Freedom Nation Podcast

Tired of “invisible hustle” with no clients or income to show for it? Many coaches, consultants, and service providers waste years on the wrong marketing strategies, burned out and broke—trading time for exposure instead of results. That was Jeanne Omlor’s story… until she turned it all around. After eight years of grinding offline with little traction, Jeanne finally got online, took massive acti...

Dreaming of travel but think you can’t afford it? For many families, vacations feel like a luxury—something you squeeze in when the bills are paid and life slows down. But what if you could turn your everyday spending into free flights, five-star resorts, and international adventures? That’s exactly what Tim Walker did. Living in one of the poorest communities in Pennsylvania, Tim hit his breaking...

Stuck in a 9-to-5 and wondering how to escape the grind? You’re not alone and today's guest proves there's another way. Meet Bart Merrell, the Side Hustle Samurai. He never had a "real job" and built a thriving lifestyle by stacking creative side hustles from DJing high school dances to launching a dog training business and even monetizing his own amputation story (yes, really). In this episode, B...

Feeling stuck in a cubicle or overwhelmed in your business with no way out? Many couples dream of working together and building a business—but the reality often leads to stress, miscommunication, and burnout. Larry and Sue Pruett have been there. After 20+ years of working jobs and building businesses side-by-side, they sold their e-commerce company and transitioned into purpose-driven coaching. A...

Charley Johnson had it all—by traditional standards. He was a successful business owner with 85 employees, pulling seven figures. But he was miserable. Overworked, overwhelmed, and never home, Charley realized he was climbing the wrong mountain. So he did what few entrepreneurs have the courage to do: he burned it all down. He sold his company, built a simpler life, and began redefining what succe...

Most people wait until it’s too late to capture a loved one’s story. They assume there’ll be more time, more chances, more tomorrows. For Chance McClain, that realization came just days after filming his stepfather’s life story—he passed away five days later. What started as a favor for a friend turned into a calling. A single interview turned into a thriving business, Heritage Films, with over 80...

Are you a hobbyist dreaming of turning your passion into real profit? Too many creatives stay stuck, unsure how to scale their side hustle without burning out or going broke. Stoane, founder of Wood and Stone, went from cleaning job sites to building a 7-figure woodworking business—all while staying true to his craft. In this episode, Jeff and Stoane dive deep into how you can start small, scale s...

Most entrepreneurs wait until something goes wrong before thinking about systems, customer retention, or business automation. And when those problems hit, they cost time, money, and momentum. William Holston learned this the hard way—from carnival-style side hustles that flopped to nearly losing a deal because of a wrong phone number. But instead of giving up, he turned each mistake into a lesson,...

Most professionals earn well from their 9-to-5 jobs but feel stuck—unable to build real wealth or achieve financial freedom. Many also fear the stock market, believing it's too risky or unpredictable. Fadi Habib was one of them. Despite high-paying roles in engineering and tech, he couldn’t afford the life he wanted. He turned to real estate—but thought the stock market was just a casino. That is,...

Many families are stretched thin—juggling work, raising kids, and dreaming of starting a business—but feel stuck in the traditional 9-to-5 grind. When Jonathan Harris saw layoffs looming, he and his wife Renee had a choice: uproot their family for corporate survival or risk it all to build a business together. With six kids at the time (and now nine!), they bet on a lotion bar Renee developed at h...

Most people feel trapped by the traditional path—go to college, get a job, grind until retirement—only to find themselves overworked, underpaid, and financially insecure. Kris Krohn lived that life. A broke college student working 18-hour days, he hit rock bottom when he came home to find his wife crying because they couldn’t afford food. That moment pushed him to reject the system and take contro...

Most families approach college planning emotionally instead of strategically—leading to wasted time, unnecessary debt, and missed opportunities for aid. Annmarie Hatfield has spent over a decade guiding families through the complex and overwhelming college admissions process. From misunderstood financial aid forms to choosing the wrong schools based on sports teams or family tradition, she’s seen...

Small businesses are losing time, customers, and profit by relying on outdated systems—especially when 60% of calls go unanswered. Ken Cox has seen this over and over. After decades in tech and entrepreneurship, he’s now helping small businesses automate their customer communication with “AI employees” that work 24/7, speak every language, and never forget your policies. The kicker? Most businesse...

Many high achievers build success externally but feel stuck, exhausted, or unfulfilled internally. Even leaders can lose their way, unsure what the next evolution of their purpose looks like. That’s exactly what happened to James Robbins. From the foothills of the Rockies to leading ministry teams and global business audiences, James was always seen as a leader. But behind the scenes, he wrestled...

Many creative professionals feel trapped in 9-to-5 careers that drain their energy—even when they love their craft. That was Matthieu Mehuys. A gifted landscape architect from Belgium, he found himself stuck in a corporate job, staring at a screen instead of designing nature. Burned out and unfulfilled, he packed a backpack and set off on a global journey that changed everything—from eco-resorts i...

You pour years into building a business and finally reach the dream exit… but what happens when the money hits your bank and nothing actually feels different? That’s exactly what happened to John Makarewicz. After scaling a real estate business to a private equity exit and leading a 9-figure team, he was left asking, “Now what?” The transition exposed deeper truths—about leadership, burnout, and w...

High achievers often push through stress, illness, and burnout—ignoring the warning signs—until life forces them to stop. Tino Dietrich was one of those people. A successful entrepreneur who oversaw billion-dollar deals, lived across continents, and helped build major online dating brands, Tino ended up in the ICU during COVID, fighting for his life. Only then did he realize something critical was...

Companies invest heavily in sales and operations training, yet leadership is often overlooked—leading to disengaged employees, high turnover, and poor performance. Isabelle Fortin, a former member of the Canadian Air Force, transitioned into corporate leadership and was shocked by what she found—leaders with no real leadership training, companies promoting employees based on skill rather than lead...

Many entrepreneurs chase financial success only to realize that money alone doesn’t bring fulfillment or true freedom. James Wellington learned this firsthand. After losing his mother to breast cancer at 14, he struggled for years to find his purpose. From playing semi-professional rugby to launching multiple seven and eight-figure businesses, he discovered that true freedom isn’t just about wealt...

Many mid-career professionals feel stuck, burned out, and unfulfilled in their jobs but fear making a change. They dread Mondays, feel underutilized, and worry about financial instability if they pursue something new. Anna Urnova knows this struggle firsthand. After a successful corporate career in HR and talent management, she found herself severely burned out, dreading work, and questioning her...

Entrepreneurship is glorified, but few talk about the repeated failures, financial struggles, and self-doubt that come with it. Igor Vainshtein knows the highs and lows of entrepreneurship better than most—after moving to Australia with nothing, he built multiple businesses, only to lose everything multiple times. Through years of trial and error, he cracked the code on resilience and eventually s...

Many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle with turning a passion project or hobby into a profitable business, unsure of where to start or how to secure the right resources. Doug Katz, a former military officer turned CEO, knows this challenge firsthand. After navigating corporate America and multiple career pivots, he found himself drawn to entrepreneurship through a hobby—knife making. But launching a...

Mental health struggles and performance anxiety are common, especially for student-athletes juggling academics, sports, and personal challenges. Walker Ferguson knows this firsthand. As a football player at Wake Forest University, he faced anxiety and performance pressure. Traditional meditation apps didn’t resonate with him, leaving him searching for a more personalized solution. In this episode,...

Many high achievers push themselves to the limit, thinking success is about hustling harder—until they hit burnout. Matt Gerlach built a thriving consulting business but found himself overwhelmed, anxious, and physically breaking down. He was working non-stop, undercharging clients, and neglecting his well-being. His wake-up call? A near breakdown that forced him to reassess everything. In this ep...

Many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle to find their true passion and often end up in careers that drain them rather than fulfill them. Emily Aborn knows this struggle all too well—after working 42 different jobs and even running her own retail business, she realized she was still stuck in a business she didn't love. The fear of change kept her trapped until she made the leap into copywriting, a pas...