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.

Dana and Shannon are joined by Karola de la Cuesta, whose story is told in the book, Faith, Love, and Human Trafficking: The Story of Karola de la Cuesta by Raquel Caspi. They discuss Karola’s experiences and how faith has helped her to heal and become an advocate for survivors and human rights. Karola expresses that it is vital to be aware, as parents and friends, of signs of abuse, and to also be the safe place where our loved ones can turn to to be believed and helped, no matter what.

Links to purchase her book: https://a.co/d/19DdE2t https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fait...

To learn more about Big Ocean Women: https://bigoceanwomen.org/

Quotes from this episode: “When I was ready, I stopped being a victim and I became a survivor. Why? Because I was not blaming everybody for what had I suffered…

First I was a victim, then I was a survivor, and then, God gave me a purpose.” - Karola de la Cuesta

“But what I am 100%, 1000% sure, is that God is supporting me every minute, every second of my life on this earth so that gives a lot, that lot of faith and freedom and security.” - Karola de la Cuesta

“I absolutely believe that. I know God supports those who are doing his work and helping his children.” - Dana Robb

“I love that you made the point, both of you, that when you put your trust and your faith and turn it over to God, you will see the results. He will make miracles in your life, and not only will you recognize them, but others will recognize them because you carry that light with you, and they'll want that, they'll want to know how to make their suffering and their trauma and their, whatever it is that they're going through, their experiences be lighter.” - Shannon Russell

Karola de la Cuesta is a survivor of human trafficking from one of the most severe and high-profile cases in the entertainment industry in Mexico. Thanks to love, faith in God, and the support of her family, she gradually recovered from these terrible events. Now an activist, she shares her testimony with international media, government, churches and organizations to prevent and eradicate human trafficking worldwide. She is currently the CEO of Kaleido Org. Her brave and tireless work has been crucial in creating policies and programs aimed at eradicating human trafficking and offering new hope to those who have suffered these terrible experiences. Karola is an example of resilience and dedication, transforming her pain into a mission to protect and empower the most vulnerable. She continues her work directly at the shelter for trafficking victims in Cancun, Mexico, where she has lived with her family for over 20 years.

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.

A Heart to Heart Conversation About Faith

“I think that my faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, has really anchored me and given me hope amidst a lot of heartache and in navigating different relationships.” - Carolina Allen

“I'm really grateful that I can go to the Lord in prayer, and that I am loved unconditionally. You know, I think that that feeling of unconditional love sets me up for hope in the future.” - Carolina Allen

“When I think about faith in Jesus Christ, for me, it is a conviction. It is a trust that doesn't matter what comes in the future is going to be the best for me and for my family.” - Vilma Sagebin

“I felt better about myself, but it was because I understood who Jesus Christ is and what he was able to accomplish with me. It was faith, and like Vilma said, trust in Him that He’ll get me there. It's not about me. It's about him. It's about what he's able to do, not what I'm able to do. That made a huge difference in my life.” - Elizabeth Ann Takasaki

“When my heart is filled with love, and I can let that pour out in service to others and my family, I’m happier and I feel more fulfilled, and it’s easier to do again.” - Carolina Allen

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.

Ann Takasaki and her husband, Roman are Japanese Americans with three adopted children, also Japanese Americans. This Japanese heritage is not the most important piece of Ann's identity, but it is valued and preserved. Ann also values faith, immediate and extended family relationships, and friendships. Big Ocean Women provides meaningful and important experiences for all of these. Ann strives to give her time to God's work, and sees Big Ocean Women as an important vehicle to do that work.

Carolina Allen interviews Dana Robb, our usual host, about her visit to the CESE summit to address ways to protect our children online.

We need to start and, and be very, very basic with parents. What is extortion? Because I think that sometimes we as parents, we just can't fathom that this is happening and that it's as prevalent as it is. —Carolina Allen

TikTok's safety investigation team actually has done some really remarkable things. So they now have at least 20,000 safety investigators that are full time looking for child sexual abuse material on TikTok or harmful, extorting images on TikTok.

Compare that to Meta, they only have five individuals employed. —Dana Robb

What should we do? Yeah. First of all, the phrase that we kept talking about was delay is the way—delay, delay, delay, delay, giving your kids an iPhone or a smartphone. Delay giving them a smartphone as long as possible.

Practice recognizing content that's fed to you. , and tune your mind and take those things out.

In my opinion, I feel like we just need to step away from it, just reconnect to real life.

The biggest thing that we want mothers to know is that you are the greatest influential power for your Children. You need to be. For your families and for your communities, and assert ourselves and regain that kind of confidence in that position of leadership.

We're all pioneers in this, this age of technology, but we can take it as an opportunity and we can be inspired to know what to do for our families.

https://www.angelkids.ai/waitlist

Freespoke web browser

Delevit.com

NCMEC takeitdown.ncmec.org

endexploitation.org NCOSE