Chris Barakat is an IFBB Pro Natural Bodybuilder, Coach, Researcher, Professor, and founder of Beyond Body Building.

The word we kept coming back to was "Resilience." Chris and his family went through the most insane trials and obstacles from 2021-2025 and their story of resilience and support is truly inspiring.

(00:00) Intro

(00:25) Coffee Talk

(3:30) Natural Body Building

(9:45) Earning the IFBB Pro Card

(15:30) Generics Are a Factor

(18:15) Trials and Obstacles in 2021

(21:15) Exercise Science Research

(23:00) River

(24:00) Becoming a Father and Return to Prep

(38:30) Broken Foot and Mold Toxicity in Prep

(44:45) Baby on Board and a Scare During Overseas Show

(50:15) Posing is an Art

(53:00) Was 2025 the Final Season?

(56:00) Rapid Fire

(1:03:00) Final Words of Advice

Find Chris Barakat:

⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

YouTube

Website:

⁠⁠Beyond Body Building⁠

Produced by:

⁠⁠⁠Palm Tree Content⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Mitchell⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Elevation Coffee Roasters

Tom Pestock, also known as WWE superstar Baron Corbin and currently going by Bishop Dyer, joins me today to talk about Coffee, Wrestling, Fatherhood, Going into Business together with Autonomy Coffee Lab, and so much more.

(00:00) Intro

(00:45) How We Met in Coffee

(02:00) I thought he was a Stunt Man

(3:15) WWE Highlights

(3:45) End of Days Never Kicked Out of?

(5:30) The Constable - Acting WWE GM

(8:30) NFL Days and Earning Your Way

(11:20) NFL-to-WWE

(13:00) Pottery and Ceramics

(18:15) Why Pursue Coffee?

(22:15) Open Air Coffee

(26:00) Being a Girl Dad

(32:00) Missing a Birth

(36:00) Girls will Change You

(40:00) Fostering a Creative Environment

(43:30) It's Not Easy! Don't Give Up

(47:30) Tom's Upcoming YouTube Channel

(50:00) Learning the Art of Cooking

(53:45) Future in Wrestling?

(54:35) What Would it take to go back to WWE?

(55:55) Reputation for Being Safe to Work With

(59:45) Hip-tossing Big Show

(1:00:15) Go-to Coffee Order

(1:01:45) Cortado > Flat White (Sorry, John Cena)

(1:02:10) Relationship with John Cena

(1:04:30) Deathrow Meal and Mom's "Egg Dish"

(1:08:15) Favorite Bottle of Wine

(1:10:45) Once-in-a-Lifetime Wine Event

(1:12:55) One Final Match (Dead and Alive)

(1:13:40) One Cup of Coffee (Dead or Alive)

(1:14:35) Final Words of Advice for Creatives

Find Tom Pestock on:

⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Autonomy Coffee Lab

Website:

Open Air Coffee⁠⁠

Produced by:

⁠⁠⁠Palm Tree Content⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Jonathan Mitchell⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Elevation Coffee Roasters

Kate Korsak is the author of The Vellichor Epic, a classic fantasy series inspired by Zelda and The Lord of the Rings! She loves all things fantasy, whimsical, and creative, and if there's a hobby you like, she's probably tried it. She spends her days in Tampa, Florida, world-building, collecting swords, and building LEGO with her husband (who is much better at it than she is).

Kate loves to stay at home where she has two cats, one dog, one husband, seven swords, twelve daggers, a Nintendo DSi, and more books than anyone could possibly read.

In addition to writing, Kate loves to make fantasy maps! She offers commissions to fellow authors, world-builders, and game masters and is happy to help bring their worlds to life! 

(00:00) Intro

(01:00) Coffee Talk

(02:15) I am a Writer

(3:15) Kate's 1st Book

(9:30) Curse of Ragoh and Finding the right Publisher

(14:15) Guardian comes to life

(17:15) Finding an Editor

(18:40) Writing Process

(26:00) Advice to Beginning Writers

(34:00) Crop Top Conspiracies

(35:45) New Book: Son of Saints (7/31/26)

(40:00) Audiobook Production Team

(45:30) Writing and Editing Son of Saints

(56:30) Cartography

(1:00:00) Is there a Korsak-verse?

(1:07:00) Created to Create

(1:07:30) Rapid Fire Swords

(1:11:30) Pirate Story in the Works?

(1:14:00) Favorite Book(s) of All-time

(1:16:15) Who would you share a cup of coffee with?

(1:17:30) Who would you love to give your book to?

(1:19:20) Final Words of Advice

Find Kate Korsak's Books:

Signed Copies

Gaurdian on Goodreads

Son of Saints of Goodreads

⁠⁠Instagram⁠

Website:

⁠Kate Korsak⁠

Produced by:

⁠⁠Palm Tree Content⁠⁠

⁠⁠Jonathan Mitchell⁠⁠

⁠⁠Elevation Coffee Roasters

Daniel Roebuck is one of the most iconic character actors of our time, with over 400 projects including Lost, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, The Fugitive, The Munsters, Matlock, River's Edge, Terrifier 3, U.S. Marshalls, The Late Shift, Agent Cody Banks, and basically every sitcom and TV show aired the last 30 years.

He is also a director, producer, writer, and owns his own production company with his amazing wife, Tammy Roebuck.

Shoot your shot. Say "YES!" the next role or opportunity that comes your way. And remember that every "no" or "your fired" is just a pivot in your journey. Daniel Roebuck is a prime example of this.

(00:00) Intro

(00:30) Lost - Dr. Leslie Arzt

(04:15) River's Edge

(7:15) Choosing Tampa and Bethlehem over LA

(10:00) How He Ended Up in Tampa

(11:15) Will We See More Filmed in Tampa?

(12:00) Coffee Talk

(18:30) Mentoring Actors

(21:00) Circus Clown Origin

(24:15) Created to Create

(25:10) A Nun's Encouragement

(29:15) Every "No" is a Pivot

(30:30) Raising Kids in Hollywood is Hard

(34:45) When You Do What You Love...

(40:45) Fired from Home Alone and Left at the Airport

(43:45) Blessing in Disguise?

(48:30) Munsters and Rob Zombie

(50:00) I Forget His Role in "9-1-1"

(52:00) A Channel of Peace

(54:25) Working with Your Spouse

(56:30) Creative Process

(58:25) Working with Your Daughter

(1:00:00) Nuns Gave Him Freedom to Create

(1:06:15) Take the Role and Work Within Your Confines

(1:08:15) Rapid Fire Questions

(1:10:00) Final Word of Advice for Creatives

Find Daniel Roebuck on:

⁠Instagram

IMDB

Facebook

Website:

Channel of Peace

Produced by:

⁠Palm Tree Content⁠

⁠Jonathan Mitchell⁠

⁠Elevation Coffee Roasters

Grace and Nathan Frey are the husband and wife duo behind the growing Leatherback Coffee Roasters.

From humble beginnings, to scaling a roasting business, they have a story that will inspire you to chase your dreams.

(00:00) Intro

(01:00) First Coffee Job

(01:45) First Mention of Nana

(03:00) Meet Cute

(04:30) Roasting Origin

(11:30) 2nd Nana Mention

(13:30) Taking the Leap

(15:13) Design Work

(17:25) Leaving a Job to Pursue Coffee Full-Time

(24:00) Instagram

(25:35) Day in the Roastery

(36:00) Forklift Incident

(38:30) Working with Your Spouse

(40:15) Nana Mention

(41:15) Roasters that Inspire Nathan

(48:30) Go-To Order and Playlists

(50:30) Most Memorable Cup and Hot Takes

(57:45) Final Word of Advice

Find them on IG:

Leatherback Roasters

Grace Frey

Nathan Frey

Website:

Leatherback Roasters

Produced by:

Palm Tree Content

Jonathan Mitchell

Elevation Coffee Roasters

My "Why" behind starting a Podcast.

Stories from creatives I have met, in and through Elevation Coffee Roasters, that will inspire you to chase your creative goals and dreams.

Please follow @elev8coffee and@jonathanc.mitchell for clips, info, and more coffee related content.