Interview with Shera Cantrell,

Contact: cbfmemphis@gmail.com (Memphis Children's Business Fairs or bookit4life@gmail.com (BookIt4Life Children's Book and Social Club)

Facebook:@bookit4life and @cbfmemphis

Instagram @bookit4life and @memphiscbf

Summary: Shera Cantrell is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, literacy advocate, and community leader dedicated to empowering youth through literacy, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Alongside her twins, she co-founded BookIt4Life and helped transform a childhood book club into a nonprofit movement that creates opportunities for young people across Memphis.

Keywords

#generationallovecycle #SheraCantrell, #parentingtwins,#youthliteracy, #MemphisChildren #BusinessFairs, #BookIt4forLife, #children #entrepreneurship #motherhood #community #leadership #breakthecycle

Key Topics

• Shera describes Book It for Life, founded by her twins at age eight in 2017, growing from a library book club meetup into a nonprofit focused on literacy, leadership, and youth development.

• The Memphis Children's Business Fairs give young entrepreneurs a chance to develop business ideas and present them to their community.

• Shera explains how her mother's example and the support of her aunts shaped her parenting after her mother died before Shera turned 30.

• Her guiding lesson: wanting something means pairing desire with action, while staying grateful for unexpected opportunities and open doors.

• As the twins’ projects grew, Shera learned to adapt in real time, vet opportunities, and support their ideas without taking ownership away from them.

• A utility-company sponsorship request led Shera to quickly create sponsorship packages, then let her children present their case to company representatives.

• Shera advises mothers to avoid comparing their household or children with what they see on social media; guidance must fit each family’scircumstances.

• Travel and unstructured time alone help Shera recharge beyond her roles as mother, wife, and community leader.

• With her twins preparing for college, BookIt4Life is transitioning toward literacy resources, including the Marcus and Maya Learning Coloring Books, and continued pop-up fairs.

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Takeaways

• There is no limit to what you can do if you want to do it.

• Want is not just the desire. Want is the desire plus applying everything that needs to be done to go along with it.

• You have to be thankful for where you are, what has happened, and what other door may have opened.

• You don't have to be famous or wealthy; you don't have to have a big platform just to make an impact on someone.

• Sometimes it just starts right in your own home with your own kids.

• We grew with what was occurring.

• Everyone's plan is not your plan.

• Comparison is a thief of joy.

• You have to do what is right for your child and your household.

• Just let me be me.

Sound Bites

• "We're in real time growing"

• "Everyone's plan is not your plan."

• "Comparison is a thief of joy."

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Chapters

• 00:00 Why this season centers on mothers building loving legacies

• 02:26 Meet Shera Cantrell: family, service, and youth advocacy

• 04:17 How an eight-year-old’s book club became BookIt4Life

• 05:13 Literacy, business fairs, and hands-on youth opportunity

• 09:24 Sharing resources and making an impact close to home

• 12:13 Parenting lessons shaped by her mother and aunts

• 15:29 Pairing ambition with action and gratitude

• 18:23 From a library meetup to five clubs across Memphis

• 22:17 Letting the twins lead and pitch a corporate sponsor

• 26:41 Travel, solitude, and recharging outside of family roles

• 28:39 Why mothers should resist comparison on social media

• 37:12 What's next for Book It for Life and the business fairs

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  Thank you for listening, sharing, and following!

  Timika

  Transformational Guide and Coach & Study Strategist for Your NCLEX Prep

  https://timikaschambers.com/

Guest Name

Tuyet Nguyen, Oregon State Benefits Specialist & RealEstate Broker

Email: tuyetn121@yahoo.com

Phone: 503-318-6821

Summary

Timika S. Chambers speaks with Tuyet Nguyen, an Oregonbenefits specialist and part-time real estate agent, about how her Vietnamese American childhood shaped the way she parents her teenage daughter. Nguyen shares how she is building a more open, supportive relationship than the oneshe experienced, and why listening, presence, compassion, and helping children use their voices matter.

Keywords

#parenting, #breakingcycles, #VietnameseAmerican, #family,#parent-child communication, #safespaceforteenagers, #work-life balance,#Oregonrealestate, #familysupport #Tillamook #Oregoncoast #coastalliving

Key Topics

· Tuyet Nguyen immigrated to the United Statesfrom Vietnam at about age two and grew up with six siblings.

· Her parents ran a restaurant and worked longdays, leaving Nguyen to spend much of her childhood with her siblings and often keep worries to herself.

· Nguyen says she and her 17-year-old daughtertalk openly, sharing a closeness she did not have with her parents as a child.

· She encourages her daughter’s interests,including arts, dance, sports, and outdoor adventures such as camping and crabbing.

· A solo mother-daughter camping trip became amoment of connection: her daughter set up the tent and made the fire while Nguyen worked through her nerves.

· Nguyen emphasizes compassion, humility, respectfor elders, and speaking up to help someone being bullied when it is safe to do so.

· She recommends making time to listen andnoticing changes in a child's mood or behavior, creating a safe space for them to share what is happening.

· Nguyen balances protecting her daughter withgradually allowing more independence and helping her build coping skills.

· Outside parenting, Nguyen works as an Oregonbenefits specialist and a part-time real estate agent; she bought her first home at 21 and hopes to open a Vietnamese coffee shop or deli.

Takeaways

· I naturally started doing it justbecause I didn't have it when I was younger.

· You need to have compassion and respect.

· When you see something wrong, you need to saysomething, if you're in a safe space to do it.

· I would encourage them to listen to your child.You know, have that time.

· You really have to listen to them if they'retelling you something.

· You always have to take time for yourself.

· You have to work to take care of yourresponsibilities, but you also have to find time for yourself mentally.

· You're creating that safe space for them to beable to talk to you about things if something's bothering them.

Sound Bites

· "I think it's important to havegoals."

· "You need to have compassion andrespect."

Chapters

· 00:00 Introducing the season's focus on familystories and parenting

· 02:44 Tuyet's work helping Oregon families andhomebuyers

· 03:49 Outdoor time, family traditions, and asolo camping weekend

· 07:42 How childhood shaped a more openmother-daughter bond

· 13:09 Honoring her parents' sacrifices whilechoosing a different path

· 17:12 Work-life balance, self-care, and beingemotionally present

· 20:10 A future dream of opening a Vietnamesecoffee shop

· 21:40 Teaching compassion and speaking up forothers

· 26:01 Listening closely to teenagers andcreating a safe space

· 29:46 Balancing protection with independence andcoping skills

· 32:06 Real estate, buying a first home at 21,and serving clients

· 35:21 Closing reflections on breaking cycles andbuilding love

Thank you for listening, following, and sharing.

Guest Name

Mia Pickard, DNP, FNP-BC

Contact email: porchlighthealthnp@gmail.com

Keywords

#healthcare, #empowerment, #family, #nursing, #storms,#resources, #Georgia, #mentalhealth, #community, #personal growth

Summary

In this episode, Mia Pickard shares her inspiring journeyfrom small-town roots to becoming a Georgia-based Family Nurse Practitioner. She discusses her innovative approach to healthcare, empowering families, and the importance of honest communication and storm-walking as tools for growth.

Key Topics

• Mia Pickard’s background and journey from Ohio to Georgia

• The concept of Porchlight Health and its mission

• The importanceof resource sharing and community in healthcare

• How storms and challenges can be opportunities for growth

• The role of honesty and vulnerability in parenting and relationships

• Strategies for empowering families and children

• The impact of childhood experiences on parenting styles

• The significance of building trust and safe environments for children

• Mia’s innovative health guides and digital resources

• The importance of individualizing care and self-empowerment

Sound Bites

• "I'm a problem solver; I like to bring resources to people"

• "Utilizing the resources you have to create or improve your health picture"

• "Storms provide clarity and an opportunity to get grounded"

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Mia Pickard and her journey

• 02:10 Mia shares her problem-solving approach in healthcare

• 07:00 Using resources to improve health and well-being

• 18:16 Storms as opportunities for clarity and growth

• 31:30 Introducing Porchlight Health and its mission

• 42:17 Building a digital presence and resources for health empowerment

• 43:00 The ripple effect of empowering families and communities

• Thank you for listening!

  Timika Chambers

  You can learn more about the work I do at https://timikaschambers.com/