Podcast appearances and mentions of amanda held opelt

In this new episode, recorded pre-election 2024, Amanda Held Opelt joins me again, this time for a conversation about some major events in history & their impact on how our culture processes grief.  We talk at length about the two World Wars, and how different outcomes for different nations impacted how their cultures responded to them, and how it changed their culture. We explore how one bad response from WWI may have led to WWII and how the outcomes of both may have contributed to where we are now.  We also look at Queen Victoria, a monarch who experienced deep grief, which changed her life, her behaviour and relationships with others.  This episode is a fascinating insight into how grief shapes us individually and culturally. 

Musician and writer Amanda Held Opelt joins Sarah to talk about what place has to do with the communal life. They cover a little bit of everything: church, creative circles, online life, as well as Amanda's latest book Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life.Find episode notes and ways to connect with Sarah at sarahewestfall.comConnect with Amanda at amandaheldopelt.com.To support the podcast and access extended episodes, essay series, and book club, become a Human Together subscriber.The Human Together podcast is written and recorded by Sarah E. Westfall and is produced and edited by Ben Westfall. Theme music is “Sit with Me” by Sarah Scharbrough.

What does it mean to be blessed? Are Christians automatically entitled to happiness, fulfillment, and perfect peace? Does God's presence guarantee us emotional ease amidst suffering? Wow! Those are some very interesting questions, aren't they? Well today, you are about to get far more than interesting answers. You are going to be enlightened and inspired as we talk about our expectations of what a life of faith should feel like when facing difficulties. Author Amanda Held Opelt joins us and shares her own experience of loss and grief. And, like so many others, she expected her faith to cushion her from the pains of life. But when it didn't, she was left disappointed and disillusioned. So today, she debunks the myth that if you're struggling, something must be wrong. She'll explain what the emotional prosperity gospel is, adjust your expectations of how faith shows up in your feelings, and help you reimagine what it really means to be “blessed.” SHOW NOTES: 413Podcast.com/293

Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds.In today's episode Amanda discusses the art of lament and how deep-rooted communal practices of shared grief can help us heal and grow through the difficult experiences of our lives. Drawing from her book Holy Unhappiness: God, Grief and the Myth of the Blessed Life, Amanda shares her journey of grappling with experiences of disillusionment when life with God didn't feel the way she expected it to feel. *On March 22-24, 2024, you can join Amanda live at The Breath and the Clay creative arts gathering where she will be conducting a workshop called “Let There Be Grief: Rituals and Remembrances As a Path to Healing”Support the podcastAs a member of our Patreon community, you can join other artists and creatives from around the world as we support one another along this journey of art and faith. We host regular book clubs, artist check-ins where we share our wins, challenges, inspirations and knowledge.We're eager to connect with you! Join today!

In this conversation, Bob Goff and Kimberly Stuart interview Amanda Held Opelt, author of her latest release "Holy Unhappiness". They discuss the myth of a blessed life and the pressure to always be happy. Amanda shares her personal journey of vocational angst and the struggle to find happiness in her work. They explore the importance of curiosity and permission to feel, challenging expectations, and embracing hard feelings. The conversation also touches on the role of humility and authenticity in writing, dealing with misunderstandings, and knowing when a writing project is finished. Connect with Amanda: @amandaheldopelt Connect with Bob: @bobgoff Connect with Kim: @kimberly.stuart.writes Join Bob and Kim for a Writer's Workshop at The Oaks: February 26-28 April 22-24

In this conversation, Bob Goff and Kimberly Stuart interview Amanda Held Opelt, author of her latest release "Holy Unhappiness". They discuss the myth of a blessed life and the pressure to always be happy. Amanda shares her personal journey of vocational angst and the struggle to find happiness in her work. They explore the importance of curiosity and permission to feel, challenging expectations, and embracing hard feelings. The conversation also touches on the role of humility and authenticity in writing, dealing with misunderstandings, and knowing when a writing project is finished. Connect with Amanda: @amandaheldopelt Connect with Bob: @bobgoff Connect with Kim: @kimberly.stuart.writes Join Bob and Kim for a Writer's Workshop at The Oaks: February 26-28 April 22-24

In this conversation, Bob Goff and Kimberly Stuart interview Amanda Held Opelt, author of her latest release “Holy Unhappiness”. They discuss the myth of a blessed life and the pressure to always be happy. Amanda shares her personal journey of vocational angst and the struggle to find happiness in her work. They explore the importance of curiosity and permission to feel, challenging expectations, and embracing hard feelings. The conversation also touches on the role of humility and authenticity in writing, dealing with misunderstandings, and knowing when a writing project is finished. Connect with Amanda: @amandaheldopelt Connect with Bob: @bobgoff Connect with Kim: @kimberly.stuart.writes Join Bob and Kim for a Writer's Workshop at The Oaks: February 26-28 April 22-24

Amanda Held Opelt, Holy Unhappiness by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Perhaps you are facing a time in your life where the world around you seems to be crumbling, and your heart is heavy with the weight of unexpected trials. How, in the midst of our struggles, can we remain steadfast, continue to show up, and face each day with courage and resolve when the pain and fear threaten to steal any last shred of hope we have? Our guests this week believe that every challenge, every hardship, is a part of God's grand design. They found strength in the belief that their trials were not random occurrences, but purposeful events, shaping them, refining them, and guiding them toward a deeper understanding of God's love for us.  Jay Hewitt, a pastor in Southern California, found out at 37 years old that he had a malignant brain tumor. What could have sent him into a tailspin fueled him to do something that seemed counterintuitive to someone who would face months of chemo and treatments that would weaken his body: he decided to run an Ironman race. What he learned in this process about his faith and his relationship with God changed his perspective and gave him an appreciation for how God works through our suffering like he'd never had before. Amanda Held Opelt, a seasoned author, speaker, and songwriter, focuses on faith, grief, and creativity. With fifteen years of experience in non-profit and humanitarian work, she's seen the human love that rises above and surrounds a hurting community—and the hope that gets rediscovered after seemingly, your life is destroyed.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Meg Apperson Upcoming interview: Jana Monroe   Jay Hewitt IRONMAN race Grade II Astrocytoma 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV ABC's Wide World of Sports Nehemiah 8:10 NIV I Am Weak, I Am Strong: Building a Resilient Faith for a Resilient Life   Amanda Held Opelt Matthew 26: 36-46 NIV www.amandaheldopelt.com Holy Unhappiness   Interview Quotes: “I'd wrestled with God plenty of times before, and I think that real strength comes from wrestling. When you wrestle with God, He strengthens your inner being.” - Jay Hewitt “I've got the grace that I need to get through this. Somehow, I'm going to get to experience God's power being demonstrated through my weakness. And not only that, but I'm going to get to experience the paradox of faith that it's when I'm weak, that I'm strong.” - Jay Hewitt  “Any time there's a large obstacle ahead of you, there's great opportunities within that obstacle.” - Jay Hewitt  “In His power, get up, stay strong, and press on and see the dreams that God has given you be fulfilled in your life.” - Jay Hewitt “I'm passionate about how the experience of loss or hardship becomes integrated into a person's story—how it makes them who they are, how it impacts their relationship with God and with others, and how people rise up and move forward in the aftermath of grief or a disaster.” - Amanda Held Opelt “I got to witness what happens when people show up for other people when we live as neighbors and offer ourselves and offer resources to one another and come alongside one another in those spaces of lack.” - Amanda Held Opelt  “We are given these holy songs of lament as a form of worship, because part of being human made in the image of God, is to suffer pain, and in fact, God Himself is a highly emotive God.” - Amanda Held Opelt  “I think part of the reason I believe lament is such a high form of worship is that to me, worship is just any time we stand in agreement with God about what is true, about who He is, and who we are, and when we cry out to Him because the world is not as it should be, when we lament injustice and violence, or when we weep over death.” - Amanda Held Opelt “I think what God really wants with us, where He knows the blessing is, is in intimacy. He wants a relationship with us, and that's where we find the blessing. Relationship with God, intimacy with God, is something He offers to all of us, and sometimes it's actually the path of pain or those uncomfortable emotions. It's the path of lack that brings us into a deeper, richer intimacy with God.” - Amanda Held Opelt “I love committing to rhythms of prayer and scripture reading, because those practices serve as a safeguard to us when our emotions aren't really feeling connected to God. When we have these habits, they make space for our faith, even when our faith feels small.” - Amanda Held Opelt  “I think grief will still feel like grief, loss is still going to feel like loss, no matter our commitment to the spiritual disciplines. God doesn't always take away that heavy burden we are carrying, but I do believe He gives us the strength that we need to carry it.” - Amanda Held Opelt  “My prayer is that as a Christian, I would not be someone who's just marked so much by my happiness, but more that I would be a person who is marked by hope.” - Amanda Held Opelt ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What's Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website

What does it mean to be blessed? Are Christians entitled to happiness, fulfillment, and perfect peace? Amanda Held Opelt is a songwriter, speaker, and writer, and in her new book, Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life, she explores these questions, challenges false teaching, and helps us reimagine what the “blessed” life can be like if we release some of our expectations and seek God in places we never thought to look.

In our podcast interview with Amanda Held  Opelt, author of "Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life,"  we discussed the powerful role our emotions play in shaping our lives. Amanda's profound understanding, shaped by her own experiences, including the sudden loss of her sister Rachel Held Evans and her battle with infertility, serves as a poignant reminder to explore a more profound sense of fulfillment through faith while embracing the intricate tapestry of our emotions in our pursuit of genuine happiness.   Amanda challenged the conventional idea that achieving external markers of success guarantees happiness. Instead, she urged us to root ourselves in Christ to prevent our feelings from dictating our life's course. We also explored the importance of helping our children navigate uncomfortable emotions and coping with life's disappointments when our checkbox approach to happiness falls short.   Get Amanda's book here Learn more about Amanda Held Opelt BE LOVE do good is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be, visit www.ChristianParenting.org  

Author and songwriter Amanda Held Opelt talks about the dangers of pushing away unhappy feelings and why negative emotions are important in our walk with Christ. https://livesteadyon.com/Email Angie at: steadyonpodcast@gmail.comFacebook: @livesteadyonInstagram: @angiebaughman421 Grab freebies and subscribe to the weekly Steady On newsletter at: https://livesteadyon.com/live-steady-on-newsletter/ Looking for something not listed? It's probably here: https://linktr.ee/livesteadyon http://amandaheldopelt.com/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100031013840762https://www.instagram.com/amandaheldopelt/https://twitter.com/AmandaHeldOpelt Amanda's books, “Holy Unhappiness” and “A Hole in the World” are available wherever books are sold. Theme music:Heartwarming by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3864-heartwarmingLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  The details for the Steady On University beta team can be found here: https://livesteadyon.com/sou-beta/Preroll music: Tomorrow Comes Soon by Dreamlamp

Long title, right? And that barely covers everything talked about in this episode with Amanda Held Opelt. She's one of my favorite guests ever on NOTM because of her genuine honesty and authenticity as she figures it all out right along with us. What should we be more worried about than figuring out what to do with our lives? Why is learning to steward where we are more important than uncovering where we're going? Why do we believe that being bored or frustrated means we're getting life wrong? Is it okay to sometimes be restless even though you have a good life? What are the red flags that pride is making more of your decisions than humility? See? I'm telling you - we cover all the bases and then the outfield, too. Okay, so maybe a sports analogy isn't exactly on brand around here, but you get it. Listen and then share it with all your friends. They need it, too. The post Rethinking “Calling”, Stewarding Right Now Well & Why It's Okay To Be Frustrated appeared first on .

This week is a great conversation with Amanda Held Opelt. In this conversation we talk about her newest book, “Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, And The Myth Of The Blessed Life”

This week on From the Front Porch, it's another episode of From The Bookshelf Files! In this episode series, Annie and The Bookshelf's Community & Public Relations Liaison, Felicia Dilbert talk about the ups and downs of running a small business. Today, it's all about what it looks like to approach life and business from the heart. If you have a business-related question you'd like Annie and Felicia to explore in a future episode of From The Bookshelf Files, please email Felicia here. From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf's daily happenings on Instagram at @bookshelftville, and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today's episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Holy Unhappiness by Amanda Held Opelt. Felicia is reading Congratulations, The Best is Over! by R. Eric Thomas. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Ashley Ferrell, Cammy Tidwell, Chanta Combs, Chantalle C, Kate O'Connell, Kristin May, Laurie Johnson, Linda Lee Drozt, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Stacy Laue, Stephanie Dean, Susan Hulings, and Wendi Jenkins.  

In a world of abundant opportunities, wealth, and choices, many of us wonder why we remain unhappy. We expect life to be good, especially as Christians, but what happens when our expectations don't align with our life with God? In this episode, Amanda Held Opelt challenges us to release expectations and find God in unexpected places. We explore the idea of holiness in unhappiness, embracing pain instead of seeking quick fixes. Join us as we discuss the pursuit of constant happiness and the pressure of unrealistic expectations. Discover a new path forward—one that embraces life's complexities and reimagines what it means to truly live a blessed life. FAITH AND GATHER INSTAGRAM  FAITH AND GATHER FACEBOOK FAITH INSPIRED SHOW NOTES I'm so grateful you spent time today listening to this episode! If you loved this episode, share the love by rating the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leaving a review! Not an Apple gal? That's okay! You can leave a review on Spotify and Google Podcasts, too. Just think how many more Christian women could be blessed with faith-inspired encouragement!  Remember, faith is not just a belief - it's a lifestyle!

In this episode, host Kelly Wolfe is joined by author, speaker, and songwriter, Amanda Held Opelt, to discuss themes found in her new book, Holy Unhappiness, such as:-what the emotional prosperity gospel is and how we see it manifest in our lives of faith and how it doesn't hold up to be true-work, marriage, children and how those things promise meaning and ultimate joy, but in reality are still difficult and don't often prove to be the cure-all for bad feelings, and how delight is the invitation to us in those bad feelings-calling, community, and our bodies all being places where platform and "perfection" promise belonging, and how neither platform nor this fragile belonging will safeguard from feeling unfulfilled or difficult emotions, and how humility can shift how we see those things-sanctuary (the church), suffering, and sanctification all promising to protect us from sinking into darkness, isolation, or despair when in fact they can't, and how hope can be the key to keeping our heads above water in those times.Guest Bio: Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent 15 years serving in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors. She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina, with her husband and two young daughters.Twitter | Instagram | Website | Spotify

Our guest liturgist for this episode is author, speaker, and songwriter Amanda Held Opelt, who writes about faith, grief, and creativity—believing in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda wrote and shared this heartfelt prayer with us about coming before God with all of our apprehensions, asking for courage and guidance as we teach our children how to lament and worship, despite the fears we have.     You can listen to Kayla's interview with Amanda on the Holy Unhappiness Podcast here. Find Amanda on Instagram at @amandaheldopelt, and check out her newest book, Holy Unhappiness, here.    Kayla's new book, Every Season Sacred, is an invitation to ask big questions, embrace faithful rhythms, and experience God's mysterious, loving presence together. You don't have to have all the answers—and if we're honest, many answers aren't ours to have. This is the beauty of faith. Preorder your copy here.    You can check out Liturgies for Parents on Instagram for more prayers and encouragement and pick up your own copy of To Light Their Way wherever books are sold. For glimpses of Kayla's experiences with parenting and faith, find her on Instagram at @kayla_craig.   Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode. You can also help others find us by subscribing and leaving an honest review.   This podcast is made possible by our sponsor, Bethany Christian Services. Learn more about how—together—we can change the world through family by visiting bethany.org/kayla.   The Liturgies for Parents Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual guidance to help you grow into the perfectly imperfect parent you want to be, visit www.ChristianParenting.org.

This week my friend Amanda Held Opelt returns, and we discuss grief rituals, why they were popular in the reign of Queen Victoria, and the impact of the first world war on our cultural grief rituals and how we process grief & loss. We also explore how the trauma and grief culturally felt and experienced in the first World War, had an impact on the allied nations initial response to Hitler's tyranny and how this could have inadvertently contributed to WWII.  We then discuss how defeat and having to face up to their actions as a nation, and do the work of healing and transformation, impacted Germany and their culture, and how victory contributed indirectly too many of the problems we now see in the UK and Germany.

This week Amanda Held Opelt returns to continue our exploration of grief and transformation in pop culture. Today we talk about the contrasting experiences of Loki, brother of Thor and Wanda Maximoff, and how we see this ultimately play out in their respective MCU shows.  We explore how Loki's confrontation with his own trauma, grief, and his actions, ultimately transforms and heals him. In contrast we discuss how Wanda's unhealthy response to trauma and grief causes harm to others, and herself. We then touch on what lessons we can learn from their respective journeys. 

On this West Virginia Morning, working through her grief, Amanda Held Opelt studied grief rituals and wrote a book. Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with her about grieving, writing about grief and her sister Rachel. The post Writing About Grief And Our Song Of The Week On This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Give up your guns, it's for public safety, say Democrats. Meanwhile, mentally ill men who believe they are women facing a holocaust chanted the f-word and then attacked a protester who simply wore a sign that read “Children Cannot Consent to Puberty Blockers.” A female cop, apparently the lead cop, smiled and watched. Later, she told an interviewer the man, called Billboard Chris, had instigated it. While that happened in Canada, the same attitude and behaviors persist in America. After the latest murder by someone--this time a woman--suffering a psychotic break occurred, she was given a virtual pass by the Mockingbirds because Tennessee, where she murdered 6 people, has passed a law to prevent children from being chemically and surgically mutilated. Twitter is STILL banning accounts that question gender-ideologyand its clear coziness to Satanic ritual. Democrat office holders post pro-murder memes promoting Antifa terrorists with guns shooting people who will not pretend boys are girls. Well known Evangelical Christains have fallen into the belief that your guns in your safe are the problem, not the Satanic acceptance, promotion and enforcement of mental illness as virtue, with a stong dose of pharma, of course. Amanda Held Opelt, Songwriter, author of A Hole in the World (July 2022). Writes about faith, the creative life, grief, and ritual. Rooted in Southern Appalachia. - Amanda says Evangelical Christians should refuse to vote for Republicans who do not endorse “reasonable limits” on gun ownership. What does God say? The Enemy is a liar and murderer and he is taking his lies right to the time God created mankind, attempting to pressure us into speaking his lies. No one has ever “been born ‘in the wrong body'”We are in a hot, spiritual battle. It is vital that we arm ourselves with the only measures that have already defeated the Enemy.Genesis 1:2727 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Ephesians 6:10-18The Armor of God10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.4Patriotshttps://4patriots.comStock up on 4Patriots Survival Food Kits. Use code TODD to save 10% on your first order.BioOptimizershttps://magbreakthrough.com/toddUse promo code TODD for 10% off your order. Bonefroghttps://bonefrog.usEnter promo code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your subscription. Bulwark Capital https://bulwarkcapitalmgmt.comAct now and get Bulwark Capital's “Common Cents Investing guide FREE. GreenHaven Interactivehttps://greenhaveninteractive.comGet seen on Google more with your worldclass website! Healthycellhttps://healthycell.com/toddJourney to better health and save 20% off your first order with promo code TODD. My Pillowhttps://mypillow.comUse code TODD for Closeout pricing on all All Season Slippers. RuffGreenshttps://ruffgreens.com/toddGet your FREE Jumpstart Trial Bag of Ruff Greens, simply cover shipping. SOTA Weight Losshttps://sotaweightloss.comSOTA Weight Loss is, say it with me now, STATE OF THE ART! Texas SuperFoodhttps://texassuperfood.comTexas SuperFood is whole food nutrition at its best.

This week, in our 350th episode, Amanda Held Opelt joins me again for the second part of our series on superheroes, grief and modern mythology.  This week we explore the character and story of Superman, in particularly the one we see in the Christopher Reeve movies. He's a character who loses his adoptive father as a teenager, an event which drives him into a life trying to save people, never expressing his emotions, until another event finally unlocks his buried grief. We explore how Superman is a more hopeful character, and how his processing of grief doesn't dilute this, but rather makes him more hopeful, more kind, and more inspirational. We explore what lessons we can learn from his processing of grief, and his character, and why the world needs more people of sincerity and hope.

This week I begin a new series with my friend Amanda Held Opelt to discuss how grief is explored in superhero stories, and how they have become our modern mythology.  Today we focus mainly on Batman, exploring his story sand how his grief transforms and initially controls him, with Batman an expression of his raw grief. We discuss some of the stories in prominent Batman movies, as Bruce Wayne processes his grief and eventually Batman becomes a symbol of hope.  This episode explores how grief can control us if we let it, but if we allow ourselves to process it, it can transform us. 

Amanda Held Opelt got a lesson in grief she never wanted. After a series of miscarriages, the loss of her grandma, and then her beloved sister, Amanda 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 writes about faith, grief, and creativity. She has spent 15 years serving in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors and lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina. This July, Amanda is releasing her second book, Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life. 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. She also helps us see how reading the Biblical narrative through the lens of grief, can open us to seeing God in new and transformational ways. Overall, Amanda bravely and authentically wades into the human experience, offering us so much compassion, hope, and hard-won wisdom.

In this week's episode author Amanda Held Opelt joins me to discuss the cultural and historical impact of the Black Death during the 1300's.  We discuss the collective grief and trauma experienced by the countries impacted by the Black Death, and the longer term consequences for the church, culture and ultimately the history of western culture. We explore the consequences of collective cultural grief and trauma, and talk about what the potential long term impact of COVID has and potentially will be for the world and our culture as a whole. 

This is a really special episode of the Let It Matter Podcast. My guest this week is Amanda Held Opelt, who joined me for a very personal, intimate conversation about our respective experiences of grief and:the ways it transformed us (hint: entirely and forever, in big and small ways),the ways our grief itself has transformed and evolved over time,and how engaging creativity and creative outlets for helped us to process our grief and preserve our memories of such hard, sacred, holy moments.WANT TO EXPLORE THIS TOPIC FURTHER? JOIN US IN PATREON! Get the full uncut interview (over 20 more minutes of this conversation, most of which is discussing how grief changed our faith and how we wrestled with God in our losses) when you join our Patreon Partner community!For just $4 per month (USD), you get exclusive bonus content, additional episodes, exclusive giveaways of books/art/resources, etc, and access to Monthly Matterings, a private monthly zoom call with host Kelly Wolfe and Patreon Partners to discuss recent episodes in more depth, to connect with one another and build community, and to name what is mattering to us each month. For more info or to join the community, go to letitmatterpodcast.com/partnersThe morning after we recorded this conversation, Amanda posted a short reflection on her IG from a term that I used in the episode, "Grief Muscles." Her thoughts were really helpful and beautiful. Read the post hereAmanda recently released her first book, A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing, which she has generously partnered with us to give away a copy so stay tuned at the end of the episode for more details on that.Guest Bio: Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent 15 years serving in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors. She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina, with her husband and two young daughters.Twitter | Instagram | Website | Spotify

After a series of heartbreaking losses, Amanda Held Opelt set aside the book she was working on and instead delved into the world of grief. She had been to war zones, Ebola hotspots, and the aftermath of significant tragedies . . . but with her own tragedy, she realized she was just a beginner, a novice, when it came to grief. Today she shares with us how she explored her grief in a real and human way while writing her book, A Hole in the World.

In this episode, Michelle Kolling, candidly shares her story about losing her husband, months after his diagnosis and her grief journey in search of the person she would become. With wit, humor, and grace she  found her calling as an end-of-life doula. Her firsthand, intimate connection to loss, grief and transformation gave her clarity in that she could help patients and their loved ones, make their way in an end-of-life process that is humane, compassionate, and meaningful. “Approaching the last days with intention, gives the dying person a sense of control and creates a sacred space for loved ones to enter the dying experience.” Michelle Kolling trained with the INELDA (International End of Life Doula Association,)  and earned a Proficiency Badge from NEDA (National End of Life Doula Alliance.) She is also a member of the Minnesota Death Collaborative and Institute of Birth, Breath, and Death. She is a volunteer end of life doula with Shalom Hospice in St. Paul, MN. her website is: heldoula.com. QUOTES MICHELLE:  “After kind of that initial shock wears off, what is really important starts to become very clear now. All the stuff that isn't that important, it's like, why was I spending time on that? So ... you're all of a sudden shifting too into a different way of being. “   MICHELLE:  “But yeah, making sure that that whole person is being seen and that that whole person is being taken care of in a way that is in alignment with their values.”   MICHELLE:  “I just think, grief is a sacred, sacred time because you are broken open. You do have an opportunity to come to a different place or build your life in a different way to be, be more real, be more authentic, see what's left. It just feels like you're never gonna be put back together again. And maybe that's okay. “ LINKS Held Doula   (INELDA)  International End of Life Doula Association (NEDA) National End-of-Life Doula Alliance  University of Vermont Professional & Continuing Education End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate Doulagivers Sacred Passage: End-of-Life Doula Certification Program   Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing by Amanda Held Opelt          

I'm just going to take a big, deep breath about getting to talk with my guest for today. Amanda Held Opelt joins me on the podcast today, and I counted it a privilege to talk with her about her new and debut book, A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing. Amanda's book is part memoir, part history of bereavement rituals, and altogether one of the most stunning books I have ever read, particularly on the subjects of grief, community and faith. Amanda joined me from her home in Appalachia, and I am so grateful for her generosity of time and spirit. Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent 15 years serving in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors. She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina, with her husband and two young daughters. Find her online at AmandaHeldOpelt.com and on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Visit KimberlyStuart.com/podcast for more from this episode.

Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter.  She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, worship and shared stories to heal even our deepest wounds.  Amanda has spent the last 15 years as a social worker and humanitarian aid worker.  She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina with her husband and young two daughters. http://amandaheldopelt.com

Join us as Kendall Vanderslice sits down with author, speaker, and songwriter Amanda Held Opelt. We reflect on what it's like to move through grief. How grief affects our whole personhood - spirit, mind, and body. And how food rituals can be a healing and transformative way to tend to our bodies, and experience healing in community. Listen in. Get a copy of Amanda Held Opelt's book, A Hole in the World Connect with Amanda Held Opelt on Instagram @AmandaHeldOpelt or on her website Download our show transcript or subscribe to our weekly newsletter at www.edibletheology.com/kitchen-meditations Consider supporting The Edible Theology Project with a tax-free monthly or a one-time donation at www.edibletheology.com/fundraiser Follow The Edible Theology Project on Facebook or Instagram.

Catherine Parks, author of Empowered: How God Shaped 11 Women's Lives (And Can Shape Yours Too), joins Sarah and Erin today to share about women from history. After hearing Catherine's story, we learn how many of our Christian heroines were simply faithful women doing the next right thing.    Catherine Parks Show Notes  Catherine's Website  Empowered: How God Shaped 11 Women's Lives (And Can Shape Yours Too)  by Catherine Parks  A Christ Centered Wedding by Catherine Parks  The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom  Strong: How God Equipped 11 Ordinary Men with Extraordinary Power (and Can Do the Same for You) by Catherine Parks  The Strong Women Podcast 3. Who We Are is Rooted with Joni Eareckson Tada  The Strong Women Podcast 34. The Life of Elisabeth Elliot with Ellen Vaughn  The Strong Women Podcast S2 23: Starting Life In the Jungle With Valerie Elliot Shepard  Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn  The Strong Women Podcast S2 31: Learning From Our Eastern Sisters With Glenn Sunshine - Part Two  If I Perish by Esther Ahn Kim  Journal of Charlotte Forten   Les Misérables' by Victor Hugo  A Hole in the World by Amanda Held Opelt   Join Strong Women on Social Media: https://linktr.ee/strongwomencc  Erin and her husband, Brett, run Maven which “exists to help the next generation know truth, pursue goodness, and create beauty, all for the cause of Christ.” Check out more about Maven here: https://maventruth.com/   The Strong Women Podcast is a product of the Colson Center which equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence, and courage in this cultural moment. Through commentaries, podcasts, videos, and more, we help Christians better understand what's happening in the world, and champion what is true and good wherever God has called them.  Learn more about the Colson Center here: https://www.colsoncenter.org/   Visit our website and sign up for our email list so that you can stay up to date on what we are doing here and also receive our monthly book list: https://www.colsoncenter.org/strong-women 

Amanda Held Opelt knows grief well. After having what felt like a charmed life, she experienced 5 years of back-to-back losses that changed the way she looked at and experienced grief. In this episode, Amanda discusses faith, grief, and creativity, and why she believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda is the author of “A Hold in the World,” a book about finding hope in rituals of grief and healing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ashley Hales sits down with Amanda Held Opelt to talk about how we might normalize grief, pain, loss and death. With her background in aid work, she thought she would prepared, but wasn't when her sister Rachel Held Evans was hospitalized and died. But studying grief rituals was one way through. Listen in to this hopeful, thoughtful and rich conversation and let it help you process your own losses. LINKS Amanda's book, A Hole in the World Connect with Amanda on her website Ashley's most recent book, A Spacious Life is in paperback, ebook and audio. You can find out more about her work and speaking at aahales.com. Be sure to leave a rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ERB Podcast is back after a summer break! Jen is joined by two first-time guests for an honest discussion about processing grief, loss and heartache, and how that intersects with the writing and reading life.Clarissa Moll is an author, podcaster, and the young widow of author Rob Moll. Her husband's first book, The Art of Dying, was released in April 2021 with Clarissa's new afterword. Clarissa's debut book, Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Walking with Grief and Thriving After Loss released with Tyndale this year.Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent 15 years as a social worker and a humanitarian aid worker. Her debut book, A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing released with Worthy this year.Books and Writing Mentioned in this Episode: If you'd like to order any of the following books, we encourage you to do so from Hearts and Minds Books(An independent bookstore in Dallastown, PA, run by Byron and Beth Borger) The Art of Dying: Living Fully in the Life to Come by Rob Moll & Clarissa MollBeyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief and Thriving After Loss by Clarissa MollA Hold in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing by Amanda Held OpeltTelling the Bees and other Customs by Mark NormanDeath in Early America by Margaret CoffinSurprised by Paradox by Jen Pollock MichelSurprised by Joy by C.S. LewisTelling the Truth by Frederick BuechnerA Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss by Jerry SittserBlack Widow by Leslie Gray StreeterThe Hot Young Widows Club by Nora McInernyThe Gathering of Zion: The Story of the Mormon Trail by Wallace StegnerEight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John GottmanSeasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God by Tim ChalliesAmusing Ourselves to Death by Neil PostmanThe Cloister Walk by Kathleen NorrisTechnopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman

In this conversation we talk about her new book, “A Hole in The World: Finding Hope in Rituals of grief and Healing” and how there is no life hack for grief.

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by grief that the world seemed upside down? As if there was no path through to the other side? If so, then this episode is for you. And if not, join us anyway because all of us will know sorrow at some point. This week, I chat with Amanda Held Opelt, speaker, songwriter and an author of A Hole in the World, sharing how stories, community, and faith soften and heal our sorrow. Our modern day culture encourages us to “be strong” in the face of heartbreak when we just need to let it out, wail, and honor the pain. Losing a loved one is an unspeakable experience. As Amanda and I unpack our own stories about loss, we hold out a lantern to others showing them that there is a path through grief by weaving it into our lives and knitting it into our hearts. We share the importance of grief rituals and how to navigate the fierce landscape of loss. This conversation is one of hope: the hope that comes from embracing grief and how doing so deepens love, faith, and healing. Amanda and I are no strangers to grief, and this conversation is a gift. We hope you join us at the table. Here's what we connect on: Accepting grief as our lives begin to change and shift after experiencing loss (5:54) Learning to let go of the things we love the most + I share one of my favorite stories of learning to let go (8:35) How grief rituals from around the world influence grief journeys in modern western society in daily life (16:24) How weeping and worshiping go hand in hand and how God encourages us to grieve (24:39) The power of getting into nature and finding solace in rituals of sun-land-and-blueberry picking amid the most painful losses like miscarriage (29:10) Thank you so much for saving a seat for us this week! Please rate this podcast and subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! To connect with Amanda, visit her at @amandaheldopelt on Instagram, amandaheldopelt.com and listen to her music under the name “Amanda Opelt” including the new song, There are No Words. To connect with Karen, follow her on social media: @karenjhardwick and visit connectedleaderbook.com to order The Connected Leader today.

Amanda Held Opelt found herself not experiencing grief until much later in life. Feeling unprepared she quickly found herself facing a series of significant losses from miscarriages to the loss of her sister at a young age. This process led her a place of vulnerability where she learned the important role that others play in the journey to healing along with what was needed for her to work towards a new normal. Through her studies across cultures  grief rituals played a big role in finding hope.In our lives usually one of two things is true, we either don't face the reality of grief until late in life, or we face it right from the start. Either way grief is one of life's realities that we all face, ready or not. I have found that in culture we talk about grief very little and with that, we expect ourselves and others have just as little time to process it.  You may notice that this topic is one I'm particularly passionate about expanding on this show. As I have done my own grief work I have seen just how needed more knowledge is on the topic to be better equip for this very common part of our lives.Amanda will walk us through the things to say/not say during grief, along with how to use grief rituals to heal. This powerful book is the perfect resource no matter where you find yourself on the grief journey. Buy Amandas book hereFollow Amanda on social media at @amandaheldopelt

In this episode of The Bible for Normal People, Amanda Held Opelt joins Pete and Jared to talk about how her faith was impacted by her own experience with grief, and how rituals of mourning practiced by other cultures throughout history can encourage Christians to make room for grief, pain, and suffering within the church and their own lives.Show Notes →Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-bible-for-normal-people/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We will learn: The power of Irish keening for releasing emotions.  How to deal with fear around loss.  How to hold presence for grief, whether for yourself or a loved one.  There's a huge spectrum for how people deal with grief. But it's one of those things that I feel like we need a handbook for and we just don't have one. We used to gather around to support one another for all major life events. We had collective rituals that helped us feel connected. That gave space to the grieving. That kept life moving when the griever couldn't yet handle the little things. So what would that look like today, in the modern world? Today we're going to explore some of the most helpful grief rituals that are worth bringing back. Our guest is Amanda Held Opelt. She is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She has spent the last 15 years as a social worker and humanitarian aid worker. And she writes about grief and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, and shared stories to heal even our deepest wounds. Links from the episode: Show Notes: https://mindlove.com/X92 Sign up for The Morning Mind Love for short daily notes from your highest self.  Get Mind Love Premium for exclusive ad-free episodes and monthly meditations.  Support Mind Love Sponsors  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's podcast, we're honored to learn from Amanda Held Opelt about her latest book: "A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing." It's a beautifully written book that explores ways to find faith and hope amid seasons of grief and suffering. In this episode, Amanda talks with us about • Becoming a social worker and serving as a chaplain • Helping others overcome grief, trauma and loss • How to support a grieving friend (and what not to say) • What the Bible tells us about grief and suffering • How to engage with God in the midst of trauma or crisis of faith • Ways to help grieving friends (and loved ones) who don't ask for help • What she learned when studying grief rituals • How the Christian concepts of faith and hope can help us during dark times Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, worship and shared stories to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent the last 15 years as a social worker and humanitarian aid worker. Learn more about her latest book: http://amandaheldopelt.com/books You can watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/_UnK4y5CM-c

Doing the next right thing is perhaps most necessary when we find ourselves in the midst of grief and loss. Today I'm glad to talk with author, speaker, and songwriter Amanda Held Opelt. She believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda is well acquainted with grief after experiencing several years of profound loss, including the sudden death of her only sister, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans. Amanda explores the rituals of grief and what they can teach us about ourselves, our faith, and each other in times of deep loss in her new book, A Hole in the World. If you find yourself in the midst of the fog of grief or want to grow in your understanding of what grievers are going through, listen in. Links + Resources From This Episode: A Hole in the World by Amanda Held Opelt Amanda's Instagram account @amandaheldopelt Amanda's website Order The Next Right Thing Guided Journal Grab a copy of my book The Next Right Thing  Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman Download a transcript of this, and every, episode at emilypfreeman.com.

I loved the discussion with today's guest!  Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She discusses her experiences after going through the death of her grandmother, 3 miscarriages and the death of her sister, Rachel Held Evans. I truly believe this discussion will help you in working through your own grief and mourning process and how you approach death. After you listen, head to her IG and follow her and thank her for being on the podcast! Amanda writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, worship and shared stories to heal even our deepest wounds.  has spent the last 15 years as a social worker and humanitarian aid worker. She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina with her husband and young two daughters. Anchor Verses: 2 Corinthians 1:2-3 Anything on perseverance, longsuffering and endurance Ways to Connect with Amanda: Website: http://amandaheldopelt.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/amandaheldopelt/ To Preorder and Obtain Preorder Gifts: https://www.worthypublishing.com/titles/amanda-held-opelt/a-hole-in-the-world/9781546001911/

In this episode, I speak with Amanda Held Opelt, an author, mother and songwriter who lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her husband and two daughters. Amanda's upcoming book, A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Meaning, she dives into her own grief over her miscarriages, the unexpected death of her sister, Rachel Held Evans and her grandmother. She asks and answers questions that plagued her: What does it mean to truly grieve and to grieve well? Why is it so hard to move on? Why didn't my faith prepare me for this kind of pain? And what am I supposed to do now? In this beautiful memoir and in our conversation, Amanda speaks about her own grief, the legacy of her sister and more broadly, the wider world of human grief practices in different cultures and eras. It was an honor to speak with Amanda and I encourage you check out her upcoming book. Recent episodes: Jennie Allen: Saying ‘Yes' to God Mikayla Albertson: Family Doctor & Mom of 5 Living “Ordinary on Purpose” Hunter Beless: Helping Women Know & Love God Better Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amanda Held Opelt returns to the show this week, to discuss her new book 'A Hole in the World', and talk about her journey discovering and exploring rituals of grief.  Using some examples, Amanda demonstrates the importance of having rituals around grief and mourning, and how these can aid the process of healing. We also discuss the damage which has and can be done to us individually and as a society, when we don't practice any kind of grief ritual or practice which engages with our grief and trauma.  Finally, Amanda gives some examples of rituals she's found helpful and how we can begin to create our own practices which can help the healing process. ***** Amanda's upcoming book, 'A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing', can be pre-ordered now at all online booksellers.

2022 feels like it's already been a whole year in just one month. The pandemic continues to march on, and we lost many notable and well-loved celebrities over the last few weeks. Death, suffering, and misery just seem to be our roommates at this point. As Christians, what does it mean for us to grieve? Is it possible to grieve "well", or is all grief necessarily difficult? What do we make of grief in light of the gospel? Amanda Held Opelt has wrestled with these questions on a very personal level. After losing her sister (beloved and well-respected Christian author Rachel Held Evans) unexpectedly, Amanda has been probing the nature of grief in Christian life, and is even writing a book about various grieving rituals from various cultures. She joins Kyle to talk about all this and more, so jump in and listen now!

We sit down and talk with Amanda Held Opelt about her upcoming book, A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Mourning coming out in July 2022. When Amanda suffered a season of loss—including three miscarriages and the death of her grandmother and culminating in the unexpected death of her sister, New York Times bestselling writer Rachel Held Evans—she was confronted with sorrow she didn't know how to face. We talk about her grief journey through these many losses, in her upcoming book where she explores the wisdom in rituals that past generations and other cultures embraced as a way to process grief and what grieving right now is like for her and so many others. The guest's opinions expressed in the podcast are solely those of the guest and should not reflect their employer or other associated organization's opinions. The guest's opinions do not reflect the opinion of this podcast or Faith & Grief Ministries. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/faithandgrief/support

In this episode I'm honoured to be joined by Amanda Held Opelt, to share her stories of grief.  Amanda shares her experiences of grief, from losing a beloved grandmother, miscarriage, and the death of her sister Rachel Held Evans. She tenderly and honestly shares the impact grief has had on her life and faith, the questions it raised, how it's shaped her own journey - and we talk about how we as a culture, and individuals, need to develop healthier rituals to name and process our grief.  (This episode was shared with Amanda's consent). 

In the premiere episode of The Evolving Faith Podcast, we hear a talk given at the Evolving Faith gathering in 2018 by the late Rachel Held Evans, author, speaker, and co-founder of Evolving Faith. She talks about a tough and tender faith and what that calls us to when we encounter the oppressive, dehumanizing and unjust forces working in the world. We also welcome Rachel's husband, Dan Evans, and her sister, Amanda Held Opelt, who share with us about what gives them hope one year after Rachel's death.