Serving Your Purpose

What were you made for? In this special episode of Serving Your Purpose, the questions are turned on Ron Beshear as longtime television anchor and former voice of the Cincinnati Bengals Brad Johansen sits down with Ron for a wide-ranging conversation about purpose, faith, family, generosity, leadership, and a life well lived. Ron reflects on the decision that brought his family to Cincinnati, discovering what he was uniquely gifted to do, building and serving organizations, and why he believes some of life's best decisions begin with asking better questions. He also shares the three things he believes contributed most to his success, what decades of interviewing thousands of people taught him about what really matters, why relationships mean more than recognition, and how his perspective on purpose continues to evolve as he enters a new season of life. Along the way, Ron and Brad explore giving, marriage, the Five Capitals, legacy, curiosity, aging with joy, and the importance of being "all in" on things that are good, right, and true. It's a personal look at the ideas, people, and experiences that have shaped Ron's life, and a reminder that no matter your age, the biggest impact you make may still be ahead of you. Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/

What does it mean to build a life of success, only to discover that your greatest purpose is giving it away? In this episode of Serving Your Purpose, Ron Beshear welcomes longtime friend, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Evans Nnamdi Nwankwo. Born in Nigeria, Evans came to America to pursue an education at Texas A&M University and eventually built a successful career in construction. Along the way, he discovered that the most meaningful things we build aren't necessarily structures or businesses, but relationships, opportunities, and lasting legacies. Evans shares the lessons that have shaped his life, including the importance of faith during difficult seasons, the value of grit and hard work, and what 32 years of marriage have taught him about love, respect, and putting ego aside. He also reflects on raising three children, including the decision to send his sons to Nigeria for a year to experience the challenges that helped shape his own character. Together, Ron and Evans explore the work he and his wife, Cathy, are doing through the NuWay Foundation to bring HOPE to communities in Nigeria through Healthcare, Opportunity, Pure Water, and Education. But perhaps the most meaningful moment comes when Ron asks Evans about God's highest destiny for his life. His answer is simple: He believes his family was put on earth to be generous. It's a conversation about faith, family, perseverance, and the remarkable impact we can have when we recognize that our lives are meant to serve a purpose beyond ourselves. Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/

What experiences shape what you believe and how you choose to live?

In this episode of Serving Your Purpose, Ron Beshear sits down with entrepreneur and civic leader Tom Sodeika for a conversation about the three foundations that have shaped his life: faith, family, and freedom.

Tom shares the remarkable story of his Lithuanian parents, who fled Soviet occupation during World War II and eventually built a new life in America. Their experience gave Tom a deep appreciation for freedom and helped shape the convictions that have guided his family, business career, and civic involvement.

Tom also reflects on his family's early involvement with Turning Point USA, his relationship with Charlie Kirk and the organization's growth, along with the importance of helping the next generation understand and appreciate the freedoms they've inherited.

But Tom's story is also deeply personal. He opens up about 37 years of recovery, serious health challenges, and recently celebrating six months cancer free. Through it all, he shares a message of experience, strength, hope, gratitude, and service.

It's a conversation about what we believe, what we value, and the opportunity each of us has to leave the world a little better than we found it.

Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/

Nearly 30 years ago, Ron Beshear stood before a room of financial professionals at a Northwestern Mutual regional meeting in Chicago and shared a message about purpose, belief, service, and making your life count. Recently, Ron listened to that 1997 talk for the first time. What struck him wasn't how much had changed. It was how much hadn't. In this special episode from the archives, Ron shares that original message and the ideas he had learned from mentors, friends, family, and years of working with people. He challenges his audience to get clear about their purpose, live for something greater than themselves, believe deeply in the work they do, invest in themselves, and use their lives to make a meaningful difference for others. You'll also hear Ron share the personal mission statement that was already guiding his life nearly 30 years ago, along with a moving story about a close friend that brought the importance of his work into sharp focus. It's a glimpse into an earlier chapter of Ron's life, but the questions are just as relevant today: Why do you get up in the morning? What is your North Star? What lights a fire in your belly? And when your life is over, will you know that it counted? Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/

What if your work isn't separate from your purpose, but one of the primary places you're meant to live it out? In this episode of Serving Your Purpose, Ron Beshear sits down with longtime friend Chuck Proudfit, founder of At Work on Purpose and a business consultant who has spent decades helping people and organizations connect work, faith, leadership, and purpose. Chuck shares his fascinating journey from Harvard to Procter & Gamble, where an early career experience sparked a spiritual search that eventually led him to Christ. That journey helped shape his belief that Christians aren't simply employed in the workplace, they're "deployed" there with an opportunity to serve, influence culture, and make a meaningful difference. Ron and Chuck also explore generosity, stewardship, curiosity, gratitude, career exploration, and what the Apostle Paul can teach us about integrating faith and work. Chuck shares practical ideas for bringing your values into the workplace, whether you're leading a company or simply trying to make a difference right where you are. It's a conversation about finding greater meaning in something most of us spend a huge part of our lives doing: work. Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/

What does it really mean to live well? In this special father-son conversation, Ron Beshear welcomes his son, Ben Beshear, CEO of LiveWell Capital and host of the Life, Money & Living Well podcast. Together, they explore the experiences and beliefs that have shaped Ben as a husband, father, leader, financial advisor, and man of faith. Ben shares why great leaders need to think bigger, what he's learned from watching successful families navigate money and life, and why true wealth extends far beyond what's in your bank account. He also explains the Five Capitals framework and how spiritual, relational, physical, intellectual, and financial wealth can help us make more intentional decisions about our lives. Along the way, Ron and Ben discuss generosity, marriage, fatherhood, forgiveness, faith, retirement, making the most of each season, and why some of life's greatest regrets come from simply missing the moment. It's a personal, practical, and often funny conversation about building a life that's not just successful, but meaningful. Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/

What does it look like to build a life around the things that matter most? In this special episode of Serving Your Purpose, the roles are reversed as Ron Beshear shares a conversation originally recorded with his son, Ben Beshear, host of Life, Money & Living Well. Ben turns the questions on his dad, inviting Ron to reflect on nearly eight decades of life, more than 50 years in business, 10,000+ one-on-one interviews, 55 years of marriage, and a lifetime spent investing in people and organizations. Together, they explore how to discover your calling, why a personal purpose statement can shape the decisions you make, the importance of generosity and meaningful work, preparing for life after a career, and some of the most valuable lessons Ron has learned from thousands of conversations. But at its heart, this is a conversation between a father and son about family, faith, purpose, and what makes a life well lived. Wherever you are in your own journey, Ron's challenge is simple: make this season count. Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/

What happens when you're willing to build your life on the truth of God's Word? In this episode of Serving Your Purpose, Ron Beshear welcomes Joe Boone, Chief Strategy Officer for Answers in Genesis and former president of the ministry behind the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. Joe shares his remarkable journey from business owner and manufacturer of firefighting equipment to helping lead one of the world's most influential Christian apologetics ministries. Along the way, he reflects on personal loss, God's faithfulness, and how every season of life prepared him for a calling he never could have imagined. Together, Ron and Joe discuss apologetics, biblical worldview, Christian education, the Creation Museum, the Ark Encounter, and why answering honest questions about faith helps open hearts to the Gospel. Whether you're a longtime believer, someone wrestling with questions, or simply curious about the Christian faith, this conversation offers thoughtful encouragement to build your life on a firm foundation. Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/

What happens when success is no longer enough? In this episode of Serving Your Purpose, Ron Beshear sits down with business leader Bill Wilkinson for a deeply personal conversation about leadership, faith, purpose, and learning to hear the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit. Bill shares how years spent striving for professional success eventually gave way to a season of intentional discernment. Through early mornings, spiritual mentoring, prayer, and periods of stillness, he began discovering a deeper peace and a clearer understanding of God's calling on his life. Together, Ron and Bill explore the importance of authentic leadership, mentorship, marriage, raising a family, emotional health, and why many of life's greatest lessons are learned by slowing down enough to listen. Whether you're in a season of striving, succeeding, or serving, this conversation offers encouragement to trust God's timing, embrace your unique calling, and discover the peace that comes from following His leading. Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/

What were you born to do? In this short but powerful message originally shared with an entrepreneurship class at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Ron Beshear explores one of life's most important questions: How do you discover your calling? Drawing from decades of experience, Ron explains why calling is about more than simply choosing a career. He shares the difference between our primary calling and the many roles we may fill throughout our lives, along with a practical framework for identifying where our unique gifts, developed skills, deepest passions, and greatest opportunities intersect. Along the way, Ron reflects on lessons from mentors, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, and thousands of conversations about purpose and fulfillment. Whether you're a student deciding what's next, a professional considering a change, or someone simply seeking greater clarity, this episode offers practical wisdom for discovering what you were made to do and pursuing it with purpose. Serving Your Purpose is hosted by Ron Beshear. For articles, reflections, and resources to help you live with intention and stay aligned with your calling, visit https://servingyourpurpose.com/