Meet J. Michael Silver | Podcaster, Coach & Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with J. Michael Silver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi J. Michael, how does your business help the community?
Community is everything. The way I see it if you can help one person reduce the amount of confusion and get some clarity in their life, they can be better community members. The podcast portion of my business is designed to give people an intimate look at the choices people made to get where they are in life. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that no one really knows what they are doing, they just do the best they can and they keep going. I want people to see themselves in my guests so they can maybe see the steps to get where they want to be in life. Ultimately we are one large community made up of millions of smaller communities. When we get scared and confused we become defensive, argumentative and our forward progress stalls out. When a groups of people come together that are scared they become tribal, looking to defend their group and themselves. Conversely when people come together and are ready to do the work and don’t feel threatened or defensive they become a community that listens to each other and thrive. If I could have one wish for Foundation Steps, any aspect of it, would be to reduce if not eliminate as much confusion as possible.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The one thing I want to tell you about the most is my podcast. I’m really proud of it and what’ve done in a short time. I have such an amazing network of successful people, I was able to record over 30 podcasts in the first couple months. I’m releasing them one week at a time, with the occasional two episode week. The people who have been listening really love to intimate portraits of my guests. Each guest is so unique with an amazing story to share. I mostly start by asking them some variation of the questions, “When did you first feel the choices you make effect your reality?” From there we are off and running and it’s a struggle to keep the conversation to a reasonable length. There are always challenges and I tend to come at them the same way every time. I slow it all down, literally or in my mind and examine the problem from every side. Ultimately you have to make a choice and see what happens, from there you learn and grow.

The number one thing I want people to know is pretty simple. If you feel stuck, lost or confused, just slow down, make the best choice you can and keep going. It’s what all the most successful people I talk to do and I do it myself too. It works!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of the most special places in Los Angeles is out in the ocean looking back at the city. On a clear day you can the mountains, downtown and pretty much everything in between. It’s not always easy to find someone with a boat, but that would be my number one pick. While on the west side my favorite restaurant is J Nichols Kitchen, in Marina del Rey. If you want the most decadent breakfast every you have to get their bbq pulled pork pancakes. If they are down for some hiking I’d probably take them out to one of the canyons in Malibu. But if they really wanted to Hollywood experience then we could hike wisdom tree and then have lunch in Hollywood. If I got to pick when they came out it would be while Hollywood Fringe fest is going on so we could find a good show or two.

For dinner and drinks, if we weren’t doing some sort of grilling at home, we’d more than likely cruise over to Santa Monica to Misfit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The people I have to thank is a long list for a variety of reasons. If I had to narrow it down to just one for this exercise I’d have to say my fiance, Ashley Ann Harold and her business is From The Ash Studio. I’ve never felt more supported and loved than the way she makes me feel. I honestly don’t know where I’d be with out her. Even in the darkest hour she can make me laugh and feel the love to push through and keep going. She is truly an amazing person, artist and entrepreneur.

Website: foundationalsteps.com/theshow

Instagram: @foundationalsteps

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmichaelsilver/

Twitter: @TheFSteps

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundationalStepsTheShow

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FoundationalSteps