The Real Deal Conversations

Melanie Blair, the Assistant Executive Director of Lost & Found Grief Center, opens up about the loss of her 9-month-old son, Charlie, and the long, complicated journey of learning how to breathe again after your world falls apart. She shares with Megan the guilt she carried, the way grief reshaped her marriage and family, and how Lost & Found became a lifeline when she felt completely unsteady. It’s an honest look at what healing really feels like and why no one should move through grief without support.

If you are needing some help working through grief this holiday season, visit https://lostandfoundozarks.com/

Thanks to our sponsor, Ma's Place and Ozark Veterinary Clinic!

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Dr. Sue Head is back for part two, and this conversation goes even deeper. Megan and Sue talk honestly about the tension women feel between confidence and insecurity, leadership and family, capacity and calling. Sue shares more of her personal stories, the moments that shaped how she leads today, and the lessons she wishes more women knew earlier in their careers and in motherhood.If you’re tired, stretched thin, or trying to figure out how to lead well without losing yourself, take a listen.

Thanks to our sponsor, Ma's Place and Ozark Veterinary Clinic!

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Being a mom is hard. Being a working mom? That’s a whole different level of juggling. In this episode of The Real Deal Conversations, host Megan Deal sits down with Whitney Guison and new guest Grace Gooley to talk about the real, unfiltered side of balancing careers, kids, and everything in between.

With kids ranging from toddlers to teens (and a new baby on the way), these three women dive into the guilt, chaos, and laughter that come with being moms who work and the grace that keeps them going. They tackle stats about working motherhood, talk honestly about exhaustion, and share how they’re learning to trade perfection for presence. If you’ve ever reheated your coffee three times before finishing it, this one’s for you.

Thanks to our sponsor, Ma's Place and Ozark Veterinary Clinic!

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Dr. Sue Head, VP for Cultural Activities & Institutional Advancement and Dean of Character Education at College of the Ozarks, joins The Real Deal Conversations with host Megan Deal for a candid talk on what it really means to lead as a woman. 

In this first part of their conversation, Sue and Megan dive into the realities of imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and the pressure women feel to say yes to everything. With humor and honesty (including a few hilarious stories involving Newt Gingrich and a college gate mishap), Sue shares wisdom about authenticity, confidence, and learning to let go of unrealistic expectations. Together, they remind us that leadership starts with self-awareness, that it’s okay to not have it all together, and that the most important table you’ll ever lead from is the one at home.

Thanks to our sponsor, Ma's Place and Ozark Veterinary Clinic!

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Talking about hospice isn’t easy, but it’s something we all need to understand. In this powerful episode of The Real Deal Conversations, host Megan Deal sits down with Matt Day, Assistant Director of the Hospice Foundation for Outreach, and Dr. Kristen Killen, family physician and board member for the Hospice Foundation, to shed light on what hospice really is (and what it isn’t). 

They open up about how hospice care isn’t about giving up, it’s about comfort, dignity, and living well in the time you have. Together, they tackle misconceptions, explain the difference between hospice and palliative care, and share real stories of hope, healing, and even patients who “graduate” from hospice. You’ll also hear about the upcoming documentary Soft Surrender and tools like “Bucket List Plus One” that help families have meaningful end-of-life conversations before it’s too late. It’s not a conversation about dying... It’s a conversation about living well, right to the very end.

Thanks to our sponsor, Ma's Place and Ozark Veterinary Clinic!

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Leadership isn’t always about titles, sometimes it’s about navigating the messy middle between friendship, authority, and respect. In this episode of The Real Deal Conversations, host Megan Deal and returning guest Whitney Guison tackle what it really looks like to lead well when things get uncomfortable. They dig into everything from feeling left out and leading people who don’t respect you, to setting boundaries with friends at work and protecting your time without guilt. With Megan’s empathy and Whitney’s straight-shooting wisdom, this episode brings both heart and honesty to the challenges every leader faces. You’ll laugh, nod, and walk away with real tools for leading with confidence and compassion.

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Coach John Perry has faced setbacks that would have stopped many people. Everything from quitting college, to getting fired, to walking through his daughter’s health crisis, each challenge shaped him into the coach and leader he is today. In this conversation with Megan Deal on The Real Deal Conversations, Perry shares the lessons he’s learned about resilience, forgiveness, and faith. He opens up about the moment his father’s tough love kept him from giving up, how being let go from Pearl High School actually launched the best chapter of his career, and the perspective shift that came when his daughter faced daily seizures.

Now the head football coach at Nixa High School and host of the Never Stop Getting Better podcast, Perry talks about leading with purpose, handling criticism, and focusing on character over wins. It’s a conversation packed with hard-earned wisdom that will leave you inspired to face challenges with courage and grace.

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Networking nerves, impostor syndrome, and that awkward thing called success guilt... we’ve all been there. Megan Deal and new monthly co-host Whitney Guison get real (and laugh a lot) about walking into rooms full of strangers, wrestling with self-doubt, and figuring out how to celebrate wins without shrinking back.

They swap personal stories, call out the lies we tell ourselves, and remind us that growth is messy but so worth it. It’s a conversation that feels like hanging out with two friends who will leave you both encouraged and ready to tackle your own challenges with more confidence.

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Lyle and Alesia know what it’s like to rebuild life after addiction. In part two of their conversation with Megan Deal on The Real Deal Conversations, they open up about the hard lessons they’ve learned like setting firm boundaries with family, staying consistent in parenting kids who’ve lived through trauma, and leaning on faith when old patterns try to creep back in. Their honesty about marriage, relapse prevention, and learning to “die to the flesh” offers practical hope for anyone walking the long road of recovery.

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This week, Megan Deal sits down with Lyle and Alesia to share a story that’s as real as it gets... one of addiction, heartbreak, second chances, and the kind of hope that changes everything. They talk honestly about losing their kids, hitting rock bottom, and stepping into a faith-based program that gave them the tools (and the grace) to rebuild their family. You’ll hear about the hard lessons, the little victories that meant everything, and how faith and community carried them through. Their journey proves that no matter how broken life feels, redemption is possible.

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