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Welcome to "The Courageous Podcast," where we delve into the inspiring tales of ordinary people who have shown unwavering bravery in the face of challenges. Join us as we explore the multifaceted dimensions of courage and ask our guests, "What's the most courageous thing you've ever done?"
Host Jeff Johnson guides these conversations with empathy and curiosity, creating a safe space for guests to share their personal experiences. From daring leaps of faith to small yet powerful acts of bravery, you'll hear stories that resonate with the universal human experience.
Through these narratives, we aim to inspire and uplift our listeners, fostering a sense of connection and empowerment. Our guests' stories remind us that bravery is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
"The Courageous Podcast" is not just about sharing tales of valor; it's about building a community of individuals who find strength in vulnerability and authenticity.
Join us as we celebrate the indomitable human spirit, one story of courage at a time. Get ready to be inspired, uplifted, and motivated to embrace your own inner courage, whatever that might look like.
88 Episodes
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Send us a text In this powerful episode of Courageous Crossroads, host Jeff Johnson sits down with entrepreneur, consultant, and small-town mayor Bryan Arzani, whose journey from a paperboy in Iowa to founder of the Results Group is anything but ordinary. A former athlete, missionary, and corporate strategist, Bryan shares how he built a successful consulting firm by combining multiple psychological models to unlock human potential—but it’s his deeply personal story of overcoming alcohol addi...
Send us a text In this powerful and timely episode of Courageous Crossroads, host Jeff Johnson sits down with Dr. Everett Piper to unpack the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk and what it reveals about courage, faith, and free speech in today’s culture. Dr. Piper challenges the idea that disagreement equals hate, defines what true courage looks like, and calls listeners to “pick up the banner” of truth. With bold clarity, he explores the spiritual battle behind political violence, the role...
Send us a text David Leto, CEO and seasoned recruiting professional, joins the Courageous Crossroads podcast to share powerful stories of resilience, leadership, and values-driven decision-making. Raised in a tight-knit, faith-centered family on the south side of Des Moines, David reflects on how his upbringing shaped his definition of courage: embracing fear and taking action simply because it's the right thing to do. From overcoming personal tragedy after a fatal car accident involving his ...
Send us a text In this powerful episode of Courageous Crossroads, Dean O’Connor—entrepreneur, mayor, and former lifelong member of a fundamentalist church—shares the most courageous decision of his life: walking away from the rigid faith he was born into. With raw honesty, Dean unpacks what it meant to grow up under strict religious rules, how leaving affected his family and identity, and why choosing truth over tradition reshaped his entire worldview. Now the president of a thriving window c...
Send us a text On this episode of Courageous Crossroads, Jeff Johnson sits down with Tyler Tompkins— former police lieutenant, real estate entrepreneur, and board member of Exodus 51, a nonprofit that rescues Christian slaves in Pakistan. Born and raised in small-town Iowa, Tyler shares how his path from farming and law enforcement to international human rights work was shaped not by a single moment of courage, but by a long series of faithful yeses. With raw honesty, he opens up about wrestl...
Send us a text In this episode of Courageous Crossroads, host Jeff Johnson sits down with Dr. Douglas Groothuis, Distinguished University Research Professor of Apologetics and Christian Worldview at Cornerstone University, author of over 20 books, including Christian Apologetics and Masking the New Age, and host of The Truth Tribe Podcast. With nearly 50 years of defending the Christian faith through reason and evidence, Dr. Groothuis shares what he considers the most courageous act of his li...
Send us a text In this powerful episode of Courageous Crossroads, we meet Justin "Boyd" Baker — a former NASCAR body fabricator turned power grid engineer, comic book collector, motorcycle enthusiast, and devoted family man. Raised in a Midwest farming town, Boyd shares his journey from chasing perfection in high-octane race shops to finding purpose in fatherhood, faith, and craftsmanship. He opens up about how raising his stepdaughter became the most courageous act of his ...
Send us a text In this powerful episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, Keith Mercer shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the violent streets of Southeast Washington, D.C.—once known as the murder capital—to becoming a first-generation college graduate, athlete, leadership coach, and motivational speaker. Faced with extreme adversity from a young age, including witnessing a murder at just five years old, Keith relied on his faith, self-belief, and relentless work ethic to br...
Send us a text In this deeply moving episode, Eric Voelker—educator, former pastor, coach, and two-time NCAA wrestling champion—opens up about what true courage looks like at this stage in his life. Far from the spotlight of athletic victory or public ministry, Eric shares how the most courageous thing he’s ever done is simply showing up, day after day, to care for his daughter in the midst of her ongoing mental health struggles. At 59, Eric reflects on how God used a twoyear season of stilln...
Send us a text Jeff Johannesen is a retired CPA and former Chief Strategy Officer at RSM, where he spent over four decades transitioning from client service into high-level leadership, helping shape the firm's national and global direction. In this episode, Jeff shares his journey from a small-town Iowa farm to the boardrooms of a major professional services firm, reflecting on the decisions that demanded real courage—from walking away from a farming future during the 1980s crisis to stepping...
Send us a text Chris Norton is a motivational speaker, author, founder of the Chris Norton Foundation (www.chrisnortonfoundation.org), and former collegiate football player who defied a 3% chance of ever walking again after a life-altering spinal cord injury. Known for his viral walk across his college graduation stage and down the aisle at his wedding, Chris now travels the country inspiring others with a message of resilience, faith, and purpose. In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads...
Send us a text Jimmy May is a retired Navy SEAL with over two decades of service, including six wartime deployments across Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and the broader Middle East. A Texas native now based in California, Jimmy is the founder of Mayday Executive Services, which curates high adrenaline, high-security experiences for executives, and Beyond the Brotherhood (www.beyondthebrotherhood.org), a nonprofit that supports at-risk special operations veterans through mentorship, well...
Send us a text Dr. Nicholas Honkamp is an orthopedic surgeon based in Des Moines, Iowa, and the president of DMOS Orthopaedic Centers. Born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa, Dr. Honkamp studied at the University of Notre Dame and later earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa. His journey into orthopedics began through hands-on experience in athletic training, and he has since built a career grounded in empathy, resilience, and leadership. In this episode, Dr. Honkamp shares deeply pe...
Send us a text Ray Wright – Courageous Crossroads Podcast Guest In this episode of Courageous Crossroads, Jeff Johnson sits down with Ray Wright, former LSU baseball champion and now the Pit Department Manager at Richard Childress Racing in NASCAR. Ray’s journey from SEC athletics to NASCAR leadership is marked by personal loss, a radical faith transformation, and an unwavering commitment to courage—on and off the track. A passionate follower of Christ, Ray shares candid reflections on failu...
Send us a text Doug Ecklund is the longtime CEO of Cellular Advantage, a company that he and his wife Mitzi have grown from a single mall kiosk into one of the top US Cellular Authorized Agents in the country with over $28 million in revenue and more than 100 team members. Doug invests his time supporting the culture that has been built to enrich the quality of life of those in and around the business. He has been a member of the Young President Organization since 2004 and was a founding memb...
Send us a text On this special episode of Courageous Crossroads, Jeff Johnson welcomes Ariel Forsberg, a resilient and deeply grounded woman whose story of faith, family, and fearless commitment is both inspiring and refreshingly authentic. Ariel lives with her husband and four children on the North Shore of Oahu, in a sugarcane plantation home just a stone’s throw from the beach, where feral roosters roam and the rhythm of life reflects old-school simplicity and deep spiritual conviction. A ...
Send us a text Dan Douglas, a proud Iowan and former Green Beret, embodies resilience and adaptability in every facet of his life. Initially pursuing a career in architecture at Iowa State University, Dan soon realized that the structured world of design was not his calling. After leaving college, he transitioned into construction before ultimately finding his path in the U.S. Army, where he served for 20 years. His military career took him from combat engineering to the elite ranks of the Gr...
Send us a text Orvin Kimbrough is a seasoned leader, author, and entrepreneur who currently serves as the steward of one of Missouri’s largest privately held banks. A lifelong resident of St. Louis, Orvin’s journey from childhood adversity to professional success has shaped his mission to inspire others through faith, resilience, and service. In this episode of Courageous Crossroads, Orvin shares the powerful story behind his book, Twice Over a Man: A Fierce Memoir of a Orphan Boy Who Doggedl...
Send us a text Dr. Steve Murphy, a practicing radiologist in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is also an associate pastor at a Filipino church, a passionate evangelist, and a devoted husband and father. Originally from Osceola, Iowa, Steve's journey of faith took him from skepticism to a deep commitment to Christ, ultimately leading him and his wife, Leslie, to leave behind a successful medical career in the U.S. to serve in the Middle East. In this episode of Courageous Crossroads, Steve...
Send us a text Rachel Vontobel-Newman is a dynamic individual with a rich multicultural background, hailing from Zurich and having lived in various countries across Asia and Europe. A seasoned finance professional, Rachel transitioned from a high-paced career in investment banking to embrace a life rooted in faith and family. She resides in London with her Canadian husband, Andrew, and their two children. Rachel is passionate about Christian apologetics, which she has studied e...
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