Family Adventures, Cattle Auctions, and Catholic Entrepreneurship with Karl Graham

Family Adventures, Cattle Auctions, and Catholic Entrepreneurship with Karl Graham

• Introduction: David and Adam welcome listeners to the 9th anniversary episode of The Catholic Man Show, started in 2016 as a Catholic radio show before becoming a podcast.
• Drink Announcement: Celebrating with Old Rip Van Winkle 10-Year Bourbon, a gift from friend Blake Burger for their 100th episode, sourced again for this milestone.

Main Discussion

Family Adventures at the Wanamaker Gun Show

• Adam shares his family outing to the Wanenmacher Gun Show in Oklahoma, one of the largest in the U.S., with ~10,000-15,000 attendees.
• First weekend home in weeks; decided to spend time with family despite cold, rainy weather.
• Spent 3 hours exploring ~40% of the massive expo (quarter-mile long).
• All kids (except 2-year-old John) got pocket knives; Anna (Adam’s daughter) showed hers off at Mass.
• Only one Band-Aid needed (Anna’s finger), considered a "miracle" for 4 pocket knives.

Cattle Auction Experience

• Adam recounts taking his 6-year-old son, Leo, to a cattle auction in Checotah, Oklahoma (hometown of Carrie Underwood).
• First-time experience; fast-paced, intimidating environment with bids decided in 5-10 seconds.
• Auctioneers provide rapid info (weight, heifer/steer, vaccination status) while cows move in and out.
• David bought two heifers and accidentally bid on a bull, later corrected to a steer with help from friend Jimmy Ritchie.
• Leo loved the action-packed atmosphere, unaware they’d bought cows until Adam explained.
• Cows are alive, thriving, and haven’t escaped fences yet.

Farm Life and Pig Processing

• David awaits delivery of half a pig (named Chocolate Chip) from friend Juan Posadas, processed by Brandon Sheerd.
• Juan sold piglets from David’s heifer; funny story of Juan transporting pigs to a baptism at Christ the King in summer heat.
• Excitement for natural bacon cured with salt, free of commercial feed chemicals that affect fat flavor.

Guest Introduction: Karl Graham

• Karl, a longtime friend from the Diocese of Tulsa, joins to discuss his journey as a geologist, family man, and Catholic entrepreneur.
• Background: Grew up in Tulsa, studied geology in Colorado, returned in 2010, moved to San Antonio (2014), Houston, and back to Tulsa (2017).
• Married to Lindsey (nurse); father of six, including twins born in San Antonio.
• Professional path: Oil and gas industry (10+ years), MBA from University of Chicago, transitioned to entrepreneurship.

Break 1: Pilgrimage Sponsor

• Select International Tours: For 34 years, leading pilgrimages worldwide with top guides and hotels. Visit selectinternationaltours.com for details.

Second Segment: Karl’s Professional Journey

• Geology Career: Started in oil and gas in Tulsa post-undergrad, worked for a global company with offices in Perth, Cairo, Houston, etc.
• Moved to San Antonio for a “skunk works” project; loved the ordinariate parish (Our Lady of the Atonement).
• Realized geology wasn’t enough; aimed to become a business executive.
• MBA Experience: Attended University of Chicago while working full-time, traveling every other weekend.
• Moved from San Antonio to Houston during school; had twins and fourth child; graduated with five kids after moving back to Tulsa.
• Industry contracted during this time, closing offices he’d hoped to work in (e.g., Cairo, Perth).
• Wake-Up Call: Realized corporate life diverged from family goals; noticed family members thrived as entrepreneurs in smaller communities.
• Left corporate job in Houston (despite stability) to join a small oil and gas startup in Tulsa with colleague Chris (now business partner).
• Risky move: Lower salary, invested personal savings, rented home after multiple moves.

Break 2: Exodus 90 Sponsor

• Exodus 90: A 90-day journey to freedom in Christ for men. Download the app to join thousands worldwide.

Third Segment: Entrepreneurship and Risk

• Oil and Gas Startup: Joined a 20-person company (down from 3,000 in corporate role).
• Wore multiple hats, executed own ideas, gained confidence despite moderate success.
• 2020 Challenges: COVID and negative oil prices (-$28/barrel) led to triage mode, layoffs (30 to 11 employees), and weekly vendor payment decisions.
• New Venture: Co-founded Luminess Capital (real estate investment firm) with Chris, focusing on self-storage facilities.
• Simpler than oil exploration; clear risks and opportunities.
• Grew to 16 employees across four continents (U.S., Philippines, Zimbabwe, Panama, El Salvador, Mexico).
• Rewarding to offer global team flexible work (e.g., no long commutes); 100% Catholic employees initially (unplanned, due to hiring in Philippines).
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Bet on skills, create opportunities for others, provide meaningful Christian work environments.

Break 3: Return to Discussion

• Parish Involvement: Karl emphasizes using professional skills to serve the local parish, not as a factory but as stewards of resources (money, buildings, beauty).
• Example: Volunteering on finance and school councils, proposing longer meetings (1 to 1.5 hours) to solve complex problems.
• Encourages men to offer expertise (e.g., landscaping, maintenance) to save funds for higher-impact uses (e.g., Catholic education).

Podcast-Exclusive Segment: Evangelization and Magnanimity

• Prestige and Humility: Pursuing professional excellence builds a platform for evangelization.
• Example: JD Vance’s Catholic faith enhances his credibility as a statesman, inspiring others.
• Opus Dei examination of conscience: Are you using professional prestige to spread faith?
• Stereotype of poor Christians (e.g., Franciscans) shouldn’t deter success; wealth is a talent to steward, not squander.
• Entrepreneurship Benefits: Creates jobs, fosters Christian work environments, offers opportunities (e.g., Good Friday off for Filipino employees).
• Parish Engagement Challenges: Men’s clubs often feel like “another meeting”; Karl’s Knights of Columbus experience in San Antonio (casino trip focus) was uninspiring.
• Solution: Social organizations should prioritize relationships (like Jesus’ three years with disciples), not formalities.
• Example: Invite neighbors to casual parish events (e.g., BBQs) to share life, not just preach.
• Stewardship Mindset: Treat parish resources (and personal gifts like homes, bodies) as God’s, fostering buy-in.
• Example: Men landscaping parish grounds saves money for education and builds community stake (like past generations who built parishes).
• Wichita’s model: Active parishioners get tuition discounts for volunteering time, creating a culture of giving.
• Faith and Work: Kids didn’t shift Karl’s work focus initially (already driven), but now with six kids, he values flexibility to volunteer at school/parish.
• Prayer to St. Joseph warns against “vain complacency in success”; Catholics should strive for constant excellence to reflect faith.
• If Catholics excelled maximally, employers would seek them out.

Closing Thoughts

• Encouragement for Men: Don’t shy away from parish involvement; offer specific skills (e.g., “12 guys to solve a problem”) without needing formal workdays.
• Example: Karl’s parish has 90+ RCIA candidates; needs space solutions.
• Story: RCIA candidate Curtis saw friend Anthony’s Catholic conversion change him, sparking his own journey.
• Magnanimity: Use God-given talents for greatness in secular and church life to build the Kingdom.
• Final Cheers: “We’re on the Lord’s team, the winning side. Raise your glass! Cheers to Jesus!”

Action Items for Listeners

• Parish Involvement: Reach out to your pastor with a specific offer (e.g., “I’ll get 10 guys to landscape the grounds”).
• Stewardship: Reflect on how you can use professional skills to serve your parish (e.g., finance, maintenance, education).
• Evangelization: Build relationships through social parish events to share your faith naturally.
• Magnanimity: Pursue excellence in your career to reflect Christ and expand your influence for the Kingdom.

Additional Notes

• 9th Anniversary Context: Show started when podcasts were niche; now over 500 episodes, outlasting most (average podcast stops after 3-5 episodes).
• Old Rip Van Winkle: Exceptional bourbon; no alcohol burn, flavorful kick, lingers pleasantly. Shared generously per “festivity” philosophy (per Pieper).
• Luminous Capital: Karl’s real estate firm grew from a self-storage thesis to a global team, emphasizing a Christian work culture.
• Catholic Education: Reference to Bishop Connolly’s pastoral letter on stewardship in Catholic schools (e.g., Wichita’s model).