LEVELS – Inside the Company - podcast cover

LEVELS – Inside the Company

Levelslevels.link
Levels is a venture-funded health tech startup backed by some of the best venture capitalists in the game, including Andreesen Horowitz, and more than a thousand of our community members. In this podcast, we talk about our async and remote company, our culture and values, and what we build and learn along the way. Look for new shows every month. Connect with us: Become a Member: https://levels.link/itc Instagram: https://instagram.com/levels Twitter: https://twitter.com/levels LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/levels YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelsculture

Episodes

#55 - How chef Paul Canales' journey with CGMs changed the way he thinks about food | Paul Canales & Ben Grynol

For 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...

Jun 07, 202455 minEp 55Transcript available on Metacast

#54 - Startup Org design at 50+: Team leadership, setting objectives, coordination, & performance evals | Aaron Dignan & Sam Corcos

When overseeing a startup, a CEO needs a well-functioning organizational design. This helps evaluate the performance of the team, make sure functions are coordinating and executing efficiently, and communicate and set objectives. In this conversation, bestselling author of Brave New Work, Aaron Dignan, talks with Levels CEO, Sam Corcos. 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 w...

May 17, 20241 hr 12 minEp 54Transcript available on Metacast

#53 - Levels Member Story: Using a CGM surprised the Director of Sports Nutrition for the Miami Dolphins | John Parenti & Ben Grynol

This 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 fro...

Apr 26, 20241 hrEp 53Transcript available on Metacast

#52 - Non-technical SEO: How high-quality, standout content will always win | Nick Jordan, Mike Haney, & Ben Grynol

How do you “win” at the SEO game with content, landing pages, time-on-page, backlinks, and redirects—without getting technical? 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 lifestyle choices impact ...

Apr 12, 202451 minEp 52Transcript available on Metacast

#51 - Levels Member Story: A former fitness competitor’s IVF journey & what real health looks like | Sara Beemer & Ben Grynol

How 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...

Mar 29, 202456 minEp 51Transcript available on Metacast

#50 - Building a brand in the direct-to-consumer space | Nik Sharma & Ben Grynol

Branding 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 prov...

Mar 22, 202449 minEp 50Transcript available on Metacast

#49 - Levels Member Story: How recovering from a car accident helped her find health | Elena Schuber & Ben Grynol

While 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 stre...

Mar 01, 202444 minEp 49Transcript available on Metacast

#48 - How do you think about Growth? | Rachel Sanders & Ben Grynol

Figuring out the path to employee growth in a startup company requires experimentation and then execution. Rachel Sanders, CEO of Rootine, chatted with Ben Grynol to dig into our philosophy on team growth at Levels and how we think about it as a function within our growing company. 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...

Feb 09, 202457 minEp 48Transcript available on Metacast

#47 - Levels Member Story: Putting PCOS into remission & healing her relationship with food | Edie Horstman & Ben Grynol

Edie 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. Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/itc⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how f...

Jan 26, 202447 minEp 47Transcript available on Metacast

#46 - Treat people like adults | Sam Corcos, Josh Clemente & Mike Haney‪‬

Mike Haney sat down with Sam Corcos and Josh Clemente to discuss one of our key principles here at Levels: Treat People Like Adults. 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 lifestyle choices impact ...

Jan 05, 20241 hr 28 minEp 47Transcript available on Metacast

#45 - Levels Member Story: Alzheimer’s & dementia - Optimizing metabolic health to boost brain health | Emily Stong & Ben Grynol

Having 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 t...

Dec 29, 202346 minEp 45Transcript available on Metacast

#44 - Giving and Receiving FEEDBACK in a REMOTE-FIRST Work Environment | Ben Grynol & Michael Mizrahi

How 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...

Dec 08, 202356 minEp 44Transcript available on Metacast

#43 - Changing your mindset to "maybe" | Ben Grynol & Mike DiDonato

While 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: ⁠⁠⁠⁠htt...

Nov 17, 20231 hr 5 minEp 43Transcript available on Metacast

#42 - Levels Member Story: Self-love for weight loss - Making diet & exercise an easy, natural habit | Drew Manning, Fit2Fat2Fit

Weight loss and physical transformation are significantly more mental and emotional than we think; it goes beyond diet and exercise. Fitness trainer and creator of Fit2Fat2Fit Drew Manning talks about how self-love is the piece to focus on for natural habit changes that can bring physical change. 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 th...

Nov 03, 20231 hr 2 minEp 42Transcript available on Metacast

#41 – Principles of effective communication | Michael Mizrahi & Sam Corcos

Communication and communication platforms – specifically in a work setting – can lead to increased productivity, or can unfold as a distraction mechanism for urgency. Unfortunately, for most companies, the latter is often true. Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/itc⁠⁠ In a world of constant connection and notifications, the expectation around professional communication is often positioned as "the faster, the better". However, is it the platforms or the way ...

Oct 20, 202355 minEp 41Transcript available on Metacast

#40 - Levels Member Story: Prioritizing prevention & improving daily habits | Lauren & Ben Grynol

Deciding 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 Ul...

Oct 06, 202357 minEp 40Transcript available on Metacast

#39 - A lack of communication is a lack of performance | Josh Clemente & Sam Corcos

Every team must build trust and confidence with peers, but remote teams face a greater challenge because of the lack of face-to-face interaction. At Levels, we work to assume positive intent of our teammates, which supports our core value of “confidence is earned.” Both values are tied to work performance, and in order to build confidence and trust, a team member must do great work as well as learn how to communicate that work effectively, especially in a remote environment. Listen as Levels fou...

Sep 22, 202359 minEp 42Transcript available on Metacast

#38 - Levels Member Story: The difference between health and fitness | Cole Sager & Josh Clemente

It’s possible to be athletic and physically fit but metabolically unhealthy. Listen as Cole Sager, eight-time CrossFit Games athlete, and Josh Clemente, Co-Founder at Levels, discuss the distinction between physical fitness and holistic metabolic health, and Cole’s realization that his health wasn’t in great shape according to his bloodwork. Cole shares his experience as a sports enthusiast, Spirit of the Games awardee, and Levels member and his journey toward metabolic health. Cole and Josh tal...

Sep 08, 20231 hr 4 minEp 38Transcript available on Metacast

#37 - Pick priorities & stay mission-aligned: How to avoid “bikeshedding” | Sam Corcos & Ben Grynol

How many times do you get clear about your priorities, and then get distracted and focus on something completely unimportant because it feels productive? This is what we at Levels call “bikeshedding,” and here we talk about how it happens in companies, and how people can think in order to avoid it. 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...

Aug 25, 202345 minEp 37Transcript available on Metacast

#36 - Levels Member Story: How a CGM helped a seasoned registered dietician and her clients become more metabolically flexible | Julie Cottrell & Ben Grynol

Using a CGM helped a seasoned registered dietician understand what was going on inside her body, gain blood sugar control, and be metabolically flexible so she could further advise her clients looking for weight loss and energy management. 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 U...

Aug 11, 202350 minEp 36Transcript available on Metacast

#35 - You have the authority to avoid burnout while working at a startup | Josh Clemente, Tom Griffin, & Mike Haney

At a startup, you need to work hard. But burnout, stress, and overworking are the antithesis of productivity—and only you can use your self-awareness to push back to prevent burnout. 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. Loo...

Jul 28, 20231 hr 2 minEp 35Transcript available on Metacast

#34 - Levels Member Story: Vero's Transformational Weight Loss Journey through Metabolic Health | Vero Encinas & Sonja Manning

In this inspiring episode, Sonja Manning dives into the transformative journey of Levels Member Veronica ‘Vero’ Encinas. When Vero relocated to Germany, her life took a drastic turn, with cultural and lifestyle changes impacting her physical and emotional well-being. Looking for an outlet, she discovered Levels and connected with Sonja, finding solace and guidance. Vero embraced sustainable habits like cold water exposure and healthier breakfast swaps, resulting in increased energy, weight loss,...

Jul 14, 20231 hr 19 minEp 34Transcript available on Metacast

#33 - Equity Vesting Strategies and Incentives for Long-Term Employee Retention | Sam Corcos, Nicole Miller & Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi

Sam Corcos, Co-Founder and CEO of Levels, delves into the topic of equity vesting and its impact on company culture and employee motivation. In this episode, Sam sits down with Nicole Miller and Michael Mizrahi to explore various approaches to equity vesting, discuss the pros and cons of each strategy, and shed light on the concept of equity refreshers. Discover how companies can incentivize their early employees without creating a "golden handcuff" scenario and learn about innovative ...

Jun 30, 202329 minEp 33Transcript available on Metacast

#32 - Levels Member Story: Curiosity led Natalie Lumpkin down a path of monitoring her glucose and making life changes | Ben Grynol & Natalie Lumpkin

Levels 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...

Jun 16, 202355 minEp 32Transcript available on Metacast

#31 - Confidence is earned: How to win the trust of your coworkers | Josh Clemente & Mike DiDonato

Confidence and trust is earned from your coworkers through consistent communication and clear documentation, especially at a remote and async startup. Here’s how we encourage this process at Levels. 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 metab...

Jun 02, 202359 minEp 31Transcript available on Metacast

#30 - Levels Member Story: How Charlette improved her quality of life & found what foods work best for her with Levels | Charlette Plinneke & Ben Grynol

According to our Member Charlette Plinneke, Levels helped her find a better quality of life, discover what foods work best for her, and use CGM data to support her food and lifestyle changes. 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 he...

May 19, 202355 minEp 30Transcript available on Metacast

#29 - Finding open-mindedness and changing “no” to “yes” | Mike Haney & Ben Grynol

When 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), provid...

May 05, 202356 minEp 29Transcript available on Metacast

#28 - Building in Public: Transparency, Confidence, and Ownership | Sam Corcos & Mike DiDonato

At a startup, or any company for that matter, you have the choice to keep the business strategy and culture private… or you can build in public. Building in public inspires an environment of transparency and confidence for investors, employee recruitment, and customers. Levels’ Head of Success Mike DiDonato met with CEO Sam Corcos to discuss the benefits of Levels’ policy of building in public: It helps internal and external people feel good about the company through a strong culture of trust an...

Apr 21, 202319 minEp 28Transcript available on Metacast

#27 - Fight Burnout to Live a Balanced Life | Michael ‘Miz’ Mizrahi & Ben Grynol

Burnout 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 interna...

Apr 14, 202352 minEp 27Transcript available on Metacast

#26 - Executive Assistants and Why They Are a Force Multiplier for Our Team | Ben Grynol, Sam Corcos & Michael Mizrahi

Levels 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...

Apr 07, 20231 hr 6 minEp 26Transcript available on Metacast