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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.