Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys

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.

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.

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.

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 behind the scenes. The loneliness, the pressure, the moments of wondering if she was doing it right, and the beautiful, unexpected ways community showed up when she needed it most. This episode is a powerful reminder that motherhood was never meant to be done alone. Lori talks about finding support in unlikely places, learning how to accept help, and even creating systems of support for other moms when she saw a need. You'll also hear honest reflections on parenting through every stage, from raising little ones while feeling completely overwhelmed, to letting go as your kids become adults and realizing you can't fix everything for them anymore. And maybe most importantly, this conversation gently reminds us that no mom has it all figured out. There is no perfect way to do this. There is only your way, your kids, and the willingness to keep showing up and learning along the way. If you've ever questioned yourself as a mom, felt alone in the process, or needed permission to let go of perfection, this episode is for you.