Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys

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. Togethe...

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, rel...

Brian Dixon, a Colorado-based adventurer, author, and speaker, joined us to talk about something many women feel but can't always name: when something is "off" with the man they love. For 20 years, Dixon lived a successful life on paper, but underneath, he had drifted out of alignment. After a painful divorce and a life-changing wake-up call, he faced a truth many men avoid: he hadn't failed, he h...

In this episode of Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Marybeth Brush for a raw and relatable conversation about motherhood later in life, the pressure to "do it all," and the reality of building a career while raising a toddler. Marybeth shares her journey to becoming a mom at 42, including pregnancy after loss, navigating motherhood as an entrepreneur, and the constant balancing a...

In this unique and thought-provoking episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Taj Simrit, joining from Greece, to bring a rare and powerful perspective on parenthood, personal growth, and healing. Taj shares his deeply personal journey from corporate life and fatherhood to divorce, loss, and ultimately, transformation. Through years of travel, self-reflection, and spiritual pra...

In this honest and empowering episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Susan McKeown, a pediatric nurse practitioner of over 40 years, author, and mom, for a conversation that every parent needs to hear. From the raw and chaotic reality of early motherhood to the pressure moms place on themselves to "get it right," Susan brings both professional insight and lived experience to...

In this deeply moving episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Cindy Eich, a mom of four, grandmother, and author of Love Goes Further, to share a story that will stay with you long after the episode ends. Cindy opens up about her journey through motherhood, from becoming a young mom and navigating life without a built-in village, to experiencing the joy of raising a busy, spor...

In this heartfelt and unexpectedly joyful episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with artist and former nurse practitioner Edi Matsumoto, creator of Otter Therapy, a whimsical art collection transforming iconic figures into playful sea otters. But this conversation goes far beyond art. Edi shares her journey from nearly 30 years in healthcare to finding healing and purpose through...

In this episode of Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Lori Taggart, a longtime banker, Harley rider, mom of four, and proud "Gigi" to nine grandchildren, for a conversation that feels like sitting down with someone who just gets it. From raising kids far from home as a military spouse to navigating motherhood without a built in support system, Lori shares what it really looked like...

What happens when motherhood doesn't look anything like you expected? In this episode of Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Shannon Harrell, a mom of four, including triplets born prematurely, to talk about the reality behind the highlight reel. From navigating infertility and IVF, to the emotional rollercoaster of the NICU, to going from one child to four overnight, Shannon shares...

In this inspiring episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Beth Leeds, an 84-year-young author, activist, and mama whose life is a testament to the power of positivity, purpose, and taking action. From advocating for change as a child to building businesses as a single mom and influencing real policy, Beth shares how "inspired action" has shaped every chapter of her life. Her j...

In this powerful episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, host Nikki Brooker sits down with Rachell Walk to unpack a motherhood journey tht is as raw as it is resilient. From the emotional toll of infertility and societal pressure to a traumatic birth that led to years of painful complications.  Rachell shares what so many women experiences but few talk about.  Her story dives into medical dismissa...

In this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki Brooker chats with longtime teacher and mom-of-two Chandra Thomas. They dive into the highs and lows of motherhood — raising kids without nearby family, teaching through isolation, navigating a child's ADD diagnosis, and breaking generational patterns of addiction and mental illness. Chandra shares candid reflections on pressure to be a "perfec...

David Hampson is a multi company business owner and author of a book called Rainbow Gold. He advises people on how to run a business.  He believes that enjoying the journey is the most important part of owning a business but that doesn't always happen. This happens because of the grind and the need to financially be considered successful. He says that anyone can build a business and that doesn't a...

Dr. Marina is an OBGYN in Ottawa Canada in practice for over 35 years and about 3 years ago her daughter graduated from medical school.  She was asked by her daughter to pay to freeze her eggs.  What a request!  In this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki Brooker sits down with Dr. Marina, an Ottawa-based OBGYN of 35+ years and author of Optimize Your Fertility Naturally. They discuss re...

Tara Turnure is a mama of twins as well as a singleton who created a beauty wellness brand called Beauty Drip.  She was a model and FOX sportscaster on the sidelines!  She is an influencer and has created her own brand so that all women can feel her best. As a FOX News sportscaster, she has worked with men who didn't want her there.  She learned a lot and feels like the experience she had there pr...

Laurie Jacobson is in a small town in Virginia and is a step mom who is semi-retired and a certified health coach. She has done a lot about nutrition, chef work, yoga and has written a book called Unexpected Awakening about her time at a Buddhist Monastery. Laurie did not have kids of her own but is a step mom to 2 kiddos. When she came into the picture they were a little older so she didn't exper...

Carol Moss is an empty nester and loves it.  She is the co-owner of One Flesh Ministries working with her husband to help couples in marriage coaching and relationship building.  She was 21 when she had her first baby and he passed away at the age of 34.  He was a child of special needs but with her blended family of 4 adult kids spread all around the country. Her first born, with special needs as...

Jean Doolittle is the owner of Southglenn Montessori Preschool in Littleton, Colorado.  Her preschool is a mixed grade preschool of ages 3-6 year olds.  She is also starting a new program for adults called Womens Roots (stay tuned)!  She started young and had her first at the age of 19. She didn't have a community with her first but worked really hard to get connected as she had more kiddos.  She...

Dr. Gertrude Lyons is a life coach focusing on families couples and the transformational journey of mothering.  She leads retreats, is a speaker and an author. Her book, Rewrite the Mother Code.  Her book was born out of lived experience as a lifelong learner and student along with her personal journey of being a mom to two daughters. She has two daughters out in the world and is grateful for that...

Dr. Dean Rudoy is a clinical psychologist, author and educator. He is an advocate for lived experience and how we can share stories to help others in learning from other people's experiences and also the lessons we have learned. Children are all created with a gift.  Unfortunately, oftentimes those gifts aren't always expressed and that's because their wings were folded in due to the expectations...

Allison Bray is the founder of My Motherhood Agenda, a line of planners designed for all things included in motherhood.  The foundation of their business is that self care is important and essential to be integrated into the lives of moms.  Reminding them to take care of themselves is really important.  When she realized she wasn't taking care of herself, she realized that so many other moms weren...

Stella Falkner is a 2-time founder who believes in maternal mental health and the wellness that support can change and save lives.  Her experience of being a first time mom compounded with experiencing trauma, she experienced mental health challenges that made her determined to help other moms.  She was fortunate to be able to attend a mental health program for moms that changed the course of her...

Abbey Stone is a mama in Colorado and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and a mama of 2 ages 4 and 6. She moved to Colorado in 2011 as a travel nurse (from Tennessee). Her mama journey was a little different than she thought it would be because she was induced with her first. She had her second in a birthing center (which she wanted with her first but it didn't happen).  She struggled with perinatal...

Terry Iverson is a dad of 3 who has worked in the manufacturing sector for over 45 years. His career has focused on mentoring younger people.  In 2012 he started a new organization called ChampionNow.  This organization is meant to teach kids and parents that the perception of manufacturing in our country has become very skewed and is very important in our country.  Going into student debt can rea...