Elevation Nation

Elevator no. 176: Zach Joyner is a Senior Account Executive at LinkedIn, where he helps small to medium-sized businesses enhance their human capital strategies using cutting-edge recruiting tools and data-driven insights. With a solid background in talent acquisition and brand development, Zach focuses on aligning people strategies to drive business growth.Before joining LinkedIn, Zach worked as an Enterprise Account Executive at the startup Multiverse, where he advanced diverse talent through innovative apprenticeship programs. His experience there reinforced his commitment to fostering talent and driving professional development.In addition to his role at LinkedIn, Zach serves on the Alumni Board of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, where he promotes alumni engagement. Outside of work, he enjoys playing tennis and has recently taken up padel at Padel Haus in NYC.

Sam and Parker were in Chicago this week to do something a bit different. Instead of sitting behind the mic's to record Elevation Nation Podcasts, they interviewed EY Talent leaders for a firm marketing initiative. As employees of EY, it was a full circle moment for Sam and Parker.

Elevator no. 179: Sami Gomez is the founder of Studio Sami, a web design studio building websites and brands for entrepreneurs and businesses. With over 8 years of digital marketing experience, Sami combines her strategic marketing knowledge with expert design skills to build epic brands and websites that drive sales. She has worked with both startups and billion-dollar companies including beauty brands like Ipsy and Boxycharm. Most recently, she designed the new Elevation Nation website and brand.In this episode, Parker and Sam talk with Sami about her journey from college to entrepreneurship, the evolution of her brand, and the challenges she faced along the way. 02:57 - Sami's Journey to Entrepreneurship06:07 - The Evolution of Studio Sami08:58 - Navigating Early Career Challenges11:57 - The Gig Economy and Side Hustles18:05 - The Importance of Professionalism21:02 - Embracing Youth in Business27:08 - Looking Ahead: Goals and Aspirations30:10 - Rapid Fire Questions36:00 - Sami's Mental Motto

Parker and Sam reflect on their journey with Elevation Nation, discussing the origins of their podcast, the importance of mental fortitude, and their vision for the future. 00:00 - Introduction to Elevation Nation03:07 - The Origins of Elevation Nation06:04 - The Journey of Mental Fortitude08:53 - The Future of Elevation Nation11:55 - What's Elevating and De-Elevating This Week

Elevator no. 175: Faith Bergman is the founder of "Life with Intention Method", a mindset and life coaching program specializing in guiding individuals to discover their true needs, desires, and passions. By uncovering these vital components of their lives, individuals can spend more time on activities that bring them joy, while letting go of anything that doesn't serve them.02:09 - Faith's Journey: Leaving a Miserable Job and Finding Passion07:53 - Helping Clients Discover Their Direction and Purpose12:07 - Shifting from a Negative Mindset to a Positive Mindset16:09 - Taking Things Slow: The Power of Gradual Habit Change19:21 - Quick Tip: Spending Time Alone and Being Present21:52 - Faith's Hobby: Walking on the West Side Highway25:00 - Faith's Mental Motto

Sam just turned 29 and is feeling a little off about it. Parker recently spent a weekend at a retreat center in Zion National Park.Being back in both NYC and DC, Parker and Sam have a lot to debrief.02:25 - Reflecting on Recent Experiences04:11 - Sam's Discomfort with Celebrations06:00 - Sam's Introspection and Avoidance of Celebrations08:44 - Parker's Perspective on Celebrations10:50 -Choosing What to Celebrate13:03 - Parker Has a Frustration

Elevator no. 174: Leonard Armato created the Shaq brand for Shaquille O'Neal and the Golden Boy brand for Oscar De La Hoya and the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. He is the founder and CEO of Management Plus Enterprises (MPE), was the CMO of Skechers; President of Skechers Fitness; CEO of the AVP Pro Beach VB Tour; and regularly advises C-Suite executive on their brand and Web3 strategies. He is featured in the “30 for 30” ESPN documentary: “This Magic Moment” and the HBO "Shaq" documentary. He is also the contributing writer for Forbes.03:18 - The Power of Personal Culture and Branding07:18 - The Four P's: Play, Purpose, Potential, and Pay12:55 - Embracing Failure and the Art of Pivoting23:26 - The Rise of Women's Sports and the Potential of Volleyball26:33 - Upcoming Projects and Conclusion

As the summer winds down, Sam and Parker discuss how they are shifting their mindset with fall approaching. With their travel dwindling down a bit, both are excited to spend time in their home cities and elevate in new ways.

Elevator no. 173: Max Schauff is the co-founder of LineLeap, a company focused on helping people skip the line and get to the "fun, faster." In 2017, while a sophomore at University of Wisconsin, Max founded LineLeap with his two partners Nick & Patrick. Since the early days of traveling campus to campus in their beat up car, LineLeap has amassed 1M+ downloads, allowing users to skip long lines, pay for cover, get event tickets, order drinks & more at over 400 of their favorite bars across more than 100 different campuses and cities. Now based in New York City, Max & the LineLeap team of over 40 full time employees have been growing rapidly to scale their nightlife app.03:41 - The Inspiration Behind LineLeap07:17 - Overcoming Rejection and Building Momentum12:33 - The Journey of LineLeap and the Power of Resilience15:40 - The Next Steps for LineLeap19:31 - The Blessing of Never Being Satisfied28:05 - Favorite College Campus Visited29:45 - Lesson from a Mentor31:43 - Managing the Nightlife Scene and Sleep Schedule35:56 - Book Recommendation38:54 - Max Schauff's Mental Motto

Justin Weidenfeld (Elevator no. 138 and Boys Director of Experience Camp Georgia) interviews Parker and Sam about their week at Experience Camps in Michigan, a week-long camp for kids who've lost a parent, sibling, or caregiver. They discuss the emotional impact of their experience, the sense of community, and the powerful moments that made the week so meaningful.02:59 - The Emotional Impact of Camp05:44 - Describing Experience Camps06:04 - Parker's Personal Experience at Camp09:20 - Sam's Personal Experience at Camp29:33 - Favorite Activities at Camp41:52 - Magical Moments and Favorite Activities50:39 - Growth and Resilience at Camp

Sam and Parker are going to Experience Camps, a nonprofit that puts on a free week-long camp for kids who have lost a parent, sibling or caretaker. They discuss their excitement and nervousness for the emotional week ahead and the opportunity to give back and inspire the campers. https://experiencecamps.org/00:00 - Introduction to Experience Camps01:27 - Feelings Going into the Camp07:12 - The Healing Power of Nature and Play10:22 - Inspiring and Mentoring Others Through Shared Experiences13:17 - Processing Grief and Overcoming Fear18:11 - Gratitude and Appreciation for Each Other

Elevator no. 172: Luke Watson is the CEO of Timber Pizza Company, a pizza restaurant and catering company focused on providing amazing experiences to it's guests. After graduating from the University of Maryland Smith School and starting his career at Marriott International, Luke learned the power of beloved brands. In 2021, Luke joined Timber with the goal of taking this beloved brand and bringing it to neighborhoods across the United States. 3 years into the role, Luke and his team have positioned Timber Pizza to grow rapidly in the coming years.10:50 - The Impact of the Pandemic14:10 - Taking a Gamble and Pitching the Idea19:47 - Building Timber Pizza28:27 - Expanding the Business and Building a Team33:28 - High Expectations and Dealing with Setbacks34:31 - Learning from Mistakes as an Entrepreneur37:14 - The Importance of Attitude in Business42:47 - The Drumming Analogy: Embracing Growth56:25 - Finding the Good in Bad Days

Parker and Sam discuss the recent volatility in the stock market and share their mindset and strategies for navigating financial uncertainty. They emphasize the importance of having a consistent process, living below your means, and investing for the long term. They also highlight the need for financial literacy and the dangers of seeking quick wins in the market. 00:00 - Introduction and Vacation Update03:38 - Mindset and Strategies for Financial Uncertainty06:02 - The Importance of Financial Literacy08:26 - Embracing Automation: Investing in Systems10:31 - Time is on Your Side: Investing as a Young Person13:17 - Elevator Shoutouts

Elevator no. 171: Katie McSweeney is a model and the founder/host of "Check on Your Mates" (CYOM), a movement she started after experiencing a profound personal loss.Katie’s mission began in her teenage years when she noticed an alarming trend of suicides within her personal network, especially among men. By the age of 30, she witnessed the tragic loss of male friends, brothers, and cousins to suicide—a trend that had become heartbreakingly normalized. Through CYOM, Katie is dedicated to breaking the silence and fostering conversations around mental health, encouraging people to check on their mates and support one another.02:47 - Mental Health and Men's Mental Health06:00 - The Stigma Around Male Mental Health09:59 - Resources for Men's Mental Health15:52 - Check On Your Mates and Getting Involved19:25 - Katie's Goals and Giving Back22:31 - Rapid Fire Questions

Music is a powerful tool for elevating our mood and emotions. It has been a part of human culture since the beginning of time and transcends all cultures. Sam and Parker discuss how music helps us feel and express our emotions, and it can create a sense of community and connection when experienced live in concert.04:00 - The Innate Nature of Music05:18 - Music as an Emotional Outlet06:18 - The Impact of Music on Life10:24 - Discovering Up-and-Coming Artists

Elevator no. 170: Jared Butler is a professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards. As an NBA player in his fourth season, Jared relies on his faith, community, and mindset to elevate at the highest level. As an athlete with the genetic heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Jared exercises his mental fortitude as he continues to live out his dream. As a student-athlete at the Baylor University, Jared helped the Bears win a national championship in 2021 and was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player. That year, Jared was named a consensus first-team All-American.02:01 - Jared's Journey from College Basketball to the NBA06:15 - Faith and Mental Fortitude23:52 - The Beauty of Connections29:38 - Unlimited Potential and Dreams38:46 - Exploring Different Belief Systems40:07 - Finding Meaning in Life's Ups and Downs48:35 - The Nature of Humans: Good or Bad?54:27 - The Reasoning Behind Everything59:34 - The Impact of Technology on Beliefs01:03:22 - Favorite Foods and Dream Sports01:06:01 - Best Shots and Book Recommendations01:08:51 - Mental Mottos

Sam and Parker discuss a list of 30 rules for a better life from the concept of the daily stoic. They highlight and discuss their favorite rules, including focusing on what you can control, valuing time more than money and possessions, defining what success means to you, and learning something new from everyone. The list can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9sQadipeII/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==00:00 - Introduction and Rebranding01:55 - Rule #1: Focus on What You Can Control04:19 - Rule #22: Define What Success Means to You06:03 - Rule #14: There is Always Something You Can Do08:35 - Rule #11: Try to See the Good in People13:12 - Elevator Shoutouts and Conclusion

Elevator no. 169: Dario Smith is a creative director and founder of Gods Tier, a luxury fashion brand. He finds inspiration all around him and creates clothing, movies, and lookbooks that tell the story of the process. Per the Gods Tier website, Dario founded the company "as a bridge between storytelling and fashion to provide an experience and meaning behind each piece. The crossroads between an athletic take on luxury and cozy elements."

Parker and Sam discuss the books they have read so far in 2024. They share their thoughts on each book and choose their favorite and least favorite. Parker's books include 'Dopamine Nation,' 'The Comfort Book,' 'Read Write Own,' 'The Algebra of Wealth,' 'The Alchemist,' and 'The Wager.' Sam's books include 'Your Table is Ready,' 'The Best Strangers in the World,' 'Rich Dad Poor Dad,' 'Make No Small Plans,' and 'Million Dollar Weekend.'02:09 - Sharing the Books Read in 202404:33 - Choosing the Winners and Losers12:45 - Parker's Next Book: The Creative Act: A Way of Being14:10 - Elevator Shoutouts

Elevator no. 168: Danny Vitale is a content creator, artist, and agency owner from Philadelphia, currently attending school at Penn State University. His passion for content started at a young age and his favorite thing to do is inspire others and help them recognize their potential. His latest venture? Continuing to grow his personal brand around Crohn's disease while building his agency, Vitale Visions. 00:00 - Introduction: A Multitalented Guest02:15 - Pursuing Passions: Starting Early and Taking Chances07:19 - Dealing with Health Issues: Spreading Awareness and Overcoming Stigma11:13 - The Power of Music: From Hobby to Opening for Famous Artists22:11 - The Importance of a Mental Motto: Guiding Your Life and Actions

Parker and Sam are back from a month-long break to discuss Parker's recent honeymoon and the lessons he learned from reading 'The Alchemist' during his travels.

Parker is leaving for his honeymoon on Sunday and will be gone until after July 4. We will be back with you on July 9 when the true elevating starts…

Elevator no. 167: Amelia Mei is a lifestyle & wellness content creator, a founder, a podcast host, and an author. Over the past few years, Amelia's brand has expanded as she founded a meditation and breathwork company called 'always by amelia Mei'. Amelia and her team have traveled across the U.S., hosting meditation events for thousands of young women. She hosts the "Through the Waves Podcast" on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and will be publishing her first book, "365 Days of Self-Love Journal," in the summer of 2024. Amelia's platforms focus on self-love, health, beauty, travel, style, and mindfulness.

Parker and Sam discuss their new podcast studio setup, recent speaking events, and the impact of their work with EY and Elevation Nation. They also reflect on their recent podcast episode with Myles Grossman and share updates on their personal experiences and connections within Elevation Nation.00:00 - Upgrading the Podcast Studio01:16 - Empowering Students with EY and Elevation Nation08:03 - New Experiences and Adventures10:27 - Celebrating Milestones within Elevation Nation

Elevator no. 166: Myles Grossman is the Director of Retail Leasing at Fisher Brothers and a co-founder of Hallie 225 Foundation. Myles committed to living life to the fullest, elevating to achieve his highest potential, while inspiring others to do the same. A family tragedy encouraged him to quit his job, leave his home in NYC, and book a one-way trip to Paris, starting a journey of travel across the world. This life-changing 9-month journey covering 4 continents and 23 countries completely shifted his perspective, and for the first time he opened his vault of untold stories, lessons, and takeaways from his journey.1:00 - Travel Experiences and Life Lessons34:54 - The Pursuit of Happiness: Choosing vs. Chasing46:26 - Prioritizing Oneself: Mental Fortitude and Self-Discovery01:00:16 - Contribution and Inspiration: Living Life to the Fullest

Sam spent his MDW in Denver and had a unique experience with white water rafting. Sam had a realization about the significance of whitewater rafting as a metaphor for life. Additionally, the guy discuss the excitement of upcoming speaking engagements.

Elevator no 165: Tara Vander Dussen is a fifth-generation dairy farmer from New Mexico, who has built her career as an environmental scientist out of her deep love for agriculture. Her influence extends beyond her home state, as she speaks at prestigious national and global conferences on agricultural sustainability. Tara also is the co-host of the popular podcast and TV series Discover Ag, where she combines food and pop culture to explore the intricacies of our food system. Her work creates captivating conversations that are both informative and light-hearted. Tara’s contributions continue to shape the dialogue around sustainable agriculture. 02:48 - The Importance of Knowing Where Our Food Comes From06:04 - Challenges of Misinformation in the Food Industry11:25 - Growing Trend of Connecting with Farmers and Ranchers25:22 - The Personal Nature of Food Choices and the Dangers of Fear Mongering30:06 - Feeding People and the Challenges of the Food System During COVID-1937:14 - The Gratification of Farming and the Impact of Food

Sam and Parker explore the concept of always wanting more and the balance between contentment and ambition. They get a bit vulnerable and share their personal struggles with finding this balance and the importance of gratitude and meaningful experiences and how they have approached those situations.01:19 - The Concept of Always Wanting More05:06 - The Personal Struggle of Balancing Ambition and Contentment=07:47 - Societal Pressures and the Culture of Wanting More09:53 - Finding the Right Balance11:30 - Elevator Shoutouts

Elevator no. 163: Andrew Bernstein, a Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame sports photographer, has captured sports history for over three decades. Working on the sidelines for teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers, and Kings, he has captured countless iconic sports moments. Notably, he collaborated closely with Kobe Bryant, shooting all of the photography for Bryant's acclaimed book "Mamba Mentality." Today, Andrew directs his passion towards Legends of Sport, a company dedicated to honoring legendary athletes, teams, and pivotal moments in the world of sports.02:13 - Andy's Elevator Pitch05:31 - Andy's Journey in Sports Photography10:35 - Taking a Leap of Faith and Pursuing Passion22:16 - Elevating in Other Areas of Life27:29 - Memorializing Kobe Bryant's Murals29:25 - Favorite Moments with Kobe Bryant32:21 -The Mamba Mentality and Elevator Mentality36:08 - What's Next for Legends of Sport40:52 - Most Memorable Sports Moment46:18 - Curb Your Enthusiasm Experience50:08 - Andrew's Mental Motto

Parker and Sam discuss how they deal with anger and frustration. They share their personal experiences and strategies for managing anger, such as focusing on self-awareness, changing environments, and having open and honest conversations.02:28 - Managing Anger: Acknowledging and Responding to Emotions06:51 - Changing Environments: Finding Healthy Outlets for Anger09:41 - Open Conversations: Resolving Conflict and Promoting Growth13:41 - Elevator Shoutouts

Elevator no. 162: Jesse Rosen is the Founder and CEO of Rose Gold Presents, a leading event production and curation brand based out of New York City. Rose Gold Presents has created a community of tens of thousands NYC-based, experience-driven, house music loving, self-expressive individuals looking for the ultimate nightlife and entertainment experiences.

Parker and Sam discuss a tweet by Author Polina Pompliano where she shares 11 public speaking techniques by the world’s top public speakersLink: https://x.com/polina_marinova/status/1788199462331937172?s=46&t=WOOOofx7szAhdTb2iAM9uQ00:00 - Introduction and Catching Up03:00 - The Power of Vulnerability in Public Speaking06:01 - Raising Your Heart Rate for Better Performance09:35 - The Perception of a Speech and Giving Your Best Effort11:17 - Ending with a Clear Call to Action12:14 - Elevator Shoutouts to Ryan Kenny and Rachel Yaffe

Elevators no. 160 & 161: Bridget Sicsko and Lydia Bagarozza are the co-founders of Visibility on Purpose, a media training school founded in 2023.Lydia, a publicist, and Bridget a public speaker, founded Visibility on Purpose to teach online business owners how to gain media attention through press outlets such as top tier digital magazines, TV and podcasts. Their students have been features in media giants like Time Magazine, Yahoo, Fortune, mindbodygreen, Bustle, SheFinds, AskMen, Medium and top podcasts.00:00 - Introduction and Connection07:29 - Defining Brand and Its Importance13:32 - The Power of Personal Branding34:39 - Pitching High-Quality Guests and Seeking Speaking Opportunities44:13 - Mental Mottos: Mental Endurance and Going Through the Window

Parker’s came across an article in the Wall Street Journal highlighting a book called “Slow Productivity” by Cal Newport. It touches on an interesting idea that although we think we are being productive by doing more, we are just leading ourselves to burnout and poorer outputs. Cal flips that idea on its head with Slow Productivity.

Elevator 159: Jordan Leonard is the co-founder and CEO of Coach Corner the premier networking site connecting schools, teams, and private organizations to the athletic coaches in the youth sports industry.Jordan and his team have created an extensive marketplace of quality, vetted coaches that we aim to match to different programs based on their ideal candidate criteria. Recently, they were accepted into a Techstars program in London, England where the team is focused on elevating Coach Corner to the next level.03:25 - The Importance of Finding Coaches07:12 - Exciting Opportunity with Techstars13:17 - The Power of Communication and Follow-through14:14 - Learning from Rejection and Fueling Motivation16:12 - The Vision of Coach Corner26:35 - Lessons from Working with Friends32:27 - Using Coach Corner to Give Back36:30 - Favorite Sports Memory41:47 - Mental Motto: Be Curious, Not Judgmental

Parker came across a post on X from Sahil Bloom who uses a metaphor to describe three types of friends: leaves, branches, and roots. During the conversation, Sam and Parker discuss the importance of different types of friends in their lives and how friendships evolve as they grow older. They also touch on the challenges of maintaining friendships and the value of new friendships.00:00 - Introduction and Catching Up06:01 - The Value of New Friendships10:51 - Letting Go of Unhealthy Friendships

Parker and Sam recap Parker's wedding and reflect on the experience. The guys touch on the emotions, the speeches, the moments, and the incredible people who made the event special. They also talk about planning for the future and what's next for life after the wedding.00:00 - Reflecting on the Wedding Experience06:27 - Planning for the Future13:33 - Celebrating Achievements and Elevating Others

The guys discuss Parker's upcoming wedding. Parker reflects a bit on life and the excitement of the celebration...

Elevator no. 158: Lian Zucker is the co-founder / CEO of Loop, the matchmaking app where everyone gets to be a matchmaker for their single friends. Through Loop users can create their a profile and check out their friends connections. Then if they see someone that is interesting to them they can ask their friends for an introduction. As a result your friends become a trusted source and help make all of the matches on the app, improving the vetting component of the matchmaking process. Before founding Loop, Lian was on the founding team of Thirty Madison / Keeps.com, an early product employee at Jet.com, and an investment banking analyst at Evercore.

The guys discuss Parker's upcoming wedding and the excitement surrounding it. They then shift their focus to the incredible journey of the NC State basketball team in March Madness. They highlight the team's momentum, the power of mental fortitude, and the importance of embracing change and pivoting.00:00 - Introduction and Wedding Countdown03:06 - NC State's Journey in March Madness05:00 - The Power of Momentum06:27 - Embracing Change and Pivoting12:28 - Elevator Shoutouts

Jeff LoVecchio is a retired professional hockey player turned off-ice performance coach working with elite hockey players worldwide in person and online. Jeff has played professional hockey both in the United States and abroad. Now, he focuses his time on helping hockey players get into the best shape possible so they can bring their best selves to the ice daily, with the main goal being to help others achieve their dreams while leaving the world a better place. 03:47 - Building a Home Gym and Online Training09:11 - Living and Playing Hockey Abroad11:22 - Instilling Mindset and Motivation in Athletes22:03 - Reverse Engineering Goals25:08 - The Impact of Social Media29:24 - Failure is Not Final31:18 - Celebrating Little Wins Along the Way35:38 - The Power of Music38:02 - Resilience as the Most Impactful Lesson39:45 - Mental Motto: Give More, Be More

This week's F15 explores the concept of happiness, focusing on the impact of social media and screen time on young adults' well-being. We chat about the World Happiness Report, which reveals that the United States has fallen out of the top 20 happiest countries, with young adults being the most affected. 00:00 - Introduction01:18 - The World Happiness Report06:05 - Screen Time and In-Person Interaction09:41 - Phone Addiction12:25 - Getting Back into a Routine13:23 - Elevator Shoutouts

Briana Blair is the Co-Founder of LEAD networking and a digital marketing VP. At LEAD Networking based in Charlotte, her goal is to revolutionize networking by fostering genuine connections. Through a blend of professional networking, personal development workshops, and social events, Briana and her team create a supportive environment where members can grow both personally and professionally. Additionally, as a seasoned digital marketing leader in Fortune 100 companies, Briana specializes in cultivating impactful community relationships and driving significant ROI through innovative strategies. 00:00 - Introduction03:10 - Building Relationships First06:08 - Authentic Networking11:48 - Balancing Work and Entrepreneurship15:01 - Adapting to Different Networking Situations23:34 - The Importance of Feeling Challenged26:34 - Networking After Being Laid Off33:31 - Book Recommendations37:06 - Mental Motto

Sam and Parker reflect on recent personal losses and the mental fortitude displayed by their loved ones. They celebrate the milestone of reaching episode 300 and Sam shares stories of his grandmothers' resilience and strength. Parker honors the birthday of his stepdad Philip and they discuss the importance of living each day with purpose and making a positive impact in the world.00:00 - Episode 300 Celebration01:10 - Grandmother's Story04:19 - Grandmother's Life and Legacy07:46 - Honoring Philip's Birthday10:18 - Elevator Shoutouts

Marianna Cuomo Maier is a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach and thefounder of Grata Wellness. Marianna helps individuals feel their best inside and out by taking daily actions that improve their lifestyle and achieve their goals sustainably through one-on-one coaching and group sessions. Marianna also leads wellness workshops, meditation, and journaling groups at wellness events.Marianna graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and has a Master's in Teaching from National Louis University. Marianna is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach and Wellcoaches Certified. 00:00 - Introduction and Welcoming Mariana Cuomo Meyer03:00 - Mariana's Journey to Grata Wellness12:33 - Defining Wellness and Personalized Approach21:32 - Challenges of Young Adulthood and Tips for Wellness29:57 - Balancing Work and Personal Life35:25 - Feeling Energized in the Morning and Drained at Night40:29 - Experimenting with Food Preferences42:53 - Mental Motto

Millie Blumka and Taylor Borenstein are the co-founders of Stakt, a company rethinking the way we can move. Their patent-pending mat is the only 2-in-1 foldable fitness mat that doubles as a block for added versatility, support, and convenience.Millie and Taylor return to Elevation Nation to discuss their journey since the last time they joined the podcast in February 2022. During that time, they have fully launched their signature product, went on Shark Tank, quit their full-time jobs to go all in on Stakt, and now continue to elevate more than ever as they grow their company.

Tuesday was an elevated day for us. We spent the day at our full time job to host a 90 minute “Elevate Mental Fortitude” workshop with over 130 high school students from the New York City area. The students all thought deeply about their mindset and each walked away with a mental motto.

Jess Diamond is a Confidence Coach, host of the podcast How To Twenty-Something, and is the founder of Jess Diamond Coaching. Jess focuses on helping college students and young professionals build a solid foundation in their mental, emotional, financial, and physical health to develop the confidence within themselves to handle any future challenges, take calculated risks, and reach their full potential.As a Certified Life and Nutrition Coach and Personal Trainer, Jess is on a mission to help as many twenty-somethings as she can so they don’t feel all alone in their journey through adulthood and feel confident in anything they put their mind to.

Parker comes across a story of a young Will Smith and how his dad asked him and his brother to build a wall. It took them a year and a half as they build the wall brick by brick. The story reminds Sam and Parker of the stacking method they have used to build Elevation Nation

Sammy Kaye is an entertainment entrepreneur who currently works at William Morris Endeavor (WME) in Los Angeles. Fueled by his passion to elevate, Sammy has created a social gift card app, became a commercial actor, worked in life insurance and the estate planning business. Now, new to LA, Sammy is going all in on himself and has begun to pursue his passion in the entertainment industry.00:00 - Introduction and Getting to Know Sammy Kaye04:35 - Following Your Dreams and Pursuing Passions07:38 - Taking a Leap of Faith and Moving to Los Angeles15:48 - Embracing Negative Emotions and Using Them as Fuel23:23 - The Butterfly Effect and Embracing the Unknown26:49 - Defining Success and Finding Fulfillment34:52 - Favorite Movie: Interstellar38:52 - Book Recommendation: Heaven and Earth Grocery Store40:22 - Mental Motto41:24 - Funny Interaction with Will Ferrell