The Grateful Podcast with Jack Wagoner
Episode 87
Guesting Joshua Dean Church
Born with a collapsed lung and told he’d never be an athlete, Joshua Dean Church defied the odds—completing an Ironman and sending the finish line photo to the doctor who once doubted him. A Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, Josh built a $20M company in three years, only to shut it down when it no longer aligned with his purpose.
In this deep, soulful, and fiercely honest episode, Josh shares:
• How adversity isn’t in the way—it becomes the way
• Why leading others starts with leading yourself
• The 5 pillars of modern leadership
• His journey from black sheep to heart-centered leader
• The dance between faith, intuition, and ambition
• What “living what you rap about” really means
We talk journaling, mental toughness, spiritual growth, and how to find the next step when you feel completely lost.
Chapters:
00:00 Embracing Pain and Adversity
03:55 The Journey of Intuition and Inner Guidance
06:48 Navigating Business Failure and Growth
09:47 Lessons from Failure and Leadership Development
12:46 The Shift in Podcast Focus: Leadership
15:41 The Importance of Historical Leaders
19:18 Defining Modern Leadership
22:16 The Dance of Surrender and Action
36:55 The Power of Gratitude and Ambition
42:55 Finding Balance: The Middle Path
49:17 Navigating Misalignment and Seeking Clarity
📍 This is one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the podcast. Listen closely.
Find Josh:
Website: https://www.joshuadeanchurch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuadeanchurch/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshchurch
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joshuadeanchurch
The Way You Lead Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-way-you-lead/id1475360470
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/r1N4agSN0k0
Subscribe for more deep conversations with thinkers, seekers, and soulful creators. 🙏
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🧠 More from Jack:
Newsletter (Magic, Meaning & Momentum): https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/aa6b0945-43aa-43c8-b320-0fde6998f852?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack_wagoner_/
1:1 Coaching & Dream-Chasing Guidance: jackcwagoner@gmail.com
💬 If you found this conversation meaningful, send it to a friend and leave a review. It really helps more people find this kind of soul-nourishing content.
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🎙️ About Jack:
I’m an 18-year-old high school student with a big dream: to show the world that you can be grateful and ambitious at the same time. Through The Grateful Podcast, I explore what it means to live a meaningful life—one deep conversation at a time.
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