"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 Wonder of Life Itself" with Catherine Claire Larson

Catherine Claire Larson invites us to see beyond the surface of things; reminding us that each life is a miracle, and that parenting is actually soul formation.

Catherine is an author and the mother of six boys. Her most recent book is called, Watching in Wonder: Growing in Faith During Your Baby's First Year. Catherine writes to encourage moms, reminding them of the importance of their sacred role and work. Her devotional series invites moms and moms-to-be to see the wonder of new life and into a deeper relationship with God.

In my time with Catherine, we talk about wonder; what opened her up to embracing wonder in the world and how we might do the same. She also offers us fresh and life-giving perspectives on pregnancy and parenting and the importance of living with curiosity and in the present moment.

"The Dangers of Wellness Culture" with Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CEDS

Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CEDS is a journalist, registered dietitian, and certified intuitive eating counselor. She’s the author of Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating and her most recent book, The Wellness Trap: Break Free from Diet Culture, Disinformation, and Dubious Diagnoses and Find Your True Well-Being. Christy is also the producer and host of two podcasts, Rethinking Wellness and Food Psych.

Along with describing wellness culture, Christy helps us see how wellness culture is the new guise of diet culture and how it differs from true wellbeing; including leading some people to disordered eating, unhelpful fixations, and potentially harmful behaviors. She also explains how “beauty” is used to sell wellness and gives us some ideas on how we can think critically about the ploys and products associated with wellness culture.

"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 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

"Miracles Are Everywhere" with Cleere Cherry Reaves

When Cleere Cherry Reaves’ son was born three months prematurely, Cleere and her husband watched as their child fought for his life, developed, and began to thrive. In today’s episode, Cleere tells us the lessons she learned from that experience, how her faith was transformed, and why it inspired her to write the children’s book, The Miracle of You.

Cleere is the owner and creator of Cleerely Stated, an online boutique whose inspirational products can be found in retail stores all over the United States. She is also the author of three devotionals and the host of the growing podcast, Let's Be Cleere. In our time together, Cleere reminds us to not miss the life we have, that the God of miracles is for us, and that his fingerprints are everywhere.

"We Don't Grieve Alone" with Amanda Held Opelt

After a series of miscarriages, the loss of her grandma, and then her beloved sister, Amanda Held Opelt found solace in an unexpected place, in exploring ancient grief rituals in practices. In her first book, A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing, Amanda explores how such ancient grief rituals and practices can be a vessel for honest expression, communal connection, and even healing.

Amanda is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She has spent 15 years serving in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors and lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. In my time with Amanda, we talk about the complexity of living in a world that can be both stunningly beautiful and so very broken. She helps us see the beauty of ritual and community and how loss has the potential to deepen our capacity for love, faith, and healing.

"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.

"Beauty Standards Are Devastating Us" with Jessica DeFino

Beauty reporter and beauty culture critic, Jessica DeFino, saw the inner workings of the beauty industry and she didn’t like it. More than that, Jessica now spends her time dismantling beauty standards, debunking marketing myths, and exploring how beauty culture impacts people — physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Jessica has written for outlets such as The New York Times, Vogue, Teen Vogue, Harper’s BAZAAR, Allure, New York Magazine’s The Cut, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Glamour, SELF, and many others.

In this episode, Jessica talks about why she decided to opt out of the beauty industry, the psychological and spiritual impacts of beauty standards, why beauty standards are so powerful, why she sees today’s standard of beauty as dehumanizing, and what the beauty industry doesn’t want you to know. Jessica’s insights are so needed, speaking powerfully to the media-saturated culture we find ourselves in.

"Light Will Win" with Sandhya Oaks

Sandhya Oaks is a Ministry Leader, Spiritual Director, leads Kintsugi workshops, and does Story Work. Born in India and adopted as a Transracial Adoptee in the Midwest, Sandhya now walks with others through identity reclamation and creating experiences that restore shalom within the human heart. She holds two Certificates in Narrative Focused Trauma Care from The Allender Center, a Certificate in Resilient Leadership from the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, and recently completed her Trauma Care Group Training Certificate through The Art of Living Counseling Center.

In this episode, I talk with Sandhya about the power and freedom that can come from finding healing in our own stories, how she stays grounded in God’s goodness and beauty amidst life’s brokenness, and how she’s come to see beauty in unexpected places.

"Self-Deprivation, Disordered Eating, & Fasting as a Spiritual Practice" with Brittany Braswell, MS, RDN, LD

Lent is a time rich with spiritual significance. It’s also a time when the ideas of self-deprivation and fasting can get emphasized in faith-based circles. This Lent I have the privilege of being a part of a teaching series called “Losing the Lies for Lent.” The lie I am tackling is the message that “self-deprivation makes us holier or brings us closer to God.”

In today’s episode, Registered Dietitian, Brittany Braswell, and I do a deeper dive on this particular lie. Brittany is a non-diet dietitian who approaches nutrition and wellness from a holistic standpoint. She is passionate about helping her clients establish a healthy relationship with food and body to improve their quality of life and walk free and fearlessly in their purpose.

Melissa KucharskiFebruary 13, 2023impossiblebeauty, brittanybraswell, fasting, disorderedeating, eatingdisorders, selfdeprivation, selfdenial, lent

"Making Peace with Food & Body Through Intuitive Eating" with Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDS-S

In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with one of the co-creators of Intuitive Eating, Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDS-S. Elyse is a nutrition therapist, with forty years of experience, specializing in eating disorders, Intuitive Eating, and Health at Every Size. She is the co-author of Intuitive Eating, now in its 4th edition, and is nationally known for her work in helping patients break free from diet culture through the Intuitive Eating process.

In my time with Elyse, we discuss what first drew her to the concept of Intuitive Eating, what Intuitive Eating is and how it differs from diet culture, sneaky ways diet culture is showing up these days, and how the concept of health can be expanded beyond weight.

"The Beauty of Humility" with Richard Foster & Brenda Quinn

Richard Foster is the founder of Renovaré Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation. He is also the author of several foundational books on the Christian journey of faith, including Celebration of Discipline, which has sold over two million copies worldwide. Brenda Quinn is Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Living Way Fellowship in south Denver and helped with idea development behind Foster’s latest book.

In this conversation, we discuss Richard’s most recent title, Learning Humility: A Year of Searching for a Vanishing Virtue. In our time together we talk about what spiritual formation is and why it’s important, why humility is considered a foundational virtue, how we can cultivate humility in our life, and how humility is tied to beauty of the soul.

"When a Loved One Leaves for Heaven" with Sarah Berger

When Sarah Berger’s nineteen-year-old son went to heaven, Sarah found herself plunged into deep grief. Having journaled her experiences in the wake of that event, Sarah shares her insights with us in her book, Hope in the Eleventh Hour: A Mothers’ Journey Through Grief with Eternal Eyes and in today’s episode.

Sarah helps us see both life and death with an eternal perspective. She also helps us open our eyes and hearts to how God might be speaking to us amidst our grief and how she experienced God as good and loving amidst her own grief. Overall, Sarah encourages us with so many overlooked truths about God, ourselves, and our loved ones this side of heaven.

Melissa KucharskiJanuary 16, 2023sarahberger, hopeintheeleventhhour, eternity, eternallife, grief

"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.

"Astrophysics, Awe, and Wonder" with Dr. Deb Haarsma

Dr. Deb Haarsma is an astronomer, experienced research scientist, and the president of BioLogos. She has studied large galaxies, galaxy clusters, the curvature of space, and the expansion of the universe using telescopes around the world and in orbit. Dr. Haarsma completed her doctoral work in astrophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Calvin University.

In today’s conversation with Dr. Haarsma, we talk about the compatibility of faith and science, what the natural world can teach us about God, and how the study of space and the physical universe has deeply impacted her faith and what it has taught her about authentic beauty.

"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.

"Breath Prayer, Anxiety, and Mental Health in the Church" with Jennifer Tucker

Jennifer Tucker is a mom, artist, and graphic designer, primarily working for Ann Voskamp. Jenn is also the author of Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul.

In this conversation, we talk about how both Jenn and her daughter’s struggles with anxiety led her to the practice of breath prayer. Jenn also talks about the importance of making church a safe space for those struggling with mental health issues and encourages us in the slow work of true beauty; it may not be glamorous or a quick fix, but it is ultimately what brings about wholeness and thriving in our lives.

Melissa KucharskiNovember 21, 2022