.jpg)
Gladness & Hunger with Leanne W. Smith
Author/Professor Leanne W. Smith sits down with key individuals to mine the magic of their vocational stories. Inspired by Frederick Buechner who said the key to a career satisfying to both soul and pocketbook was to find “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet," this podcast is geared to writers, students, story lovers, and anyone seeking inspiration for their own vocational journey.
As a fiction writer and business professor at Lipscomb University with a heart to teach students how to build sustainable careers that actually feed their soul, Smith's deep gladness is in sharing messages of hope and inspiration like these.
Gladness & Hunger with Leanne W. Smith
Matt Hearn: "The Stories We Read & the Stories We Are"
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
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 @ info@leannewsmith.com
.jpg)