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Ben Grynol

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LEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#280 - How biosensors offer greater accessibility for our mission to reverse the metabolic health crisis | Dom D’Agostino, PhD, and Ben GrynolGreater accessibility to glucose biosensors has led to their use to improve metabolic health, prevent disease, and feel better. Historically, these biosensors for monitoring glucose were only available with a prescription, often reserved for people with diabetes, but now with brands like Stelo, they are available over the counter. Dom D’Agostino, PhD, and Ben Grynol discuss how biosensors can be a tool for anyone to improve overall health, reduce risk for chronic diseases, manage women’s health including menstrual cycles and the menopause transition, help with fueling strategies for workouts and performance, prevent energy crashes, and more.
2025-08-281h 44Brilliant Commerce
Brilliant CommerceLevels’ Ben Grynol on Building a Health Tech Brand with Zero Hard SellingBen Grynol, Head of Growth at Levels, offers a counterintuitive approach to commerce: building an entire health category through education rather than conversion-focused marketing. In this episode of Brilliant Commerce, Ben walks Bryan through how Levels achieved remarkably low customer acquisition costs ($50-80) for a high-consideration, $400 health device by rejecting traditional performance marketing in favor of deeply researched content. The strategy has produced extraordinary results: a 5:1 LTV:CAC ratio despite 60% of conversions happening after a full year of consideration.  Topics Discussed:  How Levels built the "metabolic health" category from scratch by becoming the authoritative information source fi...
2025-06-1138 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#269 - How Levels got its start as a company setting out to solve the metabolic health crisis via CGM access | Josh Clemente & Ben GrynolLevels, aiming to fix the metabolic health crisis with the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) paired with an intuitive and educational app, was founded in 2019 by Josh Clemente, who eventually brought on several co-founders to help steer the startup’s ship. Josh Clemente and Ben Grynol discuss Clemente’s lightbulb moment for the concept, the networking process for gaining investor buy-in and taking the company to the next level, and the hiccups and triumphs along the way. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your...
2024-12-193h 45LEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#266 - How and why to eat an anti-inflammatory diet | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben GrynolInflammation is an essential process in the body to help with healing and illness recovery. However, many people have chronic inflammation, which accelerates aging and drives disease processes. We can help control inflammation through diet. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss environmental and dietary sources of chronic inflammation as well as the foods that are anti-inflammatory. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Mem...
2024-10-1018 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#264 - How aging and menopause drive muscle loss and fat gain | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben GrynolBoth aging and menopause affect metabolism. Unless people build and preserve muscle mass, aging drives muscle loss and fat gain. While these changes affect everyone, the menopause transition can also worsen metabolic health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss aging’s effects on body composition, how menopause exacerbates these and other effects, and what you can do to protect your health. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and i...
2024-09-1211 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#263 - How do macronutrients affect your blood sugar and metabolic health? | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben GrynolMacronutrients include fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate. All four nutrients have different effects on glucose and metabolic health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss the metabolic health effects of each macronutrient, how to prevent age-related muscle loss, how to improve gut health, and more. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continu...
2024-08-2936 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#262 - How do lifestyle changes affect your metabolic health? | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben GrynolExercising and changing your diet are both beneficial for metabolic health. But you may be wondering which one has more benefits for fat loss, increasing insulin sensitivity, and more. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss the answer to this burning question and more, including how exercise, saunas, stress, and sleep affect glucose levels. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain...
2024-08-1516 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#260 - Why high insulin levels drive fat storage and weight gain and what you can do | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben GrynolHigh insulin levels drive the growth of fat cells. In turn, fat gain can exacerbate insulin resistance, leading to a vicious cycle. Insulin is a hormone the pancreas releases in response to glucose rising in the bloodstream. A lower insulin level is required to lose fat, and dietary habits and lifestyle changes can help. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss insulin’s dual functions in the body, why high insulin leads to fat storage, and how to lower insulin levels. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
2024-07-1112 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#259 - What being ‘postdiabetic,’ rather than prediabetic, means and how to get there | Eric Edmeades & Ben GrynolBefore someone develops type 2 diabetes, they go through a prediabetic stage. But if someone is reversing their diabetes and is trending toward better glucose levels or even optimal levels, they are postdiabetic. Eric Edmeades and Ben Grynol discuss Edmeades’s new book “Postdiabetic,” his company Wildfit, and how the program helps people reverse type 2 diabetes, change their relationship with food, and overhaul their health. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve h...
2024-07-041h 01LEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#258 - What are glucose and insulin and why do they matter for health? | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben GrynolExcess glucose from food gets stored as fat. And our insulin response drives that fat storage. The goal is for the pancreas to release less insulin but for the body to have a healthy response to it. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss the interplay between glucose and insulin, healthy glucose numbers, and the problems with insulin resistance. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and...
2024-06-2032 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#55 - How chef Paul Canales' journey with CGMs changed the way he thinks about food | Paul Canales & Ben GrynolFor a chef, flavor is everything. But what happens when one starts wearing a Levels CGM? In this episode, Levels Head of Growth, Ben Grynol, chatted with Paul Canales, Head Chef of Duende Restaurant in Oakland, California. They discuss how wearing a CGM has changed his perspective on the way he crafts dishes and his views on when and how to indulge. Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/itc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve heal...
2024-06-0754 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#256 - How quickly can you change your metabolic health and how long does it last? | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben GrynolAbout 93% of people in the United States are not metabolically healthy. But metabolic health can be improved quickly and over time with lifestyle changes. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss what metabolism is, how to determine metabolic health status, and how and why maintaining metabolic health is crucial. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels ap...
2024-06-0610 minThe Entail AI Podcast
The Entail AI PodcastGrowth strategies in health tech with Ben GrynolBen Grynol, Head of Growth at Levels, a metabolic health company, shares his insights on driving growth through content marketing, influencer collaborations, and leveraging a lean team with effective delegation strategies. Overall, this episode offers valuable insights into content-driven growth strategies, particularly in the health tech sector. More about Entail AI: Website: ⁠https://entail.ai/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast-links&utm_content=description-link ⁠ LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/entailai⁠ More about Ben Grynol: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengryno...
2024-04-2935 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#51 - Levels Member Story: A former fitness competitor’s IVF journey & what real health looks like | Sara Beemer & Ben GrynolHow does a former bodybuilder go from carb-loading to eating for longevity and fertility with IVF? Here’s a look at the journey of healthy eating from a fitness competitor turned nutrition coach in this conversation between Sara Beemer & Ben Grynol. Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/itc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and li...
2024-03-2955 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#249 - The links between gastrointestinal health, metabolic health, and fertility | Dr. Robin Rose & Ben Grynol - (Replay)Gastrointestinal health, metabolic health, and fertility are all linked. The gut microbiome impacts other microbiomes in the body, which can then impact the ability to conceive. Our gut microbiomes are becoming less diverse through modern farming practices and the consumption of processed foods. Dr. Robin Rose and Ben Grynol discuss how gut microbiome testing can determine underlying factors of gastrointestinal distress and the lifestyle changes that can help address symptoms and even aid fertility.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠🎙 What Robin Ro...
2024-03-2857 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#50 - Building a brand in the direct-to-consumer space | Nik Sharma & Ben GrynolBranding isn’t just about the visual identity of a company. In this episode, Ben Grynol talks with Nik Sharma, “The DTC Guy” who runs Sharma Brands and HOOX, about what it means to build a good brand in the direct-to-consumer marketing space. Nik points out the crucial thing to remember is that no one remembers your brand unless you’re one of the top global brands, so it’s best not to get overly invested in how your brand is perceived. It’s best to drive consumer awareness, be consistent in providing valuable content and products, and pay attention to...
2024-03-2248 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#50 - Unlock your superfans & they’ll grow your brand for you | Dorothy Kilroy & Ben GrynolHow can your superfans help you grow your brand organically? In this episode, Airbnb’s Global Director of Community Dorothy Kilroy discusses with Ben Grynol how superfans can support you by listening to and asking the correct questions, providing excellent services, and building a platform that values them. Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/itc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose moni...
2024-03-1637 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#242 - Healthy eating for kids | Austin McGuffie & Ben Grynol - (Replay)Highly processed food is hard to avoid. It’s especially harder when you’re a parent. For Austin McGuffie and Ben Grynol, they both have 4 kids, and they talk about the challenges of parenting, feeding kids nutritious food, and educating them along the way.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuo...
2024-01-0446 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#44 - Giving and Receiving FEEDBACK in a REMOTE-FIRST Work Environment | Ben Grynol & Michael MizrahiHow would you approach your team members for feedback in a remote environment? Ben Grynol and Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi discuss how Levels team members give and receive feedback, the types of feedback we focus on, and suggest when to give feedback in real-time in a remote and async environment. Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/itc⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous gluc...
2023-12-0855 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#43 - Changing your mindset to "maybe" | Ben Grynol & Mike DiDonatoWhile your mindset can’t always improve a bad situation, it can change your outlook on life. When Levels’ Head of Member Success, Mike DiDonato, had an unexpected—and unnecessary—emergency surgery, it changed his mindset on a lot of things. In this episode, Levels Head of Growth, Ben Grynol, sat down with Mike to deconstruct some ideas about mindset and how choosing your mindset relates to some of the situations Mike has faced over the past month. Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/itc⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see ho...
2023-11-171h 04LEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#40 - Levels Member Story: Prioritizing prevention & improving daily habits | Lauren & Ben GrynolDeciding to prioritize preventative healthcare can be a way to proactively manage your health. In this Member Story, Lauren chats with Ben Grynol about how small habit changes in her lifestyle empowered her to take better control of her health. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/itc⁠⁠
2023-10-0657 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#233 - Big Food, Big Sugar & how they affect our metabolic health today | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol - (Replay)The history of the Big Food and Big Sugar industries still affect our metabolic health today. Learn more in this conversation between Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your h...
2023-10-0556 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#221 - Brain Energy: Does food affect mental health? | Dr. Chris Palmer & Ben Grynol - (Replay)How might a keto diet transform not only your metabolic health but may also manage symptoms of mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, and more? Dr. Chris Palmer outlines the principles from his book “Brain Energy” with Ben Grynol in this episode and discusses his journey toward the revolutionary idea that might change how we view mental health care moving forward.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl🎙 What Dr. Chris Palmer & Ben Grynol discuss:(00:00) — Intro(07:57...
2023-07-131h 41LEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#32 - Levels Member Story: Curiosity led Natalie Lumpkin down a path of monitoring her glucose and making life changes | Ben Grynol & Natalie LumpkinLevels Head of Growth, Ben Grynol, sat down with Levels member, Natalie Lumpkin, to chat about her journey with Levels and how it has impacted her health journey over the past year. 🎙 What Ben Grynol & Natalie Lumpkin discuss: (06:36) - From curiosity to dedication (09:06) - Our bodies are always changing (14:37) - Understand what’s happening inside your body (17:56) - Learn what’s healthy for you (23:57) - Have control over your health (30:29) - Share the journey with family members (32:59) - Community could help accountability (42:17...
2023-06-1654 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#212 - Managing Type 1 diabetes and thriving with it | Jesse Lavine & Ben GrynolReceiving a diagnosis of a chronic condition, such as Type 1 diabetes, can be life-changing. A diagnosis is helpful for understanding the cause of symptoms and how to treat, but managing a chronic condition can take a toll on mental health. Tools like a continuous glucose monitor can help empower people and ease the burden of constant care. Jesse Lavine and Ben Grynol discuss the challenges of managing Type 1 diabetes, how Lavine’s diagnosis with Type 1 impacted him, how CGM helped Lavine not only manage the condition but also thrive with it, and how the medical system needs to change to...
2023-05-1154 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#29 - Finding open-mindedness and changing “no” to “yes” | Mike Haney & Ben GrynolWhen you come into any new job position, it can be hard to go against your years of experience and be open-minded to change. But here’s how to change your (or someone else’s) “no” to “yes” by being open to experimentation, embracing discomfort, and assuming good outcomes. Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look f...
2023-05-0556 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#210 - Pregnancy & metabolic health: Hormone changes & gestational diabetes | Dr. Azure Grant & Ben GrynolHow does pregnancy affect your metabolic health at each trimester, from conception to postpartum lactation? Levels Research Design Lead Dr. Azure Grant talks with Ben Grynol about the different phases of pregnancy and how it affects hormones and things you can do to reduce the risk of gestational diabetes. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. Sign Up to Get...
2023-04-271h 01LEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#27 - Fight Burnout to Live a Balanced Life | Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi & Ben GrynolBurnout looks different for everyone. It can be a universal experience in a startup environment because it’s easy to let your work become your full identity. Levels Head of Operations Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi wrote a detailed memo on burnout to help start the discussion around the topic so we can do our best to avoid it. In this episode, Ben Grynol chatted with Miz about what exactly might cause burnout and some of the strategies to mitigate it, why it’s important, and how we think about it internally as a team. Learn the best ways to protect yourself...
2023-04-1451 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#26 - Executive Assistants and Why They Are a Force Multiplier for Our Team | Ben Grynol, Sam Corcos & Michael MizrahiLevels Head of Growth, Ben Grynol, chatted with Co-Founder and CEO, Sam Corcos, and Head of Operations, Michael 'Miz' Mizrahi, about how we all scale our time at Levels to be effective team members. We achieve this with Executive Assistants (EAs) from a company called, Athena. They dived into how we delegate and outsource tasks to Athena and why they are an important part of our company. 🎙 What Sam Corcos, Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi, & Ben Grynol discuss: (06:47) - Reluctance to delegate (08:52) - Make time for bigger work (13:32) - Have automation and delegation (1...
2023-04-071h 05LEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#207 - The importance of flow states and how to reclaim focus | Johann Hari & Ben GrynolSociety champions multitasking, but we can’t truly multitask. Multitasking in fact impedes our focus and productivity. And 12 main factors tend to steal our attention. Johann Hari and Ben Grynol discuss why flow states are important for goal achievement, the things that distract us, and how we can reclaim our focus. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members ga...
2023-04-0646 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#205 - The links between gastrointestinal health, metabolic health, and fertility | Dr. Robin Rose & Ben GrynolGastrointestinal health, metabolic health, and fertility are all linked. The gut microbiome impacts other microbiomes in the body, which can then impact the ability to conceive. Our gut microbiomes are becoming less diverse through modern farming practices and the consumption of processed foods. Dr. Robin Rose and Ben Grynol discuss how gut microbiome testing can determine underlying factors of gastrointestinal distress and the lifestyle changes that can help address symptoms and even aid fertility. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Robi...
2023-03-0957 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#18 - Productivity chat: How to navigate distractions & context switching | Sam Corcos, Michael Mizrahi, & Ben GrynolMultitasking is not a productive way to spend a workday. At Levels, we work hard to protect everyone’s time so they can accomplish their goals. Listen as Ben Grynol chats with Sam Corcos and Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi about the pitfalls of context-switching at work. They talked about distractions while working remotely and the best ways to prevent context switching, especially in an asynchronous work environment, and dove into ways to minimize distractions to maximize output. Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve health...
2023-02-1055 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#15 - Acting in the best interest of the company: No Rules Rules | Ben Grynol & Michael ‘Miz’ MizrahiSuccessful companies need to hire employees who are invested in the long-term outcomes and future of the business, rather than their own short-term gains. But in order to find people you can trust to work toward the company’s best interests, you need to instill a sense of integrity into your company’s culture. In this episode, Ben Grynol and Michael Mizrahi discuss the importance of acting in the company’s best interest and how to find employees who share your values, based on the principle from Reed Hastings’ book, “No Rules Rules,” and how this all pans out at Levels.
2023-01-3136 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#8 – Inbox zero & time management for productivity | Sam Corcos, Dr. Casey Means, & Ben GrynolThe productivity and email world is obsessed with the “inbox zero” phenomenon, but everyone has their own process for managing emails and prioritizing tasks. Sometimes, it’s due to the vertical or industry a person works in, and other times it’s because companies have different cultures and values they talk about when it comes to approaching work and communications. The Levels team values these 3 factors of communication: Asynchronous or “async” communication, thorough project documentation, and closing the loop with team members. Listen as Sam Corcos talks with Dr. Casey Means and Ben Grynol about productivity tips around inbox zero, time m...
2023-01-061h 07LEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#197 - Building a brand in the direct-to-consumer space | Nik Sharma & Ben GrynolBranding isn’t just about the visual identity of a company. In this episode, Ben Grynol talks with Nik Sharma, “The DTC Guy” who runs Sharma Brands and HOOX, about what it means to build a good brand in the direct-to-consumer marketing space. Nik points out the crucial thing to remember is that no one remembers your brand unless you’re one of the top global brands, so it’s best not to get overly invested in how your brand is perceived. It’s best to drive consumer awareness, be consistent in providing valuable content and products, and pay attention to...
2022-12-2347 minLEVELS – Inside the Company
LEVELS – Inside the Company#4 - Performance marketing & brand equity: Earned & owned media for growth | Nik Sharma & Ben GrynolEarned, paid, and owned media are some of the ways a start-up business might attract new customers and keep current ones. Growth leaders and CXO’s must understand how to strike a balance between performance marketing and brand equity development. Ben Grynol spoke with Nik Sharma, CEO of Sharma Brands, to discuss the advantages of each strategy and various sorts of growth levers. 🎙️ What Nik Sharma & Ben Grynol discuss: (09:16) - Understand the LTV of newsletter subscribers (12:40) - Intent of education, not acquisition (16:10) - Build up brand equity (19:00) - Give people brand FOMO (24:4...
2022-12-2354 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#195 - Video content creation and maintaining journalistic integrity | Cleo Abram & Ben GrynolCleo Abram found her passion for content creation and independent journalism when she started her YouTube channel Huge If True, a journalistically rigorous show with optimistic explainers about tech that could change our future. Listen as Cleo and Ben Grynol talk about the tension between the quality of work you publish versus the velocity, a bottom-up versus top-down content creation approach, and the importance of fact-checking. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl Levels helps you see how food affects your health, em...
2022-12-161h 00LEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#194 - Personal growth as a CEO in different stages of a growing startup | Sam Corcos & Ben GrynolOver the lifespan of Levels, the company and the CEO role evolved drastically. Sam Corcos went from coding the initial product to CEO, and he experienced a lot of personal challenges and growth along the way. Listen as Sam chats with Ben Grynol about time management, strategy versus people ops, requirements at each startup stage, and taking time to reflect through quarterly Think Weeks. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you wi...
2022-12-1245 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#191 - How sleep affects metabolic health | Dr. Azure Grant & Ben GrynolSleep deprivation can be detrimental to metabolic health—even a short night of sleep, poor quality sleep, or low sleep efficiency can have significant impacts. Not getting a full, high-quality night’s sleep may be why you’re so hungry, but can also set you up for decreased insulin sensitivity, which when compounded, can have worse long-term effects. Listen as Research Design Lead Azure Grant talks with Ben Grynol about the importance of quality sleep for metabolic health. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl ...
2022-12-0239 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#189 - Healthy eating for kids | Austin McGuffie & Ben GrynolHighly processed food is hard to avoid. It’s especially harder when you’re a parent. For Austin McGuffie and Ben Grynol, they both have 4 kids, and they talk about the challenges of parenting, feeding kids nutritious food, and educating them along the way. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and cont...
2022-11-2548 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#187 - Connect & sync wearable biomarkers to support your body’s needs | Ben Grynol & Kyriakos EleftheriouPeople who love wearables often complain that their biomarker data that gets collected in one app stays in that app, and the apps don’t talk to each other. Kyriakos Eleftheriou, CEO and Co-Founder of Terra, shares with Ben Grynol how he’s building Terra to standardize biomarker data and translate it into one language. By doing this, Terra could enable users to connect their data from wearables to non-health-tech companies like Spotify or Netflix, providing real-time recommendations that would help give a certain mood based on a person’s physical state; for example, an uplifting movie suggestion during a stre...
2022-11-1724 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#184 - Member Story: How recovering from a car accident helped her find health | Elena Schuber & Ben GrynolWhile recovering from a tragic car accident that caused Elena Schuber to go into a coma, Elena started to learn how to improve her physical health through dietary, lifestyle, and habit changes because she became well-attuned to her body’s responses to certain foods. Now a health and wellness practitioner, Elena advises her clients to monitor their blood glucose levels and be present with their own bodies. Listen as Elena shares her experience with Levels with Ben Grynol as she discovers how stress, food sequencing, and behavior changes affect her blood glucose levels. Look for multiple new shows per we...
2022-10-3142 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#183 - Equity crowdfunding for startups: Challenges, ethics, and rewards | Zac Henderson & Ben GrynolIn the startup world, what is it like to supplement a standard Series A round with equity crowdfunding? Ben Grynol & Zac Henderson offer their views on the experience and share the lessons they learned from its challenges. The Levels team did not anticipate the support received from individual investors who believed in the company’s mission and wanted to be part of the Levels journey. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in...
2022-10-2444 minDTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built
DTC POD: How The Best Brands Are Built#232 - Ben Grynol, Levels: Using Experiments to Unlock GrowthOn this episode of DTC Pod, Ben joins Blaine & Ramon to talk about the importance of experimentation in growth for startups. They talk about demand gen, building a waitlist, content production, GTM strategy, marketing personas, educational marketing, UGC, in-house content programming, and much more. 8:10 Great Products Make A StatementWe call it levels in the wild. Someone sees the patch on someone else and you give the like head nod, you're like, Hey, you're one of us, right? Because you feel like you're part of this club and it still happens to this d...
2022-10-131h 00LEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#180 - Member Story: Prioritizing prevention & improving daily habits | Lauren & Ben GrynolDeciding to prioritize preventative healthcare can be a way to proactively manage your health. In this Member Story, Lauren chats with Ben Grynol about how small habit changes in her lifestyle empowered her to take better control of her health. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link...
2022-10-1355 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#179 - Member Story: Determining your healthy baseline of food through elimination diets | Michael Keller & Ben GrynolUnderstanding your body’s unique nutritional needs through elimination dieting can help you determine a solid nutritional baseline. Michael Keller discusses his nutritional philosophy in this episode with Ben Grynol, where he discusses the lifestyle choices he made and the food that he experimented with to optimize his health. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. Sign Up to Get Yo...
2022-10-1045 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#177 - Member Story: Optimizing metabolic health to boost brain health and reduce risk of Alzheimer’s & dementia | Emily Stong & Ben GrynolHaving good metabolic health can help you develop positive brain health and reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. Emily Stong talks with Ben Grynol about how to take care of your brain and how using a CGM helped her throughout her pregnancy while living with gestational diabetes. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. Sign Up to Ge...
2022-10-0344 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#175 - Member Story: Putting PCOS into remission & healing her relationship with food | Edie Horstman & Ben GrynolEdie Horstman’s health journey contains orthorexia and PCOS—both of which she was able to overcome or put into remission as she tells Ben Grynol in this episode. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl Levels helps you see how food...
2022-09-2846 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#174 - Biomarkers, Biological Rhythms, and Bloodwork | Dr. Azure Grant & Ben GrynolDoing regular bloodwork can help you spot when your body drifts off course - and help you tie your blood glucose to clinical metrics. But how does bloodwork really change over time? Here’s a deep dive between Azure Grant and Ben Grynol on why getting regular bloodwork done is important, which biomarkers are important to pay attention to, and how it’s directly linked to metabolic health. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the...
2022-09-261h 15LEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#170 - Unlock your superfans & they’ll grow your brand for you | Airbnb's Dorothy Kilroy & Ben GrynolHow can your superfans help you grow your brand organically? In this episode, Airbnb’s Global Director of Community Dorothy Kilroy discusses with Ben Grynol how superfans can support you by listening to and asking the correct questions, providing excellent services, and building a platform that values them. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. Sign Up to Get Your Fr...
2022-09-1536 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#161 - Member Story: A former fitness competitor’s IVF journey & what real health looks like | Sara Beemer & Ben GrynolHow does a former bodybuilder go from carb-loading to eating for longevity and fertility with IVF? Here’s a look at the journey of healthy eating from a fitness competitor turned nutrition coach in this conversation between Sara Beemer & Ben Grynol. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.li...
2022-08-1855 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#153 - Member Story: Using a CGM surprised the Director of Sports Nutrition for the Miami Dolphins | John Parenti & Ben GrynolThis director of sports nutrition used a CGM and was shocked to see how his body responded to oatmeal. In sharing his CGM experience with his athletes, he emphasizes that everyone’s body responds to food differently, and urges them to get their lifestyle habits and routines in place before trying to change nutrition. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. ...
2022-07-2758 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#134 - Startup operations, infrastructure, & scaling it all | Chris Jones, Michael Mizrahi, & Ben GrynolWhen it comes to building a tech startup, operations is one of the main foundations because it’s needed to operationalize the product that exists. In this episode, three Levels’ team members discuss infrastructure, throughput, how companies are built, and how they come together. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠ Join Levels’ Head of Member Experience Chris Jones, Head of Operations Michael “Miz” Mizrahi, and Head of Growth Ben Grynol as they talk about scaling operations and: Documentation the process as it’s happen...
2022-06-2053 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#132 - Murillo’s journey on Levels’ software engineering team | Murillo Nicácio De Marães & Ben GrynolAfter getting introduced to Sam Corcos, CEO and Co-Founder, Murillo started contracting right away in early 2020 as one of the first developers at Levels. He got pulled into the company culture early on. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl In this team member spotlight episode, Ben Grynol (Head of Growth) sat down with Murillo Nicácio De Marães to talk about: Murillo’s Brazilian background and staying connected to his home What it felt like to join Levels and get im...
2022-06-1342 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#130 - On working with family at a startup | Josh Clemente, Mercy Clemente, & Ben GrynolAt a small startup, siblings working together would normally be a disaster. But Josh Clemente and his sister Mercy Clemente found a way to work well together and maintain a positive family relationship. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl In this episode, they discuss all of this with host Ben Grynol: How their upbringing prepared them for the Levels’ async culture The serendipitous timing of Mercy joining first as a contractor How they keep their home and work life separate Le...
2022-06-0948 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#128 - All things in marketing attribution | Josh Mohrer, Paul Barszcz, & Ben GrynolWith online sales, all customer touchpoints are important for attribution. But how do you determine which are the strongest levers, which have the highest ROI, and whether remarketing is actually worth it? Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl In this episode, Levels’ Head of Growth, Ben Grynol, chatted with our head of Global Operations, Josh Mohrer, and Digital Marketing Manager, Paul Barszcz about all things marketing attribution. They cover: Determining where sales come from Why and what Levels meas...
2022-06-0650 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#125 - Countless STARTUP Milestones in Just One Year - Levels in 2021 | Josh Clemente & Ben GrynolSo much can happen in just one year at a startup: Crucial milestones like team growth, fundraising, and launches happen very fast. Josh Clemente and Ben Grynol reflect on Levels’ 2021 milestones because it was one of our most exciting years. Follow our podcast, A Whole New Level, for more of the inside scoop from the Levels team. We talk about our mission to solve the metabolic health crisis, our fully remote and async startup culture, and the process of building a health and wellness movement from the ground up. Sign Up to Get Your Fr...
2022-05-2651 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#122 - Fight burnout to live a balanced life | Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi & Ben GrynolBurnout looks different for everyone. It can be a universal experience in a startup environment because it’s easy to let your work become your full identity. Levels Head of Operations Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi wrote a detailed memo on burnout to help start the discussion around the topic so we can do our best to avoid it. In this episode, Ben Grynol chatted with Miz about what exactly might cause burnout and some of the strategies to mitigate it, why it’s important, and how we think about it internally as a team. Learn the best ways to protect yourself...
2022-05-1650 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#115 - Productivity chat: How to navigate distractions & context switching | Sam Corcos, Michael Mizrahi, & Ben GrynolMultitasking is not a productive way to spend a workday. At Levels, we work hard to protect everyone’s time so they can accomplish their goals. Listen as Ben Grynol chats with Sam Corcos and Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi about the pitfalls of context-switching at work. They talked about distractions while working remotely and the best ways to prevent context switching, especially in an asynchronous work environment, and dove into ways to minimize distractions to maximize output. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl Leve...
2022-05-0554 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#106 - Big Food, Big Sugar & how they affect our metabolic health today | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben GrynolThe history of the Big Food and Big Sugar industries still affect our metabolic health today. Learn more in this conversation between Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl Levels helps you see how food...
2022-04-2150 minLEVELS – A Whole New Level
LEVELS – A Whole New Level#99 - How to make a real impact in the community: Opportunities & challenges | Mac Conwell & Ben GrynolIt can be a challenge to reach the communities you want to impact most. How do you know you’re taking the right steps and making the right connections? The good news is it doesn’t have to happen overnight or with one big initiative; you just have to work consistently with the communities. In this episode, Ben Grynol talked with one of our investors and Co-Founder of RareBreed Ventures, McKeever “Mac” Conwell. They chatted about the idea of reaching communities that are most impacted by poor metabolic health and what we can do collectively as a society to ensure w...
2022-04-0851 minFrom Nothing
From NothingEpisode 1 - Ben Grynol (Head of Growth, Levels Health)We're joined by Ben Grynol, Head of Growth at Levels Health. Levels is a metabolic health company that tracks your blood glucose in real time, so you can maximize your diet and exercise. Ben walks us through the history of the company and how it went from 0 to 1 in a complex and regulated healthcare space.
2021-06-011h 03Acquired
AcquiredSpecial: "Why Now" for Digital Health (with Levels founder Josh Clemente)We dive into the fast-changing world of direct-to-consumer digital health, with perhaps the best person in the world: Levels founder Josh Clemente. (Shoutout to Ben Grynol and Michael Mizrahi from our LP community for introducing us!) Levels is on a mission to make consumers everywhere aware of their metabolic health by enabling anyone to track blood glucose levels with a continuous glucose monitor. Josh has had an incredible career, working as an early engineer at SpaceX and later at Hyperloop One before founding Levels out of a very real personal need. Join our conversation as we cover everything from...
2021-04-061h 28Character
Character#39 – Death of MeIn the final episode of Season 3, Skyler talks about overcoming drugs and a recent relapse that lasted until the end of 2019. Skyler is working on his health daily, and is trying to stay clean by surrounding himself with a support network to do so.
2020-06-1954 minCharacter
Character#38 – The RelapseLife changed drastically for Skyler after his story was featured on Startup – a podcast by Gimlet Media – in an episode called Just Hit Record, which had a wide reach around the world. What he had hoped for in sharing his story, didn’t turn out the way he thought it would. In Season 3 of Character, Skyler Gronholz tells the story of how he went from being a creative kid with a loving and supportive family, to a detour in life that he is still trying to make sense of.
2020-06-121h 40Character
Character#37 – Life On The OutsideAfter Skyler got out of prison, he started to see the world in a new light. Everything was vibrant and colourful. But, his optimism didn’t last for long and he ended up relapsing. In Season 3 of Character, Skyler Gronholz tells the story of how he went from being a creative kid with a loving and supportive family, to a detour in life that he is still trying to make sense of.
2020-05-291h 33Character
Character#36 – Vouching For A FriendWhen Skyler first landed in Cedar Creek, he went straight to The Hole. But, it wasn’t the only time he’d head there while incarcerated. After the second time he got out, rumours started to spread around prison that he was a snitch. This didn’t sit well with Skyler, or some of the people who were looking out for him. After reflecting on the things that people did to give him guidance while in prison, he realizes how important those relationships were, and still are, to him. In Season 3 of Character, Skyler Gronholz tells...
2020-05-2239 minCharacter
Character#35 – Pulling Strings To Get Some StringsWhen Skyler was serving time at Cedar Creek Corrections Center, he longed for playing music again. All he wanted was an acoustic guitar to feel free. But, getting one wasn’t that easy. With the help of an inside source and his dad, he was able to reunite with a 6-string. In Season 3 of Character, Skyler Gronholz tells the story of how he went from being a creative kid with a loving and supportive family, to a detour in life that he is still trying to make sense of.
2020-05-1551 minCharacter
Character#34 – They Still Didn’t Know It Was MeSkyler reflects on the decisions he made, which eventually landed him in prison. What started out as small steps of self-medicating with prescription pills, turned into a slippery slope of burglary and hard drugs. In Season 3 of Character, Skyler Gronholz tells the story of how he went from being a creative kid with a loving and supportive family, to a detour in life that he is still trying to make sense of.
2020-05-0857 minCharacter
Character#33 – Making Sense of the StorySkyler Gronholz grew up in Kent, Washington. As a kid, he loved being creative and immersing himself in the world of art. As he got older, he felt himself drifting away from his true identify. He began doing things to please others, and eventually got lost on his own path in life. In Season 3 of Character, Skyler Gronholz will tell the story of how he went from being a creative kid with a loving and supportive family, to a detour in life that he is still trying to make...
2020-05-011h 26Character
Character#32 - Anything But The "H" WordOnce a shy, quiet kid from a middle-class upbringing, Robert changed course drastically in life during his mid-20's. Robert was well educated and pursuing his PhD when he was introduced to the dark world of addiction. Although his friends and family thought he was doing well in his studies, he seemed to be living two separate lives - until it all came crashing down. ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by: Cedar & Moss - Handcrafted, mid-century modern lighting Onnit - Supplements for total human optimization
2018-10-301h 33Character
Character#31 - Six Years of PokemonWhen you dedicate one quarter of your life to anything, it’s a big commitment. When you dedicate that time to Pokemon, you’re more than an expert; you’re a master. At least that’s the case for Travis Wheeler, a passionate podcaster who grew up in Muskegon, Michigan - a small town in the midwest. And, there’s no doubt that Travis is as articulate as they come. That’s what happens when you dig deep into books and spend the majority of your free time producing three different podcasts each week. Check out Travis & DJ’s podcast, Arbitrary Arch...
2018-04-161h 20The Anchor Nation
The Anchor NationEpisode 49 Ben GrynolBen Grynol joins The Anchor Nation to discuss his journey and The Character Podcast. Ben talked about the amazing work it takes to run the podcast and how it has changed his life hearing these stories. He also talked about his advice to youth and his kids to about their future. Ben in depth talked about his house reconstruction that included Ben his uncle from Arizona to help out. His family and struggles were severe, but Ben with the help of his family overcame the struggles to live a great life in their new house. Follow Ben Grynol and The...
2018-04-101h 27Character
Character#30 - Gimme ShelterGrowing up in East St. Louis, Mike had two choices - accept the adversity he faced, or remove himself from it and try to make it on his own. Mike chose the latter, and it didn't come easy. Mike was calculated in the decisions he made and conscious of the people surrounded himself with. Was it luck; Was it timing; Was it serendipity; Or was it grit? Say what you want, but Mike persevered to get to where he is today - a Senior Software Engineer, living in Atlanta. Through his perseverance, Mike made it out of East St. Louis...
2018-01-252h 22Character
Character#29 - Twenty-Three F'sIn the last few weeks of high-school, Mike didn't know what he was going to do after graduation. With little time left to apply, he submitted an application to a college in Arkansas. And, thanks to the support of a few mentors, he got a full academic scholarship to attend school. Things were looking up, until everything was taken away. Adversity seemed to haunt Mike; corrupt police officers, unsupportive professors, and a pretty serious injury were only a few of the problems he faced. Check out Mike’s podcast! We Leave You This ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by: Ceda...
2018-01-111h 06Character
Character#28 - What's Love Got To Do With ItMike doesn’t remember too much about his childhood growing up in California. Or at least he doesn’t remember much before his accident. It wasn’t until Mike moved back to his hometown of East St. Louis that he really became imprinted by the socio-economic conditions and culture of the city. Check out Mike’s podcast! We Leave You This ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by: Cedar & Moss - Handcrafted, mid-century modern lighting EPH Apparel - Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order
2018-01-041h 06Character
Character#27 - I Saw The SignRex Barrett always pictured himself growing up in a big city. And, he did - until his teenage years. However, an unexpected change in his dad's career path led him from the 90's grunge scene in Seattle, to the pig showing circuit in Sulphur, Oklahoma - a town of 5,000 people. Even though he felt like an outcast, he figured out ways to fit in and make new friends in - what he once considered to be - a podunk town, and later felt was right where he belonged. Check out Rex's podcast The Maven Show! ---------------------------------- Character is brought to y...
2017-12-031h 16Character
Character#26 - Sewing The Safety NetDave Wheeler was on his way to 'making it' in hockey before his career ended prematurely, due to an accidental eye injury. However, his new path in life led him to the world of audio, where he quickly became recognized for his talents in radio. Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Subscribe to The Word of Wheeler on Apple Podcasts! ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by: EPH Apparel - Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order Emtek - Door hardware that makes a statement
2017-11-1425 minCharacter
Character#25 - Making It On YouTubeIn one respect, it's never been so difficult to make it in the music industry. There is no clear path to success. In another respect, there has been no better time to swing the bat. Living in the digital renaissance, Steve Onotera, better known as Samurai Guitarist, wanted to make a living in music. After spending years refining his craft as a guitar player, he stumbled into the world of YouTube - and now it's how he makes his living. Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Subscribe to SamuraiGuitarist on YouTube! ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by: Onnit - Sup...
2017-10-311h 30Character
Character#24 - The Pinball WizardFor Tim Cox, moving to Brooklyn proved to be a big departure from the isolated equestrian community in Florida that he grew up in. Despite facing some hardships throughout his life, Tim's faith never deviated. And, to this day, it remains a very important part of his life. A self-proclaimed man-child, who plays on a competitive pinball team and loves to break into sing-song at any time, Tim Cox is a true character. Check out @timncox on the interweb! ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by: Onnit - Supplements for total human optimization Cedar & Moss - Handcrafted, mid-century modern lighting
2017-10-1955 minCharacter
Character#23 - The Maven of ManhattanIt's easy to forget why we do the things we do. It's even easier to fall into a rut, personally, creatively, and professionally when we don't feel that we're doing what we should be doing. For Jonesy - an actor & comedian - it meant doing things that he never thought he would do in New York City, before leaving his life behind and moving to Los Angeles to explore the world again. Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Check out @funnyjones on the interweb! ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by: Onnit - Supplements for total human optimization Cedar & Moss - Handcra...
2017-10-121h 54Character
Character#22 - Landing Somewhere ElseOne of the biggest things Jason Gonzales took away from the Navy was mindset. He learned to appreciate things that seemed foreign to him, and respect the people around him - despite their differences. In the end, teamwork was a big part of the Navy, and it gave Jason a new outlook for the way in which he would navigate the world moving forward. After leaving the Navy, Jason faced a much different world in the materialistic, "every person for themselves" mentality that drove the culture in Los Angeles. Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by...
2017-10-061h 49Character
Character#21 - Black Sheep in Navy ClothesWhen Jason Gonzales decided to join the Navy, he had his mind made up. His brother had painted a picture of Boot Camp, and Jason thought he knew what to expect; a loss of autonomy, driven by power-hungry authoritarians. But, he soon realized that a closed mindset wouldn't allow him to appreciate the positive things he could learn while in the Military. So, rather than go against it, he embraced it, but he did so in his own way - on his own terms. Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by: Onnit - Supplements for to...
2017-09-281h 41Character
Character#20 - The Path to SomewhereGrowing up in Bakersfield, California, Jason Gonzales didn't really know where his path would eventually take him. When he graduated highschool, he decided to join the Navy - only to find out that it's much harder to get out, than it is to get in. Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast ---------------------------------- Character is brought to you by: Onnit - Supplements for total human optimization Cedar & Moss - Handcrafted, mid-century modern lighting
2017-09-192h 06Character
Character#19 - Two Different WorldsWhen a peacock gets loose in a quaint town - where the population hasn't changed much since the 1930's - there's really only one option.  Send the authorities.   Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Theme music by Samurai Guitarist   Character is brought to you by: EPH Apparel - Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. Onnit - Supplements for total human optimization. Cedar & Moss - Handcrafted, mid-century modern lighting.
2017-09-131h 00Character
Character#18 – The Puke ShoeAfter a 3 month hiatus from recording, Chris sheds some light on the things that happened in his life which prevented him from sharing the final chapter in his story. He reflects on everything that has happened with the podcast to date, and how he feels about the stories he's told. During the final Q&A of Season 1, Chris shares a few new stories - some of which he can't believe he never even told.   Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. Production assistance by Samurai...
2017-09-052h 03Character
Character#17 – The Delinquent DaysChris reflects on his time at Toys 'R Us, where he did things the way he wanted to do them. No matter how hard he tried to get fired, he couldn't. Somehow, his delinquent behaviour ended up getting him promoted.   Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. Production assistance by Samurai Guitarist. Theme music by Me and Molly. Be sure to check out Daughter Podcast and show them some love!
2017-06-061h 03Character
Character#16 – Close to HomeAfter taking a couple of weeks off of recording, Chris fills in listeners with some news about things happening in his life in real time. In the game of life, you never know what your next hand will be.
2017-06-0308 minCharacter
Character#15 – Accidents HappenFor a period of time, Chris had a few different jobs in Winnipeg. Each of these jobs had a few ups and downs, but eventually Chris decided to go back to school.  He was pretty sure of the direction that he was headed in University; however, the career path that he thought he was going to take ended up being quite different from the one that he ended up pursuing. ------------------------ Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. Production assistance by Samurai Guitarist. Theme music by M...
2017-05-1643 minCharacter
Character#14 – Grabbing PenniesAfter spending a few years in Gimli, living an autonomous life and going on tour continuously with his band, Chris decided to move back to Winnipeg. When he finally made his way back to Winnipeg, it wasn't by choice. Chris refers to this period as rock bottom - the time when he felt the most alone in his life. ------------------------ Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. Production assistance by Samurai Guitarist. Theme music by Me and Molly.
2017-05-0640 minCharacter
Character#13 – The DropkickDuring the time that Chris was playing with his first band, Cities I've Never Seen, he and his bandmates spent quite a bit of time touring across Canada. After going on tour 12 separate times, and living in the close quarters of their unreliable van, many band members began to think differently about their future together.  ------------------------ Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. Production assistance by Samurai Guitarist. Theme music by Me and Molly.
2017-04-271h 02Character
Character#12 – From the Outside InAfter Chris decided to stay in Gimli, he found himself bouncing around between friends' houses, and never really found a stable place to live. Eventually, he met a group of people that welcomed him into their home with open arms. However, despite the warm welcome he received, he never felt like he was truly "part of the group". As time passed, Chris's friends - one of whom was infamously named "D-Bag," of course - let him into their world. Chris no longer felt like an outsider - but that didn't last long. ------------------------ Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Character is broug...
2017-04-181h 10Character
Character#11 – The Crack HouseWhen Chris moved to Gimli, it became an escape from his reality. He left behind his life in Winnipeg for a fresh start. However, on multiple occasions, Chris almost picked up and left the small town that he was finding comfort in. Although Chris had become straight-edge for a number of years, the freedom of living on his own exposed him to drugs and alchohol, once again, for a second time in his life. ------------------------ Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. Production assistanc...
2017-04-1257 minCharacter
Character#10 – The Phone TapPrior to Episode 7, Ben chatted with with Owen - Chris's brother, and Miki - Chris's childhood best friend. Each conversation paints a picture, first-hand, for some of the characters that we've heard about from Chris. As well, we learn that most people - including Chris, himself - know very little about his past. Don't forget to follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast
2017-04-0446 minCharacter
Character#9 – Dirty Ice CreamIn past episodes, Chris referred to his time in Gimli as a "fresh start". And, for some people, starting over isn't necessarily a bad thing. For Chris, however, moving to Gimli became another eye opening experience into the way in which he had naively lived his life up until that point. As Chris reflects on his Gimli-life, he discusses the responsibility that he had to take on as he went from being unemployed, to having three jobs - all at the same time.   Follow the story on Instagram! @characterpodcast   Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character ...
2017-03-281h 02Character
Character#8 – Your Turn To AskAfter revealing some heavy news in Episode 7, we take a step back to reflect on some of the things we've learned about Chris's story so far. Episode 8 is a question and answer format, co-hosted by Steve Onotera (Samurai Guitarist) and Declan McGarry (Me and Molly), where Chris answers some of the questions submitted by listeners. In this episode, Chris reflects on the way his story has unfolded through the podcast. As well, he tells us more about some of his interests - like music and video games - that make him who he is.   Character is brought to you by EPH Appare...
2017-03-221h 10Character
Character#7 – Lifting The RugThere are many missing puzzle pieces to the life of Chris Friesen. He often feels like details about his past have been "swept under the rug" by various family members - it's the Mennonite way. After digging deeper into Chris's past, more details are uncovered about his childhood. Chris learns new information about his mom - for first time ever.   Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. www.ephapparel.com   Production assistance by Samurai Guitarist. https://www.youtube.com/user/samuraiguit   Theme music by Me and Molly. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/albu...
2017-03-141h 19Character
Character#6 – Brass KnucklesAfter spending some time with a group of neighbourhood “hooligans,” Chris realized that a life of drugs and misdemeanours was not for him. Around high school, Chris started to clean up his act. It wasn’t long after this period that Chris and his Grandfather no longer saw eye to eye on many issues. Eventually, Chris left his Grandpa’s house - for good, and never returned home.   Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. www.ephapparel.com   Production assistance by Samurai Guitarist. https://www.youtube.com/user/samuraiguit   Theme music...
2017-03-0748 minCharacter
Character#5 – Jesus LandAfter trying to connect with people from Chris's past, a few leads come up short. However, Chris recalls a story about his grandmother and mother trying to "help" his brother, Owen, when he was a young child. The deeper we go into exploring many of Chris’s stories, the more he becomes quite open about some of his past experiences, which he isn't proud of at all.   Character is brought to you by EPH Apparel. Enter promo code: character to get 20% off your next order. www.ephapparel.com   Production assistance by Samurai Guitarist. https://www.youtube.com/user/samuraiguit   Theme music by Me an...
2017-03-011h 01Character
Character#1 – SpeedballsAn epic tale and true story about the life of Chris Friesen. Although Chris is recounting and telling his life story in real-time to the host, Ben Grynol, neither Chris, Ben, nor the listeners know where his story will end up. Each week, new details unfold in the story and listeners learn of things that happened in Chris's life, which will have unknown outcomes moving forward. Episode 1 discusses drugs, Chris's relationship with his mom, and the self-dependent life he lived throughout his pre-teen years.
2017-02-1258 min