Become a Provider: Recent Episodes
Justin Thomas
Learn practical ways to bless and protect others and become a better provider. Enjoy conversations with real people who are successfully creating healthy habits for themselves and others. Receive more support and resources at www.justinthomascoaching.com.
In a recent heartfelt conversation, Justin sat down with Vivien to uncover an incredible yet heartbreaking story of her past. Her journey is a powerful testament to bravery, resilience, and the transformative power of faith. From enduring immense hardships to becoming a source of hope in her community, Vivien's story is nothing short of inspiring.
Vivien's journey to America was driven by the hope for a better life, but the reality was far from the dream. Vivien’s early years in America were marked by spousal abuse. Trapped in a cycle of violence and silence, she was living in a constant state of fear and despair. The shame of her situation and the fear of stigma kept her silent, even as she grappled with the desire to honor her husband and stay true to her faith.
Amidst the trauma, Vivien's faith became her anchor. She reflects on moments when she felt God's provision, which gave her the mental stability to endure and eventually rise above her circumstances. This realization was a turning point, allowing her to begin the process of healing and transformation. Her faith provided the strength she needed to maintain her sanity and find clarity in the midst of her struggles.
Vivien's journey of healing involved finding compassion for her ex-husband. Her faith played a crucial role in softening her heart and helping her reconcile with her past. This inner change was essential for her to move forward and start a new chapter in her life.
Vivien's courage shone through when she made the brave decision to leave her abusive marriage. She channeled her experiences into helping others, becoming deeply involved in her church and a local food pantry to support those in need. Through her actions, Vivien has become a Godly influence, demonstrating the power of faith and compassion.
Vivien's story is a powerful reminder that everyone has a purpose, regardless of the trauma they might endure. Her story challenges us to use our experiences to make a positive impact on the world.
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What happens when you take a leap of faith into the unknown and just trust God? In this episode of the podcast, Justin welcomes John Worsham of Triangle Fellows to discuss his profound journey of intertwining faith and vocation. John’s story is a testament to the remarkable things that can happen when you believe that God has a bigger and better plan, even when it’s not always clear
John’s journey has been marked by trials, tribulations, and a transformative move abroad, through which he discovered that God indeed has a bigger plan, even when it's not immediately clear.
Throughout the conversation, John shares moments where he has seen God work in his life over the past year, highlighting those "you too" moments that resonate deeply during facilitation and community discussions. He speaks openly about the balance between growing a business and giving glory to God, emphasizing that while success is important, it should never become the ultimate meaning of life.
John's insights remind us that our work and value come from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This foundational truth shapes his perspective on vocation and success. He also reminds listeners of the importance of Sabbath for our hearts, highlighting the need for rest and reflection to reconnect with God and our purpose.
John’s story is a testament to God’s goodness, even through dark valleys. As we listen to John’s story, we are encouraged to reflect on our own lives. Where have we seen God at work this year? How can we trust Him more deeply, even when His plan seems unclear?
John’s journey challenges us to leap in faith, trust God’s goodness, and recognize His faithfulness in every aspect of our lives.
Learn and Connect with John:
John is currently a nurse in Durham, NC the local community, did business development in India with a startup for nursing education, provides faith and work integration training to professionals through Triangle Fellows, married to Allison for 22+ years who is also a nurse and they have two teenage boys who are both taller than John and have a pug from India
https://www.trianglefellows.org/
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Thanks for listening. Please leave a review if you enjoyed this episode.
Did you know that over 40,000 people die in traffic accidents every year in the United States? This staggering statistic underscores the importance of traffic safety initiatives.
Today, on the Become a Provider Podcast Justin shares an enlightening conversation with Tom Everson, an advocate who has dedicated over 25 years to making our roads safer. In the realm of traffic safety, data is often viewed as mere numbers. However, Tom highlighted that behind every statistic is a person—a life that can be protected through proactive measures and community-driven efforts.
This human-centric approach to data helps Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 stay focused on the real-world impact of their work. Their mission is clear: to reduce the number of traffic incidents and save lives through education and community engagement. Tom’s initiative—turning pain into purpose and loss into a drive for positive change.
A recurring theme in Justin and Tom’s conversation was the power of relationships. Tom emphasized that building strong, meaningful relationships is key to enacting change and creating lasting impact. Justin was deeply inspired by Tom’s dedication and the tangible impact of his work. He reminds us that everyone has a story to tell, and by listening and engaging with these stories, we can bring about significant positive change.
During their conversation, the theme of relationships stood out prominently. Building and nurturing relationships is essential in enacting change and building something tremendous. Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is a testament to the power of relationships, community engagement, and proactive prevention in enhancing traffic safety.
Learn and Connect with Tom:
Tom Everson is the founder and executive director of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, an educational nonprofit focused on traffic safety issues. This initiative has been implemented in over 1,700 communities across 49 U.S. states. A unique aspect of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is its support for families who have lost loved ones in traffic incidents through their Live Forward initiative. Tom exemplifies a servant leader.
https://www.keepkidsalivedrive25.org/
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In the world of business and leadership, amidst the endless tasks, meetings, and decisions, one often wonders: where does prayer fit in? Peter, the president and CEO of Hope International, offers insights into how prayer can not only coexist but also thrive in the heart of leadership.
Peter and Justin sat down and had a transformative conversation that reshaped Peter’s approach to prayer. At the heart of Peter's revelation is a reframing of the way he engages in prayer. Rather than viewing prayer as a means to ask for specific outcomes or favors, Peter now sees it as a pathway to deepening his friendship with Jesus.
This shift from transactional to relational prayer has been nothing short of revolutionary for Peter, infusing his life and work with renewed purpose and meaning. Peter's journey was not solely introspective; it was informed by a study of different business leaders and organizations.
Through this exploration, he gained valuable insights into innovative approaches to prayer in the workplace and leadership. They observed that successful leaders were intentional about incorporating prayer into their daily routines, recognizing its transformative power in shaping both personal and professional lives.
Unlock actionable insights to enhance your journey as a servant leader by subscribing to our newsletter, Always Provider.
Sign up today at www.clthomasfellowship.org/newsletter.
Learn more about Hope International: https://www.hopeinternational.org/
Thanks for listening. Please leave a review if you enjoyed this episode.
It’s often said that certain people cross our paths for a reason. They bring with them stories, perspectives, and experiences that enrich our own journey, offering us new insights and opportunities for growth. Today, we explore a special meeting that reaffirmed Justin's belief in this idea—an encounter that highlights the power of connections and the impact of being open to others.
Recently, Justin had the pleasure of connecting with Stefani, a remarkable individual whose presence in Justin’s life serves as a testament to the profound significance of community and hospitality. Raised in an atheist household, Stefanie's path took an unexpected turn when she found herself drawn to seminary, despite her initial skepticism towards matters of faith. Her honesty about her journey – the doubts, the questions, and the eventual surrender to something greater.
During their conversation, Stefani emphasized the importance of openness—to new experiences, different viewpoints, and, most importantly, to other people. She highlighted the transformative power of hospitality, of meeting others where they are, and extending genuine friendship. Stefani’s diverse background in theology, business, and branding underscores her holistic approach to life—a life guided by core values and anchored in faith.
As Justin reflects on his encounter with Stefani, he is reminded that meaningful connections often arise from unexpected encounters. He encourages you to embrace the meaningful encounters in your own life—to be open to new connections, nurture authentic relationships, and trust in the journey
Thanks for listening. Please leave a review if you enjoyed this episode.
Connect with Stefani: https://stefaniruper.com/
Justin welcomed a special guest who happened to be his teacher growing up - say hello to Janelle Anderson. As the conversation unfolded, Janelle shared her deeply personal story, one that is also told in her book, Take Center Stage. With raw vulnerability, she invited listeners into her past, shedding light on the trauma she had endured and the shame that had compelled her to keep it hidden for so many years.
As Janelle peeled back the layers of her past, she uncovered a web of trauma that had long been buried beneath the surface. Over the course of thirty plus years, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery and understanding, unraveling her trauma, experiences and how she found healing in the process.
Today, she channels her wisdom and experiences into service, offering guidance and support to aspiring coaches and entrepreneurs as a mentor and success coach. Her journey is a reminder that by sharing our stories, we not only heal ourselves but also inspire others to do the same.
Thanks for listening. Please leave a review if you enjoyed this episode.
Purchase Janelle’s Book: Take Center Stage https://amzn.to/4cNwlnd
Contact Janelle Emerginglifecoaching.com
In this special episode of the 'Become a Provider' podcast, Justin Thomas shares insights from the CL Thomas Fellowship, a men's group initiated in honor of his late father. He discusses his personal journey of quitting his job to explore the concept of being a provider, which eventually led him to a fulfilling career in health and wellness, alongside providing health and life coaching. The focus shifts to the fellowship's goal of fostering deep connections through storytelling, highlighting an annual event where members share their life stories in a supportive setting. Justin offers a guide on structuring such storytelling sessions, emphasizing authenticity and emotional depth. He reflects on the transformative power of these gatherings. Justin offers tips on setting appropriate expectations for participants and their families, underscoring the importance of gratitude, prayer, and thoughtful engagement with each others' stories.
00:00 Welcome & Introduction to the CL Thomas Fellowship
00:28 The Personal Journey of Quitting a Job to Pursue Passion
01:12 Transitioning to a New Career in Health and Wellness
01:55 The Essence and Impact of the CL Thomas Fellowship
03:40 Sharing the Story Weekend Experience
04:18 Guidance for Hosting Your Own Story Weekend
07:22 Reflecting on Personal Stories and the Power of Being Known
16:00 Maximizing the Story Weekend: Expectations and Reflections
21:01 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement to Be Known
Learn more at www.clthomasfellowship.org
CJ Franzitta is an accomplished advertising professional and mass communications strategy consultant with over 20 years of experience. CJ Franzitta is the Founder of Chrome Horse Strategy, with clients including Advance Auto Parts, CertaPro Painters, Meta, Fruit of the Loom, and many others. I witnessed his listening skills and passion to know others, though our YGuides Daddy/Daughter group that our families are currently in through the YMCA.
He earned his B.A. in History from the University of Virginia and his M.S. in Mass Communications from the VCU Brandcenter. CJ started his career at Ogilvy New York where he worked with top brands such as Hershey Foods, SAB Miller, and Kraft Foods.
In this conversation he shares why he is not that interested in himself, the reason he felt drawn to NYC, why he left, and the lession he has learned in starting his own consultancy. Enjoy this conversation and learn more about The CL Thomas Fellowship podcast at www.clthomasfellowship.org/podcast.
Adam Kasix is a faith-driven transformation expert, an international speaker, a multi-million dollar sales producer & host of the Revolutionary Freedom podcast. He first earned credibility as the subject of a documentary detailing his journey of transforming his rock-bottom experience and regaining his family which he also shares during this conversation. During this interview he shares this free resource to develop a strong "Home Team" with your family.: https://unbreakable.revolutionaryfreedom.com/relationship-video-series You can follow Adam and learn more on his website at https://revolutionaryfreedom.com/
Shannon Acheson is an author, entrepreneur, content creator, interior decorating expert, and the creative force behind HomeMadeLovely.com - a celebrated blog helping moms (and dads like me:) declutter, organize, and add style to their homes since 2010. She was a fun guest to have on the podcast, and I appreciate how willing she was to share her entrepreneurial and faith journey with authenticity. Enjoy another inspiring provider example!
Cristy Gupton is a forward-thinking healthcare strategist and founder of Custom Benefits Solutions. She works directly with employer health plan sponsors to help them design “employer-built” healthcare not “insurer-built” healthcare. She decided to take a leap of faith in her career and built a new type of employee benefits consulting firm based on transparency. In 2018 & 2020 EBA named her on the "Top Women in Benefits Advising" list.
You can connect with Cristy on her website at https://www.custombenefits.work/ and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristygupton/.
Enjoy this conversation on faith and work with my friend and mentor Cristy!
My guest today is Kristin Fields Chadwick a podcast coach, host, and producer. Kristin manages and coaches powerhouse women all over the world by coming alongside and helping them launch, edit, and grow their podcasts. She is passionate about women knowing their voice matters and wants to empower others to create an impact in their businesses and personal lives. See Kristin's website at https://kristinfieldschadwick.com.
Kristin is the host and creator of Podcast Coaching for Kingdom Entrepreneurs.
- Listen on Apple Podcast here.
- Spotify
You can connect with Kristin on social using the links below, enjoy this conversation!
https://www.facebook.com/kfchadwick/
https://www.instagram.com/kristinfieldschadwick/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb_J0K0X83tSSYLZF7C56lg
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-chadwick-44258416b/
https://feeds.libsyn.com/375044/rss Wholistic Podcasting
https://feeds.libsyn.com/266831/rss Wholistic Hearts
Nathan Robinson is an engineer project manager turned missionary and then pastor and entrepreneur. It's a great conversation not only through learning Nathan's professional journey but also what he has been studying and learning about what does it mean to be a blessing? Im grateful for his example and lessons shared during this wide ranging conversation. Nathan is the CEO of Landmark Management Partners based in Hillsborough, NC where he and wife reside with their two sons. Enjoy this conversation and leave us a review, follow the steps at https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/podcast
Arlene Peters is a fitness and nutrition coach. She was born in Zimbabwe and moved to the U.S. to pursue a collegiate career in tennis. Some of her professional accomplishments include being a fitness coaching business owner, a Certified Personal Trainer, director of a non-profit paralysis recovery center, a sports coach, a university lecturer, a physical therapy aide, and more. But it's her personal journey that shows us the importance of providing for ourselves to serve others. You can connect with Arlene on her website at https://arlenepeters.com/ and enjoy her example of being your best self daily.
We are always thinking of how to provide in new and fresh ways. This podcast episode is the latest experiment. Justin recaps the previous five episodes, #108-112, with his main takeaways and favorite clips included. We hope this episode provides for you, and if it does, please leave a review. Here are some simple steps to submit a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify, with a link to guide you. Thanks! https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/review
Rob Ferry is a successful entrepreneur, engineer, and consultant who reminds us all to give God the Glory no matter what season our business or life may be in currently. He and his wife Kathy recently moved to Northern Virginia to be closer to their 4 children and 5 grandchildren after living the majority of their working careers in Hillsborough, NC. I feel so fortunate to have crossed paths with Rob and am excited to introduce him and share his provider story in this episode!
Hunter Davis is an entrepreneur and coach that helps people take their businesses and lives to the next level using story. He became one of the early StoryBrand Certified Guide + Copywriter professionals and used those skills to turn around his marketing agency and helped many other businesses do the same over the past 10+ years as a marketing expert and gifted storyteller. He lives in Hillsborough, NC, with his wife and three kids and recently launched a new project called the Dad Field Guide (https://dadfieldguide.com/) to help unlock the potential of your kids, marriage, and life. It's my pleasure to introduce you to my friend, Hunter! You can also connect with him on his website at https://www.hunterdaviscreative.com/. And if you haven't already, be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify to help us spread the word to provide like Jesus: https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/review
Sherry McIntyre is the Assistant Director of the Christian Life Home. The ministry was started by individuals in the Raleigh-Durham community who wanted to provide a brighter future for pregnant women and their babies. They provide a Christ-centered, loving, family atmosphere for young women, ages 10 - 23, in an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. I met Sherry almost a year ago and I'm so excited to share her story and the work she is part of at the Christian Life Home. Please help us spread this story and our podcat by leaving a review on Apple Podcast and Spotify. We have quick guide on how to submit review at https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/review. Enjoy this episode and you can connect with Sherry on Linkedin.
Bryan Finley has been influencing people to make a positive difference in their local communities as a pastor and as a community leader for nearly thirty years. He is the pastor at Life Point Church in Hillsborough, NC. He's married to his High School sweetheart, Nicole, and they have three children. Bryan has an academic background in Biblical interpretation and a passion for helping people understand the author's original message and its context. I attend his church, and having a pastor willing to share his personal times of need is a gift. I'm confident you will resonate with his journey in this episode. Enjoy this conversation with my friend and pastor, Bryan! Also, leave a review on this podcast to win a CL Thomas Fellowship t-shirt or copy of the Become a Provider book, learn more at www.clthomasfellowship.org/review, and thank you for listening!
I love doing these podcast interviews, especially when I'm able to motivate my wife to join me on an episode like this one! Amy Thomas is back to help me reflect on how we are trying to live out this mission of "Provide Like Jesus" and to share some of the fun work of our non-profit, The CL Thomas Fellowship, which carries on this mission through small groups and online resources. Help us spread the message by leaving a review, we make it simple with our step-by-step guide at https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/review, and as a bonus, we are going to pick a review a week to share on the show and send the reviewer a special CL Thomas Fellowship shirt or copy of the Become a Provider book. We hope you enjoy this episode!
Derrick DePriest leans into challenges. From teaching himself how to kick a football in his childhood, drastically changing his pitching delivery as a college student-athlete, or switching careers, Derrick is willing to dare the odds. In 1999, Derrick led all college pitchers with an impressive 1.71 ERA and was drafted by the Montreal Expos the following year. Today, Derrick lives with his wife and two daughters in Cary, NC. I get to work with him as we recently launched Bull Benefits, an employee benefits consultancy firm where he serves as our Sr. Underwriter and Account Manager. His stories come fast and easy, and it's a fun conversation throughout! As you will hear, he has a consistent mentality for accepting whatever challenges life has to offer. Enjoy this episode with my friend and colleague, Derrick DePriest.
I hope you enjoy this special testimonial episode! Usually I interview a guest and we get to learn new and unquie ways to provide. Today, I have taken stories from our first CL Thomas Fellowship group members and created this podcast. You can watch additional video testimonials on our website at https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/testimonials.
Also, we are excited to equip you, that's right you to start your own CL Thomas Fellowship group! I you want to grow in providing more like Jesus we invite you to consider leading a small group. You can download the start-up guide for free on our website https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/ by creating a free account.
Coach Cheryl is a National Board and Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach. She has worked as a coach in Integrative Medicine and Functional Immunology since 2016. She enjoys helping her clients find ways to feel their best, experience fewer symptoms, and live full, enjoyable lives, a life where they are able to fully participate in their favorite activities and have meaningful relationships. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has four children, 2 cats, 2 dogs, and a bearded dragon!
Coach Cheryl also volunteers her time with an organization that provides holistic healing services to childhood victims of human trafficking. You can connect with Cheryl on her website at https://www.gutcoachcheryl.com/ and also see her coaching profile at https://dooable.com/team/cheryl-borchardt/ . Enjoy!
Dr. Brett Blair is the founder and president of Best Life Global. Headquartered in Durham, NC, Best Life Global is a high-performance coaching and organizational consulting company. Brett is also the founding partner of Sanford Rose Associates, an executive search firm based in Brighton, MI. You can connect with Brett at https://www.brettblairphd.com/
Brett was previously employed with 3M Corporation and Alcoa in a variety of executive leadership positions, including General Manager of Alcoa’s $200M automotive electronics division. Brett holds a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, with an emphasis on applied positive psychology. Brett attended the University of Missouri where he earned his BS-Industrial Engineering degree. He also holds an MBA-Finance from Tennessee State University and studied at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan.
Brett is also a member of the RTP Capital Angel Investment Group and is currently a co-founder of two early-stage startups. He has published two books, From Autopilot to Authentic and Living at the Summit, and his latest book, Born-Love-Die comes out September 10, 2023 on Amazon. Enjoy this conversation with my friend, Dr. Brett Blair!
Thaís Naveda Luy is a bilingual, Venezuelan Canadian Journalist specializing in Marketing and Public Relations, and a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, living in North Carolina with her husband and two daughters. She is passionate about holistic health and has graduated from the IIN Gut Health, Hormonal Health, and Emotional Eating Psychology certification programs, as well as an ACE Fitness Behavioral Change Specialist Course, and is also a HeartMath Certified Practitioner. She is the Director of Marketing & Multicultural Affairs of dooable health where we have the chance to work together!
Coach Thaís is the author of “A Pink Ribbon in our Hearts” and the creator of “The Natural Living Formula” a holistic health system to support health and wellness in families with picky eaters, moms reconnecting with themselves to model healthy habits for their families, and patients recuperating from some side effects of cancer treatment. Enjoy this moving conversation as she shares how all of her many experiences have been put to meaningful use for herself and others.
While you might think this episode is about completing an ultramarathon event, it's really about family and friends showing up in our lives to provide for us when we need them most. I'm joined again by Patrick Harell who helps to recap the adventure that happened on March 18, 2023 at the Mountain to Sea Trail race event. Enjoy all the highs and lows of the story and I hope it encourages you to tackle your next big goal with friends!
Patrick is a brand, marketing, and creative professional. From his early days working at small advertising agencies, to being responsible for a team of more than 65 people at a major health insurance company, Patrick developed into a high-performing leader by defining and sticking to his core values.
Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Patrick is a husband, father, neighbor, friend, and jokester who loves sailing, being outdoors, and giving old things new life. He's not afraid to take on projects in which he has almost no experience just so he can learn new things in the process. Check out his creative project, Lil Brew Bird the "cutest vintage tap trailer" at https://www.lilbrewbird.com/ or follow on Instagram @lilbrewbird and connect with Patrick on Linkedin to learn more about his marketing, brand, and creative consulting agency called The Krewe.
It's my privilege to celebrate the 100th episode with my hero as my guest, my Mom. Kelli Thomas shares from the heart in this conversation ranging from practical advice on creating lasting friendships to finding the right support team to tackle health issues. She reflects on her personal journey of growing up in California and how her life took an unexpected twist when she met a Virginian on the run. If you are going through a loss or suffering, Mom encourages us all how to find joy again. Enjoy this very special episode and get more resources for your personal provider journey at www.justinthomascoaching.com
Mr. William "Bill" Fuller is our special guest on the Become a Provider podcast. He is the grandfather to my wife and when he came for a visit we seized the opportunity to learn from his 94+ years. Mr. Fuller shares about growing on the family farm in Creedmore, NC before eventually going to the Army for a couple of years and then having a long career with American Tobacco. He raised his family in Abingdon, Virginia and shares how he tried to set a good example and after listening to this conversation I'm sure you will agree he accomplished that and more. Enjoy this conversation with Mr. Bill Fuller a.k.a Grandad.
Raymond (Ray) L. Singleton, 72, of Pulaski, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. He was my father's best friend and he taught me how to be a provider in many practical ways that deserved an episode to capture for future generations. His obituary is below:
He was a member of Unity Christian Church in Radford. Ray was an avid sportsman who loved hunting, fishing, and baseball. He was preceded in death by his father, Earl G. Singleton, Sr.; his mother, Evangeline H. Singleton; and a brother, Michael A. Singleton.
He is survived by his son, Jedidiah (Jed) L. Singleton and wife Callie and a much loved granddaughter, Rory; two brothers Don (Kay), and Earl, Jr.; and many other relatives and friends.
To brotherhood and friends who stick with you through the ups and downs of life. Enjoy this special provider legacy spotlight on our dear family friend, Raymond.
My guests today are the wonderful husband/wife couple, Joe and Tamara Rice. I met Joe first when we worked together and I was immediately impressed with his proficient technical skills and friendly demeanor to non-techies like me. Joe started building websites in New York City during the dot-com heydays where he eventually met his wife Tamara. He would later get his masters in computer science, but he would also venture into the entrepreneurial world as a co-founder of ABC Insights, which was eventually acquired in 2020.
Tamara also has a technical background, working as a web producer in-house at both The Weather Channel and National Geographic before eventually leading a team of developers for high-profile clients like Major League Baseball and Pepsi. She would eventually start her own website development firm, Slice Interactive, as well as become an adjunct instructor at UNC teaching in the school of Journalism and Media.
In this conversation, they share their individual entrepreneurial journey and how they weaved together their professional and personal lives from traveling the world to eventually settling down in North Carolina to raise their family. Enjoy this 2-for-1 special with my friends, Joe and Tamara Rice.
Aoife Keegan is the Campus & Outreach Director at the Every Nation Dublin church. She also is the Director of Every Nation Campus Europe helping to guide their work across Europe. My wife and I met Aoife while we were living abroad and quickly became friends. In this episode, Aoife reflects on the risk she has taken and continues to take to live in a counter-cultural way while taking steps that align with her faith. Learn more about her work at Every Nation Dublin and connect with her on Facebook. Enjoy this conversation on faith, career management, and overcoming spiders in the dark!
Donna Mitchell is the Founder of Horizon Productions, a full-service multimedia production facility located in Durham, NC. They create video, audio and multimedia solutions for clients like Lenovo, IBM, John Deere, GSK, The Alzheimer's Association, and Intel. Donna started the company over 40 years ago and reflects on her journey in this inspiring conversation. She shares about her legendary father, how she broke into the video production industry and how she is transitioning from being the creative to coaching and leading the creatives on her team. You can connect with Donna on LinkedIn and I hope you enjoy this conversation!
Alan Ying dropped out of the cardiothoracic surgery residency program at Duke University to start a software company when he was twenty-eight years old. I'm grateful he took this risk because the company he co-founded hired me right out of college! Since selling that business, he’s enjoyed leading, investing in, and serving on the boards of start-ups to public companies. Alan grew up in Ohio and now lives in Texas. He has been married for 25 years and has three kids. His first book is The Risk Paradox, which finds that taking risks is the least risky thing you can do to live a fulfilling life.
Henry Kaestner cofounded the Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Faith Driven Investor ministries, and has been a catalyst behind both movements. He and his team seek to serve faith-driven investors, funds, partners, advisors, and entrepreneurs through content and community. Henry is also a co-founder and partner at Sovereign’s Capital, a private equity and venture capital management company that invests in faith-driven entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia and the United States from its offices in Silicon Valley; Washington, DC; and Jakarta, Indonesia. Prior to cofounding Sovereign’s Capital, Henry was cofounder, CEO, and then chairman of Bandwidth (NASDAQ: BAND) and its sister company, Republic Wireless (which spun out of Bandwidth in 2016). Together, those companies have grown from $0 to more than $400 million in revenue. The founding values of Bandwidth are faith, family, work, and fitness (in that order). Prior to cofounding Bandwidth with David Morken, Henry founded Chapel Hill Brokers (a predecessor to ICAP Energy), an institutional energy derivatives broker that became the top-ranked electricity broker in the country. Henry has been involved in a number of other ministries and philanthropic activities. He cofounded DurhamCares, was a founding board member of Praxis, and sits on a variety of business and ministry boards, including Valley Christian Schools, where his three boys attend. Henry is a member of the broader church in the Bay Area, attends Venture Christian Church in Los Gatos, California, and serves as an elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. Henry lives in Los Gatos with his wife, Kimberley, and their three sons. You can follow his work at https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/ and follow his adventures on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/hkaestner/ and buy his books online.
Rym Selmi is the founder and CEO of Miiro, a vegan and keto-friendly treat company that makes chocolates and baking products. She is an accomplished entrepreneur who went from a burnt-out professional in fiance to a successful founder and CEO in the food industry first in the UK and now in the USA. In this episode she shares more of her personal journey, the hard-working values she learned from her parents, and how she found her own healthy path.
For a limited time, you can receive 10% off at miiro.co by using the coupon code "BECOMEAPROVIDER10" if you want to sample some of their treats. My personal favorite is the peanut butter cups. Follow them on social @miiro_plantbased and enjoy this conversation!
Jeff Browning (aka Bronco Billy) is a veteran ultra runner and endurance coach. He has competed in some of the world’s hardest and most competitive ultra mountain races over the past two decades, including Western States 100, Ultra Fiord in Patagonia Chile, Europe’s Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, and Ultra Trail Mount Fuji in Japan. He’s also a 5-time finisher and 2018 champion of the wild and tough Hardrock 100 in SW Colorado.
He has finished over 150 ultra marathons in his career (closer to 200 based on this podcast!), racking up over 30 career ultra wins — most of those at the 100-mile distance, making him 2nd in the world for the most 100 mile wins in history behind the legendary Karl Meltzer. Follow him online @gobroncobilly and his website https://www.gobroncobilly.com/
A fun, short episode where I share six (6) books that I read in the first half of 2022 that had a positive influence on my health, business, and personal development. I hope they also assist your journey as well! Here are the books with links to purchase as well if you want to dive deeper into one (or all) of the subjects:
- Primal Blueprint
- Life Force
- The Secret Lives of Customers
- The Pumpkin Plan
- How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big
- The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life
In honor of Father's Day here is the reposting of the podcast with my brother on the story of our father, "Pop."
We originally recorded this conversation on Father's Day 2020 as a way of honoring him and to preserve his story and the life lessons not only for our family but hopefully for a broader audience to be inspired that personal transformation is possible. We can all become providers. This episode has a new intro and update on the CL Thomas Fellowship.
John is a software developer and entrepreneur. He and his wife, Sophie Thomas, live in Greenville, SC, and are busy raising three young boys. You can follow him on Twitter. Both our wives gave us the gift of conversation to produce this episode. We hope it blesses and protects you.
We have all heard the news, but get ready to experience what the Russian invasion of Ukraine really felt like. Back on the podcast are the founders of the design studio firm Yenin Art (www.https://www.yenin.art/) Nick Zrazh and Max Yenin. You can enjoy my first conversation with them on episode #52. As a quick background, I first connected with them when I needed some logo design work and was thrilled with their custom illustration and graphic design work.
While Max focuses on the designs, his partner Nick handles all the communication needs of their growing art studio. In this conversation we discuss how they survived the bombings and eventually moved from Ukraine to Canada to start a new chapter. It was a pleasure having them back on the podcast and you can view Max's work at yenin.art and contact Nick at nick-manager@yenin.art. Enjoy!
Neha is a successful 4x entrepreneur and business owner all while raising 2 toddlers! Amongst her many roles and achievements, she is a certified sleep consultant and a coach to other mom entrepreneurs. She works with children from birth to age 5, drawing on her years of experience and training which includes a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Psychology, and a Master’s in Medical Sciences.
She was frustrated at the lack of solutions (and sleep!) available to her when her firstborn started waking up every hour on the dot at four months. Neha, an Indian woman, took the help of sleep consultants but was left unsatisfied as they were oblivious to different cultural norms that ethnically diverse households take into account when parenting.
She is the only certified minority sleep consultant that promotes the holistic approach of including parents, and grandparents, in the sleep training – understanding that their cultural norms play a major role in their decisions and often that also involve all parties (in-laws and grandparents included).
The Sleepy Cub was born and she shares part of her journey in this conversation. You can learn more at https://thesleepycub.us/ and on her personal website https://www.nehanaik.com/. Enjoy this conversation, and good luck keeping up with Neha!
What happens when the CL Thomas Fellowship group meets a GoRuck endurance event? Lot's of great memories and lessons to reflect on! In this episode Justin shares what he learned about relationship building and overcoming unexpected surprises in this mini-episode. View free resources on creating a more intentional and positive life at www.justinthomascoaching.com and enjoy this episode!
Anne Marie had a childhood dream of working with horses which seemed like a stretch in New York, but ended up manifesting itself in Hillsborough, North Carolina! She tells the story of starting Strouds Creek Farm and how it has blossomed into the business it is today. Learn more about her work online at https://www.stroudscreekfarm.com/ or on Instagram @stroudscreekfarm. Enjoy this conversation on intuitive living and learning can open up a new way of life for us all.
From flying planes around the world to crunching numbers as a CFO, Bryan has done a little bit of everything in his career. He reflects on his strategy of taking the long view, the value of being prepared, and how he trained for his last couple of marathons in a way that did not take away any time from his family. Bryan is a friend and I know you will appreciate his personal and professional stories as examples of going after big dreams by simply starting and putting in the hard work to create more "luck" in life. You can connect with Bryan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanbconner.
Randy Free is an executive life coach for men and mentor to adolescent males. A passionate men’s advocate for over three decades, he has mentored hundreds of men and boys and guided them through life’s challenges. Through his leadership men have been empowered to overcome addictions, successfully work through marital crises, set and achieve stretch goals in their careers, and become better husbands and fathers.
Starting from the humble beginnings of a rice farming community in Texas, Randy built his career as an international tax expert through hard work and mentorship. Having spoken to thousands, he’s widely sought after for his insights. His experience includes building and scaling teams in locations around the world including Australia and Singapore. After climbing the ranks and attaining partner status in a global accounting firm, Randy realized he was being called to a higher level of service to serve men by guiding them in building the masculine character of a leader, a lover, and a legacy. You can view his work at www.CoachToResilience.com.
Billy Hinzo is obsessed with connecting real people to real supplements. He is the founder of Kingdom Nutrition (http://www.kingdomnutrition.com) and his entrepreneurial journey was thrust upon him just when he and his wife were starting their family. Learn what inspired him to start Kingdom Nutrition, move across the country and start a fully integrated dairy farm! Billy and I met earlier this year while attending the Bob Goff Dream Big Conference and his positive energy shines throughout this conversation. You can connect with Billy on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/bhinzo and view his latest health and nutrition products at https://kingdomnutrition.com/
Peter Defty is one of the pioneers in fat-adapted performance. After a disappointing marathon effort over 20 years ago, he started developing what he would later call "O.F.M.," which stands for Optimizing Fat Metabolism to help him successfully complete multiple marathons and even a legendary 100-mile race! Today he is in 60s and is enjoying living an active lifestyle of running and coaching others to health with his team at www.ofm.io which is how we originally connected as I prepared for my first 50-miler race! In this conversation, we learn more about Peter's story, how his dedication to pursuing real-world results eventually provided for me and so many others. Enjoy this conversation with Peter Defty!
Ready to make a healthy behavioral change in your life? I highlight five books that have given me practical tools and techniques to make lasting change. Links to all the books are below and also my book Become a Provider is going on sale on March 15th to help you overcome tragedy, become stronger, and serve others without burning out!
Books Highlighted in This Episode:
- Change or Die
- Breath
- The One Thing
- Atomic Habits
- The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family
Enjoy and let me know what books have served you well in making behavioral changes!
Jenni Wilson is a Master Herbalist, popular blogger, bestselling author, President of a non-profit, and wellness coach. She discovered the power of whole foods and essential oils for her health transformation. And this is only the beginning of her incredible story! You can see her full bio below. It was a privilege to have her as a guest. This episode has a little bit of everything, touching on the themes of health, career, family, achievements and losses.
You can review all her resources online at this link https://linktr.ee/NaturalOilMom.
Enjoy meeting my new friend, Jenni Wilson! You can follow her on Instagram @naturaloilmom.
Jenni Wilson Bio:
Jenni Wilson, Natural Oil Mom, is a master herbalist, wife to an ER doctor and mother of 7 children. She teaches people how to use natural tools, especially essential oils, to enjoy more confidence in their home health care and create successful home businesses. Jenni is the author of a collaborative book called “Trust Your Intuition: 25 Natural Medicine Confessions From Influential Women who Choose Natural Solutions For Their Families,” which was a #1 Amazon bestseller.
Jenni is a wellness coach with her own app featuring free monthly, DIY essential oil workshops. Jenni is a chapter leader for Days For Girls International, President of Living Hope Educational Enterprises, she’s a speaker, a Wellness Advocate diamond leader and success coach for doTERRA International.
My guest today is Bree Gordon who specializes in working with seniors with Neurodegenerative Disorders, oncology patients and trauma survivors of all ages. She is an accomplished public speaker on topics of music therapy, intergenerational connection, trauma-informed care and business coaching. Bree is also the owner and Director for Creative Arts Therapies of the Palm Beaches and hosts the podcasts The Mindful Mentor.
In addition to her clinical work as a music therapist, Bree has been an active volunteer and advocate for senior rights for the past 15 years, including advocating at the Florida state capitol. She has spoken at conferences for the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Foundation of America, Florida Adult Day Services Association and several national and regional American Music Therapy Association events. You can follow her work on her website at https://www.mindfulbree.com/, Instagram @mindfulmentorbree and on Facebook @TheMindfulMentor.
Let's focus on helping your own provider journey! In this episode, Justin shares an excerpt on how to create your own provider vision from his new revised book, Book a Provider. Pre-order before its release on March 15, 2022 to get bonus content, a signed bonus book, and enter some fun raffle prizes totaling in value over $2,022! Learn more about the book at https://www.justinthomascoaching.com/book. I hope this special episdoe blesses your journey. I also have a new free video course that just launched along this theme of creating a vision to experience a break-through in your health and career which you can access and start today at https://courses.justinthomascoaching.com/breakthrough-course. Enjoy!
Jennifer Gallagher shares highlights, wisdom, and key takeaways from her inspiring personal transformational journey. She went from looking for a provider figure in her life to becoming one herself. After thinking "school was not for her" she challenged this limiting belief and is now an accomplished paramedic literally saving lives and seeking additional certifications in her field at the time of this recording. It's my pleasure to introduce you to Jennifer and you can follow her on Facebook to connect further.
John Mollura chose to leave a wildly successful 15-year career as a test engineer for NASA and military projects to become a full-time photographer. He is a multi-award-winning portrait photographer specializing in the celebration of personal transformation. In this conversation he reflects on his own journey involving how disappointment from not getting his "ideal internship" and surviving the lost of a best friend helped shape his life and his personal growth to find faith and a new career path. You can follow John on Instagram @mollura_photography or on his website, https://molluraphoto.com/. Enjoy this inspiring chat on how positive change is possible!
Jenny Swisher is a CEO, the SYNC Digital Course Creator, a 2X Elite Star Diamond Team Beachbody Coach, a certified personal trainer and a Mom of two girls. She shares how her chronic pain began an unexpected journey into becoming an expert into female hormones and learning how to achieve maximum energy. Her story inspires us all to become an active participant in life and not to accept the status quo when it comes to how poorly we feel. I'm delighted to share a part of her brave story and excited for you to meet my new friend, Jenny Swisher. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @JennySwisher and access all her resources on her website https://jennyswisher.com/.
What better way to start the year than to set a vision. Typically my wife Amy and I do this simply in our living room or at a local cafe but this year we went big! We flew across the country, met Bob Goff, became a certified Dream Big Coach and many more ambitions happened along the way. If you are ready to learn a helpful framework for your own dreams, dive into this episode, laugh at some of our failures, and enjoy this special episode where my wife expertly steps into the role of podcast host. Access free courses and more at www.justinthomascoaching.com and say hi on Instagram @JustinThomasCoaching.
Rachel Meadows is a family nurse practitioner and founder of Restoration DPC in Roanoke, Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Radford University and a Master’s degree in nursing from Old Dominion University. She has over 16 years of experience and has worked in a variety of healthcare settings including hospital pediatrics, urgent care, emergency care, and family medicine. With a lot of prayers, a timely word from a leadership coach, and a courageous spirit, Rachel recently decided to start her own practice. She encourages us all to value our health and to use our passions for our community throughout this conversation.
When Rachel is not caring for her patients she is with her husband, Scott, on the pool deck watching her two girls swim with their year-round swim team. She also loves volunteering within her church community at New Hope-Roanoke, hiking, gardening, and crafting. Be sure to follow her on Instagram @restorationdpc and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/restorationdirectprimarycare.
In this episode, I share my top 5 health tips to help you prepare for a healthy 2022. Before I share a summary of the resources I must provide a disclaimer:
All of the information in this podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. I do not practice medicine and do not make any guarantees about the following recommendations. This information is not intended to treat or cure any medical conditions. Please consult a qualified health professional.
1. Have a Blood Test for Your Vitamin D Levels: This is a simple blood work test and important to know because the importance of maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D can’t be overstated. It is estimated 80% of Americans are deficient. But you can't know unless you get the blood test done at your PCP or at a clinic like https://www.anylabtestnow.com/. Ideally, aim for a target Vitamin D level of 50ng/mL. When I was first tested I was in the 20s now I'm in the mid 40s.
2. Take a Vitamin D Supplement: This a vitamin traditionally associated with strong bones and is increasingly believed to play a role in a healthy immune system. The best whole food source for Vitamin D is salmon, with some also found in sardines, tuna and eggs. Research suggests that Vitamin D is best supplemented along with Vitamin K2 such as in this combination tablet from Vitacost. Vitamin D supplementation is best performed with blood level monitoring by your physician since uptake can vary by individual.
3. Take an Inflammatory Food Sensitivity Test: Just like with Vitamin D there is no way to know what foods cause inflammation in your body without blood work. This should be part of all health and wellness check-ins but it's worth it. I had this 100 food panel test done https://previmedica.com/products/100-foods-alcat-test-panel and attached my results so you can get a sense of what this $350 test gets you. A little pricey but it also comes with a 30-min call with a nutritionist to review your results
4. Partner with a Health Coach! I believe in the power of coaching, and I've got access to a network of coaches who I am happy to recommend. They are not nutritionists but help you clarify your health vision and create strategies that work for you. Coaching works!
5. Consider a DPC for your Primary Care Needs: I am 100% behind this model of primary care. It stands for Direct Plan Clinic. It is a monthly membership that is not covered by insurance...so why am I recommending it? Well imagine your primary care doctor spending between 30-60 min with you on each visit, you can text them, and it includes all visits without copays and they can do basic labs (like Vitamin D) and more. The typical primary care doctor who is part of an insurance fee for service sees 3,000 patients a year and the average DPCs only have a roster of a few hundred. When you remove the insurance company the provider can spend more time with patients and they can refer you to specialists that do take insurance if you need them. My family signed up for a DPC practice here in Durham called AccessiBull and I interviewed another DPC practice on my podcast, The Fischer Clinic if you want to take a listen here.
*Bonus Tip: Get a personalized supplement recommendation at https://www.insidetracker.com/
Cindy Hodo describes herself as a "lifestyle entrepreneur, business owner, connecter, wife, and parent. I call her friend after meeting her at the Duke Integrative Medicine Health Coaching training program. She helps her clients realize their wellness potential, but it has not been an easy road for her to be an example of health and wholeness. She shares how we can all choose wellness even through life's unexpected challenges. You can learn more about her work on her website https://questwellnesscoaching.com/.
During our conversation, she mentions the following resources in case you want to dive deeper into her work and resources.
Wellness Resources
- Simple Ideas to Get Through the Holidays After Loss
https://questwellnesscoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Simple-Ideas-to-Get-Through-the-Holidays-During-Loss-by-Cindy-Marshall-Hodo2.pdf * What’s Next? Agents of Change
https://questwellnesscoaching.com/shows/ * Water Demonstration
https://questgroup.kangendemo.com/
Books
- Switch On Your Brain, Dr. Caroline Leaf
https://drleaf.com/products/switch-on-your-brain * Anti-Cancer Living, Lorenzo Cohen, PHd and Alison Jefferies, MEd
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/539281/anticancer-living-by-lorenzo-cohen-phd-and-alison-jefferies-med/
While Dr. Fischer was receiving high marks working as a doctor for a traditional practice, he felt he was becoming a worse doctor each day. Then his wife discovered a new, yet traditional way, of practicing medicine. They took a leap of faith, started the Fischer Clinic, and are now expanding in the Raleigh, NC area. In this interview, you will hear from Liz Fischer, Dr. Fischer, and Dr. Eberly as their stories all share how intentional decisions can lead to rediscovering passions and providing for others in new, meaningful ways. Learn more about the Fischer Clinic at http://www.fischerclinic.com/ and enjoy this special three-part interview!
Ian Shakil is the Founder, Director, and Chief Strategy Officer at Augmedix (Nasdaq: AUGX). Ian has a B.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Before all of this, he and I spent a college summer internship together at a start-up incubator where I witnessed his focus and drive first hand. This conversation highlights how Ian never lets a great idea go to waste and uses his super power skill of focus and obsession, to bless others in his work. Enjoy this conversation and connect with Ian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishakil/ and also on Twitter @ianshakil.
Dr. Niamh Brennan is an accomplished professor at University College Dublin and Founder/Academic Director of the UCD Centre for Corporate Governance. With 100+ publications and 6,000+ Google Scholar citations, her name carries weight in both academic and business circles in Europe and beyond. In recognition of her research, Dr. Brennan was elected to the Royal Irish Academy in 2020, Ireland’s highest academic honor, the first business school academic to be so recognized. I was privileged to learn from her as one of her MBA students and found her ability to turn financial management class into a reverting class on ethics and communication skills to be a pleasant surprise! She shares part of her incredible journey in this conversation. You can learn more about Dr. Brennan's work at https://people.ucd.ie/niamh.brennan and follow her on Twitter @ProfNiamhBre, enjoy!
I recently had the opportunity to give a keynote at the Market Movers Conference in Raleigh, NC. I was asked to speak on health and wellness and the title of my keynote was "Maximize Your Well-Being & Performance." I'm grateful to the conference organizers for sharing the audio from my talk and hope this inspires you to invest time in clarifying your own health and provider vision to serve others more sustainably. I hope you enjoy this special episode and we will be back to our standard guest format next week.
Owen Hill is the Co-Founder and Business Development at KleerCard, but his career and life experiences have not just been in the entrepreneurial fintech world. He has a PhD in Economics, was the Director of Budgeting for the non-profit Compassion International, graduated from the Air Force Academy, and served two terms as a State Senator in Colorado. I had the privilege of reconnecting with Owen during this interview after we initially met a couple of decades ago as we attended a small Christian school together in rural Virginia. It's fun to see life where takes us all and Owen has some fascinating experiences. Be inspired throughout this conversation as Owen reflects on his journey and how he tries to enjoy the joys and challenges of life. You can connect with Owen on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenjhill/.
Jenia Keating is an accomplished project and program delivery leader with experience in managing complex software projects. I benefited from her skills and friendly demeanor when she helped train me as a project manager. Today she continues to inspire me with her commitment to growth even when that means being open to uncomfortable situations. She has discovered the power of vulnerability from her myriad of experiences ranging from overseeing business projects at a tech start-up to running a household. Enjoy this conversation and connect with Jenia on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenia-keating-757b1a221/.
Neal Noland is an accomplished professional in the finance world. He has achieved Senior VP positions and completed an MBA while working, demonstrating his ability to achieve in the workplace. What impressed me most about Neal, is his ongoing commitment to personal development while having healthy boundaries at work to protect his most important asset-his time with family and self. During the interview he mentioned a goal setting journal that was helpful in making a positive impact and here is the link to it - https://www.amazon.com/Intention-Journal-research-backed-achieving-investing/dp/1947200208. Enjoy this conversation with my friend Neal. You can connect with Neal at https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-noland-843a077/.
Michael Palko has made a career of telling stories. Whether in his role as a Learning and Performance Specialist at Duke University Health System or through his photography art, Michael has honed the skill of appreciating the stories around him. In this conversation, we talk about several of his recent work including The Death Letter Project, Earth art/morning alters, and his practice of photowalking. It was a pleasure working with him 15 years ago at a tech start-up company together, and to reconnect with him during this conversation. I continue to learn valuable lessons from the professional trainer, Mr. Michael Palko. You can see his photography on Instagram @mpalko. Enjoy his art and this conversation as we all seek to appreciate the stories around us.
Landen Conner is a pharmacist turned photographer and is using his gifts of helping people more than ever. He was born in New Orleans and excelled in chemistry and math throughout school leading him eventually to study pharmacy at Xavier University. However after moving to Orlando and working for retail, long term care, and specialty pharmacies he eventually found himself on the verge of a stress induced burnout moment. He decided a change was necessary for his own health and he started his own photographer business. Here more of Landen's story in this episode and connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/landenconner/.
Cary Jack is a lifestyle entrepreneur, author, podcast host, professional actor/model, biohacker, eco-warrior, martial artist, and humanitarian striving to make a positive impact on this planet. I recently met him at a conference where I was struck by his authenticity and his inspiring message of encouraging others to live the "happy hustle."
He split time growing up on the beaches of Sarasota, Florida, and in the mountains of Red Lodge, Montana where he first learned the art of a balanced lifestyle.As a professional model/actor, Cary Jack was represented by top talent agencies like Wilhelmina and Next Models. He has represented many international brands such as Burberry, Hermes, Topman, Corona, Marriott, Home Depot, Visa, Royal Caribbean, Cadillac, and Vogue. As a Second City Improv Comedy Graduate, Cary Jack has performed on networks such as HBO, NBC, ABC, and USA.As a digital marketing specialist, Cary Jack has personally worked with many world-class entrepreneurs such as Russell Brunson, Lewis Howes, Rory Vaden, and John Lee Dumas.
And there is more to his story! As a biohacking human performance expert Cary Jack has coached Elite Entrepreneurs, Professional Athletes, Olympic Gold Medalists, Stanley Cup Winners, Fortune 500 CEO’s and many others. Today, Cary Jack is the founder of The Happy Hustle, whose mission is to educate, inspire, and entertain, while reminding you to enjoy the journey, not just the destination, as you Happy Hustle for a life of passion and purpose. Check out his website at https://caryjack.com/ and enjoy this conversation!
My friend and former MBA classmate, Nicole Pavlovich joins the podcast to share life lessons on speaking our minds and listening to help find true happiness. She has been in the restaurant & QSR industry for 20+ years and with Domino’s for the past 9 years. She's had marketing roles in the restaurant space and today focuses on the digital from user experience and conversion optimization to social media and SEM. Nicole leads a team of digital marketing consultants working with Dominos franchisees around the world to optimize their digital marketing strategy and grow digital sales.
She lives in Michigan with her husband David and their two boys, Dylan and Ethan. She spends her “free” time playing with the kids and working on various home renovation projects. You can connect with Nicole on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-pavlovich-blair-08335323/. Enjoy this conversation with my friend, Nicole!
Mike Schall is the Assistant Volleyball Coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and shares his fascinating journey on this episode. Mike builds up the hearts of young people, not only as his profession, it's just what he loves to do. I've personally been encouraged from his coaching skills and I've never even played volleyball! Mike and his wife Sarah live in Apex with their four children: Annabelle, Sam, Andrew and Mia. Coach Mike reflects on his first 50 years and the gift we can give to others by simply listening to them and being ready to learn from anyone. You can connect with Mike onTwitter @6schalls, enjoy this conversation with my friend, Mike Schall.
Lauren Yellin Weinberg is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and a Certified Happiness Coach with a background as a psychologist and family therapist. She honed her coaching skills at Duke Integrative Medicine where I had the privilege of witnessing first-hand how she uses the power of thoughtful questions, mindfulness, compassion, curiosity, and accountability to enhance happiness and success.
Lauren is also a thought partner for solopreneurs providing creative consultations and helping to up-level content, and she is an expert for Living Healthy List. You can learn more about her work on her website www.lastingchangewellness.com and connect with her on social. Follow her on Facebook @lastingchangewellness; on Instagram @lastingchangecoach and on LinkedIn @LaurenYellinWeinberg.
Paul Buckley is an entrepreneur, social media expert and friend. He is Ooriginally from Galway, Ireland, now living in Co. Meath with his wife Caroline and their two daughters. Paul is COO of InflightFlix, a media company that provides destination video content to the airline and travel industries. He previously served as the Head of Social Media at Aer Lingus, Ireland's flag-carrier airlineHis professional journey includes starting a luxury furniture business, earning an MBA degree, leveraging an internship to become head of social media for the flag carrier of Ireland and more. He reflects on enduring a recession and pandemic while taking time to provide for himself through his passion of music. He currently serves as COO of InflightFlix and you can connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauldbuckley/ and Twitter @PaulBuckley
Jody Mills is a leader within the Chapel Hill and Durham, NC F3 men's workout group and a friend who I have witnessed first-hand leading well under stressful circumstances during a couple of endurance events we completed together. His work as the Associate Director of Commercial Insights, Learning & Development at Corcept Therapeutics has also convinced him of the importance of focusing on the needs and concerns of others in stressful times. Whether he is leading a high-stakes work project, family emergency, or leading a group during a 12+ hour endurance event, he often challenges himself with questions such as "do others understand the plan? Have I communicated the plan well? Do they feel safe? Have I earned their trust as a leader?"
It was such a privilege to learn more of his story and in this conversation, particularly discovering what helped to set him on the path to receive the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship at UNC-Chapel Hill. This is another memorable conversation and it's my privilege to introduce you to Jody Mills. You can connect with him on LinkedIn to learn more about his work.
Kayla Willis is the Director of Discipleship and Connections at Restoration Church in Roanoke, Virginia. She is also a Young Life Leader with 10 years of combined experience working in both high school and college settings. When she is not forming authentic friendships during her day job she is doing the same on her "downtime" with activities such as captaining her local kickball team as the starting 2nd baseman for the past six years.
The best part of this guest is that I get the privilege of calling her sister-in-law and she has provided for me in many ways and has such a heart for others I'm excited to learn more about her gift of conversation and how we can all honor the opportunity we have to value people's stories. Enjoy this conversation with Kayla and you can connect with her on Instagram @klawillis.
This is a reposting of the Journey 2 Health podcast where Justin was a guest. Hear how Justin became an "accidental health coach" and some of the personal adventures that started as a result of this new career. You can see show notes at the Journey 2 Health podcast website at https://www.ehophealth.com/blog/podcast/ep6-justin-thomas.
Bill Graham is an experienced senior manager, coach, mentor, and small business operator. He has extensive experience leading and building technology teams ranging from career stops at IBM, Thomson Reuters, Zoom Culture, and Mammoth Records. In this conversation, he shares more of his personal story involving music, how he dealt with anger as a young man, meeting his first "southerner", and the classic story of meeting his wife. Bill is the founder and operator of Nice Old Double Gunworks, a shotgun restoration business. You can connect with Bill on Facebook and learn more about his work at https://www.niceolddouble.com/.
Jessica-Claire Jones joins reflects on one of the essential themes of her life and career of being there for others. She discusses the inspiration behind the desire to provide for others even when it may be inconvenient and uncomfortable. Jessica-Claire's professional and personal roles have put her in leadership positions to be there for others ranging from being a Christian campus minister, wedding planner, athletic coach, or special events coordinator. Her experience as a Division 1 athlete and now as a state champion women's high school lacrosse coach highlights not only her commitment to being the best she can be but to inspire others to do the same now. You can connect with her on Instagram @jessicaclaire33. Enjoy this conversation with my friend, Jessica-Claire Jones.
Lisa Hagan is a national board-certified health coach who was surprised to learn she had been preparing for this career her entire adult life. Today she coaches individuals and trains other health coaches, through her work at Vida Health. However, she had to overcome her own health challenges to get to a place of healing before coaching others. During our conversation, she shares her personal health challenges of burnout and how her curiosity and commitment to feeling better lead her to sign up for a training course at Duke Integrative Medicine. Several years ago Lisa traveled from her home and family in Arizona and took the plunge of a new career in the health and wellness field. I was fortunate enough to be Lisa's classmate at Duke Integrative Medicine and it's a privilege to capture her optimism, joy, and helpful spirit on this podcast episode. You can connect with Lisa on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-hagan/.
Max Yenin is a graphic designer based in Ukraine with 14 years of experience in creating illustrations, printing materials, digital and traditional drawings and much more. I'm excited to have Max on the podcast as he has provided for me with some beautiful designs over the past year ranging from my family's homeschooling logo, cattle farm business logo, and even the episode designs for this very podcast! While Max focuses on the designs his partner Nick handles all the communication needs of their growing art studio. It was a pleasure having both of them be part of this episode and to hear their commitment to honoring the craft of design and moving from hobbyist to professionals. You can view Max's work at https://yenin.art/ and contact Nick at nick-manager@yenin.art.
To honor Father's Day 2021 I have reposted this interview with my brother reflecting on the life of our late father. I include a new introduction announcing my new men's small group that will start in September. It's designed for men who have lost their fathers already and are seeking to join an intentional group to be encouraged and grow into a stronger overall provider. The group will run from September 2021- May 2022. All meetings will be remote with the exception of two in-person retreats. Learn more and apply online by going to justinthomascoaching.com or clthomasfellowship.org/justin2021. Below is the original and full episode description. Enjoy!
My younger brother, John Thomas joins me for this special episode reflecting on the story of our father, "Pop." For the first time ever, we provide a detailed account of how Pop went from being a prodigal son to a model provider figure. We recorded this conversation on Father's Day 2020 as a way of honoring him and to preserve his story and the life lessons not only for our family but hopefully for a broader audience to be inspired that personal transformation is possible. We can all become providers.
John is a software developer and entrepreneur. He and his wife, Sophie Thomas, live in Greenville, SC, and are busy raising three young boys. You can follow him on Twitter. Both our wives gave us the gift of conversation to produce this episode. We hope it blesses and protects you.
My wife Amy joins me for another podcast discussion and this one is about a tale we will always remember! It's a conversation filled with adventure and also some tough moments which we wanted to share what happens when you step into a dream only to have it quickly and unexpectedly vanish? How do you go through it and have the courage to dream again? We don't have all the answers, but we do have some stories that will entertain and hopefully inspire you to get through some of life's inevitable hardships. Enjoy this conversation with my wife, Amy Thomas and see show notes and more resources at www.justinthomascoaching.com
AJ Overton is a respected statistician at Duke Clinical Research Institute, but what I really admire about AJ is his willingness to enter uncomfortable situations to grow and become a better leader. Whether that is moving to Uganda, standing on stage, or completing an endurance challenge, AJ is willing to be "in the arena" in order to grow and develop authentic relationships. It's a privilege to call AJ a friend and a bonus that he is one of my neighbors, enjoy this conversation! You can connect with AJ on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aj-overton-65b717179/.
Ian Yancey is a principal engineer at Hazen and Sawyer where he helps clients provide safe drinking water and controlling water pollution and its effects on the environment. Although his work and career are meaningful, what I am most impressed with Ian is his willingness to always say yes to my crazy adventures and requests. He was part of the inaugural CL Thomas Fellowship group and has become a loyal friend. In this interview, he shares his intentional decision to be a "yes man" when it comes to taking hold of opportunities whether they are service moment, unique life opportunities, or a combination of both! Connect with Ian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-yancey-pe-87b47a8b/ and enjoy this conversation with my friend Ian Yancey!
Susan Hollobaugh is an advocate for people with communication disabilities and is the CEO & Founder of Know Me Enterprises. Her company provides tools to help people with communication difficulties (and their teams) improve their quality of life. Her entrepreneurial journey is a deeply personal one filled with stories of hard and joyful work. You can connect with Susan via e-mail at susan@knowmetools.com and connect with Susan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-hollobaugh-753169a0/.
Hathaway Pendergrass is a man dedicated to his family and community. He is the District Court Judge in Orange and Chatham Counties of North Carolina. He completed his undergraduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill followed by law school at NC Central University. He serves his community in a variety of ways and while he may look busy with all his many activities, a more accurate description is that he intentionally invests in his community. One of his efforts was co-founding local men's workout groups alongside me and we also just recently completed a 2+ month Matter Ladder Challenge that we discuss in this conversation. Hathaway and his wife Kate have two children and they live in Hillsborough, NC. You can follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HSPendergrass.
Don Shin is the founder and CEO of CrossComm, an award-winning software development firm based in Durham, NC. He started the firm in 1998 as a student at Duke University. His exciting entrepreneurial journey has included building some of the earliest sophisticated websites, iPhone apps, and augmented reality apps. Don reflects on his journey leading the firm through three economic recessions and how CrossComm is currently scaling and how he is re-learning how to provide for himself and others in new ways. He has a learner's mindset of always being on "level 1" and growing. He also reflects on how he took risks and made intentional decisions to reboot relationships and his company over the past 25 years of his entrepreneurial experiences.
I had the opportunity to learn from Don first-hand when we worked together for nearly 5 years at CrossComm and it was a joy to reconnect with him during this conversation. You can connect with Don on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/donshin1/.
Andres is an actor/writer/director teacher born in Colombia and raised in Miami. On TV, he has been a guest on New Amsterdam, Fear the Walking Dead, and the upcoming final episode of Queen of the South. He lives in Hillsborough, NC with his wife and two kids, and in this episode, he shares how he made it in the acting world, how it helped him overcome social anxiety, and lessons he's learned on using boredom positively.
He has taught at Fordham University and currently teaches playwriting through Manhattan Theater Club. He is a recipient of a TCG/Fox Foundation Fellowship at Cornerstone Theater Company and a Bowden Award from New Dramatists for his contributions to new plays developed by Sung Rno, Michael John Garces, Chiori Miyagawa and many others. At the Lark Play Development Center, he worked on plays by Rajiv Joseph, Lynn Nottage, and Kristoffer Diaz. His film work has been seen at Tribeca Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival. Andres holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College and will be directing Noé Morales Muñoz's tentatively titled Tales and Shrapnel at Elon University this fall. You can see his work at https://www.andresmunar.net/.
John Lee Dumas (JLD) is the founder and host of the award-winning podcast, Entrepreneurs On Fire. With over 100 million listens of his 3000+ episodes, JLD has turned Entrepreneurs On Fire into a media empire that generates over a million listens every month and 7-figures of NET annual revenue 8-years in a row. His first traditionally published book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success is the modern-day version of Think and Grow Rich with a revolutionary 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment.
After reading the book I was inspired to learn how JLD provides for himself while producing a daily podcast and how he protects his mornings in order to set himself up for success. Enjoy this conversation and learn more at UncommonSuccessBook.com
Dr. David Fitzgerald and his wife are both skilled physicians who have used their specialized medical training to serve patients across the world. Their positive work abroad inspired friends back home who started asking the Fitzgerald who can I help as well in serving the needs of kids in Malawi? This sparked the Fitzgeralds to launch the Malawi Children's Initiative and oddly enough had the ripple effect of getting me into long-distance running!
David also goes by the nickname "Zika" in our men's workout group and he is a positive example of trying to ensure he invests in his own health and well-being in order to have more energy to bless and protect others. He and his wife have 5 children, two of whom are twins adopted from Malawi. You can learn more about their incredible story and non-profit work at https://www.malawichildrensinitiative.org/.
In this episode of our podcast, we are joined by Baker Freiberg, the VP of Sales at EHOP Health. Being prepared and having an appropriate amount of healthy selfishness is how Baker has been able to challenge himself professionally and physically. Whether it is training for a triathlon or learning from mentors, Baker is committed to putting in the work behind the scenes to not only maximize his personal results but to set a positive example for his son and others. Learn how we can all be intentional along our provider journey in this episode with my friend and colleague, Baker Frieberg. You can connect with Baker on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakerfreiberg/.
Hear the best clips from all of the first 40 episodes in this special recap episode of the Become a Provider podcast! Guest interviews range from physicians, entrepreneurs, NY Times best-selling authors, professional athletes, and many more insightful voices who share practical tips and meaningful moments that have provided for them and how they try to do the same for others. Take a listen and then decide which episode number to dive deeper. Here's to 40 more!
Coley Thomas has lived a life filled with constant growth and reinvention. I've had the privilege to see his journey first-hand as his cousin from his days as a restaurant owner, financial advisor, and now as a top-secret eligible technology engineer. Coley lives with his wife Nikki in Radford, Virginia where they enjoy chasing around their two sons in the backyard. He has a heart for honest conversations and a mind that is always eager for the next book. Enjoy this conversation with the one and only, Coley Thomas. You can follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/colemanthomas/
Alex Miller is the founder of Alex Miller Government Affairs, a leading lobbying and public relations firm, ranked among the “10 Most Powerful Lobbyists in North Carolina”. Prior to founding the firm, he served as an Infantry Squad Leader in the United States Army and a direct practice Social Worker. He holds a Masters in Social Work with a focus in Public Policy from UNC-Chapel Hill. More importantly, he literally carried me during an endurance event that we completed together and I've grown to admire and respect his leadership. He co-founded the F3 Chapel-Hill and Durham chapter which provides free workouts in the area to men and he shares how he has been provided for along his many adventures. Enjoy this conversation with Alex aka "Adolphus" Miller. You can connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-miller-7b73134b/detail/contact-info/ and at http://www.alexmillernc.com/.
Dr. David Robertson is co-owner of the Robertson Marketing Group, which designs logo merchandise and recognition programs for Fortune 500 companies and well-known brands such as Google, UPS, and Pepsi. He was first exposed to the thrills of entrepreneurship and taught how to handle the hard losses of life through his parents which helped form the character and drive to start his own gym, get a doctorate, teach business classes, and lead an international company. I was fortunate to be one of his students at Roanoke College and it is a privilege to have him on the show to continue to learn from his example and teachings. You can connect with Dr. Robertson on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-robertson-34699a7/.
Dale Tincher is the CEO and Founder of Consultwebs, one of the leading internet legal marketing and consulting firms, serving several hundred law firm clients throughout the country. He is a prominent web design and promotion specialist, writer, photographer and speaker. Dale has a heart for mentoring and has guided countless business professionals including my own! I'm delighted to share his wisdom, gambling spirit (as he puts it), and commitment to serving God. In this episode, he shares how he overcame a failed start-up experience, health challenges, and workaholism to live his best life while winning in business.
Dale was born in Rainelle, West Virginia. After he earned his business administration degree from West Virginia State University, he went on to serve as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army, with tours that included Vietnam. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife and their three children and he is an active leader in The Summit Church. You can connect with Dale on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/daletincher/.
Shar Jordan shares her unique perspective on providing for others through the lens of senior leadership and management. She is VP, Client Success at IBM with experience managing teams as large as 100+ employees and I had the privilege of learning under her leadership during the start of my career! Shar is a results-oriented, team builder, and team player with a positive can-do attitude that shines throughout this conversation. We can all learn from her skills of challenging limiting assumptions and practicing radical candor. You can follow Shar on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shar-jordan-b571b11/. Enjoy this conversation!
As a founder of the non-profit, Generous Giving, Todd has been actively engaged in spreading the biblical message of generosity for 20 years. Todd and I met during one of their signature Journey of Generosity events and we will never forget that weekend for reasons discussed on this episode. He reflects on living open-handedly, friends who have your back, and how we can all be more attentive to the needs around us.
Todd holds a bachelor's degree in economics and entrepreneurship from Baylor University and spent 11 years with Campus Crusade for Christ International (Cru), where he served in Russia, Yugoslavia, and in the United States. He and his wife, Collynn, have five children and live in Orlando, Florida. Connect with Todd on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddharpergg/.
Brad McGinity leads the revenue organization of Marketing, Sales, Success, Support, and Services at 15Five, the leading People and Performance platform for high-growth companies. Revenue and headcount have grown nearly 5x since he joined the company in August of 2017. He previously co-founded Windsor Circle, a predictive marketing and analytics software provider, where he was the VP of Sales and a Board member. He was also the top-performing sales exec at Bronto Software before its acquisition by Netsuite. After Bronto, he picked up an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler.
When not leading sales at 15Five, Brad moonlights as a dad, husband, home repairman, and marathon runner. In this episode, he reflects on the lessons learned as an entrepreneur, father, husband, mentor, and mentee. What makes Brad unique is not that he is a successful businessman, but the thoughtfulness he puts into establishing his priorities and how that practically impacts his schedule, tone, and calendar. He shares how he develops intentional relationships, manages others, and the sacrifices it took to launch a business and the ensuing, hard conversations that were made possible along the way by having healthy relationships. Connect with Brad on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcginity/.
Joe Schmidt is an entrepreneur, investor, and leader. In this episode, he shares some of his knowledge accumulated over 20 years of launching e-commerce start-ups and spearheading humanitarian efforts. Joe explains how he strategically says "no" to opportunities while also saying "yes" to the important adventures and relationships in his life through discovering one's capacity. Connect with Joe on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/josefschmidt/ and at the links provided below.
Joe's Work: www.customerhd.com
Joe's Cause: www.freedomunited.com
Joe's Church: www.newhopenc.org
Joe's Twitter: @joe_schmidt
Stephen Smith is an experienced marketer with several Head of Marketing positions at VC backed startups and established brands. He uses his background in film to share engaging stories to customers, family, and friends alike. Stephen was born and raised in Ireland and he currently lives in New York City with his wife Dr. Phillipa and their two children. You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenjpsmith/
Reggie and Bomi Roberson discuss how serving, giving and creativity have shaped their lives and careers. Reggie is the Lead Pastor at Kings Park International Church in Durham, NC and Bomi is the founder of With Love Bomi, which designs leather jewelry & accessories, as well as custom stationery for special events. They both have a heart to encourage and inspire people in their faith. You can learn more about their work at the following links:
Pastor Reggie: https://kingspark.org/pastors/reggie-roberson
Bomi: https://www.withlovebomi.com/
Non-profit ministry: https://www.heartreachglobal.com/who-we-are
At the start of each year many businesses clarify their vision and create an annual goal to take towards that future, why not do the same as a family? Hear what this annual event has looked like over the past twelve years as Justin and Amy reflect on some practical questions to get the most out of a family-style summit and how you can start making your own unique traditions this year.
As a 3x New York Times best-selling author, Bob Goff doesn't just write about being available, he models being present for others. Bob reflects on the intentional decisions he made in life to provide for his family which lead to him becoming an encourager to millions today.
Bob calls himself a "recovering lawyer" because after practicing law for 25 years, then becoming the Hon. Consul to Uganda, he gave up his law firm to pursue writing and speaking full time. For him, the best part has been connecting with so many people who are on a terrific adventure as well.
Enjoy this conversation with Bob Goff and you can view all his current work and get plugged into the adventure at www.bobgoff.com
We come full circle in this episode as Dug Hampton, the very first guest of this podcast shares how we have partnered together to create the first Become a Provider course. Dug serves as the principal at Dayspring Christian Academy in Blacksburg, Virginia where a group of high school students recently started the new provider elective course that we (Justin and Dug) are co-leading. There have already been some great moments and learnings for the students and us that we wanted to share and encourage your own journey to bless and protect others in your life.
Chef Eric Gephart is a live-fire expert and culinary content creator. He is the Chief Culinary Officer at Kamado Joe, and is an experienced owner/operator of fine dining restaurants ranging across the world from New Zealand to New York. He shares his journey as a struggling student with dyslexia to becoming the graduation speaker at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Eric reflects on the moments that provided for him and how he made courageous career decisions to become a better provider for his family. He lives in Hillsborough, NC with his wife and two daughters and I count it a blessing to call him a friend and my neighbor! Follow Eric on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ericgephart/.
At a quick glance, you might not think you have much in common with Hiruni Wijayaratne. Born in Sri Lanka, a D1 college athlete and with 11 national records for her home country, she has accomplished things many of us may never achieve. Yet, Hiruni is a huge advocate of personal development through goal setting and I know this first-hand as she is my own virtual running coach through her work at Runcoach. It was a privilege to learn more about her story and how she uses gratitude to persevere in races and life. Enjoy this conversation with Hiruni and you can connect with her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Hiruni_W and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hiruni_w/. And I recommend signing up for Runcoach if you have any walking or running goals http://runcoach.com/app/store. Enjoy!
James Forrest is Founder & CEO/Attorney at Forrest Firm, P.C. More importantly, he is a dear friend whom I describe as having humble confidence, and it was a privilege to get to know him several years ago in a mentoring group we completed together. In this interview, James shares how he tries to provide for others by being direct in his relationships, having a willingness to take risks, and the importance of investing long-term into your relationship with your spouse. You can follow James on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-r-forrest/ and his company website at https://forrestfirm.com.
Meet my new friend, Bethany Brevard, who shares her story of turning dreams into reality through hard work, prayer, and a timely accident or two. Bethany is a wife, mom, entrepreneur, and most recently, an award-winning children's book author of "The Mouse In the Hammock." After 20+ years of merchandising and product design for Fortune 500 companies, she decided to take a leap of faith and become an author. Since then, her family mouse ornament has blossomed into a Christmas story that reminds us all how little things make a big difference. "The Mouse In the Hammock" received over one-hundred and fifty (150) 5-Star Reviews on Amazon, is an Amazon Choice Award winner and ranked #2 recently in Children's Christian books among other awards. She shares how the entrepreneurial experience has been a blessing to serve others and how it surprisingly helped her become more self-aware of her own ability to make an impact, no matter how small we think of ourselves. Learn more about Bethany's work at https://themouseinthehammock.com/.
William "B.J." Lawson, MD is an entrepreneur with a background in engineering and medicine, co-founder and CEO of EHOP Health. My career and life would be completely different if not for B.J. and I'm forever grateful for his leadership and the risks he took in life that blessed not only my carer development but produced multiple positive ripple effects for patients, physicians, and employees around the country as you will hear in this interview. He is dedicated to helping people restore health and reverse chronic disease through lifestyle change, and learning to Eat Well, Move Well, and Live Well. He graduated from Duke University with a degree in biomedical and electrical engineering and then from Duke Medical School.B.J. married his high school sweetheart, JoLynn, who (as you will hear) played a critical role in the twists in turns in his professional and political career. He reflects on the theme of solving the root cause of issues and how to focus your attention to arrive at the best solution. You can follow B.J. and his work on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjlawsonmd/.
Grant Hoffman is a mentor, friend, and former boss of mine who reflects on the hard words given to him early in his career and how it shaped his "people first" management philosophy. Today he runs a healthcare software company after stints in consulting, startups, and a Fortune 500 company along the way. He is a proud Tar Heel with an undergraduate degree and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was a pleasure reconnecting with Grant in this interview and I know his passion for people and authenticity will be an enjoyable listen. You can connect with Grant on LinkedIn.
King'Roy Hampton is the founder and CEO of the clothing brand, God Faith Family, and a recent graduate of the CL Thomas Fellowship. He reflects on growing up in the projects in Winston-Salem and how he, and all of us, can overcome tragedy. King'Roy brings his trademark positive energy to the conversation as he shares wisdom on cherishing the moments of life and trying to be the best version of yourself. Follow him on his personal Facebook account and you can also see some of his latest clothing designs on the GFF Instagram account.
Joe McCaffrey is a hard charger, whether it was a college wrestler at Harvard, an MBA student at Duke, or completing one of his many endurance events. Over the years, Joe has had people motivating him, and now he does the same through his work, fitness, and family routines. He serves as the Chief Investment Officer at Salem Investment Counselors, ranked as the top financial advisory firm in the nation on the CNBC FA 100 list for the second year in a row (2019 & 2020). You can connect with Joe on LinkedIn or, better yet, attend an F3 workout in the Raleigh-Durham area to witness him leading and motivating the group to push hard while encouraging all. Enjoy this conversation around knowing your superpower, giving it your all, and finding your own rainbow.
Andy Krzmarzick works as the Public Sector Leader for Large Enterprises at Amazon Business. His career and life path have been driven by what he describes as "come and see moments." Through the twists and turns of priesthood to non-profit to business, Andy reflects on the people and moments that provided for him along his journey. The best story might just be how he met his wife!
Enjoy meeting Andy, hearing his story and be inspired to live out one of his life mottos of "do good, do well." This podcast was an authentic conversation as we sat outside my front porch reflecting on life's lessons as the rain came down, so enjoy the background of the rain!
You can connect with Andy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewkrzmarzick/.
Sarah Schall is passionate about strengthening the hearts, minds and bodies of others so they can become healthy inside and out and live a life full of purpose. At a quick glance, you might not think you have much in common with Sarah. She is an experienced health and wellness coach certified with the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, a former college athlete (inducted into her university’s hall of fame!), and she also founded "Inside-Out Strong," a program that teaches girls how to be strong. Yet, Sarah believes that we can all become healthy inside and out and live a life full of purpose. She is a founding health coach at EHOP Health and serves as its Community Manager and Sr. Coach. You can connect with Sarah on LinkedIn to learn more about her work at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahschall/. Enjoy this conversation with Coach Sarah!
Lilly Ferrick's personal values of confidence and authority are contagious in this conversation. Her values have resulted in a successful sales and coaching career and she inspires us all to develop these positive traits by investing in ourselves for the benefit of others.
Lilly is an entrepreneur driven to help businesses thrive in competitive markets through precise and focused sales efforts. Lilly works along with her team to help clients fill and manage their sales pipelines with viable and qualified prospects. Learn more about her work at her website www.lillyferrick.com.
Lilly and her husband, Patrick, are parents to 4 children, one Boxer, and grandparents to Finn and Paul. She loves the outdoors, reading, and working out. Enjoy this conversation with Lilly!
Justin and Amy Thomas, co-founders of the CL Thomas Fellowship, unveil the Provider Wheel in this episode. This is the framework presented to participants in the 9-month fellowship program, and now available for all to use a helpful guide to become a provider. Learn practical tips and stories on how to develop healthy habits to bless and protect others in your life. Additional resources can be found at www.clthomasfellowship.org. Enjoy this conversation on the characteristic traits it takes to be a provider.
Whether as a practicing doctor or an entrepreneurial healthcare CEO, Dr. Jenkins has always thought outside the box. During this episode, Dr. Joe reflects on the people and moments that helped him turn around his college experience and discover a fulfilling career. The theme of "making a lasting impression" is weaved throughout the conversation. Genuine and reflective throughout, Dr. Joe shares how he found the opportunity in life by being curious no matter what stage he was in his career from student to CEO. You can learn more about Dr. Joe and his work on his LinkedIn profile and EHOP Health which he co-founded to help employees achieve more successful health outcomes. Most importantly, he seems to know everyone and thus has the nickname of “Bacon” in honor of 6-Degrees of Kevin Bacon.
Pastor Steve shares his experience of becoming a provider by reflecting on lessons from his parents, by overcoming health challenges, and the belief that we can all bring a taste of Heaven on Earth when we reflect the image of God to others. He and his wife Cheryll lead Every Nation church together in Dublin, Ireland. Steve is Irish and Cheryll is Filipino/Irish and they have 4 kids.
How do you mark special moments? After my wife and I launched the CL Thomas Fellowship I wanted to honor the first class in a special way. We all have those special projects and aspirations, it doesn't even feel like work when we spend our time into that special ambition. Sometimes we can keep working away when we just need to pause and celebrate the progress made to date. In this episode, I (Justin) reflect on the last three years of the CL Thomas Fellowship and how we celebrate the moment may be different it is still worth doing. Enjoy this episode and I hope it prompts you to consider how to celebrate the work you have done on your own dreams and ambitions.
David lives in Durham, NC with his wife, Kelly, and three kids, Payton, Haven and Salem. He is the founder of Riverbank Custom Homes and a member of the Summit Church. This conversation was recorded in June 2020 during COVID-19 quarantine restrictions and stressful times in his business managing an influx of new projects. I appreciate his humor, relatability, and genuine desire to live an authentic life not just put on a happy face. David co-leads one of the CL Thomas Fellowship mentoring groups and shares how he and his family pour into the lives of others using their skills and passions. You can learn more about David and his work at https://riverbankcustomhomes.com/.
Part two of my conversation with Amy Thomas unveils what happens when she uttered a childlike prayer for cows. Hear the adventure in this episode and be inspired to start your own adventure! Dream big and laugh alongside as we experiment with something new and inch closer towards a family dream.
My wife, Amy Thomas joins me to reflect on her personal journey of learning how to provide not only through behind-the-scenes acts of service but also leading others. She has developed a passion for encouraging others, especially women, to be more confident in life with your decisions and how that honors the person they were meant to be in life. You'll discover how Amy chose business as a major at Roanoke College, how she won me over, and the moment she heard from God in a powerful way in this part of our conversation. You can follow Amy on Instagram @AmyThomasNC.
Tim Oakley is a personal mentor who invested 18-months mentoring me through one of his Radical Mentoring groups. It was a life-changing experience and it's a privilege to have him on the podcast to share some of his wisdom. Tim has served as Chief Financial Officer for a variety of high-growth companies over the past 25+ years, helping these firms with over $1 billion in financial transactions and exit events. Not only is Tim a "business guy" but he also has a masters degree in Counseling having provided clinical therapy services, is a Certified Health Coach through Duke Medicine, and currently delivers executive coaching at the Carolina Clinic under the UNC Hospital. He also mentors business leaders through his Thrivers Integrative Mentoring Program providing both group and individual executive mentoring services. Tim lives with his wife and two sons in Durham, NC. You can follow him and his work on LinkedIn.
Matt Schumann is a friend that can make me laugh anytime, anywhere. We met over 25 years ago in Middle School and have been friends ever since. He brings a unique perspective to the Become a Provider podcast, sharing his personal journey of how he overcame some of the worst moments in his life, stopped blaming other people, and how he is intentionally sacrificing for others now. While his laugh is contagious you will not only enjoy the conversation but you will learn from his story and wisdom to inspire your own unique provider journey. Please be advised there is some mild language used during the episode and may not be suitable for children.
Jeanine Finelli is a Certified Health Coach and Director of Coaching Operations at EHOP Health. She is a graduate of both the Institute of Functional Medicine and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
Jeanine is a published author with her book "Love Yourself to Health...with Gusto!" She is a mother of two and believes that at the core of all positive and lasting change resides a deep love and respect of self. She reflects on her life and work during this podcast interview. You can follow Jeanine on LinkedIn.
Nathan Clendenin has earned 9 Emmy awards from the National Academy of the Arts and Sciences through the video company he founded called StoryDriven. He shares how delivering a TED Talk and co-leading a fellowship group challenged him to think about how to cultivate his own gifts during the COVID-19 pandemic and make a career change. Nathan lives with his wife Rebecca and their three kids in Durham, NC. You can connect with him on LinkedIn to follow his work. You can watch some of his great storytelling documentary videos at https://www.wearestorydriven.com/portfolio/. Enjoy this conversation with Nathan!
Chris Combs shares his journey of finding identity in sports and work before ultimately being challenged to consider why he worked so hard in the first place. Chris is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and former professional NFL player with more stories than this episode can handle. Chris and his wife Angela live in Durham, NC and have three children. He also serves as a mentor in the CL Thomas Fellowship. I hope you are encouraged by this conversation and we reflect on his journey of discovering the joy of leadership by serving others. You can learn more about Chris on his LinkedIn profile.
My younger brother, John Thomas joins me for this special episode reflecting on the story of our father, "Pop." For the first time ever, we provide a detailed account of how Pop went from being a prodigal son to a model provider figure. We recorded this conversation on Father's Day 2020 as a way of honoring him and to preserve his story and the life lessons not only for our family but hopefully for a broader audience to be inspired that personal transformation is possible. We can all become providers.
John is a software developer and entrepreneur. He and his wife, Sophie Thomas, live in Greenville, SC, and are busy raising three young boys. You can follow him on Twitter. Both our wives gave us the gift of conversation to produce this episode. We hope it blesses and protects you.
John Jarrett is known as "Papa John" (before the pizza chain!) not only to his kids and family but everyone he meets. He has a kind and warm demeanor that was forged from the bitter winters growing up in Chicago. He enjoys living in North Carolina now and is a man who loves others and is still seeking to grow in his compassion. Our conversation touched on the significance of fatherhood, overcoming chronic health conditions, and asking for more to bless more. Enjoy this conversation with the original, Papa John.
Beverly Williams loves providing to others through her acts of service. Whether that is for her professional career which spans across operations, sales, finance, and HR and also to her family of six (6) children. She has learned valuable lessons along the way in order to move from having a "martyr mindset" to finding peace and joy in giving to others in a way that fuels her, rather than burns her out.
Connect with Beverly on LinkedIn to learn more about her work,
William "Dug" Hampton joins the Become a Provider podcast as the first guest interview! He goes by "Dug" or "Coach" and is an example of serving others through his work as a basketball coach and principal at Dayspring Christian Academy in Blacksburg, Va. Justin met Coach Dug nearly 25 years ago when Coach started the basketball program at Dayspring. The two have remained close ever since In this interview, Coach reflects on the calling to provide for our enemies, the power of showing up in people's lives, and giving 9-10x more without expectations. It's a pleasure to introduce you all to Coach.
Meet the host of this podcast, Justin Thomas. Listen to how this husband, father, and business guy began his journey of becoming a better provider to honor his late father, CL Thomas by starting a non-profit pushing himself through endurance events, and transitioning into the health coaching world. All of this resulted in Justin learning that life is better when you provide for yourself and others.
Future podcast episodes will highlight providers in Justin's life and the stories of how they bless and protect others so you can be inspired to do the same. Enjoy this quick introduction to the Become a Provider podcast by Justin and learn more at www.justinthomascoaching.com