CNBC Make It

A woman purchased an abandoned 128-year-old church in Michigan for $45,000 and invested $194,000 in renovations to transform it into her dream home, a 'chouse.' She completed major structural work including re-roofing, rewiring, and leveling the floor while repurposing original church elements like pews and stained glass windows, with plans to eventually convert the adjacent parsonage into a bed and breakfast.

IMAX is experiencing record profitability despite owning only one theater, generating $410 million in revenue in 2025 through two main business models: content solutions (12.5% of box office receipts) and technology licensing via revenue-sharing agreements with theater chains. The company's success hinges on its brand reputation and audience demand for the IMAX experience, which has created a self-reinforcing cycle benefiting filmmakers, theaters, and IMAX itself.

An 18-year-old entrepreneur runs a side business buying and reselling items from abandoned storage units, generating $135,000 in gross revenue and $82,000 in pre-tax profit in 2025 while spending 20-25 hours per week. He invests most profits into ETFs and has generated $85,000 in revenue by mid-July 2026.

Americans are increasingly trapped in longer car loans averaging over 70 months, with many rolling negative equity from previous vehicles into new loans. This creates a cycle of permanent car debt, with buyers paying significantly more in interest while focusing on monthly payments rather than total purchase costs.

An American couple moved to southern Spain, purchased a house for $72,000 and renovated it for $60,000 to improve quality of life and affordability. They discuss their mortgage-free lifestyle, lower living expenses, and how raising their daughter in Spain offers different cultural values and community safety compared to the U.S.

A debate on whether bringing iced coffee to a job interview is acceptable. Participants are divided, with some viewing it as unprofessional and a sign of poor etiquette, while others consider it a trivial non-issue that shouldn't affect interview evaluation.

Dr. Shay Taylor Allen, a 32-year-old anesthesiologist at Yale Hospital in New Haven, CT, discusses her career path from hospital cleaner to physician, emphasizing how her previous work experience strengthened her empathy and communication skills with patients. She chose anesthesiology specifically for its better work-life balance compared to her original goal of obstetrics-gynecology, while also being motivated by her mother's vocal cord dysfunction and her desire to help patients feel at ease before surgery.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to the US dollar designed to address cryptocurrency's volatility problem, functioning as digital payment utilities rather than investments. They offer significant advantages over traditional payment systems, including faster transaction speeds (3-5 seconds globally) and dramatically lower fees.

Zoe de la Paz, a 26-year-old seamstress, quit her $75,000/year corporate job as a mechanical designer in Chicago to pursue her passion for sewing at Yellowstone National Park, where she earns $19.25/hour with $96/month rent. She demonstrates that a fulfilling creative career is achievable by building an unconventional path, supported by low living costs and meaningful work connected to nature.

Jack Link's family business recovered from a 1985 bankruptcy by pivoting to beef jerky production, leveraging existing meat processing infrastructure and their great-grandfather's sausage recipe. Starting with no established category or machinery, they innovated their own equipment and built Jack Link's into a $1.6B/year sales company.

AI-powered interview tools are increasingly used by employers to screen job candidates due to cost savings and efficiency, but they have significant limitations including poor follow-up capabilities, inability to accommodate pauses for thought, and potential bias issues. Nearly 40% of candidates have withdrawn from hiring processes that included AI interviews, citing frustration with the impersonal and often discriminatory experience.

Roy Donk, a recovered addict and high school dropout, built Good Baklava into a $20K+/month business by combining masterful sales performance with a premium product sourced from Turkish suppliers. He employs unconventional street vending tactics alongside traditional wholesale and e-commerce channels, achieving 60% gross margins through viral marketing and strategic high-traffic location placement.

Tony Donatell owns The Farmer's Cellar, a hidden speakeasy disguised behind a cooler door in a gas station convenience store in Lakeville, Minnesota, which generated nearly $5 million in revenue in its first year. The business succeeded by creating an authentic 1920s experience using salvaged antiques, maintaining a 70/30 drinks-to-food sales mix with high cocktail margins, and leveraging the novelty of discovery to attract customers.

Modern dating culture promotes emotional avoidance as a strategy, but clinical evidence shows that vulnerability and direct communication actually build real intimacy. Asking for reassurance isn't weakness; it's a sign of emotional maturity and courage.

Kim Murstein and her 79-year-old grandmother Gail discuss how the American Dream has evolved across generations, exploring redefined definitions of success, changing attitudes toward traditional milestones like marriage and homeownership, and the importance of bridging generational gaps through family connection and mutual respect.

An ice cream entrepreneur shares how she turned a Friendsgiving dessert recipe into Malai, a $2.8M/year ice cream business inspired by her grandmother's Indian spice blend. She emphasizes the importance of bootstrapping with minimal funding, gathering customer data through surveys, and how early press coverage from the New York Times propelled business growth.

Michael Haskell, an 18-year-old entrepreneur, discusses his successful side hustle of buying and selling items from abandoned storage units, generating approximately $135,000 in revenue in 2025. He shares insights into his auction strategies, financial management, and future business aspirations.

The cemetery business generates over $6 million annually by selling burial plots, vaults, professional services, and memorials. The company aims to reinvest profits to enhance the business and maintain the grounds, which are crucial for their reputation.

Robert Reich and Kahlil Greene discuss their perspectives on the American Dream, generational stereotypes, and the importance of democracy and empathy in addressing social issues. They express differing feelings about hope for the future of the United States amid current challenges.

Homeownership, traditionally a cornerstone of the American Dream, is becoming increasingly unattainable due to rising prices, borrowing costs, and ownership expenses. More Americans are now viewing renting as a viable long-term option, with rents declining and younger generations particularly valuing the flexibility and financial predictability it offers.