This podcast gets REAL everyone! The overall message I want to send to anyone listening is as follows: People in your life are going to change up on you, so be ready for it. It will feel like it is out of left field, so you should allow yourself to be sad/hurt/upset/mad. A majority of the time, people who change up on you has nothing to do with you or anything you did, but everything to do with themselves and the hurts they are experiencing. You don't owe it to anyone to explain your strained relationship and you do NOT need to beg anyone to stay in your life. Don't be naive or lash out or demean character, but be forgiving and cautious going forward, keeping those who switched up at a safe distance. And most importantly, don't let them/their toxic/negative energy move on with you to the next thing you're doing. They made their decision, but don't allow what they say to or about you stop you from fulfilling your passions and purpose. I can almost guarantee that for every person who switches up on you, there are at least 2 other people in your life who will value and appreciate you, so you don't need to waste your time being sad you lost someone who did neither. 

This week I was welcomed back on The Bill Squire Show and Bill's adorable Goldendoodle, Whoopsie, weighs in on the conversation! We discuss the Indian's name change, the awesomeness that is HAMILTON, why I sound like a grandma, the characters of Justice League and dating during quarantine!  Make sure to check out the full episode of The Bill Squire Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqLTbE8ZnWo and follow us on IG! Nicole- @nicole_merlino14 Bill- @billsquire Whoopsie- @whoopsiedoodle216

On this week's episode I'm talking about how I've been watching WAY too much Phineas & Ferb, shopping for a couch resulted in me feeling like a celebrity, a children's TV show has got me triggered, I just learned about Facebook Messenger for Kids and everyone has Hamilton fever! I'm sounding more and more like my parents and grandparents, even if I like watching children's shows, I feel like I'm becoming an older person. I'm Moving- 02:44 Javier (the couch salesman) Was Starstruck- 03:44 I LOVE Hamilton- 10:04 I'm Watching Too Much Phineas & Ferb- 14:19 Am I the Only One to Watch Justice League?- 16:29 Children's Shows Giving Girls Unrealistic Expectations of Beauty- 18:29 Babysitter's Club Took Me By Surprise- 25:56 Technology Kids Have Today Blows My Mind- 30:54

On this week's episode I'm talking about all the love I received for my Birthday, my interview with Bill Squire as the Alan Cox Show Instagram Hottie of the week and a story about a man shooting his shot at the beach.   People Showing Me Love On My Birthday- 02:59 It's Okay To Be Proud Of Yourself- 17:38 Alan Cox Show Instagram Hottie Interview- 22:40 Dude Shooting His Shot At The Beach- 36:11 The Bill Squire Show Interview (Starting at 29:30): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrVu03XREl8&t=2682s  Instagram Hottie Link: https://wmms.iheart.com/featured/the-alan-cox-show/content/2020-06-25-alan-cox-show-instagram-hotties-vol-23/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE BILL SQUIRE SHOW ON YOUTUBE & LISTEN TO THE ALAN COX SHOW ON iHEART RADIO (100.7 WMMS)

This week's episode I talk about why I deleted Twitter off my phone for the first time. It can be emotionally and mentally overwhelming to think about all the problems we are facing as a society. I discuss how I am trying to bring myself out of emotional burnout.  Anchor Ad- 00:00-01:54 & 02:40-04:40 **My first time using Anchor Sponsorship so sorry for the double ad! Haha! I'm feeling overwhelmed by the world- 04:50 I deleted Twitter- 06:27 & 13:14 We were never made to intake this amount of information- 07:38 I am emotionally exhausted- 10:50 As a Christian I am supposed to have peace- 14:45 Pastor Garret Kell Post- 21:42 Staying in my own bubble is safer but selfish- 25:12 It's okay to turn off the screen- 29:55 Replenish yourself so you can be a better advocate- 32:18 Little Talks is now on Apple Podcasts- 41:05

Post Quarantine life has been CRAZY! On today's episode I'm talking about how I am not adjusting well due to a lack of a routine and how I've been lowkey on creating YouTube and Social Media content. So, I am catching everyone up on my life the past few weeks and why so much, but nothing, is happening at the same time. I don't think I'm the only one finding themselves on the struggle bus amidst a new found "normalcy." I'm going to start something new! For easier listening I'm going to start utilizing TIMECODES! See a specific topic within the episode that interests you? Now you can easily find it! Off My Vlogging Game: 01:00 I Do Not Have a Routine: 02:18 Making Plans Last Minute Stresses Me Out: 11:20 I Hate Planning My Own Birthday: 16:50 Corona Hasn't Magically Disappeared:18:50 Everyone Is Busy Again: 24:14 I Want To Learn Graphic Design: 25:45 We Found An Apartment: 38:50 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) https://pua.unemployment.ohio.gov/ Udemy Online Masterclasses https://www.udemy.com/

I realize I will never say everything right, I realize I probably didn't cover everything I should've. I'm just being honest with my thoughts and feelings about the past weeks' events. It didn't feel right for me not to say anything on the topic of George Floyd, Black Lives Matter and the nation wide protests occurring in cities, including my home of Cleveland, Ohio. I hope that by utilizing my platform a continuing conversation will happen in homes everywhere and that even in any disagreement constructive conversations will take place.  I plan on continuing to educate myself and others as much as possible, but in years past I admittedly lived in an ignorance. One I didn't know until this past week that I had. White privilege is an uncomfortable pill to swallow, but one we must all take. Just because you don't see it or quite understand it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I encourage white people everywhere to not feel guilty, but instead to use your privilege to uplift and empower people of color.  I stand with Black Lives Matter and I support necessary regulations, legislation and systemic changes that need to occur so that people of color can remain safe and alive! I love every single one of you and appreciate you listening! Here I have attached some resources I mentioned and those that will help spread education and awareness of this issue.  Talk with Pastor Furtick and John Gray: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7jTUfNyPkE&list=PLY1BgHeIBKnpxKaA_ktPWlJ2tnwh66c6w&index=95 Educational Resource: www.becomethebridge.com Sign the Petition for Breonna Taylor: http://chng.it/5FWXsMYkQ8 Letter from Birmingham Jail: http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/letter_birmingham_jail.pdf Black Lives Matter website: https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Comparisons will cause you to either demean yourself or demean someone else in an effort to elevate yourself when you're not secure in your own lane. You need to stick to being you and being yourself without limiting your creativity. This is hard to do because you feel you have to fit in or follow others' leads. Accepting that you'll never be perfect and you will always think someone is more qualified, equipped, etc. is crucial to your own success. Don't be swayed to change lanes because you're not getting where you want to go fast enough. YOU ARE YOU, SO STAY IN YOUR LANE! Follow me on my socials! Instagram: @nicole_merlino14 Twitter: @Nikki266Nicole

Reputation precedes you and everyone you come into contact with will have a different idea of you. You have to take things you hear about others with a grain of salt and hope others do the same for you. On this episode we're talking about how referrals and recommendations can impact your reputation on a professional level and also influence your personal relationships.

This is a season for reflection no doubt and it came to my mind, "what is God trying to expose to you, about you?" Then I started thinking about why I am stressed recently, what the root of that really was. I traced it to the fact that I was scared and I was scared because I was exposed. Exposed to the fact that my spirit of self-reliance was becoming my downfall, the fact that I sometimes care too much about being known or being important. I was scared because I was being exposed.