Real Talk with Tina and Ann

Ann Kagarise
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Tina and Ann met as journalists covering a capital murder trial, 15 years ago. Tina has been a tv and radio personality and has three children. Ann has a master's in counseling and has worked in the jail system, was a director of a battered woman's shelter/rape crisis center, worked as an assistant director at a school for children with autism, worked with abused kids and is currently raising her three children who have autism. She also is autistic and was told would not graduate high school, but as you can see, she has accomplished so much more. The duo share their stories of overcoming and interview people who are making it, despite what has happened. This is more than just two moms sharing their lives. This is two women who have overcome some of life's hardest obstacles. Join us every Wednesday as we go through life's journey together. There is purpose in the pain and hope in the journey. 

  1. From Invisible Courage to Visible Success: The Michael Yang Story

    1D AGO

    From Invisible Courage to Visible Success: The Michael Yang Story

    Send us Fan Mail A life can look “successful” from the outside and still be held together by courage you never see. We sit down with Michael Yang, author of *Coming Alive on the Ride*, to trace the real roots of his drive: family history shaped by Japanese occupation, the Korean War, poverty, and a homeland still divided. He names the ache as “han” and explains how it echoes through generations, even when families do everything they can to protect their kids from the worst of it. From there, the story turns sharply personal. Michael arrives in America at 14 with hardly any English, feels the isolation of being visibly different, and carries the sting of words that follow him for decades. He shares how taekwondo becomes a bridge to confidence and belonging, not as a fantasy of toughness but as a practical way to keep dignity when you’re new, small, and underestimated. We also talk about becoming a US citizen and what it means to love this country while staying rooted in Korean heritage. Then the engine starts. A $200 motorcycle becomes the first taste of freedom, and years later, long-distance rides across North America and beyond bring “Shindage,” that full-body joy of being fully present. The road gives him space to think, to write, and to reconnect purpose with service. We even step into early Silicon Valley, including the mind-blowing moment he first sees the web through Mosaic and realizes the world is about to change. If this conversation hits home, subscribe for more Real Talk, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What part of your past is quietly shaping your next brave move? Support the show

    1 hr
  2. Parenting Redefined: A Brain-Based Parenting Conversation with Dr. Kristen Cook

    APR 15

    Parenting Redefined: A Brain-Based Parenting Conversation with Dr. Kristen Cook

    Send us Fan Mail Your child throws the sandwich, melts down on the floor, and you can feel every set of eyes in the room. We know that moment, and we also know the shame spiral that comes right after it. Today we’re sitting with Dr. Kristen Cook, pediatrician, mom, and author of Parenting Redefined: A Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Child's Behavior to Help Them Thrive, to replace that spiral with something more useful: a brain-based, trauma-informed way to understand child behavior and respond with clarity. We talk about why one-size-fits-all parenting advice breaks down fast, especially around sleep and “perfect” expectations. Dr. Cook explains temperament, neurodevelopment, and executive function in plain language, and why kids often cannot access planning, impulse control, and emotional regulation when they’re stressed. We also dig into what happens when developmental age and chronological age do not match, including real-world impacts of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), ADHD, autism, anxiety, and overwhelm that gets mislabeled as defiance. You’ll hear practical strategies for the hardest minutes of the day: how to check your own nervous system first, what fight flight freeze looks like in kids, and why the goal in a meltdown is regulation rather than reasoning. We also cover school-age transitions, the teen brain, identity formation, risk-taking, and the safety conversations we cannot avoid. Then we slow down for the tender parts: grief, divorce, and why children need developmentally appropriate truth and a place at the table. We end with concrete ways to build family culture that lasts: better after-school questions, attachment and repair, planning for triggers like tired and overstimulated, and using family meetings, mission statements, and apologies as real leadership. Subscribe, share with a parent who needs steadier ground, and leave a review so more families can find these tools. Support the show

    1h 19m
  3. Life is on the Other Side of Fear: From a Detention Center to a Golden Gloves Champion

    APR 8

    Life is on the Other Side of Fear: From a Detention Center to a Golden Gloves Champion

    Send us Fan Mail A 12-year-old watching his grandfather die in the hallway doesn’t just lose a person, he loses direction. Our guest, professional boxer Ryizeemmion  “Johnny” Ford, grew up in Ohio as one of eight kids raised by grandparents after parental absence, addiction, and incarceration shaped the home he didn’t choose. What followed was the kind of survival mode many people recognize: anger as armor, fights at school, bullying, and juvenile detention.  Then boxing showed up, and it wasn’t just about throwing punches. Johnny explains how the gym became his safe place, where the noise goes quiet and discipline takes over. We get real about what training actually looks like, early mornings, running, sparring, making weight, and the mental grind behind every win and loss. We also talk about the coach who became a father figure, the dangers of chasing validation, and why “discipline protects you from you.”  Fatherhood changes everything. Johnny shares the symbolic timing of welcoming his daughter and signing his pro contract the next day, plus how becoming a dad helped him stop fighting to prove people wrong and start fighting for purpose. We also sit with grief after losing his grandmother, the faith she instilled, and the hard truths about nursing home care and what families face when they can’t be there 24/7.  If you care about resilience, mental health, mentorship, and breaking generational cycles, you’ll take something from this conversation, whether you love boxing or have never watched a single round. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a turning point, and leave a review with the lesson that hit you hardest. Support the show

    55 min
  4. When Your Past Is Waiting For You

    APR 1

    When Your Past Is Waiting For You

    Send us Fan Mail A single trip back to Cuba turns into a confrontation with the one place Mario Cartaya never truly left: his own childhood. After 56 years away, he walks familiar streets, returns to his old school, and finds himself pulled toward a balcony where a long-buried scene suddenly plays in full color. What follows is as intimate as it is unsettling, a moment where he can almost see his eight-year-old self sitting beside him, and he finally understands what it means to reopen the vault of memory without being swallowed by it.  We talk about how the subconscious protects us, why certain places act like emotional keys, and what real closure looks like when the people you loved are gone. Mario shares the extraordinary chain of events that leads him through Havana’s Colón Cemetery, lost records, and a phone call that sounds impossible until it’s true, Fidel Castro’s son helps point him toward his family’s grave. Along the way we dig into grief rituals, identity repair, and the difference between forgiving and making peace with your destiny.  The conversation also widens into Cuban history, architecture, and Mario’s research on a forgotten century of US Cuba friendship using the Library of Congress. We end with the story of the pelican on the beach, a symbol that lands at the exact moment he needs permission to believe his father would be proud. If you care about immigrant identity, Cuban exile stories, healing the inner child, and the psychology of memory, you’ll want to hear this. Subscribe, share with someone who misses home, and leave a review telling us what part of your own story you’d go back to find. Support the show

    58 min
  5. Returning to the Place that Made you: Identity and finding Lost Memories with Mario Cartaya

    MAR 25

    Returning to the Place that Made you: Identity and finding Lost Memories with Mario Cartaya

    Send us Fan Mail This week’s episode is one everyone needs to hear—a story of miracles, identity, and the kind of closure most people never expect to find. In his book Journey Back into the Vault: In Search of My Faded Cuban Childhood Footprints, Mario Cartaya shares a life that began in Havana and was forever changed when he fled Cuba at just eight years old. He went on to build an extraordinary life in the United States as a celebrated architect, shaping communities across South Florida and earning national recognition, including a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor. He even worked alongside leaders like John Kerry, helping bridge conversations between countries. But decades later, something still called him back. After 56 years, Mario returned to Cuba—and what happened next is almost impossible to believe. In a moment that feels nothing short of miraculous, Fidel Castro’s son personally led him to his family’s long-lost graves. There, Mario stood, prayed, and began reconnecting with the pieces of himself he thought were gone. Along the way, he unexpectedly met a 90-year-old relative simply by driving down the street, as if the past had been waiting for him all along. This isn’t just a story about going back to a place.  It’s about meeting your younger self again.  About rediscovering memories.  About finding identity, belonging, and a sense of peace that no amount of success could replace. And this is only Part 1. Go to Mario Cartaya's website at Mario Cartaya – Journey Back Into The Vault Support the show

    59 min
  6. Raising Resilient Kids Begins with Regulated Parents with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Kate Lund

    MAR 11

    Raising Resilient Kids Begins with Regulated Parents with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Kate Lund

    Send us Fan Mail Today we’re talking about something every parent wants for their kids but often struggles to build in the middle of real life—resilience. We’re joined by clinical psychologist and author Kate Lund, whose work focuses on helping families move away from perfection and toward emotional strength that actually lasts. Her books Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive in School, Sports, and Life and Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting explore how small shifts in parenting can make a big difference in how kids learn to handle stress, setbacks, and challenges. In this conversation, we talk about Dr. Lund’s own journey from childhood medical trauma to becoming a resilience expert, why “stepping back” as parents doesn’t mean disengaging, and how connection—not control—helps kids navigate big emotions. We also dive into practical tools for regulating our nervous systems, supporting kids with learning differences, handling meltdowns, and building homes where effort is celebrated and mistakes are part of growing. If you’ve ever wondered how to raise resilient kids without burning yourself out as a parent, this conversation is for you. Dr. Kate Lund's website is Katelundspeaks.com  Support the show

    57 min
  7. What if Dementia isn't the end of Connection, but an Invitation to a Different Kind of Presence?

    MAR 11

    What if Dementia isn't the end of Connection, but an Invitation to a Different Kind of Presence?

    Send us Fan Mail What if dementia isn’t the end of connection, but an invitation to a different kind of presence? We sit down with author and advocate Marilyn Raichle, whose book Don’t Walk Away, A Care Partner’s Journey chronicles how her mother’s unexpected paintings—and later, simple rituals of song and touch—reframed Alzheimer’s from pure loss to a space where joy can still flicker. Tina opens up about caring for her mom with early onset Alzheimer’s, the heartbreak of losing language and mobility too soon, and the harsh reality of fighting insurers for basics like a wheelchair and a shower chair. Together we face the unglamorous math of care, the loneliness when friends don’t know how to help, and the tiny moments that make it all bearable. Marilyn shares practical, dignifying ways to connect when memory shifts: lead with something your loved one enjoys, lower the pressure, and aim for five minutes of shared joy. We explore emotional memory versus cognitive memory, how music can bridge silence, and why a gentle introduction—Hi, it’s your daughter—can ease anxiety. Tina brings vivid, grounded strategies for caregiver survival: building a circle of support, moving your body to metabolize anger, using counseling or even short AI check-ins for relief, and letting kids help in small, safe ways that teach empathy. We also look forward. As executive director of Maude’s Awards, Marilyn highlights innovations in Alzheimer’s care that center creativity, purpose, and care partner well-being. If you’re searching for Alzheimer’s caregiver tips, dementia communication tools, or resources that go beyond platitudes, you’ll find real-world steps and a renewed lens: people living with dementia remain fully human—worthy of patience, presence, and joy. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs solidarity today, and leave a review with the moment in your own journey that helped you feel connection again. Your story might be the spark another caregiver needs to hear.  Marilyn's website is – Maude's Awards To get her book go to Don't Walk Away: A Care Partner's Journey: Raichle, Marilyn, Raichle, Jean: 9781969682407: Amazon.com: Books Visit Real Talk with Tina and Ann to get all of their episodes.  Support the show

    1h 6m
  8. The Invisible Hard

    MAR 4

    The Invisible Hard

    Send us Fan Mail What do you say when a five-year-old whispers, “Can someone take the disease out of grandma?” That tender question anchors a conversation about late-stage Alzheimer’s, new diagnoses for our kids, and the gritty, everyday work of loving people where they are when answers won’t come. We don’t offer platitudes. We tell the truth about layered grief, the soul-tired fatigue of caregiving, and the flickers of connection that still break through — a hand that shakes less when held, a look that says “I know you” for one bright second. We also open the door to our parenting lives. Diagnosis day hits like an aftershock even when you see it coming. We share how we’re supporting our kids across FASD, autism, ADHD, dysgraphia, and developmental coordination disorder: using speech-to-text to unlock ideas trapped by slow processing, dialing down classroom noise with headphones, matching school environments to nervous systems, and celebrating practical strengths like organization and hands-on work. Inclusion matters, but fit matters more; dignity starts with building the world around the child, not forcing the child to fit the world. Along the way, we wrestle with advocacy fatigue, broken systems, and the courage it takes to draw hard boundaries. We talk about venting versus processing and the reframes that calm the nervous system: we can’t cure what hurts, but we can honor dignity, hold history, and keep showing up. Small tools help — AI scripts for calmer parenting moments, an ADHD-friendly cleaning checklist, even a vibration plate that shakes anxiety loose. And because the body keeps score, we share how cleaning up our food reduced inflammation and lifted the fog, proving that better inputs can make hard days a little lighter. Messy is where connection lives. If you’re navigating Alzheimer’s, special needs parenting, or the invisible labor no one sees, you’re not alone here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with one small tool or reframe that’s helping you keep going — we’d love to hear what’s working for you. Support the show

    59 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Tina and Ann met as journalists covering a capital murder trial, 15 years ago. Tina has been a tv and radio personality and has three children. Ann has a master's in counseling and has worked in the jail system, was a director of a battered woman's shelter/rape crisis center, worked as an assistant director at a school for children with autism, worked with abused kids and is currently raising her three children who have autism. She also is autistic and was told would not graduate high school, but as you can see, she has accomplished so much more. The duo share their stories of overcoming and interview people who are making it, despite what has happened. This is more than just two moms sharing their lives. This is two women who have overcome some of life's hardest obstacles. Join us every Wednesday as we go through life's journey together. There is purpose in the pain and hope in the journey. 

Information

  • Creator
    Ann Kagarise
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    175
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Real Talk with Tina and Ann
  • Show Website
    Real Talk with Tina and Ann

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