The Mama's Den

There are mothers… and then there are matriarchs.

This week in the Den, we sit down with Donna Jordan — lifelong visual artist, educator, proud grandmother, mother of three — and yes, the mother of Michael B. Jordan.

But this conversation? It’s about her.

Donna shares what it really looked like to raise three creative children while nurturing her own artistry — creating art between caregiving and callbacks working in hand-painted silk and design to help support her family, and making sure her children saw her creating even when life was full.

She opens up about being diagnosed with lupus in 1997, navigating fear and uncertainty, and “faking it” through pain so her children wouldn’t carry the weight of her illness. She talks about what it means to mother through invisible disease, to show up when your body doesn’t want to, and how watching her push through shaped her children’s empathy and work ethic.

And now? We see the fruit.

Her children don’t just succeed — they show up. They place her art on sets. They manage her business. They honor her publicly. They protect the woman she is and the legacy she built quietly for decades.

This episode is about reciprocity.

About raising children who return the love.

About taking your “$10” for yourself.

About reclaiming your time — at any age.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your sacrifices matter… this one will sit with you.

Keep up with Donna Jordan on IG: @dj_kree8tive

The Mamas are building our community and ways to keep in touch with you. Share your email address here: https://tinyurl.com/MamasDen

Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

Codie - @codieco 

Melanie - @melaniefiona

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This week in The Mama’s Den, we’re kicking it with Apryl Jones — single mama of two, entrepreneur, creative, and yes… someone many people think they know from reality TV, but trust us, there’s so much more to her story.

Apryl gets real about doing the work to release old relationship hurt and issues with her father so she can show up lighter, freer, and fully present for herself and her kids. We talk motherhood hustle, protecting your peace, dating as a single mom, what still scares her, and what she’s truly looking for in this next chapter.

And honestly? Her energy surprised us in the best way — fun, carefree, thoughtful, and grounded in family first. It turned into one of those conversations where you laugh, reflect, and leave feeling a little softer about your own journey.

Healing, honesty, and good mama energy all around.

Keep up with Apryl on IG: @aprylsjones

The Mamas are building our community and ways to keep in touch with you. Share your email address here: https://tinyurl.com/MamasDen

Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

Codie - @codieco 

Melanie - @melaniefiona

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week in The Mama’s Den, actress, storyteller, and new mama Kellee Stewart joins us for a deeply honest conversation about faith, timing, motherhood, and trusting your own path.
After a seven-year relationship ended in her 30s, Kellee made the powerful decision to freeze her eggs — a choice that would shape her future in ways she never expected. Thirteen years later, through what she describes as a divine nudge delivered through her mother, she embraced motherhood on her own terms - at 50 years old - and is now navigating life as a newborn mom.
We talk about heartbreak, hope, egg freezing as an option every woman deserves to understand, and the beauty of building a family in a way that feels right for you.
It’s vulnerable, inspiring, faith-filled, and full of the real talk you expect from The Mama’s Den.
Keep up with Kellee Stewart on IG: @kstew222
The Mamas are building our community and ways to keep in touch with you. Share your email address here: https://tinyurl.com/MamasDen
Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast
Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls
Codie - @codieco 
Melanie - @melaniefiona

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hot flashes, hormones, mood swings… oh my. 😅
This week in the Mama’s Den, OB-GYN, menopause expert, and Generation M author Dr. Jessica Shepherd joins us for a honest, funny, and super informative convo about perimenopause, menopause, and everything in between.
If you’ve ever wondered what’s happening to your body (or what’s coming next), this episode is packed with clarity, reassurance, and practical gems. Honestly? Required listening for every woman — and the people who love us.
Keep up with Dr. Shepherd on IG: @jessicashepherdmd
Learn more about her and even buy her book, Generation M, here: https://www.jessicashepherdmd.com
The Mamas are building our community and ways to keep in touch with you. Share your email address here: https://tinyurl.com/MamasDen
Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast
Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls
Codie - @codieco 
Melanie - @melaniefiona

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Mama’s Den, we’re coming together in our LA studio in the best way — with a conversation inspired by the upcoming animated film GOAT, a story all about dreaming big, overcoming expectations, and discovering the greatness already inside you.
Using themes from the movie, the Mamas ask each other powerful questions about legacy, pressure, confidence, setbacks, and what it really means to keep going — not just for our kids, but for ourselves.
And because we hadn’t been in the same room together in months, this episode turns into something even more special: a chance to truly catch up, laugh, get honest, and go deep about the seasons we’ve been living through as women, moms, and friends.
It’s heartfelt, it’s fun, and it’s a reminder that sometimes the best conversations happen when you give yourself space to reflect — and the people who know you best are right there beside you.
The Mamas are building our community and ways to keep in touch with you. Share your email address here: https://tinyurl.com/MamasDen
Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast
Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls
Codie - @codieco 
Melanie - @melaniefiona

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.