Since her childhood, Shamara McFarland, a counselor, advocate, and motivational speaker, was affectionately known as “Grandma Fresh,” a nickname she earned for her old-soul sensibility and practical advice. But today, that name means something much more. McFarland has transformed her identity into a thriving platform through her podcast and media brand carrying the same name, The Grandma Fresh Show. In her podcast, she distills timeless values into modern, seven-minute bursts of inspiration, part storytelling, part self-help, and entirely about empowering people to navigate life with clarity and compassion.
“It came from my relationship with my grandmother,” McFarland explains. “She was my secure attachment. I didn’t attend daycare; I spent my time with her, my great-grandmother, and my grandfather. From Sunday dinners with extended family to sitting on porches in the evening with my maternal grandmother, I learned how important connection was. That foundation shaped me.”
That sense of connection has followed her ever since. “Back then, the trend was to have fluorescent sweatshirts with your nickname on the back,” she recalls. “My friends chose ‘Grandma Fresh’ because I was always the sensible one, the friend who would say, ‘Maybe you shouldn’t do that.'” Today, that same mix of wisdom and practicality defines her brand.
McFarland has developed The Grandma Fresh Show as a self-help space that blends inspiration, education, and empowerment. Each short-form podcast episode takes an old saying or value and gives it a modern, applicable twist. “The structure is seven minutes of inspiration and motivation for your practical application,” McFarland says. “For example, people used to say, ‘Children should be seen and not heard.’ My take is actually, we should talk to kids, really listen to them, and even learn with them.”
Her work is expanding beyond short-form podcasts into docuseries and longer video projects. “Right now, I’m editing long-form content on relationships in the child support system that’s going to be released by November,” she shares. “I’m also developing docuseries on topics like foster care and domestic violence. There’s a lot of information out there, but not always accurate information. I want to change that, helping people navigate with clarity and offer solutions.”
McFarland’s drive to advocate for others stems from her education, with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Black Studies, a Master’s in Forensic Psychology, and a Juris Doctorate. Alongside a 23-year career in family law and probation, she has volunteered as an advocate for women’s safety, children with disabilities, and mentored incarcerated men on emotional intelligence and reentry.
“I realized as a young adult that I’m a natural advocate,” she says. “I’ve always been concerned about injustice, always standing up for people who didn’t have a voice.”
That calling has led her everywhere from Los Angeles detention centers to speaking in Tanzania, where she once traveled alone to stay with a host family and work with local women. She recalls counseling a young woman newly diagnosed with HIV. “She told me it was the first time she had been able to cry since her diagnosis. To know she could leave and finally talk to her parents, that was very impactful.”
Even her name speaks to her path. “I once looked up the meaning and learned ‘Shamara’ is Arabic for ‘battle-ready warrior,'” she says. “That felt appropriate to who I am. I’m an empath, but I’m also ready to stand up for people and be their advocate.”
With The Grandma Fresh Show, McFarland is building a media company dedicated to family, faith, and holistic advocacy. “Wisdom is knowledge and skills and how you apply it,” she reflects. “That’s what I want Grandma Fresh to be: a place where people can gain understanding, practical tools, and the encouragement to keep going.”