Brandon Smith
Eryn Eddy Adkins is a North Georgia mountains–based podcast host and founder of So Worth Loving. After years of hosting 200+ interviews as a contracted podcast personality, she stepped into building her own show, the So Worth Loving Podcast.
Her work is rooted in both grit and grace, shaped by real-life experiences that have refined her voice and perspective. Through honest conversations around identity, faith, and healing, she helps people understand their worth and learn how to live from that truth. She’s passionate about creating space where people feel seen, challenged, and reminded that growth is rarely easy, but always worth it.
What dream are you currently turning into reality?
I’ve been fortunate enough to see the Lord open some incredible doors. I’ve toured the country with people who became close friends, captured some of the most influential conferences and events, all while working with people and teams I genuinely love and believe in what they’re putting out into the world.
Because of that, I don’t know if there’s one specific goal or benchmark I’m chasing. It’s less about arriving somewhere and more about trusting God to bring the right things at the right time…but also photographing a Coldplay show would be sick.
When did you first realize you discovered your dream?
There are two moments that really planted the seed for me.
The first was my 16th birthday. My parents got me and a few friends tickets to see Coldplay on their Viva La Vida tour in St. Louis. I brought this tiny 4-megapixel digital camera with me and took photos of everything: the merch, the screens, the transitions, the balloons, the crowd - anything I thought was cool.
I remember sitting in that amphitheater watching thousands of people give their time and money to experience a moment together that would never exist again, and just thinking how special that was.
Funny story: After the show ended, I wanted one last photo of the confetti covering the floor. I went to take it and my camera said “To take more photos, you’ll need to format the card.” Not knowing what that meant, I formatted it, took the photo, turned the camera off and went home. The next morning I sat my family down to show them all the photos…and I had only that one photo of the confetti. Haven’t made that mistake since.
The second moment was my senior year of college. I had been helping a buddy with his photo business (just running lights and lenses for him on jobs). He got contracted to shoot a Lecrae show at my school and needed a second shooter. So he basically just asked me to hold a camera and snap some wide shots.
I got home that night and decided to look through a few of the photos, maybe edit a couple before bed. I sat down at my desk, put on some music and just started editing. When I was done, I looked up and realized it was 3:45 in the morning. I didn’t realize how much time had passed.
It was such a stark contrast to the business work I was doing in college. That always felt like work. This didn’t. It was the first time I had done something that should’ve felt like work, but just felt like fun.
How does your faith go hand in hand with pursuing your dream?
My faith shapes the way I pursue everything. My relationship with God influences how I define success, handle the highs and lows and make decisions.
It keeps me grounded in a career that can feel unpredictable and constantly changing. Instead of chasing outcomes or trying to force doors open, I try to stay focused on being faithful with what’s in front of me and trusting Him with the bigger picture. At the same time, I see my gift for photography as something He’s placed in me, so pursuing it is really an extension of my faith and worship.
What’s one or two practical steps you take to keep moving forward?
A practical step I do is always look for opportunities to collaborate. Even if it’s for less money or on a project you typically wouldn’t be interested in, say yes to it. Not only do you get a chance to use and grow your gift, but you also get to interact with people who might not think, work or create like you do. Plus, those collaborations typically lead to more work and more opportunities.
A spiritual practice I have started doing before any project is taking time to read “A Liturgy Before Taking The Stage” from Every Moment Holy. It’s written primarily for speakers/musicians, but I think it applies to anyone who creates something for others. That quick 2 minute prayer just resets my mind to what really matters. It’s a declaration that although these talents and passions are mine, ultimately they are just offerings to give back to the Lord.
What encouragement would you share with someone who’s going after their dream?
The same God who spoke into nothing and created everything is the same God who made you. He didn’t hold anything back. He gave you a desire and ability to do the very thing He did before time began: create.
So when you’re going after your dream, don’t treat it nonchalantly. The ideas you have, the way you see things, the way you capture moments, that’s not random. That’s how you were wired by the greatest creator. Take your gift and use it to bring His light into a dark world. Put your natural talent back into the hands of a supernatural God and watch Him go to work.