Podcasts by Work and Play with Nancy Ray

218 - 2023 Books and What I'm Reading in 2024 from 2023-12-12T20:33

Today is my annual book club episode where I share my very favorite books that I read this last year in 2023 and also what I have planned for 2024. You can always find that current list updated ...

217 - Holiday Giving : Part 5 from 2023-12-06T14:28

Get ready for the icing on the cake for the best kept secret to a holiday season full of joy and contentment. You ready? It's giving. It's giving. It's being intentional about giving away the re...

216 - Holiday Food : Part 4 from 2023-11-28T22:42

There is something so sacred about food during the holidays. The taste of your grandma's casserole or your aunt's monkey bread, or your mom's Christmas Eve dinner. It can fill your heart and min...

215 - Holiday Budget and Gifts : Part 3 from 2023-11-21T18:11

I'm pumped to talk about a Christmas budget and Christmas gifts today. Guys, this can get so outta hand so fast, and also it can have such a negative connotation to it. Just making a C...

214 - Holiday Schedule : Part 2 from 2023-11-14T18:53

Okay. Deep breath everybody. It is time to tackle the holiday schedule. Dare I say, this is the main source of stress that we encounter during the holidays. There...

213 - Holiday Traditions : Part 1 from 2023-11-07T14:59

Today I'm kicking off a new series on the podcast, and I am giddy about it because it's all about the holidays. We're all thinking about it already. It's the last...

No Podcast This Week from 2023-11-02T21:44

Hey there! You're in the right place for Work and Play with Nancy Ray. A quick note—the podcast will be taking a break this week (November 2), but I'll be back next week with an exciting new epi...

212 - Narnia, Harry Potter, and the Wingfeather Saga from 2023-10-25T17:52

There will never be adequate words to describe what these book series have meant to me over the last year. They have been some of the best parts of my life. I kid...

211 - Wisdom in Work from 2023-10-17T08:00

One thing I have realized recently is that all of us in one way or another are seeking wisdom from God in our work. Whether that is working in our home and serving our kids and raising...

210 - 10 Things Saving my Life: Fall Edition from 2023-10-10T08:00

Okay. I felt like it was just time for a more lighthearted podcast episode and that is why I am bringing you 10 things that are saving my life, fall edition. Are ...

209 - How we do chores from 2023-10-03T08:00

I had a friend recently ask me, “How in the world do you do chores in your family with all four of your kids?” And I thought that would be a great podcast episode...

208 - 5 Time Management Tools from 2023-09-26T08:00

Okay, confession. I am a major time management junkie and I love it. I love planning. I love buying my new calendar for the year and getting my favorite pens and ...

207 - A Strategy for Life from 2023-09-19T08:00

Today, I am gonna be telling you all about how I create a strategy for my life. And I know that sounds very broad and possibly overwhelming, but hang with me because I feel like I have...

206 - Multitasking from 2023-09-12T20:47

While so many women wear multitasking as a badge of honor, I will readily admit that I am the worst at multitasking. I—it's terrible. I get so distracted and cannot do it. And I'll be ...

205 - Be where your feet are from 2023-09-05T08:00

Be where your feet are. This simple phrase has brought me back time and time again from feeling scattered and overwhelmed to simply being present. It's taught me a lot about my own limits and ho...

204 - Ideal Week from 2023-08-29T08:00

Today, I am so excited to share with you one of my very favorite things to do. I know this is really nerdy of me, but I love writing out my ideal week. This is something that I do at l...

203 - Small Play from 2023-08-22T19:30

So we all know that play is such an important part of our lives. It's easy to talk about work all the time, and it's a little bit more difficult as we get older t...

202 - School and Faith Rhythms from 2023-08-15T08:00

Well, it is back to school for the Ray family this week. I know everybody starts school at different times, but for us, school starts back this week. I’m so excit...

201 - Fresh Creativity with Jess Ray from 2023-08-08T08:00

Today’s so special because I have a long-awaited guest joining me. Jess Ray is a singer/songwriter/producer from Raleigh, North Carolina. She has her own series o...

200 – 200th Episode from 2023-06-27T08:00

Today is the 200th episode of work and play with Nancy Ray. I am so excited to celebrate with you. I can't believe it. I can't believe I've done 200 of these episodes. That's crazy. I'...

199 – 15 Years Married : Part 2 from 2023-06-20T08:00

This week, we’re diving back into our 2-part series as Will and I celebrate 15 years of marriage (crazy, I know)! This week, we’ll be talking about kids and home life—from how we balan...

198 – 15 Years Married : Part 1 from 2023-06-13T14:42

Back in January, I did a big survey of all of my podcast listeners and one of the most requested people that I was asked to interview on the podcast was my husband, Will! Today, we’ll kick off a...

197 – The Summer Plan from 2023-06-06T08:00

Summer is here—and after a long school year of hard work, it’s time to kick up our feet and play! Today’s episode is going to be fun and two-fold. First, we’ll talk about the practical: how to p...

196 – The Blessing [Book] with Kari Trent Stageberg from 2023-05-30T21:57

Today is the last episode of May is for Mamas this year, and I hope you have loved it as much as I have. Today, I get to have a conversation with Kari Trent Stageberg, the author of The Blessing...

195 - The Birds and the Bees with Megan Michelson from 2023-05-23T08:00

Hello and welcome to another episode of May is for Mamas. I am so excited about the guest that I have today on the podcast because I kept thinking “If I could choose someone who would deliver a ...

194 - Being a Loving Mother-in-Law with Grammy from 2023-05-16T13:46

I'm back with another May is for Mama's episode, and today I'm releasing one of my Patreon-only episodes into the world. This episode was published to my Patreon community last year, and it's th...

193 - Mama Scriptures from 2023-05-09T16:49

 Welcome to another episode of May is for Mamas, and this is Mother's Day Week! We are approaching Mother's Day and I had the thought, I want to create a podcast episode that is a gift to any mo...

192 - Book | Create Anyway with Ashlee Gadd from 2023-05-02T08:00

Welcome to May is for Mamas, where I dedicate every episode in the month of May to the Mamas listening. We are kicking it off with a beautiful, encouraging conversation with Ashlee Gadd on why i...

191 - My Top 8 Work Hacks from 2023-04-25T13:26

Jumping in right off the bat with a few really fun announcements!

Number one, I have a new website as of today and a new brand, new colors new look. Shout out to Sammy Jo, I love you. Tha...

190 - The Work and Play of Family Trips from 2023-04-18T14:47

Let's talk about family trips.

Listen, there is so much planning and work that goes into taking a family trip, but there's also these golden memories of play and adventure that come out o...

189 - What The Lord Is Teaching Me from 2023-04-11T13:43

Today I have some simple encouragement for you, which is just a glimpse into what God has been teaching me lately. I have found that when I complete another Contentment Challenge, it's good for ...

188 - Making the Most of Limited Work Hours from 2023-04-04T08:00

I currently work one day a week with the occasional help of maybe one to two evenings a month. This episode is all about how I maximize my very limited work hours!

Listen

187 - Book | Better Than Before from 2023-03-28T11:02

Today is a book club episode where I'm gonna be sharing my three biggest takeaways from the book Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. I love the tagline o...

186 - Making Godly Work Decisions from 2023-03-21T08:00

There is never a shortage of decisions to be made in regards to your work.

What should I be doing for my career? Should I stop working when I have children? Do I go back to work? And if I...

185 - The Minkies from 2023-03-14T08:00

I've had three best friends for over 20 years: Jess, Heather, and Sam. And the four of us are called The Minkies, and I invited them to do a special episode of the podcast, just me and my best f...

184 - Helpful Habits for Meal Planning from 2023-03-07T09:00

Here's a job description that life handed me that I just didn't really see coming. I have to be a cook like every day and I have to be a fairly good one because the tiny humans that I feed aroun...

183 - Book | Four Thousand Weeks from 2023-02-28T09:00

Alright, it's time for the Nancy Ray Book Club 2023 edition, and in these episodes I'm gonna share my three biggest takeaways...

182 - University Model School&Why We Chose It from 2023-02-22T00:47

Now that two of my four kids are school age, I get asked a lot about their education. Where do they go to school? Do you homeschool? And the answer is that they go to school and they ho...

181 - A Day in the Life from 2023-02-14T10:00

This episode is simply a day in the life of Nancy Ray. This feels a little bit mundane, maybe a little vulnerable to share a day of my life with you, a bit of a p...

180 - You Can Do Fun Things from 2023-02-07T09:00

My most downloaded episode, maybe ever, was Episode 007 called You Can Do Hard Things. Today, I'm gonna introduce her sister to you: You Ca...

179 - The State of the Podcast 2023 from 2023-01-10T09:00

It is the first podcast episode of 2023. I'm so grateful for you. I'm so grateful that you're listening right now, that you keep listening, and that somehow my voice has found a place i...

178 - My Top 10 Books of 2022 from 2023-01-01T06:10

Today I'm sharing my top 10 books of 2022, and why I love them. Listen, I had a great list of books I was gonna read this year, and I read a lot of them, I did, but then I kept getting sidetrack...

177 - 10 Years of the Contentment Challenge from 2022-12-20T09:00

Just a few months from now, in the start of 2023, that will mark 10 years since I did my first Contentment Challenge, where I give up shopping for three months straight to pursue a more...

176 - End of Year Planning + Finish Strong from 2022-12-14T13:57

At the end of every year, I plan time to do three simple things to plan for the year ahead. I take time to look back, reviewing the previous year. I set aside time to celebrate the previous year...

175 - Integrated Living from 2022-12-07T17:52

A few years ago, I came up with a core purpose statement for my work and this podcast, and that is: Practical tools for an integrated life. That is what I'm after. I want my tea...

174 - Cultivating Contentment During the Holidays from 2022-11-26T20:55

From gift guides to Instagram Ads, to those Amazon kids toy magazines, to Black Friday deals—everyone right now is telling us that we should be buying more, that we should have more, that we sho...

173 - How We Sabbath from 2022-11-15T14:21

God created the world in six days, and on the seventh day He completely rested and enjoyed his work. He created this cadence for all of us to work six days and to...

172 - My Christmas Gameplan from 2022-11-08T12:59

It is that time of the year where we are starting to think all about the holidays. And in my opinion, you can't start planning too early for Christmas. So, today I am telling you all about my Ch...

171 - Let Your Yes Be Yes from 2022-11-02T18:42

“Priorities are what we do, everything else is just talk.” I love that phrase. My husband works for an organization called C12, and they say that all the time, and it just re-centers yo...

170 - Created to Create from 2022-10-25T13:37

Someone once told me that we are most like God when we are creating. He is after all the creator of everything, and we are after all made in his image. Today's episode has me feeling, I...

169 - Book | Take Back Your Joy with Nicole Jacobsmeyer from 2022-09-27T13:27:23

Today I'm talking with my dear friend Nicole Jacobsmeyer, who is a fellow mama of four. She is an author and a kindred spirit. Fun little backstory— she and I met when we went to Great Wolf Lodg...

168 - Theme Days from 2022-09-13T09:00

Have you ever heard of having theme days? It's this idea that you choose different themes to focus on for different days and it helps you batch things or just simply not switch back and...

167 - Book | How To Get Paid For What You Know with Graham Cochrane from 2022-08-30T09:00

Today, I had the absolute privilege of talking to my friend Graham Cochrane. He is the author of How To Get Paid For What You Know, and we talk al...

166 - The Numbers of Business with Shanna, Kayse&Kait from 2022-08-16T09:00

Listen, this episode is so good. I say that because I get to sit down and talk with three of my good friends, women who I adore and admire, who r...

165 - The Weekly Plan from 2022-08-02T12:00

Well, I'm back from taking a month off of the podcast!! And this episode is going to be a little bit of a catch-up of what I've been up to, what's coming in Augus...

164 - 10 Things That Are Saving My Life Right Now from 2022-06-28T14:02:22

Well, today is my last episode before I take a month off of the podcast in July! So, I'll look forward to connecting with you again here in August, and I thought ...

163 - The Summer Photo Challenge from 2022-06-21T11:02:14

Our photos, whether they're digital, printed, on our phones, framed, in albums—all of them in a word can feel overwhelming. Which is why I want to lighten your lo...

162 - The Summer Episode from 2022-06-14T08:00

Welcome to the summer episode where I'm doing something I've never done before—having a little fun with this episode and I'll be sharing everything that reminds me of summer, including some grea...

161 - Book | The 4 Disciplines of Execution from 2022-06-07T08:00

Hello and happy June! Today is a full and exciting episode because I have some updates for you for the Summer and it's a book club episode, which are always my favorites. This book kind...

160 - Book | A Confident Mom with Renee Swope from 2022-05-31T10:00

Welcome to May is for Mama's, when every episode in the month of May is dedicated to all you mamas listening with topics and conversations specifically designed for you!

Listen

159 - Raising Daughters with Shay Cochrane, Part II from 2022-05-24T08:00

Welcome to May is for Mamas, when every episode in the month of May on the Work and Play Podcast is dedicated to all you mamas listening.

Today, I am continuing my conve...

158 - Raising Daughters with Shay Cochrane, Part I from 2022-05-17T08:00

Welcome to May is for Mamas, where every episode in the month of May is dedicated to all the mamas out there, with topics and conversations specifically for you.<...

157 - Using a Timer in Motherhood from 2022-05-10T08:00

This is the epitome of combining Work and Play for mamas there's work to be done. Plenty of it. Folding clothes, meal planning, unloading the dishwasher, picking ...

156 - Speak Scripture Over Your Children from 2022-05-03T08:00

This is the first episode of May is for Mamas, which is one of my favorite things I do on the podcast every May! Each episode this month will be made for the mama...

155 - State of the Podcast from 2022-04-26T08:00

Today, I'm veering off the normal podcast course and I'm breaking a few rules and I just want to share some of where I am in my own work and play and how that aff...

154 - My Two Favorite Work Routines from 2022-04-19T08:00

Today, I'm going to share my two favorite work habits and that is: how I start my workday and how I finish my workday. I'm just going to go ahead and put this out there—they're pretty n...

153 - Getting Past Tension from 2022-04-12T10:00

We all have tension in our lives. And a lot of times that manifests itself in anxious thoughts and just feeling like we can't get our heads around something or we can't move through it ...

152 - The Family Meeting from 2022-04-05T08:00

There's something about meeting regularly as a family that brings you together, not only in a practical way—which it does—you can talk about the calendar and your...

151 - Book | The Psychology of Money from 2022-03-29T08:00

Welcome to the Nancy Ray Book Club, where every month I read a book and then I share my three biggest takeaways from that book with you here. This month, I read t...

150 - Two Parts to Being Truly Productive from 2022-03-22T08:00

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately on productivity and how to be productive, mostly because right now I have very limited amounts of time that I can devot...

149 - 5 Ways to Make the Most of Being Sick from 2022-03-15T08:00

Having four small children six and under simply means that over the last six years there has been a lot of sickness in our house. And for two and a half years of that time, we have lived through...

148 - A Time for Bold Faith from 2022-03-08T09:00

We are living in a tense time. Cultural pressures are really high. Our nation feels like it's falling apart some days and is super divided  and it's hard, and more than anything, the dark world ...

147 - Book | The Self-Driven Child from 2022-03-01T09:00

Welcome to the Nancy Ray Book Club, where once a month I tell you about a book I'm reading and loving and I share my top three takeaways from that book. To learn more about the books I'm reading...

146 - Life and Work Without Social Media with Shanna Skidmore from 2022-02-22T09:00

Well, today is part two of a wrap-up of my break from social media, and I took six months off and I'm just talking about the impact it's had on my life and my work. And today we're going to get ...

145 - My 6 Month Break From Social Media from 2022-02-15T09:00

For the last six months, I've taken a break from social media and it has been so good. Today, I’m going to give you an update on how I liked it, what I missed, the best lessons I learne...

144 - 10 Questions For Your Next Date Night from 2022-02-08T12:00

Well, it's almost Valentines Day and I just wanted to give you something fun to do. I am giving you 10 fun questions to ask on your next date night. Now, you can use these on Valentine's Day, or...

143 - Book | The 12 Week Year from 2022-02-01T10:00

I'm just going to say, I hit it out of the park with my first book choice of the year. The Nancy Book Club is off to a great start for 2022. If you want to see all the books that I'm reading and jo...

142 - 5 Money Mindsets from 2022-01-25T12:00

Money is a part of our life. Whether we like it or not, we need it to live and we can choose to either manage it well and let it be a blessing to us and those around us, or if we neglect it, we'...

141 - Contentment Habits from 2022-01-18T23:05:20

The key to success is contentment.

I mean, think about it—if you can find a way to truly be content, to be happy in every circumstance, wouldn't it be awesome? Every day it would be incre...

140 - Best of 2021 from 2022-01-11T14:25:43

This episode is going to be a fun one. I firmly believe before we can look ahead and move forward, we need to pause and look back, and this episode is going to do just that. It's going to be all...

139 - Work and Play in 2022 from 2022-01-04T14:00:41

Hello and happy new year! I am so excited to be back, to be bringing you some fresh episodes of the work and play podcast moving forward, and to start this year off on the right foot, encouragin...

138 - 3 Habits to Put Social Media in its Place (Ep. 12 Replay) from 2021-12-28T09:00

Listen, we all struggle with social media. It is an incredible tool of connectivity, but it's literally designed to keep us scrolling, even when we don't want to be. Now in my best mome...

137 - Finish Strong from 2021-12-21T09:00

I have three quick things for you before I dive into a very brief, but hopefully very encouraging episode for you today. First, would you head to Listen

136 - The Contentment Challenge (Ep. 3 Replay) from 2021-12-14T13:06:47

What is the Contentment Challenge? In a nutshell, it is a commitment to giving up shopping for clothes, accessories, household decor, stuff, really anything excessive, for 3 ...

135 - An Update on My Social Media Break from 2021-12-07T09:00

Taking a long-ish break from social media has been on my heart for quite some time, and having Benji, our fourth child, just seemed like the perfect time to do it. So when he was born a...

134 - 5 Ways to Work Through Overwhelm (Ep. 10 Replay) from 2021-11-30T14:56:22

I have an invitation for you today: choose the courageous thing and slow down.

It's time to live a simpler, slower life than the one that you're living. Does that fe...

133 - Seasons of Business (Ep. 4 Replay) from 2021-11-30T14:51:53

I recently shared the news that after this year, my twelfth year of business, the doors of Nancy Ray Photography will close. This was one of the hardest, most difficult decisions of my ...

132 - Balancing Life as a Working Mom with Emily Ley (Replay Ep. 30) from 2021-11-16T14:24:40

I am so excited to bring this special episode with Emily Ley back to the Work and Play podcast today. She is one of the most authentic people I have ever met, I kid you not. She’s been ...

131 - Calling vs. Assignment (Ep. 5 Replay) from 2021-11-09T09:00

Get ready for another one of your past favorites! Today's episode was originally Episode 005: Calling vs. Assignment. I hope you enjoy.

I think it's pretty safe to say t...

130 - Book | Fighting Forward with Hannah Brencher from 2021-11-02T14:15:02

Welcome to the Nancy Ray Book Club, where every month I share a book I'm reading, and three big takeaways that I have from that book. And you can always find more informat...

129 - My Morning Routine (Ep. 13 Replay) from 2021-10-26T08:00

Get ready, because I love a good morning routine. Fair warning: I am such a nerd about this. I know this sounds kind of extreme, but having a morning routine in place really enhances the quality...

128 - You Were Made For Hard Things (Ep. 7 Replay) from 2021-10-19T13:04:50

Life is hard, and sometimes it just seems we can't move forward in our lives until someone speaks some words of life to us. So that's what I'm here for today. If ...

127 - Work&Play (Ep. 1 Replay) from 2021-10-12T13:08:54

As you may know, I'm currently taking a six month break from work and social media to be fully present with my family, which means that every Tuesday on the podcast, you'r...

126 - My Home Birth Story from 2021-10-05T08:00

Hello! I am back after a two month break from this podcast! I'm happy to be back and today I'm so excited to share with you a huge life event that took place over the last...

125 - Speak Life from 2021-07-27T14:44:25

Well friend, this is my last episode of Work & Play before I take a two month break from the podcast and a six month break from work and social media. I just want to use this time and space to e...

124 - We're Debt Free AGAIN! from 2021-07-20T08:00

I am so excited about today's episode! Today, Will and I are going to be sharing about how we are debt-free again, as we just paid off our house! If you followed us for a while, you k...

123 - Why I'm Taking 6 Months Off of Social Media from 2021-07-13T08:00

Before we jump in, this is your quick reminder that today is the last day you can purchase An Integrated Life, ...

122 - Book | Parenting from 2021-07-06T11:26:39

Before we dive in today, I just wanted to remind you that my new audio course, An Integrated Life, is still avai...

121 - Foundations in Work from 2021-06-29T08:00

Today's episode is the last of a three part series, giving you a glimpse into the new course I'm releasing TODAY at noon eastern time. So today is all about work, and my foundational approach to...

120 - Foundations in Home from 2021-06-22T10:12:50

Today's episode is part two of a three part episode series, giving you a glimpse of this new audio course. Today you'll hear about my outlook on the home and how important home life is....

119 - Foundations in Faith from 2021-06-15T08:00

Over the last several months, I have been working on a project I haven’t told anyone about, but you, my dear work and play podcast listener, are going to be the very first to know about it.

118 - Babymoon: Work and Play from 2021-06-08T08:00

I'm so grateful that for every baby we've had, we've had the opportunity to get away, just me and my husband for a few days before our new baby arrives. 

Listen

117 - Book | The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry from 2021-06-01T08:00

Welcome to the Nancy Ray Book Club, where every month I share a book worth reading and invite you to read it along with me. Today's book is Listen

116 - An Interview with my Mama from 2021-05-25T08:00

My mom is the kindest wisest, warmest, funniest woman I know. It is really an honor to have her as a mom. Every time I've needed advice or have felt misunderstood or have been confuse...

115 - Lean Into Your Season from 2021-05-18T08:00

Welcome to another episode of May is for Mamas! Today, I’m going to be brief and hopefully encouraging. And I don't say this lightly—I believe the secret to getting the most out of moth...

114 - BFFs, Infertility, and Miracles with Samantha Ray from 2021-05-11T10:51:01

Welcome to May is for Mamas where every episode this month is dedicated to all the mamas out there. Today is a special one because I'm having my best friends since ninth grade, who al...

113 - My Journey to Motherhood from 2021-05-04T08:00

Welcome to the first episode in May is for Mamas! Every episode this month will be dedicated to all the mamas listening and will hopefully be encouraging and helpful to you. Before I jump into t...

112 - Book | Atomic Habits from 2021-04-27T08:00

It's a Nancy Ray Book Club episode! Once a month I share a book I'm reading and loving, and my three biggest takeaways from that book. You can join in on this book club at any point by heading o...

111 - How to Keep Photos Organized with 4 Kids from 2021-04-20T10:57:09

Every mother is stuck in this paradox of wanting so badly to photograph and keep and preserve heir children's lives and childhoods with organized baby books and photos, but the very thing that k...

110 - What I Learned This Contentment Challenge from 2021-04-13T08:00

Three days ago, I finished, I think my sixth, maybe my seventh Contentment Challenge, where I give up shopping completely for three months at a time. Of course I buy food, I get gas, I ...

109 - Happy Two Year Anniversary! from 2021-04-06T08:00

Today we are celebrating two whole years of this podcast, Work and Play with Nancy Ray! I have a really fun, unique episode planed—it’s like a birthday party that I want to celebrate an...

108 - Book | Sleep Smarter from 2021-03-30T08:00

Welcome to the Nancy Ray Book Club, where once a month I share a summary of a book worth reading, and my top three takeaways from that book. Many of you have joined my 2021 book club an...

107 - How I'm Simplifying My Work This Year from 2021-03-23T08:00

In a lot of ways my work has really been simplified for me—I'm going on eight months of no childcare other than the two days that my kids are at preschool and kin...

106 - Email Ninja from 2021-03-16T08:00

Emails can be such a point of stress in our lives because they just keep piling up and they're a complete time suck. I cannot tell you how many days I've wanted to check my email real q...

105 - Baby #4 Q&A from 2021-03-09T09:00

This episode is going to be a personal look into my life, my motherhood, and more specifically, this fourth pregnancy that I am currently experiencing. 

Listen, my core ...

104 - Know Yourself, Know Your Money with Rachel Cruze from 2021-03-02T09:00

I'm so excited to welcome Rachel Cruze back to the Work & Play Podcast! She is a personal finance expert with Ramsey Solutions and author of Listen

103 - Book | Up From Slavery from 2021-02-23T09:00

Booker T. Washington's life story has impacted me so deeply. I can honestly say, this is one of those books that has changed me. I have the utmost respect for this man, what he did to...

102 - Eliminating Decision Fatigue from 2021-02-16T09:00

It is estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each and every day. That's crazy. 35,000 decisions a day. And of course, every decision we make, b...

101 - Book | The 28 Day Prayer Journey from 2021-02-09T09:00

Welcome to the Nancy Ray Book Club, where once a month I share a summary of a book worth reading and my top 3 takeaways from that book. Many...

100 - 100th Episode, 100 Questions! from 2021-02-02T09:00

I'm so excited to celebrate with you today!

Listen, I'm doing something different today. I actually went to many of you and said, “What should I do for my hundredth epis...

099 - Book | Parenting with Love and Logic from 2021-01-26T09:00

Welcome to the Nancy Ray Book Club, where once a month I share a summary of a book worth reading and my top three takeaways from that book. Many of you have joined by 2021 Book Club and...

098 - Fighting for Fun from 2021-01-19T09:00

I was talking with a friend the other day and she asked me the question, what are you fighting for this year? And it took me a minute to answer her, but after a pause, I finally said, “You know,...

097 - Being a Trustworthy Person from 2021-01-12T09:00

I've decided to take the first month of this year and focus on relationships.

Just focus on my relationships: my relationship with the Lord, my relationship with my husb...

096 - A Wise Approach to 2021 from 2021-01-05T09:00

It's hard to know exactly how to approach 2021.

2020 is going to be a year we remember and refer to for the rest of our lives. I mean, even our grandkids and history boo...

095 - 3 Prayers to Take With You from 2020-12-29T10:00

Sometimes when I'm going about my life, I want to pray, and I just don't have the words to say. Does that ever happen to you? Like, you know it's a really important day, or you know t...

094 - A Year of Contentment with Reagan Reynolds, Part 2 from 2020-12-22T10:00

Welcome back to my conversation with my dear friend, Reagan. Since we are so busy in the season of Christmas, I decided to split our chat into two different episo...

093 - A Year of Contentment with Reagan Reynolds, Part 1 from 2020-12-15T10:00

My friend Reagan has a heart of gold—you'll see in our conversation, just how amazing she is. She lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina, not far from me, with her husband of 10 years and...

092 - Finish Strong from 2020-12-08T10:00

Today, I'm going to set a record for my shortest podcast of all time and I'm totally okay with that. I hope this encouragement is just what you need today. 

Before I jum...

091 - Book | The Celebration of Discipline from 2020-12-01T10:00

Today, it is a privilege to share with you one of my favorite books of all time. It's called the Listen

090 - Our Favorite Christmas Traditions from 2020-11-24T10:00

Today, I'm going to be sharing all of our favorite Christmas traditions. And sharing this is really just to encourage you to make time for the most important things, and hopefully just ...

089 - One Word A Day from 2020-11-17T09:00

If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know that I've always been big on having a morning routine and a quiet time and journaling. 

T...

088 - Book | Digital Minimalism from 2020-11-10T10:00

Welcome to this month's edition of the Nancy Ray Book Club, where I choose 12 books to read in a year, and I invite you to join me in reading them, and then I sha...

087 - Encouragement on Election Day from 2020-11-03T09:00

Happy Election Day!

Now, listen, I know tensions are running high. I know convictions and beliefs that we hold have been tried and tested in this year. And especially th...

086 - Find More Hours In Your Week from 2020-10-27T09:00

Okay, have you ever sat down and thought about everything you do in a week, all the work, all the things you're responsible for all the fun you want to have, all the exercise you need, ...

085 - How to Write a 5 Year Business Plan from 2020-10-20T09:00

Writing a five year business plan can feel daunting and overwhelming, especially if you don't even know where you want to be in five years, which is probably most of us. 

Listen

084 - Start Now to Finish Strong from 2020-10-13T09:00

This episode is the gentle reminder that Halloween is in two weeks, Thanksgiving is coming, and Christmas is on its way. The shopping, the planning, the decorating, the end of year cele...

083 - Book | Rhythms of Renewal from 2020-10-06T08:00

Today's book is Listen

082 - Kids, Camping and Slowing Down with Emily Thomas from 2020-09-29T09:00

Every year we go camping, and we go camping with another family, the Thomas family. We have been for eight years. In fact, just this past weekend, we went camping with our dear friends....

081 - A New Look at Self-Care from 2020-09-22T09:00

We are constantly hearing and seeing the message of self-care. Take time for yourself. Don't forget to care for yourself. Drink water. Exercise. Go get your nails done. I have had so ma...

080 - A Helpful Guide for Consistent Prayers with Chrystal Evans Hurst from 2020-09-15T09:00

Today I'm talking with my friend, Chrystal Evans Hurst, and let me just say, this woman, I love her. She is a wife, a mama to five, a grandma of two. She's an encourager. She teaches pe...

079 - Why I Have a Business Journal from 2020-09-08T09:00

Today's episode is short and sweet, and I am talking about why I have a business journal—a work journal.

Yes, a separate journal, completely dedicated to my work. And I'...

078 - Book | The Pumpkin Plan from 2020-09-01T09:00

About a year ago, my friend, Sammy Jo, who works with me on my content creation and producing this podcast, she recommended this business book to me called The Pumpkin Plan. She recomme...

077 - Back to School Rhythms and Routines from 2020-08-25T09:00

Doing school shopping this year as a parent, I've realized there's a different side to it than when we were younger, and it's not so pretty. There's a lot to mana...

076 - How to Write a Clear Purpose Statement from 2020-08-18T09:00

How to write a purpose statement.

It seems a little daunting, doesn't it?

All right,...

075 - A Vision For This Season from 2020-08-11T09:00

I feel like I could easily tell you the vision of who I want to be at the end of my life, or even 10 years from now. Or I can make a strong vision for my business or work, where it's go...

074 - Book | The Nightingale from 2020-08-04T09:00

The Nightingale has been on my list to read for probably three years as it's one of my dearest friend's all time favorite books, and she's an avid reader, so I knew it was going to be g...

073 - Rhythms and Mindset with Allie Casazza from 2020-07-28T09:00

I've been following Allie Casazza for a little while now, and I love her heart, her work, her family, and all that her business stands for. We are passionate about so many of the same t...

072 - What I've Learned About Fear from 2020-07-21T09:00

"Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous? Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9.

The...

071 - 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer from 2020-07-14T09:00

It is the middle of summer. I know you know this, but sometimes it's good to hear a reminder of where you are, so you can reset your thinking and really make sure you're on the right tr...

070 - Book | Crucial Conversations from 2020-07-07T09:00

Today's episode is one that I hope you will bookmark and come back to. Actually, I'm almost positive this is one that you will bookmark and come back to. That's becau...

069 - 12 Years of Marriage, Part 2 from 2020-06-30T09:00

We are back again in Part 2 of the marriage question-and-answer with my favorite human ever, Will Ray, my husband. And so, if you missed Part 1, be sure to go back to last week's Listen

068 - 12 Years of Marriage, Part 1 from 2020-06-23T10:00

Today, I have my favorite human as my guest, my husband Will Ray. We are doing a question-and-answer series all about marriage and we cover a huge range of topics. We talked about how w...

067 - Check In: Working One Day a Week from 2020-06-16T09:00

Back in Episode 041, I shared my plan to work one day a week this year, which was quite the...

066 - How the Church Should Respond to Racial Crisis with Dr. Dorrell Briscoe from 2020-06-09T12:16:05

Today I’m humbled and grateful to have Pastor Dorrell on the Work and Play Podcast. We’re going to talk all about the racial crisis that we’ve been in and how the church, how believers,...

065 - Book | The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman from 2020-06-02T09:00

Emily P. Freeman is the kind of person I have grown to admire, respect, and quite frankly, adore. I love her. I love her podcast, Listen

064 - Making Memories with Sally Clarkson from 2020-05-29T10:00

Today’s conversation with Sally Clarkson felt like a big hug from your mom—that you really needed. We talk all about making memories with our children and to be honest, I had this idea ...

063 - Joy-filled Birthdays from 2020-05-26T12:34:49

I can not even believe it, but today is my daughter's fifth birthday. How in the world do I have a five-year-old? I don't know. Five whole years of sweet little Milly being in our lives...

062 - Taking It One Day At a Time with Shunta Grant from 2020-05-22T10:00

Today I’m having a conversation with my friend, Shunta Grant, and oh is it good! We talk about how important it is to just take it a day at a time—just to slow down, as mamas.

Listen

061 - Mama Guilt and Self Care from 2020-05-19T10:00

Mom guilt. Just saying those words might conjure up a whole lot of feelings in you. Today, I just want to say: I'm with you, I have felt it, it's real; but I also want to say, t...