Main Street Matters

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker interviews Tennessee State Representative Jody Barrett, who is running for Congress. They discuss Barrett's journey into politics, the challenges facing small businesses, healthcare solutions, the impact of tax cuts, rural economic challenges, crime in communities, and the importance of education on legislative wins. Barrett emphasizes the need...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker speaks with Dr. Chloe Carmichael about the significance of free speech, especially in the context of recent events and workplace dynamics. They discuss the challenges of navigating difficult conversations, the role of employers in managing speech, and the impact of victimhood on workplace culture. Dr. Carmichael emphasizes the importance of ope...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker interviews Robert Netzly, founder and CEO of Inspire Impact Group, discussing the principles of Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI). Robert shares his journey from a traditional financial planner to advocating for investments aligned with biblical values. The conversation explores the growing awareness among investors about the moral implica...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Daniel Cochrane of the Heritage Foundation discuss the implications of AI on society, focusing on the balance between federal and state regulation, the dangers of AI in mental health and safety, and the potential benefits of AI in healthcare and small businesses. They emphasize the need for thoughtful regulation that aligns AI with the inte...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Breitbart's John Carney discuss the recent downward revision of job numbers, the implications of Federal Reserve policies, and the overall state of the economy. They explore the challenges faced by small businesses, the impact of high interest rates, and the growing divide between generations regarding housing affordability. The conversatio...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Jeremiah Poff of the Washington Examiner discuss the challenges faced by millennials and Gen Z in achieving home ownership and building wealth. They explore the economic shifts from a production-driven economy to a consumption-driven one, the impact of inflation on housing prices, and the role of student debt in economic mobility. The conve...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker speaks with The Heritage Foundation's Richard Stern about the Federal Reserve's significant influence on the economy, the potential for privatizing the money supply, and the impact of recent legislation on banking. They discuss the rise of FinTech as a solution to gaps left by traditional banks, the importance of transparency in the Fed's decis...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker speaks with Sandy Moore, CEO of the Pet Advocacy Network, about the significant impact of government regulations on small businesses in the pet industry. They discuss the economic scale of the pet industry, the challenges posed by overreach in regulations, and the implications of legal changes regarding pet ownership. Sandy highlights the impor...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Campus Reform's Emily Sturge discuss the current state of college education in America, focusing on the indoctrination of students, the impact of DEI initiatives, the burden of student debt, and the importance of preparing students for the workforce. They explore alternative career paths for Gen Z and the need for educational institutions t...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Tommy Aiello discuss the implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill, focusing on its tax cuts, economic impact, Medicaid reforms, and student loan accountability. They explore the significance of these policies for small businesses and taxpayers, while addressing concerns about the national debt and government spending. Learn more about the...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker speaks with NetChoice's Director of Policy, Patrick Hedger about the implications of the UK's Online Safety Act and its potential impact on free speech and small businesses. They discuss the chilling effects of content moderation laws, the Kids Online Safety Act in the U.S., and the need for parental empowerment and education on online safety....

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Tom Sullivan discuss the unique challenges and opportunities faced by small business owners in America. They explore the optimism that drives entrepreneurs, the role of the US Chamber of Commerce in advocating for small businesses, and the significant tax provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill. The conversation highlights the imp...

Across America, a quiet revolution is transforming education. For decades, students were confined to schools determined by their zip codes — but now, conservative governors are shifting the power back to parents. Through education savings accounts, state funding follows the student, giving families more choice and control. In this episode, panelists Chip Rogers, Dr. Ralph Alvarado, Erika Don...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Dan Furman discuss the definition of small businesses, the impact of interest rates on small business growth, and the challenges posed by national debt and regulations. Dan emphasizes the importance of optimism in entrepreneurship and encourages small business owners to invest in their growth despite fluctuating interest rates. The conversa...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker interviews Jerrod Sessler, a Trump-endorsed congressional candidate and successful entrepreneur. They discuss Jerrod's journey from a challenging upbringing to becoming a business owner and his motivations for running for office. The conversation delves into the importance of small businesses in America, the need for deregulation, the role of t...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker interviews Todd Sheets, an economist and author, discussing the impact of government policies on small businesses, the role of the Federal Reserve, and the importance of maintaining economic freedom. They explore the founding stories of successful companies like Home Depot, the challenges posed by government control, and the implications of tar...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Preston Brashers of The Heritage Foundation break down how President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” could reshape tax policy and benefit small businesses. They highlight the bill’s potential to lock in lower tax rates for middle-income Americans, examine the flawed CBO scoring process, and explain how the reconciliatio...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Alfredo Ortiz interviews Michael Whatley, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. They discuss the significance of rescission packages, the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill on small businesses, trade strategies, the role of regulations, and the importance of a balanced budget. Whatley shares insights on his journey to chairmanship and the current...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Gene Marks discuss the pressing challenges faced by small businesses, including rising costs, cash flow issues, and the impact of high interest rates. They explore the effects of inflation, tariffs, and international trade dynamics on the economy. The conversation also covers the implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for small businesse...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker speaks with Guy Berkebile, founder of Guy Chemical Company, about the significant impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on small businesses. They discuss Berkebile's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he faced, and how tax policies have enabled him to invest in his company and community. The conversation also touches on the importance of ret...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Alfredo Ortiz speaks with Carlos Gazitua, CEO of Sergio's Cuban Restaurant, about the challenges and successes of running a family-owned restaurant in South Florida. They discuss the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which includes significant tax benefits for small businesses, and how these changes can help entrepreneurs grow and invest in their bu...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker and Breitbart's John Carney discuss the latest job numbers, the implications of government hiring, and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy. They delve into the benefits of recent tax cuts for small businesses and the changes to Medicaid, emphasizing the importance of work requirements. The conversation also addresses misconceptions about tax...

In this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker interviews Jeff Dornik, founder of PickAxe, a free speech social content platform. They discuss the challenges of censorship faced by content creators, the implications of AI and data collection by major social media platforms, and the need for ethical considerations and guardrails in AI development. Jeff shares insights on the importance of fr...

In this Independence Day episode, Alfredo and Elaine sit down with Wes Lyons, co-founder of Allegiance Flag Supply, a company committed to crafting high-quality, American-made flags. Wes shares the inspiration behind starting the business and offers an inside look at the challenges and triumphs of running a small business in recent years. Buy Your GREAT American Flag from Allegiance Flag Supply HE...

In this episode, you'll hear from Senator Joni Ernst & our special panel made up of Karen Harned, Former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, EJ Antoni, Rep. Mike Collins, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.  The panel discussion focuses on the significant impact of federal regulations on small businesses and the economy. It highlights the burden of overregulation, the legislative efforts to reform...