First & Focused

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a person who has spent years building businesses, relationships, and influence realizes that success alone isn't enough? Josiah Myers has spent much of his career building things. He started Arriva with just one investment unit in his basement and eventually grew the company to more than 1,000 units, earning a Business First Fast 50 award as one of Ohio&apos...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a few people decide to put God first in business and simply see what He does with it? That's the story behind Tithe Foundation. In this special episode of First and Focused, Mark Greaves sits down with Matt Wooster to look back at the history of their relationship, the growth of Tithe Foundation, and some of the lessons God has taught them along the way. Mat...

Send us Fan Mail What if the business you've spent your life building could become a tool for something much bigger than financial success? Michael Valley has spent more than four decades in business and financial services. He founded Eastwind Capital Wealth Management in 1991 and continues to lead the company today. But Michael's story didn't begin in wealth management. His entrepr...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the future you've worked your entire life for suddenly disappears? For Shaun Lane, that question became very real in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. Shaun was an Ohio State football player with NFL aspirations when a career-ending injury against Texas changed the trajectory of his life. What looked like the end of one dream ultimately became the beginning of a much bi...

Send us Fan Mail 30 Episodes • 30 Leaders • 4 Lessons • One Common Thread What can you learn when you spend the first six months sitting across the table from 30 leaders who are intentionally putting God first? In this special episode of First & Focused , Mark Greaves takes a step back from the traditional interview format to reflect on the first six months of the show—and the critical moments...

Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to lead with nothing to hide, nothing to prove, and nothing to lose? In this episode of First & Focused , Mark Greaves sits down with Dr. Dan Owolabi , founding CEO of Branches Worldwide, a global leadership development organization that has equipped executives, entrepreneurs, and business owners across 35 countries to build companies that transform thei...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you stop asking, "What do I want to do?" and start asking, "What is God calling me to do?" In this episode of First & Focused , Mark Greaves sits down with Trina Ryan , Regional Vice President for Shaw Industries and leader of Women of Good Work, to talk about faith, leadership, motherhood, obedience, and bringing the Gospel into the workp...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a driven, successful leader realizes that achievement alone isn't enough? In this episode of First & Focused , Mark Greaves sits down with Jon Giganti , founder and leader of Giganti Group, to talk about leadership, anxiety, entrepreneurship, intentional living, fatherhood, and the moment faith changed the trajectory of his life. Jon spent 25 years with...

Send us Fan Mail What if your career could become one of the greatest tools for Kingdom impact? In this episode of First and Focused, we sit down with Sam Koon — founder and President of Sam Koon and Associates, a leading Real Estate and Business Appraisal firm in Central Ohio, and local leader for PrimeMovers, a ministry founded by Pastor Chip Ingram through the Living on the Edge Umbrella. For d...

Send us Fan Mail Every hair on your head is numbered – Luke 12:7. That's the verse behind the name of Twelve 7 Barbershop . In this episode of First and Focused, we talk with Kevin Zeallear , co-founder and owner of Twelve 7 Barbershop in Worthington, Ohio, about building a business rooted in Scripture, ministering to clients one haircut at a time, and walking through a recent cancer battle t...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really look like to let your faith shape your financial decisions? In this episode of First and Focused, we sit down with Mike Perez — Certified Kingdom Advisor, leader of Embassy Wealth Advisors in Columbus, OH, and author of Faith and Finances: Embracing Biblical Principles for Financial Success and Generosity. With 35 years of experience in financial planning and a...

Send us Fan Mail Jared Weston didn’t grow up as a man of faith — but a golf event at a Christian Business Men’s Connection gathering in Oklahoma changed everything. Now, as Area Director for CBMC, he’s on a mission to equip men in the marketplace to live with purpose, lead with faith, and show up fully for the people around them. From hosting elite events featuring Black Hawk Down veteran Jeff Str...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a business puts faith at the center — not just on the wall, but in the way they work, pray, and serve? Steve Greaves and Stephen Coan, both mortgage professionals at Tithe Lending, flip the script on today’s episode. Instead of leaders in ministry or a Christian business owner, we’re going inside a Christian-led business to hear what it actually feels like from t...

Send us Fan Mail What does leadership development look like in Africa, South America, and beyond? Paddy McBane — founder of Marketplace Solutions and Lead Global Trainer for Transformational Leadership has led initiatives across 7 countries and 16 international trips, and he’s just getting started. With 20 years of business behind him, a 45-year marriage to Leslie, and a college degree in Music Pe...

Send us Fan Mail What would you say to your kids if you knew today might be your last day? Super Bowl Champion and former Ohio State Tight End Jake Ballard joins nonprofit fundraising leader Brian Canavan to talk about “Hey Dad” — a groundbreaking app that lets fathers record video messages that unlock at key moments throughout their children’s lives. From Jake’s ACL tear in the Super Bowl to Bria...

Send us Fan Mail Enviro Construction co-owner William Cox joins First and Focused to talk about leading a blue-collar business with bold Christian conviction at just 26 years old. William shares stories from growing up around construction, finding deeper surrender to Jesus during college, working as a ranch hand in Wyoming, and ultimately returning to Ohio where he saw God clearly direct his path...

Send us Fan Mail Faith Community Church Lead Pastor Ben Douglass joins First and Focused to share his journey from engineering ambitions to pastoral ministry in the heart of Columbus’ westside. Pastor Ben discusses growing up in an urban environment, hearing God’s call into ministry, pastoring through the challenges of COVID and social unrest, and helping launch Westside Christian School to bring...

Send us Fan Mail Center for Christian Virtue’s Church Ambassador Network Director Chris Lightfoot joins First and Focused for a conversation on leadership, obedience, generosity, and following God through unexpected transitions. From financial advising to the National Christian Foundation and now serving pastors and churches across Ohio, Chris shares lessons learned from walking closely with the L...

Send us Fan Mail St. Paul’s Outreach missionary John Mullen joins First and Focused to discuss leaving behind a successful engineering career to pursue full-time ministry, the spiritual hunger emerging among young adults, and why he believes the next generation may be more open to the Gospel than many realize. John shares his journey from mechanical engineering into missionary work, the influence...

Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to follow God while building at the edge of innovation? In this episode, we sit down with Andy Dickson—entrepreneur, venture builder, and leader in nanotechnology—to talk about faith, endurance, and long-term vision. Andy shares his journey from early days at CompuServe to launching companies like SmartPaint, Nanotherm, and now leading Novara. We dive into:...

Send us Fan Mail How do you keep your faith alive when it becomes familiar? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Jeffrey Broadnax shares wisdom from over 30 years in pastoral leadership, coaching, and ministry development. We discuss: How to maintain childlike faith over time  What great leaders are missing today  His family’s powerful story—from slavery to leadership in just generations  Why the Ch...

Send us Fan Mail What if the most impactful life you could live isn’t extraordinary—but faithful? In this episode, we sit down with Harvey Hook, a respected ministry leader, author, and founder of The Gathering in Columbus, Ohio. With over 50 years of experience in ministry and leadership, Harvey shares what he’s learned about living a life of purpose, proximity, and consistency. We explore: His e...

Send us Fan Mail What if the way you think about money is shaping your relationship with God more than you realize? In this episode of First and Focused , we sit down with Courtney Markley—speaker, author, and founder of the Center for Financial Discipleship—to unpack the deeper connection between faith and finances. Courtney shares her unexpected journey from the fashion industry into financial c...

Send us Fan Mail Longevity in leadership is increasingly rare—but faithfulness over time leaves a powerful legacy. In this episode of First and Focused , we sit down with Scott Arnold, Executive Director of Central Ohio Youth For Christ, to discuss three decades of serving youth in one city. Scott shares what he walked into when he first stepped into leadership, the “Only God” stories that shaped...

Send us Fan Mail Youth sports have transformed into a high-pressure, high-visibility environment shaped by NIL deals, social media, and rising expectations. In this episode of First and Focused , we sit down with Rye D'Orazio and Aaron Quinn of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to examine where faith fits in today’s competitive culture. Rye shares how he transitioned from a successful tech...