Mama Bear Dares

On Episode 262 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi takes listeners into the future, so to speak, with a special interview with Matt Thraxton, a friend who has lived through the worst of Covid-19 in Shanghai, China. He tells listeners what it was like for him to experience weeks in lockdown in China AND gives us hope that life can (and will) go back to some sort of normal. His observations are fascinating and his advice about living through this pandemic is honest and optimistic. After the interview, the sisters talk amongst themselves about where to find HOPE and offer practical steps for the Mama Bear who is eager to help. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 261 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi sits down with Jodie Patterson, whose philanthropic work has been recognized by Hillary Clinton, Family Circle, the UN, and the Human Rights Campaign, among others, and whose beautifully written memoir, The Bold World: A Memoir of Family and Transformation, puts on full display the passion and heart that drives her remarkable work. Jodie’s is a powerful message about identity, equality, community, and the unbridled love of a Mama Bear. Jodie shares her story of coming to understand and fight on behalf of her transgender child. This conversation is about legacy, what it means to be a queer family, what it looks like to raise the kids in front of you (not the ones you imagined having), and finally, about how all of us can harness and release our unlimited potential. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares Podcast website.

On Episode 260 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie discuss the global health pandemic, the power of the mama bear spirit, and the importance of community and nurturing mental health during this time. The episode aims to bring cultural observation, personal response, and a bit of hope and inspiration to the Mama Bear community. Stay safe and stay home, Mama Bears! For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 259 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi have a conversation with Adrienne Martini, who holds a District 12 seat on the Otsego (New York) County Board and is the author of the book SOMEBODY’S GOTTA DO IT: Why Cursing at the News Won’t Save the Nation, but Your Name on a Local Ballot Can. The conversation with Adrienne is informative and inspiring…and so much fun. The women talk about the Covid-19 and the importance of local government response, about Adrienne’s run for office, and about how, as a middle-aged, cisgender, white woman, Adrienne focuses her privilege and her Mama Bear agency on policy and winning a seat in local government. The conversation is poignant, fun, and filled with hope and joy! Check out complete Show Notes on the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 258 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with the remarkable Rebecca Bender, a survivor of human trafficking and advocate for those still bound by this modern-day slave practice. Rebecca shares her incredible story of being coerced into prostitution, abused and controlled by her trafficker, and her eventual escape after nearly six years of terror. Today, Rebecca trains others on the topics of human trafficking and leadership and serves on the United States National Advisory Committee, Dept of Justice Human Trafficking Advisory Council. The conversation ranges from the realities of trafficking in the U.S. in 2020, grace and hope, the church’s role in loving people, and the legislation surrounding this crucial issue. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 257 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi spend their time together talking about a massive subject: the school-to-prison pipeline. They use their mama bear impulse to try to understand why students of color, students with learning disabilities, or students with histories of poverty, abuse, or neglect are often isolated, punished, and “pushed out.” Much like their episode entitled “The Privilege Pipeline,” the women share stories of their own experience as parents in the public schools and sift through the research regarding the systems in place. The episode is informative as well as thought-provoking. For links to research and complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 256 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with Monroe Alise to discuss the massive issue of homelessness in the United States. Monroe is a passionate advocate of the homeless through her work with the National Coalition for the Homeless and shares her hard-won wisdom with listeners. She shares her incredible story of resilience and her struggle with mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness throughout the course of her life as a black, trans woman and has incredible wisdom and experiences to offer listeners. The conversation is from-the-heart as well as informative and inspiring. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 255 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie grab their mics in celebration of female friendship. As the season of love and GALentines comes to a close, this episode is a fight song for checking in, staying in touch, and loving each other in a sometimes-chaotic world. They talk about politics, misogeny, the Iowa caucus, parenting, health and healthcare, dancing with the universe, and more. At its heart, this episode is about talking to one another and encouraging others to do the same, because sometimes, in the midst of it all, you really just need to laugh (and maybe cry a little bit, too) with your gal pals. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 254 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with Nadja Streiter, a licensed therapist who specializes in families struggling with gaming and technology overuse. The women spend their time discussing the massive topic of technology use in 2020. It’s a huge topic and Nadja helps equip listeners with tools needed to navigate gaming issues, phone use, and technology. They explore helpful language surrounding the complex topic (“tech like you eat”) and they dive into what we need to know about gaming, the difference between addiction, a hobby or a problem, and how to keep phone use and gaming in balance. It’s a great conversation about an enormous topic. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares Podcast website.

On Episode 253 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi discuss the behemoth company and cultural influencer, Facebook. So many of us live with a love-hate relationship with this social media giant and have conflicted feelings about it’s place in our lives. Leslie and Tesi use this Mama Bear Mini to specifically dive into how Facebook has been a dangerous purveyor of disinformation and how the platform has been used to influence politics and elections and therefore life as we know it. Though there are many discussions to be had about our global culture and Facebook, today’s pod focuses on politics and aims to both educate and prompt listeners to examine their own relationship to social media. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

Introducing the newest Audioboom original podcast, FAM: For All Moms. This podcast is literally for all moms living through the madness that is parenthood. Join hosts Susan Yara and Sharzad Kiadeh every Wednesday as they share their sometimes embarrassing experiences, while also providing advice from experts and friends. FAM: For All Moms premieres 1/29. Subscribe to FAM: For All Moms on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fam-for-all-moms/id1494037915

On Episode 252, Tesi and Leslie sit down with the fabulous and passionate Andra Pool. Andra is a Mama Bear who works tirelessly on behalf of young adults through Greenhouse Scholars, an education nonprofit cultivating leaders to change low-income families and communities. Andra and the sister-hosts talk about secondary and post-secondary education in the United States and agree that now more than ever the world needs people like Andra and organizations like Greenhouse Scholars to break the cycle of poverty, level the playing field for all aspiring students, and ensure lasing, generational change to broadly impact low-income communities. The conversation is rooted in a shared belief in the power of education and the beauty of human potential. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 251 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, co-hosts and sisters Leslie and Tesi try to better understand the economy that, on one hand, so many tell us is booming while, on the other hand, we see the reality of the working poor. If the unemployment rate is at historic lows, then why are an estimated 41.4 percent of the total U.S. population considered poor or low-income? Leslie and Tesi take a deep dive into research and talk about the history of the minimum wage in our country, the arguments for and against raising a minimum wage, and the impact that a higher rate of pay would have on nearly 50% of American earners. It’s an interesting discussion, full of facts and anecdotes that all lead to one conclusion: The minimum wage is in desperate need of a mama bear. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 250 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with Rebecca Nagle, a queer, indigenous activist, writer, and speaker. Nagle is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and is one of the founders of FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture, an organization led by artists and activists who attempt to promote a culture of consent. She is also the host of the popular and fascinating podcast THIS LAND, which focuses on the 1839 assassination of a Cherokee leader and a 1999 murder case and how these two crimes provide a backbone to an upcoming 2019 Supreme Court decision that will determine the fate of five tribes and nearly half the land in Oklahoma. During this rich conversation, the three women talk about Nagle’s work with sexual abuse survivors, how she has used art to further tough conversations and make bold statements to shake the collective psyche out of the status quo, and how we have to think about poking holes in those huge systems that are at play in our culture. It’s a great conversation with an

On Episode 249 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie take a moment to reflect on some big moments, new obsessions, a few observations, and the Top Ten most listened to podcasts from the last year. It’s a fun conversation that will give listeners a taste of ten topics worth exploring, as well as a focused dare for the new year. For a list of episodes and complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website here.

On Episode 248 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie revisit a fascinating conversation with Grace Estripeaut, a mental detox expert and all-around fascinating woman. The three jump right in to discuss Grace’s story and life’s work. Grace helps listeners with stories and practical steps to guide them to a calmer life with more clarity. Grace shares tips on how to switch off your busy mind and decompress so you can actually sleep and start the next day refreshed, how to boost your energy and improve your mood, how to find SPACE in your life, and ways to fuel your tank, encourage your vision, and stay focused on what matters most -- regardless of what’s happening around you! Listeners will be blown away by this conversation. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 247 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi bring all of their holiday intensity to a discussion of the prevalence of food deserts across our nation. Too many Americans suffer due to the lack access to affordable, healthy food options because of the absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance, and too many of this country’s children are negatively affected by not just the geography but by the larger systemic issues that we face. Because of the inequity of systems in place, many activists prefer the words “food oppression” or “food apartheid” to describe the injustice, and after sifting through the research, Tesi and Leslie understand why. The sister-hosts discuss the magnitude of the problem, the implications of food oppression, and, finally, the solutions that are working and the ways in which an engaged Mama Bear might engage. It’s a big topic, to be sure, but it’s one worth your attention and care. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

On Episode 246 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi talk to the extraordinary Emily Tisch Sussman. Emily has been at the forefront of executing strategy for the progressive movement in the United States for more than a decade. She is a leading democratic political strategist who appears regularly on FOX News, CNN, HLN, and MSNBC and whose views are frequently featured in national news outlets including The New York Times, Newsweek, and Politico. Today, she spends time talking to Tesi and Leslie’s listeners about her life, her work, her hope, and her response to the world we find ourselves living in. Listeners will love her expertise and practical advice when it comes to all-things politics as we prepare for 2020. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

 On Episode 255 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie discuss fairtrade, the fast fashion industry, and what to avoid and what to embrace during this American holiday shopping season. The two women talk about what goes into a fairtrade label, what the fast fashion industry is doing to our earth and human beings, and why it matters. They encourage listeners to do their best, vote with their dollars, and look for all of the great, creative companies who are taking social responsibility in the production of their wares—in terms of the way they treat their workers and their environmental impact. It’s a fun and informative episode. Listen in! Visit the Mama Bear Dares website for complete Show Notes.

On Episode 244 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi sits down with Catherine Middlebrooks to discuss yoga, life in an RV, and how moms can and should live a BIG, FULL life. They discuss the ins and outs of and how restoring the core and pelvic floor during the postpartum period plays a huge part in being able to enjoy motherhood and life, and how Catherine manages the adventure of traveling with her family in the RV they inhabit. The conversation is informative, fun, and a powerful reminder that when we follow our own gut about what’s best for ourselves and our family, we are infinitely happier. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.