Elevation Nation

Laura Ter Meer is the founder of Lifting The Mood (LTM), a company focused on empowering women through fitness.Laura and her team have created the adjustable (and patented) LTM dumbbells, a tool designed to help women build confidence, raise the bar higher, and unleash their inner strength. She is empowered to not only revolutionize the fitness space for women, but Laura continues to elevate each day to bring LTM to life.

New year, same thought. How long do we go until we forget about about our new year’s resolutions. While it is natural to make them at the start of each year, do they make it harder for us to reach our real goals? We debate on this Fortitude in 15.

Matthew Schkolnick is the Co-Founder and COO of Pepper, a social cooking platform empowering home cooks with tools & community to improve the cooking experience.After five years in consulting, Matt and his co-founder Jake decided to go all in on Pepper. Pepper has had more than 750K app downloads, was the iOS app of the day in February 2022 and has been featured on Gordon Ramsey's show Food Stars.

Jack Smiley is a college hockey player for Endicott College in Beverly Massachusetts. Jack was thriving as a college hockey player pursuing his dream and doing what he loved. Then he had a stroke in February 2022, that changed everything for him. At first he didn’t even know if he was going to walk again. Now, 21 months Jack has a goal of getting back on the ice which many thought would be impossible. Jack is what it means to have mental fortitude and shares his journey to recovery on social media promoting awareness and inspiration for thousands around the globe.

Parker checks in on how he is feeling about getting married in four months. Sam is feeling good about things, minus his beard. All in all, it’s a good day to have a great day. As the year comes close to a close, we are grateful for today and excited for what’s to come.

Ayomi Samaraweera is the founder of Canopy, a startup focused on building an anonymous social app for content creators to ask questions, gain industry insights, and spill the tea in a safe space.Ayomi has over eight years of management consulting experience and during the pandemic discovered her passion for the creator economy. From there, she joined TikTok and became their Global Head of Internal Communications. Now she is going all in on Canopy.

Changing it up this week with a little rapid fire. Sam and Parker go back and forth asking each other some hard-hitting questions...

Brian Dubow is the founder of Hit of Happiness, a company founded to help people feel purpose-driven, alive, healthy, and happy by leveraging the science of happiness.Founded in March of 2020, Hit of Happiness came from Brian's desire to make a difference as a response to COVID-19. What started as a blog and coaching business has now grown into a podcast, a thriving community, a corporate consulting company, and a happiness revolution.As a Certified Happiness Trainer, Brian works with individuals across the globe helping them build habits backed by the science of happiness.Website

Bringing back Episode 193 of the Elevation Nation Podcast recorded on December 8, 2022.We are always up for a deep conversation. This one was fun talking about space, life and motivations.

Aimee Estrin is a Psychotherapist at Realistic Remedies, a company of “transition” therapists based in New York, New Jersey and Florida.Aimee specializes in mental health concerns including but limited to anxiety, depressions, coping with life transitions, relationships, trauma and self-doubt. As a therapist, Aimee uses evidence-based techniques to help her clients develop practical skills to manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

Yannis Goldman is the Director of Real Estate at Coastal Equities. Yannis' journey includes moving across the world, playing highly competitive basketball, and elevating himself in the business world through various ventures. Among all of his experiences, he brings a unique perspective of philosophy and motivation to Elevation Nation. He is a mission to teach others to embrace and become the creator they were destined to be.

Parker is coming up on his 28th birthday and Sam made his way to the Israel rally in Washington D.C. that brought almost a quarter of a million people together.

Joey Lane (elevator no. 1) got his start as a walk-on turned captain of The Ohio State University basketball team. From there he turned his playing days into a career, starting the “Drive the Lane” podcast. Joey also works as a basketball personality discussing Ohio State hoops on TV and the radio. Joey is back with us for his third appearance on Elevation Nation and we turn the microphone over to him. Joeys asks us the hard-hitting questions about life as a young adult.

It was a big couple of days for Sam and Parker. On Friday, Parker and Sam travelled to Philadelphia, PA to conduct two hour-long workshops with students at Youth Build Philly, a charter school on a mission to empower young adults (17-20 years old) to develop skills and connect to opportunities by fostering an environment of love, support and respect for their whole person.Then on Sunday, Parker ran the New York City marathon and recalls having a roller coaster of an experience.

Juan Faura is a senior at Penn State university and is elevating some of the most successful clubs on campus. He recently started his own influencer and marketing representation company, Go Time LLC. Juan has understood the importance of networking during college and is always challenging himself to meet new people. His constant desire to meet more people is fueled by his passion to continuing to elevate.

We are hosting an Elevation Nation first with a workshop called How To Get Out of the Weeds with leadership coach Chase Damiano. The workshop is virtual on Thursday, November 9 at 6pm EST.A little more about the workshop:Is your day chaotic and reactive? Are you in a high-pressure team environment? Do you long for a culture of autonomy?​You're in the right place.​We want to see team leaders focus on growth, delegate more, communicate better, and lead with confidence (and, work the hours they want.)​Here's what we'll cover in this workshop:​An accountability framework to create team outcomes and develop talent in a human-centered way​A team meeting agenda to increase engagement and cultivate buy-in​A time management strategy to maximize energy and effectiveness​​About Chase Damiano:Chase is the founder of Human At Scale. He's helped 83 CEOs and team leaders reclaim their time, foster happier teams, and scale their businesses. Typical client results:​Save 10-20 hours per week "out of the weeds"​2x team productivity and engagement​2-5x annual revenue growth​Follow on LinkedIn: Chase Damiano

Emily Billings is a content creator, model and consultant based in Hoboken. As someone who just recently joined the “real world”, Emily has found a voice on social media. With over 265K followers on TikTok, Emily reveals her authentic and raw journey as she tries to navigate the real world. From workout recommendations to fashion, media and lifestyle, Emily sheds light on the true life of a recent college graduate.

We are still trying to wrap our heads around what is happening in the Middle East. Among the anger, frustration, and fear many people, including ourselves are very concerned about where this conflict is going.

Justin Weidenfeld is a Private Wealth Advisor for IronBridge Wealth Counsel, working as a family financial coach and next-generation planning expert for young professionals, entrepreneurs, and multigenerational families.Adversity comes in many different forms. After Justin experienced a close loss, he has made it his mission to help others learn from their adverse challenges in life, relationships, and finances. Justin is a volunteer at Experience Camps, which are camps for children who have lost a parent, sibling or primary caregiver.

Our hearts are with the people of Israel ❤️

Our days are filled with a ton of silence. But oftentimes we spend that silence looking for ways to fill it with stimulation. However, silence can be spun in a different way. How can we use it to our advantage, if possible at all?

Sarah Mucha is an adjunt professor, communications strategist and journalist who tells stories for brands and individuals. After climbing her way to the top of the DC political reporting world working at CNN and Axios, Sarah had quickly gotten to her "dream" life. Appearing on national TV, capturing history during the 2020 election, and interviewing some of the most powerful people in politics, everything was going according to plan. Until she realized that she did not want to continue in her job anymore and needed to make a change. Now Sarah uses her experiences to start her own consulting firm, write a newsletter called Foolproof, a pick-me-up newsletter for driven people, and to help others as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University.

The first pillar to mental fortitude is self-awareness. Knowing who we are at our core is so important in understanding our place in the world. It sets the framework and foundation to make your vision a reality. But self-awareness does not come easily for most….

Tyler Swartz is the organizer of Endorphins, a running club that promotes a positive and happy lifestyle. Endorphins has tens of thousands of members across the entire globe. Tyler is an entrepreneur at his core and started Endorphins after seeing running as the perfect way to bring people together and share positivity. While growing the community, Tyler has grown quite a following on social media as he shares his authentic stories of his experiences.

Parker spent some time the other day thinking about his hobbies and the important role they play in his life. But he came to a realization, that they might actually be more important for his mental health than he might have realized.Link to article we refer to in episode: https://www.ucmerced.edu/sites/ucmerced.edu/files/documents/zawadzki-paper-2015.pdf

Ilana Dunn (elevator no. 80) and Carly Silverman (elevator. no 117) have combined forces with the recent launch of their new podcast “Life in Progress”. With their new podcast, the ladies touch on the hard hitting topics young adults face in the real world. Additionally, they recently launched their first business venture Get Setup, a curated and customized matchmaking service.Ilana Dunn is also the co-host of Seeing Other People, a top dating podcast.Carly Silverman is also a TikTok influencer with over 125k followers.

Sam is reading "The Defining Decade" by Meg Jay and comes across a section of a chapter all about how young people join the real world and soon learn that they probably aren't what they used to be.

In honor of Philip Bass. To honor his memory, the Philip Bass Memorial Scholarship will be created, ensuring his legacy lives on forever in the Terp community. Please consider making a donation to support the endowment of this fund, so future students may experience the same pride Philip had for UMD.Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/philip-bass-memorial-scholarship

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Carly Haupert is an Institute of Integrative Nutrition holistic health coach focusing on women’s health. She founded The Carly Cure to support women who are struggling to understand their bodies begin to feel empowered in their health/wellness decisions. Through one on one sessions, Carly works with clients to discover and curate a health/wellness plan that emphasizes their bio-individuality. Her ultimate goal is to open & own a boutique health/wellness hotel that fosters a community & environment that supports people in finding their cure!

We take a trip down memory lane thinking through some of the craziest foods that we have eaten throughout the years.

Samantha Soloway is an accessibility advocate and experience innovation strategist at PNC Bank. Samantha's passions lie at the intersection of design, business, and accessibility. She strives to shine a light on the importance of creating products usable by people of all abilities. She spends her free time finding ways to connect and give back to her community, including volunteering for Experience Camps, a camp for children who have lost a parent, sibling or primary caregiver.

This week on Fortitude in 15, we talk about habits and reasons we might fall back into our old ones, whether they are good or bad.

Jahaan Ansari is the Co-Founder of Gainful, a personal performance nutrition brand. At Gainful, Jahaan and his team are on a mission to "Empower you to feel pride in attaining your goals. We sweat the details so that you don’t have to – giving you peace of mind that your supplements contain the finest ingredients, specifically for you"Jahaan and his co-founder Eric came up with the idea for Gainful while they were still in college. Now, six years later Gainful is highly respected in the supplement industry, has delivered well over a million orders, and is on the shelves at Target. Jahaan has also received the distinguished honor of being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his work.Gainful WebsiteJahaan's Linkedin

We traveled together to the middle of nowhere in Pennsylvania to fully disconnect in nature and reset. Looking back on the weekend, we have some really thought provoking takeaways about how to reset as a young adult.

David Greenfield is the CEO and Co-Founder of JUUCE, a portable charger rental kiosk company. The team at JUUCE is on a mission to build the largest network of synchronized portable charging stations within the United States. JUUCE was built to provide on-the-go portable charging accessibility, solving a common problem while building partnerships with brands and high-traffic venues. While David is building JUUCE, he also works as an SAP Consultant at IBM.LinkedIn

Parker came across an article that prompted the idea that the perception of masculinity has changed over time which led us to the topic of this week’s Fortitude in 15: How do you define masculinity?

Jahleane Dolne is a mindset coach and GenZ/Millenial influencer based in New York City. As a Certified Subconscious Programming Coach, she has educated hundreds of thousands of people across social platforms and online media publications - on navigating life transitions and becoming fully aligned with your purpose.Beyond the coaching and content creation space, Jahleane has spoken professionally around the country spreading her message. She has developed many tools to help young adults navigate the real world. Check out her website to learn more: https://www.jahleane.com/

Sam and Parker discuss the potential impact of AI on our lives. Inspired by a question from Parker's stepbrother, they explore the ways AI can be used to improve daily experiences, sharing personal anecdotes about AI-generated graphics, wedding planning, and even writing thank-you notes. While acknowledging the potential benefits and efficiencies of AI, they also delve into the broader implications and invite listeners to engage in the ongoing conversation about AI's role in our lives.And yes we used AI to create this episode description ;)

Harris Fanaroff is an entrepreneur and thought leader who is focused on working with companies to improve their employee experience. Formerly drafted as a pitcher by the Washington Nationals, Harris came to an abrupt end and he shifted his focus towards business and entrepreneurship.As the founder of Activate, Harris helps sales teams more become effective and new hires productive quicker through customized learning and development programs. Harris is a respected voice on social media (40k followers) where he shares his thoughts on how companies can improve how they recruit, onboard and train employees. He also shares these perspectives through his newsletter “The Optimistic Office”.LinkedInThe Optimistic Office

Parker reflects on “Unbroken”, the book that he is reading at the moment. The book sparked a discussion about our appreciation for those who serve and how we sometimes take those who put our communities first for granted.

Jared Nozick is the Chief Marketing Officer at Versus, a multi-vertical lifestyle brand that combines best-in-class hospitality venues, a cutting-edge marketing agency, and an innovative venture arm.For the last ten years, Jared has worked on many ventures in the entertainment and hospitality space. As a resilient entrepreneur, he has succeeded and he has failed. But he knows that even with the biggest of setbacks, he is still elevating. LinkedIn

The theme of this episode is very simple: Respect people’s time.

Kai McKinney is the founding partner at Relay, a product development agency working with young companies to translate ideas into products. Kai is also a University Innovation Fellow at the prestigious Stanford d.school and an Executive in Residence at The Ohio State University Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship where he helps students bring their ideas to life. LinkedIn

We all get the urge to splurge on some unhealthy food. But as we have gotten a bit older, what we eat has has had more of an impact on how we feel.

Sam Rose is a recently elected Councilman for the city of Aspen, Colorado and volunteer firefighter. After college, Sam decided to do something completely different from his friend. He spent almost a year traveling throughout six continents in the world. He spent his days living, learning and experiencing many different cultures and ways of life.Sam is driven by making the world a better place through helping others. A true elevator, we are so grateful to have Sam join Elevation Nation.

Parker journeyed to the mountains of the Poconos over the weekend and reflects on his time disconnecting from the world for a few days. This week’s Elevator shout-out’s: #115 and #120 Gigi Robinson & Danielle Farage; #92 Jonny Lazarus

200 episodes ago in 2021, we released the first Elevation Nation Special with Sam Panitch. Now, almost two years later, we are running it back. Parker steps into the interviewer's seat and asks Sam about his past and what is currently top of mind for him as he navigates the later half of his 20's.

With summer rolling around the corner, Parker and Sam have made some decisions that are going to push them a bit beyond their comfort zone. However, it will most certainly pay some dividends.

Danny Goldberg is a life-long entrepreneur turned professional speaker based in New York City. At the age of 20, Danny lost his dad to cancer. Then at 25, he lost his mother to cancer. Going through these losses as a young adult, Danny’s life mission became even more clear: To help others courageously living. Most recently left a very successful business to go all-in on his dream to become a successful public speaker.