Ever feel like you’re trapped in a constant battle with your own willpower? 

In this episode of This Is Nothing New, Michelle breaks down a simple, timeless truth that the shiny self-help industry loves to ignore: your environment will always be stronger than your willpower.

When your willpower inevitably runs out, it's your environment that will dictate your habits. Michelle shares a funny, grounded look at how a simple furniture shift completely transformed her marriage's dinner routine, and how keeping a phone in a separate room is sometimes the only "hack" you actually need. Whether you are dealing with a cluttered desk, a chaotic digital inbox, or a distracting corporate workspace, this episode is a call to take ownership of what you can control.

This Week’s Challenge: Audit your primary space, identify one small environmental friction point, and change it. Remember, the biggest results come from the smallest shifts. 

Pull up a chair and let's get back to the basics.

Have a question? Send us a message!

Connect with Michelle:

Website: michellegruening.com
Instagram: @michellegruening
LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

In this episode of This Is Nothing New, Michelle breaks down why "I want to be more confident" is too vague to actually act on — and what to do instead. She unpacks the three types of confidence that matter most: skill confidence (built through practice and repetition), situational confidence (your ability to figure it out on the fly using past experience), and self-confidence (built by keeping the promises you make to yourself). 

From Disney events to software boot camps to chess grandmasters, Michelle brings it all together with real stories and a simple challenge to take away. Get back to the basics — confidence is built one step at a time.

Have a question? Send us a message!

Connect with Michelle:

Website: michellegruening.com
Instagram: @michellegruening
LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening

Tired of the next big hack, the secret formula, or the guru putting themselves on a pedestal? Same.

This Is Nothing New is the podcast that strips away the noise and gets back to the boring, consistent, timeless fundamentals you already know — you just sometimes forget about them.

Host Michelle Gruening brings her background in leadership, people management, and coaching to break down everyday topics like confidence, communication, adventure, psychology, choosing to be child-free, foster dog parenting, relationships, and more. Each episode goes deep and leaves you with a real-world reframe you can actually apply.

No quick fixes. No labels. No gimmicks. Just a conversation — like pulling up a chair on the porch.

If you're ready to drop the trends and get back to what actually matters, pull up a chair. This is your show.

Have a question? Send us a message!

Connect with Michelle:

Website: michellegruening.com
Instagram: @michellegruening
LinkedIn: Michelle Gruening