Gladness & Hunger with Leanne W. Smith | Podcast Guru

Details

Author/Professor Leanne W. Smith sits down with key individuals to mine the magic of their vocational stories. Inspired by Frederick Buechner who said the key to a career satisfying to both soul and pocketbook was to find “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet," this podcast is geared to writers, students, story lovers, and anyone seeking inspiration for their own vocational journey. As a fiction writer and business professor at Lipscomb University with a heart to teach students how to build sustainable careers that actually feed their soul, Smith's deep gladness is in sharing messages of hope and inspiration like these.

Recent Episodes

S7:E1: Marty Kittrell: “When Best-Laid Plans Go Awry”

Have you ever watched your career soar — only to hit a wall you didn't see coming? In this episode, Marty Kittrell, well-versed in corporate strategy, finance, security offerings, private equity, and board practices, gets candid about navigating the gap between professional highs and hard-hitting setbacks. Whether you're climbing, stumbling, or somewhere in between, Marty's story will leave you with a fresh perspective on what it means to lead, learn, and give back. Follow Leanne on Instagr...

33 MIN

Looking Back Over Our Shoulder: Season 6 Highlights

In this Season 6 recap, Kianna and I reflect on the guests, stories, and lessons that shaped this season of Gladness and Hunger. We discuss mentorship, vocation, God's faithfulness, and the surprising ways our lives often unfold. Join us as we look back on the journey and celebrate the wisdom shared by this season's guests. Here are more detailed highlights: We began Season 6 (S6:E1) with me being interviewed by my intern. Kianna Winey put me on the other side of the table and asked me why th...

21 MIN

Sydney Ball: "Entrepreneurship Rooted in Service”

In this episode of Gladness & Hunger, I sit down with Sydney Ball shortly after the launch of her consulting firm, Ballpoint Business Solutions. A Lipscomb College of Business alumna, Sydney has been recognized with honors including the Sterling Award for Top 20 Professionals Under 40 in West Tennessee, Nashville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and Women of Influence. In our conversation, she reflects on the mentors, experiences, and family influences that shaped both her career and her p...

29 MIN

Selene Covarrubias: From Carson & Leno to Simon & Schuster—Embracing Change & Finding Your Path

Isn’t it fascinating to consider all that shapes a person’s vocation? Think of old Hollywood glamour, and you’ll begin to glimpse the world Selene Covarrubias was born into. While she now works in publishing with Simon & Schuster, her journey began in television, working behind the scenes on both The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and later with Jay Leno. Media has been a constant thread throughout Selene’s life, but her story is anything but linear. With seasons spent living in Mexi...

26 MIN

Matt Hearn: "The Stories We Read & the Stories We Are"

Sometimes we discover we are wired in ways that surprise us. In this episode of Gladness & Hunger, I sit down with Dr. Matt Hearn, longtime English professor at Lipscomb University, to explore his unexpected journey into literature and teaching. Matt shares how he came to love words, the teachers and mentors who shaped him, and the moments that awakened his curiosity. Along the way, he reflects on how following his passion—even when it didn’t look like the path he expected—led him to a fu...

29 MIN