Episode 230 -- Niki Tsekareas -- Embracing Identity Beyond Labels

Stacked Keys Podcast

Niki Tsekareas never thought a retreat to Greece would completely transform her life, but that's exactly what happened. In this deeply personal conversation, she opens up about the moment she realized she needed more than her identity as "Niki Peter's wife" or "Georgios' mom" – she needed to rediscover herself.
With remarkable candor, Niki shares her journey from feeling lost to launching her own interior styling business at age 44. "I wasn't doing things that were giving me purpose," she explains, describing how she transformed a spare bedroom into a dedicated workspace filled with plants, journals, and reminders to stay accountable to herself. Her approach to interior design comes from a deeply personal place – creating spaces that truly reflect who her clients are rather than following trends.
The conversation takes several profound turns as Niki reveals her struggles with depression, her extraordinary seven-year fertility journey, and how she maintains her Greek heritage through traditions like name days and community celebrations. What emerges is a portrait of remarkable resilience, with Niki developing daily practices that keep her motivated even on the hardest days.
Most powerfully, Niki offers wisdom that resonates far beyond her personal story: "Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do or have something that you want." Her transformation from uncertainty to purpose serves as inspiration for anyone standing at the threshold of change, wondering if it's too late to pursue their dreams.
Join us for this moving discussion about identity, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and the courage to finally put yourself first. If you've ever felt defined by your relationships to others rather than your relationship with yourself, this episode will speak directly to your heart.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

Chapters

1. Welcome to Stacked Keys Podcast (00:00:00)

2. Meeting Nikki: Personal and Professional Identity (00:02:57)

3. Starting an Interior Styling Business (00:06:15)

4. The Greece Retreat and Finding Clarity (00:10:50)

5. Overcoming Depression and Finding Self-Worth (00:18:31)

6. Creating a Personal Work Space (00:29:51)

7. Greek Heritage and Cultural Traditions (00:39:15)

8. The Fertility Journey (00:53:14)

9. Encouragement and Final Thoughts (01:03:16)