In this moving episode of American Potential , host David From welcomes Rose Gordon, a Lakota language teacher at Onward Learning in South Dakota. Rose reflects on her childhood growing up under the shadow of government-run boarding schools, where speaking her native language was forbidden and punishable. Despite these efforts to erase her culture, she held on to the words, values, and stories passed down by her family and community. Today, she teaches Lakota to young students, ensuring they not...
Sep 12, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 352
In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton to discuss how his state is leading the way on education freedom and fiscal responsibility. Sexton shares why parents, not bureaucrats, should decide how their children are educated and explains how Tennessee’s bold school choice program is empowering families with more options. He also highlights how competition is driving public schools to improve while ensuring every student has...
Sep 11, 2025•14 min•Ep. 351
In this episode of American Potential , host David From is joined by Jeremiah Mosteller, Policy Director at Americans for Prosperity, to examine how the Department of Justice spends its massive $67 billion budget. From maintaining dozens of little-used SWAT teams across obscure federal agencies to handing out 11,000 grants worth nearly $5 billion a year—many with little accountability—Jeremiah explains how DOJ has grown far beyond its original mission of enforcing federal law. He also reveals ho...
Sep 08, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 350
Host David From continues the story of Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, a Michigan restaurant owner who refused to close during the pandemic after the state’s first round of executive orders was ruled unconstitutional. Joined by her attorney, Helen Brinkman, Marlena recounts being singled out by state leadership, arrested, fined, and jailed—despite unequal enforcement and conflicting rulings—after she chose to keep serving her community. Brinkman walks through the legal maze: administrative suspensions, ...
Sep 05, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 349
In this episode of American Potential , host David From sits down with Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, who grew up under the weight of communist rule in Poland before finding freedom and opportunity in America. She shares vivid memories of empty store shelves, ration cards, and the solidarity movement that helped bring down the Iron Curtain—experiences that instilled in her a deep appreciation for liberty. Marlena eventually built her American dream, opening a restaurant in Michigan and serving her comm...
Sep 03, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 348
What does it look like when an ordinary American, with no political pedigree, takes one small step to get involved and ends up reshaping his community? In this episode of American Potential , host David From welcomes Jimmie Smith, Brand Development Director at Concerned Veterans for America, to share his remarkable story. Jimmie’s path began in the woods of Florida, where as a boy he dreamed of serving his country. He left high school early, joined the Army at 17, and spent 20 years in uniform. ...
Sep 01, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 347
As America approaches its 250th birthday, American Potential is launching a new series, 50 Stars, 50 Stories , highlighting the unique history and culture of each state in the Union. In this first installment, host David From is joined by Jesse Mallory, Regional Director in Colorado, and Camelia Peterson, Legislative Liaison in Missouri, for a lively round of state trivia about Colorado, Missouri, and Hawaii—the three states that joined the Union in August. From the Missouri Compromise and the o...
Aug 29, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 346
In this episode of American Potential , host David From sits down with Paige Yontz, Advocacy Manager in Iowa, to explore an innovative housing reform that’s reshaping how families care for aging parents, empower young professionals, and protect property rights. Paige was instrumental in leading a diverse coalition—from aging advocates to housing manufacturers and policy champions—that secured the passage of a groundbreaking Iowa law legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) statewide. They disc...
Aug 27, 2025•30 min•Season 1Ep. 345
In this inspiring episode of American Potential , host David From speaks with Dr. Chaminie Wheeler, a pediatrician who walked away from the traditional hospital system to launch a direct primary care (DPC) practice—putting patients, not paperwork, at the center of healthcare. Raised in a small village in Sri Lanka, Dr. Wheeler’s passion for helping others began at a young age and followed her to Pennsylvania, where she built CCC Health from the ground up with help from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act....
Aug 25, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 344
Most people try to avoid the long lines and frustrations that come with vehicle registration and emissions testing. But Rafael Arroyo saw an opportunity to turn that frustration into a service—and a business. In Las Vegas, he combined emissions testing with vehicle registration services, saving people time and hassle. But the state’s motor vehicle agency didn’t like the competition. They shut him down and made it nearly impossible to continue. On this episode of American Potential , host David F...
Aug 22, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 343
In this Big Ideas for Smaller Government episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by Jeremiah Mosteller, Policy Director at Americans for Prosperity, to expose the wasteful spending and inefficiencies at the General Services Administration (GSA)—the federal agency responsible for managing office buildings, procurement, and travel across the U.S. government. They revisit the infamous $800,000 Las Vegas conference scandal, complete with a $30,000 pool party and a 2,400 sq. ft. hote...
Aug 20, 2025•13 min•Season 1Ep. 342
In this special episode of American Potential, guest host Daniel Garza sits down with Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz during LIBRE’s Fly-In event to discuss the shifting political landscape among Hispanic Americans, especially in South Texas. As the first Hispanic female Republican to serve a full term from her district, Congresswoman De La Cruz shares her inspiring personal journey from humble beginnings to public service. She addresses critical topics such as the rejection of socialism within ...
Aug 18, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 341
In this compelling episode of *American Potential*, host David From sits down with Kayla Frank and Echo Kopplin, two dedicated physician associates from South Dakota who led the charge to pass a groundbreaking bill removing the requirement for physician oversight in PA practice. They share the years of perseverance, grassroots advocacy, and strategic relationship-building that finally broke down regulatory red tape, enabling PAs to practice with greater autonomy and flexibility. The conversation...
Aug 15, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 340
In this special edition of American Potential , guest host Daniel Garza sits down with U.S. Senator Rick Scott for an inspiring and candid conversation recorded during LIBRE’s fly-in. Senator Scott shares his personal journey from growing up in public housing to building the largest hospital company in the nation, serving as Florida’s two-term governor, and now representing the state in the U.S. Senate. They discuss the economic turnaround Scott led in Florida—reversing job losses, slashing fees...
Aug 13, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 339
Most people don’t get excited about federal spending cuts—but maybe they should. In this episode of American Potential , host David From talks with Kurt Couchman, Senior Policy Fellow at Americans for Prosperity, about the little-known budget tool called “rescissions” and why it matters for every taxpayer. Kurt explains how the rescission process works, why it was used heavily by presidents like Ronald Reagan, and how recent packages—like the $9.4 billion in cuts to outdated and duplicative prog...
Aug 11, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 338
State Representative Jamie Thompson never set out to become a lawmaker. As a nurse and a mother in Michigan, she watched with growing concern as COVID mandates stripped away personal and medical freedoms. But it wasn’t until tragedy struck—when her daughter died in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind three young children—that Jamie felt called to take a stand. In this moving episode of American Potential , host David From talks with Rep. Thompson about her unexpected path into politics. She op...
Aug 08, 2025•33 min•Ep. 337
Join host David From as he sits down with Congressman Pat Harrigan and flight school owner Jim Rhoades-Baldwin to explore the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) from two vital viewpoints. Congressman Harrigan offers an insider’s perspective on the legislative process behind making the TCJA permanent, sharing how this landmark bill aims to fuel economic growth, strengthen national defense, and provide broad tax relief for American families and businesses. Meanwhile, Jim brings the business owner’s expe...
Aug 06, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 336
In this deeply moving episode of American Potential , host David From sits down with author, speaker, and former NFL player Ron Freeman for an unforgettable conversation about faith, reconciliation, and how one powerful act of kindness changed his life—and his views on race—forever. Ron grew up in a small town in southern Missouri still reeling from segregation, where the scars of the past were etched into daily life. Raised in an environment of distrust, anger, and generational division, Ron’s ...
Aug 04, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 335
In this episode of the *Big Ideas for Smaller Government* series, host David Fran sits down with Jeremiah Mosteller, policy director for Americans for Prosperity, to explore the vast and complex Department of Defense (DoD). With a staggering $2 trillion budget and nearly three million military and civilian personnel, the DoD is one of the largest federal agencies. Together, they discuss the department’s history, structure, and some surprising examples of wasteful spending, including $5 million s...
Aug 01, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 334
In this eye-opening episode of the American Potential podcast, host David sits down with Chief Chris Clem, a seasoned law enforcement veteran with over 27 years in the U.S. Border Patrol and recent experience at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Chief Clem shares his unique perspective on the complexities of border security beyond just patrol agents—highlighting the multi-agency efforts involved in managing immigration and national security. Listeners will gain an in-depth under...
Jul 30, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 333
In this episode of American Potential , host David From is joined by Eric Bott, Vice President at Americans for Prosperity, for a powerful look at the growing movement to rein in unelected bureaucrats and restore legislative authority through the REINS Act—Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny. Eric shares firsthand how this transformative reform is taking root across the country. From its early adoption in Wisconsin and Florida to new victories in Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming, and Kentu...
Jul 28, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 332
In this episode of American Potential , host David From sits down with Tyler Lindholm, State Director for Americans for Prosperity–Wyoming and a true cowboy at heart, to unpack a banner year for freedom in the Cowboy State. From passing universal education savings accounts to overriding the governor’s veto of the REINS Act, Tyler shares how Wyoming is becoming a model for liberty-minded policy. They dig into the repeal of outdated certificate of need laws, the fight to give parents more control ...
Jul 25, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 331
For more than 40 years, South Carolina’s certificate of need law gave powerful hospital systems the ability to block competitors and limit patient access to care. But in 2023, that changed. In this episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by South Carolina State Senator Wes Climer and Candace Carroll, Director of Public Affairs for Americans for Prosperity–South Carolina, to discuss how repealing the law is already improving lives across the state. Senator Climer shares the eye-o...
Jul 24, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 330
In this episode of American Potential , host David From, Regional Vice President at Americans for Prosperity, sits down with Chris and Aziza Butler, a husband-and-wife team on the frontlines of the fight to protect homeschooling freedoms in Illinois. When a bill threatened to force homeschool families to register with the state and potentially face criminal charges, the Butlers didn’t just speak out—they mobilized. Aziza, a former public school teacher turned homeschool mom, and Chris, a pastor ...
Jul 21, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 329
In this episode of American Potential, host David From welcomes back Jeremiah Mosteller, Policy Director at Americans for Prosperity, for another installment in the “Big Ideas for Smaller Government” series—this time targeting the Internal Revenue Service. Jeremiah breaks down how outdated pandemic-era tax subsidies—expanded under the American Rescue Plan—are still being paid out today, even to higher-income individuals who don’t need them. Reverting to the original subsidy rules for the Obamaca...
Jul 18, 2025•19 min•Season 1Ep. 327
In this inspiring episode of American Potential , host David From, Regional Vice President at Americans for Prosperity, sits down with entrepreneur and builder Justin Mannina—CEO of Rexcon Enterprises, Vice President of JB Pinnacle Group, and Co‑founder of My Truck Boss. Justin opens up about his journey from working grueling hours on construction sites to walking away from a secure six‑figure job to launch multiple successful companies. He shares the tough early years—when he and his partner di...
Jul 18, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 328
In this episode of American Potential , host David From welcomes Sandra Benitez, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, to discuss how LIBRE is empowering Hispanic communities through direct advocacy. Sandra shares how LIBRE’s national fly-in brings stories and real-world concerns from Latino communities across 13 states to the halls of Congress. From celebrating the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and advocating for policies like the REINS Act and the DOJGAR Act, to spotlighting is...
Jul 14, 2025•24 min•Ep. 326
In this episode of American Potential , host David From is joined by Genevieve Collins, State Director of Americans for Prosperity–Texas, and Joel Enge, founder of Kingdom Life Academy, to share the extraordinary story behind the largest school choice legislation in American history. After more than a decade of advocacy, Texas has officially passed sweeping education savings account (ESA) legislation, unlocking new options for thousands of families. Collins explains how her team helped mobilize ...
Jul 11, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 325
Ruby Welch’s story is one of remarkable transformation. After surviving unimaginable trauma and serving time in prison, she emerged not defeated—but determined. In this episode, Ruby shares how hitting rock bottom led her to find true freedom, rebuild her life, and help others do the same. With no housing, no job, and only $70 to her name, she began a new chapter grounded in faith, purpose, and service to others. Her powerful voice and lived experience have become a force for criminal justice re...
Jul 10, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 324
Chris Hoffman never set out to become a farmer. He dreamed of a career in law enforcement—until a job on a pig farm at 19 changed the trajectory of his life. Today, he runs one of Pennsylvania’s largest hog and poultry operations and serves as president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. In this episode, Chris shares how he built his farm from the ground up, what it takes to run a 24/7 agricultural business, and why many Americans don’t realize how much red tape stands between farmers and the food...
Jul 07, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 323
