Lifework Podcast

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 guitarist and once–full-time pastor, now digital recruiting coordinator, Bill Jeffery. Bill opens up about chasing the dream of professional music, stepping in...

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. Bill reflects on growing up in a divided home, encountering faith for the first time as a teenager, and finding refuge in church, music, and meaningful relationships d...

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 her current role at Williams. Laquietta reflects on discovering her calling as a high school counselor, walking with students through grief and big decisions, and...

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 formation. Laquietta shares her story growing up in small-town Arkansas, coming to faith through the influence of a local church community, and navigating college as a first-gen...

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 (and legendary) faculty controversy. But what starts as a humorous takedown of a beloved Christmas song quickly turns into something far more meaningful. Dr. Foster explains why fic...

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 down with Dr. Robert Foster to explore the formative experiences that shaped his life, faith, and vocation. From growing up in a hardworking Oklahoma family, to encountering...

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, discovering a love for finance, leading a pregnancy resource center at age 22, navigating nonprofit leadership, earning her MBA in Finance, and walking through emotion...

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 calling. Heather opens up about growing up in an agricultural community, her father’s near-death accident, years of financial hardship, and the ways God provid...

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 Norman asks Ruth to unpack the “heavenly call” that accompanied an unexpected job offer, the holy restlessness that marked much of her young adulthood, and the incredible p...

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 that shaped her calling. Dr. Provost shares her remarkable upbringing as a missionary kid in Yemen, Cyprus, and Jordan—where faith was lived out through quiet service, com...

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 the choir loft to the classroom, and why he believes that all meaningful work begins with surrender.

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 music, Dr. Broussard shares how his parents’ work ethic and a heart for song shaped his understanding of calling, character, and the joy of doing work that glorif...

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, and even cattle raising. Melinda shares how she views the stage as a mission field for sharing Christian values, how she helps students find their voice and pur...

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 extraordinary purpose. Growing up in Walnut Ridge, Melinda gave her life to Christ at just nine years old. Initially shy and unsure of her future, she was encouraged by he...

In part two of our conversation with Luke Colley, we trace his journey from youth ministry to nearly two decades in banking and then back to Williams Baptist University. Luke wrestles honestly with questions like “Does God ever un-call us?” and shares how he learned to see every workplace—whether a teller line, a boardroom, or a college campus—as a place to follow Christ and serve others. Hear how...

Season 2 Episode 5 of the LifeWork Podcast takes listeners back to the roots of Luke Colley—WBU alumnus (’02) and now Vice President for University Advancement & Business Development at Williams. Luke shares stories of growing up in Fort Worth and Clarksville, AR—learning integrity from a third-shift dad who never stopped working, steadiness from a mother who kept the household thriving, and t...

Dr. Melissa Davis, Agri-Business Professor at Williams Baptist University, shares how her journey from a small town in Tennessee led to launching a new agribusiness program at Williams. Drawing inspiration from Dorothy Sayers’ classic essay “Why Work,” Dr. Davis explores work’s intrinsic and instrumental value—showing how it can be both a livelihood and a calling aligned with God’s greater plan. S...

Charlie Kirk’s assassination has shaken a family, a nation, and the world of higher education. In this special episode of the LifeWork Podcast , we reflect on the grief of his wife and children, the trauma witnessed by students on a university campus, and the questions this tragedy raises about justice, freedom, and the kind of people we are becoming. From a Christian perspective, we explore what...

From Rural Roots to Global Impact: Dr. Melissa Davis on Agriculture and Calling On this episode of the Lifework Podcast , host Dr. Stan Norman talks with Dr. Melissa Davis, a new agribusiness professor at Williams Baptist University. Growing up in the rural farming community of Eads, Tennessee, Dr. Davis originally planned to major in psychology—until a class debate on land preservation sparked a...

Dr. Stan Norman is joined by Dr. Mike Fox, Associate Professor of Christian Ministries at Williams Baptist University, for a conversation about how biblical wisdom shapes the way we work and live. Drawing from Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, Dr. Fox explores how the fear of the Lord forms the foundation for a faithful work ethic—and how cutting corners leads us off the path of wisd...

Season 2 of the Lifework Podcast launches with a fresh new direction. Host Dr. Stan Norman , president of Williams Baptist University, sits down with Dr. Mike Fox —alumnus, pastor, and professor of Christian Ministries—to talk about the surprising path from a cabin in Moody Hollow to the classroom and pulpit. In this episode, Dr. Fox shares his early work experiences, the mentors who shaped his jo...

In this thought-provoking episode of The Lifework Podcast, Dr. Stan Norman and Academic Dean Dr. Rhyne Putman tackle one of the most pervasive challenges in today’s workforce—the struggle to work faithfully. From employees doing the bare minimum to students using AI to avoid real effort, the modern workplace (and classroom) is filled with "thorns and thistles" that distort God’s design f...

In this episode of The Lifework Podcast, Dr. Stan Norman and Dr. Rhyne Putman of Williams Baptist University dive into the biblical perspective on work in a fallen world. Drawing from Genesis 3 and the story of Cain and Abel, they explore how sin manifests in the workplace—through temptation, difficult relationships, and misplaced motivations. Key discussion points include: How faith transforms ou...

In this episode of The Lifework Podcast, Dr. Stan Norman and Dr. Rhyne Putman pick up where they left off last week as they explore the profound impact of the Fall on human labor—from the idyllic work of Eden to the sweat and toil of a broken world. Drawing from Genesis 3 and Revelation 22, they discuss how thorns and thistles symbolize not just physical hardship but also the spiritual and emotion...

In this episode of the Lifework Podcast, Dr. Stan Norman and Dr. Rhyne Putman dive into the challenges of work in a world marked by the Fall. Drawing from Genesis 3, they explore how sin has impacted labor, productivity, and our daily struggles in the workplace. From humorous anecdotes to deep theological reflections, they discuss how followers of Christ can find purpose, perseverance, and even re...