Mommyhood Unscripted

This is a first-of-its-kind interview for "Mommyhood Unscripted" and an exciting one at that! "Maggie" the Musical just made its U.S. debut at The Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut -- where it will run through 10/20/24. Here's Playbill's synopsis: "A Scottish mother’s unbreakable love for her three sons is tested in an inspirational new musical about family bonds and changing times. After suffering the unthinkable loss of her husband, Maggie must rely on her strength, sense of humor and fiercely loyal friends to protect her family from a harsh world. Spanning over 20 years, a hardscrabble working class life blossoms with a soul-stirring pop-folk score. A generation of courageous mothers is celebrated in this rousing American premiere!" 

The story line is steeped in a mother's journey through raising children, the unbreakable bond with her kids, and how important it is for women to find their tribe. It's based on the true story of Scottish-born singer-songwriter, Johnny Reid's grandmother. Nicole caught up with Johnny and Matt Murray who both created "Maggie" in this episode. The inspiration behind what drove these two men to bring Johnny's grandmother to life is not only moving, but it stirs up a lot of familial emotions when we consider the matriarchs that came and went before us. Nicole, Johnny and Matt discuss the ways we can honor the women in our lives, and the common themes that bind mothers and children of all generations together. 

Don't miss this conversation, and keep your eyes peeled because "Maggie" is surely Broadway-bound, according to Nicole!

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guests: Johnny Reid and Matt Murray

Instagram: @johnnyreidofficial & @mattmurray123 

Website: https://maggiethemusical.com/

There's no question about it: our youth are experiencing a mental health crisis. A February 2024 study by the nonprofit, "Kaiser Family Foundation", found that 1 in 5 adolescents reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. In 2023, researchers at Harvard found that 40% of teens said that they wanted their parents to reach out more and ask how they're really doing. But so many parents and caregivers struggle with how to go about doing that! That's why Nicole is talking with mental health expert, Dr. Charmain F. Jackman. She is a licensed psychologist, author, and TedX speaker, and a regular contributor to the PBS "Teachers' Lounge" column. In this episode you'll learn how to: help our kids identify and articulate how they're feeling, how to approach hard conversations with your child (of all ages), learn about the concerning signs to be on the lookout that'd indicate that your child is struggling in the mental health realm, and much more! 
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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Dr. Charmain F. Jackman

Instagram: @askdrcharmain

Website: https://www.drcharmainjackman.com/

Country Music Star mama, Kimberly Perry is known for her role in the Grammy Award-winning group, "The Band Perry" (she wrote their groundbreaking crossover #1 single: "If I Die Young"). Now she is on her first solo headlining tour with CMT -- and she's doing it with a 1-year-old! Kimberly chats with Nicole about what it was like to become a mom for the first time, her birth story, the toddler stage, the everchanging seasons of our lives, and how to align yourself with the things that truly bring you joy. This is a refreshingly candid and relatable conversation between two mothers that you don't want to miss out on!

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Kimberly Perry 

Instagram: @thekimberlyperry

Website: https://www.kimberlyperry.com/

Did you know that adult women are the BIGGEST portion of the population being diagnosed with ADHD? And it's common for a diagnosis to come after having children. Nicole chatted with Dr. Anna Burns who is an Executive Functioning Coach for Women with ADHD about this growing realization. Not only does Dr. Burns breakdown the signs of ADHD in adult women, but she offers up some helpful tips and tools that women can utilize to help make their lives work for their brains! If you're feeling overwhelmed, unfocused, chronically disorganized, burnt out, and never quite finding your balance? Then you need to hear this conversation; pass it onto a loved one or friend too! There are so many moms in the same boat facing similar challenges and the better we understand ourselves, the better we can show up for those we love. 

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Dr. Anna Burns

Instagram: @annaburnswellness

Website: https://annaburnswellness.com/

Trauma. It shows itself in a variety of ways and it's something we all experience of at one point in life; after all, it's part of the human experience. But new research is showing how trauma in young kids (specifically boys) can actually impact their adult lives when it comes to mental and even physical health. So, what can we as parents and caregivers do to help them process their emotions and regulate their thoughts so they become more emotionally and physically resilient adults? Nicole chats with trauma expert, Dr. Elena Villanueva. She is the founder and Chief Health Coach of Modern Holistic Health, and specializes in addressing root causes of neurochemical imbalances and neurodegenerative disease. If you're ready to do some course correcting and help your kids in a way perhaps you were never helped -- you can start with this episode! 

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Dr. Elena Villanueva 

Instagram: @modern_holistic_health

Website: https://www.modernholistichealth.com/ 

Is there a "right age" to give our kids a smartphone? That's a question parents everywhere are struggling with or have struggled with at one time. The idea of making your child wait to get a smartphone is difficult to grasp because the last thing we want is for them to feel left out or the target of jokes. But a mom in Austin, Texas started a full-blown movement in response to this predicament parents face. In this episode, Nicole talks with Brooke Shannon about the "Wait Until 8th Pledge" which has made national news and taken our country by storm. She breaks down why she created it, how it works, and some other options parents may want to consider. Whether your children are grown or you're just starting your family, this discussion is one that gets you thinking a bit more carefully about our children's relationship with technology.

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Brooke Shannon

Instagram: @waituntil8th

Website: https://www.waituntil8th.org/

Pet dogs are one of the best sources of unconditional love. But sometimes we forget that our four-legged friend is still an animal, and we all need to know how to keep our pet interactions safe and healthy -- especially when involving children. Do you know the signs of healthy vs. stressful interactions? A lot of people think they do, but in actuality they don't -- and that can lead to precarious situations for both you and the animal.

So whether you're looking to expand your family by adding a puppy to the mix and wondering how to prepare your home and your kids for this transition, or you just want your kids to know the proper way to handle themselves around dogs (especially when you're not in their presence), then this episode is for you! Nicole sits down with Janice Liscinsky, the owner of The Perfect Pup, LLC. She's a certified dog trainer who focuses on positive reinforcement -- which rewards all desired behavior. Janice is also a licensed family dog mediator, which is an individual with special training and education above and beyond just training or behavior consulting. Licensed family dog mediators are part of a movement to raise the bar of the public's understanding about pet dogs through integrated science and innovative, practical solutions. This conversation is super educational and if dogs could talk, they'd be thanking you for taking the time to understand them through this conversation.  

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SHOW NOTES:

Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Janice Liscinsky, CPDT-KA, ABCDT, LFDM-T

Website: https://www.theperfectpupllc.com/

The ups and downs of parenting exist throughout every stage of our child's growth and development. Once you have a toddler on your hands, you almost feel blindsided at times since they're changing so rapidly. Then when it's time for them to head to preschool, there are a whole new set of challenges and dilemmas that you probably thought you wouldn't have to deal with at this young of age. But it will hit you, and the big question at hand is: are you prepared? 

In this episode, Nicole learns about some strategies to help you get through those tough stages early on in your child's development. She went straight to national parenting coach, Danielle Lindner. Danielle's latest book, "Parent's Pocket Guide to Surviving the Preschool Years: One Challenge at a Time" is giving parents, grandparents, and guardians a little bit more of an assist when it comes to navigating the preschool years and everything in-between.

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SHOW NOTES:

Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Danielle Lindner

Website: www.daniellelindner.com 

"Child Trafficking" is an unfortunate thing we hear about in the headlines, and the nightmarish thoughts of a child being snatched off the street by foreign nationals come to a lot of minds... But that couldn't be further from the truth! Believe it or not, Child Trafficking is happening right under parents' noses, inside their own HOMES -- and in some cases, inside schools! Believe it or not, our children are now more accessible to people wanting to do them harm -- all thanks to the internet and social media in this post-pandemic world. 

Nicole sits down with Tammy Sneed, who is the Director of Connecticut's Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team. She explains why it's so CRUCIAL that parents, caregivers, and teachers acknowledge that "Child Trafficking" exists and also highlights the signs to be on the lookout for, and what you should do if you believe a child is being targeted. As you know, our kids are steps ahead of us when it comes to social media and the internet; so this episode will arm you with helpful information so we can protect our children from being the next victim of these 'bad actors'.

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SHOW NOTES:

Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Tammy Sneed

Website: https://portal.ct.gov/dcj/states-attorneys/hartford/division-of-criminal-justice-regionalized-human-trafficking-recovery-taskforce-of-greater-hartford

Resources: 
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/programs/human-trafficking-resources
https://www.justice.gov/psc

This episode is a VERY sensitive topic, and we want to throw a disclaimer out there that we are talking about miscarriages and infant/child loss. However, as difficult as this topic is, it carries a very important message: you don't have to grieve alone. This kind of loss is something many people don't talk about or don't know how to talk about. But the mission of the organization, "Hope After Loss" is all about providing connections, comfort and care to families who have experienced such a loss. Executive Director of "Hope After Loss", Christina Mailhos, and Board Member and Support Group Facilitator, Stephanie Byrd sat down with Nicole to each share their own stories of loss which led them to the group. This is a conversation that gives hope to those who may feel like things are hopeless right now, and they also provide some insight to those who don't know what to say to those who have experienced the unthinkable.

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SHOW NOTES:

Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guests: Stephanie Byrd and Christina Mailhos

Website: https://www.hopeafterloss.org/

Instagram: @hopeafterloss