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