A Different Path to Recovery with Dr. Michele Perron

In this episode of Founders Future, host Zach Young sits down with Michele Perron, PhD—an alcohol moderation expert, addiction counselor, and coach who helps executives, professionals, and high achievers regain control of their drinking without necessarily quitting altogether.

Michele shares her deeply personal journey into this work, shaped by lived experience, years of clinical addiction counseling, recovery nutrition, and positive psychology. After spending nearly a decade working in traditional brick-and-mortar treatment settings, she transitioned into online coaching—eventually building and leading a successful moderation-based program that challenged the abstinence-only model that dominates the industry.

The conversation explores Michele’s highly personalized, one-on-one coaching approach, where she works not only with individuals but often with spouses and families to shift mindset, uncover root causes, and create sustainable change. She explains why moderation is a viable—and often life-saving—alternative for many people, especially those in high-visibility careers who need privacy, discretion, and flexibility.

Zach and Michele also dive into the business side of coaching: building a referral-driven practice, navigating failed paid-ads experiments, embracing podcasting and real-time conversations as her most natural growth channels, and recovering from major life transitions—including grief, burnout, and rebuilding after a corporate merger.

This episode is a must-listen for founders, executives, and professionals seeking a healthier relationship with alcohol—and for coaches building service-based businesses rooted in trust, depth, and human connection.