Can I Just Say? with Nikki La Croce
148 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 42 ratingsCan I Just Say? is a phrase that I often say and one which is deeply rooted in the essence of who I am. It is how I enter conversations, initiate connection, and invite people to share their stories. The idea being that this is a platform and community where guests and listeners have the freedom to say whatever is on your mind and in your heart. So, when somebody leads with, “Can I just say?”, my answer is an emphatic “YES.” As I embark on this next stage of my podcasting journey, guests will be going beyond what’s expected and diving into the more raw, vulnerable parts of their stories that don’t often get enough air time or perhaps they’ve never shared before. In keeping aligned with my personal values, I am focused on building a community of cycle-breakers who want to connect and grow together.
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Episodes
The Age of Innocence: A meandering conversation about absolutely nothing...and clams
February 16, 2021 06:53 - 6 minutes - 10.9 MBThis episode is not your typical interview - it is a moment in time I’ll never forget. I’ll be forever grateful to have shared this experience with my niece. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from spending time with my niece and nephew these past few weeks, it’s how important it is to nurture our inner child. A few years ago, I would have scoffed at a comment like that. But after many therapy sessions, having to face lots of intense realities, and frankly just after the year 2020, I’ve com...
Creativity & Mental Health: Why We Need to Feel, Heal, and Take Leaps of Faith
February 09, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBWhile we all have our own challenges and particular journey, when it comes to confronting difficulties and working through mental health issues, courage and awareness are two tools that we can all use. Here on the show today to talk about the need for leaps of faith in order to feel, and subsequently heal, is the amazing and inspiring Maddie Ace. Maddie is a singer, writer, podcaster, and all round creative soul, with so much great insight to offer. Our conversation centers around her story ...
Diversability: Empowering the Disabled Community to Drive Social Change
February 02, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 129 MBTiffany Yu has a mission to change the way disabled people see themselves and to help them own their narrative. Part of this mission is to transform systemic ableism. Before Tiffany became the founder of Diversabiltiy, a disability advocate, speaker, writer, consultant, and coach, she was involved in a tragic car accident that left her disabled. In today’s show, she shares her story. We begin our conversation by learning more about Tiffany and find out how family stigma shaped the way she ta...
Breaking Barriers & Defying Social Norms with Alayasia Ouerfelli
January 26, 2021 05:54 - 57 minutes - 49.8 MBFirefighting definitely ranks as one of the tougher professions out there, and our guest today is a testament to that and so much more. We are joined by young firefighter, Alayasia Ouerfelli, to talk about her journey in the job so far, as well as the amazing and inspiring Bad Bitch Movement that she is spearheading. We start right at the beginning, with Alayasia's upbringing and family life, transition into her college years, and how EMT studies grew into working as a firefighter. Alayasia ...
Bad Bitch Movement: Breaking Barriers & Defying Social Norms
January 26, 2021 05:54 - 57 minutesFirefighting definitely ranks as one of the tougher professions out there, and our guest today is a testament to that and so much more. We are joined by young firefighter, Alayasia Ouerfelli, to talk about her journey in the job so far, as well as the amazing and inspiring Bad Bitch Movement that she is spearheading. We start right at the beginning, with Alayasia's upbringing and family life, transition into her college years, and how EMT studies grew into working as a firefighter. Alayasia i...
Self-Acceptance: Turning Pain into Personal Growth
January 19, 2021 05:27 - 1 hourMuch of the healing that we all need as individuals relies heavily on the idea of self-acceptance, without which it is hard to imagine making much progress in personal growth. Joining us on the show today is an expert on the topic of self-acceptance, coach and speaker, Kevin Nahai! Kevin is an advocate for those dealing with complex emotional situations and uses his own experiences of personal problems as the foundation of the work he does with clients. From the get-go, Kevin's vibrant person...
Self-Acceptance: Turning Pain into Personal Growth with Kevin Nahai
January 19, 2021 05:27 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBMuch of the healing that we all need as individuals relies heavily on the idea of self-acceptance, without which it is hard to imagine making much progress in personal growth. Joining us on the show today is an expert on the topic of self-acceptance, coach and speaker, Kevin Nahai! Kevin is an advocate for those dealing with complex emotional situations and uses his own experiences of personal problems as the foundation of the work he does with clients. From the get-go, Kevin's vibrant perso...
Life in Florence: Capturing the Essence of a Beloved City
January 12, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 56.7 MBFlorence is an enchanting city that’ll tug at your romantic side. Abuzz with vibrant energy, this classical city is packed with Italy’s very best, including ancient architecture, tranquil gardens, and bona fide locals. This Italian dream became a reality for today’s guest, Melinda Gallo, an expat writer and photographer who has made Florence her home. We open the episode by finding out about Melinda’s history. Having graduated from California, her first stint in Europe was in France as a tec...
Choose Your Own Path: How To Break Generational Shackles
January 06, 2021 03:29 - 1 hourThe journey of self-discovery is a never-ending one and more often than not reveals more than we might have expected. An idea that seems to come up in conversations on this topic more and more often is that of generational trauma, and how we carry the legacy of our families and loved ones forward with us. Here to talk about her path through difficult times and the work she has done to begin to liberate herself from the shackles that we do not choose, is Mona Stephens! This is an incredibly ho...
Breaking Generational Shackles
January 06, 2021 03:29 - 1 hour - 82.9 MBThe journey of self-discovery is a never-ending one and more often than not reveals more than we might have expected. An idea that seems to come up in conversations on this topic more and more often is that of generational trauma, and how we carry the legacy of our families and loved ones forward with us. Here to talk about her path through difficult times and the work she has done to begin to liberate herself from the shackles that we do not choose, is Mona Stephens! This is an incredibly h...
MariGo Music: Advocating for Womxn & LGBTQ+ in the arts
December 22, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 96.4 MBJust like many industries and sectors of the creative world, music remains a space that is generally exclusive and non-diverse. This is especially true when it comes to the more technical sides of music, such as engineering and producing. Mari Sullivan, or as she is known professionally, MariGo, is out to change this! Mari, is a trained musician, Ableton Live instructor, and Twitch Streamer, and today we get to hear all about the different parts of her life in music and how she got where she...
It's a Henry: Inside the Mind of Seattle's Most Prolific Muralist
December 15, 2020 10:56 - 1 hourAfter a near death experience in 2007, Ryan Henry Ward committed his life to his love and passion of becoming an artist. Fighting through poverty in the streets of Seattle, he has risen to be known as Seattle's Most Prolific Artist, painting more than 2800 canvases and more than 350 murals across the country. In this episode, we learn about the accident that nearly cost him his life and how it inspired him to find his purpose through what he was good at – art. Ryan shares what the transition ...
It’s a Henry: Inside the Mind of Seattle’s Most Prolific Muralist
December 15, 2020 10:56 - 1 hour - 120 MBAfter a near death experience in 2007, Ryan Henry Ward committed his life to his love and passion of becoming an artist. Fighting through poverty in the streets of Seattle, he has risen to be known as Seattle's Most Prolific Artist, painting more than 2800 canvases and more than 350 murals across the country. In this episode, we learn about the accident that nearly cost him his life and how it inspired him to find his purpose through what he was good at – art. Ryan shares what the transition...
Overcoming Survivor’s Shame: As Told Through Song
December 08, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 78.8 MBWe still live in a world where the survivors of abuse and sexual assault have trouble being believed and are shamed in many ways, a dynamic that makes dealing with something so painful, that much more difficult. Joining us on the WhoTheF*ck Podcast today is singer-songwriter and podcast host, Rae du Soleil! She is here to share her message of strength and hope as well as some of her own story of dealing with trauma and shaming. Rae has managed to take very heavy experiences and themes and ch...
Labels & Self-Perception: How to Reclaim Your Identity
December 01, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 90.6 MBLabels help us choose the right product off the supermarket shelves, but human beings also apply labels, both to themselves and others, and these labels can drastically affect our perceptions of our true selves. Today’s guest is Cuyla Coogan. Cuyla is a queer life coach based in southern California, whose mission is to help people in the queer community become more confident and comfortable, so they can achieve their full potential. Pulling from her own experiences, Cuyla’s practice highligh...
Self-Care: A New Discussion about an Age-old Problem
November 24, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBLife can sometimes feel like swimming through an ocean of emotions, distractions, and chaos, and without the proper tools to help ourselves deal with this unpredictability, it can feel like we are drowning. Sharon Zapata joins us for this episode to talk about her new book, Middle Finger Happiness, and unpack her philosophy towards self-repair, a vital part of any healthy life. We get to hear from Sharon about why she chooses to frame the attention we give ourselves and our needs in this wa...
Seeking Fulfillment: The Power of Discovering Your Purpose
September 23, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 81.7 MBBianca Amos (@bianca.amos) comes on the show to share her story about immigrating to Canada to pursue a better life for her and her son. Bianca is a writer, media producer, content creator and host of the Once Broken Podcast (@oncebrokenpodcast). I was so thrilled to have her on after first connecting with her here on IG. In this episode, we talk about: - The decision to leave home for another country - The challenges of being a single mother and adjusting to a new culture - Letting go ...
Your Diagnosis Is Not Your Identity with Alaina Muckell
September 08, 2020 22:53 - 1 hour - 41.2 MBLearning about Alaina’s battle with cystic fibrosis offered me a great deal of perspective and hope beyond what I could have imagined. Diagnosed with CF at age 2, Alaina spent a good deal of time living her life as anyone who didn’t have a life threatening illness may do. But as Alaina’s health declined during her early adult life, she was faced with challenges most of us could never - and would never - want to fathom for ourselves or loved ones. In this episode, Alaina opens up about: What...
Cystic Fibrosis: A Diagnosis, Not An Identity
September 08, 2020 22:53 - 1 hourLearning about Alaina’s battle with cystic fibrosis offered me a great deal of perspective and hope beyond what I could have imagined. Diagnosed with CF at age 2, Alaina spent a good deal of time living her life as anyone who didn’t have a life threatening illness may do. But as Alaina’s health declined during her early adult life, she was faced with challenges most of us could never - and would never - want to fathom for ourselves or loved ones. In this episode, Alaina opens up about: What ...
Life After Loss: More Than Moving On
August 26, 2020 00:17 - 1 hour - 123 MBIn this episode, Dan ‘Bear’ Cuddy joins me to share his experiences with the loss of his dear friend who died while serving in Iraq and his mother, who had battled multiple sclerosis for most of Dan’s life. We talk openly about life after loss and how there really is no such thing as getting over it. Our conversation explores: – What it’s like to experience the loss of a loved one – The stages of grief and how it has changed his perspective – The importance of support from family and fri...
Vegan for Good: Shifting Perspectives, Saving Lives
August 11, 2020 22:51 - 1 hour - 149 MBIn this episode, Elena May Gruneberg joins me to talk about her decision to live a vegan lifestyle. During college, we spent a semester in Italy sharing many meat-based meals, so this was a raw and honest conversation about what made her decide she will never eat a meat product or byproduct again. Elena shares some great insight on the challenges of making the choice, while simultaneously destigmatizing the way many people view veganism. Elena's approach is one rooted in the desire to educate...
Intersectionality: Understanding Our Interconnected Identities
July 23, 2020 22:28 - 1 hour - 111 MBIn this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, I speak with Gina Gold – comedian, author, eco-feminist, and all around awesome human. Gina and I discuss the concept of intersectionality and why it’s important, particularly for women, to understand how our interconnected identities entwine. We talk about racism, sexism, and the stigma against mental health. Gina shares stories about her past that made her who she is today, including her experience as a sex worker.If you haven’t yet discovered G...
Childless by Choice: Trading Society’s Expectations for Your Own
July 07, 2020 22:25 - 1 hour - 92.3 MBOn this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, one of my closest friends from college, Paula Clancey, and I have a truly candid conversation about the decision she made to not have children and how her confidence about the decision continues to grow in spite of the critics. Tune in to hear our thoughts on the importance of choice, the stigma that remaining childless can carry, how to respond when people insert their unsolicited opinions, and why you shouldn't explain yourself to anyone - becau...
Yogi Lifestyle: Education, Enlightenment, and Self Love
June 10, 2020 07:16 - 1 hour - 139 MBFor this episode, I reunite with Christina McKitish, a fellow Quinnipiac graduate, art-lover, and humanitarian as she shares the story of how her greatest challenges led her to practice yoga and ultimately started teaching yoga as a way to find her true self - and help others do the same. As a lifelong learner and educator, currently working as a middle-school social studies teacher, Christina's passion for teaching yoga came naturally. When Christina found herself experiencing severe anxie...
The Life Changing Benefits of Yoga: Education, Enlightenment, and Self Love
June 10, 2020 07:16 - 1 hour - 139 MBFor this episode, I reunite with Christina McKitish, a fellow Quinnipiac graduate, art-lover, and humanitarian as she shares the story of how her greatest challenges led her to practice yoga and ultimately started teaching yoga as a way to find her true self - and help others do the same. As a lifelong learner and educator, currently working as a middle-school social studies teacher, Christina's passion for teaching yoga came naturally. When Christina found herself experiencing severe anxie...
Yogi Lifestyle: Education, Healing, and Self-love
June 10, 2020 07:16 - 1 hour - 139 MBFor this episode, I reunite with Christina McKitish, a fellow Quinnipiac graduate, art-lover, and humanitarian as she shares the story of how her greatest challenges led her to practice yoga and ultimately started teaching yoga as a way to find her true self - and help others do the same. As a lifelong learner and educator, currently working as a middle-school social studies teacher, Christina's passion for teaching yoga came naturally. When Christina found herself experiencing severe anxie...
Rob’s 10K Friends: Opening the Door to Genuine Connections
May 19, 2020 15:00 - 1 hour - 130 MBOn this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, I speak to Rob Lawless, creator of Rob’s 10K Friends, as he explains what prompted his mission to meet 10,000 unique individuals and spend one hour, one-on-one with each of them – for absolutely no reason other than to create connections. Since Rob began his project in 2015, he has met over 3,300 people (I was 3,396!) and doesn’t plan to stop until he reaches his goal to become friends with 10,000 people. The format of this episode is a bit differ...
Rob's 10K Friends: Opening the Door to Genuine Connections
May 19, 2020 15:00 - 1 hourOn this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, I speak to Rob Lawless, creator of Rob’s 10K Friends, as he explains what prompted his mission to meet 10,000 unique individuals and spend one hour, one-on-one with each of them – for absolutely no reason other than to create connections. Since Rob began his project in 2015, he has met over 3,300 people (I was 3,396!) and doesn’t plan to stop until he reaches his goal to become friends with 10,000 people. The format of this episode is a bit differen...
Calm Eats: Exploring the Mind-Body Connection Through Food
May 05, 2020 22:42 - 1 hour - 139 MBOn this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, Daniela Modesto shares her journey that led her to create her blog, Calm Eats - Gluten & Dairy-Free Living Made Easy. When Daniela could no longer avoid the painful symptoms that accompanied her lifelong diet, she decided to change the game completely. Daniela opens up about how her physical and mental health have improved since making the decision to adopt a new diet - and how that decision has given her a powerful creative outlet, as a way to con...
Life as a Professional Coach: Creating Space for Self-Discovery and Finding True Fulfillment
April 21, 2020 07:18 - 1 hour - 156 MBThis episode, I had the privilege of sharing the mic with Cara-Lyn Giovanniello, as she shares her passion and purpose as she explains why she became a professional coach, how she empowers her clients to set goals (and remain accountable to them), and advice on how to navigate feelings of anxiety surrounding the ambiguity of the future. Interested in a consultation to lear how Cara-Lyn can help you realize your ambitions and bring them to fruition? Visit clgcoaching.com or follow her on I...
The Coronavirus Pandemic: Perspective From The Frontlines
April 07, 2020 21:36 - 1 hour - 172 MBIn the latest episode, I speak with Laurie Brennan, RN at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, as shares her perspective as a nurse on the frontlines of an unprecedented pandemic that continues to sweep the globe. Laurie provides real-life insight about the challenges hospitals face, the risks medical professionals are taking to provide care, and how the surrounding ambiguity is bringing about widespread turmoil for patients and providers alike. This episode also marks the kick-off of “WhoTh...
Growing Up Korean-American: The First Generation Identity Crisis
March 24, 2020 18:48 - 1 hour - 152 MBIn this episode, I speak with my colleague and friend, Kaitlyn Kim, as she shares her story of growing up in Los Angeles, as a first generation Korean-American. Kaitlyn explains the traditional Korean family dynamic and opens up about how her family's expectations led her to carve her own path and distance herself from Korean culture. More episodes available at whothefck.com or visit your preferred streaming platform to subscribe. Just search for WhoTheF*ck? and give it a listen. Click be...
Staying Connected: Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Isolation
March 17, 2020 21:44 - 4 minutes - 10 MBA quick solo episode to share my thoughts on the importance of staying connected during this particularly isolating time. As more and more countries and states put harsher restrictions in place, forcing people to stay home, it can feel incredibly lonely. One of the best ways to remedy that feeling is to listen more to each other, to reach out more than we may have in 'normal' circumstances. The only way we get through this is together. More episodes available at whothefck.com or visit your...
Runway to Freedom: Leading The Way For Survivors Of Domestic Violence
February 26, 2020 07:39 - 1 hour - 187 MBIn the first episode of the soon to be recurring series RTF on WTF, I speak with my friend, Lauren Grinnell, as she shares her story as a survivor of domestic violence and how it led her to founding Runway to Freedom (runwaytofreedom.org). Runway to Freedom is a non-profit, now in its 10th year, focused on advocating for and providing resources to fellow survivors and their families. Runway to Freedom also provides a platform at their annual gala for domestic violence survivors to share thei...
Coming Out: First Fear, Then Freedom | Episode 4
January 01, 2020 22:50 - 1 hour - 166 MBDustin Cann joins us for the fourth episode of WhoTheF*ck? to share his experience coming out as gay after growing up in a conservative, Christian home. Dustin and Nikki share their coming out stories and talk about how the fear that existed for so long became the driving force behind figuring out who they truly are - and how that ultimately has given them the freedom to live life on their terms. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whothefck/support
Coming Out: First Fear, Then Freedom
January 01, 2020 22:50 - 1 hourIn this episode, I speak with Dustin Cann as he shares his experience coming out as gay after growing up in a conservative, Christian home. Dustin and I share our coming out stories and talk about how the fear that existed for so long became the driving force behind figuring out who we truly are - and how that ultimately has given us the freedom to live life on our terms. More episodes available at whothefck.com or visit your preferred streaming platform to subscribe. Just search for WhoTheF...
Coming Out: First Fear, Then Freedom with Dustin Cann
January 01, 2020 22:50 - 1 hour - 167 MBIn this episode, I speak with Dustin Cann as he shares his experience coming out as gay after growing up in a conservative, Christian home. Dustin and I share our coming out stories and talk about how the fear that existed for so long became the driving force behind figuring out who we truly are - and how that ultimately has given us the freedom to live life on our terms. More episodes available at whothefck.com or visit your preferred streaming platform to subscribe. Just search for WhoThe...
Stay-At-Home-Moms: Trading a Successful Career for Round-the-Clock Parenting | Episode 3
October 30, 2019 09:29 - 1 hour - 143 MBFor the third episode of the who the f*ck podcast, my friend and former college production partner, Jill DeSilva joins me to share her unique perspective on becoming a mom for the first (and second time) and what it was like to trade in her job as a television news director for the role of stay-at-home-mom. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whothefck/support
Episode 3: Trading Your Career for Life as a Stay-At-Home-Mom
October 30, 2019 09:29 - 1 hour - 143 MBFor the third episode of the who the f*ck podcast, my friend and former college production partner, Jill DeSilva joins me to share her unique perspective on becoming a mom for the first (and second time) and what it was like to trade in her job as a television news director for the role of stay-at-home-mom. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whothefck/support
Episode 3: what the fuck is it like to be a stay-at-home-mom?
October 30, 2019 09:29 - 1 hour - 143 MBFor the third episode of the who the f*ck podcast, my friend and former college production partner, Jill DeSilva joins me to share her unique perspective on becoming a mom for the first (and second time) and what it was like to trade in her job as a television news director for the role of stay-at-home-mom. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whothefck/support
Stay-At-Home-Moms: Trading a Successful Career for Round-the-Clock Parenting
October 30, 2019 09:29 - 1 hour - 143 MBMy friend and former college production partner, Jill DeSilva joins me to share her unique perspective on becoming a mom for the first (and second time) and what it was like to trade in her job as a television news director for the role of stay-at-home-mom. More episodes available at whothefck.com or visit your preferred streaming platform to subscribe. Just search for WhoTheF*ck? and give it a listen. Click below to listen to WhoTheF*ck? on: Spotify Apple Google Stitcher YouTube ---...
Episode 2: Living with Anxiety Amidst Big Life Changes
September 22, 2019 17:19 - 49 minutes - 114 MBFor the first interview, host of the Who the F*ck podcast, Nikki LaCroce, shares stories with fellow Pennsylvania native, Megan Bruce about what it was like deciding to move cross-country - away from everyone they know and love - while living with anxiety. Nikki and Megan provide insight to their own experiences and also offer insight on how you can identify and cope with your own feelings of anxiety. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whothefck/support
Episode 2: What the fuck is it like to have anxiety?
September 22, 2019 17:19 - 49 minutes - 114 MBFor the first interview, host of the Who the F*ck podcast, Nikki LaCroce, shares stories with fellow Pennsylvania native, Megan Bruce about what it was like deciding to move cross-country - away from everyone they know and love - while living with anxiety. Nikki and Megan provide insight to their own experiences and also offer insight on how you can identify and cope with your own feelings of anxiety. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whothefck/support
Anxiety: When Big Life Changes Inspire Personal Growth | Episode 2
September 22, 2019 17:19 - 49 minutes - 114 MBFor the first interview, host of the Who the F*ck podcast, Nikki LaCroce, shares stories with fellow Pennsylvania native, Megan Bruce about what it was like deciding to move cross-country - away from everyone they know and love - while living with anxiety. Nikki and Megan provide insight to their own experiences and also offer insight on how you can identify and cope with your own feelings of anxiety. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whothefck/support
Anxiety: When Big Life Changes Inspire Personal Growth
September 22, 2019 17:19 - 53 minutes - 114 MBFor the first interview, I chat with fellow Pennsylvania native, Megan Bruce about what it was like deciding to move cross-country - away from everyone we know and love - while living with anxiety. Megan and I do our best to provide insight to our own experiences and also offer insight on how you can identify and cope with your own feelings of anxiety when big life changes occur. More episodes available at whothefck.com or visit your preferred streaming platform to subscribe. Just search f...
Who The F*ck Am I? : A Brief Introduction
September 09, 2019 02:26 - 5 minutes - 4.95 MBI created this podcast as a way to connect with people in a raw, unfiltered and safe setting. This trailer is a quick introduction to me, your host - Nikki La Croce, plus the scoop on what to expect from future episodes. More episodes available at whothefck.com or visit your preferred streaming platform to subscribe. Just search for WhoTheF*ck? and give it a listen. Click below to listen to WhoTheF*ck? on: Spotify Apple Google Stitcher YouTube --- Send in a voice message: https://a...
Who The F*ck Am I? : A Brief Introduction | Episode 1
September 09, 2019 02:26 - 5 minutes - 4.95 MBIn the inaugural episode of the who the fuck podcast, blogger Nikki La Croce gives a quick introduction to herself and shares the scoop on what to expect from future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whothefck/support
Episode 1: Who the fuck am I? And what the fuck is this podcast about?
September 09, 2019 02:26 - 5 minutes - 4.95 MBIn the inaugural episode of the who the fuck podcast, blogger Nikki La Croce gives a quick introduction to herself and shares the scoop on what to expect from future episodes. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/whothefck/support