From The Ground Up Show
Real stories. Hard lessons. Stronger foundations.
From The Ground Up Show is a long-form interview show about how capable people are made. Host Erick Loden explores the lives behind the work with owners, operators, builders, and people whose unconventional paths offer hard-earned lessons—people who put their hearts, hands, and hustle into what they build. Through honest conversations about risk, failure, growth, leadership, family, and values, the show encourages the next generation to think freely and build meaningful businesses, careers, and lives.
Choose the depth that fits your time.
One show. Three ways to watch and listen.
Every format comes from the same honest conversations—just with a different level of depth.
Full conversations
Full Episodes
Complete interviews with the context behind every decision, setback, and lesson.
About 20 minutes
FTGUS Condensed
The strongest stories and practical lessons, carefully edited from each conversation.
3–10 minutes
Topic Videos
Go directly to one useful question, business challenge, or focused idea.
Latest conversations
Listen for the full context: the decisions, setbacks, turning points, and practical lessons behind meaningful work.
Richie Zook – Building a Trades Business That Can Run Without You
What has to change before you can move 2,500 miles away from the company you help run?THE WEEK'S CONVERSATIONS, IN ONE EMAILChoose…
David Michaux — He Quit Project Management to Build a Welding Business
David Michauxleft a stable project-management career to become a certified welder and buildMichaux Metalworks. The transition forced him to learn what trade…
Charbel Louis Karam – From Pilot to CEO: Scaling a Dental Lab Platform From 9 to 2,000+ Employees
What does it take to scale an industry built on individual craftsmanship—without destroying the culture, relationships, and expertise that made its businesses…
Take part in the show
Ask a question for the show
What are you wrestling with? Send Erick your business, leadership, sales, or personal-growth question. It may help shape a future conversation or episode.
Tell your story
Built something, learned something, and willing to talk honestly about it?
Sponsors & Partners
Meet the organizations that support FTGUS—or explore a thoughtful partnership with the show.
Official FTGUS merch
Represent what you’re building.
Heart. Hands. Hustle. Keep Grinding. Gear for people building something worth being proud of.
Hosted by Erick Loden
Curiosity shaped by real business experience.
Erick sits down with people who have led, sold, served, failed, rebuilt, and grown. The questions stay practical because the audience has real work waiting tomorrow.