Welcome Back to It’s Your Break
The core mission of the It’s Your Break podcast is simple: take a step back, laugh, have fun, and live in the moment. Hosted by Jonathan Mertz, the show recently returned from a hiatus, which was taken so Jonathan could finish his first associate degree in business—a personal achievement he dedicated to the memory of his late grandmother. Moving forward, the podcast is releasing a full month of weekly episodes, featuring co-host Casey Robinson and a special in-studio guest: Jonathan’s nephew, Nick Mertz.
Meet Nick Mertz: The King of the “Side Quest”
Nick Mertz is a high schooler who loves playing basketball, exploring his creativity, and hanging out with friends. Unlike his cousin Nathan, who needs a solid plan before going out, Nick describes himself as someone who “goes with the flow” and loves going on random “side quests” to the mall or movies.
Relationship Advice: Communication is Key
Despite his easygoing nature, Nick shows incredible maturity when it comes to his relationship of almost seven months. Nick met his girlfriend after heroically staying on the phone with her for three to four hours to help her navigate a party where she was the only sober person among intoxicated friends. They later connected in person at a Henry County versus Western Hills football game.
Nick and Jonathan dive deep into what makes a relationship work, emphasizing that communication is the ultimate foundation of trust. Nick credits his relationship’s strong dynamic to open honesty, making sure his partner always feels heard, and bouncing off each other to solve problems. They also hold each other highly accountable, strictly avoiding underage drinking and driving.
Teen Entrepreneurship: Hustles, Heartbreaks, and Custom Kicks
Nick has his sights set on an entrepreneurial future. He hopes to either take over his father’s electrical business or build a comprehensive multi-service company offering pressure washing, lawn care, car detailing, and snow plowing. For now, he focuses on a lucrative side hustle: flipping heavily discounted clothing from stores like Goodwill and Ross for a profit.
However, entrepreneurship isn’t always easy. Nick recounts a failed high school business venture where he and a friend bought $33 worth of snacks from Walmart, packaged them in Ziploc baggies, and sold them at school. While Nick made his sales, his business partner ended up stealing the rest of the inventory and ripping him off.
Beyond business, Nick has an impressive creative streak and an interest in graphic design. He recently customized a pair of Nike shoes for a Beta convention, styling them with a circuit board pattern, a lightning bolt logo, and an interactive “success button” to fit the convention’s “Wired for Success” theme.
Navigating Education: Dual Credit and College Realities
Education is another major talking point in this episode. Nick shares his strategic plan to take dual credit courses at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) to finish his core high school classes and earn an associate degree before moving on to focus exclusively on his major.
Jonathan uses this opportunity to share his own hard-learned college lessons. He admits he wasn’t ready for college during his first stint at UofL and failed classes because of a lack of commitment. However, after returning to school with a new mindset, Jonathan found massive success through online classes. He advises Nick to take advantage of multiple assignment attempts and writing consultants, resources that helped Jonathan earn straight A’s in English and complete his degree.
A Hilarious Family Secret
It wouldn’t be It’s Your Break without some funny family stories. The group wraps up with a hilarious anecdote about Nick’s dad once entering an “ugly woman” crossdressing competition on a flatbed trailer during Defoe Days in Franklin County, Kentucky.
Tune In to It’s Your Break!
If you want to hear more of Jonathan, Casey, and Nick’s banter, make sure to follow It’s Your Break across social media platforms like Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. You can listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart Radio. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review to support the show!