One Small Step Can Change Everything with Special Guest Host Heather Andrews
American Potential
This episode of 'American Potential' features special guest host Heather Andrews sharing stories from Utah's 'Let Freedom Ring' concert, hig
Key takeaways
- Individuals without formal political experience or advanced education can drive meaningful change by simply showing up and getting involved.
Main topics
- Civic Engagement
- Freedom and Opportunity in America
Notable quotes
You don't need a background in politics. You don't need to be the most educated person with a fancy degree. I didn't have one.
All I did was show up.
Conclusion
The episode concludes with a powerful call to action: anyone can contribute to America's
Transcript preview
Speaker 1 (0:00) I would say get involved. And I mean that literally like today, like walk into and there's, there's going to be an AFP office near you. If there's not, you know, there's someone that is working for AFP in that state. There's definitely one closer than you think. And the people inside those offices will meet you exactly where you are. You don't need a background in politics. You don't need to be the most educated person with a fancy degree. I didn't have one. In 2009, I was a mom with four kids at home with having a stack of books and no plan at all. And all I did was show up. And so I just really urge people, there's never been a better time. As you know, David, it's watching these this election that's happening now with the democratic socialists that are you know winning elections across the country there is never been a more important time Speaker 7 (1:02) americans are capable of achieving extraordinary things when they have the freedom and opportunity to do so this is american potential Speaker 2 (1:13) Hey everyone, welcome to the American Potential Podcast. I'm your host, David Fromm. So Americans for Prosperity has been celebrating America's 250th year of independence all this year in all kinds of different states. The last event we got to go to was Utah's Let Freedom Ring concert featuring the band Locash. And so, and now I didn't get to go, but Engineer Matt, you went, right? And you were there at the event. How was Utah and how was the concert? Speaker 7 (1:42) Well, for one, I love Utah as a state. Utah is fantastic. It is gorgeous. The weather, by the way, when we were there was amazing as well. And, you know, it's funny because, you know, I come out of Colorado and, you know, everyone thinks Denver has mountains and stuff. No, the mountains aren't in Denver at all. They're actually like kind of far away. But Utah, Salt Lake in particular, is right there at the foot of the mountains. And I think it is a. gorgeous city. We had a chance, Monica as well, and I had a chance to swing by Arches National Park as well on the trip. So, I mean, that was really cool. Speaker 2 (2:17) I've been Speaker 7 (2:17) there, man. Speaker 2 (2:18) I've been there. That's fabulous. It Speaker 7 (2:20) was great. Now, having said that, the concert was really cool as well. I mean, people were excited to be at that concert and the band was really good. I mean, this was a fantastic event in every possible way. The backdrop of the mountains right there at the amphitheater with the concert was just so cool. Couldn't beat it. Speaker 2 (2:40) Awesome. Well, like I said, I was sorry that I missed that event. I do love Utah quite a bit. It's one of the most beautiful states going. It really is. If people haven't spent much time, like I grew up on the East Coast. I live in the Midwest. I didn't spend a lot of time in Utah until the last 10 years. And man, it is stunning in all kinds of different ways, depending on where you are in the state. So no, I didn't get to attend this event, but we did have my colleague, Heather Andrews, fill in for me. And besides some of the guests she talked to, she also did some man on the street interviews asking to hear people's one small step stories of how they got involved. And we want to share those with you. I want to welcome Heather back to the podcast. Welcome, Heather. Speaker 1 (3:15) Thanks, David. Speaker 2 (3:18) Well, hey, thanks so much for going to this. I know it was in your backyard and it seemed like a super fun event. I mean, there's speakers. There was a concert by the band Locash. I mean, how was the concert? Speaker 1 (3:29) Yeah, I'll be honest with you. I had never heard of Locash before that night, not even one song. And by the end of it, I was actually standing at their merch table buying two of their hats and asking them to sign one of them. So I was a big fan. And the energy... I know. The energy in that crowd was actually really something. What people kept saying to me afterward was how intimate it felt, like the band was playing for them and not at them. And you know how sometimes in those bigger venues, it just kind of gets lost. And so I had a lot of people also tell me flat out it was one of the best concerts they'd ever been to. And most of them had walked in that night kind of the same way I did, just curious and not really knowing what to expect. So it was amazing. And I'm so sad you missed it, David. Speaker 2 (4:19) I am too. I mean, what a great way to celebrate America's 250th birthday. We've done it so many different ways around the country, and this is just a super fun one. That's so great. So who are some of the speakers that spoke? Speaker 1 (4:30) Yeah, so Kevin Green, the state director in Utah, kicked things off. And then we heard from the attorney general in Utah, Derek Brown. And then Daniel Garza, who leads the Libre Initiative, he got up and told his own American dream story. And really, there's something about hearing a person tell you where they started with, you know, very limited means and then where they've ended up that does more for a room than any speech about opportunity in this country ever could. So you could really feel people leaning in. And I know you've probably heard Daniel Garza tell his story many times, but it really never gets old, in my opinion. Speaker 2 (5:14) I couldn't agree more. Daniel, if people haven't checked out Daniel Garza, Google him, look him up. He's the president of the Libre Initiative. He has a phenomenal story of being like the son of immigrant, you know, migrant workers, eventually becoming a cop, you know, and eventually working in the Bush White House, then starting the Libre Initiative. He's phenomenal. Heather, I heard him, oh, probably a few weeks ago at an event. And I don't think a lot of people knew who he was when he started speaking. And by the time he was done, it was a standing ovation, like a truly spontaneous standing ovation. And that's how dynamic Daniel is. I love listening to him speak. So I'm glad, I'm so glad he was there. So while you were there, you got to talk to people about their one small step story about, you know, how they got involved in public policy or their community or politics. And you talked to a former Marine. Speaker 2 (6:04) And before we play this clip of him sharing why he got involved, can you share some background about him? Speaker 1 (6:09) Yes. So Josh Daniels and I go way back. I was working for AFP Utah at the time, and he was the director of policy for Libertas Institute. And we actually spent years working side by side on legislation aimed at getting government barriers out of the way of ordinary people in the state of Utah. And it was actually