What happens when an 18-year-old reflects on his childhood, family values, and the lessons that shaped him—right alongside his father? In this episode of Leveraging Success, Jeff Gerhardt sits down for a heartfelt, eye-opening conversation with his son, Zach Gerhardt.
Zach, a senior at Cornerstone Christian Academy, pulls back the curtain on what it was really like growing up in the Gerhardt household—sharing the values his parents instilled in him, the challenges he faced, and the moments that made all the difference. He opens up about his job at Hope Coffee, his big summer plans at a Christian camp, and how faith and family traditions continue to shape his path.
Jeff and Zach dive deep into something many families wrestle with—boundaries, especially around technology. Zach shares his raw perspective on how those limits, though frustrating at times, ultimately led to stronger relationships and a deeper sense of connection.
Faith, family, and intentional parenting aren’t just nice ideas. They’re the foundation for a truly extraordinary life.
In This Episode
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[00:00:00] Introduction to Zach
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[00:08:25] Family background story
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[00:11:42] Parenting reflections
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[00:12:53] Zach’s take on timeliness
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[00:16:59] Bible study tradition
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[00:19:42] Memorable family pancakes
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[00:22:04] Reflections on strict parenting
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[00:22:29] The impact of access
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[00:23:45] Communication preferences
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[00:24:46] Delayed phone usage
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[00:26:04] Friendship influence
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[00:26:53] Passport 2 Purity curriculum
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[00:28:04] Building a shield of defense
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[00:29:04] Memorable lessons
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[00:29:55] Book recommendation: How to Win a Heart
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[00:30:30] Chad Johnson’s story
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[00:33:00] Memorable family experiences
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[00:35:50] Love for history
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[00:42:15] Encouragement and support
Notable Quotes
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[00:05:49] “I want to see the path ahead of me, and I want to know where God wants to set that path.” – Zach
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[00:10:25] “For us, it was perfect. It was like God gave us that name when we were in the delivery room. We didn’t realize that all these years of praying and waiting for you to appear were worth it.” – Jeff
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[00:22:04] “In the moment, I did not like any of it and was always like, why do I have to be the one in the strict parent situation? But looking back and seeing all of it now, especially seeing a lot of my peers’ outcomes comparatively, I’m happy that you did.” – Zach
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[00:22:29] “Shying me away from certain things has been a blessing. Though I did not see it at the time, it is a blessing now.” – Zach
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[00:26:04] “Who you spend time with has a big impact on your outcomes and your future.” – Jeff
Resources & Links
Jeff Gerhardt
Resources
