American Dream Factory (ADF)
by A build_ cities podcast hosted by Nick Smoot and Joe Toney
The American Dream isn’t dead—it’s being rebuilt.The American Dream Factory is a podcast about the people and ideas reshaping what it means to build a life of purpose in the modern world. Hosted by entrepreneur and civic innovator Nick Smoot, the show dives into conversations with founders, investors, policy leaders, artists, and system disruptors who are creating new models for work, community, and human flourishing.From the factory floor to City Hall, from Silicon Valley to small-town Idaho, this podcast explores how we reimagine power, ownership, and opportunity in an age of automation.
Episodes
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22 Years Old & Surviving a One-in-a-Billion Cancer
At 22 years old, Nathan Wozny was building the life he wanted. He had dropped out of college, moved across the country, found a career he loved, and was beginning to build his version of the American Dream. Then he found out he had cancer. At first, there was reason for optimism. For a couple of...
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Can We Still Talk to Each Other? A Conservative, a Progressive, and the Future of America
What happens when a Republican entrepreneur, a Democratic political strategist, and a city manager sit down—not to win an argument, but to understand each other? In one of the most thoughtful conversations we've had on American Dream Factory, Nick Smoot and Joe Toney welcome Adama Iwu, one of...
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The Robots Took My Job... So I Invented a New Economy
What happens when AI can think faster than us and robots can work longer than us? In this episode, Nick Smoot explores the future of work and argues that the real crisis won't be unemployment—it will be a loss of human purpose. After more than 16 years researching, testing, and building...
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The Last 76: Clint Schroeder on the Fight to Save Local Journalism
There are only about 76 daily newspapers left in America that are not owned by a major corporate chain or billionaire-backed private owner. Seventy-six. In a country with more than 19,000 cities, towns, and villages, that number should stop us in our tracks. Chapters 06:43 The State of Local...
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Morgan Linton on AI, Creativity, and Getting Our Humanity Back
In this episode of the American Dream Factory Podcast, Nick Smoot sits down with Morgan Linton, co-founder and CTO of Bold Metrics, early Sonos employee, AI builder, and one of the most compelling people experimenting at the edge of artificial intelligence. Morgan’s path is not linear, which is...
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From Blackstone to Bonton: Daron Babcock on the Real Work of Community Transformation
In this episode of the American Dream Factory Podcast, Nick Smoot sits down with Daron Babcock, Managing Director of Community Transformation at Stand Together Foundation and founder of Bonton Farms, for a powerful conversation about poverty, dignity, health, faith, entrepreneurship, and what it...
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$38.5 Million for Builders: Nevada’s Bet on the American Dream
Nevada is putting real capital behind founders, manufacturers, builders, and companies ready to scale. In this episode of American Dream Factory, Nick Smoot sits down with Kyle Ferguson, head of Nevada’s Battle Born Growth Escalator venture program, to unpack how Nevada is deploying nearly $40...
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How Government, Capital, and Community Work Together to Build the Future
In this episode, Nick & Joe sit down with John Keisler, CEO of Sunstone Management and former Economic Development Director for the City of Long Beach, for a conversation about public-private partnerships, civic expertise, investment, and what it really takes to build stronger communities. John...
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Building What Matters In The Age of AI
In this episode of American Dream Factory, Nick Smoot sits down with Morgan Dixon, a 24-year-old PhD student in artificial intelligence and machine learning at the University of Idaho. Morgan represents a rare but replicable archetype: a young man preparing to launch into the world with technical...
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Free $, AI Agents, & Reno’s Unicorn Moment
Nick Smoot sits down with Doug Erwin, the entrepreneurship lead at EDAWN in Northern Nevada, for a wide-ranging, high-energy conversation about two things happening at once: AI is moving from “chat” to “do.” Agents are booking meetings, running workflows, and changing the cost and speed of...
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Don’t Wait for Permission or Perfection
In this solo episode of the American Dream Factory podcast, Nick Smoot explores a simple but powerful idea that keeps people stuck. Waiting. Waiting for permission. Waiting for perfection. Waiting for someone else to go first. Nick shares a personal story about solving a ridiculous traffic…
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Data That Could Save America
America is running out of workers and time. The baby boomers are retiring, birth rates are collapsing, and colleges are struggling to prove their value. In the middle of that chaos, a new movement is forming built on skills, not degrees. In this episode of The American Dream Factory, hosts Nick...
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The Soul of a City
In this episode of The American Dream Factory, hosts Nick Smoot and Joseph Toney sit down with creative veteran Lee Davis, founder of Clean, a Raleigh-based agency known for its soulful approach to branding. Lee’s three-decade journey spans legendary firms like Wieden+Kennedy and J&J, giving him…
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Rethinking Power, Community, & the American Dream
In this episode of American Dream Factory, Nick and Joe sit down with two transformative leaders in the world of politics, community, media, and capitalism: Matthew Barzun – Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. & Sweden, bestselling author of The Power of Giving Away Power, and architect of...
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Lessons From 50 Years of Economic Development
In this episode Nick Smoot sits down with Ernesto Sirolli of the Sirolli Institute. Chapters 09:42 Engagement with the Community 26:00 Lessons from International Aid 42:36 The Joy of Helping Others 46:24 Building Community Through Collaboration 56:21 The Importance of Passion in Business 01:00:22...
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Managing Cities In Turbulent Times
What does it take to lead a city when everything is on fire... literally and figuratively? In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with longtime friend and civic leader Joe Toney, who has spent nearly two decades inside city government, including serving as City Manager of Malibu during the recent...
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Is High School Still Worth It in the Age of AI?
07:43 High School Experience and Preparedness 12:29 The Skills Gap in Education 15:04 Value of College in Today's World 21:32 Reimagining High School Education 29:33 The Role of AI in Education and Work 30:57 Perspectives on the Future of Work 32:56 The Impact of AI on Job Roles 36:13 The…
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AI for Normal People
Think AI is just for tech bros, coders, or billionaires building robot empires? Think again. In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with AI expert Josh Freckleton to break down what artificial intelligence really is, what it actually does today, and how "normal people" can start using it to make...
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College, Crypto, & AI: How 2 Guys In Idaho Are Shaping The Future
What if the most powerful new protocol in AI wasn’t being shaped in Silicon Valley… but in a basement in North Idaho? Enter Paul Swaim and Garrett Oetken, two innovators who went from community college hallway conversations to becoming key architects of BitTensor, a $3B+ decentralized AI...
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Old People, Space Ships, & the Real American Dream
This episode challenges the broken narrative around the American Dream and reframes it as a mindset, not a marketing slogan. He dives into the importance of creation over consumption, the undervalued wisdom of older generations, and the truth that you’re never too old (or too young) to build...
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GPS Patent, Grit, and the Battle for Mobile’s Future
Before Google Maps. Before smartphones. Before Silicon Valley gave mobile a second thought — the Blumberg brothers were strapping GPS units to PalmPilots and piping real estate data through them. In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with Brad and Eric Blumberg, the underdog inventors who quietly...
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The Messy Start of a Billion Dollar Brand
In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with Susan Paley, the powerhouse behind the early days of Beats by Dre. Before Beats became a global icon, it was Susan — employee one, founding CEO — who brokered the partnerships, built the business model, and turned the brand from an idea into a global...
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A New Chapter for Coeur d’Alene Builders
In this episode, Nick Smoot sits down with Javis Cornett, Audience Development Director at Hagadone Media, to announce a groundbreaking partnership between Build_ and The Coeur d’Alene Press. This isn’t just a media collab. It’s the birth of a modern business community—where local news, startups,...
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Social Media, Iran, & the Lost Art of Knowing Things
🎙 Show Notes: In this solo drop, Nick Smoot lays down a rapid-fire take on the real American Dream, the cultural war around who gets to speak, and why reading is the ultimate act of rebellion in the algorithm age. Here’s what you’ll hear: Why the American Dream isn’t dead, it’s just been…
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AI, Storytelling, & San Francisco w/ Julian Guthrie
In this inspiring and wide-ranging episode, Nick sits down with Julian Guthrie, a Pulitzer-nominated journalist, bestselling author, and now AI startup founder, who calls Hayden, Idaho home. Julian opens up about: Her path to the San Francisco Chronicle, covering the tech boom, interviewing...
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Everyone Is Selfish... Plan Accordingly
Welcome to The American Dream Factory, where we don’t sugarcoat reality — we design for it. In this spicy solo episode, Nick Smoot serves up a no-BS framework for building better systems, companies, communities, and lives by embracing one hard truth: 👉 Humans are selfish. Stop expecting…
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How A Disabled Man Inspired A City
Nick sits down with Tom Lucas and Morgan Dixon, co-founders of a startup that brought together an unlikely team—a 15-year-old, a 75-year-old, and PhDs—united in their mission to partner with disabled inventor Robert Brady to develop a tool for the hard of hearing and ultimately save a marriage....
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Jobs Are Dead. Humans Next?
In this urgent talk, Nick dismantles the illusion that most jobs in the recent past are actual sources of meaning and purpose. With AI and automation rapidly replacing traditional labor, he argues that we must stop clinging to outdated notions of work and instead embrace the next phase of human...
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Power, War, & the Future of Entrepreneurship
Nick Smoot sits down with Brigadier General (Ret.) Blaine Holt for a deep-dive conversation on global power shifts, economic collapse, and the future of entrepreneurship. Blaine shares firsthand insights from his time working with NATO, dealing with Russia and China, and witnessing the hidden...
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AI, Democracy, and Why It’s Time to Shake Up the System
🔥 AI is eating politics alive—and two founders from the backwoods of Idaho are leading the charge. What happens when artificial intelligence meets democracy? When cold, hard data replaces political spin? When people get real-time transparency on what their government is actually doing? This…
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Rethinking Death & Money
If you knew you’d live past 100 how would that change the way you plan your money, your career, and your purpose? EnterCurtis Estes, the financial visionary redefining how we prepare for a world where 120 is the new 60. As a top financial planner and the genius behind theAnti-Retirement Club…
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The Hidden Startup Ecosystems of America
Nick and Jamie jam about the future of work, venture capital, overlooked startup ecosystems, and more. Check out Jamie and his work at Parallel 18. Join us over at build_ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Relocation to Puerto Rico 07:25 Investment Ecosystem in Puerto Rico 09:59 Government-Backed...
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Economics & Democracy... What comes next?
In this conversation, Nick Smoot talks with Lenny Mendonca as they explore the themes of decentralization, community empowerment, and the evolution of economic systems. They discuss the importance of local governance, the role of innovation in economic growth, and the challenges posed by AI and...
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Embracing AI Without Losing Our Humanity
In this conversation, Nick Smoot and Taylor Black of Microsoft discuss the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, its implications for the workforce, and the importance of maintaining human connections in an increasingly automated world. They explore the balance between leveraging AI for...
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Space Travel and Self Driving Cars
Back in 2015 I hosted a conference where a true innovator and friend, Burt Rutan, poked fun at modern innovation and continued to challenge us all to bring the "cowboy energy" to the world of innovation. In this talk you will hear from an AI expert who is now at Microsoft, the former COO of the...
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Brain Implants, Robots, and Job Loss
This conversation with Nick Smoot and Robert @Scobleizer was wild! 🔑 Key Takeaways (from @123wimi) 🧠 BCIs Transforming Lives Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are pushing boundaries with applications in mental health, immersive experiences, and human augmentation. 🤖 Robotics Driving Automation...
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Liam Cronin: Innovation Economies & Rural Ireland
If you have ever wondered how you can build an innovation economy in a rural ag town... well then this is the podcast you do not want to miss. Liam is running one of the most successful innovation hubs in the country of Ireland and doing it in a town of 2,100 people! Please check out his work...
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Poetry, Buckminster Fuller, Vietnam War Surplus and other secrets that built The North Face
In this episode you will be inspired, challenged, and laugh due to the stories of The Founder and 20 year CEO of The North Face; Hap Klopp. If you want to be aware of these live events and more like them please fill out this form and we will get back to you. We are a wild community of creators…
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The Power of Community in Economic Development
In this episode, Maria Effertz, the director of community services in the North Dakota Department of Commerce shares incredible and timely insights about the need and power of community development to boost economies. The work she is doing within the North Dakota Department of Commerce is...
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How a bank CEO balances a life of money and music
Former Bank Executive and now... Interim Executive Director of the Spokane Symphony... Yes, that is what Russ Lee is doing in his "retirement" He took the bank he was leading through a $160M exit and now is leading a movement of music in the town he loves, Spokane, Wa. Listen as Russ tells…
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Leading With Empathy: Harry Amend
In this live episode, Nick Smoot interviews Harry Amend who is a highly respected figure in education with over 41 years of experience. Throughout his career, Harry has served as a teacher, coach, counselor, principal, and superintendent, primarily in the Spokane Valley, Washington area. He…
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Better: Chapter 2
Did you know Nick has been in the middle of gun fire, met with senators, and built and sold tech companies? This chapter dives into more of his background and how he approaches social and economic impact.
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Better: chapter 1
Did you know that 77% of youth do not qualify for military service due to mental and physical health issues? Did you know that 85% of employees are not engaged at work. Nick reads chapter 1 of his book, “Better” and talks about how to leverage a cities economic needs and systems to address these...
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Rebuilding "Middle America" w/ Walton Family Fellow Ross Devol
In this episode of the American Dream Factory: Ross Devol of Heartland Forward: https://heartlandforward.org/ Nick Smoot of Aesop Industries: https://www.aesopindustries.com/ Ross Devol is the president and CEO of Heartland Forward, a “think and do” tank based in Bentonville, Ark. Heartland...
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Episode 016: The need for real relationships
In this episode we hear from Scotti Schecter who leads a corporation that provides friendship and accountability to royalty, celebrities, and executives who are seeking a sober life. Scotti grew up as a child pop star, found himself on drugs, full of shame and homeless. After a long road to...
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Managing depression with innovation
In this episode I speak with Daniel about his journey through depression and how he is using Innovation Collective to help him find community and joy again. In this episode we do discuss suicide. If you need help, text or call 988. Head to InnovationCollective.co for more info
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Episode 14: Steve Case, an interview with legendary investor, leader, visionary, and entrepreneur
In this episode of The American Dream Factory, Nick Smoot interviews Steve Case. He is the visionary behind and the world changing company, America Online. Steve kindly joined some off the community from across the United States for an online live Q and A. In this conversation we discuss how to…
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Coad brothers on big tech, spirituality, family, purpose and education
In this episode I interview 3 brothers who grew up homeschooled in between Idaho and Texas that now work for Apple, Tesla, and Amazon. They discuss their childhood, what they think is important about parenting, education, and spirituality. Come on this journey with me as you meet the Coad…
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Congressman Ro Khanna: Dignity in a Digital Age
Enjoy this conversation with #Congressman #RoKhanna. He’s working hard to create better on-ramps to the #AmericanDream for everyone. In this discussion we explore #capitalism, dignity, and we even touch on the issue of #UniversalBasicIncome.
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Episode 010: The King of Marketing
In this episode, Geoff Cottrill, legendary marketing guru shares stories about his family, creativity, and passion for how brands should interact with their customers. His experience comes from years leading marketing at coke, starbucks, converse, and top golf. www.InnovationCollective.co
About this show
The American Dream isn’t dead—it’s being rebuilt.The American Dream Factory is a podcast about the people and ideas reshaping what it means to build a life of purpose in the modern world. Hosted by entrepreneur and civic innovator Nick Smoot, the show dives into conversations with founders, investors, policy leaders, artists, and system disruptors who are creating new models for work, community, and human flourishing.From the factory floor to City Hall, from Silicon Valley to small-town Idaho, this podcast explores how we reimagine power, ownership, and opportunity in an age of automation.
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A build_ cities podcast hosted by Nick Smoot and Joe Toney
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