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 time
• The morning routine that builds your “foundation” for the day
• The 3 C’s that guide his life — Commitment, Confidence, and Courage
• How community and accountability play a vital role in staying sober
• Why entrepreneurship is about people, not just profit
• The story behind Kreatures of Habit and his newest product launch

Follow 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

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NEW EPISODES WEEKLY!

"Who Thought We'd Be Here?" is hosted by Steven Aigner and John Pugh.

https://linktr.ee/whothoughtwedbeherepod

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In this episode of Who Thought We’d Be Here?, stand-up comedian David Stickle gets honest about the messy, uncomfortable, and hilarious process of becoming a comic. He opens up about how terrifying his early sets were, what it’s like to bomb in front of a crowd, and why anxiety still shows up before every performance — no matter how many times he’s done it.

David shares how stand-up helped him move through self-doubt, build confidence, and discover a deeper version of himself on stage. From managing hecklers to balancing authenticity with the pressure to be liked, this conversation explores the tension between fear and courage — and the power of doing the hard thing anyway.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to get up there and try to make people laugh, this one’s for you.

00:00 – Intro & meeting David Stickle
03:15 – How David got into stand-up and his first few sets
07:40 – What bombing on stage taught him
11:25 – Anxiety and the moments right before going on
15:50 – Building stage presence & emotional resilience
20:30 – Balancing vulnerability and humor
26:05 – The pressure to be liked vs. being yourself
30:40 – When the jokes aren’t landing
35:15 – Processing fear and rejection after a bad set
39:00 – Why he keeps returning to stand-up
44:10 – Comedy as a tool for authenticity and self-growth
48:00 – Are we ever actually *ready* to do the hard thing?
51:45 – Finding confidence through repetition and discomfort
56:15 – The vulnerability hangover after being fully seen
59:20 – Shifting expectations and defining personal success
1:03:10 – How the audience changes the performer
1:06:30 – What keeps him grounded when it gets hard
1:10:45 – Letting go of needing approval
1:14:00 – Advice for anyone thinking about starting stand-up
1:17:40 – Final reflections and outro

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NEW EPISODES WEEKLY!

"Who Thought We'd Be Here?" is hosted by Steven Aigner and John Pugh.

https://linktr.ee/whothoughtwedbeherepod

Please Like, Follow, Share, and Enjoy!!!

In this stripped-back solo episode, your favorite co-hosts return to one of their original recording spots — but they’re not the same people they were when they started. It’s a full-circle moment, and what follows is an open, emotional conversation about growth, fatherhood, sobriety, and self-work.

They reflect on the idea that quitting drinking didn’t solve everything. “I thought quitting drinking would fix everything. It didn’t.” Sobriety, they realize, was just step one. The real challenge was facing the emotional pain, the loneliness, the avoidance, and the hard truths about themselves.

They talk about impending fatherhood, breaking generational trauma, navigating identity without numbing, and the quiet struggle of maintaining self-care when it doesn’t feel like it’s working. The most powerful theme? That healing isn’t about one big moment — it’s about showing up, again and again, even on the days that suck.

Join our exclusive community on GROUPED where you can find uncut episodes, messaging with your hosts, and early access to promotions

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Join 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/whothoughtwedbeherepod

Please Like, Follow, Share, and Enjoy!!!