Faith Driven Entrepreneur

Faith Driven Media
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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.

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 390 - Why Ego, Not Ambition, Is Killing Your Leadership | Chip Ingram

    Host Justin Forman sits down with Chip Ingram, pastor, author, and CEO of Living on the Edge, for a conversation recorded at South by Southwest that reframes ambition, love, and servant leadership through language entrepreneurs actually recognize. Most entrepreneurs have felt the guilt at some point — the sense that wanting to build something great must mean you're arrogant. Chip Ingram has spent decades pastoring high-capacity leaders in Silicon Valley and beyond, and he's convinced that guilt is bad theology. In this conversation, he and Justin unpack what happens when pastors stop trying to recruit entrepreneurs into church programs and start helping them discover who God made them to be in the marketplace instead. Chip Ingram is a pastor, author, and CEO of Living on the Edge, a ministry devoted to helping believers become truly transformed followers of Christ. He's led some of the most significant turnaround churches in the country, built a discipleship process called Prime Movers to develop entrepreneurial leaders, and recently released his book, I Choose Love. Few voices have spent more time in the space between the pulpit and the boardroom. Key Topics: • Why entrepreneurs and pastors mutually intimidate each other — and what breaks the ice • The "Prime Movers" process Chip used to disciple entrepreneurs instead of recruiting them • Coining "humbition" — holding ambition and humility together without guilt • What servant leadership actually requires: leading boldly while dying to ego • God's sovereignty and human responsibility — doing your best and trusting the outcome to Him • Why sharing failure, not success, is what actually builds a team • Redefining love as a covenant choice instead of an emotion This episode is for the entrepreneur who has felt the tension between wanting to build something great and wondering if that desire is even okay. Chip offers permission — not to chase glory, but to steward the dreams God already placed there. Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

  2. Aug 25

    Episode 389 - Taking Down a Global Trafficking Network | Laila Mickelwait

    The Crime Scene Disguised as a Website Host Justin Forman sits down with Laila Mickelwait, Co-Founder and CEO of the Justice Defense Fund, for a conversation that traces how one late-night test upload exposed a multi-billion-dollar corporation built on abuse — and how she built a movement to take it down. In 2020, Laila Mickelwait uploaded a test video to P*rnhub just to see what it would take. All it required was an email address. No age verification. No consent verification. No ID. What she uncovered next — a corporate empire worth billions, a website ranked fifth-most-trafficked in the world, and a system that allowed rape and child sexual abuse material to be monetized at scale — set her on a five-year fight that would eventually pull in Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, billionaire investors, and the CEOs of Visa and MasterCard. Key Topics: How one test upload revealed P*rnhub's complete lack of age and consent verification The corporate structure behind P*rnhub — MindGeek, hidden ownership, and a $362 million hedge fund loan Serena's story: the "immortalization of trauma" and the human cost of self-generated CSAM The strategy shift that actually moved the needle: going after Visa, MasterCard, and Discover How a Nick Kristof article and a billionaire's outrage collided to force real corporate change The Justice Defense Fund's two-part model: public pressure and strategic civil litigation Why 2.3 million petition signatures — and a single share on social media — actually matter This conversation is a case study in what it looks like to take a problem the size of a global industry and find the leverage point that actually moves it. For any entrepreneur who has ever felt paralyzed by the size of a problem worth solving, Laila's story is a blueprint for turning conviction into strategy — and strategy into change. Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

    Episode 389 - Taking Down a Global Trafficking Network | Laila Mickelwait

  3. Aug 18

    Episode 388 - From Super Bowl Champ to Broken and Rebuilt | Trent Dilfer

    Key Topics: •          The NIL earthquake — how a $471-a-month scholarship check gave way to a multi-million-dollar collision between money and college sports almost overnight •          Why Trent believes the “quick-fix” entrepreneur mindset is a spiritual dead end, even when it pays •          The coming clash between private equity and institutional leadership in college athletics •          How Tim Tebow's boldness opened the door for a new generation of athletes to talk openly about faith •          The hardest story Trent has ever told: losing his five-year-old son, and the peace that “transcends understanding” that carried his family through it Notable Quotes: “I think you could be spiritually bankrupt if you go chase the gold and forget about the soul.” — Trent Dilfer “I have a peace that transcends understanding. I am not my own.” — Trent Dilfer “Our God is a master of brokenness. He is the healer of the broken.” — Trent Dilfer Description: Trent Dilfer has seen the collision of money and college sports from every angle: as a Super Bowl-winning quarterback who earned $471 a month on scholarship, as a head coach at UAB who watched NIL rewrite the rules six weeks into his first season, and as a broadcaster who now studies the institutions trying to keep up. On this episode of Faith Driven Entrepreneur, Trent joins host Justin Forman for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens when entrepreneurial disruption crashes into institutions that were never built to move fast — and why he believes chasing money without character is its own kind of bankruptcy. The conversation moves from the mechanics of NIL and the coming wave of private equity in college athletics, to the deeper story of how faith became a normal, bold part of the conversation in locker rooms — tracing a line from Tom Landry and Reggie White through the Tim Tebow era to today's young quarterbacks. Then Trent shares the hardest chapter of his own story: the loss of his five-year-old son, and the supernatural peace that met him in the middle of it. It's a raw, honest picture of what it looks like to trust God when nothing about the outcome makes sense — and why Trent says brokenness, not polish, is where most people actually meet Jesus.

    Episode 388 - From Super Bowl Champ to Broken and Rebuilt | Trent Dilfer

  4. Aug 11

    Episode 387 - 49% of Teens Want to Start a Business | David Kinnaman

    Half of all U.S. teenagers say they already have a business idea they're passionate about pursuing. That's the headline finding host Justin Forman digs into with David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, in this data-rich conversation about a generation quietly gearing up to build. David has spent his career turning research into a roadmap for the church, and in this episode he brings fresh findings on entrepreneurially minded teens — their hope, their hunger for mentors, and the pressure they carry to succeed. Justin and David trace the thread from Lego sets and Shark Tank reruns to the Old Testament story of Daniel, building a case for what David calls a “theology of influence”: preparing young people for a level of impact none of us can fully predict. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation exploring Barna's newest research on faith, identity, and the entrepreneurial generation — and what parents, pastors, and business leaders can do with it. Key Topics: •          New Barna data: 49% of U.S. teenagers already have a business idea they're passionate about pursuing •          A “theology of influence” — what Daniel's story in Babylon teaches us about preparing the next generation •          Why entrepreneurially minded teens report 85% more hope about the future •          Growing up in “digital Babylon”: raising kids among tech built to capture their attention •          The mentorship gap — and why entrepreneurial teens are 88% more likely to already have one •          Identity formation in a world where AI is reshaping the whole idea of a career •          A practical next step for families: Faith Driven Entrepreneur for Teens David Kinnaman is CEO of Barna Group, the research firm he has led for over two decades, helping churches, nonprofits, and business leaders understand cultural and generational trends through a faith lens. He is the author of several books on faith and the next generation, and continues to lead original research at the intersection of faith, work, and identity. This conversation is for any parent, pastor, or entrepreneur wondering whether the next generation is ready to build — and whether the church is ready to help them. Notable Quotes: “We need to prepare this generation with a theology of influence that God can and will use them in their faithfulness.” — David Kinnaman “We prepare a generation for success, but we don't prepare them for suffering.” — David Kinnaman “I think we've seen the funeral of the lone wolf over the last decade.” — Justin Forman Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

    Episode 387 - 49% of Teens Want to Start a Business | David Kinnaman

  5. Aug 4

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

    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 | Ep. 386

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Jul 14

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

    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 worksHow LCBC grew from 200 to 28,000 people across 25 locations by developing leaders from withinThe "just-in-time training" principle: why proximity to application accelerates leader developmentThe Global Leadership Summit: roughly 400,000 leaders across 1,120 sites worldwide, and why it bridges pastors and marketplace leadersData vs. fruit: how to measure discipleship and leadership without falling into box-checking trapsHow 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.

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Faith Driven Media
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    389
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Faith Driven Entrepreneur
  • Show Website
    Faith Driven Entrepreneur

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