Nina Westbrook is juggling so many things at once, but her demeanor gives none of that away. It’s early fall in New York City, and she’s breezily taking notice of how many people are still wearing short sleeves. For a Monday morning on a cross-country work trip, she’s impressively even and kind—but that’s not a miracle or by happenstance.

As a mother, wife to NBA superstar Russell Westbrook, licensed marriage and family therapist, podcast host, and entrepreneur, Westbrook practices wellness by refusing to do it all on her own. “I'm not someone who's afraid to ask for things that I need,” she admits. “Whether it's childcare or whatever the case, so that I can get away and take care of myself, reset, just have some alone time.”

Westbrook’s expertise as a clinician has permeated an empire of thoughtful service. Her “Do Tell Relationship Podcast" has a card game counterpart to jumpstart intimate conversations. There’s also Bene by Nina, a wellness community for women where she also shares five-minute “Mindful Moment” segments. The latest of her offerings is Nebbi, a mental wellness app designed to act as a daily digital “companion.” Born out of political strife in America, Westbrook felt a strong urge to help an even wider range of people. But she wasn’t going to do that on her own either.

A serendipitous encounter led Nebbi’s cofounder, investor, and tech entrepreneur, Sharndré Kushor, to witness the power of Westbrook’s work firsthand. While staying at a hotel in Los Angeles nearly two years ago, Kushor overheard a group of people playing the “Do Tell” card game. “I was watching them play and I was overhearing their conversation. And actually, it was amazing. These people were sitting there and they were so moved by the interactions that they were having. And so I thought, ‘This is really cool.’” The two shared a mutual friend at the time, and Kushor attended a brunch for Westbrook’s Why Not Foundation the very next day. The rest is history.

“Sharndré was in a place where she was looking to build and create technology in a way that was impactful,” Westbrook recalls of Kushor, whose Crimson Education consulting company has sent over 1000 students to Ivy League schools. “And I was in a space where I had my Bene by Nina platform online where I was trying to connect with as many people as possible.”

Westbrook and Kushor’s brainchild reflects a mental health ethos grounded in accessibility and simplicity. Nebbi’s name, short for nebula, is inspired by the fogginess of gaseous space clouds. Designed to help clear the fog of everyday life, the app is based on CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and features a “Check-in” function that enables users to identify their most prevalent current emotions. Then, the app suggests three tasks to complete according to the emotions users share. “I really had to learn and grow to understand that being mentally well means being flexible,” confesses Westbrook, a strong-willed Capricorn. “And it means that I'm able to adapt to the situation that's in front of me and use healthy coping strategies to maneuver around and navigate.”

Simplicity and adaptability require capacity, however, and Nebbi functions as a conduit to stability. “I think that in order for you to be both resilient and adaptable, you need to be able to have the mental space and clarity to be able to make really good choices for yourself.” Kushor adds. “And often what happens now is that we have so much stimulation that it's really hard for people to prioritize doing that intuitively.”

As the fourth quarter of the year approaches, fall and winter bring their own unique wellness challenges, making it an opportune time to release a mental health app. Most immediately, drops in temperature and decreased sunlight leave many with lower energy levels. As year-end deadlines and holiday invites loom, Westbrook’s clinical advice is simple: make necessary shifts to your daily routines. “Schedules are not only for children, I always say that,” she notes. “And I think focusing on the small things that you can control, like getting enough rest, staying hydrated—really tiny things that we don't think matter so much—they matter drastically because then you're able to get up and start your day earlier and enjoy a little bit more sunlight.” 

Nebbi’s focus on personalization and specificity lends itself to combating common physiological responses to this time of year: the “winter blues” and seasonal affective disorder. With more people experiencing sadness or depression, the app offers a space to name feelings and receive coping strategies. “The small tasks that are suggested to you through the Nebbi app might have a really significant impact on how you're feeling in that specific moment,” Kushor says. “So maybe you log an emotion that feels negative to you and the tasks that it suggests are things that, intuitively, would be good for you, but on a busy day you might forget.” This component of the app can also support users through the difficulty of holiday grief.

“A lot of times when people have lost loved ones, the toughest time is the holiday season because it's a reminder,” Westbrook says. “In a time where community becomes the focal point, a piece of your community is no longer there.” In polls as recent as 2021, 40% of Americans reported having less interest in the holiday season due to grief. True to form, the “Do Tell Relationship Podcast” host advises against carrying the weight alone. “Even in those moments where you are really struggling to find that energy to want to be outside or want to be around other people, it's so important not to isolate.” However, even spending time with family can reveal uncomfortable dynamics that rear their head at holiday gatherings.

“There's always a moment and a time for you to be able to say, ‘I just need a second.’ In that second, Nebbi is right there with you,” Kushor says. “I think having something in your pocket that you can work with and will help guide you through those feelings of really heightened emotions is so comforting.” 

Though the year’s fourth quarter presents a host of wellness hurdles, it is also a time to take stock and reflect. For Westbrook and Kushor, 2025 is culminating in the fruits of their labor with Nebbi. “I have been so focused on building this app that I've been a little negligent at times to my friendships, my kids, my husband, and my relationships. Westbrook admits. “Life kept life’ing and everything was getting done somehow. My kids are thriving, and they're doing amazing. My husband is doing amazing, and they've supported me and they've been my biggest cheerleaders in all of it.” Similarly, Kushor has gained a new perspective on balance. “Having a great year is not just about setting these giant goals for the next 12 months,” she notes. “It’s more so about living each day, making each day feel really good and being really intentional with your time and the time that you give yourself too.”