The Sharpen Podcast

Letting Go to Trust: An Engineer's Journey From Constraint to Faith-Driven Growth

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, host Steve Van Diest sits down with Steve Donnigan, founder of A65 Consulting and a fellow member of the Acumen community, to talk about the eight-year journey of building a boutique contract engineering firm that helps medical device companies bring life-changing products to market. Together, they look back on the calculated leap out of a stable engineering job, the brutal test of losing major clients and income during 2020, and the slow, ongoing work of learning to trust God and trust a team rather than trying to do everything alone. Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedonnigan/ Learn more about A65 Consulting: https://a65consulting.com/ Learn more about Acumen and Peer Advisory Teams: https://go.acumenimpact.com/why-acumen

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Built to Keep: Building a Lifestyle Business and Loving It

Blake Moroney built a lifestyle business spanning landscaping, a national car dealership, and real estate — all run as divisions of one company, alongside his wife and business partner, Paige. In this episode, Blake shares how two personal tragedies reshaped his definition of "enough," why he walked away from his longest-running business, and why he's now focused on acquiring local, family-owned Kansas City businesses instead of chasing the biggest exit.

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From Vendor to Ally: Rethinking Inheritance, Legacy, and What We Pass Down

Financial advisor Shane Bauman joins the Sharpen Podcast to talk about the shame so many of us carry around money, why true wealth is closer to wholeness than a portfolio number, and how to pass down values, not just assets, as a real inheritance. Connect with Shane at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebauman/ Learn more about Rise Wealth Strategies at: risewealth.org Learn more about Acumen: https://go.acumenimpact.com/why-acumen

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Lessons Learned: How Peer Advisory Teams Help CEOs Grow in Business, Faith, and Life

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, hosts Dan Cooper and Steve Van Diest celebrate the 50th episode and reflect on 15 years of Acumen. Together, they discuss what they have learned from working with CEOs and business owners, including the value of peer advisory teams, honest feedback, trusted community, faith-infused leadership, and stewardship. Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.com

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From Accidental Entrepreneur to Global Impact

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Drew Hiss sits down with Bobby Gruenewald, pastor and innovation leader at Life.Church and founder and CEO of YouVersion. Bobby shares his journey from early entrepreneurship to Life.Church, the story behind the Bible App, and the leadership lessons learned along the way. Connect with Bobby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbygruenewald/ https://www.youversion.com Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.com

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Beyond the Numbers: Growth, Control, and Authentic Leadership

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Steve Van Diest sits down with Dan Martella, who leads business development for Bennett Thrasher. They discuss how growth-minded business owners can move beyond reactive compliance and build advisory relationships that support stronger decisions, better capacity, and long-term growth. Dan shares insight on state and local tax challenges, founder-led sales, owner dependency, business valuation, delegation, professional advice, and the personal leadership work required to let go of control and show up with authenticity. Learn more about Dan and Bennett Thrasher here: https://www.btcpa.net or connect on LinkedIn Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.com

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Soul Care, Leadership Pressure, and Sustainable Rhythms

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Merle Mees of Soulcare Matters to talk about the hidden cost of leadership pressure, the warning signs of soul depletion, and the rhythms that help leaders recover clarity, rest, and wholeness. Merle shares his own story of burnout and explains why soul care is not just another responsibility. It is the work of tending to the inner life that shapes how leaders show up for their families, teams, organizations, and calling. Connect with Guest: Learn more about Soul Care Matters or connect with Merle on LinkedIn. Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.com

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Why Family Business Succession Is About More Than the Business

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Jon Bachura, an Acumen Growth Catalyst in Wichita, to talk about generational leadership transitions, legacy, founder identity, and the future of family enterprise. Jon shares why successful transitions are not only about financial structure or choosing the next operator. They require leaders to think clearly about calling, family dynamics, outside talent, governance, and the deeper purpose behind the business. Connect with Jon Bachura and learn more about the teams he is building in Wichita here. Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.com

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How Leaders Build Trust and Long-Term Impact Through Consistent Service

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Zack Nicholson, Executive Director at Minding the Gap, to talk about leadership, service, and what it takes to build trust in schools and communities over time. Zack shares his journey from entrepreneurship to ministry to nonprofit leadership, along with practical lessons on serving real needs, leading volunteers, and creating lasting impact through consistency and commitment. Learn more about Minding the Gap here Connect with Zack Nicholson on LinkedIn

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Building for What Lasts: Succession, Valuation, and Legacy

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Drew Hiss sits down with Duane Donner, founder and CEO of Founder Advisors, to talk about what it takes to build a company that is valuable, transferable, and aligned with a larger purpose. Duane shares how early failure, burnout, and a hard reset in both business and life shaped the way he rebuilt his career and eventually grew an M&A advisory firm focused on stewardship, trust, and long-term impact. Together, Drew and Duane unpack what CEOs and business owners need to understand about succession, deal readiness, valuation, private equity, and leadership depth. The conversation matters for leaders because it reframes transition planning as more than a financial event. It is also a leadership decision about reducing risk, preserving influence, and building something that can last beyond the founder. Learn more about Duane Donner and Founder Advisors here Connect with Duane on LinkedIn Take the Investment Grade Assessment Learn more about Abide and Lead Ministry Interested in learning more about Acumen visit us here.

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Trusted Advice: Strategy, Structure, and the Levers That Unlock Growth

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Clint Overton, founder and managing partner of Boardroom Bullpen, for a conversation about sabbaticals, faith, entrepreneurship, and the role of the trusted advisor. Clint shares how a 21-year career in large organizations, followed by private equity, fractional COO work, and a season of reflection, shaped the way he now helps businesses grow. Dan and Clint also explore the practical side of leadership, including strategy, organizational structure, execution, and the levers business owners can pull to unlock growth. For CEOs and leaders, the episode offers a grounded perspective on building the right support around the business, identifying what gets in the way, and making smarter decisions about how growth actually happens. Learn more about Boardroom Bullpen or The Mercury Collective Connect with Clint on LinkedIn Listen to Call to The Bullpen Podcast

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From Ministry to Market: Building Systems That Actually Serve People

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Steve Van Diest sits down with Drew Lints, founder of Revflow Growth Partners, to talk about systems, AI, and how to scale a business without losing the human element. They break down common misconceptions about automation, where businesses waste time on manual work, and how to identify the right opportunities for AI. Drew shares his approach to building custom solutions, why one size fits all systems fall short, and how leaders can use process to create more capacity for people, not less. If you are trying to grow your business while staying focused on what matters most, this conversation will help you think more clearly about where to start. Connect with Drew: https://revflowpartners.io Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.com

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Relational Capital: Why Trust Still Matters in Business

In this episode of the Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper (CEO, Acumen) and Brian Lunt (St. Louis Growth Catalyst, Acumen) discuss relational capital—what it is, how it’s built, and why it still matters in business. As technology continues to increase speed and efficiency, relationships can become secondary. This conversation brings it back to the fundamentals: trust, consistency, and understanding people. They break down what builds trust, what damages it, and the simple habits that keep relationships active over time. The discussion also touches on how leaders shift from building their own success to helping others grow and how that impacts the strength of their network. If you lead a business or a team, this episode offers a practical look at how relationships still influence outcomes, even in a more automated world.

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Risk-Conscious Leadership: Money, Storms & Smart Growth

In this episode of the Sharpen Podcast, Steve Van Diest sits down with Blaine Cheshire, Founder & CEO of Level 10 CFO, to talk about money, growth, and the financial decisions that can make or break a business. They unpack the common lies leaders believe about revenue, introduce the idea of the “Revenue Fairy,” and explain why CFOs aren’t risk-averse—they’re risk-conscious. Blaine also shares hard-earned lessons from walking through a personal health storm while leading a growing company, and why building a business that runs without you isn’t optional. If you're a CEO in the growth stage wondering whether your financial leadership matches your ambition, this episode delivers clarity, wisdom, and practical perspective.

Why Your Ads Fail: Practical Marketing Advice for Business Owners

Tune in to hear from iHeartMedia veteran Jack Gelley on how brands connect with customers through storytelling, listening to real pain points, and building long-term trust with audio and consistent campaigns. He covers practical advice for business owners — SEO and website basics, campaign timing and measurement, the role of AI, and sales follow-up — to help you grow without losing your why.

Work as Worship: How Business Drives Human Flourishing

In this episode Steve Van Diest interviews Ross Chapman, CEO of the Denver Institute for Faith & Work, about how faith and business intersect. They explore Jesus’ example of ordinary work, reframing ministry to include everyday jobs, and how companies can promote human flourishing through good jobs, competence, and long-term vision. Practical takeaways include treating daily work as ministry, designing workplaces that serve employees and communities, and resources for leaders who want to integrate faith and work, including local programs, podcasts, and fellowship opportunities.

How Is Greater Than What: The Leadership Skill Everyone Overlooks

Preston Poore joins Dan Cooper to explain his leadership thesis: how you lead matters more than what you achieve. Drawing on 30 years in consumer brands like Coca‑Cola and Hershey, Preston shares stories of failure, transformation, and practical steps—360 feedback, coaching, and self-awareness—to build healthier workplaces. He also discusses integrating faith and humility into daily leadership, why results are table stakes, and how focusing on the "how" creates stronger teams, engagement, and lasting impact.

How a Fractional Integrator Turns Vision into Traction — and Why CEOs Need One

Mike Walrod explains how a fractional integrator implements EOS to free visionary CEOs, build trust, and turn ideas into execution. He covers the integrator role, running effective Level 10 meetings (IDS), the power of clarity breaks, and how disciplined systems create speed and alignment. Practical takeaways include using weekly L10s to solve root problems, scheduling regular clarity breaks, and bringing in an integrator (fractional or full-time) to remove bottlenecks and scale the business.

From Living Room to Lifeline: The Project Worthmore Journey

Meet Frank Anello, co-founder and executive director of Project Worthmore, as he shares about founding and scaling a mission-driven organization serving refugees and immigrants on the Colorado Front Range. The conversation covers the organization’s programs (dental clinic, farm, English classes and planned medical/legal services), leadership of a multicultural team, diversified revenue strategies, challenges from political and funding shifts, and ways businesses and communities can get involved.

Unlocking Kingdom Potential: From Business to Ministry

In this episode, we dive deep into themes of collaboration, competition, and calling as we explore the unique journey of Bob Shank, a seasoned entrepreneur turned ministry leader. Join us as Bob shares his insights on transitioning from a thriving career in the construction industry to passionately engaging in ministry work, mentoring leaders, and co-founding The Barnabas Group. Bob discusses the pivotal moments that guided him from marketplace success to significant spiritual impact, emphasizing the importance of finding one's calling and walking the talk. Through compelling stories, we learn how business leaders can use their skills and expertise to catalyze change within ministries and communities. Discover how to evaluate the eternal ROI of your professional efforts and learn actionable steps to align your career and calling for a life of purpose and passion.