Impossible Beauty

On this podcast, I am committed to helping listeners (and myself) understand beauty in its truest, most life-giving sense. And that is why I am so excited to start the new year with David Taylor as today’s guest.David Taylor is a theologian, author, speaker, priest, and director of initiatives in art and faith. As Associate Professor of Theology & Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, he has lectured widely on the arts, from Thailand to South Africa. He has also written for The Washington Post, Image Journal, Theology Today, Worship, Religion News Service, and Christianity Today, among others. Additionally, in 2016 he produced a short film with Bono and Eugene Peterson, entitled Bono and Eugene Peterson: THE PSALMS.In today’s episode, David not only gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his class on beauty at Fuller Seminary, but also shares his own biblically grounded understanding of what true beauty is. David also uncovers lies about beauty he sees at work in Western society, discusses how we might navigate aging in a broken world, and helps us see how we can know God in and through the arts. My hope is that this conversation will leave you feeling deeply encouraged, as you are reminded that true beauty is alive and at work in the world.David's latest book: Naming the Spirit: Pneumatology Through the Arts Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.

Amidst the inreasing pressures of beauty culture to run from any hint of aging, it makes sense that cosmetic procedures and skincare products are surging in popularity. And, yet I wonder if we might meet aging in a different way. And that’s where Joyce Rupp comes in.Joyce Rupp is the author of numerous bestselling books, an international retreat leader, a conference speaker, was a volunteer with hospice for fifteen years, and is a member of the Servites or Servants of Mary community. In today’s conversation, Joyce helps us see aging from a more life-giving perspective and expands our view of what beauty is and what role it plays in our transformation. Joyce also shares about her own faith journey and how she persists in knowing God as good and beautiful amidst a very broken world.May this conversation ground you in knowing a deeper beauty that is already present in you and all around you.Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.

On this podcast I seek to redefine beauty as “the life of God at work in us and all around us.” In today's episode, Courtney Ellis helps us experience the life of God at work in nature, specifically among birds. Courtney Ellis is an author, speaker, pastor, and host of The Thing with Feathers Podcast. She holds a master’s degree in English literature from Loyola University, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and alongside her husband, she pastors Presbyterian Church of the Master in Orange County, California.In my time with Courtney, we discuss her latest book, Looking Up: A Birder’s Guide to Hope Through Grief. Courtney shares how birding can be a gateway to a deepening awareness of beauty in the world, how it can lead us to hope, and why she sees birding as a spiritual practice. In short, Courtney helps us see that birds remind us that God is at work all around us and that He is with us; all we have to do is look up.Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.

Ellen Wildman decided she didn’t want to hate her body anymore. So, she set out on a journey to heal and change that relationship. In today’s episode, Ellen tells us about her journey of healing and self-acceptance and the book that she wrote as a result.Ellen Wildman holds an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Denver Seminary and is the author of Single and Not Sorry and most recently, Already Whole: 90 Devotions for Being at Home in the Body God Gave You. In my time with Ellen, we discuss lies from beauty and diet culture that get in the way of partnering with our bodies, how we can shift from our bodies being a project or enemy to our partner, and what it means to be made in the image of God. As you listen to our conversation, may grace, healing, and wholeness infuse your relationship with your body as well.Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.

After struggling with doubt for years, Zach Windahl committed to an intensive Bible study program in Australia that completely transformed his life and changed his thoughts on the Bible. Since then, he has written The Bible Study, which has since sold over 500,000 copies, and launched The Brand Sunday, a company that creates resources that help people engage with God’s Word. In short, Zach’s mission is to simplify the Bible so anyone – no matter their background – can understand it, apply it, and grow in their faith. In today’s conversation with Zach, we dive into his new book, The Bible Simplified and discuss why and how the Bible is relevant to and transformational for modern readers, what the Bible teaches us about authentic beauty, and how Zach maintains belief in a good and beautiful God in a world so full of struggle and suffering.I found this conversation to be so inspiring; I hope it is for you too.Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.

American culture is full of striving: hustling at work, pushing ourselves in the gym, working to be beautiful or good enough. In today’s conversation, I have the gift of talking with Kimberly Stuart about the concept of grace; how to apply it amidst our culture and why it’s entirely miraculous and worth revisiting. Kim Stuart is the author of eight published novels, a speaker, a writing coach alongside author Bob Goff, co-leads writing retreats, and hosts two podcasts, For Real with Kimberly Stuart and The Writing Room. In today’s conversation, Kim shares about her latest book, Star for Jesus and Other Jobs I Quit: Rediscovering the Grace that Sets Us Free. In particular, Kim discusses what drew her to the topic of grace, how we might reframe perfectionism, what living a great story looks like, and how we can use our agency to redefine beauty in our lives. This was such a fun and meaningful conversation; I can’t wait for you to listen!Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.

About ten years ago, Elise Hu moved to Seoul, South Korea and took a deep dive into the world of K-Beauty culture. Elise is a journalist, podcaster, and the author of Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. She is the host of TED Talks Daily, a co-host of Forever 35, a host-at-large for NPR, and the host of Accenture’s award-winning Built for Change podcast. She is also the co-founder of the podcast production company Reasonable Volume. In today’s conversation, Elise opens our eyes to South Korea’s intense appearance expectations and how some of those same K-Beauty trends have now made their way into American culture. She discusses how the digital world is impacting beauty standards, including increasing the pressure on all of us to “optimize” our appearance, and how K-Beauty culture’s emphasis on flawless skin has made its way into Western beauty culture in significant ways.Most importantly, Elise reminds us that beauty is so much bigger than societal standards and that our worth has nothing to do with our appearance. This is such an important episode; I can’t wait for you to listen!Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.

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. I found this interview to be deeply inspiring; I hope it is for you as well. Buy Melissa L. Johnson's book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, here. Learn more about Impossible Beauty and join the community here.