The Surthrivalist Podcast with Zach Wise

What if the thing draining you right now is actually the thing God wants to use as a bridge into your future calling? In this coaching conversation, Zach sits down with Nathan Morales — pastor, real estate agent, husband, father, and lifelong teacher at heart — to unpack the tension so many Christian entrepreneurs and bivocational leaders feel but rarely say out loud. Nathan feels trapped between...

Some of the most influential voices in your life aren’t the loudest—they’re the ones who quietly show you what faithfulness looks like over decades. Today’s episode is different. This isn’t a coaching session. It’s a tribute. Zach sits down with his uncle Len—one of the earliest entrepreneurs he ever observed—to unpack a life built not just on business success, but on steady faith, consistent pray...

What kind of business are you building? One that cashes out quickly, or one that could still bless people long after you’re gone? In this episode, Zach sits down with Brenton Riling, founder of Appalachia Digital and the Reformed Business Alliance, for a real conversation about building with conviction, courage, and a long horizon. They talk about risk, theology, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and...

After 23 years of building and running his company, James Winters has reached a new crossroads. His business, focused on stove installation, chimney cleaning, and home services, has grown through hard work, strong values, and a loyal team. But like many founders, James has discovered a difficult reality: when the owner carries everything, the business can’t truly run without him. In this real-time...

If you’ve ever looked at your business and thought, “I’d rather build this with my family than with strangers,” this conversation is for you. In this real-time coaching session, Zach Wise sits down with John Byrd, a Christian business owner and homeschooling dad, to talk through what it actually looks like to invite your kids into meaningful work, without crushing them or turning your home into a...

Wearing every hat in your business might work for a season—but it won’t get you to the next one. In this coaching conversation, Zach sits down with Joel Lonbeck, founder of a growing custom software company in Indonesia. Joel has built a strong, loyal development team, but like many founders, he’s caught between being the visionary, the technician, and the leader who wants to be present at home. J...

Ever feel like every marketer online is shouting something different at you…And it’s leaving you more confused than helped? In this coaching session, Zach sits down with Caleb Price—founder of The Podcast Upload—and cuts through the noise to reveal the simplest path to growth: focus on what God is already blessing. What unfolds is a clear, practical roadmap for Christian entrepreneurs who are tire...

What do parenting, product development, and personnel decisions all have in common? They’re shaped by how we think—and how long we’re willing to wait before acting. Zach is joined by long-time mentor and friend Derek Maxson, co-founder of Front Porch and coach to pastors and churches. Together, they revisit the books and ideas that shaped their leadership, discussing everything from hiring practic...

What if the hardest part of running your business isn’t the clients, the subs, or the cashflow—but your own conviction to keep doing what’s right, even when it costs you? In this coaching conversation, Zach sits down with high-end contractor and interior designer Weslei Costa to unpack how to lead with agency instead of obligation and build a business that multiplies your values, not just your pro...

What do you do when your business is overflowing with work in one season and nearly silent in another? That’s the tension Joe Brinegar is navigating. He’s the owner of Ignite Gas Appliance Solutions, a one-man shop serving his California community with propane and gas appliance repair. Known as the go-to guy for fireplaces, water heaters, and cook stoves, Joe faces a familiar challenge: intense wi...

Have you ever watched someone on your team walking straight toward a mistake… and wrestled with whether to step in or let them learn the hard way? That’s exactly where today’s guest, Ryan Calistro, finds himself—leading a 200+ person, multi-brand organization and learning how to lead without rescuing. In this coaching conversation, Zach and Ryan dig into the tension between being a high-driving, a...

How do you handle it when a massive publishing house releases a book with your exact title and character name—after you’ve poured four years into your story? That’s the challenge Dan Atkins is facing. He’s a high school teacher, former pastor, and first-time author whose debut fantasy novel, The Light Seekers, just wrapped a successful Kickstarter campaign. But now he’s navigating the high-stakes...

What do you do when your top sales reps are relationally gifted—but leave a mess behind in your CRM? That’s the tension Tony Barnes is facing. As Head of Sales Operations at 5.11 Tactical, Tony’s trying to drive AI innovation and improve sales forecasting accuracy—but without direct authority over the reps whose data he relies on. In this real-time coaching conversation, we talk through: Why bad d...

The Surthrivalist Podcast is where Christian entrepreneurs get the real, unscripted coaching they’ve been craving. Hosted by Zach Wise, this show tackles the tension between building a business that matters and becoming the man God has called you to be. Expect raw conversations, honest struggles, biblical wisdom, and practical strategy to help you move from surviving to surthriving—in business, in...