Fortune and Faith

From moving across state lines to watching his parents stretch every dollar, Jonathan Schaupp learns early on that building a better life requires going out and earning it. Raised in a large family that takes bold leaps of faith—moving from California to a 47-acre farm in Arizona, and eventually settling in Tucson—Jonathan transforms early financial hardship into a relentless drive to build a life...

LaMese "Uncle Mese" Ugapo is a true renaissance man—catering business owner, Subway franchisee, food producer, content creator, and songwriter. But if you ask him, his favorite titles will always be husband and father of seven. In this episode, Mese shares his incredible journey from growing up in Torrance and Banning, California, to experiencing a pivotal family faith transformation thr...

Imagine growing up in the early 1980s in a tiny, 900-square-foot house in Cabazon, California—with nine people sharing a single bathroom. That was the turbulent reality for Andrew Gardner, founder of Gardner’s Tax Service. In this episode, Andrew opens up about his tumultuous childhood as the oldest son in a massive blended family. When life at home threatens to pull him under during his teenage y...

What happens when you strip a tech-obsessed kid of his Nintendo and Sega systems? If you’re Kevin Hoffman, you build a career in computing instead. In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Hoffman—former CEO of eFolder and the current founder of SparkLogs—to map out his fascinating journey through the tech landscape. Born into an academic family in Provo, Utah, Kevin’s life changes when his father...

Michael Glauser grows up with a singular dream: the NBA. But when his path veers which leads to the Mexican professional league, he discovers that his values and his environment were no longer in sync. This pivotal moment sparks a shift from playing the game to coaching the players— but not in sports, those in business. As the owner of CienEQ, Michael now serves as a specialized executive coach, h...

With a lifelong love of candy apples, Katie Nolte, owner of Katie’s Caramel Apples is the heart and hands behind Katie’s Caramel Apples in San Diego, California. What begins as a simple home-based venture has grown into something much sweeter—a reflection of grit, purpose, and unwavering priorities. Katie shares how she builds her business from the ground up with determination and discipline, whil...

Toby Tilford is co-founder and co-CEO of Links Healthcare Group, a company known for revitalizing struggling nursing homes and transforming them into thriving care communities. What began in 2017 has grown into an organization operating 40 facilities across California and Tennessee, serving nearly 5,000 residents and employing more than 6,000 team members. Toby shares the story behind the mission...

In this episode, we sit down with Utah-based indie singer/songwriter  Alli Barker , a planner at heart and an artist by calling. Raised in Pleasant Grove as the eldest of four, Alli learns early how to lead, organize, and dream big—launching her first neighborhood business at just 11 years old, competing in tennis, and performing on stage through high school theatre. But Alli’s story runs deeper t...

What started as a simple question—“Is there a better way to go?”—became a groundbreaking invention that flipped bathroom habits upside down (or should we say, feet up?). From a moment of inspiration to viral fame, Judy Edwards, the creator of the Squatty Potty shows that innovation can come from the most unexpected places… even the bathroom. Today’s episode is all about thinking  outside the bowl...

Originally released in 2023, we are republishing this episode after our podcast platform host removed it since we played one of the group’s songs at the end of the episode without going through the proper copyright process. The song is now removed and the episode is uploaded again because it would be a shame to not have this available for all to hear. Enjoy!

MIA the rest of 2025. Stay tuned for 2026!

Dane Astle, founder of Edifice Architecture, a boutique commercial firm with projects spanning Arizona. Dane’s journey to opening Edifice in 2018 was more than a career move—it was the fulfillment of a ten–year vision that began when he graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in architecture. But the roots of his determination stretch back even further. Growing up as the seventh of nin...

A double encounter with pungent passengers on his flight to and from his destination sparks Michael DeLeeuw to create the essence ring, a sanctuary for the olfactories. However, just like any good flight will experience moments of turbulence, the journey to get his invention off the ground didn’t come without its bumps. But with good old fashion hard work, self belief, and a deal on the hit TV sho...

In this episode of  Fortune and Faith , we share the story of Allison Brown—a high achiever who always embraces a challenge. From excelling as a three-sport athlete and valedictorian in Palmdale, CA, to pursuing her dream of attending Brigham Young University, Allison seems on track to achieve everything she sets her heart on. Her artistic talents flourish at BYU’s fine arts program, but life take...

Though now celebrated for their genre-defying blend of classical, pop, and rock music, Jon Schmidt's path to the piano was far from certain as the pianist of the world renowned group - The Piano Guys. As the youngest of five children in a family of German immigrants who fled WWII, Jon’s early piano lessons came from his older sister. Despite his natural gift, it wasn’t until a profound loss and a...

In this episode of  Fortune and Faith , we sit down with Edmonton Oilers Center Derek Ryan—the NHL’s only member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—as he opens up about his remarkable journey of faith, perseverance, and purpose. From humble beginnings in Spokane, Washington, where he grows up in the Catholic Church and is coached by his father on local hockey teams, Derek never ima...

Mike Hood—a man whose first 20 years of life are filled with uncertainty and upheaval, but whose last 40 years are marked by consistency, purpose, and a deep-rooted faith. Mike is the owner of Hood Financial, a retirement planning, investment management and financial planning firm. Growing up, he’s the oldest of three children in a Navy family, meaning Mike is familiar with change. With frequent m...

Never thinking a career was a possibility for herself, Katie Hendrickson is determined to teach her four daughters they can accomplish anything. As a young mother, and with her husband constantly traveling for work , Katie begins her small business journey by just doing. When she has an idea, she makes it happen and includes her daughters in the process teaching them lessons they can carry through...

Travis Salisbury grows up knowing the value of hard work as the third of 12 children on his family’s 600-acre farm. With farming as his foundation, he naturally envisions it as his future. Opportunities align to make that dream a reality—until a profound spiritual experience at Brigham Young University sets him on an unexpected path. This pivotal moment causes him to change his major and alters wh...

At 86 years old, Rich Johnston is happily retired after a life of adventure and fulfillment. Taking the time to reflect on his journey, from his business ventures, to his family, his wife, and even his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rich can trace many of his blessings back to a signature dish he's become locally famous for - Rich's Ribs. As Rich describes it, if it...

Lindsey Hawes, the oldest daughter of a “girl dad” entrepreneur, grows up in Utah surrounded by her dad’s various business ventures. From piano stores to gas stations and everything in between, Lindsey doesn’t always know the ins and outs of what her dad does, but she knows she lives a good life with all her needs being met. Fast forward over 20 years, and now Lindsey is stepping into the entrepre...

Ask any child of a military service member, and most likely they’ll tell you stories of moving around a lot, and never making close friends because of it.  But more often than not, they will also tell you in adulthood how these experiences helped shape their lives and gave them different skills for their future endeavors.  And it’s no different for Chris Bird, co founder of Chimeris. His dad is in...

Hello friends, if you’re a consistent listener of this show, THANK YOU!  And if you listen to each show no doubt you’ve heard my little tagline at the end, you know, the one that goes, new episodes come out every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month?  Well, that’s all going to change starting right now.  I really do love talking to my guests and hearing about their stories and being able to relay them...

Ritch Winter, a small-town dreamer from Drumheller, Alberta, transforms his passion for sports into a successful career as a sports agent. From an early age, Ritch envisions himself navigating the world of professional athletics, but his journey takes a profound turn when he finds faith. In his story, one of perseverance and divine intervention, Ritch is a student at the University of Calgary, whe...

Striving to turn passion into career, Forrest Sim, a Colorado Springs native grows up with a love of the outdoors. From camping to backpacking and rock climbing, Forrest's connection to nature runs deep, influenced by his geologist mother and military father. His adventurous spirit even caught the eye of his wife while they were both at Brigham Young University Idaho. While at school, Forrest...