Ramblings of a Restless Mind

In this episode of Ramblings of a Restless Mind, co-hosts Jen and Dejah welcome Melanie Shekita, an assistant district attorney in Wake County with nearly 28 years at the DA’s office and team leader of the Special Victims Unit, longtime SafeChild partner, and former volunteer firefighter. Melanie shares how she became involved with SafeChild, the growth of the organization and its Child Advocacy Center, and why a nonprofit-based, child-friendly forensic interview model matters for reducing retraumatization and improving accountability. The conversation covers the far-reaching impact of sexual abuse on families, the need for CAC services across counties, and the realities of secondary trauma for prosecutors and investigators, along with Melanie’s coping outlets like cycling and her rescue dogs. They end with lighter listener questions and opinions on everyday debates. 00:00 Bravery and Healing 00:36 Show Intro and Jingle 01:37 Meet Melanie Shekita 03:35 Bio and Firefighter Life 04:41 Belichick Side Rant 06:19 SafeChild Gala Story 08:08 One in Four Kids 11:46 DA Path to SVU 13:57 Building the Advocacy Center 17:02 New SafeChild Facility 18:41 Fundraising and Foster Care 24:12 Volunteer Firefighting Origin 26:14 Coping With Trauma 34:10 Remote Testimony for Kids 35:28 Safe Child Forensic Interviews 36:44 Expanding CAC Services 39:38 Hot Dog Sandwich Debate 41:03 Song Stuck on Repeat 42:05 AI Fears and Regulation 46:48 Voicemail Petty Hills 52:36 Cancel Culture and Comments 57:00 Wrap Up and Dog Talk

Jen and DeJah return from a summer hiatus to recap recent meaningful episodes (including a Mother’s Day special with their mom and a guest appearance by Tim “Big Sarge” from Sons of Liberty, with a live shoot planned in October). They ramble about highlights from a largely unplanned West Coast trip—San Francisco (Alcatraz, Ghirardelli, driving the Golden Gate Bridge), the Redwoods, Humboldt County ranch stay with dispensary tours and an infinity-pool “spiritual” moment, and Portland during Pride Weekend, including an Airbnb heat/AC struggle and a late-night “plum massacre.” Joe describes a Michigan family trip to a deer farm and updates progress on DeJah's bus-to-RV conversion. The conversation turns to politics and free speech around Macklemore being removed from an Ed Sheeran lineup by stadium owners, potential concert cancellation impacts, voting-roll concerns, and a tribute to Dolly Parton’s legacy and Imagination Library support. 00:00 Back From Hiatus 00:54 Recapping Big Episodes 01:45 Joe Joins On Camera 03:03 Summer Heat Talk 03:46 West Coast Trip Begins 04:22 San Francisco Highlights 07:16 Humboldt Ranch Retreat 08:23 Redwoods And Portland 09:43 Plum Tree Airbnb Chaos 12:50 Cooling Hacks And Pride Weekend 14:44 Back Home And Fall Hopes 14:58 Joe Summer And Boone Heat 16:26 Michigan Trip Deer Farm Debate 18:21 Barndominium Airbnb Talk 19:35 Albino Deer Banter 20:09 Bus Build Update 21:38 Tariffs And Gas Rant 22:57 Ed Sheeran Show Risk 24:08 Macklemore Controversy 27:44 Free Speech And Money 32:26 Sponsor Break 33:43 Concerts As Safe Spaces 37:26 Dolly Parton Tribute 45:28 Dolly Quotes And Legacy 47:08 Wrap Up And Vote

Jen and DeJah welcome Tim “Big Sarge,” founder of Sons of Liberty, a veteran-led activist content community that grew from a Facebook rant page into a multi-platform presence after viral posts and a later Facebook takedown. Big Sarge explains how he used pro-patriot branding to counter MAGA narratives, shifted from historical “Confederate Heritage Month” content to viral “truck rant” videos, and then stepped back due to fatigue and audience pressure for entertainment over substance. He emphasizes that the work he most wants supported is their Tuesday 7 PM Eastern YouTube livestream interviews with progressive, non-establishment candidates (including Courage Caucus and impeachment-supporting contenders), urging viewers to get informed and vote. The conversation also covers protest safety resources, veterans’ political diversity, party dynamics, merch origins like “brisket and titties,” and the need for renewed protest music. 00:00 Vote Over Virality 00:43 Meet Big Sarge 05:17 Sons of Liberty Origins 08:11 Viral Growth and Takedowns 12:09 Truck Rants and Brand Dilution 16:29 Candidate Interviews Matter 28:33 Protest Safety and Education 31:27 Sponsor Break NC Estate Solutions 32:25 Veterans Finding a Voice 34:40 MAGA vs GOP and Veteran Policy 39:25 Trust But Verify 40:22 MAGA Infighting Watch 45:02 GOP Discipline Vs Left 47:23 Reclaiming Symbols 48:40 Brisket And Titties 54:08 Hot Dog Philosophy 56:34 Where Did Protest Music Go 01:04:55 Activist Festival Blueprint 01:09:17 Support Artists And Activism 01:11:48 Where To Watch Streams 01:14:28 Closing Thanks And Call 01:16:46 Podcast Outro Voicemail

Motherhood, Boundaries, and Single-Mom Strength | Ramblings of a Restless Mind In this episode, the host interviews her mom about motherhood, parenting, and family, including stories from labor and delivery and how witnessing birth can change perspectives. They discuss parenting as choosing battles, setting boundaries, following through with discipline, building respect without relying on patriarchal “wait till your dad gets home” dynamics, and the challenges of raising kids in a device-driven culture. The conversation also covers societal pressure around having children and gratitude for a mom who never judged her daughter for not becoming a parent. The mom shares what helped her children through divorce—perseverance, honest communication about life changes, and refusing to speak badly about their father—plus how she coped with kids leaving home by embracing each life chapter, loosening “apron strings,” and trusting the values she taught. The episode closes with appreciation for chosen family, love, and resilience. 00:00 Meet Mom and Gigi 00:26 Reality of Childbirth 01:02 Pain Relief and Respect 02:52 Picking Battles as Parents 03:39 Mom as Authority 05:23 Boundaries and Teaching 07:12 Discipline and Follow Through 12:11 Tech and Kid Independence 14:06 Choosing Childfree Without Shame 16:17 Society Shifts on Parenthood 18:57 A Welcoming No Judgment Home 19:52 Questioning and Gratitude 20:22 Divorce Single Mom Question 23:12 Kids Perspective and Co Parenting 25:32 Strength Through Divorce 27:32 Lioness Tribute and Sponsor 28:49 Empty Nest Heartache 32:37 Letting Go and Trust 35:37 Respect and Check Ins 37:58 Proud Mom Moments 39:20 Family Love and Farewell

In this Mother’s Day–themed episode of Ramblings With the Restless Mind, the hosts welcome Jen’s mom (and DeJah’s adopted mom) Cheryl, a retired RN who worked many years in labor and delivery before finishing her career in an OB-GYN clinic and retiring in December 2021. They celebrate Cheryl’s love of themed parties, music, and the Dallas Cowboys, and highlight her “claim to fame” of being the nurse for Steve Perry’s daughter’s C-section delivery, describing his down-to-earth demeanor and the challenge of protecting privacy. Cheryl shares how living in Germany for a year shaped her, how her father “Marv” raised three daughters after her mother and sister died in a car accident, and how she approached parenting boundaries, single motherhood, and supporting her children, including respecting Jen’s choice not to have kids. 00:00 Warm Welcome and Spring Check-In 01:43 Meet Cheryl Bonus Mom 04:03 Nursing Career and Women’s Care 06:21 Steve Perry Delivery Story 09:11 Mother’s Day Spotlight and Gratitude 12:40 Germany Move and Early Marriage 15:10 Fan Sleep Tradition and Hurricane Chaos 17:41 Hot Seat Questions Begin 19:26 Parent vs Friend Boundaries 21:12 Parenting Boundaries 22:33 Marv Steps Up 24:29 Fatherhood Contrast 25:46 Dancing Memories 26:32 Sponsor Break 27:30 Disco Night Story 29:45 Learning Without Mom 32:16 Single Mom Reflections 37:51 Mother’s Day Grief 40:28 Hip Fusion Resilience 43:26 Dreams Beyond Iowa 45:17 Choosing Childfree 46:41 Wrap Up and Teaser Connect with Us: Email: [email protected] Instagram: instagram.com/ramblingsofarestlessmindpod Website: https://ramblingsofarestlessmind.transistor.fm/ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2fazFuSWWoLmnEbLP0e4lR Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ramblings-of-a-restless-mind/id1784103773 iHeart: iheart.com/podcast/246199720