American Potential

Two Decades of Fighting for Freedom: Brent Gardner on the Journey of Americans for Prosperity Description: In this milestone episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank interviews Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer of Americans for Prosperity (AFP), as the organization celebrates 20 years of grassroots-driven impact. Brent shares the story of AFP’s humble beginnings, starting with...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank sits down with Brad Stevens, former Americans for Prosperity (AFP) employee and current State Director for U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts. Brad reflects on his 14-year journey with AFP, sharing stories of grassroots victories, policy change, and the power of community activism. From memorable door-knocking campaigns to building lasting relationshi...

 In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank welcomes Dr. Marty Makary, a professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and author of the new book, Medical Blindspots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong and What That Means for Our Health. Dr. Makary dives into the challenges within the medical industry, discussing how groupthink, outdated recommendations, and bureaucratic red tape have led to...

 In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank sits down with Yuval Levin, Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and author of the new book, American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation and Could Again. Levin delves into how the Constitution was designed to manage conflicts and disagreements, creating a system that enco...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank speaks with Matt Keenan, Federal Affairs Liaison for Americans for Prosperity, about the upcoming changes to vehicle emission standards and how they will impact consumer choice. Set to go into effect in 2027, these new regulations, pushed by the Biden-Harris administration, could lead to a significant reduction in the availability of gas-power...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank is joined by Kirby West, an attorney from the Institute for Justice, and Andrea Moceri, a parent using Alaska's correspondence program, to discuss the legal battles surrounding educational choice in Alaska. The correspondence program, designed to meet the unique needs of Alaskan families—especially those in remote areas—has been a lifeline for...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank welcomes former Texas Congressman Jeb Hensarling to discuss the critical issues of government overreach, the economy, and the differences between big government conservatism and classic liberal conservatism. Hensarling, who served as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, shares his insights on how expanding government regulations...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank is joined by Austen Bannan to explore the evolving landscape of independent contract work. Bannan delves into the challenges and opportunities faced by independent contractors, especially in light of recent regulatory changes. As more individuals turn to freelance and gig work, understanding the implications of these changes is crucial for bot...

  In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank speaks with Chalmers Carr, President and CEO of Titan Farms, the largest peach producer on the East Coast. Carr delves into the intricacies of the H-2A visa program, a crucial tool for American agriculture that has benefited both his farm and its workers for decades. He shares how the program has been essential in maintaining a legal, reliab...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank talks with Jim and Marcus Neiman, leaders of a fifth-generation timber production company in South Dakota. The Neimans share their experience of grappling with unexpected cuts to the federal Timber Sales Program, a crucial initiative they had relied on to plan their business operations years in advance. These cuts forced the Neimans to make di...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank is joined by Daniel Bassali, Managing Director for Grassroots Brand Marketing at Stand Together, to explore the power of grassroots movements in transforming communities across America. Bassali shares inspiring stories of how everyday citizens are driving significant change by breaking down government-imposed barriers and empowering local init...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank speaks with Shawn Woods, a Kansas City builder, about the unintended consequences of the city’s adoption of new energy standards tied to funds from the Inflation Reduction Act. Woods explains how these regulations have significantly increased the cost of building homes, pushing prices higher and making homeownership less attainable for first-t...

 In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank talks with Matt Curran, grassroots program manager for education and training at Americans for Prosperity, about the upcoming 2027 regulations for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles. Curran discusses the significant impact these regulations will have on both the automotive industry and everyday consumers. With rising concerns over inflation...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank sits down with U.S. Senator Rick Scott of Florida to address the critical issue of the nation’s ballooning $35 trillion debt. U.S. Senator Scott, drawing from his extensive experience as the former governor of Florida and a successful healthcare executive, discusses practical strategies to curb federal spending and bring the budget back into b...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank is joined by former Vice President Mike Pence for a deep dive into the challenges facing America today. Pence shares his insights on the critical need to reduce government overreach, emphasizing the importance of limited government and individual liberty. Reflecting on his tenure in the Trump administration, Pence discusses the successes of th...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank sits down with Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to discuss the critical fight against federal government overreach and the vital role states play in defending federalism. Carr shares his experiences leading numerous lawsuits against the Biden administration, focusing on the importance of challenging unconstitutional executive actions and pr...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank is joined by Jake Coleman, Minnesota State Director for Americans for Prosperity (AFP), and RaeAnna Lee, the state’s Legislation Director, to discuss the tumultuous end to the Minnesota state senate session. The conversation highlights how a last-minute delay by a Democratic Socialist senator led to the rushed passage of a controversial Omnibu...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank welcomes Darin Selnick, a United States Air Force veteran and senior advisor for Concerned Veterans for America. Selnick shares his extensive background in healthcare and military service, discussing how these experiences shaped his role as a senior advisor to two VA secretaries and as the Veterans Affairs advisor for the president at the Dome...

In this powerful episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank interviews Gordo DeCastro, who shares his harrowing journey from a prosperous life in Venezuela to seeking refuge in the United States. Gordo recounts his family's successful businesses and the comfortable life they led before Venezuela's economy collapsed due to hyperinflation and rampant crime. He vividly describes the deteriorating...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank discusses the impact of overregulation on businesses and consumers in Kansas with State Representative Barb Wasinger and Randy Stookey, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Kansas Grain and Feed Association. They delve into the newly passed House Bill 2648, which seeks to curb excessive regulations by giving the state legislature...

In this episode of American Potential, Jeff Crank interviews Daniel Chang Contreras, who shares his experiences of growing up in Venezuela during a period of severe economic and political crisis. Daniel discusses the devastating effects of hyperinflation on his family's business and the broader societal challenges, including scarcity of basic goods and unreliable public services. He explains how t...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank sits down with Chris Habig, President and CEO of Freedom HealthWorks. Chris shares his journey from a family steeped in medicine to co-founding a business that helps doctors break free from traditional insurance models. He discusses the challenges and inefficiencies in the current healthcare system and how direct primary care (DPC) offers a pr...

  In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank is joined by Dr. Josh Umbehr and Dr. Jules Madrigal to discuss transformative approaches to healthcare. Discover how direct primary care models are revolutionizing patient care by cutting out the middleman, reducing costs, and enhancing the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Umbehr and Dr. Madrigal share their insights on the limitations of Me...

Join host Jeff Crank for a special milestone episode of American Potential as we celebrate our 200th episode! In this commemorative episode, Jeff sits down with Alan Cobb, the very first state director for Americans for Prosperity (AFP), to delve into the origins and early years of the organization. Discover how AFP was born from a split with Citizens for a Sound Economy, the grassroots strategies...

In this episode of American Potential, host Jeff Crank sits down with Kentucky Jailer Teddy Lacy and Deputy Jailer Cory Graham to discuss their innovative program aimed at transforming the lives of inmates. By partnering with a local college, they offer incarcerated individuals three educational pathways: earning a GED, pursuing a career path, or learning a trade.   This initiative not only equips...