Meet Rachel Jordan

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Jordan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

I might be opening with an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think “writers block” is as much of a reality as we writers make it out to be. You don’t hear about blocks in other professions, even those that demand creativity. For example, as a professional scientist designing research projects, brainstorming and creativity is an essential part of the process. If a scientist were to have trouble with a project, they’d describe what they’re having a hard time with and what they should improve on, but you’d never heard a scientist claim that they have “science block.”
As marine biologist, I was trained that you have to show up for the job and give it your best work every day, even when you don’t feel like it. That is what it is to be a professional. Most days, my work was hard physical and mental labor under the hot sun. But writing, by comparison, is a tremendously cozy practice. I can work from home, sitting on my couch with my favorite blanket and a cup of tea, creating at my own pace and taking breaks whenever I want. I recognize the unique amount of control I have over my situation as a writer. With that perspective, I think “writers block” is a bit of a mystical cop-out.
Discipline is the key for becoming immune to blocks and recognizing that they’re not entirely real to begin with. It’s all about choice, recognizing the power you exercise over your own will. Choosing to sit down at the computer to put one word after another even when you don’t feel like it… that is the essence of writing. It’s work.
Strangely, a lot of us writers aren’t very good at this because we’re waiting for a wave of inspiration to crash over us. Don’t get me wrong, inspiration is fantastic, and if it hits you, ride that wave as far as you can. But we don’t always have inspiration. It’s not a reliable source for producing timely, consistent, meaningful work. Discipline, however, is reliable. Practicing the intentional choice of healthy, happy habits enables me to do my best work, both as a writer and scientist.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I tend to describe myself as a Jesus-loving coral nerd who has bounced all over the world to learn about faith and science. I have a Masters in Science in marine biology and ecology from James Cook University in Australia, a Bachelors in Science in ecology from Seattle Pacific University in the USA, and a certification in biblical studies from Bodenseehof Bible School in Germany. As a professional marine biologist, I have worked the US National Park Service, as well as in marine aquaculture research, organic chemistry laboratories, veterinary research facilities, the pet industry, and a museum.
As a Christian, my relationship with God impacts every aspect of my life, including my career. When I started pursuing science, I struggled with a lot of questions at the intersection of faith and science: “Are Christianity and modern science compatible? How do I make sense of topics that seem to conflict, like evolutionary theory and biblical creationism? Does a scientific career matter in the big scheme of eternity?” While these were scary questions to face, my exploration of them strengthened both my scientific career and understanding of God. This spiritual and intellectual searching also put me in conversation with some incredible people who were asking the same sort of questions that I was.
The fruit of these conversations, my lifelong passion for coral reefs, unique underwater experiences, and fascination with faith and science melded together to create my debut book, If the Ocean Has a Soul, which is available for preorder and releases with Tyndale House Publishers on June 3, 2025. This book tells the stories of my real-life marine biology adventures and what those unique experiences teach us about the character of God. It’s a deep-dive into faith and science. If you consider yourself an ocean lover, a question asker, or a truth seeker, this book was written for you.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

My advice is the same as my mission: “Learn science accurately, represent Jesus fully, and engage in conversations respectfully.” While this statement is directed toward faith and science, it contains a lot of useful bits of professional advice as well.
To break it down a bit more, I say “learn science accurately” because there is an alarming shortage of scientific literacy, particularly within the Christian church. It’s just not something people tend to prioritize. If we’re going to make bold statements about science or our opinions—particularly if we’re going to be so bold as to declare something as “right” or “wrong”—then we need to make sure we really understand it first. Let’s put in the time to learn the information, go to reliable sources recommended by scientists, and practice communicating with excellence. If we expect to be taken seriously by the people doing the work, we need to approach their work in a serious way.
Secondly, we should “represent Jesus fully.” Of course, this statement is directed entirely at Christians, who by very nature of our title claim to be “little Christs,” representatives of his character to the world. Unfortunately, as the world has witnessed, this is an area where we often fail. In order to represent Jesus to the world, we need to really know who he is. We need to read our Bibles, study his words and actions, and learn to love the world as he did. If we don’t truly love the world in a sacrificial, whole-hearted, and restorative way, then we’re not representing Jesus. And if we aren’t representing him fully, then we shouldn’t claim to be his representatives.
Lastly, we should “engage in conversations respectfully.” As I already noted, having deep, open-hearted conversations with people who think differently than me has been one of the highlights of my career. It’s a fantastic way to grow, to challenge and be challenged. But the key is to do it in a respectful way. Listen with curiosity, practice empathy, try to understand, ask thoughtful questions, and share from your own heart. When two people engage in this kind of respectful dialogue, a kind of intellectual and cathartic magic happens.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

It’s so hard to whittle my answer down to a single book because there are so many books that have provided important nuggets of wisdom throughout my professional life. But if I had to pin it all to one book, I’d have to say the Bible.
I recognize that’s perhaps an odd pick considering that the Bible is actually a collection of 66 books written by different authors over a long period of time and, admittedly, ancient literature isn’t the most popular or relatable reading material. But the Bible has been tremendously important throughout my life as one of the primary ways that God communicates with me. As a writer, I know that peoples’ stories are valuable. And the Bible, intellectually challenging and seemly bizarre as it may be, is the overarching cosmic story of God’s relationship with creation. Simply put, it’s his story.
On a related note, one of my favorite recent reads is God Speaks Science by John van Sloten, which advocates for how both the Bible and the natural world are “books” through which God tells his story. I love this concept. As a Christian and scientist who tells stories at the intersection of faith and science, I think that experiencing the natural world is one of the best ways to understand God’s character. So if I’m allowed to mention yet another book—even a metaphorical one—I would have to list creation.
I guess technically that’s three book recommendations. But I guarantee they’re all highly worth the read: the Bible, creation, and John van Sloten’s delightful God Speaks Science. But if you read those and want more, I regularly recommend resources on my Instagram (@shorelinesoul) and website (https://rachelgjordan.com/). I’d love to connect with fellow readers in either place!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rachelgjordan.com/
• Instagram: @shorelinesoul

Image Credits

Karli Hollister
Julie Chen & Jago Silver