Mostly Together

Carol Lin spent years at the center of some of the biggest breaking news stories of her generation. The former CNN and ABC News anchor became the first national television anchor to report the September 11th attacks — a moment that would forever become part of her story. But the life behind the headlines was far more complicated than what viewers ever saw on camera. In this episode of Mostly Together, Carol opens up about the drive that shaped her career, the choices that eventually changed it, and the deeply personal experiences that forced her to rethink what success, love, motherhood and resilience really mean. Her new memoir, When News Breaks: A Memoir of Love and War, tells the story she never told on television — and our conversation goes there, too. This is about what happens when the person who is used to covering the breaking news suddenly has to navigate her own. Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every week: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod Connect with Carol Lin: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @carollinnow 🌐 Website: https://www.carollinnow.com

What makes you feel most like yourself—and when did you decide it had to wait? In this episode of Mostly Together, Nicole Nalepa reflects on a weekend at Bethel Woods, watching Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson perform, and opens up about an unexpected connection to one of the most meaningful chapters of her own career. It's a personal conversation about making room for what brings us joy, reconnecting with the parts of ourselves we may have left behind, and taking one honest step toward what makes us feel alive. Because choosing what we love doesn't always require a dramatic life change. Sometimes, it simply begins with deciding that what matters to us deserves some of our time, too. Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every week: 🌐  https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺  Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

Chef Allie is a trained chef, mom of three and the woman behind Chef Allie's Kitchen. By transforming familiar favorites into creative, healthier recipes, she has become a trusted voice in the weight-loss community and built an online following of hundreds of thousands. But Allie's story extends far beyond losing 100 pounds. It's about reconnecting with a version of herself she thought she had lost, building an identity outside of motherhood and discovering that reaching one goal can make room for an entirely new one. In this episode, we talk about the reality of maintaining a major transformation, turning personal accountability into a thriving online brand and learning to see strength differently at 40. Because sometimes the visible transformation is only the beginning of the story.  Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every week: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod Connect with Chef Allie: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @chefallie 🌐 https://chefallieskitchen.com/

Have you ever gone into something with a clear picture of how it was supposed to go — only to find yourself disappointed when reality looked completely different? In this solo episode of Mostly Together, Nicole Nalepa shares a realization this summer brought to the surface about expectations, the pressure we put on certain seasons of our lives, and the stories we can create before an experience even begins. It's a quick, honest conversation about one habit Nicole is trying to break — and a question that might make you rethink the expectations you're carrying into your own life. Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every week: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

Colette Baron-Reid spent years believing she was supposed to be a singer—even as life kept pulling her toward an entirely different calling. Decades later, after building an extraordinary career helping others trust their intuition, music has found its way back to her. Colette is a bestselling author, internationally known spiritual teacher and one of the most recognizable voices in the world of intuition and oracle cards. A longtime Hay House author, she has created 19 bestselling oracle decks, sold more than two million decks worldwide, and built a global community around personal growth, spirituality and transformation. In this conversation, Colette opens up about nearly four decades of sobriety and why recovery, for her, has never simply been about not drinking or using drugs—it has been about becoming a different person. She talks about second chances, doing the work to heal, returning to music later in life, and refusing to accept the idea that creativity, purpose or relevance have an expiration date. Nicole and Colette also talk about why women are conditioned to see one another as competition, what it means to answer a calling even when it scares you, and why fulfillment gives us more—not less—to offer the people around us. And Colette shares her own definition of being "mostly together"! This is a conversation about recovery, reinvention, answering the call—and remembering that you are not out of time. Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every week: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod Connect with Colette:  📲 Instagram & Facebook: @colettebaronreid 🌐 https://www.colettebaronreid.com/

For the first-ever solo episode of Mostly Together, Nicole Nalepa steps behind the story of the podcast—and shares why she felt compelled to create it. After more than 15 years in television, Nicole found herself facing an ending she hadn't planned and the unsettling question that often follows: Who are you when the role that defined you is suddenly gone? She opens up about rebuilding after an unexpected career change, learning to separate functioning from truly thriving, and trying to create meaningful work without giving up the parts of family life she has only recently been able to experience more fully. This is a conversation about ambition, identity and the complicated space between being grateful for your life and still wanting parts of it to change. It's about outgrowing old versions of yourself, questioning brave decisions and beginning again without a perfect map. Because being mostly together doesn't mean having everything figured out. It means making room for who you've been, who you are now and who you're still becoming.   Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every week: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

Kim Chappell thought she was leaving local television news in search of a more sustainable life. Instead, she found herself helping build Bobbie from the ground up while raising three children—and discovering that the skills she thought she had left behind were exactly what her next chapter required. Kim is a two-time Emmy and National Edward R. Murrow Award-winning former journalist who is now the Chief Brand Officer at Bobbie. She has been recognized as Shorty's 2025 Brand Marketer of the Year, a member of Forbes' 2025 Entrepreneurial CMO 50 and Adweek's 2025 Creative 100, and one of Business Insider's 25 Most Innovative CMOs of 2026. Years after first meeting at "Anchor Camp," Nicole and Kim reunite for an honest conversation about career reinvention, working motherhood, ambition and learning to believe in yourself when someone else sees your potential first. Kim opens up about the ego check that came with walking away from television, entering an entirely new industry and initially insisting that she wasn't a marketer. She shares why motherhood changed the value she placed on her time, what convinced her to take a risk on an early-stage baby formula company, and how her journalism background helped her build trust through meaningful storytelling. They also talk about the guilt and shame surrounding infant feeding, the impossible labels placed on mothers, creating workplaces that genuinely support pregnancy and working parents, and why trying to be a great mother and a great employee at the exact same moment may not actually work. Plus, Kim and Nicole get real about summer parenting guilt, working from home, the importance of boundaries and routine—and how the parts of ourselves we think we've lost may have only been waiting for room to return. This is a conversation about purposeful work, trusting the skills you already have and realizing that changing careers doesn't mean starting over. Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every week: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod Connect with Kim: 📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-chappell-3599415/  🌐 https://www.hibobbie.com/ 

Tom Cantone didn't just book shows—he helped change what casino entertainment could be. In this episode of Mostly Together, Nicole sits down with the legendary entertainment executive, author and longtime Mohegan Sun leader inside the memorabilia-filled music room where a childhood Beatles drum set still anchors his extraordinary story. What begins with an unforgettable Ringo Starr encounter opens into a sweeping conversation about instinct, risk, relationships, leadership—and recognizing possibility before anyone else can see it. Tom traces his path from growing up in a close-knit Italian American family in Harrisburg to an unexpected opportunity at Hersheypark, and eventually to the Sands in Atlantic City, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. He shares how a handwritten thank-you note opened the first door of his career—and how convincing Eddie Murphy, then one of the biggest stars in the country, to launch his tour inside an 850-seat casino showroom helped transform the perception of casino entertainment. That risk opened the door to a new era of contemporary performers, including Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Cher, and became the beginning of a career built around bold ideas, carefully earned trust and an instinct for recognizing cultural momentum. Tom takes us behind the scenes on booking Whitney Houston and Taylor Swift before they became global icons, helping Matt Rife move from comedy clubs to sold-out arenas, and the 25-year pursuit that led to Billy Joel's first ten-show residency. He also shares stories from his friendships and encounters with some of entertainment's most recognizable names—including Regis Philbin, Don Rickles, Adam Sandler, David Spade, Dennis Miller, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Orlando and members of The Sopranos cast. But this conversation is about much more than the famous names. Tom reflects on the parents and mentors who shaped him, the power of making people feel seen and why genuine relationships will always matter more than transactions. He explains why handwritten notes still matter, why leaders should know the names of the people around them and how he built his teams around gratitude rather than ego. He also opens up about failure, negotiation, learning when to walk away from a deal and the philosophy that carried him through the inevitable obstacles of a high-stakes career: there is always a way. Now, after more than four decades spent planning the next booking, the next opening night and the next unforgettable show, Tom is entering a season in which tomorrow is no longer written months in advance. He reflects on family, friendship, loss, staying relevant and the realization that time eventually becomes more valuable than money. And as he considers what comes next, Tom reminds us that reinvention doesn't always require having the entire plan. Sometimes it begins with staying curious, continuing to dream and trusting that there is always a way forward.   Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx   Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod   Connect with Tom Cantone: 🌐 https://www.tomcantone.com/

He is a Grammy Award-winning tenor, curator, educator, writer, and artistic director — and someone whose work asks a question that reaches far beyond the concert hall: What does it mean to belong — to a country, to a tradition, to an art form, to yourself? In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Nicholas Phan ahead of his Tanglewood program, Fellow Citizens, for a conversation about music, identity, belonging, and the power of finding your voice. Nick grew up with music as more than just an activity. It became a place to go — a source of expression, connection, and eventually, purpose. But this conversation is not just about classical music. Nick opens up about the path that led him to a life in music, the moments that shaped his sense of self, the bias and barriers that still exist in classical spaces, and what it means to keep pushing a beloved art form toward more truth, more humanity, and more room for everyone. He also reflects on the emotional weight of winning a Grammy, the people who helped shape his journey, his project Bach 52, and why music can sometimes help us feel what words alone cannot. At its heart, this is a conversation about voice — not just the voice we hear, but the voice we claim.   Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: 🌐  https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺  Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧  Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx   Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod   Connect with Nicholas Phan: 📲 Instagram: @grecchinois 🌐 https://nicholas-phan.com/

She is a best-selling author, speaker, former Emmy-nominated television producer — and someone whose story asks a question most of us hope we never have to answer: What happens when your inner knowing is right…and no one fully believes you?   In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Stephanie Arnold, author of 37 Seconds and the woman whose near-death story was featured on Netflix.   While pregnant with her second child, Stephanie became convinced that something was going to go terribly wrong during delivery. But this wasn't just a passing fear, or anxiety — it was a knowing. She believed her baby would be fine, but that she would die on the operating table.   And then she did.   This conversation lives in the space between intuition and advocacy.   It's about motherhood, medical trauma, survival, and the courage it takes to keep using your voice when the people around you don't fully understand what you're trying to say.   Stephanie opens up about the warnings she felt before giving birth, the amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) that led to her near-death experience, the extra precautions that helped save her life, and what it means to trust your body before the data catches up.     At its heart, this is a conversation about speaking up — not because you're trying to be difficult, dramatic, or right, but because your life may depend on it.   In this conversation, we talk about: The premonition Stephanie had before giving birth Being dismissed, questioned, and still choosing to speak up The moment her son was born — and the moment Stephanie died Trusting what your body knows Life after a near-death experience Reclaiming her body after trauma — and stepping into bikini bodybuilding at 49 Why "you will never regret speaking up and being wrong"   Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/   📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod   🎧  Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737   🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx   Connect with Nicole:  📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv    📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod   Connect with Stephanie: 🌐 https://stephaniearnold.net/    📲 Instagram: @stepharnold37

She is an author, speaker, podcast host — and someone whose work asks a question so many women feel, but don't always say out loud: What happens when being "the good mother" starts costing you yourself? In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Heather Chauvin, author of Dying to Be a Good Mother and host of the podcast, Emotionally Uncomfortable. Heather became a mother at 18, and for a long time, her son was the reason she got out of bed every morning. Motherhood gave her purpose, drive, and a reason to keep going. But over time, she began to ask a deeper question: was she truly living for her children, or losing herself in the identity of being a mother? This conversation lives in the space between devotion and self-abandonment. It's about motherhood, burnout, ambition, survival mode, and the quiet ways women learn to put everyone else's needs ahead of their own. Heather also opens up about the diagnosis that forced her to look at the life she was living, the whispers she had been ignoring, and why feeling alive, energized, and connected to yourself is not selfish — it's part of how we show up for the people we love. In this conversation, we talk about: • Breaking generational patterns • Resentment and the cost of abandoning yourself • Heather's Stage 4 cancer diagnosis and the wake-up call it became • Listening to the tiny whispers before life gets louder • The difference between a hard season and a life that no longer fits • What it means to feel "Mostly Together" on the edge of growth Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx   Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod   Connect with Heather: 📲 Follow Heather on Instagram: @heatherchauvin_ 🌐 https://www.heatherchauvin.com

She is a national journalist, a network news anchor, a storyteller, a TED speaker — and someone whose latest chapter is rooted in honesty, resilience, and self-reflection. In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Hena Doba, anchor at NewsNation. Hena was born and raised in Queens as the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, growing up in a low-income neighborhood where no one on television looked like her. Her family imagined one path for her — but her heart kept pulling her toward journalism. What began with a camcorder after 9/11 became the start of a career in storytelling — one that would take Hena from local newsrooms to WFSB in Connecticut, CBS News, Cheddar, and now NewsNation. This conversation lives in the space between public success and private truth. It's about what Hena is learning to own now — the girl from Jackson Heights, the survival skills that shaped her, and the TED Talk that helped her see her childhood, her ambition, and herself in a new way. In this conversation, we talk about: Growing up Pakistani American in Queens Finding her voice after 9/11 Her Connecticut chapter and years at WFSB Building a national career in news The difference between resilience and survival mode Her recent TED Talk, Reckoning Learning to own the parts of your story you once kept hidden Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: 🌐https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod Connect with Hena: 📲 Follow Hena on Instagram: @henadoba 

She is Miss Universe Ghana, a licensed psychotherapist, a mental health advocate, a performer — and a woman whose story goes far beyond the crown. In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Andromeda Osam-Peters, Miss Universe Ghana and founder of Your Mind Matters Global. Andromeda grew up Ghanaian American in Western Massachusetts, moving between cultures, identities, and expectations while learning what it meant to be seen fully. From Springfield and Easthampton to the global stage, her journey has been shaped by performance, pageantry, therapy, healing, heritage, and a deep commitment to helping others feel less alone. But Andromeda's story was never really just about beauty. It's about belonging. It's about becoming. It's about learning how to stop editing yourself and bring every part of who you are into the room. In this conversation, we talk about: Growing up Ghanaian American in Western Massachusetts Learning to move between cultures and identities The meaning behind her name and what it means to be truly seen How performance and pageantry helped shape her confidence Becoming Miss Universe Ghana and representing her heritage on a global stage Mental health, therapy, trauma, healing, and safe spaces The mission behind Your Mind Matters Global What it means to become whole without leaving parts of yourself behind   Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx   Connect with Nicole: 📲 Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv 📲 Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod    📲 Follow Andromeda on Instagram: @andromedapeters  🌐Learn more about Andromeda and Your Mind Matters Global: https://www.andromedapeters.com

He helped turn something the whole country started talking about into art: highway signs, a 9,000-pound monument, a statewide pizza movement — and somehow, it all started with one slice. In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Michael Pollack, the artist behind New Haven Pizza Club, live from the Yale Innovation Summit 2026. Michael is one of the creative forces who helped bring Connecticut's "Pizza Capital of the United States" movement to life visually and culturally — a campaign originally spearheaded by the state's then-chief marketing officer, Anthony Anthony. But Michael's story was never really just about pizza. He became an artist at 40, walked away from the expected path, and turned one of the most universal things in the world into art, community, culture, and a philanthropic movement that has helped raise half a million dollars for families of critically ill children. In this conversation, we talk about: Betting on yourself when the path is uncertain Why the lows can make you stronger than the highs How New Haven pizza became part of a larger cultural movement The role of art, storytelling, and community in giving back Michael's work with Feeding Families Foundation and families facing childhood cancer Why tangible impact matters in philanthropy The power of collaboration, trust, and handshake deals Building momentum without losing the heart behind the work Why the thing that brings us all together might just be a slice Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/ 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx 📲Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod 📲 Follow Michael on Instagram: @nhvpc 🌐 https://newhavenpizzaclub.com/

Sixteen years ago, Paula Reid and I were interns at CBS News — walking through the same newsroom, swapping stories, taking in the history around us, and wondering where this industry might take us.   Today, Paula is CNN's Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent, covering some of the biggest legal and political stories in the country.   But what makes this conversation so powerful is not just the résumé. It's the persistence, preparation, pivots, and life behind it.   On this episode of Mostly Together, Paula and I reflect on the full-circle nature of reconnecting all these years later — from our CBS News intern days and BoltBus memories to the path that took her from law school to legal journalism, from fact-checking behind the scenes to reporting on national television.   Paula opens up about the moments that shaped her career, including the early opportunities that taught her to say yes, the Mueller investigation breakthrough that opened the door to a bigger role at CBS, and the advice that has stayed with her through high-pressure moments: always go back to the work.   We also talk about ambition, motherhood, marriage, health, family support, and the tradeoffs that come with building a demanding career while protecting what matters most.   This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered whether they are too late, too behind, too different, or too far from where they want to be. It's a conversation about building your lane, trusting your preparation, making peace with tradeoffs, and remembering that sometimes the work itself is what steadies you.   Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/   📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod   🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737   🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx   📲 Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod   📲 Follow Paula: Instagram: @paulareidcnn

Hollywood character actor Don Stroud has lived the kind of life that sounds scripted — except every word of it is real. From surfing in Hawaii to the Sunset Strip, the Whiskey A-Go-Go, Universal Pictures, and more than four decades in film and television, Don's story moves through some of Hollywood's most iconic corners. His credits include Coogan's Bluff and Joe Kidd with Clint Eastwood, The Buddy Holly Story, The Amityville Horror, the James Bond film Licence to Kill, and Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. But what makes this conversation so powerful is not just the résumé. It's the human being behind it. On this episode of Mostly Together, Don opens up about the unexpected turns that shaped his life: the moment he went from the beach to a Universal Pictures contract, the wild energy of old Hollywood, surviving a plane crash and a violent attack, his struggle with addiction, and the sobriety that helped save his life. With humor, honesty, and a storyteller's soul, Don reflects on fame, survival, reinvention, and why being a working character actor meant more to him than chasing movie-star status. This is a conversation about a life fully lived — the beautiful parts, the brutal parts, and the grace of still being here to tell the story.  Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/  Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

Dr. Rachel Goldman — known as Dr. Rachel — is a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, NYU professor, speaker, and author specializing in the mind-body connection. She's been featured in The New York Times, TIME, and CNN, appeared as an expert panelist with Oprah, been a guest on The Mel Robbins Podcast, and her new book, When Life Happens, is out now. So many of us are working, parenting, showing up, answering emails, and pushing through — looking like we're functioning on the outside while feeling depleted on the inside. So how do we know the difference between functioning and actually being okay? On this episode of Mostly Together, Dr. Rachel and I talk about burnout, identity shifts, self-talk, and what it really looks like to keep going when life doesn't go according to plan. And near the end of our conversation, Dr. Rachel says something about the name Mostly Together that I didn't see coming — and it's worth sticking around for. In this episode: • The difference between a busy season and burnout • Why we keep pushing through instead of pausing • What happens when an identity, role, or season no longer fits • Why even positive change can feel overwhelming • How to shift from "why is this happening to me?" to "what can I do about it?" • Why sometimes maintaining is the goal   Explore Mostly Together — new episodes every Wednesday: 🌐 https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/   Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod   Learn more about Dr. Rachel Goldman: 🌐 https://www.drrachelnyc.com/ 📘 When Life Happens: https://whenlifehappensbook.com/

Jenny Hubbard and I have known each other for several years — first through interviews on my former lifestyle show, then through the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation, where I've had the honor of co-emceeing the Butterfly Party alongside Scot Haney. Over time, I've come to know Jenny not just through her story, but through the way she continues to carry it forward. Jenny is a mother, advocate, and the founder of the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Newtown, Connecticut. Her life changed forever on December 14, 2012, when she lost her 6-year-old daughter, Catherine, in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. In the years since, Jenny has navigated unimaginable grief — and found a way to build something meaningful in its place. The sanctuary is a space rooted in compassion, connection, and the love Catherine had for animals. Through her work, Jenny continues to honor Catherine's spirit while creating something that brings kindness into the world. Her next book, on forgiveness, arrives this fall. On this episode of Mostly Together, we talk about grief, forgiveness, purpose, and the quiet, ongoing work of healing — and what it looks like to move forward, not by forgetting, but by carrying love differently. In this episode: • How the sanctuary began — in a way no one expected • Why grief is not linear, and never something you "check off" • The difference between forgiveness as a moment…and forgiveness as a practice • How something meaningful can still grow from unimaginable loss • Why vulnerability and sharing our stories matters more than we think Learn more about the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary:  🌐 https://www.cvhfoundation.org/  Instagram: @cvhanimalsanctuary Explore Mostly Together:  🌐 mostlytogetherpod.com 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=093aff84cc6546c9 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR1UBeBQxFdxIQB3xjDfz6A  Connect with Nicole:  Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

Jackie Bruno and I go way back — she got her start at WWLP in Springfield, the same station where I landed my first job out of college. We've stayed connected over the years, watching each other navigate different chapters of this industry; so sitting down for this conversation felt less like an interview and more like two women finally saying the quiet parts out loud. Jackie is a three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, former Boston news anchor, Miss Massachusetts USA 2008, and the founder of Newsmaker Marketing. On paper, she had everything. But behind the scenes, she was running on empty — until she made the difficult decision to step away and put her mental health first. On this episode of Mostly Together, Jackie gets refreshingly honest about burnout, identity, and what it really takes to rebuild when the dream you chased for years no longer fits who you are. In this episode: Why she walked away from a 14-year career in TV news at the height of it What burnout actually looked like — and how a breakdown became a breakthrough Starting a business in two weeks (and why she didn't overthink it) The simple analogy that completely reframed her sense of self-worth The moment she realized "no one could pay me enough to feel that way" Letting go of what looks good… and choosing what actually feels good ––––––––––––––––––––– Connect with Jackie: Instagram: @TheJackieBruno Website: newsmakermarketing.com   Explore Mostly Together: 🌐 Website & episode archives: mostlytogetherpod.com 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=093aff84cc6546c9  📺 YouTube: @mostlytogetherpod   Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

MaryAnn DiMarco's mentor was a friend of a family member — which means we were always just one degree apart. She's a Long Island girl, and my family's roots are there too. Somehow, our paths never officially crossed until now. Coincidence… or divine timing? MaryAnn is a renowned psychic medium and author who has spent years helping people reconnect with something she believes we all carry — intuition, inner knowing, and a deeper sense of self. On this episode of Mostly Together, we sit down for a conversation that is equal parts spiritual and deeply grounded. Whether you're a true believer, a healthy skeptic, or just someone who keeps getting those gut feelings you can't quite explain — this one is for you. We talk about what intuition actually is, why so many of us have been conditioned to ignore it, and how to begin trusting that inner voice again. In this episode: What intuition really is — and why we've learned to dismiss it How MaryAnn discovered and developed her gifts Why she believes everyone has intuitive abilities Moving through fear and skepticism Simple ways to start tuning in (meditation, journaling, body awareness) The role of community on any spiritual journey ––––––––––––––––––––– Connect with MaryAnn: Instagram: @maryannthemedium Website: maryanndimarco.com Explore Mostly Together: 🌐 Website & episode archives: mostlytogetherpod.com 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=093aff84cc6546c9  📺 YouTube: @mostlytogetherpod Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

My husband was watching a CrossFit instructional video one day when I glanced at the screen and said, "Wait—I went to high school with that guy!" That guy was James Hobart — a CrossFit Games legend. He is a nine-time CrossFit Games competitor and three-time Affiliate Cup champion—winning at the highest level of the sport! Reconnecting after all these years, both of us in completely different chapters of our lives, was something I didn't see coming — and I'm so glad it happened. On this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with James for a real conversation about identity, risk, and what it means to rebuild when your life has been centered around one thing for so long. This episode dives into: • Walking away from a traditional path—finishing law school, then choosing fitness instead • How competition became his identity—and how he found his way back to it on his own terms • Redefining masculinity, and why strength and gentleness can coexist • Balancing discipline with self-care and rest • What it looks like to compete consciously instead of compulsively ––––––––––––––––––––– Connect with James: Instagram: @jameshobart YouTube:  ⁨@jhobartII⁩  Explore Mostly Together: 🌐 Website & episodes: https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/   — explore the show, past conversations, and what we're building here. 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=3b7425378a0e4fc1 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

What happens when the career you've built no longer fits the way it used to? On this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Jacalyn Clark — a longtime national news anchor and licensed therapist — for a conversation about career transitions, personal growth, and what it really looks like to evolve without starting over. Our paths first crossed years ago when I was an intern at 22News (WWLP), where I later got my first job out of college. Reconnecting in a completely different season of life made this conversation especially meaningful. We talk about the realities of working in the news industry, what people don't always see behind the scenes, and how skills from one career can carry into something entirely new. This episode explores the emotional side of career change, the pressure tied to job identity, and how to navigate a life transition with more clarity and intention. This episode dives into: • What it looks like to build something new without abandoning what you've already done • The emotional reality of working in the news industry — and what people don't see • How journalism skills translate into a completely different path • What it takes to reassess your life and choose a different direction • Why evolving doesn't mean losing who you are — or what you've built ———————————————— Connect with Jacalyn: Website: https://www.thebarnatsouthporthills.com  Instagram: @thebarnatsouthporthills Explore Mostly Together: 🌐 Website & episodes: https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/   — explore the show, past conversations, and what we're building here. 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=3b7425378a0e4fc1 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

What if taking a step back is actually the way forward? On this first episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Neha Ruch — author and creator of The Power Pause. We have a candid conversation about identity, ambition, and what happens when the life you built no longer feels aligned. This episode dives into: * Why we tie our identity so closely to our careers * The pressure to have life "figured out" from a young age * What it really looks like to step off the expected path — and why it's so hard * How to redefine success on your own terms I also share details about my own recent career pivot—after years in a fast-paced, public-facing role—while Neha reflects on the pivotal moments that led her to question traditional definitions of work and worth. ———————————————— Connect with Neha: Website: https://www.thepowerpause.com Instagram: @neha_ruch Book: The Power Pause  Explore Mostly Together: 🌐 Website & episodes: https://mostlytogetherpod.com/   — explore the show, past conversations, and what we're building here 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=3b7425378a0e4fc1  📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod Connect with Me: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv  Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod Take what you need, leave the rest — and I'll see you next week.

Mostly Together is a thoughtful, grounded podcast about identity, ambition, and life's pivots. Hosted by former TV news anchor Nicole Nalepa, it features candid conversations with creators, leaders, and culture-shapers — from household names to trailblazers making an impact. Together, they explore the questions that matter most: who are we becoming, how are we navigating change, and how to hold it all together without the pressure to be perfect. Follow the show wherever you get podcasts. First episodes coming in March 2026.