In this episode, I share the mic with Dr. Nicole Bradford or Dr. B as she’s better known by some - is a published author, life coach, entrepreneur, and speaker with two decades of experience in the field of education. After our conversation, I can say from personal experience how much Dr. B (Nicole) energizes and equips others to take action and live their most authentic, joy-filled lives. Our conversation dives into the value of open communication, trust, and vulnerability while emphasizing the...
Jan 31, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In this episode, I share the mic with Simon Rinne. Simon is the host of the Mindful Men podcast, as well as a social worker with 15 years experience in the Australian Public Service, who shares his personal experiences and perspective to help men who desire and need emotional support as they navigate challenging life circumstances. Our conversation sheds light on the importance of offering a safe space for men to be vulnerable and how we can all join the effort to make this world a happier &...
Jan 24, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this episode, I share the mic with AnnMarie Espina. AnnMarie is a business coach for ADHD entrepreneurs. Our conversation will resonate with and give hope to any listeners who have battled their own self-doubt or have been struck down by the doubt of others. Tune in to hear AnnMarie and I chat more about: How being labeled by an ADHD diagnosis damages self-esteem. How AnnMarie’s journey led her to become a coach Forming better habits to help overcome symptoms of ADHD Building a business that ...
Jan 17, 2023•48 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In this episode, I share the mic with Denise Schroder. Denise is a renowned real estate agent in Oklahoma, whose life has been anything but easy. But that would never stop Denise - in fact, it inspired her to work even harder to prove the naysayers wrong. After leaving a toxic marriage, Denise promised herself that she would live out her dream of becoming a real estate agent, but it wasn’t without some challenges along the way. Through a series of highs and lows professionally and personally, De...
Jan 10, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 1
This season’s finale veers away from the traumatic, intense reality that I’ve shared over the previous few episodes and hones in on how joy unexpectedly entered my life and gave me the space to: Leave toxic habits behind and build the life I want Embrace the importance of self-love and setting boundaries Remain open to the possibility of love after leaving an abusive relationship Build a relationship based on mutual respect, trust, kindness, and compassion Resources I've found helpful on my pers...
May 10, 2022•38 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Episode five gives listeners a glimpse into my experiences with and thoughts on: Being afraid to ‘fail’ kept me in an unhealthy relationship for years Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its lasting impact on our psychological safety The work I’ve done to make peace with never knowing the truth about my former relationship with a pathological liar Having patience with yourself while healing Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey: Embracing the Unknown by Pema Chödrön Tr...
May 10, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 5
On the third episode this season, I’m diving deep into: What it’s like to simultaneously experience two very different types of grief Holding onto positive memories to heal after losing a parent Releasing painful memories to heal after leaving an abusive relationship Making the decision to prioritize my emotional & physical safety Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey: Stages of Grief after Narcissistic Abuse The Sun and her Flowers by Rupi Kaur Unwinding Anxiety by Juds...
May 10, 2022•25 min•Season 3Ep. 3
For episode four, I share some of the ins and outs of my healing journey (good and bad) to help listeners understand more about: Prioritizing yourself creates space to heal and help others Trusting your body to warn you about things your brain chooses to ignore How being authentic and open about hardship can help you achieve more personal growth & build stronger relationships Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey: The Power of Strangers by Joe Keohane Attached by Amir Le...
May 10, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 4
On the second episode of Practically Unplugged, Nikki opens up about... Being accountable as a survivor of abuse Looking inward to identify toxic patterns in relationships Moving past shame and creating a safe space to share Building community & connection to cultivate emotional safety Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey: Inward by Yung Pueblo Untamed by Glennon Doyle Thriver TV (Heal for Real from Narcissistic Abuse) hosted by Melanie Tonia Evans From Surviving to Thr...
May 10, 2022•25 min•Season 3Ep. 2
It’s been a while, but I’m back and we’re kicking off Season 3 with: What happened to Who The F*ck in 2021? Experiencing the sudden & unexpected loss of my mom Deciding to end my marriage to a covert narcissist The importance of this podcast on my healing journey Seeing pain as an opportunity to help us grow & reach our full potential Resources I've found helpful on my personal growth journey: When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron Codependency, The Disease To Please - Mark Groves Podcas...
May 10, 2022•28 min•Season 3Ep. 1
This episode is not your typical interview - it is a moment in time I’ll never forget. I’ll be forever grateful to have shared this experience with my niece. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from spending time with my niece and nephew these past few weeks, it’s how important it is to nurture our inner child. A few years ago, I would have scoffed at a comment like that. But after many therapy sessions, having to face lots of intense realities, and frankly just after the year 2020, I’ve come to s...
Feb 16, 2021•7 min•Season 2Ep. 12
While we all have our own challenges and particular journey, when it comes to confronting difficulties and working through mental health issues, courage and awareness are two tools that we can all use. Here on the show today to talk about the need for leaps of faith in order to feel, and subsequently heal, is the amazing and inspiring Maddie Ace. Maddie is a singer, writer, podcaster, and all round creative soul, with so much great insight to offer. Our conversation centers around her story and ...
Feb 09, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Tiffany Yu has a mission to change the way disabled people see themselves and to help them own their narrative. Part of this mission is to transform systemic ableism. Before Tiffany became the founder of Diversabiltiy, a disability advocate, speaker, writer, consultant, and coach, she was involved in a tragic car accident that left her disabled. In today’s show, she shares her story. We begin our conversation by learning more about Tiffany and find out how family stigma shaped the way she tackle...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Firefighting definitely ranks as one of the tougher professions out there, and our guest today is a testament to that and so much more. We are joined by young firefighter, Alayasia Ouerfelli, to talk about her journey in the job so far, as well as the amazing and inspiring Bad Bitch Movement that she is spearheading. We start right at the beginning, with Alayasia's upbringing and family life, transition into her college years, and how EMT studies grew into working as a firefighter. Alayasia is c...
Jan 26, 2021•58 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Much of the healing that we all need as individuals relies heavily on the idea of self-acceptance, without which it is hard to imagine making much progress in personal growth. Joining us on the show today is an expert on the topic of self-acceptance, coach and speaker, Kevin Nahai! Kevin is an advocate for those dealing with complex emotional situations and uses his own experiences of personal problems as the foundation of the work he does with clients. From the get-go, Kevin's vibrant personali...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Florence is an enchanting city that’ll tug at your romantic side. Abuzz with vibrant energy, this classical city is packed with Italy’s very best, including ancient architecture, tranquil gardens, and bona fide locals. This Italian dream became a reality for today’s guest, Melinda Gallo, an expat writer and photographer who has made Florence her home. We open the episode by finding out about Melinda’s history. Having graduated from California, her first stint in Europe was in France as a technic...
Jan 12, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 7
The journey of self-discovery is a never-ending one and more often than not reveals more than we might have expected. An idea that seems to come up in conversations on this topic more and more often is that of generational trauma, and how we carry the legacy of our families and loved ones forward with us. Here to talk about her path through difficult times and the work she has done to begin to liberate herself from the shackles that we do not choose, is Mona Stephens! This is an incredibly hones...
Jan 06, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Just like many industries and sectors of the creative world, music remains a space that is generally exclusive and non-diverse. This is especially true when it comes to the more technical sides of music, such as engineering and producing. Mari Sullivan, or as she is known professionally, MariGo, is out to change this! Mari, is a trained musician, Ableton Live instructor, and Twitch Streamer, and today we get to hear all about the different parts of her life in music and how she got where she is ...
Dec 22, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 5
After a near death experience in 2007, Ryan Henry Ward committed his life to his love and passion of becoming an artist. Fighting through poverty in the streets of Seattle, he has risen to be known as Seattle's Most Prolific Artist, painting more than 2800 canvases and more than 350 murals across the country. In this episode, we learn about the accident that nearly cost him his life and how it inspired him to find his purpose through what he was good at – art. Ryan shares what the transition int...
Dec 15, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 4
We still live in a world where the survivors of abuse and sexual assault have trouble being believed and are shamed in many ways, a dynamic that makes dealing with something so painful, that much more difficult. Joining us on the WhoTheF*ck Podcast today is singer-songwriter and podcast host, Rae du Soleil! She is here to share her message of strength and hope as well as some of her own story of dealing with trauma and shaming. Rae has managed to take very heavy experiences and themes and channe...
Dec 08, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Labels help us choose the right product off the supermarket shelves, but human beings also apply labels, both to themselves and others, and these labels can drastically affect our perceptions of our true selves. Today’s guest is Cuyla Coogan. Cuyla is a queer life coach based in southern California, whose mission is to help people in the queer community become more confident and comfortable, so they can achieve their full potential. Pulling from her own experiences, Cuyla’s practice highlights t...
Dec 01, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Life can sometimes feel like swimming through an ocean of emotions, distractions, and chaos, and without the proper tools to help ourselves deal with this unpredictability, it can feel like we are drowning. Sharon Zapata joins us for this episode to talk about her new book, Middle Finger Happiness , and unpack her philosophy towards self-repair, a vital part of any healthy life. We get to hear from Sharon about why she chooses to frame the attention we give ourselves and our needs in this way, t...
Nov 24, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Bianca Amos (@bianca.amos) comes on the show to share her story about immigrating to Canada to pursue a better life for her and her son. Bianca is a writer, media producer, content creator and host of the Once Broken Podcast (@oncebrokenpodcast). I was so thrilled to have her on after first connecting with her here on IG. In this episode, we talk about: - The decision to leave home for another country - The challenges of being a single mother and adjusting to a new culture - Letting go of fear i...
Sep 23, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Learning about Alaina’s battle with cystic fibrosis offered me a great deal of perspective and hope beyond what I could have imagined. Diagnosed with CF at age 2, Alaina spent a good deal of time living her life as anyone who didn’t have a life threatening illness may do. But as Alaina’s health declined during her early adult life, she was faced with challenges most of us could never - and would never - want to fathom for ourselves or loved ones. In this episode, Alaina opens up about: What life...
Sep 08, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode, Dan ‘Bear’ Cuddy joins me to share his experiences with the loss of his dear friend who died while serving in Iraq and his mother, who had battled multiple sclerosis for most of Dan’s life. We talk openly about life after loss and how there really is no such thing as getting over it. Our conversation explores: – What it’s like to experience the loss of a loved one – The stages of grief and how it has changed his perspective – The importance of support from family and friends – A...
Aug 26, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 14
In this episode, Elena May Gruneberg joins me to talk about her decision to live a vegan lifestyle. During college, we spent a semester in Italy sharing many meat-based meals, so this was a raw and honest conversation about what made her decide she will never eat a meat product or byproduct again. Elena shares some great insight on the challenges of making the choice, while simultaneously destigmatizing the way many people view veganism. Elena's approach is one rooted in the desire to educate, e...
Aug 11, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 1
In this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, I speak with Gina Gold – comedian, author, eco-feminist, and all around awesome human. Gina and I discuss the concept of intersectionality and why it’s important, particularly for women, to understand how our interconnected identities entwine. We talk about racism, sexism, and the stigma against mental health. Gina shares stories about her past that made her who she is today, including her experience as a sex worker.If you haven’t yet discovered Gina, ...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 12
On this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, one of my closest friends from college, Paula Clancey, and I have a truly candid conversation about the decision she made to not have children and how her confidence about the decision continues to grow in spite of the critics. Tune in to hear our thoughts on the importance of choice, the stigma that remaining childless can carry, how to respond when people insert their unsolicited opinions, and why you shouldn't explain yourself to anyone - because it...
Jul 07, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 11
For this episode, I reunite with Christina McKitish, a fellow Quinnipiac graduate, art-lover, and humanitarian as she shares the story of how her greatest challenges led her to practice yoga and ultimately started teaching yoga as a way to find her true self - and help others do the same. As a lifelong learner and educator, currently working as a middle-school social studies teacher, Christina's passion for teaching yoga came naturally. When Christina found herself experiencing severe anxiety an...
Jun 10, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 10
On this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, I speak to Rob Lawless , creator of Rob’s 10K Friends , as he explains what prompted his mission to meet 10,000 unique individuals and spend one hour, one-on-one with each of them – for absolutely no reason other than to create connections. Since Rob began his project in 2015, he has met over 3,300 people (I was 3,396!) and doesn’t plan to stop until he reaches his goal to become friends with 10,000 people. The format of this episode is a bit different...
May 19, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 9
