Michael Chernow | Wired to Win: How to Transform Addiction Into A Superpower + Become Unstoppable
Wellness + Wisdom Podcast
Shownotes Transcript
Wellness + Wisdom | Episode 718 Is it possible to harness an addictive personality and turn it into a powerful fuel source?
Michael Chernow), Founder of Kreatures of Habit), joins Josh Trent on the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast, episode 718, to reveal how hitting rock bottom led him to discover the ultimate healing power of connection and self-love, why a structured routine can build the foundation for conquering life’s toughest challenges, how to break free from destructive patterns, and why choosing to show up for yourself is the first step toward lasting transformation.
"When you strip away drugs and alcohol from someone who has an addiction, they're left with this ability to commit to anything they put their mind to. They've channeled their superpower down the wrong path and so you give them a little bit of a course correction and the sky's the limit." - Michael Chernow 20% Off Kreatures of Habit )Kreatures of Habit) helps you build intentional, healthy routines with simple, nutrient-packed products.
Their flagship offerings include Meal One, a high-protein oatmeal for energy and nutrition, and Sleep Oats, designed to promote restful sleep and recovery.
With a mission to blend convenience, taste, and functional wellness, Kreatures of Habit empowers individuals to optimize their health one habit at a time.
The oats are packed with pea protein (gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free), contain probiotics and digestive enzymes, and help you reduce soreness and recovery time. Save 20% with code "WISDOM20") In This Episode, Michael Chernow Uncovers: [01:10] The Truth About Addicts
- Michael Chernow)
- Kreatures of Habit - 20% OFF WITH CODE “WISDOM20")
- Why people don't think of addiction as a disease.
- How addicts have a great ability for commitment.
- Why addicts suffer from chemical imbalances.
- Dr. Russel Surasky)
[06:55] Connection Is The Cure
- What inspired Michael to start healing from drug addiction.
- Why connection is what helps heal addiction.
- How he wanted to impress the man who was helping him heal.
[13:00] Faith in Higher Power
- Why addicts have a sense of control even though they're completely out of control.
- How connection to a higher power provides a new sense of control and hope.
- Why Michael talks to God every morning since he decided to get sober.
- How faith gave him a second chance in life.
[17:50] Healing The Father Wound
- How Michael's father struggled with extreme hoarding.
- Why our father wound can become a fuel source.
- How we choose our parents.
- Why Michael is grateful for all of his past struggles.
- How we don't need to be great at everything.
[25:45] The Consequences of Trauma
- Why trauma moves emotions and decisions along a lot quicker.
- How Michael first experienced drugs when he was 12 years old.
- Why Fentanyl is in every drug and causes people to die.
[30:55] Why People Always Want to Win
- How Josh's porn addiction was related to a lack of self-love and safety.
- Why addictions are related to our parents.
- How porn addiction provides us with a momentary control.
- Why we're wired to want to win.
- How Michael understood that he can feel like he's winning through a healthy lifestyle and exercise.
- Why he was told to have a specific morning routine in order to get better.
- The Big Book)
[43:25] You Have a Choice
- Why we have the ability to feel great and we can choose to do the things that support us.
- How Michael's routine makes him bulletproof.
- Why we shouldn't sacrifice our health for our strict routine.
[48:15] What Happens When You Hit Rock Bottom?
- How the new lifestyle made Michael love himself more immediately.
- Why he wanted to stop doing drugs after overdosing but couldn't control it.
- How he almost jumped out of the window to end his suffering.
[53:10] Healing Can't Be Forced
- Why it's not healthy to be outside of the present moment.
- What made Michael decide not to do plant medicine healing.
- Why healing can only happen when we decide to heal.
- How his best friends relapsed after 10 years of being sober.
- Why he convinced his friend to do a plant medicine ceremony.
- How we can't force people to heal.
[01:02:05] It Starts With Children
- How to Know Higher Worlds by Rudolf Steiner)
- Why public school systems are not giving the right example to children.
- How kids should not even experiment with drugs because most of them contain fentanyl.
[01:07:15] Kreatures of Habit
- Why Michael wanted to open a healthy restaurant catering to any diet.
- How the pandemic ruined the plans for the company.
- Why he put his children into Waldorf School.
- How he runs long-distance while brainstorming ideas.
- Why he decided to put oatmeal in a pouch.
[01:15:30] Habits Are Hard to Sell
- Why people care more about who we are than what we say.
- How Michael decided to sell not just a product but a habit to start the day with.
- 439 Khalil Rafati | From Homeless To Limitless: One Man’s Spiritual Journey of Learned Helplessness to Powerful Humility)
- How oatmeal was a catalyst for Michael that helped him heal.
[01:21:30] The Hardship in Entrepreneurship
- Why entrepreneurs can live a balanced life.
- How the beginning journey as an entrepreneur is usually extremely busy, but it shouldn't be like that forever.
- Why Michael wakes up early to focus on himself.
- How putting our business first will hurt the business.
- Why performance is based on how we feel.
[01:27:25] The Key to Productivity
- The only thing we can't purchase is time.
- How going to sleep earlier and waking up earlier gives us more productive time.
- Why we're more productive and creative in the morning.
- How waking up before everybody else gives us more control.
- The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma)
- Why we need a "time to go to bed" alarm.
[01:35:15] Inner Child Healing
- How Michael met his inner child during a breathwork session.
- Why his 7-year-old inner child was frozen.
- How spending time with his sons is what can heal his wounded inner child.
- Why he feels like he failed in spending time with his children.
[01:42:10] Your Children Can Help You Heal
- How Michael dedicates every other weekend to being alone with his sons.
- Why hunting created a strong bond between him and his children.
- How our children don't care about the money we earn or how hard we work.
- Why children can help us heal our relationships.
Leave Wellness + Wisdom a Review on Apple Podcasts)
Power Quotes From The Show Wired to Win
"We're wired to want to win. I take action every single morning to put myself in a successful position to manage whatever is thrown my way." - Michael Chernow
You Can't Buy Time
"What's the one thing in life that there is no way anyone has ever been able to purchase? Time. We're all given the exact same amount of time in a day. So if you want to to win in life, it requires an hour of self-indulgent, self-care time. Because when you can dedicate to that, you are going to show up a better human being." - Michael Chernow
Why Addicts Feel In Control
"When you are in active addiction, you have a sense of complete control, even though you're totally out of control. That sense of control comes from the ability to change how you feel. You know that there is a substance that will numb your feelings. So when you feel bad, you can easily make yourself feel good. When you feel good, you can easily make yourself feel great. And so in essence, you're playing God. You're controlling how you feel no matter what is going on around you." - Michael Chernow
Links From Today's Show
How to Know Higher Worlds by Rudolf Steiner)
439 Khalil Rafati | From Homeless To Limitless: One Man’s Spiritual Journey of Learned Helplessness to Powerful Humility)
The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma)
Josh's Trusted Products | Up To 40% Off
Biohacking)
- MANNA Vitality - Save 20% with code JOSH20)
- HigherDOSE - 15% off with the code JOSH15)
- PLUNGE - $150 off with discount code WELLNESSFORCE)
- Pulsetto - Save 20% with code "JOSH")
- SaunaSpace -) 10% off with discount code JOSH10)
- Ultrahuman Ring Air - 10% off with code JOSH)
Wellness Test Kits
- Choose Joi - Save 50% on all Lab Tests with JOSH)
- Blokes - Save 50% on all Lab Tests with JOSH)
- FertilityWize Test by Clockwize - Save 10% with code JOSH)
- Tiny Health Gut Tests - $20 off with discount code JOSH20)
- VIVOO Health Tests - Save 30% off with code JOSH)
- SiPhox Health Blood Test - Save 15% off with code JOSH)
Nutrition + Gut Health
- Organifi - 20% off with discount code WELLNESSFORCE)
- SEED Synbiotic - 25% off with the code 25JOSHTRENT)
- 🎉 Paleovalley - Now 20% off till February 28th! (normally 15% off))
- EQUIP Foods - 15% off with the code WELLNESS15)
- DRY FARM WINES - Get an extra bottle of Pure Natural Wine with your order for just 1¢)
- Just Thrive - 20% off with the code JOSH)
- Legacy Cacao -) Save 10% with JOSH when you order by the pound!)
Supplements
- MANNA GOLD - $20 off with the code JOSHGOLD)
- Adapt Naturals - 15% off with discount code WELLNESSFORCE)
- MitoZen - 10% off with the code WELLNESS FORCE)
- Activation Products - 20% off with the code JOSH20)
- BiOptimizers - 10% off with discount code JOSH10)
- Fatty15 Essential Fatty Acids Supplement - Get 15% off with code JOSH15)
Sleep
- BiOptimizers Sleep Breakthrough - 10% off with JOSH10)
- Zyppah Anti-Snoring Mouthpiece - 20% off with the code JOSH)
- MitoZen Super SandMan Ultra™ (Melatonin Liposomal)+ | 10% off with WELLNESSFORCE)
- Luminette Light Therapy Glasses - 15% off with JOSH)
- Cured Nutrition CBN Night Oil - 20% off with JOSH20)
Natural Energy
- MTE - Save 20% with JOSH)
- TruKava - Save 20% with code JOSH20)
- Drink Update - Save 25% with discount code JOSH25)
- Lifeboost Coffee - Save 10% with JOSH10)
- EONS Mushroom Coffee - 20% off with the discount code JOSH20)
- EnergyBITS - 20% off with the code WELLNESSFORCE)
- BUBS Naturals - Save 20% with JOSH20)
Fitness + Physical Health
- Detox Dudes Online Courses - Up to $500 off with discount code JOSH)
- Kineon - 10% off with discount code JOSH10)
- Create Wellness Creatine Gummies - 20% off with discount code JOSH20)
- BioPro+ by BioProtein Technology - Save $30 OFF WITH CODE JOSH)
- Drink LMNT - Zero Sugar Hydration: Get your free LMNT Sample Pack, with any purchase)
- Myoxcience - 20% off with the code JOSH20)
Healthy Home
- SunHome Saunas - Save $200 with JOSH200)
- JASPR Air Purifier - Save 10% with code WELLNESS)
- QI-Shield EMF Device by NOA AON )- 20% off with the code JOSH)
- Holy Hydrogen - $100 off with discount code JOSH)
- SimplyO3 - 10% off with discount code JOSH10)
- LEELA Quantum Upgrade + Frequency Bundles - Get 15 days free with code JOSH15)
- TrulyFree Toxic- Free Cleaning Products - Get 40% off + Freebies with code WELLNESSFORCE)
Mental Health + Stress Release
- Mendi.io - 20% off with the code JOSH20)
- Cured Nutrition CBD) - 20% off with the discount code JOSH20)
- NOOTOPIA - 10% off with the discount code JOSH10)
- CalmiGo - $30 off the device with discount code JOSH30)
- QUALIA - 15% off with WELLNESSFORCE)
- LiftMode - 10% off with JOSH10)
Personal Care)
- The Wellness Company's Emergency Health Kits + More - Save 10% with code JOSH)
- Canopy Filtered Showerhead + Essential Oils - Save 15% with JOSH15)
- Farrow Life - Save 20% with JOSH)
- Timeline Nutrition - 10% off with JOSH)
- Intelligence of Nature - 15% off Skin Support with the code JOSH15)
- Young Goose - Save 10% with code JOSH10)
Mindfulness + Meditation
- BREATHE - 33% off with the code PODCAST33)
- Neuvana - 15% off with the code WELLNESSFORCE)
- Essential Oil Wizardry - 10% off with the code WELLNESSFORCE)
- Four Visions - Save 15% with code JOSH15)
- Lotuswei - 10% off with JOSH)
Clothing
Rhizal Grounded Barefoot Shoes - Save 10% with code WELLNESS)
-
Free Resources
M21 Wellness Guide - Free 3-Week Breathwork Program with Josh Trent)
Join Wellness + Wisdom Community)
About Michael Chernow
Michael Chernow) began working at the young age of 12, gaining invaluable experience as he advanced through every position in the restaurant industry.
This hands-on learning journey eventually led him to co-found The Meatball Shop, marking the start of his entrepreneurial career. He later expanded his restaurant ventures by launching Seamore's in Manhattan and growing the brand to include five locations across New York City.
After dedicating two decades to the hospitality industry, Michael faced personal challenges, including overcoming addiction, which transformed his perspective on life. Drawing from these experiences, he discovered a passion for helping others build positive habits and improve their lives.
This realization led to the creation of Kreatures of Habit), a lifestyle and wellness brand designed to provide easy access to nutritional products and support transformative personal change.
As an avid marathon runner and competitive bodybuilder, he continues to push his physical and mental limits. Michael cherishes family life while residing in New York.