Love, Loss, and Legacy: A Family Conversation

“Today, on Curtis’s birthday, we honor the man whose love helped us navigate the intersections of culture, identity, and family—and whose spirit continues to bring healing and hope to our lives.”

In this special and deeply personal episode of Moving Forward, the microphones turn toward Linda Anderson as her three adult children—Lindsay (38), Sr. Program Manager & Chief of Staff at Logitech; Kyle (37), Store Director at Target; and Eric (37), Senior On-Figure Photographer at GAP—interview her about their father, Curtis, and the life, love, and resilience that shaped their family.

Together, they revisit how Linda and Curtis first met, the joy and promise of their early years, and the strength Curtis carried while living with sickle cell disease. Their questions open a heartfelt dialogue about caregiving, parenting through hardship, and the quiet sacrifices that often go unseen. Linda reflects on the moments that tested her, the acts of love that sustained her, the lessons she learned, and the legacy Curtis left—one that continues through their children and grandchildren.

This episode is tender, honest, and healing. It is a celebration of a love story lived fully, even in the face of profound challenges.

Some Conversation Highlights

• How Linda and Curtis first met and the memories that shaped their early years
  

• The qualities Curtis embodied as he lived with sickle cell
  

• The emotional and practical realities of caregiving while raising three children
  

• What Linda hoped her children understood about their family’s journey
  

• Moments of overwhelm—and what helped her keep going
  

• The greatest acts of love given and received during Curtis’s illness
  

• The final weeks: his hopes, his worries, and the moments Linda holds closest
  

• How Curtis’s legacy continues to guide their family today

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Instagram: @lluande1

Facebook: @Linda Unrath-Anderson

LinkedIn: @Linda Anderson

Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

In this episode of Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope, Linda Anderson sits down with Dr. Tracie Tagamolila-Noriega — a proud second-generation Filipino-American, former teen mom, and one of the few Filipino-Americans serving at the cabinet level in California public education.

With nearly 30 years as a teacher, principal, district leader, Assistant Superintendent, and now ACSA’s Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Professional Learning, Tracie has dedicated her career to building equitable and culturally responsive systems for students, families, and communities. She also leads the Filipino American Educators Association of California and co-hosts the Critically Conscious Classroom show.

Together, we explore how identity shapes leadership, why representation matters, and how healing-centered practices can transform teams and systems. Tracie shares how she broke generational and systemic patterns, how Ethnic Studies influenced her leadership, and what leaders in any field can do to create culturally affirming spaces where people feel seen, valued, and able to thrive.

Key themes in this conversation include:

• Identity as a source of strength
  

• Representation and visibility in leadership
  

• Healing-centered and critically conscious leadership
  

• Creating culturally affirming environments
  

• Staying rooted in purpose during challenging seasons
  

• Lifting others and opening doors as you lead
  

Tracie’s journey is a powerful reminder that healing is real, identity is transformative, and purpose can guide us through even the most difficult chapters.

Follow us on:

Instagram: @lluande1

Facebook: @Linda Unrath-Anderson

LinkedIn: @Linda Anderson

Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

In this powerful episode of Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope, Linda Anderson sits down with James Gonzales, CEO of Pathway Services, whose life journey—from trauma, addiction, incarceration, and homelessness to healing, faith, and leadership—reveals what true transformation looks like. With honesty and compassion, James shares how he broke painful cycles, rebuilt his life from the inside out, and turned his lived experience into a calling to serve others navigating homelessness and instability.

This conversation offers hope for anyone who has ever felt stuck, ashamed, or overwhelmed by their past.

James reminds us: healing is possible, change is possible, and there is always a pathway forward. James talks about resilience, self-judgment, surrender, and what it looks like to keep going on days when moving forward simply means not going backward.

Some quotes from the podcast:

“My story wasn’t a straight line. It was survival first—healing came later.”

“I had to unlearn the lies I believed about myself before I could step into the truth.”

“Change didn’t start with perfection. It started with surrender.”

A Message from Linda:

James’ story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the sacred power of reclaiming your narrative. His insights will stay with you long after the episode ends.

Pathways to Services Development is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in California’s Tri-Cities, dedicated to empowering underserved individuals and families by fostering healing, stability, and purpose. Rooted in lived experience, peer support, and faith-driven care, Pathways builds safe, compassionate environments where people can reclaim their lives and move toward long-term transformation. Their holistic, trauma-informed approach emphasizes connection before correction, stable housing as a foundation for growth, and turning stories of struggle into leadership and service. Through crisis intervention, life skills development, mentorship, supportive housing initiatives, and community partnerships, Pathways works to dismantle barriers, strengthen resilience, and cultivate lasting change for those navigating recovery and life transitions.

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Instagram: @lluande1

Facebook: @Linda Unrath-Anderson

LinkedIn: @Linda Anderson

Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

In this episode of Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope, Linda Anderson talks with award-winning historian and author Ann Bausum about her powerful new book, White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War, Then Rewrote the History.

Ann grew up in Lexington, Virginia—the heart of Lost Cause mythology—and the daughter of a college history professor. Surrounded by monuments and messages that glorified the Confederacy, she spent her childhood reading, writing, collecting stories, and developing a fascination with history and current events. Those early experiences—segregated schools, integrated classrooms, and a front-row seat to the civil rights era—sparked a lifelong commitment to uncovering truth and creating books that challenge inherited myths.

With seven starred reviews, White Lies exposes the most successful propaganda campaign in American history and reveals how distorted narratives about the Civil War continue to shape textbooks, monuments, and national identity.

In our conversation, we explore:

• How Ann’s Southern upbringing inspired this book
  

• The 20 “white lies” at the heart of the Lost Cause
  

• Why myths like “the Civil War was about states’ rights” persist
  

• How misinformation shapes young people and communities
  

• What personal reckoning looks like when history contradicts family tradition
  

• Where Ann sees examples of truth-telling, healing, and hope
  

White Lies is written for teens but essential for readers of every age who want to understand how history gets rewritten—and how truth can help us move forward

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Instagram: @lluande1

Facebook: @Linda Unrath-Anderson

LinkedIn: @Linda Anderson

Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

In this episode of Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope, Linda Anderson sits down with Dr. Anthony Muhammad—one of the most influential voices in education and organizational culture.

A former teacher and award-winning principal, Dr. Muhammad helped transform Levey Middle School into a National School of Excellence, where student proficiency more than doubled in five years. Today, as CEO of New Frontier 21 Consulting, he supports schools and organizations across the globe in building healthier, more inclusive cultures.

Together, we explore:

• What healthy culture looks like—and why it matters in every field
  

• How leaders can heal divisions and rebuild trust
  

• The role identity plays in creating belonging
  

• Practical strategies for collaboration and equity
  

• What gives Dr. Muhammad hope about the future of leadership
  

Whether you’re an educator, a leader, or someone committed to building stronger communities, this conversation offers powerful insight into how real change happens—and how each of us can begin moving forward with courage, clarity, and hope.

Follow us on:

Instagram: @lluande1

Facebook: @Linda Unrath-Anderson

LinkedIn: @Linda Anderson

Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

Guests: Norma Rodarte, School Counselor Vidushi Agrawal, High School Senior and Student Leader

“The seeds we plant—through service, hope, and care—continue to grow long after we’ve moved on.”

🌿 Episode OverviewIn this heartfelt episode, host Linda Anderson reconnects with two inspiring changemakers—Norma Rodarte and Vidushi Agrawal—whose shared vision transformed an idea into a sanctuary of belonging. The Wellness Room at Oliveira Elementary School was once a dream Linda envisioned during her time as principal: a space where students and staff could pause, breathe, and heal. That dream has taken shape through the compassionate collaboration of Norma and Vidushi.

Together, they share how empathy, mentorship, and student leadership can create ripples of healing that extend far beyond the classroom.

💬 In This Episode

• How a high school student and a school counselor partnered to bring a dream to life
  

• The “Through Your Lens” philosophy and its power to honor every individual’s story
  

• The role of culture, identity, and compassion in creating inclusive school communities
  

• Lessons on trust, teamwork, and growth across generations
  

• How student voice can lead lasting change in education
  

🌸 About the GuestsNorma Rodarte is a compassionate school counselor at Oliveira Elementary, known for her “Through Your Lens” approach to supporting students and staff. Her work centers on empathy, belonging, and emotional wellness—helping children see themselves as valued and capable.

Vidushi Agrawal is a high-school senior whose leadership, creativity, and commitment to service have inspired peers and mentors alike. Her Gold Award project brought the Wellness Room to life, blending her passions for science, service, and the arts into a lasting contribution to her community.

💫 Key Themes

• Culture & Identity: Understanding how lived experiences shape connection and inclusion.
  

• Healing & Hope: Creating physical and emotional spaces that nurture resilience.
  

• Mentorship & Student Voice: The transformative power of intergenerational collaboration.
  

🕊️ Closing ReflectionAs Linda shares in the outro, “Even in retirement, seeing this vision come to life reminds me that the seeds we plant continue to grow long after we’ve moved on.” This episode reminds listeners that purpose transcends position—and that when we lead with compassion, we create spaces that heal hearts and inspire others to do the same.

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Instagram: @lluande1

Facebook: @Linda Unrath-Anderson

LinkedIn: @Linda Anderson

Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

In this deeply personal and inspiring conversation, host Linda Anderson reconnects with her longtime friend and classmate, General Gustave F. Perna—a retired four-star general who served 38 years in the United States Army with honor, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to mission and people.

From their shared roots on an 8th-grade student council to leading at the highest levels of the military and national response during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gus reflects on the values that guided his life: character, accountability, mentorship, and purpose.

Now, as the Founder and CEO of Perna Consulting and a board member across multiple industries—technology, health, defense, and beyond—he continues to apply his leadership philosophy to help organizations move from evolutionary to revolutionary.

Together, Linda and Gus explore the meaning of service, the importance of defining your “why,” and the hope that comes from building strong, principled communities—whether on the battlefield, in business, or in everyday life.

Takeaways

• Leadership begins early—the seeds of character are planted long before titles or promotions.
  

• Mentorship matters—being guided by others and paying it forward is how leadership sustains itself.
  

• Hope fuels resilience—even in crisis, staying anchored in purpose allows us to keep moving forward.
  

• Culture and accountability—great organizations are built on trust, shared values, and integrity.
  

This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about authority—it’s about authenticity, service, and compassion. From student council to the Pentagon, General Perna’s story illustrates how culture, identity, healing, and hope all intersect in the journey toward purposeful leadership.

If you have a comment or question please email us at themovingforwardpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on:

Instagram: @lluande1

Facebook: @Linda Unrath-Anderson

LinkedIn: @Linda Anderson

Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez

In this episode, I talk with Kim Wallace who has more than 30 years of experience in education. Kim began her career as a high school English and history teacher, later becoming a site principal, district administrator, and superintendent of one of California’s largest school districts. Today, she serves as Associate Director of the 21st Century California School Leadership Academy at UC Berkeley’s School of Education and leads her consulting company, Process Makes Perfect, helping leaders across industries navigate systems change and create meaningful impact.

Kim is the author of two books — Leading the Launch and Leading Through an Equity Lens — and her upcoming book, Game-Changing Leadership in Action, explores how we can lead with purpose and courage in any field or setting.

In our conversation, we’ll explore what it really means to create cultures of belonging, lead through uncertainty, and move forward with hope — whether you’re leading a team, a classroom, a company, or simply yourself through life’s transitions.

Contact Information for Kim:

• Professional Education Consulting- Process Make Perfect

• Book - Leading the Launch; Leading Through an Equity Lens; Game Changing Leadership in Action

• Berkeley School of Education

If you have a comment or question please email us at themovingforwardpodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on:

Instagram: @lluande1

Facebook: @Linda Unrath-Anderson

LinkedIn: @Linda Anderson

Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez