The Faith & Work Podcast

The Faith & Work Podcast explores our everyday work in God's world, and is produced and hosted by Denver Institute for Faith & Work.

Voices from the Workplace: Forging a Faithful Scientist with Metallurgist Chloe Johnson 07/04/2025

Voices from the Workplace: Agroecology and Farming with Dr. Abram Bicksler 06/20/2025

Voices from the Workplace: Agroecology and Farming with Dr. Abram Bicksler SUMMARY In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Abram Bicksler, agroecologist and leader of , to explore how science, faith, and stewardship intersect in the world of sustainable agriculture. As part of our Voices from the Workplace series, Dr. Bicksler shares how his calling has led him from rural farms to the United Nations, all rooted in a commitment to creation care and serving the poor. Together, we discuss what faithful scientific work looks like, the church’s role in supporting those in the sciences, and why every occupation—including agroecology—can be a gospel-centered vocation. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on and . HIGHLIGHTS On Your Skills "We need every occupation to be a gospel-center occupation and to use your skills, your god-given gifts, the way that god has wired you to bring about the kingdom of God, right here and right now." On the Role of the Church "I’d love to see the church get more worked up about what's right in front of our faces, in terms of how is our pollution, how are the greenhouse gasses which we are polluting in the world, affecting our neighbors in Bangladesh? How are they affecting the ecosystems and the species that we are losing everyday? How are they leading increased droughts and unpredictability of rain that are causing famine and starvation of our global neighbors." Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV) "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." RESOURCES Check out for more resources to support the integration of faith and the sciences Other Organizations mentioned: , /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/36965195

Voices from the Workplace: Renewable Energy with Tom Hunt 06/06/2025

Voices from the Workplace: Renewable Energy with Tom Hunt SUMMARY In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we talk with Tom Hunt, CEO of Pivot Energy, about leading a clean energy company with purpose. Tom shares how his faith shapes his work in climate innovation, community impact, and workplace culture. From solar panels to leadership challenges, this conversation offers hope and insight for anyone seeking to do good work in a complex world. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on and . HIGHLIGHTS On Hope "One of the really cool things about this industry though, is that we get to take hope from the sun rising every morning. You know, like that is the source ultimately of all this energy we produce is the sun. And so, you know, a day like today, it's a beautiful spring day in Colorado, not a cloud in the sky, the sun shining. There's a lot of political headwinds and yet, you know, I wake up and I look out and like, well, okay, this is... You know, cause it's not just that it's producing solar energy in our projects, but it's this beautiful part of the world. And we get to benefit from that in multiple ways. So that's honestly a key source of hope. And I think that's one of the beauties of God's creation is that, you know, day by day we recognize it's not just about us, that what's in our heads is not the biggest thing out there. And there's all these reminders of that from creation." On Motivation "Well, I think it's always been in the mix... [of] seeing the beauty of creation around us and feeling like part of what I can do to live in a faithful way is to live in harmony with creation as best I can and honor and glorify the beauty of the world around us. So I think that's a big motivator for why I work in clean energy." RESOURCES Learn more about and their work Subcreation: a term popularized by J.R.R. Tolkien, refers to the act of creating or shaping something within a framework of existing reality, rather than creating from nothing, as God is said to do /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/36675130

Voices from the Workplace: Leading with Wisdom in the Energy Industry with Carl Chapman 05/23/2025

Economic Wisdom in a Time of Tariffs 05/09/2025

Economic Wisdom in a Time of Tariffs 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 and . 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 Books By Dr. Barnes: NEW - - 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 "":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. /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/36458820

Voices from the Workplace: The Beauty of Retail with Kathy Stewart 04/25/2025

Voices from the Workplace: Behind the Lens with Aly McCroskey 04/11/2025

Voices from the Workplace: Behind the Lens with Aly McCroskey Aly McCroskey, wedding photographer and host of the , 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 Learn more about Aly & her work 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) /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/36057715

When Work Hurts: Building Resilience When You're Beat Up or Burnt Out with Meryl Herr 03/28/2025

Valor & Mercy: Attributes of Wise Leadership with Hannah Stolze 03/14/2025

Voices From the Workplace: Selling Your Business with James Ruder (Guest Hosts: Jeff Haanen & Spencer Williams) 03/03/2025

Voices from the Workplace: Navigating Grief at Work with Kevin Colón 02/14/2025

Voices from the Workplace: Navigating Grief at Work with Kevin Colón 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 /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/35287285

Voices from the Workplace: Investing with Andrew Clark & Amy Brandenburg 01/31/2025

Voices from the Workplace: Investing with Matt Monson & Brandon Roop 01/17/2025

Voices from the Workplace: Investing with Matt Monson & Brandon Roop 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 and . 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 For further Exploration on Investing... Donaldson Capital Management, LLC, is a federally registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The oral and written communications of an adviser provide you with information about which you determine to hire or retain an adviser. Form ADV Part 2A can be obtained by visiting and search for our firm name. ADV Form 2B is available upon request. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed it so be construed as solicitation to buy or sell a security of personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP (with plaque design) in the United States., which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. This presentation has been provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/34884620

The How & Why of Collaborating In Your City: A Housing Case Study 12/13/2024

The How & Why of Collaborating In Your City: A Housing Case Study 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 Virago 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 ( “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) GET INVOLVED If you are a church or faith-based nonprofit leader, would you read and consider signing 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! /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/34416805

How Did We Miss This? It's Patronizingly Clear. (Union Pt 2) 11/29/2024

How Did We Miss This? It's Patronizingly Clear. (Union Pt 2) 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 Rob Kelly is the founder and lead author of the /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/34100086

Jesus Doesn't Want a Relationship With You (Union Part 1) 11/15/2024

Jesus Doesn't Want a Relationship With You (Union Part 1) 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 "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.” - Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? See more great resources at or find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @denverinstitute /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/33922072

How to Trust God When You Have a Quota to Meet 11/01/2024

How to Trust God When You Have a Quota to Meet Ben Nussbaum, VP of Sales at OnCenter and associate director of , 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." Learn more from “Be comforted, small one, in your smallness. He lays no merit on you. Receive and be glad.” - CS Lewis, Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? See more great resources at or find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @denverinstitute /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/33471592

Whole-Life Stewardship with Murdock Trust CEO Romanita Hairston 10/18/2024

Whole-Life Stewardship with Murdock Trust CEO Romanita Hairston 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.” Friday, November 1, 2024 where she will be our keynote speaker! Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? See more great resources at or find us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @denverinstitute /episode/index/show/faithandwork/id/33471482