<p>» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship and cognitive optimisation<br>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/</a><br>Website: <a href="https://hackyou.media/" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://hackyou.media/</a></p><p><br></p><p>After building public speaking skills through brutal on-camera training and quitting a job after 15 days to go full-time on TikTok, <strong>Michael (higherupwellness)</strong> proves that <strong>authenticity matters more than polish</strong>.</p><p><br></p><p>You’ll hear why his parents being in their 70s gave him wisdom most 28-year-olds don’t have, how two and a half years of mandatory public speaking eliminated his number one fear, and what happens when you realise <strong>worldly success never fills the God-shaped hole</strong>.</p><p><br></p><p>Tune in for his framework on <strong>maxing out your stat lines in your 20s</strong>, why asking God to reveal himself changed everything after his dad died, and how silencing ego long enough to suck at something a hundred times is the barrier most people never cross.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction<br>01:40 Growing up with much older parents and shaping his worldview<br>04:14 Supportive parenting made taking career risks feel safe<br>07:57 Comparing US optimism to UK mindset and ambition<br>12:35 Striking a balance between monk mode and reckless fun<br>17:27 Early career struggles and earning respect as the youngest<br>20:22 Vulnerability online builds real connection and community<br>23:40 Steroid accusations and the reality of 18 years training<br>27:21 Fitting training and nutrition into a hybrid athlete lifestyle<br>33:10 Flexible training splits and sustainable consistency<br>38:37 How calorie awareness gives you long-term freedom<br>44:43 Learning public speaking through immersive sales training<br>50:48 Communicating well, even in a non-native language<br>57:46 What Whoop taught him about sleep, alcohol and basics<br>01:04:32 Why coaching can be draining if boundaries aren’t set<br>01:12:55 Men need spaces where they can be both strong and soft<br>01:22:30 Even elite performers have major blind spots<br>01:26:10 Losing his dad showed him God’s presence through pain<br>01:35:57 Exactly how to start exploring faith without feeling lost</p><p><br></p><p>» Escape the 9-5 and build your dream life: <a href="https://www.digitalplaybook.net/" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://www.digitalplaybook.net/</a><br>» Transform your physique: <a href="https://www.thrstapp.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://www.thrstapp.com/</a><br>» My clothing brand, THRST: <a href="https://thrstofficial.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://thrstofficial.com</a><br>» Custom Bioniq supplements: <a href="https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston</a><br>• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO<br>• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO</p><p><br></p><p>» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:<br><a href="https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/</a></p><p>» Join WHOOP and get your first month for free:<br><a href="https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst</a></p><p><br></p><p>» Follow Michael<br>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/higherupwellness/?hl=en" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/higherupwellness/?hl=en</a><br>TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@higherupwellness?lang=en" target="_new" rel="noopener">https://www.tiktok.com/@higherupwellness?lang=en</a></p>