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 
  1. Questions and Charcoal
  2.  Because the Night 
  3. Sing a New Song

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 

How can ministry leaders help lead congregants to engage their weekly work alongside their Sunday worship? In this episode, Joanna and Brian talk with Matthew Kaemingk, author of Work & Worship: Reconnecting Our Labor and Liturgy, about his most recent publication. 

What does it look like to navigate life's transitions well? How do we adjust to changes in our lives and our workplaces when things are difficult? In this episode, Joanna and Jeff talk with Dr. D. Michael Lindsay, president-elect of Taylor University, about his experiences on this topic.  

What does it mean to "lead up" within an organization? How do employees in the middle of a company positively influence those above them? In this episode, Joanna talks with Brian Gray and two 5280 Fellowship alumni about the challenges and opportunities of leading from the middle. 

How can Christians love our work even when we hate our jobs? Is there a purpose to work beyond the daily grind? What can Paul's letters to the church at Thessalonica teach us about faith and work? On today's episode, Bethany Jenkins, vice president of media at The Veritas Forum, shares how work can be a way to love our neighbors and worship God.

How can business leaders help promote flourishing for their workers? And what structures make this possible? In this episode, Dustin and Joanna talk with Michael Arrieta, founder and CEO of Garden City, about the how to invest in frontline employees.

How have business leaders navigated unanticipated setbacks due to COVID-19? And how do Christians in business deal with the uncertainty of a pandemic? In this episode, Dustin and Joanna talk with Aik Hong Tan and David Park of the Greenwood Hospitality Group to learn about the difficulties the travel and tourism industry has faced this past year. 

In this episode, Joanna Meyer talks business with Meagan McCoy Jones, the president & COO of McCoy Building Supply. This conversation is full of insight into what it takes to create good work and how to care for those employees who make it all possible.   

Losing a job is tough. But what we learn from the disruption and how we move forward is even more important. Joanna talks with Lisa Slayton, a career coach, about rebuilding self-confidence and trusting God through the job search process.

How has the pandemic effected they way we work? What broader economic changes have taken place and how should the church respond? Jeff and Joanna tackle these questions around the changing world of work.

What can the Bible teach us about work? And how can work be a way that we love our co-workers, friends, family, and neighbors? Katherine Leary Alsdorf, co-author of Every Good Endeavor, shares insights on loving our neighbor through our work from her decades in the private sector and founding the Center for Faith & Work.

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.”

• 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 

How do songwriters lean into faith in their work? What unique challenges has this year brought to musicians, and how can Christians reclaim the joy of corporate worship, even while we're apart? Joanna and Dustin talk with recording artist Sandra McCracken about the intersection of faith and songwriting, her latest album, and the hope of Christmas.

What can Scripture teach us about the power of storytelling? How can leaders be resilient through tough times? What unique challenges do female leaders face in their organizations and communities? Joanna talks with Nancy Duarte about her role as a leader, a communicator, and a Christian.

What does it look like to live a “deeply formed life?” What are the practices that equip us for a life with God for the world? Joanna and Brian talk with Rich Villodas, pastor of New Life Fellowship and the author of The Deeply Formed Life.

Between the pandemic, the U.S. election, and the normal stressors of life, many of us are experiencing anxiety in our work and our relationships. On this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, the team shares some practical spiritual formation habits that can help you lean in and grow closer to God in this season.

What does it mean to love our neighbors through politics? How do we talk with people across differences? How do we navigate issues of faith and public policy? In this episode, Dustin talks with a panel of leaders from our September event, "The Politics of Neighborly Love." Guests include Justin Giboney, Gov. Bill Haslam, Scott Sauls, and Stephanie Summers.

What role does faith play in the life and work of Christian entrepreneurs? What unique challenges do female entrepreneurs face in the workplace and the church? Joanna and Dustin talk with Donna Harris, founder and CEO of Builders & Backers and a founding member of K Street Capital, about her work as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist and how her faith shapes her work.

It's no secret that the faith and work movement has a bit of a class problem. While many individuals who are curious about integrating their faith and work have white collar or professional jobs, this isn't the case for everyone. On this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, we talk with a panel of pastors and church leaders about faith and work discipleship in their churches. They offer a helpful critique when it comes to how we talk about the intersection of work and faith for diverse audiences.

What is "soul care," and how can we be intentional about it? What does soul care look like in a season of stress, fatigue, and uncertainty? Joanna talks with Mindy Caliguire, founder of Soul Care and director of personal growth at Gloo, about how our work creates space for God.

How should Christians engage in partisan politics? What does “speaking the truth in love” and righteous anger look like when it comes to convictions of faith? Joanna and Dustin talk with Scott Sauls, senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville and author of A Gentle Answer, about the role of Christians in politics.

What can neuroscience teach us about faith and our experience with God? How can we manage stress at work in pursuit of wholeness and integration? Joanna and Dustin talk with Dr. Curt Thompson, a psychiatrist, speaker, and the author of Anatomy of the Soul, about being known, searching for hope, and seeking God in the midst of grief.

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.”

• 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

How should faith inform our politics? How do we balance our convictions without compromising our values when it's time to vote this fall? Joanna and Dustin talk with Justin Giboney, founder of The AND Campaign and author of Compassion and Conviction, about faith, politics, and the false choices we create.

What are the dominant worldviews in culture today, and how do they impact our work? How can educators recognize and understand these worldviews for their students? Dr. Mary Poplin, professor in the School of Educational Studies at Claremont Graduate University, joins us to discuss the background and implications of four prevailing worldviews and thoughts on education for Christian teachers.

How can healthcare providers manage the anxiety that comes with serving patients amid the coronavirus pandemic? How can Christians in healthcare love their neighbors through their work? Megan Nunnelly shares her experience leading a team of nurses serving patients with COVID-19. And pastor and author Steve Cuss helps us understand and identify the sources of anxiety in whatever field we work.

What does it look like to lead from a place of wholeness? How can we work toward emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual integration, and why is integration important for leaders? Hear from Lisa Slayton, CEO of Tamim Partners, and David Park, partner at Greenwood Hospitality Group, as they lead us through a discussion on wholehearted leadership.

How can we navigate the job search while maintaining our sanity? What wisdom does Scripture offer about who we are apart from what we do? Today, unemployment is both a spiritual issue as well as a financial issue for many people. Joanna talks with Matt Thomas of Core Ventures about biblical and practical wisdom for the job search.

What makes a job "good," and how can business leaders help create them? What is the current pandemic teaching us in the U.S. about "essential" work? Jeff and Joanna talk about the advantages of a good job and how businesses and nonprofits can work together for workforce development.

We hear a lot about narcissism, but how does it show up in our organizations? What are the consequences of a narcissistic pastor or faith leader? The team talks with author and counselor Chuck DeGroat about his latest book, When Narcissism Comes to Church.

What does Scripture teach us about lament? What does it look like be sorrowful and hopeful at the same time? Dustin talks with Ryan and Brian about the biblical practice of lament, and how we can apply it in this season.

What does the human body teach us about the Body of Christ, and how can the Body of Christ respond, serve, and love during a pandemic? Dustin talks with author and speaker Philip Yancey on the book, "Fearfully and Wonderfully: The Marvel of Bearing God's Image."

Where is the faith and work movement going, and what can we learn from its history? How do we balance the strengths of capitalism against its excesses? Jeff Haanen talks with Drew Yancey, author of Transforming Enterprise?, on the integration of faith and work.

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

What does "integrating" our faith and work look like? How do we love our neighbor through our work? And is "work/life balance" even possible? Hear more from Brian, Joanna, and Dustin as they explore these common questions about work.

Does God care about our work? What does it look like to be a Christian in the workplace? Brian talks with two alumni of the 5280 Fellowship about the program's impact on their faith and their work.

Can you imagine a world in which we worked to renew, rather than reform, healthcare? Where doctors are called to the practice and believe in truly caring for their patient rather than the correct billing codes? Abraham Nussbaum, a Behavioral Health Specialist at Denver Health wants to bring about a renewal of medicine to truly pair faith and work. 

Does the church have a role to play in responding to the national opioid crisis? And how can Christians in healthcare serve their patients as an expression of their faith? Brett McCarty, professor of theological ethics at Duke Divinity School, talks about the integration of faith and medicine and his research on the opioid crisis.

What territory has God given you to work toward the common good? What are the ways that your job or your profession or even your industry could address real needs in your community? Amy Sherman, author of Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good, provides some context for our particular moment in God’s larger story and shares a few stories of people who found their “redemptive edge.”

When Jesus tells us to "love our neighbors," who does he include? And what does loving them look like? Dustin talks with author and podcast host Alex Kuykendall about her latest book, "Loving My Actual Neighbor."

How can scripture guide investing? Can the investments we make have both a financial return, as well as an eternal one? Jeff and Joanna talk with Aimee Minnich, chief impact officer and general counsel for Impact Foundation, about generosity, Biblical gleaning, and investing for the kingdom of God.

The Pew Research Center reports that Christianity in the U.S. is declining at a rapid pace. But what can we learn from the data? Is there more to the story behind the numbers? Jeff, Joanna, and Dustin discuss the takeaways from this recent report.

How can Christians navigate the challenges of working in finance? Can investing serve a greater purpose, or is it all about building wealth? Robert Doll, CFA, chief equity strategist and senior portfolio manager at Nuveen, talks with Jeff and Joanna about his faith and his decades of work as an investor.

Shame can impact every area of our lives, from our relationships to our workplaces. But where does it come from? What does the Bible have to say about it? Dr. Curt Thompson explains shame's origins, it's impact, and how we can grow from it.

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.

How do we discover our calling? What's the difference between our occupation and our vocation? Can they even be the same thing? Steve Garber, professor of marketplace theology at Regent College in Vancouver, joins us to talk about the vision for vocation.

How can we put faith into practice in our everyday, working lives? Shannon Vandewarker and Denise Daniels, co-authors of the new book, Working in the Presence of God, share practical ways to experience God in work, from our commutes to our task list.

Passion is not the Holy Grail of work. Instead, we should see our work as a journey of discovery, rather than searching for a needle in a haystack. Michaela O'Donnell Long, senior director of the De Pree Center at Fuller Theological Seminary, joins us to talk about what we can learn from entrepreneurs and how we can apply that to a life with Christ.