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“Rooted in the Community, for the Community.”
Manage episode 510392498 series 3409001
What if your tree guy was a tree gal who leads with craft, faith, and community—and channels her business into veteran support? Meet certified arborist and ultra-endurance athlete Amy Nikai, one of Nebraska’s first female-owned, ground-level tree company leaders, as we trace how proper pruning, honest bids, and storm relief can grow into a movement that funds the 50 Mile March and honors military families.
We start where roots meet purpose: why trail running drew Amy into arboriculture, how certification changes the way you cut for long-term canopy health, and why she refuses shortcuts like lion’s tailing. Then we go deeper into service. Amy recounts donating a week of chainsaw work after the Elkhorn tornadoes and building playgrounds with local partners—a blueprint for how trades can be the backbone of resilience. Her business philosophy is simple and rare: educate first, price fairly, never pressure, and drop the bill when jobs finish faster. The result is trust, not just transactions.
The heart of the episode beats with veteran stories. Amy’s husband, Bruce, retired as a Command Sergeant Major and former Ranger after 22 years. She opens up about identity after the uniform, the quiet weight military spouses carry, and the leadership that continues at home with teens, faith, and discipline. That spirit fuels a 22-day initiative: a portion of proceeds to 50 Mile March leading up to Veterans Day, plus a full day of giving on November 11. The team will wear shirts with real service members’ names, turning each back into a conversation that travels.
We also talk sobriety, 75 Hard, and habits that serve values. And we zoom out to what community really means: weekly rucks where phones stay down and voices come up, small acts that outlast headlines, and the reminder that most change starts on your block, not your feed. If you’re a homeowner, you’ll learn actionable tree care tips. If you run a business, you’ll hear a service playbook that actually builds loyalty. If you support veterans, you’ll find a living example of how to weave purpose into everyday work.
If this resonates, share it with a neighbor, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review to help others find the show. Then tell us: what small act will you plant this week?
Thank you for listening to The Connection Podcast with Jay Miralles. Please subscribe and share!
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Chapters
1. Meet Amy Nikai, Arborist & Leader (00:00:00)
2. The 50 Mile March Fundraiser Plan (00:01:06)
3. Why Arboriculture Chose Her (00:02:07)
4. Trees, Energy, and Forest Bathing (00:04:16)
5. Craft Over Cost: Doing Work Right (00:05:36)
6. Service First: Tornado Relief Stories (00:07:31)
7. Community Projects Beyond Trees (00:09:40)
8. Smart Tree Care for Homeowners (00:11:24)
9. Honest Bids, Zero Pressure (00:13:02)
10. The CSM Nikai Story (00:16:08)
11. Identity After the Uniform (00:18:20)
12. Faith, Family, and Leadership at Home (00:22:00)
13. Transition, Purpose, and Pride (00:24:30)
14. Date Nights, Discipline, and Routine (00:27:12)
15. Sobriety, 75 Hard, and Habits (00:28:48)
16. How to Join and Support the March (00:31:12)
17. Local Community Over Global Noise (00:33:20)
18. Small Acts, Lasting Impact (00:35:10)
19. Shirts, Names, and Living Legacies (00:37:20)
20. Closing Gratitude & Subscribe (00:38:40)
38 episodes
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