Join The Freedom Economy - Public Square – with Matthew Smith – [Ep. 232]

Linda J. Hansen: Welcome. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Prosperity 101® Breakroom Economics Podcast. My name is Linda J. Hansen, your host and the author of Prosperity 101® Job Security Through Business Prosperity: The Essential Guide to Understanding How Policy Affects Your Paycheck, and the creator of the Breakroom Economics online course.

The book, the course, and the entire podcast library can be found on Prosperity101.com. I seek to connect boardroom to break room and policy to paycheck by empowering and encouraging employers to educate employees about the public policy issues that affect their jobs. 

My goal is to help people understand the foundations of prosperity, the policies of prosperity, and how to protect their prosperity by becoming informed, involved, and impactful. I believe this will lead to greater employee loyalty, engagement, and retention, and to an increased awareness of the blessings and responsibilities of living in a free society. Listen each week to hear from exciting guests, and be sure to visit Prosperity101.com. 

Thank you so much for joining with me today.

I'm truly grateful for every listener, and I'm also grateful for our Prosperity Partners, those who help us keep these podcasts on the air. If you would like to become a prosperity partner, just click the link on our website Prosperity101.com, and you can support us with any amount. You can also support us by doing business with our strategic partners, and you can find their links in the show notes. 

Help us to spread the word that policy matters to paychecks and employers, educating employees about such issues is essential to reclaiming and preserving America. It's no secret that our nation is suffering. We have wars and rumors of wars, record-breaking inflation, a border crisis, and increasing violent crime across the country. Our supply chains are in peril from worker strikes and unprecedented natural disasters.

There has never been a better time to invest in Made in America businesses that support the values and principles that have made this nation great. With me today is Matthew Smith, President of PublicSquare Advisors. PublicSquare is America's marketplace, and I love promoting them because I love what they stand for and how they have stood firm for freedom. 

I've done two interviews with Christina Werner from PublicSquare, and today I have Matthew on to share exciting news about their upcoming business summit and to let you know how you can be involved in changing America for the future by becoming involved in the Patriot Freedom Economy on PublicSquare.

So, welcome Matthew. Thank you for taking time for this interview.

Matthew Smith: Linda. Thank you for having me.

Linda J. Hansen: Well, it's a pleasure, and it's been great to start to get to know you and I love Christina and Michael, and so to get to know you recently has been a pleasure and I look forward to spending time with you and the team at the PublicSquare Business Summit.

Before we go any further in the interview, we want to let people know when this summit is and how they can register. So, start getting your notes ready listeners so you can make sure you hear all about this and register as soon as you get done listening to this podcast. So, tell the listeners how to find information about the summit.

Matthew Smith: So, the quickest place, easiest place to find tickets is at PSQTickets.com. So PSQTickets.com is the best place to easily find tickets we're going to have a great promo code that Linda will share with you for her audience, which will help with that ticket price and all the information about the location, the time is located right on that website, but it is located in Orlando, Florida on Thursday and Friday, October 10th and 11th.

Linda J. Hansen: It's a very exciting event and you have a lineup of speakers. That is incredible. Can you tell us about who will be headlining this event?

Matthew Smith: Yeah, I'm looking at my other screen because it's too big of a name, actually too big of a list. I mean, we've got Tucker Carlson, Robert Kennedy Jr.; Russell Brand, what a God story that is; Donald Trump Jr., Blake Masters, Michael Seifert, Matt Gates; Chris Pavlovski, the CEO of Rumble; Kelly Loeffler, Robbie Starbuck, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Crystal Parker.

I mean, I could go on and on and we actually just announced privately another huge name, which I can't share, but I mean, the list just keeps getting better, which is hard to believe.

Linda J. Hansen: It's so exciting, and what a great group of people to not only help us all fellowship and unite together in one purpose, but also to bring new people in to learn more about the Patriot Freedom Economy and how we can make such a difference by choosing how we spend our dollars. And I think to hear a little bit more about you and your own history and how you became involved with PublicSquare.

So, tell us a little bit about your own life. I know you have a great God story, so we'd like to hear that and then how that, like, led you into your role at PublicSquare.

Matthew Smith: So, let's start with, what do you want to start with, Linda? You want to start with the God story? Or do you want to start with the PublicSquare story?

Linda J. Hansen: Well, which came first?

Matthew Smith: God story. So, I was raised; I was born into an incredible family. I was born in Houston, Texas. My grandparents and my parents were very religious. We were surrounded by a wonderful community and a great church. When I was really young, I believe I was three, my older sister got ALL, a form of blood cancer.

And there was actually an incident at one of the really well-known hospitals in Texas that led my mom to look for better healthcare solutions. So, unfortunately, we left Texas for California for better healthcare. Through that whole process, my sister did much better; however, at the very end of her treatment and through that process, two years later, my father passed away, and then I got ALL as well. My sister and I both had the same type of blood cancer, and we were being treated at the same hospital.

So, I was diagnosed when I was eight, and my treatment went from the time I was eight to being 12. It was awful. I remember every minute of it. I was much more courageous then than I am now. The advancements in cancer treatment today versus the late eighties and early nineties are absolutely incredible, but it was a very difficult, painful process.

I remember being surrounded by my mom and my grandparents, being so angry and not understanding why this was happening to me. And just like the, you know, like we were talking before the show, the people in Tennessee and North Carolina who are lost right now, literally underwater; it's a really hard pill to swallow in the moment, especially when you're young. When I was 10 years old, saying, “Hey, this is—this all, everything happens for a reason. You know, trust God's plan,” when you're getting a six-inch needle shoved into your spine as a 10-year-old, that's really hard. You just haven't lived long enough to understand the life's journey and God's plan.

So, I really struggled with my faith during treatment. Fortunately, I was put after treatment and I survived. My sister survived. I was put in front of some really great churches and great pastors, and they surrounded me with love and kindness. They showed me God's way.

It's so funny now, because even back then, by the time I was 12 to 15 years old, my mentality changed from being angry to people coming up to me and asking me, “How did you get through this? How'd you deal with your dad dying, your sister getting cancer, you getting cancer, your mom working two to three jobs to keep a roof over your head while having kids going through chemo?” And my answer was, “Well, I trust the Lord. What was my other option? To quit?” You know, and that's something that I think we all need to hear.

We, as a society, we've become very soft. I understand life throws you curveballs; trust me, I know. And that's just the beginning of my story. There's a lot more after that. But the point is that through that time in my story of finding the Lord and finding the Lord so deeply is, you know, through trials and tribulations. If you're in the lion's den, you have to trust the Lord, and you have to put, you know, faith that there is a plan; that, you know, through His infinite wisdom, He gets it more than you do.

And now, being 40 years old, I mean today, that seems like a lifetime ago when I was going through that treatment, and I was, you know, facing the trials and tribulations of cancer treatment. You know, what all of that did is it hardened my ability as a human. It made me more durable, and it made me just have that much deeper a relationship with the Lord, with our church, and with my family. It's what drives me every day to pursue excellence and to just be a better person.

Linda J. Hansen: You know, that's so inspiring. And for many of us, well, I often tell people, if you haven't gone through a really hard season in your life where your faith has been tested, or you've just gone through a roller coaster of emotions and been at your lowest low, you probably haven't lived very long.

And because for some of us, like you, that comes very early in life and for others, there may be other trying times. I know I've had some really challenging times in my life that I know God just used it all for His good. Like even when I couldn't see it at the time, I knew I had grown in the Lord enough when I met some of these challenges that I knew, that I knew, that I knew that God is good all the time.

And He really does work everything together for good for them that love Him and are called according to His purpose. There were times when I felt so challenged and just under the pile and heartbroken, and yet I felt cradled. I often said I felt cradled by the Lord, and that in the midst of it all, I knew that He was there and there was going to be a brighter day, and He was going to use it in the ways He's used all of that has just been amazing to me.

So, same for you. It's just been an amazing story. And I'm sure quite an inspiration. We know that, you know, every cancer story doesn't end like that. We know that every struggle that I've gone through, people don't, it doesn't come out the same way sometimes, but we still know that God has a purpose even in that, you know, He knows our beginnings and our ends.

He knows everything that goes on, and He also wants us to be His hands and feet to bless others. I know that is something that you tried to do, I tried to do, and you know, that which we've learned we can use to bless others and to help them and encourage them both spiritually, emotionally, through prayer support, but also with financial support and real material support as well, especially in times of crisis.

So, you know, it's just great. Your God story leads into what you're doing with PublicSquare. So, how did that lead into you working at PublicSquare?

Matthew Smith: Well, that story didn't necessarily lead me into PublicSquare, but what led me into PublicSquare. So, after college, I got into the pet industry, and I was very successful in the pet industry. It's a wonderful industry. My wife and I, we have four dogs we absolutely love. We live out in the country. We love being around wildlife. It fit me my entire career, and it fit me for a long time. 

Back in June or July of 2022, I heard Michael Siefert and Andrew of Red Balloon go on the same podcast. And in that moment, I was also kind of in this weird—I was a CEO. I was running a company. The company was doing well. I was just struggling internally. I mean, what I was doing well, I was taking care of my family, but I wasn't as fulfilled as I am today. 

And seeing Michael and seeing Andrew on those podcasts showed what they were building and it made me want something more. And it made me want to be part of something like I am now, to where genuinely every single person on the PublicSquare team feels like they are part of something much bigger than themselves. 

I've never been part of an organization that has that many people who are selfless, hardworking, kind, talented, genuine, and genuinely feel like they are part of a team, and one plus one equals three. It's not about them. And it is, that's part of the summit, which we're going to talk about in a second. 

Being surrounded by that every day—wow, how fortunate am I? But also, coming to the summit and being around it for two days, you will experience something unlike you've ever experienced other than like a really good church camp. You just leave feeling so fulfilled, and your soul will be so full. You’re going to have so much hope, even with everything going on in the world that you talked about at the beginning of the podcast, that's still going to be here.

Ladies and gentlemen, 2025 is going to be a very difficult year. I don't care who wins the election. I mean, it's going to be a very difficult year, and having that in your life, having a full heart, and being fulfilled is something that you need to experience in person, and I hope that you can all experience it because I’m thankful that I get to live it every single day.

Linda J Hansen: Well, that is really great, and to listeners, yes, please come to the summit. I have worked with many of these people and just love them, and I know personally that being engaged in such an event really lifts your spirit and opens up possibilities. You know, I love being part of something bigger than myself.

I actually have that magnet on my fridge, and I love it that my grandkids say, “Grammy, what does that mean?” And it just—you know, we're here for such a short time. You know, only one life soon to pass, only what's done for Christ will last. 

And when we can serve Christ, and we can serve Him in the marketplace and we can serve Him by serving others, it is just so fulfilling and really a remarkable way to live. No matter what's going on around us, we know that we can make a difference, and there are others who make a difference in our lives and encourage us and bless us. 

So, I just think it's a great opportunity for like-minded people to gather. But also, if any of you are listening and you really think, “What is this patriot freedom economy they're talking about? What is this parallel economy they're trying to build?” And you know, you think we might be a little nutty—there's really a lot more to that story and why it's a blessing to you. 

Like even right now, this is October 1st, we're recording this on October 1st and the Longshoremen have decided they would strike. And this is going to affect supply chains unbelievably across the country. The ripple effect of that, depending on how long it goes on, will be felt in every city, in every town, in every home; you know, everywhere. 

And this is just another great example of why it is so important for us to support American businesses that create and sell American-made products who are dedicated to making our nation stronger through the work of their company. So, you know, whether you are an employer, an employee, or a customer, supporting and working towards such a freedom economy is going to be really important for the future of America.

Matthew Smith: Absolutely. Absolutely. Very well said, Linda.

Linda J. Hansen: Well, and I just love the fact that you have these great inspirational speakers coming. I mean, it is an incredible lineup, and to have that—to encourage everyone, like everyone listening, this isn't a political conference. You know, like right now it's political season, and there are campaign events and get-out-the-vote events and all these things going on, and that's true.

But this isn't a political conference, but you will understand how policy affects your paycheck; how policy affects your company, your family, and your community; and you will begin to see this connection. This is what, you know, my heart's desire is: to help people connect the dots and to help employers and employees reclaim and preserve America.

And I see this happening with PublicSquare and Red Balloon and Pro-Life Payments, and other really great payment options that people are bringing up. And even like—I just want to say, too—like EveryLife is a company that, you know, quite well. And maybe you can tell the listeners about EveryLife, but I know Christina posted that EveryLife is providing diapers to those hit by the hurricanes.

So, you know, these are just one of the ways we serve. We are the hands and feet of Jesus through our work, and that is just an incredible opportunity. So, if you want to share anything about that, too, feel free.

Matthew Smith: Yeah. I mean, EveryLife is an incredible organization that a lot of people—if you don't know of EveryLife—please go to EveryLife.com and look at their mission. They are the only pro-life diaper company in the world. Period, full stop. Let that sit for a second. Pro-life diaper company in the world. They're the only ones. 

So, if you are directing your dollars with the power of commerce to any other diaper company that doesn't protect and support life, I'd urge you to reconsider. Let me read you the values. So, I'm on their website right now. They celebrate life. Every baby is a miracle and a gift from above. We cherish it, celebrate it, and we seek to protect it, always. 

Stay with integrity. We are here because our values, vision, and mission are deeply held convictions that drive us to build a different kind of company. We will never sacrifice our beliefs or the integrity of our products for the sake of popularity, gain, or grift, nor will we support anything that goes against our mission to protect life. 

We champion parenthood. Being a parent is the greatest job we'll ever have, and celebrating the blessing of parenthood is at the heart of what we do. And we championed parenthood and the innocence of new life. We build a happier, we build a healthier, happier future for our nation. 

Lastly, we're rooted in faith. Everything we do at EveryLife is grounded in our faith in Christ and the truth of the gospel. Now, how can you not support a company like that?

Linda J. Hansen: Exactly, and that company is giving so much back to others in need. So yes, I wanted to make sure I mentioned that because sometimes people think that, “Oh, Christians, they just say, pray for the people in North Carolina or pray for the people with the hurricanes.” 

But they don't realize that there's millions of us and millions of ways that we try to serve our fellow citizens by just serving them with meeting their basic needs.

Matthew Smith: Well, and Linda, thank you. I agree. And that's one of the beauties of PublicSquare and EveryLife is we're not a company that promotes cancel culture. That doesn't add anything to the world. What we do is we build a different, stronger, in our opinion, better boat. That's rooted in faith, family, freedom, and small businesses.

And, all we're doing is giving customers that to want to support companies that don't hate them, that align with their core values, an option. That's all. And we also deliver excellence. So, all those core values that we said with EveryLife, it's also an excellent product. So, you can't just have these core values and not deliver excellence, and we focus on both. 

So, I'm proud to talk about both these companies, but that's also PublicSquare. I mean, that's part of who we are and what we do. Don't get mad at Amazon for what they do. There are other options out there. Those other options include buying from brands like Your American Flag Store, which truly excel in their offerings.

I could go on and on, and you'll receive handwritten thank you letters. You'll get scripture in your packing slips. You're actually going to benefit a small family that runs a small business. You are going to be part of their God story as well. This is much more powerful than clicking on Amazon and having something thrown in a brown box that comes from China. It's a completely different, much more fulfilling experience.

Linda J. Hansen: Well, it truly is. You mentioned Your American Flag Store. James Staake is a friend of mine as well, and I've featured him on the podcast many times. So, listeners, if you don't know his story, he's become the cancel culture king in terms of having everything thrown at him at once and trying to destroy his business, but he has fought back and decided to make a difference.

So please look up Your American Flag Store on my website in the podcast tabs. You can hear all about their story. He will be at the PublicSquare Business Summit, and you will have a chance to purchase some of their handcrafted American flags, which are just amazing works of art.

We love James and Ginger. They are a great example of businesses that truly want to serve customers and promote the values that made our nation great, making families and communities strong. We want to use our money to support the businesses and individuals that stand with us in loving America, loving freedom, and loving God. That's a great way for us to help change America.

So, we don't have to boycott everything; we can buy-cott. Remember when the president of Goya Foods endorsed President Trump, and the Left went crazy, deciding to boycott him? Well, conservatives came out and bought so much that—

Matthew Smith: It became his best month ever.

Linda J. Hansen: Yes, his best month ever. He even decided to make AOC his employee of the month because her comments drove so much business his way. This is the thing. We are very powerful when we work together, and we can change the trajectory of our nation.  

We don't have to take this decline. We don't have to take this lack of leadership. We don't have to take it. We are citizens. We can use our vote. We can use our dollars. And we can use action to make sure that we are active and engaged citizens. 

So I do want to ask you one question because this is my passion. How would you tell employers to educate employees about why this is so important to their own livelihoods and well-being?

Matthew Smith: That's a tough question. I think employers need to have more honest conversations with their employees and to show them the way business actually works. 

I've run multiple businesses, and you'll have sometimes where things aren't properly communicated and your team doesn't have the culture to understand that they are part of something bigger than themselves. And sometimes that comes from lack of leadership top down. 

You need to take time to show them what a P and L looks like and all of the costs that go into the business because people will think, “Hey, like, we make this drink for $2, and we sell it for $20,” like you're raking in the dollars. Okay, well, you're raking in profits. 

Well, let's talk about insurance. Let's talk about rent. Let's talk about wages. Let's talk about cost of goods sold. Let's talk about merchandising signage. All the things that goes in that go into a business. I think that's just part of Business 101, making sure the entire team sees a picture of the business and understands that what you're building is something big and painting that picture for your team because I think painting that picture and also educating them, you get a lot more out of your team and your team also has a better, more vested interest in succeeding. 

Therefore, the business succeeds because it's kind of like the Southwest thing: the employees were their biggest spokespeople, and then the customers became their biggest spokespeople. So how does that happen?

That happens because there's happiness. There's culture within an organization. And if consumers come in and they see that or they experience that with the brand, then they'll start talking about it. And that's how you really get, then there's no outbound sales. Everything starts to become inbound. 

Linda J. Hansen: Absolutely. I say to that it's so important for employers to educate employees about the policy issues. You know, you mentioned these expenses and costs that go into running a business, and we have taxes. We have all the legislation and bureaucratic compliance rules that come upon a business and cost so much money, and we have all of these fees and things that impact business. 

So, when we can educate employees about all of this, we increase loyalty, engagement, and retention. It just makes for a better workplace in a more profitable environment.

Well, I so appreciate your time, and before we close, I'd like you to just give that lineup of speakers again, at least the headliners, and then we will give the listeners our exciting code where they can save money to become an attendee at this wonderful business summit.

Matthew Smith: So, before I give the lineup, Linda, one thing that is so cool about this lineup is we are limiting capacity to 2,500 people. You're not going to be able to see these people in an intimate setting like we're offering. With a cap of 2,500, like we're offering, it just doesn't happen.

Seeing these people in an intimate environment that, you know, we're going to have breakout sessions. We're going to have onstage time. There's going to be exhibitors. There's going to be a media row. There's going to be networking opportunities. 

So, you've got to get to the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, October 10th, and Friday, October 11th to see Tucker Carlson, RFK Jr., Russell Brand, Donald Trump Jr., Michael Seifert; his wife, Sarah Gable Seifert; Matt Gates, Robbie Starbuck, and Kimberly Guilfoyle. 

I mean, the list goes on and on, and with that said, like I said earlier, it's still actually even building. So more to come, you're going to have to be there to see it.

Linda J. Hansen: Well, that is exciting. And so, listeners, I want you to write this down. You can use this promo code P10150, for a believe it or not, a $50 ticket. This is a gift that PublicSquare is doing and being able to support Prosperity101 listeners. So, inviting you to become part of the freedom economy and this patriot parallel economy, and this movement that we are building across the nation.

Along with that, too, I just want to mention that both Red Balloon and Your American Flag Store that Matthew had mentioned, they are also Strategic Partners, so please look for their links in our show notes and support them. But you can meet them at this business summit, too.

So again, go to PSQTickets.com, use the promo code, P10150, for a $50 ticket. If you can believe it, that is an amazing gift to our listeners. So, I am so grateful to you, Matthew, and I know the listeners will be grateful and I just can't wait to attend and be part of this exciting event. 

Matthew Smith: Linda, let me close with, you know, the Bible tells us that when we stand for our convictions, and we stand for faith, that we will expect resistance. How cool is that?  We are the resistance. 

We are the resistance, and we, coming to this event, will arm you with the assets and the tools, and the network opportunities to take on, to be part of the resistance, and be part of something bigger than yourself. We can't wait to see you there.

Linda J. Hansen: Oh, amen to that. So, thank you, Matthew. We so appreciate you and the work of PublicSquare. Thank you. 

Matthew Smith: Thank you, Linda. Thank you.

Linda J. Hansen: Thank you again for listening to the Prosperity 101® podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a great review. Don't forget to visit Prosperity101.com to access the entire podcast library, to order my newest book, Job Security Through Business Prosperity: The Essential Guide to Understanding How Policy Affects Your Paycheck, or to enroll you or your employees in the Breakroom Economics online course.

You can also receive the free ebook, 10 Tips for Helping Employees Understand How Public Policy Affects Their Paychecks. Freedom is never free. Understanding the foundations of prosperity and the policies of prosperity will help you to protect prosperity as you become informed, involved, and impactful.

Please contact us today at Prosperity101.com to let us know how we can serve you. Thank you.