Always Becoming: Real Stories of Resilience, Healing, & Growth

Mikalen Cox
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Bimonthly

Ever thought, "Wait, is everyone else just casually crushing life except me?" Welcome to Always Becoming, a podcast about the messy, beautiful, ongoing journey of becoming who you're meant to be. This is the podcast for anyone who's still figuring it out—navigating heartbreak, life shifts, the in-between seasons, the "what now?" moments, and all the tiny breakthroughs in between. Through deep yet lighthearted conversations, we'll hear real stories of resilience, share personal lessons, and remind each other that we're not alone. Think of it as a heart-to-heart with your best friend—raw, unfiltered, and full of hope. Healing doesn't have a final destination. But it does have good company and we're in this together.

  1. 1d ago

    Things I'm Still Figuring Out at 28

    I think when I was younger, I assumed that by 28 I'd have a lot more figured out than I actually do. The truth is, there are still so many things I'm learning, questioning, and working through. And while I used to see that as a sign that I was behind, I'm starting to realize that maybe growth isn't about having all the answers, it's about learning to trust yourself while you're still figuring things out. In this episode, I'm sharing some of the things I'm still navigating in this season of life, including: career, purpose, and the pressure to have a plan relationships, dating, and learning to trust the process body image, confidence, and self-acceptance finding balance between ambition and being present letting go of timelines and expectations learning to be okay with uncertainty If you've ever felt like everyone else has it together except you, this episode is a reminder that most of us are figuring it out as we go. And maybe that's not a problem to solve. Maybe that's just part of life! ✨lets connect on instagram: @mikalen.co

    28 min

  2. May 20

    To Be Honest, I've Gotten Really Good at Leaving

    In today's episode of To Be Honest, I'm joined by my friend Naya for a conversation about reinventing yourself, trusting your intuition, and having the courage to walk away from anything that no longer aligns. Whether that's a career path, a relationship, or an old version of yourself. We talk about her journey from studying finance to teaching herself how to code during covid, becoming a software engineer, building an online platform helping women break into tech, and the personal growth that happened alongside all of it.  We talk about: Taking unconventional paths and starting over Teaching yourself new skills and breaking into tech in 2026 Why it's not "too late" to pivot careers or start creating content online The importance of representation when pursuing a dream Building a community and personal brand online Imposter syndrome, confidence, and reinventing yourself Developing higher standards for yourself in dating Not being afraid to leave relationships that aren't fulfilling you The difference between something looking good on paper vs actually feeling aligned Learning to trust yourself and ask the universe for more Outgrowing old versions of yourself and choosing what truly feels right This is a fun, inspiring, real episode for anyone who feels scared to start over! Connect with Naya: IG @theblackfemaleengineer TikTok @theblackfemaleengineer YouTube The Black Female Engineer   ✨Lets connect on instagram: @mikalen.co

    1h 18m

  3. May 6

    How I Actually Made Friends As An Adult

    I used to genuinely think that if you didn't meet your friends in high school or college… you kind of just missed your opportunity. Making friends as an adult felt awkward, forced, and kinda intimidating. I never knew what to say, and it always felt like everyone already had their people. But over the past few years, that's actually changed a lot for me. I've met more people and built more of a community than I ever have before, which feels wild to say as someone in their late 20's! So in this episode, I'm talking through what shifted, how I actually started meeting people, and what helped me get out of my comfort zone to start making friends as an adult. I get into things like: why it feels so hard to make friends as an adult how my mindset around it changed how I actually met people building confidence socially when it doesn't come naturally why not every connection has to turn into a close friendship If you've ever felt like you don't really know how to meet people or where to start, you're definitely not the only one but the good news is that it doesn't have to be as hard as you think! ✨lets connect on instagram: @mikalen.co See if Volo is in your city and get $10 off your first league when you use the code BOAB21

    20 min

  4. Apr 22

    Why Waiting to Feel Ready Is Keeping You Stuck

    Ever feel stuck even when you want to change? Like you have ideas, goals, things you care about but you keep overthinking, waiting, or telling yourself you'll start when you feel more ready? In this episode we talk about what that "stuck" feeling actually looks like and what it takes to start building momentum from that place, not after it. We get into: why starting can feel so hard how we procrastinate under the disguise of planning how overthinking quietly keeps you stuck the pressure to feel confident before taking action what momentum actually looks like in real life  how small, imperfect actions can shift your energy why you don't need clarity or motivation to begin what it means to move with doubt instead of waiting for it to go away This isn't about having it all figured out. It's about learning how to move anyway. If you've been feeling stuck lately, this is your reminder that momentum doesn't come from a big breakthrough, it comes from taking one small step. lets connect on instagram: @mikalen.co

    22 min

  5. Apr 8

    To Be Honest, I Didn't Realize What This Dream Would Cost Me

    You know that feeling of working toward something for so long, finally getting there, and then realizing it's not as simple as you thought it would be? In this week's "to be honest" episode, I'm sitting down with one of my best friends, Kelsey, to talk about what it actually looks like to follow your dreams and what no one really prepares you for once you get there. If you've ever felt pressure to have it all figured out, tied your identity to one path, or wondered if the life you're building is actually sustainable… I think you'll really relate to this one! We talk about: Knowing what you want from a young age and the pressure that comes with that How your identity can get wrapped up in your goals What law school (and real life after) actually feels like Stress, comparison, and imposter syndrome The sacrifices that come with ambition (health, relationships, time) Feeling guilty for resting and struggling to separate worth from productivity What it means to keep showing up for your dream while also taking care of yourself This episode is about being honest about what your dreams ask of you and figuring out how to build a life that feels good while you're chasing them. ✨Lets connect on Instagram: @mikalen.co

    33 min

  6. Mar 25

    I Solo Traveled for the First Time… and It Didn't Change My Life

    I just got back from my first solo trip… and it didn't change my life. At least not in the dramatic, "everything is different now" kind of way I think I was expecting. It wasn't perfect. There were moments I felt lonely and overwhelmed. But there were also moments where I felt really proud of myself, really present, and more like me than I have in a while. So if you've ever thought about doing something on your own — traveling, trying something new, just getting out of your routine — but you're scared it won't be worth it or won't live up to what you expect… this episode is for you In this episode, we talk about: What solo traveling actually feels like The moments of loneliness, overwhelm, and figuring things out on your own Why it didn't feel like a life-changing experience, and why that's okay Getting out of your own head and realizing how big the world really is Letting go of the idea that there's one "right" way to live Relearning how to connect with people Proving to yourself that you can do hard things And how showing up for yourself can matter more than any big transformation This isn't a story about becoming a completely new person. It's about remembering who you are. If you've been feeling stuck, disconnected, or like you're waiting for something to change — maybe it's not about doing something life-changing. Maybe it's just about doing something for yourself ✨Lets connect on instagram: @mikalen.co

    20 min

  7. Mar 11

    What If I'm Not That Special?

    Have you ever wondered if you actually have anything valuable to offer? Like you want to make an impact… but you don't feel qualified. You want to create something meaningful… but you're still figuring your own life out. You look around and everyone else seems more polished, more accomplished, more "ready." So you wait. In this episode, we're unpacking that quiet but heavy question: Do I need to be further along before I'm allowed to speak? We talk about: The pressure to be exceptional instead of just honest Where the belief that value = achievement might have come from Comparing your in progress to someone else's highlight reel Why consuming feels safer than creating The fear of being average, judged, or not impressive enough Why we think healing has to be complete before we share And what it might look like to offer your voice anyway This isn't an episode with a perfectly wrapped answer. It's a space to question the idea that you need credentials, certainty, or a finished story before you're allowed to matter. Maybe impact doesn't come from being the most accomplished person in the room. Maybe it comes from being willing to speak while you're still becoming. ✨Lets connect on instagram: @mikalen.co

    20 min

  8. Feb 25

    Healing Actually Isn't Linear — You're Not Broken for Feeling It Again

    Have you ever thought you were finally over something… and then it hit you all again? You did the work. You cried. You processed it. You moved forward. So why does it still hurt? In this episode, we're talking about the part of healing no one really prepares you for — the waves that come back around. The quiet shame of thinking, "I should be past this." And the fear that feeling it again means you're somehow back at the beginning. We'll get into: Why we expect healing to be linear (even when we know it's not) How certain dates, firsts, and seasons can reopen old wounds The difference between regression and integration Why feeling sad doesn't mean you made the wrong choice And how revisiting pain can actually be a sign of growth, not failure Healing isn't about never feeling it again. It's about feeling it differently, meeting it with more awareness, more capacity, and more self-trust than you had before. If you've been feeling something you thought you already healed, you're not broken — you're human. And you're not alone in it 🤍 ✨Lets connect on instagram: @mikalen.co

    20 min
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About

Ever thought, "Wait, is everyone else just casually crushing life except me?" Welcome to Always Becoming, a podcast about the messy, beautiful, ongoing journey of becoming who you're meant to be. This is the podcast for anyone who's still figuring it out—navigating heartbreak, life shifts, the in-between seasons, the "what now?" moments, and all the tiny breakthroughs in between. Through deep yet lighthearted conversations, we'll hear real stories of resilience, share personal lessons, and remind each other that we're not alone. Think of it as a heart-to-heart with your best friend—raw, unfiltered, and full of hope. Healing doesn't have a final destination. But it does have good company and we're in this together.

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