Elevation Nation
Elevation Nation is a movement to shape resilient leaders by elevating mental fortitude.
Join Sam Panitch and Parker Yablon each week as they sit down with a new Elevator: a bold thinker, creator, or leader who’s using mental fortitude to overcome adversity, lead with purpose, and make an impact.
From entrepreneurs and pro athletes to musicians, wellness experts, and changemakers, Elevators come from all walks of life - but they all have one thing in common: mental fortitude that helps them thrive in the real world.
Episodes
421 episodes
What Paranoia? | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam get real about a trend in corporate America right now. They talk anxiety, imposter syndrome, job security, and how showing up as your authentic self can be your biggest advantage. The conversation touches on why multiple income s...
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Season 1
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Episode 417
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13:13
Branded Paddles and Big Dreams | Founder of Killa Dinks Griffin Toren
Elevator no. 215: Griffin Toren is the founder and CEO of Killa Dinks, a fast-growing pickleball and padel paddle company creating custom products for brands like Apple, Poppi, and the Miami Marlins. He started the company while still an underg...
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Season 1
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Episode 416
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42:17
Why EQ Beats Your Resume | Fortitude in 15
AI is reshaping what early careers look like and many traditional paths just aren’t cutting it anymore. Parker and Sam break down why emotional intelligence, people skills, and creative thinking matter more than ever in a world where machines c...
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Season 1
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Episode 415
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16:08
Success May Not Lead to Fulfillment | Fortitude in 15
This week, Parker and Sam unpack a powerful comment from world #1 golfer Scottie Scheffler, who admitted that golf, despite all his wins, isn’t the most fulfilling part of his life. They reflect on the difference between success and meaning, an...
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Season 1
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Episode 414
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13:12
Heal Yourself From the Inside Out | Founder and Holistic Nutritionist Dane Johnson
Elevator no. 214: Dane Johnson is the CEO and Founder of Crohn’s Colitis Lifestyle, the world’s leading consulting firm for natural IBD healing. Once a successful model and actor in LA, Dane’s life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed w...
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Season 1
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Episode 413
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1:01:57
Becoming a 'Baller' | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam unpack what it really means to be a baller. Financial freedom. Owning your time. Building real connections. They share takeaways from Scott Galloway’s perspective on content, personal branding, and why traditional interviews are ...
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Season 1
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Episode 412
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15:38
Recharged and Ready to Elevate | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam return after a much-needed break to reflect on time with family, lessons learned, and the importance of slowing down to speed up. They dive into the highs and lows of building Elevation Nation, from navigating social media to pre...
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Season 1
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Episode 411
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13:56
You Either Win or You Learn | Founder of Juan, Please - Peter Flores
Elevator 212: Peter Flores is the founder of Juan, Please, a bold new beverage company born from a blend of corporate insight, cultural roots, and entrepreneurial grit. With a background spanning hospitality, media, and alcohol partnerships at ...
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Season 1
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Episode 410
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46:57
Forget the 5-Year Plan, Focus on the Next 5 Days | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam unpack why obsessing over long-term plans can actually hold you back. They share how focusing on short-term action, just five days at a time, can lead to more momentum, clarity, and confidence.03:45Living by Values vs....
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Season 1
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Episode 409
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18:04
Authenticity Over Algorithms: A Guide to Showing Up Online | Jenna Pereira - Founder of JP Social
Elevator 211: Jenna Pereira is the founder of JP Social and a self-proclaimed professional hype girl who helps creators and entrepreneurs show up online with confidence and purpose. From her early days freelancing on Upwork to building a boutiq...
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Season 1
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Episode 408
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48:08
More Than S’mores: How Camp Builds Leaders | Fortitude in 15
Camp isn’t just fun and games, it’s a mindset reset. In this episode, Parker and Sam break highlight the first leg of their Elevate Camp Tour at Lake of the Woods and Greenwoods Camps and discuss why summer camp is the perfect space for reflect...
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Season 1
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Episode 407
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16:01
Leading with Fortitude: Inside Joe Vogel’s Political Journey | Joe Vogel - Maryland State Delegate
Elevator 210: Joe Vogel is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing the 17th district, which includes Gaithersburg and Rockville. As a young immigrant and one of Maryland’s rising political voices, Joe shares how his family’s hi...
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Season 1
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Episode 406
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52:49
The Weight of the Choice: Why Decisions Feel So Heavy | Fortitude in 15
Why does every decision feel so intense? In this episode, Parker and Sam unpack the pressure of decision-making in adulthood from anxiety and overthinking to the fear of regret. They explore why commitment matters more than certainty, and how l...
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Season 1
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Episode 405
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15:40
Healing Starts Within | Jessie Yaffe - Holistic Health and Mindset Coach
Elevator 209: Jessie Yaffe is a certified holistic health and mindset coach who helps others reconnect with themselves through mindfulness, emotional healing, and inner child work. After navigating chronic stress and inspired by her sister’s ca...
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Season 1
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Episode 404
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51:16
Our Identity Isn’t Optional, It’s Who We Are | Fortitude in 15
Amid rising antisemitism and growing tension around the world, Parker and Sam reflect on what it means to be proudly and visibly Jewish in a time that often feels unsafe. They open up about the tension between fear and identity, and why now mor...
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Season 1
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Episode 403
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15:01
Be Proud, Show Up, Keep Creating | Libby Amber Shayo - Content Creator
Elevator No. 208: Libby Amber Shayo is a content creator, storyteller, and comedic voice known for her viral portrayals of Jewish mothers and her unique ability to blend humor with cultural insight. What began as a pandemic-era TikTok video has...
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Season 1
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Episode 402
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36:53
Using ChatGPT as a Therapist: Helpful or Unhealthy? | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam celebrate 400 episodes of Elevation Nation by reflecting on the podcast’s impact and how it’s fueled their personal growth. Then they explore the rise of AI therapy tools like ChatGPT and how young adults are turning to technolog...
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Season 1
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Episode 401
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15:38
Building While Becoming | Jack Adler - Founder of Out2Win
Elevator No. 206: Jack Adler is a young entrepreneur and founder of Out2Win, an athlete marketing tech company using AI to help brands, universities, and agencies streamline athlete partnerships. While still at Syracuse, Jack launched the compa...
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Season 1
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Episode 400
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46:10
Why It’s Actually a Great Time to Be a Young Creator or Entrepreneur | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam break down why now is the best time to be a young creator or entrepreneur. With more tools, platforms, and demand for authenticity than ever before, they explore how anyone can start building something meaningful, no permission r...
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Season 1
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Episode 399
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14:59
Effort, Recovery, and a True Meaning of Success | Matt Williams - Founder of FroPro
Elevator No. 205: Matt Williams is a testament to resilience and reinvention. After a life-changing moment in 2010, he embraced sobriety and began rebuilding from the inside out, eventually founding FROPRO, a snack bar company rooted in second ...
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Season 1
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Episode 398
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52:47
Are We Really Flourishing? Why Young People Feel So Off | Fortitude in 15
Young people today have more access, flexibility, and tools than any generation before, so why do so many of us feel stuck? Parker and Sam break down findings from a massive global study showing that 18–29-year-olds, especially in the U.S., are...
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Season 1
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Episode 397
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13:57
Protect Your Peace, Pursue Your Purpose | Kayla Schreibstein - Host of Friends of Kayla
Elevator No. 207: Kayla Schreibstein is a seasoned tech sales pro turned community-builder, storyteller, and host of the podcast Friends of Kayla. Beyond her 9 to 5, she’s redefining success through intimate Shabbat dinners, cultural c...
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Season 1
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Episode 396
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43:16
Lonely ≠ Broken: Why Feeling Isolated Doesn’t Mean You’re Failing | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam unpack the reality of loneliness in today’s hyper-connected world. They share personal experiences and coping strategies, emphasizing that feeling isolated doesn’t mean something is wrong with you...it’s part of being human.
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Season 1
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Episode 395
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15:12
The Professional Trier | Richie Frieman - Best-Selling Author and Entrepreneur
Elevator No. 204: Richie Frieman is a best-selling author, illustrator, entrepreneur, and former professional wrestler dubbed a "Modern-Day Renaissance Man." His latest memoir, The Optimistics, highlights powerful love stories within t...
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Season 1
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Episode 394
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48:21
Stuck in the Comfort Zone: When “Fine” Starts to Feel Wrong | Fortitude in 15
Sam and Parker unpack a feeling many of us struggle to name. When everything is technically fine but something still feels off. From job dissatisfaction to global chaos bleeding into our daily routines, they explore how comfort can quietly conv...
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Season 1
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Episode 393
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15:34