Close Up Radio features author and mental health advocate Tammy Powder

Close Up Radio recently featured Tammy Powder in a two-part interview about her work as an author, meditation teacher and mental health advocate. Powder discussed grief, motherhood, her children’s books and upcoming titles focused on self-care, anxiety and connection.

Why it matters: - Tammy Powder’s work ties mental health advocacy to motherhood, grief and practical self-care tools. - Her message centers on helping mothers and children regulate emotions, talk about anxiety and build healthier family support systems. - The interview also highlights how personal loss can shape public advocacy and creative work.

What happened: - Close Up Radio featured Tammy Powder in a two-part interview. - The first interview aired Tuesday, September 29, at 12 p.m. Eastern with Jim Masters. - The second interview aired Monday, October 5, at 1 p.m. Eastern with Doug Llewelyn. - Powder was presented as an author, children’s book author, public speaker, meditation teacher, spiritual writer and mental health advocate.

The details: - Powder is a mother of four from Jaffray, British Columbia, Canada. - She described a health crisis that began in 2008, when she developed profound exhaustion, severe head and neck pain and other neurological symptoms. - She was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, a rare neurological disorder. - Surgery helped manage the condition, but her symptoms returned about six months later. - The illness led to depression, strain in her marriage and difficulty working. - Powder said stress was one of her biggest triggers and that she learned self-care was necessary. - She said meditation eventually helped her ground herself and regulate her emotions. - Powder also described supporting her daughter Ruby through severe bullying and later serious mental health struggles. - Powder stepped away from the family business so Ruby could have a safer, more supportive environment. - Ruby died by suicide after becoming a mental health advocate herself. - Powder said she prefers the word “cope” over “heal” because the grief remains. - Powder said her faith and belief in an afterlife do not erase the pain of losing her daughter. - Her upcoming book, Mamas Need Love and Compassion Too, includes her story, interviews with other mothers and a chapter about Ruby. - The book also includes resources for mothers seeking support. - Powder’s Bella book series is designed to give children language and tools for understanding emotions. - In Bella and the Bossy Driver, a child learns to recognize anxiety and talk back to worry. - Powder uses a vehicle metaphor to show that anxiety can ride along without being in control. - The next Bella book, Bella and the Powerful Five 5, is scheduled for release at the end of September. - The new book teaches children to use their five senses as a grounding tool when overwhelmed. - Powder also brings the Bella concepts into schools and works with children and teachers. - Her forthcoming book, Conversations with My Daughter, is scheduled for Fall 2027. - That book will explore her continuing relationship with Ruby and stories of faith, light and connection after Ruby’s death. - Powder invited readers to follow her journey through her “From My Heart to Yours” newsletter and to learn more at Tammy Powder’s website. - Close Up Radio also directed listeners to its social channels, including Close Up Radio on Facebook. - The podcast episode is available on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and Spotify.

Between the lines: - Powder’s story blends personal trauma with a broader public message about self-care, especially for mothers who are expected to carry most of the emotional load at home. - Her books extend that message to children, aiming to give families shared language for anxiety, regulation and resilience. - The emphasis on spirituality adds another layer to her advocacy, framing grief as something to live with rather than solve.

What’s next: - Powder’s next book release is Bella and the Powerful Five 5 at the end of September. - Conversations with My Daughter is slated for Fall 2027. - Powder plans to keep expanding the Bella series and continue school-based work with children and teachers. - Her outreach will also continue through speaking, writing, mindfulness and mental health education.