My Biggest Mistake After Leaving TV News

Everyone talks about the leap. Nobody talks about the landing.

In this solo episode, I share the story of the literal and mental weight I've carried since my career pivot - leaving 20 years in TV news for a life where I'M the office, I'M the company. Hours chasing news turned into hours parked at a computer. It's not that I'm not active - I just have no reason to leave my apartment daily. The scale became my checkpoint, and the irony isn't lost on me: I left one job for its unhealthy hours, only to land in a new one with health concerns I never saw coming.

I bring in my current online fitness instructor and friend, Luisa Curia - plus a clip from her episode, so you can hear why I show up for her every day.

Then we go inward: the mental weight of reinvention, and the healing sounds - a sound bath guided by energy healer Mariana Gordon - that helps me manage it. Get comfortable. Let the sound heal.

Luisa's strength BEYOND the classes: Click here.

Mariana's healing workshop: Click here.

Lean into the turbulence.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Consider me your co-pilot for reinvention. Welcome aboard, friends. I'm Reagan Medgie, a multi-Emy Award-winning journalist who left my TV news career in 2025 to bet on myself. And it turns out I'm not the only one. Unscripted turbulence is for anyone who feels their life has been split into a before and an after. Take what lands, leave what doesn't, and please like, follow, and or subscribe. It helps more than you know. Wheels up, let's get into it. Um a little nervous for this podcast episode, but let's get to it. Welcome to Unscripted Turbulence. I'm your host, Reagan Medgie. Why am I nervous? Because Pilot just told me he landed. That was about an hour ago, which means that he will likely be walking into this apartment while I am recording. And he claims that he doesn't listen, but I know he does. And I know he's gonna open up that door to my bedroom. Oh, I think I heard a noise. Oh, someone has landed. And he is going to interrupt me. It's fine. He's not gonna come on the pod. But this might be, ladies and gentlemen, our first chance to at least get the energy of pilot. Because I'm not cutting anything. Oh, I hear something. Oh, here. Oh, I think he knows I'm recording and he's gonna stay away. We'll see how long that lasts until someone gets hungry. And for that, maybe I should just stay on this pod for the next three hours and see what we get, huh? I dare not do that. For your sake, mine, and pilots. All right. So today's theme: we are carrying weight physically and mentally. Yes, I have mentioned how I feel like Paddington Bear. Even sitting down right now, I feel the rolls of fat on the stomach. And I know you know what I mean. I feel so it's my fault. So I'm gonna start with a quote, and we're gonna end with the same quote, and I'll explain where this quote came from and all that jazz, because this pod is gonna be about releasing all of that weight in a way. I'm not taking a laxative, but you know what I'm saying? I'm not taking you on that journey either. Which, by the way, I little pivot here. I am 45 years old, which means I need a colonoscopy. Yes, my friends, it is about that time for the colorectal screenings. Is that what it is? So Pilot told me this because he has been proactive as well. And um you can either do the is it color guard, where you you poop and then you put it in a box and you ship it away, or you can do the actual colonoscopy. I'm an OG, I want the real thing. So I told him this, and he cannot fathom doing that. So now you know what he does, and I have to schedule it. So yes. If I was still on TV, would I take you with me? Sure, just like Katie Kirk did. Absolutely. I don't care. You can see. I wouldn't say is it my anal cavity, but whatever. All right, this is turning to this is making a left-hand turn. Let's go back on the road here. So the quote we're starting with this is all about physical and mental health, okay, people. So this episode. This quote comes from my girl Louisa Curia. Now, if you follow me in the socials, I work out every morning to Louisa. It's Stronger with Louisa. It's an online platform. She's based in O Canada. And every time she does a workout at the end, she has some intention that she says. And there's one this one intention. I've saved a couple of them, but I'm gonna read it to you. It says, That setback was your teacher. It taught you to get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. It didn't destroy you, it empowered you to come back, to be fabulous, be wiser, and live life on your terms because the setback was your teacher. That's right, my friends. A quote like that is what Luisa will read after every workout as to why I am addicted to her workouts. They're not easy. She does the live workout, which is what I do. So if you want to join in on the fun, you can see me. I don't look fabulous, I'll tell you that much. Do I care? No, I'm not there to look good. I'm there to work out, and then later on have a hard time sitting down in the toilet. This is just a what? Oh, whatever. Well, if we were on the phone, this is how I would speak. So there you go. Yeah. So I'm feeling a little puffy these days. And I started thinking, why is that? Right? And then it dawned on me. News. That's I know. So old, such an old story, tale as told old as time right now. But I realize I don't move around as much. Because going from news where you're running around everywhere, okay, to now I'm a pod. I'm hearing, I'm hearing noises, by the way. Anyway, so now I'm a podcast host, producer, marketing department, publicist, editor, uh everything, called a, I guess I'm considered a solopreneur. I am sitting on my ass a lot, a lot. And specifically this past winter, I think it was more of a celebration for me. And I think my fat celebrated as well. And it was like, yeah, girl, let's let's call our friends. Let's all get together and we're gonna have a big fat celebration. And it's fine because I was actually able to enjoy being cozy and not have to be standing out in the middle of God knows what kind of weather, waiting for a live shot that may or may not happen about a pile of snow that may or may not still be there. You know what I mean? Although I did enjoy those weather reports, they were awesome. So if there is a cataclysmic weather event, I may just grab a microphone and head out and just do live shots, just for the sake of doing them, because they were great. So, yes, I sat around a lot. So now I went, I stepped on the I started feeling funny. Like even sitting down, I feel it. So I went and I and I stood on the scale. Now we're now we're in the middle of July. So this is like bikini season. I sat on, I stood on the scale and I'm looking at it and I go, this is not good. Not a lot, but but it does the percentage of fat. Oh, forget that. I literally I am 10% more fat and 10% less muscle this now versus last time, last year at this time. So, remedy, what are we gonna do? Right. So I wake up every day with my girl Louisa, and I'm lifting heavier. But this is all on me because the weightlifting, the running, the walking, that's only part of it. The bodies are made in the kitchen, people. The kitchen and I have been having a wild love affair for the past couple of months, and we gotta hone that in. Okay? No more love affairs. You have to be more committed. I love this analogy. So I now have to, and I'm going to do this because now I'm allowing all of you to be my accountability partner because that's the success in any kind of task that you jump into, right? So now you guys can call me out. You don't see what I do every day, but still. So now I feel like I am being held accountable. I have decided I'm gonna make protein oats, something I did every morning, every single morning. Well, no, that was at night, and then I would have them every morning when I was in the news, in the field. And they were great, and they were a great way to start your day. So I'm gonna start that. I would do that Monday through Friday, and then the weekends, I would just, I would just have my wild love affair, and that's what we're gonna do again. Because I am tired of feeling like this, and this is my confessional. Then I thought, what is the next remedy? Walking pad. I didn't realize, and again, hat tip to all of the editors out there. Oh, if there, if there is one hero in the news industry that doesn't get enough credit, it's the editor. When you go from being strictly talent to now editor and talent, oh, the editing, oh, the editing. So you sit a lot, a lot. And I'm not gonna say that was the wrong move for me. I had to do it. What am I gonna? I mean, I what am I gonna do? So now I realize we okay, maybe I get a walking pad and a standing desk, right? So I told Pilot this and I said, this is what we're gonna do. He doesn't like extra things in the apartment. Well, guess what? If we don't do that, there is gonna be an extra thing, a double me. Double chin, double butt, double everything. I know he loves me, but I don't think two times the size of Reagan is what he's looking for. You know what I'm saying? And I'm saying that loud enough so he can get on the Amazon and start looking because he's very good at the research. Much better than me. Much better. And if you also notice, he's he probab probably in his past life was an engineer. Why? Because I don't know how he quite does it, but when he dries the dishes, he stacks them in a way that is just so impressive. One can only marvel at the construction and the structures that he has created. Yep. I mean, I noticed it before, but I am noticing a lot more now that I'm kind of WFH working from home. In a way. Because not really, but so yeah, I realize I have to kind of get my act together. I mean, it is what it is. What are you gonna do? You know? And it's funny because sometimes people will be like, are you ever gonna go back to TV? What I'm about to say is yeah, so I can lose weight. I mean, you really do run around. You and here's a little inside. A little little little secret. Only some people know this. Are you ready? When I was training for the New York City Marathon, there was a really big gap in time between in your shift, about three hours, and I would find myself thinking I could probably run during this time. I may or may not have banged out a couple of six-mile runs. Some of my colleagues have seen me. Work was done. What am I gonna do? Sit there twiddling my thumbs now. I got up, got my stuff together, and I went for a run. I had to squeeze in that because I was so there were times where I was like, oh my gosh, what am I gonna do? My work is done. There's nothing more for me to do. So, yeah. So I have to, I have to really, I have to get back to it. And I also realized that when you when you change course in your career, there are other things that you didn't think were gonna happen and pop up, like, I don't know, contracts. Like every time somebody comes on my podcast, you have to sign a guest release form. It's a legal document. Yeah, I'm not messing around here. Oh yeah. And then for sponsors, there's a whole contract with that. I have to create rate cards, I have to do this, I the business cards and that, all these things. And it's hard to run and create these things. I'm hoping the walking paddle help me out, but I'm I'm pretty much I'm on a good path with the uh business plan, all that paperwork and documentation, but you have to sit and think and concentrate. I don't know how people in an office do it. So if you are an office worker and you sit a lot, yet you're active and you're able to figure it out. Can you give me some tips? Now, Pilot says I need to stop throughout the day and walk around or something, but but then I just get I get sucked in and then I'm on deadline brain, right? So I'm like, I gotta get done, I gotta get done. And then before you know it, it's eight o'clock at night, and I didn't do anything but sit and think and type and edit. It's just a lot. But I'm this is what I'm realizing. So Louisa has been allowing me to blow off some steam. I do her live classes either in the 6, well, 6.15 in the morning or 6.30 in the morning. Summer hours have changed by 15 minutes. You get the idea. Um, but I figure that's good. I like to have a structure in the morning. Working out gets me clear-headed, gets me going. And then if I'm upset about something like we have seen on my social media, maybe a comment, a constructive critical comment, I'll blow that off during a heavy lift. So, all that to say, I did interview Louisa. This, I mean, she was my second interview of the year in 2026. And I thought that that was a profound time because everybody has these New Year's resolutions, and by like week two or three, people start falling off and dropping off. And I thought, you know, why don't I revisit this podcast again? Started listening to it, and I pulled a clip, and this kind of encompasses Louisa. So take a listen.

SPEAKER_02 15:13

You don't have to just show up because you're having a shit day. Show up on the sunshine and rainbows, but show up on the clouds and the storms too, right? So when we're there, show up at all seasons, show up unmotivated, show up motivated, show up with energy, show up with honor, just show up consistently because there's gonna be something that I could potentially say that will hit here and hit here and make you work a little harder.

SPEAKER_03 15:35

So, yes, I have showed up for all seasons. My svelt season, my fat season, my agitated season, my happy season, my tired season, my flustered season, and my me season. So if you're thinking about moving around a little bit, I'll have her link in this podcast description. Check her out. She has like a deal for like a one-month she I I really like her because I mean, how could you not after you heard that? But she she's inspirational and she and she'll talk about the shit of life that she's gone through. And if and if you really want to know like the background of her, check her podcast episode out. I'll see if I can connect the link in the description. I don't know if I can do that, but it's on my it's on my YouTube channel and my Apple and Spotify. It's she is she's a force, but she's been through it. She has been through it, and full respect. How could you not want to follow someone who has been through the crap of life and still shows up for herself? I mean, I'm on board. Now I have a real fun exercise. So I said I said earlier I'm carrying weight physically and mentally. Mentally, I'm gonna call myself out again. I have not yet signed up for therapy. Why? Because I am trying to update and edit my contracts that I have for this podcast. Yes. Did I put work ahead of mental clarity? Sure. We are human, but I want these things done because it only and it's probably only take like 10 minutes for me to kind of like go through everything, but the the organ, the agency I use or I have used before, BetterHelp. I don't know if you've ever heard of that. This is not a promotion. Maybe one day, because I'd love to have them as a sponsor, because I believe in them. So they connect you. It's really cool. So like when you go to betterhelp.com, they give you like this intake form and you explain like what you're looking for, whether it's like career advice, family, relationship, yada yada. And then they will connect you with someone, and if you like that person, you get a trial with them. If you realize through the trial you don't like them, you can switch. It's really, it's really nice. So I was connected to somebody. The issue, though. I wanted to go back to them, but you know, laws change, and something happened where she is located in Ohio, and I really like her a lot. And uh New York State changed some law. So she can't go over the border, even if it's virtual.

unknown 18:34

I was like, what?

SPEAKER_03 18:37

Uh and this is not uncommon because I just spoke with a friend a couple weeks ago who's going through a really hard time uh with his with his uh his father's very sick. And he was on the phone with his therapist. He just so happened to be in a different state at the time. And she like at first like couldn't talk to him. And then some agreement was made where she could then talk to him. I don't know, I don't know all the details, but like kidding me. Like if somebody needs help, I don't get it. That might be a pod for a different day. I don't know, but but better help is is great. So that that's one avenue, and there's other options. So I didn't haven't done that yet, but I know I need some like mental clarity, you know, just with the transition of a career and your identity and all of that jazz, as I do some jazz hands if you're watching. Um but I also find meditating, meditating is very nice. In fact, I've gone back to the old podcast episodes, and I'm talking, I went way back. And for a lot of you, you might not even know I existed in August of 2025, but I did. That's when I started um almost a year ago. Crazy. And I interviewed this woman, Marianna Gordon. She and I were getting our hair done at my salon. And we started talking, and she is just wow, we had the same energy. And she is a, I wanna, I wrote this down so I don't mess it up. She is a certified energy healer, she is a Reiki master, a holistic wellness practitioner, and a children's author. So as we are talking, she comes on the pod, we start interviewing, and I had her bring her sound bowls. You're like, sound bowls. Okay. So for the next couple of minutes, we're gonna do some real fun exercise. I'm so excited about this because it's been a while since I've listened to it and it so works. Okay. Little backstory. I have gone to a thing called sound baths. Now, if you're not familiar with it, it happens to go hand in hand with sound healing. Sound healing, uh basically, when you go into these sound baths, there are gongs and there's there might be chimes, and there's these like, they look like crystal bowls, and and there's a I guess a sound healer who will almost play music. It's not it's like tones and sounds from them, and there's vibrations. So when you come into the room, it's dimly lit. Think of like a yoga studio, and there are um pillows and there are blankets, and you're asked to quietly find your space, get comfortable, find a nice sitting position, or lay down. I lay down, a lot of people do, and just relax, right? So that's how you start. And the Energy healer will probably say uh an intention, greet you, candles are lit, incense. I mean, it is absolutely fabulous. And there might be cold compresses with lavender, and they you put them on their face. It's just exquisite. So Marianna does this. And the purpose of this is that the sounds that come from the gongs and the bowls and the chimes vibrate in a way that it kind of releases tension in your body. Scientific studies have shown that it does lower your heart rate, it lowers your tension, your anxiety, your stress, all of that. And I will tell you, as someone who's done it more than I want to say, probably three, four, or five times, it works. You get emotional sometimes, things start lining up and clicking in your mind. It's just like this out-of-body experience. You feel like you're floating, you get done with it, the air smells fresher. It's a wild sensory experience. I recommend it so much that we're gonna do it. Oh, yeah. Okay. So now if you're driving, I mean, you can't do all, you can listen. I don't suggest you close your eyes, but you could also bookmark this part of the podcast to come back to and maybe end your evening with. But I want you to figure out a really quiet area. Find one, figure out how you're going to design it and create it. Once you get there, you need to just lay down and just in a dark, probably dark lit room, you can light some candles and just be at peace. Just get comfortable. Because for the next four minutes, we are gonna experience our own soundbath with Mariana Gordon. Are you ready? Are you all nestled in? Again, if you're driving, turn up the volume. Relax. Don't close your eyes. If you are in a position where you can sit down and relax, find that comfy spot. Even if you're driving, maybe go to the right-hand lane. Okay, I'm giving you all time to get to your place. If you want to just listen to this podcast episode in one sitting, it's really nice. Just a comfy, plushy area, or maybe go outside because it's nice. And you want to just sit under a tree away from all the chaos and the calamity in your world. Okay. Are you there? Are you all nestled in? Are you ready? We're gonna experience a sound bath with a professional sound healer, Marianna Gordon. Are you ready? Let's begin.

SPEAKER_00 25:18

First, what I want everyone to do, if you are listening, is to close your eyes, take a deep breath in through your nose, and out through your mouth. I want your shoulders to be relaxed, your face to be relaxed. Try not to think of anything. Soften your whole entire body, uncross your legs if you can. And again, take a slow deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth with a sigh. One more time. Inhale and hold it and exhale. Let your body rise. Your chest open. I want you to inhale love. Inhale peace.

SPEAKER_01 26:53

Inhale hope.

SPEAKER_00 26:58

Hold it. Let it settle inside of you. And exhale. And as you exhale, I want you to exhale any tension that you may be having within your body. Anything that no longer serves you. I want you to exhale it and let it all go. Exhale fear. Exhale doubt. Exhale tension. Let it all fall away. Place your hands on your heart. Feel it beating. Feel your heart beat. It's been with you through absolutely everything. Feel the love. Feel the compassion. Just imagine a beautiful white, golden light growing inside this beautiful heart of yours. Inhale all that love in. Hold it. Exhale.

SPEAKER_03 29:20

Open your eyes. Doesn't that feel fantastic? We are going to end with a quote that we began this podcast with. So know that you've unlocked everything. The air smells fresher. The calmness surrounding you. And now the quote. That setback was your teacher. It taught you to get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. It didn't destroy you. It empowered you to come back, to be fabulous, be wiser, and live life on your terms. Because the setback was your teacher. And remember, keep moving forward.