301 - State of the Podcast 2026

My friend Ashlee Gadd is joining me on the Work and Play podcast today to talk about a new collaborative book that she is spearheading called, "You're In Good Company." It is a book on friendship, motherhood, hospitality, and showing up. I can't wait for you to hear our conversation. Resources from this episode: You're In Good Company by Ashlee Gadd Coffee + Crumbs Create Anyway by Ashlee Gadd  Coffee + Crumbs Podcast  Work and Play Episode 192 : Create Anyway with Ashlee Gadd The Magic of Motherhood by Ashlee Gadd  Coffee + Crumbs Substack  Coffee + Crumbs on Instagram  Ashlee Gadd on Substack Ashlee Gadd on Instagram Dwell Bible App Discount  Send Nancy an audio message!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!  Join my email list!  Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Today's episode might surprise you because I'm going to be talking about decluttering, but not in the way that you might expect. What I think is happening in our homes physically is connected with what's happening in us spiritually. So let's talk about what it looks like to declutter with abundance and authority. Resources from this episode: Dwell Bible App Discount  40 Days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole  The Contentment Challenge  We Make Space by the Helsers  Send Nancy an audio message!  Psalm 51:10-12  Work & Play Episode 227 : Less Clutter More Life with Barbara Hemphill : Part 1  Work & Play Episode 228 : Less Clutter More Life with Barbara Hemphill : Part 2  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!  Join my email list!  Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Today I want to talk about something that I have been absolutely loving with my kids this year. It's the 1,000 hours outside challenge. I want to get into the hard parts, the real parts, and why I truly believe your nervous system is begging you to step outside. Resources from this episode: 1,000 Hours Outside  Dwell Bible App Discount Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!  Send Nancy an audio message!  Join my email list!  Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Winter can feel long and slow and February especially can feel like an eternity sometimes. Today I am sharing the daily and weekly rhythms that are working for me right now and how I'm making the most of this season before transitioning into spring. Resources from this episode: Claude AI Trello Dwell Bible App Discount  1,000 Hours Outside  Nourish Move Love on YouTube  We Heart Nutrition (Use code: NANCYRAY for a discount!) My Favorite Natural Supplements for Pregnancy and Postpartum Blog Post  Episode 173 - How We Sabbath  A Year of Sabbaths with Will Ray : Part 1 A Year of Sabbaths with Will Ray : Part 2   Rhythms Reset  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!  Send Nancy an audio message!  Work and Play Survey  Join my email list!  Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Alright, the Nancy Ray Book Club is back! It's time for one of my favorite episodes of the year : my reading list. If you love books, you are going to love today's episode. Resources from this episode: Nancy Ray Book Club  Dwell Bible App Discount  The Body Teaches the Soul by Justin Whitmel Earley  Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle  You're in Good Company by Ashlee Gad  Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam Calm Amidst the Chaos Podcast Series You Bet Your Stretch Marks by Abbie Halberstadt Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold  The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter  Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff Stop, in the Name of God by Charlie Kirk ​​5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom Theo of Golden by Allen Levi The War of Art by Steven Pressfield  The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore!  My favorite reading light  Send Nancy an audio message!  Work and Play Survey  Join my email list!  Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Today we're talking about something I mentioned last week: unfrumping myself. If you've ever felt like you are living in workout clothes and you never actually workout or maybe you generally feel like you look homeless all the time, this episode is for you. Resources from this episode: A'Del Cosmetics (Use code: NANCYRAY for 15% off) Send Nancy an audio message!  Work and Play Survey  Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Happy February, friend! Today I am pulling back the curtain and sharing my goals for 2026. There are only eight of them. Some are practical, some are personal, and all of them are shaping how I'm approaching this year. So let's dive in. Resources from this episode: Rhythms Reset  Dwell Bible App Discount Simply Charlotte Mason Scripture Memory Box  The Contentment Challenge  Send Nancy an audio message!  Work and Play Survey  Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Hello friend and welcome back to Work and Play with Nancy Ray! I'm Nancy, your host, and today we are doing something that I love doing every January, which is the State of the Podcast episode. This is where I get to look back at last year, celebrate some fun moments, and also share what I'm dreaming up for 2026. Resources from this episode:  Dwell Bible App Discount  Work and Play Episode 279 : A Fun Summer Announcement  Work and Play Episode 280 : Two Roosters with Jared Plummer Work and Play Episode 300 : Episode 300! Work and Play Episode 271 : Winnie's Birth Story Work and Play Episode 281 : Traveling with Kids : 3 Lists and All My Tips Work and Play Episode 292 : 40 for 40 with Will Ray Work and Play Episode 293 : 7 Weekend Rhythms We Live By Work and Play Episode 296 : My 12 Week Year Planning Process Send Nancy an audio message!  Nancy Ray Book Club Work and Play Survey  Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Well friend, I've made it all the way to episode 300 and today's episode is a Q&A with my listeners. I'm so excited! Resources from this episode: Dwell Bible App Discount  Episode 223 : I Read the Bible in a Month Episode 232 : A Year of Sabbaths with Will Ray : Part 1 Episode 233 : A Year of Sabbaths with Will Ray : Part 2 Made for People by Justin Whitmel Earley  A'Del Cosmetics  Timeless Book Series by Gabrielle Meyer  Kindle Paperwhite  Trello  Midliners The Contentment Challenge Episode 003 : The Contentment Challenge Episode 004 : Seasons of Business Episode 286 : 3 Lessons from Charlie Kirk Psalm 73:25-26 Shepherd's Way Farms  Too Good by Jess Ray Positive Parenting Solutions  Brick Device  Meeting with Jesus by David Murray Rhythms Reset Send Nancy an audio message! Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!  

Merry Christmas! Can you believe we are here?! This episode is a little different. I am going to be sharing three really beautiful prayers that you can listen to as you'd like this week. One prayer is for the start of the Christmas season. Another is for the preparation of a meal and another is for wrapping gifts. Resources from this episode: Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey  Rhythms Reset Send Nancy an audio message!  Dwell Bible App Discount Join my email list!  Visit my Amazon Cornerstore! Nancy Ray Website Nancy Ray on Instagram Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!