Just a Guy in a Truck

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World with kids?After a full week at Disney, I’m breaking down what actually worked, what didn’t, and what I’d 100% do again.In this Fun Friday episode of Just a Guy in a Truck, I share real-world tips from traveling with young kids and family—including how to survive the parks without burning out.We talk about:Why renting a stroller is a game-changerUsing mobility scooters for older family membersWhether Lightning Lane is worth the costHow to pace your days without ruining the tripAnd the unexpected highlight of the trip: Discovery CoveIf you’re heading to Disney—or just want to hear what it’s really like—this episode will help you plan smarter and enjoy it more.

Feeling overwhelmed at work, burned out, and struggling to keep up with everything happening in the world?You’re not alone.In this episode of Just a Guy in a Truck, I open up about juggling multiple jobs after downsizing, trying to stay informed without destroying my mental health, and the emotional weight of watching global conflict unfold.But in the middle of all that chaos, a trip to Walt Disney World reminded me of something important:We’re still human.No matter how divided things feel online or in politics, most people still care about the same things—family, connection, and making memories.This episode is about:Burnout and doing “more with less” at workThe mental toll of staying plugged into the newsFeeling powerless in a chaotic worldWhy real life feels different from what we see onlineHow to find balance, perspective, and a little hopeSometimes the answer isn’t tuning out completely—but learning how to stay grounded while everything feels like it’s falling apart.

After nearly a month away, I’m back — and honestly, I still don’t know how to make sense of what’s happening.With tensions escalating between the U.S. and Iran, and rhetoric from Donald Trump growing more intense, this episode is less about answers… and more about processing.I talk through:Why I stepped away from the podcastThe breakdown of diplomacy after the Iran Nuclear DealThe fear and uncertainty around rapid escalationFeeling powerless trying to understand decisions that don’t seem to make senseAnd the human cost — the everyday people caught in the middleThis isn’t a polished take. It’s raw, frustrated, and honest.Because sometimes you can’t neatly explain what’s happening — you can only react to it and try to process it in real time.Just a guy in a truck trying to understand a moment that feels bigger than all of us.

It’s Fun Friday — and instead of politics, we’re talking TV.When the world feels overwhelming, sometimes you just need a little escapism. Here’s what’s been filling my limited free time lately:Selling Sunset — luxury real estate, over-the-top drama, and homes so big the primary bedroom is larger than my entire house.Gold Rush — massive machines, Yukon mining, environmental tension, and watching Parker Schnabel build a gold empire.Alone (Season 11 on Netflix) — survival, starvation, mental toughness, and the question: could I actually last out there? (Spoiler: probably not.)From billionaire real estate to strip mining to bushcraft survival, it’s an odd mix — but it’s been a good mental reset.Sometimes it’s okay to step away from current events and just enjoy some “bad” TV, massive machinery, or watching people try to outlast winter in the wilderness.Just a guy in a truck finding small ways to recharge.

Are young people actually less independent than previous generations — or are we just becoming the “back in my day” crowd?After hearing the author of The Anxious Generation on The Daily Show, I can’t stop thinking about what I’m seeing in real life.Today I talk about:Countries like Australia banning social media for kids under 16Schools limiting phone accessThe growing research linking smartphones to teen anxietyAnd real-world examples from my work as a wildlife biologistWhen a young professional turns down a fully paid field job because he’s afraid to live without constant connection… what does that say?When most summer interns quit because they can’t handle being out of cell service… what does that mean for resilience, risk-taking, and independence?This isn’t about dunking on Gen Z. It’s about asking whether constant connectivity is quietly rewiring childhood — and what we can do about it.Just a guy in a truck wondering if we’re raising an anxious generation — and how we help them reclaim confidence.

From the New Deal to 30-year mortgages and FHA-backed loans, government decisions helped create the modern American middle class. So why does it feel like it’s disappearing?Today I talk about:Why homeownership feels out of reachDown payments, rent cycles, and generational wealthThe shrinking middle class and widening wealth gapWhy trickle-down economics isn’t workingAnd whether it’s time for a “New New Deal”As an elder millennial who’s been fortunate in many ways, I still feel how fragile middle-class stability can be. If it’s this hard for those of us who’ve had advantages, what does that mean for everyone else?Maybe the answer isn’t culture wars or partisan sound bites — maybe it’s rebuilding the middle class on purpose.Just a guy in a truck trying to figure out how we make the American dream attainable again.

It’s State of the Union night — and I won’t be watching.Not because it shouldn’t matter. It should. The president should lay out a real vision, real priorities, and a real path forward for the American people.But lately, our politics feel more like campaigning than governing.Today I’m talking about why so many Americans feel disconnected from Washington — rising healthcare costs, housing affordability, wage stagnation, the cost of education — and why it feels like politicians are chasing sound bites instead of solutions.What should a State of the Union actually do? Inspire? Unite? Tell hard truths? Offer a real agenda?Instead, many of us are just trying to get through swim lessons, mortgage payments, and another exhausting week.Just a guy in a truck wondering whether the American dream is slipping away — and whether our leaders are even trying to fix it.

The Supreme Court just ruled 6–3 that the president does not have unilateral authority to impose sweeping tariffs under the law the administration was using. Most of the recent tariffs were struck down.So what does that actually mean?Today I break down:What a tariff really isWho actually pays for tariffs (hint: not foreign governments)Whether trade deficits are actually “bad”Why this ruling could have major midterm consequencesTariffs function as a tax on imported goods — and that cost is often passed directly to American consumers. In the middle of an affordability crisis, that matters.The Court may have handed the administration a political off-ramp. Instead, we’re seeing a doubling down — and now Congress may have to go on record.Just a guy in a truck trying to make sense of trade policy, the Supreme Court, and who ultimately pays the bill

It’s Fun Friday, so we’re talking basketball.The Utah Jazz were fined $500,000 for “tanking” — not playing their starters late in games as they position themselves for a better NBA draft pick. But is that really ruining the integrity of the league… or just smart business under the current rules?Today I break down how the NBA draft lottery works, why teams have incentives to lose, and why the Jazz might actually be acting logically. If the system rewards worse records, can you really blame teams for optimizing?I also share an idea from the Professional Women’s Hockey League that could fix tanking altogether — by rewarding wins after playoff elimination instead of losses.Just a guy in a truck talking NBA strategy, draft reform, and why sometimes the rules — not the teams — are the real problem.

Driving home in a snowstorm today and trying to wrap my head around something that feels almost too wild to be real.Donald Trump is suing the U.S. government — his own government — over the Mar-a-Lago classified documents raid and the leak of his tax returns. He’s asking for $10 billion.That money would come from taxpayer funds. And the Department of Justice he oversees could ultimately decide whether to settle.Is that normal? Is that a massive conflict of interest? Or is this just more grievance politics playing out in real time?Today I’m talking about executive power, DOJ independence, partisan blinders, and why this feels like another example of the rich getting richer while regular Americans foot the bill.Just a guy in a truck trying to make sense of lawsuits, loyalty, and whether accountability still matters

After a long weekend (and a broken toe), I’m back — and today I wanted to dig deeper into climate change.The administration just rolled back the EPA’s long-standing authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions — a rule that’s guided climate policy for nearly two decades. What’s strange is… no one was really asking for this. Not automakers. Not even oil companies looking for long-term stability.So who benefits?We talk about deregulation, fuel economy standards, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and why clean energy isn’t just about “believing” in climate change — it’s about economics, public health, and long-term planning.Even if you took climate change off the table entirely, why wouldn’t we want cleaner air, lower fuel costs, and more energy independence?Just a regular guy in a (gas-powered) truck trying to make sense of EPA rollbacks, electric trucks, and why the future probably belongs to clean energy.

Today isn’t polished. It’s not organized. It’s just honest.I’m tired. Tired from work. Tired from medical bills looming after my wife’s surgery. Tired from juggling kids, school, activities, and a 15-hour day. And tired from trying to process a world that feels like it’s on fire.From the affordability crisis — housing, childcare, healthcare, groceries — to corporate power in politics, to climate change, to the nonstop outrage cycle… it all feels like too much.How are regular families supposed to keep up? How are we supposed to care about long-term issues when we’re just trying to survive the week?This one’s more of a venting session than a solution session. An exhausted guy in a truck trying to figure out how to balance real life, real bills, and really big problems — without losing his mind.If you’re feeling overwhelmed too, you’re not alone.

Last episode I talked about being proud to be an American during the Olympics. But if I’m honest, sometimes “embarrassed” feels more accurate.Today I’m unpacking that tension — why everything in our politics gets filtered through a partisan lens, why simple answers are often wrong, and how we’ve handed too much power to cults of personality instead of principles.From the outrage over Olympic athletes speaking out, to corporate money flooding political campaigns, to gerrymandering and election reform — I’m trying to wrestle with what it means to love your country while still being deeply frustrated by it.Is it possible to be patriotic and critical at the same time? I think it has to be.Just a regular guy in a truck, trying to make sense of polarization, money in politics, and why embarrassment doesn’t mean you don’t care.

Quick life update to start: my wife’s surgery went well. Clean margins, no cancer left, and now it’s just recovery. We’re tired but incredibly grateful.With everything going on in the world, I needed something a little lighter today — and for me, that’s the Winter Olympics.There’s something special about watching regular people with extraordinary dedication represent their countries, chasing dreams in sports most of us only think about every four years. For a couple weeks, it feels like we’re united again.So today I’m talking Olympics memories, underdog stories, Team USA pride, and why sports can sometimes remind us that we have more in common than cable news and social media want us to believe.Just a regular guy in a truck, feeling thankful and trying to hold onto the good stuff.

Quick life update first — my wife’s surgery is this week, so episodes might be a little lighter while I focus on taking care of her. Thanks for all the support.Today I wanted to zoom back out and talk about something that’s been bothering me after listening to the NPR Politics Podcast: talk of “nationalizing” elections, revisiting 2020 yet again, and what happens when one party tries to control how voting works.That stuff should make all of us nervous — not Republican or Democrat nervous, but American nervous.I’m thinking out loud about free and fair elections, peaceful transfers of power, and a few common-sense reforms like independent redistricting, vote-by-mail, and getting big money out of politics.Nothing fancy. Just a regular guy in a truck wondering what happens if we stop protecting the basics of democracy.

Today's episode is a little different — and a lot more personal.Last week, my wife was diagnosed with cancer.Thankfully it’s early, treatable, and likely just a surgery… but going through appointments, biopsies, specialists, and insurance has been a wake-up call about how fragile life — and our healthcare system — really is.Even with a decent job and “good” insurance, we’re still staring at deductibles, out-of-pocket costs, and bills that don’t make sense. And it’s hard not to think about how many families don’t even have that safety net.So today I’m just talking it through — fear, gratitude, frustration, and why healthcare probably shouldn’t be tied to your job in the first place.Just a regular guy in a truck, trying to make sense of a scary week.

It’s been one of those weeks.After a new therapist gently pointed out the obvious — yeah, this might be burnout — I’m feeling pretty wrung out. So instead of politics or headlines today, I’m talking about something lighter… and honestly, more necessary.The shows, books, and small escapes that help me cope.From The Daily Show to Shrinking on Apple TV to The Thursday Murder Club, I’ve been thinking about why stories that mix humor with real-life pain can feel so healing — and why unplugging from the doomscroll every once in a while might be the best thing we can do for our mental health.Just a regular guy in a truck, talking burnout, therapy, and finding a little joy where we can

Tonight’s episode is a little different.After a parent night at my son’s school, I’ve been thinking a lot about something bigger than politics — how smartphones, social media, and constant screen time are changing our kids… and honestly, changing us too.From anxiety and depression to shorter attention spans and rising polarization, it feels like we’ve traded play, community, and real-world connection for algorithms, dopamine hits, and infinite scroll.As a dad (and just a guy trying to figure this out), I’m talking through what a “phone-based childhood” might be costing our families — and why maybe we all need to step outside, put the screens down, and reconnect with the real world a little more.Just one guy, a truck, and some thoughts on parenting, technology, and how we got here.

Today I’m reacting to the Department of Homeland Security’s internal review of the Minneapolis ICE shooting — and how their findings don’t match the story we were first told.It’s not just about one incident anymore. It’s about trust.When the government lies about things we can clearly see with our own eyes, how are we supposed to believe them about everything else we can’t verify?From ICE and DHS to jobs reports and inflation numbers, I’m wrestling with what happens when transparency disappears — and why honesty from our leaders matters more than ever.Just one regular guy, a truck, and some thoughts on truth, accountability, and who government is supposed to serve.

After yesterday’s heavy news, today I’m thinking about what immigration enforcement should actually look like.I believe in borders. I believe in laws. But I also believe there’s a right way and a wrong way to treat people.Masked agents, fear, and violence aren’t who we’re supposed to be.As the grandson of immigrants, I’m trying to talk through where accountability, humanity, and the rule of law are supposed to meet — and why America should be better than brute force.Just one regular guy, a truck, a dog in the back seat… and some thoughts on how we do this the right way.

Today’s episode is a heavy one.After another protester was killed during an ICE operation in Minneapolis, I’m trying to make sense of where the line is between immigration enforcement and basic civil rights.If someone can be detained, beaten, or killed while peacefully protesting, filming police, or legally carrying a firearm… what does that say about our freedoms?This isn’t about left vs. right. It’s about whether we still believe in the Constitution and accountability for government power.Just one regular guy talking it through on the drive home.No yelling. No spin. Just trying to make sense of it.

On this Fun Friday episode of Just a Guy in a Truck, I talk mental health, therapy, marriage, and why Hulu’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives became my favorite guilty-pleasure escape.What started as trashy reality TV turned into real conversations with my wife about relationships, growth, and staying sane when life feels heavy. Sometimes drama on screen helps us process our own lives.Just a regular guy, in a truck, trying to make sense of it all.

Today’s drive home turns into a simple question: why does the U.S. suddenly want Greenland?Trump says it’s about national security — but Greenland is already protected by NATO, we already have a military base there, and buying or taking it could actually make the world less safe.So I’m breaking it down the only way I know how — not as a politician or expert, just a regular guy trying to understand foreign policy, alliances, and how any of this helps everyday Americans.No spin. No yelling. Just thinking out loud in a truck.

On today’s drive home, I’m talking about being a first-generation college student, teaching at a rural university, and how college exposes us to people and ideas outside our bubble.Higher education isn’t about “liberal factories” — it’s often just the first time we step outside our echo chambers and meet people who see the world differently. That kind of exposure builds empathy, not indoctrination.Just a regular guy reflecting on social capital, small towns, political divides, and why listening to each other still matters.No scripts. No lectures. Just real talk in a truck.

Politicians keep saying the economy is “doing great.” But if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, it doesn’t feel that way.On today’s drive home, I talk about inflation, the cost of living, and why the stock market isn’t the same as the real economy. For the wealthy, things look amazing. For the rest of us, groceries, housing, and healthcare just keep getting harder to afford.Just one regular guy breaking down what the numbers look like from the driver’s seat — not Wall Street.No scripts. No spin. Just real life in a truck.

On today’s drive home, I’m talking trickle-down economics, wealth inequality, and why the middle class keeps falling behind.After 40 years of tax cuts for the rich, nothing’s really “trickled down.” So what if we flipped it? Think Mario Kart economics — give the boosts to the people in last place, not the ones already winning.Just a regular guy, paycheck to paycheck, trying to make sense of taxes, housing costs, and why the richest country in the world still feels so hard to live in.No scripts. No jargon. Just real talk from a guy in a truck.

On today’s drive home, I’m thinking about empathy, tribalism, and why we feel so divided lately.From road rage to social media to politics and immigration, it’s easy to stop seeing people as people and start seeing “us vs. them.” And when empathy disappears, everything gets meaner — and more broken.Just one regular guy talking through how we slow down, listen better, and remember there’s a human being on the other side.No scripts. No shouting. Just real thoughts from a guy in a truck.

Today’s drive home gets heavier than planned. After a recent ICE shooting, I’m thinking about law enforcement, racism, and what “white privilege” really means from my own life as a straight white guy.We talk policing, immigration enforcement, gun culture, and why we should expect more accountability from the people sworn to protect us — not make safe places more dangerous.No scripts. No politics-as-usual spin. Just an honest conversation from a guy in a truck trying to make sense of it all.

Five years after January 6th, I’m remembering where I was when the Capitol was stormed — and trying to process how we went from calling it an insurrection to pretending it never happened.On today’s drive home, I talk about the Capitol riot, Trump’s pardons, “law and order,” and how constant lies and gaslighting make it hard to trust the people running our government.No spin. No scripts. Just an everyday guy in a truck trying to make sense of democracy, truth, and what it means for regular Americans.

On today’s drive home, I’m trying to process the news out of Venezuela — Maduro, Trump, and the U.S. getting involved overseas again.As just a regular guy (not a foreign policy expert), it feels a lot like Iraq and Libya all over again: regime change, oil, and politicians making big decisions that regular families end up paying for.We talk America First, war powers, democracy, and why it’s so frustrating watching everyday Americans struggle while billionaires and politicians play global chess.No scripts. No spin. Just one guy in a truck thinking it through.

Welcome to Just a Guy in a Truck. I’m a wildlife biologist, dad, and regular guy recording daily thoughts on my drive home — talking politics, science, the cost of living, and how everyday Americans make sense of a complicated world.From growing up conservative to thinking more independently, this show is about changing your mind, following the evidence, and figuring life out in real time.No scripts. No pundit takes. Just an honest perspective from the driver’s seat.