EP155: What Happens When “Success” Stops Feeling Right with Meghan DeFord episode artwork

EPISODE · May 28, 2026 · 37 MIN

EP155: What Happens When “Success” Stops Feeling Right with Meghan DeFord

from Into the Unknown · host Jeremy Swick

On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer feels aligned with the life you actually want? In this deeply honest and thought-provoking conversation, Meghan DeFord shares her journey from higher education fundraising and leadership into entrepreneurship, executive coaching, and building a business rooted in authenticity, impact, and connection. From navigating divorce and unexpectedly losing her job during the pandemic to finally trusting herself enough to take the leap into something new, Meghan opens up about the emotional realities of reinvention, identity shifts, and learning to stop living for external expectations. If you’ve ever felt the quiet pull toward a different path — even when everything in your life looks “fine” on paper — this episode will leave you reflecting on what success truly means for you.Jeremy and Meghan also dive into the unexpected life lessons that sports, storytelling, and human connection can teach us about leadership, trust, and resilience. From their shared backgrounds in rugby to conversations around curiosity, values, career pivots, and building a life that feels aligned instead of performative, this episode is filled with moments that are both deeply relatable and genuinely inspiring. You’ll walk away thinking differently about fear, fulfillment, and the courage it takes to trust yourself before you know exactly what comes next.Follow Us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram @Pod.IntotheUnknown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook - Into the Unknown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Meghan DeFord:Website: https://megdeford.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/megdeford/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@megdefordThreads: https://www.threads.com/@megdefordAre you looking to start a podcast? Check out my free "Jump Start to Podcasting Guide" or reach out!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer feels aligned with the life you actually want? In this deeply honest and thought-provoking conversation, Meghan DeFord shares her journey from higher education fundraising and leadership into entrepreneurship, executive coaching, and building a business rooted in authenticity, impact, and connection. From navigating divorce and unexpectedly losing her job during the pandemic to finally trusting herself enough to take the leap into something new, Meghan opens up about the emotional realities of reinvention, identity shifts, and learning to stop living for external expectations. If you’ve ever felt the quiet pull toward a different path — even when everything in your life looks “fine” on paper — this episode will leave you reflecting on what success truly means for you.Jeremy and Meghan also dive into the unexpected life lessons that sports, storytelling, and human connection can teach us about leadership, trust, and resilience. From their shared backgrounds in rugby to conversations around curiosity, values, career pivots, and building a life that feels aligned instead of performative, this episode is filled with moments that are both deeply relatable and genuinely inspiring. You’ll walk away thinking differently about fear, fulfillment, and the courage it takes to trust yourself before you know exactly what comes next.Follow Us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram @Pod.IntotheUnknown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook - Into the Unknown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Meghan DeFord:Website: https://megdeford.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/megdeford/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@megdefordThreads: https://www.threads.com/@megdefordAre you looking to start a podcast? Check out my free "Jump Start to Podcasting Guide" or reach out!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

NOW PLAYING

EP155: What Happens When “Success” Stops Feeling Right with Meghan DeFord

0:00 37:51

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Into the Unknown?

This episode is 37 minutes long.

When was this Into the Unknown episode published?

This episode was published on May 28, 2026.

What is this episode about?

On this episode of "Into the Unknown" What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer feels aligned with the life you actually want? In this deeply honest and thought-provoking conversation, Meghan DeFord shares her journey from...

Can I download this Into the Unknown episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!