In this episode of the Been to the Mountain Top Podcast, host Steve Larosiliere interviews his podcast producer Gunce Akpinar.

They discuss Steve's current projects, the pressures he faces, and the importance of mental resilience in training for a marathon.

The conversation also touches on themes of collective liberation, community impact, and reflections on life and legacy, culminating in details about an upcoming event.

Takeaways

• Gunce has been working with Steve for two and a half years.
• Steve runs an agency and a design-build firm.
• He is preparing for the New York City Marathon.
• The importance of mental resilience in training is emphasized.
• Collective liberation is a key theme in Steve's philosophy.
• Steve reflects on the impact of community and relationships.
• The conversation highlights the pressures of leadership.
• Steve shares insights on life and legacy after attending a funeral.
• Training for a marathon parallels the pressures of life.
• Gunce discusses the importance of structure in training and life.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:48 Current Projects and Pressures

05:53 Training and Mental Resilience

08:27 Collective Liberation and Community Impact

11:41 Reflections on Life and Legacy

18:55 Conclusion and Event Details

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

@stokedorg

stoked.org

https://worldrecord.stoked.org/

Level Up Your Business:

buildergrowth.io

Design with Purpose:

purposedesignbuild.com

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:

Follow the Journey:

@thelarosiliere

Get Involved with Stoke:

Transform lives through action sports and mentorship

@stokedorg

stoked.org

Level Up Your Business:

buildergrowth.io

Design with Purpose:

purposedesignbuild.com

You can connect with Libby at:

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

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:

Follow the Journey:

@thelarosiliere

Get Involved with Stoke:

Transform lives through action sports and mentorship

@stokedorg

stoked.org

Level Up Your Business:

buildergrowth.io

Design with Purpose:

purposedesignbuild.com