From the Classroom to Community: Nikki Brooker Featured on BirdTalk Podcast

The MSU Denver Alumni Association is proud to feature Nikki Brooker (’98), founder and CEO of YANA M2M (You Are Not Alone, Mom to Mom), in the season four premiere of BirdTalk, the university’s official alumni podcast celebrating Roadrunners who are making a meaningful impact in their communities.

Hosted by Jamie Hurst, the episode explores Brooker’s journey from educator to nonprofit leader and how her MSU Denver education helped shape a career centered on understanding people, building community, and serving others. After spending more than 25 years in education, two tragedies involving local families inspired her to create YANA M2M, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring no mother feels isolated or unsupported during the postpartum journey.

A 1998 graduate with a degree in behavioral science, Brooker credits her time at MSU Denver with deepening her understanding of human behavior and preparing her for a career focused on connection and compassion. She also returned to her alma mater as an affiliate faculty member, teaching future educators in the university’s reading program.

What began as a grassroots support group in 2017 has grown into a statewide organization serving thousands of families. Through its flagship initiative, Strong Mamas, Thriving Babies, YANA M2M partners with hospitals to provide new parents with a full year of wraparound support, including peer connections, educational resources, community events, and mental health programming.

Throughout the conversation, Brooker emphasizes the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding maternal mental health and creating spaces where parents feel safe asking for help. “If you support the people who create the people, all the people win,” she says. “Nobody loses if you support moms.”

The episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, community, and the profound impact of meeting people where they are. Brooker’s story reflects the Roadrunner spirit of turning compassion into action and creating lasting change for others.

The episode is now available on all major podcast platforms and here.

BirdTalk is MSU Denver’s official alumni podcast, sharing stories of Roadrunners advancing in business, aviation, entrepreneurship, and public service. To listen to this episode or explore more alumni success stories, visit https://www.msudenver.edu/alumni/birdtalk/