#raisedbyher

How do you build something from nothing - and find the courage to keep going?
In this episode, Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders (broadcasting/arts executive) and Donnica Hawes-Saunders (public affairs CEO) unpack creativity, courage, risk-taking, and intergenerational wisdom - from throwing legendary theme parties and producing campus theater during the civil rights era to building a radio station from the ground up and navigating corporate change with conviction.

You’ll hear practical ways to start small, build momentum, set vision, recruit allies, fund ideas, document playbooks, and pass the lessons forward - so the next generation doesn’t have to fight the same battles alone.

Time Stamps:

0:00 Welcome & The Spa Question That Sparked It All
1:21 Where Building Begins: Creativity, Curiosity & Risk
2:22 The Party Queen: Themes, Purpose & Fun "Guest Labor"
4:04 Design with Intention: "The Party Starts at the Invitation"
5:59 Why We Hated Group Projects (And What It Taught Us About Leadership)
8:05 Left Brain vs. Right Brain: A Mother-Daughter Difference
9:44 Building Out of Necessity: Producing a Play During the Civil Rights Movement
12:22 How to Get the Money: Funding Your Vision by Asking for Help
13:58 Why Your Courage Unlocks Courage in Others
15:14 The Real Meaning of Courage & Navigating Risk
16:25 The Power of a Safety Net: Why Support Systems Are Everything
17:21 Life Lesson: The Debutante Story & Why You Have to Do the Work
19:46 Taking Risks at Work: Pushback, Finding Allies & Writing the Playbook
23:07 Passing It Down: Oral History, Documentation & Intergenerational Legacy
24:02 A Tough Question: Why Didn't Your Generation Do a Better Job?
26:42 Strategy Debate: Is Integration the Only Answer?
27:01 Social Media vs. Depth: Keeping History (and Hope) Alive
29:42 The Power of Mentorship & Sponsorship
30:50 Fighting the Same Fights & How to Measure Progress
32:04 History as Fuel for Hope
33:04 The Mission Behind the "Raised By Her" Podcast
35:03 From the Ground Up: The 10-Year Journey to Build a Radio Station
36:21 The Pre-Internet Hustle: How Research Got Done
37:34 "Do It Afraid": Using Small Steps to Build Your Courage Muscle
38:32 The General Schwarzkopf Moment: If Not You, Who?
41:48 Career Reinvention: How Every Risk Teaches a Lesson
43:12 The Biggest Leadership Lesson: It's Not About You
44:03 Call to Courage & Final Thoughts

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Start where you are: break big visions into small, repeatable steps.
Design with intention: invitations, details, and roles create buy-in.
Recruit & resource: ask for help, fund the vision, and share credit.
Document the playbook: pass knowledge so others can build faster.
Legacy lives in action: your courage gives someone else permission to try.

Speaking, partnerships, or press: raisedbyherpodcast@gmail.com

🎤 New episodes every week. Honest conversations between mother and daughter on family, womanhood, and navigating life across generations.

👍 Like, 💬 comment, and 🔔 subscribe to be part of the conversation.

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You’ll learn: the difference between boredom vs. burnout, boundary-setting that actually sticks, creative leadership tactics (retreats, team ideation, fresh projects), why rest is non-negotiable, and how to read your body’s early warning signs.

👉 Question for you: What’s one boundary you’ll set this month to protect your energy? Tell us in the comments.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro
01:01 Why burnout happens (and “quiet quitting”)
01:14 Meet the mother–daughter hosts
01:51 Ro Nita’s early career & first experiences of burnout
03:34 Producing TV, “community ascertainment,” and public-service programming
04:48 From TV to hosting a radio call-in show
05:46 Building a radio station (10-year journey) — one of five Black women owners
07:01 Navigating burnout across roles; keeping work fresh
09:16 Team creativity, retreats, and motivation
11:22 Donnica’s wake-up call on Capitol Hill (doctor-ordered rest)
12:36 The stress myth & boundary-setting that works
13:40 Boredom vs. burnout — how they connect
14:18 A lesson from her father at GM: purpose in the product
15:48 Career redesign: founding The Averity Group (remote-first)
18:48 Health, sleep, balance — crafting a life that fits
20:38 Remedies: music, vacations, new projects; listening to your body
23:58 Why we started Raised By Her
25:39 Where to listen & follow

Speaking, partnerships, or press: raisedbyherpodcast@gmail.com

🎤 New episodes every week. Honest conversations between mother and daughter on family, womanhood, and navigating life across generations.

👍 Like, 💬 comment, and 🔔 subscribe to be part of the conversation.

📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisedbyherpodcast
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raisedbyherpodcast
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaisedByHerPodcast
𝕏 X/Twitter: https://x.com/RaisedByHerPod

#raisedbyher

In this episode of Raised By Her, we sit down for an essential mother-daughter conversation about women's health. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we share our family's experiences, the importance of early detection, and the realities of getting a mammogram.

The conversation then unfolds into an honest discussion about fibroids- a condition that affects up to 80% of Black women. We share our individual journeys with fibroid diagnosis, the immense impact of stress on our health, and the difficult path to surgery and recovery. From holistic healing methods like castor oil packs to the frustrating reality of having to be your own medical advocate, we leave no stone unturned.

This episode is a call to action for women everywhere to break the silence, share their stories, and prioritize their well-being. Join us as we explore the critical need for intergenerational health conversations and the life-changing power of self-care.

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Why We're Wearing Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness
0:51 - The Pervasive Impact of Breast Cancer
1:52 - A Personal Story of Losing a Friend in Her 30s
2:25 - The Importance of Self-Exams and Screenings
3:17 - "I Believe Men Designed These Machines": The Mammogram Experience
5:01 - Where Does Cancer Come From?
6:02 - The Critical Role of Family Health History
8:09 - Can You Heal Your Body with Herbs and Wheatgrass?
9:00 - My Women's Health Journey: When Stress Takes Over
9:50 - What Are Fibroids?
10:27 - A Mother's Plea: "Please Take Care of Yourself"
12:00 - Your Body Will Tell You When Something is Wrong
13:28 - The Shocking Statistic: Fibroids Affect 80% of Black Women
14:53 - Grandma's Secret Weapon: Healing Fibroids with Castor Oil Packs
17:40 - The Messy Truth About Holistic Healing
19:11 - "Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me This Would Happen?"
20:16 - The Power of Women Sharing Their Health Experiences
23:32 - The Moment I Ignored My Doctor's Warning About Fibroids
25:33 - You Have to Be Your Own Health Advocate
27:31 - The Painful Reality of Surgery Recovery
29:43 - "Is This What I'm Supposed to Feel Like?" Life After Fibroids
32:00 - How I Practice Self-Care Today: Meditation & Movement
34:29 - Learning How to Breathe Through Yoga
38:51 - Discovering I Was a "Mindless Eater"
40:29 - The Doctor Who Changed Our Family's Life
43:09 - "You Eat Like a Football Player"
46:01 - The Cultural Pressure to Finish Your Plate
48:31 - The "Freshman 15" and Dealing with Body Image
51:44 - Don't Be Selfish with Your Wisdom
52:32 - Are You Getting All Your Health Screenings?
55:16 - Final Thoughts: On to Good Health

Reach out to us with questions and/or comments at raisedbyherpodcast@gmail.com!

🎤 New episodes every week. Honest conversations between mother and daughter on family, womanhood, and navigating life across generations.

👍 Like, 💬 comment, and 🔔 subscribe to be part of the conversation.
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