Leading Organizations That Matter: Episode 64 Summary

Title: Matthew Potter: Is Faith in Fashion?
Host: Rey Spadoni
Guest: Matthew Potter, Co-Founder of Pray.com
Release Date: April 22, 2025

1. Introduction to the Episode

In this episode of Leading Organizations That Matter, host Rey Spadoni explores the intersection of faith and technology by interviewing Matthew Potter, the co-founder of Pray.com. This discussion marks a departure from the podcast's typical leadership and organizational focus, delving into how faith integrates with modern digital platforms to create meaningful impact.

2. Overview of Pray.com

[03:16] Matthew Potter:
Pray.com is positioned as the leading app for daily prayer and faith-based content in the United States. Since its inception in October 2016, the platform has achieved significant milestones:

• 19 million downloads
• 168 million content shares
• 3 billion listening minutes (equivalent to over 1,700 years of content consumption)
• 200 million podcast downloads in the last 18 months

Pray.com serves a broad audience, including Christians and those curious about faith, striving to provide accessible spiritual resources through advanced technology.

3. Matthew Potter's Personal Journey

[05:18] Matthew Potter:
Matthew shares a compelling personal story about his adoption by a church community, which ignited his passion for technology and faith. A pivotal encounter with Steve Jobs at Pixar inspired him to pursue technology, leading to the creation of Homestack, a successful app development company for real estate businesses. Feeling unfulfilled despite professional success, Matthew sought deeper purpose, ultimately co-founding Pray.com with Steve Gatina after recognizing the need for a digital Christian destination.

4. Cultural Shift Towards Faith-Based Content

[12:46] Matthew Potter:
Matthew observes a dual trend where traditional church attendance is declining, yet faith-based content consumption is surging—up 52% over the past two years. He explains this as a pendulum swing back towards orthodoxy, driven by increased digital accessibility. The convenience of smartphones has transformed how people engage with their faith, enabling more frequent and prolonged interactions compared to traditional church settings.

5. Faith and Mental Health

[17:05] Matthew Potter:
Discussing the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Matthew highlights how increased mental health challenges have driven individuals back to faith. Pray.com conducts clinical trials and studies led by Dr. Brie Laird, demonstrating that regular engagement with prayer and Christian content can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. “Developing that daily healthy habit of prayer, reading your Bible, engaging with your faith, that has the largest decrease in those mental health symptoms.”

6. Integrating Faith into the Workplace

[22:46] Matthew Potter:
The integration of faith into professional environments is becoming more prevalent. Matthew references the Ready Index, which measures organizational diversity and openness to religious expression. Companies are increasingly incorporating faith-based resources into employee benefits programs, such as offering access to Pray.com alongside meditation apps like Calm. Additionally, major corporations like Google and Facebook have established Christian employee resource groups facilitating Bible studies and faith-based initiatives.

7. Balancing Business and Ministry

[26:55] Matthew Potter:
Matthew addresses the balance between Pray.com's business objectives and its mission-driven focus. He emphasizes the company’s mantra: “Margin and mission, profit and purpose.” By aligning business decisions with the needs and goals of their faith-based customer base, Pray.com ensures that profitability and mission coexist harmoniously. This alignment allows the company to prioritize serving their users' spiritual needs while maintaining sustainable growth.

8. The Impact of Artificial Intelligence

[29:17] Matthew Potter:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in enhancing Pray.com's offerings. In collaboration with Palantir, Pray.com employs AI to:

• Personalize Content: Tailoring spiritual resources to individual users' needs.
• Enhance User Experience: Creating cinematic audio and animated series efficiently.
• Support Mental Health: Recommending specific content to address users' mental and spiritual crises.

Matthew underscores the dual-edged nature of AI, advocating for its ethical use to foster good, such as saving lives through timely interventions via the app. “AI can be used for so many incredible things and we need to continue to use it for those amazing and good things.”

9. Challenges and Concerns

[34:13] Matthew Potter:
Despite technological advancements, Matthew expresses concern over the erosion of human connections. He notes the paradox of living in a highly connected digital world while experiencing diminishing personal relationships. “With everything that's happening right now, we live in the most connected world, but we have the least amount of best friends.” Matthew fears that over-reliance on technology could undermine the essential human-to-human interactions that sustain community and personal well-being.

10. Call to Action and Conclusion

[35:04] Matthew Potter:
Matthew invites listeners to explore Pray.com by offering a free one-year subscription via a special link provided in the podcast. He encourages both believers and curious individuals to engage with the platform’s extensive faith-based resources.

[37:13] Ray Spadoni:
Rey thanks Matthew for the insightful conversation and acknowledges the significant cultural impact Pray.com is making. He encourages listeners to try the app and supports the mission of empowering organizations that matter.

Notable Quotes

• Matthew Potter:
  • [16:09] “Developing that daily healthy habit of prayer, reading your Bible, engaging with your faith, that has the largest decrease in those mental health symptoms.”
  • [26:15] “Margin and mission, profit and purpose.”
  • [29:17] “AI can be used for so many incredible things and we need to continue to use it for those amazing and good things.”
  • [34:13] “With everything that's happening right now, we live in the most connected world, but we have the least amount of best friends.”

Key Takeaways

• Pray.com has become a leading platform for faith-based content, aligning technology with spiritual growth.
• Personal Purpose: Matthew Potter’s journey from tech entrepreneurship to faith-driven innovation underscores the search for deeper meaning beyond professional success.
• Cultural Trends: There’s a significant shift towards digital faith engagement, even as traditional church attendance declines.
• Mental Health: Regular engagement with faith through Pray.com can have tangible mental health benefits.
• Workplace Integration: Faith is increasingly recognized as an integral part of employees’ lives, leading to more inclusive and supportive work environments.
• Ethical AI Use: AI is leveraged to enhance user experience and support mental well-being, highlighting the importance of ethical technology applications.
• Human Connection: Despite technological advancements, maintaining genuine human relationships remains a critical concern.

Explore Pray.com

Listeners interested in experiencing Pray.com can access a free one-year subscription by visiting pray.com/matt. This offer provides full access to all app features, fostering a deeper engagement with faith and community.

For more insights into leadership and meaningful organizational practices, subscribe to Leading Organizations That Matter and stay informed on topics that empower and elevate both leaders and their teams.