![Motherhood Gone Global w. Sunshine Abou Bakar of African Boheme]()
July 8, 2019
Sunshine is the Founder of African Boheme, a black family travel blog, standing at the intersection of the black travel movement and millennial motherhood. Documenting the lives of herself and her daughter, Sunshine soon realized that not all women had the confidence to travel with their children.
Once upon a time she tried on a pair of leopard print pants and vowed to move wherever they were made. Within the year she closed up her vintage shop and moved to Byron Bay, Australia. There she spent her time working alongside boutique bohemian brands, quintessential of Byron Bay, facilitating the manufacturing process between young female entrepreneurs and the skilled artisans of Bali, Indonesia.
Blessing connected with Sunshine via social media to understand how Sunshine inspires herself and her daughter through travel. We discuss how she combines her passion, ambition and goals as a stay-at-home mother, traveler, content creator, and travel blogger. Showing her daughter these various parts of herself is meaningful and important to her and it's what keeps her excited about her role as mother. She feels super proud of her role as a stay-at-home mother, since it offers her the ability to redefine success for herself, and do work that feels aligned to her. As a photographer for 18 years, she is able to create content and share that in a creative way with various audiences and brands.
You can find Sunshine Abou Bakar at www.africanboheme.com and on instagram at www.instagram.com/africanboheme.
![Making Breastfeeding Work At Work + EveryWhere w. Sascha Mayer Co-Founder of Mamava]()
July 1, 2019
Working mothers are a huge part of the workplace and the global economy, yet millions of mothers go back to work after having a baby with little or no resources available to ensure the continuity of breastfeeding or continuity of breast milk for their newborn. Mamava is a business dedicated ti transforming the culture of breastfeeding. With a freestanding lactation suite available in airports, conference centers, and an app that locates lactation rooms globally, Mamava provides privacy, cleanliness and all you need tp pump or nurse an infant.
On this episode Blessing and Sascha dive into the realities and logistics involved when a mother is away from her babies and needs a safe, clean and private location to pump. We also chat about the work Mamava is doing to connect mothers across the country through its app.
About The Guest - Sascha Mayer, CEO And Co-Founder of Mamava
Sascha started with Solidarity of Unbridled Labour (Mamava’s birthplace) in 1995. She helped to develop the Living Brand®, Solidarity’s philosophy on brands and brand creation. As Strategy Director, Sascha participated in the creation of many brands, has provided account planning services and has designed and facilitated multidisciplinary creative-collaborative sessions with numerous brands, including HP, Levi’s, Lululemon, Merrell Apparel, Nike Women, and Red Door Salons. Before joining Solidarity, Sascha worked for the office of Congressman (now Senator) Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), where she served as staff assistant and then assistant press secretary. Sascha is a founding board member of Mobius, a mentoring nonprofit, and has a BA in sociology with a minor in Women’s Studies from the University of Vermont. She lives in Williston, VT with her husband, and two children where she gardens, cooks, and tends to her five chickens.
About The Host - Blessing Adesiyan, CEO and Founder of Mother Honestly
Blessing is a career professional, thought-leader and entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in consulting, manufacturing and operational excellence for Fortune 100 companies such as HP, Microsoft, Cargill, DuPont and BASF. She is Founder & CEO of Mother Honestly, a platform and complete ecosystem for the modern woman to thrive in and beyond motherhood. She is also the host of award-winning Mother Honestly Podcast where she interviews thought-leaders, career professionals, CEOs, investors, policy-makers and more on how women can align their goals and ambition in motherhood. Blessing earned her B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida, M.Sc. in Energy Management from New York Institute of Technology, and her MBA in Marketing and Finance at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Blessing is no stranger to big ideas and even bigger to-do lists, but her passion for solving challenges that millennial women face in the workforce and the cultivation of their ambitions is what led her to launch Mother Honestly as a response to a “gaping hole” in culture. Blessing is able to bring a deep knowledge and understanding on issues that affect women in the workplace, working mothers, entrepreneurial mothers and more. She is particularly excited about topics such as work-life integration and balance, career advancement for women, modern motherhood, parenting, and more.
![Inspire Me Home Decor’s Founder & CEO Farah Merhi on Inspiration, Motherhood And Building 5.5 Million+ Followers]()
June 24, 2019
When Farah Merhi launched Inspire Me! Home Decor in 2012, it was a creative outlet during what she calls "a phase of self discovery.” Farah was 3 semesters short of graduating with her political science degree and planning to attend law school when she had her "AHA!" moment, realizing that she was not following her passion and doing what she loved. With the support of her husband and her parents (who now admit they thought it was all just a phase...) she stepped away from her career path. Realizing that Interior Design was what made her heart happy, she launched Inspire Me! Farah had a clear vision of what she wanted to do, and that was to inspire others. Inspire Me! began as an Instagram page and has since become the most followed Home Decor page globally, boasting 5 million followers.
Today, Farah continues to inspire with beautiful home decor through her collections and works to make decorating one’s home both simple and enjoyable. Her Instagram followers were homeowners struggling with decision making when it came to decorating their spaces, reaching out for advice and simple tips to make it easier. Her mission became clear. She knew she had to facilitate the decor process for each and every person.
On this episode, Blessing and Farah dive into this episode chatting about the role mothers play in inspiring their children. Farah's mother was a huge part of the process from her early days designing and decorating her childhood home.
You can reach Farah at www.instagram.com/farahjmerhi and www.instagram.com/inspire_me_home_decor. Please leave us a review below and be sure to follow us on instagram at www.instagram.com/motherhonestly
![How Moms Can Focus Their Attention And Increase Their Productivity with Tonya Dalton, CEO of Inkwell Press]()
June 17, 2019
Tonya Dalton is the Founder & CEO of Inkwell Press, a productivity company focused on helping women figure out what is important. She knows first-hand how overwhelming it can be to feel like you have a million things to do each day. As a modern mother, there are multiple demands on our time, and there is so much pressure to do "#allthethings and do them well" according to Tonya.
Tonya's definition of productivity is not getting more done, rather, its focusing our attention on whats more important. What is even more unique was that Tonya started her business as a mother of two because she wanted to create a financial pathway for her family. She started off as a teacher, and then became a stay-at-home mother. After starting what she thought was going to be a small side-business, she grew Inkwell Press rapidly and within a year, her husband was able to quit his big marketing job to join her.
Dive into the podcast to learn more about how Tonya mapped out a path to financial freedom for her family. Through her podcast, planners, and community all focused on helping women become more productive.
![How To Foster Creativity Personally And Professionally in Motherhood w. Anjelika Temple of Brit + Co]()
June 10, 2019
As Chief Creative Officer and Founding Partner at Brit + Co, Anjelika Temple brings her voracious consumption of all things creative and colorful to DIY projects, geeky gadgetry finds and more. On this episode, we chat about creatvity, motherhood, entrepreneurship and work-life balance. "Creativity can take so many different forms in your professional and personal life" says Anjelika who grew up as a feminist in the 90's, studied philosophy and art in college and spent some time at an art residency program. Afterwards, she traveled the world and landed at an ad agency before meeting Brit Morin, and joined her in founding the creative company Brit + Co.
As a C-level Executive, Anjelika overseas editorial, video and creative and works closely with her team to maintain and evolve the voice of the company. In this episode we chat about her new role as a mother of one and another on the way in the Fall. She went back to work because she wanted to be inspiring to her daughter. She schedules her work around her daughter, so she could be present for her.
We also talk about the gap Brit + Co fills today for creative women. Through online classes, content and videos, Brit + Co offers women resources and information that can help start a side hustle or turn your side hustle into your main gig.
You can follow Anjelika Temple on instagram and you can visit her series on Brit + Co. Please rate, review and subscribe to our podcast and let us know if you have any questions by emailing us at hello@motherhonestly.com
June 4, 2019
Today's episode started with talking about the difference between time and Nigerian time. As a mother its hard to get enough done during the day while wearing multiple hats. Omonye is a Pharmacist, Healthcare Leader, Entrepreneur and a mother of two. She is obsessed with time management, gratitude, morning routine and being a leader in her work and community.
We discuss the importance of focusing our time and attention in areas where we need to grow and develop as ambitious women. We discuss batch working, planning tools, and more. Omonye is the Co-Founder of My Dream Big Club where she encourages and uplift others.
Register for our upcoming
Mother: The Summit this Fall on October 11, 2019 at The Garden Theater, Detroit. Extended Early Bird Tickets are available at
www.motherhonestly.com/summit. Spaces are filling up fast, we hope to see you there!
![Drowning Is The Leading Cause of Death In Toddlers, GoldFish Swim School Is Changing That.]()
May 28, 2019
Do you know that after birth defect, drowning is the leading cause of death for children between 1-4. Water safety is important for all ages, but especially for toddlers. Young children can drown in as little as an inch or two of water, and it can happen within seconds, and quietly too. Water safety impacts EVERY FAMILY. All kids need to have the skills to be
safe around
water. The
American Academy of Pediatrics recently revised their drowning prevention guidelines and now recommend starting children in swim lessons earlier than previously suggested.
On this episode, I sat down with Katie Lee, the first franchise owner of Goldfish Swim School who now owns 9 locations across the United States. Goldfish Swim School started in Michigan and now operates in 90 locations across the United States and Canada. One of the many reasons we partnered with Goldfish Swim School this month was to bring awareness to water safety because as a mother, this is super important to me, and we approach the summer months and you are getting ready to take the kids to the pool, beach or any other water bodies, I want you to put the safety of your babies first and that starts by teaching them a lifelong skill that can preserve their lives and health for years to come.
Katie and I not only talked about her past life working with IBM, marring Tommy Lee (not kidding), and how she gets so much done with help of course. Tune in to find out how and learn more about how water safety impacts EVERY FAMILY below.
W. "Wear a life jacket" - Realize that floaties, noodles and plastic inner tubes do NOT protect against drowning. They are created as water toys, not life-saving devices. U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets can be worn while swimming or boating to keep you safe.
A. Act."Throw but don't go!" - If you see someone in trouble in the water, throw an item for them to grab onto but NEVER jump in yourself -- you could be putting both of you in danger!
T. Take Swim Lessons. "Swim lessons keep me safe" - Swim lessons are the best way to ensure you and your family stays safe and has the most fun while in the water.
E. Educate. "I’m up to speed on my swim skills" - Key to swim safety is knowing essential skills like treading water and rolling over to float and catch a breath. With education about swim safety, you’ll be prepared if something unexpected happens.
R. Follow the Rules. "I respect the rules!" - Pay attention to posted rules and signage -- listen to lifeguards, parents, coaches -- the rules, and adults in charge are there to keep everyone safe!
Through the end of May, anyone who snaps a W.A.T.E.R.
safety selfie and uses the hashtag #WaterSafetyGSS will be entered to win a year of complimentary swim lessons, courtesy of Goldfish. For a list of Goldfish locations near you, please visit:
www.goldfishswimschool.com.
![How To Return To Work With Confidence After Baby w. Lauren Brody of The Fifth Trimester]()
May 20, 2019
Women are going back to work at a much higher rate than they did a decade ago. After surveying 700 mothers who had returned back to work, Lauren Brody was able to identify common obstacles and successes to returning back to work with confidence and resilience. Lauren is the founder of The Fifth Trimester movement and the author of The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom's Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby (Doubleday), a simultaneous #1 best-seller in the Amazon categories of Motherhood, Women & Business, and Cultural Anthropology. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, CNN.com, Forbes, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glamour, Refinery29, and dozens more outlets for business leaders and mothers.
On this episode Blessing and Lauren discuss the top reasons why women drop out of the workforce after baby. And how women can come back into the workforce after baby feeling comfortable and capable. They also discuss the challenges women face in the workplace as moms when they return and how women and organizations can support each other without pointing fingers.
Dive in and learn more about parental leave, flexible work, work-life alignment and how to heal emotionally and mentally after baby.
![Explore The World With Kids! How Moms Can Raise Global-Conscious Citizens]()
May 5, 2019
Have you ever wondered how mamas who take their children across oceans and continents do it with kids? Trish Dewald is an Executive Director at a marketing firm that specializes in nonprofit and a mother of two. She is also the mama behind Mindful Travel Fam where she shares details surrounding the adventures she takes with her children across national parks, big beaches, and quaint towns around the country as well as interesting destinations across Southeast Asia. She is definitely the family’s travel agent and adventure seeker. Born with an insatiable wanderlust that has taken her to 46 of our great 50 states and dozens of countries on 3 continents. Trish loves yoga, adventure, food and her family.
In her own words, “we love our city, our home and the network we have built. But we appreciate the gift of travel, adventure and sharing the world with our kids. It's time to share our family's vacation journeys with others that love traveling and want to explore with us!” We are so glad this mama chose to share the tidbits of how she came into motherhood, the distinctive way she wants to raise her children as global citizens and how she intends to spend the next few summers with them before they reach adulthood.
In this episode, Trish and I dive deep into what it means to raise global-conscious citizens who are constantly aware of how their actions and decisions affect not only them but other children and families around the world. After visiting over 25+ countries myself, and over 15 with my 10-year old Camille, I chime in on how moms can make traveling work for their family including surviving a 28-hour journey from Detroit, MI to Sydney, Australia with a 13-month old.
We both share some fantastic free and low-budget resources that can help moms prioritize travel for their family including the free 4th-grader ranger benefits at the National Parks across the United States.
Interested in raising global citizens and don't know where to start? This article on Forbes shares tips on how to raise globally aware children and foster curiosity.
Below are a few websites mentioned, these tips coupled with booking flights early, flying off-season and taking advantage of travel credit/debit cards that allow you to earn while you travel.
www.airfarewatchdog.com
www.google.com/flights
www.airbnb.com
www.kayak.com
www.thepointguy.com
