Episodes

Bill Shufelt, co-founder of Athletic Brewing, shares the full story behind leaving a demanding career in finance to build the #1 non-alcoholic beer company in the United States. After realiziång that traditional success wasn’t delivering fulfillment, he made the decision to quit alcohol—a move that led to major improvements in his productivity, sleep, relationships, and overall clarity. That shift became the foundation for Athletic Brewing, built around the belief that health, performance, and s...

In this Monday Moment episode of the Kreatures of Habit podcast, Michael Chernow shares a real-world look at entrepreneurship as a constant cycle of ebbs and flows, where even successful businesses face moments that feel close to the end. He explains that business is ultimately about solving problems for people, but that the work is often harder than it is easy, requiring relentless hustle, fast problem-solving, and sometimes major pivots—something he’s experienced across all of his business end...

Kyle Thiermann—writer, journalist, big-wave surfer, and podcast host—breaks down why writing is one of the most powerful tools for thinking clearly, processing life, and escaping what he calls “informational grazing.” He explains how writing forces depth in a distracted world, how to build a repeatable creative system, and why analog tools like longhand drafting and structured research still outperform digital shortcuts. The conversation explores how storytelling, curiosity, and asking better qu...

In this Monday Moments episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow shares the practical financial habits he’s built over the last decade, starting with how he raised his credit score from the low 300s—after unpaid parking tickets and a defaulted Sallie Mae student loan—to 847 (near the 850 max). He explains how using a prepaid credit card and consistently reloading and paying it monthly helped him rebuild credit and gain peace of mind and flexibility for financing. Michael also br...

In this powerful episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow sits down with Steve White to unpack a raw story of brain injury, addiction, and a relentless fight back to life. After years of football-related concussions, seizures, cognitive decline, and misdiagnoses, Steve hit a breaking point and made a decision to go “all in” on his recovery. Steve shares why discipline—not motivation—is the foundation of transformation, and how adopting a purpose-driven mindset he calls “hold t...

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow breaks down his exact sleep protocol for consistently getting 7+ hours of high-quality sleep without relying on melatonin. He explains why sleep is his number one tool for recovery, performance, and long-term health, and how dialing in his nighttime routine has improved everything from energy to focus to overall well-being. Michael walks through his full evening system, starting with shutting down work around 6 PM, putting his phone away, and usin...

In this episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow sits down with elite coach Ben Bergeron to break down the mindset behind high performance in sport, business, and life. Known for coaching some of the world’s top athletes, Ben shares why mental fitness—not just physical toughness—is the true separator, and how the stories we tell ourselves shape our reality. They dive into Ben’s “mindset ladder,” moving from victim to warrior, and explain how small, intentional shifts in thinki...

In this Monday Moments episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow shares a deeply personal reflection on hustle culture, success, and his biggest regret—missing the first two years of his son’s life while chasing money and validation through nonstop work. He breaks down how that experience reshaped his priorities and led him to create his “triple eights” framework: eight hours of sleep, eight hours of focused work, and eight hours dedicated to life outside of work—family, relati...

In this episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow sits down with Dave Gatto, CMO of Oslo, to explore the future of sleep, recovery, and premium product innovation. After working with iconic brands like Red Bull, Lululemon, and Oura, Dave shares why he chose to focus on one of the most overlooked pillars of performance—sleep. They break down the problem most people ignore: noise as a major disruptor of deep, restorative rest—and how Oslo Sleepbuds were designed specifically to s...

In this Monday-style episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow breaks down a simple but powerful truth: business without culture is dead. Whether you’re leading a company, a team, or a family, culture is always being created—intentionally or by default—and the outcome depends on how deliberate you are. Drawing from his experience building brands like The Meatball Shop and Creatures of Habit, Michael shares why culture goes far beyond perks or slogans. It’s how people communicat...

In this episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow sits down with astaxanthin expert David Watumull to explore one of the most powerful—and overlooked—nutrients in health and longevity. Known as the pigment that gives salmon its pink color, astaxanthin is a marine antioxidant humans can’t produce, yet it plays a critical role in protecting the body at the cellular level. David breaks down how astaxanthin works differently from traditional antioxidants like vitamin C and E, expla...

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow shares a simple but effective challenge: set yourself up for success the night before by committing to three small habits that can dramatically reduce stress and improve your mornings. Michael walks through his own nightly routine, which includes preparing a 30-ounce jar of room-temperature water with supplements and electrolytes, laying out his workout clothes to eliminate friction for early training, and reviewing the next day’s schedule to avoi...

In this episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, host Michael Chernow sits down with his longtime mentor Marcus Antebi—founder of Juice Press and CEO of Good Sugar—for a powerful conversation on addiction, anxiety, recovery, and self-mastery.Marcus has played a pivotal role in Michael’s sobriety journey since August 2, 2004, and in this episode, they go deep into what it really takes to recover. They discuss why not everyone is able to overcome addiction, the role of mental illness, and why it...

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow shares his simple but powerful five-minute morning routine “prayers, pushups, and poses” a daily practice he’s relied on for years to reduce anxiety, feel grounded, and start the day with intention. Michael breaks down the routine: beginning with a few minutes of prayer (or box breathing for those who prefer a more secular approach), followed by pushups to wake up the body and get blood flowing, and finishing with a short sequence of yoga poses to...

In this episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow sits down with Jake—host of The Optimist and founder of Thursday Labs—for an honest conversation about modern masculinity, men’s mental health, and the evolving role of men in today’s world.Jake shares two defining moments in his life from a painful experience in his early twenties to a later breakup that revealed how little language many men have for sadness, vulnerability, and emotional pain. Those experiences ultimately inspir...

In this episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow sits down with Jake—host of The Optimist and founder of Thursday Labs—for an honest conversation about modern masculinity, men’s mental health, and the evolving role of men in today’s world. Jake shares two defining moments in his life from a painful experience in his early twenties to a later breakup that revealed how little language many men have for sadness, vulnerability, and emotional pain. Those experiences ultimately insp...

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow shares a powerful reminder about the importance of love, affection, and presence in our everyday lives. Reflecting on his own upbringing, Michael opens up about growing up in an environment where love wasn’t always openly expressed—and how he had to intentionally learn how to give and receive it. After an early morning workout, Michael returns home to a simple but meaningful moment with his son—building Legos and sharing a long hug that instantly...

In this episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, host Michael Chernow sits down with entrepreneur and creative strategist Adam Greenfeld for a deep conversation about entrepreneurship, building CPG brands, and the balance between vision and execution. Adam shares his journey from launching his first supplement brand Go, learning hard lessons from failure, and later helping grow Formula through innovative paid media, creative strategy, and strong product positioning before the company eventual...

In this Monday Moments episode of the Creatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow shares the vision and experience behind the Return to Self Men’s Retreat, a powerful three-day immersion designed to help men reconnect with themselves, nature, and brotherhood. Hosted on his Hudson Valley property in upstate New York, the retreat brings together a small, intentionally selected group of men for a technology-free deep dive into personal growth, healing, and transformation. Michael reflects on the f...

In this powerful episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow sits down with psychologist, author, and addiction expert Dr. Adi Jaffe for a raw conversation about trauma, fear, shame, addiction, and the discipline required to heal and reclaim your life. The discussion begins with Michael sharing his experience of childhood sexual abuse and the shame that followed, opening the door to a deeper exploration of how hidden pain, fear, and secrets often fuel addiction and compulsive beh...

In this Monday Moments episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, entrepreneur Michael Chernow shares why choosing your life partner may be the most important decision you’ll ever make. Drawing from nearly 19 years of marriage to his wife Donna and his personal journey through sobriety and growth, Michael reflects on how the quality of our closest relationships directly impacts long-term happiness and fulfillment. He explains that healthy marriages will always include disagreements, but the fou...

In this episode of the Kreatures of Habit podcast, Michael Chernow shares his deeply personal story of addiction, recovery, and transformation. Growing up in Manhattan, Michael turned to drugs and alcohol at a young age while trying to cope with childhood trauma and instability at home. What began as experimentation quickly escalated into selling drugs, struggling with addiction, and entering rehab by the age of sixteen. Michael reflects on losing friends as opioids and fentanyl spread, and rec...

In this Monday Moments episode of the Kreatures of Habit Podcast, Michael Chernow shares a deeply personal story about growing up with a difficult relationship with his father and the life-changing wisdom passed down from his grandmother, Grandma Chickie, a practicing Buddhist. Her mantra “Bless you, change me” became a guiding principle that transformed how he handles conflict, emotional triggers, and challenging relationships. Michael explains that the phrase is a reminder that we cannot cont...

In this episode of the Creatures of Habit podcast, host Michael Chernow sits down with Andrew Aguero to delve into the intricacies of the restaurant industry, sharing personal anecdotes and discussing the nuanced challenge of leading a team in such a dynamic environment. They talk about the essentiality of leading by example, the concept of service both in and out of the restaurant, and the inevitable transition from the restaurant world to a more balanced lifestyle focusing on wellness. From h...