Welcome to the “Mini-Series” podcast of the St. Josemaria Institute! We’re excited to launch this new channel announcing our first mini-series:

New Horizons: Living the Faith as a Young Professional

Launching on May 1, 2025, join our host, Rob Hays, as he invites listeners to open new horizons in their lives and explore what it means to “work for God,” especially as young professionals who are trying to navigate both the opportunities and pitfalls they face every day at work, at home, and in society.

Over 7 in-depth episodes, Rob shares anecdotes and lessons learned from his personal and professional life, and he draws on over 20 years of experience mentoring hundreds of young professionals, to help listeners grapple with life’s big questions.

Rob also shares how the life-changing teachings and spirituality of St. Josemaria Escriva taught him how to work for God and how to guide others in their desires and goals to live genuinely Christian lives.

OUR HOST

Rob Hays is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Ashford Hospitality Trust. He earned his A.B. in Politics with a certificate in Political Economy from Princeton University. He is involved in several charitable, formative, and faith organizations, such as the Aquinas Institute for Catholic Life at Princeton University and the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) in Washington DC. He co-founded the Business Ethics Forum for Dallas-area executives, and he is the lead organizer for the annual Dallas Successful Fathers Conference. He and his wife Alicia have been married 20 years and are blessed with 7 children.


New episodes premiere every Thursday beginning May 1, 2025. Subscribe today!

Episode 1: Introduction - Working for God

In this first episode of "New Horizons," Rob Hays introduces listeners to this mini-series for young professionals seeking to integrate their Catholic faith into daily life and work.

Outlining the game plan for this 7 episode series, Rob shares a bit about his background, the inspiration for the series, the common struggles and issues of the professional life, and the spiritual wisdom of St. Josemaria Escriva that transformed his perspective on work, faith, and life.

For Rob, St. Josemaria speaks more directly about the lay vocation and the importance of work as a means of sanctification than just about any other saint in history. To get us started, Rob explains how St. Josemaria helped him discover the meaning of working for God--that work matters, work is a prayer, and work is an integral part of everyone's path to holiness.

As Rob explains, "Our work in daily life as a way of expressing love of God will be a theme that weaves in and out of all of these episodes of the series, and it can be a revolutionary change for someone's work and prayer life."

Ready to begin? Rob invites you to have a willingness to be open to the Holy Spirit, a willingness to grow, a willingness to listen, and a willingness to change and take some risk.

View Transcript

Episode 2: Dealing with Stress, Anxiety, and Burnout

In this second episode of "New Horizons," Rob Hays explores how living with greater unity of life, order, and a daily plan of prayer can help young professionals navigate stress, anxiety, and burnout.

Reflecting on his own experiences leading through the pandemic, Rob highlights the importance of consistency between faith and work, prioritizing first things first, and rooting daily habits in love for God. He also shares a powerful encouragement from the Gospel of Mark: when we give time to God, it will be given back to us and multiplied — a reminder that putting prayer first brings greater peace, fruitfulness, and freedom in our lives.

Resources mentioned in the episode include:“Towards Holiness”: A Spiritual Game Plan, The Way, Furrow, The Forge , Friends of God

View Transcript