About this episode
Rejection can close one imagined future—and reveal a purpose that was growing somewhere else.
Mikel and Zach welcome Mikel’s longtime friend Lincoln for a conversation about childhood dreams, a major near-miss, and what can grow after a painful “no.”
Lincoln shares his lifelong interest in acting and reality television, from making early YouTube videos with Mikel to applying for dozens of shows. He recounts getting farther than ever in one casting process—traveling, waiting in uncertainty, and coming within reach of the opportunity—before being sent home.
The group discusses the emotional weight of rejection, especially when a goal has shaped how someone imagines their future. Lincoln reflects on the difficulty of watching the finished show, the temptation to measure himself against the person chosen instead, and the perspective he gained once the immediate disappointment began to settle.
What first felt like a dream being taken away eventually helped clarify another calling. Lincoln talks about returning to school, preparing for ministry, continuing to audition, and learning that the people, stories, and growth found along the way may matter as much as the destination itself.
In this episode
- Longtime friendship and the dreams we form when we are young
- Measuring mental health through purpose, connection, and daily life
- The uncertainty of auditions and long casting processes
- Coming close to a major goal and still hearing “no”
- Processing disappointment without pretending it does not hurt
- The danger of comparing yourself with the person who was chosen
- Finding meaning and relationships inside an unsuccessful outcome
- How changing priorities can reveal a different calling
- Continuing to pursue a dream without missing the journey