From Heroin Overdose to Sober Entrepreneur: How One Moment of Grace Saved His Life with Michael Chernow - Episode 99

In this powerful episode of the Why Intervention Podcast, host Christopher Doyle sits down with Michael Chernow, the founder of Kreatures of Habit and co-founder of The Meatball Shop, who shares his remarkable journey from addiction to 20 years of sobriety and entrepreneurial success.

 

Highlights

 

• "Four hours later I was using again" — The shocking moment Michael realized the true meaning of powerlessness, and what it revealed about addiction's grip

• The unexpected ultimatum — How losing the one thing still tethering him to life became the catalyst that changed everything

• "I needed to see someone who was sober, who was cool" — The unconventional mentor who shattered Michael's preconceptions and gave him a vision of what recovery could truly be

• The three words families need to say — Michael's urgent advice for loved ones watching someone battle addiction, and why it matters more than you think

• The morning ritual that saved his life — How a simple daily habit from his first week of sobriety eventually transformed into a thriving business two decades later

• "We are the gladiators" — The surprising perspective shift that turned Michael's greatest weakness into his most profound strength

• The breathwork experience that healed a lifetime wound — How Michael reconnected with his father without using substances, and what it means for trauma healing

• The parenting approach he completely abandoned — Why Michael dramatically changed his strategy for talking with his children about substances in today's world

This episode offers a raw, unfiltered look at both the darkest depths of addiction and the extraordinary heights of recovery. Michael's journey reminds us that transformation is possible even when hope seems lost, and that sometimes our greatest struggles can become our most powerful purpose.

 

Links and Resources from this Episode

• https://whyintervention.com/

• https://twitter.com/whyintervention

• https://www.facebook.com/whyintervention/

• https://www.instagram.com/whyintervention/ 

• TIME SENSITIVE, FREE RESOURCE: The Connected Response™ Method: My gift to parents concerned about teen substance use - a prevention and early intervention framework providing the exact scripts needed to address concerns while preserving your relationship with your child. 

• Access your special gift here:

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