Shows
Going Big! with Kevin GentryFinding the Meaning of Your Life in an Age of EmptinessMillions of people say life feels empty, even when they’re achieving more than ever. Why is that happening, and how do you reverse it? In this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Arthur C. Brooks — Harvard professor, bestselling author, and one of the world’s leading voices on happiness and meaning — to unpack what Brooks calls the “meaning gap.” Arthur shares his own journey of reinvention: from professional musician to public policy leader, and then a deliberate pivot into the science of happiness, purpose, love, and faith. They explore how modern technology can keep people trapped in “...
2026-03-2357 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Mayor Lily Wu: From Learning English at 8 to Leading a Major American CityOn this special episode of Going Big!, released on March 16 -- Wichita's "316 Day" -- Wichita Mayor Lily Wu joins host Kevin Gentry for a conversation about civic leadership, immigrant grit, and what it looks like to “go big” as a true outsider. Without prior election experience — and without the backing of either major political party — Wu ran for mayor of Wichita in 2023 and won decisively. She explains why she believed the city needed a new direction, and how focusing on the core services of local government helped her connect with voters across the community. Wu also shares her family’s immigration...
2026-03-1645 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Andy Kessler: Productivity, Profits, and Innovation in the Age of Artificial IntelligenceEpisode Description
What does it mean to find your unique skill set when technology is moving faster than most people can process? In this episode, Kevin Gentry sits down with _Wall Street Journal_ columnist and innovation optimist Andy Kessler to break down how high performers and high agency leaders can thrive through the biggest technology shift of our time. Andy lays out a simple but powerful framework for Going Big today: become relentlessly productive by doing more with less, pursue profit as a signal that you are creating real value for society, and most importantly, learn to spot major trends ea...
2026-03-0955 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Asha Curran: Building Giving Tuesday into a Shared Culture of GenerosityWhat happens when you stop trying to control a movement and instead design it to be owned by everyone? In this episode of the Going Big! Podcast, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Asha Curran, Chief Executive Officer of Giving Tuesday, the global generosity movement that began as a simple idea and grew into a year-round force for good across more than one hundred countries. Initially conceived as a counter-movement against Black Friday, #GivingTuesday was invented to encourage people to do good through donations and acts of service every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Asha breaks down how it...
2026-03-0255 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with John Yates III: Faith, Leadership, and the Digital AgeWhat if Going Big doesn’t mean building a massive platform — but laying a foundation that lasts for generations? In this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Reverend John Yates III, rector of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. The son of influential pastor John Yates II, Yates has chosen a different but equally ambitious path to live out and develop long-term faithfulness. Yates shares how his father’s steady leadership shaped him, what he learned working closely with renowned theologian John Stott, and why mentoring often happens not through formal instruction but through quiet...
2026-02-1653 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Fr. Robert Sirico: Faith, Freedom, and the Formation of a Life’s CallingIn this episode of Going Big, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Fr. Robert Sirico — priest, thinker, and co-founder of the Acton Institute — to explore a remarkable life shaped by bold ideas, unexpected turns, and an unwavering commitment to the dignity of the human person. Fr. Sirico reflects on his early years in Brooklyn, his immersion in the social movements of the 1970s, and the intellectual journey that ultimately led him back to faith and into the priesthood. He shares how thinkers like Michael Novak, Cardinal Avery Dulles, and others helped him integrate theology, human freedom, economics, and moral reasoning into...
2026-02-0955 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Aditi Goel and David Carroll: Taking On America’s Hidden Justice CrisisIn this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Aditi Goel and David Carroll, the executive director and founder of the Sixth Amendment Center, to explore one of the most misunderstood crises in American law: the failure of many local courts to provide legal counsel to people who can’t afford it. Though the Constitution guarantees the right to an attorney, millions of Americans are being prosecuted, sentenced, and even jailed without ever speaking to one. In lower courts, the right to counsel often doesn't exist. Goel and Carroll share their journey of building the only national org...
2026-02-021h 01
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Dr. Michael Crow: Redesigning the American UniversityWhat if excellence in higher education wasn’t about who you exclude—but about how many you can empower to succeed? In this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Dr. Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University and one of the most visionary university leaders in America. Over the past two decades, Dr. Crow has led a sweeping transformation of ASU—turning it into the nation’s largest research university, dramatically expanding access, and pioneering a new model of continuous innovation. They explore how ASU scaled from 55,000 to over 200,000 degree-seeking students without compromising quality, why the universi...
2026-01-1948 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Governor Glenn Youngkin: From Basketball to the Boardroom to the CapitolIn this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Governor Glenn Youngkin for a wide‑ranging and deeply personal conversation that goes far beyond politics. From growing up in a working‑class Virginia family shaped by resilience, to leading one of the world’s most influential investment firms, to answering an unexpected call to public service, Governor Youngkin shares the defining moments that prepared him for leadership. He reflects on the mentors who challenged him, the role of faith in shaping his marriage and decision‑making, and the lessons sports taught him about teamwork, discipline, and results. Kevin an...
2026-01-1257 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Gay Gaines: The Woman Behind the GOP Revolution and the Revival of Mount VernonWhat does it take to launch a revolution—twice? In this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Gay Gaines, one of the most influential civic leaders of the last half-century. She helped build GOPAC into the engine that propelled Newt Gingrich to the speakership in 1994. Then she went on to raise over $100 million to transform Mount Vernon into the national treasure it is today. Gay’s story is about more than political strategy or philanthropy—it’s about fearlessness. From befriending Margaret Thatcher and Bill Buckley to organizing with Rush Limbaugh and inspiring thousands to give generous...
2026-01-0539 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryRethinking Higher Ed with a First-Gen College DeanHost Kevin Gentry sits down with Dr. Scott Beaulier, Dean of the University of Wyoming College of Business, for a conversation about what it takes to keep going when life and leadership get hard. Dr. Beaulier shares how growing up in Iron Mountain, Michigan, working his way up at McDonald’s, and being the first in his family to pursue college shaped his grit, discipline, and drive to pursue something bigger. From marathon miles to major decisions, he unpacks the moments that define you, including “hitting the wall,” facing pressure, and pushing through when quitting feels easier. He also shares how men...
2025-12-2255 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Tim Busch: Serial Entrepreneurship, Faith, and Cultural RenewalHost Kevin Gentry sits down with entrepreneur and philanthropist Tim Busch to explore how faith, hard work, and vision shaped his journey from working in a Michigan supermarket to leading several major businesses and founding influential institutions. Tim shares how early discipline, entrepreneurial grit, and a commitment to openly living his Catholic faith guided him as he built enterprises in law, real estate, hospitality, and beyond. They discuss the creation of Legatus, the Napa Institute, the Magis Institute, and the Tim and Steph Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, along with Tim’s belief that leaders sh...
2025-12-1551 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Rev. Dan Marotta: Small Faithfulness and Big ImpactHost Kevin Gentry sits down with Rev. Dan Marotta of Redeemer Anglican Church in Richmond, Virginia, for a powerful conversation about what it truly means to go big by first being faithful in the small things. Rev. Marotta shares his unexpected journey from studying marine biology to entering ministry, shaped through heartbreak, loss, and a renewed encounter with the hope of Jesus Christ. He explains how most people discover their calling through steady obedience rather than dramatic signs, and why paying close attention to what God has already placed in front of you can lead to life-changing purpose. Kevin and...
2025-12-081h 03
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with François de Kerret: Zero-Fee Fundraising and Building Tools Nonprofits DeserveIn this episode of the Going Big! Podcast, host Kevin Gentry sits down with François de Kerret, the CEO and co-founder of Zeffy, a zero-fee fundraising platform now used by more than 50,000 nonprofits. François shares how a simple frustration he experienced while trying to volunteer turned into a platform that has helped nonprofits process over one billion dollars in donations. He explains why nonprofits deserve world-class technology, why overhead should not hold back impact, and how transparency and generosity from donors make Zeffy’s model work. Kevin and François talk about what it takes to scale something every...
2025-12-0144 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Dr. William Keyes: Mission, Mentorship, and a Pipeline of High ExpectationsHost Kevin Gentry sits down with Dr. William Keyes, founder of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship, for a masterclass in thinking big while staying focused. From hitchhiking to Washington with five dollars to advising President Ronald Reagan, Keyes shares how discipline, clarity of mission, and faith shaped a two-summer program that forges high character leaders through elite internships, intimate seminars in economics and the Constitution, and deep mentorship. The results speak for themselves, including multiple Rhodes, Truman, and Fulbright scholars and an alumni network defined by service, integrity, and high expectations. This conversation digs into how to resist mission creep, w...
2025-11-2453 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Christian Fischer and Chad Houser: Building Momentum for Second ChancesIn this inspiring episode of Going Big, host Kevin Gentry sits down with two visionary leaders who are changing lives through purpose, compassion, and courage. Christian Fischer, former CEO of Georgia-Pacific, and Chad Houser, founder of Café Momentum, share the story of how a bold idea to teach justice-involved youth culinary skills became a national movement transforming entire communities. Chad describes the moment he walked into a Dallas juvenile detention center to teach eight young men to make ice cream—and how that simple act sparked a life-changing mission. From that day forward, Café Momentum grew into a powerful model of m...
2025-11-1758 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big Through Service: Ryan Manion and the Legacy of “If Not Me, Then Who"In this powerful episode of Going Big, host Kevin Gentry talks with Ryan Manion, President of the Travis Manion Foundation, about turning personal loss into national impact. After her brother, First Lieutenant Travis Manion, was killed in Iraq, Ryan carried his words, “If not me, then who?”, into a mission that now inspires millions. Together they explore what it means to go big through service, showing how resilience, mentorship, and purpose can transform tragedy into a movement that empowers veterans, uplifts families, and shapes the next generation of leaders. This is a conversation about courage, leadership, and how one family’s sacr...
2025-11-1056 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Rep. Burgess Owens: Faith, Grit, and the American DreamIn this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Congressman Burgess Owens for an unforgettable conversation about perseverance, faith, and rediscovering the American Dream. From growing up in the segregated South to becoming a Super Bowl champion and later rebuilding his life after losing everything, Burgess shares how grit, humility, and service became his foundation. He reflects on the values that shaped his journey—faith, family, free enterprise, and education—and how they continue to drive his mission in Congress and his work with underserved youth. Burgess speaks candidly about failure, resilience, mentorship, and how America’s spirit...
2025-11-0345 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Art Laffer & Lord Matthew Elliott: Prosperity Through People and PolicyWhat does it take to spark a national economic renaissance? In this episode of the Going Big! podcast, host Kevin Gentry is joined by two of the most influential economic minds and strategists of our time — Dr. Art Laffer, legendary architect of the Laffer Curve, and Lord Matthew Elliott, strategist behind Brexit and co‑founder of the UK’s TaxPayers’ Alliance. Together they unpack their new book Prosperity Through Growth: Boosting Living Standards in an Age of Autocracy and Artificial Intelligence and share a bold vision for rebuilding nations by focusing on five universal levers: tax, spending, regulation, trade, and monetary policy. W...
2025-10-2739 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Daron Babcock: From Brokenness to Building a National Model for CommunityDescription: In this episode of Going Big, host Kevin Gentry welcomes Daron Babcock, the visionary behind Bonton Farms, one of America’s largest urban farming movements and a national model for restorative community development. After enduring profound personal loss and battling addiction, Daron rebuilt his life by choosing to serve others. He didn’t launch a grand plan. He simply showed up in a neighborhood most people overlooked. What began as one garden on an empty lot in South Dallas has blossomed into a thriving ecosystem of dignity, jobs, health, housing, and hope. Bonton Farms is more than a farm. It’s...
2025-10-2040 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Kay Coles James: From the Kitchen Table to the White HouseIn this unforgettable episode of the Going Big Podcast, Kevin Gentry sits down with one of the most accomplished and authentic public servants of our time — Kay Coles James. From being born on a kitchen table in Portsmouth, Virginia, to leading institutions like the Heritage Foundation, the Office of Personnel Management, and founding the Gloucester Institute, Kay’s story is a powerful testament to faith, grit, and purpose. She shares what it means to live “unbothered” — a life anchored in trust, calling, and conviction — and how she navigated decades of public service while staying true to her values as a wife, mother...
2025-10-1344 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Don Miller: Why Story Changes EverythingIn this episode of Going Big!, host Kevin Gentry sits down with best-selling author and entrepreneur Don Miller. Known for groundbreaking books like Blue Like Jazz, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Hero on a Mission, and the transformative Building a StoryBrand, Don shares how storytelling has shaped his life and helped countless leaders and organizations clarify their message. From his early memoirs to creating one of the most influential frameworks in modern marketing, Don reveals how the art of story can drive growth, inspire action, and create lasting impact. Whether you lead a business, a nonprofit, or a...
2025-10-0644 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big! With Wendy Borcherdt: Lessons from Ronald Reagan’s Vision for AmericaIn this episode of Going Big!, Kevin Gentry sits down with Wendy Borcherdt, one of Ronald Reagan’s earliest and most influential supporters. From his first run for governor to his years in the White House, Wendy offers rare insights into Reagan’s deep faith, unshakable moral compass, and decisive leadership. Through her stories, we see how Reagan embodied what it truly means to Go Big for a great cause. From the student riots in Berkeley to confronting the Soviet Union, his courage shaped a vision for America that still inspires today. Wendy’s reflections remind us that true greatness comes f...
2025-09-2959 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryOne Year of Going Big!: The Best of Going BigThis highlights episode of the Going Big! Podcast celebrates our first year with some fantastic guests. Host Kevin Gentry brings together the most powerful clips from Year One, showing what it means to Go Big in business, leadership, and life. Hear directly from Jeff Rosenthal of Summit and Powder Mountain, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Professor Todd Rose, restaurateur Will Guidara, Senator Phil Gramm, Reverend John Yates, radio host Erick Erickson, businessmen and philanthropists Art Pope, Tom Smith, Doug DeVos, and University President Katherine Rowe. Their stories highlight how risk-taking fuels growth, how mentors multiply your impact, and how bold leadership inspires o...
2025-09-221h 27
Going Big! with Kevin GentryPresident Lech Wałęsa on Faith, Courage, and Going Big for DemocracyIn this inspiring episode of the Going Big podcast, host Kevin Gentry sits down with President Lech Wałęsa, the shipyard electrician from Gdańsk, Poland, who defied the Soviet Union, ignited a movement of over ten million people, and helped reshape the course of history. With courage rooted in faith and conviction, President Wałęsa led the Solidarity movement, earned the Nobel Peace Prize, and became the first democratically elected President of Poland since 1926— a true example of what it means to go big. Now in his eighties, President Wałęsa reflects on how faith overcomes fear, why collective wisdom is...
2025-09-1528 min
Going Big! with Kevin Gentry🎙️ Going Big with Jim Law: A Vineyard, a Vision, and the Virtue of PatienceJim Law’s story is not one of chasing spotlight or scale. It is a story of deliberate choices, decades of experimentation, and a deep respect for the land. From the hills of the Congo to the rocky slopes of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Jim has lived a life built on clarity, humility, and conviction. At Linden Vineyards, he has chosen to remain small so that the quality could go deep. His focus on terroir, soil, and precision farming has turned him into one of the quiet pioneers of the East Coast wine movement. He did not set out to G...
2025-09-0839 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big for Free Speech: Greg Lukianoff on Empowering Minds and Protecting ExpressionGoing Big means standing up for fundamental principles when it is hard, not just when it is popular. Greg Lukianoff has built a career doing exactly that. In this timely conversation, host Kevin Gentry talks with Greg, the president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), about what it truly takes to protect one of our most essential freedoms: the right to speak, to question, and to think independently. Greg has gone big in every way. He has taken on universities, pushed back against digital censorship, partnered with innovators to keep artificial intelligence free from political bias, and...
2025-09-0158 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big in Business, Public Policy, and Philanthropy: The Art Pope BlueprintJoin host Kevin Gentry for an insightful conversation with Art Pope—a principled leader who has gone big in business, in state government, and in giving back. As CEO of Variety Wholesalers, Art helped grow a 600-store retail network serving thousands of communities. He’s also served as North Carolina’s state budget director, spent years in the legislature, and leads major philanthropic efforts through the John William Pope Foundation and the Bradley Foundation. In this episode, Art shares lessons from his Depression-era father, the bold moves behind his company’s recent Big Lots acquisition, and why real philanthropy is about in...
2025-08-2557 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Rev. John Yates: Faith, Calling, and Transformational LeadershipJoin host Kevin Gentry on the Going Big podcast as he sits down with Rev. John Yates, a visionary leader who transformed a struggling church into a thriving community hub with national impact. In this inspiring episode, Rev. Yates shares profound insights on discovering your calling, embracing bold leadership, and living a life dedicated to serving others. From founding innovative programs like the Fellows and Timothies initiatives to navigating the challenges of church renewal and legal battles, John’s story is a testament to resilience, faith, and going big in purpose. Whether you’re seeking to deepen your leadership, answer a hi...
2025-08-181h 35
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big with Alan Smolinisky: From Immigrant Roots to Dodger Ownership and BeyondIn this inspiring episode of *Going Big!*, host Kevin Gentry sits down with Alan Smolinisky, a remarkable American entrepreneur, investor, and co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alan shares his compelling immigrant family story—from his parents’ courageous journey from Argentina to building a successful garment business in Los Angeles, to his own unconventional path through entrepreneurship and value investing. He discusses the resilience and optimism that fuel his ventures, including his thriving real estate empire and his bold move into professional sports ownership. Alan also opens up about his philanthropic work focused on poverty alleviation and immigration reform, and how h...
2025-08-1149 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryGoing Big: Political Revolutions, Fundraising, and Friendship Across the Aisle with Roger Craver and Richard ViguerieOn this episode of Going Big, host Kevin Gentry brings together two legends who have helped shape American politics and political fundraising from opposite ends of the spectrum: Roger Craver, the driving force behind progressive fundraising efforts for groups like the ACLU and Sierra Club, and Richard Viguerie, the conservative pioneer who transformed direct mail into a movement-building machine. Despite their sharp political differences, Roger and Richard share something bigger: decades of leadership, innovation, and an enduring friendship built on respect and shared experience. In this conversation, they reflect on the early days of grassroots organizing, the evolution of political...
2025-08-041h 02
Going Big! with Kevin GentryNewt Gingrich on Going Big: Big Ideas, Bold Leadership, and a Vision for America’s FutureWhat does it look like to go big on the national stage, and change the course of history in the process? In this special episode of Going Big!, Kevin Gentry sits down with Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to explore the power of bold ideas, strategic leadership, and relentless commitment to getting things done. From engineering the Contract with America to balancing the federal budget four years in a row, Speaker Gingrich shares behind-the-scenes stories of the decades long effort to transform American politics. He discusses the importance of thinking beyond the status quo...
2025-07-2850 min
Going Big! with Kevin GentryTodd Rose on Breaking the Mold, Ditching Average, and Going Big on Your Own TermsWhat happens when you stop chasing other people’s definitions of success and start building a life that fits who you really are? In this episode of Going Big!, Kevin Gentry sits down with Todd Rose—a former high school dropout turned Harvard professor, bestselling author, and co-founder of non-partisan think tank, Populace. From his groundbreaking book The End of Average to his powerful work on Dark Horse and Collective Illusions, Todd has reshaped how we think about individuality, success, and fulfillment. This episode is a bold invitation to reject one-size-fits-all thinking and embrace a path that’s uniquely yours. If you...
2025-07-211h 10
Going Big! with Kevin GentryNo Free Lunch: Veronique de Rugy on Debt, Freedom, and the Fight for GrowthOn this episode of the Going Big! Podcast, host Kevin Gentry welcomes Veronique de Rugy, a nationally syndicated columnist and one of America’s most respected economists advocating for limited government and economic freedom. As the George Gibbs Chair in Political Economy and a Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Veronique has spent her career sounding the alarm on unsustainable debt, overregulation, and the quiet damage of bloated government. In this powerful conversation, Veronique explains why massive government spending isn’t just a political issue—it’s a personal one. It affects your freedom, your future...
2025-07-141h 04