The Women Scholars and Professionals Podcast

Women Scholars and Professionals
  • 5.0 (21)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Join us for conversations in which we seek to give voice to women living into their God-given callings and serving as redeeming influences in the academy and beyond. http://thewell.intervarsity.org/podcasts

  1. 5D AGO

    Froswa' Booker-Drew: Front Porch Wisdom

    “You need to build a network .... The biggest mistake we make is just walking in and doing our job and not recognizing we need advocates and allies for every space that we’re in.” — Froswa’ Booker-Drew Author and non-profit executive Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew joins us on the podcast to discuss skills for navigating leadership pressures and barriers. What does it look like to successfully overcome challenges in leadership, particularly for women? Author and non-profit executive Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Front Porch Wisdom: Navigating Leadership Pressures and Barriers as a Woman of Color. Froswa’ shares from her wealth of knowledge and experience as she outlines potential difficulties for those exercising leadership skills and offers practical suggestions for mitigating the challenges. In our conversation, we talk frankly about role of race, ethnicity, and gender in the arena of leadership, and Froswa’ explains how this book provides beneficial information for all readers, no matter their background. Throughout the conversation, Froswa’ urges listeners to deepen and expand their networks of support for one another and shares helpful ways to do this. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Front Porch Wisdom for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Dr. Froswa’ shares her reflections on the joy of working with her adult daughter. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

    53 min

  2. FEB 12

    Pamela Collins: Wise & Courageous

    Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “In any situation where you are uncertain about how to proceed: where you are new, where you have to have the courage to learn in public, to acknowledge publicly that yes, you are learning. And yes, learning is a process. And yes, you won’t know all the answers. And yes, you will make mistakes. That in itself is a kind of wisdom that one learns both from experience but also from listening to other leaders.” — Pamela Collins Pamela Collins, Chair of the Department of Mental Health the John Hopkins School of Public Health joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about pursuing a path to do what you what matters most to you, even when the way is unclear. Pamela shares her journey toward her passion of engaging mental health challenges as they impact those who are most vulnerable in the U.S. and in the world. Pamela describes her work of gathering and hosting an array of people from world leaders to direct service providers to work on solutions. We explore how wisdom and courage involve the vulnerable work developing the right community of people and leading in humility. We discuss how prayer shapes her reflection and her decision making as a leader. Listen for the way she describes investing in a new generation of advocates in the process of mentoring others. For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

    47 min

  3. FEB 3

    Alyson Pryor: Come Away and Rest

    “Whatever work you are doing you bring yourself to that work, so it matters what kind of person you are.” — Alyson Pryor Spiritual director and therapist Alyson Pryor joins us on the podcast to discuss the benefits and the challenges of taking personal spiritual retreats. How can you cultivate a practice of taking personal spiritual retreats — and is it really worth the effort? Therapist and spiritual director Alyson Pryor joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Come Away and Rest: A Guide to Personal Spiritual Retreats. Alyson shares from her own experience of taking personal retreats, describing the benefits that come from the practice even amidst challenging circumstances. Alyson offers an accessible resource for those who have perhaps never taken a spiritual retreat, and she speaks invitingly about the joys of this particular kind of rest. Alyson is no stranger to the stresses of a busy life, and she speaks directly to those of us who feel like it’s all but impossible to take a retreat by sharing practical suggestions. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Come Away and Rest for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Alyson offers her tips on waking prayerfully — even if you aren’t a morning person. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

    51 min

  4. JAN 20

    Christine Jeske: Racial Justice for the Long Haul

    “Don’t forget about the good. Don’t forget that there are stories of people doing things that work out there.” — Christine Jeske Anthropologist and professor Christine Jeske joins us on the podcast to discuss ways to persevere in the long pursuit of racial justice. What does it look like to persevere in the long, hard work of pursuing racial justice? Author and anthropologist Christine Jeske joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Racial Justice for the Long Haul: How White Christian Advocates Persevere (and Why). Christine explores the habits and mindsets that undergird the tenacity of those who persist in justice work, even in the face of discouragement and failure. Christine uses her anthropological lens to examine and categorize the practices of dozens of people who continue in their justice efforts despite all the inherent challenges. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Racial Justice for the Long Haul for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Christine offers her thoughts on working with her daughter on a project related to this book. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

    48 min

  5. JAN 8

    Kelly Vaughn: Wise & Courageous

    Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “We say we can do it ourselves, but we can’t — we have to bring others in and work as a community and hear their input-as valued as our own.” — Kelly Vaughn Kelly Vaughn, newly appointed Dean for the School of Education at Notre Dame De Namur University, joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about her winding and unexpected professional and personal journey to her current role, which began because of a momentous time in her childhood. How do our encounters with adversity and difficulty shape our journey? Kelly Vaughn shares two of the incredible challenges of her life and explores the way people around her impacted her growth in resilience and her values. She describes a Jacob season and Moses season and how they have shaped her leadership. Kelly talks about her career journey and the way surprises in her pathway impacted her understanding of herself and her passions. We explore the way the community undergirds the way she does her work and practices her faith. When we had this conversation, Kelly was in the role of Interim Dean and doing the hard work of leading in a transitional season. Listen for the ways she has been prepared for her new leadership role. For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

    50 min

  6. JAN 6

    Kate Coleman: 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership

    “God didn’t call me in spite of who I am but because of who I am … and that’s true of all of us.” — Rev. Dr. Kate Coleman Listen in on our fall book club interview as Women Scholars and Professionals book club host Jasmine Obeyesekere conducts an online discussion with author and Christian leader Rev. Dr. Kate Coleman where they talk about internal challenges for women leaders as we pursue our callings. In this finale of our Fall Book Club, we engage in conversation with Rev. Dr. Kate Coleman about her book 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership: Overcome Self-Defeating Behaviour in Work and Ministry. You’ll enjoy this rich conversation even if you weren’t able to participate in the book club! Kate Coleman examines internal attitudes and habits that sabotage women’s leadership. In a landscape that has some understanding on external forces that undercut women’s leadership, Kate’s contribution is unique since she addresses barriers within women that negatively impact how women lead. She describes seven common ways that women undermine their own leadership, sometimes unknowingly. Kate’s combination of theology, research, anecdotes, personal insights and practical tips will help women overcome unhealthy mindsets and lead well. Kate sees work as sacred and our platforms as pulpits, her book will help us lead from our rootedness in Christ. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Jasmine Obeyesekere For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

    56 min

  7. 12/11/2025

    Elisabeth Rain Kincaid: Wise & Courageous

    Welcome to The Wise & Courageous Podcast, where we host conversations with women leaders about how they are seeking and engaging wisdom and courage in their leadership and work in this unique season. “The caliber of my leadership depends upon the health and caliber of the rest of my life. I can’t show up for people unless I am in a good place personally to show up. There’s some humility with that. You can’t just run on fumes and coffee.” — Elisabeth Rain Kincaid Elisabeth Rain Kincaid, Associate Professor of Ethics, Faith and Culture and Director of the Institute of Faith and Learning at Baylor University, joins Nancy Pedulla on The Wise & Courageous Podcast for a conversation about leadership, ethics, and faith. How might the unexpected career path result in a richness that is unique? Elisabeth starts the story of her journey by sharing that she went to law school because she did not enjoy middle school ministry. She shares the rich gifts of the indirect path to her current role, where she lives out her own leadership while teaching and researching about leadership and ethics, and cultivating leadership with faculty in a unique program. Elisabeth explores the value of integrity and the invitation to be an integrated person. We talk about the work of integrating work and family life. Listen for her invitation to be discerning what God is calling her to engage with during the last 20 years of her career in prayer and with others and for her “aha” moment when a trusted colleague asked her, “Why are you putting out the cookies?” For the purposes of this podcast, we are defining leadership as the stewardship of people, culture and purpose, guiding and serving others toward a shared vision or outcomes. Welcome to the conversation! — Nancy Pedulla   For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

    43 min

  8. 12/02/2025

    Emily Hunter McGowin: Households of Faith

    “If at all possible, resist the dehumanizing forces that are at work in grad school and in the early days of your academic employment.” — Emily Hunter McGowin Theologian and professor Emily Hunter McGowin joins us on the podcast to discuss the nature of family in the context of God’s kingdom. How can we live as faithful followers of Jesus within our complex family narratives? Author and theologian Emily Hunter McGowin joins us on the podcast to discuss her recent book Households of Faith: Practicing Family in the Kingdom of God. Emily helps us to interrogate the cultural assumptions we bring into the work of family life and to consider them in light of the words of Scripture. She asserts that the Bible is far from prescriptive about the details of household life and that Scripture makes space for a variety of shapes and structures that support family connectedness. Emily challenges her readers to think carefully about the integration of community needs with personal flourishing, and she offers simple suggestions for integrating nourishing habits into the complex fabric of family life. In addition — I’m pleased to tell you that InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Households of Faith for listeners of this podcast. Just use the code IVPWSAP25 for 25% off and free shipping when you purchase the book at ivpress.com. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the credits you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Emily offers her thoughts on centering lovingkindness at Christmas. So jump right in! We're so glad you're here. — Ann Boyd For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well. If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

    57 min
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Join us for conversations in which we seek to give voice to women living into their God-given callings and serving as redeeming influences in the academy and beyond. http://thewell.intervarsity.org/podcasts

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