Mostly Together

After spending 15+ years in TV news, I'm discovering that the habits that made me comfortable telling other people's stories can make sharing my own surprisingly uncomfortable.

In this episode, I'm talking about:

Returning to a TV studio and learning to "un-news" myself

Navigating the difference between being confident on camera and being genuinely vulnerable

Why sharing our experiences can help us find common ground with people we might never expect

Unpacking the career baggage we carry with us into different chapters of our lives

So, what's in...

For more than a decade, Nicole Nalepa and Scot Haney spent their mornings together on live television — laughing, singing, improvising, and somehow keeping it together before most of Connecticut had poured its first cup of coffee.

Now, Scot becomes the first guest to join Nicole in the Mostly Together in-home studio for a conversation that goes beyond the version viewers have come to know on television.

But this isn't simply a reunion. What follows is part nostalgia, part reflection — with plenty of the chemistry longtime viewers will remember.

Scot opens up about the pers...

When did we start feeling like every free moment needs to be filled?

Between packed schedules, endless notifications, social media, and the constant pull to do just one more thing, there's never been more competing for our attention.

In this episode of Mostly Together, Nicole reflects on our relationship with time, the expectations of an always-connected world, and why she's becoming more selective about what deserves her time and attention.

It's not about doing less or stepping away from the things we love. It's about being more intentional with the moments in between.<...

David Begnaud has spent more than two decades telling some of the biggest stories in America. As a former lead national correspondent for CBS News, he reported from the center of major breaking news events, earned the trust of viewers across the country, and now hosts The Person Who Believed in Me — where his first guest was Oprah Winfrey.

But what shaped the storyteller himself?

In this episode of Mostly Together, Nicole turns the questions back on David for a candid conversation about the experiences that made him who he is, the complicated relationship between ou...

Nicole talks soap operas, doomscrolling, and why relaxing somehow became another thing we're supposed to be good at.

In a world where we have more entertainment, more content, and more ways to "relax" than ever — why does it still feel so hard to actually unwind? We're always scrolling, checking, tracking, and optimizing — but for what? Maybe what you actually need is to chill out for a second. No goals. No self-improvement. No pressure to make the moment useful. So: What is your nothing?

The conversation was sparked by a reel from Hannah Young, @uhhuhhannah, whose orig...

What if the very things we're praised for — working hard, taking care of everyone, pushing through, holding it all together — are also the things quietly pulling us away from ourselves?

Carrie Lupoli is a nutritionist, award-winning behavior specialist, international speaker and author of From Corset to Crown. But this conversation goes far beyond food.

Carrie and Nicole talk about the invisible "corsets" women learn to wear: perfectionism, people-pleasing, achievement, comparison, sacrifice and the belief that we have to change ourselves in order to have value.

They explore why pressure isn't proof of purpose, how...

Jeff Hamilton never imagined he would one day lead Mohegan Sun. His path to the president's office took turns he couldn't have predicted—and not long after he arrived, he was tested in ways no leader could have anticipated. In this episode, Jeff joins Nicole to talk about unexpected turns, high-stakes leadership, family and why he never wants a title to become his identity. As Mohegan Sun marks its 30th anniversary, he also reflects on legacy, responsibility and what it means to guide an institution so deeply connected to his community and the Mohegan Tribe. It's a conversation about th...

Where were you one year ago — and what would that version of you think if they could see you now?

In this episode of Mostly Together, Nicole reflects on the one-year mark since her final week at Channel 3, the uncertainty of suddenly asking "what now?" and the realization that moving forward didn't mean starting over. It's a conversation about career, identity, grief, growth, trusting what you already carry with you — and why it can be almost impossible to see how much you're changing while you're still in the middle of it.

Because where you are toda...

Carol Lin spent years at the center of some of the biggest breaking news stories of her generation.

The former CNN and ABC News anchor became the first national television anchor to report the September 11th attacks — a moment that would forever become part of her story. But the life behind the headlines was far more complicated than what viewers ever saw on camera.

In this episode of Mostly Together, Carol opens up about the drive that shaped her career, the choices that eventually changed it, and the deeply personal experiences that forced her to ret...

What makes you feel most like yourself—and when did you decide it had to wait?

In this episode of Mostly Together, Nicole Nalepa reflects on a weekend at Bethel Woods, watching Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson perform, and opens up about an unexpected connection to one of the most meaningful chapters of her own career.

It's a personal conversation about making room for what brings us joy, reconnecting with the parts of ourselves we may have left behind, and taking one honest step toward what makes us feel alive. Because choosing what we love do...

Chef Allie is a trained chef, mom of three and the woman behind Chef Allie's Kitchen. By transforming familiar favorites into creative, healthier recipes, she has become a trusted voice in the weight-loss community and built an online following of hundreds of thousands.

But Allie's story extends far beyond losing 100 pounds. It's about reconnecting with a version of herself she thought she had lost, building an identity outside of motherhood and discovering that reaching one goal can make room for an entirely new one.

In this episode, we talk about the reality of maintaining a...

Have you ever gone into something with a clear picture of how it was supposed to go — only to find yourself disappointed when reality looked completely different?

In this solo episode of Mostly Together, Nicole Nalepa shares a realization this summer brought to the surface about expectations, the pressure we put on certain seasons of our lives, and the stories we can create before an experience even begins.

It's a quick, honest conversation about one habit Nicole is trying to break — and a question that might make you rethink the expectations you're carrying into your own...

Colette Baron-Reid spent years believing she was supposed to be a singer—even as life kept pulling her toward an entirely different calling. Decades later, after building an extraordinary career helping others trust their intuition, music has found its way back to her.

Colette is a bestselling author, internationally known spiritual teacher and one of the most recognizable voices in the world of intuition and oracle cards. A longtime Hay House author, she has created 19 bestselling oracle decks, sold more than two million decks worldwide, and built a global community around personal growth, spirituality and transformation.

...

For the first-ever solo episode of Mostly Together, Nicole Nalepa steps behind the story of the podcast—and shares why she felt compelled to create it.

After more than 15 years in television, Nicole found herself facing an ending she hadn't planned and the unsettling question that often follows: Who are you when the role that defined you is suddenly gone?

She opens up about rebuilding after an unexpected career change, learning to separate functioning from truly thriving, and trying to create meaningful work without giving up the parts of family life she has only recently be...

Kim Chappell thought she was leaving local television news in search of a more sustainable life. Instead, she found herself helping build Bobbie from the ground up while raising three children—and discovering that the skills she thought she had left behind were exactly what her next chapter required.

Kim is a two-time Emmy and National Edward R. Murrow Award-winning former journalist who is now the Chief Brand Officer at Bobbie. She has been recognized as Shorty's 2025 Brand Marketer of the Year, a member of Forbes' 2025 Entrepreneurial CMO 50 and Adweek's 2025 Creative 100, and one of Business Insider's 25 Most Innovative CMOs of...

Tom Cantone didn't just book shows—he helped change what casino entertainment could be.

In this episode of Mostly Together, Nicole sits down with the legendary entertainment executive, author and longtime Mohegan Sun leader inside the memorabilia-filled music room where a childhood Beatles drum set still anchors his extraordinary story.

What begins with an unforgettable Ringo Starr encounter opens into a sweeping conversation about instinct, risk, relationships, leadership—and recognizing possibility before anyone else can see it.

Tom traces his path from growing up in a close-knit Italian American family in Harrisburg to an u...

He is a Grammy Award-winning tenor, curator, educator, writer, and artistic director — and someone whose work asks a question that reaches far beyond the concert hall: What does it mean to belong — to a country, to a tradition, to an art form, to yourself?

In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Nicholas Phan ahead of his Tanglewood program, Fellow Citizens, for a conversation about music, identity, belonging, and the power of finding your voice.

Nick grew up with music as more than just an activity. It became a place to go — a source...

She is a best-selling author, speaker, former Emmy-nominated television producer — and someone whose story asks a question most of us hope we never have to answer: What happens when your inner knowing is right…and no one fully believes you?

In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Stephanie Arnold, author of 37 Seconds and the woman whose near-death story was featured on Netflix.

While pregnant with her second child, Stephanie became convinced that something was going to go terribly wrong during delivery. But this wasn't just a passing fear, or anxiety...

She is an author, speaker, podcast host — and someone whose work asks a question so many women feel, but don't always say out loud:

What happens when being "the good mother" starts costing you yourself?

In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Heather Chauvin, author of Dying to Be a Good Mother and host of the podcast, Emotionally Uncomfortable.

Heather became a mother at 18, and for a long time, her son was the reason she got out of bed every morning. Motherhood gave her purpose, drive, and a reason to keep...

She is a national journalist, a network news anchor, a storyteller, a TED speaker — and someone whose latest chapter is rooted in honesty, resilience, and self-reflection.

In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Hena Doba, anchor at NewsNation.

Hena was born and raised in Queens as the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, growing up in a low-income neighborhood where no one on television looked like her. Her family imagined one path for her — but her heart kept pulling her toward journalism.

What began with a camcorder after 9/11 became the start of a career in st...

She is Miss Universe Ghana, a licensed psychotherapist, a mental health advocate, a performer — and a woman whose story goes far beyond the crown.

In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Andromeda Osam-Peters, Miss Universe Ghana and founder of Your Mind Matters Global.

Andromeda grew up Ghanaian American in Western Massachusetts, moving between cultures, identities, and expectations while learning what it meant to be seen fully. From Springfield and Easthampton to the global stage, her journey has been shaped by performance, pageantry, therapy, healing, heritage, and a deep commitment to helping others fee...

He helped turn something the whole country started talking about into art: highway signs, a 9,000-pound monument, a statewide pizza movement — and somehow, it all started with one slice.

In this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Michael Pollack, the artist behind New Haven Pizza Club, live from the Yale Innovation Summit 2026.

Michael is one of the creative forces who helped bring Connecticut's "Pizza Capital of the United States" movement to life visually and culturally — a campaign originally spearheaded by the state's then-chief marketing officer, Anthony Anthony.

But Michael's story was never rea...

Sixteen years ago, Paula Reid and I were interns at CBS News — walking through the same newsroom, swapping stories, taking in the history around us, and wondering where this industry might take us.

Today, Paula is CNN's Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent, covering some of the biggest legal and political stories in the country.

But what makes this conversation so powerful is not just the résumé. It's the persistence, preparation, pivots, and life behind it.

On this episode of Mostly Together, Paula and I reflect on the full-ci...

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 résum...

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...

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 Ho...

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...

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 grounde...

My husband was watching a CrossFit instructional video one day when I glanced at the screen and said, "Wait—I went to high school with that guy!" That guy was James Hobart — a CrossFit Games legend. He is a nine-time CrossFit Games competitor and three-time Affiliate Cup champion—winning at the highest level of the sport!

Reconnecting after all these years, both of us in completely different chapters of our lives, was something I didn't see coming — and I'm so glad it happened.

On this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with James for a real c...

What happens when the career you've built no longer fits the way it used to?

On this episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Jacalyn Clark — a longtime national news anchor and licensed therapist — for a conversation about career transitions, personal growth, and what it really looks like to evolve without starting over.

Our paths first crossed years ago when I was an intern at 22News (WWLP), where I later got my first job out of college. Reconnecting in a completely different season of life made this conversation especially meaningful.

We talk abou...

What if taking a step back is actually the way forward?

On this first episode of Mostly Together, I sit down with Neha Ruch — author and creator of The Power Pause. We have a candid conversation about identity, ambition, and what happens when the life you built no longer feels aligned.

This episode dives into:

* Why we tie our identity so closely to our careers

* The pressure to have life "figured out" from a young age

* What it really looks like to step off the expected path — and why it's...

Mostly Together is a thoughtful, grounded podcast about identity, ambition, and life's pivots. Hosted by former TV news anchor Nicole Nalepa, it features candid conversations with creators, leaders, and culture-shapers — from household names to trailblazers making an impact. Together, they explore the questions that matter most: who are we becoming, how are we navigating change, and how to hold it all together without the pressure to be perfect.

Follow the show wherever you get podcasts. First episodes coming in March 2026.