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Dana is joined by Fatima as they discuss the violence that has been plaguing Nigeria for over 20 years. As Dana said, “Our purpose today is not to sensationalize the suffering or assign political blame or leave us feeling overwhelmed, but we want to listen, understand, and know how as an interfaith community, we can come together and support the Nigerians in this suffering.”   “We just have to be as close to God as we can.” - Fatima Njoku   “There’s no limit to what is possible, and so every day we just keep praying that we are able to stay faithful.” - Fatima Njoku   “There has to be a real awakening of patriotism, of human rights, values of respect and dignity of life, of human life, that people should be able to see one another as humans and not as competitors or rivals or any enemies because we’re not.” - Fatia Njoku   “So there's hope. It's just for us to reinforce the right values. The bad people are not as many as good people. It's just because what bad people are doing is so loud that it makes it look like the world is so evil. No, there are a lot of good people, it’s just that they have refused to do anything good or they've been quiet. But if we pray for one another, if we help each other, do inter-religious workshops where we help to see that we have similarities, give each other hope and a reason to believe in one another. I think there's a lot of hope.” - Fatima Njoku “If every good person decides to stand up and, and to do something good and to be led by God, to know how to fill in that space. Then so much good will happen.” - Dana Robb   “I love the catchphrase… ‘All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing.’ So if you want to be a force for good in the world, don’t do nothing. Do something.” - Fatima Njoku   “That's perfect. Yep, exactly. Do something. And each of us has that capability to do something good in our homes, our communities, and it will branch out and affect the world.” - Dana Robb   Fatima Njoku is a lawyer working in Nigeria and currently a doctorate candidate at the University of Jos. She has been a human rights advocate for over 11 years, in the course of her advocacy, she has been to the United Nations headquarters in New York and Geneva, she had meetings at Capitol Hill, House of Lords, Swiss Press Club and the like. She has been serving her community through Big Ocean Women in Nigeria where more than 50 women meet regularly for encouragement around the importance of faith, family, and motherhood. This group also carries out community development projects that have touched many lives.   Whenever presented with the opportunity for adventure, Dana Robb is all in. Currently, this includes riding the local mountain biking trails with her husband, canyoneering, and climbing the hills of southern Utah. She loves to learn and explore with her six kids. She is drawn to the opportunities being involved with Big Ocean Women provides. Dana loves connecting to a global sisterhood where women’s issues are being addressed through reframing and an abundance mindset. This podcast is available with subtitles on Youtube. 

Carolina Allen, Dana Robb, and Shelli Spotts talk Christmas traditions, how to have an abundant holiday, and how to decide what really matters with your family during the holiday season.   “The world around us is so rich in natural abundance, and yet we’re so distracted from it by the abundance of worry and the abundance of tasks.” - Shelli Spotts   “Gift giving is a beautiful expression of love and that someone else is on your mind and in your heart, and it’s a genuine offering from you to them. I think that when we understand what a true gift is . . . you will come to recognize the bounty all around you, found in nature, found in service, found in repurposing things, and your eyes change so you’re able to see things in a more beautiful way.” - Carolina Allen   “Christmas can be a time of an abundance of patience with other people.” - Carolina Allen   “Maybe sometimes there are going to be those moments that don’t feel like abundance, but we push through and we get this beautiful experience on the other side and it’s worth it.” - Dana Robb   “I think if we don’t teach our children and include our husbands as well in creating the magic of the season that it falls all on the mother, and that’s robbing them of their opportunities to learn and grow and develop this capacity to be active participants in creating the family magic.” - Carolina Allen   To read guest bios and to find out more about what we do go to www.bigoceanwomen.org.   00:00 Introduction to Currents Podcast 00:25 Exploring the True Meaning of Abundance 03:31 Gift Giving and Financial Strain 06:10 Creating Meaningful Family Traditions 08:56 Navigating Strained Relationships During Holidays 12:56 Personal Reflections on Holiday Traditions 19:24 Involving Family in Holiday Preparations 24:42 Encouraging Family Participation and Abundance 26:41 Family Traditions and Unique Contributions 27:50 Connecting Through Technology 29:55 Embracing an Abundance Mindset 31:50 Finding Joy in Small Moments 35:09 Creating New Traditions 36:03 The Power of Music and Prayer 38:43 Cherishing Small Moments and Memories 40:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts    

Your Internal Compass: A Beacon for Faith and Action   Shannon and Dana are joined by Shandra Madson to discuss following our Internal Compass which is our ability to hear from God and be inspired and directed in our lives.   Shandra Madson started a campus of the Columbus Adult Education Center in her community which teaches English to refugees and immigrants. Shandra had become aware that about one in every five people in their community did not speak English because of a large influx of refugees. She said, “They were new to our city, new to our country, and it created a lot of different dynamics and concerns and ways that these people needed to feel loved and just helped along their path. So the Columbus Center is basically there to teach English, but really it's just a beautiful place where people were able to come and feel God's love for them. And I think that was kind of our main goal. English obviously was important, but they needed somewhere that they could come just to feel safe and feel loved, and just have that humanity where they weren't feeling it otherwise in their lives.”   00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:39 Meet Shandra Madson 03:23 The Columbus Center: A Beacon of Hope 07:07 Trusting in the Lord: Shandra's Journey 09:30 Success Stories and Impact 19:06 Encouragement and Final Thoughts   “God doesn't care where we live. He doesn't care what our address is. He wants people to feel loved no matter where they are.” - Shandra Madson   “We don’t have to know everything to be able to contribute and support.” - Dana Robb   “I think it's a beautiful thing that all of God's children are born with that light, and I think it's just a matter of are we willing to flame that light and just help grow it. and I think every little choice we make, every way we help God's children, that light just grows brighter and brighter. . . .It takes effort to recognize and effort to follow.” - Shandra Madson  “Another thing that's been really interesting is that some maybe came in with different biases or prejudices against another nation. And because we serve so many nations, and they're learning together and have become united through that, I've seen some of those guards that they came with be let down, and actually become friends with [eachother] and realize that they have more in common than they thought at first, and that some of these prejudices that they had in the beginning were really unfounded. . . . That's been such a beautiful, one of my favorite parts to witness, that happening at the center.” - Shannon Russell   “I think anytime we just reach out a hand of love and fellowship and kindness, it doesn’t go unnoticed. People notice and feel that love of God as they serve.” - Shandra Madson   “One thing I love is just that we all came here with different talents, and it's so easy to compare with somebody else of like, “Wow, they've done this thing,” or “They have this ability or this talent,” but it's neat to see how God can use all of our talents differently, and it can help grow to be something beautiful for all of us.” - Shandra Madson   “I love that you said be still, you know, let's quiet yourself down. We live in such a rushed world, but really in order to connect to that internal compass, we have to take moments of stillness every day and quiet our minds and, and listen in.” - Dana Robb   Shannon Russell treasures her roles as a wife and mother, finding that the journey of learning and growing alongside her family is the most rewarding experience of her life. At her core, Shannon is passionate about helping others. Whether it be as a real estate agent guiding her clients to one of their most significant investments – their homes, or volunteering at the Columbus Center supporting refugees in learning English and become assimilated in the United States, or creating nonprofits focused on educating youth, she loves serving those around her and is committed to making a positive impact in her community. Shannon loves connecting with women from diverse backgrounds and perspectives through Big Ocean Women where women are empowered to generate solutions that enable them to live a life of joy and abundance. Her favorite pastimes are playing pickleball, board games, hiking, anything that puts her in nature, and being a beach bum. Whenever presented with the opportunity for adventure, Dana Robb is all in. Currently, this includes riding the local mountain biking trails with her husband, canyoneering, and climbing the hills of southern Utah. She loves to learn and explore with her six kids. She is drawn to the opportunities being involved with Big Ocean Women provides. Dana loves connecting to a global sisterhood where women’s issues are being addressed through reframing and an abundance mindset.   Shandra Madsen is an entrepreneur at heart and has owned several businesses over the past couple decades.. Shandra and Todd have been married for 26 years and have 5 beautiful children, one son-in-law and two grandchildren. Being parents and grandparents is her ultimate joy. She enjoys spending time with their large extended family, camping, vacationing, playing games and enjoying the outdoors. Her love for Jesus Christ is foundational to who she is and serving her community and neighbors. She has loved serving as the Director with her husband of the Herriman Columbus Adult Education Center that helps hundreds of immigrants learn English. She is currently serving as the Chair over Humanitarian Aid with the Kamas Valley Community Foundation and excited to continue to serve in new and exciting ways.

In this episode of the Big Ocean Women Podcast, hosts Shelli Spotts, Carolina Allen, and guest Darrin Gates engage in a comprehensive discussion about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on various facets of life. Shelli, a professor of persuasive writing, sets the stage by emphasizing the importance of understanding different types of literacies. Darrin, a philosophy professor specializing in ethics, provides insights into the ethical considerations of AI, specifically generative AI like ChatGPT. Carolina, the founder of Big Ocean Women, highlights the organization's focus on faith, family, and motherhood, and introduces the topic of AI's rapid advancement and its implications for parenting and education. The conversation delves into definitions of AI, its limitations, the ethical issues surrounding data use, and the potential pitfalls like job loss, privacy concerns, and the erosion of human interaction. The group underscores the importance of critical thinking, media literacy, and maintaining human-centric values in the face of technological advancement.     00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions 02:21 Defining AI and Its Implications 04:54 Ethical Concerns and Data Set Issues 08:06 AI's Impact on Human Interaction 12:00 Manipulation and Deception in AI 17:19 AI's Limitations and Future 28:39 Ethical Dilemmas in AI Resource Allocation 29:55 The AI Arms Race: Global Implications 32:16 Privacy Concerns and Data Misuse 36:10 Job Loss and Economic Impact of AI 37:47 The Push for Human-Centric AI 40:32 Teaching Critical Thinking in the Age of AI 47:07 Parental Guidance and Media Literacy 51:58 Conclusion: Embracing Failure and Authentic Engagement

Following the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, Shannon Russell, who was at the event, Natalie Perry, Grace Raje, a student at UVU, and Kimball Call discuss the effects of the internet and polarization, how we can help each other and our families, and how we deal with these issues we’re facing by recognizing and following our internal compass.   00:00 Introduction and Host's Welcome 00:44 Panel Introductions 01:21 Grace's Perspective on the Assassination 02:13 Natalie's Experience at the Event 08:07 Discussion on Social Media and Misinformation 19:23 Generational Differences and Digital Natives 27:15 Impact of Internet on Young Men 30:27 The Impact of Internet Rabbit Holes on Young Men 31:06 Promoting Positive Masculinity in Education 31:55 Escapism and Its Role in Extremism 32:54 The Importance of Connection Over Avoidance 33:26 Maternal Feminism vs. Modern Feminism 35:27 Fostering Critical Thinking in the Digital Age 37:30 The Dangers of Overstimulation and Dopamine Addiction 41:13 Challenging the Untruths of Fragility, Emotional Reasoning, and Us vs. Them 46:20 The Pressure to Form Immediate Opinions 50:22 Encouraging Civil Discourse and Embracing Failure 55:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   “We recognize and follow our intuitive internal compass to speak and act with integrity. And so as we teach this tenet at an international level, we are so blessed to hear from mothers and women all over the globe who believe in following our internal compass. And that is something that every person on this earth has and needs to learn how to use and, and how do we tap into that internal compass? How do we speak, how do we act? Those are the issues I think that we need to address and are very relevant to what happened this week.” - Natalie Perry   “Personally, I think we're gonna look back at kids having social media the same way we look back on how prevalent smoking was in the seventies and eighties… We're gonna say, ‘What were we thinking? Giving kids access to that amount of information before they were trained or taught how to process it, how to filter it out, how to use it for good or use it for other uses.’ It's seriously doing some real damage to not just our kids, but to adults as well. I think there's a lot of interesting research coming out about that, but I don't think you need to be in the research to see the negative effects. I think you can just look at what's been happening over the last week.” - Kimball Call   “I think that the family unit is the best place and arguably the only place that's really suitable to hold space for our generation. As we process this disassociation, as we process this dystopian pit in our stomach and the expectation to speak articulately about our thoughts on social media, because that's what's expected of us, even though we're actually processing an emotional thing, and our hearts and brains aren't always communicating. So the family and mothers specifically have a very special and unique ability to hold space for my generation to not have to be articulate, to not have to post right away, to maybe even feel indifferent or to feel sick or to feel whatever they're feeling without criticism, because this is an emotional event.” - Grace Raje   “We need to get back to reality, and we need to help kids grow up in reality. So one of the best ways moms and parents can help their kids is to give them a childhood that resembles the childhood [they] probably experienced. . . .Before the internet was a thing, get kids off video games, get kids off. Don't let them have social media. Get them in touch with books. Help them fall in love with reading. Help them fall in love with nature, help them fall in love with sports and in-person social activities with friends.” - Kimball Call   “When you can stop seeing things as us versus them, you can think critically.” - Kimball Call   “There's this moral obligation to have opinions about everything. . . not that it's wrong to have an opinion, anybody who knows me knows I'm remarkably opinionated, but the problem is that we confuse our identity with our opinions, and then when you're wrong or you have new information, it's hard to admit that you're wrong because it feels like a compromisation of your worth. And the thing that I've learned in order to . . . interface with difficult concepts and be able to hear other people's opinions, is to remove my worth from my opinions, to remove my emotional response from my opinions, and then understand that my internal compass is the gift that I have to discern between the two, and that that takes practice. But as you continue to practice that, it'll be a lot easier, and all of a sudden I can just admit that I'm wrong about something, but I know who I am and I know the worth of the person I'm discussing this, too, and it's not so emotionally charged anymore. It can be about ideas and this sort of effortlessly starts to happen as we practice and as we recognize our own internal worth.” - Grace Raje   “Don't be afraid of failure. Don't be afraid of adversity. I think something that the Charlie Kirk assassination teaches us is that, I mean, here was a guy, whether or not you agree with his politics, here was a guy out there not afraid to be open with where he stood, and let people challenge him. He wasn't afraid of failure. He wasn't afraid of that, and I think in a lot of ways I've seen people on both sides of the aisle recently praising that behavior.” - Kimball Call     The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt  Kimball Call is an economics student at Brigham Young University and the lead editor of The Cougar Chronicle, an independent student newspaper. Kimball is passionate about issues and policies surrounding family, faith, and young men. He has been with Big Ocean Women for 5 months and is excited to continue contributing his insights on the rising generation. He can be found on instagram and X @kimballcall, where he shares insights on economics, family issues, and matters related to Gen-Z.    Wife to Anthony for 28 wonderful years, Natalie Perry is a dedicated full-time mother of six children, proud grandmother of two (with two more on the way!), and a passionate advocate for marriage, fathers, and the vital role of motherhood. A natural gatherer, Natalie cherishes every opportunity to bring people together—whether it’s for dinners, birthdays, vacations, movie nights, or spontaneous game nights. She finds joy and purpose in creating meaningful connections with those around her. As a member of Big Ocean Women, Natalie uplifts and empowers women through faith, family, and community. Her life is a testament to the power of love, connection, and purposeful living as a disciple of Jesus Christ.   Grace Raje is the Director of Global Strategy and has served various roles within Big Ocean Women, including WAVE leader, Digital Presence Manager, and Event Coordinator. She is currently pursuing a degree in Global Politics and is passionate about social change through the non-profit and government sectors. When she is not working, you can find Grace exploring national parks, rock climbing, or gardening with her husband.

Susan Roylance and Carolina Allen discuss what advocacy for family looks like at the UN.  00:00 Introduction to Gender Issues 00:24 Welcome to Currents Podcast 01:01 Introducing Susan Roylance 02:08 Susan's Journey and Book 03:29 The Beijing Conference 04:56 Defining Gender and Family Advocacy 06:48 Challenges and Advocacy at the UN 11:35 The Importance of Maternal Feminism 18:50 Susan's Mentorship and Legacy 21:09 Reflections on Feminism and Family 30:49 The Importance of Relationships and Family 31:36 Motherhood and Workforce Policies in Europe 32:57 Generational Wisdom and Family Dynamics 33:43 Susan's Experience at the Geneva Conference 38:06 Cultural Solutions vs. Top-Down Policies 42:44 The Role of Family in Addressing Global Issues 50:31 Promoting Family Values to Younger Generations 57:34 The Economic Impact of Declining Birth Rates 58:50 The Power of Family in Society 58:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts    

Dana Robb is joined by Kawika Allen and Nathan Ormsby to dispute the notion that men are unnecessary and promote the truth that men are truly valuable and we need to build interdependent relationships to support one another.   “I think all men and husbands should strive to be more nurturing as well. I think it's just helpful for our children to see that modeling of a nurturing father.” - Kawika Allen   “Just showing that emotional support and care is not something that you do often enough, and especially in men. We should be okay to say we care for each other, we're looking out for you, and it's important.” - Nathan Ormsby   “When we're vulnerable with each other, we actually can feel closer and more connected.” - Dana Robb   “It is really helpful for me as a wife to know where he's at [emotionally] and I feel like I have a lot more compassion for him when he's open about what he's feeling or the stresses he's under, the things he is experiencing. I feel like I can then step in and know how to support him a little bit more.” - Dana Robb “A good relationship is built on vulnerability. You need to have that, and talk about deep and meaningful things.” - Nathan Ormsby   “Men who are watching this, give yourself some grace. Give yourself some flexibility, opportunities to learn from mistakes and take those mistakes and improve on them and not let them control your lives, right?  And to stand back up and keep moving forward and trying and striving the best they can in all areas, right? Emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally. Um, and so again, just give yourself some grace. You know, you're trying your best.” - Kawika Allen   “That's what we need more in our relationships is that recognition. We're doing our best and we're not gonna get it perfectly all the time, and that's okay. We just keep picking it up and we keep trying.” - Dana Robb Whenever presented with the opportunity for adventure, Dana Robb is all in. Currently, this includes riding the local mountain biking trails with her husband, canyoneering, and climbing the hills of southern Utah. She loves to learn and explore with her six kids. She is drawn to the opportunities being involved with Big Ocean Women provides. Dana loves connecting to a global sisterhood where women’s issues are being addressed through reframing and an abundance mindset. Nathan Ormsby brings a diverse and dynamic background to his role as Director of Student Wellness at Brigham Young University. Originally from New Zealand and Australia, Nathan’s early experiences in a non-traditional family, multi-faith family, and a First-Generation college student, laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to service, resilience, and community engagement. Nathan has cultivated a career that spans not-for-profit organizations, local government, professional sports, and resort management. His professional journey reflects a deep passion for wellness, creative problem-solving, and building inclusive, supportive environments. For over 15 years at BYU, Nathan has led impactful initiatives—from developing family programs at Aspen Grove to advising multicultural students. Today, he serves in his role, guiding campus-wide wellness efforts and chairing the Wellness Wise Committee. His leadership is marked by a holistic approach to well-being, integrating physical, emotional, and social health to enrich the student experience. Outside of work, Nathan is an avid weightlifter and adventure enthusiast. He and his wife, Jennifer, are proud parents of six children who enjoy swimming, playing pickleball, and sharing laughs over funny videos. Professor Allen received his bachelor’s degree in speech/organizational communication, his master’s degree in counseling psychology at the University of Utah, his PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his predoctoral clinical internship at Duke University. His research areas involve spiritual, cultural, and indigenous ways of healing in psychotherapy, including culturally appropriate psychotherapies and interventions for various populations. Professor Allen also conducts research related to religiosity, perfectionism, scrupulosity, and psychological wellbeing among many populations. In addition, Professor Allen has focused much of his research on culture-specific counseling interventions and the relationships across religiosity/spirituality, coping/collectivistic coping, depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being/adjustment among Polynesians/Polynesian Americans. Professor Allen is the founder of and leads the Polynesian Psychology Education Research Team (The Poly Psi Team). He was recently awarded a Fulbright Specialist Scholarship teaching, providing training, and presenting and conducting research on religiosity, spirituality, culture, mental health, and psychotherapy in Brazil. Dr. Allen has numerous publications in top-tier scientific journals, over 4 million dollars in research grants, and multiple professional presentations at national and international conferences. Dr. Allen is an associate professor in the PhD program of counseling psychology at Brigham Young University. He and his wife, Carolina, have 7 children and they live in Provo, Utah.

Shelli Spotts, Carolina Allen, and Alma Olaveson discuss what it means to work in the advocacy space as mothers referencing Alice Walker’s book, We are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Light in a Time of Darkness and her daughter, Rebecca Walker’s book, Baby Love: Choosing Motherhood After a Lifetime of Ambivalence.   “Advocacy is such an innate maternal thing to do, to advocate for other people that are vulnerable and can’t help themselves… it just comes with the territory of being a mother.” - Carolina Allen   “The best advocacy, the best… changing of the world, the best community building happens as we do the things that we’re doing in our lives… It’s not stepping outside of ourselves, it’s just expanding our efforts within our own sphere.” - Shelli Spotts   “I think that we just need to live more mindfully; the minute we walk out the door, to just live, ... have more integrity with who we are in our cause. I think having integrity actually allows for connection.” - Carolina Allen   “I think one skill that we all need to learn is a deep awareness and then a deep love and compassion of whatever comes up.” - Alma Olaveson   “The best way to teach is by being.” - Alma Olaveson   “I think one of the quotes from Rebecca’s book, Baby Love, that I really loved is, ‘When it comes down to it, what life is about is showing up for the people you love again and again, and again and again.’ And I think that that’s a lot of what we’ve been talking about: that what we can do in the spaces we have and in the time we have is just [to] show up for those people again and again, and again and again.” - Shelli Spotts   Carolina Allen is the founder and leader of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. Carolina holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Utah with an emphasis in cultural religions and philosophy of science. Her inspirational and philosophical work has been presented at various international U.N. conferences. She is a native of Brazil, and a fluent trilingual. She and her husband Kawika are parents to 7 children. She is an avid soccer fan and had a brief career as a semi-professional player.   Shell Spotts is an advocacy writer and creative writing teacher. She loves to spend time with her husband (usually in the garden) and their four almost adult children. She also loves to sew, to read, to write, and to drag her family outside to look at the sky. Shelli is passionate about poetry, Broadway show tunes, and telling stories—of ourselves, our families, and our communities.   Alma Olaveson is a dedicated advocate for women's empowerment and a passionate leader within Big Ocean Women. As a full-time mother, Alma is on a mission to create a paradigm shift in the collective consciousness of women by emphasizing one crucial element: reminding them of their innate worth, true identity, and the natural milestones in female development. Alma focuses her efforts on women who are considering pregnancy for the first time and preparing to welcome their first child. She is a firm believer that the most profound developmental milestone a woman can experience is becoming a mother for the first time. Alma is concerned that misinformation and beliefs that conflict with the natural progression of a woman's biology and feminine nature are adversely affecting the well-being of first-time mothers. Her passion lies in nurturing the spiritual, emotional, psychological, and social well-being of women as they transition from Maiden to Matrescence and ultimately to Motherhood. Alma graduated from BYUI with a degree in psychology and is currently a student at Peterson Academy. When she's not working, Alma enjoys exploring nature, hiking, chasing waterfalls, basking in the sun, and spending quality time with her kids and husband. She also loves reading, writing in her journal, and connecting with friends.

Carolina Allen shares the op-ed she wrote for the Deseret News, Published May 10, 2025. https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2025/05/10/what-is-maternal-feminism/ including some parts that were not included in the published article.   “Creating life is not only about giving birth, however miraculous that truly is. And when we say ‘maternal,’ we are not only referring to women with children. We’re also speaking of a maternal way of being — a capacity to see and fill needs, to nurture, and to lead with fierce compassion. This includes women who mother communities, mentor youth, and tend to their neighbors — all intentional women who shape our culture for the better.”   “When we lift mothers, we fortify the foundation of society itself, recognizing that nurturing the next generation is not just a personal role but a sacred, collective calling.”   “More than 500 million women and girls today suffer from period poverty because of the natural rhythms of their uniquely female bodies. Daughters are perceived as intrinsically inferior to sons and denied basic educational opportunities. Many are excluded from participation not only in public life, but are also found voiceless within the family context.”   “At the same time, the commodification of female bodies persists with seven out of 10 victims of sex trafficking being women and girls. The Women's Stats Project, which tracks over 350 variables related to women's lives, confirms a powerful truth. The security and behavior of places we live are directly linked to the situation and safety of women within them. These are not peripheral issues. Recognizing biological realities is key to creating real solutions. Solutions that uplift women and in turn strengthen entire societies.”   “This vision of feminism honors our differences without division; it honors our embodied reality as women, and embraces the spiritual depth that so often grounds our lives. No one is required to choose between public influence and private nurture. Rather, we can remain rooted in the belief that the home is the foundation of every society, and healing the world begins right there, around dinner tables and bedside prayers.”   Join with Big Ocean Women - the world’s leading Maternal Feminist movement! www.bigoceanwomen.org Start or join a WAVE. Subscribe to our newsletter! Carolina Allen is the founder and leader of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. Carolina holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Utah with an emphasis in cultural religions and philosophy of science. Her inspirational and philosophical work has been presented at various international U.N. conferences. She is a native of Brazil, and a fluent trilingual. She and her husband Kawika are parents to 7 children. She is an avid soccer fan and had a brief career as a semi-professional player.

Carolina Allen discusses motherhood with Erica Komisar, LCSW and Madeline Wallin from FEFAF and Haro    “Free women. Free women from feeling terrorized and imprisoned by the narrative that unless they are a hard driving career woman, making lots of money competing with men out in the world, that they have no value. Free women, and give them permission to embrace instincts that they feel, but society doesn’t give them permission to feel.” - Erica Komisar   “How can we talk about the future of the world if we can’t talk about, and especially in a forum that’s supposed to be for women, [if] we are not using the word ‘mother’ or ‘family’ and we’re talking about the future?” - Carolina Allen   “We need to use the words more. We need to show motherhood. We need to talk about it so much more and use the correct words. … Nobody exists without the mother!” - Madeline Wallin   https://bigoceanwomen.org/our-work/subscribe/ A graduate of Georgetown and Columbia Universities and The New York Freudian Society, Erica is a psychological consultant bringing parenting and work/life workshops to clinics, schools, corporations, and childcare settings, including The Garden House School, Goldman Sachs, Shearman, and Sterling and SWFS Early Childhood Center.    Erica Komisar is a clinical social worker, psychoanalyst, parent coach, and author. With 40 years of experience in private practice,  she works to alleviate pain in individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety, eating, and other compulsive disorders. By helping them live better lives and have more prosperous, more satisfying relationships, she assists them in achieving their personal and professional goals and living up to their potential.    Erica is also the author of the book Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters and has appeared on major media networks such as CBS, ABC, FOX, and NPR. She regularly contributes to the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Daily News, and FOX 5 NY. She is a Contributing Editor to the Institute for Family Studies. Her second book, Chicken Little The Sky Isn’t Falling: Raising Resilient Adolescents in the New Age of Anxiety was released in 2021.  Her upcoming book, guiding parents through divorcing healthily, will be released in 2025. She lives in New York City with her husband, optometrist, and social entrepreneur  Dr. Jordan Kassalow, with whom she has three teenage and young adult children.   Madeleine Wallin is General Secretary of the European Federation of Parents and Caregivers at Home (FEFAF) as well as the International Coordinator and Board Member for Haro: she previously served as President of both organizations. In her work at FEFAF and Haro, she advocates freedom of choice and equality for parents in Swedish family politics and wants to raise awareness about children's needs and the importance of motherhood. She has been interviewed by and written articles for many magazines, newspapers, and international media including the Wall Street Journal and the BBC. She is a mother of five children between 22 and 36 years of age. She lives in Hyssna, in the countryside close to Gothenburg in Sweden with her husband. Together they founded Malwa Forest AB, a business that manufactures and sells small forestry machines. Madeline is currently one of the owners and a member of the board.   Carolina Allen is the founder and leader of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. Carolina holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Utah with an emphasis in cultural religions and philosophy of science. Her inspirational and philosophical work has been presented at various international U.N. conferences. She is a native of Brazil, and a fluent trilingual. She and her husband Kawika are parents to 7 children. She is an avid soccer fan and had a brief career as a semi-professional player.

Shannon is joined by Big Ocean Women members Diane and Alina Fisher to discuss promoting life culture in the womb, the home, and our ecological environment. The WAVE that Diane and Alina run throws baby showers for women who have unplanned pregnancies. Connect with us at our Virtual Wave Meeting. Find out more at bigoceanwomen.org “Some people believe motherhood starts when you have the baby. Motherhood starts when you get pregnant.” - Shannon Russell “Something that I hope is something we give is no judgment and more love. I hope that’s what they feel and that we can give to each other regardless. Whoever we are, wherever we are.” - Diane Fisher “I believe the genius and the secret of motherhood is other mothers. We need each other. Women need each other. And it's so important to both see and connect with those who are doing the same thing.” - Alina Fisher “Your ability to nurture life within you is something that should be honored in and of itself.” - Alina Fisher “As we reach out to each other and give support, we are enough. We are enough together. And the whole world, the planet, depends on mothers who understand who they are and are willing to support others, other mothers to become, and that's a powerful thing.” - Diane Fisher “Do we value that incredible power to create? Do we understand that motherhood is a unique and sacred place of power? And do we act like that ourselves? Do we treat other women that way? How do we treat other children? The biggest change comes in our hearts, that culture of how we talk and treat each other. And I think that would be the biggest difference.” - Diane Fisher “Motherhood is a sacred journey. It's a challenging journey. It's a journey full of joy. I wouldn't trade it for anything and I would encourage myself and each one of us to find ways to encourage, inspire, lift the mothers close to us and everywhere we find them, to make the world a better place.” - Diane Fisher Diane Fisher is a mother of 8 children, professional educator, studied in the Middle East and lived in South America. Passionate about motherhood and family. Currently seeking to share ways to pass on identity and belonging through family stories in a fledgling instagram @FamilyStoriesMatter. She loves nature, hiking, children's books, and dark chocolate. Alina Fisher is a lover of life and of Him who gives it. She has traveled and lived among many different cultures and enjoys discovering the similarities present in the hopes and hardships that we all face. Inspired by living in remote villages in India and Nepal, she aspires to be a traveling humanitarian nurse and is currently completing her Bachelor's in Nursing. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and is the happy mom of two kids and counting. She strives to fill her time with great literature, great music, and association with great women. Shannon Russell treasures her roles as a wife and mother, finding that the journey of learning and growing alongside her family is the most rewarding experience of her life. At her core, Shannon is passionate about helping others. Whether it be as a real estate agent guiding her clients to one of their most significant investments – their homes, or volunteering at the Columbus Center supporting refugees in learning English and become assimilated in the United States, or creating nonprofits focused on educating youth, she loves serving those around her and is committed to making a positive impact in her community and supporting human rights for all. Shannon loves connecting with women from diverse backgrounds and perspectives through Big Ocean Women where women are empowered to generate solutions that enable them to live a life of joy and abundance. Her favorite pastimes are playing pickleball, board games, hiking, anything that puts her in nature, and being a beach bum.

Carolina Allen is joined by Maddi Cheers to discuss Life Culture. *Trigger warnings for abortion and abuse.   “I'm a big proponent of the divine feminine and where that intersects with the divine masculine. And that. . . when you start, it doesn't matter what culture you're looking at, I do a lot of looking at Celtic culture, you can look at Native American culture, the Mother Earth, that the womb is the center of the woman's power.” - Maddi Cheers   “I think that what you said is so important, Maddie, and I'd love to revisit it. The womb is the center of the female power. And if you have a society that's kind of framed around obscuring that power, making it seem like it's actually your, your Achilles’ heel, so to speak, and for you to be powerful, you have to negate that power. I mean, that's the ultimate lie. . . [H]ow different would the world look if we had this mass awakening within women? That we. . . took these scales from our eyes and we were able to see that truly this power to create life is the greatest power of all. And if we safeguarded it in ourselves and in each other, and that became the norm, everything would change.” - Carolina Allen   “Real men, men who are connected to the divine, men who are connected to the divine masculine, as they grow older, don't behave that way. They take responsibility for themselves and for others. And they're not in a 24/7 [search] for pleasure.” - Maddi Cheers “Ask yourself the questions, ‘Where am I heading? What am I doing?’ And you have that power to carve out the future that you want. And I want to testify that if you can just stop for a minute and be self reflective, take a moment to center yourself and ask yourself those critical questions that you have the power. Carve out your own trajectory and take, to make that shift in your life. You can do that and you will find tremendous joy, tremendous peace, and harmony.” - Carolina Allen   Maddi Cheers is not just an interfaith minister and spiritual guide; she is a vessel for divine wisdom, a storyteller weaving the sacred thread of poetry and art through the tapestry of life's intricate moments. As an author and artist healer, her creative spirit has been nurtured by over 25 years of rich exploration into the vast landscape of the world's spiritual traditions, with a profound resonance with the indigenous practices from the Americas. https://www.maddicheers.com/   Her artistry in "The Mandala Meditations" encapsulates this harmonious blend of global wisdom and her own intuitive rituals, manifesting in poetic verses and mandalas that offer guidance and reflection for the soul's journey. https://www.amazon.com/Mandala-Meditations-Enhance-Spiritual-Journey/dp/B0CXP3NC5L   Carolina Allen is the founder and leader of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. Carolina holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Utah with an emphasis in cultural religions and philosophy of science. Her inspirational and philosophical work has been presented at various international U.N. conferences. She is a native of Brazil, and a fluent trilingual. She and her husband Kawika are parents to 7 children. She is an avid soccer fan and had a brief career as a semi-professional player.

Dana and Shannon are joined by Susana Lopes and Laura Uplinger from the Prenatal Alliance. They are preparing for their upcoming virtual summit on prenatal wellness, March 21-23, 2025 and the celebration of World Pregnancy Day March 22.   “There’s no frontiers for what human beings can do when we are together and we value and cherish humankind.” - Susana Lopes   “Mothers are nurturers; they are teaching through love and care. Mothers are healers; they are soothing their babies with their voice, their presence. They are naturally intuitive, naturally knowing what feels right for their babies. And they are guides; they help their babies feel secure, feel loved through every beat of their hearts.” - Susana Lopes   The Gift of Giving Life - book that Dana read   “That’s why we need the sisterhood, we need to know that we belong together . . . it’s a divine polarity, we were made the ones that can deal with matter, and matter matters! My physical body matters, otherwise I won't be here, bridging heaven and earth. I need this body, it is my instrument! Please let’s give better and better instruments to the newcomers on this planet. “ Laura Uplinger   https://prenatalalliance.org/ Register for free for the summit   https://worldpregnancyday.com/

  Dana Robb is joined by Proviah Tutoreinwe from Uganda as they discuss inherent worth, the value of loving and serving those around you, and the importance of education for mothers and empowering women.   “I am worthy of respect because of how unique I am with the gifts and the talents that Heavenly Father has given me. And this is the time to act.” - Proviah Tutoreinwe   “That was a time when I needed to kneel down in prayer, and through personal reflection the Holy Spirit helped me to realize that my worth was not tied to what I could achieve with my academic, quality credits, credentials, or family title, but what my efforts were to love and care for those I was going to meet.” - Proviah Tutoreinwe   “Remember your worth is inherent and not determined by circumstances. I would say take time to count your blessings, name them one by one, just like a song says. And similarly, reflect on your strengths, if they seem to be small or teeny, you can surround yourself with people who can uplift you… You can also try to seek spiritual guidance. Like I said, praying to reaffirm your value, like I had lost it, but through prayers I came back, I said, ‘No, I'm supposed to be this.’ Because growth comes through challenges, … that's the time that you have to realize your worth.” - Proviah Tutoreinwe   “I love what you said at the beginning of that:  your worth is inherent. The root of that word is the same as the word inherited or inheritance. And that reminds me that, that's something that we come with. It's not something that can be taken away or changed or devalued no matter what we lack, no matter what we have, we don't get to change our worth. It is just inherent.” - Dana Robb   Proviah Winnie Tutoreinwe Katsigazi aka senga The Professional Nurturer Creative and innovative Passionate Farmer Rooted in Faith Honoring ancestral wisdom Guided by truth Thriving in purpose Cultivating strong families and holistic self reliance   Whenever presented with the opportunity for adventure, Dana Robb is all in. Currently, this includes riding the local mountain biking trails with her husband, canyoneering, and climbing the hills of southern Utah. She loves to learn and explore with her six kids. She is drawn to the opportunities being involved with Big Ocean Women provides. Dana loves connecting to a global sisterhood where women’s issues are being addressed through reframing and an abundance mindset.

Carolina Allen discusses Innate Worth with Jeremy Boberg, LCSW, who specializes in treating trauma and unmet needs and addictions.    *Trigger warning for discussion of suicide, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and human trafficking.   Carolina and Jeremy discuss the value of seeking help if you’ve been the victim of abuse or trauma. Help is available in many forms. Everyone is of worth, regardless of what they’ve experienced in life. Domestic violence and abuse were exacerbated Covid as people had to shelter in place and women and children around the world have experienced the brunt of it. We need to start discussing these issues, break down barriers, and find ways to offer support and help.Abuse can happen on a large scale or small scale.    Jeremy cited that the biggest sexual trafficking busts happen around the Super Bowl every year. Then there is the small-scale ritualistic abuse happening in homes that often goes unnoticed and victims feel voiceless.    A good therapist can help you shift focus and work through the trauma and abuse. Our bodies store trauma and hold a record of our experiences. Jeremy shares some typical traumas held in different parts of the body, specifically throat and hips.    Jeremy has seen success with many clients willing to put in the work and shares a story of one specific woman who has come back from a meth addiction, risen from dissociative disorder, regained custody of her children and now works as a successful therapist.    QUOTES:   “People who've been hurt, betrayed and have unmet needs, are also the people who are desperate to be seen to be valued, to be nurtured and wanted.”  - Jeremy Boberg, LCSW   “Doing what we're supposed to do means we have to give a voice. We have to be willing to have the humility to do something different. And when we start to be willing to talk about it, when we're willing to share our story, by leaning into that vulnerability, life changes and it is an incredible journey, incredible experience.”  - Jeremy Boberg, LCSW   “I love that we're having this discussion. After previously talking about faith and the role that faith plays, because I think it's integral in this yearning for something better, you know and that we can't do it ourselves that we need help and help comes in the forms of therapists like you and a community, and family possibly, but definitely a higher power. Definitely, you know, God, I, I can't help but see the common thread between anyone that has survived something so, so horrific.”  - Carolina Allen “I really do because I want any listener out there feeling like they're broken or like, you know, they're reluctant about going into this new year after so many blows after so many hardships and heartbreaks that the future is bright and that there are so many people who are battling Life right alongside you that you're not alone and that you are completely unique, completely valuable and worthy.” - Carolina Allen   “It’s okay to seek help. It's okay to find people you can share your story to. And as you do so that's where healing takes place. We are, we are a people that need one another, and loneliness is the darkest abyss of humanity. Don't be lonely. It's up to you to find and reach out.” - Jeremy Boberg, LCSW   With 24-years in behavioral health and dual diagnosis treatment, Jeremy founded and is CEO of the Utah Trauma and Addiction Centers. As a trauma-focused psychotherapist, he is trained in the Othmer method of neurofeedback and practices using a holistic person-centered treatment approach for mental health and addictions. He specializes in the treatment of substance abuse, sexual/pornography addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, dissociative disorders, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). He completed his Master’s in Social Work at the University of Utah and holds several specialty certifications. He is certified by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), is a National Interventionist II, National Chemical Addiction Counselor II, Equine Assisted Psychotherapist, and is a Certified Sex Addiction and Multiple Addiction Therapist (CSAT/CMAT) through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals. He is a past president of the Association of Utah Substance Abuse Professionals and has served on multiple state and national boards for the treatment of mental health and substance abuse. In 1995, he married his high school sweetheart, Emily, and together they have four children. Cherished time with his family often includes outdoor activities including mountain biking, hiking, hunting, and travel.   Carolina Allen is the founder and leader of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. Carolina holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Utah with an emphasis in cultural religions and philosophy of science. Her inspirational and philosophical work has been presented at various international U.N. conferences. She is a native of Brazil, and a fluent trilingual. She and her husband Kawika are parents to 7 children. She is an avid soccer fan and had a brief career as a semi-professional player.