On this episode of Born or Made, we chat with Steven Himmel. Steven is a VC with Vanterra Funding, but he's not just your average VC. Steven is also an incredibly talented artist who creates and invests outside of the box.  We discuss the different forms of raising capital, needs for a pitch, what they look for in businesses/founders they invest in, and we even dive into current market trends! Steve shares with us SO MANY amazing tips on being an entrepreneur and what matters most to him as a VC.  We also discuss what Steven sees in the health and wellness industry and as always, he lets us know if he's Born or Made! Learn more about Steven and VAF here: https://www.vanterra.com/ Follow Mike: @MichaelChernow Follow Born or Made: @bornormadepodcast Sign up for KreaturesofHabit.com

Joe De Sena is the founder and CEO of Spartan. He ran 50 ultra-marathons in one year and is an absolute savage in all that he does. It was awesome to dive into the mindset and foundations of someone who's been able to instill such a culture within his company and all that they do, something I continually aspire to do.  In this episode, we talk about raising kids, proactivity vs. reactivity, getting invaluable lessons through unlikely sources, the driving force of entrepreneurs, staying motivated, and what it means to be a hunter-gatherer compared to a farmer.  I hope you guys enjoy this episode as much as I did! Joe, thanks again, my brother. It's always a pleasure!  Sign up for Kreatures of Habit: www.kreaturesofhabit.com Follow Joe: @realjoedesena Follow Mike: @michaelchernow

Ryan Serhant is an American real estate broker, author, and television personality. He currently stars on Bravo's television series Million Dollar Listing New York and its spin-off Sell it Like Serhant. Ryan has recently opened his own real estate company and brokerage, Serhant, and continues to expand his business into various verticals. Make sure to check out his new book Big Money Energy!  This podcast was absolutely legendary! What an honor it was to dive into the thought process and habits of such an incredibly successful entrepreneur such as Ryan. This dude seriously does not stop, full throttle, all the time.  In this podcast, we go through the willingness to sacrifice, selling through confidence, knowing when to pull the plug and say no, building your personal brand and brand awareness, the power of relationships, Ryan's prediction on the shift of the marketplace, and so much more!  There really is so much value for you guys here, and I can't thank Ryan enough for being apart of the podcast. I hope we can get together again soon my brother! Stay tuned till the end to hear if Ryan thinks he is "born or made"!  Sign up for Kreatures of Habit: www.kreaturesofhabit.com Follow Ryan: @ryanserhant Follow Mike: @michaelchernow

Emily Stockman is a professional beach volleyball player, a 2 time All-American, and a member of the US National Team competing in next year's Olympic Games. In this episode, we discuss her transition from indoor to beach volleyball and the struggles that came with that, fear and finding love for it, living to be the best you can be through speaking that into life, leading by example compared to leading with your words, recovery and nutrition, and wanting to be the best while still ensuring love is always present. This was an epic episode, and I'm so stoked to share it with you guys. Emily is a freakin' badass. Be sure to follow along in July for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Emily, we're all cheering you guys on. Keep killing it.   Make sure to follow the show on Instagram @bornormade, and follow Michael at: Twitter: @MichaelChernow Instagram: @michaelchernow Facebook: @MichaelPChernow LinkedIn: @McChernow

Leland is an old friend and inspirational businesswoman who has dipped her toes in so many things throughout her career. She is the co-founder of Azione, a PR and Communications firm that's helped build brands like Away, Sakara Life, Summersalt, Kosas, Equinox, Simplehuman, HOKA, and Stance. They've gone against the grain, taking a proactive approach to PR. In this episode, Leland and I talk about growing up in NYC, the importance of relationships, being a doer, using fear to help you take the leap, and the ability to understand your shortcomings. This was such an epic episode, and I couldn't be happier with the value that came out of this convo. Thanks again Leland, it was an honor. I hope you guys continue to absolutely crush it. Make sure to follow the show on Instagram @bornormade, and follow Michael at: Twitter: @MichaelChernow Instagram: @michaelchernow Facebook: @MichaelPChernow LinkedIn: @McChernow

Race is a two-time Olympian foil fencer and Olympic bronze medalist. Race Imboden made his international competition debut at the age of 16, winning a bronze medal at the 2010 World Fencing Championships. Since then, he’s won over 50 medals across team and individual competitions, including bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Race was the First American Male to win the Fencing FIE World Cup and led Team USA to a historic first-ever World Championship Title in 2019. In this conversation, Race and Michael discuss being the dude and how that lends to being your own roadblock, honing your craft, searching for knowledge but not always direction, trusting your gut, and how important it is to find the ability to celebrate the moments leading up to the wins in life, rather than only focusing on the wins themselves.  I'm so honored to have had the opportunity to have this conversation with a World Champion and hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did. Make sure to follow the show on Instagram @bornormade, and follow Michael at: Twitter: @MichaelChernow Instagram: @michaelchernow Facebook: @MichaelPChernow LinkedIn: @McChernow

Henry Cejudo is a retired American mixed martial artist and wrestler. He is the former UFC flyweight champion, UFC bantamweight champion, the fourth UFC fighter to hold titles in two different weight classes simultaneously, and the second to defend titles in two different weight divisions. During his wrestling career, Cejudo won an Olympic Gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, a Pan American Games Gold medal, three Pan American Championships, and two US National titles. In today's episode, we discuss connecting the mind, body, and science altogether, gratitude, pain tolerance, mental strength and its relation to risk, and connecting the heart and the ability to become the 1% of the 1%.  It was an absolute honor to speak with such a legend, and I hope we can do it again. Thanks again @henry_cejudo, you're the fucking man. Enjoy peeps! Make sure to follow the show on Instagram @bornormade, and follow Michael at: Twitter: @MichaelChernow Instagram: @michaelchernow Facebook: @MichaelPChernow LinkedIn: @McChernow

Vincent Fisher is a best selling author and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience.  He's had multiple 7 and 8 figure businesses and through his company Fully Accountable, he helps entrepreneurs grow and scale their businesses to the max. Vincent is incredibly passionate about leadership and that growing the culture of a company will lead to true success. In this conversation Vinnie and Michael break down the importance of culture at every organization, and how it can make or break the growth of any company. Plus, the need for accountability and self awareness for every leader in order to give every employee the ability and support to grow.  Vince has hooked up the Born Or Made audience with some exclusive gifts at Fullyaccountable.com/promos/bornormade. Make sure to follow the show on Instagram @bornormade, and follow Michael at: Twitter: @MichaelChernow Instagram: @michaelchernow Facebook: @MichaelPChernow LinkedIn: @McChernow

Lauren Abney and Stephanie Biegel are on a mission to empower listeners to live their best lives with Well Behaved Podcast. They met each other on the job a decade ago, and have been besties ever since. They are a yin and yang duo that deliver fun uplifting knowledge on wellness and living the life you're supposed to.  With full time gigs in the corporate world and entrepreneurial space, Lauren and Steph have stepped into their power by cultivating a community and empowering listeners to find what works for their personal wellness journey.  This conversation is all about using your strengths and embracing that achieving the perfect work/life balance may not be possible, but there are small changes you can make within your life to accomplish mental/phsyical wellness. Also, that it's ok to pivot because what gets you somewhere does not always have to be why you stay. Make sure to follow the show on Instagram @bornormade, and follow Michael at: Twitter: @MichaelChernow Instagram: @michaelchernow Facebook: @MichaelPChernow LinkedIn: @McChernow

Adam Bossie is the cofounder and CEO of Afficionado Coffee Roasters, but he wasn't always a coffee connoisseur. Like many entrepreneurs he played in many fields and started various businesses. It was during his full time gig as a financial analyst and compliance associate that he became disillusioned and yearned to return his entrepreneurial roots. That's when he decided to quit his day job and pursue his passion of coffee roasting . He started roasting coffee on his mom’s bbq on the weekends and peddling it at local farmers markets in New Jersey. Eventually, Adam struck out and traveled to the places coffee grows and fell in love with the culture, the craftsmanship, and the unparalleled hospitality he experienced across Africa and Central & South Americas. After forming relationships with these local farmers Afficianado Coffee Roasters began it's journey. Today Adam oversees daily operations of Afficionado and acts as the company's lead visionary. He tells Michael about his family roots in entrepreneurship and how his parents influenced him in that mindset. Plus, his formula for success by way of failure and passion for what you do.  Make sure to follow the show on Instagram @bornormade, and follow Michael at: Twitter: @MichaelChernow Instagram: @michaelchernow Facebook: @MichaelPChernow LinkedIn: @McChernow