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
399 episodes
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
Social Fitness, Connection, and Starting Over | Orly Israel - Thought Leader on Listening
Elevator no. 114: Orly Israel returns to Elevation Nation three years after his first appearance with a powerful story of loss, resilience, and renewal. After losing his home in the California Palisades fires earlier this year, Orly reflects on...
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Season 1
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Episode 392
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1:08:50
Infinite Game Mindset | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam dive into Simon Sinek’s concept of the infinite game and why success isn’t about winning—it’s about staying in the game. They reflect on how this mindset shift has impacted their journey with Elevation Nation and why chasing shor...
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Season 1
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Episode 391
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14:19
Dreaming Big and Leading Boldly | Trevon Gross Jr. - Leadership Coach
Elevator no. 202: Trevon Gross Jr. is a leadership coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Craft Your Dream, an organization helping ambitious dreamers turn their goals into reality. He shares his journey from college athlete t...
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Season 1
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Episode 390
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51:09
Let’s Reintroduce Ourselves: The Origin Story of Elevation Nation | Fortitude in 15
After welcoming a ton new people to Elevation Nation the past month, Parker and Sam reintroduce themselves and share the origin story of Elevation Nation. From post-grad confusion to building a community centered on mental fortitude, they refle...
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Season 1
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Episode 389
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14:58
Fashion, Fortitude, and Redefining What It Means to Be a Man | Bradford Jacobs - Founder of the Modern Gentleman
Elevator no. 201: Bradford Jacobs is the founder of The Modern Gentleman, a men’s mental health and lifestyle magazine reshaping how we talk about vulnerability, style, and personal growth. Bradford's own personal experience and challe...
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Season 1
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Episode 388
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30:54
Feel the fear and do it anyway | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam explore how fear can be a powerful trigger for growth and personal development. From public speaking nerves to stepping into the boxing ring, they share their experience with facing fear head-on.
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Season 1
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Episode 387
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15:05
From Pain to Purpose: Jimmy Gavin’s Journey
Elevator No. 200: Jimmy Gavin is a former professional basketball player who earned an NCAA scholarship at 23 after never playing a minute of high school ball. His story is shaped by living with Crohn’s disease, the loss of his younger brother,...
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Season 1
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Episode 386
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58:45
No one's coming to save you | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam break down the hard truth—no one is coming to hand you success. They discuss the difference between structured career paths and the chaos of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the power of taking action. If you’ve been waiting for per...
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Season 1
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Episode 385
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15:48
Harnessing Mental Fortitude: The Chillshark Story | Keegan O’Connor - Co-founder and CEO of ChillShark
Elevator No. 202: Keegan O'Connor is the co-founder and CEO of Chill Shark, an innovative company transforming bathtubs into cold plunges to make cold water therapy more accessible. With a passion for mental health and a mission to help those s...
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Season 1
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Episode 384
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1:02:27
Figuring It Out as You Go: A Truth About Uncertainty & Success | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam dive into the reality of uncertainty in entrepreneurship, personal growth, and success. No one really knows what they’re doing, but that’s where the magic happens. They explore how learning by doing, taking small bets, and seekin...
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Season 1
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Episode 383
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13:28
Beyond the Map: How Travel Shapes Who We Become | Michael Bluestone - Founder of Bluestone Travel
Elevator No. 199: Michael Bluestone is the Founder & CEO of Bluestone Travel, an Independent Travel Advisor at FROSCH (a CHASE Company), and a member of the Chase Travel Group Advisory Board, representing 600+ travel advisors nationwide. Be...
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Season 1
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Episode 381
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47:03
Trying hard is cool again | Fortitude in 15
Society loves success but shames effort—why? Parker and Sam break down the weird stigma around trying hard, why it’s actually a superpower, and how putting in the work leads to authenticity, growth, and real success. They also highlight Brett D...
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Season 1
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Episode 380
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15:33
Making a Difference (and Making It a Business) | Shirah Benarde - Co-Founder and CEO of NightCap
Elevator No. 198: Shirah Benarde is the co-founder and CEO of NightCap, a Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, and a Shark Tank-backed founder. She created NightCap—a drink spiking prevention company—at just 16, after learning how easily unattended...
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Season 1
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Episode 379
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42:03
When life hits out of nowhere | Fortitude in 15
Some days are smooth—until they’re not. Parker and Sam break down how they handle challenges that come out of nowhere.Elevator shoutouts: Founder of LTM Laura Ter Meer and NHL creator and journalist Jonny Lazarus
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Season 1
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Episode 378
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10:42
Building connection one event at a time | Lucy Nelles - Community Building Expert
Elevator No. 196: Lucy Nelles is a community-building expert, co-founder of Coffee & Chill Miami and the Community Building Collective. She’s hosted over 15,000 guests, generated over $500K in revenue, and built spaces whe...
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Season 1
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Episode 377
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38:26
An Elevation Nation Showdown | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam are throwing down in a LinkedIn showdown—who can grow faster? They celebrate podcast milestones, share storytelling secrets, and break down why content creation takes mental fortitude.00:00Celebrating Milestones and Fu...
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Season 1
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Episode 376
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15:46
From Passion to Profession | Jarrett Birnbaum - Photographer and Videographer
Elevator No. 196 – Jarrett Birnbaum is a photographer and videographer who recently took the leap into full-time freelance work, turning his childhood passion into a thriving career. With a talent for capturing raw, emotional moments, Jarrett u...
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Season 1
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Episode 375
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48:08
Change is inevitable | Fortitude in 15
Change is inevitable, but how we navigate it defines us. In this episode, Sam and Parker explore the emotional complexities of change, the balance between control and surrender, and why embracing uncertainty is key to growth.
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Season 1
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Episode 375
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15:25
Let Go and Elevate | Christian Mortensen - Transformational Life Coach
Elevator No. 195: Christian Mortensen is a transformational life coach and Wim Hof breath-work instructor, guiding people through identity shifts and personal growth. Parker and Sam dive into the power of reframing negative experien...
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Season 1
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Episode 374
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51:20
The balance between busy and fulfilled | Fortitude in 15
Parker and Sam dive into the difference between being busy and feeling overwhelmed, exploring how genuine conversations, mindfulness, and teamwork play a role in finding balance.
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Season 1
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Episode 373
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13:52
Breaking Routines, Finding Purpose | Travis Stoliker - VP of Marketing at Scribe Media
Elevator no. 194: Travis Stoliker is the VP of Marketing for Scribe Media and an entrepreneur with experience across multiple industries. His journey has taken him from driving for Uber to running a restaurant and a publishing company, all whil...
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Season 1
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Episode 372
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58:35