Michael Chernow - An INSPIRING Story of Conquering Addiction & Lessons from 20+ Years of Sobriety | EP071

Michael Chernow — restaurateur, entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and founder of Kreatures of Habit — joins us for a brutally honest conversation about addiction, recovery, discipline, and building a life worth living.From running some of New York City’s most iconic restaurants to hitting rock bottom with drugs and alcohol, Michael’s journey is a masterclass in transformation. He shares the moment he realized, “I’m gonna die. I hate myself,” and how that pain became the catalyst for an entirely new way of living.  We go deep into what sobriety really means — and why quitting drinking or drugs is only step one. Michael breaks down the routines, mindset shifts, and non-negotiables that keep him on track:Why discipline beats motivation every timeThe morning routine that builds your “foundation” for the dayThe 3 C’s that guide his life — Commitment, Confidence, and CourageHow community and accountability play a vital role in staying soberWhy entrepreneurship is about people, not just profitThe story behind Kreatures of Habit and his newest product launchFollow Michael on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/michaelchernow/And visit the Kreatures of Habit website here: https://kreaturesofhabit.com/3:00 – Restaurants and cocaine 5:45 – Life is pain 6:30 – Self-proclaimed savage; life is pure sober 8:30 – Glass half full; wine sales down 40% 9:30 – School picture policy; getting off phones 12:00 – Boundaries around quality time; work/life balance 14:00 – True wealth is the people you love 15:20 – Entrepreneur mindset: “Who am I working 14 hours a day for?” 20:00 – Happiness in Denmark and work policies 22:00 – Purpose is love, not just drive 25:00 – Sobriety advice: stay in the present moment 26:45 – Building your foundation in the morning 28:30 – “Don’t trip at the starting line” — I am a miracle 30:00 – Your brain on alcoholism 31:30 – Doing what you say as a superpower 35:15 – Guilt from the past 40:00 – Calling the man who saved my life on my sober anniversary 41:45 – The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 43:00 – Relationship with God and dealing with fear 46:00 – We are built to endure hard things 47:00 – Turning up your awareness 50:00 – “I’m gonna die. I hate myself” — Michael’s rock bottom 54:00 – Daily routine for sobriety 1:01:30 – Diet & exercise: The 3 C’s (Commitment, Confidence, Courage) 1:04:00 – AA meetings daily 1:06:10 – Community in sobriety 1:08:00 – Story of Kreatures of Habit 1:12:00 – Crowdfunding a business venture 1:14:30 – Tony Robbins: “All you need is 100 raving fans” 1:15:30 – Kreatures of Habit protein bar announcement 1:17:00 – Closing thoughts & thanksJoin our exclusive community on GROUPED where you can find uncut episodes, messaging with your hosts, and early access to promotionshttps://app.grouped.com/whothoughtwedbeherepodJoin Whoop with our promotional code and get your first month free!https://join.whoop.com/us/en/Whothoughtwedbeherepod/Sign up for online therapy with our referral link.Get 20% off your first month with our podcast's link:Shout out to our favorite neighborhood screen printer JOKER INK  https://www.jokerink.com/NEW EPISODES WEEKLY!"Who Thought We'd Be Here?" is hosted by Steven Aigner and John Pugh. https://linktr.ee/whothoughtwedbeherepodPlease Like, Follow, Share, and Enjoy!!!