The Faith & Work Podcast

Summary In this conversation, we get to hear from 2 people who have spent their career faithfully serving in public education. Irvin Scott emphasizes the critical role of teachers in society and the importance of showing appreciation for their hard work, and encourages listeners to reflect on their gratitude towards educators and highlights the challenges they face in their profession. And Jim McKenney shares some insights of his time in public education, how he has navigated the challenges faithfully with the Lord and with others. Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us.  Resources Download the episode transcript here Learn more about ChristianEducators.Org Learn more about Association of Christian Administrators Book Recommendations Leading with Heart and Soul: 30 Inspiring Lessons of Faith, Learning, and Leadership for Educators Author: (Our Episode Guest!) Irvin L Scott Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good Author: Amy Sherman Taking Jesus to School: The Fruit of the Spirit on Display  Author: Dr. Jacqueline Minor

Summary We are pleased to announce that The Faith & Work Podcast is the recent recipient of the Christian Media Association's CONTENT Award for Best Podcast in the Education Category! Host Ross Chapman and Faith & Work Podcast Producer Naomi Hartman celebrate the many who have come before them to lay the groundwork for this honor, and celebrate how the Lord has blessed us in stewarding this medium! Enjoy a replay of the episode submitted for this award: You Are An Agent of Flourishing a special interview with Amy Sherman. In this conversation, Joanna Meyer and Amy Sherman discuss the importance of shalom, the concept of vocational power, and the shift towards a public faith that engages with the common good. The conversation highlights strategies for churches to effectively serve their communities, the significance of asset mapping, and essential principles for community involvement.  Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us.  Thank you to our listeners for supporting our podcast   Resources Download the episode transcript here Learn more about CONTENT Christian Media Awards here

Summary In this episode of the Faith in Work podcast, artists Jake and Hannah Weidmann discuss how their work disciples them, how their work as artists has revealed to them different aspects of God and how their marriage has also shaped their art and business. The conversation emphasizes the importance of storytelling in art, the balance between craftsmanship and entrepreneurship, and the encouragement for others to embrace their creativity as a form of worship. Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us.    Highlights On Work Discipling Us   "Something we always say about our work is we feel very much discipled by our work privately before we're ever given permission to share it publicly. And so something that like putting our hands to like tangible embodied work, think is, especially in a digital age and the culture that we live in, we just notice more people want tangible and slowness. And so I think imitating God in that way and creating and it's very much a human experience has been something that I think the arts do extraordinarily well."- Hannah Weidmann On Worship and Liturgy   "In all of the different art forms that I practice, I'm always looking back into the annals of history and rehearsing the strokes of past masters. And that's what gives me a common language for my art. In a lot of ways, I think that, you know, craft... is like the liturgical practice of my art. It gives me a common language to use and utilize so that when I do speak, I'm speaking with a common language that's been spoken for hundreds, if not thousands of years. That so much of what I do in creating meaning through my work is upholding sacred symbols. And so if I don't have an understanding of what that symbolism is and what it points to, then I'm just a clanging gong, resounding symbol. And that's what a lot of, unfortunately, a lot of postmodernist art is about. It's about creating as you feel. It's not following any sort of precedent laid down by previous generations, and it points back at itself."- Jake Weidmann Resources Download the episode transcript here Jake & Hannah's Website Jake Weidmann's Website Everyday Heirloom Website Made To Last Podcast Suffering Servant in a Single Stroke by Jake Weidmann More videos of Jake's Art Jakes Book: Old Soul, New Creation

Summary In this episode of the Faith and Work Podcast, host Ross Chapman engages with TC Johnstone, an impact documentary filmmaker, to explore the intersection of faith, storytelling, and the arts. They discuss the importance of storytelling in various contexts, the role of curiosity and self-awareness in engaging with others, and the SPEAK framework for meaningful conversations. The conversation also touches on the influence of AI in the arts and offers encouragement for the church to embrace creativity and community.   Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us.    Highlights On Creating and Storytelling   "Anybody can create. And the roadblock is when they have to face the mirror. Whether it's a podcast, whether it's Instagram, whether it's photography, mean an iPhone is, I the first camera I ever had, my iPhone's 10 times better than that. So anybody can create. It's just learning to tell a story... One is courage to say something that takes some bravery to put things out there that follow your conviction. And then the second thing is just not being overwhelmed. There's so many outlets, whether it's filmmaking, photography, Instagram, I mean, all the way down to future films. It's like, where do I even start? How do I try to do everything and do nothing very well?" On SPEAK tool to help you engage stories! Watch TC's YouTube video on the tool here: https://youtu.be/kkkmiWYPnPk  S - Story (What's your story?) P - Passion E - Encouragement A - Assistance/Ask (I heard you talk about this, I can offer to help/connect. What do you need help with right now?) K - Knowledge (Built to be generous. Who/what do you know that I need to know?) Resources Download the episode transcript here Learn more about TC Johnstone and his work at tcjohnstone.com Watch TC's movie, Rising From Ashes Join us at our annual Women, Work, & Calling event on Fri. Nov 7. Learn more here! Applications are now open for the 5280 Fellowship 5-month cohort program. Learn More here.

Summary Exclusive sneak peak into our Women, Work, & Calling 2025 keynote speaker's talk: Reverend Dr. Nicole Massey-Martin COO at Christianity Today. Dr. Martin joins us today to discuss her journey as a leader, and calls us to to crucify our ministry idols and nail our outdated leadership practices to the cross. As she shares the inspiration for her new book, Nailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering and Surrender, Dr. Martin emphasizes the need for cruciform leadership, which and highlights the vital role women play in leadership and the workplace. Nicole shares insights on overcoming barriers, the significance of relationships in leadership, and the necessity of empowering women to lead effectively.    Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us.    Highlights On Surrendered Leadership   "Someone said to me recently, leadership is 59 % about what you know and 51 % about who you know. And while that may be true, I would suggest that it is 100 %about who knows you, you are known by the Father and also 100 % dependent upon a God who knows it all. The moment I get to leadership and I think I've got this worked out is the moment I stop depending on God. But to me, cruciform leadership says, God, I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on you, says Hezekiah. God, I don't know how to shape this path, but I need you to show us how to shape it."   On Crucifying Perfection  "What am I seeing most frequently repeated in my life and in the lives of other leaders around me? It is definitely crucifying perfection, a sense of perfectionism. I am still an overcoming perfectionist and the issue with perfectionism isn't excellence. It's not that. We want to pursue excellence, perfectionism is at its core a form of idolatry toward a God that does not exist. It is a worship of a standard that does not exist. And it is a sin for leaders and a problem and a stumbling block that needs to overcome, needs to be overcome because leaders who have an ideal of perfection, not only worship it themselves, but they train their teams to worship this fictitious idea of perfection as well. The way that we are perfect is by dotting every I and crossing every T... So the question can't be, what does it look like for us to perfectly meet our mission? The question has to be, how can we be perfectly connected to each other, to the team, to our stakeholders, to the people that we serve, so that what comes out of that exceeds what we ever imagined? This is the joy of releasing and surrendering perfection. When I release what I think is perfect, I get to embrace what God says."   Resources Download the episode transcript here Women in the Workplace report by Lean In referenced Trends @ Work Report by Barna referenced Attend Women, Work, & Calling Annual Event to hear more from Nicole Martin. Available in Denver, CO, Online or at Host Sites around the country! Purchase Nailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering and Surrender

SUMMARY  In this episode of the Faith and Work podcast, host Joanna Meyer engages with Tracey Gee, author and consultant, to explore the intricate relationship between purpose, desire, and calling. They discuss the challenges of discerning one's calling, especially in the context of faith, and how desire plays a crucial role in this process. Tracey shares her personal journey of navigating career transitions and the importance of recognizing and embracing one's desires. The conversation also touches on gender perspectives regarding desire, the consequences of ignoring it, and practical steps to identify and pursue one's desires. Ultimately, they emphasize the significance of engaging with disappointment and the treasure hidden within our lives as we seek to align our work with our calling. Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us.  HIGHLIGHTS Excerpt from The Magic of Knowing What You Want "Our desires have something important to say. They shake things up in profoundly generative ways to help us create what the world needs. The more I work with people coming alive to who they are, the stronger my hunch is that our desires have a central role to play in us, and the world is waiting to welcome the beautiful work our desires are capable of."   On Question Overload  "And I noticed that when you ask yourself, what do I want? Usually what happens is that you start asking then 60 other questions. Like, okay, what do I want? Yeah, but is that really possible? Or if I could do that, could I pull that off? Like, I don't know if I, if anyone would actually hire me, does that exist? I don't know if I can afford that. don't know. Am I allowed to ask this? Am I allowed to want this? Then not only are we trying to ask, again, this question that I think is really sacred and really central, but then we get sort of hijacked by millions of other questions that quickly pile on top of it. those are questions often, not always, but often rooted in some fear, some anxiety, some uncertainty, right, all of the above. And then we're overwhelmed and we don't know what to do with that." RESOURCES Download the episode transcript here Book Recommendation: Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." ― Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC Attend Women, Work, & Calling Annual Event to hear more from Tracey Gee Purchase The Magic of Knowing What You Want Download our Getting Clear about Calling Group Discussion Guide  Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of our Faith & Work episodes: What Does It Mean To Be Called?

SUMMARY  What do we do when God asks us to make business risks for His kingdom? This episode dives into the world of entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) with two incredible stories of how God leads ordinary people into extraordinary ventures. In the first half, we sit down with Matt Barnes, an ETA who acquired a laundry service, as he shares his story of how the Lord guided him into and through this journey of business ownership. In the second half, you'll hear a live recording from our annual Business for the Common Good event, where Denver Institute founder Jeff Haanen interviews another ETA, Bob Larkin. Each entrepreneur brings a unique perspective on integrating faith into business, creating caring work environments, and the risks and rewards of following God's call in the marketplace. Together, their stories highlight the importance of community, wisdom, and a vision for businesses that prioritize both employee well-being and spiritual growth. HIGHLIGHTS  On Ownership as Shepherding "We bought a small business and we're functionally the shepherds or pastors of this group of people, most of which don't find themselves in church. And we think that that's an incredible opportunity to glorify the Lord in excellence in what we do, provide a service to the front range, and then care for our employees and their families while we do it." - Matt Barnes On Risk  "....First and foremost is surrendering to the Lord's will. Treatment tech belongs to the Lord. It's very obvious to me in how he brought the business to the table, right? That's a huge blessing to look at one business and that be the business that you acquire and allow it to grow. And so every day I can look at Treatment Tech and say, this is yours, Lord. When things are going well, you're blessing us. When things are challenging, you're teaching us. And In both circumstances, you're drawing us closer to you, and I'm open to both of those." - Bob Larkin RESOURCES  Download the episode transcript here Learn more about Matt Barnes redemptive business story here from Christ At Work or this video by Aquiring Minds  Nominate a Founder or Mentor for our upcoming Denver Redemptive Lab this Fall November 12 to 14, 2025. Learn more about this 40-hour retreat intensive HERE. The 5280 Fellowship is a 5-month learning community of spiritual formation, theology for work, and professional development that equips early- to mid-career Christian professionals to more faithfully engage their work. Applications for the 2026 cohort open on Monday, Sept. 1! If you enjoyed the interview with Bob Larkin, join us at Business for the Common Good 2026 as we celebrate our 10th year of gathering business leaders on the Front Range.

Summary   In this episode of the Faith and Work Podcast, we delve into the profound insights shared by Dr. Uli Chi at the Business for the Common Good annual event. As we navigate an era inundated with information and artificial intelligence, Dr. Chi challenges us to seek wisdom—a rare and invaluable asset. Through personal stories and biblical teachings, he explores the essence of wise leadership, emphasizing that wise leadership is human leadership. He also highlights the surprising spiritual discipline of sleep as essential for wise leaders. Join us as we uncover how to cultivate wisdom in our lives and lead with purpose for the common good. Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us.    Highlights On humility "Humility is the noble choice to forego your status, deploy your resources, or use your influence for the good of others before yourself." On rest "Being wise means recognizing the gift of being finite creatures, not least by containing our compulsion for ceaseless work." Resources Download the episode transcript Uli Chi references an image that was projected during the event. You can view that painting HERE.  Learn more and register to attend Business for the Common Good 2026

SUMMARY  In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, Ross Chapman is joined by Matt Randerson of Barna Group to offer a sneak preview of the Trends at Work data report set to be released soon. Drawing from this new research, Matt unpacks key themes—like influence, compassion, and change—that are reshaping workplace culture across the U.S. You'll hear what the data reveals about employee well-being, faith integration, and what really drives retention and satisfaction at work. Whether you're leading a team or just starting out, this episode will challenge and equip you to shape culture in ways that reflect God's heart for your workplace. HIGHLIGHTS  On vulnerability in the workplace  "Vulnerability about what's happening in our personal lives I think the idea of bringing more of our full selves into the workplace that does have complexity with it for sure but it goes back to that idea that the workplace is starting to take on more weight and expectation and so when we are experiencing something on the weekend or we're experiencing a challenge within our family or personal lives we are more inclined to probably want to bring that into the workplace. And so I know that requires more energy of all of us, but I think it's our opportunity, whether we are individuals or managers, to recognize that vulnerability is a part of the human experience. It's a part of the way that God designed us. Vulnerability opens us up to care for one another, to administer compassion, as we talked about in the framework. And so for all of us, how can we actually help cultivate a sense of trust and vulnerability in our workplaces because it's pretty essential to the experience." On the CEO experience "...20 % of CEOs say that they always are often are feeling lonely at work and 19 % are saying, they always are often feeling burned out. Those numbers are very similar for non-CEOs. So maybe there's comfort in recognizing, hey, loneliness and burnout is a common shared experience, whether you're the CEO or you're a manager or an individual contributor." RESOURCES Download the episode transcript If this topic interested you, you can explore more the more about the Trends @ Work report and similar studies at https://www.barna.com/trends-at-work/  YOU'RE INVITED Culture is what you're really leading: A gathering to explore new research on how your workplace is forming people and gain leadership insights to help you lead a thriving organization. Wednesday, August 27, 2025 7:30 am - 9:30 am Greenwood Community Church, 5600 E Belleview Ave.,Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Cost: $30, full breakfast included

SUMMARY  In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, Ross Chapman welcomes Robin John, CEO of Eventide Asset Management, to discuss his new book The Good Investor: How Your Work Can Confront Injustice, Love Your Neighbor, and Bring Healing to the World. Robin shares how his personal journey—from growing up in India to working in finance—shaped his vision for investing that advances the common good. He offers a biblical framework for aligning your financial decisions with values that honor human dignity and promote justice. This conversation invites you to see investing not just as a way to grow wealth, but as a meaningful opportunity to join God's redemptive work in the world. HIGHLIGHTS  On values "...it doesn't matter what Robin John's values are. What I really want to do is to try to explain what I see in the Bible. What are the values that I see God wanting us to promote in the world? And ultimately, the freedom and dignity of all people is something that really matters to God. And so life at all stages, it's very much connected to that as well. And so for us, we want to be investing in companies that promote life, that promote dignity, that promote freedom, and that could mean freedom from addiction." On generosity "Our generosity should be holistic. You know, when a person chooses to be a teacher, when they can become an investment banker, they've made a decision to love their community. That is God-honoring decision. Maybe the investment banker can make more and give more, but generosity, think as Christians, we have to be careful not to measure generosity only by what we give away. It's how we live our lives. It's where we choose to work, how we choose to work, how we choose to make our money, where we choose to invest or allocate capital. These are all generosity decisions. And then we should give away our money as well. That's part of generosity." RESOURCES Download the episode transcript Order The Good Investor: How Your Work Can Confront Injustice, Love Your Neighbor, and Bring Healing to the World by Robin John before July 22, 2025 and receive a 20% discount for pre-ordering. LINK HERE to pre-order with discount or order on Amazon HERE. Learn more about the book, Robin John & Eventide at GoodInvestor.com Read the Biblically Responsible Institute's Investing Study HERE YOU'RE INVITED Join author Robin John & Denver Institute for a book launch celebration Monday, November 17, 2025 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Denver Institute Office 8100 E Arapahoe Rd, Suite 303 Centennial, CO 80112 Cost: Free; registration required. All guests will receive a free copy of Robin's book! RSVP HERE

SUMMARY In this episode of the Faith and Work podcast, hosts Joanna Meyer and Brian Gray engage with metallurgist Chloe Johnson, exploring her unique journey in the sciences, the pressures of achievement, and the intersection of faith and science. Chloe shares her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field, the importance of humility, and how art can bridge the gap between technical work and creativity. The conversation emphasizes the need for balance in scientific work, the pressures faced in the industry, and offers encouragement for those pursuing careers in science. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify. HIGHLIGHTS  On truth: "All truth is God's truth." On achievement: "Be in love with science, be in love with what you're doing, but have no pressure that that's like your end all be all. And don't put so much pressure on yourself. I think it's really easy to follow the cycle of achievement. Where's your next accomplishment coming from? Are you on enough committees? Are you doing enough extracurricular work? And I fall into this trap all the time. Sometimes it's okay to just enjoy something and not get it done." RESOURCES Download the episode transcript here Reigniting Awe: How a 5280 Fellow Inspires Artists and Scientists through Collaboration The Bible Project is a great tool that Chloe used when learning how to integrate her faith and work Chloe's Book Recommendation: The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton  If you liked this episode, check out WONDER: A Scientist's Gift to the Church with Jennifer Wiseman Podcast Join us in Denver, CO July 19 for the public event for Christians thinking about Science: Science, Stewardship, and the Kingdom: A Public Lecture with Dr. Abram Bicksler

SUMMARY In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Abram Bicksler, agroecologist and leader of ECHO, to explore how science, faith, and stewardship intersect in the world of sustainable agriculture. As part of our Voices from the Workplace series, Dr. Bicksler shares how his calling has led him from rural farms to the United Nations, all rooted in a commitment to creation care and serving the poor. Together, we discuss what faithful scientific work looks like, the church's role in supporting those in the sciences, and why every occupation—including agroecology—can be a gospel-centered vocation. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify. HIGHLIGHTS On Your Skills "We need every occupation to be a gospel-center occupation and to use your skills, your god-given gifts, the way that god has wired you to bring about the kingdom of God, right here and right now." On the Role of the Church "I'd love to see the church get more worked up about what's right in front of our faces, in terms of how is our pollution, how are the greenhouse gasses which we are polluting in the world, affecting our neighbors in Bangladesh? How are they affecting the ecosystems and the species that we are losing everyday? How are they leading increased droughts and unpredictability of rain that are causing famine and starvation of our global neighbors." Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV) "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."     RESOURCES Download the Episode Transcript Here Join us on July 19, 2025 in Denver at the American Scientific Affiliation public event to hear more from Dr. Bicksler. Open to all! Check out Biologos for more resources to support the integration of faith and the sciences Other Organizations mentioned: World Relief, World Vision 

SUMMARY In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we talk with Tom Hunt, CEO of Pivot Energy, about leading a clean energy company with purpose. Tom shares how his faith shapes his work in climate innovation, community impact, and workplace culture. From solar panels to leadership challenges, this conversation offers hope and insight for anyone seeking to do good work in a complex world. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify. HIGHLIGHTS On Hope "One of the really cool things about this industry though, is that we get to take hope from the sun rising every morning. You know, like that is the source ultimately of all this energy we produce is the sun. And so, you know, a day like today, it's a beautiful spring day in Colorado, not a cloud in the sky, the sun shining. There's a lot of political headwinds and yet, you know, I wake up and I look out and like, well, okay, this is... You know, cause it's not just that it's producing solar energy in our projects, but it's this beautiful part of the world. And we get to benefit from that in multiple ways. So that's honestly a key source of hope. And I think that's one of the beauties of God's creation is that, you know, day by day we recognize it's not just about us, that what's in our heads is not the biggest thing out there. And there's all these reminders of that from creation." On Motivation "Well, I think it's always been in the mix... [of] seeing the beauty of creation around us and feeling like part of what I can do to live in a faithful way is to live in harmony with creation as best I can and honor and glorify the beauty of the world around us. So I think that's a big motivator for why I work in clean energy." RESOURCES Download the Episode Transcript Here Learn more about Pivot Energy and their work Subcreation: a term popularized by J.R.R. Tolkien, refers to the act of creating or shaping something within a framework of existing reality, rather than creating from nothing, as God is said to do

In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, former Vectren CEO Carl Chapman shares how decades in the energy industry shaped his view of leadership, service, and faith. From navigating environmental challenges to investing in community partnerships and employee well-being, Carl offers thoughtful insights on balancing business priorities with a deeper sense of purpose, and reminds us that it's not that complicated to choose to "do the right thing" at any level of your leadership. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.   HIGHLIGHTS 4 C's of Success: Colleagues Customers Community  Capital On Community Impact "That's true today. Customers, many of them, have a difficult time paying their utility bill. And that's something that you have to focus on. We can't just ignore that reality. And so what we saw was a couple of things. One was we thought that we would be able to help our communities. And maybe beyond what the typical business even sees, the utility business is heavily impacted by how strong their community is because of the customers there... So we felt strongly that this not only was the right thing to do, but was also the right business issue because we really could go in and help our communities. That meant we might have conservation programs and efficiency programs for our customers."   RESOURCES Download the Episode Transcript Here

Tariffs are back in the headlines—so what should Christians make of them? Economist Dr. Kenneth Barnes joins us to unpack how trade policies, rising prices, and global tensions intersect with our everyday work and Gospel witness. In a world where economic headlines stir fear, we explore how the gospel reframes our perspective and response. This timely conversation will challenge you to think biblically about policy, productivity, and peace. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify. HIGHLIGHTS  On Economies of Mutuality "That has also uniquely given us the ability to create technology. And that's important because it's technology that ultimately creates wealth. And so what we do with that and how we treat our neighbors... all comes down to our means of exchange. And if our means of exchange is fair, if it's just, if it's genuinely relational and mutual, everybody benefits." On God's Vision for the Economy Ross Chapman: "If you had to summarize God's vision for economics in a sentence or two, what would it be? How could you make that as clear and understandable based on scripture? What would you say that is?" Dr. Kenneth Barnes: "I would say: Just Flourishing." RESOURCES  Download the Episode Transcript Here Books By Dr. Barnes:  NEW - Sabbath as Resilience: Spiritual Refreshment for a Stressed-Out World Redeeming Capitalism Economic Wisdom Project Free Denver Institute Download - Deep Rest: A Study of Sabbath Harvard Study on Flourishing - Explore the 6 Dimensions of Flourishing  QUOTES "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest." - Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations "God doesn't need your good works, but your neighbor does." - Martin Luther DICTIONARY OF TERMS Worker par excellence: being an example of excellence; superior; preeminent Egality: a state of being essentially equal or equivalent; equally balanced Abberation: a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome "Bretton Woods Agreement":The creation of a fixed currency exchange rate pegged to the gold standard Macheavellian: cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics Prescient: having or showing knowledge of events before they take place Impetus: the force or energy with which a body move  נוּחַ (nuach): The Hebrew word meaning "to rest" or "to be at rest". It can also imply settling down, remaining, or finding repose. 

Kathy Stewart, a longtime retail professional and personal stylist, who shares how God brings beauty and dignity into everyday retail spaces. Kathy reflects on how the sales floor can be a place of ministry—where stories are heard, confidence is restored, and people are seen as image-bearers of God. She also speaks to the redemptive value of beauty, the challenges of fast fashion, and the quiet power of faithfulness in the workplace. This conversation is a rich reminder that wherever people are, ministry can happen—even in the fitting room. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.   HIGHLIGHTS On Beauty:  "I just think in general, this whole conversation, and this is kind of my anthem of beauty is marked as vain, fake, complicated. These are the words we have pegged it as, and I just wholeheartedly disagree. That actually isn't what beauty is. We have distorted it into that. And I think there's a different way, right? When we put beauty on display, we actually reflect our creator. And we are made in his image." On Being Too Much: [Jesus said to me], "So you are one human out of nine billion just right now. So everything you got to give, it doesn't even pale in comparison to who I am and what I have to give. So my daughter, you reflect me, you bear my image, and I'm way more. I'm the galaxies. I'm the galaxies above the galaxies above the galaxies. So you can't be too much because you're a piece of me."   RESOURCES Download the episode transcript Join us at WWC25 Nov. 7, 2025! Uncharted International

Aly McCroskey, wedding photographer and host of the Oh Happy Day Podcast, shares a powerful perspective of what it means to live out your faith behind the camera. With over a decade in the wedding industry, she shares how beauty, service, and the Holy Spirit collide on event days. From unexpected rainstorms to soul-deep reflections on identity and calling, Aly's story is equal parts inspiring and practical. This episode is a vibrant reminder that even in high-pressure, creative work, Jesus shows up. HIGHLIGHTS On Obedience:  "How many times have I not been obedient to the Lord when he was nudging me to do something like that? Because I was afraid, afraid of how my client would act, afraid, you know, would happen forget, you know, that something in or seem inappropriate. And so that was such a good reminder to me to pay attention when the Holy Spirit is nudging you to do something. Because not only is that affecting you and your spiritual life, but it had an effect in my client, who was not a particularly religious person and showed her a glimpse that God cares about her and even small things about the weather on her wedding day." On the character of God: "God reveals aspects of his character to people in their various industries. Like people in medicine know different things about God than I might know as a photographer. And it really takes doing our redemptive work in the world, whatever that is, and sharing about it with others to sort of give humanity a full picture of God is really like and the things that he cares about."   RESOURCES Download the episode transcript Learn more about Aly & her work Wild Cotton Photography  Wild Cotton Photography Instagram Oh Happy Day Podcast Every Good Endeavor - Tim Keller Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." (Revelation 19:9)  

What do you do when work isn't just difficult—it's downright painful? In this episode of the Faith and Work Podcast, Jeff Hoffmeyer sits down with author Meryl Herr to tackle the raw realities of workplace hurt. From crushing disappointment to full-blown devastation, Meryl unpacks why work wounds us so deeply—and how we can find a way forward. With wisdom from scripture, real-life stories, and her groundbreaking book When Work Hurts, Meryl discusses the realities of enduring hardship, reclaiming purpose, and even healing from the pain we've caused others. Whether you're burned out, beaten down, or just searching for meaning in the chaos, this episode is packed with hope, practical guidance, and a call to be a light in the darkness. HIGHLIGHTS On a Work Hurt: "When we are overwhelmed by work hurt or frustration when it's building up, our light starts to diminish, right? We can't be a bright light for Jesus when we are overwhelmed, I mean, even burnt out, which is even a different metaphor to bring in that kind of work stress metaphor, but to think about how having to contend with all of this brokenness in our work that may be causing." On Discipleship: "You know, we have a job to do as Jesus' followers, and that is to bear witness to God's goodness, to the values of the kingdom, wherever we are, whatever we're doing."   RESOURCES Download the episode transcript When Work Hurts: Building Resilience When You're Beat Up or Burnt Out Meryl Herr's Website Meryl Herr's Substack KEEP READING & LISTENING Angry At the Office: How Paying Attention to Our Emotions Can Help Us Understand Our Work Hurt Teach Us To Pray Podcast - Beauty & Brokenness Series  Questions and Charcoal  Because the Night  Sing a New Song  

Dr. Hannah Stolze, a supply chain expert and author of Wisdom-Based Business, explores the biblical themes of valor (chayil) and mercy (hesed) in leadership and work. In this episode, host Joanna Meyer shares Hannah's keynote from Women Work and Calling 2023, highlighting how wisdom in Proverbs and Ruth shapes ethical and impactful business practices. Hannah challenges listeners to consider: What is the war hymn of your work? Tune in for insights on integrating faith, excellence, and compassion in your daily work.  Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.   HIGHLIGHTS On a Renewed Vision of Work: "What is the war hymn of your work? In small ways or big ways, what is the redemption story when you go out Monday through Friday? Who will encounter the love of God as a result of your work?"  On a Proverbs 31 Woman: "Rather than reading Proverbs 31 as a checklist for women, we should be reading it as Lady Wisdom herself personified in the marketplace—with valor, with might, with fearlessness as she laughs at the future, but with kindness as she reaches out with the profits of her work."   RESOURCES Download the episode transcript Save the Date for Women Work and Calling 2025 on November 7th! Check out more at womenworkandcalling.com

SUMMARY Our guest today is James Ruder, former owner of L&R Pallet and current owner of FenceRight, who joins us to share his journey of faith and business transition interviewed by guest podcast hosts Spencer Williams and Jeff Haanen. After years of leading L&R Pallet and implementing transformative hiring practices, James made the difficult decision to sell the company in 2023. In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we explore how selling a business impacts an owner personally, especially when guided by a Kingdom vision. Join us as James reflects on the challenges, emotions, and lessons he's learned—and how his faith continues to shape his work today.  Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.   HIGHLIGHTS On Selling Your Business: "It was like someone absolutely died. Here we are trying to make a good business decision the smart thing we've talked about, a financial move… it felt like your grandma just died and someone tells you congratulations."  On Kingdom-Minded Work: "How am I going to use this resource that God's given us to minister to the people who walk past my office door every day? He just showed us how the missions field can come to us, we don't have to go to the missions field necessarily…" [Every day was an] "opportunity for impact, what are you going to do with the people that come through your doors?" RESOURCES Download the episode transcript Check out more of the L&R Pallet Story here - FAITH & CO: In The People Business  Get your tickets to Business for the Common Good before they run out!