Faith Driven Entrepreneur

Flipping the Script: How Entrepreneurs Can Rewire Their Mental SoundtrackJoin host Justin Forman for an intimate conversation with bestselling author and entrepreneur Jon Acuff in his Nashville home office. Surrounded by international editions of his books and personal reminders of his journey, Jon shares hard-won wisdom about the mental battles every entrepreneur faces—and how to win them.This episode dives deep into the soundtrack constantly playing in every entrepreneur's mind, exploring practical strategies to retire broken thought patterns and replace them with empowering ones. From his early days with "Stuff Christians Like" to building an 11-book writing career while scaling his business, Jon reveals the mindset shifts that separate successful entrepreneurs from those stuck in cycles of self-doubt.Key Topics:Why entrepreneurs need new levels of fear at new levels of growthThe "CEO of your actions, not outcomes" mindset that changes everythingHow to retire broken soundtracks and build empowering thought patternsThe difference between burnout and boredom in entrepreneurial lifeBuilding sustainable rhythms when transitioning from solopreneur to team leaderCreating practical tools for meaningful family conversations about entrepreneurshipWhy resilience is just giving yourself permission to start againNotable Quotes:"You should always have new levels of fear at new levels of growth. If you tell yourself, 'I've beaten fear forever,' guess what you feel like when you find new levels of fear? You feel like a failure." - Jon Acuff"I'm the CEO of my actions, not the CEO of my outcomes." - Jon Acuff"Great thoughts turn into great actions. Great actions turn into great results." - Jon Acuff

In this insightful discussion, Stephen Phelan, Chief Spiritual Integration Officer for Faith Driven Entrepreneur, shares his expertise on fostering faith-driven workplace cultures. He highlights the four fundamental human needs every employee has, vital for combatting Gen Z burnout. Stephen reveals how implementing 'Love Works' programs can create authentic community and support during crises. He advocates for small mentoring groups to build trust and belonging, transforming workplace dynamics and enhancing business outcomes.

In this engaging conversation, bestselling author and pastor Francis Chan shares his journey from mega-church leader to someone focused on a deeper relationship with God. He discusses the dangers of a busy lifestyle and the treadmill of endless achievement. Francis reveals why he asked God not to make him rich, emphasizing stewardship and living with an eternal perspective. He challenges entrepreneurs to prioritize love over metrics, embrace dependence on God, and use their success to impact the world positively.

From Sports Anchor to FinTech Pioneer: Building Payment Infrastructure for the Next BillionJoin host Justin Forman as he sits down with Benjamin Fernandes, founder of Nala and Rafiki, for an extraordinary conversation about resilience, rejection, and revolutionizing cross-border payments. From covering the World Cup as a 21-year-old sports anchor in Tanzania to building infrastructure that serves millions across Africa and Asia, Benjamin's journey is filled with divine appointments, Stanford miracles, and the grit required to solve problems for the next billion customers.This episode explores the massive diaspora remittance market ($129 billion to India alone), the entrepreneurial challenge of building FinTech infrastructure in emerging markets, and why the greatest export from developing nations might just be talent. Benjamin vulnerably shares the power of rejection as fuel, the importance of gratitude, and why sometimes you have to build the bridge for the next 200 entrepreneurs coming after you.Key Topics:The $129 billion remittance market and why diaspora communities are economic powerhousesFrom failing high school to Stanford MBA: A miracle story of divine provisionBuilding payment rails in Africa vs Asia: Infrastructure challenges and opportunitiesWhy 30-35% of Nala customers are entrepreneurs funding businesses back homeThe power of rejection letters as entrepreneurial fuelGoing church to mosque: The gritty early days of customer acquisitionHow migrants enable local economies to thrive in exponential waysNotable Quotes:"There's something that's very powerful when someone tells you you can't do something." - Benjamin Fernandes"With privilege comes responsibility." - Benjamin Fernandes"I don't believe the lowest income region the world should be charged the most amount for fees, for payments." - Benjamin Fernandes

Carey Nieuwhof, a leadership expert and former lead pastor, dives deep into the vital connection between pastors and entrepreneurs. He sheds light on the mutual intimidation these groups face and stresses the urgent need to combat the isolation crisis among business leaders. Carey argues that churches can transform into incubators for entrepreneurial endeavors, fostering real, meaningful connections over transactional ones. He shares practical strategies for engaging high-capacity leaders in church settings, aiming to unleash their potential for community impact.

In this captivating conversation, Jordan Raynor, an author and serial entrepreneur, challenges the boring norms of traditional biographies. He reveals how inspirational stories, like that of LEGO's founder, can motivate faith-driven entrepreneurs. Jordan discusses the integration of AI in storytelling, the joy of play in work, and the untold journeys of 'mere Christians' who've changed industries. With humor and insight, he encourages a fresh perspective on success and redemption, making the case for biographies that truly inspire.

From Pastor to President: Transforming Africa Through Faith-Driven InvestmentJoin host Justin Forman from a stunning lakeside location in Malawi as he sits down with President Lazarus Chakwera, one of the rare world leaders who transitioned from pastoral ministry to the presidency. In this remarkable conversation, President Chakwera shares his extraordinary journey from leading the Assemblies of God for over 30 years to answering God's call to "pastor the nation."This episode explores the critical shift happening across Africa—from aid dependence to investment partnerships—and reveals why Malawi's vision for becoming an "inclusively wealthy, self-reliant economy" represents a blueprint for continental transformation. President Chakwera offers profound insights on how faith-driven investors can partner with African nations to create lasting impact while maintaining dignity and mutual respect.Key Topics:The miraculous journey from 30+ years of pastoral ministry to the presidencyWhy Africa is shifting from aid to investment—and why this matters globallyMalawi's ATM strategy: Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining as pathways to prosperityHow faith-driven investors can avoid exploitation and build trust-based partnershipsThe power of synergy: When pastors, entrepreneurs, and government leaders uniteNotable Quotes:"I didn't leave ministry. This is ministry." - President Chakwera"You cannot reap without sowing... we can prosper together, just like God can prosper everyone without him running out of stuff." - President Chakwera"Investing for me is using what God has given me in order that I might be a blessing to other people." - President Chakwera

Navigating Pandemonium: How Faith-Driven Entrepreneurs Can Rebuild Trust in a Broken WorldJoin host Justin Forman for a compelling conversation with Andy Crouch, bestselling author and senior fellow at Praxis, about the cultural moment we find ourselves in—one he describes as "pandemonium." In this thought-provoking episode, Andy unpacks why institutional trust has collapsed, what it means for entrepreneurs, and how the church's calling to serve offers a pathway forward.Drawing from his deep understanding of cultural dynamics and three-generation rebuilding cycles, Andy reveals why small businesses and the military are the only institutions maintaining trust above 50%—and what that means for Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs navigating uncertain times.Key Topics:Why our current moment is best described as "pandemonium" rather than chaosThe collapse of prestige hierarchies and rise of dominance-based leadershipHow COVID accelerated institutional trust erosion that was decades in the makingThe three-generation cycle of cultural rebuilding (lessons from Genesis)Why small businesses maintain high trust levels while other institutions failJesus's radical alternative to both dominance and prestige hierarchiesPractical strategies for lean, mission-focused entrepreneurship in uncertain timesNotable Quotes:"Institutionalism is when the actual mission of the institution becomes less important than just protecting the institution itself. You go off mission, and your mission becomes just protect our thing." - Andy Crouch"In the kingdom of God, anyone can be great because anyone can serve." - Andy Crouch (quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)"If you aim for community, sometimes you get community, but rarely do, but if you aim for mission, oftentimes community is just a natural byproduct, and you're probably gonna get mission too." - Justin FormanAndy Crouch is a bestselling author, cultural commentator, and senior fellow at Praxis. His books include "Culture Making," "Strong and Weak," and "The Tech-Wise Family." He brings decades of experience analyzing cultural shifts and helping leaders navigate complex societal changes with wisdom and faith.

Dave Blanchard, CEO of Praxis, shares profound insights into the realm of faith-driven entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, exploring the moral ecology that distinguishes true Kingdom builders from those who merely use faith for marketing. The conversation touches on the courage to embrace meaningful risks—financial, personal, and reputational—and the need for leaders to prioritize people over projects. Blanchard argues for building businesses that embody redemptive practices, making a case for operationalizing faith in a genuine way.

Mark Grunden, a unique voice from both business and pastoral ministry, shares insightful perspectives on the trust gap between society's view of entrepreneurs and pastors. He explores how this gap can be an opportunity for impactful church-business partnerships. Discussing practical strategies, he highlights the significance of supporting entrepreneurs in faith settings, the role of mentorship, and innovative community-building initiatives that empower business leaders. Grunden's experiences at Saddleback Church pave the way for transformative collaborations.