“Ability is not vocation. Abilities are tools for vocation.”

Ability Is Not Vocation

What if ability is simply a tool—one that God shapes, deepens, stretches, and even redirects over a lifetime? If you’ve ever felt pressured to “stay in your lane,” doubted whether you’re on the right path, or confused your gift with your calling, this episode will help you breathe again. Discover a more spacious, wise-hearted way of understanding your vocation—one rooted in freedom, not fear.

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
   
   Connect & Share:
 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for more in the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a friend or creative you know
 * Join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Be. Make. Do. is going LIVE! on February 10th! [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo-live]

Join us Tuesday, February 10th, at 3 pm EST for an exciting, interactive discussion with Dan and Lisa. They’ll be wrapping up The Vocation Traps series of the podcast, answering your questions, and hearing from you! Register Here! [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo-live]

Up Next: Join us as we explore the flip side of the coin and bust free from feelings of inadequacy.

Ability Is Not Vocation

Episode Summary:

"You don’t have to monetize every gift. Creativity is something you steward, not something you have to prove.” -Steve Brock

In this special episode, host Lisa Smith talks with Steve Brock, the author of "Brand Something Beautiful: A Branding Workbook for Artists, Writers, and Other Creatives." Together, they discuss the intersection of faith and artistry, exploring what it really means to create as an act of grace. They also dive into the challenges of calling, the process of getting unstuck, and how to build a brand authentically.

This Episode's Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Steve Brock's brand new book, Brand Something Beautiful [https://brandsomethingbeautiful.com/#tve-jump-18345797800]
 * Steve Brock's website: https://www.exploreyourworlds.com/ 

Connect & Share:

 * Connect with Steve Brock:
   stevebrock.substack.com [http://stevebrock.substack.com/]
   www.instagram.com/StephenWBrock [http://www.instagram.com/StephenWBrock]
   www.facebook.com/MeaningfulTrav [http://www.facebook.com/MeaningfulTrav]
   www.pinterest.com/ExploreYourWorlds [http://www.pinterest.com/ExploreYourWorlds]
 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for more in the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a friend or creative you know
 * Join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Up Next: Join us as we discuss setbacks and mistakes of the vocation traps.

Escaping The Vocation Traps with Steve Brock

"You don't need to know the whole map. You just need to take the next faithful step."

Episode Description:

Ever feel like your calling has to be epic to matter to God? The Chosen Trap seduces us with grand visions and spiritual pressure—but often leads to burnout or disillusionment. We’ll talk about how to discern between God’s quiet invitations and our own need to be “important” in the Kingdom.

In this episode of Be. Make. Do., hosts Lisa Smith and Dan ABH explore the trap of trying to control your calling, and how to find freedom in faithful, creative partnership with God. Through biblical reflection, personal insight, and powerful film examples, you’ll learn how to discern between divine invitation and performance anxiety.

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
 * Read the article, Understanding Vocation: Discerning and Responding to God's Call [http://dt.pepperdine.edu/projects/lilly/Understanding%20Vocation_%20Discerning%20and%20Responding%20to%20Gods%20Call.pdf] by Don Thompson

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for more in the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a friend or creative you know
 * Join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Up Next: Join us for a conversation with author of Brand Something Beautiful, Steve Brock.

The Chosen Trap: When Doing Something Big for God Misses the Point

Episode Description:

"Worrying about the impact or the trying to control it is a waste of time, because you don't have control over it."

When your creative drive turns into a mission to help everyone else, you might be caught in the Hero Trap. This episode explores what happens when vocation becomes inflated with pressure and savior energy—and how to reclaim a grounded, joyful sense of calling that doesn’t depend on saving the world.

In this episode of Be. Make. Do., host Lisa Smith unpacks The Hero Trap—a mindset that weighs down artists with unrealistic expectations and spiritual burnout. You’ll learn how to shift from trying to do something epic for God to living out your vocation with steady, faithful creativity.

Up Next: Join us as we unpack our final Vocation Trap - the Chosen Trap!

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: https://soul-makers.kit.com/traptracker [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
 * Read the article, Understanding Vocation: Discerning and Responding to God's Call [http://dt.pepperdine.edu/projects/lilly/Understanding%20Vocation_%20Discerning%20and%20Responding%20to%20Gods%20Call.pdf] by Don Thompson

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for new episodes every week
 * Share this episode with fellow artists and creatives
 * Join the conversation online using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

The Hero Trap: Don't Get Stuck Trying to Save the World

Episode Overview:

“Our primary problem...is not that we lack self-worth. It’s that we lack awe.”

In this episode, Lisa and Dan unpack the Happiness Trap: the belief that your purpose is tied to feeling good or curating the perfect life. But true vocation often forms us in the slow, hidden work of faithfulness, not fleeting emotional highs. Tune in to escape the trap, rediscover joy, and move forward with a deeper sense of vocation.

Up Next:

The Hero Trap – Learn how to pursue your calling without trying to "save the world" or carry more than God has asked you to.

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: https://soul-makers.kit.com/traptracker [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
 * Read the article, Understanding Vocation: Discerning and Responding to God's Call [http://dt.pepperdine.edu/projects/lilly/Understanding%20Vocation_%20Discerning%20and%20Responding%20to%20Gods%20Call.pdf] by Don Thompson
 * Read the Blog Post by Jen Wilken, Trading Self-Worth for Awe and Wonder [https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/women-trade-self-worth-for-awe-and-wonder]

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. to keep following the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a fellow artist or spiritual seeker
 * Join the conversation on social using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

The Happiness Trap: Mistaking Happiness for Purpose

Episode Overview:

"Those of us who find ourselves overly concerned with getting it right or being good, might find ourselves trapped in a net of other people's expectations and just getting tangled into a good old mess."

Do you ever feel like your worth depends on applause, success, or being “useful” to others? You might be stuck in the Security Trap—a subtle but powerful mindset that confuses validation with vocation. If you’ve ever felt guilty pursuing your creative work—or unsure if it “matters”—this episode will help you untangle your calling from the need to please.

Up Next:

The Happiness Trap – Discover why chasing good vibes and “living your best life” can sabotage your vocation—and how to find joy beyond the high points.

Resources for Artists:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: https://soul-makers.kit.com/traptracker [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
 * Read the article, Understanding Vocation: Discerning and Responding to God's Call [http://dt.pepperdine.edu/projects/lilly/Understanding%20Vocation_%20Discerning%20and%20Responding%20to%20Gods%20Call.pdf] by Don Thompson

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. to follow the full Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with friends, mentors, or artists in your life
 * Tag us and join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

The Security Trap: Why External Validation Isn’t Your Calling

Episode Description:

"And in that framework of call, we're invited to ask different questions...instead of asking, what is God's will for my life? ...To move the focus to who is God? What does God love?"

Calling—that sacred sense of purpose—sounds inspiring... until it turns into a booby-trapped maze of pressure, performance, and perfectionism. Are you chasing your calling but feeling more stuck than ever? In this kickoff to our new series Escaping the Vocation Traps, we explore how fear, pressure, and the wrong questions can quietly derail your creative life. Subscribe and join us as we explore four common traps—and how to get unstuck, one faithful step at a time.

Welcome to The Vocation Traps, a Be. Make. Do podcast series for brave souls and creative hearts who are tired of tripping over the same old lies:
 💣 The Security Trap – where applause feels like purpose
 🌀 The Happiness Trap – where chasing good vibes leaves you empty
 🦸 The Hero Trap – where saving the world becomes your burden
 🔥 The Chosen Trap – where doing “big things for God” gets you burned out

Resources & Tools:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: https://soul-makers.kit.com/traptracker [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to the Be. Make. Do. Podcast for fresh episodes every week
 * Share this episode with fellow artists and creatives
 * Join the conversation on social media using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Escaping the Vocation Traps: How Artists Lose Their Way—and How to Get It Back!

Episode Summary:
A new season is coming—and if you’ve ever felt stuck in your creative calling, you won’t want to miss it.

In this short teaser episode, Lisa Smith and Dan ABH introduce Escaping the Vocation Traps, the upcoming season of Be. Make. Do.If you've ever thought, “I should be further along by now,” or wrestled with doubt about your creative purpose, you're not alone. This season is for you..

Whether you're quietly questioning your direction or carrying the weight of perfectionism and pressure, this series is designed to help you breathe again, realign with God’s heart, and take your next step in freedom.

Coming Soon:
We’ll name the traps that keep us stuck—like the Hero Trap, the Security Trap, the Happiness Trap, and the Chosen Trap—and offer honest stories, biblical reframing, and a better set of questions to guide your path.

In This Teaser:

 * A sneak peek at what’s ahead in the new season
 * Why “getting unstuck” doesn’t require a grand plan—just a fresh posture
 * Encouragement for artists who feel like they’ve missed their calling or lost their way

Who It’s For:
Christian artists, creatives, and soul makers who want to pursue their calling with spiritual wholeness and creative freedom.

Mark Your Calendar:
✨ Season premiere drops September 16. Hit “Follow” now so you don’t miss it!

Get Ready:
👉 Take the free Artist Archetype Quiz [https://soulmakers.org/] to better understand your creative motivation
📬 Sign up at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/] for exclusive updates and bonus resources
⭐ Leave a review to help others discover the show

Stay Connected:

Join our brand new broadcast channel [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]to stay connected and get a "behind-the-mic" within our podcast community.

Coming Soon: Warning! Fear May Be Hazardous to Your Art

What's Next: Exploring Your Artistic Archetype

"You are not alone. And if you feel like you're crazy, it's because you're surrounded by people who just don't get it."

In this final episode of the Artist Archetype series, Lisa and Dan reflect on the journey of discovering artistic motivations, review the six archetypes, and share listener feedback about finding one's unique creative identity.

Special Announcement: Join us for a LIVE Zoom conversation on April 17th at 3 PM Eastern Standard Time! RSVP required: https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo-live

What You Need to Thrive as an Artist:

 1. A rhythm of spiritual practice
 2. Strong peer support system
 3. Commitment to developing artistic proficiency
 4. Habits of self-reflection
 5. Clarity around vision and motivations
 6. Capacity to engage world issues
 7. Tools for courageous action

 * Artist Archetype Quiz: https://www.soulmakers.org/quiz
 * Soul Makers website: soulmakers.org/ [https://soulmakers.org/be-make-do]

Stay in touch and share your thoughts:

TikTok: @bemakedopodcast  [https://www.tiktok.com/@bemakedopodcast]

Instagram: @bemakedopodcast  [https://www.instagram.com/bemakedopodcast]

Facebook: @bemakedopodcast  [https://www.facebook.com/bemakedopodcast]

YouTube: @BeMakeDoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@BeMakeDoPodcast]

Subscribe and Follow wherever you get your podcasts. [https://pod.link/1700320315]

What's Next: Exploring Your Artistic Archetype

"Artists have the possibility of teaching us about what the kingdom of God is like."

In this episode of the Be. Make. Do. podcast, Lisa talks with Corey Frey, a visual artist, writer and community builder about the importance of curiosity and process over product.  

Join us for our last interview in the Artist Archetypes series on artist motivations. The Maker, The Mystic, The Soul Healer, The Imaginative Visionary, The Prophetic Critic or the Storyteller? What's your archetype? Take the quiz here! [https://www.soulmakers.org/quiz]

Come visit us this upcoming weekend as we are joining and attending The Breath and The Clay 2025, March 21st- March 23rd. Take Artist Spiritual Archetype quiz in person!

https://www.thebreathandtheclay.com/

Connect with Corey Frey

www.coreysfrey.com [http://www.coreysfrey.com/]
www.thewellcollab.com [http://www.thewellcollab.com/]
www.substack.com/@coreyfrey [http://www.substack.com/@coreyfrey]

Instagram: @coreysfrey
Instagram: @the_well_collaborative

Substack: @coreyfrey

Stay in touch and share your thoughts:

TikTok: @bemakedopodcast  [https://www.tiktok.com/@bemakedopodcast]

Instagram: @bemakedopodcast  [https://www.instagram.com/bemakedopodcast]

Facebook: @bemakedopodcast  [https://www.facebook.com/bemakedopodcast]

YouTube: @BeMakeDoPodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@BeMakeDoPodcast]

Subscribe [https://www.soulmakers.org/join] and follow Be.Make.Do [http://be.make.do/]. wherever you get your podcasts.

Corey Frey Bio:

Corey Frey is a multi-disciplinary artist, poet and art educator living in Maryland. In addition to his personal creative practice, Corey is the Exhibitions Manager at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick Maryland and is one of the leaders in the Breath and the Clay Creative Arts Conference and the Makers and Mystic Creative Collective. He and his wife Christy founded The Well Collaborative, a community in Maryland that values creativity, curiosity and conversations about art, humanity, faith and culture.

Artist Archetypes with Corey Frey

The Be. Make. Do. podcast inspires artists of faith by diving into the big - and sometimes controversial - questions that come with pursuing the artist’s calling. Artists are culture makers. But many Christians in the arts feel isolated and conflicted about their call. That’s why we’re starting this conversation - to help you find clarity and confidence. So, be encouraged. And become who you were created to be, make what you were created to make, and do what you were created to do.

Join host Lisa Smith as she poses questions, shares stories, and great conversation with artists, theologians, creatives and friends about the call of the artist in the world.

Subscribe and follow now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! [https://pod.link/1700320315]

Join the movement at https://soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]

Be. Make. Do.

Be.Make.Do. is a podcast inspiring artists of faith to pursue their calling as culture makers with spiritual wholeness and creative freedom.

Be. Make. Do.

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