Libsyn Directory

Ryan Leak | Speaker and Best Selling Author | How to Work With Complicated People and Live Generously

Release Date: 06/04/2025

Mark Batterson | Pastor of National Community Church and Bestselling Author | The Power of “Gradually, Then Suddenly” in Faith, Leadership, and Life

The Wow Factor

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of in Washington, D.C., and a prolific bestselling author known for his ability to blend faith, leadership, and personal growth into practical, lived-out wisdom. With more than two decades of writing and nearly 30 years of pastoral leadership, Mark has built a legacy centered on long obedience, bold vision, and unwavering trust in God’s timing. In this episode, he joins Brad to unpack the core idea behind his latest message: “gradually, then suddenly.” Brad and Mark explore the tension between patience and ambition, and why most meaningful growth...

Josh Block | CEO of Block Imaging and Author of People Matter at Work | Building Cultures Where Team Members Thrive and Everyone Wins

The Wow Factor

Josh Block is the longtime leader of , a global healthcare equipment company known for its distinctive people-first culture and multigenerational family leadership. After unexpectedly stepping into the president’s role at just 29 years old, Josh spent the next decade and a half guiding the organization’s growth from a $30 million business into a thriving enterprise of over 425 team members. In this episode, he joins Brad to share insights from his new book, , a practical framework for helping leaders create cultures where team members feel safe, seen, and successful, and where the...

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs | Author & Speaker | Light Bulb Moments in Marriage and the Path Back to Love and Respect

The Wow Factor

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is a longtime marriage teacher, speaker, and author, that has helped couples for decades. A former senior pastor at Trinity Church in East Lansing, Michigan, Emerson’s work blends pastoral experience, biblical study, and real-world marriage dynamics into practical tools couples can use immediately. In this episode, he joins Brad for his third visit to this time to talk about his newest book, , a collection of insights and stories designed to bring clarity when couples feel stuck, distant, or worn down by years of misunderstanding. Brad and Emerson dig into why...

David McDonald | Owner of Escalante Golf | Entrepreneurship, Stewardship, and Building a Golf Culture Rooted in Service

The Wow Factor

David McDonald is the owner of and a third-generation car dealer originally from Roswell, New Mexico, raised in the Denver area. A former college tennis player at the University of Oklahoma, David carries deep work ethic values shaped by family, faith, and decades of business leadership. Today, he leads Escalante Golf with a long-term stewardship mindset, building private clubs and experiences that prioritize customer service, culture, and community. Brad sits down with David to explore how Escalante Golf was born out of a simple observation: golfers, especially young golfers, weren’t...

Dick Stricklen: Owner of Motor City Auto | Focusing on Company Culture Rather Than Profits

The Wow Factor

Dick Stricklen is the owner of Motor City Auto Center in Bakersfield, CA, a sprawling campus which includes a Buick/GMC dealership, a Lexus dealership, and a large used car & truck operation. Dick’s team devote themselves to helping and serving their customers and providing staff with the opportunity to develop their skills and interests. Dick took over the GMC dealership at the age of 19 after his father’s death and since then has followed his passion for building authentic relationships with team members and clients alike. Dick joins me on the show today to share how he started in...

Gracie Formsma | Co-Founder of Love Gives & Storyteller for Generous Family | Calling, Vulnerability, and a Lifestyle Brand Rooted in John 3:16

The Wow Factor

Gracie Formsma is a college student at Samford University, co-founder of , a hat brand in the ecosystem. She’s also the daughter of The Wow Factor host, Brad Formsma. Originally from Michigan, Gracie moved with her family to California about a decade ago, growing up in a home shaped by faith, generosity, and the gritty reality of launching the nonprofit I Like Giving and its Generous Family initiative. Today, she brings her marketing eye, creative direction, and heart for discipleship to Love Gives, a lifestyle brand built around the simple but profound truth of John 3:16. Brad sits...

Ron Blue | Founder of Kingdom Advisors & Pioneering Christian Financial Planner | Calling, Generosity, and God’s Perspective on Money

The Wow Factor

is a pioneering Christian financial planner, longtime CPA, and founder of the firms and ministries that helped shape today’s faith-based financial movement. After growing up in Indiana, studying at Indiana University, and working for KPMG in New York, Dallas, and San Francisco, Ron returned home to start his own CPA firm in 1970. That firm would grow into one of the top 50 accounting firms in the country, and later, Ron would go on to launch a fee-based financial planning firm for Christians, work closely with Campus Crusade (Cru), and help birth and related initiatives that now...

Sandra Teplinsky | Former Attorney & Author of Why Still Care About Israel | Scripture, Antisemitism, and God’s Heart for Israel

The Wow Factor

is an American-Israeli Messianic Jew, former attorney, and author based in Jerusalem. Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Sandra experienced antisemitism early in life—an upbringing that shaped both her faith journey and her long-term focus on helping the church understand Israel through a biblical lens. Through decades of study and ministry, she has written and updated to address common theological misconceptions, church-history blind spots, and the interpretive frameworks that still shape how many Christians think about Israel today. In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits...

Jordan Raynor | Author, Entrepreneur & Executive Chairman at Threshold 360 | Why Your Work Matters for Eternity

The Wow Factor

is a bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, and the Executive Chairman of , a venture-backed tech company. A sixth-generation Tampa native, Jordan has built and exited multiple startups, served in the political arena, and now devotes his life to helping Christians connect the gospel to their everyday work. Through his books, podcasts, and speaking, Jordan’s mission is to equip believers to see their daily tasks, whether in tech, teaching, or making coffee as sacred and significant. In this rich and thought-provoking episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits down with Jordan to explore the...

Matt McPherson | Founder of Mathews Archery & McPherson Guitars | Building a Business That Funds the Kingdom

The Wow Factor

Matt McPherson is an inventor, entrepreneur, and passionate follower of Jesus Christ whose companies have reshaped two industries, archery and high-end guitar manufacturing. As the founder of , one of the most respected names in hunting and bow technology, and , known for their unique design and pristine tone, Matt has spent decades building world-class products from the woods of Sparta, Wisconsin. But his bigger mission? Funding global ministry and sharing the Gospel with clarity and creativity. In this milestone 300th episode of The Wow Factor, Brad reconnects with his longtime friend...

More Episodes

From receiving life-altering generosity in his youth to helping global audiences navigate complicated people and personal growth—Ryan Leak’s journey is one of resilience, faith, and intentional leadership. In this episode, Ryan shares the early experiences that shaped his calling, how generosity became a family legacy, and why working well with others starts with owning your own complexities.

A sought-after speaker, content creator, and the author of Leveling Up and Chasing Failure, Ryan’s newest book How to Work With Complicated People offers a deeply practical roadmap for thriving in diverse workplaces. Drawing from personal stories, biblical principles, and years of executive coaching, Ryan helps us rethink how we view conflict, collaboration, and character.

Whether you're leading a team, navigating difficult relationships, or trying to grow in self-awareness, Ryan’s wisdom will shift your mindset and challenge your assumptions about leadership, giving, and grace.

“If everybody else doesn’t change, it doesn’t mean I can’t.” – Ryan Leak

“Nobody believes they’re the toxic one. But the truth is, we’re all complicated.” – Ryan Leak

“If you make your life about giving more than getting, you’ll always have the life you actually want.” – Ryan Leak

This Week on The Wow Factor:

How a stranger’s generosity kept Ryan in private school—and changed his trajectory
The values of giving without keeping score
Why “working with complicated people” starts with personal reflection
How to lead with grace and expect humanity, not perfection
The inspiration behind Ryan’s book and how it’s designed to help workplaces thrive
What Cornelius in the Bible taught Ryan about inclusive leadership
The discipline of creating content that adds value—whether in 60 minutes or 60 seconds
Why Ryan’s favorite act of generosity is paying off someone’s debt with one phrase: “Not anymore”

Ryan Leak’s Word of Wisdom:

If you make your life about giving more than getting, you’ll always have the life you actually want.

Whether it's your time, resources, encouragement, or presence—when you walk into every room looking to give rather than receive, you shift not only the environment but your own fulfillment. Giving isn’t about keeping score. It’s about creating impact that outlives you.

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