The WonderMama Coffee Chat | Conversations for Parents Who Lead

The WonderMama Coffee Chat with Jaki Shelton Green - The Power of Our Stories. (Ep 19)

What would change if you finally gave yourself permission?In this Mother's Day week episode of The WonderMama Coffee Chat, Leonne sits down with someone who is both a legend in her field and deeply personal to her story. Jaki Shelton Green — North Carolina's first African American Poet Laureate, author of nine poetry collections, recording artist, and founder of SistaWRITE — is also Leonne's stepmother. And this conversation is everything that relationship makes it.They talk about what it costs a woman to keep defining herself through everyone else. The roles we hold so tightly we forget who we are underneath them. The secrets that hold us hostage. The permissions we never think to give ourselves. And what it means to show up — not as a performance of who you are supposed to be — but as the fullness of who you actually are.Jaki shares the story of a woman who wrote three novels in secret while her husband destroyed every manuscript she left within reach. She talks about crone-hood as a crown, not a concession. About bonding in wholeness instead of trauma. About inner fitness being the work that actually changes everything. And about what it means to be a conduit for other women — not bringing magic, but creating the space for them to find their own.Leonne and Jaki also go somewhere rarely discussed — the real difference between coaching and therapy, and why knowing that distinction matters more than most people realize.This one is rich. Give yourself the 42 mins.Topics covered:*Defining yourself beyond the roles you hold*The power of permission and what happens when you finally grant it to yourself*Crone-hood, aging unapologetically, and what it means to still be building at 73*Bonding in wholeness instead of trauma*Inner fitness as the work that changes everything*The real difference between coaching and therapy*Building community and finding your tribe as a motherConnect with Jaki Shelton Green:jakisheltongreen.com | SistaWRITEConnect with Leonne:TheWonderMama.com | @thewondermamaplace | The WonderMama Place on Skool#WonderMamaCoffeeChat #Motherhood #JakiSheltonGreen

The WonderMama Coffee Chat with Maria Garcia | What do you do when your body stops working (Ep 18)

What do you do when your body stops working and takes everything with it?At 25, Maria Garcia was building a career in finance when a massive stroke changed everything. Paralyzed. Mute. Facing a recovery process that would take years and test every part of who she was.In this episode of The WonderMama Coffee Chat, Maria sits down with Leonne to share the full story — the stroke, the silence, the depression, the long road back, and the unexpected turning point that changed everything.It was not what you would expect.After years of stagnation in her recovery, Maria enrolled in a nutrition course — and something shifted. What started as a health breakthrough became a calling. Today Maria is a nutrition coach helping others reset their relationship with food through awareness, sustainable lifestyle changes, and a three-month program built on one simple idea: your body is not the problem. It has just not been getting what it needs.In this conversation Maria and Leonne talk about:— Surviving the unsurvivable and finding purpose in it— The role family plays in recovery when you cannot speak for yourself— Why willpower and dieting are not the answer— How nutrition became the missing piece after years of trying everything else— Practical advice for moms managing their own and their children's nutritionMaria also shares details about her Food Freedom Challenge — and leaves the door open for a return visit to the WonderMama community.This one will stay with you.Connect with MariaEmail: hello@genuinelymaria.comInstagram: @genuinelymaria.wfLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-garciaWebsite: www.genuinelymaria.comSUBSCRIBE TO THIS CHANNEL🎙️ Listen wherever you get your podcasts▶️ Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheWonderMama-Videos🌐 TheWonderMama.com · @thewondermamaplace

The WonderMama Coffee Chat with Heather McNally | Stop Apologizing for How you Mother (Ep 17)

What does it mean to stop apologizing for how you mother?In this episode of The WonderMama Coffee Chat, Leonne sits down with Identity and Alignment Activator, keynote speaker, best-selling author, and Life Beyond B.S. podcast host Heather McNally for a conversation that goes straight to the heart of what it costs a mother to keep shrinking herself.Heather grew up in an abusive household, watched her mother love fiercely while struggling to express it, and carried those patterns into her own life and parenting — until she decided to do something different. She walked away from the expected path, became a stay-at-home mom despite outside pressure, and committed to raising two emotionally intelligent sons while quietly doing the work of breaking cycles that had been running in her family for generations.In this conversation, Leonne and Heather talk about all of it.The mom guilt that follows you even when you are doing everything right. The way good parents tend to question themselves more, not less. The difference between making a mistake and being one. Learning to look at a difficult childhood not with bitterness but with understanding. And what it actually looks like to build a different story for your children without erasing your own.This one is for the mom who is tired of apologizing for being exactly who she is.Topics covered:* Growing up in survival mode and what it teaches you about resilience* Becoming the parent you needed without a blueprint to follow* Mom guilt, self-compassion, and knowing the difference* Breaking generational cycles of abuse and emotional shutdown* Choosing your children without losing yourself in the process* Why the hardest-working moms are usually the ones who doubt themselves mostConnect with Heather McNally:Life Beyond B.S. Podcast | Happy, Healthy, Whole ProgramWebsite - https://www.heathermcnally.comfb - https://www.facebook.com/share/1BQ4kEpguS/?mibextid=wwXIfrIG - https://www.instagram.com/heather_a_mcnally?igsh=dWtiNzhuaXBhbGhm&utm_source=qrLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-mcnally-757ab52a?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_iosConnect with Leonne:TheWonderMama.com | @thewondermamaplace | The WonderMama Place on Skool

WonderMama Coffee Chat with Michael Stephenson: An exploration of Resilience in Parenting (EP16)

In this episode, Leonne welcomes Michael Stephenson — a mentor, leader, and advocate with over two decades of experience supporting young people and transforming mentoring systems across the U.S.What begins as a conversation about leadership quickly becomes a deeper exploration of resilience, identity, and the emotional realities of leading while carrying a family, a career, and the weight of others’ needs. Michael shares his story of losing his father at 13, navigating corporate burnout, and learning to use failure as a building block rather than a barrier.Together, they explore:The connection between childhood resilience and adult leadershipThe unique pressures mothers face across every season of lifeBalancing empathy with boundaries in relationshipsThe emotional load leaders carry behind the scenesHow honest conversations create healthier families, teams, and communitiesA brief real‑life interruption at Leonne’s home becomes a reminder of the unpredictable demands mothers navigate daily.This is a grounded, human conversation for anyone rebuilding themselves while supporting others.___Connect with Michael Stephenson:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-stephenson-brim/___Connect with Leonne & The WonderMama:Join The WonderMama Place: skool.com/thewondermamaplaceWebsite: TheWonderMama.comInstagram: @thewondermamaplace#thewondermama #parentingjourney #intentionalparenting #emotionalintelligence #marriagelife #empathyinbusiness

The WonderMama Coffee Chat | Unstick Yourself: Community, Boundaries & Life with Jimmie Woods Ep.15

What does a retired Navy Chief from New Orleans have to say to a mom who just wants to be fully herself? More than you might expect. Everything, actually.This week Leonne sits down with Jimmie Woods — 20+ years in the Navy, father of three, brand-new grandfather, and one of the most grounded humans you will ever hear speak. Jimmie has a rare gift: he takes the complicated and makes it simple. Not surface-level simple. Soul-level simple.They talk about community — what it really takes to build one, and why it starts with you. They talk about parenting — the boundaries that hold, the moments you have to step with your child instead of in front of them, and what it looks like when your grown kids finally call you for advice. They talk about the triangle of life: accountability, responsibility, and commitment. And Jimmie drops something in the final minutes of this conversation that every mom who is running on empty needs to hear.This episode will meet you exactly where you are.What we get into:How Jimmie builds real community — starting with the woman across the street who can barely walk her dog. What 20 years at sea teaches you about people who look nothing like you. The moment parenting shifts from authority to friendship, and why you cannot rush it. Why you need 20 minutes of negative before you can move forward. The triangle of life and how moms can use it right now. Jimmie's mic drop for the mom who is ready to stop proving herself and just be.Jimmie's final word:Take 30 minutes to yourself. Sit in the quiet. Light a candle. And ask yourself one question: Am I a good mom? Sit in that. Five minutes. The answer is yes. And you do not have to prove it to anyone.* Ready to find your own compass? Book a free Discovery Call with Leonne at calendly.com/thewondermama/coffee-with-leonne* Join The WonderMama Community on Skool: skool.com/thewondermamaplaceListen wherever you get your podcasts: thewondermamacoffeechat.podbean.comTheWonderMama.com | @thewondermamaplaceThe WonderMama Coffee Chat is a weekly conversation for the mom who wants to be fully herself. New episodes every Wednesday.

WonderMama Coffee Chat | For Moms Who Lead with Jaclyn Strominger (EP 14)

Most of us were never taught how to build relationships that actually stick. We were handed a phone and told to network, and somewhere along the way, real connection got lost in the noise.In this episode, Leonne sits down with leadership strategist, author, and connector Jaclyn Strominger for one of those conversations that stays with you. They talk about what it actually looks like to build a tribe when you are also a mom, also building something, and also holding everything else together.Jaclyn shares the real stuff. How she walked into a room in a brand new city knowing absolutely no one. Why she still swears by business cards. The bathroom trick she coaches clients on before they walk into any room. And what happened when her 20-year-old daughter called her from a pottery studio to say she had made a new friend.This one is warm, honest, and full of things you can use today.In this episode:Why high-capacity moms feel lonely even in a room full of peopleHow to leave your baggage at the door before any networking momentThe two-step connection system Jaclyn uses to build real relationships* Why your voice matters more than your DMs* What it means to build a tribe vs. a village and why the difference is everything* How modeling connection for your kids changes everythingConnect with Jaclyn Strominger:jaclynstrominger.comLinkedIn: Jaclyn StromingerSkool: Unstoppable Success CommunityConnect with Leonne & The WonderMama:Join The WonderMama Place: skool.com/thewondermamaplaceWebsite: TheWonderMama.comInstagram: @thewondermamaplace#MomsWhoLead #WonderMamaCoffeeChat #BuildingRelationships

WonderMama Coffee Chat with Natalie Kime - For Parents who Lead (Ep 13)

Money, Mindset & Meeting You Where You AreWhat happens when you sit down with a financial professional who actually meets you where you are, no judgment, no jargon, just real talk about your money, your family, and your future? That is exactly what happened in today's Coffee Chat.I had the joy of sitting down with the incredible Natalie Kime a Financial Professional, caretaker, and host of the podcast Chat with Nat. We had one of the most honest and eye-opening conversations this community has experienced yet!Natalie believes that financial literacy is not just for the wealthy or the "financially savvy"... it is for every parent, every family, and every person who has ever felt overwhelmed, underprepared, or emotionally blocked when it comes to money. And the way she walks alongside her clients? It is the kind of support every parent who leads deserves.In This Episode We Talk About:* What financial literacy really means for parents and families* Why so many of us carry emotional weight around money — and how to release it* How Natalie creates customized financial plans built around YOUR goals and dreams* The connection between breaking generational cycles and building financial legacy* Natalie's journey as a caretaker and the launch of her Caretaker Chronicles seriesWhat it looks like to have someone truly in your corner when it comes to your financesConnect with Natalie Kime:- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Aq4Awq2g1/?mibextid=wwXIfr- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattykime- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-k-9491091- Chat with Nat Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chat-with-nat-caregiving-money-finances-and-support/id1743486309Stay Connected with Leonne & The WonderMama™:- Book a Discovery Call with Leonne: https://calendly.com/thewondermama/coffee-with-leonne- Join The WonderMama Community: https://skool.com/thewondermamaplace - WonderMama Planner (Print) + Books: https://amazon.com/author/leonnesherr- Coffee Chat Podcast on Podbean: https://thewondermamacoffeechat.podbean.comAnd of course "Please Subscribe" YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheWonderMama-Videos- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thewondermamaplace- Website: https://TheWonderMama.com----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#WonderMama #CoffeeChatWithParentsWhoLead #FinancialLiteracy #ParentsWhoLead #ChatWithNat #CaretakerChronicles #MomPodcast #BreakingCycles #IntentionalParenting #FamilyLegacy #MoneyMindset #LeadTheLegacy #MamaConversations #WonderMamaCommunity

WonderMama Coffee Chat With Daniela Roman - Parents Who Lead

What happens when a woman who was raised with love still finds herself in cycles she never saw coming?This week on the WonderMama Coffee Chat, Leonne sits down with Daniela Roman — owner of Daniela's Delicious Delights, kitchen confidence coach, author, and one of the most quietly powerful women you will ever meet.Daniela grew up in a traditional Italian family where the kitchen was love made visible. By eight years old she was cooking. By adulthood she had co-owned a restaurant in Philadelphia for 20 years. But behind the passion and the purpose was a woman carrying decades of unspoken weight — abusive relationships, sexual trauma buried for 30 years, and the slow unraveling that happens when we keep going without ever truly dealing with what we are carrying.It wasn't until she found safety — in her husband Emilio, in sharing her story — that the healing actually began.In this conversation Daniela and Leonne talk about:How cooking became a gift she almost didn't recognise in herselfWhy the kitchen can be a place of anxiety AND a place of healingHer Kitchen Confidence program — helping moms go from dreading dinner to owning itWhat it means to finally know your worthAnd why sharing your story turns a burden into a golden nuggetThis one is real. This one is warm. And this one will stay with you.Connect with Daniela:info@danielasdeliciousdelights.comFacebook: Daniela RomanBorn to Risk — Signature Edition (chapters still available)Ultimate Virginia Beach Mastermind Book Launch — August 2026Join The WonderMama Place Community: skool.com/thewondermamaplacePodcast: thewondermamacoffeechat.podbean.comSubscribe: YouTube: youtube.com/@TheWonderMama-Videos🌐 TheWonderMama.com

The WonderMama Coffee Chat with Raquel Soto | Motherhood, Purpose, Burnout, Faith & Your Voice

In this powerful episode of The WonderMama Coffee Chat, host Leonne Sherr sits down with the incredible Raquel Soto — GPS for Success, media creator, author, musician, and woman of deep faith — for a raw and inspiring conversation that will stop you in your tracks.Raquel opens up about her journey from the corporate world of a top global PR firm to building her own media ecosystem — including a TV show, record label, anthology series, radio station (Through Radio), and magazine The Breakers. But the real magic of this conversation goes much deeper.In this episode, we talk about:Why high-capacity women are the ones most at risk of burning out silentlyRaquel's deeply personal story of depression, hair loss, and surviving four suicide attempts — and why no one around her knewThe dangerous trap of toxic positivity and what it actually costs usWhat rest really looks like (hint: a 20-minute nap doesn't count)The moment God gave Raquel the vision for her radio station — while she was forced to lie stillParenting across the decades: how our children experience a different version of us as we growWhy your presence is the greatest gift you can give your children — not the activities, the gear, or the opportunitiesThe importance of shared story and community in breaking generational cyclesRaquel reminds every mama, every entrepreneur, every strong one out there: you are doing so much better than you think you are. Receive grace. Live from overflow.🎙️ Connect with Raquel Soto: "https://www.facebook.com/Raquel.Ortiz.Sotohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/yourgpsforsuccess/https://www.instagram.com/yourgpsforsuccess/"📖 Look for Raquel's chapter in Business Divas anthology by Dr. Martha Rosso — coming October 2025💛 Join The WonderMama Community — ahttps://www.skool.com/the-wondermama-cycle-breakers-5827/about🔔 Subscribe & tune in every Wednesday at noon for a new Coffee Chat guest.If this episode resonated with you, please share it. You never know whose life you might change.

From Suicide Attempt to Purpose | Lindsey Stadel on Mental Health, Shame, and Survival

The WonderMama Coffee Chat | March 4, 2026What happens when shame goes quiet and a split second decision changes everything?In this WonderMama Wednesday Coffee Chat, Leonne sits down with author and mental health advocate Lindsey Stadel to talk about survival, recovery, and what it takes to turn pain into purpose.Lindsey shares her lived experience with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, including the moment her life nearly ended and what helped her find her way back. This conversation is raw, steady, and deeply human. If you love someone who is struggling, or you are noticing changes in yourself, this episode offers language, clarity, and a path forward.Lindsey also shares a simple framework to help you recognize warning signs in the people you love: TBM (Talk, Behavior, Mood), plus practical ways to reach out and get support.You are not alone. And there is help.In this episode, we talk about• Lindsey’s story and the reality of suicidal ideation• How grief, divorce, abuse, and shame can quietly compound• The turning point that helped Lindsey begin speaking openly• TBM: Talk, Behavior, Mood, and what to watch for• How to reach out when you are concerned about someone• Why telling your story can reduce the weight of itGuestLindsey Stadel is a published author and Amazon bestselling writer. She speaks and advocates for mental health awareness and support, helping others transform pain into purpose.“You are enough. No more proving. No more pretending. Just unapologetically you.” ~Lindsay StadelImportant noteThis episode includes discussion of suicide and mental health. Please take care of yourself as you listen.While conversations like this are important, it is also important to say clearly that coaching is not a substitute for therapy, psychiatric care, or medical treatment. Licensed mental health professionals and medical providers are the appropriate support for diagnosis, treatment, and crisis care.In my work as a coach, I focus on helping people develop awareness, recognize patterns, and learn how to support themselves and the people they love. Conversations like this are meant to increase understanding and compassion, not replace professional care.If you or someone you love may be in immediate danger, call your local emergency number right now. In the United States, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (available 24 hours a day). If you are outside the US, please look up your local crisis hotline.Join the WonderMama Community for grounded leadership support, coaching, and conversations that help you lead your life with clarity instead of chaos.ConnectSubscribe to The WonderMama Place on YouTube for replays and weekly conversations.Visit us at TheWonderMama.com Listen to the podcast: The WonderMama Coffee ChatAvailable on Apple, Spotify, and PodBean.Connect and Follow Lindsay's Journey• Website: http://www.lindsaystadel.com