It’s Both: personal growth for real-life transitions—tools and stories for clarity and calm.

I’m Nikki P—therapist turned storyteller, nonprofit leader, mom of three, and the host of It’s Both. The show is about personal growth for real-life transitions: a place for people living in the gray— for mixed emotions, unclear answers, big decisions. It’s also simply a space to feel seen, to talk about hard things, and to feel less alone and validated—including the honest truth that sometimes you just don’t know. Each episode blends honest conversation with simple, emotionally intelligent tools so listeners can find clarity and take one kind step forward. Our community is folks in seasons of change (identity, faith, career, relationships, parenthood, etc) who want practical guidance without toxic positivity.
 

For most of my life, I lived in “black-and-white”—this or that, right or wrong. The most anxious I’ve ever felt was when I was actually feeling multiple things at once but didn’t have language for it. Once I named the duality—that both can be true—the pressure eased. I didn’t have to choose one feeling or deny the other.

It’s Both grew from that shift. Podcasting gives me a warm, conversational space to sit with tension, learn from real people, and hear how this shows up in their lives—how they navigate it, what helps, what hurts, what’s honest. I’m a long-time podcast listener, so this medium felt like home: intimate, accessible, and kind to busy, messy seasons. My goal wasn’t perfection; it was to learn in community, publish consistently, and offer simple, emotionally intelligent tools that help us feel seen, talk about hard things, feel less alone, and take one kind step forward in the messy middle.
 

Honestly? I barely have the time—and most days I’m not sure how I’m keeping this going. I work full-time, have three little kids, and I fund the show myself. I keep it sustainable: one episode a week, recorded in focused blocks, edited simply, and published on a schedule. I use a simple setup so more energy goes to the conversation, not the bells and whistles (maybe one day there will be capacity for bells and whistles).

In a dream world, I’d have enough aligned sponsors to do this full-time. For now, I’m doing it because it’s meaningful. It helps me, it lets me learn and connect with others, and—hopefully—it helps listeners feel seen, talk about hard things, and feel a little less alone.
 

So much. Energy, connection, and validation—every conversation fills my tank. I’ve grown a ton: I learn new perspectives, get more curious and less judgmental, and see the same moment from multiple angles. The show has opened doors to beautiful relationships and collaborations I wouldn’t have had otherwise. So far, I don't have any sponsorships because I am selective about sponsorships—trust comes first with my listeners. Revenue isn’t my north star; impact is. The messages that mean the most sound like: “This made me feel seen,” “I feel less alone (and less crazy),” “I never thought of it that way,” “That changed the way I viewed ___,” “This helped me take care of myself by ___.” That’s the win.
 

Each episode starts with a real both/and tension (ex: feeling excited and terrified about change). I keep prep simple: if it’s a well-known guest, I’ll do deeper research, jot a few core questions, and list 2–3 moments I hope we touch on. Most guests prefer a loose conversation, so I’ll share a very brief outline (if any), start with a couple grounding questions, and let it flow naturally.

Guests are a mix of friends, coworkers, and acquaintances with incredible stories or insights—and bigger names who’ve inspired me, are authentic, and truly get the idea behind this show. We record virtually on Riverside.fm and I publish through Podbean. I aim for 45 minutes: enough depth to be honest and useful, still practical. Although, most episodes end up being an hour after all is said and done. After recording, I do a light edit for clarity and pacing, write clear titles/descriptions, and publish on schedule.
 

I focus on clarity first: titles, descriptions, and keywords in plain, searchable language (personal growth, emotional intelligence, transitions, decision making, confidence). Then I repurpose: I post as many YouTube Shorts as I can (plus some Reels on Instagram), with the main focus on YouTube since long-form has the best monetization path. I also share clips/carousels on Instagram, and post highlights on LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Facebook, alongside all the podcast platforms. I haven’t run paid ads yet, but I’m planning my first ad campaign soon. My goal is consistent packaging and being genuinely helpful—so people can find exactly what they’re looking for when life feels messy.
 

The hardest part is starting. You will never feel ready, and you’ll probably question yourself the whole way. Hit publish anyway. You only get good by failing, learning, and trying again—over and over.

Keep it simple. One clear promise per episode. Your title + first 150 characters matter more than your mic brand. Batch when you can. Treat thumbnails/titles as the doorway.

Don’t expect overnight growth (unless you already have a big audience). Stay consistent and put most of your energy into content quality and PSO/SEO basics: use plain, searchable language that matches what people actually type. Your goal is to show up in the top 3 results for the topics you cover.

My show is niche and nuanced, so I had to pivot keywords—terms like “duality” or “paradox” are beautiful but not often searched. I pair my both/and framing with mainstream terms (personal growth, emotional intelligence, life transitions, decision making, confidence). That’s how I honor the heart of the show and help people find it.

And remember: mixed emotions aren’t a problem to fix—they’re data you can use.
 

Podcast: It’s Both — Personal Growth For Real Life Transitions (find it on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere you get your podcasts)
YouTube: It’s Both Podcast
Instagram: @itsbothpodcast
Website: www.itsbothpodcast.com
Contact: itsbothpodcast@gmail.com