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This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

American Originals Holiday Special w/ Mike Rowe

with Mike Rowe, Pam Montgomery, Drew Davis, Kate Thornton

Published November 28, 2025
Visit Podcast Website

About This Episode

Theo Von hosts a holiday special focused on American-made products, joined in-studio by Mike Rowe as they highlight small U.S. makers and talk about what it means to support American manufacturing. Throughout the episode they share stories from entrepreneurs and craftspeople behind items like gloves, cherries, hot sauce, cutting boards, pottery, and more, emphasizing resilience, ingenuity, and the "American dream" in action. The conversation closes with reflections on America as something citizens must actively maintain through everyday choices, including where they spend their money.

Topics Covered

Entrepreneurship Family business Holidays and family gatherings Scrappiness in business Work ethic Personal narrative Storytelling Problem-first invention Side hustles Manufacturing in USA

Disclaimer: We provide independent summaries of podcasts and are not affiliated with or endorsed in any way by any podcast or creator. All podcast names and content are the property of their respective owners. The views and opinions expressed within the podcasts belong solely to the original hosts and guests and do not reflect the views or positions of Summapod.

Quick Takeaways

  • Theo Von and Mike Rowe frame gift-giving as a way to support fellow Americans by choosing products that are genuinely made in the USA.
  • Many of the featured businesses started from small, personal moments-school projects, health crises, hobbies, and family traditions-then grew into meaningful enterprises.
  • Entrepreneurs like Drew Davis and Lacey Michelle show how humor and creativity can transform adversity into unique, successful products.
  • Founders and families behind items like cherries, candies, gloves, fruit, and pottery emphasize using American labor and materials wherever possible.
  • Several businesses weave social missions into their work, such as supporting people with disabilities or women escaping domestic violence and trafficking.
  • The hosts repeatedly highlight the emotional value of gifts that carry a story and a sense of history, not just a price tag.
  • Projects like the Albizia cutting boards demonstrate how environmental problems can be turned into regenerative, community-building ventures.
  • The episode ends with the idea that America is continuously made and remade by citizens' choices, including how and where they shop.

Podcast Notes

Holiday special introduction and American-made focus

Framing the episode as an American-made gift guide

Theo introduces a special holiday episode focused on recommending genuine made-in-the-USA products for gift-giving season[0:26]
Emphasis that these products are truly made in America, with research done to verify that buying them supports fellow Americans[0:39]

Introducing Mike Rowe as guest co-host

Theo introduces "today's guest" Mike Rowe, listing his media accomplishments and calling him "America's blue-collar champion"[1:00]
Mike is framed as someone who will help encourage support for American-made products while people check off their holiday lists[1:03]

Why buying American-made matters to the hosts

Two gifts in one: physical gift and economic support

Theo talks about how so much in America is now from other places, so buying from a neighbor or fellow American feels like giving two gifts[2:00]
• One gift is the physical item to a friend; the second is that the money goes toward an American family or company

Mike's perspective from touring the country

Mike notes that touring around the country reveals how tough things are in certain areas and better in others[2:28]
He likes the idea of reinvigorating manufacturing and showing people what's possible through these products[2:31]

Clarifying that featured products are not paid placements

Mike stresses that nobody paid to be on the show; these are items they found, made by people they think are "super cool"[3:46]
• He jokes it would be great to crash these companies' websites while giving the audience good stocking stuffers
Theo reiterates that none of the products paid to be featured and many are businesses they stumbled upon while on the road[4:23]
Some companies are near and dear to Mike, having been championed by him for a long time[5:12]

Spirit of the curated gift list

Theo says it's nice to let people know there is still stuff made in the country, though you have to seek it out[5:31]
• He believes the desire and ingenuity are still there and describes their picks as a "hodgepodge" of Christmas gifts for people you care about or even people you don't
Mike notes that every featured business is "working" and has a heartbeat, and maybe the audience can help drag them over the finish line[5:47]

Sullivan Glove Company discussion

Initial reaction to the gloves

Theo and Mike try on different Sullivan gloves and compare the feel of elk versus deer leather[4:34]
• They describe one heavier-duty glove as more work-oriented and another as more like driving gloves
They joke about training a falcon with one of the heavier gloves, saying the falcon would come back if you wore it[5:26]

Story and resilience of Bend, Oregon and Sullivan Glove

Theo shares that Edward Sullivan started making gloves for World War II, mainly for the Navy[6:37]
• He notes the company is still operating in Bend, Oregon, which he calls a resilient place and home of the last Blockbuster
Theo characterizes Bend residents as stubborn people who like to do things their own way, with quirky, self-sufficient activity like "sucking tree sap" in the woods[6:51]

Rarity of American-made glove manufacturers

Theo notes there are only five glove companies left that manufacture in the USA[7:38]
• He lists types of gloves they make (work, driving, rodeo, around-town) and describes them as soft, supple, and tough

Sensory appreciation and humor about quality

They talk about how you "feel quality" when you touch these gloves, and Mike poetically describes pushing your hand into something undeniably high-quality[8:22]
• Mike says when you slide your hand into quality gloves, all your fingers come together in a "joyous fist of solidarity"
Theo comments on the smell of the gloves, noting the inside and outside smell different but good[8:54]

Chukar Cherries and conversation with founder Pam Montgomery

Tasting and describing natural dried cherries

Theo and Mike remark that the cherries look dehydrated rather than artificially enhanced and praise their taste[11:02]
• Theo jokes about modern fruit looking unnaturally large, comparing it to fruit on performance enhancers, and contrasts that with the natural look of these cherries
Mike mentions that overly vibrant colors in fruit are suspicious and not how natural produce usually looks[12:40]

Gift ideas and who might enjoy dried cherries

Mike suggests these cherries would make a thoughtful gift for an office worker, acknowledging ingestible gifts can feel personal[12:46]
Theo jokes about having sold bad pills in the past and says inviting people to buy something good for them is a new direction[13:01]

Packaging and assortment as part of the gift experience

They open a large, elegant box of assorted chocolate-covered cherries and other treats, marveling at the layout and flavors listed inside[14:16]
• Theo notes that knowing such treats are "sleeping" inside the box adds to the anticipation before opening it under bright lights

Interview with Pam Montgomery

Pam clarifies the pronunciation of "Chukar" and explains it is named after a bird featured in their logo[15:10]
She shares that last year they dried 700,000 pounds of cherries[15:22]
Pam says the Yakima Valley area is one of the best places in the world to grow cherries, which many people might not know[15:44]

Employment and commitment to U.S. sourcing

Pam says they employ about 75 people a year[15:51]
She emphasizes their focus on using U.S. products and U.S. labor[16:08]
• Pam describes their priorities as providing jobs for Americans, creating a place where people like to work, and serving customers who enjoy what they do

Cherries as a vehicle for the American dream

Mike calls what Pam described "the American dream" and says she is living it through cherries[16:24]
Theo says he plans to order three of the gift boxes for the holidays for his family[16:35]

Crippling Hot Sauce and conversation with founder Drew Davis

Introducing Drew Davis and sampling the sauce

Theo takes a sizable taste of the "dill with it" sauce and comments on its strong effect[18:32]
Drew jokes that the sauce "will give you the runs" and adds, "the sauce gives you the runs better than I run"[18:40]

Origin of Crippling Hot Sauce as a school project

Drew explains he had a school project due in two days, liked making fun of himself and liked hot sauce, so he pitched an idea called Crippling Hot Sauce[19:05]
• He received an 82% grade, which upset him because as someone with cerebral palsy, he says his brain is the only part that works 100%
When Drew asked the teacher why the grade was low, he was told the idea was great but the teacher didn't think he could actually do it[19:30]
Out of spite, Drew went home, learned how to make hot sauce, and launched the business[19:38]
• A few years later, he says they have sold hundreds of thousands of bottles and supported people with disabilities along the way

Sales, impact, and attitude toward disability

Theo reads from the box that 5% of sales go to cerebral palsy research, and Drew confirms he is trying to "fix this stuff"[19:57]
Drew quips that he has tried a chiropractor already, highlighting his humor about his condition[20:12]
Theo describes Drew's energy as emblematic of the American spirit: "I'll find a way to get this done"[20:18]
He highlights a quote on the box: "It's not the hot sauce that put me in the wheelchair, it's the cerebral palsy"; Drew says he likes making fun of himself and now gets to monetize it[20:27]

Mission, scale, and optimism for cerebral palsy research

Drew estimates the global disabled community at 1.3 billion strong and frames the product as both a humorous gimmick and genuinely good-tasting sauce that benefits that community[21:01]
Asked whether cerebral palsy can be defeated, Drew says yes, explaining it is brain damage to the cerebral cortex so his brain doesn't send the right messages to his legs[21:40]
• He likens his brain's communication to "3G wireless" to illustrate the problem
Drew shares that sales are about $2.5 million this year and jokes he's "still crippled, but at least I sell hot sauce"[22:09]
Theo and Mike praise Drew's creativity and wish him happy holidays as they wrap the call[22:13]

Nakona baseball gloves and American tradition

Craftsmanship and personalization

Theo and Mike handle Nakona gloves, admiring them as beautiful pieces of equipment and noticing their own names stitched on the leather[22:39]
They mention that Nakona gloves have been around nearly 100 years, with 2026 marking the centennial[24:23]

Company history and American-made ethos

Mike recalls that pitcher Nolan Ryan famously used Nakona gloves[23:44]
They describe Nakona as the top baseball glove maker in America, with gloves appearing in iconic films like "Field of Dreams" and "A League of Their Own"[22:47]
Theo quotes founder Bob Story saying he'd rather take a bucket of worms and go fishing than import a Nakona glove, underscoring the commitment to American manufacturing[24:32]

World War II connection and emotional resonance of gifts

Theo mentions Nakona getting a government contract in World War II to send gloves to soldiers, giving them something that felt American[24:47]
Mike says stories like this are what you want to share when you give such a gift, because it's about tradition and why the glove is meaningful[24:51]
They reflect that people vividly remember their first baseball glove, first car, or first pocket knife, and note these early items in their lives were all American-made[26:02]

Who such a glove could impact

Mike imagines gifting a glove along with Bob Story's story to a son, daughter, niece, or nephew who loves baseball[25:44]
• He says somebody will unwrap a glove like this and never forget it, calling that outcome an American dream in itself

Oddly Sweet dolls and embracing imperfection

Theo's decade-long collection of Oddly Sweet dolls

Theo reveals he has been buying Oddly Sweet dolls for about 10 years and owns around 11, having also given about 15 as gifts[31:00]
He notes he hasn't talked about this much on the podcast, and Mike jokes that people may "run with this" information even if it's not headline news[31:10]

Aesthetic and backstory of the dolls and creator

Theo describes the dolls as "creepy cute" with soulful, imperfect faces; some look like they may be using or in recovery, and some hold meat cleavers or knives, which he interprets as willingness to work[31:32]
He explains that Oddly Sweet dolls are created by Lacey Michelle, a one-woman studio sculpting each doll by hand[30:06]
Lacey began by experimenting with sculpting faces in 2009 and later turned to doll-making as therapy after surviving a brain tumor while 27 weeks pregnant[30:17]
• Theo imagines the emotional mix of fear and hope she must have felt being pregnant and dealing with a brain tumor simultaneously

Symbolism: creepy and cute, broken and endearing

Theo says the dolls feel like representations of someone messed up yet still asking others to find something endearing about them[32:10]
He jokes about mixing up sonogram and MRI images, showing someone what he thinks is the baby but it's actually near his brain, to illustrate the strangeness of Lacey's medical situation[32:29]
He notes that the line is limited, with maybe only 150-200 pieces, and if they're sold out, people can check back next year[33:25]

Reactions and truth in gifts

Theo says some gift recipients are excited, while others are afraid to display "the truth" these dolls represent[34:00]
• He frames the dolls as honest reflections of feeling creepy and cute at the same time, or broken yet lovable

Scraggly Bush fur goods and playful Americana

Squirrel wallet ("squalet") concept

Theo explains that a "squalet" is a real squirrel hide with a zipper where the abdomen used to be and a satin-lined interior[35:44]
They emphasize that squirrels are natural hoarders, so using them as wallets or pouches fits their instinctive role, only now without the hassle of being alive[36:37]
• Theo imagines opening the squalet and finding cash inside as a moment of joy

Scraggly Bush origin and growth

Theo shares that Scraggly Bush is based in Papillion, Nebraska and started when Craig Summit's high school trapping hobby and a gag wedding gift (a fur wallet) sparked the idea[38:58]
With a COVID stimulus check and faith, Craig and his wife Carly began sewing fur goods by hand at home and now ship items like squalets and "raccoosies" nationwide[39:39]
Theo mentions the company now does about $250,000 a year and sources fur from American hunters, not fur farms[38:51]

Products and humorous use cases

They describe a raccoon-based drink holder ("raccoosie") and joke about letting a kid play with the tail while an adult drinks[38:01]
Theo riffs that a high-schooler could stash condoms, gum, candles, and more in a squalet as a way to "improve your odds" in dating[37:32]
They appreciate that the business sprang from turning a one-time joke (a fur wallet gift) into a creative small enterprise named after a late friend, Scraggly Bush[39:19]

Albizia Project cutting boards and turning invasive species into value

Background on Albizia and Hawaiian context

Theo narrates that the Albizia Project in Hawaii transforms the state's most invasive tree into handcrafted cutting boards[39:50]
Founders Joey Valenti and Christine Johnson, along with their team, hunt Albizia trees and turn them into heirlooms, working from a workshop and café on Oahu[39:58]
• They also make surfboards and lamps from Albizia wood, broadening its regenerative use

Physical impressions of the cutting board

Mike picks up the board, noting it is lighter than expected but strong, with a pleasant new-wood smell[40:30]
Theo imagines a kitchen scene with onions and carrots being cut on the board, tying it to everyday life[40:43]

Grants, tourism decline, and localized supply chain

Theo notes that Hawaii tourism plummeted during COVID, and the project received a $250,000 U.S. Forest Service grant to launch[41:02]
Mike stresses the need to be careful when introducing species into environments, drawing a parallel to bringing a problematic person home for the holidays[41:14]
They explain that each board is traceable back to a specific tree and person who cut it, enabled by a super localized domestic supply chain[41:35]

Gifting, symbolism, and "detox" for wood

Theo discusses gifting it to a mom as a charcuterie or cutting board, using the story about invasive trees and cleanup as part of the emotional value[42:18]
Mike likens the project to a detox center for wood: invasive pieces go in misplaced and unwelcome, come out repurposed, reshaped, and reinvigorated[42:23]
• He extends the analogy to people going into detox, emerging transformed and potentially "regifted" in life

CandleTit and body-positive keepsakes

Concept and humor around breast-shaped candles

Theo introduces CandleTit as breast-shaped candles made in Chicago, and jokes about "blazing up" one in a room for lonely guys[45:07]
He notes these candles are hand-cast from real bodies by a one-woman brand founded by an artist named Bailey[44:22]

Keepsake value for people facing body changes

Theo highlights that some customers use the candles as time capsules before surgery, especially breast cancer patients facing mastectomies[45:36]
• He frames them as a way to see one's body with tenderness instead of fear, locking that image in "forever" through the keepsake candle
They light multiple candles in the studio and joke about talking with family members about bodies in a more open way when such a candle is around[44:15]

Don L's Candies and small-town confectionery tradition

Theo's discovery of the toffee in Casper, Wyoming

Theo recalls returning to his room after a show in Casper to find a box of Don L's candies that someone had gifted him[46:41]
He opened the box skeptically but found it to be the best toffee he'd ever had, then visited the nearby shop and bought more[46:57]

Family history and handmade process

Theo recounts that Don and Elma Stepp opened their shop in 1956, and for nearly 70 years the family has handcrafted toffees, chocolates, and caramels using original recipes in copper kettles[47:29]
Mike adds that three generations are now involved, including grandson Ryan, and they still craft candies by hand[47:38]

Personal reaction to the candy's quality

Theo tries an almond brittle live and enthusiastically praises its taste, calling it beautiful[48:17]
He jokes that after eating so much toffee one night he couldn't close his eyes because of the "pressure" but still loved it[48:57]

Whitestone Mountain Orchard and conversation with Kate Thornton

Kate's introduction and orchard setting

Theo invites his friend Kate Thornton on to recommend a domestic company in her area, appearing on video with Whitestone Mountain behind her[49:20]
Kate confirms the scenic backdrop is real, not AI-generated, and identifies it as Whitestone Mountain and Whitestone Mountain Orchards[49:39]

Harvest season and apple variety facts

Kate explains they start harvesting pears in mid-August and continue with apples into November, making for a long season that leaves everyone cranky by the end[49:54]
She says there are at least 30 commercial apple varieties and over 7,000 different varieties worldwide[50:15]
• Theo reacts with surprise at the sheer number of apple varieties and jokes about how many remain beyond the few he can name

Theo's relationship with Kate and appreciation of small farms

Theo explains he initially noticed Kate's social media showing fruit, farms, and community, then later met her at a comedy show and for a walk[51:06]
Mike teases him for "stalking and lurking" on Instagram, and Theo laughs but affirms Kate turned out to be a good person to highlight[51:48]
Kate says her family's been in farming a long time and she feels privileged to highlight other families doing similar work[52:10]
Theo emphasizes that Whitestone Mountain Orchard is a small family-run farm rather than a big vendor and that buyers can learn about them on their website[52:35]

Other American-made goods: meats, belts, cast iron, and puzzles

Olympia Provisions cured meats

Theo introduces Olympia Provisions as an independently owned cured meats company founded by Elias Cairo after an apprenticeship in Switzerland[53:47]
They taste sausages and salami, praising the flavor and imagining these meats on a charcuterie board or as stocking stuffers[53:50]

Calavera Toolworks belts and testimonial

Mike reads about Calavera Toolworks, a small-batch leather shop on Johns Island, South Carolina making belts by hand from American leather and hardware[55:57]
They play a video testimonial from a young man named Jackson who praises how well the belt holds up to farm work[57:08]
Mike calls it a belt you could pass down to loved ones, something that will grow or shrink with you but never let you down[57:19]

Smithy Ironware cast-iron cookware

Mike describes Smithy Ironware in Charleston, South Carolina, founded by Isaac Morton after restoring old skillets and deciding to make his own[58:14]
They handle a heavy Dutch oven, estimating it weighs 7-8 pounds, and remark on its solidity and beauty as something that will never wear out[57:58]
• Theo connects it with memories of coming home to the smell of food like holiday jambalaya in such a pan, and jokes that one good egg cooked in it would set him up to find a job and a wife

Heart Puzzles and keeping minds sharp

They mention Heart Puzzles from Indiana as American-made puzzles that can be a cabin activity or hobby for a creepy uncle or a grandma with a new pastime[1:00:36]
Theo shares that his stepdad loves jigsaw puzzles, even framing them and hanging them on the walls, and that helping with puzzles is a way they spend time together[1:00:49]

Prodigal Pottery and King's Home ministry

Mission of King's Home and Prodigal Pottery

Theo describes King's Home in central Alabama as a ministry serving women and children fleeing domestic violence, homelessness, and trafficking[1:01:35]
Through Prodigal Pottery, these women make custom mugs, bowls, ornaments, and other ceramics as dignified work and a path to healing[1:01:43]
• Theo shows a lamb ornament and links the lamb imagery to the "Lamb of God," then corrects himself from sheep to lamb

Jenna's testimony about impact

They play a video from Jenna, the current director, who says Prodigal Pottery gave her life back and has done the same for hundreds of women[1:02:33]
Jenna recounts women arriving hopeless, beaten, and unsure they'd live to see another day, then regaining hope, reuniting with children, buying cars, and eventually homes[1:02:42]
She credits the safety and dignified work at Prodigal Pottery for enabling this healing and stability[1:01:49]
Theo notes that someone can buy a single item from Prodigal Pottery as a gift and tell this story when they give it[1:03:17]

Closing reflections on America, small business, and responsibility

America as something we must actively maintain

Theo references Ken Burns saying America is not something that just starts and stays that way forever; it's malleable and can come or go[1:03:43]
He concludes that the only thing keeping America going is "us"-how we operate and choose to operate[1:04:16]

Supporting neighbors through buying choices

Theo says if we really want to celebrate people making things here-whether ornaments or axes-we have to support them with our purchases[1:03:59]
He frames buying something from a neighbor as a win for everyone, asserting that "if we can choose to buy something from our neighbor, then we win"[1:04:21]

Recap of the stories and shared spirit

Theo reflects on learning many stories, like tree cutters turning invasive wood into products, glove makers sending gloves to soldiers, and small fruit companies competing with big vendors[1:04:29]
He notes some businesses they spoke with couldn't be featured due to time, but everyone they did highlight shares a spirit he and Mike admire[1:05:11]
Mike reiterates that each featured person or company embodies a spirit of building something in their own way, from century-old institutions to first-generation entrepreneurs[1:03:00]
They end by wishing listeners happy holidays and affirming that this spirit is "Christmas" to them[1:05:42]

Lessons Learned

Actionable insights and wisdom you can apply to your business, career, and personal life.

1

Your buying decisions are small but powerful votes for the kind of community and economy you want to live in, especially when you choose to support people personally making things in your own country.

Reflection Questions:

  • • What recurring purchases in your life could you realistically redirect toward smaller, values-aligned makers or local businesses?
  • • How might your perspective on holiday or birthday gifts change if you prioritized items with a story and a face behind them rather than just a low price?
  • • Which one category of spending (food, clothing, home goods, gifts) could you experiment with sourcing more locally over the next three months?
2

Adversity can become the foundation of a distinctive venture when you lean into your own story and sense of humor instead of hiding what makes you different.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where in your life have you been downplaying a challenge or quirk that could actually be the unique angle of a project, product, or creative work?
  • • How could you use humor or candid storytelling about your struggles to better connect with the people you serve or work with?
  • • What is one small experiment you could run this month that reframes a personal hardship into a source of value for others?
3

The most meaningful gifts are often those that carry lineage, craft, and a story-objects that can become heirlooms rather than disposable commodities.

Reflection Questions:

  • • When you think about the objects from your childhood that still matter to you, what common qualities do they share?
  • • How could you incorporate story and tradition into the next gift you give so that it genuinely sticks in the recipient's memory?
  • • What item in your life right now might be worth repairing, personalizing, or documenting instead of replacing?
4

Problems in your environment-whether literal invasive species or overlooked social needs-can be turned into regenerative opportunities when you design solutions that benefit both people and place.

Reflection Questions:

  • • What "invasive" or wasteful elements do you see in your own context (workplace, neighborhood, industry) that could be repurposed into something valuable?
  • • How might mapping the full story of a problem-from source to impact-reveal unexpected ways to transform it into a resource?
  • • What is one small pilot project you could attempt that turns a local nuisance, byproduct, or unmet need into a useful product, service, or tradition?
5

Healing and dignity are often linked to purposeful work; creating spaces where people can make things, earn fairly, and be part of a story larger than themselves can be a powerful form of support.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where in your life or organization could you more intentionally link meaningful work with support for people who are vulnerable or rebuilding?
  • • How might your view of "charity" change if you focused less on handouts and more on opportunities for dignified creation and contribution?
  • • What is one concrete way you could support or partner with a mission-driven enterprise that provides dignified work this year?
6

A nation's character is not fixed; it is continuously shaped by the everyday choices of its citizens, including how seriously they take the responsibility to "keep America America."

Reflection Questions:

  • • In what specific ways do your daily habits either reinforce or erode the kind of society you say you want to live in?
  • • How could you more consciously align your economic, civic, or cultural choices with your stated values about your country or community?
  • • What is one small but concrete behavior you could adopt this month that makes you feel like you are actively participating in shaping your nation's future rather than passively observing it?

Episode Summary - Notes by Micah

American Originals Holiday Special w/ Mike Rowe
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