Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season.

“The caliber of my leadership depends upon the health and caliber of the rest of my life. I can’t show up for people unless I am in a good place personally to show up. There’s some humility with that. You can’t just run on fumes and coffee.” — Elisabeth Rain Kincaid

Elisabeth Rain Kincaid, Associate Professor of Ethics, Faith and Culture and Director of the Institute of Faith and Learning at Baylor University, joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about leadership, ethics, and faith.

How might the unexpected career path result in a richness that is unique? Elisabeth starts the story of her journey by sharing that she went to law school because she did not enjoy middle school ministry. She shares the rich gifts of the indirect path to her current role, where she lives out her own leadership while teaching and researching about leadership and ethics, and cultivating leadership with faculty in a unique program. Elisabeth explores the value of integrity and the invitation to be an integrated person. We talk about the work of integrating work and family life. Listen for her invitation to be discerning what God is calling her to engage with during the last 20 years of her career in prayer and with others and for her “aha” moment when a trusted colleague asked her, “Why are you putting out the cookies?”

For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes.

Welcome to the conversation!

— Nancy Pedulla

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“If at all possible, resist the dehumanizing forces that are at work in grad school and in the early days of your academic employment.” — Emily Hunter McGowin

Theologian and professor Emily Hunter McGowin joins us on the podcast to discuss the nature of family in the context of God’s kingdom.

How can we live as faithful followers of Jesus within our complex family narratives? Author and theologian Emily Hunter McGowin joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Households of Faith: Practicing Family in the Kingdom of God. Emily helps us to interrogate the cultural assumptions we bring into the work of family life and to consider them in light of the words of Scripture. She asserts that the Bible is far from prescriptive about the details of household life and that Scripture makes space for a variety of shapes and structures that support family connectedness. Emily challenges her readers to think carefully about the integration of community needs with personal flourishing, and she offers simple suggestions for integrating nourishing habits into the complex fabric of family life. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Households of Faith for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Emily offers her thoughts on centering lovingkindness at Christmas.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“Hospitality is not only external; it’s internal. Hospitality is not only inside of spaces; it’s also wherever we go.” — Laura Baghdassarian Murray

Spiritual director Laura Baghdassarian Murray joins us on the podcast to discuss the place of spiritual hospitality in our everyday lives.

How can we find authentic ways to offer and receive hospitality that can transform our lives? Author and spiritual director Laura Baghdassarian Murray joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Becoming a Person of Welcome: The Spiritual Practice of Hospitality. In our conversation, Laura broadens our understanding of hospitality, pointing out ways that our skills in receiving hospitality are just as important as our skills in hosting. This discussion was decidedly not about “entertaining,” but rather about finding that posture within us that welcomes and is welcomed by others through the Holy Spirit. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Becoming a Person of Welcome for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Laura offers a thoughtful suggestion for finding inner hospitality during potentially-stressful holiday gatherings.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season.

“I would like to leave a legacy of hope…. I get a lot of confidence knowing that God will win at the end. I know the end of this story. How amazing that we get that privilege.” — Ruth López Turley

Sociologist and research leader Ruth López Turley joins us for a conversation about her journey, and her leadership of the Kinder Institute, an innovative educational organization leading the conversation about critical needs and systems in Houston.

How do our earliest experiences contribute to our passions? Ruth López Turley joins us on the podcast to talk about how she went from being a child growing up in poverty to being the leader of a unique and pivotal research organization delivering research data to address some of the most critical challenges in Houston. In our conversation, she talks about her journey as a leader and the values that have shaped her. She shares how her mistakes have provided opportunities for learning and deeper partnership. We hear more about Ruth’s work to bring changes in large systems for the sake of serving those in need in Houston, and to provide vital models to other cities. We explore together the attitudes and practices that support her in her growth as a leader of more than 80 researchers, and a partner with other organizations throughout the city and state. If you listen to the end, you will hear about the spiritual practice that sustains her in her work.

For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes.

Welcome to the conversation!

— Nancy Pedulla

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“...our hearts are like this - given a whole week full of headlines and pressures and fears and joys we imperceptively get pulled off course...so to gather together with other believers is a way of pulling our needle back north again.” — Carmen Joy Imes

Old testament professor Carmen Joy Imes joins us on the podcast to discuss the role of the people of God throughout history and the church’s relevance in our lives today.

In our modern world, how can we connect deeply with the church in all of its complexities? Author and Old Testament professor Carmen Joy Imes joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters. In our conversation, Carmen shares the biblical vision for the church in the world while not shying away from the struggles and disillusionments that many have experienced in their own church communities. Carmen helps us to think about what it means to be wholeheartedly connected to a local church while acknowledging the time and energy poured into one’s own vocational calling. We also discuss the challenge of political polarization in the church, a topic Carmen approaches with grace and curiosity. In addition, we’re pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Becoming God’s Family for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Carmen shares her thoughts about how she finds time to read in her busy life.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“No matter where you are and no matter what you are doing, you are completely worthy right now. There is nothing that you could do or not do that would make you any less or more worthy.” — Portia Preston

Public health professor Dr. Portia Preston joins us on the podcast to discuss sustainable habits in the midst of busy lives.

What steps can we take to invest seriously in our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness? Author and public health expert Dr. Portia Preston joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go? A Guide to Shame-Free Wellness That Honors Your Reality and Gives You Life. In our conversation, Portia walks us through her journey of embracing the limitations that she had ignored for years and the process of establishing habits to support her wellbeing. Portia empathizes with those who experience the unrelenting pace of life while inviting us to consider moving into the slow lane. Her expertise in public health influences her fresh insights into the roles of community and culture, offering helpful advice for busy women who wish to be connected. And if you listen to the end of the credits, you’ll hear an excerpt from our interview where Portia talks about the way she cultivated a diverse network to support her as she wrote her book.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“While others are fighting or ignoring or separating, we can be people who truly engage because we understand what it means to be created in the image of God.”

How can we explore the connection between faith and work more deeply in our lives? Listen in on professors Denise Daniels and Elaine Howard Ecklund as they share their work in an online webinar.

What does it mean to explore the connection between faith and work more deeply in our lives? In this episode, we hear from sociology professor Elaine Howard Ecklund and management professor Denise Daniels as they share some of the research they describe in their new book Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work. This conversation took place in a webinar hosted by several organizations including InterVarsity’s Women Scholars and Professionals, InterVarsity’s MBA Ministry, VOCA Center, and Faith & Work Movement. Our director, Karen Guzmán, hosts the “fireside chat” portion of the presentation, and then we wrap up with a bit of Q&A. You’ll enjoy this rich discussion even if you weren’t able to attend the webinar. In addition, we’re pleased to let you know that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Working for Better for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits, you’ll hear an excerpt from the conversation where the authors dig deeply into an insightful graph from their book, which you’ll also be able to see in our show notes.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

“I can’t fix the world. I can’t save my university. I can’t save my department. I can’t save my students .... but I can keep showing up to what I’ve been called to do.” — Grace Hamman

Medieval scholar Grace Hamman joins us on the podcast to discuss the wisdom medieval virtues and vices have for us today.

What can medieval virtues and vices teach us about living the good life today? Author and medieval scholar Dr. Grace Hamman joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life. In our conversation, Grace describes what drew her into the study of virtues and vices, and the timeless truths she discovered in her work. We discuss the insights that virtues and vices offer about human nature and Grace offers practical suggestions about ways these ancient ideas can lead us into a life of wholeness today. Grace shares too about her journey as an independent scholar and the gifts and challenges she has found on that path. Also, as a bonus, Grace’s publisher has shared an excerpt from her book that you can check out in our show notes, so take a look at those. And if you listen to the end of the credits, you’ll hear an excerpt from our interview where Grace recites something for us in Middle English.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!