Levis may well have been the pants that won the West, but it wasn’t the pants themselves that put Levi Strauss & Company on the map, it was the rivets that held them together under the strain of hard labor. And the rivets weren’t Strauss’ invention – that came from Jacob Davis, a tailor from Reno, Nevada, who had a great idea but not $69 for a patent. So he partnered with Strauss, and the rest is history.
Listen to this episode of This Week in Business History with Kelly Barner to trace blue jean innovations as they cross paths with the gold rush, the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake, World War I, and the Gilded Age.
More Podcast Episodes
leadership
Podcast
February 24, 2026
Next Mission: From Sergeant Major of the Army to CEO of Army Emergency Relief with Tony Grinston
Do the right thing, even if you never get the credit. That mindset guided a 36-year Army career and continues to drive service beyond the uniform. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight speaks with retired Sergeant Major of the Army Tony Grinston, who now serves as CEO of Army Emergency Relief. He reflects on growing up in Jasper, Alabama, joining the Army for a two-year enlistment, and serving more than three decades in uniform, including multiple combat deployments and leadership at the highest enlisted level. They discuss his path to becoming the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army, the demands of advising senior leaders and testifying before Congress, and his approach to tackling suicide, sexual assault, and quality of life by improving how the Army treats its people. Grinston also shares his transition out of uniform, his role leading Army Emergency Relief, and why continuing to serve off the battlefield remains his greatest calling. Additional Links & Resources: Connect with Tony Grinston Learn more about Army Emergency Relief Learn more about Tango Tango Learn more about our hosts Learn more about Vetlanta Learn more about Supply Chain Now Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s…
purpose
Podcast
March 24, 2026
After the Battlefield: Tragedy, Purpose, and the Rise of a CEO
Purpose often emerges from unexpected paths. For Patrick Flood, that path ran from small-town Wisconsin to Hollywood sets, from Special Forces deployments to entrepreneurship, and ultimately to helping veterans build and exit businesses with dignity. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, Lloyd Knight speaks with Army Special Forces veteran, entrepreneur, and Owners in Honor founder Patrick Flood. Flood reflects on growing up in Wisconsin, earning an ROTC scholarship to George Washington University, and beginning his career as an Army officer before an unexpected turn into acting in Los Angeles. After booking commercials, television roles, and film work, he realized that success in Hollywood still felt empty and pulled him back toward a life of service. They discuss Flood’s return to active duty through the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, his deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, and the injuries and hardships that shaped his leadership and sense of purpose. He also shares how his father’s business was sold for far less than it was worth due to poor exit guidance, an experience that inspired him to found Owners in Honor. Today, he is focused on helping veterans buy and sell businesses in ways that preserve dignity, strengthen communities, and…