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/