" Nobody should ever make you feel like you are not good enough to be somewhere. I realized I had been creating a safe space for me... but we all have different visions of what a safe space is."

Pilates Instructor and Physical Therapist, Jessica Valant, is here to talk about accessibility and shifting trends in the fitness and wellness industries.

Jessica shares candidly about her lived experience in the Pilates Industry, the progress that has been made to be inclusive, and what still needs to be done so that everyone is truly welcomed. We also chat through the impact of capitalism on fitness, the role of social media, and the need for genuine human connection in fostering body positivity and healing.

Some days it feels like progress is made and other days it feels like we're moving backward but this chat will help put all of that into context as it comes to our bodies. Thanks for being here with an open mind!

Find Jessica on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@Jessicasvalant

Connect with me over on Threads: https://threads.net/nicolewalters

Get the rest of the links and resources from this chat at

https://nicolewalters.com/episode517 and watch this chat on YouTube at

https://nicolewalters.com/youtube

Episode Sponsors:

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" I don't have some amazing strategy or some How-To book that I'm keeping to myself. I'm just trying things and figuring it out. I'm a girl who just bought a microphone and started throwing spaghetti at the wall and never really stopped."

Les Alfred went from no listeners, zero star reviews, and recording in her closet after working her 9-5 to hosting a podcast that everyone wants to listen to. In this chat with Les, we get to hear what was happening behind the scenes in those early days to what worked (and didn't) along the way.

Les shares the reasons her show recently rebranded - in content and in name - and why she's decided to embrace the word "luck." Les may look lucky from the outside but she shares how she handles the responsibility of having a large platform in 2025.

Friend, do not miss this chat with Les Alfred!

Listen to She's So Lucky: https://pod.link/balancedblackgirl

Connect with us both on Threads @LesAlfred and @NicoleWalters

Get the rest of the links and resources from this chat at

https://nicolewalters.com/episode516 and watch this chat on YouTube at

https://nicolewalters.com/youtube

Episode Sponsors:

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Use code WALTERS at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

Caraway’s cookware set is a favorite for a reason, it can save you up to $190 versus buying the items individually. Plus, if you visit Carawayhome.com/nicole you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase.

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"That little voice within us... listen to it. Even when people around us try to drown us out, try to tell us no, try to gaslight us, try to tell us HOW we're feeling, WHAT we're thinking... listen to it because it's always right."

Friend, I am honored to bring you this honest and vulnerable chat with Brooke Baldwin, a celebrated journalist and former CNN anchor.

We chat about Brooke's experiences in journalism, her departure from CNN, and her insights on the media industry today. Brooke shares the personal journey she has been on, including finding her voice, growing in her faith, and her determination to leave a lasting impact by sharing her truth and encouraging women to use their voices.

There are so many opinions about journalists, what their motives are, and if we can trust them in 2025. Brooke is the real deal and my hope is that you walk away from this chat with more understanding of what it's like being a journalist.

Thanks for being here! Slide into my DMs on IG or chat with me on Threads @NicoleWalters.

Read Brooke's Substack: https://unravelingwithbrooke.substack.com/

and grab her book, Huddle: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/huddle

Get the rest of the links and resources from this chat at

https://nicolewalters.com/episode515 and watch this chat on YouTube at

https://nicolewalters.com/youtube

Episode Sponsors:

Use code WALTERS at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

Curious about ByHeart? Head to ByHeart.com and use code NICOLE30 to save 30% off your first subscription order for a limited time. ByHeart is also available at Target, Walmart and major retailers nationwide.

Try Gusto today at gusto.com/nicole, and get three months free when you run your first payroll.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“The two things you're not supposed to talk about are politics and religion. But if you don't talk about those things, what are we even doing?”

Former evangelical pastor Brian Recker is here to share his lived experience with modern Christianity, the Christian Nationalism movement, and why maybe Hell isn’t what we thought it was.

Brian shares his experiences transitioning from a fundamentalist background to becoming an evangelical pastor, and the turning points he faced within the church, especially during the first election of Donald Trump.

We chat about the cost of linking faith with the fear of Hell and the necessity of engaging with marginalized communities like Jesus did. Brian explains why we should consider divesting from harmful systems and instead embrace a spirituality rooted in love and empathy rather than fear and exclusion.

This chat is not just for Christians but for anyone living today so don’t miss it, friend!

Grab Brian’s upcoming book, Hell Bent, at BrianRecker.com

Thanks for being here! Slide into my DMs on IG or chat with me on Threads @Nicole Walters

Get the rest of the links and resources from this chat at https://nicolewalters.com/episode514

And watch this chat on YouTube at https://nicolewalters.com/youtube

Episode Sponsors:

Use code WALTERS at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

Caraway’s cookware set is a favorite for a reason, it can save you up to $190 versus buying the items individually. Plus, if you visit Carawayhome.com/nicole you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“ I gotta follow my heart this time. I can't get caught up in my ego. And I've been caught up in my ego for 15 years!”

This is Part 2 in our chat with seasoned Music Executive, Chris Anokute! Chris shares the dark sides of the music industry and why he decided to walk away after 20 years.

Chris and I chat about the ethical compromises people make for fame and money and the spiritual and moral awakening that followed his exit. He then shares how he fell into mentorship and why he isn't looking back.

Don’t miss Part 1 of this chat when Chris shares how he became a Music Industry Executive and Insider at such a young age.

Thanks for being here, friend! Find Chris on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/chrisanokute/ and slide into my DMs at Nicole Walters!

Get the rest of the links and resources from this chat at https://nicolewalters.com/episode513

And WATCH this chat on YouTube at https://nicolewalters.com/youtube

Episode Sponsor:

Use code WALTERS at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

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“If you want to come out here to get rich, if you want to come out here to get accolades, you're in for a rude awakening because it’s a dark industry and the only thing that gets through is the light.”

Chris Anokute, the prominent music executive and artist development specialist, is here to chat about his journey and profound impact on the music industry.

From humble and scrappy beginnings to founding Young Forever Inc., to playing a pivotal role in launching global superstars, Chris shares how he did it and the faith that carried him the whole way.

We chat through how Chris reconciles his faith with working in a secular industry and his personal transformation towards using his voice for mentorship and spreading hope, marking a new chapter in his life.

Don’t miss Part 2 of this chat when Chris shares why he left the music industry and what this next chapter looks like for him.

Thanks for being here, friend! Find Chris on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/chrisanokute/ and slide into my DMs at https://www.instagram.com/nicolewalters/

Get the rest of the links and resources from this chat at https://nicolewalters.com/episode512

And WATCH this chat on YouTube at https://nicolewalters.com/youtube

Episode Sponsors:

Visit Carawayhome.com/TELLMEMORE or use code TELLMEMORE at checkout and you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase.

Use code WALTERS at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

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“We are collectively, inadvertently, signing up young people to be entered onto this toddler to train wreck pipeline.”

Friend, this chat is about childhood fame but it’s also about so much more! I am so honored to bring you this chat with Alyson Stoner, a multi-hyphenate artist and mental health advocate.

Alyson and I chat about her lived experience as a dancer and actress in Hollywood, the journey she went on to heal, and how the topic of childhood fame touches us all.

Alyson will blow you away with her compassion and research-based ideas on what it means to be successful, especially as a child. From mental health reform to creating safe and creative spaces for kids, this chat is a must-listen.

Hit play and grab Alyson’s new book, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, wherever books are sold!

Get the rest of the links and resources from this chat at https://nicolewalters.com/episode511

And WATCH this chat on YouTube at https://nicolewalters.com/youtube

Episode Sponsors:

Curious about ByHeart? Head to ByHeart.com and use code NICOLE30 to save 30% off your first subscription order for a limited time.

Use code WALTERS at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Just because you have a diagnosis doesn't mean you fit in the same box as someone else.”

Friend, today we are diving into autism with educational therapist, school psychologist, and my friend, Alicia Trice.

Alicia has worked with people with autism (and their families) for over 10 years and in this chat she debunks many of the myths that are circulating about autism. She explains the importance of individualized care and the need for better resources within our education system for non-neurotypical kids.

From someone who is on the ground working with these families every day, Alicia encourages us to look for the strengths in each other and to lead with love.

Friend, this is a good one. Thanks to Alicia for being here and thanks for hitting play on another Tell Me More chat!

Connect with Alicia on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/andlovelearning

Get the rest of the links from this chat at https://nicolewalters.com/episode510

And WATCH this chat on YouTube at https://nicolewalters.com/youtube

Episode Sponsor:

Use code WALTERS at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.