Unscripted Turbulence with Raegan Medgie

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What happens when you stop planning… and follow the road?

Christina Zelezen joins me from her renovated Airstream in the mountains of Northern California to share the story of how a spontaneous cross-country van trip with her now-husband Matt changed everything. From traveling nurse life to a rare Airstream renovation and five acres above the treetops, their journey is a reminder that sometimes the greatest adventures begin when you simply say yes.

(And if you want to see their incredible Airstream renovation, you’ll definitely want to watch this one on YouTube.)

Want to see the beautiful Airstream Christina and Matt renovated and now call home? Take a look here: Christina & the Airstream 

This episode is sponsored by Dude Wow Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients, and yes… it’s really good.
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Raegan sits down with longtime friend Leigh Abraham, who shares his journey through drug addiction, homelessness, and the bipolar diagnosis that finally helped him understand what he had been battling for years.

With honesty, humor, and perspective, Leigh reflects on the road from rock bottom to recovery.

Today, he’s married, a father of two, and says his life finally feels warm.

A conversation about addiction, mental health, friendship, faith, and finding hope after rock bottom.

This episode is sponsored by Dude Wow Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients, and yes… it’s really good.
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What started as a simple DM turned into an unexpected friendship.

Years ago, Orlena Cain reached out to warn me that someone was impersonating me on social media. That message sparked a connection that would later turn into a friendship — and a conversation that challenged the way I think about independence, resilience, and living life on your own terms.

Orlena shares her unconventional path from working in TV and radio in Canada to building financial independence in a surprising way — through OnlyFans. What started as an unexpected opportunity quickly became something much bigger.

Now in her 50s, she’s chosen a life people may question: single, child-free, and unapologetically in control of her future.

But Orlena’s story goes deeper. She’s also a survivor of childhood abuse, and her journey forward is a powerful reminder that your past doesn’t define who you become.

This conversation is honest, thought-provoking, and a reminder that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is rewrite the rules.

This episode is sponsored by Dude Wow Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients, and yes… it’s really good.
Get 10% off with code TURBULENCE26. Thanks for supporting the show.

New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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Six years ago, my best friend Angela Malpedo Yoo lost her father to multiple myeloma. We recorded this episode the day after his death anniversary.

From high school to college roommates, we’ve grown up together. I stood beside her through her battle with an eating disorder that began in childhood — and through it all, her father was her steady, grounding presence.

Then came cancer.

Lou, a firefighter with unwavering positivity, faced his diagnosis with strength and perspective that still guides Angela today.

In this episode, she shares:
 • What it was like to lose him
 • What happened in the moments after he passed
 • When the grief truly hit
 • Why she chose to become a certified grief counselor

We talk honestly about living with loss — not fixing it, not outrunning it — but allowing grief to become a companion.

There are tears. There is laughter. There is legacy.

And there is Lou Malpedo’s reminder:

“All days are good days.”

This episode is sponsored by Dude Wow Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients, and yes… it’s really good.
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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.

This episode is sponsored by Dude Wow Cocktails — bold flavor, real ingredients, and yes… it’s really good.
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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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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

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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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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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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!

Support the show

New Episodes Take Off Wednesdays!

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Watch the video version: YouTube