About Us

You may know Nick Thompson from season two of Netflix’s hit reality show “Love is Blind,” but there’s a side of him you may not know: The Storyteller.

Nick believes everyone has a story to tell and should shine as their authentic self. Nick’s most passionate about building human connections to remove stigmas around mental health, holistic lifestyles, culture, free speech, and more.

As an activist, Nick volunteers for political campaigns and social justice causes in his community. His activism and reality TV experience led him to co-found the UCAN Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to supporting reality TV cast members and advocating for change in the industry.

The “Eyes Wide Open with Nick Thompson” podcast elevates these societal issues with honest, authentic conversations with expert guests. All to ensure we show up in the world with our eyes wide open.

Why I am part of the UCAN Foundation:

“I co-founded UCAN Foundation after my experience in reality TV and seeing the damage it inflicted on the lives of so many fellow cast members. Together, we will create safer and more sustainable reality TV production practices.”

I’m a clinical psychologist and an EFT-certified couples therapist (Emotionally Focused Therapy).  I’m a published author of two books- Navigating Intimacy and They’re Not Gaslighting You. I write about on-screen romances for Psychology Today in my blog Love Them or Leave Them, and I talk about the same thing on the RomCom Rescue podcast, which looks at life and love lessons from new and popular romcoms. As a founding board member of UCAN, I feel strongly that cast members deserve better treatment from the industry that benefits so greatly from their participation. The experience of being on a show is uniquely challenging, but with some key changes to the industry, it could be an experience that doesn’t involve mental health decline. I see a future where reality TV cast members have sufficient emotional support, are protected by shows instead of exploited by them, and are provided substantial aftercare.

Why I am part of the UCAN Foundation:

As a founding board member of UCAN, I feel strongly that cast members deserve better treatment from the industry that benefits so greatly from their participation. The experience of being on a show is uniquely challenging, but with some key changes to the industry, it could be an experience that doesn’t involve mental health decline. I see a future where reality TV cast members have sufficient emotional support, are protected by shows instead of exploited by them, and are provided substantial aftercare.

Robert G. Eccles is a leading authority on ESG, sustainability, and sustainable investing in both the corporate and investment communities. These have become the basis of a major politicized culture war in the United States. To address that, Eccles has been engaged in a “GOP Outreach Campaign” focused on finding common ground across the moderate part of the political spectrum. Climate change is a particular focus of this campaign. 

Currently Eccles is a Visiting Professor of Management Practice at the Said Business School, University of Oxford. He was a Professor at Harvard Business School and received tenure in 1989. 

Why I am part of the UCAN Foundation:

“Protecting human rights is an important global issue. A little known example of human rights abuse occurs in reality TV in the U.S. and other developed countries. UCAN’s goal is to put a stop to this inhuman practice.”

Morgane Enselme was born in Paris, where she studied law and journalism before heading towards writing and theater. After being the semi-finalist in the French Big Brother, she used her visibility to become a committed blogger. Award-winning blogger and youtuber with millions of views, she published a best-selling book about the toxic backstage of the reality TV industry in 2020, recounting her experience and analyzing reality TV on a global scale. After living in Los Angeles for five years, where she worked for a creative agency, she moved back to Paris to be a full-time writer.

Why I am part of the UCAN Foundation:

After being a semi-finalist on the French version of Big Brother, I saw how toxic and dehumanizing reality TV can be behind the scenes. It's vital to protect participants, who are often exposed to abusive behaviors during filming, and to educate the public about the human cost behind these shows.

Hannah Alstead is the Political Director for the Teamsters Joint Council 32, an umbrella organization that represents 12 Local Unions and Members in Minnesota, the Dakota’s, Iowa, and Wisconsin. She previously has worked for the United State’s Senate, the United State’s House of Representatives, and spent time as an appointed City Council Member in her hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. Hannah received her degree in Political Science and the Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Deviance from the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. 

Why I am part of the UCAN Foundation:

“Labor Rights are Human Rights.”