by Michelle Kim Hall

Growing up, Rima Sejpal Adusumalli never questioned whether or not she would become a mother, but when her first child was born, she felt unprepared for the staggering demands of modern parenting. When postpartum depression set in, Rima thankfully found the support she needed. In today’s episode we discuss how she recognized when overwhelm became a medical issue. Interestingly, Rima offers similar advice when it comes to assessing your child’s speech development: don’t hesitate to seek professional advice.

In our conversation we discuss the power of story time to help both children and adults tune into the present moment and everyday routines to foster open communication within a family.

Rima also wanted to add that showing atypical skills such as reduced eye contact and low response to names could be red flag symptoms of autism and other issues beyond speech pathology.

The Slice will be taking a break for the summer. Subscribe for updates on upcoming episodes.

by Michelle Kim Hall

Today I’m speaking with Ayesha Harruna Attah, a novelist, ice cream shop owner, and survivor of a wild birth story. I’m enamored by Ayesha’s spirit. Although Ayesha endured intense medical trauma during childbirth, she approached her experience with curiosity. Postpartum also coincided with a major career milestone: Ayesha sold her third novel when she was hospitalized before giving birth.

In our conversation Ayesha shared how her personal experience helped her better understand one of her character’s during the revision process. Ayesha’s novel The Hundred Wells of Salaga is about female friendships, the power of womanhood, and her own family’s story. That book also gave birth to another story: The Deep Blue Between, which reads as a standalone novel about twin sisters torn apart during a slave raid at a time when slavery was being abolished in West Africa. We’re thrilled to partner with Lerner Publishing Group to give away FIVE COPIES of The Deep Blue Between. All subscribers to The Slice are eligible! Receive additional entires for liking and commenting on the episode in the Substack app. Giveaway closes on June 30, 2023, 11:59pm pacific standard time.

Can’t wait for the giveaway? Get Ayesha’s books on our Bookshop.org page. Buying books through our page supports The Slice at no additional cost to you.

Ayesha is a Ghanian-born writer. She lives in Senegal where she runs the ice cream shop, Popenglace. You can read more about Ayesha’s work at her website.

New to The Slice? Start HereListen to an interview with Jessamine ChanListen to an interview with Angele

by Michelle Kim Hall

Welcome to another episode of “The Slice” where we explore the transformative experience of being a mom. In today's episode, we have a very special guest, Queenie Hilfer, the owner of Reiki & Flow. Queenie has been featured in Refinery29, Voyage LA and elsewhere.

Queenie is a mom, and corporate woman turned meditation baddie. Her unique approach to healing has had a profound impact on my own life, and I am thrilled to share her wisdom with all of you.

Personal Transformation

I first met Queenie as a mother seeking balance and healing amidst the chaos of motherhood. Through her healing work, I experienced a profound transformation that I could have never anticipated and embarked on my own journey to help others.

During our conversation, Queenie sheds light on the practice of Reiki, a gentle, non-invasive method that promotes relaxation, stress reduction, and overall well-being. She explains how Reiki, a Japanese healing technique, works by channeling universal life force energy through a practitioner's hands, restoring balance and promoting self-healing within the recipient's body and mind.

Additionally, Queenie introduces the concept of a sound bath, an immersive experience where healing sounds and vibrations created by various instruments, such as crystal bowls or gongs, help facilitate deep relaxation and meditation. She shares how sound baths can help release emotional blockages, reduce anxiety, and promote a sense of calm and inner harmony.

These approaches to self-care can supplement other forms of care such as talk-therapy and medicine. As Queenie explains, reiki, sound healing, and meditation is a way to take care of yourself energetically.

The Power of Meditation

One of the key takeaways from my conversation with Queenie is the importance of incorporating meditation into our daily lives. She encourages us to be an observer of our own life in order to can gain clarity, deepen our connection with ourselves, and ultimately cultivate a sense of inner peace.

Join me on this transformative journey as I dive deeper through my conversation with Queenie Hilfer. Learn how her work at Reiki & Flow can guide you on your own path to healing and self-discovery. Together, we can unlock the power within ourselves to navigate the joys and challenges of motherhood with grace and mindfulness.

Listen to the full episode to explore the incredible healing potential of Reiki and sound bath therapy, and discover how Queenie's teachings have the power to transform your life.

Remember, dear listeners, you are not alone on this journey. Embrace the power of healing, and let's support each other as we navigate the beautiful complexities of being present for ourselves and one another.

New to The Slice? Start HereListen to our conversation with Dr. Yael SchonbrunListen to our conversation with critic, Sara PetersenBook a Virtual Meditation with Michelle

by Jen Hyde

Instagram snuck up on me. When I downloaded the app back in 2012, I had no idea that the photos I took with its then-cool filters automatically posted online for all to see. I treated the app like my camera roll and abandoned it when my best friend found my feed and double-tapped on everything. Who else has seen the inner-workings of my brain!?

I downloaded Instagram for the second time in 2013. I had moved to Shanghai for a writing fellowship, and my life felt “shareable” though I didn’t consciously connect the rise of travel blogging’s influence to that decision. My first post was of my brand new “vintage” flying pigeon bike, which I staged with an Everlane backpack I bought for the trip. I emailed the photo to Everlane, and the marketing director sent me a $16 gift certificate in response. If the Chinese government hadn’t blocked the app a few weeks after I took that photo, maybe I would’ve become an early influencer.

I used to look at my missed opportunity with regret. Instagram still makes marketing look fun, and influencers still do seem to be living such nice lives. I felt my regret the strongest in early motherhood when work/life balance was impossible and the goal of pivoting became my survival strategy.

Sara Petersen’s debut Momfluenced, newly out from Beacon Press, reminded me of how stupid my early crisis was. Weaving personal story with cultural criticism, Petersen shows us how performing motherhood on Instagram complicates motherhood as an identity. For the casual follower surviving new motherhood, perfectly curated feeds can exacerbate postpartum issues like depression and anxiety as it did for me. It isn’t all bad. Petersen does interview mothers who’ve created communities through their advocacy work, but her argument that influencing as a capitalist endeavor is unattainable and toxic seems especially important as platforms begin charging users.

Social Media is now a form of entertainment, Alex Kranowitz recently shared in an episode of Slate’s ICYMI podcast. In the interview he noted that only 10% of all content users create 90% of content on social media platforms. As algorithms prioritize accounts that pay them to be seen, understanding how influencer marketing affects our brains and our identities as mothers is more important than ever.

Beacon Press has graciously offered to gift one copy of Momfluenced to a subscriber to The Slice! This giveaway will run through May 31, 2023, 11:59pm. All subscribers are automatically entered. Gain an additional entry for liking this post!

Petersen also writes the Substack newsletter, In Pursuit of Clean Countertops which you should check out!

Do you know of a mom who looks at Instagram too much? Share this episode with her and pick up a copy of Momfluenced while your’e at it!

New to The Slice? Start HereListen to our conversation with Dr. Yael SchonbrunListen to our conversation with novelist, Jessamine Chan

by Michelle Kim Hall

In honor of Earth Day, I spoke with Elham Marder, a lawyer, eco-advocate, and mother of three. Her blog Plant Based Persian is full or healthy, sustainable recipes and information about eco-conscious living. She kindly shared her green smoothie recipe which you can find below.

The episode covers some ideas for teaching children about eco-conscious living. To Elham, when it comes to sustainability, if we’re helping our kids understand the WHY behind our choices, the benefits of sustainable practices will feel like conscious choices. In a world where sustainability has become part and parcel of consumerism, where 40% of “green claims” made to consumers are misleading, treating climate values as family values is a sustainability practice.

Elham has kindly shared a few resources she’s discussed with her kids including education.com which is full of free resources to explore sustainability and eco-consciousness at home.

Recommended Resources:

PBS -

Kid Conservationist -

McGraw Hill -

Elham’s Green Smoothie Recipe:

A green drink (literally and figuratively) that your kids will drink!

Recipe:

* 1 cup Spinach

* 1 1/2 cups Soy milk (plain and unsweetened)

* 2 Tbsp. Tahini

* 1 tsp. Ground Flaxseed

* 1/2 tsp. Vanilla

* 1/2 tsp. Maple syrup

* 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

* 6 Dates (pitted, soaked in hot water for 15 minutes, and drained)

* 6-7 ice cubes

Blend in high speed blender

Serves 2

New to The Slice? Start HereCheck out our interview with novelist Jessamine ChanCheck out our interview with psychologist Yael Schonbrun and enter our giveaway! Enjoy a FREE At-Home Retreat with our recording and activity

by Jen Hyde

This week, I spoke with Dr. Yael Schonbrun, a clinical psychologist specializing in treating relationships, assistant professor at Brown University, co-host of the podcast Psychologists Off the Clock and author of Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like Too Much).

She is also writing the newsletter: Relational: The Art and Science of Connection for The Growth Equation which you should absolutely sign up for!

In our conversation I mention that I’m keeping WPT on my nightstand because as a toolkit, Dr. Schonbrun’s advice is so actionable! My favorite part of the chapters are her reflective questions, which I have found useful in managing moments when my big feelings about work and life come up. As we discuss in the episode, the practice of being a balanced working parent is ongoing. Life happens! We experience loss, the needs of our kids change as they grow, and without tools to cultivate a mindful awareness of what’s going on, despair can creep in.

A 2021 report from Ohio State University found that 66% of parents experience parental burnout. This fact sheet from the study includes a self-assessment tool to measure burnout if you think you have it. Likewise, a report from Flexjobs finds that 56% of adults want to change their jobs to improve work/life balance. There really is no perfect scenario, and while federal and private workplace policies are essential to improving the issues working parents face, equipping ourselves with tools to improve our mental health has significant merit right now.

Shambhala Publications is graciously giving away THREE COPIES of Work, Parent, Thrive to subscribers to The Slice! Gain an additional entry for liking or commenting on this episode. Giveaway ends April 30, 2023, 11:59pm.

New to The Slice? Start HereListen to an interview with Jessamine ChanListen to a conversation about the benefits of extended family leave policies Try an at-home meditation & creative activity