Provide Like Jesus- Inspiring Christians to Serve Their Families and Communities like Christ
Justin Thomas
Welcome to Provide Like Jesus, the podcast that inspires Christians to serve and provide for their families and communities like Christ. Together, we’ll explore scripture and hear from guests who demonstrate servant leadership so we can all provide more like Jesus.If you want to provide like Jesus and become the best servant leader for your family, then you have found the right show! Learn from personal stories and inspiring interviews.
You may be asking questions about your life, family, or career like:
- How can I model Jesus in today's world?
- How do you encourage your family in...
#152 David Smith on Creating Connection Through Presence
People are at the heart of connection. And when we look at the life of Jesus, we see that He didn’t just talk to people—He truly saw them. He was present with them. He listened. He gave them His full attention. In today’s episode, Justin sits down with David Smith, a spiritual growth coach, for an inspiring conversation about what it means to be present with people. David shares his journey into coaching—the trials, transitions, and lessons that shaped him—and how presence has been the foundatio
#151 The Two Words That Define "Provider"
We say "Bless & Protect" alot in the work of the CL Thomas Fellwship, but why and where does this come from? In this episode, host Justin Thomas introduces the core mission of the podcast: to inspire Christians to provide for their families and communities with a Christ-like spirit. He also shares why the phrase "Bless & Protect" is at the core of providing like Jesus. The themes of blessing and protecting are based on a letter from his late father and the first recorded priestly blessing of the
#150 Fred and Pat Bruner on Reflecting the Heart of Jesus Through Mentorship
When Justin sat down with Pat and Fred, it wasn’t just a casual chat—it was a heartfelt conversation about what it means to provide like Jesus. Together, they explored how to partner with God in everyday life, step into mentorship with humility, and trust his plan for the people they encounter. Pat and Fred, pastors to pastors, shared their journey of becoming spiritual mentors. For them, mentorship isn’t about having all the answers or coming across as righteous—it’s about loving people well. T
#149 Sharing The Vision for Provide Like Jesus
Welcome to Provide Like Jesus, the podcast aimed at inspiring Christians to serve and provide for their families and communities like Christ. Hosted by Justin Thomas, this episode reintroduces the podcast with a renewed focus on providing like Jesus, exploring the mission behind the C. L. Thomas Fellowship, and offering insights on how to embody the life and ministry of Christ today. Expect weekly episodes alternating between guest interviews and personal reflections on scripture and servant lea
#148 Running the Race: Physical and Spiritual Endurance
From an ultra marathon to the pulpit, Justin reflects on a weekend of endurance challenges. This episode shares lessons on what we are supposed to live for as a Christian and some big questions around faith such as "why follow Jesus?", "why orient your life around God?", and a case study into how God makes our faith possible. Justin also shares lessons from his Grandfather and how relationships can often show us a glimpse of God's love in practical ways. Here is a link to the presentation to s
#147 Megan Nilsen on Faith, Resilience, and the Power of a Supportive Marriage
"Motherhood isn’t my highest calling—my connection to God is." Megan Nilsen’s journey as a mother to both biological and adopted children is a testament to the power of faith, resilience, and a marriage built on true partnership. After an international adoption brought unforeseen challenges, Megan found herself questioning everything. In those moments, her husband recognized her need for deeper support and encouraged her to seek counseling, showing that real strength in marriage means knowing w
#146 Encouraging Men to Provide Through the Decades
Join Justin Thomas in this solo episode of the 'Become a Provider' podcast as he discusses the state of the show, its direction, and new vision. Justin shares personal insights on being a servant leader and a healthy provider inspired by Jesus. The episode also introduces a refined focus on encouraging Christian men to love and care for their families and bodies, along with upcoming themes and topics. Be sure to get our weekly Always Provide newsletter at www.clthomasfellowship.org/newsletter t
#145 Mark Collins on Moving Beyond Habit Formation to Real Transformation
In this week’s episode, Justin welcomes Mark Collins, author of Life Mastery, for a discussion on what it truly means to transform. After reading Mark’s book, Justin realized how society often promotes building habits while overlooking the deeper process of personal transformation. Together, they unpack the difference between habit formation and real, lasting change. Mark blends practical wisdom with biblical truth, emphasizing that transformation is more than checking off tasks—it’s about becom
#144 Become a Better Husband with the G.U.Y.S. Framework
Justin reviews Ephesians 5:21-31 and dives into the husband's responsibility to love and care for his wife as he does for his own body. What does it look like to practically care for your body? This episode reviews the G.U.Y.S. framework to help husbands get healthier with the ultimate purpose of loving their families more. #144 Handout pdf. While this episode is a call to husbands to love and care for their bodies, there are some universal health practices that may benefit most listeners. So l
#143 Dr. Tanner Moore on Seeking Responsibility and Being a Savage Servant
As healthcare costs soar and the system grows more complicated, patients are losing trust, and doctors are burning out. Dr. Tanner, a direct primary care physician, is changing that narrative. In a conversation with Justin, he explains what it means to be a “savage servant” for his patients—challenging the traditional healthcare model to offer something better: care that’s personal, effective, and free from red tape. For Dr. Tanner, the DPC model is more than just a business structure—it’s a lif
#142 Grateful Even When You Don’t Achieve Goals
In this solo episode, host Justin Thomas shares insights and personal stories focused on the theme of being a healthy provider. He reflects on the five pillars of being a healthy provider: family, exercise, faith, career, and general life goals. Justin recounts his recent experiences preparing for the Yeti 100-mile ultra race, which was unfortunately canceled due to severe weather conditions causing significant damage in the area. He also dives into the importance of gratitude, referencing a dev
#141 Gin Burchfield on the Integration of Faith and Wellness
Today, Justin welcomes Gin Burchfield, a health and leadership coach, who shares her blend of intuitive bodywork, somatic coaching, and faith-based healing practices. Her approach to wellness goes beyond just physical health—she integrates mindful practices, personal reflection, and spirituality to help others on their health and healing journey. A key theme in this episode is understanding the deep connection between mind, body, and spirit. Gin emphasizes the importance of knowing yourself—wh
#140 Five Lessons from the Fifth Fellowship: Embracing Servant Leadership
In this episode of 'Become a Provider,' Justin Thomas reflects on key lessons learned from the fifth installment of the CL Thomas Fellowship. Justin shares insights on servant leadership, the importance of family involvement, and experiences that have shaped his journey as a leader and provider. Listen in to discover valuable takeaways that can inspire you in your personal and professional life. Be sure to grow as a provider and a servant leader by subscribing to our free newsletter at www.cltho
#139 Teresa Smith on Being the Hands and the Feet of the Father
What if the greatest legacy you could leave behind was the inspiration for others to live with purpose and passion? Today’s episode is a heartfelt tribute to the lasting influence of those who shape our lives, showcasing how legacies live on through the actions and values we carry forward. Justin is joined by Theresa Smith to reflect on her father’s remarkable legacy and how it continues to inspire her journey. Theresa shares heartfelt stories about her father, a man whose life exemplified se
#138 How to Bring Glory to God in our Careers
In this episode of 'Become a Provider,' host Justin Thomas delves into the concept of being a healthy provider, specifically focusing on the pillar of work. View episode presentation PDF. Justin, a business consultant, health coach, CEO, and author, shares insights from his life and career, aiming to inspire you in your own journey of servant leadership. He explores the importance of purpose in our work, drawing from a recent presentation he gave about the doctrine of purpose and how it relates
#137 Sean Doherty on Living Beyond Comfort Zones and Always Learning
What if the most meaningful growth, impactful learning, and deeper connections are found just beyond your comfort zone? In today’s episode, Justin is joined by friend and colleague Sean Doherty. The two dive deep into the importance of understanding different perspectives and how this understanding influences learning, life, and everything in between. Their discussion sheds light on the critical role of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and how doing so can lead to profound growth and new ways
#136 My Favorite Devotionals, Podcast, and Practices for Spiritual Growth
In this episode of the 'Become a Provider' show, host Justin Thomas delves into the spiritual growth aspect of being a healthy provider. Justin, a business consultant, health coach, CEO, and author, shares his personal experiences, lessons, and trusted resources that have helped him in his spiritual journey. Presentation pdf link. Join Justin as he offers practical advice, inspiration, and resources to help you grow spiritually and become a healthy provider for those around you. He emphasizes t
#135 Anna McLaughlin on a Proverbs 31 Case Study of Balancing Ambition and Family
For many of us, the path to our aspirations feels like an insurmountable journey. The gap between where we are today and where we hope to be can seem overwhelming and unreachable. Yet, the stories of those who have walked this path can offer invaluable insights and encouragement. In today’s episode, Justin warmly welcomes Anna McLaughlin, a corporate lawyer who transformed her life to spend more time with her family. Her journey is one of patience, faith, and the powerful belief that while we
#134 7 Years of Health Tips in 30 Minutes
In this episode of the Become a Provider show, host Justin Thomas delivers another installment of the Healthy Provider series. Justin shares the essential habits and core truths he implements to be a healthy provider, inspired by his personal and professional journey in the health and wellness field. Presentation PDF link. He takes the last 7 years of his formal health training and experience and distills the most impactful healthy provider habits in 30 minutes. From sleep hygiene and Zone 2 tr
#133 Armand Law on Embracing Challenges and Going From Buddhism to Christianity
Become a Provider is not just about learning how God provides for us; it's also about building meaningful connections with both old and new friends. In today’s episode, Justin engages in a refreshing conversation with Armand Law, a friend from the fellowship, about embracing one's identity, welcoming challenges, and understanding the true essence of being a provider. Armand’s journey is a testament to the power of faith and curiosity. Growing up in a Buddhist family, he always had a lot of que
#132 14 Years of Family Summits
In this episode of the Become a Provider show, host Justin Thomas discusses the importance of being a healthy provider for your family, drawing from his personal experiences and practices. Justin shares detailed insights into organizing and conducting a 'family summit'—an annual event where family goals and plans are discussed and set. View presentation slides. Based on his 14 years of experience, he offers valuable tips on ensuring that these summits are engaging and productive. Justin also d
#131 Alan Briggs on Anti-Burnout, Legacy and Leadership
In a society that glorifies the grind, what if the secret to true success lies in slowing down? Today, Justin welcomes listeners into a powerful conversation with Alan Briggs, leadership coach, speaker, and author, who challenges the hustle culture and offers a refreshing perspective on combating burnout while preserving your legacy. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the constant pressure to do more and be more. Alan emphasizes the importance of a legacy built on
#130 Introducing The Healthy Provider Series
Welcome to the new Healthy Provider series as part of the Become a Provider podcast. During this podcast, Justin shares the five pillars he will be sharing during his solo episodes. Here is the presentation he shared during the video version that you can access to follow along on this audio if you would like. The 5 Pillars for these solo episodes with Justin every other week will focus on one or more of these topics: Family Strategies Nutrition & Fitness Spiritual, Mental & Emotional Health
#129 Troy Glasgow on A Decade Plus of Patience and Provision
There is something deeply meaningful about sitting down with a dear friend and fellow father. On today's episode of Become a Provider Justin is joined by Troy, a fellow member of both his fitness group and men's fellowship group. This conversation is a profound story of navigating life’s unpredictable moments, marked by tragedies and losses, all while maintaining patience and trust in God. Troy shares his experiences with gratitude, praising God for the provisions and guidance along the way. O
#128 The Epiphany to Overcoming Passiveness
In this episode of the Become a Provider show, host Justin Thomas summarizes a heartfelt sermon he recently delivered on Father's Day. Reflecting on his father's legacy and the profound meaning of being a provider, this special episode also shares the heart behind The CL Thomas Fellowship non-profit work. Using personal anecdotes, scriptural references, and a two-by-two matrix, Justin explores how everyone can embody the role of a provider in their own lives, drawing motivation from faith and i
#127 Vivien Needham on Finding Mental Wellness in Prayer and Guardian Angels
In a recent heartfelt conversation, Justin sat down with Vivien to uncover an incredible yet heartbreaking story of her past. Her journey is a powerful testament to bravery, resilience, and the transformative power of faith. From enduring immense hardships to becoming a source of hope in her community, Vivien's story is nothing short of inspiring. Vivien's journey to America was driven by the hope for a better life, but the reality was far from the dream. Vivien’s early years in America were m
#126 John Worsham on the Intersection of Faith and Vocation
What happens when you take a leap of faith into the unknown and just trust God? In this episode of the podcast, Justin welcomes John Worsham of Triangle Fellows to discuss his profound journey of intertwining faith and vocation. John’s story is a testament to the remarkable things that can happen when you believe that God has a bigger and better plan, even when it’s not always clear John’s journey has been marked by trials, tribulations, and a transformative move abroad, through which he disco
#125 Tom Everson on Engaging Communities and Changing Driving Behaviors
Did you know that over 40,000 people die in traffic accidents every year in the United States? This staggering statistic underscores the importance of traffic safety initiatives. Today, on the Become a Provider Podcast Justin shares an enlightening conversation with Tom Everson, an advocate who has dedicated over 25 years to making our roads safer. In the realm of traffic safety, data is often viewed as mere numbers. However, Tom highlighted that behind every statistic is a person—a life that
#124 Peter Greer on Leading Your Business and Life with Prayer
In the world of business and leadership, amidst the endless tasks, meetings, and decisions, one often wonders: where does prayer fit in? Peter, the president and CEO of Hope International, offers insights into how prayer can not only coexist but also thrive in the heart of leadership. Peter and Justin sat down and had a transformative conversation that reshaped Peter’s approach to prayer. At the heart of Peter's revelation is a reframing of the way he engages in prayer. Rather than viewing pra
#123 Dr. Stefani Ruper on Living Slower and Going from Atheism to Openness
It’s often said that certain people cross our paths for a reason. They bring with them stories, perspectives, and experiences that enrich our own journey, offering us new insights and opportunities for growth. Today, we explore a special meeting that reaffirmed Justin's belief in this idea—an encounter that highlights the power of connections and the impact of being open to others. Recently, Justin had the pleasure of connecting with Stefani, a remarkable individual whose presence in Justin’s
#122 Janelle Anderson on Breaking Free of Your Old Life and Taking Center Stage
Justin welcomed a special guest who happened to be his teacher growing up - say hello to Janelle Anderson. As the conversation unfolded, Janelle shared her deeply personal story, one that is also told in her book, Take Center Stage. With raw vulnerability, she invited listeners into her past, shedding light on the trauma she had endured and the shame that had compelled her to keep it hidden for so many years. As Janelle peeled back the layers of her past, she uncovered a web of trauma that had
#121 Justin Thomas on How to Be Known
In this special episode of the 'Become a Provider' podcast, Justin Thomas shares insights from the CL Thomas Fellowship, a men's group initiated in honor of his late father. He discusses his personal journey of quitting his job to explore the concept of being a provider, which eventually led him to a fulfilling career in health and wellness, alongside providing health and life coaching. The focus shifts to the fellowship's goal of fostering deep connections through storytelling, highlighting an
#120 CJ Franzitta on Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
CJ Franzitta is an accomplished advertising professional and mass communications strategy consultant with over 20 years of experience. CJ Franzitta is the Founder of Chrome Horse Strategy, with clients including Advance Auto Parts, CertaPro Painters, Meta, Fruit of the Loom, and many others. I witnessed his listening skills and passion to know others, though our YGuides Daddy/Daughter group that our families are currently in through the YMCA. He earned his B.A. in History from the University o
#119 Adam Kasix on the Freedom of Mindset Change
Adam Kasix is a faith-driven transformation expert, an international speaker, a multi-million dollar sales producer & host of the Revolutionary Freedom podcast. He first earned credibility as the subject of a documentary detailing his journey of transforming his rock-bottom experience and regaining his family which he also shares during this conversation. During this interview he shares this free resource to develop a strong "Home Team" with your family.: https://unbreakable.revolutionaryfreedom
#118 Shannon Acheson on Creating the Home You Want
Shannon Acheson is an author, entrepreneur, content creator, interior decorating expert, and the creative force behind HomeMadeLovely.com - a celebrated blog helping moms (and dads like me:) declutter, organize, and add style to their homes since 2010. She was a fun guest to have on the podcast, and I appreciate how willing she was to share her entrepreneurial and faith journey with authenticity. Enjoy another inspiring provider example!
#117 Cristy Gupton on Having a Transparent Mindset
Cristy Gupton is a forward-thinking healthcare strategist and founder of Custom Benefits Solutions. She works directly with employer health plan sponsors to help them design “employer-built” healthcare not “insurer-built” healthcare. She decided to take a leap of faith in her career and built a new type of employee benefits consulting firm based on transparency. In 2018 & 2020 EBA named her on the "Top Women in Benefits Advising" list. You can connect with Cristy on her website at https://www.cu
#116 Kristin Fields Chadwick on Sharing Your Kingdom Message
My guest today is Kristin Fields Chadwick a podcast coach, host, and producer. Kristin manages and coaches powerhouse women all over the world by coming alongside and helping them launch, edit, and grow their podcasts. She is passionate about women knowing their voice matters and wants to empower others to create an impact in their businesses and personal lives. See Kristin's website at https://kristinfieldschadwick.com. Kristin is the host and creator of Podcast Coaching for Kingdom Entreprene
#115 Nathan Robinson on Being in the Flow of Blessing
Nathan Robinson is an engineer project manager turned missionary and then pastor and entrepreneur. It's a great conversation not only through learning Nathan's professional journey but also what he has been studying and learning about what does it mean to be a blessing? Im grateful for his example and lessons shared during this wide ranging conversation. Nathan is the CEO of Landmark Management Partners based in Hillsborough, NC where he and wife reside with their two sons. Enjoy this conversati
#114 Arlene Peters on Turning Dark Periods into Bright Stories
Arlene Peters is a fitness and nutrition coach. She was born in Zimbabwe and moved to the U.S. to pursue a collegiate career in tennis. Some of her professional accomplishments include being a fitness coaching business owner, a Certified Personal Trainer, director of a non-profit paralysis recovery center, a sports coach, a university lecturer, a physical therapy aide, and more. But it's her personal journey that shows us the importance of providing for ourselves to serve others. You can connect
#113 Recap of Episodes 108-112
We are always thinking of how to provide in new and fresh ways. This podcast episode is the latest experiment. Justin recaps the previous five episodes, #108-112, with his main takeaways and favorite clips included. We hope this episode provides for you, and if it does, please leave a review. Here are some simple steps to submit a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify, with a link to guide you. Thanks! https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/review
#112 Rob Ferry on Giving God the Glory
Rob Ferry is a successful entrepreneur, engineer, and consultant who reminds us all to give God the Glory no matter what season our business or life may be in currently. He and his wife Kathy recently moved to Northern Virginia to be closer to their 4 children and 5 grandchildren after living the majority of their working careers in Hillsborough, NC. I feel so fortunate to have crossed paths with Rob and am excited to introduce him and share his provider story in this episode!
#111 Hunter Davis on the Power of Story
Hunter Davis is an entrepreneur and coach that helps people take their businesses and lives to the next level using story. He became one of the early StoryBrand Certified Guide + Copywriter professionals and used those skills to turn around his marketing agency and helped many other businesses do the same over the past 10+ years as a marketing expert and gifted storyteller. He lives in Hillsborough, NC, with his wife and three kids and recently launched a new project called the Dad Field Guide (
#110 Sherry McIntyre on Every Life Has a Purpose
Sherry McIntyre is the Assistant Director of the Christian Life Home. The ministry was started by individuals in the Raleigh-Durham community who wanted to provide a brighter future for pregnant women and their babies. They provide a Christ-centered, loving, family atmosphere for young women, ages 10 - 23, in an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. I met Sherry almost a year ago and I'm so excited to share her story and the work she is part of at the Christian Life Home. Please help us spread this sto
#109 Bryan Finley on Navigating Unexpected Change
Bryan Finley has been influencing people to make a positive difference in their local communities as a pastor and as a community leader for nearly thirty years. He is the pastor at Life Point Church in Hillsborough, NC. He's married to his High School sweetheart, Nicole, and they have three children. Bryan has an academic background in Biblical interpretation and a passion for helping people understand the author's original message and its context. I attend his church, and having a pastor willin
#108 Justin and Amy Thomas on Family, Non-Growth Nights and Toes
I love doing these podcast interviews, especially when I'm able to motivate my wife to join me on an episode like this one! Amy Thomas is back to help me reflect on how we are trying to live out this mission of "Provide Like Jesus" and to share some of the fun work of our non-profit, The CL Thomas Fellowship, which carries on this mission through small groups and online resources. Help us spread the message by leaving a review, we make it simple with our step-by-step guide at https://www.clthoma
#107 Derrick DePriest on Sports, Fathers, and Accepting Challenges
Derrick DePriest leans into challenges. From teaching himself how to kick a football in his childhood, drastically changing his pitching delivery as a college student-athlete, or switching careers, Derrick is willing to dare the odds. In 1999, Derrick led all college pitchers with an impressive 1.71 ERA and was drafted by the Montreal Expos the following year. Today, Derrick lives with his wife and two daughters in Cary, NC. I get to work with him as we recently launched Bull Benefits, an employ
#106 Fellowship Graduates on Becoming a Provider
I hope you enjoy this special testimonial episode! Usually I interview a guest and we get to learn new and unquie ways to provide. Today, I have taken stories from our first CL Thomas Fellowship group members and created this podcast. You can watch additional video testimonials on our website at https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/testimonials. Also, we are excited to equip you, that's right you to start your own CL Thomas Fellowship group! I you want to grow in providing more like Jesus we invit
#105 Cheryl Borchardt on Choosing a Brave and Healthy Life
Coach Cheryl is a National Board and Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach. She has worked as a coach in Integrative Medicine and Functional Immunology since 2016. She enjoys helping her clients find ways to feel their best, experience fewer symptoms, and live full, enjoyable lives, a life where they are able to fully participate in their favorite activities and have meaningful relationships. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has four children, 2 cats, 2 dogs, and a bearded d
#104 Dr. Brett Blair on the Philosophy of Born-Love-Die
Dr. Brett Blair is the founder and president of Best Life Global. Headquartered in Durham, NC, Best Life Global is a high-performance coaching and organizational consulting company. Brett is also the founding partner of Sanford Rose Associates, an executive search firm based in Brighton, MI. You can connect with Brett at https://www.brettblairphd.com/ Brett was previously employed with 3M Corporation and Alcoa in a variety of executive leadership positions, including General Manager of Alcoa’s
#103 Thaís Naveda Luy on Putting into Practice Everything You Learn
Thaís Naveda Luy is a bilingual, Venezuelan Canadian Journalist specializing in Marketing and Public Relations, and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, living in North Carolina with her husband and two daughters. She is passionate about holistic health and has graduated from the IIN Gut Health, Hormonal Health, and Emotional Eating Psychology certification programs, as well as an ACE Fitness Behavioral Change Specialist Course, and is also a HeartMath Certified Practitioner. Sh
#102 Justin Thomas On Completing a 102 Mile Race
While you might think this episode is about completing an ultramarathon event, it's really about family and friends showing up in our lives to provide for us when we need them most. I'm joined again by Patrick Harell who helps to recap the adventure that happened on March 18, 2023 at the Mountain to Sea Trail race event. Enjoy all the highs and lows of the story and I hope it encourages you to tackle your next big goal with friends!
#101 Patrick Harrell on Learning to Think Like an Entrepreneur
Patrick is a brand, marketing, and creative professional. From his early days working at small advertising agencies, to being responsible for a team of more than 65 people at a major health insurance company, Patrick developed into a high-performing leader by defining and sticking to his core values. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Patrick is a husband, father, neighbor, friend, and jokester who loves sailing, being outdoors, and giving old things new life. He's not afraid to take on pro
#100 Kelli Thomas On Finding Your Ode to Joy
It's my privilege to celebrate the 100th episode with my hero as my guest, my Mom. Kelli Thomas shares from the heart in this conversation ranging from practical advice on creating lasting friendships to finding the right support team to tackle health issues. She reflects on her personal journey of growing up in California and how her life took an unexpected twist when she met a Virginian on the run. If you are going through a loss or suffering, Mom encourages us all how to find joy again. Enjoy
#99 William "Bill" Fuller On Setting a Good Example
Mr. William "Bill" Fuller is our special guest on the Become a Provider podcast. He is the grandfather to my wife and when he came for a visit we seized the opportunity to learn from his 94+ years. Mr. Fuller shares about growing on the family farm in Creedmore, NC before eventually going to the Army for a couple of years and then having a long career with American Tobacco. He raised his family in Abingdon, Virginia and shares how he tried to set a good example and after listening to this conver
#98 Provider Legacy Spotlight on Raymond Singleton
Raymond (Ray) L. Singleton, 72, of Pulaski, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. He was my father's best friend and he taught me how to be a provider in many practical ways that deserved an episode to capture for future generations. His obituary is below: He was a member of Unity Christian Church in Radford. Ray was an avid sportsman who loved hunting, fishing, and baseball. He was preceded in death by his father, Earl G. Singleton, Sr.; his mother, Evangeline H. Singleton;
#97 Joe and Tamara Rice On Putting in the Work, Traveling the World and Entrepreneurial Adventures.
My guests today are the wonderful husband/wife couple, Joe and Tamara Rice. I met Joe first when we worked together and I was immediately impressed with his proficient technical skills and friendly demeanor to non-techies like me. Joe started building websites in New York City during the dot-com heydays where he eventually met his wife Tamara. He would later get his masters in computer science, but he would also venture into the entrepreneurial world as a co-founder of ABC Insights, which was ev
#96 Aoife Keegan on Taking a Step of Faith
Aoife Keegan is the Campus & Outreach Director at the Every Nation Dublin church. She also is the Director of Every Nation Campus Europe helping to guide their work across Europe. My wife and I met Aoife while we were living abroad and quickly became friends. In this episode, Aoife reflects on the risk she has taken and continues to take to live in a counter-cultural way while taking steps that align with her faith. Learn more about her work at Every Nation Dublin and connect with her on Faceboo
#95 Donna Mitchell on Family, Business, and 40 Years of Creative Work
Donna Mitchell is the Founder of Horizon Productions, a full-service multimedia production facility located in Durham, NC. They create video, audio and multimedia solutions for clients like Lenovo, IBM, John Deere, GSK, The Alzheimer's Association, and Intel. Donna started the company over 40 years ago and reflects on her journey in this inspiring conversation. She shares about her legendary father, how she broke into the video production industry and how she is transitioning from being the crea
#94 Alan Ying on The Risk Paradox
Alan Ying dropped out of the cardiothoracic surgery residency program at Duke University to start a software company when he was twenty-eight years old. I'm grateful he took this risk because the company he co-founded hired me right out of college! Since selling that business, he’s enjoyed leading, investing in, and serving on the boards of start-ups to public companies. Alan grew up in Ohio and now lives in Texas. He has been married for 25 years and has three kids. His first book is The Risk P
#93 Henry Kaestner on Faith Driven Entrepreneurship
Henry Kaestner cofounded the Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor ministries, and has been a catalyst behind both movements. He and his team seek to serve faith-driven investors, funds, partners, advisors, and entrepreneurs through content and community. Henry is also a co-founder and partner at Sovereign’s Capital, a private equity and venture capital management company that invests in faith-driven entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia and the United States from its offices in Silicon
#92 Rym Selmi on Getting Out of Burnout with Healthy Treats
Rym Selmi is the founder and CEO of Miiro, a vegan and keto-friendly treat company that makes chocolates and baking products. She is an accomplished entrepreneur who went from a burnt-out professional in fiance to a successful founder and CEO in the food industry first in the UK and now in the USA. In this episode she shares more of her personal journey, the hard-working values she learned from her parents, and how she found her own healthy path. For a limited time, you can receive 10% off at m
#91 Jeff Browning on Ultra Running, Health, and Making Fearless Career Changes
Jeff Browning (aka Bronco Billy) is a veteran ultra runner and endurance coach. He has competed in some of the world’s hardest and most competitive ultra mountain races over the past two decades, including Western States 100, Ultra Fiord in Patagonia Chile, Europe’s Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, and Ultra Trail Mount Fuji in Japan. He’s also a 5-time finisher and 2018 champion of the wild and tough Hardrock 100 in SW Colorado. He has finished over 150 ultra marathons in his career (closer to 200 ba
#90 Books to Inspire Your Health, Business, and Personal Growth (first half of 2022)
A fun, short episode where I share six (6) books that I read in the first half of 2022 that had a positive influence on my health, business, and personal development. I hope they also assist your journey as well! Here are the books with links to purchase as well if you want to dive deeper into one (or all) of the subjects: Primal Blueprint Life Force The Secret Lives of Customers The Pumpkin Plan How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life
#89.5 John and Justin Thomas On The Unbelievable Story of Their Father (repost)
In honor of Father's Day here is the reposting of the podcast with my brother on the story of our father, "Pop." We originally recorded this conversation on Father's Day 2020 as a way of honoring him and to preserve his story and the life lessons not only for our family but hopefully for a broader audience to be inspired that personal transformation is possible. We can all become providers. This episode has a new intro and update on the CL Thomas Fellowship. John is a software developer and ent
#89 Nick & Max On Overcoming Obstacles with Gratitude
We have all heard the news, but get ready to experience what the Russian invasion of Ukraine really felt like. Back on the podcast are the founders of the design studio firm Yenin Art (www.https://www.yenin.art/) Nick Zrazh and Max Yenin. You can enjoy my first conversation with them on episode #52. As a quick background, I first connected with them when I needed some logo design work and was thrilled with their custom illustration and graphic design work. While Max focuses on the designs, his
#88 Neha Naik On Making Self-Care a Priority
Neha is a successful 4x entrepreneur and business owner all while raising 2 toddlers! Amongst her many roles and achievements, she is a certified sleep consultant and a coach to other mom entrepreneurs. She works with children from birth to age 5, drawing on her years of experience and training which includes a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Psychology, and a Master’s in Medical Sciences. She was frustrated at the lack of solutions (and sleep!) available to her when her firstborn started
#87.5 Justin Thomas On Two Sides to Relationship Building
What happens when the CL Thomas Fellowship group meets a GoRuck endurance event? Lot's of great memories and lessons to reflect on! In this episode Justin shares what he learned about relationship building and overcoming unexpected surprises in this mini-episode. View free resources on creating a more intentional and positive life at www.justinthomascoaching.com and enjoy this episode!
#87 Anne Marie On Intuitive Living & Learning
Anne Marie had a childhood dream of working with horses which seemed like a stretch in New York, but ended up manifesting itself in Hillsborough, North Carolina! She tells the story of starting Strouds Creek Farm and how it has blossomed into the business it is today. Learn more about her work online at https://www.stroudscreekfarm.com/ or on Instagram @stroudscreekfarm. Enjoy this conversation on intuitive living and learning can open up a new way of life for us all.
#86 Bryan Conner On Taking the Long View and Being Prepared for Adventures
From flying planes around the world to crunching numbers as a CFO, Bryan has done a little bit of everything in his career. He reflects on his strategy of taking the long view, the value of being prepared, and how he trained for his last couple of marathons in a way that did not take away any time from his family. Bryan is a friend and I know you will appreciate his personal and professional stories as examples of going after big dreams by simply starting and putting in the hard work to create m
#85 Randy Free On Connecting Current Actions with Future Dreams
Randy Free is an executive life coach for men and mentor to adolescent males. A passionate men’s advocate for over three decades, he has mentored hundreds of men and boys and guided them through life’s challenges. Through his leadership men have been empowered to overcome addictions, successfully work through marital crises, set and achieve stretch goals in their careers, and become better husbands and fathers. Starting from the humble beginnings of a rice farming community in Texas, Randy built
#84 Billy Hinzo On Building a Company Out of Chaos
Billy Hinzo is obsessed with connecting real people to real supplements. He is the founder of Kingdom Nutrition (http://www.kingdomnutrition.com) and his entrepreneurial journey was thrust upon him just when he and his wife were starting their family. Learn what inspired him to start Kingdom Nutrition, move across the country and start a fully integrated dairy farm! Billy and I met earlier this year while attending the Bob Goff Dream Big Conference and his positive energy shines throughout this
#83 Peter Defty On Achieving Your Health & Performance Potential
Peter Defty is one of the pioneers in fat-adapted performance. After a disappointing marathon effort over 20 years ago, he started developing what he would later call "O.F.M.," which stands for Optimizing Fat Metabolism to help him successfully complete multiple marathons and even a legendary 100-mile race! Today he is in 60s and is enjoying living an active lifestyle of running and coaching others to health with his team at www.ofm.io which is how we originally connected as I prepared for my fi
#82 Justin Thomas On Books For Behavioral Change
Ready to make a healthy behavioral change in your life? I highlight five books that have given me practical tools and techniques to make lasting change. Links to all the books are below and also my book Become a Provider is going on sale on March 15th to help you overcome tragedy, become stronger, and serve others without burning out! Books Highlighted in This Episode: Change or Die Breath The One Thing Atomic Habits The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family Enjoy and let me know wh
#81 Jenni Wilson On Choosing Gratitude Over Darkness
Jenni Wilson is a Master Herbalist, popular blogger, bestselling author, President of a non-profit, and wellness coach. She discovered the power of whole foods and essential oils for her health transformation. And this is only the beginning of her incredible story! You can see her full bio below. It was a privilege to have her as a guest. This episode has a little bit of everything, touching on the themes of health, career, family, achievements and losses. You can review all her resources on
#80 Bree Gordon On Growing Through Trauma
My guest today is Bree Gordon who specializes in working with seniors with Neurodegenerative Disorders, oncology patients and trauma survivors of all ages. She is an accomplished public speaker on topics of music therapy, intergenerational connection, trauma-informed care and business coaching. Bree is also the owner and Director for Creative Arts Therapies of the Palm Beaches and hosts the podcasts The Mindful Mentor. In addition to her clinical work as a music therapist, Bree has been an acti
#79 Justin Thomas on Creating a Provider Vision
Let's focus on helping your own provider journey! In this episode, Justin shares an excerpt on how to create your own provider vision from his new revised book, Book a Provider. Pre-order before its release on March 15, 2022 to get bonus content, a signed bonus book, and enter some fun raffle prizes totaling in value over $2,022! Learn more about the book at https://www.justinthomascoaching.com/book. I hope this special episdoe blesses your journey. I also have a new free video course that just
#78 Jennifer Gallagher On Choosing a New Life
Jennifer Gallagher shares highlights, wisdom, and key takeaways from her inspiring personal transformational journey. She went from looking for a provider figure in her life to becoming one herself. After thinking "school was not for her" she challenged this limiting belief and is now an accomplished paramedic literally saving lives and seeking additional certifications in her field at the time of this recording. It's my pleasure to introduce you to Jennifer and you can follow her on Facebook to
#77 John Mollura On How Positive Change is Possible
John Mollura chose to leave a wildly successful 15-year career as a test engineer for NASA and military projects to become a full-time photographer. He is a multi-award-winning portrait photographer specializing in the celebration of personal transformation. In this conversation he reflects on his own journey involving how disappointment from not getting his "ideal internship" and surviving the lost of a best friend helped shape his life and his personal growth to find faith and a new career pat
#76 Jenny Swisher On Discovering Maximum Energy
Jenny Swisher is a CEO, the SYNC Digital Course Creator, a 2X Elite Star Diamond Team Beachbody Coach, a certified personal trainer and a Mom of two girls. She shares how her chronic pain began an unexpected journey into becoming an expert into female hormones and learning how to achieve maximum energy. Her story inspires us all to become an active participant in life and not to accept the status quo when it comes to how poorly we feel. I'm delighted to share a part of her brave story and excite
#75 Justin Thomas On Dreaming Big
What better way to start the year than to set a vision. Typically my wife Amy and I do this simply in our living room or at a local cafe but this year we went big! We flew across the country, met Bob Goff, became a certified Dream Big Coach and many more ambitions happened along the way. If you are ready to learn a helpful framework for your own dreams, dive into this episode, laugh at some of our failures, and enjoy this special episode where my wife expertly steps into the role of podcast host
#74 Rachel Meadows On New Adventures With Old Passions
Rachel Meadows is a family nurse practitioner and founder of Restoration DPC in Roanoke, Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Radford University and a Master’s degree in nursing from Old Dominion University. She has over 16 years of experience and has worked in a variety of healthcare settings including hospital pediatrics, urgent care, emergency care, and family medicine. With a lot of prayers, a timely word from a leadership coach, and a courageous spirit, Rachel rec
#73.5 Justin Thomas on 5 Health Tips for Feeling Your Best in 2022
In this episode, I share my top 5 health tips to help you prepare for a healthy 2022. Before I share a summary of the resources I must provide a disclaimer: All of the information in this podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. I do not practice medicine and do not make any guarantees about the following recommendations. This information is not intended to treat or cure any medical conditions. Please consult a qualified health professional. 1. Have a Blood Test for Y
#73 Cindy Hodo On Choosing Wellness Even Through Life's Unexpected Challenges
Cindy Hodo describes herself as a "lifestyle entrepreneur, business owner, connecter, wife, and parent. I call her friend after meeting her at the Duke Integrative Medicine Health Coaching training program. She helps her clients realize their wellness potential, but it has not been an easy road for her to be an example of health and wholeness. She shares how we can all choose wellness even through life's unexpected challenges. You can learn more about her work on her website https://questwellnes
#72 The Fischer Clinic On Rediscovering the Passion for Medicine
While Dr. Fischer was receiving high marks working as a doctor for a traditional practice, he felt he was becoming a worse doctor each day. Then his wife discovered a new, yet traditional way, of practicing medicine. They took a leap of faith, started the Fischer Clinic, and are now expanding in the Raleigh, NC area. In this interview, you will hear from Liz Fischer, Dr. Fischer, and Dr. Eberly as their stories all share how intentional decisions can lead to rediscovering passions and providing
#71 Ian Shakil On Leveraging Eureka Moments
Ian Shakil is the Founder, Director, and Chief Strategy Officer at Augmedix (Nasdaq: AUGX). Ian has a B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Before all of this, he and I spent a college summer internship together at a start-up incubator where I witnessed his focus and drive first hand. This conversation highlights how Ian never lets a great idea go to waste and uses his super power skill of focus and obsession, to
#70 Niamh Brennan On the Power of Speaking Plainly and the Risk of Jiggery Pokery
Dr. Niamh Brennan is an accomplished professor at University College Dublin and Founder/Academic Director of the UCD Centre for Corporate Governance. With 100+ publications and 6,000+ Google Scholar citations, her name carries weight in both academic and business circles in Europe and beyond. In recognition of her research, Dr. Brennan was elected to the Royal Irish Academy in 2020, Ireland’s highest academic honor, the first business school academic to be so recognized. I was privileged to lear
#69 Justin Thomas On Maximizing Your Well-Being and Performance
I recently had the opportunity to give a keynote at the Market Movers Conference in Raleigh, NC. I was asked to speak on health and wellness and the title of my keynote was "Maximize Your Well-Being & Performance." I'm grateful to the conference organizers for sharing the audio from my talk and hope this inspires you to invest time in clarifying your own health and provider vision to serve others more sustainably. I hope you enjoy this special episode and we will be back to our standard guest fo
#68 Owen Hill On Living for the Joys and Challenges of Life
Owen Hill is the Co-Founder and Business Development at KleerCard, but his career and life experiences have not just been in the entrepreneurial fintech world. He has a PhD in Economics, was the Director of Budgeting for the non-profit Compassion International, graduated from the Air Force Academy, and served two terms as a State Senator in Colorado. I had the privilege of reconnecting with Owen during this interview after we initially met a couple of decades ago as we attended a small Christian
#67 Jenia Keating On Building Yourself Back Up
Jenia Keating is an accomplished project and program delivery leader with experience in managing complex software projects. I benefited from her skills and friendly demeanor when she helped train me as a project manager. Today she continues to inspire me with her commitment to growth even when that means being open to uncomfortable situations. She has discovered the power of vulnerability from her myriad of experiences ranging from overseeing business projects at a tech start-up to running a hou
#66 Neal Noland On Healthy Boundaries and Pushing Through Limiting Beliefs
Neal Noland is an accomplished professional in the finance world. He has achieved Senior VP positions and completed an MBA while working, demonstrating his ability to achieve in the workplace. What impressed me most about Neal, is his ongoing commitment to personal development while having healthy boundaries at work to protect his most important asset-his time with family and self. During the interview he mentioned a goal setting journal that was helpful in making a positive impact and here is t
#65 Michael Palko On Appreciating the Stories Around Us
Michael Palko has made a career of telling stories. Whether in his role as a Learning and Performance Specialist at Duke University Health System or through his photography art, Michael has honed the skill of appreciating the stories around him. In this conversation, we talk about several of his recent work including The Death Letter Project, Earth art/morning alters, and his practice of photowalking. It was a pleasure working with him 15 years ago at a tech start-up company together, and to re
#64 Landen Conner On Standing Out from the Crowd
Landen Conner is a pharmacist turned photographer and is using his gifts of helping people more than ever. He was born in New Orleans and excelled in chemistry and math throughout school leading him eventually to study pharmacy at Xavier University. However after moving to Orlando and working for retail, long term care, and specialty pharmacies he eventually found himself on the verge of a stress induced burnout moment. He decided a change was necessary for his own health and he started his own
#63 Cary Jack on Living the Happy Hustle
Cary Jack is a lifestyle entrepreneur, author, podcast host, professional actor/model, biohacker, eco-warrior, martial artist, and humanitarian striving to make a positive impact on this planet. I recently met him at a conference where I was struck by his authenticity and his inspiring message of encouraging others to live the "happy hustle." He split time growing up on the beaches of Sarasota, Florida, and in the mountains of Red Lodge, Montana where he first learned the art of a balanced life
#62 Nicole Pavlovich On Finding Happiness by Speaking Your Mind and Listening
My friend and former MBA classmate, Nicole Pavlovich joins the podcast to share life lessons on speaking our minds and listening to help find true happiness. She has been in the restaurant & QSR industry for 20+ years and with Domino’s for the past 9 years. She's had marketing roles in the restaurant space and today focuses on the digital from user experience and conversion optimization to social media and SEM. Nicole leads a team of digital marketing consultants working with Dominos franchisees
#61 Mike Schall On the Gift of Being Heard and Learning from Anyone
Mike Schall is the Assistant Volleyball Coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and shares his fascinating journey on this episode. Mike builds up the hearts of young people, not only as his profession, it's just what he loves to do. I've personally been encouraged from his coaching skills and I've never even played volleyball! Mike and his wife Sarah live in Apex with their four children: Annabelle, Sam, Andrew and Mia. Coach Mike reflects on his first 50 years and the gift we
#60 Lauren Weinberg on the Power of Awareness and Intention
Lauren Yellin Weinberg is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and a Certified Happiness Coach with a background as a psychologist and family therapist. She honed her coaching skills at Duke Integrative Medicine where I had the privilege of witnessing first-hand how she uses the power of thoughtful questions, mindfulness, compassion, curiosity, and accountability to enhance happiness and success. Lauren is also a thought partner for solopreneurs providing creative consultations
#59 Paul Buckley On Making Career Transitions
Paul Buckley is an entrepreneur, social media expert and friend. He is Ooriginally from Galway, Ireland, now living in Co. Meath with his wife Caroline and their two daughters. Paul is COO of InflightFlix, a media company that provides destination video content to the airline and travel industries. He previously served as the Head of Social Media at Aer Lingus, Ireland's flag-carrier airlineHis professional journey includes starting a luxury furniture business, earning an MBA degree, leveraging
#58 Jody Mills On Leadership in Stressful Times
Jody Mills is a leader within the Chapel Hill and Durham, NC F3 men's workout group and a friend who I have witnessed first-hand leading well under stressful circumstances during a couple of endurance events we completed together. His work as the Associate Director of Commercial Insights, Learning & Development at Corcept Therapeutics has also convinced him of the importance of focusing on the needs and concerns of others in stressful times. Whether he is leading a high-stakes work project, fami
#57 Kayla Willis On Asking Intentional Questions
Kayla Willis is the Director of Discipleship and Connections at Restoration Church in Roanoke, Virginia. She is also a Young Life Leader with 10 years of combined experience working in both high school and college settings. When she is not forming authentic friendships during her day job she is doing the same on her "downtime" with activities such as captaining her local kickball team as the starting 2nd baseman for the past six years. The best part of this guest is that I get the privilege of
#56 Justin Thomas On Becoming an Accidental Health Coach
This is a reposting of the Journey 2 Health podcast where Justin was a guest. Hear how Justin became an "accidental health coach" and some of the personal adventures that started as a result of this new career. You can see show notes at the Journey 2 Health podcast website at https://www.ehophealth.com/blog/podcast/ep6-justin-thomas.
#55 Bill Graham On Using Past Scars to Provide Today
Bill Graham is an experienced senior manager, coach, mentor, and small business operator. He has extensive experience leading and building technology teams ranging from career stops at IBM, Thomson Reuters, Zoom Culture, and Mammoth Records. In this conversation, he shares more of his personal story involving music, how he dealt with anger as a young man, meeting his first "southerner", and the classic story of meeting his wife. Bill is the founder and operator of Nice Old Double Gunworks, a sh
#54 Jessica-Claire Jones On Honoring Relationships and Commitments
Jessica-Claire Jones joins reflects on one of the essential themes of her life and career of being there for others. She discusses the inspiration behind the desire to provide for others even when it may be inconvenient and uncomfortable. Jessica-Claire's professional and personal roles have put her in leadership positions to be there for others ranging from being a Christian campus minister, wedding planner, athletic coach, or special events coordinator. Her experience as a Division 1 athlete a
#53 Lisa Hagan On Leveraging the Past for New Adventures
Lisa Hagan is a national board-certified health coach who was surprised to learn she had been preparing for this career her entire adult life. Today she coaches individuals and trains other health coaches, through her work at Vida Health. However, she had to overcome her own health challenges to get to a place of healing before coaching others. During our conversation, she shares her personal health challenges of burnout and how her curiosity and commitment to feeling better lead her to sign up
#52 Max Yenin On Committing to be a Professional
Max Yenin is a graphic designer based in Ukraine with 14 years of experience in creating illustrations, printing materials, digital and traditional drawings and much more. I'm excited to have Max on the podcast as he has provided for me with some beautiful designs over the past year ranging from my family's homeschooling logo, cattle farm business logo, and even the episode designs for this very podcast! While Max focuses on the designs his partner Nick handles all the communication needs of the
#51.5 Justin and John Thomas On The Unbelievable Story of Their Father (2020 repost new intro)
To honor Father's Day 2021 I have reposted this interview with my brother reflecting on the life of our late father. I include a new introduction announcing my new men's small group that will start in September. It's designed for men who have lost their fathers already and are seeking to join an intentional group to be encouraged and grow into a stronger overall provider. The group will run from September 2021- May 2022. All meetings will be remote with the exception of two in-person retreats. L
#51 Amy Thomas On When Dreams Are Taken Away
My wife Amy joins me for another podcast discussion and this one is about a tale we will always remember! It's a conversation filled with adventure and also some tough moments which we wanted to share what happens when you step into a dream only to have it quickly and unexpectedly vanish? How do you go through it and have the courage to dream again? We don't have all the answers, but we do have some stories that will entertain and hopefully inspire you to get through some of life's inevitable ha
#50 AJ Overton On Building Authentic Fellowship
AJ Overton is a respected statistician at Duke Clinical Research Institute, but what I really admire about AJ is his willingness to enter uncomfortable situations to grow and become a better leader. Whether that is moving to Uganda, standing on stage, or completing an endurance challenge, AJ is willing to be "in the arena" in order to grow and develop authentic relationships. It's a privilege to call AJ a friend and a bonus that he is one of my neighbors, enjoy this conversation! You can connect
#49 Ian Yancey On Saying Yes and Making the Direct Asks In Life
Ian Yancey is a principal engineer at Hazen and Sawyer where he helps clients provide safe drinking water and controlling water pollution and its effects on the environment. Although his work and career are meaningful, what I am most impressed with Ian is his willingness to always say yes to my crazy adventures and requests. He was part of the inaugural CL Thomas Fellowship group and has become a loyal friend. In this interview, he shares his intentional decision to be a "yes man" when it comes
#48 Susan Hollobaugh On Advocating for Others As a Parent and Entrepreneur
Susan Hollobaugh is an advocate for people with communication disabilities and is the CEO & Founder of Know Me Enterprises. Her company provides tools to help people with communication difficulties (and their teams) improve their quality of life. Her entrepreneurial journey is a deeply personal one filled with stories of hard and joyful work. You can connect with Susan via e-mail at susan@knowmetools.com and connect with Susan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-hollobaugh-753169a0/
#47 Hathaway Pendergrass On Intentionally Serving Your Community and Yourself
Hathaway Pendergrass is a man dedicated to his family and community. He is the District Court Judge in Orange and Chatham Counties of North Carolina. He completed his undergraduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill followed by law school at NC Central University. He serves his community in a variety of ways and while he may look busy with all his many activities, a more accurate description is that he intentionally invests in his community. One of his efforts was co-founding local men's workout groups
#46 Don Shin On Rebooting Relationships, Scaling a Business, and Never Giving Up
Don Shin is the founder and CEO of CrossComm, an award-winning software development firm based in Durham, NC. He started the firm in 1998 as a student at Duke University. His exciting entrepreneurial journey has included building some of the earliest sophisticated websites, iPhone apps, and augmented reality apps. Don reflects on his journey leading the firm through three economic recessions and how CrossComm is currently scaling and how he is re-learning how to provide for himself and others in
#45 Andres Munar On Acting, Overcoming Social Anxiety, and Being Ok with Boredom
Andres is an actor/writer/director teacher born in Colombia and raised in Miami. On TV, he has been a guest on New Amsterdam, Fear the Walking Dead, and the upcoming final episode of Queen of the South. He lives in Hillsborough, NC with his wife and two kids, and in this episode, he shares how he made it in the acting world, how it helped him overcome social anxiety, and lessons he's learned on using boredom positively. He has taught at Fordham University and currently teaches playwriting throu
#44 John Lee Dumas On Choosing Mentors and Morning Routines
John Lee Dumas (JLD) is the founder and host of the award-winning podcast, Entrepreneurs On Fire. With over 100 million listens of his 3000+ episodes, JLD has turned Entrepreneurs On Fire into a media empire that generates over a million listens every month and 7-figures of NET annual revenue 8-years in a row. His first traditionally published book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success is the modern-day version of Think and Grow Rich with a revolutionary 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and f
#43 Dr. David Fitzgerald On Making Bold Decisions to Provide for Others
Dr. David Fitzgerald and his wife are both skilled physicians who have used their specialized medical training to serve patients across the world. Their positive work abroad inspired friends back home who started asking the Fitzgerald who can I help as well in serving the needs of kids in Malawi? This sparked the Fitzgeralds to launch the Malawi Children's Initiative and oddly enough had the ripple effect of getting me into long-distance running! David also goes by the nickname "Zika" in our men
#42 Baker Freiberg On Healthy Selfishness and Being Present for Others
In this episode of our podcast, we are joined by Baker Freiberg, the VP of Sales at EHOP Health. Being prepared and having an appropriate amount of healthy selfishness is how Baker has been able to challenge himself professionally and physically. Whether it is training for a triathlon or learning from mentors, Baker is committed to putting in the work behind the scenes to not only maximize his personal results but to set a positive example for his son and others. Learn how we can all be intentio
#41 Recap of the First Forty Episodes
Hear the best clips from all of the first 40 episodes in this special recap episode of the Become a Provider podcast! Guest interviews range from physicians, entrepreneurs, NY Times best-selling authors, professional athletes, and many more insightful voices who share practical tips and meaningful moments that have provided for them and how they try to do the same for others. Take a listen and then decide which episode number to dive deeper. Here's to 40 more!
#40 Coley Thomas On Never Be Afraid to Reinvent Yourself
Coley Thomas has lived a life filled with constant growth and reinvention. I've had the privilege to see his journey first-hand as his cousin from his days as a restaurant owner, financial advisor, and now as a top-secret eligible technology engineer. Coley lives with his wife Nikki in Radford, Virginia where they enjoy chasing around their two sons in the backyard. He has a heart for honest conversations and a mind that is always eager for the next book. Enjoy this conversation with the one and
#39 Alex Miller On Giving Away Your Best
Alex Miller is the founder of Alex Miller Government Affairs, a leading lobbying and public relations firm, ranked among the “10 Most Powerful Lobbyists in North Carolina”. Prior to founding the firm, he served as an Infantry Squad Leader in the United States Army and a direct practice Social Worker. He holds a Masters in Social Work with a focus in Public Policy from UNC-Chapel Hill. More importantly, he literally carried me during an endurance event that we completed together and I've grown to
#38 Dr. David Robertson On Lessons from the Classroom to the Boardroom
Dr. David Robertson is co-owner of the Robertson Marketing Group, which designs logo merchandise and recognition programs for Fortune 500 companies and well-known brands such as Google, UPS, and Pepsi. He was first exposed to the thrills of entrepreneurship and taught how to handle the hard losses of life through his parents which helped form the character and drive to start his own gym, get a doctorate, teach business classes, and lead an international company. I was fortunate to be one of his
#37 Dale Tincher On Standing Firm In Your Faith and Always Evolving
Dale Tincher is the CEO and Founder of Consultwebs, one of the leading internet legal marketing and consulting firms, serving several hundred law firm clients throughout the country. He is a prominent web design and promotion specialist, writer, photographer and speaker. Dale has a heart for mentoring and has guided countless business professionals including my own! I'm delighted to share his wisdom, gambling spirit (as he puts it), and commitment to serving God. In this episode, he shares how h
#36 Shar Jordan On Believing Your Are Better Than This
Shar Jordan shares her unique perspective on providing for others through the lens of senior leadership and management. She is VP, Client Success at IBM with experience managing teams as large as 100+ employees and I had the privilege of learning under her leadership during the start of my career! Shar is a results-oriented, team builder, and team player with a positive can-do attitude that shines throughout this conversation. We can all learn from her skills of challenging limiting assumptions
#35 Todd Harper On Friends Who Have Your Back In Life
As a founder of the non-profit, Generous Giving, Todd has been actively engaged in spreading the biblical message of generosity for 20 years. Todd and I met during one of their signature Journey of Generosity events and we will never forget that weekend for reasons discussed on this episode. He reflects on living open-handedly, friends who have your back, and how we can all be more attentive to the needs around us. Todd holds a bachelor's degree in economics and entrepreneurship from Baylor Uni
#34 Brad McGinity On How Vulnerability Develops Personal and Professional Relationships
Brad McGinity leads the revenue organization of Marketing, Sales, Success, Support, and Services at 15Five, the leading People and Performance platform for high-growth companies. Revenue and headcount have grown nearly 5x since he joined the company in August of 2017. He previously co-founded Windsor Circle, a predictive marketing and analytics software provider, where he was the VP of Sales and a Board member. He was also the top-performing sales exec at Bronto Software before its acquisition b
#33 Joe Schmidt On The Courage to Speak Truth
Joe Schmidt is an entrepreneur, investor, and leader. In this episode, he shares some of his knowledge accumulated over 20 years of launching e-commerce start-ups and spearheading humanitarian efforts. Joe explains how he strategically says "no" to opportunities while also saying "yes" to the important adventures and relationships in his life through discovering one's capacity. Connect with Joe on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/josefschmidt/ and at the links provided below. Joe's Work:
#32 Stephen Smith On Being Generous With Time
Stephen Smith is an experienced marketer with several Head of Marketing positions at VC backed startups and established brands. He uses his background in film to share engaging stories to customers, family, and friends alike. Stephen was born and raised in Ireland and he currently lives in New York City with his wife Dr. Phillipa and their two children. You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenjpsmith/
#31 Reggie and Bomi Roberson On Serving Others Through Career Transitions and a Pandemic
Reggie and Bomi Roberson discuss how serving, giving and creativity have shaped their lives and careers. Reggie is the Lead Pastor at Kings Park International Church in Durham, NC and Bomi is the founder of With Love Bomi, which designs leather jewelry & accessories, as well as custom stationery for special events. They both have a heart to encourage and inspire people in their faith. You can learn more about their work at the following links: Pastor Reggie: https://kingspark.org/pastors/reggie-
#30 Justin and Amy Thomas On Planning Family Summits
At the start of each year many businesses clarify their vision and create an annual goal to take towards that future, why not do the same as a family? Hear what this annual event has looked like over the past twelve years as Justin and Amy reflect on some practical questions to get the most out of a family-style summit and how you can start making your own unique traditions this year.
#29 Bob Goff On Providing with Purpose and Presence
As a 3x New York Times best-selling author, Bob Goff doesn't just write about being available, he models being present for others. Bob reflects on the intentional decisions he made in life to provide for his family which lead to him becoming an encourager to millions today. Bob calls himself a "recovering lawyer" because after practicing law for 25 years, then becoming the Hon. Consul to Uganda, he gave up his law firm to pursue writing and speaking full time. For him, the best part has been con
#28 Dug Hampton On Launching The Become a Provider Course
We come full circle in this episode as Dug Hampton, the very first guest of this podcast shares how we have partnered together to create the first Become a Provider course. Dug serves as the principal at Dayspring Christian Academy in Blacksburg, Virginia where a group of high school students recently started the new provider elective course that we (Justin and Dug) are co-leading. There have already been some great moments and learnings for the students and us that we wanted to share and encour
#27 Eric Gephart On Having the Heart of a Gracious Traveler
Chef Eric Gephart is a live-fire expert and culinary content creator. He is the Chief Culinary Officer at Kamado Joe, and is an experienced owner/operator of fine dining restaurants ranging across the world from New Zealand to New York. He shares his journey as a struggling student with dyslexia to becoming the graduation speaker at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Eric reflects on the moments that provided for him and how he made courageous career decisions to become a better prov
#26 Hiruni Wijayaratne On Using Gratitude to Persevere in Races and Life
At a quick glance, you might not think you have much in common with Hiruni Wijayaratne. Born in Sri Lanka, a D1 college athlete and with 11 national records for her home country, she has accomplished things many of us may never achieve. Yet, Hiruni is a huge advocate of personal development through goal setting and I know this first-hand as she is my own virtual running coach through her work at Runcoach. It was a privilege to learn more about her story and how she uses gratitude to persevere in
#25 James Forrest On Addressing Tensions To Build Authentic Relationships
James Forrest is Founder & CEO/Attorney at Forrest Firm, P.C. More importantly, he is a dear friend whom I describe as having humble confidence, and it was a privilege to get to know him several years ago in a mentoring group we completed together. In this interview, James shares how he tries to provide for others by being direct in his relationships, having a willingness to take risks, and the importance of investing long-term into your relationship with your spouse. You can follow James on Lin
#24 Bethany Brevard On How a Small Ornament Turned Into a Business, a Book, and Big Adventures
Meet my new friend, Bethany Brevard, who shares her story of turning dreams into reality through hard work, prayer, and a timely accident or two. Bethany is a wife, mom, entrepreneur, and most recently, an award-winning children's book author of "The Mouse In the Hammock." After 20+ years of merchandising and product design for Fortune 500 companies, she decided to take a leap of faith and become an author. Since then, her family mouse ornament has blossomed into a Christmas story that reminds u
#23 Dr. William "B.J." Lawson, On Dramatic Transformations
William "B.J." Lawson, MD is an entrepreneur with a background in engineering and medicine, co-founder and CEO of EHOP Health. My career and life would be completely different if not for B.J. and I'm forever grateful for his leadership and the risks he took in life that blessed not only my carer development but produced multiple positive ripple effects for patients, physicians, and employees around the country as you will hear in this interview. He is dedicated to helping people restore health a
#22 Grant Hoffman On "You Should Do This" Moments
Grant Hoffman is a mentor, friend, and former boss of mine who reflects on the hard words given to him early in his career and how it shaped his "people first" management philosophy. Today he runs a healthcare software company after stints in consulting, startups, and a Fortune 500 company along the way. He is a proud Tar Heel with an undergraduate degree and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was a pleasure reconnecting with Grant in this interview and I know his pa
#21 King'Roy Hampton On Overcoming Tragedy with Prayers, Smiles, and T-Shirts
King'Roy Hampton is the founder and CEO of the clothing brand, God Faith Family, and a recent graduate of the CL Thomas Fellowship. He reflects on growing up in the projects in Winston-Salem and how he, and all of us, can overcome tragedy. King'Roy brings his trademark positive energy to the conversation as he shares wisdom on cherishing the moments of life and trying to be the best version of yourself. Follow him on his personal Facebook account and you can also see some of his latest clothing
#20 Joseph McCaffrey On How Recovery and Patience Can Help You Charge Harder
Joe McCaffrey is a hard charger, whether it was a college wrestler at Harvard, an MBA student at Duke, or completing one of his many endurance events. Over the years, Joe has had people motivating him, and now he does the same through his work, fitness, and family routines. He serves as the Chief Investment Officer at Salem Investment Counselors, ranked as the top financial advisory firm in the nation on the CNBC FA 100 list for the second year in a row (2019 & 2020). You can connect with Joe on
#19 Andy Krzmarzick On Life's Come and See Moments
Andy Krzmarzick works as the Public Sector Leader for Large Enterprises at Amazon Business. His career and life path have been driven by what he describes as "come and see moments." Through the twists and turns of priesthood to non-profit to business, Andy reflects on the people and moments that provided for him along his journey. The best story might just be how he met his wife! Enjoy meeting Andy, hearing his story and be inspired to live out one of his life mottos of "do good, do well." This
#18 Sarah Schall On Favorite Miracles and Pursuing Purpose in all Seasons of Life
Sarah Schall is passionate about strengthening the hearts, minds and bodies of others so they can become healthy inside and out and live a life full of purpose. At a quick glance, you might not think you have much in common with Sarah. She is an experienced health and wellness coach certified with the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, a former college athlete (inducted into her university’s hall of fame!), and she also founded "Inside-Out Strong," a program that teaches girls how to be stro
#17 Lilly Ferrick On Placing Bets On Yourself
Lilly Ferrick's personal values of confidence and authority are contagious in this conversation. Her values have resulted in a successful sales and coaching career and she inspires us all to develop these positive traits by investing in ourselves for the benefit of others. Lilly is an entrepreneur driven to help businesses thrive in competitive markets through precise and focused sales efforts. Lilly works along with her team to help clients fill and manage their sales pipelines with viable an
#16 Justin and Amy Thomas On The 8 Traits of Being a Provider
Justin and Amy Thomas, co-founders of the CL Thomas Fellowship, unveil the Provider Wheel in this episode. This is the framework presented to participants in the 9-month fellowship program, and now available for all to use a helpful guide to become a provider. Learn practical tips and stories on how to develop healthy habits to bless and protect others in your life. Additional resources can be found at www.clthomasfellowship.org. Enjoy this conversation on the characteristic traits it takes to b
#15 Dr. Joe Jenkins On Making Lasting Impressions
Whether as a practicing doctor or an entrepreneurial healthcare CEO, Dr. Jenkins has always thought outside the box. During this episode, Dr. Joe reflects on the people and moments that helped him turn around his college experience and discover a fulfilling career. The theme of "making a lasting impression" is weaved throughout the conversation. Genuine and reflective throughout, Dr. Joe shares how he found the opportunity in life by being curious no matter what stage he was in his career from s
#14 Pastor Steve Gilmore On The Best Fruit Grows In The Valley
Pastor Steve shares his experience of becoming a provider by reflecting on lessons from his parents, by overcoming health challenges, and the belief that we can all bring a taste of Heaven on Earth when we reflect the image of God to others. He and his wife Cheryll lead Every Nation church together in Dublin, Ireland. Steve is Irish and Cheryll is Filipino/Irish and they have 4 kids.
#13 Justin Thomas On 3 Years of the CL Thomas Fellowship
How do you mark special moments? After my wife and I launched the CL Thomas Fellowship I wanted to honor the first class in a special way. We all have those special projects and aspirations, it doesn't even feel like work when we spend our time into that special ambition. Sometimes we can keep working away when we just need to pause and celebrate the progress made to date. In this episode, I (Justin) reflect on the last three years of the CL Thomas Fellowship and how we celebrate the moment may
#12 David Parker On Providing Through Passion
David lives in Durham, NC with his wife, Kelly, and three kids, Payton, Haven and Salem. He is the founder of Riverbank Custom Homes and a member of the Summit Church. This conversation was recorded in June 2020 during COVID-19 quarantine restrictions and stressful times in his business managing an influx of new projects. I appreciate his humor, relatability, and genuine desire to live an authentic life not just put on a happy face. David co-leads one of the CL Thomas Fellowship mentoring groups
#11.5 Amy Thomas On Childlike Prayers and Cattle Farming (Part 2)
Part two of my conversation with Amy Thomas unveils what happens when she uttered a childlike prayer for cows. Hear the adventure in this episode and be inspired to start your own adventure! Dream big and laugh alongside as we experiment with something new and inch closer towards a family dream.
#11 Amy Thomas On Developing Confidence (Part 1)
My wife, Amy Thomas joins me to reflect on her personal journey of learning how to provide not only through behind-the-scenes acts of service but also leading others. She has developed a passion for encouraging others, especially women, to be more confident in life with your decisions and how that honors the person they were meant to be in life. You'll discover how Amy chose business as a major at Roanoke College, how she won me over, and the moment she heard from God in a powerful way in this p
#10 Tim Oakley On Being Known and Finding Purpose
Tim Oakley is a personal mentor who invested 18-months mentoring me through one of his Radical Mentoring groups. It was a life-changing experience and it's a privilege to have him on the podcast to share some of his wisdom. Tim has served as Chief Financial Officer for a variety of high-growth companies over the past 25+ years, helping these firms with over $1 billion in financial transactions and exit events. Not only is Tim a "business guy" but he also has a masters degree in Counseling havin
#9 Matt Schumann On The Moment You Get Inspired to Change
Matt Schumann is a friend that can make me laugh anytime, anywhere. We met over 25 years ago in Middle School and have been friends ever since. He brings a unique perspective to the Become a Provider podcast, sharing his personal journey of how he overcame some of the worst moments in his life, stopped blaming other people, and how he is intentionally sacrificing for others now. While his laugh is contagious you will not only enjoy the conversation but you will learn from his story and wisdom t
#8 Jeanine Finelli On Personal Transformation
Jeanine Finelli is a Certified Health Coach and Director of Coaching Operations at EHOP Health. She is a graduate of both the Institute of Functional Medicine and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Jeanine is a published author with her book "Love Yourself to Health...with Gusto!" She is a mother of two and believes that at the core of all positive and lasting change resides a deep love and respect of self. She reflects on her life and work during this podcast interview. You can follow Jea
#7 Nathan Clendenin On Cultivating Your Gift and Listening to Trusted Voices
Nathan Clendenin has earned 9 Emmy awards from the National Academy of the Arts and Sciences through the video company he founded called StoryDriven. He shares how delivering a TED Talk and co-leading a fellowship group challenged him to think about how to cultivate his own gifts during the COVID-19 pandemic and make a career change. Nathan lives with his wife Rebecca and their three kids in Durham, NC. You can connect with him on LinkedIn to follow his work. You can watch some of his great stor
#6 Chris Combs On Playing in the NFL and Taking on Life’s Challenges
Chris Combs shares his journey of finding identity in sports and work before ultimately being challenged to consider why he worked so hard in the first place. Chris is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and former professional NFL player with more stories than this episode can handle. Chris and his wife Angela live in Durham, NC and have three children. He also serves as a mentor in the CL Thomas Fellowship. I hope you are encouraged by this conversation and we reflect on his journey of discov
#5 Justin and John Thomas On The Unbelievable Story of Their Father
My younger brother, John Thomas joins me for this special episode reflecting on the story of our father, "Pop." For the first time ever, we provide a detailed account of how Pop went from being a prodigal son to a model provider figure. We recorded this conversation on Father's Day 2020 as a way of honoring him and to preserve his story and the life lessons not only for our family but hopefully for a broader audience to be inspired that personal transformation is possible. We can all become prov
#4 John Jarrett On Fatherhood, Reversing Diabetes, and Blessing Others
John Jarrett is known as "Papa John" (before the pizza chain!) not only to his kids and family but everyone he meets. He has a kind and warm demeanor that was forged from the bitter winters growing up in Chicago. He enjoys living in North Carolina now and is a man who loves others and is still seeking to grow in his compassion. Our conversation touched on the significance of fatherhood, overcoming chronic health conditions, and asking for more to bless more. Enjoy this conversation with the orig
#3 Beverly Williams On Turning Crisis Into Opportunity
Beverly Williams loves providing to others through her acts of service. Whether that is for her professional career which spans across operations, sales, finance, and HR and also to her family of six (6) children. She has learned valuable lessons along the way in order to move from having a "martyr mindset" to finding peace and joy in giving to others in a way that fuels her, rather than burns her out. Connect with Beverly on LinkedIn to learn more about her work,
#2: Coach Dug Hampton on How God is the Ultimate Provider
William "Dug" Hampton joins the Become a Provider podcast as the first guest interview! He goes by "Dug" or "Coach" and is an example of serving others through his work as a basketball coach and principal at Dayspring Christian Academy in Blacksburg, Va. Justin met Coach Dug nearly 25 years ago when Coach started the basketball program at Dayspring. The two have remained close ever since In this interview, Coach reflects on the calling to provide for our enemies, the power of showing up in peopl
#1: Welcome to the Become a Provider Podcast
Meet the host of this podcast, Justin Thomas. Listen to how this husband, father, and business guy began his journey of becoming a better provider to honor his late father, CL Thomas by starting a non-profit pushing himself through endurance events, and transitioning into the health coaching world. All of this resulted in Justin learning that life is better when you provide for yourself and others. Future podcast episodes will highlight providers in Justin's life and the stories of how they ble