Ground Control Parenting with Carol Sutton Lewis

Latest Episodes:

Reclaiming the Power of Motherhood with Anna Malaika Tubbs Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

This week Carol welcomes Anna Malaika Tubbs, author of The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation. Join them for this great discussion about the power of motherhood, its impact on society, and how understanding this power will help mothers (and fathers) become stronger parents. Anna and Carol discuss the historical mistreatment of Black mothers in particular, and Anna shares her thoughts about how mothers can reclaim their strength and power as they shape their children’s (and their own) lives. Anna has been researching and writing about motherhood for years before she had children. She is now the mother of two, and talks with Carol about how actually experiencing motherhood has impacted her perspective. Anna and Carol both strongly believe in the power of confident mothering, and offer helpful insights and suggestions for all mothers who can use a confidence boost. Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.com! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bold Work of Parenting with Jodie Patterson Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

Author of “The Bold World” and LGBTQIA+ advocate Jodie Patterson joins Carol to share her enlightening perspectives on gender, identity and parenting her five children, including her transgender son Penel. Carol and Jodie discuss how parents today can feel overwhelmed, confused and unprepared when it comes to discussing gender, sexuality and identity with their children. Jodie explains how she worked to expand her knowledge, perspective and language in order to become the mother that Penel–and all of her children–needed. Jodie talks with Carol about the importance of pivoting to meet your child’s needs, and learning to parent in a way that supports your children while giving yourself room to reflect and grow. If your child’s identity or perspective takes you out of your comfort zone it can be tough to find trusted resources and useful guidance. In this episode Jodie explains how she created the tools she needed, and how you can, too. Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.com!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prioritizing Black Maternal Health with Tonya Lewis Lee Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

Producer, director and author Tonya Lewis Lee returns to the podcast for the first time since our very first episode! She joins Carol to talk about wellness, childbirth and maternal health for Black women. Tonya reflects on what motivates her to empower Black women to focus on their health, and offers advice on how to meet some of the challenges of doing so. Tonya is the co-producer and director of Aftershock, the acclaimed documentary following the stories of young Black mothers who died unnecessarily due to preventable complications during childbirth. She and Carol discuss the importance of women taking control of their child-birthing decisions and how best to do this. They examine the biases against Black women and natural childbirth in America’s healthcare system which have contributed to the Black maternal death rate, and Tonya explains the importance and value of including midwives and doulas in the birthing experience. Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Take Care of Yourself and Your Health with Dr. Sharon Malone Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

Many Black mothers tend to put the health care needs of their loved ones ahead of their own. And when they finally get to the doctor, they don’t always get all of the answers they seek. Carol sits down with Dr. Sharon Malone, one of the nation's leading OB GYNs, to talk about women’s health issues and how to change how Black women experience health care. Dr. Malone is on a mission to help women know more about how to take care of themselves, as she believes that “women shouldn't feel guilty about feeling better”. She shares invaluable advice about how to attain and maintain good health, how to understand our body’s changes and changing needs over time, and how to get the absolute most out of doctor’s visits. She also tells us what women of all ages need to know about menopause, and how her new telemedicine venture Alloy can make it easier for women to understand and treat symptoms of all stages of menopause. Dr. Malone is the trusted doctor friend we want and need! Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lifting Up Our Black Girls with LaChanze Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

Carol talks with Tony and Emmy award-winning actress LaChanze about her most rewarding and challenging role yet—being the mother to her two daughters, who are now young adults. LaChanze raised her two girls on her own after losing her husband Calvin Gooding in the September 11, 2001 attacks. She made this sudden parenting pivot with a steady focus on creating a bright future for her daughters and a determination to be her healthiest, best self in the process. In this lively and engaging conversation LaChanze shares why we must teach Black girls to be confident and develop their own voices, and offers ways to do this. You won’t want to miss the parenting and life insights LaChanze candidly shares with Carol in this episode! Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How To Help Your Child Succeed in School with Windy Lopez-Aflitto Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

The back-to-school season has begun: are your kids ready for a new school year? When our children hit academic bumps in the road (and they will), it’s hard for parents to figure out the best ways to help redirect them toward success. This week Carol sits down with Windy Lopez-Aflitto, the VP of Content and Partnerships at Learning Heroes, a national organization which helps parents support their children’s learning at home. Carol and Windy get to the bottom of why there’s such a large gap between what parents think about their child’s grade level progress and how their kids are actually doing in school. They offer parents the tips they need to better understand their child’s learning experience and help improve it. Carol and Windy examine the complex relationship teachers and parents can have and share specific ways parents can work with teachers to make sure their children are engaged in their schoolwork and getting as much as possible out of it. This episode is a must for parents and caregivers of school-age children looking for expert advice on helping their kids thrive in school. Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building Your Legacy with Edith Cooper and Jordan Taylor Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

Carol sits down with the mother-daughter duo Edith Cooper and Jordan Taylor to explore how they manage their relationship while creating a business together. Medley is a membership-based coaching service that harnesses the power of small groups to help people grow personally and professionally. And as you listen in, you’ll understand how personally aligned Edith and Jordan are with their company’s mission. Edith built her 30+ year career as one of the nation’s leading business executives creating environments where people can perform to their full potential. Jordan appreciates the power of supportive spaces and finished business school with the goal of sharing this power with as many people as possible. Edith and Jordan talk about how impactful teamwork can be not only in helping people succeed, but in helping them feel seen and supported by others as they work towards their goals. Edith’s values are rooted in her understanding of the power of education that uplifted three generations of her family. She shares her insights on how parents can foster healthy habits in their children from a young age, and the best ways for parents to manage work and family life without becoming overwhelmed. Carol’s intergenerational conversation with Edith and Jordan offers a unique and refreshing parent/child perspective and invites listeners to consider which parenting styles will help them create healthy and lasting family relationships. Follow us at @GroundControlParenting and on www.groundcontrolparenting.com! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open and Honest Parenting with Lorraine Toussaint Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

Lorraine Toussaint, star of The Equalizer and Orange is the New Black, joins Carol to talk about the benefits and challenges of being open and vulnerable with your children. Lorraine and Carol discuss how to practice healthy and honest communication with your kids in an age appropriate way that meets them at their own emotional level. They talk about the best ways to get your point across while considering your child’s needs and how this can strengthen your family’s relationship. Lorraine recounts her own life and parenting experiences with taking accountability, knowing how to apologize, and setting an example of honesty for her child to follow. She shares how vital it is to cultivate a home where children feel seen, heard, and loved, and speaks to her own transformation turning her challenges growing up in Trinidad into lessons in becoming an attentive and loving mother. Follow the show on Instagram @GroundControlParenting and follow the blog, www.groundcontrolparenting.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Choosing Career and Motherhood with Roz Brewer Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

Carol sits down with power CEO and mom Roz Brewer to talk about how to do your best work at the office and at home. As the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Roz truly understands the challenges of excelling at work while maintaining an active role in her family’s life. Roz and Carol talk about the expectations levied on mothers in the workforce to do it all, and Roz offers valuable advice on how to apply the lessons she’s learned from the corporate world to parenting and vice versa. You won’t want to miss when Roz explains why she keeps “facts up, emotions down” in a crisis and why parents should too! Listen today and stay in touch at @GroundControlParenting and www.groundcontrolparenting.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Put Your Oxygen Mask on First with Keisha Lance Bottoms Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

Former Mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms joins Carol to push prioritizing wellness for parents to the forefront. Keisha and Carol talk about the challenges she faced raising her children while simultaneously running a major city. Keisha shares her best parenting practices as well as how she learned to prioritize her own mental health and wellness to show up daily as an active and present mother AND the mayor of ATL. As parents we can get so caught up in our children’s lives that we forget to check in with ourselves. Today, we’re talking about how to change that. Follow us and stay in touch at @GroundControlParenting and www.groundcontrolparenting.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.