think unbroken

Michael Unbroken is a coach, speaker, advocate for survivors of childhood trauma, and the best-selling author of ‘Think Unbroken: Understanding and Overcoming Childhood Trauma.'

In this episode, Michael shares his experience with childhood abuse; how he overcame it through a combination of forgiveness and self-development; how he built a successful business and lost 100 pounds; and how he helps others work through the impacts of trauma today.

Michael also speaks about:

- Being raised by a drug-addicted mother and a racist grandmother, leading him to a life of addiction and chaos

- How genetic and energetic factors play a role in passing down behaviors and experiences from one generation to another

- How forgiveness is for oneself, not for others – and how it helped him find release and freedom

- How he achieved his goal to make $100k per year legally by age 26

- The teacher that changed and saved his life

- Confronting his own victim mentality and adopting a tough approach to personal growth

- The negative impact of the American food system and the government's misleading food pyramid

- His journey of starting with a yoga program, losing weight, and eventually becoming a certified personal trainer and nutritionist

- How he moved away from religion and found spirituality, tapping into the universe through meditation and visualization

- The importance of taking risks that lead to unexpected opportunities

- How childhood trauma, regardless of its severity, can have long-lasting effects on mental health, addiction, and physical well-being

- The importance of intervening and speaking up against abuse when you see it

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk

The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone

Michael’s charitable cause:

Operation Underground Railroad, which “exists to rescue children from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation around the globe”.

Connect with Michael on socials:

https://www.thinkunbroken.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/traumasurvivormentorandcoach

https://www.instagram.com/michaelunbroken/

https://www.thinkunbrokenpodcast.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelunbroken

On this week’s episode of Off The Cuff with Danny LoPriore, I’m joined by entrepreneur, author, speaker, and mental health advocate Michael Unbroken to discuss trauma and abuse in his childhood and how those experiences informed his journey, businesses, and current mission to help others foster their own confidence and well-being. 

As he dives into his background as a biracial child raised in the mormon church, Michael touches on the reality of the abuse he sustained at the hands of his family members and the realization he came to as an adult. 

“I had this recollection, or this experience – recollection is the wrong word – and I had this moment of reconciliation where I was like, ‘Oh I get it actually,’ which is a really crazy thing to say because how could you “get” a grown up beating up a child. But that’s because I look at who his mother was, my step grandma, and she was arguably – and I hate to say it but it’s true – she was arguably the worst person I ever met in my life. And you look at that and you go ‘OK, this is what generational trauma is.” - Michael (10:23)

Michael’s journey to unpack his childhood led him through various seasons, some filled with success and others great challenges. As a young adult only equipped with a high school diploma, he made his way to a Fortune 10 company where he learned difficult lessons about what it really means to prioritize your mental health through action and how to ultimately close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.  

“The answer to everything in life is action. People are like ‘I hate my relationship’ – well, leave it or make it better… And that’s the thing about all of this – the healing journey, the physical journey, the mental journey, the spiritual journey; do it, man… You’ve got to go and put yourself in the situation.” - Michael (36:05)

Through Michael’s winding journey, he’s found that mental health requires commitment from everyone. Michael suggests that you work through that fear and begin new actions TODAY to grow as an individual.

“Where you are today versus where you want to be tomorrow – there is a gap. And every single day, the mission is to close that gap until you become that version of you.” - Michael (38:57)

In This Episode

• (01:36) - Michael’s background as a biracial child living in poverty, growing up in the mormon church, and living with abusive parents
• (03:37)- The church’s role in his life as a child
• (06:42) - The way he perceived his biological father and how his stepfather treated him and his siblings
• (15:34) - Mental health on the internet – what helps and what hurts
• (24:13) - Money trauma and the financial lessons Michael learned in his 20s
• (33:10) - Michael’s minimalist lifestyle and how it affects his mental health
• (36:05) - The importance of action in your own journey
• (45:19) - How people living in lower income and impoverished areas can invest in their mental health
• (53:23) - Michael’s thoughts on happiness

Our Guest

Michael Unbroken is an author, coach, speaker, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate for those who have survived abuse. With a high school diploma and a mountain of determination, Michael has built coaching programs, written a book, designed courses, and more to help survivors work through their trauma, build their confidence, and invest in their lives. 

He is passionate about helping people foster healthy actions and is committed to using his platform as a mental health influencer and his podcast to equip people with the information they need to heal from their trauma. 

Resources & Links

Off The Cuff

• https://www.offthecuff.fm/
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore
• https://www.instagram.com/1and1otc/
• https://www.instagram.com/dannylopriore/

Michael Unbroken

• https://www.instagram.com/michaelunbroken/?hl=en
• https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelunbroken
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC95YX4cZdz39HHIaLZYFsGA
• https://www.thinkunbroken.com/
• https://www.thinkunbrokenpodcast.com/

Michael hosts the Think Unbroken Podcast. His life led him through trauma and a truly unique path through the world of foster care!

His story can help all of us begin to see our world through the lens of healing wounds.

https://www.ThinkUnbrokenPodcast.com

You can find him everywhere online @michaelunbroken

Michael was born to a hyper-abusive drug addict mother who cut his finger off at 4 years old, a step-father you pray you never have, and a racist grandmother that pushed him into an identity crisis. By the time he was 9, his family was in poverty and often homeless all while being a member of the Mormon Church. At twelve, he was adopted by his grandmother and quickly turned to drugs and alcohol to survive the continuing abuse. Despite multiple learning disabilities and not graduating high school on time, Michael found success in Corporate America in his early twenties. However, success only made things worse. Michael found himself morbidly obese, high and drunk daily, and ultimately self-sabotaging everything around him. It was not until finding his inner power through his Mirror Moment and choosing to do whatever it took to work through childhood trauma that his life really began.

Michael Anthony is the author of the best-selling book Think Unbroken and is a coach, mentor, and educator for adult survivors of child abuse. Michaels spends his time helping other survivors get out of "The Vortex" to become the hero of their own story and take their life back. Michael hosts the Think Unbroken podcast, teaches at Think Unbroken Academy and is on a mission to create change in the world.

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Here’s what to expect in the episode:

• What is mindset? It’s more than what people on social media think!
• You can create the life that you want.
• The importance of facing the consequences of our decisions and learning from mistakes.
• If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.
• Success can never be achieved alone. Being in a community is essential in life.
• It takes time to get to a place where change is noticeable.
• The need for everyone to ask for help.
• Forming new frameworks and understanding of yourself.
• And much more!

Remember, you have a choice.

About Michael Anthony:

I didn’t sign up to be the spokesman for survivors of child abuse. In fact, this job sucks. I mean that. 

The truth is that the universe chose me for this role. I have been gifted the ability to navigate the most harsh and vicious child abuse to come out on the other side seemingly whole. I say seemingly because there will always be a part of me that was stolen. I cannot get that back. None of the rage, drugs, sex, rock n’ roll, or anger will give me that thing that was stolen.

The world is both beautiful and brutal and I have seen the best and the worst of it. I know that the abuse I suffered has given me an undeniable strength that I was only able to tap into after falling face first into complete darkness. 

There is truth in understanding that Mindset is Everything. There are no shortcuts, trust me I’ve tried them all. There is hard work and on the backside of that is getting your life back.

Think Unbroken is about sharing the tools and skills I have created and leveraged over a lifetime to help other people break free of The Vortex and become the person that they know they are capable of being. If I can do it then anyone can.

Connect with Michael Anthony!

Website: https://www.thinkunbroken.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelunbroken/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelUnbroken

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC95YX4cZdz39HHIaLZYFsGA

Think Unbroken: Understanding and Overcoming Childhood Trauma

https://www.amazon.com/Think-Unbroken-Understanding-Overcoming-Childhood-ebook/dp/B07Z329MLT

The Michael Unbroken Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-unbroken-podcast-cptsd-and-trauma-life-coach/id1477432473

Connect with Denise DeShetler!
Website: https://www.passionatehealthadvocate.com/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisedeshetler