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MOMumental: A Journey

Meet Jessica Chang, founder of Weecare!

Season 1, Ep. 1

MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey’ will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads). 


For our first episode, Jesse sat down with Jessica Chang. Jessica is CEO and Co-Founder of WeeCare (https://weecare.co/). A committed early childhood education advocate and mom of two, Jessica is a business and finance maven determined to solve the childcare crisis. As a tech CEO of the largest childcare network in America, she is disrupting the childcare industry and making a lasting impact on the lives of countless families. Prior to co-founding WeeCare, Jessica was COO of Affinity China, a principal investor at Macquarie Capital, and VP of Marketplace at Radpad. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, TechCrunch, TIME Magazine, PBS, Fortune, EdSurge, LA Times, Motherly, USA TODAY, and NPR.

A graduate of UC Berkeley, Jessica is a preschool owner herself and resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Witt, and two kids, Teddy and Maddie.

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  • 15. Psychiatrist and Mom, Dr. Gail Saltz, Discusses Social Media's Influence on Your Kids and How to Talk About the Birds and the Bees

    32:40
    MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey’ will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads). Dr. Gail Saltz is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry with The New York Presbyterian Hospital and psychoanalyst at The New York Psychoanalytic Institute, best known for her work as a relationship, family, emotional wellbeing, and mental health/wellness contributor in the media where she frequently shares her expertise and commentary on the mental health aspects of current issues and news. She is a bestselling author of numerous books including her most recent, "The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius," a powerful and inspiring examination of the connection between the potential for great talent and conditions commonly thought to be "disabilities." Dr. Saltz is the host of the 92Y regular, live Psychobiography series, and serves as a Medical Expert for the Physicians for Human Rights. She is also the host of the “Personology” and the “How Can I Help?” podcasts from iHeart Radio. Follow her at @DrGailSaltz
  • 14. Communication Expert, Celeste Headlee, Discusses Leaving Conversations, Journalism, and Raising a Son Who Always Answers the Phone

    44:14
    MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey’ will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads). Celeste Headlee is an internationally recognized journalist and radio host, professional speaker and author of bestselling book We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter and Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving. Her latest is Speaking of Race: Why Everyone Needs to Talk About Racism and How to Do It. Her TEDx Talk, 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation, has been viewed over 26 million times. Close to 50,000 talks have been given at 10,000 events since the TED program launched in 2009, and Celeste’s talk is one of the 10 most-watched talks posted on TED’s homepage. In her 20-year career in public radio, Celeste has been the Executive Producer of On Second Thought at Georgia Public Broadcasting and anchored programs including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, Here and Now, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. She also served as co-host of the national morning news show, The Takeaway, from PRI and WNYC, and anchored presidential coverage in 2012 for PBS World Channel. Celeste is a regular guest host on NPR and American Public Media, serves as an advisory board member for ProCon.org and The Listen First Project, and received the 2019 Media Changemaker Award. She is the host of Newsweek’s “Debate” podcast, and hosts a podcast for the National Gallery of Art called “Sound Thoughts on Art.” She is also the host of “Women Amplified,” a podcast from the Conferences for Women, the largest network of women’s conferences in the nation, drawing more than 50,000 people to its annual events. Celeste is also the president and CEO of Headway DEI, a non-profit that works to bring racial justice and equity to journalism and media through targeted training and interventions, and she serves on the board for the National Center for Race Amity. Celeste is the granddaughter of composer William Grant Still, known as the Dean of Black American Composers and she is a trained operatic soprano. She lives in the DC area with rescue dog, Samus.WEBSITE: https://celesteheadlee.com/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/celesteheadlee/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CelesteHeadleeYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=celeste+headleeLINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celesteheadlee
  • 13. Actress and Foster Mom, Jen Lilley, Talks Christmas is Not Cancelled and Raising 4 Kids!

    29:21
    MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey’ will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads). A star on both the silver and small screens, including the Academy Award-winning film THE ARTIST, NBC’s iconic daytime series “Days of Our Lives,” ABC’s “General Hospital,” and a regular leading lady on the Hallmark Channel, actress/singer/philanthropist Jen Lilley has tackled countless roles throughout her illustrious career.Jen Lilley’s creative prowess does not end when the director yells cut, she is also a singer and songwriter. Her music exudes the same sultry ferocity of Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton, with Phil Spector’s wall of sound treatment via Rosie Danvers and her 50-piece orchestra. ​AXS.com said, “Lilley conjures up the sound of a 1960s girl group and embodies the same essence of Amy Winehouse. She takes a nostalgic twist on a modern song that will remind you of what classic music sounds like and have you longing for the days of Motown."She is a true champion for charities. In addition to donating 100% of her music profits to create a neighborhood model of safe loving foster homes through the Tulsa Girls Home, she co-founded Christmas is Not Cancelled, Inc.: A marketing company that raises awareness and funds for amazing causes and nonprofits while giving participants the chance to win huge prizes!As a teenager, Jen garnered the National Educators Award for her work in Guatemala. She is known for advocating children’s rights and supports charities that focus on protecting children against physical and sexual abuse, human trafficking, and the world water crisis. Truly selfless, she is a foster and adoptive parent herself and is a celebrity ambassador for the child abuse and treatment organization Childhelp, Project Orphans, ECPAT, Olive Crest, The Dave Thomas Foundation, The Thirst Project, The Los Angeles Mission, Oneless, A21, Children of the Night, and the Innocent Justice Foundation. She also serves on the board of Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect and the Tulsa Girls Home.
  • 12. Founder and CEO of Renegade Global, Amy Jo Martin, discusses Twitter, Treasure Maps, and Putting Your Pencil Down!

    36:03
    MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey’ will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads).Amy Jo Martin guides people down the black diamond slopes of business and life. She helps them navigate difficult paths, turning ideas into actions.Amy Jo is the author of New York Times best-seller Renegades Write the Rules, host of the top-ranked Why Not Now? Podcast and an angel investor. She’s the Founder and CEO of Renegade Global, a human innovation company that unlocks positive disruption for both individuals and corporations. It is also home of the acclaimed Renegade Accelerator program. Amy Jo has built two 7-figure companies over the past decade. She has a social media following of more than a 1 million people and was named the third most powerful woman on Twitter by Forbes. Amy Jo founded her first company in 2009 to help corporations, celebrities and sports entities humanize their brands. Amy Jo has worked closely with world-renowned brands such as Hilton Worldwide, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Nike, Shaquille O’Neal and many others. Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, and Baron Davis, NBA player, invested in the company and after a successful seven-year run growing the business globally into ten different countries, Amy Jo exited in 2016.Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Amy Jo worked for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns during the wild wild west days of digital and social media – there were no rules or regulations in place so she helped write the rules.Amy Jo is also a contributor to Harvard Business Review and Fast Company. She has been featured in media outlets including Vanity Fair, TIME, Forbes, The New York Times, Fast Company, ESPN SportsCenter, USA Today, MSNBC and Newsweek. She travels the globe to speak and advocate for human innovation. Addressing in-person audiences as large as 10,000 to smaller, intimate groups of executives in nearly every industry.Amy Jo resides in Austin, Texas with her husband, son and two Aussie Shepherds.
  • 11. Golden Globe Nominee, Liz Hannah, discusses Childcare, Formula, and Being a New Mom in Hollywood

    44:21
    MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey’ will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads). Liz Hannah is the hottest writer in Hollywood and is probably writing and producing your favorite shows and movies right now. While Hannah is most well known for writing movies "The Post" starring Meryl Streep and "Long Shot" with Charlize Theron, she recently executive produced and wrote Hulu’s limited series, “The Girl from Plainville." She is a Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award nominee and WGA award winner, and in 2021, launched her own production company, Happy Friday Productions. Hannah is also an old friend who may or may not have gotten her start writing my old tv show ‘The Valley Girl Show’, she’s also a new mom! 
  • 10. The 43rd US Treasurer, Rosie Rios, Discusses Childcare Initiatives and Female Faces!

    49:47
    MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey’ will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads). Rosie Rios is the CEO of Red River Associates, an investment management consulting firm. She was appointed by President Joe Biden as Chair of America 250, the United States Congressional Commission planning the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 2026. She served as the 43rd Treasurer of the United States with oversight over 4,000 employees and a $5 billion budget. She also initiated and led the efforts to place a portrait of a woman on U.S. currency. Prior to her presidential appointment in Treasury, she was Managing Director of Investments for MacFarlane Partners, a $22 billion real estate investment management firm based in San Francisco. She is a graduate of Harvard University and was selected as the first Latina in Harvard’s 386-year history to have a portrait commissioned in her honor. She currently serves on the board of American Family Insurance, Ripple Labs, Inc., and Fidelity Charitable Trust. Her personal passion includes EMPOWERMENT 2026, a non-profit that highlights historical American women and women in positions of money and power. Rosie is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was honored as one of USA Today’s Women of the Century. Most recently, Rosie served on the Treasury Transition Team on behalf of President Joe Biden.
  • 9. Meet Evelyn Taft, CBSLA & KCAL9 Meteorologist

    38:08
    MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey’ will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads). Evelyn Taft is currently a meteorologist and journalist for CBS KCAL9 Los Angeles. Taft was born to Russian parents in the Bay Area. She grew up speaking Russian and learned English from watching the news! Previously she worked at KRON4 in San Francisco. She is a member of the National Weather Association and has been granted the National Weather Association Seal of Approval. Jesse and Evelyn have been friends since high school.
  • 8. Meet Keisha Blair, Founder of the Institute on Holistic Wealth

    32:00
    MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey’ will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads). Keisha Blair is the award-winning, international bestselling author of Holistic Wealth Expanded and Updated: 36 Life Lessons to Help You Recover From Disruption, Find Your Life Purpose and Achieve Financial Freedom (forward for the book was written by Actress Kelly Rutherford, star of Gossip Girl, Melrose Place and Dynasty). Keisha Blair is regarded as the “Mother of Holistic Wealth”, and Founder of the Holistic Wealth Movement. She is the Founder of the Institute on Holistic Wealth. Keisha Blair is a Harvard Trained Policy Expert and Economist and was part of the Canadian Prime Minister’s supporting delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and the East Asia Summit in Singapore. Her viral article “My husband died at Age 34. Here Are 40 Life Lessons I Learned From It was viewed by more than 50 million people globally. Keisha Blair is also the host of the Holistic Wealth podcast. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the New York Observer and many more publications. Her ebook is currently on sale for .99 cents, link below:https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09BVWW5SG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=
  • 7. Meet Giselle Hale, Mayor of Redwood City

    41:51
    MOMumental is a podcast hosted by Emmy nominated talk show host and gender focused venture capitalist Jesse Draper. ‘MOMumental: A Journey' will explore the world of childcare, education, foster care, parenting and anything pertaining to our children’s future. Draper will be discussing solutions to childcare challenges with entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians and most importantly Moms (and Dads). Giselle Hale is a working mother, businesswoman and the Mayor of Redwood City.Giselle is the current Mayor of Redwood City and was a recent candidate for State Assembly AD21. Hales priorities include improving access to mental health and healthcare services, increasing childcare affordability and availability, improving the quality of local schools and continuing her leadership work on improving housing affordability. Hale is also a small business owner and advocate and climate leader who brings fresh ideas to our challenges.Hale entered service in Redwood City volunteering for ballot measures with the Redwood City Education Foundation. Inspired to build a better world for her daughter, Hale joined the planning commission in 2014 when her oldest daughter was just 6 months old and gave birth to her second daughter while serving her first term. She was elected to the Redwood City Council in 2018. Hale has focused on housing, transportation and children and youth and worked to solidify these priorities as part of the City’s strategic plan. During her time on the City Council Hale has been called in the words of the San Jose Mercury “a strong advocate for local families and marginalized communities.” While serving locally, Hale also worked nationally to secure paid sick days and family leave with the National Partnership for Women and Families. Hale was on the team that drove the San Mateo County Covid Childcare Relief Fund that raised $5M in public and private dollars that kept 340 childcare providers' doors open during the Covid19 pandemic. As Mayor, Hale led the creation of a Countywide “Mayors Mental Health Initiative” which has helped secure $200,000 in funding for a Mental Health First Aid program. On homelessness, Hale worked on the ad hoc committee that led to the creation of the largest safe parking program in the County and the passage of AB 2553, a law that allows 24x7 safe parking in situations of crisis shelter. In addition to her work with the City, Hale is on the Executive Board of Peninsula Clean Energy and the Association of Bay Area Governments which work regionally on clean energy, housing and transportation solutions. She holds a Masters of Business Administration from Thunderbird School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin. Prior to her work in government, Hale was COO of a civic technology software firm and had a 15 year career in technology.