Unscripted Turbulence with Raegan Medgie

Would love to hear your thoughts! Before “true crime” became a genre… this was real life. On January 8, 2000, Dan Zapp and a friend were abducted along the Susquehanna River, assaulted, shot, and left for dead. They survived. In this episode of Unscripted Turbulence , Dan shares what happened that day — and what it took to live after it. Because survival doesn’t end in the moment… it unfolds in th...

Would love to hear your thoughts! This episode is personal. Before Unscripted Turbulence ever had sponsors, it had stories—and one of the people who believed in those stories early on was my friend, Brandon Igdalsky. We go back to my days as a reporter in the Poconos, when Brandon was stepping into his role at Pocono Raceway, a track built by his grandfather, Dr. Joseph “Doc” Mattioli. What starte...

Would love to hear your thoughts! Exactly one year after signing off from TV news, I’m reflecting on what I’ve learned—and what I can finally see clearly now. In this solo episode, I revisit the past year of building something from scratch, growing through uncertainty, and finding clarity after walking away from a 20+ year career in broadcast. I answer the question I’ve been getting a lot lately—...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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 journ...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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 fi...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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 sh...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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....

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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 ou...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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 stren...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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 mea...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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 he...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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....

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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 &...

Would love to hear your thoughts! 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 new...

Would love to hear your thoughts! Just in time for Thanksgiving, etiquette expert Thomas Farley — aka Mister Manners — joins me to tackle those tricky holiday moments we all face. From awkward dinner conversations to unexpected family drama, he shares how to handle it all with grace. Plus, the surprising story behind how he became Mister Manners … after a little turbulence. New Episodes Take Off W...

Would love to hear your thoughts! This special Birthday Episode begins the only way it should: with the gentle clink of my favorite gin martini. I share the recipe (because tradition!) and invite you into a little “Martinis with Medgie” moment. From there, I open up about how I’m celebrating this year, the rituals that ground me, and what the last few months have brought into my life — the highs,...

Would love to hear your thoughts! This week, I chat with Tom Dubreuil — better known as Santa Claus in my hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania — also known as “Christmas City, USA.” From a career in education to donning the red suit, Tom shares how he became Santa, what he learned at Santa School, and how he handles the toughest questions from curious kids. We also talk about the magic of Bethlehem...

Would love to hear your thoughts! Ever wonder what happens when two reporters get together? Meet my work bestie, Janice Yu — my ride-or-die through the highs and lows of life in TV news. From competing stations to running the NYC Marathon together, we’ve seen it all. In this honest conversation, Janice opens up about mental health, the pressures of the job, and what it really means to lean on some...

Would love to hear your thoughts! This episode will make your jaw drop. Marisa Burke was the top news anchor in her city — until her husband’s scandal became the breaking story on her own newscast. I was a reporter in that newsroom when it all unfolded. In this interview, Marisa reveals what really happened behind the scenes — a side few ever saw. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s courage. New Episodes Ta...

Would love to hear your thoughts! Language Disclaimer: In sharing her story, my guest uses some strong language to express what she’s been through. It’s powerful, emotional, and real. Christina Thompson has faced loss, layoffs, and two cancers — but she refuses to let any of it define her. Each hit only pushed her to rise higher. Her motto says it all: “It’s not the knockout. It’s the comeback.” A...

Would love to hear your thoughts! She left the bright lights of TV with nothing lined up—only the pull of family and faith that it was time. My friend and fellow meteorologist, Crystal Egger , joins me to share how she trusted the unknown and ended up building a weather company that specializes in risk management. We laugh, we reflect, and we dive into what it really takes to leave television, sta...

Would love to hear your thoughts! In this deeply personal episode, I talk with my college best friend, Leah Attruia , who lost all her hair to alopecia during the pandemic. For someone who loved styling her hair, the sudden loss was devastating. It took years for Leah to process, grieve, and finally accept her new reality. Along the way, she asked the hard questions: Why me? Why now? What’s the pu...