Talk To Your Mom

In this intimate and intergenerational episode, Keyaira and Tarawoner sit down with their matriarch, Willa Mae, to trace how Black women in their family rebuilt their lives and redefined what "work" could look like across two generations. Willa Mae reflects on her early years in the cotton fields of Mississippi, before her mother courageously led the family north to Ohio, escaping the violent, hellish racism of the Jim Crow South. In Ohio, a new lineage was planted — one rooted in hope for broader horizons. Tarawoner details her work stretching from serving as a probation officer to later taking on janitorial work in Ohio's corporate offices, before transitioning into life coaching and ministry. Keyaira's early work years include doing janitorial work alongside her family, a foundation of grit that would eventually propel her into top editing roles in major New York City corporate newsrooms — spaces her grandmother could scarcely imagine entering. Together, the three women reflect on migration, survival, dignity, and ambition—how each generation pushed the boundaries a little further, transforming field labor into corporate careers, and forging a legacy of strength and self-determination.

In this episode, hosts Keyaira and Tarawoner sit down with Dr. Akilah Reynolds, California based psychologist at Black Girl Doctor for a powerful and honest conversation about setting boundaries with family, managing resentment, and protecting your peace. Dr. Reynolds breaks down why boundary-setting is essential for emotional health—especially within Black families where guilt, obligation, and generational expectations often make saying "no" difficult. Tarawoner opens up about the challenges of establishing boundaries with her aging mother, who moved in with her and her husband due to a housing crisis. Meanwhile, Keyaira shares her journey of prioritizing privacy in her romantic and personal life, exploring what it means to step back from social sharing and conversations centered on relationships and career talk. Together, they unpack how to: Recognize when resentment is a signal that a boundary has been crossed Set healthy emotional boundaries with parents and loved ones Navigate shifting social dynamics when you choose privacy over openness Rebuild connection and self-trust after family conflict Tune in for a heartfelt discussion that offers tools for healing family relationships, preserving mental wellness, and embracing emotional boundaries with love and intention.

In this episode, Tarawoner and Keyaira have a raw and heartfelt conversation about how they moved past old resentments to build a stronger, more loving bond. Keyaira opens up about working through feelings of distance when she wasn't as present with her mom as her siblings, while Tarawoner shares how she's learned to embrace Keyaira's busy, purpose-driven life without frustration. We're also joined by Toya Johnson-Rushing and Reginae Carter who stop by to promote the latest season of their WeTV reality show 'Toya and Reginae.' The duo shared how their own mother-daughter dynamic has evolved—especially as Reginae navigates life in Los Angeles, miles away from her hometown of Atlanta. From healing past wounds to strengthening bonds despite distance, this episode is all about growth, forgiveness, and the journey to a deeper connection.

In this episode, Tarawoner and Keyaira dive into the power of discerning God's voice and trusting your intuition. The two reflect on moments when they ignored their gut feelings, missed the red flags, and the lessons learned from those experiences. They also explore what it means to feel a true "yes" in your spirit—one that aligns with God's will and brings abundant fruit, not just for your life, but for others around you. Tune in for an insightful conversation on faith, intuition, and how trusting your gut can lead to clarity, peace, and purpose.

On this episode, Keyaira and Tarawoner discuss how they managed their grief after the loss of a close family member. Keyaira explains how waves of grief may hit not only when someone dies, but also when a part of us dies. Losing a part of our identity that we were attached to can trigger its own mourning process. Tarawoner shares how her father's death still impacts her emotional life decades later. Grief has no timeline, and our hope with this episode is that you feel seen and comforted in your process. 

In this episode, Keyaira and Tarawoner discuss the differences between the millennial and baby boomer generations. Tarawoner explains how switching from the analog to the digital era of social media was the "gateway to hell," and Keyaira discusses the lack of empathy people have for Black, single, corporate girl bosses.

Welcome back to season 3 of 'Talk To Your Mom!' On this debut episode, Keyaira and Tarawoner discuss the women who have made an impact on their ability to survive life with joy, grace, and faith. Tarawoner begins with a quote by Audre Lorde, then riffs about the wisdom of her grandmother, Eliza Lightfoot, before the duo deep dives into the women of the Bible who have inspired their walk. They discuss Ruth, a woman who lost everything (home and family) before she owned the fields she used to glean, and Haagar, a slave girl who was forced to conceive a son before she was thrown out into the desert to die, until God opened a well for her. Through these stories, Keyaira and Tarawoner find determination to live and strength. The hope is that this episode inspires every woman to feel powerful in her story, no matter how insignificant she may feel. 

Keyaira & Tarawoner talk through some of the issues they have that causes tension in their relationship with Dr. Akilah Reynolds. Keyaira voices frustration that she feels judged for breaking from traditional values when it comes to her dating/love life, and Tarawoner explains how hard it can be to watch your child run into situations with obvious red flags. Tarawoner also explains how as a baby boomer, she feels left behind as technology zooms ahead, while Keyaira sometimes feels her mom is capable of more when it comes to computers, but isn't willing to try. 

For the next two episodes, "Talk To Your Mom" pod has a special guest, Dr. Akilah Reynolds of Black Girl Doctor, to work through a few issues hosts Tarawoner & Keyaira are struggling with. In part 1 of 2, Dr. Akilah explains the complicated tension between moms and daughters, and why more moms and daughters should seek therapy together and/or separately to have healthier, happier lives. 

Keyaira opens up to her mom about the fears she has surrounding motherhood. Being that child rearing is starting later for a lot of us, Keyaira explains she's spent so much of her life focused on her own wants and needs, she is afraid of what the transition to new motherhood and ultimate sacrifice would look like. Tarawoner discusses how even though she had to put a lot of her dreams aside when she became a mom at 19, now, in her 60s, it's all about her again.

On this episode, Keyaira and Tarawoner discuss what makes them feel sexy. Tarawoner talks how to keep things spicy in a marriage after having kids. And Keyaira gets candid about how she developed her own sense of what sexy was outside of the gaze of men. 

Tarawoner and Keyaira talk through all physical changes women can undergo in a lifetime. Tarawoner talks about how she adjusted to her body's changes after giving birth to children, and Keyaira talks about how physical discipline helped her regain her sense of self-love. The duo also shares how they were able to cultivate appreciation for their bodies outside of the gaze of other people. 

On this episode of "Talk To Your Mom," Keyaira and Tarawoner discuss what forgiveness and healing looks like in real time. The pair reveal how they overcame resentment and healed after being hurt by people they cared about the most. They also discuss how they started to forgive themselves for mistakes they've made in the past.

On this episode, Keyaira & Tarawoner talk through various birth control methods they've tried to prevent pregnancy. The pair also work through why some women opt out of using birth control, and why some women may choose to have kids for reasons that aren't completely selfless. Tarawoner talks about what it was like to give birth naturally, and the duo also discusses condom usage and how the stigma around STDs has changed since the 70s. 

On this episode, Tarawoner & Keyaira discuss traditional gender roles and whether they still apply to today's generations of daters. Tarawoner talks about being a stay-at-home mom while her husband was the breadwinner for most of their marriage. She explains how not making her own money contributed to a sense of inadequacy and dependency. Keyaira discusses why she's comfortable with more equally weighted contributions in partnership. They also examine if societal shaming causes some women to pretend they don't want to be taken care of.

On this episode, Tarawoner and Keyaira talk through the distrust many women have when it comes to men and offer solutions on how to heal the disconnect. The hosts talk about the differences between modern men now and the type of relationships women had with men in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. They also offer theories on why some men may have lost their sense of self not being able to provide in the shifting/evolving job markets. Ultimately, they urge women to take responsibility for who they allow in their lives and to trust themselves over anyone else. 

On this episode, Keyaira & Tarawoner discuss how some moms project their unfulfilled dreams onto their children. It can be very difficult for moms to cut the chord and let their kids make their own life choices without emotionally punishing them or cutting them off for not following their way. Keyaira explains what gave her the confidence to make choices her mom didn't approve of, and Tarawoner explains how she's focusing on her own dreams during this time of her life. 

For the season finale of "Talk To Your Mom," Tarawoner and Keyaira invited Carol Maraj, the mother of Nicki Minaj, to the platform to discuss the sacrifices she made in order to prepare her daughter for success. Carol explains why she temporarily left Nicki in Trinidad while she made the courageous choice to move to the U.S. to secure a better life for her and her children. Carol also talks the inspiration behind her new song, "What Makes You."

Keyaira and her mom Tarawoner discuss infidelity and how people can move on and move forward after betrayal. Tarawoner explains how many women didn't leave after cheating back in the day because of financial dependence on their partners. Keyaira breaks down how women's empowerment may have played a role in allowing more partners to leave emotionally draining relationships. 

Tarawoner tells the story of how she moved on and forward after she realized her baby daddy would not be a good partner for her or a good influence in her child's life. She talks about single motherhood, and how she encouraged herself to trust love one more time after the split. 

On this episode, Keyaira and Tarawoner tackle why your relationship with your girl may change (for better or for worse) when she gets married. The duo breaks down how social media pressures women to settle down because it "looks good," even if it doesn't "feel good." They also explore why weddings are the "ultimate achievement" symbol for women over other life steps. Tarawoner also explains how both single and married women can gain wisdom from seeking advice from their friend, no matter what stage of life she is in.

Keyaira and her mom Tarawoner explore how they developed a definition of beauty that lives outside of society's stereotypical standards. Keyaira recalls a touching moment when Tarawoner confronted the bullies at her middle school, and Tarawoner speaks to the pain a mother may feel watching her child grapple with insecurity and physical changes.

Keyaira and her mom Tarawoner discuss how they bounced back emotionally after relationship failures and give advice on how to mend your broken heart.

Keyaira and her mom Tarawoner discuss how a relationship with God matures over a lifetime. They also talk through why spiritual people now differentiate themselves from religious people and dig into why modern millennials distrust the institution of the Church.

Keyaira and Tarawoner explain the differences between modern dating and dating back in the 60s and 70s and discuss how the roles of men have changed across generations. 

Keyaira and her mom Tarawoner talk about the difficult choices and sacrifices women have to make to balance career and family.  

Episode One: Keyaira and her mom Tarawoner dish on the day they lost their virginities and how that experience informed their thoughts and beliefs about sex.     Talk To Your Mom is a home for conversation where generational knowledge is wealth. The podcast is the brainchild of writer, producer and speaker Keyaira Kelly and her mom, Tarawoner Kelly, life coach and founder of TYL Foundation. Each episode, Keyaira and her mom will tackle raw and traditionally taboo mom/child topics that include sex, love, spirituality, growth, healing and trauma.