About this episode

Nicole Pellegrino discusses her journey of becoming a mom while navigating grief and mental health challenges.

This week on ShrinkChicks, Em and Jen continue their storytelling series where notable guests share the real emotional journey behind their success. Today’s guest is Nicole Pellegrino, content creator and host of the Long Story Short with Nicole Pellegrino podcast, who Em and Jen first connected with years ago when she was engaged and navigating the loss of her mother. Now married and newly a mom, Nicole opens up about the identity shifts that come with becoming a parent, how postpartum anxiety led her back to therapy, and the ways motherhood has reshaped her priorities, career, and sense of self. She reflects on raising a daughter without her own mom, the grief that still shows up in everyday moments, and the support system helping her navigate this new chapter. Nicole also shares what it’s like balancing motherhood with content creation, why flexibility in work has been life-changing, and what she’s learning about giving herself grace during one of the biggest transitions of her life. You can find Nicole on TikTok and Instagram @ nicolepellegrin0 and listen to her podcast Long Story Short with Nicole Pellegrino . Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! ⁠ Get Matched…

People in this episode

Hosts: Em, Jen

Guest: Nicole Pellegrino

Topics covered

• motherhood
• grief
• mental health
• postpartum anxiety
• identity shifts

Keywords

• content creation
• therapy
• support system
• flexibility
• self grace

Mentioned in this episode

Products: an AG1 Flavor Sampler, AG1, Long Story Short with Nicole Pellegrino

Books & works: Becoming a Mom, Long Story Short with Nicole Pellegrino, Long Story Short, ShrinkChicks

More episodes of ShrinkChicks

• Navigating Your “What Am I Doing?” Era · April 20, 2026 · 36 min
• Why Childhood Pain Shows Up in Adult Life · April 13, 2026 · 40 min
• The Vulnerability of Joy · April 6, 2026 · 37 min
• Understanding the Many Forms of Grief · March 23, 2026 · 38 min
• The Hidden Cost of Being the “Good Kid” with Maggie Nick · March 16, 2026 · 48 min
• Trauma Responses: Understanding The Fawn Response · March 9, 2026 · 45 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the ShrinkChicks podcast page.