Building The Future

BuildingTheFuture
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Building the Future is the podcast for the next generation of kids/young adults, and preparing them for the workforce. Hosted by Luke Bristow, we sit down with tradespeople, business owners, and industry leaders for real conversations about building a career and life you're proud of. No fluff, no filters - just real people and real opportunity. Let's build our future together.

Episodes

  1. 43 min ago

    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, stepping away from equipment, and watching his studio venture fail, Royce returned to the work he enjoyed and began building a business around excavation and land clearing. Royce discusses buying equipment, managing insurance and cash flow, finding customers through door-to-door marketing and Google reviews, and learning from costly jobs. The conversation also covers dump trucks, trailers, competition, hiring, long hours, and the difference between owning equipment and building a sustainable business. This episode is for students, young adults, tradespeople, and aspiring business owners weighing college, trade school, employment, or entrepreneurship.

  2. 19 Aug

    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 people and working families. The group brings the question down to everyday math: buying a home with less than 20% down, PMI and first-time-buyer financing, emergency funds, credit cards, housing and utility costs, transportation, healthcare, food, and lifestyle choices. They also compare college, military service, and the trades while examining wages, job benefits, and what it takes to build a workable monthly budget. Part 2 is for students, young adults, parents, and working families making decisions about careers, spending, healthcare, homeownership, and building a stable future.

  3. 12 Aug

    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-made suit. Colby explains the difference between suit jackets and sport coats, how fabric choices range from practical everyday options to luxury wools, and why measurements, fit, color, pattern, shoes, ties, and linings matter. The conversation also covers warm-weather and wrinkle-resistant fabrics, common suit mistakes, and why custom clothing is about confidence and service as much as appearance. Colby also shares lessons from taking over a business, earning the trust of his colleagues, following his passion, and building an experience customers remember. This episode is for students, young adults, business owners, and anyone interested in craftsmanship, personal style, sales, or entrepreneurship.

  4. 5 Aug

    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 people and working families. The group examines rising housing and living costs, household income, credit card debt, and the disappearance of affordable starter homes. They also discuss college versus the trades, lifestyle expectations, saving, sacrifice, and how career choices affect long-term financial stability. Part 1 explores the pressures shaping everyday financial decisions and what students, young adults, parents, and working families should consider as they plan for education, work, homeownership, and a stable future.

  5. 29 Jul

    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 removed. Denny explains why healthy trees need thoughtful care, and why dead ash trees can remain dangerous even when they are still standing. They discuss a climbing close call, safety standards, root damage caused by construction, and the challenges of building around massive trees on steep sites. Denny also shares stories about ancient oaks, tough mulberries, hidden tree-removal work, and what young people need to learn before entering the tree industry. The conversation also turns to business: why quality, reputation, and satisfied customers can matter more than a large advertising budget. This episode offers a grounded look at professional tree work for students, tradespeople, builders, property owners, and anyone curious about caring for mature trees.

  6. 22 Jul

    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 shares how he turned a layoff into an opportunity, the lessons he has learned from building businesses, and why your attitude, relationships, and willingness to keep learning matter just as much as your technical skills. Whether you are a student exploring careers, a tradesperson looking to grow, or a business owner building a team, this episode is packed with practical advice and hard-earned perspective.

  7. 15 Jul

    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 business. Josh talks about trying different jobs before committing to a career, learning through mistakes, and recognizing the difference between aimless job hopping and purposeful career exploration. We also discuss the real grind behind succeeding in the trades, turning mower repair into a side hustle, starting with affordable tools, avoiding unnecessary debt, and upgrading equipment only when the work demands it. Josh also explains how he uses AI to track down hard-to-find parts, why career changes should not be feared, and how he has learned to set boundaries when there is more work than he can handle. This episode is a practical conversation about exploring your options, building useful skills, and creating a career one opportunity at a time.

  8. 8 Jul

    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 this week is Wes Stover who has been a teacher in public education for decades.In Episode 2, we continue exploring real stories from real people - the kind of conversations students and young adults need as they think about their next steps.Whether you are interested in the trades, still figuring out your path, or just looking for practical wisdom from people who have been there, this episode is worth a listen.

  9. 3 Jul

    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 path to success, and how young people can build real-world skills that lead to opportunity. We cover the mission behind Building The Future, the need for hands-on education, and what it means to prepare the next generation for meaningful work.

  • 9 Episodes

About

Building the Future is the podcast for the next generation of kids/young adults, and preparing them for the workforce. Hosted by Luke Bristow, we sit down with tradespeople, business owners, and industry leaders for real conversations about building a career and life you're proud of. No fluff, no filters - just real people and real opportunity. Let's build our future together.

Information

  • Creator
    BuildingTheFuture
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © BuildingTheFuture
  • Show Website
    Building The Future