Riser Podcast: Recent Episodes
Sharing Stories, Growing Leaders
Riser was created to help people share their story to inspire others. Our goal is to provide a platform that helps others win, grow, and rise up to be leaders in their sphere of influence. We believe that all people deserve a great life, continuous prosperity, and much success, whatever that means to them. The trailblazers, visionaries and next level thinkers start here at the Riser Podcast.
Alesha Pounds is a true Austinite and all-around health and fitness enthusiast who decided to leave her corporate career behind to pursue what she’s most passionate about.
She is a personal trainer and online fitness and nutrition coach who is dedicated to empowering other women to create a healthier lifestyle.
She started her own fitness journey back in 2014, during her freshman year of college, and since then has gone through many phases that have ultimately led her to where she is now, living a sustainable, healthy life.
Jake Stewart is a Houston kid now making waves in Austin, TX. Jake is a hybrid athlete & entrepreneur standing at the crossroads of physical greatness and business expertise.
Day in and day out, he navigates the challenges of running both a home service and an online coaching business. Whether he is sprinting towards business goals or reaching new heights in fitness, Jake is all about pushing boundaries.
Yet, beneath that relentless drive, he is a simple guy who cherishes life's moments. His mission is to prove that you can work your ass off and still savor the simple joys, showing others that a balance between ambition and contentment is not just possible, but essential.
Harry & Brett are the co-founders of The Meat Mafia, The Meat Mafia Podcast, and of Noble Origins - all of which are businesses centered around the mission to fix the food system.
Harry’s road to his current path wasn’t linear. Prior to entering the health world, Harry worked 6 years in corporate America in investment management, where he lived and worked in Boston and Amsterdam.
His path towards transitioning into the health world started in college where he played baseball and met Brett.
Brett’s interest in food and nutrition is deeply personal to him. In 2019, he used a carnivore diet to heal himself of ulcerative colitis, an incurable auto-immune disease that cost’s $400,000 per year on medication.
Together Brett and Harry have run multiple endurance races including Ironmans, marathons, and ultramarathons, and are now focused on building community, products, and above all else - a movement in the world of health and wellness.
Chris Bates has spent the last 14 years experimenting with diet, lifestyle, and mindset to optimize time invested for maximum impact on quality of life. Whether analyzing Whoop stats, cross referencing intake trackers with bloodwork, or trying to find the most optimal proportions of endeavors to sustain motivation and balance, he is a true scientist.
After spending 3 years working under Dr. Paul Saladino as Lead Health Coach for his brand Heart & Soil, Bates now works 1-on-1 with people to help them design their optimal lifestyle through their own experimentation.
Corey Hiben is the host of The Health Hustle Podcast. He is also the founder of Andro Brands which is a marketing agency for health & fitness professionals.
Corey used to work as both a personal trainer and a healthcare professional and so he understands the challenges of providing incredible service to your current customers while also trying to attract new customers.
Through many years of trial and error he realized that he is best suited to put all of his time and attention in helping other health & fitness professionals grow and market their businesses.
His mission is to help as many of his fellow health & fitness entrepreneurs to build a business that fits their lifestyle.
Greg Jones is the founder and owner of Infiniteform—a fitness brand born from his own 70 lb weight loss journey.
Infiniteform empowers men on their lifelong journey through personalized sportswear, inspiring them to unlock their full potential in mind, body, and spirit.
Kay Cote believes in finding joy in every day. She is a dancer, speaker and coach who lives to spread joy through music. If you're an EDM DJ, she’s the friend in your corner to help you turn your hobby into your career. She gives you the tools to define your artistic style and build the confidence to put yourself out there. With her, you'll learn how to brand yourself in a way that's true to you so you can showcase your work and grow your following.
With over 10 years as a creative business owner and professional branding, Kay’s been involved with numerous projects in media and entertainment. In her career, she’s hosted a live radio show, acted in commercials and as a featured extra in the movie Tankhouse. She’s also been professional in the podcasting and speaking space for the past 3 years.
Her experience has lead her to a point where she had to take a deep look into who she was and how she could best add value to the industry. Now Kay creates community in the EDM world. Through her program, Amplify, she coaches artists to turn their potential into greatness and shares the secret sauce to help create a successful career in music.
As a speaker, she is captivating, relatable and energizes you to confidently create a life and carer you love. Through personal experiences she’s created The P.I.V.O.T. Method which gives you the fundamental tools and have the confidence to create positive change in your life and career.
Lastly, is a hype dancer and blends her skills of shuffling with gogo dancing to engages the crowd with her unique style. Kay has worked with EDM DJs and per performances bring an infectious energy to the crowd to get the dance floor going!
Matt Ritchey is a former Division 1 athlete, recovering addict, and knife attack survivor who turned his life around through endurance sports. In the last few years he has finished 7 Ironmans, several shorter distance triathlons, a marathon, and now he is training for a few 100 mile ultra marathons to help raise money so that less fortunate families can afford hearing aids for their kids.
Matt is also the founder and head coach for Phoenix1 Endurance, a triathlon/running team here in Austin whose focus is on helping people find their “why” though endurance sports and difficult races.
Matt has an incredible story about how he found his love for life again after nearly 10 years of drug abuse. He now focuses his time and energy on becoming the best version of himself by lifting up those around him and working towards his goal of leaving this world a better place than how he found it.
Sean Alkis, a force to be reckoned with in the world of tech sales. As a seasoned Tech Sales Account Executive, Sean doesn't just close deals; he orchestrates success. His prowess extends beyond corporate corridors – he's a Tech Sales Coach, sculpting high-performing teams and refining the art of strategic selling.
In a world where innovation meets grit, Sean Alkis emerges as the founder of 'Tech Sales Hackz' – a testament to his commitment to revolutionize tech sales through cutting-edge methodologies. As an Overall Badass, Sean embodies the spirit of relentless ambition, seamlessly weaving together the threads of sales mastery, athletic prowess, and entrepreneurial vision. Get ready to be inspired as we delve into the life and lessons of the unstoppable Sean Alkis.
Zach Manley is a fitness and crypto expert. He is a visionary leader and the brains behind e-commerce powerhouse ‘Braxley’ and ‘Chisel Gum’. Join us as we unravel the layers of this powerhouse, exploring the mind behind 'Braxley,' the sculptor behind 'Chisel Gum,' and the force propelling the convergence of fitness and crypto. This is more than a podcast; it's an odyssey through the badassery that is Zach Manley.
Rajon Hall is the founder/CEO of Big Dreams Realty & Investments based in Houston, Texas. As a real estate agent and investor he has honed the abilities of fostering strong relationships with clients by working to provide the best real estate experience possible. Rajon is an expert in sales negotiations, market analysis, client satisfaction, and social media/marketing. Rajon attended the university of Wisconsin, where he launched a podcast called “In Our Words” highlighting the success of black business owners throughout the state of Wisconsin. Currently he works as a social worker for Life Enhancement Services Houston and is pursuing his clinical license to best serve his clients. Rajon is passionate about supporting the youth and the communities he grew up in.
Carlton is a highly skilled Commercial Real Estate Underwriter currently based in Austin, TX. He holds a Master’s degree in Land Economics and Real Estate and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Finance, both from Texas A&M University. Carlton has extensive experience in risk analysis for various real estate asset classes, and is currently responsible for managing portfolios on a $34 billion balance sheet. As a student-athlete at Texas A&M, Carlton was a member of “the 12” on the Track & Field team, earning multiple personal records and five All-American statuses. Carlton is passionate about equity real estate investing and has a strong aspiration to share financial knowledge.
Bas Rutten is a UFC hall of famer from the Netherlands. He was bullied as a kid on a daily basis so he learned how to fight and has never turned back. He started his Mixed Martial Arts career in Japan in 1993 and became the 3-time undefeated World Champion. Bas then started competing for the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1998 and became the first European UFC Champion, wrapping up his career with a 22-fight unbeaten streak.
He has had a live TV show about MMA on TV for 9 years called “Inside MMA”, Co-star’d in the movie “Here comes the boom” with Kevin James, Did 19 episodes on the Sitcom “Kevin can wait”, and Worked on many video games, the biggest one being Grand Theft Auto 4, in which he has his own TV show in the game.
Bas is also the inventor of the O2 Trainer, which has been featured on the Joe Rogan Experience, the Tim Ferriss Show, and the Bertcast. Today, Bas is a commentator for and chairman of Karate Combat, he travels the world for various speaking engagements and O2 Trainer seminars, and he owns an MMA gym in California.
Bas “El Guapo” Rutten is a true living legend, and we’re so excited to have him on the podcast today to hear more about his story.
Yash Chitneni is the zenith of innovative thought, the architect of productivity, and the maestro of systems design. On a mission to maximize serendipity, using the turbocharged vehicle of Artificial Intelligence to enhancing animations and visual storytelling like you've never experienced before, Yash is making the impossible, possible!
Bray Alley aka Coach Bray is the MoBULL Warrior Athlete himself, pushing limits and breaking barriers to help his community become strong, fast, and pain-free. Host of the 'Blessed with Bray' podcast and serving up culture at Squatch Frontier Fitness, he's all about positivity and resilience. And his mantra to get his people through? 'Stay blessed.'
Bella Martin is a Fightin’ Texas Aggie from Washington, DC who is now a personal brand-building expert and Fitness Competition Host, Sponsored by LSKD. She is going to 13 countries this year to host fitness competitions and many more countries in the years to come.
Community is her jam and she loves bringing people together. Bella’s goal over the next few years is to become an Internationally known fitness host, work in every continent, and create opportunities to mentor people who want to become MCs either in CrossFit or other areas.
Eric Leija, aka the PRIMAL SWOLDIER, is a Senior Kettlebell Specialist and Onnit Academy Senior Kettlebell Coach. He has trained with world-class industry experts and has been mastering kettlebells and bodyweight movement for over seven years. He is a content creator, influencer, and leader in the community showcasing his unconventional training and short shorts.
Claire Bays is a movement, nutrition and mindset coach - a podcast host, personal trainer, a sober alcoholic, content creator and brand builder. She is a competitive athlete in Hyrox Racing, CrossFit and OCR’s. She believes that wellness is a mental, physical and spiritual experience… and that you are beyond capable of growing, learning, and changing.
Cade Prior is an award winning Filmmaker, Content Creator, YouTuber, Marketer & Minimalist. You can find him doing challenges on YouTube, helping others on Instagram, and living life to the fullest here in Austin. He is an adventurist, a free Spirit and has a wealth of knowledge.
CJ Finley lives his life with the dream of helping other people become better versions of themselves. Through his brand THRIVEONLIFE, he produces podcasts, speaks on stages, and helps build companies that have the goal to make this planet a better place to live. When he’s not doing that, CJ is an avid athlete, community builder, and family man who loves to spend time with the people he loves.
Noah Huisman is a start-up lawyer, writer, athlete, and wellness entrepreneur on a mission to embody Plato’s Scholar Athlete and inspire others to do the same. Noah self-published his first book, ‘This Way to the Stars: An Introduction to Philosophy’ in March 2022 and plans to release his second ‘This Way to the Stars: A History of the Hero’ in the summer of 2023.
Cassandra Britton is a serial, 7 figure entrepreneur. From marketing in professional sports, to a brick and mortar training academy in the beauty industry, she has transformed from a simple artist to a savvy business woman.
She has used her business background and savage attitude for life to inspire other entrepreneurs to shatter glass ceilings and take their business to the next level.
Some call her the "Tom Boy in heels", but in the world of business, she is known as THE BUSINESS SAVAGE.
Britley is an expert in health, wellness, and the mind-body connection.
Her work is based on the fundamentals of Consciousness, Neuroscience, Somatic Therapies, Energetic Awareness, Trauma-Informed Embodiment, Meditation & Transformational Breathwork and is meant to dissolve the barriers between our current reality and the one we desire most.
As the creator of Divine Your Life, a 6 month journey that combines mental and emotional healing, she is dedicated to the healing of as many people as she can touch in this lifetime through self-empowerment.
Britley currently hosts wellness retreats and has an online coaching business, Soul Strong, where she helps lead people to deep spiritual healing, sustainable transformation, and awakening.
Britley travels and speaks around the country to empower people to find freedom within themselves, facilitate deep connection and share the message that YOU are the only thing that’s going to set you free, and give you peace.
Dom Fusco is a health and wellness creator, hybrid athlete, host of the Pure Ambition podcast, and Co-Founder of Upspace. His life mission is to empower 100 million people to become the healthiest, happiest, most fulfilled versions of themselves.
He now uses his social media channels to inspire and empower others and is in a relentless pursuit to become the best version of himself and continues to seek discomfort and growth through physical challenges.
His goal in life is to positively impact as many people as he can during his time on earth and empower the next generation of leaders.
Cory Camp is a life optimization coach for former athletes to find their flow in life. He works together with his clients to improve holistic well-being, through simplifying and optimizing their life to get in the zone again.
A former nationally ranked swimmer turned Forever Athlete, Cory has spent much of his time following his formal athletic career researching how to bring “the zone” into daily life.
Cory started the Forever Athlete Radio Podcast as a way for him to share insights from conversations with the world’s most elite athletes and coaches. This endeavor helped him create an app called Seek that’s geared towards bringing more like minded people together through unique experiences in their local communities. Outside of work, he is an avid reader, slightly better than average pickleball player, and is always on the look out for the best coffee shops in Austin.
Sam Conaway and Rachel Hague are the founders of EmpowHer - a women's networking company that has been making waves in the business world for female entrepreneurs.
These two women are not only multi 6-figure business owners, but they are also powerhouse public speakers, super connectors and business mentors. It's no surprise that they have been featured in various publications such as Wealth Insider, Economic Journal, and American Weekly, to name a few.
They pour their hearts into everything they do, and it shows in the incredible impact they have made in such a short amount of time. In less than a year, they launched a top-ranked women's networking company in Austin, TX, grew a community of 10,000+ women and organized over 100 LIVE in-person events.
Their events are a reflection of their creativity, bringing together elements of show business and production to create a unique and unforgettable experience. They also prioritize personal development and vulnerability, providing attendees with opportunities to learn, grow, and connect on a deeper level.
Their energy is infectious, and their passion for empowering women is undeniable. Through their membership, podcasts, and mentorship, they provide their community with all the tools they need to succeed.
Corey Hiben is the host of The Health Hustle Podcast based out of Austin, Texas. He has been podcasting for over a year and has fallen in love with the process of becoming a "podcaster."
Corey has had the pleasure of interviewing some of the brightest minds in the health and fitness industry in Austin Texas and has learned about how they have built their businesses and the lessons they have learned along the way. One of Corey’s favorite sayings is, “Just like your health, there is no one size fit’s all model. There are many paths to building a business and it all comes down to what is right for you.”
Ross Tschirn Is an athlete, coach & entrepreneur from New Orleans, Louisiana, now based in Austin, Texas. His mission is to make this world a better place one healthier human at a time.
Ross found a deep love for fitness through an experience with navy seals that led to him transforming his life through fitness - and he feels it is now his duty to share what he has learned with others.
Nikki Zahka is a health and fitness enthusiast who built her own personal brand based on transparency with her own journey by empowering people to find self love and confidence through fitness. She is a full time enterprise account executive for a tech company but her passion truly is health and wellness.
Nikki has worked with brands such as myfitnesspal, fabletics, myprotein, and bodyarmor and she helps market for gyms and wellness events to encourage people to get out, move their bodies, and connect with the community.
Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman James Randel Pell served for over 20 years between the U.S. Army and the Navy.
While assigned to STA Platoon he completed 2 combat tours supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Senior Chief Pell’s personal awards and decorations include the Bronze Star for Combat Valor, Purple Heart with Gold Star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for Combat Valor and 3 Gold Stars, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for Combat Valor and Gold Star, Army achievement Medal with three Oak Leaves, and Combat Action Ribbon with Gold Star.
He has numerous other personal awards including the first ever HM2 Luke Milam DOD Combat Medic of the Year Award, 2004 American SWAT Association award for Valor, 2013 Navy Vanguard Award for Valor, 2016 Navy Education and Training Fouled Anchor Award, and has been Combat Promoted three times.
Floatin Toad is an apparel company created to represent the vision to make world change through creative apparel that stands for something larger than life. The FT team from Wetumpka, Alabama focuses on the values of expanding the inner mind and seeing the world from different perspectives.
Bardia Rezaei AKA the stop drinking coach, is a Sobriety and Life Coach who helps people quit drinking so they can step into the next chapter of their life and begin fulfilling their potential.
His story and mission are truly inspiring. He was raised in an extremely dysfunctional environment and lost his father to alcohol poisoning at the young age of 14. He then went on become a "high functioning" binge drinker for 14 years. Once the pandemic hit, he went from weekend binge drinking to consuming 4-6 bottles of wine per day.
Shortly after making the decision to quit, he began working towards fulfilling his lifelong dream of being a coach to help inspire, motivate and guide others to become the best version of themselves.
Eli is an entrepreneur with two businesses in the travel industry that he has built over the last 8 years. Eli has visited nearly 40 countries and has a passion for maximizing credit card points for epic luxury travel experiences and averages $75k-$100k per year in travel, entirely on points. He is the founder of Freedom Travel Systems, where his team helps entrepreneurs optimize their credit card spending to get world-class travel experiences.
Luke Martz moved to Austin TX from South Dakota in February of 2020 not knowing anybody. He started a Real Estate business in South Dakota, moving into the mortgage origination industry in Austin.
He started a dance group on Facebook called Ask Me To Dance in October 2021 and has since grown it to over 2600 members from all over the country and it continues to grow every day.
He is a sober stallion with over 7 years Alcohol free and one of the most genuine dudes we know.
Keith Mitchhart was born and raised just outside of Austin, Tx. Just over a year ago Keith dropped out of college and started running his personal training company "The Mitchhart Method" full time. He recently moved out to California to expand his company and to train for an ultra marathon from LA to Las Vegas coming up in March.
Evan Duvall was also born and raised just outside of Austin in Dripping Springs, TX. After high school he joined the US Navy and served overseas for 6 1/2 years. Evan came home and is now a local entrepreneur with a mission of unifying Austin through various creative pursuits and helping others create brands and communities that bring people together.
Grant Mitterlehner is the CEO of MittGroup & Mitt Blockchain, a regular Fox Business contributor, and an entrepreneur in the green technology and crypto space.
MittGroup has been ranked as one of the Best Places to Work by the Houston Business Journal for 3 years in a row. They were listed as the #1 Best Place to Work with a 98.94% rating just last year.
MittGroup has grown over 126% within the last year and are expected to clear over 20 million in sales in just their 3rd year of business.
Austin Davis is a 27 year old business owner and content creator based in Austin, TX. He owns and operates a very successful power washing company which he has been building over the past 4 years.
Austin also runs the #1 powerwashing YouTube channel in the world and saw engagement of over 5 million views this past year.
His goal is to help people get outside of their comfort zone to ultimately live the life they want to live.
Taylor Isaacs is a leading fitness influencer. His free community workouts, his nasty fitness philosophy, and his one of a kind high energy approach to working out is gaining popularity across Austin.
Taylor joins us today in the riser podcast studio to share his story, his WHY, and what the word NASTY means to him.
James and Jack Dumoulin are entrepreneurs and content creators who have mastered viral content, growing their personal brands and a successful business together, called The School of Hard Knocks. The channel is centered around connecting with and interviewing wealthy people from different industries to bring their advice to younger people starting out in the real world. Find them on TikTok @theschoolofhardknocks or Instagram @theschoolofhardknockz
Chase Cangelosi has been working in real estate since he was a kid. He got his real estate license at 20 and initially worked in commercial real estate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
After college, he worked for a couple years in the real estate technology space in Seattle, then moved to Austin to start his own company, Chasing Realty Group.
Most known for his unusual marketing, Chasing Realty has been a growing brand, and Chase ranks in the top segment of real estate agents in Austin.
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Sean Grace specializes in crafting marketing solutions, planning promotional events, executing advertising campaigns, and delivering measurable results for clients.
Propelled by his passion for live music and entertainment, Sean transitioned from a career in high fashion to a career in Marketing, Advertising, and Radio.
His experience as a marketing consultant, social media strategist, photographer, talent agent, and model in markets like New York City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Seoul, Korea include a variety of clients like Calvin Klein, Netflix, New Balance and Neiman Marcus.
Kweku Arkorful is the Founder, Co-Owner, & CEO of Be Chosen Academy, a Youth Mentor for some of the brightest up and coming minds in the country and a Co-Founder of Honorable Young Men Club.
He is an ex professional football player and is a walking talking example of grit, hard work, and humility.
Connect with Kweku on Instagram @kwek_24 and check out his website www.sankofabags.com
Tanner Friesen is an engineer by day and a cultivator of comminity by night. He is the founder of the secret disco society, sphere club, and many more local companies that are, and have been, making noise in the Austin community.
@friese_tag
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Brooklyn Browning is a social butterfly who loves making & creating new connections. Aside from being a socialite, she is also a fitness enthusiast, content creator, and an apartment locator. She and Tanner both are always looking for ways to help and bring people together!
@brooklynnbfit
Delaney McGuire began a successful career in the corporate world, only to find himself deeply burnt out, unfulfilled, and unhappy. He proceeded to immerse himself in neuroscience, psychology & human performance, and test his limits by studying yoga in the Himalayas, spending 7 days in pitch black isolation, running marathons, and building multiple 6-figure businesses.
Today, Delaney is a high performance coach, helping entrepreneurs increase income and overall well-being through science-based tools.
@delaneymcguire_
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Adrian Moreno began his career inside the health & fitness space while also gaining unparalleled experience with hypnosis & NLP, establishing himself as a behavior transformation specialist working with entrepreneurs to release the anxiety and worry that keep them from enjoying their life.
Now a social entrepreneur, Adrian is working on ending child suicide through gamification, humanistic psychology and mainstreaming emotional intelligence and spends his time designing and building the product to do so, and if he’s not doing that, then you can find him speaking, writing or watching the Office.
@adrianmoreno111
Tribe Mafia is an American hip-hop duo, based out of Austin, TX. They are known for making public appearances at local, state, and international events for their creative, high-energy performances.
Recently, the duo has been discovered on Sirius XM Shade 45 with DJ Love Dinero and Coach PR, they are a SXSW featured artist, and have been on Austin, Texas’s most prominent radio station 102.3 The beat with Tino Cochino and Pabs.
Tribe Mafia has also been seen on MTV for their hit song "Like Cola.' Recently, the rap duo was granted the opportunity to travel to Brazil in South America headlining with rap legend Akon in front of over 60,000 raging fans.
In 2019 Tribe Mafia was awarded Austin's Local Artist of the year on Magic Video and we couldn’t be more excited to have this duo on the show.
Profiles & Links
@tribemafiamusic
@chinasabroxton
@dashawn_daniels
Joining us on the riser podcast today is world traveling visual storyteller David Rule. After finishing a degree in neuroscience, he turned away from his medical career to pursue a much different life as a photographer and filmmaker, but little did he know just how far this path would take him.
Since then, David has been to 29 countries across 6 continents, building an audience of over 160,000 along the way. Whether he’s summiting a volcano in the Andes or living with a remote tribe of the Amazon Rainforest, David seeks out the planet’s most exciting adventures and shares them through photo and video. Having worked with brands like Expedia and Discovery, David has turned his love for travel into a full time career and is here to share his experiences with us today.
@davidmrule
And on the other side of the table, we have Caitlin Worthington.
Caitlin, is the queen of balanced travel and nomadic living.
She went with the non traditional college experience - taking classes online, at her own liesure, while traveling the world and amassing an arsenal of incredible experiences. Whether it be swimming with sharks in the pacific, taking showers with elephants in Thailand, or backpacking Eastern Europe, she has a taste for adventure and a love for culture.
She has visited over twenty five different countries, hop scotched her way through the United States, and done this all while staying on track to get a 4 year degree.
She’s found ways to be thrifty, make money on the road, and enjoy her college years traveling and living in new places.
@caitlinemma
Austin Sutor is a former college baseball player turned successful enterprise sales representative in corporate America.
Despite the success, after a few years in, Austin found himself unfulfilled.
It was at this time he started writing ABOUT mental health and self growth under an alias, And has since turned his message and his art, into a luxury streetwear brand that he is building with a great team around him.
House of DREAMR is an American luxury streetwear brand with a non profit that sets the intention and purpose of each collection
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Accounts & Links:
@austinsutor @houseofdreamr
https://www.houseofdreamr.com
Nicholas and Amanda bayerle are the founders of the billion dollar brotherhood, which helps men prosper in health, wealth and relationships. Recently they launched another branch of their business called billion dollar sales, which helps business owners close high ticket sales.
They’ve spoken in front of 5000 people as a power couple and have been featured in entrepreneur and Forbes for creating a 7 figure business.
They are passionate about giving back, being great parents and leaving a legacy.
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@nicholasbayerle / @amandabayerle
Candace Perez is defining luxury and setting a new standard for ways to celebrate special and meaningful occasions in an intimate and exclusive experience.
As the creative director and founder of The Posh Picnic, Candace specializes in coordinating social events and creating meaningful, memorable, and unforgettable experiences via lavish picnic gatherings.
Currently, she is working towards franchising The Posh Picnic and creating a mentorship program to inspire and help women launch and grow a successful business of their own.
@the.poshpicnic
- Monica Landois, she is a Mompreneneur of two boys, and strives to inspire others to live passionately and find a fun way to move their bodies.
She has been leading unique group fitness classes in Austin for over 12 years. Her fitness classes are designed to uplift you in a positive community, that leaves you wanting more. She is passionate about helping others build confidence through dance and movement and facilitates a healing space that is empowering and memorable.
@dancewithmonicaatx
Dean Metter is an ambitious entrepreneur out of Austin, TX who currently runs his merchandising company Metter Marketing of which he plans to scale to 7 figures in the next year. He works with YouTubers, Influencers, and known celebrities far and wide.
Additionally, after 2 years in the Covid testing space, Dean now successfully brokers government procurement and medical contracts for both PPE and testing kits across the country.
Aside from his expertise in marketing and his rise as a self proclaimed war dog of the medical industry, you can also find him DJ’ing your favorite night clubs here in Austin.
@deanmetter
Leo Stagi is a polished super connector. While his skills are currently being utilized in the luxury apartment locating game. Leo truly turns heads with his ability to impress others in making powerful and meaningful connections in life, business and shared passion projects.
Leo has worked along side celebrities in the nicest clubs in Vegas, in the most exclusive night parties in Austin and on private jets across the country.
While all this would make most guys cocky and arrogant, Leo’s humility and quiet confidence makes all the noise. He is genuine, thoughtful, empathetic, and a friend to everyone.
@leo_stagi
Adam Starr is a California native and now full time Texan. Other than being a 6 foot 7 inch walking, talking, stud of a man, some of his other attributes include being a connector of people, making others feel special and appreciated, and having a curiosity about the world and how humans connect.
He is a prominent dental sales rep in South Texas and came on our podcast to give us a taste of why he has become so successful at such a young age.
@theadamstarr
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Dylan Taylor is a small town kid who has developed his dream into reality. His goal is to inspire others to keep going, be the “why not” individual, and never give up no matter what the circumstance is.
He has become a Vice President of his commercial real estate firm within the past year and half after graduating from Texas A&M University where he was a wide receiver for the fightin’ Texas Aggie football program.
He is passionate about sharing his story and encouraging others to set goals that may seem impossible. Dylan is also an advocate and dedicates his time to spread awareness about mental health. In his free time he hunts, runs and paints.
Dylan’s art and paintings incorporate the human body and how intricate it is. The thought of the unknown within ourselves intrigues Dylan. He believes the body can go through extreme measures but we don’t always believe in ourselves and fulfill our full potential.
@dylantaylor_dt_
Jacob Hopkins, is a 21 year old entrepreneur, who went from a college dropout $15,000 in debt to taking home over $200k at just 19 years old. Some of you might know him as “Alex Hormozi’s neighbor” but we know him as a visionary, dreamer, and a leader in the community,
At a young age he has accomplished a lot and is trailblazing a path that excites us all here in the riser podcast studio.
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@Jacobhopkins
Jake Whan is a health and wellness coach based in Austin, TX. He grew up with dreams to be a professional athlete but things quickly changed while going through a stint of deep depression in college. After getting himself out of turmoil, he was able to see the true healing that people needed in their lives.
Jake now owns his company, Chronically Healthy, and helps people break free from the healthcare system and find true physical and mental health. His mission is to help heal the people of world and is actively pursuing methods of self discovery.
@coach_jake1
Angela Gargano is a fierce athlete, coach, international fitness model, and speaker. Before becoming a full-time multi-passionate entrepreneur, Angela worked as a biochemist at Brown University. Since throwing in the lab coat and goggles in 2013 to open her own gym in Cranston, Rhode Island, Angela has truly lived multiple lives in the athletic and entrepreneurial space, defying odds and setbacks to become an authentic and relatable voice to the public eye.
Angela has now competed on American Ninja Warrior 4x, won the Title of Miss Fitness America 2016, and created an online fitness empire for women called Strong Feels Good, where she teaches women to ditch the scale and focus on strength and feeling as a way to measure progress. She has also helped over 500 women conquer their pull-ups with her online program, Pull-up Revolution. In summer 2021, Angela appeared all over the world as the Oxygen Magazine Covergirl, where she spoke about tearing her ACL on the Ninja Warrior course and coming back 11 months later stronger than ever.
Angela is a huge advocate for speaking about body image, as she was made fun of growing up for her “manly” arms and build. She would hide in a sweatshirt daily at school to avoid being made fun of, and was rejected by many fitness modeling agencies. But this didn't stop Angela from now having 3 magazine covers and becoming an international fitness model in some of the world's biggest publications: Women’s Health, Shape, Strong Fitness Magazine, and Popsugar Fitness.
Angela is strong, both mentally and physically, and she teaches you to love the body you are in. She is real, relatable, approachable, and down-to-earth. With Angela, there is fun and smiles, and there is grit, determination, and sweat. She is easy to understand and great to work with.
Angela’s mission is to revolutionize the way people feel about their bodies through identifying their inner strength and embracing the powerful body and mind that they have been gifted. Her vision? To continue to expand the Strong Feels Good Community, speak at large events to spread her message and work with conscious, authentic brands who feel the same - the ones who truly want to help and impact the lives of their end consumer.-Instagram: @angela_garganoTiktok: @angelagargano Email: info@angela-gargano.comPrograms: www.angela-gargano.com/strong
Anna grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, but after graduating college, she knew she wanted to see what else was out there...and not freeze her butt off every winter. So she packed up her bags 2 weeks after graduating and moved to Dallas Texas, not knowing anyone.
She became a dental sales rep for Henry Schein. After being a rep for a year and growing her territory by over 180% she felt her calling in leadership. She began training reps and doing collegiate recruiting in 2 of the 6 zones in the US.
Less than 2.5 years later, she is now covering all new hire training, collegiate recruiting and the internship program across the US and Canada. She is responsible for a budget of over 2 million dollars and has expectations of leading a team on the medical side as well in 2023.
When she’s not working, you can find her working out, reading, learning Spanish, spending time outdoors, traveling, and being with those she cares about most. She has a lot of goals for a book, podcasts, public speaking, etc. but as the old saying goes, one day at a time.
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Anna Ostrowski's Instagram / @anna_ostrowski
Both Cam and Carlos are ex athletes turned podcasters. They are the founders of Opinionated Media, which provides a platform for people to tell their story and share what they do, that’s outisde of the norm.
Their message is simply “bringing creative dreams to life”. Their goal is to give back and give other people a platform to talk about real shit because they believe there is so much talent and beauty in all of us.
Opinionated Media Instagram / @opinionated_media
Zac Baker is the CEO and founder of Follow My Fitness LLC which is a platform that allows personal trainers and fitness influencers to sell their locked content to subscribers. Follow My Fitness LLC has been featured in New York Weekly and other notable magazines and news outlets.
Zac also has a proven track record with Social media and is an Instagram growth expert. He had grown multiple accounts to over 100k followers and sold one of his accounts for a profit well into the six figures.
Personal Instagram / @ceozac
Follow My Fitness Instagram / @followmyfitness
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Bear Christianson is the Founder and CEO of Truth Family Fitness & Sports Performance, located in Cedar Park, Texas where he strives daily to make an impact on the lives of individuals through fitness, nutrition, and community.
Personal Instagram / @bear.christianson
Truth Family Fitness Instagram / @the.truth.family.fitness
Danielle Gertner is an Ownership Coach, community builder, and podcast host who is on a mission to unlock the world's radical confidence with her signature, Own Your Shit™ method. She uses a unique blend of neurolinguistic programming, hypnosis, trauma-informed somatic work, story work, and primal play to help her clients make soul-shifting transformations that last a lifetime.
With nearly 10 years of experience as a self mastery mentor, habit and mindset expert, movement coach and professional hype woman, Danielle has guided hundreds of clients to achieve breakthroughs and unimagined levels of confidence in short periods of time. She helps her clients unleash a power they have never felt before so they can make the permanent shifts to living with compassion, clarity, pleasure and play.
Danielle Gertner's Instagram / @daniellegertner
Casey Stewart Is an ex-collegiate athlete and penn state law school student turned competitive bodybuilder. She competed in her first bodybuilding show in 2018 in the bikini division, won, and has been a major player in the bodybuilding industry ever since. She is a 4x Nationally qualified bikini competitor, winning multiple overall titles, and is just spots away from getting her pro card.
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Lexi DeYoung the co-founder of Alignment Athletics, a brand focused on helping women look and feel their best, find their balance, and live with confidence through health and fitness. Lexi’s sophomore year of college, she stepped foot in the weight room for the first time since she was in high school and it not only saved, but also changed her life. She started educating herself on the topics of health and fitness, sharing her knowledge with others and now she has a following of over 100,000 people on Instagram whom she helps every day. She is currently a full time coach and we couldn’t be more excited to have her and Casey on today.
Social Accounts:
Casey Stewart / @caseylstewart
Lexi DeYoung Instagram / @lexi_deyoung @alignmentathletics @youcanbeam
Lexi DeYoung on YouTube
Santiago Salazar is one of Austin’s leading entrepreneurs in the floral industry. Starting his company during the COVID-19 pandemic, our guest has introduced his flowers into 60+ supermarkets across Texas, sold over 22,000 stems in his first year, & managed to provide over 250 people with fresh, clean drinking water in East African communities.
Santiago Salazar has taken this city by storm by changing what we once knew about flowers and elevating it into something impossible to ignore. Flor Keeps is shifting the mold of what flowers could look like, come from, and how long they can actually live for.
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Santiago's Instagram / @Santiago_salazar
Florkeeps Instagram / @florkeeps
Florkeeps Website / www.florkeeps.com
Jonah Rader is serial entrepreneur who has started his businesses with the focus on putting others first. He is one of the founders of Connected HC, a health care staffing agency specializing in travel nursing, and co-founder of Cauldron Coffee, Goodbull Ice House, Saké San Marcos, and The Vault.
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Garth Tubbs is a bouncer turned successful bar owner, alongside Jonah. Garth is also a Bitcoin enthusiast, motivator, influencer, dream chaser and, of course, the life of the party. He has a heart of gold and the eye of the tiger. Anything he wants, he gets. Don’t tell him he can’t do something - because we guarantee, he will always prove you wrong!
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Garth Tubbs Instagram / @garthtubbs
Jonah Rader Instagram / @Jonah.rader
Logan Sneed is a 6 year brain cancer survivor turned multiple 6 and 7 figure serial entrepreneur. He is a Top Selling Author, E-commerce genius, and successful YouTuber.
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Joe Johnston is a speaker, coach, agent, and entrepreneur who runs a six figure speaking agency representing some of the best up and coming speakers and experts in the space today. He also coaches expert coaches on how to scale their business, income, and impact through PAID speaking engagements.
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Joe Johnston Instagram / @thejoejohnston
Logan Sneed Instgaram / @logansneed_
Joe Phair is an ancestral training and diet advocate in the Austin, Texas area with a heavy emphasis on spreading positivity and leading by example. Joe served 6 years in the U.S Navy. After a gruesome hip injury, and his hopes of becoming a Navy SEAL thrown out the window, Joe had to find a way to reinvent himself and find another purpose. Originally hooked into fitness through body building and strength training, Joe came to the realization that there was far more to learn. Not just in the fitness industry, but in life as a whole. We brought Joe on today not only to learn his truth about fitness and nutrition, but to find out why and how he has launched himself into this unique journey.
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This is Shadi Asad and he is one of the head trainers at the Truth family fitness located in cedar park area right across from the HEB center. He is apart of a start up gym that opened up in May of last year and specializes in weight training and developing sustainable nutritional strategies that last.
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Shadi Asad:
Instagram / @shadiasad08
Website / www.truthfamilyfitness.com
Joe Phair:
Instagram / @themodernprimal_
On this episode, we have rising hip-hop artist, and professional cliff jumper, Hayden Mez. Through-out his life, Hayden has dug his roots deep into the passion he has for artistry, and living life to the fullest. Today, Hayden is rising to the top of his game while inspiring others to do the same. Join in as we discover his story, the road blocks, and the journey that made him who he is today.
On this episode, we have Dave and Jessica Spanton. To say the least, these two make up a power couple. With both of them having extensive experience in extremely renown industries including the United States Military and multiple food brands you may consume everyday, they have knowledge that can be applied in almost every business or life scenario.
Join in as we talk success strategy, mindset and overcoming obstacles with Austin based commercial home builder, Ross Smith. Over the years Ross has built, remodeled, and designed many homes for his satisfied clients and continues to lead the way to the top of his market everyday.
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Visit there website at: www.southtowndreamhomes.com
Join us as we talk to one of ATX's leading young commercial real estate brokers, Mr. Connally Waight with TREK Investment Group.
On this episode we welcome an Austin legend, Tim Hagen.
The thread running through Tim’s life has been kind of the intersection of feeling ‘entrepreneurial’ and ‘creative’ and figuring out what those words mean.
Tim studied finance at UT because they didn’t have an entrepreneurship program. But he soon found the creative outlet he was seeking through playing drums in the well know band, Duncan Fellows. Tours were a way to add some adventure to his life and see the country, while also making some incredible memories with incredible friends.
When COVID hit, touring was over, and that meant Tim was full time working from home staring at numbers in his room all day. After 9 months of that, Tim jumped into another entrepreneurial endeavor and started working at Chewy Design Co where he has been filming a TV show for the Magnolia Network.
Tune in for another awesome episode with our featured guest of the week!
One this episode, we are fortunate to have on 6-time national weight lifting record holder, Josh Ficklin. As a Texas State University graduate, a current gym manager, and a soon to be husband, Josh has knowledge and insight that you will not want to miss.
In this episode we have on power couple, Brock Murphy and Mckenzie Starr. These former Aggies have gone from small town College Station to accomplishing big city things.
Like most Aggies, Brock and Mckenzie have turned their education into opportunity, and with their southern charm and southern morals, they are paving the way unlike many young people we know.
Whether it be White House interns, working at Space X, Interstellar Lab, Motorola Solutions, being in the rocketry club, an ambassador for females in engineering, or advocating in support of STEM education, these two have certainly amassed quite a list of accomplishments.
We couldn’t be more honored to have these two on this episode of the Riser Podcast. Tune in for more!
On this episode we have on world class magician, Giancarlo Bernini. Giancarlo has performed in front of 25,000 fans in Lucas Oil Stadium, has been on the TV show Penn & Teller, reads minds over the radio on Sirius FM, and just got back from his nationwide tour. Tune in to listen to his story!
In this episode, we have a unique trio that have each lost their fathers at a young age. Although this is a sensitive subject, we felt that a conversation of how they have overcame loss would benefit people who are going through a similar circumstance today, or will in the future. Join us as we talk with Alec Mendoza and Powell Hinson and co-host Christian Smith.
On this episode we have on Mahlon White and DWSN WYNE from Levvel Media LLC.
Mahlon White has worked with the likes of Juice WRLD, Jack Harlow, Ski Mask The Slump God, and Mark Phillips, to name a few. He wears many different hats - you may see him directing music videos, managing artists, or throwing concerts. He is the founder and CEO of Levvel Media and a Guayakí Yerba Mate ambassador.
DWSN WYNE is an ex collegiate golfer turned artist. His years of hard work and consistency playing golf at a high level has translated to the success he is also seeing in the music industry. DWSN WYNE is one of the most talented artists in Austin and has been working diligently to perfect his craft.
Tune in to hear how Mahlon started Levvel Media LLC, how DWSN WYNE has managed to establish himself in an ever-changing industry, and the event they’re hosting at Empire Control Room on March 4th, 2022 - featuring the hottest artists in Austin, TX.
On this episode, we have Katelyn Frase and Brooke Brossman, two Texas sweethearts who became friends in a fashion different than most.
These ladies crossed paths on an individual journey to sobriety - but soon realized the power of holding hands in borrowed strength. Together they have laughed, cried, grieved, but most importantly - grown.
Tune in to hear about their struggles with alcoholism, the beauty in taking it one day at a time, and how they have turned an addiction into a story of hope for thousands of others.
These two selfless young ladies have hearts of gold and we are proud to welcome them into Riser Nation, as they welcomed us into the vulnerability of their testimony.
Patrick Lyons is a YouTuber with nearly 20 million total views, he has a total social media global, followership of over 150,000 people, he is a TED X speaker, the Founder and CEO of the online fitness coach academy, the OFCA fitness coach certification, and the Lyon shred.
In addition to this, Patrick is an American ninja warrior competitor, Microsoft mechanical sourcing engineer, and soon-to-be author of his first book.
Clearly, Patrick is a high achiever, leader, and trailblazer. His success is a bi-product to what he coins to be the most important thing in our lives: habits.
Tune in to hear about what other factors Patrick attributes his success to and how he continues to achieve despite all the naysayers and the outside noise!
From an early age, Lars Dove found many ways to make himself stand-out in the world of business and entrepreneurship.
From starting a glass business at 19 that installed the first frameless shower door in California, to building a successful construction company with over 45 employees, he surely understands what it takes to get to the top of your market.
Today, Lars is a co-founder of a rapidly growing, business centered financial firm, Core Investment Group, with top level financial advisors all over the nation.
Listen in as we discover the foundational elements that brought him out of obstacles, and into a life of abundance and leadership!
As Executive Producer of 'After Midnite' with country singer Granger Smith, Anthony Lay has been a defining voice in the world of country music radio. Having been a radio programmer for 23 years, a professional photographer, podcaster and producer, Lay knows the true definition of hard work.
He has interviewed literally the world's most well known country music talents such Garth Brooks and George Strait, and continues to rise to the next level in his career everyday.
Anthony has seen success that alot of people look forward to, but it hasn't always been that way, he says.
Tune in as we discover the grass roots of his extraordinary talent, as well as the obstacles he has overcome to be a next level trailblazer in the world of radio.
In this episode we have two young super stars. Mike Davis and Austin Davis are not only cousins, but go-getters and full time hustlers.
Austin Davis did things his own way. He didn’t go to college. Nor did he take the safe, conventional route. Instead, he walked his own path and has since left a trail for thousands of others to follow. He’s the top YouTuber in his niche, runs two companies, realizes the importance of giving back, and is an absolute badass.
On the other hand, Mike Davis is an old man in terms of the demographic of guests we’ve had on here thus far. At 30 years old he owns and operates multiple businesses, has flipped hundreds of cars and boats on Craigslist, is a nationwide distributor for General Motors, a professional actor, and is a certified hustler by our standards.
We think it’s safe to say that the Davis name will be remembered for many years to come. And we have a feeling these two guys are just getting started.
In this episode we talk about how paying it forward can start a world wide chain reaction, how it’s important to remember that you’re someone’s hero, and that when you feel a shadow of doubt, sometimes the best way to get over your anxiety is to jump right in and take that polar plunge!
Since overcoming an insurmountable amount of adversity growing up, athlete Jordan Lawrence, has come to the point where he realizes that life doesn’t always go as planned. While sports still play a huge part in Jordans life, he understands that theres more to the game.
Jordan has aspirations that extend well beyond that of a collegiate football player. He wants to make sure his family is taken care, instill values of respect, honesty, and hard work in the kids he coaches, and realizes the importance of generational wealth.
Jordan is on a path to help a lot of people come out of tough situations and find a better life. He has a heart of gold, a vision of generosity and it is a privilege to have him as a guest.
In this episode Jordan talks about what it means to be more than an athlete, how to power through an identity crisis, and the mindset that has helped him continue to live by the saying: “When there’s a will, there’s a way.”
After getting married at 19, then divorced at 21, Lexy DeNike has certainly overcome adversity and made her mark in the world of entrepreneurship.
Now 23 years old, Lexy owns her own marketing agency and kicks ass in the world of social media marketing. She has served over 200 brands, helped business scale from zero to hero, and continues to crush the Tik Tok, Instagram and UpWork game.
She is currently in the start up phase for a CBD business and lives by the quote ‘nothing worthwhile having comes easy.’ Despite the hardship she faced in her early 20’s, Lexy is now making more money as a freelancer than most tenured employees for big corporate companies.
Tune in to hear from the queen of jokes, the queen of personality, and the queen of social media marketing. This episode consists of a whole lot of fun and a whole lot of advice for anyone looking to start their own entrepreneurial endeavor!
Since graduating early with their bachelors and masters degrees in finance, Power couple, Tony Gavrilov & Rita Marsanova, have compiled a list of accomplishments that extend well beyond the average 23 year old.
Whether it be managing a dental firm, wholesaling real estate properties, making tens of thousands on the crypto market, or flipping luxury cars and watches. Tony is always up to something and has his hand in the cookie jar of endless financial opportunity.
On top of graduating early, former world champion rock climber Rita Marsanova, juggled 7 internships across private equity and project management roles, was selected for competitive finance, sales, and business honors programs, won multiple prestigious Case Study and sales competitions, and now works full time as an M&A Consultant.
In this episode, we talk about professional development, the importance of budgeting, and the contrast between traditional & non-traditional ways of making money. Tune in for an archive of brutally honest takes, open dialogue about the power of association and an earful of advice!
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have a million followers on social media? Power couple, Sarah Nguyen and Mikey Fiumarelli, argue that it’s not what it’s made out to be.
While Sarah & Mikey have ‘made it’ in regards to social media standards, there’s more to the story. Tune in to hear about the dark side of social media, how external validation is unfulfilling, and how false personal branding can lead to personal demise.
On this episode, real estate entrepreneur, Sarah Nguyen, and Chemical Engineer, Mikey Fiumarelli, talk about video game addiction, broken families, and the importance of finding a partner with a vision you believe in.
Join us as we navigate the issues of TikTok & Instagram, bring attention to the misery that this toxicity can result in, and give advice on how to disconnect and live in the moment.
A near death experience left a young 18 year old in a coma, paralyzed, and traumatized after a terrible car wreck. After years of recovery, guest, Gavin Pardeiro, is now not only walking, but surfing, doing stand up comedy, and inspiring thousands.
We are lucky to also have visionary and mental health advocate, Robbie Zudock, joining us to share his story and how he has dealt with the heartbreaking loss of his best friend, Blake Rodgers, during the same week as Gavin’s accident. Robbie’s company, Sunnyside, embodies the ‘Riser’ motto of helping people rise up so that they can see the light no matter how dark life gets.
These two young men are on a path to changing the world one person at a time. Tune in for a rollercoaster ride of emotions as we take a deep dive into why these guys continue to smile despite all the hardships they have endured.