What makes generosity so deeply contagious?

In this episode, we explore the heart givers—the first of three broader categories that help explain how and why people give. These givers are marked by warmth, collaboration, and joy, and they often draw others into the generous life by sheer presence and invitation.

We focus on two powerful motivation profiles:

Relational Givers – Motivated by people and partnership. These givers are energized by shared mission, collaboration, and helping others flourish. They draw people together and bring out the best in those they partner with and give alongside.

Joyful Givers – Motivated by delight in the act of giving. For them, generosity is deeply life-giving and resilient, often expressed through spontaneity and freedom. Their joy is magnetic—and often the spark that gets others asking deeper questions.

We also cover several cautions—the potential blind spots that can arise when givers stay only within their comfort zones. And we explore how pairing these motivations with others can deepen your impact and keep your giving strong for the long haul.

If you identify as a heart giver, your generosity is a breath of life—uplifting, joyful, and deeply encouraging to those around you. Your light doesn’t just bless others—it has the power to inspire and awaken generosity in those who witness it.

Why do we give?

In this episode, we begin exploring the first of seven dimensions of a generous life: Motivation.

We introduce a framework built around six core motivations we’ve seen again and again in conversations with givers of all kinds. Each one reflects a different starting point—but together, they help us grow into a more complete vision of generosity.

Relational Givers give to build connection. For these givers, generosity is about people, community, and shared mission.

Joyful Givers give because it brings them life. They see generosity as a celebration—and it’s contagious.

Faithful Stewards give to grow in intimacy with the Spirit. Their generosity is rooted in obedience, trust, and surrender.

Compassion Givers give to meet urgent need. These givers are moved by suffering and drawn to respond.

Impact Givers give to make a difference. Impact givers think in high-yield outcomes and long-term change.

Strategists give to mobilize resources. Strategists look for leverage, asking how every dollar can be multiplied and aligned for maximum effect.

Each profile reflects a unique doorway into generosity—and together, they point toward a fuller, more integrated vision of giving with all your heart, soul, and mind.

This episode will help you identify your natural starting point, recognize where you’re growing, and see what might be next on your journey.

What if generosity is not just something we do—but one of the primary ways God forms who we are becoming?

Welcome to the Applied Generosity Podcast. This space exists to explore generosity not as a formula, but as a lifelong journey of formation. We believe generosity shapes what we trust, loosens what we cling to, deepens our love for others, and slowly teaches us to see God more clearly in everyday life.

In this podcast, we walk the generous life together. While each of us travels a unique path, we share a common landscape—a shared map shaped by Scripture, wisdom, and the experiences of givers who have gone before us. The terrain is familiar, but the paths are personal. No two journeys look exactly the same, and that’s not a flaw—it’s part of the design.

In this introduction, we explore:

Why generosity is deeply formational, not just transactional

A shared map of generosity with many faithful paths

How honest questions and real tensions help us discern next steps

Learning from well-worn paths without forcing a single route

Walking together with humility, openness, and trust

This is a place to grow, to be formed, and to keep responding with trust. We don’t have it all figured out—but we’re grateful to walk this landscape together, each taking the next faithful step forward.