Podcasts about buy american

The struggle is real, but so is the strength that emerges from it. This raw, unfiltered episode takes you behind the scenes of entrepreneurship when everything that can go wrong, does.Windsor Fair season brings both celebration and chaos as we mark my daughter Paisley's first birthday while simultaneously dealing with our third consecutive year of vehicle disasters at this event. The bus is leaking brake fluid faster than I thought possible, the shifter linkage disconnected, and we're stranded at the fairgrounds with inventory to move and a business to run.Production nightmares preceded our arrival when vendors missed deadlines and shipping companies split orders, forcing late nights and impossible schedules. Upon arrival, we discovered our vendor location had been moved, reinforcing that age-old business wisdom that location truly is everything when you're selling at fairs.What's remarkable isn't just the string of challenges – it's the resilience that develops when facing them repeatedly. The all-female crew of my mother, wife, and baby daughter are currently running our booth while I handle production and repairs, proving that family businesses survive through adaptability and teamwork.Despite everything, opening day sales nearly doubled compared to last year, reinforcing my belief that sometimes the universe tests us most severely right before breakthrough moments. When you've reached the point where your back is against the wall, sometimes all that's left is faith that this too shall pass.Whether you're an entrepreneur facing similar challenges or just someone who appreciates authentic stories of perseverance, this episode reminds us all that finding strength in struggle isn't just motivational poster material – it's the daily reality for those building something meaningful against the odds.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Ever feel like you're putting everything into your business only to fall short of expectations? That's exactly where I found myself at the Skowhegan Fair this year. After days of watching people walk past my booth, enduring stretches of 5-6 hours without a single sale, I had to make a critical mental shift that entrepreneurs rarely talk about: redefining what success looks like mid-journey.When my original sales goals became clearly unattainable, I set new targets that would still represent meaningful progress rather than defeat. Fighting for every sale, I managed to hit my adjusted goal by exactly $50 in the final minutes of the fair's last day. This wasn't the triumph I'd initially imagined, but it taught me something profound about entrepreneurial resilience.The most valuable outcome wasn't financial at all, but the people I met – particularly Isaiah, an 18-year-old with exceptional work ethic who approached business with remarkable discipline. "For every hour I spend having fun," he told me, "I'll do one thing I don't want to do to build my business." His perspective was exactly the inspiration I needed while navigating my own challenges.As I prepare for the Windsor Fair and eventually Fryeburg (my season's biggest event), I'm facing serious inventory challenges and supplier delays. I've had to make tough decisions, including canceling a planned event to better position myself for success where it matters most. These choices reflect a maturing business perspective – understanding that courage isn't making one dramatic leap but taking consistent small steps forward despite fear and uncertainty.If you're fighting for your own business dreams right now, remember that perseverance often looks less like heroic victories and more like quiet determination to simply take the next step. Check out our American-made products at loudproudamerican.com and share your own entrepreneurial journey with us on social media!If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

In this eye-opening episode of the Govcon Giants Podcast, I sit down with Peter Harrell, former White House official and global trade expert, to break down what every small business owner, importer, and government contractor needs to understand about today's shifting economic landscape. We talk about the real impact of Trump's aggressive trade tactics—like imposing 145% tariffs with zero notice using 1977 emergency powers—and how small resellers and Amazon sellers are unknowingly taking massive financial hits. Peter explains how sanctions work (yes, even you could break one), what's happening with crypto regulations, and why stablecoins are becoming serious contenders in U.S. financial policy. We also dig deep into how the current administration might not spend all of its allocated federal funds, what that means for contractors, and why we could see a return of earmarks—yes, earmarks!—as Congress fights back. If you're in the federal marketplace or thinking about jumping in, this is a must-listen. Get ready to learn why keeping clean records could entitle you to tariff rebates, why Buy American could be your golden ticket, and how manufacturing incentives could create the next wave of small business opportunities. This isn't just policy talk—it's survival tactics for navigating the new economy.

Sometimes the hardest moments reveal our greatest blessings. From the comfort of my wife's camper instead of the school bus I planned to sleep in, this episode takes you on the raw, unfiltered journey of a small business owner fighting for survival at the Skowhegan State Fair.What does it feel like to open your booth in 95-degree heat, wait five hours for your first sale, and end a 10-hour day with just $120 in your pocket? I'm holding nothing back as I share the mental battle between the demon whispering "give up" and the angel reminding me why I started. Every entrepreneur knows this struggle—watching your savings dwindle while bills pile up and wondering if you're crazy for believing in your dream.But amidst this struggle, unexpected blessings emerge. Friends driving hours to transport my camper without being asked. My 18-year-old new friend Isaiah working the night shift at a dairy farm, then volunteering at my booth during the day. When a young man with a severe cut stumbles through the fairgrounds, Isaiah's EMT training proves more valuable than the actual first responders who arrive late and unhelpful.This episode evolved in real-time over two recording sessions, allowing you to hear my optimism in the morning transform into raw vulnerability by day's end. It's the most transparent I've ever been about my faith, my fears, and the divine timing that keeps me going when logic says quit.If you're facing your own seemingly impossible challenge, or if you've ever wondered what keeps a small business owner fighting when the numbers don't add up, this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear today. Sometimes the village that supports your dream becomes the greatest blessing of all.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

We explore the transformative impact of appreciation in both personal and professional settings while preparing for a new adventure at the Skowhegan Fair.• Appreciation makes a significant difference in how we feel about our work and relationships • A stark contrast between DJing at an unappreciative biker bar versus a 9-year-old's birthday party• Living in a school bus for 11 days at Skowhegan Fair while missing family milestones• The "crunch season" of running back-to-back fairs and managing inventory/finances• When employees feel valued, they're more motivated to perform and go the extra mile• Appreciation strengthens bonds, improves communication, and reduces conflict• Expressing gratitude helps build resilience during difficult times• First-time events often yield first-time results, but create foundation for future growthIf you want to show your appreciation for the podcast, please share this show with someone you know. Help it blossom, help it grow!If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

The Storm does not cover athletes or gear or hot tubs or whisky bars or helicopters or bros jumping off things. I'm focused on the lift-served skiing world that 99 percent of skiers actually inhabit, and I'm covering it year-round. To support this mission of independent ski journalism, please subscribe to the free or paid versions of the email newsletter.WhoGreg Pack, President and General Manager of Mt. Hood Meadows, OregonRecorded onApril 28, 2025About Mt. Hood MeadowsClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: The Drake Family (and other minority shareholders)Located in: Mt. Hood, OregonYear founded: 1968Pass affiliations:* Indy Pass – 2 days, select blackouts* Indy+ Pass – 2 days, no blackoutsClosest neighboring U.S. ski areas: Summit (:17), Mt. Hood Skibowl (:19), Cooper Spur (:23), Timberline (:26)Base elevation: 4,528 feetSummit elevation: 7,305 feet at top of Cascade Express; 9,000 feet at top of hike-to permit area; 11,249 feet at summit of Mount HoodVertical drop: 2,777 feet lift-served; 4,472 hike-to inbounds; 6,721 feet from Mount Hood summitSkiable acres: 2,150Average annual snowfall: 430 inchesTrail count: 87 (15% beginner, 40% intermediate, 15% advanced, 30% expert)Lift count: 11 (1 six-pack, 5 high-speed quads, 1 fixed-grip quad, 3 doubles, 1 carpet – view Lift Blog's inventory of Mount Hood Meadows' lift fleet)About Cooper SpurClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: The Drake FamilyLocated in: Mt. Hood, OregonYear founded: 1927Pass affiliations: Indy Pass, Indy+ Pass – 2 days, no blackoutsClosest neighboring U.S. ski areas: Mt. Hood Meadows (:22), Summit (:29), Mt. Hood Skibowl (:30), Timberline (:37)Base elevation: 3,969 feetSummit elevation: 4,400 feetVertical drop: 431 feetSkiable acres: 50Average annual snowfall: 250 inchesTrail count: 9 (1 most difficult, 7 more difficult, 1 easier)Lift count: 2 (1 double, 1 ropetow – view Lift Blog's inventory of Cooper Spur's lift fleet)Why I interviewed himVolcanoes are weird. Oh look, an exploding mountain. Because that seems reasonable. Volcanoes sound like something imagined, like dragons or teleportation or dinosaurs*. “So let me get this straight,” I imagine some puzzled Appalachian miner, circa 1852, responding to the fellow across the fire as he tells of his adventures in the Oregon Territory, “you expect me to believe that out thataways they got themselves mountains that just blow their roofs off whenever they feel like it, and shoot off fire and rocks and gas for 50 mile or more, and no one never knows when it's a'comin'? You must think I'm dumber'n that there tree stump.”Turns out volcanoes are real. How humanity survived past day one I have no idea. But here we are, skiing on volcanoes instead of tossing our virgins from the rim as a way of asking the nice mountain to please not explode (seriously how did anyone make it out of the past alive?).And one of the volcanoes we can ski on is Mount Hood. This actually seems more unbelievable to me than the concept of a vengeful nuclear mountain. PNW Nature Bros shield every blade of grass like they're guarding Fort Knox. When, in 2014, federal scientists proposed installing four monitoring stations on Hood, which the U.S. Geological Survey ranks as the sixth-highest threat to erupt out of America's 161 active volcanoes, these morons stalled the process for six years. “I think it is so important to have places like that where we can just step back, out of respect and humility, and appreciate nature for what it is,” a Wilderness Watch official told The New York Times. Personally I think it's so important to install basic monitoring infrastructure so that thousands of people are not incinerated in a predictable volcanic eruption. While “Japan, Iceland and Chile smother their high-threat volcanoes in scientific instruments,” The Times wrote, American Granola Bros say things like, “This is more proof that the Forest Service has abandoned any pretense of administering wilderness as per the letter or spirit of the Wilderness Act.” And Hood and the nation's other volcanoes cackle madly. “These idiots are dumber than the human-sacrifice people,” they say just before belching up an ash cloud that could take down a 747. When officials finally installed these instrument clusters on Hood in 2020, they occupied three boxes that look to be approximately the size of a convenience-store ice freezer, which feels like an acceptable trade-off to mass death and airplanes falling out of the sky.I know that as an outdoor writer I'm supposed to be all pissed off if anyone anywhere suggests any use of even a centimeter of undeveloped land other than giving it back to the deer in a treaty printed on recycled Styrofoam and signed with human blood to symbolize the life we've looted from nature by commandeering 108 square feet to potentially protect millions of lives from volcanic eruption, but this sort of trivial protectionism and willful denial that humans ought to have rights too is the kind of brainless uncompromising overreach that I fear will one day lead to a massive over-correction at the other extreme, in which a federal government exhausted with never being able to do anything strips away or massively dilutes land protections that allow anyone to do anything they can afford. And that's when we get Monster Pete's Arctic Dune Buggies setting up a casino/coal mine/rhinoceros-hunting ranch on the Eliot Glacier and it's like thanks Bros I hope that was worth it to stall the placement of gardenshed-sized public safety infrastructure for six years.Anyway, given the trouble U.S. officials have with installing necessary things on Mount Hood, it's incredible how many unnecessary ones our ancestors were able to build. But in 1927 the good old boys hacked their way into the wilderness and said, “by gum what a spot for snoskiing” and built a bunch of ski areas. And today 31 lifts serve four Mt. Hood ski areas covering a combined 4,845 acres:Which I'm just like, do these Wilderness Watch people not know about this? Perhaps if this and similar groups truly cared about the environmental integrity of Mount Hood they would invest their time, energy, and attention into a long-term regional infrastructure plan that identified parcels for concentrated mixed-use development and non-personal-car-based transit options to mitigate the impact of thousands of skiers traveling up the mountain daily from Portland, rather than in delaying the installation of basic monitoring equipment that notifies humanity of a civilization-shattering volcanic eruption before it happens. But then again I am probably not considering how this would impact the integrity of squirrel poop decomposition below 6,000 feet and the concomitant impacts on pinestand soil erosion which of course would basically end life as we know it on planet Earth.OK this went sideways let me try to salvage it.*Whoops I know dinosaurs were real; I meant to write “the moon landing.” How embarrassing.What we talked aboutA strong 2024-25; recruiting employees in mountains with little nearby housing; why Meadows doesn't compete with Timberline for summer skiing; bye-bye Blue double, Meadows' last standing opening-year chairlift; what it takes to keep an old Riblet operating; the reliability of old versus new chairlifts; Blue's slow-motion demolition and which relics might remain long term; the logic of getting a free anytime buddy lift ticket with your season pass; thoughts on ski area software providers that take a percentage of all sales; why Meadows and Cooper Spur have no pass reciprocity; the ongoing Cooper Spur land exchange; the value of Cooper Spur and Summit on a volcano with three large ski areas; why Meadows hasn't backed away from reciprocal agreements; why Meadows chose Indy over Epic, Ikon, or Mountain Collective; becoming a ski kid when you're not from a ski family; landing at Mountain Creek, New Jersey after a Colorado ski career; how Moonlight Basin started as an independent ski area and eventually became part of Big Sky; the tension underlying Telluride; how the Drake Family, who has managed the ski area since inception, makes decisions; a board that reinvests 100 percent of earnings back into the mountain; why we need large independents in a consolidating world; being independent is “our badge of honor”; whether ownership wants to remain independent long term; potential next lift upgrades; a potential all-new lift line and small expansion; thoughts on a better Heather lift; wild Hood weather and the upper limits of lift service; considering surface lifts on the upper mountain; the challenges of running Cascade Express; the future of the Daisy and Easy Rider doubles; more potential future expansion; and whether we could ever see a ski connection with Timberline Lodge.Why now was a good time for this interviewIt's kind of dumb that 210 episodes into this podcast I've only recorded one Oregon ep: Timberline Lodge President Jeff Kohnstamm, more than three years ago. While Oregon only has 11 active ski areas, and the state ranks 11th-ish in skier visits, it's an important ski state. PNW skiers treat skiing like the Northeast treats baseball or the Midwest treats football or D.C. treats politics: rabid beyond reason. That explains the eight Idaho pods and half dozen each in Washington and B.C. These episodes hit like a hash stand at a Dead show. So why so few Oregon eps?Eh, no reason in particular. There isn't a ski area in North America that I don't want to feature on the podcast, but I can't just order them online like a pizza. Relationships, more than anything, drive the podcast, and The Storm's schedule is primarily opportunity driven. I invite folks on as I meet them or when they do something cool. And sometimes we can connect right away and sometimes it takes months or even years, even if they want to do it. Sometimes we're waiting on contracts or approvals so we can discuss some big project in depth. It can take time to build trust, or to convince a non-podcast person that they have a great story to tell.So we finally get to Meadows. Not to be It-Must-Be-Nice Bro about benefits that arise from clear deliberate life choices, but It must be nice to live in the PNW, where every city sits within 90 minutes of a ripping, open-until-Memorial-Day skyscraper that gets carpet bombed with 400 annual inches but receives between one and four out-of-state visitors per winter. Yeah the ski areas are busy anyway because they don't have enough of them, but busy with Subaru-driving Granola Bros is different than busy with Subaru-driving Granola Bros + Texas Bro whose cowboy boots aren't clicking in right + Florida Bro who bought a Trans Am for his boa constrictor + Midwest Bro rocking Olin 210s he found in Gramp's garage + Hella Rad Cali Bro + New Yorker Bro asking what time they groom Corbet's + Aussie Bro touring the Rockies on a seven-week long weekend + Euro Bro rocking 65 cm underfoot on a two-foot powder day. I have no issue with tourists mind you because I am one but there is something amazing about a ski area that is gigantic and snowy and covered in modern infrastructure while simultaneously being unknown outside of its area code.Yes this is hyperbole. But while everyone in Portland knows that Meadows has the best parking lot views in America and a statistical profile that matches up with Beaver Creek and as many detachable chairlifts as Snowbasin or Snowbird and more snow than Steamboat or Jackson or Palisades or Pow Mow, most of the rest of the world doesn't, and I think they should.Why you should ski Mt. Hood Meadows and Cooper SpurIt's interesting that the 4,845 combined skiable acres of Hood's four ski areas are just a touch larger than the 4,323 acres at Mt. Bachelor, which as far as I know has operated as a single interconnected facility since its 1958 founding. Both are volcanoes whose ski areas operate on U.S. Forest Service land a commutable distance from demographically similar markets, providing a case study in distributed versus centralized management.Bachelor in many ways delivers a better experience. Bachelor's snow is almost always drier and better, an outlier in the kingdom of Cascade Concrete. Skiers can move contiguously across its full acreage, an impossible mission on Balkanized Hood. The mountain runs an efficient, mostly modern 15 lifts to Hood's wild 31, which includes a dozen detachables but also a half dozen vintage Riblet doubles with no safety bars. Bachelor's lifts scale the summit, rather than stopping thousands of feet short as they do on Hood. While neither are Colorado-grade destination ski areas, metro Portland is stuffed with 25 times more people than Bend, and Hood ski areas have an everbusy feel that skiers can often outrun at Bachelor. Bachelor is closer to its mothership – just 26 minutes from Bend to Portland's hour-to-two-hour commutes up to the ski areas. And Bachelor, accessible on all versions of the Ikon Pass and not hamstrung by the confusing counter-branding of multiple ski areas with similar names occupying the same mountain, presents a more clearcut target for the mainstream skier.But Mount Hood's quirky scatterplot ski centers reward skiers in other ways. Four distinct ski areas means four distinct ski cultures, each with its own pace, purpose, customs, traditions, and orientation to the outside world. Timberline Lodge is a funky mix of summertime Bro parks, Government Camp greens, St. Bernards, and its upscale landmark namesake hotel. Cooper Spur is tucked-away, low-key, low-vert family resort skiing. Meadows sprawls, big and steep, with Hood's most interesting terrain. And low-altitude, closest-to-the-city Skibowl is night-lit slowpoke with a vintage all-Riblet lift fleet. Your Epic and Ikon passes are no good here, though Indy gets you Meadows and Cooper Spur. Walk-up lift tickets (still the only way to buy them at Skibowl), are more tier-varied and affordable than those at Bachelor, which can exceed $200 on peak days (though Bachelor heavily discounts access to its beginner lifts, with free access to select novice areas). Bachelor's $1,299 season pass is 30 percent more expensive than Meadows'.This dynamic, of course, showcases single-entity efficiency and market capture versus the messy choice of competition. Yes Free Market Bro you are right sometimes. Hood's ski areas have more inherent motivators to fight on price, forge allegiances like the Timberline-Skibowl joint season pass, invest in risks like night and summer skiing, and run wonky low-tide lift ticket deals. Empowering this flexibility: all four Hood ski areas remain locally owned – Meadows and T-Line by their founding families. Bachelor, of course, is a fiefdom of Park City, Utah-based Powdr, which owns a half-dozen other ski areas across the West.I don't think that Hood is better than Bachelor or that Bachelor is better than Hood. They're different, and you should ski both. But however you dissect the niceties of these not-really-competing-but-close-enough-that-a-comarison-makes-sense ski centers, the on-the-ground reality adds up to this: Hood locals, in general, are a far more contented gang than Bachelor Bros. I don't have any way to quantify this, and Bachelor has its partisans. But I talk to skiers all over the country, all the time. Skiers will complain about anything, and online guttings of even the most beloved mountains exist. But talk to enough people and strong enough patterns emerge to understand that, in general, locals are happy with Mammoth and Alpine Meadows and Sierra-at-Tahoe and A-Basin and Copper and Bridger Bowl and Nub's Nob and Perfect North and Elk and Plattekill and Berkshire East and Smuggs and Loon and Saddleback and, mostly, the Hood ski areas. And locals are generally less happy with Camelback and Seven Springs and Park City and Sunrise and Shasta and Stratton and, lately, former locals' faves Sugarbush and Wildcat. And, as far as I can tell, Bachelor.Potential explanations for Hood happiness versus Bachelor blues abound, all of them partial, none completely satisfactory, all asterisked with the vagaries of skiing and skiers and weather and luck. But my sense is this: Meadows, Timberline, and Skibowl locals are generally content not because they have better skiing than everyplace else or because their ski areas are some grand bargain or because they're not crowded or because they have the best lift systems or terrain parks or grooming or snow conditions, but because Hood, in its haphazard and confounding-to-outsiders borders and layout, has forced its varied operators to hyper-adapt to niche needs in the local market while liberating them from the all-things-to-everyone imperative thrust on isolated operations like Bachelor. They have to decide what they're good at and be good at that all the time, because they have no other option. Hood operators can't be Vail-owned Paoli Peaks, turning in 25-day ski seasons and saying well it's Indiana what do you expect? They have to be independent Perfect North, striving always for triple-digit operating days and saying it's Indiana and we're doing this anyway because if we don't you'll stop coming and we'll all be broke.In this way Hood is a snapshot of old skiing, pre-consolidation, pre-national pass, pre-social media platforms that flung open global windows onto local mountains. Other than Timberline summer parks no one is asking these places to be anything other than very good local ski areas serving rabid local skiers. And they're doing a damn good job.Podcast NotesOn Meadows and Timberline Lodge opening and closing datesOne of the most baffling set of basic facts to get straight in American skiing is the number of ski areas on Mount Hood and the distinction between them. Part of the reason for this is the volcano's famous summer skiing, which takes place not at either of the eponymous ski areas – Mt. Hood Meadows or Mt. Hood Skibowl – but at the awkwardly named Timberline Lodge, which sounds more like a hipster cocktail lounge with a 19th-century fur-trapper aesthetic than the name of a ski resort (which is why no one actually calls it “Timberline Lodge”; I do so only to avoid confusion with the ski area in West Virginia, because people are constantly getting Appalachian ski areas mixed up with those in the Cascades). I couldn't find a comprehensive list of historic closing dates for Meadows and Timberline, but the basic distinction is this: Meadows tends to wrap winter sometime between late April and late May. Timberline goes into August and beyond when it can. Why doesn't Meadows push its season when it is right next door and probably could? We discuss in the pod.On Riblet clipsFun fact about defunct-as-a-company-even-though-a-couple-hundred-of-their-machines-are-still-spinning Riblet chairlifts: rather than clamping on like a vice grip, the end of each chair is woven into the rope via something called an “insert clip.” I wrote about this in my Wildcat pod last year:On Alpental Chair 2A small but vocal segment of Broseph McBros with nothing better to do always reflexively oppose the demolition of legacy fixed-grip lifts to make way for modern machines. Pack does a great job laying out why it's harder to maintain older chairlifts than many skiers may think. I wrote about this here:On Blue's breakover towers and unload rampWe also dropped photos of this into the video version of the pod:On the Cooper Spur land exchangeHere's a somewhat-dated and very biased-against-the-ski-area infographic summarizing the proposed land swap between Meadows and the U.S. Forest Service, from the Cooper Spur Wild & Free Coalition, an organization that “first came together in 2002 to fight Mt. Hood Meadows' plans to develop a sprawling destination resort on the slopes of Mt. Hood near Cooper Spur”:While I find the sanctimonious language in this timeline off-putting, I'm more sympathetic to Enviro Bro here than I was with the eruption-detection controversy discussed up top. Opposing small-footprint, high-impact catastrophe-monitoring equipment on an active volcano to save five bushes but potentially endanger millions of human lives is foolish. But checking sprawling wilderness development by identifying smaller parcels adjacent to already-disturbed lands as alternative sites for denser, hopefully walkable, hopefully mixed-use projects is exactly the sort of thing that every mountain community ought to prioritize.On the combination of Summit and Timberline LodgeThe small Summit Pass ski area in Government Camp operated as an independent entity from its 1927 founding until Timberline Lodge purchased the ski area in 2018. In 2021, the owners connected the two – at least in one direction. Skiers can move 4,540 vertical feet from the top of Timberline's Palmer chair to the base of Summit. While Palmer tends to open late in the season and Summit tends to close early, and while skiers will have to ride shuttles back up to the Timberline lifts until the resort builds a much anticipated gondola connecting the full height, this is technically America's largest lift-served vertical drop.On Meadows' reciprocalsMeadows only has three season pass reciprocal partners, but they're all aspirational spots that passholders would actually travel for: Baker, Schweitzer, and Whitefish. I ask Pack why he continues to offer these exchanges even as larger ski areas such as Brundage and Tamarack move away from them. One bit of context I neglected to include, however, is that neighboring Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Skibowl not only offer a joint pass, but are longtime members of Powder Alliance, which is an incredible regional reciprocal pass that's free for passholders at any of these mountains:On Ski Broadmoor, ColoradoColorado Springs is less convenient to skiing than the name implies – skiers are driving a couple of hours, minimum, to access Monarch or the Summit County ski areas. So I was surprised, when I looked up Pack's original home mountain of Ski Broadmoor, to see that it sat on the city's outskirts:This was never a big ski area, with 600 vertical feet served by an “America The Beautiful Lift” that sounds as though it was named by Donald Trump:The “famous” Broadmoor Hotel built and operated the ski area, according to Colorado Ski History. They sold the hotel in 1986 to the city, which promptly sold it to Vail Associates (now Vail Resorts), in 1988. Vail closed the ski area in 1991 – the only mountain they ever surrendered on. I'll update all my charts and such to reflect this soon.On pre-high-speed KeystoneIt's kind of amazing that Keystone, which now spins seven high-speed chairlifts, didn't install its first detachable until 1990, nearly a decade after neighboring Breckenridge installed the world's first, in 1981. As with many resorts that have aggressively modernized, this means that Keystone once ran more chairlifts than it does today. When Pack started his ski career at the mountain in 1989, Keystone ran 10 frontside aerial lifts (8 doubles, 1 triple, 1 gondola) compared to just six today (2 doubles, 2 sixers, a high-speed quad, and a higher-capacity gondy).On Mountain CreekI've talked about the bananas-ness of Mountain Creek many times. I love this unhinged New Jersey bump in the same way I loved my crazy late uncle who would get wasted at the Bay City fireworks and yell at people driving Toyotas to “Buy American!” (This was the ‘80s in Michigan, dudes. I don't know what to tell you. The auto industry was falling apart and everybody was tripping, especially dudes who worked in – or, in my uncle's case, adjacent to (steel) – the auto industry.)On IntrawestOne of the reasons I did this insane timeline project was so that I would no longer have to sink 30 minutes into Google every time someone said the word “Intrawest.” The timeline was a pain in the ass, but worth it, because now whenever I think “wait exactly what did Intrawest own and when?” I can just say “oh yeah I already did that here you go”:On Moonlight Basin and merging with Big SkyIt's kind of weird how many now-united ski areas started out as separate operations: Beaver Creek and Arrowhead (merged 1997), Canyons and Park City (2014), Whistler and Blackcomb (1997), Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley (connected via gondola in 2022), Carinthia and Mount Snow (1986), Sugarbush and Mount Ellen (connected via chairlift in 1995). Sometimes – Beaver Creek, Mount Snow – the terrain and culture mergers are seamless. Other times – Alpine and the Palisades side of what is now Palisades Tahoe – the connection feels like opening a store that sells four-wheelers and 74-piece high-end dinnerware sets. Like, these things don't go together, Man. But when Big Sky absorbed Moonlight Basin and Spanish Peaks in 2013, everyone immediately forgot that it was ever any different. This suggests that Big Sky's 2032 Yellowstone Club acquisition will be seamless.**Kidding, Brah. Maybe.On Lehman BrothersNearly two decades later, it's still astonishing how quickly Lehman Brothers, in business for 158 years, collapsed in 2008.On the “mutiny” at TellurideEvery now and then, a reader will ask the very reasonable question about why I never pay any attention to Telluride, one of America's great ski resorts, and one that Pack once led. Mostly it's because management is unstable, making long-term skier experience stories of the sort I mostly focus on hard to tell. And management is mostly unstable because the resort's owner is, by all accounts, willful and boorish and sort of unhinged. Blevins, in The Colorado Sun's “Outsider” newsletter earlier this week:A few months ago, locals in Telluride and Mountain Village began publicly blasting the resort's owner, a rare revolt by a community that has grown weary of the erratic Chuck Horning.For years, residents around the resort had quietly lamented the antics and decisions of the temperamental Horning, the 81-year-old California real estate investor who acquired Telluride Ski & Golf Resort in 2004. It's the only resort Horning has ever owned and over the last 21 years, he has fired several veteran ski area executives — including, earlier this year, his son, Chad.Now, unnamed locals have launched a website, publicly detailing the resort owner's messy management of the Telluride ski area and other businesses across the country.“For years, Chuck Horning has caused harm to us all, both individually and collectively,” reads the opening paragraph of ChuckChuck.ski — which originated when a Telluride councilman in March said that it was “time to chuck Chuck.” “The community deserves something better. For years, we've whispered about the stories, the incidents, the poor decisions we've witnessed. Those stories should no longer be kept secret from everyone that relies on our ski resort for our wellbeing.”The chuckchuck.ski site drags skeletons out of Horning's closet. There are a lot of skeletons in there. The website details a long history of lawsuits across the country accusing Horning and the Newport Federal Financial investment firm he founded in 1970 of fraud.It's a pretty amazing site.On Bogus BasinI was surprised that ostensibly for-profit Meadows regularly re-invests 100 percent of profits into the ski area. Such a model is more typical for explicitly nonprofit outfits such as Bogus Basin, Idaho. Longtime GM Brad Wilson outlined how that ski area functions a few years back:The Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

Faced with balancing career and family, DJ Keith makes a life-changing decision to step away from his longtime gig at Bentley Saloon to focus on fatherhood and more profitable ventures.• Reflecting on a successful final "Mullets and Daisy Dukes" night with strong crowd participation• Struggling with staff tensions around playing past the scheduled 11 PM end time • Entertaining an enthusiastic bachelorette party that inspired extending the night• Delivering an unplanned, emotional farewell speech announcing retirement from bar DJ work• Facing mixed reactions - support from those present versus misinterpreted rumors after• Choosing to prioritize time with 10-month-old daughter Paisley over late-night gigs• Maintaining wedding and event bookings that offer better compensation for less time• Having a reconciliatory conversation with venue management after the announcement• Reflecting on the balance between good parenting decisions and professional business practicesI need your help deciding: Was my impromptu retirement announcement good parenting or bad business? Share your thoughts with me and let me know what you would have done in my shoes.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

The journey to Syracuse Nationals wasn't just another road trip – it was a testament to resilience in the face of adversity for Loud Proud American. What began with a production nightmare when our custom racing t-shirt design arrived completely wrong quickly cascaded into a series of challenges that would test our limits.Picture this: six hours on the road in 100-degree heat with a temperamental air conditioner that alternated between cool and hot air every 20 minutes. Our 10-month-old daughter experiencing her longest journey yet in our converted school bus. Then suddenly, a rough patch of Massachusetts highway sends our entire merchandise display crashing down, with clothes and products flying with every bump thereafter. This was just the beginning.Upon arrival, the hospitality of Paisley's godparents Lance and Jen became our saving grace. Their unwavering support, along with our entire Syracuse family, created moments of joy amidst the chaos. But business challenges continued as powerful winds turned our setup day into a battle against the elements, and our booth location kept us isolated from the main flow of foot traffic at this massive event.Yet within disappointment lies opportunity. During slower periods, I discovered a vendor using a souvenir trailer that sparked a vision for expanding our business model. Despite not meeting our financial expectations, we still made money, gained invaluable experience, and set ourselves up for greater success next year. Most importantly, we created precious memories with our daughter while pursuing our entrepreneurial dreams.The hard truth I've learned is that your first attempt at anything in business is often your worst. But rather than being discouraged, I've returned home more determined than ever – already securing another new event opportunity before even recording this podcast. This will be our most uncomfortable year yet, but discomfort breeds growth, and I'm steadfast in my belief that pushing beyond our limits will ultimately lead to breakthrough success.What challenges are you facing in pursuit of your dreams? Remember, tough times come, but tough times pass. Don't let distractions derail you from your direction.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

What is the relationship between Trump's tariffs and the rest of the economy?

Resilient optimism isn't just a trendy concept—it's the beating heart of entrepreneurship. After exploring this powerful mindset last week, we immediately faced the perfect opportunity to put it into practice at our first fair of the season. The results? A much-needed victory that confirmed we're trending in the right direction after a challenging start to the year. Every single day of our four-day event outperformed its counterpart from last year, and our brand-new "Midnight Hammer" t-shirt design debuted with such success that people throughout the fairgrounds were stopping each other to ask where they got their shirts.Behind this success lies the complicated reality all small business owners understand—the constant juggling of production demands, inventory management, and cash flow challenges. From the irony of needing credit card sales for next-day inventory purchases (and receiving only cash), to vehicle troubles appearing just before a major road trip, the obstacles never stop coming. What makes this journey sustainable isn't the absence of problems; it's the support system and mindset that helps us overcome them.Perhaps the most profound aspect of this particular fair was the emotional journey it represented. Standing at the same fairgrounds where I spent my childhood watching my father and uncles race, now without them but with my own daughter experiencing it for the first time, created a powerful connection between past and present. There's something humbling about watching other families live out what was once your childhood, realizing that the people who were fixtures of that place are largely forgotten by the current generation.Despite the challenges, we're expanding into new markets, taking risks on events outside our comfort zone, and seeing the results in growing sales figures. Most importantly, we received the best news possible—my daughter's clean bill of health from her neurologist after our frightening hospital stay months ago. This reminder of what truly matters puts all business challenges into perspective.Want to support small businesses creating American-made products with purpose? Follow our journey, check out our designs, and remember that everyone struggles—the difference is whether you choose to go through it or grow through it.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Ever feel like you're drowning in challenges while trying to stay positive? That tension between acknowledging reality and maintaining hope is exactly what this episode explores through the lens of resilient optimism.We dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey — not the glamorized social media version, but the raw reality of sitting in 95-degree heat for hours to make $40, losing $1,200 worth of merchandise before a major event, and somehow maintaining belief that better days are ahead. These aren't just business lessons but life lessons about how we face adversity.The distinction between blind optimism (naively ignoring problems) and resilient optimism (acknowledging challenges while maintaining confidence in your ability to overcome them) frames our conversation. As Winston Churchill wisely noted, "Success is moving from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm" — a perfect description of the entrepreneurial mindset required for long-term success.What makes this approach so powerful isn't just feeling good — research shows resilient optimism leads to improved performance, greater satisfaction, better health outcomes, and enhanced wellbeing. It's a mental framework that allows you to navigate difficulty while maintaining forward momentum.The beautiful thing? Resilient optimism isn't something you're born with — it's a choice and a muscle you can strengthen. Even the most pessimistic person can make a decision to approach challenges differently starting tomorrow. What we focus on expands; what we appreciate appreciates. Are you ready to transform your relationship with obstacles by viewing pressure as a privilege and problems as opportunities? Listen now to discover how.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Breaking a streak of bad luck doesn't require perfect circumstances – it demands a perspective shift that transforms how we experience life's inevitable challenges. As I celebrate the milestone of 260 episodes spanning five consecutive years of Share the Struggle, I find myself reflecting on a chaotic 24-hour period that perfectly illustrates this truth.From malfunctioning equipment and surprise mortgage payments to vehicle breakdowns, the universe seemed determined to test my resilience. Yet through each frustrating moment, I discovered pockets of gratitude hiding in plain sight – the blessing of finding mechanical problems before they stranded my family on a lengthy road trip, meaningful conversations that might never have happened otherwise, and precious moments with my daughter that I'll cherish forever.The hardest lesson I've learned since losing my father is captured in a simple phrase: "What I wouldn't do to do something I didn't want to do." Those frustrating chores and difficult interactions I once dreaded with him? I'd give anything to experience them again. This perspective has transformed how I approach daily challenges, reminding me that today's annoyances might become tomorrow's cherished memories.We often postpone our happiness with phrases like "I'll be happy when..." or "I'll enjoy it when..." – dangerous mindsets that defer joy to some idealized future that may never arrive. Life doesn't have to be perfect for us to enjoy it. Perfect doesn't exist. The key is finding ways to celebrate milestones and count blessings even in imperfect moments.Whether you're facing your own streak of bad luck or simply navigating life's everyday challenges, remember that the choice is yours – you can go through it or grow through it. Struggle becomes strength when we approach it with gratitude, perspective, and faith. As we mark five years of this podcast journey together, I'm grateful for every listener who has shared in the struggle – and the growth – alongside me.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Every receipt is a record of loyalty. While corporations shift power overseas and global interests tighten their grip, there's still one lever no one can take from you—your wallet. This sharp and timely exposé uncovers how everyday purchases shape the backbone of American strength, how foreign ownership silently redirects your dollars, and how one choice at a time can fortify the nation from within. What you buy isn't just a transaction. It's a declaration. Get you copy TODAY!: https://www.swrc.com/product/how-americans-can-buy-american/

Every receipt is a record of loyalty. While corporations shift power overseas and global interests tighten their grip, there's still one lever no one can take from you—your wallet. This sharp and timely exposé uncovers how everyday purchases shape the backbone of American strength, how foreign ownership silently redirects your dollars, and how one choice at a time can fortify the nation from within. What you buy isn't just a transaction. It's a declaration. Get you copy TODAY!: https://www.swrc.com/product/how-americans-can-buy-american/

Ever notice how that familiar routine you once loved suddenly feels like a prison? That's exactly what hit me this week as I found myself sweating in my garage, recording this episode while contemplating one of life's hardest truths: I've outgrown my comfort zone.After 13 years of entertaining crowds at Bentley Saloon's bike week—hosting pinup contests, DJing events, and building my brand—I faced an uncomfortable realization. What once felt like my safety net had transformed into a source of restlessness and anxiety. Despite the amazing memories, loyal customers, and friendships formed (including meeting my daughter's godparents!), something had shifted. That nagging feeling of boredom wasn't just fatigue; it was my inner voice screaming that it's time for change.The signs were everywhere. Declining attendance at motorcycle events mirrored my declining enthusiasm. I was stepping over dollars to pick up dimes, clinging to guaranteed income while missing bigger opportunities. My loyalty to familiar routines had become chains rather than support. This episode breaks down the telltale signs you've outgrown your comfort zone: boredom with once-loved activities, stagnation in skill development, fear of trying new things, and that strange anxiety that creeps in during familiar situations.Making this decision wasn't easy. Leaving behind guaranteed events means stepping into uncertainty. But growth demands discomfort. As I shared the vendor confrontation that ended with my now-infamous line "You want to help me? Get the f*ck out of my tent," I realized something profound—I'm ready for new challenges, new stages, and new opportunities to serve my business and family better.What security blankets are you clutching that might actually be holding you back? Remember, feeling restless about once-beloved activities isn't failure—it's evolution. Your potential exceeds your current circumstances, but only if you're brave enough to step into the unknown. Subscribe to the Share the Struggle podcast and join me as we navigate this journey of growth, authenticity, and self-discovery together.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Have you ever felt that pit in your stomach when you realize a relationship you once cherished has evolved into something that drains rather than sustains you? That moment when it dawns on you that your time, energy, and goodwill are being taken for granted? This raw, vulnerable episode dives deep into the murky waters of exploitation in relationships – whether business partnerships, friendships, or professional connections.We begin by examining the subtle evolution from mutual benefit to one-sided advantage. The most insidious relationships aren't those that start negatively, but those that gradually shift until you find yourself constantly giving with little in return. Through personal stories and hard-won insights, we unpack the telltale signs: feeling undervalued, experiencing one-sided exchanges, confronting emotional manipulation, and noticing the erosion of your self-confidence.The heart of this episode offers actionable strategies for those caught in these challenging dynamics. Learn the power of "I statements" when setting boundaries, the critical importance of learning to say no (even when financial considerations make it difficult), and how to communicate your needs assertively without burning bridges unnecessarily. We also explore the consequences of remaining in these situations too long – from mental health challenges to reduced job satisfaction and the spillover effect on other relationships.What makes this conversation particularly powerful is its honesty about the fear that comes with making changes. When relationships have history, when finances are intertwined, or when you've built a reputation around always saying yes, reclaiming your worth requires tremendous courage. But as we discover, the alternative – continuing to be taken advantage of – extracts a far greater cost in the long run.Ready to reclaim your worth and transform relationships that no longer serve you? This episode provides the roadmap to recognize exploitation, communicate boundaries effectively, and make empowered decisions about which relationships deserve your continued investment.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

We explore how unexpected blessings can become powerful catalysts for change when we recognize and embrace them with gratitude.• Life often tests us hardest right before sending the solutions we need• Comparing ourselves to ducks – calm on the surface but paddling frantically beneath• The challenge of running a business without reliable transportation for our family and camper• How friends Matt and Sarah from Ledgeway Farm blessed us with their farm truck, plow, and trailer• The spiritual signs that accompanied this blessing (eagle sighting, protection numbers)• Learning to "assess and resolve" rather than panic during roadside emergencies• The importance of asking "Whose dream can I support this week?"• How helping others achieve their dreams creates positive energy that returns to you• Small acts of kindness can make enormous differences in others' lives• Finding gratitude in challenges helps transform them into stepping stonesIf you're enjoying what you're hearing, find us on social media @loudproudamerican on Facebook and YouTube, and @loud_proud_american on Instagram and TikTok. Thanks for supporting our American dream!If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Freedom of expression comes with responsibility, and when our nation's independence celebrations are targeted for cancellation, we need to examine what this means for our shared values and identity as Americans.• TikTok trends attempting to cancel July 4th celebrations have gained national attention• Celebrating Independence Day transcends political differences and administrations• The importance of maintaining patriotic traditions even during politically divisive times• Media narratives often fuel division rather than promoting unity through factual reporting• Recent violent incidents against Jewish Americans highlight broader concerns about extremism• The Boulder, Colorado attack by an Egyptian immigrant demonstrates failures in immigration enforcement• Celebrating with family creates meaningful traditions that honor our nation's founding principles• Holding our baby girl during fireworks this year will be especially meaningful as a celebration of freedomNo matter which political party holds power, our independence is worth celebrating, and no attempt to cancel July 4th will diminish our patriotic spirit. Join us in proudly celebrating America's birthday.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

In this week's episode the President of Convention of States Mark Meckler shares a great website for buying American-made goods. Mark also reacts to historic polling about President Trump, RFK's war on the medical journal industry, what's really going on with the aid centers in Israel, and whether the Democrats' new plan to stay relevant will work.  Ask Mark Anything

Buying 100% Made in America Is Really, Really Hard. These People Are Trying. Please Subscribe + Rate & Review KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson wherever you listen! --- KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever else you listen. --- Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson – KMJ’s Afternoon Drive Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ DriveKMJ.com | Podcast | Facebook | X | Instagram --- Everything KMJ: kmjnow.com | Streaming | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buying 100% Made in America Is Really, Really Hard. These People Are Trying. Please Subscribe + Rate & Review KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson wherever you listen! --- KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever else you listen. --- Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson – KMJ’s Afternoon Drive Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ DriveKMJ.com | Podcast | Facebook | X | Instagram --- Everything KMJ: kmjnow.com | Streaming | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when life forces you to confront deep-seated negativity? My wife joins me to share her transformative journey in this powerful episode that examines how removing toxicity creates space for unexpected blessings.After losing her mother to suicide, my wife began evaluating every aspect of her life—relationships, possessions, and most significantly, her increasingly toxic workplace. Despite creating her referral department position from scratch and investing five years with the company, she found herself consistently overworked and underappreciated. The final straw came when management approached her the day after her mother's death, offering a nominal raise while simultaneously eliminating her title.Today, she reveals how this painful chapter led to an exciting new opportunity with Maine Health's Home Health and Hospice Services—a position that perfectly aligns with her strengths while offering the work-from-home flexibility her previous employer had promised but never delivered. Her story powerfully demonstrates how removing negativity creates space for positive change.We don't just discuss her experience—we provide actionable steps to help you eliminate negativity from your own life. From becoming aware of negative thought patterns to challenging them through reframing, practicing gratitude, surrounding yourself with positive people, and engaging in activities that bring joy, we offer a comprehensive roadmap for transformation.The first half of the show also features exciting updates about our Loud Proud American brand, including our new No-Tariff Guarantee that allows us to lower prices while maintaining our commitment to American manufacturing. Our t-shirts are now $25 and hoodies $50—proving that supporting local production doesn't have to cost more.Ready to transform your own relationship with negativity? Listen now, and don't forget our challenge: for every negative thought you catch yourself thinking, counter it with two positive affirmations. Your journey toward positivity starts with a single step.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

The die-hard "buy America" crowd is having a tough time buying American. Debbie and Leah walk through the attempts to ensure products are made in the USA and the challenge that comes with it. Listeners chime in.

Ever find yourself questioning whether the entrepreneurial journey is worth it? That moment when you look at the calendar, realize half the year has passed, and your goals seem further away than ever? You're not alone.After a transformative weekend of back-to-back events kicking off our busy "selly season" (that perfect blend of selling and silly that defines entrepreneurial life), I'm sharing the raw truth about what keeps me going after nearly five years in business. This Memorial Weekend marked not just the start of our busy season, but a profound realization - we're approaching five years of Share the Struggle Podcast without missing a single episode, alongside five years of building Loud Proud American from the ground up.The weekend reconnected me with fellow entrepreneurs, loyal customers, and my own purpose. Through conversations with like-minded business owners facing similar challenges, I rediscovered something powerful: the community that forms when we're transparent about our struggles creates strength we can't find in isolation. One conversation particularly struck home - "I give you credit for not giving up, for continuing to fight... and I know if you keep going, it's going to happen."Drawing from research and personal experience, I'm sharing five actionable strategies that will help you push forward when giving up seems like the only option. From expecting challenges to reconnecting with your why, these aren't just business tips - they're life practices applicable to any dream worth fighting for. The most surprising insight? If I could have seen where I'd be after five years of hard work, I probably wouldn't have started this journey. But the relationships built, personal growth experienced, and impact made can't be measured in simple metrics.Ready to transform your perspective on business challenges? Looking for that boost to keep pushing forward? This episode is your reminder that small victories matter, perseverance pays off, and the journey itself holds value beyond the destination. Plus, I'm thrilled to announce our acceptance to the Syracuse Nationals event - a testament that persistence eventually opens doors you've been knocking on.Subscribe to Share the Struggle Podcast and join our community of resilient entrepreneurs who are committed to never giving up, no matter what challenges arise.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Go inside Walmart's Open Call, the annual event where American entrepreneurs pitch their U.S.-made, grown, or assembled products for a chance to be featured in Walmart stores. Bo talks with Mark Espinoza, Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, about Open Call's origins in Sam Walton's"Buy American" vision and how it's grown into a key platform supporting small businesses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when your business is growing 92% but you're still struggling with doubt, guilt, and anxiety? Welcome to the entrepreneur's paradox.Ever feel like you're being pulled in multiple directions at once? In this revealing solo episode, I dive into the complex emotions that come with balancing new fatherhood, business expansion, and pursuing the American dream on my own terms. After sharing some heartfelt appreciation for my wife's recent vulnerability on the podcast, I explore how our first "official" Mother's Day with baby Paisley outside the womb created one of those perspective-shifting moments that makes everything feel different.As the busy season approaches with back-to-back events at Ledgeway Farm, Bonnie Eagle Car Show, and Memorial Weekend at Bentley Saloon, I confront the overwhelming guilt that comes when pursuing your passion means disrupting everyone else's routine. My mom takes time off work, friends step in for childcare, and my wife adjusts her schedule—all so I can bet on myself. The weight of these dependencies creates a pressure unlike anything I've felt before.I share the raw truth about taking chances and their consequences. Our Florida venture didn't deliver the breakthrough we'd hoped for, forcing us to pivot strategies and postpone bigger dreams. Yet despite these challenges, our business is up 92% in net sales—proving that sometimes success doesn't feel like success when you're in the trenches.The episode culminates with exciting news after years of persistence: we've finally secured a triple-wide booth at the Freiburg Fair! While this expansion requires substantial investment, it represents the growth we've been pushing toward. Remember: anything unattempted remains impossible. If there's one message to take from this journey, it's simply never give up. The regret of not trying far outweighs the difficulty of waiting for success.What chances are you taking in your life? I'd love to hear about your journey in the comments or on social media. And if you found value in this episode, please share it with someone who might need this encouragement today.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Trump's Flying Palace EXPOSED, Music Mogul Trial Drama, and #1 Artist of the Century Shocks Fans! Karel Cast Ep. 25-64

The Daily Poll Question is a thought-provoking query each day at Smerconish.com on a political, social, or other human interest issue. Entirely non-scientific, it always begins a great conversation. Michael talks about it in this podcast each weekday.   

Alli joins us again to share the conclusion of her healing journey through shamanic Reiki sessions, focusing on finding closure after her biological mother's passing due to addiction.• Appreciating listeners who reached out with support and sharing similar experiences• Describing the experience of loving an addict as a roller coaster of ups and downs• Importance of setting boundaries despite others' opinions about family relationships• Significance of angel numbers, particularly 555 representing freedom and independence• Detailed account of the final Reiki session and communicating with her mother's spirit• Learning her mother never felt "good enough" - same feelings Alli struggled with• Validating moments that confirmed her mother's presence during the session• Commitment to prioritizing mental health and leaning into faith• Breaking generational cycles to be stronger for her daughterIf you're struggling with addiction or loving someone with addiction, remember it's okay to not be okay, but accepting help is essential. Take one step in the right direction today.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Mike Armstrong and Marc Fandetti discuss the Fed willing to risk being too-late on interest rate cuts. US shale output has peaked as prices fall. Buy American? No thanks, Europe says, as tariff backlash grows. Why is free trade beneficial to all involved?

Rich looks at the news of the day, including tariffs and why it's important to buy items made in America. Later, we're joined by Art Del Cueto, vice president of the National Border Patrol, for a discussion of the charges piling up against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Plus, award-winning author and motivational speaker Richard Battle talks about his latest book, "AmeriCANS Who Made America! 18th Century-Birth of the Republic." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alli returns to share her healing journey after opening up about her mother's tragic loss to addiction and suicide last week.• Sharing raw, vulnerable stories in real-time speeds up healing and can help others find their own path forward• Multiple listeners reached out after last week's episode to share their own struggles and some even requested to share their stories on the podcast• Alli explains she's "good" because the hard part - the constant worry about her mother - is over, allowing her to finally heal and grow• Shamanic Reiki healing combines traditional Reiki energy healing with shamanic practices to restore balance and replace negative energies• During her healing session, Alli worked through blocked chakras, particularly the throat chakra where she carried unexpressed feelings• The session revealed surprising symbols including an anteater as her spirit animal, connecting to real-life events like an ant infestation appearing in their home the day of her mother's passing• Alli's mother's spirit appeared during the session angry that Alli was healing, but the practitioner protected the healing space• The freedom Alli feels after her healing sessions comes from releasing the weight of anger, hurt, and disappointment she carriedIf you're struggling with loss or trauma, consider exploring alternative healing modalities alongside traditional therapy - they may provide powerful breakthroughs on your journey toward healing and freedom.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

The grip of addiction tears through families like a silent hurricane, leaving behind shattered relationships and broken promises. In this raw, vulnerable episode, we dive deep into what it truly means to love someone battling addiction – and the impossible choices that love sometimes demands.Through a daughter's heartbreaking journey growing up with addicted parents, we witness the devastating ripple effects that spread through generations. From enduring physical abuse as a child to protect her younger brother, to the repeated cycle of hope and disappointment as an adult trying to help her mother find sobriety, her story illuminates the complex reality faced by millions of families across America.What makes this conversation so powerful is its unflinching honesty about the hardest truth many never acknowledge: sometimes walking away is the only path to survival. "I wanted her happiness more than she did," she shares – a realization that ultimately led to setting boundaries that saved her own life and helped her build the family she never had but always deserved.This episode doesn't offer easy answers because there aren't any. Instead, it provides something more valuable – the permission to prioritize your own wellbeing, the understanding that you cannot save someone who doesn't want to be saved, and the hope that by sharing our darkest struggles, we might become the light that guides others toward healing.Whether addiction has touched your life directly or you know someone fighting this battle, this conversation will forever change how you understand the disease that makes someone "too selfish to see the havoc they've created or care about the people whose lives they've shattered."If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

"Maine continues to cater to transgenders at the expense of women." This powerful statement opens a raw, honest conversation about a growing controversy in Maine's social landscape. Following the state's decisions about transgender policies in women's sports and prisons, attention now turns to the Miss Maine pageant, where the first-ever transgender contestant will compete in the traditionally female competition.The episode features deeply personal insights from a former Miss Maine contestant who shares her transformative experience competing at age 19. She describes the year-long journey of preparation, fundraising, community service, and personal growth that made the pageant so meaningful. With remarkable detail, she reveals the financial investment required and the sisterhood formed through shared vulnerability backstage.This controversy touches on fundamental questions about women's spaces and opportunities. The hosts discuss how the intimate nature of these competitions—including communal changing areas and the trust between contestants—creates environments specifically designed for women's empowerment. They question what happens when these spaces change, potentially making contestants uncomfortable or causing some to withdraw altogether.Drawing connections to other recent incidents where women's rights have been subordinated to transgender inclusion policies, the episode examines how this fits into a larger pattern in Maine and beyond. A surprising revelation comes when the former contestant shares her pageant program featuring Donald Trump (then-owner of Miss Universe) emphasizing opportunities specifically for "young women"—highlighting the stark contrast with current policies.Whether you're concerned about women's rights, interested in the complexities of gender politics, or simply want to understand the human impact of these policy decisions, this episode offers thoughtful perspectives from those directly affected. Join us for this crucial conversation about balancing inclusion with protecting spaces that have historically empowered women and girls.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

[WEEKEND RECAP 04-12-25] I'm old enough to remember when the national catchphrase wasn't “Build Back Better,” but BUY AMERICAN. It wasn't a marketing slogan—it was a wake-up call. People started noticing that the “Made in the USA” label was disappearing faster than Joe Biden memory at a press conference.Entire industries were being shipped overseas like suitcases with broken wheels. And instead of fighting for American jobs, we built a system that punished companies for making things here, and rewarded them for setting up shop in places where labor costs less than a vending machine soda. [X] SB – Stephen Miller on taxes Overall economic vision. Political class allowed it to happen. NAFTA, WTO, entry of China into the WTO  Now, I get it. Unions played their part. Many of them became bullies with lunch breaks, demanding so much that they drove companies to throw up their hands and say, “We'll show you!” But let's not forget who egged them on: Democrats. They coddled that selfishness, turned blind eyes to its consequences, and called it “worker advocacy.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-kevin-jackson-show--2896352/support.

President Trump warned rebel Republicans not to stand in his way as he implements tariffs against other countries. The American people must stop buying products made overseas. Buy American!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maine's transgender policies have cast the state into an unwelcome national spotlight, creating ripple effects that reach from schoolyards to prison cells and ultimately into living rooms of everyday families like mine. The federal government recently pulled $1.5 million in funding from Maine's Department of Corrections over its policy allowing transgender inmates to be housed according to their gender identity rather than biological sex.At the center of this controversy is a biological male who murdered his parents, now identifying as female and housed in a women's prison. Attorney General Pam Bondi made the federal government's position clear: "We will protect women in prison. We will protect women in sports. We will protect women throughout this country." Meanwhile, Maine's governor – ironically, the state's first female governor – continues implementing policies that fail to protect women and girls.What makes this policy debate personal for me is how it directly impacts my family. My brother, who has spent over ten years incarcerated and is nearing release, was set to receive four months in a halfway house to help him transition back to society. Due to these funding cuts, his prison sentence has been extended, and his rehabilitation program cut in half. The harsh reality: political decisions about gender identity are having real-world consequences for rehabilitation programs designed to help people rebuild their lives.The situation mirrors broader concerns throughout the state, including reports that dozens of Maine schools are hiding students' gender plans from parents. When policies prioritize ideology over practical considerations about safety, security, and family involvement, vulnerable populations often pay the price – whether they're women in prisons, girls in sports, or inmates seeking rehabilitation. I firmly support protecting women's safety and opportunities.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

[EP 25-139] I'm old enough to remember when the national catchphrase wasn't “Build Back Better,” but BUY AMERICAN. It wasn't a marketing slogan—it was a wake-up call. People started noticing that the “Made in the USA” label was disappearing faster than Joe Biden memory at a press conference. Entire industries were being shipped overseas like suitcases with broken wheels. And instead of fighting for American jobs, we built a system that punished companies for making things here, and rewarded them for setting up shop in places where labor costs less than a vending machine soda. [X]SB – Stephen Miller on taxes Overall economic vision. Political class allowed it to happen. NAFTA, WTO, entry of China into the WTO  Now, I get it. Unions played their part. Many of them became bullies with lunch breaks, demanding so much that they drove companies to throw up their hands and say, “We'll show you!” But let's not forget who egged them on: Democrats. They coddled that selfishness, turned blind eyes to its consequences, and called it “worker advocacy.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-kevin-jackson-show--2896352/support.

I explore whether social media can actually increase productivity, sharing surprising results from a challenge my wife gave me to do TikTok Lives while working. This counterintuitive approach completely transformed my perspective on how social platforms can benefit my business.• My struggle with social media as both necessary for business and a massive distraction• How dopamine addiction creates a cycle of unproductivity and guilt• My wife's challenge to use TikTok Lives while working on hats• The unexpected result: seven straight hours of productive work while building relationships• Discovering that relationship-building online mirrors in-person sales success• The difference between quick dopamine hits versus sustained satisfaction from meaningful connections• How this approach could potentially solve my work-life balance challenges• Building a loyal, positive community across the country through authentic interactionFind me on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at Loud_Proud_American to connect and watch future lives. I truly thank you for supporting my American dream.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Adam Lalone, Patriot Foods  Visit PatriotFoods.com to buy real, American-made products

The moment you notice something isn't right with your child, your entire world shifts on its axis. For us, that moment came when our six-month-old daughter Paisley began experiencing strange head-dropping episodes that would ultimately lead us on an unexpected 72-hour journey through fear, uncertainty, and eventually, profound relief.What started as a routine Friday quickly spiraled into a whirlwind of medical consultations that left us caught between two drastically different opinions. Our trusted pediatrician assured us these episodes were merely developmental—a six-month-old's muscles still learning to support a heavy head when tired. Meanwhile, neurologists reviewing the same footage urgently directed us to the children's hospital, using words no parent ever wants to hear: infantile spasms, potential epilepsy, developmental concerns.The hours spent in Barbara Bush Children's Hospital were simultaneously endless and fleeting. Watching technicians attach electrodes to our baby's head while she looked at us with confusion and betrayal tested every fiber of our being. Yet through it all, Paisley remained remarkably resilient, smiling and charming everyone who entered her room, becoming the unexpected bright spot for hospital staff during their difficult shifts.What this experience taught us transcends the medical diagnosis. When you're sitting in a hospital room, staring at your child connected to monitors, everything else in life—work stress, financial worries, petty grievances—simply evaporates. We found ourselves making silent promises to give up absolutely everything if it meant she would be okay. The profound clarity about what truly matters in life is perhaps the unexpected gift hidden within this terrifying experience.We're sharing this intensely personal journey because we know someone listening needs to hear they're not alone in their medical uncertainty or parental fear. If our story helps just one family feel less isolated during their own struggle, or encourages someone to trust their parental instincts, then exposing this vulnerable chapter of our lives will have been worth it.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

A native of Lexington, South Carolina, Gavin J. Smith is an accomplished public relations and marketing professional, dedicated public servant, and determined entrepreneur.On May 2, 2023, Gavin made history by winning a special election to the Lexington Town Council, becoming the youngest member to serve on the body. In this capacity, Gavin is appointed by his colleagues on Council to serve as the Council Liaison to the Town's Small Business Advisory Committee.Gavin currently serves as President and Founder of The Inspyre Group, a full-service marketing and public relations firm. He also serves as the Director of Communications for cybersecurity brand, PC Matic, and as a Professor of Marketing at the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business, where he teaches a Capstone course on Marketing Strategy and Planning.With a career spanning both the public and private sectors, Gavin has held senior communications roles in federal government agencies, including serving under a Presidential Appointment as Deputy Communications Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Press Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor. He has advised senior administration officials and led communications for nationally significant policy initiatives, including President Donald J. Trump's Opioid Council and the “Buy American, Hire American” initiative. Gavin also helped lead the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee and worked on prominent political campaigns, including those for former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and President Donald J. Trump.Thank you so much for listening! If you would like to see more from Mr.Smith, you can find them here: https://www.instagram.com/gavinsmithscThis episode is sponsored by Columbia Family Chiropractor: https://www.cfcforhealth.com https://www.instagram.com/columbiafamilychiropracticIf you would like to follow us, we are on everything at Here For The Health Of It Podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/hereforthehealthofitpodcasthttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hereforthehealthofit

After our Daytona Bike Week adventure, we face the hard truth about whether the financial outcome justified the personal sacrifices made to attend the event. The tension between leaving family behind and achieving business results creates a powerful backdrop for exploring what "success" really means.• Financial results fell short of expectations despite positive relationship-building• Leaving a 5-month-old daughter behind created significant emotional struggle• Being positioned off the main path dramatically reduced foot traffic• Conversations with veteran vendors revealed this was an unusually slow Bike Week• Event organizers were also struggling, firing staff and making changes mid-week• Eagle sightings at key moments provided spiritual reassurance and connection to late father• Breaking even financially but gaining valuable experience for future events• Maintaining courage (the year's guiding word) meant pushing through despite challengesIf you're enjoying the Share the Struggle podcast, find us on social media at Loud Proud American on Facebook and YouTube, or @loud_proud_american on Instagram and TikTok.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

There has been a push for consumers to purchase America first. If asked, Americans will say they bought local...but the details say otherwise. As Forever 21 is facing another Bankruptcy due to the competition of places like Temu and Shein…  it's opened up a new argument about Americans priorities when it comes to fast fashion. 

After completing Loud Proud American's greatest challenge and biggest risk—attending Daytona Bike Week as a vendor—I reflect on this transformative adventure and the incredible relationships formed along the way.• Giving heartfelt thanks to Brian and Zach Pomerleau who put their lives on hold to help make this dream possible• Driving 26 hours straight in our converted school bus "Large Marge" from Maine to Florida• Navigating the challenges of our vendor location and campground situation at Cackleberry Campground• Operating on 3-4 hours of sleep each night while maintaining an intense schedule from 11am to past 3am• Meeting Lisa who became our unofficial tour guide and introduced us to key industry connections• Forming a brotherhood with country singer Daniel Johnson, leading to Loud Proud American's first musician sponsorship• Having a memorable encounter with WWE star Braun Strowman who accepted a shirt from our brand• Learning that relationships and connections are the true rewards of stepping outside your comfort zone• Recognizing that people are placed in our paths for specific purposes if we're open to those encountersStay tuned for next week's episode where I'll break down the financial aspects and whether the rewards were worth the risks.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Americans are always going to buy the best product at the lowest price - and the fact is, that usually means buying something that was manufactured overseas

This episode explores the emotional journey of a new dad preparing to leave his family for Daytona Bike Week, highlighting the balance between pursuing business ambitions and family responsibility. The hosts discuss the financial and emotional complexities of the decision, encouraging listeners to embrace growth through their struggles.• Emotional conflict of leaving family behind • Importance of uncomfortable conversations in personal growth • Financial logistics of the trip to Daytona Bike Week • Celebrating last-minute business successes • Emphasizing a one-day-at-a-time approach • Humor and warmth amid challenging transitions • Balancing passions with familial obligationsIf you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

Maine's current political landscape is under fire as Governor Mills and The Maine Principal association defy federal law. Join us for a candid discussion, we explore how state leadership is failing to represent the interests of its citizens in the ongoing debate about transgender athletes in women's sports and in doing so it is also failing to protect women in sports and even jeopardizing the transgender athlete as well.• Introduction to the struggles facing Maine • Family dinner inspiration leading to the political discourse • Discussion about the major implications of Title IX and fairness • Examination of transgender athlete participation and public reactions • Analysis of the Maine Principals Association's conflicting stance • Insights into parental concerns for children in sports • Reflection on media coverage of transgender sports issues • Challenges presented by federal funding laws and state compliance • Critique of Governor Mills and her leadership decisions • Closing thoughts on what Maine needs moving forwardIf you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!

The episode delves into the transformation of comedy, especially focusing on the shift of Saturday Night Live from a beloved pastime to a divisive political commentary. By sharing personal stories of how humor has shaped relationships and identity, we explore the importance of unity in confronting societal challenges. • Discussion of childhood influences and comfort with humor • Personal anecdotes of how comedy facilitated friendships • Critique of the evolution of SNL into a political entity  • Reflection on the potential of humor to heal and unite • Emphasis on the responsibility of comedians in today's climate Government inefficiency and political accountability take center stage as we confront the frustrations of skyrocketing net worths and mysterious Social Security payments to the implausibly aged. Is transparency across political lines achievable in a system that seems rife with fraud and waste? Join us as we critique the media's role in perpetuating division and delve into pressing topics like government audits, IRS scrutiny, and the need for a balanced approach to protecting personal freedoms. Through an engaging and critical lens, we aim to spark meaningful conversations about accountability and the path to a fairer system for all.If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/Find all you need to know about the show https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/Official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077724159859Join the 2% of Americans that Buy American and support American Together we can bring back American Manufacturing https://www.loudproudamerican.shop/Loud Proud American Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoudproudamericanLoud Proud American Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loud_proud_american/Loud Proud American TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loud_proud_americanLoud Proud American YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYQtOt6KVURuySWYQ2GWtwThank you for Supporting My American Dream!