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What happens after you’re fired from your dream job?

Former Nashville morning news anchor Nikki Burdine joins me for a raw, honest conversation about losing her TV career — and why she now believes it was part of a bigger plan.

Two weeks after I left WABC, Nikki’s Instagram post announcing her departure crossed my feed in what felt like divine timing. I reached out. She responded. That one message turned into a friendship rooted in shared newsroom experiences, faith, and reinvention.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The day she was fired — and what no one prepares you for
 • The emotional spiral that follows job loss
 • Rewiring “fired” into “favored”
 • Her new social media series, Fired Girl Chronicles
• Transitioning from morning anchor to content creator
• The untold realities of TV news culture
• Living and working in television with Tourette Syndrome
• Finding faith when your identity feels shaken

If you’ve ever been laid off, pushed out, or forced into a pivot you didn’t choose — this conversation will resonate deeply.

Sometimes what feels like rejection is redirection.
 And sometimes getting fired is the push toward your true calling.

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Disclaimer: This episode contains some swearing — it’s a raw, emotional conversation and Michele speaks from the heart.

On social media, Michele Vidal’s life can look picture-perfect — but behind the photos is a story of resilience few people know.

I sit down with my sister-in-law — my “Seester” — for a raw conversation about heartbreak, rebuilding, and the strength that emerges when life doesn’t go as planned.

After a fairytale marriage unraveled due to infidelity, Michele faced the reality of starting over as a single mother. Just as she found love again, another unimaginable challenge arrived: her young child’s cancer diagnosis. Along the way, she also endured the loss of her beloved dog — a steady source of comfort through life’s toughest seasons.

Through every setback, Michele discovered a resilience she never knew she had.

This is a powerful conversation about emotional survival, motherhood, healing, and what it truly means to begin again.

This episode is sponsored by DUDE WOW Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients! As an affiliate partner, grab yours:  https://dudewowcocktails.com/discount/Turbulence26
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New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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In this intimate solo episode, it’s just you and me.

I’m checking in from my cozy podcast nook to talk about change, courage, and the clarity that often arrives in life’s most uncertain seasons. Since stepping away from local news, I’ve experienced both empowering highs and very human down days — but I’ve come to see them as signs pointing me exactly where I’m meant to go.

When a friend referred to this chapter as a “midlife crisis,” it sparked a realization: this isn’t crisis — it’s midlife clarity. It’s the ability to finally see our lives for what they are, and to bravely walk away from what no longer fits.

In this episode, we explore the emotional complexity of leaving something you love, recognizing the signs that guide us forward, and trusting ourselves through transition.

I also share what’s ahead for Unscripted Turbulence and invite you to join my newsletter, Unscripted Dispatch, for deeper connection and behind-the-scenes updates.

Thank you for being part of this journey — your support truly means everything.

This episode is sponsored by DUDE WOW Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients! As an affiliate partner, grab yours:  https://dudewowcocktails.com/discount/Turbulence26

New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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A martini, a DM, and an instant friendship 🍸

Entertainment journalist and author Nelson Aspen joins me for a conversation that’s equal parts laughter, nostalgia, and heart. Nelson spent two decades on air covering entertainment news and lived through the electric media scenes of New York City and Hollywood in the 80s and 90s — stories he now captures in his books, which read like a time capsule of that era.

We talk about his upbringing, coming out to his father, the evolution of storytelling, and how he continues to share history today through his work centered on the Titanic.

This episode is warm, funny, honest, and deeply human — the kind of conversation that feels like catching up with a good friend over a drink.

⚠️ Contains brief strong language used in the context of a personal story.

This episode is sponsored by DUDE WOW Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients! As an affiliate partner, grab yours:  https://dudewowcocktails.com/discount/Turbulence26
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New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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Reinvention starts with learning to advocate for yourself.

In this inspiring episode of Unscripted Turbulence, I sit down with Aundrea Cline-Thomas to explore finding your voice, trusting your talent, and shaping the life you want—no matter where you are in your journey.

Aundrea shares how growing up in the Sierra Leonean immigrant community in Maryland taught her to speak up and fight for what she deserves. We discuss why comparing yourself to others is toxic, why your talent is always on loan, and how every “no” can make room for a bigger yes.

Filled with laughter, reflection, and mutual support, this conversation is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to take your next leap. Perfect inspiration to kick off 2026.

This episode is sponsored by DUDE WOW Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients! As an affiliate partner, grab yours:  https://dudewowcocktails.com/discount/Turbulence26
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New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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This episode delivers a bold jolt of inspiration — like sipping a cup of fully caffeinated coffee.

I’m joined by Ryan Leckey, a former TV news colleague who has since stepped into his next chapter as the CEO of his own media company. Ryan shares his rise through television news, what it was like growing up and coming into his own skin on camera, and the courage it took to come out while in the industry.

We dive into hustle, grinding, and the quiet whispers that tell you when it’s time to pivot — and when it’s time to sign off. Ryan also shares one of the most powerful tools for navigating fear and uncertainty: “Play the tape forward.” What happens if you take the leap… and what happens if you don’t?

This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck — in their career, job, relationship, or a season of life that no longer fits. It’s a must-listen as we continue the mission to ignite the fire within and step boldly into what’s next.

This episode is sponsored by DUDE WOW Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients! As an affiliate partner, grab yours:  https://dudewowcocktails.com/discount/Turbulence26
Thanks for supporting the show!

New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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The second Wednesday in January is when fitness resolutions start to fade — and that’s why this episode matters.

Founder of Stronger with Luisa, Luisa Curia, shares the deeply personal reason fitness became her lifeline. After battling depression in her 20s and nearly overdosing on pills, movement became her oxygen.

In this raw conversation, Luisa opens up about how fitness helped heal her mind, carried her through a marriage falling apart, supported her through the grief of losing her father, and continues to ground her through life’s turbulence.

This episode isn’t about motivation — it’s about survival, strength, and why fitness works when you let it meet you where you are.

Experience it for yourself with this exclusive intro discount.

⚠️ Raw language and emotional content.

This episode is sponsored by DUDE WOW Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients! As an affiliate partner, grab yours:  https://dudewowcocktails.com/discount/Turbulence26
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New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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Start 2026 with clarity, courage, and a little magic.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and spiritual advisor, Sutton Crawford — the witch who helped guide me through two major career decisions that changed everything.

We talk about her path into witchcraft, intuitive guidance, and how to trust the signs that show up when you’re standing at a crossroads. And halfway through, Sutton pulls cards for the year ahead, offering an uplifting and energizing look at what 2026 wants for all of us.

If you’re ready to take a leap this year, this episode is your sign.

This episode is sponsored by DUDE WOW Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients! As an affiliate partner, grab yours:  https://dudewowcocktails.com/discount/Turbulence26
Thanks for supporting the show!

New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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Big news to kick off 2026 — I have my first podcast sponsor, DUDE WOW Cocktails! I share the story, give a massive shoutout, and celebrate this milestone with gratitude.

We catch up since Thanksgiving Eve: holiday highlights, my YouTube Partnership Program acceptance, and what life has been like in my first season out of TV. I also dive into New Year’s Eve & Day traditions and tease an empowering January lineup to help you start the year strong.

Your turn: what are you letting go of from 2025, and what are you moving toward in 2026? I want to hear from you!

Ending with a HUGE thank you to my fans — this one’s for you! 🥂

This episode is sponsored by DUDE WOW Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients! As an affiliate partner, grab yours:  https://dudewowcocktails.com/discount/Turbulence26
Thanks for supporting the show!

New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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It’s my final episode before a three-week holiday break! 🦃✨ I’m checking in about how Thanksgiving went and sharing a little plea: as you spread holiday cheer, please share this podcast with someone who might need it.

This break feels especially meaningful this year. For the first time in a long time, I get to enjoy the holidays without the grueling local TV news grind. I’m grateful for the chance to recharge while continuing to build something of my own—something that lights me up in a different way.

Thank you for every listen, every message, and every bit of support. I’ll be back Wednesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve!) with a brand-new episode.

Until then, happy holidays—and thanks for being part of this journey. ❤️

New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

Follow for life beyond the podcast: Newsletter | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook

Watch the video version: YouTube