“I come from a place where statistically I should not be talking to you right now. I should be dead or in jail,” Anthony shares in all honesty. 

By Anna Randall

Michael Anthony, featured guest of host, Aalia Lanius, in Episode 39 of Unsugarcoated with Aalia, is the author of the best-selling book Think Unbroken, as well as a coach, mentor, and educator for adult survivors of child abuse. On a mission to create change in the world, Anthony teaches at Think Unbroken Academy and hosts the “Michael Unbroken” podcast. He spends his time helping other survivors get out of “The Vortex” to become the hero of their own story and take back their lives.

With his mother cutting off his finger at the age of four, Michael Anthony has experienced tremendous amounts of trauma. As a child, Anthony grew up in an abusive household which led to drug and alcohol use by 12 years old, homelessness, and an overall lack of stability. Throughout his teen years, Anthony ran with gangs, used drugs, stole cars, and broke into houses all in order to survive. 

“I was leveraging and using my trauma as an excuse to not show up for myself,” Anthony reveals. 

By the time he was 20, he was morbidly obese and a workaholic. Anthony reflected on his life and realized that “no matter what, no matter where you are from or how bad your trauma was… there is always potential for what’s next.” It was this pivotal moment that caused him to turn himself around and change the life he was living. 

“Acknowledge that bad things have happened to you and accept it, not in that you deserved it but in that it was a reality, and move forward,” Anthony tells the audience.

With this new mindset, Anthony wrote his book Think Unbroken and worked to develop the Think Unbroken Academy. Refusing to let other people determine his life, Anthony started living with the motto, “no excuses, just results,” meaning he would no longer let his trauma hold him back and he would show up for himself no matter what. 

“We live in this odd society that labels people who are different or have mental health issues or come from poverty as broken, and I don’t believe that,” Anthony voices. 

Now, Anthony lives his life following his core values of leadership, honesty, kindness and self-actualization. He helps other survivors of trauma shift their mindset and provides practical tools to help them heal. One message that stays prevalent in Anthony’s work is that everyone has the power to create the life they want for themselves.

 “Though trauma may be our foundation, it is not our future.” 

Check out the FULL episode now:

Sending a large thank you to House of Kings Card Club for sponsoring this episode and supporting non-profit organizations!

Like, comment, and subscribe! Stay connected with your host on IG: @aalia_unsugarcoated 

Connect with Michael: 

@michaelunbroken — across all platforms

https://www.linktr.ee/michaelunbroken

Listen to The Michael Unbroken Podcast here!