Libsyn Directory

Jim Towey | Founder of Aging with Dignity | Serving the Poor and Powerless with Faith and Grace

Release Date: 08/06/2025

Dr. Rick Lytle | President & CEO of CEO Forum | Shaping Spiritual Leaders in the Marketplace

The Wow Factor

Dr. Rick Lytle is the President and CEO of the , a ministry organization that mentors and disciples Christian CEOs and senior executives leading companies with $100M+ in revenue. With a background in academia and a Ph.D. in marketing, Rick spent years as a professor and business school dean before stepping into his role at the CEO Forum. His mission? To support leaders in building lives and legacies marked by character, competence, and calling—both at work and at home. In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits down with Dr. Rick at the home studio in Irvine,...

Brent and Tracey McKee | Founders of McKee & Company | Designing a Business That Feels Like Home

The Wow Factor

Brent and Tracey McKee are the visionary founders behind , a luxury furniture and interior design business that’s been redefining the Southern California design landscape for over 26 years. Known for their thoughtful, timeless style and deep commitment to quality and service, the McKees have built more than a business, they’ve built a trusted, relationship-driven brand. Now, they’re stepping into a new chapter with a reimagined space that blends elevated design, hands-on collaboration, and a curated client experience like no other. In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad visits...

Tia Newcomer | CEO of CaringBridge | Leading with Heart in the For-Impact World

The Wow Factor

is the CEO of , a nonprofit providing a vital digital platform where families can communicate, receive support, and rally their communities during health journeys. With a career that spans Revlon, PepsiCo., Hewlett-Packard, and multiple health tech ventures, Tia brings a rich background from the for-profit world into the heart of the nonprofit sector, or as she prefers to call it, the for-impact space. In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits down with Tia to unpack her career journey across four pivotal pillars, from consumer goods to tech, healthcare, and now mission-driven...

John O’Leary | Speaker and Coach| Inspiring Change Through Personal Struggle

The Wow Factor

In 1987, John O’Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body. He was given a 1% chance to live. This epic story of survival was first showcased in his parents’ book, Overwhelming Odds, in 2006. It was this book that first invited John to embrace his miraculous recovery and share it with the world. John inspires nearly 75,000 people at 100+ events each year. John’s first book, , was an instant #1 National Bestseller; his Live Inspired Podcast is a top 20 for business on iTunes &...

Bill Johnson | Pastor and Senior Leader at Bethel Church | Living a Lifestyle of Generosity | Part 2

The Wow Factor

Bill Johnson serves as the Senior Leader of in Redding, California. Known globally for his teaching on revival, faith, and the Kingdom of God, Bill’s ministry has been marked by a consistent focus on gratitude, generosity, and living a life shaped by God’s presence. Through decades of leadership, he has taught that generosity is more than financial giving—it’s a lifestyle of humility, kindness, and service that reflects God’s design for humanity. In this episode, Brad sits down with Bill to talk about gratitude, generosity, and why the two are inseparably linked. Bill shares...

Bill Johnson | Pastor and Senior Leader at Bethel Church | Living a Lifestyle of Generosity | Part 1

The Wow Factor

Stephen Auth | EVP & CIO of Equities at Federated Hermes | The Missionary of Wall Street

The Wow Factor

Stephen Auth is the Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Equities at in New York City, overseeing more than $85 billion in assets. A Princeton graduate with a lifelong interest in both finance and art, Stephen is known for his strategic leadership on Wall Street and his bold work as an author, missionary, and Catholic lay leader. Alongside his wife, Evelyn, he has written books including The Missionary of Wall Street and Pilgrimage to the Museum, blending faith, story, and culture to point people toward Christ. In this episode, Brad sits down with Stephen to talk...

Father Robert J. Spitzer, S.J. | President of the Magis Center | Christ vs. Satan in Our Daily Lives | Part 2

The Wow Factor

Father Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, philosopher, educator, author, and the President of the . Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, he went on to study at Gonzaga University, the Gregorian University in Rome, and the Catholic University of America, where he earned a PhD in philosophy. He later served as President of Gonzaga University, where he became known for blending academic excellence with faith formation. Today, Father Spitzer leads the Magis Center, which produces resources on the intersection of faith, science, and reason, and he continues to write and speak...

Father Robert J. Spitzer, S.J. | President of the Magis Center | Christ vs. Satan in Our Daily Lives | Part 1

The Wow Factor

Jimmy Mellado | President & CEO of Compassion International | Becoming Before Doing

The Wow Factor

Jimmy Mellado leads , a global, church-driven ministry serving children in poverty across 29 countries. Born in El Salvador (full name: Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado), he grew up across Latin America and Asia, ran decathlon at SMU, and later represented El Salvador in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. His life and leadership are anchored in faith, family, and a deep conviction that true impact starts with who we’re becoming—then flows into what we do. In this episode, Brad sits down with Jimmy at Compassion’s global ministry center in Colorado Springs for a candid conversation about identity,...

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Jim Towey is the former lawyer for Mother Teresa and the founder of Aging with Dignity, a nonprofit based in Falls Church, Virginia. He is the creator of the widely used Five Wishes advance directive. His story is as unique as it is powerful—marked by a journey from Capitol Hill to Calcutta, from chasing influence in Washington to walking alongside Mother Teresa and advocating for those society often forgets. As a former lawyer to Mother Teresa, White House staffer, and spiritual seeker, Jim has seen the best and worst of power, and ultimately chose a path of service, faith, and purpose.

In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits down with Jim for a moving conversation about transformation—from a young man caught up in ambition and worldly success to a servant of the poor and advocate for dignified end-of-life care. Jim opens up about his early struggles, his encounters with the allure of political power, and the life-altering moment he met Mother Teresa. Through that relationship, Jim discovered a deeper faith and a calling to live a life not for himself, but for others. The conversation explores themes of spiritual poverty, humility, leadership, and what it truly means to be prepared for both life and death.

“I learned that a life not lived for others is not worth living.” – Jim Towey

“Mother Teresa saw Jesus in his distressing disguise of the poor.” – Jim Towey

“She used to say that If you're too busy to pray, you're too busy.” – Jim Towey

This Week on The Wow Factor:

Jim’s early years in Jacksonville, Florida, and how basketball, ambition, and family challenges shaped his character
The emotional spiral after achieving “success” on Capitol Hill—and how it left him feeling empty and morally lost
His first encounter with Mother Teresa and the moment that changed everything at her Home for the Dying
What it means to move from “gathering” to “giving,” and how Mother Teresa invited him into a life of self-sacrifice
Why even Mother Teresa needed a lawyer—and how Jim helped her open AIDS homes, fend off fraud, and navigate immigration issues
The spiritual darkness Mother Teresa experienced and what it taught Jim about faith, suffering, and perseverance
Jim’s creation of Five Wishes and how it helps millions of families plan for end-of-life care with dignity, clarity, and compassion
Why acknowledging mortality and spiritual legacy is one of the most generous things you can do for loved ones

Jim Towey’s Word of Wisdom:

Look at what you have—and be grateful. Gratitude is a choice. You can focus on what you’re missing, or you can give thanks for the opportunities you've been given to enrich the lives of others. Leaders are led, and the greatest leaders live with humility and gratitude at the center.

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