Elevation Nation

Eighty percent of Gen Z say they've felt lonely in the past year, despite being the most digitally connected generation ever. Sam and Parker dig into why more connection hasn't meant less loneliness, and how comfort zones, phones, and false assumptions about what strangers will think people stuck.

Elevator no. 247: Eric Zalewski is the c-founder of Acru, a social fitness app built to track and share every workout, from lifts to classes to runs. A former S1 basketball player at Northwestern, Eric walked on to the team as a manager and earned his spot on the court through relentless preparation. He's spent the past two-plus years coaching fitness in NYC on top of his finance day job, and outside of work he's chasing marathons, HYROX race, hooping, golfing, and slowly leveling up his cooking beyond chicken and rice.In the Elevation Nation Podcast: Eric breaks down the mindset that got him from team manager to walk-on, why anybody can lead regardless of title, and how he channels a "more to give" mentality into everything from fitness coaching to endurance training. We get into the power of a portfolio life, why the hardest goals are the ones worth chasing, and Sam makes a bet he may come to regret.

Sam and Parker break down 21-year-old PGA Tour winner Jackson Koivun, who beat Scottie Scheffler at the 3M Open with three words written on his glove: confidence, trust, dominate. The guys talk mental mottos, where theirs live, and why the physical reminder matters. They close with rapid-fire Overrated/Underrated on pre-performance routines, from visualization to meditation to journaling.

Elevator 254: Brian Helfman is the founder and Chief Experience Officer at Third Nature, where he runs adult summer camp retreats, leadership trainings, and community experiences designed to help people reconnect with their authentic selves. He's also a longtime volunteer and now part-time staff member with Experience Camps, running adult grief camps for people who lost a parent young.In this podcast: we dive into how his father's death at 55 completely rewired Brian's relationship to work and time, why 93% of Americans spend their lives indoors and what that's costing us, the accidental path from CBS ad sales to ski instructor to building Third Nature, and his mental motto Memento Mori — remembering you will die as a way to actually live.

Sam and Parker celebrate hitting 500 episodes, then dive into David Goggins re-enlisting in the Air Force at 51 to finish the Pararescue training he quit at 19. The guys break down the mixed public reaction and why they're firmly on Team Goggins.They close out with a Mount Rushmore of legendary quitters-turned-comebacks: Jordan, Steve Jobs, Brian May, and a surprise entry that has nothing to do with sports or business.

Sam and Parker break down what makes Noah Kahan an honorary elevator — from writing songs alone in his Vermont attic during COVID to selling out four nights at Fenway Park. His Netflix documentary shows the self-doubt never really left, he just learned to use it. Plus, a game of Real or Fake Noah Kahan lyrics that Sam almost sweeps.

Elevator no. 253: Tony Polcari, better known as Tony P in DC, is a content creator and broadcaster with millions of views built on cooking videos, fit checks, and week-in-the-life vlogs. After chasing the "checked boxes" through accounting at KPMG and strategy consulting, a nudge from his boss after a breakup sent him down the content path, and within months a side hobby became a full-blown brand. Now he's chasing the broadcasting dream he gave up on in college, from Fox appearances to a Food Network digital series.In this podcast: Tony opens up about the mental health struggles behind his relentless positivity, including a suicide attempt in high school and the weight of an internet audience where some people love you and some mock your existence. We talk about why men need permission to be open, what happened to being a gentleman, and why the DMs saying "your videos got me through" are what keep him going. Plus his mental motto, straight out of Rounders: don't run from who you are. Run toward it.

Sam and Parker are back from a week off, and it exposed something neither of them expected. A TikTok video they came across on anhedonia - the idea that we've lost the ability to feel pleasure without a dopamine hit - sparked a conversation about rest, numbness, and why doing nothing feels so hard. They dig into the difference between nothing and numbing, why people at camp light up once their phones disappear, and whether real stillness is a skill we've quietly lost.

Elevator 252: Jake Rozhansky is a retired professional soccer player turned wealth advisor based in New York City. A kid from Maryland raised by a single mother, he was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis as a toddler and told he could end up in a wheelchair. Instead he captained his club team, won a national championship as a freshman at UVA, played professionally in Israel and the United States, and then walked away from the game at 28 to start completely over.In this podcast: Jake takes us through the identity shift of being known as "the soccer player" his whole life to building something entirely new. We talk about where his confidence actually came from (and why he was unapologetically cocky), the boring and lonely reality of being a pro athlete overseas, and how a COVID wake-up call about money pushed him into a finance career he wanted to quit every single day for six months, until he didn't.

Argentina was down 2-0 to Egypt with 15 minutes left. Messi had just missed a penalty kick in front of the entire world. Then he scored the game-tying goal and Argentina came back to win.Sam and Parker break down what separates the best of the best: how fast they bounce back from failure. Then they test a new format with rapid fire fortitude questions and a blind ranking of soccer legends you'd want on a five-day silent retreat.

Elevators 250/251: Grant and Will Cohen are brothers, operators, and co-founders of Rising Ventures Group. Grant spent nearly a decade at Amazon building his leadership chops in warehousing and supply chain before making the jump to entrepreneurship. Will became a CEO at 25 years old, transformed a metals recycling company into a certified B Corp that donated 200,000 pieces of technology to communities in need — then sold it and kept going. Together, they acquired Quality Warehouse & Distribution, a 50-year-old logistics business serving the New York and New Jersey port region, and are building it into the foundation of their family office.In this episode: Grant and Will talk about what it actually looks like to be hands-on operators in an unsexy industry — and why that's the whole point. We get into Will's wild first week as CEO with $15K in the bank and payroll due on Friday, Grant's "it's time" moment watching entrepreneurs build culture inside Amazon, and why the baby boomer succession gap is one of the biggest opportunities for the next generation of business owners. They also share the mental mottos that drive how they lead — at work and at home.

Sam and Parker are back from the road, and the first-ever Elevate Your Mindset tour is officially in the books. They recap three weeks, nine camps, and fifteen-plus gigs across five states, from elevating in Chicago to a campfire session in the Berkshires to dodging a tornado on the way to New Hampshire. The guys reflect on the new mentors, the lasting friendships, and the momentum they're carrying into whatever comes next.

Sam and Parker are officially in the thick of the summer tour: ~1k miles, three days, and fourteen hours behind the wheel. Before they hit the road, they get into what these long hauls really do to your head and how they stay sharp without driving each other crazy. Plus some rapid fire and fire questions to kick the whole thing off.

Sam and Parker came across a warning from author Cal Newport: our ability to think deeply is eroding, and almost nobody is talking about it. If a TikTok is just a digital Dorito and AI is writing, speaking, and problem-solving for us, what happens to the most important muscle we have? The guys get into why deep thinking is the one thing AI can't replace, plus simple ways to start exercising your brain again.

Elevator 249: Morgan Raum is a New York-based food media creator, community builder, and the founder of Shabbat Club — a Jewish dining series bringing young adults together over food at Jewish-owned restaurants and bars across NYC and beyond. She's also the creator behind ToooMuchFoood, where she's been sharing her love of food for over 12 years across Instagram and TikTok.In this episode: Morgan shares how getting laid off from her dream job as a food journalist at People Magazine became the catalyst for building something entirely her own. We talk about the power of food as a community connector, what it really takes to build an audience from scratch, and how Shabbat Club became a home for Jewish young professionals who never quite felt like they fit into traditional Jewish spaces.

The Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time this century, and Sam has a front row seat to the story. He grew up playing high school ball with Jalen Brunson, and he shares what it was like watching a kid who wasn't the biggest or the most talented outwork everyone in the room. From the goals taped to his bedroom wall to the mantra that shaped his entire career, we dig into the mindset that took Brunson from second round pick to the NBA finals.

Elevator 248: Joseph DiMeo is a motivational speaker from New Jersey. In July 2018, at 20 years old, he fell asleep at the wheel on the drive home from a shift he picked up for overtime. The accident left him with 80% burns, burnt eyelids, and amputated fingers. After waking from a three-and-a-half month coma, Joe went on to become the first successful face and double hand transplant recipient in the world.In this podcast: Joe takes us back to the moment he woke up from that coma and the first thing he asked about was his rims. We talk about how humor became a survival tool, what it actually felt like to hear his diagnosis at 5am through a haze of painkillers, and how he's built a full life — traveling the world, chasing good food, and showing up every single day with two mental mottos that say everything about who he is.

Parker and Sam are days away from the busiest month in Elevation Nation history - a summer speaking tour across five states, multiple camps, and a whole lot of time in a rental car together.Parker's pumped. Sam's a little tired. And somewhere in between those two feelings is the real conversation: how do you stay present when everything is moving at once? The guys get honest about anxiety, perspective, and why sometimes the suck is exactly where you need to be.

Bill Villafranco is a trustee of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, a private philanthropic organization that has distributed over $100 million in grants supporting women in the arts, medical research, underprivileged youth, and humanitarian initiatives around the world. He also serves as Executive Director of myFace, a nonprofit supporting individuals with craniofacial differences, and brings decades of experience from his career in wealth management.In this podcast: Bill takes us inside the nursing school he helped build in Thailand that has now graduated over 550 young women out of trafficking and poverty. He opens up about losing his son at birth at 28 years old, the 15 years it took him to make sense of that grief, and how the question "why not me?" became the through-line for the people he now surrounds himself with. We dig into legacy-driven giving, intergenerational mentorship, and why young people are starving for the kind of perspective only someone older than them can offer.

The WSJ publisehd a piece this week showing that the backlash against AI has been bigger than expected. Sam and Parker upack what the rebellion says about society today, talk through their fears with the advancement of AI, and what they plan to do about it.

Elevator 246: Jonathan Belfer (JB) is the Founder of High Frequency Coffee. After navigating the finance world, writing blogs, and producing cooking videos, he channeled his diverse experiences into building a brand centered around coffee and positive energy. High Frequency is more than a company name; it’s a lifestyle built on the belief that positive experiences are contagious and what you consume impacts how you feel.In this podcast: Jonathan flips the script and hits us with his own rapid-fire questions, diving into morning rituals, the power of a daily walk, and the best American rock bands of our generation. We talk about the importance of giving people grace, the benefits of alternative plant medicine, and why operating at a "high frequency" changes how you show up in the world.Check out the High Frequency Coffee website: drinkhighfrequency.com

Are younger people spending less time on building side hustles? Sam and Parker came across an interesting trend that went against their assumptions.Millenials and Gen-Z may actually be more hesitant to start a business in 2026 than years prior.

Elevator no. 245: Vance Row is a retired Public Safety professional from Ocean City, Maryland, and a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist. After finding his own recovery from mental health and substance abuse challenges, he became a Registered Yoga Teacher to help active and retired first responders process their traumaIn this podcast: Vance opens up about the heavy toll of working in law enforcement and why seeking help is still heavily stigmatized within the police force. We discuss the benefits of breath-work, the mechanics of trauma recovery and how prioritizing self-awareness can completely transform your mindset.

Sam and Parker recap an incredible week down in Orlando, Florida where they attended the EY Future Leaders Summit with over a thousands incoming interns. They had the opportunity to keynote their "Elevate Your Mindset" workshop with the attendees, marking the biggest speaking gig of their lives.

Braxton Bartlett is the CEO of Paladin Capital LLC, Managing Director of The Bartlett Group, Partner at the KB Collective, and a former collegiate and professional basketball player. Confronting the physical limits of his athletic career with total honesty, he started his entrepreneurial journey by fixing and flipping real estate while still completing his college education. Now he is the founder of his own VC firm.In this episode, we discuss the heavy reality of extreme ambition, exploring the vulnerability of failed business ventures and the absolute necessity of defining clear boundaries for financial success. We also detail his highly practical daily productivity habits and share why forcing yourself into unfamiliar situations is the most effective way to discover what genuinely makes you feel alive.

Upon Noah Kahan's new album release, Sam and Parker came across a documentary that uncovers the life of the growing rock star. Their main takeaway: Noah Kahan epitomizes what it means to be an elevator. We dive in.

Elevator 243: Yoni Kirschner is the founder and CEO of 1Konnection, a platform leveraging AI to fix the broken, inefficient cycles of networking and market intelligence in healthcare. After a career spent in the trenches from selling candy in a red wagon to becoming a top regional sales manager at CVS Health, Yoni has mastered the art of turning a "no" into momentum.In this podcast: Yoni shares how he used the resilience learned from door-to-door sales to build an AI platform with zero coding experience. We dive into why interpersonal skills are the only thing that will save your career from automation and how to leverage "Authentic Intelligence" to differentiate yourself in a tech-driven world.

Sam and Parker are ten days away from the first leg of their summer speaking tour. Starting off with 1,000 people in Orlando, Florida then driving through five states in June, there will be plenty of elevating.The guys then talk through some rapid fire questions to see where their heads are at.

Sam and Parker discuss the origins of the 5-day workweek, how it could be a 100-year trap and if a 4-day work week could actually happen.

Elevator 242: Lia Maiuri has spent over a decade in communications and media, working on major entertainment brands like NBC and Paramount Pictures. After navigating the high-pressure worlds of This Is Us and Days of Our Lives, she shifted her focus to helping the next generation bridge the gap between college and the workforce.In this podcast: Lia shares the tactical lessons she learned in the most competitive media environments in the world to help young professionals build a career path. We dive into the "Day 1" reality of starting your career, how to build a resume that lands an interview, and the mindset required to stay resilient in an evolving professional landscape.

Parker and Sam explore the "EEK and AWE" leadership framework and challenge listeners to reclaim true elevation by intentionally seeking out discomfort and wonder to break through professional stagnation.

Elevator 218: Julia Resnick is a Pyschotherapist at Be You Psychotherapy who specializes in anxiety, OCD, and chronic illness. She brands herself on a "lived-in approach," turning her personal challenges with arthritis and Crohn's disease into a higher level of empathy and purpose for her clients.In this podcast: We discuss holistic wellness in 2026 and the trap of "over-optimizing" our lives through wearable tech and rigid routines. Julia breaks down why flexibility is the ultimate mental health "cheat code," the rise of "reassurance seeking" through AI, and the truth behind the loneliness epidemic facing young men today. From "anchor habits" like sleep to the simple joy of eating a New York bagel again, this conversation is a reminder that mental fortitude isn't about being perfect, it’s about being consistent even when you're only at 60%.

Sam started his week off with a challenging start and the guys talk through how he looks refrain him mindset to get back to elevating during the week.

Elevator 241: Keri Hope Richmond is a multi-hyphenate leader, storyteller, and the Executive Director of Unbelievably Resilient. From influencing child welfare policy in Washington, DC, to serving as the CEO of Keri Hope Co, she’s spent her career designing spaces that help young people and families move from surviving to thriving.In this podcast: Keri pulls back the curtain on her transformative journey from the corporate world to a life dedicated to mindfulness and community. We dive into the impact of travel on perspective, the "Blue Zone" science behind longevity and connection, and why in-person relationships are the ultimate antidote to a digital age. Keri breaks down how to deconstruct old narratives, embrace evolution, and turn lived experience into real-world impact.

Sam and Parker explore the importance of introspection in personal and professional growth to elevate in life.

Elevator 240: Jack Miller is the founder and leader of The Miller Schackman Team in New York City. Since launching in 2022, Jack has led his team to over $200 million in closed sales by prioritizing a client-first approach and a standard of excellence that’s rare in the high-stakes world of Manhattan real estate.In this podcast: Jack breaks down his journey from growing up in Baltimore to building a powerhouse team in NYC. We dive into the grit required to balance a relentless work schedule with a personal life, why he encourages his agents to fail without fear, and his core belief that nothing truly worth building happens overnight.

Whoop, Aura Ring, Garmin, Apple Watch. So many people these days are tracking their body's data. From sleep to strain to movement to rest, these devices have allowed us to understand our bodies more than ever before. But is it truly helping or making us more on edge?

Elevator 239: Ryan Shaer is the Vice President of Ace Limousine, where he helped scale a family business into a 100+ employee operation serving clients worldwide. From a former startup CSO to founding his new sustainable apparel brand, AYDN, Ryan’s career is defined by high-stakes transitions and a relentless focus on culture.In this podcast: Ryan gets honest about his journey from a struggling student to a leader in the tough-as-nails limousine industry. We dive into the unique pressure of navigating family dynamics in business, the hard lessons learned from a global pandemic, and why he believes the best way to find fulfillment is to make sure the people around you are winning.

Parker and Sam talk through the dilemma that comes with success.

On March 24, the Modern Gentleman is hosting n elevated dinner for men who want more than small talk. Good food, bourbon, and real conversation about purpose, pressure, and life.Location: Colony Hotel in West Palm Beach, FloridaTime: 6:00 - 8:30pm ESTOnly 25 tickets available. Secure here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-gentlemans-table-palm-beach-tickets-1983648869166

Sam takes a solo trip to Puerto Rico and realizes that it was the opposite of a relaxing vacation.

Elevator 238: Betsy Kaplan is a PR expert for some of the world’s biggest spirits brands at Campari. She is also the founder of Grief, Sweat, & Tears and a Program Director at Experience Camps, where she is redefining how we navigate loss by bringing it out of the shadows and into the gym.In this podcast: Betsy gets real about the "grief gap" in our culture and why movement is often the best way to process what words can't touch. We dive into the unique energy of grief communities, the importance of "trusting your gut" when life hits its fastest pace, and how she’s building safe spaces in NYC where crying is a sign of strength, not a stigma.

Parker and Sam discuss the implications of AI on society, drawing insights from Mark Manson's books. They explore the idea of AI becoming a new form of religion, the potential dystopian future it may create, and the importance of authenticity in a technology-driven world.

Elevator 237: Scott Smith was a football player at the University of Maryland when a degenerative disc injury changed everything. After being told there weren't more options to fix his pain by traditional medical professionals, he spent years navigating the gap between high-level performance and debilitating injury. Today, he’s the founder of Euphoria Healing & Wellness in DC, where he’s helping others find the holistic recovery tools that traditional medicine missed.In this podcast: Scott gets real about the mental toll of losing your identity as an athlete and the grit required to advocate for your own health when no one believes you. We discuss the critical connection between mental health and physical recovery, the power of community in wellness, and why Scott is on a mission to help people live authentically and without limitations.

Parker and Sam explore the implications of AI on the future of work, personal growth, and the human experience.

Elevator 236: Brett Greenberg spent over a decade in the front office of the Washington Wizards, rising to Assistant General Manager after starting his career in the video rooms of the Miami Heat and Duke Basketball. Today, he’s a Senior Executive at Teamworks and an advisor at ProMondo Sports, navigating the intersection of high-performance tech and athlete representation.In this podcast: Brett pulls back the curtain on the high-pressure world of NBA management and the personal challenge of coming out in that environment. We dive into his "year of rebirth" after leaving the Wizards, the importance of being present when your career feels like it's moving at 100mph, and why your identity has to be rooted in more than just your job title.

Parker and Sam discuss the alarming trend of the 'friendship recession,' particularly among men, where a significant percentage report having no close friends.

Elevators 234 & 235: Esther Eisenhard and Aaron Lyon are the siblings behind CampHire. They took the elite recruiting playbooks from Google and Amex and brought them to the camp world. After six years of grinding, they’ve built the go-to agency for finding the people who actually make or break the summer camp experience.In this podcast: We get into the no-nonsense reality of building a business with family and the humbling perspective of working a day job while running your own shop at night. Esther and Aaron share how they navigate the difficult work of sourcing top talent and why the best way to grow is to stop obsessing over being perfect and just start being wonderful.

Parker and Sam debate the "success tax" that it takes to accomplish goals and break down scenarios to determine if the result is worth the sacrifice or if the bill is simply "too high to pay".

Elevator 233: Morgan Rich is a men’s coach, author of The Invitation Beyond, and the creator of Training for the unkNOWn. He specializes in helping high-achieving men move beyond conventional success to build lives rooted in integrity, emotional presence, and real aliveness.In this podcast: Morgan shares his journey through loss and the critical role mentorship plays in navigating the unique struggles young men face today. We dive into the power of men's groups, why we must learn to "hang in the darkness," and how to use grounding practices to stay present when training for the unknown.