Moving Forward - Change, Purpose and Possibility

Ep. 35 - Joann Jansen

In this episode of Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope, Linda Anderson sits down with JoAnn Jansen — renowned film choreographer, producer, acting coach, speaker, and transformative mentor — for a deeply honest conversation about resilience, creativity, reinvention, and the courage to keep rebuilding your life when circumstances change unexpectedly. JoAnn reflects on her early years in the vibrant New York dance world, where movement became more than performance — it became identity, storytelling, and self-expression. She shares how those experiences shaped her creative voice and later influenced her work in film and television, including the real-life experiences that inspired part of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. But behind the success is also a story of profound challenge. At just nineteen years old, JoAnn became the single mother of a severely disabled child — an experience that forced her to navigate hardship, uncertainty, and the question of whether her own dreams could still survive alongside overwhelming responsibility. Together, Linda and JoAnn explore: * How creativity can become a source of healing and survival * The connection between identity and self-expression * What adversity teaches us that success alone cannot * Why so many people struggle to believe they are “enough” * The courage required to reinvent yourself across different seasons of life * How hardship can eventually become a source of wisdom, strength, and purpose Throughout the conversation, JoAnn speaks candidly about motherhood, resilience, reinvention, and the importance of helping others reconnect with their own value and possibility. This episode is a reminder that even when life forces us to rebuild ourselves, we are still capable of growth, creativity, healing, and hope. Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lluande1/] Facebook  [https://www.facebook.com/linda.unrathanderson] LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-unrath-anderson-93ab7b3/] Music by Maksym_Dudchyk [https://pixabay.com/users/maksym_dudchyk-34570439/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

Ep. 34 - Richard Zapien

Today’s conversation explores leadership, access, identity, and the systems that shape opportunity—especially in a moment when technology and artificial intelligence are rapidly changing the world around us. My guest is Richard Zapien, an educator and leader whose work spans more than 25 years across teaching, instructional coaching, site leadership, and district administration within the San Francisco Unified School District. He currently serves as Professional Learning Coordinator with the 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) Bay Area Regional Academy at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education, where he supports equity-centered leadership development across schools and districts. Throughout this conversation, Richard challenges us to think more deeply about who gets seen, who gets access, and how leadership decisions shape opportunity—not only in education, but across society. Together, we discuss the importance of representation in leadership, the lasting impact of deficit narratives, and the ways systems can unintentionally reinforce inequities. Richard reflects on the moment early in his career that shifted his work from a profession to a purpose, and how that experience continues to ground his leadership today. We also explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence and computer science in schools and communities. Richard offers thoughtful insight into what AI literacy really means, why access matters, and how bias can show up in both technology and leadership systems. Rather than viewing computer science simply as coding, he reframes it as a pathway toward problem-solving, critical thinking, civic awareness, and opportunity. This conversation also highlights the importance of belonging and affinity spaces for leaders of color, particularly through Richard’s work with the Latino Leaders Affinity Network. He speaks candidly about the pressures many leaders carry, the realities of systems-level leadership, and the responsibility leaders have to approach both technology and people with intention, compassion, and critical awareness. At its heart, this episode is about leadership that sees humanity clearly—leadership rooted not only in strategy and systems, but in dignity, representation, relationships, and hope. If you’ve ever thought about who gets access to opportunity, how systems shape identity and belonging, or what responsible leadership looks like in a rapFollow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lluande1/] Facebook  [https://www.facebook.com/linda.unrathanderson] LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-unrath-anderson-93ab7b3/] Music by Maksym_Dudchyk [https://pixabay.com/users/maksym_dudchyk-34570439/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

Ep. 33 - Lindsay Lazar and Linda Anderson

The Generations That Shape Us: A Conversation on Motherhood, Loss, and What Carries Forward Episode Description: This episode of Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope is a deeply personal one—shared on Mother’s Day. For the first time, the roles are reversed. Linda Anderson sits on the other side of the conversation—interviewed by her daughter, Lindsay. What unfolds is more than a conversation between mother and daughter. It’s a reflection across three generations of women—how they shape one another, what they carry forward, and what remains long after moments have passed. Together, they explore the reality of becoming a mother for the first time—the expectations, the surprises, and the quiet lessons that only come through lived experience. Linda reflects on the influence of her own mother, the values she hoped to pass on, and the ways those values continue to show up in her daughter today. The conversation also holds space for loss. Linda shares how losing her mother shaped her understanding of time, presence, and what truly matters—and how that loss continues to inform the way she loves, leads, and lives. As Lindsay steps into motherhood herself, the conversation deepens—offering an honest look at what it means to witness your child become a parent, and how identity shifts in that transition. This episode is about: * The reality of motherhood—beyond expectations * The influence of the women who came before us * The values that quietly shape generations * The impact of loss on how we live and love * What it means to carry a family forward * The transition from mother to grandmother * And how we define “moving forward” across seasons of life At its core, this is a conversation about legacy—not as something distant, but as something lived every day. In the choices we make. In the way we show up. In what we pass on—intentionally and unintentionally. A reflection to carry with you: What are you holding from those who came before you… and what are you choosing to carry forward? Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lluande1/] Facebook  [https://www.facebook.com/linda.unrathanderson] LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-unrath-anderson-93ab7b3/] Music by Maksym_Dudchyk [https://pixabay.com/users/maksym_dudchyk-34570439/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

Ep. 32 - Michaeline Fernandez & Kelly Daab

Building Something Together: Design, Identity, and the Meaning of Home What does it mean to build something beautiful together? In this episode of Moving Forward, Linda Anderson sits down with sisters and co-founders Michaeline Fernandez and Kelly Daab of butter+velvet HOME · DESIGN for a conversation about creativity, partnership, and the journey of growing something over time. Michaeline began her career more than twenty years ago with a passion for family-friendly interior design—creating spaces that feel both elevated and livable. As her business evolved, so did a vision: to open a boutique that could bring her design perspective to life in a more personal and community-centered way. That vision expanded when her sister Kelly joined the business, bringing her own strengths in curation and merchandising. Together, they built butter+velvet HOME · DESIGN into a full-service home design studio based in Denville, New Jersey and one that now serves clients across the country. But this conversation goes beyond design. It’s about what it means to: * Build a business with someone you trust * Hold onto your individual identity while creating something shared * Navigate growth, uncertainty, and change over time * Create spaces, not just physically, but relationally - that feel warm, inviting, and deeply personal A powerful thread throughout this episode is the balance between individuality and partnership.Talking about how two people can move forward together without losing themselves along the way. As Michaeline and Kelly reflect on their journey, they offer insight into the quiet, steady work of building something meaningful—rooted in trust, shaped by experience, and guided by a shared vision. A line that captures the heart of this conversation: “Moving forward isn’t about becoming something different—it’s about growing into who you already are, while building something alongside someone else.” In This Episode, We Explore: * How a passion for interior design grew into a full-service business * The transition from solo work to sister partnership * Defining roles, voice, and identity within a shared vision * Designing spaces that balance beauty, functionality, and real life * The importance of trust—in relationships, in business, and in the process * What it means to keep moving forward through growth and uncertainty A Reflection for ListenersWhether you’re building something with someone else, or finding your own path forward…What does it look like to stay grounded in who you are while growing into something more? Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lluande1/] Facebook  [https://www.facebook.com/linda.unrathanderson] LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-unrath-anderson-93ab7b3/] Music by Maksym_Dudchyk [https://pixabay.com/users/maksym_dudchyk-34570439/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

Ep. 31 - Emma Wang

Seeing What Others Overlook: Youth Voice, Storytelling, and Courage in Action Some conversations remind us that leadership isn’t defined by age, title, or experience. It begins with awareness. With curiosity. With the courage to notice what others overlook—and to act. In this episode of Moving Forward, Linda Anderson sits down with Emma Wang, a high school senior and emerging filmmaker whose work is rooted in social justice, empathy, and truth-telling. Currently living in Taiwan, Emma has turned her attention to youth homelessness in California—seeking to move beyond statistics and center the voices and dignity of young people whose stories are too often unheard. This conversation explores what it means to tell stories responsibly, to lead with purpose at a young age, and to navigate complex issues with both courage and humility. Together, Linda and Emma discuss: * What drew Emma to filmmaking as a vehicle for social change * The realities—and misconceptions—surrounding youth homelessness * What she has learned from engaging with systems, educators, and community leaders * The importance of centering youth voice in conversations about youth experiences * The ethical responsibility of storytelling when working with vulnerable populations * The balance between urgency and care in social justice work * How a global perspective shapes her understanding of local issues * The challenges of access—and what persistence has taught her * Where she has found hope in the midst of difficult work * What she hopes audiences—and decision-makers—take away from her film * Advice for young people who want to make a difference but don’t know where to begin Throughout the conversation, Emma reflects on how this work is shaping not only her voice as a filmmaker, but her identity as a young leader navigating a complex world. This episode is a reminder that moving forward often looks like quiet courage, an emerging voice, and the willingness to step forward before you feel fully ready—and that young people are not just the future of leadership, but an essential part of it right now. “Leadership begins the moment you choose to see what others overlook—and have the courage to tell the story.” As you listen, consider: Where in your own life are you being called to notice more deeply? And what might it look like to move forward—even before you feel fully ready? Follow us on: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lluande1/] Facebook  [https://www.facebook.com/linda.unrathanderson] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-anderson-93ab7b3/]  Music by Maksym_Dudchyk [https://pixabay.com/users/maksym_dudchyk-34570439/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] from Pixabay [https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=391379] Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez