Faith Driven Entrepreneur

Faith Driven Media

Faith Driven Entrepreneur exists to encourage, equip, empower, and support Christ-following entrepreneurially-minded people worldwide with world-class content and community. Here, you'll find conversations with business leaders from around the world who will share how their faith affects their work.

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 386 - Scaling Poppi: Farmers Market to $2B Pepsi Exit | Stephen Ellsworth

    Join host Justin Forman for a candid conversation with Stephen Ellsworth, co-founder of Poppi, the prebiotic soda brand that went from a Dallas farmers market stand to one of the largest exits in beverage history when PepsiCo acquired it for $2 billion. Stephen walks through the pivotal decisions that shaped Poppi's rise — rewriting the formula a week before Shark Tank, the branding fight that determined whether Poppi would be sold as a health product or a soda, and the negotiating table where his team turned down a $1 billion offer because it “didn't feel right.” But the most striking part of Stephen's story isn't the exit — it's what came after. He opens up about the identity crisis, isolation, and unexpected grief that followed closing the deal, and how wrestling with purpose in the months afterward reshaped his understanding of calling, generosity, and what he calls this next season: not retirement, but “preferment.” Throughout, Stephen traces how his faith — dormant since he was a teenager — was reawakened through the entrepreneurial journey itself, from a providential tax refund that arrived the week his mortgage was due, to the conviction that let him walk away from billion-dollar offers that didn't align with what he and his team believed was right. Key Topics: •      From a Wyoming kitchen to Shark Tank to a $2 billion PepsiCo acquisition •      The branding pivot that turned an apple cider vinegar tonic into a prebiotic soda •      Why Stephen's team walked away from a $1 billion Pepsi offer and a $1.65 billion Keurig Dr Pepper offer •      The unexpected identity crisis and isolation that followed the exit •      Moving from a Mormon upbringing to a faith renewed through entrepreneurship •      Setting up a Donor Advised Fund and learning to give with the same rigor used to build a business Notable Quotes: “Sitting where we are now, a $2 billion exit from a farmers market stand is just wild.” - Stephen Ellsworth “Pepsi is a huge system. If you're gonna buy us, buy us.” - Stephen Ellsworth “The idea of coming to know God more fully through [the entrepreneurial journey] is one of the greatest side benefits of the whole equation.” - Justin Forman

    Episode 386 - Scaling Poppi: Farmers Market to $2B Pepsi Exit | Stephen Ellsworth

  2. Jul 28

    Episode 385 - Why Most Entrepreneurs Are Lonely (And How to Fix It) | Mark Grunden & Addison Williams

    Recorded live at FDE's annual staff retreat, host Justin Forman sits down with Mark Grunden and Addison Williams for a rare, on-the-ground look at what happens when entrepreneurs stop doing this alone. Rather than talk theory, the team shares real footage and real voices — from a London entrepreneur now supporting 260 fellow business owners, to a 57-campus church network in Nairobi, Kenya that has built the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Foundation course into its entire discipleship program. This episode unpacks what actually happens inside a Foundation Group, why entrepreneurship carries a unique kind of loneliness that even a great small group at church can't always reach, and why leading one of these groups requires no certification — just a willingness to open a Zoom call, press play on a video, and ask a few honest questions. Whether you're an entrepreneur longing for people who get it, or a pastor wondering how to serve the business leaders already sitting in your church, this conversation offers a simple, tested, ready-to-go path forward.   Key Topics: ●        Why entrepreneurship doesn't have to be a lonely journey — and real stories that prove it ●        On-the-ground FDE Group stories from the UK, Kenya, and across the U.S. ●        What a Faith Driven Foundation Group actually looks like (video + Scripture + honest conversation) ●        Why churches are uniquely positioned to reach entrepreneurs — no certification required ●        The global numbers: 25,000+ entrepreneurs served, 250 partnering churches, and one Kenyan church network with 700+ graduates ●        The simple next step: how anyone can start a group this week   Notable Quotes: "When you get entrepreneurs in a group, community and depth happens really quick." – Justin Forman "That's really where we start to unravel the fear of the enemy is isolation." – Addison Williams "You gotta be faithful rather than willful. You know, you gotta think of yourself as a steward rather than an owner." – Mark Grunden

    Episode 385 - Why Most Entrepreneurs Are Lonely (And How to Fix It) | Mark Grunden & Addison Williams

  3. Jul 21

    Episode 384 - Why Authenticity Is Your Best Marketing Move in the Age of AI | Christian Pinkston

    Join host Justin Forman for a conversation with Christian Pinkston, CEO of the PR and marketing firm Pinkston, that starts with a simple question about marketing in the age of AI and ends somewhere far deeper: a near-drowning in the Persian Gulf, a camel accident in the Egyptian desert three days later, and a voice from God that Christian says he'll never forget. For decades, Christian built a life and a career on convincing the people around him that he was impressive, successful, and worth something — while hiding the shame underneath it. It took two brushes with death in the same week, thousands of miles from home, for that image to finally collapse. What followed was confession, grace that wasn't cheap, and a slow rebuilding of an identity rooted in something that could never be taken away. Along the way, Christian and Justin dig into why AI has made authenticity both harder to fake and more valuable than ever, why story is the foundation of every real relationship (in business and otherwise), and why the same principle that transformed Christian's life — approaching God empty-handed — is also, it turns out, good business. Key Topics: •      Why story is proof: how AI is disrupting marketing and making authenticity both harder to fake and more valuable •      The 45-year identity built on performance — and the soundtrack of shame that shaped it •      Two brushes with death in three days: a riptide in Dubai and a camel accident in Cairo •      Confession, grace, and the difference between “cheap grace” and the real thing •      Why he now pours into young men, teaching an identity rooted in Christ instead of performance Notable Quotes: "I realized like I had been pretending for decades to be someone I wasn't, to impress people in my life so they think that I was worth something." — Christian Pinkston "The hero of that story is you. But we're not the hero of our story. There can only be one hero." — Christian Pinkston "We'll tell the success story. We'll tell those stories. But these are the stories that we need to be telling more of. Telling the stories of brokenness." — Justin Forman

    Episode 384 - Why Authenticity Is Your Best Marketing Move in the Age of AI | Christian Pinkston

  4. Jul 14

    Episode 383 - Why Your Leadership Pipeline Is Failing | David Ashcraft | Global Leadership Network

    Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast – Episode 383 Release Date: July 14, 2026   Why the Leadership Pipeline Is a Myth, and What Actually Works What if the most widely accepted strategy for developing leaders in your church or business is fundamentally broken? In this episode, Justin Forman sits down with Pastor David Ashcraft, former lead pastor of LCBC Church, which grew to 25 locations and 28,000 weekend attendees, now serving with the Global Leadership Network. David pulls no punches: the leadership pipeline is a myth. What replaces it is a culture, one that produces leaders from within, in real time. David draws on decades of experience scaling a church from 200 to 28,000 and overseeing 300 staff, 275 of whom were developed from within the congregation. His insights on leadership development, faith-work integration, and measuring fruit over process offer a roadmap for any pastor, entrepreneur, or marketplace leader serious about building something that lasts. Key Topics: Why the "leadership pipeline" model fails, and the culture-based alternative that actually works How LCBC grew from 200 to 28,000 people across 25 locations by developing leaders from within The "just-in-time training" principle: why proximity to application accelerates leader development The Global Leadership Summit: roughly 400,000 leaders across 1,120 sites worldwide, and why it bridges pastors and marketplace leaders Data vs. fruit: how to measure discipleship and leadership without falling into box-checking traps How business leaders and churches can learn from each other, and why ministry happens everywhere, not just on Sunday   Notable Quotes: “You can have the money, but if you don’t have the leaders, you’re not going anywhere.” — David Ashcraft   “The whole idea of the leadership pipeline is a myth. It tends to be almost more of a class or a course. If you go through enough courses, somehow you’re going to come out on the other end a trained leader—and you’ve received training, but it doesn’t make you a leader.” — David Ashcraft   “If you’re a leader, people are going to be attracted to whoever the leader is.” — David Ashcraft   Guest Bio: David Ashcraft served for decades as the founding lead pastor of LCBC Church (Lives Changed By Christ) in Pennsylvania, scaling it from a church plant in 1991 to 25 locations serving 28,000 people every weekend, with 275 of 300 staff members developed from within the congregation. He now serves with the Global Leadership Network (GLN), which hosts the Global Leadership Summit, an annual event reaching approximately 400,000 leaders across 1,120 sites worldwide. GLN features speakers including Jim Collins, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Arthur Brooks, and Patrick Lencioni.

  5. Jul 7

    Episode 382 - Why Every Entrepreneur Gets Generosity Wrong | John Cortines

    Host Justin Forman sits down with John Cortines, author, generosity advocate, and a leader at the Maclellan Foundation, to unpack the heart transformation at the core of every faith-driven entrepreneur's relationship with money. Recorded at the Kingdom Advisors conference, this conversation begins in a Harvard Business School Bible study and ends with a vision for professionally managed giving funds that could rival the mutual fund industry in scale. John traces his journey from a young oil-and-gas professional whose online banking password was literally "retire@40!" to a husband, father of six, homesteader, and passionate advocate for Kingdom generosity. Drawing from his two books, God and Money and True Riches, John shares both the practical mechanics and the deep heart work required to move from asking "How much do I need to give?" to "How much do I really need to keep?" Key Topics: The wrong question most Christians ask about money, and the reframe that changes everything Why giving felt like a spreadsheet cell working against retirement, until joy broke through Financial finish lines: setting lifestyle and net worth guardrails before wealth arrives The four heart conditions around money (pride, coveting, anxiety, and indifference) and their gospel antidotes Why King Nebuchadnezzar and King David are the ultimate contrast study for entrepreneurs How collaborative, professionally managed giving funds could become as common as index funds Practical first steps for busy entrepreneurs ready to go on the generosity offensive Notable Quotes: “The right question isn’t how much do I need to give, it’s how much do I really need to keep?” — John Cortines “All things come from you and of your own have we given you.” — John Cortines (quoting King David, 1 Chronicles 29) “By definition, giving is actually a source of joy and freedom and purpose in the Christian walk.” — John Cortines   Guest Background: John Cortines is the co-author of God and Money (2016) and True Riches, books exploring biblical stewardship and the heart transformation behind generous living. A Harvard Business School graduate, John began his career in oil and gas at Chevron before pursuing a calling to equip Christian business leaders with a theology and practice of generosity. Today he helps lead generosity and giving strategy at the Maclellan Foundation, which opens its global grant-making engine to families deploying resources worldwide. John and his wife Megan live on 12 acres in East Tennessee with their six children, where they homeschool, homestead, and raise everything from egg-laying hens to Thanksgiving turkeys.

    Episode 382 - Why Every Entrepreneur Gets Generosity Wrong | John Cortines

  6. Jun 30

    Episode 381 - Collaborative Missiology: The Future of Global Missions | Rob Hoskins

    What does it look like when 40 years of faithfulness meets a brand-new playbook? Rob Hoskins, president of OneHope, joins host Justin Forman for a wide-ranging conversation about the moment we're living in—and why the pioneer era of missions must give way to a new collaborative missiology. From a father’s prophetic vision of children having access to evil things on handheld devices (before mobile phones existed) to building one of the world's most far-reaching children's Scripture engagement ministries, Rob's story is a masterclass in generational faithfulness, innovative disruption, and Kingdom-minded collaboration. OneHope has delivered God's Word to children in every country of the world, in hundreds of languages, through print, film, and digital platforms—including the Bible App for Kids in partnership with YouVersion. Now, as the pace of change accelerates and the global church diversifies, Rob makes the case that collaboration isn't just smart strategy. It's biblical obedience. Key Topics •       The prophetic vision that launched OneHope: decades before the smartphone, Rob's father saw how the enemy would target children through devices in their hands. He heard God say, "The only thing that will overcome these lies is truth. My word is truth. Take my word, give it to every child in the world." •       From pioneer to collaborative missiology: Why the tactics that grew Christianity in sub-Saharan Africa from 4% to 65% in a century won't be enough for the challenges ahead. •       Innovation requires failure: How two failed mobile scripture experiments cost millions—and made the Bible App for Kids possible. •       The intergenerational handoff: Rob's father stepped down at the top of his game, saying 'It's when you're at the top of your game that the game's about to change.' •       Close the Bible Gap collaborative: Six agencies pooling resources for Bible access in the world's least-reached places—creating shared measuring systems, logistics, and one-stop resourcing for frontline church planters. •       Why 1.6–1.8 million nonprofits signals a problem: Comparing the fragmented ministry landscape to the market's consolidating instinct—and why 'God told me' can become a sacred cow that blocks accountability. •       Democratizing missions: The global church is 75% non-Western—and collaborative missiology finally gives the majority world church not just a seat at the table, but a hand in building it. Notable Quotes "The only thing that will overcome these lies is truth. My word is truth—take my word, give it to every child in the world." — Rob Hoskins (quoting his father's vision), Page 2, 00:02:19   "What got us here isn't gonna get us to where we need to go." — Rob Hoskins, Page 5, 00:14:57   "I would be very unfaithful if I wasn't collaborating." — Rob Hoskins, Page 7, 00:23:02

    Episode 381 - Collaborative Missiology: The Future of Global Missions | Rob Hoskins

  7. Jun 23

    Episode 380 - Tedashii: Billboard Christian Rapper Turned Entrepreneur

    Host Justin Forman sits down with Billboard-charting Christian hip hop artist and entrepreneur Tedashii for a raw, unforgettable conversation about identity, loss, and what it really means to build something that lasts. From writing his first song in elementary school to reaching #1 on the Billboard charts, Tedashii shares how grief transformed his entrepreneurial ambition—and how losing his one-year-old son Chase became the defining moment that changed everything he was building toward. Tedashii opens up about the difference between running from something, running to something, and the third road God placed before him: running for something. He shares his vision for a nonprofit called Chase Life, his passion for dismantling the shame narrative that holds entrepreneurs back, and why the church's next great revival may depend on artists and business leaders heralding the name of Christ with excellence. Tedashii (born Tadashi—a Japanese name meaning loyal, faithful, true, and correct) grew up biracial in Texas, discovered Christ at Baylor University, and went on to become one of Christian hip hop's most recognized voices through Reach Records alongside Lecrae. Today he's expanding into public speaking, acting, filmmaking, and nonprofit work, all anchored by the conviction that what he's called to do, nobody else can do. Key Topics: From missionary-minded musician to intentional entrepreneur—and what made the shift click   Why authenticity in creativity transcends listenership and becomes a two-way highway   The moment Tedashii's son Chase passed away—and how grief redirected his entire entrepreneurial vision   Running from something vs. running to something vs. running for something   Identity, Imago Dei, and why the enemy uses shame to hinder the entrepreneur   Notable Quotes: "I decided to learn how to meet the needs of people, and that made me an entrepreneur." — Tedashii "There's so much pressure on arriving to the thing you're running to, to help you battle the demons that you're running from. And now because I'm running for something, getting to the things I'm running to doesn't, it's no pressure on it anymore." — Tedashii "You're a lousy someone else, but the best you there is. There is not another you. You are a rarity." — Tedashii

    Episode 380 - Tedashii: Billboard Christian Rapper Turned Entrepreneur

  8. Jun 16

    Episode 379 - Gospel Patrons: The Secret Behind Every Great Movement of God | John Rinehart

    Episode: Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast — Episode 379 Release Date: June 16, 2026 Guest: John Rinehart, Author & Founder of Gospel Patrons The Generosity Revolution: Rediscovering the DNA of Gospel Patrons What if the most powerful force for global Kingdom impact isn't in the pulpit—it's in the marketplace? Host Justin Forman sits down with John Rinehart, author and founder of Gospel Patrons, to trace the remarkable thread of God-fueled generosity that runs from the early church all the way to modern entrepreneurs. From William Tyndale's cloth merchant patron to the couple who funded the Jesus Film and went bankrupt the very next year, this conversation unearths the stories that prove one thing: when you give to the Kingdom of God, losing is impossible. John shares his own journey—from a 25-year-old businessman asking "what's all this for?" to circling the globe for 132 days to discover what it means to be a gospel patron. Together, he and Justin wrestle with the three enemies of Christian generosity, expose the subtle lies of the world's definition of wealth, and reveal how focused, intentional giving is the quickest path to joy there is. Key Topics: The three villains of Christian generosity: the world, the flesh, and the devil — and how to fight them with generosity, humility, and integrity Why "radical generosity is normal Christianity" — what the early church in Acts 2 and Acts 4 can teach entrepreneurs today The jaw-dropping stories of gospel patrons throughout history: William Tyndale's cloth merchant, the patron behind Amazing Grace, and Bunker & Caroline Hunt funding the Jesus Film Why focused, intentional giving produces more joy and Kingdom impact than scattered, reactive giving The three marks of a true gospel patron: financially invested, personally involved, and advancing the gospel Notable Quotes: "Radical generosity is normal Christianity."  — John Rinehart "I think when we give to the kingdom of God, losing is impossible."  — John Rinehart "Generosity is the quickest path to joy there is."  — John Rinehart Guest Background: John Rinehart is the founder of Gospel Patrons and the author of multiple books documenting the stories of business and professional leaders who have partnered with ministry to fuel great movements of God throughout history. After careers in business and seminary, John and his wife took a 132-day trip around the world to become global Christians. His newest book, 31 Gospel Patrons, profiles 31 modern-day business and professional leaders living out the gospel patron calling today.

    Episode 379 - Gospel Patrons: The Secret Behind Every Great Movement of God | John Rinehart
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Faith Driven Entrepreneur exists to encourage, equip, empower, and support Christ-following entrepreneurially-minded people worldwide with world-class content and community. Here, you'll find conversations with business leaders from around the world who will share how their faith affects their work.

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