Moms Changing the World

With the holiday season in full swing, we spotlight an author mom to consider "At the Right Time" childrens book for the young children on your Christmas list. My friend from years back, Michelle Forrest, is a former preschool teacher turned Family Lawyer and now adds Author to her titles.After graduating from Stanford University with a B.S. in biology and a minor in psychology, Michelle taught at Bing Nursery School for five years. There she was immersed in the world of young children and cultivated her passion for early childhood education and child development. As a teacher, Michelle personally witnessed the positive impact of prosocial language on both a child’s ability to navigate social settings and also a child’s development of self and confidence. Following her time in education, Michelle returned to school, obtained her J.D. from Santa Clara University, and began her career working as a family law attorney to assist and support families going through difficult circumstances.  After having her first child, Michelle learned the power of children’s books to teach children and assist adults in parenting. As she endeavored to raise a confident and empowered daughter, Michelle began to write a children’s book while she developed her ideas about using language to further prosocial behavior. Her first book, At the Right Time, was published in 2020 and is now available. Rachel Asvitt, the illustrator, was Michelle’s first friend, whom she met at Bing Nursery School as a child.  At the Right Time depicts cute animal friends using key prosocial phrases helpful for children to learn to share, join in friends’ play, take turns, and wait for a turn – all important life skills for young children to know in social settings they often encounter, like school and the playground. The book also emphasizes that behaviors have a “right” or appropriate time in order to assist adults in teaching their children about context.  Language empowers. Michelle’s sincere hope is that At the Right Time will assist families in learning to adopt respectful language that positively develops children’s self-concept, sense of self, and place in this universe. To order her book, email [email protected] encouragement at www.MomsChangingtheWorld.orgFacebook - Moms Changing The World PodcastWww.BeCalmParenting.com -Course is for parents of children 7yo and younger and you want a calmer way of handling challenging moments with your child, then this course is for you!Instagram - BeCalm_Parenting Host: Ekua Walker, Child Development NP, Parent Coach and CEO - Chief Encouragement OfficerProducer: Koby BlanksonPodcast Art: Esther and Joel Ishler

Today's guest is a college friend who has worked locally and internationally for a cleaner Earth. Fueled by her roots in Ivory Coast, Fanta is a senior program officer for Climate and Energy at an environmental foundation, advancing solutions to ensure a safe and stable climate.Prior to joining her foundation, Fanta worked as chief program officer at an international NGO focused on clean transportation. Fanta oversaw the global organization’s research programs informing transportation policies that mitigate climate change and benefit public health. Throughout her career, Fanta has worked at the intersection of science, technology, and policy in service of environmental protection and public health.Fanta holds an M.S. in energy and resources from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.S. in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University. In her free time, Fanta enjoys exploring the Bay Area’s culinary diversity with her diverse family.More encouragement at www.MomsChangingtheWorld.orgFacebook - Moms Changing The World PodcastWww.BeCalmParenting.com -Course is for parents of children 7yo and younger and you want a calmer way of handling challenging moments with your child, this course is for you!Instagram - BeCalm_Parenting Host: Ekua Walker, Child Development NP, Parent Coach and CEO - Chief Encouragement OfficerProducer: Koby BlanksonPodcast Art: Esther and Joel Ishler

My guest today, Nell Triplett, is a Californian who has been able to raise her two young children in Denmark, in addition to calling the Bay Area home. She is one of the "Baby Mom" friends I met at a Mommy Yoga class when my youngest was weeks old, and the friendship stuck as we found our way through early motherhood. Even when years go by, we pick up right where we left off, have more than a few laughs and keep "momming" together. Listen in to hear why and how she navigated an international move with two kids under 4yo, why family meals are "sacred" times for her family, and how she picked a school for her children that is pioneering the way in social justice education!Nell is a sustainability professional and mother of two living in the San Francisco Bay Area but joining us for today from just outside of Copenhagen, Denmark. As someone who's studies, family, home, career and parenting have been defined by global influences, she is joining us today to discuss the challenges and rewards of raising citizens of the world. She holds undergraduate degrees from UCLA and a Masters degree from Middlebury's Institute of International Studies and has worked across the federal government, non-profit, and private sectors. She currently leads corporate climate action for a Silicon Valley software company. Reach her at [email protected] encouragement at www.MomsChangingtheWorld.orgFacebook - Moms Changing The World PodcastWww.BeCalmParenting.com -Course is for parents of children 7yo and younger and you want a calmer way of handling challenging moments with your child, this course is for you!Instagram - BeCalm_Parenting Host: Ekua Walker, Child Development NP, Parent Coach and CEO - Chief Encouragement OfficerProducer: Koby BlanksonPodcast Art: Esther and Joel Ishler

Today, we talk about healing, but not just in the traditional way. My guest healed herself from Lupus and shares how that journey in the course of becoming a mother, changed her whole life. Jamie Lynn Guyden, MD is a medical doctor who finally awakened after a thirty-year slumber. She is a New Jersey native whose medical career began in Houston, TX immersed in the conventional medical model. For 10+ years she believed and taught the 'you are broken and need to fixed biochemically' model of medicine. Her career took a drastic turn in 2010 as her personal health journey compelled her to reevaluate her professional interests and ultimately re-write her story. Her then 18-year struggle with Systemic Lupus had become overwhelming and unacceptable. She began to broaden her scope of understanding about her body, seeking out holistic and alternative care that would lead to life-altering physical changes to her body, heart and mind. Dr. Guyden no longer has a relationship with Lupus, medication, disease or mainstream medical intervention as she no longer resonates at that frequency. She has since made it her life's passion to share what she has learned about healing and wellness with anyone who will listen. She now knows that our physical bodies are perfect, whole miracles that possess innate wisdom and intelligence for self-healing and repair.  Dr. Guyden resides in Austin, Texas with her husband, Alexander and daughters, Aria and Jayla. She leads an active lifestyle and enjoys daily meditation as well as connecting with people, animals and nature. She is a wayshower for healing and living in the now, finding great personal fulfillment and joy as a co-creator of her reality. For more with Dr. Jamie, go to www.thehealingiswithin.com.www.MomsChangingtheWorld.orgFacebook - Moms Changing The World PodcastInstagram - BeCalm_Parenting Course is for parents of children 7yo and younger and you want a calmer way of handling challenging moments with your child, this course is for you!Host: Ekua Walker, Child Development NP, Parent Coach and CEO - Chief Encouragement OfficerProducer: Koby BlanksonPodcast Art: Esther and Joel Ishler

Today's interview is with the newest mom I have talked to on Moms Changing the World. As an Obstetric and Gynocology MD, our guest has been changing the world for mothers years before she had her own daughter. We talk about a simple way to nurture early interests you see in your kids, some interesting turns the road to motherhood can take, what the pandemic is doing to birthrates and how to fit in self care when you have a newborn AND a fulltime job during the pandemic.Dr. Naima Bridges is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynocology and serves as Assistant Chief for a CA Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Her training at UCSF, UC Davis and University of Illinois, Chicago prepared her well to support women's health wherever she goes. She also has a Masters of Public in Global Health from Harvard. She has used her fluent French to volunteer in countries incuding Cameroon, Haiti, and Sierra Leon and conducted women's health research in Tanzania.Also, Ekua was a speaker at www.CalmingtheADHDchaos.com a free virtual summit for parents with ADHD and/or children with ADHD happening right now. If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, life can feel frustrating, overwhelming, and lonely. There is so much to consider→ How to stop having to repeat yourself, solve sibling squabbles, or improve friendships. What about nutrition, sleep or medication? What to do about therapy, primitive reflexes, or alternative treatment options? How to help your child who has given up or struggles in school. And where, in all of this, do you get a moment for yourself?  If you want to know how to have a calm, confident, connected family, then I invite you to JOIN ME in the upcoming Calming the ADHD Chaos. Learn more about her BE CALM system for bringing CALM and joy back to your parenting. Register today so you will not miss out on all the great tools and free resources provided by Lara Dawn and the 25 ADHD experts she interviews. Reserve your seat to get FREE access (if you catch it in real time) to resources and strategies that are working right now for families like yours. To reach our guest: email [email protected] - Moms Changing The World PodcastInstagram - BeCalm_ParentingHost: Ekua Walker, Child Development NP, Parent Coach and CEO - Chief Encouragement OfficerProducer: Koby BlanksonPodcast Art: Esther and Joel Ishler

This week, I welcome my friend and fellow advance practice nurse, Lukeythia Bastardi. We talk about the joys and challenges of our profession, raising multi-ethnic children and building community even when it is hard!She says "I have been married for nearly twenty years to my college sweetheart whom I met singing in the gospel choir. We have three brilliant children, a daughter aged 15 (10th grader), and two sons, one aged 13 (8th grader) and the other aged 6 (first grader). I have great friendships with neighboring families in our community that I am parenting alongside. I have lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past twelve years and I love this city! In addition to being a wife and mother, I work professionally as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) part-time and I am a full-time faculty member of Mount Marty University's Nurse Anesthesiology Program. I enjoy practicing anesthesia and educating nurses in this incredible profession. I love to read, listen to music, go for walks, and make lists. In the future, I hope to become better at loving people well and grow into being a very strong educator in my specialty." Find out more at Home Page - Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia (diversitycrna.org)Also, Ekua is a speaker at www.CalmingtheADHDchaos.com a free virtual summit for parents with ADHD and/or children with ADHD happening right now. If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, life can feel frustrating, overwhelming, and lonely. There is so much to consider→ How to stop having to repeat yourself, solve sibling squabbles, or improve friendships. What about nutrition, sleep or medication? What to do about therapy, primitive reflexes, or alternative treatment options? How to help your child who has given up or struggles in school. And where, in all of this, do you get a moment for yourself?  If you want to know how to have a calm, confident, connected family, then I invite you to JOIN ME in the upcoming Calming the ADHD Chaos. Learn more about her BE CALM system for bringing CALM and joy back to your parenting. Register today so you will not miss out on all the great tools and free resources provided by Lara Dawn and the 25 ADHD experts she interviews. Reserve your seat to get FREE access to resources and strategies that are working right now for families like yours. www.MomsChangingtheWorld.orgHost: Ekua Walker, Child Development NP, Parent Coach and CEO - Chief Encouragement OfficerProducer: Koby BlanksonPodcast Art: Esther and Joel Ishler

Welcome to Season 3 - I am kicking the season off with a BANG with Mom Strategist and my mentor, Mia Redrick. Mia is the go-to consultant for sharp, smart, go-getting women looking to package their expertise into high-ticket products/services both online and offline. Her track record for supporting her clients with high-ticket results quickly is unmatched.She has coached thousands of clients around the world. Everything she teaches she has personally accomplished and backs up with PROOF. Mia is a television personality and lifestyle brand. She has joined Emmy nominated and winning nationally syndicated shows on Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS. Additionally, she is a best-selling author, in-demand consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and top coach to thousands of professional women supporting them with building incredible brands. To learn more, go to www.miaredrick.comAlso, Ekua will be a speaker at www.CalmingtheADHDchaos.com a free virtual summit for parents with ADHD and/or children with ADHD. If you’re parenting a child with ADHD, life can feel frustrating, overwhelming, and lonely. There is so much to consider→ How to stop having to repeat yourself, solve sibling squabbles, or improve friendships. What about nutrition, sleep or medication? What to do about therapy, primitive reflexes, or alternative treatment options? How to help your child who has given up or struggles in school. And where, in all of this, do you get a moment for yourself?  If you want to know how to have a calm, confident, connected family, then I invite you to JOIN ME in the upcoming Calming the ADHD Chaos. Learn more about her BE CALM system for bringing CALM and joy back to your parenting. Register today so you will not miss out on all the great tools and free resources provided by Lara Dawn and the 25 ADHD experts she interviews. Reserve your seat to get FREE access to resources and strategies that are working right now for families like yours. 

Back again from Episode 23, Julie Long is here with me to review the last season of NBC's hit show This Is Us. Since the TV show does not return to air for a few more months, Julie and I talk about the mom stories and themes of our favorite characters. As some might remember, her son, Tanner, who was born blind, got the chance make to make a guest appearance in Season 4 of the show.www.MomsChangingtheWorld.orgHost: Ekua Walker, Child Development NP and CEO - Chief Encouragement OfficerProducer: Koby BlanksonPodcast Art: Esther and Joel Ishler

Super excited to invite you to my free parenting webinar! Take the CALM and JOY in your parenting to the next level as I support you to turn your young child's behavior challenges into opportunities!If your child 5 years and younger is struggling with tantrums and big emotions that cause frustration for all, this workshop is for you. If your children are older, you can still benefit from the principles that you can apply for yourself and older children into their teens.You'll have two opportunities in August - Thursdays, Aug 19, and Aug 26, 2021. Follow the link to register today! For questions and resources, visit: Learn The Proven, Holistic Framework To Turn Your Child's Behavior Challenges Into Opportunities (becalmparenting.com)www.MomsChangingtheWorld.orgBeCalmParenting (@becalm_parenting) • Instagram photos and videosHost: Ekua Walker, Child Development NP and CEO - Chief Encouragement OfficerProducer: Koby BlanksonPodcast Art: Esther and Joel Ishler

Happy summer! The guest for today has had an extra special impact on my life as the picture of what nurturing and international service- oriented mother could look like. I had the privilege of joining June Agamah and her husband, Dr. Edem Agamah, and a team of health professionals on my first medical missions trip to Ghana in 2003. June with International Health and Development Network have built a hospital they run in Agbozome.JUNE C. WOOD AGAMAH, MPH, born in Guyana, South America, is currently Logistics Coordinator for International Health & Development Network (www. ihdn.org), a 501©3 nonprofit organization established to help poor villages in the developing world. June, an internationally recognized Public Health Leader, has coordinated thirty-seven mission trips to Ghana and raises annual support to help thousands get access to quality health care.June Co-Chairs the local Community Health Giving Circle in her home town, Springfield, Illinois. June holds a B.A from the University of New Orleans, and an M.P.H from the University of Illinois at Springfield, Illinois.June is the author of Caryl’s Closet. "Caryl’s Closet is my story. It begins when I was a young Guyanese-American immigrant, coming of age in a changing society. It is set amidst the backdrop of a new political system that threatened the Guyanese way of life. It unfolds as I grapple with the immigration system of Barbados in my search for prosperity. My life changes with the reality of a heart-stopping loss that propels me on my journey to America. My quest is fraught with stories of what happens to minorities who pay the cost of social assimilation and academic success. This focus and sacrifice robs my children of the knowledge of who I really am. I was unaware of my need to open my heart. Written treasures tucked away in my closet are unearthed and become the catalyst for Caryl’s Closet. This book highlights my rich heritage for my readers and generations to come."She resides in Springfield, Illinois. June is married to Dr. Edem Agamah and three daughters, Sarah Agamah, Aseye Agamah and Miriam Agamah.Visit www.Junewoodagamah.com to learn more.www.MomsChangingtheWorld.orgHost: Ekua Walker, Child Development NP and CEO - Chief Encouragement OfficerProducer: Koby BlanksonPodcast Art: Esther and Joel Ishler