Elevation Nation

We are ELEVATED to announce the launch of our new apparel line in collaboration with Elevator no. 109 Balim Tezel's apparel brand NUS. If you want a *discount* on the apparel please leave us a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify and DM us a screenshot of the review. Link to apparel: https://www.wearenus.com/collections/elevation-nation?t=1684852422524

Spontaneous Sam lives another week. Sam talks through getting his first tattoo and the "elevated" meaning behind it!

Wayne Cole is a sports reporter who covers the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League and XFL in the Washington DC area. He has honed his craft by focusing on the athletes story by engaging them with empathy.Wayne has his Masters of Education in School Counseling from Loyola University and spends much of his free time working with underprivileged youth and advocating for more access to mental health care.

Sam pushed himself wayyyy out of his comfort zone and did something spontaneous the other week. Now, he is thinking he has a new perspective on how he wants to make memories.

Sarah Fitz is a standup comedian based in Washington, DC. Sarah started her standup comedy career at George Washington University during her freshman year. As a young adult, Sarah is pushing herself to the center stage as much as possible. She has opened for Whitney Cummings, sold out her own show called "Fitz of Laughter" and shares her comedy on Tiktok and Youtube.

The title says it all. Parker got engaged to his long time girlfriend JJ on April 22nd. We unpack the experience and how he is feeling about this monumental milestone.

Dana Alkhouri and Meg Schaltegger are the co-founders of The Sideslines, an all inclusive sports newsletter build by a new draft of players. Dana and Meg are focused on breaking down the gender barrier in sports through their bi-weekly newsletter.As two young adults, they are on a mission to build The Sidelines while also navigating their full-time jobs, life in NYC and creating a new narrative around women in sports.The Sidelines - Website

AI or artificial intelligence has been in the news a lot more frequently than it previously has seemed in prior years. Chat GPT has brought to the forefront a technological revolution that might be happening before our eyes. Are we prepared for it? Probably not. Is it already part of our lives? Definitely yes.

Jason Loebig and Bret Gornik are the co-founders of Live Better, an experiential health and wellness company based in Chicago that aims to solve dynamic health challenges at all levels. Per their website, the Live Better mission is to actively build a network of people that come to discover health-related strategies, pursue a growth mindset and push each other to change the world."With Live Better, Jason and Bret hold retreats around the world creating a unique environment for those who want to live better...Website

Spring has sprung Elevation Nation! And similar to last year, this episode is a little spring refresher about what Elevation Nation is and our plans for the near future.

Danielle Farage is a Future of Work Influencer and Speaker who is making her voice known both online and in the real world. She is considered by LinkedIn as a "Top Voice" for GenZ and a Top 50 influencer on the topic of the Future of Work. Additionally, Danielle is the Director of Marketing at Cafe, a company that is helping flexible teams socialize more.Danielle is on a mission to bridge the gap between leaders and talent to create a more inclusive, equitable, and dynamic work culture.

It has been a difficult couple of weeks for us but we are so happy to be back with Elevation Nation. This week we discuss what has happened in our lives recently and how it has shaped our mindset going forward.

Matt Choi is a 27-year-old content creator, entrepreneur, and fitness enthusiast. Matt is a former Division 1 football player at Monmouth University and started his entrepreneurial journey as a personal trainer helping people develop their health and wellness strategy. Now he operates a media company that helps him showcase his fitness challenges and workouts by creating content at scale. He has built a community of followers of over 500k across Tik Tok, Instagram, and YouTube. WebsiteInstagramTikTok

As young adults we have to make a lot of difficult decisions around how we spent our time, who we spend it with and what we choose to do. We talk through a big dilemma: why we want to spend so much effort on work focusing on our dream and at what cost?

Archer Senft is an artist and entrepreneur from Baltimore, MD. He is the founder of Slimeyard an apparel brand based on his artistic creations. In 2015, Archer experienced a freak accident at the beach where he dove into a sandbar and fractured the C5 vertebra in his neck, leaving him paralyzed. After months and months of fighting, Archer was determined to recover and graduate high school on time just two years later. In 2017 he was able to graduate high school, enroll at The University of Pennsylvania and get back on track continuing to elevate himself and others in the real world.Now Archer is focused on building Slimeyard by developing new apparel and art in his studio, living each day to the fullest. Archer's mental motto: "A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing".Tune in to the conversation with Archer on Spotify, Apple and YouTube! Link in bio!•••#youngadullt #mentalfortitude #happiness #resilient #nyc #baltimore #dc #podcast #mindset #life

Parker comes across a very interesting article in the Wall Street Journal titled "Is this it? When Success Isn't Satisfying" by Rachel Feintzeig that left us asking the question... Does success equal happiness?

Carly Silverman is an influencer and content creator consultant based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Carly has worked many jobs in the digital and content creation space and recently went "all in" on her talents. She specializes in "helping brands build awareness, create loyalty, and drive conversion using organic and paid methods."Carly has grown her own TikTok account to 100K followers by being her 28-year-old authentic self. Additionally, she is in the process of completing her master's in social work and plans to use her platform to help others. TikTokLinkedIn

We reflect on coming off a busy travel week where we held two 80-minute workshops with over two hundred students at Prospect High School in Prospect Heights, Illinois.

Garrett Thomas is the founder of Goldie’s Beverages, a non-alcoholic beverage company for people who want to ditch the hangover without ditching their social life. After seeing the impact that giving up alcohol had on his life, Garrett is motivated to create a new stigma around drinking and modern day socializing.

Fortitude in 15 recorded on June 10, 2021. After talking with Jesse Cohen, Sam and Parker share ways they push themselves and each other to push outside their comfort zones and grow.

Replay of episode 31 recorded on March 16, 2021.~John "Cuba" Camardella looks at life differently than most. As a world-renowned thought leader on religious literacy, John has made it his mission to expose young adults to a more diverse world outside of their "bubble". His efforts to magnify our global similarities and highlight our differences help empower others with a more diverse mindset. John talks with us about the importance of internal conversations to enhance one's Mental Fortitude.

Sam has been feeling a little bit off at work recently. So what better way to approach through work-related stress, than by talking about it.

Gigi Robinson is a mental health and chronic illness advocate based in New York City. Having been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome at 11, Gigi knows the difficulties of being different from the norm. Gigi speaks around the world about her experiences and perspectives on chronic illness, mental health, and the creator economy. She has gained a massive following on social media by being the most authentic version of herself. Gigi was a finalist in the Sports Illustrated Swim Search and has been featured in Bustle, Business Insider, Forbes, and Vogue Business. She truly is elevating herself and others each day.WebsiteInstagram

With one of the coldest weather hitting the Northeast over the past weekend, we are beginning to get a little bit sick of how it is making us feel.

Orly Israel (elevator no. 114) is the founder of Orly's Listening Table, a project focused on helping others exercise their listening muscle. Orly, based in Los Angeles, California, sets up his "listening table" in public spaces to provide a unique platform to engage in conversation. Orly has set up over 80 "listening tables" and plans to take his project nationwide by encouraging others to set up their own tables. Recently, Orly's project went viral and amassed almost 100k followers on Instagram. He has big plans for his project as he is launching a podcast and providing more resources to help others listen more.Instagram

Although we call our newsletter “Pulse of the Nation”, today is the perfect time to check our pulse of where things are at. In this conversation, we talk through one thing going well, one thing that is challenging us and one thing that we are going to do to overcome the challenge.

Emily Eckstein (elevator no. 113) is a fitness instructor and host of Fit Food Junkies, a podcast all about fitness and nutrition. Based in Austin, Texas, Emily works with her clients to help them live a healthier life and build a strong mindset to tackle each day. With her brand Fit Food Junkies, Emily creates content through her podcast, TikTok and Youtube to share entertaining ways to stay fit and healthy.

We walk by strangers every day, but how often do we think of greeting them, let alone spark up a conversation. We think think there is some value in stepping outside of the comfort zone and meeting strangers. Who knows where the conversation might lead…

Lily Montasser and Vic Van Ness are the co-founders of Ambyr, an exclusive social club of eligible singles that are serious about meeting up in real life. Ambyr is on a mission to make speed dating cool again.After feeling fatigue from the popular dating apps, Lily and Vic wanted a new alternative to meet single men. They came up with the idea to bring back the intrigue around meeting people through speed dating. With that, Amber was born. Now over a year into their journey Lily and Vic host monthly events for hundreds of their members, bringing back that energy of meeting people in person.Ambyr WebsiteLily Montasser - InstagramVic Van Ness - Instagran

Having difficult conversations is never easy. At the beginning of the month, we made some big goals that we would like to achieve for the nation this year. However, 19 days into the year, we feel as if we are a bit behind. The only way to get back on track: get honest with each other...

Josiah Mihok (Elevator no. 110) considers himself an integrator, helper, and doer. Based in Georgia, Josiah is a technology consultant who helps companies combine the strengths of their people with the possibilities of technology to drive progress. Shortly before his wedding, Josiah was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. A new battle began for him and his family at the beginning of the next chapter in his life. However, Josiah uses his experiences and attitude to inform, inspire and teach others. LinkedInInstagram

We are all about elevating. However, this year we decided against creating New Year's resolutions although we plan to elevate more than ever this year...

Balim Tezel is a marketing specialist and creative director of NUS a handmade clothing brand based in New York City. Per the Nus website, "At NUS, we want to give you minimalist, everyday staples with a point of view. We’re here to build your happy place through superior quality apparel and playful digital content."A graduate of Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Balim is paving her way in young adulthood as an entrepreneur. Nus has been featured in popsugar and brides, while collaborating with brands like Seeing Other People, a top dating podcast and soon Elevation Nation...Nus WebsiteInstagramLinkedin

The 200th episode of Elevation Nation. Nothing more needs to be said than thank you to everyone who has supported the nation over the past (almost) 4 years. We wouldn’t be here without you. To the next 200 episodes…..

Michael Raymond is the President and Founder of Raymond Representation, a sport and talent agency specializing in business, marketing and lifestyle management based in Miami, FL. A graduate of University of Miami School of Law, Michael represents professional basketball players, golfers, influencers, student-athletes and E-sports teams.As a young adult, Michael is chasing his dream while helping others live theirs. He is using the power of social media and brand building to negotiate deals with companies like Ticketmaster, Sony, Gatorade and others for his clients. WebsiteInstagramLinkedIn

As we round out 2022 on our last episode of the year, we talk through all the amazing things that have happened over the past year. We are so grateful for the opportunity to support Elevation Nation as they conquer the real world. 2023 is going to be special. So much more elevation to come.....

Ebenezer Johnson (Elevator no. 107) is an actor, producer, and rapper based in New York City. His work is inspired by a wide range of cultures from all over the world including Africa, UK and the US. Through his music and film projects, Ebenezer focuses on storytelling through his own trials, tribulations, successes and failures. In his latest film, What They Don’t See, Ebenezer sheds light on the challenges of mental health in youth and young adults. Outside of his work as an artist, Ebenezer works as a assistant dean of a high school working each and every day to inspire the next generation. Both as an artist and dean, Ebenezer is elevating himself and others to make the world a better place.InstagramSpotifyYouTube

Recently, we both watched Stutz on Netflix. Stutz is a movie about the relationship between Jonah Hill and his therapist Phil Stutz. The movie currently sits on a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and we had to discuss our thoughts on it for this week’s Fortitude in 15.

Brendan Kaminsky (Elevator no. 106) is the founder of bknown agency, a branding and social media agency within the world of sports and entertainment. After working at ESPN for six and half years gaining some incredible experiences in media and marketing, Brendan took the big leap to go on his own. Now, him and his team at bknown work with some of the biggest names in sports media including Adam Schefter, Steven A. Smith, and Jay Bilas among others. LinkedInbknown agency - WebsiteInstagram

We are always up for a deep conversation. This one was fun talking about space, life and motivations.

Kayla Morán (Elevator no. 105) is an attorney based in Miami, Florida focused on developing her own Trademark and Intellectual Property practice. She also works as an Associate in a civil litigation and personal injury practice. In addition to her work described above, she is the founder of Konecta Social, an influencer management and consulting agency to assist creators in partnering with brands. Kayla is also a creator herself. She is the host of Let’s Get Candid, a podcast all about relationships, wellness and mental health.LinkedInInstagramThe Let’s Get Candid Podcast - Apple

It is December…..which is crazy to think about. As 2022 is coming to a close, we reflect on the things that are important to us now compared to what used to be important to us. Those priorities have definitely shifted over time as we have gotten older. We are sure that the same has happened for you.

Tyler Steinhardt (Elevator no. 104) is the Vice President of Business Development & Partnership at Pique Action, a company with a mission to fight climate change through storytelling. Tyler is also involved in many philanthropic projects centered around community, climate action and veteran mental health.Prior to Pique, Tyler was one of the first hires at the Premier Lacrosse League where he was the Director of Marketing. He also is the founder of Shootout for Soldiers, a 24-hour lacrosse event benefitting American veterans raising more than $4M since its inception in 2012.LinkedInTwitterPique - Website

The World Cup is in full swing in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar. As the international tournament only comes around once every four years, we talk through some of our observations about this year’s controversial tournament.

Max Linkoff (Elevator no. 103) is a performance coach and technology consultant based in Brooklyn, NY. As a coach, Max "works with Millennials to help them break through their clutter, stories, and self-doubts to maximize their talent and ability". Max is focused on helping young adults navigate and feel empowered in the workplace.Max has a pretty cool side gig outside of being a coach and consultant. He owns a coffee shop in Lima, Peru, and is starting a direct-to-consumer coffee brand in the United States.LinkedInWebsite

Who doesn’t love this time of year? Although it is getting a bit cold in the Northeast where we live, the holiday season is upon us. We talk through our favorite and not-so-favorite holidays as Thanksgiving approaches fast!

Elgin Ford Jr. (Elevator no. 102) is a musician in Seattle, Washington. Growing up in Georgia, Elgin always had a love and affinity for music. Through school, he always used music as an outlet and when he graduated college he decided to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time artist.Elgin also goes by "LGN" and says he is a singer who can rap. Since releasing his first album "What Am I Doing" in 2021, Elgin has picked up momentum. Now, he is working day in and day out to make his dream a reality, all while continuing to navigate the real world as a young adult.Instagram"What Am I Doing" - Spotify

We have spoken with over 100+ elevators over the past two years. One theme remained consistent from all our conversations: Pushing out of your comfort zone and doing hard things leads to elevation.Given the completion of the New York Marathon, we talk about why humans like to do hard things.

Madeline Weinfeld and Marissa Robinson (Elevators no. 101 & 61) are licensed psychotherapists based in New York City who specialize in working with young adults to navigate the stresses and challenges of the real world.At their practice Be You Psychotherapy, their approach to therapy is "humanistic, interpersonal, and evidence-based, with an emphasis on the importance of a safe and open therapeutic relationship." Madeline and Marissa's areas of expertise include self-esteem and identity, love, dating and relationships, anxiety and depression and life transitions. WebsiteInstagramMadeline Weinfeld - LinkedinMarissa Robinson - LinkedinMarissa's previous appearance on Elevation Nation

The amount of recorded antisemitic incidents in America is at an all time high right now. With the recent events in the news, we have to speak about this topic as two young adult American Jews.