Episode 30: Beyond the Hustle: Breaking Free from Toxic Perseverance with Dr. Michael Scarano
On this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Katie introduces listeners to the concept of toxic perseverance, a term coined by Dr. Michael Scarano.
Toxic perseverance is defined as the conscious or subconscious mindset that prevents a person from attaining inner peace, contentment, and joy—even while appearing outwardly successful. Michael explains that while perseverance is often celebrated, it can become harmful when driven by a relentless inner critic or societal pressures to constantly achieve without ever feeling "enough."
Michael shares his personal story, including the heartbreaking loss of his best friend, Fotis—a tragic event that inspired his deep exploration of toxic perseverance. He emphasizes that perseverance becomes toxic when it’s fueled by unresolved inner wounds like shame, pride, anger, or a lack of vulnerability, leading people to sacrifice true joy and relationships in pursuit of endless achievement.
Together, Katie and Michael explore how toxic perseverance shows up differently for everyone and can be rooted in childhood experiences, cultural conditioning (especially the American emphasis on productivity as worth), and unresolved traumas.
Michael outlines a 3.5-step process to begin healing from toxic perseverance:
Urgent Curiosity – Reflect on your behaviors and inner dialogue with urgency and a desire to grow.
Self-Gratitude – Release shame and guilt by offering yourself grace, forgiveness, and compassion.
Wild, Authentic Vulnerability – Own your story and be open about your struggles with trusted people.
(The Half Step) – Begin defining your personal purpose, because true fulfillment comes from purpose-driven living, not from external achievements.
Throughout the conversation, Katie and Michael highlight that healing from toxic perseverance is a lifelong process, but one that is deeply worth it—and available to everyone willing to do the inner work.
About dr. Michael scarano
Dr. Michael Scarano has been a dedicated healthcare practitioner since the early 1990s, with a diverse and accomplished background as a physical therapy assistant, chiropractor, and medical doctor. In 2017, after decades of service and thousands of patients treated, Michael made the courageous decision to walk away from traditional medicine to pursue his deeper calling as a motivational speaker and mindset coach.
Throughout his career, Michael has been committed to making a difference—not only in healthcare, but in the lives of young people and communities. He founded a nonprofit organization focused on creating positive school culture through a social-emotional framework he developed. His dedication to youth development also extended into nearly 30 years of coaching youth sports, where he instilled values of discipline, resilience, perseverance, and teamwork.
Today, Michael’s mission is to help people live more meaningful and emotionally balanced lives. His current work centers around a powerful concept he developed called “Toxic Perseverance”—a timely and transformative topic that challenges the glorification of relentless striving at the cost of well-being. Michael aspires to bring this message to a global audience, with the goal of stepping onto a TEDx stage to share insights that inspire inner peace, contentment, and joy in those he may never personally meet, but hopes to positively impact.
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.