Stuck in a 9-to-5 and wondering how to escape the grind?

You’re not alone and today's guest proves there's another way.

Meet Bart Merrell, the Side Hustle Samurai.

He never had a "real job" and built a thriving lifestyle by stacking creative side hustles from DJing high school dances to launching a dog training business and even monetizing his own amputation story (yes, really).

In this episode, Bart reveals exactly how he finds profitable ideas in everyday life and teaches you how to do the same. Whether you're itching to leave your job or just want more freedom and security, Bart's mindset and method will help you discover income streams hiding in plain sight.

Key Takeaways:

• Why picking the wrong side hustle is the #1 mistake most people make

• The 6-list process Bart uses to identify your ideal income stream

• How he turned dog training into a $100K+ business with no prior experience

• What losing his leg taught him about monetizing even the hardest moments

• How to spot your “acres of diamonds” (aka opportunities right under your nose)

• Why multiple streams of income = real freedom and peace of mind

About the Guest:

He has never had a real job – and believes you don’t need one either.

In the small dusty podunk farming community of Animas, New Mexico (two hundred plus people), his high school friends needed entertainment. So, at age fifteen, Bart created his own mobile DJ company. He started with a four-year-old Sanyo all-in-one stereo system – complete with eight track player – and began organizing weekend dances. He rented the community center, hired an off duty sheriff’s deputy, his mom and dad took money at the door and Bart spun records.

He continued to add to his system until it sported a light tree, Peavey SP1 subwoofers, SP3 mids and tweeters tri-amped with five thousand watts of power. You are probably laughing at this, but it was a rockin’ system in its day.

And it was a rockin’ dance business, which he grew (adding consistently to his professional sound and lighting system) into a viable enterprise which ultimately helped him through college. He then sold the business and moved forward to his next business adventure.

Links:

https://bartmerrell.com/

Fast Five Questions

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I would be aware of the opportunities around me... I speak fluent Japanese. We could start a Japanese conversation class just like that.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “I discovered a Topgolf-style driving range in Japan in 1994... I didn’t take action because the number of zeros scared me. I could’ve been first to bring it to the U.S.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “Monetize Your Mindset — my book on how to think differently, not what to do also anything by Gary Vee. His approach to the thank-you economy and content creation has inspired me.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “Go High Level. It runs the backend of my business—it’s powerful and scalable.”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “Doing what I want, when I want to. Or in my mentor’s words—living life on your own terms.”

About Jeff:

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively...

Feeling stuck in a cubicle or overwhelmed in your business with no way out?

Many couples dream of working together and building a business—but the reality often leads to stress, miscommunication, and burnout.

Larry and Sue Pruett have been there.

After 20+ years of working jobs and building businesses side-by-side, they sold their e-commerce company and transitioned into purpose-driven coaching. Along the way, they faced debt, burnout, shifting roles, and raising five kids—all while staying united in marriage and business.

In this episode, they share how they built freedom through intentional planning, multiple income streams, and aligning their marriage with their mission. Whether you're a solopreneur, a married business owner, or just dreaming of your Freedom Day, this episode will show you what's possible.

Key Takeaways:

• How to build a business with your spouse without ruining your marriage

• The strategy they used to leave their jobs and go all-in on e-commerce

• Why they saved 6 months of expenses (and toilet paper!) before quitting

• The biggest mistake they made in business—and how they recovered

• How their family mission statement became their most powerful business tool

• Why helping couples in business is their ultimate calling

About the Guest:

Larry and Sue have been married for over 35 years and are parents of five adult children. They have been entrepreneurs for over 20 years, with the last 12+ years being full-time. They are business and marriage coaches who help married entrepreneurs build the business of their dreams ... side by side!

Links:

https://www.sidebysidebusiness.com/

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? "I would just go right back into building this up. I'd be trying to build up the email list. I would be doing everything I could to get on podcasts... And I think we'd start reaching out to people and start selling things on consignment."

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? "Going into debt for our business... it was just this big burden that we carried until we could climb out from that."

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “Profit First by Mike Michalowicz and Simple Money Rich Life by Bob Lotich.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “Our Family Mission Statement. It helps us make decisions, say no more often, and filter new opportunities—even with ChatGPT prompts.”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “Being able to pick your schedule… You get to decide how and when you do things.”

About Jeff:

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community and supporting the growth of small businesses. He is a board member of the Incubator.Edu program at Vista Ridge High School and is on the board of directors of the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation

Connect with the Freedom Nation podcast at https://freedom-nation-podcast.captivate.fm/

Connect with Jeff:

Instagram:

Charley Johnson had it all—by traditional standards.

He was a successful business owner with 85 employees, pulling seven figures. But he was miserable.

Overworked, overwhelmed, and never home, Charley realized he was climbing the wrong mountain. So he did what few entrepreneurs have the courage to do: he burned it all down. He sold his company, built a simpler life, and began redefining what success and freedom really mean.

In this episode, Charley shares the raw truth about burnout, the guilt of selling a business built on hustle, and how he rebuilt a life around time, peace, and purpose. If you’ve ever questioned the price of “success,” this episode will resonate deeply.

Key Takeaways:

• Success ≠ Scale: Why Charley walked away from a thriving business with 85 employees

• Burnout Warning Signs: How being constantly “on” crushed his peace—and nearly his health

• The Myth of Always Needing More: What he learned by cutting his income in half but doubling his happiness

• From CEO to Solo: How Charley built a lean, 4-person business that pays him more and demands less

• Redefining Freedom: Why “just enough” is a powerful number—and how you can find yours

About the Guest:

Charley Johnson is a trailblazing business leader with over 20 years of corporate experience, 7 years as President of the Pay It Forward Foundation, and a decade of study with an enlightened teacher—a path that most often leads to leaving the material world behind. Instead, [Your Name] chose to bridge the worlds of business and consciousness, offering a rare blend of executive insight and elevated clarity.

As one of the world’s first Chief Consciousness Officers (CCO), Charley partners with visionary companies ready to lead in a rapidly evolving world—where technology, division, and distraction challenge human connection more than ever. The CCO role is designed to help organizations maintain their human core while embracing emerging technologies like AI.

Serving as a neutral, conscious presence inside the organization, a CCO helps CEOs, executives, and teams see past conditioning and blind spots, enabling more creative, open-minded solutions. In an age of unprecedented polarization, this role fosters connection, alignment, and purpose-driven leadership from the inside out.

[Your Name]'s revolutionary “Consciousness Training” is a versatile and transformative approach used by executives, athletes, couples, and spiritual seekers alike. Whether the goal is better business understanding, personal clarity, or deeper relationships, this work unlocks a higher level of performance by returning to the source of all knowledge—consciousness itself.

Now, Charley is on a mission to help forward-thinking leaders and organizations shape a future where clarity, connection, and consciousness are the competitive edge.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjconsciousness/

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? "The same thing. The same thing. Yep, yep. Figure out something with consciousness within humanity, how to expand it."

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? "Being too loose with money, too nice. Thinking that I was supposed to take away everyone’s problems and help them when that was probably a lesson they needed to learn. I’d be a lot better off if I was just a little bit more conservative and understood money and investing more."

3. What is a book that you would recommend? "Truth Has No Sides. Just for the

Most people wait until it’s too late to capture a loved one’s story. They assume there’ll be more time, more chances, more tomorrows. For Chance McClain, that realization came just days after filming his stepfather’s life story—he passed away five days later.

What started as a favor for a friend turned into a calling. A single interview turned into a thriving business, Heritage Films, with over 800 documentaries created across 40 states. From World War II veterans to multi-generational ranchers, Chance is preserving legacies one story at a time—and redefining what it means to pass down more than just possessions.

In this episode, Chance shares how losing his father gave birth to a company, the power of storytelling in families, and how even a CPA’s story can move generations to tears.

Key Takeaways:

• The Accidental Business: How a one-time favor became a legacy company serving families across the U.S.

• Stories That Sell (Without Selling): Why personal narratives are more powerful than any pitch—and how Chance "sells" wisdom, values, and connection to future generations.

• Systematizing Legacy: The behind-the-scenes process that allows Chance to scale highly emotional, 3-hour films while keeping each one deeply personal.

• AI + Storytelling: How Chance uses ChatGPT and Notebook LM to prep interviews, build SOPs, and keep creative energy flowing.

• Launching Farm and Ranch Films: A new brand for multigenerational agricultural families—where the land itself becomes a character.

• Why Freedom = Play: Chance’s long-term vision of choosing only the stories he wants to tell while his systems handle the rest.

About the Guest:

Chance McClain is a creative powerhouse, blending a rich background in filmmaking, radio, and theater with a passion for storytelling. As the founder of Heritage Films, Chance has created more than 800 feature- length documentaries, celebrating family stories and life legacies. His work has connected generations, preserving the essence of individuals and families through visually stunning films.

A proud Army veteran and a pioneer in narrative innovation, Chance’s career spans sports radio, Broadway musicals, and entrepreneurial filmmaking. From directing a Streamy-nominated film to writing and producing an off-Broadway musical while running a sports station, his versatility and dedication shine through.

Today, Chance leads his team at Heritage Films with a heartfelt commitment to authenticity, merging technical expertise with an artistic touch. Whether inspiring others to embrace their past or discussing the art of storytelling, he captivates audiences and helps them see the value in preserving their own legacies

Links:

https://yourheritagefilm.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chancemcclain/

https://www.youtube.com/@YourHeritageFilm

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? "I’d shoot a heritage film on my iPhone. Then I'd use that money to upgrade equipment, do another, and grow from there. I’d be back in under a year."

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? "I had early success, built an Excel sheet with fantasy projections—$1M/month by Year 3. The real success felt like failure because of that unrealistic spreadsheet."

3. What is a book that you would...

Are you a hobbyist dreaming of turning your passion into real profit?

Too many creatives stay stuck, unsure how to scale their side hustle without burning out or going broke.

Stoane, founder of Wood and Stone, went from cleaning job sites to building a 7-figure woodworking business—all while staying true to his craft. In this episode, Jeff and Stoane dive deep into how you can start small, scale smart, and turn your passion into a profitable Freedom Day engine.

In this episode, he shares how he went from scraping together $5,000 and 20 hours a week... to leading a thriving business with million-dollar contracts, eight employees, and full benefits. If you've ever dreamed of turning your passion into a profitable business, Stoane's story will challenge, equip, and inspire you.

Key Takeaways:

• Start Before You're Ready: Why starting messy beats waiting for perfect

• Accounts, Not Jobs: How long-term relationships—not one-off gigs—built his 7-figure business

• Burnout Warning Signs: Stoane’s personal experience with overwork and the hidden cost of ignoring health

• Follow the Market: The difference between building what you want vs. what people are willing to pay for

• Scale Smart: Why hiring too fast can hurt you—and how to avoid expensive missteps

• Networking That Works: From lunch-and-learns to Woodcraft, Stoane shares where to find real leads (not just likes)

About the Guest:

Throughout his 20+ year career in construction, Stoane has had the opportunity to work on some magnificent projects. The majority of these projects focused on cabinetry, custom furniture and architectural features. From exotic wood desks for C-level Executives to Trade show booths featured at the Paris Air Show to many Homes, Offices, Hotels and Restaurants throughout the USA.

General Contracting: He has worked his way up from the production line in a cabinet shop, into custom furniture and fixtures, estimating, project management, shop management and now ownership. Through the years there have been a lot of wins and a lot of lessons!

Helping the Next Generation: Stoane has made it his Mission to help others skip avoidable hurdles. He consults with contractors on their business and teaches classes, across multiple states, around woodworking, carpentry and making money in the trades.narratives and real-world examples, readers are encouraged to embrace innovation and creative problem-solving as essential tools for overcoming obstacles.

Links:

https://woodandstoane.com/

https://www.facebook.com/woodandstoane/

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? "Get a job building for someone else. Then a second gig at Woodcraft or Rockler. Monetize every minute until I can get a bankroll to go back out."

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? "Hiring for resume over character. And real burnout—I hit a wall that affected my health."

3. What is a book that you would recommend? "Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss."

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? "A bookkeeper—get one sooner than you think. And a Festool track saw. Game changer."

5. What is your definition of freedom? "Making decisions that are best for my family and having the resources to make them happen. I found I love what I do—and

Most entrepreneurs wait until something goes wrong before thinking about systems, customer retention, or business automation. And when those problems hit, they cost time, money, and momentum. William Holston learned this the hard way—from carnival-style side hustles that flopped to nearly losing a deal because of a wrong phone number. But instead of giving up, he turned each mistake into a lesson, eventually creating tools like the “Uh-Oh Checklist” to help entrepreneurs catch the gaps before they cost them.

In this episode, William walks us through the common business traps he sees over and over—from skipping follow-up to missing automations—and how he helps entrepreneurs fix them fast. He shares the “Uh-Oh Factor” framework, explains how to evaluate where your business is leaking money, and offers tactical advice for protecting your time, profits, and peace of mind.

Key Takeaways:

• Turning Mistakes into Momentum: William shares how early product failures with PitchBurst taught him to embrace mistakes as catalysts for redesign and reinvention.

• The “Uh-Oh” Method: His book introduces a proactive system to help entrepreneurs identify potential disasters before they happen, using tools like the “pre-mortem.”

• Mental Health & Entrepreneurship: After undergoing open-heart surgery, William emphasizes the critical importance of slowing down, setting boundaries, and protecting mental well-being.

• The Power of Oology: William explains how “Oology”—his humorous take on self-awareness—helps business owners get honest about their blind spots and biases.

• Don’t Go It Alone: He stresses the value of community, collaboration, and asking for help—especially when a simple conversation could prevent an expensive mistake.

About the Guest:

In the world of entrepreneurship, unexpected blunders can strike at any moment, leaving even the most seasoned business leaders uttering "Uh-Oh!" In his insightful new book, William Holsten draws from his own rollercoaster journey with WhirlWhims LLC to offer a candid look at the pitfalls and triumphs of launching and sustaining a business.

Holsten expertly navigates the landscape of common missteps we all encounter in personal and professional settings with a blend of humor and hard-earned wisdom. Through engaging anecdotes and relatable examples, he illustrates a variety of blunders that can lead to unintended consequences. But Holsten doesn’t stop at just identifying the pitfalls; he empowers readers with ten practical tools designed to help avoid these missteps.

"UH-OH!" is more than just a recounting of mistakes and missteps; it's a practical toolkit for resilience and strategic planning. Holsten emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes-both his own and those of others-and provides actionable strategies to anticipate and mitigate risks. Through engaging narratives and real-world examples, readers are encouraged to embrace innovation and creative problem-solving as essential tools for overcoming obstacles.

Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking to sidestep common pitfalls or a business professional aiming to sharpen your strategic acumen, "UH-OH!" offers valuable insights into the relentless pursuit of success amidst the unpredictable nature of business.

Links:

https://williamholsten.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-holsten/

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I'd take my wife on a trip. At this stage of life, joy...

Most professionals earn well from their 9-to-5 jobs but feel stuck—unable to build real wealth or achieve financial freedom. Many also fear the stock market, believing it's too risky or unpredictable. Fadi Habib was one of them. Despite high-paying roles in engineering and tech, he couldn’t afford the life he wanted. He turned to real estate—but thought the stock market was just a casino. That is, until he discovered the power of options investing. Today, Fadi runs the Legacy Wealth Builder Academy, teaching busy professionals how to generate income and build wealth—without staring at stock charts all day.

In this episode, Fadi breaks down his responsible investing framework using stocks and options, his risk-first approach to building wealth, and the exact system he uses to help students become confident, independent investors. If you're tired of working hard without seeing real progress toward freedom, this conversation will change how you think about investing.

Key Takeaways:

• From Engineer to Educator: Fadi shares how he transitioned from a high-paying but unfulfilling tech career to building freedom through real estate and options investing.

• Options Without the Casino Vibe: Learn how Fadi uses a conservative, income-focused approach to options that emphasizes risk mitigation over gambling.

• Why 90% of People Lose Money in Stocks: Fadi breaks down how most people skip due diligence and treat stocks like lottery tickets—and what to do instead.

• The Power of Paper Trading: Discover how his students test strategies in a risk-free environment before going live with real money.

• Legacy Wealth Builder Academy: Fadi’s 12-week mentorship helps busy professionals build financial confidence and skills—no day trading required.About the Guest:

About the Guest:

Fadi built a successful career as an engineer and project manager, holding six-figure roles in tech and manufacturing — but still felt stuck, overworked, and unfulfilled.

After being laid off multiple times and surviving a heart attack at 37, he knew he needed a new path. That turning point led him to create the GROWTH System — a simple, powerful options strategy designed to help everyday people build income and long-term freedom.

Today, Fadi is financially free and spends his time coaching others to achieve the same. When he’s not teaching, he’s scuba diving, traveling, or enjoying life on his own terms.

Links:

https://legacywealthbuilderacademy.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fadihabib/

https://www.youtube.com/@LegacyWealthBuilderAcademy

Fast Five Questions

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Assess opportunities, eliminate self-pity, and use the funds to re-skill or restart a business from scratch—no victim mindset allowed.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Investing in cheap real estate in bad neighborhoods—only to realize poor tenant quality and low collectability undermined the cash flow.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki and Get Rich With Options by Lee Lowell”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “ChatGPT, Go High Level CRM, GuruFocus, Equity Clock amdYahoo Finance”

5. What is your definition of

Many families are stretched thin—juggling work, raising kids, and dreaming of starting a business—but feel stuck in the traditional 9-to-5 grind. When Jonathan Harris saw layoffs looming, he and his wife Renee had a choice: uproot their family for corporate survival or risk it all to build a business together. With six kids at the time (and now nine!), they bet on a lotion bar Renee developed at home—and turned a farmer's market side hustle into a full-time family-run e-commerce brand. But they didn’t stop there. They also launched a second venture—Parent Their Passion—a coaching platform that helps parents identify and nurture their children’s unique talents.

In this episode, Jonathan and Renee share how they involved their kids in every step of the journey—from product development to email marketing to graphic design. They break down how families can start businesses, raise entrepreneurial kids, and build financial and emotional freedom—without sacrificing their values.

Key Takeaways:

• Laid Off But Not Defeated: Jonathan cashed out his 401(k) to go all-in on Renee’s homegrown lotion bar idea—turning it into a thriving business.

• Family-First Entrepreneurship: With nine kids, they built a business that worked with their family life—not against it—and trained their children in real-world skills.

• Parent Their Passion: Their second venture helps parents identify their kids’ talents and turn them into income-producing skills before adulthood.

• Learning Through Doing: From photography to bladesmithing, their children turned hobbies into jobs by integrating them into the business.

• Practical Financial Literacy: Through natural conversations around budgeting, inventory, and goals, the kids learned the realities of money and entrepreneurship.

About the Guest:

Jonathan and Renee are a husband and wife team with 24 years of experience educating their children at home while running an online handcrafted skin care business.

When their eldest child turned 12 year old, it became very clear to them that they did not want their children to just fill up buckets of knowledge for each school grade. Instead, they began with their first born son to test out identifying and developing his talents and interests to create smoething remarkable... and marketable.

It worked and they continued to repeat the process with their other 8 children. They'll share how they did it and how you can, too.

Links:

https://parenttheirpassion.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HardLotion/

https://www.youtube.com/user/MadeOnNaturalLotion

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “Renee would launch email marketing for their adult kids’ businesses, helping them build customer lists and drive sales.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Relying too long on coaches who didn’t understand their family-centered lifestyle—realizing later that advice should be aligned with personal values.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “Family Fortunes by Bill Bonner – A deep dive into why most family wealth disappears and how to build legacy that lasts generations.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “Canva and ChatGPT”

5. What is your definition of freedom?...