Elevator 225: Raz Malas is the CEO and Co-founder of Talent Hackers, an offshore staffing company helping US businesses hire top global talent at scale. He has built two multi-million dollar businesses across E-commerce and Staffing, blending sharp execution with an unconventional mindset toward education and career growth.

In this podcast: Raz breaks down how he built companies from the ground up, why remote talent is the future, and how his view of college shaped his entrepreneurial path. He shares honest lessons on partnerships, scaling, and the mindset behind his motto “make it happen.”

01:28
Raz Malas: The Entrepreneurial Journey

03:11
The Impact of Family on Entrepreneurship

05:51
Navigating College with a Different Mindset

10:48
Rethinking the Purpose of College

15:33
The Changing Landscape of Employment

18:11
Building a Remote Business

22:03
Scaling Talent Hackers

25:42
The Importance of Partnership in Business

29:06
Rapid Fire Questions

Parker turns 30 and shares 30 insightful thoughts, reflecting on personal growth and life lessons. The guys  explore the wisdom gained over the years in a memorable Fortitude in 15.

Elevator no. 224: Renee Fluker is the Founder and CEO of Midnight Golf, a nonprofit she launched in 2001 that blends life-skills training with the game of golf to help Detroit students get to and through college. Known as Ms. Renee to her kids, she has helped more than 3,000 young people pursue higher education by using golf as a vehicle for discipline, confidence, relationship-building, and opportunity. She has become a pillar of Southeast Michigan through her mentorship, her leadership, and her unwavering belief that every young person deserves a real shot at success.

In this conversation, Ms. Renee shares how she built Midnight Golf from scratch, the sacrifices behind its growth, and the impact she sees every day in her students. We talk about giving back, building community, and what it really takes to change a young person’s life.

Chapters

01:20
The Birth of a Vision: Renee's Journey

04:13
Life Skills Beyond Golf: Curriculum Overview

12:12
Challenges and Triumphs: Renee's Resilience

17:51
Creating an Authentic Environment

24:54
Success Stories: Impact of Midnight Golf

29:35
Empowering the Next Generation

31:09
Building a Legacy of Support

38:43
The Importance of Grit and Determination

41:31
Rapid Fire

44:50
Call to Action for Support

Sam just got back from LA, where he attended a wellness event before heading to San Diego for some much-needed solo travel. Parker’s fresh off celebrating his sister Colby’s wedding, but both have been hit with major travel chaos. They reflect on the madness of flying, slowing down, and the importance of being fully present in real spaces with real people.

Sam and Parker use ChatGPT to play a rapid-fire game — asking each other deep, heartfelt, and hilarious questions.

Sam and Parker spent last week in Asheville, NC at a camp staffing conference called Camp Collab. Last year, they were just participants and presented about mental fortitude. This year, they took on a new role as Head Counselors acting as the MC's for the entire event.

Elevator 223: Alex Feinberg is a former professional athlete who went on to work at a global macro hedge fund, then Google, before launching his own business. Today, he’s a high performance specialist who helps elite men optimize their mindset, health, and purpose so they can perform at their best—without burning out.

In this conversation, Alex shares how his experiences across sports, finance, and tech shaped his perspective on success. He opens up about fulfillment beyond money, the balance between ego and humility, and why vulnerability and recovery are just as important as discipline and drive.

Chapters

02:57
The Journey of a High Performer

05:50
The Importance of Mentorship and Learning

09:00
Finding Fulfillment Beyond Corporate Success

11:40
The Role of Money and Success

14:57
Understanding the Drive for More

17:29
The Balance of Mindset and Performance

20:31
The Interplay of Mind and Body

23:22
Fitness and Financial Success

26:29
Introspection and Personal Growth

29:30
Vulnerability and Authenticity in Men

32:16
Rapid Fire Questions and Mental Motto

Parker and Sam unpack how AI is rewriting creativity from songs that sound too good to be real to social feeds that feel eerily empty. They explore what happens when everything becomes personalized, polished, and fake and why authenticity might just be the rebellion of the future.

Elevator 221 & 222: Kyle Nelson and Eli Libby are the co-founders of Solo Retreat Co., a company helping people find clarity, peace, and purpose through structured solo retreats. After years of chasing business success, they each faced personal hardships, from a house fire to loss and burnout that inspired them to slow down and rebuild with intention.

In this conversation, Kyle and Eli share how their experiences led to the creation of Solo Retreat Co. and their book The Art of a Solo Retreat. They open up about the fear of solitude, the power of stillness, and why sometimes stepping away from everything is the only way to move forward.

After 429 episodes and more than 225 guests, Parker and Sam celebrate the five-year anniversary of Elevation Nation.

Elevator 220: Matt Goldbloom is the founder of Common Shelf, a company focused on helping brands grow through retail partnerships and strategy. With a background in scaling beauty, wellness, and pet brands, Matt has worked with national retailers and built strong relationships across the industry.

In this podcast: Matt talks about his path to entrepreneurship, the lessons he’s learned from failures, and the mindset that keeps him moving forward. He also shares why relationships matter more than revenue and how playing the long game shapes the way he builds his business.

Chapters

04:52
The Journey to Common Shelf

12:02
Defining Success and Relationships

14:37
Navigating Wounds and Challenges

21:34
Reflections on Personal Growth

24:19
Embracing Uniqueness and Innovation

30:06
The Purpose Behind Common Shelf

Parker and Sam kick off the Jewish New Year with reflections on family, tradition, and the quirky nostalgia that comes with fall. They talk about the meditative side of going to temple, the beauty in life’s mix of highs and lows, and why perspective and mindfulness help make the year ahead a little brighter.

Parker and Sam discuss the phenomenon of 'Sunday Scaries' among Gen Z, exploring how anxiety related to work impacts mental health. The discussion highlights the generational shift in attitudes towards work and the significance of finding purpose in one's job.

03:06
The Rise of Sunday Scaries

05:50
Understanding the Impact of Job Anxiety

08:25
Navigating Career Choices and Mental Health

11:09
Strategies for Managing Sunday Scaries

Elevator no. 219: Igor Vainshtein is a serial entrepreneur and keynote speaker whose journey from young immigrant to business leader is marked by resilience, reinvention, and perspective. His career reflects both the highs of building companies and the lows of personal tragedy, shaping his outlook on what true success means.

In this Podcast:

Igor opens up about redefining success beyond wealth, why authenticity matters more than ever, and how tragedy clarified his values. He shares his perspective on AI’s role in creativity, the importance of risk-taking, and why his mental motto, “Success is inevitable,” guides both his business and his life.

01:42
Igor's Entrepreneurial Journey

05:55
Redefining Success

11:41
The Pursuit of Happiness

18:28
Authenticity in Life and Business

24:27
The Role of AI in Authenticity

27:16
Rapid Fire Questions and Final Thoughts

Parker interviews Sam as he just turned 30! Sam share wins, wounds, and quirks from his 20s touching on family, authenticity, and the role of mental fortitude in navigating life’s inevitable challenges. 

Elevator 218: Julia Resnick is a Senior Psychotherapist at Be You Psychotherapy. Specializing in anxiety, OCD, and chronic illness, she draws on her own experiences to connect with clients in their 20s and 30s through empathy, humor, and authenticity.

In this podcast:

Julia shares her journey into therapy, the importance of building trust, and how routines and flexibility support mental health. She talks about the role of AI in therapy, the challenge of overwhelming mental health statistics, and why creating hope and embracing vulnerability are essential for growth.

Parker and Sam break down which skills will matter most in 2030 as AI and technology reshape the workforce. They reflect on why creativity, resilience, and interpersonal connection are becoming more valuable than technical expertise and how education needs to evolve to keep up.

Elevator no. 216: Christy Bowie is a CPA and financial consultant who left the Big Four to build her own firm helping entrepreneurs take control of their tax and financial planning. She combines her corporate experience with a proactive approach to guide small business owners in using their business as a tool to build the life they want.

In this Podcast:
Christy opens up about authenticity in client relationships, the challenges of imposter syndrome, and why flexibility matters in building a dream life. We talk about lessons from corporate America, the role of AI in decision-making, and how entrepreneurs can balance growth with personal fulfillment.

Chapters

02:51
Lessons from the Big Four: Work Ethic and Skills

06:06
The Importance of Authentic Relationships in Business

08:52
Target Audience: Service-Based Entrepreneurs

12:06
Leveraging AI vs. Authentic Intelligence

15:02
Navigating Entrepreneurship: Challenges and Imposter Syndrome

17:54
Building a Business: From Clients to Operations

20:53
The Dream Life: Balancing Work and Personal Goals

26:41
Finding Fulfillment Beyond Business

30:51
Redefining Success and Enough

Sam and Parker look back on their week at Experience Camps, a place where kids facing loss find healing through community, nature, and connection. They share stories from camp, the power of activities like the carnival and talent show, and the emotional weight of the  community that brings people together to reflect and grow.

https://experiencecamps.org/

Parker and Sam reflect on their upcoming return to Experience Camps, a nonprofit supporting kids who have lost a loved one. They open up about their own experiences with grief, why authenticity matters in building connections, and how community and mentorship at camp create space for healing and growth, for the campers and for themselves.

Experience Camps Website