The Making of an Exception

Nathan O’Malley is the Lead Sewer at Leather Works Minnesota, a business his mom and stepdad started out of their home basement in 1999 when Nathan was a child. Fast forward to 2018, the family’s business has it’s own space in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has products in 70 stores across the world. Growing up, Nathan always wanted to pursue music, but when he started college, his career ambitions changed directions when he felt like God called him to be a missionary. After graduating with an Islamic Studies degree, Nathan spent time in the Philippines teaching about intercultural relations between Christians and Muslims. During this time, Nathan started medicating deeper pain and became addicted to alcohol. Although he was angry at his mom for calling him out on it, he knew he needed to make big changes in his life. He quit cold turkey in 2017, but the health problems that followed nearly took his life. In this episode, Nathan talks about how it’s easy to get wrapped up in the image we project of ourselves to the world instead of finding freedom in knowing we are created in God’s image. Nathan is still recovering from his health challenges, but is excited for his future as part of the family business and some upcoming mission trip opportunities.

Bill Svoboda, a Minneapolis-based entrepreneur, started his first business in his college dorm room with a friend. The online custom t-shirt business, Coed Monkey, became successful and was recently sold and acquired by another company. Since then, Bill founded CloseSimple, a business that’s helping title companies communicate better during the home closing process. Bill has become an influential leader because he’s personally realized and is now teaching others about the value in caring for and being intentional with clients. In this episode, Bill shares about how for years he never felt like he could live up to God’s standards. At a time when his business was crashing and he felt like he had gotten on God’s bad side, a friend set up an appointment with a therapist and stood by his side through that season. Bill started to understand God’s grace and love through other people’s character. As a business leader today, Bill believes that “every decision we make should be more about people and how it influences them than about the bottom line.” The way we treat people says a lot about not only our character, but also God’s character. Someone else’s life is touched when God’s character oozes out of us.

Brian Ingram is a celebrated chef and “concept guy,” who has owned restaurants across the country throughout his career. Raised in Alaska, Brian worked as a cook in high school at Flip’s Flying Coffee Shop, his aunt and uncle’s restaurant, before arriving in California to pursue his career in the food industry. Between both success and failure, Brian shares in this episode about how the decisions he made significantly impacted his relationship with his family. Growing up, the message Brian heard about faith was not one of hope and grace, but of judgment and rules. During a particularly hard time, friends invited him to church where he finally heard a different message and realized it was okay to be broken, to be screwed up. Today, Brian and his wife are living for the Lord and have seen Him redeem so many areas of their lives, including his relationship with his children from a previous marriage. Although he admits he’s not perfect and it’s easy to get caught up in his career, he now understands forgiveness and grace. Brian’s passionate about helping other people find hope and is excited to do that through the restaurants he’s opening soon in Minneapolis.

Kirk and Tyssul kickoff the new season by recapping Season One, talking future, and introducing Patreon.

Cait Courneya is a talented fashion illustrator and textile designer. In this episode she talks about getting her start in the LA fashion industry, then leaving that to start her own company and building a personal brand. Cait grew up in a family with 7 kids, she knew Jesus from a young age and the way she was raised developed the passion within her for the local church. Being from a large family, she always wanted children, but her dream has been marred with setbacks and challenges. Cait goes into detail about her journey of wanting to start a family, but not being able to. There are challenges in building a business, and there are challenges building a family. Cait in experienced in both. You will be inspired by her joy and outlook on life as she unpacks some of her story, and her hope for the future.

Taylor is a great business man who also happens to be an extremely talented musician. He’s stepped out as a freelancer in the world of music and audio and he’s thriving. He also is a Pastor’s Kid and in this episode he talks about growing up in the church, his faith journey, and how God can handle our questions. You will compelled, after listening to Taylor’s story, to be more organized and strategic in your business, to have more fun in life, and to work out your faith by asking questions.

Jeremy Bardwell may be one of the most encouraging guys in the world. He hears an idea, but instead of just helping to move the idea forward, he affirms the person sharing the idea. You can’t have a conversation with him and not feel inspired and uplifted. Jeremy is the owner of Honest Media, a creative studio that works to help launch revolutions. He talks about moving from California to Minnesota to start this company. He also shares about his dream for the future of the company. Just like meeting him in person, you’ll hear his story and believe for greater, be inspired, and energized to be who you were created to be.

Spencer has been “successful” for a long time. Over the last few years, he’s dialed in what success really means for him and his family. He talks about playing golf at University of Minnesota, pursuing the PGA, and eventually coaching a university golf team and taking them to the national championship. Spencer started CommonWealth Real Estate Group of the MLS and has grow the business to doing almost 100 deals a year. He then launched a non-profit arm of his business called Find Home, Give Home. CommonWealth REG now gives 5% of its gross profits to provide home for children in Nepal who have been rescued from human trafficking. He’s also a family man who is married and has two kids. When his son, Elliot, was born, Elliot had to have emergency open-heart surgery. How Spencer leads his family, builds business, and stretches his generosity is what makes him successful. You’ll love listening to his story!

Tyssul is a genius. Truly, he is one of the more talented people on planet earth. He is a musician, a graphic designer, a motion graphic artist, and podcast producer. He was born in the United Kingdom, and shares some of the pain he walked through in his family that eventually brought him to America. He also shares the story of how he met Jesus and why he lives the way he lives today. You will be inspired to be a better person and to be more grateful by listening to Tyssul’s journey.

Jay-J Schuster is the owner of Harvest Film Co. He’s a husband, father, homeowner, and all around great guy. Oh, and he’s 23. J-Jay talks about what it was like growing up in Australia as a Missionary kid, starting in the film world, and eventually becoming the owner of a thriving company. You will be inspired by Jay-J’s story and his overall character and temperament. He’s a soft spoken creative with great passion about what he does and the life he’s building.

Kath Brose is a poet who’s words are helping people navigate their anxiety, worry, and fear. She herself has faced real pain and anxiety, but has found healing through writing. She describes what it’s like for her to hear from God as she puts pen to paper. Kath is in the process of writing a book consisting of her poems. She’s putting herself out there, and even though it’s vulnerable (publicly processing her success and pain) she’s committed to helping anyone who is struggling with their anxiety, worry, and fear. Kath’s words are changing people’s lives.

S001 / E005: Ryan Williams

Chris Massoglia was almost in the Spiderman movie with Toby McGuire. Because of that “almost” opportunity, he was launched into the world of child acting and moved to Hollywood as a young adult. Chris talks about what it was like growing up as an actor as well as how difficult it was to give up acting when God asked him to. He explains that the life he wants to live is a life that is obedient to the voice of God. Through the process of movie back to Minneapolis, he met his soon to be wife. More recently, he has jumped back into acting, starring in “Because of Gracia” and “Lumber Baron”.

Megan studied Fine Art at Biola University. She launched Mae Mae Paperie, which grew into what seemed like a successful business with multiple employee and its own studio. But Megan became extremely overwhelmed because of the $60,000 of debt that was accumulated. She shares her story of what success actually is to her and how she climbed out of that debt in three months. Mae Mae Co, led by Megan is an amazing company that offers design, branding, styling, and much much more!

Perry Smith is a passionate, curious creative who got his start early buying and selling cameras. In high school he got hit with the news that he had lymphoma. On top of that, from age 15-17 he lost 3 family members to cancer. In the podcast, Perry goes into detail about how this experience changed his perspective on life, and how God healing him and not his family members affected his faith. Out of that season Perry started a non-profit, Photos That Give, that allows photographers and creatives to raise money through their craft for a new initiative every year. Photos That Give has raised tens of thousands of dollars over the last few years to fight sex trafficking, clean water and child education. Perry is married to his wife, Mariah, and they have a baby on the way.