Quit Telling Me What To Think
Building a Better Dave
I expect the news to lean left or to lean right, and it drives me crazy. The one side calls the other side a bunch of names. We never really get the true story. It's all intended not to inform but more to entertain and to get a bunch of bullet points across. Now it's getting worse. When I was a little kid, I saw Gone with the Wind with my mother. It was her favorite movie because of Clark Gable, who was hot. I'm amazed she took me because the movie is almost four hours long, but I do remember there was an intermission because any males over 50 couldn't hold their pee that long, even in...
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The Kids are Going to Be Here
Building a Better Dave
I got a call from my sister-in-law as I was driving to get some pizza, and she invited me over to her house because the 3rd of April is my great nieces birthday. We were going to have a makeshift birthday party at the house, and she said all the kids are going to be here, meaning my niece and her three kids (my other niece lives out of state). I went over, and my great-niece has grown easily a foot and a half in the last three months. I can't remember the last time I saw her, but she's much taller. My great-nephew is taller than I am. It was one of those times when I knew to...
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I'm Not 23: My Persuit of Brandywine Falls
Building a Better Dave
This month has been a wild ride—I’ve spent a ton of money and even more energy waterproofing my basement, only to find out the pipes were completely clogged and needed major repairs. My childhood hangout is now a construction zone, and the work isn’t over yet. But it’s not all about the basement—this week I set out for what I thought would be a relaxing bike ride, only to end up carrying my bike up and down muddy stairs in pursuit of the elusive Brandywine Falls. Along the way, I found myself hot, sweaty, and covered in dust, whether I was cleaning at home or out on the trail. It got...
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And Then Life Pulled Me Back In
Building a Better Dave
On this episode of Building a Better Dave, I open up about a lifelong battle with debt, from childhood lessons learned at the family kitchen table to the hard realities of bankruptcy, divorce, and the ever-looming burden of credit cards. I share how persistent financial setbacks reshaped his perspective on money, hard work, and resilience. Just when he thought he had finally conquered debt, an unexpected basement flood pulled him back in, reminding him that life’s challenges are never really finished. Join me as I explore what it means to keep pushing forward when setbacks strike, the value...
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Brilliant Journalism
Building a Better Dave
In this episode, I look into the hilariously pointless world of sports interviews. Ever sit through those sideline or post-game questions and wonder why we bother? Trust me, I do too! Whether it’s ex-players like Doug Deacon giving us obvious advice (“If you want to win, you’ve got to score points”) or reporters asking quarterbacks how it feels to win in overtime, it all feels a bit silly to me. I share stories about being a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan, what it’s like watching my great nephew get concussion after concussion playing football, and how that’s changed the way...
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Waterboarding for Fruit
Building a Better Dave
Hey, it’s Dave—and on this episode of Building a Better Dave, I talk all about the weirdness that is Halloween in my neighborhood lately. As October rolls in, I’ve noticed a crazy escalation in skeleton yard decorations. What used to be simple six-foot skeletons have turned into these massive twelve-foot giants. I can’t help but wonder if this is just the middle-aged version of keeping up with the Joneses. Halloween itself has always struck me as strange, especially when you factor in how expensive candy has gotten (seriously, $15 a bag now?!) and how we’ve all just accepted feeding...
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Old Habits Die Hard
Building a Better Dave
In this episode, I open up about a recent experience I had on Reddit where, despite my own advice, I ended up feeding the trolls. I share how I got pulled into a frustrating back-and-forth with someone who just wasn’t open to any input, and how that made me reflect on my own “educator mindset”—the urge to resolve every conflict or misunderstanding online. I talk about the importance of setting boundaries not just with online trolls, but also when inviting podcast guests onto your show. Remember: if someone really wants to be on your show, they’ll usually find time that works for you....
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I'm Going to Need Some Proof Please...
Building a Better Dave
So I had no idea I would get backlash about saying, "Hey I think Charlie Kirk might be on to something about this we shold all talk to each other.." thing going on. I got TONS of people tell me to dig deeper and I found . Wait, I thought Charlie was a racist homophobe? Then I was told to quit cherry picking videos. Taylor Swift casting spells? .
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Where Did My Country Go?
Building a Better Dave
I just don't recognize my country. I got to see someone shot in the neck and die today. Then people cheered because they didn't like his opinions. It just seems so weird. Meawhile the mainstram media fans the flames of the divided states of America, and nobody knows how to have a dialogue anymore. All we do is shoot each other, and the bad news is I don't know how to fix it, and I don't trust the people in power. So welcome to my rant as I scream into the void.
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14 Hours in a Car
Building a Better Dave
So I'm driving to Chicago and back over a weekend. That's 14 hours in a car. While I'm not ancient, I'm not young. I'm not 23 anymore. Did I just write a check with my mind that my body can't cash? I'm trying to find some food in Chicago and took a wrong turn. Chicago, like every city in America, is a good place to get shot if you're on the wrong side of the city. How am I going find the balance of not doing things that I may not be able to do without stopping myself from enjoying life? Like the show?
info_outlineOn this episode of Building a Better Dave, I open up about a lifelong battle with debt, from childhood lessons learned at the family kitchen table to the hard realities of bankruptcy, divorce, and the ever-looming burden of credit cards. I share how persistent financial setbacks reshaped his perspective on money, hard work, and resilience. Just when he thought he had finally conquered debt, an unexpected basement flood pulled him back in, reminding him that life’s challenges are never really finished. Join me as I explore what it means to keep pushing forward when setbacks strike, the value of perseverance, and how sometimes tearing things down is the first step to building something even better.
Like the show? Wan to give some value back? Buy Dave a Coffee (or 10).
Sequence of Topics Covered
1. Introduction & Theme of Debt
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Dave Jackson introduces debt as the main topic and his lifelong struggle with it .
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Show info and contact details are provided .
2. Early Lessons in Money and Debt
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Memories of his dad doing taxes and the tension around finances .
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The influence of the Lannister motto, "A Lannister always pays his debts," on his upbringing .
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Story of borrowing $300 from his grandfather to buy a car and the process of paying him back .
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Learning there are no "free lunches" and needing to earn money for things he wanted, such as music albums .
3. Family Finances & Value of Money
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Family's economic background (not rich, not poor, but frugal) .
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Use of coupons, hand-me-downs, and lessons in financial responsibility from his mother .
4. Adult Experiences with Debt
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First marriage: fertility challenges lead to substantial credit card debt for treatments .
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Living paycheck to paycheck and discussing bankruptcy, which conflicted with his "pay your debts" values .
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After 9/11, wife's hours were cut, leading them to file for bankruptcy reluctantly .
5. Struggles with Debt in Later Life
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Marriage to a partner with poor credit and inheriting someone else's credit card debt after divorce .
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Failed attempts at debt consolidation and the difficulty of accessing better loan rates .
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Gradual process of securing slightly better loans and working towards being debt-free .
6. The Turning Point: Selling the School of Podcasting
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Conversation with his boss about potential for the School of Podcasting .
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Decision to sell the business for enough money to pay off debt, while maintaining a professional relationship .
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Finishing 2025 debt-free and entering the new year with a clean slate .
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Enjoying financial freedom and considering future opportunities and contributions to family .
7. Setbacks: Home Flooding and New Debt
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Feeling of finally catching up to peers in life after years of feeling behind .
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Discovery of water damage and mold in the basement after heavy rain .
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Realization of the high cost involved in repairs and choosing to finance the repairs rather than deplete savings .
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Resuming strategies from earlier years to manage debt and expenses .
8. Mindset and Coping Strategies
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Acceptance of debt as a temporary setback and readiness to cut corners and reduce expenses (e.g., fewer streaming services, no fast food) .
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Reflecting on the possibility of being in debt into old age and the impact on personal plans .
9. Tackling Change and Optimism
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Clearing out the workshop and preparing for basement renovations .
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Parallel between demolishing basement parts and the demolition of his childhood schools .
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Considering new configurations for the basement, such as moving down his podcasting studio, and seeking hidden benefits .
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Drawing inspiration from his grandmother’s longevity supported by daily movement .
10. It is What It is
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Paying for repairs and looking forward with optimism, knowing things will improve .
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Mention of listener support through “buy me a coffee” on the website to help with expenses .
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Closing wishes for the audience and a tease for the next episode .