The Faith & Work Podcast

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!

Kevin Colón, Communications and Community Engagement lead for the Town of Superior, played a crucial role during the devastating 2021 Marshall Fire. As flames tore through neighborhoods, he became a steady voice and guide for a community in crisis. Join us as we reflect on the shocking destruction in LA, where wind-whipped fire caused an estimated $2 billion in damage, and explore how to lead through workplace tragedies with faith and resilience. In times of crisis, leaders can be a beacon of hope—and Kevin will share the powerful lessons God taught him during his tenure in Superior.   HIGHLIGHTS On Leading Through Crisis: "...it wasn't so much pastoral presence, but just regular everyday disciple presence that was able to activate the pastoral presence once the disaster hit. So it's just that everyday faithfulness [...] kind of led to that space of being able to be a pastoral presence when the time came for it to be. But it really, you know, again, what I was doing as a person moving into that space is everything that Jesus, you know, kind of taught us to do, you know, to love Him and to love our neighbor. I'm really glad He made it that simple. Obviously very nuanced and very textured, those two big relationships that we're in. [...] And again, it was that kind of presence every day and that kind of movement every day that fueled and activated everything that I did. Some days it was totally in my wheelhouse knowing how to love my neighbor because I knew how to do it. Some days I was completely out of my depths and I had to rely again on God to teach me new ways of loving people, new ways of engaging people." On trust: "You're either building trust or eroding trust. And especially in this climate that we're in, everybody's skeptical, everybody's cynical. And the way we build that in a work setting is all those basic things, right? It's your work ethic and your attitude and how you handle conflict and how you jump in to unexpected assignments when they're not in your job description and how you treat constituents and residents through email and phone and online."   RESOURCES Download the episode transcript EquiSage

In this episode, host Ross Chapman dives into the high-stakes world of investing with Andrew Clark (Jeremiah Fund) and Amy Brandenburg (DA Ventures). These trailblazing investors aren't just chasing returns—they're reshaping industries with faith-driven vision and purpose. From small-town roots to the fast-paced world of venture capital, Andrew and Amy share their journeys, revealing how faith fuels their decision-making, risk-taking, and leadership. They challenge the status quo, proving that investing isn't just about money—it's about relationships, impact, and creating businesses that truly serve the world. Is wealth a tool or a temptation? Can investing drive real change? What does it mean to build companies with a greater purpose? This episode is packed with thought-provoking insights, bold perspectives, and a call to action for anyone navigating faith and finance. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify. Highlights On Investing in relationships: "I think that investing is about relationships. Some would say, 'well, no it's not. I can be at a trading desk and I can just look at a stock and do that.' But you're investing in relationships. And quite frankly, you're trying to make money so you can do what with relationships." - Andrew Clark On whole-life integration of your faith: "I would love to see more churches supporting entrepreneurs. We leave church on Sunday and we go about our week, and on Sunday the content may not always speak to the business owners and operators and there's alot of opportunity out there that I'm really excited about the way I've seen this [faith & work integration] growing in Denver..." - Amy Brandenburg Resources Download the episode transcript Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It  God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity  Practice the Presence of God The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World Jeremiah Fund Denver Angels Learn More About Impact Investing:  Innovest  Eventide Thrivent Brightlight Kingdom Advisors National Christian Foundation

Welcome to our new series, Voices from the Workplace, where we explore various industries through the lens of leaders and experts who see their careers as a key way to serve others and fulfill God's purposes. In this inaugural episode, we focus on the Investment Industry, examining how professionals approach equity and treasure with intentionality and faith. Our guests include Matt Monson, Partner and Portfolio Manager at Sovereign's Capital, a faith-driven investment fund, and Brandon Roop, CFP®, CRPS®, Vice President, Senior Investment Advisor, and Partner at Donaldson Capital Management (DCM). Matt and Brandon discuss how their faith informs their decisions in managing investment funds, helping others view their finances through a biblical perspective, and shaping the next generation of leaders in the industry. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify. Highlights On Fear: "Two thirds of people are more afraid of living broke than they are of death." - Brandon Roop On Generosity "You can't out-give God "- Matt Monson "Do you want the blessing on the net or the gross?" -Brandon Roop   “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (NIV) - Matthew 25:21 Resources Download the episode transcript Sovereigns Capital Donaldson Capital Management For further Exploration on Investing... Innovest  Eventide Thrivent Brightlight Kingdom Advisors National Christian Foundation

How can faith-based organizations, civic leaders, and business leaders join forces to tackle city-wide challenges? This episode dives into three powerful case studies focused on housing affordability, showcasing how collaboration is driving real change in Colorado. You'll hear firsthand stories from: Stu Davis, founder of COS I Love You, on how churches, businesses, and civic leaders in Colorado Springs are working together to address housing and community needs. Jessica Dominguez, owner of Love Thy Neighbor Real Estate and director of Abundant Ground, on how Denver churches are reimagining land use to create affordable housing. Michelle Warren, president of Rago Strategies, on advocating for groundbreaking policy changes to unlock housing potential on faith-owned properties. These leaders are meeting their cities' toughest challenges with creativity, persistence, and faith. Their stories will inspire you to reimagine how collaboration can bring God's hope and life to your own community.  On Working Better Together: "And even though our temptation is to sometimes want to be the deliverer of support, a meal, a shelter bed, a hand around the shoulder, we also get to partner with agencies and organizations who do that every single day. And so Matthew 25 can be exercised by handing somebody a meal. It can also be exercised by providing additional resources and firepower and sustainability to the organizations who do that very thing, whatever problem it is that they're trying to solve. So I'm a big believer in both, and I just think that it's worth the opportunity for us to step into those partnerships and create the kind of collaboration that I think can happen when we do." -Stu Davis On Challenges of Collaboration: "So partnership is key. Having Michelle and Brian in my corner has been so great. I think the challenges with getting development going is the amount of time it takes, the amount of money it costs just to do some pre-development work. I also think that, oh, I know that churches are kind of waiting a long time before making the decision, and then it puts them in a spot where they have to make maybe a quick decision where they're not able to take their time to do their due diligence." - Jessica Dominguez On Ego: “And so we really need to understand that the whole process of collaboration, which is also in government called democracy, is its strongest when we have all the voices there having the opportunity and equal voice to speak into it. So I would just say is come full of conviction, but hold your positions with a little bit of open handedness so that you can build bridges to other people." - Michelle Warren RESOURCES Download the episode transcript Learn more about the Denver Institute's FOR Campaign  See the full Tamarac Scale  COS I Love You Website (Sign Up for thier Newsletter Here!) “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish” (John 1:14 MESSAGE) Abundant Ground Website Learn More about Empowering Faith and Educational Institutions to Create the Housing Their Communities Need GET INVOLVED If you are a church or faith-based nonprofit leader, would you read and consider signing this Letter of Support to allow churches greater ease and lower cost in developing creative housing projects? If you aren't a faith leader, would you share this with your pastors or other organizational leaders in Colorado who might lend their support? If you are a business leader and interested in signing a Letter of Support to allow churches greater ease and lower cost in developing creative housing projects, please check back on this page soon for the link to sign!

Rob Kelly is the Founder & CEO of the FORCLT Network which connects pastors for personal, church, and city renewal. Rob is also co-founder of the City Leaders Collective which connects and equips city network leaders globally. In Part 2 of our Union With Christ series, you'll hear from Rob about why our union with Christ is such a misunderstood, revolutionary and often overlooked concept in scripture. This conversation reveals how union with Christ transforms identity, relationships, and our vocation. We also discuss why this conversation has often not been fully embraced in the Western Church, and some suggestions for answering the question, "how then should we live?" On Union with Christ: “When you understand your union with Christ, it changes how you even understand your salvation... When we talk about salvation, you're talking about what you're saved from, which is our sin that did ... What? Separated us from God. So if our sin separated us from God, then what did our salvation do? It united us to him. So can we not talk only about what we're saved from, but more joyfully, what we're saved into? Yes, Jesus died for our sin. Yes, our sin needed to be washed. It's through the blood of Christ the scripture says, right? This is amazing truth, that he paid the price for us that we could not pay for ourselves. Yes. But in so doing, he brought us back into the place that we were always created for in the first place, which is literally in God who is our salvation. On moving from Eden to the Eternal City: "We start in the garden with two, we end in a city with multitudes, a fully cultivated creation where we are one with God, where every tear is wiped away, everything is set back to right. Everything is not just set back toward the Edenic state, but in a more full, beautiful, shalom Edenic state, greater, that it's no longer perishable, but it will be raised imperishable. How? Because Jesus' body is made imperishable. It is because he is the new creation. "If you are in Christ, a new creation," Paul says."   RESOURCES Download the episode transcript. Rob Kelly on LinkedIn Learn more about Rob Kelly and FORCLT Metanoia: How God Radically Transforms People, Churches, and Organizations From the Inside Out by Rob Kelly Rob Kelly is the founder and lead author of the State of the City Report

Dave and Monica Hickman are entrepreneurs whose leadership has been marked by believing that Jesus doesn't want a relationship with us; he wants to be one with us. The Hickmans founded SocialHub, a business in North Carolina that creates community-building events for luxury apartment communities and they share some of their journey in this episode about how this new perspective to their faith and work has influenced how they lead. This shift from a constant striving to "be closer" to Jesus to recognizing an inherent unity that already exists—a concept also grounded in John 17—has had practical implications in their personal lives and in modeling their understanding of unity with Christ in a business context. Highlights On proximity to Jesus: “For me, all the striving was just neutralized because you're starting from the finish line. Instead of this journey that so many of us are used to of praying to receive Christ... the next steps in your Christian journey was to get closer and closer to Jesus over time. And while that's motivating to some degree because you're working towards something, it can also be really detrimental to your spiritual health as well, and turning you into just a Christian workaholic of always trying harder. And I think that's why Jesus always would point to our hearts. But it's not quite as sexy as saying to someone like, 'Hey, you already have everything that you could ever get.' You're as close to Christ now as you will ever experience between here and new creation. So now it's learning what's true of you having already arrived, learning what's true of you as 'the beloved Son in whom he loves, in whom he's well pleased,' that declaration over Jesus." - Dave Hickman On the art of hospitality: "I think just who we are as people and really driving hospitality, connecting people, enjoying life with others has kind of flown not only from us but from our staff, because they're just so amazing and they really do care for people. And I think that is really what sets us apart in the industry. Not only being able to create unique experiences for people on site but welcome them in a warm way, showing respect, being kind, being a good person." - Monica Hickman Resources Download the episode transcript. Closer Than Close: Awakening to the Freedom of Your Union with Christ by Dave Hickman How Charlotte startup SocialHub plans to grow across the Southeast "Until the unlimited, unbridled and unrelenting love of God takes root in our life, until God's reckless pursuit of us captures our imagination, until our head knowledge of God settles into our heart through pure grace, nothing really changes.” - Running on Empty by Fil Anderson Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? See more great resources at Denver Institute for Faith & Work or find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @denverinstitute

Ben Nussbaum, VP of Sales at OnCenter and associate director of Faith & Work Chicago, opens up about what it's really like to stay true to your faith in the ups and downs of a sales career. He talks about the struggle of selling products he wasn't fully behind and how he found a way to align his sales approach with his Christian beliefs. Ben also shares how practicing spiritual disciplines like prayer helps him stay grounded in the high-pressure world of meeting a quota and encourages leaders to create workplaces that honor the dignity of every employee. His approach to serving clients with integrity, even when it's tough, is an inspiring model for Christians in any business role. On finding stability: “That is the daily reality they live in. Either the highs are high and I think I'm awesome, or the lows are low and I think I suck. It's very hard to find equilibrium or middle ground as a disciple. And that's acually why I think the gospel is such a balm for the salesperson.” On faith in work: “What Christ has to say to us when he says, 'blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth,' that has to mean something for the way we send emails, the way we do someone's taxes, the way that we defend someone in court, the way that we script a cold call. Whatever it is, right? It's our responsibility. This is what it means to be image bearers to live out that reality or that story." On failure: "You failed. You had a crappy performance review. You didn't hit your Q3 quota, like I don't know what it is. Christ takes the failures and those who have lost much and makes something wonderful out of them. So you know, every time I miss a quota or don't hit a deadline or I didn't measure up in my job, I'm reminded that God chose what is weak to shame the strong. It is the power of God that's made perfect in my weakness. So, be weak. Be comfortable with losing. It might mean that God is ready to use you." Download the episode transcript. Follow Ben Nussbaum on LinkedIn Learn more from Faith & Work Chicago “Be comforted, small one, in your smallness. He lays no merit on you. Receive and be glad.” - CS Lewis, The Space Trilogy A Community of Hope in a World of Rage – Sermon – Ray Ortlund Praxis Labs Redemptive Entrepreneurship Model Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? See more great resources at Denver Institute for Faith & Work or find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @denverinstitute 

Romanita Hairston, CEO of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, delivers a powerful reflection on leadership, faith, and purpose. She reveals how her journey through nonprofits, tech, and philanthropy is deeply intertwined with her identity as a woman and follower of Christ. With bold inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr., Hairston challenges leaders to rise above cultural norms, embrace their full potential, and build a "Beloved Community" rooted in love and justice. She urges listeners to lead with curiosity, courage, and conviction, offering a vision of leadership that transforms not only workplaces but entire communities through faith and service. On whole-life integration: “That leads to lots of different ways we have to see ourselves in lots of different contexts. When our relationship to our children and our family is different, with the way we keep and care for our community can sometimes be different, when a lot of things become different about how we show up in environments because we are women. But it's always mediated through this question of ‘Who has God called me to be and how does that lead me to show up in this space?'” On leading with curiosity: “Women have a powerful ability to lead with curiosity. And that [saying] ‘tell me more' is I think a bit of a superpower in what women can bring to a conversation. Leading with curiosity and courage. Because it's not always, it doens't always feel safe to be curious in a context where you're supposed to know. So I think that's an unique encouragement to any leader but a very unique encouragement to women to use that superpower of curiosity.” Hear more from Romanita Hairston at Women, Work & Calling Annual Event Friday, November 1, 2024 where she will be our keynote speaker! Download the episode transcript. Thank You. I'm Sorry. Tell Me More.: How to Change the World with 3 Sacred Sayings by Rod Wilson Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness by Robert K. Greenleaf  Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live) by Eve Rodsky Johari Window   Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? See more great resources at Denver Institute for Faith & Work or find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @denverinstitute 

SUMMARY  Author Bruce Feiler claims that people experience 30 to 40 disruptors in their lives, which is about one every 12 to 18 months (Source). In todays conversation, we hear from authors Lisa Pratt Slayton and Michaela O'Donnell, PhD on the fluctuating aspects of life and how we can more mindfully and faithfully navigate change. Whether you're in a change in your life, just getting out of one or preparing to be in one, their new book Life In Flux is an essential resource for you as a faithful worker and leader which will prepare you with a set of navigational skills for the inner work that helps us be at home in flux.   HIGHLIGHTS  On Waking Up Moments: "There comes a moment… in which somewhere inside of us we realize: ‘What got us here is not going to get us to where we want to go on the way forward.' That's what waking up sounds like. ‘I don't want to keep doing this. I want to do it differently.' These waking up moments, we are very prime to have them when life is in flux.” On Using Your Navigational Skills: “That's the knee jerk [reaction], right? Is to just start running in circles. But if we stop and cut the engine, and listen and invite maybe a couple of people to listen with us, we start to see the signs and see the things and pay attention to what's going on so that we can begin to make very small incremental steps. And that's the work.”   Resource  Download the episode transcript. Life in Flux by Michaela O'Donnell and Lisa Pratt Slayton  Companion Resource: Navigating Change with the Enneagram Learn More about Lisa Pratt Slayton Learn More about Michaela O'Donnell In this episode, Lisa mentions “PLF” which stands for Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation  

Summary  On this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we learn about cultivating creativity and imagination from cartoonist Mike Maihack. Mike is best known for his series Cleopatra in Space, originally published by Scholastic and later adapted by Dreamworks into an animated show. Through our conversation, Mike shares some of the ways he views his creative work in light of the gospel, shares how he has navigated public criticism of content creation and recounts some of his own personal journey with being a cartoonist. Highlights On Superheroes and the Gospel: “What I love about superheroes... is that there's these characters that have these immense abilities, these things that we can't even imagine being able do ourselves. And yet, instead of using these abilities for selfish purposes... They use it to do things that Jesus would do. They would help the poor. They would make sure they're saving those that cannot save themselves, they're sacrificing themselves. They're always looking at the greater good despite maybe the hurt that causes them. They're always looking at every single other person that they're around is a much greater person than themselves, despite them having these abilities." On Making Beauty: “My spiritual drive is God, he's a working God. He spent all this time creating us, creating the world. He is still working on it, and I want to please Him by cultivating that as much as I can. Really trying to contribute to that world, mak[ing] sure that world stays beautiful because I think that's the ultimate end goal right there, is to make sure this world is ready when a heavenly realm appears. And it is we're putting things in this world that he wants to see. And so that's sort of spiritually how I approach my work." Resources Download the episode transcript Instagram @mikemaihack Mike's Website  Mike's Graphic Novel Recommendations:  Infinity Gauntlet  Bone  Called To Create By Jordan Raynor  

This episode concludes our AI Series on the intersection of AI and faith, theology and work. This episodes guest, Andy Crouch, is a partner for theology and culture at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem advancing redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books including, The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World. Andy and Jeff discuss how AI can be used for redemptive purposes, and reflect on some best practices as the increased use of AI will impact our future.

Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, but will it ever be sophisticated enough to replace the human? What does it mean to be human? Welcome to part two of our three-part AI Series on the intersection of AI and faith, theology and work. In this conversation we explore what it means to be human and how that definition challenges and interacts with Artificial Intelligence technology. Please enjoy this multi-faceted dialogue among host Jeff Hoffmeyer, speaker and writer in science and faith, Greg Cootsona, and Reuter professor and computer scientist Noreen Herzfeld, PhD.  

Artificial Intelligence is inescapable in todays workforce and is impacting both the marketplace and the church in significant ways. We begin this three-part series on the intersection of AI and faith, theology and work with a conversation between host Jeff Hoffmeyer and Stephen Presley. Stephen is an author, professor and senior fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion Culture and Democracy. Together they discuss the importance of considering how AI is impacting our lives and our souls. On efficiency and formation: “One of my concerns is if we're just trying to get better and better and better, what is it that we are trying to become? What kind of person, or what kind of people, is scripture calling us to be? Efficient is not the only virtue that scriptures are calling us to be.” On how technology asks us to improvise: "So our institutions are facing remodeling through a whole variety of technological advances, and that improvisation is built on the assumption, like I use the image of a jazz player, where only someone who is skilled in jazz can know how to pick up an instrument and just go. If I were to do it, it would not sound. Well, the assumption there is that it is Christian virtue, Christian mores, Christian assumptions that are guiding the performance. So I think the same needs to apply to any new technology, particularly the implementation of any sort of AI, AI programming or any of that that underneath it, you're still dealing with questions of virtue, questions of morality, questions of spiritual formation."   Download the episode transcript. "Is AI Changing the Work of Pastors?" article in Common Good   More from Stephen Presley Stephen Presley's Website @sopresley on X @stopresley on Instagram Recommended Further Reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Alone Together by Sherry Turkle Slow Productivity by Cal Newport  Stephen Presleys Recommended Readings

Summary What are limiting beliefs and how do they affect my work? In this episode, Joanna Meyer talks with Charlena Ortiz, a life & business coach, writer, and the founder of Grit & Virtue. Together they discuss the importance of who we are as workers but also who we are as sons and daughters of Christ. Highlights On limiting beliefs: "I would say that limiting beliefs are our biggest enemy. Limiting beliefs often paralyze us from becoming who God has created us to be and from doing what God has created us to do." On starting the process of identifying limiting beliefs: "...it requires self-awareness. Sometimes we hear self-awareness just thrown out, but really, I would encourage every person listening to really peel back the layers of what it means to be self-aware. For me, journaling has been a great tool to help me become more self-aware of what's going on in my inner world. " On choosing behaviors that lead to freedom: "...when we can operate out of freedom and choose the behaviors and decisions out of our true identity, then we're able to move forward from that place [of limiting beliefs] and really know that freedom is something that is transformative and can only come from the father." Resources Learn more about Grit & Virtue and The Manifesto. You can also download our free Study on Calling.  Download the episode transcript.

Summer is a great time to rest, enjoy the nice weather, and listen to your favorite podcasts. Tune into the Faith & Work Podcast as we kick off a four-part summer series featuring some of our best content filled with practical takeaways and great insights. For our third encore episode this summer, we explore key questions about calling. How do we discover our calling? What's the difference between our occupation and our vocation? Can they even be the same thing? This interview was recorded at one of Denver Institute's earliest events where author, educator, and organizational leader Steven Garber, joins us to talk about a broader vision for vocation. Highlights On exploring my calling: "This question of 'my calling before God and service to the world' has to be marked by a deep honest sense of humility." On vocation and occupation: "I make a distinction between vocation and occupation: vocation is the deeper, longer word that makes sense of your life and mine. It's the deeper reality. It's the deeper story that makes sense of who you are, that makes sense of who you are different than your brother and your father and your best friend and your wife and your neighbor...Occupation is a word that gets at what I do day-by-day."  On the tension of work: "Everybody, everywhere has some sense of tension between what I think I was meant to do, what I really want to do, and what I have to do."   Resources Download the episode transcript. Denver Institute's FREE Downloadable Resource - “A Study On Calling”   More by Steve Garber: Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good  The Seamless Life: A Tapestry of Love and Learning, Worship and Work    

Summer is a great time to rest, enjoy the nice weather, and listen to your favorite podcasts. Tune into the Faith & Work Podcast as we kick off a four-part summer series. In these episodes we will be featuring some of our best content filled with practical takeaways and great insights. For our second conversation we hear from scholar and nonprofit leader Amy Sherman. Amy is a senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute, where she directs the Center for Faith in Communities. She is also the author of the book Agents of Flourishing: Pursuing Shalom in Every Corner of Society.

Summer is a great time to rest, enjoy the nice weather, and listen to your favorite podcasts. Tune into the Faith & Work Podcast as we kick off a four-part summer series. In these episodes we will be featuring some of our best content filled with practical takeaways and great insights. To kickoff this series we will hear from Shundrawn Thomas, founder and managing partner of The Copia Group, a bespoke investing firm based in Chicago, IL. At the time of the interview, he served as the president and CEO of Northern Trust, a trillion-dollar global investment management business. He is also the author of the book Discovering Joy in Work: Transforming Your Occupation into your Vocation.  

What bearing does our work have in light of eternity? How does our theology of heaven shape the way we show up to the needs of the world in the here and now? Tune in to hear an honest and eye opening conversation with Jordan Raynor, author, speaker, and Executive Chairman of Threshold 360. In this conversation we discuss 'The Great Commission', Heaven, and Jordan's most recent book The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Work Matters for Eternity (Even When You're Not Sharing The Gospel).   Resources: Continue your learning, check out "The Gospel for Our Work" by Ryan Tafilowski. Episode Note: Jordan Raynor referred to the "Romans Road" throughout this episode, which may not be familiar to all listeners. It is an evangelism method developed in 1970 by Dr. Jack Hyles that uses verses from the book of Romans to walk a person through the process of salvation. Learn more about the Romans Road today.

Join us for our second conversation on Faith In Public Life, featuring Karen Swallow Prior Ph. D., reader, writer, and professor. In this episode we discuss Karen's most recent book, The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis, in which she outlines some of the cultural influences that have shaped our understanding of the role faith plays in public life.   Resources The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis Free e-book to continue your learning Politics at Twilight. Faith & Work Podcast: "Leading with Christian Distinctiveness in a Pluralistic Society" with Stephanie Summers, CEO of Center for Public Justice"

How might the example of Christ as a servant shape the field of law and those who have made justice their profession? These is the types of questions Robert Cochran addresses in his most recent book titled The Servant Lawyer: Facing the Challenges of Christian Faith in Everyday Law Practice. Listen in as Bob shares insights from his career, encourages Christians working in this field, and frames the importance of law for the common good. Robert F. Cochran Jr. is the Brandeis Professor of Law Emeritus at Pepperdine University and a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. Following law school, he clerked for Judge John A. Field on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and practiced with the law firm of Boyle & Bain in Charlottesville, Virginia.   Resources:  Check out Bob Cochran's book The Servant Lawyer.

What does it look like to be a faithful presence in the field of education from a leadership level? How can community college help address the labor shortage in the state of CO? Listen in as we interview Dr. Mordecai Brownlee, the sixth President of the Community College of Aurora, as he shares his thoughts on the role that community college can play in filling the gap between earning a degree and finding employment opportunities.   Resources If you enjoyed this topic and would like to learn more watch the video: The Soul of Education with Dr. Mary Poplin. Learn more about the amazing work of the Community College of Aurora.

What is the call of the Christian in this political moment? What do our politics reveal about us and our world? Join us was we embark on a short series titled "Faith In Public Life." For this series we will explore themes related to politics, Christian imagination, and public life. As we enter into an election year it is our hope that we would engage this season thoughtfully and in light of God's grace for the whole of our lives. In this episode, Joanna Meyer and Ross Chapman interview Micheal Wear, Founder, President, and CEO of the Center for Christianity in Public Life. Micheal is also the author of The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life.   Resources: The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life by Michael Wear The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christby Dallas Willard The Politics of Neighborly Love (2016) With a keynote from Justin Giboney (AND Campaign) and a panel discussion featuring Gov. Bill Haslam, Scott Sauls, and Stephanie Summers (Center for Public Justice), this presentation helps to develop a biblical, non-partisan framework for understanding our role as Christian citizens.

What does it look like to collaborate well in the workplace? What challenges do men and women face when working together? And how can we as Christian workers strive for a better and more complete picture of redemptive collaboration.   In this episode, you will hear from Rebecca Johnson, Sarah Evers, and Darius Wise as we listen to a session from the past year's Women, Work, & Calling event titled "Better Together: Women and Men at Work." This conversation is rich with practical insights and takeaways anyone can implement in their day-to-day work.   Resources: Download the episode transcript. Learn more about Women, Work, & Calling. Learn more about Rebecca's work on gender equity through Bold Belonging , Sarah Evers work with RKE Partners, and stay connected with Darius Wise.  

What does it look like to collaborate well in the workplace? What challenges do men and women face when working together? And how can we as Christian workers strive for a better and more complete picture of redemptive collaboration. In this episode, you will hear from Rebecca Johnson, Sarah Evers, and Darius Wise as we listen to session from past years Women, Work, & Calling event titled "Better Together: Women and Men at Work." This conversation is rich with practical insights and takeaways anyone can implement in their day-to-day work.   Resources:  Learn more about Women, Work, & Calling. Learn more about Rebecca's work on gender equity through Bold Belonging , Sarah Evers work with RKE Partners, and stay connected with Darius Wise.

What role can prayer play in an organization? When it comes to leadership how might we implement prayer as a key practice? In today's episode, we share the stage with our sibling podcast Teach Us To Pray hosted by Jeff Hoffmeyer, Denver Institute's VP of Advancement. For this conversation focused on prayer at an organizational level Jeff interviews Peter Greer, President & CEO of HOPE International about his newly released co-authored book Lead with Prayer: The Spiritual Habits of World-Changing Leaders.   Resources:  Download the episode transcript. If you enjoyed this conversation buy the book Lead with Prayer: The Spiritual Habits of World-Changing Leaders. Looking for even more resources on how to implement some of these prayer practices in your life? Check out the Lead with Prayer website.  

What does it look like to bring hope and life to those who are seeking home ownership? In this episode, we hear about a company and an individual who is doing just that - Stephen Phelan, Chief Pastoral Officer at Movement Mortgage. Movement Mortgage is not only addressing system issues in the mortgage lending space but it's also taking an innovative approach to culture-building and employee care.   Resources: Download the episode transcript. Stephen Phelan will be joining us as a keynote speaker at Business for the Common Good. Tickets are on sale now! Join us on Friday, March 8 at Hyatt Regency DTC (Please note, this year's event is in-person only) Denver Institute Books: Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and For Others by Ross Chapman and Ryan Tafilowski Women, Work, & Calling: Step into Your Place in God's World by Joanna Meyer Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to the Inner Work that Transforms Our Outer World by Jeff Haanen  

What does it mean to be shrewd? Does the Bible really tell us to work in this way? In this episode, we discuss Luke 16 The Parable of the Shrewd Manager, and learn more about how this quality can inform our work. Listen in as we hear from guest speaker and longtime friend of Denver Institute, Dr. Ryan Tafilowski. Ryan currently serves as assistant professor of theology and chair of the Theology Department at Denver Seminary and pastors Foothills Fellowship Church in Littleton, CO.   Resources:  Download the episode transcript. Business for the Common Good Tickets are on sale now! Join us on Friday, March 8 at Hyatt Regency DTC (Please note, this year's event is in-person only) Book Sale! Our publisher InterVarsity Press is offering 3 of Denver Institute's recent books for 25% off the cover price with free economy shipping through January 31st. Visit the website HERE and use coupon code: IVPWORK Featured titles are: Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and For Others by Ross Chapman and Ryan Tafilowski Women, Work, & Calling: Step into Your Place in God's World by Joanna Meyer Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to the Inner Work that Transforms Our Outer World by Jeff Haanen  

As we start the new year, it can be easy to get wrapped up in setting new goals and intentions, implementing life hacks, and recording plans for all you can accomplish this coming year. But how might we begin to reflect on our relationship with productivity in a world where we are rewarded for our non-stop activity? And what does scripture teach us about what it means to be productive? Join Joanna Meyer, Abby Worland, and Brian Gray as they discuss what they have learned about this topic and share some of their practical advice.

The internal health of our lives deeply affects who we are becoming and the quality of work we can offer to the world. So how do we practice emotional and vocational health in our lives, and what might it look like? In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, we discuss Denver Institute's founder Jeff Haanen's newest book Working from the Inside Out. "Working from the Inside Out pulls back the veil on the deep emotional and vocational challenges faced by the majority of workers and shows how work can become a way to love God, serve our neighbors, and demonstrate the gospel to the world. Bringing together emotional, relational, vocational, intellectual, and civic health through the seamless thread of vocation, Jeff Haanen offers a way out of the disintegration of our culture and toward a reintegrated life lived in response to God's voice."

What does it look like to live a life of generosity? What are some simple ways to make your investments have a lasting and powerful impact on the world? Listen in as we hear from Eric Most, President of the National Christian Foundation Rocky Mountains and a current Denver Institute board member. In this episode, Eric Most outlines some common giving "mistakes" and provides helpful, practical steps to better steward the resources God has entrusted to us.

How can the subject of math be a source of human flourishing? Find out as we interview Francis Su, PhD, Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics. Francis Su writes about the dignity of human beings and the wonder of mathematical teaching. He is a Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and a former president of the Mathematical Association of America. His work has been featured in Quanta Magazine, Wired, and the New York Times. His book Mathematics for Human Flourishing, winner of the 2021 Euler Book Prize, offers an inclusive vision of what math is, who it's for, and why anyone should learn it.

Does faith have a place in corporate life? For some, this question can be one of tension, anxiety, or uncertainty. In today's conversation, we hear from Craig Carter, who worked in financial systems and analytics at Intel for 25 years and played an instrumental role in establishing faith-based employee resource groups within the corporation. Listen in as Craig shares about how growing numbers of corporations are inviting employees to express their religious identity at work through faith-centric ERGs and the next steps you could take to bring one to your organization.

What does it look like to lead in your industry and be known distinctly as a "practitioner of love?" In today's episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, we hear from an expert who is leading the way - Jasmine Bellamy, VP of Merchandising, Planning, and Allocation at a major retailer. Jasmine is also the founder of Love 101 Ministries and is finishing a doctorate in global leadership at Fuller Seminary, focused on Redemptive Imagination in the Marketplace. Listen in as Jasmine shares her insights, practices, and experiences related to being a practitioner of love.

In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, we wrap up our 3 part series with "What's Next: Life for Cities." In this episode, Ross Chapman and Brian Gray interview old friend, Dave Runyon, Executive Director of CityUnite. Listen in as they discuss some practical ways Christians can be for their city, through their work.

Denver Institute has launched into its next season under the leadership of CEO, Ross Chapman. In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, we continue our 3 part series with "What's Next: Work & the Church." In this episode, we hear from pastors Neil Long and Phil Heller, who reflect on how they learned about the importance of faith & work integration.

Denver Institute has launched into its next season under the leadership of CEO, Ross Chapman. In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, we kick off a 3 part series titled "What's Next for Denver Institute?" Hear more about how we narrowed in on our new vision and mission statements; and what this next season could mean for you.

When does work become an idol? How do you know when something has crossed the line from a good thing into the territory of a "God thing?" In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, we interview Lauren Gill, writer, actress, and Director of the Global Faith & Work Initiative at Redeemer City to City, on these very questions concerning matters of the heart. Lauren is also the co-author and general editor of the recent book, The Missional Disciple: Pursuing Mercy and Justice at Work.

What makes a good manager? How can Christian managers emulate good leadership in their workplaces? In this episode, we interviewed two former Fellows - Bobby Erskine, a senior librarian, and Betsy Zasowski, vice president of operations in healthcare. Listen in as we learn how they have embraced what it looks like to lead those around them well, recognizing that every person they interact with is created in the image of God.

What would the world look like if more workers were fully engaged? In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, we hear from two members of the Denver Institute staff Ross Chapman, CEO, and Jeff Hoffmeyer, VP of Advancement, as they review and discuss the findings of the "State of the Global Workplace Report" for 2023 that was done by GALLUP. Some of the top findings include: The majority of the world's employees are quiet quitting. Employee stress remained at a record high. Engagement matters more than where workers work.

Listen in as we hear from Brandon Washington, pastor at Embassy Christian Bible Church and author of the book A Burning House: Redeeming American Evangelicalism by Examining Its History, Mission, and Message. As a black ministry leader, Brandon has asked tough questions about race, Christianity, and whether change is possible in his own faith community.

What comes to mind when you hear the term "deconstruction"? You may think of Christians who have walked away from their faith, distanced themselves from their church, or wrestled with strained relationships. But what if a person who struggled with these tensions, chose to remain? What if the tough questions asked during deconstruction could transform the faith community or the relationships themselves? Could deconstruction be a virtuous process? In this episode, we hear from Brandon Washington, pastor at Embassy Christian Bible Church and author of the book A Burning House: Redeeming American Evangelicalism by Examining Its History, Mission, and Message. As a black ministry leader, Brandon has asked tough questions about race, Christianity, and whether change is possible in his own faith community. Listen in as we hear Brandon's story of what his work has looked like inside the evangelical tradition.

What does hopeful collaboration look like in the context of education? In this episode, we had the privilege of interviewing Tracey Beal, founder and CEO of School Connect, a model of strategic collaboration that helps schools accomplish their goals while fostering win/win partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders. Listen in and hear more about how lives can be transformed through the power of trusted relationships.

Belonging is the central orientation of a sheep to the shepherd and of our lives with God. No matter how far we have wandered, God goes after us, bringing us back, and invites us to offer belonging to others.

When you think about your purpose do you think about the role your work plays? Are individuals limited to a singular purpose in life? Listen in as The Faith & Work Podcast interviews Jon Coleman author of the book Crafting Your Purpose and Managing Partner at Sovereign's Capital, a faith-driven investing company. In this episode, we discuss some of Jon's findings on the topic of purpose and the unique perspective our Christian faith brings to the table.