Meet Our Wonderful 2025 Cast!

Rachel McShane was born and raised in St. Louis, and like many locals, tried living elsewhere for awhile, but ultimately came home to start a family. She is mom to two children, a 15 year old daughter and 12 year old son. She has always loved writing, especially poetry, though her career path has been in the sciences. She is a strong advocate for mental health support, especially as both of her children have struggled with depression and anxiety. She also loves music, and sings with St. Louis’s oldest choir dedicated to amplifying the voices of LGBTQIA people, Black Tulip Chorale. Lastly, Rachel adores animals, and volunteers as a foster mom to kittens with Stray Rescue St. Louis.  

Lori grew up and still lives in a small town in So. Il. She is the 1st in her family to graduate HS, then college. She chose to stay at home to raise 7 sons with the help of her husband of 42 yrs, John, and now she's a Grammy of 6.     She bought a guitar at a yard sale in 1996 and taught herself to play and started writing songs.  She was raised on PBS, and brought up her sons, and now grands to watch PBS programs, and she is super honored to be part of such a creative show.
Fast forward 28 yrs and she is finally recording her "mom rock" music to share with the world! Inspired by motherhood to follow her dreams of playing some R & R music.

Born and raised in Central Massachusetts, Carolyn Dufault moved to St. Louis in 2001 to pursue a PhD in Cognitive Science, focusing on memory and aging. During graduate school, she met her husband, and they now live in Webster Groves with their amazing teenagers (ages 13 and 17) and three cats. She is an associate professor and assistant dean at Washington University School of Medicine, where she has worked for the past 12 years.

A lifelong advocate for adoptee rights, Carolyn is passionate about raising awareness of adoptees' stories. In 2022, she played a role in changing a Massachusetts law to allow adopted individuals to access their original birth certificates—an effort that culminated in standing beside the governor in the statehouse as he signed the bill into law.

Beyond her professional and advocacy work, Carolyn loves spending time with her family, enjoying a good cup of coffee, buying stacks of books (and reading some of them), and entertaining others with her wicked good Boston accent, which she can activate on demand.

  Jessica Ambuehl was born in the Midwest where she’s raised her two boys that are the light of her life

and completed her Master’s Degree in Media Communications and Public Relations at Webster

University. She is an award-winning professional storyteller on both sides of the camera. Her resume

boasts over 200 acting gigs for TV and film and over 100 production projects in

producing/casting/directing . . . but what feeds her soul more than anything else in this world is

providing pro bono photojournalism for over 15 years for nonprofits around the world. Her

international service began as a teenager in Romania and continued into adulthood by using her

passion for story to capture life through her lens. Over 16 countries later, she continues to travel to

developing nations to use imagery to connect the world through human experiences by evoking

emotions in the audience to desire to learn more, value differences, discover beauty in brokenness,

and expose them to a world they didn’t know existed but can now no longer deny. Jessica sat on

various nonprofit boards serving Haiti and Jamaica and currently serves on multiple film nonprofit

boards to champion and develop the talent right here in Missouri. She believes the “difference you

make for one can impact the future for many.”  

Heather Kays is a multifaceted storyteller with a background in political science and

media studies from New York University. Her journey weaves together award-winning

journalism, marketing expertise, and a prolific writing career across diverse genres.

She is the author of Pieces of Us, a memoir/family saga exploring her mother Emma

Mae's struggles with alcoholism and addiction. With raw honesty, Heather captures

resilience, love, and the complexities of familial relationships. Her upcoming young adult

novel, Lila's Letters, follows a young woman navigating trauma, finding solace in the

unsent letters she writes—a testament to the healing power of words.

Heather's passion for writing began at age seven and has since expanded into poetry,

evocative short stories, and impactful books. She is also the creator and administrator

of The Alchemists, an online writing group fostering creativity and community among

writers.

She enjoys discussing storytelling, complex narratives, and the delicate balance

between creativity and marketing.

 The Rev. Linda Anderson-Little serves as Pastor of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Richardsin, TX and as a part-time Spiritual Director. Linda is the author of two books, a children's book, Tears of Joy That Changed the World, and Motherhood Calling: Experiencing God in Everyday Life, which won the 2017 Indie Book Awards prize for Christian Non-fiction, and from which her Mama Said, Mama Said essay came. She blogs at soulstorywriter.net. Linda and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Dan Anderson-Little, a Presbyterian pastor, have three adult children and are excitedly awaiting their first grandchild in the fall! 

 Yoro is a self-taught jewelry designer, wardrobe stylist, creative event curator, story teller and founder of Black Creatives in the Lou™️ and Fashion Friendzy™️. 

She creates fashionable shopping experiences at local boutiques, department stores, and private events to connect customers with STL creatives.  She curates fashionable gallery style showcases  for local Creatives yearly for Black History Month that draws hundreds of fashion enthusiasts for all over the region. As a Jewelry designer, her award-winning designs have been featured in magazines, red carpets, movies, art galleries, and runway shows. Yoro’s passion for the creative community and talent for bringing people together has made her platform  grow and soar to higher heights and deeper depths to date. Her impactful storytelling has allowed her grace multiple stages especially for women's galas and gatherings both large and small! 

Her rise in the film industry came after she hosted a wardrobe closet sale, and the production coordinator for the movie “On Fire” attended after seeing Yoro on Fox2Now. Impressed by Yoro’s infectious energy through TV screen, they connected, leading to Yoro being booked as a costumer for the film. 

With her impeccable reputation and experience, Yoro is poised for more opportunities in the film industry and vows to support other creatives like herself has she paves the way.  Yoro considers herself a bridge builder and a gap filler so that others can find their way and no one is left behind.

A quote that she created states, "We were all created by the Creator to be creative so live creatively™️"

 Fatemeh Mardi is a mom to two powerful souls in 16 and 8 year old bodies. She is also the bonus mom of a 17 year old joyous young man who joined the family via her daughter. Together, they are learning to maintain balance on their rollercoaster rides of emotions.

She enjoys discussing identity, productivity, neuro diversity, spirituality, and all the related intersections. Reach out if you want to chat. FatemehMardi@gmail.com

 Louise came to St. Louis as a “military brat” and stayed through college. She fell in love with a man who loves St. Louis and his mother, and has been a transplant ever since. Louise and her husband Chris are raising three spectacular girls, each more wild and strong-willed than the last, as they move down the birth order! Louise is a teacher at a small school in the city. She is passionate about education, inclusion, and equity. Louise has a deep love for animals and a zeal for supporting local businesses as well as being a tourist in her own town. As her children grow, she is finding time to rediscover her love of literature, especially Victorian Gothic novels and Historical Fiction with strong female protagonists.  

 Caroline is a native South St. Louisan who wears her city pride loud and proud. After stints in NYC, Chicago and Webster she and her motley crew reside in St. Louis Hills. Caroline’s 4 legged children (an overweight beagle named Queen of Sheba and a Golden Retriever named Gary who she may have “stolen” from a funeral) love her very much. Her 2 legged children (Maren & Gus) are on the fence about her. Insert honorable mention of husband here. 

Caroline did many exciting things in her life before having children, but now her most notable achievement is trunk or treat champion 3 years running. 

One of Caroline’s philosophies on life is “Girls with good hair have good lives.” She is working on both. 

  Asaki is a dedicated special education teacher with 16 years of experience who is passionate about supporting her students in their academic and personal growth.  With 20 years of coaching track and field, she has worked with athletes ranging in age from 5 to 18 helping them develop their skills and reach their full potential.

Asaki is also a proud graduate of Parkway West High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.  Outside of work, she is a devoted parent to a 17 year old son and a 7 year old daughter, actively supporting her childrens’ various sporting events. She also enjoys staying involved in her community, making a positive impact both inside and outside the classroom.

Rose is an entrepreneur, creative, and aspiring mother. Born in California and raised in Texas, she moved to Warrenton, Missouri at 13 years old. She attended St. Francis Borgia Regional High School (yes, she knows you all want to know).

A storyteller at heart, Rose has been writing and performing since childhood.

Her journey into holistic and alternative healthcare began after spending her adolescence and early 20s battling debilitating, chronic illness. Through meditation, yoga, refined nutrition, somatic therapies, and psychedelic-assisted healing, she gave herself what medications and hospitals couldn’t—an empowered and fulfilling life.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Rose left the field of behavioral therapy to launch her life coaching business in 2019. She now works as an Authenticity and Intimacy Coach, helping men who long for deeper confidence, honest connection, emotional ease, and a clear sense of self. She’s currently pursuing a Doctorate in Holistic Health from Quantum University.

In 2023, Rose returned to the stage after a ten-year break as Candy in Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses with Act Two Theatre. She shares reflections on healing, relationships, self-expression, and the usual human crazy through her blog and podcast, Naturally Rosey, on Substack.

She is thrilled to be part of this year’s Mama Said, Mama Said cast, where she can blend her love of authentic self-expression, connection, and creative arts.

 Carmen Rose is a proud mom of two boys, Alan and Eddie, and an autism mom who fights every day for her son’s dignity and place in the world. Living across the river in Collinsville, IL, she, along with her husband Paul, believes that the first rule of autism is to talk about autism. In addition to her role as a mom, Carmen is a K-5 music educator in Kirkwood and is passionate about advocating for students with special needs. She may be the mom she never expected to be, but Carmen is stronger and more resilient than she ever thought possible. 

 Meramec Valley Girl is a wife and mother of 4 grown children and 2 grandchildren. As the kids grew up, she found herself filling her free time by writing melodies and lyrics, a soundtrack to her life. Now with the stage name of Meramec Valley Girl, she can be found around St. Louis singing her original songs to anyone who will listen. Susan is very honored to sing and play a song the new 2025 theme song she wrote just for the Mama Said Show about not being the perfect mom, but hopefully being “Good Enough”.  

 Terry Baker is the mother of 5 adult children, "Mimi" to 6 precious grands, and wife to Jim, her husband of 53 years. (Yes, she was almost a child bride!)  A retired Early Childhood Special Ed Speech Language Pathologist, she's an avid reader and story teller. Terry fell in love with Mama Said, Mama Said in 2014 and is delighted to be a co-producer/director for the show that both she and her husband have been cast members. 

Laura is the very proud Mom of  two daughters - one a Special Education teacher at Hazelwood Central Sr High, and the other working and living in Nicaragua (why, oh why couldn't she have fallen in love with someone in Ballwin?), and one  great stepson in Charleston.  She's the co-owner of Vintage Vinyl in the Delmar Loop, the Executive Producer (with her husband Tom) of 'Papa Ray's Vintage Vinyl Roadshow', author of the  'Brain Dead in the Burbs & Cooking Your Way Back to Sanity" series.  She also wrote her first screenplay, "Walking on Lily Pads - Unfortunately a True Story", & Vintage Vinyl - The Magazine.  For 10 years, she has been very proud to be a Co-Producer/Director of this wonderful show. Her dear friends, Terry Baker and Sioux Roslawski became her partners in 2020.   For four years, she was Co-Producer/Director of "The Story Bee Show - STL" with Wyntra Storms.  Laura also co-stars in the YouTube cooking show with her two BFF's, Regi Drake & Fritzie Reeves, called "Brain Dead & Cooking with Friends"...and yes, she knows this photo makes her look like she has gas. 

 Sioux Roslawski is a middle school teacher who retired and immediately begged to be put back into the classroom. Now, she's found such a heavenly job, she figures at some point she'll be so falling apart, she'll need to be wheeled in, strapped onto a dolly Hannibal Lecter-style, because she'll still want to teach. Sioux is a mother of two and grammy to four. In her spare time she rescues golden retrievers and freelance writes. Her proudest writing accomplishment? The publication of her historical novel about the Tulsa Race Massacre, Greenwood Gone: Henry's Story. Sioux has been on the Mama Said, Mama Said stage twice, and she's now thrilled to be one of Laura's lackeys. .

 Kelley is an experienced film and television Location Manager who has worked on popular TV shows such as Station 19, This Is Us, and Chicago Fire. She produced an award-winning documentary “Breaking and Entering”, which follows everyday people as they try to break world records. Kelley is currently the St. Louis Film Office Manager at Explore St. Louis. She is an advocate for the St. Louis production community and is dedicated to attracting productions to the St. Louis region. 

Judi is a Mother, (daughter Shira and son Leo),  a Daughter (Dad from England, Mom a Jewish Cowgirl from Wyoming) Sister (the youngest of four, 2 boy 1 girl) and friend (she is a friend to all unless they are mean).

Originally from L.A., she got into the “biz” young, and has felt blessed to parlay her creativity and talents into film, television, radio and digital media locally and nationally. 

Upbeat, free-Spirited open & optimistic, Judi looks to the positive with an attitude for gratitude in her heart. Judi loves to connect by sharing her life stories, especially all her imperfections and flaws, to inspire others and empower them to embrace their own inner beauty, just as they are.