Hey friend, welcome back to Work and Play. Today’s a replay episode, and this one is near and dear to my heart. We’re talking about summer play, and I think sometimes we all need a little reminder that play is not a reward for finishing your work. It’s part of the good life. So grab a cold drink, find a quiet spot, and let’s dive in.

America turns 250 this month, and I have a lot of feelings about that, but the one that rises to the top is gratitude. I am so grateful to be an American. Today I am celebrating this country I love: her freedoms, her heritage, her beauty, and the God who has been with her from the very beginning.

Hey friend, quick note before we jump in. Today’s episode is a replay, and I handpicked this one because I truly believe the timing is perfect for where a lot of us are right now. We’re talking about summer projects—the fun kind, the meaningful kind, the household kind, and everything in between. I hope it encourages you.

Summer is in full swing, the school year schedule has gone out the window, but Sabbath doesn’t have to. Today, I am sharing 5 practical ways that we protect and keep Sabbath throughout our summer, even when it looks like nothing it does during the school year.

Welcome back to Work and Play. Before we dive in, I want to give you a quick heads up that this is a replay episode, and it’s one of my favorites. We’re talking all about the summer plan. Honestly, this is worth a second listen. Whether you heard it the first time around or you’re new here, I think you’re going to love it!

Today I am going to share with you how I actually get work done as a mom of 5 with very limited hours. These are 10 things that help me most and I think you’re going to love 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

It is January! Happy 2025! This is my annual State of the Podcast episode. It’s going to be short and sweet, but I’m also really excited to share all the ideas and things I’m thinking about for Work and Play with Nancy Ray in 2025.

Today’s episode is going to be sweet, short, and hopefully powerful as I declare the truths of Colossians 1 over your work.

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.