The Workmatters Podcast

He swore he'd never come back to the family business. 34 years later, Dave Hataj — along with his sons Jason and Caleb — is running Edgerton Gear as a place where faith and work aren't separate at all. In this episode of the Work Matters Podcast, Dave, Jason, and Caleb Hataj open up about generational dysfunction, burnout, a father-son surrender in the middle of the night, and what it actually loo...

Finding purpose at work — Idalia LeJune shares how a career plateau and season of burnout led her from a "check-the-box" faith to a genuine relationship with God that transformed how she shows up in the workplace every day. A first-generation Mexican-American and senior relationship manager in the financial industry, Idalia spent over 25 years chasing achievement before discovering that true purpo...

What happens between Sunday morning and Monday morning? For most Christians, there's a significant gap, and it's costing them in the workplace.  In this episode, we sit down with Matt Rusten , President of Made to Flourish and author of the new book Pastoring for Monday , to talk about one of the most overlooked areas of discipleship in the local church: work . In this episode, you'll learn: The c...

Summary What happens when creativity, faith, and purpose collide in a lifelong career? In this episode of The Workmatters podcast , listeners are invited into the rich, heartfelt journey of renowned designer Wilson W. Smith III, a man whose forty-one-year career at Nike was defined by more than just legendary footwear. Guided by hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey, the conversation dives into...

Summary Welcome to The Workmatters Podcast ! In today’s episode, hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey sit down with Erin Kiefer, the chairman and owner of the Arkansas-based manufacturing company Kiefer Sage. Erin shares her journey of integrating faith and leadership in a family business, from her earliest memories growing up in a company that puts people first, to stepping into the CEO role d...

Summary Welcome to another episode of The Workmatters Podcast , where we explore the intersection of faith and work through the real-life stories of everyday leaders. This week, hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey are joined by Steve Blair, the Chief People Officer at Fulcrum Collective, whose extensive background in leadership spans more than twenty-five years across renowned companies such a...

Summary Welcome to another episode of The Workmatters Podcast ! Today, Brandon Swoboda and Keisha Fowler are joined by Jessica Uranga, founder and CEO of Purpose Brands 414, a missional nonprofit serving as a strategic parent organization for purpose-driven family brands and ministries, including the impactful Beautiful Lives Thrift Boutique. Raised as a missionary kid, Jessica watched her parents...

Summary Welcome to The Workmatters Podcast! In this episode, we dive into the story of John Rausch, native Arkansan, founder, chairman, and CEO of Rausch Companies. Raised in Fort Smith, John’s journey began under the deep mentorship of his grandfather, with hands-on lessons in construction and leadership that shaped both his faith and his business outlook. Together, Brandon Swoboda, Darrel Harvey...

Summary Welcome to The Workmatters Podcast ! In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Kirksey, co-founder of the Workmatters Institute, long-time leader at Workmatters, and now general manager at the Wesche Company. Ben brings a wealth of experience, having shaped Workmatters initiatives and worked across ministry, education, market research, and commercial construction. Together with our hosts, Ben u...

Summary Welcome back to The Workmatters Podcast ! In this episode, co-hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey sit down once again with Henry Ho, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Storesight. Building off their previous conversation about redemptive work and entrepreneurship, this episode dives deep into the heart of mentorship and discipleship, two principles that Henry lives and breathes b...

Summary Welcome to this episode of The Workmatters Podcast , where we dive deep into the incredible intersection of faith and work. Our guest, Dr. Joy Dahl, shares her inspiring journey from corporate success to becoming a passionate advocate for integrating faith in the workplace. With over thirty years of experience as a business strategist and fractional CFO, Dr. Dahl reveals how God is already...

Summary Welcome to The Workmatters Podcast! In today’s episode, hosts Brandon Swoboda and Keisha Fowler welcome back Steve Graves, author, business owner, and veteran leader who has invested decades in helping others navigate the challenges and rewards of integrating faith into everyday work life. This episode centers around Steve’s newest book, Radical Stewardship: Partnering with the Master in E...

Summary Welcome to The Workmatters Podcast ! In today’s episode, hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey are honored to welcome Sarah Schafer, a licensed professional counselor and consultant whose life and work are rooted deeply in faith, compassion, and an honest embrace of humanity’s messiness. Sarah opens up about her own journey, describing how early exposure to the gospel, personal struggles...

Summary Welcome to The Workmatters Podcast ! In this episode, hosts Brandon Swoboda and Keisha Fowler sit down with Nick Morgan, a dynamic leader, entrepreneur, and combat veteran whose journey is marked by resilience, faith, and a deep commitment to serving others. From humble beginnings and financial struggles in his childhood to serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Nick shares how early life cha...

Summary Welcome to the first episode of Season 2 of The Workmatters Podcast ! In this episode, hosts Brandon Swoboda, Keisha Fowler, and Darrel Harvey kick off Season 2 with an honest, timely conversation about the realities facing today’s workforce. Drawing from their own experiences and recent insights from Brené Brown, the team opens up about the struggles so many employees and leaders are carr...

Thank you for listening to Season One of The Workmatters Podcast ! We are incredibly thankful for each of our guests who faithfully shared their stories, wisdom, and testimonies, and for every listener who joined us along the way. It has been a true privilege to serve you. Throughout this season, we’ve explored the biblical truth that your work matters to God . From the very beginning of Scripture...

Summary Welcome to The Workmatters Podcast ! In this episode, hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey sit down with Larry Griffith, CEO of Corporate Chaplains of America, to explore how holistic care can transform workplace culture and fuel both individual and team resilience. With over three decades of leadership experience spanning the US Navy, Fortune 250 corporations, and the nonprofit sector,...

Brandon Swoboda and Keisha Fowler are joined by industry leader Dr. Crystal Steen, Senior Vice President of Culture and Learning at Simmons Foods. In this compelling conversation, Crystal takes us on a journey spanning her upbringing on a Missouri family farm, her academic achievements, and her path through different industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and leadership development. Tog...

This week on The Workmatters Podcast we are joined by Manuel Barrantes, director of Spark Shopper Experience at Walmart, a United Nations Resolution Fellow, and a dedicated storyteller for the Workmatters Institute. Growing up in Nicaragua, he was shaped by hardship and the belief that education and hard work could unlock a better future. Winning the Walton Family Scholarship changed everything, b...

Welcome to The Workmatters Podcast ! Our host Brandon Swoboda is joined by Donnie Smith, a longtime friend, mentor, and the former CEO of Tyson Foods, now leading impactful work as the chairman of the African Sustainable Agricultural Project. Donnie’s story is one of authentic faith in action, from his early career days on chicken farms to leading one of America’s largest food companies, and now e...

Welcome to another episode of The Workmatters Podcast ! This week, hosts Darrel Harvey and Brandon Swoboda sit down with Cheryl Bachelder, former CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and a leader with a remarkable track record across several iconic brands, including Chick-fil-A and Domino’s Pizza. Cheryl shares her journey from passionate leadership to discovering how deeply work matters to God, and h...

Hosts Keisha Fowler and Brandon Swoboda sit down with Dr. Libin Abraham, lead pastor of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas, for an inspiring conversation about how faith comes alive in the workplace. Drawing on his own journey from Kerala, India, to Texas and his deep experience in pastoral ministry, Dr. Abraham shares powerful insights into why our jobs are more than just places of e...

Welcome to another episode of The Workmatters Podcast! In this episode, Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey sit down with Alex Fittin, an Enneagram coach and trainer whose passion is helping individuals, teams, and organizations thrive by understanding the core motivations that drive us. Drawing from her trauma-informed practice, Alex shares how the Enneagram goes below the surface of what we do to...

Welcome to another episode of The Workmatters Podcast! In this episode, our hosts Keisha Fowler, Darrel Harvey, and Brandon Swoboda sit down for an honest conversation about one of the most influential forces in our lives: the stories we tell ourselves about work. Starting from ancient narratives in Genesis, they dive into how our work stories shape our attitudes, relationships, and sense of purpo...

In this episode of The Workmatters Podcast  we talk with Sheeba Philip, a dynamic leader whose passion for purpose-driven work is both inspiring and practical. Joined by hosts Brandon Swoboda and Darrel Harvey, the discussion delves deep into what it means to build organizations and lives centered around authenticity and impact. Sheeba shares her journey, highlighting pivotal moments that shaped h...