Explore every episode of the podcast The Contemplative Dad Podcast

Hey friends,

Lately I’ve been thinking about why so many of us end our workday feeling unfulfilled.

A lot of you who read this newsletter have a dream or a vision for work that feels more meaningful and creative.

But most of your day is spent inside a system that keeps you out of your flow state.

Spreadsheets. Zoom calls. Slack threads. Endless emails.

You close your laptop at the end of the day and quietly ask yourself:

Did I do anything today that actually made a difference in the world around me?

Part of the problem is that many of us are working in jobs that don’t fit our temperament.

Maybe you’re a musician selling insurance.A painter cleaning teeth.A writer buried in project management software.

That misalignment hurts. But I’m starting to recognize a deeper problem that I think is affecting all of us.

I’m beginning to wonder if much of our “creative frustration” isn’t just that we missed our calling… but that we don’t actually work in the real world anymore.

We don’t use our hands. We don’t use tools. We don’t create real, tangible things.

Historically, that wasn’t the case.

We had a craft, a trade, a farm or a shop.

Our bodies and our intellect worked in tandem to produce things, provide services, and solve problems.

Not so much anymore.

A Pathway to More Creative Work

Growing up, I never once thought of the skilled-trades as a “creative” path.

Then, a few years back, I took a marketing job with a homebuilder and started spending time on construction sites.

And that’s when it hit me: this feels a lot like a film set.

You’ve got a crew. You’ve got equipment. And day by day, something that didn’t exist before is being manifested into reality.

The more time I spent on those sites, the more I realized: this is a form of art too. It’s just wearing a tool belt instead of holding a paintbrush.

According to St. Bonaventure, historically the fine arts and the building arts were grouped together.

Somewhere along the way, we divorced those two.

As construction was reduced to speed, efficiency, and profit, our buildings became uglier and less inspiring.

We see it in our homes, our offices, and even our churches.

Strip beauty and sacredness from architecture and, sure, you’ll cut costs and save time—but you’ll also deprive the soul of a divine encounter.

Meet the College of St. Joseph the Worker

All of this is why I’ve been so drawn to a little start-up college in Steubenville, Ohio called The College of St. Joseph the Worker.

Their mission is simple: form young people in the skilled trades and combine that with a rigorous Christian intellectual environment.

Students are learning carpentry, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and more, while also studying theology and praying together in a deeply rooted Christian community.

Recently, I sat down with their founder and president, Dr. Jacob Imam to talk about why the skilled trades could be a viable path for creative people.

Here’s a taste of what we got into:

* Why so many of us feel unfulfilled in our 9–5s

* Is it possible to switch careers and learn a trade later in life

* Discernment and why ‘what makes me happy’ is the wrong question

* AI and the future of work

Who this is for

I made this interview with a few specific people in mind:

* the aspiring artist who never considered learning a trade

* the creative person in a “safe” corporate job who feels miserable

* the young aspiring student who wants an alternative to traditional college

If you know someone who’s wrestling with their work, dreaming about a different future, or just feeling stuck, feel free to pass it along.

And please check out The College of St. Joseph The Worker to learn more about what their up to.

You can learn more about them here https://www.collegeofstjoseph.com/

How are you thinking about creative fulfillment and happiness in your own work right now?

Hit reply and share a bit of your story if you’re up for it. I read everything you send.

Until next time, MaxThe Contemplative Dad

This one was special for me personally.

Ian and I go way back—we’ve collaborated on music videos, documentaries, and other creative projects over the years. I can honestly say he’s one of the most talented and hard-working creatives I’ve ever met. And now, seeing him lead as a faithful Christian, husband, and father while building something remarkable, is inspiring my own walk with God.

Ian Reid—filmmaker, entrepreneur, husband, and father—is the founder of Distant Moon, a film company he grew from zero to a thriving team of 20 employees, with revenues in the seven figures and scaling toward eight. His vision is bold: to build one of the most impactful film studios of the 21st century.

What struck me most is how Ian is no longer ashamed of that dream. For years, he hesitated to even say it out loud. But now, he’s embracing it as a desire God planted in him—and pursuing it with faith and excellence.

In this full-length conversation, Ian and I discuss:

* What it means to wrestle with big dreams as Christians

* The tension between ambition and surrender to God’s call

* Why so many Christian films fall flat—and how we can do better as artists of faith

* What Ian has learned as both an artist and a business owner

* The spiritual and practical lessons of growing from a one-man shop to a 20-person creative company

You’ll learn a lot from this conversation, and I’m grateful to Ian for sharing his story so openly.

To learn more about Ian and his work, visit distantmoon.com. His projects include groundbreaking online courses for Hillsdale College and The Moment, a choose-your-own-adventure film that won a Webby Award.

Today I’m sitting down for another Contemplative Dad interview with Patrick Krekelberg—A homesteading father, audio engineer, and founder of Krekeltronics. I had the pleasure of visiting Patrick on his 20 acre homestead in Northern Minnesota.

From a childhood of tinkering in basements to helping build gear for Universal Audio, RØDE, and D’Addario, Patrick has spent his life turning ideas into reality.

His companies Krekeltronics and Audiofile, build the tools musicians use to create beauty—and his story is as much about creativity and craftsmanship as it is about faith, family, and vocation.

If you’re someone who’s wondering what it might look like to integrate your gifts, your faith, and your work into one cohesive life—this interview is for you. 🎛 Learn more about Patrick’s work →

https://www.krekeltronics.com

Title: God Called Him to Raise Honey Bees (with Justin Sofio)

Today I’m joined by my friend Justin Sofio, a father of five who heard God speak to him… through a jar of honey. That strange moment on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje sparked a five-year journey of trial, trust, and eventually transformation.

He left his job. Built a beekeeping business. And began creating a new life—one that’s rooted in craft, family, and faith.If you’ve ever felt a pull toward something more—but didn’t know where to begin—this episode is for you.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

→ A mystical experience involving a jar of honey in Croatia→ The years of failure and frustration before things clicked→ What it really took to walk away from the 9–5→ Justin’s daily rhythm as a creative entrepreneur and dad→ Advice for others who feel the nudge to step out in faith

As a free subscriber, you’ll get:

• Weekly reflections• New podcast episodes• Behind-the-scenes updates

When you upgrade to paid, you also unlock:

• Read-along book studies• Private comment threads and community chat• A growing circle of creative Christians building new paths

A lot of people believe God has a plan for their life.But for those of us called to something less conventional—like being an artist, creative, or entrepreneur—that plan can feel harder to discern.

Because society isn’t wired for creativity. It’s wired for compliance.So we face resistance. From others—and from within ourselves.

"This isn’t practical.""This is selfish.""Stop dreaming. Be realistic."

But what if those inner objections are the very things holding us back from what God actually designed us to do?

In this episode, I share my own journey—from suppressing my creative calling in the name of safety and provision, to eventually waking up and realizing I’d been hiding. From risk. From purpose. From the voice of God.

If you've ever wrestled with how to reconcile your faith, your responsibilities, and your desire to build something meaningful—this episode is for you.

🛒 Buy the book we're discussing — The War of Art by Steven Pressfield(affiliate link)

🔁 Not yet a subscriber? Join the community here. You’ll get weekly reflections, podcast episodes, and interviews with fathers and creatives building lives rooted in faith, family, and meaningful work.

✨ Want more?Upgrade to a paid subscription to access our read-along book studies, private chat, and full comment access so you can join the conversation with others walking a similar path.

Thanks for listening.Peace be with you,—MaxThe Contemplative Dad