Jenn Taylor #rerouting

Pam and I go deep on culture shock, music, speaking, trying out every type of high school, not fitting in anywhere, getting her GED on her 17th birthday, date rape, a Second Chance program that didn't work out, getting pregnant as someone who didn't want kids, burying two children, raising two others, leaving an abusive relationship and fulfilling her dreams (with more than one Masters) to help others in similar situations. It was an epic journey.  Find her here: https://www.pamelasmithlpc.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Lyn was such a blast, discussing how she completed college even though she had a horrible reading comprehension issue (spelling was tough too!). We discuss ending her relationship with a strict religion, ending her marriage, obsessing over her weight, going corporate over teaching because it paid well, how exercise marketing is bullshit, building self-esteem, and having second chances. Lyn calls 3 years in her 30's her "dirty 30's" because she experiences 7 deaths and the unraveling of her relationship. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Today Alana and I discuss parenting teens. As a parent, I was not permissive but not restrictive. I trusted my kids even when I knew they were lying. They knew they could always come to me, although I wasn't always the first choice. They really relied on each other - which I love. Not all of them choose to communicate with each other or me, which is really hard to watch and feel.  We talked about sex, drugs, sneaking out, alcohol at 16, and birth control among other things. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

I knew going into this podcast that we'd be laughing a lot and we won't disappoint. In the laughter, we discuss some tough topics. How a car accident altered Dom's life, how being a caretaker for his Dad who suffered from Alzheimer's was incredibly tough - especially his "stained glass eyes". We talk reading, work ethics, being in John Maxwell's leadership program, leading a toastmasters group at 23, falling apart, gaining weight and becoming better than before. https://dombrightmon.vip/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Sydney and I get real, deep and personal about bullying, body image, growing up living in the movie Mean Girls, having an eating disorder, being suicidal and afraid to go to school. What helped? Journaling, gratitude, motivational videos and podcasts all learned at the treatment facility she checked herself into.  What started as wanting to help others who were bullied, everything Sydney does helps others to be seen as their true selves, in a positive way.  Find her HERE: www.sydneynanberg.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Joanne and I chat about the Sanity Project Podcast A LOT about persistence, life experience, showing up and learning from every job you're exposed to. You will learn how the song Is that all there is By Peggy Lee impacted Joanne. We discuss abuse, escaping, moving cross country, starting over (many times!) and finding a passion that has spanned about 30 years. Find Joanne here: https://askjoannevictoria.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

My 21-year-old daughter, Alana and I co-host once a month, while we strip it down and bare it all discussing topics from traditions to sex, divorce to depression, abuse to drug use and everything in between. With the perspective of the parent AND the child, both perspectives can be brought to the table simultaneously. Jump on board and join us for mother/daughter conversations that are raw, genuine and unbarred. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Angela's laid back nature and mellow attitude about her struggles are phenomenal. We talked about choice, her journey with being in multiple countries, traveling, getting her Masters of Social Work, getting married and navigating the world, getting pregnant, IVF, depression, and anxiety and losing 4 people in a span of 13 months. Despite all that, she takes responsibility for herself, turns things around to see the positive and helps other women do the same. She is profound and exceptional. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Natalie and I discuss the challenges we all face being a "worker bee" and not fit into the corporate world. We talk about working with good bosses versus shitty, emotional abuse at work and wanting to get out but not knowing how or what to do. She shares her story and why she took that struggle to other women who also feel like they don't fit in. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Jamie and I go deep on the points in life that change you, how being raised Mormon impacted her, getting pregnant at 15 by a 35 year old man (that is a story in itself) being married young to a man who she wasn't attracted to, raising kids, being molested as a child, dealing with her child's suicide attempts and understanding because she herself was also contemplating it. Therapy was the turning point to get her healthy and really deal with her past and also gave her the courage to leave her husband. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

I found it refreshing to chat with Martha. From chatting about her job at 3M as a Free Trade Agreement Analyst, to how her podcast was inadvertently launched, to her innate love of entrepreneurship. We discussed anxiety, moving out on your own, therapy and mental health, gaining confidence, studying abroad and being a TedX speaker. Her website: Shit You Need To Know is a comprehensive look at everything you need for life on your own. Martha was a blast to interview. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Patricia was gracious enough to admit how she felt when we were interviewing. HSP - Highly Sensitive People is who she realized she was. We chatted about her eating disorder and admitting herself into a 9 1/2 month clinic at 30 years old. Learning feelings were new but having a strong desire to connect was not. Raised by a single mom who was anxious and whose rules had rules, with no self-soothing tools, Patricia turned to food to feel better. I loved talking about the story we make up in our heads --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

My first interview during a tornado warning (sirens and all), Mary was upfront about health, business, being the 2nd oldest to 6 kids born in 10 years and how heavy she felt the responsibility to take care of her parents and siblings. We discussed family relationships, being a "good kid", becoming a lawyer and hating it. Then realizing it was the conduit to fund and support her passion-turned-business. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Maria and I discuss girls making a difference, creating disruption to make change, what IS the empowered girl experience and how are Moms involved. Maria tells us her story of school to paramedic, to the injury that made her not able to return to that field and how that launched her into finding her true purpose. She describes what it's like having two girls of her own, how they push her to be better and face her fears and what the empowered girl movement is doing plus what's in store. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Jess and I have a fantastic conversation about building Instagram and how it's the new business card, Brene Brown, haters, building your personal why your soul why and the impact on the world. Her struggle from great grades and feeling accomplished and grateful but still unhappy to where she's at now - a yogi who teaches marketing. jesspenesso.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Taking a tough upbringing peppered with abuse, launching herself into relationships that aren't healthy but knowing she wanted to help others - literally from the age of 5 - Lisa is honest about the continuation of getting and being healthy, what gets her through tough moments that arise now and how she finds her happiness. You will relate to her story because it's honest, raw and up front. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

I arranged this podcast differently and it was amazing! For those of you struggling with chronic pain, fibromyalgia - sit down and take a listen. Tami's story is amazing and I love her optimistic, upbeat attitude and deciding not to settle for a life she didn't love. Instead of cursing her life, she used it to catapult her in a new and wonderful direction.  HERE is where to find her. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

In this episode, Thembi and I discuss what it was like to grow up in Zimbabwe, find out her husband had two other wives and 5 children before her - while she was pregnant. What it was like to leave her 10-month-old daughter with her Mom and escape as a refugee. Getting on her first airplane to land in French-speaking Canada with $5 to her name and reunite with her daughter over 3 years later. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Alana came back for a second interview. SO MANY people responded to her story and the business she's created that I had to have round 2. I completely understand the attraction as I've loved her platform for working with energy to understand your relationship with money. Her background in finance and her degrees speak volumes of her intellect, but it's her passion to marry that with energy that makes her so absolutely unique and valuable. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message

Alana's experiences growing up aren't foreign to many, unfortunately. Feeling left out, bullied and finding it difficult to make good friends, her self-esteem took a hit. As a result, she made poor choices dating, had suicide attempts and her reality was that she just didn't find a niche to fit in to.her youngest sister inadvertently saved her final planned suicide attempt - the one that would have been successful. She gave 10 seconds for a sign that she should live. Listen to find out what it was. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-parents/message