Work and Play with Nancy Ray
245 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★★ - 615 ratingsWork and Play with Nancy Ray is a weekly podcast all about learning to balance the two most competing areas of our lives: work and play.
She dives into topics like productivity, work life balance, leading a team, time management, contentment, play, sabbath, marriage, parenting, and rest, always pointing back to scripture, the ultimate guide for a life of faith. This is a podcast all about learning to work and play well, which ultimately leads to a healthy soul and a fulfilling life.
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Episodes
231 - Tired of Being Tired with Jess Connolly : Part 2
April 16, 2024 07:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBWe are back with the second half of my conversation with Jess Connolly talking all about rest because the month of April on the Work and Play podcast is all about the importance of rest in our lives. I’m so grateful you’re here! I can’t wait for you to listen to the rest. If you haven’t listened to part one already, go back to last week’s episode and start there. Resources from this episode: Jess Connolly Website Jess Connolly on Instagram Go + Tell Gals Tired of Being Tired book b...
231 : Tired of Being Tired with Jess Connolly : Part 2
April 16, 2024 07:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBWe are back with the second half of my conversation with Jess Connolly talking all about rest because the month of April on the Work and Play podcast is all about the importance of rest in our lives. I’m so grateful you’re here! I can’t wait for you to listen to the rest. If you haven’t listened to part one already, go back to last week’s episode and start there. Resources from this episode: Jess Connolly Website Jess Connolly on Instagram Go + Tell Gals Tired of Being Tired book b...
230 - Tired of Being Tired with Jess Connolly : Part 1
April 09, 2024 08:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBWell, I’m trying something new here on Work and Play with Nancy Ray and that is months that have themes. So the theme of April is rest and this conversation is not going to disappoint. I’m talking to Jess Connolly today all about why women are so tired. We’re all so tired and this conversation is full of practical and spiritual answers as to why we’re so tired and what we can do differently. Guys, this conversation was so good, I decided to divide it into two episodes. I can’t wait for you t...
229 - Rest
April 02, 2024 08:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBWe live in a time where rest and play are very hard to come by. It can even be looked down on in our culture and often it feels impossible with the busy nature of our lives and schedules. Today’s episode is hopefully going to be encouraging to you to make time to rest and play a little bit more. Resources from this episode: Skyjo Card Game Nancy Ray Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and t...
228 - Less Clutter More Life with Barbara Hemphill : Part 2
March 26, 2024 07:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBOkay guys, get ready for part 2 of my conversation with Barbara. If you missed last week’s episode, you’re going to want to go back and listen to it. She is so full of wisdom, so gracious, she loves the Lord, and she’s teaching us all about how to maintain our homes, get rid of clutter, and set up systems in our life that will help us do the work that we’re meant to do and live the life we’re meant to live. Loved these conversations so much. Can’t wait for you to hear part 2! Resources fro...
227 - Less Clutter More Life with Barbara Hemphill : Part 1
March 19, 2024 07:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBToday's episode is so special! We have Barbara Hemphill chatting with us about how to manage all of the stuff and clutter in our lives. Guys, she has been doing this for over 40 years! She is THE pioneer to the decluttering industry. Before minimalism was a thing, she was out there helping people declutter their homes. She has so many systems and so much wisdom. I feel like I could talk to her for hours and never get tired of it. It's such a great conversation - so valuable and helpful. I pl...
226 - 5 Tools for a Financial Reset
March 12, 2024 07:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBThe longer I live, the more I realize our journey with our money and our finances is not a straight line. There are different seasons of our life, different incomes that we will have, different life experiences and family members will add to our family. Life is ever changing and so are our finances. So today's episode is all about 5 tools that I am using right now that have helped me take a financial reset. Resources from this episode: Financial Peace University Nancy Ray Courses The...
226 - Expect Less, Aim High: A Lesson in Contentment
March 12, 2024 07:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBThe longer I live, the more I realize our journey with our money and our finances is not a straight line. There are different seasons of our life, different incomes that we will have, different life experiences and family members will add to our family. Life is ever changing and so are our finances. So today's episode is all about 5 tools that I am using right now that have helped me take a financial reset. Resources from this episode: Financial Peace University Nancy Ray Courses The...
225 - Website Talk with Paige Brunton
March 05, 2024 08:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBToday I'm talking with my friend, Paige Brunton, who is a website expert (specifically in Squarespace). She teaches others to design their own Squarespace websites and she also teaches others how to become professional Squarespace web designers which is pretty cool. She has totally ditched social media, but has an amazing online business and a very engaged Youtube following. She now lives in Switzerland with her husband, which is amazing. I know you're going to love her and whether or not yo...
224 - The Unexpected Free Time Game Plan
February 27, 2024 09:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBEvery once in a while us moms find ourselves in a very perplexing situation. We have an unexpected hour of time and we have no idea what to do with ourselves. Today, we're gonna get a game plan. Resources from this episode: Work and Play Weekly Checklist Ideal Week Planning Worksheet Nancy Ray Book Club 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 a...
223 - I read the Bible in a Month!
February 20, 2024 09:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBDuring the month of January, I read the entire Bible and this episode is all about how I did it. Resources from this episode: 25% Off Dwell Bible App The Contentment Challenge John 1:1-4 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!
222 - A Year of Prayer with Val Marie
February 13, 2024 09:00 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MBMy friend Val Marie is such a gift. She's the founder of Val Marie Paper, she's an author and she designed the lovely yearly prayer journal, which I have used time and time again. Val has given me so much perspective on prayer and has been such an encouragement to my walk with the Lord and today we're talking about what prayer can actually look like in our lives and how to make 2024 a year of prayer, for you, for real. Resources from this episode: Spotify Prayer Playlist Producti...
221 - State of the Podcast
February 06, 2024 09:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBI'm back! It's 2024 I'm so excited to be here for my beloved State of the Podcast episode. I hope you enjoy listening to Work and Play with Nancy Ray episode 221 🎉 Shownotes : nancyray.com/podcast/221 Resources from this epsisode: ThriveCart Zencastr Contentment Challenge Legacy Photo System 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...
220 - 5 Ways I'm Wintering this Year
January 03, 2024 17:57 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBHave you ever heard of wintering as a verb? Well, now you have because today I am going to share with you 5 ways that I'm wintering this year. Resources from this episode: The Contentment Challenge Planning Worksheet Wintering by Katherine May Episode 108 - Book | Sleep Smarter Alone 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 y...
219 - Reflect & Finish Strong
December 20, 2023 14:34 - 11 minutes - 7.8 MBSo this year I'm doing something a little different. I decided early in November that I am not thinking about or planning for next year until next year in January. I am all in for 2023. I want to be present and finish this year strong. My eyes are on my kids, my husband, Christmas, and New Year's, and I just, for whatever reason, feel so strongly in my spirit that I need to not take time and energy in this month to plan and look at it. This is so different for me. Okay. I am a planner. I am ...
218 - 2023 Books and What I'm Reading in 2024
December 12, 2023 20:33 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBToday 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 at nancyray.com/bookclub or you can follow along and read with me if you choose. It is very relaxed or you can just catch up on the podcast episodes as I release them. So I’m excited. I read some really good stuff this year and I have some exciting picks for next year and I can’t wait to share them wi...
217 - Holiday Giving : Part 5
December 06, 2023 14:28 - 27 minutes - 19 MBGet 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 resources that God has blessed you with. We're wrapping up this holiday series with the best episode of them all, holiday giving. Resources from this episode: Val Marie Paper - Prayer Journal use code “WORKANDPLAY” for 10% off God and Money by John Cortines The Blessed Life by Robert Morri...
216 - Holiday Food : Part 4
November 28, 2023 22:42 - 14 minutes - 9.68 MBThere 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 mind with so many wonderful feelings and memories. Food represents so much more than just a meal. It represents feelings of nostalgia and it represents just the most important parts of the holiday season, which is bringing people together around the table in love. I'm so excited just to have a little bit...
215 - Holiday Budget and Gifts : Part 3
November 21, 2023 18:11 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBI'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 Christmas budget feels like it's stifles all the Christmas cheer. But I'm here to say it doesn't. It doesn't. Making a Christmas budget actually brings me a lot of joy because it helps me to stay organized and focused on what I really, really want to be spending my money on. And it helps me not get so carried...
214 - Holiday Schedule : Part 2
November 14, 2023 18:53 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBOkay. 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 are so many different invitations, obligations, so many people and organizations who are all asking something of us. And today I am here to remind you, you get to choose your yeses and your nos. Resources from this episode: Patreon Christian Healthcare Ministries GoodKind - Use the code WORKANDPLAY for 15% off Affili...
213 - Holiday Traditions : Part 1
November 07, 2023 14:59 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MBToday 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 week of October. We're looking at November and December, and I think we can feel equal parts overwhelmed and excited. So today I am starting a five-part podcast series. It's gonna be very short podcast episodes just to get you thinking about how you can create holidays that are full of joy and contentment. And I'll get into all t...
No Podcast This Week
November 02, 2023 21:44 - 17 seconds - 264 KBHey 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 episode. See you then!
212 - Narnia, Harry Potter, and the Wingfeather Saga
October 25, 2023 17:52 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBThere 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 you not, over the last 12 months, I sobbed at the end of each one. Not an exaggeration. And if I'm honest, today's podcast episode almost didn't happen because I already know it's gonna fall short of what I want to say about each of these series, but I decided to move forward with it because if it encourages you to read them with a...
211 - Wisdom in Work
October 17, 2023 08:00 - 13 minutes - 9.25 MBOne 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 them, or whether it is running a business, managing a team, developing a new product, just maintaining something that we've had for years. As we get older, we need more wisdom. Life continues to get more complicated and more challenging, and especially in our work. And today's episode is gonna be simple. It's ...
210 - 10 Things Saving my Life: Fall Edition
October 10, 2023 08:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBOkay. 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 they actually saving my life? No, but they’re really helping it and I think they’re making my fall a little bit better, and I’m just gonna share those things with you today. So I hope you enjoy listening. Resources from this episode: Christian Healthcare Ministries Artificial Pumpkins from Walmart Option 1 Option 2 A’D...
209 - How we do chores
October 03, 2023 08:00 - 13 minutes - 9.38 MBI 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. So today I am gonna share with you how we do chores in the Ray household. Resources from this episode: Chore Chart Dry erase pockets 3M small Hooks 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—...
208 - 5 Time Management Tools
September 26, 2023 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBOkay, 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 highlighters and making a plan and writing an appointments and making lists. I love managing stuff. I love managing my time. And today I'm gonna share with you five of my favorite time management tools that have really helped me through the years because we all have 24 hours in a day, but it all comes down to how we manage our time....
207 - A Strategy for Life
September 19, 2023 08:00 - 25 minutes - 17.3 MBToday, 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 been given some amazing tools to help me in four main areas of my life: my faith, my home, my work, and my legacy or my life overall. So that's what we're gonna talk about today, how to create a strategy for your life. If you're feeling like you need some clarity, then this episode is for you. Resource...
206 - Multitasking
September 12, 2023 20:47 - 19 minutes - 13.5 MBWhile 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 frank, this has not served me well in motherhood because the interruptions are great and we'll talk a little bit about that. But today I just wanna share my thoughts on multitasking and how it doesn't help anyone and how it's so much better if we can focus on one thing at a time. Resources from this episode: ...
205 - Be where your feet are
September 05, 2023 08:00 - 11 minutes - 7.78 MBBe 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 how God is limitless, and I found a lot of encouragement in that. So today's episode is all about that phrase, be where your feet are. And I hope you find it encouraging. Resources from this episode: Birds and Bees (code WORKANDPLAY for 20% off) Episode 195 - Birds & Bees With Megan Michelson ...
204 - Ideal Week
August 29, 2023 08:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBToday, 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 least twice a year, sometimes three times a year, because there are different times in my year that just look different. An ideal week looks different, and today I'm gonna walk you through my process of how to create an ideal week so that you can be living the life that you want in and week out with a lot of joy...
203 - Small Play
August 22, 2023 19:30 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBSo 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 to talk about play and incorporate play into our lives. But what I found out is it's so important to do it in small ways every day. If you can incorporate small play into your life on a daily basis, it really makes your lives and your work that much better. And that is what we are talking about in today's episode. Resources from t...
202 - School and Faith Rhythms
August 15, 2023 08:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MBWell, 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 excited. And with school comes a lot of different ideas about new rhythms and routines that we wanna implement as a family. I personally get really excited about it, but one thing that God has been putting on my heart over and over again this year is implementing rhythms of faith to go alongside our rhythms of school and that is what tod...
201 - Fresh Creativity with Jess Ray
August 08, 2023 08:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBToday’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 of albums that hold some of my favorite songs ever written, and she’s part of a worship band called Mission House. She helps lead a local movement of worshipers here in Raleigh under the ministry named Feast and Feast. Her musical career has weaved in and out of Christian spaces, mainstream circles from house concerts, including my...
200 – 200th Episode
June 27, 2023 08:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBToday 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'm so grateful that you have been listening. I hope today's episode is just fun. I thought of 200 of my favorite things, which is kind of wild, and it also took me a really long time to come up with 200 of my favorite things. But the hope was that maybe there are some things that I'm enjoying in my life that ...
199 – 15 Years Married : Part 2
June 20, 2023 08:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBThis 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 balance everything after adding kids to the mix to how we keep our home running smoothly amid the day-to-day busyness. It’ll be a fun one, so listen in! Resources from this episode: Episode 198 - 15 Years Married : Part 1 Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul Tripp ...
198 – 15 Years Married : Part 1
June 13, 2023 14:42 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBBack 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 two-part episode series just to cover some of the most-asked questions about travel and finances for us. We'll talk about kids and home life next week. Resources from this episode: Episode 068 - 12 Years of Marriage, Part 1 Episode 069 - 12 Years of Marriage, Part 2 Episode 124 - We're De...
197 – The Summer Plan
June 06, 2023 08:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBSummer 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 plan your summer well. Then, we’ll dive into part two and talk about the actual summer plan and what kind of mindset can help you have a summer filled with both rest and play! Resources from this episode: The Corner Store Nancy Ray Book Club Mildliner Creative Marker Affiliate links have...
196 – The Blessing [Book] with Kari Trent Stageberg
May 30, 2023 21:57 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MBToday 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. Her story is unbelievable, as you'll hear in today's episode, and her simple encouragement to speak life and be a blessing to not only your children, but to everyone you encounter, was just the reminder I needed. Resources from this episode: The Blessing Social Media: Strong Families K...
195 - The Birds and the Bees with Megan Michelson
May 23, 2023 08:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBHello 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 lot of value to my listeners who are mamas this month of May, who would it be?” And I kept thinking about Megan Michelson. Megan is the co-creator and co-host of Birds & Bees, an online course with an amazing woman named Mary Flo Ridley. The two of them teach about sex and how to talk to your kids a...
194 - Being a Loving Mother-in-Law with Grammy
May 16, 2023 13:46 - 29 minutes - 19.9 MBI'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 the first time I've ever done this, but I love this precious woman so much, and I loved what she had to say so much that I knew eventually I had to share it with everyone. Elizabeth Ray, who we affectionately call Grammy in our home, is my husband's mom, so she is my mother-in-law and she is one of my...
193 - Mama Scriptures
May 09, 2023 16:49 - 21 minutes - 16 MBWelcome 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 mom who is listening. And oftentimes for Mother's Day, we wanna get a massage or we wanna get away, or we want a new bag, or we wanna be served breakfast in bed. And all of these things are good and of of course, of course we want most of all those homemade cards from our kids that is the best. And just...
192 - Book | Create Anyway with Ashlee Gadd
May 02, 2023 08:00 - 50 minutes - 34.9 MBWelcome 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 it's so important to keep creating in the margins of motherhood. Ashlee is the author of Create Anyway, which is a beautiful book. It just came out and I could not get my hands on it fast enough. Y'all. It's so good. Listen, Ashlee is a wife, a mom of three, a follower of Jesus, a writer, a photograp...
191 - My Top 8 Work Hacks
April 25, 2023 13:26 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MBJumping 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. Thank you for creating such a beautiful space. Head to nancyray.com to see it. Number two, along with the website, I am launching a Mastermind group (!) for a group of women, only 12 women who are business owners in the Raleigh area. I'm so excited. You can go to my website to learn more and I'll talk a lit...
190 - The Work and Play of Family Trips
April 18, 2023 14:47 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MBLet'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 of that work. Today, I'm going to share with you how we work hard and we play hard on family trips and I'll share my favorite tips to hopefully make your next family trip a little bit easier! Resources from this episode: The Work & Play Weekly Checklist (Free Download!) The Work & Play Patreon
189 - What The Lord Is Teaching Me
April 11, 2023 13:43 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBToday 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 me to take a minute to recap the biggest lessons the Lord has taught me during this fast of sorts, because I find that every time I give up shopping or extra spending for a limited time—which is what the Contentment Challenge is—it frees up space for him to do things in my life and to address some spi...
188 - Making the Most of Limited Work Hours
April 04, 2023 08:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBI 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! Resources from this episode: My Weekly Planning Checklist Download Work & Play Patreon 2 Second Lean, by Paul Akers Deep Work, by Cal Newport Episode 041 - My Plan to Work One Day a Week
187 - Book | Better Than Before
March 28, 2023 11:02 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBToday 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 of her book, which is "What I learned about making and breaking habits to sleep more, quit sugar, procrastinate less, and generally build a happier life." Doesn't that sound awesome? For a list of all the books that I'm reading this year, head to nancyray.com/bookclub. Sometimes we just need a good kick in the pants from someone to show u...
186 - Making Godly Work Decisions
March 21, 2023 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBThere 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 do, when should I go back to work? How much should I be working? Should I close down my work? Should I start something new? Should I hire someone? Do I need to fire someone? How do I spend my time this year? How do I spend my time today? The decisions go on and on. In today's episode, I'm going to encou...
185 - The Minkies
March 14, 2023 08:00 - 50 minutes - 34.4 MBI'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 friends sharing our story, sharing our favorite memories and what it's taken for us to maintain a long lasting friendship for over two decades. So it's a very fun, different episode today. There's a lot of laughing and joking and storytelling, and when it comes to work and play, these ladies, they de...