In this heartfelt episode of The Fathers Of The Future Podcast, host Luke Kayyem welcomes Chris Clements, a friend, brother, and father, whose son Preston has been a client of Luke’s for the past year. Chris is the co-host of Light Beer, Dark Money, a podcast exploring faith, freedom, and free enterprise, now thriving on the Star Worldwide Networks. The episode delves into Chris’s journey as a legacy business owner, taking over Golden Eagle Distributors, a major Anheuser-Busch wholesaler, after his father’s sudden passing from lung cancer in 1995. At just 25, Chris was thrust into a leadership role amidst personal grief, family dynamics, and a toxic company environment, forcing him to grow up quickly while navigating challenges in the beer industry and his own identity.

Chris shares how his faith became a cornerstone after hitting a spiritual rock bottom, particularly after a wake-up call from his wife about his drinking and its impact on his son. This led to a transformative period of sobriety, prayer, and realigning his identity with his faith, ultimately influencing his decision to sell the business in 2015. The conversation explores themes of legacy, fatherhood, and balancing professional success with personal growth. Chris reflects on lessons from his father’s mentorship under August Busch III and the importance of truth, excellence, and time with family. Luke and Chris discuss the rarity of successful men prioritizing faith without hitting rock bottom, emphasizing Chris’s unique journey of integrating faith, freedom, and family into his life’s work.