Podcast Summary: Can I Walk With You?

Host: Thoraya
Episode: Can I walk with you, Marcia?
Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

Kicking off Season One in New York City, Thoraya walks with Marcia, a vibrant Barbadian woman with decades of experience as a nanny and baby nurse. In this candid, street-level conversation, Marcia shares insights into her life, career, and philosophies on health, resilience, love, and altruism, all colored by her warmth, humor, and island wisdom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Marcia’s Background and Expertise (00:06–02:03)

• Marcia introduces herself: a native of Barbados, experienced baby nurse, and nanny searching for her next position.
• Quote:
  “I’m a very good nanny. I’ve been doing it for 30 years. Over 30 years… all of my kids is very intelligent because I start from babyhood. You read, you count. Even though they can’t talk, but it all goes in the brain.” — Marcia (00:21)
• She credits much of her skill to her upbringing as the eldest daughter in a large family, caring for younger siblings from age 13.

2. Herbal Wisdom and Health—A Natural Approach (02:03–04:29)

• Marcia describes a holistic, herbal approach to healthcare, avoiding most pharmaceuticals.
• Quote:
  “I’m a herbalist, really. I do a lot of juicing. I know a lot of herbs to boil for certain things. I’m 67, I don’t take pills. I’m 67 years old.” — Marcia (02:27)
• She recounts an experience with prescription medication that caused debilitating pain—she switched to herbal teas and juicing, feeling “like a brand new girl.” (03:32–03:59)

3. Hardships and Triumphs as an Immigrant Worker (04:31–05:56)

• Marcia details her early years in the U.S., working long hours in domestic jobs for minimal pay and sometimes unreasonable demands.
• Quote:
  “Many times I cry in people’s house, cause of the kind of things they want you to do…like scrub bathroom with toothbrush. I went through a lot.” — Marcia (04:59)
• Despite challenges, she emphasizes the importance of perseverance and happiness over wealth.

4. Family and Caregiving Beyond Blood (06:18–09:36)

• Marcia has a son who is now thriving after serving in the Marines. She nursed him back to health with a regimen of herbs after struggles with medication.
• She still keeps in touch with some of the children she nannied, describing deep, familial bonds and the bittersweet feeling of leaving them.
• Memorable Story:
  “My last kid… they couldn’t get him off my leg. He said, ‘Masi, please, please, please don’t go.’ That hurt my heart. I was crying.” — Marcia (09:41)

5. Positive Attitude and Resilience (10:02–11:53)

• Marcia attributes her positivity to choosing to make the best out of life’s circumstances, regardless of hardship.
• Quote:
  “Life is what it is. I just try to make the best out of everything. If it’s something you can’t change, you could always try to make the best of it.” — Marcia (10:18)
• She offers advice on trusting one’s instincts for major decisions.

6. Friends, Giving, and Small Acts of Kindness (13:01–17:56)

• Marcia values a handful of close friends, and expresses her love for giving—gifts, food, or simply kindness—even though she “never got it growing up.”
• Health tips: prefers brown sugar over white (“White is processed. Brown is straight from the canes.” [17:15]) and is mindful of the food she eats, particularly meat and poultry.

7. Loss, Love, and Letting Life Happen (20:08–24:53)

• Marcia lost her partner to COVID (“Covid take my baby. Kill him in an instant.” [20:09]), but cherishes the deep love they shared.
• She has a rare blood type (“universal donor, can give to anyone but only take from my own”) and sees this as a source of pride and resilience.
• On finding love: Let it find you, don’t force it.
  “If somebody is there for you, you will find them. Don’t go looking, cause sometimes everything that looks nice is not nice.” — Marcia (23:42)

8. Modern Life, Wisdom, and Final Messages (24:55–29:39)

• Marcia reflects on how the world has changed—becoming less compassionate and more materialistic. She advises skepticism and discernment, especially in relationships and interactions.
• She did the walk because of a strong “spirit connection,” not her usual inclination.

9. Marcia’s Parting Words of Compassion (28:36–29:39)

• Final Message:
  “If we could just share a little something with somebody, it makes a different light. Sometimes I might give somebody a meal and you just see the light in their eyes light up… If we could love one another more, I think the world would be a better place. But we just haters. That’s my last comment.” — Marcia (28:36–29:39)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------| | 00:21 | “I’m a very good nanny. I’ve been doing it for 30 years. Over 30 years…” | Marcia | | 02:27 | “I’m a herbalist really…I’m 67, I don’t take pills.” | Marcia | | 04:59 | “Many times I cry in people’s house, cause of the kind of things they want you to do…” | Marcia | | 09:41 | “My last kid…they couldn’t get him off my leg…That hurt my heart, I was crying.” | Marcia | | 10:18 | “I just try to make the best out of everything…that’s how I look at things.” | Marcia | | 17:15 | “Stop drinking white sugar. Always use brown. White is processed. Brown is straight from the canes.” | Marcia | | 20:09 | “Covid take my baby. Kill him in an instant.” | Marcia | | 23:42 | “Don’t go looking, cause sometimes everything that looks nice is not nice.” | Marcia | | 28:36 | “If we could just share a little something with somebody, it makes a different light…” | Marcia |

Timestamps for Main Segments

• 00:06–02:03: Marcia’s background, career, and self-promotion
• 02:03–04:29: Herbal methods, skepticism toward medicine
• 04:31–05:56: Immigrant struggles and resilience
• 06:18–09:36: Family, caregiving, and connections with nanny children
• 10:02–11:53: On positivity and handling tough circumstances
• 13:01–17:56: Friendships, gift-giving, health habits
• 20:08–24:53: Love, loss, health, and approach to relationships
• 28:36–29:39: Final compassionate message

Tone & Atmosphere

• Warm, conversational, spontaneous, with Marcia’s humor and authenticity at the center.
• Thoraya brings out personal stories in a way that feels intimate and uplifting, true to the show’s spirit of street-level connection.

For Listeners Seeking More

Marcia is looking for nanny or baby nurse opportunities. Serious inquiries can reach Thoraya for a connection, per details at [26:18–27:18].

This episode offers a moving portrait of resilience, heart, and practical wisdom from a pillar of her community. Marcia’s life and world-view, rooted in compassion and old-school knowledge, make for a walking conversation full of laughter, honesty, and inspiration.