When Loss Becomes Purpose and Service Becomes Survival Artwork

Doing Business with a Servant's Heart

Welcome to "Doing Business with a Servant's Heart," where compassion meets business and life. Join us as we explore the soul of business, guided by the unwavering principle that serving others is not just ethical – it’s transformative.

Hosted by Steve Ramona, a seasoned entrepreneur with a passion for uplifting people and businesses, each episode of our podcast is a deep dive into the stories, insights, and practical strategies of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who have mastered the art of leading with love and empathy. Through heartfelt conversations and inspiring anecdotes, we reveal the practical impact of servant leadership on personal and professional growth.

Discover how to foster a culture of kindness, engage with customers authentically, and build successful businesses that prioritize serving before selling. Whether you're a seasoned business owner, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply someone seeking to make a positive impact, "Doing Business with a Servant's Heart" offers actionable advice, moral encouragement, and a refreshing perspective on what truly matters in the world of business.

Tune in and join our community of compassionate leaders striving to change the world, one act of service at a time. Because in the end, the heart of business is the business of the heart.

All Episodes

Doing Business with a Servant's Heart

When Loss Becomes Purpose and Service Becomes Survival

January 19, 2026 • Steve Ramona • Season 15 • Episode 13

Send us a text

Join My Free Community: https://bit.ly/4qeA03q
Free Storytelling AI App: https://bit.ly/4s8NPlL
Free Newsletter: https://bit.ly/4pOcgU9
Serving Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSNSY1M1
Join Me on Substack: https://podcasthost.substack.com/

What happens when success cannot save you, and grief becomes the loudest voice in the room? This episode opens in the quiet space where achievement, addiction, and heartbreak collide. A father at the top of his profession is forced to confront a truth no title or bank account can protect him from. Life will ask you who you are when everything you love is taken away.

Jeff Johnston’s story is not about tragedy for shock value. It is about what rises from the ashes when a man chooses to stay. After losing his son to fentanyl, facing his own alcoholism, and later losing his wife to grief, Jeff stands in the raw middle of pain and chooses purpose instead of surrender. His journey moves through addiction, silence, fatherhood, and a moment that nearly ended everything, only to transform into a mission to save lives through connection, honesty, and service.

This conversation is deeply human. It explores grief without comparison, vulnerability without shame, and service without ego. Jeff shares how servant leadership begins with caring for yourself first, why mental wellness must be normalized, and how one honest conversation can interrupt despair. Together, Steve Ramona and Jeff remind us that impact is not measured by scale, but by sincerity.

As you listen, ask yourself one question. Who will you serve today, and are you willing to start with yourself?

P.S. If this episode stirred something inside you, do not ignore it. Reach out to someone today, even if that someone is you. Healing starts with one honest step.

Guest Bio
Jeff Johnston is a father, author, speaker, and mental health advocate who turned unimaginable loss into a life of service. After building a highly successful financial career, Jeff’s life was reshaped by addiction, grief, and the death of his son and wife. Rather than turning away from the pain, he chose purpose. Today, Jeff dedicates his life to youth mental wellness, vulnerability-driven leadership, and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. His work is rooted in lived experience, compassion, and the belief that better days are always possible.

https://www.brightn.app/
Instagram @brightnapp

Doing Business with a Servant's Heart Named Top 20 Small Business Marketing Podcast
https://podcast.feedspot.com/small_business_marketing_podcasts/

Subscribe to our Podcast Newsletter
https://doing-business-with-a-servants-heart.kit.com/628f9d5962

Steve Ramona

Host