The Faith & Work Podcast

Matt Barnes, owner of Professional Touch Laundry Services, shares his inspiring journey of entrepreneurship through acquisition, emphasizing the importance of viewing ownership as shepherding. Bob Larkin, president of Treatment Technology, discusses the balance between risk-taking and surrendering to God’s will in business. Both guests highlight the need for community and support in the entrepreneurial landscape, advocating for workplaces that prioritize employee well-being and spiritual growth while showcasing their unique experiences of living out their faith in the marketplace.

Uli Chi, a speaker at the Business for the Common Good event and author of 'The Wise Leader', shares profound insights on leadership. He emphasizes the rarity of true wisdom in today's information-saturated world and highlights the importance of humility, suggesting it means prioritizing others' needs over personal status. Chi discusses the value of rest and how it contributes to wise leadership, urging leaders to acknowledge their limitations. He also advocates for inclusivity, championing marginalized voices to create a richer community in leadership.

SUMMARY  In this episode of The Faith & Work Podcast, Ross Chapman is joined by Matt Randerson of Barna Group to offer a sneak preview of the Trends at Work data report set to be released soon. Drawing from this new research, Matt unpacks key themes—like influence, compassion, and change—that are reshaping workplace culture across the U.S. You’ll hear what the data reveals about employee well-being, faith integration, and what really drives retention and satisfaction at work. Whether you're leading a team or just starting out, this episode will challenge and equip you to shape culture in ways that reflect God’s heart for your workplace. HIGHLIGHTS  On vulnerability in the workplace  "Vulnerability about what's happening in our personal lives I think the idea of bringing more of our full selves into the workplace that does have complexity with it for sure but it goes back to that idea that the workplace is starting to take on more weight and expectation and so when we are experiencing something on the weekend or we're experiencing a challenge within our family or personal lives we are more inclined to probably want to bring that into the workplace. And so I know that requires more energy of all of us, but I think it's our opportunity, whether we are individuals or managers, to recognize that vulnerability is a part of the human experience. It's a part of the way that God designed us. Vulnerability opens us up to care for one another, to administer compassion, as we talked about in the framework. And so for all of us, how can we actually help cultivate a sense of trust and vulnerability in our workplaces because it's pretty essential to the experience." On the CEO experience "...20 % of CEOs say that they always are often are feeling lonely at work and 19 % are saying, they always are often feeling burned out. Those numbers are very similar for non-CEOs. So maybe there's comfort in recognizing, hey, loneliness and burnout is a common shared experience, whether you're the CEO or you're a manager or an individual contributor." RESOURCES Download the episode transcript If this topic interested you, you can explore more the more about the Trends @ Work report and similar studies at https://www.barna.com/trends-at-work/  YOU'RE INVITED Culture is what you’re really leading: A gathering to explore new research on how your workplace is forming people and gain leadership insights to help you lead a thriving organization. Wednesday, August 27, 2025 7:30 am - 9:30 am Greenwood Community Church, 5600 E Belleview Ave.,Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Cost: $30, full breakfast included

Robin John, CEO of Eventide Asset Management and author of The Good Investor, shares his transformative journey from childhood in India to ethical investing. He emphasizes aligning financial decisions with values that promote human dignity and justice. John discusses how investments can be a tool for community flourishing, addressing economic disparities, and fostering generosity. Listeners are challenged to view investing not just for profit, but as a meaningful way to engage in God's redemptive work, especially in underserved communities.

SUMMARY In this episode of the Faith and Work podcast, hosts Joanna Meyer and Brian Gray engage with metallurgist Chloe Johnson, exploring her unique journey in the sciences, the pressures of achievement, and the intersection of faith and science. Chloe shares her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated field, the importance of humility, and how art can bridge the gap between technical work and creativity. The conversation emphasizes the need for balance in scientific work, the pressures faced in the industry, and offers encouragement for those pursuing careers in science. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify. HIGHLIGHTS  On truth: "All truth is God's truth." On achievement: "Be in love with science, be in love with what you're doing, but have no pressure that that's like your end all be all. And don't put so much pressure on yourself. I think it's really easy to follow the cycle of achievement. Where's your next accomplishment coming from? Are you on enough committees? Are you doing enough extracurricular work? And I fall into this trap all the time. Sometimes it's okay to just enjoy something and not get it done." RESOURCES Download the episode transcript here Reigniting Awe: How a 5280 Fellow Inspires Artists and Scientists through Collaboration The Bible Project is a great tool that Chloe used when learning how to integrate her faith and work Chloe's Book Recommendation: The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton  If you liked this episode, check out WONDER: A Scientist’s Gift to the Church with Jennifer Wiseman Podcast Join us in Denver, CO July 19 for the public event for Christians thinking about Science: Science, Stewardship, and the Kingdom: A Public Lecture with Dr. Abram Bicksler

SUMMARY In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Abram Bicksler, agroecologist and leader of ECHO, 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 iTunes and Spotify. 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 Download the Episode Transcript Here Join us on July 19, 2025 in Denver at the American Scientific Affiliation public event to hear more from Dr. Bicksler. Open to all! Check out Biologos for more resources to support the integration of faith and the sciences Other Organizations mentioned: World Relief, World Vision 

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 iTunes and Spotify. 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 Download the Episode Transcript Here Learn more about Pivot Energy 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

In this episode of the Faith & Work Podcast, former Vectren CEO Carl Chapman shares how decades in the energy industry shaped his view of leadership, service, and faith. From navigating environmental challenges to investing in community partnerships and employee well-being, Carl offers thoughtful insights on balancing business priorities with a deeper sense of purpose, and reminds us that it's not that complicated to choose to "do the right thing" at any level of your leadership. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.   HIGHLIGHTS 4 C's of Success: Colleagues Customers Community  Capital On Community Impact "That's true today. Customers, many of them, have a difficult time paying their utility bill. And that's something that you have to focus on. We can't just ignore that reality. And so what we saw was a couple of things. One was we thought that we would be able to help our communities. And maybe beyond what the typical business even sees, the utility business is heavily impacted by how strong their community is because of the customers there... So we felt strongly that this not only was the right thing to do, but was also the right business issue because we really could go in and help our communities. That meant we might have conservation programs and efficiency programs for our customers."   RESOURCES Download the Episode Transcript Here

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 iTunes and Spotify. 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  Download the Episode Transcript Here Books By Dr. Barnes:  NEW - Sabbath as Resilience: Spiritual Refreshment for a Stressed-Out World Redeeming Capitalism Economic Wisdom Project Free Denver Institute Download - Deep Rest: A Study of Sabbath Harvard Study on Flourishing - 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 "Bretton Woods Agreement":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. 

Kathy Stewart, a longtime retail professional and personal stylist, who shares how God brings beauty and dignity into everyday retail spaces. Kathy reflects on how the sales floor can be a place of ministry—where stories are heard, confidence is restored, and people are seen as image-bearers of God. She also speaks to the redemptive value of beauty, the challenges of fast fashion, and the quiet power of faithfulness in the workplace. This conversation is a rich reminder that wherever people are, ministry can happen—even in the fitting room. Do you like The Faith & Work Podcast? Be sure to subscribe! Now available on iTunes and Spotify.   HIGHLIGHTS On Beauty:  "I just think in general, this whole conversation, and this is kind of my anthem of beauty is marked as vain, fake, complicated. These are the words we have pegged it as, and I just wholeheartedly disagree. That actually isn't what beauty is. We have distorted it into that. And I think there's a different way, right? When we put beauty on display, we actually reflect our creator. And we are made in his image." On Being Too Much: [Jesus said to me], "So you are one human out of nine billion just right now. So everything you got to give, it doesn't even pale in comparison to who I am and what I have to give. So my daughter, you reflect me, you bear my image, and I'm way more. I'm the galaxies. I'm the galaxies above the galaxies above the galaxies. So you can't be too much because you're a piece of me."   RESOURCES Download the episode transcript Join us at WWC25 Nov. 7, 2025! Uncharted International