Lifework Podcast
The Lifework Podcast is where faith, purpose, and calling come together. Hosted by Williams Baptist University President Dr. Stan Norman, this podcast explores the theology of work and why it matters for every believer. At Williams, we believe education is more than a degree — it’s preparation for a Christ-centered life of influence and service.
Through thoughtful conversations with faculty, leaders, and friends of WBU, the Lifework Podcast unpacks how God designed us to find meaning in our work and live out our calling in every sphere of life. Our goal is to inspire and equip listeners to see their lifework not just as a career, but as a way to glorify God and impact the world.
Episodes
59 episodes
God Is a Mathematician: Professor Belina Dulaney on Faith, Resilience, and “All the Math”
In this LifeWork Podcast episode, host Dr. Stan Norman sits down with Belina Dulaney, Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences – Mathematics at Williams Baptist University, to explore how God uses numbers, work, and hardship to shape a calling. ...
When God Uses Your Worst Decisions: Calling, Cancer, and the Classroom
In Part 2 of this Lifework conversation, host Dr. Stan Norman picks up Dr. Trevor Babcock’s story right where the cliffhanger left off: a clear, lifelong plan to become a chemical engineer—and the slow-motion collapse of that plan in the real w...
From Goth Kid to Gospel Teacher: Dr. Trevor Babcock’s Journey of Calling and Conversion
In this first part of a two-episode conversation, Lifework host Dr. Stan Norman sits down with Williams Baptist University English professor Dr. Trevor Babcock to trace the unlikely path that shaped his calling and character. From a childhood t...
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From Retail to Recruiting to the Bench: How Coach Mayberry Found His Lifework
In this second conversation with Coach John Mayberry, Dr. Stan Norman explores how God redirected a plan that once pointed toward North Texas and college soccer into a life of ministry through Christian higher education ...
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Blue-Collar Faith: Coach John Mayberry on Work, Calling, and Women’s Basketball
In this episode of the Lifework Podcast, Dr. Stan Norman sits down with Coach John Mayberry, head coach of the Williams Baptist Lady Eagles, to trace an unlikely journey from inner-city Hot Springs, Arkansas t...
When Winning Really Matters: Calling, Coaching, and Walking Through the Fire with Coach Josh Austin (Pt. 2)
In this second conversation with Williams Baptist University head men’s basketball coach Josh Austin, host Dr. Stan Norman picks up the story right where Part 1 left off—at the moment when faith moved from the margins of Josh’s life to the cent...
From Magnet Cove to March Madness: How Hard Work Shaped Coach Josh Austin’s Calling (Part 1)
In this Lifework Podcast episode, Dr. Stan Norman sits down with Williams Baptist University head men’s basketball coach Josh Austin to trace how a small-town Arkansas upbringing, an IT-dad and jeans-factory-mom, and Saturdays filled with yard ...
More Than Wins: Coach Jessica Nutt on Calling, Culture, and Caring for Her Players (Part 2)
In Part 2 of their conversation, WBU President Dr. Stan Norman sits back down with Head Softball Coach Jessica Nutt to explore how God used closed doors, unanswered job applications, and long seasons of waiting to clarify her calling to coach.&...
From Bolivar to the Ballpark: How Faith, Family, and Failure Shaped Coach Jessica Nutt
In this episode of the Lifework Podcast, Williams Baptist University President Dr. Stan Norman sits down with Head Softball Coach Jessica Nutt to trace her journey from a sports‑saturated childhood in Bolivar, Missouri, to leading the Lady Eagl...
From Whistles to Worship: How Coaching Became Calling for AD Mitch Mathis
In this second part of their conversation, WBU President Dr. Stan Norman sits back down with Director of Athletics Mitch Mathis to trace how a winding coaching career became a clear sense of calling and ministry. Coach Mathis shares how God use...
From Pine Bluff to the Ballpark: How Family, Faith, and Hard Work Shaped WBU AD Mitch Mathis (Pt. 1)
WBU President Dr. Stan Norman talks with Athletic Director Mitch Mathis about how a blue-collar childhood in Pine Bluff, a catcher’s grind on the baseball field, and a winding spiritual journey shaped his work ethic, leadership, and calling in ...
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When Ministry Hurts and God Redirects Your Life with Bill Jeffery (pt. 2)
What do you do when the calling you thought would define your life runs straight into the brick wall of real ministry hurt? In this episode of the LifeWork Podcast, we listen in as WBU president Dr. Stan Norman sits down with former worship gui...
Bill Jeffery (Part 1): Formation, Faith, and the Early Years
In this first part of a two-episode conversation, we turn the spotlight behind the scenes to hear the story of Bill Jeffery—the voice you usually don’t hear, but the one shaping many of the stories told through the LifeWork Podcast.
Laquietta Stewart: Calling, Counseling, and Coming Home to Williams pt. 2
In this second conversation with Laquietta Stewart, Dean of Students at Williams Baptist University, host Dr. Stan Norman explores how God used nearly three decades in public education, school counseling, and coaching to prepare her for ...
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Laquietta Stewart: Faith, Leadership, and Learning to Stay the Course
In this episode of the LifeWork Podcast, host Dr. Stan Norman is joined by Laquietta Stewart, Dean of Students at Williams Baptist University, for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, leadership, and the long work of formati...
Why Dr. Robert Foster Hates “The Little Drummer Boy” (And What We’re Missing at Christmas)
Dr. Robert Foster has a confession: he hates “The Little Drummer Boy.”In this special Christmas episode of the LifeWork Podcast, Dr. Stan Norman continues his conversation with Dr. Foster by uncovering a long-running (a...
Dr. Robert Foster — Calling, Community, and God’s Faithful Hand
What if your calling didn’t begin with a single dramatic moment—but with a lifetime of faithful work, community influence, and God quietly weaving it all together?In this episode of the LifeWork Podcast, Dr. Stan Norman sits dow...
When God Redirects the Path: Calling, Career, and Coming Home to Williams
In Part 2, we continue Heather Parson’s incredible journey—moving from her college decision at WBU to a series of unexpected pivots that shaped her vocation.Heather recounts choosing Williams when it made no logical sense on paper, disco...
From Hardship to Calling: The Early Life of Heather Parson
In Part 1 of this two-episode conversation, host Dr. Stan Norman sits down with Heather Parson—Assistant Professor of Business and Chair of the Department of Business at Williams Baptist University—to explore the remarkable story behind her cal...
When Restlessness Becomes Calling: Dr. Ruth Provost on Finding Home, Hearing God, and Following Him into Leadership
In part two of our conversation, Dr. Ruth Provost returns to the Lifework Podcast to look more closely at her vocational journey—especially how God led her back to Williams and ultimately into academic leadership.Host Dr. Stan ...
From Yemen to Williams: How Calling, Service, and a Missionary Childhood Shaped Dr. Ruth Provost
In this deeply personal episode of the Lifework Podcast, host Dr. Stan Norman sits down with Dr. Ruth Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Williams Baptist University, to explore the surprising and Spirit-led journey th...
The Song in the Work, Part 2: Dr. Trent Broussard on Brokenness, Calling, and the Joy of Obedience
In part two, Dr. Broussard opens up about the night everything changed — when a revival led him to true faith in Christ and a deeper calling to serve through music and teaching. Hear how God transformed his life and vocation, leading him from t...
The Song in the Work, Part 1: Dr. Trent Broussard on Faith, Family, and Finding Purpose
In part one of this two-part conversation, Dr. Stan Norman talks with Dr. Trent Broussard, Chair of Fine Arts and Director of Choral Activities at Williams Baptist University. From his childhood in Fort Smith to discovering his love for ...
Melinda Williams (Part 2): Faith, Theater, and Finding Purpose in Every Calling
In Part 2 of our conversation with Melinda Williams, Assistant Professor of Communication Arts and Director of the Liberal Arts Program at Williams Baptist University, we explore how faith and calling intersect through theater, education...
Melinda Williams (Part 1): From Walnut Ridge to the Stage — Discovering a Lifelong Calling
In this first part of our conversation with Melinda Williams, Assistant Professor of Communication Arts and Director of the Liberal Arts Program at Williams Baptist University, we explore how God uses ordinary moments to reveal extraordi...
