The Interview #119 | Matthew Lesko - Free Money, Big Suits, and a Bigger Heart

The Interview #119 | Matthew Lesko - Free Money, Big Suits, and a Bigger Heart

Author: Craig Weinberg March 27, 2025 Duration: 49:38

You’ve seen him in wild suits covered in question marks — and no, he’s not the Riddler. He’s Matthew Lesko, the energetic and eccentric author and entrepreneur who’s spent decades helping Americans access free money and government grants they didn’t know existed.

In this episode, Craig sits down with Lesko to trace his journey from Navy service to bestselling author, his rise to cult fame in the 80s and 90s, and how he became the loudest voice in the country yelling: “There’s free help out there — go get it!”

Lesko shares stories from his early career, how he built his persona, and why he believes helping others access public resources is the most fulfilling work he’s ever done. He also drops practical tools and websites to find help, start businesses, and fight medical bills — all while railing against predatory search engines, bloated government programs, and corporate greed.

And yes, he still rocks the question mark suits.

📌 Highlights:

Why Matthew Lesko never actually “wrote” his first bestseller

The real reason he started dressing like a human exclamation point

Where to find real help online (spoiler: it’s not Google)

What the government offers that most people have no idea exists

His take on capitalism, community, and the future of work

The one piece of advice he’d give anyone chasing their dreams

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

LeskoHelp.com – Matthew’s current community and platform

FindHelp.org – Local assistance resources

SBA.gov/local-assistance – Help starting a business

APEXAccelerators.us – Support for getting government contracts

NeedyMeds.org – Help with medical expenses

💡 Final Thought from Lesko: “Your heart is smarter than your brain. Trust it.”

📣 Subscribe, share, and support the show at TheInterviewPodcast.org. Value-for-value model — if this gave you something meaningful, send something back.


Craig Weinberg's The Interview Podcast moves beyond the headlines to explore the ideas and events shaping our world. Each conversation is a deep dive, connecting current affairs to their historical roots and examining the mechanisms of power and policy. You'll hear from policymakers, journalists, scholars, and eyewitnesses, offering firsthand accounts and nuanced perspectives rarely captured in soundbites. The discussions are grounded in context, whether unpacking a recent political development, tracing the legacy of a past decision, or analyzing a shifting global dynamic. This isn't about rapid-fire questions, but about creating space for thoughtful dialogue and unexpected connections across the fields of news, government, and history. The result is a consistently engaging podcast that treats complex subjects with the depth and patience they deserve, reminding us that behind every major story are human experiences and choices. Listen for conversations that challenge assumptions and provide a richer understanding of the forces that define our present moment.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Interview Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Interview #66 | Tom Woods - Read the Charts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:29
Thomas E. Woods, Jr. is on the show today. Tom is the 2019 winner of the Hayek Lifetime Achievement Award from the Austrian Economics Center in Vienna. He is a senior fellow of the Mises Institute and host of The Tom Woo…
The Interview #65 | Dr. Scott Jensen - Candidate for MN Gov. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:49
Dr. Scott Jensen is here! Scott became a national name when he began posting his honest thoughts regarding the pandemic response to his social media accounts. He was then terminated from TikTok and then the investigation…
The Interview #64 | Ali Degraffenreed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:17:39
Former teacher, massage therapist, fill-in radio host, to mention just a few, “Ali D” is here to talk about education, parenting, food, and whatever else… Enjoy!
The Interview #63 | Nate Poeppel - Climber. Explorer. Nomad? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:28
Nate Poeppel joins Craig on the show to talk about climbing and his latest adventure, selling it all and moving into a van. Nate is asking tough questions and willing to get answers. I hope you enjoy this conversation. E…
The Interview #62 | The 'Click' Thompson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:45
Christopher ‘Click’ Thompson is here! Click is a Pro Rodeo photographer and most recently chosen as the Official Photographer for the 2021 NFSR (National Finals Steer Roping). Check out more at clickthompson.comand on In…
The Interview #61 | Bill Federer - Historian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:24
Bill Federer joins Craig on The Interview to talk about history and how it influences us today.Bill is a nationally known speaker, best-selling author, and president of Amerisearch, Inc., a publishing company dedicated t…
The Interview #60 | Amanda Brinkman - Marketing for Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:05
Marketing powerhouse, Amanda Brinkman, is here. In 2015, Amanda was recruited to transform Deluxe Corp.’s 100-year-old, $2 billion brand. She spearheaded the “Small Business Revolution,” first showcasing 100 businesses a…
The Interview #59 | Rodney Dial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:39
Rodney Dial, former Alaskan State Trooper and current mayor of The Ketchikan Gateway Borough, joins Craig to talk about living in Alaska and the reality of how the decisions of elected politicians in Washington DC have a…
The Interview #58 | Bob Tallman - Painting Pictures w/ Words [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:19
Known as "the voice of professional rodeo", Bob Tallman joins Craig Weinberg on the show to talk about Bob's history in rodeo and how he sees the world today. Valuing each moment and cherishing it is part of what makes h…
The Interview #57 | Jackson Robinson - Embrace the Suck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:22
The brain and artistry behind Kings Wild Project, Jackson Robinson, is here!Trying to live under the principles found in 1 THESSALONIANS 4:11 “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business…