The EMBER Project Podcast

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, we sit down with a mother and daughter to explore what early motherhood looks like across generations — not through statistics or stereotypes, but through lived experience. Latresha became pregnant at seventeen, facing fear, judgment, and resistance while making a decision that would shape the rest of her life. What followed was not an easy path. This conversation unpacks the reality of parenting while still growing up yourself, navigating anger, survival mode, discipline, and determination — all while trying to raise a child who would never be told she was limited by how her story began. Her daughter, Latrice, shares what it was like to grow up inside that reality. From learning independence at an early age, to understanding responsibility before most children do, to eventually recognizing just how young her mother really was. Together, they reflect on the tension between authoritarian parenting and love, the role of extended family and community, and how expectations — both internal and external — shaped who they became. This episode also addresses a perspective we rarely hear: how the stress placed on young parents often transfers to their children, and how resilience is forged not just through sacrifice, but through example. It challenges the assumption that early motherhood automatically leads to negative outcomes and instead highlights the importance of support, education, and self-growth. If you are a young mom, the child of a young mom, or someone who wants to understand the long-term impact of early motherhood beyond stigma, this conversation offers truth, validation, and hope. To learn more about The EMBER Project, please visit our ⁠WEBSITE⁠ or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. Thank you!

In this powerful conversation, Tori shares her journey into motherhood as a teenager while navigating unresolved trauma, grief, and a deep desire to feel loved and safe. She reflects on the close relationship she had with her father and the lasting impact of losing him at a young age, as well as growing up with a mother who struggled with mental health and emotional availability. These early experiences shaped how Tori viewed herself, her relationships, and her worth. Tori opens up about discovering her pregnancy after being misdiagnosed with bronchitis and the challenges of becoming a teen mom without consistent support from peers or school systems. She speaks honestly about stigma, isolation, and the emotional weight young mothers often carry. Through it all, she shares how the love and support of her husband helped ground her as she learned to parent while still healing herself. Now pursuing a degree in psychology, Tori is determined to turn her pain into purpose by supporting children and families impacted by trauma. Her story is a reminder that resilience does not mean avoiding hardship, but choosing growth, love, and hope in spite of it.

In this episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, host Susan Sutton sits down with Angel, president of Shielding Angels, to shed light on what stalking really looks like in 2025 and why awareness is so urgently needed. January is recognized nationally as Stalking Awareness Month, and this conversation aims to help listeners understand the warning signs, trust their instincts, and take steps to stay safe. In this episode, I sit down with Angel, a stalking survivor and the founder of Shielding Angels She shares her own experience with workplace-related stalking and how it continued long after she left the job. She explains what it feels like to be dismissed or told that nothing can be done, and she talks about practical ways listeners can protect themselves, including documenting incidents, installing cameras when possible, being mindful of online information, changing routines, and leaning on trusted friends or family. This episode is part of a larger effort to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and help survivors recognize that they are not imagining what is happening to them. Stalking is a pattern of behavior that causes fear and disrupts daily life, and it is far more common than many realize. For early mothers who are already navigating parenting, school, work, and relationships, this kind of fear can be overwhelming. Listeners can learn more about stalking awareness and find additional safety resources at the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center by visiting ⁠www.stalkingawareness.org⁠. Shielding Angels, Angel’s nonprofit, can be found at ⁠www.shieldingangels.info⁠ for those needing more direct support. For more from The EMBER Project, including resources for early mothers, visit ⁠www.theemberproject.org⁠ or follow our social media accounts listed in the episode description. If you or someone you know feels unsafe or is in immediate danger, please contact 911 or your local emergency services. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available for confidential support at 1 800 799 SAFE or by texting START to 88788.

In this powerful episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, I sit down with Jessica Brooks Woods for a conversation that goes far beyond statistics and into the systems that shape maternal health outcomes in this country. We talk honestly about maternal health equity, bias in healthcare, and why young mothers, especially Black and Brown mothers, continue to face disproportionate risk despite decades of awareness. Jessica shares the deeply personal story that led her into this work, including her mother’s traumatic birth experience and how being unseen and unheard in the medical system leaves lasting scars. Her story is a sobering reminder that maternal health crises are not rare, and they are not accidents. They are the result of systems that fail to listen. Throughout our conversation, we unpack why maternal and infant mortality rates remain unacceptably high, why bias is often the deciding factor in outcomes, and how stigma and dismissal affect young and teen mothers in particularly damaging ways. Jessica explains why these disparities are not biological, but engineered, and why listening, dignity, and accountability matter more than any new technology. We also explore the critical role employers play in maternal health, from benefits design to access to care, and why leaving these conversations solely to hospitals and policymakers will never be enough. Jessica challenges us to think differently about responsibility, leadership, and what real advocacy looks like when lives are at stake. For young and teen moms listening, this episode carries a clear message, you matter, your voice matters, and your experience does not disqualify you, it equips you. For healthcare leaders, employers, and policymakers, this conversation is a call to stop asking women to survive broken systems and start building systems worthy of mothers.

This episode of The EMBER Project Podcast is both a year in review and a look ahead to what it truly takes to build something meaningful. I reflect on a year of extraordinary growth for EMBER, from a packed first fundraiser and community-wide support to real, tangible impact for young mothers. I also share the personal cost behind the scenes, losing the job that represented her security and identity, selling the home she worked two jobs to afford, and navigating depression while continuing to lead. This conversation challenges the idea that leaders must always be strong, reminding us that winners get tired, heroes stumble, and course correction is not failure, it is growth. I celebrate what was accomplished, including mobilizing volunteers, providing educational resources that helped a young mom graduate on time, and cast a bold vision for 2026 with plans for childcare support and the future IGNITE Campus. This is an honest conversation about leadership without perfection, resilience without pretending, and how community turns sparks into steady flames.

In this episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, I’m joined once again by my friend Ra’Cole Taltoan, CEO of Rockbrook Business Services, LLC, accountant, nonprofit strategist, and community advocate, for an honest conversation about holiday debt, tax refunds, and financial recovery. The holidays may be over, but for many families the stress lingers. January has a way of bringing everything into focus, credit card balances, tight bank accounts, and the quiet fear that shows up when you start wondering how you’re going to recover from it all. Ra’Cole and I talk openly about why so many families slide into holiday debt, not because they are irresponsible, but because of love mixed with limited options. We discuss guilt, comparison, emotional spending, and the pressure mothers feel to create meaningful memories for their children even when money is already stretched thin. This conversation is grounded in lived experience. We share stories from our own lives about relying on tax refunds to catch up on bills, paying utilities ahead when possible, and learning financial survival strategies out of necessity. Ra’Cole introduces the idea of quiet fear, that constant background worry so many parents carry, especially after Christmas. We also talk through practical questions that come up every year, where to start when money is already tight, how to recover from holiday debt without making things worse, how to think about tax refunds, and how to balance paying down debt with building a small safety net. Throughout the episode, we return to the importance of letting go of guilt, understanding what kids really remember, and making small, sustainable choices that support both financial and emotional well being. If you’re listening and feeling overwhelmed, behind, or ashamed about your finances, I want you to hear this clearly. You are not bad with money. You are not failing your children. You are doing the best you can in a system that was not built to support mothers, especially young mothers. Recovery does not require perfection. It requires honesty, support, and one small step at a time. About My Guest Ra’Cole Taltoan is the CEO of Rockbrook Business Services, LLC. She is an accountant, nonprofit strategist, and community advocate whose work focuses on financial healing, stability, and systems for women and young mothers. Learn more about Ra’Cole and her work at https://www.rockbrookbusinessservices.com   About The EMBER Project The EMBER Project is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting early mothers through mentorship, education, career development, and financial empowerment. We believe early motherhood should never define the limits of a woman’s future, and that when mothers rise, families rise. Learn more about our work at www.TheEMBERProject.org

The holidays are supposed to be joyful… but for so many early mothers, they are heavy, overwhelming, and emotionally draining. In this powerful two-part conversation, Susan explores the truth behind holiday burnout with both a mental health expert and a young mother living it in real time. First, clinical mental health counselor Nicki breaks down what really happens to our bodies and minds during the holiday season — the guilt, the comparison, the emotional load, the pressure to “look like a good mom,” and how stress slowly becomes burnout. She explains emotional, physical, and mental burnout in clear, accessible language, and gives simple tools for grounding, rest, and resetting when the season feels too heavy. Then, a mother of five and a brand-new grandmother, shares her vulnerable story of reaching out for help this Christmas because finances were tight and expectations felt overwhelming. She opens up about embarrassment, guilt, the mental toll of financial strain, breaking traditions, and what it felt like when people stepped up to support her family. Her honesty reminds all of us that asking for help is an act of strength, not shame. Together, these conversations shine light on both sides of holiday burnout — the psychology behind it, and the lived experience of mothers who are doing the best they can with what they have. If you’ve ever felt like the holidays demanded more than you could give, this episode will remind you:You are not alone.You are not failing. And support exists for you.

In this powerful solo episode, I open up about my very first Christmas as a young single mom. I talk honestly about what it looked like to try to create a magical holiday with almost no money, a handful of used toys, super cheap decorations, and Christmas cookies paid for with food stamps. I share the pride I felt saving $180 in a Christmas Club account, the deep shame that came when some of the gifts weren’t age appropriate, and how heavy the pressure felt to make everything look perfect for my daughter, even when I was falling apart inside. I also explore how holiday burnout hits early mothers differently. We already walk into the season feeling like we’ve disappointed people, like we have something to prove, like we have to make up for becoming moms “too soon.” I talk about how the myth of the perfect holiday — the matching pajamas, the perfect tree, the Instagram-ready moments — wasn’t even around back then, and thank goodness, because the weight of comparison would have crushed me even more. This episode sets the stage for Part Two, where listeners will hear more from Nicki and from a mom who recently reached out online asking for Christmas help. Her honesty adds an important layer to this conversation about shame, survival mode, and the reality of trying to hold your family together during the holidays. If this episode touches you, please check out our work at www.theEMBERproject.org.

In this episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, I sit down with my guest Mary, who became a mother just days before her fifteenth birthday. For the first time publicly, Mary shares how she navigated early motherhood, judgment, and a medically fragile newborn while fighting to build a life that no one believed she could achieve. Mary describes adding years to her age to avoid the reactions of strangers, leaving high school to take her GED, and working long hours to support herself and her daughter. She explains how she found independence before turning eighteen, managed her finances with determination, and avoided public assistance because she feared reinforcing the stereotypes placed on young mothers. Listeners will hear how Mary used temporary jobs to build experience, found stability in bookkeeping, and later attended college with her daughter by her side. She talks about the decade she spent working full time, parenting, and taking classes, and how stubbornness and common sense fueled her through exhaustion and setbacks. Mary also shares how her master’s degree helped save her job during the recession and reflects on the pride her family felt as she built a career that defied every prediction made about her future. Her story is one of grit, growth, and quiet strength. It reminds us that early motherhood does not define a woman’s potential. Mary’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when determination meets opportunity and how support, confidence, and critical thinking can change the entire trajectory of a life. At The EMBER Project, we believe in the potential of early mothers and their right to rise. Thank you for listening and for supporting this mission. Please visit us at www.theemberproject.org to learn more.

In this powerful episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, I sits down with Lakeyta Johnson, a woman who turned years of bullying, isolation, and emotional abuse into a mission of self-love, faith, and healing. Lakeyta shares her journey from being a teenager bullied for her body and skin tone to finding validation in an older man’s attention, a relationship that led to pregnancy, heartbreak, and years of emotional pain. Through deep self-reflection, faith, and the determination to break generational cycles, she transformed her life and founded Shattered but Not Broken, a nonprofit teaching young women self-worth, confidence, and spiritual healing. Together, we talk about the long-term impact of bullying and body shaming, the way childhood neglect and emotional hunger shape early relationships, and the courage it takes to leave emotional abuse and choose self-worth. They also explore grieving loss, rediscovering identity, and learning to love yourself again, and how faith and surrender became the turning point in her transformation. Lakeyta opens up about her 130 pound natural weight loss journey through intentional living and intuitive eating, and the creation of Shattered but Not Broken, an organization devoted to helping girls understand that they are enough, just as they are. This episode will touch your heart, challenge your perspective, and remind you that healing is possible, even from the deepest wounds. Follow Shattered but Not Broken:⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠Instagram⁠ or contact Lakeyta by email at [email protected]   Support The EMBER Project: ⁠www.theemberproject.org

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, I sits down at my kitchen bar on a rainy day with my friend Shannon, a woman whose story is equal parts heartbreak and healing. Shannon grew up in a home marked by alcoholism, violence, and fear, carrying burdens no child should bear. At just eighteen, she became a mother longing for love and stability. What followed was a journey through grief, trauma, resilience, and rediscovery. Together, Susan and Shannon explore the generational scars left by abuse, the impact of losing her father to suicide, and the desperate hope that motherhood could finally bring unconditional love. Shannon opens up about rebuilding her life through therapy, setting boundaries with a toxic parent, quitting cigarettes, joining the PTA, rescuing animals, surviving long COVID and severe sleep apnea, and learning to see herself as worthy of love and peace. This episode is raw, honest, and redemptive, a reminder that healing is possible and that even when the past tries to smother your light, you can still rise and shine. Content warning: This episode talks about abuse, alcoholism and suicide. To find out more about The EMBER Project, please visit us at www.TheEMBERProject.org. There you will find links to volunteer, donate or take the first step in changing the future of your family.

Welcome to The EMBER Project Podcast, where early mothers become empowered and resilient. In this second part of Surviving the Storm, I continues my conversation with our courageous guest, whose journey from trauma to transformation reminds us that healing is possible, even after the fiercest storms. In Part One, we heard about her painful childhood, marked by loss, abuse, and instability. In this episode, she shares how those early wounds followed her into young adulthood and motherhood—and how she began to face them with courage and faith. She opens up about the challenges of early marriage, betrayal, and heartbreak, and how those experiences pushed her to confront the pain she had long carried. As she battled addiction, grief, and loss, she also discovered the resilience that had always been within her. Through each season of hardship, she found new strength, and began to redefine what love, family, and healing truly meant. Her story is one of survival, but more importantly, of renewal—a reminder that even the smallest ember can reignite into a flame of hope. If you missed Part One of Surviving the Storm, be sure to listen to it first for the full story of her incredible journey. To learn more about The EMBER Project and how we help early mothers rebuild their lives through mentorship, education, and empowerment, visit www.theemberproject.org to find volunteer opportunities and the link to enroll in our program. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Together, we keep the fire burning. 🔥

Welcome to The EMBER Project Podcast, where early mothers become empowered and resilient. In this second part of Surviving the Storm, I continues my conversation with our courageous guest, whose journey from trauma to transformation reminds us that healing is possible, even after the fiercest storms. In Part One, we heard about her painful childhood, marked by loss, abuse, and instability. In this episode, she shares how those early wounds followed her into young adulthood and motherhood—and how she began to face them with courage and faith. She opens up about the challenges of early marriage, betrayal, and heartbreak, and how those experiences pushed her to confront the pain she had long carried. As she battled addiction, grief, and loss, she also discovered the resilience that had always been within her. Through each season of hardship, she found new strength, and began to redefine what love, family, and healing truly meant. Her story is one of survival, but more importantly, of renewal—a reminder that even the smallest ember can reignite into a flame of hope. If you missed Part One of Surviving the Storm, be sure to listen to it first for the full story of her incredible journey. To learn more about The EMBER Project and how we help early mothers rebuild their lives through mentorship, education, and empowerment, visit www.theemberproject.org to find volunteer opportunities and the link to enroll in our program. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Together, we keep the fire burning. 🔥

Welcome to The EMBER Project Podcast, where early mothers become empowered and resilient. In this emotional first episode of a two-part series, I sit down with a woman whose story of survival, courage, and faith reminds us that even in the darkest seasons, a spark of hope can still remain. Our guest shares what life was like growing up in Warren, Ohio, surrounded by poverty, instability, and trauma. From her mother’s disability and her brother’s ADHD to abandonment and hunger, she faced more by age seven than most do in a lifetime. After being placed in thirteen foster homes and enduring abuse, she learned early that safety and trust were never guaranteed. At eight years old, a brutal assault changed her world forever, leaving her silent for two years. She speaks about that silence, the loss of her therapist, and what those years taught her about fear, strength, and survival. Gymnastics later became her outlet and escape, giving her a rare feeling of confidence and control, even as she faced heartbreak and loss. As she entered her teens, the longing for love and stability led her into a relationship with an older man who would become her first husband. By fifteen, she was pregnant and navigating motherhood with little guidance or support. This episode tells the beginning of her powerful journey, one defined by pain but also by perseverance. Be sure to listen through to the end and join us next week for Part Two, when she begins to find healing, identity, and strength beyond survival. To learn more about The EMBER Project and how we support early mothers, visit ⁠www.theemberproject.org⁠. Connect with us on ⁠Facebook⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠. Together, we keep the fire burning. 🔥

In this deeply personal and powerful episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, I speak with a woman whose journey embodies what it truly means to rise from the ashes. Becoming a mother at sixteen, she faced adulthood before she was ready — balancing school, work, and motherhood while carrying the weight of trauma, addiction, and grief. From surviving sexual abuse in her childhood to losing both parents and her brother, her story is one of unimaginable pain and remarkable perseverance. Through honesty, faith, and a commitment to healing, she has reclaimed her life — embracing sobriety, breaking destructive family patterns, and redefining what resilience means for herself and her children. This conversation explores how trauma shapes us, how motherhood can ignite the will to heal, and how even in the darkest moments, hope can still burn quietly beneath the surface. If you or someone you love has walked through trauma, addiction, or loss, this episode offers both truth and tenderness — a reminder that no matter what you’ve endured, your flame can still rise. Connect with us and learn more at ⁠theemberproject.org⁠ or follow The EMBER Project on Facebook and Instagram for more inspiring stories and resources for early mothers.

In this second half of our two-part Positive Parenting series, I continue the journey through the first year of motherhood, exploring the incredible growth that happens between six and twelve months for both mother and child. From first steps to first words, this season of motherhood is filled with discovery, laughter, and constant change. But it can also bring uncertainty, exhaustion, and moments of doubt. In this episode, we talk about embracing it all with grace and patience, and about how positive parenting creates space for learning and love to grow side by side. We discuss the milestones that often unfold during this stage, how to support your baby’s development at their own pace, and what it looks like to adapt to changing routines around feeding, sleep, and play. We also explore how daily moments, from mealtime to bedtime, can become opportunities to teach emotional safety, consistency, and trust. Together, we look at ways to create a home that encourages curiosity while remaining safe for exploration, and how to balance your own personal growth as your baby becomes more independent. This conversation also reminds mothers that support matters. Whether that comes from partners, family, mentors, or community connections, no one is meant to do this alone. Positive parenting isn’t about getting everything right, it’s about showing up every day with love, consistency, and curiosity, and learning to give yourself the same grace you offer your child. If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another mom who might need a reminder that she’s doing better than she thinks. You can connect with us and find more resources at ⁠Newborn Cues narrated - What is Your Baby Trying to Tell You?⁠ ⁠https://www.zerotothree.org/⁠ ⁠https://developingchild.harvard.edu/

In this episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, I sit down with Margaret Stridick, founder of 3P Parenting, to explore what positive parenting truly means, especially for young and early mothers navigating those fragile first months of motherhood. This is episode one of a two-part series on Parenting Your Infant, and it focuses on building strong emotional bonds, understanding early development, and nurturing both baby and mother during this critical season of life. Together we unpack the principles of building secure, loving relationships from day one. Margaret explains how small daily interactions such as eye contact, tone of voice, and skin-to-skin moments create deep emotional safety for both mother and baby. She offers practical strategies for bonding through everyday routines like feedings, diaper changes, and bedtime, reminding young moms that even the simplest gestures can shape lifelong trust and connection. Throughout their conversation, they explore understanding infant cues and different types of cries, setting realistic expectations for newborn sleep, creating learning opportunities through daily routines, managing stress and sadness, and maintaining strong communication with your support system.   This conversation is filled with warmth, honesty, and gentle wisdom. Whether you are a new mom, a mentor, or someone supporting young parents, this episode offers encouragement and practical tools to help early mothers thrive, not just survive, in those first precious months. As promised, I've provided resources here. ⁠Newborn Cues narrated - What is Your Baby Trying to Tell You?⁠ ⁠https://www.zerotothree.org/⁠ ⁠https://developingchild.harvard.edu/⁠ Connect with The EMBER Project: 🌐 www.theemberproject.org  

In this episode we have the pleasure of speaking with Ra'cole, entrepreneur and financial literacy expert. Generational poverty isn’t just about money. It’s about patterns, pressures, and missed opportunities passed down for decades. In this episode, we uncover what keeps families stuck and how young mothers can begin to rewrite their stories. From understanding the difference between generational and situational poverty to tackling the stigma of using WIC or EBT, we explore how early parenthood, financial strain, and lack of healthy money role models affect long-term stability. We also break down the psychology of spending, practical ways to budget and save with very limited income, and how mentorship and financial literacy can change the future for both moms and their children. This is a conversation filled with real strategies, compassion, and hope—for anyone ready to believe that breaking the cycle is possible. Learn more at ⁠ywcann.com⁠⁠⁠⁠riseyoungstown.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠rockbrook3.com⁠ As always please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!! But most importantly SHARE our podcast with a friend who might find encouragement in it.  

This episode, is the beginning of a three-part series about how The EMBER Project was born. For the first time, I share my own story of becoming a teen mom at fifteen—the stigma, the shame, the words spoken over me that I would never be more than a failure. I talk about my determination to prove them wrong, the years of working and studying with no balance, the times I thought I couldn’t keep going, and what it cost me as a young mother. Join me as I open this series with my own marigold moment, the painful roots that grew into The EMBER Project. To learn more about The EMBER Project—how you can support us, or how we might support you—visit our website: ⁠www.theemberproject.org⁠. You can also connect with us on social media: ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, and ⁠LinkedIn⁠. If this episode speaks to you, please like, subscribe, and most importantly share it so others can find hope here. Thank you    

In this powerful solo episode, I open up about my very first Christmas as a young single mom. I talk honestly about what it looked like to try to create a magical holiday with almost no money, a handful of used toys, super cheap decorations, and Christmas cookies paid for with food stamps. I share the pride I felt saving $180 in a Christmas Club account, the deep shame that came when some of the gifts weren’t age appropriate, and how heavy the pressure felt to make everything look perfect for my daughter, even when I was falling apart inside. I also explore how holiday burnout hits early mothers differently. We already walk into the season feeling like we’ve disappointed people, like we have something to prove, like we have to make up for becoming moms “too soon.” I talk about how the myth of the perfect holiday — the matching pajamas, the perfect tree, the Instagram-ready moments — wasn’t even around back then, and thank goodness, because the weight of comparison would have crushed me even more. This episode sets the stage for Part Two, where listeners will hear more from Nicki and from a mom who recently reached out online asking for Christmas help. Her honesty adds an important layer to this conversation about shame, survival mode, and the reality of trying to hold your family together during the holidays. If this episode touches you, please check out our work at www.theEMBERproject.org.

In this mini episode we talk about the moments that we experience, and how they shape our lives. Remember, if you are a teen mom and are interested in joining The EMBER Project, please CLICK HERE. If you are interested in seeing how you can make a difference in the life on an early mother, CLICK HERE. Thank you for listening. Please remember to Like, Subscribe and Share!

Meet the founder of The EMBER Project as well as learn some of the statistics on early motherhood that make it clear how important this project is.