The Manufacturing Report

The Manufacturing Report
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Manufacturing is having a moment. But what will it actually take to create more blue-collar jobs and strengthen our industrial base? Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul chats with policymakers, manufacturing experts and factory workers to find out.

  1. How Two People Turned a Trip to Germany Into a Brooklyn Business Empire

    MAR 23

    How Two People Turned a Trip to Germany Into a Brooklyn Business Empire

    What happens when a cartographer and a fashion stylist go to Germany and fall in love with a canvas bag? They come home and build an American business that celebrates hometown pride with every product. Today, AAM President Scott Paul speaks with Rachel Rheingold Berick and Michael Berick, co-founders of Maptote, a Brooklyn-based company that makes map-themed totes, pouches, home goods, and accessories — all manufactured in the U.S. They share how a 2006 trip to Hamburg inspired their first Brooklyn tote, how they grew from door-to-door sales to major retail partnerships with J.Crew, HBO, and museum shops worldwide, and what it takes to build a Made-in-America brand that’s approaching its 20th anniversary. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. Check out our 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide! And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships Guest Resources https://www.maptote.com Resources & Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing

    39 min
  2. Why This Silicon Valley Academic Chose Wood, Puzzles, and American Manufacturing

    MAR 9

    Why This Silicon Valley Academic Chose Wood, Puzzles, and American Manufacturing

    What happens when an electrical engineering professor decides to skip the MBA and just… start a business? For Dr. Maya Gupta, it led to Artifact Puzzles — one of the most distinctive puzzle companies in the country. Today, AAM President Scott Paul speaks with Dr. Gupta about how she bought a laser cutter, built a manufacturing operation from scratch in Silicon Valley, and grew Artifact Puzzles into a 15-year-old business now based in Port Townsend, Wash. They discuss her patented approach to puzzle design, how co-locating design and production drives innovation, surviving the COVID puzzle boom-and-bust cycle, and why manufacturing in America lets her offer something no overseas competitor can match: piece replacements, tight customer relationships, and puzzles that spark genuine joy. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. Guest Resources https://www.artifactpuzzles.com Resources & Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing

    36 min
  3. How China Evades American Tariffs and Gets Away With It

    FEB 23

    How China Evades American Tariffs and Gets Away With It

    Winning a court case against unfair trade should mean justice, but for many American manufacturers, it doesn't. And it's costing them billions. Today, David Rashid of auto-parts maker Plews & Edelmann and Betsy Natz of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association reveal how Chinese companies are evading U.S. tariffs through transshipment, product misclassification, and third-country routing — and how winning trade cases still didn't level the playing field. They discuss the Alliance for Trade EnforcementNOW, the fight to pass the PALE Act, and why a dedicated DOJ trade crime unit is critical to protecting American workers and manufacturers. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. Check out our Made in America Directory! And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships Guest Resources Alliance for Trade Enforcement: https://www.enforcementnow.com David Rashid — Plews & Edelmann https://www.plews-edelmann.com Betsy Natz — Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) https://kcma.org Resources & Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya via Pexels

    41 min
  4. A Factory That Refused to Die

    FEB 9

    A Factory That Refused to Die

    Buying a business is hard. Holding and growing it for decades is even harder. Today, Gat Caperton shares how he acquired a struggling West Virginia furniture maker at age 29 and spent nearly three decades building Gat Creek into a resilient, American-made manufacturer. He discusses applying lean manufacturing, investing heavily in technology, and surviving the “China Shock” by differentiating on quality and values. Gat also reflects on tariffs, sustainability, and how domestic manufacturing supports rural communities, jobs, and long-term economic resilience. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships Guest Resources https://www.gatcreek.com/ Resources & Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing

    34 min
  5. Why This Army Veteran Refused to Make His Product Overseas

    JAN 26

    Why This Army Veteran Refused to Make His Product Overseas

    The idea for this company didn’t start in a boardroom — it started under a military helmet. Today, Scott Paul speaks with Haidar Hamoud, founder of HaakWear, about reinventing the traditional beanie through American manufacturing. Haidar shares how his U.S. Army experience inspired a patented stitch design that eliminates discomfort, why he chose to manufacture entirely in Cleveland, and how rigorous testing and customer feedback guide the company’s product development. They discuss the challenges of starting a manufacturing business from scratch and HaakWear’s commitment to community impact and ethical production. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. Check out our 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide! And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships Guest Resources https://www.haakwear.com Resources & Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing

    35 min
  6. One TV Segment Changed Everything for These American Makers

    JAN 12

    One TV Segment Changed Everything for These American Makers

    Happy 2026! Today we’re featuring two artisan makers who were spotlighted in AAM’s holiday gift guide. Treeworks founder & co-owner Meaghan Goulder shares their evolution from arborist work to full-time spoon making, and the importance of sustainable wood sourcing. Dirty South Pottery co-owner Carvel Norman shares how he and his wife built a functional ceramics brand, the success of their signature mugs, and lessons on following customer demand after a surge from CBS Sunday Morning. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships Guest Resources https://treeworksidaho.com https://www.dirtysouthpottery.com Resources & Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide: https://bit.ly/2025Gifts Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest: https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/digest-sign-up or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis: https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/subscribe Check out our Made In America Directory: https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/made-in-america/ You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-manufacturing-report/id1213359909 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3jAoV4AHejHd36wSjSEPMs Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing More About The Manufacturing Report While America is charting its way through a crisis like no other, we've rediscovered the value and importance of making things right here. Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul chats with policy makers, manufacturing experts and factory workers to find out. The Manufacturing Report has featured interviews with Ben and Erin Napier of HGTV's hit show "Home Town", American Giant CEO Bayard Winthrop, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the stars of "Working Man" (2019), and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage among others.

    45 min
  7. The Year of the Tariff

    12/29/2025

    The Year of the Tariff

    2025 will be remembered as the year tariffs took center stage in U.S. trade policy. Today, AAM President Scott Paul and AAM Director of Media Relations, Cat Adams, recap 2025 and walk us through the Trump administration’s trade actions from day one through a pivotal Supreme Court showdown. They examine sweeping new tariffs, market and political backlash, and competing arguments over costs versus strategic benefits. From everyone at AAM, thanks for listening all year long. We wish you a happy holiday season and a strong, successful New Year. See you in 2026! 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. Check out our 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide! And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships Resources & Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing

    29 min
  8. How City Threads Survived Fast Fashion and Kept Making Clothes in the USA

    12/22/2025

    How City Threads Survived Fast Fashion and Kept Making Clothes in the USA

    In an industry dominated by imports, one company stayed local — and competitive. AAM President Scott Paul speaks with City Threads founders Shayna Samuels and Joe Willis about building a Made-in-USA apparel brand from the ground up. They discuss how City Threads grew from early boutique sales into a national direct-to-consumer business, why they prioritize U.S. cut-and-sew manufacturing, and how customer feedback shaped their shift toward comfortable, clearly labeled cotton basics. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. Check out our 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide! And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships Guest Resources https://www.citythreads.com/ Resources & Links 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest. or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis Check out our Made In America Directory And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America! https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing

    46 min
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About

Manufacturing is having a moment. But what will it actually take to create more blue-collar jobs and strengthen our industrial base? Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul chats with policymakers, manufacturing experts and factory workers to find out.

Information

  • Creator
    The Manufacturing Report
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    275
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Manufacturing Report

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