Below The Noise - With Mike Bélanger

Episode 15 | Why does everything always look better on paper than it does in real life? From product launches to workplace culture, we live in a world where the promise is almost always bigger than the delivery. In this episode of Below the Noise, I breaks down why institutions, companies, and even people systematically overpromise and underdeliver and what it's costing us psychologically. Fro...

Things are changing. I started this podcast without a clear direction. I just knew I had to start. But after 13 episodes I know exactly where I want to go and it's time to make it official. The Mike Belanger Podcast is now Below the Noise with Mike Belanger. I'm not here to be another wellness podcast. I'm not here to give you answers or pretend I have it all figured out. I want to go...

I went shopping for my wedding band a couple days ago and it completely changed the way I think about how we buy things. I had spent hours online looking at rings. Beautiful pictures, detailed specs, different metals and styles. I had it all figured out. Then I walked into the store and tried them on and it hit me ! None of it felt the way it looked online. Your body knows things a picture never w...

Nobody talks about what it's like to live with someone who has ADHD. Not really. We always talk about the person who has it but what about the partner, the friends, the coworkers dealing with it every single day. In this episode I'm getting into that side of it. My own experience, what my fiancée does that actually helps, how to have that real conversation with the people around you, and w...

First one back after two weeks and I appreciate your patience more than you know. What does it actually mean to be human? Not philosophically, not scientifically just, what is it? In this episode I'm diving deeper into that question. We talk about self-awareness, flow states, the difference between having all the data in the world on something and actually experiencing it, and where thoughts e...

We are more connected than ever and more alone than ever. We have more information than ever and less clarity than ever. Something is off — and I think most of us feel it but can't quite name it. In this episode I talk about what it actually means to be human, what the digital world is quietly taking from us, and why being human — with all the mess, the emotion, the imperfection — is enough. This...

Most people think meditation is about emptying your mind and thinking about nothing. It's not. That's exactly why most people quit before it starts working. In this episode I share how I went from completely resisting meditation to doing it every single day — and how it became one of the biggest tools I use to manage anxiety, control my emotions, and stay present. If you've ever tried meditation a...

In this episode I get personal. I dealt with anxiety and panic attacks for a very long time — and for most of that time I was trying to fix the wrong thing. I come from a military and law enforcement background. Pure discipline. Hard things. And none of it made the anxiety go away — until I stopped treating the symptoms and started looking at the source. In this episode I share what anxiety actual...

In this episode, we're talking about how social media is affecting our mental health and fueling anxiety without us even realizing it. From the dopamine loop that keeps you scrolling, to the comparison trap, to information overload, we break down exactly what's happening and how to take back control of your consumption. If you wake up and the first thing you do is grab your phone, this one...

We spend so much time thinking about where we want to be that we forget to appreciate where we are. That promotion, that pay raise, that new house—we think they'll make us happy, but once we get them, we're already chasing the next thing. This episode explores why we're always living in the future, what it costs us, and how to break free. Inspired by a powerful quote from the movie Passengers and...

Fear and ego control more of your life than you realize. That voice telling you to stay small, play it safe, and worry about what others think? That's not protection—that's a prison. In this episode, we break down how fear shows up in modern life, why ego is just fear in disguise, and how the fear-ego loop keeps you trapped. Most importantly, we explore how to break free. What we cover: Ho...

Episode 4: Attention Is Energy - The Fight for Your Focus In a world of endless notifications, AI-powered everything, and constant upgrades, our attention has become the most valuable currency. This episode explores how technology fragments our focus, creates anxiety and dopamine dysregulation, and keeps us trapped in cycles of overconsumption. Learn practical steps to reclaim your attention: buil...

This episode wasn’t planned — and that’s the point. I almost didn’t record it because the setup wasn’t perfect, the lighting wasn’t right, and the words weren’t lined up. Then I realized I was doing exactly what I warned against in the last episode. In this episode, I talk openly about perfectionism, how it kills creativity, and how waiting for “perfect” keeps us stuck. We dive into authenticity,...

Episode 2: Stop Wearing the MaskYou're exhausting yourself trying to be perfect for people who don't even notice. THE PROBLEM:We wake up every day and perform. We wear what we think people will like. We hide our flaws. We think everyone's watching and judging us. But here's the truth: Everyone thinks THEIR spotlight is on them. They're not analyzing you - they're worried ab...

1. 💭 Ever feel like anxiety is holding you back? You're not alone! In our latest episode, I dive deep into one major tip that helped me tackle my anxiety: cold plunging. ❄️ It’s not just about the physical benefits; it’s about gaining control over your stress! How do you cope with anxiety? Share your thoughts in the comments! 👇 Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only, not medic...