The Action Factory Podcast

What if the biggest thing holding you back… was living inside your own head?

In this powerful episode, Michael Dawson dives into the highest level on the pyramid of change:

Identity & Beliefs

Where lasting transformation truly begins. Through the lens of a Big Issue seller, a forgotten psychology experiment, and a poem about a lying robot in your mind, Michael explores the hidden voice that shapes your choices, moods, and beliefs every single day.

You’ll learn:

Why someone with elite skills might still struggle to succeed (and how you might be doing the same)

How to spot and silence the five biggest lies your mind tells you daily

The truth behind priming, hedonic adaptation, and confirmation bias, and how to beat them

A powerful rewrite of your internal story using “ME-NA” - your mental DNA

A poem to remind you that you are in charge - not your inner robot

Whether your quiz pointed to identity as the source of your weight struggle, or you’re just tired of feeling hijacked by your own mind, this episode gives you the tools to take back control for good.

Subscribe now, and start rewiring your mental DNA, one truth at a time.

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👣 What to do next...

If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on and how to start changing from that level:

You’ll get:

Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:

Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.

☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:

📚 Explore more tools and resources at:

Thanks for tuning in — and remember:

What do a Navy SEAL, a worn-out mother of two, and your own 5 p.m. chocolate craving have in common?

In this inspiring episode, Michael Dawson explores the Capabilities level of change, the knowledge, skills, and inner strength you often forget you already have. Drawing on the powerful metaphor of the “Cookie Jar,” inspired by David Goggins, Michael shows you how to uncover the resilience, grit, and small wins you’ve been overlooking.

You’ll discover:

How a 100-mile ultra-run reveals the secret to mental toughness

Why your weight loss problem might actually be a knowledge gap about yourself

The science behind The Winner Effect - and how to trigger it without running a marathon

A simple, step-by-step method to build your own “Cookie Jar” of personal victories

Whether your daily win is surviving a stressful meeting or simply not falling into old patterns, these wins matter - and stacking them can change your life.

🎯 Listen now to find out how remembering your own power can do more than any diet ever has.

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👣 What to do next...

If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on and how to start changing from that level:

You’ll get:

Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:

Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.

☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:

📚 Explore more tools and resources at:

Thanks for tuning in — and remember:

What if the secret to lasting change wasn’t more discipline... but smarter habits?

In this episode, Michael Dawson explores the fascinating science behind habit loops , the brain's invisible programming that runs our daily lives. Inspired by the true story of Clive Wearing, a man with a 30-second memory who could still play piano and find his favorite chair, Michael reveals just how deeply habits shape our behavior, even when we don’t realize it.

You’ll discover:

Why breaking bad habits isn’t about willpower, it’s about breaking the loop.

The simple three-step formula that drives every habit (and how to rewrite it).

How one man stopped a 20-year chocolate routine with a single bus stop change.

Practical tools to rewire your brain using cues, routines, and rewards, without counting a single calorie.

Whether you’ve taken the Quit Your Diet quiz and landed on “behavior” or just want to understand your own habits better, this episode gives you real, doable strategies to shift old patterns and build ones that actually work for you.

Listen now and start building a life that runs on habits you’ve chosen, not ones that run you.

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👣 What to do next...

If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on and how to start changing from that level:

You’ll get:

Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:

Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.

☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:

📚 Explore more tools and resources at:

Thanks for tuning in — and remember:

What if changing your environment could do more for your health than willpower ever could?

In this episode, Michael Dawson dives into one of the most overlooked but life-changing factors behind lasting change: your environment.

From heroin-addicted soldiers in Vietnam, to why your favorite holiday drink tastes terrible back in your living room, this episode is packed with eye-opening stories and practical tips.

If you’ve taken the Quit Your Diet quiz and scored high on environment, this episode is your roadmap.

If you haven’t taken the quiz yet, no worries, there’s a link in the show notes.

Michael brings a fresh perspective, real-world examples, and practical steps that can help you transform your kitchen, your mindset, and your life — all without counting a single calorie.

Hit play now and join us on the Quit Your Diet journey.

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👣 What to do next...

If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on and how to start changing from that level:

You’ll get:

Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:

Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.

☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:

📚 Explore more tools and resources at:

Thanks for tuning in — and remember:

I’m Michael Dawson, author of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink, and in this episode, we’re diving into one of the biggest reasons diets feel like a constant uphill battle, even when we’re motivated to change.

We all know someone who seems to eat anything they want and never gain weight. Meanwhile, you just glance at carbs and your clothes feel tighter. The truth? It might not be what you’re eating, but how you're trying to change.

This episode introduces the Levels of Change model — a psychological framework that explains the deeper forces behind change.

Discover how “The Weightless” approach eating, and why it works when diets don't.

Make sure you’re subscribed, in upcoming episodes, we’ll break down each level and how to apply it in your own life.

___________________________________________________

👣 What to do next...

If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on — and how to start changing from that level:

You’ll get:

🎥 Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:

🎓 Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.

☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:

📚 Explore more tools and resources at:

Thanks for tuning in — and remember:

After the last episode, I've been thinking deeply. So many people asked me when I was going to write that book about weight loss that I discussed in the previous episode. Well, here we are in 2025, and I did much more than that: I wrote the book, and I'm currently giving away 100,000 copies on a pay-what-you-want basis. I also have a course coming soon that will support you on your “quit your diet” journey. As far as podcasts go, this episode is way outside of our usual remit, so I created a brand-new podcast. I'd suggest you subscribe, as we take you through a series of real tools to support your journey to quitting diets forever.

The new Quit Your Diet podcast is here:

The free book is here:

Remember to stick around if you’re all about youth work, because the toolkit is growing and going strong.

Remember to stick around if your all about youth work because the toolkit is growing and going strong.

What happens when you bring together 12 clinically obese individuals and a team of experts to tackle weight loss and save lives?

ANNOUNCEMENT

So many people asked me when I was going to write that book about weight loss that I discussed in this episode. Well, here we are in 2025, and I did much more than that: I wrote the book, and I'm currently giving away 100,000 copies on a pay-what-you-want basis. I also have a course coming soon that will support you on your “quit your diet” journey. As far as podcasts go, this episode is way outside of our usual remit, so I created a brand-new podcast. I'd suggest you subscribe, as we take you through a series of real tools to support your journey to quitting diets forever.

The new Quit Your Diet podcast is here:

The free book is here:

In this episode of The Action Factory Podcast, I share the behind-the-scenes story of a groundbreaking NHS pilot program, where I was invited to be the unlikely "Mr. Motivator." From personal epiphanies to clashes of philosophy, the whole project produced some surprising lessons about the power of mindset in creating lasting change.

Most importantly this project influenced my approach to youth work and personal transformation, it confirmed it’s your brain that holds the key to success. Whether you're a youth worker or someone intrigued by the process of change, this episode is quite an eye opener, and even a sneak peek at Michael’s upcoming book.

FREE PDF

THE REAL MR MOTIVATOR

 WATCH THE FREE TRAINING SESSION

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

Less a sales pitch, more a request for help. Are you a young person's residential care home manager with a team of between 2 and 12 people?

Care home managers, the Solutions Toolkit is almost here, a game-changing framework designed specifically for residential youth work teams. It’s principle-based so it serves as a foundation for existing regimes and personalities, while seamlessly complementing and enhancing other working models.

In this episode, I want to delve deep into the insights and strategies that will transform your approach to working with young people, while tackling the challenges of making the Solutions Toolkit accessible and universal. 

Highlights: - Embrace the three A's (Adopt, Adapt, and Abandon) and the three C's (The circles are - You, Your Clients, and Your Tools) for a bespoke approach.

Overcome the main training obstacles with the three M's (Mobility, Membership, and Money)

A two-year money-back guarantee for accepted focus group members.

Access a free micro-course on the basic ideas of the Solutions Toolkit at www. theactionfactory.com  

If your a residential care home manager with a team of 2 to 12 people then don’t miss this episode.

www.theactionfactory.com

Welcome to the Action Factory Podcast, I'm Michael Dawson, the creator of the Solutions Toolkit, the first framework designed for those working with young people in care environments.

In today's episode, we delve into the real, raw experience of the admission process into care — not the procedures and rules, but what it actually feels like for a young person going through it.

I recently (and unexpectedly) opened up about my own journey during an interview on The Passionate Youth Worker podcast, revealing an event I hadn't touched on for years.

It took a sudden burst of tears while watching a TV drama to realize how deeply my past experiences still affected me.

That moment on the podcast inspired me to revisit and break down the very scene that caused me so much trauma. Today, we’ll explore that scene together and uncover the lessons that might lie hidden within.

If you’re involved in running a children's home, this episode is crucial.

Hopefully, the scenarios we discuss aren’t familiar, but they are an important learning opportunity.

To help you after the episode, I've developed an interactive "Admissions Audit" document. This tool is designed to help ensure that the admission process is as comforting as possible for young people — a stark contrast to my own experiences and those of the young girl in the drama.

Also, don’t miss out on grabbing a free copy of the Key Worker Compass by clicking the link below. This handy tool keeps all your key worker information right at your fingertips.

At the moment, I'm offering a two-year subscription to all my personal training for the cost of a single month. Under $20 will grant you a two-year full legacy membership as we continue to spread the word and make a difference.

Join us on this journey and help change the way we support our youth in care.

ADMISSIONS AUDIT SHEET

Please save on your own device before making changes

WATCH THE CLIP HERE

FULL SHOW - NO CHILD OF MINE

THE PASSIONATE YOUTH WORKER PODCAST

THE KEY WORKER COMPASS DOWNLOAD

Welcome to another Action Factory Podcast with me, Michael Dawson.

Before we begin this episode, here's a quick reminder: Don't miss my 30-minute webinar 'The BIG 4 in Youth Work.' You'll also get two powerful tools and my popular 'Brief Therapy Toolkit' eBook—already a hit with nearly 40,000 youth workers. Click below to subscribe and watch!"

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR

Now, let's get started...

Today we dive into the heart of Residential Youth Work—a realm I'm so passionate about, I literally wear it on my sleeve... and my head!

You will have seen my wardrobe additions, shirts and hats, boldly proclaiming it "The Greatest Job in the World."

Why such enthusiasm? Well, it's the unique magic of making even the smallest difference in a young person's life that has me shouting from the rooftops. But today, I'm dialing back the volume to extend a warm, inviting hand to those considering a path in residential youth work.

Join me as we delve into my six compelling reasons why residential youth work stands apart from the rest. Whether you've been contemplating a career that enables you to positively influence young lives, or you're simply curious about what makes this job so rewarding, this episode promises to enlighten and inspire. Let's embark on this journey together and discover why residential youth work is, indeed, the greatest job in the world.

Visit the website to join our community at www.theactionfactory.com , share ideas and strategies and access lots of free training.

 WATCH THE FREE WEBINAR