Locally Grown with Jim Fini

I’m a Boomer, married to a Gen Xer, with Gen Z kids. My and my parents’ generation has left us with an ever-expanding unsustainable federal government that has taken on a life of its own, and we are sticking our kids with the bill. However, all is not lost. There are lots of smart, practical and patriotic kids who are willing to step up now to be part of the solution that rights the American ship. My guest today is 24-year-old Lance Lunceford, one of those kids. Please join us.

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.

In the words of the immortal Joan Jett, "I love Rock & Roll so put another dime in the jukebox baby." Join me and my older cousin Tom Fini as we traverse the decades from his early 1960s band, the Del Mars, to todays music including one of my original songs. We explore the singer-songwriter ethos, within the context of protest music then and now. Stop what you’re doing and put on those headphones because you don’t want to miss this one. 

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.

My guest today is American entrepreneur and politician, Christopher Collins. Chris served as the U.S. representative for New York's 27th congressional district (Buffalo NY area) from 2013 until 2019. Prior to his time in Congress, he ran for Erie County Executive in 2007 on a platform of smaller county government, lower taxes and operating efficiency and he defeated the Democrat incumbent with 63% of the vote in a county with 140,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans. Quite an accomplishment.

Unlike many of our elected representatives in our 3-tier constitutional republic, Chris was a successful entrepreneur and business guy long before he ran for public office. That means he built something of value to society that employed others in our free enterprise system. After earning his BS in Mechanical Engineering and MBA, Chris started his career as a mechanical engineer at Westinghouse Electric. In 1983, Westinghouse spun off their gear division, and Chris rose to be CEO of the Nuttall Gear Corporation located in Niagara Falls, New York. In 1997, Collins sold Nuttall to Colfax Corporation.

Chris moved to Florida a couple years ago and he and his wife, Mary, have three children and three grandchildren. Full disclosure: Chris’ younger brother Ted and I were fraternity brothers at Syracuse University.

Welcome to the Locally Grown Podcast Chris Collins.

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.

Laz Lopez joins me today to tell his family's story of escaping communist Cuba and achieving the American Dream as a successful business owner in the U.S. In these challenging times, it's just the reminder we need about how precious and tenuous our American freedom really is.

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.

Elon Musk recently labeled NPR and PBS as “government-funded media” on Twitter, angering both organizations. Is he right, and does it matter anyway?

For many years, I supported PBS and NPR financially. I just loved their music, movies and documentaries and their news and opinion programs, that while left leaning, were conducted in a civil tone. They at least made token attempts to cover both sides of a debate but things have changed and they are now peddling activism as journalism.  Listen as I unpack this for you in great fact-based detail.

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”  

63 years ago, a great American, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called out injustice and held America accountable to its constitutional principles. Now there’s a new ideology permeating all corners of our society that demands we judge “not by the content of character, but by the color of skin.” 

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.

Inflation and interest rates are inflicting painful damage today. Yet seemingly without notice the national debt is working like a cancer sapping the nation’s long-term economic vitality. Whether we reach the “doom loop,” or just become mired in stagflation, unchecked government spending and mounting national debt will drain all growth potential from the national economy sooner rather than later. This is everyone’s problem.

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.

I was introduced to Larry Lawton through Congressman Bill Posey's office as someone with a compelling story that can help point at-risk kids in the right direction. Man what a story ! Larry was was one of the biggest jewel thieves in American history who ultimately spent 12 years in prison for his crimes. Upon his release in 2007, Larry moved to Florida and began his career as a successful author, motivational speaker, and You Tuber. He is also the founder of the Reality Check Program that educates at-risk kids on the consequences of a life of crime. Larry is the host of his own very successful YouTube channel that boasts over 1.4 million subscribers. Geez, I wish my audience was that big.   Don't miss this show!

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.

Climate? Guns? Abortion? Equity?  Nope. Listen Up for America’s Biggest Issue.

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.

It’s been a month since my last podcast where we spoke with Florida Congressman Bill Posey. I’ve had a lot of family stuff to deal with which I will get to later.  But I wanted to get this out by Memorial Day because it is such a powerful transitional holiday, and I am definitely in a transitional point in my life. 

United We Stand. Divided We Fall. Each One for the Other, and All for All.