Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Freedman.
Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been drawn to movement. I grew up dancing, played soccer, and was raised by a hardworking first-generation Italian father from Italy and a mom who was incredibly active. Even though sports and dance were a big part of my childhood, I was never the naturally athletic kid. I was more of the artistic, “good kid” who often felt like I didn’t quite fit in.
I attended The Hun School, and like many people, I spent those years trying to figure out who I was. After graduation, I found myself in a relationship with someone on Wall Street. On paper, it seemed like the life I was supposed to want, but deep down, I never truly felt like I belonged in that world.
During college, I discovered fitness. What started as a way to get healthier quickly became something much bigger. Strength training gave me confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose. More importantly, it helped me realize what I actually wanted out of life. The fast-paced city lifestyle no longer appealed to me. I found myself craving a simpler life, more space, more community, and more time spent doing things that truly mattered.
That realization led me back to New Jersey, where I eventually moved even farther south to the suburbs with more land and a slower pace of life. It was there that I joined a CrossFit gym, met my husband, and unknowingly started the next chapter of my life.
Today, my husband and I have built a life centered around family, community, and pursuing work that genuinely fulfills us. While I continue helping women transform their lives through Meesh Fitness, my husband found his own calling, and together we recently launched Phantom Brew, our family-owned mobile coffee business. It’s another way we’re creating community, making memories with our daughters, and building something meaningful together.
After more than 15 years in the health and fitness industry, Meesh Fitness has become so much more than workout plans. My mission is to help women realize they don’t have to choose between their health and the life they love. Fitness isn’t about perfection, it’s about building strength, confidence, and sustainable habits that allow you to fully enjoy your family, your career, and the life you’ve created.
If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that sometimes the life you’re meant to live looks very different from the one you once imagined. When you have the courage to follow what truly fulfills you, everything else has a way of falling into place.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. Like most people, my journey has been filled with plenty of ups and downs.
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing motherhood, a full-time career, and building something I’m incredibly passionate about. My husband and I have raised two young daughters through the chaos of COVID, countless sleepless nights, and all of the unpredictability that comes with little kids. We also bought a home that needed a complete renovation, so there were many seasons where it felt like everything needed my attention at once.
Ironically, the business itself was never the hardest part. The hardest part has always been finding enough time and energy to be fully present for my family while continuing to pour into a business and community that I care so deeply about. There have been many moments where it felt impossible, and honestly, there are still days when I wonder how I’m going to fit it all in.
But every time I hear from a woman whose life has changed because she started believing in herself again, or I watch my daughters see firsthand what hard work, resilience, and chasing your dreams looks like, I’m reminded why I keep going.
I want my girls to grow up knowing that it’s okay to work hard for something you believe in, to take risks, and to build a life that aligns with your values. If they learn that from watching me, then every challenge along the way has been worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Meesh Fitness & Phantom Brew Coffee
While they may seem like two very different businesses, they were both built on the same foundation: bringing people together and helping them feel their best.
Meesh Fitness is my coaching business dedicated to helping busy women build strength, confidence, and sustainable habits that fit into real life. I believe fitness should enhance your life, not take it over. Whether it’s strength training, nutrition, or simply helping women find balance again, my goal is to make health feel approachable and achievable. I want my clients to know they don’t have to be perfect to see results; consistency will always beat perfection.
Phantom Brew Coffee is our family’s passion project. What started as a love for great coffee has grown into a mobile coffee business focused on creating memorable experiences wherever we go. Whether we’re serving at local markets, community events, youth sports, or private gatherings, we want every cup to feel personal. We believe some of life’s best conversations happen over a great cup of coffee, and we’re proud to be a small part of those moments.
What sets both brands apart is that they’re deeply personal. We’re not trying to be the biggest, we’re focused on building genuine relationships and creating experiences people remember. Everything we do is centered around family, community, and authenticity.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that neither business was created just to sell something. They were created to make people feel something. Whether it’s helping someone become healthier through Meesh Fitness or slowing down for a few minutes with a handcrafted cold brew from Phantom Brew, our goal is the same: to leave people better than we found them.
At the end of the day, both businesses reflect the life my husband and I are intentionally building for our family. We want our daughters to grow up seeing that success isn’t measured only by accomplishments—it’s measured by the impact you have on the people around you, the relationships you build, and the community you create.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
f I had to choose one quality, it would be resilience.
Life has rarely gone according to plan, and I’ve learned that success isn’t about avoiding challenges, it’s about continuing to move forward despite them. Between building a career, becoming a mom, navigating sleepless nights, renovating a home, working full-time, growing a business, and now starting another business with my husband, there have been countless moments where giving up would have been easier.
I’ve also learned the importance of consistency. I don’t believe success comes from doing something perfectly once; it comes from showing up over and over again, especially on the days when motivation isn’t there. Those small, consistent actions eventually become big results.
I also genuinely care about people. Whether I’m coaching a client through a fitness journey or handing someone a cup of coffee at Phantom Brew, I want people to feel seen, supported, and valued. Building relationships has always been more important to me than chasing numbers, and I think that authenticity is what people connect with most.
At the end of the day, I simply refuse to quit on the things that matter most to me. That resilience, combined with consistency and a genuine desire to help others, has been the driving force behind everything I’ve built.
Pricing:
- https://www.trainerize.me/profile/meeshfitnessandwellness/?planGUID=d9c67973d4d54e2cadeae3c23761e5db
- https://www.trainerize.me/profile/meeshfitnessandwellness/?planGUID=463e69361c43434d88ef285543dc712b
- https://www.instagram.com/phantombrew_coffee/
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meesh.fitness/
