This Is Nothing New™

Michelle Gruening
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Self-Improvement

This Is Nothing New™ is the podcast where Michelle Gruening drops the trends, gets back to the basics, and uncovers the lessons hiding in everyday life. Through honest stories, grounded conversations, and practical takeaways, Michelle explores the timeless ideas that help us move forward — from confidence and leadership to goals, mindset, growth, and the real-life messes in between. Because most of the time, we don’t need a brand-new answer. We need a better reminder of what already works.

  1. 5d ago

    Conversation: Lauren Schwab on Building Confidence and Becoming Your Own Hype Woman

    What if confidence isn’t something you have or don’t have, but something you build little by little? In this conversation, Michelle sits down with boudoir and couples photographer Lauren Schwab to talk about how one boudoir shoot changed the way Lauren saw herself and eventually led her to build High Heals Photography. They explore confidence as a muscle, the difference between performative confidence and actually trusting yourself, how women can do a better job of genuinely building one another up, and what can happen when you stop waiting for someone else to validate you. It's a reminder that sometimes becoming your own hype woman starts with something as simple as changing the way you talk to yourself. About Lauren Schwab Lauren Schwab is a boudoir and couples photographer and the founder of High Heals Photography, with “heals” spelled that way very intentionally. After experiencing firsthand how powerful it can be to see yourself differently, Lauren built a business centered on helping women feel really damn good in their own skin. She believes confidence isn’t something you wait for, it’s something you actively build, and that stepping in front of the camera in a vulnerable way can be a powerful part of healing, self-trust, and learning to celebrate yourself more fully. Connect with Lauren Website: https://www.highhealsphotography.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highhealsphotography Have a question? Send us a message! Connect with Michelle: Website: michellegruening.com Instagram: @michellegruening LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

    Conversation: Lauren Schwab on Building Confidence and Becoming Your Own Hype Woman

  2. Oct 21

    Conversation: Sara Paz on Crone Queen Wisdom, Curiosity, and Why It’s Never Too Late

    What happens when you stop trying to prove you have all the answers and start trusting yourself to navigate whatever comes next? In this conversation, Michelle sits down with global marketing leader Sara Paz to talk about growth, authenticity, confidence, curiosity, and what it means to become increasingly unapologetic about who you are. They explore why confidence isn’t the same as certainty, the wisdom that can only come from actually living through hard things, why Sara would rather be a “learn-it-all” than a know-it-all, and what leadership looks like when you choose to empower people instead having power of over them. They also dig into female representation in leadership and tech, the value of bringing different perspectives to the table, and why growth often requires being willing to challenge the way things have always been done. Because no matter what chapter or season you’re in, Sara’s reminder is simple: if you’re not dead, you’re not done yet. About Sara Paz Sara Paz has been described as a “force of nature,” bringing infectious energy, deep industry knowledge, and a passion for creativity to everything she does. After time at Oxford University, Sara built a life as a professional nomad, living and working around the world with career postings in Silicon Valley, New York, Mexico, England, Finland, Singapore, and Japan. She has been named one of APAC’s Top 10 Marketers, received Intel’s Marketing Innovation Award, earned Cannes Lions for marketing excellence, and received recognition as one of Asia’s Most Admired Marketing Leaders and Most Successful CMOs. Sara also serves on the AAMA Association and Charitable Foundation boards and was recently honored with the AAMA Shining Star Award for the energy, creativity, generosity, and commitment she brings to the organization and industry. Perhaps the best description of Sara, though, came from the AAMA team themselves: she is “unapologetically Sara.” Bold, passionate, fiercely loyal, and someone who simply doesn’t do anything halfway. Connect with Sara on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarapaz/ Have a question? Send us a message! Connect with Michelle: Website: michellegruening.com Instagram: @michellegruening LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

    Conversation: Sara Paz on Crone Queen Wisdom, Curiosity, and Why It’s Never Too Late

  3. Oct 13

    Conversation: Amanda Prokupek on Trust, Working Motherhood, and Leading Like a Human

    What does it actually look like to lead people with trust instead of control? Michelle sits down with technology and business leader Amanda Prokupek to talk about being the youngest person and only woman at the table, navigating working motherhood, and why workplace flexibility depends on more than a policy. They dig into building trust on teams, challenging leaders when the evidence doesn’t support their ideas, the realities of founder-led companies, and why changing your mind when you learn something new is a leadership strength, not a weakness. From maternity leave and ambition to healthy conflict and the pressure to have the answers, this conversation is a reminder that accountability and humanity can exist together, and sometimes the best thing a leader can do is loosen their grip on control. About Amanda Prokupek Amanda is a people-first business leader with a career spanning product, technology, and growing organizations. Her leadership is grounded in curiosity, honest conversation, and the belief that accountability and humanity can exist together. As a working mother of two, she brings a candid perspective on ambition, workplace systems, and growing into leadership while life grows alongside you. Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ammogden Have a question? Send us a message! Connect with Michelle: Website: michellegruening.com Instagram: @michellegruening LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

    Conversation: Amanda Prokupek on Trust, Working Motherhood, and Leading Like a Human

  4. Oct 7

    Conversation: Lara Galante On Bringing Recess Back to the Grown Up Years

    When did play become something we had to grow out of? In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Lara Galante, founder of Find Your Inner Parakeet, to talk about why play still matters in adulthood. They explore how perfectionism can shut down creativity and what we can learn from the way kids create and try things without worrying about being good at them. This episode is a reminder that creativity doesn’t require talent, play doesn’t need to be productive, and sometimes tapping back into your inner 10-year-old is exactly what you need. About Lara Galante Lara Galante is a joy‑seeker, accidental entrepreneur, and founder of Find Your Inner Parakeet. She spends her days mountain biking, traveling, and adventuring with her husband Steve and their teenager Lyla — and creating playful, art‑based experiences that help adults reconnect with creativity. She believes all work and no play is no fun at all, and she’s on a mission to bring recess back to the grown‑up years.   Connect with Lara Website: FIND YOUR INNER PARAKEET Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findyourinnerparakeet Eventbrite: Find Your Inner Parakeet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laragalante/ Facebook: Facebook Have a question? Send us a message! Connect with Michelle: Website: michellegruening.com Instagram: @michellegruening LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

    Conversation: Lara Galante On Bringing Recess Back to the Grown Up Years

  5. Sep 30

    What If the Next Step Is to Stop?

    I talk a lot about how action creates clarity. Sometimes the only way to figure out what you want is to go do the thing and let the experience give you more information. But what happens when you’ve been taking action and still can’t see what’s right in front of you? In this episode, Michelle explores the difference between waiting for clarity and intentionally choosing to pause, why stillness can feel so uncomfortable when your default mode is action, and what can become clear when you finally give all that information somewhere to land. Have a question? Send us a message! Connect with Michelle: Website: michellegruening.com Instagram: @michellegruening LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

  6. Sep 22

    Make the Thing and See What Happens

    What if every new idea didn’t need a business plan, a long-term strategy, or a guaranteed payoff before you started? In this short solo episode of This Is Nothing New™, Michelle shares the story behind creating her activity book, Stop Doom Scrolling, and what the process taught her about being a beginner again, experimenting without overcommitting, and letting curiosity be enough of a reason to start. Sometimes the project becomes something bigger. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, you learn more by moving than by sitting around trying to predict the outcome. And yes, Stop Doom Scrolling is available on Amazon! Purchase your own copy of Stop Doom Scrolling here: https://a.co/d/0ioxDvVd  Have a question? Send us a message! Connect with Michelle: Website: michellegruening.com Instagram: @michellegruening LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

  7. Sep 16

    Conversation: Leslie Wright on How Advancing Means Returning to the Basics

    In this conversation, Michelle sits down with yoga teacher Leslie Wright to talk about what it really means to quiet the outside noise and come back to yourself. Leslie shares how yoga first became a healing practice after a great loss, why movement can help us get out of our heads, and how she learned to listen more closely to what her own body was telling her. If you’ve been overwhelmed by outside advice, stuck in your own head, or convinced that your next step needs to be more complicated than it is, this conversation is a reminder to return to what helps you feel most connected to yourself. About Leslie Wright Leslie Wright is a business operations and growth developer who also has a deep foot in the holistic world as a transformational program designer, yoga instructor, and retired massage therapist. She is the creator of The Anchored Wave, a practice dedicated to helping women quiet external noise and return home to their inner wisdom.  With over two decades of experience in personal growth through yoga and the healing arts, Leslie works to deconstruct the modern wellness myth that "advancing" in yoga requires acrobatic shapes or performance. Instead, she teaches that true mastery is about lowering your inner anchor, attuning to your deepest self, and navigating the chaotic waves of life with absolute sovereignty. Connect with Leslie on Facebook Have a question? Send us a message! Connect with Michelle: Website: michellegruening.com Instagram: @michellegruening LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

    Conversation: Leslie Wright on How Advancing Means Returning to the Basics

  8. Sep 9

    When Quitting Is the Right Decision

    Quitting gets a bad reputation. We celebrate perseverance, resilience, and sticking it out, but sometimes continuing is exactly what keeps us stuck. In this episode of This Is Nothing New™, Michelle explores the difference between quitting wisely and simply avoiding discomfort, why sunk cost can keep us committed to decisions that no longer fit, and how changing your mind can be a sign of self-awareness rather than failure. If you’ve been wondering whether to keep going or finally let something go, this episode will give you a different way to think about quitting. Have a question? Send us a message! Connect with Michelle: Website: michellegruening.com Instagram: @michellegruening LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

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5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

This Is Nothing New™ is the podcast where Michelle Gruening drops the trends, gets back to the basics, and uncovers the lessons hiding in everyday life. Through honest stories, grounded conversations, and practical takeaways, Michelle explores the timeless ideas that help us move forward — from confidence and leadership to goals, mindset, growth, and the real-life messes in between. Because most of the time, we don’t need a brand-new answer. We need a better reminder of what already works.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Gruening
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 This Is Nothing New™
  • Show Website
    This Is Nothing New™

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