Thank You, Mama

Journalist and editor Stacey Lindsay, author of Being 40: The Decade of Letting Go and Embracing Who We Are , joins us to discuss self-worth, self-compassion, joy, and the importance of listening to our own truth rather than society's expectations. Stacey shares the complicated story of her mother, who left their family when Stacey was 16 after years of trying to be everything a wife and mother "should" be. Her departure began a long journey toward understanding and forgiveness—and ultimately taught Stacey that women can change their lives, pursue adventure, pursue their personal freedom, and begin again at any age. We talk about mothering ourselves, honoring the "unlived life" within us, saying our daydreams aloud, and protecting our self-worth from anything that might chip away at it. Stacey reminds us that we contain multitudes: we can hold love and pain, forgiveness and truth, responsibility and personal freedom, all at the same time. To learn more about Stacey and her book, please visit her wesite here . To subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

In this very special episode of Thank You, Mama , Ana speaks with Isabel Allende, one of the most widely read authors in the world. Isabel is the beloved Chilean author of more than thirty books, including The House of the Spirits , Eva Luna , Paula , Daughter of Fortune , and The Soul of a Woman . Her work has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide, been translated into more than 40 languages, and appeared on bestseller lists around the world. In this intimate conversation, Isabel reflects on her mother, Panchita — a talented painter who never fully developed her gifts because she was raised to depend on men. From watching Panchita's life, Isabel learned some of her most important life-lessons: to protect her independence, to be able to support herself, to put real effort behind her talents, to love her children unconditionally, and to fill life with elegance, beauty, and refinement. Isabel also talks about motherhood, parenting, feminism, raising feminists, women's rights, manners, her lifelong love of work, and how writing letters to her mother helped make her a writer. She reflects on mothers and daughters, the wisdom women pass across generations, and the surprising ingredient needed for love and relationship in later life. For more about Isabel, please visit her website here. For more about her foundation, visit here. To subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

192. How's Your Daughtering? Dr. Allison Alford on Daughtering vs. Mothering, Not Giving Up Too Quickly, Education, and Faith Associate professor and author of Good Daughtering: The Work You've Always Done, the Credit You've Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough , Dr. Allison Alford talks about her American mother, Pamela , who became a family therapist after her daughters reached adolescence. Pamela taught Allison about the importance of education, leaning on faith for strength, and not being too quick to judge - because people can surprise you when you give them a chance. Allison also reflects on her research into the communication between mothers and daughters, the unspoken expectations society places on women, the ways women are often cast as mothers, and how the language we use to describe our relationships shapes the way we live our lives.

Dr. Elinor Cleghorn is a feminist cultural historian, writer, and researcher, and the author of the critically acclaimed Unwell Women and A Woman's Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering . In this episode, Elinor talks about her British mother, Sarah, who raised her as a single mother, later had two more children, and fostered 50 children. From Sarah, we learn about what makes a great mother; the importance of good humour; how to be both strong and kind; the difference between being kind and always being "nice"; and why we do not need to fix everything. From Elinor, we learn about why medicine has so often failed to understand women's illnesses; the radical history of motherhood; the ways patriarchy has used and constrained mothering; the commercialization of menopause; and many other fascinating topics. To learn more about Elinor and her work, please visit her Instagram here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

This is the long, unedited version of the episode 191 with Dr. Elinor Cleghorn, a feminist cultural historian, writer, and researcher, and the author of the critically acclaimed Unwell Women and A Woman's Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering . In this episode, Elinor talks about her British mother, Sarah, who raised her as a single mother, later had two more children, and fostered 50 children. From Sarah, we learn about what makes a great mother; the importance of good humour; how to be both strong and kind; the difference between being kind and always being "nice"; and why we do not need to fix everything. From Elinor, we learn about why medicine has so often failed to understand women's illnesses; the radical history of motherhood; the ways patriarchy has used and constrained mothering; the commercialization of menopause; and many other fascinating topics. To learn more about Elinor and her work, please visit her Instagram here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

American award-winning writer Zinzi Clemmons , author of What We Lose and Freedom , talks about her South African mother, Dorothy — an activist and teacher who devoted her life to serving underprivileged Black children. Dorothy teaches us to raise independent daughters by modelling feminism, not just talking about it; to demand respect in every relationship; to show our children what healthy love looks like; and to always have the means to leave if a relationship no longer works. Zinzi also reflects on grief, writing, the realities of apartheid, and the deep connection between teaching and mothering. To learn more about Zinzi and her work, visit her website here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

American artist, illustrator, writer, and designer Maira Kalman , author of Women Holding Things , Sara Berman's Closet , and many other illustrated books, talks about her Belarus-born Jewish mother, Sara. After leaving her husband in Tel Aviv, Sara began a new life in New York — and, at 60, finally found her true identity, and her happiest self. From Sara, we learn about making order out of chaos, surrounding ourselves with beautiful things, trusting our own vision instead of seeking outside approval, and living with meaning, purpose, and humor. To learn more about Maira and her work, visit her website here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Thank You, Mama is back with new episodes, as Ana Tajder speaks with women from around the world about the most important lessons they learned from their mothers. This season explores women, mothers, and their wisdom — through books. Listen to the trailer for a short preview of the fascinating guests and conversations waiting for you from May 12 . New episodes will be published weekly on Tuesdays.

Since launching Thank You, Mama on International Women's Day 2020, I've had the privilege of speaking with extraordinary women from around the world—artists and scientists, CEOs and stay-at-home moms, bestselling authors, pop stars, retirees, and entrepreneurs—about their mothers, their legacies, and the lessons that shape who we become. Across 183 episodes, these conversations have shared deeply personal stories and hard-won wisdom, revealing how universal our experiences are as women, daughters, and sometimes mothers. They've reminded me that being a woman means belonging to a global sisterhood—one we too often forget to draw strength from—and they've changed me profoundly, making me more grounded, grateful, and connected. That growing treasure chest of maternal wisdom has made it clear that it's time to begin work on the Thank You, Mama book, which will gather and share these lessons from mothers around the world. Writing it requires time, reflection, and the same care that has always guided the podcast. To make space for that work while continuing the show sustainably, Thank You, Mama will move to a seasonal format, with episodes released in two seasons each year—spring and fall—separated by intentional breaks. This shift allows the podcast and book to inform one another while keeping the conversations thoughtful and meaningful. Thank you, dear listeners, for being part of this journey and community. The next season of Thank You, Mama will launch later this spring, and I can't wait to share it with you. Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Originally published in 2021, I'm replaying this remarkable interview in solidarity with the courageous women of Iran and to offer you historical context for the protests unfolding today. Retired preschool teacher Mitra Jordan reflects on the life and legacy of her mother, Sattareh Farman Farmaian - widely regarded as the mother of social work in Iran and author of Daughter of Persia (highly recommended). Sattareh was raised in a royal harem as one of 36 children born to the ruling prince of the Qajar dynasty. She earned a degree in sociology from the University of Southern California, worked for the United Nations in Iraq, and then returned to Iran to found the country's first school of social work. Under her leadership, the school flourished, training hundreds of social workers and launching programs in family planning, women's education, and orphan care, with strong support from Farah Diba, wife of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. In 1979, the Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini forced Sattareh, at age 58, to abandon her life's work and flee Iran. She rebuilt her career in the United States, passing her exams and becoming a practicing social worker in Los Angeles. Mitra shares the lessons her mother lived by: the importance of education and self-reliance, the courage to follow one's own path, the refusal to be defined by your circumstances, and the often-overlooked mental benefits of physical exercise. You will find "Daughter of Persia" by Sattareh Farman Farmaian here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Elodie Ferchaud is a c o-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Boundless Life, where she helps families slow-travel the world while ensuring their children receive a high-quality education. A mother of four raising her children across borders, Elodie is building a global company while juggling school runs, bedtime negotiations, and night feeds. She speaks about her mother, Françoise, a music teacher who successfully balanced her passions and career with being a deeply present parent, and who showed extraordinary resilience through her battle with cancer, followed by the devastating loss of her son. Françoise taught Elodie to love life, maintain a positive outlook, accept change, trust in her own resilience, remain open to new experiences and cultures, and believe that a healthy balance between motherhood and a professional career is possible. Elodie also talks about how motherhood can be a superpower that can fuel your ambitions, and shares how she is managing life as a mother of four - including a 7-month-old baby - while growing an international business that takes her around the world. To learn more about Elodie and Bountless Life, visit here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

It's Christmas, and we're celebrating the birth of Jesus, so it's the perfect time to think about his mother, Mary. While she is omnipresent in Christianity - especially in Christian art - we know very little about her. This is why I was very excited to learn more about, and from, her through my guest, Dr. Christine Valters Paintner. Christine is the author of Birthing the Holy: Wisdom from Mary to Nurture Creativity and Renewal . She has a PhD in Christian spirituality, is an abbess, and is the author of more than twenty books on spirituality. Christine tells us about her American mother, Susan, a United Nations employee who struggled with rheumatoid arthritis but transformed her suffering into a gift for others when she earned an MA in social studies to become an advocate for people with disabilities. Susan teaches us to empower others - to not see ourselves as victims, but to use our challenges to help those around us - and to embrace the power that comes with older age. In the second part of the episode, we talk about Mary and her lessons: to show up in the world, to accept the calling to create the holy, to embrace the power of the sacred feminine (intuition, creativity, dreams, and gestation), and to be a loving and present witness in both birth and death, in the positive and the negative. Christine also shares an important lesson for many women: that we are not responsible for everything, and that sometimes we, too, need to be taken care of. Finally, she speaks about healing our ancestors by healing ourselves. I invite you to reflect on Mary, her presence, and what she represents to you during these holidays. And I wish you, dear listeners, blessed holidays and a happy 2026. To learn more about Christine and her work, please vist her website here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Former software engineer Ana Hebra Flaster has written extensively about Cuba and the Cuban-American experience for major U.S. publications including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Boston Globe, as well as on her acclaimed Substack, @CubaCurious. Her memoir, "Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town," traces her family's remarkable journey from post-revolutionary Havana to a snowy mill town in New England. In our conversation, Ana reflects on the realities of immigration, the legacy of the Cuban Revolution, and the generations of women who held her family together through upheaval and reinvention. From mama Consuelo come enduring lessons: making yourself brave in the face of danger; standing up for the truth, your rights, and for others; happiness being a choice (just like bitterness is); and letting go of grudges to move forward. To learn more about Ana and her work, visit her website . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Sports journalist and author of Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter and You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened , Amy Weinland Daughters, shares the life lessons she learned from her American mom, Sue : the danger of hiding behind a "perfect" façade, the trap of letting others define who you are, and the inspiring fact that your current chapter isn't your whole story — because the best may still lie ahead. She also speaks about being guided by love, embracing a "why not?" mindset, and being open-minded . Amy also reflects on the cathartic experience of writing her memoir, in which she gets to witness three days of her childhood as a grown-up bystander, the surprising pliability of memory, the practice of re-parenting ourselves, and the wisdom that comes from learning through other people's lives. For more about Amy and her books, please visit her website here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Dacia Moor e, licensed counselor and founder of Second Wind Counseling & Consulting , has dedicated her career to helping African Americans understand the benefits of therapy, take a proactive approach to mental wellness, and become their best selves. She's the author of Why Are So Many Students So Angry? and the forthcoming From Stuck to Unstoppable . In this episode, Dacia traces her mission back to her Jamaican mother, Dorothy, whose struggle with depression became a living picture of what it means to be "stuck." Watching Dorothy's pain - and her resilience - taught Dacia that staying stuck has a cost, and that faith, work ethic, and getting help are how we move again. We talk about recognizing when to ask for support and take a break, knowing when to let go and move on , navigating depression with compassion, and guiding our children with the hard-earned wisdom of our own experiences. To learn more about Second Wind, visit their website here . To subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter visit here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net To connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Engineer and Midlife Business Strategist Sairan Aqrawi shares her inspiring journey from Iraq to a new life in the United States—and the extraordinary story of her mother, Sidika, who was married at 14, became a mother at 15, and went on to raise seven children. From Sidika, we learn the power of patience and trust in divine timing; the wisdom of letting go of small grievances; the importance of choosing grace over noise, and of not seeking validation from others. She reminds us that not everything will unfold as we wish—and that sometimes, peace means letting go. Sairan also reflects on the lessons she's learned as an immigrant, a mother, and a business coach: to own your voice, to take action ("because action is confidence"), to see midlife as a triumph and a new fruitful phase , and to remember that sometimes you need to pause—and recalibrate. Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Julie Cobalt is an attorney with over 25 years of experience as a Conflict Resolution Expert with 1,200 successful mediations accomplished. After many years of working with large companies, Julie is now supporting families in resolving their conflicts, and offering workshops on navigating challenging times such as divorce. Julie shared a story of her mom who was always seeking validation through helping people outside of her family. This led to a fascinating conversation about the balance of taking care of others with taking care of yourself, but also questioning whom you seek validation from and why; how to shift perspective to see where the other person is coming from; and the importance of understanding before you react. Julie shared her inner journey of working on her relationship with her mother, and also the biggest lesson she learned as a Conflict Resolution Expert - she kindly shared her theory of "3 Buckets" which can help soften any relationship. A big thank you to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for sending such an amazing guest my way! To learn more about Julie, her coaching and workshops, please visit her website here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Sometimes, on occasions that are getting rarer and rarer, Instagram can be a place of great discoveries, and Becky Barnicoat was one of those for me. A cartoonist published by The New Yorke r, Grazia, The New Statesman, The Guardian, BuzzFeed, New York Magazine, Private Eye and Netflix, she had recently published her deeply funny and touching graphic memoir "Cry When the Baby Cries". For years, her observations of daily life and motherhood made me burst out laughing (often when I needed it the most). So join me as I finally get to laugh together with Becky! Hear her inspiring story about becoming a succesful cartoonist after years of hearing she wasn't good enough, and was dreaming of a job that didn't exist. And learn wise lessons from her and her mom Catherina about motherhood being a source the fulfilment, about creating a warm home through routine and light, about teaching our duaghters through our stories, and breaking generational cycles. To learn more about Becky, her work, and her new book, visit her website here , or her Instagram profile here . Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

Wanjiku Kiarie, an accountant and podcaster from Kenya, talks about her mama Frasia, a teacher who raised and supported her four daughters during her husband's battle with drinking. The episode is bursting with lessons on finding God; forgiving and giving; working hard, saving and investing; raising amazing women; and honesty. Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder

This episode is a bit different, because in this episode you host Ana Tajder will tell you her guest's mother's story. To Ana's big shock, because of technical difficulties with recording between US and China, the recording of this beautiful interview turned out blank. But Ana believed mama Chen's inspiring story had to be shared, so she shared it herself, using notes she took during the interview. Ana's guest is a Beijing based artist and industrial design professor Xue Hongyan. Xue talks about her mom Chen who, after a life of hard work in a factory, started her own business at 50. Listen for a glimpse into a life of a working-class woman in China, and for important lessons on hard work, resilience, and courage to start a new professional phase in your 50s. Subscribe to Ana's new "Mama Loves…" newsletter here . To contact Ana, to be a guest, or suggest a guest, please send your mail to: info@thankyoumama.net For more about "Thank You, Mama", please visit: http://www.thankyoumama.net Connect with Ana on social media: https://www.instagram.com/anatajder/ https://www.facebook.com/ana.tajder