The Things We Don’t Say
Honest stories and reflections that uncover what’s happening beneath the surface of ordinary life—because sometimes the words come later.
Episodes
13 episodes
Available to Everyone, Present for No One: Digital Distractions and Choosing to Look Up
When was the last time you were in the room… and actually in it?Not half there. Not "mm-hmm" while you type. In it.I can be reached by anyone, anytime, anywhere. And the people sitting three feet away from me are the ones who keep...
BONUS: Dysfunction or Discomfort. The Boundaries Question with Special Guest Jen Stovall
Is it them… or is it you?You've replayed the conversation. You've wondered if you're overreacting. You've asked yourself whether it's time to walk away, or if you're just being too sensitive.Life Coach Jen Stovall has one q...
Forgive? Yes. Forget? We'll See. Boundaries in Family & Community
Boundaries aren't always walls. Most of the time, they're how you get to stay: in your family, your job, your church, the thing your kid loves. This week I'm talking about the boundaries that let you stay without losing yourself, why "forgive a...
Who Told Us This Was Normal: Culture, Belonging & Knowing When to Leave
Do you put mayonnaise on your hot dog? Apparently that's controversial. And it got me thinking about how the places we spend our time quietly shape what we call normal...yes, from a hot dog.This week we're talking about culture — at work...
The Shirts in My Dresser: The Identities We Wear
What happens when something I do becomes part of who I am—and then it changes?In this episode, I’m talking about the identities we pick up along the way: the roles we fill, the activities we love, the relationships that shape us, ...
I've Got It: The Mental Load
What’s taking up space in your brain right now?The mental load isn’t just everything we’re doing. It’s everything we’re remembering, anticipating, monitoring, preventing, waiting on—and trying not to forget.In this episode, we’re ...
The Cost of Making It Work: Schedules, Priorities & Making It All Fit
What if the problem isn’t that our calendars are full—but that we’ve gotten really good at making everything fit?In this episode, we’re talking about overscheduling, rest, the pressure to keep up, and the cost of saying yes—even to reall...
I Need You to Know: Unspoken Expectations & Asking for What You Need
After almost 12 years together, you’d think Trey and I would know exactly what the other person needs by now. Newsflash: we don’t.In this episode, Trey joins me for a conversation about what happens when “you should know” quietly becomes...
I Hope She Wins: Comparison, Jealousy & Celebrating Others
What happens when someone else gets the thing you wanted?It’s easy to celebrate people when their success doesn’t bump up against our own disappointment. But what about when it does?In this episode, Nicole talks competitive...
Who I Thought I'd Be: When Life Doesn't Look Like You Expected
Who did you think you’d be by now?On her 40th birthday, Nicole looks back at the versions of herself she thought she’d become—and the expectations, disappointments, and unexpected turns that shaped who she actually is.From a quest...
The Best Yes: Who or What Gets Your Attention, Time & Presence
I know exactly where you think this episode is going. Trust me. You're wrong. Somewhere between Betty (yes, I named my phone), a swim meet, and one very inconvenient parenting moment, I discovered this conversation had almost nothing to do with...
Five More Minutes: Rethinking Self-Care & the Connection We Actually Need
What if the moments we're rushing through are the very ones we'll someday wish we could get back?In the very first episode of Things We Don’t Say, Nicole invites you into an ordinary morning—the snooze button, the unfinished pla...