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.

On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with JoAnne Chitwood for an honest and heartfelt conversation about motherhood, caregiving, and the lessons that come from walking alongside families during life's hardest moments. With more than 40 years of experience as a hospice nurse, JoAnne brings a unique perspective on love, resilience, grief, and what truly matters in life.

JoAnne shares her journey of becoming a mom at just 19 years old, raising three children through the many beautiful and challenging stages of parenthood, and navigating what she lovingly calls those "face down in the carpet" motherhood moments. Together, Nikki and JoAnne talk about the realities of raising children before you feel fully prepared, the evolving relationship between mothers and their adult children, and how every season of motherhood brings both struggle and joy.

This episode is full of wisdom, warmth, and reassurance for moms in every stage of the journey. Whether you are deep in the trenches of parenting little ones, raising teenagers, or watching your children become adults themselves, this conversation is a reminder that motherhood is never about perfection. It is about showing up, loving deeply, and learning as you go.

On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Paola Brown for an honest conversation about motherhood, chronic illness, and the journey toward finding true health for both herself and her family. Living in rural Idaho with her husband and three children, Paola shares how her experiences with autoimmune struggles and severe food intolerances while raising young children completely changed the way she approached health, healing, and motherhood.

Together, Nikki and Paola talk about the reality of parenting while battling illness, the emotional and physical exhaustion that can come from trying to care for everyone else while feeling unwell yourself, and the pressure many moms feel to "push through" even when their bodies are struggling. Paola opens up about the desperation she felt during some of her hardest seasons and how those experiences ultimately led her to pursue a more intentional, holistic lifestyle focused on wellness, nourishment, and sustainable family health.

This episode is full of vulnerability, encouragement, and practical insight for moms navigating health challenges of their own while raising children. Whether you are dealing with chronic illness, burnout, or simply trying to create a healthier life for your family, this conversation is a reminder that healing is not always linear and that you are not alone in the process.

On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Kristen Jenson for a courageous and incredibly important conversation about protecting children in today's digital world. As the author of the internationally recognized book Good Pictures Bad Pictures, Kristen has spent years helping parents navigate conversations around pornography exposure, internet safety, and raising kids with confidence and resilience in a technology driven culture.

Together, Nikki and Kristen talk openly about the reality that many children are exposed to explicit content far earlier than most parents expect and how silence and shame often make these conversations even harder. Kristen shares practical tools parents can use to begin age appropriate conversations with their children, create safer digital environments, and build trust so kids feel comfortable asking questions and seeking support.

This episode is not about fear. It is about empowerment. Nikki and Kristen discuss the importance of proactive parenting, emotional connection, and helping children develop healthy coping skills and critical thinking in a world where online exposure is almost impossible to avoid completely.

Whether you are parenting toddlers, tweens, or teenagers, this conversation offers insight, reassurance, and practical guidance to help families navigate one of the most challenging topics facing parents today.

On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Shauna Hull for a deeply honest conversation about motherhood, identity, and navigating life through unexpected challenges and transitions. Shauna opens up about the realities of balancing family, personal growth, and the emotional weight that so many mothers quietly carry while trying to show up for everyone around them.

Together, Nikki and Shauna talk about resilience, mental health, and the importance of authentic connection in a world where many moms feel pressure to hold everything together perfectly. Shauna shares personal stories about overcoming difficult seasons, learning to ask for support, and discovering strength in vulnerability instead of hiding behind perfection.

This episode explores the beauty and complexity of motherhood through real conversation, laughter, reflection, and truth. Nikki and Shauna discuss how healing often begins when women feel safe enough to share their stories openly and how community can make all the difference during life's hardest moments.

Whether you are walking through a season of transition, burnout, grief, or simply trying to rediscover yourself beyond motherhood, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone and that there is strength in being real about the journey.

Anette DeMattio

In this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Anette DeMattio for a deeply moving conversation about motherhood, trauma, resilience, and the hidden emotional cost of always being "the strong one." A six time cancer survivor, wellness coach, and author of Too Strong for Your Own Good, Anette shares how surviving childhood cancer shaped her life, identity, relationships, and journey into motherhood.

Together, Nikki and Anette talk about the pressure so many women feel to constantly give, carry, achieve, and care for everyone else while quietly neglecting themselves in the process. Anette opens up about surviving repeated cancer diagnoses, pregnancy loss, infertility struggles, and the emotional toll of living in survival mode for years. She shares how motherhood ultimately became one of the experiences that helped her reconnect with herself and begin healing emotionally, not just physically.

This episode is a powerful reminder that strength is not about carrying everything alone. Nikki and Anette explore the importance of slowing down, listening to your body, processing trauma, and allowing yourself to receive support instead of always being the supporter.

Whether you are navigating motherhood, burnout, chronic stress, grief, or your own healing journey, this conversation offers honesty, hope, and encouragement for anyone who feels exhausted from trying to hold it all together.