Prosper: Where serial entrepreneur (and bodyguard to St. John Paul II) Andreas Widmer and his friends navigate business challenges in the light of faith. Learn to live as a Principled Entrepreneur. Spiritually and professionally, we want to help you prosper!
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October 16, 2026Episode 343 min
Courage to Launch
Meet Will Deatherage, founder of Catholics for Hire, who launched his business while still in college and working other jobs -- and without formal business training. Learn how what began as an earnest desire to help faith-based businesses evolved into a stable of talented free-lance designers and project managers who love what they do and help other businesses shine. To seek work or services, check out Catholics for Hire Find The Barefoot Lawyer Podcast featuring human rights activist Chen Guangcheng.
October 2, 2026Episode 244 min
What does it take to become the type of leader people actually want to follow?
In this episode, Andreas and Rebecca are joined by Randy Hain, an author, executive coach, and founder of Serviam Partners. They discuss the habits and virtues that make leaders effective both inside and outside the workplace, how young people can bring their faith into their work without feeling the need to abandon one for the other, the ways healthy organizations approach relationships, and much more. Be sure to tune in! Find out what the Ciocca Center can offer you. #ProsperPodcast #CatholicPodcast #CatholicBusiness #season5 #YesButHow
September 18, 2026Episode 139 min
Be Not Afraid: Faith & the Call to Entrepreneurship
The long-awaited Season 5 is now live! Each season we hone in on a particular aspect of entrepreneurship, and Season 5 will focus on answering the question, “Yes, but how?” We’ll be looking at real, practical issues entrepreneurs face and how to navigate them, especially in light of our faith. Our first guest this season is Silas Mähner, the founder of both a recruitment firm based on clean tech innovation, as well as Catholic Founders, a platform dedicated to helping Catholics launch and grow their businesses. This was a really fun way to kick off Season 5, so tune in today!Check out Catholic Founders Find out what the Ciocca Center can offer you #ProsperPodcast #CatholicPodcast #CatholicBusiness #season5 #YesButHow
June 17, 202638 min
Encore of What We Get Wrong When Helping The Poor
Enjoy our encore presentation from Season S2, What We Get Wrong When Helping The Poor with Ismael Hernandez. Ismael Hernandez shares his remarkable journey from Fidel Castro's disciple to advocate for free market principles and individual dignity. He'll detail how coming to the U.S. caused him to re-evaluate free markets and human dignity —but also what it was like as a poor minority to be on the receiving end of charitable programs —and how we can and must do better. Learn more about the Freedom & Virtue Institute Hernandez's most recent book, Rethinking Charity: Restoring Dignity to Poverty Relief Study entrepreneurship at Catholic University's Busch School of Business Pursue a career in Church Management Take our free video course, The Gospel of Work ! Learn more about Andreas at Andreas Widmer Prosper Podcast is a production of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America
June 10, 202643 min
Encore of Taking the Risk Out of African Investment
Enjoy our encore presentation from Season 4, Taking the Risk Out of African Investment with Matt Hangen. In this episode of Prosper, host Andreas Widmer and Rebecca Teti welcome Matt Hangen, CEO of Water4, to discuss his journey from a troubled youth in Alabama to leading a project that provides sustainable piped water solutions in Africa. The conversation explores the innovative business model of Water4, which combines philanthropy with entrepreneurship and the power of the free market to overcome the limitations of conventional NGO approaches while uplifting women and families. You won't want to miss this powerful episode. Learn more about the innovative work of Water4.org . Matt Hangen is reading The Courage to Be . Join us for the Fall Meeting of the Family Business Consortium . Find out what the Ciocca Center can offer you at cioccacenter.com
June 4, 202650 min
Encore of Business Solutions for Women in the Workplace (ft. Regina Bethencourt)
As we gear up for Season 5, we thought we'd like to revisit some of our "greatest hits" over the last few seasons. All the way back in Season 2, we were joined by Regina Bethencourt, CEO of Tenuto Consulting. We discussed risk-taking, the journey of the entrepreneur, and support systems that help to build better work environments for everybody. Check out this great conversation and the rest of Prosper's library while Season 5 is in the works.Guest Regina Bethencourt, CEO of Tenuto, details how, not liking what she saw at a top NY marketing firm, she created her own company to provide a flexible work environment catering to the needs of parents, particularly mothers, who want to do challenging, excellent work as they care for their growing families. You'll also hear insights on building a competitive advantage in business through human connection and finding the right talent for flexible work. The discussion also touches on the entrepreneurial journey, the importance of taking risks, and the support systems that can help individuals succeed and build a more humane workplace for everyone. To register for the Dan Cellucci presentation on Feb. 27, 2025, please follow this link . To learn more about The Busch School of Business' unique approach to Human Resources, please contact Prof. Tracy Phillips: phillipstr@cua.edu Contact Regina's company at tenutoconsulting.com Find out more about the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University's Busch School of Business at CioccaCenter.com Resources mentioned in the conversation: Regina mentions The Five Hour Work Week . Find more about Patrick Lencioni at workinggenius.com . Rebecca mentions Regine Pernoud's Women in the Days of the Cathedrals Prosper Podcast is a production of the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America
May 27, 202646 min
Encore of Entrepreneurship & Low Income Communities
This week, we give thanks for the life of our friend Robert L. Woodson, Sr., who passed away on May 19. Of the many pieces of wisdom he shared with us, telling stories of radical grace and forgiveness in order to help form solutions to our culture’s problems was among the most profound. Revisit our episode with him from Season 4 today. Meet Robert L. Woodson Sr., the founder of the Woodson Center, a veteran of the American Civil Rights Movement, and an advocate of poverty alleviation and disadvantaged communities. From growing up in segregated Philadelphia to building a national movement for change, Woodson invites us to see people not as problems, but as untapped potential ready to prosper. We explore how business, virtue, and redemption can transform lives and communities. Mr. Woodson is currently reading The Future Once Happened Here: New York, D.C., L.A., and the Fate of America's Big Cities: Siegel, Fred . He is an accomplished writer of many good books, including The Triumphs of Joseph: How Todays Community Healers Are Reviving Our Streets and Neighborhoods , Lessons From the Least of These: The Woodson Principles Red, White, and Black: Rescuing American History from Revisionists and Race Hustlers His number one bestseller is called A Pathway to American Renewal: Red, White, and Black Volume II . You can learn more about the wonderful work done by the Woodson Center, as well as view informational cartoons, at Woodson Center , as well as view informational videos produced by The Woodson Center at https://www.youtube.com/@WoodsonCenter/shorts Check out this article, recommended by Mr. Woodson, about Piney Woods by Jason Riley, The Enduring Success of Piney Woods School - WSJ Find out what the Ciocca Center can offer you at The Ciocca Center .
March 18, 2026Episode 1253 min
Business and Identity
Meet Fr. Corwin Low OP, tech pioneer, former IBM entrepreneur, president of the International Dominican Foundation, leads Apostolate to Evangelize Silicon Valley, and is director of mission advancement for the Angelicum in Rome. Father Corwin shares his journey from co-authoring the Internet Starter Kit for Windows 95 and working with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen to discovering the Catholic faith through a series of providential encounters in Rome. He offers profound insights on integrating faith into a modern corporate culture, the importance of reclaiming one's identity in the workplace, and the current revival of Thomistic philosophy at the Angelicum in Rome. Learn more about Fr. Corwin Low's ministry at the Angelicum . Find out what the Ciocca Center can offer you at The Ciocca Center . Join us for Spring 2025 Meeting: Family Business Consortium - The Busch School of Business .
March 4, 2026Episode 1139 min
The "Poverty Trap" and breaking the cycle of poverty
Meet Michael Matheson Miller, the Chief of Strategic Initiatives and Senior Research Fellow at the Acton Institute, Director of the Center for Social Flourishing and the Poverty Cure Initiative, the Director and Producer of the award-winning documentary film, Poverty, Inc., and host of the Moral Imagination podcast. He deep dives into human dignity, faith, and the "enterprise solutions" that actually break the cycle of poverty. Mr. Matheson Miller also speaks on his new film, "Poverty Trap," which we are very excited about. He also discusses his real-world experiences and expert insight on poverty today. Specifically, failures of dependency to the restorative power of work. Michael Matheson Miller is currently reading Chastity: Reconciliation of the Senses (Audible Audio Edition): Erik Varden, John Sackville, Bloomsbury Continuum. As well as A Student's Guide to Political Philosophy: Political Theory Guide (Guides to Major Disciplines) . He is also reading Quo Vadis: Sienkiewicz, Henryk, Kuniczak, W.S. Find out more about Michael Matheson Miller by listening to his podcast, The Moral Imagination - Michael Matheson Miller . Check out Mr. Matheson Miller's film Poverty, Inc. Find out what the Ciocca Center can offer you at The Ciocca Center . Join us for Spring 2025 Meeting: Family Business Consortium - The Busch School of Business .
February 18, 2026Episode 1050 min
Business Is the Key to African Prosperity
Magatte Wade is on a mission to liberate African economies from the overregulation that holds them back. Hear her inspiring personal story and why she insists that jobs and energy are the true keys to a thriving Africa. Magatte Wade recommends our colleague Luke Burgis' forthcoming The One & the 99 . Her book The Heart of a Cheetah is a blueprint for human flourishing in Africa. Tiossan Academy educates African children in virtue, character, entrepreneurship and business skills. Join us for The Busch School of Business' Spring Family Business Consortium meeting. Find out more about entrepreneurship at Catholic University of America at our website: CioccaCenter.com
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