On Life Podcast

At Liberty University, counseling is more than a career—it’s a calling to serve others with excellence and compassion. Today, we’re talking about what it truly means to pursue counseling as a calling and how Liberty prepares online students to serve others with faith and professional excellence. Joining us is Eric Camden, Director of the Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. 

Online students are busy—often balancing full schedules and constant responsibilities with little margin for rest. In a culture that values productivity and hustle, rest and Sabbath can feel unnecessary or even impossible. Today, we’re talking about why Sabbath still matters, how it reflects trust in God, and how creating space for rest can strengthen our faith and daily rhythms. Joining us today is Josh Rutledge to help us rethink rest with purpose. 

Online students work hard—but are they measuring success the same way their professors do? Understanding how faculty define success can change how students learn, grow, and prepare for the future. Today, we’re talking about success from a business professor’s perspective and how online students can align their mindset for long‑term impact. Joining us is Dr. Ashley Tharpe, School of Business Online Chair. 

What do employers really want when they look at your résumé? They are looking for more than just a degree—they want graduates who are prepared, adaptable, and mission‑minded. Today, we’re talking about how online students can intentionally prepare for their future careers, understand what employers value most, and confidently utilize Liberty's Career Center resources. Joining us today is Lloyd Pemberton from the Career Center, who will share insight into what employers really want and how students can position themselves for success.  

Jamie and Donna Winship left the American dream behind to spend 25 years raising their family in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, a journey that would forever change their lives and their calling.Jamie brings a distinguished career in law enforcement in the metro Washington, D.C. area, along with an M.A. in English, to his work. He developed a battle-tested process for resolving inner conflict, one that leads to authentic, fear-free leadership and innovation. Donna holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and seminary training, and spent years as a teacher and elementary school principal before stepping fully into ministry alongside Jamie.Together, their unconventional work in societal and racial reconciliation took them to Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, and Israel, and eventually back to the U.S. Living in a predominantly Muslim country, they discovered the principles of the Kingdom of God asdemonstrated by Jesus, and learned to live fearlessly in their true identity, a peace that holds even in an atmosphere of war, terrorism, and death.Jamie and Donna are co-founders of Identity Exchange, LLC, a training and coaching organization that helps individuals and teams find wholeness, resilience, and fearless leadership through the framework of true identity. Together, they've worked with leaders in professional sports, business, education, law enforcement, government, non-profit, and other sectors.Jamie is the author of Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God (over 250,000 copies sold, 6,000+ reviews), its companion Living Fearless Guided Journal, and his latest release, The War of Worldviews: Choosing Connection in a Culture of Separation.Donna is the author of Becoming What You Believe, the core teaching curriculum behind the Becoming What You Believe Experience, Identity Exchange's flagship course on personal transformation. She also authored the entire training curriculum for Catalyst, Identity Exchange's 3-day live training that equips graduates of the Experience to leadothers through the same transformation process, and is co-author of the Knowing Rediscovered course.

Many online students love Liberty University but still feel disconnected from campus life—especially when it comes to athletics. Today, we’re talking about the common barriers online students face in engaging with LU sports and how those challenges can be overcome. Joining us today are Ian McCaw and Dustin DuBose to help us explore why connection matters, what keeps online students on the sidelines, and how we can all fan the flames from wherever we are

Brian and Robin wrap-up season 8 of the podcast by looking back at Spring 2026 and looking forward to what is coming next.

Montez Johnson, Associate Director of Commuter Resources, joins the OnLife Podcast to share his journey from online student to Liberty University staff member. He reflects on overcoming challenges, staying connected to campus life, and the professors who supported him along the way. Montez highlights a pivotal education course that reshaped his calling and ultimately led him to pursue a career at LU. He closes by encouraging online students to stay engaged, trust the process, and allow God to direct their steps.

Together, we’ll explore what these spiritual attributes are, why Paul used the metaphor of “fruit,” and how we can actively cultivate them in our daily lives. Whether you’re navigating school, work, or family responsibilities, this episode offers encouragement and practical wisdom for growing in love, joy, peace, patience, and more—even in the busiest seasons of life. 

In this episode, we explore the constantly changing dynamics of AI and how it fits in academics. Dr. Scott Hicks shares insights on how AI is being used in higher education, specifically here at Liberty University. We’ll consider the ethics behind AI and how students can responsibly use this technology. This conversation will equip online students with clarity and understanding of AI and how it can be a useful tool in their education.