This Mother’s Day, we celebrate a form of motherhood grounded in boldness, agency, and unwavering love, the path of the single mother by choice. In this powerful episode of This is My Silver Lining, Leslie Stone shares how one emotional moment at her niece’s Bat Mitzvah triggered a life-changing decision: to stop waiting for the traditional path and choose motherhood on her own terms.

Leslie, a former C-suite advertising executive, opens up about what it meant to make peace with uncertainty and go all-in on a path few dare to walk alone. She speaks candidly about the emotional and physical toll of navigating fertility, the surreal process of choosing a sperm donor, and the serendipity of becoming pregnant at 40 against the odds.

Leslie reflects on the sacred, joyful, and affirming experience of parenting solo, how she intentionally built an extended community of support for her daughter, and the clarity that comes from living life on your own terms. Her story is a compelling reminder that motherhood is not defined by convention, but by intention, courage, and deep love..

Episode Links and Resources

Leslie Stone

Single Mothers By Choice

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© 2025 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

When playwright, author, and performer Susan Lieu was just 11 years old, her mother died after undergoing what should have been a routine tummy tuck. Her family never talked about it.

The trauma, silence, and injustice was a hard-edged shadow for Susan. Her family’s silence only reinforced her determination to find answers.

Years later, Susan embarked on a courageous journey to make sense of the silence. In this episode, she shares how she uncovered the truth about so much more than her mother’s death and how she transformed her grief into bold, moving works of art, including a powerful memoir, The Manicurist’s Daughter.

In this episode of This is My Silver Lining, we talk about:

✔️ Breaking intergenerational silence
✔️ Turning trauma into purpose
✔️ Finding healing through storytelling

Susan’s story is a powerful reminder of how reclaiming our narratives can set us free. 🎭

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing.

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.

Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

© 2025 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Hard work alone won’t get you ahead—your success depends on how well you navigate workplace dynamics and communicate with decision-makers. That’s where Managing Up comes in.

In this episode of This Is My Silver Lining, I sit down with Melody Wilding, executive coach and bestselling author of Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge, to break down the essential skills for building better relationships with your boss, advocating for yourself, and taking control of your career—without stress or burnout.

We also touch on Melody’s previous book, Trust Yourself, which empowers Sensitive Strivers—high-achievers who feel deeply—to set boundaries, overcome self-doubt, and thrive at work.

If you’ve ever felt overworked, overlooked, or unsure how to move forward in your career, this episode is packed with practical, actionable advice to help you take back your power.

Episode Links and Resources

• Melody Wilding
• Melody Wilding - LinkedIn
• Managing Up: How to Get What You Need From the People in Charge
• Trust Yourself: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions for Success at Work

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing.

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.

Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

© 2025 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Support this podcast by subscribing and reviewing.

Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Audio Blocks.

Technical Podcast Support by: Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

© 2025 Silver Linings Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.