2 black moms & a mic by 2 Black Moms & A Mic

Joy Moore is a highly successful media professional, distinguished writer, and producer.  She managed the media impact portfolio for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private philanthropy, for many years, was a writer and field producer for Essence in New York City, an Adjunct Professor at Howard University, and currently leads her own media consulting firm.  Joy has won a Peabody Award for her exceptional work in radio.  And that's just her professional life.  Her most important role is that of mom, grandma and mother-in-love to a beautiful family! 

There is a lot of pressure on the American economy right now and changes in private and public sector employment practices are affecting job security for many folks.  There are a lot of people who are taking early retirement or being laid off from their jobs or fear a future lay-off.  If you feel financially unstable and not sure what to do, this podcast is for you.

There's no denying that there is a lot going on now that is disrupting the daily life of many families.  The pressures on employment, our pocketbook, health and spirituality are impacting many and causing increasing stress on the body.  If you are feeling stressed, this episode is for you!  Join us in our talk with Dr. Sandra Smith, a highly skilled family medicine doctor and our own Medical Consultant.  Don't let stress take you down.  Learn to manage it with Dr. Smith's very practical advice.  

We were back at the Montgomery County (MD) Commission for Women's Legislative Briefing where we talked to women across the County and State about issues important to them.  More and more, we know that, as women, we cannot watch the action unfold; we must be a part of the action to ensure the security and safety of ourselves, our family and our community.  In this episode we talked to dynamic women advancing causes in many areas:  college scholarships, financial literacy, advocacy for children affected by domestic violence, political engagement, voter reform (rank choice voting), promoting HBCUs, and the happenings at the Maryland General Assembly!  

We love talking to young people finding their way and doing great things!  This episode is no exception!  In this podcast, we talk to Andrew Stephens, a recent college graduate and young filmmaker who filmed and produced his first documentary as a senior in College!  27 Deep is a movie-style documentary that follows the players of the 2022-2023 Haverford College men's soccer team.  In this year, Andrew and his teammates are repeatedly challenged on the field and off.   Nerves and a will to win are tested by this team.  The lessons learned span more than just through the season.   

We are welcoming Season 3 by coming to you!  We went to the annual Women's Legislative Briefing, put on by the Montgomery County (MD) Commission for Women, to talk to women about issues most important them.  Issues important to them are  certainly important to us!  We were reminded of a lot!  Women want to advance legislation for the betterment of women and families, especially those most in need.  We want to protect young people from homelessness.  We want to end food insecurity, improve housing affordability, ensure equity in healthcare, have a living wage, and we want gun control.  We want to protect and ensure our democracy.  We want responsible political representatives who will keep the focus on the public good.  We know that what is good for families is good for the country.  We thank the Commission for Women for a great annual event!

We have all watched as the people of Israel and the Gaza region have mourned the loss of life among their loved ones and suffered from the abductions of family-members and friends from the attacks by Hamas.  The horror of the situation has weighed heavily on our minds.  What do we say to our friends and neighbors who are Jewish and who may be affected directly by the attack, or emotionally suffering from the horrors that they see and hear about?  How do we talk to our children?  To help us unpack this emotional weight, we talk to Lisa Chanin Hedgepeth, a Jewish mom of three who is active in her synagogue and a member of the Social Action Steering Committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Greater Washington Area.  You won’t want to miss this special talk!  

Ever wonder about the real benefits of plant-based cooking on your health and well-being?  Well, we did too so we turned to plant-based nutrition expert Robina Barlow for some answers.  Robina strongly believes that a plant-based diet is the best way to attain optimal health, prevent/reverse disease, and she loves sharing this information with others.  She also shares some easy ways to turn that Sunday Soul Food dinner into a plant-based delight!  

Some of the most important early advances in women's health came at the expense of young women who were used in experimental surgical procedures.  In "Say Anarcha", J.C. Hallman unearths the story of a heroic black woman at the center of advances in modern women's healthcare.  Join us in an intriguing discussion with author J.C. Hallman, his research and what he learned about Anarcha and other enslaved women forced to undergo experimental gynecological surgeries in 19th century Alabama.  

Join us as we talk to Michelle Coles, author of the award-winning young adult novel "Black Was The Ink", a powerful coming-of-age story and an eye-opening exploration of the Reconstruction Era, the period time between the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Jim Crow. Through her main character Malcolm, Michelle brings to life historical leaders of Reconstruction, including the country's first black Congressman, Joseph Rainey of South Carolina. Joining us with Michelle is Cong. Rainey's great-great-granddaughter, Schuyler Rainey Twyman. Schuyler shares her insights about her great-great-grandfather, and together we talk about the dynamic period of Reconstruction and the importance of our children knowing their history.   You don't want to miss this powerful and enlightening talk.  

Ever wonder what racial equity should really look like in schools? Well, you need to hear our talk with Dr. Decoteau Irby.  Dr. Irby studied one school’s efforts to implement racial equity measures and wrote about those efforts in his outstanding new book, “Stuck Improving”.  In our talk, Dr. Irby gives great insights on what racial equity means for schools, what it really looks like, and how proper implementation can bring out the black excellence that is in all our children.  You don’t want to miss this! 

Ever wonder about a boarding school experience for your child?   If so, you won't want to miss our talk with Jackie Weatherspoon.  Jackie has a long affiliation with Phillips Exeter Academy, one of the nation's oldest boarding schools located in Exeter, New Hampshire, where she has worked in many roles including co-leader in the Academy Library, leading Exeter Summer, and faculty lead of Exeter Academy's Democratic Club.   Jackie will talk about insights she has shared with black families considering a college preparatory boarding school experience for their child.  (rev)

Ever wonder about a boarding school experience for your child?   If so, you won't want to miss our talk with Jackie Weatherspoon.  Jackie has a long affiliation with Phillips Exeter Academy, one of the nation's oldest boarding schools located in Exeter, New Hampshire, where she has worked in many roles including co-leader in the Academy Library, former head with Exeter Summer, and faculty lead of Exeter Academy's Democratic Club.   Jackie will talk about insights she has shared with black families considering PEA, or any boarding school experience, for their child.  

Does your college student need accommodations for a learning disability?  If so, you won’t want to miss our talk with Elizabeth Hamblet, a highly experienced and sought-after learning disabilities expert.  Elizabeth specializes in the learning needs of college students, and the process for securing accommodations to “level the playing field” for students.  In this podcast, Elizabeth will share her expert insights on 

From diapers to degrees, Glenda and Lisa are 2 black moms who have seen it all and heard it all!  Now they are bringing Season 2 of their podcast to you!  These moms will continue exploring education issues, especially K-12 and the impact of COVID on learning gaps and how parents can help alleviate those gaps, launching your high school student to college (and the sometimes confusing and complicated admissions process involved), gap year or work, helping your student find the right college fit, arranging for reasonable accommodations in college, as well as black women's health and wellness, divorce, return to work, and more!

In this episode we talk to our medical expert Dr. Sandra Smith about stomach cancer.  We are all susceptible to developing stomach cancer, but black men are 1.8 times more likely to have stomach cancer and 2.5 times more likely to die from it, as compared to white men. Dr. Smith talks to us about this disease, how to detect it, and preventive measures you can take to reduce the chances of developing it.  

In this episode, we talk to our medical expert, Dr. Sandra Smith, about the COVID vaccine for kids ages 5 and older, and the recent recommendation of a "second COVID booster."  Dr. Smith explains what COVID vaccine is authorized for kids and why you should consider having your child vaccinated.  She also talks to us about the latest news concerning the CDC's recommendation of a second COVID booster for adults.  You won't want to miss these tips on keeping your family safe!  

In this podcast we continue our talk with educational visionary Wilma Holmes. With her early training as a teacher and learning specialist, Ms. Wilma became one of the earliest black principals in the predominantly white school district of Montgomery County, Maryland.  Now, Ms. Wilma shares her talent, experiences and insights and her new book, “The Wilma Holmes Story: Principles of Being A Principal.” Join us for Part 2 of this podcast on Ms. Wilma’s story of family, love, compassion, and important principles for teachers and parents on how best to work with, and support, our children.    

In this podcast we talk to educational visionary Wilma Holmes. With her early training as a teacher and learning specialist, Ms. Wilma became one of the earliest black principals in the predominantly white school district of Montgomery County, Maryland.  Now, Ms. Wilma shares her talent, experiences and insights in her first book, “The Wilma Holmes Story: Principles of Being A Principal.” Join us for Part 1 of this podcast on Ms. Wilma’s story of family, love, compassion, and important principles for teachers and parents on how best to work with, and support, our children.    

There is no better advocate for your student than YOU!  In this podcast, we talk about advocating for your child at school - why it's important, how you can do it, and ways to keep up with your student's academic performance in order to ensure that they are getting what they need or are entitled to in order to achieve their best in school.   These tips can be useful whether your student is in lower, middle or upper school! 

The pandemic has been a major challenge for schools, students and parents. With the spread of the Omicron variant, schools are again struggling to stay open this semester.  With this disruption in the learning environment, we wanted to look at impacts on the academic progression of students.  Join us as we talk about this important topic with Dr. Nadiah Trotman-Blackman, a highly experienced and sought-after learning specialist in Atlanta.  Dr. Trotman-Blackman is a specialist in education research and teaching and has developed instruction and implemented developmentally appropriate practices to children with developmental disabilities.  She has been hailed a "Rising Star" by the Prince Georges County, MD Special Education Department! Her valuable insights in this pandemic environment can be helpful to parents with children from PreK to high school, and of all learning abilities.

There's a surge in interest in historically black colleges and universities!  Applications and enrollments at HBCUs are up, along with private donations.  In this episode, we chat with Olivia, a student at Tuskegee University.  Olivia attended predominantly white schools for elementary, middle and high school, then entered Tuskegee University.   Tuskegee is one of the most prominent and renowned HBCUs in the nation.  Join us as we chat with Olivia and her mom, Pam, about student life at Tuskegee, and navigating college during the pandemic!

Whether you have been a mom for six months or 60 years, we all know that parenthood can be stressful.  The stress of the pandemic is exacerbated for black moms needing to explain to their children, and process for themselves, the racial injustice and turmoil that we have witnessed in our cities and in the media in recent months.  One healthy way to deal with parental burnout and stress is through meditation.  Our guest, Aubrey Adams, founder of The Lotus Room, talks about what meditation is, how to meditate, and its many benefits!

Early college decisions are rolling in!  Some of you have big decisions to make.  As you make those decisions, Two Black Moms and Mic have some insights on how to handle these decisions and manage the admissions process with your student.    

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Sandra M. Smith, a true hero of the pandemic.  Dr. Smith has been on the ground since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.  She offers valuable insights on understanding COVID-19, and its variants Delta and Omicron.  And, we can't forget, it's also flu season!   You will gain lots of great information in this episode as Dr. Smith offers valuable tips on keeping your family safe in the pandemic and guarding against the flu!

So your student is well into the college admissions process and is lucky enough to score an admissions interview!  This may be the only personal contact that your student will have with an admissions officer or alumni interviewer for the college of their choice.  In this podcast, we give you tips on what to expect and how to help your student prepare for this very important interview.  

Applying and getting into college can be a crap shoot!  We know because we've been there!  In this first of four episodes on the College Admissions Process, we talk about early admissions. What that is, who should apply early, and how to manage those early admissions decisions!  We're here to help!

From diapers to degrees, these two black moms have seen it all and heard it all.  Now they are bringing their insights on issues that matter to you.  They will explore the range of issues on the minds of black moms everywhere, including helping your high school student navigate the college admissions process, resources tailored to educational achievement of black children,  the continuing problem of educational disparities, letting go and letting your child live their best life (and not re-live yours), and will go introspective to explore what it means to find personal joy, health and happiness on the other side of motherhood!   We're here for you!