Ep 16: Storytelling, Identity & the Art of Showing Up ft. Rob Kirkpatrick

Ep 16: Storytelling, Identity & the Art of Showing Up ft. Rob Kirkpatrick

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/fan_mail/new] What if the most valuable thing you bring to the table isn’t what anyone can see? In this episode, Dustin sits down with Rob Kirkpatrick — founder of Kirkpatrick Brands, veteran media professional, and one of Lafayette’s most trusted voices in strategic communications — for a conversation that moves from tulip fields in Amsterdam to the conference table, and everywhere in between.  Rob spent nearly two decades in television and radio, from Fox in Dallas to CNN in Atlanta, before coming home to Lafayette and building something that can’t quite be put in a box. And that, it turns out, is exactly the point. Like the tulip farmers who bulldoze the flower to protect the bulb, Rob’s built a career on the conviction that what’s underground — the relationship, the trust, the story — is always worth more than what’s on the surface. From losing both grandmothers nine days apart and finally stepping into therapy, to learning the difference between professional decisiveness and emotional availability at home, Rob gets honest about the gap between projecting confidence and actually living it. He unpacks what radical candor felt like for a Southern hospitality guy in a Silicon Valley startup, why he wishes he’d let himself be 22 and stupid a little longer, and what a farmer cutting open a tulip bulb in the Netherlands taught him about business, legacy, and the work no one ever gets to see. He also shares the family traditions that have quietly shaped his daughters — from New Music Tuesday to navigating airports at six years old — and the Acadian flag pin he gives away to anyone who compliments it, a little wink to his grandmother who did the same thing her whole life.  Faith. Family. Fulfillment. — this is The Elevation Room. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/support] YouTube: @TheElevationRoomPodcast IG: @TheElevationRoomPodcast FB: The Elevation Room Podcast

Ep 15: Slow Down to the Speed of Joy ft. Justin Hebert

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/fan_mail/new] What do you do when the thing your kid loves most gets taken from them in an instant? In this episode, Dustin sits down with Justin Hebert who is a registered dietitian, business development professional, cycling instructor, and Lafayette native, for a conversation that moves from nutrition and oil & gas to one of the most powerful stories of faith and fatherhood you'll hear this year. When Justin's 12-year-old son Grayson tore his ACL on a soccer field, Justin's instinctive response to his son's "why is this happening to me?" wasn't panic...it was purpose. "We've been preparing for this."  That moment became the foundation of everything that followed. Justin opens up about guiding Grayson through surgery, rehab, and the slow rebuild. Not just physically, but in faith, identity, and resilience. He shares how a phone call from a friend whose daughter had gone through the same injury months earlier completely shifted the family's perspective, how he challenged Grayson to see the injury as the opening line of his testimony, and why he believes the trials we walk through aren't detours, but are the story.  He also unpacks his philosophy on nutrition, whole-body health, and his new program Human Rewired, the random encounter in an Albertsons that landed the most important book in his hands, and the one piece of advice he keeps coming back to: slow down to the speed of joy.  Faith. Family. Fulfillment. This is The Elevation Room. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/support] YouTube: @TheElevationRoomPodcast IG: @TheElevationRoomPodcast FB: The Elevation Room Podcast

Ep 14: Identity, Surrender and Finding Your Why ft. Tim Miguez

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/fan_mail/new] What do you do when the thing you've poured your entire identity into is no longer where you're called to be? In this episode, I sit down with Timothy Miguez who is a husband, father, former basketball coach, and Louisiana native, for one of the most honest conversations yet about what it really means to let go.  Tim shares the moment he told his wife Kennedy he was done coaching, the anxiety attacks he suffered in silence, and the raw, late-night conversations that led him to finally ask: who am I without the thing I've always done? Spoiler: Kennedy already knew the answer. From grieving a coaching career he loved, to rediscovering his faith, rebuilding friendships, and stepping into a new season in sales, Tim's story is a masterclass in trusting God's timing over your own timeline. He also opens up about the books reshaping his thinking, the power of daily affirmations with his kids, and the family traditions (church and donuts, Chicken Sundays, and No Mercy UNO) that prove the best investment you'll ever make is the one happening right at your kitchen table. If you've ever felt the pressure to be more, do more, and prove more then this one is for you. Faith. Family. Fulfillment.  This is The Elevation Room. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/support] YouTube: @TheElevationRoomPodcast IG: @TheElevationRoomPodcast FB: The Elevation Room Podcast

Ep 13: He Beat Addiction and Stage 4 Cancer | Chad Bellelo’s Unbelievable Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/fan_mail/new] Chad Bellelo’s story is one of the most powerful we’ve heard. After years of hiding addiction, stealing from loved ones, and hitting rock bottom, Chad found hope through a faith-based recovery program. Just when life began to stabilize—business was thriving, and his family was good—he was hit with a devastating stage 4 cancer diagnosis. In this episode, Chad gets real about: * His 8-year battle with addiction and how Teen Challenge changed his life * The struggle to stay sober through relapses, divorce, and doubt * How he found lasting recovery through surrender and faith * What it felt like to hear, “You have stage 4 cancer” * The physical and emotional toll of chemo, surgery, and recovery * And the unexpected miracle that followed If you’ve ever questioned if it’s too late to turn things around, this episode will move you. Chad’s story is a testimony to resilience, redemption, and the grace of God—even in the hardest moments. Follow Chad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chad.bellelo [https://www.facebook.com/chad.bellelo] Check out his business page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063768631336 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063768631336] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/support] YouTube: @TheElevationRoomPodcast IG: @TheElevationRoomPodcast FB: The Elevation Room Podcast

Ep 12: God-Made, Self Driven w/ Dustin Bertrand

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/fan_mail/new] In this powerful episode of The Elevation Room, I sit down with missionary and evangelist Dustin Bertrand, who opens up about a story that’s as unexpected as it is inspiring. From discovering the truth about his birth to undergoing open-heart surgery in college, Dustin shares the deeply personal moments that shaped his identity and his calling. We talk about father wounds, racial identity, heartbreak, and the intense moments of surrender that led him into full-time ministry. His story will challenge you to trust God in the unknown, embrace your story—no matter how messy—and keep moving forward into your purpose. 🔑 Topics: * Identity, forgiveness, and healing * Finding purpose through pain * What seminary taught him (and why he left) * Living with discipline and walking in faith * Why “God sees more than I can see and knows more than I can know” became a personal lifeline This one’s full of real talk, deep insight, and encouragement for anyone feeling stuck, unseen, or unsure of where to go next. You’re not alone—and your story isn’t over. Connect with Dustin: IG: https://www.instagram.com/dustinbertrand7/ [https://www.instagram.com/dustinbertrand7/] FB: https://www.facebook.com/dustin.bertrand.505 [https://www.facebook.com/dustin.bertrand.505] Web: https://www.godmadeselfdriven.org/ [https://www.godmadeselfdriven.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNIqtRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFUUHJzbFMxeUx2RWZFejdxAR5OKxKxmpTHyahq3-V_W8IlaN559Dhu-R_kIGfCBc3urNmECsHSUlSg7nrvIg_aem_Ah6as3WGqYb0ke1f9UcakA] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2451213/support] YouTube: @TheElevationRoomPodcast IG: @TheElevationRoomPodcast FB: The Elevation Room Podcast