Everything Why with Michael Martin

What happens to our mental health when we stop speaking our truth? In this powerful and timely conversation, Dr. Chloe Carmichael — clinical psychologist and USA Today bestselling author — joins host Michael Martin to explore her new book: ➡ Can I Say That? Why Free Speech Matters and How to Use It Fearlessly . We dive into: * The mental health cost of silencing ourselves * Why cancellation anxiet...

What if I told you that fire led to glass, glass led to lenses, and lenses opened up entire worlds through microscopes and telescopes? Join me as I sit down with Dylan Thuras, co-founder of Atlas Obscura, and Jennifer Swanson, author of 50+ STEM books for kids, to explore their incredible new guide to the world's most fascinating inventions. We dive deep into how innovation really works - not isol...

What happens when two dermatologists spend 25 years treating patients and realize an entire industry has been built around the wrong skin type? Dr. Gauri and Dr. Abhijit Desai discovered that virtually every skincare product was developed with white skin at the center - while 4 billion people with brown skin had completely different needs. From their practice in Mumbai to launching BrownKind acros...

This isn’t just a cleaning story—it’s a mirror held up to the systems running our lives on autopilot. From endless wars to broken schools, from media manipulation to the black grout under your feet, Stop the Mop, Stop the Madness exposes how one overlooked truth can reveal the machinery of dysfunction. It starts with a mop—the most common symbol of “clean” —and ends with a revelation: the mop is a...

🎥 Pre-Podcast Video Drop Want proof? Start with the grout. This is not a commercial. It’s the start of a reckoning. For 30 years, they trained staff to follow protocol. To mop. To dilute. To repeat. But no one checked the floor. This 91-second clip was filmed on the road — documenting the truth underfoot. What’s scraped from the grout turns to liquid — identical to your mop bucket. And that shoul...

When I read The Queen Bees of Tybee County , I cried the whole way through. Then I had the honor of sitting down with the author—Kyle Casey Chu, also known as Panda Dulce—and what unfolded was one of the most honest, moving conversations I’ve had on Everything Why . Kyle’s story is layered. Personal. Historic. Brave. And it’s not just a coming-of-age story—it’s a coming-into-truth story. We talk a...

In this episode of *Everything Why*, Michael Martin sits down with two-time Newbery Medalist **Erin Entrada Kelly** (*Hello, Universe*, *The First State of Being*) to explore her riveting nonfiction debut: “ At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom” This powerful work uncovers the extraordinary true story of **Josefina “Joey” Guerrero**, a young mother and lepro...

Warning: You won't be able to put this episode down - just like Haley Hoffman Smith's game-changing book "You Have the Magic." Mike Martin delivers a conversation so compelling, you'll find yourself hitting replay before it's even over. This is the self-help book that reads like a page-turner, and this interview proves why. Haley reveals the addictive power of understanding your subconscious mind...

In this powerful episode of "Everything Why with Mike Martin," Mike sits down with former professional baseball player turned performance coach and author Jim Murphy to discuss his book "Inner Excellence." Jim shares his journey from sports stardom to spiritual seeker, including his transformative "five years in the desert" where he developed his countercultural philosophy on peak performance. Mur...

I hit record thinking I was the one asking the questions. What actually happened is I sat down with a man—Garrett Glaser—who lived so authentically, so unapologetically, that by the end of our time together, he had gently reversed the polarity of the interview. I started as the host. I ended up as the guy confessing life lessons like a waterfall on a couch. You’ll hear it. It’s subtle, but it’s re...

In this eye-opening conversation with acclaimed author Sharon G. Flake, we discover that behind the misleading media stereotypes of urban neighborhoods lie universal family stories that resonate across all communities. Sharon shares insights from her latest book "The Family I'm In," where characters John John and Caleb navigate the everyday challenges of growing up, seeking parental approval, and...

“A puppet believes he's free if he loves his strings" - this insight from Joseph Finder's latest thriller reflects how deeply this master storyteller understands human psychology and social dynamics. In this revealing conversation, the bestselling author of "Paranoia" and "High Crimes" (both adapted for the big screen) invites us into his meticulous research process. Did you know a sleeping bag ma...

What does 26 million books really mean? For bestselling author Steve Berry, it represents 29,000 years of readers' time - a perspective that even surprised him. In this candid conversation, Berry shares his journey from small-town trial lawyer to master storyteller, including the 12-year, 85-rejection road to his first publication. Berry reveals the meticulous craft behind his Cotton Malone series...

In this re-run we have an illuminating conversation with listening expert Dr. Graham Bodie, we dive deep into why listening - despite being crucial to every aspect of our lives - remains the "Cinderella skill," overlooked and undertaught. From discovering why babies are pre-programmed to listen, to understanding how our brains process information differently, to learning practical strategies for b...

Join me for a fascinating conversation with bestselling author TJ Klune, where we explore the magic of storytelling through an unexpected lens. After discovering "The Bones Beneath My Skin" just days before our interview, I experienced something profound - how carefully crafted words transform into vivid mental cinema. Klune reveals his approach to creating these "technicolor" worlds in readers' m...

From wiping butts to spiritual revelations, inventor Michael Martin shares raw, transformative stories from his four tours of hospice care and current journey supporting a friend in a nursing home. Through practical wisdom (like why you should skip the bedpan) and profound insights about death itself, Martin challenges our cultural fears around dying while exposing the hidden realities of end-of-l...

While many consider space or the ocean to be humanity's final frontier, I've discovered through my journey that the true unexplored territory lies between our ears. In this episode, I share and break down my poem "The Human Race," born from moments of genuine presence after learning to quiet what is call the "monkey mind." From the chaotic rat race of modern society to the profound realization tha...

Here's a podcast bio for your guests: GUEST BIOS: Lucia Knell and Gabriel Reilich are the driving forces behind some of the most uplifting content on the internet. For over a decade, they've been part of Upworthy, reaching 100 million people monthly through their mission of sharing stories that showcase the best of humanity. Their Instagram platform alone touches 50 million people each month with...

In this inspiring episode of "Everything Why," host Mike Martin interviews Tom Seaman, author of the upcoming memoir "Animals I Want to See." Growing up as one of 12 children in the Toledo projects, Tom shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to Yale, Harvard, and international business success. He reflects on how small acts of kindness—from a neighbor taking him fishing to a traffic...

Summary In this conversation, Michael Martin explores the importance of quieting the mind to discover solutions and embrace the present moment. He shares personal experiences and insights on overcoming challenges, the transformative power of literature, and the necessity of perspective in personal growth. Through mindfulness and self-discovery, he emphasizes that everyone has the potential to chan...

"In this soul-stirring episode, I sit down with Heidi Smith, author of 'The Uncommon Book of Prayer: A Guide to Co-Creating with the Universe.' Our conversation explores how prayer can be reimagined as an inclusive, accessible practice for everyone - regardless of religious background. Smith shares her journey from growing up in Ohio to becoming a psychosomatic therapist and author, revealing how...