The EMBER Project Podcast

My grandmother’s name was Violet, but she was neither shy nor delicate.. She was a fierce woman who protected her 3 daughter’s cost of losing 2 of the 3. This not sound like a story of empowerment, but listen anyway. Grandma Violet will stick with you long after this short listen. To ⁠VOLUNTEER⁠ please fill out the form linked. To ask to be considered for The EMBER Project, please ⁠CLICK HERE.⁠

In this episode we have the pleasure of talking to Melissa Winston, author of "Mothers of the Projects". You can find her book on Amazon by ⁠CLICKING HERE⁠. I can't wait for my copy to arrive today! Remember, to become a volunteer or mentor, please ⁠CLICK HERE⁠ to fill out the volunteer intake form. Or to ask to be considered for the project as a mentee, or to nominate an early mother for consideration,⁠ CLICK HERE.⁠ As always, thank you for listening! Please like, subscribe and share!

In our first two part episode, we meet Megan. A young woman learning to navigate her mental health challenges at the same time as she learns what it means to parent a child on the Autism spectrum. Then, make sure you listen to part two on January 16th, when Megan and Noah share a VERY SPECIAL day with The EMBER Project and our listeners. Remember to like and subscribe to our podcast, and share it with whomever you think might find it useful. To find out more about The EMBER Project, check us out at www.theemberproject.org.

In this episode, we talk about an excerpt blog by Seth Godin about choosing your motivation and how choosing the wrong motivation can actually hurt you.

Serena was born into a story that seemed destined to repeat itself. Her mother became a young mother under tragic circumstances, carrying trauma that would echo through the generations. By sixteen, Serena found herself pregnant too, following a path that looked all too familiar. Growing up surrounded by abuse, poverty, addiction, and instability, it would have been easy to believe that this was simply how life was always going to be.
Instead, Serena spent decades fighting for something different. From earning her GED as a young mother to returning to school later in life, raising children on her own, and overcoming one obstacle after another, she refused to let her circumstances define her future.
In this powerful conversation, Serena shares how she broke generational cycles, built a thriving business, and created a life she never thought was possible. Her story is a reminder that where you begin does not determine where you finish, and that it is never too late to change the direction of your life.

When we left Monica's story, she was standing at one of the darkest moments of her life. Isolated, exhausted, and overwhelmed by the weight of young motherhood, she had begun exploring adoption for her daughter and questioned whether she could keep going. What happened next would change the course of her life forever.
In Part Two, Monica shares how a simple act of kindness reminded her that she wasn't alone and became the first step toward rebuilding her future. From navigating a second marriage and raising two children to joining the Army as a young mother, Monica's journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and determination. She reflects on the opportunities the military provided, the challenges of serving while raising children, and the ways she worked to create a different future for her family despite the obstacles in her path.
This episode is a powerful reminder that transformation rarely happens all at once. It happens through small moments of support, unexpected opportunities, and the decision to keep moving forward when giving up feels easier. Monica's story demonstrates that while early motherhood may change the course of a life, it does not define its limits. The cycle she once feared would continue became the very cycle she worked to break.

What happens when a frightened teenager becomes a wife, a mother, and the sole person responsible for holding everything together before she's even had a chance to become an adult herself?
In Part One of Monica's story, she takes us back to a childhood marked by upheaval and trauma, an unexpected pregnancy at 17, and the overwhelming reality of navigating marriage, parenthood, and poverty while still trying to figure out who she was. Raised in a deeply religious household with little guidance and few resources, Monica found herself making life-altering decisions with no roadmap and very little support. As she shares the raw realities of young motherhood, listeners will hear just how isolating and exhausting survival can become when everyone expects you to keep going, no matter the cost.
This conversation is honest, heartbreaking, and deeply relatable for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility. Monica's story reminds us that before someone can break a cycle, they first have to survive it. Part One ends at a pivotal moment in her journey, one that could have changed everything and sets the stage for an unforgettable second chapter.

Welcome to Season Three!!!! In Episode 1, We talk about not only public figures born to teen mothers, but also the position of The EMBER Project as a whole. We discuss our new programs for 2026, as well as six public figures born to teen moms.

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, we sit down with a mother and daughter to explore what early motherhood looks like across generations — not through statistics or stereotypes, but through lived experience.
Latresha became pregnant at seventeen, facing fear, judgment, and resistance while making a decision that would shape the rest of her life. What followed was not an easy path. This conversation unpacks the reality of parenting while still growing up yourself, navigating anger, survival mode, discipline, and determination — all while trying to raise a child who would never be told she was limited by how her story began.
Her daughter, Latrice, shares what it was like to grow up inside that reality. From learning independence at an early age, to understanding responsibility before most children do, to eventually recognizing just how young her mother really was. Together, they reflect on the tension between authoritarian parenting and love, the role of extended family and community, and how expectations — both internal and external — shaped who they became.
This episode also addresses a perspective we rarely hear: how the stress placed on young parents often transfers to their children, and how resilience is forged not just through sacrifice, but through example. It challenges the assumption that early motherhood automatically leads to negative outcomes and instead highlights the importance of support, education, and self-growth.
If you are a young mom, the child of a young mom, or someone who wants to understand the long-term impact of early motherhood beyond stigma, this conversation offers truth, validation, and hope.
To learn more about The EMBER Project, please visit our ⁠WEBSITE⁠ or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram. Thank you!

In this powerful conversation, Tori shares her journey into motherhood as a teenager while navigating unresolved trauma, grief, and a deep desire to feel loved and safe. She reflects on the close relationship she had with her father and the lasting impact of losing him at a young age, as well as growing up with a mother who struggled with mental health and emotional availability. These early experiences shaped how Tori viewed herself, her relationships, and her worth.
Tori opens up about discovering her pregnancy after being misdiagnosed with bronchitis and the challenges of becoming a teen mom without consistent support from peers or school systems. She speaks honestly about stigma, isolation, and the emotional weight young mothers often carry. Through it all, she shares how the love and support of her husband helped ground her as she learned to parent while still healing herself.
Now pursuing a degree in psychology, Tori is determined to turn her pain into purpose by supporting children and families impacted by trauma. Her story is a reminder that resilience does not mean avoiding hardship, but choosing growth, love, and hope in spite of it.