Catholic Founders

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Shout out to Fio for sponsoring this recording at the recently held YCP Conference 🙌🏼* We have events happening in Houston, San Francisco, Dallas, Nashville, Wausau, and Columbus. Register to attend. * Luca at Fides is hosting an awards night on May 15th in NYC. We’re a sponsor. Sign up here. * I recently went on the BeatiDudes podcast. Check it out here. * We just launched a bot to help you learn from ALL the content we’ve produced. Join the Guild today to gain access. * Want to invest in other Catholic projects/companies/ventures? Subscribe (for free) to the Faithful Steward newsletter. Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic: Edmund Mitchell * Core Takeaway: AI is the Great Equalizer* Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Edmund Mitchell. Creator of Digital Continent, The Faith & AI Project, Real+True, Zealous Parish MinistersWelcome back to the pod! Today, we’re sharing an episode we recorded in person at the YCP conference in Dallas a few weeks back. I was joined by Edmund Mitchell. He and I had a lot of fun, probably because in so many ways we are very similar personalities, both just loaded with ADHD, ideas, and energy. You kind of get the picture.I learned about Edmund because he recently hosted a debate between Mark Barnes and Matthew Harvey Sanders about AI on his podcast called The Faith and AI Project. Edmund is dedicated to helping Catholics turn their obsessions into intellectual property, authority, and income by applying Catholic anthropology to modern marketing. Our conversation dives straight into the biggest world-changing shift of our time—Artificial Intelligence—which Edmund argues is uniquely geared towards entrepreneurs who are intrinsically motivated. For Catholic Founders, this is an immense opportunity to escape the corporate monkey life by leaning into our unique calling and putting our personality into our work.Invest in Other Catholic-Run BusinessesSign up today (for free) for the Faithful Steward. Our free, private, deal-flow newsletter for Catholic investors to discover Catholic-run business ventures to invest in. —> CatholicDealFlow.comWe gotta help each other out! Doing our part to connect the ecosystem.(Raising? Submit your deck here)Core Lesson: AI is the Great Equalizer, and Will Enable 100x More Catholic EntrepreneurshipWith AI, the barriers to starting a business are much lower. You can get started with very little pre-existing knowledge. Turning those ideas you dreamt up, or the ones you saw on Instagram, into a real business has a minimal barrier now. On top of this, more people will need to build out some sort of side hustle. Either they will be laid off because of AI, or they will need additional income because the rising cost of living makes it impossible for them to pay for their 10 kids. The ingredients are there for some spicy soup. As Catholics, who have true knowledge of our purpose, we must seize this moment to build business. To gain influence and prestige, to create a future that puts human flourishing at the center of society. (There are many other things I could have put from this episode, but this one stands out to me the most) God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:* Digital Continent (Edmundo Reyes)* Zealous Parish Ministers* Real and True (digital content based on the catechism of Catholic Church)* Scott Hahn* Tim Ferriss* Richard Feynman* Working Genius* Murray Davis* Matthew Harvey Sanders vs Mark Barnes debate podcast* Magisterium AI* A Thousand True Fans - Kevin Kelly* Lucas Wall, Catholic University of America* Leviticus 3:16* The Righteous Mind - Jonathan Haidt* Dietrich Von Hildebrand* FIO* YCP Conference* The Faith and AI Project* Delete Magisterium AI - Mark Barnes articleSelect Quotes:* “If you’re in the old model of the industrial revolution, the public school system, it was there to train people to be good employees. But the AI world is much more geared towards entrepreneurs. And these are people that are intrinsically motivated, who can come up a direction to go on their own. So instead of what’s the correct answer to the question, an entrepreneur is saying, is the question?” —Edmund Mitchell* “As Catholic entrepreneurs, we are not just created to achieve some sort of earthly fame or glory or monetary pile. We are called to be instruments of God’s will in the world and to bring glory to Him. So that’s what we’re here and that’s what we’re all about.” —Silas Mähner * “The litmus test of have you found your one thing is does it work for you?”—Edmund Mitchell* “There’s a lot of people that aren’t saying something new because they’re scared. They’re scared to put their unique personality into their message.” —Edmund Mitchell* “As long as I just keep coming up with ideas, just keep pursuing things. At some point you’ll find it.” —Edmund Mitchell* “AI is one of the most, I mean, it is the most groundbreaking thing. I thought the internet and social media was going to be the most revolutionary thing, but AI really is.” * —Edmund Mitchell* “There’s a difference between automated and automatic. Something that’s automatic, I automatically send a text, or I automatically get a reminder to send a text to my sister when it’s her birthday. That’s automatic. Automated is a robot sends and crafts a text and sends it to my sister. So we want to avoid automated things. But we want to avoid automating things that should be a human touch and are built built on trust and connection. We want to make other things automatic.” —Edmund Mitchell* “Of all of the disruption and confusion, we [Catholics] should be thinking, we should be so thankful that we have truth and morality to lean on. And we have these anchors because the number of people who are going to have lost all sense of stability and understanding of who they are. is going to be really hard for a lot of people.” — Silas MähnerKey Moments: (outline)* [02:55] - Edmund Mitchell’s Work and Mission: Mitchell introduces himself as a freelance content creator and brand strategist whose mission is to help Catholics turn their “obsessions into intellectual property, authority and income” by applying Catholic anthropology to modern marketing.* [04:24] - Entrepreneurial Origin: Mitchell shares that his entrepreneurial journey began in college when he secretly read business books while serving in parish ministry, noting how business and Catholic theology helped each other.* [08:24] - Finding Your Unique Calling: Mitchell advises defining your life’s work by picking “one question” for the next five years, stating the “litmus test” for finding your one thing is “does it work for you?”.* [11:27] - Ideas Spreading: Mitchell quotes sociologist Davis Murray: “Ideas don’t spread because they’re true Ideas spread because they’re interesting,” and notes that many Catholic content creators are scared to put their unique personality into their message.* [18:38] - The Creator Economy: Mitchell discusses the massive growth of the creator economy and how AI is increasing the effectiveness of solopreneurs, making freelancers look “much more like just business owners”.* [25:27] - The Mindset of Persistence: Mitchell shares his long-term mindset on failure: “I’ll never fail because I’ll come up with another idea” and just keep pursuing things until you find it.* [32:02] - AI as a Groundbreaking Shift: Mitchell calls AI “the most groundbreaking thing” since electricity, noting its exponential growth and current security challenges with models like Mythos.* [36:36] - Leveraging AI Agents: Mitchell explains advanced AI use as having a “Jarvis companion AI” that routes tasks to an entire “team of agents” (research, content creation, SEO), allowing him to operate as an advisor to his company of agents.* [38:21] - Automated vs. Automatic: Mitchell clarifies the need to avoid “automated” tasks (robot crafting a text) and instead make other things “automatic” (a reminder), especially to preserve the “human touch” built on trust and connection.* [49:50] - The Insight Economy: Mitchell says the world is moving from the “information economy” into the “insight economy,” where unique connections between ideas and ultimately wisdom become the most valuable assets.* [52:34] - Gratitude for Truth: Silas Mähner encourages Catholic listeners to be thankful for their anchors of “truth and morality” in times of disruption, which provides stability and clarity amid widespread confusion.Hire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts, and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. More About the BeatiDudes Podcast:A while back, when I met Jeff Schiefelbein in person, he said I could come on the BeatiDudes podcast the next time I was in Dallas. It finally happened. He was true to his word. The BeatiDudes podcast is a religiously funny podcast that brings people closer to Christ. I joined hosts Jeff Schiefelbein, Paul Kolker, and Nick Bezner to cover a lot of big topics at their tiny table. We covered some of my story, being from Wisconsin. How I started Catholic Founders. We talked about how to take risks as a Catholic Founder and our relationship to risk, storytelling, prudence, and humility. I asked them some questions too. Including what held them back from doing what God called them to do. Overall, it was a lot of fun. Especially so because Jeff was running on very little sleep. Less sleep = more unfiltered = more fun. Enjoy the conversation! Hire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:* Silas Marner by George Eliot* The Five Love Languages* Wild Leaders Assessment* Young Catholic Professionals (YCP)* Myers-Briggs Type Indicator* The Virtuous Leadership Institute (Alexandre Havard)* Everybody Matters by Bob ChapmanSelect Quotes:* "I started to wonder, what if Jesus was the CEO of a company? How would that look?" — Silas Mähner* "God created your soul in this particular time of history to those particular parents in whatever circumstances. You didn't choose that, right?" — Silas Mähner* "It's not to say we can't derail ourselves, but if we just lean into the track that He's laid out for us... whether or not you achieve great things in the eyes of the world or small things, it doesn't really matter because it's what God called you to." — Silas Mähner* "My way is not the way, it's just a way. There's certain things that are true and certain morals that are right and wrong, but everything else is just like the lens by which you're looking through stuff." — Jeff Schiefelbein* "What are my unique gifts that aren't replaceable? Or at least that only a handful of people can use, right? So that if I'm using them in my kind of circle, then I'm having the greatest impact for those people."— Paul KolkerKey Moments: (outline)* [00:00] - Intro : Silas introduces the crosspost of his appearance on the BeatiDudes podcast.* [06:26] - Jesus as CEO : Silas explains the original thesis behind Catholic Founders and his interest in clean tech.* [10:20] - Man of the Woods : A look into Silas’s upbringing in rural Wisconsin as the oldest of eight kids.* [13:20] - Co-creators with God : Discussing the inherent call to entrepreneurship and co-creation.* [17:01] - Identifying the Track : Silas shares what he has learned from interviewing 60 different founders.* [21:34] - The Dinner Format : Describing the intentional networking dinners Silas hosts in Nashville.* [24:19] - The Big Question : Silas asks the Dudes what they feel uniquely called to and what holds them back.* [36:39] - Prudence vs. Risk : A discussion on the balance between business risk and trusting in God’s providence.* [42:30] - Resilience through Failure : Jeff and Paul discuss how failures create the best stories and build character.* [52:56] - Outro : Final plugs for Catholic Founders and the BeatiDudes sponsors.Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayStop building alone! There is a community of Catholic hustlers who, like you, are looking to escape corporate monkey life, make more money to provide for their family, or who just have a very specific calling. Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Annual membership is only $100; it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Two Years of Catholic Founders: Reflections, Rebranding, and the Future of Co-CreationToday marks a milestone that is deeply personal to me. It is May 1st — the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.As the son of a carpenter, this day has always held a special place in my heart. But today, it carries a double significance: it is the two-year anniversary of the public launch of my recruitment business and the birth of Catholic Founders.At the start, the key goal was to understand how to be a Catholic Founder. How to imitate the way Jesus would run a company today.The beginning was rough — my AI-generated logo and the sporadic blog posts. But it’s been two years, and things are a lot more refined. Not perfect, but it’s a good time for updates.I want to cover why I started this, what we’ve accomplished so far, and where we are going (what we’re evolving into).Why We Started: The Theology of EntrepreneurshipIn 2019, I was struck by a question that I couldn’t find a substantial answer to: If Jesus were the CEO of a company today, how would He lead?We have Theology of the Body and a lot of writing on the Theology of Money, but I saw a void where a Theology of Entrepreneurship should be. I knew there was more to the hustle culture of Gary V and Tai Lopez. Jesus wouldn’t be telling you about how to make money with a Lambo in the background.My hope in starting Catholic Founders was that I’d find others who were also curious about this question. Thankfully, I did.What We’ve Achieved So FarWhat was at first sporadic blog posts and a simple WhatsApp group chat has thankfully become a lot more than that.* The Podcast: In January 2025, we launched the podcast. We are now 64 episodes deep. We’ve been blessed to have heavy hitters like Alessandro DiSanto (Hallow), Andreas Widmer (CUA), Matthew Harvey Sanders (Magesterium AI), Tim Connors (Investor), John Johnson (Patmos), and many others.* The Saintly CEO & Faithful Steward: We launched a tactical Monday newsletter and a free private deal-flow newsletter to connect Catholic investors with Catholic builders.* The Community: We now have over 800 total subscribers, 109 paid members, and have hosted ~20 meetups, coffee hangs, and dinners. And the group chat is now a thriving WhatsApp community. (Join today)The Next Chapter: The Launch Pad For Catholic EntrepreneursAs we move into our third year, I have gained immense clarity on who we are here to serve. We are going all in on helping Catholics start and grow their businesses. The launchpad, so to speak.We’ll continue to provide value and create resources that serve those early needs.The four core types of people who would be a good fit for Catholic Founders are as follows.* The Aspiring Founder: You want to start a business but have no idea where to begin. Maybe it’s a side hustle to support a growing family; we are here to help you get off the ground.* The Struggling Entrepreneur: You have a business (likely under $1M in revenue), and you’ve hit a ceiling. You need mentors and peers to help you break through bottlenecks.* Seeking Friends Founder: You’re likely hitting your stride and winning, but you don’t want to go it alone. You want a community that cares about the same things you do.* The Mentor: You’ve achieved significant success and want to turn around and lend a hand to the next generation.This IS the Missing Layer: While great organizations like Legatus or SENT Ventures exist for established leaders, there is almost nothing for the beginner. We are filling that gap.Invest in Other Catholic-Run BusinessesSign up today (for free) for the Faithful Steward. Our free, private, deal-flow newsletter for Catholic investors to discover Catholic-run business ventures to invest in. —> CatholicDealFlow.comWe gotta help each other out! Doing our part to connect the ecosystem. (Raising? Submit your deck here)Why This Matters Now: The Post-AI CivilizationWe are at a crossroads. AI disruption is changing the nature of work, and many people are going to lose their jobs. But we know that work is good for man. God told us to dominate the earth before the fall of Adam. It’s part of our divine mandate.I believe, metaphorically speaking, society is about to experience a series of gargantuan earthquakes that will level the structures we take for granted. But when the dust settles, the Church and her faithful will still be standing — visible in the distance. Gleaming like a city on a hill.When people hit rock bottom, they become open to the Truth. This is a massive opportunity for evangelization. Think of the energy St. Paul would have today — he’d be on every podcast, in every forum, bringing the truth to a world in ruins.On top of this, we have a chance to shape the new civilization. Will it be vapid and utilitarian, or will it be beautiful, founded on truth, and full of the laughter of children?The future will be built by someone. Let’s make sure that someone is a group of Catholic entrepreneurs who love God.Join the GuildIf this resonates with you, I invite you to join the Catholic Founders Guild.We’ve priced it at $100 a year (or $10 a month) because I want it to be accessible to the person just starting. While there are many perks, I wouldn’t suggest joining for that reason. It’s about surrounding yourself with like-minded Catholics striving for both saintly greatness and professional excellence.You were created to create. Don’t forget that.Join us at: catholicfounders.com/subscribe Thank you for two incredible years. Here is to many more.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Sign up for the Faithful Steward private newsletter. As mentioned in the episode, we are launching the Faithful Steward. A private newsletter for Catholic Investors. 👉 Sign up to get deal flow here.👉 Submit your deck to be shared with the network here.* Wausau, WI Monthly Meetup: Sign up here (Last Saturday of each month)* San Francisco Meetup: May 14th, after mass at Star of the Sea (Feast of The Ascension, Holy Day of Obligation). Sign up here. * Houston, TX, and Columbus, OH, are close to getting something on the books - reach out if interested in attending. * Sponsor Catholic Founders to get in front of Hundreds of Catholic Business owners each week. [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic: James Reichert - Cana Wedding Group* Core Takeaway: Our daily evangelization mandate* Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:James Reichert | Cana Wedding GroupIn this episode, I sit down with James Reichert, the co-founder of Cana Wedding Group, to discuss how they are taking on the “big wedding” industry. ie: Zoho, The Knot, etc. You know, the companies that have turned marriage into a commercial activity and nothing more. His take (which I agree with) is that because Marriage is a sacrament, and we as Christians are the only ones really doing it properly, we should have a company to work with that doesn’t actively hate what marriage truly is. Not to mention, we’re the only ones with families, so we’re the ones who are creating their future customers. Aside from his story and what they are building, we also get into his thoughts on how Catholics should be building businesses, and how entrepreneurship is an incredible vehicle for evangelization. You’re going to enjoy this — I’m sure of that. Invest in Other Catholic-Run BusinessesSign up today (for free) for the Faithful Steward. Our free, private, deal-flow newsletter for Catholic investors to discover Catholic-run business ventures to invest in. —> CatholicDealFlow.comWe gotta help each other out! Doing our part to connect the ecosystem. (Raising? Submit your deck here)Core Lesson: Every Catholic-run business carries a mandate for daily evangelization, whether through direct witness or the pursuit of excellence in service.For too long, we’ve separated our professional lives from our spiritual calling. It’s what the world has demanded of us. But as Catholic entrepreneurs, we know we are created to be instruments of God’s will in the world. James points out, if your target market is fellow Catholics and you can offer a tool that avoids the woke friction of secular competitors, you have a unique opportunity to strengthen the faith of your customers.True success in business should be framed through the lens of excellence rather than blind ambition. While ambition can become vicious if it overlooks holiness, excellence glorifies God by utilizing the specific talents He has entrusted to us to their fullest potential.The goal of a Catholic venture is not just to survive in a secular market. It’s to build an uncancelable ecosystem where our values are preserved, and our businesses serve as a primary vehicle for sanctification. By creating high-quality alternatives like Cana, we reclaim territory in the modern world and provide living examples of what it means to be a “Man of the Kingdom”.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:* Magisterium AI* Leaving a Legacy - Johann Kurtz* St. Moses the Black* National Catholic Register article* EWTN articleSelect Quotes:* "It's a funny one too, if you're a Catholic and you run a company, there should be a level of evangelization every single day."— James Reinchert* “Shoot for excellence, not ambition. Blind ambition, can I think eventually become a bit vicious in the sense that like if you have ambition over empathy or ambition over compassion, ambition over holiness, that’s where things can be a bit dangerous. So shoot for excellence. Ambition can be a good thing. You want to funnel and use that ambition for excellence and to glorify God in whatever way you can, but just be careful about taking it to its logical extreme.”— James Reinchert* "The parable of the talents is a really important one, especially for the modern young man who, if he wants, he can sit on his couch all day long and play Fortnite... and never live up to the potential that he's supposed to."— James Reinchert* "Catholics should be owning marriage preparation, wedding preparation, wedding planning."— James Reinchert* “If you give, the Lord will give back. And that's not the reason why you should do it, but he really does love when you take the gifts that he's given you and you put them to good work.”— James ReinchertKey Moments: (outline)* [04:27] - Introducing Cana: James describes building the first Catholic and Christian alternative to secular wedding sites.* [10:18] - The Need for Catholic Alternatives: A discussion on why certain industries like marriage require uncompromised faith-based solutions.* [14:44] - Ambition vs. Excellence: James explores the fine line between healthy drive and blind ambition, emphasizing excellence for God’s glory.* [21:02] - Parable of the Talents: The importance of using God-given skills to avoid wasting potential on earthly distractions.* [35:12] - Honesty in Business: Why truthfulness creates a “spiritual resonance” in professional relationships and fundraising.* [44:35] - Sacrifice and Startups: James shares the personal challenges of building a venture while providing for a young family.* [51:41] - Leaving a Legacy: A brief discussion on the importance of generational support and the work of John Cortines.* [54:19] - Reinvigorating Faith: James talks about the power of confession and adoration in his personal spiritual life.Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Sign up for the Faithful Steward private newsletter. As mentioned in the episode, we are launching the Faithful Steward. A private newsletter for Catholic Investors. 👉 Sign up to get deal flow here.👉 Submit your deck to be shared with the network here.* Wausau, WI Monthly Meetup: Sign up here (Last Saturday of each month)* Nashville Monthly CF Meetup: Sign up here* Sponsor Catholic Founders to get in front of Hundreds of Catholic Business owners each week. [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Nhan Dinh | Seller LabsStraight up, this is the most vulnerable conversation that we’ve had on the show. Normally, we talk a lot about success and winning. But part of every entrepreneur’s journey is failure. And in some cases, shutting down your company. Nhan, has started many projects and companies. He’s also shut down many of them. And this is all fresh for Nhan. He’s in a period of transition currently, seeking his next opportunity or company to build (so reach out if you’re interested in meeting him). However, despite all of these challenges, Nhan keeps the faith as he steps forward confidently, trusting in God that he will be able to feed his 9 children. His humility is inspiring to anyone with open ears. I encourage you to open yours. Enjoy the conversation! Core Lesson: Your fear determines what you are attached to; whatever you are most afraid of losing is exactly where your heart is bound. God is seeking to free you from that attachment. As Catholic founders, we often mistake our drive for stewardship when it’s actually a desire for control or recognition. Nhan challenges us to use the discernment of St. Ignatius to look at our businesses with “holy indifference,” being equally at peace with riches or poverty, success or failure. If the thought of your business being taken away today causes a tantrum in your heart, it’s a clear sign that you’ve shifted your trust from God’s providence to your own hands.Have the mindset that “I either succeed or I learn” so that you can grow. God will teach you and bring you closer to Him through these failures. The dark moments are times of blessing because they help bring us back to God. To trust in Him. Finally, learn to embrace the “necessary endings” required to stay true to our ultimate mission. Sometimes God calls us to shut a door so that we can walk through a new one, and while that new path might not be more glamourous, but it is the path of obedience. Whether it’s a business, a relationship, or a dream that no longer serves the goal of glorifying God, we have to be willing to let it go — before we are forced to.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:* Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud* The Culture Solution by Matthew Kelly (Culture is king)* St. Ignatius of Loyola - Spiritual Exercises and Discernment* The Surrender Novena* Raising Great Saints (Nhan Dinh’s youtube channel)* Mastermind* St. Maximilian Kolbe* The Faithful Steward (Catholic Investors)Select Quotes:* “Your fear will determine what you’re attached to; so whatever you’re most afraid of losing, that’s what you’re attached to.”— Nhan Dinh* “The odds of you closing a business is very high, so you gotta be prepared to go penniless.”— Nhan Dinh* “It’s like, are you doing it because you want to glorify yourself? Are you really like in it to glorify God? Because God will test you. Like, if your heart’s not pure, He will test you. And at that point, are you going to be able, it’s still, you know, running to Him to trust.Because if you do, then your faith grows. But if you don’t, then it’s going to drive you away from God.”— Nhan Dinh* “You don’t need to worry about not working hard enough. You need to worry about whether you’re trusting in God and going in the right direction.”— Nhan Dinh* “Either I succeed or I learn.”— Nhan Dinh* “Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you.”— Nhan Dinh (quoting St. Ignatius of Loyola)* “The problem with the entrepreneur is not that they give up, it’s just that they give up too late.”— Nhan Dinh* “I was like, how do I discern if I should continue a business or should just go get a job? And he's(spiritual director) like, your wife will tell you when you need to go get a job.”— Nhan Dinh* “The mission of the business is king and you need to have necessary endings.”— Nhan Dinh* “On your deathbed, which one are you gonna regret not making?”— Nhan Dinh* “Desiring and choosing only what is most conducive to the end which we are created, which is to praise, to adore, and to serve God.”— Nhan DinhKey Moments: (outline)* [00:00] - Intro: Fear and Attachment : Nhan explains how our fears reveal what we are truly attached to in business.* [01:08] - Mission: Becoming Saints through Business : Silas discusses the core mission of Catholic Founders—sainthood through entrepreneurship.* [04:27] - Background: The Vietnamese Immigrant Story : Nhan shares his family’s journey from post-war Vietnam to starting life with nothing in America.* [07:33] - Family: Raising Nine Kids as an Entrepreneur : Discussing the necessity of entrepreneurship when providing for a large Catholic family.* [08:49] - Risk: The Reality of Pennilessness : Why being willing to lose everything is the price of entry for full-time founders.* [10:39] - Discernment: Glorifying God vs. Self : How to distinguish between building for your own ego and building for God’s glory.* [15:05] - Exit Strategy: When to Shut Down : Learning when to embrace “necessary endings” rather than holding on too late.* [17:23] - Mid-Roll: The Faithful Steward : Silas announces a new initiative to connect Catholic investors with builders.* [21:38] - Motivation: Sorting Through the Desire for Recognition : Silas and Nhan discuss the spiritual danger of seeking recognition.* [24:14] - Prudence: The Three Circles of a Viable Business : Identifying the intersection of passion, skill, and market demandHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts, and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Sign up for the Faithful Steward private newsletter. As mentioned in the episode, we are launching the Faithful Steward. A private newsletter for Catholic Investors. 👉 Sign up to get deal flow here. 👉 Submit your deck to be shared with the network here. * Wausau, WI Monthly Meetup: Sign up here (Last Saturday of each month)* Nashville Monthly CF Meetup: Sign up here* Sponsor Catholic Founders to get in front of Hundreds of Catholic Business owners each week. [email protected] WarningNote to Listeners: This episode briefly mentions rape towards the end of the show. Viewer/listener discretion advised. Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Ian Stroud | Verti Commercial Real EstateToday, we’re talking about real estate. Our guest is Ian Stroud, a multifamily investment sales advisor who specializes in the 20 to 250-unit range across the Midwest. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because his brother Colin was on the show way back in Episode 6 talking about credit card points. Ian brings a different flavor to the table, focusing on the mechanics of apartment complexes and how Catholics can steward their capital through real estate.We cover a lot of ground here, from the boring back-office analysis that eventually led Ian to find his true calling, to the gritty reality of the current housing crisis. My mind was blown when Ian shared a story about a real estate investor who managed to drop crime rates in a neighborhood by 80% by simply engaging with his tenants. This is a prime example of what it means to be a Catholic entrepreneur — to use our role to bring Christ’s love to those around us, and make practical improvements as well. We also get into Ian’s personal faith journey — including his family’s conversion and how Exodus 90 eventually led him to his wife. In short, this is an example of how our interior and professional lives are meant to be woven together (like what Jeff Schiefelbein told us on episode 9)Core Lesson: True stewardship in real estate requires moving beyond the ‘greedy landlord’ trope to actively engage in the flourishing of the community and the tenants.The common narrative around real estate often boils down to a supply and demand math problem, but Ian challenges us to see the human element behind the numbers. While it is true that we are facing a massive housing shortage — needing roughly 5 million units annually just to stay flat — the role of a Catholic owner isn’t just to fill a gap in the market. It’s about recognizing that the property is a tool for human flourishing. When an owner engages with tenants rather than treating them as mere entries on a rent roll, it can transform an entire neighborhood’s safety and culture.Again, it’s simple (not easy but simple). Engage with your tenants, as children of God, and you could reduce the crime rate of an entire neighborhood by ~80%. This ultimately leads to an increase in your property value. Ultimately, for the Catholic business owner, real estate is a way to diversify excess profit while participating in God’s creative work. Whether it’s through multifamily investments or simply being a virtuous landlord, the goal is to be a Faithful Steward of the physical spaces where families live and grow. It’s a reminder that doing the right thing for your tenants often aligns with the long-term value and profitability of the asset itself.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started, reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:* The Faithful Steward Newsletter* Verti Commercial Real Estate* Cornfields and Cap Rates Newsletter* EWTN* Exodus 90* Wild at Heart by John Eldredge* Save Your Parish by Patrick Neve* Walsh University* Patrick Madrid* Jamie Baxter* Catholic Founders Episode 6: Colin Stroud* St. Francis of Asisi* James 2:14-26* Litany of HumilitySelect Quotes:* “I think we're always driven to provide. And if we're not providing, then what are we? And I think that's tough. It's a question I have no idea how to answer because I've never encountered it. I don't think I will for a while.” — Ian Stroud* “I was in my suit and tie, asleep on the living room floor. I was just exhausted. And even though I was bored, it was like it was more draining because I was bored than if I was engaged. And I think a lot of people probably feel that way about their job is when you get bored, you can just kind of implode a little bit.”— Ian Stroud* “There's a difference… where it's like you know something out there and then kind of taking it and internalizing it. And that was the point for me that I was able to kind of, to take what I knew to what my brain knew to be true and move it into my soul and kind of to bring it home.”— Ian Stroud* “But we did it as a community and living with the guys that I was doing it with was the best possible way I could have done it because every morning we're complaining about the cold showers. But it's also, we're complaining about the cold showers but also it's like the feeling of we're doing this together.”— Ian Stroud* “You're going in, you're not trying to make the deal work. You're trying to find a deal that works. And the difference is pretty big.”— Ian Stroud* “You have a responsibility to treat her with the dignity. You cannot kick her [out]… immediately. I think you need to work with her… But on the other hand, she is causing a real risk for health problems for the other tenants. So you also have a responsibility to them.”— Ian Stroud* “I credit that and therapy with saving my wife's life. I mean, for sure. So I think that people that don't recognize the power of having good people around you all the time, they don't really get what it's about.”— Ian Stroud* “Being around the right people is so important that it is life saving. I mean, it's, it's, there's a reason that when we go to church, it's not one it's when two or more, there's a community inherent in the body of Christ.”— Ian StroudKey Moments: (outline)* [01:14] - Intro: Silas introduces Ian Stroud and the mission of Catholic Founders as co-creators with God.* [04:48] - Meet Ian Stroud: Ian details his role as a multifamily investment sales advisor and his work with AI-forward firm Verti.* [07:29] - Falling into Real Estate: Ian shares his journey from “draining” back-office equity management to the dynamic world of brokerage.* [13:40] - The RV Conversion: The story of Ian’s family’s conversion to Catholicism via EWTN radio while living in an RV.* [18:01] - The Faithful Steward: Mid-roll announcement regarding a new initiative for Catholic investors to find deal flow.* [21:06] - Exodus 90 & Awakening: Ian discusses his spiritual awakening through Wild at Heart and the community built during Exodus 90.* [36:52] - Stewardship & Rent Crisis: A deep dive into the math of real estate, the supply-demand problem, and the reality for modern landlords.* [46:50] - Outro: Closing thoughts on rent-to-own models and final community announcements.Hire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts, and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started, reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Wausau, WI Monthly Meetup: Sign up here (Last Saturday of each month)* (April 12th) Catholic Founders Guild Dinner in Dallas, TX. Register here (2 spots left)* Sponsor Catholic Founders to get in front of Hundreds of Catholic Business owners each week. [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Zuhair Madanat | Auto Glass ExpertsWelcome back to Catholic Founders. Our guest for this episode is Zuhair Madanat, the founder of Auto Glass Experts based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. He started as a middle school religion teacher and ended up as the founder of a fast-growing service business doing auto glass repair and replacement. I love Zuhair’s story because it shows how rewarding it is to fully rely on God in our business journeys. To set aside our will and plans, and to allow God’s to fill us and move us as He pleases. No, it’s not always sunshine and roses, but it’s what He desires of us. And that’s all we should ever want. You’ll learn a lot today, I’m sure. Zuhair’s got a lot of good perspective on upholding the dignity of his employees, focusing on quality, and treating himself as a servant to his team. Perhaps most critically, he also shows us how each interaction with a customer or employee is an opportunity to be God’s hands in the world — to carry out His will. Enjoy the episode! Core Lesson: True business leadership is found in the radical commitment to being a "servant of servants" by prioritizing the human dignity of every person within the organization.Adopting the role of a “servant of servants” transforms the traditional hierarchy of management into a community of mutual care. When a leader focuses on providing for the needs and growth of their employees, those employees are naturally empowered to extend that same level of care to the customers. This creates a sustainable ecosystem where the business thrives because it honors the inherent value of every individual involved in the transaction.Scaling a venture requires a profound death to self, particularly regarding the need for total control. Zuhair highlights that trusting God with the timing and the results of a business allows for a peace that surpasses market volatility or unprofitable years. By acknowledging that the founder is merely an instrument, the pressure of “owning” the outcome is replaced by the joy of stewardship, allowing the business to serve as a genuine conduit for grace.Integrating faith into a service-based industry means looking beyond the transaction to the human connection. Whether it is keeping humans on the phone instead of AI or treating a windshield repair as an act of service, the goal remains the same: glorifying God through excellence. This approach ensures that the work itself becomes a form of prayer and a means of sanctification for the founder, the team, and the community.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:* Managing as if Faith Mattered* The Prayer of St. Philaret of Moscow* St. Joseph the Worker* St. Josemaria Escriva* St. Andrew* St. Paul the Apostle* Proverbs 16:3* Matthew 5:16* The Trisagion Prayer (Holy God, Holy Mighty One)Select Quotes:* “It’s hard to take credit, and when you just know He’s been a part of everything, it’s hard to—I know that He uses me and I’m His instrument in this world, and I’m bringing His light into the world. But yeah, it’s just it’s really humbling.”— Zuhair Madanat* “If small business owners knew that this was the way that our faith is guiding us to run their business, it would look way different.”— Zuhair Madanat* “I was like, all right, God, if this goes away, then just let it go away and just show me whatever I'm supposed to do. I'm doing this just to glorify you in the world, to provide for my family, but I could do anything. It doesn't matter.”— Zuhair Madanat* “I tell them like I’m the servant of servants. So I’m here to serve you so that you can then serve the customer. And the way that I serve you is the way that I want you to serve the customer.”— Zuhair Madanat* “The tasks that a computer or AI, whatever, can handle, we let them handle it so that we have more human-to-human interaction so that the customer service reps aren’t feeling rushed on the phone and like they have to hang up to get to something else.”— Zuhair MadanatKey Moments: (outline)* [00:00] - The Universal Human Experience: Zuhair discusses how his time teaching middle school religion taught him that human problems remain constant throughout history.* [00:39] - Intro: Silas introduces Zuhair Madanat and the mission of Catholic Founders to help entrepreneurs become saints through their work.* [04:12] - From Classroom to Auto Glass: Zuhair explains his transition from teaching to starting Auto Glass Experts and the leap of faith involved.* [12:45] - Stewardship in Business: A discussion on the mindset shift from “owner” to “steward” and how it changes daily operations.* [18:30] - Servant Leadership: Zuhair breaks down what it means to serve your employees so they can effectively serve the customers.* [25:50] - The Challenges of Scaling: Insights into the growing pains of moving from a solo operation to multiple physical locations.* [38:15] - Faith in the Workplace: How to integrate Catholic identity into a secular service industry without being performative.* [42:05] - Spiritual Disciplines: Zuhair shares his daily prayer routine, specifically the importance of the Prayer of St. Philaret.* [55:20] - Advice for New Founders: Encouragement for those sitting on the fence about starting their own Catholic-led business.* [58:10] - Outro: Silas concludes the episode with a call to join the Catholic Founders Guild and a reminder that we were created to create.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Wausau, WI Monthly Meetup: Sign up here (Last Saturday of each month)* (April 12th) Catholic Founders Guild Dinner in Dallas, TX. Register here (~5 spots left) * Sponsor Catholic Founders to get in front of Hundreds of Catholic Business owners each week. [email protected]* NOTE: There will be no podcast next week as we take time off to observe Holy Week and enter into the Triduum. (We’re still trying to get a Monday newsletter out, let’s see if we get to that)Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic - Rob, CEO of Publicly Traded Hotel Brand - Now Investor* Core Takeaway - * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Rob Hays | Investor & EntrepreneurThis episode is legendary! Why? Because Rob is legendary. If you’re not familiar with him, he took over as CEO of a publicly traded hotel brand days before COVID. Crazy! He had to furlough most of the company. And did what he could, little by little, each day to see them through that crisis (of having zero revenue). Rob has spent a lot of time thinking about how to integrate his faith into what he does. Which makes him a great guest for us. He’s got some incredibly fiery takes. In this episode, we dive into how that crucible of crisis refined his faith and why he believes professional prestige and mundane tasks are essential components of a founder’s sanctificationCore Lesson: Professional prestige is a byproduct of excellence. That excellence serves as the "bait" for apostolic influence. Which in turn, gives us more credibility to share our faith (because they see we are good at what we do). Seeking prestige often feels like an act of pride, yet Rob reframes it as a functional necessity for the personal apostolate. People naturally seek advice and leadership from those who demonstrate mastery in their craft. By striving for excellence as an input, we create the credibility required for others to take our witness seriously.This perspective shifts the focus from self-glorification to professional stewardship. When we prioritize excellence in our roles as founders, fathers, and husbands, the resulting prestige becomes a tool to wield for the sake of the Gospel and human flourishing. We must remain detached from the output of prestige while remaining fiercely committed to the inputs of excellence and prayer.(I should probably write more about this in the future)God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:* St. Josemaria Escriva Institute* New Horizons Podcast* St. Josemaria Escriva* The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist* The Matter with Things by Iain McGilchrist* OptimalWork* Kevin Majors* Uniformity with God’s Will by St. Alphonsus Liguori* Time for God by Father Jacques Philippe* Sent Ventures* Triumph of the Heart (Film)* Anthony D’Ambrosio* Dante’s Inferno* Jeff Bezos on Work-Life Harmony* Dr. Daniel Tataje - #49 He Beats PE Firm’s With Lower Bids* St. Catherine of Siena* St. Thérèse of Lisieux* St. JosephBible Passages* 1 John 4:8 - God is Love* Exodus 12:5 - The Unblemished Lamb* Matthew 16:24 - Take up your cross* Matthew 26:34 - Peter’s Denial* Luke 2:51-52 - The Hidden Life at Nazareth* Luke 3:23 - Jesus at Age 30* Matthew 6:9-13 - The Our FatherSelect Quotes:* “St. Josemaria’s thesis was that he did that to show us that the mundane and the, and both the company of the mundane, ordinary things of life, know, family, living in a little village, going to work every day, but then also work is a part of the salvific plan of God and is part of our own redemption.” — Rob Hays* “Jesus was a carpenter or blacksmith and doing mundane tasks as God of the universe. That’s completely insane. But that is the example that he gave us.” — Rob Hays* “Who cares about what someone says who is bad at what they do?” — Rob Hays* “Prestige, for lack of a better word, is effectively the ‘bait’ for the apostolate.” — Rob Hays* “If I am in fact excellent at those things, there very well likely will be prestige that comes from it. And that prestige, I can then use for good.” — Rob Hays* “I always think it’s about priorities rather than balance... that priority is a constant reordering of things.” — Rob Hays* “Every day, the first several years of my role was the house is burning to the ground.” — Rob Hays* “I needed to have the tangible list of things that I was gonna do so that I knew that if I accomplished these things today, it was enough.” — Rob Hays* “If you don’t have this idea of detachment of the outcome and trust that God is in control, I don’t know how you make it through the trials and struggles and failures.” — Rob Hays* “Holiness is very difficult, if not impossible, without suffering.” — Rob Hays* “Where the value, the redemptive and salvific value comes is in the love that’s put into it.” — Rob HaysKey Moments: (outline)* [00:00] - Intro Hook: Rob discusses the hidden life of Jesus in Nazareth and the inherent value found in mundane labor.* [01:02] - Introduction: Silas welcomes listeners and introduces Rob Hays, former CEO of a major hotel brand.* [04:05] - Redefining Prestige: Rob explains why seeking professional excellence and prestige serves as a Christian duty.* [08:20] - Priorities vs. Balance: A discussion on maintaining a “seamless garment” of life through prayer and constant reordering of priorities.* [10:58] - Leading Through Crisis: Rob shares his experience taking over as CEO during COVID and managing extreme professional anxiety.* [13:24] - Consecration of the Company: The story of Rob consecrating his business to Our Lady and the Lord while on the brink of bankruptcy.* [17:02] - Detachment and Trust: Why entrepreneurs must trust God with outcomes and view professional struggles as hidden blessings.* [19:19] - Happiness and Sanctity: Exploring the necessity of the Cross and suffering in the life of a Catholic leader.* [21:50] - Sanctifying the Mundane: How the hidden life of Jesus serves as the model for finding salvific value in daily administrative tasks.* [26:27] - Practical Reminders: Rob’s tactics for keeping faith front and center, including using a pocket crucifix and praying for others during difficult tasks.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

A day late. I should probably work on my posting skills. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Wausau, WI Monthly Meetup: Sign up here (Last Saturday of each month)* (March 24th) We invite you to the in-person Nashville Meetup (next week) * (March 26th) Tim Busch, major Church donor, wine and hospitality mogul, is speaking at a Fides event in NYC that we are helping sponsor. Register here (only a few spots left)* (April 12th) Catholic Founders Guild Dinner in Dallas, TX. Register here.* Sponsor Catholic Founders to get in front of Hundreds of Catholic Business owners each week. [email protected] the full Ultimate Catholic Founders Resource Guide here (including more events). Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Francisco J. Lara | Catholic University of AmericaThere are a LOT of businesses that need buyers — a lot of wealth being transferred (or not) to the next generation in the coming years. If you’re looking to buy a business, the time is now. That’s what we are discussing today. How one should do succession planning. How you’d buy a business in a way that respects human dignity. How to work well with your family as it’s passed from generation to generation. And perhaps most importantly, how to maintain the family business even if none of your generation want to run it, in its current form. Core Lesson: Succession requires a moral discernment that prioritizes the common good over lineage.We often feel this massive weight to pass our businesses down to our children, assuming that lineage is the only path to protecting the legacy we’ve spent decades building. However, true stewardship requires us to recognize that our businesses are essentially communities of persons rather than simple family assets. If the next generation lacks the specific skills or the genuine desire to lead, forcing them into that role can actually jeopardize the very community we are trying to preserve. We have to approach succession as a rigorous moral discernment where the long-term health of the company and the well-being of the employees take priority over keeping a specific last name on the ownership docs.This is where Entrepreneurship through Acquisition (ETA) becomes such a vital tool for the Catholic founder. By opening the door to a searcher, someone with the hunger and talent to lead but perhaps lacking the capital to start from scratch, you are essentially identifying a spiritual heir for your life’s work. It aligns perfectly with the principles of business stewardship we frequently discuss on the Substack and in our previous sessions. Much like our conversation with Andreas Widmer in Episode 15, we have to remember that leading a business is a vocation. Finding the right person to carry that vocation forward ensures the business continues to serve the common good and provides a stable foundation for the families who depend on it.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:Bible Passages* The Parable of the Talents* The Promise of the HundredfoldSaints & Devotions* St. Joseph* Pope St. John Paul II* The Holy Eucharist* The Holy MassBooks & Documents* The Pope and the CEO by Andreas Widmer* The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship by Andreas Widmer* Rerum Novarum* Laborem Exercens* Centesimus Annus* Stanford 2024 Search Fund Study* Stanford/IESE 2022 International Search Fund StudyOrganizations & Academic Institutions* Catholic University of America (CUA)* University of Navarra* IESE Business School* Polytechnic University of Valencia* Catholic University of Valencia* Lagar Brothers* Stanford Graduate Business School* Harvard Business School* Wharton School* Fiber (Fiverr)* Castfeed* SingularuEpisode Connections* Episode 15: Andreas Widmer* Episode 40: Mike ParrottSelect Quotes:* “So then you need to make a discernment. And that’s the important moral responsibility of the family businesses, not to impose that succession into the family members if they don’t want to, and they are not able to, skilled enough to do that in the right way.” — Francisco J. Lara (00:36)* “Search funds can be the solution for a family business to move from traditional family business into a family office.” — Francisco J. Lara (18:40)* “He has to combine two difficult virtues that are humility with magnanimity.” — Francisco J. Lara (19:00)* “Catholic social doctrine do not mandate dynastic control.” — Francisco J. Lara (24:19)* “The firm is a community of persons, It’s not a nexus, it’s not a combination of social contracts, and it’s not an end.” — Francisco J. Lara (25:40)* “The normative criterion should not be lineage, but stewardship effectiveness.” — Francisco J. Lara (29:45)* “So the entrepreneur is not simply allocating capital, but choosing a community of work to steer.” — Francisco J. Lara (23:14)Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00] - Succession Discernment: Francisco discusses the art and moral responsibility of family business succession and the danger of imposing legacy.* [01:02] - Intro: Silas introduces Francisco Lara and his role as an “evangelist” for Entrepreneurship through Acquisition.* [02:30] - From La Mancha to CUA: Francisco shares his background as a Spaniard, his law degree from Navarra, and his family’s third-generation farming roots.* [04:22] - Theory Meets Practice: The founding of Lagar Brothers and Francisco’s realization that the person behind the business matters most.* [11:02] - The ETA Framework: A deep dive into the four stages of a traditional search fund: search, acquisition, operation, and exit.* [14:15] - Identifying Talent: Why finding the right “searcher” who acts as the child the family business owner never had is the hardest part of the model.* [22:09] - Moral Reasoning in ETA: Applying Catholic Social Teaching virtues like justice and prudence to each stage of the acquisition process.* [24:19] - Stewardship vs. Dynasty: Breaking down why Catholic doctrine prioritizes the common good over “dynastic capitalism”.* [31:00] - Outro: Final thoughts on professionalizing small businesses and a recommendation to listen to the episode with Andreas Widmer.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Okay, so I messed up - today is day 8 because the novena ends the day prior to the feast day (I swear I’m a professional lol) Thanks for bearing with me. See you guys tomorrow for day…9, yes, that’s it! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Day 7 of the St. Joseph Novena. See you tomorrow.Get the novena here: https://www.usccb.org/resources/novena-saint-joseph-english.pdf This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Day 6 of the St. Joseph Novena. See you tomorrow.Get the novena here: https://www.usccb.org/resources/novena-saint-joseph-english.pdf This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube FREE BOOK ALERT! I’ll send a copy of Pat’s book, Save Your Parish, to anyone who joins the Catholic Founders Guild in reference to this episode! Just join the paid membership today, and DM me letting me know it’s because of this episode that you joined. I’ll have the book delivered to your house. News / Updates: * Wausau, WI Monthly Meetup: Sign up here (Last Saturday of each month)* (March 24th) We invite you to the in-person Nashville Meetup* (April 12th) Catholic Founders Guild Dinner in Dallas, TX. Register here.* Sponsor Catholic Founders to get in front of Hundreds of Catholic Business owners each week. [email protected]* To start a local CF meetup near you, reach out, and we’ll help you get started — [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Pat Neve | Pat on Substack | Bropostles Podcast, Author of ‘Save Your Parish’In this episode, I’m joined by Pat Neve, the mind behind the Catholic Pat Substack and author of the vital new book, Save Your Parish. Pat has a fascinating background that spans stand-up comedy, professional youth ministry, and high-level sales—a combination that gives him a unique vantage point on how we, as founders, can impact our local church communities. We dive deep into why the skills you use to build your business are exactly what your parish needs to move from a state of maintenance to a state of mission.We explore the concept of “ownership” versus “consumption.” Most people approach their parish like a customer at a store, but as entrepreneurs, we have a natural drive to build, fix, and steward. Pat challenges us to see our wealth and influence as a “necessary burden” for the benefit of the community. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the lack of community or leadership in your local parish, this conversation provides the blueprint for how you can step up and lead without waiting for a programmatic fix from the top down.Core Lesson: Transform your local church by moving from a consumer mindset to an ownership mentality.We’ve spent a lot of time on the podcast and over at the Catholic Founders Substack talking about how our businesses are meant to be instruments of God’s will. However, there’s a real danger in compartmentalizing that “founder energy” and leaving it at the office. Too often, we walk into our parishes with the mindset of a customer, expecting the priest to provide a perfect “user experience” while we sit back and consume. Pat hits on a point that we’ve explored in previous episodes with guys like Johann Kurtz: we are responsible for the legacy we leave in our local communities. If you see a lack of fellowship or a crumbling infrastructure, that should be viewed as a call to stewardship, rather than a cue to find a better “product” down the road.Taking ownership means recognizing that you’ve been equipped with the specific skills and resources to actually move the needle. As entrepreneurs, we have a natural tendency to create and build, and we must apply that same drive to the “garden” of our parish. This is a matter of justice—giving to the community what it is due because we are an integral part of it. When you start seeing yourself as a co-owner of the mission rather than a recipient of a service, your entire approach to the Sunday obligation shifts. You begin to look for ways to leverage your social influence and your capital to cultivate a culture where the faith can actually thrive for the next generation. We were created to create, and that creative responsibility extends directly into the pews.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:* Save Your Parish by Pat Neve* Catholic Pat Substack* Bropostles Podcast* Christifideles Laici by Pope John Paul II* Leaving a Legacy by Johann Kurtz* Alpha for Catholics* Life Teen* Genesis 2:15* St. Ignatius of Loyola* Pope Paul VISelect Quotes:* “There are three ways to influence your parish. One is through money. The other is through social influence. And the third is through prayer. And we should all be doing the third one. And if you don’t do the third one, you’re going to suck at the other two.” — Pat Neve (00:00)* “Social influence and money are a great way to change your parish for the better. So business owners ought to see their wealth as a necessary burden for benefiting the community.” — Pat Neve (00:15)* “You’re responsible for the care and cultivation of the garden of Eden, of the earth. And so that means that some people in this life are going to be cursed with wealth, power, pleasure, and fame.” — Pat Neve (00:45)* “If you as a business owner are trying to grow your business, look at it as recognize it as a burden, kiss your cross and carry it and understand that you have a higher responsibility.” — Pat Neve (00:58)* “The amount of judgment and rejection you get [in sales] is minimal compared to being a youth minister.” — Pat Neve (07:34)* “You’re not working for an institution. You’re not like leading an institution. You’re leading a people. You’re leading a community.” — Pat Neve (08:24)* “How do you build momentum in a business is you do everything and then you start teaching other people how to do it... It’s a lot like entrepreneurship.” — Pat Neve (40:15)* “You start building a ministry that builds itself and runs without much input... you’re just in charge of the culture check.” — Pat Neve (40:55)Key Moments: (outline)* [00:00] - Influencing Your Parish: Pat identifies money, social influence, and prayer as the three primary levers for parish change.* [01:06] - Welcome to Catholic Founders: Silas introduces the mission of becoming an instrument of God’s will through business leadership.* [04:11] - Pat’s Background: From stand-up comedy and youth ministry to theology and sales.* [05:36] - The Premise of “Save Your Parish”: Exploring why entrepreneurs are the natural catalysts for parish revitalization.* [09:44] - The Resistance: Why staying and building a “bad” parish is often more fruitful than leaving for a perfect one.* [13:55] - Strategy and Grace: Balancing human effort with divine reliance in the work of building community.* [25:30] - Justice and the Precepts: Understanding our fundamental obligations to the Church as a matter of justice.* [30:28] - Choosing Where to Plant Roots: Tactical advice on selecting a parish when you have multiple options in a metropolitan area.* [40:15] - Scaling Ministry Culture: How to apply entrepreneurial delegation and culture-building to parish life.* [55:00] - The Founder’s Charge: Silas summarizes the call for business owners to lean into their gift of creating for the sake of the Gospel.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Day 4 of the St. Joseph Novena. See you tomorrow.Get the novena here: https://www.usccb.org/resources/novena-saint-joseph-english.pdf This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Day 3 of the St. Joseph Novena. See you tomorrow. Get the novena here: https://www.usccb.org/resources/novena-saint-joseph-english.pdf This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Day 2 of the St. Joseph Novena - tune in tomorrow! St. Joseph, pray for us, and pray for all Catholic business owners that we may carry out the will of God in how we run our businesses! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * (March 12th) San Francisco Meetup: Friend of the pod, Luca Zocche, is hosting a meetup for Catholic founders in SF next week. Sign up here: 👉 SF Fides Meetup* Wausau, WI Monthly Meetup: Sign up here (Last Saturday of each month)* (March 24th) We invite you to the in-person Nashville Meetup* (April 12th) Catholic Founders Guild Dinner at Dallas, TX. Register here.* Sponsor Catholic Founders to get in front of Hundreds of Catholic Business owners each week. [email protected]* To start a local CF meetup near you, reach out, and we’ll help you get started — [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Episode:I was recently invited to the Lead Different Podcast by Dan Dominguez, and we are sharing it here for your viewing. If you have not already, I recommend checking out his pod and getting in touch with him for his leadership assessment. It’s really fascinating to help understand your unique leadership style. It will help you lead differently, I’m sure. Learn more here: https://whynotleadership.com/Core Lesson: Scaling a business is not a distraction from your spiritual life; it is the very path to your sainthood.You’ve probably heard me say this before, but if you’re a Catholic who is called into entrepreneurship, your path to heaven is the path of being a good business owner. It’s not by setting it aside in the name of ‘humility’ or ‘poverty’ — it’s by embracing the call to be a co-creator and instrument of God’s will in the word. Do not run from it. Embrace your cross and carry it on the path to heaven. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:Creative Works & Resources* Catholic Founders Guild* Lead Different Podcast* The Six Working Geniuses* Seton Home Study Program* Clean Techies PodcastSpiritual Figures & Prayers* St. Joseph the Worker* St. Josemaria Escriva* St. Therese of LisieuxScripture* Genesis 1:26-27* Matthew 25:14-30Select Quotes:* “First of all, do you not trust in God? If God called you on this path, do you not trust in him for your daily bread?” — Silas Mähner* “Striving isn’t the same as surrender. Ambition isn’t the same as obedience. And impact doesn’t come from control, it comes from trust.” — Dan Dominguez* “If you’re somebody who approaches your faith first and you are Catholic first, and you do everything through the lens of your Catholic faith, scaling your business is actually your path to sainthood.” — Silas Mähner* "We talk about this a lot here—that leading different is really about being open to the fact that God might have a better plan for your business than you do." — Dan Dominguez* “A good steward does the best things, even if they will end up getting recognition, but they’re not doing it for recognition. They’re doing it because they know at the end of the day, they’re going to have to answer to their Master.” — Silas Mähner* “And this is what leads to the backlash against wealthy people and against billionaires is that they’re not taking the stewardship approach to the people around them.” — Silas Mähner* “He with the most conversations wins. You gotta have conversations. Meet as many people as you can. Learn and listen, right?” — Dan Dominguez quoting Adam PackardKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 – Intro: The tension between anxiety and trusting God for “daily bread”.* 01:59 – Dan Dominguez introduces the theme of leading from trust instead of fear.* 04:00 – Silas joins the show and discusses his background as the oldest of eight in a Wisconsin cabinet-making family.* 06:30 – The influence of mentor Jack Schultz and the “number one asset in business”.* 10:00 – The impulsive 11 PM launch of Catholic Founders on the Feast of St. Joseph.* 12:43 – Scaling as a path to sainthood and the “co-creative” nature of entrepreneurs.* 15:30 – The stewardship of wealth: What to do with a $100 million exit.* 20:58 – Implementing Patrick Lencioni’s “Working Genius” and learning to delegate execution.* 49:40 – Outro: Joining the Catholic Founders Guild and the call to be instruments of God’s will.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Thanks for tuning into the live novena today. You can watch the recording. Tune in tomorrow for our live around the same time. Keep an eye out for the notification on the Substack app or in your email. Here is the link to the downloadable pdf of the novena. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube IMPORTANT NOTICES: * San Francisco Meetup: Friend of the pod, Luca Zocche, is hosting a meetup for Catholic founders in SF next week. Sign up here: 👉 SF Fides Meetup* Wausau, WI Monthly Meetup: Sign up here* Sponsor Catholic Founders to get in front of Hundreds of Catholic Business owners each week. [email protected] * To start a local CF meetup near you, reach out, and we’ll help you get started — [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. SPECIAL ISSUE:Jimmy Coleman | X Cathedra, ArimatheaToday, we are going to learn some killer advice on how to grow your business. With Jimmy’s skills at growth, go-to-market, and sales, I’m confident you’re going to get a pile of value out of this. So get out your notepad and prepare to be educated! I highly encourage you to reach out to X Cathedra if you’re looking for help growing your business. Core Lesson: The fortune is in the follow-up, and your growth is a stewardship of the talents God entrusted to you.If you don’t follow up, you’re missing out on growth. Jimmy outlines this very clearly today. But follow-up is about more than growing your business. It’s about allowing God to have the maximum impact in the world through your business. If you don’t grow, you’re in a way preventing God from doing what He wishes of you. You were not given skills and the desire to be an entrepreneur for nothing. You were given these to bring Christ to the world. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:* Creative Works & Organizations* Arimathea* Lead Baller* X Cathedra* Paraclete VA* Sherwood Fellows* Spirit Juice Studios* Coronation MediaSaints & Devotions* St. Gemma Galgani* The Holy Eucharist* The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass* Eucharistic AdorationBible Passages* John 6:51-58 (The Bread of Life Discourse)* Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents)* Matthew 6:24 (God and Mammon)Select Quotes:* “We need to make sure that we’re doing it for the right reasons. Like anything good, the devil tries to pervert it and make the benefits that can derive from it become your master, a false master.”— Jimmy Coleman* “Jesus made it pretty clear he wasn’t happy about the people that just kind of like didn’t do anything with their talents. He was even much happier the people that tried and failed.”— Jimmy Coleman* “If you get this part the right way, the downstream effects are huge because what I see happen a lot of times is people set up shop and then just take whoever’s money, whoever’s willing to give them money and then they do really good work for this person over here, really bad work for this person over here, and then they’re robbing from the people they do really good work from.”— Jimmy Coleman* “Most people need to be asked to the dance. Most people like want you to like come over and say, hey, would it make sense, you know, for us to have a conversation about working together? And then risk hearing no.”— Jimmy Coleman* "She is cold prospecting, but within her sainthood." (referring to St. Gemma Galgani)— Jimmy Coleman* "Risking hearing no is the thing that a lot of, I'm noticing that Catholic businesses are not doing. They're just kind of waiting for people to come to them."— Jimmy ColemanKey Moments: (outline)* [00:00] - Intro - Jimmy breaks down the three questions every founder must answer to find their “sweet spot” of profitability and joy.* [03:23] - Mapping the Catholic Ecosystem - The story behind Ex Cathedra and why building a comprehensive list of Catholic businesses is a form of service.* [05:58] - The Five Pathways to Kingdom Expansion: Tactical advice on multiplying value and volume while maintaining a spirit of stewardship.* [11:15] - The “Rule of 10” and Outbound Strategy: Why simple, consistent daily actions beat complex marketing schemes every time.* [15:43] - Human Dignity in Outsourcing: How to build a global team (specifically in the Philippines) that honors the worker as a person, not just a line item.* [18:20] - The Art of the Follow-up: Why most founders fail by stopping at the second touchpoint, and how to build a persistent but respectful follow-up system.* [24:58] - The Ambition Debate: A deep dive into whether wanting to build a massive company is compatible with a life of holiness.* [32:25] - Go-To-Market Mistakes: Common pitfalls Catholic businesses face when trying to scale their message.* [35:57] - Running for the Eucharist: Jimmy talks about his 50-mile run and the “aggressive” intercession of St. Gemma Galgani.* [42:23] - Outro: Closing thoughts on being a co-creator and trusting the results to the Father.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * If you’d like to sponsor this project to get in front of hundreds of Catholic business owners, email us also — [email protected]* I’m planning to host a dinner / meetup in Nashville soon, reach out if interested in attending.* We’re starting up a monthly recurring in-person meetup in Wausau, WI — learn more* To start a local CF meetup near you, reach out and we’ll help you get started — [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Jimmy Coleman | X Cathedra, ArimatheaIf you’re a Catholic and you’ve spent any amount of time on LinkedIn, you’ve probably heard of Jimmy Coleman. He’s kind of a legend.But Jimmy wasn’t always floating around the Catholic circle. The early part of his career was characterized by achieving financial success, always being the best salesman, and eventually starting his own business, which he grew to 7-figures in revenue. But despite always performing well financially and growing a successful business, there was still something missing inside. Through the SENT Summit, Jimmy rediscovered his faith and would go on to understand the true meaning of success: a life lived in union with God. Today, we’re telling Jimmy’s story of how he came to understand what the true metrics of success are. Join us next time for a big ole pile of wisdom from Jimmy on how to grow your business and get new sales. This is something he’s become very good at (through his agency, now for Arimathea, and also with his new project X Cathedra). Core Lesson: Your definition of success is dictated by the crowd you run with—ensure your community is aiming for Heaven rather than a million-dollar exit.The world wants us to constantly chase financial success. To level up. To ascend the career ladder. As a result, we idolize financially successful entrepreneurs, top salespeople, and content creators who have amassed millions of followers. But is this truly success?As Catholics, we know the only true measure of success is if we love God so much that we make it to heaven on Judgment Day How can we square that with the pursuit of financial outcomes above everything else? Well, the good news is we can, but not if our primary objective, or rather our primary measure of success, is financial and earthly Earthly and financial success are only good insofar as they help us get to Heaven. If you’re called to be a king but choose to be a hermit, that’s not pleasing to God, and vice versa Keep Heaven as your ultimate goal, and ensure you’re surrounding yourself with people who believe the same. Your environment shapes you, so choose your environment. Choose ambitious entrepreneurs who love God first and foremost. Yes, this is basically a plug to join the Catholic Founders Guild, but even if you don’t join us, please, surround yourself with Faithful Entrepreneurs. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:Books & Literary Works* Built to Sell by John WarrillowOrganizations & Websites* Arimathea* Lead Baller* X Cathedra* Sent Ventures* Paraclete VASaints & Devotions* St. Anthony of Padua* St. Paul* The Rosary* Sacrament of ConfessionBible Passages* John 6:53-56* Matthew 6:24Select Quotes:* "There's been plenty of times where I was just around people that weren't defining success the right way and therefore I was kind of a leader of an anthill of something that in eternity doesn't really matter." — Jimmy Coleman* “I actually just realized I wasn’t asking God to help me with this situation because I thought this situation was too hard for God, which is silly.” — Jimmy Coleman* “True success is, you know, the formation of my family helping their souls get to heaven.” — Jimmy Coleman* “You can tell what someone’s priorities are based on how they spend their money and their time.” — Jimmy Coleman* “You have these graces fall upon you which come in the form of weight on your shoulders sometimes.” — Jimmy Coleman* “I thought that logic would lead me towards atheism. That’s just kind of what I was told. And then, I was kind of pleasantly surprised to see just how much of a stretch atheism is.” — Jimmy Coleman* “If you truly believe in [the Eucharist], every other reason, like, oh yeah, there’s people doing bad things, whatever... you’re gonna go wherever God is, you’re gonna go and touch God instead of all these other silly reasons.” — Jimmy ColemanKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 – Intro: Dropping spiritual bombs on Mammon.* 05:57 – Early Entrepreneurship: Jim’s Collectible Hats and selling Cutco knives.* 09:08 – The “God of Money”: Defining success by the wrong metrics in his 20s.* 15:06 – Launching Lead Baller: Productizing intellectual property and the “Baseball Field Methodology”.* 21:07 – The Exit Journey: The challenges of selling an agency and the “humiliation” of over-committing.* 28:19 – The Spiritual Pivot: How fatherhood and the fine-tuning argument led Jimmy back to Catholicism.* 32:43 – The Eucharistic Hook: Why the historical argument for the Real Presence changed everything.* 40:14 – New Motivations: Shepherding souls and being a steward of God’s gifts.* 43:04 – Outro: Setting your eyes on the right objective.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * If you’d like to sponsor this project to get in front of hundreds of Catholic business owners, email us also — [email protected]* I’m planning to host a dinner / meetup in Nashville soone, reach out if interested in attending.* We’re starting up a monthly recurring in-person meetup in Wausau, WI — learn more* To start a local CF meetup near you, reach out and we’ll help you get started — [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Nathan Price | Shepherd'sHow often do you see me suited up? Not often is the answer ha! Well, for today’s guest, who is the Catholic king of menswear, I had to throw on a suit. Nathan Price is the co-founder of Shepherd’s menswear. Famously the firm that clothes Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. Many othes like Michael Knowles can be found wearing their work as well. The idea is simple: make uncompromisingly high-quality menswear that is not absurdly expensive. As always, we covered a lot of ground, but some of the key areas are: * Nathan’s unique career journey and how it’s obvious God led him down this path. * How to work with a celebrity to turn that initial interest into long-term customer loyalty * Why dressing well is a moral imperative * How dressing well can help retake the culture around us * And how he thinks about family legacy and considering the idea of his son taking over one day There is something in here for everyone! Core Lesson: Quality is a moral obligation for the Catholic entrepreneur, as the excellence of our work serves as the primary witness to the integrity of our faith.Nathan points out that many build a “Catholic brand” and then forget to actually make a high-quality product. They hide behind the Creed so to speak. His opinion is that if your product is subpar, if it’s not among the best in class, you are damaging your credibility as a witness to the Truth. Afterall, if you truly believe in your faith, how can that conviction not bring you to do whatever you do with great love so that those around you may know the love of Jesus? This lesson is one we constantly need to remind ourselves of. High quality is a moral obligation, and it’s the key way that others will be drawn to God through our work. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:Episode ReferencesCreative Works & Media* Shepard’s* The Gentleman’s Gazette* REAL AF with Andy Frisella* The MFCEO Project* Liturgy of the Hours* The RosarySaints Mentioned* Blessed Karl of Austria* St. Thomas Aquinas* St. Andrew the Apostle* St. Joseph of CupertinoBible Passages* Joshua 1:9* Matthew 25:14-30 (The Parable of the Talents)* Colossians 3:23Select Quotes:* "If you're out there offering a subpar product, people are gonna question some other things about you. Like if your product falls apart immediately and you're out there touting how great it is, it's like, what else isn't very honest about these guys?" — Nathan Price* "We’re not a Catholic company, we’re a virtuous company... owned by people who are striving towards virtue." — Nathan Price* "Look for some of the underlying threads that go through the job or opportunity... rather than just looking at it as the job itself." — Nathan Price* "You really got to impact someone's life in a really special way... if their clothing fits well, then they have more confidence." — Nathan Price * "Oftentimes fit is one of the greatest communicators of quality, not necessarily the actual materials used." — Nathan Price* "We have to really, really land every aspect of this experience, and that's the way that you convert it into long-term business." — Nathan Price* "If it's a vest that fastens with buttons, the bottom button should be undone." — Nathan PriceKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 – The Catholic Quality Standard: Nathan opens with a challenge to avoid the “Catholic crutch” and why a subpar product is actually a form of dishonesty.* 00:37 – Introduction: Silas introduces Nathan Price and the mission of Shepard’s to bring virtue back to the modern wardrobe.* 01:45 – The Harrison Butker Connection: How a chance meeting with the NFL kicker evolved into a deep business partnership and shared vision for excellence.* 05:12 – High School Roots: Nathan recounts his “accidental” start in tailoring at age 16 and how he discovered a natural talent for fitting suits.* 10:30 – The Providential Thread: A reflection on how God uses seemingly random jobs to build the skillset required for a future calling.* 14:20 – Leaving the “Catholic Bubble”: Why Shepard’s aims to compete in the mainstream market rather than just selling to a niche religious audience.* 18:55 – Private Equity vs. Craftsmanship: A critique of how modern brands lose their soul when they prioritize margins over the quality of the garment.* 24:40 – The Shepherd’s Philosophy: Nathan explains his “moral obligation” to the customer: ensuring they never regret spending their hard-earned money.* 31:15 – Technical Excellence: A deep dive into the construction of a suit—full canvas versus fused—and why the details reflect the founder’s integrity.* 38:40 – Dressing the Leader: Why outward appearance matters for the modern man and how it impacts his ability to lead his family and community.* 45:10 – Spiritual Non-Negotiables: Nathan shares his daily routine, including Joshua 1:9, the Rosary, and the intercession of Blessed Karl of Austria.* 49:30 – Building a Multi-Generational Legacy: Nathan’s desire to build a business that his children can inherit and take pride in.* 53:15 – Closing Thoughts: Silas concludes with the reminder that every founder is “Created to Create” and the mission to elevate the culture through work.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Thanks for stopping by! Please Take Note! * The buildwithchrist.ai event takes place just north of Atlanta on March 7th from 11 to 4.What is it: It’s a FREE event for you to come and learn how to use AI to build things. There will be free coaches on staff to teach you. And you can also learn about AI or watch professional teams build a product in a few hours for Adopt a Family. It’s FREE to attend, but you do need to REGISTER. Do so here. Today’s Guest:Michael Lyons | [Y] Impact Ventures & Global PetalsSelect Quotes:* “Everything in this world can be sanctified by Christ. And He works through us.” — Michael Lyons* “AI should be used to strengthen human relationship, not replace it and advance human dignity.” — Michael Lyons* “I really think that the world is gonna shift pretty quickly from getting a job, from using a resume to using a portfolio.” — Michael Lyons* “You can skip the ‘I’m not doing it because I can’t build it.’ You can skip straight to the relationship... I think this is a way of bringing down those walls.” — Michael Lyons* “This is really about upskilling people... giving them the ability to elevate what they’re doing for their organizations, for their families, for themselves.” — Michael Lyons* “It’s artificial intelligence, but it’s really accessible intelligence, especially for this other rung of people who need help.” — Michael LyonsJoin the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Key Episode References:* BuildwithChrist.ai * Lovable.dev * Magisterium AI * The Harvard/BCG Study — This is the study Michael referenced (specifically the HBS/BCG collaborative research) which found that while AI increases productivity, it can also lead to “brain drag” and workers taking on more tasks rather than resting.* Corporal Works of MercyKey Moments: (outline)* [00:00] — Intro. Silas introduces the mission of the episode and the upcoming shift in how we approach technology.* [00:29] — The “Build with Christ” vision. A breakdown of the March 7th event in Alpharetta, GA, and why it’s designed for anyone, regardless of technical background.* [03:40] — Sanctifying the tools. Why we shouldn’t abdicate AI to the secular world, but instead bring a “virtue layer” to modern technology.* [05:16] — From Podcast to Product. How a conversation about legal injustice led Michael to build “Justice Lens” to serve those without a voice.* [11:33] — The Hackathon experience. Why this event feels more like The Great British Baking Show or BattleBots than a boring tech seminar?* [15:45] — Why your portfolio is the new resume. How the economy is shifting toward what you can produce with AI rather than where you went to school.* [22:49] — The “Pie in the Sky” goal. A vision of a future where AI handles the administrative “noise” so we can return to authentic, face-to-face ministry.* [26:40] — Closing thoughts. How to start your own upskilling journey today and stay grounded in your Catholic mission.* [27:15] — Outro. Final details on registration and how to join the event virtually or in person.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * I’m planning to host a dinner / meetup in Nashville soone, reach out if interested in attending. * We’re starting up a monthly recurring in person meetup in Wausau, WI — reach out for details. * To start a local CF meetup near you, reach out and we’ll help you get started — [email protected]* If you’d like to sponsor this project to get in front of hundreds of Catholic business owners, email us also — [email protected]* Ensure you are prepared for Lent! This episode has good insights and so does yesterday’s Saintly CEO post. Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Fr. Nathaniel Haslam | Lumen InstituteScaling a business in the fanatic hurry of the modern world often feels like a zero-sum game between your growth and your soul. Today’s guest, Father Nathaniel Haslam, understands this tension from the inside out. Before being ordained as a priest with the Legionaries of Christ and serving as a chaplain for the Lumen Institute, Fr. Nathaniel was an atheist engineer and businessman with his sights set on becoming a billionaire.Now, he spends his time mentoring top-tier executives on how to integrate Christ into the boardroom. In this episode, we explore the inherent nobility of the entrepreneurial path, the danger of burying your talents out of fear, and a practical tool called the generosity thermometer designed to keep your heart detached from the grip of success.Core Lesson: Your business is the primary environment where your spiritual life is meant to flourish. In other words, your business is how you’re meant to become a saint. Many founders carry a heavy existential angst, a lingering feeling that they chose a secular path while the “holy” work is happening elsewhere — in missions or rectories. Fr. Nathaniel shatters this misconception by pointing to the Church’s own teaching: business leadership is a noble calling.As entrepreneurs, we are called to be co-creators with God. This is a specific commission to take the unique talents of leadership and wealth creation and put them to work for the Kingdom. Our role is one of stewardship and divine trust. When we anchor our company culture in human dignity and treat every person as an individual to be loved, we are participating directly in God’s ongoing work of creation. Our work in the marketplace is a vital, sanctified mission.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:* The Vocation of the Business Leader* The Lumen Institute* The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace* Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word* His Way at Work* Litany of Humility* Biblical Passages: Genesis 1-2, Matthew 25, John 15:5Select Quotes:* “The noble callings are not just the priests and the nuns... the church specifically said in that document, you have a noble calling. Business leadership is a noble calling.” — Fr. Nathaniel* “Humility is to live in the truth of who God is, who others are, and who you are.” — Fr. Nathaniel* “Will you trust my trust in you? That’s God speaking to the person.” — Fr. Nathaniel* “If he gave you a mission as a business owner, he’s also empowered you to live this out.” — Fr. Nathaniel* “There’s a lot of good desire, and there’s a lot of goodwill, but there’s also a tendency to delay giving… are you depriving yourself of the joy of giving now?…It’s more joyful to give than to receive.” — Fr. NathanielKey Moments: (outline)* [00:00] Intro: The Nobility of the Entrepreneur. Why business leadership is not just a job, but a high vocation on par with any other calling in the Church.* [03:40] Fr. Nathaniel’s Journey. The shift from an atheist engineer seeking wealth to a priest seeking souls, and how that background helps him mentor executives.* [08:25] The Mission of the Lumen Institute. How spiritual coaching and virtue-based leadership are transforming the way CEOs approach their daily grind.* [10:59] Breaking the “Existential Angst.” Addressing the feeling that business is “secular” and providing the theological proof that it is actually a holy endeavor.* [15:10] Incorporating Christ into the Boardroom. Practical ways to bring faith into a professional setting without being performative.* [18:45] Leadership and Human Dignity. Using the “Five Languages of Appreciation” to build a culture where employees feel seen as children of God.* [22:36] Reframing the Parable of the Talents. A deep dive into why “burying the talent” is a sin of fear, and why God’s trust in us is the real story.* [33:15] The Danger of the “Fanatic Hurry.” How the noise of the world kills our ability to hear God’s direction for our companies.* [41:14] The Generosity Thermometer. A practical spiritual exercise to ensure that your heart remains free as your net worth grows.* [48:27] Outro & Lenten Challenge. Moving from passive sacrifices to active “stretches” that allow God to work through your business.Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates:* If you’d like the framework to host local meetups for other Catholic business owners in your area, email us and we’ll talk — [email protected]* If you’d like to sponsor this project to get in front of hundreds of Catholic business owners, email us also — [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild Today If you believe you're called to be an instrument of God in the world, and you're a business owner, this is the group for you. We work together to help each other grow, and learn how we can be true stewards of our gifts. How we can carry out God's will in the world. Join the guild today by upgrading to a paid membership. The Mozart Principle: Cultivating Your God-Given GeniusToday’s Reflection:We often look at geniuses like Mozart and think they are one-of-a-kind anomalies. But for the Catholic Founder, Mozart’s life offers a profound blueprint for leadership and stewardship.Mozart didn’t just write music; he transformed culture by mastering the rules and then breaking them to create something more beautiful. He lived only 35 years, yet his prolific output (over 800 pieces) reminds us that our time is short and our responsibility to our gifts is absolute.In this episode, I dive into why being born at the wrong time is a myth and how we must play dual roles in our businesses: being the son (Mozart) who leans into their unique creative talent, and the father (Leopold) who recognizes and fosters that same genius in our employees.Core Lesson: The Incomplete World TheoryThe world is fundamentally incomplete if you do not put your gifts to use.This isn’t just about personal success; it’s about our co-creative nature. When we build businesses, manage teams, or innovate in our industries, we are acting in the image and likeness of God. Every employee you hire is a unique gift to the world, and as a founder, you have a moral duty (much like Mozart’s father) to help that gift come to life.If we choose laziness or bury our talents, the corner of the universe we were meant to transform remains dark. Our calling is to create a culture of beauty and service, ensuring that on Judgment Day, we aren’t counted among the stewards who buried the talents entrusted to them.Hire a Catholic VA to do the busy work, so you can focus on scaling your business. We have a network of vetted, Catholic VAs who work across, finance, marketing, admin, and graphic design. Most hires take ~10 days to fill. Pay $500 when they start and $500 if you're still happy 30 days later. To get started, email [email protected] with what you're looking for. Several Catholic Founders in our community have utilized this service to great satisfaction. Select Quotes:* “God doesn’t have people born at the wrong time, ever. He creates our soul exactly when He does for a very specific reason.”* “If we don’t put our gifts to use, the world is less complete than it could be.”* “As entrepreneurs, we are fundamentally engaged with our co-creative nature... that’s what created in the image and likeness of God actually means.”* “We have times where we are Mozart in the story, and we also have times where we’re his father.”Key Moments:* 00:00 – The Mozart Stats: 35 years, 800 pieces, and the “Mozart Ratio” of true influence.* 01:15 – Transforming Culture: Moving opera and concertos from background noise to complex dialogue.* 02:37 – Mastering the Rules: Learning when to break conventions to keep beauty engaging.* 03:10 – The Myth of “Wrong Timing”: Why God placed you in this specific era with these specific challenges.* 04:11 – The Role of the Father: Recognizing talent as a “duty to God” and investing in its growth.* 04:53 – The Theology of Entrepreneurship: What it means to be a “co-creator” in the 21st century.* 06:11 – Employee Stewardship: Seeing staff as gifts to the world, not just “units of labor.”* 07:07 – The Incomplete World: Reflections on wasted gifts and the inspiration of Dr. Daniel Tataje.* 08:47 – Born for a Particular Reason: A call to transform whatever corner of the universe you find yourself in.* 09:37 – Final Vision: Creating a “Culture of God” through beauty, family, and community support.Share this with someone else who needs to recognize they have unique skills — that God wants them to put to use. We are here to help encourage and push each other to greater heights. To push each other to live out our calling in full color. Sharing this post can help us do that in a small way. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * If you’d like the framework to host local meetups for other Catholic business owners in your area, email us and we’ll talk — [email protected]* If you’d like to sponsor this project to get in front of hundreds of Catholic business owners, email us also — [email protected] the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Dr. Daniel Tataje | Mercy Dental GroupI could give you a big, long write-up about today’s guest. But I’m not. I’ll just say this — if you don’t listen to this, you’re missing out on the opportunity to have an incredible new role model for your business. Dr. Tataje is incredible. As you know, I meet a lot of entrepreneurs, and I walked away from this conversation feeling like I’ve met someone who is truly a living example of what it means to be a saint in business. Please take in this episode slowly, with a notepad at your side. He has so many insights, you’ll surely value the time. One note: I’d highly suggest picking up his book, The Leader Humanity Needs. It dives into how the Christian virtues of integrity, humility, and service are the true foundations of effective leadership.The 7 Marks of LeadershipTo build his practice, he’s used what he calls the 7 marks of leadership. He shared those in the episode so we also summarized them here for you. He is sure to impress these upon every new hire and uses them to guide his leadership team:* Integrity: The foundation of trust. Daniel argues that true integrity is ultimately achieved through a life of holiness.* Respect: Recognizing that every person is a unique, unrepeatable gift from God. It’s the “honor of meeting the only you in the history of humanity.”* Positivity: Choosing to be a light in the darkness. It’s not about ignoring difficulty, but finding the positive outcome and the opportunity for growth in every struggle.* Empathy: Moving beyond the Golden Rule to treat people how they want to be treated—which requires taking the time to truly know them.* Teamwork: Transferring power by saying, “I believe in you.” Investing in the success and talent of those around you.* Service: An intentional act of love. Treating the person in front of you as the most important person in your life at that moment.* Humility: The “King of Virtues.” Leading as a humble servant in the image of Christ, recognizing that your talents are a gift to be stewarded, not owned.Core Lesson: The power of looking every person in the eyes — customer and employee — and recognizing they are a gift from God — more than that, they are a gift for that moment right there — this act is powerful beyond understanding. I would chalk up all of his success to this key thing. He believes all humans are created in the Image and Likeness of God. That they are a gift to humanity, and when in his presence, they are a gift to him. Because he believes this so deeply, he treats his employees in a way that reflects that. He does the same for their patients. And in turn, the employees do this with each other and with the patients as well. This leads to huge benefits, but as always with these things, we don’t do this because of the praise. We do this because it’s right. Consider your own disposition to this truth. Is it truly engrained into you? Or is it just something you intellectually know. Make it something you live out through your actions. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:* The Leader Humanity Needs - Dr. Daniel Tataje* Prayer of St. Francis* St. Joseph* St. Mother Teresa* St. John Paul II* St. Maximilian Kolbe* St. Augustine* St. Padre Pio* St. Thérèse of Lisieux* Biblical Passages: Matthew 4:19, Matthew 7:12, Matthew 20:26-28, Hebrews 11:1Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Select Quotes:* “We are moved by love, not by greed. We love our mission.” — Daniel* “Be good stewards of the people and the resources we have. So it’s not trying to grow the business, but growing the business and creating wealth is a by-product of what we do.” — Daniel* “What I want is to create more leaders. And how do I create more leaders? I want to follow the greatest leader of all humanity, the history of humanity, which is Jesus. And what were the aspects of the leadership of Jesus that made him a great leader? I came out with these seven marks of leadership…” — Daniel* “Of course, we respect everyone’s faith. We are not a Catholic organization, but we are a Catholic-led organization. They know that the person that leads this company is Catholic. And we make sure that everyone follows those values.” — Daniel* “What I mean with respect is the fact that everyone is unique, that everyone is valuable and everyone is talented.” — Daniel* “Everyone is a gift and the patient that you see in today is a gift, too. It’s a unique person.” — Daniel* “It’s better to light a candle than to curse darkness. What are you doing to create a great environment where you are?” — Daniel* “The most powerful thing you can say to someone is, I believe in you. And why is that? It’s because that transfers power.” — Daniel* “The ‘leader humanity needs’ actually is the reader. So it’s an invitation for everyone, I believe that everyone is called to lead the world to a better place, against using your talents, be light in the darkness.” — DanielKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 – Intro: Daniel’s philosophy on stewardship and mission-driven growth.* 03:00 – Host Update: Silas shares how he met Daniel and his impression of the Mercy Dental Group.* 03:40 – The Origin Story: Daniel’s transition from a practicing dentist to a business founder.* 06:06 – Growth Strategy: Building the group through word-of-mouth and retiring doctor referrals.* 08:22 – Virtue vs. Private Equity: Why sellers choose legacy and staff care over higher PE bids.* 11:12 – Subsidiarity: Empowering local clinics to maintain their own unique identities.* 17:54 – The Founder’s Edge: How working every entry-level role built Daniel’s leadership.* 20:15 – The Seven Marks of Leadership: Introducing the core virtues of the organization.* 22:35 – Deep Dive on Respect: Viewing every employee and patient as a unique gift.* 30:10 – Host Commentary: Silas reflects on the “competitive advantage” of Christian integrity.* 34:22 – Company Culture: Rewarding long-term staff with “loyalty trips.”* 39:18 – Mercy Dental Missions: Providing free care locally and internationally.* 48:17 – The Turning Point: Moving from “God as co-pilot” to full consecration of the business.* 52:24 – Final Message: A call for leaders to be “light in the darkness.”* 55:40 – Host Outro: Silas recaps key takeaways on integrity and community impact.* 58:15 – Call to Action: Information on Daniel’s book and joining the Catholic Founders Guild.Enjoy this episode? Share it with others! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube It’s time for another episode of Catholic Founders! This time with my good pal Federico - or as we call him, Fed. News / Updates: * If you’d like the framework to host local meetups for other Catholic business owners in your area, email us and we’ll talk. [email protected] * If you’d like to sponsor this project to get in front of hundreds of Catholic business owners, email us also — [email protected] Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today We're building the largest network of Catholic biz owners in the world. It's for any Catholic biz owner who believes they are called to be an instrument of God's will in the world. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. Curious? --> "What is the Catholic Founders Guild"In Today’s Issue: Intro to the Guest and Topic | Core Takeaway | Episode References | Select Quotes | Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Federico Chavez-Torres | TexIf you think the tech world is a spiritual desert, you haven’t been paying attention to what’s happening in San Francisco.In this episode, I’m joined by Federico “Fed” Chavez-Torres, co-founder of Tex and a leading voice in a growing cohort of venture-scale Catholic founders. Fed is one of those rare people who combines high-level Silicon Valley ambition with a deep, gritty commitment to the Faith. And he’s a good friend, so I was happy to have him on the show. We’re moving past the “small business” comfort zone and diving into the deep end: The duty of greatness.Here is what we cover:* The San Francisco Renaissance: Why the Bay Area is seeing record-breaking conversions and how a “bubble” of serious Catholic founders is actually a secret weapon for innovation.* Reclaiming Magnificence: A gut-check on why Catholics have abandoned the pursuit of greatness and how we can reclaim “intellectual ownership” of ambition.* The “Death Athlete” Mindset: A radical framework for living (and building) where we train every single day to leave everything on the court for the glory of God.* Building the Future: Why the world desperately needs Catholics at the helm of the companies defining AI, biotech, and the re-industrialization of the West.Fed’s perspective is a direct challenge to the “poverty-first” mentality that Catholics have taken for a long time. I think you’ll like his takes. Core Lesson: Don’t confuse humility with smallness. As Catholics, we rightly emphasize poverty, service, and care for the vulnerable. But somewhere along the way, many of us have become uneasy with greatness — with scale, influence, and ambition — even when God has clearly given us the talent to build something significant.Fed makes the case that venture-scale companies will shape culture whether Catholics build them or not. The algorithms, platforms, and institutions defining modern life are not neutral. If they are not led by people with a moral spine, they will be led by people who are perfectly comfortable exploiting human weakness for profit.The alternative is not retreat. It’s responsibility.For those of us called to build at scale, the task is to pursue excellence with discipline, to aim high without idolizing power, and to order ambition toward Christ. Not for our own glory, but so that the companies shaping the future are led by men and women who actually know what the good is.This episode is a reminder that Catholics don’t just belong in the room — in many cases, we are morally obligated to be there.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Offshore Talent We help you find vetted Catholic offshore talent to help your business grow. $500 upon hire and $500 if you're still happy in 30 days. Email us your needs -> hire in days -> [email protected] Key Episode References:* You Must Change Your Life – Peter Sloterdijk* Ghost Gunner (Documentary)* St. Charbel Makhlouf* St. Joan of Arc* St. Bruno of Cologne* Biblical Passages: Psalm 51, John 1:1–18, 2 Timothy 4:7, 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, Luke 22:39–46, Select Quotes:* On the Call to Greatness: “We have been in this focus on poverty for 70 years, but we’ve neglected the call to magnificence. We should have complete intellectual ownership over the concept of greatness.”* On the “Death Athlete” Mindset: “We are training every day towards our death. I want to be a ‘death athlete’—someone who, like Christ on the cross, leaves absolutely everything out on the court for God.”* On the Mission for San Francisco: “It’s about a new way to cope with the horrors of modern life in a Catholic way—one that isn’t just ‘move to a farm,’ but staying to make the city beautiful again.”* On Ethical Technology: “If there were more Catholics in these businesses, half of them wouldn’t exist—because we wouldn’t build algorithms designed to hijack the human soul for a click.”* On the Power of Community: “Founders hunt in packs. Being Catholic in the middle of Silicon Valley makes you differentiated—it centers the hustle around the Cross rather than just the exit.”Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 – Intro: Catholic concept of “becoming like gods.”* 00:23 – Host Update: Silas on moving to Nashville.* 03:38 – SF Renaissance: The Catholic revival in the Bay Area.* 06:52 – Silicon Valley Leverage: Why “bubbles” can be good for innovation.* 11:50 – Tex: Fed explains his industrial asset startup.* 14:21 – Catholic VCs: The state of faith-aligned venture capital.* 19:24 – Ethical Tech: Why Catholics should build AI and social media.* 25:18 – The Mission: Making San Francisco Catholic again.* 39:41 – Magnificence: Reclaiming ambition as a Catholic virtue.* 45:49 – Death Athleticism: Training to leave everything on the court for God.* 53:41 – Rapid Fire: Psalm 51, St. Charbel, and the Angelus.* 58:33 – Outro: Final reflections on the duty of greatness. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Welcome back to another great episode of Catholic Founders. Today we have a special discussion with Johann Kurtz . He’s the creator of the Substack Becoming Noble and author of Leaving a Legacy: Inheritance, Charity, & Thousand-Year Families. A book I highly recommend you add to your library. I recently read this, and it blew my mind. Since then, I’ve passed out 8 or so copies and convinced probably another dozen to buy it. Why? This book encapsulates several core things of what it means to be a steward in God’s creation. From charity, to raising your children to caring for your community, to loving your neighbor. A key point of the book, and something we discuss in the podcast, is the role of owning businesses in passing on a legacy. The business itself doesn’t have to be the only asset. In fact, it would be better to have many assets, but a business is a good means of building assets that are intentionally illiquid. Assets that require care and attention. These must be inculcated into your children so they understand their broader responsibility. Rather than liquidating everything you own at your death, children ought to continue to steward and grow that wealth, so that it may benefit the family, the community, and, of course, the Church. Please listen to this with an open heart to what type of legacy God may be calling you to build. Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Core Lesson: God wants to use us as stewards of His creation. Lean into whatever that stewardship looks like for you. Some Catholics I’ve come across have no intention of building a financial legacy to hand off to their children. They are worried it will ruin them. But that’s only true if you don’t teach them the right virtues. You are called to be a steward of the world around you. That includes the things God has put into your care. And in some cases, what’s put in your care includes your skills to acquire more. When we act in line with God’s will, we can act as the worker ants distributing God’s goodness to the world — yes, including through our assets. God wants you to build a legacy. Not for yourself. But for Him. So He can use you and your progeny to carry out His will in the world. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️Key Episode References:* Get Johann’s Book: Leaving a Legacy, Inheritance, Charity and Thousand Year Families* Rerum Novarum (Papal encyclical by Leo XIII)* Allocution to the Roman Patriciate and Nobility (By Pope Pius XII)* Good Money (Series by the New Polity Catholic think tank)* Biblical Passages: 1 Timothy 5:8, Proverbs 13:22, Luke 18, 2 Corinthians 8, Acts 4.Select Quotes:* “What I think is to be avoided at all costs is […] is passing on a massively liquid inheritance. In other words, pure capital, stock shares, cash, because that really, that is you’re passing on a massive temptation to your children, like just liquid money. It becomes a problem.” — Johann* “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives and especially for their own household has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (Quoting 1 Timothy 5:8) — Johann* “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” (Quoting Proverbs 13:22) — Johann* “The virtue of humility is not believing that you are more than you are and being very conscious of the talents you do have, where they came from... But what it is not is the suppression or the ignoring or the wasting of your God-given talents.” — Johann* “If you participate with joy in the divine commandments, you can leave a legacy which lasts forever... the quintessential commandment in this regard is be fruitful and multiply.” — Johann* “Dominion carries with it the burden of rule. In some sense, there is a place for wealthy people in society... but they should always understand that wealth as a gift that is to be properly stewarded for the creation of the good, the true, and the beautiful.” — JohannHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Moments: (outline)* 0:00 - Johann Kurtz on Ecclesiastes and the vanity vs. reality of leaving a legacy.* 4:04 - Book Summary: The tension between traditional charity and modern philanthropy.* 7:41 - Why newly wealthy often give away assets, citing the Vanderbilts.* 8:53 - The book’s target audience: wealthy individuals and their children.* 10:56 - The “way of life” pitched: Wealth as duty, favoring illiquid assets and family businesses over liquid inheritance (cash/stocks).* 16:17 - The role of business in legacy, quoting Papal encyclicals (Rerum Novarum) on community obligations.* 21:33 - “Actualizing God’s will” through entrepreneurship and the complex Catholic view of wealth.* 31:12 - Responding to Catholics against pursuing wealth, referencing the Parable of the Talent and humility.* 36:44 - Question: Should one break away from a “rough” family to build a new intentional legacy?Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Hey everyone, I was not going to publish an episode today because we are beginning our drive to Nashville, where we are relocating, hopefully for the rest of our lives. However, yesterday morning, I had it on my heart to record something. This was one-shotted and not edited much at all, so please forgive my rambling and stumbling a bit. It’s in there because I didn’t have time to edit it, but also, it seemed fitting to me to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through me with the end audience in mind. That’s you. Please only listen to this when you are able to focus and reflect on what this exhortation means for you specifically. In what way is God after your heart? In what way is He calling you closer to Him? If we want to do God’s will, we need to know God’s will. If we want to know God’s will, we need to spend time with Him. How else are we supposed to know His will? One Hail Mary in the morning isn’t going to cut it. You need some serious 1:1 time with the most important guide, mentor, or consultant in your life. If you don’t, you’re relying on your own wisdom (or lack thereof) instead of God’s. Don’t forget, He always offers His wisdom; we just have to tune in. So which way will it be? Your way? Or His way? Let me know what you think of this style of episode. If you like it, share it as a sort of ‘tipping the waiter’ situation. Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Hey everyone! Today is a special bonus episode because I love the Magi. So I’m covering 1) the real history, 2) why I find this story so compelling, and 3) what it means for our lives as business owners. I’m not going to do a write-up on it in detail, so you’ll have to listen to it (or read the transcript, I suppose). Enjoy it and let me know what you think in the comments! ICYMI: * Saturday, we published our 2025 recap * Sunday, we published another bonus episode with Jamie Baxter, Founder of Exodus 90* Yesterday, we published the Saintly CEO on Personal Transformation * Fill out our listeners/readers surveyJoin the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Key Moments: (outline)* 0:00 | Introduction: The Magi’s Real Story - Knowledge into Action* 1:45 | Content Recap & Happy Epiphany* 3:00 | New Year’s Request: Share the Show* 4:30 | The Scale of the Journey & Identity of the Magi (King David’s advisors, understanding the stars)* 7:00 | The Magi’s Motivation and Deep Knowledge* 9:00 | Timing of the Magi’s Arrival (More likely within a 12-month period)* 10:30 | The Core Lesson: Knowledge Translated into Action* 13:00 | Why We Need Spiritual Mentors (Priests, Bishops, Saints)* 16:00 | The Principle of Justice: Giving God What is Due* 18:00 | From Mental Ascent (Junior Leagues) to Action (Pro Level)* 20:00 | The Call to Action: How Does Faith Change Your Q1 Goals?* 22:30 | Catholic Founders Guild Invitation (Membership details and purpose)* 25:00 | Closing & Prayer Request for Catholic Entrepreneurs* 26:00 | FarewellHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Enjoy this Sunday special to kick off the year * Stay tuned for a Catholic Founders Dinner near you (we aim to host 12 this year, so let us know if you’d like us to come to your area) * This week is going to be packed full of content — please check it all out because we are putting a lot of effort into it (will go back to normal posting after this week) * Sponsorships: We are looking for 3 anchor sponsors to support the show in 2026 — reach out to learn more [email protected] Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Jamie Baxter | Exodus 90How to have true detachment from your business, without being detached from the work and from your customers.As entrepreneurs, it’s easy to make entrepreneurship, and by extension, our company, our identity. But we know that our true identity is that of a child of God, created in His image and likeness. We also need to avoid attachment to our earthly success, recognition, or financial outcomes. Today’s conversation does a great job of covering the different angles of this topic. Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️Core Lesson: We can be detached from this world while still being in it, even as business owners with a responsibility to our communities. And when we do this well, we’re simply recognizing that God is the ultimate master. We are called to carry out God’s will in the world. That doesn’t mean we are called to make oodles of money. Or to gain the respect of men. Those things may be part of God’s will for our lives, but that will be unique for each of us. What is not unique is that we are called to detach ourselves from this world and attach ourselves firmly and irremovably to the Will of God for us. Attachment to money or fame is incompatible with this goal. However, when we see all things as coming from God, we become capable of being good stewards of the things He has given to our care. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. Key Episode References:* Exodus 90* St. John Henry Newman* St. Arsenius* Jim Perry - Generous Catholic Donor* Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson - 37Signals* Blue Ocean Strategy (book)Select Quotes:* “You don’t need more than you have to do God’s will.” (Jamie Baxter)* “The only reason I kept going was I felt like the Lord was asking me to... when that stops, I will stop.” (Jamie Baxter)* “Whatever your mind’s eye is on your thing... God’s plan is different.” (Jamie Baxter)* “I just ask for my daily bread. I pray that the breadcrumbs be there.” (Jamie Baxter)* “[John Henry] Newman... actually sees faith as the highest form of reasoning.” (Jamie Baxter)* “I have never done this to hit some kind of revenue goal.” (Jamie Baxter)* “I think the vast majority of us should... play a part in renewing the good and necessary and essential institutions like our parishes.” (Jamie Baxter)Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 — Intro * 03:47 — Jamie Baxter on the importance of detachment for entrepreneurs* 05:12 — Exploring the first three years of Exodus 90 and the role of providence* 07:32 — Recognizing the business journey as a tool for personal and spiritual growth* 11:26 — Discerning the line between divine calling and personal hubris* 13:14 — Cultivating a daily disposition of trust and seeking “daily bread”* 16:39 — Integrating faith and reason when making high-stakes business decisions* 22:36 — A Catholic perspective on the importance of renewing existing institutions* 27:37 — Scaling impact while maintaining a lean, mission-focused team* 31:50 — Applying “Blue Ocean Strategy” to avoid competition and stay true to a unique charism* 37:15 — Practical advice for remaining detached from outcomes during periods of success* 44:14 — Balancing high-level vision with staying close to the daily “work”* 48:12 — The strategic transition from a non-profit to a private for-profit entity* 53:48 — Redefining ownership and reinvestment through a Catholic lens* 1:01:18 — Learning from secular entrepreneurs and filtering for traditional wisdom* 1:03:29 — Rapid Fire: Favorite scriptures, influential saints, and the power of the Rosary* 1:15:44 — Closing reflections on purifying desires and pursuing spiritual freedom This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.catholicfounders.comListen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Take the 2025 Readers/Listeners Survey! News / Updates: * 🍽️ This past Tuesday, we hosted a Catholic Founders Dinner in NYC. It was epic. You should have been there. We even had a priest there. Really enjoyed that! * ❌ No more episodes or newsletter until January. I’m taking a bit of a break after today. Tune in again in January when we resume (unless I get inspiration last min and put out more content). Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Jeff Carron * Jeff Carron is the owner and operator of the Paul Davis Restoration franchise in Portland, Maine, which he runs with his two brothers. They realized the industry’s software stack was outdated, so they bought into the franchise to intimately understand the business and build their own software solution called Recover, which they are now scaling to other restoration franchises.Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️Core Lesson: Catholics should be the best at taking risks. Reason being? If we believe our faith — if we truly believe — we will take drastic actions to share that faith with everyone. Because there are moral consequences. One of the key questions we ask today is, why do most Catholics pursue safe careers. Finance, law, etc? Why are so many Catholics risk-averse? When our faith literally tells us to trust in the Lord. The faith has moral consequences (heaven or hell) so why aren’t we willing to do things to share that? The Apostles received the Holy Spirit and went out to preach to all nations. There was no safety there. They knew they would probably be killed. But they did it because they trusted in God. They answered the call to action. How about you? Are you aware of what God is calling you to? And are you willing to step up and take that action? It may not even be martyrdom. It may be as simple as starting a business and trusting that God will provide. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerLaunch Your Podcast — Build Trust With Customers Trying to bring in more leads? Launching a podcast might be the best move you haven’t made yet. Saint Kolbe Studios helps Catholic entrepreneurs launch professional, mission-aligned podcasts that build trust and increase leads. Their team walks with you every step of the way, from strategy and recording to branding and editing, so you can launch your podcast in under 90 days. Get 20% off all services for the rest of 2025 because you listen to Catholic Founders. Just mention Catholic Founders when you reach out. 158 million people listen to podcasts every month, and that’s just in the US! Your ideal customer may already be listening to a competitor’s podcast. Visit saintkolbestudios.com to get started.Key Episode References:Individuals* Mike Parrott (Referenced our past episode with him)* Catherine Boyle (Partner at Andreessen Horowitz - Catholic)Companies, Organizations, and Media* Opus Dei (Religious group)* Knights of the Holy Sepulcher (Religious group)* Knights of Malta (Religious group)* The Passion of the Christ (Movie)* The Founder (Movie, mentioned in relation to Michael Keaton)Select Quotes:Share your favorite! * “The risk is actually just someone else thinking you’re stupid. That’s the maximum risk that most of us encounter.” — Jeff Carron* “Stability should not be the priority for a Catholic of any kind of means or significant talent.” — Jeff Carron* “We are all capable of being more courageous than folding because someone thinks less of us.” — Jeff Carron* “Risk is the nature, is’s really the business we’re in. We are risking our entire lives by believing in something that by its very nature is not necessarily provable.” — Jeff Carron* “You have a moral imperative to be present in the society. I know we’re not of the world, but we are in it.” — Jeff CarronKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 – Cold Open* 01:57 – Introduction to Recover: Silas introduces Jeff Carron and the origin story of Recover, a software company built after Jeff and his brothers bought a restoration franchise to “dogfood” and solve industry inefficiencies.* 06:44 – The “Trojan Horse” Strategy: Jeff explains why they intentionally entered the restoration trade as franchisees to identify and solve problems from the inside.* 11:15 – Working with Family: Insights on the advantages of working with brothers, navigating conflict, and why “unvarnished discussions” are a competitive advantage in business.* 15:45 – Business as a Forge for Relationships: How shared struggle and “being in the foxhole” together creates deeper spiritual and professional bonds than superficial family interactions.* 18:15 – Why Sharp Catholics Choose Safe Careers: An analysis of why high-achieving Catholics often focus on “de-risking” through elite degrees and stable professions rather than taking entrepreneurial swings.* 21:00 – The Moral Imperative of Capital: Discussing the need for visible Catholic leaders in enterprise and why capital is necessary for the distribution of ideas and the faith.* 25:21 – Fear of Failure and Reputation: How the fear of looking “stupid” in the public square stymies innovation and creative risk-taking within the Catholic community.* 31:30 – Salvation as a “Zero-Sum Game”: Jeff argues that if Catholics aren’t present in global discussions and industry, souls are lost to counter-productive secular messages.* 38:50 – Filling the “Internal Emptiness”: A discussion on sobriety, the desire for control, and leaving space for the Holy Spirit rather than trying to “guarantee” outcomes.* 45:45 – Suffering as Currency: Reframing suffering and sacrifice not as something to be avoided, but as the “fuel” for growth and transformation in Christ.* 53:00 – The Individual vs. The Collective (The “Thread and the Blanket”): Using the analogy of a weaver to explain how God sees both the individual soul and the entire fabric of humanity simultaneously.* 1:00:15 – Self-Awareness and “Dorian Gray”: Using Oscar Wilde’s fable to discuss the importance of recognizing our own internal “blemishes” to foster charity toward others.* 1:04:30 – Making Space for God: Practical challenges of transitioning from a high-intensity work environment to a prayerful state or a present family life.* 1:11:00 – The Impact of Almsgiving: Why the “Works of Mercy” and direct, personal charity are more spiritually transformative than simply “cutting a check” to an anonymous organization. Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started.

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * In NYC, on December 16th, we’re hosting our Catholic Founders dinner. It’s happening at a private residence, with limited space. So if you’d like to attend, reach out to me directly. Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* My story of starting my business * The Principles that you can Apply To Your Own Situation to Get Your Business StartedFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️The 9 Principles: 9 Essential Principles for the Catholic EntrepreneurStarting a business is a major step that requires clarity and commitment. Based on my journey, here are nine principles to guide you as you take the leap:The Core Principles* Make a Commitment: Stop dabbling with side projects. If you want to be an entrepreneur, take concrete, committed steps toward your goal. Full commitment is necessary for success.* Understand Your Burn: Know your monthly family expenses (not luxury) plus business operating costs x the number of months (9-12) you need to give it a go. This gives you a clear financial target and removes ambiguous fear.* Get Concrete with How to Make Money: Define exactly how much you will charge, how many deals you need to close monthly, and the concrete process to generate revenue. Remove all ambiguity around making money.* Don’t Pursue Crazy Ideas: Choose a proven path—something you already know how to do, or a well-trodden business model (e.g., home services). Entrepreneurship is about execution and demand, not harebrained innovations.* ICP 100: Pick a niche and identify your top 100 Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs). A clear niche makes your pitch resonate directly with those who need you most.* Commit with an End Date in Mind: Give the business full-time, full-effort commitment for a minimum of six months (nine months is better). Plan for an additional three to six months of financial “runway” to find a new role if you pull the plug.* Relinquish the Outcome to God: Commit to working hard, but trust the outcome to God’s will. Crucially: Do not cut your spiritual time (daily prayer, Mass, Rosary) for the business.* Get Spouse On Board: Ensure your spouse is supportive and clear on the timeline. Also, find a peer or mentor—don’t unload all work-related struggles onto your spouse.* Build Your Way Out (Alternative Option): If you’re disciplined enough, you can build your side business in the evenings and weekends until it replaces your current monthly income (e.g., 1.2x). This is best for unproven ideas to validate demand before you quit your job. I hope this helps those of you going through this process. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerSelect Quotes:* “The whole point is you have to relinquish the outcome to God because the reason we’re pursuing entrepreneurship is not for our own glory.” (On relinquishing the outcome to God)* “Don’t play around with side projects like I did. The likelihood of a side project just popping off is low. It will require full commitment.” (On making a commitment) * “Ideas are nothing without execution. I really need everybody here to understand that and internalize it deeply.” (On not pursuing crazy ideas)* “Your spiritual life is much, much more important than any earthly success.” (On prioritizing your spiritual life)* “Remember, we are created in the image and likeness of God… co-creators. Being an entrepreneur is part of our nature – you can lean into it.” (Word of encouragement)Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00: Introduction to the Solo Episode & Catholic Founders Podcast* 01:14: Overview: Principles for Starting Your Business* 01:42: Host’s Story: Early Desire to Start a Business* 04:00: The Headhunter Job, Side Projects, and Loss of Focus* 06:50: Shifting Priorities: Marriage, Family, and Moving Away from “Innovative” Ideas* 09:30: Mentor’s Advice: Visualizing Worst-Case Scenarios and Committing to a “Boring Biz”* 11:30: The Launch Story: The Day I Filed Paperwork and The Sign from God* 15:50: The First Few Months: Ups, Downs, and Landing Key Clients* 19:00: Rewind: Core Principles for Starting Your Business* 19:25: #1: Make a Commitment (Don’t just play with side projects)* 20:11: Interruption: Paraclete VA Ad* 22:35: #2: Understand Your Burn (Calculate family and business expenses for runway)* 24:45: #3: Get Concrete with How to Make Money (Know what you can charge and how many deals you need)* 26:50: #4: Don’t Pursue Crazy Ideas (Choose a well-trodden path for certainty)* 28:45: #5: ICP 100 (Pick a niche and target your top 100 ideal clients)* 31:35: #6: Commit with an End Date in Mind (Give yourself 6-9 months of full effort)* 34:30: #7: Relinquish the Outcome to God (Work hard but trust in God’s will; do not cut your spiritual time short)* 38:40: #8: Get Spouse on Board (Ensure their support and find a peer/mentor for struggles)* 41:10: #9: Other Option – Build Your Way Out (A less risky approach: build on nights/weekends)* 44:48: Theme Recap, Word of Encouragement, and Call to Action (Catholic Founders Guild)Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * In NYC, on December 16th, we’re hosting our Catholic Founders dinner. Location TBD, and total space available TBD. We could use help pulling this together, so if you have a location or can help sponsor, please reach out. Register here.Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Matthew Harvey Sanders| Longbeard* Matthew sits at the crossroads of Catholicism and cutting-edge tech. He’s the founder of Longbeard, the venture studio building a new wave of Catholic technology products. His path is anything but linear: political science, discerning the priesthood, serving in the Canadian military, working for the Archdiocese of Toronto, then jumping full-time into digital evangelization and tech innovation. The studio is also known for building Magisterium AI, the first large language model trained directly on Church documents. Matthew works closely with Church leaders on the ethics of AI and runs the Builders AI Forum in Rome, pushing for a moral, human-centered approach to tech. Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️Core Lesson: Catholics must actively build and lead in the AI space because it is a “critical battleground” and the only way to combat its misuse is to steer the technology morally.Here’s the deal: As Catholics, we need to be involved AND leading in the AI transformation. Because it’s a battleground for our Faith. There big moral questions at stake with many aspects of AI, and Catholics, possessing the fullness of the Truth, cannot abdicate the responsibility to lead in this time. If we do nothing, many souls will be lost. Using our moral perspective, we must steer AI to be used for good. We must be the modern St. Pauls of our time. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerKey Episode References:* Magisterium AI (an AI large language model trained on Church documents, Bible, and catechism)* Longbeard (Matthew Harvey Sanders’ studio/venture studio)* Paulist Fathers (the order Matthew was discerning with)* Paulist Press (pioneered by the Paulist Fathers)* Builders AI ForumSelect Quotes:* “And given that this [AI] technology in particular is going to reshape the world like nothing we’ve ever seen before, if we decide that we’re just not going to use it, well, the devil is going to. And I guarantee he’ll use it to wreck us. So just consider this a critical battleground. And I don’t think we can cede the field, especially with this technology, to the enemy.” — Matthew * “If we are passive and we’re not focused on evangelization as a church, if we’re not willing to take risks and proclaim the gospel, there are souls that are only gonna be lost on this earth because of that. And we have to take responsibility for that. That’s on us.” — Matthew * “...the biggest civilizational risk is, that people use it [AI] as a proxy for real human relationships or spiritual life, thinking that somehow AI is going to be able to fill those vital roles.” — Matthew * “Ultimately, what’s gonna make you happy is becoming friends with God, with loving and worshiping God, and making deep and meaningful connections with other human beings. Nothing else will suffice.” — Matthew * “The whole point is to ensure that individuals and civilization flourish…[making] sure that the technologies we’re developing are pointed at the right problems or what we call the impediments to human flourishing.” — Matthew * “If you’re attracted by what the role of the priest is and you feel that they’re vital and you feel that you may have the gifts to do it, just go and try it. I guarantee you, going into seminary and coming out again, you’ll be a better person for it.” — Matthew Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Introduction to Matthew Harvey Sanders* Introduction to Matthew Harvey Sanders’ background* 06:43 Journey into Technology and Faith* Matthew explains how his desire to effectively reach young people for evangelization led him to embrace and start a company focused on leveraging technology for the Church.* 09:27 The Role of AI in Evangelization* Matthew states that we must view AI as a critical battleground, drawing on the Church’s long tradition of using new technologies to proclaim the Gospel.* 12:11 Navigating the Challenges of AI* The conversation covers the need for strong Catholic formation to responsibly wield AI and the idea that fear of technology is often a fear of ourselves and others.* 14:45 Human Flourishing in the Age of AI* The biggest civilizational risk is using AI as a proxy for human and spiritual relationships, emphasizing that the telos must be human flourishing—becoming friends with God and making deep human connections.* 18:19 The Builders AI Forum and Church Engagement* An initiative faturing experts, academics, and ministry workers, focused on ensuring Artificial Intelligence is properly adopted and used to advance the Catholic Church’s mission.* 37:33 Catholic Leadership in AI* The discussion begins on how to effectively encourage Catholics to become leaders and builders in the field of artificial intelligence* 44:36 The Role of Small Businesses in AI* Discussion on human talent and the use of AI* 55:00 Ambition and Greatness in Catholicism* Redefining ambition and having a hunger for excellence* 01:03:30 Co-Creators with God: The Entrepreneurial Spirit* We are called to hone our gifts and put them at the service of others* 01:12:23 Embracing Responsibility in the AI Age* A Wrap Up and an invitation to reflect on what is our part in ensuring AI is pointed at the right problems and serves human flourishingHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * Today I’m in SF for a gathering of Catholic Entrepreneurs — if you’re in SF and not attending, LMK, would love to find time to meet while I’m here* In NYC, on December 16th, we’re hosting our Catholic Founders dinner. Location TBD, and total space available TBD. We could use help pulling this together, so if you have a location or can help sponsor, please reach out. Register here. Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Mike Parrott | Novo Inspire Studios* Mike Parrott is a former Marine Corps officer and Wall Street finance professional who transitioned into the film industry (working on projects like Sound of Freedom and Cabrini) before becoming a serial entrepreneur, successfully building and selling three home services businesses. Currently, he teaches at Benedictine College and researches the connection between modern franchising and medieval guilds. His core philosophy, which he developed through his career and as a father of eight, emphasizes the importance of making life and career decisions “in service of their families,” valuing self-employment and tangible work, and passionately advocating for a return to dynastic family businesses as the ideal social and economic unit, viewing the sale of a family legacy for cash liquidity as a cultural tragedy.Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️Core Lesson: Through building God-centered businesses, we can cultivate a true sense of identity for our families. In so doing, we help our children avoid years of wandering in the desert to ‘find themselves,’ thus allowing for more compounding in life. An idea exists that man must ‘find himself’ through some sort of discovery process. But truthfully, we have been given the cards God wants us to play. We were born into this specific family, at this time in history, in this geography, with all of the other circumstances that surround us. Do you really think God just rolled the dice on that? No, He gave you those specific circumstances. Now, look at it the other way. As a parent, you get to build something to pass on to your children. Not the money or the business — but the identity. Through building a life (personal and business) centered around God, you can bestow on your children a true sense of identity. Nothing quite like this in life.Don’t take this opportunity for granted. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerLaunch Your Podcast — Build Trust With Customers Trying to bring in more leads? Launching a podcast might be the best move you haven’t made yet. Saint Kolbe Studios helps Catholic entrepreneurs launch professional, mission-aligned podcasts that build trust and increase leads. Their team walks with you every step of the way, from strategy and recording to branding and editing, so you can launch your podcast in under 90 days. Get 20% off all services for the rest of 2025 because you listen to Catholic Founders. Just mention Catholic Founders when you reach out. 158 million people listen to podcasts every month, and that’s just in the US! Your ideal customer may already be listening to a competitor’s podcast. Visit saintkolbestudios.com to get started.Key Episode References:* Novo Inspire Studios* 360 Painting of Saint Joseph* Benedictine College* Cabrini* Monster Summer* Sound of FreedomSelect Quotes:* “The fundamental building block of a society is a family...” –Mike* “I think we should mark the death of a family when the entrepreneurial venture that was family-owned for 100 years now gets sold to some private equity vulture, merely to placate the liquidity desire for the children.” –Mike* “It is French revolutionary principle that the idea that your estate is equally divided amongst all your heirs... One of the things that held Christendom together was a contrary idea to that called primogeniture, in which the firstborn son was sort of dubbed as the heir to the empire and the family assets.” –Mike* “The guy who can come and fix your clogged toilet. That guy has real value and that will never go away and AI cannot replace it.” –Mike* “The home is a sacred space, it’s where families are raised, it’s where children are raised. We believe that the home should be beautiful, that children should be surrounded by beautiful things...” –MikeKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Introduction and Welcome* Mike Parrott opens the conversation by stating that elite franchising is the “new Ivy League.”* 03:00 Mike Parrott’s Background* Mike summarized his varied career in the Marines, finance, film, and home services.* 09:20 Family Legacy and Identity* Mike discusses how his career decisions were guided by family needs and relying on God’s providence.* 18:00 The Role of Mentorship* Mike talks about mentorship across generations in companies and organizations.* 26:00 The Family is the Basic Unit of Society* 27:00 Franchises and Medieval Guilds* Mike argues against modern individualism, stating that true freedom is choosing the “good path” laid out by one’s father.* 36:00 The French Revolutionary Principle* Mike critiques the “French revolutionary principle” of equal inheritance, which he says forces the sale of family businesses.* 45:00 Building a Legacy* Silas reflects on how disconnected work can lead to a general decay in stewardship over one’s home and life.* 58:13 On Subsidiarity* Discussion on subsidiarity as a Catholic Social Teaching* 1:04:00 Rapid Fire and ConclusionHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeHey everyone — Silas here with another Catholic Founders podcast episode.Today, we are talking about money with the host of the Theology of Money podcast, Daniel Catone. News / Updates: * This past Tuesday evening, we hosted a dinner with Catholic Founders in Chicago — thank you to all who attended! If you’d like to attend the one we’re hosting in NYC, reach out (penciling in a date soon). * This coming Tuesday, we have a Catholic Founders Guild call on the topic of considering our legacy. * Fides is offering Catholic Founders Readers/Listeners 15% discount on all upcoming events through the end of the year — just use code: CATHOLICGUILD2025 at checkout. (He has some incredible speakers lined up).* There is a Catholic entrepreneur gathering in San Francisco on November 20th (tentatively) — Stay tuned for more details.Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Daniel Catone | Arimathea Investing* Daniel Catone, founder of Arimathea, is redefining what it means to grow wealth with purpose. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, he believes finance can—and should—serve the common good. He experienced leading Golden State family of companies’ $4.5B investment network, and throughout the years has built a career proving that faith and finance aren’t opposites. With a master’s in Catholic Theology and years of pro-bono service to the Church, he’s on a mission to show that impact investing is true stewardship a way to multiply God’s gifts while transforming the world.Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️Core Lesson: The world tells us, cover your own financial needs first, then others, and then, if there is any leftover, you can give to The Church. A proper ordering is the exact opposite. God first. Others. And then ourselves. This is not something easy for us to entertain with any amount of seriousness. Mainly because we imagine if others around us did that, we’d call them crazy. However, if you think it’s crazy you need to ask yourself why Jesus told his Apostles not to worry about their own provisions. In Luke 12:29-31 He said: “As for you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not worry any more. All the nations of the world seek for these things, and your father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides.” (The entire passage from verse 13 through 34 is incredible. I’d encourage you to read it today)Acting on this teaching is not easy. But it is possible when we ask God for the grace to desire it. So, in human terms. Maybe it is crazy. But a lot of people probably considered the Apostles to be crazy. We know they were not. This tells us is that—through a human lens, some things may look crazy. But through the lens of the faith, with grace, they are the only things that do make sense. I think this is one of them. If you hear this and don’t immediately think—wow I want to do that. Don’t worry—you’re like the rest of us. Human. But if you spend some time pondering this and asking God to help you understand this. You might get to the point of wanting to pursue it. Not because you want it, but because you know it’s the right thing. Once you reach that point, it’s time to ask God for the grace to desire this teaching—the properly ordered perspective on spending our money. God bless and Happy Building!~Silas MähnerLaunch Your Podcast — Build Trust With Customers Trying to bring in more leads? Launching a podcast might be the best move you haven’t made yet. Saint Kolbe Studios helps Catholic entrepreneurs launch professional, mission-aligned podcasts that build trust and increase leads. Their team walks with you every step of the way, from strategy and recording to branding and editing, so you can launch your podcast in under 90 days. Get 20% off all services for the rest of 2025 because you listen to Catholic Founders. Just mention Catholic Founders when you reach out. 158 million people listen to podcasts every month, and that’s just in the US! Your ideal customer may already be listening to a competitor’s podcast. Visit saintkolbestudios.com to get started.Key Episode References:* Arimathea Investing* The Theology of Money Podcast* Saint Joseph of Arimathea* Rerum Novarum* Rerum Novarum in 2025: Applying it to Your Business | Travis Callaway* The Psychology of Money by Morgan HouselSelect Quotes:* “This ordering of goods or ordering of goals is the exact opposite of what our Lord teaches. Our Lord teaches us that we are to put God first, others second, and ourselves last because He puts us first. We don’t have to worry about ourselves.” — Daniel* “Money is a tool in service to the common good, and so I would caution any entrepreneur to not begin the path of entrepreneurship with the intention of accumulating wealth. That’s a byproduct of other actions.” — Daniel* “What the Lord is calling us to do is integrate every aspect of our life under His authority so that whether we’re at work or at home or at church, we are engaged with the Holy Spirit, we are engaged with Christ.” — Daniel* “We must approach the rain with an open hand and not try to grasp... it helps us reframe that ambition so that rather than it being self-serving, it becomes other-serving.” — Daniel* “The truth is we are touching people’s souls first and then offering them a product... wealth is inferior to the eternality of a soul.” — Daniel* “I kind of adopted him as the true CEO of my company... every once in a while, I got a knock on his door and say, St. Joseph, this is a problem I can’t fix, I need to take care of it. And he does...”— Daniel* “We leave everyone better off for having met us... treat everyone... with infinite human dignity.” — Daniel* “Man cannot be smaller than his money... if your character and capability is not of a significant heft, the money will fall through your fingers.” — DanielKey Moments: (outline)* 01:06 Introduction* Introduction of Daniel Catone, CEO and Co-Founder of Arimathea, a financial asset manager that screens investments for alignment with Catholic teachings.* 03:41 The Catholic Approach To Money* Reorder goals: God first, others second, and self last.* 06:13 The Foundational Sources of Catholic Financial Teaching* including Sacred Scripture, Church Fathers (St. John Chrysostom), Encyclicals (Rerum Novarum), and modern documents.* 10:18 Cautioning entrepreneurs against accumulating wealth as the primary goal.* The business journey should start with prayer and focus on serving the common good.* 12:46 A Deep Dive Into Ambition* Daniel suggests that the proper approach towards ambition.* 15:22 The Necessity of Living a Fully Unified Life * and recognizing that work is a vocation that impacts people’s souls, which is superior to the acquisition of wealth.[* 17:05 Staying Away From The Modern Tendency to Artificially Segregate Life * The importance of recapturing the rhythm of a fully integrated life.* 18:49 Practical Tips for Integration of One’s Life* 25:47 Discerning One’s Unique Mission * Talent is “meaningless without virtue,” with prudence being a core entrepreneurial virtue* 31:00 Personal Testimony* Daniel shares a story of leaving a successful a secular company because the work was “vacuous” and unfulfilling, leading to a new, liberating mission * 53:16 Saint Joseph of Arimathea* 1:00:00 Conclusion* Rapid Fire Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeHey y’all — welcome back to another episode of the Catholic Founders podcast! Today’s episode will not disappoint. News / Updates: * We’re hosting a Catholic Founders meetup in Chicago this 4th of November. Email us if you’re interested in attending (we are near capacity but if you reach out soon we can likely squeeze you in).* Fides is offering Catholic Founders Readers/Listeners 15% discount on all upcoming events through the end of the year — just use code: CATHOLICGUILD2025 at checkout. (He has some incredible speakers lined up).* There is a Catholic entrepreneur gathering in San Francisco on November 20th (tentatively) — Stay tuned for more details.Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Seamus Coughlin | Freedom Toons* 💰 Help them hit their fundraising goal! 📈* Seamus Coughlin is showing what happens when you use creativity as a weapon for truth. He is the founder of Freedom Toons, one of the most influential Catholic animation channels on YouTube. Through humor, storytelling, and sharp satire, he’s reaching millions with messages that defend truth, reason, and faith — all while making people laugh.Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️Core Lesson: The most powerful way to transform culture is to create good work, work so excellent, it points back to God. And the best way to do that, is to allow God to transform your own heart. In this episode, Seamus said something very interesting about the priest shortage. He said that the priest shortage is actually just a holiness shortage. Most people are not living out their vocations faithfully. This is what is leading to a lack of priests and a lack of nuns and a lack of holy families (and even children because they are all prevented from being born or worse, aborted). A key goal of ours at Catholic Founders is to help rally business owners to use their skills to bring the culture back to God. But we cannot do this if our own hearts are not transformed. And only God can do this. The good news is, He is trying to. But we prevent him. If we start asking for the grace to desire a total transformation of heart, we are one step closer. When transformed, the work we do will also be transformed. When this happens, the work will be good and beautiful. And it will bring people back to God. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerLaunch Your Podcast — Build Trust With Customers Trying to bring in more leads? Launching a podcast might be the best move you haven’t made yet. Saint Kolbe Studios helps Catholic entrepreneurs launch professional, mission-aligned podcasts that build trust and increase leads. Their team walks with you every step of the way, from strategy and recording to branding and editing, so you can launch your podcast in under 90 days. Get 20% off all services for the rest of 2025 because you listen to Catholic Founders. Just mention Catholic Founders when you reach out. 158 million people listen to podcasts every month, and that’s just in the US! Your ideal customer may already be listening to a competitor’s podcast. Visit saintkolbestudios.com to get started.Key Episode References:* Freedom Toons* Help Them Raise Money for the Full-Length Series* Jordan Peterson* Charles Schultz* Father Chad Ripperger* Shawshank RedemptionSelect Quotes:* “We really just have a holiness shortage. Almost no one’s living out their vocation. Well, unfortunately. So if you just live out your vocation well, the effect you will have on the world will be unbelievable.” - Seamus * “God gave you a vocation, live that vocation out.” - Seamus * “For media to be effective, it has to A, be something that’s going to appeal to people outside of your group and B, the moral that you’re trying to deliver has to be delivered naturally through the story and through the jokes and not through these ham-fisted monologues.” - Seamus * “The most extraordinary thing in the world is just an ordinary family.” - Seamus * “God doesn’t make rules that don’t make sense if we follow God’s commandments. This is not the prosperity gospel I’m not saying that your life will always be great But we know that societies that follow God’s commandments are more likely to be successful than ones that don’t...” - Seamus * “Anytime we create anything, we’re participating with God and His creativity.” - Seamus * “Your work should sanctify you and you should use it to sanctify the world in some way But it does not have to be explicitly religious in order for you to be able to do so.” - Seamus Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Intro* 04:25 Freedom Toons and Cultural Transformation* Seamus introduces himself and Freedom Toons, explaining his mission to fight back against entertainment media controlled by those with opposing values* 06:32 Seamus’s Faith Journey and Media Concerns* Seamus shares his faith journey, falling away, and returning at 20* 09:23 Reaching the Younger Generation with Good Media* Offering an alternative to what the younger generation are constantly being sold* 10:22 Faith Deepening and Content Evolution* Seamus details how his deepening faith led to change his political views* 15:24 Freedom, Submission, and Choosing the Good* A discussion on what is true freedom* 18:40 The Creative Process and Overcoming Writer’s Block* Seamus talks about his creative process for Freedom Toons* 22:46 Integrating the Holy Spirit in Creativity* The role of the Holy Spirit in Seamus’ creative process* 25:17 Building Good Companies vs. “Catholic” Companies* The importance of Catholics building “good companies” and creating undeniable products, rather than just “Catholic” versions of existing things* 33:17 Heart Transformation and Truthful Products* Personal heart transformation as the foundation for transforming the culture* 44:20 Life as a Story: Earning Big Moments* Understanding life through the lens of story can help in personal growth* 48:18 Ambition, Humility, and God at the Center* The idea of ambition and achievement within a Catholic context* 52:28 The Universal Call to Change the World* The universal call to change the world, even in seemingly small ways* 54:45 Changing Culture: Vocation and Family* Changing the world involves faithfully living out one’s vocation and the importance of family and personal holiness as the starting point for cultural transformation.* 59:32 ConclusionHire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeHey y’all — welcome back to another episode of the Catholic Founders podcast! Today’s episode will not disappoint. News / Updates: * Ellen Twomey is teaching the CF Guild how to scale on October 28th. Upgrade to attend.* Fides is offering Catholic Founders Readers/Listeners 15% discount on all upcoming events through the end of the year — just use code: CATHOLICGUILD2025 at checkout. (He has some incredible speakers lined up).* We’re hosting a Catholic Founders meetup in Chicago this 4th of November. Email us if you’re interested in attending — we need your input to finalize details. * There is a Catholic entrepreneur gathering in San Francisco on November 20th (tentatively) — Stay tuned for more details.Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today Get access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory. Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining. With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time. Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Mallory Root | Roots Brew Shop & The Cottage on Turner* Following God’s lead, Mallory Root moved to Grand Rapids to open Roots Brew Shop, a coffeehouse built on faith, community, and authentic human connection. Guided by her faith in God, she embraced the challenges of entrepreneurship as an act of stewardship, trusting that her role was to build with God. Since opening in 2016, Roots has become a warm, welcoming space where strangers become friends and people encounter Christ through everyday conversation and genuine hospitality.Hire Talent That Actually Shares Your Mission with Verso Jobs. Verso Jobs has built a gamified, data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values. Their team understands your needs, goes out to qualified candidates, tests them through the gamified application. Then presents you with candidates who truly share your mission. If you’re a Catholic or conservative organization looking to cut through the fog, reach out to Verso Jobs to help you today. Whether you’re hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom. Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights. ⛰️Core Lesson: We need to make the transactional relational.Mallory’s whole approach to business can be summed up in one line.And honestly, I love that. It’s the heartbeat of what makes her business, Roots Brew Shop, special. Every customer interaction, every cup of coffee, every conversation is a chance to actually see the person in front of you. Mallory’s not running a shop just to sell coffee, but instead she’s building relationships, restoring what’s been lost in a world that moves too fast and connects too little. It has become a place that invites people back to God through their experience and eventually brings dozens of conversions.In the same way, we are invited to design our products and experiences to have something special. Where the simple moments and typical transactions are transformed into encounters with Christ.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerLaunch Your Podcast — Build Trust With Customers Trying to bring in more leads? Launching a podcast might be the best move you haven’t made yet. Saint Kolbe Studios helps Catholic entrepreneurs launch professional, mission-aligned podcasts that build trust and increase leads. Their team walks with you every step of the way, from strategy and recording to branding and editing, so you can launch your podcast in under 90 days. Get 20% off all services for the rest of 2025 because you listen to Catholic Founders. Just mention Catholic Founders when you reach out. 158 million people listen to podcasts every month, and that’s just in the US! Your ideal customer may already be listening to a competitor’s podcast. Visit saintkolbestudios.com to get started.Key Episode References:* Roots Brew Shop * Rerum Novarum in 2025: Applying it to Your Business* Mother Cabrini* Servant of God, Father Walter CizekSelect Quotes:“Our mission is to make the transactional relational.” “If I have a relationship with the Lord, everything should exude from that.” “We should be fully integrated in all the things we do.” “Beauty disarms. When people walk into Roots, they encounter goodness and truth through beauty.” “All that we own is for the common good, and we are stewards of that.”“If we are not building one another in virtue and we’re not building in virtue, what is the purpose of our labor?” “Hold it all loosely, and something that is good to foster is that spirit of detachment (detachment that it isn’t mine). Steward what God gives you today, and be ready to let it go tomorrow.”“If you’re serious about leadership, you have to be rightly ordered, and that means making time for God.” Key Moments: (outline)* 02:46 Introduction* 04:27 Faith as a Rubric for Business* Mallory discusses how her faith permeates every aspect of running her coffee shop, serving as the guiding principle for all decisions* 10:01 Subtle Evangelization Through Business* Learn about Roots Brew Shop’s unique approach to evangelization* 13:24 Underutilized Methods of Evangelization* The importance of responding to the dignity of the human person and the dignity of work, especially when interacting with diverse guests, including those experiencing homelessness.* 15:19 Training Staff in Virtue and Dignity* Discover how Roots Brew Shop trains its employees through monthly sessions on the dignity of the human person and the dignity of work* 19:08 Low Employee Turnover and Formation* Mallory shares how their focus on building relationships and investing in employee formation leads to remarkably low turnover* 25:23 Maintaining a Spirit of Detachment and Stewardship: * Mallory views her business as a gift from God to be stewarded* 30:57 Engaging and Serving the Community* Mallory discusses how Roots Brew Shop interacts with its community* 35:18 The Impact of Daily Mass for Entrepreneurs* The spiritual benefits and the importance of prioritizing one’s relationship with God.* 38:41 Spiritual Growth Through Entrepreneurship* Mallory reflects on how her entrepreneurial journey has deepened her trust in God, taught her to say “yes” more readily, and provided numerous opportunities to love her neighbor with compassion.* 43:09 Mallory’s Founding Journey* Mallory recounts her path from an art major to a coffee shop owner, including her discernment process, the influence of her family, and the two-year journey to opening Roots Brew Shop* 49:48 Conclusion* Hire Catholic Overseas Talent In LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses. Often they’re treated as second class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss. So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon). With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward. How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days. To get started reach out to [email protected] with what you’re looking for and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsAbout a month ago, I participated in the SENT Summit alongside other Catholic founders who are building bold businesses rooted in faith. It was one of those experiences that reminded me why this movement matters — why faith and entrepreneurship aren’t separate callings, but deeply connected. Here are six core things I learned: first, one good Catholic institution can change everything. Second, unity is our hidden advantage — when we’re truly united in Christ, we can change the world. Third, the sacraments will keep you steady when the storms of leadership come. Fourth, good leadership is always virtuous leadership. Fifth, as entrepreneurs, we have a special calling to live and exemplify the virtue of hope. And sixth, the power of connecting in person with other like-minded, driven Catholics simply cannot be dismissed.If you don’t yet have a strong community of Catholic builders around you — build one or join one. And if you want an online version of this kind of fellowship, join the Catholic Founders Guild. You can sign up at CatholicFounders.com/subscribe — it’s $10 a month or $100 a year.Before I wrap it up here I want to shout out some upcoming events. News / Updates:Join us for our upcoming events — or share them with others who should attend.*Ellen Twomey is teaching the CF Guild how to scale on October 28th. Upgrade to attend.*Fides is offering Catholic Founders Readers/Listeners a 15% discount on all upcoming events through the end of the year — just use code: CATHOLICGUILD2025 at checkout. (He has some incredible speakers lined up, including past CF guest, Rob Kaczmark).*We’re hosting a Catholic Founders meetup in Chicago the first week of November. Stay tuned for more info.*There is a Catholic entrepreneur gathering in San Francisco on November 20th (tentatively) — Stay tuned for more details. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsUpcoming Events:* Our CF Guild topic call is next week, Tuesday. Topic: Competition. Upgrade to paid to attend.* Ellen Twomey is teaching the CF Guild how to scale on October 28th. Upgrade to attend.* Fides is offering Catholic Founders Readers/Listeners 15% discount on all upcoming events through the end of the year — just use code: CATHOLICGUILD2025 at checkout. (He has some incredible speakers lined up).* We’re hosting a Catholic Founders meetup in Chicago the first week of November. Stay tuned for more info.* There is a Catholic entrepreneur gathering in San Francisco on November 20th (tentatively) — Stay tuned for more details.Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today! It's $10/month or $100/year so anyone can afford it. Don't build alone -- join 50+ Catholic business owners building, learning, and praying together. https://www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway: Build Family-Centered Company Culture* Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe.Today’s Topic & Guest:* John Johnson | Patmos | Pizza Norcia | Albertus Magnus Institute* John is the founder of Patmos, Albertus Magnus Institute, and Pizza Norcia. Today, we discuss ambition in Catholic men, the dignity of employees, the stewardship of wealth, and the integration of faith and AI in business. John shares his unique perspective on building successful enterprises while staying true to Catholic principles. This is a truly inspiring episode.PS: We apologize for the poor audio quality in some places — I made some mistakes setting up the recording, and we had to do some patching together in order to salvage the audio at all. Poor as the audio quality is, we feel very strongly that the content is top-tier.[sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson:Catholics must build company cultures that promote family values, because family is the basis of society.At Patmos, they pay bonuses when employees get married or have babies. Recently, they agreed to pay the salaries of the spouses of their employees who are affected by the government shutdown (repayable without interest).Where most corporate cultures promote a culture of death, Patmos is upholding the culture of life. They are also treating their employees with respect as individuals, which leads to the flourishing of the human individual. No more just surviving and suffering through endless bureaucracy and HR rules.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner[sponsored content]Launch Your Podcast — Build Trust With CustomersTrying to bring in more leads? Launching a podcast might be the best move you haven’t made yet.Saint Kolbe Studios helps Catholic entrepreneurs launch professional, mission-aligned podcasts that build trust and increase leads.Their team walks with you every step of the way, from strategy and recording to branding and editing, so you can launch your podcast in under 90 days.Get 20% off all services for the rest of 2025 because you listen to Catholic Founders. Just mention Catholic Founders when you reach out.158 million people listen to podcasts every month, and that’s just in the US! Your ideal customer may already be listening to a competitor’s podcast.Visit saintkolbestudios.com to get started.Key Episode References:* Episode 18 with Daniel Francis (Abel Police)* Episode 24 with Daniel Egan (St. Joseph Mural)* Episode 29 with Joe Coleman (Saint Kolbe Studios)* Joe Coleman from Saint Kolbe Studios* Episode 30 with Drago Dimitrov (Holy Habits)* Dave Durand* Frank Hanna* Lilies of the Field — Matthew 6:28-34Select Quotes:In case you’re not already sold on listening to the episode, here are some killer quotes.* “Ignorance is my superpower. If I had any idea what I was getting into these things, I never would have done it.” — John Johnson* “We have an amazing potential to be co-creators, not just generators of our progeny.” — John Johnson* “There’s a real problem with it, especially men who have grown addicted to comfort over the years, where we’re so addicted to security, ease, then golden handcuffs.” — John Johnson* “If you can sell Jesus to teenagers, you can pretty much sell anything.” — John Johnson* “If anybody really wants to be successful, there’s no better practical way of forming yourself than through a real liberal arts education.” — John Johnson* “You have to first understand the reality of material things... things of the material world elicit in us a great desire that when we have them, they make us miserable.” — John Johnson* “Money is like fun. If you set out trying to have it, you’re not going to.” — John Johnson* “First employees have names and infinite dignity. No matter who they are, no matter what the background is, they’re worthy of respect.” — John Johnson* “We have bonuses for when employees have babies. We have bonuses for when employees get married. Big tech base employees effectively to abort their progeny. We do the opposite.” — John JohnsonJoin the Catholic Founders Guild Today! It’s $10/month or $100/year so anyone can afford it. Don’t build alone -- join 50+ Catholic business owners building, learning, and praying together. https://www.catholicfounders.com/subscribeKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Intro to John Johnson* 01:57 His Empire: Patmos, Albertus Magnus, and Pizza* 02:20 The Secret Behind His Pizza Perfection* 06:29 The Drive to Build: Ambition in Catholic Men* 07:31 Ignorance as a Founder’s Superpower* 08:23 Co-Creation and Divine Guidance in Entrepreneurship* 09:53 Escaping Comfort: The Entrepreneurial Adventure* 11:12 Unlocking Your Creative Potential: Discovering God’s Call* 13:17 Ambition vs. Calling: The Truth About Material Desires* 15:19 Beyond Mercenaries: The Power of a Mission-Driven Business* 16:01 The Entrepreneur’s Edge: Why Theology and Liberal Arts Matter* 18:36 Leisure vs. Labor: Redefining Education’s Purpose* 19:06 Balancing Ambition with Family and Faith* 20:12 John’s Advice on Scaling: From Heroics to Systems* 24:41 The Visionary and the Operator: Building a Strong Team* 26:24 Radical Respect: Dignity and Family-First Policies for Employees* 28:18 Beyond Market Rates: The Philosophy of Just Wages* 29:22 Stewardship, Wealth, and the True Meaning of Blessing* 31:31 The Parable of Talents: Embracing Risk for God’s Glory* 33:55 Wealth as a Tool: Detachment and Purposeful Stewardship* 34:23 Investing with Intention: Tithing and Proximate Charity* 36:49 Faith in the Workplace: Cultivating Culture with Diverse Teams* 39:00 Beyond Resumes: Hiring for Culture and Innate Intelligence* 39:52 AI’s Dark Side: The Counterfeiting of the Human Person* 42:47 Navigating the AI Landscape: Caution and Limits* 45:01 Rapid Fire:* Favorite Scripture: John’s Gospel, Enthymemes* Favorite Saints* Favorite Devotions: Rosary and the Office of Prime* 49:22 Final Thoughts: Patmos, Albertus Magnus, and PrayersJoin The Catholic Founders GuildDo you see your business as a tool to re-insert God into the culture? Join 50+ Catholic business owners who share that view. We are building an Army of Catholic Entrepreneurs who are putting God in His rightful place — at the center of culture.Guild Member Benefits: Member Directory | Monthly calls | Bonus content | Guild-member-only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Choose wisely!It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsBefore we start:* Join our October Rosary Challenge: Pray 1 more rosary each day than usual* Chicago Catholic Founders meetup: Tent date: Nov 3rd (details pending) * SF Catholic founders meetup: Tent date: Nov 20th (details pending)Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today! It's $10/month or $100/year so anyone can afford it. Don't build alone -- join 50+ Catholic business owners building, learning, and praying together. https://www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:I’ve mentioned Ecclesiastical Ventures many times on the pod and in our CF Guild calls. Now we are finally breaking down what an Ecclesiastical Venture is, and how we can bring them back. We really appreciate Mark taking the time to share his learnings — we hope this inspires you. * Mark Wilson | Nicodemus Ventures[sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: You Can Run a Profitable Business Even if Your First Objective is Not ProfitThe underlying principle of an Ecclesiastical Venture is that we are not focused soley on profit. We are focused on using the venture to get to heaven. We build our way of life around the goal of heaven. Daily mass — prayer throughout the day — a spiritual director — etc. All of these things are in service of eternity. But most secular business owners wouldn’t consider these a good ROI. When you focus on what truly matters most (heaven) first, you’re actually doing yourself a favor because you’re putting the right things first. Doing so has very positive downstream effects. Because when you do the right thing in one area you do it in others. Doing the right thing for your customers leads to positive customer reactions which leads to new customers (as Tim Connors told us on the pod he did with us). God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner[sponsored content]Launch Your Podcast — Build Trust With CustomersTrying to bring in more leads? Launching a podcast might be the best move you haven’t made yet.Saint Kolbe Studios helps Catholic entrepreneurs launch professional, mission-aligned podcasts that build trust and increase leads.Their team walks with you every step of the way, from strategy and recording to branding and editing, so you can launch your podcast in under 90 days.Get 20% off all services for the rest of 2025 because you listen to Catholic Founders. Just mention Catholic Founders when you reach out. 158 million people listen to podcasts every month, and that’s just in the US! Your ideal customer may already be listening to a competitor’s podcast.Visit saintkolbestudios.com to get started. Key Episode References:* Nicodemus Ventures* Saint Kolbe Studios* VersoJobs* The Saintly CEO (newsletter)* Daughters of Charity* Marian Friars MinorSelect Quotes:* “When you dedicate it to God or you surrender it to Him, He’s in charge. And I’ve learned that you can abandon it, right? You can abandon this commitment... But you can’t undo it. You’ve given it over to God, now He’s in charge.”* “Their goal was not profit. Their goal was not success. Their goal was a salvation of its founders, managers, and employees. That was the purpose of work.”* “It’s like a magnet. People say, I want that. I want to be in that environment. I want to be with those people... And then over the course, they realize, hey, wow, it’s Jesus. And then when they recognize that, they convert.”* “The primary objective is salvation. Life is short. So where do want your eternal soul to go? And that’s really what they were focused on, and worshiping God, and living a penitent lifestyle.”* “Every day you should be growing, becoming more holy. The environment is one in which you’re sanctifying yourself and others and your work.”* “You’re never gonna outdo God in generosity. Well, when God sees that you’re so detached from this stuff, He knows He can entrust you to do the right things with His wealth.”Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 - Introduction and Mark Wilson’s Background* 04:02 - Discovery and History of Ecclesiastical Ventures* 08:26 - Core Purpose: Salvation Over Profit* 17:28 - Characteristics of Ecclesiastical Ventures* 22:06 - Examples and Impact of Ecclesiastical Ventures* 33:10 - Managing Finances and Tithing* 40:21 - How to Rebuild Ecclesiastical Ventures Today* 45:47 - Trusting God and the Role of Faith* 52:39 - Future Vision and Contact Information* 59:39 - ConclusionJoin The Catholic Founders GuildDo you see your business as a tool to re-insert God into the culture? Join 50+ Catholic business owners who share that view. We are building an Army of Catholic Entreprenuers who are putting God in His rightful place — at the center of culture. Guild Member Benefits: Member Directory | Monthly calls | Bonus content | Guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Choose wisely! It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsGet Chris’ Book: From Work to Vocation 📚Welcome back, everyone! If you’re a fan of entrepreneurship through acquisition, today’s guest should really excite you because after starting his career in the military, he became a serial entrepreneur. In total, he has bought and sold 4 companies, most of which were turnaround businesses. He has also started a company from scratch and sold it. This is also his first-ever podcast appearance! Read on for more info! First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Chris Farls | The Vocation Project (Substack) | The Vocation Project (Website)* Because this is Chris’ first podcast appearance, we covered his career journey from the military to getting started as a business turnaround person and the lessons learned in that arena. Chris’ faith has always been important to him, though, so we also got to hear how he integrated his faith into how he ran his businesses. There are some incredible nuggets of advice in here on how to treat your employees well.Perhaps most interesting to our community are his thoughts on how to engage your community through your employees. [sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: You can invest in your community properly and uphold the dignity of your workers by getting to know your employees well.One of Chris’ biggest focus areas with his employees was ensuring he knew them. Knew what they liked to do. Knew what their kids were up to. Knew that they liked to bowl on Thursday nights, etc. By knowing them, he not only upheld their dignity in his own eyes (because they were not just a number). This also provided him a window into what matters to his employees and, by extension, what matters in the local community. For any of you with local employees, take note as this is a very impactful thing you can do. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerGet in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* The Vocation ProjectSelect Quotes:* “The formula for negotiating a good deal is taking the time to ask and listen to what the seller is looking for in the deal.” — Chris Farls* “I think confidence is gained through action and activity. I don’t think you can sit and read a book and then talk yourself into it.” — Chris Farls* “I think the bigger problem a lot of times is, people know what the right thing to do is, but doing it’s hard.” — Chris Farls* “You know, you have a certain circle of influence where you can make an impact and that’s where you need to act.” — Chris Farls* “You want to create an environment where they can flourish... you want to give them opportunities to flourish and grow and have input into their work. So there’s a human dignity element to that as well.” — Chris Farls* “What do you feel good about looking backwards? I think I’ve had that validated a little bit because when I mentor and talk to young aspiring entrepreneurs, I talk to them about these intangible rewards that you get.” — Chris Farls* “If you’re doing it right, you end up with many more employees at the end than you did when you started.” — Chris Farls* “Decide how you want to live it and live it that way and have the courage and fortitude and perseverance.” — Chris FarlsKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Introduction to the Catholic Founders Podcast and Chris Farls’ background * 02:07 His early entrepreneurial journey and the influence of his upbringing and family * 04:34 The importance of confidence, mentorship, and taking action in building a career * 06:51 His transition from military to corporate life and then into running a small business * 10:09 How an MBA and strategic networking helped launch his entrepreneurial career * 13:30 The model of acquiring old economy businesses and their financial structures * 16:38 His experience turning around a railroad services business and achieving a quick exit * 18:12 Key strategies for business turnaround, focusing on competitive strategy and understanding owner personalities * 21:18 The multifaceted responsibilities of a business leader, including employees, partners, and community * 25:36 Navigating ethical conflicts and making difficult decisions in business * 28:01 The role of a business owner in community engagement and supporting employees’ interests * 32:25 His approach to upholding employee dignity and fostering a flourishing work environment * 35:08 The evolution of his perspective on business, from financial gain to humanitarian reasons * 38:56 Stories of providing employment opportunities to individuals with challenging backgrounds * 43:32 The power of actions over words and the positive impact of ethical business practices * 44:58 Balancing efficiency and ethical considerations when acquiring and restructuring businesses * 49:06 Ensuring that new buyers respect employees and align with company values during a sale * 52:58 The impact of financial success on his personal outlook and transition to mentoring * 55:29 Developing a strong sense of identity and purpose, aligning career with faith * 57:50 How entrepreneurship shaped his relationship with God and led to a focus on serving others * 1:00:31 The importance of intentional living and integrating spiritual habits into daily life * 1:04:30 Introduction to The Vocation Project, an initiative to help people find meaning and purpose in their workJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHey everyone! Welcome back to another episode of Catholic Founders! Today, we’ve got another episode mostly focused on AI and how to engage with your spouse as an entrepreneur. But Lucas has an incredible history of entrepreneurship and brought a lot of value to the discussion of being a Catholic entrepreneur. Before we start! * On Friday, we are hosting a Catholic Founders Guild call. Open-ended topic, but with the intention to discuss Competition. * If you’d like to join, become a paid member of the CF Guild today! In today’s post: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Lucas Wall | Almma.ai* AI — Family — Living through tragedy and more [sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: You cannot Run From Pain — Going Through Pain is the Only Way to understand God’s Grace for you from that PainLucas lost his son at a young age. This, after having endured a lot of sacrifice in his move from Argentina to the US. This, plus his experience enduring the pains of entrepreneurship—including shutting down a company because of Covid—makes Lucas a great person to learn from on the topic. I gained a lot from this discussion with him. His story really moved me in a deep way. I hope you listen thoroughly to the entire episode to reap the same benefit. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerGet in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* The Bible:* Book of Job* Genesis* St. Paul's Epistles/Works Select Quotes:* "AI is so big, so transformational that it's going to give us a chance. We still have a chance in front of us. So let's ride the wave together." — Lucas* "The moment we allow machines to take our dignity, is when we lost the entire discussion." — Lucas* "If a machine can replicate your thinking, maybe your thinking needs upgrade." — Lucas* "You cannot run from your pain. You cannot run from your sadness. You have to go through the experience to understand the grace of God." — Lucas* "Timing is the number one thing that we entrepreneurs cannot move forward. We cannot speed up time. We cannot slow down time." — Lucas* "Share your gifts. Become an entrepreneur to share your gifts and learn with the community. We belong to communities. We're not islands. give yourself a try." — LucasKey Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Engaging with your spouse about business stress* 00:26 Introduction to Catholic Founders podcast and Lucas Wall* 02:25 Lucas Wall's introduction and background* 03:31 Explanation of Alumm.ai and its mission* 04:47 How Alumm.ai aims to democratize wealth in the AI revolution* 06:24 Illustrative example of an AI agent* 08:18 AI as a change of eras and its distribution, unlike past technologies* 10:39 Exaggeration of AI's benefits and drawbacks* 13:13 AI and the questioning of human value/thinking* 16:21 Human dignity and AI from a Catholic perspective* 19:51 Benefits of technology in revealing truth for the Church* 22:35 Role of Catholic entrepreneurs in the AI era* 26:01 Importance of human dignity over ROI and AI's role in small businesses* 31:07 Catholic Founders Guild advertisement* 31:59 Using AI to resolve disagreements and build connections* 33:45 Spouse as the first business partner* 36:27 Tips on engaging your spouse as an entrepreneur* 39:04 Managing expectations and stress with your spouse* 40:00 De-risking a startup and involving your spouse* 43:23 Minimizing risk in entrepreneurship* 48:42 The option to pause a company instead of shutting down* 49:53 Importance of timing in entrepreneurship* Rapid Fire: * 50:43 Favorite scripture/holy reading: St. Paul* 54:08 Favorite entrepreneur: Elon Musk, and a discussion on suffering* 59:20 Favorite saint: St. Paul and a personal relationship with God* 1:00:58 Favorite devotion: Hail Mary and Mother Mary's protection* 1:01:52 Call to action: share your gifts and become an entrepreneurJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsWelcome back to the pod, everyone! Today you get to hear from someone who’s YouTube channel recently had a pretty breakout moment. One video put him at nearly 100k views. This led him to pursue the 1-man creator business. He also shares some YouTube video tips and part of his journey. Before we start! * See you at SENT Summit! — If you’re attending, drop me a message so we can connect. * Upgrade to Paid for a Free Book! I have 200 copies of Alex Hormozi’s book, $100m Money Models and every new member of the Catholic Founders Guild get’s a free copy. The value I’ve gotten out of this book so far are worth far more than what I paid for 200 copies. In today’s post: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Max Haben | The Contemplative Dad* How Max’s YouTube channel took off after his job ended and he invested in it. That’s the core of Max’s story today. But given his wisdom, we spoke broadly about how to grow a YouTube Channel, how to know when God is calling you to go deep in your artistic project, and how to make money on YouTube. This is an especially good episode for anyone who is hesitant to get started on their entrepreneurial journey. Reason being, Max gets pretty real about what it was and is like today, to learn to trust fully in God for his daily bread, as a husband and father who is also a creative. [sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: Pursuing a ‘Risky’ Artistic Pursuit Might Be What God Is Calling You To, but You’ll Never Know Unless You Spend Time In PrayerTaking the leap into full-time content creator was not easy for Max. He had all the pressures of needing another job to provide for his family. But he invested the time. He has spent a lot of time in prayer trying to figure this out. He thinks he’s found the answer. But the truth is, none of us ever knows all the answers. That’s why we need to pray without ceasing. Through constant prayer we’ll come into a closer relationship with God so He can lead us in different ways as we go on our journey. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerGet in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* The Contemplative Dad Substack* St. Paul CenterSelect Quotes:Here are 10 incredible quotes from the episode that will hook people into listening:* "Whether you have a full-time job or you're self-employed or whatever you're doing, there is some level of dependence on God." — Max* "Your faith gets stronger when you see God show up and provide for you. …if you want to grow in your faith, then put more dependence on God and put more in his hands." — Max* "I was losing my interior quiet. Like I was losing that sort of ability to listen to God just with all the noise and distraction and stress and anxiety that we're surrounded with." — Max* "This security of having a job where… you're kind of like a slave to the company." — Max* "Most people don't make it, most people fail because they stop or they don't start. That's really the number one reason people don't succeed on YouTube." — MaxKey Moments: (outline)* 0:00 Cold Open & Guest Intro* 4:40 Dependence on God for Provision* 8:30 Illusion of Job Security* 10:56 Why "The Contemplative Dad" Started* 13:08 When to Pursue Creative Callings* 17:08 Going Full-Time with "The Contemplative Dad"* 20:54 Balancing Work & Life as an Entrepreneur* 26:55 Entrepreneurship in 2025: Anyone Can Do It* 30:01 Historical Context of Self-Employment* 31:23 Detachment from the World & Financial Needs* 34:48 Monetizing a YouTube Channel* 39:40 Vision for The Contemplative Dad* 43:18 Who Should Start a YouTube Channel & Basic Principles* Rapid Fire Questions: * 50:18 Inspiring Scripture* 52:24 Inspiring Entrepreneur* 53:17 Favorite Saint* 54:11 Favorite Devotion* 55:18 How to Reach Max* 55:52 Join the Catholic Founders Guild! Join The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHey everyone! Silas here. We’re back with another incredible pod discussion. Before we start, please pray for the families of the shooting yesterday in Minnesota. Announcements:* 📚 Have you collected your free book yet? I bought 200 copies of Hormozi’s new book, $100m Money Models. All existing & new paid members of Catholic Founders get a free copy ($30 value) (note: shipping not included). — Sign up today to get your copy!* Yesterday we had a great Catholic Founders Guild event. If you’re a paid sub and missed it, we’ll have the recording + notes from the discussion posted soon. Note: it’s all advice on how to save money on taxes. We kept it simple so even if you’re a newbie, you can understand. * ☕ Book Club for Catholic entrepreneurs: I’m hosting a book club for Catholic biz owners. The first book is The Pope & The CEO by Andreas Widmer (former bodyguard of Pope St. JPII). On Sep 12th, we’re doing a call with the author to discuss the book. All are welcome — join here.In today’s post: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Drago Dimitrov | HolyHabits.app* As leaders of our companies, we have a responsibility to hone our skills and invest in ourselves. As Catholics, we understand that this means more than just basic skills to be good at business. Good actions come from practicing doing good things. We call these virtues. So, we wanted to bring on an expert in habit building, Drago — the Co-Founder of Holy Habits. So we are discussing how to build habits, the three levels of the spiritual life, and the three types of entrepreneurs. Plus, how those three types correspond to the levels of the spiritual life. Listen the whole way through for the maximum benefit! [sponsored content]Hire Talent that Actually Cares About Your Mission with Verso Jobs.The team at VersoJobs.com has built a remarkable gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: Set Triggers That Will Help You Remember to Practice Your HabitHabits are easiest to build when we have a nice trigger to get us started. On your own, or with the use of the Holy Habits app, build that trigger and start to flex that virtue muscle. It will grow. On top of this, keep in mind the weight of responsibility that you have as a business owner. You’re going to be responsible for the financial well-being of potentially thousands of employees. Building strong virtues will help you do that better and weather the tough times. That I can guarantee you. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner[sponsored content]Advertise to Catholics Only, on FioThink of Fio as Spotify, but only Catholic content creators allowed. That includes music, podcasts and more. The best part, for a limited time, they are offering readers of Catholic Founders Free Advertising Space. So if you’re looking to reach a Catholic audience, learn more at fio.fm/adsPS: They actually pay the first ever streaming royalty for podcasts—something unheard of with all major podcast platforms. So, if you listen to the Catholic Founders podcast, check us out on Fio to indirectly support this project financially. You can follow us on Fio by clicking here.Get in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* (Follow him on X/Twitter)* (Drago’s Substack)* St. Josemaria Escriva (Opus Dei)* Join the Catholic Founders Guild today (and get a free book)* SpiritualDirection.com * Nathan Pinto* VersoJobs.com* fio.fmSelect Quotes:* "It's like the difference between Planet Fitness and Gold's Gym, when you know what you're trying to go after and you have clear targets and goals in mind." — Drago* "People are tired of the nihilistic, hopeless prescription of meaninglessness that the side has to offer." — Drago* "God wants to be the shepherd and we're the sheep and the sheep have no clue what the next three, four steps are. It's like one step at a time." — Drago* "We also have a unique opportunity that others don't have to exercise the virtues... as an entrepreneur." — Drago* "Just treat your people with love... Have their interest in mind and they're not going to leave you." — Drago(psst! Highlight your favorite, then click the share button to spread the word! Thank you! 🙏)Key Moments:* 00:00 Intro* 02:10 Welcome Drago Dimitrov & Holy Habits App * 04:18 Origin Story of Holy Habits * 08:23 Discussion on Spiritual Growth and 4 Transcendentals * 17:03 Core Principles of Building Holy Habits * 24:14 The Three Stages of Spiritual Life * 32:56 Applying Spiritual Stages to Entrepreneurship * 37:41 The Three Types of Entrepreneurs * 44:56 Drago's Entrepreneurial Journey and Faith * 48:55 Rapid Fire QuestionsJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHey everyone! Silas here 👋Sorry, I’m a tad late to publishing this. I must admit, I ended up staying later than planned at pickleball last night and couldn’t manage to finish the edits with the bricks on my eyelids. Better late than never, as they say!Before we start!* Tax Planning Expert: Next week Wednesday, we have a tax expert presenting to the CF Guild group on the tax changes from the recent Big Beautiful Bill. There are quite a few things to consider, so please join us. This is only available for CF Guild (paid) members, so if you’re interested, upgrade to paid and drop me a DM. We’ll get you there. * Book Club With the Author: Also, if you’re interested, we’re currently reading through The Pope & The CEO by Andreas Widmer — and on September 12th, we’ll be having a call with the author to discuss the book. This is open to anyone. Sign up today. In this Email: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Joe Coleman | Saint Kolbe Studios* Joe runs a podcast production agency for mission-oriented and Catholic organizations. He brings to this years of experience working on audio and video production so it’s a great fit for his skills. He started not that long ago, and recently, he and his wife welcomed their first child into the world. Because of that, I wanted to discuss what it’s like to be building a business in those circumstances. Discover how his trust in God has developed. How he views growing the business? How he tries to balance hustle and family life? And of course we talked a lot about podcasts and Church media in general. It was a fun call — I hope you enjoy it too! [sponsored content]We are excited to announce a sponsorship partnership with Verso Jobs.These guys are incredible at helping Catholic Founders hire people who are actually aligned with your mission.They have built this incredible gamified and data-driven job platform to help you hire people who actually share your mission and values.The best part, it's built by Catholics.Whether you're hiring for your startup, school, parish, or nonprofit — Verso makes it easy to find mission-aligned talent ready to build the Kingdom.Visit versojobs.com or book a demo to get started — To the heights! ⛰️Core Lesson: God often uses our lack of career direction early on to prepare us for the bigger missions down the road. When we start off in our careers, there is so much we don’t know. We look back and say we would do so many things differently. But in many ways, this is likely how God intended for us. He uses this time to guide us and give us experiences that we never considered in order to prepare us for what He wants us to do down the road. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas Mähner[sponsored content]Advertise to Catholics Only, on FioWe’re proud to welcome Fio as a sponsor of Catholic Founders. Think of Fio as Spotify, but only Catholic content creators allowed. That includes music, podcasts and more. The best part, for a limited time, they are offering readers of Catholic Founders Free Advertising Space. So if you’re looking to reach a Catholic audience, learn more at fio.fm/adsPS: They actually pay the first ever streaming royalty for podcasts—something unheard of with all major podcast platforms. So, if you listen to the Catholic Founders podcast, check us out on Fio to indirectly support this project financially. You can follow us on Fio by clicking here.Get in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* Book: The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship by Andreas Widmer* Encyclical: Caritas et VeritateSelect Quotes:* "I think some people are just wired to work for themselves, and they can't really work for somebody else."* "I always say people want to do business with their friends. The next best thing is people want to do business with brands and individuals they trust."* "You don't need thousands of listeners to actually have a valuable podcast."* "I would much rather have smaller growth that's sustainable."* "You need ownership over your time."Key Moments: (outline)* 00:00 Introduction to Joe Coleman and St. Kolbe Studios* 02:10 Joe Coleman's entrepreneurial journey and the founding of St. Kolbe Studios* 07:08 Discussion on the nature of self-employment and ownership* 08:56 Impact of expecting his first child on his approach to work and hustle* 11:46 Benefits of podcasting for building trust and brand relationships* 16:22 The importance of niche and specific offers in podcasting* 19:40 Joe's confidence level in his business and God's providence* 26:14 Joe's philosophy on business growth and scale* 32:08 Discussion on time ownership and entrepreneurial virtues* 33:57 Joe's evolving relationship with faith and God through entrepreneurship* 37:20 Reflection on divine providence and career paths* 43:45 Cool client stories and experiences working with interesting people* 46:35 What's missing in Catholic media* 50:28 Rapid fire questions: inspiring scriptures, entrepreneurs, saints, and devotions* 53:50 Call to action for St. Kolbe Studios and Catholic Founders GuildJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsDon’t forget - tomorrow is the feast of The Assumption — a Holy Day of Obligation in the US. Make your plan for mass — and better yet, take the day off if you can. Whatever you do, be sure to honor our Lady. Hey everyone! Silas here 👋Before we start!* CF Guild Meeting Tonight! If you’re a member of the Catholic Founders Guild, join us tonight for a discussion on the topic of Stewardship as a Catholic Business Owner. (If you’re not a member but want to join, upgrade to paid right away and message me so we can chat prior to the event to get you in — I screen everyone to ensure we maintain quality — hope to see you tonight)In this Email: * Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:* Travis Callaway | Rerum Novarum Partners* What Rerum Novarum states and how to apply it in 2025 (and beyond)Core Lesson: You Pick. And Share. Today’s episode has a LOT of points in it. My goal is for you to pick your favorite takeaway (probably something you’re going to focus on with your business) and share it in the comments of this post. This way, others can learn from what you noticed, and we can all find at least one way to apply this Catholic Social Teaching to our businesses. See you in the comments! ~Silas MähnerGet in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).Key Episode References:* Rerum Novarum* Coffee, Commerce, Catechesis (Travis’ podcast)Select Quotes:* "Legality and morality are not the same thing. And this document does a good job of articulating that." (10:41)* "Rerum Novarum also points to what the socialists were identifying, which is, this struggle between classes is a real problem. And we can solve that problem if we root ourselves in human dignity." (20:06)* "Doing the bare minimum, just so you can meet the legal threshold, certainly doesn't seem to qualify as what's required from the perspective of a just wage." (34:52)* "What you have is not meant for you, right? He didn't give us the skills to... for us to provide for ourselves. He gave us these skills to become instruments of his will in the world." (40:50)* "Work is a good thing. And we shouldn't be trying to get the robots to do it all for us." (48:43)Key Moments: (outline)* 0:00 Introduction to the Catholic Founders Podcast* 1:42 Guest Introduction: Travis Callaway * 3:37 Background of Rerum Novarum and its relevance* 7:11 Core points of Rerum Novarum* 8:43 Duties of employers to employees* 13:36 Short-term versus long-term thinking in business* 19:39 Harmony between classes* 21:50 Importance of associations (unions)* 24:02 Christian charity and eternal life* 26:47 Applying Rerum Novarum in 2025: Human dignity in the workplace* 29:33 Ensuring good working conditions* 33:46 The concept of a just wage* 38:53 Social responsibility of wealth* 43:03 Limits on state intervention* 44:18 Harmony over conflict* 47:04 Catholic perspective on universal basic income and work* 51:18 Rapid fire questions: Favorite scripture, entrepreneur, saint, and devotionJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entreprenuers who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Join our monthly calls | Access to all paid content | Attend guild-member only dinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIn celebration of 25 episodes of Catholic Founders, we’re looking back at the biggest lessons and takeaways from those 25 episodes. Yesterday was part 1 (check it out here). Today, we’ve got part 2 for you. If you’re a newer listener, please use this as a sort of directory of past episodes to explore where you think you should listen. The Holy Spirit may call you to some specific episode. Don’t ignore it. Follow that tug. SHARE! Be sure to pass this around to other Catholic Business owners (current or aspiring). We need to get more people committed to this work so we can reinsert God into the world. First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Interested in joining our peer group of other Catholic Founders? Apply to join today! We vet everyone that joins so you can be assured it’s a high quality group. Core Lessons: If any of these pique your interest, we encourage you to check out the full episode by clicking on the headline with each one. Especially something we encourage new listeners to take advantage of. * Episode 14: Will O'Brien, Ulysses — Pursuing Money & Ambition as a Catholic, Conversions in San Francisco, Catholics & Climate Change* Catholicism is about moving forward and building towards heaven on earth, starting with our own hearts.* When pursuing good things, the devil will work overtime; financial success requires staying extra close to God through prayer and spiritual direction.* Episode 15: Andreas Widmer, CUA — Protecting The Pope, Sainthood Through Entrepreneurship, Following Good Desires to Come Closer to God* God often uses our natural desires to guide us deeper into His calling.* God brings us closer through trusting Him as we go deeper into our entrepreneurial journey.* Your business or product must be something that is truly good and benefits others.* Work is about more than just making money; it fulfills the soul and should fit into your plan of life.* Episode 16: Mini Episode, Feast of the Ascension — Growth Through Space, Imitating the Energy of the Apostles* We cannot fully grow unless we have the opportunity to fail, and we must allow employees to fail to increase their value.* We have a responsibility to share the Gospel with excitement, like the apostles after the Ascension and Pentecost.* Episode 17: Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Sherwood Fellows — Ethical Marketing, Long-Term Thinking, Scale Is Designed to Destroy the Human Element* To market well, integrate your marketing team with the rest of your company to ensure honesty and focus on overall product integration.* Short-term thinking drives bad marketing and hurts your brand; aim to build something enduring.* The point of scale is to remove the human element, which as Catholics, we must be cautious of because humans are the focus of work.* Episode 18: Daniel Francis, Able Police — Many Catholics are not Answering the Call to Build, Faith at a Secular Workplace, Taking Back the Culture* We often forget that we are also called to build things and use our skills to address problems in the world.* Loving your neighbor should focus more locally, on those immediately around you, rather than just people far away.* Episode 19: Nathan Crankfield, Seeking Excellence — Poverty isn’t a Virtue, Side Hustles, Influence, Ambition* Being poor is not a virtue. Choosing to live in poverty and forgo unnecessary things is a virtue. If you’re poor because you have not tried hard enough, that is not a virtue, especially for lay people. We must use our God-given potential and skills to increase income and support the Church.* Men especially have a calling to provide for their family, and developing a side hustle is often a viable way to do so.* We have a responsibility to do everything we do as well as we can, imitating Jesus.* You can be busy and still achieve holiness; busyness is not an excuse to neglect prayer or spiritual growth.[sponsored content]Advertise to Catholics Only, on FioWe’re proud to welcome Fio as a sponsor of Catholic Founders. Think of Fio as Spotify, but only Catholic content creators allowed. That includes music, podcasts and more. The best part, for a limited time, they are offering followers of Catholic Founders Free Advertising Space. So if you’re looking to reach a Catholic audience, learn more at fio.fm/adsPS: They actually pay the first ever streaming royalty for podcasts—something unheard of with all major podcast platforms. So, if you listen to the Catholic Founders podcast, check us out on Fio to indirectly support this project financially. You can follow us on Fio by clicking here.Get in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).* Episode 20: Juan Acosta, Tabella — Building Strong Parishes, Trusting the Journey God Takes You Through, Investing in Catholic Ventures* Catholic business owners need to lead in making stronger parishes by employing people and supporting priests.* We need to be genuine neighbors to fellow parishioners to support each other through tough times.* Money is an amplifier; if you have spiritual poverty, money will worsen you, but with ordered desires, it can make a huge impact.* Be willing to bring your business and calling to God in prayer and adoration for guidance.* Episode 21: Jennifer Baugh, YCP — Becoming a Vessel, Sharing Your Success bc it’s Actually not Yours, The Virtues Required to Start a Business* We need to be willing to share our successes because God can touch others' lives through our sharing. And… all of that success comes from God.* Become a total vessel of God so He can do much more through you.* The challenges of work are highly conducive for growing in virtue if you are willing to embrace them.* Recall often that your success is not yours, it’s God’s.* Episode 22: Dominic Tarolli, DOMINUS Lab — Catholics and AI* Things that have no soul will become automated; keep the human aspect, value, and special touches in your products and services.* As AI changes everything, Catholics must keep people at the center of their focus to ensure morally good outcomes.* Because AI will happen with or without us, Catholics need to be engaged on the front lines of its development.* Episode 23: Tim Glemkowski, Amazing Parish — Missionary vs Entrepreneur, Following God’s Mission vs Ours, Trusting in God to Provide Financially* Evangelize in the world but be present and engaged in your parishes to foster strong community support systems.* God sometimes destroys things to prepare the way for something new.* We are all called to be on mission, regardless if you’re a missionary or business owner.* Busyness is not an excuse not to pray; if anything, we should pray more when busy.* God wants to work in our own hearts as He works on the world through us.* Learn to trust in the Lord for money, as He will provide.* Episode 24: Dan Egan, St. Joseph Wall Project — How to Build Cultural Revival Projects in your City, Keep Walking Step, Become an Extension of Your Priest* Use your skills to execute projects well; don't do things halfway.* Work with your priest to help them realize their vision for the parish, community, and city.* God expects us to keep actively moving and acting even when the next step is unclear.* Set the example of building beautiful art because God touches people through art.* Episode 25: Tim Connors, PivotNorth Capital — Love Your Customer, Solve Your Neighbors’ Problems, Use Systems Thinking, Double Your Parish Size* Use all your ability to help solve the problems of your neighbors to the greatest extent possible, including welcoming people into the parish community.* Founders often run in packs; having a community of ambitious, faith-driven builders is important. (psst. join the CF Guild)* Loving your customers leads to high net promoter scores and provides free (or substantially lowered) customer acquisition.* The startup methodology is virtuous because of how it aims to unblock issues and provide customer value.* If we get people active in the parish and involved in community, we will keep them in the Church (implement this in your own parish).Thanks for reading — please share around. This can serve as a directory. We’ll also be making a post covering the core themes of all of these episodes. No promises on the timeline for that one haha. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Monthly Member Calls | Monthly Expert Calls | Monthly Topic Calls | Access to all paid content | Attend Guild-Member Only DinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIn celebration of 25 episodes of Catholic Founders, we’re looking back at the biggest lessons and takeaways from those 25 episodes. It was too much to put into one recording so we are breaking it up into part 1 and 2. Part 2 should be out tomorrow or Saturday…stay tuned. If you’re a newer listener, please use this as a sort of directory of past episodes to explore where you think you should listen. The Holy Spirit may call you to some specific episode. Don’t ignore it. Follow that tug. SHARE! Be sure to pass this around to other Catholic Business owners (current or aspiring). We need to get more people committed to this work so we can reinsert God into the world. First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Interested in joining our peer group of other Catholic Founders? Apply to join today! We vet everyone that joins so you can be assured it’s a high quality group. Core Lessons: If any of these pique your interest, we encourage you to check out the full episode by clicking on the headline with each one. Especially something we encourage new listeners to take advantage of. * Episode 1: Alessandro DiSanto, Hallow — How to Pray as an Entrepreneur * Prayer is the essential first step for entrepreneurial success, helping you discern God's specific calling for you.* Episode 2: Mini Episode - Parables — God Only Reveals the Meaning of the Gospel to His Disciples* To truly understand Jesus and the Gospel, we must first become disciples and believe.* Episode 3: Alessandro DiSanto, Hallow — Origin Story, Hallow Founding Story, Church & AI* Make time for silence to hear God's subtle whispers, especially as a busy entrepreneur. If you don’t, you won’t hear what He’s calling you to. * Episode 4: Sondre Rasch, SafetyWing — Rise of Catholicism in San Francisco, How to be a Catholic Techno-Optimist* Ambition is good or bad depending on the intention; pursue it for God's glory—not your own.* Techno-optimism is acceptable as long as it adheres to the Church's boundaries on ethics and human dignity.* Episode 5: Trevor Alcorn, Tridentine Brewing — Building a Family Business, Modest Growth, Beautiful Products* Living below your means creates financial freedom to take risks and start businesses.* Grow your business at God's pace, even if it means going slower due to external factors like regulations.* Episode 6: Colin Stroud, Go Somewhere — Following Passion into Business, Ambition, How He and His Wife Both Run Businesses* Following your passion can lead you to your business calling.* Continuously seek to increase your value per hour by developing skills. This is the first stage of becoming an entrepreneur. * Fully commit to the Lord and trust in His provision; don't constantly hedge your bets. When you trust in God, He’ll reward you. [sponsored content]Advertise to Catholics Only, on FioWe’re proud to welcome Fio as a sponsor of Catholic Founders. Think of Fio as Spotify, but only Catholic content creators allowed. That includes music, podcasts and more. The best part, for a limited time, they are offering followers of Catholic Founders Free Advertising Space. So if you’re looking to reach a Catholic audience, learn more at fio.fm/adsPS: They actually pay the first ever streaming royalty for podcasts—something unheard of with all major podcast platforms. So, if you listen to the Catholic Founders podcast, check us out on Fio to indirectly support this project financially. You can follow us on Fio by clicking here.Get in front of Catholic decision makers today! Our publication is ready by devout Catholic founders and business owners across America. Best for anyone selling services or products to those audiences. (Plus they’d all rather buy from another Catholic).* Episode 7: Zach Scardino, Scardino Strategic Partners — Succession Planning, Due Diligence, Buying a Business* Seek expert help and embrace humility in areas you lack knowledge. As Catholics, the virtue of humility should be one of our most unfair advantages. Lean into it. * Put in the effort to be professional and continuously improve your business for your customers' benefit. If you don’t, you may not have anything to sell to retire on or won’t be able to pass it along to your children. * A significant wave of companies is coming up for sale, creating opportunities for entrepreneurship through acquisition. * Episode 8: Cristofer Pereyra, Tepeyac Leadership Initiative — Engaging Your Bishop or Priest, Committing to Your Mission, The Missionary Call of the Laity* Lay people have a responsibility to lead and evangelize in the world, beyond the parish. See paragraph 900 of the CCC. If we don’t do this, the mission of the apostolic mission of the bishops cannot be fully fulfilled. * Building something truly impactful requires full-time commitment and trust in God. You can’t build something great as a hobby. * NOTE: We made a special episode for paid subs that breaks down the 12 takeaways from this episode with Cris. Listen here.* Episode 9: Jeff Schiefelbein, Undivided Life — Living an Undivided Life, How to Integrate Your Faith Into Your Work/Business* Company culture, especially Christian virtue, must be at the core of your business, starting with the founder's spiritual life. If you as the founder are not truly living in virtue, it will not permeate through the organization. * Every decision has eternal consequences; integrate your faith into all aspects of your life. All your decisions, business and personal, have eternal consequences. * Episode 10: Taylor Ross, Trad Chad Dating — Catholic Dating Coach, We Have a Responsibility to Provide, Prayer, Minimizing Risk, Ambition* Minimize financial risk and expenses to enable entrepreneurship. If you don’t, you might miss the call God has for you. * Prioritize prayer even when busy building your business. The busier you are, the more you need prayer. * Episode 11: Chris Lewis, Baritus Catholic — The Importance of Catholic Art, Building a Family Biz, Integrating Prayer to Your Operations* Do not force your children to join a family business; encourage their interest and involvement.* Having a family business often inspires children to pursue entrepreneurship.* We have a responsibility to create and promote good art because beauty speaks to the heart.* Episode 12: Monika Elling, FMG — Motherhood & Entrepreneurship, Vocation > Profession, How to Reach Anyone* Always prioritize your vocation (e.g., family) before business endeavors. There is a hierarchy to our life. God, Family, Business. * Look for business opportunities by identifying and solving current problems you or others face.* The Catholic business community needs its own funding mechanisms that align with Catholic morals.* Episode 13: Rob Kaczmark, Spirit Juice Studios — Catholic Disney, Emmys, When to Quit, Leaning Into Your Leadership Role* It's okay to embrace and own your role as a leader in your business. God put you in this situation for a reason, don’t shy away from it. Lean in and do it well. * Allowing employees (and yourself) to fail is necessary for personal and team growth. Without it you’ll never scale. * When considering giving up, ask yourself if you'd rather be doing anything else; if not, keep going. * Share your vision publicly to allow others to help you and to embrace a God-like ambition.Okay, stay tuned for part II soon. (Hoping later today or sometime tomorrow). And please do us a favor, share this around to serve as a sort of mini-directory of our episodes. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerJoin The Catholic Founders GuildThe Catholic Founders Guild is a vetted group of Catholic entrepreneurs who are building businesses with their faith at the heart of what they do. Some are building ‘Catholic’ products. Most are building normal businesses. We’ve got tech founders. Agency owners. Mom & Pop. E-commerce. And some people who bought a business. Guild Member Benefits: * Member Directory Access | Monthly Member Calls | Monthly Expert Calls | Monthly Topic Calls | Access to all paid content | Attend Guild-Member Only DinnersYou are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. Don’t you want that to describe other Catholic founders? It’s only $10/month or $100/year (for now) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe