Meet Nate LaBrusciano

 

We were lucky to catch up with Nate LaBrusciano recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nate, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?

Self-care has been a cornerstone of my life for quite some time. But that wasn’t always the case. I had a depressive episode in the beginning of college. It was a funk that was new to me and I didn’t know how to handle it. I had been having trouble falling asleep and not much could fix it. Between hanging out with friends, playing video games, grinding through school work, and working, a quiet futility lingered. Each day blended to the next as if nothing really mattered.
One night, while lying in bed I came across a video on YouTube about how it could help me sleep, so I gave it a shot; there was nothing to lose. The video’s background was filled with gentle sounds of a running stream. A bassy smooth voice instructed me to close my eyes and imagine I was sitting alongside a stream. I was suddenly taken to a stream where I grew up fishing with my uncle and grandfather. As I sat there, the voice mentioned envisioning a leaf floating down the river. Instead of trying to grab it or think about how it got there, the voice told me to just watch it. Then repeat that practice with another leaf, and another, and another. Soon I found myself in a state of trance, my limbs felt like boulders and wouldn’t budge. For the first time in months, I felt at peace. This became a nightly routine, learning to observe the leaf as it floats down the river. I later learned this was meditation.
Observing your thoughts without judgement and allowing them to pass, to ease the mind and make better informed decisions. It taught me how to recenter myself and truly appreciate the things around me, as simple as a leaf. Meditation has become an integral part of my daily ritual. While I do have my ebbs and flows, whenever I am feeling particularly overwhelmed, I find myself going back to my Headspace app to practice. This has waned a bit as a new parent, but I have begun to get back to it now that my daughter has somewhat of a routine.

Fitness is another core pillar of my self-care journey. I still remember the day that triggered it all. Back in high school, I weighed 200 pounds and was unhappy with how I looked and felt. I knew that if I stayed on that path, it would only lead to more dissatisfaction and potential health issues.

I started my fitness journey at a typical Globo gym near me and made a simple change by cutting out soda. That alone helped me drop 15 pounds pretty quickly. I stuck with that workout style throughout college, and a physically demanding summer job with 1-800-GOT-JUNK helped me get lean and healthy. But over time, traditional workouts started to feel boring and repetitive. Ironically, after making fun of a friend for getting “suckered” into CrossFit, I decided to give it a try and instantly fell in love. It became the longest training program I’ve ever stuck with.

I started in 2015, went on to coach for 7 years, managed marketing and social media for about 5 of those, and eventually built a small home gym setup. CrossFit didn’t just get me into the best shape of my life, it completely transformed my mindset around health, food, and the toxic beliefs we’re often taught growing up. Training first thing in the morning has become my daily reset button. It clears my head, sets the tone for the day, and keeps me grounded.
And then there’s journaling. For nearly eight years, I’ve journaled almost daily using the 5-Minute Journal. It’s a simple yet powerful practice that helps me define success each morning and reflect with intention at night. In the evening, I don’t just go over what went wrong—I look at challenges through a lens of growth and learning. And often, I rediscover small wins or moments of joy that might’ve been overshadowed by stress or distractions.

Together, these three practices, meditation, fitness, and journaling, are how I maintain balance in a world that’s constantly pulling us in a thousand directions. Meditation helps me stay grounded, present, and more attuned to the subtleties of life, whether it’s the sound of wind in the trees or a meaningful conversation. Fitness reminds me to lean into discomfort, to challenge myself, and to listen to my body, not just push through blindly, but to find that balance between strength and finesse. And journaling? It gives me clarity. It’s my anchor. In a world that demands everything five minutes ago, journaling helps me pause, set intentions, and remember what truly matters.
Self-care isn’t always glamorous. But for me, it’s essential. It’s how I show up better for myself, my family, and the world around me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My journey into video production began unexpectedly back in 2005, when I transferred high schools and needed to fill an elective. A friend recommended a “super easy” class called TV Production, and that one spontaneous decision changed the trajectory of my life. What started as a light-hearted way to earn credits quickly became a deep passion. The joy I felt creating short films, editing tape-to-tape (which I found absurd at the time), and collaborating with classmates never felt like work, it felt like purpose.

Though I didn’t initially see video as a viable career path, encouragement from my parents pushed me to follow that spark. I went on to study Radio/Television Production at Rider University, where I had the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, and truly fall in love with the craft. I created a Top Gear-inspired show (RU Geared Up) on campus and even got to ride in a McLaren MP4-12C and interview Adam Ferrara. This show went on to win Best Magazine Program with the National Broadcasting Society. I landed an internship with Center City Film & Video in Philadelphia. There, I had the unforgettable opportunity to pitch original show ideas to their VP of Development and work closely with their team. Even though none of the shows were picked up, the experience cemented my belief that storytelling could be more than a passion, it could be a career for me.

A pivotal moment came during the NBS Conference in 2014 when I spoke with an EMT who shared how film and television helped him cope with the trauma of his daily work. It was the first time I truly understood the emotional impact storytelling can have on people, not just as entertainment, but as a form of healing and hope. That moment continues to fuel the work I do today.

After college, I gained experience as a videographer and editor in the automotive industry before shifting into broader digital marketing roles. While I learned how to strategically integrate video with SEO, email, paid ads, and content marketing, I realized how far I’d drifted from my core passion. That realization, combined with a well-timed opportunity, inspired me to start my own video business.

Building my own brand came with challenges, especially after a back injury sidelined me for six months just as I was starting out. But since then, I’ve been fortunate to grow a fulfilling business rooted in meaningful work. I’m active in my local Chamber of Commerce, sit on the Young Professionals Committee, and have even been asked to serve as president of one of my networking groups.

At the heart of everything I do is the belief that video should help people, whether it’s informing, empowering, or simply connecting them to a deeper truth. I work with clients who are educators, healers, builders, and creators. One current client is a physical therapist whose videos educate those suffering from chronic pain. Another builds gardens to teach organic living and growing. One is a homesteader who overcame addiction through growing his own food. I don’t just produce content, I help amplify voices that are genuinely trying to make the world better.

On the creative side, I’m currently developing a documentary about that same homesteader, exploring his journey from addiction to recovery through gardening. I’m also working on a passion project inspired by my love for wildlife and macro photography. My friend once called me “NateGeo” because of my macro photography. That curiosity is becoming a larger concept: a video series that explores life on land and sea, where I interview experts and dive deep into the wonders of nature.

What excites me most about what I do is the impact, both seen and unseen. Whether it’s helping a business connect with their audience or shining a light on someone’s personal journey, storytelling has the power to entertain, educate, and heal. And that’s what drives me every single day.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities, skills, and knowledge that have been most impactful for me were:
1) Stay curious
2) Be outlandish
3) Create something

Stay Curious – Curiosity is a super power. It fuels lifelong learning, sharpens your ability to ask meaningful questions, and unlocks deeper, more authentic stories. It not only makes you a better storyteller — it makes you a better human. Curiosity keeps you growing, evolving, and connected to the world around you.

Be Outlandish – There is no reason in college that I should have been in a McLaren or interviewing Adam Ferrara. There was no reason I should have pitched TV shows while in college. Don’t let yourself be the one to tell you “no”, let it be someone else.
Create Something – Create, create, create. Whether it’s a short film, a test shot, or even the way you pour your coffee in the morning, just create. You don’t have to share it if you’re not ready. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress. Every attempt is an opportunity to learn, to grow, to make mistakes, and to discover creative solutions. The act of creating is where the real magic happens.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

It’s not a singular book, but Tim Ferriss has played a pivotal part in approaching how I learn and view the world. I own all of his books: The 4-Hour Work Week, The 4-Hour Body, 4-Hour Chef, Tools of Titans, and Tribe of Mentors. I’ve been a listener of his podcast since 2015. Over the years, through both listening and reading, I’ve learned to test and evaluate the insights I come across — picking and choosing what truly resonates and works for me. Here are some of my favorites from him and a few of his guests:

“…If I hadn’t had those bumps, I wouldn’t be me, and I’m glad I’m me” – Seth Godin

“What parameters have I set for myself that are limiting?”

“Lack of time is lack of priorities” – Tim Ferriss

“If more information was the answer, then we’d all be billionaires with perfect abs.” – Derek Sivers

“You only get lucky once, but in order to get lucky you need to be consistent.”

My 2025 mantra: “This feels hard because it is hard, not because I’m doing something wrong”

Contact Info:

Image Credits

All images are stills from my work. The Great Blue Heron photo is an image that I took as well.

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