Episodes
493
Latest episode
Jun 2026
Language
EN
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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