In this powerful episode of Vulnerability Muscle, host Reggie D. Ford sits down with Will Acuff, co-founder of Corner to Corner, a Nashville-based nonprofit that fueled $37 million in neighborhood economic activity in 2024. Will opens up about the spiritual and emotional breakdown that led him to redefine success, the deep-rooted challenges of being a white faith-driven changemaker in historically underserved Black communities, and how adopting a mindset of curiosity, compassion, and vulnerability changed everything.

Will shares his personal mental health crisis that began on his honeymoon and led to a misdiagnosis, psychiatric hospitalization, and a years-long recovery process. He explains how he and his wife Tiffany, through deep pain and radical honesty, found purpose and healing in proximity to the pain of others. Their work birthed Corner to Corner—a thriving entrepreneurial training ground for underestimated communities—and his latest book No Elevator to Everest, a memoir and guide for self-awareness, spiritual healing, and unlocking joy in the midst of adversity.

Tune in to hear:

• How trauma and spiritual exhaustion manifested in Will’s life—and how he rebuilt from it
• The role of faith and mystical experiences in his healing
• His 4AM morning routine and spiritual practices that help him parent through difficulty
• The difference between “capital-G” and “lowercase-g” gentrifiers
• How Corner to Corner equips Black entrepreneurs to close the opportunity gap
• The life-changing impact of Onsite Workshops and internal family systems therapy
• What it means to live your life as a “joy lab”

This episode is for anyone wrestling with burnout, parenting through pain, starting over, or seeking deeper purpose in their leadership journey. Get ready to be moved, challenged, and inspired.

Guest Bio:

Will Acuff is a nonprofit founder, speaker, and author of No Elevator to Everest. He co-founded Corner to Corner with his wife Tiffany in Nashville, TN—a social enterprise that helps underestimated entrepreneurs turn their dreams into income. In 2024 alone, Corner to Corner graduates generated $37 million in economic activity. Will holds a master’s from Reformed Theological Seminary and is passionate about God’s radical grace, justice, and joy. He is a proud father and an advocate for trauma healing, inclusion, and spirit-led awareness.

Resources & Contact:

• Book: No Elevator to Everest – Available on Amazon
• Nonprofit: www.cornertocorner.org
• Contact: Will@cornertocorner.org
• Instagram: @CornerToCorner

🌳 Learn about Onsite Workshops: www.onsiteworkshops.com