
Hosted by Silas Mähner · EN

In this episode, Silas Mähner sits down with Dr. Klaudia Rosińska, lecturer at the College of Social and Media Culture in Toruń and advisor to the Polish government on AI regulation, to discuss the ethical, cognitive, and spiritual implications of artificial intelligence. Discover why outsourcing your thinking to AI risks flattening human individuality, why faster processes aren’t always better, and how to retain your God-given intellect, agency, and human dignity in a tech-driven world.SponsorsOur Father Constructors and Associates: Expert owner’s representation protecting parish and diocesan building projects from $1M to $45M. Learn more at ourfather.us or email cristian@ourfather.us.Monument Advisers: Values-based financial planning, estate health checks, and wealth stewardship for Catholic founders. Book Your Estate Health Check Today.Paraclete VA: Vetted, Catholic, offshore talent to help your business grow efficiently. Reach out at admin@catholicfounders.com.Core LessonGod gave us a will and an intellect to experience life over time and allow those experiences to shape us. While AI can process data rapidly, it cannot replicate the transformative journey of learning, contemplation, and growth. Do not surrender your capacity to ponder and make intentional decisions simply because an algorithm is faster.Key Timestamps05:21 – Klaudia’s background in media, psychology, and advising government on AI regulation12:37 – Why AI is an active force, not a neutral tool22:31 – Preserving individual human uniqueness vs. the algorithmic average25:35 – Why faster processes aren't always better for human growth34:15 – Navigating the attention economy and social media dynamics43:31 – Protecting children and future generations from digital addiction48:27 – Reclaiming personal agency and building authentic communityFeatured Quotes"You have your own style, your own way of thinking... because your brain has individual experience. It’s important, it’s valuable, and it’s yours." – Dr. Klaudia Rosińska"We learn by experience and repetitive experience. And this technology wants us to believe that if some process is faster, it means better. And that’s what I really disagree with at the core..." – Dr. Klaudia Rosińska"She [Maria Skłodowska-Curie] treated technology in service of human dignity... when she discovered radium with her husband, they together intentionally refused to patent the process because they really strongly believed that scientific breakthroughs belong to humanity and must serve them." – Dr. Klaudia RosińskaEpisode ReferencesMagnifica HumanitasThe Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana ZuboffJean Twenge, Ph.D.Join the Catholic Founders GuildLooking to launch, grow, and steward your business alongside a community of like-minded Catholic entrepreneurs? Get access to exclusive online events, topic calls, paywalled content, and a strong network of business owners.👉 Join the Catholic Founders Guild Today This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic: Lucas & Jessica Moser — Teaching their children the value of work one honey jar at a time.* Core Takeaway: Enduring heritage > financial wealth* Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. News / Updates: * CF Nashville had another rigorous but definitely inspiring discussion on Magnifica Humanitas. 📖🧐* 🤝Check out our upcoming Catholic Founders events (open to all Catholic biz owners, or those seriously aspiring to be)* Dallas - August 22 (guest speaker Alex Cartwright, founder of Hotel Shift)* NYC - August 22 - Rooftop BBQ 🌭 Grilling party. Sounds super fun!* Monterrey, Mexico - August 25 - we’re growing beyond the US!* More coming in 📍Houston, DC, Tampa, South Bend, Steubenville, Charlotte, Kansas City, Denver, Fort Lauderdale area, Wausau Wisconsin, and more! To catch them, follow our calendar. 🗓️ If you want to lead a meetup in your area, email us at admin@catholicfounders.com.* Last week’s guest was Eamonn Clark, where we talked about Building a Social Enterprise Accelerator and How These Help Christians in Various Parts of the World. If you haven’t yet, listen to this episode here.* 🗣️ 🏦 Guild Call on August 11. Topic: “How Tridfi is Investing in Local Communities by Taking on Banks” is going to be on Aug 11th. (Join the guild to attend)Don’t Waste Your Parish’s MoneyA mismanaged budget is a headache in business. In the Church, it’s a tragedy. Every dollar wasted on a poorly run construction project is a dollar taken from the mission.When your parish or diocese is building something, goodwill isn’t enough. You need professional, unyielding stewardship.Our Father Constructors and Associates acts as your expert owner’s representative. They support projects from $1M to $45M. Cristian and his team manage the architects, protect the capital, and find the money you didn’t know you were losing. They ensure what you build today serves the Church for generations.Run your parish’s next project like a pro.👉 Visit ourfather.us or email cristian@ourfather.us today.Today’s Topic & Guest:Lucas & Jessica Moser | MosermadeWe’re joined by Lucas and Jessica Moser for their very first podcast appearance. They are a married couple raising five young children on an acreage in rural Virginia, building a life centered on faith, family, and hard work.Off their property, they run Mosermade — a family venture spanning custom woodworking, a sawmill, and an apiary (look at us using fancy words) with around fifty honeybee colonies. They have built this out slowly over time through dedication to the long-term goals of the family and Lucas’ engineering job. Yes, he still works full time, and they do this. This conversation genuinely inspired me because seeing how they have built their business ventures to all be in service of the family is just incredible. It also has the benefit of teaching their own kids the skills of entrepreneurship. Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Core Lesson: Money AND business should be oriented to serve your family. Truly. As I sat thinking after this conversation about what stood out most to me, it was easily this. That their business ventures clearly exist to help serve their family needs and goals. The money the business produces is ALSO in service of the business. They never sit down and plan how much they need to work in order to make x amount of dollars. When I say I feel inspired by this incredible couple, I am not exaggerating. I really mean it. Even though I’ve talked about things like this on the podcast and written about them in the newsletter in the past, seeing it in live action was really awesome. Really hoping that everyone else listens with intention and focus so you can see what I’m talking about. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:Books & Literary Works* Leaving a Legacy by Johann Kurtz* Catechism of the Catholic ChurchPodcast Episodes* Catholic Founders Episode: Johann KurtzSaints & Holy Figures* St. Valentine* St. Joseph* St. Anthony of Padua* The Blessed Virgin MaryBible Passages* The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31–32)Select Quotes:* “We really want our kids to to be successful and success to us means that they have a healthy church life and they are able to to look after themselves both financially and religiously.” - Lucas Moser* “I don’t think I’ve ever thought of it as a financial legacy that we’re trying to leave behind so the the legacy being like how will they remember us? Like did we lead them closer to God? Did we show God’s light at all?” - Jessica Moser* “The business is a way for us to inculcate values into them that are important to us, like hard work. ” - Lucas Moser* “...keeping our heads down and worrying about what we’re building ourselves is a lot more helpful because when we start to look at other people, that that’s when it becomes like, shoot, I don’t feel a...

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. A while back, I had the opportunity to meet Andreas Widmer. Since then, he’s been very supportive of the work we’re doing at Catholic Founders. Giving me ideas, makes intros, and, as he says, reads our newsletters every week. If you’re interested, here is the podcast episode he recorded with us over a year ago. Andreas’ story is incredible. Born and raised in Switzerland. He ended up joining the Swiss Guard — the pope’s bodyguards. He did this for two years during the papacy of Pope St. John Paul II. He shares about that in his book The Pope & the CEO (it’s quite moving). After that experience, he got into business and eventually ended up becoming a teacher at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America. Now, once a year, he brings together a group of 20-40 Catholic business school professors from around the world to discuss how to better educate their students in the coming year — especially relating to Catholic Social Teaching. This year, he invited me to address that group based on the things I’ve learned from running Catholic Founders over the past two years. The main point of this talk was to help these professors understand what’s at stake, help them recognize their unique role in solving these problems, and then to walk them through the key areas where they need to help educate the future Catholic business leaders. Shoutout to James Knight for helping me prepare and structure this talk. If you have any follow-up thoughts on it, I’d love to hear them. My DMs are open, and the comments are as well. NOTE: If you prefer to watch on YouTube, you can do so here. Big Thank You to Our Father Constructors & Associates for being a sponsor. Our Father helps you when you have church-related projects (Church, School, Monastery, etc). They act as an expert project manager who will ensure the project gets done on time, on budget (or under budget), and most importantly, that it properly serves the Church for generations to come. Go to OurFather.us to learn more - and tell them we sent you! Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayIf you’re a Catholic builder interested in being surrounded by other Catholic Builders — people who truly see Heaven as the primary goal, consider joining the Catholic Founders Guild today. It’s only $100 a year or $10 a month. Online & in-person community — events — group calls — a directory — and an AI bot trained on all our content are the current benefits (more coming frequently). Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Hire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube In Today’s Issue:* News / Updates* Intro to the Guest and Topic: Eamonn Clark — Helping Pakistani Christians make a living AND… the Virtue of Magnificence* Core Takeaway: Relieving involuntary poverty helps people have the opportunity to lift their souls in prayer. * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. News / Updates: * 🤝Check out our upcoming Catholic Founders events (available to all Catholic biz owners, or those seriously aspiring to be)* NYC - July 25 (celebrating America 250 🇺🇸🎉 )* Nashville - July 28 (discussion on Magnifica Humanitas)* Dallas - August 22 (guest speaker Alex Cartwright, founder of Hotel Shift) * More coming in 📍Houston, DC, Tampa, South Bend, Steubenville, Charlotte, Kansas City, Denver, Fort Lauderdale area, Wausau Wisconsin, and more! To catch them, follow our calendar. 🗓️* On Sunday, we dropped an amazing interview with Tim Busch 🎙️- founder of the NAPA Institute (and more). Check out how he’s managing $1.5b in hotels while keeping his faith at the center of his life. * Next Guild Call (paid only) is Aug 28th — an AI Automation Workshop🧑🏼💻. Led by Raffaele D’Apolito. (Join the guild to attend)Don’t Waste Your Parish’s MoneyA mismanaged budget is a headache in business. In the Church, it’s a tragedy. Every dollar wasted on a poorly run construction project is a dollar taken from the mission.When your parish or diocese is building something, goodwill isn’t enough. You need professional, unyielding stewardship.Our Father Constructors and Associates acts as your expert owner’s representative. They support projects from $1M to $45M. Cristian and his team manage the architects, protect the capital, and find the money you didn’t know you were losing. They ensure what you build today serves the Church for generations.Run your parish’s next project like a pro.👉 Visit ourfather.us or email cristian@ourfather.us today.Today’s Topic & Guest:Eamonn Clark | Pro FideToday’s guest, is perhaps one of the most unique people I’ve encountered. He’s an American, who has found himself in Italy, in and near Rome, for 10-ish years, mostly studying theology. As a result, he’s built a very large network of religious and priests. Yet… deep down, he himself is an entrepreneur. He’s been suffering from a bout of academia but is finally shaking it off (sorry to my friends in Academia, we still love you). Given his network, he’s had the chance to meet priests who live in various corners of the world… and even visit many of them. This exposure has led to him seeing the dire circumstances of many. He’s got this fascinating network. Knows people on the ground in these places of need, has an intimate understanding of theology, and happens to have his American spirit of entrepreneurship. So… he’s decided to do the logical thing… launch a social enterprise accelerator. Just kidding. Of course this isn’t ‘logical,’ but he’s doing it. WIth Pro Fide, they are launching social enterprises that will help Christians in various parts of the world leverage their local resources to create products and sell them overseas. Enabling them to provide for their families, as well as support The Church in these local areas. As a heads up, if you want to hear all about Magnificence — a virtue we seem to have forgotten about, I think you’ll really enjoy this episode! Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Core Lesson: The key value in social enterprises is to free the mind to pursue holiness, prayer, and the sacraments. When communities are trapped in involuntary poverty, survival takes up every ounce of emotional and spiritual bandwidth. The NGO money that get’s thrown at a distant problem often leads to corruption and… ultimately destroys local work incentives. By creating sustainable businesses on the ground, we do more than generate jobs — we restore human dignity. We’re also applying the principle of subsidiarity and building an economic foundation that allows the Church and her people to flourish.God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:* Pope Pius XI’s Social Teaching* 1 Cor 9:22* St. Anthony Claret* Zuhair Madanat* profide.io* Bath salt pre-ordersSelect Quotes:* “Voluntary poverty is a great help to holiness. Involuntary poverty is not.” - Eamonn Clark* “You have to know something in order to love it. […] Knowledge and love working together in a certain kind of way that gets filtered through the act of creation and imprinted in the pattern of the universe.” - Eamonn Clark* “If you understand knowing and loving and being and doing and the relationship between those four things, you figured out the universe.” - Eamonn Clark* “Why don't you come play a very interesting game that's meaningful, impactful, and sustainable that can really actually help save souls.” - Eamonn Clark* “I want to free them of their temporal anxieties so that they can elevate themselves towards contemplation, prayer, the sacraments, okay?” - Eamonn Clark* “If someone says, I don’t know what I’m doing, then they’re probably trustworthy when they say that they do.” - Eamonn ClarkKey Moments: (outline)* (00:00) - Cold Open* (00:36) - Episode Welcome * (03:15) - Guest Intro: Eamonn outlines his theological background in Rome studying Pius XI’s social teaching.* (04:08) - Origin Story: How living alongside international priests in Rome sparked Eamonn’s passion for mission territories.* (06:14)...

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Hey folks! As you may notice from the different format of these notes, this is not a usual episode. It’s special because Tim Busch, legendary hotel magnate, philanthropist, serial entrepreneur, and founder of the NAPA Institute, welcomed us into his NYC apartment to record a very special episode of Catholic Founders. Obviously, you can record these remotely, but it’s not the same as being in the room with them, or being there with the guest. Rapport increases, but so does the effect of the Holy Spirit — and I felt it with this interview. New Here? If this is your first time here, Catholic Founders is a Podcast (weekly), Newsletter (Saintly CEO, Tuesdays), and community (Catholic Founders Guild) of Catholics who seek to become saints. We just so happen to also be called to entrepreneurship. Together, we are discovering what the theology of entrepreneurship is, and how we can actually live that out in our lives — and in how we run our businesses. We are doing everything we can to help Catholics start and grow their businesses, with the true end in mind — heaven. If you’re not already, subscribe today. If you’d like to join the Guild, learn more here, or if you’re already sold, upgrade to paid today. We hope to get to know you soon. Thank you to Our Father Construction & Associates! Flying out to NYC and hiring a camera crew are not cheap. In order to fund this interview, we had to get a special sponsor to cover these costs. That sponsor is Our Father Constructors & AssociatesSo please — if you’re building, leading, or funding a Church project, whether that’s a school, a church, a monastery, or a remodel, reach out to OurFather.US for support. They will ensure your project gets done on time, wastes no money, is built the way St. Joseph would build, and most importantly, that is built with the true intention of serving the Church for generations to come. Cristian is a good friend of mine that I cannot speak highly enough about. He is someone I’d entrust my entire family to. A man of deep faith, who is deeply committed to building up the kingdom using the gifts he’s received. Reach out to OurFather.US today, or connect with Cristian on LinkedIn to learn more. Tell them we sent you. Why this interview matters: Tim is one of very few Catholic business owners who runs a huge organization with thousands of employees, who is also (a) willing to be visible / interviewed, and (b) choosing to stay in the arena. At this point in his life, he could easily retire and take it easy. But as I’ve learned from the book his daughter wrote about him, and through meeting him for this interview, he’s not planning on backing down. He’s continuing to build and influence the world towards God using his resources, his network, and his time. We desperately need more Tim Busch’s in the world. Will you be one? Will you firmly root God at the center of your life as you build your enterprise?Will you put in all your effort to build a substantial business and not get lazy? Will you start projects that require long-term time and financial commitment? Will you fund existing projects to help transform the culture? Will you be open about your life so others have the opportunity to be inspired by your example? In a word, will you be a Catholic Founder? Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Key Topics Discussed: * The scale of their operation. $1.5bn in hotels w/ $400m in revenue. Busch family markets. NAPA Institute. Philanthropic work. * Keeping his faith alive in his work. The ways he integrates the faith into his work and how he runs his companies. * Why & What the NAPA Institute is. * Why personal giving is better than gov’t-funded social services. Why social services lack accountability and innovation. And why we should be doing this, giving ourselves while holding those orgs accountable. * How to treat employees with dignity. Specifically ensuring there are no gatekeepers to reach him in his company. * How he thinks about legacy and passing the business on to his children. And specifically the importance of handing things off to his children while he’s still alive. * Why he’s not really interested in retirement. He sees his life and success as a gift. He also really enjoys work. So he can’t understand why he would stop building. For him, with his network and track record, it’s now possible for him to do bigger and better things. He believes that in the next 10 years he’ll be able to do more than he’s done in the past 40 years of his career given the compounding. (Among many other topics) God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerWould you like to invest in other Catholic-run businesses? Often people struggle to find Catholic-run businesses to evaluate. We are helping aggregate them (for free).We have launched a free bulletin-board-style newsletter with basic, factual information of companies that are owned/led by Catholics. This way you don’t have to do all the work of scouring the world to find them for your own independent vetting.Sign up today to start getting deal flow at CatholicDealFlow.comKey Episode References:* Pacific Hospitality Group* Busch Family Market* Napa Legal Institute* Catholic University of America (Bush School of Business)* Legatus * Fides Entrepreneurship Talks* Leonine ForumSelect Quotes: * “It’s [your faith] the only thing you can give away, where you have more when you get done.” – Tim Busch* “We’re all called to co-create, but we have to do it with humility.” – Tim Busch* “The children will be your future. They’re going to take care of you. This is the other thing we’re missing in society: the responsibility that we take care of our children, and the children take care of the parents and the grandparents.” – Tim Busch* “Faith grows from within when you give it away because that’s what God always planned.” – Tim Busch* “You have to run the country with virtue. And faith is part of that.” – Tim Busch* “Innovation comes out of necessity. It doesn’t just happen.” – Tim Busch* “The source of the money has to be the guide, has to be the moral compass, has to be the North Star.” – Tim BuschHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon)....

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * 🤝 We host a lot of events. This July, we have a meetup in Dallas on the 18th, breakfast in Wisconsin on the 25th, and another meetup in Nashville on the 28th. Check out our events here.* ⭐ Learn how we, as business owners, can save America and help build the next 250 Years and beyond on our last week’s special episode for the 250th 4th of July Celebration.* 🖤 Know how to turn your heartbreak into breakthroughs. Check out last week’s episode of CF with Taylor O’Brien, founder and CEO of Candid Dating.* 🤖 We recently launched a bot to help you learn from ALL the content we’ve produced. Join the Guild today to gain access.NEW SPONSOR ALERT! Our Father Constructors & Associates is your partner for any construction project. If you want to ensure your church, school, monastery (etc) project is done well, on budget (or under budget), and ultimately, that it serves the Church for generations — reach out to Cristian and his team. Go to OurFather.US to learn more. Tell them that we sent you! PS: Cristian is a close friend of mine who I’d entrust my family to. I’ve known him for several years and he is the kind of guy who is very driven to ensure that God is served and the kingdom of God grows. I’d trust him with my life. In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic — Chris McMahon, Faith and Finance Synthesizer* Core Takeaway: Just do Things * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Chris McMahon | Aquinas Wealth AdvisorsToday we are speaking with Chris McMahon, the founder of Aquinas Wealth Advisors. I first encountered Chris back when I was living in New York City at a YCP event where he was on a panel. I just remember thinking that this guy had such a strong personality — very gregarious, frank, and possessing a really awesome attitude. I’m very glad we could finally have him on the podcast.Chris has a wide range of topics he can cover, but we decided to narrow it down and focus on two core themes. First, how can we really align our finances with our faith? This is something a lot of people don’t consider. Specifically, the way I word it is: how do we not ROI-max? Second, Chris has a ton of amazing stories, and I made sure to ask him to share a few because they are just a lot of fun. You’re going to enjoy this conversation, I’m sure of it.Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Core Lesson: Just Do Things! Chris shared numerous stories in today’s short conversation of him taking action. Meeting a girl who had been away from her faith, calling a nun and putting her in touch to go with her to confession. Giving the rosary to the girl named Guadalupe, and that opening her to her faith more because she spoke with her abuela. These are amazing things that happened all because he simply noticed, asked (forwardly), and took action. How often could we be doing this? How often could we be just doing things? Most importantly, how many people could have come back to their faith if we ‘just did things?’One more example: right after our recording, Chris called two different people to introduce us and connect us. It’s things like this that we all need to be doing more as Catholics. To help each other out. That’s your sign! Just do things! God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finder’s fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:Organizations & Ministries* Sisters of Life* Sisters of Mary* Legatus* Students for Life* Mary’s Place* Young Catholic Professionals (YCP)Businesses & Tools* Aquinas Wealth Advisors* Faith and Finance Score* Our Father ConstructorsPeople & Saints* Kristen Hawkins* Father Dan Leary* Fr. Corwin Low, O.P.* Sister Mary Casey* Our Lady of Guadalupe* Father Aloysius SchwartzSelect Quotes:* “And if people say I’m depressed, I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know who I am. I say, shut up and go give somebody a sandwich.” - Chris McMahon* “It frustrates me greatly when people overintellectualize Catholicism, or they weaponize Catholicism.” - Chris McMahon* “The decision I made, I started asking myself probably later than I’d like, is how my wife would perceive the decision I’m making.” - Chris McMahon* “If you didn't accept abortion, if you didn't accept pornography, you didn't, if you didn't accept really radical ideology around gender identity, you were thought to be, you know, evil, which isn't that so interesting? As people of faith we we went from being the people that were relied upon for charity to being the people who are thought of as evil.” - Chris McMahon* “I think it's the evil one, certainly... forty percent of the Catholic institutions we work with own this thing. And they don't even know they own it because it's inside of an ETF. Well, guess what? We're gonna pull the back curtain back, and all of us together pull that curtain back, and we're gonna ch radically transform the world.” - Chris McMahon* “The action component is always important. You can't just sit around and talk about how we're gonna make the world a better place. You have to go act on it, right? Our faith ...

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Today we have a special episode. America is turning 250 years old. A monumental occasion for most of our supporters. While I’m very proud to be American and believe it’s the best country in the world, I feel very passionately that America is at a crossroads. What has gotten us to 250 years old is in some ways at risk of death. The only way we make it another 250 is to have a sort of re-founding. This re-founding also happens to be a unique opportunity for us to transform the heart of the culture, of what it means to be American — especially in business and commerce. As Catholics, we have the fullness of the truth, should we choose to apply it. Meaning, that everything we do — business, sports, life— can be the best possible version of that thing because we have the truth. But that requires effort and sacrifice. If anyone knows the meaning and importance of sacrifice, it’s Catholics — who know the sacrifice of Jesus is what gives us hope and confidence in the future. So let’s be willing to make that sacrifice — for the benefit of our fellow man. That he may know God. That He may join us on this journey to re-found America, on the principles of eternal truth. So that many years from now, our grandchildren can be living in a world where love of neighbor is a guarantee. Where architecture is beautiful again. Communities are safe. Wholesome dancing and music fill our homes and communities. The poor are cared for. Charity and patience are the standard in business. Human flourishing is the motive of every business owner. In short, where God reigns in the hearts of all men of our Nation. Will you do your part to build this future? God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerJoin the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.Select Quotes:* “The next two hundred and fifty years are not guaranteed.” - Silas Mähner* “Work is in service of of the family.” - Silas Mähner* “My point in all this is that I think even if you're just running a secular business, you should be unabashed about your faith. You don't have to be necessarily preaching the gospel. But I would say you should have a crucifix in your building. You should have some some Catholic imagery potentially. You should be very unabashed about upholding virtue as a core component of your your work culture.” - Silas Mähner* “We are asked to use these assets and to manage them in a way that helps make them fruitful through our actions and then uses that fruit to benefit those who are less fortunate.” - Silas Mähner* “We have a future in front of us that can either be very good or very, very negative, right? And I think we're kind of as a country specifically really toying with what exactly we want that future to be. And I think some people are very oblivious to the fact that going headlong into an AI future could be negative if not managed properly. unfortunately there's many technologists and financiers of our time who who don't see that.” - Silas Mähner* “It becomes inevitable at some point that you have to start start a business and and do something.” - Silas Mähner* “And we as Catholic entrepreneurs and business owners, we have a very large role to play in deciding that future.”- Silas Mähner* “Let us live our lives in a way that when we reach the end of our lives, God will say to us, Well done, good and faithful steward.” - Silas MähnerKey Moments: (outline)* (00:04) - Intro: Reflecting on the milestone of America 250 and the uncertain future of the nation.* (00:46) - The Core Challenge: Discussing the breakdown of the family as the primary issue in modern society.* (03:07) - The Entrepreneur’s Role: The unique ability of business owners to prioritize human flourishing over profit-seeking.* (04:06) - A Well-Ordered Life: Defining the hierarchy of needs: God, family, and then work.* (05:15) - Intentionality: Emphasizing that our current calling and circumstances are by design, not accident.* (07:23) - Strategy 1: Put God First: The necessity of living out faith through daily actions and business culture.* (09:34) - Strategy 2: Be Pro-Family: Implementing family-first policies and wages in business.* (11:34) - Strategy 3: Build Community: Practical ways to build community in neighborhoods and parishes.* (14:55) - Strategy 4: Civic Engagement: How business owners can leverage their networks to influence local politics.* (17:15) - The Parable of the Stewards: Re-framing the entrepreneurial mindset from ownership to stewardship.(20:53) - Outro: Closing reflections on living as faithful stewards of the nation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.catholicfounders.com/subscribe

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * 🤝 We host a lot of events. This July, we have a meetup in Dallas on the 18th, breakfast in Wisconsin on the 25th, and another meetup in Nashville on the 28th. Check out our events here.* ⭐ Add virtue to your workout routines! Check out last week’s episode of CF with Chase Crouse, CEO and Founder of Hypuro Fit.* 🎙️I recently got a chance to talk with Ben Black (The Dynastus Letters) on his pod, The Dynastus Podcast. Give it a listen.* 🤖 We recently launched a bot to help you learn from ALL the content we’ve produced. Join the Guild today to gain access.Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic* Core Takeaway * Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Taylor O’Brien | Candid DatingToday’s guest has a really awesome story (you probably already knew that though; otherwise we wouldn’t have her on). Our guest is Taylor O’Brien, Co-Founder of Candid Dating. A Catholic speed dating app. They are getting people away from the swiping culture and into face to face meetings, and are having a lot of success. But Taylor’s journey to build Candid started out rough. She ended up having to break off an engagement. This led her back to the dating market. An experience that was less than desirable. Through the struggle, she ended up starting what is now Candid Dating. All of which started by sneaking into the computer room of a school and hosting an online speed dating session. It’s fascinating that, had she not gone through those challenges, she would not have had the impetus to start Candid. But here she is, helping many others solve a huge challenge. Maybe this is your sign to embrace that challenge you have in front of you. Maybe it’s preparing you for something that is to come. Sponsor Catholic Founders! Get in front of hundreds of Catholic Businesses every week with your product or service. admin@catholicfounders.com Core Lesson: Challenges are gifts that help us trust in God… if we see them that way. From her own experience of breaking off her engagement just before the wedding, to the challenges of the dating market, to the offshore developer team issues… all of these challenges led her somewhere. The first, to founding the company. The latter to trusting in God more. This is what all challenges are. A moment for us to realize that God is there with us, giving us this challenge. To prepare us, to humble us, to strengthen us, and especially, to bring us back to Him… often on our knees. Let’s start embracing these challenges to come closer to God — they are all intentional gifts. God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:* John 6* Venerable Fulton Sheen* Mother Angelica* Rob Hays* Mike Repole* Candid Dating* Candid Communion* Seek Conference* Milk and Honey Ranch* EWTNSelect Quotes:* “After talking to hundreds of users in Catholic singles, it comes from a very good place. It comes from a place of not wanting to use the other, which is a good noble thing we need to make sure that we're not using each other.” - Taylor O'Brien* “Women, like you don't need, to say decade of the rosary before you decide if you can say yes to a coffee date.” - Taylor O'Brien* “The swiping apps allow you to ghost very easily with no guilt, right? And so, bottom line, I just saw an opportunity to help see if I could solve a problem and it worked.” - Taylor O'Brien* “We recognize that the end of this comes the sacrament of marriage, but we miss the very normal human necessary part in the middle that is being in communion with one another, getting to know one another allows us to date better.” - Taylor O'Brien* “Lord, why did you ask me to do all of this? Why did you ask me to spend these hours if I was never going to hear from these people again? And it was going to be all a waste.” - Taylor O'Brien* “our entire product is pushing you to stop being so in your own world online Virtually and get face-to-face with someone and have a real conversation and then from there we ask that you please go in person into the wild and experience each other in real life” - Taylor O'Brien* “Once you're face to face with someone, I think it's very hard for you to not realize that there's someone on the other side of the line because literally you're there.” - Taylor O'Brien* “You don't have to get on these swiping apps to find them. They're actually right here. We're existing. We just don't see each other. We can't recognize each other.” - Taylor O'BrienKey Moments: (outline)* (00:00) - Opening Anecdote: Taylor tackles modern dating fatigue and the trap of over-spiritualizing a simple coffee date.* (00:46) - Intro: Silas introduces the podcast mission, options for show sponsorship, and sets up the conversation with Taylor O’Brien.* (03:09) - Meet Taylor O’Brien : Taylor introduces her background in Dallas-Fort Worth and details the swipe-free speed-dating vision of Candid Dating.* (04:37) - The Origin Story : An organic spark born from a broken engagement, an Instagram community page, and hosting a hidden speed-dating experiment from a school computer lab.* (08:31) - Early Iterations : Utilizing a corporate networking tool called Wonder to establish authentic face-to-face communication for several hundred early testers.* (11:01) - Flaws of the Swipe Culture : How unlimited profiles turn us into relationship shoppers and kill conversational di...

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * 🤝 We host a lot of events. Upcoming in Wisconsin (on saturday), and Dallas (July 18). Check out our events here.* ⭐ Check out last week’s episode of CF with John Cannon, founder of Sent Ventures and Monk Mindset* 🎙️I recently got a chance to talk with Ben Black (The Dynastus Letters) on his pod, The Dynastus Podcast. Give it a listen.* 🤖 We recently launched a bot to help you learn from ALL the content we’ve produced. Join the Guild today to gain access.Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayWe have 130+ members in the Guild today. People like Jimmy Coleman, Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Zuhair Madanat, Derek McMonagle, and Matchmaker Madigan - to name a few. What are you waiting for? Join today and get access to all the benefits of the guild. The Groupchat | Member Directory | Online Events | Recordings | Special Guild Discounts from Members | CF Content AI ChatBot Our annual membership fee is $100, so joining is a no-brainer. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* Intro to the Guest and Topic — Chase Crouse, Theologian turned personal trainer. * Core Takeaway: Be fit to properly give.* Episode References* Select Quotes* Key MomentsFirst time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Topic & Guest:Chase Crouse | Hypuro FitEver wonder how to build a workout plan/routine that is based on Theology of the Body rather than just in service of vanity? Well, you’re in the right place because our guest built that exact thing. Our guest is Chase Crouse. He and his wife built Hypuro Fit. A fitness training/coaching service built on the principles of our Faith. This in itself is interesting and part of our discussion. However, we covered a lot of other things like…* Why they put their pricing transparently on their site… and how that leads to better customer calls. * When he tries to do things his way, it usually doesn’t work out as well. But when it’s God’s way, it’s much better. I have a feeling you’re going to enjoy this convo. Do us a favor, reach out to Chase and tell him he should join the Guild because he’s missing out 😆. Want to sponsor this podcast and get your biz in front of hundreds of Catholic business owners each week? We are taking sponsors now, for as low as $55 per issue. Reach out today: admin@catholicfounders.com Core Lesson: Being fit is important to being able to fully and freely give to others.Chase frames fitness through a profound lens borrowed from St. John Paul II and St. John of the Cross: you cannot give what you do not have. Too often, we look at physical health as either a vanity project or an afterthought. Instead, we should view exercise and nutrition as vital tools for building the capacity to serve our families, our businesses, and our communities with technical excellence. Because if we are to offer our lives to the Lord and for the cause of the mission, shouldn’t we be the best version of ourselves?God Bless & Happy Building!~Silas MähnerHire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts, and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days (half if they are only part time). To get started, reach out to admin@catholicfounders.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:Organizations* Avila InstituteSpiritual Concepts, Prayers & Church Documents* Theology of the Body* Gaudium et Spes* Divine Mercy Chaplet* Litany of Humility* Eucharistic AdorationBooks* $100 Million Money Models* They Ask, You AnswerScripture Passages* John 3:30Select Quotes:* “People are people to be loved not objects to be used.” - Chase Crouse* “My coaches, they're not means to an end. They are the end, right? They're people.” - Chase Crouse* “We're authentically Catholic while being technically excellent at the same time.” - Chase Crouse* “A lot of this is as a founder as an owner has been just learning to manage my expectations and stay in my lane and being okay with things being done differently as long as they're still done well and managing my expectations of timeline.” - Chase Crouse* “That perfection mentality around like, I can't get somebody to 100 % of the way I do it is I think it's personally something I've struggled with a lot. I have accepted the fact that there's going to be some variance there, but I think it's what holds a lot of founders back from growing the team” - Silas Mähner* “Self donation or self gift is impossible without self mastery.” - Chase Crouse* “Exercise, nutritional discipline, lifestyle, recovery, they're all tools to conquer yourself to better give off yourself.” - Chase Crouse* “I'm not a spiritual director, right? We're not spiritual director, we're coaches, but we don't have to leave our faith at the door.” - Chase Crouse* “I have to be okay with making less money for the sake of spending time with my family and resting.” - Chase Crouse* “We do have to have a detachment to arbitrarily hitting a certain number goal if it means we're not living and serving our vocational state to the best of our ability.” - Chase Crouse* “Marketing sales is inherently manipulative. But I don't want to manipulate somebody as a means to an end of making money.” - Chase Crouse* “That fear of rejection is typically rooted in It's sneaky pride. It's subtle pride.” - Chase CrouseKey Moments: (outline)* (00:00) - Intro: Why entrepreneurship is a divine calling and an introduction to Chase Crouse.* (02:45) - Embracing Family Realities: Shedding professional shyness and finding the beauty when kids interrupt your business calls.* (03:23) - Career Background: Transitioning from full-time parish ministry into health coaching.<...

Listen on: Fio (Catholic Spotify) | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube News / Updates: * 📆 If you’re in Wausau (Central Wisconsin) this Saturday, we’re hosting a Catholic Founders meetup! Join us or check out our events page for an event near you.* We just dropped a killer episode with the legendary Flip Howard. Check it out here! (PS: if you’re not already, pls follow us on your favorite podcast player to never miss a beat). Join the Catholic Founders Guild TodayGet access to all CF Guild online events, the recordings, paywalled content, the CF Guild community/group chat, and CF Guild member directory.Many members have reported doing business with other CF Guild members within months of joining.With an annual membership fee of $100, it’s a total no-brainer to join. Consider this an association of Catholic business owners, not a high-commitment community that will sap your time.Join today for $100 a year or $10 a month.In Today’s Issue:* What is this episode? First time here? Learn more about our mission. And don’t forget to subscribe. Today’s Episode:Usually, I’m the one asking the questions here at Catholic Founders, but recently I had the pleasure of sitting down on the other side of the mic. I joined Ben Black on the Dynastus Podcast for a special cross-post episode.Ben runs an incredible Substack called The Dynastus Letters—honestly, it’s one of the few pieces of media I happily pay to subscribe to. We dive deep into what it actually looks like to build an intentional, multi-generational family legacy, the raw instinct of entrepreneurship, and how our Catholic faith completely reshapes the blueprint of a successful business.If you have not already, I recommend checking out his pod and getting in touch with him for building a family dynasty. It’s really fascinating to help understand your family's multi-generational potential. Learn more here: The Dynastus Letters.PS: I personally really liked the posts he did on the Johnson family from Wisconsin (here is Part 1). Hire Catholic Overseas TalentIn LatAm and the Philippines, there are millions of Catholic remote workers (across all domains) who want to work for ethical bosses.Often, they’re treated as second-class citizens or work for organizations that ask them to do questionable things. They reach out to us in search of a Catholic boss.So, we started ParacleteVA (website coming soon).With ParacleteVA, we’ll find you vetted, Catholic overseas talent who will help you move your business forward.How it works: Pay a $500 finders fee when the candidate starts and $500 if you’re still happy with them after 30 days.To get started, reach out to catholicfounders@gmail.com with what you’re looking for, and we’ll get started.Key Episode References:Books & Literary Works* American Nations by Colin Woodward* Leaving a Legacy by Johann Kurtz* Family Fortunes by Bill and Will Bonner* Raising Heirs by Bill BonnerSaints & Spiritual Devotions* Father Michael J. McGivney* Saint Thomas Aquinas* Saint Thérèse of Lisieux* Exodus 90Bible Passages* Genesis 1:28* The Parable of the TalentsOrganizations & People* Knights of Columbus* Dr. Daniel Tatahe (Mercy Dental Group)* Tim Connors* Becoming NobleSelect Quotes:* “We are created in the image and likeness of God. And what does that mean, right? It has nothing to do with appearances. It has everything to do with the nature of who we are.” - Silas Mähner* “If a family wants to maintain its wealth over the long period, there has to be a a sense of continued growth and continued building.” - Silas Mähner* “We are choosing to enter into the I the the act of co-creation so that we may become an instrument of God's will in the world.” - Silas Mähner* “Well it's a really it's purpose versus reason, isn't it? You can come up with a million reasons but you can only really have one, maybe two purposes.” - Ben Black* “Purpose and intention massively change the outcome.” - Silas Mähner* “If you're an entrepreneur, you just can't help it. You have to do it. Like it's something that eventually will come out of you.” - Silas Mähner* “He(God) doesn't promise us success financially, right? He promises us to be with us” - Silas Mähner* “The world is incomplete when you don't live out your gifts.” - Silas Mähner* “With a bit of unity, what your family can accomplish with that shared faith and with the shared name is immense.” - Ben Black* “And the the idea is you are the genesis. If you aren't inheriting something or you aren't taking over something, then you are the genesis of this. And you are the person that is going to set the things in motion for the next generation.” - Ben BlackKey Moments: (outline)* (00:04) - Intro: Silas introduces the cross-post interview with Ben Black, highlighting Ben’s work with The Dynastus Letters.* (00:58) - In-Group Preference: Ben and Silas talk about how ethnic and religious groups historically preserve faith and wealth by doing business together.* (03:59) - Cultural Geographies of America: Silas references Colin Woodward’s American Nations to explain the deep-rooted cultural differences across US regions.* (05:36) - Openness and the Survival Instinct: An exploration of early Christian survival mechanisms versus modern cultural security and economic collaboration.* (13:14) - Co-Creation and Transcendentals: Silas defines the entrepreneurial urge as an extension of mankind’s role as co-creators, filtering through truth, goodness, beauty, and unity.* (19:58) - Purpose vs. Profit in Business: St. Thomas Aquinas’s bread-baking analogy is used to demonstrate how intent shapes customer satisfaction and organizational culture.* (23:42) - The Calling of an Entrepreneur: Silas breaks down his personal transition out of corporate bureaucracy and reframes financial risk through divine providence.* (33:04) - Radical Stewardship of Employees & Capital: A deep dive into modern workplace management, including living wages and treating business capital as God’s money.* (41:28) - Doctrine and Business Strategy: Playing devil’s advocate on whether Christian moral constraints limit long-term business growth and ...