The Surthrivalist Podcast with Zach Wise

What do you do when your business is overflowing with work in one season and nearly silent in another?

That’s the tension Joe Brinegar is navigating. He’s the owner of Ignite Gas Appliance Solutions, a one-man shop serving his California community with propane and gas appliance repair. Known as the go-to guy for fireplaces, water heaters, and cook stoves, Joe faces a familiar challenge: intense winter demand, slow summers, and the question of when—or whether—to hire help.

In this real-time coaching conversation, we talk through:

If you’ve ever wrestled with seasonality, overwhelm, or the next right step in business, this episode will give you clarity, strategy, and hope rooted in God’s wisdom.

Resources:

Learn more about Joe and Ignite: http://www.ignitegas.net/

What do you do when your top sales reps are relationally gifted—but leave a mess behind in your CRM?

That’s the tension Tony Barnes is facing. As Head of Sales Operations at 5.11 Tactical, Tony’s trying to drive AI innovation and improve sales forecasting accuracy—but without direct authority over the reps whose data he relies on.

In this real-time coaching conversation, we talk through:

If you’re trying to lead across silos, improve adoption, or just bring clarity to a chaotic process, this episode will help you lead with confidence and clarity—while staying rooted in what really matters.

Resource:

Learn more about 5.11 Tactical: https://www.511tactical.com/

How do you handle it when a massive publishing house releases a book with your exact title and character name—after you’ve poured four years into your story?

That’s the challenge Dan Atkins is facing. He’s a high school teacher, former pastor, and first-time author whose debut fantasy novel, The Light Seekers, just wrapped a successful Kickstarter campaign. But now he’s navigating the high-stakes world of self-publishing, branding, and book marketing—all while holding onto the conviction that this story was God-given.

In this real-time coaching conversation, we talk through:

* How to build a grassroots marketing strategy without social media savvy

If you’re building something meaningful and facing uncertainty, this episode will give you both practical strategy and gospel-rooted encouragement.

Resources:

Pre-order Dan’s book: https://gofr.me/lightseeker-series

Have you ever watched someone on your team walking straight toward a mistake… and wrestled with whether to step in or let them learn the hard way?

That’s exactly where today’s guest, Ryan Calistro, finds himself—leading a 200+ person, multi-brand organization and learning how to lead without rescuing.

In this coaching conversation, Zach and Ryan dig into the tension between being a high-driving, answers-oriented leader and becoming the kind of leader who multiplies others by asking better questions. Along the way, they talk candidly about ego, fear of failure, and what it really costs to let your team experience non-fatal consequences for the sake of long-term growth.

In this real-time coaching conversation, we talk through:

Resources Mentioned:

Books:

Schedule a free 15-minute chat with Zach - https://calendly.com/surthrival/chat-with-zach

Apply to be coached on The Surthrivalist Podcast - https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast

Connect with The Surthrivalist:

Website: https://smallbizsurthrival.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallbizsurthrival

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zjwise

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrival

The Surthrivalist Podcast is where Christian entrepreneurs get the real, unscripted coaching they’ve been craving. Hosted by Zach Wise, this show tackles the tension between building a business that matters and becoming the man God has called you to be. Expect raw conversations, honest struggles, biblical wisdom, and practical strategy to help you move from surviving to surthriving—in business, in family, and in faith.

Resources:

Schedule a free 15-minute chat with Zach - https://calendly.com/surthrival/chat-with-zach

Apply to be coached on The Surthrivalist Podcast - https://smallbizsurthrival.com/podcast

Connect with The Surthrivalist:

Website: https://smallbizsurthrival.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallbizsurthrival

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zjwise

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smallbizsurthrival