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.

In this episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, host Susan Sutton sits down with Angel, president of Shielding Angels, to shed light on what stalking really looks like in 2025 and why awareness is so urgently needed. January is recognized nationally as Stalking Awareness Month, and this conversation aims to help listeners understand the warning signs, trust their instincts, and take steps to stay safe.

In this episode, I sit down with Angel, a stalking survivor and the founder of Shielding Angels

She shares her own experience with workplace-related stalking and how it continued long after she left the job. She explains what it feels like to be dismissed or told that nothing can be done, and she talks about practical ways listeners can protect themselves, including documenting incidents, installing cameras when possible, being mindful of online information, changing routines, and leaning on trusted friends or family.

This episode is part of a larger effort to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and help survivors recognize that they are not imagining what is happening to them. Stalking is a pattern of behavior that causes fear and disrupts daily life, and it is far more common than many realize. For early mothers who are already navigating parenting, school, work, and relationships, this kind of fear can be overwhelming.

Listeners can learn more about stalking awareness and find additional safety resources at the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center by visiting www.stalkingawareness.org. Shielding Angels, Angel’s nonprofit, can be found at www.shieldingangels.info for those needing more direct support.

For more from The EMBER Project, including resources for early mothers, visit www.theemberproject.org or follow our social media accounts listed in the episode description. If you or someone you know feels unsafe or is in immediate danger, please contact 911 or your local emergency services. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available for confidential support at 1 800 799 SAFE or by texting START to 88788.