American Potential

Host David From continues the story of Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, a Michigan restaurant owner who refused to close during the pandemic after the state’s first round of executive orders was ruled unconstitutional. Joined by her attorney, Helen Brinkman, Marlena recounts being singled out by state leadership, arrested, fined, and jailed—despite unequal enforcement and conflicting rulings—after she chos...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Marlena Pavlos-Hackney, who grew up under the weight of communist rule in Poland before finding freedom and opportunity in America. She shares vivid memories of empty store shelves, ration cards, and the solidarity movement that helped bring down the Iron Curtain—experiences that instilled in her a deep appreciation for liberty....

What does it look like when an ordinary American, with no political pedigree, takes one small step to get involved and ends up reshaping his community? In this episode of American Potential, host David From welcomes Jimmie Smith, Brand Development Director at Concerned Veterans for America, to share his remarkable story. Jimmie’s path began in the woods of Florida, where as a boy he dreamed of ser...

As America approaches its 250th birthday, American Potential is launching a new series, 50 Stars, 50 Stories, highlighting the unique history and culture of each state in the Union. In this first installment, host David From is joined by Jesse Mallory, Regional Director in Colorado, and Camelia Peterson, Legislative Liaison in Missouri, for a lively round of state trivia about Colorado, Missouri,...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Paige Yontz, Advocacy Manager in Iowa, to explore an innovative housing reform that’s reshaping how families care for aging parents, empower young professionals, and protect property rights. Paige was instrumental in leading a diverse coalition—from aging advocates to housing manufacturers and policy champions—that secured the p...

In this inspiring episode of American Potential, host David From speaks with Dr. Chaminie Wheeler, a pediatrician who walked away from the traditional hospital system to launch a direct primary care (DPC) practice—putting patients, not paperwork, at the center of healthcare. Raised in a small village in Sri Lanka, Dr. Wheeler’s passion for helping others began at a young age and followed her to Pe...

Most people try to avoid the long lines and frustrations that come with vehicle registration and emissions testing. But Rafael Arroyo saw an opportunity to turn that frustration into a service—and a business. In Las Vegas, he combined emissions testing with vehicle registration services, saving people time and hassle. But the state’s motor vehicle agency didn’t like the competition. They shut him...

In this Big Ideas for Smaller Government episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by Jeremiah Mosteller, Policy Director at Americans for Prosperity, to expose the wasteful spending and inefficiencies at the General Services Administration (GSA)—the federal agency responsible for managing office buildings, procurement, and travel across the U.S. government. They revisit the infamou...

In this special episode of American Potential, guest host Daniel Garza sits down with Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz during LIBRE’s Fly-In event to discuss the shifting political landscape among Hispanic Americans, especially in South Texas. As the first Hispanic female Republican to serve a full term from her district, Congresswoman De La Cruz shares her inspiring personal journey from humble be...

In this compelling episode of *American Potential*, host David From sits down with Kayla Frank and Echo Kopplin, two dedicated physician associates from South Dakota who led the charge to pass a groundbreaking bill removing the requirement for physician oversight in PA practice. They share the years of perseverance, grassroots advocacy, and strategic relationship-building that finally broke down r...

In this special edition of American Potential, guest host Daniel Garza sits down with U.S. Senator Rick Scott for an inspiring and candid conversation recorded during LIBRE’s fly-in. Senator Scott shares his personal journey from growing up in public housing to building the largest hospital company in the nation, serving as Florida’s two-term governor, and now representing the state in the U.S. Se...

Most people don’t get excited about federal spending cuts—but maybe they should. In this episode of American Potential, host David From talks with Kurt Couchman, Senior Policy Fellow at Americans for Prosperity, about the little-known budget tool called “rescissions” and why it matters for every taxpayer. Kurt explains how the rescission process works, why it was used heavily by presidents like Ro...

State Representative Jamie Thompson never set out to become a lawmaker. As a nurse and a mother in Michigan, she watched with growing concern as COVID mandates stripped away personal and medical freedoms. But it wasn’t until tragedy struck—when her daughter died in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind three young children—that Jamie felt called to take a stand. In this moving episode of American...

Join host David From as he sits down with Congressman Pat Harrigan and flight school owner Jim Rhoades-Baldwin to explore the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) from two vital viewpoints. Congressman Harrigan offers an insider’s perspective on the legislative process behind making the TCJA permanent, sharing how this landmark bill aims to fuel economic growth, strengthen national defense, and provide br...

In this deeply moving episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with author, speaker, and former NFL player Ron Freeman for an unforgettable conversation about faith, reconciliation, and how one powerful act of kindness changed his life—and his views on race—forever. Ron grew up in a small town in southern Missouri still reeling from segregation, where the scars of the past were etc...

  In this episode of the *Big Ideas for Smaller Government* series, host David Fran sits down with Jeremiah Mosteller, policy director for Americans for Prosperity, to explore the vast and complex Department of Defense (DoD). With a staggering $2 trillion budget and nearly three million military and civilian personnel, the DoD is one of the largest federal agencies. Together, they discuss the depa...

  In this eye-opening episode of the American Potential podcast, host David sits down with Chief Chris Clem, a seasoned law enforcement veteran with over 27 years in the U.S. Border Patrol and recent experience at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Chief Clem shares his unique perspective on the complexities of border security beyond just patrol agents—highlighting the multi-agency...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by Eric Bott, Vice President at Americans for Prosperity, for a powerful look at the growing movement to rein in unelected bureaucrats and restore legislative authority through the REINS Act—Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny. Eric shares firsthand how this transformative reform is taking root across the country. From...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Tyler Lindholm, State Director for Americans for Prosperity–Wyoming and a true cowboy at heart, to unpack a banner year for freedom in the Cowboy State. From passing universal education savings accounts to overriding the governor’s veto of the REINS Act, Tyler shares how Wyoming is becoming a model for liberty-minded policy. The...

For more than 40 years, South Carolina’s certificate of need law gave powerful hospital systems the ability to block competitors and limit patient access to care. But in 2023, that changed. In this episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by South Carolina State Senator Wes Climer and Candace Carroll, Director of Public Affairs for Americans for Prosperity–South Carolina, to discus...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From, Regional Vice President at Americans for Prosperity, sits down with Chris and Aziza Butler, a husband-and-wife team on the frontlines of the fight to protect homeschooling freedoms in Illinois. When a bill threatened to force homeschool families to register with the state and potentially face criminal charges, the Butlers didn’t just speak ou...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From welcomes back Jeremiah Mosteller, Policy Director at Americans for Prosperity, for another installment in the “Big Ideas for Smaller Government” series—this time targeting the Internal Revenue Service. Jeremiah breaks down how outdated pandemic-era tax subsidies—expanded under the American Rescue Plan—are still being paid out today, even to hi...

In this inspiring episode of American Potential, host David From, Regional Vice President at Americans for Prosperity, sits down with entrepreneur and builder Justin Mannina—CEO of Rexcon Enterprises, Vice President of JB Pinnacle Group, and Co‑founder of My Truck Boss. Justin opens up about his journey from working grueling hours on construction sites to walking away from a secure six‑figure job...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From welcomes Sandra Benitez, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, to discuss how LIBRE is empowering Hispanic communities through direct advocacy. Sandra shares how LIBRE’s national fly-in brings stories and real-world concerns from Latino communities across 13 states to the halls of Congress. From celebrating the passage of the “One Big Be...

In this episode of American Potential, host David From is joined by Genevieve Collins, State Director of Americans for Prosperity–Texas, and Joel Enge, founder of Kingdom Life Academy, to share the extraordinary story behind the largest school choice legislation in American history. After more than a decade of advocacy, Texas has officially passed sweeping education savings account (ESA) legislati...