Elevator no. 186: Natalie Barbu is a content creator and entrepreneur, known for her expertise in social media strategy and branding. She is the founder of Rella, which helps people combines the automation of content planning with the power of project management. A VC-backed startup, Rella has raised over $1M.

Natalie has built a strong personal brand with over 400K followers across platforms. She also hosts a podcast, sharing insights on entrepreneurship and the creator economy.

Sam and Parker reconnect after a week off from Fortitude in 15. In this episode they share a transformative experience at a concert, highlighting the power of music to inspire introspection and connection.

Elevator no. 185: Dexter Zuang is the founder of Money Abroad, an online education platform that helps high-performers design their independent money path. Starting his career in San Francisco, he has lived and worked across Southeast Asia and Latin America for the past 6 years. He has 10+ years of experience building products and teams at public companies (Dropbox) and scaling startups (Xendit). His work has been featured in global outlets like Business Insider, CBS, US News & World Report, and Tech in Asia. He graduated from Dartmouth College.

Elevators 183 & 184: Justin Leusner and Ben Wasserman are building TDAY Sports, which they call "Gen-Z's ESPN".

Justin, a 21-year-old student at Penn State University, is the founder and CEO of TDAY Sports, which connects millions of Gen-Z sports fans monthly and offers ROI-driven social media services through TDAY Production. Ben, a Penn State graduate, manages partnerships at TDAY Sports, building relationships with big names like Gatorade, DAZN, and SMACKIN’ Seeds.

Together, they’ve grown TDAY into a media brand that’s more than just sports—it’s about fostering a mindset of ambition, adaptability, and genuine connection.

02:09 - The Entrepreneurial Spirit at Penn State
10:03 - The Reality of Entrepreneurship
20:08 - Building a Unique Media Brand
29:45 - Navigating Young Adult Life and Career Choices
39:57 - Mental Mottos

Parker and Sam discuss recent election and the importance of resilience in young people. They share insights from their experience at Camp Collab, emphasizing the need for community and the role of camps in fostering growth and resilience among youth.

03:13 - Reflections on the Election
05:58 - Insights from Camp Collab: Building Resilience
09:05 - The Importance of Camp and Community
11:55 - Elevator Shoutouts

Elevator no. 182: Daniel Kramer is the Head of Business Development for JUUCE, a portable charging company dedicated to enhancing charging accessibility nationwide. Driven by a passion for innovation and a strong commitment to customer experience, Daniel is focused on building meaningful relationships to further the growth of JUUCE.

Together with the JUUCE team, he is focused on expanding the company’s presence in the U.S. market in order to establish it as a household name.

01:47 - Daniel's Journey and Passion for Juice
05:17 - The Drive Behind Success
10:12 - Accountability and Personal Growth
15:29 - Building Emotional Intelligence
23:22 - Transactional vs. Genuine Relationships
27:32 - Rapid Fire Questions
31:34 - Daniel's Mental Motto

On this Halloween Fortitude in 15, Parker and Sam share their perspectives on the wild week ahead in the United States.

Elevators no. 180 & 181: Quinn Caputo and Bennett Kramer are the founders of QB Ventures. Back in November 2023, they ventured into entrepreneurship by purchasing their first business together - a dog grooming business based in New Jersey.

Bennett and Quinn met while studying abroad in Barcelona. After graduating from the University of Texas and Ohio State University, respectively, they have been fascinated with the idea of starting a business together. Now a year later, they shed light on their mental fortitude mindset and lessons learned after acquiring the business.

03:06 - The Journey of Entrepreneurship Begins
09:03 - The Importance of Franchising in Business
11:52 - Building a Strong Company Culture
15:09 - Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship
18:04 - Highs and Lows of Business Ownership
24:10 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
27:12 - Rapid Fire Questions and Personal Insights
30:13 - Mental Mottos