Meet Michelle Katz

We recently connected with Michelle Katz and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

My sense of purpose originally came from a burning desire to expose the flaws in our culture, society, and the world at large. But what I’ve discovered along the way—as a writer, film producer, painter, and now podcast host—is that true purpose has to begin within.

My struggle with chronic illness gave me what I now think of as a time out from life. It forced me to stop, to strip away everything I thought I knew about myself, and to see both the world and my own heart through a completely different lens. Most of the physical symptoms are behind me now, but the mental and emotional work is ongoing. It was a wake-up call—and it keeps waking me up.

Every day now feels like a new discovery. My purpose has merged with a daily commitment to embrace a reality I consciously create: one built on persistent thoughts of becoming a better human—healthier, stronger, more resilient, and ultimately embodying more of what I want to see reflected in the world.

Most recently, I’ve taken a deep dive into podcast hosting with Broken and Healed, where I spotlight the incredible stories of people who’ve transformed their lives. Some have overcome life-threatening illnesses, some are courageous whistleblowers, others have discovered entirely new healing modalities while healing themselves.

For me, finding purpose is about becoming—and helping others become—someone who does extraordinary things. That’s my purpose.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a writer, podcast host, and artist, and at the heart of everything I do is a deep commitment to telling the kinds of stories that wake people up—to their own strength, their own healing, and the world they live in.

Right now I’m focused on two projects that feel incredibly meaningful to me: my upcoming memoir, Awakening in an Age of Metals, and my podcast, Broken and Healed. The book tells my personal story of surviving a vaccine injury and chronic Lyme disease, and how that experience cracked me open to a spiritual awakening and a completely new way of seeing myself and the world. The podcast expands on those themes, as I interview extraordinary people—whistleblowers, healers, and survivors—about how they transformed their own pain into a powerful medicine they share with others.

What excites me most about this work is that it helps people feel less alone. So many of us have stories that don’t fit into the neat narratives we’re given about trauma, healing, and who we’re “supposed” to be. My mission is to give voice to those stories and to help others feel seen, validated, and inspired to reclaim their lives.

Alongside my writing and podcasting, I also paint bold, soulful abstract pieces that are deeply informed by my own healing journey. I see my art as another way of telling the story—one that speaks in color and texture rather than words. I’m always excited to see my work placed in spaces that foster reflection and healing. In my small mountain town of Idyllwild, my paintings can be seen in the local doctor’s office, Town Hall, and several restaurants and coffee shops.

This year I’m preparing for the launch of Awakening in an Age of Metals, which I hope will spark some important conversations, and expanding Broken and Healed to reach a wider audience. I’m also continuing to create art and explore new ways to bring it into the world, always guided by the same purpose: to inspire others to see the extraordinary in themselves.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three things I’d suggest focusing on for anyone wanting to build or create something from scratch are more about mindset than technical skill—because your talent and craft will get better by just continuing to show up. Sometimes that’s the hard part when it feels like nothing is happening. But something is happening even if you can’t see it yet, remember that.

First, start each day by visualizing the small yet really amazing things you might share with other people that day. Even the tiniest contribution can ripple out in random but meaningful ways. You never know who it might touch.

Second, cultivate gratitude for the incredible—and even miraculous—things that have already happened. Gratitude keeps you open to more of that energy and reminds you why you’re creating in the first place.

And third—and I think this is the most important—learn to let go of what anyone else thinks. You can’t create something truly authentic if you’re weighed down by other people’s expectations or opinions. Remember, they have no idea how to do what you do!

I really believe the skill and the craft grow as you grow. So just trust and listen to yourself. That’s where the magic happens!

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, I’m always looking to collaborate — but more than that, I’m looking to connect in meaningful ways with others who have a story to tell, and are navigating something a little outside the box.

Survivors, healers, whistleblowers, artists, truth-tellers, and everyday people whose voices have been buried for too long. These are the kinds of stories I feature on my podcast Broken and Healed. Often we censor ourselves, but the most impactful art comes from letting it all hang out. That’s how we do this work together.

I’m also opening space to coach a small number of people who want support in reclaiming their voice, writing their truth, and turning their journey into a book. Whether you’re a conscious entrepreneur, an artist with a message, or someone who has been waiting in the wings for a while until the right moment came along — I’m in.

You can reach out to me via Substack, listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple, or connect with me on Instagram @michelle_o_katz (or email [email protected])

https://michellekatz.substack.com/publish/home

https://open.spotify.com/show/10KGVp4BA46f928FbiYOJD?si=c4b7c0dd115047a2

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Cate Katz

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