Catholic Founders

Silas Mähner

Catholic Founders is where Catholic Entrepreneurs and Business Owners go to learn how to integrate their faith into every aspect of how they run their business and life as a Catholic AND as a Founder. In modern times, it's become more unclear than ever how to unite our faith with our work. It's even harder when you run a business. However, just as there is a holy way to live, there is a holy way to build and run our businesses. Fundamentally, our skills were given to us by God so that we may become instruments of His will. These skills are not for our own use. Therefore, to waste or misuse them is a grave thing. This entire project is born out of a deep belief in this truth. www.catholicfounders.com

  1. #49 He Beats PE Firm's With Lower Bids; Here's How | Daniel Tataje

    FEB 5

    #49 He Beats PE Firm's With Lower Bids; Here's How | Daniel Tataje

    Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * If you’d like the framework to host local meetups for other Catholic business owners in your area, email us and we’ll talk — admin@catholicfounders.com * If you’d like to sponsor this project to get in front of hundreds of Catholic business owners, email us also — admin@catholicfounders.com Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. In Today’s Issue: * Intro to the Guest and Topic * Core Takeaway * Episode References * Select Quotes * Key Moments First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest: Dr. Daniel Tataje | Mercy Dental Group I could give you a big, long write-up about today’s guest. But I’m not. I’ll just say this — if you don’t listen to this, you’re missing out on the opportunity to have an incredible new role model for your business. Dr. Tataje is incredible. As you know, I meet a lot of entrepreneurs, and I walked away from this conversation feeling like I’ve met someone who is truly a living example of what it means to be a saint in business. Please take in this episode slowly, with a notepad at your side. He has so many insights, you’ll surely value the time. One note: I’d highly suggest picking up his book, The Leader Humanity Needs. It dives into how the Christian virtues of integrity, humility, and service are the true foundations of effective leadership. The 7 Marks of Leadership To build his practice, he’s used what he calls the 7 marks of leadership. He shared those in the episode so we also summarized them here for you. He is sure to impress these upon every new hire and uses them to guide his leadership team: * Integrity: The foundation of trust. Daniel argues that true integrity is ultimately achieved through a life of holiness. * Respect: Recognizing that every person is a unique, unrepeatable gift from God. It’s the “honor of meeting the only you in the history of humanity.” * Positivity: Choosing to be a light in the darkness. It’s not about ignoring difficulty, but finding the positive outcome and the opportunity for growth in every struggle. * Empathy: Moving beyond the Golden Rule to treat people how they want to be treated—which requires taking the time to truly know them. * Teamwork: Transferring power by saying, “I believe in you.” Investing in the success and talent of those around you. * Service: An intentional act of love. Treating the person in front of you as the most important person in your life at that moment. * Humility: The “King of Virtues.” Leading as a humble servant in the image of Christ, recognizing that your talents are a gift to be stewarded, not owned. Core Lesson: The power of looking every person in the eyes — customer and employee — and recognizing they are a gift from God — more than that, they are a gift for that moment right there — this act is powerful beyond understanding. I would chalk up all of his success to this key thing. He believes all humans are created in the Image and Likeness of God. That they are a gift to humanity, and when in his presence, they are a gift to him. Because he believes this so deeply, he treats his employees in a way that reflects that. He does the same for their patients. And in turn, the employees do this with each other and with the patients as well. This leads to huge benefits, but as always with these things, we don’t do this because of the praise. We do this because it’s right. Consider your own disposition to this truth. Is it truly engrained into you? Or is it just something you intellectually know. Make it something you live out through your actions. God Bless & Happy Building! ~Silas Mähner Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References: * The Leader Humanity Needs - Dr. Daniel Tataje * Prayer of St. Francis * St. Joseph * St. Mother Teresa * St. John Paul II * St. Maximilian Kolbe * St. Augustine * St. Padre Pio * St. Thérèse of Lisieux * Biblical Passages: Matthew 4:19, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 20:26-28, Hebrews 11:1 Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Select Quotes: * “We are moved by love, not by greed. We love our mission.” — Daniel * “Be good stewards of the people and the resources we have. So it’s not trying to grow the business, but growing the business and creating wealth is a by-product of what we do.” — Daniel * “What I want is to create more leaders. And how do I create more leaders? I want to follow the greatest leader of all humanity, the history of humanity, which is Jesus. And what were the aspects of the leadership of Jesus that made him a great leader? I came out with these seven marks of leadership…” — Daniel * “Of course, we respect everyone’s faith. We are not a Catholic organization, but we are a Catholic-led organization. They know that the person that leads this company is Catholic. And we make sure that everyone follows those values.” — Daniel * “What I mean with respect is the fact that everyone is unique, that everyone is valuable and everyone is talented.” — Daniel * “Everyone is a gift and the patient that you see in today is a gift, too. It’s a unique person.” — Daniel * “It’s better to light a candle than to curse darkness. What are you doing to create a great environment where you are?” — Daniel * “The most powerful thing you can say to someone is, I believe in you. And why is that? It’s because that transfers power.” — Daniel * “The ‘leader humanity needs’ actually is the reader. So it’s an invitation for everyone, I believe that everyone is called to lead the world to a better place, against using your talents, be light in the darkness.” — Daniel Key Moments: (outline) * 00:00 – Intro: Daniel’s philosophy on stewardship and mission-driven growth. * 03:00 – Host Update: Silas shares how he met Daniel and his impression of the Mercy Dental Group. * 03:40 – The Origin Story: Daniel’s transition from a practicing dentist to a business founder. * 06:06 – Growth Strategy: Building the group through word-of-mouth and retiring doctor referrals. * 08:22 – Virtue vs. Private Equity: Why sellers choose legacy and staff care over higher PE bids. * 11:12 – Subsidiarity: Empowering local clinics to maintain their own unique identities. * 17:54 – The Founder’s Edge: How working every entry-level role built Daniel’s leadership. * 20:15 – The Seven Marks of Leadership: Introducing the core virtues of the organization. * 22:35 – Deep Dive on Respect: Viewing every employee and patient as a unique gift. * 30:10 – Host Commentary: Silas reflects on the “competitive advantage” of Christian integrity. * 34:22 – Company Culture: Rewarding long-term staff with “loyalty trips.” * 39:18 – Mercy Dental Missions: Providing free care locally and internationally. * 48:17 – The Turning Point: Moving from “God as co-pilot” to full consecration of the business. * 52:24 – Final Message: A call for leaders to be “light in the darkness.” * 55:40 – Host Outro: Silas recaps key takeaways on integrity and community impact. * 58:15 – Call to Action: Information on Daniel’s book and joining the Catholic Founders Guild. Enjoy this episode? Share it with others! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

    59 min
  2. JAN 29

    #48 Reclaiming Magnificence: Faith, Ambition, and Building in Silicon Valley | Federico (Fed) Chavez-Torres

    Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube It’s time for another episode of Catholic Founders! This time with my good pal Federico - or as we call him, Fed. News / Updates: * If you’d like the framework to host local meetups for other Catholic business owners in your area, email us and we’ll talk. admin@catholicfounders.com * If you’d like to sponsor this project to get in front of hundreds of Catholic business owners, email us also — admin@catholicfounders.com Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today We're building the largest network of Catholic biz owners in the world. It's for any Catholic biz owner who believes they are called to be an instrument of God's will in the world. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. Curious? --> "What is the Catholic Founders Guild" In Today’s Issue: Intro to the Guest and Topic | Core Takeaway | Episode References | Select Quotes | Key Moments First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest: Federico Chavez-Torres | Tex If you think the tech world is a spiritual desert, you haven’t been paying attention to what’s happening in San Francisco. In this episode, I’m joined by Federico “Fed” Chavez-Torres, co-founder of Tex and a leading voice in a growing cohort of venture-scale Catholic founders. Fed is one of those rare people who combines high-level Silicon Valley ambition with a deep, gritty commitment to the Faith. And he’s a good friend, so I was happy to have him on the show. We’re moving past the “small business” comfort zone and diving into the deep end: The duty of greatness. Here is what we cover: * The San Francisco Renaissance: Why the Bay Area is seeing record-breaking conversions and how a “bubble” of serious Catholic founders is actually a secret weapon for innovation. * Reclaiming Magnificence: A gut-check on why Catholics have abandoned the pursuit of greatness and how we can reclaim “intellectual ownership” of ambition. * The “Death Athlete” Mindset: A radical framework for living (and building) where we train every single day to leave everything on the court for the glory of God. * Building the Future: Why the world desperately needs Catholics at the helm of the companies defining AI, biotech, and the re-industrialization of the West. Fed’s perspective is a direct challenge to the “poverty-first” mentality that Catholics have taken for a long time. I think you’ll like his takes. Core Lesson: Don’t confuse humility with smallness. As Catholics, we rightly emphasize poverty, service, and care for the vulnerable. But somewhere along the way, many of us have become uneasy with greatness — with scale, influence, and ambition — even when God has clearly given us the talent to build something significant. Fed makes the case that venture-scale companies will shape culture whether Catholics build them or not. The algorithms, platforms, and institutions defining modern life are not neutral. If they are not led by people with a moral spine, they will be led by people who are perfectly comfortable exploiting human weakness for profit. The alternative is not retreat. It’s responsibility. For those of us called to build at scale, the task is to pursue excellence with discipline, to aim high without idolizing power, and to order ambition toward Christ. Not for our own glory, but so that the companies shaping the future are led by men and women who actually know what the good is. This episode is a reminder that Catholics don’t just belong in the room — in many cases, we are morally obligated to be there. God Bless & Happy Building! ~Silas Mähner Hire Catholic Offshore Talent We help you find vetted Catholic offshore talent to help your business grow. $500 upon hire and $500 if you're still happy in 30 days. Email us your needs -> hire in days -> admin@catholicfounders.com Key Episode References: * You Must Change Your Life – Peter Sloterdijk * Ghost Gunner (Documentary) * St. Charbel Makhlouf * St. Joan of Arc * St. Bruno of Cologne * Biblical Passages: Psalm 51, John 1:1–18, 2 Timothy 4:7, 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, Luke 22:39–46, Select Quotes: * On the Call to Greatness: “We have been in this focus on poverty for 70 years, but we’ve neglected the call to magnificence. We should have complete intellectual ownership over the concept of greatness.” * On the “Death Athlete” Mindset: “We are training every day towards our death. I want to be a ‘death athlete’—someone who, like Christ on the cross, leaves absolutely everything out on the court for God.” * On the Mission for San Francisco: “It’s about a new way to cope with the horrors of modern life in a Catholic way—one that isn’t just ‘move to a farm,’ but staying to make the city beautiful again.” * On Ethical Technology: “If there were more Catholics in these businesses, half of them wouldn’t exist—because we wouldn’t build algorithms designed to hijack the human soul for a click.” * On the Power of Community: “Founders hunt in packs. Being Catholic in the middle of Silicon Valley makes you differentiated—it centers the hustle around the Cross rather than just the exit.” Key Moments: (outline) * 00:00 – Intro: Catholic concept of “becoming like gods.” * 00:23 – Host Update: Silas on moving to Nashville. * 03:38 – SF Renaissance: The Catholic revival in the Bay Area. * 06:52 – Silicon Valley Leverage: Why “bubbles” can be good for innovation. * 11:50 – Tex: Fed explains his industrial asset startup. * 14:21 – Catholic VCs: The state of faith-aligned venture capital. * 19:24 – Ethical Tech: Why Catholics should build AI and social media. * 25:18 – The Mission: Making San Francisco Catholic again. * 39:41 – Magnificence: Reclaiming ambition as a Catholic virtue. * 45:49 – Death Athleticism: Training to leave everything on the court for God. * 53:41 – Rapid Fire: Psalm 51, St. Charbel, and the Angelus. * 58:33 – Outro: Final reflections on the duty of greatness. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

    1h 1m
  3. JAN 15

    #47 The Role of Generational Wealth in Charitable Giving | Johann Kurtz

    Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Welcome back to another great episode of Catholic Founders. Today we have a special discussion with Johann Kurtz . He’s the creator of the Substack Becoming Noble and author of Leaving a Legacy: Inheritance, Charity, & Thousand-Year Families. A book I highly recommend you add to your library. I recently read this, and it blew my mind. Since then, I’ve passed out 8 or so copies and convinced probably another dozen to buy it. Why? This book encapsulates several core things of what it means to be a steward in God’s creation. From charity, to raising your children to caring for your community, to loving your neighbor. A key point of the book, and something we discuss in the podcast, is the role of owning businesses in passing on a legacy. The business itself doesn’t have to be the only asset. In fact, it would be better to have many assets, but a business is a good means of building assets that are intentionally illiquid. Assets that require care and attention. These must be inculcated into your children so they understand their broader responsibility. Rather than liquidating everything you own at your death, children ought to continue to steward and grow that wealth, so that it may benefit the family, the community, and, of course, the Church. Please listen to this with an open heart to what type of legacy God may be calling you to build. Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. Core Lesson: God wants to use us as stewards of His creation. Lean into whatever that stewardship looks like for you. Some Catholics I’ve come across have no intention of building a financial legacy to hand off to their children. They are worried it will ruin them. But that’s only true if you don’t teach them the right virtues. You are called to be a steward of the world around you. That includes the things God has put into your care. And in some cases, what’s put in your care includes your skills to acquire more. When we act in line with God’s will, we can act as the worker ants distributing God’s goodness to the world — yes, including through our assets. God wants you to build a legacy. Not for yourself. But for Him. So He can use you and your progeny to carry out His will in the world. God Bless & Happy Building! ~Silas Mähner Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️ Key Episode References: * Get Johann’s Book: Leaving a Legacy, Inheritance, Charity and Thousand Year Families * Rerum Novarum (Papal encyclical by Leo XIII) * Allocution to the Roman Patriciate and Nobility (By Pope Pius XII) * Good Money (Series by the New Polity Catholic think tank) * Biblical Passages: 1 Timothy 5:8, Proverbs 13:22, Luke 18, 2 Corinthians 8, Acts 4. Select Quotes: * “What I think is to be avoided at all costs is […] is passing on a massively liquid inheritance. In other words, pure capital, stock shares, cash, because that really, that is you’re passing on a massive temptation to your children, like just liquid money. It becomes a problem.” — Johann * “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives and especially for their own household has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (Quoting 1 Timothy 5:8) — Johann * “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” (Quoting Proverbs 13:22) — Johann * “The virtue of humility is not believing that you are more than you are and being very conscious of the talents you do have, where they came from... But what it is not is the suppression or the ignoring or the wasting of your God-given talents.” — Johann * “If you participate with joy in the divine commandments, you can leave a legacy which lasts forever... the quintessential commandment in this regard is be fruitful and multiply.” — Johann * “Dominion carries with it the burden of rule. In some sense, there is a place for wealthy people in society... but they should always understand that wealth as a gift that is to be properly stewarded for the creation of the good, the true, and the beautiful.” — Johann Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Moments: (outline) * 0:00 - Johann Kurtz on Ecclesiastes and the vanity vs. reality of leaving a legacy. * 4:04 - Book Summary: The tension between traditional charity and modern philanthropy. * 7:41 - Why newly wealthy often give away assets, citing the Vanderbilts. * 8:53 - The book’s target audience: wealthy individuals and their children. * 10:56 - The “way of life” pitched: Wealth as duty, favoring illiquid assets and family businesses over liquid inheritance (cash/stocks). * 16:17 - The role of business in legacy, quoting Papal encyclicals (Rerum Novarum) on community obligations. * 21:33 - “Actualizing God’s will” through entrepreneurship and the complex Catholic view of wealth. * 31:12 - Responding to Catholics against pursuing wealth, referencing the Parable of the Talent and humility. * 36:44 - Question: Should one break away from a “rough” family to build a new intentional legacy? Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

    55 min
  4. JAN 8

    #46 You Can't Do God's Will Without Transformation Of Your Heart: A Reflection

    Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Hey everyone, I was not going to publish an episode today because we are beginning our drive to Nashville, where we are relocating, hopefully for the rest of our lives. However, yesterday morning, I had it on my heart to record something. This was one-shotted and not edited much at all, so please forgive my rambling and stumbling a bit. It’s in there because I didn’t have time to edit it, but also, it seemed fitting to me to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through me with the end audience in mind. That’s you. Please only listen to this when you are able to focus and reflect on what this exhortation means for you specifically. In what way is God after your heart? In what way is He calling you closer to Him? If we want to do God’s will, we need to know God’s will. If we want to know God’s will, we need to spend time with Him. How else are we supposed to know His will? One Hail Mary in the morning isn’t going to cut it. You need some serious 1:1 time with the most important guide, mentor, or consultant in your life. If you don’t, you’re relying on your own wisdom (or lack thereof) instead of God’s. Don’t forget, He always offers His wisdom; we just have to tune in. So which way will it be? Your way? Or His way? Let me know what you think of this style of episode. If you like it, share it as a sort of ‘tipping the waiter’ situation. Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

    18 min
  5. JAN 6

    #45 The Real History of the Magi and What It Means For Us

    Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Hey everyone! Today is a special bonus episode because I love the Magi. So I’m covering 1) the real history, 2) why I find this story so compelling, and 3) what it means for our lives as business owners. I’m not going to do a write-up on it in detail, so you’ll have to listen to it (or read the transcript, I suppose). Enjoy it and let me know what you think in the comments! ICYMI: * Saturday, we published our 2025 recap * Sunday, we published another bonus episode with Jamie Baxter, Founder of Exodus 90 * Yesterday, we published the Saintly CEO on Personal Transformation * Fill out our listeners/readers survey Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. Key Moments: (outline) * 0:00 | Introduction: The Magi’s Real Story - Knowledge into Action * 1:45 | Content Recap & Happy Epiphany * 3:00 | New Year’s Request: Share the Show * 4:30 | The Scale of the Journey & Identity of the Magi (King David’s advisors, understanding the stars) * 7:00 | The Magi’s Motivation and Deep Knowledge * 9:00 | Timing of the Magi’s Arrival (More likely within a 12-month period) * 10:30 | The Core Lesson: Knowledge Translated into Action * 13:00 | Why We Need Spiritual Mentors (Priests, Bishops, Saints) * 16:00 | The Principle of Justice: Giving God What is Due * 18:00 | From Mental Ascent (Junior Leagues) to Action (Pro Level) * 20:00 | The Call to Action: How Does Faith Change Your Q1 Goals? * 22:30 | Catholic Founders Guild Invitation (Membership details and purpose) * 25:00 | Closing & Prayer Request for Catholic Entrepreneurs * 26:00 | Farewell Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

    19 min
  6. JAN 4

    #44 How to Maintain Detachment While Running a Successful Business | Jamie Baxter

    Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Enjoy this Sunday special to kick off the year * Stay tuned for a Catholic Founders Dinner near you (we aim to host 12 this year, so let us know if you’d like us to come to your area) * This week is going to be packed full of content — please check it all out because we are putting a lot of effort into it (will go back to normal posting after this week) * Sponsorships: We are looking for 3 anchor sponsors to support the show in 2026 — reach out to learn more admin@catholicfounders.com Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. In Today’s Issue: * Intro to the Guest and Topic * Core Takeaway * Episode References * Select Quotes * Key Moments First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest: Jamie Baxter | Exodus 90 How to have true detachment from your business, without being detached from the work and from your customers. As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to make entrepreneurship, and by extension, our company, our identity. But we know that our true identity is that of a child of God, created in His image and likeness. We also need to avoid attachment to our earthly success, recognition, or financial outcomes. Today’s conversation does a great job of covering the different angles of this topic. Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️ Core Lesson: We can be detached from this world while still being in it, even as business owners with a responsibility to our communities. And when we do this well, we’re simply recognizing that God is the ultimate master. We are called to carry out God’s will in the world. That doesn’t mean we are called to make oodles of money. Or to gain the respect of men. Those things may be part of God’s will for our lives, but that will be unique for each of us. What is not unique is that we are called to detach ourselves from this world and attach ourselves firmly and irremovably to the Will of God for us. Attachment to money or fame is incompatible with this goal. However, when we see all things as coming from God, we become capable of being good stewards of the things He has given to our care. God Bless & Happy Building! ~Silas Mähner Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to admin@catholicfounders.com with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References: * Exodus 90 * St. John Henry Newman * St. Arsenius * Jim Perry - Generous Catholic Donor * Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson - 37Signals * Blue Ocean Strategy (book) Select Quotes: * “You don’t need more than you have to do God’s will.” (Jamie Baxter) * “The only reason I kept going was I felt like the Lord was asking me to... when that stops, I will stop.” (Jamie Baxter) * “Whatever your mind’s eye is on your thing... God’s plan is different.” (Jamie Baxter) * “I just ask for my daily bread. I pray that the breadcrumbs be there.” (Jamie Baxter) * “[John Henry] Newman... actually sees faith as the highest form of reasoning.” (Jamie Baxter) * “I have never done this to hit some kind of revenue goal.” (Jamie Baxter) * “I think the vast majority of us should... play a part in renewing the good and necessary and essential institutions like our parishes.” (Jamie Baxter) Key Moments: (outline) * 00:00 — Intro * 03:47 — Jamie Baxter on the importance of detachment for entrepreneurs * 05:12 — Exploring the first three years of Exodus 90 and the role of providence * 07:32 — Recognizing the business journey as a tool for personal and spiritual growth * 11:26 — Discerning the line between divine calling and personal hubris * 13:14 — Cultivating a daily disposition of trust and seeking “daily bread” * 16:39 — Integrating faith and reason when making high-stakes business decisions * 22:36 — A Catholic perspective on the importance of renewing existing institutions * 27:37 — Scaling impact while maintaining a lean, mission-focused team * 31:50 — Applying “Blue Ocean Strategy” to avoid competition and stay true to a unique charism * 37:15 — Practical advice for remaining detached from outcomes during periods of success * 44:14 — Balancing high-level vision with staying close to the daily “work” * 48:12 — The strategic transition from a non-profit to a private for-profit entity * 53:48 — Redefining ownership and reinvestment through a Catholic lens * 1:01:18 — Learning from secular entrepreneurs and filtering for traditional wisdom * 1:03:29 — Rapid Fire: Favorite scriptures, influential saints, and the power of the Rosary * 1:15:44 — Closing reflections on purifying desires and pursuing spiritual freedom This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

    1h 17m
  7. 12/18/2025

    #43 The Moral Imperative (For Catholics) to Take Big Swings | Jeff Carron

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.catholicfounders.com Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Take the 2025 Readers/Listeners Survey! News / Updates: * 🍽️ This past Tuesday, we hosted a Catholic Founders Dinner in NYC. It was epic. You should have been there. We even had a priest there. Really enjoyed that! * ❌ No more episodes or newsletter until January. I’m taking a bit of a break after today. Tune in again in January when we resume (unless I get inspiration last min and put out more content). Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. In Today’s Issue: * Intro to the Guest and Topic * Core Takeaway * Episode References * Select Quotes * Key Moments First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest: * Jeff Carron * Jeff Carron is the owner and operator of the Paul Davis Restoration franchise in Portland, Maine, which he runs with his two brothers. They realized the industry’s software stack was outdated, so they bought into the franchise to intimately understand the business and build their own software solution called Recover, which they are now scaling to other restoration franchises. Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️ Core Lesson: Catholics should be the best at taking risks. Reason being? If we believe our faith — if we truly believe — we will take drastic actions to share that faith with everyone. Because there are moral consequences. One of the key questions we ask today is, why do most Catholics pursue safe careers. Finance, law, etc? Why are so many Catholics risk-averse? When our faith literally tells us to trust in the Lord. The faith has moral consequences (heaven or hell) so why aren’t we willing to do things to share that? The Apostles received the Holy Spirit and went out to preach to all nations. There was no safety there. They knew they would probably be killed. But they did it because they trusted in God. They answered the call to action. How about you? Are you aware of what God is calling you to? And are you willing to step up and take that action? It may not even be martyrdom. It may be as simple as starting a business and trusting that God will provide. God Bless & Happy Building! ~Silas Mähner Launch Your Podcast — Build Trust With Customers Trying to bring in more leads? Launching a podcast might be the best move you haven’t made yet. Saint Kolbe Studios helps Catholic entrepreneurs launch professional, mission-aligned podcasts that build trust and increase leads. Their team walks with you every step of the way, from strategy and recording to branding and editing, so you can launch your podcast in under 90 days. Get 20% off all services for the rest of 2025 because you listen to Catholic Founders. Just mention Catholic Founders when you reach out. 158 million people listen to podcasts every month, and that’s just in the US! Your ideal customer may already be listening to a competitor’s podcast. Visit saintkolbestudios.com to get started. Key Episode References: Individuals * Mike Parrott (Referenced our past episode with him) * Catherine Boyle (Partner at Andreessen Horowitz - Catholic) Companies, Organizations, and Media * Opus Dei (Religious group) * Knights of the Holy Sepulcher (Religious group) * Knights of Malta (Religious group) * The Passion of the Christ (Movie) * The Founder (Movie, mentioned in relation to Michael Keaton) Select Quotes: Share your favorite! * “The risk is actually just someone else thinking you’re stupid. That’s the maximum risk that most of us encounter.” — Jeff Carron * “Stability should not be the priority for a Catholic of any kind of means or significant talent.” — Jeff Carron * “We are all capable of being more courageous than folding because someone thinks less of us.” — Jeff Carron * “Risk is the nature, is’s really the business we’re in. We are risking our entire lives by believing in something that by its very nature is not necessarily provable.” — Jeff Carron * “You have a moral imperative to be present in the society. I know we’re not of the world, but we are in it.” — Jeff Carron Key Moments: (outline) * 00:00 – Cold Open * 01:57 – Introduction to Recover: Silas introduces Jeff Carron and the origin story of Recover, a software company built after Jeff and his brothers bought a restoration franchise to “dogfood” and solve industry inefficiencies. * 06:44 – The “Trojan Horse” Strategy: Jeff explains why they intentionally entered the restoration trade as franchisees to identify and solve problems from the inside. * 11:15 – Working with Family: Insights on the advantages of working with brothers, navigating conflict, and why “unvarnished discussions” are a competitive advantage in business. * 15:45 – Business as a Forge for Relationships: How shared struggle and “being in the foxhole” together creates deeper spiritual and professional bonds than superficial family interactions. * 18:15 – Why Sharp Catholics Choose Safe Careers: An analysis of why high-achieving Catholics often focus on “de-risking” through elite degrees and stable professions rather than taking entrepreneurial swings. * 21:00 – The Moral Imperative of Capital: Discussing the need for visible Catholic leaders in enterprise and why capital is necessary for the distribution of ideas and the faith. * 25:21 – Fear of Failure and Reputation: How the fear of looking “stupid” in the public square stymies innovation and creative risk-taking within the Catholic community. * 31:30 – Salvation as a “Zero-Sum Game”: Jeff argues that if Catholics aren’t present in global discussions and industry, souls are lost to counter-productive secular messages. * 38:50 – Filling the “Internal Emptiness”: A discussion on sobriety, the desire for control, and leaving space for the Holy Spirit rather than trying to “guarantee” outcomes. * 45:45 – Suffering as Currency: Reframing suffering and sacrifice not as something to be avoided, but as the “fuel” for growth and transformation in Christ. * 53:00 – The Individual vs. The Collective (The “Thread and the Blanket”): Using the analogy of a weaver to explain how God sees both the individual soul and the entire fabric of humanity simultaneously. * 1:00:15 – Self-Awareness and “Dorian Gray”: Using Oscar Wilde’s fable to discuss the importance of recognizing our own internal “blemishes” to foster charity toward others. * 1:04:30 – Making Space for God: Practical challenges of transitioning from a high-intensity work environment to a prayerful state or a present family life. * 1:11:00 – The Impact of Almsgiving: Why the “Works of Mercy” and direct, personal charity are more spiritually transformative than simply “cutting a check” to an anonymous organization. Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started.

    56 min
  8. 12/11/2025

    #42 Thinking of Starting a Business? Consider These 9 Principles

    Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * In NYC, on December 16th, we’re hosting our Catholic Founders dinner. It’s happening at a private residence, with limited space. So if you’d like to attend, reach out to me directly. Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. In Today’s Issue: * My story of starting my business * The Principles that you can Apply To Your Own Situation to Get Your Business Started First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️ The 9 Principles: 9 Essential Principles for the Catholic Entrepreneur Starting a business is a major step that requires clarity and commitment. Based on my journey, here are nine principles to guide you as you take the leap: The Core Principles * Make a Commitment: Stop dabbling with side projects. If you want to be an entrepreneur, take concrete, committed steps toward your goal. Full commitment is necessary for success. * Understand Your Burn: Know your monthly family expenses (not luxury) plus business operating costs x the number of months (9-12) you need to give it a go. This gives you a clear financial target and removes ambiguous fear. * Get Concrete with How to Make Money: Define exactly how much you will charge, how many deals you need to close monthly, and the concrete process to generate revenue. Remove all ambiguity around making money. * Don’t Pursue Crazy Ideas: Choose a proven path—something you already know how to do, or a well-trodden business model (e.g., home services). Entrepreneurship is about execution and demand, not harebrained innovations. * ICP 100: Pick a niche and identify your top 100 Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs). A clear niche makes your pitch resonate directly with those who need you most. * Commit with an End Date in Mind: Give the business full-time, full-effort commitment for a minimum of six months (nine months is better). Plan for an additional three to six months of financial “runway” to find a new role if you pull the plug. * Relinquish the Outcome to God: Commit to working hard, but trust the outcome to God’s will. Crucially: Do not cut your spiritual time (daily prayer, Mass, Rosary) for the business. * Get Spouse On Board: Ensure your spouse is supportive and clear on the timeline. Also, find a peer or mentor—don’t unload all work-related struggles onto your spouse. * Build Your Way Out (Alternative Option): If you’re disciplined enough, you can build your side business in the evenings and weekends until it replaces your current monthly income (e.g., 1.2x). This is best for unproven ideas to validate demand before you quit your job. I hope this helps those of you going through this process. God Bless & Happy Building! ~Silas Mähner Select Quotes: * “The whole point is you have to relinquish the outcome to God because the reason we’re pursuing entrepreneurship is not for our own glory.” (On relinquishing the outcome to God) * “Don’t play around with side projects like I did. The likelihood of a side project just popping off is low. It will require full commitment.” (On making a commitment) * “Ideas are nothing without execution. I really need everybody here to understand that and internalize it deeply.” (On not pursuing crazy ideas) * “Your spiritual life is much, much more important than any earthly success.” (On prioritizing your spiritual life) * “Remember, we are created in the image and likeness of God… co-creators. Being an entrepreneur is part of our nature – you can lean into it.” (Word of encouragement) Key Moments: (outline) * 00:00: Introduction to the Solo Episode & Catholic Founders Podcast * 01:14: Overview: Principles for Starting Your Business * 01:42: Host’s Story: Early Desire to Start a Business * 04:00: The Headhunter Job, Side Projects, and Loss of Focus * 06:50: Shifting Priorities: Marriage, Family, and Moving Away from “Innovative” Ideas * 09:30: Mentor’s Advice: Visualizing Worst-Case Scenarios and Committing to a “Boring Biz” * 11:30: The Launch Story: The Day I Filed Paperwork and The Sign from God * 15:50: The First Few Months: Ups, Downs, and Landing Key Clients * 19:00: Rewind: Core Principles for Starting Your Business * 19:25: #1: Make a Commitment (Don’t just play with side projects) * 20:11: Interruption: Paraclete VA Ad * 22:35: #2: Understand Your Burn (Calculate family and business expenses for runway) * 24:45: #3: Get Concrete with How to Make Money (Know what you can charge and how many deals you need) * 26:50: #4: Don’t Pursue Crazy Ideas (Choose a well-trodden path for certainty) * 28:45: #5: ICP 100 (Pick a niche and target your top 100 ideal clients) * 31:35: #6: Commit with an End Date in Mind (Give yourself 6-9 months of full effort) * 34:30: #7: Relinquish the Outcome to God (Work hard but trust in God’s will; do not cut your spiritual time short) * 38:40: #8: Get Spouse on Board (Ensure their support and find a peer/mentor for struggles) * 41:10: #9: Other Option – Build Your Way Out (A less risky approach: build on nights/weekends) * 44:48: Theme Recap, Word of Encouragement, and Call to Action (Catholic Founders Guild) Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

    36 min

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About

Catholic Founders is where Catholic Entrepreneurs and Business Owners go to learn how to integrate their faith into every aspect of how they run their business and life as a Catholic AND as a Founder. In modern times, it's become more unclear than ever how to unite our faith with our work. It's even harder when you run a business. However, just as there is a holy way to live, there is a holy way to build and run our businesses. Fundamentally, our skills were given to us by God so that we may become instruments of His will. These skills are not for our own use. Therefore, to waste or misuse them is a grave thing. This entire project is born out of a deep belief in this truth. www.catholicfounders.com

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