In this special Mother's Day episode of 'Unless: The Podcast,' host Dr. Hemma Lomax honors mothers everywhere by featuring a heartfelt conversation with Laurie Chevalier Fritz, her host mother from a high school exchange program. Laurie shares her journey as a daughter, mother, grandmother, and host mom who has welcomed many into her home and heart. Together, they discuss the trials and triumphs of motherhood, the importance of resilience, kindness, and ongoing learning. The episode is a tribute to all kinds of mother figures and their indispensable roles in our lives.

Check out the special guest intros by two little aspiring podcasters.

Highlights:

• Laurie's Journey: From Host Mom to Family Matriarch

• The Challenges and Joys of Motherhood

• Coping with the Psychological Load and Self-Care

• Care Packages and Military Life

• Honoring Mothers Everywhere

Biography:

Laurie Chevalier Fritz is a biological mother of four, a grandmother, a daughter, a sister, a host mom to students from around the world, and a mother figure to so many more.

A military wife who held the home front while her husband served long submarine deployments and served in many roles, including as a 911 Dispatcher, a tour carriage guide in downtown, Charleston, South Carolina, an active member of the local historical society, a Home Interiors representative, and head of the local PTA. She is the heart of her family and her community. Laurie was a young mom who grew into a wise and deeply rooted matriarch. A woman who has shown up in seasons of joy and in times of deep challenge, including recently, as she’s helped care for her father after a serious hospitalization, working alongside her two sisters to support both parents with love and devotion.

Laurie is also an avid historian, a passionate community activist, and someone who never stops learning—or caring. She has a lifelong dream of competing on Jeopardy!