About Your Mother Tue, 26 May 2026 06:05:16 -0400 https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/ en-US © 2026 About Your Mother yes 40eefe52-c721-59ad-973b-497954278032 Jennifer Griffith episodic true Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Jennifer Griffith https://storage.buzzsprout.com/5sdo9kvyiuramrlh7wovknxcss8z?.jpg About Your Mother https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/ Turning Fear Into a Miracle with Dave Sanderson Turning Fear Into a Miracle with Dave Sanderson How do you turn your trauma into growth? I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Dave Sanderson, a leadership expert, motivational speaker, and one of the passengers on the flight that became the infamous Miracle on the Hudson event.

Listen in as Dave shares about his experience on the harrowing day, how his mother’s voice guided him, and how he turned a traumatic event into one of the best things to ever happen to him.

If you’re struggling with processing your own traumatic experiences, Dave’s advice will teach you how to process and reframe your emotions so you not only survive, but thrive. 



Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest


]]> How do you turn your trauma into growth? I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Dave Sanderson, a leadership expert, motivational speaker, and one of the passengers on the flight that became the infamous Miracle on the Hudson event.

Listen in as Dave shares about his experience on the harrowing day, how his mother’s voice guided him, and how he turned a traumatic event into one of the best things to ever happen to him.

If you’re struggling with processing your own traumatic experiences, Dave’s advice will teach you how to process and reframe your emotions so you not only survive, but thrive. 



Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest


]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-19234539 Tue, 26 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 3344 full false From Pain to Dignity with Rob Scheer, Founder of Comfort Cases From Pain to Dignity with Rob Scheer, Founder of Comfort Cases Is the foster care system in the US broken, or is it even worse than that? According to Rob Schreer, my guest in this episode of About Your Mother, the system is shattered and must be rebuilt.

A child enters foster care every two minutes, totaling around 700 children a day. Eighty percent of death row inmates were foster children, and only 54% of foster children graduate high school.

As a foster kid himself, Rob knows the system and its faults all too well. Listen in to learn about Rob’s story, how he turned pain into purpose through his nonprofit Comfort Cases, and the forever family he’s created with his husband and five kids. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest



]]> Is the foster care system in the US broken, or is it even worse than that? According to Rob Schreer, my guest in this episode of About Your Mother, the system is shattered and must be rebuilt.

A child enters foster care every two minutes, totaling around 700 children a day. Eighty percent of death row inmates were foster children, and only 54% of foster children graduate high school.

As a foster kid himself, Rob knows the system and its faults all too well. Listen in to learn about Rob’s story, how he turned pain into purpose through his nonprofit Comfort Cases, and the forever family he’s created with his husband and five kids. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest



]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-19143555 Fri, 08 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 2505 full false From the Vault: The Girls Who Went Away ft. Ann Fessler From the Vault: The Girls Who Went Away ft. Ann Fessler Ann Fessler's critically accompanied book, "The Girl Who Went Away," gives voice to the millions of women forced to surrender their babies in the decades before Roe v Wade. As an artist and a teacher, listening to Ann tell her story feels like you are walking into a lecture hall about to learn something new, and you are.

This episode originally aired in December of 2022.


Connect with Ann
Website
The Girls Who Went Away
A Girl Like Her

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Ann Fessler's critically accompanied book, "The Girl Who Went Away," gives voice to the millions of women forced to surrender their babies in the decades before Roe v Wade. As an artist and a teacher, listening to Ann tell her story feels like you are walking into a lecture hall about to learn something new, and you are.

This episode originally aired in December of 2022.


Connect with Ann
Website
The Girls Who Went Away
A Girl Like Her

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-19083568 Tue, 05 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400 4054 full false Leaving an Abusive Marriage and Restarting Her Life with Namratha Stanley, Author of Vineyard Melody Leaving an Abusive Marriage and Restarting Her Life with Namratha Stanley, Author of Vineyard Melody This is the story of a mother who made the ultimate sacrifice for her and her daughter’s freedom. In this episode, I’m joined by Namratha Stanley, author of Vineyard Melody, and wine entrepreneur. Namratha shares about her own mother’s sacrifices and the example of unconditional love she set throughout her upbringing.

At age 24, Namratha married into an abusive family and lost her sense of self. Twelve years later, after a near-death situation, Namratha escaped with her daughter and started her life over. With the support of her entire family, she made the ultimate sacrifice to live without her daughter so she could establish a new life for them in France. 

Listen in as Namratha shares the challenges of her journey to freedom, the contradictions of life in India for women, and how her family supported her throughout. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect with the Guest



]]> This is the story of a mother who made the ultimate sacrifice for her and her daughter’s freedom. In this episode, I’m joined by Namratha Stanley, author of Vineyard Melody, and wine entrepreneur. Namratha shares about her own mother’s sacrifices and the example of unconditional love she set throughout her upbringing.

At age 24, Namratha married into an abusive family and lost her sense of self. Twelve years later, after a near-death situation, Namratha escaped with her daughter and started her life over. With the support of her entire family, she made the ultimate sacrifice to live without her daughter so she could establish a new life for them in France. 

Listen in as Namratha shares the challenges of her journey to freedom, the contradictions of life in India for women, and how her family supported her throughout. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect with the Guest



]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-19022280 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400 3201 full false How To Turn Childhood Trauma into Strength with Stephanie Maley How To Turn Childhood Trauma into Strength with Stephanie Maley What happens when the places that are supposed to feel safest become the places that wound us most deeply?

In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Maley to talk about her memoir, No Longer That Girl, and the extraordinary path she’s taken from childhood trauma to a life rooted in faith, resilience, love, and purpose. 

Stephanie shares her journey through grooming, sexual abuse, illness, shame, abandonment, and family instability—and how she rebuilt her life with intention, honesty, and strength. We talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic resurfaced buried trauma, how the Me Too movement sparked long-suppressed grief, and how writing became a critical tool in her healing.

This is a deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to heal—and how to create a meaningful life on the other side of trauma.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of trauma, grooming, and sexual assault.


🎙️ Listen to This Episode If You’re Wondering:

  • How do you heal from childhood trauma?
  • Why does trauma resurface years later?
  • Can writing help process emotional pain?
  • How do you move from victim to survivor—and beyond?
  • What does healthy love look like after trauma?


Connect with Stephanie:

Website: stephmaley.com

Book: stephmaley.com/memoir


]]> What happens when the places that are supposed to feel safest become the places that wound us most deeply?

In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Maley to talk about her memoir, No Longer That Girl, and the extraordinary path she’s taken from childhood trauma to a life rooted in faith, resilience, love, and purpose. 

Stephanie shares her journey through grooming, sexual abuse, illness, shame, abandonment, and family instability—and how she rebuilt her life with intention, honesty, and strength. We talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic resurfaced buried trauma, how the Me Too movement sparked long-suppressed grief, and how writing became a critical tool in her healing.

This is a deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to heal—and how to create a meaningful life on the other side of trauma.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of trauma, grooming, and sexual assault.


🎙️ Listen to This Episode If You’re Wondering:

  • How do you heal from childhood trauma?
  • Why does trauma resurface years later?
  • Can writing help process emotional pain?
  • How do you move from victim to survivor—and beyond?
  • What does healthy love look like after trauma?


Connect with Stephanie:

Website: stephmaley.com

Book: stephmaley.com/memoir


]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-18882001 Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400 3617 full false Adoption, Identity, and Belonging: Brittany Penner’s Powerful Story in Children Like Us Adoption, Identity, and Belonging: Brittany Penner’s Powerful Story in Children Like Us How do you discover your sense of belonging when your culture and background have been erased?

In this episode of About Your Mother, I’m joined by Brittany Penner, author of Children Like Us: A Métis Woman's Memoir of Family, Identity and Walking Herself Home. She shares her story of being adopted as an infant, the history of indigenous children being taken from their families in the Sixties Scoop, and her struggle with finding where she belongs.

Brittany also shares about her writing process, how writing her memoir changed her, and how she writes about traumatic experiences. You’ll love this honest conversation about rediscovering your roots and integrating each part of your identity into a whole person. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect with the Guest



]]> How do you discover your sense of belonging when your culture and background have been erased?

In this episode of About Your Mother, I’m joined by Brittany Penner, author of Children Like Us: A Métis Woman's Memoir of Family, Identity and Walking Herself Home. She shares her story of being adopted as an infant, the history of indigenous children being taken from their families in the Sixties Scoop, and her struggle with finding where she belongs.

Brittany also shares about her writing process, how writing her memoir changed her, and how she writes about traumatic experiences. You’ll love this honest conversation about rediscovering your roots and integrating each part of your identity into a whole person. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect with the Guest



]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-18822853 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0400 3757 full false From the Vault: Changing Lives With Empathy ft. Peter Mutabazi From the Vault: Changing Lives With Empathy ft. Peter Mutabazi We've pulled a special episode from the vault for you to take a listen to! One of my favorite stories I've had the honor of sharing on About Your Mother, is that of Peter Mutabazi — a remarkable human being who survived a traumatic childhood, only to use that experience to transform lives. 

This episode originally aired in May of 2021.

He ran away from an abusive father at the age of ten and was homeless on the streets for four years until a stranger asked him his name. That gesture changed his life forever. However, that isn't Peter's story. His story is so much more than that.

He has used his experience to lift the lives of those who need our help most. It started with global relief efforts, and now he has been a foster dad to sixteen kids. His mission is to make sure every child is known.

Prepare to be in awe of Peter Mutabazi: his courage, empathy, and will to change the lives of the four hundred thousand foster children in our system.

Joining me during this episode is my partner in Adoption/Foster Stories, Jeff Forney. If you want to learn more about Jeff's story and work, please listen to episode 010.

Connect with Peter
Website: NowIAmKnown.com
YouTube: @nowiamknown
Instagram: @fosterdadflipper
Facebook: fb/fosterdadflipper

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast 

]]> We've pulled a special episode from the vault for you to take a listen to! One of my favorite stories I've had the honor of sharing on About Your Mother, is that of Peter Mutabazi — a remarkable human being who survived a traumatic childhood, only to use that experience to transform lives. 

This episode originally aired in May of 2021.

He ran away from an abusive father at the age of ten and was homeless on the streets for four years until a stranger asked him his name. That gesture changed his life forever. However, that isn't Peter's story. His story is so much more than that.

He has used his experience to lift the lives of those who need our help most. It started with global relief efforts, and now he has been a foster dad to sixteen kids. His mission is to make sure every child is known.

Prepare to be in awe of Peter Mutabazi: his courage, empathy, and will to change the lives of the four hundred thousand foster children in our system.

Joining me during this episode is my partner in Adoption/Foster Stories, Jeff Forney. If you want to learn more about Jeff's story and work, please listen to episode 010.

Connect with Peter
Website: NowIAmKnown.com
YouTube: @nowiamknown
Instagram: @fosterdadflipper
Facebook: fb/fosterdadflipper

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast 

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-18741372 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0500 3068 full false A Valentine’s Day Conversation With My Husband, Mark A Valentine’s Day Conversation With My Husband, Mark In honor of Valentine’s Day, my husband Mark joins this episode of About Your Mother for an honest conversation about messy and imperfect love. We’re sharing one of the most profound lessons about love we learned on a trip to France this summer, when a lovely Brazilian couple shared the secret to lasting love with us. 

I’ll be honest: our marriage hasn’t always been easy - what union is? If you’ve been part of a blended family, your parents divorced, your mother was a tad crazy, or you’ve experienced sudden loss, this episode is for you.


Resources Mentioned

]]> In honor of Valentine’s Day, my husband Mark joins this episode of About Your Mother for an honest conversation about messy and imperfect love. We’re sharing one of the most profound lessons about love we learned on a trip to France this summer, when a lovely Brazilian couple shared the secret to lasting love with us. 

I’ll be honest: our marriage hasn’t always been easy - what union is? If you’ve been part of a blended family, your parents divorced, your mother was a tad crazy, or you’ve experienced sudden loss, this episode is for you.


Resources Mentioned

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-18651321 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500 4519 full false How Sport Shaped Connor Fields’ Journey to Olympic Gold—and a New Life Beyond the Track How Sport Shaped Connor Fields’ Journey to Olympic Gold—and a New Life Beyond the Track Is determination and skill innate? There are athletes… and then there are the stories that shape them. A young boy who didn’t like the rules of youth team sports. A mom who brings home a flyer for a local BMX track. And a path that changes everything.

For Connor Fields, that path is as remarkable as it is far-reaching. A three-time Olympian (2012, 2016, and 2020), each Games brought a new chapter—new pressure, new triumphs, and new heartbreaks. He entered all three as a favorite, ultimately leaving with gold. But along the way came disappointment, setbacks, and a near-death experience that reshaped his entire outlook on life.

Yet Connor has always believed he was destined to be a champion. When you hear the moment he knew, you’ll understand exactly why he’s been able to persevere and achieve the extraordinary.

In this episode of About Your Mother, Connor shares the highs and lows of being an Olympic athlete in an emerging sport. He talks about how his parents’ support made his dream possible, what his accident taught him about resilience, and what life looks like after the Olympics. Trust me—you’re going to love Connor’s story, his unique perspective, and his heart.


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest

]]> Is determination and skill innate? There are athletes… and then there are the stories that shape them. A young boy who didn’t like the rules of youth team sports. A mom who brings home a flyer for a local BMX track. And a path that changes everything.

For Connor Fields, that path is as remarkable as it is far-reaching. A three-time Olympian (2012, 2016, and 2020), each Games brought a new chapter—new pressure, new triumphs, and new heartbreaks. He entered all three as a favorite, ultimately leaving with gold. But along the way came disappointment, setbacks, and a near-death experience that reshaped his entire outlook on life.

Yet Connor has always believed he was destined to be a champion. When you hear the moment he knew, you’ll understand exactly why he’s been able to persevere and achieve the extraordinary.

In this episode of About Your Mother, Connor shares the highs and lows of being an Olympic athlete in an emerging sport. He talks about how his parents’ support made his dream possible, what his accident taught him about resilience, and what life looks like after the Olympics. Trust me—you’re going to love Connor’s story, his unique perspective, and his heart.


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-18570929 Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2688 full false Pierce’s Pledge: Life After a Tragic Loss with Lesley Hu Pierce’s Pledge: Life After a Tragic Loss with Lesley Hu A mother’s love knows no limits, and Lesley Hu’s story on this episode of About Your Mother perfectly illustrates that.

Content warning: this is an incredibly emotional and painful story that contains an episode of violence that is hard to reconcile with our conscience. However, it’s also a story of hope and a mother’s love that is tested beyond comprehension. 

Five years ago, to the date this episode was released, on January 13, 2021, Lesley Hu’s son, Pierce, was killed by his father in San Francisco. It’s a multi-layered story of divorce, custody, madness, and violence. Lesley bravely shares her story with us today.


Connect With the Guest

Pierce’s Pledge

Lesley Hu

Pierce's Pledge IG



]]> A mother’s love knows no limits, and Lesley Hu’s story on this episode of About Your Mother perfectly illustrates that.

Content warning: this is an incredibly emotional and painful story that contains an episode of violence that is hard to reconcile with our conscience. However, it’s also a story of hope and a mother’s love that is tested beyond comprehension. 

Five years ago, to the date this episode was released, on January 13, 2021, Lesley Hu’s son, Pierce, was killed by his father in San Francisco. It’s a multi-layered story of divorce, custody, madness, and violence. Lesley bravely shares her story with us today.


Connect With the Guest

Pierce’s Pledge

Lesley Hu

Pierce's Pledge IG



]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-18496852 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500 4132 full false What the Wolf Teaches Us with Cheryl Alexander  What the Wolf Teaches Us with Cheryl Alexander  Oftentimes, our fears are our best guide. The things we don't understand can be our greatest teachers. In this episode of About Your Mother, we examine the mother we all share: Mother Nature. 

Today, we reflect on Mother Earth through one of her most misunderstood teachers, the wolf. For a long time, I've been following the story of Takaya, the lone wolf. He found himself alone on an island in Canada.

We've been taught to fear predators, and yet when we pause long enough to look honestly, we begin to see that humans have become the true apex predators on this planet. Wolves don't take more than they need. They live in balance. What we fear in them often reflects what we struggle to face in ourselves.

I'm joined today by Cheryl Alexander, photographer, filmmaker, and the storyteller behind Takaya: The Lone Wolf. Through years of quiet witnessing, Cheryl invites us to see a wolf, not as a threat, but as a teacher, and to consider what it might mean to protect what we've long been afraid of. 


Resources Mentioned

Jane Goodall

Women For Wolves

Joe Rogan’s take on wolves

Cody Robert’s wolf story

Take Action for Wolves


Connect With the Guest

Instagram: instagram.com/takayalonewolf

Website: takayaslegacy.com 

Cheryl’s books: takayaslegacy.com/books 

Takaya the Movie: A Story of Survival Against the Odds

]]> Oftentimes, our fears are our best guide. The things we don't understand can be our greatest teachers. In this episode of About Your Mother, we examine the mother we all share: Mother Nature. 

Today, we reflect on Mother Earth through one of her most misunderstood teachers, the wolf. For a long time, I've been following the story of Takaya, the lone wolf. He found himself alone on an island in Canada.

We've been taught to fear predators, and yet when we pause long enough to look honestly, we begin to see that humans have become the true apex predators on this planet. Wolves don't take more than they need. They live in balance. What we fear in them often reflects what we struggle to face in ourselves.

I'm joined today by Cheryl Alexander, photographer, filmmaker, and the storyteller behind Takaya: The Lone Wolf. Through years of quiet witnessing, Cheryl invites us to see a wolf, not as a threat, but as a teacher, and to consider what it might mean to protect what we've long been afraid of. 


Resources Mentioned

Jane Goodall

Women For Wolves

Joe Rogan’s take on wolves

Cody Robert’s wolf story

Take Action for Wolves


Connect With the Guest

Instagram: instagram.com/takayalonewolf

Website: takayaslegacy.com 

Cheryl’s books: takayaslegacy.com/books 

Takaya the Movie: A Story of Survival Against the Odds

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-18375657 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500 2844 full false From Dream to Podium: The Journey of an Olympic Champion, Mari Holden From Dream to Podium: The Journey of an Olympic Champion, Mari Holden  Have you ever watched the Olympics and wondered what it takes to get on the podium? Sure, there are the physical demands, but what about the mental strength? You are competing in front of the world against the best in the world. No pressure. Right? We all know it is most likely the athlete who puts the most pressure on themselves. So, when does someone decide they will be an Olympian?

For my next guest, Mari Holden, who started as a triathlete, the 1984 Olympics in LA marked a turning point, and she knew then that the Olympics were her destiny. So she leaned into the bike and eventually won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympic Games, A UCI World Championship and six national championships.

In 2016, she was inducted into the US Bicycling Hall of Fame as a modern road and track competitor. So what does it take to get there? Guts, grit, belief, and an incredible amount of tenacity.

We also explore her relationship with her mom, including how they inspired each other throughout their lives and how Mari gained a new perspective on her mom as she grew older. Listen in for an honest and vulnerable conversation about a lifelong dedication to athletics and what it teaches you along the way. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest

]]>  Have you ever watched the Olympics and wondered what it takes to get on the podium? Sure, there are the physical demands, but what about the mental strength? You are competing in front of the world against the best in the world. No pressure. Right? We all know it is most likely the athlete who puts the most pressure on themselves. So, when does someone decide they will be an Olympian?

For my next guest, Mari Holden, who started as a triathlete, the 1984 Olympics in LA marked a turning point, and she knew then that the Olympics were her destiny. So she leaned into the bike and eventually won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympic Games, A UCI World Championship and six national championships.

In 2016, she was inducted into the US Bicycling Hall of Fame as a modern road and track competitor. So what does it take to get there? Guts, grit, belief, and an incredible amount of tenacity.

We also explore her relationship with her mom, including how they inspired each other throughout their lives and how Mari gained a new perspective on her mom as she grew older. Listen in for an honest and vulnerable conversation about a lifelong dedication to athletics and what it teaches you along the way. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-18044242 Tue, 21 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400 3478 full false Cultivating the Awe in Life with Laura Munson Cultivating the Awe in Life with Laura Munson  Since I was in my twenties, I've read the New York Times Sunday edition in a particular order: the style section is first, plus I read the modern love piece every time. I remember reading what Shamu taught me about marriage, and I remember reading, “Those aren't fighting words, dear.” It didn't take Laura Munson weeks or even months to write them either. It was less than an hour. Why? Because she had hit the vein of truth and it just poured out of her. 

Her dreams of publishing a novel first were dashed because when that piece came out, it was a memoir that she sold. She had created a firestorm with her essay. Laura is someone I have watched for years. Now that I am in the publishing world, Laura and I are one degree from each other in several directions. What I have found in this new world is there are women like Laura who guide, lift, and build other writers up. That is what she does innately. 

Her new book, the Wild Why is about honoring your creativity. Creativity is Laura's core. She has written dozens of books, some that sit on the shelves collecting dust, but she is always creating. This conversation on About Your Mother touches on writing, but it is about so much more. It is about setting yourself free, finding awe, and living your truth. Here is a listen on what it means to honor what lives inside of you.


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest

]]>  Since I was in my twenties, I've read the New York Times Sunday edition in a particular order: the style section is first, plus I read the modern love piece every time. I remember reading what Shamu taught me about marriage, and I remember reading, “Those aren't fighting words, dear.” It didn't take Laura Munson weeks or even months to write them either. It was less than an hour. Why? Because she had hit the vein of truth and it just poured out of her. 

Her dreams of publishing a novel first were dashed because when that piece came out, it was a memoir that she sold. She had created a firestorm with her essay. Laura is someone I have watched for years. Now that I am in the publishing world, Laura and I are one degree from each other in several directions. What I have found in this new world is there are women like Laura who guide, lift, and build other writers up. That is what she does innately. 

Her new book, the Wild Why is about honoring your creativity. Creativity is Laura's core. She has written dozens of books, some that sit on the shelves collecting dust, but she is always creating. This conversation on About Your Mother touches on writing, but it is about so much more. It is about setting yourself free, finding awe, and living your truth. Here is a listen on what it means to honor what lives inside of you.


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-17453014 Thu, 10 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400 3984 full false Embracing Your Midlife Reinvention With Bestselling Author Jane Green Embracing Your Midlife Reinvention With Bestselling Author Jane Green  Chance meetings can lead to the most incredible connections. While I was doing a ski clinic this winter, the instructor overheard a conversation I was having about publishing my book. Later that day, she approached me, “I heard you're an author! So is my mom, Jane Green, do you know her?”

Of course, I know her. Jane Green is a national bestseller. Today, Jane joins me to share about her journey from journalist to novelist and offers her best tips to aspiring writers.

She also gets transparent about self-acceptance, her midlife reinvention, owning the mistakes she’s made as a mother, and more. Finally, after trailblazing the chick lit genre, she shares with us her most recent project: writing a memoir. You’re going to love this conversation with Jane.


Connect With the Guest

]]>  Chance meetings can lead to the most incredible connections. While I was doing a ski clinic this winter, the instructor overheard a conversation I was having about publishing my book. Later that day, she approached me, “I heard you're an author! So is my mom, Jane Green, do you know her?”

Of course, I know her. Jane Green is a national bestseller. Today, Jane joins me to share about her journey from journalist to novelist and offers her best tips to aspiring writers.

She also gets transparent about self-acceptance, her midlife reinvention, owning the mistakes she’s made as a mother, and more. Finally, after trailblazing the chick lit genre, she shares with us her most recent project: writing a memoir. You’re going to love this conversation with Jane.


Connect With the Guest

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-17250193 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400 3749 full false A Special Interview with My Mom, Anna A Special Interview with My Mom, Anna  If you want to get to know your mother, have her on your podcast. I wrote a book about my mother's life and my own, and it was hard for her, naturally.

But people ask me, what does your mom think about the book? For this Mother’s Day, I invited my mother on my podcast to share her voice with my listeners and readers. 

Just like phone conversations, a microphone has the power to deepen personal relationships. I've witnessed this countless times as I've developed friendships with people I've interviewed, and it is true of this conversation with my mother.


My connection to my mother's story was the inspiration for launching my podcast About Your Mother, where your story begins as well as the foundation from a mother-daughter memoir, Both Sides of Then, available wherever books are sold. Well, listeners and readers, here she is… Anna!

Through it all, she counts her blessings and credits the women who stepped in as mothers in her life. I hope you love this special episode just in time for Mother’s Day. 


Resources Mentioned

]]>  If you want to get to know your mother, have her on your podcast. I wrote a book about my mother's life and my own, and it was hard for her, naturally.

But people ask me, what does your mom think about the book? For this Mother’s Day, I invited my mother on my podcast to share her voice with my listeners and readers. 

Just like phone conversations, a microphone has the power to deepen personal relationships. I've witnessed this countless times as I've developed friendships with people I've interviewed, and it is true of this conversation with my mother.


My connection to my mother's story was the inspiration for launching my podcast About Your Mother, where your story begins as well as the foundation from a mother-daughter memoir, Both Sides of Then, available wherever books are sold. Well, listeners and readers, here she is… Anna!

Through it all, she counts her blessings and credits the women who stepped in as mothers in her life. I hope you love this special episode just in time for Mother’s Day. 


Resources Mentioned

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-17109605 Thu, 08 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400 3765 full false Celebrating Mothers: A Journey of Understanding, Healing, and Connection Celebrating Mothers: A Journey of Understanding, Healing, and Connection As Mother's Day approaches, I find myself reflecting even more deeply on the women who shaped us—especially the woman who shaped me: my mother. Through hosting the About Your Mother podcast and writing my memoir, Both Sides of Then, I’ve learned that Mother's Day isn’t just about celebration—it’s also about reflection, curiosity, and connection.

At the heart of my work is one simple but powerful belief: "If you want to truly know someone, ask them about their mother."

After years of heartfelt interviews, personal exploration, and writing, I’m excited to share something special with you: a selection of carefully crafted prompts designed to help you better understand the woman your mother was before she became your parent—and in doing so, to better understand yourself.

Download the Mother's Day Reflection Prompts here >>

]]> As Mother's Day approaches, I find myself reflecting even more deeply on the women who shaped us—especially the woman who shaped me: my mother. Through hosting the About Your Mother podcast and writing my memoir, Both Sides of Then, I’ve learned that Mother's Day isn’t just about celebration—it’s also about reflection, curiosity, and connection.

At the heart of my work is one simple but powerful belief: "If you want to truly know someone, ask them about their mother."

After years of heartfelt interviews, personal exploration, and writing, I’m excited to share something special with you: a selection of carefully crafted prompts designed to help you better understand the woman your mother was before she became your parent—and in doing so, to better understand yourself.

Download the Mother's Day Reflection Prompts here >>

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-17081678 Fri, 02 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400 940 full false Embracing the Emotions of Motherhood with Margo Lowy Embracing the Emotions of Motherhood with Margo Lowy Mothering is hard, but we don’t want to admit that there is pain in everyday mothering. Why is that? Confessing to the dark moments of mothering keeps us from living up to the high bar of perfection that we–and society–has asked of mothers.


In this episode, I interview Dr. Margo Lowy, a psychotherapist and the author of Maternal Ambivalence, about why we need to embrace the light and dark moments of mothering. She shares how the complicated moments can fuel our love, help us practice self-compassion, and model forgiveness to our children.


Resources Mentioned

Torn in Two by Rozsika Parker

Happy Event film

The Hedgehog film

Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman

Ladybird film


Connect With the Guest

Maternal Ambivalence by Margo Lowy


]]> Mothering is hard, but we don’t want to admit that there is pain in everyday mothering. Why is that? Confessing to the dark moments of mothering keeps us from living up to the high bar of perfection that we–and society–has asked of mothers.


In this episode, I interview Dr. Margo Lowy, a psychotherapist and the author of Maternal Ambivalence, about why we need to embrace the light and dark moments of mothering. She shares how the complicated moments can fuel our love, help us practice self-compassion, and model forgiveness to our children.


Resources Mentioned

Torn in Two by Rozsika Parker

Happy Event film

The Hedgehog film

Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman

Ladybird film


Connect With the Guest

Maternal Ambivalence by Margo Lowy


]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-16985546 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400 2655 full false Rewriting Your Financial DNA with Elizabeth Husserl Rewriting Your Financial DNA with Elizabeth Husserl Is your relationship with money inherited? What if, when it came to your finances, you mothered yourself? In this episode of About Your Mother, personal finance expert Elizabeth Husserl shares the radical redefinition of wealth that we all need to hear.

Elizabeth is the author of The Power of Enough, which she dedicated to her ancestors and the wisdom they instilled in her.

Resources Mentioned

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Manfred Max-Neef

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Scarcity Brain

Connect with the Guest

The Power of Enough book

The Wealth Mandala

Website: elizabethhusserl.com

Instagram: instagram.com/elizabethhusserl


]]> Is your relationship with money inherited? What if, when it came to your finances, you mothered yourself? In this episode of About Your Mother, personal finance expert Elizabeth Husserl shares the radical redefinition of wealth that we all need to hear.

Elizabeth is the author of The Power of Enough, which she dedicated to her ancestors and the wisdom they instilled in her.

Resources Mentioned

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Manfred Max-Neef

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Scarcity Brain

Connect with the Guest

The Power of Enough book

The Wealth Mandala

Website: elizabethhusserl.com

Instagram: instagram.com/elizabethhusserl


]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-16835509 Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400 2715 full false Exploring Shame After Mass Media Humiliation With Melissa Petro Exploring Shame After Mass Media Humiliation With Melissa Petro  What if you wrote something, something that was true and significant to you, and those words launched a media attack of shame and judgment that rendered you nearly silent - how would you feel? What would you do? 

Melissa Petro is a writer, a mom, and a wife. Her book, Shame on You, How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification, is a brilliant examination of how society, and people in general, mortify women that we don't understand.

It happens every day. Taylor, JLo, Britney, to name a few well-known ones. Artists living in the public eye until, for some reason, the media decided to take them down. Melissa and I connected on a quote: “I think we become whoever would have saved our younger self.”

Originally, Melissa and I were going to discuss how she and her mother became estranged, but we only touch on that briefly and don't dig into the reasons why. In reflection, that is okay. What you witness when listening to Melissa is someone becoming the person that she needed when she was young. This is Melissa’s story.

Resources Mentioned

Forest For the Trees by Betsy Lerner

Judith Herman

The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler

Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel


Connect With the Guest

Melissa’s Book, Shame On You 

]]>  What if you wrote something, something that was true and significant to you, and those words launched a media attack of shame and judgment that rendered you nearly silent - how would you feel? What would you do? 

Melissa Petro is a writer, a mom, and a wife. Her book, Shame on You, How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification, is a brilliant examination of how society, and people in general, mortify women that we don't understand.

It happens every day. Taylor, JLo, Britney, to name a few well-known ones. Artists living in the public eye until, for some reason, the media decided to take them down. Melissa and I connected on a quote: “I think we become whoever would have saved our younger self.”

Originally, Melissa and I were going to discuss how she and her mother became estranged, but we only touch on that briefly and don't dig into the reasons why. In reflection, that is okay. What you witness when listening to Melissa is someone becoming the person that she needed when she was young. This is Melissa’s story.

Resources Mentioned

Forest For the Trees by Betsy Lerner

Judith Herman

The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler

Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel


Connect With the Guest

Melissa’s Book, Shame On You 

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-16684424 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500 3594 full false Writing About Suicide Authentically With JJ Elliott Writing About Suicide Authentically With JJ Elliott  Is there hope in loss? Yes. Absolutely. My conversation with copywriter turned novelist JJ Elliot is an exploration of her experience losing her mom to suicide, then having that open doors to her helping others.

Subconsciously, the loss of her mom led to her novel about a group of women who lose a friend by her own hand. Those friends take that loss to celebrate their own lives. JJ's goal in writing her book was to get people to laugh and cry at the same time, which is exactly what I did when I talked to JJ. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest



]]>  Is there hope in loss? Yes. Absolutely. My conversation with copywriter turned novelist JJ Elliot is an exploration of her experience losing her mom to suicide, then having that open doors to her helping others.

Subconsciously, the loss of her mom led to her novel about a group of women who lose a friend by her own hand. Those friends take that loss to celebrate their own lives. JJ's goal in writing her book was to get people to laugh and cry at the same time, which is exactly what I did when I talked to JJ. 


Resources Mentioned


Connect With the Guest



]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-16423105 Tue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500 2218 full false Can Humans Live in Harmony With Bears? with Kevin Grange Can Humans Live in Harmony With Bears? with Kevin Grange Mother being a ubiquitous term, I've wanted to take the direction of the podcast in a way to celebrate the mother we all share, Mother Nature. I cannot think of a better person to launch this exploration than with Kevin Grange.

Kevin is one of those people that when he starts talking I can't stop asking questions or listening to his stories. A former paramedic in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Kevin has seen it all. He has been charged by grizzlies, rescued people gored by bison, and so much more. It's his love of nature and the most fearsome predator, Ursus Arctos, that inspires his work. A brilliant writer, he has stories for days. 

There existed a mother in nature so steadfast and strong and nurturing that she also deserves a celebration on About Your Mother. When the international star known as Grizzly Bear 399 died, I knew I had to honor her. The 28 year old female became an ambassador for the species because of her age, prolific reproduction, and for living so close to the community of Jackson, Wyoming.

She produced at least 18 offspring, including a set of quadruplets, during her remarkably long life. She not only inspired millions, she inspired Kevin. Me too. 

Resources Mentioned

Dr. Chris Servheen

Grizzly 399 Documentary

Connect With the Guest

Kevin’s Book: Grizzly Confidential

Website: https://www.kevingrange.com/ 

]]> Mother being a ubiquitous term, I've wanted to take the direction of the podcast in a way to celebrate the mother we all share, Mother Nature. I cannot think of a better person to launch this exploration than with Kevin Grange.

Kevin is one of those people that when he starts talking I can't stop asking questions or listening to his stories. A former paramedic in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Kevin has seen it all. He has been charged by grizzlies, rescued people gored by bison, and so much more. It's his love of nature and the most fearsome predator, Ursus Arctos, that inspires his work. A brilliant writer, he has stories for days. 

There existed a mother in nature so steadfast and strong and nurturing that she also deserves a celebration on About Your Mother. When the international star known as Grizzly Bear 399 died, I knew I had to honor her. The 28 year old female became an ambassador for the species because of her age, prolific reproduction, and for living so close to the community of Jackson, Wyoming.

She produced at least 18 offspring, including a set of quadruplets, during her remarkably long life. She not only inspired millions, she inspired Kevin. Me too. 

Resources Mentioned

Dr. Chris Servheen

Grizzly 399 Documentary

Connect With the Guest

Kevin’s Book: Grizzly Confidential

Website: https://www.kevingrange.com/ 

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-16235522 Wed, 11 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500 2638 full false Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment [Book Now Available] Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment [Book Now Available] For nearly three years, I've been sharing stories of survival, hope, and love launched from the word mother, a ubiquitous term that is so deeply rooted in all of our becomings. This universal topic, the influence our mother's story has on our own life, has caught on with so many, and in many ways, this conversation has no limits. I truly believe if you want to get to know someone, ask them about their mother.

Today, my own book is available! I put my heart and soul into. I bled at the keyboard for years. I worked with some of the greats in the industry to ensure my first book was truly the best I could do at the time.

Buy Now >>

The memoir is written for you to show you the power our mothers and maternal lineage have on the shape of our lives to also show you that everyone has a story to tell every story, no matter how ordinary or not has value.

You can buy my book, Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0D58C23DV?tag=simonsayscom

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast


]]> For nearly three years, I've been sharing stories of survival, hope, and love launched from the word mother, a ubiquitous term that is so deeply rooted in all of our becomings. This universal topic, the influence our mother's story has on our own life, has caught on with so many, and in many ways, this conversation has no limits. I truly believe if you want to get to know someone, ask them about their mother.

Today, my own book is available! I put my heart and soul into. I bled at the keyboard for years. I worked with some of the greats in the industry to ensure my first book was truly the best I could do at the time.

Buy Now >>

The memoir is written for you to show you the power our mothers and maternal lineage have on the shape of our lives to also show you that everyone has a story to tell every story, no matter how ordinary or not has value.

You can buy my book, Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0D58C23DV?tag=simonsayscom

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast


]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-16052059 Tue, 05 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500 692 full false When Cultures Collide | Susan Blumberg-Kason When Cultures Collide | Susan Blumberg-Kason Immersing ourselves in a culture is exhilarating and can change our view of the world. What happens when you are an American marrying into a Chinese family? What could go wrong? Good Chinese Wife is a memoir that explores Susan Blumberg-Kason's life integrating into a Chinese family and her thrilling search for agency.


Connect with Susan

susanbkason.com

Good Chinese Wife

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast




]]> Immersing ourselves in a culture is exhilarating and can change our view of the world. What happens when you are an American marrying into a Chinese family? What could go wrong? Good Chinese Wife is a memoir that explores Susan Blumberg-Kason's life integrating into a Chinese family and her thrilling search for agency.


Connect with Susan

susanbkason.com

Good Chinese Wife

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast




]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-15316161 Thu, 27 Jun 2024 06:00:00 -0400 3951 full false The Secrets We Carry | Adrienne Brodeur The Secrets We Carry | Adrienne Brodeur Life changing conversations can happen at any time in our lives—but what if you are 14 and your mother reveals a secret that upends your adolescence and sends you on a decades long journey to untangle from the world she brought you in, the world you were happy to be a part of? Adrienne Brodeur's best selling book, Wild Game, examines the price she paid to be her mother's confidant and helper in an epic affair with her husband's closest friend. The story doesn't end there. 

Connect with Adrienne
https://www.adriennebrodeur.com/
instagram.com/adriennebrodeur
adriennebrodeur.com/little-monsters

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Life changing conversations can happen at any time in our lives—but what if you are 14 and your mother reveals a secret that upends your adolescence and sends you on a decades long journey to untangle from the world she brought you in, the world you were happy to be a part of? Adrienne Brodeur's best selling book, Wild Game, examines the price she paid to be her mother's confidant and helper in an epic affair with her husband's closest friend. The story doesn't end there. 

Connect with Adrienne
https://www.adriennebrodeur.com/
instagram.com/adriennebrodeur
adriennebrodeur.com/little-monsters

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-15034574 Thu, 09 May 2024 03:00:00 -0400 2504 full false The Door to Freedom | Agata Izabela Brewer The Door to Freedom | Agata Izabela Brewer The experiences of our ancestors are passed down through generations. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in our connection with our mothers. Our mothers carry us, and we carry them in some ways. For Agata Izabela Brewer, it was living with her alcoholic mother that inspired a desire to know how hunger and trauma several generations ago shaped her mother's attitude toward nurturing.

In her memoir, The Hunger Book from Communist Poland, Agata brings us into the harsh reality of living with a mother who survived the war. But was deeply affected by its aftermath. Our conversation is a look into her work, but also a stark reminder about how conflicts in the world will impact us for generations to come.


Connect with Agata

agatabrewer.com

The Hunger Book

facebook.com/agata.szczeszakbrewer


Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast



]]> The experiences of our ancestors are passed down through generations. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in our connection with our mothers. Our mothers carry us, and we carry them in some ways. For Agata Izabela Brewer, it was living with her alcoholic mother that inspired a desire to know how hunger and trauma several generations ago shaped her mother's attitude toward nurturing.

In her memoir, The Hunger Book from Communist Poland, Agata brings us into the harsh reality of living with a mother who survived the war. But was deeply affected by its aftermath. Our conversation is a look into her work, but also a stark reminder about how conflicts in the world will impact us for generations to come.


Connect with Agata

agatabrewer.com

The Hunger Book

facebook.com/agata.szczeszakbrewer


Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast



]]> Jennifer Griffith Buzzsprout-14935184 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 03:00:00 -0400 2795 full false The Fire Within Us | Christy Warren The Fire Within Us | Christy Warren Christy Warren never imagined the unexpected twist her career would take. The weight of her experiences as a firefighter ultimately led to an unexpected battle with PTSD, but her resilience and honesty shed light on the often overlooked emotional toll that many frontline workers face. As she opens up about her journey, Christy's raw account brings to light the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support within the first responder community. Listen in as Christy's story sparks a greater understanding and support for those who selflessly serve and protect our communities.

If you or a first responder you know are battling PTSD, reach out to their department for guidance on support. The West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat is another powerful resource to consider.

Mentioned in this Episode
West Coast Post Trauma Retreat
The Firefighter Deconstructed
Flash Point: A Firefighter’s Journey through PTSD

Connect with Christy
Christyewarren.com
instagram.com/christyewarren

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast



]]> Christy Warren never imagined the unexpected twist her career would take. The weight of her experiences as a firefighter ultimately led to an unexpected battle with PTSD, but her resilience and honesty shed light on the often overlooked emotional toll that many frontline workers face. As she opens up about her journey, Christy's raw account brings to light the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support within the first responder community. Listen in as Christy's story sparks a greater understanding and support for those who selflessly serve and protect our communities.

If you or a first responder you know are battling PTSD, reach out to their department for guidance on support. The West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat is another powerful resource to consider.

Mentioned in this Episode
West Coast Post Trauma Retreat
The Firefighter Deconstructed
Flash Point: A Firefighter’s Journey through PTSD

Connect with Christy
Christyewarren.com
instagram.com/christyewarren

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast



]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=427 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 06:00:03 -0500 3396 full false Love, Loss, and Family Resilience | Charlotte Maya Love, Loss, and Family Resilience | Charlotte Maya In the blink of an eye, Charlotte Maya's life took an unexpected turn when she lost her husband by suicide, leaving her grappling with a series of emotions. From empathy to rage to overwhelming guilt, she found herself navigating uncharted territory in the wake of tragedy.

Maya's story is one of resilience and hope, highlighting how being honest with our experience can help others heal. Amidst the darkness, a guiding light emerged, offering a poignant realization that shifted the course of her healing journey. In this episode, we discuss how the power of community and beautiful people are helping hands in the healing journey.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can find support by dialing 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or go to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

Connect with Charlotte
charlotte-maya.com
Sushi Tuesdays
Charlotte's Modern Love Essay

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In the blink of an eye, Charlotte Maya's life took an unexpected turn when she lost her husband by suicide, leaving her grappling with a series of emotions. From empathy to rage to overwhelming guilt, she found herself navigating uncharted territory in the wake of tragedy.

Maya's story is one of resilience and hope, highlighting how being honest with our experience can help others heal. Amidst the darkness, a guiding light emerged, offering a poignant realization that shifted the course of her healing journey. In this episode, we discuss how the power of community and beautiful people are helping hands in the healing journey.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can find support by dialing 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or go to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

Connect with Charlotte
charlotte-maya.com
Sushi Tuesdays
Charlotte's Modern Love Essay

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=419 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 09:00:12 -0500 2425 full false A Journey to Sobriety | Laura McKowen A Journey to Sobriety | Laura McKowen Do you long for the freedom of a sober lifestyle in a world that constantly celebrates alcohol? Laura McKowen joins us in this conversation to share her own experience and journey to sobriety. By unraveling the complexities of societal pressures, Laura will guide you towards a life of clarity, strength, and sobriety. Get ready to discover the solution that will empower you to thrive in a society that may not fully understand the beauty of living alcohol-free.

Connect with Laura
www.lauramckowen.com
We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life
The Luckiest Club
@laura_mckowen

Mentioned in this Episode
https://www.aa.org/

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Do you long for the freedom of a sober lifestyle in a world that constantly celebrates alcohol? Laura McKowen joins us in this conversation to share her own experience and journey to sobriety. By unraveling the complexities of societal pressures, Laura will guide you towards a life of clarity, strength, and sobriety. Get ready to discover the solution that will empower you to thrive in a society that may not fully understand the beauty of living alcohol-free.

Connect with Laura
www.lauramckowen.com
We Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life
The Luckiest Club
@laura_mckowen

Mentioned in this Episode
https://www.aa.org/

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=411 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:00:05 -0400 2604 full false Mother’s Day Reflection Mother’s Day Reflection On this Mother's Day, I want to celebrate not only my guests, but also the lessons I've learned from having my show for almost two years. In my dozens of interviews with guests and casual conversations with people, I have learned that our mothers are the beginning of our identity, who we are is inherently linked to the woman who carried us directly and indirectly. The decisions they made in their lives shape our early existence, which determines who we become. 

If we're lucky, our mother's hands are the first hands to hold us, their eyes the first we gaze upon. A mother's love is a love that knows no limits. Again, if we are lucky. If we are fortunate to have a mother who is balanced and in control of their mind, heart and life, we have the chance to not only survive, but thrive. If our mothers are broken, there is a chance they will break us to prove their brokenness. Children are strong and have endless resilience even in the most troublesome environments, they can thrive. 

As a mother myself, I'm aware of the cracks within my spirit, and how they spill over in plain view of my son. The reality is we were never that far away from where we began, yet we get up every day with the best intentions, and always strive to do right by our children. Life gives us the opportunity to rise above our circumstances, every person I've interviewed has found a way to go beyond the experiences of their childhood and create a beautiful life.

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> On this Mother's Day, I want to celebrate not only my guests, but also the lessons I've learned from having my show for almost two years. In my dozens of interviews with guests and casual conversations with people, I have learned that our mothers are the beginning of our identity, who we are is inherently linked to the woman who carried us directly and indirectly. The decisions they made in their lives shape our early existence, which determines who we become. 

If we're lucky, our mother's hands are the first hands to hold us, their eyes the first we gaze upon. A mother's love is a love that knows no limits. Again, if we are lucky. If we are fortunate to have a mother who is balanced and in control of their mind, heart and life, we have the chance to not only survive, but thrive. If our mothers are broken, there is a chance they will break us to prove their brokenness. Children are strong and have endless resilience even in the most troublesome environments, they can thrive. 

As a mother myself, I'm aware of the cracks within my spirit, and how they spill over in plain view of my son. The reality is we were never that far away from where we began, yet we get up every day with the best intentions, and always strive to do right by our children. Life gives us the opportunity to rise above our circumstances, every person I've interviewed has found a way to go beyond the experiences of their childhood and create a beautiful life.

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=408 Sat, 13 May 2023 17:21:25 -0400 901 full false Defending Identity | Keshia Adeniyi-Dorsey Defending Identity | Keshia Adeniyi-Dorsey Keshia Adeniyi-Dorsey is a family defender, educator, and activist who brings her experience with the foster care system into the heart of her work as a family defense attorney. Keshia tirelessly advocates for parents who risk losing their children to the system.

Past episodes in our What Happened Then series highlighted a time in history— at risk of returning— where primarily white single women were forced to relinquish their children. Often, we fail to realize similar systems are still in place today—although they look slightly different and affect communities of color.

Adoption and foster care are rooted in identities, those stolen and those hidden. To know these stories is to hope that one day we understand and we can change.

Connect with Keshia
Twitter

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Keshia Adeniyi-Dorsey is a family defender, educator, and activist who brings her experience with the foster care system into the heart of her work as a family defense attorney. Keshia tirelessly advocates for parents who risk losing their children to the system.

Past episodes in our What Happened Then series highlighted a time in history— at risk of returning— where primarily white single women were forced to relinquish their children. Often, we fail to realize similar systems are still in place today—although they look slightly different and affect communities of color.

Adoption and foster care are rooted in identities, those stolen and those hidden. To know these stories is to hope that one day we understand and we can change.

Connect with Keshia
Twitter

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=399 Fri, 05 May 2023 04:00:35 -0400 3039 full false Manifesting Your Dreams | Linda Sivertsen Manifesting Your Dreams | Linda Sivertsen Making it as a writer isn’t an easy task, but Linda Sivertsen has found the secret sauce. Known as the best writing coach, agent connector, and Book Mama, Linda has authored and co-authored eleven books, including two New York Times best sellers. Today, she joins us to share her journey to writing, what makes a good writer, and how she found herself sharing the stories of so many New York Times Best Selling Authors!

Plus, did you know that About Your Mother was born while I attended Linda’s writing retreat? What a full-circle moment this interview has created!

Connect with Linda
Book Mama
Beautiful Writers Podcast
Instagram
Facebook

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Making it as a writer isn’t an easy task, but Linda Sivertsen has found the secret sauce. Known as the best writing coach, agent connector, and Book Mama, Linda has authored and co-authored eleven books, including two New York Times best sellers. Today, she joins us to share her journey to writing, what makes a good writer, and how she found herself sharing the stories of so many New York Times Best Selling Authors!

Plus, did you know that About Your Mother was born while I attended Linda’s writing retreat? What a full-circle moment this interview has created!

Connect with Linda
Book Mama
Beautiful Writers Podcast
Instagram
Facebook

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=383 Tue, 04 Apr 2023 03:00:31 -0400 2509 full false Searching For My Identity | Jan Beatty Searching For My Identity | Jan Beatty When adoptees search for their birth parents, it's the pursuit of identity. Where do I come from? Who gave birth to me? What is my medical history?  

AYM guest, Jan Beatty, wanted to know her name – not the one given by her adoptive parents, but the name on her birth certificate. This quest began a decades-long search. An experience documented in her memoir, American Bastard.


Connect with Jan
Jan Beatty Website
Red Hen Press - Jan Beatty
Facebook - Jan Beatty 
Twitter - Jan Beatty
American Bastard - Amazon

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> When adoptees search for their birth parents, it's the pursuit of identity. Where do I come from? Who gave birth to me? What is my medical history?  

AYM guest, Jan Beatty, wanted to know her name – not the one given by her adoptive parents, but the name on her birth certificate. This quest began a decades-long search. An experience documented in her memoir, American Bastard.


Connect with Jan
Jan Beatty Website
Red Hen Press - Jan Beatty
Facebook - Jan Beatty 
Twitter - Jan Beatty
American Bastard - Amazon

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=369 Tue, 28 Feb 2023 14:00:57 -0500 2349 full false The Girls Who Went Away | Ann Fessler The Girls Who Went Away | Ann Fessler Ann Fessler's critically accompanied book, "The Girl Who Went Away," gives voice to the millions of women forced to surrender their babies in the decades before Roe v Wade. As an artist and a teacher, listening to Ann tell her story feels like you are walking into a lecture hall about to learn something new, and you are.

Connect with Ann
Website
The Girls Who Went Away
A Girl Like Her

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Ann Fessler's critically accompanied book, "The Girl Who Went Away," gives voice to the millions of women forced to surrender their babies in the decades before Roe v Wade. As an artist and a teacher, listening to Ann tell her story feels like you are walking into a lecture hall about to learn something new, and you are.

Connect with Ann
Website
The Girls Who Went Away
A Girl Like Her

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=344 Mon, 19 Dec 2022 12:00:29 -0500 4005 full false Aftermath Life in Post-Roe America | Elizabeth Hines Aftermath Life in Post-Roe America | Elizabeth Hines The subject of reproductive rights has taken center stage in our society. Still, many people don't understand the tentacles those rights have in every corner of society or within most families. On this episode of About Your Mother is my conversation with writer and editor Elizabeth Hines, who spearheaded the recent anthology Aftermath: Life in Post-Roe America. Our discussion touches on motherhood, activism, and what it takes to bring important stories to the forefront.

Shocked and motivated by the Dobbs decision, Elizabeth Hines channeled her energy to gather essays and interviews from contributors to share the importance of reproductive rights in America. Here is our conversation.

Connect with Elizabeth
Facebook
More about Elizabeth Hines
Check out the anthology here: Aftermath: Life in Post-Roe America
She Writes Press Review

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> The subject of reproductive rights has taken center stage in our society. Still, many people don't understand the tentacles those rights have in every corner of society or within most families. On this episode of About Your Mother is my conversation with writer and editor Elizabeth Hines, who spearheaded the recent anthology Aftermath: Life in Post-Roe America. Our discussion touches on motherhood, activism, and what it takes to bring important stories to the forefront.

Shocked and motivated by the Dobbs decision, Elizabeth Hines channeled her energy to gather essays and interviews from contributors to share the importance of reproductive rights in America. Here is our conversation.

Connect with Elizabeth
Facebook
More about Elizabeth Hines
Check out the anthology here: Aftermath: Life in Post-Roe America
She Writes Press Review

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=334 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 03:00:04 -0500 2105 full false The Baby Scoop Era | Karen Wilson-Buterbaugh The Baby Scoop Era | Karen Wilson-Buterbaugh In our new series, What Happened Then, AYM features stories from a part of our history unknown to many. Karen Wilson-Buterbaugh spent twenty years researching and writing The Baby Scoop Era. In 2007, Karen founded the Baby Scoop Era: Research, Education, and Inquiry (BSERI) organization to support millions of women forced to surrender their babies between 1945 and 1972.

Young and in love, Karen found herself pregnant at 17 years old. The events that followed were an emotional and humiliating experience. First, she was sent to a wage house, then to a maternity home, where she was labeled an inmate. She found herself isolated from everyone she knew and expected to surrender her child. Karen was not alone. The Baby Scoop Era represents a time when millions of single unwed mothers went into maternity homes where they lived in secrecy and shame.

Connect with Karen
BabyScoopEra.com
Twitter
Buy her book here: The Baby Scoop Era: Unwed Mothers, Infant Adoption and Forced Surrender

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In our new series, What Happened Then, AYM features stories from a part of our history unknown to many. Karen Wilson-Buterbaugh spent twenty years researching and writing The Baby Scoop Era. In 2007, Karen founded the Baby Scoop Era: Research, Education, and Inquiry (BSERI) organization to support millions of women forced to surrender their babies between 1945 and 1972.

Young and in love, Karen found herself pregnant at 17 years old. The events that followed were an emotional and humiliating experience. First, she was sent to a wage house, then to a maternity home, where she was labeled an inmate. She found herself isolated from everyone she knew and expected to surrender her child. Karen was not alone. The Baby Scoop Era represents a time when millions of single unwed mothers went into maternity homes where they lived in secrecy and shame.

Connect with Karen
BabyScoopEra.com
Twitter
Buy her book here: The Baby Scoop Era: Unwed Mothers, Infant Adoption and Forced Surrender

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=329 Fri, 28 Oct 2022 02:00:33 -0400 2605 full false Ten Stories to Celebrate Mother’s Day Ten Stories to Celebrate Mother’s Day For Mother’s Day, we are recapping ten powerful episodes from the last year. This review features a short clip from each conversation, so you can quickly get a feel for the content and guest. Timestamps and guest names are listed below.

An interesting thing happens when the word mother is mentioned - a conversation rooted in truth always follows. And for all of us, while she is our beginning, where we land is a journey uniquely our own.

Follow guests on IG here:
instagram.com/jeffforney
instagram.com/oliviajoffrey
instagram.com/amyksf
instagram.com/fosterdadflipper
instagram.com/ferris_a
instagram.com/melaniespring
instagram.com/angiekimask
instagram.com/bigtoughgirl
instagram.com/shantibrien
instagram.com/bethbroday

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> For Mother’s Day, we are recapping ten powerful episodes from the last year. This review features a short clip from each conversation, so you can quickly get a feel for the content and guest. Timestamps and guest names are listed below.

An interesting thing happens when the word mother is mentioned - a conversation rooted in truth always follows. And for all of us, while she is our beginning, where we land is a journey uniquely our own.

Follow guests on IG here:
instagram.com/jeffforney
instagram.com/oliviajoffrey
instagram.com/amyksf
instagram.com/fosterdadflipper
instagram.com/ferris_a
instagram.com/melaniespring
instagram.com/angiekimask
instagram.com/bigtoughgirl
instagram.com/shantibrien
instagram.com/bethbroday

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=317 Sun, 08 May 2022 06:00:18 -0400 1638 1 full false Re-membering Oneself | Steph Jagger Re-membering Oneself | Steph Jagger This episode of About Your Mother is my conversation with Steph Jagger: a seeker, explorer, and writer. Her latest book, Everything Left to Remember, documents her adventure with her mother into the Rocky Mountains while they navigate the terrain of dementia and the meaning of remembrance.

Steph's life and work are as deep as the 4 million vertical feet she skied in one year to break a world record. That journey is the basis of her first book Unbound: A story of Snow and Self-discovery. Her latest book examines her journey and transition from maiden to mother.

Connect with Steph Jagger
Website
Instagram
Order her new book here: Everything Left to Remember

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> This episode of About Your Mother is my conversation with Steph Jagger: a seeker, explorer, and writer. Her latest book, Everything Left to Remember, documents her adventure with her mother into the Rocky Mountains while they navigate the terrain of dementia and the meaning of remembrance.

Steph's life and work are as deep as the 4 million vertical feet she skied in one year to break a world record. That journey is the basis of her first book Unbound: A story of Snow and Self-discovery. Her latest book examines her journey and transition from maiden to mother.

Connect with Steph Jagger
Website
Instagram
Order her new book here: Everything Left to Remember

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=311 Wed, 04 May 2022 09:00:50 -0400 2127 full false The Art of Becoming | Beth Broday The Art of Becoming | Beth Broday This episode of About Your Mother is my conversation with Beth Broday – a pioneer in producing who put music videos on the map beginning with Prince's Little Red Corvette.

Beth Broday is a storyteller and has mastered the art of Becoming. Throughout the various stages of work and life, she saw the lessons in each experience, never afraid to make a U-turn that led to something beautiful.

Her storytelling is like butter. Towards the end, enjoy our banter on working with some of the world's greatest musicians of all time.

Connect with Beth Broday
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> This episode of About Your Mother is my conversation with Beth Broday – a pioneer in producing who put music videos on the map beginning with Prince's Little Red Corvette.

Beth Broday is a storyteller and has mastered the art of Becoming. Throughout the various stages of work and life, she saw the lessons in each experience, never afraid to make a U-turn that led to something beautiful.

Her storytelling is like butter. Towards the end, enjoy our banter on working with some of the world's greatest musicians of all time.

Connect with Beth Broday
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=304 Thu, 24 Mar 2022 06:00:01 -0400 2599 1 full false Almost Innocent | Shanti Brien Almost Innocent | Shanti Brien On this episode of About Your Mother, we meet Shanti Brien, who has spent her career fighting for justice. Often, taking on the most complex cases where the rate of success is meager. When her husband's company was under investigation, her career and personal life collided.

Connect with Shanti Brien
Website
Facebook
Fogbreak Justice

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> On this episode of About Your Mother, we meet Shanti Brien, who has spent her career fighting for justice. Often, taking on the most complex cases where the rate of success is meager. When her husband's company was under investigation, her career and personal life collided.

Connect with Shanti Brien
Website
Facebook
Fogbreak Justice

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=295 Thu, 10 Feb 2022 06:00:24 -0500 2003 1 full false My Mother Next Door | Diane Danvers Simmons My Mother Next Door | Diane Danvers Simmons In this episode of About Your Mother, we hear the story of Diane Danvers Simmons, whose mother left and moved next door with three college men when Diane was sixteen years old.

A successful businesswoman, mother, and stepmom, Diane was on a trip with her daughter when she heard she needed to forgive her mother, which set her on a path to writing her book. The exercise launched a ten-year journey into uncovering her past, her mother's story, and ultimately finding a way to accept her experience.

Listen to how Diane's writing journey became an exploration of generational trauma and lessons learned growing up in the 70s while her narcissistic mother chartered her unfathomable course to independence and freedom.

Listen to an inspiring conversation on survival, reflection, acceptance, and motherhood.

Order Diane's book today:
https://www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com/my-mother-next-door

Connect with Diane Danvers Simmons
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In this episode of About Your Mother, we hear the story of Diane Danvers Simmons, whose mother left and moved next door with three college men when Diane was sixteen years old.

A successful businesswoman, mother, and stepmom, Diane was on a trip with her daughter when she heard she needed to forgive her mother, which set her on a path to writing her book. The exercise launched a ten-year journey into uncovering her past, her mother's story, and ultimately finding a way to accept her experience.

Listen to how Diane's writing journey became an exploration of generational trauma and lessons learned growing up in the 70s while her narcissistic mother chartered her unfathomable course to independence and freedom.

Listen to an inspiring conversation on survival, reflection, acceptance, and motherhood.

Order Diane's book today:
https://www.mothersanddaughtersunfiltered.com/my-mother-next-door

Connect with Diane Danvers Simmons
Website
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Podcast

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=276 Wed, 08 Dec 2021 06:00:49 -0500 2699 1 full false The Miracle of Adoption is Surviving | Ashley Mitchell The Miracle of Adoption is Surviving | Ashley Mitchell To honor National Adoption Month this November, I bring you a big brave story. In this episode of About Your Mother, meet Ashley Mitchell.

Ashley Mitchell is the founder of Lifetime Healing Foundation, which supports birth mothers and those affected by such trauma. Her mission is unique but needed. Give it a listen, and you will understand why.

Connect with Ashley Mitchell
LifetimeHealingFoundation.org
@bigtoughgirl
@twistedsisterhoodpodcast
@lifetimehealingfoundation

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> To honor National Adoption Month this November, I bring you a big brave story. In this episode of About Your Mother, meet Ashley Mitchell.

Ashley Mitchell is the founder of Lifetime Healing Foundation, which supports birth mothers and those affected by such trauma. Her mission is unique but needed. Give it a listen, and you will understand why.

Connect with Ashley Mitchell
LifetimeHealingFoundation.org
@bigtoughgirl
@twistedsisterhoodpodcast
@lifetimehealingfoundation

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=268 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 06:00:23 -0500 2706 1 full false Writing My Secrets | Amy Ferris Writing My Secrets | Amy Ferris In this episode of About Your Mother, meet Amy Ferris. Amy is witty, brutally honest, talented, and regal, like Meryl Streep, and she looks like her too.

Ruth Pennebaker of the New York Times described Amy’s memoir, Marrying George Clooney: Confessions from a Midlife Crisis", as "poignant, free-wheeling, cranky, and funny. It is all those things, as well as a deep exploration of a complicated relationship with her mother.

Amy Ferris is an author, screenwriter, editor, and playwright. Enjoy my conversation with Amy as she shares her story and talks about Buddhism, living and getting kicked out of a commune, midlife, truth-telling family divisions, and more.

Connect with Amy Ferris
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In this episode of About Your Mother, meet Amy Ferris. Amy is witty, brutally honest, talented, and regal, like Meryl Streep, and she looks like her too.

Ruth Pennebaker of the New York Times described Amy’s memoir, Marrying George Clooney: Confessions from a Midlife Crisis", as "poignant, free-wheeling, cranky, and funny. It is all those things, as well as a deep exploration of a complicated relationship with her mother.

Amy Ferris is an author, screenwriter, editor, and playwright. Enjoy my conversation with Amy as she shares her story and talks about Buddhism, living and getting kicked out of a commune, midlife, truth-telling family divisions, and more.

Connect with Amy Ferris
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=255 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 06:00:43 -0400 2755 1 full false Writing Her Truth Helps Others | Angie Kim Writing Her Truth Helps Others | Angie Kim In this episode of About Your Mother, I am pleased to introduce Angie Kim. Angie's debut novel Miracle Creek was named Best Book of the Year by Time, The Washington Post, and The Today Show. It went on to win many other prizes throughout the year.

Before writing Miracle Creek, Angie Kim was the former editor of Harvard Law Review and a trial attorney. She has also written for Vogue, The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post Glamour, and numerous literary journals.

My conversation with Angie is far and reaching, discussing things such as her life as a Korean immigrant, writing, and the myth of the Good Mother.

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In this episode of About Your Mother, I am pleased to introduce Angie Kim. Angie's debut novel Miracle Creek was named Best Book of the Year by Time, The Washington Post, and The Today Show. It went on to win many other prizes throughout the year.

Before writing Miracle Creek, Angie Kim was the former editor of Harvard Law Review and a trial attorney. She has also written for Vogue, The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post Glamour, and numerous literary journals.

My conversation with Angie is far and reaching, discussing things such as her life as a Korean immigrant, writing, and the myth of the Good Mother.

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=248 Fri, 24 Sep 2021 03:00:41 -0400 2681 1 full false Changing Lives With Empathy | Peter Mutabazi Changing Lives With Empathy | Peter Mutabazi In this episode of About Your Mother, you will meet Peter Mutabazi - a remarkable human being who survived a traumatic childhood, only to use that experience to transform lives. He ran away from an abusive father at the age of ten and was homeless on the streets for four years until a stranger asked him his name. That gesture changed his life forever. However, that isn't Peter's story. His story is so much more than that.

He has used his experience to lift the lives of those who need our help most. It started with global relief efforts, and now he has been a foster dad to sixteen kids. His mission is to make sure every child is known.

Prepare to be in awe of Peter Mutabazi: his courage, empathy, and will to change the lives of the four hundred thousand foster children in our system.

Joining me during this episode is my partner in Adoption/Foster Stories, Jeff Forney. If you want to learn more about Jeff's story and work, please listen to episode 010.

Connect with Peter
Website: NowIAmKnown.com
YouTube: @nowiamknown
Instagram: @fosterdadflipper
Facebook: fb/fosterdadflipper

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In this episode of About Your Mother, you will meet Peter Mutabazi - a remarkable human being who survived a traumatic childhood, only to use that experience to transform lives. He ran away from an abusive father at the age of ten and was homeless on the streets for four years until a stranger asked him his name. That gesture changed his life forever. However, that isn't Peter's story. His story is so much more than that.

He has used his experience to lift the lives of those who need our help most. It started with global relief efforts, and now he has been a foster dad to sixteen kids. His mission is to make sure every child is known.

Prepare to be in awe of Peter Mutabazi: his courage, empathy, and will to change the lives of the four hundred thousand foster children in our system.

Joining me during this episode is my partner in Adoption/Foster Stories, Jeff Forney. If you want to learn more about Jeff's story and work, please listen to episode 010.

Connect with Peter
Website: NowIAmKnown.com
YouTube: @nowiamknown
Instagram: @fosterdadflipper
Facebook: fb/fosterdadflipper

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=242 Fri, 07 May 2021 06:00:56 -0400 2977 1 full false Adoption Encapsulates Everything That Is Life | Jeff Forney Adoption Encapsulates Everything That Is Life | Jeff Forney In today's episode of About Your Mother, we have a poignant discussion on the meaning of the word Mother. Joining us is Jeff Forney, a photographer, visual story sharer, and a dear friend.

Prepare to be inspired by a touching dialogue on the meaning of the word mother, the journey to finding his birth mother, and the impact this experience had on him.

Connect with Jeff
Website: JeffForney.com
Facebook: fb/JeffForneyPhoto
Instagram: @JeffForney
LinkedIn: in/JeffForneyPhoto

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In today's episode of About Your Mother, we have a poignant discussion on the meaning of the word Mother. Joining us is Jeff Forney, a photographer, visual story sharer, and a dear friend.

Prepare to be inspired by a touching dialogue on the meaning of the word mother, the journey to finding his birth mother, and the impact this experience had on him.

Connect with Jeff
Website: JeffForney.com
Facebook: fb/JeffForneyPhoto
Instagram: @JeffForney
LinkedIn: in/JeffForneyPhoto

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=234 Fri, 30 Apr 2021 06:00:27 -0400 2701 1 full false The Lessons Were In How She Lived | Sarai Obermeyer & Amy Kelly The Lessons Were In How She Lived | Sarai Obermeyer & Amy Kelly In honor of International Women's Month, today's episode of About Your Mother brings you a story highlighting the strength and power of maternal lineage. In this dual interview, we celebrate the life of Vera Obermeyer, who recently passed away due to COVID. Our guests are here to talk about her long and colorful life full of purpose.

The conversation is with Vera's daughter and granddaughter, Sarai Obermeyer and Amy Kelly. Listen as Sarai and Amy share stories of Vera and her strong, maternal influence on them. They also share some of the family's traumatic past and how it inspired them to lend their voice to those who need it the most.

Connect with  Amy
Facebook: fb/AmyKellyMFT
Twitter: @AmyKellyMFT
Instagram: @AmyKellyMFT

Connect with Sarai
LinkedIn: in/Sarai-Obermeyer
Website: Legal Aid of Sonoma County

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In honor of International Women's Month, today's episode of About Your Mother brings you a story highlighting the strength and power of maternal lineage. In this dual interview, we celebrate the life of Vera Obermeyer, who recently passed away due to COVID. Our guests are here to talk about her long and colorful life full of purpose.

The conversation is with Vera's daughter and granddaughter, Sarai Obermeyer and Amy Kelly. Listen as Sarai and Amy share stories of Vera and her strong, maternal influence on them. They also share some of the family's traumatic past and how it inspired them to lend their voice to those who need it the most.

Connect with  Amy
Facebook: fb/AmyKellyMFT
Twitter: @AmyKellyMFT
Instagram: @AmyKellyMFT

Connect with Sarai
LinkedIn: in/Sarai-Obermeyer
Website: Legal Aid of Sonoma County

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=229 Tue, 23 Mar 2021 06:00:47 -0400 2936 1 full false Your Story Isn’t About You | Melanie Spring Your Story Isn’t About You | Melanie Spring What does it mean to own and share our own stories? Why would other people want to hear our stories? 

In today’s episode of About your Mother, we answer those questions with our special guest, Melanie Spring. Melanie is a vibrant speaker, an approachable bad-ass woman, and the facilitator of both personal and brand stories. Today, she shares her struggles and triumphs that made her who she is now. Melanie also discusses what it’s like to own our stories and how everyone should walk into a room and think ‘you’re welcome’.

Connect with Melanie!
Web: Melanie Spring
Facebook: fb/MelanieSpring
Instagram: @melaniespring
Twitter: @melaniespring

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> What does it mean to own and share our own stories? Why would other people want to hear our stories? 

In today’s episode of About your Mother, we answer those questions with our special guest, Melanie Spring. Melanie is a vibrant speaker, an approachable bad-ass woman, and the facilitator of both personal and brand stories. Today, she shares her struggles and triumphs that made her who she is now. Melanie also discusses what it’s like to own our stories and how everyone should walk into a room and think ‘you’re welcome’.

Connect with Melanie!
Web: Melanie Spring
Facebook: fb/MelanieSpring
Instagram: @melaniespring
Twitter: @melaniespring

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=221 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 06:00:20 -0500 2110 1 full false My Eponymous Fashion Line As A Love Letter to My Mother | Olivia Joffrey My Eponymous Fashion Line As A Love Letter to My Mother | Olivia Joffrey In the latest episode of About Your Mother, we have a conversation with Olivia Joffrey. Olivia owns an eponymous fashion line that serves as a love letter to her mother, Anne-Marie. Through osmosis, Olivia absorbed the colorful and artistic life that her mother has led — a life filled with sensory details, records, books, sand, and the ocean breeze.

Imagine putting on a dress and transporting yourself to a different time and place- this is what Olivia's fashion line can do. The inspiration comes from her mother and her once vibrant life in Spain. In conversation, we discuss how her mother influenced her work, helped her find her passion, and we talk about the power of transcendent storytelling through various channels.

Connect with Olivia
Web + Shop: OliviaJoffrey
IG: @oliviajoffrey
LinkedIn: linkedin/olivia-joffrey
Facebook: fb/OliviaJoffrey

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In the latest episode of About Your Mother, we have a conversation with Olivia Joffrey. Olivia owns an eponymous fashion line that serves as a love letter to her mother, Anne-Marie. Through osmosis, Olivia absorbed the colorful and artistic life that her mother has led — a life filled with sensory details, records, books, sand, and the ocean breeze.

Imagine putting on a dress and transporting yourself to a different time and place- this is what Olivia's fashion line can do. The inspiration comes from her mother and her once vibrant life in Spain. In conversation, we discuss how her mother influenced her work, helped her find her passion, and we talk about the power of transcendent storytelling through various channels.

Connect with Olivia
Web + Shop: OliviaJoffrey
IG: @oliviajoffrey
LinkedIn: linkedin/olivia-joffrey
Facebook: fb/OliviaJoffrey

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=217 Thu, 10 Dec 2020 06:00:44 -0500 2518 1 full false Pursuit of Truth With A Capital T | Julie Barton Part 2 Pursuit of Truth With A Capital T | Julie Barton Part 2 We are in the second part of our series with the wonderful Julie Barton. In our previous episode, we talked about Julie's childhood memories and her path to becoming a New York Times bestselling author with her book, Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me from Myself. 

Today, we explore what it feels like to achieve publication success, the reality of making it as a writer, and how to follow your passions.

Connect with Julie
Web: ByJulieBarton
Facebook: fb/JulieBarton
Twitter: @juliebarton1111
Instagram: @juliehillbarton

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> We are in the second part of our series with the wonderful Julie Barton. In our previous episode, we talked about Julie's childhood memories and her path to becoming a New York Times bestselling author with her book, Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me from Myself. 

Today, we explore what it feels like to achieve publication success, the reality of making it as a writer, and how to follow your passions.

Connect with Julie
Web: ByJulieBarton
Facebook: fb/JulieBarton
Twitter: @juliebarton1111
Instagram: @juliehillbarton

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=213 Fri, 04 Dec 2020 06:00:04 -0500 1330 1 full false Crystalizing Your Experience Is A Fascinating Process | Julie Barton Part 1 Crystalizing Your Experience Is A Fascinating Process | Julie Barton Part 1 We have a two-part series conversation with Julie Barton, a New York Times best-selling author of the book, Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me from Myself. Her book is about her lifelong battle with depression and how it unravels an intricate family dynamic. In this first part, she brings into grasp the destructive power of depression and also the importance of animals to our personal and emotional wellbeing.

Connect with Julie
Web: ByJulieBarton
Facebook: fb/JulieBarton
Twitter: @juliebarton1111
Instagram: @juliehillbarton

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> We have a two-part series conversation with Julie Barton, a New York Times best-selling author of the book, Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me from Myself. Her book is about her lifelong battle with depression and how it unravels an intricate family dynamic. In this first part, she brings into grasp the destructive power of depression and also the importance of animals to our personal and emotional wellbeing.

Connect with Julie
Web: ByJulieBarton
Facebook: fb/JulieBarton
Twitter: @juliebarton1111
Instagram: @juliehillbarton

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=209 Thu, 03 Dec 2020 06:00:13 -0500 1912 1 full false Embrace every moment as if it could be your last | Sugar Taylor Embrace every moment as if it could be your last | Sugar Taylor In today's episode of About Your Mother, we speak with Sugar Taylor, a woman who exudes a ray of light. Sugar is a self-taught creative dynamo. She is a person who has battled anxiety and depression throughout her life and uses her creative energy as a means of healing. Her zest of life, spirit, resourcefulness, and all-around being will blow anyone away.

Connect with Sugar
Web: Virtual Art Therapy Classes
Facebook: fb/SugarTaylorCo
Instagram: @sugartaylorco
Pinterest: Sugartaylorco

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In today's episode of About Your Mother, we speak with Sugar Taylor, a woman who exudes a ray of light. Sugar is a self-taught creative dynamo. She is a person who has battled anxiety and depression throughout her life and uses her creative energy as a means of healing. Her zest of life, spirit, resourcefulness, and all-around being will blow anyone away.

Connect with Sugar
Web: Virtual Art Therapy Classes
Facebook: fb/SugarTaylorCo
Instagram: @sugartaylorco
Pinterest: Sugartaylorco

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=192 Thu, 29 Oct 2020 06:00:51 -0400 1800 1 full false A Breakthrough Inspired Me to Help Others | Sandra Possing A Breakthrough Inspired Me to Help Others | Sandra Possing In the third episode of About Your Mother, our guest, speaker, and mindset coach, Sandra Possing talks about how building an Unshakeable Foundation and unleashing their inner badass empowers a woman.

They also discussed in this episode, Sandra's openness about her past and how it shaped her career path. Pay special attention to the part where she discusses the mind-altering Ayahuasca Experience.

Links:
Sandra Possing
Instagram: @sandrapossing 
Facebook: Sandra Possing Life Coach

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> In the third episode of About Your Mother, our guest, speaker, and mindset coach, Sandra Possing talks about how building an Unshakeable Foundation and unleashing their inner badass empowers a woman.

They also discussed in this episode, Sandra's openness about her past and how it shaped her career path. Pay special attention to the part where she discusses the mind-altering Ayahuasca Experience.

Links:
Sandra Possing
Instagram: @sandrapossing 
Facebook: Sandra Possing Life Coach

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=149 Wed, 29 Jul 2020 08:47:03 -0400 2928 1 full false My Mother Inspired Me To Build Platforms To Empower Women And Girls | Lauri Levenfeld My Mother Inspired Me To Build Platforms To Empower Women And Girls | Lauri Levenfeld Our next guest for About Your Mother is Lauri Levenfeld. She is a playful spirit and has a never-ending commitment to the female voice. Jennifer and Lauri collaborated together in the past on projects, but most recently, Lauri debuted an award-winning film called Mad World.

Using her distinctive eye and straightforward and real words, she has built platforms to share and extend the work of other women. Her inspiration came from none other than her mother. We hope you enjoy this conversation as Jennifer and Lauri talk about female empowerment/voices, the power of community and representation of female voices in Lauri’s film.

Links:
Instagram: @laurilevenfeld
@madworldfilm
@project.mentor
@theprojectforwomen
Website: The Project for Women
Project Mentor
Best Experimental Film at LAFA
Mad World Trailer

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Our next guest for About Your Mother is Lauri Levenfeld. She is a playful spirit and has a never-ending commitment to the female voice. Jennifer and Lauri collaborated together in the past on projects, but most recently, Lauri debuted an award-winning film called Mad World.

Using her distinctive eye and straightforward and real words, she has built platforms to share and extend the work of other women. Her inspiration came from none other than her mother. We hope you enjoy this conversation as Jennifer and Lauri talk about female empowerment/voices, the power of community and representation of female voices in Lauri’s film.

Links:
Instagram: @laurilevenfeld
@madworldfilm
@project.mentor
@theprojectforwomen
Website: The Project for Women
Project Mentor
Best Experimental Film at LAFA
Mad World Trailer

Learn more about the podcast at byjennifergriffith.com/category/podcast

]]> Jennifer Griffith https://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=147 Wed, 29 Jul 2020 08:32:57 -0400 2151 full false Welcome to the Podcast | About Your Mother Welcome to the Podcast | About Your Mother Welcome to our new podcast - About Your Mother, Where Your Story Begins. Host Jennifer Griffith is on a mission to celebrate and examine one of the most powerful and influential relationships in our lives: our relationship with our mother.

Each month, join Jennifer as she converses with compelling guests. She will unravel stories from their childhood and how their past shaped who they became.

I love hearing from my listeners - feel free to email me, connect on Instagram, Facebook, and subscribe on Apple Podcast!

]]> Welcome to our new podcast - About Your Mother, Where Your Story Begins. Host Jennifer Griffith is on a mission to celebrate and examine one of the most powerful and influential relationships in our lives: our relationship with our mother.

Each month, join Jennifer as she converses with compelling guests. She will unravel stories from their childhood and how their past shaped who they became.

I love hearing from my listeners - feel free to email me, connect on Instagram, Facebook, and subscribe on Apple Podcast!

]]> Jennifer Griffith http://www.byjennifergriffith.com/?p=107 Thu, 07 May 2020 23:35:06 -0400 97 trailer false