Michael Franti was born in Oakland, California, and adopted at seven months old into a big, loving family that valued music, sports, and church. Growing up as one of five kids in a mixed household taught him early about empathy, resilience, and finding his place in the world. His father’s long battle with alcoholism—and eventual recovery—showed him that change is always possible. His mother, a public school teacher for more than 30 years, taught him to lead with authenticity and compassion.
After graduating from Davis Senior High School, Michael attended the University of San Francisco and played basketball for two years. But his real calling pulled him elsewhere. At 18, he began writing and performing music, working odd jobs—bike messenger, construction, nightclub doorman—while shaping his voice and vision. Music soon became his lifelong path, taking him around the world for more than four decades and allowing him to connect with people across cultures.
In 2010, he expanded his creativity beyond the stage by opening Soulshine Bali, a resort and retreat center centered on wellness, mindfulness, and community. The project reflected a recurring theme in his life: building spaces where people can feel inspired, grounded, and connected.
Michael and his wife, Sara, later founded Do It For The Love, a nonprofit that brings people with life-threatening illnesses, special needs, and wounded veterans to live concerts.
Today, Michael continues to blend music, mindfulness, and service while living with optimism, gratitude, and intention—values shaped by a lifetime of growth, travel, and heartfelt connection.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day starts with movement. I either lift weights, play basketball, practice yoga, or go for a long walk. I’ve found that if I move my body early, my mind follows more clearly. After that, I usually write music. I write every day, even if what I write never leaves my notebook. Songwriting is my way of checking in with myself.
When I’m at Soulshine Bali, my day includes time with the team, walking the property, and listening to guests share their experiences. Productivity for me isn’t about crossing off a list. It’s about staying present and intentional with whatever is in front of me.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I listen first. Most of my ideas come from observing people—audience members, guests at Soulshine, my son, strangers I meet traveling. Then I try things in small ways. When we built Soulshine, we started with a simple idea: create a space where people could reconnect. We didn’t build everything at once. We built layer by layer. I treat music the same way—write the truth, refine the sound, then share it.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m excited about the global shift toward wellness that includes community, not just individual optimization. People are looking for spaces to heal together—through movement, creativity, or shared experiences. I think we’re remembering that connection is medicine.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Daily gratitude. I either write down or mentally note three things I’m grateful for every morning. It puts everything in perspective. Gratitude makes the hard stuff feel manageable.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I’d tell my younger self to worry less about belonging and more about being honest. Growing up as a brown kid in a mostly white community, I spent a lot of time trying to fit in. My mom used to say, “Being human doesn’t mean being perfect—it means being your messy, emotional self.” I wish I had believed her sooner.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe kites are one of the most underrated tools for meditation. Flying a kite with my son Taj taught me that focusing on something drifting way above your head forces you to breathe differently. It’s simple, inexpensive, and strangely calming.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Take a walk without your phone. Even ten minutes can change your whole mood. Nature resets the mind faster than any app or hack I’ve tried.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I pause everything and step outside. Sometimes it’s yoga, sometimes it’s just barefoot in the grass. I slow my breathing and remind myself that overwhelm is usually a signal to return to the basics—movement, stillness, breath.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Listening. Whether I’m building a song, planning an album tour, or growing Soulshine Bali, I start by listening—to people, to the environment, to the energy in a room. You can’t lead without understanding what people need.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, I released a project I thought would change everything. It didn’t. It fell flat. The mistake was creating something I thought people wanted, instead of something I actually believed in. I overcame it by returning to what mattered: writing from experience. The lesson was simple but vital—if it doesn’t feel true, it won’t connect.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Create community-based micro-retreats in cities. Not full resorts—just small spaces where people can drop in for music, movement, or storytelling circles. People crave connection and don’t always have the time or means to fly somewhere to find it.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Voice memo apps. All of them. I have hundreds of small melodies and lyric ideas recorded. Inspiration hits at strange times, and capturing it quickly keeps ideas from slipping away.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I’ve gotten a lot out of “On Being with Krista Tippett.” The conversations dig into purpose, spirituality, and how people stay grounded. It feels like sitting inside someone else’s wisdom.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently enjoyed Ted Lasso. The show reminded me how powerful optimism can be, even when situations look messy or uncertain. I connected with the idea that leadership isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about showing up with heart, listening, and lifting up the people around you.
Key learnings
- Purpose-driven routines, not rigid productivity systems, create sustainable focus.
- Meaningful ideas grow through listening
- Observation and consistent action.