It’s about honesty and transparency. We all love to be “influenced” and have beautiful pictures of motherhood and families (because it IS wonderful), BUT there also should be a disclaimer about the reality of things. Moms can feel incredibly insecure and like failures when they don’t live up to these seemingly perfect lives that are being broadcast daily. I am all for sharing the beauty, but if you choose to share your family, please also share the honesty that comes along with it.
I had the distinct pleasure to interview Jamie Lynn Sigler. Jamie is an actress and mother of 2, best known for shows like “The Sopranos” and “Entourage.” She is also an activist involved with raising awareness and funds for those that live with MS, a disease she lives with. If that wasn’t enough, she is also one of the hosts of the podcast Mama Said.
Thank you so much for doing this with us Jamie! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
My pleasure! With being in entertainment for over 20 years, I recognized that I had a platform to reach other women (specifically moms) when I talked about motherhood in specific interviews and things, but I always felt there was a bigger conversation to be had than the time I was given. So, after having my second child and feeling a whole bunch of new emotions and experiences with motherhood, Jenna Parris and I decided to start a podcast where we could create the type of community of moms we ourselves felt we needed and would relate to us.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began advocating or leading your company or organization?
I think the response has been overwhelming for us! We knew our friends would listen and help promote it, but the fact that we are 28 episodes in and have over 2 million downloads has completely surpassed our expectations. Having moms approach me on the street to tell me how much the love the podcast and what it means to them, and seeing our Facebook community grow each day, is just so fulfilling.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I think that is what our podcast is about! We share each week our “mom fails” and “shitty mommy” moments, so I think I have come to embrace mistakes because with them, it brings a new kind of self -awareness. With our honesty in our flaws or where we think we can get better, we figure out together (and with our guests) how to best navigate these and improve, all the while realizing that you are not alone!
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
I think we are creating a judgment free community in which moms can feel heard, understood, and also we give our guests an opportunity to reveal a part of themselves that they don’t get the opportunity to share normally. Its a wonderful way for our listeners to connect with these celebs that they love in a real person to person, mom to mom way, and realize we ALL go through the same emotions and experiences.
Can you tell me a story about a particular individual who was impacted by your cause?
Each guest awakens something different within me Whether its realizing that its ok and normal to feel the way I feel, to inspiring me to adjust some behaviors that maybe weren’t the best. I had two very close girlfriends on recently, Kelly Zjifen and Nikki DeLoach, and they so beautifully shared their journeys about their children needing heart surgeries and pacemakers at incredibly young ages… it made me check myself. I had all these frustrations about not being able to give my all to both kids, and here are these moms that are spending sleepless nights, weeks at a time, in hospitals, praying their children are ok. Things like that are incredibly important to be exposed to, so you can feel empathy and gratitude
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
It’s about honesty and transparency. We all love to be “influenced” and have beautiful pictures of motherhood and families (because it IS wonderful), BUT there also should be a disclaimer about the reality of things. Moms can feel incredibly insecure and like failures when they don’t live up to these seemingly perfect lives that are being broadcast daily. I am all for sharing the beauty, but if you choose to share your family, please also share the honesty that comes along with it.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership to me means vulnerability, because vulnerability means courage. True leaders, in my opinion, are those that allow the masses to relate to them, so they feel heard and represented.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1.Not everyone is going to like you (I have been personally attacked countless times about the podcast and my transparency)
2. Lean on your village (Jenna being my number 1)
3. Don’t read reviews (bad ones crushed me!)
4. Celebrate each little victory before moving on to the next goal (we often are ready to think how we can grow this brand, but sometimes forget to look at what we are doing in the simplest way)
5. Reach out to people to support and help promote. (I am NOT good at this, but I feel like word of mouth in this digital age, spreads SO quickly, especially in the mom space)
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Helping moms in need. I want more charities or more action with already established charities, like Baby 2 Baby, where mothers can support others in the most simple and essential ways. We can talk about the mom guilt and the stress all day long, but for a mom that is worried about buying food and diapers, that’s an entirely other story and an important one that should come first!
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Always limit your should of, would of, could ofs. My dad has told me this for as long as I can remember. It’s why I never give up on things. Especially when it comes to myself. I have had many times where I thought because of the fact that I live with MS, and I am in an unpredictable business where some years I have lots of work and others I have barely any or that I should just quit. That’s where that saying starts playing in my mind. I never want to wonder what if? Like what if I pushed through. What if I worked out and pushed through the pain and limitations and tried to heal in other unconventional ways. What if I just kept going to acting class and trusted the process? I have pushed through all my obstacles in life because of this mantra.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Obviously Oprah. I have found in my journey of healing, that I have now shifted my perception with MS, from what it has taken FROM me, to what it has GIVEN me. I have adapted practices and read books that she has recommended countless times and I would love to just talk to her about our journeys through this.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Instagram — @jamielynnsigler
Twitter — @JamieLSigler
Facebook — Mama Said
Podcast — Mama Said with Jamie and Jenna
This was very meaningful, thank you so much!