Refiner's Fire

What does it actually mean to become a leader worth following, not just at work, but in every part of your life?In this episode of Refiner’s Fire, Peter Blute sits down with executive coach, author, former Waffle House VP, and YCP National Board Member Randy Hain for a conversation about faith, leadership, mentorship, and living an integrated Catholic life.Randy shares how a personal moment in his family began drawing him back to God, why professional success alone left him unfulfilled, and how his conversion to Catholicism transformed the way he approached work, leadership, and service.Together, Peter and Randy explore what it means to stop being one person at Mass, another at home, and someone else at work; how to discern when God may be calling you in a new professional direction; and why some of the best leaders begin by asking, “How can I help you?”They also get practical about mentorship, including how young professionals can approach senior leaders with respect, curiosity, and courage and why becoming a great leader requires both the courage to pursue greatness and the humility to use your gifts in service of others.

What does it look like to keep growing professionally without losing sight of who God is calling you to become?In this episode of Refiner’s Fire, Peter Blute sits down with Marie Quintana, former PepsiCo SVP and longtime corporate executive, to talk about faith, resilience, leadership, and the courage to reinvent your career when the path ahead changes.Marie shares how her family’s journey as refugees from Cuba shaped her understanding of faith and perseverance, how an unexpected move from social work into IBM launched a decades-long corporate career, and what she learned leading through major transformation at companies like PepsiCo and Tenet Healthcare.Together, Peter and Marie explore how to discern what’s next, lead people with dignity, embrace mentorship, navigate uncertainty, and trust that even when you don’t feel prepared for the next chapter, God may still be inviting you forward.For any young professional wondering, Am I where I’m supposed to be? What if my career changes? How do I know when it’s time to grow in a new direction?

At just 23 years old, Joe Dunikoski is already the founder and CEO of Verso Jobs, a fast-growing hiring platform designed to connect people with work that aligns with their skills, interests, and values.

In this episode of Refiner’s Fire, Joe joins Peter Blute to discuss how his experience at the University of Dallas, his early career at Lucid Private Offices, and his passion for building meaningful professional networks led him to launch Verso Jobs.

Joe shares why traditional hiring systems often fail both candidates and employers, how AI is making resumes increasingly indistinguishable, and why curiosity, relationships, and genuine human connection remain some of the strongest predictors of professional success. He also explains how Verso uses personalized questions, selective candidate matching, and warm introductions to help employers cut through the noise and find people who are more likely to thrive in their roles.

The conversation also explores entrepreneurship, ambition, faith, and the deeper purpose of work. Joe reflects candidly on building a company, pursuing a disciplined spiritual life, and his belief that helping people find meaningful work can strengthen marriages, families, and society as a whole.

After nearly 15 years in MedTech operations and corporate leadership, Chris Wood began asking a deeper question: Was professional success enough, or was God calling him to something more?

In this episode of Refiner’s Fire, Chris, now a wealth advisor with Arno Wealth and former president of YCP Fort Worth, shares how prayer, Catholic community, and courageous discernment reshaped the trajectory of his career and family life.

Chris and Peter discuss what it means to live an integrated life, recognize God’s direction through open and closed doors, detach identity from professional titles, and lead with faith in the workplace. Chris also reflects on marriage, fatherhood, spiritual leadership, and why authentic Catholic community can profoundly influence the decisions that shape our lives.

This conversation offers practical encouragement for professionals seeking success without allowing career, status, or control to become the foundation of their identity.

In this episode of Refiner’s Fire, Peter Blute sits down with Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak, founders of CatholicCounselors.com, to explore how young Catholic professionals can live with greater integration, purpose, and peace.

Together, they discuss why faith, work, relationships, marriage, family life, and personal gifts are not separate compartments, but pieces of one life God is patiently bringing together. Drawing from decades of counseling experience, Dr. Greg and Lisa offer practical wisdom on discernment, anxiety, healthy relationships, professional ambition, readiness for marriage, and the courage to take the next faithful step.

This conversation is a reminder that God does not waste any part of who we are. Our gifts, desires, relationships, struggles, and even our mistakes can become part of His “God Positioning System” when we remain rooted in prayer and open to grace.

In this episode of Refiner’s Fire, Steven sits down with Matt Ingold of Metanoia Catholic to explore how young Catholic professionals can move beyond transactional networking and build authentic human connection.Matt shares practical insights from his conference workshop, including how to notice “mind drama,” take thoughts captive, and shift the spotlight away from self-consciousness and toward the person in front of you. He also explains why curiosity is essential for connection, how presumption can damage relationships and team dynamics, and why true professional growth must begin with interior transformation.Rooted in Catholic anthropology, Scripture, and the wisdom of St. John Paul II and St. Thomas Aquinas, this conversation invites young professionals to see networking, leadership, and workplace relationships as opportunities for encounter, formation, and deeper communion with Christ.

In this episode of Refiner’s Fire, Steven sits down with Dave Misch, YCP Pittsburgh Board Chair, former banking executive, and founder of Full Sail Consultants, to discuss what it means to live an undivided Catholic life.Dave shares how retirement, prayer, and the Holy Spirit led him deeper into the mission of YCP and into a renewed understanding of his personal mission: helping young Catholics stay strong in their faith and bring that faith into the world. Drawing from his decades in banking, service to the Church, and experience mentoring young professionals, Dave reflects on the role of experienced Catholic leaders, the importance of YCP boards, and why every chapter is like a “little Catholic business” ordered toward getting people to heaven.With wisdom, humor, and practical conviction, Dave invites young professionals to pray constantly, seek humility, have courage in the workplace, and remember that every word, witness, and decision can ripple into someone else’s life.

In this episode, Natasha Goodwin sits down with YCP Executive Director Peter Blute at the 2026 Young Catholic Professionals Conference to discuss what it means to be unshakable in a rapidly changing world of work. Peter reflects on the witness of Blessed Takayama, the enduring dignity of work, and why young Catholic professionals must build their careers around their relationship with God rather than simply trying to fit faith into work.Peter also shares how YCP is helping young professionals grow in interior life, become bolder evangelists, and step into leadership earlier. From Catholic mentorship to the future of the faith and work movement, this conversation offers a hopeful vision for how Catholic professionals can remain grounded, resilient, and ready to serve.

In this episode, Natasha Goodwin sits down with Rachel Zayas, co-founder of Fiat Events, the Catholic events firm behind the 2026 YCP Conference experience. Rachel shares how beauty, hospitality, and intentional event design can create space for people to encounter Christ. From transforming conference spaces into sacred environments to bringing industry-level excellence into Catholic ministry, Rachel reflects on the importance of serving every person as if receiving Christ Himself.She also shares the story behind Fiat Events, the role of discernment in building a business, what it means to integrate faith, work, motherhood, and entrepreneurship, and why Catholics should once again set the standard for excellence in the world.

In this episode, Natasha Goodwin sits down with Claire Keupen, YCP’s Director of Development, for a conversation on what it means to be a young Catholic professional. Claire shares how faith can shape the way we approach work, why follow-up and follow-through matter in building meaningful professional relationships, and how mentorship becomes a gift for both young professionals and experienced leaders. From practical advice on preparing for mentor conversations to reflections on prayer, surrender, and Bl. Takayama quiet steadfastness, this episode invites young professionals to see their work, relationships, and daily responsibilities as places where God is actively present.