Better Way To Build with Shay Cochrane

Shay Cochrane
  • 5.0 (36)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

What the world teaches about how to be successful is costing most entrepreneurs their marriages, mental and physical health, peace, and families. Thankfully, there's a better way to build that allows you to be wildly successful without losing everything that matters to you along the way. Welcome to the Better Way to Build Podcast brought to you by Ilūme Network. Your host, Shay Cochrane, is an entrepreneur for over 20 years, multi-business owner, Bible teacher, and business coach who has generated millions in revenue working just a 16 hr work week. We believe God isn't distant or disconnected from your work - He's your greatest strategic partner and the wisdom of the Bible provides a blueprint for a better way - full of practical, actionable strategies for true, sustainable, measurable success in EVERY aspect of your life and business. This podcast exists to help driven, high-capacity entrepreneurs deepen their faith and partnership with God while still accelerating their scale and impact in business. Every week we will pull tangible, actionable, business strategies - ones that you can implement right now - from the pages of Scripture — because you have a God who is in it with you, who has everything you need to build in a healthier more sustainable way, and who is just waiting for you to ask. We'll cover things like: - How to actually hear God's voice of leadership and counsel in your business so the weight of it's success is not all on you - The practical wisdom the Bible has for the decisions you're making right now - How to trade burnout and hustle culture for a more peaceful, sustainable and values-aligned path to business success - What it looks like to let God lead you in business (and life) — in a way that's tangible, not theoretical God has wisdom, resources, and strategy waiting for you and He wants to be actively involved in every part of your business and life. This is the Better Way To Build Podcast — where faith meets business, and the Bible gets to work. Ilūme Network is a national faith-based entrepreneurial network for 6,7 and 8 figure Christian female business owners focused on elite mentorship, kingdom-business strategy and peer collaboration. Find out more and apply today at www.ilumenetwork.com.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    10. What Success Has Cost Our Marriage Part 2

    If you've ever wondered whether the cost of entrepreneurship is just your life now — this episode is proof you're not alone, and you're not stuck with it.   Shay sits down with her husband Graham Cochrane for their most honest conversation yet: what 20 years of dual entrepreneurship has actually cost their marriage — contentment, connection, peace, presence, and what's made it worth fighting for anyway. They walk through the real benefits they've protected, the costs they've paid when operating out of fear and selfish ambition, and why doing business God's way is still the only model that leads to freedom in every area of life.   If this hits close to home, send it to your spouse — this is a conversation worth having together. Chapters 00:00 The Hidden Costs of Entrepreneurship 03:09 Benefits of Entrepreneurship 06:09 Time Freedom and Family Life 08:55 Lessons Learned from Travel 11:57 Financial Margin and Generosity 15:01 The Dark Side of Entrepreneurship 19:21 Reflecting on Early Years of Marriage and Entrepreneurship 20:27 The Costs of Entrepreneurship 23:36 Navigating Different Business Styles 29:25 The Challenges of Dual Entrepreneurship 32:29 Avoidable Costs in Entrepreneurship 35:21 Finding a Better Way to Build Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/  Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/  Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/

    39 min

  2. Jun 29

    09. The Cost of Entrepreneurship Part 1

    If you've ever wondered why success hasn't brought the freedom you expected, this episode will show you what's actually being cost — and why.   Shay kicks off a two-part series by naming the real benefits of entrepreneurship most people stop enjoying once they've "made it," then gets honest about what it's actually cost her and Graham over 20 years — their marriage, their health, their walk with God. She makes the case that the cost isn't the problem; it's what we let go unchecked that turns a gift into something that corrodes everything around it.   Before you chase the next level, take a minute to name what entrepreneurship is costing you right now — and if this hits home, send it to a fellow entrepreneur who needs to hear it too.   Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction — the conversation no one's having in entrepreneurship 02:20 The real benefits of entrepreneurship (and why so few of us actually enjoy them) 10:13 An honest look at the cost in the Cochrane home: discontentment, disconnection, marriage tension 15:20 Why secular culture hides the cost or turns it into a badge of honor 17:21 The toll on health, friendships, and community 23:44 What Satan's plan looks like in your business — and what God's plan looks like instead 25:53 The difference between cost and poison 33:25 A prayer over your business and your family Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/  Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/  Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/

    36 min

  3. Jun 22

    08. How to Know If God Is Actually Behind Your Business

    If you've ever wondered whether God is actually in your business — or whether you just built something and hoped He'd bless it — this episode gives you a framework to find out. Shay walks through five of her own businesses and the very different origin stories behind each one, then asks the question every Christian entrepreneur eventually faces: Does God have specific plans for my business, or is it really just up to me? She unpacks what Scripture says about God's predetermined purposes, what it looks like when He's actively in something versus opposing it, and how your work connects to the one thing He's been doing since the beginning. You'll leave with three practical strategies to align your business with what He's actually doing in the world. If this is the question you've been sitting with, send it to another entrepreneur who needs to hear it this week. Chapters: 00:00 — The question every entrepreneur asks in a hard season: is God even in this? 00:00 — Shay's five business origin stories and what drove each one 00:00 — Three ways God can be involved in your business — and the one to be afraid of 00:00 — What Scripture says about God's predetermined purposes (Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 2:10) 00:00 — How your business participates in God's bigger plan for restoration 00:00 — Three strategies: get in the Word, ask Him directly, surrender with open hands 00:00 — Closing prayer over your business and your week Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/ Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/ Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/

    39 min

  4. Jun 15

    07. Why Working Harder Isn't Moving the Needle

    If you've been white-knuckling your business outcomes, this episode will either deeply unsettle you — or finally set you free.   Shay unpacks what Scripture actually says about who controls outcomes in business, and why your strategy, effort, and budget can only take you so far. She shares her own story of a business pivot that could only have been God, and walks through three countercultural business strategies for building with open hands.   This is the episode for the woman who's exhausted from trying to engineer results — and ready to build a different way. If this hit home, send it to one entrepreneur who needs permission to loosen her grip.   Chapters:   01:48  Why Western entrepreneurship is obsessed with controlling outcomes 03:29 What Scripture says about who actually directs outcomes (Psalm 33, Proverbs 19, Isaiah 46) 06:47  Shay's story: the business idea that could only have been God 10:58  What God's sovereignty actually means for your Monday morning 19:03  Three kingdom business strategies: open hands, seek first, release outcomes 26:13  The pawn shop dream: control or peace — you can only hold one 30:09  Closing prayer over your business and your week   Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/ Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/ Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/

    33 min

  5. Jun 8

    06. 3 Signs You've Actually Surrendered Your Business to God

    If you've been building your business on your own strength, this episode will show you exactly what it looks like to hand it back to the One who actually owns it. Shay opens a three-part series on what it practically means to partner with God in business — not theoretically, but on a Tuesday morning when the pressure is real. She walks through the biblical truth that God already owns your business, your skills, and every resource you need, and introduces two countercultural strategies: surrender and demotion. You'll also hear Katy's story of facing $40–50K in unexpected tariff costs and choosing peace over panic — because she knew whose problem it really was. If this hit home, share it with the woman in your life who's been carrying too much for too long. Chapters: 02:38  The weight of building alone: what it actually costs you 04:20  Why operating without God means building as an orphan  05:00  Psalm 24:1 and what God's total ownership means for your business  10:05  Katy's tariff story: $40–50K and why she laughed  15:07  Business Strategy #1: Surrender — and what it really means to hand it back  16:11  Business Strategy #2: Demote yourself (the most freeing move you'll ever make)  18:36  3 signs you've actually surrendered (not just said the words)  22:40  Closing prayer over your business 🌐 Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/ ✅ Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/ ✅ Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/

    27 min

  6. Jun 1

    05. The Truth About Running 3 Businesses in 16 Hours a Week

    If you've ever wondered how someone runs three businesses in just 16 hours a week, this episode pulls back the curtain on what's actually working — and what it's really costing.   Shay shares the honest, unfiltered story behind her 16-hour work week - from its humbling origin as a broke new mom who could only afford two days of childcare, to the 80/20 principle that became the backbone of everything she builds. She walks through what has made this model work across 20+ years and three very different businesses, and gets refreshingly real about the mental toll, leadership demands, and revenue trade-offs that come with running multiple companies on a tight schedule.   If this kind of behind-the-scenes honesty is what you need more of, share this episode with an entrepreneur in your life who's trying to figure out how to build more with less.   Chapters: 00:00 The Truth Behind the 16-Hour Work Week  02:15 How It All Started — Motherhood, Entrepreneurship, and No Money  08:22 Why Time Limitations Made Her a Better Business Owner  09:31 The 80/20 Rule That Changed Everything  15:56 A Look at Her Three Businesses  18:07 What's Actually Working — Team, Focus, and Variety  25:23 What Isn't Working — The Real Cost of Multiple Businesses    Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/ Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/ Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/

    38 min

  7. May 25

    04. One Word from God Can Change Everything - Here's How to Hear It

    If your relationship with God in business still feels occasional and reactive, this episode will show you how to make it constant, practical, and life-giving.   Shay closes out the four-part series on hearing God's voice by unpacking what it actually looks like to build a daily lifestyle of abiding — staying connected to God not just in the big decisions, but in the ordinary moments of your workday. She shares the jaw-dropping story of how she and her husband heard God's specific instruction around tithing and watched their business double year after year, and closes with three practical anchors for building a daily rhythm of connection that actually sticks.   If this series has shifted something for you, send it to one entrepreneur in your life who needs to hear it — one word from God really can change everything.   Chapters:  01:11 Are You Living in Daily Partnership With God?  02:15 What Abiding Actually Means — John 15  04:33 The Vine and The Branch — Why Constant Connection Matters  06:32 3 Pillars of a Lifestyle of Abiding  07:44 The Tithing Story That Will Blow Your Mind  16:53 Practical Steps to Hear God's Voice Daily   Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/ Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/ Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/ Visit IlumeNetwork.com/Abide to access your Bonus Video!

    31 min

  8. May 18

    03. How to Know If What You're Hearing Is God or Just You

    If you've ever wondered whether what you're hearing in your spirit is actually God or just your own thoughts, this episode gives you a practical framework to tell the difference.   Shay breaks down how the Holy Spirit personalizes God's general will from scripture into specific guidance for your real-life decisions — and walks through four distinct ways He leads, from conviction on your conscience to peace, restraint, and sharpened discernment. She closes with three practical steps you can start today to build a habit of seeking and recognizing His voice before you make your next big move.   If this episode helped you get clearer on how God speaks, send it to a fellow entrepreneur who has been asking the same questions — this is the kind of clarity that changes how you build.   Chapters  01:11 Can You Actually Hear God In Real Business Decisions?  02:18 Scripture vs The Holy Spirit — What's The Difference?  06:14 4 Ways The Holy Spirit Leads You Practically  09:31 How To Know If It's Him Or Just You  18:29 3 Steps To Start Hearing His Voice Today   Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/ Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/ Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/   Visit IlumeNetwork.com/Abide to access your Abide Bonus Video!

    29 min

  9. May 11

    02. You Have a 24/7 Guide With the Mind of God - Are You Using It?

    If you've ever chalked a gut feeling up to intuition, this episode will make you think twice about where that guidance is actually coming from.   Shay digs into what Scripture says about the role of the Holy Spirit — your helper, intercessor, and spirit of truth — and makes the case that He is actively speaking into your business decisions right now. Through two personal stories, including a scary company crisis and a moment of unexpected self-revelation during a quiet time, she shows what it actually looks like to slow down, tune in, and let Him lead.   If this episode shifted something for you, send it to a fellow entrepreneur who needs to hear it — one conversation with the Holy Spirit could change everything about how they build.   Chapters: 1:07 The Question Every Entrepreneur Is Really Asking  2:46 The Holy Spirit as Your Helper — John 16:7  4:23 He's Already Praying For You — Romans 8:26  5:00 The Spirit of Truth Reveals What's Ahead — John 16:13  6:31 You Have a 24/7 Guide With the Mind of God  10:47 What Happens When You Actually Slow Down and Ask  15:53 The Visualization That Will Change How You See Wisdom   Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/ Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/ Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/ Visit: IlumeNetwork.com/Abide to access the Abide Video!

    22 min

  10. May 4

    01. Your Most Powerful Business Strategy Has Nothing to Do With Marketing | Part 1: Developing a Lifestyle of Abiding

    Have you ever asked God for direction in a big decision and felt nothing back? Or maybe you've wondered whether hearing God's voice is even a real thing — or just reserved for the deeply spiritual few. Whatever your starting point, this episode is going to reframe everything you thought you knew about how God speaks. Drawing from John 10 and the image of the Good Shepherd, Shay lays the biblical foundation for why hearing God isn't mystical or rare — it's actually a core, expected part of following Jesus. She unpacks the difference between logos and rhema, two distinct ways God speaks, and makes the case that learning to tune in to both is the single most powerful business strategy available to the Christian entrepreneur. One word from God can outperform any mastermind, any coaching program, or any business book. The question isn't whether He's speaking — it's whether you're learning to listen. This series is just getting started. Chapters:  04:24 Does God Still Speak To Us?  06:04 The Good Shepherd — John 10  07:17 Hearing God Is Not Rare or Mystical  09:40 How God Speaks: Logos vs Rhema  14:12 The Unfair Advantage of the Christian Entrepreneur  15:43 Three Questions to Ask Yourself 🌐 Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/ ✅ Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/ ✅ Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/ Find the Abide Video here! https://www.ilumenetwork.com/abide

    22 min

  11. Trailer

    START HERE: The Unfair Advantage Every Christian Entrepreneur Has - And Most Never Use

    You've probably asked yourself at 3am — is God actually in this with me, or is this something I'm just supposed to figure out on my own? If you have, you're not alone. And this podcast exists because the answer to that question changes everything about how you build. This isn't about adding a spiritual layer on top of your business strategy. This is about a completely different way of operating — one where the God of the universe is an active, practical, real-time partner in your work. And Shay has seen it transform businesses, lift unbearable weight, and bring a peace and clarity that no mastermind or coaching program ever could. This is the Better Way to Build Podcast. Chapters: 0:00 - The Unfair Advantage 1:26 - Trust and Partnership 3:17 - Exploring Business with God 7:22 - Three Foundational Lessons 12:03 - A Better Way to Build   🌐 Join the Ilume Network: https://www.ilumenetwork.com/ ✅ Follow Shay: https://www.instagram.com/shaycochrane/ ✅ Follow Ilume Network: https://www.instagram.com/ilumenetwork/

    14 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

What the world teaches about how to be successful is costing most entrepreneurs their marriages, mental and physical health, peace, and families. Thankfully, there's a better way to build that allows you to be wildly successful without losing everything that matters to you along the way. Welcome to the Better Way to Build Podcast brought to you by Ilūme Network. Your host, Shay Cochrane, is an entrepreneur for over 20 years, multi-business owner, Bible teacher, and business coach who has generated millions in revenue working just a 16 hr work week. We believe God isn't distant or disconnected from your work - He's your greatest strategic partner and the wisdom of the Bible provides a blueprint for a better way - full of practical, actionable strategies for true, sustainable, measurable success in EVERY aspect of your life and business. This podcast exists to help driven, high-capacity entrepreneurs deepen their faith and partnership with God while still accelerating their scale and impact in business. Every week we will pull tangible, actionable, business strategies - ones that you can implement right now - from the pages of Scripture — because you have a God who is in it with you, who has everything you need to build in a healthier more sustainable way, and who is just waiting for you to ask. We'll cover things like: - How to actually hear God's voice of leadership and counsel in your business so the weight of it's success is not all on you - The practical wisdom the Bible has for the decisions you're making right now - How to trade burnout and hustle culture for a more peaceful, sustainable and values-aligned path to business success - What it looks like to let God lead you in business (and life) — in a way that's tangible, not theoretical God has wisdom, resources, and strategy waiting for you and He wants to be actively involved in every part of your business and life. This is the Better Way To Build Podcast — where faith meets business, and the Bible gets to work. Ilūme Network is a national faith-based entrepreneurial network for 6,7 and 8 figure Christian female business owners focused on elite mentorship, kingdom-business strategy and peer collaboration. Find out more and apply today at www.ilumenetwork.com.

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