On this episode of the iBuild America Podcast, host Byron V. Garrett sits down with insurance professional, entrepreneur, mentor, musician, and family man Yonni Castillo—a multi-talented leader whose story proves that purpose, passion, and perseverance truly can coexist.

Yonni opens up about his unconventional path—from growing up in Michigan, to a 20-year career with State Farm, to relocating across the country with his family, to now leading a thriving agency in Arizona. He shares how mentorship, faith, hard work, and family shaped every chapter of his journey.

This conversation dives deep into:

— Why mentorship matters at every stage of life

— The importance of financial protection and generational stability

— Leaving comfort zones to create new opportunities

— How music, business, and family can coexist with purpose

— The responsibility to lift others as you climb

— Why faith, empathy, and perseverance matter now more than ever

It’s honest, personal, and deeply human.

🎧 Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, parent, or simply navigating life transitions—this episode reminds us to “keep it moving,” stay focused, and never stop building toward the life you’re meant to live.

Connect with Yonni below!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yonni-castillo-7b9452a8/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/110548224911532

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yonnifromstatefarm/

X: https://twitter.com/YonniStateFarm

Website: https://yonnicastillo.com/

On this episode of the iBuild America Podcast, host Byron V. Garrett sits down in Michigan with Dan Stechow, President & CEO of TPOP – The Power of Preparedness—a true renaissance leader whose journey has spanned music, business, digital innovation, and now workplace safety.

Dan shares his remarkable story: from playing 2,000 shows across the world as a touring bassist performing at Bill Clinton’s inauguration, to founding multiple successful tech companies during the dot-com boom, to now leading a mission-driven organization focused on preventing workplace violence and building safer workplaces.

This episode is about more than business or career transitions—it’s about grit, resilience, purpose, and using your talents to build something that matters.

In this conversation, we explore:

— The power of reinventing yourself and following passion over comfort

— How real-world experience can become your greatest education?

— Why culture and respect are critical in every workplace

— How empathy and de-escalation can change outcomes and save lives

— Why “taking the high road” is one of the most powerful tools we have

Whether you’re a student, a parent, an entrepreneur, or someone rebuilding your future, you’ll walk away inspired to use what you’ve learned to help build a stronger America.

On this episode of the iBuild America Podcast, host Byron V. Garrett travels to the Detroit Job Corps Center to sit down with two powerful voices shaping the future of the workforce: Jordan Dent, an 18-year-old electrical student transforming his life one step at a time, and George Collard, a retired Chrysler professional turned Job Corps instructor who now dedicates his life to building the next generation “one student at a time.”

What unfolds is one of the most honest, inspiring, and eye-opening conversations we’ve had yet.

Jordan shares why he left home, chose independence, and committed himself to finishing his high school diploma and electrical trade — not for quick money, but to create a different future for himself and his family.

Mr. Collard reveals how Job Corps changed his life as a young man, and why he now pours everything back into students like Jordan. His stories — including graduates earning six figures and lifting their entire families out of generational struggle — are nothing short of transformational.

This episode dives into:

— What Job Corps really is in 2025 (and why it works)

— Why trades like electrical demand leadership, discipline, and real responsibility

— The independence, confidence, and purpose students gain on campus

— How Job Corps is changing entire families — not just individuals

— The truth about today’s workforce: young people do care about their future

This conversation is raw, real, and full of hope.

Whether you're a parent, a young adult, an educator, or simply someone rooting for the next generation, this episode will move you.

Connect with George Collar and the Detroit Job Corps Center

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-collar-94947179/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/detroit-job-corps-center/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wbl_detroitjobcorps/

On this episode of the iBuild America Podcast, Byron V. Garrett sits down in Detroit with business leader, civic advocate, and former gubernatorial candidate Kevin Rinke—a man whose family legacy has shaped Detroit’s economy for nearly a century.

Kevin opens up about growing up in a third-generation automotive family, what he learned from watching his father serve both his country and his community, and why he believes America is at a crucial turning point when it comes to education, workforce readiness, and personal responsibility.

Together, Byron and Kevin dig into topics that touch every family:

— Why reading and foundational skills matter more now than ever

— How removing shop classes and hands-on learning changed America’s workforce

— What students really need to prepare for life after graduation

— Why accountability—not handouts—is the path to real opportunity

— How technology and AI can help… but also harm, if we don’t stay grounded

Whether you’re a parent, educator, business owner, or someone thinking about the future of this country, this conversation is one of the most honest and thought-provoking we’ve had yet.

🎧 Tune in and join a powerful conversation about what it truly means to build America—one student, one family, and one community at a time.

Connect with Kevin below!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-rinke-86a886324/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinrinkemi/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevinRinkeMI

X: https://x.com/KevinRinke

Website: https://rinkeformichigan.com/

From Corporate Leadership to Culinary Legacy.

On this episode of the iBuild America Podcast, we sit down in Phoenix, Arizona with Rasheedah White, business executive, entrepreneur, and co-owner of Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles, a soul food empire she has built alongside her husband, Larry White.

Rasheedah’s journey began in banking, where she rose from teller to branch manager to home equity officer, and eventually into commercial lending during her 20-year career, all while earning degrees in Accounting and Organizational Management. She later stepped into healthcare leadership as a Chief Quality Officer and COO before joining the family business full-time.

Since then, Rasheedah has been instrumental in growing Lo-Lo’s from two locations to nine across four restaurant brands — including Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles, Monroe’s Hot Chicken, Brunch & Sip, and Warren’s Supper Club. Her story is one of discipline, family, and legacy building. An inspiring example, showing how skills gained in corporate leadership can be translated into entrepreneurial success.

In this episode, Rasheedah shares:

What it takes to scale a family-owned restaurant brand nationwide

Lessons learned from careers in both finance and healthcare

The role of family values in business and leadership

How to build legacy while balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood

If you’ve ever dreamed of building a business that blends family, community, and culture, this conversation is one you don’t want to miss.

Connect with Rasheeda below!

Instagram: @mrslolos @loloschickenandwaffles

Facebook: Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles

Website: loloschickenandwaffles.com

#IBuildAmerica #RasheedahWhite #LoLosChickenAndWaffles #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BlackExcellence #FamilyBusiness #RestaurantLeadership #LegacyBuilding #BusinessGrowth

What does the American Dream mean to a new generation?

In this iBuild America: Street Talks episode, meet Jackson, an 18-year-old sports business major from Wisconsin who’s passionate about sports, innovation, and making a difference.

Jackson opens up about his faith, his purpose, and how he hopes to inspire others to create real impact — on and off the field.

🎧 Tune in for an honest, hopeful, and motivating conversation — and don’t forget to subscribe to the iBuild America Podcast for more authentic stories from campuses across America.

On this episode of the iBuild America Podcast, we sit down in Detroit, Michigan, with Keith Ledbetter, President and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan (ABC) and the Southeastern Michigan Construction Academy (SEMCA).

With nearly a decade of leadership in workforce development, Keith has been instrumental in creating pathways for students, career changers, and aspiring tradespeople to gain the skills, confidence, and certifications needed to literally build America.

From investing in training centers to inspiring young people to choose skilled trades, Keith’s work centers around one mission — empowering people to build meaningful, sustainable careers without needing a four-year degree.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How SEMCA is helping reshape the perception of trade careers

• The real ROI of hands-on training versus college debt

• The values, discipline, and “grit factor” it takes to thrive in construction

• The future of the workforce and why AI isn’t replacing skilled trades anytime soon

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about workforce development, education reform, or simply building a better America — one student, one skill, and one job at a time.

🎧 Tune in and be inspired to build something that lasts.

Connect with Keith below! 

LinkedIn: Keith Ledbetter

What does “building America” look like through Gen Z eyes?

In this iBuild America: Street Talks episode, Arizona State University student Vienna opens up about chasing purpose, balancing dreams with reality, and what her generation really values.

It’s an honest, hopeful, and thought-provoking look at how the future of America is being shaped — one story at a time.

🎧 Tune in and subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with tomorrow’s leaders.

On this episode of the iBuild America Podcast, we find ourselves in Atlanta, Georgia welcoming Melissa A. Mitchell, visionary artist, author, and founder of A Better Life (formerly Abeille Creations). Melissa’s journey began in 2014 during a season of grief when she picked up a paintbrush for the first time. What started as an act of healing has since evolved into a global creative empire that spans fine art, fashion, home décor, publishing, and high-profile brand collaborations.

Melissa has created over 500 original works of art, painted 40+ murals, authored five books, and built a platform that champions joy, resilience, and culture. Her vibrant designs have been featured with Microsoft, Foot Locker, SHEIN, SPANX, Pepsi, Hallmark, and H&M, and worn by icons like Lupita Nyong’o, Tabitha Brown, and Amara La Negra.

In this inspiring conversation, Melissa shares:

How to turn pain into purpose and purpose into a global calling

The role of faith and resilience in building an international brand

What it means to create wearable art that lives on people, not just on walls

Her advice for dreamers, entrepreneurs, and creatives ready to step into bold intention

Melissa’s story is living proof that when you lead with faith and create with purpose, you can transform not just your own life, but countless others.

Connect with Melissa below!

Instagram: @abeillecreations @melissaamitchell

Facebook: Abeille Creations

LinkedIn: Melissa A. Mitchell

Website: melissaamitchell.com

Host Tev Grant is back at Arizona State University, home of innovation (and yes, maybe a few legendary parties), for another episode of Street Talks — a new segment of the iBuild America Podcast.

This week, Tev chats with Tavai, Sydney, and Aaron, three ASU students with different majors, backgrounds, and bold perspectives on what it really means to build America.

From defining the American Dream and debating student debt to sharing what they fear most about the future, their answers are honest, funny, and refreshingly real.

🎧 Tune in to hear how today’s students are navigating college, culture, and career goals — and what they’d say straight to America’s leaders if given the mic.

Listen now and subscribe to the iBuild America Podcast — where every street talk sparks a bigger conversation about our future.