Episodes

Nick Walker joins Michael Chernow for a raw conversation about discipline, childhood trauma, ultra running, therapy, and the pursuit of hard things. Nick opens up about training for the Leadville 100, why he intentionally puts himself through suffering, and what running has taught him about who he really is. The conversation turns deeply personal as Nick discusses trauma therapy, EMDR, growing up around instability, and why he remembers so little of his childhood. He also shares his earliest mem...

What actually makes content go viral, and why does so much content fail? Zachary Cummings joins Michael Chernow to break down viral content strategy, podcast growth, social media marketing, and the years of testing that helped grow The Journey Podcast to millions of followers across platforms. Zach shares how posting four times a day for months led to his first viral breakthrough, why understanding human emotion matters more than chasing the algorithm, and how his work with Michael generated mil...

Gabe Snow joins Michael Chernow for one of the most raw and vulnerable conversations we’ve had on the podcast. Gabe opens up about childhood trauma, grief, addiction, steroid abuse, losing himself behind a seemingly glamorous lifestyle, and the moment he realized he needed to change. He shares how years of anabolic steroid use contributed to a shocking heart diagnosis, including discovering that his LAD artery was 40% blocked at just 34 years old. They also dive into body image, self-worth, nerv...

Brent Richard joins Michael Chernow to break down the habits, discipline, and sacrifices that completely changed his life. From waking up at 4AM and discovering the massive productivity advantage of owning the early morning hours, to building an audience of more than 200,000 people and creating Early Dad, Brent explains why consistency beats motivation every time.They also dive into what it actually means to be a present father, why chasing money can come at the expense of your family, and how o...

In this episode of The Michael Chernow Podcast, Michael sits down with Alexander Stein for an unfiltered conversation about disordered eating, body dysmorphia, fitness obsession, and the struggles men rarely talk about. Alex shares how his relationship with food began changing at just eight years old and eventually became decades of restriction, over-exercising, coffee, and one meal a day. At his lowest point, he was 6'2" and 140 pounds, yet still struggled to recognize how unhealthy he had beco...

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow reflects on five years of building Kreatures of Habit and the lessons he has learned from 16 years of entrepreneurship. Michael opens up about the highs and lows of running a business, the stress of raising money, the resilience it takes to keep going, and the abnormal optimism required to build something that actually lasts. He also shares a powerful moment from his 22-year sobriety anniversary run, where he found gratitude, grace, and a deeper r...

Michael Chernow shares the raw story of how childhood trauma led him into addiction at just 12 years old and eventually brought him within inches of losing his life. After surviving a heroin overdose, Michael returned to using only hours later because he still didn’t know how to stop. Everything changed when one phone call connected him with the mentor who gave him the structure, discipline, faith, and support required to rebuild his life. Now 21 years sober, Michael explains why asking for help...

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After being told at just 13 years old that she likely wouldn’t survive her teenage years, Ashleigh Di Lello refused to accept the future doctors predicted for her. Years later, after a failed hip surgery left her unable to walk and living with debilitating chronic pain, she reached another breaking point that changed the direction of her life.In this episode, Ashleigh explains how she began studying neuroscience, nervous-system regulation and the connection between physical, mental and emotional...

Michael Chernow and Mattiy Christofferson sit down inside an RV after six exhausting days on the road launching the Kreatures of Habit Daily Bar at Sprouts stores across the West Coast.In this raw, off-the-cuff conversation, they break down the reality of building a company, the pressure founders feel when comparing themselves to massive brands, and why obsession is often required to succeed. They also discuss delegation, maintaining momentum, creating your own luck, and learning to accept that ...

Michael Chernow opens up about growing up in an unsafe home, searching for a father figure, and how that vulnerability led him into the hands of a predator. He shares the confusion, shame, addiction, and anger that followed, and why he believes parents need to be more aware of who has access to their children. This conversation also goes into his near-death experience with heroin, the moment that finally pushed him toward sobriety, and the mentor who helped him rebuild his life. Now 21 years sob...

In this episode, Michael Chernow opens up about the moment he realized his habits were destroying his life and how discipline became the foundation for everything he has built since.From addiction, violence, and losing control to sobriety, business, fatherhood, and personal growth, Michael breaks down why small daily habits matter more than massive life changes. He explains how little wins can rebuild confidence, why fear causes most people to quit, and why discipline is the key to freedom.This ...

Michael Chernow sits down with Kelsey Heenan for a raw conversation about food, fitness, control, and recovery. Kelsey opens up about how trying to become a better athlete slowly turned into dangerous food rules, restriction, over-exercising, and losing 30% of her body weight. Michael also shares how food became another form of addiction for him after getting sober from drugs and alcohol. Together, they talk about why eating disorders and food anxiety are not just “women’s issues,” how fitness c...

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow reflects on the constant battle between good and evil, light and darkness, and the choices we make every single day.This message is about awareness, discipline, and understanding that life will always test who you are becoming. Michael breaks down why the real battle is not always outside of us, but often within us — in our thoughts, actions, habits, reactions, and the way we choose to show up in the world.Whether you are trying to grow, heal, stay...

In this episode of The Michael Chernow Podcast, Michael sits down with Stef Sifandos for a powerful conversation on love, relationships, marriage, intimacy, ego, and why real connection feels harder than ever.They talk about how social media creates the illusion of connection, why so many people push love away, and how old survival patterns can quietly destroy relationships. Michael opens up about his 20+ year relationship with his wife, the work it takes to keep love strong, and why communicati...

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow opens up about one of the hardest tests he has faced in his own life: true compassion.Michael breaks down the difference between empathy and compassion, and why compassion can be so difficult when you love someone who struggles to love themselves. He reflects on the people in our lives who test our patience, our heart, and our ability to stay open instead of turning away.This episode is a reminder that some relationships are not just challenges, th...

For years, Lindsey Van Wagner battled addiction, self-hatred, depression, and a darkness she never thought she could escape. In this powerful conversation with Michael Chernow, she opens up about the moment everything changed, the reality of getting sober, finding self-love, and why recovery is about so much more than quitting alcohol.This episode is for anyone struggling with addiction, mental health, self-worth, or feeling lost in life. If you've ever felt broken, beyond repair, or like nobody...

Fatherhood is more than a title. It's a responsibility, a privilege, and one of life's greatest gifts.In this special Father's Day episode, Michael Chernow shares a heartfelt message about what truly matters as a parent. From the importance of being present with your children to the lessons he's learned as a father, this conversation is a powerful reminder that success isn't measured by money, status, or possessions, but by the impact we have on the people we love most.Michael opens up about the...

Former Navy SEAL, entrepreneur, war correspondent, and documentarian Kaj Larsen joins The Michael Chernow Podcast for a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, suffering, purpose, and what it takes to perform at the highest level.Kaj shares incredible stories from SEAL training, nearly quitting Hell Week, the addictive nature of war, lessons from combat, and the leadership principles that have guided him through military service, entrepreneurship, journalism, and life. Michael and Ka...

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow explains why problems, especially the unexpected ones, are a sign of growth, and how your mindset determines whether you get stuck or overcome them. He urges listeners to pause when the first “doomsday” reaction hits, take a breath, and reframe challenges as opportunities to grow, “flex your muscles,” and prove what you’re made of. Michael emphasizes that belief is the catalyst for success, sharing a story from fundraising for Kreatures of Habit wh...

Ryan Rivard shares what it felt like to summit Mount Everest while helping save another climber, describing the awe, adrenaline, and danger of the descent, the physical toll of the “death zone,” and the brutal cold and logistics at extreme altitude. He explains why he pursued Everest after getting sober at 19, emphasizing the mental challenge, keeping promises to family, and proving you can rise from homelessness and addiction to “the top of the world.” Ryan reflects on 23 years of sobriety, fai...

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow talks about judgment as a major barrier to connection and a contributor to the growing loneliness epidemic, especially among men. He explains how humans are conditioned to judge, how ego drives judgment as a form of self-protection, and why judging ourselves often leads to judging others just as harshly—something he says social media intensifies through constant comparison. Michael shares his personal experience at 45, including struggling to make ...

Vinny Brusco, founder of Agora Social Club, says the modern-day man is “lost” due to conforming to social norms and losing self-knowledge, and argues men need communities where they can be vulnerable, have meaningful conversations, and pursue health and wellness. He defines a healthier masculinity as controlled, stoic, and self-aware, contrasting it with negative cultural stereotypes and “bad actors” who exploit the term. The conversation covers fatherhood as a mirror for personal growth, routi...

Michael Chernow shares how a chaotic, unsafe childhood with a severely ill father left him with deep trauma and an overwhelming fear of becoming terminally ill, especially cancer, which can trigger fast, devastating spirals of anxiety and dissociation that impact his family. Despite 21+ years in recovery and extensive work through prayer, meditation, fitness, 12-step programs, breathwork, and self-development, the fear persists as a constant “low hum.” After a year of researching and interviewi...