Dionne Bensonsmith and Tammy Nyden - Mothers on the Frontline (EP.11)

Causepods

Hello and welcome back to Causepods! We are back after a short break and slight change in name but are delighted to bring you this episode today with two great guests! They are Dionne Bensonsmith and Tammy Nyden from Mothers on the Frontline. The third cofounder of the organization and podcast, Angela Riccio, is unfortunately not with us today but we are really excited to talk to our two guests nonetheless. The purpose of Mothers on the Frontline is to highlight and share the stories of mothers raising children with special needs. The show was born out of the desire of the founders to support each other, growing organically outwards into the podcast that it is today. They aim to create a space in which conversations can heal, comfort, and educate through care and information and they have found the medium of podcasting to be effective in this pursuit.

In our conversation we cover the beginnings of the podcast, its formation, and the needs that inspired it. We also get into how being avid podcast listeners informed these choices before looking at how the format lends itself to emotional and caring subject matter. Tammy and Dionne are so open and sharing with their experiences and give us great insight into how hosting the show has helped them in their own journeys. We chat about some of the technical lessons they have learned and our guests are kind enough to offer up some advice to hopeful podcasters with similar ambitions. For a beautiful meditation on community and care, tune in!

Key Topics:

• The idea behind Mothers on the Frontline and how it came about. (02:21)

• Tammy’s experience and how this influenced the creation of the organization. (04:48)

• The importance of podcasting to Mothers on the Frontline. (06:28)

• Emotion and care as conveyed by the voice and through a podcast. (10:59)

• Inviting guests and experts and responses to outreach. (14:19)

• Solving one’s own problems through altruists endeavors. (18:17)

• The initiatives and work that Mothers on the Frontline are occupied with currently. (21:08)

• Some of the most important lessons that our guests have learned about the medium. (22:59)

• The value in starting and getting your message out there. (29:35)

• Looking at care and narratives over data collection. (30:36)

• Balancing the qualitative and quantitive side of things. (34:59)

• Comparing the care given to special needs children and those with chronic illness. (36:41)

And much more!

Support Mothers On The Frontline

See the show notes and a transcript at http://www.causepods.org/podcast/dionne-tammy

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