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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.
105 Episodes
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Send a text KG is a South African pastor, husband, and father whose life reflects a deep and hard-won confidence in God. Raised without a Christian upbringing, he came to faith through the witness of his cousin, was drawn into church community, and ultimately pursued theological training at Baptist Theological College in Johannesburg. Now serving in ministry in Limpopo, KG brings together pastoral conviction, thoughtful humility, and a moving personal story shaped by obedience, sacrifice, and...
Send a text Alex Adams is an Iowa-based entrepreneur, husband to Allison (“Allie”), and dad to two boys, Owen and Mac, whose early years were marked by a fast, reckless lifestyle that started with drinking at 14 and eventually put his marriage, business, and safety at risk; after a pivotal night nearly four years ago when he pulled over on his motorcycle, convinced he wasn’t going to make it home, Alex chose sobriety, began telling the truth, and rebuilt his life one day at a time. In this ep...
Send a text In this episode of Courageous Crossroads, Jeff sits down with CEO, entrepreneur, and faith-driven leader Lisa Nichols to explore what courage looks like in real life, from building Technology Partners with her husband Greg to raising a family, leading with conviction, an learning leadership lessons from her daughter Allie, who was born with Down syndrome and lives with what Lisa calls “something extra.” Lisa shares her definition of courage as taking steps in spite of fear, tells ...
Send a text In this episode of Courageous Crossroads, host Jeff sits down with entrepreneur Josh Roberts to trace the unlikely path from a farm in rural Louisiana and a childhood of constant moving to building (and rebuilding) multiple businesses in Pennsylvania, including a land services company that scaled rapidly during the Marcellus boom and later ventures in pipeline inspection and talent solutions. Josh shares how what once looked like courage on the outside (risk-taking, nonstop work, ...
Send a text In this episode, host Jeff sits down with Jason Wilson, a Des Moines-area native and longtime fitness enthusiast, to talk about what courage really looks like in everyday life, tracing Jason’s path from a turbulent school transition and relentless work ethic to the deeper, harder kind of bravery required to confront addiction, trauma, and self-deception. Jason shares how his definition of courage centers on doing what’s uncomfortable and scary, taking leaps that weren’t part of th...
Send a text In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads, host Jeff sits down with Chuck Larson for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about faith, courage, service, and purpose. Chuck shares stories from a life marked by global experience, including military service in Iraq, time spent in the Middle East, work in government and business, and a faith journey refined through hardship and renewal. He reflects on what courage really means to him today, not just facing physical dange...
Send a text In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, Andrew Allen shares how a farm kid from Iowa with an early path marked by delinquency, addiction, and repeated arrests eventually found sobriety at 17 and rebuilt his life through faith, recovery, and service, leading him from a 15-year career at Principal Financial Group to becoming President and CEO of YSS (Youth & Shelter Services), the very organization he credits with saving his life. A husband and father of three grow...
Send a text In this episode, Jeff sits down with Chris Barr, a Des Moines-based technology professional an long-time mentor, FCA chaplain/character coach, and devoted husband, dad of four sons, and Pops” to two granddaughters, for a grounded, faith-forward conversation about what courage really looks like. Chris shares stories from the front lines of ministry and coaching, including a powerful night when he brought rival high school teams together, not just for a movie, but for fellowship, en...
Send a text Mason Sherwood is a 22-year-old entrepreneur from Urbandale, Iowa, a former multi-sport athlete (wrestling, football, and soccer) who now runs a door-to-door sales business focused on fiber internet while building a life with his wife, Hannah, whom he married in August. In this episode, Mason sits down with his father-in-law, Jeffrey, for an honest conversation about courage, where he defines it as stepping outside your comfort zone, challenging your own thinking, and choosing the...
Send a text In this follow-up conversation, Eric Voelker returns to the podcast for a candid, faith-forward check-in on what’s changed since his last appearance, reflecting on a season of waiting, family upheaval, and learning to release control so he can more clearly follow God’s lead; together, he and the host talk about hearing God through worship, the real-life courage it takes to pursue unity and reconciliation, and why repairing strained relationships is often the most “otherworldly” wo...
Send a text Brian Albright is a 42-year-old Iowa native from Ankeny who has spent more than two decades in public safety, including years as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and continued service as a reserve police officer, and who now serves as office administrator and communications manager for the Iowa State Fair Police Department, leading a seasonal team of dispatchers from across the state. In this episode of Courageous Crossroads, Brian sits down with host Jeff to unpack a hard-earned, faith-shaped ...
Send a text In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads podcast, host Jeff Johnson sits down with Iowa native and devoted Cyclone fan Curt Gear to unpack what real courage looks like when life takes a hard turn. Curt shares his journey from growing up in small-town Iowa Falls to building a career in business development for precast concrete in central Iowa, and then into the unexpected world of cancer after being diagnosed with an extremely rare spindle cell sarcoma of the bone. He talks can...
Send a text In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, host Jeff Johnson sits down with Jay Knudson, a lifelong Iowan, devoted follower of Christ, and husband of nearly four decades, to talk about what real courage looks like when family, faith, and survival collide. Jay shares how growing up amid chaos, abuse, and serious childhood illness shaped him, and what it cost him to walk away from the landscaping business he built over 27 years with his volatile father, leaving it all beh...
Send a text In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, Jeff Johnson sits down with JC Risewick for a raw and thoughtful conversation about courage, obedience, identity, and the hard choices that shape a life. JC, a lifelong Iowan and former president of his family’s 50-year-old company, Seneca Companies, shares how the most courageous decision he ever made was choosing to sell the business his father built and stepping into an uncertain new chapter out of obedience to God. He opens...
Send a text In this episode, Jeff sits down with Troy Thompson, a father, entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and man in long-term recovery, for a real and honest look at courage and change. Troy shares how nearly twenty-two years of sobriety, a renewed faith, and a life built around intentional choices have shaped the man he is today. He talks through the moment that pushed him to confront his addictions, the role his faith now plays in his daily decisions, and why stepping out of his comfort z...
Send a text In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, host Jeff Johnson sits down with Adam Steen—former college athlete, investment banker, pastor, state government executive, and now gubernatorial candidate—for a powerful conversation about faith, leadership, and what it means to live with courage. Steen shares deeply personal moments from his life, including his surrender to Christ at age 30, the challenges of parenting a child with a rare genetic disorder, and his decision to ...
Send a text In this powerful episode of Courageous Crossroads, Tommy Thompson shares the mos courageous journey of his life—walking alongside his daughter through a six-and-a-half-year battle with stage four kidney cancer. With raw honesty and deep wisdom, Tommy reflects on how love, not bravado, fueled his strength during their family’s darkest season. He redefines courage as the daily decision to push through fear, and opens up about how faith, scripture—especially the Psalms—and community ...
Send 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 addicti...
Send 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 of...
Send 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 bro...
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