Grandma Magic: A podcast from the Grandmother Collective

Frances Jeffries: Global Peacemaker

Frances Jeffries holds a PhD in Counseling from Kent State University and has spent her career weaving together education, service, and activism. She is a Rotary Peace Fellow, a mediator, and an outspoken advocate for nuclear abolition — calling nuclear weapons “the number one public health issue.” She recently marked her 84th birthday by hiking 84 miles of the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness and inspire action. She is also known locally for plunging into icy waters each New Year’s Day to raise funds for ShelterBox [https://www.shelterboxusa.org/], supporting communities displaced by conflict and disaster. Through it all, Frances has shown us that determination, courage, and care can fuel movements for change. Her story demonstrates that grandmother leadership is about both steady presence and bold action.

Barbara Shaiman: Empowering Thousands to Advocate for Social Justice

Barbara Shaiman is a renowned educator, businesswoman, and social entrepreneur whose family history instilled a lifelong sense of responsibility to make the world better by being kind, standing up, and speaking out. In this episode, we learn about Barbara’s upbringing as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, and how this shaped her diverse career chasing her “technicolor dreams.” As a grandmother changemaker, she carries forward a legacy of action and empathy, grounded in the belief that everyone — regardless of age or background — has the power to make a difference. Barbara shares how her greatest strength lies in knowing her limitations and building diverse, intergenerational teams to bridge them. Her work through Champions of Caring brings together people across the country to recognize and empower children as social activists. Collaborating with psychologists, academics, and even film-makers, she’s exploring the measurable impact of empathy-driven activism — and inviting others to join her. Barbara reminds us that “Everyone can be great,”, echoing Martin Luther King Jr., “because everyone can serve.” This episode is a call to action — for young and old alike — to transform pain into possibility, and to find joy, meaning, and connection in the work of building a better world.

Sue Boardman: Fiercely Compassionate Rebel Grandmother

Sue Boardman proudly calls herself a “fiercely compassionate rebel grandmother-for-rent” — a title that perfectly captures her fierce devotion to healing, growth, and self-discovery. Through her many roles as a nurse, pastor, artist, writer, and lifelong learner, Sue has spent her life guiding individuals and communities toward transformation. In this conversation, she shares how a single moment — encountering the phrase “fierce compassion” — shifted her internal filter and set her on a journey into intentional creativity, oracle cards, and sacred storytelling. As a grandmother and children’s book author, Sue is reimagining creation as a place where every child feels seen and included. With radiant artwork, inclusive language, and even a cover that feels good to the touch, her book offers a tactile and heart-centered invitation into an expansive, welcoming world. Sue reminds us that transformation doesn’t require having all the answers — it begins with the willingness to do the next right thing. And sometimes, that next right thing is telling a new story. One that ripples outward.

Dr. Kathleen Walls: Powerhouse in Leadership Development, Communication and Personal Transformation

Dr. Kathleen Walls is a powerhouse in leadership development, communication, and personal transformation. With a rich career spanning academia, consulting, NGO work, and authoring a children’s book series, to name a few, she is deeply rooted in values of togetherness, open intergenerational conversation, and the guiding belief that “As I heal, you heal.” Growing up in a progressive family environment in Pennsylvania, surrounded by strong, wise grandmother figures, Dr. Walls shares the profound impact of having older women in all phases of life — women who offer connection, wisdom, and life stories that shape and inspire. Throughout this episode, Dr. Walls reflects on her ever-expanding mosaic of passions and projects — each piece adding its own vibrant color to the larger picture of her legacy.

Rosemarie Mollinedo: Fostering Resilience, Self-Compassion and Growth

Rosemarie Mollinedo has dedicated her life to fostering resilience, self-compassion, and growth in children, families, and communities. With a career spanning over four decades, Rosemarie has worked in early childhood education, family counseling, and community-based interventions, leaving an indelible mark on organizations like the Dubnoff Center for Child Development, El Nido Family Centers, and the East Los Angeles Women’s Center. In this episode, Rosemarie shares her journey of overcoming personal hardships, finding healing through an education and career in service, ultimately embracing a “divinely engineered treatment plan” that has shaped her life. As a proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Rosemarie also reflects on how her experiences inspire her to pass down lessons of resilience, self-compassion, and trust, and the importance of family history to future generations.