It is January! Happy 2025! This is my annual State of the Podcast episode. It’s going to be short and sweet, but I’m also really excited to share all the ideas and things I’m thinking about for Work and Play with Nancy Ray in 2025.

Resources from this episode:

Dwell Bible App

Nancy Ray Blog

2025 Survey

Join My Email List

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Well, we just had our 5th baby and we decided to keep the news of our pregnancy all to ourselves until baby was born. Today, with the help of my friend Emily, I’ll be sharing all about why we chose this path.

Resources from this episode:

The Connected Family Substack

Cultivate What Matters

Emily Thomas Website

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Okay, friend! I have been keeping the biggest secret from you all year and I'm so excited to finally share it with you today. I don't think you're ready for this... Are you ready?

Resources from this episode:

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Today is a very brief episode. It’s a tradition of sorts on this podcast for me to read this to you. I change it a little every year so that it pertains specifically to this year. It’s simply called, “Finish Strong.”

Resources from this episode:

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

If you do absolutely nothing else with this episode, then listen to the intro. I want you to listen to my encouragement to take time to reflect at the end of your year.

Today, I am going to be sharing my three favorite rhythms (or traditions or appointments) I put in my calendar at the end of every single year to finish the year well. These are things that really make me pause and reflect on the things that I have learned, the mistakes that I have made, and how I want to change. That can make all the difference.

Resources from this episode:

Dwell Bible App Deals

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living book by Dale Carnegie

Free Guide - A Vision for this Season

The 12 Week Year Podcast

The 12 Week Year Book

The Contentment Challenge

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Now it’s time to get into the Christmas spirit. Today, I’m going to be sharing my five favorite Christmas traditions, my five favorite gifts to give at Christmas time, and my five favorite Christmas albums to listen to.

Resouces from this episode:

Calm Amidst the Chaos Podcast Series

The Giving Manger

Instax Camera

Every Moment Holy Volume I

Every Moment Holy Volume II

Every Moment Holy Volume III

Chunky Knit Blanket

Mulling Spices

Made for People by Justin Whitmel Earley

Relaxed by Megan Fate Marshman

Charlie Brown Christmas Album

A Midnight Clear by John Nilsen

The Christmas Cocktails Album

The Holiday Soundtrack

Elf Soundtrack

Sufjan Stevens Christmas Collection

Be Merry Playlist

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Happy Thanksgiving week! Oh my goodness, I can’t believe we are here! Today’s episode is all about our very favorite Thanksgiving tradition. It’s so simple. It costs nothing. I hope you and your family enjoy it!

Resources from this episode:

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Val Marie Prayer Journals

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

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 19th), but I'm excited to tell you I will be back next week for another great new episode. Stay tuned and I'll catch you next week!

I specifically reached out to my podcast guest today and said, “Please come on my podcast. I have been watching you and have been so inspired by you. I would love to hear more about your story and get a chance to catch up.”

We have been kind of online friends for over five years. Seeing what she is doing in her life is so inspiring. So today I am going to talk with Laura Jean Bell about health, faith, speaking life, about her story, and about her new book. Honestly, I feel like I was just sitting on a back porch talking with a really good friend for a long time. She is very honest; very real, and I think you’re going to love what she has to say.

Resources from this episode:

25% Off Dwell Bible App

Proverbs 18:21

Laura Jean Bell on Instagram

Laura Jean Bell on Facebook

You Can Always Come Home Book by Laura Jean Bell

Laura Bell Website

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

Happy November! I am setting the bar high this year for no one but myself. I feel like this is going to be a podcast experiment. I’ll let you know how it goes, but today I am sharing with you my extreme Christmas goals for this year.

Resources from this episode:

Nancy Ray Website

Nancy Ray on Instagram

Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!