Fortune & Faith: Recent Episodes
Jason Tang
The path to success is rarely easy. Come experience the inspirational journey of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) as they take listeners inside the struggles, the doubts, and the conflict they've faced on their quest for success. In these real conversations, guests share the good, the bad, and the ugly, including how their faith influenced and sustained them on their road to achievement. New episodes released every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.
In 2016, a devastating wildfire sweeps through Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, forcing nearly 100,000 people to evacuate. Over one million acres are scorched, and more than 3,000 structures lost. Remarkably, Ripley Construction’s buildings and equipment remain unharmed, but the business still grapples with the aftermath more than eight years after due to its strong ties to the community. Amidst the devastation, John Ripley, the owner and founder, shifts his focus beyond just rebuilding his business. He also seeks to strengthen and build his personal growth and deepen his relationship with God
As one of the creators of Etherfuse, a financial technology company, David Taylor and his brother AJ are on a mission to reduce global barriers to entry into financial markets by tokenizing investments through stable bonds. But growing up a young boy, David’s life is anything but stable. Moving around about every two years from city to city and state to state doesn’t allow him to build a solid friend foundation where his confidence can grow. Despite the early struggles David uses all his experiences, good and bad, to chart his own course of what is, and what isn’t important.
Known for its quality workmanship and superior customer service, South Coast Incorporated is a leader in Design/Build projects in Southern California, offering a seamless transition from project inception to completion. However, Ray Miller, owner and founder, is faced with an unfixable situation—a brain bleed affecting his wife—and there's nothing he can do to help.
But before the brain bleed, Ray’s journey begins in the small farming town of Blackfoot, Idaho. Despite his family’s limited financial resources, they thrive in a tight-knit community. Together, discover how the values he imbibed during his youth continue to guide him through life’s challenges and obstacles. From his early days in Blackfoot, to his role at South Coast Incorporated, Ray’s story is one of resilience, faith, and the power of community bonds. Tune in to hear how he navigates the unfixable and finds strength in hope through his remarkable journey—one that transcends construction sites and touches the heart of what it means to be human.
Discovering the right ‘one’ applies to both relationship and career and Brittany Skipper, owner of Royal Entertainers, exemplifies this truth. As a single mom with three children, Brittany seeks her Mr. Right even appearing on VH1’s show, ‘Making Mr. Right’ which gives her perspective, but not her eternal companion. However, her quest extends beyond personal relationships. Driven by the need to support her family, Brittany embarks on a professional journey. Despite her dream of becoming a television news anchor, she turns down the opportunity and ventures into the unknown leading her to become Miss Utah which opens up a myriad of opportunities. Fearlessly embracing the unknown, Brittany goes on to founding her own company, Royal Entertainers, driven by the joy of bringing happiness to others. Join us as we explore Brittany’s resilience, determination, and the unexpected twists that shaped her path from reality TV to entrepreneurship. Her story reminds us that sometimes the road less traveled leads to the most fulfilling destinations.
Always one to march to the beat of his own drum, Clay Johnsen, owner of Pacific Coast Podiatry, embodies fearlessness and ambition. With unwavering determination, he sets lofty goals for his career and strives to achieve them. Yet, fate often intervenes, leading him down unexpected paths.
As Clay meticulously arranges the pieces of his professional puzzle, the Lord often seems to have a different blueprint in mind. And though Clay may not always comprehend the divine reasoning, he remains steadfast in his commitment to adapt. He recognizes that sometimes the Lord’s plan diverges from his own desires, and he embraces the need to pivot.
In this dance between personal aspirations and divine guidance, Clay remains open-hearted and ready to follow wherever the Lord leads. His willingness to surrender control, even when it contradicts his own wishes, reflects a profound faith—one that propels him forward on a remarkable journey.
Not getting the career fulfillment he’s searching for as one of 12,000 employees at Raytheon Missile Systems, Troy Tegeder leaves his 9-5 job for a life of entrepreneurship. First as an independent app developer, and eventually to physical product development, Troy is the founder and owner of Lake Surf LLC. His company creates balance board trainers for wake surfing, inflatables for boating, and coming soon - a back yard wave maker that connects to your pool. And every time Troy thinks of a new path to blaze, he not only leans on his spreadsheet to help guide him, him and his wife also rely on the promptings of the Lord.
Currently serving as the President of the California San Bernardino Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Marcus Pinnock leaves the business he founded to serve the Lord full time for 3 years. His business, Sterling Financial Group is based in Utah and currently manages over a billion dollars in assets. But with great faith, trusted partners, and the opportunity to lead close to 600 full time missionaries, the Pinnock’s take up their yolk and press forward in doing the work of the Lord in proclaiming the Gospel.
When Scott Shumway embarks on his college journey, he grapples with uncertainty about the path he should pursue. And after a few years in school, he actually leaves without earning his degree, but his career arc becomes clear as Scott seizes upon every opportunity that comes his way. During his tenure with his first employer, Scott rapidly attains expertise in the theory of constraints, which propels him to become a company executive. Using these skills combined with his experience, Scott eventually pens a book entitled “The Invisible Four Letter Word” and establishes his own consultancy, “Eminent”. Through these two endeavors, Scott aims to help others gain deeper insights into recognizing personal patterns that either lead toward or away from ones true desires helping them figure out what they really want in life.
At the tender age of five, Cortland Brady’s world is forever altered when his father becomes paralyzed in an ATV accident. This pivotal moment triggers a series of reactions that reverberate through Cortland’s life and family dynamics. From navigating the complexities of his parents’ relationship to grappling with teenage embarrassment over his father’s condition, Cortland faces adversity head-on, especially as he eventually witnesses his parents’ painful divorce. Fast forward nearly three decades from the accident, Cortland stands as the Founder and CEO of Aspen Field Services. His groundbreaking asset verification inspection business revolutionizes how banks verify their assets. Yet, amidst financial aspirations, Cortland’s true priorities lie elsewhere. Join us as we explore resilience, transformation, and the indomitable spirit of a man who turned adversity into opportunity.
Mauli Bonner, a Grammy-winning music director, award-winning filmmaker, and accomplished public speaker, boasts numerous accolades. However, his journey to success isn’t glamorous; it begins with Mauli sleeping on the streets of Los Angeles as he seeks to navigate his path, and more importantly become attuned to how the Lord communicates with him.
With the 2008 recession personally impacting his sense of stability, Spencer Jan's fear morphed into a potent fuel. Driven by the icy fingers of uncertainty, he and his brother Jeff plunge into the entrepreneurial forge. Together the brothers hammer out numerous concepts, discarding each lukewarm creation until one - Solo Stove, born in the humble glow of their garage in 2010 - roared to life. A decade later, it would light up the stock market, blazing into a $2 billion bonfire in their initial valuation when they go public.
Clint Brown, owner and partner of Trusted Business Advisors Team, learns the true meaning of investment after a series of tragedies in 2021. His brother’s and his brother-in-law's sudden passings force him to refocus on life's most precious treasures - family and connection. This episode peels back the curtain on Clint's journey: from a tight-knit military family to navigating loss and prioritizing what truly matters. Prepare for a candid conversation about financial expertise, resilience, and finding value beyond the bottom line.
Coral Ward Barajas is a fighter. When life throws unexpected curves, she doesn't just navigate them, she builds bridges for others facing similar obstacles. From divorced parents to dietary hurdles, failed ventures to shattered marital dreams, Coral finds purpose in her trials, transforming them into lifelines for those battling their own storms. She’s an intentional entrepreneur, life coach, author and app developer. Her experience is a testament to faith forged in fire, and her story is a beacon of hope for anyone teetering on the edge, reminding them that even when they feel lost, they're never alone.
For Andi Asay, owner of Z1 Consultants, the climb to entrepreneurial success is nothing compared to the mountains she scales off the court. A former Division 1 and pro volleyball player, Andi builds a Zoho software consultancy that increases business revenue 20x in three years, all fueled by the same tenacity and grit that once sent her skyward on the volleyball court. But life's most challenging event came not on the court, but in the delivery room, where a devastating diagnosis ripped away her dream of motherhood and forced her to dig deep into her faith for strength. This is the story of how Andi’s faith and resiliency soared above tragedy, rewriting the rules of both business and personal triumph.
“How do you measure success in your life?” This is the question I ask every one of my guests as we close out our conversation. In today’s bonus content, we hear from Elder Hartman Rector Junior and his 1973 General Conference talk entitled Success: A Journey or A Destination. I hope you enjoy. Merry Christmas!
With a goal of opening up a school in the Czech Republic, keeping an eye on the prize is paramount for Patrick Sedivy, founder of Cumorah Academy. After Patrick and his wife Allyse both feel the need to start a school in the country where they serve full time missions, the journey to get there is one full of failure and heartache, but also of grit and determination. But never letting an obstacle get in the way of accomplishing their goal, Cumorah Academy celebrates 5 years of operation where hundreds of young adults are empowered with knowledge, skills and attributes that result in lasting happiness and self reliance.
Making a name for himself as a banking leader who turns around failing institutions , Richard DeVries, his wife Dyana, and their six children leave the upward trajectory of his career to serve as Mission President of the California Oakland Mission from 2000-2003. Not knowing how this will work financially for his young family, the DeVries press forward with faith, and do hard things. But previous to becoming a Mission President, Richard is a young man growing up Lutheran in Michigan. However, a series of moves and events help Richard learn and feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in his life. From being baptized, to serving a mission, and marrying in the Temple, time after time he experiences how spiritual guidance can lead him and his family forward, even when he doesn’t always understand how or why.
With over a million followers on Instagram, Karalynne Call, Founder and CEO of Just Ingredients, is a growing force in the natural and organic segment of consumer products. From protein powders to deodorants and much more, Just Ingredients continues to grow their line based on gaps in the market place. If Karalynne can’t find something she wants to use, she finds a way to make it. But her company isn’t just about a product line. She also focuses heavily on educating customers about the importance of mental health and wellness. In 2006, as a young mother, Karalynne battles severe depression and attempts to take her own life. Hitting rock bottom, she begins a health journey, transforming her habits and her diet, and even though never planned, starts her own company with a mission of providing health and wellness products that are made with only real ingredients.
In this open discussion on men’s health, professional artist Jeff Hein shares how a diagnosis of testicular cancer while on his two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints almost takes him to the brink of death. But it's not the cancer that almost kills him, it's the erroneous diagnosis of some of Jeff's medical providers. Now mostly recovered, Jeff discovers as long as he focuses his artistic abilities on the Savior Jesus Christ, the majority of his severe medical complications stay away.
Wanting to be a mother of at least four children, Keri Lister Pratt quickly finds out our righteous desires aren't always what we get. Due to an auto immune disorder diagnosed during high school, Keri and her husband are able to have two children, but the risks are too high for any more. Grateful for the blessings she has, Keri begins a path of entrepreneurship despite her continual health challenges as she puts her faith in the Lord, even if that means never being healed.
When the big shoe brands won’t create the running shoe Golden Harper knows needs to exist, he blazes his own trail and founds Altra Running Shoes, a shoe brand that now does hundreds of millions in sales each year. And while he is no longer involved with the company he started, he is off to the races on another project in the running world - P.R. Gear which continues his goal of helping humans move in the way God created our bodies to move and function.
Abandoned and left at the hospital by his biological mother as a newborn, life is no cake walk for Dusty Headley. Statistically, his life has a higher probability for uncertainty and trial. Today Dusty owns and operates the Animal Medical Center in San Jacinto, California . However, it’s a turbulent ride full of twists and turns as he leans heavily into his family and his faith to make something more of himself than statistics might grant him.
With 18 years of military service under his belt, Logan Curtis decides to exit the Army leaving behind his golden parachute in the form of a federal pension. When it comes to service years in the military, the magic number is 20. Members with 20 years of service are eligible for retirement pay, and for the average retiring officer the amount could be valued at well over a million dollars. With these figures in mind, it's no wonder why some may question Logan's decision to leave with only a couple years remaining. Yet feeling this is the right thing for his family, he takes the step of faith, and opens his own oral surgery office in Upstate New York.
With a recent diagnosis of a tumor in his throat that not only threatens his ability to speak, but also his life in general, Steven Sharp Nelson isn’t immune to questioning his faith. As a member of the acclaimed musical group The Piano Guys, Steven Sharp Nelson puts his faith in the Lord and continues to use his voice as long as he has it to spread his love of music and the gospel to all who will hear it.
Projected to be the Number 1 draft pick in the National Football League, Dan Clark suffers a paralyzing injury in practice, dashing any hope of him playing professional sports. Yet when doctors tell him he has a very small chance of recovery, Dan sets out to prove all the doubters wrong. With persistence, fortitude, and a strong mental attitude, Dan makes a miraculous recovery and even though he will never play professional sports, he uses his story to inspire and motivate others becoming one of the most recognized and sought after motivational speakers in the world.
Utah is known for consuming Jello. Idaho is famous for its potatoes. But what you may not know is that these two states also boast quite a diverse food scene due to it being a popular landing spot for many returned missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These young men and women, who serve all over the world, bring back with them a love of the people, the culture, and the food. Serving his mission in the Czech Republic, Jeremy Carlson, founder and CEO of Crispy Cones, falls in love with the European dessert Trdelnik and literally dreams of bringing it back to the United States. And those dreams come true as his company expands throughout the country, even landing a recent deal on the hit TV series Shark Tank.
In 1994, the United States Congress designates June as Men’s Mental Health Awareness month. Now, almost 30 years later progress is made, but there is still a lot of work to do as societal stigmas regarding masculinity remain. Narratives such as men don’t show weakness, don’t talk about their feelings, and don’t ask for help. Unfortunately, this rhetoric is doing more harm than good, and the proof is in the pudding. More than 3 out of 4 deaths by suicide involve males. Knowing more than a few friends who die by suicide, John Moore, co-founder of Heare Brotherhood is out to make a change. Their mission is simple, build a global brotherhood where men can safely support each other, and talk about their struggles.
In October 2015, then Elder Russell M. Nelson, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gives a talk entitled, "A Plea To My Sisters", in the Sunday morning session of General Conference. And when Michelle Gifford hears his words from her home in Southern California, the spirit of inspiration touches her heart and she knows she must act. Today Michelle is the CEO and Marketing Stategist of her own company – Michelle Gifford Creative. She is an expert in social media and all things marketing, working with companies large and small all across the nation. But none of her success would happen without an ongoing pattern Michelle recognizes in her life – she feels the call to do something, and she immediately takes action to make it happen recognizing she must start to walk, before God starts to talk.
When told he owes the IRS $7.5 million in taxes, Ernie Hewlett is terrified. But not for himself, instead his concern is for those around him he’s responsible for. Over the course of his career Ernie co-founds multiple financial agencies, becoming one of the top producers in the industry. Now having lost a lot of his material wealth as he fights through an 11 year tax audit, he knows where his real value lies, and what eternal treasures he’s working on storing up.
When Vanessa Quigley, co-founder of Chatbooks, finds her young son crying in his room she fully expects to find him physically hurt. What she actually finds is him holding a picture book his teacher gave him, and he is sad that he is growing up. And in this moment, Vanessa recognizes the value and importance of printed pictures, even in a digital age, and the idea for Chatbooks is born. But even for how quickly Chatbooks takes off, there are many years of failure, struggles, and doubt that precede its launch. Now nine years later with millions and millions of books printed and sold, the trials continue even in success, as Vanessa and her family deal with other life challenges such as mental health.
It's said that experience is one of the greatest teachers. And for Daniel Harmon, co-founder of the Harmon Brothers and VidAngel, a negative experience helps blaze the path for his current venture - The Tuttle Twins TV Show! In 2016 Disney sues VidAngel for copyright infringement due to its filtering technology, which allows viewers to skip, mute, or remove unwanted content from movies and TV shows. To help fight the federal lawsuit, VidAngel turns to the crowd to help raise money, and the crowd comes through in a serious way, to the tune of more than $10 million! And because of the success of the campaign, the idea to crowdfund to back the production costs of original content begins. And the intuition pays off, as Angel Studios is created which produces the popular series The Chosen, and is home to Daniel's latest creative project -- The Tuttle Twins.
Having to sell their family dream home to get enough capitalization to keep his retail sports store equipment businesses afloat, Tom Viniika feels the hand of the Lord in his life guiding him through all the detours he traverses, and the obstacles he overcomes. Tom is currently the CEO of The Edmonton Screen Industries Office in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. But before landing this role in 2021, Tom started and sold multiple businesses over the course of 20 years. And through all of his experiences, the ups and the downs, he’s anchored by his family and his faith during the times he feels everything else around him is falling apart.
Like many teenagers, Jeff Albee thinks he knows it all in his youth. Growing up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jeff feels trapped by the rules of his parents. Not wanting to continue education beyond high school, and not wanting to go to church with his family, Jeff chooses to move out and start making choices on his own. But with choices, comes responsibility and accountability. And through good and bad experiences he learns important life lessons. Today, Jeff owns and operates Albee Overhead Doors, a garage door company in Southern California. Yet, the path to get to where he is traversed through 20+ years of run ins with the law, dealing with heart ache from broken relationships, and alcohol and marijuana addictions.
Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc once said, if you look closely, most overnight successes took a long time. And for Kyle Deever, co-founder and co-owner of Performance Window, his business may seem like an instant hit, growing their sales revenues to almost $50 million in less than three years, but what you don’t see are the years preceding the start of his company.
Joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during her senior year at Utah State University, Jill Johnsen stays true to her new faith even in the midst of trial and broken trust. As a newlywed she transitions her life from the State of Washington to North Dakota only to find out her husband is not faithful to their marriage. But with the foundations of her faith firmly rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, Jill makes the choice to move onward and upward which eventually leads her to a faithful spouse and a business opportunity grown out of hard times.
Using $1500 he is saving to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brady Westbrook launches a mobile DJ business at the age of 16. The lessons he learns as a young DJ, along with having to cope with the death of a high school girlfriend propel Brady to follow through in serving an LDS mission in Guatemala where he witnesses the power of audio and video in his lessons. Now married and a father of three, Brady is the owner and CEO of Props AV, a full event production, rentals, equipment, sales, and installation company based in Beaumont, CA. The COVID-19 pandemic terribly impacts his business due to imposed restrictions, but Brady weathers the storm because of inspiration he follows in 2019. He also recognizes the people who he’s supported in employment coming back to support him in a time of great stress in losing business, and his brother to suicide.
Knowing formal education in a university setting is not for him, Brian Harber and his younger brother use their work ethic and a lot of patience to build a multi-million dollar construction company aptly named Harber Companies over the course of 20 plus years. Now retired and having exited from the business he founded, Brian recounts the struggles they endured, the ways they had to adapt in a constantly changing industry, and the fight he continues to put up against cancer.
With musical talent running through their veins, the Bonner Family has made a name for themselves singing songs centered on Jesus Christ. Their path to praise hasn’t been easy as Yahosh, the fifth child of eight describes. But staying together and supporting one another as an African American family in a gospel culture different than their previous faiths, keeping centered on the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and remaining true to their covenants, Yahosh recognizes the blessings of following the Savior provides in his life. And as Yahosh works to grow his own brand as a singer, actor, and motivational speaker, he continues to overcome his own challenges which include not feeling good enough as a performer, and processing the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with its former policy of not allowing men of black African descent to hold the Priesthood.
With two doctor incomes coming into the home, things feel financially secure for Leslie Temple and her husband Brigham. Yet the opportunity to open up their own juice bar is something Leslie dreams of tackling. However, their entrepreneurial adventure takes the family on a financial roller coaster and a constant second guessing of why, only to have everything come into perspective with a 4th of July mass shooting in their hometown of Highland Park, IL.
Less than 2% of all college athletes in any sport actually go on to play professionally, and even less make it to the major leagues. Yet these odds don’t stop Tyler Hollist from setting his sights on making it to the National Basketball Association from a very early age. But when the opportunity doesn’t pan out as he dreamed, Tyler quickly uses his ability to overcome failure and teach this skill to other aspiring athletes by launching Grind Athletics, a company that teaches character and life lessons to younger athletes through sports.
Always one to seek an adventure, Sean Bingham has experienced it all. From closing deals on the hit TV show Shark Tank, to visiting over 50 countries while creating a customizable travel itinerary app called Tripio— Sean has no fear of failure. In fact he embraces it as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and adjust. But now In his early 40’s and still unmarried, the pressure mounts to stay faithful in an LDS culture where he’s not sure where he fits in.
Despite being near the top of his accounting class in college, Mike Baker struggles to find a job after graduation due to fallout from the Enron scandal. However, a chance meeting with a door to door salesman starts Mike on a new career path in law. And with many twists and turns along the way which includes opening his own Tax Law firm, Mike is now facing his biggest challenge to date - his own fight against Parkinson’s disease.
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Not being able to find a swimsuit that both mother and daughter feel comfortable about is a real obstacle for Colette Callister and her daughter Jasmine. But without hesitation, and with only a little experience in business and manufacturing, Colette and her sisters dive head first into solving this problem by launching Lime Ricki, a line of modest swim wear made especially for women and girls. Through their bonds of sisterhood, their willingness to do hard things, and keeping belief in themselves despite guilt and doubt, they continue to grow and thrive with a business that is making a big splash!
Growing up without a father in the home and a teenage mother that wasn't always present, Anthony Shute had a rough upbringing. But living through the consequences of his own actions which include multiple nights in jail, Anthony and his wife Jeannie find the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the most unexpected way. Their new found faith provides an anchor for them to navigate the storms of life as an unforeseen layoff forces them to start what would become a successful Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning company.
As a growing star in the financial world in New York City, Curtis Calder felt his future was secure. But a diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy quickly dimmed his path in finance, changing the trajectory of his career. Unwilling to let this diagnosis stop his ambitions, Curtis continues to step forward with faith. And what started as a hobby built out of a doctor's order to take medical leave, he launched Anson Calder, a luxury leather goods travel accessories company.
When Chris Lee borrowed over $1.2 million from his family to finance his first business, he never imagined having to file bankruptcy almost two years later. But living through his worst business nightmare wasn't nearly as bad as he always imagined it would be. Armed with his faith and patience, and in using the lessons he learned along the way, he persevered through his failure and built a successful solar business that was recently recognized as one of the fastest growing privately held businesses in the nation.
Success is always measured differently, but no matter how it's gauged, there is always something to learn. Come hear how individuals from all over the world got to where they are now, what failures they had to overcome, and how their faith kept them afloat. The first episode of Fortune and Faith is coming on August 8th, 2022!
Coming summer of 2022, Fortune & Faith tells the story of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have failed and struggled on their quest for success. Hear how their trials were supported by their faith, and why they keep pushing forward despite the hard times.