The Mike Muldoon Podcast: Bite-Sized Coaching Sessions Empowering Transformation in Small Doses

MIKE MULDOON
  • 5.0 (15)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

 Unlike those who’ve already reached their goals and now tell you how to get there, The Mike Muldoon Podcast isn’t about preaching from the finish line. We’re (yes, me too)  on this journey together. I’m walking it with you—growing, learning, and striving side by side. This is about elevating our lives, building a stronger, more empowered mindset, and unlocking our full potential with clarity, confidence, and purpose. 

  1. Jan 2

    Resolutions, Reframed

    Forget the tidy to-do list vision of a new year. We’re talking about resolutions as living commitments that change shape when life does—and why that shift can be the most honest form of progress. I share how a straightforward health focus morphed into launching a bagel business, and what that pivot taught me about courage, flexibility, and the real metrics that matter over twelve messy, meaningful months. I unpack why resolutions are acts of optimism and how rigidity turns them brittle. Instead of grading a year by whether January’s plan stayed intact, we must  judge the journey by who we became: more capable, more resilient, more willing to take a smart risk. You’ll hear practical ways to design adaptable systems, pair outcomes with growth traits, and set feedback loops that reward movement over perfection. Make it more about rolling averages instead of streaks, weekly reviews that spotlight learning, and how to evaluate surprise opportunities against the person you want to become. The goal isn’t to preserve a plan; it’s to protect your momentum and expand your range. If this resonates, share it with someone mapping out their 2026 goals, subscribe for more grounded mindset and growth episodes, and leave a quick review with one pivot you’re planning to make. Your story might help someone else choose movement over perfection. Instagram: @mikemuldoonlc Website: www.themikemuldoonpodcast.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mike-muldoon-podcast

    6 min

  2. 11/18/2025

    I Chose Risk Over Comfort And Found Joy

    The paycheck was solid, the calendar was packed, and yet the days felt hollow. Trading a high-paying career for a bagel shop wasn’t a tidy narrative arc; it was a messy, early-morning choice to live with purpose instead of drifting on autopilot. From fixing dishwashers to steaming milk just right, the work became real in a way that spreadsheets never were—more sweat, more nerves, and a surprising amount of joy. I dig into what it actually means to take a calculated risk. Not a movie-montage leap, but a practical shift that respects budgets, timelines, and limits while refusing to settle for a life that only looks successful on paper. The revenue isn’t glamorous yet, but the rewards show up in other currencies: neighbors who feel welcome, regulars who return, a team that gets paid on time, and the quiet pride of building something that serves people. We talk about uncertainty without pretending to control it, and about growth that comes from experiments, not guarantees. If you’ve been telling yourself “someday,” this conversation offers a push. Maybe your risk isn’t a storefront; maybe it’s one honest call, a new pitch at work, or a commitment you’ve been avoiding. You’ll hear why discomfort is a signal you’re alive, how to break big leaps into safer tests, and how hospitality can be a strategy for both business and life. Press play, then tell us the one step you’ll take this week toward a life that feels lived rather than managed. If the story resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review so more people can find it. Your support helps this community grow. Instagram: @mikemuldoonlc Website: www.themikemuldoonpodcast.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mike-muldoon-podcast

    7 min

  3. 10/18/2025

    We Keep Chasing The Opposite When The Moment We Want Is Already Here

    A blazing sauna. An icy plunge. A mind that can’t sit still. Sound familiar? We start with a simple gym-side story that mirrors how we live: always craving the opposite of what we have, sprinting toward the next form of relief. From the bagel shop grind to the quick flip from heat to cold, it’s the same pattern — restless attention, fleeting satisfaction. Together, we unpack hedonic adaptation — the brain’s habit of resetting joy to baseline after any change. The same survival software that once kept us safe now fuels a constant search for “better.” But what if, instead of chasing the next thing, you learned to catch the flip — that exact moment when the thought “I can’t wait until…” appears? That instant is your doorway back to presence. If it’s hot, be hot.  If it’s cold, be cold. When you fully inhabit the moment, you stop outsourcing peace to a future condition and start building it where you stand. We also explore real-time gratitude as a lever for calm — not a list at day’s end, but a felt thank you inside discomfort: gratitude for the heat that tests you, for the cold that wakes you. With simple cues and repeatable reps, this practice strengthens resilience — not by finding the perfect temperature, but by expanding your tolerance across seasons, workloads, and mood swings. The goal isn’t to avoid extremes. It’s to carry calm through them. If you’re tired of living for the next phase, this conversation offers a practical path to feeling okay — even when the moment isn’t. If this resonates, subscribe, leave a rating, and share it with someone who keeps adjusting the thermostat on their life. So — what “other thing” is your mind chasing today? Instagram: @mikemuldoonlc Website: www.themikemuldoonpodcast.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mike-muldoon-podcast

    6 min

  4. 09/17/2025

    Fear Doesn't Drive, But It Can Ride Shotgun

    What happens when fear threatens to derail not just one dream, but two? This candid exploration of entrepreneurship and creative passion reveals the delicate balancing act many of us face when pursuing multiple callings simultaneously. Running our bagel shop has become one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Some mornings, the place buzzes with energy, customers line up eagerly, and I can feel our brand taking root in the community. Then there are the slow days when doubt creeps in, bringing questions every entrepreneur dreads: Did I invest too much? Did I miscalculate? Is this ship sinking while I frantically patch holes? But there's a deeper complexity at play. While I genuinely love the shop and the community it creates, my other passion—writing—lives downstairs in my office. It's my lifelong dream and happy place. The fear isn't just about business failure; it's about pouring so much into one passion that my other dream never gets the space it needs to grow. This tension taught me something profound: fear isn't proof that you're failing; it's proof that you're growing. The strongest people aren't those without fear but those who feel it and still move forward. Fear can sit in the passenger seat—a level of it is even beneficial—but it doesn't get to drive. Whether you're pursuing entrepreneurship, creative endeavors, or any new chapter, remember that growth is usually hiding just on the other side of fear. Success isn't about hitting every shot perfectly; it's about showing up again after those inevitable shanks and trusting that the lessons you're learning are shaping you for what's ahead. What dream has fear been keeping you from pursuing today? Instagram: @mikemuldoonlc Website: www.themikemuldoonpodcast.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mike-muldoon-podcast

    9 min

  5. 09/12/2025

    Every skill is a language you can learn through persistence, not perfection.

    Ever looked at something new and felt like you were staring at a page of indecipherable foreign characters? That feeling of overwhelm isn't failure—it's the natural first step toward mastery. After my computer crashed recently, I found myself facing a wall of unfamiliar interfaces and updated programs. What once felt intuitive now seemed foreign and frustrating. This experience perfectly mirrors the broader challenge we all face when beginning something new, whether it's launching a business, learning a skill, or changing habits. Our brains are wired for efficiency and naturally resist unfamiliar territory, triggering that overwhelming sensation of "I'll never figure this out." The science behind this feeling is fascinating. Neuroplasticity—our brain's ability to form new pathways—means we're constantly capable of change, despite that initial resistance. When opening my bagel shop, I knew nothing about POS systems, inventory management, or health regulations. It all looked like squiggly lines on a page. But through persistence, not perfection, those incomprehensible symbols gradually transformed into a language I could speak fluently. The journey from confusion to competence wasn't about avoiding mistakes, but embracing them as part of the translation process. Remember how impossible driving once seemed before it became automatic? That's the universal pattern of learning. The only way to become fluent in anything new is by speaking it badly at first and improving with time. Whatever challenge you're hesitating to begin because it looks too complex, remind yourself: every skill is just a language waiting to be learned. Take that first step, embrace the confusion, and trust that consistency will eventually create clarity. What new language are you ready to start learning today? Instagram: @mikemuldoonlc Website: www.themikemuldoonpodcast.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mike-muldoon-podcast

    6 min

  6. 08/29/2025

    The Psychology of First Impressions: How Initial Information Shapes Our Reality

    Anchoring bias might be the hidden force keeping you stuck in patterns that no longer serve you. This week, I dive deep into this fascinating psychological concept that shapes how we make decisions, form relationships, and even view ourselves. Drawing from my current struggles as a new bagel shop owner facing a slow month, I explore how our minds become fixated on first impressions and initial information. When business was booming in those first weeks, that became my reference point—my anchor—making normal seasonal slowdowns feel like failures. Sound familiar? This same phenomenon affects everything from how we shop (those "original prices" that make discounts seem amazing) to how we negotiate salaries and even how we view our own capabilities. Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman demonstrated this bias brilliantly: people exposed to completely random high numbers subsequently gave higher estimates when asked unrelated questions. Our brains crave reference points, even absurd ones. I share a personal story about being told I "couldn't draw" by a teacher years ago, and how that single comment became an automatic response whenever anyone asked about my artistic abilities—a perfect example of how these anchors subtly program our self-perception. The good news? Once you recognize these mental anchors, you can loosen their grip. I offer practical strategies for identifying limiting anchors in your life and replacing them with empowering alternatives. Whether you're running a business, building confidence, or trying to break free from old patterns, understanding anchoring bias gives you a powerful tool for reclaiming control of your decisions and perceptions. What anchors are holding you back? Are they serving you or limiting you? Listen, reflect, and discover how to set new reference points that propel you forward rather than keep you stuck. Subscribe, share your thoughts, and join me on this journey of continuous growth and self-discovery. Instagram: @mikemuldoonlc Website: www.themikemuldoonpodcast.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mike-muldoon-podcast

    12 min

  7. 08/22/2025

    Self-Care or Slow Fade? Recognizing When You're Checking Out

    Have you been quietly stepping back from your own life? The phenomenon of "quiet quitting" has evolved beyond workplace boundaries into something more pervasive and potentially harmful. I'm exploring what I call "Quiet Quitting 2.0" – the subtle ways we disengage not just from our jobs, but from friendships, hobbies, and personal growth while convincing ourselves it's just self-care. The world has thrown countless challenges our way – economic uncertainty, technological disruption, social upheaval – making retreat feel like the safest option. But there's a critical distinction we need to recognize: are we truly protecting our mental health, or simply avoiding life's challenges? True self-care recharges you for tomorrow's engagement; avoidance just helps you escape facing tomorrow altogether. One creates space for renewal; the other slowly shrinks your life. Drawing from personal experience opening a bagel shop with zero café experience (yes, it's been terrifying!), I share practical ways to recognize when you've crossed from healthy boundary-setting into harmful disengagement. You'll learn how to identify whether your reduced effort is temporary or has become a permanent lowering of your life expectations, and simple strategies to re-engage one step at a time. Because while our minds and bodies naturally seek the path of least resistance, true fulfillment comes from intentional engagement – even when it's uncomfortable. Safety without engagement leads to stagnation, which feels remarkably like burnout, just in slow motion. Join me to explore this balance between protection and participation, between merely existing and truly living. Instagram: @mikemuldoonlc Website: www.themikemuldoonpodcast.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mike-muldoon-podcast

    7 min

  8. 08/08/2025

    Growth Isn't Linear: Why Your Self-Help Journey Feels So Hard

    Ever feel like you're doing everything right but still not feeling better? You're reading the books, saying the affirmations, drinking water, going to therapy, and journaling—yet that frustrating hum of anxiety remains. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone, and more importantly, you're not broken. The truth about personal growth is that it rarely follows the straight, upward trajectory we're sold. Progress looks more like a messy scribble than a perfect arrow pointing forward. One good week doesn't guarantee the next won't hit hard, and one difficult day doesn't erase all your progress. This non-linear nature of healing is perfectly normal, though rarely acknowledged in the polished promises of self-improvement culture. What's particularly challenging is that growth often doesn't feel good at first. Real transformation involves confusion, discomfort, and the painful process of letting go of familiar patterns. This friction isn't failure—it's evidence of movement. Sometimes, the problem isn't even you but the systems surrounding you. No amount of meditation can fully counteract a soul-crushing job or one-sided relationships. And perhaps most radically: you are allowed to stop working on yourself all the time. You don't need to earn rest by being "better"—you deserve it simply because you're human. Rather than chasing constant positivity, chase honesty and alignment with yourself, even when that means sitting with uncomfortable feelings. Remember that discomfort is often the precursor to change becoming your new normal. Just as muscles feel sore when beginning a new workout routine, your mind initially resists change before adapting. Be patient with yourself. Growth isn't about perfection—it's about compassion, especially for the parts of you that are tired of trying so hard. You're still moving forward, even when it doesn't feel like it. Instagram: @mikemuldoonlc Website: www.themikemuldoonpodcast.com Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mike-muldoon-podcast

    6 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

 Unlike those who’ve already reached their goals and now tell you how to get there, The Mike Muldoon Podcast isn’t about preaching from the finish line. We’re (yes, me too)  on this journey together. I’m walking it with you—growing, learning, and striving side by side. This is about elevating our lives, building a stronger, more empowered mindset, and unlocking our full potential with clarity, confidence, and purpose. 

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