Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Kreatures Of Habit Podcast
Host: Michael Chernow
Episode: Feeling Lonely? This Simple Habit Will Change Your Life Forever.
Date: October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this brief, personal episode, host Michael Chernow addresses what he calls a “loneliness crisis,” especially among men, and explores how a simple action—saying hello—can form the basis of meaningful connections and profoundly improve happiness. Drawing from his own observations and a famous Harvard study, Michael encourages listeners to break social barriers by initiating greetings in daily life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Loneliness Crisis and the Power of Connection

Michael opens by highlighting a widespread sense of loneliness, especially among men of his age.
- “There is a loneliness crisis happening, specifically with men my age in the world.” (00:00)
He observes that people often refrain from greeting others, even in familiar settings like the gym, workspace hallways, or their neighborhood.

The Simplicity and Importance of Saying Hello

Michael reflects on childhood lessons that prioritized greetings:
- “As little kids, we were taught hello, goodbye, and thank you. Those are the things.” (00:43)
Despite this early learning, adults often avoid even basic social gestures like saying hello, with Michael admitting he’s guilty of it himself.

Missed Opportunities for Meaningful Relationships

Michael recounts a personal anecdote:
- He’d regularly seen the same person in his town but never spoken to them. He finally said hello, struck up a conversation, and discovered they had much in common, potentially sparking a valuable friendship.
- “I just stopped myself on the street and I said, hey... it’s ridiculous that I haven’t said hello to you… Boom, created a relationship.” (02:09)
He suggests that these small acts can open doors to relationships that may otherwise never have developed.

Research-Backed Value of Personal Relationships

Michael cites the long-running Harvard study on happiness:
- “The quality of personal relationships, or lack thereof, will dictate your overall happiness in life.” (01:38)
- He stresses that fulfillment comes more from relationships than from wealth or possessions.

Habits to Foster Connection

Michael shares easy, actionable steps:
- Say hello, smile, wave, or high five people you pass on the street or in the gym.
- He practices this on his runs, getting positive responses especially in his own town (but less so in New York City).
- “When I go for a run... every single time I pass a car, I throw up my hand to wave. And nine out of 10 times I get a wave back.” (03:40)

Self-Reflection and Overcoming Social Hesitancy

He encourages listeners to examine their own reluctance:
- “Why haven’t you just said hello to that person? Why hasn’t that person said hello to me?... Well, probably the same reason that you haven’t said hello to them.” (05:03)
Michael calls on his audience to be the one who “breaks the ice” and initiates connection.

Building Relationships as a Life and Business Asset

Being “likable” and fostering relationships is a major advantage in business and life.
- “Being likable is a massive asset. It’s just a massive asset... The people that succeed in business long term put relationships as a priority.” (06:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the core message:
- “Say hello. Smile, throw your hand up, high five somebody as you’re walking down the street. Just connect. Just connect. It is going to make your day better, your hour better, your life better. This is what we were born to do.” (02:56)
On relationship-building:
- “You could say, why haven’t I said hello to that person? This is an awesome opportunity for me to develop a relationship. Or you could say, man, that person sucks. Why have they never said hello to me?” (05:20)
On likability:
- “I’ve said it before... being likable is a massive asset.” (06:15)

Important Segments & Timestamps

Loneliness crisis and importance of hello — 00:00–01:30
Harvard study: happiness and relationships — 01:38–02:00
Personal anecdote about saying hello — 02:09–03:20
Developing the hello habit (gym, running, city vs. suburb) — 03:40–04:30
Self-reflection & the glass half-full perspective — 05:03–05:40
Being likable and business success — 06:04–06:30

Final Takeaway

Michael Chernow’s “Monday Moment” episode centers on a fundamental, practical habit: greeting those around you. He powerfully argues that saying hello is more than courtesy—it’s a transformative practice that can combat loneliness, spark new relationships, and boost lifelong happiness. While simple, this habit holds the power to reshape personal and professional lives.
Actionable advice: This week, take the first step—say hello, make eye contact, smile, and see what connections you can create.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
There is a loneliness crisis happening, specifically with men my age in the world. And for whatever reason, we choose not to. Say hello. Say hello, smile, throw your hand up, high five somebody as you're walking down the street. Just connect. Just connect. It is going to make your day better, your hour better, your life better. This is what we were born to do. An entrepreneur straight out of New York City. Michael Chernow. What's cracking Monday moment, y'. All. Happy Monday. You may be listening to this on a Monday, you may not be listening to this on a Monday, but this is a Monday moment. Today, I want to talk about saying hello. Saying hello. Super simple, right? As little kids, we were taught, hello, goodbye, and thank you. Those are the things. Those are the three things that were taught from, like, day one. And by the way, I'm mentioning this because I find myself also, like, a culprit of someone who does this, but how many times have you been in the gym or seen somebody at the hall. In the hall at work or a neighbor in the hallway that you've seen over and over and over again and never said hello? You see them, you kind of make eye contact for a minute, and then you just keep on walking. How interesting would it be if that person was actually the best friend you didn't know? You actually had the quality of personal relationships and have been. There's been a direct line drawn to overall happiness in life. Quality of personal relationships, or lack thereof, will dictate your overall happiness in life. The longest human study in American history out of Harvard, has been going since, like, 1938. And that is what this has proven. It's not about how much money you have. It's not about how many things you have. It's not about how many, you know, your marriage. It's literally about the quality of your personal relationships. And I found myself crossing the street in the town that I live in the other day, And I've seen this person, I. I don't know, 30 times, and they look really nice, but we've never said hello. And so I just stopped myself on the street and I said, hey. And they turned around, and I was like, hey, you know what? Like, I've seen you so many times. Like, it's ridiculous that I haven't said hello to you. And so I just wanted to say, what's up? And he and I just started talking, and we had so much in common. And I've just now, boom, created a relationship that. That I could have had for, I don't know, probably two years at this Point I then because of this, I've also sort of implemented this in the gym. And how many times do you work out in the gym at the same time? Whether it's in the morning, in the evening, you see the same people and you just never say hello. Like we are meant to say hello. We're social beings. This is a doorway for all of us to build on our personal relationships. There is a loneliness crisis happening, specifically with men my age in the world. And for whatever reason, we choose not to say hello. I want to remind you to say hello. Smile when I go for a run. In my neighborhood where I live, every single time I pass a car, I throw up my hand to wave. And nine out of 10 times I get a wave back. When I run in New York City, when I go down there and I take a run, if I smile at somebody or throw my hand up to wave, if I'm running by them, most of the time, they look at me like I've got nine heads. What is this thing? What is this thing? We're social beings. The quality of our personal relationships dictates our overall happiness long term. I just wanted to put this out there to remind you to say hello. Say hello, Smile, throw your hand up, high five somebody as you're walking down the street. Just connect. Just connect. It is going to make your day better, your hour better, your life better. This is what we were born to do. And I have found myself questioning why I have never said hello to that person. Why haven't you just said hello to that person? Why hasn't that person said hello to me? Now you can look at the glass half empty or half full, right? You could say, why haven't I said hello to that person? This is an awesome opportunity for me to develop a relationship. Or you could say, man, that person sucks. Why have they never said hello to me? Well, probably the same reason that you haven't said hello to them. Break the ice. Say hello. Be that person that just does that. You know, I've said it before. I've shared this on in my content multiple times. Being likable is a massive asset. It's just a massive asset. Being a relationships person, typically business. The people that succeed in business long term put relationships as a priority. Build relationships, you can build them out of nowhere, you know, and yeah, I just wanted to get in your ear today about that. Hope you guys have a great week. Peace.