"Why the Song 'Skinny' is Getting So Much Attention," with Emmy Russell

Emmy Russell is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who has been performing for the majority of her life. Touring on the road with her grandmother, country legend Loretta Lynn, Emmy started singing on stage at the age of two.

Most recently, Emmy released the song, “Skinny” with The Song House, detailing her struggle with an eating disorder. The song has received a warm reception and has been widely shared, getting over 300k likes on Instagram. In our time together, Emmy shares about her struggles with disordered eating, the pressures of image in the music industry, and how she’s moved toward healing in her own journey.

"Finding Purpose in All Seasons" with Grace Wabuke Klein

From fleeing Uganda under the reign of Idi Amin as a child to having her prayers to get married answered at the age of 42, Grace Wabuke Klein has had a full life. In her new book, Flourish: Finding Purpose in the Unknown and Unexpected Seasons of Life, Grace gives a fresh perspective on the winter seasons we all go through, as well as practical steps to not just survive but to find purpose in the unknown and unexpected.

In my time with Grace, she explains how she remained connected to God during her own winter seasons of struggle, what has helped her establish deep roots of faith, and the lies about beauty she has had to shed over the years. Perhaps most importantly, Grace reminds us of our true identity and deep beauty; ultimately, as Grace says it, “we are a reflection of who God is on this earth.”

"The Story Behind My Book, ‘Soul-Deep Beauty,’" with Don Pape & Melissa Johnson

In honor of the release of my new book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, I have a special episode in store for you. I recently sat down to have a conversation with my literary agent, Don Pape. Don has been a champion of my book and its message for years now and I can’t thank him enough.

In our time together, we talk about how Don ended up working in the publishing business, how he then became a literary agent, and the unique features of his company, Pape Commons. This conversation is a special one, as we talk about my heart and passion behind Soul-Deep Beauty, the need for this message amidst today’s media saturated culture, as well as some of the vulnerabilities and struggles that have come up along the way.

"The Toxic Waters of Beauty and Diet Culture" with Christie Dondero Bettwy

In this episode, Christie Dondero Bettwy, helps us name some of the toxic beliefs and messages that we are being fed, so we might be freed from them. Christie is the Executive Director of Rock Recovery in Arlington, Virginia. Rock Recovery is a Christian eating disorder therapy nonprofit where clients can access low-cost therapy and support groups.

In our time together, Christie talks about her own recovery from a decades-long eating disorder, how her recovery story connects with her faith journey, and her passion for working at Rock Recovery. We also talk about how struggles with food, body image, and exercise may go unnoticed or undiagnosed because of how normalized disordered messages around food and body image are. Christie and I also name how such societal messages around food and our bodies impact all of us to varying degrees and she shares some fresh insights about body image.

"The End of Shame" with Jasmine Holmes

Jasmine Holmes is a teacher and author, committed to centering black stories in history. She has written books such as Carved in Ebony: Lessons from the Black Women Who Shape Us and Mother to Son: Letters to A Black Boy on Identity and Hope. Jasmine’s latest book is called, Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame.

In my time with Jasmine, we talk about how scripts of perfectionism in Christian and popular culture can lead to shame. Jasmine also shares about her own journey of shame’s influence in her life and the transformation that took place when she opened space for Jesus to speak into those places where shame dwelled. Jasmine also gives us important ideas on how to notice and combat shame in our lives; ultimately reminding us that grace is stronger than shame.

Melissa KucharskiApril 10, 2023jasmineholmes, nevercastout, shame, impossiblebeauty, impossiblebeautypodcast, melissajohnson

"Held by Love" with K.J. Ramsey, MA. LPC

K.J. Ramsey is a trauma-informed licensed professional counselor and is the author of three books, including her latest title, The Book of Common Courage: Prayers and Poems to Find Strength in Small Moments. K.J. writes at the intersection of theology, psychology, and spiritual formation to guide us in recovering the rhythm of resilience through nervous system regulation and the wonder of communion with God.

In my time with K.J., she talks about her most recent book and the communal nature of courage; how “we need the presence and words of others to bring us from confusion to hope and faith.” She also discusses how being disabled and encountering various physical struggles have formed her faith and her prayer life.

"Loving God, Loving Others" with Beth Davis

Beth Davis is the Director of Ministry Advancement for an international sisterhood of women called Blessed Is She. This online and in person community seeks to help women deepen their prayer life and foster community. Beth is also the co-author of the book, Loving God, Loving Others.

In our time together, Beth passionately shares about what drew her to a life of faith and how it changed her life, how our relationship with God impacts our relationship with others, how our bodies can be seen as gifts of love, and how she knows Jesus to be Beauty itself.

"Heaven and Nature Sing" with Hannah Anderson

Author and Bible teacher, Hannah Anderson, helps us explore one often-overlooked aspect of the Christmas story, inviting us to take a closer look at the created world. In her new book, Heaven and Nature Sing: 25 Reflections to Bring Joy to the World, she invites us to consider the earthy, unnoticed things like snowflakes, trees, bodies, and swaddling bands that reveal the glory of the Promised Son.

Hannah helps us see how creation bears witness to God’s character and spiritual realities, how Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection redeems humanity and the entire creation, the usefulness of seemingly dormant seasons of our lives, and her experience of redefining beauty in her relationship with her own created body.

"From Foster Care to Author and Advocate" with Tori Hope Petersen

This week, Tori Hope Petersen’s memoir, Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family through Foster Care, will release. Tori is a former foster youth, foster care advocate, and is passionate about foster care reform, adoption advocacy, and vulnerable populations. In addition to her advocacy work, Tori was crowned Mrs. Universe in 2021.

In this episode, I talk with Tori about the powerful story she tells in her forthcoming memoir about growing up in the foster care system, how God’s love has shaped her story, what are helpful and not so helpful ways to support foster youth, and her authentic thoughts on being in the pageant world.

"Persevering in a Broken World" with Cara Whitney

After spending a decade as a radio personality in markets that included Las Vegas, Cara Whitney found herself longing for the simple life. Having grown up on a cattle farm in Northern Wisconsin, she found her way back to the country, this time a horse farm in Nebraska. That is where Cara now lives, along with her husband Dan, known as “Larry the Cable Guy.”

Cara is the author of the bestselling books Fields of Grace and Unbridled Faith. Her latest book is called Country Soul: Inspiring Stories of Heartache Turned to Hope. In today’s episode we talk about lessons of life and faith Cara has learned from the farm, how others’ stories of hope amidst brokenness inspire our own perseverance and faith, and how that “cloud of witnesses” reminds us we’re not alone on this journey home.

"Beauty Will Save the World" with Dr. Curt Thompson

Dr. Curt Thompson is a psychiatrist, author, speaker, and the host of The Being Known Podcast. Curt desires to show us how to form deep relationships, discover meaning, and live integrated, creative lives.

In today’s conversation, Curt explains why beauty makes all the difference in our lives; how we can put ourselves in the path of oncoming beauty, and why it’s so important to do so. Curt also names the importance of community in helping us see beauty in ourselves and envisioning beauty amidst the chaos of our own lives. Perhaps most importantly, Curt reminds us that God is a God who wades into the chaos of the world, and the chaos of our lives, and not only sees beauty but is intimately involved in bringing that beauty about.

"Why Soul Care Matters" with Manda Carpenter

Manda Carpenter is an author, speaker, advocate, and the co-host of A Longer Table Podcast, alongside her husband, Eric. Manda has written two books, the most recent being Soul Care to Save Your Life. Manda is very passionate about “seeing people own their full identity and do their inner work,” as she puts it.

In today’s episode, I talk with Manda about why she’s so passionate about foster care, the importance of radical honesty in her own story, why tending to our inner world and wounding is so important, how slowing down is pivotal for self-awareness and soul work, and how beauty so often occurs in the unseen.

"Postpartum Bounce Back Culture is Toxic" with Dylan Murphy, RD, LDN

Dylan Murphy is a Registered Dietitian and the founder of Free Method Nutrition, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Free Method Dietitians practice from a non-diet, Health at Every Size (HAES) approach with an emphasis on Intuitive Eating and mindset work.

In my conversation with Dylan, we talk about unhelpful cultural messages around food and body image that get in the way of women feeling trust, respect, and safety in their bodies. We also discuss why postpartum bounce back culture is toxic, why commenting on body shape and size in general is not helpful, the normalization of disordered eating, and how we can move toward feeling more confidence and peace in our relationships with food and our bodies.

"Engaging the Body in Spiritual Formation" with Elizabeth Peterson

Elizabeth Peterson is a certified spiritual director and yoga instructor. Elizabeth seeks to create safe and sacred spaces for individuals and groups to reflect on their own lives, become more aware of God’s presence, and live from their truest identity as Beloved.

In this conversation, Elizabeth explains how engaging God through yoga helped get her through a very difficult season, why she engages spiritual direction and yoga in her work and how they complement each other, and she highlights the importance of connecting with our bodies in our spirituality and overall wellbeing.

"Aesthetic 'Perfection' Does Not Equal Wholeness" with Amy Julia Becker

Amy Julia Becker is an award-winning writer and speaker on personal, spiritual, and social healing. Amy Julia’s most recent book is To Be Made Well: An Invitation to Wholeness, Healing, and Hope. Becker is a graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv). She also holds a bi-vocational license with the Evangelical Covenant Church.

In this episode, Amy Julia challenges us to look at healing, wholeness, and health in a new way; a way that helps us see ourselves as multidimensional, interrelated beings. She talks about what operating in the world of disability has taught her about beauty, invites us to see others and ourselves through the lens of belovedness, and shows us how being a specimen of physical flawlessness is not the highest form of health and wholeness.

"On Earth as it is in Heaven" with Kellie Haddock

Kellie Haddock is a self-proclaimed hope giver. The kind of hope Kellie exudes is not naïve or shallow, but real and hard won. Kellie is a singer, songwriter, wife, and mom. She is also a former widow who has lived through tragedy and found hope and joy on the other side.

In today’s episode, Kellie tells us all about her new album, Orchids from Fire; what inspired it, how she experienced God while creating it, and why this project is different from any other album she’s made. She also talks about how she is able to remain hopeful and connected to God amidst life’s struggles and tragedies, the importance of women celebrating versus competing with one another, and why she believes the role of creatives is to bridge the gap between heaven and earth.

"Connecting with Our Bodies, Connecting with Each Other" with Tara Owens, CSD, CSDS

Tara Owens is the founder and executive director of Anam Cara Ministries, where she has been accompanying others in their journeys with God for 15 years as a certified spiritual director and supervisor. Tara holds a Masters of Theological Studies in Spiritual Formation, combined with a certificate in Death, Dying & Grieving, from Tyndale Seminary, and the Advanced Certificate in Supervision from the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education at Fordham University.

In my conversation with Tara, we talk about soul friendship; what it is, how it impacts the world, and how it plays a crucial role in resisting culture. We also talk at length about Tara’s book, Embracing the Body. Tara helps us move away from cultural trends of objectifying or criticizing our bodies, to instead befriend our bodies and see them as good.

"Faith and Doubt" with Dr. Jeffrey Crafton

One of the most significant spiritual mentors in my young adult years was Dr. Jeffrey Crafton. Dr. Crafton is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church, an adjunct professor at North Park Theological Seminary, and a Sacred Studies teacher at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota, teaching classes in ethics and faith formation to eleventh and twelfth graders.

This year, Dr. Crafton is retiring from Minnehaha Academy after 26 years of mentoring thousands of high schoolers, as they wade through pivotal faith-related questions. In my time with Dr. Crafton, we tackle some of the same issues and themes that arise in his classes, including issues of faith and doubt, how he sees science as complimentary to faith, and, after studying the uniqueness of Christianity for decades, what he believes to be most captivating about the person of Jesus.

"Raising Kids in Diet Culture" with Sumner Brooks, MPH, RD, CEDRD

Sumner Brooks is a registered dietitian (RDN), author, and mom who has spent over 13 years working in the field of nutrition and eating disorders. She most recently co-authored her second book, entitled How to Raise an Intuitive Eater: Raising the Next Generation with Food and Body Confidence.

In this week’s episode we talk about how diet culture disrupts our relationship with food and our bodies, why fear-based messaging is unhelpful in those relationships, and how to go about raising kids with food and body confidence.

"Beauty Ideals, Social Media, and Selfies" with The Axia Project

This episode is all about beauty ideals, our relationship with our bodies and food, and social media. I can’t think of better conversation partners for this one than Lisa DeKam and Jacquie Danz, the founders of the Axia Project. Lisa is a physical therapist who works in the field of eating disorders and Jacquie is the mom of two teenage girls who is committed to changing the narrative that a females’ appearance is the most important thing about her. Together, Lisa and Jacquie are committed to teaching women that life is more than your appearance and help women build skills to actively live their God-given worth.