Building The Future
Building The Future empowers young people to build successful careers and better lives. https://linktr.ee/buildingthefutureorg
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Episode 17: From a Push Mower to a 50-Person Team with Riley Marvin
<p>What does it take to turn an after-school mowing business into a commercial landscaping company? On Episode 17 of Building The Future Show, Riley Marvin from Alpha 1 Landscapes traces his path from borrowing his dad’s push mower to leading a team of about 50 people in central Iowa. Riley talks about changing direction in college, learning from an underpriced first commercial project, and becoming a better boss after an early crew quit. The conversation explores the work behind commercial landscaping, from hardscapes and irrigation to erosion control, along with the pricing, seasonal planning, and cash-flow challenges of running the business.Fo...
Episode 16: Why Great Electricians Need People Skills with Ben Kolo
<p>Knowing the code and finding the fault are only part of the job. On Episode 16 of Building The Future Show, Ben Kolo from Mr. Electric explains why communication, trust, and attitude matter alongside an electrician’s technical skills.Ben walks through the details of residential service, from preparing a van the night before to helping a homeowner understand the work they actually need. The conversation also covers apprenticeship and hands-on training, the responsibility to teach the next person, and Ben’s own change of direction from studying electrical engineering to working in the trade.For people building a career or l...
Episode 15: Opening the Door to Skilled Careers with Zach Nunn
<p>A skilled career needs a clear starting point. Zach Nunn joins the Building The Future Show to discuss how young people discover those paths, what keeps them from getting started, and why the people who build and maintain our communities matter.</p><p><br></p><p>The conversation covers apprenticeships, community-college training, rural housing, and the workforce behind new technology. Zach describes his route through military service and into Congress, while the team shares stories of changing careers, learning practical skills, and finding pride in finished work.</p><p><br></p><p>For students, parents, educators, employers, and anyone...
Episode 14: Can You Build a Better Life on a Tight Budget with Ben Sampica
<p>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 getting by toward building a better life. The conversation returns to the series’ household-budget example and asks what meaningful progress looks like when money, time, and local opportunities are limited.</p><p><br></p><p>The group discusses career growth, asking better questions about pay and benefits, advocating for yourself, and recognizing when a job or location offers little room to grow. They also consider emergency savings, borrowing decisions, extra income, tr...
Episode 13: One Lecture Changed His Career Path
<p>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, waterfalls, and the team behind them.</p><p><br></p><p>On the Building The Future Show, Will explains how a water feature becomes a living ecosystem, why the way a customer wants to use a yard matters, and how small design decisions change the finished experience. He also shares what he learned by taking on sales, maintenance, business operations, and production as the company needed help.</p><p><br><...
Episode 12: Can AI Do Your Job? We Ask ChatGPT Astra 6
<p>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 MacBook for a conversation about work, judgment, and the limits of a confident answer.</p><p><br>We compare our own experiences using AI, challenge what it can do on a jobsite, and put questions directly to Astra. The conversation moves from practical office tasks and software ideas to business advice, apprenticeships, and choosing a career. We also ask whether an AI answer reflects our earlier conversations in...
Episode 11: Building a Trucking Business with Cassie Cannon
<p>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 of her own. From childhood rides with her dad to one truck, one driver, and daily calls looking for work, Cassie explains how she found her place in the industry.The conversation covers earning repeat business, working with brokers, buying and maintaining trucks, keeping accurate records, and handling the cash-flow gap between doing the work and getting paid. Cassie also shares the responsibility of providing steady work for a team...
Episode 10: Can Young People Still Afford the American Dream? Part 3 with Blake Haan
<p>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 reach the American Dream.</p><p>Blake and the group discuss housing, debt, income, lifestyle expectations, sacrifice, and family priorities. They examine how career choices, practical skills, spending habits, and decisions made early in life shape what becomes affordable over time, while asking whether money alone defines success.</p><p>This episode is for students, young adults, parents, and working families weighing career paths, homeownership, family goals, and the tradeoffs required to build...
Episode 9: From a Failed Studio to an Excavation Business with Royce Johns
<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><...
Episode 8: Can Young People Still Afford the American Dream? Part 2 with Ben Sampica
<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Part 2 is for students, young adults, parents...
