Podcast Summary:

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von – "American Originals Holiday Special w/ Mike Rowe"
Original Air Date: November 28, 2025
Host: Theo Von
Guest: Mike Rowe (with special guest appearances from Pam Montgomery, Drew Davis, Kate Thornton, Jenna)

Main Theme / Purpose

This holiday episode is a celebration of American-made creativity, highlighting unique, genuine products made in the USA that make perfect holiday gifts. Theo Von and Mike Rowe join forces to spotlight small businesses, artisans, and entrepreneurs—emphasizing the importance of supporting domestic manufacturing, the personal stories behind these products, and the positive impact buying American can have on families and communities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Stage: Why Buy American?

• Theo introduces the episode’s theme:

  “...when you're buying something, you're supporting a fellow American.” [00:30]

• Mike underscores the episode’s authenticity:

  “Nobody paid to be on here. These are just items that we found made by people that we think are super cool...it would be great to crash their website and... give the audience... something cool to stuff in a stocking.” [02:25]

Featured American-Made Gifts

1. Sullivan Glove Company (Bend, OR)

• Family-owned since 1941, hand-making gloves for a range of uses (ranch, motorcycle, evening out).
• Mike:

  “Sullivan glove products are handsome and made for versatility. They’re perfect for a full spectrum of activities from a night out on the town to the ranch or the workshop.” [04:00]

• Theo’s take:

  “There's nothing I like putting my hand more in than something made right here in America.” [06:20]

• Notable humor: Theo & Mike mix-and-match gloves, discuss using them to train falcons.
• Quote:

  “When you push your hand slowly into something that is undeniably of quality, then all of your fingers come together in a joyous fist of solidarity.” — Mike Rowe [08:24]

• [04:00–09:23]

2. Chukar Cherries (Yakima Valley, WA) — With Founder Pam Montgomery [10:13–16:58]

• Premium dried cherries and chocolates, no additives, female-founded, employs ~75 staff, strong emphasis on American sourcing.
• Mike:

  "What's the most interesting thing about cherries that the average American would benefit from knowing but currently doesn't?" [15:38]

• Pam:

  "Probably...this is one of the best places to grow cherries in the world." [15:48]
  "We really have focused on using US products, US labor." [16:02]

• Surprising fact: Over 700,000 lbs of cherries dried last year.
• Theo:

  “You're living the American dream through cherries.” [16:31]

3. Crippling Hot Sauce (Missouri) — With Founder Drew Davis [17:14–22:26]

• Backstory: Drew Davis, born with cerebral palsy, started this hot sauce line as a high school project after being told he "couldn't do it." It's become a national movement, selling over 500,000 bottles, with 5% of sales donated to cerebral palsy research.
• Drew:

  "So I went home that day out of spite, learned how to make hot sauce, and launched it.” [19:36]
  "The sauce gives you the runs better than I run." (humor) [18:42]
  “I just always have liked making fun of myself. So now that I get to monetize that, I couldn't ask for anything better.” [20:40]

• Mike:

  “That's the American spirit, you know? Like, oh, I'll find a way to get this done right.” [20:11]

4. Nokona Baseball Gloves (Nocona, TX) [22:40–26:44]

• 100% American-made, customizable gloves — used by major leaguers and in iconic baseball movies; a classic, intergenerational gift.
• Theo (about Nokona founder Bob Storey):

  “I'd rather take a bucket of worms and go fishing than import a Nokona glove.” [24:30]

• They discuss gifting tradition and the emotional connection to these heirlooms.

5. American Giant (Clothing) [27:52–28:45]

• High-quality, domestically-produced clothing brand.
• Theo:

  “I love knowing I’m supporting an American made brand...from the cotton grown on American farms all the way through the finished product made entirely in the USA.”

6. Oddly Sweet Dolls (Salt Lake City, UT) [28:54–34:40]

• Quirky, “creepy-cute” dolls handcrafted by Lacey Michelle, whose personal health and family journey inspired her artistry.
• Theo (on gifting the dolls):

  “Please find something endearing about me. That’s what these are for.” [32:22]

• Mike:

  “You can also have creepy and cute on the same face.” [32:44]

7. Scraggly Bush (Papillon, NE) [35:26–39:05]

• Fur goods (like the “squalot”—squirrel wallet) hand-sewn from ethically sourced wild fur. Started as a joke, now a viable business.
• Theo:

  “This company makes $250,000 a year. All fur is sourced and harvested from American hunters. There are no farmed furs. This is straight out of God’s refrigerator, the forest.” [37:44]

8. The Albizia Project (Oahu, Hawai'i) [39:26–43:35]

• Handcrafted cutting boards, surfboards, lamps, made from Hawaii’s most invasive tree species, turning an environmental negative into a gift.
• Mike:

  “That specific piece of wood gets traced back to a specific tree. It gets traced back to the specific person who cut it. That’s what these guys do.” [41:37]

9. Candle Tit (Chicago, IL) [44:15–46:34]

• Breast-shaped candles, hand-cast from real bodies, supporting body positivity and breast cancer survivors.
• Mike:

  “Nothing warms a room like compassion, confidence and a perfect pair of wicks.” [45:25]

• Memorable moment: Theo and Mike joke about their own experiences with “A cup” breastfeeding.

10. Donnell’s Candies (Casper, WY) [46:50–48:45]

• Family-run candy store since 1956; hand-crafted toffee, brittle, chocolates.
• Theo:

  “I kid you not, the best toffee I've ever had in my life.” [46:51]

11. Whitestone Mountain Orchard (Washington) — Guest: Kate Thornton [49:23–53:12]

• Family-run orchard highlighted by Kate, a friend of Theo’s. Focus on heirloom and new apple/pear varieties, and small-scale farming.
• Kate:

  “My family's been doing this for a long time, so it’s a privilege to be able to highlight, even if it’s not my family, but other families that do this.” [52:16]

12. Olympia Provisions (Portland, OR) [53:32–55:12]

• Artisan cured meats (salami, sausage, charcuterie) made the traditional way, independently owned.
• Theo:

  “You want to get somebody some summer sausage that's right here in America. Cured and tastes. That's the best tasting I've ever had. I think.” [55:12]

13. Calavera Tool Works (Johns Island, SC) [55:54–57:38]

• Handmade leather belts and tool belts, “heirlooms” cut and stitched from American-raised leather.
• Mike:

  “This is a belt you can pass down to your loved ones.” [57:27]

14. Smithy Ironware (Charleston, SC) [58:06–59:50]

• Premium, hand-forged cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens made from 100% recycled American iron.
• Mike:

  “Every single smithy skillet and carbon steel pan is made from 100% recycled American iron poured and polished in an old naval base turned foundry.” [58:11]

15. Heart Puzzles (Central Indiana) [60:50–61:04]

• Wooden puzzles for thoughtful, screen-free gifts; family memories, skill-building, and a nod to American quality.
• Theo:

  “I enjoy doing that with you. If you want to get somebody a puzzle, why just pick one up off the shelf from some company you don't even know?”

16. Prodigal Pottery (Central Alabama) [61:39–63:21]

• Women recovering from trauma make mugs, ornaments, and pottery; proceeds support survivors of domestic violence and trafficking.
• Jenna (Director):

  “Prodigal Pottery is very personal for me as it gave me my life back.” [62:42]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Theo:

  "There's nothing I like putting my hand more in than something made right here in America." [06:20]

• Mike (on quality):

  “When you push your hand slowly into something that is undeniably of quality, then all of your fingers come together in a joyous fist of solidarity.” [08:24]

• Drew Davis:

  “The sauce gives you the runs better than I run.” [18:42]

• Mike (philosophical):

  “A great piece of art, which is what I would think of this glove as. You know, it's not just a baseball glove. It is a love letter to everything we're talking about.” [24:06]

• Pam Montgomery:

  "We really have focused on using US products, US labor." [16:02]

• Mike (on American manufacturing):

  “If we really want to celebrate the people who are making stuff here, whether it’s an ornament or an ax, we got to support them.” [64:08]

Product Demonstrations & Guest Interactions

[Pam Montgomery / Chukar Cherries – 10:13–16:58]
Pam shares Chukar’s origin story and mission; Theo and Mike react to the taste and the personal connections.

[Drew Davis / Crippling Hot Sauce – 18:30–22:26]
Drew reflects on entrepreneurial resilience and humor as self-therapy.

[Kate Thornton / Whitestone Mountain Orchard – 49:23–53:12]
Kate talks about family farming and the unique story of her community’s fruit.

[Jenna / Prodigal Pottery – 62:42–63:21]
Jenna shares how the enterprise helps women rebuild their lives, infusing gift-giving with hope and purpose.

Reflection & Closing Thoughts

• Theo’s Outro Reflection:

  “...in the end, America is just us. It's us. And it's how we like operate and how we choose to operate. And if we can choose to buy something from our neighbor, then we win.” [64:17]

• Mike on American resilience:

  "Everybody we introduced you to...has a spirit that we admire. That's Christmas." [65:39]

Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

• [00:30–03:44] – Episode purpose & theme by Theo and Mike
• [04:00–09:23] – Sullivan Glove Company segment
• [10:13–16:58] – Chukar Cherries and Pam Montgomery guest segment
• [17:14–22:26] – Crippling Hot Sauce & Drew Davis interview
• [22:40–26:44] – Nokona Baseball Gloves discussion
• [28:54–34:40] – Oddly Sweet Dolls segment
• [35:26–39:05] – Scraggly Bush "squalot" & raccoon goods
• [39:26–43:35] – The Albizia Project from Hawaii
• [44:15–46:34] – Candle Tit body-positive candles
• [46:50–48:45] – Donnell’s Candies
• [49:23–53:12] – Whitestone Mountain Orchard & Kate Thornton
• [53:32–55:12] – Olympia Provisions meats
• [55:54–57:38] – Calavera Tool Works leather belts
• [58:06–59:50] – Smithy Ironware cast iron
• [60:50–61:04] – Heart Puzzles
• [61:39–63:21] – Prodigal Pottery & Jenna
• [64:08–65:39] – Big picture reflections on America, small business, and community

Tone & Style

Engaging, heartfelt, and peppered with humor, Theo and Mike create a warm, often hilarious, and sometimes touching environment, interspersed with real conversations, playful teasing, first-hand product experiences, and guest contributions. The focus is consistently on authenticity, American ingenuity, and the deeper meaning of giving.

Takeaway

This "American Originals Holiday Special" is not just a gift guide—it’s a celebration of the American craftsman, the side-hustler, the survivor, and the community builder. Theo and Mike show that with every gift bought direct from a maker, you’re doing more than just giving a present: you’re giving dignity, hope, and the real American spirit.

For more info and links to these companies, visit theovon.com/AmericanOriginals.