Midwest Anxiety

02/23/2026

Randy Comes Clean About His Obsession & Meg Navigates Her High-Conflict Relationships

This week on The Real Life, it’s another honest look at Randy & Meg’s real struggles.

Randy opens up about something that’s quietly taken over the last couple of months — the gym. What started as a healthy one-hour workout has turned into a full two plus hour ritual: running, hot tub, steam room, cold plunge. And if he doesn’t complete the entire routine? Anxiety. Disappointment. Fear.

In a “taking off the sunglasses” moment, Randy admits the deeper fear underneath it all — the belief that if he doesn’t do all of it, the weight will come back. Meg gently challenges him to examine why he believes he needs the full routine. Through the conversation, Randy recognizes something powerful: he can choose to go to the gym. He doesn’t have to be controlled by fear. That realization brings relief and freedom.

Meanwhile, Meg is battling high-conflict relationships. Some relationships she can disengage from. Others, especially close family, aren’t so simple. She’s working hard to set boundaries that protect her energy without going completely no-contact.
Randy offers a reframe: when someone is disgruntled or negative, that’s their perspective and it doesn’t have to become yours. It’s projection. It’s their insecurities. As Randy’s mom used to say, “What’s rubber, what’s glue — what bounces off me sticks to you.” In other words: consider the source.

Meg appreciates the reminder that everyone sees the world through a subjective lens. Not every opinion deserves equal weight in your nervous system.

Things Randy & Meg Enjoying: Meg challenged herself to stay present in her closest relationships. Randy leaned into trusted people for connection and support. And yes — coffee in the morning has been a simple joy this week.

This Week’s Challenge for You: Meg encourages you to evaluate which relationships give you energy and which ones drain it. Move toward what fuels you. Randy wants you to ask yourself if you are spending your time, money, and energy on what matters most?

We hope The Real Life reminds you that therapists struggle too. Struggle is normal. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s openness. If our honesty helps you talk more openly about your own struggles, then we’re doing what we set out to do.

Go live your life — fully, intentionally, and with courage.

WHAT IS THE REAL LIFE OF A CBT THERAPIST?
HELLO! I’m Randy Floyd, LSCSW, and I’m joined by my co-host, Meg Hefferon. LPC. We’re excited to share our show, THE REAL LIFE OF A CBT THERAPIST, where we explore what it looks like to be humans first and Cognitive Behavioral Therapists second.

Each week, Meg and I talk through the highs and lows of our personal lives and reflect on how we used CBT skills to navigate real challenges. THERAPISTS STRUGGLE TOO — WE’RE HUMAN, just like everyone else. OUR HOPE IS THAT AS WE SHARE OUR OWN PROCESS, YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH PRACTICAL CBT TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUR OWN JOURNEY. New episodes drop every Sunday at 7 PM.

02/22/2026

TONIGHT AT 7PM.

Randy comes clean about something he’s been way too obsessed with for the last two months. And yes… it’s time to talk about it. No dodging. No minimizing. Just owning it.

Join Meg and Randy as they break down the good, the bad, and the ugly from their week. See you at 7PM.

WHAT IS THE REAL LIFE OF A CBT THERAPIST?
HELLO! I’m Randy Floyd, LSCSW, and I’m joined by my co-host, Meg Hefferon. LPC. We’re excited to share our show, THE REAL LIFE OF A CBT THERAPIST, where we explore what it looks like to be humans first and Cognitive Behavioral Therapists second.

Each week, Meg and I talk through the highs and lows of our personal lives and reflect on how we used CBT skills to navigate real challenges. THERAPISTS STRUGGLE TOO — WE’RE HUMAN, just like everyone else. OUR HOPE IS THAT AS WE SHARE OUR OWN PROCESS, YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH PRACTICAL CBT TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUR OWN JOURNEY. New episodes drop every Sunday at 7 PM.

02/22/2026

COMING JUNE & JULY 2026: World Cup Friendlies – Kansas City

World Cup Friendlies is more than a soccer tournament — it’s a global celebration of youth, culture, and connection.

This summer, young athletes from around the world will travel to Kansas City to experience the excitement of the World Cup. You are invited to take part in World Cup Friendlies — a series of competitive “friendly” matches designed to bring soccer athletes 7-18 years old together through the beautiful game.

Representing different countries, backgrounds, and styles of play, these young soccer athletes compete, connect, and build worldwide friendships. They come not just to win matches, but to be part of something bigger than the scoreboard.

On the pitch, it’s spirited competition — passion, skill, and pride on full display.

Off the pitch, it’s handshakes, shared meals, new languages, laughter, and lifelong friendships.

World Cup Friendlies creates a space where:

* 🌍 Cultures come together in the best way
* ⚽ Youth compete with respect and sportsmanship
* 🤝 Friendships are formed across borders
* ❤️ The game becomes a universal language

Kansas City becomes the meeting ground where the world gathers, plays hard, and celebrates together. Because soccer isn’t just about goals — it’s about connection.

One city. Many nations. One game.

MORE INFO 👉

World Cup Friendlies is more than a soccer tournament — it’s a global celebration of youth, culture, and connection. This summer, young athletes from around the world will travel to Kansas City to experience the excitement of the World Cup. You are invited to take part in World Cup Friendlies .....

02/17/2026

MEG MADE SOME MOM MISTAKES.

Here Randy challenged Meg to go a little deeper. At first, Meg leaned into one of her greatest strengths — reframing. Reframing is her superpower. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and wise. But it can also be safe. It allows her to stay insightful without fully stepping into the vulnerability underneath.
Randy gently pushed past the reframes. He wanted to know what was under them.

And beneath the perspective shifts and balanced thoughts, Meg admitted something more tender — she felt like she made some parenting mistakes. Not theory. Not strategy. Just that heavy, familiar feeling many parents carry: Did I handle that wrong? Did I mess that up?
That admission opened up a real conversation.

Parent-child conflict isn’t a sign you’re failing as a parent. It’s not evidence you’re doing it wrong. It’s actually a normal and healthy part of development. Kids are wired to push boundaries. They question. They resist. They test limits. Not because they hate you — but because they’re forming identity. They’re practicing independence. They’re figuring out who they are separate from you.

If your kids never push back, they’re not growing. And if you’re raising adults — not just compliant children — you have to tolerate some tension along the way.
Growth is noisy. Independence can look like defiance. And parenting well doesn’t mean eliminating conflict. It means staying steady inside of it.
Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is hold the boundary… and hold your own discomfort at the same time.

SOCCER MENTALS STARTS BACK MARCH 7th

1% Skill 99% Mental. The difference in the game is who has more mental fortitude. To be an elite soccer player, simply possessing the skill is not enough. You need the mental resilience to perform under pressure, stay focused, and adapt to challenges.

Join us to learn Soccer Mentals like focus, resilience, and self-belief under extreme pressured practice and training. Soccer Mentals are for those players who want to train harder than ever before to have the most positive, resilient mindset on and off the field.

MORE SOCCER MENTALS INFO 👉 midwestanxiety.com/classes/soccermentals

02/16/2026

Fam! Let’s talk about anxiety and the “The Anxiety Trick.”

Anxiety plays tricks on your mind and your body. It whispers, “Something bad is about to happen.” It sends signals through your chest, your stomach, your breathing. It tries to convince you that discomfort equals danger. But that’s the trick. Anxiety’s job is to predict threats — even when there aren’t any. It overestimates risk and underestimates your ability to handle it.
You can’t go with the trick.

When anxiety says, “Don’t go.”When anxiety says, “You can’t handle this.”When anxiety says, “This will be a disaster.”

That’s usually your cue to pause and say, “Nice try.”

The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety. The goal is to recognize the trick and respond differently. You don’t have to obey every anxious thought just because it showed up. Thoughts are not commands. Feelings are not facts.

02/16/2026

Gave it my best DJ Khaled. Looking for young musicians (7-18 y/o) to join Live! Music.

Are you a young musician who wants to:�•
🎶 Be in a band�
🎤 Play in front of a LIVE audience�
💸 Make some moneeeeey�
🔥 Gain confidence and stage experience

Then Live! Music is for you!

👉 Click the linky-link, get signed up, and join us and other young musicians for some musical fun.

🔗 JOIN LIVE! MUSIC: midwestanxiety.com/joinlivemusic

02/16/2026

Meg Messed Up Some Mom Moments & Randy Had to Many “Interesting & Exciting Thoughts”

We’re back for another episode of The Real Life… and Meg and Randy are tired. You always hear us say, “Work hard so you can play hard.” Well, this week we definitely worked hard — and by the end of it, we felt it.

When Randy asked Meg what was difficult this week, she immediately said, “Everything.” She said it jokingly, but you know how some weeks stack up. By Friday, even small things can feel heavy. The cumulative effect of showing up all week long can make everything seem harder than it actually is.

Meg leaned into her usual strength — reframing. But Randy challenged her to go a little deeper. Beneath the reframes, she admitted she felt like she made some parenting mistakes this week. That opened up a real conversation. Parent-child conflict isn’t a sign you’re failing. It’s a normal, healthy part of development. Kids push boundaries because they’re forming identity and independence. If they never push back, they’re not growing. Raising adults means tolerating some tension along the way.

On Randy's end, he talked about his struggle with what he calls “interesting and exciting thoughts.” Some might label it ADHD. He tends to take on too much at once because everything feels important and energizing. This week Randy spread myself too thin. He had to admit that I can’t do everything at 100 percent all at once. He also had to remind himself to give grace if the list doesn’t get fully completed.

What’s gone well? Randy told Meg how much he appreciates the way she shows up — professionally and authentically. She doesn’t perform. She’s genuine, and that matters. Meg has been loving the warmer weather, staying consistent with yoga, and experiencing some powerful clinical breakthrough moments with clients. Those moments refill the tank.

Meg encourages you to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather. Let your body and mind reset a little. Randy will leave you with this: Just Be You. There are enough voices telling you who you should be. The world doesn’t need another copy. It needs the real version of you. Go JBU.

WHAT IS THE REAL LIFE OF A CBT THERAPIST?
HELLO! I’m Randy Floyd, LSCSW, and I’m joined by my co-host, Meg Hefferon. LPC. We’re excited to share our show, THE REAL LIFE OF A CBT THERAPIST, where we explore what it looks like to be humans first and Cognitive Behavioral Therapists second.

Each week, Meg and I talk through the highs and lows of our personal lives and reflect on how we used CBT skills to navigate real challenges. THERAPISTS STRUGGLE TOO — WE’RE HUMAN, just like everyone else. OUR HOPE IS THAT AS WE SHARE OUR OWN PROCESS, YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH PRACTICAL CBT TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUR OWN JOURNEY. New episodes drop every Sunday at 7 PM.

02/15/2026

Being a day late to Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you’re late to love.

For some, a day centered around love feels warm and easy. For others, it presses on old bruises. Holidays have a way of resurfacing memories—relationships that didn’t work, words that were said, doors that closed, and hearts that broke. I know that road all too well. I’ve got my own scars. And if you’re someone walking around with quiet wounds on your heart, I see you. I feel you.

Valentine’s Day can magnify what’s missing. But it can also remind us that love isn’t limited to one day, one relationship, or one version of our story.

I wake up each day trying to love unconditionally. I don’t always get it right. I’m impatient. I miss things. I fall short. But it’s still my goal—to love better today than I did yesterday.

Yesterday there were many people on my heart who I’ve had the opportunity to share life, love, and heartache with.

Melanie. We’ve been through a lot together. Some amazing memories that are locked away in my heart forever. Our relationship isn’t always pretty. Our love isn’t always easy. I don’t always show up perfectly, but I appreciate you deeply. Thank you for running, dancing, walking and sometimes crawling on this road with me.

And my children—Brady, Carson, and Haley. Divorce set us on different paths and that reality carries its own ache. But not a single day goes by that I’m not thinking about you. Loving you. Rooting for you. Looking forward to the next time we get to share space, laughter, and life together.

If Valentine’s Day stirred up hurt for you, just know this: scars mean you loved. And loving—despite the risk, despite the pain—is still one of the bravest things we can do.
A day late doesn’t matter.

Keep loving.
Keep healing.
Keep showing up.

Love isn’t a date on the calendar. It’s a decision we make every day.❤️

02/15/2026

MENTAL HEALTH MEETS PRO SOCCER

As we continue to do mental health differently in 2026, I stepped outside the traditional therapist office this week and interviewed with the KC Current. Good news!! I accepted a role in Guest Services for the 2026 season at CPKC Stadium On Saturdays, I’ll take off my “therapist” hat and put on a KC Current hat. You’ll find me behind the goal with the rowdy supporters all season long. I’ll be dappin’ it up, high-fivin’, bringing energy, and making sure people feel seen, welcomed, and valued from the moment they walk in.

For me, this isn’t just about soccer. This is about expanding where mental health shows up. Mental health doesn’t only happen in a quiet office with a couch and a clipboard. It happens in stadium seats. It happens in chants and celebrations. It happens in the shared joy of a goal and the collective groan of a missed shot. It happens in community. It happens when people feel connected to something bigger than themselves.

The supporters section behind the goal is pure emotion. Passion. Intensity. Belonging. That’s real life. That’s real psychology. That’s people showing up fully alive. And I love that. I love the game. I love the energy. I love the people. Getting to combine all of that in a space built for community is a win.

In 2026 we said we were going to put mental health in places it’s never been before. Live! Music. Integrative Dining. And now professional women’s soccer. We’re not waiting for people to walk into an office. We’re meeting them where they already are. We’re normalizing conversations. We’re building connection in everyday spaces.

I’m excited to bring my fun, high energy love for soccer and people to CPKC Stadium this season. If you’re behind the goal, come say what’s up. Let’s cheer loud. Let’s build community. Let’s do mental health differently. Let’s gooooooooo!!!!

SOCCER MENTALS STARTS BACK MARCH 7TH
1% Skill 99% Mental. The difference in the game is who has more mental fortitude. To be an elite soccer player, simply possessing the skill is not enough. You need the mental resilience to perform under pressure, stay focused, and adapt to challenges.

Join us to learn Soccer Mentals like focus, resilience, and self-belief under extreme pressured practice and training. Soccer Mentals are for those players who want to train harder than ever before to have the most positive, resilient mindset on and off the field.

MORE ON SOCCER MENTALS 👉 midwestanxiety.com/classes/soccermentals

02/12/2026

Interview went well! More to come this weekend. KC Current

02/11/2026

Why Is Midwest “Anxiety?,” The Anxiety Trick, Secret Song, MWA Spring Sports | Daily 417

Fam 🙌 we’re back in the car, doing mental health differently, talking all things Midwest Anxiety.

Midwest Anxiety is more than just “anxiety.” It’s like a burrito 🌯 — it’s not just the taco meat. It’s the rice. The beans. The cheese. The salsa. The guac if you’re living right. If a burrito was just one ingredient, it would be boring. And if we only talk about anxiety as a diagnosis or a symptom, we miss the whole picture of what it means to be human.

We are more than anxiety. Yes, we talk about it a lot. Yes, it’s real. Yes, it’s loud. But you are not just your anxious thoughts. You’re a whole burrito, fam.

That being said… let’s talk about Anxiety and the “The Anxiety Trick.”

Anxiety plays tricks on your mind and your body. It whispers, “Something bad is about to happen.” It sends signals through your chest, your stomach, your breathing. It tries to convince you that discomfort equals danger. But that’s the trick. Anxiety’s job is to predict threats — even when there aren’t any. It overestimates risk and underestimates your ability to handle it.
You can’t go with the trick.

When anxiety says, “Don’t go.”�When anxiety says, “You can’t handle this.”�When anxiety says, “This will be a disaster.”
That’s usually your cue to pause and say, “Nice try.”

The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety. The goal is to recognize the trick and respond differently. You don’t have to obey every anxious thought just because it showed up. Thoughts are not commands. Feelings are not facts.

And somewhere in this episode… there’s a Secret Song 🎵

If I told you anything about it, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore. Honestly, I probably already said too much. Oooops.

Now let’s talk about LIVE! MUSIC.

If you’re a young musician (7–18 years old) who wants to:�• 🎶 Be in a band�• 🎤 Play in front of a LIVE audience�• 💸 Make some moneeeeey�• 🔥 Gain real confidence and stage experience

This is for YOU.

We’re not just building musicians — we’re building confidence, courage, and community.

🔗 More info: midwestanxiety.com/joinlivemusic

And don’t forget — MWA Spring Sports start March 7th:�MWA Run Club�Soccer Mentals�Elite Soccer Players Club�Elite Athletes

We’re putting mental health in places it’s never been before.
🔗 More info: midwestanxiety.com/classes

Keep showing up, fam. Don’t fall for the trick. You’re more than anxiety. Always have been.

02/10/2026

they say if you can’t beat em, join em. stay tuned. 👀⚽️