Courageous Crossroads

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In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, Andrew Allen shares how a farm kid from Iowa with an early path marked by delinquency, addiction, and repeated arrests eventually found sobriety at 17 and rebuilt his life through faith, recovery, and service, leading him from a 15-year career at Principal Financial Group to becoming President and CEO of YSS (Youth & Shelter Services), the very organization he credits with saving his life. A husband and father of three grown, entrepreneurial kids, Andrew reflects on how adversity shaped him, why he now defines courage with a single word, “surrender,” and how a pivotal moment in treatment, falling to his knees in a bathroom and asking God for help, became the foundation for everything that followed. He also discusses the power of encouragement to transfer courage, the importance of admitting powerlessness, and the mission of YSS across Iowa, including prevention and mentoring programs, residential addiction treatment, and innovative initiatives like Rooftop
Gardens and the Ember Recovery campus, all grounded in his belief that even the worst pain can become purposeful. Andrew welcomes connections from families, community members, and partners and can be reached through YSS at www.yss.org. He has openly shared his personal phone number, 515-291-5684, for those seeking guidance, resources, or hope.

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In this episode, Jeff sits down with Chris Barr, a Des Moines-based technology professional an long-time mentor, FCA chaplain/character coach, and devoted husband, dad of four sons, and Pops” to two granddaughters, for a grounded, faith-forward conversation about what courage really looks like. Chris shares stories from the front lines of ministry and coaching, including a powerful night when he brought rival high school teams together, not just for a movie, but for
fellowship, encouragement, and a clear message about who the true King is, and he reframes courage as something far more practical than a big heroic moment: a steady, daily obedience to God in the small choices, especially when pride, anger, fear, or impatience want to take the wheel. He talks about courage as a response to adversity, the importance of asking “What does God say about it?” and “Is this for Him or for me?”, and why the most meaningful growth often happens in hard places like grief, conflict, and the ordinary pressures of marriage and leadership.
Chris Barr is a technology communication innovator with more than two decades of experience, a man on mission who has spent over a decade investing in athletes and men through FCA, university chaplaincy, and local discipleship communities, known for his bold encouragement, his call to “go” with purpose, and his steady commitment to live in a way that honors Christ, strengthens families, and helps others see themselves the way God sees them.

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Mason Sherwood is a 22-year-old entrepreneur from Urbandale, Iowa, a former multi-sport athlete (wrestling, football, and soccer) who now runs a door-to-door sales business focused on fiber internet while building a life with his wife, Hannah, whom he married in August. In this episode, Mason sits down with his father-in-law, Jeffrey, for an honest conversation about courage, where he defines it as stepping outside your comfort zone, challenging your own thinking, and choosing the right path even when it’s hard. He shares how his view of courage was shaped not only by everyday discipline and high-pressure work, but most deeply by a
dramatic personal transformation: walking away from a destructive season of drugs, false identity, and self-reliance and learning to trust Jesus with his life. Along the way, Mason reflects on confidence versus courage, the role of faith in real change, and why he believes courage is rare today, ultimately encouraging listeners to pursue Jesus, trust God in uncertainty, and get comfortable being uncomfortable if they want their lives to truly change.

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In this follow-up conversation, Eric Voelker returns to the podcast for a candid, faith-forward check-in on what’s changed since his last appearance, reflecting on a season of waiting, family upheaval, and learning to release control so he can more clearly follow God’s lead; together, he and the host talk about hearing God through worship, the real-life courage it takes to pursue unity and reconciliation, and why repairing strained relationships is often the most “otherworldly” work we’ll ever do, with Eric sharing how reuniting a long-running men’s group
became a personal turning point and a timely encouragement for the holiday season (listeners can refer back to Eric’s previous episode for the fuller backstory that set up this chapter). Eric Voelker is an Iowa State wrestling national champion and Hall of Fame alumnus whose career has included leadership in ministry, education, and public service, and who currently serves as Operations Director at Des Moines Christian School, overseeing key areas like facilities, IT, food service, transportation, safety and security, and major campus projects; known for his directness, humility, and devotion to spiritual growth, Eric brings a grounded perspective on leadership, family, and the daily practice of living with courage and conviction.

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Brian Albright is a 42-year-old Iowa native from Ankeny who has spent more than two decades in public safety, including years as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and continued service as a reserve police officer, and who now serves as office administrator and communications manager for the Iowa State Fair Police Department, leading a seasonal team of dispatchers from across the state. In this episode of Courageous Crossroads, Brian sits down with host Jeff to unpack a hard-earned, faith-shaped view of courage, tracing his journey through professional setbacks, traumatic line-of-duty incidents, depression, and a painful divorce that pushed him to the edge before friends and family intervened and he sought help through counseling and a supportive church community. With candid humility, he defines courage as facing the hard thing head-on and choosing to do what’s right for the right reasons, shares how his Christian faith (especially Isaiah 43) steadied him through fire and flood, and explains how those experiences deepened his empathy and changed the way he shows up for others, including encouraging people not to isolate, to take life one week at a time, and to be the kind of presence that knocks on the door instead of merely saying, “Call me if you need anything.”

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In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads podcast, host Jeff Johnson sits down with Iowa native and devoted Cyclone fan Curt Gear to unpack what real courage looks like when life takes a hard turn. Curt shares his journey from growing up in small-town Iowa Falls to building a career in business development for precast concrete in central Iowa, and then into the unexpected world of cancer after being diagnosed with an extremely rare spindle cell sarcoma of the bone.
He talks candidly about hearing he had a 50% chance of surviving five years, choosing to undergo brutal additional rounds of chemotherapy despite permanent hearing loss and constant tinnitus, and how his Christian faith, formed in his late twenties at Valley Church, carried him through. Now living in the West Des Moines area with his wife Carrie and their two sons, Curt is passionate about using his story to encourage others facing cancer and to walk alongside people
in deep struggle with honesty, hope, and quiet strength.

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In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, host Jeff Johnson sits down with Jay Knudson, a lifelong Iowan, devoted follower of Christ, and husband of nearly four decades, to talk about what real courage looks like when family, faith, and survival collide. Jay shares how growing up amid chaos, abuse, and serious childhood illness shaped him, and what it cost him to walk away from the landscaping business he built over 27 years with his volatile father, leaving
it all behind with no safety net in order to protect his wife and pursue a healthier, God-centered life. He talks honestly about the long shadow of trauma, his ongoing battle with nightmares, the decision to seek EMDR therapy, and how God met him again and again through prayer, church community, and mentors. Jay also reflects on his later career in insurance, his early retirement to refurbish antique furniture and build custom pieces with his wife, and the joy he finds serving in youth ministry and men’s groups, pouring stability and hope into the next generation. An avid lover of cold weather, hunting, and ice fishing, Jay’s story is less about dramatic moments of heroism and more about steady, sacrificial courage over a lifetime, pointing every hard chapter back to the grace and faithfulness of God.

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In this episode of the Courageous Crossroads Podcast, Jeff Johnson sits down with JC Risewick for a raw and thoughtful conversation about courage, obedience, identity, and the hard choices that shape a life. JC, a lifelong Iowan and former president of his family’s 50-year-old company, Seneca Companies, shares how the most courageous decision he ever made was choosing to sell the business his father built and stepping into an uncertain new chapter out of obedience to God.
He opens up about navigating identity loss, learning to listen, and following God’s lead even when it runs against comfort or pride, from giving up alcohol to turning down a prestigious leadership role on the Iowa Board of Regents to uprooting his family and moving to Colorado. JC is a devoted husband and father of three, a strategist by profession, an outdoorsman at heart, and a man grounded in faith who is committed to serving his family, his community, and the call he believes God places on his life.

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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 talks through the moment that pushed him to confront his addictions, the role his faith now plays in his daily decisions, and why stepping out of his
comfort zone to share his story is the most courageous thing he has ever done. Troy’s bio reads a lot like his life today. He is a devoted dad, a software founder serving both insurance agents and content creators, a mentor to men walking through addiction, and the creator of Rockstar Super Dads, a growing effort to help fathers build stronger families. His story is one of reflection, responsibility, and steady growth, and this conversation captures the heart of that journey.

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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 at age 30, the challenges of parenting a child with a rare genetic disorder, and his
decision to leave a high-ranking state government role to run for governor of Iowa. He defines courage as the willingness to do what you're called to do, even when it's hard, and encourages listeners to act boldly in truth and faith. Adam Steen, a former pitcher drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and, most recently the director of Iowa's Department of Administrative Services, is now running for Governor of Iowa. A devoted husband and father of two, Steen is passionate about service, spiritual leadership, and stewarding resources with integrity. Supporters can learn more or get involved at www.adamsteen.com, follow his campaign via linked social media, or contribute via check to Adam Steen for Iowa, P.O. Box 11, Reynolds, Iowa 50237.

Thank you for listening! We hope you feel inspired and encouraged by our conversation today. If you did, be sure to share this episode with others.

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See you in the next episode! Be blessed!