Faith Driven Entrepreneur
Faith Driven Media
Faith Driven Entrepreneur exists to encourage, equip, empower, and support Christ-following entrepreneurially-minded people worldwide with world-class content and community. Here, you'll find conversations with business leaders from around the world who will share how their faith affects their work.
Episode 321 - Praxis, Purpose, and Cultural Change: A Conversation with Dave Blanchard
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, Justin Forman sits down with Dave Blanchard to explore the evolution of faith-driven entrepreneurship and its growing influence in both the church and broader culture.Key Discussion Points:The origin story of Praxis and how the name came to be through prayer and divine inspirationThe transformation of entrepreneurship from a "starving artist" narrative to a celebrated career pathThe role of programs like Y Combinator, Techstars, and shows
Episode 320 - Building a Life of 100X Impact with Lloyd Reeb
Show Notes:In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, Justin Forman sits down with Lloyd Reeb, a long-time leader of the Halftime Institute and co-author of "From Success to Significance." With over two decades of experience helping marketplace leaders find their purpose, Lloyd shares profound insights on building a life of multiplicative kingdom impact.Lloyd has generously made his book, The Social Entrepreneur: Seasoned Advice to Multiply Your Impact 100x available for free her
Episode 319 - Nona Jones: Why Rejection Makes Better Entrepreneurs
In this engaging conversation, Justin Forman and Nona Jones explore the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship. Nona shares her remarkable journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a leader in corporate America and now in ministry. They discuss the importance of recognizing God's guidance in our lives, the balance between faith and fear, and the distinction between being called and driven. Nona emphasizes the need to overcome comparison and celebrate others' successes while also refra
Episode 318 - Reinventing the Basics: Tommy John's Tom Patterson
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, hosts Justin Forman and William Norvell discuss the entrepreneurial journeys of William and guest Tom Patterson, founder of Tommy John. They explore themes of faith, resilience, and the importance of community support in navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship. Tom shares his unique story of starting his business during a recession, the lessons learned from early failures, and the role of faith in sustaining him through difficult ti
Episode 317 - Faith Driven Students: Starting Strong Instead of Starting Over
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, Justin Forman and Laura Isaacson discuss the launch of Faith-Driven Students, an initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs through faith. They explore Laura's entrepreneurial journey, the importance of pruning in business, and the significance of storytelling and imagination in shaping young minds. The conversation emphasizes the need for a supportive community and the role of parents in guiding their children to
Episode 316 - Reimagining Pastors and Entrepreneurs with Chip Ingram
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, hosts Justin Forman and Dan Owolabi are joined by Chip Ingram to discuss the transformative intersection of pastoral ministry and entrepreneurship. Coming off their experiences at the recent Lausanne Conference in Seoul, they explore how the church landscape is changing and the unique opportunity this presents for deeper collaboration between pastors and entrepreneurs.Key Topics Covered:The shift in church dynamics post-COVID and the need
Episode 315 - SWGP + FDE: Disrupting the Economics of Sexual Brokenness with Eagle Ventures & GameSafe
This episode delves into the critical issue of online sexual exploitation and human trafficking, exploring innovative approaches to combat these pervasive problems. Dr. Lisa Strohman, a clinical psychologist with FBI experience, and Wes Lyons, a venture capitalist, offer their expertise and insights into this complex challenge.The discussion begins with Dr. Strohman shedding light on the alarming tactics used by the pornography industry to target children through seemingly innocuous platforms li
Episode 314 - Wartime Mindset: Derwin Gray on Battling Spiritual Attacks as an Entrepreneur
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, hosts Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman reflect on the recent Faith Driven Entrepreneur conference and introduce a powerful message from Derwin Gray, former NFL player and pastor.Key points:Gray compares spiritual warfare to animal hunting tactics, warning entrepreneurs about the devil's strategies to isolate and weaken them.He outlines three common temptations entrepreneurs face: performance ("I am what I do"), possession ("I am what I ha
Episode 313 - Solving Joblessness | Creating Sustainable Jobs in Africa & Asia | FDE + SWGP Special
"We're not just creating a job. We're creating a way that people have security and sustainability for them and for their family." - Keren Pybus Job creation and upskilling have a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities, providing stability, security, and opportunities for growth.Donor agencies have shifted their focus from pure aid to trade facilitation and capacity building, creating more opportunities for job creation.Collaboration and partnership among competitors and dif
Episode 312 - Mark Batterson: Rediscovering Everyday Miracles
Join us for an inspiring discussion with Mark Batterson, Bill Job, and Justin Forman as they unpack the concept of "holy curiosity" in entrepreneurship. This episode takes listeners on a journey from the coffeehouse-turned-church in Washington D.C. to the factory floors of China, revealing how faith can drive innovation and risk-taking in business. Batterson introduces his new book on rediscovering everyday miracles, while Job shares powerful anecdotes about finding joy and purpose in unexpected
Episode 311 - Entrepreneurs' Divine Moment with David Platt
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, hosts Henry and Justin discuss the recent conference and share a thought-provoking message from David Platt. Key topics include: The idea that entrepreneurs are positioned "for such a time as this"How current technological and economic trends create unprecedented opportunitiesDavid Platt's perspective on the unique role of entrepreneurs in today's worldThe importance of seeking God's guidance in business decisionsBalancing professional su
Episode 310 - Eternal ROI: Richard Garnett's Challenge to Faith-Driven Entrepreneurs
In this episode of the Faith Driven Investor Podcast, join Justin Forman as he honors the life and legacy of Richard Garnett, a faith-driven entrepreneur and actor who recently passed away after a courageous decade-long battle with cancer.This poignant episode features a powerful teaching from Richard himself, focusing on investing in what truly matters. As we reflect on Richard's recent passing, his message takes on new depth and urgency. Tune in for an inspiring exploration of intentional livi
Episode 309 - Handling Criticism with Lecrae Moore
Join Grammy-nominated artist Lecrae Moore, along with Faith Driven Movement co-founders Justin Forman and Henry Kaestner, as they delve into the challenging yet crucial topic of handling criticism. In this insightful episode, our guests share:Lecrae's personal experiences with criticism in the music industryBiblical perspectives on receiving and processing feedbackStrategies for distinguishing between constructive criticism and unproductive negativityThe importance of knowing your true audience
Episode 308 - Harness the Power of the BIG 3—Build, Invest, Give | An SWGP Special
“We have power and we have to discern how we use that power with like-minded Christians.”—Bill WichtermanClose to half of the people in the world have had little or no exposure to the Gospel. 9.2% of the world's population lives in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 per day.More than 150 million children work in dangerous or exploitative conditions, and 40 million people are enslaved, which is more than at any other time in history. 800 million people suffer from hunger. An
Episode 306 - How Entrepreneuers Can Solve the World's Greatest Problems
In this episode, Joey, Justin, and Henry discuss the new initiative called Solving the World's Greatest Problems. They address the skepticism around the audacious goal and emphasize the importance of being empowered by the Holy Spirit. They also highlight the role of community in solving these problems and the need for collaboration and support. The initiative aims to provide clear next steps for individuals to build, invest, and give towards solving these problems. The podcast episodes focus on
Episode 306 - Why Faith Driven is Merging with Halftime
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, Henry and Justin discuss a merger between Halftime and Faith Driven Movements alongside Halftime co-CEOs Jim Stollberg and Tom McGhee. The four highlight the power of partnerships and the importance of getting clear on one's unique calling. They also explore the roots of Halftime as a book and an organization where individuals reassess their lives and seek to live a life of significance. The merger aims to serve more people and help them
Episode 305 - Surrendering to Trade Up
The conversation explores the themes of surrender and significance in the context of being a faith-driven entrepreneur. The hosts discuss the importance of surrendering personal ambition and aligning one's vocation with God's purpose. They also emphasize the need for community and the dangers of pursuing worldly definitions of success. The conversation also touches on the upcoming Faith Driven Entrepreneur Conference and the hope that attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of the t
Episode 304 - Redeeming Your Time with Jordan Raynor
In this episode, Jordan Raynor discusses his book 'Redeeming Your Time' and how entrepreneurs can uniquely struggle to manage their time. He emphasizes the importance of discerning the essential from the noise and finding peace in Christ before seeking productivity. Jordan also explores the concept of grace-based productivity and how Jesus can serve as a model for time management and shares some of the 32 practices from his book,Find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Redeeming-Your-Time-Prin
3 Entrepreneurs Speak on the Need for Community with Mickey Peters, Scott Weiss, and Dude Perfect's Coby Cotton
In this masterclass-style episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, we highlight three unique ways that community can shape the lives of entrepreneurs.Dude Perfect's Coby Cotton gives insight into how his tight-knit community of college friends has had to learn how to live as co-founders and leaders of one of the largest entertainment brands in the country.Mickey Peters shares how his lack of community nearly brought him to complete ruin and how finding community has helped him recover.A
Episode 302 - Scaling an Ice Cream Empire. Overcoming Challenges. Finding God's Peace. with Blue Bell's Ricky Dickson
Ricky Dickson, the retired CEO of Blue Bell Ice Cream, joins the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast to discuss his experience leading and scaling a national company through growth and incredible pitfalls. Using his new book, One Scoop at a Time, as a backdrop, Ricky shares how his 40+ year career at Blue Bell started right after college. He gives an overview of the ice cream market and how Blue Bell positioned itself as a high-quality, middle-ground option and talks about the importance of consta
Episode 301 - How Entrepreneurs Can Develop Enduring Friendships with Dr. Bryan Lorrits
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, Dr. Bryan Loritts joins Joey Honescko and William Norvell to discuss the importance of deep, long-lasting friendships in the context of entrepreneurship. Pulling from his new book, Enduring Friendships: Sticking Together in an Age of Unfriending, Dr. Loritts emphasizes the need for what he calls “soul friends.” These are the people whom we can bear our souls with and who can provide guidance and support in our journeys. He also highlights
Episode 300 - The Entrepreneur’s Greatest Need: The Riff with Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman
It’s our 300th episode!In this conversation Joey Honescko, Henry Kaestner, and Justin Forman celebrate the growth and evolution of the podcast and the entire Faith Driven Movement. They reflect on all that God has done over the past five years and dive deep into the importance of community for faith-driven entrepreneurs.The three wrestle with the challenges of finding reliable sources of community and reflect on their own entrepreneurial journeys and examine how God has used other entrepreneurs
Episode 299 - Three Views on Layoffs with Vic Ho, Rusty Rueff, and Daniel Fong
One of the hardest realities in the life of every Faith Driven Entrepreneur is that things often don't go as planned. Unforeseen circumstances can cause all sorts of issues in a company, and sometimes those circumstances affect the people we employ. In this episode, we're going to look at layoffs. How can we think well about these difficult situations? And how can we love our people, even in the midst of these unfortunate, massive changes? We'll highlight three perspectives starting with Vic Ho
Episode 298 - Why This Founder Implemented a No-Firing Policy
Why would a founder decide to never fire anyone?Dylan Wilk, CEO of Human Nature, joins the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast to share the story behind the company’s no firing policy and to explain why he believes grace and forgiveness are the greatest HR policies. He recounts a situation where an employee stole from the company and instead of firing him, Dylan chose to forgive and help him change. This experience led Dylan to establish a written no firing policy and build an ecosystem of support
Episode 297 - A Transformation from Greed to Grace: Stories of the Movement with Human Nature's Dylan Wilk
Imagine you’ve reached every expected height of success before you turned 25 and then God tells you to leave it behind. How would you respond?Dylan Wilk experienced incredible entrepreneurial highs at a young age. He flew to work in a helicopter, traveled by private jet, and kept Ferraris and Porches in his garage.And then, one day, a tragedy caused him to take a long look at his life. God called him to walk away from the business that had given him worldly success so that he could experience tr
Episode 296 - Andy Crouch, Patrick Lencioni, and Mary Miller Talk Practical Steps for Improving Company Culture
Entrepreneurs have the ability to create a workplace where people can flourish, but we have to act on that ability in order to make that happen. So in this masterclass-style episode, we're going to dive in a little deeper on this topic. The episode is organized in three parts, heart, head, and hands.Author Andy Crouch will kick us off by talking about the responsibility and opportunity entrepreneurs have to create good work and good rest for their employees. This section is all about heart chang
Episode 295 - The Business of Making Baseball Fun with Savannah Bananas' Jared Orton
Jared Orton is the President of the Savannah Bananas, a baseball team unlike any you’ve seen before. They create an entertainment experience that’s part dance performance, part trick plays, and part competitive baseball. Jared has experienced all the ups and downs that come from innovating in a space with a legacy. Since the organization’s founding in 2016, he and the team have had their share of doubters. But they’ve faithfully stayed true to their mission: to create something fun and joyful fo
Episode 294 - Creating Culture Worth Celebrating: Stories of the Movement with Booster's Chris Carneal
Culture can be a bit of a buzzword.What does it really mean for a company to have values and an identity?And how can leaders of those companies make sure those values don’t just become another page on the website or words on a wall in the office?In this episode of Stories of the Movement, we’ll hear about Booster, one of the largest school fundraising companies in the country.They’ve built a culture unlike any other in their team of nearly 1,000 employees. And Chris Carneal, the founder and CEO
Episode 293 - The Riff: Fighting Identity and Idols Throughout the Entrepreneurial Journey
In this episode, Joey Honescko, Henry Kaestner, and Justin Forman discuss the themes of battling idolatry and identity in entrepreneurship. They emphasize the importance of seeking the Holy Spirit and aligning one's identity with Christ, share personal experiences of wrestling with idolatry and the need for approval, and highlight the significance of meditating on God's Word, seeking counsel, and being aware of one's tendencies towards willfulness or waiting on God. Join in on this riff session
Episode 292 - Three Views on Hearing From God with Nicky Gumbel, Kim Avery, and Jeremy Lin
The best way to fight against idolatry is to seek the voice of God. So, what does that actually look like? In this episode, we're going to hear three perspectives from three incredible leaders around the world. We'll head first to the UK to hear from priest and author, Nicky Gumbel for a chat he had with Henry about a framework he has for hearing the voice of God. Then, we'll make our way to the U S for another conversation with Kim Avery, business coach, and author of the prayer powered entre
Episode 291 - How a Venture Capitalist, Serial Entrepreneur, and Basketball Team Owner Finds His Identity in Christ with Phil Chen
What do you get when you mix a trained physicist, a seminary grad, an entrepreneur, and a Silicon valley venture capitalist? In the case of this episode, you get an awesome guest who somehow checks all those boxes. Phil Chen is the CEO of cold electric and the owner of the new Taipei Kings, a basketball team, in the recently founded Taiwanese pro league. It also happens to be where past podcast, guests and faith driven entrepreneur, Jeremy Lin plays. Phil's career is wide reaching and impre
Episode 290 - Stories of the Movement: Can Sacrifice be a Road to Victory?
Imagine you're a young entrepreneur with a lot of promise. You've got grit. You've got vision. You've even read zero to one. And recently you acquired some substantial wealth. But there's still one problem. You and your partner have had some pretty strong disagreements and it's time to part ways. For the most part, you've done all the hard work. You've carried this partner on your back at different points. So when it comes time to split the assets, The choice seems obvious: you keep the better
Episode 289 - Kids' Sports and Other Hidden Idols with Patrick Lencioni, Henry Kaestner, and Justin Forman
In this edition of the “riff,” Patrick Lencioni joins Henry Kaestner for a short conversation about some of the hidden idols of entrepreneurship.Then, Joey, Justin, and Henry dive further in, examining how we easily turn good things into gods. Justin and Henry share how they have learned to fight against the temptation of “safe” idols by practicing disciplines of confession, community, and prayer. Want to join in on the riff? Send your thoughts to podcast@faithdrivenentrepreneur.org or comment o
Episode 288 - Entrepreneurs and Pastors: More Alike or Different? with Mark Batterson, Chip Ingram, and John Mark Comer
“For every church we plant, we need to start a business.” - Mark BattersonCan Faith Driven Entrepreneurs really partner with their churches? What would that partnership even look like?In last week’s episode, we talked about the need for partnerships between entrepreneurs and pastors. In this episode, we highlight the voices of three pastors–Mark Batterson, Chip Ingram, and John Mark Comer–who have seen the power of working alongside entrepreneurs for the good of their communities.We believe the
Episode 287 - What’s Stopping Entrepreneurs From Partnering with the Church? with Barna Group's David Kinnaman
Entrepreneur: what is your relationship like with your church?(We really want to know!)Church leaders and entrepreneurs have the potential to be radical partners who influence and impact communities for the glory of God together.But often, we find a strange divide between these two groups that interferes with the good work they could be doing together.That’s why in this week’s podcast episode Justin Forman and Barna Group’s David Kinnaman will be talking about ways the church can become better p
Episode 286 - Going Public. Staying Humble: Overcoming The Hidden Challenges of Great Success with AR/VR Innovator Renji Bijoy
Everyone has different end goals for what they’d call ultimate success, but most of us are chasing after something.For many entrepreneurs, “going public” stands as the ultimate sign that you’ve truly “made it.” And if that’s the case, then today’s guest, Renji Bijoy, is on the verge of making it.But that’s not what keeps him going.Renji is the CEO and Founder of Immersed, the company behind the world’s most used AR/VR app on the planet. In an industry full of potential dangers where Christians a
Episode 285 - Love and (Dis)respect at Home and at Work with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
Dr. Emerson Eggerichs and special guest host Mike Sharrow join the show to take a candid look at how entrepreneurs can overcome the challenges they face in their personal and professional relationships.Dr. Eggerichs is a renowned counselor and author, as well as the founder of Love and Respect, a ministry that grew from the success of his best-selling marriage book of the same name and has expanded to include teachings and resources on business, leadership, and communication in addition to marri
Episode 284 - Entrepreneur: Are You Caring for Your Team? with Stephen Phelan of Movement Mortgage
Do you ever feel like you're so fixated on what you're building next that you forget to look at the opportunities right in front of you? Right now people around the world are looking for meaning, purpose, and value. And many of them are searching for those things through their jobs. So that means you, as a founder, have a chance to provide these people with the very thing they long for most.In this episode, we talk to Stephen Phelan, the Chief Pastoral Officer of Movement Mortgage about the rad
Episode 283 - Stories of the Movement: The 2008 Turnaround
Why would an entrepreneur start a Mortgage company in the midst of the housing crisis?In this new segment called “Stories of the Movement,” we take a narratively compelling, high-production look at the work of Faith Driven Entrepreneurs living out their call to create.The goal is to unite the movement through stories because every Faith Driven Entrepreneur, no matter what industry or what community, focuses their attention on solving problems in the world.The details may differ, but the plot sta
Episode 282 - Have You Made Money Your Valentine? with Andy Crouch, Randy Alcorn, and Tom Hsieh
The middle of February is often filled with commercialized images of love. Flowers, chocolates, those little chalky tasting heart candies with sweet messages. It all revolves around Valentine’s Day. And in between booking restaurant reservations or talking about how you reject the hallmark holiday, we might stop to ask ourselves, what do we really love?Most of us know the right answers here: family, friends, God. As entrepreneurs, we love our work and what it affords us.And, let’s face it, a lot
Episode 281 - How to Develop a Prayer Life (That Doesn't Stink) with Peter Greer
Can we just be honest with ourselves and admit that, for most of us, our prayer lives stink? We all know we’re supposed to pray. We’ve read where Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. Maybe we’ve even tried instilling new habits, only to have them fall apart shortly after we test them out. It might even feel defeating at this point–as if prayer is just another task we can’t work into our chaotic schedules and the regular ups and downs of entrepreneurship.Is it even possible for entrepreneurs t
Episode 280 - Thinking Beyond the Great Commission with Jordan Raynor
In this conversation, Jordan Raynor challenges the belief that the only way our work matters for eternity is if we use it to share the gospel, arguing that our work has intrinsic value to God. He’ll build upon half truths to make them whole by tracing the story back to what he calls “the first commission:” the command to be ambassadors for God on this earth, creating culture in ways that honor and glorify him now and for all eternity. Entrepreneur, this is your calling. To create and innovate fo
Episode 279 - Is the Church Winning? with Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman
As Christians, we can easily get wrapped up in this belief that the church is on the losing side of history. We feel the shifting winds of culture blow away from us. We hear story after story of major church leaders either leaving the faith or succumbing to some sort of moral failure. It makes sense to ask ourselves: where are our wins? Where does the Church have victory in times like this?In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, Henry Kaestner and Justin Forman bring some clari
Episode 278 - Managing Anxiety, Depression, and Mental Health for Entrepreneur with Maxwell Anderson, Steve Cuss, and Curt Thompson
Entrepreneurs are on the cusp of a mental health crisis. Anxiety. Depression. Loneliness. These are just as familiar as innovation, grit, and leadership. We feel the stress that comes from building something new. We carry the burden of our teams, knowing they and their families have trusted us and the vision we’ve been given.Entrepreneurship can be heavy, but there are ways we can lighten the load.That’s why today we’re going to highlight three expert voices that help us see how we can manage ou
Episode 277 - Setting the Right Goals for the Right Reasons with Jon Acuff, Patrick Lencioni, and Terry Looper
The New Year brings new opportunities to examine our goals, to get focused both personally and professionally.So how do we do this well? How do we establish goals that actually get done? How do we make sure those goals align with our faith? And most importantly, how do we stop ourselves when we start putting our value in the things we achieve?In this special edition of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, we’ll highlight conversations Rusty, Henry, and William have had with expert leaders Jon
Episode 276 - Working from Inside Out with Jeff Haanen
Entrepreneurs build things. We create. Innovate. We follow in God’s footsteps by forming new things.But, how often do we think about our own formation? How our habits and our work are shaping us into becoming certain kinds of people?This week on the show, Rusty talks with Jeff Haanen, the founder and former executive director of the Denver Institute of Faith and Work and the author of the recently released book: “Working From the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer
Episode 275 - Finding Redemption in Tattoo Shops? with Sara and Rodeny Carrera
Entrepreneurs often navigate unique challenges while holding onto their faith values, but what about those who work in unconventional spaces, like tattoo studios?In this episode, Henry and William are joined by Sara and Rodney Carrera, the duo behind Anomaly Lifestyle Art and Tattoo in Plano, Texas. Sara handles most of the business while Rodney isThey open up about the challenges and victories of their entrepreneurial journey, their hope for the tattoo industry, and the intersection of faith, a
Episode 274 - How Entrepreneurs Can Recover a Christian Vision for Family with Jeremy Pryor
Entrepreneurs are often thinking about how to build the best team. But how often do we think about the teams under our own households?In this episode, we’re joined by Jeremy Pryor, an experienced entrepreneur who has recently co-founded the organization “Family Teams” We get into practical ways we can care for our spouses and our kids. We’ll also unpack what he calls the failed experiment of Western family and hear how he sees scripture calling us to a better way.https://familyteams.com/faithdri
Episode 273 - From Phone Cases to Bullet Proof Vests with Josh Richardson
Who protects the people who are meant to protect us? First responders daily risk their lives for the sake of others and the people who put on those uniforms need others who will help keep them safe as they go about their jobs.That's why Josh Richardson started Angel Armor with his brother JC. The two discovered something that many of us just don't think about. Like any product in the modern world, Protective gear needs to adapt to what customers want. The industry needs innovation and fresh i
Episode 272 - The In-N-Out Burger Legacy with Lynsi Snyder
In-N-Out Burger is one of the few local burger restaurants that has transcended into a cultural icon. What started as one of the first drive-thru restaurants ever in 1948, has grown into one of the most recognizable brands in the country with nearly 40,000 employees in millions of happy customers. The restaurant was founded by Esther and Harry Snyder, a husband and wife team with a passion for excellent service and incredible quality. Now over 50 years later, their granddaughter Lynsi serves as
Episode 271 - Cracking the Code with Rusty Rueff and Pastor Terry Brisbane
In this special episode of the podcast, we’re flipping the mic over to our co-host: Rusty Rueff as we interview him and his pastor, Terry Brisbane. The two have been close friends for years and offer unique insight into what it looks like for entrepreneurs to partner with their churches. They’ve also recently co-authored a book called “The Faith Code: A Future-Proof Framework for a Life of Meaning and Impact.”They join the show to discuss the framework they’ve developed and to help us see how pa
Episode 270 - Understanding the Times with Barna Group’s David Kinnaman
Entrepreneurs are deeply rooted in data and research.And one of the best Christian sources for what’s going on in the world is the Barna Group.On today’s podcast, we’re talking with Barna’s President David Kinnaman about what it means for us to understand the times.Find the whole episode at the link in the comments.
Episode 269 - Navigating Complexity in Israel and Beyond with Bader Mansour and Mordechai Wiseman
What does it look like to lead in the midst of chaos, brokenness, and division?The recent events in Israel and Gaza have made the brokenness of the world even more acute and visible. There are a lot of thoughtful places where you might go to find perspective on politics, faith or even breaking news, but we wanted to bring something different to the table.We’ve brought on two Faith Driven Entrepreneurs, Mordechai Wiseman and Bader Mansour, to talk about what it’s like to lead businesses in the fa
"Episode 268 - What 50+ Years as a Family Business Can Teach Us with Ryan Walker "
How does childhood shape the entrepreneurial journey?For Ryan Walker, the two are deeply connected. The Third-generation President of Walker Mowers grew up around the family business. But more importantly, he grew up in a family that honored and glorified God in all they did. He joins the podcast to talk about how his upbringing shaped his view of entrepreneurship, fatherhood, and faithfulness.
Episode 267 - Exit or Bet the Farm? With Neil Ahlsten
Most entrepreneurs dream of a successful exit. For many of us, it’s the reward for a job well done. But is there a way that Faith Driven Entrepreneurs should think differently about exits than our secular counterparts? How do we exit well? Are there ever times where God calls us not to exit and to continue our work instead?In this episode, we wrestle through these questions and more with 1 Flourish Capital’s Neil Ahlsten.
Episode 266 - What Happens When the Church and Entrepreneurs Come Together? with Matt Parfitt
One of the core marks of Faith Driven Entrepreneurs is to be active in the local church. But many entrepreneurs struggle to know what that could look like. Unfortunately, the gap between businesses and churches have often felt insurmountable. But something powerful can happen when these worlds come together.Matt Parfitt has started and is scaling multiple businesses in the UK in partnership with his church community and has seen God move in incredible ways. He joins us today to talk about the va
Episode 265 - Not Yours with David Platt
We had over 5,000 entrepreneurs gather in more than 300 cities around the world for Faith Driven Entrepreneur Live. It was an incredible event filled with talks and stories that helped us understand what it means to surrender our businesses over to God. One impactful talk came from David Platt, and it was just too good not to share with others. So sit back, take it in, and send it to another entrepreneur who might benefit from it. More from David, Nicky Gumbel, Mark Batterson, Chip Ingram, and
Episode 264 - Being a Steward, Not an Owner with David Platt, Alan Barnhart, Dan and Angel Rutledge, and Pete Ochs
Faith Driven Entrepreneurs understand that their businesses are gifts from God. Even if they carry the title “Founder,” they accept that God is the ultimate owner. In this compilation episode, we feature segments from Daivd Platt, Pete Ochs, Alan Barnhart, and Angel and Dan Rutledge talking about what it means to act as stewards, not owners of our businesses.We’ll also be diving further into this theme at the 2023 Faith Driven Entrepreneur Live on September 13th at 8:30 AM, wherever you are. Fin
Episode 263 - Practical Steps for Faith Driven Leadership with Tom Ferguson
Ever wonder where you should start when it comes to bringing your faith to work?Today’s podcast guest, Tom Ferguson wrestled with this question when he took over as CEO of a billion dollar public company. So he started small and worked his way up. Now, he offers a wide array of programs including chaplaincy, care teams, and bible studies. Hear him give a systematic outline that will help every entrepreneur, no matter the size of their company, get started.
Episode 262 - Living Out Our Call to Create with Lecrae, Michael Hyatt, Paula Faris, and More
If you've been listening to the show or following the ministry for any amount of time, you've probably heard us say that entrepreneurs have a God-given call to create. It's actually one of what we call the 12 marks of a Faith Driven Entrepreneur. And in this episode, we're diving deep into our catalog to unpack this mark with leaders like Lecrae, Michael Hyatt, Curt Thompson, Makoto Fujimura, Paula Faris, and Jordan Raynor. To learn more about the marks, check out our website at Faithdrivenentre
Episode 261 - Optimism is Good for Business with Jon Gordon
Entrepreneurs are all too familiar with disappointment. We battle negativity on a daily basis. We face criticism and fight comparison. And yet, you probably desire to inspire your employees, your stakeholders, and clients with the vision you have for your endeavor. How can you stay positive and enthusiastic in the midst of loss and rejection? Today’s guest, Jon Gordon is known as the ‘king of positivity,’ and he’s joining us today to talk about the impact that positive leadership, positive teams
Episode 260 - CEO of Ancestry Talks Family Histories, Practical Leadership, and the Early Day of Silicon Valley with Deb Liu
How much do you know about where you come from? There’s lots of talk about legacies and family stories we leave behind, but what about those that we’ve inherited? Today on the show, we mix together a conversation about family histories, practical leadership skills, and the early days of Silicon Valley with Deb Liu.Deb is the CEO of Ancestry.com, and she’s spent the last two decades as an executive in major tech companies like Facebook, Paypal, and eBay. She’s also the founder of Women in Product
Episode 259 - Practicing Innovation with Jeremy Utley
Innovation and ideas are at the core of entrepreneurship, right? A lot of it comes naturally to us, but what would happen if we treated these things like habits to be practiced?Today’s guest, Jeremy Utley, likes to say that innovation is a practice, not an event. Jeremy is the co-author of Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric that Matters, a General Partner at Freespin Capital, and an Adjunct Professor at Stanford’s d.school, where he teaches classes on innovation, leadership, and transformative l
Episode 258 - How Can Christians Think About AI Innovation? with James Cham
How can Christians thoughtfully approach the topic of artificial intelligence?How should we use it? What are the ethical considerations? Is it good or dangerous?These are relevant questions for Faith Driven Entrepreneurs as AI continues to be a topic for conversation in both the business world and the broader culture. That’s why we’re excited to feature James Cham on the podcast. James is an early-stage venture capitalist and a partner at Bloomberg Beta, a Silicon Valley-based firm that invests
Episode 257 - Choosing Vulnerability When You Don’t Have To with Tom Hsieh
Entrepreneurs often find themselves in positions of relative power. We’re leading teams, shaping cultures, and influencing others. And as those positions grow, it can get harder and harder to remain vulnerable, to lead with a limp as we like to say here. At some point, we have to make conscious decisions to choose vulnerability. That’s the story behind our guest: Tom Hsieh. As the founder and president of multiple airlines, Tom could easily live a life of luxury and comfort. But he and his famil
Episode 256 - Keeping Marriages Healthy as an Entrepreneur with Patrick Lencioni, John and Ashely Marsh, Les Parrot, and More
Most of us know, through stories, experiences, or statistics, that entrepreneurship can take a toll on marriages. When you look up the numbers, you'll find that nearly 50% of business owners experience divorce. The added stress and risk of innovation can weigh heavy on families, but it doesn't have to.In this episode, we're highlighting a handful of voices who have spoken about how we can keep our marriages healthy while still fulfilling our calls to create. Speakers include…Patrick LencioniJohn
Episode 255 - From Doctor to Entrepreneur to Venture Capitalist: A Journey of Faith and Problem Solving
Sometimes our greatest trials can become fuel for our callings.That’s the case with today’s guest, Dr. Ola Brown. Dr. Brown’s resume looks like it could be split amongst multiple people. Prior to her current role as founder of the investment firm Healthcap, she had a career as a medical doctor. Then she founded Flying Doctors Nigeria, a tech-enabled urgent care services marketplace before co-founding her first fund: Greentree Investment Company. Her desire to innovate and change the healthcare l
Episode 254 - Disruption, Innovation, and Servanthood with Fathom Realty’s Josh Harley
Entrepreneurs have the ability to identify opportunities for innovation. Today’s guest has been doing that his whole career in industries that were ripe for disruption. Josh Harley is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Fathom Realty, the tenth largest real estate firm in the U.S. with over ten-thousand agents. In this conversation, he talks about how entrepreneurs can train themselves to become more aware of the potential opportunities in front of them and how they can faithfully lead their peopl
Episode 253 - Excellence, Integrity, Faith and Culture-shaping Media with Bryan Engram
We talk a lot about how businesses shape cultures. Media does, too. Today’s conversation overlaps with both as we talk to Brazen Animation’s co-founder and CEO, Bryan Engram.Bryan chats with us about the power of narratives and the importance of excellence. He shares a bit about how he went from working for a large animation company to taking a leap of faith and starting out on his own. And he even tells us how he almost missed out on all of this for a chance to manage a Smoothie King.
Episode 252 - Laying Down a Promotion for the Sake of Another with Sam Rhee
Imagine you’re waiting on a big promotion that you’ve worked for all your life, and then God tells you to recommend someone else.That’s what happened with Endowus founder and today’s guest Sam Rhee. Before his current venture, Sam worked in investment banking and was in line for a new, significant position when he felt the Lord calling him to something different.He didn’t know what it would be at the time, but now, he’s grateful that he had faith in God’s plan.Hear Sam’s story on this special ep
Episode 251 - Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Tim Keller
On Friday May 19, 2023, we lost an incredibly influential brother in Christ and leader in the Faith Driven Movement when Dr. Tim Keller went to be with the Lord at the age of 72. Tim was a faithful husband, father, grandfather, author, and pastor who modeled what it looked like to love Jesus and others well in our contemporary setting.He was also a pioneer in the Faith Driven Entrepreneur movement who helped empower business leaders to influence the culture through the marketplace. In addition t
Episode 250 - How this Entrepreneur Helps His Employees Bring Faith to Work with Brock Bukowsky
Do you ever find yourself afraid of going through with a spiritual integration plan because you’re not sure how it will be perceived?It’s okay if you do. When you look at the state of the world today, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical. On the surface, it seems that Christians are forced to be less vocal about their faith in the marketplace, and in many ways, that may be true.But today’s guest, Brock Bukowsky shows that it is possible to bring your faith to work and to help others to do
Episode 249 - Hope is an Accelerator With Junita Flowers
Not many bakers at the local Farmers Market get a chance to do a TED Talk, but Junita Flowers has a knack for rising above the crowd.The founder of Junita’s Jar got her start after leaving an abusive relationship and looking for ways to restore joy and hope in her life and the life of her kids. She turned to baking: a childhood hobby that carried positive memories and helped her heal from her broken situation.Now, those cookies are being sold in major retailers across the country. She joins the
Episode 248 - WIRED’s Founding Editor: Wisdom He Wish He Knew With Kevin Kelly
Artificial Intelligence? The shadow of a leader? Jerusalem conversion experiences? WIRED Magazine’s Kevin Kelly brings all that and more to this insightful conversation. Kevin is the founding editor for the publication and has authored a number of books including his most recent volume: Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier. In this episode, he unpacks some of that wisdom and joins Henry as they work through complex questions about the relationship between AI and the Imago
Episode 247 - Leading a Techwise Life With Amy and Andy Crouch
One of the biggest challenges families face in the modern age is how to navigate emerging tech with their kids.Entrepreneurs struggle to turn off. We're always connected. Always keeping things moving. What example does that set for our family?Andy Crouch has written about this in his book The Tech-wise Family, and on today’s podcast we talk about what it was like to establish healthy family rhythms around technology.We’re also joined by Andy’s adult daughter, Amy, to hear her perspective about g
Episode 246 - Can Entrepreneurs Tackle Tech Addiction? With Chris Kaspar and Heath Wilson
How many times have you told your kids to put down their phones and pay attention to something?How many times could someone else have said the same thing to you?In this episode, we’re chatting with two tech founders – Chris Kaspar and Heath Wilson – about how they’re using entrepreneurial initiatives to redeem technology and help us better focus on the things that matter.Chris does this through his company, Techless, and their “Wisephone,” a beautifully-designed, highly-functional phone that giv
Episode 245 - Mental Health Counselor Talks Healing from Sexual Brokenness With Jay Stringer
We’ve all read the stories of prominent Christian leaders succumbing to some sort of sexual brokenness. No one ever suspects the story will be about them.But do we take active steps to ensure it won’t be?With all the stress, anxiety, and external pressures entrepreneurs face, we’re often especially tempted to turn to outlets like pornography or infidelity. Most people don’t like to talk about this, but the reality is that so many leaders struggle with this issue. We just keep it secret because o
Episode 244 - Developing Holy Ambition With Chip Ingram
Do you ever feel a tension between your faith and your ambition?Entrepreneurs are naturally driven. We want to innovate, change, and improve.But as Christians, it can be tricky to balance those desires and gifts with our call to be faithful to God’s will. So how do we navigate that tension?Chip Ingram tackles this question on our latest podcast episode. There, he explains the concepts behind his book “Holy Ambition” and helps us understand how we can faithfully pursue our callings in a way that
Episode 243 - Why an Experienced Entrepreneur and CEO Chose to Live at a Sacred Pace with Terry Looper
Have you ever noticed how unhurried Jesus seems to be in the gospels? He always shows up for the people who need him, but he never seems to panic or rush to get there. Entrepreneurs can sometimes do the opposite. Even the words we use imply hurry: we sprint. We hustle. We flow. These aren’t inherently bad things, but they can have negative effects on us if they go unchecked. That’s what happened with today’s guest: Terry Looper. Terry is the Founder and CEO of Texon LP, an energy company with ov
Episode 242 - What the Female Jerry Maguire Can Teach Us About Drive, Potential, and Identity with Molly Fletcher
We’ve never had someone on the show be compared to a Tom Cruise character before until today. Molly Fletcher is a leadership coach and former sports agent who CNN once called “the female Jerry Maguire” for her work representing hall of famers and champions. These days she focuses on empowering leaders to unlock their full potential, and she joins us to talk about overcoming barriers, developing drive, and centering our identity on something bigger than our output. Don’t forget to rate and follow
Episode 241 - Business That Sets People Free with Taylor Blom
Seeing captives set free and walking the last mile of restoration through sustainable employment. That is what motivates Taylor Blom, as the Co-Founder and CRO at Next Door Photos. As a rapidly growing real estate photography company, Next Door Photos partners with impact-driven entrepreneurs to create businesses that serve realtors locally, while redeeming global supply chains. Taylor shares about running a business that’s built to bring freedom to people’s lives.
Episode 240 - The Motive with Patrick Lencioni
What motivates you as an entrepreneur? When was the last time you even asked yourself that question?It’s easy to get caught up in all the building, growing, advancing, and disrupting that you forgot why you’re leading in the first place.This talk from Patrick Lencioni will help you reconnect with your why so you can avoid the pitfalls that stifle your organization. He originally presented the content at the 2022 Faith Driven Entrepreneur Conference, and we’re excited to share it with you here.
Episode 239 - How Entrepreneurship Has Transformed a Physician's Work with Mark Piehl
How does a pediatric physician become an entrepreneur?It’s not a common path, but it’s the journey God has given Dr. Mark Piehl. While he continues to work in hospital ICUs, Dr. Piehl also founded 410 Medical after losing a patient. Dr. Piehl was sparked by the tragedy and set out to use the skills and resources God had given him to serve patients by offering timely and effective care. Now, 410 Medical aims to save the lives of critically ill patients by developing innovative tools that assist h
IP Expert Discusses: Who Owns Ideas? With JiNan Glasgow George
We’ve covered many topics since we started this podcast, but we haven’t ever had an episode dedicated to intellectual property.Until now.Today’s guest, JiNan Glasgow George, is an inventor, entrepreneur, patent attorney, and an author. She also happens to be a world-renowned expert on intellectual property with a history of advising startups and entrepreneurs on the subject.She joins Henry and Rusty for a lively discussion about who owns ideas, the ethics of patent trolling, and the role entrepr
Episode 237 - Entrepreneurs Are An Anxious People with Steve Cuss
Steve Cuss is one of the leading voices on anxiety and leadership in the U.S. His platform Capable Life is growing, while his book “Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs” has become a go-to resource for managers of capital in volatile markets and any leader who struggles with anxiety. His professional journey began as a trauma and hospice chaplain, where he quickly learned that in order to help people in the worst moments of life, he had to know what was bubbling under the surface in him
Episode 236 - How to Create Good Work and Good Rest with Andy Crouch
We talk a lot about good work as entrepreneurs driven by our faith, but how does rest play into our roles?In this special episode, author and frequent contributor to the show, Andy Crouch, explains how we have a duty to not just create good work but to create good rest as well. For him, the two go together: “good rest is the fruitful contemplation of good work.” ----Hear the whole talk originally recorded for the 2022 Faith Driven Entrepreneur Conference and don’t forget to follow the show for m
Episode 235 - What Can Africa Teach the World? with Joram Mwinamo
You’ve heard the phrase “it takes a village to raise a family.” Well, Kenyan entrepreneur Joram Mwinamo thinks it applies to businesses as well.Joram founded and runs SNDBX International, a collaborative co-working space unlike any other. Entrepreneurs who join the community gain access to over 30 expert consultants in non-competing fields, from digital marketing to law. It’s truly a one stop shop for founders to build and scale their businesses.He joins the show to talk about his uniquely Afric
Episode 234 - The Secret to Staffing with David Dunkel
There’s a lot of chatter out there about the challenges around recruiting and retaining employees. Dave Dunkel is an expert on these issues. The recently retired CEO has been leading an employment agency for over 40 years and has been on the front lines of major changes. In 1995, he played a pivotal role in taking the company–Kforce–public, a dream of his father’s who founded the organization decades earlier. Dave helped the team adapt to the staffing changes that came with the rise of the inter
Episode 233 - Why We Need Women Who Rise with Jo Saxton and Paula Faris
Growing up, Jo Saxton assumed that most women worked outside the home. Her mother and grandmother modeled grit and hustle for her at an early age. She even says they had to “force” her grandma to retire at age 97. There was never any doubt that women could do great work in the marketplace in Jo’s family. Now, as a leader and entrepreneur herself, she is passionate about making that perspective a norm for people around the world by equipping and inspiring women leaders to rise up to their God-giv
Episode 232 - From Pro Athlete to Entrepreneur with Jeremy Lin and Patricia Sun
When you think of the accomplished basketball player, Jeremy Lin, you may not picture an entrepreneur right away. But after Linsanity took the world by storm, the young star had to think of himself as a brand as well as an athlete.Fast forward to today and Jeremy is still balancing the two worlds, especially as he grows his company, JLINN LLC. Over the years, Jeremy saw the transformative power businesses can play in communities. Mix that with the desire he had to steward the success he has had
Episode 231 - The Heart Behind His Hustle with Justin Forsett
Alongside University of California-Berkeley teammates, former NFL running back and Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowler Justin Forsett created a sanitary wipe to help athletes on the go stay hygienic. Despite the challenges they faced as Black entrepreneurs, Justin and his co-founders encountered immense success, being featured on Shark Tank, Fox, CBS, and NBC, and landing partnerships with Target, Crunch Fitness, and Pharmaca. After rebranding to HustleClean, the founders devoted their company to doing
Episode 230 - Gearing Up Auto Shops with Ashot Iskandarian
Starting a business isn’t sexy. Sometimes, the road to success isn’t either. When Ashot quit his job to grow Shopmonkey, an auto repair shop management software, he had three months of runway-income for his family. He was signing up one customer at a time, creating designs for marketing, and doing live chat support while raising capital to ensure the business continued. In 2021, Shopmonkey raised 75 million in Series C funding, allowing the business to grow into 4,000 shops across US and Canada.
Episode 229 - Alpha Was Just the Beginning with Nicky Gumbel
Entrepreneurs are frontline ministers in the workplace. As a pastor and the former Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, the largest Anglican church in Britain, Nicky Gumbel believes that it is his task to equip the saints for ministry in the places where they work and live. For the past 3 decades, Nicky Gumbel has pioneered the Alpha course, created as an introduction to the Christian faith primarily for non-churchgoers. The Alpha course has attracted hundreds of young people who otherwise had no int
Episode 228 - Investing that Makes the World Rejoice with Robin John
Robin John believes investing can help the world rejoice. In 2007, he founded Eventide Asset Management, a firm that helps people invest without compromise. In this podcast, Robin shares the tension he felt early in his career while sleeping on a brand new bed in India as the guesthouse cook slept on the cold hard kitchen floor. While American management could have had a redemptive impact on the guesthouse they outsourced to, they chose not to, and that didn’t sit right with Robin. At that momen
Episode 227 - Cultivating a Faith Stronger Than Fear with Strive Masiyiwa
If you joined us for the Faith Driven Entrepreneur conference, you’re in for a treat. This is the full interview with Strive Masiyiwa , Founder and Executive Chairman of the Econet, and one of Africa’s most respected business leaders. In this episode, Strive speaks about Africa’s role within the global marketplace. He also shares how faith has empowered him to operate in the world without fear and how other entrepreneurs can go bravely into the spheres God called them. If you weren’t there for t
Episode 226 - Funny for a Reason with Michael Jr.
Michael Jr. is a comedic thought leader. Using comedy and dynamic storytelling, he brings laughter and encouragement all over the world as he inspires audiences to discover and activate their purpose. This unique skill set has landed him on stages like “The Tonight Show” on NBC, Tedx Talks, and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” You can find him in Sony Pictures' feature film “War Room,” as well as starring roles in “Selfie Dad,” “Laughing On Purpose,” and “More Than Funny.” He is funny for a reason as he wor
Episode 225 - I Married My Business Partner with John and Ashely Marsh
What is it like to sleep with the accountant? When your spouse is your business partner, it’s easy for business decisions to get personal, and personal decisions to seep into the business operations. John and Ashely Marsh know the tension first hand. The husband and wife team are the co-founders of the Marsh Collective, pioneering the redemption of Opelika historic downtown. Opelika’s story, an account of beauty from brokenness, mirrors their personal story. Through the sharing and walking out o
Episode 224 - The Hobby Lobby Decision with David Green
David Green founded the well known American retail company, Hobby Lobby, in 1972. He has continued to run the company with his family for 50 years, earning billions in revenue. Even through the financial success they experienced, the values of the Green family put Hobby Lobby’s future on the line when they refused to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s mandate to provide employees abortion-inducing drugs as a part of their healthcare plan. Hobby Lobby faced fines upwards of $1.3 million a day
Episode 223 - Tim Tebow Shines a Spotlight on the Light of the World
Tim Tebow is a two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, first-round NFL draft pick, and a former professional baseball player. The four-time New York Times best-selling author, speaker, and football analyst shares about his most recent book, “Mission Possible.” In it he explores how the secret to a truly meaningful life is not more comfort or ease, but a clear mission and understanding of our God-given significance. We’re excited to have Tim discuss life, work, and making sure the spot
Episode 222 - What To Do With This Wild and Precious Life with Dave Evans
We talk with former Electronic Arts co-founder and VP Dave Evans. Dave is now the co-founder of Stanford University’s Life Design Lab. He is also the author of the New York Times #1 Bestseller “Designing Your Life,” about how design-thinking enables us to take up our role as co-creators with God. Design-thinking is now globally recognized as a powerful tool for innovation. And it’s especially helpful for solving “wicked problems,” the kind of problems that don’t readily lend themselves to easy a
Episode 221 - Jennie Allen Goes Beyond the Question of IF
Jennie Allen is the founder and visionary of the women’s organization IF:Gathering, the host of the top rated Made for This podcast (17 million downloads) as well as the New York Times bestselling author of Get Out of Your Head, which was the #1 bestselling religion title of 2020. Her latest book is Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World. She has appeared on shows such as Hallmark Home & Family, Fox News at Night with Shannon Bream, and been featured in various outlets such
Episode 220 - The Soul of an Entrepreneur with Curt Thompson
Inspired by deep compassion for others and informed from a Christian perspective, psychiatrist and author Curt Thompson shares fresh insights and practical applications for developing more authentic relationships and fully experiencing our deepest longing: to be known. With a considerable dose of warmth, and surprising measure of humor, Curt weaves together an understanding of interpersonal neurobiology and a Christian view of what it means to be human—to feel known, valued and connected. His un
Episode 219 - The Creator in You with Jordan Raynor
Jordan Raynor is a serial entrepreneur, best selling author, and community builder who speaks to the eternal impact of work. He has written several best selling books including, “Called to Create: A Biblical Invitation to Create, Innovate, and Risk,” “Redeeming Your Time,” and “Master of One.” Today, we talk to Jordan about his most recent book, “The Creator in You,” which is written specifically for kids. Jordan wants the next generation to understand that on the sixth day of creation, God gave
Episode 218 - Art + Faith: A Theology of Making with Makoto Fujimura
Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary painter, a well known writer, curator, and founder. At his core, he is a creator. Perhaps best known for his bicultural artwork, Makoto fuses abstract expressionism together with the traditional Japanese art of Nihonga and Kachoga (bird-and-flower painting tradition). His desire is to reframe how we talk about art, love, and beauty from a biblical perspective, and provide a hub that draws creative minds together from around the world. Makoto shares more
Episode 217 - The Gift of Disillusionment with Peter Greer and Chris Horst
Peter Greer serves as the President and CEO of HOPE International. Chris Horst is the Chief Advancement Officer. Peter and Chris have co-authored the books Mission Drift and Rooting for Rivals. Just this year, they published their latest book, The Gift of Disillusionment: Enduring Hope for Leaders After Idealism Fades. Based on stories of Christians around the world, this book reframes disillusionment as an invitation to dependence on God in difficult circumstances.
Episode 216 - The Genius Behind Online Signups with Angel and Dan Rutledge
Armed with their faith and a deep conviction that coordinating events should be easier for everyone, Angel and Dan Rutledge created SignUpGenius in 2008. Since then, the tech company has won numerous awards, produced millions in annual revenue, and serves over a million users a year. Although the couple exited the company last year, they continue supporting faith driven entrepreneurs in their home city of Charlotte, NC. They join the podcast today to discuss their unique entrepreneurial journeys
Episode 215 - Danielle Strickland Says Women and Men Are Better Together
Together with speaker and entrepreneur Liz Bohannan, this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast is one of a three-part series focusing on female founders and business owners who are pursuing entrepreneurship in different industries. Today, our conversation is with spiritual leader, author, and justice advocate Danielle Strickland. She has written several books and we’re going to spend much of our time talking about her newest title “Better Together: How Women and Men Can Heal the Divi
Episode 214 - Paula Faris is Working Hard for Working Moms
Paula Faris has spent well over two decades in broadcast television. Most recently, she spent nine years at ABC News where she co-anchored “Good Morning America Weekend,” co-hosted “The View” and launched the “Journeys Of Faith with Paula Faris”. The Emmy-Award winning journalist released her first book, “Called Out: Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs For A Life of True Calling.” When she’s not speaking or writing, Paula is running CARRY Media, a company she founded to amplify the story of the working
Episode 213 - Doing Good is Good for Business with Keren Pybus & Jeff Kahler
Keren Pybus is the Co-founder of Ethical Apparel Africa, an impact-driven company based in Ghana and Benin. Ethical Apparel Africa was founded based on the core belief that all manufacturing can and should be done ethically. And they work with international brands who are interested in growing a manufacturing base in Africa with a positive social and environmental impact. Keren joins us on the Faith Driven investor Podcast to discuss the importance of leading a company that is committed to more
Episode 212 - Ammunition to Fight Hunger with Carmin Black
With a $200 loan and a pocket full of old bullet casings, Carmin Black set out to wage war on hunger. Today, HALF UNITED is sold in more than 300 stores globally and has been able to provide more than 1 million meals to children in need and gainful employment to artisans all over the world.
Episode 211 - Soul of the Entrepreneur with Mindy Caliguire
Mindy Caliguire is the founder of Soul Care, a spiritual formation ministry that exists to increase “soul health” in the body of Christ. She contributes to Leadership and Conversations journals and she is an author. Her books include “STIR: Spiritual Transformation in Relationship” and “Soul Searching and Simplicity,” among many others. We talk to Mindy about why the wellbeing of our souls matters, the dangers of our journey as Faith Driven Entrepreneurs, and how we can practically care for the
Episode 210 - Fruit At Work with Chris Evans
Today’s episode is part of a two-part series that will spotlight ways pastors and the local church engage in the conversation of impacting the marketplace for God’s glory. Joining us as co-host is JD Greear, Pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, NC. We’re going to be talking with Chris Evans, an entrepreneur that JD pastors and author of “Fruit at Work”. Chris shares more about how we can successfully integrate Christian virtues with business. Co-hosting our conversation is pastor JD Gr
Episode 209 - Practicing A Practical Faith with Kyle Kaigler
Pastor Kyle Kaigler grew up in Dallas, TX, and attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. After working in the Employee Benefits business for five years, he made the switch to full-time ministry with Lake Highlands Young Life. In August 2015, Kyle, his wife and several other families started the Plano Campus where he served as Campus Pastor. Kyle has moved to CityBridge Church in Plano, TX, where he is continuing his pastoral ministry. We’re excited to talk with Pastor Kyle on the Faith Driv
Episode 208 - Death of a Lone Wolf with Mickey Peters
We often talk about the lonely road many entrepreneurs travel. But rarely do we discuss the pitfalls that come with the pressures to perform. It may sound like hyperbole, but for Mickey Peters, this combination of isolation and expectation ushered him to the doorstep of ruin. Mickey was leading a subsidiary of Duke Energy in Lima, Peru, with hundreds of employees looking to him for guidance. Mickey had no support network to lean upon, no friends to confide in. He soon found himself involved with
Episode 207 - The Demand for Better Supply Chains with Justin Dillon & Wesley Lyons
Justin Dillon has been working at the intersection of technology and human rights for over a decade. While advising the White House, United Nations, Fortune 500's and even The Vatican about slavery in supply chains, Justin saw a gaping hole in supply chain transparency tools and began to build what became FRDM. Investor Wesley Lyons is a general partner at Eagle Venture Funds and he recognized the need for accountability as well, which is why he has partnered with FRDM to redeem the supply chain
Episode 206 - It Feels Good to be Known with Meagan Jones
President and COO Meagan McCoy Jones grew up at McCoy’s. She has worked as receptionist, advertising intern, and even shadowed in various departments throughout the company, becoming acquainted with many aspects of her family’s business along the way. Today, she is the fourth generation to lead this family business. Megan joins us on the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast to share with us the bigger story of McCoy’s and what drives her to build better relationships with her employees and customer
Episode 205 - Motorcycles and the Marketplace with Tom Lernihan, Jared Fulks, & Collin Wenrich
On today’s podcast we have the joy and privilege to hear from an investor and entrepreneur team that met via the Faith Driven Marketplace. Investor Tom Lernihan was moved by the mission and simple solution of the company Pureflow founded and led by Jared Fulks and Collin Wenrich. After traveling around the world to Uganda, Collin had a revelation as his calling zipped past him on the road in the form of a motorcycle… also known as a boda. Anyone who has visited this part of the world knows that
Episode 204 - Eradicating Homelessness is the Bottom Line with Amy King
Amy King is the founder and CEO of Pallet, a social purpose company working to end unsheltered homelessness and give people a second chance at employment. And while this endeavor alone would be enough for most people, Amy’s involvement doesn’t stop there. She’s also the owner of Square Peg Development, a general contractor, and a founding member of Weld, a nonprofit that provides previously incarcerated people with housing, employment, and other resources to help them reintegrate back into socie
Episode 203 - Hunting for the Outcast with Helen Young Hayes
A 20-year veteran of the financial industry, Helen Young Hayes has survived a bear market that gutted her funds portfolio in the early 90’s and a horrific plane crash that nearly took her life in 1989. Serving as portfolio manager of the Janus Worldwide and Overseas funds, Helen built and invested a $50 billion franchise in global and international equities. In 2016, she changed course and founded Activate Workforce Solutions to help employers find and keep loyal and engaged employees. Helen is
Episode 202 - Less Fear, More Falafel with Ross Carper
Sharing food is a powerful way to bring people together. Feast World Kitchen enables refugees and immigrants to serve their traditional recipes to local residents, who get to learn about—and enjoy—authentic, international cuisine without leaving town. This food business incubator is building bridges between cultures and knitting its local community together. Executive Director Ross Carper is partly responsible for making this idea a reality in Spokane, Washington. Listen to Ross’ story and how G
Episode 201 - You Have a People Problem with Mary Miller
Janitorial services is a notoriously transitional job that experiences a 400% annual turnover on average. Yet in the midst of a challenging employment landscape, JANCOA has discovered what it takes to solve this people problem. For them, it all began with listening to their employees and then purchasing a 15-passenger van. CEO Mary Miller joins the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast to share her experiences and provide insights when it comes to retention and turnover. If you’re looking to solve a
Episode 200 - Host A Party. Watch What Happens Next.
The global Faith Driven Movement is well served by a virtual conference that is “attended” by a network of local Watch Parties. Director of Operations Sue Alice Sauthoff sits down with several Watch Party hosts who have gone on to spark a movement in their own neighborhoods as a result. Listen to this inspiring conversation. Who knows how God might inspire you to host or join a local Watch Party of your own?
Episode 199 - Power to the Prayer People with Kim Avery
When it comes to business, are you talking with God on a regular basis? Or do you feel like your days are too packed for prayer? Kim Avery, author of The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur, believes an open line of communication with God is the singular most important discipline every successful business owner should incorporate into their daily routine. Join us on the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast to hear more about the power of prayer.
Episode 198 - Winners & Learners with Torii Hunter
What many people may not know is that equal to his achievements on the field, Torii is just as proud of his growing portfolio of investments. And yet business is much like baseball—Torii has failed more than he has succeeded. His strikeouts have taught him there are no losers in life, just winners and learners.
Episode 197 - Building a Baby Crib Empire with Daniel Fong
Million Dollar Baby has been designing elegant and sophisticated nursery furniture for more than 25 years. Founder Daniel Fong shares about the early days of his enterprise. He talks about what it’s been like to watch his kids grow up in the business, get involved, and continue to be instrumental in leading the organization into the next phase of development.
Episode 196 - Having A Clear Eye View with Jaylon Smith
Star NFL Linebacker Jaylon Smith is a force on the football field. But there’s far more to him than just sporting prowess. Jaylon’s entrepreneurial spirit drove him to start the Minority Entrepreneurship Institute–which has awarded $1.2 million to 13 minority-owned companies since inception–and his own eyewear company – CEV Collection.
Episode 195 - Donald Miller Tells the Story Behind Growing a Business
Donald Miller's books—such as “Blue Like Jazz,” “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years,” and “Scary Close”—have spent more than a year on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Don has since gone from writing bestselling books to tapping into the power of story for businesses and individuals. Every year he helps more than 3,000 business leaders clarify their brand message. Listen in as he challenges entrepreneurs to lean into their own story, creatively develop and execute the story of their team, a
Episode 194 - Andrew Denysov: Entrepreneur in A War Zone
These are truly unprecedented times as war rages in Eastern Europe. We had the unique privilege to be joined by a member of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur community in Ukraine. Andrew Denysov, founder and CEO of TechVision Global, joins us on the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast to share with us his story, how entrepreneurs play a key role in times of turmoil, and how we as the body of Christ can stand strong in the face of evil and uncertainty.
Episode 193 - Gary Grant: Toys Are Only Part of the Story
Struggling with dyslexia and watching his parents divorce, Gary Grant is no stranger to adversity. From a young age, he grew up with very little in worldly terms. And it drove him to work hard and make as much money as he could. That is until God stepped in and captivated his heart. Today, Gary is the CEO of The Entertainer, a massive toy company in the UK. He and his business are dedicated to living generously and impacting the lives of the community around them. To date, they have donated more
Episode 192 - Mark Whitacre: I’m Not the Hero
Mark Whitacre is the highest-ranking executive of any Fortune 500 company to become a whistleblower in US history. He is responsible for uncovering the ADM price-fixing scandal in the early 1990’s. His undercover work with the FBI was the inspiration for the major motion picture, “The Informant,” starring Matt Damon. Drawing from his unique history, Mark provides one-of-a-kind insight into corporate ethics, corporate greed, and the warning signs of a flawed corporate leadership. And he would be
Episode 191 - Warwick Fairfax: Finding Your Way Back From Failure
Warwick Fairfax was the fifth-generation heir to Australia's most storied media empire, a business started by his great-great grandfather. In the mid-'80s, a couple of decades after the family took Fairfax Media public, Warwick -- fresh from Harvard Business School -- launched a takeover that failed three years later. In just three years he lost the business that had been in the family for 150 years and was worth $2.25 billion. Warwick’s story offers insights into how you can move beyond failure
Episode 190 - Brian Roland: Perks With a Purpose
Brian Roland, Founder of Abenity, wanted to create a company that changed the way corporations offer and manage the perks they offer their employees. More than just seeing an opportunity to innovate, Brian realized that his vision was less about profits and all about people. He wanted his company to have a purpose.
Episode 189 - Patrick Colletti: Once Lost. Now Refound.
At the helm of a broken company, with no operating capital or viable product offering, Patrick Colletti set out to rebuild an organization with loads of debt and no clear product or market presence. Patrick shares the story of this incredible turnaround and what it means to have a “refounder” mindset.
Episode 188 - No Prisoner To A Traditional Ministry Model
Bryan Kelley is the chief empowerment officer of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, or PEP. But to think of this as just another prison ministry would be a grave injustice. PEP doesn’t want to simply change inmates, instead they want to transform the 150,000 men incarcerated in Texas from the inside out. Teaching practical entrepreneurial skills helps release fathers and husbands from generational bondage. Bryan joins us on the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast to share the story of how PEP is
Episode 187 - Building a Bulletproof Business with David & Jason Benham
Being bold in today's culture is one thing. Being bold without revealing your own brokenness can sometimes make you a bully. Today we’re privileged to hear the story of the Benham brothers—former major league baseball players, TV show hosts, and now wildly successful Faith Driven Entrepreneurs. David and Jason have lived out their faith boldly even in the face of a cancel-culture that doesn't always embrace Christ. And they’ve tried to do so with equal amounts of grace and humility.
Episode 186 - God and Mammon with Andy Crouch
Andy Crouch, best-selling author and a partner of theology and culture at Praxis, is a leading voice in the Faith Driven movement. Andy spoke at a recent Faith Driven Investor Conference on a topic that many faith driven investors are wrestling with regularly: God and money, we cannot serve both. How do we balance out Jesus’ teaching and our calling as Faith Driven Investors? Listen to what Andy had to say for some insights and inspiration.
Episode 185 - Living At Your Best with Carey Nieuwhof
Carey Nieuwhof knows something about burnout. He was crushed by its devastating effects while over-working as a lawyer. What he discovered is “The people that ultimately pay the price for your overcommitment are the people you care about the most.” In his book At Your Best, Carey provides leaders with practical solutions to thrive both in their personal life and within their organizations. For the faith driven entrepreneur, success can be so much more than an all-or-nothing proposition. Tune in
Episode 184 - Kingdom Trust: God, Money, & Bitcoin with Matt Jennings
Bitcoin is no longer a bit-player investment. According to Matt Jennings, faith driven investors should be investing in digital assets like cryptocurrency. And just who is Matt Jennings? He is the head of Kingdom Trust which is currently custodian to $20 billion in assets from some 150,000 investors. Learn more from this pioneer in the financial industry and thought-leader in alternative and digital assets.
Episode 183 - Radical Generosity with David Platt
David Platt serves as Lead Pastor at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical and author of books like Radical… Something Needs To Change and Counter Culture. Today David joins us to talk about what it means to be radically generous and how the world might look if faith driven investors and entrepreneurs stepped into this great opportunity.
Episode 182 - Grace Over Grind with Shae Bynes
Since founding Kingdom Driven Entrepreneurs in 2012, Shae Bynes has reached over a half-million aspiring and current entrepreneurs around the globe through her devotionals, books, courses, and podcasts. She has written numerous books including Doing Business God’s Way and Grace Over Grind. She is a self proclaimed fire igniter and is a gifted storyteller. Shae Bynes, joins us today to share her story, discuss what is happening in the faith driven entrepreneur movement, and explain what it means
Episode 181 - The Bible Translation Collaboration with Mart Green
In 1998, Mart Green took a transformational trip to Guatemala that changed the way he thought about return on investment. Since then, he has been involved in Bible translation and distribution efforts from the launch of the YouVersion Bible app to the establishment of a collaborative partnership among 10 of the world’s largest Bible translation organizations, called illumiNations. In today’s conversation, Mart shares where his passion for Bible translation started, the encouraging steps he’s see
Episode 180 - Building More Than Homes with David Weekley
In 1976, 23-year-old David Weekley started his own home building company. Now more than 40 years later, the company has sold more than 100,000 homes, expanded to 19 cities across the nation, and won countless awards. In addition, David and his family launched a charitable Foundation to impact the world through both Christ-centered and secular organizations. David joins us to share the story of starting one of the most successful home building companies in the country and how their foundation is
Episode 179 - The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry with John Mark Comer
John Mark Comer, author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, a book that really should be a must-read for every Faith Driven Entrepreneur. As a reference, Scott Harrison, founder of charity:water and previous podcast guest has said “As someone all too familiar with ‘hurry sickness,’ I desperately needed this book.” Does hurry sickness sound familiar? Or maybe, you’re someone who knows that Sabbath is supposedly a great thing but can’t help but ask: who really has the time for that? Well, today,
Episode 178 - Investing In Eternity with Randy Alcorn
Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. Randy is also a New York Times bestselling author. He has written over 55 books including Courageous... Heaven… and The Treasure Principle. His books have been translated into over 70 languages and have sold over 11 million copies. Prior to launching EPM, Randy co-pastored for fourteen years Good S
Episode 177 - They'll Fight Over It When You're Dead with Dave Munson
Dave’s journey started in Mexico where he found a little leather shop that could make a bag just the way he wanted. That bag turned into a dozen bags that Dave peddled from the back of his car which has now become the foundation for a multi-million dollar business. Today, Dave shares how his call to ministry combined with a call to business and why he truly believes that their bags are so good that if you own one, your children and your children’s children will fight over it when you’re dead...
Episode 176 - Out Of The Cave Of Depression with Chris Hodges
Chris Hodges is the founding and senior pastor of Church of the Highlands, and his latest book Out of the Cave shares how a difficult season of his life and a study of the life of Elijah can show us what it looks like to step into the light when depression darkens what you see. We hope this episode encourages you on your entrepreneurial journey, but if you or someone you know needs help, don’t hesitate to call a friend, a pastor, or any crisis hotline. Listen in and remember that you are not alo
Episode 175 - Dude Perfect: The World's Most Trusted Source Of Entertainment with Coby Cotton
How homemade trick shot videos filmed in the backyard of a college house turned into a multimillion dollar business for five best friends. Join us as we ask Dude Perfect just how they turned a college hobby into a full time job. With over 56 million YouTube subscribers, Dude Perfect has grown from a college hobby into a household name. Today, we’re going to talk about the early days when they were just making videos for fun, the day they all quit their day jobs and went all in, and what the day-
Episode 174 - Giving Away 51% with Bertie Lourens
Today’s episode takes us all the way to South Africa, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. And the question we’re going to start by asking is this: How can a garbage-collection company in South Africa undo the legacy of Apartheid? Bertie Lourens, CEO of WastePlan is here to share how their company is working to divert the vast majority of customers’ waste-stream from landfills and converting it into valuable, recyclable resources. They do this by employing hundreds of local workers, caring
Episode 84 - Stewardship Means Investing Just As Much As Giving with Ron Blue
Convinced that Christians would better handle their personal finances if they were counseled objectively with the highest technical expertise and from a Biblical perspective, Ron Blue founded a financial planning firm in 1979. Today that firm manages over $2 billion in assets for more than 5,000 clients nationwide. Ron joins us to discuss why he thinks stewardship is just as much about investing as it is giving.
Episode 173 - Redeeming Brokenness Through Business with Michelle Buelow
What began in 2006 as a passion project to help vulnerable children has since grown into a booming mission-driven business. Michelle Buelow, Founder & CEO of Bella Tunno, is on a mission to create fun, safe, and innovative baby products and with the sale of every product, give one meal to one child. Over the past 16 years Bella Tunno has provided over 6.4 million meals to children in need. Michelle joins us to share her story, how God redeems broken situations, and the challenges of running a bu
Episode 172 - Can A.I. Make Better Investing Decisions Than You? with Tom Kehler
In 1969, Tom Kehler was hunched over a Model 33 Teletype connected to an IBM mainframe developing a program to learn a function from data. Today, he’s here to talk about the future of artificial intelligence. A lot has happened in the in between decades, both in society and in Tom’s life in Silicon Valley. As the CEO of CrowdSmart, a business using AI & Collective Intelligence software platform to improve the accuracy of predicting investment success while reducing ingrained bias, he’s seen it a
Episode 171 - The 6 Types of Working Genius with Pat Lencioni
Pat joins us to share the model behind his new assessment The 6 Types of Working Genius. Pat believes, to be successful and fulfilled in your work, you must tap into your gifts. But that can't happen if you don't know what those gifts are. Tune in and begin discovering your own gifts and how God can use them...
Episode 170 - Alone in the Corner Office with Rick Lytle
If there’s one topic that makes its way onto this podcast more than anything, it’s the importance of community. Starting your own business can be a lonely journey...but it doesn’t have to be.Today’s guest is an expert on what it looks like to be lonely at the top—and what it looks like to be surrounded by a support system. Dr. Richard S. Lytle currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of CEO Forum, Inc where he is helping business leaders find community.If you’re tired of going i
Episode 169 - Inside the ESOP Journey with Kris den Besten
Today, we’re talking about ESOPs, which stands for employee stock ownership plan. For businesses looking to transfer ownership of their business, many are looking to ESOPs as a way to keep the culture they’ve created within their company. We invited Kris DenBesten, President and CEO of Vermeer Southeast, to share his experience of turning his business into an ESOP. He gave us the full scoop on what he and his company walked through, the questions they asked when making the decision, and the reas
Episode 168 - The Boosterthon Bounceback with Chris Carneal
Chris Carneal is the founder and CEO of Booster Enterprises, better known by their brand Boosterthon, where they put on fitness fundraisers at schools all throughout the United States. Since founding the company 18 years ago, Chris has turned Booster into a behemoth. They've helped schools raise more than $350 million, and they've served more than 7 million students. But then COVID hit. And a team of 1,000 full-time employees dropped to 140. Chris takes us there and shares the feeling that every
Episode 167 - What it Takes to Change with Chip Ingram
In addition to being one of the co-authors of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur book, Chip Ingram is one of those people that we can't seem to have on this podcast enough. If you've followed along for a while, you've no doubt heard him before, but today, he's going to join us and share why he's excited about the Faith Driven Entrepreneur book AND what his latest book, titled Yes! You Really Can Change has to say for every entrepreneur out there.
Episode 166 - The Decisions That Define Successful Companies with Verne Harnish
Today’s guest is Verne Harnish. Verne is a world-leading expert, speaker, author, and entrepreneur in the field of business growth. He has spent more than 30 years educating entrepreneurial teams. As part of his personal mission to support entrepreneurs, he co-founded Growth Institute, a premier online training company that has helped mid-market companies in over 50 countries learn and implement the latest business methodologies. Today, he’s sharing with us some of his top tips for entrepreneurs
Episode 165 - Not for Sale with David Batstone
David Batstone’s entrepreneurial journey begins at his favorite restaurant in San Francisco. As he recalls, he loved the tandoori chicken, but he didn’t realize that he was eating in the center of a human trafficking ring that had brought over 500 teenagers from India into the United States for the purpose of forced labor. A journalist and venture capitalist, David couldn’t reconcile the fact that human slavery was happening in his own backyard. So, he decided to do something about it. The resul
Episode 164 - The True Moringa Resilience Story with Kwami Williams
These are the 3 beliefs that drive Kwami’s passion. (1) poverty is an injustice, (2) we have a responsibility and a joy to solve this man-made problem, and (3) every problem presents an opportunity for business. If that doesn’t get you excited to hear about what Kwami has to share, then we don’t know what will. Listen in to hear how Kwami Williams is discovering entrepreneurial solutions that tackle the challenges faced by the poor and marginalized in our world today, especially on the African c
Episode 163 - From the NBA Finals to Entrepreneurs Everywhere with Monty Williams
Most people wouldn't compare being an NBA coach to being an entrepreneur. Yet, both are high-stress and lonely roads to travel. They involve building a team, moving to a common mission. Monty Williams, coach of the Phoenix Suns is in the NBA finals and might be on their way to an NBA title. Monty shares his story, the highs and lows of being a professional coach and reveals just how similar coaching is to being an entrepreneur.
Episode 161 - The Immersed Story with Renji Bijoy
If you hear the words Virtual Reality and immediately think of video games, then today’s guest is going to open your eyes to an entire world that is just around the corner.Renji Bijoy is the CEO and Founder of Immersed VR, where they are optimizing focus & productivity through virtual reality collaboration. In addition to being named as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 , Renji has some great insight into what the future of VR looks like and how Faith Driven Entrepreneurs can help shape it.
Episode 160 - Imagining Business as a Christian Vocation with Eric Stumberg
If you’ve long wondered what your “calling” in life might be, then you’re going to enjoy today’s guest. Eric Stumberg is an entrepreneur with expertise in services, wireless technology, and helping people find their call. At this stage of his Christian and professional journey, Eric is leaning more fully into equipping the saints for and in their Kingdom work in the marketplace— through the church, his company, and faithful relationships. Today, you’ll get to hear him talk all about that as well
Episode 159 - The Surprising Solution to Overthinking with Jon Acuff
Jon Acuff is the New York Times Bestselling author of six books. For over 20 years he’s helped some of the biggest brands in the world tell their story, including The Home Depot, Bose, Staples, and the Dave Ramsey Team. Most recently he’s spoken to hundreds of thousands of people at conferences, colleges, companies and churches. Featured regularly on national media, Jon has been seen on CNN, Fox News, Good Day LA and several other key outlets. Today, he’s going to join us to talk about his newes
Episode 158 - The Search for God and Guinness with Stephen Mansfield
For those of you who are new, we know that it’s tempting to think that this show is onto something novel, that we’re breaking new ground in the faith and work conversation. But if we’re being honest with ourselves, and with you, we’re really not. We’re standing on the shoulders of giants who have come before us. Today, we’re going to hear the origin story of a Faith Driven Entrepreneur from the mid 1700s. Stephen Mansfield, author of The Search for God and Guinness, is taking us to a time when t
Episode 157 - Looking Forward to Faith Driven Entrepreneur Live
If you’ve been following this podcast for a while, you likely know that last year we had our first ever Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor conferences that included guests like Andy Crouch, Jewel Burks Solomon, Chip Ingram, Lecrae, Phil Vischer, Jessica Kim, and many more. Thousands of you attended, making it one of the most encouraging days since the start of the FDE and FDI movements. Well, if you missed last year’s event, don’t worry. Because we’re doing it again. Today’s epi
Episode 156 - The Power of the Other with Henry Cloud
25 years of helping people. 117 companies consulted. 20 million books sold. 150 million people served. It’s hard to overstate the impact Dr. Henry Cloud has had on leaders all around the world. He has an extensive executive coaching background and experience as a leadership consultant, devoting the majority of his time working with CEOs, leadership teams, and executives to improve performance, leadership skills, and culture. We talked to him about all of this and why being a great leader is less
Episode 155 - The Day After I Sold My Business with Jewel Burks Solomon
For entrepreneurs, the day you sell your business is the goal you’ve been working toward for years. But what if this experience doesn’t live up to the hype?Jewel Burks Solomon, Founder of PartPic and Head of Startups at Google, talks about the day after her business was acquired by Amazon, what the process was like, and how reaching this perceived finish line isn't always what an entrepreneur might think.
Episode 154 - The Auntie Anne’s Story with Anne Beiler
We can confidently say that this is the first podcast where a Mennonite chicken farmer capable of writing million dollar checks has played a key supporting role. Sure, you know of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels—you’ve seen them in malls and probably tasted their incredible treats. But the story behind the business is one you’ll just have to hear to believe. So many entrepreneurs build out of a place of grief or loss and Anne Beiler is just one example of someone who took the trials in her life and turne
Episode 153 - Hearing the Voice of God with Bill Job
You no doubt have heard the saying that the primary purpose of business is to increase the value for its shareholders. Well, today’s guest might not agree with that. Instead, Bill Job would tell you that that idea is a little shortsighted. Instead, he believes that the purpose of business is to create eternal value. But what does that mean, and how does that work in practice? And how do you hear from God to know that the work you’re doing is having an eternal impact? We’ll let Bill walk you thro
Episode 152 - The Donut King with Ted Ngoy
In the late 90’s, Dunkin’ Donuts found it so hard to break into the Los Angeles donut market that they gave up. Why? Because of The Donut King.Ted Ngoy has opened over 70 donut shops in an effort to give Cambodian refugees a chance to earn a living and make it in America. At one point, his donut empire netted him over $20 million and a presidential award for achieving the American Dream from George H.W. Bush. Then, he lost everything. Listen in as “Uncle Ted” takes us through every up and down o
Episode 151 - You’re Not Just an Entrepreneur with Tony Evans
The story of today’s guest starts in a recording studio. When Dr. Tony Evans was a student at Dallas Theological Seminary, he was asked to preach on a radio show based out of Houston. After giving countless sermons to an audience he could never see, Tony gathered 10 people in his living room, which was the start Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. Fast forward and Oak Cliff Bible has roughly 10,000 members, Tony has written dozens of books, and countless people have encountered the gospel of Jesus Chris
Episode 150 - Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets with Andy Stanley
Everyone has a few regrets. Some regrets are inconsequential, others life-altering. Most could have been avoided. Andy Stanley, founder of North Point Ministries, a popular communicator, pastor, podcaster, and television host, has his share of regrets, but he’s found a way to keep the list short. His secret lies in five simple questions, which is what you’ll hear him talk about today. Useful Links:Better Decisions, Fewer RegretsWhen Work and Family Collide
Episode 149 - Building the Best Boats with Joan Maxwell
We’re so excited to introduce you to today’s guest. Joan Maxwell founded Regulator Marine with her husband, Owen, in 1988. Owen oversees design of their sportfishing boats; everything and everyone else reports to Joan. As the first female chairperson of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, Joan shared with us what it feels like to be in uncharted waters. She was the first person in her family to finish college, and she’s often the only woman in the room when it comes to her professiona
Episode 148 - From Cave Tours to Roller Coasters with Chris Herschend
Dollywood. Silver Dollar City. The Harlem Globetrotters. You’ve heard of all of those, but you might not know about the business behind them. That’s what today’s episode is about. Chris Herschend is a third-generation shareholder and Chairman of Missouri-based Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned themed attractions company in the US. Herschend properties span 26 locations and 10 states, employing over 10,000 people who collectively host over 13 million guests annually. Today, Chris is
Episode 147 - Faith in the Family Business with Frank Kelly III
Frank Kelly serves as CEO of Kelly & Associates Insurance Group, Kelly & Associates Financial Services (KELLY Payroll/KELLY Work Comp), KELLY Exchange Services, and KELLY Integral Solutions – collectively known as KELLY.As a group insurance administrator, broker, and consultant specializing in health care, KELLY has been recognized as the largest employee benefits administrator in Maryland and one of the largest in the Mid-Atlantic region. Since Frank was named President in 1994, KELLY has grown
Episode 146 - Fake News You Can Trust with Seth Dillon
If you’re a part of the Christian conservative community, you’ve probably heard of The Babylon Bee. It is, and we quote, “the world’s best satire site, totally inerrant in all its truth claims.”With headlines like “Man Who Doesn't Read The Bible Also Chief Authority On What Jesus Would Do Today,” it seems like a fun way for Christians to laugh at themselves. But as today’s guest and Babylon Bee CEO, Seth Dillon, explains, being a satirical site doesn’t come without a fair share of controversy. H
Episode 145 - Don’t Abandon the Playing Field with Jon Erwin
October Baby. Mom’s Night Out. Woodlawn. I Can Only Imagine. What do these movies have in common? They’re all creations from the Erwin brothers. Jon and Andrew have had a passion for creating and making movies since they were young, and today, Jon joined to share where that energy comes from. You’ll enjoy hearing the entrepreneurial energy behind making a movie and the business of filming, distributing, marketing, and every other aspect that makes a hit movie a hit.Lastly, Jon challenged the ste
Episode 144 - The Entrepreneurial Enneagram with Ian Morgan Cron
It’s strange how one number has become such a popular tool for defining our characteristics and even our identity. Today, we’re talking to someone who knows more about the enneagram than all three of your podcast hosts combined.Ian Morgan Cron is the author of The Road Back to You and a master teacher of the Enneagram, an ancient personality typing system that identifies nine types of people and how they relate to one another and the world. The Enneagram is a powerful tool for understanding why
Episode 143 - Why Community Matters with Sue Alice Sauthoff
Community. It’s one of the core tenets of the Faith Driven movement. If you’ve been listening for a while, we hope you’ve heard stories from around the world that have opened up your eyes to see that FDEs are everywhere, and they’re faithfully pursuing God’s will right where they are. Today, we’re talking with Sue Alice Sauthoff who has recently joined the FDE/FDI team as our Community Manager. She’s going to share all the new initiatives intended to foster community among FDEs all around the wo
Episode 142 - The Secret Recipe of Servant Leadership with Cheryl Bachelder
When Cheryl Bachelder took the helm at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, sales and profits were declining and shareholders and franchisees were unhappy. But during the nearly 10 years of Cheryl’s leadership, Popeyes stock moved from $11 in 2007 to a remarkable $79 at the time of its 2017 sale to Restaurant Brands International. So what's the secret ingredient to Popeyes turnaround? Cheryl joined us today to share how her unique strategy of servant leadership proved to be a recipe for success.
Finding Our Entrepreneurial Identity with Phil Vischer
Phil Vischer, author, filmmaker, and creator of VeggieTales, shares how the rise and fall of his first “Big Idea” led him to a new understanding of identity and what it means to be rooted in a relationship with Christ. He challenges Faith Driven Entrepreneurs to consider that God’s call on their lives is much more about walking with Him than it is doing things for Him. Listen in to hear him explain why it’s more important to know your identity is secure in who God is, rather than what you do or
Episode 140 - The Why Behind Woodwalkers with David Powell and PJ Nardy
If you’re a fan of Mike Rowe’s television show Dirty Jobs, then I think you’re going to like today’s episode. While working on telephone poles isn’t exactly a dirty job, it is a high-risk, challenging, and technical one and today’s guests are going to tell us all about it. David Powell and PJ Nardy own and operate the Southeastern Lineman Training Center where they lead the premier training school for apprentice lineworker training. Their job is so interesting and unique that it has its own show
Episode 139 - What is Marketplace? with Vip Vipperman
One thing that makes this show so special is the feedback we receive from listeners just like you. Today’s episode is the fruit of your feedback. Many of you have talked about how helpful it would be to connect the Faith Driven Investor world with the Faith Driven Entrepreneur world. Well, we heard you. And out of that has arrived something we are beyond excited to share with you. It’s called Marketplace, and it’s a space for like-minded investors to find faith-driven deals and funds that help t
Episode 138 - Fundraising 101 with Jake Thomsen
We're so grateful for the feedback that we've received from so many of you, the encouragement you've shared, and the questions you've asked. And today, we're going to attempt to answer one of those questions. Fundraising is such a critical part of the entrepreneurial journey. It can be scary and uncertain and overwhelming at times, but it's, quite literally, a part of the job. So, we're going to talk to Jake Thomsen who is a Partner at Sovereign's Capital leading the venture practice, which mean
Episode 137 - Redeeming the Entrepreneur-Investor Relationship with Jessica Kim
No one likes to be a part of a dysfunctional relationship. Yet, entrepreneurs and investors can often be on completely different pages with completely different goals and expectations.Today’s conversation between Henry Kaestner and Jessica Kim gives both sides of the story. Jessica shares how setting unrealistic expectations hurts the entrepreneur’s ability to follow through and the investor’s ability to determine success. And Henry talks about the fundraising side of his entrepreneurial journey
Episode 136 - Around the Table: 2020 Year in Review
We’re just as happy as you are that 2020 has finally come to an end. There’s been turmoil, turnover, and uncertainty around every corner. Yet, here at FDE, one thing has remained constant—this podcast.Week in and week out, we’ve recorded these conversations as we always do, and we couldn’t be more grateful for all the guests that joined us as well as the grounding consistency that this routine has provided.For those who have listened along all year, this will be a time to reflect on what we’ve h
Episode 135 - Forgiveness at a Funeral with Monty Williams
No one ever prepares to speak at their spouse’s funeral. But after a tragic car accident, Coach Monty Williams found himself burying his wife long before they had a chance to grow old together. But what happened in that moment was something powerful and unforgettable—he offered forgiveness to the driver who had killed his wife. Monty took us through this story, every painful detail, but he also talked about the hope he has found on the other side of tragedy and what he loves about coaching in th
Episode 134 - How Entrepreneurs Can Design a Different Future with Dave Blanchard
Dave Blanchard, co-founder of Praxis, inspires faith-driven entrepreneurs and investors to pursue redemptive entrepreneurship--“following the pattern of creative restoration through sacrifice”--as they venture into the business world. In today's episode, he presents a gospel-centered plan encompassing redemptive strategic vision, a biblical operating model, and the value of intentional, sacrificial leadership.
Episode 133 - The Founder and CEO Relationship with Brittany and Sheeba
When Brittany Underwood founded Akola Jewelry, she had no idea what the future of the jewelry handcrafted by women in Uganda would look like. Now, you can find Akola jewelry in Nordstrom's all across America. Today, you're going to hear her whole entrepreneurial story, but you're also going to hear from Sheeba Philip, the current CEO of Akola. Together, Brittany and Sheeba talked about the relationship between founders and CEOs, some avoidable pitfalls, and how their collaboration best serves th
Episode 132 - The Authority and Vulnerability Paradox with Andy Crouch
Andy Crouch, partner for theology and culture at Praxis, joined us to talk about the drama of leadership and how to navigate the tensions of authority and vulnerability as a faith driven entrepreneur. Andy presents a 2x2 matrix and explains the surprising reality that “authority and vulnerability go together at the moments of greatest flourishing in our lives.” Listen in to hear his call to reconsider the role authority, vulnerability, control, and safety play in our lives.
Episode 131 - From a Place of Helping People to a $14B Valuation with Anthony Tan
If you're in America, you may think of the company Grab as the Uber of Southeast Asia. Of course, if you live in Southeast Asia, Uber is the Grab of America. Whatever way you look at it, with 198 Million Downloads of the App, 9 Million Drivers in 352 Cities in 8 Countries, and a $14B valuation, Anthony Tan and Grab are making huge waves in the ridesharing industry. Today, Anthony shared his entrepreneurial journey which started with a simple question: how can I best take care of other people?
Episode 130 - Love Works with Joel Manby
Today's guest has over 25 years of CEO experience at major corporations, and he's got some wisdom to show for it. Joel Manby's most recent job was as the President and CEO of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. Before that, he served as the CEO of Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned theme park and entertainment company in the United States with popular brands such as the Harlem Globetrotters and Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park and dinner theaters. All that experience led him to wri
Episode 129 - Building Up Black Businesses with Jewel Burks Solomon
Jewel Burks Solomon is the Founder of PartPic, which raised over $2million before being acquired by Amazon. And that was just the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. Now, she’s a managing partner at Collab Capital—a group working to provide a viable pathway to sustained wealth for the black community. She’s an incredible story, a fascinating entrepreneur and investor, and someone we can’t wait for you to hear from...
Episode 128 - Corner to Corner with Will Acuff
Today’s guest comes to us from Nashville, Tennessee. Will Acuff noticed he was surrounded by talent all over his community, but these people were lacking a clear path to opportunity. So, he and his wife Tiffany co-founded Corner to Corner, where they created The Academy, which works to give underestimated entrepreneurs a clear path to start their business journey. Will joined us today to share his personal entrepreneurial journey, as well as the success stories he gets to see and be a part of ev
Episode 127 - The Reach Records Origin Story with Lecrae and Ben Washer
Lecrae is the staple of the Christian rap scene. When people are looking to define the genre, they look to him. And with good reason—he has won 3 grammy awards. But before he was the face of Christian rap, he and Ben Washer, now Co-Founder and CEO of Reach Records, were recording songs for summer camps and pursuing their creative dreams in the best, scrappy way they knew how. We talked to both of them about the story behind Reach Records, why Lecrae moved to a traditional label and then back to
Episode 126 - Redefining Fine Dining in a Pandemic with Mark Canlis
Food & Wine Magazine once called Canlis “one of the 40 most important restaurants in the past 40 years.” They’ve humbly received 22 consecutive Wine Spectator Grand Awards and have been nominated for 15 James Beard Awards and we've won three of them. But today’s podcast guest, Mark Canlis, won’t tell you that. Instead, he’ll talk to you about the lives he gets to interact with every day, both in the kitchen and on the floor. And he’ll also happily tell you about the work they’re doing to provide
Episode 125 - Leading in a New Moral Code with Gabe Lyons
Truth is still truth in the marketplace of ideas. But society has constructed a new moral code that makes it difficult to navigate. So, how do we navigate winsomely in a world when 42% of people think that people of faith are not the help, or the answer, but rather the problem? Gabe Lyons, founder of Q Media has spent a decade wading into the data and bringing out the conversations that we need to have as Christ Followers and to make sure we understand the waters we’re wading into each day when
Episode 124 - Unscripted with Ernie Johnson
Hard to argue that there is a better halftime show than the NBA on TNT crew with Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and today’s guest, Ernie Johnson. Ernie shared with us just what makes that show so special (and so fun), as well as his personal story, which includes calling MLB games with his dad and his battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Ernie is an incredible man of faith, and he shared both the hilarious and the serious sides of his life with us today. You won’t want to miss this
Episode 123 - Building with Your Spouse with Bryan and Shannon Miles
Bryan and Shannon Miles are the husband and wife team behind BELAY. Bootstrapping their business with no outside funding, BELAY has generated over $100M in revenues since its beginning and has exploded to over one thousand team members.Without an office, BELAY has graced the Inc. 5000 list five times and was awarded the number one spot in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Best Company Culture and been featured in several top-tier media outlets over the years.With a company focused on providing virtual sup
Episode 122 - Entrepreneur Will Save the World with Michael Hyatt
Today’s guest is one that needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. Michael Hyatt is the former Chairman & CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers and the current Founder & CEO of a fast-growing, Inc. 5000 leadership-development company. He is also a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of multiple books. With a top-rated podcast called Lead to Win, bestselling physical products, and an executive group coaching program, his business reaches over 1 million people a mo
Episode 121 - Global Franchising Redemptive Culture with Peter Irvine
At 14-years-old, Peter Irvine took a job at an advertising agency and then worked his way up to the top. Then, someone in his church small group pointed him toward a business that he should get involved in based out of Chicago.Well, one round trip between Australia and America later and Peter Irvine found himself as an international franchisee for GLoria Jean’s Coffee Shops. His story is amazing, and the work he’s doing to maintain a redemptive culture when his businesses are literally in dozens
Episode 120 - Killing the Idea Fairy with Hamilton Powell
Well, would you look at the time? It’s another Tuesday with Faith Driven Entrepreneur, and today’s episode is for all you old-schoolers who check the time by looking at your wrist. That’s right, we’re talking about watches, not phone screens. Today’s guest is Hamilton Powell of Crown & Caliber. He buys and sells used luxury watches, and today he’s going to share with us how he got started on this entrepreneurial venture and what it means to “kill the good idea fairy.” It’s a fascinating conversa
Episode 119 - Workplace Relationships in a Remote World with Dr. Paul White
Today, we’re talking about love languages. Now, you may have heard of the five love languages, but that’s not where we’re going today. Instead, we’re talking to Dr. Paul White, co-author of The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, to hear how the principles that are so useful in our marriages and relationships can also apply to our work and how we lead our businesses. Dr. Paul White is a licensed psychologist who has worked with individuals, businesses, and families in a variety of sett
Episode 118 - What is a Faith Driven Entrepreneur? with J.D. Greear
We are SO excited for today’s episode and for what it means for you, the Faith Driven Entrepreneur. As you know, our mission is to equip and encourage you along the journey. Obviously, we hope this podcast is a part of doing exactly that, but we also know that there are more ways to create and share resources to help you live out your faith in your work. One of the ways we’ve done that is through our new 8-part video series in partnership with RightNow Media on what it means to be a Faith Driven
Episode 117 - The Prodigal Son of Charity Water with Scott Harrison
If you’ve never heard of Scott Harrison or Charity: Water, you’re going to be glad you tuned in today. His story starts when after a decade as a nightclub promoter, Scott declared spiritual, moral, and emotional bankruptcy. As Scott shares, he tried every vice imaginable before he found himself looking for something more. In a search for meaning, he spent two years on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, taking photos and experiencing the effects of dirty water firsthand.In 2006, he came ba
Episode 116 - Investing in Overlooked Entrepreneurs with Alfa Demmellash
Today’s guest was once recognized by President Barack Obama during a speech at the White House, and she was named one of Forbes’ Most Powerful Women Changing the World with Philanthropy. As the CEO and Co-Found of Rising Tide Capital, Alfa Demmellash is working to help underserved entrepreneurs get the recognition and investment capital they need.In this podcast, she took us on a journey to Ethiopia, Harvard, and Rwanda, and we think you’ll love every step of the way...
Episode 115 - Pivots in a Massive Sea of Change with Pete Ochs and David Simnick
For today’s episode, we brought back one of our favorite Faith Driven Entrepreneurs and Investors, Pete Ochs, and with him today is David Simnick, Founder of SoapBox Soaps. They both shared their entrepreneurial journeys with us, but what we spent most of our time talking about was the way they both had to adjust quickly in the face of Covid-19. Their ability to nimbly pivot their businesses sets a great example for anyone wondering how to respond to uncertain times. We can all learn a lesson fr
Episode 114 - Making Collectibles Profitable with Jim Beckett
If you grew up collecting baseball cards, you’re going to love today’s show. We sat down and talked with Jim Beckett, creator of Beckett magazine, the gold standard for valuing trading cards. He shared with us his personal story, gave us some insight into the memorabilia collected in his office, and also told us about how he stewarded his influence to be a further encouragement to aspiring Faith Driven Entrepreneurs. Our time with him was fun, interesting, and educational, and we think you’ll en
Episode 113 - The Coming Revolution in Church Economics? with Mark Deymaz
Today’s guest is thought-leading writer and recognized champion of the Multiethnic Church Movement, Mark DeYmaz. He’s the author of several books and is on the show today to talk to us about his latest, The Coming Revolution in Church Economics. Mark shared how churches can respond to the steady decrease in tithes and donations happening around the world—especially in light of recent events. He has some radical and creative ideas on how church leaders and business leaders can work together, and
Episode 112 - The COVID Relief Contract with Eric and Evan Edwards
Today’s episode features two entrepreneurs who have created a product that has saved more than 5,000 lives. Seriously. Eric and Evan Edwards are entrepreneurial twins who created pocket-sized auto-injectors that help those suffering from a severe allergic reaction or opioid overdose. Their ingenuity is changing the game for easy-to-use, accessible healthcare, and they’re on the frontlines of the current battles facing the American healthcare system. Recently, a new Company Eric has co-founded wa
Episode 111 - Engaging the Pain Points of Entrepreneurship with Jessica Kim
In the midst of a global pandemic, healthcare workers have become modern day super heroes—risking their lives every day for the health and safety of their patients. Today’s guest is Jessica Kim, Co-Founder of IanaCare, a passionate team of caregivers, supporters, patients, and medical professionals. They’ve been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle faithfully working with the hopes that all 43.5 million caregivers in America will feel the love and support they deserve. Jessica shared what li
Episode 110 - Disruption Can Help the Healthcare Industry with April Anthony
We’re so excited to share our conversation with April Anthony. April is the founder and CEO of Encompass Home Health. Her entrepreneurial journey started when she took over a company in her 20s and then grew it into one of the most successful home healthcare businesses. Today, she shared with us what that journey looked like, and she also gave us insight into what it looks like for healthcare workers who are currently on the frontlines fighting against COVID-19.Useful Links:April Anthony CEO Cha
Episode 109 - Leaving the Storm Behind with Andy Crouch and Dave Blanchard
Today’s podcast is the first time we’ve ever heard two guests return to share one episode. And it’s going to be awesome. Andy Crouch and Dave Blanchard are two of the leaders of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur conversation and both have a lot to say that’s worth listening to. But today, we’re specifically talking to them about an article we recently featured on the site titled, “Leading Beyond the Blizzard: Why Every Organization is Now a Startup.”In an uncertain future, these two are going to hel
SPECIAL EDITION - It's Time for Honest Conversations with Benjamin Watson
Today’s episode features a Super Bowl champion. And while his NFL career is illustrious, it’s what Benjamin Watson has done off the field as both an author and leader that he’d like to tell you about. He’s written two books—Under Our Skin, which addresses the racial divide in America and The New Dad’s Playbook, which is a must-read for any father with a newborn. He’s known for speaking truth and saying the tough things that need to be said in the moment. And in times like these, we’re grateful f
Episode 108 - Know What You're For with Jeff Henderson
Why? It’s a big question, regardless of the context. It’s something we hear little kids ask all the time, and many of us never grow out of wondering why things are the way they are. We want to know what things are for, and going one layer deeper, we want to know what we are for. That’s the question at the heart of today’s podcast featuring Jeff Henderson, a pastor out of Atlanta and author of a book titled: Know What You’re FOR: A Growth Strategy for Work, An Even Better Strategy for Life.Jeff h
Episode 107 - Pruning One Business to Grow Another with Lara Casey
If you’ve ever tried gardening before, you know that it is some hard work. You’ve got to plant, water, prune, get rid of weeds, watch for varmints sneaking in, and a whole host of other problems. It really is no joke. And today’s guest knows a lot about gardening and the value of hard work. Her name is Lara Casey and she’s the author of multiple books, including Make it Happen: Surrender Your Fear. Take the Leap, Live on Purpose, and Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life
Episode 106 - Faith, Family, and Ducks with Al Robertson
Today’s guest comes from a group that you almost certainly have heard of. Their values are faith, family...and ducks. Not sure if you guessed that third one, but if you did, then you’re probably a fan of Duck Dynasty, the television show about the Robertson family and their business. What started as a one man job making duck calls out of Louisiana Cedar trees has now exploded into a multi-million dollar business and cultural sensation. And today, we’re talking to Al Robertson to hear the story o
Episode 105 - How the Constitution Protects Faith Driven Entrepreneurs with Kelly Shackelford
Today’s guest has argued in front of the United States Supreme Court. Now, normally we try to list multiple accolades and interesting facts about the guest, but do you really need anything other than that? Kelly Shackelford is the President & CEO of First Liberty, the largest law firm in the country dedicated exclusively to protecting the first amendment rights of Americans—that is, freedom of religion. Kelly came on to talk to us about his entrepreneurial journey in starting First Liberty, how
Episode 104 - Don't Miss It: Parenting as an Entrepreneur with Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivy
Today’s podcast features an excellent tag-team duo in Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivy. Reggie is the founder and CEO of Orange, a nonprofit organization providing resources and training to help churches maximize their influence on the spiritual growth of the next generation. Kristen works with him as the Executive Director of messaging, and they are both authors and co-authors of several books on parenting, discipleship, and small group ministry. Together, they have some incredible insights into w
Episode 103 - 99% Confession Equals 0% Freedom with Rob Thomas and Jeff Parker
Do not skip this episode. That’s all we have to say. We have a lot of great stories on this show, but today is a powerful story told from the perspective of two parties. On one hand, you have an entrepreneur who finds out one of his best friends and business partners has stolen six figures from the company. And on the other hand, you have a man who has made a series of personal decisions that have gotten completely out of hand. The story of Rob Thomas and Jeff Parker tells a powerful tale of dec
Episode 102 - The Entrepreneur's Time-Starved Marriage with Les Parrott
We spend a lot of time on this show talking about entrepreneurs. Duh, right? That’s the name of the show. But today, we want to veer off our normal business strategy conversation and talk about life outside of work—primarily, time with our family. Today’s guest is Les Parrott. He works alongside his wife Leslie who shares the same passion for helping others build healthy relationships. The Parrotts have been featured in USA Today and the New York Times, and they have also appeared on CNN, The To
Episode 101 - Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Athlete with Adam LaRoche
When Adam LaRoche, Golden Glove Winner and Standout for the Chicago WhiteSox decided to retire from professional baseball, his decision seemed like one of the most unexpected moves in sports. But for those who know him, this move aligned perfectly with the integrity of his character. In today’s episode, you’re going to get a peek behind the curtain of the life of Adam LaRoche—his MLB career, the factors surrounding his decision to retire, and his journey as a Faith Driven Entrepreneur. Hear all
Episode 100 - The Motive of Faith Driven Entrepreneurs with Patrick Lencioni
Today’s guest is a special one and someone you’re probably already familiar with. Patrick Lencioni is a renowned business consultant and the author of 11 books—including The Ideal Team Player, The Advantage, and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team—which have sold over 6 million copies. Today, we got to hear him talk about his new book, The Motive, that dials into the why behind every great leader. Few people have more expertise on the subject than Patrick Lencioni, so stop reading this and start lis
SPECIAL EDITION - Playing for an Audience of One with Coach Scott Drew
What could Scott Drew, the Coach of Baylor Men’s Basketball have to do with entrepreneurship/investing? Well, we’re excited to announce that we’re launching a new initiative—The Faith Driven Athlete. Our passion is to show how God moves in all of our work, as entrepreneurs, investors, athletes and this is the next step in that.We’re bringing you this special episode because, had it not been for COVID-19, this weekend would’ve been the start of the NCAA Final Four. And Baylor is one of the teams
Episode 99 - Taking Service to Another Level with Horst Schulze
Today’s guest is one that needs no introduction, and we’re so excited we got to have a conversation with him and that we get to share it with you. Horst Schulze is co-founder of The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company. He is also partnered with Arch + Tower, a customer and employee experience consulting group, in order to produce a comprehensive masterclass of employee and customer experience training content.Horst is the author of Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of C
Episode 98 - Worry Is Not Our Friend with Todd Wagner
We’re combining the Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor audiences today to continue to address the current events we face. Todd Wagner joined us to speak into how we as believers can respond to the fear and worry surrounding COVID-19. Todd is the lead pastor at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas. If that name sounds familiar to you it’s probably because you’ve heard Henry mention it in the intro to this podcast as the location for where we will be hosting our Faith Drive
Episode 97 - Leading Through Global Crisis with Mark Sears of CloudFactory
It’s no secret that everyone’s day-to-day lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus. So, in light of current events—the pandemic, along with its economic and social effects—we wanted to bring on a guest to speak into what we’re all experiencing. That’s what brings us to Mark Sears, Founder and CEO of CloudFactory. CloudFactory is using technology to create meaningful work for as many people as possible by building the best on-demand digital workforce known to man. Early on in Mark’s
Episode 96 - What Defines a Healthy Leader with Greg Leith of Convene
It’s Tuesday. Which means it’s time to gather. Or, as you might say, it’s time to Convene. And that’s exactly what we’re talking about today. Our guest, Greg Leith is from the greater Los Angeles area, and he leads a ministry to Christian CEOs and Entrepreneurs called Convene. His work there has taught him what it means to be a healthy leader, as well as what we as entrepreneurs can do to foster and encourage our growth as both leaders and people. Listen in to catch the wisdom and insight Greg s
Episode 95 - Work, Love, and Women’s Mentoring with Diane Paddison of 4word
We are so excited to share our interview with you today. Diane Paddison is the Founder and President of 4Word—a group where she is a leading advocate for the professional Christian women community. She is a Harvard MBA graduate, the former global executive of two Fortune 500 companies and one Fortune 1000 company, and she serves as an independent director for two corporations and four not-for-profits. She’s also the author of Work, Love, Pray: Practical Wisdom for Professional Christian Women an
Episode 94 - How Should a Christian Let People Go? with Vic Ho of Fivestars
Today features one of our first repeat guests! Vic Ho is the founder of Fivestars—a business with the mission of “transforming transactions into relationships.” He shared a little about what they do, but he also talked about what happened when the start-up hit a rough patch and needed to lay off 50 people. We all hit rough patches, and how we handle those is a unique opportunity for us to be different. Vic felt compelled to take a different approach, one that was consistent with the company’s va
Episode 93 - 3-D Printing an Entire Village with Brett Hagler of New Story
Today’s episode features a unique entrepreneurial journey that includes 3-D printing of homes. Yeah, you heard that right. Printing homes. Brett Hagler is the CEO and Co-Founder of New Story. He’s a Y Combinator alum, Praxis fellow, author, cancer survivor, and a 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneur. The list goes on and on.Under his leadership, New Story was recognized as one of Fast Company's 2017 and 2019 "Most Innovative Companies In The World." Brett and his team are currently working with
Episode 92 - Stewarding the Discipleship of 3 Million Users with Brian Mosley of RightNow Media
We have another entrepreneurial adventure story for you today—this time, featuring Brian Mosley, President of RightNow Media. If you haven’t already heard of them, there’s a good chance someone in your church has. They’re basically the Netflix of Bible Video Studies. Their website has thousands of videos and resources from many Christian leaders, which they use to serve over 20,000 churches, schools and businesses. They’ve produced, curated, and published resources on everything from marriage to
Episode 91 - Can A Business Be Christian? with Curtis Chang
Today we put an end to an age-old question—can a business itself have spiritual meaning? For years as Entrepreneurs, we’ve been called to live out our faith in our individual work activities and relationships. But we are fundamentally about building business enterprises. Can we take it a step further to conceive of the enterprise—the organization itself—as having spiritual significance?Curtis Chang is our guest who’s recently come out with some work that makes the case for all organizations—incl
Episode 90 - Media, Culture, and Opportunities for the Faith Driven Movement with Tom Nelson of Made to Flourish
If you’ve followed the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast for a while, today’s guest won’t be a stranger to you. Tom Nelson is one of those visionary pastors of a multi-site church called Christ Community, and he’s been widely recognized in the Faith Driven Entrepreneur community for his book, Work Matters. He also serves on the board of The Gospel Coalition and is President of Made to Flourish.Today, we had him on the show to talk about a recent article that appeared in The New York TImes—someth
Episode 89 - Achieving Preeminence with Glen Jackson
Too often in business circles, the word Christian can be an adjective for “subpar.” One of the Marks of a Faith Driven Entrepreneur is a realization that excellence matters and it earns us a right to be heard in our industry and the world around us. Today’s guest is Glen Jackson, author of Preeminence—a book based on 30+ years of working with brands like Chick-fil-a, Delta, Coca-Cola, Interstate, Toyota, Lexus, and others. He uses his experience to share what it means to be the preeminent brand
Episode 88 - Finding God in Golf and Business with John Solheim, CEO of PING
In the golf industry, there are few more recognized names of excellence than PING. For today’s show we go out to Phoenix to interview today’s guest, John Solheim. He’s the second generation of family leadership since the company’s inception in 1959. As recently as a few years ago, John had the unique opportunity to pass the baton to the third generation of leadership with his oldest son stepping in as company president. Today we take a look at their family’s journey to become a preeminent brand
Episode 87 - Setting Priorities for the Year Ahead with Steve Graves
Today we’re talking to Steve Graves. For the past 25 years he's worked with hundreds of organizations from Fortune 100 giants to small bootstrapping start-ups. He’s a regular contributor to the blog site where we love to share his wisdom and he’s also very involved with our friends at Praxis, coaching other young entrepreneurs. Steve’s written some great, practical books that we highly recommend. We like to think of them as Operators Manuals for startups. Today we get to kick off this new year s
Episode 86 - What Shapes Your Desires? with Toby Kurth
Today we are talking to Toby Kurth, lead pastor at Christ Church San Francisco. Toby has been a faithful voice inside the Faith Driven Movement, a friend, pastor and even Chaplain to our team. We’re excited that we finally got to have him on the show today—feels like this episode is long overdue. We’re going to hear a bit of his story, and we’re also going to dive in with him on the 5 Marks of a Faith Driven Entrepreneur, which he was instrumental in shaping. If you haven’t read those yet, we su
Episode 85 - The Search Fund Path to Entrepreneurship with Nick and Giovanni Gallo
Too often we think there are just one or two roads to being an Entrepreneur. We think of the lemonade stand kid who hits it big, or maybe we think of the “accidental entrepreneurs” like Mark McLain who shared his story on a previous podcast. But not as many know about the idea of a Search Fund, where an entrepreneur enlists investors with the purpose of acquiring a company and dropping in as the new day to day leader. There's a whole unique set of circumstances with this approach that we’re goin
Episode 84 - The Generational Transfer of Interstate Batteries with Norm and Scott Miller
Today we’re talking to Norm and Scott Miller. Norm is the Chairman and Scott is the CEO of Interstate Batteries. They steward a company that for the past 6 decades has been leading its industry with outrageous dependability. You may know Interstate batteries from their logos on the side of NASCAR winners, but you may not know that they offer over 12,000 different batteries and have sold more than 300 million units. They’ve also been innovating in discovering ways for their faith to lead them in
Episode 83 - Jailhouse Business with Pete Ochs
Today’s episode takes us to jail. Well...not exactly. But we are interviewing a man who owns and operates a business that is run out of a high security prison. His name is Pete Ochs, and in addition to working as founder and chairman of an impact investing company, he’s also working to make Hutchinson Correctional Facility in Kansas the best prison in America. How? Well, we’ll let him tell you…But what you should know is that Pete’s approach to business, and to life, has less to do with leadersh
Episode 82 - Devoting Daily to God's Word with Jon Collins, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of The Bible Project
Today we’re talking to Jon Collins, the co-founder of Epipheo—a cutting edge video production company that is passionate about getting to the heart of why things matter. The name of their company comes from the combination of the words “epiphany” and “video.” And from Jon’s story, it seems like those are the two things that have defined his life’s work.In addition to talking about Epipheo, Jon also shared with us the entrepreneurial journey of The Bible Project, an incredible work that breaks do
Episode 81 - The Redemptive Nonprofit with Jena Nardella of Praxis
Today we’re in the Bay Area talking to Jena Nardella of Praxis. You may know Jena from some of her work improving clean water access around the world and her book titled One Thousand Wells: How an Audacious Goal Taught Me to Love the World Instead of Save It. Today she works on building the durability and sustainability of nonprofit organizations and leaders with Praxis and recently their team wrote a book called The Redemptive Nonprofit.We invited Jena on to share some of her story and also to
Episode 80 - Serving Those Who Steal from You with Craig Deall
“If a man steals your farm, teach him how to farm.” We’ve all heard sermons and messages on forgiveness and turning the other cheek, but the story of Craig Deall takes these truths to a whole new level. Craig actually lived this. Under the rule of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe forced thousands of industrial farmers to give up their lands. In a moment, generations of family wealth was gone. But rather than seeking revenge or restitution, Craig chose the path of reconciliation—actually working for the v
Episode 79 - The Science of Radical Giftology with John Ruhlin
Everyone has a story about receiving a gift they had no interest in, but do any of us know if we’ve ever given a gift that someone else didn’t want? This is exactly the situation John Ruhlin wants to help you avoid. John is the author of Giftology, a book that teaches the science of “radical generosity.” He has helped countless companies boost their referrals, retention rates, and ROI, and our interview with him was a gift in and of itself!John has helped people accelerate relationships with the
Episode 78 - Terrorist Threat, Charity Case, or Refugee Workforce? with Chris Chancey of Amplio Recruiting
There are 7 million jobs in America that will go unfilled in 2019.This means that even if every unemployed person in America got a job tomorrow, we’d still have a labor gap of over a million people. So, what’s the solution? Well, Chris Chancey has some ideas that come from the value of the refugee workforce.On this episode, he shares with us the importance of the immigrant and refugee workforce—a group that is behind so many of the products we use. In addition to sharing the story of Amplio Recr
Episode 77 - The Journey from Sexual Brokenness to Healing with Jay Stringer
Last year, on a single porn site alone, people watched 4.6 billion hours worth of pornographic videos. That’s around 5,000 centuries worth of time.Clearly, sexual Brokenness is a problem. But that’s not new. What is new is how Jay Stringer, author of Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing, is helping us understand this subject. Instead of looking for new techniques of “lust management,” Jay is working to encourage people to address their sexual brokenness and the core issues
Episode 76 - Are Christians Called to Comfort? with Super Bowl Winner and CEO of Movement Mortgage, Casey Crawford
Entrepreneurs know what it’s like to be uncomfortable. Yet, there’s something in modern/Western Christianity that expects comfort. We often act as though God has called us to a life of comfort and ease, not one of stress and sacrifice. But as Casey Crawford points out, Jesus didn’t exactly live an easy life! And this is just one way he gave us a great perspective alongside a paradigm shift in this podcast episode.As you’ll hear, Casey came out of the gate firing, and we hope you can keep up with
Episode 75 - The Entrepreneur's Hidden Battle with Depression with Max Anderson
On today’s episode, we invited Max Anderson to come in and help us tackle a difficult yet important topic—depression among entrepreneurs. Max is an entrepreneur and a writer. Each week, he writes something called The Weekend Reader, where he explores one big idea from culture with a handful of suggested articles. Recently, he dove into how depression affects entrepreneurs, and what he found was staggering—entrepreneurs are anywhere from 2-10x more likely to suffer from mental challenges. It’s a
Episode 74 - The Investor as a Servant Leader with Frank Chen of Andreessen Horowitz
Our friend Frank Chen is the final guest in this 4-part series on the Faith Driven Investor. And he stopped by to talk about how he’s helping entrepreneurs change the World at the Silicon Valley Venture powerhouse of Andreessen Horowitz. As Frank describes it they are “helping entrepreneurs build software companies that are eating the world” (he’ll give you a little more info about what that means in our interview).
Frank Chen is a self proclaimed former product and user experience design junkie
Episode 73 - Image Management: Growing Through Failure with Nathan Sheets of Nature Nate’s
We’ve got a good one for you today. Nathan Sheets is CEO of Nature Nate’s Honey, and he was also involved with I Am Second,and E3, and you’ll hear a bit of all of those stories. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. When we sat down to talk to Nathan, we had no idea how deep he was going to take us. Right away, he opened up about the ups and downs he has gone through with a level of candor that we couldn’t even believe. If you’re looking for what life as an entrepreneur looks like—and we mean,
Episode 72 - Has the Center of the Faith and Work Movement moved to Silicon Valley? with Christeen Rico
Faith-Based Employee Resource Groups. This term may be new to you, or it may be something you’re already participating in. Either way, this episode is for you. Christeen Rico is leading the conversation around ERGs, and what she shared in our conversation was both informative and insightful.
If you don’t know, ERGs are groups within companies that foster community and conversation among like-minded people. Companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, Toyota, and many more are creating these types of
Episode 71 - Letting Trust Drive Business with Don Flow of Flow Automotive
Imagine you’re walking into a car dealership to buy a new car. Now, most people don’t associate that thought with a pleasant experience—there’s negotiation, uncertainty, and the inevitability of a big purchase. But Don Flow and Flow Automotive set out to change this idea, and in doing so, they created a business founded on values and principles that manifest themselves in these words: exercise faith, live love, and bring hope. That sounds better!
In this episode, Don Flow opened up a fire hydran
Episode 70 - Entrepreneurs Who Create their Own Category with Trae Stephens of Founders Fund
Today’s episode takes us to Silicon Valley to connect with Trae Stephens. You may have seen Trae on CNBC, or you may know him as one of the Partners at Founders Fund. It was an honor to have Trae on to share about his experiences—everything from his time in politics working for Congressmen and in Embassies to now working alongside Peter Thiel. Trae also shares about his life as a Christ-Follower and how it shapes his view of the investing world.
In particular, Trae outlines what it means for an
Episode 69 - "One Million Followers Wasn’t in My Obituary" with Sanyin Siang of The Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics
Today’s guest, Sanyin Siang, is the executive director for the Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a professor with its Pratt School of Engineer. She is an advisor for Google Ventures (GV), Sports Innovation Labs, Duke Corporate Education and author of The Launch Book: Motivational Stories to Launch Your Idea, Business, or Next Career.
If that list isn’t enough to get you to press play on this episode, you should also know that she has o
Episode 68 - How 'Love Thy Neighbor' Turned from a Command to a Business with Pete Kelly of Apartment Life
When we first learned about Apartment Life it sounded too good to be true. The work they do in apartment complexes improves their overall financial performance, grows their online reputation, and strengthens their resident retention rates. With benefits like these, it’s no surprise that they’re taking off, now serving over 3 million residents from coast to coast. In this episode, Pete Kelly explains just how they do it.
We believe this podcast is especially valuable to you for two reasons. One,
Episode 67 - Stewarding the Journey of an Accidental Entrepreneur with Mark McClain, CEO and Co-founder of SailPoint (NYSE: SAIL)
Join us outside of Austin, Texas where we are connecting with Mark McClain. Mark likes to refer to himself as an accidental entrepreneur. He didn’t grow up as the lemonade stand kid but has since gone on to start two different companies. Today, he leads SailPoint, an identity management business started in 2005 that is publicly traded with a market cap around $2 Billion and 1,200 team members across 33 different companies. Today, you can hear Mark share his powerful story of being an “Accidental
Episode 66 - The Faith Driven Investor with Henry Kaestner and Aimee Minnich
We’re so excited to finally launch the Faith Driven Investor podcast. Over the next several weeks, we’ll feature episodes tailored for fund managers, investors, business owners and pastors that believe God owns it all and who care deeply about how we steward our investments for financial return and gospel-centered transformation. If that sounds interesting to you, tune in today!
This week’s episode features Henry Kaestner of Sovereign’s Capital and Aimee Minnich of Impact Foundation. Together th
Episode 65 - How Do You Build a Healthy Family and a Growing Business? with Ben and Liz Bohannon of Sseko Designs
Is it possible to have a healthy family while building a successful business? That’s the question at the heart of this week’s episode with Ben and Liz Bohannon of Sseko Designs. Their business began as a way to generate income for high-potential, talented young women in Uganda to continue on to university. Since then, it’s grown rapidly from a Shark Tank phenomenon to a global success. Hear how Ben and Liz are navigating the world of global business while still managing to focus on their home, t
Episode 64 - God of the Second Shift with Jeff Haanen from the Denver Institute of Faith and Work
Join William and Henry in the Mile-High city as they talk to Jeff Haanen from the Denver Institute for Faith and Work. His article, God of the Second Shift, made waves in the faith and work world, and we’re excited to have him on our podcast today to talk more about how we can move this conversation around theology and business from the corner office to the manufacturing floor. Tune in to hear what Jeff has to share about what a theology of work means for those in the working class.
As you’ll he
Episode 63 - Finding Peace on the Other Side of Obedience: Around the Table with Henry, William, and Rusty
Every once in a while we like to take a break from interviewing guests to give our hosts a chance to riff on what God is doing in their lives and what they’re learning through the process. In this episode, you’ll hear about William’s upcoming move to Atlanta, Henry’s journey to India, and some wisdom Rusty has recently picked up from a book he’s reading. Pull up a chair and join our hosts around the table to enjoy a chat about life, God, and entrepreneurship.
In the first section of this episode
Episode 62 - When Did Corporations Grow a Conscience? with Lake Lambert, President of Hanover College
It’s common to think of corporate values as a concept that has always been around, but Lake Lambert, President of Hanover College in Indiana, is here to educate us and show that this isn’t actually the case. Lake is the author of Spirituality, Inc—a book that examines the history of religion in the American workplace—and he joins Henry, William, and Rusty to share what he’s learned about workplace spirituality from the past and what we might expect for the future.
In this episode, you’ll hear fr
Episode 61 - The Scoreboard of the Monday Church with Tom Nelson of Made to Flourish
We are always looking at how faith and entrepreneurship go hand in hand, and generally, we speak to entrepreneurs about their work and how their faith is involved. On this episode, Tom helps us look at this same topic from the other perspective—he explains first about his faith and then how it affects his work. What he shares in the process is a helpful theology of work, reminding us that we serve “an entrepreneurial God.”
Even while providing a theological framework, Tom also shares what it was
Episode 60 - How an Interview with Hulk Hogan on Their Wedding Day Started a $40 Million Business with Jeff and Ally Davidson of Camp Gladiator
Today we’re on the road, connecting with Jeff and Ally Davidson down in Austin, Texas. They’re the founders of Camp Gladiator, a Fitness Franchise that has over 3,500 locations across the country with 1,000 trainers and 100,000 members. They have a remarkable story of how God used a unique experience in the early days of reality TV to propel them in their entrepreneurial story. Just to give you a little taste, it started when Ally decided to try out for American Gladiators on the morning of thei
Episode 59 - Saying No to Sam Walton and other Entrepreneurial Stories with Drayton McLane of the Houston Astros
Today the team took a trip deep into the heart of Texas to hear from Drayton McLane, the visionary business leader behind McLane Company and former owner of the Houston Astros. Drayton is widely known for his leadership within Walmart, as well as his generosity toward his two alma maters—Baylor University and Michigan State. On this episode, you’ll hear a list of lessons that we were able to glean from Drayton’s extensive experience as an entrepreneur, business leader, and philanthropist.
The st
Episode 58 - Becoming Bilingual: Fluency in Metrics and Story with Matt Bird
Today we’re connecting with Matt Bird, who is based in the United Kingdom. Matt is the author of several books, including Relationology, The Secrets of Story, and Freedom: How to Live Your Life for Jesus Free From Anxiety and Worry. Another one of his books, Transformation, takes a look at how God is connecting churches across communities, cities, and countries to bring about social, political, economic, cultural, and spiritual transformation. This book is the product of Matt’s work with busines
Episode 57 - Combating Loneliness with Community: Scott Weiss from Ocean Accelerator
Today we’re in Cincinnati, Ohio connecting with Scott Weiss with Ocean Accelerator. They have an incredible birth story—coming from the lobby of Crossroads Church in Cincinnati they launched into an accelerator for fast-growing tech companies. For the past few years, they’ve been on a mission to equip faith driven entrepreneurs and owners that bravely step out to change the world. Whether it's their Ocean Conference or their accelerator, they’re committed to investing in entrepreneurs who have a
Episode 56 - The Entrepreneurial Journey of the Museum of the Bible to the US Capitol: Steve Green, President of Hobby Lobby
In this episode we’re on the road in Oklahoma City, connecting with Steve Green, President of Hobby Lobby, the world’s largest privately owned arts and crafts retailer, with more than 700 stores and employing more than 30,000 people. He also is chairman of the Board of Museum of the Bible and is the visionary leader in establishing one of the world's largest private collections of rare biblical artifacts. Their 430,000-square-foot Museum of the Bible was opened in 2017 just three blocks from the
Episode 55 - What to do When the Dream Fails: Phil Vischer, Creator of Veggie Tales
In this episode we’re just outside of Chicago connecting with Phil Vischer, the visionary, creative who founded Veggietales. To date it's the most popular direct to DVD series of all time with more than 65 million copies sold. It led to feature films, Netflix Original series and became a cultural icon.
Phil tells us the story of Veggie Tales meteoric rise to success, the struggles and pitfalls of maintaining that success and truth about what is required to find and keep one’s identity rooted in
Episode 54: Governance without Giving up Control: Byron Loflin, Founder of the Center for Board Excellence
Byron Loflin, founder of the Center for Board Excellence, joins the team this week, helping us get a handle on the importance of good governance within our organizations. He shares with us his views on why governance is core to servant leadership and promotes healthy, humble accountability that provides a stable runway for your organization’s success. Even early stage firms can benefit greatly from a modestly sized board (3 plus the entrepreneur). Thoughts on how unanimous boards may actually b
Episode 53 - The Entrepreneurial Story that led to 370 Million Reading the Bible - Bobby Gruenewald, Founder of YouVersion
Bobby Gruenewald of YouVersion joins us this week giving us the low down on the origins of this wildly popular bible app with 370M+ downloads and counting. This pastor, entrepreneur and former rap artist (who knew?) shares with the team how the desire to become better engaged with scripture was the impetus to developing YouVersion, the first iteration of which proved to be a failure - a web app because there was just no iPhone yet (remember the days?). The team’s approach to failure, commitment
Episode 52 - The Secret Farm League of Faith Driven Entrepreneurs: Jon Hart of Praxis Academy
The team talks to Jon Hart, Partner at Praxis Labs about his work with Praxis Academy, a week-long on ramp into the Praxis community of redemptive entrepreneurs targeting the under 25. For 5 years, this organization has encouraged college-aged entrepreneurs to more actively view their aspirations within the context of their faith, impacting 750 people, from 160 universities and 20 countries. Reminiscent of and deeply influenced by the 18th century Clapham Group of England, Praxis seeks to encour
Episode 51 - God Owns it All: Alan Barnhart, CEO of Barnhart Crane and Rigging
This week’s guest is Alan Barnhart of Barnhart Crane and Rigging of Memphis, TN. Originally a small family business started by his parents, Alan and his brother, Eric, grew the company into one of the largest Heavy Lift and Heavy Transport organization in the United States with 1,000 team members in more than 40 locations across the country and a nationwide reputation for solving problems (Even if it means building a 200+ wheel truck!). They accomplished this by actively seeking out a way to exp
Episode 50 - Doing Good by Gaming the System – Yu-Kai Chou, Pioneer of Gamification and Creator of Octalysis Prime Framework
Today we’re talking with one of the pioneers of Gamification, Yu-Kai Chou, author of the book Actionable Gamification and creator of the Octalysis Framework which encompasses 8 core drives of motivation that govern human behavior. He's a speaker on gamification and behavioral design at places like TED, South by Southwest, Google, Stanford and consulted with governments like UK, Singapore and South Korea. His work has affected over 1 Billion users experiences across the world.
Henry spends some t
Episode 49 - A Rule of Life for Redemptive Entrepreneurs: Andy Crouch, Author, Journalist and Partner at Praxis
On this episode, the team spends time with Andy Crouch, partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship, as well as an accomplished writer and journalist, having authored several books as well as articles published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine. Andy shares with us the basis of the book he, in collaboration with Praxis, has written called “A Rule of Life for Redemptive Entrepreneurs”. I
Episode 48 - Unleashing the Power of People and Increasing Productivity 300%: Bryant Ambelang, CEO of NatureSweet
Today we’re on the road, connecting with Bryant Ambelang, President and CEO of NatureSweet, the largest greenhouse producer of tomatoes in North America. Currently, NatureSweet has over 8,000 associates and operates seven facilities—six in Mexico and one in the U.S. NatureSweet products are distributed in major grocery stores in all 50 states and across Mexico and Canada. Their headquarters are in the San Antonio. We had the chance to hear about the incredible things God’s doing to unleash peopl
Episode 47 - Stewarding What Matters Most - Phil Olsen, President of Know Your Strengths
In this episode, Henry sits down with former NFL player and first round draft pick Phil Olsen, currently President of Know Your Strengths, a human resource consulting firm that guides clients and executive-level management through processes for talent discovery, training and people management. Phil helps us see how hiring people who are clones of ourselves leaves our organizations open for execution issues and why learning to appreciate and collaborate with those who are just wired differently f
Episode 46 - Sunday Night Blues: Toxic Work Environments
Toxic people, toxic environments and all other possible permutations of how toxicity can be expressed in an organization is the subject of today’s episode. Rusty rests the responsibility of toxic organizations firmly on the shoulders of the founder and William believes that faith driven leaders can still be guilty of making a mess of culture. Henry helps us understand what kind of petri dish is needed for toxicity to flourish and the team together discusses ways to avoid the pains and pitfalls o
Episode 45 - How to Shorten Your Time in the Desert: Julie Barrios, Founder of Nuos Foundation
We find the team chatting with Julie Barrios, of Nuos Formation, a spiritual formation enterprise focused on helping the entrepreneur develop healthy inner lives as part of purposeful living as a faith-driven entrepreneur. As she shares on her own entrepreneurial journey, Julie helps us see how “hustling” may be nothing more than another hamster wheel and living in obedience to God by surrendering our paths to Him might be the more excellent way. Making sure she makes room to hear from God, that
Episode 44 - DTR : Defining the (Most Important) Relationship
We hear from our hosts this week as they share some of the things God has them thinking about via their personal time with the Lord. Rusty draws parallels to Paul’s trials, specifically found in Acts 27 to the life of an entrepreneur while William shares on how reading the account of Jesus’ baptism by John actually reveals more deeply the importance of having your identity rooted in a relationship with the Father to empower and enlighten your mission. Henry’s been sharing a bit about his sojourn
Episode 43 - How to be a Lion: Ed Silvoso, Author and Founder of Transform Our World
This week the team chats with Ed Silvoso, author of several books including Anointed for Business, Transformation and Ekklesia. He’s the founder of Transform Our World, an international network of marketplace ministers whose goal is the elimination of systemic poverty through actively advancing the kingdom of God via a unified Church. Here’s a few of our favorite moments from this week:
“There is a tipping point and that is when that leader understands, usually that leader is a governmental lead
Episode 42 - Fighting for the Highest Possible Good: Steve Cochram and Jeremie Kubicek of 5 Voices Systems/GiANT Worldwide
Steve Cochram and Jeremie Kubicek of 5 Voices Systems, a leadership assessment tool that helps you define, understand and leverage your communication style for optimal influence joins the FDE team this week. They share why their assessment tool is so different from the rest and how it can be quickly integrated into your organizational culture to help you better connect with your team, customers and all the places where you have influence. Committed to helping clients fight for the highest possib
Episode 41 - How to slay a dragon: Peter Greer, CEO of Hope International
In this week’s episode, we’re talking to Henry’s long-time friend Peter Greer, President and CEO of Hope International, a leading provider of microfinancing for underserved communities around the globe. Peter helps us understand the multi-faceted aspects of poverty, that it’s about more than simply the lack of resources. He shares details around Hope International’s commitment to eradicate spiritual poverty, not just financial poverty as the two are inextricably linked. He gives frameworks for a
Episode 40 - Mission Ready: Part Two with David Morken, CEO of Bandwidth
In Part Two with David Morken, the team discusses more thoroughly about what it means to be mission ready both individually and corporately. David talks about the importance of obedience to God and avoiding the pitfalls of both willfulness and passivity and Henry leads the discussion into practical applications of how their company’s HR policies intentionally reflected kingdom values as they target the whole person for impact. This commitment led them to institute chaplaincy roles as a force mul
Episode 39 - The Partnership Factor: Part One with David Morken, CEO of Bandwidth
In this edition of the FDE Podcast, we get a peek into the longtime friendship and partnership (let’s just call it what it is – a bromance) between David Morken and Henry Kaestner, co-Founders of Bandwidth and Republic Wireless. They share with us the divine origins of their relationship (Henry was a direct answer to David’s prayer) and how their relationship translated into a successful business where people are promoted as much as the product. They talk about the need to be able to work throug
Episode 38 - Who Do You Think You Are? - Tim Keller at Sovereign's Capital
This week’s podcast has us listening in on a talk Tim Keller gave to Sovereign’s Capital last September where he meticulously unpacks the hidden truth of identity formation, its habits and rituals, in both the Western and greater world. We are fed these belief systems from the moment we breathe and too often we are defined by the greater world without our consent. He steps us through examples of how our thinking is specifically impacted by these external forces that define us outside of the cont
Episode 37 - Hey Kid, Wanna Test Something on the Space Station? - Valley Christian School's Entrepreneur Program
The team spends some time with the students and teachers from Entrepreneur Program and Valley Christian School (VCS) in San Jose, CA. Spearheaded by Hannah and Danny Kim, entrepreneurs in their own right, the program has launched high school students into the world of entrepreneurship in the midst of a community invested in seeing biblical values and principles impacting the world. Hannah gives us an overview of the program’s evolution while the team chats with two students about their specific
Episode 36 - Living in a Material World: Mailbag Questions Answered
In this week’s podcast, the team answers a few of your questions around profit making and taking as well as consumerism. One Bay Area listener shares his struggles with being in what he believes is a money-driven industry. The team challenges us all to think about how we can redeem the industries we’re in by making figuring out the best way to serve it our number one goal. William believes that almost all industries are redeemable, Henry encourages us in the ways we can show love for the people
Episode 35 - God Loves Idiots Too: John Marsh of Marsh Collective
The team sits down with John Marsh of Marsh Collective, Opelika Alabama to discuss storytelling, what it’s like to run 10+ businesses (the collective part of Marsh Collective) and how to be the steward of 10 square city blocks for the glory of God and Kingdom while being totally unqualified to do so. John helps us understand the practicalities of living in the midst of kingdom tension: being both dead and alive, content but fruitfully multiplying, living here but not being from here. Rusty has J
Episode 34 - How We Abuse Our Money and Time
This week we get into part two of the Lightning Round episode, fielding your questions. Henry, Rusty, and William tackle two really important questions for the faith driven entrepreneur: how we handle our resource of money and time. Neither may come up on our radar readily given the entrepreneur’s everyday grind and hustle. Henry shared that it’s important that we identify firstly why we give, and also pray over where and how. Rusty recognized that some entrepreneurs have other ways of giving
Episode 33 - Keeping the Church Relevant to the Entrepreneur's Life: Part 2 with Chip Ingram (CEO of Living on the Edge)
correction: Chip Ingram is now CEO of Living on the Edge, an international discipleship ministry.
In Part Two with Chip Ingram, CEO of Living on the Edge, we find Rusty asking Chip to give his take on a previous mailbag question from an entrepreneur who didn’t see the value of church anymore as what comes out of the pulpit isn’t relatable to his life. While Chip agreed that most pastors aren’t very conversant with the entrepreneur’s life, he flips it from a what do I get to what can I give mode
Episode 32 - Pastoring in Silicon Valley: Interview with Chip Ingram (CEO of Living on the Edge)
correction: Chip Ingram is now CEO of Living on the Edge, an international discipleship ministry
In Part One with Chip Ingram, CEO of Living on the Edge, Henry has Chip walk through his experience pastoring many Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. While Chip’s own entrepreneurial persuasions began at an early age selling Halloween candy in late November at a significant markup, he realized early on in his life as a pastor that he could teach and inspire far beyond his leadershi
Episode 31 - Sharing Your Faith While Honoring Traditions: Interview with David Brickner (Executive Director of Jews for Jesus)
David Brickner, Executive Director of Jews for Jesus, spends time with the team in this week’s podcast. He gives perspective on the tragic events in Pittsburgh and shares a bit on how people of the faith can best share the gospel with Jewish neighbors through relationship building and honoring the common elements between Judaism and Christianity. Rusty leads the discussion into the “Behold Your God Israel” campaign where David shares the entrepreneurial strategies the organization employed to r
Episode 30 - Godly Contentment Meets the Discontentment of the Entrepreneur
This week’s episode finds Henry, Rusty and William fielding more questions from listeners in Part One of Lightning Round. The team tackles the question around how to balance godly contentment with the discontentment with the status quo that is the fuel of much entrepreneurship. Rusty admits trying to figure out what Paul was thinking is way above his pay grade but offers up the concept of holy discontent while Henry and William focus on where we derive our identity and joy as a possible solution
Episode 29 - Hunger for Authenticity in a Post Christian Era: Interview with Mike Sharrow (CEO of C12)
Mike Sharrow is back for Part 2 of our interview. As you likely gathered from Part 1, Mike leads C12 one of the largest and most successful organizations that put together groups of like minded, and similarly staged groups of Christian CEOs for local community, fellowship and best practices. Think about all the things you've heard about YPO, but imagine something better :). If you're only going to listen to one of the parts of the interview (but why would you??) , listen to this one. The team
Episode 28 - Resurgence of Faith in the Marketplace: Interview with Mike Sharrow (CEO of C12)
The first of two parts, this week’s episode finds the team speaking with Mike Sharrow, President and CEO of C12, an organization that provides a confidential and intimate environment where like-minded peers share ideas, discover and plan for areas in their business that need improvement, hold each other accountable, and encourage one another to conduct business in a God-honoring way.
Mike gives us a little of the history of the recent resurgence of faith in the marketplace during the last centur
Episode 27 - Responsibility of Calling: Interview with Jason Johnson (CEO of August Smart Home)
Jason Johnson, serial entrepreneur and founder of August Smart Homes, talks to Rusty and William about when the entrepreneurial itch first hit him while working at a large tech company. From humble beginnings, Jason explains how receiving a scholarship to Pepperdine University introduced him to the responsibility of calling and that entrepreneurship was a natural expression of that calling. He goes on to tackle tough questions around how to live a faith driven life while heading up a VC-backed c
Episode 26 - Why the Institutional Church is a Necessary Part of Community
In part two from the Alpine Inn, Henry, Rusty, and William field more questions from our guests but first give some background on Inklings, the gathering of faith driven entrepreneurs in the Bay Area who meet regularly in the same vain of the original Inklings gathering of faith driven thinkers C.S. Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien, Dorothy Sayer and others. The team moves on to walk an entrepreneur who is struggling to find his place in the local church through why the institutional church is a necessary p
Episode 25 - Honoring Family with Our Presence
In this week’s episode, we take the show on the road. In the first live broadcast, Faith Driven Entrepreneur sets up at the Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, California. This Q&A took place before our Inklings gathering of faith driven entrepreneurs.
We tackle questions about how to honor family and loved ones with prescene, our individual learnings from our own entrepreneurial journeys and how the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) can follow you anywhere.
Tune in as we answer these questions and more fro
Episode 24 - Interview with Nancy Duarte
This is a special episode for us. One, we think, definitely worth hearing. Why? Well there are few things more important in our lives than effective story telling.
There are few better people (maybe no one??) that do a better job at helping people tell their stories than Nancy Duarte from Duarte Design. They help CEOs of Fortune 100 companies tell their stories, and maybe something more impressive: they are the “go-to” firm to help TED presenters tell their stories well.
As you might imagin
Episode 23 - Generosity
God needs our success and our money to do his work on earth, right? What is the most important question for us to answer: How to give, where to give, why to give? How do we define "net worth"? There may not be a more important topic for a Faith Driven Entrepreneur to tackle, than how to think about generosity. We worship a generous God who has given to us generously, and we, as do all Christ followers, have an opportunity to respond. How should we do it as entrepreneurs? How do we think ab
Episode 22 - Expressing Gratitude in the Workplace
In this episode, Henry, William, and Rusty explore the topic of expressing gratitude in the workplace. They discuss how we can be more intentional with showing our thanks and appreciation to others as leaders. A starting point for this outpouring is finding a way to be grateful ourselves. When we do this, it resets our perspective and causes us to be grateful for others, their work, and their contribution.
Time and time again, employee surveys would show that they feel unrecognized, and unapp
Episode 21 - How Faith and Work Come Together in Life: Part 2 with Vic Ho (Co-founder and CEO of Fivestars)
In part two with Vic Ho of Fivestars, Vic expands his thinking with regards to how faith and work come together in his life.
We discuss Vic's observance of the Sabbath and how it transformed his personal and professional life. How he changed from a constant worrier to a man of peace that knows God has Fivestars' destiny in His hands - the successes and the failures.
Then, stay tuned as Vic describes how he thinks Gideon is the best biblical story concerning customer acquisition (worth the pric
Episode 20 - What is the Lifeblood of the Business? Interview with Vic Ho (Co-founder and CEO of Fivestars)
This week we are honored to sit down with the man, the myth, the legend, Vic Ho, Co-founder and CEO of Fivestars. Vic is a long-time friend of both Henry and William, so it's true joy to have him on the program.
What's the lifeblood of a business? We would argue that customers are on the top of this list. Well, that's what Vic focuses on day in and day out. Customer acquisition and customer retention.
What else is on the top of that list? Finding unique ways to integrate God on the journe
Episode 19 - How to Discern Your Calling: Interview with Dave Blanchard (CEO of Praxis)
In this week’s episode, one of our listeners, Marty, asked "how do you discern your calling". This is an incredibly light and easy to answer question that barely impacts an entrepreneur's journey, so this will be short. Of course I'm kidding, this is something we have all asked ourselves, and is something that is incredibly difficult to navigate alone ... so we had to phone a friend. We are super super lucky to have Dave Blanchard from Praxis join us on the podcast to help our listeners think
Episode 18 - How to do a Biblical Performance Review
In the week’s episode, Henry, Rusty, and William discuss how we can love on our team members through performance reviews. As entrepreneurs, it’s highly likely that you are overseeing a team. As Christ followers, how do we display Christ in the performance review?
To set the stage, our resident HR expert, Rusty, advises that performance reviews are designed to help people to become better. With this motivation in mind, it’s important to not look backwards, but to look forward.
The manager sho
Episode 17 - Grappling with the Ups and Downs of Entrepreneurship: Nashville Institute of Faith and Work Interview (Missy Wallace)
In this week’s episode, we have a SPECIAL GUEST! Missy Wallace, Executive Director at the Nashville Institute for Faith & Work (NIFW) joins us and gives us her insights into the convergence of faith and work. She tells us a bit about her own journey, how she developed her theology of faith and work, the founding of NIFW and how she is equipping entrepreneurs today.
One unique takeaway is that Missy noticed how in Genesis, we see that God basically brought structure from chaos. Similarly, Mis
Episode 16 - Keeping a Christ Centered Attitude While Growing a Business
In this episode, Henry, Rusty, and William tackle questions from our valued listeners.
Marty asks, "how do we keep a Christ-centered attitude while growing a business?" For Henry, It’s about identity. It’s almost impossible when the goal is solely financial success. We should seek God first. If there’s frustration at work, it’s an opportunity to pray to God. Rusty brings a tactical point of view, and recommends starting the day prepared. Spending time with God is top priority. We should bo
Episode 15 - Are We Setting the Right Example? 50-70 Hour Work Weeks
In this week's episode, we discuss how we should view the “40-hour work week” in relation to our faith, family, and overall balance of life? When we unwrap this topic, it touches on issues of prioritization, and leadership.
As entrepreneurs, we are wired to work, and work a lot. It’s almost romantic to admit that we work 50-70 hours per week (or much much more :). But at what cost? We must recall that there are at least two groups of people whom we affect with how much we work: family/spouse,
Episode 14 - Wronged by a Fellow Believer
n this episode, Henry, Rusty, and William tackle the very difficult issue of when a coworker or a colleague feels that he or she has been wronged.
One of our listeners from Northern California asked the question, “How do I deal with burned relationships with former founders, employees, or colleagues, who are also Christians?”
As Faith Driven Entrepreneurs, we of course all try to keep Christ and scripture at the center of our work. When conflict arises, what framework can we look at to help us
Episode 13 - Equally Yoked in Business
Whether it is in personal relationships, marriage, or business, being equally yoked with other Christ followers is no doubt highly advantageous. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, the Apostle Paul said, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
While this passage historically is Paul’s warning against idolatry (as verses 7-18 seem to support), this scripture highlights the question of what are we to
Episode 12 - Is "Calling" Misunderstood
In this episode, Henry, Rusty, and William discuss the issue of calling. Many of us have heard God calling us to a particular purpose.
Romans 8:28 says “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
To fulfill God’s purpose, we may be individually called to contribute through our lives and work.
In the work context, Rusty reminds us that you can be a Faith Driven Entrepreneur in any sector, whether it is in privat
Episode 11 - Can a Pastor Equip an Entrepreneur?
A pastor is in a unique position to influence his leaders who are in the marketplace in many different ways, and this week we turn out attention to how a pastor might support entrepreneurship within his congregation.
This week, Henry, and William interview special guest, Pastor Andy Wood of Echo Church, about his journey in ministry and the world of entrepreneurship.
Andy is lead pastor of Echo Church located in San Jose, California, just south of San Francisco. Early on, he was influenced by
Episode 10 - Evangelism in the Workplace
As Christians, we are all called to make disciples based on the Great Commission. How does that apply at work? In the workplace, how do we live out our faith honorably without perhaps overstepping the professional line?
In this episode, Henry, Rusty, and William tackle the question should we even evangelize at work in the first place? When it comes to expressing our faith at the workplace, it’s important to discern and hear God’s voice. Our vertical relationship with God affects the horizont
Episode 9 - Treat Your Employees So Well They Never Want to Leave
In a competitive marketplace, a company’s benefits package is an announcement of its values and mission. We don’t really have look any further than the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do to you. In scripture we are told “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 12:31) Jesus here compared loving one’s neighbor as loving the “self.” Clearly, God knows that we love ourselves. The charge here is to love others with that same love.
Generally speaking, the best benefit that a comp
Episode 8 - Competition: Love 'Em, Ignore 'Em, or Crush "Em.
Today's Podcast tackles the question of how to think about competition. We know that we want to run the race as if to win it. (1 Corinthians 9:24). But how do we win? What is our heart posture? Do we win at all costs? What are our motives as we compete in the race.
We talk about Competition in industries like telecom, where competitors can also be customers. Rusty talks about his time at PepsiCo and how Roger Enrico thought of the new entry of Eagle Snacks from Anheuser Busch. We talk a bit
Episode 7 - Entertaining and Boundaries
Entertainment is something that most entrepreneurs will be a part of, whether that is recruiting team members, hosting corporate events, trying to raise money or creating unique opportunities for your team to bond.
In this episode, we talk about how we think about entertaining while maintaining a sincere heart towards holiness. While there are some black and white rules from scripture that we need to follow,
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit"
Episode 6 - Language
In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, Henry, William and Rusty tackle the issue of language. At one level, they aren't going to tell you anything that will surprise you....cursing is a bad thing and it's not helpful in the workplace, or anywhere else for that matter. The book of James hits this issue squarely, and so do dozens of other references. Yet there's some nuance here that we think is worth exploring as the effective use of language and even emotion are so incredi
Episode 5 - Spirituality of Fundraising
Fundraising. It’s something that we as entrepreneurs all have to tackle at some point. In this week’s FDE podcast episode, we examine the different issues that are associated with fundraising. You'll hear Henry note at the outset that this particular episode is a bit more weighted for the social entrepreneur or ministry entrepreneur....but I hope you'll agree that the mindset on fundraising is very relevant for entrepreneurs of all types.
For any fundraiser, I believe the heart motive is the m
Episode 4 - When It Doesn't Work Out
In this week's podcast, we tackle the issue of how to let people go....and how to do it in a way that honors them and honors God.
Rusty introduces the framework of how to let someone go in a way that speaks the truth in love, makes sure that they aren't surprised, gives an opportunity to cure and generally follows the golden rule. There's a bunch of nuance to that, of course, and so we talk through that a bit and delve in to what it looks like to love, not just the employee who may need to be l
Episode 3 - Projections
In this episode we’ll talk about projections. At first listen, this seems to be a little more relevant for companies that are after venture financing as we talk about the three year projections and the modeling that entrepreneurs show to venture capitalists etc., but I hope that you’ll find a lot more here than advice in working with a Venture Capitalist.
We talk about plain old business planning, and the modeling we talk about doesn’t need to have a thing to do with raising money. It talks ab
Episode 2 - Culture
In this episode, we will discuss the importance of culture in your organization.
1:00 - How do I think about culture?
2:00 - There is a spectrum
4:15 - What is God telling you?
5:00 - We are representatives of God
7:05 - Make it your own story
7:45 - Capital aligned with values
11:15 - Why we do what we do?
15:00 - Brian shares the reason behind his company
17:15 - Rusty’s personal story
19:20 - Trust God
Episode 1 - Origin
Henry, Rusty and William share the reasons they are producing the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast