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-changer Using mobil...

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 Di...

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 podcast The breakdown of diplomacy after the Iran Nuclear Deal The fear and un...

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...

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 16 Schools limiting phone access The growing research linking smartp...

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 reach Down payments, rent cycles, and generational wealth The shrinking middle class and widening wealth gap Why trickle-down economics isn’t working And whether it’s time for...

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 afford...

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 is Who actually pays for tariffs (hint: not foreign governments) Whether trade deficits are actually “bad” Why this ruling...

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 Jaz...

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 w...

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....

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...

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 ath...

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 dre...

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 h...

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 ded...

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 thinki...

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 conne...

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 D...

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...

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. righ...

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...

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 understa...

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 indoctrinatio...

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...