The Michael Chernow Podcast

Neuroscientist Shawn Watson joins Michael Chernow for a deep dive into decision fatigue, brain health, Alzheimer’s, sleep, stress, multitasking, AI, and why the quality of your decisions may decline throughout the day**.Shawn explains why the human brain is still one of science’s biggest mysteries and why Alzheimer’s has been so difficult to solve. He also breaks down practical factors that may influence dementia risk, including sleep quality and consistency. The conversation then turns to decision fatigue. Shawn discusses estimates suggesting that the average person may now make around 35,000 decisions a day, compared with roughly 300 decades ago, and explains the theory that excessive decision-making may contribute to glutamate buildup in the prefrontal cortex.They also explore some of the most shocking research around decision fatigue: judges making different parole decisions later in the day, loan officers defaulting to “no,” and a clinical trial Shawn discusses where participants made up to 80% more reckless decisions within roughly two hours. Michael and Shawn break down why multitasking doesn’t actually work, why constant notifications destroy flow state, how entrepreneurs can protect their best decisions, and why discipline can become harder later in the day. Near the end, Shawn shares a striking study suggesting patients could be up to 33% less likely to be sent for cancer screening later in the day, then explains why he believes AI could eventually help reduce some forms of human decision bias in medicine.The episode closes with the latest conversation around creatine and brain health, including why Shawn personally favors consistent 3–5 gram dosing over extremely high daily doses.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#Neuroscience #BrainHealth #DecisionMaking #MentalPerformance #MichaelChernow

Samia Khan joins Michael Chernow for one of his most personal conversations yet about money, fear, childhood trauma, spirituality, psychedelic medicine, and what it actually means to feel safe. Samia shares how her family went from extraordinary wealth to public scandal, and why her own healing eventually taught her that money can provide comfort—but it can’t create the kind of safety that comes from love.Michael also opens up about a medicine journey he had never publicly shared in this way, including an emotional vision of meeting his younger self and realizing that he could become the protector that child needed. He reveals the recent business crisis that left him frozen in fear, unable to eat or sleep, and facing the possibility of significant personally guaranteed debt after an expected investment disappeared. Days later, an unexpected mentor reentered his life—and Michael realized the man looked exactly like the figure he had seen during his journey.Together, Michael and Samia explore money wounds, the inner child, surrender, meditation, faith, healing, ancestral patterns, and how to bring profound spiritual insights back into everyday life. This conversation is ultimately about learning to trust, letting go of control, and remembering that the real ceremony is life itself.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#PersonalGrowth #Spirituality #MentalHealth #Psychedelics #MichaelChernow

Anthony Scamardella joins Michael Chernow for a powerful conversation about Adderall addiction, ADHD, prescription stimulant abuse, recovery, mental health, and rebuilding your life through movement. Anthony shares how a legitimate Adderall prescription spiraled from 40mg a day to as much as 300mg on his worst days, including crushing and snorting pills, doctor shopping across multiple states, barely sleeping, spending tens of thousands of dollars, and eventually reaching a point where he needed Adderall just to function.If you’ve ever struggled with Adderall dependence, ADHD, addiction, negative self-talk, anxiety, depression, or feeling trapped by your own mind, this episode is a reminder that change is possible—and sometimes rebuilding starts with simply moving your body and taking the next small step.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#AddictionRecovery #ADHD #MentalHealth #Sobriety #MichaelChernow

Tyler Noyes joins Michael Chernow for a raw conversation about childhood trauma, entrepreneurship, burnout, breathwork, success, and rebuilding your life. Tyler opens up about being told by his father at seven years old that he would “never amount to anything,” and how that pain became fuel for decades of achievement. He also shares the terrifying reality of building Kalahari Biltong, losing expected funding during COVID, carrying a $500,000 personally guaranteed line of credit, and searching for personal bankruptcy before eventually finding a way out. Tyler and Michael explore why buried trauma eventually catches up with high performers, how breathwork helped Tyler finally process his past, and why success should be about building a meaningful life—not just accumulating money. Now approaching 40, Tyler is intentionally rebuilding his life around health, relationships, adventure, purpose, and one powerful reminder: this isn’t a dress rehearsal.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#MentalHealth #Entrepreneurship #Breathwork #PersonalGrowth #MichaelChernow

In this Monday Moment, Michael Chernow shares some of his biggest everyday pet peeves—and the small habits that can say a lot about who you are. From bathroom etiquette and making your bed to dinner-party manners, seat belts, dirty dishes, and showing up empty-handed, Michael breaks down the unwritten rules he thinks every adult should know. He also explains how hearing the things that bothered his wife ultimately helped him become more considerate and improve their relationship. It’s a funny but surprisingly useful conversation about etiquette, self-awareness, discipline, and becoming someone people actually enjoy being around.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#MichaelChernow #MondayMoments #SelfImprovement #PersonalGrowth #LifeAdvice

Modern dating has changed completely, and Ayesha Sehra, founder of Coffee and a Good Date, has a front-row seat to what men and women are actually looking for. She and Michael Chernow break down dating apps, modern matchmaking, why men approach women less, what women want in men, provider energy, attraction, age preferences, and the endless-options problem that makes commitment harder today. They also discuss why dating apps and social media can create the feeling that someone better is always one swipe away, and why meeting people in real life may matter more than ever. Michael shares the story of meeting his wife and explains why building the confidence to approach someone in person can completely change your dating life. If you're single, tired of dating apps, or trying to understand modern relationships, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the reality of dating today.

Sometimes asking for help is the strongest thing you can do — but there are also moments when it’s just you and God. In this Monday Moment, Michael Chernow reflects on how sobriety taught him to ask for help, while also learning that some battles require you to keep moving even when nobody else is moving with you. He breaks down the difference between your automatic first thought and the second thought you actually have the power to control. Michael also explains why changing your language from “I think” and “I hope” to “I will” and “I am” can completely shift the way you approach hard things. Sometimes you have to become a one-man army long enough to find the people who can match your pace.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit

In this episode, Michael Chernow sits down with Dr. Sagan Schultz, co-founder and CEO of Sonata, to talk about the future of preventative healthcare and why personalized, doctor-led medicine may be what traditional healthcare has been missing. They break down everything from advanced blood work, whole genome sequencing, epigenetics, DEXA scans, VO2 max, visceral fat, and clinical AI to the downside of obsessing over sleep scores, wearables, and health tracking. Michael and Sagan also get into the emotional side of health, including how stress, social media, and anxiety impact the body more than most people realize. Later, they unpack personalized nutrition, red meat, keto, carnivore, cholesterol, and the promise and pitfalls of GLP-1 medications. If you care about longevity, optimizing your health, and understanding what your body actually needs, this is a conversation you do not want to miss.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#PreventativeHealth #PersonalizedMedicine #BloodWork #Longevity #MichaelChernow

In this Monday Moments episode, Michael Chernow gets real about one of the most universal—and somehow still embarrassing—parts of being human: farting. Michael shares the hilarious moment he first farted in front of his wife on a trip to Mexico and how it became an unexpected relationship milestone. From marriage and relationships to getting comfortable enough to completely be yourself, sometimes the little moments say more than we realize. Michael’s message is simple: everybody poops, everybody farts, so maybe we should stop pretending otherwise. And if nothing else, hopefully this episode puts a smile on your face this Monday.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#MichaelChernow #MondayMoments #Relationships #Marriage #Podcast

Laura Pastor is a breast cancer survivor, yoga and meditation teacher, author, hospice volunteer, and certified death doula who has spent years sitting with people near the end of their lives. In this conversation with Michael Chernow, Laura shares what cancer taught her about resilience, why movement and humor became medicine, and what dying people reveal about what actually matters in life. They also get into parenting through depression, overcoming adversity, spirituality, faith, meditation, and Michael’s profound plant medicine experience. Laura’s perspective on death, connection, fear, and gratitude is a powerful reminder that life’s hardest moments can completely change the way we live.KOHhttps://kreaturesofhabit.comIGhttps://www.instagram.com/michaelchernowhttps://www.instagram.com/kreaturesofhabit#BreastCancerSurvivor #DeathDoula #MichaelChernow #PersonalGrowth #MentalHealth