Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys

Nikki Brooker
  • 4.9 (7)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Motherhood is hard. We don't allow moms to be real about their feelings, frustrations and needs. You can read about child psychology and human development but the REAL stuff comes when you live it. The mamas you will hear from in this podcast are real. They have struggled, had their share of hard times but also amazing mama moments. These interviews are meant to inspire, educate and entertain while giving you the opportunity to hear things that will make you think, "I get it."

  1. 4d ago

    Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 219 W/Karen Kay Smith

    What if some of our greatest parenting lessons come from the moments we wish we could do over? On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Karen Kay Smith, a mother of three, author, life coach, and Pilates instructor, for an honest, heartfelt, and often hilarious conversation about motherhood, the mistakes we make, and the lessons we learn along the way. From raising children with significant age gaps to navigating blended family dynamics, caring for aging parents, and supporting a husband through a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, Karen knows firsthand that motherhood rarely goes according to plan. She shares how having a village of support, including a special woman who stepped in as a surrogate grandmother, helped her through some of life's most challenging seasons. One of the most powerful moments in this conversation comes when Karen shares what happened after asking her adult children to identify her best and worst mama moments. Their answers revealed something she hadn't fully recognized while raising them: sometimes, in our efforts to make our children strong, successful, and confident, we forget to give them permission to struggle, feel their emotions, and simply be human. Nikki and Karen explore the delicate balance between encouraging our children and pushing them too hard, why allowing our kids to fail can be one of the greatest gifts we give them, and how parenting changes as our children grow into adults. Together, they remind us that being a good mama doesn't mean getting everything right. It means showing up, learning, growing, admitting when we get it wrong, and loving our children through every season. This episode is a beautiful reminder that our children don't need perfect mothers. They need mothers who believe in them, make space for their feelings, and give them the confidence to spread their wings. Whether you're raising babies, teenagers, or adult children, this conversation will leave you reflecting on your own mama journey and remembering that you don't have to have all the answers, and you never have to do it alone.

  2. Oct 12

    Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 218 W/Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval

    What happens when you've spent your entire career caring for others, only to find yourself facing a life changing health challenge of your own? On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Dr. Tiffany Troso Sandoval, a mother of three, medical oncologist, author, and women's health advocate who spent more than 25 years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center helping women navigate breast and gynecological cancers. From raising three children while building a demanding medical career to navigating the challenges of parenting adult children, Dr. Tiffany shares the realities of motherhood that so many of us can relate to. Together, Nikki and Tiffany talk about working mom guilt, the pressures society places on mothers, the challenges of being part of the sandwich generation, and why some of our worst mama moments might actually teach our children the most valuable lessons. But Tiffany's journey took an unexpected turn when a rare, progressive eye disease forced her to step away from the career she loved. Rather than allowing that diagnosis to define her future, she found a new way to use her decades of experience to empower women facing cancer. Through her book, Calming the Cancer Chaos, she is helping women better understand their diagnoses, advocate for themselves, and feel less overwhelmed during one of life's most frightening experiences. This conversation is filled with laughter, honesty, wisdom, and reminders that motherhood doesn't come with a perfect roadmap. Whether you're raising little ones, navigating life with adult children, balancing aging parents, or discovering a new purpose in life, there's something in this episode for you. Because sometimes the greatest lessons come from the moments we never saw coming, and no matter what stage of motherhood you're in, you are never alone.

  3. Oct 5

    Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 217 W/Katie Trexler

    Can you love being a mom with your whole heart and still need something more? In this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with former Denver news anchor, public relations professional, author, and mom Katie Trexler for a raw conversation about motherhood, career, identity, and the choices women make along the way. Katie shares what it was like to walk away from a career she loved for her family, only to realize years later that something inside her still felt unfulfilled. As she puts it, her children filled her heart, but her soul needed more. Together, Nikki and Katie talk about mom guilt, career sacrifices, financial independence, relationships, the pressure to be everything to everyone, and the complicated truth that loving motherhood does not mean motherhood has to fulfill every part of who you are. Katie also opens up about her memoir, What Do I Tell My Daughter?, and why she chose to tell the truth about the decisions she made as a woman, wife, professional, and mother, including the consequences she never saw coming. This is the kind of conversation so many moms have quietly in their own heads but are afraid to say out loud. You can love your children fiercely and still want a career. You can be grateful and still feel like something is missing. You can be an incredible mom and still want something that is yours. Maybe we need to stop asking moms to choose between the two.

  4. Sep 28

    Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 215 W/Sylvia Alvarez

    On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Sylvia Alvarez, Founder and Executive Director of the Housing and Education Alliance and author of It's Hard to Kill a Bougainvillea: From Slavery to the American Dream. Sylvia shares the extraordinary story of her mother, Cello, whose childhood in Cuba was marked by unimaginable loss, hunger, abandonment, and enslavement before she escaped to New York City in search of freedom. Despite everything she endured, Cello became a joyful mother, successful entrepreneur, real estate developer, and passionate advocate against injustice. Her strength and determination inspired Sylvia to preserve her story and continue her legacy by helping families achieve homeownership. Through the Housing and Education Alliance, Sylvia has helped secure more than $163 million in down payment assistance for 12,000 families. This deeply moving conversation explores motherhood, generational trauma, forgiveness, resilience, homeownership, and the legacies women create through the lives they touch. Sylvia's story is a powerful reminder that even after the harshest seasons, we can continue to grow, bloom, and create something beautiful.

  5. Sep 21

    Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 215 W/Lizette Espinosa

    On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Lizette Espinosa, a mom, attorney, entrepreneur, and creator of Zooby, a baby monitor designed to give parents greater peace of mind while driving.   Lizette shares honestly about the exhaustion and isolation of early motherhood, raising capable children without clipping their wings, and finding the balance between protecting our kids and allowing them to struggle, learn, and grow. She and Nikki also explore how moms can use AI to save time, organize family life, support their children, simplify overwhelming tasks, and create more space for the moments that truly matter.   From newborn sleep deprivation to parenting teenagers, creating safe relationships with our children, setting technology boundaries, and learning to pivot through every stage of motherhood, this conversation is full of honesty, laughter, and practical wisdom. Tune in for a refreshing reminder that motherhood does not require perfection, we do not have to have every answer, and sometimes our children become our greatest teachers.   #LetsBeRealMamaJourneys #YANAM2M #MotherhoodPodcast #RealMotherhood #MomLife #ParentingJourney #MomsSupportingMoms #WomenInBusiness #MomEntrepreneur #ArtificialIntelligence #AIForMoms #IntentionalParenting #PostpartumSupport #YouAreNotAlone

  6. Sep 14

    Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 214 W/Gina Schrek and Lea Costello

    On this episode of Let's Be Real Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with Gina Schrek and Lea Costello for a candid, funny, and refreshingly real conversation about motherhood, stress, burnout, healing, and the impossible expectations women often place on themselves. Lea shares the story behind her upcoming book, Be Your Own Medicine: Healing from Chronic Stress and Reclaiming Your Rhythm, which she says was written from a place of collapse rather than inspiration. She opens up about recognizing when stress and exhaustion had taken over and her journey to finding her way back physically, mentally, and spiritually. Nikki also shares the heart behind her book, Let's Be Real: Mamahood Is Hard. We Need Each Other More Than Ever, and why motherhood was never meant to be something we figure out alone. The conversation explores asking for help, finding your people, allowing kids to make mistakes, and letting go of the idea that being a good mom means getting everything right. Together, Nikki, Gina, and Lea get real about the picture perfect version of motherhood we see online and how comparison can leave women feeling like they are constantly falling short. They talk about parenting through different seasons, the beauty of grandparenting, career pressures, and the unrealistic expectation that moms should somehow raise children, build careers, maintain beautiful homes, and make it all look effortless. This episode is a reminder that real motherhood is messy, funny, exhausting, beautiful, and sometimes overwhelming. You do not have to have it all together. You need people who will remind you that you were never supposed to do it all alone.

  7. Sep 7

    Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 213 W/Zumrut Vardar

    What happens when you're raising children while also caring for aging parents, all while trying not to lose yourself in the process? In this episode of Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys, Nikki sits down with international guest Zumrut Vardar, joining us all the way from Istanbul, Turkey, for an honest conversation about motherhood, caregiving, and life as part of the "sandwich generation." After spending more than 25 years building a successful career in global consulting and entrepreneurship, Zumrut shares her experience of standing at the intersection of generations, supporting her teenage son and young daughter while also caring for her own mother. Together, Nikki and Zumrut explore the challenges of balancing caregiving responsibilities, maintaining your identity outside of motherhood, and learning how to support the people you love without losing yourself along the way. This heartfelt conversation is a reminder that motherhood evolves through every stage of life and that connection, grace, and community matter just as much for mothers of older children as they do for new moms. If you've ever felt pulled in multiple directions while trying to hold everything together for everyone else, this episode will remind you that you are not alone.

  8. Aug 31

    Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 212 W/Zach Zachman

    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.

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About

Motherhood is hard. We don't allow moms to be real about their feelings, frustrations and needs. You can read about child psychology and human development but the REAL stuff comes when you live it. The mamas you will hear from in this podcast are real. They have struggled, had their share of hard times but also amazing mama moments. These interviews are meant to inspire, educate and entertain while giving you the opportunity to hear things that will make you think, "I get it."

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