S. Michelle Mathai
Writer | Coach | Podcast Host | Marathoner
Storyteller at Heart
I’m a fervent Capricorn who loves a long run in the vineyard at dawn followed by a giant, carby, well-laminated pastry, all the while on a quest for inner peace, wisdom, and the perfect bite. A snarky New Yorker at heart, I was raised in New England, attending Northfield Mount Hermon School in MA and Colby College in ME. After receiving my MBA from Thunderbird in AZ, I ended up following my wanderlust by joining the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer, serving at diplomatic posts in Auckland, New Zealand, Washington, D.C., and Berlin, Germany.
Life happened and threw a curveball at me when my only and older brother was diagnosed with brain cancer and just two years later, during my first tour with STATE, I was the sole survivor of a car accident in which both of my parents, immigrants from Kerala, India, perished. I eventually needed to leave my career in public service to be Tomas’ caregiver and thought the Napa Valley sounded like a great place to change careers and be closer to him. Lo and behold, I ended up staying for almost 20 years, swayed by temperate weather, heirloom tomatoes, and the smell of fermenting grapes during harvest. It ended up being the perfect place to give my brother a good death, surrounded by vines, puppies, scrumptious last meals, and great friends.
Turns out that being the last one standing in my family left me with some time on my hands. So, inspired by Tomas' courageous 20-year battle with cancer and all the lessons learned during hospice, I became a certified professional coach, created my podcast Written on Water, wrote my memoir, and ran the NYC marathon in 2019 and 2021, as well as the 2024 Berlin marathon, raising money for brain cancer research. I also joined the Achilles Team in the Bay Area to run with blind athletes striving for their own finish lines. Who knew that deep grief would spark such an effervescent, heart-centered outlook at mid-life, full of wisdom, curiosity, and smiles?