Seth and Mike talk, growing up Jewish with the shadow of the Holocaust front and center and how, for Seth, this permeated his DNA and his being and drew him to innocence work. The Bone Valley Murder, college protests, and passion feature prominently. @freedtolaugh on IGBy MyFirstRodeo

By Sean Frost

By Sean Frost

A touring theatre comedian out of Nashville, Tennessee, Lee has two successful DryBar comedy specials. Mike and Lee talk, comedy entrepreneurship, creating opportunities vs. being angry about the opportunities that don't come, television work, upbringing, lacking luxury but being provided for and encouraged, and growth. @freedtolaugh on IG…

By Sean Frost

The millennial president is on this episode. He became the 30th president of Edward Waters College, now University, in 2018. Since then he’s shaken things up for EWU and the entire HBCU world. He is enthusiastic, thoughtful, demanding of himself and others, and above all passionate. Want to find out how he got that way? Check it out! @freedtolaugh …

When it comes to news reporting, Alex Ebert is at the same time a throwback to old school journalism and a foreshadowing of what newsrooms are becoming. Perspective, exuberance, how stories impact the lives of real people and the judicial process, learning from mistakes, pursuing passion, and work life balance. This episode has it all. @freedtolaug…

In this episode, we welcome Brian White, the new VP of HR and Corporate Strategy at Polo Custom Products. Brian shares his unique insights into how HR can foster innovation and contribute to the manufacturing industry. Discussing his background, Brian highlights his passion as an HR professional and the pride he has observed in Polo’s employees. We…

This episode is all about leadership and service. No one better exemplifies both than the man who has led at the highest levels of PepsiCo, Eastman Kodak, Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, and now his own alma mater (and Mike”s too), Jacksonville University. Passion, encouragement and loyalty feature prominently. @freedtolaugh on IG…

You asked for it, you got it: a larger dose of the reality show that is produced for an audience of two in the home of a 56 year old comedian/lawyer and his 15 year old daughter. This episode gives you a taste of the bantar, sarcasm, sharing, exploring and compassion that occurs daily in the home of two people from very different generations. You w…

From "The Tonight Show" to "Last Comic Standing" - from appearances on "That 70's Show," ""Scrubs," "Will & Grace," and "Agent Carter," - and from commercials for Honda, Heineken, Doritos and even Midol -- there is no shortage of firsts to discuss. This high energy conversation covers a bunch. From his upbringing in Greenville, Mississippi to the c…

Today we recap some of the best lessons we've learned on our journey through manufacturing and innovation. In this episode, we revisit the importance of building a strong company culture with insights from our CEO, Kent Lammers. We'll also discuss talent development strategies from Alan Frost, and explore crucial cybersecurity precautions with Rob …

Bridging Product Development and Sales In this episode of Inspiring Innovation, we sit down with Ellen Kershke, a technical expert turned sales professional at Polo. Ellen shares her unique experiences and how her background in product development has benefited her current role in sales. We discuss the crossover between these fields and how it has …

In the second episode of our Happy Hour series, we enjoy a lively conversation with Brian Weber, the Chief Operating Officer of Polo Custom Products. Brian reflects on the company's 75-year legacy and the anticipation of future milestones. He shares insightful manufacturing stories, the impact of Polo's products out in the real world, and humorous …

Dave joins Mike to talk about the challenges and failures that inspired him to run over 3,400 miles --- coast to coast – in 80 days, run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, and to do triathlons every day for 32 days – all to raise money and awareness for charities!!! His accomplishments, and impact through inspiration, too great to list. “His Ga…

In this episode of Inspiring Innovation, we welcome back Brian Weber, our first repeat guest and the Chief Operating Officer of Polo Custom Products. Inspired by the Manufacturing Happy Hour podcast, we have a casual and fun discussion over some Busch Light, where Brian shares intriguing manufacturing stories and notable achievements. We delve into…

As portrayed in the Hollywood feature film, “Brian Banks,” Brian was destined for football stardom when he was wrongfully accused of sexual assault and took his lawyer’s advice to plead “no contest.” He spent the next six years in prison only to be exonerated when his accuser confessed to lying. Brian shares with Mike how he persevered, continued t…

In this episode of Inspiring Innovation, I am thrilled to welcome Monica Pyles, a Customer Success Manager at Polo. Monica shares her incredible journey from a traumatic childhood and seven and a half years of incarceration to securing employment and thriving in a corporate role at Polo. We dive into the challenges she faced during reintegration, h…

He’s performed on The Tonight Show, Letterman, Colbert, James Corden, Craig Fergusson and was a finalist on Last Comic standing. Michael shares how making the family laugh around the dinner table and the encouragement of his parents gave him the confidence and patience to build a successful career as a Touring Stand-up Comedian. Lot’s of great insi…

In today’s episode of 'Inspiring Innovation', we delve into the crucial topic of cost savings and reduction techniques in the manufacturing sector. Our special guest, Rod Holter, brings his extensive background in aviation, quality engineering, and his transition into private equity, to the table, now flourishing as a franchise owner of Schooley Mi…

Get to know one of the consummate television news journalists of our day, her history, her heart and her approach to relaying the news and exploring personalities, stories and issues with compassion and objectivity. @freedtolaugh on IGBy MyFirstRodeo

In this enlightening episode of Inspiring Innovation, I had the pleasure of hosting Greg Brown, the seasoned Plant Manager of Polo Custom Products in Louisville, Mississippi. Greg's extensive background in manufacturing, paired with a disciplined leadership style honed in the military, has significantly contributed to the Louisville facility's succ…

An informative and fun conversation about the unique piece of Americana and running lure that is The Boston Marathon. Marc talks to Mike about his first Boston in 2003 as a Bandit, 17 Bostons since, fun facts about the race, the importance in finding beauty in imperfection and the intrinsic value of a beautiful question. This episode is for runners…

In this engaging episode of Inspiring Innovation, we have the privilege of speaking with Command Sergeant Major Stephen Blake, a distinguished veteran of the United States Army and a champion of leadership, project management, and manufacturing in the military sector. Blake shares his invaluable journey, detailing his rise through the ranks to beco…

If you or someone you know is battling cancer, you won’t want to miss this episode with Dr. John Oertle - a leading expert in advanced precision medicine and the Chief Medical Director at Envita Medical Centers in Arizona specializing in individualized outcome-based care models for chronic disease and integrative oncology. Mike and Dr. Oertle talk …

It’s time to dive into important aspects of custom manufacturing in the context of legal contracts and agreements. To cover this adequately, we are joined by Chris Proskey, a partner at BrownWinick Law Firm who specializes in patent, trademark and intellectual property. We will cover the importance of defining who owns the intellectual property dur…

Boston Marathon Champion Jack Fultz sits down with Mike to lay out what it takes to win; the differences between success and winning and between competition and enemies. Fultz lays out the formula to use a platform for the greater good and the psychology behind the athlete. You don’t want to miss these insights from the winner of the “run for the h…

Mike chats with two generations of actual rodeo royalty. Listen in to a conversation about practice, hard work, relationships, role models and family in an ageless sport where winning is the ultimate goal. And join Mike to celebrate the first season of the My First Rodeo Podcast. @freedtolaugh on IGBy MyFirstRodeo

In this episode of Inspiring Innovation, Sean Frost talks with Carla DeShaw, a leading figure in product development and innovation. They delve into product development strategies for product engineers and technology advancements in manufacturing. Carla shares insights regarding various manufacturing processes including RF sealing, Impulse sealing,…

Comedy, TV, movies and even battle rapping - Rio Paris does it all with excellence. In this episode, Rio and Mike talk about the best comedy advice, how to be kind and successful and how parenting changes everything. @freedtolaugh on IGBy MyFirstRodeo

Meet the man who ran without any support from California to New York in just over 71 days. He then set the record for running Badwater - 147 miles in 73 hours. And then ran through 26 states in 147 days straight. Mike and Jay Chat about momentum, the importance of being unrelenting and why it’s best to order the food that a restaurant serves most! …

It’s a dangerous digital world out there, with many threats facing all businesses. In this episode, host Sean Frost is joined by Rob Ward, Polo's VP of IT, who shares his experiences in the company, on his past projects and the role IT plays in the manufacturing industry. He also provides insights into cybersecurity threats, discussing how bad acto…

The business of comedy is on tap as we dive into the hilarious and unpredictable world of club ownership with guest Fred Pozin, the long time owner of The Comedy Zone. We talk about the unique demands of comedians, from quirky rider requests, working with SNL comics and the rises and falls of comedy careers. Fred shares captivating stories of worki…

Exploring Manufacturing Trends in the Defense Industry: A Conversation with Ron Houle The episode of 'Inspiring Innovation' features Ron Huell, the founder and president of Pivot Step Consultants, who shares his extensive experience and insights about the defense industry, procurement process and innovative changes in the sector. Ron discusses his …

Today on the Podcast we have Congressman Aaron Bean, a rising star in Florida politics. We reflect on Aaron's journey from being the youngest mayor in Fernandina Beach history to his current role as a U.S. Congressman. They discuss Aaron's approach to politics, his unique use of humor, and his commitment to serving his constituents. Aaron shares in…

Ezra Freeman is a viral social media influencer and so much more. An actress, a tv star and a brand ambassador! She wraps them all into a bundle of energy and authenticity that is inspiring. Learn about what makes her tick, what inspires her, how the world rewards her positivity and her amazing story of finding her birth family in the Country of Ge…

Michael Siegel is a familiar face from the stage, memorable commercials and the big screen, including cult classic Killer Klowns From Outer Space. Mike and Michael talk about their “first rodeo” together - the national tour of Camelot in the early 80’s, and Siegel’s many first rodeos since including comedy, circus, and immersive theater. @freedtola…

Things are changing rapidly around hiring and retention of team members in a manufacturing environment. And so I had to get my dad, Al Frost, (he’s an HR professional) on the show to walk through ways to be effective in developing and maintaining a strong workforce. On this episode we discuss: Al’s 15 minutes of fame at the Home Depot The current h…

Mohamedou Ould Slahi was taken from his home in Mauritania, imprisoned and tortured for over 14 years in Guantanamo Bay and Jordan, wrongfully suspected of being the mastermind of the September 11 attacks on the United States. He was ultimately exonerated and went on to publish his account in Guantanamo Diary and to have his story told in the Holly…

Polo Custom Products CEO Kent Lammers joins the show. He shares with host Sean Frost how he views the building of culture and innovation at Polo and how critical those pieces are to success in manufacturing. On this episode we discuss: Kent’s Polo journey A balance of technology and finance The keys to a successful acquisition or divesting The secr…

Mike and guest co-host Nik Patel chat with sports super agent Jim Tanner about breaking into the industry, managing the careers of basketball greats like Grant Hill, Dominique Wilkins, Tim Duncan, Ray Allen, Jeremy Lin, and Ja Morant, the changing industry, E-sports, and the value of not being star struck. @freedtolaugh on IG…

Mike pays tribute to his father, Allan B. Freed, and then sits down with the Honorable Scott D. Makar - appellate court judge, former solicitor general and legal scholar. Scott details his first argument before the U.S. Supreme Court. They cover the reputation of the judiciary, the politicization of the courts and why it’s important to know how you…

Mike and Guest Host Chaz Miranda get to hang with one of the most successful Clean Comics working today — Drybar Comedy sensation Danny Johnson. Danny shares his first comedy stories, his audition for Last Comic Standing and why he loves doing voice overs and commercials. @freedtolaugh on IGBy MyFirstRodeo

Host Sean Frost shares some of the experiences he’s seen at Polo Custom Products how the team comes together to deliver on its promises to customers. In doing so, we review some of the conversations we’ve been having with manufacturing experts who operate behind the scenes. On this episode we discuss: Seeing the team come together The criticality o…

Mike and guest host Chaz Miranda sit down with Billy O’Connor to talk about his comedy career and everything that preceded it including working with the mob, Joe Pesci, getting sober, surviving 911, and his successful book projects. @freedtolaugh on IGBy MyFirstRodeo

NBA Hall of Famer, (7'2") Artis Gilmore -- "The Gentle Giant" - "The A Train" -- joins Mike and Guest Host and Comic Jenn Weeks. They talk about his amazing college career with the Cinderella Story Jacksonville University Dolphins who played the NCAA Championship Game against UCLA; his front-seat view to racism in the South coming through the Civil…

Five years ago if you started discussing supply chain to someone their eyes would instantly glaze over. But in today’s post-COVID world, everyone is struggling to keep up and it’s one of the most challenging aspects of running a successful manufacturing business. Host Sean Frost speaks with Jennifer Fennell, Director of Supply Chain at Polo Custom …

Tony Nominated Broadway actor -- Brad Oscar -- joins Mike and Guest Host and Comic Jenn Weeks. Brad shares behind-the-scenes stories of his path to stardom, including The Producers, Something Rotten, Spam Alot, Mel Brooks, The Tony's and how his first acting experiences in Rockville Maryland, and his regular trips to see Broadway shows, laid the fo…

Join Mike and guest host Comedian Jpaw as they chat with Garrett Scantling - decathlete, Olympian, and world record setter. They talk Olympic Village, University of Georgia, the NFL with the Falcons and the Jags, and transitioning to coaching! @freedtolaugh on IGBy MyFirstRodeo

Polo Director of Quality, Dawn Silver, joins Sean Frost to talk about how regulations and requirements drive activity across the manufacturing. Silver has been with Polo for nine years and has a degree in biology and a master's in science. Before Polo, she worked at a contract sterilization company in the greater Chicago land area and fulfilled mul…