Undaunted.Life: A Man's Podcast by Kyle Thompson DAVE MUNSON | They'll Fight Over It When You're Dead (Ep. 838)
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Nov 11, 2025 Dave Munson, the founder of Saddleback Leather Co and author, shares his incredible journey from teaching in Mexico to creating a leather empire. He reveals how lack of a proper bag inspired his first design and how his faith fuels his entrepreneurial spirit. His gripping tale includes trading puppies for tacos, confronting a would-be assassin, and ultimately sharing the gospel with him. Munson discusses scaling his business, collaborating with Toyota, and designing a stunning new headquarters, all while emphasizing the importance of purpose and resilience in life.
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Living In A Tent While Running A Business
- Dave lived in a tent and recorded the interview from a gas-station canopy during a lightning outage.
- He repeatedly used scarce resources and improvisation to keep work and family going.
First Bag Born From Need In Mexico
- Dave designed his first bag in Mexico to carry teaching materials and wanted an Indiana Jones-style look.
- Strangers repeatedly asked where they could buy it, which pushed him to sell on eBay and start a business.
Why Leather Quality Matters
- Full-grain leather retains the strongest top layer and ages best, while split or sanded hides are weaker.
- Saddleback prices reflect raw material costs, not markup tricks; cheap competitors use lower-quality hides.
