From My Mama's Kitchen® Talk Radio

Continuing with the theme From My Mama’s Kitchen Recommends… where I am showcasing authors and individuals who have written excellent books and are doing extra ordinary things that touched the heart and moved the soul! My guest for this week will be Patti Handy, a Money Coach and published author. She is passionate about sharing her financial wisdom with teens and young adults by empowering them with money smarts. Patti received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, followed by a combined twenty-five years in the banking and mortgage arena. A past holder of the Series 7 and Series 63 licenses, she has most recently served as a Senior Mortgage Advisor for over 7 years. She holds a California Real Estate Brokers License and is a CTA Certified Life Coach. Although she has extensive work experience, she credits the invaluable lessons that her parents taught her at a very young age as the true gift – “Understanding the importance of learning money management early.” Please call 347.327.9995 to join Patti and

Back by popular demand we will be continuing the theme From My Mama’s Kitchen Recommends… for September – where I am showcasing authors and individuals who have written excellent books and are doing extra ordinary things that touch the heart and move the soul! Laura Lavigne is a life coach, writer, public speaker, artist and the author of “Pink Hair & Chocolate Cookies - real life lessons from a real life coach.” She is also a contributing editor for the Dove Digital campaign on MSN. For the past six years, Laura has worked with a wide variety of clients ranging from single moms to CEOs. Through her work, Laura helps them clarify their desires, navigate transitions and move towards their dreams - whatever they may be. She is a founding member of the International Association of Coaches, a certified tele-leader, a registered leader of Barbara Sher’s Success Teams as well as a certified facilitator from the Pacific Institute. As a woman, she loves guiding other women towards happier lives. As a mom to

From My Mama’s Kitchen Recommends… authors who have written excellent books that touch the heart and move the soul! Besides being an occupational therapist, a piano teacher, and a freelance writer, my guest for this week – Debora Coty is also a mom, author, internationally published columnist and a sought after speaker because she is a gifted humorist. Writing has become a passion and that can be attested by the many hours she spends each week hammering away on her desktop or laptop keyboard. As a matter of fact, her young adult historical fiction novel, The Distant Shore, which was released August 30, 2007climbed to the top of the VR Publishing best-seller list within three months! Debora has a real knack for getting across sound biblical concepts with a refreshing lightheartedness as attested in her monthly newspaper column entitled Grace Notes: God's Grace for Everyday Living. Her new book titled, “Mom Needs Chocolate” has a universal mom appeal. In mom-to-mom, smile-provoking style, Coty paints h

Continuing with our August theme – From My Mama’s Kitchen Recommends… authors who have written excellent books that touch the heart and move the soul!) My guest for this week is Alejandro (Alex) Gutierrez, an author who found inspiration from within – his personal journey of discovering his spiritual roots. Alex was born in Chile and currently lives in Sedona, Arizona. He graduated as an engineer and worked in marketing and management most of his career. His dream was to be his own boss, so with other entrepreneurs he built a successful Internet based incentives and loyalty business, which was acquired in 2006. Alex left the position of CEO of this company in early 2008 to pursue his next dream: to write a book about his spiritual journey. His first book reflects more than ten years of search for the why’s of many religious and spiritual questions. It all started in 1997 when after having an encounter with cancer, Alex pondered upon the issue of life and death and why we are here that led him to many d

Continuing with our August theme – From My Mama’s Kitchen Recommends… authors who have written excellent books that touch the heart and move the soul!) Our guest for this week is Stephanie A. Duckworth-Elliott, an author, educator, and member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Stephanie has over 15 years of experience as a Minority Educator both in and out of the classroom. Her educational background consists of being a member of The Graduate Faculty at The New School for Social Research where she received her Master’s in Sociology. She earned a Masters in Non-profit Management from the Graduate School for Public Policy at Rutgers University at Newark, and a BA in Africana Studies from Douglass College at Rutgers University. Her professional background as an educator consists of teaching 75 college courses at various institutions including Princeton University, Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey, Colorado Technical University and numerous com

The theme for August is From My Mama’s Kitchen Recommends… (This entire month I will be showcasing authors who have written excellent books that touch the heart and move the soul! Is has been said that in every one of us there is a story good enough to be written into a book. I realized mine in April 2007 when I was spiritually driven to write my first book From My Mama’s Kitchen-“food for the soul, recipes for living” in seven months. Since hitting the market in January of 2009, I have been blessed with great reviews, and since the launched of my FMMK Talk Radio Show back in April with the mission of bringing motherly love to the global stage and serving as a resource center for all mothers and women, I have been equally blessed by the many outstanding guests that have been on the air with me every Tuesday mornings. Carol Tuttle, a mom, bestselling author, radio talk show host, speaker, and successful business woman is another one of the outstanding guest, and she has agreed to kick off this wonderful

I am excited to have a couple of great ladies from Houston, Texas whom I met about a month ago at a tradeshow in Dallas, Texas to close out our month long theme of Women Empowerment – “Momtrepreneurs .” One is a mother of three boys and the other is preparing herself to be a mother because she loves children. This dynamic duo Tracy Beyer and Christine Joy Stevens combined their creativity and skills to form a company called “Grateful Chics.” Grateful Chics was started in the mind’s eye of Christine. She was inspired by a simple little gift; a set of Gratitude Beads Tracy had made for her as an expression of “I love you being in my life.” Both women were at a place in their lives where they needed change, enlightenment, and spirituality. The idea of the beads came to Tracy while reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, a book Christine suggested to her. Driven by her natural talent, ability and what Christine described as Life’s Opportunity (God-incidences) she wasted no time in getting Tracy to jo

Michele Dortch truly exemplifies what women empowerment and momtrepreneurship is all about. After turning in her corporate high heels for a life as a work-at-home mom (WAHM) in 2003, she founded a website The Integrated Mother® where she is the Chief Mom Editor on a mission to help women bridge the gap between motherhood, work, and everything else so that they can effectively manage their life and their work resulting in enjoying the best life possible. As a wife and a mother of three – ages 8, 6 and 3, she is blessed to work from home, which means she enjoys the amazing work-life flexibility. In between juggling motherhood and her career as a free lance writer, speaker, consultant, and as an adjunct faculty member for two colleges in Phoenix, Arizona, Michele manages to keep herself physically fit and grounded by pursuing her love for running in half-marathons. She is currently in training to run in Disneyland’s half-marathon which is scheduled in September 2009. Additionally, her work has been published

Whether you living in today’s economy or the economy of yesteryear, moms are always looking for ways to be enterprising and be more independent when it comes to taking care of themselves and their families. These “Momtrepreneurs” have the ability to pursue a successful business career while at the same time being there for their loved ones. Carece Slaughter, is a dedicated wife of 31 years, a mother of 3 incredible children, 30, 28 & 6, a daughter, a sister of 5 siblings, a friend of many to-mention, a Co-Pastor, and is also a momtrepreneur. She is a Certified Financial Planner, Personal Financial Coach and Small Business Consultant to many women. She helps them understand that “Wealth is not only measured by assets, but more importantly by spirit, intellect, family and community.” Carece’s mission is to show hardworking, successful businesswomen how to view these values as virtues, and not vulnerabilities. She empowers them to become more valuable to their communities and families. As the founder of

The theme for July is Momtrepreneurs! One of the greatest gift you can receive living in the United States is the opportunity to own your own business. Whether it is home based, a brick and mortar store, or an internet business, everyone has the opportunity to be successful in their pursuit of this American Dream. In today’s economy more moms are looking for ways to be enterprising and be more independent when it comes to taking care of themselves and their families. Nothing can be more challenging and rewarding for today's women than having the ability to pursue a successful business career while at the same time being there for their loved ones. Allegra Huston was born in London and raised in Ireland, Long Island, and Los Angeles. She has worked with Chatto & Windus publishers in London and Weidnfeld & Nicolson, where she was Editorial Director from 1990 to 1994. She has been a freelance writer and editor for more than ten years; her work has appeared in The Times, the Independent, the Tatler

Jamie Saloff truly exemplifies the “spirit” and the “law” so to speak, of Women Empowerment - Working Mother – the Balancing Act of Motherly Love and Career. Happily married to her husband Tim Saloff since 1979, Jamie had her first son Matthew in 1983. Shortly thereafter in 1985, she was diagnosed with cancer. Declared sterile by her doctors, Jamie surprised her doctors when just one month after her last radiation treatment she discovered she was pregnant with her second son Mark, considered their miracle baby, who was born seven and a half weeks early in May of 1986. In 1990 after her mother passed on and with her personal cancer experience, she began writing her first book on healing, but never found a publisher. As a devoted writer she continued to write resulting in three books: The Collector's Encyclopedia of Cowan Pottery (Collector Books, 1993), The Publishing Center: How to Create a Successful Publishing Center in Your School, Church, or Community Group (Beeline Books, 1996), and Transformational

Debi Silber is a Registered Dietitian with a Master's degree in Nutrition, a Personal Trainer, Whole Health Coach, Lifestyle Expert-just for moms, speaker, President of Lifestyle Fitness Inc. and author of The Lifestyle Fitness Program: A Six Part Plan So Every Mom Can Look, Feel and Live Her Best (recommended by Parenting Magazine) and From Mom To Wow: Your Ultimate Body, Mind and Life Makeover Guide. Branded as The Mojo Coach™, Debi, for nearly 20 years has inspired unfit, overweight and overwhelmed moms to "get their mojo back" through gradual lifestyle change. She is a featured expert on many websites, a popular radio guest, and serves on the Advisory Board for the National Institute of Whole Health, and the National Association of Home Base Business Moms. Debi also has two certifications in pre/post natal fitness, with specialty recognition in both weight loss and maintenance. She is the NY Ambassador for W.O.M.E.N. (Women Own Mentor Empower Nurture Each Other), and has been honored for her various cont

Education will always be part of our life’s journey! If we believe in success, then we must believe that education should always be a part of our life’s journey. When we open our mind and accept that fact that we do not know it all, and we never will, we are positioning ourselves to be ready to learn something new and add a new facet to our knowledge bank. Maia Berens, a life coach, dubbed as “Wise Fairy God Mother” is the founding director of the Mars Venus Institute. She has trained over 500 professional therapist and corporate speakers worldwide based on the principals of John Gray’s Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, and has the pleasure of working extensively with John for over 18 years. She had also provided a 3-day private workshop for Oprah and her staff. Her book, “Once Upon a Time There Was You: Three Magic Secrets to Finding Real Self” whimsically illustrates – using poetic story, delicious drawings and CD – how to magically transform any circumstance into something to learn and grow from

The theme for the month of June is Women Empowerment- Working Mom - The Balancing Act of Motherly Love and Career. Nothing can be more challenging and rewarding for today's women than being able to pursue a successful career while at the same time being there for their loved ones. Allegra Huston was born in London and raised in Ireland, Long Island, and Los Angeles. She has worked with Chatto & Windus publishers in London and Weidnfeld & Nicolson, where she was Editorial Director from 1990 to 1994. She has been a freelance writer and editor for more than ten years; her work has appeared in The Times, the Independent, the Tatler, and Harper's Bazaar (all in the UK), in French Vogue, and in the U.S. in People, the Santa Fean, and Mothering. Her book Love Child - A Memoir of Family - Lost and Found just came out in April. Please call 347.327.9995 to join Allegra and me on the air!

In this last show for my Mother’s Day Special Series, the topic is going to be: “Blended Family – Unconditional Love – If there is a will, there is a way.” What is a blended family? A blended family is when two adults marry or live together, and one or both adults bring children from a previous relationship into the new marriage or living arrangement. They “blend” the two families into one new family. Regardless of how much abundance of love that is in this new family, ultimately there will always be times and situations that would require just a little bit more love and understanding from everyone to ensure the survival and success of this new union. Joining me to talk about this wonderful, challenging, and rewarding experience is Shirley Cress Dudley; a Licensed Professional Counselor from Charlotte, North Carolina. Shirley has two masters’ degrees; one in marriage and family counseling, and the other in education. She is also a part of a blended family herself, and is raising 2 children and 3 stepchi

Every year in May we all celebrate “Mother’s Day.” On this special day we are given the opportunity to honor and pay our respect to someone who is very special to us, someone who has and will always love us unconditionally. Although the title and role of mothers are traditionally held by women through birth rights or adoptions, there is a small group of men all over the world who either by choice or by necessity have assume the role of being a mother to their children. These men gallantly provide the daily unconditional “motherly love” needed in their household with one goal in mind – to be the best nurturing teacher, coach, and counselor to their children and loved ones. Although I am not one of them, writing my book From My Mama’s Kitchen –“food for the soul, recipes for living” gave me the opportunity to truly reflect back on the various heartfelt moments I had shared with my nine moms, and I can relate to the various challenges and rewards of being a mom which was a humbling experience for me. Please

Special Guest: Desiree Jacobsen, MSMC, a recent graduate from Texas Christian University Topic: Coming to a Full Circle – Mother-Daughter – Breast Cancer – A Family Affair In 2007, approximately 40,460 women were expected to die from breast cancer. Only lung cancer accounts for more deaths in women. Guided by the above astonishing fact, Desiree Jacobsen concentrated her thesis research study on African American women and their breast health communication. In African American women, breast cancer is the second most common cancer death preceded by lung cancer. Previous researchers studied traditional media outlets to disseminate ideal breast health messages to African American women; however, interpersonal communication has proven more effective than traditional media outlets. With this in mind, Desiree discovered a health communication model that focuses on interpersonal communication. Throughout the study African American women introduced Desiree to a unique interpersonal communication network. One compon

Special Guest: Linda Lisi Juergens Executive Director, National Association of Mothers’ Centers Topic: A Mother's Day Special - Celebrating Motherhood in the 21st Century Motherhood can be exhilarating, yet frightening, joyful, and yet confusing. It can be the most rewarding-and undervalued-job in the world. Recognizing these challenges, realities and value of mothering, the National Association of Mothers’ Centers since 1975 has offered a community-building model that has successfully laid foundations for hundreds of Mothers’ Centers programs around the country. These programs offer moms and other caregivers a sense of camaraderie, peer support, empathy, information, and resources for their hard work of parenting and care-giving. As the collective voice of mothers in the United States, they work and serve at both the grassroots and national level by providing: • Support to more than 30 Mothers' Centers around the United States • Organize high-impact conferences and events about parenting, maternal health

Special Guest: Rebecca Utley, Director of Community Relations for Hope Cottage Pregnancy and Adoption Center. Topic: The Rewards of Adoption from a Parent and Child perspectives. Hope Cottage Pregnancy and Adoption Center is the oldest non-sectarian, nonprofit, United Way-affiliated adoption center in Dallas. It began in 1918 with the vision of one woman, Emma Wylie Ballard, who recognized a need to provide care for Dallas's unwanted children. Since illegitimacy had such a stigma, babies were literally being abandoned in the streets. She opened a small home to accept the babies, naming it Hope Cottage, and hired women to care for them. It is from these humble roots that the Center began to grow and flourish, subsequently becoming an adoption agency, placing children in homes, ensuring their futures and strengthening the Dallas community. Along the way, Hope Cottage has passed many significant milestones. From establishing an International Adoption Program to facilitate the adoption of children from Romania,

Author and host, Johnny Tan, pays tribute and honors his moms for their timeless loving wisdom, spiritual and inspirational contribution in making a positive difference in his life. From My Mama’s Kitchen – “food for the soul, recipes for living” originally intended as a cookbook to preserve his moms’ recipes, transpires into a motherly love-inspired book about his personal relationship with his adopted mom in Malaysia and with eight other wonderful women whom he refers to “mom” in the United States. This week’s special guest is Dianne Heise, his German mom. “Every once in a while a situation may occur that requires us to radiate our energy of positive goodwill, compassion, and love for others. Until we try to put ourselves beyond our comfort zone, we will not realize we have what it takes to make a difference in that person’s life and in ours.” – Dianne Heise For latest update, please check Johnny’s blog – www.johnnytan.com or follow him on Twitter – http://twitter.com/FMMKTalkRadio. If you have a commen