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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
In this powerful episode of Courageous Crossroads, Dean O’Connor—entrepreneur, mayor, and former lifelong member of a fundamentalist church—shares the most courageous decision of his life: walking away from the rigid faith he was born into. With raw honesty, Dean unpacks what it meant to grow up under strict religious rules, how leaving affected his family […]
On this episode of Courageous Crossroads, Jeff Johnson sits down with Tyler Tompkins—former police lieutenant, real estate entrepreneur, and board member of Exodus 51, a nonprofit that rescues Christian slaves in Pakistan. Born and raised in small-town Iowa, Tyler shares how his path from farming and law enforcement to international human rights work was shaped […]
In this episode of Courageous Crossroads, host Jeff Johnson sits down with Dr. Douglas Groothuis, Distinguished University Research Professor of Apologetics and Christian Worldview at Cornerstone University, author of over 20 books, including Christian Apologetics and Masking the New Age, and host of The Truth Tribe Podcast. With nearly 50 years of defending the Christian […]
In this powerful episode of Courageous Crossroads, we meet Justin “Boyd” Baker a former NASCAR body fabricator turned power grid engineer, comic book collector, motorcycle enthusiast, and devoted family man. Raised in a Midwest farming town, Boyd shares his journey from chasing perfection in high-octane race shops to finding purpose in fatherhood, faith, and craftsmanship. He opens up […]
In this powerful episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, Keith Mercer shares his remarkable journey from growing up in the violent streets of Southeast Washington, D.C.—once known as the murder capital—to becoming a first-generation college graduate, athlete, leadership coach, and motivational speaker. Faced with extreme adversity from a young age, including witnessing a murder at […]
In this deeply moving episode, Eric Voelker—educator, former pastor, coach, and two-time NCAA wrestling champion—opens up about what true courage looks like at this stage in his life. Far from the spotlight of athletic victory or public ministry, Eric shares how the most courageous thing he’s ever done is simply showing up, day after day, […]
