Episode 83

The Power of Mindset: Sam Lionelli’s Rise From Poverty to Success

Published on: 14th August, 2025

In this powerful episode of Beauty & The Brain, hosts Dr. Chris Croley and Jerry Drinkard sit down with Sam Lionelli — serial entrepreneur, founder of Combat Syndicate, and owner of multiple businesses — to share his raw, unfiltered story of resilience, grit, and success.

From a childhood marked by homelessness, instability, and adversity to building thriving businesses including a jiu-jitsu & MMA gym, a 24/7 weightlifting facility, and even an ice cream shop, Sam’s journey proves that your past does not define your future.


💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn:

  • How Sam overcame a turbulent upbringing to create financial and personal success
  • The role martial arts and self-defense training played in transforming lives — including bullied youth at risk of self-harm
  • Behind-the-scenes of The Blox reality entrepreneurship competition
  • Business lessons from starting a gym, a med spa, and other ventures with no formal business background
  • How mentorship, mindset, and persistence can change your life trajectory


🔗 Connect with Sam:

Instagram: @hobosam_ @combatsyndicate

Facebook: http://Facebook.com/samuel.lionelli

https://combatsyndicate.org


💬 Tell us in the comments: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your journey?

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About the Podcast

Beauty & The Brain®
A Deep Dive into Medical Aesthetics
Welcome to Beauty & The Brain, the podcast where we take a deep dive into the fascinating world of medical aesthetics! I'm Dr. Chris Croley, and I'm joined by my co-host Jerry Drinkard, a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Together, we co-own Skin & Tonic, a medical spa that's passionate about providing the latest and greatest treatments to help our clients look and feel their best.

We started this podcast out of our love for medical aesthetics and our desire to share our knowledge and insights with others. Every week, we'll be discussing new trends, sharing our thoughts on controversial topics, and keeping you up to date on the latest technology in the industry. But we won't just be talking to ourselves! We're excited to bring in experts and industry leaders to share their perspectives and insights with our listeners.

Our goal is to provide a podcast that's authentic, informative, and genuinely helpful for anyone who's interested in beauty and wellness. Whether you're a beauty enthusiast or a medical professional, we hope you'll tune in every week to learn something new and join us on this journey of discovery.

So, if you're ready to dive into the world of medical aesthetics, join us on Beauty & The Brain, and let's explore this fascinating industry together!