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Faith Driven Investor

John Coleman, Luke Roush

Faith Driven Investor is a growing movement of business leaders, fund managers, investors, and pastors who are driven by their faith. We believe that God owns it all and that he cares deeply about how we steward our investments. Our vision is for a world where Christ's followers can pursue excellent investments that allow for financial returns and Gospel-centered transformation. Every investment has an impact. What's yours?

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#230
Monday · 25 min
Episode 230 - Investing in African Healthcare & Fintech | Dr. Ola Brown
When Dr. Ola Brown's 12-year-old sister needed emergency care in Nigeria, the nearest air ambulance was seven hours away, in South Africa. The family lost her. Dr. Brown made a promise to God that day — and kept it, building an air ambulance service that would go on to serve over 40 African countries and fly more than 5,000 emergency requests a year. Dr. Ola Brown is a British-Nigerian medical doctor turned investor, and the Founder of HealthCap Africa, a venture capital and infrastructure fund investing in healthtech and fintech across the continent. After founding and scaling Flying Doctors Nigeria, she moved into investing — raising her first fund from 12 Nigerian families before launching HealthCap in 2020, with MasterCard anchoring the fund's first close. She now sits at the intersection of medicine, finance, and faith, building a thesis around two sectors she believes are central to Africa's future: healthcare and financial services. Key Topics: The origin story behind Flying Doctors Nigeria — and the personal loss that started it Why healthcare is one of the most inflation-resistant, counter-cyclical sectors to invest in Nigeria's population trajectory and what it means for global investors Portfolio spotlights: MDaaS Diagnostics and InstantRad's AI-powered radiology Reframing "health and wealth" away from prosperity-gospel connotations What Jesus's healing ministry teaches about business as a tool for the gospel Why West African entrepreneurial culture may be closer to America's than Europe's For investors weighing whether God might be calling them into African markets, this conversation offers something rare: a data-backed macro case paired with a deeply personal, faith-rooted why. Dr. Brown makes the case that comparative advantage, population growth, and Kingdom impact aren't competing priorities — they're the same opportunity. Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.
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#229
August 17 · 24 min
Episode 229 - Investing in Africa's Missing Middle | Matthew Rohrs
Host Henry Kaestner sits down with Matthew Rohrs, leader of Synapis, to explore one of the most overlooked opportunities in frontier-market investing: the "missing middle" — businesses too large for microfinance but too small (or too early) to attract private equity and venture capital. Matthew shares how Synapis has spent over a decade training and accelerating entrepreneurs across Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, and why this segment drives up to 70% of job creation in emerging economies. This episode digs into Synapis's Kingdom Business Framework — a three-part model built around relationship with God, stewardship, and impact — and unpacks why African entrepreneurs are often more naturally integrated in their faith and business than their Western counterparts. Matthew and Henry also discuss the concept of "evangelical Gnosticism," the sacred-secular divide that shapes how Christians in the West think about work versus how it's lived out in markets like Kenya, where 72% of Synapis alumni report at least one employee coming to faith through their company. Listeners will hear real stories of scale and impact, including Kickwetu Flowers — a 30-acre flower export business near Mount Kenya that has funded clean water boreholes, a soccer program for at-risk youth, and a weekly kitchen feeding 300 people — all funded from business profits, not donations. Key Topics: Defining the "missing middle": the investment gap between microfinance and institutional capital Synapis's Kingdom Business Framework: relationship, stewardship, and impact Why 72% of Synapis alumni have seen an employee come to faith through their business "Evangelical Gnosticism" and the sacred-secular divide in Western business thinking Case study: Kickwetu Flowers and community-funded clean water, youth programs, and feeding initiatives The Forge Network: a global collaborative of entrepreneurs, accelerators, and investors Notable Quotes: "We serve gazelles more commonly than seeking unicorns." - Matthew Rohrs "72% of our alumni report that at least one person's come to faith in Christ through their company." - Matthew Rohrs "Business is part of the kingdom of God. It's the most scalable way to solve these problems." - Matthew Rohrs
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#228
August 6 · 39 min
Episode 228 - Marks on the Market: Energy Markets, AI CapEx, & The Discipline Dividend | Jordan Strebeck
Record Highs, Negative Gas Prices, and the Discipline Dividend Host Richard Cunningham sits down with co-host Luke Roush and returning guest Jordan Strebeck of Fortress Energy Partners for a conversation that starts at the S&P 500's all-time high and ends at a Permian Basin wellhead where operators are paying to get rid of their own natural gas. The numbers alone are worth the listen: four hyperscalers on pace for more than $700 billion in AI infrastructure spending this year, an IPO market that just absorbed the world's largest offering, and a global oil supply chain that's quietly burned through 400 million barrels of inventory since February. Jordan brings the view from the ground in Midland, Texas — where the domestic shale industry is showing more capital discipline than anyone expected, even as Middle East conflict keeps rewriting the energy math in real time. Key Topics: Markets hitting record highs despite tariffs, an unresolved Middle East conflict, and zero rate cuts in 2026 The AI CapEx arms race: how Wall Street is starting to separate real cash-flow return from spend for spend's sake What SpaceX's blockbuster IPO signals for Anthropic and the rest of the 2026 IPO pipeline 1,500 unicorns and counting — why so many private companies are stuck waiting to go public Inside the Permian Basin: negative natural gas prices, the AI power crunch, and why the U.S. needs more of everything — nuclear, gas, solar, and wind What 400 million barrels of drawn-down global oil inventory means for prices over the next five years A closing word on presence, parenting, and what it means to steward the time we're given This episode is a masterclass in reading past the headline number — whether that's an index level, an IPO valuation, or a barrel price — to the stewardship question underneath it. For faith-driven investors trying to separate signal from noise in a genuinely strange market, this is a conversation worth sitting with. Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.
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#227
July 20 · 55 min
Episode 227 - Venture's Next Chapter, AI, & the New Investment Landscape | Mark Phillips & Phil Jung
Host Richard Cunningham welcomes co-host John Coleman for July's Marks on the Market, joined by two veteran venture investors: Phil Jung, who helps lead the venture investing business at Sovereign's Capital, and Mark Phillips, co-founder and managing partner at Eleven Tribes Ventures. The panel digs into a historic first half of 2026 for venture capital, the "barbell" strategy reshaping early-stage investing, and why faith-driven investors need to understand both the opportunity and the constraints of the AI boom. Phil and Mark bring an early-stage, seed-focused lens shaped by operator-led, vertically focused founders — from wire harnessing to waste management — while John Coleman zooms out to the macro picture: record public market concentration, a $725 billion capex commitment from the hyperscalers, and the possibility that this technological shift could be ten times bigger and ten times faster than the Industrial Revolution. The conversation closes, as always, with reflections on Scripture and what it means to build — and rest — under God's sovereignty in the middle of historic disruption. Key Topics: A record-breaking first half of 2026: $412 billion invested in venture capital, more than all of 2025 combined The "barbell" approach to early-stage investing: mega AI valuations on one end, capital-efficient vertical AI solutions on the other Why physical products, deep tech, and hard tech are back in vogue after years out of favor Constraints on the AI boom investors should watch: capital expenditure limits, energy demands, and regulatory fragmentation Token costs, open-source models, and who ultimately controls the data Closing reflections from Psalm 127 and John 4 on surrender, weariness, and calling Notable Quotes: "It really is an unprecedented venture market in the moment that we have never seen before." - Phil Jung "Increasingly your software platform, your product is no longer the moat... it's distribution... and then it's integration." - Mark Phillips "We serve a God who's in control, who's unchanging, who created a universe far more complex than anything we're talking about here." - John Coleman
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#226
July 6 · 48 min
Episode 226 - How to Create a Generosity Framework for Investors | John Cortines
What if the most freeing financial decision you could make had nothing to do with your portfolio returns? In this episode, host Justin Forman sits down with John Cortines, co-author of God and Money and True Riches and a generosity leader at the Maclellan Foundation, for a practical, spiritually grounding conversation about generosity, stewardship, and freedom. John shares how his journey began at Harvard Business School with a banking password that read "retire@40!" and how God used a men's Bible study, serious biblical research, and interviews with radically generous Harvard MBA alumni to completely reframe his understanding of wealth. What emerged wasn't just a new giving percentage. It was a transformation of the heart. Key Topics Discussed: The wrong question most Christian investors ask about money, and the right one Financial finish lines: how pre-defining your lifestyle and net worth guardrails creates freedom instead of limiting it The four heart conditions that keep investors from true generosity (pride, coveting, anxiety, and indifference) and the gospel transformation for each Why effective altruism produces joyless giving, and what makes Christian generosity categorically different The rise of professionally managed giving funds, and why John believes they'll become as normal as index funds Practical steps for faith-driven investors to move from obligation-based to joy-driven stewardship Direct Quotes from John Cortines: "The right question isn't how much do we need to give? It's how much do I really need to keep." — John Cortines "Giving is actually a source of joy and freedom and purpose in the Christian walk. And it's God's invitation where I can step into playing on his team to accomplish his purposes in the world." — John Cortines "What if 10, 20, 30 years from now, it was as normal to think about professionally managed giving funds as it is to think about an index fund for stocks today." — John Cortines Episode Description John Cortines started his career in oil and gas with a banking password that literally read "retire@40!", a saver's dream encoded into every login. Then Harvard Business School, a men's Bible study, and a deep dive into Scripture dismantled his framework entirely. What he and co-author Greg Baumer uncovered changed not just how much he gave, but why, and the freedom that came with it. In this episode, John walks through the framework from his books God and Money and True Riches, including the concept of financial finish lines that set guardrails for lifestyle and net worth, and the four heart transformations every steward must navigate: pride to gratitude, coveting to contentment, anxiety to trust, and indifference to love. These aren't abstract theological ideas. They're the architecture behind how faith-driven investors actually hold and deploy capital with joy. John also shares his vision for the future of generosity: professionally managed giving funds that work alongside traditional portfolio management, bringing the same rigor, governance, and reporting to Kingdom capital that investors already expect from their financial advisors. Recorded live at Kingdom Advisors, this conversation is a call to bring generosity out of the shadows and into the boardroom, and the family table.
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#223
June 22 · 50 min
Episode 223 - Marks on the Market: What’s Really Going On in Private Credit? | Kyle Brown
Hosts: Richard Cunningham, John Coleman, Luke Roush Guest: Kyle Brown, CEO, Trinity Capital (TRIN) Key Topics: The private credit market has grown 6X in the last decade — but headlines conflating software-sector turbulence with systemic credit risk are getting the story wrong How 90% of institutional allocations have flowed to just 12 companies and 50 funds, creating compressed spreads, race-to-the-bottom pricing, and concentrated risk in mega-cap private credit Why Trinity Capital's ~20% loan-to-value and ~1x ARR attachment rate on software leaves them well-positioned compared to over-leveraged competitors The AI infrastructure picks-and-shovels play: how Trinity is financing GPUs and power-generation equipment on 24–36 month fully amortizing loans to sidestep speculative overbuild risk Software incumbency in the age of AI — why enterprise systems of record are far more resilient than headlines suggest, and where the real vulnerability lies (point solutions) The US macro outlook: GDP at 2%, unemployment near long-term average, global capital flowing to America — and why all three hosts remain constructively bullish Direct Quotes from Kyle Brown: "Private credit over the last 10 years has grown 6X. It's projected to continue growing at a rapid pace. It's being confused as one big monolith and it's really not that at all. It's a massive and robust diversified marketplace now." "The thing that we're missing out on and that we need to add to that balance sheet is our oodles... Because when you're on your deathbed, you're not talking about that great IRR you made on that stock investment or what you did in your IRA. You're telling stories." "We're in the middle of a technological revolution and it's just a shame that culture wars and some of the stuff that is going on is getting in the way of what is really an amazing opportunity for anybody who wants to go and do something, who has an idea, who wants to build." Episode Description: Kyle Brown, CEO of publicly traded Trinity Capital (TRIN), joins Richard Cunningham, John Coleman, and Luke Roush for the May edition of Marks on the Market — and he brings a clear-eyed diagnosis of what's actually driving private credit volatility, what the headlines are getting wrong, and how Trinity has navigated one of the most turbulent environments in the asset class's short history. The conversation opens with a deep dive into the structural forces reshaping private credit: a 6X decade of growth, 90% of institutional money concentrating in fewer than 50 funds, zero-interest-rate-era cost of capital that no longer exists, and a retail investor base encountering alternatives market gates for the first time. Brown explains why software-sector fears — while not entirely unfounded — are being misread as a system-wide credit crisis, and how Trinity's conservative underwriting (averaging ~20% LTV across the portfolio) positions them very differently from over-leveraged peers. From there, the conversation pivots to AI infrastructure investing, the US macroeconomic outlook, the US-China summit, and — in a closing rapid-fire segment — what God has been teaching each host and guest in His Word. Brown closes with a meditation on "oodles," his invented economic unit of enjoyment, drawn from the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12 — a reminder that no balance sheet is complete without the investments we make in the people we love.
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#224
June 22 · 41 min
Episode 224 - Are You Investing in Founders or Just Their Companies? | Kristian Andersen
John Coleman sits down with Kristian Andersen — co-founder and partner at High Alpha, the Indianapolis-based venture studio and fund — live at the Main Street Summit in Columbia, Missouri. Kristian traces his unlikely path from freelance designer to venture capital pioneer, unpacking how High Alpha's hybrid studio-fund model is navigating the most disruptive era in software history, and why he believes faith calls investors and builders alike to an adventure mandate and a creation mandate. Key Topics: How High Alpha's venture studio model differs from traditional VC — and what 10+ years of iteration taught them about company creation Why seat-based SaaS licensing is dying and what outcome-based, utility, and agentic business models are replacing it The AI disruption hiding in plain sight: companies going from zero to $50M revenue in a single year — and what that means for early-stage investors The enterprise SaaS recession of 2021–2024, the "buying barbell," and why legacy SaaS and AI-native companies are on completely different trajectories Why the biggest untold story in the entrepreneurial journey is what it costs the founder's family — and how High Alpha is addressing it ServiceNow's entry as a Fund 4 LP and what strategic corporate venture capital actually looks like when done right The theology of taste: why Kristian believes truth is beauty, and how the adventure and creation mandates of Scripture shape his work as an investor and builder Notable Quotes: "Operating companies makes us better investors. And conversely, investing makes us better operators because the half-life of experience in this industry is a lot shorter than people think it is." — Kristian Andersen "The currency we trade in are founders and markets. And we want to engineer some radical advantage into those businesses." — Kristian Andersen "I think we serve a God that calls us to adventure. Every good thing that's happened to me in my life has been a function of me saying yes, not saying no." — Kristian Andersen About Kristian Andersen: Kristian Andersen is the co-founder and partner at High Alpha, an Indianapolis-based venture studio that both incubates net-new software companies and invests in high-growth founders. Before High Alpha, he founded StudioScience, a design and innovation consultancy he ran for 15 years before selling to private equity. An active angel investor, Kristian has co-founded multiple software companies and invested in over 40 startups. He is married to Brandy, has six children, and is part of the Praxis community. High Alpha's Fund 4 counts ServiceNow as a strategic LP. About High Alpha: High Alpha is a venture studio and fund based in Indianapolis that combines company creation with venture investing. The firm partners with founders and corporations to ideate and launch enterprise SaaS businesses, then supports them with capital, operations, and shared resources. High Alpha's portfolio companies have included Angi (formerly Angie's List), ExactTarget, and others from the Indianapolis tech ecosystem.
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#225
June 22 · 49 min
Episode 225 - Marks on the Market: Celebrating America 250 & Entrepreneurial Spirit in the AI Era | Donna Harris
In this America 250 special edition of Marks on the Market, Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush sit down with Donna Harris — founder and CEO of Builders and Backers, venture investor, and co-author of the redemptive investing playbook at Praxis — for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of American entrepreneurship, the limits and promise of venture capital, and how the AI revolution is democratizing who gets to build. As the country approaches its 250th birthday, Donna brings a decade of venture investing experience and a conviction that America's greatest competitive advantage isn't its capital markets — it's its people. Builders and Backers has helped launch nearly 800 companies, backing nurses, bartenders, dog breeders, and disability attorneys who are using AI to bring ideas to life that would have required $35,000 MVPs just a year ago. Key Topics: Why venture capital is a "solid tool for a specific use case" — and why it's the single most expensive capital a startup can take The real entrepreneurship data: startups are creating a third fewer jobs per company than 15 years ago, and 62% of Americans have an entrepreneurial dream but less than 2% act on it How AI is democratizing startup formation — from a $35K MVP to a $20 Claude Pro subscription Donna's investment thesis for the AI era: stop asking which AI model wins and start asking which people are uniquely positioned to create value with it The concept of "re-risking" from a faith perspective — and why prosperity itself can become the greatest obstacle to obedience Scripture at the close: Donna on God's broken heroes, and Luke on the woman with the alabaster jar and the boy with five loaves Notable Quotes: "There has never ever in history been a greater moment to become an entrepreneur." — Donna Harris "The best investors aren't just investing in AI companies. They're investing in smart people who will use the tool well and solve meaningful problems in sustainable ways." — Donna Harris "We need to aggressively re-risk, otherwise we get lulled into this stupor of prosperity and comfort and building bigger barns." — Luke Roush
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#335
May 11 · 39 min
Episode 222 - How Much Is Enough? A Game Changing Question for Family Wealth | Kyle Kutz
Host Luke Roush sits down with Kyle Kutz, Private Family Office Director, Senior Family Office Advisor, and Senior Partner at Blue Trust — a faith-driven wealth advisory firm managing $60 billion in assets across 11,000 client families nationwide. Together, they unpack what it looks like to build wealth with an eternal purpose, define a financial finish line, and break the cycle of anxiety that wealth can bring. Key Topics: What it means to have a "financial quarterback" and why every wealth-building family needs one on their team The "financial finish line" concept — defining how much is enough so generosity can take the lead Why financial independence can become spiritually toxic, and how biblical wisdom offers a better framework Navigating wealth across generations: how every family member can be "Gen 1 in something" How Blue Trust celebrated over $450 million in collaborative client giving in a single year — and their goal to reach $2 billion annually by decade's end Notable Quotes: "A lot of times our clients will describe us as their comprehensive financial quarterback — someone who steps in with families who've experienced wealth and complexity and have a lot of moving parts." — Kyle Kutz "People can spend so much of their time and life growing the financial capital side of their balance sheet, but ignoring the non-financial capital items — the spiritual capital, the social capital, the intellectual capital, the relational capital." — Kyle Kutz "Financial independence in its truest form is independence from greed, independence from being complacent, independence from fear." — Kyle Kutz About Kyle Kutz: Kyle Kutz serves as Private Family Office Director, Senior Family Office Advisor, and Senior Partner at Blue Trust, a faith-driven financial advisory firm founded by Ron Blue in 1979. With $60 billion in assets under advisory, 20 offices nationwide, and over 11,000 client families, Blue Trust is one of the preeminent faith-driven wealth management firms in the country. Kyle works with high-complexity entrepreneurial families, helping them move through a process of Clarity → Alignment → Peace of Mind while stewarding their financial, spiritual, and relational capital with intentionality. Description: What happens when the advisor sitting across the table from you doesn't just understand your estate plan — but also your eternal purpose? Kyle Kutz of Blue Trust has spent his career as a "comprehensive financial quarterback" for families navigating the complexity of significant wealth, and in this conversation with Luke Roush, he unpacks what that actually looks like in practice. From defining a financial finish line to equipping next-generation inheritors with identity and calling, this episode is a masterclass in faith-driven stewardship. Kyle and Luke explore the idea that financial independence — properly understood — isn't about accumulating enough to need nothing; it's about independence from greed, fear, and complacency. They also dig into the tent analogy for multi-generational giving, the home-going plan Blue Trust uses to prepare families for legacy, and why encouraging clients to give generously has only deepened relationships and grown the firm. Whether you're a first-generation wealth creator, a next-generation inheritor still finding your footing, or an advisor trying to serve families with both technical excellence and biblical wisdom, this episode will challenge and equip you for the stewardship journey ahead.
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#221
April 27 · 51 min
Episode 221 - Marks on the Market: The State of Faith-Based Investing | Tim Macready
Faith Driven Investor Podcast | Ep. 221 | Marks on the Market: The State of Faith-Based Investing in Public Markets — with Tim Macready of Brightlight Key Topics: The mixed performance picture for faith-based funds in 2025 — the average faith-based fund underperformed by just under 2.5%, driven largely by exclusions of Magnificent Seven stocks — and why that context matters for long-term investors How a $140 billion market representing less than half a percent of the broader ETF/mutual fund landscape signals an enormous untapped opportunity for faith-driven capital The shift from product-focused exclusionary screening toward engagement and "embrace" strategies — and why shareholder proxy voting and active engagement are now the frontier of faith-based investing The growing need for theological clarity in fund screening — from the "big five" traditional screens to harder modern questions around online child safety, human trafficking, and Mag Seven holdings The "core satellite" portfolio framework Tim recommends: low-cost, passive, well-screened exposure at the core, with active engage/embrace strategies at the satellite — and why this approach is now achievable with ETFs alone Guest Quotes: "I think two things can simultaneously be true as believers. I think we ought to be willing to make sacrifices in order to express our faith in the way that we live. And at the same time, in the faith-based investing space, I believe we ought not need to — that there should be excellent products that are delivering performance that is kind of aligned to the broader market." — Tim Macready "The variety in the decision-making around screens is a strength of the market rather than a weakness." — Tim Macready "Watch this space, I think, for more developments there." — Tim Macready (on the emerging "nutrition label" approach to faith-based fund disclosures) Episode Description: What does the state of faith-based investing in public markets actually look like heading into 2026? Tim Macready, Head of Global Advisory at Brightlight, joins Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush for the April edition of Marks on the Markets to break down Brightlight's third annual research report — the most comprehensive institutional analysis of faith-driven public markets investing available. Tim unpacks a nuanced performance picture: the average faith-based fund delivered 16% returns in 2025, but underperformed its benchmark by nearly 2.5% — primarily because many funds excluded several of the Magnificent Seven companies that drove outsized market gains. He explains why this underperformance mirrors patterns seen in the early 2010s, and why history suggests a more favorable environment may be ahead as markets broaden beyond mega-cap growth stocks. Beyond performance, this conversation is a masterclass in the evolving structure of the faith-based investing market — from the ETF product explosion and the "core satellite" portfolio approach, to the theological questions fund managers must answer about screens, engagement, and what it truly means to invest to the glory of God. Whether you're a financial advisor navigating client conversations or a faith-driven investor trying to align capital with conviction, this episode delivers both the data and the framework.
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#220
April 13 · 47 min
Episode 220 Why Charity Alone Can Never Solve The World’s Greatest Problems
Episode Title: Solving the World's Greatest Problems: How Collaborative Giving Funds Are Reshaping Impact Capital Guests: Zac Sicher (Fund Manager, Hunger & Joblessness — Solving the World's Greatest Problems) and Rebecca Yuschak (Grants & Operations Lead — Faith Driven Investor) Host: Justin Forman with Henry Kaestner Key Topics: How philanthropic "first-loss" capital unlocks markets that investment capital alone cannot reach — and why the greatest innovations of the last 50 years started with charitable dollars The Jenga block framework: why attacking one structural pressure point in a complex problem (trafficking, hunger, housing) can cause the entire broken system to collapse The $14–16 trillion housing gap vs. $592 billion in annual US charitable giving — and why charity alone can never close it How Solving the World's Greatest Problems Collaborative Giving Funds work as professionally managed donor-advised funds — 100% of contributions deployed into the field Africa's structural hunger crisis: 378 million people facing solvable food insecurity, a 20x corn yield gap between Zimbabwe and the US, and 30–40% post-harvest food waste — and the market innovations targeting each Notable Quotes: "There is no shortage of money willing to chase profitable solutions. There is no shortage of money willing to follow. There is an immense shortage of money willing to go first." — Zac Sicher "Capital, when structured properly, has the ability to solve the world's greatest problems. Not exclusively, but to play an important role in solving these problems." — Zac Sicher "Charity alone was never gonna get us there in many of these times." — Justin Forman
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#219
March 30 · 55 min
Episode 219 - The Eternal ROI No Investor Should Miss | Randy Alcorn
Eternal Perspective: Rewiring How Faith-Driven Investors Think About Reward, Heaven, and Stewardship Host Justin Forman sits down with author and theologian Randy Alcorn — founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries and author of 65 books including Treasure Principle, Heaven, and Law of Rewards — for a conversation that challenges some of the most deeply held misconceptions in Christian life and investing culture. From the Protestant Reformation's unintended legacy on how we think about reward, to a vision of the new earth that reframes the very purpose of stewardship, this episode is essential listening for anyone who wants their financial decisions anchored in eternity. Key Topics Discussed: The Protestant Reformation's unintended impact on how Christians misunderstand reward — and why Scripture actually celebrates God-given incentives for faithful stewardship Why happiness and holiness are not in conflict, and how getting this wrong has distorted how faith-driven investors relate to wealth, generosity, and purpose Heaven and the new earth re-examined: What resurrection bodies, physical work, and eternal creativity reveal about stewarding resources now The Ebenezer Scrooge model of generosity: How true conversion produces radical, joyful giving — not reluctant obligation Randy Alcorn's "eternal perspective" framework — the common thread through 65 books — and how it applies to every investment and stewardship decision Notable Quotes: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." — Randy Alcorn (quoting Jim Elliot) "God has not simply called us to holiness. God has called us also to happiness and there is no conflict whatsoever between them." — Randy Alcorn "It is more blessed to give than to receive — the word translated 'blessed' is the Greek word Makarios, which means happy-making. It is more happy-making to give than to receive." — Randy Alcorn About Randy Alcorn: Randy Alcorn is the founder of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM) and the bestselling author of 65 books, including Treasure Principle (over 1 million copies sold), Heaven, and Law of Rewards. A former pastor turned full-time writer and speaker, Randy's life work centers on one unifying theme: eternal perspective. He gives away all royalties from his books to support missions and ministry, living out the very principles he writes about.
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#218
March 16 · 55 min
Episode 218 - Marks on the Market: Iran, AI, and a Dynamic Market Environment | Brian McClard & Matt Monson
Marks on the Markets: Geopolitics, AI Disruption & Where Smart Capital Is Moving in 2026 Host Richard Cunningham is joined by co-host John Coleman and market experts Matt Monson (Public Equities, Sovereign's Capital) and Brian McClard (CIO, Blue Trust) for the March 2026 edition of Marks on the Markets. With Operation Epic reshaping global energy dynamics, AI rewriting the rules of markets and labor, and private equity at a critical inflection point, this panel of seasoned investors offers grounded, faith-driven perspective on navigating one of the most complex macro environments in recent memory. Key Topics Discussed: The geopolitical and market implications of Operation Epic in Iran — and what it means for global oil supply and the Strait of Hormuz Why 75% of S&P 500 gains over the past three years came from just 41 AI-linked stocks — and why that era may be ending Small cap vs. large cap: the longest large-cap outperformance streak in 100 years, and why the rotation may finally be here AI and the labor market: separating fear-driven headlines from real economic data Private markets outlook — where to be bullish, where to exercise caution, and the private credit warning signs Notable Quotes: "If you were to take $600 billion in capex spending in 2026 amongst four companies… that's $300 billion worth of brand new depreciation that will flow through income statements for those four companies combined that needs to be offset with brand new AI profit." — Matt Monson "Godliness with contentment is great gain… it's so easy to get wrapped around the axle with what we have or don't have and how we're progressing at building our own people." — Brian McClard "What would it look like to answer the question before you get asked the question? You say, here I am, send me — and then you wait and see where he's gonna send you." — Matt Monson About the Guests: Matt Monson leads Public Equities Investing at Sovereign's Capital, bringing deep analytical rigor to faith-aligned portfolio construction across small, mid, and large cap markets. Brian McClard is Chief Investment Officer at Blue Trust, a wealth management firm built on biblical principles, advising high-net-worth individuals and families on stewarding capital with eternal perspective. John Coleman is co-host of the FDI Podcast, a principal writer on human flourishing at HBR, and author of the newly released Good Money — a framework for integrating money, investing, giving, and spending around a flourishing life.
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#217
March 2 · 38 min
Episode 217 - How Kingdom Advisors is Shaping The Future of Faith-Driven Finance | Rob West
The Future of Faith-Based Financial Advice: Rob West on Kingdom Advisors, Biblical Stewardship, and the $22 Trillion Opportunity Host John Coleman sits down with Rob West, CEO of Kingdom Advisors and host of the nationally syndicated Faith-Fi radio program, to explore how biblically-wise financial advice has moved from the fringes to the forefront of Wall Street—and what that means for the trillions of dollars in Christian hands today. From a founding cohort of 16 advisors to a network of 4,000, Kingdom Advisors is building an entire industry where faith and finance fully integrate. Rob shares the trends, data, and vision that make this one of the most exciting moments in the history of Christian investing. Key Topics: How Kingdom Advisors grew from 16 CFPs to 4,000 advisors and the Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) designation Why faith-based investing demand jumped from 20% to 50% of CKA searches in a single year—and what that signals for the market The $22 trillion gap: Christians hold $22T in public markets but only ~$170B is in faith-based investments AI, robo-advice, and the irreplaceable role of the values-based financial advisor How collaborative giving funds and strategic generosity are the next frontier for Kingdom capital The great wealth transfer and preparing the next generation of stewards Why 11 Christian universities are now training the next wave of Kingdom Advisors Notable Quotes: "There's 22 trillion in the hands of Christians in the public markets today. And we've got, best case, 170 billion in faith-based investments in public market offerings. So the need and the opportunity is massive." – Rob West "When you go into a values conversation, AI can't replicate that." – Rob West "When we see money as a tool to advance God's kingdom—yes to enjoy, yes to provide—but to give generously, to invest strategically… we're just gonna help God's people experience kingdom impact in a way perhaps they never have considered." – Rob West
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#216
February 16 · 47 min
Episode 216 - Marks on the Market: America's Push to Reshore U.S. Manufacturing | Steve Cook (LFM Capital)
Faith Driven Investor Podcast - Episode 216 Join hosts Richard Cunningham and Luke Roush as they sit down with Steve Cook, Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, for a deep dive into the state of US manufacturing and the reshoring revolution transforming American industry. From the deck of an aircraft carrier to the shop floor to private equity boardrooms, Steve brings a unique perspective on what it takes to build manufacturing companies that strengthen both portfolios and national security. Key Investment Topics: The economics of reshoring: Why major manufacturers are bringing supply chains back to the US LFM Capital's operator-led approach to buyout private equity in manufacturing How tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping investment opportunities Why aerospace, defense, and B2B manufacturing offer compelling risk-adjusted returns The role of leadership and operational excellence in driving EBITDA margins and enterprise value Interest rates, deal flow, and the creative structuring required in today's PE market Powerful Quotes: "We won World War One and Two predominantly because we had a strong industrial base that could step up and pivot when the country needed it. We're woefully unprepared for World War Three." - Steve Cook "It costs more to hire an English-speaking manager in China than it does in the US today. Labor cost equilibrium is happening faster than anyone expected." - Steve Cook "The absolute worst form of ownership I've ever seen is 50/50. Someone has to make the final decision - that's true in a company and true in a marriage." - Steve Cook Episode Description: What does it take to rebuild American manufacturing in an era of global uncertainty? Steve Cook knows firsthand. As a former Navy fighter pilot who flew combat missions during Desert Shield, then an operations leader at Dell managing 2,200 manufacturing employees, Steve brings unparalleled shop floor DNA to private equity investing. Now leading LFM Capital - a buyout firm exclusively focused on US manufacturing - he's witnessing the early stages of a reshoring revolution that could reshape both the American economy and investment portfolios. This episode cuts through the headlines to reveal what's really happening on the ground with US manufacturing. Steve explains why companies are finally bringing production back home, which industries offer the most compelling opportunities, and how LFM's operator-first approach generates returns by elevating leadership and operational excellence rather than financial engineering. From the impact of Liberation Day tariffs to the quiet convergence of global labor costs, from AI's limited role on today's shop floor to the creative deal structures emerging in a higher interest rate environment, this conversation delivers actionable insights for investors seeking exposure to the manufacturing renaissance. Steve also vulnerably shares lessons from Genesis on leadership, partnership, and the biblical principles that shape both his marriage and LFM's investment philosophy - including why 50/50 ownership structures consistently fail and what that reveals about decision-making authority in both business and family. Guest Background: Steve Cook is Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, a Nashville-based private equity firm investing exclusively in US manufacturing companies. A graduate of the US Naval Academy and MIT's Leaders for Manufacturing program, Steve flew F/A-18s off aircraft carriers for seven years before transitioning to operations leadership roles at Dell and venture-backed technology companies. At LFM, he leads a team of operators and engineers who partner with manufacturing CEOs to build enterprise value through operational excellence, not financial engineering. Steve and his wife Shannon live in Nashville and are active members of Long Hollow Church.
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#215
February 2 · 47 min
Episode 215 - Why NASCAR Legend Carl Edwards Walked Away at His Peak
Faith Driven Investor Podcast - Episode 215 Carl Edwards, NASCAR Hall of Famer and one of the 75 greatest drivers of all time, sits down with host John Coleman to share his remarkable journey from a Columbia, Missouri Volkswagen shop to the pinnacle of motorsports—and his courageous decision to walk away from it all at age 36. This conversation goes far beyond racing. Carl vulnerably discusses the dangers of building identity on performance, the cost of fame, and the miraculous moment on a mountaintop that transformed his understanding of faith. He opens up about stewarding wealth with a scarcity mindset, prioritizing marriage over children, and why he risked his family's entire $18,000 life savings on a single race car. Key Topics: The entrepreneurial hustle required to break into NASCAR from Missouri Building and losing identity through professional success and public image Walking away from a championship-caliber ride and guaranteed income to prioritize family A powerful conversion story involving Stephen Garber and a mountaintop ambush Wrestling with generosity and stewardship after growing up with financial scarcity Why loving your spouse well is the greatest gift you can give your children Notable Quotes: "I'm gonna keep racing for another 10 years. I'm going to hit my head another 25 times. 30 years from now, I'll be on the other end of this phone. My son will be sitting on the stairs. I don't know my kids. They'll resent me for everything I did. And I'll have given my life away." - Carl Edwards "If my mom didn't take that risk with everything she had and hang onto it that loosely, it was her life savings. I mean, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you." - Carl Edwards "In my soul, when it made no sense to anyone else, I knew that this thing driving a race car was important to me, I loved it purely, and chasing that became such a wonderful adventure that yielded so much fruit." - Carl Edwards
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#214
January 19 · 47 min
Episode 214 - Marks on the Market: Kicking off 2026 in the Markets & Economy | Brandon Pizzurro
Join Richard Cunningham and John Coleman for the first Marks on the Markets episode of 2026 as they welcome Brandon Pizzurro, President & Chief Investment Officer at GuideStone Capital Management, to unpack what investors need to know heading into the new year. After three consecutive years of double-digit returns, the conversation explores whether markets can sustain this momentum, the future of AI investing, and the opportunities emerging in small caps and private markets. Key Investment Topics: Market outlook after three straight years of 20%+ returns and where opportunities lie in 2026 The Mag 7 dominance: Will small and mid-cap stocks finally see their rotation moment? Federal Reserve policy expectations and why current rates may be historically appropriate Private equity and IPO markets thawing after years of constrained liquidity Geopolitical shocks to watch: Iran, Venezuela, and international market divergence AI's impact on productivity, employment, and whether we're entering a new economic era Notable Quotes: "Breathless is probably one word. Just coming off three straight years like that, you always wanna protect on the downside. You wanna think about how things can go wrong. And when they don't for a third year in a row, you wanted to catch your breath and really take stock of what just happened." - Brandon Pizzurro "This is the Lord's capital that we're all stewarding, and we need to remember that as we kind of start the year off again. We have a charge here for our investors, but I think it's important to take a moment and be present, be thinking about why you're doing what you're doing." - Brandon Pizzurro "We are people under authority and it's easy to forget that sometimes. When we receive word from God, whether that be through scripture, whether that be through prayer or insight or inspiration, we are intended to execute against that will." - John Coleman About the Guests: Brandon Pizzurro serves as Managing Director at GuideStone Capital Management in Dallas, Texas, bringing sophisticated market analysis with a faith-driven perspective on stewardship and investing. John Coleman is a Managing Partner at Sovereign's Capital and regular co-host of the Marks on the Markets series, known for his thoughtful integration of economic analysis with Kingdom principles. This episode offers both tactical market insights and strategic wisdom for faith-driven investors navigating what promises to be a consequential year in financial markets.
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#213
January 5 · 39 min
Episode 213 - Seeds vs. Silos: A Sneak Peek of the 2026 FDI Conference
Join hosts Henry Kaestner, Justin Forman, and Luke Roush as they preview the upcoming 2026 Faith Driven Investor Conference, exploring the transformative theme "Seeds vs. Silos" and what it means for how we steward capital in service of God's kingdom. Key Investment Topics: Understanding the J-curve of investing and why seed capital requires patience before bearing fruit The convergence of giving, investing, and building into unified asset allocation focused on mission First-loss capital strategies: How philanthropic capital can unlock larger investment tranches The urgency of African investment: Addressing 80% of the world's poor by 2030 through market-driven solutions Redefining risk from an eternal perspective rather than purely financial metrics Powerful Quotes: "We're planting these seeds and the seeds are planted in the ground and they go down. And with the J-curve, all of a sudden it's underground, it doesn't look like it's great, and then it comes back up someplace further away, far enough away from where you planted it so that maybe you don't even get credit for it." - Henry Kaestner "It's not a failure of the system, usually, in terms of people using the platform God's given them. It's usually a failure of nerve." - Luke Roush "The tragedy is when you go into some of these dark places, tragically we find that darkness is more coordinated than the church." - Justin Forman Episode Description: Six years into the Faith Driven Investor Conference journey, the movement has reached an inflection point. What began as storming and forming is now transforming into coordinated action as investors, advisors, and fund managers converge around a unified mission: solving the world's greatest problems under God's power for His glory. This preview episode unpacks the conference theme "Seeds vs. Silos," challenging investors to move beyond accumulation mindsets (the barns and silos of our age) toward scattering seeds that grow underground before bearing fruit in unexpected places. Henry, Justin, and Luke explore how the J-curve of investing mirrors spiritual growth—requiring faith during the valley period when capital is deployed but results aren't yet visible. The conversation addresses critical shifts in the faith-driven investing ecosystem: the three-sided marketplace now including river guide advisors, the convergence of philanthropic and investment capital into unified asset allocation maps, and real-world examples of first-loss capital unlocking larger investment opportunities in emerging markets. With top-quartile performers now visible across virtually every asset class—from multifamily real estate to African venture funds—the movement has matured beyond feel-good stories to demonstrable excellence because of, not despite, biblical values. The hosts issue a clarion call for urgent action in Africa, where 80% of the world's poor will live by 2030, and challenge investors to rethink risk from an eternal perspective rather than merely financial metrics.
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#212
Dec 15, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Episode 212 - How The Chosen Went From $0 to 520 Million Viewers | Chris & Chad
Behind The Chosen: Faith, Film, and the Fight for Culture Join host John Coleman on the set of The Chosen in Midlothian, Texas, for an unprecedented conversation with producers Chris Juen and Chad Gundersen of Out of Order Studios. From the Sanhedrin throne room itself, Chris and Chad share the untold story of how a crowdfunded Jesus project became a global phenomenon reaching 520 million people—and what it means for faith-driven investors seeking to impact culture through entertainment. Key Investment & Industry Topics: Why entertainment investment requires a platform approach, not one-off project bets How The Chosen scaled from $0 budget for episode 5 to a multi-season global franchise The three investment pillars for cultural impact: spark the next generation, build infrastructure, create content Why investors should think like oil drillers: invest in a slate of 10 films, not just one The unpredictable nature of entertainment returns and how to approach risk wisely Building production companies that operate between $1M-$150M budgets with studio-level quality Powerful Quotes: "I'm tired of crappy Christian content. God doesn't want your crap. He calls us to be excellent." - Chad Gundersen "Christians yielded culture, then got mad when culture went bad. Fine, it's risky, but is it worth the risk?" - Chris Juen "Platforms, not projects. How do you get around the most excellent people in the industry who have a slate of content and invest in that diversified platform?" - John Coleman About the Guests: Chris Juen and Chad Gundersen are the co-founders of Out of Order Studios and executive producers of The Chosen, the largest crowdfunded media project in history. Chris brings 20 years of studio experience from major productions including Contact, Spider-Man, and Polar Express, while Chad contributed 20 years of independent filmmaking expertise. Together, they've pioneered a hybrid production model that delivers studio-quality content at independent budgets—proving that faith-driven content can compete at the highest levels of entertainment while maintaining both artistic excellence and fiscal responsibility. Their production philosophy centers on creating environments where cast and crew are valued, where believers and non-believers alike can experience the gospel through excellent storytelling, and where investors can participate in cultural transformation through strategic, well-managed capital deployment.
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#211
Dec 1, 2025 · 47 min
Episode 211 - Marks on the Market: 2025 Year in Review: Markets, AI, and the Faith Driven Movement
Join FDI hosts Richard Cunningham, John Coleman, and Luke Roush, along with Justin Forman of Faith Driven Movements, as they recap an extraordinary year in markets and ministry. Recording just before Thanksgiving, this special year-end episode explores the key economic trends that shaped 2025 and the remarkable growth of the faith-driven investing ecosystem. Key Investment Topics Discussed: US economic resilience despite tariff concerns and employment volatility The AI revolution and its impact on mega-cap valuations and energy demands Continued illiquidity in private markets and the wait for distributions Housing affordability crisis and growing wealth inequality concerns Interest rate environment returning to historical norms after post-GFC anomaly Powerful Insights: "Bible sales are up 41% this year. There's this real sense that younger people in particular have realized that they need some sort of purpose and meaning that they're lacking." "We're in this how moment. People generally understand that their work matters. They know that their capital can make a difference. But they're questioning, well, how do we do it?" "If we lost everything tomorrow, doesn't matter. We know that the most important thing we have is Jesus." This episode provides essential perspective for faith-driven investors navigating uncertainty while maintaining eternal focus. From the maturity of faith-driven investment strategies across asset classes to the intersection of affordability challenges and Kingdom opportunities, this conversation equips investors to approach 2026 with wisdom, hope, and missional clarity.
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