and our families and our mothers, and yet we show up, and we stay in conversation with each other. If this podcast is a testimony to staying in it, then I am proud of us." I am proud of us too. When we recorded the conversation, I had been going through some hard things in my own parenting journey that were asking the same of me. And what Tricia shared in this conversation gave me language and perspectives I needed that day... radical acceptance, slow hope, and fierce love. That last one she traces all the way back to her mom, and it's woven through everything she does. Topics Discussed in this Episode: The full circle moment of recording inside Powerhouse, the "room of her own" Tricia first named in her Spark Your EPIC Life day before the space even existed Navigating motherhood when your children's reality doesn't match the one you imagined Radical acceptance as the practice of stopping the push against what is, without saying it's okay Slow hope, borrowed from the climate movement, and the friends who text you to point out how far you've come The concept of "other mothering" and how it shows up in Tricia's teaching and community work Using art as a tool for mental health  for yourself and for others What it took to invest in PowerHouse, and why she stopped saying "paid fairly" and started saying "paid abundantly" Her son calling her a visionary, and what it meant to be seen by him after everything The fierce love Tricia inherited from her mother Barbara, the three different ways Barbara responded to "I love you, Mom" in her final weeks, and the truth that we come from love This Episode is Dedicated by April Adams Pertuis April Adams Pertuis helps leaders and entrepreneurs turn their Story into a strategic advantage—driving deeper connection, stronger relationships, and greater visibility. As the Founder and CEO of LIGHTbeamers, April is a storytelling and visibility expert who equips audiences with the tools to communicate with clarity, build engaged communities, and create meaningful opportunities. Through her keynotes, she shows leaders how to move beyond simply delivering a message—and instead use their voice to influence, connect, and lead at a higher level. A former television journalist and producer, April has evolved into a sought-after thought leader in visibility and women's leadership. She has helped thousands of women build brand authority through strategic speaking, podcasting, and publishing—turning their stories into platforms for growth and impact. Her work is grounded in a powerful belief: everybody has a story—and when it's shared with intention, it becomes a force for connection, influence, and opportunity. Free download on learning to tell your story: Your Story Formula  www.lightbeamers.com/formula About Tricia Creason-Valencia  Tricia Creason-Valencia is a dynamic force in the world of filmmaking, education & community building. Through the art of storytelling, Tricia weaves her own raw narrative of mothering, making movies, resilience and rediscovery. She believes, deep in her soul, that truth-telling fosters empathy and connection, serving as a catalyst for social change. As an Emmy-Nominated Director/Producer, Motivational Speaker and Co-Founder of PowerHouse, a creative workspace for women+ entrepreneurs, Tricia pioneers the way for women, people of color and youth to amplify their voices and claim their power through creative expression. Tricia's films have won numerous awards - including "Best Documentary" for Stable Life at the prestigious Cinequest Film Festival - and have inspired dialogue and action through screenings at film festivals and on public television nationally. Tricia has taught Digital Filmmaking and Film Studies at Santa Clara University, U.C. Santa Cruz, San Francisco State University and with grassroots community organizations. She is a passionate mentor to the next generation of storytellers. She holds a BA in Social Science from U.C. Berkeley and earned her MFA in Cinema from San Francisco State University. With over 20 years of experience in mothering and media production, she intertwines personal growth with professional success and has evolved from an optimistic, young adoptive mama & filmmaker to a seasoned advocate, motivational speaker and media producer who finds meaning in the chaos of creation. Connect with Tricia Creason-Valencia Instagram | www.instagram.com/flacafilms Website | www.tricia-speaks.com PowerHouse Website | powerhouse-sj.com LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/flacafilms   This Episode's Challenge: Go on a quest to cultivate joy. Start by simply noticing — when do you feel content, connected, open? Once you can see where joy shows up, you can begin to intentionally create more of it. It doesn't have to be loud. It can be saying it out loud in the moment, taking a photo, making something, or telling the people you're with: I'm really happy to be here. Joy and grief coexist. Joy is the fuel that keeps us going through the hard stuff. Related Episodes:  Signal Award-winning Ep 102: Milestone Hike Revisited: A Mother Son Neurodiversity Journey recorded at PowerHouse Resources Mentioned:  Parenting Outside the Lines: Forget the Rules, Tap into Your Wisdom, and Connect with Your Child by Meghan Leahy Spark Your E.P.I.C. Life Coaching Series and other coaching offerings at julielneale.com. Schedule a discovery call with Julie here to explore more Autism Storytelling Project | www.autismstorytellingproject.com Mom's First American Motherhood Documentary Screening in S.F. Bay Area This summer, the organization Mom's First will release a groundbreaking documentary about American Motherhood, with screenings across the country. Mother's Quest will  co-host a screening here in the San Francisco Bay Area, alongside Heather Anderson from The Mamahood and with Tricia Creason-Valencia of PowerHouse San Jose. I'll also be recording a podcast conversation with Mom's First founder Reshma Saujani, releasing the episode ahead of the screening. Stay tuned for all of these good things, and follow this link to sign up for the details.  Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of passing our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother's Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution. Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest

    1h 3m

  4. Feb 13

    A New Way of Life: How Love Disrupts Systems of Harm with Susan Burton and Pamela Marshall

    I'm honored to bring you a special episode of the Mother's Quest Podcast during Black History Month, featuring two extraordinary Black women, Susan Burton and Pamela Marshall, who are shaping history in real time, breaking cycles of incarceration for women through their work with the organization A New Way of Life (ANWOL.)  I first met Susan and Pamela through Democracy Clothing, the brand my sister Caren founded, when we visited A New Way of Life to bring clothing to the staff and residents and later invited a group of their mothers to the Democracy studio. Spending time with them, seeing their impact firsthand, and later reading Susan's memoir, I was struck by how they transform personal loss and systemic harm into healing and hope for women rebuilding their lives. Susan founded A New Way of Life in 1998 after surviving nearly two decades in the cycle of incarceration herself. Following the devastating loss of her young son, her grief led to substance use that was criminalized and punished again and again, instead of supported. After her sixth release from prison, she finally experienced recovery rooted in dignity and opportunity and committed to bringing that same humanity to other women. What began as one home in South Los Angeles has grown into a nationally recognized reentry model that has provided safe housing to more than 1,800 women, reunited over 400 mothers with their children, and helped thousands clear legal barriers to employment and housing. This work is especially urgent given that the number of incarcerated women has increased by more than 600 percent since 1980, and that women returning home often face unique barriers, including higher rates of trauma, primary caregiving responsibilities, and limited gender responsive reentry support. Susan is now a grandmother and a great grandmother, building legacy across generations of women in more ways than one. Pamela's story is woven into that legacy. She joined A New Way of Life through a transitional employment program when Susan saw something special in her. Over time she was mentored, entrusted with greater responsibility, and eventually Susan passed the baton. Today, as one of two Co- Directors, Pamela carries the vision forward, expanding ANWOL's reach and impact.  This conversation was recorded months ago, but the episode's release feels like it's arriving at exactly the right time. At this moment in our country, as state-sanctioned immigration raids harm families and destabilize communities across cities like Minneapolis, we feel the weight of injustice and wonder how to respond. And yet, we are also witnessing communities of care step forward, neighbors disrupting cycles of harm where they live, choosing solidarity over fear and acting from compassion. That is exactly what Susan and Pamela have been building for decades. Their wisdom grounds us in the knowledge that change begins close to home and is rooted in love. Topics Discussed in this Episode: The criminalization of addiction, the impact of intergenerational trauma, and the systems of poverty and racism that create cycles of harm Moving from being fueled by rage to being powered by forgiveness and love as a force for transformation How A New Way of Life creates safe homes where women returning from prison find stability, support, and the foundation to rebuild their lives Raising children to use their voices and be brave in the face of injustice Creating networks of support with like-minded people and remembering we're all connected Staying out of the "deep, dark hole" of the news cycle to protect your spirit Learning to pour into yourself while also caring for and uplifting others Why Susan believes real systemic change begins in hearts and minds, not legislation About Susan Burton Ms. Burton struggled to rise above a life of poverty, violence, and loss. As a way to cope, she fell harder into substance misuse and became enmeshed in the cycle of mass incarceration for nearly two decades. After being released from prison for the sixth time, Ms. Burton was finally able to access recovery services in an affluent area of Los Angeles. There she discovered and embraced opportunities that were never offered before. Determined to bring those resources to areas plagued by poverty and over-incarceration, Ms. Burton founded A New Way of Life (ANWOL) in 1998.  Ms. Burton is a co-founder of All of Us or None (AOUON) and the Formerly Incarcerated & Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM), both national grassroots civil rights movements composed of formerly incarcerated individuals, their families and community allies. In collaboration with UCLA's Critical Race Studies Program, she launched an employment rights reentry legal clinic, which has grown to be the largest of its kind in Southern California.  Susan has earned numerous awards and honors for her work. In 2010, she was named a CNN Top Ten Hero and received the prestigious Citizen Activist Award from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She is a recipient of the Encore Purpose Prize (2012) and the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award (2014). In 2015, on the 50th Anniversary of Selma and the Voting Rights Act, Susan Burton was named by the Los Angeles Times as one of eighteen new civil rights leaders in the nation. Released in 2017, her memoir, Becoming Ms. Burton, received a 2018 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in the category of Biography/Autobiography. Becoming Ms.Burton is also the recipient of the inaugural Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice. In 2019, Susan received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from California State University, Northridge.  After a 2017-18 tour with her memoir in 64 prisons and jails in 26 states and three countries, Ms. Burton launched the SAFE (Sisterhood Alliance for Freedom and Equality) Housing Network to replicate A New Way of Life's effective and humane reentry model. Since 2018, Ms. Burton has mentored and supported seventeen organizations in twelve states (Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington) and two countries (Uganda and Kenya) to open their own safe homes   Connect with Susan: A New Way of Life | https://anewwayoflife.org/ LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/susan-burton-15a9a013 Instagram | @susanburtonla   About Pamela Marshall After a decade of working in retail, Ms. Marshall was laid off during the Great Recession. A single mother, she began looking for opportunities to reclaim economic self-sufficiency. She applied to California's Transitional Subsidized Employment (TSE) program. In 2011, she was offered a short-term position as a housing coordinator at A New Way of Life Reentry Project (ANWOL).  Within the six months allotted for TSE placement, Ms. Marshall quickly demonstrated her exceptional capabilities to excel in all assigned duties. Unfortunately, the placement was temporary and ANWOL did not have the resources available to offer her full-time employment.  A key value embedded in the work of A New Way of Life is to recognize every woman's potential. ANWOL Founder Susan Burton was so impressed with Ms. Marshall's work ethic, she was able to secure additional resources. A few months later, she offered Ms. Marshall a full-time position as an administrative assistant. She progressed to serve as Ms. Burton's executive assistant and then ANWOL's manager of office administration. In December of 2020, she was promoted to the position of Co-Director.  For over a decade, Ms. Marshall has contributed to the growth and stability of A New Way of Life. Because she has lived it, she understands the importance of valuing each client, recognizing potential and providing the resources needed to succeed. A trusted mentee of Ms. Burton, as CoDirector, she is uniquely equipped to lead a national reentry organization and further ANWOL's mission—continually working to link promise with opportunity, create change, and transform lives.   Connect with Pamela A New Way of Life | https://anewwayoflife.org/ LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-marshall-858528115   This Episode's Challenge: Pamela's challenge is to invest in yourself in addition to others, because it doesn't have to be either or. Find one positive moment each day that you can take into tomorrow. Susan's challenge is to stop and help someone and allow yourself to feel the vibration from that and resonate with it. Both of these challenges connect to the larger themes of our conversation about finding joy in small moments, remembering we're all connected, and leading with love rather than fear. Related Episodes:  Ep 106: The Secret to Impacting Our Democracy with States Project's Melissa Walker Ep 109: Turning Toward One Another with Rabbi Sharon Brous Ep 100: Mothering as Revolutionary Love Honoring Black Mothers: A Special Mother's Day Episode with Anna Malaika Tubbs, Author of The Three Mothers Books Mentioned:  Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us The Three Mothers The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World   This Episode is Dedicated by Anna Malaika Tubbs Anna Malaika Tubbs is a 2x New York Times bestselling author and multidisciplinary expert on current and historical understandings of race, gender, and equity. With a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Masters in Multidisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of Cambridge in addition to a Bachelors in Medical Anthropology from Stanford University, Anna translates her academic knowledge into stories that are clear and engaging. Her articles have been published by TIME Magazine, New York Magazine, Newsweek, The Guardian, and others. Her first book The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of MLK Jr, Malcolm X, and Jame

    53 min

  5. 12/18/2025

    Mothering Through the Darkness: Lessons Inspired by The Mystics Almanac

    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 the story of the Drinking Gourd, the Big Dipper, which enslaved people once followed north to freedom when no maps existed. Her wisdom for now: when the path ahead feels uncertain, we can still orient ourselves by what is larger than us, our ancestors, the stars, our deepest faith, and we must remember that no one travels alone. Valarie recalls the birthing room, her mother's hand on her forehead, whispering "You are brave" as she felt generations of women standing invisibly at her back while she labored. In the midst of growing authoritarianism, she has famously posed the question: "Is this the darkness of the tomb, or the darkness of the womb?" Her story reminds us that every labor, whether giving birth, raising children, or rebirthing a nation, calls for courage, community, and the breath of our ancestors at our side. Even when the contractions feel painful and relentless, transition always comes before new life. Going Deeper Together, these voices remind me that we are never meant to find our way alone. For more connection, I also invite you to pause and reflect and notice how these themes are showing up in your own life. Grab a pen and a journal and pause as needed to respond to these questions:  What wisdom might you want to carry with you into the year ahead? Where in your life right now are you navigating crisis and collapse? What might help you trust it as part of the spiral? Who are the mothers, ancestors, or teachers at your back that you can call on for courage and light? What lessons have you been circling back to? How can you meet the return of familiar challenges differently this time? If the darkness of this moment might be both tomb and womb, what must you release, and what are you quietly nurturing toward birth? Closing Wish I have a closing wish for all of us. As we move into the year ahead, may we meet the spiral with compassion and perspective, may we orient ourselves by the constellations and the strength of our ancestors, and may we trust that even in the most painful contractions, something new is waiting to be born.  Related Episodes and Links Right Livelihood, Magic, and Meaning with Lindsay Pera of the Modern Mystics Institute Light For These Pandemic Times: Space, Grace & Love Planted Across Generations with Tembi Locke Mothering as Revolutionary Love The Mystics Alamanac use the code JULIE to get $5 off created by Lindsay Pera, illustratrions by Sarah Love McCoy  EPIC Year Planner + Plan With me Sessions use the code JULIE to get $5 off

    35 min

  6. 08/01/2025

    Living Resistance: A Call for These Times with Poet Kaitlin Curtice

    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 cultures The cyclical, spiral nature of growth and how we revisit challenges with new wisdom Discovering 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  wholeness Embodiment practices that can reconnect you with your body after trauma How rock climbing became Kaitlin's  family's  practice for presence and connection Building community in both physical and virtual spaces and the importance of "third places" where you can be fully yourself Seasonal living as an alternative to linear goal-setting The 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.com Instagram | 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 thinking to cyclical thinking. She invited us to try two practices: first, draw five circles on paper representing different aspects of your life (work, family, hobbies, etc.) to see the vastness of who you are from a bird's eye view. Second, instead of making yearly resolutions, evaluate your life every season – asking what needs to shift in your daily rhythms, self-care, and relationships as the seasons change. As she put it "We don't have to expect so much of ourselves… It's a lot more tender to us if we say, "I'm going to try this out for the next few months." Both practices help us look at our lives without judgment while gently challenging ourselves to grow. Related Episodes:  Ep 74: Living and Loving with Authenticity with Hands Free Mama Rachel Macy Stafford Ep 16: Rising Up with Paola Mendoza Ep 94: Dear Body: Reflections on Embracing and Embodying 50 This Episode is Dedicated by Rachel Macy Stafford Rachel Macy Stafford is a New York Times bestselling author, educator, and speaker with over 25 years of experience in teaching and writing. With a Master's degree in Special Education and a background as a certified special education teacher, Rachel brings a heart-centered approach to her work—emphasizing connection, inclusion, and self-awareness. Since 2014, Rachel has published five bestselling books, including Hands Free Mama, Only Love Today, and Soul Shift, and expanded her reach with an audio series and book from Sounds True. Rachel also created a transformative eight-week online course that has engaged over 15,000 participants and writes Rachel's Treehouse, a Substack newsletter dedicated to cultivating meaningful connection, self-compassion, and collective care through weekly essays and monthly live teachings. Rachel leads retreats and workshops at renowned centers like Kripalu, Omega Institute, and the Art of Living Retreat Center, and speaks at events across the country. 🌱Experience Rachel's Work…   If you're navigating a season of change, letting go, or becoming… You're not alone. Consider joining me in person or in the Treehouse this fall: 🌿Only Love Today: A Restorative Retreat for Givers 🗓 November 7–9, 2025 📍 Art of Living Retreat Center, North Carolina This soul-soothing weekend is for those who give deeply and often forget to receive. We'll rest, reflect, and reconnect with the parts of ourselves we've put on hold. There's still space to join—learn more or sign up here. 🏡Rachel's Treehouse Part journal, part gathering place—Rachel's Treehouse is where Rachel reflects on midlife, empty-nesting, and what it means to dream again. If you've been asking, "What now?" This is a space to land, reconnect, and rediscover. Join the community here. — Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother's Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at Ko-Fi.com.  Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest

    50 min

  7. 06/13/2025

    We Bought the Block: Building Legacy, Love and Community in South LA With Joe Ward-Wallace

    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, Joe's mother This Episode's Challenge: Joe challenges each of us to help just one neighbor. Ask them what they need, and then do it. Maybe it's running an errand, checking in with a meal, or simply being present and available. Joe reminded me that this simple act is what sparked South LA Cafe's grocery giveaway, something that has now served thousands and become the heartbeat of his community work. He emphasized that this small act, when done collectively, can help rebuild a sense of connection and community. Related Episodes or Resources Mentioned in the Episode:  Ep 109: Turning Toward One Another with Rabbi Sharon Brous Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women A New Way of Life Reentry Program The Instagram Post Joe Read titled "We Bought the Block"   The Legacy of Vonnie, Joe's mother   This Episode is Dedicated by Eric Mann With financial support from Lindsay Pera "This is Eric Mann, co-director of the Labor/Community Strategy Center, a civil rights group in South Central L.A. I am here in praise of Joe Ward-Wallace and the magnificent new 48th Street South L.A. Café. Joe is my son-in-law but he calls me dad and I call him son. He and my daughter, Celia Ward-Wallace, are a powerful team for social justice. Joe begins and ends as a Black Man in South Central Los Angeles. From that clear and solid identity he approaches all problems from the interests of the Black and South Central communities—and from there to all humanity. He has suffered insults and injuries from a racially hostile society and yet fights back mainly through his creative expression and drive for innovation. He just keeps inventing stuff.  The story of how Joe and Celia were able to purchase Mel's Diner, an iconic South-Central landmark, rescue it from the gentrifiers, and keep it in the Black community is a story of miracles. As Joe says, The 48th Street South L.A. Café is a sacred container that reclaimed the land of our ancestors. Thank God there was a Black family able to weather market pressure to find dedicated Black buyers. Let's all work to help fund future adventures in that tradition. As there is some sense of despair today, the answer can only take place through building and expanding organizations—the Labor/Community Strategy Center, South LA Café, and Mother's Quest. And great organizations still need great organizers—and Joe Ward Wallace is in the NBA finals." About the Labor/Community Strategy Center The Labor/Community Strategy Center (www.thestrategycenter.org) is a civil rights and climate justice organization in South Central LA addressing "the totality of urban life" Our Bus Riders Union served 500,000 LA Bus Riders 50 percent of whom are Latinx, 20 percent of whom are Black, and 60 percent are women, all very low-income. We also work in the Los Angeles public schools fighting for the rights of all students but especially the remaining 50,00 Black students when once there were 150,000. We also are part of the LACI South Central E-Bike Lending Library and our Black Folks on Bikes where we train low-income riders to use electric bikes for errands, mobility, and jobs. Finally, our Strategy and Soul Movement Center is the home of our Strategy and Soul bookstore and film theater.  We have served the LA Community since 1989 and now in South Central since 2015, are an integral part of the city-wide movement for social justice. Our website is www.thestrategy.org,  www.instagram.com/fightsoulcities/https:// www.facebook.com/FightForTheSoulOfTheCities/   Mother's Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). In celebration of passing our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother's Quest Podcast! You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at Ko-Fi.com.    Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest

    51 min

  8. 05/22/2025

    Turning Toward One Another with Rabbi Sharon Brous

    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, and The Washington Post, and her 2016 TED talk, "Reclaiming Religion," has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people. Brous is in the inaugural cohort of Auburn Seminary's Senior Fellows program, which unites top faith leaders working on the frontlines for justice, she sits on the faculty of REBOOT, and serves on the International Council of the New Israel Fund and national steering committee for the Poor People's Campaign. A graduate of Columbia University (both undergraduate and M.A. in Human Rights), she was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.   Connect with Rabbi Sharon Brous Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sharonbrous/?hl=en Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/RabbiSharonBrous/ Twitter | https://x.com/sharonbrous?lang=en   Connect with IKAR Website | https://ikar.org/ YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/user/IKARlosangeles/videos Podcast | https://open.spotify.com/show/1YLHXlESNuxBMEOWoyfLP5?si=446b4210c2ea429e&nd=1&dlsi=e5872b69315d4a84 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/weareikar/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/IKARLosAngeles/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikar-los-angeles TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@weareikar?lang=en Book by Rabbi Sharon Brous:  The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World – Rabbi Sharon Brous   This Episode's Challenge: Rabbi Sharon challenges us to take one small action to turn toward instead of pulling away. Go for a short walk in your neighborhood and say hello to people you pass. When someone you know is struggling, check in—call, text, or just show up. If a conversation feels difficult, stay curious. Ask questions instead of shutting down. Sometimes, the smallest acts of connection can create the biggest shifts. Let's choose to turn toward one another. Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next:  Joint ceremony for American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum  TED Talk featuring Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon – "A Palestinian and an Israeli, face to face" Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide On a Quest for Peace and Reconciliation Parents Circle Interview With Layla Alsheikh and Robi Damelin Mother's Quest Campaign in Support of the Parents Circle Ep 100: Mothering As Revolutionary Love   This Episode is Dedicated to Hanne Mintz by her daughter Marina Mintz Marina Mintz is an entrepreneur and consultant based in Los Angeles, California. She spent most of her career in the translation/localization and sustainability industries. For the past 15 years at Paragon Language Services, the company her mother founded and she recently sold, she helped clients in the entertainment industry make sure their scripts and characters were linguistically and culturally accurate, helped creative agencies reach larger audiences both at home and abroad, and worked with NGOs and government agencies to ensure constituent access regardless of language. Before joining Paragon, Marina was a sustainability and green building consultant who worked with private companies to implement sustainable building and operational practices as well as with event producers to reduce waste and energy usage in music festivals and live events. She was part of the team responsible for creating and implementing an ambitious sustainability plan for the Live Earth Concert series. She also used her expertise and passion to help Paragon design and furnish the company office and implement a recycling and waste reduction plan which ultimately helped attain EcoVadis silver certification. Marina graduated with a BA in Rhetoric and a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies from the University of California at Berkeley and also attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin – Madison Insititue for Environmental Studies where her focus was green building. Outside of work, Marina enjoys volunteering with and raising money for organizations like Alexandria House, Advot and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, hiking in the mountains around LA, attending events – from sports to the opera, and is currently training an adorable six  month-old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Ziggy along with her husband, Chad.   Connect with Marina Mintz: LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-mintz   Organization Marina Supports: Alexandria House | https://www.msalexhouse.com/ Advot | https://www.advot.org/ Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation | https://www.curemeso.org/   Don't Freakout Friday - Join Us! In this episode with Rabbi Sharon Brous, we talk about the importance of turning toward one another during difficult times. Our conversation inspired me to create a weekly online gathering where for one power hour, we could connect to ourselves and one another, to activism we

    51 min
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4.9
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54 Ratings

About

Are you a mom who is ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life? A few months before a big milestone birthday, host Julie Neale, a life and leadership coach, community builder and mom to two high-energy boys, decided to stop sidelining her dreams and become the hero of her own journey. She created this show to help light her way by gathering words of wisdom and lessons learned from other mothers further ahead on their quest. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, engaging mindfully with their children (E), passionately and purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), investing in themselves (I), and connecting to a strong support network (C). Come along with Julie and you are sure to find some treasures of your own.

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