The Sharpen Podcast

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Drew Hiss sits down with Bobby Gruenewald, pastor and innovation leader at Life.Church and founder and CEO of YouVersion.

Bobby shares his journey from early entrepreneurship to Life.Church, the story behind the Bible App, and the leadership lessons learned along the way.

Connect with Bobby:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbygruenewald/
https://www.youversion.com

Learn more about Acumen:

https://acumenimpact.com

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Steve Van Diest sits down with Dan Martella, who leads business development for Bennett Thrasher. They discuss how growth-minded business owners can move beyond reactive compliance and build advisory relationships that support stronger decisions, better capacity, and long-term growth.

Dan shares insight on state and local tax challenges, founder-led sales, owner dependency, business valuation, delegation, professional advice, and the personal leadership work required to let go of control and show up with authenticity.

Learn more about Dan and Bennett Thrasher here: https://www.btcpa.net or connect on LinkedIn

Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.com

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Merle Mees of Soulcare Matters to talk about the hidden cost of leadership pressure, the warning signs of soul depletion, and the rhythms that help leaders recover clarity, rest, and wholeness.

Merle shares his own story of burnout and explains why soul care is not just another responsibility. It is the work of tending to the inner life that shapes how leaders show up for their families, teams, organizations, and calling.

Connect with Guest:

Learn more about Soul Care Matters or connect with Merle on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.com

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Jon Bachura, an Acumen Growth Catalyst in Wichita, to talk about generational leadership transitions, legacy, founder identity, and the future of family enterprise.

Jon shares why successful transitions are not only about financial structure or choosing the next operator. They require leaders to think clearly about calling, family dynamics, outside talent, governance, and the deeper purpose behind the business.

Connect with Jon Bachura and learn more about the teams he is building in Wichita here.

Learn more about Acumen: https://acumenimpact.com

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Zack Nicholson, Executive Director at Minding the Gap, to talk about leadership, service, and what it takes to build trust in schools and communities over time.

Zack shares his journey from entrepreneurship to ministry to nonprofit leadership, along with practical lessons on serving real needs, leading volunteers, and creating lasting impact through consistency and commitment.

Learn more about Minding the Gap here

Connect with Zack Nicholson on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Drew Hiss sits down with Duane Donner, founder and CEO of Founder Advisors, to talk about what it takes to build a company that is valuable, transferable, and aligned with a larger purpose. Duane shares how early failure, burnout, and a hard reset in both business and life shaped the way he rebuilt his career and eventually grew an M&A advisory firm focused on stewardship, trust, and long-term impact.

Together, Drew and Duane unpack what CEOs and business owners need to understand about succession, deal readiness, valuation, private equity, and leadership depth. The conversation matters for leaders because it reframes transition planning as more than a financial event. It is also a leadership decision about reducing risk, preserving influence, and building something that can last beyond the founder.

• Learn more about Duane Donner and Founder Advisors here
• Connect with Duane on LinkedIn
• Take the Investment Grade Assessment
• Learn more about Abide and Lead Ministry

Interested in learning more about Acumen visit us here.

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper sits down with Clint Overton, founder and managing partner of Boardroom Bullpen, for a conversation about sabbaticals, faith, entrepreneurship, and the role of the trusted advisor. Clint shares how a 21-year career in large organizations, followed by private equity, fractional COO work, and a season of reflection, shaped the way he now helps businesses grow.

Dan and Clint also explore the practical side of leadership, including strategy, organizational structure, execution, and the levers business owners can pull to unlock growth. For CEOs and leaders, the episode offers a grounded perspective on building the right support around the business, identifying what gets in the way, and making smarter decisions about how growth actually happens.

Learn more about Boardroom Bullpen or The Mercury Collective

Connect with Clint on LinkedIn

Listen to Call to The Bullpen Podcast

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Steve Van Diest sits down with Drew Lints, founder of Revflow Growth Partners, to talk about systems, AI, and how to scale a business without losing the human element.

They break down common misconceptions about automation, where businesses waste time on manual work, and how to identify the right opportunities for AI. Drew shares his approach to building custom solutions, why one size fits all systems fall short, and how leaders can use process to create more capacity for people, not less.

If you are trying to grow your business while staying focused on what matters most, this conversation will help you think more clearly about where to start.

Connect with Drew:
https://revflowpartners.io

Learn more about Acumen:
https://acumenimpact.com

In this episode of The Sharpen Podcast, Steve Van Diest sits down with Drew Lints, founder of Revflow Growth Partners, to talk about systems, AI, and how to scale a business without losing the human element.

They break down common misconceptions about automation, where businesses waste time on manual work, and how to identify the right opportunities for AI. Drew shares his approach to building custom solutions, why one size fits all systems fall short, and how leaders can use process to create more capacity for people, not less.

If you are trying to grow your business while staying focused on what matters most, this conversation will help you think more clearly about where to start.

Connect with Drew:
https://revflowpartners.io

Learn more about Acumen:
https://acumenimpact.com

In this episode of the Sharpen Podcast, Dan Cooper (CEO, Acumen) and Brian Lunt (St. Louis Growth Catalyst, Acumen) discuss relational capital—what it is, how it’s built, and why it still matters in business.

As technology continues to increase speed and efficiency, relationships can become secondary. This conversation brings it back to the fundamentals: trust, consistency, and understanding people.

They break down what builds trust, what damages it, and the simple habits that keep relationships active over time. The discussion also touches on how leaders shift from building their own success to helping others grow and how that impacts the strength of their network.

If you lead a business or a team, this episode offers a practical look at how relationships still influence outcomes, even in a more automated world.