On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Gina Schrek and Lea Costello for a candid, funny, and refreshingly real conversation about motherhood, stress, burnout, healing, and the impossible expectations women often place on themselves.

Lea shares the story behind her upcoming book, Be Your Own Medicine: Healing from Chronic Stress and Reclaiming Your Rhythm, which she says was written from a place of collapse rather than inspiration. She opens up about recognizing when stress and exhaustion had taken over and her journey to finding her way back physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Nikki also shares the heart behind her book, Let's Be Real: Mamahood Is Hard. We Need Each Other More Than Ever, and why motherhood was never meant to be something we figure out alone. The conversation explores asking for help, finding your people, allowing kids to make mistakes, and letting go of the idea that being a good mom means getting everything right.

Together, Nikki, Gina, and Lea get real about the picture perfect version of motherhood we see online and how comparison can leave women feeling like they are constantly falling short. They talk about parenting through different seasons, the beauty of grandparenting, career pressures, and the unrealistic expectation that moms should somehow raise children, build careers, maintain beautiful homes, and make it all look effortless.

This episode is a reminder that real motherhood is messy, funny, exhausting, beautiful, and sometimes overwhelming. You do not have to have it all together. You need people who will remind you that you were never supposed to do it all alone.

What happens when you're raising children while also caring for aging parents, all while trying not to lose yourself in the process?

In this episode of Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with international guest Zumrut Vardar, joining us all the way from Istanbul, Turkey, for an honest conversation about motherhood, caregiving, and life as part of the "sandwich generation." After spending more than 25 years building a successful career in global consulting and entrepreneurship, Zumrut shares her experience of standing at the intersection of generations, supporting her teenage son and young daughter while also caring for her own mother.

Together, Nikki and Zumrut explore the challenges of balancing caregiving responsibilities, maintaining your identity outside of motherhood, and learning how to support the people you love without losing yourself along the way. This heartfelt conversation is a reminder that motherhood evolves through every stage of life and that connection, grace, and community matter just as much for mothers of older children as they do for new moms.

If you've ever felt pulled in multiple directions while trying to hold everything together for everyone else, this episode will remind you that you are not alone.

What happens when men are taught to stay silent, hide their struggles, and figure life out on their own?

In this powerful episode of Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Zach Zachman, founder of Be Men, a Colorado nonprofit dedicated to helping men become healthier, more connected, and more emotionally aware. Zach shares the deeply personal story that inspired his work, including his own divorce and the realization that many men lack safe spaces to have honest conversations about relationships, mental health, purpose, and personal growth.

Together, Nikki and Zach explore the differences in how men and women communicate, the impact of social expectations on relationships, the dangers of isolation, and why healthy communication, compromise, and self awareness are essential for lasting partnerships. They discuss everything from marriage and divorce to parenting, emotional intelligence, codependency, and the importance of creating supportive communities where both men and women can thrive.

This candid conversation challenges common myths about masculinity and relationships while offering hope, insight, and practical wisdom for anyone seeking healthier connections with themselves and the people they love.

Whether you're a mom, dad, partner, or simply someone navigating life's relationships, this episode is a reminder that growth begins with honest conversations and the courage to truly listen.

Motherhood doesn't come with a manual, and even if it did, every child would rewrite it.

In this heartfelt episode of Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with educator, author, and mom Christianne Meneses Jacobs to talk about the realities of raising children, balancing career and family, and learning to trust yourself through the ups and downs of parenting. With more than 27 years in education and two grown daughters, Christianne shares candid stories about bringing her first baby home, navigating sleepless nights, raising two completely different children, and discovering that no amount of books can fully prepare you for motherhood.

Together, Nikki and Christianne explore the challenges of working motherhood, the importance of supportive partners, the guilt many moms carry, and the lessons learned from trying to balance patience, career demands, and family life. They also reflect on the pride that comes from watching children grow into independent adults and the realization that parenting is often about flexibility, resilience, and giving yourself grace.

Whether you're in the newborn stage, raising teenagers, or launching young adults into the world, this episode is a powerful reminder that there is no perfect parent, only parents doing their best with the tools they have. Join us for an honest conversation about motherhood, self reflection, and embracing the beautiful imperfections of the journey.

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On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Dr. Victoria Vaughn for a heartfelt and often hilarious conversation about motherhood, reinvention, love after divorce, and finding yourself again later in life. After spending decades as an educator, dean, wife, and mother, Dr. Vaughn found herself unexpectedly navigating divorce at 55 years old and reentering the dating world after more than 30 years of marriage.

Together, Nikki and Dr. Vaughn talk honestly about the realities of starting over when life does not go according to plan, the emotional baggage many people carry into relationships later in life, and the courage it takes to remain hopeful after heartbreak. Dr. Vaughn shares stories from her dating journey, the inspiration behind her book Oh, the Frogs I Kissed Before I Finally Found My Prince, and how humor helped her navigate some of life's most difficult transitions.

This episode is full of wisdom, laughter, vulnerability, and encouragement for women learning how to rediscover themselves beyond the roles they have spent years filling for everyone else. Nikki and Dr. Vaughn also connect over their shared backgrounds in education, motherhood, and the unexpected paths that ultimately led them toward purpose driven work.

Whether you are navigating divorce, grief, dating later in life, identity shifts, or simply learning how to embrace a new season, this conversation is a reminder that it is never too late to rewrite your story, find joy again, and create a life that feels authentic to you.

Welcome to our 5th year of Podcast interviews! 209 weeks of insight, laughter, tears, and lived experience. We are beyond thankful for everyone who has been a part of this!

On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Lisa Skinner for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about dementia, caregiving, and the emotional impact memory loss has on entire families. Drawing from more than 30 years of professional experience in senior care, as well as her own personal experiences caring for loved ones with dementia, Lisa offers honest insight into the challenges caregivers face behind closed doors.

Together, they talk about the grief that can begin long before a loved one passes, the exhaustion and isolation many caregivers experience, and the importance of compassion, patience, and support throughout the journey. Lisa also shares practical tools families can use to better understand behaviors associated with dementia and how to create moments of connection even in the midst of loss and confusion.

This episode is filled with empathy, education, and real conversation for anyone navigating caregiving, supporting aging parents, or trying to understand the realities of Alzheimer's and dementia. Whether you are currently in the thick of caregiving or simply want to be better prepared for the future, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, informed, and less alone.

On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with psychologist, author, and motherhood researcher Dr. Erika Horwitz for a heartfelt conversation about the beauty, complexity, and lifelong impact of motherhood. Drawing from decades of clinical experience, her doctoral research, and her own journey as a mother, Dr. Horwitz shares powerful insights into what it truly means to support moms through every season of parenting.

Together, Nikki and Dr. Horwitz discuss the realities of raising children through both joyful and incredibly difficult seasons, including parenting a child with severe anxiety and depression, navigating the uncertainty of mental health diagnoses, and finding the strength to keep showing up even when the path feels overwhelming. They explore the importance of treating children with respect, creating relationships built on trust instead of judgment, and how those intentional choices can shape family connections for a lifetime.

The conversation also celebrates the often unseen work of motherhood, the power of peer support, and why mothers deserve more recognition, compassion, and community than society often provides. Whether you're parenting little ones, raising teenagers, supporting adult children, or simply reflecting on your own relationship with your mom, this episode is filled with wisdom, hope, and heartfelt reminders that motherhood isn't about perfection. It's about love, resilience, and continuing to show up for the people who matter most.