Ep. 085: Interviewing Donald Trump & Managing $100M+ Fed Budget in his 20s w/ Alex Severn

In this powerful episode of the Rhymes With Odd Podcast, host Ryan Snaadt sits down with Alex Severn, a former federal budget analyst, political insider, and Simpson College alum. Alex opens up about his unique career path—from dressing up at college homecoming skits to managing $100 million+ in federal budgets, working with the Department of Transportation, and even interviewing Donald Trump in front of a live audience.If you're curious about public service, federal government operations, data-driven decision-making, and how political grit is formed, this interview is full of value, real-world insight, and a touch of humor.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics(Use these to navigate the episode quickly!)00:00 – From Iowa to D.C.: Moving with just 2 boxes01:14 – College stories & how Ryan and Alex met02:47 – Who is Alex Severn? Becoming a "wastage warrior"05:20 – Why data tracking is the next big frontier07:52 – The power of metrics in sales & business10:22 – Cold calling, quotas, and sales KPIs12:54 – Entrepreneurship is not a get-rich scheme15:55 – Why marketing feels like a black box18:10 – Interest rates, financial discipline & lessons from parents21:15 – Parents’ midlife career shifts and what it taught Alex24:23 – Business mistakes, stress, and painful growth27:14 – Football, cold weather, and developing mental toughness32:39 – Friends dropping out vs. sticking with it35:41 – Sitting in on college board meetings as a student38:34 – Waking up on Capitol Hill – and how the Senate feels41:15 – Live on stage with Donald Trump: “You’re Fired!” moment43:48 – Why Alex moved to D.C. & life in Crystal City49:36 – City chaos & learning to navigate Washington55:35 – Working on DOT audits: Waste, fraud, and... pacemakers?!58:22 – Lithium batteries causing plane explosions 🤯1:01:32 – The unintended consequences of regulation1:04:08 – Office culture, politics, and marriage stats1:10:22 – State lottery budget optimization & ethics1:13:18 – Conservative values vs. government spending habits1:16:19 – How the federal government really operates1:19:34 – Lightning round trivia: Iowa counties challenge1:28:51 – Understanding Lifetime Value & CAC1:31:32 – Decision-making from messy data1:34:24 – The future of originality in an AI-driven world1:37:27 – Grit vs. comfort: Why adversity is essential1:42:56 – Final thoughts on grit, growth & real-life lessonsLink to Alex' bonus material mentioned: https://capitoldataanalytics.com/rhymes-with-bonus/