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On this special episode, hosts Sarah Saturday and Tarri Driver interview four women who are moms, diving into the complex topic of what it’s like to be a mom. They are joined by Cara Dorris, Megan Johnson, Reneé Eades, and Melinda Dabbs.
Cara Dorris is an integrative dream therapist and spiritual counselor who helps clients connect with the sacred within and with all. Enriched by over a decade of exploration in energy and pastoral healing, dream integration, end-of-life care, grief support, 12-step recovery, and Nonviolent Communication, the core of her spiritual direction is identifying the divine needs most alive in her clients. These needs are often hidden in shadowed behaviors and offered as metaphors in dreams. She believes through learning the language of our needs and dreams, both universal and personal, people can deepen their relationship to self—the core from which all relationships grow. Cara’s first memory is a dream, one full of treasure and perspective she continues to unearth. In addition to impromptu intuitive stretching and channeling spiritual guidance through poetry, one of her favorite therapeutic exercises is dancing—at a rock show, in the kitchen with her children, and in her dreams.
Megan Johnson is a trainer, coach and instructional designer, currently working for the State of TN. She lives in Nashville with her husband, 9-year old son, and dog. She’s originally from Chicago and has loved living in music city for 15+ years. She enjoys writing and singing/playing pop/rock/IDM music, boating, being outdoors, and personal/spiritual development.
Reneé Eades is originally from Corinth, a small town in Mississippi, and has lived her entire life in the South. She left my hometown when she was 18 to attend college in Florence, Alabama, at the University of North Alabama, where she studied English and Professional Writing. She’s enjoyed literature and reading since she was a young child, so this was a natural fit for her. After finishing at UNA, she started her master’s program in English at MTSU, where she gained a teaching assistantship and worked in their Writing Center, so she moved to Murfreesboro and met some of the most amazing women who became close friends and confidants, including Tarri Driver! During grad school, she had the opportunity not only to tutor students, but also to teach – something she had sworn she would never do, as her mother was a teacher who worked harder than anyone she knew. Nonetheless, here she is, working hard at a career that she loves. She has taught English for a community college north of Nashville full-time for 20 years, and this is where she met her husband, who teaches History at the same school. They have been married for 15 years, and they have the funniest and brightest son that ever existed, in their humble opinion. Their son has just started middle school, and to the surprise of his mom and dad, he loves math as his favorite subject and hopes to be an engineer one day. He’s involved in a variety of activities, including band, Robotics, Scouts, and chess club, so he keeps his parents on their toes. Renee’s own personal interests include cooking with her friends in their Cooking Club, enjoying a good rock show or comedy show, and spending time with their cats, Poly and Shadow.
Melinda Dabbs is a friend and ally; artist and scientist; and lover of bunnies, mini donkeys, and good coffee – especially when enjoyed with dear friends. She lives in East Tennessee with the man of her dreams, their two precious boys, and their two squishy rescue buns. If you were able to examine her lifeblood under a microscope, you’d discover a rainbow of colorful inspiration fueling her soul. Her creative heart is especially energized by the world of surface pattern design, but her affinity for repeat patterns might be subconsciously influenced by the fact she has twins. Yes, her hands and her heart are beyond full!
Recorded on Feb 18, 2025
Additional Links:
Cara:
theestuary.org/cara-dorris
theestuary.org/dream-therapy
@thepeacebetween
Megan:
scalemodelmusic.com
@coach.rox
Melinda:
melindadabbs.com
Find more about the Letters project at letterstoourunbornchildren.com
An Exploration of a Woman’s Decision to Remain Child-Free by Choice