The Action Factory Podcast

#156 - Assumptions: The 7 Invisible Rules That Could Reshape Your Life

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 rewrite reality.
You’ll discover:
Why the assumptions you make without evidence are silently steering your life
How to use Michael’s 7 Assumptions to change how you think, speak, and act, starting today
How beliefs like “You are the expert of your own life” and “There is no failure, only lessons” can unlock lasting change
The surprising truth about human behavior and why “pretending you can” might be the key to becoming who you want to be
Whether you’re here because your Quit Your Diet quiz pointed to identity and beliefs, or you just feel stuck, this episode gives you a fresh, compassionate lens to see yourself through.
Hit play now and learn how to challenge the lies your brain whispers, one life-shaping assumption at a time.
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👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on and how to start changing from that level:
👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
 
Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:
The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.
 

#155 - Meet Your Inner Robot: How Beliefs Shape (and Sabotage) Your Life

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 beliefs every single day.
You’ll learn:
Why someone with elite skills might still struggle to succeed (and how you might be doing the same)
How to spot and silence the five biggest lies your mind tells you daily
The truth behind priming, hedonic adaptation, and confirmation bias, and how to beat them
A powerful rewrite of your internal story using “ME-NA” - your mental DNA
A poem to remind you that you are in charge - not your inner robot
Whether your quiz pointed to identity as the source of your weight struggle, or you’re just tired of feeling hijacked by your own mind, this episode gives you the tools to take back control for good.
Subscribe now, and start rewiring your mental DNA, one truth at a time.
________________________________________________
👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on and how to start changing from that level:
👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
 
Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:
The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.
 

#154 - The Cookie Jar Effect: How to Unlock Your Hidden Strengths

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 overlooking.
You’ll discover:
How a 100-mile ultra-run reveals the secret to mental toughness
Why your weight loss problem might actually be a knowledge gap about yourself
The science behind The Winner Effect - and how to trigger it without running a marathon
A simple, step-by-step method to build your own “Cookie Jar” of personal victories
Whether your daily win is surviving a stressful meeting or simply not falling into old patterns, these wins matter - and stacking them can change your life.
🎯 Listen now to find out how remembering your own power can do more than any diet ever has.
______________________________________________
👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on and how to start changing from that level:
👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
 
Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:
The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.
 

#153 - Habit Loops: Outsmarting Your Brain’s Default Settings

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 don’t realize it.
You’ll discover:
Why breaking bad habits isn’t about willpower, it’s about breaking the loop.
The simple three-step formula that drives every habit (and how to rewrite it).
How one man stopped a 20-year chocolate routine with a single bus stop change.
Practical tools to rewire your brain using cues, routines, and rewards, without counting a single calorie.
Whether you’ve taken the Quit Your Diet quiz and landed on “behavior” or just want to understand your own habits better, this episode gives you real, doable strategies to shift old patterns and build ones that actually work for you.
Listen now and start building a life that runs on habits you’ve chosen, not ones that run you.
________________________________________________
👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on and how to start changing from that level:
👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
 
Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:
The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.
 

#152 - Environment - The Hidden Force Behind Your Habits

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 Quit Your Diet quiz and scored high on environment, this episode is your roadmap.
If you haven’t taken the quiz yet, no worries, there’s a link in the show notes.
Discover how small changes in your surroundings can lead to massive shifts in your behavior.
Learn how to set up your space so it supports your goals without needing superhuman willpower.
Understand why you're not broken, you're just being influenced by the invisible power of your surroundings.
Michael brings a fresh perspective, real-world examples, and practical steps that can help you transform your kitchen, your mindset, and your life — all without counting a single calorie.
Hit play now and join us on the Quit Your Diet journey.
__________________________________________________
👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on and how to start changing from that level:
👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
 
Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:
The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.