March 6, 2026

Fresh Take: Susan Sutton, The Ember Project

Susan Sutton discusses the systemic and generational barriers teen moms face when trying to succeed, and how her nonprofit, The Ember Project, helps them overcome those barriers.

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What do we misunderstand about teen mothers? How does stigma contribute to the difficulties teen mothers face? This week we're talking to Susan Sutton about her nonprofit The Ember Project, which supports teen and early mothers through mentorship, financial literacy, education support, and small but powerful financial grants.

Susan shares her own story of becoming a mother in 10th grade and how that experience shaped her mission to break cycles of generational poverty and teen pregnancy stigma.

We discuss:

  • The role of teen fathers and the importance of shared accountability

  • Why $500 can be the difference between dropping out and graduating for a teen mom

  • Mentorship as a bridge between survival mode and stability

Here's where you can find Susan:

 

What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.

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What Fresh Hell podcast, mom friends, funny moms, parenting advice, parenting experts, parenting tips, mothers, families, parenting skills, parenting strategies, parenting styles, busy moms, self-help for moms, manage kid’s behavior, teenager, tween, child development, family activities, family fun, parent child relationship, decluttering, kid-friendly, invisible workload, default parent, Susan Sutton interview, The Ember Project nonprofit, teen motherhood support, teen mom education barriers, generational poverty cycle, interrupted college education teen moms, childcare and teen mothers, rapid repeat pregnancy, duct tape budgeting meaning, financial literacy for young moms, mentoring teen mothers, small grants for single moms, stigma of teen pregnancy, breaking poverty cycles, support for early mothers, parenting podcast teen moms, nonprofit helping single mothers

 

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