<p>In this episode we talk with Jake from Southland Heritage—a platform and directory listing over 350 American-made brands—to talk about intentional consumerism, community collaboration, and why he hopes his directory eventually becomes unnecessary. Jake shares how he vets companies, his vision for American manufacturing, and how small, conscious choices can spark a bigger cultural shift. From stainless steel tumblers to made-in-Ohio trash cans, Jake can point you in the right direction.</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.southland-heritage.com/">https://www.southland-heritage.com/</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/southlandheritage/">https://www.instagram.com/southlandheritage/</a></p><p> </p><p><strong>Key Topics:</strong></p><ul><li>Why stainless steel goods labeled “Made in USA” are nearly impossible to find</li><li>The emotional and practical journey behind curating a vetted list of American-made brands</li><li>Building a collaborative ecosystem between makers, consumers, and directories</li></ul><p><strong>Takeaways:</strong></p><ul><li>You don’t have to be perfect—small intentional choices can drive big change</li><li>Transparency and storytelling help brands build trust and earn loyal followings</li><li>Jake’s long-term goal is for his curated list to become obsolete—because American-made becomes the norm</li></ul><p>Melissa @ deMelis Atelier <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://demelisatelier.com/">https://demelisatelier.com/</a></p><p>Matt @ Bards <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story">https://www.bardsclothing.com/our-story</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>