Gladness & Hunger with Leanne W. Smith

Ever felt like a seed in the desert awaiting your superbloom? Chris Gonzalez says he finally got to his vocation of marriage and family therapy thanks to key people in his life. We talk about the healing power of relationships, how presence is itself healing, and that empathy is the ability to detect the emotional condition of another person and demonstrate that you care about it. A recent health crisis affirmed for Chris what has been a guiding principle in his work and life: relationships matter.

Highlights from our conversation

• A mother’s nurturing influence.
• A mentor: “Without him, I’m not doing what I’m doing.”
• How listening scratched an itch.
• A first therapist was the first time “someone else was interested in my hurt.”
• “My confidence is in the rearview mirror.”
• Marriage, family, friendships are all pathways to the image of God.
• “To heal alone is to have to heal twice.”
• The definition of empathy.
• Without trust, “there’s a hole in the bottom of the bucket.”
• We are the intervention.
• Don’t waste a hurt; seek to redeem it.

Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.w.smith/

Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected] 

What if your winding career path is actually the point? As Kate Watkins, who started on a farm and has come back to the farm, puts it, “Your life is chasing you your whole life.” Her desires to delight were planted early as a candy striper, leading her through a maze of jobs and educational pursuits that would culminate in a doctorate of ministry and the life lesson to “minister wherever you are.” A major insight, gained from her work in Tennessee’s prisons, was that most of us on the “outside” have a weak theology of suffering. Talking with Kate is ever a feast for my soul. May listening in be a feast for yours. 

Highlights from our conversation

• Early dreams can come to fruition
• “Your life is chasing you your whole life.” 
• God places people in your life, even at the dry cleaner’s and the mall.
• Do Kingdom where you are. Be a chaplain where you are.
• How a baby that leaped in her stomach…
• …was born 7 years later.
• And when Richard Goode asked her to pray about it…
• …she didn’t need to because, “Today is the answer to that prayer.”
• I share a holy moment from my own work at the prison. Of how you think you’re going to bless another, and you are the one who comes away blessed.

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Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected] 

Have you ever watched your career soar — only to hit a wall you didn't see coming? In this episode, Marty Kittrell, well-versed in corporate strategy, finance, security offerings, private equity, and board practices, gets candid about navigating the gap between professional highs and hard-hitting setbacks. Whether you're climbing, stumbling, or somewhere in between, Marty's story will leave you with a fresh perspective on what it means to lead, learn, and give back.

Highlights from our conversation

• "Context is decisive."
• The importance of curiosity
• Marty’s passion for trivia 
• How the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry
• 3 professional failures in 3 years, followed by 10 years of greatest professional success
• Being a sand dummy
• 2 things Marty wishes he’d had on his resume
• Playing chess online
• Marty gave me an ingot of silver with a charge: "Don’t keep your talents hidden under a bushel."

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Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected] 

In this Season 6 recap, Kianna and I reflect on the guests, stories, and lessons that shaped this season of Gladness and Hunger. We discuss mentorship, vocation, God's faithfulness, and the surprising ways our lives often unfold. Join us as we look back on the journey and celebrate the wisdom shared by this season's guests.

Here are more detailed highlights:

We began Season 6 (S6:E1) with me being interviewed by my intern. Kianna Winey put me on the other side of the table and asked me why the premise of Gladness & Hunger calls to me so deeply. The short of it is, I find it fascinating to hear how others come to their vocations. And it’s inspirational to hear what personal habits have made a difference for them.

We are enriched by one another’s stories, including stories of vocation. It is especially inspiring to see the beauty that comes from detours. Every guest has a life song—a theme they’re drawn to. Often, this theme is born from the detours. 

In S6:E2, Casey Farris and I talked about leadership, Christian education, and cultivating calm in chaotic environments, but we also talked about good old-fashioned fun. If you need inspiration for putting more fun in your life, listen to Casey. 

In S6:E3, I talk with documentary filmmaker Barry Wortz about his personal efforts to unmask the autism employment crisis. If you’re an employer or have an interest in autism, you’ll want to watch his film, Lost Potential.  

In S6:E4, I talk with longtime English professor Dr. Matt Hearn about how some of us end up pursuing the very vocations we swore we’d never do, and the mentors who help us see the light. 

In S6:E5, I got to chat with my friend, Selene Covarrubias about her vocational journey from television to publishing—from Johnny Carson to Simon & Schuster—and the joy of living abroad.

In S6:E6, my guest is Sydney Ball, who recently launched Ballpoint Solutions. Need inspiration for being strategic, building your network, or serving on boards? This is the episode for you. 

Mentorship runs as a theme all season, with practical tips offered during the Season 6 midrolls for building and sustaining strong mentoring relationships. Your time is precious! Which is why we want to offer you value from start to finish in every episode of Gladness & Hunger.

May the Season 6 conversations prove to be a blessing to you. They have certainly proved to be a blessing for me and Kianna.

Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.w.smith/

Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected] 

In this episode of Gladness & Hunger, I sit down with Sydney Ball shortly after the launch of her consulting firm, Ballpoint Business Solutions. A Lipscomb College of Business alumna, Sydney has been recognized with honors including the Sterling Award for Top 20 Professionals Under 40 in West Tennessee, Nashville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and Women of Influence. In our conversation, she reflects on the mentors, experiences, and family influences that shaped both her career and her passion for serving others.

From running her first business at just ten years old to building a successful career in banking, board leadership, and consulting, Sydney shares practical wisdom on networking, communication, mentorship, and leading with integrity. Along the way, she offers thoughtful insight into entrepreneurship, personal branding, and the importance of building meaningful connections.

This conversation is an encouraging reminder that vocation is often formed through service, relationships, and the willingness to walk through unexpected doors of opportunity.

Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.w.smith/

Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected] 

Isn’t it fascinating to consider all that shapes a person’s vocation?

Think of old Hollywood glamour, and you’ll begin to glimpse the world Selene Covarrubias was born into. While she now works in publishing with Simon & Schuster, her journey began in television, working behind the scenes on both The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and later with Jay Leno.

Media has been a constant thread throughout Selene’s life, but her story is anything but linear. With seasons spent living in Mexico, the United States, Rome, Paris, and Spain, her journey reflects a deep love for travel, culture, and storytelling—along with a willingness to embrace change when life takes unexpected turns.

In this episode of Gladness & Hunger, we explore Selene’s fascinating background, the early influences that shaped her path, and how she found her way from television into the world of books. Along the way, she shares what it looks like to adapt, to take risks, and to remain open to opportunities you never planned for.

This conversation is a reminder that calling is often formed over time—through experiences, relationships, and the courage to keep moving forward, even when the path isn’t clear.

If you’re navigating change, considering a new direction, or simply wondering how your story is unfolding, Selene’s journey offers both perspective and encouragement.

0:00 Intro

1:02 Meet Selene Covarrubias

4:14 Between Two Worlds: Growing Up Across Cultures

6:39 Backstage: Lessons from Early Hollywood

8:33 Creativity, Motherhood, and Meaningful Work

11:55 Midroll on Mentorship

12:41 Leaps of Faith: Moving Countries & Reinventing Yourself

20:43 Critical Skills: Adaptability & Self-Kindness

22:26 Habits that Ground You & Staying Open to Change

24:39 Final Thoughts and Advice: Take Risks & Reach Out

Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.w.smith/

Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected] 

Sometimes we discover we are wired in ways that surprise us. In this episode of Gladness & Hunger, I sit down with Dr. Matt Hearn, longtime English professor at Lipscomb University, to explore his unexpected journey into literature and teaching.

Matt shares how he came to love words, the teachers and mentors who shaped him, and the moments that awakened his curiosity. Along the way, he reflects on how following his passion—even when it didn’t look like the path he expected—led him to a fulfilling vocation.

Together, we explore:

• How early experiences with literature and poetry sparked curiosity and shaped a lifelong love of words
• The influence of challenging teachers and mentors who guided growth in surprising ways
• How pursuing what you love can reveal your calling—even if it’s not what you originally planned
• The role of curiosity, determination, and stubbornness in personal and professional growth
• Why taking unexpected opportunities can lead to joy, purpose, and self-discovery

This episode is thoughtful, reflective, and encouraging for anyone navigating life decisions, discovering passions, or learning to trust the slow unfolding of purpose. Through Matt’s story, we see that sometimes the work we were made to do is revealed gradually—and it can be more joyful than we ever imagined. 

0:00 Intro

0:53 Meet Matt Hearn

3:59 When Your Life Takes You Somewhere You Never Expected

7:19 The Teacher You Hate Might Be the One Who Shapes You Most

11:32 Midroll on Mentorship

12:55 Discovering Poetry and the Power of Words

15:40 When a Change of Plans Leads You to What You Love

18:52 How Curiosity and Stubbornness Can Shape Your Future

26:38 Advice for Young People: Slow Down and Find What You’re Passionate About

Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.w.smith/

Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected] 

The underemployment of people with extraordinary minds is not just a personal loss — it’s a collective one.

In this episode of Gladness & Hunger, I sit down with filmmaker Barry Wortz to talk about his powerful documentary, Lost Potential: Unmasking the Autism Employment Crisis.

Barry was diagnosed with autism at 41 years old. Like many adults today, he spent decades navigating the world without language for his experience. In our conversation, he shares his personal journey, the misconceptions surrounding autism, and why the workplace is missing out on extraordinary talent because of misunderstanding and stigma.

We explore how autism doesn’t “look” the way many people expect. Autistic individuals can be successful, gifted, creative, and deeply empathetic — yet still misunderstood. Barry makes a compelling case: when employers place people where they are strongest, especially those on the spectrum, they often outperform expectations.

Together, we discuss:

• Why autism is frequently misunderstood
• The power of storytelling to shift stigma
• Late diagnoses and changing awareness
• Masking, sensory overload, and emotional misinterpretation
• How managers, teachers, and leaders can better support neurodivergent individuals
  The hope emerging from greater awareness and open conversation

This episode is both personal and practical — a call to see differently, hire differently, and love differently.

0:00 Intro

1:01 Meet Barry Wortz

3:02 "Lost Potential: Unmasking the Autism Employment Crisis" Documentary

6:25 Diagnosed at 41: Barry’s Personal Journey

12:09 Hire the Person for Their Strengths and Watch Them Excel

14:43 Creating Environments Where Autistic Individuals Can Thrive

17:23 Midroll On Mentorship

18:34 Masking, Anxiety & The Hidden Work of Autism

24:14 Finding a Calling in Film & Education

28:33 Words of Hope for Families & Individuals on the Spectrum

Read more about Barry Wortz here; and watch his documentary, Lost Potential, here.

Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.w.smith/

Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected] 

Bad weather and flight delays make some people surly, but one of the most enjoyable days I’ve ever had in an airport happened under these very conditions, all because Casey Farris was there to bring fun, curiosity, and perspective into the moment.

In this episode, I sit down with Casey Farris, a father, educator, leader, and the President of Madison Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, Christian education, and cultivating calm in chaotic environments.

Casey reflects on the people and experiences that shaped him, the path that led him into Christian education, and the leadership principles that continue to guide his work today. 

Together, we explore:

• The formative influences of childhood and mentorship
• How Casey found his way into Christian education and school leadership
• What healthy, effective leadership looks like in real life
• The qualities that matter most when hiring, collaborating, and building strong teams
• Staying calm, curious, and grounded during crisis situations
• Choosing to learn something from every situation
• The importance of family, presence, joy, and having fun along the way

If you want to grow as a leader, learn how to find silver linings, and bring calm and hope wherever you are, tune in and get to know Casey Farris, a man I’ve come to think of as a true national treasure.

0:00 Intro

0:52 Meet Casey Farris: Background & Story

3:24 Was Casey Always This Fun? Childhood & Personality

5:25 Major Influences That Shaped Casey’s Life

12:33 The Path Into Christian Education

17:38 Mid-roll on Mentorship

18:58 What Strong Leadership Really Looks Like

25:30 Hiring Well: What Casey Looks for in People

28:42 Staying Calm and Grounded in Crisis Situations

31:19 Leanne on Developing a Calm, Steady Spirit

33:01 The Gift of Family: Marriage, Kids & Being Present

36:25 Final Wisdom & Encouragement from Casey Farris

Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.w.smith/

Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected] 

Each of us seems to have a life song,  a theme we’re drawn to again and again. Often, it’s born from pain.

In this season-opening episode of Gladness & Hunger, Leanne does something different. Instead of asking the questions, her intern flips the script, inviting Leanne to reflect on the heart behind the podcast, the season’s theme, and the journey that shaped her calling.

This conversation explores why Gladness & Hunger exists, who it’s for, and how stories have the power to feed the soul, strengthen faith, and help people keep moving forward. Leanne shares how a season of spiritual direction training through Creighton University helped clarify this year’s theme “It’s an inside-out job” and why transformation must begin within before it can flow outward.

Together, we explore:

• The purpose and audience of Gladness & Hunger
• Why sensitivity, hope, and contribution matter
• How pain often gives birth to calling
• Leanne’s lifelong love of words and stories
• What brings joy, creativity, and meaning in this season of life
• How God uses weakness, not perfection
• The interpersonal qualities that matter most when working with others
• The daily habits that sustain faith, peace, and perseverance

Leanne reflects honestly on fear, perfectionism, comparison, and distraction, and how consistent spiritual practices like prayer, journaling, Sabbath, gratitude, and attentiveness to God have reshaped her inner life. She reminds listeners that God does not require perfection, only faithfulness, the willingness to get up and try again.

The episode closes with Leanne sharing her hope for the season ahead and reading a poem by Ted Loder, inviting listeners to consider how their own painful experiences might be redeemed into something healing and hopeful.

If you’re seeking inspiration for your vocational journey, longing for encouragement, or wondering how faith can be formed from the inside out, this season premiere sets the tone for what’s to come.

0:00 Introduction

0:59 Meet Kianna Winey: Turning the Mic on the Intern

4:41 The Heart of the Podcast: Purpose, Audience & Hope

6:48 Season Theme: “It’s an Inside-Out Job”

11:26 Leanne’s Story & Love of Words

14:48 What Brings Joy in This Season of Life

16:03 Looking Back: How God Prepares Us Through Weakness

18:03 Qualities Professors Look for in Students

20:53 Letting Go of Perfectionism and Finishing Creative Projects

26:44 Habits That Sustain Faith, Creativity & Peace

31:18 A Prayer About Surrender, Honesty, and Being Found by God

Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.w.smith/

Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/

Contact Leanne's team @ [email protected]