BoldIdea Podcast - Put your faith to work and bring your bold idea to life.

Leary and Armin are making work great again! But seriously: they are. By asking some important questions, they’re moving the conversation from whether or not what you are doing is great, to whether or not you are doing great just by doing with the right attitude.

Can we walk through our fear of a dangerous situation, trusting that God has it all worked out? Michele Rigby Assad is living proof that we can. A former CIA counter-terrorism officer, Michele has lived in scary places and done some scary things --- and she gives God the credit for keeping her safe and enabling her to do every mission she came up against.

Can we move out of a broken past and into a healed future? Dr. Joe Martin believes we can --- and that we are charged to help others do the same. As someone who grew up without a father, Dr. Joe Martin knows what it’s like to crave a mentor and to need a Godly example. He speaks with Leary and Armin about what it means to be a man-builder, and why it might even be the biggest tool to break the cycle of absent fathers.

Can we push through our fear to find what God has for us on the other side? Jackelyn Viera Iloff is here to say you can. Jackelyn felt God calling her to work in Washington, D.C., a long, long way from her native California. In faith, Jackelyn pushed through the fear of failing and discovered a calling on her life that could only be from God.

Can we move from fear to freedom and find the love and approval we all want and need? John Collier’s story is proof that we can. A former police officer and convicted felon, John’s story is one of redemption and being made new. He shares how he overcame childhood trauma and found the father figure he always knew he needed.

Art Erickson took the neighborhood of South Minneapolis from being known as “Murder-apolis” to being a thriving center of economic growth and sustainability. He joins Leary and Armin to discuss how his work is entirely dependent on seeing others through the lens of transformation and not transaction.

After spending 66 days in the wilderness as part of The History Channel’s Alone show, Dave McIntyre came away from the experience with a newfound reliance on God’s strength in the absence of his own. He discusses how to survive your personal wilderness, and what you can learn about yourself and God when you do.

What’s wrong with a comfort zone? Does a bold idea need to be a leap of faith? Is a comfort zone good or bad? How do you take steps to get out of your comfort zone? Leary and Armin discuss all of these questions, share the pros and cons of comfort zones, and talk about how to know if you aren’t leaving yours enough.

Scott Alan Turner went from having an $800 a month car payment and a too-big-for-his-wallet mortgage to living a debt-free life and retiring early. This former money moron now helps others live like financial rock stars. He chats with Leary and Armin about how he learned the importance of being aware, in money and in life.

Kevin DeVries climbed five of the tallest mountains in the world, skied to the North Pole, started and sold business, and went on a hunt to find Noah’s Ark--all to avoid facing his past. Kevin shares his story of having run to the ends of the earth to avoid healing and how God met him with grace right where he was.

Can curiosity be cultivated? Wes Yoder thinks it can. Raised in an Amish and Mennonite community, it wasn’t until Wes was in his twenties that he realized that he could learn anything he wanted if he pointed his curiosity in the right direction. Now a successful author and founder of a prominent faith-based company, Wes encourages others to connect with their God-given curiosity.

What happens when a comedian gets breast cancer? She makes a joke about it. Former Saturday Night Live cast member Victoria Jackson shares her story of how laughter in tough times can be its own kind of saving grace. Join her, Leary and Armin to hear how God can use even cancer to spread His Gospel.

Ward Brehm says he was "a jerk" before God changed his heart and a life. A retired successful businessman, Ward found the love of Christ on a trip to Africa and has never been the same since. He talks with Leary and Armin about how God changed a jerk, as well as the guiding principles he has used to live his life since.

Amanda Carroll found herself married, a mother of three, doing a morning show in Washington, D.C., and living what looked like the life of a perfect suburban Christian woman. That all changed when her husband came home from a business trip to say that he was leaving her and their three kids---the youngest of which was only 8 weeks old. Amanda had to start her life over, and now she strives to help other single moms do the same.

Ever want to take the leap, quit your job, and pursue your art full time? It’s often tempting for a lot of us, but the phrase “starving artist” pulls most of us back. Jeff Goins joins Leary and Armin to talk about the myth of the starving artist---and how you can pursue your art like so many creatives before you.

Are you constantly getting knocked off course in the pursuit of your BoldIdea? Do you get distracted easily? Have a long todo list that just never seems to get done? Leary Gates and Armin Assadi share five tools to help you beat distraction and get to work on your BoldIdea.

McNair Wilson has a history of being exceptionally creative. But this former Disney Imagineer, writer, artist, actor, and public speaker thinks everyone is creative---we’re just using the wrong definition. Today on the podcast, McNair chats with Leary and Armin about the essential habits of creative people.

Elizabeth Saunders has a vision that Christians will stop managing their time and allow God to manage it for them. As someone who has gone through the transition from time management to priority management, Elizabeth chats with Leary and Armin about how doing this will set Christians free---and allow them to be even more effective disciples.

Dr. Phil Carson experienced severe stress-related health issues that led him to seek a more natural cure and livelihood. After losing the business he had built during the 2009 recession, Dr. Carson had to learn to trust God like he never had before --- and he discusses this new perspective on trusting God in business failure with Leary and Armin on the podcast this week.

Zoro the Drummer wanted to be three things in life: a drummer, a speaker, and a preacher. Raised in Compton by a single mother, the odds were not in his favor. But God’s grace is more than we can imagine, and today Zoro is all three of these and much more. Zoro the Drummer talks with Leary and Armin about how having a vision at a young age made him unbeatable.

Ron Edmondson has a unique perspective on church leadership, because he wasn’t always a part of it. This former business-owner-turned-lead pastor shares seven myths of leadership with Leary and Armin, and what it means to be an effective leader or manager in God’s kingdom, and why the church isn’t a business---but could take some lessons from the business world.

Tim Sanders has a revolutionary idea for business and life: giving away your love, your time, and your resources to help others is the only way to be truly successful. Tim chats with Leary and Armin about how important it is to give and ask nothing in return, and he shares seven principles for leading a life that is spiritually rich.

Kathleen Cooke is someone who is hard to keep up with---she’s an actress, author, speaker, and mentor seeking to connect Christians within Hollywood and beyond. Kathleen chats with Leary and Armin about how important the influence of relationships is in our lives as Christians, whether we’re seeking a new job or trying to carve out space for daily quiet time.

Dan Rupple is a media strategist and producer, as well as the CEO of Mastermedia International. He works one-on-one with media executives, helping them to understand the Christian audience and serving as an ally and Christian influence and counsel in their lives, both professional and personal. Dan talks with Leary and Armin about the changing media landscape and how Christians can be a part of it, if they are preparing to be surprised.

Karen Covell is a producer in the entertainment industry, an author, and founder of the Hollywood Prayer Network. She discusses how Hollywood might just be the Christian churches biggest mission field and how she’s working to bridge the gap between an industry that Christians fear and one that desperately needs Jesus.

PJ Jonas is a writer and small business owner who encourages others in their own family entrepreneurship adventures. In this interview, she chats with Leary and Armin about it means to work hard with a blessing from the Lord and how to integrate homeschooling, owning a business, and raising Godly children into one very full life.

Mark Goblowsky is a martial artist, author, and podcast host as well as a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. After his son suffered a tragic brain injury, Mark had to learn to have faith in God even while walking through the hardest of times. Mark shares with Leary and Armin how this journey has changed him as a person and how he has turned his pain into a bold idea to help others.

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author of more than 80 books and a Moody Radio talk show host. After an unexpected financial and physical setback, he and his family had to learn to walk in faith toward what God had for them next. He joins Leary and Armin to discuss how false humility can often keep Christians from following their bold idea, and what he thinks you should do instead.

Shari Rigby is an author, Hollywood director, producer, and actress, who bold idea is to inspire women around the world with film, speaking, and her writings to say yes to their own stories and to know that they have been uniquely and beautifully created by a Savior that loves them.

Why do some ideas take off while others wither and die? In this week’s episode, Leary and Armin dig into the reasons your bold idea may never take flight. They’ve identified three bold idea killers that could be stopping your idea in its tracks. Listen in to learn about the three bold idea killers and how to avoid them!

Tom Gehring is a trial lawyer, mediator, adjunct professor of law at Pepperdine University’s School of Law, and author. He travels the country sharing strategies for conflict mediation. Today, he joins Leary and Armin to discuss how Christians can become world-class peacemakers based on Biblical examples and how walking the Camino de Santiago has helped him take one step at a time with Christ.

Phil Cooke is a writer and Hollywood producer who discovered his unlikely true calling in the world of film. He joins Leary and Armin to talk about how Christians can use the power of media to spread the Gospel.

Os Hillman is a speaker, author, and the president of Marketplace Leaders. Join us in this episode as Os shares his story of finding his calling through adversity.

Jarod Cronk is the owner and founder of Sharehouse Goods, a Milwaukee organization that turns unwanted goods into revenue and jobs for the community. Jarod joins Leary and Armin to talk about transforming a city culture and engaging in your story.

Joe Pellegrino is a speaker, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Legacy Minded Men. In this episode, Joe shares the power of a father’s blessing and how men can live up to a Biblical example of leadership.

Aaron Walker is an entrepreneur and author who sold his first business to a Fortune 500 company at age 27 and has since bought and sold 11 other companies. He joins Leary and Armin to talk about the relationship between success and significance.

Darren Wilson is an author and filmmaker who was recently named an Emerging Leader of Tomorrow by Charisma Magazine. In this episode, he shares his story of embracing the journey after asking God to give him an idea.

Michele Pillar is a three-time Grammy nominee, author, and founder of The Clothesline Conference. She joins Leary and Armin to talk about how God helped her move from frenetic to fulfilled so she could help others find healing and redemption.

Jay Coughlan is a business mentor, former CEO, and convicted felon. Learn how he resisted letting his worst moment define his life.

Bob Stromberg, comedian and communicator, tells us about his career that is heavily dependent upon creativity. He encourages us to pursue creative avenues in our lives, whether we feel “artsy” or not, lest we miss out on some of life’s fullness.

Leary and Armin sit down and discuss the nitty gritty of how to know whether your good idea is a God idea.

Tim Eldred, president of Endeavor Ministries, revitalized the oldest youth ministry in America. He advocates returning to the biblical model of teaching young people as Jesus trained His disciples.

Dan Brokke, president and CEO of Bethany International, knows about getting people to rally around a big goal. He shares some of his insights in this episode.

Dan Wallrath, founder and president of Operation FINALLY HOME, explains how his small steps of obedience turned into a ministry that blesses wounded veterans and their families.

William Paul Young, bestselling author of The Shack, never intended to be an author. God’s grace and work in Paul’s life has brought Paul to unexpected places where God uses a small bold idea to impact millions.

Dr. Thomas Phillips, Executive Director of the Billy Graham Library, is an expert on evangelism and revival. Tom explains what personal revival looks like and where it begins, but, even more, provides the example of humility that will start a personal revival.

Dr. Michelle Watson, founder of The Abba Project, talks about how a father's influence reaches deeply in to the hearts of their daughters. She shares her own story of how this ministry came to life as well as the ways in which fathers can make a lasting impact with their daughters.

T.C. Stallings, former football star and current movie actor, made his huge career change based on nothing external. His bold move came out of prayer and purpose.

Terry Whalin offers us advice from years of publishing experience on how to get our bold ideas out to the audience who needs them.

Brian Simmons, missionary and lead translator of the Passion Bible, talks about his ministry work and the risks his passion for Bible translation have required.