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Raised By Her Podcast
Raised By Her is a mother–daughter podcast exploring the lessons, love, and lived experiences passed down through generations. Hosts Ro Nita and Donnica share honest, intergenerational conversations about womanhood, identity, family, and leadership - and the wisdom we inherit (and sometimes challenge).
Part humor and all heart, Raised By Her is a reminder that every generation has something to teach—and that the stories that raise us continue to shape who we become.
Raised By Her Podcast
Raised By Her | A Bonus Episode on Generational Wisdom
#raisedbyher
In this bonus episode of Raised By Her, Donnica and Ro Nita join the Podcast Business News Network to share a candid mother–daughter conversation on resilience, leadership, and the lessons passed down across generations. From navigating fear as a compass rather than a roadblock, to carrying forward the wisdom of family legacies, this episode explores how generational storytelling helps us heal, grow, and lead with purpose.
Together, they reflect on resilience through grief, the power of empathy, and why authentic connection across generations matters more than ever. Whether you’re navigating your own family dynamics or seeking inspiration to push through life’s challenges, this conversation offers heart, humor, and hard-won wisdom.
Timestamps:
00:00 – 01:00 | Bonus Episode: Meet Raised By Her
Mother–daughter duo Donnica & Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders join the Podcast Business News Network.
01:00 – 03:00 | From Pandemic Calls to a Podcast
How daily conversations during lockdown sparked the idea for Raised By Her.
03:00 – 06:00 | Mother–Daughter Dynamics Unplugged
The real talk on how two generations learn, disagree, and grow together.
06:00 – 09:00 | Lessons From the 50s, 60s & Beyond
Ro Nita shares what it meant to be raised in turbulent times and pass down resilience.
09:00 – 12:00 | Fear: Roadblock or Compass?
How fear shaped their journeys - and why they teach others to use it as fuel.
12:00 – 16:00 | Then vs. Now: What’s Changed in Family & Community
Neighborhood bonds of the past vs. today’s global, digital connections.
16:00 – 19:00 | The Humanity Factor in Leadership & Life
Donnica on why focusing on what unites us matters more than ever.
19:00 – 22:00 | Wisdom Worth Sharing
Ro Nita on advice, mistakes, and why younger generations seek her guidance.
22:00 – 24:00 | Our Most Powerful Conversations
From 9/11 memories to global travel - how generational perspectives collide.
24:00 – 25:00 | Where to Find Raised By Her
Stream on Apple, Spotify, YouTube + follow us on TikTok & Instagram.
Send us questions and comments at raisedbyherpodcast@gmail.com!
Subscribe to Raised by Her for more conversations!
🎤 New episodes every week. Honest conversations between mother and daughter on family, womanhood, and navigating life across generations.
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Broadcasting from the business capital of the world. This is the Podcast Business News Network. And welcome back, everybody. Relationships are pretty much everything. We are social creatures. We crave connection, whether that's through friends, coworkers, and certainly family. We're going to focus on family today, specifically mother-daughter joining us, and they have a podcast. We're going to talk about that, the dynamics between them, and so much more. Joining us today is Ro Nita Hawes - Saunders and Donnica Hawes - Saunders. Welcome, ladies. How are you doing?
Speaker 00:Doing great. Thank you for having us. Thank you.
Speaker 02:So I'm intrigued that you you both together have a podcast. Um, and we're gonna talk about that now and then get into relationships and everything. But what what inspired you to start a podcast where you're you're both doing your thing?
Speaker 00:Mother, what inspired us to do this? A pandemic.
Speaker 02:Okay. So you were bored. I got it. All right.
Speaker 01:Well, I I think we were deciding uh to talk a little bit more, be more connected. Uh we had sort of our cadence before the pandemic. Uh, and we didn't talk every day. Um, we didn't always talk for one or two hours. Um, sometimes it was shorter, sometimes it was longer. We would text messages. But during the pandemic, I found myself missing communicating with my daughter in a special way.
Speaker 02:And for you, Donnica, was it pretty much the same, or were you looking at more of a, hey, let's let's try something different?
Speaker 00:I think it was let's try something different. I have a little bit of a different lens to it. Um, I am fortunate enough to have a really close relationship with my mother, but um, as you can imagine, I have a large friend circle that have varied relationships with their with their mothers. And so we oftentimes talk about all the things um that go on in a mother-daughter relationship. And a lot of times my friends lean on my mother for advice and wisdom. Um, and some of the we like like she mentioned, we talk often. And so we thought since we're oftentimes also getting questions um about all types of different things, why not broaden our conversations to a broader audience? So it goes just beyond us, it goes just beyond our immediate network. But we we love um and have enjoyed being able to broaden the conversation and bring more folks into uh our various conversations around mother and daughter relationships.
Speaker 02:So, Donnica, do you have uh siblings?
Speaker 00:No, thank God.
Speaker 02:No, I'm just kind of curious.
Speaker 00:I am proudly an only child.
Speaker 02:I'm just curious, maybe the dynamics there and then what why are you the chosen one? But now I understand that.
Speaker 01:Yes, she is definitely the chosen one.
Speaker 02:Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha. Um, and what about you, Roni? Do you do you have siblings?
Speaker 01:Uh yes, I do. I have one brother, a younger brother, much younger brother, as a matter of fact. So we both say that we were raised as only children. I was, and then he was. So uh, but he had the blessing of having an older sister too.
Speaker 02:So well, you know what's interesting. I have a twin sister, and whenever we get into a little bit of deep conversation, she'll say things regarding our mom, and it'll be well, mom did this and she did that for you. And I look at it and say, What are you talking about? I don't remember, I don't even know what you mean. What she sees it a completely different way. So even though we're twins 15 minutes apart, I'm older, more wiser. Um maybe it's the same exact we were raised separately. I think it might be that way as well.
Speaker 01:I think so. Um, I I I think so. Fortunately, uh, my brother and I have been able to be closer as adults because we didn't really grow up together as children, and so the parents he had a little different than the parents I had.
Speaker 02:So, Ro Nita, when you look back at your younger years and you look at your daughter, do you see parallels or are you both uh very much different?
Speaker 01:I do see parallels, uh, Steve. Um fortunately, um my mother was very involved in um in my life in I think a positive way. Um she was a no-nonsense mother. She was raising me in the 50s and 60s, which were really challenging times, especially for um African Americans and African-American women. And so her being involved in my life and wanting me to be able to have certain kinds of experiences uh in terms of relationships with family, understanding heritage, uh, making sure that I was exposed to the world in a certain kind of way was very important to both my parents. Uh, I wanted that same kind of experience and opportunity in a different way uh for um for our daughter as did her father.
Speaker 02:Donnica, what would you like to add to that?
Speaker 00:Um, I do find us to be really similar. Um I, you know, some folks call me the young Ro Nita, which I take as a compliment, but uh we are quite different as well. Um, very similar, but I mean I would say some of the differences probably also have to do with age. I mean, she she's wiser, I can be a little bit more spicy, she's more measured. Um, my mother also she she operates, and this isn't just my feedback, others say it as well. Um, she has a high vibration, she has really, really high emotional intelligence. And, you know, I'm working on it, but I I think you know, I I vibrate like a millennial.
Speaker 02:So I'm and I'm on your page, I'm not a millennial, but in terms of the vibration and all of that. I mean, later this week I have a Reiki session, hypnotherapy, astrological session. Not even kidding. And it's and and later in the week it's um it's me week. I'm taking time for myself to do those things. So I get the vibration thing. Um, Ro Nita, do you think it's your energy, you being very grounded, why people gravitate toward you as the mother figure, if you will, asking for advice and things like that?
Speaker 01:I find that um that's quite a nice compliment. And when people come to me, Donnica's friends and um other um young women, um, I I think the reason is because I've had a the blessed life to to live a lot, to have gone places and have done things and have tried a lot of different things uh in my life that was encouraged by my parents. And so when they have a chance to talk to me, I can generally say, well, either when I was your age or I had a chance to try this, or have you ever thought about maybe looking at it this way? Because when I was doing so and so, and I also shared and share freely. I I think it's important to be able to have honest communications and to be able to not only explore why we did certain things at certain ages, but also to be able to share the mistakes that I made. And so, uh, because I think you learn and grow from mistakes. And so I think that's one of the reasons why some of my advice is um sometimes listen to and why folks will seek me out periodically to see what I think about.
Speaker 02:So, Ro Nita, if you turn to your left right now and there you are, your 23-year-old self, what would you say?
Speaker 01:Um, two things that I always think about. Uh, I would have taken more psychology classes when I was in college, because I think that um whether you're a manager, whether you are a leader, whether you're a CEO of an organization, whether you're an entrepreneur, it's all about people. You you began this conversation talking about relationships. I think understanding relationships, understanding why people do the things they do as much as one can, it's very important to um, I think, gain that kind of understanding. So I would have taken, I think, um some classes in in psychology. And then the other side of what I often think about is I learned later in life that um fear becomes a challenge and an obstacle. And so, how do you learn to deal with fear? I was blessed to have a mother that that would always say to me, you can do this, you can be, uh you can move forward, you can try it again, um, you know, get up, dust yourself off, and and and move forward. And yet that hesitancy at different times where I was really, I think, beating up on myself sometimes. I was really giving myself a really hard time about trying something or something not working out, that's a part of life. And so I would really want to say to myself, you know, be a little easier on yourself, don't be so hard on yourself and just go out and try it. Most people wish they could have the experiences that um you've had the opportunity to have, but it does sometimes come with a risk.
Speaker 02:What you say resonates with me. And yes, I took psychology classes for half a semester, maybe. Oh, and dropped out, and now I look back and I'm doing podcasts talking about relationships. So I should have, and I find it fascinating. And I didn't then because I was focused on one thing, getting on the radio, and which which I was already doing when I was taken in in college at that time. Uh Donnica, for you, you're 23, right in front of you. What would what would you want your 23-year-old to hear at that time?
Speaker 00:Um two things. Number one would be that everything's going to be okay. I can sometimes have some high anxiety and I'm highly focused in type A. And so I can put additional pressures on myself. Now I call it giving myself grace. Um, but if I was talking to myself, I would just say, you know, everything's going to be okay. And then secondly, I would tell myself to keep trying new things. Um, I've, as I look back on my life thus far, every five years has looked very different. I've grown and built and um just created a bigger life for myself than I ever could have imagined five years prior. And so, but that is a result of trying new things, pushing past the fear, um, doing all the hard things, if you will. And so I would just encourage myself to keep to keep going and keep trying new things.
Speaker 02:It's funny you say that because it it often comes up in surveys, research, polls, that we evaluate our lives every five years, give or take. And then they call it the seven-year itch because it takes us two years to decide what to do, whether that's get out of a relationship, out of a job, make a change, whatever. And I don't want to read into this kind of stuff, but then I look back at my life every seven years, give or take, a little bit here and there, there was pinnacle stuff going on. I don't know if there's truth to it, but I see it. So I I wonder about that. Ro Nita, different generations we all are here, right? You look at now, you look at back in the day. What's one great thing about now and one great thing that you remember from the past that you wish was maybe around today?
Speaker 01:Ah, well, the one great thing uh about the past that I that I just I I really have embraced is the family connection and the neighborhood connection, knowing your neighbors, knowing the people around you. I felt very safe and very secure playing in my neighborhood, walking in my neighborhood uh after a period of time. And we all knew each other. I mean, it's you know, it was it was a connection. Um, I don't often see that as much because the world is a totally different place now. I safety is is designed in uh in such a different way today. And I really believe that um that was a plus factor in terms of of growing up. And I'm sorry, the second part of your question was What about today?
Speaker 02:Pick one thing that maybe we didn't have in the past, but today you look at it and say, Oh, that's actually uh pretty cool.
Speaker 01:That's actually pretty cool. Okay, well, um, as Donnica knows, I've been um wrestling with uh technology and um really being able to embrace it in a way that it is so very positive in in our world because I love the fact that we can communicate today here, and there are people all around the world that uh can be a part of the conversation and a part of what it is that we are experiencing. So I I think I had a broadcast background, and so it used to take us a little while back in the day to be able to get the message out there or to find out what was going on. So today it's instant, and I think that that um that can be uh a positive. I also think that when we are communicating, we do have the opportunity to be more truthful and authentic. And I I would love to be able to see us, those of us who have the stage, to be able to communicate and be more authentic in a way that is beneficial to everybody, to mankind.
Speaker 02:So I love this conversation. It's it's making me and I'm sure others think you know, here we are talking about connection around the world, an instant. We can meanwhile, we don't even know our neighbors. Like I moved three years ago, I know one neighbor kind of well, and somebody just moved in like two doors down, and I just met them, you know, young family. Everybody else, I don't even know. But but I'm talking to you, and it's funny how that all works.
Speaker 01:Yeah, that's that's my point. And you know, you're not alone. I same way, and uh, and and I think what we have to do is we have to be more intentional about that. I think we have to really reach out um the way that we used to back in in the 50s and 60s.
Speaker 02:But I think it you said the word, the S word, safe. There's a reason we don't as we did then, and I I really feel that sometimes we don't feel completely safe. It may not be in the forefront in our consciousness, but there's something there that maybe we don't feel safe about. So then we hold instead of walking down the street and just maybe, hey, how you doing? Have a conversation, nothing wrong with that, but we hold back. Donnica, what about you? If you were to look back at things that you know from other generations and now, what's a plus, what's a minus, or they say what's a a delta and a plus, whatever it is.
Speaker 00:Well, this probably isn't shocking because I now do a whole podcast with my mother. Um, so it's actually very similar to hers. It's a family connection, uh, so much so that you know I spent the past 20 years in Washington, DC, but then um a few years ago moved back to Ohio, uh my home state, to be closer to family. And um, so it really is a driving force um internally and externally. Um, it comes with some challenges, but it's been a net positive in my life um thus far. And so um for me, definitely I miss the family connections so much so that I moved back across the country.
Speaker 02:And what about today? If you would pick something like that is in the now, the present, that's a plus in your mind. What do you think it might be?
Speaker 00:So um my mother mentioned that she has a background in broadcasting. Um the work that I do is focused in politics and public affairs, which, as we know, is a whole thing. I think my main wish for today is that folks could see the humanity um in each other versus focusing on all of the various differences. Um we have, in my opinion, so much more in common um than we do uh differently. And so if we could just kind of hone in on what really connects us and what really makes us human, um that would that would be a big plus factor for today.
Speaker 02:How do we change that? As you're speaking, I'm thinking about it, whether in authenticity. Ro Nita, you mentioned I agree with you. You know, it'd be nice if we could be much more authentic. Sometimes we're not social media is what we want typically people to see. But uh what do you think the way the best way for us to connect? Better, better connect.
Speaker 01:Well, I I think first being willing uh to be your honest self. I think making sure that uh the communication is from the heart and from your space and being comfortable sharing in a way that is meaningful to the other person. Uh often it's said, you know, this is so much the all about me, all about me. Well, what about we? And uh how can we benefit from the circumstance, the opportunity? How can we learn from the challenge and be comfortable talking about that challenge that we are learning from? Um, we have to be less judgmental, uh, I also believe in society today. I I think that, and that's hard. Um, that is hard. I also see, I I love to be able, I love to read, I love to learn, I I love to be able to challenge myself and and grow in a certain kind of way. Um, I think we have to have more of that as well. New and different experiences that we are willing to share with other people. And then other people have to do the same for us, whether it's locally or regionally, nationally or internationally. I think that would help what Donnica was talking about in terms of the humanity. Um, and I think that's a part of what's missing as well.
Speaker 02:I truly believe the, you know, it's the fear and the safety. We all, we don't even know we're doing it, but it's our it's in our DNA, it's in our nature, it's what's protected us since we began, is we always want to feel safe. Uh, and with that, there's a you know, and if we don't feel safe, we're not gonna make that connection. But I think sometimes we need to open our eyes just a little bit. We're all the same. You know, I believe when you're born, every baby's the same, maybe different background, parents speak a different language, but then life changes, you know, as you interpret things. Donnica, tell me about the uh the podcast you both do.
Speaker 00:So it's called Raised by Her, and it's mini conversations just like the ones that we're having having right now. So uh we get the benefit of the wisdom of Ro Nita Hawes Saunders, um, and we get the hopefully the helpful perspective of myself, and we talk about our our relationship. Um, we talk about our experiences, we talk about and our experiences from a longevity perspective from the different things that she did while she was raising me, but also um our experiences from the past week. I mean, we all uh we remain quite busy women, and so um it's just it's talking about the wisdom, it's talking about inspiration. And a part of our hope is that our community that we are building um isn't just surviving, but finding different ways to thrive. And so uh our hope is that our conversations help them help folks do just that.
Speaker 02:As you look back to the the podcast you've done in the last four or five years or so, what would you say? And there's probably quite a few, but if you had to pick one topic that you centered on and either you were proud of it or it just was fun, um what do you think it would be, Ro Nita?
Speaker 01:Oh, well, we haven't been doing it four or five years.
Speaker 02:Uh well, I I mean you it started, you mentioned uh during the.
Speaker 01:Yeah, well, we started talking about it and exploring the idea. Um, so uh that's that was our our beginning. Um but what I think I am um really proudest of is is the fact that for me at my age uh at this particular time, uh I'm stretching myself in in ways that um I think are going to be beneficial. I think um men and women in their 60s and 70s have to continue to learn and grow and be. And I I think that's um that's a part of something that I think is a plus factor. And in terms of our communicating, I think it has to do with exactly what Donnica said. You're sharing different perspectives. But what I like is we don't always agree, but we always get to a place that is a a learning or growth experience. And so when I when I think about uh the topics of, for instance, what was it like during 9-11? Um, where was I? What did I remember? Um, what was communicated? Uh, and then Donnica talking about um what was going on she was in high school and the experience there, and just thinking about that perspective and then how it happens to fit in our world today, because we're not having the same experiences in terms of 9-11, but we're in a society that is much more volatile with uh challenges coming up day to day with young people, with children. So that whole safety issue that we're talking about. So just taking a moment and pausing, remembering not only where you were, but how you were, how you coped, and then being able to think about how that impacted family, how that impacted my daughter at that particular time, uh, how it impacted uh her father, my husband at that point. You know, just just and and then thinking, what do you remember about that? Because that's history, it's going to be there forever, and yet we're a part of it.
Speaker 02:Love it. Oh, by the way, uh 63 is the new 43. Trust me. This is year 45 in broadcast for me.
Speaker 01:I'm just oh okay, okay.
Speaker 02:Then they're done that. Um, Donnica, how about you? Any shows that stand out for you?
Speaker 00:Um, so actually, this last show that we did, I think it was this week or last week. This our show is weekly. Uh so we put out episodes every week. And um, we got into some really great conversations with some of our listeners around um two topics in particular. One, um, I'm a vegetarian. And so when I travel, and I like to travel globally around the world, um, lots of cuisines are meat forward, as I say. And so um, I've gotten some really great suggestions from folks like, oh, you just know where to go. Oh, please don't try to survive off of Sprite and Bread. Like, there are other options, like, go live. Um, and then we've also gotten some feedback where folks are like, oh, that's where you guys are traveling. Like, oh, we hate that city. This is why. Why do you like it? And so um lots of great discussion around travel and food. Uh, and that's a part of what we're enjoying, I think, about the podcast meeting and talking to people that we otherwise probably would not intersect with.
Speaker 02:Isn't it amazing? There can be a discussion and a fun or deeper one, insightful one, and just about everything. We could do a whole podcast or five on just travel, things you encounter, just being on a plane, you know, etiquette, all of that. Um how do we find your podcast again? It's it's called Raised by Her. Can we just search it out and find it?
Speaker 00:Yeah, you can search it out and find it. We have the audio on all places where podcasts can be heard, Apple, Spotify, and then you can also watch the video version on YouTube. Um, and then we also share clips across social media on an ongoing basis. So please follow us at raised by her podcast on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, all the things.
Speaker 02:It has been refreshing talking with both of you. I love what you're doing, I love your dynamics as mother and daughter. Um, fantastic. Yeah, well, looking forward next time we get together. Maybe we'll we'll we'll pick one of those topics and kind of play around with it. Um, Donnica and Ro Nita, thank you so much for being here today and um and bringing what you do. I find it fascinating. And just the generational thing is uh is super cool. I appreciate it.
Speaker 00:Thank you for having us. We appreciate it.
Speaker 02:We'll be right back. Broadcasting from the business capital of the world. This is the Podcast Business News Network.
