Catholic Founders

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsBefore we start:* Join our October Rosary Challenge: Pray 1 more rosary each day than usual* Chicago Catholic Founders meetup: Tent date: Nov 3rd (details pending) * SF Catholic founders meetup: Tent date: Nov 20th (details pending)Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today! It's $10/month or $100/year so anyone can afford it. Don't build alone -- join 50+ Catholic business owners building, learning, and praying together. https://www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:I’ve mentioned Ecclesiastical Ventures many times on the pod and in our CF Guild calls. Now we are finally breaking down what an Ecclesiastical Venture is, and how we can bring them back. We really appreciate Mark taking the time to share his learnings — we hope this inspires you. * Mark Wilson | Nicodemus Ventures[sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: You Can Run a Profitable Business Even if Your First Objective is Not ProfitThe underlying principle of an Ecclesiastical Venture is that we are not focused soley on profit. We are focused on using the venture to get to heaven. We build our way of life around the goal of heaven. Daily mass — prayer throughout the day — a spiritual director — etc. All of these things are in service of eternity. But most secular business owners wouldn’t consider these a good ROI. When you focus on what truly matters most (heaven) first, you’re actually doing yourself a favor because you’re putting the right things first. Doing so has very positive downstream effects. Because when you do the right thing in one area you do it in others. Doing the right thing for your customers leads to positive customer reactions which leads to new customers (as Tim Connors told us on the pod he did with us). God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner[sponsored content]Launch Your Podcast — Build Trust With CustomersTrying to bring in more leads? Launching a podcast might be the best move you haven’t made yet.Saint Kolbe Studios helps Catholic entrepreneurs launch professional, mission-aligned podcasts that build trust and increase leads.Their team walks with you every step of the way, from strategy and recording to branding and editing, so you can launch your podcast in under 90 days.Get 20% off all services for the rest of 2025 because you listen to Catholic Founders. Just mention Catholic Founders when you reach out. 158 million people listen to podcasts every month, and that’s just in the US! Your ideal customer may already be listening to a competitor’s podcast.Visit saintkolbestudios.com to get started. Key Episode References:* Nicodemus Ventures* Saint Kolbe Studios* VersoJobs* The Saintly CEO (newsletter)* Daughters of Charity* Marian Friars MinorSelect Quotes:* “When you dedicate it to God or you surrender it to Him, He’s in charge. And I’ve learned that you can abandon it, right? You can abandon this commitment... But you can’t undo it. You’ve given it over to God, now He’s in charge.”* “Their goal was not profit. Their goal was not success. Their goal was a salvation of its founders, managers, and employees. That was the purpose of work.”* “It’s like a magnet. People say, I want that. I want to be in that environment. I want to be with those people... And then over the course, they realize, hey, wow, it’s Jesus. And then when they recognize that, they convert.”* “The primary objective is salvation. Life is short. So where do want your eternal soul to go? And that’s really what they were focused on, and worshiping God, and living a penitent lifestyle.”* “Every day you should be growing, becoming more holy. The environment is one in which you’re sanctifying yourself and others and your work.”* “You’re never gonna outdo God in generosity. Well, when God sees that you’re so detached from this stuff, He knows He can entrust you to do the right things with His wealth.”Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 - Introduction and Mark Wilson’s Background* 04:02 - Discovery and History of Ecclesiastical Ventures* 08:26 - Core Purpose: Salvation Over Profit* 17:28 - Characteristics of Ecclesiastical Ventures* 22:06 - Examples and Impact of Ecclesiastical Ventures* 33:10 - Managing Finances and Tithing* 40:21 - How to Rebuild Ecclesiastical Ventures Today* 45:47 - Trusting God and the Role of Faith* 52:39 - Future Vision and Contact Information* 59:39 - ConclusionJoin The Catholic Founders GuildDo you see your business as a tool to re-insert God into the culture? Join 50+ Catholic business owners who share that view. We are building an Army of Catholic Entreprenuers who are putting God in His rightful place — at the center of culture. Guild Member Benefits: Member Directory | Monthly calls | Bonus content | Guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Choose wisely! It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsWelcome back, everyone! If you’re a fan of entrepreneurship through acquisition, today’s guest should really excite you because after starting his career in the military, he became a serial entrepreneur. In total, he has bought and sold 4 companies, most of which were turnaround businesses. He has also started a company from scratch and sold it. This is also his first-ever podcast appearance! Read on for more info! First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Chris Farls | The Vocation Project (Substack) | The Vocation Project (Website)* Because this is Chris’ first podcast appearance, we covered his career journey from the military to getting started as a business turnaround person and the lessons learned in that arena. Chris’ faith has always been important to him, though, so we also got to hear how he integrated his faith into how he ran his businesses. There are some incredible nuggets of advice in here on how to treat your employees well.Perhaps most interesting to our community are his thoughts on how to engage your community through your employees. [sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: You can invest in your community properly and uphold the dignity of your workers by getting to know your employees well.One of Chris’ biggest focus areas with his employees was ensuring he knew them. Knew what they liked to do. Knew what their kids were up to. Knew that they liked to bowl on Thursday nights, etc. By knowing them, he not only upheld their dignity in his own eyes (because they were not just a number). This also provided him a window into what matters to his employees and, by extension, what matters in the local community. For any of you with local employees, take note as this is a very impactful thing you can do. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerGet in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* The Vocation ProjectSelect Quotes:* “The formula for negotiating a good deal is taking the time to ask and listen to what the seller is looking for in the deal.” — Chris Farls* “I think confidence is gained through action and activity. I don’t think you can sit and read a book and then talk yourself into it.” — Chris Farls* “I think the bigger problem a lot of times is, people know what the right thing to do is, but doing it’s hard.” — Chris Farls* “You know, you have a certain circle of influence where you can make an impact and that’s where you need to act.” — Chris Farls* “You want to create an environment where they can flourish... you want to give them opportunities to flourish and grow and have input into their work. So there’s a human dignity element to that as well.” — Chris Farls* “What do you feel good about looking backwards? I think I’ve had that validated a little bit because when I mentor and talk to young aspiring entrepreneurs, I talk to them about these intangible rewards that you get.” — Chris Farls* “If you’re doing it right, you end up with many more employees at the end than you did when you started.” — Chris Farls* “Decide how you want to live it and live it that way and have the courage and fortitude and perseverance.” — Chris FarlsKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Introduction to the Catholic Founders Podcast and Chris Farls’ background * 02:07 His early entrepreneurial journey and the influence of his upbringing and family * 04:34 The importance of confidence, mentorship, and taking action in building a career * 06:51 His transition from military to corporate life and then into running a small business * 10:09 How an MBA and strategic networking helped launch his entrepreneurial career * 13:30 The model of acquiring old economy businesses and their financial structures * 16:38 His experience turning around a railroad services business and achieving a quick exit * 18:12 Key strategies for business turnaround, focusing on competitive strategy and understanding owner personalities * 21:18 The multifaceted responsibilities of a business leader, including employees, partners, and community * 25:36 Navigating ethical conflicts and making difficult decisions in business * 28:01 The role of a business owner in community engagement and supporting employees’ interests * 32:25 His approach to upholding employee dignity and fostering a flourishing work environment * 35:08 The evolution of his perspective on business, from financial gain to humanitarian reasons * 38:56 Stories of providing employment opportunities to individuals with challenging backgrounds * 43:32 The power of actions over words and the positive impact of ethical business practices * 44:58 Balancing efficiency and ethical considerations when acquiring and restructuring businesses * 49:06 Ensuring that new buyers respect employees and align with company values during a sale * 52:58 The impact of financial success on his personal outlook and transition to mentoring * 55:29 Developing a strong sense of identity and purpose, aligning career with faith * 57:50 How entrepreneurship shaped his relationship with God and led to a focus on serving others * 1:00:31 The importance of intentional living and integrating spiritual habits into daily life * 1:04:30 Introduction to The Vocation Project, an initiative to help people find meaning and purpose in their workJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHey everyone! Welcome back to another episode of Catholic Founders! Today, we’ve got another episode mostly focused on AI and how to engage with your spouse as an entrepreneur. But Lucas has an incredible history of entrepreneurship and brought a lot of value to the discussion of being a Catholic entrepreneur. Before we start! * On Friday, we are hosting a Catholic Founders Guild call. Open-ended topic, but with the intention to discuss Competition. * If you’d like to join, become a paid member of the CF Guild today! In today’s post: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Lucas Wall | Almma.ai* AI — Family — Living through tragedy and more [sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: You cannot Run From Pain — Going Through Pain is the Only Way to understand God’s Grace for you from that PainLucas lost his son at a young age. This, after having endured a lot of sacrifice in his move from Argentina to the US. This, plus his experience enduring the pains of entrepreneurship—including shutting down a company because of Covid—makes Lucas a great person to learn from on the topic. I gained a lot from this discussion with him. His story really moved me in a deep way. I hope you listen thoroughly to the entire episode to reap the same benefit. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerGet in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* The Bible:* Book of Job* Genesis* St. Paul's Epistles/Works Select Quotes:* "AI is so big, so transformational that it's going to give us a chance. We still have a chance in front of us. So let's ride the wave together." — Lucas* "The moment we allow machines to take our dignity, is when we lost the entire discussion." — Lucas* "If a machine can replicate your thinking, maybe your thinking needs upgrade." — Lucas* "You cannot run from your pain. You cannot run from your sadness. You have to go through the experience to understand the grace of God." — Lucas* "Timing is the number one thing that we entrepreneurs cannot move forward. We cannot speed up time. We cannot slow down time." — Lucas* "Share your gifts. Become an entrepreneur to share your gifts and learn with the community. We belong to communities. We're not islands. give yourself a try." — LucasKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Engaging with your spouse about business stress* 00:26 Introduction to Catholic Founders podcast and Lucas Wall* 02:25 Lucas Wall's introduction and background* 03:31 Explanation of Alumm.ai and its mission* 04:47 How Alumm.ai aims to democratize wealth in the AI revolution* 06:24 Illustrative example of an AI agent* 08:18 AI as a change of eras and its distribution, unlike past technologies* 10:39 Exaggeration of AI's benefits and drawbacks* 13:13 AI and the questioning of human value/thinking* 16:21 Human dignity and AI from a Catholic perspective* 19:51 Benefits of technology in revealing truth for the Church* 22:35 Role of Catholic entrepreneurs in the AI era* 26:01 Importance of human dignity over ROI and AI's role in small businesses* 31:07 Catholic Founders Guild advertisement* 31:59 Using AI to resolve disagreements and build connections* 33:45 Spouse as the first business partner* 36:27 Tips on engaging your spouse as an entrepreneur* 39:04 Managing expectations and stress with your spouse* 40:00 De-risking a startup and involving your spouse* 43:23 Minimizing risk in entrepreneurship* 48:42 The option to pause a company instead of shutting down* 49:53 Importance of timing in entrepreneurship* Rapid Fire: * 50:43 Favorite scripture/holy reading: St. Paul* 54:08 Favorite entrepreneur: Elon Musk, and a discussion on suffering* 59:20 Favorite saint: St. Paul and a personal relationship with God* 1:00:58 Favorite devotion: Hail Mary and Mother Mary's protection* 1:01:52 Call to action: share your gifts and become an entrepreneurJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsWelcome back to the pod, everyone! Today you get to hear from someone who’s YouTube channel recently had a pretty breakout moment. One video put him at nearly 100k views. This led him to pursue the 1-man creator business. He also shares some YouTube video tips and part of his journey. Before we start! * See you at SENT Summit! — If you’re attending, drop me a message so we can connect. * Upgrade to Paid for a Free Book! I have 200 copies of Alex Hormozi’s book, $100m Money Models and every new member of the Catholic Founders Guild get’s a free copy. The value I’ve gotten out of this book so far are worth far more than what I paid for 200 copies. In today’s post: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Max Haben | The Contemplative Dad* How Max’s YouTube channel took off after his job ended and he invested in it. That’s the core of Max’s story today. But given his wisdom, we spoke broadly about how to grow a YouTube Channel, how to know when God is calling you to go deep in your artistic project, and how to make money on YouTube. This is an especially good episode for anyone who is hesitant to get started on their entrepreneurial journey. Reason being, Max gets pretty real about what it was and is like today, to learn to trust fully in God for his daily bread, as a husband and father who is also a creative. [sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: Pursuing a ‘Risky’ Artistic Pursuit Might Be What God Is Calling You To, but You’ll Never Know Unless You Spend Time In PrayerTaking the leap into full-time content creator was not easy for Max. He had all the pressures of needing another job to provide for his family. But he invested the time. He has spent a lot of time in prayer trying to figure this out. He thinks he’s found the answer. But the truth is, none of us ever knows all the answers. That’s why we need to pray without ceasing. Through constant prayer we’ll come into a closer relationship with God so He can lead us in different ways as we go on our journey. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerGet in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* The Contemplative Dad Substack* St. Paul CenterSelect Quotes:Here are 10 incredible quotes from the episode that will hook people into listening:* "Whether you have a full-time job or you're self-employed or whatever you're doing, there is some level of dependence on God." — Max* "Your faith gets stronger when you see God show up and provide for you. …if you want to grow in your faith, then put more dependence on God and put more in his hands." — Max* "I was losing my interior quiet. Like I was losing that sort of ability to listen to God just with all the noise and distraction and stress and anxiety that we're surrounded with." — Max* "This security of having a job where… you're kind of like a slave to the company." — Max* "Most people don't make it, most people fail because they stop or they don't start. That's really the number one reason people don't succeed on YouTube." — MaxKey Moments: (outline)* 0:00 Cold Open & Guest Intro* 4:40 Dependence on God for Provision* 8:30 Illusion of Job Security* 10:56 Why "The Contemplative Dad" Started* 13:08 When to Pursue Creative Callings* 17:08 Going Full-Time with "The Contemplative Dad"* 20:54 Balancing Work & Life as an Entrepreneur* 26:55 Entrepreneurship in 2025: Anyone Can Do It* 30:01 Historical Context of Self-Employment* 31:23 Detachment from the World & Financial Needs* 34:48 Monetizing a YouTube Channel* 39:40 Vision for The Contemplative Dad* 43:18 Who Should Start a YouTube Channel & Basic Principles* Rapid Fire Questions: * 50:18 Inspiring Scripture* 52:24 Inspiring Entrepreneur* 53:17 Favorite Saint* 54:11 Favorite Devotion* 55:18 How to Reach Max* 55:52 Join the Catholic Founders Guild! Join The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHey everyone! Silas here. We’re back with another incredible pod discussion. Before we start, please pray for the families of the shooting yesterday in Minnesota. Announcements:* 📚 Have you collected your free book yet? I bought 200 copies of Hormozi’s new book, $100m Money Models. All existing & new paid members of Catholic Founders get a free copy ($30 value) (note: shipping not included). — Sign up today to get your copy!* Yesterday we had a great Catholic Founders Guild event. If you’re a paid sub and missed it, we’ll have the recording + notes from the discussion posted soon. Note: it’s all advice on how to save money on taxes. We kept it simple so even if you’re a newbie, you can understand. * ☕ Book Club for Catholic entrepreneurs: I’m hosting a book club for Catholic biz owners. The first book is The Pope & The CEO by Andreas Widmer (former bodyguard of Pope St. JPII). On Sep 12th, we’re doing a call with the author to discuss the book. All are welcome — join here.In today’s post: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Drago Dimitrov | HolyHabits.app* As leaders of our companies, we have a responsibility to hone our skills and invest in ourselves. As Catholics, we understand that this means more than just basic skills to be good at business. Good actions come from practicing doing good things. We call these virtues. So, we wanted to bring on an expert in habit building, Drago — the Co-Founder of Holy Habits. So we are discussing how to build habits, the three levels of the spiritual life, and the three types of entrepreneurs. Plus, how those three types correspond to the levels of the spiritual life. Listen the whole way through for the maximum benefit! [sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: Set Triggers That Will Help You Remember to Practice Your HabitHabits are easiest to build when we have a nice trigger to get us started. On your own, or with the use of the Holy Habits app, build that trigger and start to flex that virtue muscle. It will grow. On top of this, keep in mind the weight of responsibility that you have as a business owner. You’re going to be responsible for the financial well-being of potentially thousands of employees. Building strong virtues will help you do that better and weather the tough times. That I can guarantee you. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner[sponsored content]Advertise to Catholics Only, on FioThink of Fio as Spotify, but only Catholic content creators allowed. That includes music, podcasts and more. The best part, for a limited time, they are offering readers of Catholic Founders Free Advertising Space. So if you’re looking to reach a Catholic audience, learn more at fio.fm/adsPS: They actually pay the first ever streaming royalty for podcasts—something unheard of with all major podcast platforms. So, if you listen to the Catholic Founders podcast, check us out on Fio to indirectly support this project financially. You can follow us on Fio by clicking here.Get in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* (Follow him on X/Twitter)* (Drago’s Substack)* St. Josemaria Escriva (Opus Dei)* Join the Catholic Founders Guild today (and get a free book)* SpiritualDirection.com * Nathan Pinto* VersoJobs.com* fio.fmSelect Quotes:* "It's like the difference between Planet Fitness and Gold's Gym, when you know what you're trying to go after and you have clear targets and goals in mind." — Drago* "People are tired of the nihilistic, hopeless prescription of meaninglessness that the side has to offer." — Drago* "God wants to be the shepherd and we're the sheep and the sheep have no clue what the next three, four steps are. It's like one step at a time." — Drago* "We also have a unique opportunity that others don't have to exercise the virtues... as an entrepreneur." — Drago* "Just treat your people with love... Have their interest in mind and they're not going to leave you." — Drago(psst! Highlight your favorite, then click the share button to spread the word! Thank you! 🙏)Key Moments:* 00:00 Intro* 02:10 Welcome Drago Dimitrov & Holy Habits App * 04:18 Origin Story of Holy Habits * 08:23 Discussion on Spiritual Growth and 4 Transcendentals * 17:03 Core Principles of Building Holy Habits * 24:14 The Three Stages of Spiritual Life * 32:56 Applying Spiritual Stages to Entrepreneurship * 37:41 The Three Types of Entrepreneurs * 44:56 Drago's Entrepreneurial Journey and Faith * 48:55 Rapid Fire QuestionsJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHey everyone! Silas here 👋Sorry, I’m a tad late to publishing this. I must admit, I ended up staying later than planned at pickleball last night and couldn’t manage to finish the edits with the bricks on my eyelids. Better late than never, as they say!Before we start!* Tax Planning Expert: Next week Wednesday, we have a tax expert presenting to the CF Guild group on the tax changes from the recent Big Beautiful Bill. There are quite a few things to consider, so please join us. This is only available for CF Guild (paid) members, so if you’re interested, upgrade to paid and drop me a DM. We’ll get you there. * Book Club With the Author: Also, if you’re interested, we’re currently reading through The Pope & The CEO by Andreas Widmer — and on September 12th, we’ll be having a call with the author to discuss the book. This is open to anyone. Sign up today. In this Email: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Joe Coleman | Saint Kolbe Studios* Joe runs a podcast production agency for mission-oriented and Catholic organizations. He brings to this years of experience working on audio and video production so it’s a great fit for his skills. He started not that long ago, and recently, he and his wife welcomed their first child into the world. Because of that, I wanted to discuss what it’s like to be building a business in those circumstances. Discover how his trust in God has developed. How he views growing the business? How he tries to balance hustle and family life? And of course we talked a lot about podcasts and Church media in general. It was a fun call — I hope you enjoy it too! [sponsored content]We are excited to announce a sponsorship partnership with Verso Jobs.These guys are incredible at helping Catholic Founders hire people who are actually aligned with your mission.They have built this incredible gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: God often uses our lack of career direction early on to prepare us for the bigger missions down the road. When we start off in our careers, there is so much we don’t know. We look back and say we would do so many things differently. But in many ways, this is likely how God intended for us. He uses this time to guide us and give us experiences that we never considered in order to prepare us for what He wants us to do down the road. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner[sponsored content]Advertise to Catholics Only, on FioWe’re proud to welcome Fio as a sponsor of Catholic Founders. Think of Fio as Spotify, but only Catholic content creators allowed. That includes music, podcasts and more. The best part, for a limited time, they are offering readers of Catholic Founders Free Advertising Space. So if you’re looking to reach a Catholic audience, learn more at fio.fm/adsPS: They actually pay the first ever streaming royalty for podcasts—something unheard of with all major podcast platforms. So, if you listen to the Catholic Founders podcast, check us out on Fio to indirectly support this project financially. You can follow us on Fio by clicking here.Get in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* Book: The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship by Andreas Widmer* Encyclical: Caritas et VeritateSelect Quotes:* "I think some people are just wired to work for themselves, and they can't really work for somebody else."* "I always say people want to do business with their friends. The next best thing is people want to do business with brands and individuals they trust."* "You don't need thousands of listeners to actually have a valuable podcast."* "I would much rather have smaller growth that's sustainable."* "You need ownership over your time."Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Introduction to Joe Coleman and St. Kolbe Studios* 02:10 Joe Coleman's entrepreneurial journey and the founding of St. Kolbe Studios* 07:08 Discussion on the nature of self-employment and ownership* 08:56 Impact of expecting his first child on his approach to work and hustle* 11:46 Benefits of podcasting for building trust and brand relationships* 16:22 The importance of niche and specific offers in podcasting* 19:40 Joe's confidence level in his business and God's providence* 26:14 Joe's philosophy on business growth and scale* 32:08 Discussion on time ownership and entrepreneurial virtues* 33:57 Joe's evolving relationship with faith and God through entrepreneurship* 37:20 Reflection on divine providence and career paths* 43:45 Cool client stories and experiences working with interesting people* 46:35 What's missing in Catholic media* 50:28 Rapid fire questions: inspiring scriptures, entrepreneurs, saints, and devotions* 53:50 Call to action for St. Kolbe Studios and Catholic Founders GuildJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsDon’t forget - tomorrow is the feast of The Assumption — a Holy Day of Obligation in the US. Make your plan for mass — and better yet, take the day off if you can. Whatever you do, be sure to honor our Lady. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋Before we start!* CF Guild Meeting Tonight! If you’re a member of the Catholic Founders Guild, join us tonight for a discussion on the topic of Stewardship as a Catholic Business Owner. (If you’re not a member but want to join, upgrade to paid right away and message me so we can chat prior to the event to get you in — I screen everyone to ensure we maintain quality — hope to see you tonight)In this Email: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Travis Callaway | Rerum Novarum Partners* What Rerum Novarum states and how to apply it in 2025 (and beyond)Core Lesson: You Pick. And Share. Today’s episode has a LOT of points in it. My goal is for you to pick your favorite takeaway (probably something you’re going to focus on with your business) and share it in the comments of this post. This way, others can learn from what you noticed, and we can all find at least one way to apply this Catholic Social Teaching to our businesses. See you in the comments! ~Silas MähnerGet in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* Rerum Novarum* Coffee, Commerce, Catechesis (Travis’ podcast)Select Quotes:* "Legality and morality are not the same thing. And this document does a good job of articulating that." (10:41)* "Rerum Novarum also points to what the socialists were identifying, which is, this struggle between classes is a real problem. And we can solve that problem if we root ourselves in human dignity." (20:06)* "Doing the bare minimum, just so you can meet the legal threshold, certainly doesn't seem to qualify as what's required from the perspective of a just wage." (34:52)* "What you have is not meant for you, right? He didn't give us the skills to... for us to provide for ourselves. He gave us these skills to become instruments of his will in the world." (40:50)* "Work is a good thing. And we shouldn't be trying to get the robots to do it all for us." (48:43)Key Moments: (outline)* 0:00 Introduction to the Catholic Founders Podcast* 1:42 Guest Introduction: Travis Callaway * 3:37 Background of Rerum Novarum and its relevance* 7:11 Core points of Rerum Novarum* 8:43 Duties of employers to employees* 13:36 Short-term versus long-term thinking in business* 19:39 Harmony between classes* 21:50 Importance of associations (unions)* 24:02 Christian charity and eternal life* 26:47 Applying Rerum Novarum in 2025: Human dignity in the workplace* 29:33 Ensuring good working conditions* 33:46 The concept of a just wage* 38:53 Social responsibility of wealth* 43:03 Limits on state intervention* 44:18 Harmony over conflict* 47:04 Catholic perspective on universal basic income and work* 51:18 Rapid fire questions: Favorite scripture, entrepreneur, saint, and devotionJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIn celebration of 25 episodes of Catholic Founders, we’re looking back at the biggest lessons and takeaways from those 25 episodes. Yesterday was part 1 (check it out here). Today, we’ve got part 2 for you. If you’re a newer listener, please use this as a sort of directory of past episodes to explore where you think you should listen. The Holy Spirit may call you to some specific episode. Don’t ignore it. Follow that tug. SHARE! Be sure to pass this around to other Catholic Business owners (current or aspiring). We need to get more people committed to this work so we can reinsert God into the world. First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Interested in joining our peer group of other Catholic Founders? Apply to join today! We vet everyone that joins so you can be assured it’s a high quality group. Core Lessons: If any of these pique your interest, we encourage you to check out the full episode by clicking on the headline with each one. Especially something we encourage new listeners to take advantage of. * Episode 14: Will O'Brien, Ulysses — Pursuing Money & Ambition as a Catholic, Conversions in San Francisco, Catholics & Climate Change* Catholicism is about moving forward and building towards heaven on earth, starting with our own hearts.* When pursuing good things, the devil will work overtime; financial success requires staying extra close to God through prayer and spiritual direction.* Episode 15: Andreas Widmer, CUA — Protecting The Pope, Sainthood Through Entrepreneurship, Following Good Desires to Come Closer to God* God often uses our natural desires to guide us deeper into His calling.* God brings us closer through trusting Him as we go deeper into our entrepreneurial journey.* Your business or product must be something that is truly good and benefits others.* Work is about more than just making money; it fulfills the soul and should fit into your plan of life.* Episode 16: Mini Episode, Feast of the Ascension — Growth Through Space, Imitating the Energy of the Apostles* We cannot fully grow unless we have the opportunity to fail, and we must allow employees to fail to increase their value.* We have a responsibility to share the Gospel with excitement, like the apostles after the Ascension and Pentecost.* Episode 17: Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Sherwood Fellows — Ethical Marketing, Long-Term Thinking, Scale Is Designed to Destroy the Human Element* To market well, integrate your marketing team with the rest of your company to ensure honesty and focus on overall product integration.* Short-term thinking drives bad marketing and hurts your brand; aim to build something enduring.* The point of scale is to remove the human element, which as Catholics, we must be cautious of because humans are the focus of work.* Episode 18: Daniel Francis, Able Police — Many Catholics are not Answering the Call to Build, Faith at a Secular Workplace, Taking Back the Culture* We often forget that we are also called to build things and use our skills to address problems in the world.* Loving your neighbor should focus more locally, on those immediately around you, rather than just people far away.* Episode 19: Nathan Crankfield, Seeking Excellence — Poverty isn’t a Virtue, Side Hustles, Influence, Ambition* Being poor is not a virtue. Choosing to live in poverty and forgo unnecessary things is a virtue. If you’re poor because you have not tried hard enough, that is not a virtue, especially for lay people. We must use our God-given potential and skills to increase income and support the Church.* Men especially have a calling to provide for their family, and developing a side hustle is often a viable way to do so.* We have a responsibility to do everything we do as well as we can, imitating Jesus.* You can be busy and still achieve holiness; busyness is not an excuse to neglect prayer or spiritual growth.[sponsored content]Advertise to Catholics Only, on FioWe’re proud to welcome Fio as a sponsor of Catholic Founders. Think of Fio as Spotify, but only Catholic content creators allowed. That includes music, podcasts and more. The best part, for a limited time, they are offering followers of Catholic Founders Free Advertising Space. So if you’re looking to reach a Catholic audience, learn more at fio.fm/adsPS: They actually pay the first ever streaming royalty for podcasts—something unheard of with all major podcast platforms. So, if you listen to the Catholic Founders podcast, check us out on Fio to indirectly support this project financially. You can follow us on Fio by clicking here.Get in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).* Episode 20: Juan Acosta, Tabella — Building Strong Parishes, Trusting the Journey God Takes You Through, Investing in Catholic Ventures* Catholic business owners need to lead in making stronger parishes by employing people and supporting priests.* We need to be genuine neighbors to fellow parishioners to support each other through tough times.* Money is an amplifier; if you have spiritual poverty, money will worsen you, but with ordered desires, it can make a huge impact.* Be willing to bring your business and calling to God in prayer and adoration for guidance.* Episode 21: Jennifer Baugh, YCP — Becoming a Vessel, Sharing Your Success bc it’s Actually not Yours, The Virtues Required to Start a Business* We need to be willing to share our successes because God can touch others' lives through our sharing. And… all of that success comes from God.* Become a total vessel of God so He can do much more through you.* The challenges of work are highly conducive for growing in virtue if you are willing to embrace them.* Recall often that your success is not yours, it’s God’s.* Episode 22: Dominic Tarolli, DOMINUS Lab — Catholics and AI* Things that have no soul will become automated; keep the human aspect, value, and special touches in your products and services.* As AI changes everything, Catholics must keep people at the center of their focus to ensure morally good outcomes.* Because AI will happen with or without us, Catholics need to be engaged on the front lines of its development.* Episode 23: Tim Glemkowski, Amazing Parish — Missionary vs Entrepreneur, Following God’s Mission vs Ours, Trusting in God to Provide Financially* Evangelize in the world but be present and engaged in your parishes to foster strong community support systems.* God sometimes destroys things to prepare the way for something new.* We are all called to be on mission, regardless if you’re a missionary or business owner.* Busyness is not an excuse not to pray; if anything, we should pray more when busy.* God wants to work in our own hearts as He works on the world through us.* Learn to trust in the Lord for money, as He will provide.* Episode 24: Dan Egan, St. Joseph Wall Project — How to Build Cultural Revival Projects in your City, Keep Walking Step, Become an Extension of Your Priest* Use your skills to execute projects well; don't do things halfway.* Work with your priest to help them realize their vision for the parish, community, and city.* God expects us to keep actively moving and acting even when the next step is unclear.* Set the example of building beautiful art because God touches people through art.* Episode 25: Tim Connors, PivotNorth Capital — Love Your Customer, Solve Your Neighbors’ Problems, Use Systems Thinking, Double Your Parish Size* Use all your ability to help solve the problems of your neighbors to the greatest extent possible, including welcoming people into the parish community.* Founders often run in packs; having a community of ambitious, faith-driven builders is important. (psst. join the CF Guild)* Loving your customers leads to high net promoter scores and provides free (or substantially lowered) customer acquisition.* The startup methodology is virtuous because of how it aims to unblock issues and provide customer value.* If we get people active in the parish and involved in community, we will keep them in the Church (implement this in your own parish).Thanks for reading — please share around. This can serve as a directory. We’ll also be making a post covering the core themes of all of these episodes. No promises on the timeline for that one haha. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Monthly Member Calls | Monthly Expert Calls | Monthly Topic Calls | Access to all paid content | Attend Guild-Member Only DinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIn celebration of 25 episodes of Catholic Founders, we’re looking back at the biggest lessons and takeaways from those 25 episodes. It was too much to put into one recording so we are breaking it up into part 1 and 2. Part 2 should be out tomorrow or Saturday…stay tuned. If you’re a newer listener, please use this as a sort of directory of past episodes to explore where you think you should listen. The Holy Spirit may call you to some specific episode. Don’t ignore it. Follow that tug. SHARE! Be sure to pass this around to other Catholic Business owners (current or aspiring). We need to get more people committed to this work so we can reinsert God into the world. First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Interested in joining our peer group of other Catholic Founders? Apply to join today! We vet everyone that joins so you can be assured it’s a high quality group. Core Lessons: If any of these pique your interest, we encourage you to check out the full episode by clicking on the headline with each one. Especially something we encourage new listeners to take advantage of. * Episode 1: Alessandro DiSanto, Hallow — How to Pray as an Entrepreneur * Prayer is the essential first step for entrepreneurial success, helping you discern God's specific calling for you.* Episode 2: Mini Episode - Parables — God Only Reveals the Meaning of the Gospel to His Disciples* To truly understand Jesus and the Gospel, we must first become disciples and believe.* Episode 3: Alessandro DiSanto, Hallow — Origin Story, Hallow Founding Story, Church & AI* Make time for silence to hear God's subtle whispers, especially as a busy entrepreneur. If you don’t, you won’t hear what He’s calling you to. * Episode 4: Sondre Rasch, SafetyWing — Rise of Catholicism in San Francisco, How to be a Catholic Techno-Optimist* Ambition is good or bad depending on the intention; pursue it for God's glory—not your own.* Techno-optimism is acceptable as long as it adheres to the Church's boundaries on ethics and human dignity.* Episode 5: Trevor Alcorn, Tridentine Brewing — Building a Family Business, Modest Growth, Beautiful Products* Living below your means creates financial freedom to take risks and start businesses.* Grow your business at God's pace, even if it means going slower due to external factors like regulations.* Episode 6: Colin Stroud, Go Somewhere — Following Passion into Business, Ambition, How He and His Wife Both Run Businesses* Following your passion can lead you to your business calling.* Continuously seek to increase your value per hour by developing skills. This is the first stage of becoming an entrepreneur. * Fully commit to the Lord and trust in His provision; don't constantly hedge your bets. When you trust in God, He’ll reward you. [sponsored content]Advertise to Catholics Only, on FioWe’re proud to welcome Fio as a sponsor of Catholic Founders. Think of Fio as Spotify, but only Catholic content creators allowed. That includes music, podcasts and more. The best part, for a limited time, they are offering followers of Catholic Founders Free Advertising Space. So if you’re looking to reach a Catholic audience, learn more at fio.fm/adsPS: They actually pay the first ever streaming royalty for podcasts—something unheard of with all major podcast platforms. So, if you listen to the Catholic Founders podcast, check us out on Fio to indirectly support this project financially. You can follow us on Fio by clicking here.Get in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).* Episode 7: Zach Scardino, Scardino Strategic Partners — Succession Planning, Due Diligence, Buying a Business* Seek expert help and embrace humility in areas you lack knowledge. As Catholics, the virtue of humility should be one of our most unfair advantages. Lean into it. * Put in the effort to be professional and continuously improve your business for your customers' benefit. If you don’t, you may not have anything to sell to retire on or won’t be able to pass it along to your children. * A significant wave of companies is coming up for sale, creating opportunities for entrepreneurship through acquisition. * Episode 8: Cristofer Pereyra, Tepeyac Leadership Initiative — Engaging Your Bishop or Priest, Committing to Your Mission, The Missionary Call of the Laity* Lay people have a responsibility to lead and evangelize in the world, beyond the parish. See paragraph 900 of the CCC. If we don’t do this, the mission of the apostolic mission of the bishops cannot be fully fulfilled. * Building something truly impactful requires full-time commitment and trust in God. You can’t build something great as a hobby. * NOTE: We made a special episode for paid subs that breaks down the 12 takeaways from this episode with Cris. Listen here.* Episode 9: Jeff Schiefelbein, Undivided Life — Living an Undivided Life, How to Integrate Your Faith Into Your Work/Business* Company culture, especially Christian virtue, must be at the core of your business, starting with the founder's spiritual life. If you as the founder are not truly living in virtue, it will not permeate through the organization. * Every decision has eternal consequences; integrate your faith into all aspects of your life. All your decisions, business and personal, have eternal consequences. * Episode 10: Taylor Ross, Trad Chad Dating — Catholic Dating Coach, We Have a Responsibility to Provide, Prayer, Minimizing Risk, Ambition* Minimize financial risk and expenses to enable entrepreneurship. If you don’t, you might miss the call God has for you. * Prioritize prayer even when busy building your business. The busier you are, the more you need prayer. * Episode 11: Chris Lewis, Baritus Catholic — The Importance of Catholic Art, Building a Family Biz, Integrating Prayer to Your Operations* Do not force your children to join a family business; encourage their interest and involvement.* Having a family business often inspires children to pursue entrepreneurship.* We have a responsibility to create and promote good art because beauty speaks to the heart.* Episode 12: Monika Elling, FMG — Motherhood & Entrepreneurship, Vocation > Profession, How to Reach Anyone* Always prioritize your vocation (e.g., family) before business endeavors. There is a hierarchy to our life. God, Family, Business. * Look for business opportunities by identifying and solving current problems you or others face.* The Catholic business community needs its own funding mechanisms that align with Catholic morals.* Episode 13: Rob Kaczmark, Spirit Juice Studios — Catholic Disney, Emmys, When to Quit, Leaning Into Your Leadership Role* It's okay to embrace and own your role as a leader in your business. God put you in this situation for a reason, don’t shy away from it. Lean in and do it well. * Allowing employees (and yourself) to fail is necessary for personal and team growth. Without it you’ll never scale. * When considering giving up, ask yourself if you'd rather be doing anything else; if not, keep going. * Share your vision publicly to allow others to help you and to embrace a God-like ambition.Okay, stay tuned for part II soon. (Hoping later today or sometime tomorrow). And please do us a favor, share this around to serve as a sort of mini-directory of our episodes. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Monthly Member Calls | Monthly Expert Calls | Monthly Topic Calls | Access to all paid content | Attend Guild-Member Only DinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHey guys — today is a really really special episode for me. I meet a lot of people. And it’s rare that I feel like a changed man after. But this conversation was one of those. Tim is an incredible person who is genuinely excited by finding people who are solving their neighbors’ needs. BEFORE WE START:* Today (July 31st) at 1 pm Central Time, join me for the DOMINUS Lab event. * Apply to join our community of Catholic Founders to attend our upcoming hangout calls. In this Email: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Tim Connors | PivotNorth Capital* Today we're talking to Tim Connors, one of the most influential venture capitalists in the world, renowned for his presence on the Midas List (4 times now). But what truly sets Tim apart isn't just his financial acumen; it's his radical approach to capitalism rooted in Catholic Social Teaching. He's proving that doing immense good in the world, by solving real human needs, is not only compatible with maximizing profit but is, in fact, the most potent strategy for long-term success. Get ready to have your assumptions about business, investment, and impact completely reshaped.Core Lesson: We Don’t Take the Love Your Neighbor Idea As Seriously as We Ought to. After seeing Tim’s conviction towards loving his neighbor, and to the extent that he does this, it’s something I can’t unsee. How many people would reach his level and just relax? Just enjoy their drinks on the beach. Most would. But Tim won’t. He’s doggedly determined to find the things he can solve for other humans in an incentivized way. So, in summary. We need to take this idea of love your neighbor much more seriously. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner[sponsored content]Advertise to Catholics Only, on FioWe’re proud to welcome Fio as a sponsor of Catholic Founders. Think of Fio as Spotify, but only Catholic content creators allowed. That includes music, podcasts and more. The best part, for a limited time, they are offering readers of Catholic Founders Free Advertising Space. So if you’re looking to reach a Catholic audience, learn more at fio.fm/adsPS: They actually pay the first ever streaming royalty for podcasts—something unheard of with all major podcast platforms. So, if you listen to the Catholic Founders podcast, check us out on Fio to indirectly support this project financially. You can follow us on Fio by clicking here.Get in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* Encyclicals: Rerum Novarum, Caritas in Veritate, Mensuram Bonam, Antiqua et Nova* The Midas ListSelect Quotes:* "If Fortune 500 boards were just all reading Rerum Novarum and following that, their profits would be maximized and the world would be a much better place." — Tim Connors* "Companies who love their customers the most are the most profitable and have the lowest customer acquisition cost." — Tim Connors* "Benedict basically says solve the real need of your neighbor with your work... do it with your God given skills, talents, and then do it with the max degree of influence you have in the polis." — Tim Connors* "The best returns I've had are deals that fundamentally make their customers’ lives better." — Tim Connors* "My belief is that you do better in all asset classes if you love your customer. You actually do better." — Tim Connors* "If all Catholic assets were... screened, filtered, and invested with CST principles from Rerum and Antiqua and Mensuram Bonam. We'd have collectively a loud voice for the vulnerable in these companies." — Tim ConnorsHelp spread the word! Highlight your favorite of these quotes, and then share on social media / Substack notes with some encouraging words to help others discover this episode. Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 - Introduction to Tim Connors and Catholic Social Teaching in business.* 02:53 - Tim Connors' background and career journey into venture capital.* 05:34 - The integration of Catholic faith into Tim Connors' investing philosophy.* 08:00 - The impact of Pope Benedict's "Caritas in Veritate" on Tim's approach.* 09:00 - Contrasting ethical and exploitative business models.* 12:57 - Attributes of successful founders: smarts, goodness, and grit.* 15:55 - The importance of empathy, self-awareness, and moral compass in founders.* 16:20 - How Tim Connors screens for "goodness" in founders.* 18:34 - Why "best founders hunt in packs" and the power of referrals.* 20:55 - The shift to systems thinking in problem-solving.* 24:00 - Applying systems thinking to consumer banking (Chime.com example).* 27:00 - The systems solution to homelessness (CloudApartments.com example).* 28:23 - Developing and applying a systems thinking mindset.* 31:34 - Reframing capitalism: Maximizing ROI through love of customer.* 34:00 - The Net Promoter Score (NPS) as a measure of customer love.* 35:30 - Challenging Milton Friedman's shareholder-first theory.* 37:00 - Rerum Novarum and its relevance to modern capitalism.* 39:00 - Aligning Catholic assets with Catholic social teaching.* 42:15 - Applying the lean startup mentality to any organization, including the Church.* 44:00 - Key "winning metrics" for organizational success.* 46:00 - Doubling parish size through welcoming and bottleneck analysis.* 47:00 - Advocating for canon law changes to improve parish engagement.* 48:57 - The influence of Caritas in Veritate on pursuing societal change.* 51:00 - Coaching leaders to solve problems for the vulnerable, planet, and Church.* 52:31 - The power of collective action by Catholic entrepreneurs.* 53:47 - The role of AI in human flourishing and the importance of morally-oriented builders.* 54:48 - Final calls to action and how to connect with Tim Connors.Join The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe