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.

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!

Are you feeling like you need some encouragement as you are looking ahead to 2026? Do you love planning your year or maybe not so much? Do you need a good look at the rhythms in your life that serve you, bring you closer to the Lord, and ultimately help you carry out God’s assignment for you? This episode is for you.

During the week, we work, but during the weekends, we play. Today’s episode is all about seven weekend rhythms that we live by.

My incredible husband, Will, turns 40 today and I am so excited to have him on the podcast! He is going to give you forty pieces of wisdom for his 40th birthday, or as we like to call it, “40 for 40 will Will Ray.”

Today I’m talking about ten ways that I am using AI to simplify my life.

Today’s episode is going to be light and fun. It’s all about my fall favorites!

Today I got to sit down with my friend, Kate Strickler of Naptime Kitchen, and talk all about some of our favorite things, recipes, practical things we love, but especially her new book, I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen. We talk a lot about the theme of contentment, which you guys know is dear to my heart. I’m so excited for you to listen to our conversation today.

I met my friend Rachel at a retreat a little over a year ago and we were fast friends. She is a fellow podcaster and now an author. Today, I’m having her on the Work and Play podcast to talk all about her new book and some big sister advice that you are not going to want to miss.

Today’s episode is all about traveling with kids. We’ve been at this for a while and I’m so excited to share all of my tips + three lists that I cannot do without.

Jared Plummer is the founder of Two Roosters Ice Cream, a popular and delicious ice cream shop with eight locations here in the Raleigh area that everyone is crazy about. They have their standard menu of favorites, but they also rotate their guest flavors every month. If you caught my last episode, you’ll know that their July flavors feature local podcasters and the Work and Play podcast is one of them. Today, you’re going to get to hear from Jared as we talk all about Two Roosters and what work and play looks like in his world.

Are you ready?! I don’t think you’re ready. This is such a fun summer announcement! Work and Play is officially an ice cream flavor! Today, I am bringing on some special guests to share all about how the Work and Play podcast has been turned into ice cream, literally.

Happy summer! I’m so excited that summer is finally here! Today’s episode is simply five tips for you to have a smoother summer.

We just got back from New York City celebrating Milly’s 10th birthday. Today’s episode is all about that trip and how we are celebrating big milestone birthdays in our family.

I am so excited to be back behind this mic! Today, we are going to talk about why I named this podcast “Work and Play” and I’ll share a fresh take on what it means to me now.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Now it’s time to get into the Christmas spirit. Today, I’m going to be sharing my five favorite Christmas traditions, my five favorite gifts to give at Christmas time, and my five favorite Christmas albums to listen to.

Happy Thanksgiving week! Oh my goodness, I can’t believe we are here! Today’s episode is all about our very favorite Thanksgiving tradition. It’s so simple. It costs nothing. I hope you and your family enjoy it!

Today’s episode is fun, lighthearted, and it’s all about fall. I am going to share with you ten things that I have tried and loved this time of year and ten things that I plan to try this autumn.

The school year is here and it is time to get in that mode. I feel like today’s episode is a pep talk for us mamas who are getting ready to start the school year and we want to start it strong. This episode is called “School Prep and Play” because we are going to be talking about how to prepare well for the school year and also how to play more this school year.

Happy June! Happy summer! It’s the second episode in our June summer series and today is all about summer play.