Open up & Talk

Nichole Folino
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

Open Up & Talk is where we stop pretending everything’s fine and actually talk about what being human feels like. Hosted by grief and relationship clarity coach Nichole Folino, each episode blends reflection, real stories, and a little humour about life’s hardest and weirdest moments. Open Up and Talk reminds you that being messy is part of being alive. Sometimes it’s deep. Sometimes it’s funny. Always, it’s honest. Welcome to Open Up and Talk, where honest conversations make a big impact. Remember, life is messy, but talking about it makes the mess okay.

  1. 2D AGO

    Physical Intimacy & Connection-Parallel Relationship Series

    Where Did the Affection Go? Physical Intimacy and Connection In this episode of the Parallel Relationship Series, Nichole explores the quiet shifts that can happen in physical intimacy and affection within long-term relationships. As life becomes busier and emotional distance grows, many couples begin noticing changes in closeness, touch, and connection, often without fully understanding how or when things changed. Nichole talks about the link between emotional and physical intimacy, how stress, exhaustion, routine, and unspoken emotions can quietly impact connection, and why many people struggle to talk openly about this part of their relationship. This episode offers both honesty and hope, because sometimes these shifts are part of emotional disconnection that can be repaired, and sometimes they bring clarity about what’s no longer working. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where the closeness went, or questioning whether what you’re experiencing is normal, this conversation will likely resonate deeply.

    15 min

  2. MAY 10

    Designing spaces for healing & transformation with Annette Farha

    Grief doesn’t only change how we feel, it can change how we experience the spaces around us and how we see ourselves within them. In this episode of Open Up and Talk, Nichole sits down with intuitive designer, transformational coach, and author Annette Farha to explore the connection between grief, identity, and the environments we live in. Together, they talk about how our physical spaces can either hold us in who we were or gently support who we are becoming. Annette shares how intentional design can create a sense of safety, clarity, and alignment, helping us reconnect with ourselves during times of loss and transition. This conversation offers a unique and grounded perspective on healing, reminding us that transformation isn’t only internal, it can be reflected and supported in the spaces we move through every day. If you’re navigating change, grief, or feeling disconnected from yourself, this episode will invite you to look at your environment in a new way and consider what it might be asking of you next. You can connect with Annette at www.adesigndiscovery.com

    32 min

  3. APR 26

    Roommate Syndrome-Parallel relationship series

    From Partners to Roommates, Understanding Roommate Syndrome In this episode of the Parallel Relationship Series, Nichole explores a quiet but common experience in long-term relationships, roommate syndrome. It’s that feeling of sharing a home, responsibilities, and routines with your partner, but emotionally feeling more like roommates than romantic partners. When life gets busy with work, parenting, stress, and responsibilities, connection can slowly take a back seat. Conversations become logistical, affection fades, and many couples find themselves wondering when the closeness changed. Nichole talks about how roommate syndrome develops, why emotional intimacy and functional partnership are not the same thing, and how many couples quietly live in this space for years without realizing it. This episode offers both hope and honesty, because sometimes reconnection is possible, and sometimes clarity means recognizing the relationship may no longer be what you want it to be. If you’ve ever felt emotionally lonely inside your relationship, this conversation is for you.

    12 min

  4. APR 19

    When conversations go quiet-Parallel relationship series

    In this episode of the Parallel Relationship Series, Nichole explores what happens when communication in a relationship slowly shifts, not into conflict, but into silence. Many couples don’t stop talking altogether. Instead, conversations become shorter, more surface-level, and focused on managing life rather than sharing it. Over time, this can create emotional distance that’s hard to explain, even to yourself. Nichole walks through how communication patterns change, why emotional disconnection is more common than we think, and how busyness and differing communication styles can quietly shape a relationship. This episode offers both clarity and hope, a reminder that distance often develops gradually, and with awareness, connection can begin to rebuild in small, meaningful ways. If you’ve ever felt like you and your partner are talking, but not really connecting, this conversation will likely resonate.

    13 min

  5. APR 12

    The importance of regulation with Renee English

    Regulation in Parenting: Supporting Ourselves and Our Children Through Somatic Practices Parenting can feel overwhelming, especially when emotions are high, not just for our children, but for us too. In this episode of Open Up and Talk, Nichole sits down with Renee English to explore the importance of regulation in parenting and how our own nervous system plays a key role in how we respond to our children. Together, they talk about what regulation really means, how dysregulation can show up in both parents and children, and how simple somatic practices can help bring the body back to a place of calm and connection. This conversation is a reminder that parenting isn’t about getting it right all the time, it’s about learning to support ourselves so we can show up more present, patient, and connected with our children. You can find Renee on Facebook at Compassionate Compass Coaching.

    18 min

  6. APR 5

    Parallel Relationships-Series Introduction

    In this first episode of the Parallel Relationship Series, Nichole explores the quiet experience many couples find themselves in, living side by side, but no longer feeling deeply connected. She introduces the concept of parallel relationships (sometimes called a “silent divorce”), and how emotional distance can slowly develop over time through the busyness of life and differing communication styles. This episode offers both clarity and hope, helping listeners understand how relationships drift, what that distance can feel like, and why noticing it doesn’t always mean the relationship is over. It can also be the beginning of reconnection… or the beginning of honest reflection about what comes next. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Are we still us?”, this conversation is for you.

    10 min

  7. MAR 29

    Perimenopause & Menopause with Kelly HIll

    Menopause and perimenopause are natural stages of life, yet so many women find themselves navigating them feeling confused, dismissed, or unsupported. In this episode of Open Up and Talk, Nichole sits down with a Kelly Hill CPA from Profit & Lattes to have an open and honest conversation about the physical and emotional symptoms that can come with hormonal changes and why so many women feel like they have to push to be heard. Together, they explore common symptoms, the impact these changes can have on mental and emotional well-being, and the importance of advocating for yourself within the healthcare system and in your everyday life. This episode is a reminder that what you’re experiencing is real, your voice matters, and you deserve to feel supported, informed, and understood.

    24 min

  8. MAR 15

    When stress shows up in the body

    How Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Show Up in the Body Mental health struggles don’t only live in our thoughts, they often show up in our bodies first. In this episode of Open Up and Talk, Nichole explores the physical ways stress, anxiety, and depression can affect the body. From fatigue and muscle tension to sleep disruption and emotional exhaustion, she explains why these symptoms happen and how the nervous system responds to ongoing stress. Drawing on research and lived experience, Nichole also shares gentle, practical ways to support your body and mind through movement, breathing, connection, and self-compassion. If you’ve been feeling physically drained, overwhelmed, or disconnected, this conversation offers reassurance and simple tools to help restore balance.

    11 min
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About

Open Up & Talk is where we stop pretending everything’s fine and actually talk about what being human feels like. Hosted by grief and relationship clarity coach Nichole Folino, each episode blends reflection, real stories, and a little humour about life’s hardest and weirdest moments. Open Up and Talk reminds you that being messy is part of being alive. Sometimes it’s deep. Sometimes it’s funny. Always, it’s honest. Welcome to Open Up and Talk, where honest conversations make a big impact. Remember, life is messy, but talking about it makes the mess okay.

Information

  • Creator
    Nichole Folino
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nichole Folino
  • Show Website
    Open up & Talk