The Women Scholars and Professionals Podcast

“You need to build a network .... The biggest mistake we make is just walking in and doing our job and not recognizing we need advocates and allies for every space that we’re in.” — Froswa’ Booker-Drew Author and non-profit executive Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew joins us on the podcast to discuss skills for navigating leadership pressures and barriers. What does it look like to successfully overcome challenges in leadership, particularly for women? Author and non-profit executive Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Front Porch Wisdom: Navigating Leadership Pressures and Barriers as a Woman of Color. Froswa’ shares from her wealth of knowledge and experience as she outlines potential difficulties for those exercising leadership skills and offers practical suggestions for mitigating the challenges. In our conversation, we talk frankly about role of race, ethnicity, and gender in the arena of leadership, and Froswa’ explains how this book provides beneficial information for all readers, no matter their background. Throughout the conversation, Froswa’ urges listeners to deepen and expand their networks of support for one another and shares helpful ways to do this. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Front Porch Wisdom 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 Dr. Froswa’ shares her reflections on the joy of working with her adult daughter. 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. “In any situation where you are uncertain about how to proceed: where you are new, where you have to have the courage to learn in public, to acknowledge publicly that yes, you are learning. And yes, learning is a process. And yes, you won’t know all the answers. And yes, you will make mistakes. That in itself is a kind of wisdom that one learns both from experience but also from listening to other leaders.” — Pamela Collins Pamela Collins, Chair of the Department of Mental Health the John Hopkins School of Public Health joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about pursuing a path to do what you what matters most to you, even when the way is unclear. Pamela shares her journey toward her passion of engaging mental health challenges as they impact those who are most vulnerable in the U.S. and in the world. Pamela describes her work of gathering and hosting an array of people from world leaders to direct service providers to work on solutions. We explore how wisdom and courage involve the vulnerable work developing the right community of people and leading in humility. We discuss how prayer shapes her reflection and her decision making as a leader. Listen for the way she describes investing in a new generation of advocates in the process of mentoring others. 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!

“Whatever work you are doing you bring yourself to that work, so it matters what kind of person you are.” — Alyson Pryor Spiritual director and therapist Alyson Pryor joins us on the podcast to discuss the benefits and the challenges of taking personal spiritual retreats. How can you cultivate a practice of taking personal spiritual retreats — and is it really worth the effort? Therapist and spiritual director Alyson Pryor joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Come Away and Rest: A Guide to Personal Spiritual Retreats. Alyson shares from her own experience of taking personal retreats, describing the benefits that come from the practice even amidst challenging circumstances. Alyson offers an accessible resource for those who have perhaps never taken a spiritual retreat, and she speaks invitingly about the joys of this particular kind of rest. Alyson is no stranger to the stresses of a busy life, and she speaks directly to those of us who feel like it’s all but impossible to take a retreat by sharing practical suggestions. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Come Away and Rest 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 Alyson offers her tips on waking prayerfully — even if you aren’t a morning person. 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!

“Don’t forget about the good. Don’t forget that there are stories of people doing things that work out there.” — Christine Jeske Anthropologist and professor Christine Jeske joins us on the podcast to discuss ways to persevere in the long pursuit of racial justice. What does it look like to persevere in the long, hard work of pursuing racial justice? Author and anthropologist Christine Jeske joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Racial Justice for the Long Haul: How White Christian Advocates Persevere (and Why). Christine explores the habits and mindsets that undergird the tenacity of those who persist in justice work, even in the face of discouragement and failure. Christine uses her anthropological lens to examine and categorize the practices of dozens of people who continue in their justice efforts despite all the inherent challenges. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Racial Justice for the Long Haul 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 Christine offers her thoughts on working with her daughter on a project related to this 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!

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. “We say we can do it ourselves, but we can’t — we have to bring others in and work as a community and hear their input-as valued as our own.” — Kelly Vaughn Kelly Vaughn, newly appointed Dean for the School of Education at Notre Dame De Namur University, joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about her winding and unexpected professional and personal journey to her current role, which began because of a momentous time in her childhood. How do our encounters with adversity and difficulty shape our journey? Kelly Vaughn shares two of the incredible challenges of her life and explores the way people around her impacted her growth in resilience and her values. She describes a Jacob season and Moses season and how they have shaped her leadership. Kelly talks about her career journey and the way surprises in her pathway impacted her understanding of herself and her passions. We explore the way the community undergirds the way she does her work and practices her faith. When we had this conversation, Kelly was in the role of Interim Dean and doing the hard work of leading in a transitional season. Listen for the ways she has been prepared for her new leadership role. 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!

“God didn’t call me in spite of who I am but because of who I am … and that’s true of all of us.” — Rev. Dr. Kate Coleman Listen in on our fall book club interview as Women Scholars and Professionals book club host Jasmine Obeyesekere conducts an online discussion with author and Christian leader Rev. Dr. Kate Coleman where they talk about internal challenges for women leaders as we pursue our callings. In this finale of our Fall Book Club, we engage in conversation with Rev. Dr. Kate Coleman about her book 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership: Overcome Self-Defeating Behaviour in Work and Ministry. You’ll enjoy this rich conversation even if you weren’t able to participate in the book club! Kate Coleman examines internal attitudes and habits that sabotage women’s leadership. In a landscape that has some understanding on external forces that undercut women’s leadership, Kate’s contribution is unique since she addresses barriers within women that negatively impact how women lead. She describes seven common ways that women undermine their own leadership, sometimes unknowingly. Kate’s combination of theology, research, anecdotes, personal insights and practical tips will help women overcome unhealthy mindsets and lead well. Kate sees work as sacred and our platforms as pulpits, her book will help us lead from our rootedness in Christ. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Jasmine Obeyesekere 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. “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!

“Even though it looks like other people are better prepared, God has gifted this to you. He is with you and you have an amazing opportunity. Don’t miss it because you’re concerned about how you might not be prepared or that you feel like you’re in over your head. Just take what you can from that situation and appreciate it.” — Erin Devers Social psychologist and professor Erin Devers joins us on the podcast to discuss ways to identify our hidden biases and pursue accuracy instead. What is cognitive bias, and how does it affect our work, relationships, and spiritual lives? Author and social psychologist Erin Devers joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book The Unbiased Self: The Psychology of Overcoming Cognitive Bias. Erin explains exactly what cognitive bias is and how it affects every facet of our lives, even those of us who consider ourselves very self-aware. But instead of leaving us feeling hopeless to change, Erin suggests strategies for training our minds and altering our environments to help reframe our biases and overcome their negative effects. Erin’s practical ideas can affect our presence in our families, workplaces, and communities, and we’re left feeling a sense of empowerment to make small adjustments that yield big results. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on The Unbiased Self 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 Erin helps us understand the link between overcoming cognitive bias and cleaning out our closets.. 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!

“Do not put off rest or relaxation. Learn how to weave it in throughout your day. Schedule it as if it was another class or lecture you had to attend.” — Tracie Braylock Holistic nurse educator Tracie Braylock joins us on the podcast to discuss stress, faith, and how to care for your whole body. What would change for each of us if we started the school year from a place of rest and relaxation? Author and holistic health educator Tracie Braylock joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Radical Relaxation: Releasing the Stress You Were Never Meant to Carry. Tracie helps us to understand the ways stress and relaxation affect our bodies and lives, and she offers practical suggestions for creating habits that bring some breathing room into a busy life. We talk about the way one’s sense of agency can help us care for our bodies and the role that faith can play in the process. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Radical Relaxation 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 Tracie helps us to think about when it might be time to find a new primary care physician. 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!

“Focusing on truth, goodness, and beauty first takes us outside of ourselves...but also it also changes who we are and how we are and how we do what we do.“ — Karen Swallow Prior Reader, writer, and erstwhile professor Karen Swallow Prior joins us on the podcast to discuss vocation, literature, and spiritual formation. What does it mean to have a calling and how does one begin to discover it? Karen Swallow Prior joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful. Karen unpacks our understanding of vocation and brings new insight into the breadth of one’s callings and how they can change throughout the span of a life. Her skillful use of literature helps to illustrate and amplify her prose, and the pairing brings fresh understanding and new questions to the process of uncovering one’s calling. Karen offers thoughtful insights about this time in history, and if you listen to the end of the credits you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Karen shares what is bringing her joy today. 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 start off with trying to make sure the student knows someone is looking forward to seeing them." — Jana Young How do you prepare to successfully kick off a new school year? Listen in on our first in a series of episodes where we answer some of your Dear Mentor questions. Hello, dear listeners! To start us off this August, we’re offering a re-broadcast of one of our favorite episodes to kick off the new school year. So listen in on our back to school special, complete with all the original introductory content (including a note referencing our 2022 name change), and we’ll see you next week with a fresh new episode. ..... Let me invite you into a special episode, our first in a series of episodes where we answer some of your Dear Mentor questions. First up: back to school rhythms. How do you get geared up for the semester? What habits get you in the mindset for an energizing start to the school year? Karen Hice Guzmán, director of Women Scholars and Professionals, sat down with three women faculty members — representing the fields of chemistry, music, and business — and recorded their best tips and wisdom to help you start your school year on the right foot. ​ Let me add a special note here for those of you who are not professionally aligned with a school schedule at this time of year — you are welcome, too! The ideas that emerge from these three conversations can be applied easily to a number of contexts, so we hope you listen in and glean the wisdom that connects with your life and work situation. So have a listen! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd Featuring Rachel Barnard, Cristina Espinoza-Alguera, & Jana Young, with Karen Hice Guzmán. 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 think this would be a perfect time to choose to trust God with your future and with your present and just spend some time with him in nature, with other colleagues in prayer, in the word, etc.“ — Dr. Denise-Margaret Thompson Four esteemed guests join us on the podcast to discuss how we can reflect on this school year and enter into summer from a place of spiritual vitality. What does it look like to enter into summer from the position of this current cultural moment? We’ve invited four guests to participate in a roundtable discussion for this special episode as we wrap up our podcast season for this academic year. You’ll get to hear from four women with expertise in university culture, spiritual formation, and faith-work integration as we talk about the uniqueness of the days we’re living through. In this conversation, we’ll talk about the challenges we are seeing on campus these days and the opportunities we have to respond faithfully. We also talk about how to wrap up the school year and enter into summer with a posture that is reflective and intentional and life-giving. I think you’ll really enjoy this episode, and if you listen to the end of the credits, you’ll hear a blessing that we are praying over all of our listeners. ​ 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!

“Doing your PhD is ... there's a lot of pressure for sure, but you never get that kind of space and time [again] to focus on a single project. As soon as you leave ... there are so many other demands in your time. The privilege of getting to sit with a topic for years and have so many people invest in the work that you're doing and speak into it and help you to improve it — it's so wonderful. I would do PhDs for the rest of my life.“ — Jennifer Powell McNutt Professor and author Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt joins us on the podcast to discuss the place of Mary Magdalene in the biblical story and what she can teach us about walking with Jesus. Who was Mary Magdalene and what does her story offer to Christians in the 21st century? Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today, which recently received the honor of being a 2025 ECPA Christian Book Award Finalist. Jennifer helps us to understand the unique place Mary Magdalene has in the story of Jesus as a woman, a believer, and a model for Christians across the ages. We talk about the ways Mary’s life impacted the church across the world, and we learn about some crucial misunderstandings that have maligned Mary’s name over the years. Jennifer also offers encouraging thoughts about her experience as a woman in the academy, and if you listen to the end of the credit, you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Jennifer shares her story of advocating for maternity leave on campus. 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!