The Gag is… Podcast
The GAG is" is a powerful podcast that takes you on a journey through the life of a remarkable black woman who defied the odds. Charli Shanta became a teen mom and a widow by 21. Now in her mid 30’s life has been unpredictable, she’s faced unimaginable adversity yet she's never given up. Join Charli as she shares her inspiring story, offering a message of resilience and hope even if it isn’t always perfect. Discover that even in the darkest times there are better days ahead. Laughter can always follow tears. Connect with Me! Email: TheGagIsPod@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegagispod/
Episodes
Grief doesn’t end after the funeral—and neither do the opinions, comments, and unsolicited advice.
In this video, I’m having a real conversation about **life after losing my husband**, what grief looks like when everyone else has gone back to their normal lives, and what it’s like grieving in the age of social media.
I’m talking about:
💔 Life after losing my husban...
Finding out the truth about your spouse’s death should never happen through a random YouTube video. After months away from the mic, I’m back to explain why the break lasted so long and what it cost me to get here mentally, emotionally, and physically. This is a raw return episode about grief, trauma, and what it looks like when life keeps swinging even after you’re already down.
I wal...
This episode helps you reset holiday expectations and build a simple, firm budget that keeps stress low while making space for meaningful traditions and lasting experiences. We’ll walk through practical steps like using cash envelopes, safe shopping habits, and decluttering before buying, plus ways to teach kids the value of experiences over quick thrills like game skins.
What We Cover:
- Setting a clear famil...
It’s our 75th episode and a Halloween special with Pink Lady vibes! We’re keeping trick-or-treat night fun, safe, and full of memories that last longer than the candy stash. From planning well-lit walking routes and setting curfews to reflective gear, breathable costumes, and why closed-toe shoes beat Crocs on a debris-filled sidewalk — we cover it all.
We talk group coordination, AirTags, candy-che...
We get honest about parent burnout—how the school year, sports, injuries, and constant driving can erase sleep, joy, and any sense of self. We share practical ways to set limits, protect rest, and stop out-parenting other parents so we can show up whole.
• naming the signs of burnout and sleep debt
• rethinking youth sports time and travel demands
• choosing meets and commitments with intention
We share simple, real ways to build quality family time during the school year—car chats with the radio off, no-phone dinners, and small rituals that help kids feel seen. From pumpkin nights to pool dares to a heart-racing driving lesson, we show how micro moments add up.
• why quality beats quantity for family time
• car conversations as a safe space
• dinner as a no‑tech zone with Jeopardy
• ...
Friendships can make or break the school years—and as parents, we want to help our kids build healthy connections. In this video, we’ll cover why social skills are so important, green flags and red flags in friendships, and practical parenting tips to guide your child without forcing socialization.
You’ll learn:
✔️ How to help your child make friends naturally
✔️ The signs of healthy f...
We explore essential back-to-school strategies for parents navigating the transition from summer to the academic year, with practical tips for creating successful homework routines and balancing academics with extracurricular activities.
• Create a dedicated homework space free from distractions with good lighting
• Consider adding ambient elements like fish tanks, instrumental music, or essential oils to ...
Charlie shares tried-and-true strategies for managing school lunches and keeping students well-fed during busy school days. This episode wraps up the back-to-school series with practical advice for parents navigating the daily challenge of packing nutritious meals kids will actually eat.
• Create a lunch strategy before school starts - decide if your child will have school lunch, home lunch, or a hybrid appro...
We wrap up our back-to-school series with practical advice for high school and college supplies, focusing on the transition between these educational stages and what students actually need versus what retailers want you to buy.
• High school students need quality binders and organizational tools to manage increased coursework
• Laptops and tablets become essential tools for high school students using onlin...
Back-to-school clothes shopping can be the most expensive part of preparing for the new school year, but with proper planning and practical strategies, parents can stay on budget while ensuring their children have what they need.
• Prevent overspending by setting a firm budget before shopping
• Use cash instead of cards to help maintain spending discipline
• Sort through last year's clothes to determine...
We need to focus not just on getting our kids ready for back-to-school season, but also ensuring we're taking care of ourselves as parents because without us there's no them, and without them there's no us.
• Take time to just breathe - whatever happens, it's going to be okay
• Create a plan for your school-year routine, but view times as guidelines, not rigid requirements
• Give yourself a gradual wake...
The back-to-school season brings challenges for parents navigating lengthy supply lists and deciding between self-shopping versus purchasing pre-packaged kits from schools.
• Elementary school supply lists grow longer each year with each teacher requiring different items
• Self-shopping allows budget control with many supplies costing under a dollar during sales
• Pre-packaged elementary supply kits cos...
Returning with another back-to-school preparation episode, I focus on the critical importance of keeping your emergency contact information updated with your child's school.
• Working in schools taught me how common it is for emergency contact numbers to be disconnected or outdated
• Parents often forget to update contact information during school transitions (elementary to middle, middle to high)
Charlie Shante discusses the importance of scheduling back-to-school health appointments early to ensure your child starts the school year with all required medical clearances and in good health.
• Start scheduling physical exams and immunization appointments in May-June while appointments are still available
• Avoid using urgent care for school physicals as they don't know your child's full medical ...
Manners matter, and I've noticed an alarming decline in basic courtesy among children today, creating challenges for both adults and other kids who interact with them.
• Children as young as five or six showing shocking disrespect to adults and peers
• Parents often defend or deny their children's behavior instead of correcting it
• Children should display good manners consistently, not just when parent...
Breaking life into manageable pieces can make restructuring your life more achievable, just like eating a pizza is easier when it's sliced rather than trying to consume it whole. Using a "four quarters" approach helps identify goals, gather resources, develop self-determination, and create a sustainable game plan.
• Identifying what you want to accomplish in both personal and professional aspects of life
•...
Summer brings unique challenges for parents as they navigate planning activities, managing increased expenses, and keeping kids constructively occupied during the break. From sports commitments that don't pause for summer to the mysterious phenomenon of children who suddenly develop insatiable appetites the moment school ends, this episode tackles the realities of summer parenting with humor and practical advice.
Memorial Day is specifically for honoring military personnel who died in service to the country, not to be confused with Veterans Day which honors all who have served. I share my personal experience as a military widow and why the common phrase "Happy Memorial Day" is deeply painful for those who have lost loved ones in service.
• Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May and is a day to mourn and honor de...
Charlie shares a heartfelt and unfiltered Mother's Day episode after her son's brief attempt to take over leaves her scrambling to create content. She opens up about her 25 years of motherhood, the joys and challenges of raising children, and why she wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world.
• Original plan for son to host the Mother's Day episode fell through when he only recorded a few minute...
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