MIKE'D UP!

What if the platform you've been using casually is actually your most powerful growth engine? In this episode, Mike sits down with Eli Igra Serfaty, co-founder and CEO of MAIA Digital, one of the world's leading LinkedIn growth agencies. MAIA helps B2B founders and executives turn visibility into real trust, relationships, and revenue. With a background in venture capital and deep roots in Israel's startup ecosystem, Eli brings a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on how influence is actually built in today's professional world. Eli walks through his journey from venture capital at iAngels to founding MAIA Digital after spotting a critical gap: brilliant founders and executives were on LinkedIn, but they weren't truly using it. What began as a job-hunting platform has quietly evolved into one of the most powerful tools for credibility, connection, and long-term business growth, especially following Microsoft's acquisition, which fundamentally reshaped the ecosystem. This conversation goes far beyond tactics. Eli breaks down why visibility matters, why most people overthink posting, and how consistent, authentic engagement turns cold audiences into warm conversations. He explains what actually works on LinkedIn today, from content formats and storytelling to outreach strategies that build trust rather than burn bridges. You'll also hear practical guidance on using LinkedIn without letting it consume your life: what to do daily, weekly, and monthly to generate real returns. Eli shares why authenticity beats automation, why vulnerability builds stronger communities, and why playing the long game on LinkedIn pays off in ways most people underestimate. IN THIS EPISODE: ➡️LINKEDIN REIMAGINED: How the platform evolved from job board to trust-building growth engine ➡️VISIBILITY WITHOUT PERFECTION: Why consistency beats overthinking and polished personas ➡️OUTREACH THAT ACTUALLY WORKS: Turning cold connections into warm, human conversations ➡️AUTHENTICITY THAT COMPOUNDS: Building long-term influence through real engagement and community 📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY: LinkedIn success isn't about hacking the algorithm or posting more than everyone else; it's about showing up as a real human, consistently. When you stop treating LinkedIn like a sales tool and start using it as a relationship-building platform, trust compounds quietly, opportunities find you faster, and growth becomes a byproduct rather than the goal. 🚀 PERFECT FOR: Founders, executives, or professionals who know that LinkedIn works but aren't fully utilizing it yet. This episode offers a clear and grounded roadmap for building influence that actually lasts. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future Connect with Eli & MAIA Digital: Eli's LinkedIn MAIA Digital MAIA LinkedIn MAIA YouTube Connect with Mike: Linktree SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected] Copyright © 2026 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

In this powerful episode, Mike welcomes Katya Karlova, former corporate VP, resilience alchemist, author, and endometriosis advocate, for a conversation centered on transforming pain into purpose. Originally from Moldova and educated at UCLA and University College London, Katya spent 15 years in global talent management before a life-altering health journey redirected her calling. During the pandemic, Katya confronted chronic pain, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, eventually receiving a long-overdue diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women worldwide yet still widely misunderstood and misdiagnosed. She shares the emotional and physical toll of navigating a medical system that often dismisses women's pain, and the resilience required to continue advocating for answers. That experience became the catalyst for her debut book, Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power, and for her growing advocacy work supporting those living with trauma, chronic illness, and unseen suffering. Katya also opens up about body positivity, self-love, and reclaiming confidence, including her journey into boudoir modeling as a powerful form of healing and self-expression. With more than 500,000 social media followers, Katya discusses authenticity, censorship, bias against curvy women, and the challenge of balancing vulnerability with empowerment online. Recognized as one of Womenpreneur Magazine's Top 20 Empowering Women, her story is a compelling testament to resilience, leadership through empathy, and the transformative power of gratitude. IN THIS EPISODE: ➡️ THE DIAGNOSIS FIGHT: Katya's years-long battle to be diagnosed with endometriosis ➡️ MEDICAL GASLIGHTING EXPOSED: How women's pain is dismissed inside the healthcare system ➡️ PAIN INTO POWER: The personal crisis that sparked Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power ➡️ THE POWER OF POSITIVE BODY IMAGE: Katya's journey into the world of boudoir modeling ➡️ IMPACT THROUGH AUTHENTICITY: Building a global community by leading with truth and vulnerability 📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY: True healing often begins the moment you stop questioning your pain and start trusting your voice. Katya's story reminds listeners that self-advocacy is not confrontation; it's self-respect, and it can be the turning point that changes everything. 🚀 PERFECT FOR: Those living with chronic pain or searching for answers to unexplained health symptoms, as well as anyone who has felt dismissed or unheard within the healthcare system. Katya's story is also perfect for leaders and professionals seeking to transform personal adversity into purpose-driven impact. Ultimately, this conversation is for anyone looking for hope, resilience, and meaning in the midst of life's most difficult seasons. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Invisible Pain, Unstoppable Power Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Womenpreneur The Endometriosis Association Endometriosis Foundation of America Connect with Katya: Website Instagram Facebook X Connect with Mike: Linktree SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected] Copyright © 2025 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

In this episode, Mike takes listeners behind the scenes of a few of MIKE'D UP's most impactful moments of 2025—a year defined by resilience, truth, healing, courage, and unapologetic self-belief. From life-altering diagnoses to near-death experiences, from entrepreneurship's darkest days to moments of profound clarity, this episode stitches together the stories that didn't only inspire—but changed lives. You'll hear from guests who refused to accept limits, questioned what they were told was "impossible," and chose purpose over fear. These conversations aren't motivational fluff, they're lived experiences from people who stepped into the arena, endured the pain, and came out transformed. This episode isn't only a recap. It's a challenge. A challenge to rethink what's possible. A challenge to stop playing small. A challenge to enter 2026 with clarity, courage, and conviction. If you've ever questioned your purpose, doubted your path, or wondered whether it's too late to change, this episode is your reminder that you're only getting started. IN THIS EPISODE: 🧠 Defying Diagnoses & Rewriting the Rules: Stories of healing and belief beyond medical limitations. 💥 Resilience in the Face of the Impossible: Turning pain into purpose 🦁 The Courage to Step Into the Arena: Entrepreneurship, failure, and why walking away may be the right move. 🎯 Purpose, Legacy & the Final Scorecard: What truly matters when the noise fades and how to live without regret. 📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY: Across every story in this recap, a powerful pattern emerges: the people who changed their lives didn't wait for permission, proof, or perfect conditions. They moved forward with belief before the evidence showed up. Whether it was refusing a diagnosis, choosing joy while dealing with chronic pain, walking away from a business that no longer fit, or redefining greatness on their own terms…each guest trusted their inner voice over external noise. 🚀 PERFECT FOR: Anyone standing at a crossroads—personally, professionally, or emotionally—and looking for clarity, courage, and conviction heading into the new year. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Tapping Solution App Joy Through the Journey: Shift Your Mindset, Embrace the Present Moment, and Cultivate Resilience Through Life's Ups and Downs Previous Episodes Mentioned in This Recap: Kaley Z: Heal Your Body With Your Mind! – YouTube Link Amberly Lago: Finding JOY Through the Journey – YouTube Link Gail Jones — Beyond a Statistic: Real Stories of Teens & Young Adults Redefining Themselves – YouTube Link Jeremy Joerger — Lessons Learned from a Blue Collar CEO – YouTube Link Michael Anthony — Life is Dope! – YouTube Link Kurt Avery — How One Mission Has Transformed 30 Million Lives in 80+ Countries – YouTube Link Connect with Mike: Linktree SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected] Copyright © 2025 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

This week Mike sits down with entrepreneur Chuck Cuda—a man who transformed a life-altering setback into a multimillion-dollar comeback. Chuck's journey begins with a single decision that landed him in prison after he refused to testify against friends in an illegal sports-betting case. But it was in a prison cell on Thanksgiving Day where he experienced the wake-up call that reshaped his entire life. From that moment, accountability became his superpower. Chuck rebuilt everything from the ground up. He went on to close over $200 million in commercial real estate deals, mastering the fundamentals of discipline, prospecting, and relationship-driven success. His ambition then carried him into the fast-evolving cannabis industry, where he expanded an operation from 5 to 22 licenses across three states—turning major financial challenges into profitability. Driven by purpose, Chuck also shares his passion for philanthropy, inspired by his father's battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Through the OPES Charitable Foundation, he has helped raise more than $3 million for cancer research. His daily affirmations, leadership philosophy, and belief in limitless potential offer a blueprint for anyone looking to rebuild their life or elevate their mindset. IN THIS EPISODE: 🔥 THE TURNING POINT: The moment behind bars that sparked Chuck's transformation 🏢 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE: How Chuck rebuilt his career, closing over $200 million in deals 🌱 A BOOMING CANNABIS OPERATION: Bringing a struggling business back to profitability 🎗 LEADERSHIP FUELED BY PURPOSE: Breaking down Chuck's passion for cancer research 📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY: Beyond the business wins and the comeback story, Chuck's story shows that your mindset is the engine behind every transformation. His daily affirmations, his refusal to stay defined by past mistakes, and his belief that "limitless potential is available to anyone willing to do the work" serve as a powerful reminder: your success begins the moment you decide to believe in yourself more than your circumstances. 🚀 PERFECT FOR: Anyone hungry for growth—entrepreneurs, leaders, and ambitious professionals seeking real-world inspiration and strategic mindset shifts. It's especially powerful for those rebuilding after setbacks, navigating high-stakes industries like real estate or cannabis, or looking to lead with purpose and resilience. If you're driven to level up, give back, and believe your story isn't finished, this conversation will hit home. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Ego Strength Book Opes Charitable Foundation Website Green Tie Gala Connect with Chuck: LinkedIn Chuck's Website Connect with Mike: Linktree SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected] Copyright © 2025 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]

In this inspiring episode, Mike sits down with Adam Mizel, co-founder of US United, to explore how real national healing starts with one simple idea: choose positivity, then pass it on. After leaving a 20-year private equity career, Adam dedicated himself to bridging America's divides through service, storytelling, and connection. He shares how the Sheriff Unity Network, now active in over 100 counties, is quietly strengthening communities by addressing issues like mental health, addiction, homelessness, and everyday public trust—often in ways most people never see. Adam brings this mission to life through powerful stories of conversations with people across the political spectrum, revealing a truth often lost in headlines: most Americans want unity far more than conflict. He and Mike also spotlight National Unity Day (December 13th) and its two simple, transformative actions—Make the Call to reconnect with someone you've drifted from, and Change the Algorithm by flooding social media with positive content. This episode is more than a conversation—it's an invitation. If you want a more compassionate, connected America, start with one action today: reach out, lift someone up, and be the spark your community needs. IN THIS EPISODE: 💼➡️🤝How Adam Built a Movement for American Unity 🚓🌍 Inside the Sheriff Unity Network: Unsung Leaders Strengthening Communities 🗣️💡 When Conversations Change Everything: Real Stories That Break Through the Divide 🗓️✨ National Unity Day: Two Simple Actions That Can Reconnect a Nation—Starting With You 📘 BONUS TAKEAWAY: The fastest way to shift the energy in a divided environment isn't through debate, it's through small, consistent acts of positivity. Adam explains that kindness is chemically contagious; when you perform even one positive action, you trigger an emotional chain reaction that uplifts you, the recipient, and anyone who witnesses it. In other words, unity scales through tiny moments that feel insignificant but have massive ripple effects. 🚀 PERFECT FOR: Anyone craving more connection and less division in their community, workplace, or family. It's a powerful listen for leaders, creators, and change-makers searching for practical, nonpolitical ways to inspire unity, as well as those interested in personal growth, mindset shifts, and the science of positivity. It's also ideal for anyone overwhelmed by the constant negativity of the news and social media who wants to be part of something constructive and hopeful. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: US United Website National Unity Day US United Social Channels US United Sign the Pledge & Donate Connect with Adam & US United: LinkedIn Connect with Mike: Linktree SPONSORS: Social Chameleon | Transform Your Podcast AFFILIATES: Libsyn: First Month FREE with Promo Code BEGREAT Riverside | This interview was recorded on Riverside Want to become a show sponsor or affiliate? Email [email protected] Copyright © 2025 Mike'D Up! with Mike DiCioccio | For permission to use this content in any way, please email [email protected]