The Faith & Work Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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.