Summary:
In this episode of Stories from the Road, Dick Foth sits down with Brad Formsma, founder of I Like Giving, a movement centered on the power of generosity. As Valentine's Day approaches, they explore how giving is at the heart of love. Brad shares personal stories from his childhood, including lessons from his grandfather, who modeled a life of generosity. He also discusses his journey from a successful landscaping business to a calling that encourages people to live generously in seven ways—through thoughts, words, time, attention, influence, belongings, and money. This episode is filled with inspiring stories that showcase how small acts of kindness can make a big impact.
Episode Notes & Timestamps:
00:00 - 00:18 – Introduction: Kicking off the episode and setting the theme of generosity.
00:19 - 00:43 – Meet Brad Formsma: His background and the I Like Giving movement.
00:44 - 02:10 – The connection between love and giving.
02:11 - 04:35 – Brad’s childhood: Learning generosity from his grandfather’s baking.
04:36 - 06:07 – Delivering bread as a form of giving and kindness.
06:08 - 07:17 – Facing childhood struggles and discovering resilience.
07:18 - 10:04 – A turning point: How Brad’s faith journey led him to embrace generosity.
10:05 - 12:10 – The moment Brad felt called to encourage generosity.
12:11 - 17:30 – How small acts of kindness spark conversations about giving.
17:31 - 21:06 – The seven ways to be generous beyond money.
21:07 - 25:05 – The impact of storytelling in spreading generosity.
25:06 - 30:19 – When giving gets messy: A story about unexpected challenges in generosity.
30:20 - 32:48 – Closing thoughts: Why generosity moves the spirit and what’s coming in Part 2.
References & Resources:
📖 Brad Formsma's Website & Resources
I Like Giving – www.ILikeGiving.com
Brad’s book I Like Giving: The Transforming Power of a Generous Life – Amazon Link
🎙️ Referenced Books & People:
Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson – Amazon Link
How to Know a Person by David Brooks – Amazon Link
Knut Vollebæk – Former Norwegian Ambassador
📚 Additional Resources on Generosity & Faith:
The Seven Ways of Living Generously: www.ILikeGiving.com
Stories I Love to Tell by Dick Foth (Audiobook) – Audible Link
