Today we’d like to introduce you to Side X Side Podcast (Brandon, Cody, Dimari) Rizzo, Huelster, Swanagain.
Hi Side X Side Podcast (Brandon, Cody, Dimari), so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
About 11 years ago Brandon and Dimari met randomly through a job and a coincidental conversation that led to a friendship filled with creative collaboration. The first time we ever hung out to make music together we debated about all the topics we cover on the podcast. We knew it was the beginning of something special. Through our 11 years of friendship, we’ve lived in different cities. At one point Dimari was in NYC and Brandon in LA, but our friendship remained. During the pandemic, while Brandon was living in Austin, Dimari traveled to spend a weekend there and decided to move down to the great state of Texas (something Dimari had been considering for quite some time). When we reunited and finally lived in the same city for the first time in about a decade, we talked about doing some projects together again. One of the things we wanted to do was create the magic of conversation and storytelling through a podcast format, but with other people. Just like that first night hanging out some 11 years ago, we wanted to share the special conversations we have with the world by facilitating them for others. Not just others but strangers like we once were! Dimari introduced Brandon to Cody in 2020 and the three of us launched Eleusis Media Group to embark on a journey of creating content. We want to create a place where we can have these kinds of conversations, produce various forms of content, and make magic that inspires people, brings them together rather than divides, and hopefully transforms the way people think and live. Side x Side Podcast is our first project and we have enjoyed every second of it!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our greatest challenge is balancing our business lives while devoting time to grow the podcast organically. It has been challenging, considering we are not natives of Austin. We really want to make a splash on the local scene and become a premier media company by shining a light on local Austinites allowing them to share their unique stories.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When we are not working on growing the podcast, Brandon manages a portfolio of real estate locations in the metro-Austin area focused on fostering hospitality and community.
Cody Huelster creates content for a Financial Education company. Additionally, he runs a small business developing customized websites for small to mid range companies enhancing their online visibility through proprietary search engine optimization tools.
Dimari runs a boutique tele-financial planning firm helping young professionals, small business owners, and pre-retirees navigate through the ever-changing landscape of retirement planning with a strong emphasis on tax diversification.
What were you like growing up?
Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Dimari first began writing and recording songs at age 11. Although his love for music started much earlier being exposed to soul and R&B, he later came to appreciate and find inspiration from many other genres. He currently releases music through iDream Chase Ent. LLC and is ½ of music duo MY5TC ™. He moved to New York City shortly after receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Economics from Roosevelt University. In NYC, he spent time recording hip-hop and building his personal financial services firm Black Swan Financial Group, LLC where he serves as President. In Brooklyn he adopted his best friend, his dog; Ludo. They spent 8 years there before moving to Austin, TX to form a media company with his powerhouse partners Brandon Rizzo and Cody Huelster. Eleusis Media Group, LLC was an idea that was conceived from within from The Creator. Brandon and Dimari are simply the conduits to bring this information to a unique audience while Cody serves in a supporting role.
Since 19, Dimari has been interested in understanding how the material world corresponds to the spiritual word. This pursuit of knowledge and understanding has led him to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, mysticism, ancient civilizations, and esoteric philosophy. With this venture he hopes to produce content that will plant new ideas into the minds of the viewers while challenging their preconceived biases on various topics ranging from politics to finance, religion to food, culture to relationships and much more. Dimari is the Co-Host of Side x Side Podcast, the first project released by Eleusis Media Group, LLC.
Brandon Rizzo’s love for content creation started as a boy when he began playing the drums in elementary school. Beginning at a young age, he taught himself multiple instruments and started experimenting with early DAW/loop-based recording software to create music on his family computer. A determined autodidact, he developed his own music style influenced by his favorite artists and began creating his own music.
It was this passion and determination that propelled him into a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional artist-producer and businessman. He has cultivated a life of meaningful work and unique professional experience. A career that spans music production, performance, commercial, and film scoring, to working as a multi-unit business operator and entrepreneur.
His past music projects include the band Fly Phoenix, various commercial projects, various recording artist features, and FND Films. He releases music under the artist “Rizzo” (@RIZZOfeels) and is half of the music duo MY5TC.
Brandon graduated from Columbia College Chicago and as a business professional, has worked for two of the world’s most admired brands at Apple and WeWork. He was part of the founding team that launched an innovative and critically acclaimed food concept called PBJ.LA in one of the hottest and toughest restaurant cities in the world (Los Angeles, CA).
Now he sets his sights on his most ambitious project yet, to found a new media company called Eleusis Media Group, LLC, with his partners Dimari Swanagain and William Huelster. Inspired by a mutual pursuit of mystery, learning, growth, and discovery, Brandon hopes that EMG will bring about a content-creating hub akin to the mysterious city of the Ancient World.
Through this endeavor, he hopes to create profound experiences through storytelling that help open minds and unite people from all walks of life. Brandon is the co-host of the Side x Side Podcast, the first project under Eleusis Media Group, LLC.
Cody Huelster is a Texas Native who has made a name for himself in the tech space. As an entrepreneur in the digital realm, he has successfully launched multiple e-commerce companies as well as other online businesses. Cody is a driven professional who is passionate about helping his clients grow their presence online. As a technology native, he continues to stay on the cutting edge of technology, fully embracing the adoption of crypto and blockchain tech, and is continually looking for new applications.
Cody is a born communicator and has never met a stranger. He’s passionate about connecting with new people and having a meaningful dialogue. His role on the Side X Side Podcast allows him to serve in a supporting role, leveraging his technical prowess, but also as a resident guest, participating in constructive dialogue.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sidexsidepodcast.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sidexsidepod
- Facebook: facebook.com/eleusismediagroup
- Twitter: twitter.com/sidexsidepod
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCAlR25OQF6KYN_d_bJ0Q3QA
Image Credits
Travis Lilley Diego Henriquez Isaac Rodriguez
