Austin Becker & Haley Schiek: Community, Identity & Why You're Not Defective, Just Dysregulated | Falling Off the Floor (Part 2)

Part 2 of my conversation with Haley Schiek, picking up from Telluride Bluegrass Festival. We go deep… community, mental health, identity, and what it actually takes to keep showing up for yourself.

We talk about the risk of opening your heart to new people, the loneliness that comes with being highly driven, and why real healing means stepping out of the roles you've outgrown. This one's a reminder: you're not defective. You might just be dysregulated. And connection is one of the most powerful tools we have for change.

If you're navigating recovery, burnout, identity shifts, or just trying to figure out who you are outside of what you do — this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to Part 1 here: [link]

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Opening the Telluride weekend and the Zeal Optics setup
01:00 – How the unexpected part two with Haley Schiek came together
02:24 – Why taking social risks can create real friendship
03:47 – Choosing connection through values alignment
04:46 – Puerto Rico, mainland culture, and what community can feel like
06:07 – Why the best opportunities usually require discomfort
07:07 – Burnout, entrepreneurship, and learning to tolerate uncertainty
10:02 – Men's mental health and the pressure to be the provider
11:58 – Patriarchy, power shifts, and what men still need
12:53 – Sexual objectification and Haley's recovery from body image issues
15:19 – Austin's childhood therapy experience and shame around help
18:41 – Owning addiction, recovery language, and staying honest
20:26 – Identity, yoga, and why labels do not have to define you
21:22 – Athletic identity shifts and the void they can create
22:49 – Loneliness at the top and why status can isolate people
24:24 – Fear of exile and Haley's eagle energy story
25:31 – Choosing liberation over other people's expectations
26:57 – Leaving Portland, sobriety, and the decision to fly
28:49 – Healing together and rejecting extreme individualism
30:17 – Finding your people while living a nomadic life
31:15 – Haley's burning desire: you are not defective, you are dysregulated
32:27 – What love looks like when it is not controlling or conditional
33:25 – Closing thoughts and the joy of the festival weekend

NOTABLE QUOTES
”If you're wired for protection, you are not wired for connection.”
”You are not defective. You're just dysregulated.”
”Love is seeing a human being in their fullness and just genuinely wanting the best for them.”

FOLLOW THE PODCAST & Our Guest
🎙️ @fallingoffthefloor
📱 @theskierguy

@haleyschiek

@cosanacoaching

ABOUT FALLING OFF THE FLOOR
Real conversations on redemption, recovery, action sports, mental health, and travel. Hosted by Austin Becker.