Faith Ventures welcomes Ryan Skoog—serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and passionate advocate for melding business with kingdom impact. Faith Ventures is also proud to introduce our new co-host of the podcast Matthew Bellis, whom many listeners will recognize from our previous Good News Bad News show at LCI.

Ryan shares his unique journey from growing up in a family steeped in the travel industry and missionary work to founding multiple travel-centric businesses that serve churches, mission groups, and humanitarian organizations globally. But Ryan’s story doesn’t stop at entrepreneurial success. He’s also the co-founder of the nonprofit Venture, which operates in the world’s toughest places—“unsafe, unreached, and unresourced” communities—bringing hope, humanitarian aid, and the gospel where it’s needed most.

Together, Matthew and Ryan discuss how integrating prayer, purpose, and generosity can transform a business into a vehicle for bringing even greater change to the world. Ryan reveals the foundation of his global impact, the lessons he’s learned from witnessing the explosive growth of the church in perilous places, and why he believes prayer should be at the heart of every leader’s life. Ryan also introduces us to his new book, Lead with Prayer, co-authored with Peter Greer and Cameron Doolittle—an inspiring guide that uncovers the common threads of prayerful leadership among world-changing Christian leaders.

Whether you’re a business owner, ministry leader, or someone searching for a deeper purpose in your daily work, this episode is packed with wisdom, practical strategies, and encouragement for the future.

Faith Ventures welcomes Mark Whitaker, Vice President of Culture and Care at Coca-Cola Consolidated, to share a fascinating journey of Christian faith in the workplace. Mark tells us how the company changed dramatically under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Frank Harrison, who implemented a mission statement to honor God in all they do. Listeners will learn how Coca-Cola Consolidated integrated faith-based initiatives like chaplains at every plant, prayer groups, discipleship programs, and a rapid response team to support employees during crises. We also discuss how others can learn from that example and apply it in their own work and businesses.

Mark also opens up about his personal story, from scaling the heights of corporate America driven by ambition and material success, to becoming a Christian after exposing a major price-fixing scandal—and later finding a new calling in servant leadership. Through candid storytelling, practical advice, and encouragement, this episode highlights how businesses of any size can foster a culture rooted in faith, service, and significance. Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or employee, Mark’s message will challenge you to become salt and light in your own workplace, pursuing a life of significance for the glory of God.

Faith Ventures welcomes Dean Zarras, serial entrepreneur and the Founder-CEO of ClearFactor. Join us for a fascinating discussion about the "hockey stick" effect in societal progress and the crucial role of cultural respect and innovation. The conversation touches on thought-provoking books, the misconceptions about markets, sharing ideas within our church communities, Artificial Intelligence, and truth-seeking. Dean emphasizes the importance of courage, shares his career journey from software development to Wall Street, and recounts the founding of ClearFactor as the outgrowth of a decade's worth of work. He also reflects on the influence of faith on his professional life and the challenges of balancing courage with respect for others. Throughout the episode, Dean provides personal anecdotes and wisdom gained from his remarkable career path, including lessons learned in the liberty movement, AI "hallucinations," and the inspiring ways in which faith has guided his entrepreneurial ventures.