Prosper Podcast

Andreas & Rebecca welcome Andrew Abela, Dean of the Busch School of Business, to speak about his new book, "Superhabits: The Universal System for a Succesful LIfe." Dr. Abela speaks about his pre-academic career as a whiz-kid marketer at Proctor & Gamble and McKinsey. And then he leads listeners through how to improve their "human operating systems" with superhabits --and how to choose whi...

Guest Regina Bethencourt, CEO of Tenuto, details how, not liking what she saw at a top NY marketing firm, she created her own company to provide a flexible work environment catering to the needs of parents, particularly mothers, who want to do challenging, excellent work as they care for their growing families. You'll also hear insights on building a competitive advantage in business through h...

Grady Connolly, founder of SocialThomist, shares his journey from student to entrepreneur, emphasizing the importance of storytelling for Catholics in social media. He discusses the mission of his agency, which focuses on helping individuals and organizations share their messages effectively through social media. Grady offers valuable insights on creating meaningful content, knowing when to turn s...

Ismael Hernandez shares his remarkable journey from Fidel Castro's disciple to advocate for free market principles and individual dignity. He'll detail how coming to the U.S. caused him to re-evaluate free markets and human dignity —but also what it was like as a poor minority to be on the receiving end of charitable programs —and how we can and must do better. Learn more about the Freedom...

Not every entrepreneur starts a business from scratch. Some find a model they can use and build on it. In today's episode, Robert Tunmire tells a great story about taking on a franchise when he was only 17 and how he rose in the ranks of Neighborly, coming to see business as an important way tol lift other people up. Learn how to build a company culture of support, the importance of having a stron...

Andreas & Rebecca welcome artist John Herreid to discuss the relationship between art and work, and practical tips for building a career as a working artist. John’s recommended resources for artists in business;  Getting Things Done by David Allen Muddy Colors  The Angelico Project John Herreid’s own book, Catholic Home Gallery , would make a perfect Christmas gift for someone on your list.  F...

Dr. Cabrini Pak, Marketing expert, discusses the intrepid entrepreneurship exhibited by her namesake, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Dr. Pak highlights the saint's curiosity, creativity, and fortitude in meeting the needs of marginalized immigrants. She also explores the concept of "entrepreneurial alertness" and how this relates to her speciality in addressing under-developed markets, such as the "s...

Luke Burgis, author of the best-selling, Wanting , joins the Prosper cast to talk about his his journey through various business ventures in the "wellness" sector, how the influence of René Girard taught him to want better things for himself, and the importance of leadership in shaping desires. Join us to explore the concept of mimetic desire, the role of education in cultivating better wants, and...

If you give to your church electronically, chances are you're using FaithDirect, the brainchild of today's guest, serial entrepreneur ⁠Brian Walsh⁠ . Learn from Brian how his being chronically late for mass led to an innovation that probably saved many parishes during the pandemic. You'll also hear the importance of a person-centered value proposition, the role of persistence and grit in entrepren...

"Jesus loves profit." That's Fr. Bob Gahl's challenge to Christians at work in the secular or religious spheres. Join us as we unpack what he means by this provocative premise! You'll also hear what Fr. Bob brought from an early career in Silicon Valley to his priesthood and how those who serve the Church can shift from a "maintenance" to a "mission" mode. Church Management Programs at Catholic Un...

Pope St. John Paul II defined poverty as exclusion from circles of exchange. Join us as Andreas Widmer and his co-hosts explore what he meant and champion enterprise as more sustainable and long-term solution for poverty and other social problems than direct charity. Topics include repenting of our learned condescension towards the poor, the role of small & medium enterprises (SMEs) in powerin...

Why is your business not taking off as hoped? Could it be that you're not listening carefully to your target audience? Join us as we explore how to find the right problem to solve, how to continually challenge your own assumptions, why it's important to invert the hierarchy to get useable feedback, and the surprising power of a two-word question: so what? Find The Art of Principled Entrepr...

It's commonly said the best workplaces are "like family." But is that a helpful aspiration or a category mistake? Join Andreas, Rebecca, and Jon as they explore what we mean when we say business is like a family and the possible dangers of thinking so. This episode refers to an article by Juan Fernandez in Inc Magazine. Y ou'll also hear us mention our Family Business Consortium...

In this episode, Dr. Jay Richards discusses the misconceptions surrounding work and the market economy. He explains that work is not a punishment but a part of being made in the image of God. He also debunks the idea that the market economy was created through the Enlightenment, highlighting the biblical and theological foundations of private property and trade. Dr. Richards addresses the concern...

Think differently about how to start a business. Learn why the Ciocca Center prefers the "Lean Start-up" method for business creation and how we encourage agency and measured risk-taking in students who have been taught to be overly cautious. VentureLab Assistant Director and gelateria founder Francesco Brown shares his experience teaching entrepreneurship and the importance of experient...

Andrea & Rebecca welcome their newest and youngest colleague, Francesco Brown, to the show. Listen as Francesco describes launching his La Marmotta gelateria and the challenges of making great gelato while employing workers with Down Syndrome. In Francesco you'll hear the Principled Entrepreneurship mindset we teach embodied in a young entrepreneur. And you'll learn the surefire way to...

Join Andreas and his co-hosts continue their exploration of how C-Suite leaders can build a great business culture, this time through the lens of surprising choices made by the late Art Ciocca, founder of The Wine Group. Along the way you'll hear some fascinating lore from the origins of the wine industry in the United States, and discover again why a "culture of efficiency" doesn&#3...

This episode explores the first "pillar of principled entrepreneurship": The economy exists for people, not people for the economy." Join Andreas, Jon & Rebecca as they discuss work as a path to holiness and human excellence, and how good and lasting businesses focus on creating value for others. They also touch on the importance of hiring based on character, of investing in the...

Join Andreas Widmer and Rebecca Teti as they discuss the wide variety of kinds of entrepreneurs (which one are you?) and the importance, no matter your position or role, of thinking like an owner. They share their experiences trying to build a "challenge culture" within a company, and the role of calculated risk-taking in entrepreneurship. They conclude by discussing the role of providen...

Andreas and Rebecca discuss the importance of discovering and using one's gifts in the service of others. They encourage people to let God speak to them in their talents and interests among other things,  and to pursue excellence because work is a part of the way we discover who we are. They also explore the role of discernment in career choices and offer practical advice for those who are con...

Just what is entrepreneurship, and how is it related to creativity? Join Andreas, Jon & Rebecca as they delve into entrepreneurship as a calling, emphasizing the importance of participation in God's creativity. The conversation highlights the role of entrepreneurship in creating community and fostering stability and family formation. We also talk about our late colleague, Michael Novak,&#3...

INTRO TO PROSPER: PROSPERITY “YES,” PROSPERITY GOSPEL “NO” Seasoned entrepreneur Andreas Widmer, Director of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at The Catholic University of America, launches his new podcast with colleagues Jon Bachura & Rebecca Teti to explore the intersection of faith and business in everyday practice.  Today they  introduce the show, discuss the relationship...