198: Risa August Rode from Canada to Mexico and is Just Getting Started
Release Date: 07/09/2025
208: Molly Skye Brown Escape From Ghislaine Maxwell
Meredyth with a Why
In this powerful episode, I sit down with Molly Skye Brown, survivor, advocate, and author of Me Too Much: A Fed-Up Survivor. Molly bravely shares her story of abuse, grooming, and an alleged assault that forever changed her life, along with her chilling brush with Ghislaine Maxwell. As Molly walked me through her experiences, I was struck by how clearly she reveals the playbook predators use, from false promises of modeling contracts and luxury trips to the “casting couch” setups and even the infamous invitations to Mar-a-Lago. Listening to her describe how she escaped, and how her...
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207: Chad Kultgen Talks Spirituality
Meredyth with a Why
In this wide-open, human conversation, I sit down with writer and podcaster Chad Kultgen (The Necessary Conversation) to explore where politics, family, and spirituality collide—without the hot takes or doom spiral. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay connected to loved ones who see the world differently, or if you’re curious about consciousness, synchronicities, and the “game” behind reality, this one’s for you. What we get into (lightly structured so you can skim): Family, politics, and calm on the mic — How a weekly podcast with Chad’s MAGA parents created a safe...
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206: Fetishized With Kaila Yu
Meredyth with a Why
In this episode, Kaila Yu, author, journalist, and cultural commentator, joins me to talk about her book Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty—and the bigger story of how media, culture, and the male gaze shape identity, desire, and safety. It’s an honest, nuanced conversation about Asian American representation, yellow fever, consent, and what real self-love looks like in a world of shifting beauty standards. In this episode, we cover: Representation that actually represents — from the days of Memoirs of a Geisha and The Joy Luck Club to K-pop, Squid Game,...
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205: Orange Is The New Black's Mandela Bellamy
Meredyth with a Why
In this powerful episode of Meredyth with a Why, I sit down with Mandela Bellamy, actress from Orange Is the New Black, Joker, Jessica Jones, and more, to hear her extraordinary journey through Hollywood, homelessness, and healing. Mandela’s story is raw, honest, and eye-opening. She shares what it was really like to appear on one of Netflix’s biggest shows while quietly facing housing insecurity, the harsh realities of streaming residuals, and the pressure of surviving in an industry where women are often undervalued. Beyond the acting world, she opens up about deeply personal...
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193: Exposing Lyme & Chronic Illness with Dr. Brad Montagne
Meredyth with a Why
In this episode of Meredyth with a Why, I sit down with Dr. Brad Montagne, a chronic illness specialist who’s spent over 40 years treating some of the most extreme and complex cases—patients who’ve seen countless doctors, spent thousands on lab work, and are still left without answers. Dr. Brad shares why conventional medicine so often fails people with chronic illness, and how his method—rooted in deep diagnostics, weekly interaction, and muscle testing—gets REAL results. You’ll hear: The truth about why so many people with Lyme disease, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune...
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204: Recap with Chris Burres and MyVitalC
Meredyth with a Why
In this episode, Meredyth sits back down with Chris Burres of MyVitalC to dive deeper into her personal journey using this groundbreaking supplement and the science behind it. From better sleep to calmer days, the results have been both surprising and life-changing. Chris also shares powerful stories, research insights, and how MyVitalC is reshaping the way we think about health, longevity, and even skincare. Here’s what you’ll discover in this recap: - Meredyth’s firsthand results within the first three days, plus how MyVitalC continues to improve her focus and calm her racing...
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203: Dr. Diane Mueller Talks Sex
Meredyth with a Why
In this episode of Meredyth with a Why, I sit down with Dr. Diane Mueller for a real conversation about sex, desire, and intimacy when life is busy and the mental load is heavy. We talk about what actually helps women want sex again, how to reconnect without pressure, and why small shifts can change your relationship and your health. What you’ll learn: Desire vs arousal, why many women need arousal first, then desire, and how a calm 20 minute warm up rebuilds connection. The attention gap, men’s laser focus vs women’s diffuse awareness, and simple ways to quiet the mind and...
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202: N.L Holmes From Nun To Novelist
Meredyth with a Why
In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode, Meredyth sits down with N.L. Holmes—former nun, archaeologist, professor, and now a prolific historical fiction author with 15 novels to her name. Together, they unpack her extraordinary life journey, touching on identity, faith, reinvention, and how the past still mirrors the present. You’ll hear about: Her 20 years in a cloistered convent—the silence, the solitude, the internal doubts, and the moment she knew it was time to leave. Reentering the “real world” at 40—from learning computers and credit cards to earning a PhD and...
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201: Out Of The Basement She Climbed
Meredyth with a Why
In this powerful episode of Meredyth with a Why, host Meredyth Willits sits down with intuitive author, healer, and psychic medium Rebecca J. Rowan to talk about her raw and transformative memoir Healing Becky. It’s a soul-shaking book that’s helping people everywhere face their trauma, rewrite their past, and reclaim their future. Meredyth shares how the book cracked open a part of her she didn’t know could heal. Together, she and Rebecca explore the deeply personal and spiritual process of confronting generational pain, breaking family cycles, and choosing healing, even when...
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200: Pushing Past the Boundaries of Never with Jane Fischer
Meredyth with a Why
In this moving episode, I sit down with Jane Fischer, author of If You Knew Suzy, to talk about the extraordinary journey of raising her daughter, Suzy—a child born with a rare genetic condition, countless medical challenges, and a spirit that has defied every single prognosis. What started as a conversation about Jane’s book turned into something much deeper—a raw and powerful look at motherhood, resilience, advocacy, and what it really means to never give up. Here’s what we dive into: A Birth Full of Unknowns: How what seemed like a typical pregnancy quickly...
info_outlineIn this episode of Meredyth with a Why, I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Risa August—author, coach, and truly one of the most courageous women I’ve met.
After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Risa didn’t shrink from life—she expanded. She got on a bike and rode 1,845 miles from Canada to Mexico—solo. But what really blew me away is that the ride was just the beginning.
This conversation is so much more than a story of an epic cycling trip. It’s about reinvention, resilience, and how we reclaim our lives—especially as our bodies change and our priorities shift.
In this episode, Risa and I dive into:
- How her brain tumor became a turning point, not a stopping point
- The raw and real experience of biking down the entire U.S. West Coast alone
- Why saying “I think I’m ready to be pampered now” can be just as bold as doing 1,800 miles solo
- What “1845” means—and how it might change how you look at rest
- The impact of her book The Road Unpaved (which has now won 6 awards!)
- And yep—her journey to turning it all into a screenplay
We also talk about the pressure so many of us (especially women) feel to earn our rest and always be doing. This episode is a beautiful reminder that you don’t need an excuse to pause. You’re allowed to just be.
If you’ve ever felt like your life needs a reset, or you’re navigating a big change and wondering what’s next, I promise you—this conversation is for you.
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00:00 Introducing Risa August
05:14 The Diagnosis and Aftermath
07:39 Life After Surgery
11:33 Transformation and New Perspectives
17:15 The Decision to Bike Coast to Coast
24:57 Training and Preparation
27:27 The Cycling Journey Begins
29:05 Embracing Vulnerability
33:31 The Gift of Authenticity
43:07 Living Life Fully
50:52 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans
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Ready to dive even deeper? I’m handing you the keys to the castle! If you loved this episode and want more, don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss out! Let’s stay connected—find me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
🔗 Connect with Risa:
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Visit her website: risaaugust.com
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Grab her book: The Road Unpaved - https://www.risaaugust.com/my-book.html