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The Finish Line Podcast

The Finish Line Podcast

Written by: The Finish Line Team
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Kealan, a surgeon, and Cody, a financial advisor, discuss the intersection of faith, generosity, and personal finance. They’re joined by a variety of guests, including pastors, financial advisors, radically generous givers, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and nonprofit leaders to explore one central question: How do we best steward God’s wealth?

On The Finish Line Podcast, you’ll hear challenging and inspirational stories of tremendous generosity. You’ll also learn from experts in multiple fields about topics like setting a financial finish line, giving efficiently and effectively, and teaching generosity to your children. More than anything, though, you’ll see how God is constantly at work redeeming the world He created and loves.

Visit the website at www.finishlinepledge.com to learn more.

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Episodes
  • James Waters, Founder of Kingdom Impact, on Balancing Prayerful Discernment and Strategic Analysis in Generosity (Ep. 187)

    James Waters, Founder of Kingdom Impact, on Balancing Prayerful Discernment and Strategic Analysis in Generosity (Ep. 187)
    May 4 2026
    James Waters, founder of Kingdom Impact and leader in development of the Christian Impact Framework, joins Cody and Kealan to share how God reshaped his life from personal loss and restless success into a calling at the intersection of research, mission, and stewardship. After encountering Christ during university and later witnessing both the beauty and brokenness of global development work, James began asking deeper questions about how Christians can pursue meaningful impact without losing dependence on the Holy Spirit. Through his work, James now helps ministries, businesses, and givers think more clearly about spiritual and social impact, building frameworks that bring clarity without replacing prayerful discernment. He explores the tension between faithfulness and fruitfulness, showing how wise measurement can strengthen stewardship, deepen relationships, and ultimately give glory to God. At the same time, he acknowledges the challenges of pride, misplaced identity, and over-reliance on systems, pointing back to humility and obedience as the foundation for Kingdom impact. Consider how combining prayerful discernment with thoughtful strategy could reshape the way you pursue lasting Kingdom impact. Major Topics Include: Balancing faithfulness and measurable fruitfulnessStewardship through thoughtful impact measurementTension between strategy and Holy Spirit dependenceDefining and clarifying spiritual impact outcomesAvoiding noise by focusing measurement prioritiesHumility and teachability in Kingdom workRelational generosity versus transactional givingIdentity, pride, and the savior mindset in givingIntegrating prayer with strategic decision-makingDiversity of callings in Kingdom impact QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Measure the impact and give Him all the glory.”“If you measure everything, you kind of measure nothing.”“We’re called to be accountable for our faithfulness, but true fruit comes from abiding in Jesus.”“There’s a tension between faithfulness and fruitfulness, and that tension should lead us to humility.”“We need to be on our knees, and thinking, planning, and being diligent.”“The bigger trap for the giver is the savior mindset, which is ultimately rooted in pride.”“If an organization is not willing to learn, that’s a bigger red flag than not having impact.”“There are Kingdom principles that can lead to a hundredfold return.”“I also believe that God celebrates wild sacrifice that looks like a complete waste.”“Success is just being obedient to what God has told you to do.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Kingdom ImpactChristian Impact FrameworkAccord NetworkEIDO ResearchEagle Venture Fund (see our interview with General Partner Wes Lyons)Hope International (see our interview with founder, Jeff Rutt or CEO, Peter Greer) BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW 1 Corinthians 3:6 | God Gives the Growth I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. John 15:5 | Abiding Bears Fruit I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Ephesians 3:10 | Manifold Wisdom Displayed So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Matthew 22:37 | Love God Fully And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 26:7–13 | The Alabaster Jar John 15:8 | Fruit That Glorifies God By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime. But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What’s that next step look like for me?” That’s exactly why we’ve launched a whole new podcast called Applied Generosity which explores the full landscape of the generous life across 7 different dimensions of generosity. Applied Generosity helps make sense of the hundreds of stories we’ve shared on the Finish Line Podcast to help you find that best next step. If you’ve been inspired by these stories and want to take things to the next level, check out Applied Generosity anywhere you listen to podcasts or at appliedgenerosity.com.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Teri Bledsoe, Board Chair of Women Doing Well, on Joyful Giving Through Suffering (Ep. 186)

    Teri Bledsoe, Board Chair of Women Doing Well, on Joyful Giving Through Suffering (Ep. 186)
    Apr 20 2026
    Teri Bledsoe is an entrepreneur, mother, and board chair with Women Doing Well whose life has been shaped by both deep faith and profound hardship. From a young age, she sensed God’s presence and developed a posture of generosity, but it was through marriage, adoption, and seasons of financial uncertainty that her trust in God was refined. A pivotal moment early in her marriage revealed God’s personal care, setting a foundation for a lifelong journey of open-handed giving and dependence on Him. As God entrusted Teri and her husband Chris with significant wealth through a business exit, He simultaneously led them through painful seasons, including the loss of their son. Rather than separating joy and suffering, God used both to deepen their intimacy with Him and with each other. Through her involvement with Women Doing Well and other generosity communities, Teri now helps others discover that generosity is not about outcomes, but about responding to God’s invitation and experiencing His joy in every circumstance. Listen to explore how God meets you in suffering and invites you into a deeper, joy-filled life of generosity. Major Topics Include: Generosity as response to God’s invitationFaith formed through suffering and surrenderDefining “enough” to unlock freedomJoy and sorrow coexisting in Kingdom lifeStewardship over ownership of wealthGenerosity strengthening marital unityCommunity as catalyst for generous livingMining for joy through intentional givingTrusting God’s character over outcomes QUOTES TO REMEMBER “Generosity is a response of gratitude to who He is and what He shows us of His character and His love and His grace.”“Generosity isn’t an outcome-based exercise in the Kingdom. It’s an intimacy and relational exercise with the King.”“God of the universe was talking to me and saying, ‘I see you, and I’m going to move heaven and earth so you don’t miss an opportunity to respond to my goodness.’”“You cannot outgive God.”“He is not a taker. He’s a giver.”“Those tracks of joy and sorrow were just running straight parallel.”“The joy of giving and being on mission with the Lord was the only counterbalance to the suffering.”“There’s a special grace in suffering where He shows you that He is enough.”“I won’t let go until you show me your joy.”“When you give, what you specifically gain is the joy of the Lord.”“Generosity is the way He unlocks that joy.”“The greatest joy of giving has been what God has done between Chris and me.”“When I see him get burdened for a Kingdom cause, I fall in love all over again.”“Have 100% confidence in God, and He’ll take care of whatever giving mistakes you might make.”“He is enough. He is whatever you need.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Women Doing Well (see our interview with president Julie Wilson)The Gathering (see our interview with CEO Josh Kwan)National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)Generous Giving (see our interviews with cofounders Todd Harper and David Wills and CEO, April Chapman)Redeemer City to CityPine Cove Christian Summer CampsExperiencing God by Henry BlackabyTheo of Golden by Allen LeviThe Power of Generosity by Boyd Bailey BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Malachi 3:10 | Test Me in This “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” Psalm 27:8 | Seek His Face “You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’” John 10:10 | Life to the Full “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Acts 20:35 | More Blessed to Give “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” John 15:11 | Joy Made Full “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 3:16 | God So Loved He Gave “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” James 1:17 | Every Good Gift “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Genesis 32:26 | Wrestling with God “Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day has broken.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’” TAKE A STEP DEEPER On the Finish Line podcast, we are all about stories, seeing how God draws us into generosity over a lifetime. But sometimes these stories can leave us thinking, “What’s that next step look like for me?” That’s exactly why we’ve launched a whole new...
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Joe Daly, Business Owner, on Upside Down Generosity in Life and Business (Ep. 185)

    Joe Daly, Business Owner, on Upside Down Generosity in Life and Business (Ep. 185)
    Apr 6 2026
    Joe Daly, founder of Daly Goods, shares a journey shaped by a deep desire to align work, money, and calling under God’s authority. Growing up in a faithful home yet wrestling through struggles and misplaced identity, Joe describes how God used confession, community, and Scripture to transform his understanding of freedom and purpose. A pivotal season after college, marked by discipleship and spiritual formation, reoriented his life toward wholehearted surrender. Today, Joe leads a handcrafted leather goods company with a vision far beyond profit. He and his wife practice what he calls “upside-down generosity”, setting a lifestyle cap, prioritizing giving first, and building a business designed to serve employees, customers, and Kingdom impact. Through risks like radical giving and leaving vocational ministry, Joe has seen God provide in unexpected ways while refining his heart around dependence and stewardship. This conversation offers a grounded, hopeful vision for integrating faith with everyday financial decisions and long-term calling. Consider how surrendering control of your work and resources might open new space to trust God more fully. Major Topics Include: Surrendering work, money, and calling to GodIdentity beyond performance, success, or rolePracticing generosity through receiving and givingUpside-down generosity and lifestyle cap principlesFaithful risk-taking in business and callingGuarding against greed and materialismDesigning business for Kingdom impact and stewardshipDependence on God through first-fruits givingAligning long-term vision with eternal perspective QUOTES TO REMEMBER “God doesn’t care where you get your paycheck from. He cares where your heart’s at.”“Never say never and never say always when you follow Jesus, because you never know what He’s going to do.”“The joy of generosity can only happen if someone else is willing to receive.”“We felt the Lord call us to give more than we’d ever given before, and it was one of the most joyful experiences of our lives.”“It did not make mathematical sense, and it was just mind-blowing how God provided.”“The word ‘enough’ is so, so powerful.”“Greed and materialism are two of the greatest evils in the world today.”“Business success is more dangerous to my soul than business failure.”“If dependence is the goal, weakness is an advantage.”“You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.”“Heaven is our home. Life is a vapor. That changes how I think about money.”“Generosity is more than money, but it’s never less.” LINKS FROM THE SHOW Daly GoodsAlan Barnhart, Business Leader (see our past interview here)Pete Ochs, founder of Capital III and Enterprise Stewardship (see our past interview here)National Christian Foundation (see our interview with President Emeritus, David Wills)God Owns my Business by Stanley Tam and Ken AndersonSacred Pace by Terry Looper BIBLE REFERENCES FROM THE SHOW Matthew 23:27 | Whitewashed Tomb Warning “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.” Romans 7:15 | Struggle with Sin “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” 2 Corinthians 8:2 | Generosity in Poverty “For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.” Acts 2:44–45 | Shared Possessions “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” Acts 4:32–35 | No One In Need Philippians 4:12–13 | Contentment in Little and Much I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 1 Corinthians 16:2 | Systematic Giving “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper…” Matthew 6:3–4 | Giving in Secret But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 5:16 | Let Your Light Shine In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. John 3:16 | God’s Gift of Salvation “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” 1 Peter 2:9 | Kingdom of Priests “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his ...
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    1 hr and 3 mins
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