Thank You, Mama

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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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 co-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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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 Moore, 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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 Yorker, 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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

Author and podcast host Ronit Plank, author of "Home is a Made-Up Place" and "When She Comes Back", talks about her mom who left six year old Ronit and her four year old sister to move to India and follow guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, the center of Netflix documentary "Wild Wild Country". In this incredible story of personal development, Ronit shares how she forgave her mother and created a strong relationship with her. We learn that while most people don't change, some do; that the way people treat you shows who they are - not who you are; the importance of expressing feelings in a vulnerable and constructive way; and to always use more herbs than the recipe calls for. To learn more about Ronit 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: [email protected] 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

Lawyer from Tanzania specialized in human rights, Ashura Kayupayupa, talks about her mother Rose, who, after her husband was killed in a car accident, was disowned by his family. Ashura tells us about widow abuse and witch-hunt, a problem that's still widespread in Africa. But mama Rose stayed strong, re-built her life and started her small agricultural business. Rose teaches us about hope, endurance, hard work, patience, and focusing on your own life. We also learn not to ponder on why something happened to us, but to make the best out of any situation. 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: [email protected] 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

Emmy-winning ESPN broadcaster Jenn Hildreth and FOX Sports Senior Vice President Talent Relations Aimee Leone, talk about "Tough as a Mother: Women in Sports, Working Moms, and the Shared Traits That Empower Us All", their anthology offering an intimate look at the lives of iconic women in sports and their journeys of balancing family and career. Jenn also talks about her mom Sandra, from whom she learned to love, have courage and strength, always do her best, and find her own way of doing things. Aimee talks about her mom Diane, from whom she learned to always keep evolving, be accepting of others, face her fears, and not to overthink. Aimee and Jenn also talk about what "having it all" means and if it's possible, about moxie, prioritizing, and lifting others. To order "Tough as a Mother" please 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: [email protected] 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

A published poet, author of "Novice", and mom, Nida Sophrasarun talks about how her poetry is influenced by her family on two ends: on one end, it was her family's inability to communicate emotions that lead her to finding her voice in poetry. On the other end, the birth of her son lead her to finding herself again through writing. Nida talks about her Thai mom Kobkua, "a tiger", as Nida describes her, from whom Nida learned important lessons, in spite of their challenging relationship. Nida talks about showing love and connecting through food; about the solace of mysticism; about finding her unique voice; and understanding what really belongs to us - and what is just an illusion. Nida also read her poem "Starling" for us. To order Nida's book of poems "Novice", go here. You can read Nida's beautiful poem Violent Femmes 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: [email protected] 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

Widely known as the "Mother of Mindfulness", Dr. Ellen Langer is a foundational figure in the study of mindfulness outside of meditation traditions. Dr. Langer is the first woman to ever receive tenure in psychology at Harvard, where she has researched, in her own lab, mindfulness for over 40 years. Dr. Langer has published well over 200 research articles and 13 best-selling books, ("Mindfulness", "The Mindful Body", "The Art of Noticing", "Counter Clockwise", and "The Power of Mindful Learning") in which she has written on the illusion of control, aging, stress, decision-making, and health without meditation. In our interview, Dr. Langer talks about these topics, and also shares lessons she has learned from her American mom Sylvia. To learn more about Dr. Langer, visit her website here. To order her latest book, 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: [email protected] 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.tajde

A mother, a US Marine Corps combat veteran and a Navy psychologist, Dr. Julienne Shin, talks about lessons she learned through her difficult relationship with her Filipino mom Corazon. We learn about the impact of a mother's relationships with her child at a young age, about not holding on to your parents' pain; and about the importance of emotional intelligence. Julienne also shares some amazing things she learned through writing her dissertation about mothers in combat. 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: [email protected] To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here. 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

Authors of "What To Do When I'm Gone" and "What to Do When You Get Dumped", a mother-daughter team, share their mothers' lessons. Suzy Hopkins is a former newspaper reporter and magazine publisher. Her daughter Hallie Bateman is a freelance writer and illustrator based in Los Angeles whose work has been published by The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Awl and others. Suzy talks about her mother, a soft-spoken librarian, and mother of six, who suffered domestic abuse and managed to leave the marriage after 30 years - only after she found out her husband had a mistress. We learn about leaving the moment somebody lifts a hand to you; about asking for help; talking about elephants in the room; and knowing what you have the right to expect from a relationship. While Suzy learned what not to follow, Hallie learned from Suzy's example: how important it is to talk about everything; the power of unconditional love; and turning the sense of discovery and question-asking into art. Suzy also talks about recovering from grief after her husband or 30 years surprisingly asked for a divorce, a process which took four years, during which she wrote highly inspiring and comforting "What to do When You Get Dumped". To learn more about Suzy, follow her on Instagram here. To learn more about Hallie, 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: [email protected] To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here. 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

Project Associate at UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) and co-founder of Diaspora Creatives, Audrey Kodjo tells us about her mom Lucy, who, in spite of having the status of a queen in Benin, had to master many obstacles both in her childhood and adulthood – from being a foster child to facing marital challenges. We learn about Benin, and what it means to be a queen there, but we also learn many life-lessons about teaching your children values and strong roots; why women are the backbone of a family; the eternal split between family and your dreams; the power of spirituality; and why it's important to take risks. To learn more about Diaspora Creatives, visit their 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: [email protected] To learn more about "Thank You, mama" creative writing workshop, visit here. 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