After a meaningful run, this is the final episode of The Daily Grateful. Host Michael Crose shares an honest, heartfelt sign-off — reflecting on why the show ran its course, expressing gratitude to the listeners who tuned in and reached out, and looking ahead to what's next: a brand-new project exploring the history of rock and roll, launching soon as both a podcast and YouTube channel.

This new show doesn't have a name yet — and Michael wants your help. Head to his Facebook page (Michael Crose) and send a DM with your suggestion for what to call it.

Thank you for listening, for the messages, and for being part of this chapter. This RSS feed ends here — but look out for the new show, coming soon under a brand new feed.

Being grateful doesn't mean pretending everything's fine. You don't have to force the bright side. Sometimes you're pissed off, disgusted, even depressed — and that's okay. That's worth sitting with.

It can feel dishonest to say "I'm so grateful" when you're exhausted, grieving, or seething. A pastor I knew — one of the most optimistic guys around — once gave a whole sermon on "the pits," on when life goes to complete crap. Not every day is graciousness and goodness.

Gratitude gets weaponized, by others and by ourselves. "Just be grateful" can shut down a legitimate complaint. But real gratitude doesn't require minimizing your struggle. You can be grateful and still be furious about where you are.

When gratitude feels impossible, that resistance is information — pointing to unmet needs, unresolved resentment, burnout. Don't push through it. Listen to it instead.

#DailyGratitude #MentalHealthMatters #GratitudePractice #ItsOkayToNotBeOkay #Podcast #Authenticity #Mindfulness #EmotionalHealth

Michael Crose is back from an unforgettable weekend in Ormond Beach, Florida, and he's bringing all the good vibes home to The Daily Grateful. Known as the birthplace of speed, Ormond Beach captured Michael's heart with its slower pace, friendly locals, and stunning natural beauty along the Halifax River. In this episode, Michael shares highlights from his trip with Diane and her family, including a breathtaking drone flight over the water, a shark-bite warning that kept him firmly out of the ocean, and birdwatching. The true highlight, though, was discovering local musician Jessie Abbey, whose soulful performance of "Mad World" on a restaurant patio stopped Michael in his tracks and reminded him why live music matters. Her voice made his heart sing, and he wants yours to sing too. Tune in for a heartfelt reminder to seek out experiences that move you, connect with strangers, and find gratitude in the unexpected moments life offers. Do something different today.

Hashtags: #TheDailyGrateful #OrmondBeach #Gratitude #FloridaTravel #LiveMusic #DaytonaBeach #TravelPodcast #MindfulLiving #FloridaLife #GratitudePractic

It's been a rough couple of weeks — a night without power, unexpected bills, the loss of a beloved cat, and a needy remaining feline who isn't making it any easier. In this short but heartfelt episode, your host opens up about the toll of everyday stress and the simple cure he's leaning on: getting away, even just for a weekend. He's hitting the road with his ex-wife Diane on a scenic 200-mile ride to the coast, phone mostly off (except for the kids and grandkids), and no agenda but rest. Along the way, he shares why distance creates perspective, why short trips count just as much as long vacations, and why rest is a skill worth practicing — not just something that happens to you. Recorded in a rush before Diane arrives, this quick, honest check-in is a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do is just get out of your routine. Don't sweat the small stuff — it's all small stuff.

Today's episode is a rambling, heartfelt one. While scanning old photos before a weekend trip across the state, our host stumbles on a free Windows tool called "Everything" that instantly digs up every file — including photos — buried deep in your computer. Searching by file type (.jpg, .jpeg) surfaces treasures he'd forgotten existed, including a photo of a birthday cake he baked 18 years ago for his late brother Al's 61st birthday, chocolate with white frosting, delivered as a surprise drop-and-run. The story turns into a meditation on doing kind things when nobody expects them, and the grief and gratitude of finding that photo two years after his brother's passing.

From there, the episode swerves into a nostalgic tale from 1970s Dunedin, Florida: a 15-year-old on a restricted license, a Yamaha motorcycle, a buddy named Greg, a skipped school day, and a ride up State Road 50 to dip a toe in the Daytona Beach surf — sunburn, suspension, and all. He's retracing that same route tomorrow, this time by car, in honor of that ride.

Expect tech tips, tears, teenage rebellion, and a whole lot of heart.

#PodcastLife #FamilyStories #TechTips #Nostalgia #FloridaRoots #GriefAndGratitude #OldSchoolMemories #StateRoad50 #RamblingPodcast #EverydayStories

Today on The Daily Grateful, Michael Crose gets real about detours — and why he refuses to call them that. From his son's spontaneous cross-country trip to Yellowstone, to Michael's own November road trip plans to visit kids and grandkids, this episode is about embracing the unplanned turns life throws at us.

Then things get chaotic: a sudden power outage, a dead electrical panel, a $4,500 quote that sent Michael searching for alternatives, and an all-night battle with the heat (thank you, Ryobi fan). Enter Kiki the electrician and his non-English-speaking crew, plus Michael's son Zack stepping up to save the day. What started as a disaster became a crash course in electrical panels, resilience, and gratitude for the people who show up when things break.

Michael reminds us that our biggest disappointments often lead to our greatest opportunities — and that sometimes the life that unfolds, messy wiring and all, is worth being thankful for too.

Grab your coffee, settle in, and remember: it's okay to get depressed for a night, as long as you wake up grateful the next day.

#DailyGrateful #GratitudePodcast #LifeUnexpected #Resilience #NewDirections #PowerOutageProblems #FamilyFirst #MichaelCrose #GratefulLiving #EverydayWisdom

What if gratitude wasn't about the big milestones, but the small, unchosen moments that quietly shaped you? In this episode, Michael invites you to look back on your whole life so far, not just the highlight reel, and find gratitude in the experiences you never asked for. He shares a deeply personal story from 2013, when an 18-pound tumor changed his path and taught him who he could count on, especially himself. Michael reflects on returning to work after recovery, relearning his craft one grueling recording session at a time, and how that struggle built resilience he still carries today.

He also challenges the idea that aging means decline, arguing instead that age is an accumulation of everything you've lived and learned. Gratitude, he reminds us, isn't passive. It takes daily practice and intention. Michael leaves you with a simple exercise: grab a pad and write down three experiences you're grateful for right now, not decades ago. By the episode's end, you'll be ready to trade your bucket list for an experience list, and start noticing the small good things happening today.

#DailyGrateful #GratitudePractice #Michaelcrose #ExperienceList #MindsetShift #Resilience #AgingWell #Podcast

Some mornings, gratitude doesn't come easy — and today, Michael is being honest about that. In this episode of The Daily Grateful, Michael opens up about a stretch of life that's felt genuinely hard, and the surprising idea he keeps circling back to: reinvention. He revisits the true story of how, on his very first day at Dunedin Junior High School, he introduced himself with a brand-new name and simply became someone else — no forms, no permission, just one small decision that changed everything.

That memory becomes the heart of today's message: big transformations rarely start big. They start small. Michael pushes back on the "massive action" mindset popularized by other self-help voices, making the case that tiny, specific steps have driven his real successes in life.

He also gets personal, reflecting on a hospitalization in 2013 and what his son Zack taught him about sincere thankfulness. Along the way, Michael reminds listeners that gratitude isn't a personality trait — it's a practice, one that can coexist with hardship rather than erase it.

Real, unpolished, and a little funny, this episode is about giving yourself permission to change — starting now, starting small. No New Year required.

#DailyGrateful #GratitudePractice #Reinvention #SmallStepsBigChange #MentalHealthMatters #PodcastLife #PersonalGrowth #GratitudeJourney #SelfReinvention #HonestConversations #MichaelCrose#ChangeYourStory #TinyStepsBigResults #GratefulHeart #PodcastRecommendations #MorningMotivation #RealTalk #LifeLessons #HardshipAndHope #ThankfulLiving

What do a Jane Fonda YouTube video, a 400-pound radio legend, and a Wednesday news club have in common? They all led Michael Crose to the same conclusion: community isn't optional — it's essential to a long, meaningful life.

In this episode of The Daily Grateful, Michael shares a personal and sometimes controversial reflection sparked by an unexpected celebrity encounter, then pivots into real talk about what happens when people isolate themselves. Drawing on decades of stories — from BBS picnics with 200 attendees to friends who withdrew after losing a spouse and didn't last long afterward — Michael makes the case that human beings are wired for connection, not solitude.

He walks through why strong social ties are linked to longevity, how showing up for others creates accountability, and why immersing yourself in a group — whether it's a tech club, a discussion circle, or a neighborhood newspaper project — can be the difference between thriving and fading away.

If you've been isolating at home, this episode is your nudge to get out there and be part of something. Community isn't a luxury. It's survival.

#TheDailyGrateful #CommunityMatters #Longevity #SocialConnection #MentalHealthMatters #GratitudePractice #HealthyAging #FindYourTribe #PodcastRecommendations #IsolationVsConnection #LiveLonger #PersonalGrowthPodcast

In this heartfelt tribute to the late radio legend Gary Burbank and his iconic character Earl Pitts American, Michael opens The Daily Grateful with a twist on the classic bit — before diving into the real lesson of the day. This episode centers on a mantra passed down from an elderly goat rancher named Bill Ogle, whom Michael knew as a boy in Hernando, Florida. Watching Mr. Ogle calmly deliver a struggling goat during a Christmas Eve crisis taught Michael a philosophy that shaped how he raised his own kids: when something looks impossible, you figure out a way to make it work.

Michael brings that lesson to life through a chaotic family vacation gone sideways — a  “Perry-cation" to Daytona Beach that turned into a late-night scramble to a Flintstones-themed hotel room outside Orlando, complete with a 3 a.m. pool party and a mix-up with hotel keys. Through humor and nostalgia, Michael reminds listeners that adversity always shows up, but gratitude comes from finding the one good thing in a bad situation and building from there.

#DailyGrateful #GaryBurbank #EarlPitts #Gratitude #Storytelling #FamilyMemories #Podcast #FigureItOut #Resilience #Nostalgia