The Perfectors artwork

The Perfectors

328 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 206 ratings

We believe the world needs people who are determined to see love, compassion and justice win. We interview the perfectors doing just that. #perfectors (formerly the Mama Bear Dares Podcast)

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Episodes

Episode 273: Being Human with Judy Heumann

June 22, 2020 05:30 - 1 hour - 52 MB

On Episode 273 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with Judy Heumann, a disability rights activist who was chosen as one of the 100 women who defined the last century and was featured in the recent documentary Crip Camp. Forty years ago, Judy helped lead a groundbreaking protest called the Section 504 sit-in, in which disabled-rights activists occupied a federal building for almost a month, demanding greater accessibility for all. Judy has led an incredible life of activ...

Episode 272: Race Women with Maya Millett

June 15, 2020 05:30 - 50 minutes - 40.9 MB

On Episode 272 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with Maya Millett, the extraordinary woman behind Race Women. The three women talk about history, about reverence and anger, and about the ways in which we are indebted to the strong women who came before us. Maya is an incredibly talented storyteller who insists on using her talents and experience to broaden our collective conversation and ultimately make change. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares websi...

Episode 271: No More Virtue Signaling, Mama Bear Must Act

June 08, 2020 05:30 - 46 minutes - 56.9 MB

On Episode 271 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie encourage listeners to join Campaign Zero and educate themselves about #8CantWait, an initiative to immediately address police violence. They discuss each part of the initiative and continue to act as “crossing guards” for their listeners, using the podcast as starting point of education, but asking listeners to seek out BIPOC voices as we all continue to mature in our education and advocacy. For complete Show Notes, visit the M...

Episode 270: Mama Bears Demand Action with Shannon Watts

June 01, 2020 05:30 - 1 hour - 48.3 MB

On Episode 270 of the Mama Bear Dares podcast, Leslie and Tesi have the honor of sitting down with Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, the largest grassroots movement in Americans fighting for public safety measures that protect people from gun violence. The women talk about the moral imperative to DO SOMETHING to help the vulnerable among us and encourage listeners with a message of empowerment: You are more powerful than you realize and the world needs you. Check out complete Sho...

Episode 269: Mama Bear & the Cold Black Heart

May 25, 2020 05:30 - 53 minutes - 47.4 MB

On Episode 269 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi discuss strategies to keep their stressed-out, pandemic-heavy, world-weary hearts from turning cold and black. They talk about what’s giving them life in this moment and the things that they should probably feel guilty about, but don’t. This playful and earnest episode revolves around the idea that, with some intention, we can exist as complex beings amidst a complex time…and even cultivate joy. For complete Show Notes, visit th...

Episode 268: Art is Power with Holiday Reinhorn

May 18, 2020 05:30 - 1 hour - 54.4 MB

On Episode 268 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with Holiday Reinhorn, author and co-founder of LIDÈ Haiti, a community-based organization providing academic support and arts programs that EMPOWER and strengthen the resiliency of adolescent girls and differently abled youth who have been denied equal access to education. In this fantastic conversation Holiday reminds us of the transformative power of the arts and inspires us with her story, her wisdom, and her dedicat...

Episode 267: Food is Power with Laurie Ornelas

May 11, 2020 05:30 - 56 minutes - 49.1 MB

On Episode 267 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with Lauren Ornelas, the founder of the Food Empowerment Project, an organization that seeks to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one’s food choices. The women discuss farm worker rights, veganism, chocolate slavery, the lack of access to healthy foods, and how we can all make more informed choices that can ultimately prevent injustice against animals, people, and the environment. Now, ...

Episode 266: The COVID Wealth Gap

May 04, 2020 05:30 - 43 minutes - 43.1 MB

On Episode 266 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie talk about how systems, policies, and economic stimulus plans have repeatedly failed people of color, women, and minorities. They dive into the history of these harmful policies and talk about how in the midst of a global health pandemic and the consequential economic collapse, it’s the poor and marginalized who continue to lose. For complete Show Notes, head to the Mama Bear Dares website. 

Episode 265: Live Your Truth (No Matter the Cost) with Jen Hatmaker

April 27, 2020 05:30 - 58 minutes - 54 MB

On Episode 265 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with Jen Hatmaker, writer, speaker, activist and author of, most recently, Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire. The three discuss showing up in life as genuine, curious, brave, truth-tellers and change-makers. They celebrate putting in the internal work required to know and love yourself and how, even when the cost of high, living authentically brings freedom and joy. The conversation is filled with passion and laughter; you...

Episode 264: Privilege, Poverty, & the Pandemic

April 20, 2020 05:30 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MB

On Episode 264 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, sister/co-hosts Tesi and Leslie jump into the racial and economic disparities that COVID-19 is shining a great big spotlight on in the United States and around the world. As we begin to see more data and hear more about the racial and class discrimination this virus is highlighting in our society, the two women look at all of the symptoms and underlying conditions in Black communities, Latinx communities, and under-resourced and under-served com...

Episode 263: #OscarsSoWhite with April Reign

April 13, 2020 05:30 - 1 hour - 68.2 MB

On Episode 263 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with activist April Reign, the woman who propelled her hashtag “OscarsSoWhite” into a powerful movement challenging the lack of representation of marginalized communities in Hollywood … and beyond. The women discuss April’s work, beginning with a seemingly innocent and witty tweet back in 2015, using your influence and skill to fight for permanent systemic change, and why the posture of learning and how it’s essential to...

Episode 262: Hope in the Time of Corona (A Mama Bear Mini with a Special Interview with Matt Thraxton)

April 08, 2020 14:09 - 1 hour - 89 MB

On Episode 262 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi takes listeners into the future, so to speak, with a special interview with Matt Thraxton, a friend who has lived through the worst of Covid-19 in Shanghai, China. He tells listeners what it was like for him to experience weeks in lockdown in China AND gives us hope that life can (and will) go back to some sort of normal. His observations are fascinating and his advice about living through this pandemic is honest and optimistic. After the i...

Episode 262: Hope in the Time of Corona (A Mama Bear Mini with a special interview with Matt Thraxton)

April 06, 2020 05:30

On Episode 262 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi takes listeners into the future, so to speak, with a special interview with Matt Thraxton, a friend who has lived through the worst of Covid-19 in Shanghai, China. He tells listeners what it was like for him to experience weeks in lockdown in China AND gives us hope that life can (and will) go back to some sort of normal. His observations are fascinating and his advice about living through this pandemic is honest and optimistic. After the i...

Episode 261: The Bold World with Jodie Patterson

March 30, 2020 05:30 - 1 hour - 87 MB

On Episode 261 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi sits down with Jodie Patterson, whose philanthropic work has been recognized by Hillary Clinton, Family Circle, the UN, and the Human Rights Campaign, among others, and whose beautifully written memoir, The Bold World: A Memoir of Family and Transformation, puts on full display the passion and heart that drives her remarkable work. Jodie’s is a powerful message about identity, equality, community, and the unbridled love of a Mama Bear. Jodi...

Episode 260: Mama Bear & the Global Health Pandemic

March 23, 2020 05:30 - 52 minutes - 62.5 MB

On Episode 260 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie discuss the global health pandemic, the power of the mama bear spirit, and the importance of community and nurturing mental health during this time. The episode aims to bring cultural observation, personal response, and a bit of hope and inspiration to the Mama Bear community. Stay safe and stay home, Mama Bears! For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

Episode 259: Stop Cursing the News & Run for Local Office! w/ Adrienne Martini

March 16, 2020 05:30 - 1 hour - 80 MB

On Episode 259 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi have a conversation with Adrienne Martini, who holds a District 12 seat on the Otsego (New York) County Board and is the author of the book SOMEBODY’S GOTTA DO IT: Why Cursing at the News Won’t Save the Nation, but Your Name on a Local Ballot Can. The conversation with Adrienne is informative and inspiring…and so much fun. The women talk about the Covid-19 and the importance of local government response, about Adrienne’s run for ...

Episode 258: Human Trafficking with Rebecca Bender

March 09, 2020 05:30 - 1 hour - 63.8 MB

On Episode 258 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with the remarkable Rebecca Bender, a survivor of human trafficking and advocate for those still bound by this modern-day slave practice. Rebecca shares her incredible story of being coerced into prostitution, abused and controlled by her trafficker, and her eventual escape after nearly six years of terror. Today, Rebecca trains others on the topics of human trafficking and leadership and serves on the United States Nati...

Episode 257: The School-to-Prison Pipeline

March 02, 2020 06:30 - 59 minutes - 70.4 MB

On Episode 257 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi spend their time together talking about a massive subject: the school-to-prison pipeline. They use their mama bear impulse to try to understand why students of color, students with learning disabilities, or students with histories of poverty, abuse, or neglect are often isolated, punished, and “pushed out.” Much like their episode entitled “The Privilege Pipeline,” the women share stories of their own experience as parents in t...

Episode 256: Lead with Love with Monroe Alise

February 24, 2020 06:30 - 55 minutes - 65.4 MB

On Episode 256 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with Monroe Alise to discuss the massive issue of homelessness in the United States. Monroe is a passionate advocate of the homeless through her work with the National Coalition for the Homeless and shares her hard-won wisdom with listeners. She shares her incredible story of resilience and her struggle with mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness throughout the course of her life as a black, trans woman and ha...

Episode 256: Lead with Lead with Monroe Alise

February 24, 2020 06:30 - 55 minutes - 65.4 MB

On Episode 256 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with Monroe Alise to discuss the massive issue of homelessness in the United States. Monroe is a passionate advocate of the homeless through her work with the National Coalition for the Homeless and shares her hard-won wisdom with listeners. She shares her incredible story of resilience and her struggle with mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness throughout the course of her life as a black, trans woman and ha...

Episode 255: Lean Hard on Your Gal Pal

February 17, 2020 06:30 - 1 hour - 77.8 MB

On Episode 255 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie grab their mics in celebration of female friendship. As the season of love and GALentines comes to a close, this episode is a fight song for checking in, staying in touch, and loving each other in a sometimes-chaotic world. They talk about politics, misogeny, the Iowa caucus, parenting, health and healthcare, dancing with the universe, and more. At its heart, this episode is about talking to one another and encouraging others to ...

Episode 254: Phones, Games, Screens, & (Over)Use with Nadja Streiter

February 10, 2020 06:30 - 51 minutes - 38.7 MB

On Episode 254 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with Nadja Streiter, a licensed therapist who specializes in families struggling with gaming and technology overuse. The women spend their time discussing the massive topic of technology use in 2020. It’s a huge topic and Nadja helps equip listeners with tools needed to navigate gaming issues, phone use, and technology. They explore helpful language surrounding the complex topic (“tech like you eat”) and they dive into w...

Episode 253: Facebook & Mass Manipulation

February 03, 2020 06:30 - 44 minutes - 51.8 MB

On Episode 253 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi discuss the behemoth company and cultural influencer, Facebook. So many of us live with a love-hate relationship with this social media giant and have conflicted feelings about it’s place in our lives. Leslie and Tesi use this Mama Bear Mini to specifically dive into how Facebook has been a dangerous purveyor of disinformation and how the platform has been used to influence politics and elections and therefore life as we know it....

FAM: For All Moms

January 29, 2020 12:00 - 10 minutes - 10.2 MB

Introducing the newest Audioboom original podcast, FAM: For All Moms. This podcast is literally for all moms living through the madness that is parenthood. Join hosts Susan Yara and Sharzad Kiadeh every Wednesday as they share their sometimes embarrassing experiences, while also providing advice from experts and friends. FAM: For All Moms premieres 1/29. Subscribe to FAM: For All Moms on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fam-for-all-moms/id1494037915

Episode 252: Cultivating Leaders & Scholars with Andra Pool

January 27, 2020 06:30 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MB

On Episode 252, Tesi and Leslie sit down with the fabulous and passionate Andra Pool. Andra is a Mama Bear who works tirelessly on behalf of young adults through Greenhouse Scholars, an education nonprofit cultivating leaders to change low-income families and communities. Andra and the sister-hosts talk about secondary and post-secondary education in the United States and agree that now more than ever the world needs people like Andra and organizations like Greenhouse Scholars to break the c...

Episode 251: The Minimum Wage Needs a Mama Bear

January 20, 2020 06:30 - 1 hour - 71 MB

On Episode 251 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, co-hosts and sisters Leslie and Tesi try to better understand the economy that, on one hand, so many tell us is booming while, on the other hand, we see the reality of the working poor. If the unemployment rate is at historic lows, then why are an estimated 41.4 percent of the total U.S. population considered poor or low-income? Leslie and Tesi take a deep dive into research and talk about the history of the minimum wage in our country, the argu...

Episode 250: Poking Holes in Systems of Injustice with Rebecca Nagle

January 13, 2020 06:30 - 1 hour - 62.1 MB

On Episode 250 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with Rebecca Nagle, a queer, indigenous activist, writer, and speaker. Nagle is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and is one of the founders of FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture, an organization led by artists and activists who attempt to promote a culture of consent. She is also the host of the popular and fascinating podcast THIS LAND, which focuses on the 1839 assassination of a Cherokee leader and a 1999 murder case and h...

Episode 249: Top Ten of 2019

January 07, 2020 21:40 - 44 minutes - 49.9 MB

On Episode 249 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie take a moment to reflect on some big moments, new obsessions, a few observations, and the Top Ten most listened to podcasts from the last year. It’s a fun conversation that will give listeners a taste of ten topics worth exploring, as well as a focused dare for the new year. For a list of episodes and complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website here.

Episode 248: Mental Detox with Grace Estripeaut

December 30, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 64.5 MB

On Episode 248 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie revisit a fascinating conversation with Grace Estripeaut, a mental detox expert and all-around fascinating woman. The three jump right in to discuss Grace’s story and life’s work. Grace helps listeners with stories and practical steps to guide them to a calmer life with more clarity. Grace shares tips on how to switch off your busy mind and decompress so you can actually sleep and start the next day refreshed, how to boost your e...

Episode 247: Food Deserts & Oppression (AKA The Holiday Episode!)

December 23, 2019 06:30 - 45 minutes - 45 MB

On Episode 247 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi bring all of their holiday intensity to a discussion of the prevalence of food deserts across our nation. Too many Americans suffer due to the lack access to affordable, healthy food options because of the absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance, and too many of this country’s children are negatively affected by not just the geography but by the larger systemic issues that we face. Because of the inequity o...

Episode 246: Prepare to Primary with Emily Tisch Sussman

December 16, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 79.7 MB

On Episode 246 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi talk to the extraordinary Emily Tisch Sussman. Emily has been at the forefront of executing strategy for the progressive movement in the United States for more than a decade. She is a leading democratic political strategist who appears regularly on FOX News, CNN, HLN, and MSNBC and whose views are frequently featured in national news outlets including The New York Times, Newsweek, and Politico. Today, she spends time talking to T...

Episode 245: Let’s Not Buy Gifts Made with Other People’s Tears (The Holiday Gift Guide)

December 09, 2019 06:30 - 54 minutes - 52.9 MB

 On Episode 255 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie discuss fairtrade, the fast fashion industry, and what to avoid and what to embrace during this American holiday shopping season. The two women talk about what goes into a fairtrade label, what the fast fashion industry is doing to our earth and human beings, and why it matters. They encourage listeners to do their best, vote with their dollars, and look for all of the great, creative companies who are taking social responsibili...

Episode 244: Yoga, Power, & Life in an RV with Catherine Middlebrooks

December 02, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 79.7 MB

On Episode 244 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi sits down with Catherine Middlebrooks to discuss yoga, life in an RV, and how moms can and should live a BIG, FULL life. They discuss the ins and outs of and how restoring the core and pelvic floor during the postpartum period plays a huge part in being able to enjoy motherhood and life, and how Catherine manages the adventure of traveling with her family in the RV they inhabit. The conversation is informative, fun, and a powerful reminder ...

Episode 243: Girls & Sex

November 25, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 61.5 MB

On Episode 243, Leslie and Tesi sit down and talk about girls and sex. They dive into the research (for instance, Peggy Orenstein’s fabulous book) and try to crystallize what they’ve learned for listeners and offer a few practical take-aways. They discuss what the research is saying about girls, teenagers, and young women in America in 2019, how to talk to our kids about sex, consent, porn, and female pleasure. It’s a fascinating, educational look at the world we occupy and how we can be all...

Episode 242: Say My Name with Huda Essa

November 18, 2019 12:46 - 1 hour - 69.7 MB

On Episode 242 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with Huda Essa, an extraordinary woman who uses her training and experience to educate and influence communities across the nation as a Cultural Competency Consultant. Huda is a TEDx speaker and the author of a motivational children's book, Teach Us Your Name, which is focused on empowering children to take pride in their many identities while showing respect for themselves and others. Throughout the conversation, the th...

Episode 241: Bias, Orphan Care, & Other Tricky Topics with Katie Ganshert

November 11, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 61.6 MB

On Episode 241 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with author and activist Katie Ganshert and discuss everything from how to have productive conversations with those we don’t agree with, how to use our spheres of influence to turn the dial toward less bias to more love, how our good intentions need to be backed by mountains of thoughtful research and great questions in order to have the most positive impact, and how National Adoption Month can be both loaded with comple...

Episode 240: The Racial Wealth Gap

November 04, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 67.4 MB

On Episode 240 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down to learn more about the racial wealth gap in America. In this episode, the women bring all kinds of research, numbers, and statistics, they explore the long history of the racial wealth gap in our country, and they examine the long history of policies put into place that have kept Blacks, Whites, and Latinos in America on a terribly uneven playing field when it comes to acquiring and keeping wealth. The sister/co-hosts d...

Episode 239: Maternal Rights Are Human Rights with Arianna Taboada

October 28, 2019 05:30 - 1 hour - 69.6 MB

On Episode 239 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with Arianna Taboada, a maternal health researcher, advocate, lecturer, trainer, fierce Mama Bear, and maternity leave consultant. Ariana brings incredible perspective and the latest research and information about the current systems and policies in place in our country regarding postpartum health and maternity (and paternity) leave. The three women enjoy a lively conversation full of carefully investigated facts and ane...

Episode 238: Healthcare in America: What a Mama Bear Needs to Know

October 21, 2019 05:30 - 59 minutes - 58.5 MB

On Episode 238 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie dig into a discussion of healthcare in America. Who’s insured? For what? At what cost? Why does America rank so low in terms of health among industrialized nations across the globe? Tesi shares her personal health journey with chronic lyme’s disease and what she’s learned about insurance in the process. The women work hard to keep politics out of the conversation (minus a discussion of the Democratic front-runners proposed plans)...

Episode 237: Rebalancing the Domestic Workload with Eve Rodsky

October 15, 2019 01:50 - 52 minutes - 51.5 MB

On Episode 237, Leslie and Tesi were thrilled to sit down with Eve Rodsky, the author of Reese Witherspoon’s October book pick, FAIR PLAY: A Game-Changing Solution For When You Have Too Much To Do (And More Life to Live). The women lament the mental load that so many of us shoulder, but ultimately celebrate Eve’s revolutionary system for rebalancing the domestic workload between partners, putting an end to the imbalance of “invisible work” that women do regardless of whether they work outsid...

Episode 236: Faith & Fumes (Parenting Teens & Tweens) with Demi Austin Thomas

October 07, 2019 05:30 - 1 hour - 78.9 MB

On Episode 236 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down with “The Tween Queen,” family expert Demi Austin Thomas. A well-respected parenting coach and exceedingly loving person, Demi helps families and parents navigate their way through difficult times. The three women enjoy an authentic, truth- and wisdom-filled conversation spanning from Demi’s own struggles as a teenager, to her direct approach to communicating with teens by meeting them where they are emotionally and ment...

Episode 235: Cultural Appropriation

September 30, 2019 05:30 - 1 hour - 68.7 MB

On Episode 235, Tesi and Leslie add their Mama Bear voice to the discussion of cultural appropriation…a conversation they feel is relevant not just on Halloween but on every other day of the year as well. They discuss how to be cultural appreciators rather than appropriators, why they cling tightly to the maxim that Friends Don’t Let Friends Wear Blackface, and what makes them adamant in their belief that when you know better you do better. The sisters are candid about past mistakes and mis-...

Episode 234: Loss, Grief, & Suicide Prevention with Anne Moss Rogers

September 23, 2019 05:30 - 1 hour - 68.4 MB

On Episode 234 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie talk to Anne Moss Rogers, a fierce mental health advocate, speaker, and writer who helps people foster a culture of connection to prevent suicide, reduce substance misuse, and find life after loss. Through their discussion, Anne Moss teaches Tesi and Leslie about how to talk about suicide and grief, potential warning signs, helpful resources, and how to walk through life with a grieving friend. Anne Moss shares the sorrow of her ...

Episode 233: Hustle Culture is a Scam

September 16, 2019 05:30 - 1 hour - 72.7 MB

On Episode 233 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie discuss #HUSTLE #GRIND #TEAMNOSLEEP #GETIT #DOWORK #HUSTLINGHARD and how all of these pithy hashtags add up to the very real phenomenon of what’s known as “Hustle Culture.” The women dissect the idea of Hustle Culture from a feminist and classist perspective and question the idea that success only comes after exerting yourself at max capacity, all day, every day. They discuss their own tendencies toward hustle, and end the episod...

Episode 232: The World Needs You to BREATHE

September 09, 2019 05:30 - 39 minutes - 39.5 MB

On Episode 232 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, sister-cohosts Leslie and Tesi sit down with Dr. Brandie Nemchenko. Since 2002, Dr. Brandie has worked as a chiropractor and has noticed a change in women’s health…a change that’s not necessarily for the better. In a conversation filled with practical tips and advice, Dr. Brandie talks about how we can better care for ourselves and our bodies as we lead lives full of love and service. For complete Show Notes, visit the Mama Bear Dares website.

Episode 231: Purity Culture

September 02, 2019 05:30 - 51 minutes - 56.3 MB

On Episode 231 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie talk about purity culture and its impact on girls and women in America in 2019. Horrified by the stories of Jeffrey Epstein, incited by a culture of victim blaming and shaming, and concerned about the cultural waters we currently swim in, the two women talk about their own experiences as well as the experience of raising daughters in 2019. How can we do better by our daughters AND our sons? How can we disagree with grace without ...

Episode 230: Kindness is Cool

August 26, 2019 05:30 - 42 minutes - 45.8 MB

On Episode 230 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie revisit an episode (previously titled Make America Kind Again)that reminds listeners of their stance on kindness: We refuse to let it die! In fact, they wholeheartedly believe that what America needs (along with policy change) is more kindness. The women also recognize the responsibility we have as parents raising children in our current American culture to make sure that the virtue of kindness outlasts the test of time. Because,...

Episode 229: Money Talks with Miko Ehrmantraut

August 19, 2019 05:30 - 1 hour - 60.3 MB

On Episode 229 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie sits down with Miko Ehrmantraut, akaThe Budget Mom, who is on a mission to empower women to build a life they love on a budget they understand and can afford. Miko answers practical questions about budgeting, credit cards, college savings, financial priorities and goals and more, as the two women have a candid conversation about how to make money work for you and your family in the very most practical sense. All listeners will be intrigue...

Episode 228: Horrified by Gun Violence? Here's What We Can Do

August 12, 2019 01:57 - 52 minutes - 57.8 MB

On Episode 228 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Leslie and Tesi channel their feelings of helplessness over the recent gun violence ravaging America and put together a list of things that we, as individuals and Mama Bears, can DO as a response to white nationalism and terrorism. The women leave no stone unturned to the multi-layered horror we’re currently experiencing (they discuss upcoming elections, gaslighting, toxic masculinity, racism, video games and mental illness) and look for ways to...

Episode 227: Fiction, Female Desire, & the Path to Your Dreams with Abi Maxwell

August 05, 2019 05:30 - 54 minutes - 53.1 MB

On Episode 227 of the Mama Bear Dares Podcast, Tesi and Leslie talk books and media and following your dream, even when it’s discouraging. They sit down with Abi Maxwell, author of the new novel, THE DEN, and discuss how writing fiction can be an act of the Mama Bear, how gender roles can be broken with the power of the pen, and how there is meaning in the making. In other words, sometimes the process of doing something worth doing is just as informative and rewarding as the success at the e...

Guests

Arianna Taboada
1 Episode
Jessica Turner
1 Episode
Laura Vanderkam
1 Episode
Mike Becker
1 Episode
Natali Morris
1 Episode