Jay Fantom
9 min read ⭑
“God’s ways are not our ways. Yet he is always showing us that he’s got us. I never have to worry or be afraid because I know who has my life in his hands. This truth drives me in whatever I do. I want to bring glory to his name—always. ”
QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT
There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?
I grew up in Sydney, Australia, and I’m a sucker for peanut butter! I’m also known in my friend group for making some wild food concoctions using peanut butter. One of my favorite places to go for a meal was Peanut Butter Bar. I discovered this incredible place in early 2020. I wasn’t able to go there very often, but when I did, the food was just divine! You never went home feeling unsatisfied.
The owner, Christine, is a one-of-a-kind human being! She’s always kind and makes time for you, and she would give me free food even when I didn’t ask her to. I never expected her to be that way—she just is!
I loved going there, not just for the food, but also because I enjoyed the atmosphere. And I always enjoyed seeing and speaking with my friend Christine—on the rare occasion I was able to go, it just made it that much more special. If you are ever in Sydney, definitely try out Peanut Butter Bar. You can’t go wrong!
Photoholgic; Unsplash
QUESTION #2: REVEAL
We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?
I don’t know whether this is quirky or not, but I usually get up at around 4 a.m. every single morning without fail. I tend to go for a run at around 4:30 am in the fresh morning air. Hardly anyone is up around this time, so it feels like I’m alone. It’s just me, my thoughts, the pavement, and the clear, starry sky.
It’s quite an emotional reset time for me. I need this daily run or walk to clear my head. Maybe the time I do it is quirky or maybe for the length of time, too. It often takes me two hours and 22 minutes to complete my morning ritual.
I’m very protective of this time because it’s also where I reflect and talk to God. God made nature and so being in nature helps me feel more connected to him.
Plus, the cold morning air is refreshing! And it doesn’t matter if it’s raining—the only time I won’t go is during a thunderstorm or when it’s hailing, which is fairly rare.
QUESTION #3: CONFESS
Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?
I’m an addict in daily recovery. I have an addictive personality, too. I have to be careful around exercise, food, and even when I browse the internet alone.
At the age of 12, I began struggling with an addiction to pornography. This was my greatest weakness, and I hid it from everyone—no one knew my struggle. The more I watched, the weaker I became mentally, spiritually, and even emotionally. It made me so ashamed of myself each time I watched it, yet I couldn’t control or stop myself.
My addiction to porn got worse in my young adult years, and when I tried to get rid of it, another addiction took its place. I became addicted to exercise, which then led to several eating disorders. As a result, I ended up being hospitalized for nine days.
These days, I need to be accountable to someone I love and trust. I also have strategies in place to help me on my weaker days. I always struggle with my addictions, which is why I call myself an addict in daily recovery. I’m constantly working hard not to relapse. If I do relapse, I choose to be kind to myself, pick myself back up, and continue moving forward with grace.
QUESTION #4: FIRE UP
Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?
I believe my God-given purpose on this earth is to live the best I can to help people become the best versions of themselves—who God created them to be. I work tirelessly every single day to spread this message through stories, wisdom, and advice, whether it be on my podcast, The Story Box, or through my new book, The Path of an Eagle: How to Overcome and Lead After Being Knocked Down.
In addition to hosting my podcast and writing, I also love speaking. I try to find as much time and as many opportunities as humanly possible to spread my message around. Right now, I’m working on another book about why everyone’s story matters.
I’m also endeavoring to grow my podcast, and I want to make some short films. I hope that one day The Story Box will be a global brand that allows people to source the truth about who they really are in Christ.
I think service is a choice. Through Jesus and his Word, God has already shown us how we should serve. So I’ve made my choice to serve my God and do what he has called me to do as best I can.
QUESTION #5: BOOST
Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?
I’m constantly in awe of how God shows up in my life and how often he comes when I least expect him—whether through a trial in my business or during a conversation on my podcast. I’m always reminded of how faithful he is to me. My podcast and my life wouldn’t be where they are today without him. I know it’s God because I have a great deal of peace that passes all understanding. And when it’s me, I don’t have that peace.
I often ask on my podcast, “When in your life has God shown up when you least expected him? How did it challenge your perspective of who he is for you?”
Some of the responses have been incredible. Lisa Osteen Comes shared about her divorce journey and how God comforted her during that season, and Marty J. Schreiber talked about how God showed up to give him strength while his wife of 63 years endured Alzheimer’s for 18 years of their time together.
God’s ways are not our ways. Yet he is always showing us that he’s got us. I never have to worry or be afraid because I know who has my life in his hands. This truth drives me in whatever I do. I want to bring glory to his name—always.
QUESTION #6: inspire
Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a very early riser—4 a.m. is my quiet time. It’s a fundamental and important spiritual practice to wake up at this time and then spend those first minutes of the day in prayer talking with God. I then read a passage of Scripture and meditate on those words. I then send my girlfriend a devotional message. She’s not awake at this time, but I always enjoy receiving a reply to the devotional message from her after my morning workout.
While I’m running, I tend to reflect on what I read earlier or something that is pressing on my mind from the past. Sometimes I’ll turn off my podcasts and just pray aloud. I mean no one is around or awake to hear me, so I don’t feel bad or guilty for doing it.
Even when I’m driving alone at times, I tend to talk to God. But for me, the spiritual practice I enjoy the most has to be my early morning time with the Lord.
QUESTION #7: FOCUS
Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources—lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are three resources that have impacted you?
I’m a huge book nerd! I read all the time. Two books that changed my perspective on life were Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom and Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn. I could also talk about Matthew McConaughey’s book Greenlights or Johann Hari’s book Stolen Focus and how those two also significantly challenged who I was as a person. All these books and so many more have helped me become a better person in a number of ways.
I’m also a big fan of podcasts. I tend to love those deep, long-form conversations whereby the host doesn’t do a lot of the talking but is still able to bring out the most in each guest. Some of the shows I regularly absorb are The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, The Rich Roll podcast, and Feel Better Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee.
I also enjoy The School of Greatness podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, Huberman Lab, Happy Place with Fearne Cotton, On Purpose with Jay Shetty, and How to Fail with Elizabeth Day.
I tend to watch a lot of YouTube videos about current events. I like listening to different points of view and thoughts regarding particular topics. It helps me learn. I tend to enjoy Megyn Kelly, Russell Brand (sometimes), Dave Rubin, and so on.
I also watch a lot of cooking shows. Joshua Weissman is a favorite—as is Beard Meets Food (not a cooking channel, but he eats a lot of food, and it’s just more for fun than anything else).
We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season—and tell us what it’s done for you.
I think a big resource for me is being able to immerse myself in books to escape from social media and current events. It allows my mind to rest, readjust, refocus, and realign to what’s more important. I love to think, and books—whether nonfiction or fiction—tend to transport me into a new world.
I also love to unwind by watching a movie or talking with people I love and respect. These aspects of my life revitalize me.
Another vital resource for me has been daily exercise. I can’t tell you how important this is for my mental health. Moving your body is fundamental to feeling great.
QUESTION #8: dream
God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?
Right now, what’s stirring inside of me is the desire to help as many people as I possibly can with the message that they matter—that their story matters and they have a purpose on this earth! I’m excited to see where my first book goes and where God takes it. I hope and pray that it helps people. I’m scared that it’ll be a flop, but I guess I’m not alone in that feeling. One of the biggest insecurities I have is my voice—whether or not people will listen to it and whether or not I have anything to say. But struggling with this doesn’t stop me from talking or sharing this important message with the world.
I think that, now more than ever, people need to know they matter. We need to know for ourselves that we’re worthy of love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and meaning.
This is what’s stirring up inside me, so I’m working on several more books, a few short films, more podcast episodes, and possibly a new podcast. We’ll soon see what God does!
Do you believe you matter? Some of us may have no problem believing that we have a God-crafted purpose on this earth. But for others of us, it might be harder to think we’re anything special or that God uniquely fashioned us to fulfill a special purpose that brings him glory.
And yet Ephesians 2:10 tells us plainly: “For we are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV).
What are those “good works” exactly? Well, the Bible gives us several commands that apply to all of us who belong to him. But there are also special tasks he’s given just to you—and he’s inviting you to uncover them as you get to know him better.
Jay is a persistent and passionate 25-year-old entrepreneur, award-winning filmmaker, speaker, and writer as well as the founder and host of The Story Box, a Top 4 Podcast. Jay and The Story Box have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Yahoo!, The Morning Show Canada, The Today Show Australia, NBC, FOX, CBS, and more. Since launching the show in November 2019, Jay has unboxed the stories of more than 700 high-profile leaders from every field. He’s interviewed Tony Robbins, Matthew McConaughey, Rachel Bilson, Luke Bracey, Justin Baldoni, Mark Manson, Josh Peck, Mel Robbins, Gabby Bernstein, Maye Musk, and more!
