Sh*t No One Tells You About Life Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:46:00 -0400 en-us © 2026 Sh*t No One Tells You About Life yes 46362273-8d17-501c-9e8b-3a7cf067ca1c ahuzela@gmail.com Alexa Pepe episodic true Welcome to the podcast version of the book they should have handed you at graduation. Host Alexa Pepe tackles the topics that matter most — the ones nobody talks about with zero filter and zero apology. Because real life doesn’t come with instructions, but now you’ve got something better.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Alexa Pepe ahuzela@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/uyufmykc155mcluvmu0cyuxmyb8r?.jpg Sh*t No One Tells You About Life The Cover? The Cover? Nobody warned you about the ice cream cone.
Not your mom. Not your therapist. Not the overly enthusiastic guidance counselor in high school who promised you that if you “just followed your passion,” everything would work itself out. Nobody sat you down and said — hey, one day you’re going to be holding something really good, and it’s going to fall apart in your hands before you ever get a real taste of it.
But that’s exactly what happens. Over and over again.
In this episode, we’re talking about the ice cream cone — and why it’s on the cover of this book. Because you’ve been there. You waited in line for it. You agonized over the flavor. You finally got it… and then life happened. It melted. It dropped. Someone bumped into you. Or maybe it was perfect for exactly one moment and then it was just… gone.
This is the chapter that started it all. The metaphor that explains everything this book — and this podcast — is really about. The good stuff, the messy stuff, and the beautiful, frustrating, very human experience of holding on and letting go at the same time.
Welcome to Sh*t No One Tells You About Life. 🍦

]]> Nobody warned you about the ice cream cone.
Not your mom. Not your therapist. Not the overly enthusiastic guidance counselor in high school who promised you that if you “just followed your passion,” everything would work itself out. Nobody sat you down and said — hey, one day you’re going to be holding something really good, and it’s going to fall apart in your hands before you ever get a real taste of it.
But that’s exactly what happens. Over and over again.
In this episode, we’re talking about the ice cream cone — and why it’s on the cover of this book. Because you’ve been there. You waited in line for it. You agonized over the flavor. You finally got it… and then life happened. It melted. It dropped. Someone bumped into you. Or maybe it was perfect for exactly one moment and then it was just… gone.
This is the chapter that started it all. The metaphor that explains everything this book — and this podcast — is really about. The good stuff, the messy stuff, and the beautiful, frustrating, very human experience of holding on and letting go at the same time.
Welcome to Sh*t No One Tells You About Life. 🍦

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18837437 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400 241 21 full true Final Note & Author Alexa Pepe Final Note & Author Alexa Pepe This is the one we’ve been building to. If you’ve made it this far — through the hard parts, the messy parts, the parts you weren’t sure you’d survive — let me tell you something no one else probably has: you’re already doing it.
You’ve carried more than anyone sees. You’ve kept going through grief that wasn’t always visible. You’ve faced toxic people, questioned everything you thought you wanted, and somehow — still — here you are.
This isn’t a podcast of answers. It never was. It’s permission. Permission to pivot, to rest, to grow, to start over. You don’t need to fix yourself. You don’t need to explain yourself. You don’t need to prove yourself.
You just need to keep going. 


Sh*t No One Tells You About Life — written by Alexa Pepe, a straight-talking, chaos-juggling truth teller who learned (mostly the hard way) that no one hands you a roadmap when sh*t gets real. This is that roadmap. Kind of. You’re welcome.

]]> This is the one we’ve been building to. If you’ve made it this far — through the hard parts, the messy parts, the parts you weren’t sure you’d survive — let me tell you something no one else probably has: you’re already doing it.
You’ve carried more than anyone sees. You’ve kept going through grief that wasn’t always visible. You’ve faced toxic people, questioned everything you thought you wanted, and somehow — still — here you are.
This isn’t a podcast of answers. It never was. It’s permission. Permission to pivot, to rest, to grow, to start over. You don’t need to fix yourself. You don’t need to explain yourself. You don’t need to prove yourself.
You just need to keep going. 


Sh*t No One Tells You About Life — written by Alexa Pepe, a straight-talking, chaos-juggling truth teller who learned (mostly the hard way) that no one hands you a roadmap when sh*t gets real. This is that roadmap. Kind of. You’re welcome.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18837430 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400 95 20 full true Chapter 15: You Don’t Need a Plan. You Need Permission Chapter 15: You Don’t Need a Plan. You Need Permission We were sold a lie. Plan enough, hustle hard enough, stay on the “right path” long enough — and you’ll be safe. You’ll be happy. You’ll finally have it all together. So we made the career plan, the family plan, the five-year plan, the marriage plan, the financial plan… and then life said lol, cute.
In this episode, we’re having an honest conversation about what nobody tells you: plans are fragile. The job changes. The relationship shifts. The dream evolves. And sometimes everything falls apart — not because you failed, but because life doesn’t run on a script.
So what do you actually need? Permission. Permission to pivot. Permission to rest. Permission to live a life that doesn’t look like anyone else’s. Permission to stop chasing a version of yourself that was built around someone else’s timeline.
This episode is your official slip. Do with it what you will. 

]]> We were sold a lie. Plan enough, hustle hard enough, stay on the “right path” long enough — and you’ll be safe. You’ll be happy. You’ll finally have it all together. So we made the career plan, the family plan, the five-year plan, the marriage plan, the financial plan… and then life said lol, cute.
In this episode, we’re having an honest conversation about what nobody tells you: plans are fragile. The job changes. The relationship shifts. The dream evolves. And sometimes everything falls apart — not because you failed, but because life doesn’t run on a script.
So what do you actually need? Permission. Permission to pivot. Permission to rest. Permission to live a life that doesn’t look like anyone else’s. Permission to stop chasing a version of yourself that was built around someone else’s timeline.
This episode is your official slip. Do with it what you will. 

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18837413 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400 275 19 full true Chapter 14: Joy is in the Tiny, Stupid, Beautiful Moments Chapter 14: Joy is in the Tiny, Stupid, Beautiful Moments Nobody tells you that joy doesn’t arrive with a grand entrance. No photographer, no hashtag, no perfectly curated Instagram moment. It doesn’t burst through the door with fanfare — it sneaks in. Quietly. In the middle of the mess, the exhaustion, the heartbreak, the “how the hell am I even holding all this together?” moments.
In this episode, we’re talking about what joy actually looks like in real life — not the highlight reel version. It’s your kid losing it over something completely ridiculous. It’s an unexpected hug at exactly the right time. It’s the tiny, stupid, beautiful stuff that doesn’t make the feed but somehow makes life worth living.
Because even when everything is a sh*t show, joy is still there — you just have to stop waiting for the big sweeping moment and start noticing the small ones. 
This one’s a love letter to the chaos. And a reminder that you don’t need a filter to find something worth smiling about.

]]> Nobody tells you that joy doesn’t arrive with a grand entrance. No photographer, no hashtag, no perfectly curated Instagram moment. It doesn’t burst through the door with fanfare — it sneaks in. Quietly. In the middle of the mess, the exhaustion, the heartbreak, the “how the hell am I even holding all this together?” moments.
In this episode, we’re talking about what joy actually looks like in real life — not the highlight reel version. It’s your kid losing it over something completely ridiculous. It’s an unexpected hug at exactly the right time. It’s the tiny, stupid, beautiful stuff that doesn’t make the feed but somehow makes life worth living.
Because even when everything is a sh*t show, joy is still there — you just have to stop waiting for the big sweeping moment and start noticing the small ones. 
This one’s a love letter to the chaos. And a reminder that you don’t need a filter to find something worth smiling about.

]]> Buzzsprout-18837403 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400 411 18 full true Chapter 13: You Don’t Need to Be “Fixed” to Be Worthy Chapter 13: You Don’t Need to Be “Fixed” to Be Worthy We need to talk about the wellness industry’s dirty little secret — it’s banking on you believing you’re broken. In this episode, we’re getting real about the myth of “healed” and why healing was never supposed to be a never-ending project. You are not defective because life knocked you around. You are not behind. You are not less-than. And yet the world — and a billion-dollar self-help machine — will do everything in its power to convince you otherwise.
We’re calling it out: the journals, the cold plunges, the chakra cleanses, the vision boards, the life coaches… When does self-improvement become self-rejection in disguise? This episode is your reminder that you are worthy right now — not after the next healing retreat, not when you finally “figure it out,” not when you become the polished version of yourself you’ve been promised.
You don’t need to be fixed. You just need to keep going. 

]]> We need to talk about the wellness industry’s dirty little secret — it’s banking on you believing you’re broken. In this episode, we’re getting real about the myth of “healed” and why healing was never supposed to be a never-ending project. You are not defective because life knocked you around. You are not behind. You are not less-than. And yet the world — and a billion-dollar self-help machine — will do everything in its power to convince you otherwise.
We’re calling it out: the journals, the cold plunges, the chakra cleanses, the vision boards, the life coaches… When does self-improvement become self-rejection in disguise? This episode is your reminder that you are worthy right now — not after the next healing retreat, not when you finally “figure it out,” not when you become the polished version of yourself you’ve been promised.
You don’t need to be fixed. You just need to keep going. 

]]> Buzzsprout-18837398 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400 435 17 full true Chapter 12: Grief Isn’t Just for Death Chapter 12: Grief Isn’t Just for Death Sometimes the people we mourn are still breathing.
Everyone talks about grief like it only belongs to funerals — the casket, the eulogy, the final goodbye that everyone witnesses together. But grief shows up in a thousand quieter, crueler ways that nobody prepares you for.
It’s the friendship that slowly faded without explanation. The best friend you used to text every single day who now feels like a stranger. The person you thought would show up for every milestone — who vanished the moment life stopped being convenient for them. No big fight. No betrayal you can point to. Just silence. Distance. Unspoken endings.
And here’s the thing nobody talks about: when someone dies, there’s a ritual. People gather, bring food, send flowers, give you permission to grieve. But when someone drifts out of your life by choice or slow neglect? There’s no ceremony for that. No meal train. No sympathy cards. Just an empty chair at your table and a gnawing ache you can’t quite explain without sounding “too sensitive.”
This episode is about the invisible funerals — grieving the relationships, the versions of yourself, and the futures you never got to live out.
Because grief isn’t just for death. And no one tells you that.

]]> Sometimes the people we mourn are still breathing.
Everyone talks about grief like it only belongs to funerals — the casket, the eulogy, the final goodbye that everyone witnesses together. But grief shows up in a thousand quieter, crueler ways that nobody prepares you for.
It’s the friendship that slowly faded without explanation. The best friend you used to text every single day who now feels like a stranger. The person you thought would show up for every milestone — who vanished the moment life stopped being convenient for them. No big fight. No betrayal you can point to. Just silence. Distance. Unspoken endings.
And here’s the thing nobody talks about: when someone dies, there’s a ritual. People gather, bring food, send flowers, give you permission to grieve. But when someone drifts out of your life by choice or slow neglect? There’s no ceremony for that. No meal train. No sympathy cards. Just an empty chair at your table and a gnawing ache you can’t quite explain without sounding “too sensitive.”
This episode is about the invisible funerals — grieving the relationships, the versions of yourself, and the futures you never got to live out.
Because grief isn’t just for death. And no one tells you that.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18827033 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0400 293 16 full true Chapter 11: The Mental Load is Invisible — and Crushing Chapter 11: The Mental Load is Invisible — and Crushing You know that feeling of waking up already tired — not because you didn’t sleep, but because your brain never actually stopped? The mental tabs that never close. The 2am “remember this” notes scribbled in your mind. The weight that doesn’t show up on any to-do list but demands everything from you anyway.
This episode is about the invisible labor that so many of us carry in silence. The appointments. The permission slips. The birthday parties. Knowing which water bottle belongs to which kid because the green one “tastes wrong.” Reordering the allergy medicine before anyone else even notices it’s low.
Nobody sees it. Nobody tracks it. And most of the time — nobody thanks you for it.
We’re talking about the mental load: what it really looks like day to day, why it’s so exhausting, and why the fact that it’s invisible makes it so much harder to carry.
Because most of what we carry, we carry in silence. And it’s time we talked about it.

]]> You know that feeling of waking up already tired — not because you didn’t sleep, but because your brain never actually stopped? The mental tabs that never close. The 2am “remember this” notes scribbled in your mind. The weight that doesn’t show up on any to-do list but demands everything from you anyway.
This episode is about the invisible labor that so many of us carry in silence. The appointments. The permission slips. The birthday parties. Knowing which water bottle belongs to which kid because the green one “tastes wrong.” Reordering the allergy medicine before anyone else even notices it’s low.
Nobody sees it. Nobody tracks it. And most of the time — nobody thanks you for it.
We’re talking about the mental load: what it really looks like day to day, why it’s so exhausting, and why the fact that it’s invisible makes it so much harder to carry.
Because most of what we carry, we carry in silence. And it’s time we talked about it.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18827022 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0400 383 15 full true Chapter 10: You Will Question Everything You Thought You Wanted Chapter 10: You Will Question Everything You Thought You Wanted You did everything right. You went to school, picked the career, got married, bought the house, had the kids — and then looked around and thought… is this it?
Nobody warns you about the unique kind of disorientation that comes with actually achieving the life you planned for. The dream job that leaves you drained. The house that feels more like a financial weight than a sanctuary. The marriage that’s somehow beautiful and brutal at the same time. The parenthood that fulfills you and breaks you simultaneously.
In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when you check all the boxes and still feel unsettled — and why that doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re human.
Because checking all the boxes doesn’t guarantee contentment. And no one tells you that.

]]> You did everything right. You went to school, picked the career, got married, bought the house, had the kids — and then looked around and thought… is this it?
Nobody warns you about the unique kind of disorientation that comes with actually achieving the life you planned for. The dream job that leaves you drained. The house that feels more like a financial weight than a sanctuary. The marriage that’s somehow beautiful and brutal at the same time. The parenthood that fulfills you and breaks you simultaneously.
In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when you check all the boxes and still feel unsettled — and why that doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re human.
Because checking all the boxes doesn’t guarantee contentment. And no one tells you that.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18827015 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0400 430 14 full true Broke & Blessed: A Generation In Debt Broke & Blessed: A Generation In Debt Unpublished Notes 

We need to have a real talk. About money. About debt. About the fact that we are living in the most financially stressed generation in modern history — and somehow people are out here buying $800 sneakers on a $38,000 salary with $60,000 in student loans and calling it a lifestyle. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life — the show where we say the things your mama thought but was too polite to post about — we’re getting into all of it.
How did we get here? Why does every generation feel like they’re one unexpected bill away from the edge? And why is nobody talking about the shame spiral that comes with being broke while looking blessed on the internet?
This is the episode for everyone doing the math at the grocery store, robbing Peter to pay Paul, and still somehow managing to show up, provide, and push through. You are not alone, you are not a failure, and you are absolutely not the only one whose bank account does not match their highlight reel. 

]]> Unpublished Notes 

We need to have a real talk. About money. About debt. About the fact that we are living in the most financially stressed generation in modern history — and somehow people are out here buying $800 sneakers on a $38,000 salary with $60,000 in student loans and calling it a lifestyle. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life — the show where we say the things your mama thought but was too polite to post about — we’re getting into all of it.
How did we get here? Why does every generation feel like they’re one unexpected bill away from the edge? And why is nobody talking about the shame spiral that comes with being broke while looking blessed on the internet?
This is the episode for everyone doing the math at the grocery store, robbing Peter to pay Paul, and still somehow managing to show up, provide, and push through. You are not alone, you are not a failure, and you are absolutely not the only one whose bank account does not match their highlight reel. 

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18813020 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0400 445 13 full true Chapter 9: Your Family Might Be Toxic Chapter 9: Your Family Might Be Toxic Blood isn’t always thicker. Sometimes, boundaries are the most loving thing you can give yourself.
We grew up hearing it stitched onto pillows, whispered in prayers, declared at Thanksgiving tables — “family is everything.” And for a lot of people, that’s a beautiful truth. But for a lot of others, it’s the myth that kept them stuck, silent, and shrinking for years. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re having the conversation that challenges everything we were taught from birth.
Not every family is safe. Not every family is love. And nobody — nobody — prepares you for the heartbreak of realizing that the people you were expected to stand by might never be the ones who have your back.
This episode is for everyone who has ever felt guilty for outgrowing a toxic dynamic, for setting a boundary that got called betrayal, or for quietly grieving a family that looks fine from the outside. You are not dramatic. You are not disloyal. Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is protect your own peace — even from the people who share your last name.

]]> Blood isn’t always thicker. Sometimes, boundaries are the most loving thing you can give yourself.
We grew up hearing it stitched onto pillows, whispered in prayers, declared at Thanksgiving tables — “family is everything.” And for a lot of people, that’s a beautiful truth. But for a lot of others, it’s the myth that kept them stuck, silent, and shrinking for years. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re having the conversation that challenges everything we were taught from birth.
Not every family is safe. Not every family is love. And nobody — nobody — prepares you for the heartbreak of realizing that the people you were expected to stand by might never be the ones who have your back.
This episode is for everyone who has ever felt guilty for outgrowing a toxic dynamic, for setting a boundary that got called betrayal, or for quietly grieving a family that looks fine from the outside. You are not dramatic. You are not disloyal. Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is protect your own peace — even from the people who share your last name.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18813016 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0400 498 12 full true Chapter 8: Money is a Mindf*ck Chapter 8: Money is a Mindf*ck They taught us how to calculate the angles of a triangle. They did not teach us how to negotiate a salary, build credit, make a budget that actually includes rent, groceries, insurance, daycare, and the $400 emergency that shows up at the absolute worst possible time. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re talking about the quiet shame, the generational trauma, and the emotional chaos that comes with money — because nobody warned us that financial success wasn’t just a matter of “working hard.”
We grew up thinking the paycheck would stretch. It didn’t. We graduated knowing how to cite a source in MLA format but not how to navigate student loans, medical bills, or the creeping panic of realizing your money is gone before the month is over.
This episode is the conversation your parents should have had with you, your school definitely didn’t, and that most people are still too embarrassed to have out loud. Money has power over your wallet — but even more over your mind. And it’s time we talked about that.

]]> They taught us how to calculate the angles of a triangle. They did not teach us how to negotiate a salary, build credit, make a budget that actually includes rent, groceries, insurance, daycare, and the $400 emergency that shows up at the absolute worst possible time. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re talking about the quiet shame, the generational trauma, and the emotional chaos that comes with money — because nobody warned us that financial success wasn’t just a matter of “working hard.”
We grew up thinking the paycheck would stretch. It didn’t. We graduated knowing how to cite a source in MLA format but not how to navigate student loans, medical bills, or the creeping panic of realizing your money is gone before the month is over.
This episode is the conversation your parents should have had with you, your school definitely didn’t, and that most people are still too embarrassed to have out loud. Money has power over your wallet — but even more over your mind. And it’s time we talked about that.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18813009 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0400 274 11 full true Chapter 7: Your Job is not Your Worth (Repeat That) Chapter 7: Your Job is not Your Worth (Repeat That) Say it again for the people in the back. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re dismantling the lie that society has been selling us since our first résumé — that your title, your paycheck, and your W-2 are a measure of your value as a human being. Whether you’re working full-time, part-time, side-hustling, or spending your days wiping butts and negotiating with toddlers about pants, you are not what you produce.
This one gets personal. We’re talking about what happens when you tie your entire identity to your job and then suddenly — the work feels invisible. No performance reviews for keeping tiny humans alive. No Slack messages or team lunches or happy hours. Just you, in the trenches, crying in the pantry, wondering if any of it counts.
It counts. All of it counts.
Whether you’ve ever felt burnt out, looked down on, overlooked, or just quietly lost — this episode is a reminder that your worth was never on your LinkedIn profile to begin with.

]]> Say it again for the people in the back. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re dismantling the lie that society has been selling us since our first résumé — that your title, your paycheck, and your W-2 are a measure of your value as a human being. Whether you’re working full-time, part-time, side-hustling, or spending your days wiping butts and negotiating with toddlers about pants, you are not what you produce.
This one gets personal. We’re talking about what happens when you tie your entire identity to your job and then suddenly — the work feels invisible. No performance reviews for keeping tiny humans alive. No Slack messages or team lunches or happy hours. Just you, in the trenches, crying in the pantry, wondering if any of it counts.
It counts. All of it counts.
Whether you’ve ever felt burnt out, looked down on, overlooked, or just quietly lost — this episode is a reminder that your worth was never on your LinkedIn profile to begin with.

]]> Buzzsprout-18813003 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0400 227 10 full false Chapter 6: Motherhood Will Break You (Then Rebuild You) Chapter 6: Motherhood Will Break You (Then Rebuild You) Nobody posts the 2 a.m. feeding where you’re wide awake, staring into space, desperately alone, wondering where you went. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re pulling back the curtain on the motherhood highlight reel — the one full of matching outfits and cozy snuggles — and talking about what’s actually on the other side of it. The milk stains. The sleepless nights. The cracked nipples. The tiny socks that end up everywhere except where they belong. The moment you realize you’ve gone from being a whole person with dreams and boundaries to being someone’s entire world overnight.
And here’s the thing — that shift is beautiful. But it is also brutal. And both of those things are allowed to be true at the same time.
This episode is for every mom who has ever loved her child fiercely and still grieved the version of herself she used to be. You are not alone. You are not failing. Motherhood didn’t whisper its way in — it crashed through the door. And somehow, on the other side of the wreckage, you find yourself rebuilt into something even stronger. 

]]> Nobody posts the 2 a.m. feeding where you’re wide awake, staring into space, desperately alone, wondering where you went. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re pulling back the curtain on the motherhood highlight reel — the one full of matching outfits and cozy snuggles — and talking about what’s actually on the other side of it. The milk stains. The sleepless nights. The cracked nipples. The tiny socks that end up everywhere except where they belong. The moment you realize you’ve gone from being a whole person with dreams and boundaries to being someone’s entire world overnight.
And here’s the thing — that shift is beautiful. But it is also brutal. And both of those things are allowed to be true at the same time.
This episode is for every mom who has ever loved her child fiercely and still grieved the version of herself she used to be. You are not alone. You are not failing. Motherhood didn’t whisper its way in — it crashed through the door. And somehow, on the other side of the wreckage, you find yourself rebuilt into something even stronger. 

]]> Buzzsprout-18813000 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0400 252 9 full false Going No Contact: And Yes, It’s Okay Going No Contact: And Yes, It’s Okay Unpublished Notes

There are conversations people are too scared to have — even in therapy, even with their closest friends, even at 2 in the morning when they’re staring at the ceiling wondering if they’re a bad person. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re going there. We’re talking about going no contact — the decision that’s misunderstood, judged from the outside, and quietly carried by so many people who made it. It’s not giving up. It’s not being dramatic. Sometimes it’s the most loving thing you can do — for them, and for yourself. If you’ve ever had to choose your peace over a relationship, or you’re still wrestling with whether you have permission to — this episode is your sign that you do. You are not a bad person. And yes, it’s okay.

]]> Unpublished Notes

There are conversations people are too scared to have — even in therapy, even with their closest friends, even at 2 in the morning when they’re staring at the ceiling wondering if they’re a bad person. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re going there. We’re talking about going no contact — the decision that’s misunderstood, judged from the outside, and quietly carried by so many people who made it. It’s not giving up. It’s not being dramatic. Sometimes it’s the most loving thing you can do — for them, and for yourself. If you’ve ever had to choose your peace over a relationship, or you’re still wrestling with whether you have permission to — this episode is your sign that you do. You are not a bad person. And yes, it’s okay.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18812776 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400 440 8 full false Your Body Is Not the Enemy (But It Will Absolutely Betray You) Your Body Is Not the Enemy (But It Will Absolutely Betray You) Unpublished Notes 

This is not a wellness episode. Nobody’s telling you to drink more water and take magnesium — well, okay, maybe do those things — but that’s not what we’re here for. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re talking about your body: the one that’s carried you through everything, surprised you at the worst moments, and never once asked your permission. Whether you’re 22 or 52, this one hits. We’re skipping the highlight reel and getting into what’s actually going on — because your body isn’t your enemy, but it will absolutely humble you when you least expect it.

]]> Unpublished Notes 

This is not a wellness episode. Nobody’s telling you to drink more water and take magnesium — well, okay, maybe do those things — but that’s not what we’re here for. In this episode of Shit No One Tells You About Life, we’re talking about your body: the one that’s carried you through everything, surprised you at the worst moments, and never once asked your permission. Whether you’re 22 or 52, this one hits. We’re skipping the highlight reel and getting into what’s actually going on — because your body isn’t your enemy, but it will absolutely humble you when you least expect it.

]]> Buzzsprout-18812689 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400 331 7 full false Chapter 5: Birth Plans are cute Until You Actually Give Birth Chapter 5: Birth Plans are cute Until You Actually Give Birth You can Pinterest your birth plan all you want — but nobody warns you about what’s actually coming. In this episode, we’re going there: the raw, unfiltered truth about childbirth, postpartum, body trauma, and the mind games that follow. No filter, no bow on it. We’re rewinding to the beginning — the pregnancy we were convinced was a boy (spoiler: SURPRISE, it was not), the gender reveal on National Ice Cream Day, and the little girl who became our entire world. This is the episode for every mom who felt blindsided, every partner who didn’t know what to say, and everyone who’s ever nodded along to a birth story thinking why did nobody tell me any of this?

]]> You can Pinterest your birth plan all you want — but nobody warns you about what’s actually coming. In this episode, we’re going there: the raw, unfiltered truth about childbirth, postpartum, body trauma, and the mind games that follow. No filter, no bow on it. We’re rewinding to the beginning — the pregnancy we were convinced was a boy (spoiler: SURPRISE, it was not), the gender reveal on National Ice Cream Day, and the little girl who became our entire world. This is the episode for every mom who felt blindsided, every partner who didn’t know what to say, and everyone who’s ever nodded along to a birth story thinking why did nobody tell me any of this?

]]> Buzzsprout-18812675 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400 273 6 full false Chapter 4: Love is Work, Not just Butterflies Chapter 4: Love is Work, Not just Butterflies Fairy tales sold us fireworks and perfect fits — but nobody warned us about the laundry. In this episode, we’re getting real about what love actually looks like once the butterflies settle: the slammed doors, the quiet resentments, the 11 p.m. talks that somehow turn into arguments, and still choosing that same face the next morning anyway. We talk about why “forever” is less of a feeling and more of a daily decision — raw, exhausting, and worth it. Whether you’re navigating a long-term relationship, freshly heartbroken, or just tired of romanticizing something that requires actual work, this episode is the honest conversation nobody had with us growing up.

]]> Fairy tales sold us fireworks and perfect fits — but nobody warned us about the laundry. In this episode, we’re getting real about what love actually looks like once the butterflies settle: the slammed doors, the quiet resentments, the 11 p.m. talks that somehow turn into arguments, and still choosing that same face the next morning anyway. We talk about why “forever” is less of a feeling and more of a daily decision — raw, exhausting, and worth it. Whether you’re navigating a long-term relationship, freshly heartbroken, or just tired of romanticizing something that requires actual work, this episode is the honest conversation nobody had with us growing up.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18812667 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400 241 5 full false Chapter 3: Nobody Knows What They’re Doing (They’re Just Faking It Better) Chapter 3: Nobody Knows What They’re Doing (They’re Just Faking It Better) Surprise — adulthood didn’t come with a manual. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the biggest open secret of grown-up life: everyone is winging it. From the overachieving PTA mom to the guy posting polished LinkedIn updates, we’re all just guessing with varying levels of confidence. We dig into why we believed adults had it all figured out, what’s really hiding behind those curated Instagram feeds, and why “faking it” might actually be more universal than you think. If you cried in your car this week or still don’t know what escrow means — this one’s for you.

]]> Surprise — adulthood didn’t come with a manual. In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the biggest open secret of grown-up life: everyone is winging it. From the overachieving PTA mom to the guy posting polished LinkedIn updates, we’re all just guessing with varying levels of confidence. We dig into why we believed adults had it all figured out, what’s really hiding behind those curated Instagram feeds, and why “faking it” might actually be more universal than you think. If you cried in your car this week or still don’t know what escrow means — this one’s for you.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18812646 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400 399 4 full false Chapter 2: Friendships Aren’t Forever (And That’s Not Your Fault) Chapter 2: Friendships Aren’t Forever (And That’s Not Your Fault) Nobody warns you that losing a friend can hurt just as much as a breakup. In this chapter, we’re talking about the friendships we thought would last forever — the late-night sleepovers, the matching tattoos, the “ride or die” promises and why it’s okay when they don’t. Because sometimes people grow, evolve, and drift, and that doesn’t make it anyone’s fault. Let’s talk about it.

]]> Nobody warns you that losing a friend can hurt just as much as a breakup. In this chapter, we’re talking about the friendships we thought would last forever — the late-night sleepovers, the matching tattoos, the “ride or die” promises and why it’s okay when they don’t. Because sometimes people grow, evolve, and drift, and that doesn’t make it anyone’s fault. Let’s talk about it.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18810710 Sun, 08 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400 471 3 full false Chapter 1: Welcome to the Real World (It’s Weirder Than You Thought) Chapter 1: Welcome to the Real World (It’s Weirder Than You Thought) Episode 1: Welcome to the Real World (It’s Weirder Than You Thought)


Remember when “adulthood” meant freedom, money, and calling all the shots? Yeah… about that. In our debut episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the gap between the glamorous grown-up life we imagined — stethoscopes, Starbucks, sparkly engagement rings — and the reality that hits at 3 a.m. when you can’t tell if you’re dying or just have gas. Nobody hands you a manual, nobody warns you about the Googling-everything phase, and spoiler: cake for dinner is both the best and most unsettling part. Join us as we kick off the conversation about navigating a real world that’s so much messier, weirder, and honestly funnier than we ever expected. Welcome to adulthood. We’re all figuring it out together.

]]> Episode 1: Welcome to the Real World (It’s Weirder Than You Thought)


Remember when “adulthood” meant freedom, money, and calling all the shots? Yeah… about that. In our debut episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the gap between the glamorous grown-up life we imagined — stethoscopes, Starbucks, sparkly engagement rings — and the reality that hits at 3 a.m. when you can’t tell if you’re dying or just have gas. Nobody hands you a manual, nobody warns you about the Googling-everything phase, and spoiler: cake for dinner is both the best and most unsettling part. Join us as we kick off the conversation about navigating a real world that’s so much messier, weirder, and honestly funnier than we ever expected. Welcome to adulthood. We’re all figuring it out together.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18805993 Sat, 07 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0500 487 2 full true Welcome to Sh*t No One Tells You About Life Welcome to Sh*t No One Tells You About Life Welcome to Sh*t No One Tells You About Life — the podcast where we skip the fluff and get real about all the things nobody warned you about.

I’m your host, and this is Episode 1, consider this your official orientation. I’ll be sharing all of the chapters from my book along with unpublished, raw, real material you won’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s navigating adulting, relationships, money, mental health, career chaos, or just figuring out who the heck you are this is the space for honest, unfiltered conversations. No sugarcoating. No pretending it’s all figured out. Just real talk from someone who’s been in the thick of it.

Hit subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next — trust me, it’s the stuff you wish someone had told you sooner.

]]> Welcome to Sh*t No One Tells You About Life — the podcast where we skip the fluff and get real about all the things nobody warned you about.

I’m your host, and this is Episode 1, consider this your official orientation. I’ll be sharing all of the chapters from my book along with unpublished, raw, real material you won’t find anywhere else. Whether it’s navigating adulting, relationships, money, mental health, career chaos, or just figuring out who the heck you are this is the space for honest, unfiltered conversations. No sugarcoating. No pretending it’s all figured out. Just real talk from someone who’s been in the thick of it.

Hit subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next — trust me, it’s the stuff you wish someone had told you sooner.

]]> Alexa Pepe Buzzsprout-18804803 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0500 147 1 full false