Sorta Sacred
Honest, human, lightly irreverent, grounded in something deeper. This podcast explores stories, reflections, and conversations about life intersecting with faith.
Hosted by Mark Niethammer and Jessica Taylor. Mark is the senior pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa. He is a wine enthusiast, enjoys all things outdoorsy, and is optimistically pessimistic by nature. Mark has been in ordained ministry for more than 15 years.
Meanwhile, Jessica is the director of communication at St. Paul. She is a whine enthusiast, enjoys all things indoorsy, and is pessimistically optimistic by nurture.
St. Paul Lutheran Church is a 3,500-member ELCA church located in the Quad Cities.
Sorta Sacred
How Do I Show Up In The World?
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Ever wonder if you're doing what you're "supposed" to be doing with your life? You're not alone. In this episode, Mark and Jess sit down with Keri Bass, Assistant Director of Vocational Exploration and Career Coach at Augustana College, to explore one of life's biggest questions: What is vocation, and how do we figure out ours?
It's not about finding the one perfect job or waiting for a lightning-bolt moment of clarity. Keri helps us understand that vocation is so much bigger than a career—it's about how we show up in the world, in our work, our families, and our communities. Whether you're a college student picking a major, a mid-career professional feeling restless, or newly retired and figuring out purpose and meaning, this conversation offers permission to dream, question, and discern.
We dive into why "all good work is good work," how to sit with uncertainty instead of rushing to fix it, and what questions we should be asking ourselves as we grow and change throughout life. Plus, Keri shares why vocation isn't always the thing that pays the bills—and why that's actually okay.
Did you know only about 20% of people feel clear about their meaning and purpose? This episode will help you start (or continue) the journey of discovering yours.
Thanks to the incredible production team of Sorta Sacred:
Music: Brian Schou
Tech support: Miles Thompson
Design: Lauren Brown
Merch: Allison Winter