Becoming Okay, real-life conversations to ease your mind and help you redefine your life.
Hosted by Meg Schirnhofer, this podcast explores what it actually means to live with your mind, not against it. Through honest solo episodes and real conversations with doctors, psychiatrists, military leaders, elite athletes, high performers, entrepreneurs, and deep thinkers, Becoming Okay looks at how people build resilience, cope with anxiety and depression, find meaning beyond success, and learn to live more gently with themselves.
Here's everyones version of 'becoming okay'.
Team USA Athlete Opens Up About Betrayal, Identity Loss & Starting Again
In this episode of Becoming Okay, Riley Tejcek shares the moment her life changed overnight, from elite performance and purpose to heartbreak, identity loss, and rebuilding from nothing.
We talk about:
– Being cheated on weeks before competing at world level
– The mental toll of “staying strong” when you’re breaking
– Why forgiveness is more about you than them
– Rebuilding trust after betrayal
– The identity crisis no one prepares you for
– Letting go of a dream to choose a different life
Chapters
00:00 The Collapse of a Relationship
05:03 Compartmentalisation and Healing
07:08 Faith, Forgiveness, and Moving Forward
18:04 The Importance of Self-Compassion
27:41 Navigating New Relationships
29:26 The Power of Partnership in Overcoming Struggles
33:29 Vulnerability and Communication in Relationships
35:46 Self-Discovery Through Relationships
38:51 Navigating Differences and Building a Healthy Marriage
42:18 Prioritising Love Over Career
47:10 The Journey of Letting Go and Embracing Change
50:50 Mental Health and the Importance of Community
Here’s to Becoming Okay, in every sense of the word.
Find me here:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9yWnk7ajO7ykPMGEuBS8g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megschirnhofer
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/megschirnhofer
Find Riley here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riley.tejcek/
24 Apr 2026
Why The Answer Isn't Always Therapy + Medication, with The Cornwall Mind CEO...
In this episode of Becoming Okay, I sit down with Paul Reeve, CEO of Cornwall Mind, to break down what mental health actually is and why the system we rely on might be getting it wrong.
From growing up around NHS mental health care to leading one of the UK’s most impactful charities, Paul shares a completely different perspective: mental health isn’t something you catch, it’s something life does to you and something you have to actively protect.
This isn’t a clinical conversation.
It’s a real one folks! We don't hold back...
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Mental Health and Personal Journey
07:39 Challenges in Cornwall's Mental Health Landscape
13:26 Cultural Shifts in Mental Health Awareness
17:29 Preventative Approaches to Mental Health
23:21 Five Ways to Wellbeing and Personal Insights
27:55 Navigating Personal Challenges and Isolation
33:30 The Journey to Finding Gratitude
38:52 Building Trust and Motivation in Mental Health
47:03 Redesigning the Mental Health System
53:58 Embracing the Journey of Life
Cornwall Mind: https://cornwallmind.org/
If you need support, you can find your local Mind services here: https://www.mind.org.uk/
17 Apr 2026
25 Years Of Everyday Stress is Making Her Go Permanently Blind!
In this episode of Becoming Okay, I sit down with Toni Lavery, a former U.S. Army Special Operations veteran with 25 years of service, who was told she's going blind… with no clear explanation.
After years of high performance, poor sleep, chronic headaches, and pushing through pressure, her body forced her to pay attention.
We talk about:
- Why high performers ignore warning signs
- The physical impact of long-term stress
- The moment everything changed
- And the interventions that helped her rebuild her life
Chapters
00:00 The Impact of Stress on Health
06:13 Navigating the Medical Maze
12:06 Exploring Treatment Options
18:11 Transformative Therapy Experiences
24:22 Managing Stress and Expectations
29:26 Reflections on Regrets and Life Lessons
29:55 Navigating Life's Challenges and Choices
30:24 The Impact of Past Experiences on Personal Growth
31:35 The Power of Relationships in Healing
33:01 Communication as a Key to Relationship Success
36:00 Coping Mechanisms for Stress Management
36:32 The Importance of Discipline in Personal Development
38:24 Understanding Health Through Medical Interventions
41:42 The Role of Support Systems in Recovery
46:50 Setting Boundaries for a Healthier Life
48:02 Influential Books and Their Life Lessons
Here’s to Becoming Okay, in every sense of the word.
Find me here:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9yWnk7ajO7ykPMGEuBS8g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megschirnhofer
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/megschirnhofer
Find Toni here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toni-l-nashville-professional/
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