Episodes

  • Episode 333 - The Walmart Architect's Secret to Kingdom Currency | Raymond Harris
    Jun 24 2025

    In this profound episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, host Justin Forman sits down with Raymond Harris, a distinguished architect, executive producer, and venture capitalist who founded one of the largest architectural firms specializing in corporate architecture. Raymond shares his remarkable journey from questioning whether he missed his calling to building an 8,000-project portfolio with Walmart while revolutionizing his understanding of wealth, stewardship, and Kingdom impact.

    From giving away his entire wedding gift with only $600 in the bank to developing the concept of "Kingdom currency," Raymond's story challenges conventional thinking about success, generosity, and the true purpose of business.

    Key Highlights:
    • Raymond's journey from pre-med to architecture and his bold request to become a partner at age 27
    • Building a firm that completed 8,000 projects for Walmart over 37 years
    • The transformative realization: "I was really created not to be an architect, but to be a steward of his kingdom. Architecture was just the economic engine to do that."
    • Why practicing generosity early matters: "If you're not generous when you don't have anything, you're certainly not gonna be generous when you have a lot"
    • The concept of "Kingdom currency" - converting earthly assets into eternal impact
    • Innovative approaches to inheritance: giving to children when they need it most, not when they're in their 60s
    • The danger of achievement as an addiction and the importance of authentic brokenness
    • Why donor-advised funds can become "storage warehouses" if not deployed strategically
    Quotable Moments:

    "Did I miss the turn by not going into ministry? And I didn't want to. I wanted to be an architect... about 25 years after running a firm, the Lord said, no, you never missed the turn. You've always been on the right road. You've been trying to drive the car by looking in the mirror, look through the windshield."

    "Why does he entrust wealth to people? But he gave it to us. So that we could steward it into his kingdom to take care of those that can't take care of himself."

    "If we think that we can keep hold of earthly money and make more money on earth and then give away more money and that's really pleasing to God, I think he's more interested in us giving early so that he can compound what is really his money anyway."

    "I call it kingdom currency. What is kingdom currency? Kingdom currency in my thinking is wealth and assets on this earth that will transfer into the next kingdom, which is eternity."

    Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

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    54 mins
  • Episode 332 - Building God-Glorifying VR Tech to Compete with Apple & Meta | Renji Bijoy
    Jun 17 2025

    In this powerful episode recorded at SXSW, host Justin Forman sits down with Renji Bijoy, founder and CEO of Immersed, the most-used application in the AR/VR space. Renji shares his journey from PhD student to tech entrepreneur, his mission to build faith-driven technology that brings people together rather than isolates them, and why he believes believers should be at the forefront of building the next generation of computing platforms.

    Key Highlights:
    • How separating identity from company outcomes leads to better decision-making and freedom from emotional choices
    • Why Renji builds Immersed because he "hates remote work" - creating connection in a disconnected world
    • The transition from software to hardware and launching Visor - a revolutionary AR headset that's 70% lighter than competitors
    • Competing with tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta while being guided by faith
    • The importance of believers influencing culture through technology rather than being mere consumers
    • Balancing 80-hour work weeks with faithful stewardship and avoiding willfulness
    • How Immersed is positioned to impact humanoid robotics through human pose estimation data
    Quotable Moments:

    "If we do what I think the Lord calls us to do, which is to separate our identity from what our work is... actually it's a lot more freeing."

    "I'm building Immersed because I hate remote work... I think that there is a more God-glorifying version of that that makes us all feel very connected."

    "I believe that if you have a world that the most common devices that we use, built by believers, I think that's going to be a lot more of a optimistic, bright future."

    Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

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    54 mins
  • Episode 331 - This AI Can Replace Your Doctor (And It's Free?) | Clint Phillips
    Jun 10 2025

    Recorded live at SXSW, this episode features Clint Phillips, the healthcare entrepreneur who broke a Guinness World Record and is now revolutionizing medicine with AI technology. Clint shares his journey from South African rugby player to treating billionaires in Aspen, and how his daughter's stroke led him to create solutions that could make healthcare "practically free" worldwide.

    Discover how Dr. Gabby, an AI doctor, can analyze your health through a 30-second facial scan and provide personalized medical advice 24/7. Learn why Americans take 22 times more drugs than the rest of the world and how technology could change everything.

    [Chapters]

    00:00 Introduction and SXSW

    01:32 Breaking the Guinness World Record for pushing a car

    05:11 Sports background and rugby foundation

    07:11 South African entrepreneurial mindset

    10:01 Meeting world-class entrepreneurs in Aspen

    10:29 First business venture and FBI investigation

    15:00 Building a dream clinic treating billionaires

    18:33 The healthcare crisis in America

    19:59 Personal tragedy: daughter's stroke

    21:21 Creating Second MD to connect patients with specialists

    23:57 Demonstrating the AI health scanning technology

    28:09 How the facial scan works and what it reveals

    30:00 Dr. Gabby: The world's smartest preventive AI doctor

    32:36 Global impact potential and African expansion

    34:09 Fighting the $5 trillion healthcare industry

    36:02 How AI could help doctors be doctors again

    39:01 Biggest challenges: lobby groups and regulation

    42:42 Mission work in Zambia: schools, clinics, and Miracle Dam

    46:13 How mission trips transformed his marriage

    50:54 App download and free access code

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    54 mins
  • Episode 330 - 60% of Students Will Work Jobs That Don't Exist Today | Dana Roefer
    Jun 3 2025
    Key Topics Discussed

    The Current Challenges Facing Teens:

    • 60% of today's students will work in jobs that don't exist yet
    • Social media pressure and public identity formation
    • College costs forcing earlier career decisions
    • Record levels of anxiety and depression among young people

    The Three-Part Framework:

    1. Identity Discovery - Using tools like Working Genius to help teens understand their God-given strengths
    2. Redemptive Imagination - Exposing kids to diverse entrepreneurial stories and possibilities
    3. Conversation Starters - Creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue about faith, work, and purpose

    AI and the Future of Work:

    • How machine learning is automating predictable tasks
    • Why creativity, curiosity, and question-asking will be essential skills
    • The shift from needing specific degrees to developing entrepreneurial mindsets
    Featured Stories and Examples
    • Lecrae's journey as both artist and business creator
    • Phil Vischer's VeggieTales story of failure and redemption
    • Dude Perfect's entrepreneurial success
    • Personal stories of kids engaging with entrepreneurial content
    Practical Applications
    • How families can use the course for summer activities
    • Ways schools and churches can implement the curriculum
    • The importance of adults calling out gifts in young people
    • Creating environments that foster entrepreneurial thinking
    Key Quotes
    • "Curiosity is a superpower"
    • "The only time you have to be good at everything is at this point in their life"
    • "Change starts with us and change starts at home"
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    41 mins
  • Episode 329 - Nothing to Fear, Nothing to Hide: Brent Beshore's Viral Letter
    May 20 2025

    In this special episode recorded at SXSW in Austin, Texas, hosts Justin Forman and Richard Cunningham sit down with Brent Beshore, founder and CEO of Permanent Equity, to discuss what it means to take a long-term, cathedral-like perspective in business and investing.

    Brent shares his transformation from an achievement-driven atheist to a faith-focused entrepreneur, highlighting how his approach to private equity challenges industry norms with long-term capital, zero debt, and transparent fee structures. Throughout the conversation, Brent reveals how vulnerability and authentic relationships have been crucial both in his personal faith journey and in building a successful investment firm.

    Key Highlights:
    • Brent's journey from atheism to faith and how it transformed his perspective on business, family, and achievement
    • The dangers of "acceptable sin" that starts small but eventually leads to devastating consequences
    • Why living in the light through authentic relationships is essential for both personal healing and business success
    • How Permanent Equity's unique model of 30-year capital and no debt creates true alignment with business owners
    • The concept of "cathedral thinking" - building something that may take generations to complete
    • The importance of community and authentic relationships in combating isolation, especially for successful entrepreneurs
    • Why achievement, control, and self-reliance can be more dangerous addictions than substances
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    54 mins
  • Episode 328- When the White House Calls: The Other Side of Comfort with Steve Preston
    May 13 2025

    In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, host Justin Forman sits down with Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries, to discuss his remarkable journey from Wall Street executive to nonprofit leader. Unlike the typical path of chasing wealth and status, Steve shares how he made intentional decisions to prioritize purpose over prestige throughout his career.

    After starting at Lehman Brothers, Steve felt a tug that his faith was calling him toward a different path. He made a deal with God that he would "never make a decision for money, for prestige, or for power," which ultimately led him to leave banking on the cusp of making partner. His journey continued through corporate America, government service (including running the Small Business Administration during Hurricane Katrina recovery), and eventually to Goodwill, where he now leads one of America's most recognized nonprofit organizations.

    Key Highlights:
    • Steve's countercultural decision to leave Wall Street's wealth and prestige to follow God's calling
    • The rich history of Goodwill beginning as a church-based ministry to help Boston's poorest residents
    • How Goodwill provides holistic support to help people overcome barriers to employment
    • The innovative prison education programs helping reduce recidivism rates to just 5%
    • The power of corporate partnerships in scaling social impact
    • How writing a personal mission statement helped Steve identify his calling
    • The importance of seeing potential in people that they don't yet see in themselves
    Quotable Moments:

    "I felt like God said, I've taken you thus far. Will you really go where I'm taking you? And worse, most of the people in my close-in circle said, you're crazy... And I had this moment where I thought to myself, I have been like every other American watching these horrific stories on television and wondering what I could do."

    "Our founder's story and our founder's vision 125 years later is still very much a part of who we are... It was all deeply based in the conviction that every human being has embedded potential."

    "I often say, when somebody comes through our door, we often see more in them than they see in themselves."

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    34 mins
  • Episode 327 - The Founder Timeline Myth: Mark McClain's Path to IPO and Back
    May 6 2025

    Mark McClain, founder and CEO of SailPoint Technologies, shares his non-traditional path to entrepreneurship after 10 years in corporate America. He discusses building a successful tech company with faith-based values, navigating multiple funding rounds (VC, PE, IPO, and back again), and balancing business ambition with family priorities.

    [Chapters]

    0:00 - Introduction

    2:10 - Mark on South by Southwest and Austin's tech scene

    6:08 - The evolution of faith in the workplace

    10:26 - Mark's journey from corporate career to entrepreneurship

    15:32 - Understanding SailPoint's identity management technology

    18:47 - AI as both threat and opportunity in cybersecurity

    20:34 - Navigating different funding methods as an entrepreneur

    24:15 - The value of community vs. coaching for entrepreneurs

    29:01 - The importance of staying connected to church community

    31:40 - Building a successful business without sacrificing family

    35:29 - Four S's of Christian leadership: Son, Sheep, Stock, and Stewardship

    39:02 - A biblical perspective on retirement and stewardship

    44:23 - Closing thoughts on community and faith

    In this authentic conversation, Mark reveals:

    • Why success rates increase for entrepreneurs who start after age 35
    • The value of both peer community and expert coaching
    • How to stay connected to your faith while scaling a business
    • A biblical perspective on stewarding resources and opportunity
    • Practical advice for staying present with family while building a company

    #FaithDrivenEntrepreneur #EntrepreneurialJourney #BusinessLeadership #FaithAndWork #ServantLeadership

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    46 mins
  • Episode 326 - When Death Knocked Twice: Travis Penfield's Blueprint for Scaling During Crisis
    Apr 29 2025
    Key Moments
    • Travis shares his recent experience meeting Jack Nicklaus and John Maxwell, highlighting Nicklaus's emphasis on family over golf achievements
    • The powerful story of Travis's brain tumor in 2016, requiring him to relearn basic functions
    • His wife Jacqueline's cancer diagnosis and the emotional journey of shaving her head during chemotherapy
    • The doctor telling Travis to "prepare as if she's gone" and taking his daughters to San Diego while contemplating single fatherhood
    • How these health crises fundamentally changed his approach to business success and identity
    Business Insights
    • 49 Financial's three-pillar strategy: handling more complex issues, offering more services, and building more community
    • The company's focus on young advisors (22-year-olds) in an industry where the average advisor is in their upper 50s
    • How 49 Financial is addressing the industry-wide 9% retention rate for new advisors
    • Travis's shift from "quantity over quality" to "quality over quantity" in building his business
    • His vision for bridging the gap between aging advisors with trillions in assets and the next generation
    Faith Perspective
    • How facing mortality transformed Travis's relationship with God and clarity about priorities
    • The role of childlike faith in entrepreneurship versus the challenges of maintaining bold faith as a business matures
    • Using their platform to help clients turn "tax dollars into giving dollars" through strategic charitable planning
    • The daily struggle of enjoying present moments while awaiting his wife's five-year cancer-free milestone
    Quotable Moments
    • "I think maybe a lot of entrepreneurs out there, it is so easy, even as believers, to make our business our identity. And it's such a sneak."
    • "It puts you in a different place in your faith when each one of you experience the thought of losing the other one within a day."
    • "If the business doesn't make it, it's okay. If the business does hit that growth goal, it's okay... I'm going home to my bride."
    • "My heart and why 49, as long as I'm around, is going to be for the young person."
    • "We're going to turn tax dollars into giving dollars."
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    44 mins