The Action Factory Podcast

It’s Michael Dawson, author of Quit Your Diet. I’ve spent my life supporting change and helping people quit things, but recently I got a fair question: has any of this worked for me?

In this episode, I’m sharing three everyday habits that used to run my life, extra sugar in every mug, a lifelong nail-biting reflex, and a coffee schedule so predictable that baristas recognized me on sight. I’ll explain the quick mindset shifts that ...

Many years ago, back in what I call “the good old days,” I was in a nightclub, as I often was. I spotted this older guy on the dance floor, maybe 60 or 70 years old, surrounded by a crowd of people no older than 25. He was dancing, pulling moves, flirting, and having a great time. My mate turned to me, screamed over the music, and said, “That’ll be you at 60.” I nodded.

I thought, Yeah, of course it will. Why wouldn’t I still be ou...

What if the reason you keep starting diets and quitting them has little to do with willpower, and everything to do with a script you’ve unknowingly been following for years?

In this episode, Michael Dawson reflects on a life-changing moment triggered by one simple glance through his old journal. From quitting alcohol as a type one diabetic to uncovering the subconscious pattern that fuels diet failure, he breaks down a familiar cyc...

In this episode, I’m talking about why pretending can be one of the most powerful tools for personal change.

We start with the true story of Chris Gardner, the man behind The Pursuit of Happyness, who showed up every day acting like he belonged in a world that hadn’t accepted him yet. He wasn’t successful, he was pretending. But that act changed his life, and it’s something you can learn from too.

I dive into the psychology behind ...

A woman looked in the mirror after plastic surgery and still saw someone she didn’t like. That moment changed the life of Dr. Maxwell Maltz—and it changed the way I think about weight loss too.

I’m Michael Dawson, author of Quit Your Diet, and in this episode, I’m digging into the conversation around Ozempic, Wegovy, and the so-called miracle weight-loss drugs. But instead of just focusing on the headlines, I want to talk about wha...

What if every diet you tried, every rule you followed, every plan you stuck to (and then abandoned), every time you “gave up”  was actually the best decision you could make at the time?

In this episode, Michael Dawson invites you to reframe your past choices through a radically compassionate lens. Because if every decision you made came from a place that made it the best decision at that moment even when it didn’t lead to lasting c...

What if your diet started as a solution and became the problem?

In this episode, I’ll share a story about a man who wins the lottery and ends up solving a series of problems with the wrong solutions. It’s the perfect metaphor for how we end up trapped in the cycle of dieting.

We’re talking about a powerful idea today:

“Today’s problem is often yesterday’s solution.”

I’ll explore why so many of us turn to diets as the "obvious" fix...

I want to share something today that’s not exactly revolutionary,  but it can transform your weight journey forever:

You are the true expert in your own life.

In this episode of Quit Your Diet, I draw on my years of experience working in tough therapeutic environments to explain why outside advice so often falls short, and why trusting yourself is the key to lasting change.

You’ll hear about a real conversation I had with a young c...

What if your biggest weight struggles aren’t really about food, but about the mental map you’ve been using to navigate your life?

In this second episode of the Quit Your Diet: Assumptions series, Michael Dawson shares a powerful story that reveals how our beliefs shape what we see, feel, and do, even when those beliefs are completely off the mark.

You'll explore the first of seven core assumptions Michael makes about every client:

...

What if the story you’re telling yourself... is completely wrong?

In this episode, Michael Dawson kicks off a powerful new mini-series by revealing the hidden power of assumptions, those snap judgments we make about others, the world, and most dangerously, ourselves.

With a gripping story about a speeding driver, a compassionate cop, and a twist that flips everything on its head, Michael shows just how much a single sentence can re...

What if the biggest thing holding you back… was living inside your own head?

In this powerful episode, Michael Dawson dives into the highest level on the pyramid of change:

Identity & Beliefs

Where lasting transformation truly begins. Through the lens of a Big Issue seller, a forgotten psychology experiment, and a poem about a lying robot in your mind, Michael explores the hidden voice that shapes your choices, moods, and belie...

What do a Navy SEAL, a worn-out mother of two, and your own 5 p.m. chocolate craving have in common?

In this inspiring episode, Michael Dawson explores the Capabilities level of change, the knowledge, skills, and inner strength you often forget you already have. Drawing on the powerful metaphor of the “Cookie Jar,” inspired by David Goggins, Michael shows you how to uncover the resilience, grit, and small wins you’ve been overlooki...

What if the secret to lasting change wasn’t more discipline... but smarter habits?

In this episode, Michael Dawson explores the fascinating science behind habit loops , the brain's invisible programming that runs our daily lives. Inspired by the true story of Clive Wearing, a man with a 30-second memory who could still play piano and find his favorite chair, Michael reveals just how deeply habits shape our behavior, even when we do...

What if changing your environment could do more for your health than willpower ever could?

In this episode, Michael Dawson dives into one of the most overlooked but life-changing factors behind lasting change: your environment.

From heroin-addicted soldiers in Vietnam, to why your favorite holiday drink tastes terrible back in your living room, this episode is packed with eye-opening stories and practical tips.

If you’ve taken the ...

I’m Michael Dawson, author of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink, and in this episode, we’re diving into one of the biggest reasons diets feel like a constant uphill battle, even when we’re motivated to change.

We all know someone who seems to eat anything they want and never gain weight. Meanwhile, you just glance at carbs and your clothes feel tighter. The truth? It might not be what you’re eating, but how you're trying to change.

...

After the last episode, I've been thinking deeply. So many people asked me when I was going to write that book about weight loss that I discussed in the previous episode. Well, here we are in 2025, and I did much more than that: I wrote the book, and I'm currently giving away 100,000 copies on a pay-what-you-want basis. I also have a course coming soon that will support you on your “quit your diet” journey. As far as podcasts go, t...

What happens when you bring together 12 clinically obese individuals and a team of experts to tackle weight loss and save lives?

ANNOUNCEMENT

So many people asked me when I was going to write that book about weight loss that I discussed in this episode. Well, here we are in 2025, and I did much more than that: I wrote the book, and I'm currently giving away 100,000 copies on a pay-what-you-want basis. I also have a course coming so...

Ever witnessed a young person repeat a self-destructive behavior that seems to defy all logic? I know I have. And today, I'm diving into a story I’ve never shared before — not just about the young people I’ve worked with, but about my own inexplicable, self-destructive behavior as a kid. If you're wondering why young people sometimes act against their own best interests, stick around. Because even after decades in this field, I don...