The Wow Factor

Bill Johnson serves as the Senior Leader of Bethel Church in Redding, California. Known globally for his teaching on revival, faith, and the Kingdom of God, Bill's ministry has been marked by a consistent focus on gratitude, generosity, and living a life shaped by God's presence. Through decades of leadership, he has taught that generosity is more than financial giving—it's a lifestyle of humility, kindness, and service that reflects God's design for humanity.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Bill to talk about gratitude, generosity, and why the two are inseparably linked. Bill shares stories from his own journey and ministry, including how generosity builds cultures, changes atmospheres, and even serves as a "weapon" against division and despair. He also unpacks why generosity is evidence of repentance, how repeated acts form culture, and why we are never more like Christ than when we are generous. Along the way, Bill offers practical wisdom on cultivating a grateful heart, modeling generosity across generations, and trusting God even in seasons of delay.

"To live without thankfulness is the most self-centered way to live." – Bill Johnson

"If you're actually giving, you're not trying to get a response. If you're trying to get a response, you're buying—you're not giving." – Bill Johnson

"You're no more like Jesus than when you're generous." – Bill Johnson

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Gratitude as the foundation for humility, mental health, and healthy relationships
• Why generosity is more than money—it's a posture of life and service
• The story of "Generous Students" and teaching gratitude with no carry-forwards
• Why repeated acts of giving form a true culture of generosity
• The three kinds of givers: no giver, grumpy giver, cheerful giver
• How small, intentional acts—like tipping hotel staff or thanking baristas—shift atmospheres
• Why generosity is evidence of repentance and a renewed mind
• How encouraging words can be one of the most powerful forms of giving
• Modeling generosity across generations and why Bill gives gifts on his own birthday
• The importance of living in trust when God's answers are delayed
• Serving communities quietly: Bethel's behind-the-scenes generosity toward their city
• Why generosity must move from an action to a lifestyle that can't be switched off

Bill Johnson's Word of Wisdom:

Faith is spelled R-I-S-K. Start somewhere, even if it's small. Sacrifice means going one step beyond comfort, and that's where growth begins. Yesterday's sacrifice is today's convenience—so keep pressing into new steps of generosity.

Connect With Bill Johnson:

• Bethel Church Website
• Bethel Church Facebook
• Bethel Church Instagram
• Bethel Church YouTube
• Bethel Church Podcasts
• Pastor Bill Johnson Facebook
• Pastor Bill Johnson's Books

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)

Bill Johnson serves as the Senior Leader of Bethel Church in Redding, California. Known globally for his teaching on revival, faith, and the Kingdom of God, Bill's ministry has been marked by a consistent focus on gratitude, generosity, and living a life shaped by God's presence. Through decades of leadership, he has taught that generosity is more than financial giving—it's a lifestyle of humility, kindness, and service that reflects God's design for humanity.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Bill to talk about gratitude, generosity, and why the two are inseparably linked. Bill shares stories from his own journey and ministry, including how generosity builds cultures, changes atmospheres, and even serves as a "weapon" against division and despair. He also unpacks why generosity is evidence of repentance, how repeated acts form culture, and why we are never more like Christ than when we are generous. Along the way, Bill offers practical wisdom on cultivating a grateful heart, modeling generosity across generations, and trusting God even in seasons of delay.

"To live without thankfulness is the most self-centered way to live." – Bill Johnson

"If you're actually giving, you're not trying to get a response. If you're trying to get a response, you're buying—you're not giving." – Bill Johnson

"You're no more like Jesus than when you're generous." – Bill Johnson

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Gratitude as the foundation for humility, mental health, and healthy relationships
• Why generosity is more than money—it's a posture of life and service
• The story of "Generous Students" and teaching gratitude with no carry-forwards
• Why repeated acts of giving form a true culture of generosity
• The three kinds of givers: no giver, grumpy giver, cheerful giver
• How small, intentional acts—like tipping hotel staff or thanking baristas—shift atmospheres
• Why generosity is evidence of repentance and a renewed mind
• How encouraging words can be one of the most powerful forms of giving
• Modeling generosity across generations and why Bill gives gifts on his own birthday
• The importance of living in trust when God's answers are delayed
• Serving communities quietly: Bethel's behind-the-scenes generosity toward their city
• Why generosity must move from an action to a lifestyle that can't be switched off

Bill Johnson's Word of Wisdom:

Faith is spelled R-I-S-K. Start somewhere, even if it's small. Sacrifice means going one step beyond comfort, and that's where growth begins. Yesterday's sacrifice is today's convenience—so keep pressing into new steps of generosity.

Connect With Bill Johnson:

• Bethel Church Website
• Bethel Church Facebook
• Bethel Church Instagram
• Bethel Church YouTube
• Bethel Church Podcasts
• Pastor Bill Johnson Facebook
• Pastor Bill Johnson's Books

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)

Stephen Auth is the Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Equities at Federated Hermes in New York City, overseeing more than $85 billion in assets. A Princeton graduate with a lifelong interest in both finance and art, Stephen is known for his strategic leadership on Wall Street and his bold work as an author, missionary, and Catholic lay leader. Alongside his wife, Evelyn, he has written books including The Missionary of Wall Street and Pilgrimage to the Museum, blending faith, story, and culture to point people toward Christ.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Stephen to talk about his journey from a working-class upbringing in Newark to Princeton, Wall Street, and ultimately to street-corner missionary work in New York City. Stephen shares how a near-death heart condition in 2002 became a turning point for his faith, leading him to deeper service and evangelization. He recounts dramatic stories from the streets of New York, the founding of the Lumen Institute, and how his eye for art became a tool for evangelization at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Along the way, Stephen offers insights on integrating faith and work, the importance of generosity, and the timeless values that anchor both investing and discipleship.

"Humility at the highs, confidence at the lows, integrity always." – Stephen Auth

"If you got run over by a truck tonight, do you really think you'd be ready to meet the Lord? Whatever you're doing, you don't think you can go into the church with it—how can you go into heaven with it?" – Stephen Auth

"My problem was simple: God had given me many talents, but I had been using them for my own purposes, not His." – Stephen Auth

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, and earning a scholarship to Princeton University
• Balancing economics and art history, and how art became a lifelong passion
• Rising to Chief Investment Officer of Equities at Federated Hermes and navigating financial crises
• The heart condition in 2002 that became a spiritual wake-up call
• Confession after 20 years away and the moment of clarity: talents used for God, not self
• Founding the Lumen Institute to form Catholic business leaders
• Launching the Mission in New York City and encountering resistance, hostility, and surprising conversions
• Stories from The Missionary of Wall Street — including "Sox," an ex-con on a drug run who stopped to pray the rosary
• Lessons from objections on the street: loneliness, unforgiveness, and the lie that "I'm not welcome back"
• Turning art tours into pilgrimages and discovering the search for God in the history of Western art
• Why faith integration makes him both a better investor and a more joyful leader

Stephen Auth's Word of Wisdom:

Humility at the highs. Confidence at the lows. Integrity always. Those principles work on Wall Street and they work in faith and life, too.

Connect With Stephen Auth:

• Federated Hermes
• Stephen Auth's Website
• Stephen Auth's Books
• Stephen's Instagram
• Stephens Facebook

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)

Father Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, philosopher, educator, author, and the President of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, he went on to study at Gonzaga University, the Gregorian University in Rome, and the Catholic University of America, where he earned a PhD in philosophy. He later served as President of Gonzaga University, where he became known for blending academic excellence with faith formation. Today, Father Spitzer leads the Magis Center, which produces resources on the intersection of faith, science, and reason, and he continues to write and speak globally on subjects ranging from metaphysics to moral theology to spiritual warfare.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Father Spitzer at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, for a candid conversation about his book Christ vs. Satan in Our Daily Lives and the reality of spiritual battle. Father Spitzer shares formative stories from his upbringing in Hawaii, his Jesuit formation, and the pivotal moments when challenges like vision loss became turning points for deeper faith. He unpacks the eight deadly sins, the tactics of the evil one, and the role of prayer, confession, and the Eucharist in resisting temptation. Along the way, he offers practical wisdom on discernment, the power of gratitude, and why the rosary remains one of the strongest weapons in spiritual life.

"To live without thankfulness is the most self-centered way to live." – Father Spitzer

"Lord, you are the just judge. You take care of it." – Father Spitzer

"Nip temptation in the bud early. Don't wait until it grows into something that can destroy you." – Father Spitzer

This Week on The Wow Factor

• Growing up in Honolulu and how his parents shaped his faith and values
• Discovering proofs of God's existence in philosophy and science during college
• How his mother's prayers and wisdom steadied him in seasons of doubt
• The diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa and how it reshaped his calling
• Discernment of spirits: learning to reject the "rhetoric of damaged goods"
• Why the devil's greatest lie is convincing people he doesn't exist
• The eight deadly sins, their tentacles in modern life, and how to resist them
• Practical tools for spiritual resilience: Eucharist, confession, daily prayer, and the rosary
• Why 90% of the fruit of prayer comes outside of prayer
• Encouragement for parents: the power of modeling prayer and faith for their children

Father Spitzer's Word of Wisdom

Bring every temptation and struggle to God. Don't fight it in your own strength. Dependence on Him, daily prayer, and trust in His unconditional love are the surest path to freedom and joy.

Connect With Father Spitzer:

• Magis Center Instagram
• Magis Center YouTube
• Magis Center LinkedIn
• Magis Center Facebook
• Fr. Spitzer Facebook

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)

Father Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, philosopher, educator, author, and the President of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, he went on to study at Gonzaga University, the Gregorian University in Rome, and the Catholic University of America, where he earned a PhD in philosophy. He later served as President of Gonzaga University, where he became known for blending academic excellence with faith formation. Today, Father Spitzer leads the Magis Center, which produces resources on the intersection of faith, science, and reason, and he continues to write and speak globally on subjects ranging from metaphysics to moral theology to spiritual warfare.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Father Spitzer at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, for a candid conversation about his book Christ vs. Satan in Our Daily Lives and the reality of spiritual battle. Father Spitzer shares formative stories from his upbringing in Hawaii, his Jesuit formation, and the pivotal moments when challenges like vision loss became turning points for deeper faith. He unpacks the eight deadly sins, the tactics of the evil one, and the role of prayer, confession, and the Eucharist in resisting temptation. Along the way, he offers practical wisdom on discernment, the power of gratitude, and why the rosary remains one of the strongest weapons in spiritual life.

"To live without thankfulness is the most self-centered way to live." – Father Spitzer

"Lord, you are the just judge. You take care of it." – Father Spitzer

"Nip temptation in the bud early. Don't wait until it grows into something that can destroy you." – Father Spitzer

This Week on The Wow Factor

• Growing up in Honolulu and how his parents shaped his faith and values
• Discovering proofs of God's existence in philosophy and science during college
• How his mother's prayers and wisdom steadied him in seasons of doubt
• The diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa and how it reshaped his calling
• Discernment of spirits: learning to reject the "rhetoric of damaged goods"
• Why the devil's greatest lie is convincing people he doesn't exist
• The eight deadly sins, their tentacles in modern life, and how to resist them
• Practical tools for spiritual resilience: Eucharist, confession, daily prayer, and the rosary
• Why 90% of the fruit of prayer comes outside of prayer
• Encouragement for parents: the power of modeling prayer and faith for their children

Father Spitzer's Word of Wisdom

Bring every temptation and struggle to God. Don't fight it in your own strength. Dependence on Him, daily prayer, and trust in His unconditional love are the surest path to freedom and joy.

Connect With Father Spitzer:

• Magis Center Instagram
• Magis Center YouTube
• Magis Center LinkedIn
• Magis Center Facebook
• Fr. Spitzer Facebook

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)

Jimmy Mellado leads Compassion International, a global, church-driven ministry serving children in poverty across 29 countries. Born in El Salvador (full name: Santiago "Jimmy" Mellado), he grew up across Latin America and Asia, ran decathlon at SMU, and later represented El Salvador in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. His life and leadership are anchored in faith, family, and a deep conviction that true impact starts with who we're becoming—then flows into what we do.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Jimmy at Compassion's global ministry center in Colorado Springs for a candid conversation about identity, calling, technology, and the local church. Jimmy shares formative stories from his childhood and athletic journey, the moment he sensed a calling to serve the church after the Olympics, and the identity wake-up that led him to embrace his heritage.

He talks about following Wess Stafford as CEO, why Compassion is first a church-equipping child discipleship organization (sponsorship is the funding mechanism, not the identity), and how the ministry is modernizing—moving to the cloud, piloting secure, real-time communication, and using AI to protect children online. Along the way, Jimmy offers grounded wisdom on leadership burdens, character, and doing God's work without sacrificing God's work in you.

"Let's not do God's work in ways that hurt His work in us." – Jimmy Mellado

"His yoke is easy and His burden is light—so if it's heavy, who made it heavy?" – Jimmy Mellado

"Special gifts can take a leader places where the absence of character won't let them stay." – Jimmy Mellado

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Jimmy's upbringing: born in El Salvador, moving 40+ times as his engineer father built infrastructure across the developing world
• Early faith formation: parents as his "first pastors," family as his first church while on the move
• Track to the Olympics: SMU scholarship and competing for El Salvador at the 1988 Seoul Olympics
• A calling in Seoul: witnessing church revival in South Korea and returning with a mission to serve the church
• Identity moment: embracing "Santiago" and his Latino heritage after being told "you don't count"—and how God used it to realign his calling
• Friendship with Wess Stafford and the path to leading Compassion
• What Compassion is: a church-equipping, child-discipleship ministry (sponsorship fuels the work but doesn't define it)
• The need right now: millions registered, hundreds of thousands awaiting sponsors—why the gap matters at the child level
• Modernizing at scale: retiring custom code, moving to cloud platforms, and building for quality, security, and growth
• Pilots in Peru and Ghana: secure, real-time communication among sponsors, children, and local church leaders
• Safety by design: using AI to flag inappropriate content and grooming language to protect kids
• A pastor's six-hour drive in Togo to make the plea: "Let me thank our sponsors and tell the story of impact."
• Leadership and soul care: trading anxiety for gratitude, resisting the urge to carry what only God can carry
• Being vs. doing: why who you're becoming is the most important contribution you'll ever make

Jimmy Mellado's Word of Wisdom:

Become first, then do. Stay rooted in Christ, invite trusted voices to speak truth, and steward your assignment without making it heavy. The most enduring impact isn't what you accomplish—it's the person you're becoming as you walk with God.

Connect With Compassion

• Compassion's Website
• Compassion's YouTube
• Compassion's Facebook
• Compassion's Instagram
• Compassion's LinkedIn
• Jimmy's LinkedIn

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)

Ricky Dickson is the former President and CEO of Blue Bell Creameries, one of America's most beloved ice cream brands. After 43 years with the company, Ricky's leadership legacy is steeped in faith, humility, and an unwavering commitment to people and product integrity. From a young territory manager trying to conquer a new market to leading the company through one of its biggest crises, Ricky's story is a testament to servant leadership and doing business the right way—one scoop at a time.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Ricky for a rich and honest conversation about faith, leadership, crisis, and of course… ice cream. Ricky reflects on his early days as a track runner and business student, shares the remarkable story of how a college paper led to a four-decade career at Blue Bell, and opens up about the company's darkest hour—when a pathogen was discovered in the product and Blue Bell had to shut down all operations. Through it all, Ricky's story is full of wisdom, warmth, and integrity. His commitment to people, product quality, and transparency has shaped not just a brand, but a culture.

"Once you compromise on quality, what's to stop you from compromising again?" – Ricky Dickson

"Go humble, but go confident—and know that you are influencing those around you, whether you realize it or not." – Ricky Dickson

"We are in the people business. Both on the producing side and the enjoying side." – Ricky Dickson

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Ricky's upbringing in San Antonio, Texas, and the Christian foundation laid by his parents
• How a college paper on Blue Bell led to his first job—and ultimately a 43-year career
• The values that shaped Blue Bell's culture and why people stayed with the company for decades
• What makes ice cream "premium"—a behind-the-scenes look at overrun, butterfat, and flavor design
• Why Blue Bell refused to shrink its carton size or skimp on ingredients—even when costs surged
• A leadership masterclass in how to love people well, even when it's time for them to move on
• The 2015 pathogen crisis: how it started, how Blue Bell responded, and how God showed up in the storm
• Rebuilding trust with customers, employees, and regulators—and doing it without compromising values
• The surprising legal "letter" from a law firm begging for the return of a discontinued flavor

Ricky Dickson's Word of Wisdom:

Dream big. The day you stop dreaming is the day you start dying—and the day you find a God-given dream is the day you truly start living. Whether you're starting something new or leading a company, do it with humility, confidence, and gratitude. You're influencing people with how you live, not just what you say.

Connect With Blue Bell Creameries:

• BlueBell.com

Get Ricky's Book:

• One Scoop at a Time - Buy It Wherever Books Are Sold

Connect With Ricky Dickson:

• Ricky's Website
• Ricky's LinkedIn

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)

Ari Sacher has spent more than three decades working at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel's premier developer of missile technology, where he played key roles in the creation of the Iron Dome and David's Sling missile defense systems. Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Ari's journey took him from upstate New York and Toronto to Israel in 1982—and he never looked back. An electrical engineer educated at Israel's Technion (often called "Israel's MIT"), Ari has been at the forefront of developing systems that protect millions of lives, all while holding fast to his faith and deep love for family.

In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits down with Ari for a fascinating conversation about life in Israel, the realities of living under constant threat, and the powerful blend of faith, resilience, and technological ingenuity that keeps the country moving forward. Ari shares the story of his work on missile defense systems, the challenges of innovation in the face of failure, and how his faith has been a guiding force through wars, uncertainty, and the ever-present dangers his nation faces. From four generations of New York Giants fandom to raising children who now serve in the military, Ari's story is one of commitment—to his people, his work, and his God.

​​"If you're unwilling to fail, then you will find yourself locked in a room and you will go wherever you are taken. If we want to lead, we have to be unafraid of failing." – Ari Sacher

"When I see Iron Dome working, then I see godliness. Everything I see is godliness." – Ari Sacher

"We are a country that lives with traumatic stress disorder—that's who we are, where we live, and our destiny." – Ari Sacher

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Ari's early years in the U.S., his move to Israel for a "gap year," and how he never returned home
• Studying electrical engineering at Technion and turning down prestigious U.S. and Canadian universities
• Joining Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in 1991 and contributing to two of Israel's most critical missile defense systems—Iron Dome and David's Sling
• The unique "intercept chain" process behind missile defense and why not every incoming rocket is destroyed
• How failure is embraced in Israeli innovation and why it's essential for breakthroughs
• The role of faith during high-threat moments—turning to Psalms in the middle of missile attacks
• Life in Israel during wartime, including cramming 15 family members and a dog into a 100-square-foot bomb shelter
• The spiritual parallels between God's protection and a missile defense "dome"

Ari Sacher's Word of Wisdom:

Live with an unwavering belief in God, and let that belief color how you see the world. When everything you see reinforces your faith, you gain comfort, strength, and a better way to lead your family through uncertainty.

Connect with Ari Sacher:

• Ari's LinkedIn

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)

Jim Towey is the former lawyer for Mother Teresa and the founder of Aging with Dignity, a nonprofit based in Falls Church, Virginia. He is the creator of the widely used Five Wishes advance directive. His story is as unique as it is powerful—marked by a journey from Capitol Hill to Calcutta, from chasing influence in Washington to walking alongside Mother Teresa and advocating for those society often forgets. As a former lawyer to Mother Teresa, White House staffer, and spiritual seeker, Jim has seen the best and worst of power, and ultimately chose a path of service, faith, and purpose.

In this episode of The Wow Factor, Brad sits down with Jim for a moving conversation about transformation—from a young man caught up in ambition and worldly success to a servant of the poor and advocate for dignified end-of-life care. Jim opens up about his early struggles, his encounters with the allure of political power, and the life-altering moment he met Mother Teresa. Through that relationship, Jim discovered a deeper faith and a calling to live a life not for himself, but for others. The conversation explores themes of spiritual poverty, humility, leadership, and what it truly means to be prepared for both life and death.

"I learned that a life not lived for others is not worth living." – Jim Towey

"Mother Teresa saw Jesus in his distressing disguise of the poor." – Jim Towey

"She used to say that If you're too busy to pray, you're too busy." – Jim Towey

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Jim's early years in Jacksonville, Florida, and how basketball, ambition, and family challenges shaped his character
• The emotional spiral after achieving "success" on Capitol Hill—and how it left him feeling empty and morally lost
• His first encounter with Mother Teresa and the moment that changed everything at her Home for the Dying
• What it means to move from "gathering" to "giving," and how Mother Teresa invited him into a life of self-sacrifice
• Why even Mother Teresa needed a lawyer—and how Jim helped her open AIDS homes, fend off fraud, and navigate immigration issues
• The spiritual darkness Mother Teresa experienced and what it taught Jim about faith, suffering, and perseverance
• Jim's creation of Five Wishes and how it helps millions of families plan for end-of-life care with dignity, clarity, and compassion
• Why acknowledging mortality and spiritual legacy is one of the most generous things you can do for loved ones

Jim Towey's Word of Wisdom:

Look at what you have—and be grateful. Gratitude is a choice. You can focus on what you're missing, or you can give thanks for the opportunities you've been given to enrich the lives of others. Leaders are led, and the greatest leaders live with humility and gratitude at the center.

Connect With Aging with Dignity:

• Aging With Dignity Website
• Aging With Dignity YouTube
• Aging With Dignity Facebook
• Aging With Dignity LinkedIn
• The Five Wishes
• To Love and Be Loved: A Personal Portrait of Mother Teresa (Simon and Schuster 2022)

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)

Ralph Stayer, is the founder of Johnsonville Sausage, one of America's most beloved family-owned food companies. From humble beginnings in a small Wisconsin town of just 65 people, Ralph helped grow Johnsonville from an 8-person operation into a global brand by radically rethinking leadership, purpose, Capitalism, and what it means to build a business with heart.

In this episode, Brad sits down with Ralph in sunny Naples, Florida, for a deep conversation about faith, capitalism, giving, and legacy. Ralph shares how his own leadership transformation began in frustration and burnout, eventually leading him to create a company culture grounded in empowerment, service, and stewardship. From mentoring his team to consulting for hospitals and leading charitable initiatives that raise tens of millions for children, Ralph's life is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.

"You're not building sausage. You're building people who make sausage." - Ralph Stayer

"Capitalism isn't a tool of the rich—it's God's gift to the poor." - Ralph Stayer

"There's only one real measure of success: hearing, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.'" - Ralph Stayer

This Week on the Wow Factor:

• Ralph's early life working summers in the Johnsonville factory and walking the riverbanks with a .22
• The pivotal leadership shift that came after a frustrating period of rapid growth and employee disengagement
• How consultant Lee Thayer helped Ralph see that the real value of a company is its people
• The transformation from being a boss to building a culture of empowerment and trust
• Why Ralph believes businesses must talk openly about God and purpose at work
• The revelation that led Ralph to embrace giving not just money, but time and wisdom
• Why the phrase "give back" needs to be rethought—and how capitalism enables human flourishing
• Ralph's involvement in raising over $33 million in a single afternoon for children's charities through the Naples Winter Wine Festival

Ralph's Word of Wisdom:

There's really only one measure of real success—and that's whether you hear, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant.' That's what I'm working toward. Not money. Not fame. Not status. Just that.

Connect With Johnsonville Sausage:

• Johnsonville Facebook
• Johnsonville Pinterest
• Johnsonville Instagram
• Johnsonville TikTok
• Ralph C. Stayers Books

Connect with The Wow Factor:

• WOW Factor Website
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)