Don Stroud: From Hawaii to Hollywood, Survival & Sobriety

Don Stroud: From Hawaii to Hollywood, Survival & Sobriety

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/ [https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/] Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod [https://www.youtube.com/@mostlytogetherpod] Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737] Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx [https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx] Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

Dr. Rachel Goldman: Burnout, Identity Shifts & Why Being Mostly Together Is Enough

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/ [https://www.mostlytogetherpod.com/] Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod Learn more about Dr. Rachel Goldman: 🌐 https://www.drrachelnyc.com/ [https://www.drrachelnyc.com/] 📘 When Life Happens: https://whenlifehappensbook.com/ [https://whenlifehappensbook.com/]

Jenny Hubbard: Catherine's Legacy, The Sanctuary & The Practice of Forgiveness

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/ [https://www.cvhfoundation.org/] Instagram: @cvhanimalsanctuary Explore Mostly Together: 🌐 mostlytogetherpod.com 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737] 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=093aff84cc6546c9 [https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=093aff84cc6546c9] 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR1UBeBQxFdxIQB3xjDfz6A [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR1UBeBQxFdxIQB3xjDfz6A] Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

Jackie Bruno: When the Dream Job Stops Feeling Like a Dream

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 [http://newsmakermarketing.com/] Explore Mostly Together: 🌐 Website & episode archives: mostlytogetherpod.com [http://mostlytogetherpod.com/] 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737] 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=093aff84cc6546c9 [https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=093aff84cc6546c9] 📺 YouTube: @mostlytogetherpod Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod

MaryAnn DiMarco: Learning to Trust Your Intuition (and the Voice You've Been Ignoring)

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 [http://maryanndimarco.com/] Explore Mostly Together: 🌐 Website & episode archives: mostlytogetherpod.com [http://mostlytogetherpod.com/] 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mostly-together/id1871317737] 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=093aff84cc6546c9 [https://open.spotify.com/show/3Q2TPERHFNgnapvuOQJqSx?si=093aff84cc6546c9] 📺 YouTube: @mostlytogetherpod Connect with Nicole: Instagram & Facebook: @nicolenalepatv Podcast IG & FB: @mostlytogetherpod