Auntie Mel Mel Life Unfiltered

It's time for another round of What Would Auntie Mel Mel Do? 💜 This month, I'm joined by returning guest and friend Ambika Devi for a fun, thoughtful, and completely unfiltered conversation as we tackle listener questions and some of life's surprisingly deep everyday dilemmas. We dive into: ✨ Astrology and why people connect with it 🛒 The great shopping cart debate (yes, we went the...

In Episode 35 of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered, Carrie Danger joins me for a raw and vulnerable conversation about addiction, sobriety, healing, mental health, and rediscovering yourself after realizing something in your life needs to change. Carrie opens up about the mental side of alcohol addiction, questioning her relationship with drinking, and the emotional process of rebuilding herself thr...

What if travel wasn’t about escaping your life… but expanding it? In this episode of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered , I sit down with Leeah Smestad of Newberry Travel for a conversation about meaningful travel, stepping outside your comfort zone, solo travel, fear, freedom, and why some of the biggest moments of growth happen when we finally say yes to experiences that scare us a little. We talk...

Sometimes the most important conversations start with simply being willing to ask questions. 💛 In Episode 33 of Auntie Mel Mel Life Unfiltered, I sit down with my cousin Matthew for one of the most honest and meaningful conversations I’ve had on the podcast so far. Matthew opens up publicly for the first time about identifying as asexual—sharing his personal journey, misconceptions people often h...

In Episode 32, my cousin Brook joins me for an honest conversation about homeschooling, intentional living, and raising six children outside of society’s “norm.” We talk about the realities of homeschooling, navigating judgment from others, individualized learning for each child, bullying and trauma in traditional school settings, and what it truly takes to raise a family intentionally. This episo...

What happens when life never fully goes back to the way it was? In Episode 31 of Auntie Mel Mel Life Unfiltered , Jordan Rae shares her deeply honest journey through chronic illness, long COVID/ME, losing her career as a social worker, and navigating the grief of losing the life and independence she once knew. But this conversation is not just about loss—it’s about rebuilding. About identity shift...

What happens in the first 24 hours when a child enters foster care? In Episode 30 of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered , I sit down with Matt Darrah — founder of Panhandle Orphan Care and host of the All Things Foster podcast — for a powerful conversation about foster care, orphan advocacy, purpose, trauma, and the urgent need for community support. Matt shares the emotional realities foster familie...

ADHD in women is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or completely overlooked—and for many, it leads to years of feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and questioning themselves. In this episode of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered , I sit down with Ruth Danoff to have a real, honest conversation about what ADHD actually looks like in women. We dive into masking, identity, late diagnosis, mental load, and...

This episode is different. For the first time, Mel shares a deeply personal part of her life that she hasn’t been fully open about—until now. A story that might surprise you… but one that so many people can relate to. Addiction doesn’t always look the way we think it does. Sometimes the people struggling the most are the ones you’d never guess. This is about honesty. This is about healing. This is...

WWAMMD #3 is here and this one is a mix of chaos, laughter, and real conversation. I’m joined again by Jonathan Goebel and we bounce from hilarious debates to deeper topics in true Life Unfiltered fashion. From the great chili debate (beans or no beans?!) to raccoon break-ins and “would you rather” questions that get a little too real… we also dive into meaningful conversations around AI, relation...

What if heartbreak wasn’t the end of the story… but the beginning of coming back to yourself? In Episode 27 of Auntie Mel Mel Life Unfiltered, Mel sits down with visionary consultant, author, and international educator Ambika Devi for a raw and expansive conversation about love, loss, healing, and transformation. From navigating life’s hardest seasons to rediscovering self-love, Ambika shares how...

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses mental health struggles, trauma, substance use, chronic pain, and suicide risk. Please listen with care. In Episode 26 of Auntie Mel Mel Life Unfiltered , I sit down with Jonathan Goebel for a deeply honest conversation about survival, mental health, chronic pain, and turning trauma into purpose. Jonathan opens up about the hidden mental health crisis wit...

Episode 25 is here 🎙️ We’re taking it all the way back to the late 90s and early 2000s — the era of Nickelodeon, AIM chat rooms, Hot Pockets, Eggo waffles, and everything in between. This was the pop culture that raised us… for better or worse 😂 In this episode, I’m joined by Jon from the Delicious Culture Podcast and we’re diving into the music, movies, TV shows, food, and chaotic internet momen...

What happens when the role that defined you for years… changes? In this episode of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered , I sit down with Kelly Salmons — #1 best-selling author of The Nest Evolution , former Naval Officer, educator, and coach for women navigating the empty nest season. Kelly shares her journey from a life of leadership to a deeply personal transformation — discovering that midlife isn’...

⚠️ Content Note: This episode discusses trauma and mental health. Please listen with care. In this episode of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered , I sit down with Matt Melvin — author of Bullied Behind Bars — to talk about survivorship, trauma, and what it really means to be seen beyond assumptions. Matt shares his lived experiences, including a near-death moment that shifted his perspective on life,...

⚠️ Content Note: PCOS, endometriosis, chronic pain & some language (she’s from Australia… need I say more 😂) What happens when you stop trying to “fix” your body… and start reconnecting with it? In Episode 22 of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered , I sit down with Santina Rigano, creator of Basic Bitch Boogie — a joyful, intentional movement experience designed to help you reclaim your confidenc...

⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of grief, pregnancy/infant loss, addiction, and suicide. This episode is a little different than my usual last Friday WWAMMD. As I wrap up the first 3 months of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered, I wanted to take a step back and reflect on what this journey has really been. In just 3 months: 23 episodes. 23 connections. Conversations with people all...

⚠️ Content Note: Mental health and addiction📌 This episode is for informational purposes only and is not legal or medical advice. When someone you love is struggling with mental health or addiction, it can feel like you’re stuck between fear and helplessness—especially when they refuse help. In this episode, I sit down with attorney Mark Astor, who works with families navigating these exact situa...

⚠️ Gentle note: This episode touches on suicide and some heavy mental health topics. Please take care while listening. 🖤 Behind the Mission: Mental Health, Music, and Impact with Mary Mosteller of The Taylor Foundation What happens when music, purpose, and mental health advocacy collide? In this powerful and real conversation, I sit down with Mary Mosteller , Managing Director of The Taylor Found...

What does it take to build a relationship that lasts nearly three decades? In this episode of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered , Mel sits down with Bryon and Margaret, hosts of the Beyond I Do Podcast, to talk about their 28-year journey together. They share honest insights about communication, navigating life’s challenges as a couple, recognizing red flags, and why intentionally choosing your part...

In this episode of Life Unfiltered with Auntie Mel Mel , Suzanne Feit joins the show to share how her experience as an educator, assistive technology consultant, and mother of a son with Down syndrome shaped her belief that diagnosis is not destiny . With more than three decades of experience supporting families and individuals with disabilities, Suzanne explains how technology — including AI — ca...

What does it really take to take your health back and transform your life? In this episode of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered , Mel talks with Rita Honeycutt , author of Fat to Fit: My Health Journey , about the discipline, mindset shifts, and determination behind her powerful health transformation. Rita shares how she broke unhealthy cycles, reclaimed her health, and discovered a deeper purpose i...

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses addiction, overdose, and incarceration. Breanna’s story is one of survival, resilience, and redemption. In this powerful and honest conversation, she shares what it was like growing up surrounded by addiction, surviving childhood sexual trauma, and eventually finding herself in the same cycle she swore she would never repeat. Her rock bottom came when she...

What if your brain already knows how to heal — it just needs the right support? In Episode 15 of Auntie Mel Mel: Life Unfiltered , I sit down with Laura Wheeler to break down EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and how bilateral stimulation helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer feel like they’re happening in the present. We talk about: • What EMDR...

WWAMMD Episode 2 is here — and the wheel is spinning again. Joined by returning guest Karyn Ward, we answer anonymous, listener-submitted questions in real time. Nothing is off limits. This episode explores relationship compatibility, intimacy and emotional chemistry, information overload and anxiety, rock bottom moments, and how to know when to stay or walk away. Honest. Personal. Unfiltered. Sub...