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In this episode of 12-Minute Convos with Jesus Believers, Engel Jones connects with Chris Woods from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Raised by a heroic single mother after his father tragically passed away at age 40, Chris shares the chilling reality of hitting that exact same age and flatlining for a minute and four seconds due to cardiac Lyme disease from a tick bite. Miraculously brought back to life and given a pacemaker, Chris realized it simply wasn't his time to go, deciding to dedicate his next 50 years to helping others live fully in their God-given talents.
Listen in as Chris discusses his book, Balls and Brains, intentionally titled to cut through the noise and grab the short attention spans of the young men who desperately need his message. Drawing from his years of marketing experience as an executive at Google, Chris now runs a coaching practice helping people drop their fears, beautifully comparing the journey of trusting God to moving out of an exhausting rowboat and into a wind-carried sailboat. If you feel stuck trying to do everything on your own, Chris's profound reminder to boldly "dig the ditches" ahead of the coming rain will completely renew your faith!
Guest's Bio
Chris Woods is a Certified Professional Coach and the author of the book "Balls & Brains: A framework for living your best life by overcoming fears and maximizing strengths." "Balls & Brains" is a no-nonsense, actionable guide for people seeking to break free from self-imposed limitations and step into their fullest potential. Chris Woods combines personal storytelling, psychological frameworks, and practical exercises to help readers overcome fear (Balls) and maximize their innate strengths (Brains).
This isn't just another self-help book, it's a roadmap for those who are tired of playing small and ready to lead with courage and clarity. Chris brings decades of experience as a four-time global C-suite executive and former Google sales leader. He has led at scale, made high-stakes decisions, and lived inside the pressure that comes with responsibility and ambition. He rose up from a rough upbringing in a tough area of Boston - the original "Good Will Hunting". At 40 years old, Chris flatlined in a hospital bed.
That moment forced him to confront not just his health, but how he was defining success and the internal fears driving his choices. It changed everything. Today, he coaches from lived experience—not theory. He helps leaders and professionals align who they are with what they do, so success feels energizing instead of exhausting.