Michael Chernow joins Michelle Johnston to share his powerful journey from addiction and adversity to wellness and entrepreneurial success. With vulnerability and clarity, he opens up about childhood trauma, substance abuse, recovery, and the driving force behind his thriving businesses—including The Meatball Shop, Seymours, and Kreatures of Habit. He reveals how connection, emotional intelligence, and prioritizing relationships have been central to his transformation. Now, as he launches a sober coaching community for men—SoberFit Dude—Michael aims to help others strip life down to its essentials and rediscover their purpose. This conversation is about resilience, intentional living, and choosing heart-led leadership every step of the way.

00:00 Meet Michael Chernow
01:20 The journey from meatballs to mindfulness
02:45 Childhood trauma and early struggles
06:30 Cry for love: A suicide attempt at 12
08:50 Substance abuse and searching for identity
10:30 The overdose that changed everything
12:00 Finding a mentor and the daily recovery plan
14:00 Love, marriage, and intentional family life
16:00 Dinner table rituals that transformed connection
17:40 The birth of The Meatball Shop
20:00 Rapid success and growing pains
22:30 Launching Seymours and lessons in leadership
25:00 Food Porn, EQ, and media magic
27:30 Leaving restaurants to launch Kreatures of Habit
29:20 Connection as currency
31:00 The Harvard study on relationships and health
33:00 Heart-led leadership and learning the hard way
35:00 Launching SoberFit Dude
38:00 Ditching the smartphone for real life
41:00 The real seismic shift: reclaiming presence
43:00 Final reflections and staying heart-first

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

Bestselling author and workplace culture advocate Mita Mallick joins Michelle Johnston to unpack why loyalty is dead in today’s workforce, what younger generations expect from employers, and how leaders must adapt to shifting cultural norms. Drawing from her new book The Devil Emails at Midnight, Mita shares powerful stories and practical advice on modern leadership, grief, working motherhood, and the importance of human connection in corporate settings. This honest and inspiring conversation highlights how good leaders are made—not born—and how self-care and vulnerability play essential roles in the workplace of the future. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating leadership in a post-pandemic, digitally-driven, emotionally exhausted world.

00:00 Welcome + Introducing Mita Mallick
01:17 Why Loyalty Is Dead in the Workplace
03:30 Gen Z vs Employer Expectations
05:50 Generational Disconnect and Work-Life Shifts
06:36 How to Earn Flexibility as a Young Professional
08:14 Why Managing Output Matters More Than Hours
10:23 The Origin of “The Devil Emails at Midnight”
14:20 Mita’s Personal Story of Grief and Burnout
18:09 How Grief Inspired Her First Book
18:59 Building Inclusive Workplaces for Working Parents
21:08 Equal Parental Leave and Support Systems
23:49 On Being Named Working Mother of the Year
25:32 Vision for a Healthier, Human-Centered Workplace
29:35 Alternatives to Midnight Emails
32:28 Reimagining Workplace Communication
33:24 Closing Words + Where to Find Mita

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/

Mary Olson-Menzel, national bestselling author and executive coach, joins Michelle K. Johnston to explore how professionals at every stage of their career can reignite their passion, pivot successfully, and thrive in a changing workplace. They discuss Mary’s 10-step pivot program—developed to guide clients from uncertainty to clarity—and how to harness the power of storytelling, intentional networking, and self-awareness. From recent grads to seasoned executives, listeners are reminded that purpose, self-care, and meaningful connection are the cornerstones of sustainable success. This conversation is a roadmap for anyone asking: What’s next?

Whether you’re seeking your first job or your final promotion, this conversation will help you find clarity, purpose, and direction. And as Mary puts it so beautifully, “When your light dims, it’s your responsibility to figure out how to turn it back on.”

CHAPTERS:
01:00 Introducing Mary Olson-Menzel and her career journey
02:00 Seismic shifts in the modern workplace
03:30 Challenges for new graduates in today's job market
05:00 The inspiration behind What Lights You Up
06:00 Overview of Mary’s 10-step pivot program
07:15 The power of storytelling in interviews
09:00 Navigating AI and resume screening
10:00 Unlocking the power of your network
12:00 LinkedIn Hour of Power strategy
14:00 Interview coaching and confidence building
15:00 Salary negotiation tips with gratitude
17:00 The importance of onboarding
18:30 How to pivot roles early in your career
20:00 Purpose, passion, and feeling valued
21:30 Embracing the squiggly career path
23:00 Framing short tenures and job changes
24:00 Mary’s superpower: knowing when to pivot
26:00 Burnout, self-care, and letting go
27:30 Coaching leaders to own their leadership signature
29:00 Aligning leadership with authenticity and energy
30:00 Final reflections on connection, purpose, and self-prioritization
32:00 Where to find What Lights You Up

Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season!
Track Title: My Heart's On Fire

Follow Michelle for more inspiring content:

Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b
Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston
Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/