Mama Bear Dares

On Episode 21 of The Perfectors Podcast, Tesi and Leslie sit down and do something they've never done before on the podcast...say goodbye for now. After over five years of podcasting, the sister-cohosts are putting away their mics with both great sadness (because endings are hard), but also great joy and excitement (because new beginnings are beautiful!). Listen in as they dig into what the Mama Bear Dares / Perfectors podcast community has meant to them, the changing "podscape," and life's next steps. This goodbye is one filled with deep gratitude and great confidence that those who have listened over the years will continue to be love-spreaders, peace-makers, truth-tellers, justice-seekers and perfectors of what is right and good for all! 

On Episode 20 of The Perfectors Podcast, Tesi sits down with Sarah Audelo, the executive director of The Alliance for Youth Action, a nationwide network of organizations building political power of young people and the premier youth vote vehicle in the United States. The women speak enthusiastically about the hope and energy of Generation Z and the ways in which we all can develop talent in our youth and empower and support them as they spend their energy on the ground. If you’re looking for a hopeful and joyful conversation, this is the episode for you! For complete Show Notes, visit The Perfectors website.  

On Episode 19 of The Perfectors Podcast, Tesi and Leslie talk about the importance of nuance in examining headlines. They zero in on the perceived “labor shortage” and look at the issue with a nod to nuance, encouraging listeners to apply this lens to everything they consume. The truth is always complicated and, as Perfectors, the co-hosts encourage listeners to keep a nuanced view of the lives we live. For complete Show Notes, visit The Perfectors' website.

On Episode 18 of The Perfectors Podcast, Tesi sits down with Laura Packard, a health care activist and political commentator. She is the founder of Health Care Voices, a non-profit grassroots organization for adults with serious medical conditions and the Executive Director of Get America Covered, a group that promotes increased health coverage. For Laura, her work is personal. As she was fighting her own battle with cancer, she was also fighting her own U.S. Senator and President to keep her health insurance. She shares her wisdom, her knowledge, and her advocacy in a fantastic interview that will inspire listeners and give them a better understanding of medical coverage in America. For complete Show Notes, visit the Perfectors website.

On Episode 17 of the Perfector’s Podcast, Tesi sits down with Australian author Megan Goldin to discuss her fantastic book The Night Swim and life as a writer during quarantine. Megan brings a fascinating perspective as the women discuss the state of journalism and the state of democracy across the globe during this time of pandemic. They dive into topics that Megan’s book bring up, such as the treatment of sexual assault victims in the justice system, the #MeToo movement, the power of perspective, and the power of fiction to explore complex systems of power. See more on our website.

On Episode 16 of The Perfectors Podcast, Tesi and Leslie discuss the phenomenon of “Cancel Culture” … what it is, why it’s a hot topic, and what it means for people hoping to engage their voice in social and racial justice. It’s a candid conversation with examples of missteps and subsequent apologies, as well as a bit of guidance of how to live and love within “cancel culture” 2021. For complete Show Notes, visit The Perfector's website.

On Episode 15 of The Perfectors Podcast, Tesi sits down with Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of CARE USA, a community-based nonprofit working around the world to improve basic education, increase access to quality healthcare, and expand economic opportunity for all. The women talk about the importance of international aid and humanitarian development, the challenges and joys of defeating poverty and achieving justice, and the endeavor of encouraging hope, dignity, and security for all. Also discussed is what it takes to be a great leader and collaborator. The conversation is informative and motivating. Listen in!

On Episode 14 of The Perfectors Podcast, in light of the continued shootings of Black men at the hands of the police, Tesi and Leslie breakdown the news of the week. As the nation hangs on for the verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the dealth of George Floyd, the women discuss the power of empathy, the role of white women in a world where Black men call out for their mothers at the brink of death, and the movement to “defund the police." For complete Show Notes, visit The Perfectors website.

On Episode 13 of The Perfector’s Podcast, Leslie and Tesi sit down with Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, the executive director of NAMLE, a media literacy education association working to help people of all ages across the globe access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication available to them. The women talk about WHY media literacy is crucial to a functioning society and HOW to develop the skills we need to be a responsible consumer (and creator) of the media that surrounds us. It’s a fascinating and timely conversation about responsibility, empathy, and meaning. For complete Show Notes, visit The Perfector's website.

On Episode 12 of The Perfectors Podcast, Tesi and Leslie lament American gun culture. The women go to back to basics with facts and vocabulary surrounding guns, dispel common myths and misconceptions, equip listeners with concise arguments, and bring up tangible steps for listeners to deal with the state we find ourselves...again. For complete Show Notes, visit The Perfectors at www.theperfectors.com.

On Episode 11 of the Perfectors Podcast, Tesi sits down with author, designer, and Perfector of Overcoming, Stephanie Thornton Plymale. The women talk about her incredible childhood and her outstanding memoir, American Daughter. The interview features Stephanie’s experiences within various systems within the US as she explores the past she overcame and the life she has made for herself. It’s a great conversation about a unique childhood, a riveting book, and a phenomenal perfector who survived a tumultuous upbringing and managed to find beauty in the darkest places. LINKS: Find out more about The Perfectors Buy the book, American Daughter Follow Stephanie on Instagram

On this episode of The Perfectors, Tesi and Leslie take a look at the filibuster and break it down for listeners by taking a peek at its history and analyzing its impact on American life over the years. The women also celebrate their favorite six points of the American Rescue Plan and speak (with stars in their eyes) of their love of functional government and their high hopes for the future. For Show Notes and more of The Perfectors, visit our website.

On Episode 9 of The Perfectors podcast, Tesi sits down with Nedra Glover Tawwab, author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself, to talk about her story, her book, and her powerful and important message. Nedra is a perfector at making therapy available to as many people as possible, because having better relationships shouldn't be something afforded to just the privileged. She’s challenging, relatable, and comforting and will delight listeners through her generous advice and brilliant perspective. For complete Show Notes, visit The Perfectors website.

On this episode of The Perfectors, Tesi and Leslie take a look at the complex issue of immigration and break it down for listeners by looking back through its long and complicated history. This breakdown episode invites listeners to dive in, wrestle, and learn with the co-hosts in hopes of uncovering the inaccuracies of some of the history we’ve been taught and trying to make sense of today through the lens of where we’ve been. After discussing President Biden’s proposal for immigration reform, the co-hosts end the episode by sharing a few pandemic pleasures and encouraging their community of perfectors to keep learning about the world in order to better by it. For complete Show Notes, visit the Perfectors website.

On today’s Perfector’s podcast, Tesi sits down with Kitty O’Meara who is a retired teacher, chaplain, and author of the much-celebrated prose poem And the People Stayed Home. Kitty’s viral poem is now a beautifully illustrated children’s book that contains important and much-needed wisdom for us all. Listeners will learn from Kitty’s words and experiences, and will hear her plea to closely examine our individuals lives during this season in search of meaning, purpose, more love, and compassion.

On today’s breakdown, Leslie and Tesi dive into learning about the massive protests happening in India. Since late last year, farmers and farmworkers in Delhi have been in the streets protesting three farm bills that threaten their livelihood and way of life. Because of the interconnectedness of our global community and because over 250 million people are protesting, the Perfectors co-hosts felt they needed to understand the protests, the government’s response, and the human rights at stake.

On Episode 6 of The Perfectors Podcast, Tesi sits down with Janet Hill, the Chief Operating Officer and Public Information Officer of the Rock Island County Health Department in Illinois. Janet offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at her work as a public health official during a global health crisis. The women talk about the effort to administer vaccines as quickly and fairly as possible, the drumbeat of the pandemic, and the fragility and importance of public health services  in America.

On Episode 4 of The Perfectors, Tesi sits down with Ceci Hall of Humanity Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to continuing the movement inspired by Andrew Yang’s 2020 Presidential Campaign and to making its core ideas a reality, including universal basic income, and HUMAN-centered capitalism. The women talk about the finer points of universal basic income and direct cash relief, and how money needs to get directly to people, not corporations. Ultimately the conversation encourages listeners to be an active part of our democracy.

On today's episode of The Perfectors Podcast, Leslie and Tesi continue reveling in their joy over the inauguration of the 46th president. Discussion ranges from reactions to the ceremony itself to President Biden's speech to the first days of the Biden-Harris administration. The co-hosts end the episode by answering listener questions. The Breakdown: When major events happen—or when we want to take some time to connect with our listeners—we release a breakdown episode that covers everything from current events to what we’re reading.

Recorded under the Mama Bear Dares name, Leslie and Tesi have the honor of sitting down with Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, the largest grassroots movement in America 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, the world needs you, and it’s time to step up.