In this episode of American Potential, host @davidfrom sits down with Knox County Mayor @GlennJacobsTN to discuss Operation Hero’s Hill, a program bringing students, businesses, government, and the community together to help homeless veterans. Students from 11 local high schools studying the skilled trades built 20 tiny homes that will provide veterans with safe, stable housing. Along the way, students gained hands-on experience working with industry mentors and developing skills in trades where employers desperately need the next generation of workers. Mayor Jacobs also shares how the community came together to make the project possible, the government barriers they had to overcome, and the additional services veterans will have access to as they move into their new homes. He and David also discuss the growing opportunities in the skilled trades and why programs like this can create a win for students, veterans, businesses, and the entire community.

Twenty-five years after the September 11 attacks, American Potential host @davidfrom sits down with @JohnByrnes13, Strategic Director for @ConcernedVets, to remember the day that changed America and reflect on its lasting impact. John was a college student and National Guard soldier in New York City when the attacks began. He recalls hearing the sirens racing toward Lower Manhattan, watching the first tower collapse, and immediately reporting to his armory. By that evening, John and his fellow soldiers were providing security near Ground Zero, where he would spend nearly two weeks alongside police officers, firefighters, and other first responders during the rescue and recovery efforts. John also shares how 9/11 changed the direction of his own life, eventually leading to deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He and David reflect on the thousands of lives lost, the Americans who answered the call to serve, and the extraordinary unity that swept across the country in the days and weeks following the attacks. Twenty-five years later, John looks back at the lessons of that day, the decisions America made in its aftermath, and why remembering our history remains essential to the country's future.

In this episode of American Potential, host @davidfrom is joined by @bassalid, Vice President of Public Affairs at @AFPhq, to reflect on America’s 250th anniversary and the importance of reconnecting with the nation’s founding principles. Daniel shares how initiatives like the Declaration Project are encouraging Americans to revisit the full meaning of the Declaration of Independence—not just its famous lines, but the deeper ideas about liberty, equality, and the role of government. The conversation also explores the growing divide in public discourse, the decline in national pride, and how focusing on shared values can help bring Americans together again. As the country looks toward the next 250 years, this episode highlights why understanding and carrying forward the principles of the Declaration is more important than ever.