Creating Change: Nat West on Entrepreneurship, Community, and Public Service

This week, I sit down with Nat West, founder and former CEO of Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider, a pioneering craft cider company in Portland, Oregon. Over 12 years, Nat helped shape the city’s thriving cider scene before making the bold decision to close his business, despite its post-pandemic stability. Seeking a change, Nat spent six months driving a public city bus—a dream he’d always had—and rediscovered his love for Portland, a city (my city) often misunderstood in national media. Inspired by this experience, a friend encouraged him to run for city council during a pivotal moment of governmental restructuring in Portland. Though we don’t always agree on the solutions, I admire Nat’s passion for public service and his unique entrepreneurial perspective. In this conversation, we explore what motivates someone to shift from business to public service and what it’s like to be on the cusp of a new political journey. Let’s get to it. 

In this episode:

• (00:00) - Intro
• (06:02) - The art and science of cider-making
• (11:51) - Growing the business vs enjoying the craft
• (14:20) - On the importance of marketing
• (20:34) - Challenges and changes during the pandemic
• (32:25) - The moment Nat realized it was time to move on
• (36:40) - Nat’s approach to building culture in his team
• (49:17) - Moving on from a business
• (54:47) - Seeing the city as a bus driver
• (01:08:02) - Running for city council
• (01:15:21) - Defining the role of a city councilor
• (01:19:02) - Nat’s collaborative approach to politics
• (01:22:49) - Challenges and opportunities for small businesses
• (01:25:36) - A vision for Portland’s future
• (01:39:56) - Nat’s beautiful future
• (01:43:14) - Who Nat is becoming

Get full show notes and links at https://GoodWorkShow.com.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barrettabrooks.