MFA: The Parenting Edition
56 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago -These lessons from the theater for raising ourselves and our kids came about after the life altering revelation I made that my MFA in acting trained me for life as a mommy, better than life as a full-time actor. This sometimes musical dramedy in 3 acts, 1 intermission, the length of a sitcom is designed to give mama’s (and any caregiver) a break in the day to breathe and reset along with a much needed audio hug. We'll explore some challenging questions, I'll share some stories, and we'll kick things off with the Raise a Glass series. From the Method to mommy meltdowns and all the moments in between, welcome to MFA.
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Episodes
That Was Like a Crazy Trust Exercise
February 27, 2022 17:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBTrust. 5 letters that carry a tremendous amount of weight. Trust falls, trusting your scene partner/kids, and why potty training is the worst – trust me! We’ll kick off our show with The Raise a Glass Series, get on to our questions to explore, and end with A Short Story Before We Go. MFA is the sometimes-musical, dramedy, in 3 acts, 1 intermission, the length of a sitcom designed to give mama’s (and any caregiver) a break in the day to breathe and reset along with a much-needed audio hug. ...
The Theatre of Discipline
February 11, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBOrders, commands and punishments. Oh my! Today’s topic is all about discipline. The ugly yucky monster that infects all of our parenting brains with the shoulda, coulda, woulda's about raising our kids. We are screwing up the world by the way we parent our kids. Yeah, I said it. And I want us to change the way we parent humans because we're changing the way we are raising people in society. We’ll kick off our show with The Raise a Glass Series, get on to our questions to explore, and end wi...
Just My Imagination
January 29, 2022 16:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBToday’s topic is the imagination: what is the imagination, how do you activate it, why is imaginary play so important. Kids have the best imaginations because we haven’t, as a world, killed their minds yet with all our imposed ways of thinking, being, and living in this world. So how can we learn from kids, theatre, and from the way we use our own imagination every day to live a richer more exciting and beautiful life? How best can we stop living mediocre, boring lives absolutely free today?...
I'm Sorry, I Forgot to Pay Attention
January 14, 2022 10:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBYour child won’t listen to you? Take a number, hun. Today we'll be talking about listening - why your kids don’t listen to you and why you may not be the world’s best listener and how to get better. We’ll kick off our show with The Raise a Glass Series, get on to our questions to explore, and end with A Short Story Before We Go. MFA is the sometimes-musical, dramedy, in 3 acts, 1 intermission, the length of a sitcom designed to give mama’s (and any caregiver) a break in the day to breathe an...
They'll Tell the Story of Tonight
December 31, 2021 10:00 - 10 minutes - 6.94 MBWhat does New Year’s mean to you? If you could hear the story of your life told by your children after you’ve past, what would you hear and how would you feel? What is the story you want to tell this year? Join me for a mini episode with a Raise a Glass series to bring in the new year. The Raise a Glass Series: a space for reflection and gratitude centered around the topic of the day and inspired by lyrics from Hamilton the Musical. Today’s lyrics – “And when our children tell our story,...
Developmental Milestone Shmilestone
December 22, 2021 13:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBHow do you honor your body? If we could model appreciation and honor for our body, to our children, what would that look like? If we could ease our stress concerning our children's ability to hit physical and developmental milestones, how much pressure would we take off ourselves and our children? Today we'll dive into honor and appreciation for our body, the Alexander Technique, and the ridiculous pressure we put on ourselves and our kids for them to hit developmental milestones prescribe...
I Got the Power
December 04, 2021 04:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBToday we'll be talking about our voice. What does it mean to find your voice? How do I find my voice as a parent? If you were to use your voice authentically, respectfully, and effectively to communicate your feelings, what would it sound like? How can I teach my children to find their voice? And in communicating with our kids, understanding what we want to say and why we feel compelled to say it is going to make a huge impact on how we say things. We’ll kick off our show with The Raise a ...
I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watching Me
November 19, 2021 10:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBWhat sparks your curiosity? How can you help a person feel seen, heard, and understood? What does it mean to observe? What is the importance of observation? If we had all the time in the world to observe what our children were showing us they needed, what would we learn from them? Today we'll dive into the art of observing our children and ourselves to learn what we all really want and need. Dr. Maria Montessori wrote and spoke extensively on the necessity for the adult caregiver and/or par...
Let's Start at the Very Beginning, a Very Good Place to Start
November 05, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBToday we'll start diving into our history. As an actor, part of the work of creating a role is to understand the history of the character (their backstory) and how it impacts the life they're living and the moments they're experiencing in the story being told. Their history dictates how they show up in the world of the play. Our history dictates how we show up in our world, in the role of parent. We'll explore why understanding our history – the history of how we were raised and its impact o...
Mommy's Freakin' Awesome
November 05, 2021 09:00 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MB“What’s in a name?” Well, so much. Today we’ll be looking at the name of this show, the inspiration behind the podcast, why frankly my dear you should give a damn, and what to expect the rest of the season. These lessons from the theatre for raising ourselves and our kids is an inspiration and reminder to myself, and hopefully to you too, to remember the power you already have to be the parent of your dreams to the child of your dreams. We’ll kick off our show with The Raise a Glass Series...
The Soundtracks of Our Life
June 22, 2021 19:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBToday’s episode is the last in season two. We’ll be looking at The Magic “If” an acting tool that works so perfectly for parenting and life in general. The Raise a Glass segment lyrics are “to your union and the hope that you provide, may you always be satisfied.” It’ll be the first personal toast to someone I love, my husband of nine years, Scott. May you toast to the significant person in your life that helps you hold it down and bring so much joy to your life, who ever they may be. A ...
Your Art Can Hold It
June 11, 2021 05:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MBThis week's Artistic Parenting conversation is our last one for the season. My chat today is with 2 time Helen Hayes Award winning actor and mama of two munchkins, Erika Rose. We know each other from college at the University of Maryland College Park and it was such a pleasure to sit down and talk about where we are in our lives now. Today we talk about arts ability to heal, creating a container for creativity, being a doula kind of spirit, and we get a story of a magical moment with each o...
Down the Rabbit Hole
May 24, 2021 02:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBToday's mini check in episode is a trip through my brain about all the things I'm unlearning, reflecting on my new anarchist feelings to dismantle all the things, and how devised theatre is the best way to describe family. I'll examine some things jumping around my brain these days about theater, the performing arts, mental health education, and parenting. Go down the rabbit hole with me for a moment to see what I'm unlearning, relearning questioning and how it will impact this podcast. ...
Master of Feeling Arts
May 19, 2021 01:00 - 44 minutes - 30.8 MBThis week's Artistic Parenting conversation is with actors, educators, and parents Jonathan Ziese and Christine Perrotta Ziese. Today we talk about balancing each other through parenting, how a masters of feeling arts comes in handy when raising kids, and we get a story of a magical moment with each of their kids that is forever imprinted on their heart. We also get a cameo from their 3 year old son, telling jokes and sharing what he loves about "mama and dada." The Artistic Parenting seri...
Motherhood is Not for Wimps
May 09, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 41.3 MBHappy Mother's Day! This week's Artistic Parenting conversation is with actor, mama, tour guide extraordinaire, and adventurer, Amanda Tudor. Today we talk about the the fourth trimester blues, the spark to become a mom, how to be of benefit to the world and your child through the arts, and we get a story of a magical moment with her infant son Jack that is forever imprinted on her heart. Today's Raise a Glass series lyrics are: "And when my time is up, have I done enough? Will they tell y...
Mommy the Musical
May 01, 2021 01:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBQuestion – How do you handle your parental meltdowns? What tools do you use to release tension and connect to the present moment with more calm? Why do we love musical theatre? In today’s episode we’ll be talking about releasing tension, mommy meltdowns, and turning your story into a musical each and every day. The Raise a Glass segments lyric's this episode - "Look at where you are, look at where you started, the fact that you’re alive is a miracle, just stay alive, that would be enoug...
#ParentingWin
April 16, 2021 06:00 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MBThis week's Artistic Parenting conversation is with teacher, singer, mom of three and my dear sweet best friend/soul sister for over 25 years, Christine McCarthy . Today we talk about the moment she knew she wanted to be a mama, postpartum depression, creative career goals, the lessons from the theater that help her be the best mom she can and a magical moment with each of her daughters. Today's Raise a Glass series lyrics are: "you got me helpless, look into your eyes and the sky’s the li...
Controlling the Narrative
April 10, 2021 00:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBThis week's Artistic Parenting conversation is with actor, mother, and friend from grad school days at The New School for Drama, Shelley Molad. Today we talked about the spark that drove her to become an actor, how her and her husband balance their respective views on parenting, the lessons from the theater that help her be the best mom she can and share thoughts and appreciation for moms being real about their journey through motherhood. Shelley Molad www.shelleymolad.com Today's Raise a...
I'm the One Who Has to Grow
April 02, 2021 21:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBThis week's Artistic Parenting conversation is with actor and father, and friend from grad school days at The New School for Drama, Mitchell Diehr. We talk family values, the lessons he's learned from the theatre that guide him in raising his son, the importance of self-reflection and self-growth. We'll also get a magical moment with his son that is forever imprinted on his heart. Today's Raise a Glass lyrics are: They think me Macbeth, ambition is my folly, I'm a polymath, a pain in the a...
You Go and I'm Gonna Stay Here!
March 29, 2021 03:00 - 13 minutes - 9.41 MBThis special treat is a collection of Angelica Interludes, recorded moments between me and my daughter Angelica. They are adorable and will make you smile. We have a sing off, can't quite grasp the concept of Yes And so our characters just battle it out for way too long, and we talk about what it means to apologize. Enjoy! Next week, we'll jump back into the Artistic Parenting Series with another guest artist taking about the lessons from the theatre they've learned for raising themselves...
If We're Being Honest
March 20, 2021 04:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBWhat do you stand for? Are you clear about what is important to you? Are you resilient? Just a few of the questions we explore in this episode that is more a confessional and reflection on life than a specific examination of a theatre lesson. Today's Raise a Glass Series lyric from Hamilton: An American Musical is: "I may not live to see our glory, but I will gladly join the fight, and when our children tell our story, they'll tell the story of tonight" Every Wednesday on Instagram we pl...
If We're Being Honest
March 20, 2021 04:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBWhat do you stand for? Are you clear about what is important to you? Are you resilient? Just a few of the questions we explore in this episode that is more a confessional and reflection on life than a specific examination of a theatre lesson. Today's Raise a Glass Series lyric from Hamilton: An American Musical is: "I may not live to see our glory, but I will gladly join the fight, and when our children tell our story, they'll tell the story of tonight" Every Wednesday on Instagram we pl...
Be Kind to Yourself
March 05, 2021 05:00 - 7 minutes - 5.45 MBHow transitioning my daughter to a big girl bed has shown me how unkind I am to myself. My personal lesson this week I share with you. Ways to support the show: Rate & Review - https://ratethispodcast.com/mfaparentingedition Instagram - @mfaparentingedition Buy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mfaparenting Support the show
Honoring the Process
February 26, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 33.5 MBThe Artistic Parenting Series Special Guest: Isaiah Johnson On the show today I’ll be sharing parts of my conversation with Isaiah Johnson. Isaiah is an actor, professor at SCAD (Savanah College of Art & Design), married to singer, songwriter Stacie Orrico and they have two little munchkins together. Isaiah has appeared on and off Broadway, working with actors such as Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice, Kevin Spacey in Richard III, Kelli O'Hara in Far From Heaven, Roger Rees in Peter and t...
What We Do Is Vital
February 19, 2021 07:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBThe Artistic Parenting Series, which kicks off today, are conversations with parents in the performing arts examining the lessons they've learned in the theatre that have helped support their parenting journey, as well as, aide them in their own growth and evolution. Our first guest is director, educator, and father of two, Paul Takacs. He is a friend from grad school days at The New School for Drama and I couldn't be more honored to have him on the show. For more information on Paul chec...
Jesus, Be a Fence All Around Me Every Day
February 12, 2021 06:00 - 31 minutes - 21.9 MBThe Play Series #1 – Fences by August Wilson; we’ll examine Troy Maxson and his family to find the parenting lessons we can learn about family values and building fences or bridges in our relationships. Support the Show: Rate, Review and Subscribe: RateThisPodcast.com/mfaparentingedition Follow on Instagram: @mfaparentingedition Buy Me a Drink: buymeacoffee.com/mfaparenting Support the show
The Perfect Baby
February 05, 2021 09:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBWhat does anticipation feel like in your body? When it comes to pregnancy and the new journey to parenthood, how do you anticipate that’ll look like? What kind of child did you dream about having? How can we stay present when our mind flings us into the future? Today we’ll dive into anticipation and how it is a deathtrap for an actors work and how it can be that for parents when we get stuck in our excitement, fear or anxiety when we anticipate our perfect baby. Follow on Instagram: @mf...
Changes
January 21, 2021 04:00 - 5 minutes - 3.69 MBSeason 2 Check-In: This seasons theme is changes and boy have we all been going through some over the last year. I wanted to touch base about my thoughts for the new season which will kick off February 5th. The easiest way to leave a review is to click the Rate This Podcast link (use the Podchaser selection if you don't listen on Apple Podcasts): https://RateThisPodcast.com/mfaparentingedition Contact me directly with topics and plays you think would be great to explore on the show: http...
New Years Thoughts
January 01, 2021 16:00 - 7 minutes - 4.87 MBMy 12:28AM New Years Thoughts Happy New Year!!! May 2021 be a beautiful adventure!!! Support the show
Send in the Clowns
December 18, 2020 21:00 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBWhat can we learn from clowns? How can they help us be better parents? They’re experts on everything…or so they believe. Let us work to become experts on our children in the same way. Be inquisitive. Be curious. Be honest. Be kind. Be ready to play. Support the show
March of the Toys
December 14, 2020 05:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBWhat are props and how are they used in theatre? What is the purpose of a toy? What toys engage the imagination of children? How many toys is too many? Do we teach our children to respect their toys and the property of others? How can we adjust our holiday gift giving to give with more intention? What does that even mean? Support the show
The Sorority of Mean Girls
December 04, 2020 06:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBWhy do we judge each other? What’s wrong with criticism? Is it possible to get everyone in the world to stop judging one another? Is that even healthy? Isn’t part of our job as parents to teach what we feel, or society feels, is right or wrong? Isn’t that idea of right and wrong a judgement call? As mom’s we search for a tribe, we go back to what we know and form cliques based off our new mommy ideals. We never grow up from our high school selves, and we become...Mean Girls. The Regina Georg...
Thank You
November 27, 2020 06:00 - 8 minutes - 5.87 MBHappy Thanksgiving! Celebrating gratitude and our precious time with a mini Thank You Episode! Support the show
Stop, Collaborate and Listen
November 20, 2020 05:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBWhat does it mean to collaborate? How does the collaborative process work in theatre? How can that translate to family life? Support the show
Yes, And
November 13, 2020 05:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MBWhat is improv? What the hell are people talking about in theater and improv when they say “yes, and”? How can it benefit our parenting journey? Support the show
It's Socially Complicated
November 04, 2020 02:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MBHow do we create change? Can theatre be used as a vehicle for social change? What are the social issues we feel are important and worth speaking out about? Why? What does the world look like that we long to live in? How does that world look, not only for our lives but, for those who are less fortunate than us? What does liberty, freedom, respect, equality, look like in your mind? Support the show
Oh Say Can You See
October 23, 2020 06:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBWhat is political theatre? What does the history of political theatre teach us about ourselves? What are our values, in society and our home? What’s the difference between a belief and an idea? Is one more dangerous than the other? Politics is a performance very much like the Song & Dance of Parenting. It is a play of and for power. With our power to choose these leaders comes the responsibility of unpacking our own values and beliefs to investigate how we can best serve not just ourselves b...
The Song & Dance of Parenting
October 16, 2020 04:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBThe Method Series Part 7 of 7: How often do we battle with what we want to do and say and how we allow ourselves to respond to situations? How does our expressiveness get diminished through life? How do we train ourselves to raise our kids the way we would like as opposed to the way we’ve been conditioned? Do we parent different when people are watching? Do we tend to “sell” things to our kids to increase their cooperation but also, if we’re honest to control their emotional…what’s the word...
The Song & Dance of Parenting
October 16, 2020 04:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBThe Method Series Part 7 of 7: How often do we battle with what we want to do and say and how we allow ourselves to respond to situations? How does our expressiveness get diminished through life? How do we train ourselves to raise our kids the way we would like as opposed to the way we’ve been conditioned? Do we parent different when people are watching? Do we tend to “sell” things to our kids to increase their cooperation but also, if we’re honest to control their emotional…what’s the word...
Emotional Memory
October 09, 2020 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBThe Method Series Part 6 of 7: What is emotional memory? Do our memories and our feelings surrounding them shape the story of who we are? How emotionally available are we? Do we allow ourselves to grieve, enjoy bliss, sit in uncertainty, and all the other beautiful and uncomfortable feelings that come with being alive? Do we give our kids space to feel their feelings and honor their process of emotional growth? What is emotional intelligence and how do we develop it within ourselves so we c...
Expecto Patronum
October 09, 2020 04:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBThe Method Series Part 6 of 7: What does Harry Potter have to do with this? What is emotional memory? Do our memories and our feelings surrounding them shape the story of who we are? How emotionally available are we? Do we allow ourselves to grieve, enjoy bliss, sit in uncertainty, and all the other beautiful and uncomfortable feelings that come with being alive? Do we give our kids space to feel their feelings and honor their process of emotional growth? What is emotional intelligence and...
Welcome to the Jungle
October 02, 2020 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBThe Method Series Part 5 of 7: How physically expressive are we in our own bodies? What stories can people devise from our physicality? What do actors do to help them take on the physical characteristics of another person? What do we gain by being able to “walk in someone else’s shoes”? Each of us has a story. A full life overflowing with glorious adventures, tragic loses, heroic acts of bravery, unthinkable suffering and quiet moments of stillness. Those stories live in our body. When we’...
The Bath
September 25, 2020 04:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBThe Method Series Part 4 of 7: What are inhibitions? What are the blocks we have that make it difficult to connect and engage with the world authentically? How can our kids help us open up? What can the overall-sensation exercise do to benefit our lives? https://www.mfaparentingedition.com/episode-8-show-notes Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mfaparenting)
Splish Splash I Was Taking a Bath
September 25, 2020 04:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MBThe Method Series Part 4 of 7: What are inhibitions? What are the blocks we have that make it difficult to connect and engage with the world authentically? How can our kids help us open up? What can the overall-sensation exercise do to benefit our lives? Support the show
You Are My Sunshine
September 18, 2020 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MBThe Method Series Part 3 of 7: How does sunshine make you feel? Does that image cause distress or happiness? What is happiness anyway? In our limited time on earth do we have a goal, objective or intention that gives us focus and purpose? If life is impermanent, what are we doing with our time here? How do we find joy and gratitude in, well, everything? Living life intentionally and purposefully is a choice. Our happiness springs from our connection to our environment, the universe, natur...
Mirror Mirror on the Wall
September 11, 2020 04:00 - 23 minutes - 16 MBThe Method Series Part 2 of 7: Can we look at ourselves in the mirror without judgement? Not glance but take in our form and all its details for an extended period of time without criticizing, nitpicking, judging or comparing. If we can’t, why not? What is the message our actions and our words are teaching our children about body image and self-acceptance? Do we catch all the ways our children mirror back to us who we are and the lessons we’re teaching them? From these questions we’re gon...
The Cup
September 04, 2020 04:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBThe Method Series Part 1 of 7: Do we tune into the present moment regularly or operate on autopilot? How much awareness do we give to the everyday tasks we have in our life; to the mundane habitual things like brushing our teeth, getting dressed, grabbing our phones? How do we engage with our children when they are focused and concentrating on the little things in life (or the big things)? Do we get impatient with them, interrupt them to do something we think is more important or with a “so...
Inside the Parent's Studio
September 04, 2020 04:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBThe Method Series Part 1 of 7: Do we tune into the present moment regularly or operate on autopilot? How much awareness do we give to the everyday tasks we have in our life; to the mundane habitual things like brushing our teeth, getting dressed, grabbing our phones? How do we engage with our children when they are focused and concentrating on the little things in life (or the big things)? Do we get impatient with them, interrupt them to do something we think is more important, or with a “s...
Forgiveness
August 28, 2020 04:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBHow difficult is it to forgive? To forgive others, to forgive ourselves. Why do we hold on to so much anger and pain when all it does is cause us suffering? How do we clean this residue from our hearts? What does it take to forgive? Nothing. It is a choice. https://www.mfaparentingedition.com/forgiveness.html Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mfaparenting)
Forgiveness. Can You Imagine?
August 28, 2020 04:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBHow difficult is it to forgive? To forgive others, to forgive ourselves. Why do we hold on to so much anger and pain when all it does is cause us suffering? How do we clean this residue from our hearts? What does it take to forgive? Nothing. It is a choice. Support the show