In this episode of the Landmark Difference Makers Podcast, we sit down with Michael Houlihan, an author, community leader, and civic activist whose life story is a powerful example of resilience, integrity, and contribution.
From growing up on a Missouri farm to becoming a respected voice for inclusion and civic pride in St. Louis, Michael’s journey has been shaped by one central commitment: to live powerfully exactly as he is—and exactly as he is not.
A Life Shaped by Responsibility and Care
Michael’s early years on a farm instilled a deep sense of responsibility. Animals didn’t get fed unless he fed them. Work didn’t get done unless he did it. That grounding—combined with his love of horses—formed a foundation he carried into fatherhood, business, and community leadership.
Those early lessons would later become anchors during some of the most challenging chapters of his life.
When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn
Michael lives with a degenerative neurological condition, hereditary spastic paraplegia, which progressively limited his mobility and eventually led him to using a wheelchair. For years, his focus was on fixing the condition—on making it go away so life could return to “normal.”
That context shifted profoundly after his participation in the Landmark Forum.
Rather than organizing his life around what shouldn’t have happened, Michael began creating a future that included his condition—without being defined by it.
“My mission became to live powerfully, exactly the way I am.”
From Acceptance to Contribution
As Michael’s health challenges deepened, something else deepened alongside them: his relationships. He discovered that the people who stayed truly mattered—and that vulnerability created stronger bonds, not weaker ones.
This shift also fueled his civic work. As a graduate of Leadership St. Louis, Michael became increasingly aware of the narratives people tell about their city—and how those stories shape community life. Instead of focusing on problems he couldn’t solve personally, he chose to stand for something he could influence.
St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation
Out of that commitment, Michael founded the St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation, an organization dedicated to celebrating courtesy, respect, and everyday acts of goodness across the city.
Through initiatives like Hospitality Heroes and Superheroes, the foundation recognizes people who quietly go above and beyond—whether by saving a life, helping a stranded traveler, or simply treating others with dignity.
The work isn’t about branding a city. It’s about shifting how people speak about—and relate to—one another.
The Power of Conversation
One of Michael’s central insights is deceptively simple: every conversation counts. Not every conversation is profound, but every conversation has impact. Words shape how people see themselves, each other, and what’s possible.
“Everything gets worked out in conversation—not in monologue.”
This philosophy shows up everywhere in Michael’s life—from his civic leadership to his writing.
Telling the Truth Through Story
Michael is the author of It’s All About the Boots, a memoir that traces his journey through family, illness, identity, and self-expression. Writing the book wasn’t about ego or legacy—it was about offering his story as an invitation for others to live more honestly and courageously.
As he puts it: “The secret is—there is no secret.”
A Simple Legacy
When asked how he hopes to be remembered, Michael doesn’t hesitate:
“He lived true to himself.”
And in doing so, he has helped countless others find permission to do the same.
✨ Listen to the full episode to hear Michael Houlihan reflect on identity, illness, civic leadership, and the power of living authentically.
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