The Podcast Factory, Fulfillment & Faith
The Podcast Factory, Fulfillment & Faith
How can leaders incorporate faith into their business?
I feel lucky because what we’re touching on here is my faith. I'm Catholic—what they call a cradle Catholic. Faith has always been a part of my life, though not always the center. Through the ups and downs, one constant in my life is that Jesus is always there. God the Father is always there with open arms, welcoming me back. No matter how badly I’ve behaved, how ashamed I’ve felt, or how insignificant I’ve thought I was, He's always there.
During COVID, when we were told to stay inside, lock our doors, and avoid contact with others, I thought to myself, "How could fresh air and vitamin D be bad for me?" So I started walking every day. I live in downtown Orlando, near Lake Eola, so I’m lucky to have a beautiful place to walk. One day, while I was walking, I was trying to figure out what I could do in such a dark time when the world seemed to be falling apart. Many people were struggling, but I was fortunate. I had started a new challenge—75 Hard. I quit drinking, focused on taking care of my body, and gained a lot of clarity.
Then, it hit me during one of those walks. I have this written down because I want to get it right: "As He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Peter and Andrew, casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. He said to them, 'Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" And there it was. God gave me the answer right there.
The work I’m doing, whether it’s through conversations like this one or through the work at The Podcast Factory, is all about leading people to God’s light. Whether someone hears something that changes their life or it’s the work we do every day, I am fishing for men—bringing them back to God, showing them love, and welcoming them with open arms. That’s my job, and I’m grateful for it. How could I not wake up excited when God has given me such a gift.
What actions can business leaders take to apply wisdom in their daily decisions?
I want to build on searching for wisdom. Wisdom doesn't come just from reading the word. Yes, we have a 4,000-year-old manual on how to live life, but simply reading it isn’t enough. It’s about reading the word, reflecting on it, and letting it take root in your mind. But the most important part is living the word. It’s about taking action—doing the work when you're called. When He shows you the way, you might actually need to step up and do something right away.
That’s what I believe separates those who live quiet lives of desperation from those who live lives of limitless possibility—the willingness to take action and do the work.
What can business owners do to find fulfillment beyond financial success?
All of that was followed by suffering and emptiness, and I think that’s what drives a lot of us. We’re in Florida, and anyone from Central Florida knows Ponce Inlet—a high-end area. After high school, I was making about six bucks an hour, building condos for the rich people who would live there. I thought to myself, "One day, I’m going to have one of these."
That dream stayed with me for 20 years, and eventually, I bought a condo downtown—the exact unit I had visualized, prayed for, and meditated on. But once I got it, I felt sad. I started drinking a lot. Downtown, you can go bar-hopping, and I was getting drunk all the time, trying to fill an empty space inside me. I didn’t know why it was there or what it was. I just knew that no matter what I did, I couldn’t be happy or satisfied.
I started looking saying, maybe I need to ask different questions. I had a friend who put me on the challenge of 75 hard. I said, well, this sounds like getting in charge of my body again. That's probably what I need right now. So it was a detox from the alcohol. It was a detox from the bad eating. It was a detox from the distractions. During that time, space opened up and that space was filled by God's light. I realized what I was really missing. And from there, it really started building.
How can business owners assess if they're reaching their full potential?
If you're here with us right now, you're not like the 95% of people who accept the status quo. You want more. Maybe you're feeling unsatisfied, or maybe you believe you have more to offer the world. That’s why it’s important to recognize this early on. I learned this lesson myself when I was an electrician. By the time I was 23 or 24, I had climbed the ranks quickly. I was a foreman, running jobs, managing crews, and overseeing blueprints. I was even managing men older than me, some older than my father.
But that’s when I had to ask myself, "Is this it? Is this all I’m supposed to be doing—wiring buildings and running jobs? Is this all I have to offer the world?" I encourage you to ask yourself this question every time you feel stuck. Write it down, journal it: "Is this it? Am I supposed to be doing more? Am I happy? What do I want more of? What do I want less of?"
If we ask these questions regularly, we can get closer to becoming who we’re meant to be and find the work that brings us purpose and fulfillment.
Why should business owners prioritize what truly matters first?
You don’t do it all. You’ll need to set priorities. A mentor once showed me something eye-opening, something I didn’t realize I had the power to control. His name is Mark Acosta Rubio—look him up, he’s brilliant. He introduced me to an idea that was so impactful, I ended up doing a podcast series with him called "The Double Double Show" to share it with others.
The concept is simple: we need to flip the pyramid. Most of us approach life like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where success and self-actualization are at the top. We think, "Once I make that next million, I’ll be happy" or "Once I get that car or condo, I’ll be happy." But we work hard, chase these things, and find that they don’t fulfill us. The idea is to flip that thinking and prioritize what really matters.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
