Story & Lesson Highlights with Michelle Glogovac of San Jose

Michelle Glogovac shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day start at 5:30 a.m. I prep my coffee the night before, so that first cup is waiting for me as I walk downstairs. Before I even take my phone off sleep mode, I dive into The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest and journal. Lately, I’ve been pairing that with Affirmations for Self-Love by Zanna Keithley and poems from Joy in the Belly of a Riot by Barbara Fant.

Only after I’ve taken time to read, write, and get myself ready mentally for the day ahead do I pick up my phone to check news alerts, social media, and emails. Around 6:30 a.m., my two kids start making their way downstairs, and the morning really begins. I make them breakfast, fill water bottles, pack lunches, and jump in the shower while making sure everyone’s dressed and ready for the day.

By 7:40 a.m., we’re out the door. In those first 90 minutes, I’ve mentally and physically prepared myself, cared for my family, and set the tone for how I want to show up in the world that day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Michelle Glogovac — a podcast publicist, host, and author known as THE Podcast Matchmaker®. I help authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders share their stories through podcast interviews that create real human connection. My company, The MLG Collective®, is built around the belief that stories change lives and that every person has a story powerful enough to inspire action, empathy, and change.

Over the past few years, I’ve developed my own frameworks, The Podcast Book Tour™ and The Podcast Campaign Tour™, which teach and support clients in using podcasts to grow their impact, elevate their thought leadership, and connect with audiences in a way traditional PR doesn’t.

I’m also the host of several podcasts, including Read The Damn Book™, Beyond The Campaign™, and BURNT, all part of the new MLG Collective Podcast Network which launched earlier this year. Each show explores different sides of who we are as humans — from authors and activists to mothers and leaders — because I believe the personal and the political, the creative and the everyday, are always connected.

What makes my work unique is that it’s deeply personal. I’m a mom, an activist, a storyteller. I show up as all of that in everything I do. My mission is to amplify voices that deserve to be heard and show that everyday people are already capable of extraordinary change.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Losing my dad when I was seven years old changed everything about how I see the world and what I value. When you lose someone that young, you grow up fast — not in a hardened way, but with a deep awareness that time isn’t guaranteed. It taught me to pay attention, to speak truthfully, and to value connection above everything else.

That experience also made me fiercely protective, not just of my own kids, but of all children. I know what it feels like to face something you can’t control, and it’s made me vigilant about standing up for others, especially those who don’t have a voice or one that is being silenced.

It’s why I care so deeply about the stories people tell and the ones that go unheard. Losing my dad taught me that words matter — they keep people alive long after they’re gone. It’s why I’ve built my life around helping others share their stories, so no one’s voice disappears into the background and helps each of us know we aren’t alone.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I don’t think I’ve ever truly thought about giving up, but there have been moments when I’ve felt invisible — when I’ve questioned if what I was doing mattered because others didn’t seem to see it. I’ve often been overlooked or underestimated simply because I didn’t fit the mold of what “big enough” looks like in business or media.

But every time I felt dismissed, I chose to dig deeper instead of shrink. I kept showing up — for myself, for my clients, and for the people whose stories deserve to be heard. I’ve learned that visibility doesn’t always equal impact. You can be building something meaningful long before the world notices.

Those moments taught me that the goal isn’t to be the loudest voice in the room — it’s to be the one who tells the truth, shows up consistently, and remains the same person no matter the environment. That’s where real power lives.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Integrity. Always. And curiosity because curiosity is how we truly get to know others.

Whether I’m working with an author, a candidate, or a company, I refuse to compromise honesty for exposure. I’ve built my career around helping people share their stories, but only when those stories are true, aligned, and told with respect for the audience on the other side.

We live in a time where “visibility” is treated like a currency, and I think that’s dangerous. I believe connection should come before clicks, and empathy should guide the way we use our platforms.

Curiosity is what makes that connection possible. It’s how we move beyond assumptions, how we learn someone’s story instead of judging it. It’s the bridge between difference and understanding — and that’s where real change begins.

At the end of the day, I protect the value of truth-telling — being the same person in every room, in public and in private. Because when we lose that, we lose the foundation of trust that every relationship and every story depends on.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I stood up for others, no matter who they were, and that I used my voice to share the stories that weren’t being heard.

I want to be remembered as someone who told the truth, even when it was uncomfortable, and who kept showing up — for people, for community, for what’s right. Someone who proved that you can raise kids, build a business, and still fight for something bigger than yourself.

I hope people say I lived in alignment — that I didn’t just talk about empathy, courage, and integrity, but modeled them in how I loved, worked, and showed up.

If the story people tell about me is that I made them feel like their story mattered, then I did what I was meant to do.

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Image Credits
Lisa Haukom for headshots

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