"Social Media, Teen Mental Health, and the Over-Saturation of Unrealistic Beauty Ideals" with Elena Rossini

Elena Rossini is an Italian film director, producer, editor and public speaker. Her work focuses on issues of social justice, media representation, and the empowerment of women and girls. Elena’s most notable film is the documentary The Illusionists, about the globalization of beauty ideals and the dark side of advertising. Rossini shot the film in eight countries, across four continents. The documentary has been featured in Vogue Italy, New York Magazine, NPR, Fox, and NBC Baltimore, amongst others.

In our time together, we talk about the globalization and saturation of unrealistic beauty ideals and how such inundation is impacting us. She also discusses the connection she sees between the rise of social media and the current teen mental health crisis.

"The Pressure to be 'Perfect' Among Kids and Teens" with Dr. Chinwé Williams

Dr. Chinwé Williams is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the founder and owner of Meaningful Solutions Counseling & Consulting. She also recently co-authored the book, Seen: Healing Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teens Through the Power of Connection.

In today’s conversation, we talk about the current mental health crisis among kids and adolescents; particularly, the prevalence of anxiety and despair. We also discuss the impacts of social media and the pressure among kids and teens to be ‘perfect.’ Thankfully, Dr. Williams also tells us about and encourages us with the antidote to despair, the power of connection.

"Shedding Pretense and Perfection" with Hope Carpenter

Hope Carpenter is a pastor, author, wife, and mom. Along with her husband Ron, she pastors Redemption Church in Greenville, South Carolina and San Jose, California. She has also authored two books, The Little Pink Book, and most recently, The Most Beautiful Disaster. Hope’s heart and passion is seeing people’s lives changed and transformed so that they can be everything God has created them to be.

"Mental Illness and Beauty" with Sarah Clarkson

Sarah Clarkson is a writer and theologian who currently lives in West Sussex in England. Sarah recently finished her MSt in modern doctrine at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford with a focus on theodicy and beauty, studying the presence of beauty in the midst of a broken work. Sarah also just completed her latest book, entitled This Beautiful Truth: How God’s Goodness Breaks Into Our Darkness, detailing the story of Sarah’s personal struggle with mental illness and the beauty that infiltrated and transformed her darkness.

"Why I'm So Passionate About Beauty, Part Two" with Melissa Johnson

Today’s episode is a little different. Back in Episode 18, I shared a little about my story and why I’m so passionate about beauty and why I even started Impossible Beauty in the first place. In today’s episode, I share a bit more about why I care so much about this topic and why I hope you’ll join me in redefining beauty and seeking after true beauty.