Title slide of a podcast titled 'For Real: A Podcast on Life, Leadership, & Unlearning' with white text on a black background.

For Real: Life, Leadership, and Unlearning is a top-rated podcast for high-achievers navigating growth in their careers, relationships, and identities. After years of chasing success, you might be realizing the old rules no longer fit… and you’re ready for something deeper.

Through candid conversations, expert insights, and raw, relatable storytelling, we unpack what it means to evolve without burning out. With over 250+ 5-star reviews, this is your space for real talk on leadership, life pivots, and success that actually feels good.

If you’re craving honest conversations and practical strategies for your next chapter, you’re in the right place.

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Smartphone displaying a podcast episode titled "317. Unlearning Overworking:" from the show "For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning" hosted by Megan Gildikin. The episode duration is 16 minutes and 23 seconds, with playback controls visible.

What You’ll Learn

How to Redefine Success (Without The Hustle Hangover)

Tired of chasing someone else’s version of success? It’s time to build a career and life that actually fits—without the burnout or second-guessing.


How to Lead with Confidence (and Fewer WTF Moments)

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting yourself. Learn how to set boundaries, make bold moves, and lead without losing yourself.


How to Unlearn the B.S. Holding You Back

Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and outdated rules? Yeah, they’ve gotta go. Let’s rewrite the script so you can step into what’s next—without the baggage.

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300+ Episodes

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260+ 5-star reviews

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350k downloads

A woman with dark brown hair and earrings smiling, sitting on a wooden floor with a notebook on her lap, holding a pen, with a sofa and pillows in the background.

Hey, I’m Megan (your go-to for keeping it real).

I’ve spent my career building businesses, leading teams, and unlearning a whole lot of B.S. along the way. I started in hospitality, scaled a luxury wedding planning business, and now I help high-achievers like you navigate the messy, in-between moments of growth.

I know what it’s like to chase success, burn out, and realize something has to change. So now? I’m all about redefining what success actually looks like—without the overworking, people-pleasing, or pressure to have it all figured out.

This podcast is where we talk about the real stuff—leadership, life pivots, and the mindset shifts that help you build a career (and a life) that actually feels good. Let’s do this.

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catch up on

Recent Episodes

Unlearning Megan Gillikin Unlearning Megan Gillikin

323. Unlearning: The Habit of Abandoning Yourself to Keep the Peace

What happens when the life you've built no longer fits the person you've become?

In this episode, Megan talks to Amber Rae, who shares her story of a profound unraveling that began with a single, eye-opening moment, leading her to confront the truth about her marriage, her career, and the beliefs she had held for years. 

If you've ever felt that quiet pull to make a change but has been too afraid to follow it, you'll want to tune in.

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Leadership Megan Gillikin Leadership Megan Gillikin

322. Leadership: Scaling, Simplifying or Selling: Finding Your Next Move in Business

Today we're talking about that moment so many high-achieving business owners encounter: 

"What's next?"

You’ve built something you're proud of, but a shift is happening. Maybe you’re craving more ease, simplicity, impact, or space and rest. The conventional wisdom tells us growth equals success, but the truth is, success gets to look different in every season and for every person. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is pause and redefine what success means to you, right now.

This episode is for entrepreneurs who have poured their time, sweat, and tears into building something meaningful, and are now asking deeper questions. For the first time, maybe it’s less about proving and more about peace. Megan shares her own journey through this "in-between" space and why this crossroads isn't a failure—it's an invitation.

This isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, but a guide to help you get clear on what you truly want and choose a path that feels grounded, not forced.

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Life Megan Gillikin Life Megan Gillikin

321. Life: The Truth About Stress, Autoimmunity, and Healing for High Achievers with Sarah Reilly

If you've been feeling that familiar drain of exhaustion, persistent brain fog, or like your body simply isn't keeping up with your high-achieving mind, this episode is going to hit home. 

From blood sugar and sleep to your environment and that annoying inner critic, this episode is about tuning in, clearing the noise, and finding your way back to feeling like yourself again.

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Unlearning Megan Gillikin Unlearning Megan Gillikin

320. Unlearning: The Four Boundaries Every High Achiever Needs to Set (Before It's Too Late)

If you've found yourself stuck in overdrive, constantly pushing past empty, or saying "yes" when your body is screaming "no," this solo episode is for you. Megan explores the four crucial boundaries she had to implement after her own intense burnout season.

This isn't theory; it's lived experience. Megan shares the raw truth about what changed, why it had to, and how these boundaries helped her reset, reclaim her energy, and build a more sustainable life and business.

Will you take action to help you slow down and course-correct before burnout forces your hand?

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Life Megan Gillikin Life Megan Gillikin

319. Life: When Self-Trust Feels Impossible: Breaking Free from Perfectionism with Dr. Z

Are you caught in a loop of overthinking, over-planning, or playing it too safe? In this episode, Megan sits down with acclaimed psychologist, author, and TEDx speaker Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona (Dr. Z) to explore how high achievers can break free from anxiety, over-analysis, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

This conversation is a must-listen if you're ready to untangle old patterns, create more ease, clarity, and alignment in your life, and finally trust yourself to navigate uncertainty.

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Life Megan Gillikin Life Megan Gillikin

318. Life: The Real Reason You’re Questioning Everything Right Now

You’ve checked the boxes. You’ve followed the rules. And still, something feels… off. If you’re standing in the middle of success and wondering, “Now what?”, this episode is for you.

Laura Gassner Otting - bestselling author, keynote speaker, and all-around truth-teller - joins Megan to talk about identity shifts, outgrowing your former self, and the surprising power of trusting your intuition.

This conversation is for the high achievers who are secretly exhausted. For the people-pleasers who are learning to say “no.” For the women who are ready to stop playing small.

Because what got you here won’t get you there, and Laura’s here to help you figure out what comes next.

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Unlearning Megan Gillikin Unlearning Megan Gillikin

317. Unlearning Overworking: Why Rest Feels Uncomfortable for High Achievers

At the end of 2023, there was this phrase I kept hearing in my head on repeat. 

"It doesn't feel safe to slow down."

I'd end my days feeling completely depleted mentally, physically, and emotionally. And yet I'd still push myself to do more. Sometimes it was work stuff, sometimes it was home stuff. 

But I had this constant, almost compulsive need to be doing something productive at all times. 

Rest felt elusive, like this thing other people could do, once they'd earned it. For me, rest basically just meant sleep. It was a quick reset so I could get up and do it all over again.

Sound familiar?  Let's figure out how we can unlearn that habit.

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Over 250+ 5 Star Reviews

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