The Sharpen Podcast

Why do some businesses grow while similar companies stall? In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, host Dan Cooper talks with Margaret Reynolds, former Chief Strategy Officer at Hallmark Cards and Acumen's newest Growth Catalyst in Kansas City. They cover "business gravity," strategic clarity, leading vs. lagging indicators, and how to find the intersection between what your market wants and what...

After a decade running Acumen, Dan Cooper took a full month off, no email, no meetings, no contact with his team. In this episode, he sits down with David Ellis to unpack what he learned about rest, trust, identity, and leadership once the business was stripped away for thirty days, including what his team did with the authority he left behind.

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, host Steve Van Diest sits down with Steve Donnigan, founder of A65 Consulting and a fellow member of the Acumen community, to talk about the eight-year journey of building a boutique contract engineering firm that helps medical device companies bring life-changing products to market. Together, they look back on the calculated leap out of a stable engineering...

Blake Moroney built a lifestyle business spanning landscaping, a national car dealership, and real estate — all run as divisions of one company, alongside his wife and business partner, Paige. In this episode, Blake shares how two personal tragedies reshaped his definition of "enough," why he walked away from his longest-running business, and why he's now focused on acquiring local, family-owned K...

Financial advisor Shane Bauman joins the Sharpen Podcast to talk about the shame so many of us carry around money, why true wealth is closer to wholeness than a portfolio number, and how to pass down values, not just assets, as a real inheritance. Connect with Shane at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebauman/ Learn more about Rise Wealth Strategies at: risewealth.org Learn more about Acumen: http...

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, hosts Dan Cooper and Steve Van Diest celebrate the 50th episode and reflect on 15 years of Acumen. Together, they discuss what they have learned from working with CEOs and business owners, including the value of peer advisory teams, honest feedback, trusted community, faith-infused leadership, and stewardship. Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.co...

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Drew Hiss sits down with Bobby Gruenewald, pastor and innovation leader at Life. Church and founder and CEO of YouVersion. Bobby shares his journey from early entrepreneurship to Life. Church , the story behind the Bible App, and the leadership lessons learned along the way. Connect with Bobby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbygruenewald/ https://www.youvers...

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Steve Van Diest sits down with Dan Martella, who leads business development for Bennett Thrasher. They discuss how growth-minded business owners can move beyond reactive compliance and build advisory relationships that support stronger decisions, better capacity, and long-term growth. Dan shares insight on state and local tax challenges, founder-led sales, o...

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Merle Mees of Soulcare Matters to talk about the hidden cost of leadership pressure, the warning signs of soul depletion, and the rhythms that help leaders recover clarity, rest, and wholeness. Merle shares his own story of burnout and explains why soul care is not just another responsibility. It is the work of tending to the inner...

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Jon Bachura, an Acumen Growth Catalyst in Wichita, to talk about generational leadership transitions, legacy, founder identity, and the future of family enterprise. Jon shares why successful transitions are not only about financial structure or choosing the next operator. They require leaders to think clearly about calling, family d...

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Zack Nicholson, Executive Director at Minding the Gap, to talk about leadership, service, and what it takes to build trust in schools and communities over time. Zack shares his journey from entrepreneurship to ministry to nonprofit leadership, along with practical lessons on serving real needs, leading volunteers, and creating lasti...

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Drew Hiss sits down with Duane Donner, founder and CEO of Founder Advisors, to talk about what it takes to build a company that is valuable, transferable, and aligned with a larger purpose. Duane shares how early failure, burnout, and a hard reset in both business and life shaped the way he rebuilt his career and eventually grew an M&A advisory firm focu...

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Clint Overton, founder and managing partner of Boardroom Bullpen, for a conversation about sabbaticals, faith, entrepreneurship, and the role of the trusted advisor. Clint shares how a 21-year career in large organizations, followed by private equity, fractional COO work, and a season of reflection, shaped the way he now helps busin...

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Steve Van Diest sits down with Drew Lints, founder of Revflow Growth Partners, to talk about systems, AI, and how to scale a business without losing the human element. They break down common misconceptions about automation, where businesses waste time on manual work, and how to identify the right opportunities for AI. Drew shares his approach to building cus...

In this episode of the  Sharpen Podcast , Dan Cooper (CEO, Acumen) and Brian Lunt (St. Louis Growth Catalyst, Acumen) discuss relational capital—what it is, how it’s built, and why it still matters in business. As technology continues to increase speed and efficiency, relationships can become secondary. This conversation brings it back to the fundamentals:  trust, consistency, and understanding pe...

In this episode of the  Sharpen Podcast , Steve Van Diest sits down with Blaine Cheshire, Founder & CEO of Level 10 CFO, to talk about money, growth, and the financial decisions that can make or break a business. They unpack the common lies leaders believe about revenue, introduce the idea of the “Revenue Fairy,” and explain why CFOs aren’t risk-averse—they’re risk-conscious. Blaine also share...

Tune in to hear from iHeartMedia veteran Jack Gelley on how brands connect with customers through storytelling, listening to real pain points, and building long-term trust with audio and consistent campaigns. He covers practical advice for business owners — SEO and website basics, campaign timing and measurement, the role of AI, and sales follow-up — to help you grow without losing your why.

In this episode Steve Van Diest interviews Ross Chapman, CEO of the Denver Institute for Faith & Work, about how faith and business intersect. They explore Jesus’ example of ordinary work, reframing ministry to include everyday jobs, and how companies can promote human flourishing through good jobs, competence, and long-term vision. Practical takeaways include treating daily work as ministry,...

Preston Poore joins Dan Cooper to explain his leadership thesis: how you lead matters more than what you achieve. Drawing on 30 years in consumer brands like Coca‑Cola and Hershey, Preston shares stories of failure, transformation, and practical steps—360 feedback, coaching, and self-awareness—to build healthier workplaces. He also discusses integrating faith and humility into daily leadership, wh...

Mike Walrod explains how a fractional integrator implements EOS to free visionary CEOs, build trust, and turn ideas into execution. He covers the integrator role, running effective Level 10 meetings (IDS), the power of clarity breaks, and how disciplined systems create speed and alignment. Practical takeaways include using weekly L10s to solve root problems, scheduling regular clarity breaks, and...

Meet Frank Anello, co-founder and executive director of Project Worthmore, as he shares about founding and scaling a mission-driven organization serving refugees and immigrants on the Colorado Front Range. The conversation covers the organization’s programs (dental clinic, farm, English classes and planned medical/legal services), leadership of a multicultural team, diversified revenue strategies,...

In this episode, we dive deep into themes of collaboration, competition, and calling as we explore the unique journey of Bob Shank, a seasoned entrepreneur turned ministry leader. Join us as Bob shares his insights on transitioning from a thriving career in the construction industry to passionately engaging in ministry work, mentoring leaders, and co-founding The Barnabas Group. Bob discusses the...

In this episode of the Sharpen Podcast, Steve Van Diest engages in an insightful conversation with Dan Glasser, a commercial litigator. Dan shares his journey of founding his own firm in 2009 and the invaluable people lessons he's learned along the way. As they delve into the highs and lows of business leadership, Dan reflects on the challenges of losing employees, the importance of investing in p...

At just 23, Emily Gates has captivated millions on TikTok with her creative content and unique personal brand, illustrating the evolving landscape of digital influence. In this episode, she shares her journey to becoming a recognized content creator with a significant following. She discusses her creative process, the importance of fun and consistency, and how she transitioned from making videos f...

Meet Marcus Kirkwood, founder of Outpost Construction Supply. On today's episode, Marcus shares his unique journey from being a college football player at the University of Colorado to establishing a thriving business in the construction industry. Discover the lessons Marcus learned along the way, including the importance of maintaining purpose and perspective, even amidst the day-to-day challenge...