Kreatures Of Habit Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Overcoming Addiction Through Routine and Prayer with Mindless Labs
Host: Michael Chernow
Guests: Chris Magleby & Caitlin Hansen (Mindless Labs)
Release Date: November 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode examines the role of routine, habits, and spirituality—particularly prayer—in overcoming addiction and maintaining mental health. Michael Chernow discusses his own transformative journey with sobriety, the power of habit, and how spiritual practices have been foundational. Guests Chris Magleby and Caitlin Hansen share the mission behind Mindless Labs: supporting people’s mental wellness through accessible tools and open conversations. The episode explores different perspectives on religion, spirituality, and their intersections with daily practices, ultimately advocating for vulnerability and deeper public dialogue around mental health.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Power and Dual Nature of Habits

• Habits as Double-Edged Swords:
  • Mike notes that habits can destroy or improve lives, and cultural awareness is shifting towards the importance of positive habit-building (01:20).
• Morning & Evening Routines:
  • The group discusses trending routines, from ice baths to meditation, and how these have permeated the wellness landscape as self-care tools (02:04).

The Role of Prayer and Spirituality in Recovery and Wellness

• Mike’s Daily Prayer Practice:
  • Morning Ritual: Praying on his knees, he begins with the Serenity Prayer, asks for the removal of fear and negativity, and prays for happiness, confidence, and positivity, then recites a list of people—living and deceased (03:04).
    • “I’ve been praying for 21 years, every single morning on my knees to God.” – Mike (02:17)
    • “The bulk of my prayer is... saying their names... and I think of them...in a positive way.” – Mike (05:23)
• Evolution of Prayer Practice:
  • Mike adds to his prayer, asking not just for the removal of negatives but also for the introduction of positive states (03:04-05:23).
  • He closes with the "set aside" prayer and a commitment to start each day afresh (06:42).
• Religion vs. Spirituality:
  • Guests and Mike discuss how religion provides a “language to the ineffable” (Chris, 00:20 & 13:41), framing spiritual feelings or experiences in relatable terms.
  • Chris shares his movement from religious orthodoxy to a more personal, flexible spirituality (10:41).
  • The conversation touches on growing societal acceptance of spirituality (08:16), but also acknowledges discomfort and baggage associated with religion (09:32, 11:33).

Routine as a Stabilizer in Recovery and Mental Health

• Physical & Mental Components:
  • Mike’s non-negotiable mornings include prayer, pushups, stretching, skincare, and oral care—habits that act as daily wins and compound over time (16:56).
    • "Routine in the morning… it's a win. Wins make you feel good. Little wins stacked together over time compound." – Mike (17:23)
• Flexibility vs. Rigidity:
  • Caitlin discusses shifting her habits due to life changes, emphasizing that commitment to the habit itself (not its precise timing or form) is what matters for lasting well-being (18:59-20:44).

Spirituality & Neuroscience

• Faith as Preventative for Depression:
  • Chris cites Dr. Lisa Miller's "The Awakened Brain," where research shows practicing spirituality strengthens brain regions protective against depression (15:36).
    • “Feeling of something having your back…I think is one of the biggest ways to prevent depression and anxiety.” – Chris (15:35)

Language, Identity, and Stigma in Mental Health

• Identity Shift:
  • Mike stresses the importance of saying "I have addiction" instead of "I am an addict"—separating the condition from one’s identity (39:16).
    • “If you categorize yourself, ‘I am schizophrenic’… you’re really just putting yourself in a bucket.” – Mike (39:16)
  • Chris and Mike agree this reframing can apply to all mental health diagnoses, reducing shame and opening doors for healing (38:17-39:16).

Breaking Down Isolation & Offering Support

• Creating Community:
  • Mindless Labs’ mission is to be a supportive, stigma-free resource for anyone struggling, whether in crisis or just seeking to optimize well-being (41:27).
    • “If you are feeling like something’s not quite right... come join us... we’re all getting better together.” – Chris (40:58)
  • Caitlin shares her motivation: memories of feeling alone in her darkest moments, resolved to reach back and help others out of isolation (41:27).
• How to Help Loved Ones:
  • Mike underscores that when people are suffering from mental illness, what they most need is love and presence, not advice or attempts to "fix" them (42:32).
    • “Give them a hug, tell them that you love them, sit with them… not try to fix their problem.” – Mike (44:49)
    • Chris notes this is particularly powerful for men to hear and admit (46:03).

Mindless Labs App

• What It Is:
  • Free mental health app with educational articles, practices, glossaries, assessments, and a premium apparel line that helps fund it. All apparel features QR codes for quick access to resources (24:42).
  • “If people buy the apparel… talk about it and...reduce stigma... we also have other resources...when it gets a little too acute for us.” – Chris (24:42)

Creatures of Habit: Origin Story

• Mike’s Sobriety Journey:
  • Early 20s, struggled with addiction, met a mentor who introduced him to fitness, nutrition, prayer, and the discipline of routine.
  • “This guy really introduced me to eating healthy. It saved my life... oatmeal every morning...that's why I built Creatures of Habit.” – Mike (33:24)
• New Product Launch:
  • Live taste test/discussion of Creatures of Habit’s new protein bar—praised for taste, high protein, and quality ingredients (28:57).
  • Light banter about the development process and Mike’s pride in creating both foods and support systems for recovery.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [02:17] Mike: “I’ve been praying for 21 years, every single morning on my knees to God.”
• [05:23] Mike: “The bulk of my prayer is... saying their names... and I think of them...in a positive way.”
• [13:41] Chris: “Religion gives a language to the ineffable. Our relationship with the divine… it’s like a bird and song – we can’t understand God, but we can live it.”
• [17:23] Mike: “Routine in the morning… it’s a win. Wins make you feel good. Little wins stacked together over time compound.”
• [39:16] Mike: “If you categorize yourself, ‘I am schizophrenic’… you’re really just putting yourself in a bucket.”
• [44:49] Mike: “Give them a hug, tell them that you love them, sit with them… not try to fix their problem.”
• [41:27] Caitlin: “I want people out there...whether they’re in crisis or just wanting to feel a little bit better...to have resources...to say, ‘We see you.’ It’s okay to just not feel okay.”

Important Timestamps

• 00:20 – Chris on religion giving “language to the ineffable”
• 02:17 – Mike’s 21-year prayer practice
• 03:04 – Deep dive into Mike’s daily prayer method
• 13:41 – Chris repeats the “language to the ineffable” quote, with the bird analogy
• 16:35 – Discussion of neuroscience: spirituality and mental health
• 18:59 – Caitlin on shifting routines, honoring habits not time slots
• 24:42 – Mindless Labs app and apparel social mission explained
• 33:24 – Mike’s origin story and path to sobriety
• 39:16 – Importance of reframing mental health conditions (“I have” vs. “I am”)
• 41:27 – Caitlin’s story of reaching out from isolation
• 44:49 – Advice on supporting loved ones with mental health struggles

Tone & Takeaway

The conversation is vulnerable, uplifting, and deeply empathetic. All speakers candidly share personal struggles, hard-won wisdom, and practical tools for building resilient mental health—whether through morning rituals, habit tracking, spiritual openness, or simply the willingness to sit with difficult feelings. The underlying message: transformation comes from small, consistent habits and the courage to both seek and give authentic connection.

Listeners will leave with practical strategies for daily routine, a reframed perspective on spirituality and mental health, and inspiration to reach out—either for help or to help others.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges or addiction, the guests encourage seeking support, professional resources, and drawing strength from community.