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https://worldrecord.stoked.org/

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Sixty-three and Feeling More Myself Than Ever: Libby DeLana on Authentic Living

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 10:00:24 +0000

In this episode of Been to the Mountain Top Podcast, Steve Larosiliere interviews Libby DeLana, an executive creative director, writer, and mentor, who shares her journey of self-discovery and authenticity.

Libby discusses the importance of embracing hard experiences, the power of community and rituals, and how her cold water practice has transformed her perspective on joy. She reflects on her mentors, the significance of taking risks, and the value of time and energy in pursuing what truly matters.

The conversation emphasizes the beauty of aging, the importance of finding joy in everyday life, and the contagious nature of enthusiasm.

Key Topics

Embracing authenticity and feeling more yourself at 63
Aging as just another word for living—something to be embraced
The transformative power of doing hard things as the ultimate teacher
Building community through rituals that foster connection and joy
Cold water immersion as a practice of joy, not competition
Finding mentorship in unexpected places and relationships
The importance of taking risks to unlock unexpected opportunities
Self-advocacy and taking action as requirements for finding joy
Creativity as an intimate act that demands courage and vulnerability
How enthusiasm for life becomes contagious and inspiring to others

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Libby DeLana

07:13 Embracing Authenticity and Vulnerability

14:26 The Journey of Self-Discovery

19:52 Cold Joy: Finding Beauty in Discomfort

23:09 Building Community Through Shared Experiences

25:22 Embracing Vulnerability and Community in Cold Water

29:28 The Importance of Rituals and Practices

31:29 Mentorship and Personal Growth

35:29 Facing Fears and Expanding Horizons

39:16 The Changing Landscape of Creativity and Diversity

44:36 Finding Joy and Enthusiasm in Life

Ready to join the community? Here's how you can connect with us:

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https://www.instagram.com/parkhere/

You can connect with Libby at:

Stoked 2.0: Six NYC School Deals, Stoked Plus, Demo, and 'Algorithmic Youth Development'

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:54:54 +0000

In this Stoked Edition, Steve Larosiliere and Cue Pierre move from style and first impressions to the real work of building programs and systems that meet young people where they are. They touch on how appearance shapes perception (mustaches, glasses, NYFW) and why Steve ultimately left NYC for Chicago—family, school access, and the cost-of-living calculus many parents face.

Then they dive into Stoked 2.0: a practical update on school partnerships (six contracts signed and counting), how to close deals with principals (show up, bring coffee, make it easy), and an inside look at Stoked’s the new platform designed to track programs, participation, and impact in real time. The conversation introduces "algorithmic youth development," a fresh approach to mentorship that helps teens intentionally reprogram their social feeds toward positive goals, skill-building, and role models. They wrap with a quick update on Stoked's 20-year event and a reminder that the organization is no longer just talking about change.

Key Topics Covered

Why presentation matters: mustaches, glasses, and being "seen" in youth culture (hello, NYFW).
NYC vs. Chicago for families: lotteries, school access, and the true cost of raising kids.
School partnerships update: six contracts signed (including HSFI), with more in the pipeline.
How to close with principals: show up with solutions (and coffee), make Stoked a flex they can share.
Quality vs. quantity: aim for fewer, deeper partnerships—or both if capacity allows.
Stoked 2.0 vision: meet youth on their phones with intentional, positive content.
"Algorithmic youth development": helping students reshape their For You pages toward goals and growth.
Systems thinking for teens: understanding and navigating education, tech, and other systems.
Stoked 20-Year Event: ticket sales, art auction, sponsorship outreach, and a fundraising run.
Stoked Plus reveal: admin dashboard, youth/coach logins, enrollments, attendance, and future features (programs, events, mentor signups).
Tracking what matters: logging hours across activities (like Fortnite tracks playtime) to close the opportunity gap.
From idea to build: the journey from "Stoked Plus" mockups (2013–2016) to a working platform today.

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Appearance

00:55 Understanding Systems Thinking

Ready to join the community? Here's how you can connect with us:

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Rebellion Against Loneliness: The Power of Mentorship

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:43:30 +0000

In this episode of the Been to the Mountain Top podcast, host Steve Larosiliere discusses the alarming crisis of disconnection among today's youth, highlighting the loneliness epidemic and the lack of emotional support.

He emphasizes the critical role of mentorship as a solution to these issues, presenting statistics that demonstrate the positive impact of mentorship on young people's lives.

Steve outlines a vision for a mentorship movement aimed at fostering real connections and community support, culminating in a call to action for listeners to participate in breaking the world record for mentorship pledges.

Takeaways

America is raising the loneliest generation in history.
One in four adults worldwide feel very lonely.
Loneliness increases the risk of depression and anxiety.
93% of parents believe their kids are supported, but many teens feel unsupported.
Mentorship is crucial for youth development and success.
Mentored youth earn 15% more by their mid-20s.
The ROI of mentorship is $2.72 for every $1 invested.
We can either pay the price of disconnection or invest in connection.
Mentorship can provide direction, purpose, and accountability.
The future is built on real connection, not algorithms.

Chapters

00:00 The Crisis of Disconnection

04:16 The Vision for a Mentorship Movement

05:58 The Call to Action for Mentorship

Ready to join the community? Here's how you can connect with us:

Follow the Journey:

Get Involved with Stoke:

Transform lives through action sports and mentorship

Level Up Your Business:

Design with Purpose:

Carrie Scott on Seen.art, Creative Health, and Rewiring the Art World

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 10:00:22 +0000

In this episode of Been to the Mountain Top, art historian and curator Carrie Scott shares how a transatlantic upbringing and a career spent both inside and outside elite institutions led her to launch Seen.art a community-forward, WhatsApp-native platform making the art world radically more accessible.

Carrie unpacks why traditional galleries often feel uninviting, how the market's over-financialization broke the value exchange, and why artists—not intermediaries—must be put back at the center.

You'll learn how Carrie is building a "YouTube town square" for art through short-form, artist-led conversations; why she champions "creative health" as essential to our wellbeing; and what new, music-inspired models of patronage could look like for artists today.

Carrie makes a compelling case that art is a bridge back to empathy and humanity—and that cultivating visual literacy should be as normal as discovering music.

Key Topics Covered

Seen.art Platform: Carrie built a grassroots, community-driven platform using WhatsApp and short-form content to break gatekeeping and put artists first
Creative Health: Treating creativity as essential to mental and emotional wellbeing, not a luxury or performance metric
Visual Literacy: Normalizing "I don't get it—let's talk about it" as a valid way to experience art, similar to how we discover music
Artists as Cultural Infrastructure: How artists can rebuild empathy and connection in a polarized world
Rethinking Art Patronage: Moving beyond speculation to explore accessible objects, editions, and sustainable artist-friendly models

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Carrie Scott and Seen.art

04:35 Carrie's Journey in the Art World

10:11 The Evolution of Art Consumption

16:17 Creative Health and Its Importance

21:40 The Freedom of Art and Its Impact

22:33 The Importance of Visual Literacy

29:13 Art as a Bridge to Empathy

36:26 Innovating Art Patronage

44:38 Vulnerability as the Mountaintop

Ready to join the community? Here's how you can connect with us:

Follow the Journey:

@thelarosiliere

Get Involved with Stoke:

Transform lives through action sports and mentorship

stoked.org

Level Up Your Business:

Design with Purpose:

Stoked Weekly Recap: 20th Anniversary, Mentor Pledge Record, and School Year Plans

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:00:24 +0000

In this first weekly recap of Been to the Mountain Top: Stoked Edition, Steve Larosiliere sits down with Stoked Program Manager Cue Pierre to share big updates and a bold challenge.

The team is expanding to 10 schools, prepping a 20th anniversary celebration on November 6, and rallying the nation to break the world record for most mentoring pledges in 24 hours.

You'll hear how they plan to mobilize thousands of supporters to commit to mentoring—and why this record matters for youth far beyond action sports.

Cue reflects on his journey from part-time coach to program manager and the culture shift since Steve's return: more trust, creativity, and clarity in the work.

They dig into summer highlights like the return of weekend skate mentor sessions and a month-long internship partnership at Camp Woodward, share fresh school-year program packages (Risers for middle school, Pathways for high school), and celebrate outcomes from last year's 308 registered "Stokers" to 45 high school graduates.

The episode closes with a five-year vision: an ecosystem of mentors and experiences that help young people thrive—on boards and in life.

Key Topics Covered

The big push: expanding Stoked to 10 schools and celebrating 20 years on November 6
World-record attempt: mobilizing 2,000–3,000 mentoring pledges in 24 hours (current record: 1,500)
Meet Cue: from action sports coach to program manager—and how speaking up sparked his growth
Culture shift at Stoked: trust, autonomy, creativity, and becoming more AI-enabled for efficiency
By the numbers (last school year): 308 registered youth, 2,332 total session attendances, 1,300+ program hours, 62 returning participants, 45 HS graduates (NYC)
Summer wins: revived weekend skate mentor sessions; job-experience internship with Camp Woodward; partnership momentum (incl. Westside Skates)
New program design: "Risers" (middle school—high school readiness) and "Pathways" (high school—internships, snow trips, life/college planning)
Who Stoked serves: resilient, outspoken, optimistic youth who embody the core values—expanding across the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens (Rockaway)
Alumni spotlight: a former Stoker (Brooklyn) now a Wharton MBA; long-term partnership with Bronx Lab School (10+ years)
The five-year vision: a cycle of mentorship that creates options, community, and life-changing experiences for youth

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Weekly Recap

03:18 Meet Cue: Journey at Stoked

05:34 Changes and Growth at Stoked

08:44 Impact and Statistics of Stoked Programs

10:05 Summer Programs and Internships

12:29 Personal Journey and Career Development

16:42 AI Integration at Stoked

17:58 Team Dynamics and Program Repackaging

18:24 New Program Packages and Focus Areas

20:47 Understanding the Kids: Sentiment and Resilience

22:37 Alumni Success Stories and Community Impact

25:23 Looking Forward: Future Goals for Stoked

Interested in mentoring or partnering? Visit stoked.org and follow along on Instagram and YouTube to join the record-setting pledge and support youth across NYC.

Ready to join the community? Here's how you can connect with us:

Follow the Journey:

@thelarosiliere

Get Involved with Stoke:

Transform lives through action sports and mentorship

stoked.org

Level Up Your Business:

Design with Purpose:

Calling the Shot: Steve’s $1M Stoked Fundraiser and Nov 6 Marathon Record

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 15:20:46 +0000

In this episode of Been to the Mountain Top, Steve calls his shot: raise $1,000,000 by December 31 and break a world record on November 6 in support of Stoked, the youth mentoring organization he founded. He lays out a focused fundraising plan anchored by the NYC Marathon, a silent and art auction, sponsorships, and a “20 x $20K” challenge—while documenting the journey daily for accountability and momentum.

You’ll hear why he’s returning to this work after three years away, how he plans to elevate the field of mentoring in partnership with other youth-serving organizations, and the systems he’s building to make it happen. Steve shares day-two updates, early outreach to pillar donors, and the tools and content engine he’s creating to track progress, amplify the mission, and bring listeners behind the scenes.

Key Topics Covered

- Calling the shot: $1M by December 31 and a world record attempt on November 6

- The plan: NYC Marathon with co-founder Salama, silent auction, art auction, ticket sales, sponsorships, and 20 people raising/donating $20K each

- Mission and motivation: expanding access to mentors and elevating the mentoring field through partnerships, resources, and tools

- Content and systems: launching a Podcast Engine and a daily goal-tracking tool to automate distribution and measure outreach, training, and content output

- Simplifying to execute: narrowing the art auction to 20–30 strong pieces, moving additional works online

- Donor strategy: securing pillar donors ($25K–$200K) to build early momentum and runway

- Daily disciplines: running, training, outreach, content creation, team building, processes, systems, and pitch decks

- Day 2 updates: interview with art curator/advisor Carrie Scott; reconnection with early supporter Nikki; emails to artists and major donors; branding help from a video game executive

- Radical transparency: sharing progress publicly for accountability and to inspire others

Notable Quotes

- “I’m calling my shot: by December 31st, I’m raising a million dollars.”

- “I want to elevate the space and the field of mentoring so that more young people have opportunities.”

- “I’ve always done things in silence. I’m attempting a new thing where I just share—because for me, it’s really about accountability.”

Resources & Mentions

- Stoked (Steve’s youth mentoring organization)

- Salama (co-founder, running the NYC Marathon with Steve)

- Carrie Scott (art curator and advisor)

- Nikki (early supporter of Stoked)

- Build a Growth (Steve’s agency)

- Podcast Engine (automated podcast redistribution tool in development)

- Goal-tracking tool (in development to measure outreach, content, training, etc.)

- NYC Marathon (November 6)

- Silent auction and art auction (fundraising events)

- “20 x $20K” fundraising challenge

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and calling the shot: $1M by year’s end

01:10 – The November 6 world record attempt and NYC Marathon plan

02:30 – Fundraising pillars: auctions, tickets, sponsorships, and 20 x $20K

04:00 – Why mentoring now: returning to Stoked and elevating the field

05:30 – Building systems: Podcast Engine and daily goal-tracking tool

07:00 – Simplifying the art auction for quality and focus

08:15 – Day 2: interview with Carrie Scott and outreach updates

10:00 – Pillar donor strategy and pitch development

11:30 – Daily disciplines and team processes

12:30 – Branding support from a video game exec and closing ask for feedback

If you’re following along, let Steve know what you’d like to see behind the scenes as he documents the journey daily.

Ready to join the community? Here's how you can connect with us:

Stay Connected:

@thelarosiliere

Get Involved with Stoke:

Transform lives through action sports and mentorship

stoked.org

Level Up Your Business:

Design with Purpose:

000: Empowerment Through Community and Purpose

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

In this introductory episode of the Been to the Mountain Top podcast, host Steve Larosiliere shares his journey from nonprofit founder to entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of community, mission, and purpose.

He discusses the podcast's intention to connect listeners with their own paths to success and empowerment while also documenting his personal journey.

Steve invites creatives, founders, and builders to join him in exploring the intersection of business, community, and personal growth.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Mountaintop Podcast

05:09 Connecting Mission and Purpose

10:33 The Power of Podcasting and Community

Ready to join the community? Here's how you can connect with us:

Stay Connected:

@thelarosiliere

Get Involved with Stoke:

Transform lives through action sports and mentorship

stoked.org

Level Up Your Business:

Design with Purpose: