Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 3 with Mesa Fama

PRESENTING: Kara on Divorce Curious

As the Record Scratch team preps Season 4, we are excited to share a conversation Kara had with her friend Lisa Mitchell, the host of Divorce Curious. Divorce Curious is a podcast for people wondering if their marriage still fits. No lawyers, no yelling, no friends taking sides — just real talk about the questions keeping you up at night. Learn more about Divorce Curious here [https://lisamitchell.biz/divorce-curious]. Follow Lisa @divorcecurioushelp on Instagram. KARA KAVENSKY Website: Kara Kavensky [https://www.karakavensky.com/] @karakavensky at Substack, FB, IG, LinkedIn, Threads Receive updates on Kara's new memoir release, TELL ME ABOUT JOY here [https://www.karakavensky.com/books/].

Mother Loss & Mother’s Day - Ep. 1 with Kathryn Bertine

Mother Loss, Memory, and Meaning with Kathryn Bertine Kathryn shares the complexity of grief—from the unexpected moments of humor to the profound sense of peace that can accompany loss. This episode is a powerful reminder that grief is not linear, not uniform—and never something to navigate alone. Kathryn Bertine is an author of several books, a former professional athlete, an activist, and a documentary filmmaker. Kathryn played an instrumental role in getting women into the Tour de France. Today’s eight-day Tour de France Femmes stems from her activism and you can read or listen to the wild, true story of what really happens when we fight for change in her book, STAND. KATHRYN BERTINE Website: https://www.kathrynbertine.com [https://www.kathrynbertine.com/] Instagram: @kathryn_bertine KARA KAVENSKY Website: Kara Kavensky [https://www.karakavensky.com/] Visit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY [https://www.karakavensky.com/books/]. Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design [https://www.adamgibson.com/] and Remain Relevant [https://www.karakavensky.com/remain-relevant], a corporate storytelling masterclass Produced by Marilou Marosz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/] Original music written and performed by Adam W. Gibson TIMESTAMPS [01:10] Introduction: Kathryn Bertine [03:27] Tell me her name [04:57] Shared athleticism [06:23] Smoking and a benevolent white lie [12:05] Caring for aging parents [14:15] Coping with loss [18:15] A very special keepsake [19:49] Kathryn's advice

Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 2 with Will Calhoun

Now an author, the Living Colour drummer speaks about his mother, Annie Mae Baker Calhoun Will Calhoun’s artistry spans more than three decades as one of the world’s best drummers—and he credits his mom’s heartbeat (his earliest memory) for introducing him to life’s cadence. From Harry Belafonte to Living Colour, Will’s music career is one of diversity, curiosity, and exploration. A full interview with Will is part of Season 4 of “Record Scratch with Kara” and will air later this summer. WILL CALHOUN Website - WillCalhoun.com [http://WillCalhoun.com] Instagram - @willcalhoundrum Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/willcalhounmusic/# [https://www.facebook.com/willcalhounmusic/] KARA KAVENSKY Website: Kara Kavensky [https://www.karakavensky.com/] Visit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY [https://www.karakavensky.com/books/]. Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design [https://www.adamgibson.com/] and Remain Relevant [https://www.karakavensky.com/remain-relevant], a corporate storytelling masterclass Produced by Marilou Marosz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/] Original music written and performed by Adam W. Gibson TIMESTAMPS [01:10] Introduction: Will Calhoun [02:28] Education, self-reliance, and spirituality [04:44] Helping others [06:08] An open and honest relationship [08:25] Annie Mae Calhoun Way [10:08] The center of the neighborhood [12:19] It's not your time [14:11] Harry Belafonte and The Grammy Awards [15:48] Honoring Mom

Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 3 with Mesa Fama

Let the Words Fall Out: A Story of Trauma, Survival, and Grace *Content Warning* Domestic violence is discussed. Mesa Fama shares the complicated, often painful terrain of motherhood—both as a daughter and as a mother herself. Mesa shares her earliest memories of her mother, shaped by domestic violence and instability, and the profound impact those experiences had on her life. Through honesty and vulnerability, she reflects on cycles of trauma, addiction, and abuse—and the moment she chose to break free. Mesa Fama is a writer whose lovely words are found in the New York Times, The Mighty, and Medium. She is a reader, keeper of secrets, scars, and stars. MESA FAMA Website – mesafama.com [http://mesafama.com/] Substack: @mesafama Let The Words Fall Out Instagram: @mesa.fama KARA KAVENSKY Website: Kara Kavensky [https://www.karakavensky.com/] Visit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY [https://www.karakavensky.com/books/]. Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design [https://www.adamgibson.com/] and Remain Relevant [https://www.karakavensky.com/remain-relevant], a corporate storytelling masterclass Produced by Marilou Marosz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/] Original music written and performed by Adam W. Gibson TIMESTAMPS [01:21] Introduction: Mesa Fama [02:52] Instilling a love of reading and writing [03:54] Breaking the cycle of abuse and addiction [04:57] Seeing her own worth [07:29] I'm sorry. Thank you. [09:20] The past and parenting [11:03] Forgiveness and grace [13:51] Mother's Day

Mother Loss & Mother’s Day – Ep. 4 with Jessica Fein

Grief, Identity, and Ongoing Connection with Jessica Fein Jessica shares her experience navigating the unimaginable reality of being both a motherless daughter and a daughterless mother—a dual loss that reshaped her understanding of identity, grief, and love. Jessica reflects on her mother, Zelda, the loss of her daughter Dahlia, and the ways she continues to maintain connection with those she has lost—offering a reframe of grief not as an ending, but as an evolving relationship. Jessica Fein's book, BREATH TAKING: A MEMOIR OF FAMILY, DREAMS, AND BROKEN GENES, is a love letter to her daughter, Dahlia. My favorite, and most accurate synopsis, is: "A masterclass on how to be a person." — Joanna Rakoff, bestselling author of MY SALINGER YEAR. BREATH TAKING is a MUST read! JESSICA FEIN Website - JessicaFeinstories.com [http://www.jessicafeinstories.com/] Instagram - @feinjessica Substack - https://feinbyme.substack.com/ [https://feinbyme.substack.com/] KARA KAVENSKY Website: Kara Kavensky [https://www.karakavensky.com/] Visit Kara’s website to receive updates and pre-order her new memoir, TELL ME ABOUT JOY [https://www.karakavensky.com/books/]. Record Scratch with Kara is sponsored by Adam Gibson Design [https://www.adamgibson.com/] and Remain Relevant [https://www.karakavensky.com/remain-relevant], a corporate storytelling masterclass Produced by Marilou Marosz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariloumarosz/] Original music written and performed by Adam W. Gibson TIMESTAMPS [01:09] Introduction: Jessica Fein [02:38] Zelda [03:54] Naming Theo [05:37] Singing around the piano [06:39] Celebrating Mom [08:55] Connecting with people we've lost [11:00] Jessie's advice