Will Swaim, journalist and president of the California Policy Center, educates us on CA Assembly Bill 5 (AB5,) which seeks to turn independent contractors into employees, and how it’s negatively affecting 70,000+ independent California truckers; truckers like Tom Odom, who calls in from the road to let us know why he is A.) part of a class action lawsuit and B.) moving to Texas.  Spoiler Alert: it’s because of AB5!      Will Swaim’s article about AB5 and Tom Odom   Contact Tom with your AB5 story at myab5story@gmail.com

294: The Ballad of Tom Odom

What started as a series of short mysteries for the curious mind with a short attention span has evolved into enlightening conversations for the not-so-short attention span. Whether it’s a short mystery, a long conversation, or an audio book, The Way I Heard It is a veritable box of chocolates for the ears, because you never know what you’re going to get.

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What does it take to make a traditional flannel shirt in America? According to this New York Times reporter it’s a combination of engineering and artistry. And Steven should know; he wrote the book on it, American Flannel.  Steven explores with us the history of U.S. textile manufacturing and how our thirst for cheaper goods led to the death of small company towns and the creation of the rust belt. Big thanks to our great sponsors ZipRecruiter.com/Rowe to try ZipRecruiter for FREE. Groundworks.com to schedule a free inspection. PureTalk.com/Rowe to save 50% off your first month!

Episode 380: American Flannel with Steven Kurutz

The former Wall Street lawyer and current OG podcaster drops by to discuss the latest in Podcastladia, how patternicity and our desire for certainty can lead us to create wild theories, the death of skepticism, honesty in advertising, and what he learned from being kidnapped the first time in Mexico. Yes, there was more than one kidnapping. Shout out to our great sponsors BuildSubmarines.com Explore available careers! American-Giant.com/mike Use promo code MIKE to get 20% off your order. FieldOfGreens.com Get started with 15% off using promo code: MIKE  

379: Psst… Wanna Buy a Stadium Buddy? with Jordan Harbinger

The serial entrepreneurs and founders of Angel Studios talk about growing up poor in a family of eleven, how they went from selling potatoes door to door to being the ad agency of record for Poo-Pourri, Squatty Potty, and Orabrush, how they survived a $62 million lawsuit from four of the biggest studios in Hollywood, and how their Angel Guild is cracking the code to finding the next big film.       Many thanks to our loyal sponsors ZipRecruiter.com/Rowe to try ZipRecruiter for FREE. LifeVac.net Use code MIKE to get 20% off your full purchase. NetSuite.com/Mike to take advantage of their flexible financing.

378: Surviving Disney with Jeff Harmon & Neal Harmon

The writer, producer, and veteran radio broadcaster drops by to regale us with stories from the entertainment trenches, explains why he created the podcast  Really? no, REALLY? with his BFF Jason Alexander and how that’s affected their relationship, and expounds on what makes great advertising great. RIP Dexter. Big thanks to our great sponsors BuildSubmarines.com Explore available careers! MCSF.org/apply Check your availability and apply today! LifeVac.net Use code MIKE to get 20% off your full purchase!

377: Sitting in a Puddle of Tilden with Peter Tilden

The President of the California Policy Center, host of National Review’s Radio Free California podcast, and watchdog journalist warns about the new federal regulation that effectively makes CA-AB5 national and ends independent contractor status as we know it. As goes California, so goes the nation—from a $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers to rampant homelessness, crime, and reparations—the recovering communist dissects examples of what’s happening in the Golden State and yet to come nationally. Many thanks to our great sponsors MCSF.org/apply Check your availability and apply today! ZipRecruiter.com/Rowe to try ZipRecruiter for FREE. American-Giant.com/MIKE Use code MIKE to get 20% off your order.

294: The Ballad of Tom Odom

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