This Is Nothing New

When did play become something we had to grow out of? In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Lara Galante, founder of Find Your Inner Parakeet, to talk about why play still matters in adulthood. They explore how perfectionism can shut down creativity and what we can learn from the way kids create and try things without worrying about being good at them. This episode is a reminder that creat...

I talk a lot about how action creates clarity. Sometimes the only way to figure out what you want is to go do the thing and let the experience give you more information. But what happens when you’ve been taking action and still can’t see what’s right in front of you? In this episode, Michelle explores the difference between waiting for clarity and intentionally choosing to pause, why stillness can...

What if every new idea didn’t need a business plan, a long-term strategy, or a guaranteed payoff before you started? In this short solo episode of This Is Nothing New™, Michelle shares the story behind creating her activity book, Stop Doom Scrolling, and what the process taught her about being a beginner again, experimenting without overcommitting, and letting curiosity be enough of a reason to st...

In this conversation, Michelle sits down with yoga teacher Leslie Wright to talk about what it really means to quiet the outside noise and come back to yourself. Leslie shares how yoga first became a healing practice after a great loss, why movement can help us get out of our heads, and how she learned to listen more closely to what her own body was telling her. If you’ve been overwhelmed by outsi...

Quitting gets a bad reputation. We celebrate perseverance, resilience, and sticking it out, but sometimes continuing is exactly what keeps us stuck. In this episode of This Is Nothing New™, Michelle explores the difference between quitting wisely and simply avoiding discomfort, why sunk cost can keep us committed to decisions that no longer fit, and how changing your mind can be a sign of self-awa...

You don’t always get clarity before you act. Sometimes, the only way to know is to go. In this episode of This Is Nothing New™, Michelle explores why waiting for certainty can keep us stuck, how action gives us information we can’t think our way into, and why trying something doesn’t mean committing to it forever. From finding a parking spot to fostering a puppy to moving across the country, this...

What happens when a role, career, or version of yourself that once fit no longer does? In this conversation, Michelle sits down with life and leadership coach Kim Byrne, founder of Seeds to Stories, to explore the “identity clutter” we carry from old roles, expectations, accomplishments, and definitions of success. They talk about navigating major life transitions, grieving identities we’ve outgro...

What happens after something doesn’t go the way you wanted? After months of looking forward to a camping weekend, Michelle made the responsible call to turn around when torrential rain, flooding, and dangerous conditions made continuing a bad idea. She knew it was the right decision. She was also pissed about it, and that frustration followed her long after the decision was made. Then, less than 2...

What if two things that seem contradictory can both be true at the same time? In this episode of This Is Nothing New™, Michelle explores the tension between grief and joy, burnout and growth, discipline and rest, fear and courage, and knowing a decision was right while still grieving what you left behind. Through personal stories, coaching examples, and the Stockdale Paradox, she unpacks why we cr...

What happens when the life you built no longer feels like your own? In this conversation, Michelle sits down with mental health professional, author, and speaker Nic Collins to talk about leaving corporate America, rebuilding his identity, and learning to see vulnerability as a strength rather than something to hide. They explore the power of saying things out loud, finding community that allows y...

Michelle never expected to become a soccer fan, but the Men’s World Cup pulled her in fast. In this episode of This Is Nothing New™, she shares the reminders she found in the tournament: the power of community, the joy of being a beginner again, the clarity that comes from participation, and why talent means very little without character. It’s a light, personal episode about learning something new...

For years, Michelle believed doing everything herself was proof that she was capable. In reality, the lone-wolf mindset was keeping her isolated, overwhelmed, and unsupported. In this episode of This Is Nothing New™, she shares the five roles that make up a strong personal advisory board: the mentor, connector, accountability buddy, coach, and contrarian. She breaks down what each person brings to...

In this episode of This Is Nothing New™️ , Michelle sits down with Jessica Millhiser, owner of JMills Consulting, to talk about what it really means to get back to the basics in business. They explore defining success for yourself, building a business around the life you actually want, and why sustainable growth requires more intention—not more trends, tools, or platforms. Jessica also shares the...

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro wasn't on Michelle's bucket list. It started with a simple "yes" to a friend's question and became a year-long journey of training, setbacks, self-doubt, 60-mile-an-hour winds, and one unforgettable summit. In this episode, Michelle shares the story of climbing Kili—from recovering after COVID and learning the meaning of pole pole ("slowly,...

Most people don’t struggle with goals because they lack discipline. They struggle because the way they’re setting goals is broken from the start. In this episode of This Is Nothing New , Michelle breaks down the real reasons your goals fall apart. From goals that were never actually yours, to plans that are too vague to execute, to systems that don’t account for what happens when things get hard....

This week, I'm sharing a conversation I had on the Action Lab Leadership Podcast with host Danny Gruening, who also happens to be my husband. We explore how leaders accidentally hold their teams back by trying to protect them, why curiosity can sometimes become procrastination, what I've learned about giving difficult feedback, and how keeping promises to yourself impacts your confidence...

In this episode of This Is Nothing New , Michelle explores one of the simplest concepts in personal development—and one of the easiest to overlook: attitude. Through a candid story about a coaching client and a surprising realization from her own year-end reflection, she unpacks how quickly we can let other people's energy, feedback, or behavior shape our outlook. You'll learn why attitu...

What if the quality of your life has less to do with what happens to you and more to do with the patterns running in your mind in response to it?  In this episode, Michelle explores a framework she's used in her mastermind groups for years — Focus, Meaning, and Action — originally taught by Tony Robbins as his Breakthrough Formula. Michelle will walk you through how these three questions run...

Ever feel like you’re trapped in a constant battle with your own willpower?  In this episode of This Is Nothing New , Michelle breaks down a simple, timeless truth that the shiny self-help industry loves to ignore: your environment will always be stronger than your willpower. When your willpower inevitably runs out, it's your environment that will dictate your habits. Michelle shares a funny,...

In this episode of This Is Nothing New , Michelle breaks down why "I want to be more confident" is too vague to actually act on — and what to do instead. She unpacks the three types of confidence that matter most: skill confidence (built through practice and repetition), situational confidence (your ability to figure it out on the fly using past experience), and self-confidence (built by...

Tired of the next big hack, the secret formula, or the guru putting themselves on a pedestal? Same. This Is Nothing New is the podcast that strips away the noise and gets back to the boring, consistent, timeless fundamentals you already know — you just sometimes forget about them. Host Michelle Gruening brings her background in leadership, people management, and coaching to break down everyday top...