The James Beaudrie Podcast

# 136 - She was just 9 years old when her parents made a life-altering decision — to flee communist Lithuania in the 1980s. What followed is an absolutely unbelievable journey through Mexico, a cartel-controlled border crossing, and years of living in secrecy in the United States.This episode was filmed and recorded in the Watson Motors Studio. Watson Motors is a proud sponsor of the show. To learn more about Watson Motors visit Watsonmotors.com 

LINKS:- YOUTUBE:- / @jamesbeaudrie

Instagram instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thejamesbeaudriepodcast/ 

TikTok tiktok.com/@jamesbeaudrie?lang=en 

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/james-beaudrie-929698144 

Facebook facebook.com/manisteebeveragecompany 

This episode is sponsored by - Dwelling Realty - https://dwellingrealty.com/ 

369 River Street Manistee, Michigan 49660 (231) 887-4455

On this episode of The James Beaudrie Podcast, I sit down with Jesse Den Herder—one of the sharpest minds in marketing, branding, and design. This dude has done it all—VP of Marketing, award-winning creative director, product designer—you name it. His ability to take a concept from a rough idea to a nationally recognized brand is insane.

Jesse’s got a serious knack for merging creativity with smart marketing principles, and it shows. He’s racked up major industry awards, from Novum Magazine to multiple Gold Medals at the Craft Spirits Magazine Packaging Awards and WorldStar Packaging Awards. We get into what makes a brand stick, how the best marketing minds think, and why great design isn’t just about looking good—it’s about connecting with people on a deeper level.

If you’re into branding, business, or just love hearing from high-level thinkers, you’re gonna love this one.

This episode was filmed and recorded in the Watson Motors Studio. Watson Motors is a proud sponsor of the show. To learn more about Watson Motors visit Watsonmotors.com LINKS:- YOUTUBE:- / @jamesbeaudrie Instagram instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thejamesbeaudriepodcast/

TikTok tiktok.com/@jamesbeaudrie?lang=en LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/james-beaudrie-929698144 Facebook facebook.com/manisteebeveragecompany This episode is sponsored by - Dwelling Realty - https://dwellingrealty.com/

369 River Street Manistee, Michigan 49660 (231) 887-4455

# 134 John Helge - What does it mean to be a Democrat? In this episode of the Podcast, I sit down with John Helge, Board Chair of the Manistee County Democrats. With a career built on leadership, coaching, and driving meaningful change, John shares insights on what it truly means to lead—not just manage—whether in business, politics, or community engagement.We discuss his passion for helping people and teams develop the skills they need to succeed, the importance of adding value in every relationship, and how these principles translate into his work in Manistee County. No matter where you stand politically, this conversation is all about leadership, collaboration, and making a lasting impact.

One topic John Wanted Mentioned is the Great Lakes Enviornmental Festival. Link here https://www.glef.us

This episode was filmed and recorded in the Watson Motors Studio. Watson Motors is a proud sponsor of the show. To learn more about Watson Motors visit Watsonmotors.com

LINKS:- YOUTUBE:- / @jamesbeaudrie

Instagram instagram.com/manisteebeveragecompany/?hl=en

TikTok tiktok.com/@jamesbeaudrie?lang=en

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/james-beaudrie-929698144

Facebook facebook.com/manisteebeveragecompany

This episode is sponsored by - Dwelling Realty - https://dwellingrealty.com/

369 River Street Manistee, Michigan 49660 (231) 887-4455

Trever is an entrepreneur with a desire to inspire and lead young people. He has taken his background in mixed martial arts and fight promotion towards a new chapter, opening Manistee Combat Academy. A gym dedicated to the combat arts. Jiu Jitsu, boxing and wrestling will be the disciplines showcased within its walls. You can learn more about the combat academy with the link provided below. Now- Let's get into it!

Combat Academy link -  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573037919742

This episode was filmed and recorded in the Watson Motors Studio. Watson Motors is a proud sponsor of the show. To learn more about Watson Motors visit Watsonmotors.com 

LINKS:- YOUTUBE:- / @jamesbeaudrie

 Instagram instagram.com/manisteebeveragecompany/?hl=en 

TikTok tiktok.com/@jamesbeaudrie?lang=en 

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/james-beaudrie-929698144 

Facebook facebook.com/manisteebeveragecompany 

This episode is sponsored by - Dwelling Realty - https://dwellingrealty.com/ 369 River Street Manistee, Michigan 49660 (231) 887-4455

Had a great conversation with Manistee County Sheriff Brian Gutowski, but we didn’t get into policing—we talked about something way more important: taking care of yourself so you can show up for the people who matter. We covered a lot—lifting heavy, eating right, staying disciplined, and being present as a dad. Brian’s got two young boys, a demanding job, and still makes his health a priority. No excuses, just getting after it. If you’re a father, husband, or just someone trying to dial in your routine and stay strong, this one’s for you. Listen in, let me know what you think. This episode was filmed and recorded in the Watson Motors Studio. Watson Motors is a proud sponsor of the show. To learn more about Watson Motors visit Watsonmotors.com 

LINKS:- YOUTUBE:- / @jamesbeaudrie Instagram instagram.com/manisteebeveragecompany/?hl=en 

TikTok tiktok.com/@jamesbeaudrie?lang=en 

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/james-beaudrie-929698144 Facebook facebook.com/manisteebeveragecompany 

This episode is sponsored by - Dwelling Realty - https://dwellingrealty.com/ 369 River Street Manistee, Michigan 49660 (231) 887-4455

LINKS:- YOUTUBE:- / @jamesbeaudrie

Instagram instagram.com/manisteebeveragecompany/?hl=en

TikTok tiktok.com/@jamesbeaudrie?lang=en

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/james-beaudrie-929698144

Facebook facebook.com/manisteebeveragecompany

This episode is sponsored by - Dwelling Realty - https://dwellingrealty.com/

369 River Street Manistee, Michigan 49660

(231) 887-4455

Blade Gates joins the podcast to share his journey in communications, marketing, and community leadership. We discuss his work with the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce, his passion for storytelling, and how he’s making an impact through local events and initiatives. A great conversation on creativity, career growth, and community engagement!

LINKS:- YOUTUBE:- / @jamesbeaudrie Instagram instagram.com/manisteebeveragecompany/?hl=en  

TikTok tiktok.com/@jamesbeaudrie?lang=en  

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/james-beaudrie-929698144  

Facebook facebook.com/manisteebeveragecompany  T

his episode is sponsored by - Dwelling Realty - https://dwellingrealty.com/ 369 River Street Manistee, Michigan 49660 (231) 887-4455

The Political Divide, Sports Fandom, and the Lost Freedom of BMX Gangs

Alright, listen up. The political divide in this country? It’s not just some disagreement over policies anymore. It’s like sports fandom, but way more intense. You ever walk into a bar full of Green Bay Packers fans wearing a Chicago Bears jersey? That’s what it feels like trying to have a political discussion now—except instead of just busting your chops, people are ready to end friendships over it. Nobody debates ideas anymore, they just dig in and defend their side like it’s their home team in the Super Bowl.

But dude, it wasn’t always like this. Remember the ‘80s? If you were a kid back then, you weren’t stuck in some algorithm-driven outrage cycle—you were out there tearing up the neighborhood on a knock-off BMX, flying over curbs, skidding out in gravel, and feeling like an absolute king. We had bike gangs, man. Not the scary kind—just a bunch of kids rolling deep, pushing each other to go faster, jump higher, be crazier. No tracking apps, no social media, no parents helicoptering over us. Just freedom.

And now? Kids today are locked in a digital prison, staring at screens, absorbing whatever some deep-state algorithm decides they should see. And speaking of shadowy organizations—how about Hydra, huh? Yeah, the bad guys from the Avengers movies. "Cut off one head, two more take its place." That’s the intelligence agencies today, man. Always watching, always pulling strings. It’s not even a conspiracy at this point—it’s just reality.

And here’s where it gets even weirder—what the hell is going on with the Mandela Effect? You ever hear about Ed McMahon handing out giant Publisher’s Clearing House checks? You remember it, right? Guess what—apparently, that never happened. He worked for American Family Publishers. But dude, millions of people swear they remember it differently. What if—and just hear me out—we’re slipping between alternate realities without even realizing it? What if we’re actually living in a multiverse and every once in a while, we just... shift?

So here we are—divided like rival sports fans, stripped of that wild ‘80s freedom, living under the eye of a real-life Hydra, and questioning the very fabric of our reality. The question is—how do we break out? Maybe it starts with something simple. Maybe we ditch the screens, grab some bikes, and form a new gang—just a bunch of grown-ass adults ripping through the streets, looking for the truth. Before the next shift happens and everything we thought we knew gets rewritten again.

# 128 I'll Do it live! Remember the 80's and 90's. Aol, Bibs with one side down, Hammer Pants, Air Hawk, Magnum PI, and A-Team.

The Billboard That Says It All

Alright, let’s talk about this billboard. You’ve probably seen it floating around on social media, especially if you hang out in the political corners of the internet. It’s this big, bold statement that seems like a dunk on red states:

“Good news RED STATES! You can now pick your own fruits and vegetables in the blazing sun for $5 an hour.”

At first glance, it’s got that snarky, sarcastic vibe, like it’s trying to make some kind of mic-drop moment. But the more you think about it, the more it unravels into something way more complicated—and honestly, kind of embarrassing for whoever put it up.

Here’s the thing. The people who designed this billboard clearly wanted to take a shot at Republicans, probably in response to immigration debates and labor shortages. But in doing so, they accidentally revealed something about their own stance on cheap labor.

Think about it: What’s actually being said here?

It’s not “Hey, we should be paying farm workers fair wages.” It’s not “This is unacceptable, let’s fix it.” It’s basically “Haha, now you have to suffer like the people we’ve been underpaying this whole time.” That’s not a progressive stance. That’s just an admission that they’re okay with people getting exploited—as long as the right people suffer for it.

Which is insane.

If you’re outraged by people picking crops in 100-degree heat for $5 an hour, the response shouldn’t be to mock those who might now have to do it. It should be to demand that no one gets paid $5 an hour—Republican, Democrat, immigrant, citizen, doesn’t matter.

That’s what’s so crazy about modern politics. People get so caught up in dunking on the other team that they don’t realize when they’re exposing their own contradictions. If someone in the Democratic Party thinks this is a clever gotcha, they’ve completely missed the point.

If you really care about workers, you don’t just use their struggles as a punchline—you actually fight for better wages, better conditions, and actual accountability. And guess what? That shouldn’t be a partisan issue. No one should be okay with under-the-table, below-minimum-wage exploitation just because it keeps fruit and vegetable prices down.

Look, this is why so many people are disillusioned with politics. It’s all theater. You’ve got one side pretending like these labor issues don’t exist, and the other side admitting that they do—but using it as a joke instead of fixing it.

If you’re mad about people being underpaid, then be mad about it. For real. Don’t turn it into some half-baked “own the cons” moment. We’ve got to be better than this.

Because at the end of the day, if $5 an hour is unacceptable for you, it should be unacceptable for everyone. Period.

Missing the Whole PointBoth Sides Are Playing the Same GameWe Gotta Do Better