Happy Holidays Nancy! It's been a great year serving and working with you! Look forward to 2026!

I’m honored to share this week’s conversation with Brenda Joy Lloyd-Jones, Ph.D., lovingly known as Dr. Brenda Joy—a Human Relations professor, leader, mother, and the visionary founder behind The Mothers Group, Inc.

What started 36 years ago as a small circle of moms seeking connection has blossomed into a multigenerational community rooted in belonging, education, and joy.

For Tulsa area friends, please make plan to attend the Santa Community Project on Saturday, December 6 from 9:00am - 12:00pm (noon) at the OU-Tulsa Learning Center, Founder's Hall, 4502 E. 41st Street in Tulsa.

In this episode, Dr. Brenda Joy shares:
✨ How her move to Tulsa inspired her to create the village she longed for
✨ The heart and history behind The Mothers Group, Inc.
✨ What has sustained the group for over three decades
✨ Stories of friendship, family milestones, and the power of showing up
✨ Details about The Santa Community Project, a beloved annual tradition bringing families together with Santa, Mrs. Claus, local youth performers, and the gift of literacy
✨ Her top three intentional practices for staying balanced, healthy, and joy-filled during the holidays

Her message is powerful:
Community doesn’t just happen—it’s something we build together.

If you’re craving connection, inspired by stories of leadership, or simply love seeing what happens when women unite with purpose, this conversation will fill your heart.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform or at NancyMoore.co.

Learn more about The Mothers Group at TheMothersGroup.org.

Honoring Roots, Healing Hearts: A Conversation with Heather Gibson of Big Hearted Breeders

In this heartfelt episode of the Sharing Passion & Purpose Podcast, I’m thrilled to introduce you to someone truly special—Heather Gibson, founder of Big Hearted Breeders, a family-centered program dedicated to raising the healthiest emotional support animals, therapy dogs, and service dogs possible.

Heather’s story began long before she bred her first animal. She and her husband spent more than a decade as foster parents and ultimately adopted four of their children from foster care. Throughout their journey, one truth continually surfaced: children naturally seek comfort, connection, and healing through animals. At the same time, her husband’s work toward his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy deepened their understanding of the emotional support an animal can provide.

Their search for a therapeutic pet originally led them to a rare cat breed they couldn’t find locally. After finally locating three kittens, their family fell in love—and eventually welcomed a female they could responsibly breed to help other families like theirs.

But everything changed with one simple conversation. A college student who received one of their cats experienced a remarkable emotional shift. When Heather shared the update with her own college-age daughter, she casually replied, “Mom, I’m not a cat person—I’m a dog person.”

That moment sparked a new chapter.

Heather dove into researching the very best emotional-support and service-oriented dog breeds, which ultimately led her straight to the Mini Golden Retriever—a breed known for its temperament, intelligence, and unmatched capacity for connection.

Today, Heather and her family honor their roots by helping people—especially children, young adults, and families navigating emotional challenges—find trusted, healthy, purpose-bred companions that truly make a difference.

This episode is full of heart, intention, and purpose. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to raise service-minded animals with extraordinary emotional intelligence—or you simply love a story about passion leading to purpose—you won’t want to miss this conversation.

You can find Heather online: BigHeartedBreeders.com