ROCK n’ ROLL MOMS

Mary Morello and Tom Morello

Remembering Mary Morello: The New York Times

I’m honored to have my interview with the late Mary Morello referenced and linked by The New York Times in its August 2026 remembrance of her extraordinary life.

Mary Morello was an educator, activist, civil rights advocate, and mother of Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello – who spent her lifetime speaking out against racism, injustice, inequality and censorship. She dedicated her life to service.

I had the privilege of interviewing Mrs. Morello, back in 2020 when we were all relegated to our homes, about her remarkable life: her experiences with racism and the civil rights movement, her years as an activist and educator, raising her son, and the values that shaped both her activism and her family.

In its remembrance, The New York Times linked to my original interview while looking back at her life, activism and legacy.

It is humbling and an honor to see our conversation become a small part of the larger record celebrating this extraordinary human.

Read More

Read The New York Times: “Mary Morello, Free Speech Activist Who Defended Explicit Lyrics, Dies at 102.”

Read my full interview: “Mary Morello: Tom Morello’s Mother on Civil Rights, Activism, Racism, and a Lifetime Fighting for Justice.”

Rest in power, Mrs. Morello. ❤️

Mary Morello: Tom Morello’s Mother on Civil Rights, Activism, Racism, and a Lifetime Fighting for Justice

by ELAINESIR .

As featured in The New York Times: This interview was referenced and linked in The New York Times’ August 2026 remembrance of Mary Morello. Mary Morello: Tom Morello’s Mother on Civil Rights, Activism, Racism, and a Lifetime Fighting for Justice An exclusive interview by Elaine Sir Long before she became known to millions as the…

PARENTSPEAK – WHAT’S WRONG WITH HOW WE TALK TO OUR CHILDREN :: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FEARLESS AND REVEALING JENNIFER LEHR

by ELAINESIR .

JENNIFER LEHR is a newfound teacher of mine — she goes against the grain in our traditionally linear parenting world. And what she has pulled together from life’s resources, experiences and her own mentors has been encapsulated in her book PARENTSPEAK – and it’s a gem. For those who haven’t yet read LEHR’s WALL STREET JOURNAL essay,…

BONNIE BRUCKHEIMER :: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FEMALE FILM PIONEER – ON CAREER, ACTIVISM, FEMINISM, PARENTING AND PURSUINGYOUR DREAMS

by ELAINESIR .

AN INTERVIEW WITH BONNIE BRUCKHEIMER I used to admire her from afar, in the jam packed, steam filled, fitness crazed workout rooms led by Billy and Michael Blanks. She embraced grace, beauty, chicness, hipness, fitness and confidence. Years later, Bonnie Bruckheimer is my friend, and I get to admire her up close. I applaud and revere her…

THE BEAUTIFUL + MULTITALENTED, SARA GILBERT – on parenting, Roseanne, career and “balancing” it all

by ELAINESIR .

SARA GILBERT is pretty phenom.  She’s known in our cultural ether for a million things — all her career achievements, her outspokenness — and her crucial impact on culturally significant and societal issues.  Like this one.  And that one. I’ve known her since we were kids.  We were the smallest (but I must say, fastest(!) ones) on…

DR. JENNIFER JONES, Ph.D. – a beautiful career mom and The Woman Behind The Wo(men) – on parenting

by ELAINESIR .

She’s been a dear friend for years –  and I’ve always been baffled why she hasn’t been living her professional life in front of a camera.  With Julianne Moore as her doppelganger and Tony Robbins as her charismatic and optimistic soul twin, Dr. Jennifer Jones could have been a shoe-in for any public platform of her…