Why does success sometimes feel like losing everything?

In this episode of Is There More?, Megan A. Tully sits down with spiritual guide, life coach, and singer-songwriter Pearl Botts to talk about the emotional side of growth that no one posts about.

We unpack:

- Why growth often feels like grief

- The hidden emotional cost of building a big life

- Content creation as a spiritual discipline

- Heartbreak, identity shifts, and becoming a cycle breaker

- Why “God’s timing” can be healing — or avoidance

- The loneliness that comes with ambition

- And why the timeline hurts before it works

If you’re a creator, entrepreneur, or ambitious person navigating grief, burnout, heartbreak, or personal transformation — this conversation will hit.

Because the truth is: Becoming who you’re meant to be requires losing versions of yourself first. And no one really warns you about that part.

This episode is about emotional growth, mental health, faith, content creation, and the real cost of success — the part influencers don’t show.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations about healing, personal development, relationships, and the deeper side of ambition.

Is there more?

Always.

What does success in Hollywood actually cost—physically, mentally, and relationally?

Super Bowl commercial director + cinematographer AJ Mester breaks down the hard truths no one tells you: burnout, pressure, leadership, collaboration, and the wake-up calls that forced him to redefine “winning.”

In this episode of Is There More?, AJ and I reunite years after our experimental short film Footsie (still my most-viewed YouTube video 👀) to talk about what happens after you “make it”—and how to build a real career without losing yourself along the way.

In this episode, you’ll learn:- Why commercial sets are a “boot camp” for directors + DPs

- The internal battle of being both director and cinematographer

- How leadership builds empathy (even when you don’t want to lead)

- What burnout looks like when you’re “crushing it”

- How health wake-up calls can reset your entire definition of success

- Why relationships matter more than ambition in the long run

If you’re a filmmaker, actor, creator, or artist trying to survive this industry with your soul intact—this one’s for you.

Connect + Submit Your Story📩

Want to be a guest on Is There More?

Email: [email protected]

📲 Instagram: @istheremoreworld

About Is There More?

Is There More? is the podcast where creators share how their darkest moments became the breakthroughs that changed everything—because you’re not alone, and your story is evolving.

What if your diagnosis wasn’t the end of your story— but the beginning of your direction?

In this episode of Is There More?, I sit down with Xannie, creator of  @thebpdbunch  to talk about what recovery from borderline personality disorder (BPD) actually looks like when it’s built on skills, honesty, and structure— not just awareness.

Xannie shares her lived experience of being hospitalized in a psych ward, navigating a BPD diagnosis, studying psychology, and ultimately creating one of the most trusted mental health communities online.

Together, we explore why “talking about your feelings” isn’t always enough, how DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) changed her relationships, and why identifying too strongly with a diagnosis can sometimes keep people stuck.

This conversation goes deep into:

- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and recovery

- DBT skills that actually work in real life

- The “favorite person” dynamic and attachment patterns

- Why avoidance makes anxiety worse

- How Gen Z mental health struggles are often a skills gap — not a character flaw

- Turning lived experience into leadership and purpose

This isn’t a feel-good mental health story. It’s an honest conversation about growth, accountability, and what it really takes to heal.

If you’ve ever wondered “Is there more than my diagnosis?” this episode is for you.

#istheremorepodcast #meganatully #megantully #istheremore #istheremoreworld #bpdbunch

🍽️ Lunch & Learn: Gut Health + Mental Health (Serotonin, Anxiety, Intermittent Fasting) | Jody L. Teiche + Megan A TullyIf you’ve been feeling anxious, low energy, depressed, or like your mood is “off”… this episode might change how you understand mental health.In today’s Lunch & Learn, I sit down in Los Angeles at Toastique on Sunset Blvd with board-certified health & wellness coach Jody L. Teiche to talk about the connection between:✅ gut health and mental health✅ serotonin + the microbiome✅ foods that support your brain✅ intermittent fasting + autophagy✅ how to build self-accountability without shameOne of the biggest takeaways:80–90% of serotonin (your happy hormone) is made in your gut.So if your gut is struggling… your mind might be too.

🧠 What You’ll Learn In This EpisodeIf you’re trying to improve your mental health naturally, this video covers:- how gut health affects anxiety and depression- why serotonin and mood regulation start in the microbiome- foods that support brain health and emotional stability- intermittent fasting benefits: energy, inflammation, recoveryhow to improve self-discipline and consistency (without shame)✅ Topics / Keywords (for search)gut health mental health, serotonin in the gut, anxiety and gut health, depression and gut microbiome, foods for anxiety, foods for depression, intermittent fasting benefits, autophagy explained, healthy eating for brain health, nutrition for mental health, how to be consistent, self accountability, wellness coaching session, LA healthy restaurants, avocado toast nutrition📌 About Is There More?Is There More? is the podcast where creators share how their darkest moments became the breakthroughs that changed everything. We’re building a space for raw stories, deep connection, and real hope for everyone who’s still writing their story.

In this episode of Is There More? (The Mentor Series), I sit down with Patrick McGowan—an Irish immigrant who came to the U.S. at 16, worked his way through college + the Carpenters Union, and built a construction company that became one of the go-to builders in New York City (including the largest synagogue ever built in the U.S.).

But this isn’t just a business story.

It’s a masterclass in workmanship, leadership, legacy, and giving back—including how Pat turned personal loss into a mission to provide free mental health counseling through Solace House, and why mentorship + relationship skills might be the missing link for this generation.

If you’re a creator, founder, business leader, or young adult trying to build a life you’re proud of, this conversation will hit.

Get involved / Next steps

If you’re a business leader who wants to mentor, or a creator looking for guidance + community, reach out:

📩 [[email protected]]

📲 Instagram: [@istheremoreworld] / [@meganatully]🔔

Subscribe for more from The Mentor Series episodes.

#istheremorepodcast #meganatully #megantully #istheremore #Mentorship #MentalHealth #BusinessLeadership #ImmigrantStory #Construction #FounderJourney #SuicidePrevention #ScreenAddiction #IsThereMorePodcast

Healthy Isn’t Always Healthy — When Is the Breaking Point? | Anne Winters

Emmy winning Actress Anne Winters joins Megan A Tully for an honest conversation about the moment your body tries to tell you something you’re not ready to hear.

Anne opens up about the pressure to stay small in Hollywood, the signals she ignored, and how her followers pushed her to finally get help.

This episode explores the hidden cost of “looking fine,” the culture of praise around thinness, and why so many people don’t recognize the breaking point until they’re already past it. Megan also shares her own experience with a health crisis nine years ago — a moment that felt eerily similar to Anne’s story.If you’ve ever struggled with body image, burnout, or pretending you’re okay when you’re not, this conversation will make you feel less alone.

Sign up for our free online Dialog Life Skills course with Anne Winters beginning January 2026: https://istheremoreworld.com/dialog-lifeskills/

Most mental health support doesn’t show up until you’re in crisis—when relationships are already broken, careers are derailed, and people feel completely alone. In this conversation, we expose why mental health has been treated as emergency-only care and what happens when prevention is ignored.From learning relationship skills early, to building community instead of isolating, to reimagining mental health as a daily practice—not a last-resort intervention—this episode challenges the way we’ve been taught to think about healing.We talk about “pre-hab” vs. rehab, why hitting rock bottom shouldn’t be a requirement for support, and how healthier relationships can change everything—personally, professionally, and culturally.If you’ve ever wondered why help always seems to come too late… this conversation is for you.If this conversation resonates, we would love to have you at Anne Winters' 2026 Dialog Life Skills cohort beginning January 5th.

Sign Up Link Here: https://istheremoreworld.com/dialog-lifeskills/

In this episode of Is There More? with Megan A Tully, country artist Laura Bryna opens up about the life experiences that shaped her — from family loss and trauma to her viral anthem “Rise.”

Together we explore:

• How country music became Laura’s healing language

• The story behind “Rise” — and how every fan video donates $1 to NAMI

• What resilience really looks like behind the glitter and big hair

• How to listen before reacting — and why that skill changed her life

• Why giving back has become her guiding purpose💡 Takeaway: Sometimes the only way to rise is to put your best boots on and keep going — one step, one song, one act of kindness at a time.

🔗 Connect:

• LauraBryna.com

• Instagram @laurabryna

• Stream “Rise” on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6eVjwGryJcbjHvqa1hvWvY?si=7d7b25c9806a488a

• Learn more about NAMI: nami.org

On this week’s episode of Is There More?, I sit down with Anne Winters (Emmy Award–winning actress from 13 Reasons Why and The Orville) for her most candid interview yet.

Anne opens up about:

• The pressure of fame, identity, and surviving Hollywood
• Her battle with an eating disorder and addiction — and why going to rehab was the best decision of her life
• How recovery gave her more empathy, wisdom, and a renewed sense of purpose

Today, Anne is not only thriving — she’s using her platform to inspire youth and push for change in the entertainment industry. She just joined us in supporting Hollywood & Mind, the industry’s mental health coalition for innovation.

From childhood alienation to a 12-year people-pleasing spiral and rock-bottom professor burnout, talent agent + performance psychologist Albert Bramante, Ph.D Clinical Psychology, breaks down how micro-traumas, codependency, and zero boundaries nearly cost him everything—and the mindset tools that rebuilt his life fast (NLP, hypnosis, radical boundaries, interdependence, codependence).

If you’ve ever needed people to like you so you didn’t have to feel the pain of being left—this one’s for you.