"How Beauty Conquers Fear" with Naeem Fazal

Do you ever struggle with fear or anxiety? In this episode, author and pastor, Naeem Fazal shares how beauty can help us overcome fear in our lives. Naeem is the founding and lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a Pakistani, born and raised as a Muslim in Kuwait. He came to the U.S. shortly after the Gulf War and had a supernatural experience with Jesus that changed the course of his life.

In our time together, Naeem shares about his unexpected and life-changing conversion experience, as well as about his new book, Tomorrow Needs You: Seeing Beauty When You Feel Hopeless. He discusses his belief that beauty is the antidote to fear, why we need to put fear on a leash, and how we can practically allow beauty to speak loudest in our lives.

"Made to Be Makers" with Bruce Herman

Bruce Herman is a painter, writer, speaker, and the author of Makers by Nature: Letters from a Master Painter on Faith, Hope, and Art. Bruce also taught studio art for nearly four decades at Gordon College and his art has been exhibited internationally and is in public and private collections worldwide.

In our time together, Bruce reminds us that, being made in the image of the Creator God, we have all been created to create. He also awakens us to the miracles all around us, discussing how God’s own being is revealed in the things He’s made. As a master painter, Bruce’s insights on beauty in the human face and figure, as well as in the world around us, are profound and distinct.

"Your Life Has Great Purpose" with Trevor Hudson

Trevor Hudson is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. After spending fifty years doing pastoral ministry in a local congregation, he now gives his time to lecturing, teaching, and writing in the areas of spiritual formation and spiritual direction.

In our time together, we discuss his latest book, In Search of God’s Will: Discerning a Life of Faithfulness and Purpose. Trevor shares practical ways to discern God’s personal will for your life, helping you to become the unique person God has shaped you to be, and ultimately allowing us the privilege of participating in the hope of the entire universe. Trevor reminds us of God’s nearness and active presence in our lives, as well as the true character and astounding love of God.

"Your Body Does Not Need to Be 'Fixed'" with Rasa Troup, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, OLY

Rasa Troup is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian with over 20 years of experience. Rasa also competed in the Beijing Olympics and has served as a trusted voice regarding nutrition for various communities, including The Minnesota Vikings, The Minnesota Twins, The University of Minnesota Athletics, The Emily Program, and TRia Orthopedic, among others.

In our time together, Rasa shares about her own struggles with nutrition as a competitive athlete and Olympian. She also highlights common lies in the field of nutrition and gives important insight regarding the recent rise in the use of GLP-1 medications, including potential dangers to be considered.

"Abiding in God's Presence" with Jennifer Tucker

In this inspiring interview with Jennifer Tucker, she shares how Christian meditation on Scripture has formed her soul in profound ways. Jennifer Tucker is a bestselling author, artist, graphic designer, follower of Jesus, and an advocate for mental health.

In our time together, Jenn shares about her new book, Present in Prayer: A Guided Invitation to Peace Through Biblical Meditation. Specifically, she shares how mindfulness and Christian meditation have deeply shaped her, especially in recent seasons of struggle. She also helpfully reframes anxiety as an invitation to connect with God and shares how mindfulness and Christian meditation can help us redefine beauty.

"Rebecoming Your Essential Self" with Dr. Merry Lin

Each of us reflects a unique beauty in the world. In today’s episode, Dr. Merry Lin invites us into the process of embodying our truest essential self in the world. Dr. Merry is a clinical psychologist, author, and podcaster with over 30 years of clinical experience.

In our time together, Dr. Merry shares about her latest book, Rebecoming: Come Out of Hiding to Live as Your God-Given Essential Self. She discusses what the essential self is, why it’s so important for us to uncover our essential self, and how it impacts the world around us when we do. Dr. Merry also shares how she sees societal beauty standards impacting women and how rebecoming our essential selves moves us more fully into experiencing true beauty.

"Reframing Aging" with Melanie Penn

Melanie Penn is a Nashville based songwriter at the crossroads of faith and culture. Melanie was a mainstay in the theatre scene in New York City for several years, most notably playing Sandy on the Broadway national tour of Grease!

In my time with Melanie, we discuss her transition from Broadway to songwriting, and the helpfulness of attending to our emotions in decision making and discernment. She also shares about the experience of losing her dad. In that discussion, Melanie reminds us of humanity’s need for rescue and the hope we celebrate this Christmas season. Also, amidst society’s fear-based messages around getting older, Melanie reframes aging as an opportunity to become more alive.

JohnsonDecember 23, 2024melaniepenn, morealive, aging, reframingaging, beauty, grief, death, christmas, hope, impossiblebeauty, impossiblebeautypodcast

"Remembering Your Unique Beauty" with Amy Orr-Ewing

Because of our unique identities, passions, and gifts, each one of us embodies a unique beauty in the world. In today’s episode, international speaker, theologian, apologist, and author, Amy Orr-Ewing unpacks the beauty of authenticity and encourages us to find our unique voice.

More specifically, Amy discusses her latest book, Lead Like the Real You: Wisdom for Women on Finding Your Voice, Pursuing God’s Calling, and Leading with Courage, sharing important insights on the uniqueness of leading as a woman at home, at work, or in ministry. She also dives into some of life’s big questions, including how she holds fast to the beauty of God amidst the brokenness of life.

JohnsonDecember 9, 2024leadliketherealyou, amyorr-ewing, beauty, authenticity, trueself, identity, impossiblebeauty, impossiblebeautypodcast

"Building Body Confidence Amidst Diet and Wellness Culture" with Dr. Charlotte Markey

Dr. Charlotte Markey is a body image expert, professor of psychology and director of the Health Sciences Center at Rutgers University-Camden. She has authored several books, including her latest release, Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life.

In our time together, Dr. Markey shares how societal messages can influence body image and how body image is connected to mental health. We also discuss how diet culture currently presents as “health and wellness” and how an overemphasis on “healthy” or “clean eating” might not actually be good for our overall wellbeing. Dr. Markey also shares how changing our bodies doesn’t actually improve body image and presents us with practices to confidently inhabit our bodies.

"Recovering Joy" with Alastair Sterne

Alastair Sterne’s invitation to joy was an unexpected one. Ironically, it was while struggling with depression that he started to pay attention to the full array of his emotions, including joylessness.

In this fascinating conversation with creative director turned pastor, Alastair Sterne, he discusses his latest book, Longing for Joy: An Invitation to the Goodness and Beauty of Life. Alastair is currently the associate pastor at Coastline Church in Victoria, British Columbia. In our time together, he talks about why joy can be so elusive, how we can hold joy alongside suffering, how joy connects us to God, and practical ways we can cultivate joy.

JohnsonNovember 11, 2024longingforjoy, joy, recoveringjoy, alastairsterne, theodicy, cultivatingjoy, impossiblebeauty, impossiblebeautypodcast

"Hope in Turbulent Times" with Tara Beth Leach

Tara Beth Leach is an author, speaker, and the senior pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Naperville, Illinois. Her most recent publication is a six-week Bible study entitled, Live in the Light: Radiating the Hope of the Letters of John.

In our time together, Tara Beth shares about the important role the church plays in living out light and hope in a broken world. She also talks about how we might live in a grounded and authentic hope and what has inspired her in the belief that, in the end, light wins. Tara Beth also shares some important distinctives of authentic beauty, versus societal ideals she sees at work inside and outside of the church.

JohnsonOctober 28, 2024tarabethleach, liveinthelight, Biblestudy, goodshepherdchurch, impossiblebeauty, impossiblebeautypodcast

"Rebuilding After Loss" with Dawn Mann Sanders

After having two miscarriages, followed by the sudden loss of her husband, Dawn Mann Sanders felt like it was the end of her world as she knew it. Dawn is a Bible teacher and author of When Your World Ends: God’s Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life.

In her book, and in today’s conversation, Dawn shares what she’s learned about rebuilding after significant loss, as well as what the creation story in the book of Genesis taught her about her own process of grief and rebuilding. If you’re looking for hope and purpose on the other side of loss, this conversation is for you.

JohnsonOctober 14, 2024dawnmannsanders, rebuildingafterloss, grief, loss, impossiblebeauty, impossiblebeautypodcast, whenyourworldends

"Calling Out Nonsense in the Fitness Industry" with Michael Ulloa

Michael Ulloa is an online personal trainer and performance nutritionist. In his online platforms, and in his work with clients, Michael is calling nonsense on unhelpful or ill-advised fitness and nutrition messages. With a background in occupational therapy, he takes a holistic approach to client care, bringing lightness, balance, and joy to the fitness and wellness space.

In my time with Michael, he talks about his own journey, falling prey to fitness content and struggling with body image, as well as the lies he sees at work in the fitness industry. He also discusses how he sees cultural beauty standards influencing the fitness industry and tips for navigating fitness and nutrition content.

JohnsonSeptember 30, 2024impossiblebeauty, impossiblebeautypodcast, michaelulloa, fitness, fitnessindustry, nutrition, wellness, healthandwellness, health

"Invitation to Slow Living" with Jodi Grubbs

After leaving her childhood home on the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean, author, slow-living guide, and podcaster, Jodi Grubbs, had assumed the rapid pace and hustle culture in the U.S. Soon, she realized that burnout had crept in, and God was inviting her to a return to the "island time" of her past.

In her book, Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exhale, and in this conversation, Jodi invites us to grasp a more sustainable approach to life, anchored by the pauses of spiritual practices and an openhandedness before God. Jodi desires to give us all permission to slow down, to see what we’re missing when we don’t slow down and shares practical ways to adopt more gentle life rhythms.

JohnsonSeptember 16, 2024jodigrubbs, slowliving, liveslowly, burnout, impossiblebeauty, impossiblebeautypodcast, soulcare, spiritualformation

"Parenting Without Diet Culture" with Oona Hanson

Oona Hanson is an educator and parenting coach. Through her writing, workshops, and private consultations, she supports families in raising kids who have a healthy relationship with food and their body. She has been featured in television programs, like Good Morning America, and her work has been featured in various publications, including People, USA Today, US News & World Report, Today, CNN, and The Washington Post.

In our time together, Oona discusses what lies from diet culture she sees at work in the lives of the families she works with, how a focus on “healthy eating” can become harmful, myths and misunderstandings about eating disorders, and ideas on how to help kids and teens develop a life-giving relationship with food.

"Does God See Me?" with Dieula Previlon

Dieula Previlon is a licensed professional counselor, ordained minister, certified life purpose coach, and the founder of the non-profit, ElevateHer International Ministries. ElevateHer works to empower women around the world to heal from trauma and become instruments for healing, peace and hope through large and small group trauma healing training.

In my time with Dieula, we talk about her new book, Does God See Me?: How God Meets Us in the Center of Our Trauma-Healing Journey. Dieula helps us see the importance of lament, why integrating hope is pivotal in the trauma healing journey and reminds us that we are indeed seen by God.

"Living into the Dream of God" with Micha Boyett

Words have the power to form us. And that has indeed been the case for author, youth pastor, and podcaster, Micha Boyett. In this conversation with Micha, she talks about her latest book, Blessed Are the Rest of Us, and explains how living with the beatitudes, while raising her son with Down syndrome and autism, has deeply formed her.

In our time together, she talks about the Dream of God, a reality in which everything is defined by the love of God, and how that concept has shaped her. She also talks about a renewed understanding of what ‘blessing’ means and how we hold the tension of longing for the Dream of God, while living in a very broken world.

"Love Lives in Us" with Molly LaCroix, LMFT

In this conversation, I was blown away by how a popular therapy model demonstrates the image of God in each of us. More specifically, author and marriage and family therapist, Molly LaCroix helps us see the relevance of the Internal Family Systems therapy model on the journey to healing and wholeness.

In our time together, we talk about her latest book, Journey to Shalom: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Freedom in Sacred Stories. Molly helps us see the relevance of Biblical stories in our own lives, how our personal healing brings more wholeness in our relationships, and the God-given resources for resilience and healing that are innate in all of us.

"Living Counter to Diet Culture" with Alice Baker, MSRD CEDS-C LMHC LPC LDN

Alice Baker, MSRD CEDS-C LMHC LPC LDN has over 27 years’ experience in the field of eating disorders. She currently sees clients in private practice as a dietitian and/or therapist, facilitates support groups, presents locally and nationally, and supervises new dietitians in the eating disorder field.

In my time with Alice, we talk about the normalization of disordered eating in our culture, the infiltration of diet culture in the church, and how a non-diet approach is compatible with health. Alice also gives us some practical ideas on how we can move toward wholeness in our relationship with food and our bodies amidst diet culture.

"Why the Rise in Eating Disorders Among Boys and Men?" with Dr. Jason Nagata

Dr. Jason Nagata is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, and is an expert in eating disorders, particularly in boys and men.

In my time with time with Dr. Nagata, we consider the damaging effects of societal body image ideals among boys and men. We also discuss the lack of research and awareness regarding eating disorders in males, the increasing prevalence of eating disorders in general, the normalization of disordered food and exercise-related behaviors in athletics, and the impact of social media on body image struggles and eating behaviors.