First & Focused

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...

Send us Fan Mail Scaling a company from zero to thousands of employees requires vision, grit, and leadership clarity. In this episode of First and Focused , we sit down with Greg Alcorn, founder and CEO of Global Contract Services, to discuss faith-driven entrepreneurship and building companies that create lasting impact. Greg reflects on growing up as a minister’s son, stepping into risk as a you...

Send us Fan Mail Elite performance often focuses on physical strength—but sometimes the greatest strength is spiritual resilience. In this episode of First and Focused , we sit down with Brock Meadows, founder of Power Factory, Project Lean Nation, Dulci Sweets, and multi-location owner of Orangetheory Fitness, to discuss how two near-death experiences reshaped his life and faith. Brock shares the...

Send us Fan Mail The mortgage industry has seen its share of volatility—but rarely does it see leaders put faith front and center. In this episode of First and Focused , we sit down with Brian Ziemer, Co-Founder and COO of Tithe Lending, to explore what it looks like to integrate faith and finance at scale. With nearly 30 years of leadership experience through housing booms, crashes, and market re...

Send us Fan Mail Education shapes the future—and faith shapes the soul. In this episode of First and Focused , Dr. Todd Marrah unpacks why Christian education is critical in today’s cultural moment and how spiritual formation prepares students for life, not just academics. From leading Tree of Life Christian Schools to influencing education nationally and globally, Dr. Marrah shares leadership les...

Send us Fan Mail What if families in crisis could receive short-term assistance without the fear of losing their children to the foster system? In this episode of First and Focused , Melody Marshall shares how My Village Ministries is reshaping family preservation through biblical hospitality and radical compassion. Melody explains how churches, businesses, and even the state are partnering to kee...

Send us Fan Mail Can faith thrive in the world of high finance? In this episode of First and Focused , Matt Wooster shares how his journey through banking, private equity, and global finance led him to a life fully centered on Jesus. Now a Managing Director at HPS Investment Partners (acquired by BlackRock), Matt opens up about his faith transformation, leading with integrity in the financial worl...

Send us Fan Mail Something is changing on college campuses—and faith is at the center of it. In this episode of First and Focused , longtime ministry leaders Matt Kuchers and Jim Schmidtke share what they’re seeing firsthand among student-athletes and young leaders. With decades of experience in campus and professional sports ministry, they discuss revival, outspoken Christian athletes, leadership...

Send us Fan Mail What if true healing required more than exercises and prescriptions? In this episode of First and Focused , Doctors of Physical Therapy Kevin Nowacki and Kenton Keeslar share how faith, love, and purpose are transforming health outcomes at Elevate Human Performance. The founders reveal why they chose to challenge traditional healthcare norms, how faith shapes their approach to reh...

Send us Fan Mail How does a financial advisor build one of the fastest-growing firms in the country while putting God first? In this episode of First and Focused , Joe Schmitz shares the mindset, courage, and faith that fueled his rapid rise as a Kingdom-driven leader in finance. From launching Peak Retirement Planning to becoming a Certified Kingdom Advisor, Joe explains how biblical principles g...

Send us Fan Mail What if your profession became your greatest mission field? In this powerful episode of First and Focused , legendary dental implant pioneer Dr. Duke Heller shares how a lifetime career turned into a platform for bold, personal evangelism. With over 20,000 dental implants placed and thousands of dentists trained, Dr. Heller reveals how his love for Jesus shaped his work, his famil...

Send us Fan Mail Christian music is exploding—and the leaders behind the microphones are shaping more than playlists. In this episode of First and Focused , we sit down with Bill Montgomery, CEO of River Radio Ministries, to explore faith-driven leadership in the rapidly evolving music and broadcast industry. Recorded inside the studios of 104.9 The River, Bill shares how God prepared him for lead...