America is running out of workers and time. The baby boomers are retiring, birth rates are collapsing, and colleges are struggling to prove their value. In the middle of that chaos, a new movement is forming built on skills, not degrees.
In this episode of The American Dream Factory, hosts Nick Smoot and Joseph Toney talk with Josh Wright, Head of Growth and Partnerships at Lightcast, one of the world’s top labor market data firms. Together they explore a defining question for America’s next chapter: can the nation rebuild its workforce fast enough to handle the coming labor storm?
Josh, a former journalist turned data storyteller, shares insights from Lightcast’s Rising Storm report, revealing how demographics, education gaps, and untapped human potential are reshaping the labor market. The conversation moves from workforce data to civic purpose, showing how cities, schools, and employers can realign around skills and human creativity instead of outdated systems.
This is more than an economic discussion. It is a moral one about how we value people, purpose, and contribution in the next American century.
The Great Workforce Reckoning
Baby boomers are aging out while the next generation is smaller and slower to engage. Labor shortages are hitting manufacturing, healthcare, trades, and public works hardest. America’s talent pool is shrinking, and the gap between open roles and available skills is growing.
Degrees Are Losing Their Power
A four-year degree no longer guarantees opportunity. Employers are shifting toward skills-based hiring, yet systems for verifying skills are still forming. Parents remain one of the biggest barriers, pushing children toward traditional degrees even as the trades and new credentials gain traction.
Data as Civic Infrastructure
Lightcast’s 34,000-skill taxonomy shows which abilities matter most right now and where. When data flows between educators, employers, and governments, cities thrive. Without shared data, everyone is guessing and losing.
The Hidden Workforce
Millions of Americans already have valuable but invisible skills. Unlocking that hidden capacity can fill jobs, drive innovation, and rebuild civic pride. Cities that activate this potential will outcompete those that do not.
The Moral Imperative of Work
Work is not only about money. It is about meaning, belonging, and participation. The Skills Revolution is the path to restoring human purpose in an automated world.
The Demographic Drought series and its warning for U.S. labor markets
The decline of degree-based hiring and rise of digital credentials
How cities can use data to align workforce pipelines
Immigration’s impact on the workforce crisis
The role of parents, perception, and pride in shaping the next generation of workers
Real examples from Greensboro, North Carolina and Fargo, North Dakota showing how data builds resilient cities
“You cannot separate skills from the individual, their learning, and their lived experience.” — Josh Wright
“The data does not solve the problem. People do. But the right data helps people take better action.” — Josh Wright
“There is a missing dataset, the skills people already have but no one can see. That is the next frontier for cities.” — Nick Smoot
Lightcast — Global leader in workforce and labor market data
The Rising Storm report — Insights on the demographic labor crisis
Guest: Josh Wright, Head of Growth and Partnerships, Lightcast
Hosts: Nick Smoot and Joseph Toney
Learn more at AmericanDreamFactory.com or email nick@americandreamfactory.com
In this episode of The American Dream Factory, hosts Nick Smoot and Joseph Toney sit down with creative veteran Lee Davis, founder of Clean, a Raleigh-based agency known for its soulful approach to branding. Lee’s three-decade journey spans legendary firms like Wieden+Kennedy and J&J, giving him a rare vantage point on how brands—and cities—can rediscover their essence.
Together, the trio unpacks what it means to build belonging in an age of isolation. Lee reflects on how communities lose their identity when they chase growth without soul, and why cities need to stop marketing for tourists and start engaging their residents. From Raleigh’s “City of Oaks” to Durham’s bold “Marry Durham” campaign, they explore how design, storytelling, and community behavior can transform a place into something people feel.
Key Themes:
The difference between brand and marketing—and why cities often get both wrong
Why it’s okay to “offend” people in branding—and why not every city can (or should) be for everyone
The hidden cost of moving from the front porch to the backyard
How sports, design, and shared storytelling can rebuild civic pride
The spiritual side of place-making—and how “we” must matter more than “me”
Takeaways:
Great cities, like great brands, are built on truth and tension, not slogans.
The best marketers for your city are its residents—if you give them something to believe in.
Growth without identity breaks community; design for the people who already live there first.
Learn More:
Follow Lee and his team at Clean Agency and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Join the American Dream Factory community at AmericanDreamFactory.com for updates, live events, and tools for city leaders and builders.
In this episode of American Dream Factory, Nick and Joe sit down with two transformative leaders in the world of politics, community, media, and capitalism:
Matthew Barzun – Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. & Sweden, bestselling author of The Power of Giving Away Power, and architect of “constellation thinking.”
Seth Levine – Venture capitalist, co-founder of Foundry ($4B under management), and co-author of The New Builders, with a new book Capital Evolution releasing December 2025.
Together, they explore what it will take to reboot the American Dream in an era where trust in institutions is collapsing, cities are strained, and communities are hungry for new ways of working together.
Join our community of city leaders at AmericanDreamFactory.com and learn how to get the city building tool, BuildCities.com for free.
Chapters
Chapters
00:00 The American Dream: A Shared Vision
09:22 The Role of Venture Capital in Empowering Entrepreneurs
12:12 Meritocracy and Economic Mobility
15:11 Populism and the American Dream
21:12 Collaboration vs. Competition in Governance
24:02 Reimagining Capitalism for the Future
26:59 Local Businesses and Community Development
35:17 Navigating Local Government Regulations
37:25 Community Engagement and Overcoming Barriers
39:11 The Interdependence of Community and Economy
44:07 Building Trust Through Collaborative Efforts
44:45 The Role of Local Government in Community Dynamics
50:20 Creating a Culture of Open Dialogue
55:01 The Power of Shared Vision in Community Development
01:04:02 Bridging the Political Divide
01:04:54 The Importance of Deliberate Processes
01:09:51 The Role of Community in Decision Making
01:14:55 Navigating Future Paths
01:20:37 Creating a Collaborative Future
01:26:16 Building a Community of Leaders
If you have future guests you'd like us to interview, email us at LFG@AmericanDreamFactory.com
In this episode Nick Smoot sits down with Ernesto Sirolli of the Sirolli Institute.
Chapters
09:42 Engagement with the Community
26:00 Lessons from International Aid
42:36 The Joy of Helping Others
46:24 Building Community Through Collaboration
56:21 The Importance of Passion in Business
01:00:22 The Role of Cooperatives in Society
01:06:08 The Nature of Entrepreneurship
01:08:57 The Debate of Nature vs. Nurture in Development
01:12:03 The Role of Pain and Love in Growth
01:13:50 The Importance of Community Participation
01:15:24 Finding Passion and Purpose in Work
01:17:46 Creating Value and Beauty in the World
01:19:08 The Journey from Idea to Market
01:19:57 The Sacred Act of Creation
01:21:00 Unlocking Social Capital for Community Growth
01:23:59 Measuring Community Prosperity through Social Capital
01:25:42 The Role of Frameworks in Economic Development
01:27:56 Indicators of Community Success
01:32:41 Enlightened Capitalism and Community Transformation
01:35:09 The Unexpected Beauty of Human Potential
01:38:10 The Importance of Digital Infrastructure
01:39:57 Empowering Communities for the Future
What does it take to lead a city when everything is on fire... literally and figuratively?
In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with longtime friend and civic leader Joe Toney, who has spent nearly two decades inside city government, including serving as City Manager of Malibu during the recent catastrophic wildfires.
Together, they dive deep into what’s breaking modern cities—and what might still save them.
From AI and remote work to affordability, isolation, and polarization, cities today are struggling under a storm of converging forces. Joe offers a rare inside look at the emotional, operational, and political pressure of managing a city during crisis, while Nick challenges what’s possible for the future of work, belonging, and civic life.
What You’ll Learn:
– What really happens behind the scenes when a city is in disaster
– Why cities can’t pivot fast—and what that costs
– The emotional toll of being “number two” in civic leadership
– Why purpose and community might be the best mental health infrastructure
– How policy and entrepreneurship could align to rebuild social fabric
– Whether AI, ambition, and affordability will break cities—or make them better
Who It’s For:
– City and civic leaders
– Entrepreneurs, policy makers, and reformers
– Anyone who cares about community, belonging, or the future of work
– People trying to lead something hard, in a time of instability
Quote Highlights:
“Running a city today is like steering a ship through a hurricane while everyone on board argues about the map.”“Belonging isn’t a luxury. It’s infrastructure.”“We expect city leaders to fix everything, fast, but they’re operating inside decades of decisions that weren’t built for now.”
07:43 High School Experience and Preparedness
12:29 The Skills Gap in Education
15:04 Value of College in Today's World
21:32 Reimagining High School Education
29:33 The Role of AI in Education and Work
30:57 Perspectives on the Future of Work
32:56 The Impact of AI on Job Roles
36:13 The Evolution of Education and Experience
38:16 Redefining the Value of Education
41:20 Personal Experiences and Learning
45:05 Addressing Mental Health and Wellbeing
49:19 The Necessity of High School in the Age of AI
54:48 Empowering Young Entrepreneurs with AI
57:24 The Future of Entry-Level Jobs
59:45 The Evolution of Skills and Roles
01:02:43 Education's Role in a Changing World
01:09:28 Building a New Generation of Innovators
01:20:00 Creating Meaningful Impact Through Education
In this bold and timely episode, host Nick Smoot is joined by Ian Christianson (a newly graduated 18-year-old entrepreneur and camp counselor) and Patrick Gallagher (leadership advisor to engineering executives) to explore the future of high school in an AI-driven world and introduce a new education initiative called Pragma.
Together, they unpack the question:
Is high school still necessary in an era where AI automates knowledge and traditional jobs are disappearing?
Spoiler: Yes — but it must evolve.
The Crisis in Education:
Why 68% of teens and 85% of college grads feel unprepared for real life or work — and why employers agree.
What the Future Demands:
From AI to robotics, the new world requires high-agency, emotionally intelligent, curiosity-driven creators.
Real Voices:
Ian shares his perspective as a Gen Z student — what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to change fast.
The Role of AI in Learning:
How AI can handle knowledge transfer while humans focus on building relationships, solving problems, and cultivating taste.
Introducing PRAGMA:
A new program designed to help 17- and 18-year-olds become high-performing humans who launch real-world projects.
Think:
Hands-on projects
Access to world-class mentors
Personal development and emotional intelligence
A new path to flourishing in the modern world
Learn more about Pragma: Coming soon
Contact Nick: nick@buildcities.com
Connect with Patrick: LinkedIn – Patrick Gallagher
Connect with Ian: Instagram @christianson_ian
Learn about Build_ platform: buildcities.com
“Teenagers are no longer waiting to grow up. The world is changing too fast. We need to equip them now — not just to learn, but to lead.”
Welcome to the American Dream Factory. Let’s build something that matters.
🔥 Key Quotes:
“We’re no longer training people to be workers. We’re training them to be solvers.” – Nick Smoot
“I think the future of work is using AI as a tool — not a crutch. We need operators, not passengers.” – Ian Christianson
“The old entry-level job is gone. The new one is building something real that adds value.” – Patrick Gallagher
“Taste is the new moat. The differentiator is no longer what you know, but what you create.” – Nick Smoot
Think AI is just for tech bros, coders, or billionaires building robot empires? Think again.
In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with AI expert Josh Freckleton to break down what artificial intelligence really is, what it actually does today, and how "normal people" can start using it to make work easier, faster, and better.
Josh went from studying the human brain to building digital ones and now he helps everyday business owners, founders, and curious creatives figure out how to use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini, and Hugging Face without needing to speak “tech.”
This is the plain-English, no-hype, real-world AI episode you’ve been waiting for.
👤 About Josh Freckleton
Josh Freckleton is a North Idaho–based AI researcher and software engineer focused on real-world applications of artificial intelligence. He began his career studying neuroscience, then shifted to AI after realizing the biggest questions about intelligence and reasoning were being explored through code. Josh has built systems for startups and large companies alike, and now leads the North Idaho Machine Learning & AI Group — a community where engineers, creatives, and business owners explore how to integrate AI into everyday life and work. His goal is to make intelligence tools useful, understandable, and accessible to everyone.
💬 tinyurl.com/discord-ai-group
🎙️ About Nick Smoot
Nick Smoot is a civic futurist, founder, and economic strategist who has spent over a decade helping cities and companies adapt to the future of work, innovation, and human purpose. He is a founder of build_, a global platform that activates local economies through project-based incentives and AI-powered collaboration. With a background spanning startups, venture capital, real estate development, and public policy, Nick’s work focuses on rethinking how communities build, how people contribute, and how technology can unlock human flourishing.
What if the most powerful new protocol in AI wasn’t being shaped in Silicon Valley… but in a basement in North Idaho?
Enter Paul Swaim and Garrett Oetken, two innovators who went from community college hallway conversations to becoming key architects of BitTensor, a $3B+ decentralized AI network reshaping the future of work, research, and economic contribution.
Garrett dropped out of college. Paul spent years as an IT leader working at one. Both found themselves in North Idaho, guided by curiosity and a shared desire to make a meaningful impact. As they got pulled into the innovation culture blossoming in Coeur d’Alene, they began to dream bigger about what they could build, and who they could become.
Together, they co-founded a startup and went on to help create the leading global, merit-based AI economy that rewards contributors, not credentials.
This isn’t just a tech story.
It’s a blueprint for how small towns can birth big revolutions.
Chapters
04:08 The Evolution of Technology and Infrastructure
09:26 Digital Transformation in Education
11:50 Building Infrastructure in Rural Areas
15:23 Decentralized Future and Community Ownership
17:44 The Future of Energy and Nuclear Innovations
30:49 Building Community for Entrepreneurship
32:35 The Emergence of Blockchain and Innovation
33:19 Understanding BitTensor and Its Mechanisms
36:57 The Role of Miners and Validators in BitTensor
40:26 Incentive Mechanisms and Competition in Subnets
52:54 Monetizing Data and the Future of AI Innovation
56:58 Introduction to Macrocosmos and Its Team
58:11 Understanding Protein Folding and Its Applications
59:43 The Future of Work and Merit-Based Protocols
01:02:21 Decentralized Approaches Beyond AI
01:05:47 Real-World Applications and Community Engagement
01:08:14 The Role of Education in a Changing Landscape
01:12:59 Building a New Future Together
01:16:50 Engaging with the BitTensor Community
This episode challenges the broken narrative around the American Dream and reframes it as a mindset, not a marketing slogan. He dives into the importance of creation over consumption, the undervalued wisdom of older generations, and the truth that you’re never too old (or too young) to build something of real value.
Nick shares stories of his friend and aerospace legend Burt Rutan: the man who invented private space travel and is still designing planes at age 83. The episode also features a tribute to Max Faget, a high-impact inventor with no college degree who helped shape modern space capsules and inspired Rutan deep into his 90s.
This episode is both a wake-up call and a love letter to dreamers, doers, and underdogs of all ages.
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
Why the American Dream isn’t about white picket fences, but about freedom to grind and create
The dangers of a consumer-only culture and how to reclaim our creative birthright
How storytelling nights around the world are reactivating towns and turning residents into creators
The incredible story of Burt Rutan, his 50th commercial airplane, and his lifelong grind
Why degrees and credentials aren’t the only paths to greatness (hello, Max Faget)
A reminder that innovation and impact have no age limit
🛠️ Tools & Resources:
BuildCities.com — A new platform for local collaboration and economic awakening
Black Sky Documentary — Watch on YouTube
🔥 Takeaway Quote:
“You are never too young or too old to chase and create the American Dream. Go build things of beauty and value.” — Nick Smoot
📣 Join the Movement:
Become a part of the American Dream Factory by showing up, building your project, and joining others in your city who are grinding for something better. Follow along at BuildCities.com.
Before Google Maps. Before smartphones. Before Silicon Valley gave mobile a second thought — the Blumberg brothers were strapping GPS units to PalmPilots and piping real estate data through them.
In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with Brad and Eric Blumberg, the underdog inventors who quietly pioneered location-based real estate search and filed the first patents that would later shape the mobile experience we take for granted.
From living a few blocks apart in Jersey to battling billion-dollar giants over the definition of “proximate,” the brothers share their wild ride through invention, patent wars, early startup life, and building trust with major partners before “startup” was even a cultural word.
This one’s about grit, timing, vision — and being early enough that people thought you were crazy.
They were the first to hack GPS and mobile devices to make real estate location-aware.
At a time when telecom was obsessed with “minutes,” they were shouting: “It’s about data.”
Selling a vision is often harder than building the tech.
They faced deep skepticism from insiders who couldn’t see the future — yet.
Real innovation demands a shift in perception — and persistence when no one’s clapping yet.
They proved you could shop for homes on a tiny screen long before Zillow or Redfin.
Innovation often starts by refusing to follow the rules everyone else takes for granted.
They stuck to their vision even through lawsuits, economic downturns, and tech shifts.
Progress doesn’t happen in a straight line — it’s messy, hard, and worth it.
At the center of it all: understanding real user needs, not just market trends.
Check out AstorKey, their newest innovation using encrypted, decentralized data to rethink how mortgages are done — without giving up your identity to the internet forever.
17:55 Pioneering Patents: The First Steps in Innovation
51:52 Defending Patents: The Journey
01:00:58 The Reality of Intellectual Property
In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with Susan Paley, the powerhouse behind the early days of Beats by Dre. Before Beats became a global icon, it was Susan — employee one, founding CEO — who brokered the partnerships, built the business model, and turned the brand from an idea into a global force.
Susan shares how she navigated the chaos of startup life at the highest stakes, made the deals that fueled a cultural movement, and why simplicity is the hidden lever behind every great company. From early internet ventures to hardware innovation, her career is a blueprint for building in uncertain environments.
Today, Susan leads Beacon, where she has pulled together the best minds in global hardware manufacturing to help the next generation of founders build faster and smarter. We also dive into her perspective on innovation, leadership under pressure, and how places like Coeur d’Alene are becoming new frontiers for bold builders.
If you want to understand what it takes to create real momentum — and survive the pressure — this is a conversation you will not want to miss.
Highlights:
How Susan built Beats into a company with no map, no playbook, and no safety net
Lessons in deal-making: why listening wins and aggression loses
Why hardware matters again — and how Beacon is helping founders scale
How Build_ Coeur d’Alene is laying the groundwork for 100 new companies
The mindset required to build when the rules are being written in real time
Want to meet Susan in person?
She will be live at Build_ Coeur d’Alene on April 30 and May 1, sharing more stories, lessons, and energy with the builders of North Idaho. Request your invite today at [Build_ Coeur d’Alene].
Chapters
00:00 The Love for Volleyball
11:14 The Evolution of Sports and Gaming
14:17 From Chicago to LA: A Journey into Film
17:11 The Internet Boom and Early Innovations
20:13 Navigating the Audio Industry
26:15 The Art of Deal-Making
33:20 Life in Los Angeles: A Dual Perspective
34:39 The Traffic Dilemma in LA
37:01 Resilience and Reinvention in Los Angeles
41:24 The Evolution of Beats by Dre
47:46 Lessons from the Beats Experience
51:17 Empowering the Next Generation of Hardware Entrepreneurs
56:55 Unlocking Hidden Innovations in Research
In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with Javis Cornett, Audience Development Director at Hagadone Media, to announce a groundbreaking partnership between Build_ and The Coeur d’Alene Press. This isn’t just a media collab. It’s the birth of a modern business community—where local news, startups, mentorship, and creativity converge to reshape the future of North Idaho.
Whether you’ve got a dream project, a big idea, or you’re just looking for your tribe—this episode lays out how the new Build_ membership gives you the tools, access, and support to actually build it.
🚨 Big Announcement:
We’re kicking things off with an exclusive meet & greet for CDA Press subscribers featuring the Founding CEO of Beats by Dre, Susan Paley—a woman who scaled Beats to a $3.2B exit to Apple.
🎧 Meet Susan Paley – Live in CDA:
🗓️ April 30 @ 7 PM
What You’ll Learn:
Why Build_ and Hagadone Media teamed up (and why it matters now)
How this new membership reinvents what local media can be
What’s included in the Build_ subscription (hint: access to mentors, startup resources, local coworking, and venture capital opportunities)
How you can start building your dream project with real support
Why local storytelling and entrepreneurship belong in the same room
Best Quote: “You could sit at home and watch more YouTube… or you could go build something real. Don’t go to the grave with the song in your heart you never sang.” – Nick Smoot
🎁 What You Get as a Member:
🗞️ Digital CDA Press subscription
📘 Quarterly Build_ Journal (local startup news + national inspiration)
🧑🚀 Access to Build Circles (small group accountability)
💡 Invitations to premium live events & mentorship sessions
🚀 Project dashboard, coaching, and matching to capital or collaborators
🏛️ Option to add coworking, pool, gym, and conference space
Ready to Join?
Start building with us at buildjournal.club.
Free and premium levels available.
For questions or partnership inquiries, reach out to nick@buildcities.com.
🎙 Show Notes:
In this solo drop, Nick Smoot lays down a rapid-fire take on the real American Dream, the cultural war around who gets to speak, and why reading is the ultimate act of rebellion in the algorithm age.
Here’s what you’ll hear:
If you’re tired of being fed the dream and ready to actually build it, this one’s for you.
🧠 Join the movement: buildjournal.club
📚 Read a book. Then build something that matters.
In this inspiring and wide-ranging episode, Nick sits down with Julian Guthrie, a Pulitzer-nominated journalist, bestselling author, and now AI startup founder, who calls Hayden, Idaho home.
Julian opens up about:
This is a conversation about words, power, purpose and why story matters more than ever.
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
🌎 Guest Links:
🏗️ Join the build_ Community:
Julian is a proud build_ member and mentor, actively collaborating with AI experts and fellow builders. Want to connect with incredible people like her?
📍 Become a member at buildjournal.club
🌐 Attend events, find mentors, and build your vision with us.
05:31 Optimism and Resilience in Life
10:52 Morning Routines and Systems for Success
14:19 The Importance of Personal Stories
17:45 The Evolution of Journalism
22:31 Tech's Impact on Journalism and San Francisco
27:19 Empathy and Action in Addressing Urban Issues
33:00 The Future of Journalism: Balancing Tradition and Technology
40:01 From Journalist to Founder: Julian's Journey with Alfie
47:41 Empowering Communication: The Role of HarmCheck
55:15 Finding Your Story: The Importance of Narrative
Welcome to The American Dream Factory, where we don’t sugarcoat reality — we design for it. In this spicy solo episode, Nick Smoot serves up a no-BS framework for building better systems, companies, communities, and lives by embracing one hard truth:
👉 Humans are selfish. Stop expecting otherwise.
Instead of hoping for good behavior, plan for predictable behavior. Create rules and incentives that make doing the right thing the easiest (and most rewarding) thing. Whether you’re leading a city or starting a side hustle, this episode will help you flip your mindset and win the game by designing it better.
📚 THE 4 BOOKS TO BUILD A SHARPER MINDSET:
💡 Key ideas in this episode:
🚀 Want to be part of a movement building real cities and actual impact?
Join us at buildjournal.club — tools, events, goals, and a community of creators who are worldbuilding offline.
Points, progress, podcasts, and purpose. We’re done playing video games. This is the real one.
Questions? Ideas? Want to argue about human nature? Hit up Nick. And if this hit home, send it to a fellow builder. Nick@buildcities.com
#EveryoneIsSelfish #BuildPodcast #TheAmericanDreamFactory #DesignTheGame #CityBuilders #IncentiveDesign #Economics
Nick sits down with Tom Lucas and Morgan Dixon, co-founders of a startup that brought together an unlikely team—a 15-year-old, a 75-year-old, and PhDs—united in their mission to partner with disabled inventor Robert Brady to develop a tool for the hard of hearing and ultimately save a marriage.
This episode explores:
• How personal struggles fuel innovation
• The power of intergenerational collaboration
• The realities of launching, pivoting, and shutting down a startup
• Lessons in mentorship, legacy, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship
00:01 - Introduction
• Nick introduces the episode and guests
• The unusual partnership between a teen and a senior entrepreneur
01:23 - Robert Brady: The Inventor Behind It All
• A single amputee, later a double amputee, but an unstoppable innovator
• How his parents’ communication struggles led to a startup idea
• The emotional moment he revealed they were on the verge of divorce
02:38 - Merging Two Startups into One Mission
• Robert’s speech-to-text tool for the deaf
• Morgan’s text-to-speech tool for the blind
• How their ideas naturally aligned
04:03 - The Birth of a Startup
• The Coffee & Concepts community rallies to solve a real-world problem
• The minimum viable product: Early prototypes and key decisions
• Tom’s insights from his manufacturing background
07:05 - Building the Solution
• Moving beyond phone-based solutions to real-time room transcription
• Innovating with color-coded text for better clarity
• Beta testing in medical and senior care settings
10:44 - Morgan’s Journey: A 15-Year-Old Founder’s Perspective
• Learning business fundamentals from seasoned entrepreneurs
• Navigating mentorship while contributing as a peer
• How this experience shaped his future in research and AI
14:53 - Startup Realities: Highs, Lows & Lessons
• The challenges of scaling a niche technology
• The emotional weight of mission-driven startups
• Why building together is often more valuable than the final product
18:16 - Robert’s Passing & The End of the Startup
• How his death led the team to dissolve the company
• Honoring his legacy by supporting his family
• The impact left on each team member
21:07 - Lessons in Legacy & Innovation
• Nick’s framework: Listen → Launch → Leap → Legacy → Legend
• Why Robert became a ‘legend’ in their community
• The power of showing up, raising your hand, and solving real problems
22:39 - The Value of Project-Based Friendships
• Why mentorship isn’t about age—it’s about shared purpose
• How working together builds deep, lasting connections
• Rethinking friendship as mutual contribution rather than passive support
25:23 - Final Reflections
• The importance of taking action even when you don’t have all the answers
• How entrepreneurship fosters self-discovery and purpose
• The unexpected impact of a small act—Robert helped Morgan set up his first email, a habit that lives on in every message he sends
Memorable Quotes:
🗣 “Startups aren’t just about making money—they’re about making a difference.” – Tom Lucas
🗣 “Robert helped me set up my first email. To this day, I still sign off with ‘Cheers’—because he did.” – Morgan Dixon
Key Takeaways:
✅ The best ideas come from real problems
✅ Multi-generational teams bring unique strengths to innovation
✅ Startups are about solving problems, not just making money
✅ Failure isn’t the end—it’s part of the journey
✅ Meaningful friendships form when people build together
In this urgent talk, Nick dismantles the illusion that most jobs in the recent past are actual sources of meaning and purpose.
With AI and automation rapidly replacing traditional labor, he argues that we must stop clinging to outdated notions of work and instead embrace the next phase of human potential: creation.
For too long, society has placed meaning in the exchange of money rather than the work itself—convincing us that our jobs are valuable because they allow us to provide for others or find fleeting personal happiness. But the work itself was rarely soulful; it was simply a means to an end. Now, as robots take over scaled production, logistics, and even knowledge work, we have an opportunity—and an obligation—to return to what makes us truly human.
Smoot lays out a vision where innovation, problem-solving, and creation become the backbone of our economy, where communities gather not around employment but around the act of building a future filled with beauty and value. It’s time to let the robots have the jobs. Our role is far greater: to shape the future itself through soulful work that matters.
About Nick Smoot
Nick is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder dedicated to redefining the systems that shape our economic, social, and civic lives.
As a founder of build_, he has pioneered new models that transform cities into thriving hubs of creativity and innovation, unlocking the full potential of their residents.
His work has influenced governments, universities, and Fortune 500 companies, helping them navigate the rapidly changing landscape of AI, automation, and human-centered economic development.
His book Better explores how we can reclaim purpose through strategic community gatherings, appreciative inquiry, and behavioral psychology.
Smoot is on a mission to move humanity beyond the outdated model of jobs and into an era where creation is not just an economic driver—but our birthright.
Nick Smoot sits down with Brigadier General (Ret.) Blaine Holt for a deep-dive conversation on global power shifts, economic collapse, and the future of entrepreneurship.
Blaine shares firsthand insights from his time working with NATO, dealing with Russia and China, and witnessing the hidden mechanics of war and diplomacy.
They explore what comes next in a world where traditional systems are crumbling, and how entrepreneurs, investors, and community builders can prepare for the next chapter.
From the military-industrial complex to open-source defense tech, from DeFi to local innovation ecosystems—this episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of business, geopolitics, and human flourishing.
Click here to learn more about build_
Show Notes:
Introduction (00:00 - 02:13)
From the Battlefield to the Boardroom (02:14 - 10:58)
Navigating Global Superpowers: Russia, China, and the U.S. (10:59 - 23:58)
The Neocon Agenda and The Business of War (23:59 - 41:51)
The Coming Economic Collapse and New Business Models (41:52 - 55:00)
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Defense Tech (55:01 - 1:10:00)
The Future of Communities and Collaboration (1:10:01 - 1:27:00)
Final Thoughts and Takeaways (1:27:01 - 1:50:03)
🔥 AI is eating politics alive—and two founders from the backwoods of Idaho are leading the charge.
What happens when artificial intelligence meets democracy?
When cold, hard data replaces political spin?
When people get real-time transparency on what their government is actually doing?
This isn’t some Silicon Valley utopian fantasy. This is happening right now—built by a team who isn't in DC, aren’t in the Ivy League, and definitely aren’t taking marching orders from political overlords.
Luke Dupin and his team are applying AI to politics in a way that’s never been done before.
It’s about radical transparency, political accountability, and cutting through the noise so citizens can make real, informed decisions—not just every four years, but every damn week.
🔥 In This Episode
🚀 AI Eats Politics for Breakfast – Why government (from local to federal) is wildly inefficient, and how AI is slicing through the legalese to actually tell people what’s going on.
🤖 From C-SPAN to Chaos Mode – Mystery Science Theater for legislation? Live-streamed bill breakdowns? AI-powered public engagement that doesn’t suck? Yeah, that’s happening.
🏛️ The Death of Traditional Politics – Why both the Left and the Right are completely missing the point—and how data-driven, decentralized decision-making is the only way forward.
💰 Polymarkets, Blockchain, and Betting on Policy – What if we let people bet on legislation outcomes? (Hint: It already works better than any polling system we have today.)
🎯 AI for True Representation – Forget lobbyists. Forget media spin. What happens when your AI assistant helps you track every bill, every vote, and every politician in real time?
🛠️ How We Fix This – Real solutions, not just angry rants. From direct democracy to AI-driven voting tools, this is the blueprint for the next political revolution.
🎙️ About Our Guests
Luke Dupin – AI engineer, political systems disruptor, and co-founder of Anchor, the AI-powered engine reshaping how people interact with legislation. Play with wonk here.
Nick Smoot – Serial entrepreneur, systems thinker, and community builder on a mission to gamify civic engagement and make politics actually work for people. Sign up to be a member of build_ here.
Together, they’re proving that you don’t need to be in DC to change the system—you just need the right tech, the right mindset, and the guts to build it.
00:00 Navigating Startup Life in Non-Traditional Tech Hubs
07:11 The Challenges of Being a Technical Founder
10:11 The Importance of Customer Engagement
13:08 Introducing Wonk: AI in Politics
15:56 Understanding Legislation with AI
18:37 The Role of Personal Anchors in Political Engagement
21:24 The Future of Democracy and Civic Participation
24:27 Decentralization and Direct Democracy
27:20 Innovations in Voting and Representation
30:00 The Intersection of Data and Politics
37:17 Engaging the Public: The Challenge of Awareness
38:26 Innovative Ideas for Political Engagement
40:10 Understanding Complex Healthcare Policies
44:02 Using AI to Predict Legislative Outcomes
46:44 The Role of AI in Political Decision-Making
55:30 Reimagining Education for the Future
01:01:47 Decentralization and Economic Models
01:09:01 The Decline of Home Ownership
01:11:53 Innovative Ideas for Community Ownership
01:17:42 Digital Twins and Urban Planning
01:21:38 Decentralized AI and Its Implications
01:25:07 Rethinking Economic Models for the Future
01:31:11 The Future of Work and Human Flourishing
01:36:49 Building Meaningful Products in Niche Markets
If you knew you’d live past 100 how would that change the way you plan your money, your career, and your purpose?
EnterCurtis Estes, the financial visionary redefining how we prepare for a world where 120 is the new 60.
As a top financial planner and the genius behind theAnti-Retirement Club (ARC), Curtis has built a thriving community of forward-thinkers who refuse to let outdated financial models dictate their future.
In this episode, Curtis unveils his revolutionary120-Year Wealth Plan, blending cutting-edge longevity science with innovative financial strategies to help people thrive—physically, socially, and financially—for the long haul.
From wealth creation to health optimization, Curtis shares his blueprint for ensuring you don’t justlive longer—youprosper.
If you believe the future belongs to those who plan for it, this conversation will change the way you think about money, aging, and what it truly means to live well.
About Curtis: Curtis is an author, community leader, financial planner, and longevity entrepreneur. As a hyper connector, Curtis is one of the "people to know" in L.A. For free assessments and his booksvisit here.
About build_: build_ is an global community that connects local entrepreneurs and creatives to each other.Learn more.
00:00 Curtis's Journey to Financial Planning
17:03 Building a Personal Brand in Financial Services
24:56 The Power of Connection and Community
31:44 Creating a Personal Board of Advisors
38:57 Exploring Longevity and Its Impact on Financial Planning
41:20 The Quest for Longevity: Health and Quality of Life
43:06 Building Community: The Anti-Retirement Club
44:28 Financial Security in the Age of Longevity
46:25 Exploring the Future of Health and Technology
49:27 Faith and Longevity: Balancing Beliefs and Science
54:12 The Business of Longevity: Strategies and Opportunities
56:21 Creating a Longevity Fandom: Engaging Communities
01:03:10 The 90-10 Strategy: Value Creation and Implementation
01:09:54 Gamifying Longevity: Making Health Fun
01:12:21 The Journey of Personal Branding and Content Creation
01:19:47 Exploring Passion and Profit
01:21:13 Building Community and Accessing Opportunities
