
“I Got Sober, Married A Supermodel, And Built Everything From Nothing” with Michael Chernow
From The Optimist by Jake Hurwitz
March 18, 2026 · 1h 52m
About this episode
Michael Chernow shares his journey from addiction to sobriety, fatherhood, and entrepreneurship.
Michael Chernow spent most of his life searching for a father's love, and it nearly killed him. From childhood abuse and molestation to an 11-year battle with addiction that ended with a heroin overdose and a flatline at 24, Michael's story is one of the most raw and redemptive conversations we've ever had on this show. Today, Michael is a serial entrepreneur, CEO of Kreatures of Habit, a pro bodybuilder, and - the title he's most proud of - a father of two boys. In this episode, he shares everything: how training saved his life, the love story with his wife Donna, the "13 Things" he tells his sons every night, why kids can no longer safely experiment with drugs, and what he believes it truly means to be a man. This one hits different. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Preview 00:26 — Michael's childhood in Manhattan and his father's abuse 02:17 — Searching for a father's love and falling into the hands of a predator 02:36 — What fatherhood means to him now 03:45 — What makes his wife Donna such a phenomenal mother 05:04 — The love story: how Michael met Donna at the restaurant 09:02 — She ghosted him — then came back 10:23 — Moving in together and falling in love in early sobriety…
People in this episode
Host: Jake Hurwitz
Guest: Michael Chernow
Topics covered
- addiction
- fatherhood
- sobriety
- entrepreneurship
- relationships
- personal growth
Keywords
- addiction
- sobriety
- fatherhood
- entrepreneurship
- relationships
- Michael Chernow
- Kreatures of Habit
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