Best Founder at Ember Podcasts (2025)

1
How do I handle negative feedback in my community? With Lindsay Rothfeld, Head of Community at Kira Learning 45:49

2d ago45:49

45:49

In this episode, we’re hearing from Stuck in Community Time Out. Our letter deals with a community builder who presented some negative feedback, along with ideas for improvement in someone else's community, but was shut down by the founder. To better help Stuck in Community Time Out, I invited Lindsay Rothfeld as my guest expert. From scaling ambas…

1
Can my community handle anonymous posts without spiraling into chaos? With Amanda Northcutt, CEO of Level Up Creators 41:01

9d ago41:01

41:01

In this episode, we’re hearing from Anonymously Anxious About Anonymity. Our letter today deals with a community builder who has seen firsthand how opening a community to anonymous posts can go downhill fast, and wants to know if it's possible to do so without that outcome. To better help Anonymously Anxious, Amanda Northcutt, the CEO of Level Up C…

1
How do I stop being the main source of value in my community without letting it fall apart? With Pia Silva, founder of No BS Agency Mastery 36:01

16d ago36:01

36:01

In this episode, we’re hearing from Burnt Out and Bound by Dependency. Our letter today deals with the exhausting dynamic where you're the one person everyone is dependent upon for value in the community, and how to shift away from that. To better help Burnt Out and Bound by Dependency, I invited Pia Silva as my guest expert. She's the founder of t…

1
Jordan Raynor (Host of the Mere Christians podcast) 51:20

22d ago51:20

51:20

Why Jordan has decided to put the show on hiatus after 300 episodes and millions of downloads, how he thinks about what he needs to prune in order to pursue the ministry of excellence in other things, and the 10 moments of this show he’s thought about most post-recording. Links Mentioned Jordan Raynor on LinkedIn Jordan Raynor on X Jordan Raynor on…

1
How do I stop comparing myself to others? With Charmaine Jennings, Founder & CEO of Strategic Charm 49:49

23d ago49:49

49:49

In this episode, we’re hearing from The Jealous Host. Our letter today deals with a community builder stuck in a comparison spiral, whose insecurities are taking the wheel and making them feel like they're competing with community members and other communities, and falling short. To better help The Jealous Host, I invited Charmaine Jennings as my g…

1
Dr. Karen Swallow Prior (Author of You Have a Calling) 31:53

29d ago31:53

31:53

How the advice to “follow your passions” can lead to an unbiblical sense of entitlement, how to follow “the true, good, and beautiful” today to find your calling tomorrow, and how God uses pain and trauma to steer us to our callings. Links Mentioned: Dr. Karen Swallow Prior Dr. Karen Swallow Prior on X Dr. Karen Swallow Prior on Instagram Dr. Karen…

1
How do I turn my beta test into a vibrant, scalable, and sustainable community? With Jac White, Founder of Honeybees Group 43:54

30d ago43:54

43:54

In this episode, we’re hearing from Community Creator at the Crossroads. Our letter today deals with someone who's proven the concept for their community but is overwhelmed with what comes next and how to build something truly sustainable and scalable. To better help Community Creator at the Crossroads, I invited Jac White as my guest because she's…

1
Wilson Smith (Fmr. Shoe Designer at Nike) 47:03

1M ago47:03

47:03

How Wilson came to be the shoe industry’s first Black shoe designer, how work can be a form of prayer, and why he chose Philippians 2 to be printed in his Nike shoes. Links Mentioned: Wilson Smith on LinkedIn Wilson Smith on Instagram University of Oregon | College of Design Wilson Smith | IDSA Nike Five Mere Christians Air Tinker Hatfield Shoe Dog…

1
When and how should I hire someone to help me with my community? With Kristen Pavle, Relational Designer 40:58

1M ago40:58

40:58

In this episode, we’re hearing from Overwhelmed on the Delegation Struggle Bus. Our letter today deals with figuring out how to get the right type of help to make sure your community will thrive even when you're not there. To better help Overwhelmed on the Delegation Struggle Bus, I invited Kristen Pavle as my guest expert. She is a relational desi…

1
Will Acuff (Founder of Corner to Corner) 39:24

1M ago39:24

39:24

How to find joy in your work—even when it sucks, how Will’s “trailhead practice” can lead you to “Spirit-led self-awareness,” and how to stop limping towards God’s throne and start running towards it. Links Mentioned: Will Acuff on LinkedIn No Elevator to Everest Corner to Corner BAM Global Events Thomas Merton The Return of the Prodigal Son Annive…

1
How can I foster peer-to-peer connection & learning in my community without always relying on my guidance? With Diana Davis, Business Coach 50:36

1M ago50:36

50:36

This week on Dear Bri, we hear from Seeking Community Connection, and they’re in the middle of one of the most universal dilemmas in online community management: how to foster peer-to-peer connection and learning. To solve this community conundrum, Bri invited community strategist and business coach Diana Davis, founder of Recess for Creatives. Wit…

1
Dr. Praveen Sethupathy (Chair, Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cornell University) 44:19

2M ago44:19

44:19

How to lead winsomely when your vocation is under attack, how the cross can “disabuse you of any sense of power” at work, and how Dr. Sethupathy practically elevates the marginalized in his office. Links Mentioned: Dr. Praveen Sethupathy Dr. Praveen Sethupathy on LinkedIn Episode 200: Dr. Francis Collins (Fmr. Director of the National Institutes of…

1
How can I effectively couple an online community with an in-person retreat? With Eric Plantenberg, Founder of the Abundant Living Retreat 53:45

2M ago53:45

53:45

In this episode, we’re hearing from Ready to Retreat. Their letter explores how to deepen connection in a thriving online community through an in-person retreat. To better support them, I invited Eric Plantenberg as my guest expert. He’s a client, friend, and mentor—and the founder of the deeply transformative Abundant Living Retreat. I’ve been to …

1
Dave Stuart, Jr. (High School Teacher) 36:50

2M ago36:50

36:50

How to calculate your compensation beyond what you get paid, how life-giving it can be to simply stop being surprised by thorns and thistles, and why you need more “Himalaya Boundaries” in your calendar to protect your family and rest. Links Mentioned: Dave Stuart Jr. Books Dave Stuart on LinkedIn Dave Stuart Jr. on X Dallas Willard Simple Rules: H…

1
How do you know when to keep pushing or when to let go of your community? With Salome Schillack, CEO & Founder of The Launch Lounge 40:19

2M ago40:19

40:19

In this episode, we’re hearing from Wavering But Hopeful. Our letter today deals with the very tough reality of deciding whether to continue putting in the effort to keep your community going or to close the doors when it feels like there’re more times when it isn’t working. To better help Wavering But Hopeful, I invited Salome Schillack as my gues…

1
Kevin Olusola (Member of Pentatonix) 23:42

2M ago23:42

23:42

Why “creativity is our birthright,” how fame has changed Kevin’s prayers, and why he doesn’t want to be a “superstar” but a “superplanet” that reflects God’s light to others. Links Mentioned: Kevin Olusola on YouTube Kevin Olusola on LinkedIn Kevin Olusola on Instagram Kevin Olusola on X Dawn of a Misfit High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary P…

1
What’s step one for someone totally new to creating their own community space? With Marjorie Anderson, Director of Community for Exos 36:54

2M ago36:54

36:54

In this episode, we’re hearing from Community Newbie. Our letter today deals with how overwhelming it can be to enter the world of community-building without really knowing where to begin. To better help Community Newbie, I invited Marjorie Anderson as my guest expert. She is the Director of Community for Exos and the Principal Strategist at Commun…

1
Roy Tinklenberg (Founder of Faith and Work Movement Global) 31:05

2M ago31:05

31:05

Why Roy moved from planting a church to supporting believers working in big companies, how to start a sponsored Christian fellowship in your office, and the 3 ways Christian Employee Resource Groups benefit the businesses that sponsor them. Links Mentioned: Roy Tinklenberg on LinkedIn Roy Tinklenberg on X Faith and Work Movement Faith and Work Move…

1
Where is community building today and where is it headed? With Zach Hawtof, CEO at Tightknit 49:58

2M ago49:58

49:58

In this episode, we’re hearing from Curious in Colorado. Our letter today deals with knowing whether jumping onto the community train is worthwhile by understanding the future of community building. To better help Curious in Colorado, I invited Zach Hawtof, Co-Founder, Community Manager, and CEO at Tightknit, as my guest expert. He is someone who h…

1
Kaleigh Cox (Co-Author of Five Mere Christians) 56:16

3M ago56:16

56:16

What Jordan’s decision to work with a co-author can teach you about your own work, why he chose to make a collection of biographies his next book, and the stickiest stories from Five Mere Christians that have changed how he works. Links Mentioned: Five Mere Christians Order Five Mere Christians to Get Access to Jordan’s Free Co-Author Course Kaleig…

1
S.D. Smith (Author of The Green Ember series) 49:28

3M ago49:28

49:28

How we can see all our vocations as participating in the “Mended Wood,” why The Lord of the Rings was more spiritually powerful for him than any Christian non-fiction, and the call to “modesty, fidelity, and audacity” in our work. Links Mentioned: S.D. Smith S.D. Smith on Facebook S.D. Smith on Instagram S.D. Smith on YouTube The Green Ember Series…

1
Data Driven Dreams - Is your car your friend or Big Brother? - On the Move at SxSW 2025 57:16

3M ago57:16

57:16

Road trip, anyone? As AI takes the wheel, our vehicles are learning and adapting to their surroundings. Cars are evolving into data-gathering machines but at what cost? Are we heading towards secure connectivity and personalized mobility, or socially segregated and congested cities under data surveillance? This panel of influential experts will exp…

1
Laura Wifler (Poet + Author of Your Worth Never Wavers) 32:29

3M ago32:29

32:29

How to find biblical freedom and courage to quit something professionally, how Laura and I have both cultivated a willingness to be misunderstood, and how the gospel should compel us to quit differently. Links Mentioned: Laura Wifler Laura Wifler on Instagram Laura Wifler on Facebook Your Worth Never Wavers Risen Motherhood Emily A. Jensen Hannah M…

1
Tim Croll (LEGO Masters contestant + Director of Serious Play at Narrative.live) 40:52

3M ago40:52

40:52

What we can learn from Scripture about a theology of play, how LEGO’s Serious Play can solve problems at work, and why the opposite of play is not work but depression. Links Mentioned: Tim Croll Tim Croll on LinkedIn Tim Croll on X Tim Croll on Instagram Tim Croll on YouTube Tim Croll on Facebook Tim Croll on IMDb LEGO® Masters LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® …

1
Audiobook excerpt of Five Mere Christians 1:25:04

3M ago1:25:04

1:25:04

Get the full audiobook here: https://amzn.to/3Yx57MbBy Jordan Raynor

1
Skye Jethani (Author of What If Jesus Was Serious About Justice?) 36:26

4M ago36:26

36:26

The brain science showing that rest is a pre-requisite to doing justice, why it’s essential we remember that Christ both saved us AND killed us on the cross, and the best laugh Skye’s ever gotten from the improv stage. Links Mentioned: Skye Jethani Skye Jethani on LinkedIn Skye Jethani on X Skye Jethani on Instagram Skye Jethani on YouTube What If …

1
Sarah Maddack (Silly Song Artist) 41:11

4M ago41:11

41:11

How Sarah’s 190th TikTok video went viral and launched her career, how to experience “God loving you while you work,” and why she views her silly songs for 9-year-olds as holy work. Links Mentioned: Sarah Maddack on Instagram Sarah Maddack on TikTok Sarah Maddack on X Sarah Maddack on YouTube Sarah Maddack on Apple Music Sarah Maddack on Spotify Si…

1
First time founders: Shivani Mouleeswaran & Ritika Shrivastava - creators of Ember Robotics 32:21

4M ago32:21

32:21

Meet Shivani Mouleeswaran and Ritika Shrivastava, the powerhouse duo behind Ember Robotics, the Y Combinator-backed startup making robot diagnostics smarter, faster, and way less painful. Before teaming up, Shivani was building computer vision systems at Simbe Robotics, engineering Autopilot at Tesla, and even interning at NASA. Ritika also spent t…

1
Anna Kemp (Grad Student) 32:34

4M ago32:34

32:34

What convicted Anna to see her job as a student as a vocation and not just preparation for a future vocation, how to view the hardest parts of your job as “cross-training,” and how to make time for relationships at work even when you’re swamped. Links Mentioned: Anna Kemp on LinkedIn University of Oklahoma David I Smith Doug McKelvey (Author of Eve…

1
Devon Havenaar (Carpenter) 33:29

4M ago33:29

33:29

How self-care can lead to self-forgetfulness and ultimately self-sacrifice, how the speed of light can encourage you in your wordless evangelism, and the significance of Jesus spending years hammering the thing he’d be hammered to. Links Mentioned: BadLeader The BadLeader Podcast Devon Havenaar on LinkedIn Devon Havenaar on Instagram Devon Havenaar…

1
Katelyn Miller (Early Intervention Teacher) 45:31

4M ago45:31

45:31

Why following Jesus is not just about avoiding sin but doing righteousness in your work, how to wrestle with the cosmic significance AND insignificance of your work, and how to make disciples of all nations in the job you have today. Links Mentioned: NC Education Corps Habakkuk 1:11 Working in the Presence of God Tales That Tell The Truth The Aweso…

1
Kurt Avery (Founder of Sawyer Products) 30:12

5M ago30:12

30:12

How to baptize your imagination regarding what God can do through your work, how Kurt’s enormous view of God has led him to give 25 million people clean water every year, and how to ensure you’re a marketer rather than a manipulator. Links Mentioned: Sawyer Think Sawyer Products Sawyer Products on LinkedIn Sawyer Products on Instagram Sawyer Produc…

1
Hannah Brencher (Author of The Unplugged Hours) 49:30

5M ago49:30

49:30

How your phone blocks you from “wanting what you want,” how Hannah spent 1,000 hours away from her phone in 1 year, and how to exchange “why me?” with “who for? when experiencing trials. Links Mentioned: Hannah Brencher Hannah Brencher on Instagram Hannah Brencher on X The World Needs More Love Letters The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Pre…

1
Chris Hunt (National Account Manager at Clorox) 48:20

5M ago48:20

48:20

What Jesus might say to the conventional wisdom that "you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with," the value of interfaith employee resource groups, and how Chris stopped chasing promotions and started chasing a quieter life. Links Mentioned: Chris Hunt on LinkedIn Clorox Clorox ERGs Tim Keller Will: The Sunday Times Bestsel…

1
Holly Kim (Director of Marketing & Operations at Credibly) 31:33

5M ago31:33

31:33

How being faithful to God cost Holly in her career (and why that’s a good thing), how to isolate and attack the lies in your head, and how our peace at work can make space to bear others’ burdens at work. Links Mentioned: Holly Kim on LinkedIn Credibly Redeeming Your Time Called to Create The Cost of Discipleship Experiencing God Jordan Raynor Mere…

1
Mark Batterson (Author of A Million Little Miracles) 37:43

6M ago37:43

37:43

How our work can teach us more about God, why you should consider installing a “personal Mount Rushmore” behind your desk, and how to make work more playful and fun for your team. Links Mentioned: Mark Batterson Mark Batterson Books Mark Batterson on X Mark Batterson on Instagram Mark Batterson on Facebook National Community Church A Million Little…

1
Dr. Denise Daniels (Author of Religion in a Changing Workplace) 38:14

6M ago38:14

38:14

The data shows that your non-Christian co-workers want to talk about faith, but don’t want to be treated like “salvation projects,” why Jordan is begging you to stop calling your business a “Christian business,” and why mere Christians disagree with their pastors’ assessment that they “talk about work” from the pulpit. Links Mentioned: Dr. Denise D…

1
Peter Greer (Co-author of Lead With Prayer) 39:16

6M ago39:16

39:16

How to “leave the phone off the hook” to commune with God while you work, how to move from duty to delight in prayer, why I plan on showing up to meetings 5 minutes early from now on. Links Mentioned: Peter Greer Peter Greer on X Peter Greer on Instagram Peter Greer on LinkedIn Peter Greer on Facebook Hope International Lead with Prayer: The Spirit…

1
Shannon Doss (Social Worker) 37:40

6M ago37:40

37:40

How to ensure you aren’t stealing from your employer when you work from home, how Shannon’s repentance led to spiritual conversations at work, and why you should consider “following your pain” rather than your passions as you make career decisions. Links Mentioned: Shannon Doss on LinkedIn Candice Levert (IT Operations Manager) Josephine Butler Uno…

1
Dr. Mark Shrime (Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Ships) 40:03

7M ago40:03

40:03

How Mark’s 3 appearances on American Ninja Warrior sharpened his skills as a doctor, how the gospel compels him to think differently about “The Checklist Manifesto,” and why he felt he could die happy during a near-death experience. Links Mentioned: Dr. Mark Shrime Dr. Mark Shrime on X Dr. Mark Shrime on Instagram Dr. Mark Shrime TEDx Mercy Ships A…

1
Graham Cochrane (Author of Rebel) 49:57

7M ago49:57

49:57

How Christian guilt about dreaming actually blocks intimacy with God, how Graham’s “50 Dreams” exercise can help you clarify which dreams are from God, and 3 practical things Graham does to work with the Holy Spirit. Links Mentioned: Graham Cochrane Rebel Graham Cochrane on LinkedIn Graham Cochrane on Instagram Graham Cochrane on Facebook Graham Co…

1
Daniel Darling (Author of The Characters of Christmas) 39:08

7M ago39:08

39:08

How Jesus’s vocation assigns eternal meaning to your “non-spiritual” work, what the shepherds can teach us about how to lead well today, and the #1 book I recommend for overcoming insecurity at work. Links Mentioned: Daniel Darling Daniel Darling on LinkedIn Daniel Darling on Instagram Daniel Darling on X The Character of Christmas The Characters o…

1
Dr. Kennon Vaughan (Lead Pastor at Harvest Church) 53:01

7M ago53:01

53:01

How Kennon’s near-death experience in a plane crash changed his work, how common misapplications of the Great Commission thwart your purpose at work, and why we need to “do less” and “abide more” to effectively make disciples. Links Mentioned: Kennon Vaughan on X Kennon Vaughan Downline Ministries Counterfeit Gods The Meaning of Marriage Thoughts f…

1
Bob Goff (Author of Catching Whimsy and Love Does) 28:58

8M ago28:58

28:58

What it looks like to be “whimsically available” to others at work, how to make the shift from “will it work” to “will it last” in your work, and how God can use working in adventurous places like Disneyland and Kennedy Space Center. Links Mentioned: Bob Goff Bob Goff Books Catching Whimsy Dream Big Podcast with Bob Goff & Friends Bob Goff on X Bob…

1
Robin John (CEO of Eventide Asset Management) 40:41

8M ago40:41

40:41

How to guarantee eternal success in any endeavor, the 6 criteria Eventide uses to evaluate investments that “make the world rejoice,” and how to stop thinking selfishly about your investments, votes, and time. Links Mentioned: Eventide Asset Management Robin John on LinkedIn The Creator in You Every Good Endeavour: Connecting Your Work to God's Pla…

1
Dr. Francis Collins (Author of The Road to Wisdom) 27:14

8M ago27:14

27:14

What Francis learned from getting punked by Borat’s Sacha Baron Cohen, the 4 criteria he uses to discern who to trust at work and in life, and what Tim Keller’s Out of Office message said the day he died. Links Mentioned: Dr. Francis Collins Episode: Dr. Francis Collins (Fmr. Director of the National Institutes of Health) Braver Angels Who is Ameri…

1
Kathy Keller (Co-author of The Meaning of Marriage) 31:17

8M ago31:17

31:17

The significant role Christian professionals played in making Christianity credible to her sons, why sometimes “the worst thing God can do for you is to let you be happy,” and how to die wishing you had spent more time at the office. Links Mentioned: Kathy Keller The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God …

1
Justin Mathews (Manager at PwC) 47:27

8M ago47:27

47:27

The dangers of feeling entitled to a calling, how to think “Who Not How” in prayers for your work, and a simple way of thinking about “sowing eternity into the world.” Links Mentioned: Justin Matthews on LinkedIn PwC ‘Strategy in Life Principle #2: Purpose unlocks fulfillment’ Quarter-Life Calling Every Good Endeavor Who Not How Soul Care The Gotha…

1
Vineet Rajan (CEO of Forte) 42:32

9M ago42:32

42:32

How Forte is providing “soul care as a service” for some of the world’s largest companies, how to practically stop working for love and start working from love, and why we should praise God for giving us more than we can handle. Links Mentioned: Vineet Rajan on LinkedIn Vineet Rajan on X The Marine Monk Newsletter Forte for Faith Forte The Intellec…

1
The Road to Trust: Demystifying Self-Driving Cars with Tara Andringa 38:13

9M ago38:13

38:13

Tara Andringa is the Executive Director of PAVE and has over 25 years of experience in communications, outreach, public policy, and automotive policy. At PAVE, she leads all operations of the organization, including curriculum development, strategic planning, messaging and mission alignment, personnel management, stakeholder relationships, budgetin…

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