Building The Future

Episode 14: Can You Build a Better Life on a Tight Budget with Ben Sampica

What comes after a budget that barely covers the bills? In Affordability Part 4, Ben Sampica joins the Building The Future Show to explore how people can move from gettin

Episode 13: One Lecture Changed His Career Path

A guest lecture introduced Will Ries to the person who became his boss. That connection led him to Just Add Water, where an internship became a career building ponds, wat

Episode 12: Can AI Do Your Job? We Ask ChatGPT Astra 6

What can AI take off your plate, and what still needs a person who knows the work? In Episode 12 of the Building The Future Show, ChatGPT Astra 6 joins us through a MacBo

Episode 11: Building a Trucking Business with Cassie Cannon

Cassie Cannon of FC Trucking joins Building The Future Show to share a family story that began with her grandfather hauling grain and led to building a trucking business

Episode 10: Can Young People Still Afford the American Dream? Part 3 with Blake Haan

Blake Haan joins Building The Future for Part 3 of our affordability series, continuing the conversation about whether young people can still build a stable life and reac

Episode 9: From a Failed Studio to an Excavation Business with Royce Johns

Royce Johns joins Building The Future to share his unexpected path from singer-songwriter and studio owner to excavation business owner. After building his own home, step

Episode 8: Can Young People Still Afford the American Dream? Part 2 with Ben Sampica

Ben Sampica returns to Building The Future for the second half of our conversation about affordability and whether the American Dream remains within reach for young peopl

Episode 7: More Than a Suit with Colby Elmitt

Colby Elmitt, who runs Langel and Wood, joins Building The Future for a practical conversation about custom clothing, customer experience, and the business behind a well-

Episode 6: Can Young People Still Afford the American Dream? Part 1 with Ben Sampica

Ben Sampica joins Building The Future for the first half of a two-part conversation about affordability and whether the American Dream remains within reach for young peop

Episode 5: Tree Health Before Tree Removal with Denny Deaken

Denny Deaken joins Luke Bristow for a practical conversation about tree care, jobsite safety, and the judgment behind deciding whether a tree should be protected or remov

Episode 4: Turning Setbacks Into Opportunity with Peter Cooper

Peter Cooper joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, skilled trades, apprenticeships, hiring, education, and building a career that lasts. Peter

Episode 3: Building a Business One Repair at a Time

Josh Stover, owner of Stover’s Motors, joins us to share how he went from playing jazz saxophone and growing up in rural Iowa to building his own small-engine repair busi

Episode 2: Discipline Builds Futures

The Building The Future Podcast is back with another conversation about work, discipline, career paths, and what it takes to build a future you can be proud of. Our guest

Episode 1: Building The Future

In our very first episode, we sit down with Blake Haan, Executive Director of Building The Future, to talk about why skilled trades matter, why college is not the only pa