Share The Struggle

Episodes

279
Nov. 12, 2025

Brick, Mortar, And Feelings: Retail Therapy And Actual Therapy

The holiday rush came roaring back and, for a weekend, the mall felt alive again. We landed a two-week pop-up at the Bangor Mall, solved a tough layout challenge, and ended up with a space that felt like our own shop—clean sightlines, a long counter for checkout, and room for people to browse without bumping shoulders. Pair that with neighbors selling handcrafted American flags and our tees hanging in the windows all week, and we saw what seasonal storefronts can do: bring community into the bra...
Brick, Mortar, And Feelings: Retail Therapy And Actual Therapy
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Brick, Mortar, And Feelings: Retail Therapy And Actual Therapy
278
Nov. 5, 2025

Grace, Gratitude, And Growing Through Grief

A missing laptop charger, a freezing parking lot, and a crowd of costumed kids shouldn’t add up to a breakthrough—but that’s exactly where the weekend took us. What started as a simple pair of charity DJ gigs turned into a lesson on composure, community, and the kind of closure you don’t plan for but desperately need. We kick off with a trunk-or-treat at Arundel Ford a local Ford dealership, where a last-minute tech failure forced a full pivot: rapid setup, a sound check on a dying laptop, and ...
Grace, Gratitude, And Growing Through Grief
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Grace, Gratitude, And Growing Through Grief
277
Oct. 29, 2025

What If Fear Was Fuel

What if the thing you’re missing is the very thing that could make you unstoppable? We dig into the uncomfortable truth that scarcity can be a strategic advantage and explore how to turn setbacks into a springboard for action, growth, and grit-fueled wins. Pulling from 50 Cent’s The 50th Law, we break down why “every negative situation contains the possibility for something positive,” and then put it to work in real life: using a presale to validate demand and fund production, doubling down on ...
What If Fear Was Fuel
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What If Fear Was Fuel
276
Oct. 22, 2025

Closure, Faith, And A Family First

Grief doesn’t keep a tidy calendar. After months of waiting, closed doors, and a family pulled in different directions, we finally laid a mother to rest beside her dad and felt the first real breath of relief. The next morning, we did something brand new together: we walked into church as a family, not for ceremony or obligation, but for hope. What unfolded was honest and unscripted—tears in the first song, our toddler dancing through worship, and a message that hit like a key turning in a lock....
Closure, Faith, And A Family First
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Closure, Faith, And A Family First
275
Oct. 15, 2025

Thy Will Be Done; Can Surrender Reshape A Nation?

Grief can flatten you—or forge you. On Charlie Kirk’s first heavenly birthday, we sit with the weight of loss and the power of witness as Erica Kirk accepts the Presidential Medal of Freedom and models a fearless, faith-first path forward. That moment reframed our day and our decisions, pulling a simple prayer—“Thy will be done”—from ink on skin into the center of our work, our words, and our homes. We open up about the tension between honoring a legacy and avoiding the appearance of profit, an...
Thy Will Be Done; Can Surrender Reshape A Nation?
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Thy Will Be Done; Can Surrender Reshape A Nation?
274
Oct. 8, 2025

Growth, Grit, And A Hard Truth About Respect

The season finale came with bigger stakes and sharper edges: we expanded our Fryeburg Fair booth by 10 feet, doubled down on Made in USA quality, and walked straight into the kind of attention that tests your backbone. We break down the real numbers—rent jumps, tent upgrades, inventory bets—and how an opening surge leveled into a week that finished a hair shy of our all-time record. Second best ever under tougher conditions isn’t a loss; it’s a louder floor and a clearer plan. We dig into what ...
Growth, Grit, And A Hard Truth About Respect
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Growth, Grit, And A Hard Truth About Respect
273
Oct. 1, 2025

Bus Won’t Start, But the Dream Won't Stop

When everything that can break decides to break—bus, budget, and belief—you find out what you’re really building. We pushed into our biggest Fryeburg Fair ever by tripling our booth size, stretching every dollar, and betting on our community. Then the week erupted: the bus died at a gas station, the camper lights quit at dusk, and the last credit card barely covered a rental truck. We turned wrenches in the rain, moved mountains with borrowed tools, and showed up on opening day running on fumes ...
Bus Won’t Start, But the Dream Won't Stop
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Bus Won’t Start, But the Dream Won't Stop
272
Sept. 24, 2025

America's Revival: How Charlie Kirk's Legacy Ignites a National Awakening

Left-wing lunatics hoped for a funeral. America got a revival. Sunday's Charlie Kirk memorial service transformed into something extraordinary - a spiritual awakening that reached far beyond the 100,000 people physically present in Arizona. Viewers worldwide witnessed not just remembrances of a remarkable 31-year-old conservative leader, but testimonies that sparked what many are calling a turning point in American cultural history. What makes this moment so powerful? The staggering n...
America's Revival: How Charlie Kirk's Legacy Ignites a National Awakening
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America's Revival: How Charlie Kirk's Legacy Ignites a National Awakening
271
Sept. 17, 2025

When Violence Silences Freedom: The Charlie Kirk Tragedy

The brutal assassination of Charlie Kirk has left America reeling, forcing us to confront the devastating reality of political violence in our nation. In this raw, emotional episode, we process this tragedy together, examining not just what happened, but what it means for our collective future. Charlie Kirk embodied something rare in today's political landscape—a willingness to engage with opposing viewpoints. His "prove me wrong" approach gave a platform to those who disagreed with him most, c...
When Violence Silences Freedom: The Charlie Kirk Tragedy
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When Violence Silences Freedom: The Charlie Kirk Tragedy
270
Sept. 10, 2025

Finding Structure When Everything Changes

Life gets hectic at the Liberty household as we prepare for Fryeburg Fair, work weddings, and navigate a major career change that could transform our family's work-life balance. • Fryeburg Fair approaches with significant business preparation, requiring us to bring in about 2,000 items in the coming weeks • We successfully DJed Jake and Sage's wedding despite last-minute challenges and an unexpectedly quick ceremony • Sometimes taking a break from overwhelming tasks—like mowing a section of law...
Finding Structure When Everything Changes
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Finding Structure When Everything Changes
269
Sept. 3, 2025

When Life Changes, We Choose How to Grow

We celebrate our daughter's first birthday while reflecting on a challenging yet rewarding year at Windsor Fair and the struggles that shape our entrepreneurial journey. The road isn't always smooth, but finding joy and purpose through difficulties has become our greatest strength. • Overcoming bus mechanical failures with the help of "redneck mechanics" who found creative solutions when we needed them most • Navigating the financial ups and downs of Windsor Fair, including weather challenge...
When Life Changes, We Choose How to Grow
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When Life Changes, We Choose How to Grow
268
Aug. 27, 2025

When Everything Goes Wrong, Keep Moving Forward

The struggle is real, but so is the strength that emerges from it. This raw, unfiltered episode takes you behind the scenes of entrepreneurship when everything that can go wrong, does. Windsor Fair season brings both celebration and chaos as we mark my daughter Paisley's first birthday while simultaneously dealing with our third consecutive year of vehicle disasters at this event. The bus is leaking brake fluid faster than I thought possible, the shifter linkage disconnected, and we're stranded...
When Everything Goes Wrong, Keep Moving Forward
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When Everything Goes Wrong, Keep Moving Forward
267
Aug. 20, 2025

The Courage To Take One More Step

Ever feel like you're putting everything into your business only to fall short of expectations? That's exactly where I found myself at the Skowhegan Fair this year. After days of watching people walk past my booth, enduring stretches of 5-6 hours without a single sale, I had to make a critical mental shift that entrepreneurs rarely talk about: redefining what success looks like mid-journey. When my original sales goals became clearly unattainable, I set new targets that would still represent...
The Courage To Take One More Step
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The Courage To Take One More Step
266
Aug. 13, 2025

Camper Confessions: Finding Faith at the Fair

Sometimes the hardest moments reveal our greatest blessings. From the comfort of my wife's camper instead of the school bus I planned to sleep in, this episode takes you on the raw, unfiltered journey of a small business owner fighting for survival at the Skowhegan State Fair. What does it feel like to open your booth in 95-degree heat, wait five hours for your first sale, and end a 10-hour day with just $120 in your pocket? I'm holding nothing back as I share the mental battle between the d...
Camper Confessions: Finding Faith at the Fair
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Camper Confessions: Finding Faith at the Fair
265
Aug. 6, 2025

What a Difference Appreciation Makes

We explore the transformative impact of appreciation in both personal and professional settings while preparing for a new adventure at the Skowhegan Fair. • Appreciation makes a significant difference in how we feel about our work and relationships • A stark contrast between DJing at an unappreciative biker bar versus a 9-year-old's birthday party • Living in a school bus for 11 days at Skowhegan Fair while missing family milestones • The "crunch season" of running back-to-back fairs and managi...
What a Difference Appreciation Makes
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What a Difference Appreciation Makes
264
July 30, 2025

Good Parenting Or Bad Business? You Tell Me

Faced with balancing career and family, DJ Keith makes a life-changing decision to step away from his longtime gig at Bentley Saloon to focus on fatherhood and more profitable ventures. • Reflecting on a successful final "Mullets and Daisy Dukes" night with strong crowd participation • Struggling with staff tensions around playing past the scheduled 11 PM end time • Entertaining an enthusiastic bachelorette party that inspired extending the night • Delivering an unplanned, emotional farewell sp...
Good Parenting Or Bad Business? You Tell Me
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Good Parenting Or Bad Business? You Tell Me
263
July 23, 2025

When Your First Time Is Your Worst Time, Keep Going Anyway

The journey to Syracuse Nationals wasn't just another road trip – it was a testament to resilience in the face of adversity for Loud Proud American. What began with a production nightmare when our custom racing t-shirt design arrived completely wrong quickly cascaded into a series of challenges that would test our limits. Picture this: six hours on the road in 100-degree heat with a temperamental air conditioner that alternated between cool and hot air every 20 minutes. Our 10-month-old daug...
When Your First Time Is Your Worst Time, Keep Going Anyway
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When Your First Time Is Your Worst Time, Keep Going Anyway
262
July 16, 2025

First Fair Success: Business Challenges and Family Memories

Resilient optimism isn't just a trendy concept—it's the beating heart of entrepreneurship. After exploring this powerful mindset last week, we immediately faced the perfect opportunity to put it into practice at our first fair of the season. The results? A much-needed victory that confirmed we're trending in the right direction after a challenging start to the year. Every single day of our four-day event outperformed its counterpart from last year, and our brand-new "Midnight Hammer" t...
First Fair Success: Business Challenges and Family Memories
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First Fair Success: Business Challenges and Family Memories
261
July 9, 2025

Resilient Optimism

Ever feel like you're drowning in challenges while trying to stay positive? That tension between acknowledging reality and maintaining hope is exactly what this episode explores through the lens of resilient optimism. We dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey — not the glamorized social media version, but the raw reality of sitting in 95-degree heat for hours to make $40, losing $1,200 worth of merchandise before a major event, and somehow maintaining belief that better days are ahead. T...
Resilient Optimism
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Resilient Optimism
260
July 2, 2025

Finding Grace When Everything Goes Wrong: Lessons in Gratitude

Breaking a streak of bad luck doesn't require perfect circumstances – it demands a perspective shift that transforms how we experience life's inevitable challenges. As I celebrate the milestone of 260 episodes spanning five consecutive years of Share the Struggle, I find myself reflecting on a chaotic 24-hour period that perfectly illustrates this truth. From malfunctioning equipment and surprise mortgage payments to vehicle breakdowns, the universe seemed determined to test my resilience. Y...
Finding Grace When Everything Goes Wrong: Lessons in Gratitude
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Finding Grace When Everything Goes Wrong: Lessons in Gratitude
259
June 25, 2025

When Loyalty Becomes a Barrier to Growth

Ever notice how that familiar routine you once loved suddenly feels like a prison? That's exactly what hit me this week as I found myself sweating in my garage, recording this episode while contemplating one of life's hardest truths: I've outgrown my comfort zone. After 13 years of entertaining crowds at Bentley Saloon's bike week—hosting pinup contests, DJing events, and building my brand—I faced an uncomfortable realization. What once felt like my safety net had transformed into a source o...
When Loyalty Becomes a Barrier to Growth
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When Loyalty Becomes a Barrier to Growth
258
June 18, 2025

Are They Taking Advantage? Actionable Steps to Reclaim Your Worth

Have you ever felt that pit in your stomach when you realize a relationship you once cherished has evolved into something that drains rather than sustains you? That moment when it dawns on you that your time, energy, and goodwill are being taken for granted? This raw, vulnerable episode dives deep into the murky waters of exploitation in relationships – whether business partnerships, friendships, or professional connections. We begin by examining the subtle evolution from mutual benefit to one-...
Are They Taking Advantage? Actionable Steps to Reclaim Your Worth
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Are They Taking Advantage? Actionable Steps to Reclaim Your Worth
257
June 11, 2025

When God's Plan Meets Generosity

We explore how unexpected blessings can become powerful catalysts for change when we recognize and embrace them with gratitude. • Life often tests us hardest right before sending the solutions we need • Comparing ourselves to ducks – calm on the surface but paddling frantically beneath • The challenge of running a business without reliable transportation for our family and camper • How friends Matt and Sarah from Ledgeway Farm blessed us with their farm truck, plow, and trailer • The spiritual ...
When God's Plan Meets Generosity
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When God's Plan Meets Generosity
256
June 4, 2025

Freedom Isn't Cancelled: Defending July 4th

Freedom of expression comes with responsibility, and when our nation's independence celebrations are targeted for cancellation, we need to examine what this means for our shared values and identity as Americans. • TikTok trends attempting to cancel July 4th celebrations have gained national attention • Celebrating Independence Day transcends political differences and administrations • The importance of maintaining patriotic traditions even during politically divisive times • Media narratives...
Freedom Isn't Cancelled: Defending July 4th
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Freedom Isn't Cancelled: Defending July 4th