Strong(er) in the Broken Places

End your year with an inspiring tale. Tabitha Bailey and mother Toni Jacobs share an unwavering belief in God’s plan. Navigating healthcare intricacies, Tabatha’s family supported her through the greatest challenge of her life - pregnant with a brain tumor. Their resilience, born in preparation for the inevitable bumps in life, deepened connection to faith and family. Mentioned in the episode: Bishop T.D. Jakes: “Get ready, get ready, get ready...” https://www.tdjakes.org/  Joyce Meyer Ministries: https://joycemeyer.org/ Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website

Birth mothers are under-represented in the triangle of adoption: often misunderstood and vilified, while living with a lifetime of grief and shame. Seeing the need for support, entrepreneur and straight shooter, Yvonne Rivers created “Birth Mom’s Real Talk”. This Facebook  group and podcast provide a voice to the women who placed their children for adoption, through choice, deception or coercion. Mothers on Yvonne’s podcast may tell different stories, but every interview offers insight and breaks the bonds of secrecy in adoption experience.  Listen to D. Yvonne Rivers’ podcast at https://birthmomsrealtalk.com/ Yvonne also offers international business development training through her company, Phoebe Marketing Group at www.phoebemarketing.com Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website

Honest and brave, Ashley Barbour battles superficiality and appearance-based biases. As an activist sharing her experience living with cleft lip and palate, she helps thousands on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok with @cleftlove.   Inspired by her beauty and compassion, Vicky and Barb sat down to discuss resilience and learning to love ourselves exactly as we are. Want more? Listen to her brilliant podcast - Love Meets Joy with co host Iva Ballou. Sponsored by Smile Train, they offer love, laughter and deep insight into living with cleft. Podcast link: https://www.smiletrain.org/lovemeetsjoy To stay in touch with Ashley Barbour find her on social media: @cleftlove Read about her story on Love What Matters: https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/when-the-nurse-removed-the-bandages-i-held-my-breath-and-squeezed-my-eyes-closed-woman-shares-journey-with-bilateral-cleft-lip-and-palate/ Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website

Other people’s stories move us, build compassion and change our perspective. Award winning filmmaker Phyllis Bancroft’s latest film is personal. “With Salt” is her vulnerable look at date rape. She joins Barb and Vicky to discuss the creative process, finding her voice, and challenging the status quo. To watch Phyllis’s amazing film at a festival near you, visit www.withsaltthemovie.com Give this amazing artist a follow. Her next film explores her experience as an adoptee. Website: https://www.phyllisbancroft.com/ Instagram: @hollywoodflowonthego Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website

“What is real and what’s a dream?” Divine inspiration led musician Carol Heffler to compose music based on A Course in Miracles. Her beautiful song, I Could See Peace opens this episode. Carol’s lifetime of creativity flowed like a river within, offering strength for her own struggles as well. Music was something all her own, separate from a larger-than-life mother. In her teens, Carol’s passion for Dave Brubeck’s piano style remained secret - even from friends. After a classical music education, Carol finally found a jazz program in grad school at University of Massachusetts, Amhurst. Working for Elliot Lawrence in New York, Carol scored music for Daytime TV Soaps Search for Tomorrow  and The Edge of Night. In club performances she brought her love of Brazilian rhythms to jazz standards and her own compositions. Carol still enjoys performing, and especially nurturing a love of music in her grandson. Carol’s CDs: Available on Spotify I Could See Peace - Music of A Course in Miracles Sea Dreams - from exactly Willow Weep for Me - from pull of the moon Hero - https://youtu.be/WcQcvZVAV_Y Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website

Yumi Iwama’s life may have seemed perfect, but beneath a successful acting career and beautiful family, she hid her struggle with deep anxiety. The child of Japanese immigrants in a white suburban New Jersey town, Yumi always felt different. Navigating life as an Asian American carried a high emotional and physical cost. Restorative Hypnotherapist Lisa Hubler helped Yumi release the anxiety, and 12 years later, it has not returned. This profound healing inspired her to study with Lisa and she now offers Restorative Hypnotherapy and meditation, finding the combination healing for her clients. Inspired to offer services to people who have been mistreated, and may not feel safe enough to do this vulnerable work, Yumi plans to create a non-profit serving the BIPOC & AAPI communities on a larger scale. To connect with Yumi, visit her website: mindspahypnotherapy.com Also referenced in the podcast: Lisa Hubler:  https://www.amindmatters.com/ Dr. Herbert Benson - The Relaxation Response Charles Yu - Interior Chinatown Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website

How did Yumi get from constant anxiety to…peace?  This mini-episode introduces actress Yumi Iwama’s amazing journey of discovery and how she is now helping others.  Listen to Episode 23: Release Anxiety with Yumi Iwama and discover for yourself! Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website

Like a butterfly, Molly McLaurin’s transformation revealed her true beauty. This busy wife, new mother and twin is passionate about bringing people together, sharing her story and helping others tell theirs. Her company, Monarch Connections blends connection and healing work, offering Christian dating, life coaching and joyous events. A supportive advocate for adoptees, Molly shares her heart-felt personal story to help others, including starting Adoptee Talk, an adoptee meetup that expanded internationally during the pandemic. Connect with Molly: Website: www.monarch-connections.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarchconnections/ Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website

Marine Conservation Institute’s Angela Nardo-Morgan is sustained by her deep connection to earth and sea. This inspiring mother offers lessons from her long career as an environmental educator, activist and scientist. When then eighty-three year old Jane Goodall told her, “I know that you feel discouraged, but I don’t want you to give up. There is still time left to save the planet,” Angela dug deep and kept going. She joins Barb and Vicky to discuss ways we can all stay engaged, inspired, and take action to save this planet for future generations. Marine Conservation Institute: https://marine-conservation.org https://education.ucdavis.edu/ccs-salmon-classroom Angela’s favorite resources: https://www.count-us-in.org/en-gb/ https://www.earthday.org https://www.charitynavigator.org https://www.guidestar.org The history of Earth Day: http://www.nelsonearthday.net/nelson/ http://www.rachelcarson.org/SilentSpring.aspx Inspiration from their chat: https://www.janegoodall.org https://www.clarissapinkolaestes.com Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website

In this tender mini-episode and first video podcast, relinquishing birth mother Barbara and her adoptee daughter Vicky ponder a deep question. What if Barb made a different choice and kept her baby? Check out Barb and Vicky's other offerings - visit their website