As I bring you this episode, we are less than two weeks from the 2024 U.S. Election. In preparation for this moment, I seized the opportunity to sit down with Melissa Walker, a children's book author turned powerful political advocate, instrumental in the founding of an organization called The States Project.
Melissa’s path to The States Project was paved in the election results of 2016 which, like it did for so many of us, became a catalyst for activism. Looking for a way to get more intimately involved in our democratic process, her journey took a powerful turn when she attended a holiday party where then New York state senator Daniel Squadron, opened her eyes to the influence of state governments.
She learned that issues—like education, healthcare, civil rights, and voting rights—are often decided in state capitals, not Washington, D.C. This spark led her to gather other mothers and children's book authors in her own living room to create what they called a States Project Giving Circle. That group went on to help flip legislative seats in Virginia in 2017, impacting the balance of power enough in that state that they expanded healthcare for 400,000 Virginians that year.
Fast forward to 2024 and the States Project Giving Circles grow to over 200 across the country while my Mom Fran and I were searching for how we could transform our anxiety and fear to make an impact in this year’s election. The answer came from my niece Nicole, whose work with The States Project inspired us to start our own Giving Circle, which we named “Generations” for the three generations of women we sought to engage. It was also Nicole who invited Melissa to join our Circle on Zoom, where Melissa helped us make a strategic decision to pick Pennsylvania to direct our funds.
This episode is the invitation we ALL need right now—to look beyond the obvious and consider how strategic political giving in key states can create profound ripple effects across the country. Melissa helps us realize that by coming together with shared values and a sense of purpose, we can light the way for change.
In these critical weeks before the 2024 U.S. election, I hope Melissa’s E.P.I.C. life journey and her wisdom inspire all of us to use our power to make a difference—and to bring someone else along. Whether you join our Giving Circle or decide to come together with a community of your own, this episode reminds us that we have agency…and that collective, strategic action, even in small steps, can shift the course of our democracy.
Join Us in Our “Generations” States Project Giving Circle!
As mothers and daughters... we know that the stakes in this election couldn’t be higher for ourselves and future generations. Many of us are feeling a deep desire to make a meaningful impact but are unsure how best to channel our resources.
That’s why we’ve come together to form a States Project Giving Circle focusing on a powerful and often overlooked area of change—state legislatures.
In collaboration with The States Project, we are uniting across generations—mothers, daughters, family, and friends—to drive transformative change at the state level. State legislatures play a critical role in shaping policies that affect our daily lives, from education and healthcare to voting rights and environmental protection. Yet, they often receive far less attention and funding than national races.
Our Circle selected the state of PA and we are almost at our goal. Help us cross the finish line! Learn how you can make an impact by clicking HERE
Topics Discussed in this Episode:
Melissa's journey into political engagement post-2016 election and her quest to help people look beyond the first glance to engage strategically and purposefully.
How Melissa balances the “doer” qualities of her mother alongside the “thinker” qualities of her father.
The holiday party with then New York State Senator Daniel Squadron that became the “spark moment” that helped Melissa realize the power of state legislatures.
Melissa’s leadership in the formation and expansion of States Project Giving Circles to promote collective political giving and community engagement.
Why a few states like Pennsylvania, the one we selected for our Generations Giving Circle, can also impact the presidential election.
Melissa’s two daughters, and how they have become advocates for educating about state legislatures.
How Melissa weaves in WT (aka window time) into her day to give her space to reflect and how little shifts like reading the news from a newspaper instead of her phone helps her stay more present with her children.
The “epic snapshot moments” that have touched Melissa, from participating in Stand Up for the States with stars like Octavia Spencer to the thousands of conversations she has facilitated in Zoom rooms and living rooms across the country.
About Melissa Walker
Melissa Walker, Head of Giving Circles at The States Project. Melissa is the author of 10 novels for young adults and children. A former magazine editor, she now enjoys gathering people together to share stories about how they can pool their resources and change the balance of power in state legislatures — in fact, she helps organize over 200 Giving Circles across the country working on this mission. She is a graduate of Vassar College who hails from Chapel Hill, NC, and her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and Teen Vogue.
The States Project aims to highlight the importance of state legislatures in shaping American lives and improving democracy. They provide resources to help state lawmakers effectively govern and push for necessary changes.
Connect with Melissa
Website | www.melissacwalker.com
LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/melissacwalker
The States Project Website | statesproject.org
X | @melissacwalker
This Episode’s Challenge:
Melissa invites us to reflect on how we can come together, not just in times of crisis, but proactively. Her challenge: think about how you can mobilize your community. Invite one friend to bring another, forming a powerful group that can create meaningful change, whether by starting a States Project Giving Circle or another form of collective effort.
Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next:
Episode 104: Calm, Compassion, Clarity in the 2024 Election https://mothersquest.com/episode104/
MOM THE VOTE: Election Impact Advice To Light Your Way https://mothersquest.com/mom-the-vote-election-impact-advice-to-light-your-way/
Learn about States Project Giving Circles https://statesproject.org/get-involved/giving-circles/
Watch a quick video about why state legislatures matter https://youtu.be/Kv68pp104UQ?si=TV74BJHUVNe4rr23
Generations : A States Project Giving Circle https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle/wj6hg3K/Generations-A-States-Project-Giving-Circle
This Episode is Dedicated by Nicole Lettiere
About Nicole
Nicole Lettiere is a Principal of Industry Partnerships at The States Project, where she focuses on building impactful collaborations that drive change at the state level. She also serves as a Strategic Consultant at Propper Daley, a social impact agency where she has been applying her expertise in social innovation for over six years. Nicole’s career began in education as a middle school science teacher with Teach for America in New Orleans, where she created an arts-integrated science curriculum in partnership with the national Turnaround Arts program. A proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she was honored with the Joel Skornicka Service Award for her leadership in developing college readiness programs for underserved communities.
Connect with Nicole
Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-lettiere
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Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life.
Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).
In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast!
You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at Ko-Fi.com.
Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest
I’m excited to share this conversation with my longtime fellow podcasting friend and parenting guide, Casey O’Roarty.
Casey is a positive discipline trainer, certified coach and facilitator of personal growth and development, who encourages parents to discover the purpose of our journey. Through workshops, live and online classes, individual coaching, a published book, and her Joyful Courage Podcast, Casey helps us reconnect to our own empowerment and excitement in parenting, providing us with tools and a shift of mindset that allows us to deepen relationships with ourselves and our families.
In recent years, as Casey’s own children have grown and flown, Casey has shifted her focus to supporting parents of tweens, teens and young adults. As I’m navigating fall school-year transitions—sending Ryan off to his junior year of college and guiding my youngest Jacob, now 12, as he starts middle school, I knew I wanted to interview Casey, so that I could anchor into her wisdom, humor and heart-centered approach to parenting during this pivotal time.
In this episode, we dive into the heart of Casey’s E.P.I.C. life journey, from her experiences growing up as a child of divorce to her deep and supportive relationship with her daughter, Rowan. Casey shares openly about the ways that she had to evolve her own parenting and trust in the process, when Rowan’s mental health challenges in high school led Rowan to chart an untraditional path.
We also talk about the gifts of midlife—self-awareness, personal growth, and the new adventures that come when we embrace our roles as “bird launchers” vs. empty nesters. This conversation left me deeply reflective about motherhood, the unpredictable twists and turns it brings, and the ways we can seek trust, connection, and even stillness in the midst of it all.
I hope this conversation, and a Spark Session that Casey and I will collaborate on this fall, invite you to evolve your parenting, finding new ways to nurture connection with your children and within yourself.
Topics Discussed in this Episode:
How Casey’s strained relationship with her mother transformed into a supportive one, with the birth of her first child as a catalyst for the transformation.
Casey learned to embrace uncertainty and trust the evolving process of parenting when her daughter Rowan experienced mental health challenges and charted an untraditional path in high school and beyond.
Casey’s positive discipline coaching practice has evolved to support parents of tween, teens and young adults, plus some of the tools she shares to help parents navigate tumultuous times.
Casey’s refusal to fear a future that has not manifested or created suffering if it is not needed.
The empowering perspective Casey holds on midlife, seeing it as a time of self-awareness, integrating personal growth with new life experiences.
About Casey O’Roarty
Casey O’Roarty, Med, is a facilitator of personal growth and development. Her work encourages parents to discover the purpose of their journey, while also providing them with tools and a shift of mindset that allows them to deepen their relationships with themselves and their families. As a Positive Discipline Trainer since 2007 and certified coach, Casey has led countless groups through workshops and classes that have left them feeling empowered and excited about parenting. She also offers an engaging podcast, live and online classes, and individual coaching at www.besproutable.com/teens. Her first book, Joyful Courage: Calming the Drama and Taking Control of YOUR Parenting Journey was published May 20th, 2019. Casey lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and loves any time she can get with her launched kiddos.
Connect with Casey:
6 week class starts Tuesday Sept 24th - www.besproutable.com/teens/positive-discipline-classes/#deep-dive-classes
Parenting Classes: www.besproutable.com/elementary/parent-coaching/
Website: www.besproutable.com/teens/
IG: @joyful_courage
FB Group for parents of teens: www.facebook.com/groups/jcforparentsofteens
This Episode’s Challenge:
Casey invites us to dedicate space and time for self-reflection, whether through journaling, voice memos or using the Insight Timer. She also invited parents to join her six-week positive discipline class, which started September 24 but is still under way. Stay tuned for more details on a Spark Session we are organizing together “Nurturing Connection While Launching Our Kids.”
Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next:
Book mentioned:
This Episode is Dedicated by Elsie Escobar
Hello, I'm Elsie Escobar, and I'm honored to dedicate this episode of the Mother's Quest podcast to Casey O’Roarty. I met Casey for the first time in 2015 when she was part of a mastermind that I was co-running at the time. From 2015 to now, Casey has worked with me often, and I've been honored to continue to mentor her and really help her with her podcast, Joyful Courage. The gift of getting to know Casey has been incredible. I've always been a big believer that those I work with have something to teach me, and every time a new person comes to work with me directly, I feel there's something I need to learn as well. And this has never been more true than with Casey.
Casey has turned out to be my guide more than once, but more importantly recently, because I now have teenagers—two teenagers that I am a mama of. One of them, as Casey would say, is my teacher and continues to teach me the things I need to learn. At times, it's been scary, anxiety-inducing, dark, and hopeless. These are just some of the feelings that have come and gone lately. Really being able to listen to Casey's wisdom on parenting as my coach and hear her voice on her podcast, I'm not sure what I would have done, particularly this past year. She was instrumental in holding my hand across a very precarious bridge, and I just want to say thank you. I love you, Casey. You're amazing.
ABOUT ELSIE ESCOBAR
Elsie Escobar is a dedicated advocate, mentor, and a leading voice in the podcasting industry with over 17 years of experience. A fierce champion for diversity and representation, Elsie has consistently pushed the boundaries to elevate underrepresented voices in the space.
As the Director of Community and Content at Libsyn, she is the creative powerhouse behind “The Feed: The Official Libsyn Podcast,” which has just marked its 10th anniversary with over 1.6 million downloads. Elsie leads content strategy, concept development, and fosters meaningful engagement with podcasters across the globe.
Her impact extends beyond her role at Libsyn. Elsie has pioneered innovative content and social media strategies, inspired the creation of the society and culture track at Podcast Movement, and was honored with an induction into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame.
Elsie co-founded She Podcasts, the first large-scale community for women and non-binary podcasters, where her passion and commitment inspired a vibrant space for over 20,000 members to connect, learn, and nurture each other’s growth.
She is also known for her educational contributions, offering workshops, webinars, and meet-ups designed to empower podcasters at every stage of their journey. Through initiatives like #ClaimPodParity, she amplifies the voices of female audio creators, and as a spokesperson for Edison’s Latino Podcast Listening Report, she highlights the influence of Latino voices in podcasting. She is deeply involved with the BIPOC Podcast Creators initiative, supporting multicultural creators to find their footing and flourish in the industry.
Through all her efforts, Elsie has built and nurtured a vibrant podcasting community, inspiring countless individuals to discover their voice, embrace their unique journeys, and succeed in the ever-evolving podcasting landscape.
Connect with Elsie Escobar
Website | elsieescobar.com
Instagram | @theelsieescobar
X (Twitter) @TheElsieEscobar
LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/elsieescobar
BIG NEWS!
Mother’s Quest is a finalist for the Signal Awards, which honors the best in podcasting, judged by a collective of industry trailblazers. We're up for bronze, silver, or gold in the Family and Childraising Category—and we’re also in the running for the Listener’s Choice Award. That’s where you come in! Head to mothersquest.com/vote to cast your vote and help us win!
Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life.
Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).
In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast!
You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.
Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest
I’m excited to share with you this special episode featuring bite-sized messages from past podcast guests with practices to help us stay grounded, find calm, and regulate our nervous systems in these final days leading up to the 2024 U.S. election!
The inspiration for it…
A few weeks ago, amid some election anxiety and inspired by my friend Katie Hanus, I committed to just 10 minutes of meditation. Lying on my back, I looked up at the wind moving through a beautiful redwood tree in my backyard. As I watched, I listened to the sound of a nearby wind chime. My breath began to slow, my racing thoughts calmed, and I could think and feel more clearly again. If you want a little taste of this moment, you can watch the video I shared on Instagram @mothersquestpod
These are wild, heartbreaking, hopeful, and scary times, and the stakes are high. There is tragedy abroad and in our own communities, and it often feels like democracy itself is on the line. Mothers in my circle, especially, are trying to figure out how to show up for our children, contribute to this election, care for ourselves, and weave together a stronger community.
That moment under the redwood tree reminded me of the importance of finding calm and clarity within the storm. So, I reached out to a few of my amazing podcast guests for some perspectives and practices we can use during this time. I invite you to listen, try some of the practices in real-time as you do, and consider adding one or more of these to your daily routine.
I’m grateful to Valarie Kaur, Dr. Elisa Song, Jamie Greenwood, Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh and Jenjii Hysten for saying “yes ” to my invitation when I reached out in need and sharing these thoughtful contributions with us. I encourage you to follow them and tune into my past podcast episodes with them for more wisdom. After listening, I felt more calm, clear and ready to contribute.
If you listened to this episode and try any of the practices they recommend, I’d love to know how they are supporting you. Share in the Mother’s Quest Facebook Group or on instagram and tag me @mothersquestpod. I’d also love to hear any of your own practices or those you’ve learned from others that are helping you.
Ending with a reminder that we do not have to do this alone and some words I wrote in a Medium post I referenced from 2016. After getting support then, much like I just did now, I shared… “I feel like I am breathing now for the first time in over a week, and though moments of fear, sadness and outrage still come, instead of pushing them down, I am breathing them in, mixing them with equal parts hopefulness and love, and a commitment to do my part to take action.”
Topics Discussed:
Valerie Kaur guides us through a powerful meditation to connect with our full range of emotions, including grief and anger
Dr Elisa Song shares a simple yet effective mindfulness practice called "Stop, Look, and Listen" that both kids and adults can use
Jamie Greenwood offers invitations for self-compassion, finding joy during chaotic times and catching our breath
Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh teaches us how to use breathwork to gain clarity when focusing on the inhale and calm by focusing on the exhale
Jenjii Hysten shares three profound life lessons birthed from grief and challenge
About Valarie Kaur:
VALARIE KAUR is a renowned civil rights leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, educator, innovator, author of the #1 LA Times Bestseller SEE NO STRANGER, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project. Valarie burst into global consciousness when her 2016 Watch Night Service address went viral with 40 million views worldwide. Her question “Is this the darkness of the tomb – or the darkness of the womb?” reframes the historical moment and is now a mantra for people fighting for change.
Valarie became an activist when a Sikh father and family friend Balbir Singh Sodhi was the first person murdered in hate violence in the aftermath of 9/11. For two decades, in his memory, Valarie led visionary campaigns to tell untold stories and change policy on issues ranging from hate crimes to digital freedom. Her work ignited a national movement to reclaim love as a force for justice. In 2021, she led the People’s Inauguration, inspiring millions of Americans to renew their role in building a healthy, multiracial democracy.
Today, the Revolutionary Love Project is seeding networked communities of practice across the country, equipping people with the practical tools to build beloved community and transform the nation from inside out. In the last two decades, Valarie has won policy change on multiple fronts – hate crimes, racial profiling, immigration detention, solitary confinement, Internet freedom, and more. She founded Groundswell Movement, Faithful Internet, and the Yale Visual Law Project to equip advocates at the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and justice.
Valarie has been a regular TV commentator on MSNBC and contributor to CNN, NPR, PBS, the Hill, Huffington Post, and the Washington Post. She is a celebrated prophetic voice and has spoken widely, including at President Biden’s Inaugural Prayer Service. Valarie earned degrees at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale Law School, and holds several honorary doctorates. In Fall 2022, President Biden honored Valarie at the White House in the first-ever Uniters Ceremony, naming her as one of 16 leaders whose work is healing America.
A daughter of Punjabi farmers, Valarie grew up on the farmlands of California, where her family has lived for more than a century. Her grandfather gave her Sikh wisdom through stories and songs that showed the way of the sant-sipahi, sage-warrior. The sage loves; the warrior fights — it is a path of revolutionary love.
Connect with Valarie:
Website | valariekaur.com
Facebook | www.facebook.com/valarie.kaur.page
Instagram | @valariekaur
About Dr. Elisa Song, MD
Dr. Elisa Song, MD is an integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert, and mom to 2 thriving children. In her integrative pediatric practice, Whole Family Wellness, she’s helped 1000s of kids get to the root causes of their health concerns and helped their parents understand how to help their children thrive – body, mind, and spirit – by integrating conventional pediatrics with functional medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and essential oils. Dr. Song created Healthy Kids Happy Kids as an online holistic pediatric resource to help practitioners and parents bridge the gap between conventional and integrative pediatrics with an evidence-based, pediatrician-backed approach.
Her new book, Healthy Kids, Happy Kids released on May 14, 2024 teaches parents and children how to create Microbiome Magic for a lifetime of resilient bodies, brains, and immune systems.
Connect with Dr. Elisa
X (Twitter) @ElisaSongMD
Facebook | Healthy Kids Happy Kids
Instagram | @healthykids_happykids
Website | healthykidshappykids.com
About Jamie Greenwood:
Jamie Greenwood is a self care and leadership coach and the founder of Homecoming, a 6 month group coaching program that teaches big-dreaming, high-achieving women how to set boundaries and find home in themselves, without an ounce of guilt. With over 15 years experience, Jamie specializes in helping women get really clear on who they are, how they want to live and then actually doing it on their own terms.
Jamie is also the host of The Path Home, a podcast that explores the many facets of home, how we find home in ourselves and how we create a sense of home in our work, our relationships, our communities and in the future we want to see.
When Jamie’s not coaching, speaking, or podcasting, you can find her running after her 14 year old, 6 year old and 4 year old daughters and wondering what’s for dinner.
Connect with Jamie:
Website | https://jamiegreenwood.co/
Facebook | www.facebook.com/jamie.m.greenwood
About Avanti Kumar-Singh
Avanti Kumar-Singh is a physician who, after medical training in emergency medicine, began a journey to find her joy again- and to help people truly heal. Realizing that you can “quit your job but you can’t quit your calling”, Avanti set out to discover what really makes people healthy and what predisposes them to illness.She is now on a mission to evolve the conversation and to create a movement in which medical professionals reclaim the “art” of medicine and become heart-centered, healing catalysts that practice true medicine and support self-healing in their patients.
Over the 20 years of her training, study and research, Avanti has shared her expertise with Fortune 500 companies, elite undergraduate and graduate institutions and at prestigious industry and medical conferences. She has also been featured in the Huffington Post and was a member of upwave.com’s review board—Turner media’s former health and wellness entertainment brand. Avanti is currently the co-lead facilitator of the Faculty Scholars Program in Integrative Healthcare at the OSHER Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.
Avanti holds a BA in Art History from the University of Chicago and an MD from Rush University College of Medicine. She is also a certified plant-based professional and a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT). Avanti lives in Chicago with her husband and two children. Her first book, Ayurveda for Everyone, will be published in late 2019.
Connect with Avanti
About Jenjii Hysten
Jenjii Hysten is an advocate, teacher, lifelong learner, facilitator, author, and a visionary with over 20 years of experience in the education and human services arenas. She is devoted to creating dynamic and engaging learning opportunities through coaching and technical assistance to build the capacity of educational and youth development organizations throughout the Bay Area. In addition to leading Blaze Consulting Group, she provides intensive training and facilitation to support resident service divisions of major public housing developers throughout the state of California. Utilizing her Bachelor of Art, Interdisciplinary Studies degree from UC Berkeley with a focus on Urban Economic Development, Jenjii quickly assesses complex organizational issues and needs to develop creative solutions to help solve problems.
Jenjii is a poignant speaker and storyteller with a gift for making people feel loved right where they are. Beloved for her ability to bring diverse groups of people together, Jenjii inspires leaders to have honest, heart opening conversations that lead to action. She shows audiences how to turn trauma into a catalyst for transformation for one’s self and the larger world.
Jenjii’s background at the intersections of: executive coaching, anti-racist training, innovative design, curriculum development, women entrepreneurship, education & youth development, make her a go-to keynote speaker, coach and consultant for organizations, associations, and conferences across industries and sectors. Prior to launching Blaze Consulting Group, Jenjii was the founding Executive Director of Saving Our Sisters, Saving Our Selves, a charter school Dean of Students. Jenjii is also the author of Beyond the Hashtag: The Spirit, Heart and Love of Black Men.
Connect with Jenjii
Website | blazeconsulting.group
Instagram | @jenjiifaith
LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/jenjii-hysten-407aa045
Listen to These Full Episodes:
Coming Home To Ourselves with Self-Care Coach Jamie Greenwood
The Healer Lies Within through Ayurveda with Avanti Kumar-Singh
For More Election Wisdom:
Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life.
Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).
In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast!
You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.
Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest
I’m honored to share this special Father’s Day edition of the Mother’s Quest Podcast. This episode features my friend Jeff Steinberg, whose commitment to the lessons of the civil rights movement can shine a light for us now, during another pivotal time in our nation’s history.
Jeff and I first crossed paths when our sons, Ryan and Journey, now 20 years old, became inseparable friends in preschool. While waiting to pick up our kids, I instantly connected with Jeff as I learned about the transformative work he was doing as Executive Director of Sojourn to the Past, also known as the Sojourn Project.
Years before I would create Mother’s Quest, Jeff modeled the power of forging his own purposeful path. After 14 years of teaching A.P. American History, Jeff founded Sojourn to move beyond the limitations of the classroom, delving students into the lessons of the civil rights movement and bringing history to life.
Through week-long journeys to the South, students visit historic locations, delve into primary source materials, hear from Civil Rights icons, and engage in deep discussions. By stepping out of the classroom, students are immersed in a shared history not covered in our textbooks. They return empowered to drive personal, social, and civic change in their own communities.
Since his first trip in 1999, Jeff has received tremendous recognition for his impact, receiving state and national awards including The Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. (Advancing Nonviolence Through Generations of Exceptional Leadership) Award and the National Arts and Humanities Youth Programs Award. He has led over 19,000 students and community adults on these transformative journeys, shaping their futures in profound ways.
I loved this opportunity to go deep with Jeff into the lessons learned through Sojourn, the belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things and that we all have a role to play to speak out against injustice. Jeff shares honestly about his own personal grappling with our nation’s history, the principles of nonviolence, and the issues we face today, including the horrors unfolding in Israel and Palestine and the student protests here. While you might not agree with everything he says, I hope the thoughtful perspectives he shares inspires you, as it did me, to say yes to a sojourn trip of your own and to move with authenticity into your own transformational activism.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
How Jeff’s family and particularly his older brother, who played speeches of MLK and Bobby Kennedy while Jeff was growing up, influenced his commitment to social justice.
Jeff’s path from teaching A.P. American History to founding Sojourn to the Past, bringing civil rights history to life through immersive student journeys.
The importance of connecting our children, in developmentally appropriate ways, to our nation’s challenges and how Jeff raised his sons to explore their own authentic path to allyship.
The impact of the principles of nonviolence on Jeff’s life and how finding his own inner peace is a work in progress.
The work Sojourn is doing to reform policing and the justice system through bringing officers and district attorneys on the trips.
Why shame and guilt are destructive feelings and how to shift to empowerment and responsibility instead.
The lack of knowledge of our shared history and who Jeff believes are our nation’s real founding fathers and mothers.
Jeff’s personal reflections on the horrors unfolding in Israel and Palestine and the responsibility he feels as an American Jew to speak out against the oppression of the Palestinian people.
His respect for student activism and the conversation he recently had with a student protester at one of the university encampments.
The importance of dialogue, reciprocity, and building shared compassion.
About Jeff Steinberg
After 14 years of teaching Advanced Placement U.S. History, “Mr. Steinberg” founded Sojourn to the Past out of a passion for exploring civil rights and the desire to provide a transformational and experiential educational experience for his students. He has designed rigorous, relevant, and standards-based curriculum filled with rich primary source documents, in the hopes that students will benefit from exploring systemic injustices of the past as a means to better understand and address our current challenges. Mr. Steinberg has led over eight thousand students through Sojourn’s living history lesson, along the path of the Civil Rights Movement, through five states in the Southern United States. Additionally, he makes hundreds of interactive presentations annually across the country on the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement. For his efforts, Mr. Steinberg and the organization have received numerous state and national awards including: The Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. (Advancing Nonviolence Through Generations of Exceptional Leadership) Award, and the National Arts and Humanities Youth Programs Award.
Connect with Jeff and Sojourn
LinkedIn | Jeff Steinberg
Website | www.sojournproject.org
Instagram | @sojournproject
This Episode’s Challenge
Jeff gives us all an open invitation to join one of the Sojourn project trips and immerse ourselves in the living history and lessons of the civil rights movement. He encourages us to explore the written texts and documentaries that they use on the trips at this link. And, he invites us to think about how we can each use our voices to be allies and find our own authentic, transformative path to activism.
About Sojourn Project
For over 20 years and through 100+ study trips to the American Deep South and Washington, D.C., Sojourn Project has been immersing people from diverse backgrounds in academic, transformative weeklong moving-classroom Journeys. Along the path and through the lens of the Modern Civil Rights Movement and America’s struggles for liberty. Living history. Learning about sacrifices made and lives taken to achieve the right to vote and equality. Our greatest hope is for people to recognize that they too can stand up to injustice and do extraordinary things. A California-based nonprofit, Sojourn has been honored by the United States Congress as the longest-running social justice education and outreach program of its kind.
Related Episodes and Resources To Explore Next
From Mother’s Quest:
Ep 75: A Call for Kinetic Partnership with While Black’s Darius Hicks
Ep 82: Honoring Black Mothers with Anna Malaika Tubbs author of The Three Mothers
Sojourn Recommended Resources:
This Episode is Dedicated by Kristi Donna Ng
Kristi Donna Ng is an award-winning screenwriter, actress, producer and hula dancer. Her short films have been screened at the Boston Asian American Film Festival, Syracuse International Film Festival (1st Place Winner), The Barrow Group's 48 Hour Film Festival (Two-time Audience Award Winner) and The Sparrow Film Project where she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Award. Select theatre credits: Heartstrings (Atlantic Theater Company), Joker (National Queer Theatre), Same Time Next Week (Joust Theatre Company), Love/Sick (PaperKids Theatre Company). Kristi received her Masters Degree in Politics from New York University and previously worked at Human Rights Watch.
Instagram: @krisdng
Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life.
Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).
In celebration of our 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 + reviews to honor 100 + episodes of the Mother’s Quest Podcast!
You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.
Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest
Welcome to this first episode of Season Nine of the Mother’s Quest Podcast with a returning and special guest, my own son Ryan Neale.
I first sat down to record an episode with Ryan in 2017, on his 13th birthday, after we embarked on a milestone hike, using the ascent and descent at our local Sugarloaf Peak to pack up the lessons of his first 13 years of life and my first 13 years of motherhood.
At that time, Ryan knew he wanted to close out his teenage years the same way he began them. So this past March, in what felt like the blink of an eye, his 20th birthday approached and Ryan returned from college so we could set out on the trail again.
Though the path was familiar, we soon recognized just how much we each had grown, maturing through heartache and triumph in our own ways.
We knew we would want to record our reflections from the hike again in a special recording studio and with the support of someone who might help us go even deeper. The answer to our quest appeared in the form of Tricia Creason-Valencia, co-founder of PowerHouse, and who Ryan and I have been partnering with on a new initiative, the Autism Storytelling Project.
It therefore also felt right to invite Tricia to dedicate this episode. Listen in for her beautiful dedication. You’ll also hear her voice toward the end of our conversation, asking us each a question that brought us both to tears.
Along with some tears, there were many moments of insight and even some laughter, as we share about this 20 year milestone in both of our lives, the lessons we've learned about our neurodivergent identities especially, and about the exciting chapters unfolding for us.
It was a gift to experience this and also to share it with you. Ryan and I both hope this conversation inspires you to find your unique way to mark the milestones in your life, to reflect mindfully with your children, and to give yourselves opportunities to see one another, champion one another, and to grow alongside one another.
About Ryan Neale
Ryan Neale is a neurodivergent sophomore at UCLA, planning to double major in Communication and Disability Studies with a minor in Film Studies. He is part of the College Scholars Program at UCLA and recently was selected as part of the 2023 Chancellor’s Leadership Program cohort. He is passionate about neurodiversity advocacy and sharing his own experiences to pave the way for others. He is currently a staff member at the Bruin Resource Center, where he is a student lead on a new campus-wide neurodiversity initiative, the Bruin Neurodiversity Collective, to make UCLA more inclusive for students like him. This summer, he served on staff for the Stanford Neurodiversity Project – Research, Education, and Advocacy Camp for high schoolers wanting to create neurodiversity advocacy projects. He was also a speaker at the 2021 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit and has been a guest host on the Mother’s Quest Podcast. Ryan was diagnosed with autism at the age of 18 months old and also identifies with ADHD and anxiety.
Connect with Ryan
Topics Discussed in this Episode:
The origins of our first milestone hike and why it was important to Ryan to end his teenage years in the same way he began them.
Ryan's grappling with his autistic identity, and how his desire to be “normal” over his teenage years was like navigating a “toxic ex.”
Our growth and learning journey as a spiral, inviting us to revisit similar challenges but with new levels of self-awareness and knowledge.
How Ryan's perception of autism shifted over time, from internalized ableism and heavy masking toward self-acceptance and more authenticity..
My diagnosis of ADHD just before my 50th birthday and how my own perceptions of neurodiversity have shifted.
The ways that both of us used our voices to highlight gaps in support for neurodivergent students at UCLA and how that led to Ryan co-founding The Bruin Neurodiversity Collective.
Ryan’s first quarter at UCLA crash and burn and how writing his story about that experience for Business Insider was a turning point.
How Ryan putting himself out there and experiencing rejection after rejection ultimately led him to the greatest gift of all.
The letter of acknowledgment I wrote for Ryan about all the qualities I see in him. I read through tears but am so glad I persevered and could share it with him (and you!)
The power of mother and son sharing and growing alongside one another.
This Episode Dedicated by: Tricia Creason-Valencia and The Autism Storytelling Project
Tricia Creason-Valencia is a dynamic force in the world of filmmaking, education & community building. Through the art of storytelling, Tricia weaves her own raw narrative of mothering, making movies, resilience and rediscovery. As an Emmy-Nominated Director/Producer, Motivational Speaker and Co-Founder of PowerHouse, she pioneers the way for women, people of color and youth to amplify their voices and claim their power through creative expression. She believes, deep in her soul, that truth-telling fosters empathy and connection, serving as a catalyst for social change.
About The Autism Storytelling Project
The Autism Storytelling Project empowers young autistic people who aspire to tell authentic autistic stories through creative expression by awarding unrestricted grants. The goal of the project is to expand understanding about autism by elevating stories about the personal experiences of autistic young people ages 16-25 in Santa Clara County, CA. All forms of art and creative expression are welcome, but the story must focus on the artist's lived experience as an autistic person, or on autism as a whole. Connect with the Autism Storytelling Project:
About PowerHouse
PowerHouse is a creative co-working space for women+ entrepreneurs, video and podcasting production studio and venue for professional development & creativity workshops committed to amplifying women’s voices. PowerHouse is a women & minority-owned social entrepreneurship venture in the heart of downtown San Jose founded by Farran Tabrizi and Tricia Creason-Valencia.
Other Related Episodes and Resources:
Mother’s Quest May Gift Guide – Gift Yourselves and the Mothers You Love Beyond Mother’s Day!
Put yourself on your priority list and choose something special for yourself this Mother’s Day. Take a peek inside the Mother’s Quest Gift Guide at some of my favorite things I’ve curated for you.
Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life.
Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C).
In celebration of our recent 100th episode, we invite you to help us spread the word by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. Help us reach 100 reviews to honor our 100th episode milestone of the Mother’s Quest Podcast!
You can also support the podcast by making a contribution or joining one of our memberships at our Patron Page on Ko-Fi.com.
Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest