Getting the Worm

A seagull stands on a rock formation against a clear sky. The photo has been edited so that you only see the solid shapes of the seagull and the rocks.

Doing all of these different issue themes over the years has put us into contact with some very different humans. And when we thought about inviting each one of these people out to breakfast, we wondered, how do these aforementioned people get their day going? A look at just a few. As it turns out a lot of the people we admire do not sleep in. Not sure if there is a correlation there. Maybe though.


Al Roker, from the Today show, smiling for a picture. He's wearing thick framed glasses, a hat, and a t-shirt with a Charlie Brown character on it.

Al Roker

Co-host + weatherman on Today, author, and CEO of Al Roker Entertainment

First thing you typically do each morning?

After my morning ablutions, I write in my journal.

What’s your coffee order?

Cold brew, half and half, liquid allulose.

Normal wake-up time?

Weekdays 3:15 a.m., weekends 6:30 a.m.

Favorite breakfast meal of all time?

Waffles, over easy egg and bacon. Or scrapple if I’m in Philadelphia.


Christy Mahone, environmental advocate, smiling for a picture on a mountain. She's wearing a thin puffer jacket, gloves, sunglasses, and a flat-bill baseball hat.

Christy Mahone

Outdoor environmental advocate

First thing you typically do each morning?

Stretch, make coffee, check out the temperature, get dressed for a morning trail run or skin up Aspen Mountain (depending on the season).

What’s your coffee order?

Americano with steamed oat or almond milk.

Normal wake-up time?

5:45 a.m. (with an occasional snooze).

Favorite breakfast meal of all time?

Fresh farm eggs, spinach and ginger tea.


Michael Chernow, chef, posing for a picture in front of a white screen. He has his arms crossed over his chest and is wearing a white v-neck t-shirt.

Micheal Chernow

Chef + Kreatures of Habit & Seamore’s Founder

First thing you typically do each morning?

Smile from ear to ear for 15 to 20 seconds, make a mental gratitude list, a few affirmations.

What’s your coffee order?

Pour-over, black.

Normal wake-up time?

4:57 a.m.

Favorite breakfast meal of all time?

Kreatures of Habit The PrOATagonist. I’ve been eating it for almost two decades, always look forward to it and never get sick of it.


Joe De Sena, Spartan Race Founder, smiling for a picture outside while wearing a Spartan Race shirt.

Joe De Sena

Spartan Race Founder

First thing you typically do each morning?

Wake up and drink close to a liter of room temp water before brushing my teeth.

What’s your coffee order?

Don’t really like coffee. Spartan energy pills instead if I need a boost.

Normal wake-up time?

I wake up at 5 a.m.

Favorite breakfast meal of all time?

Cold showers.


Elizabeth Sneed, surfer, posing for a picture on her surf board in the ocean. She's sitting on her board just offshore and behind her you can see a mountain range and a group of hotel and apartment buildings.

Elizabeth Sneed

Crazy surfer girl + Surf ambassador for JOLYN

First thing you typically do each morning?

First thing I do in the morning is walk my dog Koa and manage my social media pages.

What’s your coffee order?

I actually don’t drink coffee. I opt for water first thing in the morning.

Normal wake-up time?

9 a.m., depending on the waves or what projects I have going that day (currently creating a line of swimwear with JOLYN).

Favorite breakfast meal of all time?

Gluten-free pancakes and sausage with fresh-squeezed orange juice.


Ranga Perea, chef, posing for a picture holding a fish. Perera is kneeling in the edge of a river in the water and has a large net in front of him. He's wearing waterproof clothing, a beanie, and sunglasses.

Ranga Perera

Chef + Owner Laurian’s Table

First thing you typically do each morning?

I smash a glass of water, literally just chug a glass of water and I put on clothes and go for a walk immediately. I don’t look at my phone, no headphones, no nothing, just walk. And, it’s a short walk, not for exercise, it’s just to wake up. Typically, 10, maybe 15 minutes—no sunglasses, nothing, just take in the environment. Let me wake up. I’m not a morning person, so it takes me a little bit and I really focus on my breathing, taking really deep breaths and exhaling really long and slow and just letting the senses wake up. That’s the very first thing I do, winter or summer.

What’s your coffee order?

I am not a coffee drinker anymore. I do miss and love coffee, so after I had my heart attack, I developed really crazy anxiety and the coffee wasn’t helping. So now I do one of two things, I’ll do a mint and licorice tea or, I do love the taste of coffee, so I’ve developed a really expensive decaf habit. So typically what I make myself is a bulletproof decaf with Sri Lankan cinnamon and cocoa

Normal wake-up time?

Because of my late hours cooking late into the night, my usual wake-up time is around 7, 7:30 a.m.

Favorite breakfast meal of all time?

It would be one of two things and they’re on completely different spectrums. Culturally, they’re both very Sri Lankan. So, it’s one of two things: freshly roasted bread with butter, spicy coconut relish, and a fried egg or the second option is fresh mango with buffalo milk yogurt, cashews and some coconut treacle, which is a coconut syrup.


Brad Schiff posing for a picture underneath a small bridge used in claymation movies. His head and arms are sticking through one end of the bridge and around him is a tiny stone path and lots of shrubbery.

Brad Schiff

Animation Supervisor, Laika Studios

First thing you typically do each morning?

Turn off my alarm, roll onto my back, take a large inhale followed by an equally long exhale which is a quiet sigh combined with the word fuuuuuuuck. After that, I jump out of bed, put on my gym clothes, walk to my workout room and work out for an hour before waking up my kids and getting them ready for school.

What’s your coffee order?

Large iced Americano, black, no sweetener.

Normal wake-up time?

Anywhere between 4:45 and 5 a.m.

Favorite breakfast meal of all time?

I’m a savory breakfast guy. Given a choice, 100 times out of 100 I’ll eat dim sum. Give me siu mai, cheung fun, some roast pork and I’m good to go.


Kimi Werner, freediver and spearfisherwoman, smiling for a picture with her two-year-old son. They're sitting outside of a house and are both holding coffee mugs.

Kimi Werner

Freediver + Spearfisherwoman

First thing you typically do each morning?

I always get started in the kitchen, making breakfast for my family and a lunch for Buddy, my two-and-a-half-year-old son, to take to daycare.

What’s your coffee order?

I go through phases. Black phase, honey latte from espresso machine phase, French press phase, and collagen creamer phase.

Normal wake-up time?

6 a.m., though lately it’s been 5 a.m.

Favorite breakfast meal of all time?

Venison bone broth with ginger, turmeric, chili pepper and squeeze of lemon. And on special occasions, lobster Benedict