It’s Both — Anxiety, Transitions, and the Messy Middle

Nikki P
  • 5.0 (28)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

When life isn't either/or—when you're anxious AND hopeful, broken AND whole, stuck AND moving forward—this podcast is for you. Hosted by Nikki P, a licensed therapist turned storyteller who helps people find language for the messy middle. It's Both helps you navigate anxiety, life transitions, and personal growth without toxic positivity or forced solutions. Each episode blends honest conversations with practical tools for emotional regulation, overthinking, mixed emotions, and finding your way through uncertainty. We talk about anxiety and overwhelm, starting over after divorce, faith deconstruction, parenting through your own transitions, career pivots, relationship changes, boundaries, identity shifts, and grief—always through a both/and lens that honors complexity instead of demanding clarity. This podcast is for people living in the tension: women navigating major life changes who need real talk, not empty platitudes. Whether you're rebuilding after loss, deconstructing old beliefs, or stepping into a new season, this space helps you feel seen, less alone, and capable of holding it all without falling apart. Expect therapy-adjacent conversations (not advice), language for the feelings you can't name, and frameworks that help you move forward without abandoning yourself. Because you don't have to have it all figured out to be doing it right. Life isn't either/or—it's both. And you're allowed to hold all of it.

  1. Boundaries & Self-Trust: Starting Over After Losing Yourself

    6D AGO

    Boundaries & Self-Trust: Starting Over After Losing Yourself

    What happens when supporting someone else's career means losing your own voice entirely? In this conversation with military spouse and author Heather Sweeney, we talk about the both/and of military life—holding community and loneliness, pride and resentment, grief and relief all at once. Heather shares her story of navigating anxiety, identity loss, and starting over after a 13-year marriage ended. From seven-month in-house separation to rediscovering her writing career under her maiden name, this is a raw, honest conversation about boundaries, self-trust, and learning that you can initiate a divorce AND still grieve what you lost. In this episode, you'll hear: - The both/and of military divorce: "My condolences and congratulations" - How to rebuild self-trust and voice after years of selflessness - Why boundaries erode when you're always saying yes to someone else's needs - The cycle that kept them stuck: no time to talk before deployment, during deployment, or after - Navigating transitions when you're holding grief and gratitude simultaneously - The moment she knew: "We are not partners in this" - Practical tools for starting over and rebuilding identity during major life changes Follow It's Both for weekly conversations on navigating transitions, anxiety, overthinking, and personal growth—without toxic positivity. Get Connected & Support the Show: - Listen to the companion podcast: It's Both- Guided Meditations for Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, & Real Life Transitions - Follow Heather Sweeney on Instagram, visit her website, follow her on Substack, & order her book - Subscribe, rate, & review It's Both on Apple Podcasts - Join the Courageous Living Group Transformation

    50 min
  2. Anxiety & Overthinking: Just Do Nothing ft. Joanna Hardis

    FEB 17

    Anxiety & Overthinking: Just Do Nothing ft. Joanna Hardis

    Feeling hijacked by anxiety and overthinking every decision—like you're constantly "neck up" in your head, unable to just be? In this episode, Nikki P sits down with therapist and author Joanna Hardis to talk about distress tolerance: the skill of feeling uncomfortable without making situations worse. Joanna shares her story of going from white-knuckling through life to learning how to be "neck down"—staying in her body instead of spiraling in her thoughts. You'll hear how she moved through divorce, single parenting three kids, and being ghosted right before her birthday (yes, really) by practicing the paradox at the heart of her book Just Do Nothing: you can be safe and uncomfortable at the same time. This conversation offers emotional regulation tools for when anxiety hijacks you, practical distress tolerance practices (starting with your phone), and honest language for parenting without being controlled by fear or guilt. Joanna explains why most of us armor up to avoid discomfort—through people-pleasing, perfectionism, or overthinking—and how microdosing discomfort can help you respond to situations instead of reacting from emotions. In this episode, we cover: - Overthinking vs. neck-down awareness (and why therapy helped Joanna get out of her head) - How to tell if you're parenting from anxiety or responding to the actual situation - Distress tolerance 101: what it is and why it matters for emotional regulation - The phone as a five-pound weight: microdosing discomfort in real life - Boundaries for parents (and why asking for two minutes isn't selfish) - How to hold the paradox: safe and uncomfortable, grief and gratitude, love and anger - Why acknowledging feelings is essential—but fixating on them keeps you stuck - Self-compassion when you screw it up (because we all do) If you're navigating parenting, anxiety, or life transitions where your default is to armor up or white-knuckle through, this episode offers a different way forward—one that doesn't require fixing, forcing, or figuring it all out. Because life isn't either/or—it's both. Get Connected & Support the Show: - Listen to the companion podcast: It's Both- Guided Meditations for Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, & Real Life Transitions - Follow Joanna Hardis on Instagram, visit her website, & buy her book Just Do Nothing or Just Do Nothing For Parents - Subscribe, rate, & review It's Both on Apple Podcasts - Join the Courageous Living Group Transformation

    56 min
  3. Overthinking: The Question That Changed My Life

    FEB 10

    Overthinking: The Question That Changed My Life

    What if the moment that saved you started as a question you were afraid to ask? Ten years ago, I wrote in a question about love, boundaries, and faith to a podcast called Ask Science Mike… and Rob Bell answered it. I didn’t know it then, but his response helped move me from people-pleasing to self-respect, from either/or thinking to both/and thinking—and it became one of the turning points that changed the direction of my life. In this solo episode, I’m sharing the full context of what was happening behind the scenes at the time, reading the transcript of my original question and parts of Rob’s response (I don’t have the rights to air the original audio), and reflecting on the ripple effects that followed—on my relationships, my faith, my healing, and the full-circle moment of having Rob Bell on It’s Both. If you’ve ever felt torn between being “loving” and having boundaries… or wondered if taking care of yourself makes you selfish… this one is for you. Get Connected & Support the Show: - Listen to the companion podcast: It's Both- Guided Meditations for Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, & Real Life Transitions - Subscribe, rate, & review It's Both on Apple Podcasts - Join the Courageous Living Group Transformation

    39 min
  4. Navigating Transitions In Faith: I Believe—Differently

    FEB 3

    Navigating Transitions In Faith: I Believe—Differently

    When your beliefs shift, it can feel like you’re losing everything—community, certainty, even yourself. This conversation offers a grounded way to keep faith while navigating transitions with honesty and self-compassion—so you can say, “I believe—just differently,” and mean it. In this episode, Nashville minister David Perez shares his move from either/or religion to a spacious both/and spirituality. We get practical about rebuilding from the inside out—no shame, no hot takes—just tools that help real people through real change. You’ll learn: - How to make sense of a faith identity shift without burning your life down - A non-arguing approach to deconstruction (drop the rope, keep your peace) - What love-first theology looks like in everyday relationships - Simple practices for self-compassion and emotional regulation during doubt - How to find (or form) safe community while your beliefs evolve About the show: Honest conversations and practical tools for mixed emotions, navigating transitions, overthinking, decision making, and emotional intelligence—without toxic positivity. If this helped, follow the show for weekly episodes and share it with a friend who’s in the messy middle.   Get Connected & Support the Show: - Listen to the companion podcast: It's Both- Guided Meditations for Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, & Real Life Transitions - Get connected with David Moses Perez on his website, his church Spero Dei, & listen to his podcast Iconoclast - Subscribe, rate, & review It's Both on Apple Podcasts - Join the Courageous Living Group Transformation

    56 min
  5. Starting Over After Hell: Faith, Fear & Rebuilding ft. Brian Recker

    JAN 27

    Starting Over After Hell: Faith, Fear & Rebuilding ft. Brian Recker

    What happens when fear-based faith collapses—and you're left starting over with no certainty? In this conversation with Brian Recker, author of Hell Bent, we talk about anxiety after deconstruction, navigating transitions when belief systems break down, and how ideas like hell and punishment rewire your nervous system. Together, we explore how to stay grounded when starting over, hold mixed emotions without forcing clarity, and rebuild with self-compassion instead of shame. This episode offers language for grief & growth, tools for emotional regulationduring identity shift, and a both/and approach to faith transitions. You'll hear practical reflections on: - Starting over without shame (or decision fatigue about what to believe) - Letting go of fear-based faith without rushing into false certainty - How grief and imagination interact during belief changes - Rebuilding self-trust after systems break down - Navigating transitions with honesty, agency, and compassion - Boundaries with people who don't understand your shift If you're questioning inherited beliefs, feeling uncertainty after leaving religion, or learning how to live without all the answers, this conversation offers grounded perspective for personal growth—without pressure, shame, or toxic positivity. Get Connected & Support the Show: - Listen to the companion podcast: It's Both- Guided Meditations for Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, & Real Life Transitions - Follow Brian Recker on Instagram, visit his website, & buy his book Hell Bent - Subscribe, rate, & review It's Both on Apple Podcasts - Join the Courageous Living Group Transformation

    1h 3m
  6. Navigating Transitions After Purity Culture | ft. Linda Kay Klein

    JAN 20

    Navigating Transitions After Purity Culture | ft. Linda Kay Klein

    Life transitions after purity culture can feel disorienting—shame, mixed messages, and binary thinking collide. With Linda Kay Klein, we name what life transitions look like during deconstruction and map one kinder next step so you don’t abandon yourself. We unpack what “purity culture” is, how right/wrong binaries create internal tornadoes, why bothness (grief and relief) shows up in change, and the real ways it shapes adulthood and sexuality. Linda shares a practical three-part recovery path—deconstruction + reconstruction together, finding solidarity so you’re not alone, and (when ready) turning healing outward. If you’ve felt torn between who you were told to be and who you’re becoming, this conversation offers language, relief, and a gentler way forward. If you’re navigating life transitions, follow for new episodes Tuesdays. Get Connected & Support the Show: - Listen to the companion podcast: It's Both- Guided Meditations for Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, & Real Life Transitions - Follow Linda Kay Klein on Instagram & visit her website - Subscribe, rate, & review It's Both on Apple Podcasts - Join the Courageous Living Group Transformation

    1 hr
  7. Overthinking vs. Inner Knowing — Rob Bell Pt 2

    JAN 13

    Overthinking vs. Inner Knowing — Rob Bell Pt 2

    Feeling torn between selflessness and self-care? Stuck overthinking every choice? In Part 2 with Rob Bell, we talk about breaking the overthinking spiral, reclaiming your inner knowing, and why healing isn't "late"—it's right on time. You'll hear how to stop second-guessing yourself when navigating transitions, how clarity emerges through stillness (not more analysis), and Nikki's story of how one boundary question 10 years ago changed the trajectory of her life. This episode offers a practical reframe for overthinking when life feels complex—plus tools to rebuild self-trust and peace of mind. In this episode, we cover: - How systems and power structures train you to doubt your own intuition (creating decision fatigue) - "The juice of life": making choices without the fear of one perfect answer - Self-care vs. selflessness (and why taking care of yourself expands what you can give) - "Right on time" healing: releasing urgency and rebuilding peace of mind - How to stay engaged with a hard world without losing yourself - Boundaries that honor both connection and self-compassion This episode builds on Part 1 ("The Certainty Trap & Overthinking"). Listen to Part 1 HERE first for deeper context. Follow It's Both for weekly conversations on navigating transitions, overthinking, personal growth, and real-life change—without toxic positivity. Get Connected & Support the Show: - Join the Courageous Living Group Transformation - Listen to the companion podcast: It's Both- Guided Meditations for Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, & Real Life Transitions - Follow Rob Bell on Instagram & visit his website - Subscribe, rate, & review It's Both on Apple Podcasts

    38 min
  8. The Certainty Trap & Overthinking - Rob Bell Pt 1

    JAN 6

    The Certainty Trap & Overthinking - Rob Bell Pt 1

    Feeling stuck chasing the “right” answer? This episode uses emotional intelligence to break the certainty trap—so you can get out of your head, back into your body, and hold joy and grief side by side without spiraling. In Part 1 with Rob Bell, we explore why binary thinking feels like safety (and why it’s often scarcity in disguise), the relationship between grief and imagination, and how learning to feel what’s true can unlock clarity and your next step. In this episode, you’ll hear: - Why the mind craves either/or—and how the heart can hold both - How “rightness” can masquerade as moral certainty while actually fueling scarcity - The grief → imagination link (and why grief moves in waves) - Why we get stuck in our heads (and what it costs us) - A freeing reframe for the “I should be farther along” story This is Part 1. In Part 2, we get more practical about self-trust, embodiment, and choosing without certainty. Follow the show so you don’t miss Part 2—and share this with a friend who’s in the messy middle. Get Connected & Support the Show: - Listen to the companion podcast: It's Both- Guided Meditations for Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, & Real Life Transitions - Join the Courageous Living Group Transformation - Follow Rob Bell on Instagram & visit his website - Subscribe, rate, & review It's Both on Apple Podcasts

    46 min
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About

When life isn't either/or—when you're anxious AND hopeful, broken AND whole, stuck AND moving forward—this podcast is for you. Hosted by Nikki P, a licensed therapist turned storyteller who helps people find language for the messy middle. It's Both helps you navigate anxiety, life transitions, and personal growth without toxic positivity or forced solutions. Each episode blends honest conversations with practical tools for emotional regulation, overthinking, mixed emotions, and finding your way through uncertainty. We talk about anxiety and overwhelm, starting over after divorce, faith deconstruction, parenting through your own transitions, career pivots, relationship changes, boundaries, identity shifts, and grief—always through a both/and lens that honors complexity instead of demanding clarity. This podcast is for people living in the tension: women navigating major life changes who need real talk, not empty platitudes. Whether you're rebuilding after loss, deconstructing old beliefs, or stepping into a new season, this space helps you feel seen, less alone, and capable of holding it all without falling apart. Expect therapy-adjacent conversations (not advice), language for the feelings you can't name, and frameworks that help you move forward without abandoning yourself. Because you don't have to have it all figured out to be doing it right. Life isn't either/or—it's both. And you're allowed to hold all of it.

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