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

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

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

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

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

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