Every 52 minutes, someone dies as a direct result of an eating disorder in the U.S. -- making them one of the deadliest yet most overlooked mental challenges in our country. Plus, the fact that over 30 million Americans are affected by this silent crisis drives home the fact of why it's so important that we talk about this difficult topic. Nicole chatted with Johanna Kandel who is the Founder and CEO of The National Alliance for Eating Disorders. Not only has Johanna recovered from a decade-long battle with an eating disorder, but she has made it her mission to provide nationwide education, resources, and support groups to those in need through her non-profit. If you're a parent or guardian, it is so important that you hear this information, so you can be equipped with the knowledge of what early warning signs may look like if someone is struggling.

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Johanna Kandel

Instagram: @alliancefored

Website: www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

How often do you put your needs on the backburner? It’s easy to do, since so many people depend on you. But what if we told you it’s actually imperative that you put yourself first? Well, get ready…because this is a conversation every mom needs to hear! It’s all about healthy habits you can instill in your life and put into action so you can THRIVE! Nationally certified health and wellness coach and registered nurse, Kristen Reed of “Nursing Your Way to Wellness” is back on “Mommyhood Unscripted” with 5 simple tips to get you ahead of the formidable “mom burnout” we’ve experienced at one time or another. 

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SHOW NOTES:

Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Kristen Reed, RN, BSN, BA, HN-BC

https://www.nursingyourwaytowellness.com/

Instagram: @nursingyourwaytowellness

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

This is a special episode all about love -- whether you're in a relationship, married, single, or perhaps on a mission to setup a friend up with someone. Dating coach and Netflix star, Aleeza Ben Shalom joins Nicole for an in-depth conversation. In addition to her Netflix series, "Jewish Matchmaking", Aleeza is busy working with people of all backgrounds and just came out with a book called, "Matchmaker Matchmaker: Find Me a Love That Lasts". So be prepared to find out what you may be doing wrong, what you're doing right, and how you can secure a love that lasts! This episode is packed with some great insight, rules, tips, and hacks that will put you on track to understanding how to love and be loved. This is a fun, humorous, and candid conversation that is reminiscent to the feeling you get after a getting off the phone with a good friend of yours... 

P.S. Did we mention that Aleeza is also a mom of 5?! 

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Aleeza Ben Shalom

Instagram: @aleezabenshalom

Website: https://www.marraigemindedmentor.com

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

Alcohol. It's one of the most addictive drugs in America, and it's also the most socially acceptable one. How many times have you seen products or memes on social media promoting drinking "...because motherhood is hard"..."Mommy needs wine"....or "I wine because my kids whine". Everyone's relationship with alcohol is different -- but for those who really struggle with it, it can be a matter of life or death. 

Celeste Yvonne is the author of the book, "It's Not About The Wine: The Loaded Truth Behind Mommy Wine Culture" -- which explores why mothers are drinking more than ever, and how to break free; and this all comes from experience. Celeste's children were 1 and 3 years-old when she quit drinking. She described herself as a "gray area drinker" -- some days she could moderate her alcohol intake, but on a random day she didn't have the ability to turn the drinking off. 

This eye-opening conversation is one for the books, whether you're looking to evaluate your relationship to alcohol and motherhood or not. Celeste not only talks candidly about her sobriety and mental health, but she offers up some great advice on how moms everywhere can lighten their mental load in safe and effective way.

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Celeste Yvonne 

Instagram: @theultimatemomchallenge

Website: https://www.celesteyvonne.com/

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

Video games were created as a form of entertainment. But for many parents, the concerns over their children's safety--when playing multi-player games online (and too much screen time) seems to be top of mind. So how can we ensure that our kids are picking the right games? And is there a way we can monitor things? Nicole chats with Aubrey Quinn, the Senior Vice President of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). She has all the answers to our questions — including everything we need to know about parental controls on these gaming devices — so you can make more of an informed decision for your family. Consider this your personal guide to video game safety!

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Aubrey Quinn

Website: www.ESRB.org

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

Mommyhood Unscripted is starting off a new season and a new year with some motivating words and stories from Peloton coach and fellow mama, Selena Samuela. 

In this episode, Nicole and Selena KEEP IT REAL talking about the highs and lows of motherhood, their postpartum bodies, and the struggle moms experience when it comes to actually getting our bodies moving! If it's one thing moms feel they don't have enough of, it's time. But Selena has some inspiring tips to help us all maximize the minutes for the sake of your health!

Happy listening...and remember mama, you're doing great!

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Selena Samuela

Instagram: @selenasamuela

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

Consider this your crash course on how to approach the holiday chaos with your children -- both young and old. What can you do to set your family up for success? What things will you be doing that may result in a difficult day of parenting? This season is a time of joy, a time of being cranky and overtired, but it's a time of being together. National parenting expert, Danielle Lindner joins Nicole back on the show for some great tips including: some fun ideas that won't break the bank -- or send you into a panic because you've overpacked your schedule! Also, Danielle shares some great tools on how to prepare your kids for their routine once the holiday break is over! 

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Danielle Lindner

Instagram: @danielle.lindner

Website: https://daniellelindner.com/

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

The holidays are a time of joy, yet they can also be a time of stress -- especially if you have a picky eater on your hands. The holidays are also notorious for throwing routines off -- which is something our kids thrive on. So if you're already fretting over how the special holiday meal at grandma's is going to go, or how you're going to deal with the relatives saying something about your child or doing something with your child involving food, then this episode is for you! 

With over 2 MILLION followers on her Instagram account, "Kids Eat in Color", Jennifer Anderson has been helping families feed their children from their first bite of solid food, through picky eating and nutritional needs. This pediatric dietician founded her public health company out of the frustration over her own child's picky eating habits; and it has now grown to an authoritative resource with a full team of experts who are committed to providing the support and guidance that parents need to help their kids eat better and thrive at mealtime! 

Nicole and Jennifer go over unrealistic expectations we setup for our children around the table, the 5 strategies to help picky eaters when visiting family, and the negative effects "diet talk" can have on our children. So if you're looking for some permission to let your picky eater be picky during the holidays -- so you can focus on other things -- you're about to get that. (You're welcome!)

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN

Instagram: @kids.eat.in.color

Website: https://kidseatincolor.com/

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

The holiday season is full of fun activities and family time, but it can also be super overwhelming -- especially if you're a parent with ADHD. Not only are you shouldering the weight of the holidays for your children--but you're trying to keep track of and plan out the decorating, the lists, the shopping, the cooking, the gatherings; and then there's the overstimulation brought on my the chaos of this time of year and the sugar! Our brains are consumed with every little detail, yet the thought of executing anything can feel daunting. So how can we better position ourselves to embrace the holiday chaos head-on, without feeling like we've been setup to fail?

Dr. Anna Burns returns to the show to talk to Nicole about specific strategies and tools to get us through. She's an Executive Functioning Coach for Women with ADHD who is committed to helping fellow ADHD women--like herself--create a life that actually supports the ADHD brain. By understanding and tackling the root cause of the struggles neurodivergent parents face, Dr. Burns believes you'll be able to show up in life with more energy, less overwhelm, and more self-compassion. This episode is a gift that will keep on giving...

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Jan Brett has brought to life lovable characters and imaginary backdrops for children for more than 40 years. With over 40 books--and over 44 million books print--her work continues to add to so many childhoods around the world. Jan also just came out with a new book: "Alice in a Winter Wonderland", which is a striking rendition of the classic story of "Alice in Wonderland". 

Nicole had a chance to catch up with the author and illustrator before her special bus tour, in which she'll be visiting 23 cities across the country in just 17 days! This conversation holds a little insight into Jan's thought process when she plans out her next book, what it's like taking a classic story and putting her own unique spin on it, the magic of reading, and what inspires Jan Brett to continue to produce more work for future generations! Happy listening...and happy reading! 

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: [email protected] or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV