Everything Why with Michael Martin

Michael B Martin

Welcome to Everything Why, I’m your host Mike Martin. This is a podcast about the journey of an inventor and disruptor. I invent to because it gives me purpose and I disrupt because it’s important to question the status quo—not to create chaos. During this podcast series, we’ll unravel the 'whys' behind our actions—why we laugh, cry, work, do good, or sometimes stumble into darker paths. We’ll talk with fellow inventors and experts, along with people who have been a part of my life, both personal and professional. Join me as we uncover the essence behind every aspect of life, because in everything, there's a 'why' waiting to be explored. personal Substack michael343.substack.com

  1. 08/19/2025

    Seeing What 4 Billion People Needed: A Skincare Revolution

    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 across three countries, this husband-wife team shares how their own daughter's question about Botox became the wake-up call that launched a movement. They explain why brown skin ages like a pear instead of a peach, why sunscreen leaves white casts, and how representation in beauty goes far deeper than marketing. This isn't just about skincare - it's about seeing what everyone else missed, having the courage to act on it, and building something that serves people who've been overlooked. Plus, the incredible story of their son buying their very first bottle instead of taking a free sample. Key Topics: * Why brown skin has different aging patterns and skincare needs * The science behind melanin-rich skin and sun protection * Building a global business while maintaining your mission * How empty nesters can pivot to world-changing work * The power of buying from people whose story you know Connect with Dr. Gauri and Dr. Abhijit Desai: * Website: brownkind.com * Instagram: @brownkindskin * Available on Amazon Another episode in the "Everything Why" series - questioning the systems we accept without thinking, and discovering the opportunities hiding in plain sight. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michael343.substack.com

    39 min
  2. 07/08/2025

    🐝 The Spin in the Mind and the Mirror on the Wall

    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 about what it means to come out in seventh grade. About being the only Chinese kid in school. About how parental love can sometimes hurt more than it helps. And about how writing can turn fear into freedom. But the moment that floored me—the moment I stopped the podcast to make sure it didn’t slip by—was this: "This book is kind of a testimony. It’s kind of like a survival guide. It’s all the conversations I wish an older figure could have had with me… and creating those possibility models that I really want to impact them." I told Kyle on the spot:“That’s the blurb. That’s what people need to hear.” Because this isn’t just a book. It’s a mirror. A roadmap. A keyhole. It gives kids (and adults) permission to be who they are—and shows families how love can look like listening instead of shaping. 🎙️ Episode Highlights: * Coming out at age 12—and the emotional storm that followed * What history books don’t teach about Chinese American labor and exclusion * When protection becomes control—and how parents can support without cloning * Why representation matters before tragedy, and beyond stereotype * The power of writing as survival—and storytelling as freedom 📖 Get the Book The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu – available at all major retailers and indie bookstores🌐 Learn more: kylekcchu.com📸 Follow: @PandaDolce on Instagram 🗝️ A Moment Everyone Should Hear: “Most people don’t even think about what it’s like going to school as the only Chinese kid, or Black kid, or gay kid.Then you’ve got your parents, who love you—but they’re scared. And that fear? It gets in your head. And the spin in the mind will make you crazy.That’s why this book matters. Because if we don’t talk about this stuff, nobody knows what to do.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michael343.substack.com

    33 min
  3. "At Last She Stood” with Erin Entrada Kelly

    06/17/2025

    "At Last She Stood” with Erin Entrada Kelly

    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 leprosy patient who became a decorated spy for the Filipino resistance during World War II. Erin shares how she discovered Joey’s nearly forgotten story in the archives of a leprosy hospital in Louisiana, and what the journey of writing this book taught her about empathy, courage, and the human will to be seen. 📚 Where to buy the book: Available now via [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063248119), [Barnes & Noble](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/at-last-she-stood-erin-entrada-kelly/1144136577), [IndieBound](https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780063248112), [HarperCollins](https://www.harpercollins.com/products/at-last-she-stood-erin-entrada-kelly), and wherever books are sold. ✨ Signed editions at [Books of Wonder](https://booksofwonder.com/products/9780063248112) 🌐 Learn more about Erin: Website: [erinentradakelly.com](https://erinentradakelly.com) Instagram: [@erinentrada](https://www.instagram.com/erinentrada) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michael343.substack.com

    28 min
  4. You Have the Magic Inside You: Unlocking Your Subconscious Power

    06/03/2025

    You Have the Magic Inside You: Unlocking Your Subconscious Power

    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 - once you start learning how your thoughts literally shift your life, you can't stop wanting more. From breaking cycles of generational trauma with EFT tapping to discovering why quieting the mind unlocks unstoppable creativity, every insight builds on the last in a way that keeps you completely hooked. Haley's personal journey from struggle to success reads like the best kind of transformation story - the kind you devour in one sitting because you have to know what happens next. You'll be captivated by how childhood experiences secretly shape everything, mesmerized by the real science behind manifestation, and completely absorbed in learning why emotional breakthroughs are the key to authentic living. This isn't just information - it's revelation after revelation that makes you hungry for the next breakthrough. Just like readers who can't put down "You Have the Magic," you won't want this conversation to end. Because once Haley shows you that you can create the life you want, and that the magic has been inside you all along, you'll be completely hooked on unlocking your potential. Fair warning: Have her book ready to order before you press play. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michael343.substack.com

    31 min

About

Welcome to Everything Why, I’m your host Mike Martin. This is a podcast about the journey of an inventor and disruptor. I invent to because it gives me purpose and I disrupt because it’s important to question the status quo—not to create chaos. During this podcast series, we’ll unravel the 'whys' behind our actions—why we laugh, cry, work, do good, or sometimes stumble into darker paths. We’ll talk with fellow inventors and experts, along with people who have been a part of my life, both personal and professional. Join me as we uncover the essence behind every aspect of life, because in everything, there's a 'why' waiting to be explored. personal Substack michael343.substack.com