Podcasts about world demanding flawless

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.

Do you ever struggle with fear or anxiety? In today's episode, author and pastor, Naeem Fazal shares how beauty can help us overcome fear in our lives.Naeem Fazal is the founding and lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a Pakistani, born and raised as a Muslim in Kuwait. He came to the United States shortly after the Gulf War and had a supernatural experience with Jesus that changed the course of his life.  In our time together, Naeem shares about his unexpected and life-changing conversion experience, as well as about his new book, Tomorrow Needs You: Seeing Beauty When You Feel Hopeless. In particular, he discusses his belief that beauty is the antidote to fear, why we need to put fear on a leash, and how we can practically allow beauty to speak loudest in our lives.This is such an inspiring 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.

Have you ever asked the question, “what is God's will for my life?” or “does my life have purpose?” If so, today's episode is for you. And, thankfully, I couldn't think of a better conversation partner for these topics than Trevor Hudson. Trevor Hudson is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. After spending fifty years doing pastoral ministry in a local congregation, he now gives his time to lecturing, teaching, and writing in the areas of spiritual formation and spiritual direction.In our time together, we discuss his latest book, In Search of God's Will: Discerning a Life of Faithfulness and Purpose. Trevor shares practical ways to discern God's personal will for your life, helping you to become the unique person God has shaped you to be, and ultimately allowing us the privilege of participating in the hope of the entire universe. In profound and inspiring fashion, Trevor reminds us of God's nearness and active presence in our lives, as well as the true character and astounding love of God.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.

Rasa Troup, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, OLY is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian with over 20 years of experience. She also owns Rasa Nutrition where she helps clients create a healthy relationship with food. Rasa also competed in the Beijing Olympics and has served as a trusted voice regarding nutrition for various communities, including The Minnesota Vikings, The Minnesota Twins, The University of Minnesota Athletics, The Emily Program, and TRia Orthopedic, among others.In our time together, Rasa shares about her own struggles with nutrition as a competitive athlete and Olympian. She also highlights common lies in the field of nutrition, such as certain bodies having more value (based on their size and shape), as well as health having a ‘look.' Rasa also gives important insight regarding the recent rise in the use of GLP-1 medications, including potential dangers to be considered. Overall, Rasa demonstrates the importance of flexibility and non-perfection when it comes to nutrition and so helpfully reminds us that our bodies indeed do not need to be fixed.Informed Consent for GLP-1 medications document discussed in this episode:https://sizeinclusivemedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MSSI-GLP1-Informed-Consent-10.pdfBuy 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.

The truth is that our soul is always being formed by something. In today's inspiring interview with Jennifer Tucker, she shares how Christian meditation on Scripture has formed her soul in profound ways. Jennifer Tucker is a bestselling author, artist, graphic designer, follower of Jesus, and an advocate for mental health.In our time together, Jenn shares about her new book, Present in Prayer: A Guided Invitation to Peace Through Biblical Meditation. Specifically, she shares how mindfulness and Christian meditation have deeply shaped her, especially in recent seasons of struggle. She also helpfully reframes anxiety as an invitation to connect with God and shares how mindfulness and Christian meditation can help us redefine beauty. I can't wait for you to listen to this episode!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.

Each of us reflects a unique beauty in the world. In today's episode, Dr. Merry Lin invites us into the process of embodying our truest essential self in the world.  Dr. Merry is a clinical psychologist, author, and podcaster with over 30 years of clinical experience. She is also the Executive Director of Dr. Lin & Associates where she leads a team of psychotherapists, leadership and life coaches and HR Management consultants.  In our time together, Dr. Merry shares about her latest book, Rebecoming: Come Out of Hiding to Live as Your God-Given Essential Self. She discusses what the essential self is, why it's so important for us to uncover our essential self, and how it impacts the world around us when we do. Dr. Merry also shares how she sees societal beauty standards impacting women and how rebecoming our essential selves moves us more fully into experiencing true beauty. God has created each of us with incredible artistry and creativity. This episode opens our eyes and hearts to see that unique beauty within ourselves and in the those around us. 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.

Melanie Penn is a Nashville based songwriter at the crossroads of faith and culture. Melanie was a mainstay in the theatre scene in New York City for several years, most notably playing Sandy on the Broadway national tour of Grease!  After Broadway, Melanie transitioned to songwriting and has collaborated with Nashville producer, Ben Shive, on five albums, including the Immanuel project, detailing Melanie's songwriting journey through the Christmas story.  In my time with Melanie, we discuss her transition from Broadway to songwriting, and the helpfulness of attending to our emotions in decision making and discernment. She also shares about the experience of losing her dad. In that discussion, Melanie reminds us of humanity's need for rescue and the hope we celebrate this Christmas season. Also, amidst society's fear-based messages around getting older, Melanie reframes aging as an opportunity to become more alive.  I can't wait for you to listen to this inspiring conversation with Melanie Penn.Melanie's song, More Alive. 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.

Because of our unique identities, passions, and gifts, each one of us embodies a unique beauty in the world. Each of us is a limited edition. In today's episode, international speaker, theologian, apologist, and author, Amy Orr-Ewing unpacks the beauty of authenticity and encourages us to find our own unique voice.  More specifically, Amy discusses her latest book, Lead Like the Real You: Wisdom for Women on Finding Your Voice, Pursuing God's Calling, and Leading with Courage, sharing important insights on the uniqueness of leading as a woman at home, at work, or in ministry. She also dives into some of life's big questions, including how she holds fast to the beauty of God amidst the brokenness of life. So, if you're needing a reminder of your unique beauty or perhaps the goodness and beauty of God, this conversation is for 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.

I am so grateful to be welcoming Dr. Charlotte Markey back to the podcast today. Dr. Markey is a body image expert, professor of psychology and director of the Health Sciences Center at Rutgers University-Camden. She has authored several books, including her latest release, Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life.Dr. Markey also writes monthly for U.S. News and World Report and Psychology Today, focusing on individuals' eating behaviors, body image, and health. She has also been featured in and interviewed by The New York Times, The Economist, The Today Show, ABC News, Time Magazine, and Mens Health, among others.In our time together, Dr. Markey shares how societal messages can influence body image and how body image is connected to mental health. We also discuss how diet culture currently presents as “health and wellness” and how an overemphasis on “healthy” or “clean eating” might not actually be good for our overall wellbeing. Dr. Markey also shares how changing our bodies doesn't actually improve body image and presents us with practices to confidently inhabit our bodies.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.

Alastair Sterne's invitation to joy was an unexpected one. Ironically, it was while struggling with depression that he started to pay attention to the full array of his emotions, including joylessness.In this fascinating conversation with creative director turned pastor, Alastair Sterne, he discusses his latest book, Longing for Joy: An Invitation to the Goodness and Beauty of Life. Alastair is currently the associate pastor at Coastline Church in Victoria, British Columbia. In our time together, he talks about why joy can be so elusive, how we can hold joy alongside suffering, how joy connects us to God, and practical ways we can cultivate joy. Regardless of where you are emotionally today, Alastair's insights are sure to inspire and encourage 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.

In a turbulent world filled with so much darkness, where and how can we find hope? Furthermore, what role might we play in embodying real hope in a very broken world.  These are the kinds of questions I tackle on the podcast today with Tara Beth Leach.Tara Beth is an author, speaker, and the senior pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Naperville, Illinois. Her most recent publication is a six-week Bible study entitled, Live in the Light: Radiating the Hope of the Letters of John. In our time together, Tara Beth shares about the important role the church plays in living out light and hope in a broken world. She also talks about how we might live in a grounded and authentic hope and what has inspired her in the belief that, in the end, light wins. Tara Beth also shares some important distinctives of authentic beauty, versus societal ideals she sees at work inside and outside of the church.So, if you're needing a reminder of what true beauty is or where hope might be found, this episode is for 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.

After having two miscarriages, followed by the sudden loss of her husband, Dawn Mann Sanders felt like it was the end of her world as she knew it. Dawn is a Bible teacher and author of When Your World Ends: God's Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life. In her book, and in today's conversation, Dawn shares what she's learned about rebuilding after significant loss, as well as what the creation story in the book of Genesis taught her about her own process of grief and rebuilding. If you're looking for hope and purpose on the other side of loss, this conversation is for 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.

So often the fitness industry can feel intimidating, while messages around health and wellness can be confusing or fuel fear and anxiety. And that's where Michael Ulloa comes in.  Michael is an online personal trainer and performance nutritionist. In his online platforms, and in his work with clients, Michael is calling nonsense on unhelpful or ill-advised fitness and nutrition messages. With a background in occupational therapy, he takes a holistic approach to client care, bringing lightness, balance, and joy to the fitness, health, and wellness space.  ​In my time with Michael, he talks about his own journey, falling prey to fitness content and struggling with body image, as well as the lies he sees at work in the fitness industry. He also discusses how he sees cultural beauty standards influencing the fitness industry and tips for navigating fitness and nutrition content. So, if you're looking for clarity and balance in your journey with food and movement, this conversation is for 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.

After leaving her childhood home on the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean, author, slow-living guide, and podcaster, Jodi Grubbs, had assumed the rapid pace and hustle culture in the U.S. Soon, she realized that burnout had crept in, and God was inviting her to a return to the "island time" of her past.In her book, Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exhale, and in today's conversation, Jodi invites us to grasp a more sustainable approach to life, anchored by the pauses of spiritual practices and an openhandedness before God. Jodi desires to give us all permission to slow down, to see what we're missing when we don't slow down and shares practical ways to adopt more gentle life rhythms. She also kindly shares about more tender parts of her journey, such as learning to trust God again after losing her first husband. If you're ready to take a deep breath and settle into a slower, more intentional way of life, this conversation is for 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.

Amidst the pressures and messages of diet and wellness culture, it can be hard to know how to help the next generation establish a healthy relationship with food. And that's where Oona Hanson comes in. Oona Hanson is an educator and parenting coach. Through her writing, workshops, and private consultations, she supports families in raising kids who have a healthy relationship with food and their body. Oona also worked as a Family Mentor at Equip, where she was part of a multidisciplinary care team treating children with eating disorders. She has been featured in television programs, like Good Morning America, and her work has been featured in various publications, including People, USA Today, US News & World Report, Today, CNN, and The Washington Post.In our time together, Oona discusses what lies from diet culture she sees at work in the lives of the families she works with, how a focus on “healthy eating” can become harmful, myths and misunderstandings about eating disorders, and ideas on how to help kids and teens develop a life-giving relationship with food. If you're looking for help walking away from diet culture and modeling something different for the next generation, this episode is for 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.

Given the pain and suffering in the world, when life isn't so beautiful, it can be hard to know how to interact and relate with God. In today's episode, Dieula Previlon helps us see how leaning into our questions with God can bring about healing and transformation in our lives. Dieula is a licensed professional counselor, ordained minister, certified life purpose coach, and the founder of the non-profit, ElevateHer International Ministries. ElevateHer works to empower women around the world to heal from trauma and become instruments for healing, peace and hope through large and small group trauma healing training. In my time with Dieula, we talk about her new book, Does God See Me?: How God Meets Us in the Center of Our Trauma-Healing Journey. Dieula helps us see the importance of lament, why integrating hope is pivotal in the trauma healing journey and reminds us that we are indeed seen by God.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.

Words have the power to form us. And that has indeed been the case for author, youth pastor, and podcaster, Micha Boyett. In today's conversation with Micha, she explains how living with the beatitudes, while raising her son with Down syndrome and autism, has deeply formed her.In our time together, she talks about the Dream of God, a reality in which everything is defined by the love of God, and how that concept has shaped her. She also talks about a renewed understanding of what ‘blessing' means and how we hold the tension of longing for the Dream of God, while living in a very broken world. In Micha's latest book, Blessed Are the Rest of Us, she was invited into a new way of living in the world, a way of wholeness and flourishing that Jesus taught about. And in today's conversation, she invites into that same way of living.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.

In today's conversation, I was blown away by how a popular therapy model demonstrates the image of God in each of us. More specifically, author and marriage and family therapist, Molly LaCroix helps us see the relevance of the Internal Family Systems therapy model on the journey to healing and wholeness.  In our time together, we talk about her latest book, Journey to Shalom: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Freedom in Sacred Stories. Molly helps us see the relevance of Biblical stories in our own lives, how our personal healing brings more wholeness in our relationships, and the God-given resources for resilience and healing that are innate in all of us. What I love about this episode is that it speaks to each person's inherent beauty. 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.

So often diet culture disconnects us from our bodies and from having a peaceful relationship with food. In today's episode, I talk with registered dietitian and therapist, Alice Baker, MSRD CEDS-C LMHC LPC LDN, about shedding unhelpful beliefs from diet culture.  Alice Baker has over 27 years' experience in the field of eating disorders. She currently sees clients in private practice as a dietitian and/or therapist, facilitates support groups, presents locally and nationally, and supervises new dietitians in the eating disorder field. In my time with Alice, we talk about the normalization of disordered eating in our culture, the infiltration of diet culture in the church, and how a non-diet approach is compatible with health. Thankfully, Alice also gives us some practical ideas on how we can move toward wholeness in our relationship with food and our bodies amidst diet culture.  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.

Dr. Jason Nagata is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, and is an expert in eating disorders, particularly in boys and men. He has published over 300 articles in academic journals and serves as Senior Editor for the Journal of Eating Disorders, on the International Advisory Board of The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Adolescent Health.  In my time with time with Dr. Nagata, we consider the damaging effects of societal body image ideals among boys and men. We also discuss the lack of research and awareness regarding eating disorders in males, the increasing prevalence of eating disorders in general, the normalization of disordered food and exercise-related behaviors in athletics, and how social media plays into body image struggles and eating behaviors. According to Dr. Nagata, 2/3 of American teenagers want to change their bodies. In today's episode, he helps us better understand food and body image-related struggles among boys and men. This is such an important episode; I'm so glad you're here.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.

Joy Marie Clarkson has learned the art of seeing goodness, truth, and beauty in our midst and she helps us do the same.  In case you are new to Joy, she holds a PhD in theology from the University of St. Andrews and is the author of two books, Aggressively Happy and, most recently, You Are a Tree. She is also a research associate in theology and literature at King's College London and the books editor for Plough Quarterly.  In our time together, Joy shares about how teaching a course on the idea of beauty in Western Theology has shaped her views on topic, as well as her study of how art can prepare us for death. Joy also explains the power of the metaphors we use and how those metaphors shape us and our experience. In our discussion, and in her latest book, You Are a Tree, she helps us move away from impersonal, productivity-oriented metaphors to help us live into more life-giving and generative ways of being human.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.

Heather Creekmore is a podcaster, mom of four, body image coach, and author. In our time together, Heather describes what inspired her to write her latest book, The 40-Day Body Image Workbook, as well as why she's so passionate about guiding women out of diet culture and into truth. Heather also describes what has helped her improve her own relationship with her body, she exposes lies associated with diet culture, and helps us reframe aging in a helpful way.If you have ever struggled with body image or beauty ideals, my hope is that Heather's story and authentic reflections will help you feel less alone and bring you greater freedom.*This episode mentions eating disorder-related thoughts, behaviors, and symptoms. Please use your discretion when listening and speak with your support system as needed.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.

In today's episode I talk with Dr. Charlotte Markey about body image pressures impacting us and the next generation. Dr. Markey is a body image expert, professor of psychology and director of the Health Sciences Center at Rutgers University-Camden. She has authored several books, including The Body Image Book For Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless, Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys, and the forthcoming Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life. Dr. Markey also writes monthly for U.S. News and World Report, Psychology Today, as well as other publications, focusing on individuals' eating behaviors, body image, and health. She has also been featured in and interviewed by The New York Times, The Economist, The Today Show, ABC News, Time Magazine, and Men's Health, among others.In our time together, we talk about recent trends related to social media use and body image, how to build body confidence in ourselves and the next generation, as well as what's behind the increasing rates of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among males. Dr. Markey's wisdom is a needed voice in our increasingly image-focused society. May we become thoughtful observers of these trends, so we can opt out of the messages and beliefs that don't bring life.  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.

RichBeautifulRedeemingGrace-givingGentle All of these words come to mind when I think about this episode. I hope those sound as lovely to you as they are to me and I know you're going to love this conversation. Today I'm speaking with Melissa Johnson, host of the Impossible Beauty podcast and author of Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless. I recorded this months ago and as I edited and prepped it recently, I have to admit I needed Melissa's words now more than ever. We discuss:Melissa's experience with her eating disorder Body shameHow not to repeat the cycle of poor relationship with food and our bodies with our daughters"The baby shower effect"Breathand so much moreGet your copy of Soul-Deep Beauty here or purchase at the publisher, Baker House, for 30% off here. Listen to Melissa's podcast, Impossible BeautyConnect with Melissa:impossible-beauty.comInstagram: @impossible.beautyFacebook: Impossible Beauty PodcastMelissa Johnson is a marriage and family therapist, is a spiritual director, and teaches an undergraduate course at Bethel University on soul wellbeing. Melissa is also the founder of Impossible Beauty, a blog and podcast dedicated to redefining beauty as “the life of God at work in us and among us.” Melissa lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband. Learn more at impossible-beauty.com.Support the showReceive my free monthly journal full of food, fitness, faith, fun & moreConnect with Amy: GracedHealth.comJoin the Graced Health community on Facebook! Instagram: @GracedHealthYouTube: @AmyConnellJoin GracedHealth+ for virtual community meetups and bonus episodesLeave a one-time tip of $5Check out my book Your Worthy Body and signature online class B.COMPLETE

John Van Sloten is a Calgary-based writer, teacher, and pastor who is passionate about helping people engage God everywhere. Over the past ten years he has preached dozens of creation and Bible-based sermons on topics like radiation therapy, river hydrology, chemical catalysts, tree branches, human knees, and DNA repair mechanisms. John is a regular columnist with the Calgary Herald and his books include The Day Metallica Came to Church and Every Job a Parable. Over the past ten years, he has been awarded three John Templeton Foundation subgrants for preaching science, has been part of an Ambrose Seminary Science for Seminaries, and has been a Sinai and Synapses fellow. In my time with John, we talk about his latest book, God Speaks Science: What Neurons, Giant Squid, and Supernovae Reveal About Our Creator. John teaches that we can not only learn about God through the Bible, but through creation as well. He shows us that God's love and character can be known more deeply as we marvel at the complexities of His amazing creation. John also shares how his conversion to following God caused him to change his vocation, as well as about the new journey God is leading Him on. John's heart for God and his ability to see him in all things is inspiring. My hope is that this conversation may awaken us all to experience God's presence and work everywhere.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.

Diane Summers, MS, RDN, CD is the founder of Hope Nutrition Therapy and a nationally registered and state certified dietitian. Diane has treated the full spectrum of eating disorders and concerns since 2004, has been supervising eating disorder dietitians since 2009, and works with clients and consultees around the world. She is also a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and a Narrative Focused Trauma Care practitioner.In my time with Diane, we talk about what diet culture is and how it impacts our relationship with our bodies, how diet culture impacts societal beauty ideals, and the prevalence of disordered eating. Diane also helps us unpack the topic of religious fasting during this season of Lent, including disentangling some unhelpful ideas often surrounding this practice. She also reminds us of the redemption and healing present in story work, as well as the richness that can come from growing older. Perhaps most importantly, Diane calls us back to the wild beauty that is innate in all of humanity, including 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.

In today's episode, we consider how looking heavenward can breathe new life into the present. This consideration is not a practice of escapism, but an opportunity to take a step back to see the larger story of humanity, where we've been and where we're headed. Thankfully, today's guest is a gracious and thoughtful guide. Amy Baik Lee is the author of This Homeward Ache: How Our Yearning for the Life to Come Spurs on Our Life today, a literary member of the Anselm Society Arts Guild, and a contributing writer at Cultivating Magazine and the Rabbit Room. In our time together, Amy unpacks what she calls our homeward ache, those moments of beauty or peace that cause us to long for a world we haven't yet experienced. In Amy's view, these moments are piercing hints of heaven that reveal “the great promise of a coming restoration.” Amy helps us understand why this homeward ache matters, how it has altered every area of her life, and how it helps her live more fully in the present. As Amy explains it, Beauty is breaking into this world and someday (to paraphrase J.R.R. Tolkien) everything sad will come untrue; here and now we are invited to be a part of that work of restoration.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.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “I was given eyes to see societal ‘beauty' in a new way; ‘beauty' was exposed for what it really was. Totally empty and not beautiful at all. “I saw how societal ‘beauty' ran on insecurity and shame. And that it was all on purpose. Making women feel like their face, or body, or skin is ‘wrong' so they'll adhere to a diet or buy a product to ‘fix' themselves. In short, I was awakened to the black hole that is American ‘beauty,' its gravity impacting the minds, the hearts, the souls of so many girls and women.”~Melissa L. Johnson, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless “…the promises of the law are conditional, promising life not freely, but to those who fulfill the law; therefore, they leave people's consciences in doubt, for no one fulfills the law. But the promises of the new covenant have no such condition attached. They do not require anything of us; they do not depend on any condition of our worthiness but freely give us forgiveness of sins, grace, righteousness, and everlasting life for Christ's sake.”~Martin Luther (1483-1546), famed religious reformer “…our conscience must be instructed and prepared beforehand, so that when we feel the accusation of the law, the terrors of sin, the horror of death and the wrath of God we may remove these dire sights and fearful ideas from our minds and replace them with the freedom purchased by Christ, the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, life, and the everlasting mercy of God. Although the contrary feeling may be very strong, we must assure ourselves that it will not last long (Isaiah 54:8). But this is very hard to do. Therefore, it is easier to speak of the freedom that Christ purchased for us than it is to believe it.”~Martin Luther in his Galatians Commentary (1535) “Unless this freedom be comprehended, neither Christ nor gospel truth, nor inner peace of soul, can be rightly known.”~John Calvin (1509-1564), Genevan religious reformer “True freedom is to be one's true self, but my true self is made for loving, and loving is self-giving. So in order to be myself, I have to deny myself and give myself. In order, then, to be free, I have to give up my freedom. In order, then, to live, I have to die to my self-centeredness. In order to find myself, I've got to lose it.”~John Stott (1921-2011), English pastor and theologian SERMON PASSAGEGalatians 4:28-5:6 (ESV)Galatians 4 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. Galatians 5 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hopeof righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

We're surrounded by messages from culture... Messages that tell us that beauty is the highest goal. That if we'd only wear the right clothes, but the right beauty products, then we'd feel fulfilled. But the world's definition of beauty is not only skewed...it can be downright dangerous. Not only to our mental health and physical bodies, but to our spiritual life as well. In this episode of The Living Room with Joanna Weaver, family therapist and author, Melissa Johnson, shares from her new book: Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless. I hope you share this episode with a friend! Links from Show Melissa's Book: Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless. Melissa's Podcast: Impossible Beauty Joanna's Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God Joanna's YouTube Channel [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Melissa Johnson Website | Instagram  

Kimberly Wilkerson believes in the power of language; how it impacts us and those around us. Kimberly is a speech language pathologist, as well as the founder of Token Clothing Co. At Token Clothing Co., Kimberly has fused her passion for language with her interest in fashion, to give women an experience that helps them overcome limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. In our time together, Kimberly and I discuss the impact of our self-talk on our brains and bodies. Kimberly also shares about her process of discernment in starting Token Clothing Co., as well as what she learned about beauty when participating in the Miss America program years ago. As we move toward redefining beauty in our lives, it's especially important to notice what messages we are believing about beauty and about our worth. My hope is that this conversation may not only help us become more aware of our self-talk, but also encourage us to speak words of truth and life over ourselves and others.Free I AM printables page here:https://www.tokenclothingco.com/pages/iamBuy 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.

With the start of the new year, we find ourselves in a season inundated with diet and fitness-related ads. We are being saturated with and sold the message that now is the time to change, reshape, or perfect our bodies or food intake. My hope is that today's guest will help us all detox from the current flurry of diet culture messaging and be reminded of the goodness of food and of our bodies. Lisa Diers is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified yoga teacher who specializes in supporting eating disorder and body image recovery. Lisa has a combined over 20 years of experience in nutrition and yoga services and previously served as the National Nutrition and Yoga Director for a large national eating disorder treatment program. In our time together, Lisa and I discuss the prevalence of disordered eating, as well as what a balanced relationship with food actually looks like. Lisa also explains how nutrition and yoga can be instrumental and complementary in reconnecting with our bodies, why “carbs” and sugar aren't the fear foods diet culture makes them out to be, and offers guidance for those struggling with body image this time of year. My conversation with Lisa was like a breath of fresh air; 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.

In 2007, Kristi McLelland went to Israel and realized that God is better than she ever knew. After studying in Egypt and Israel in 2007, Kristi's life took a turn, and she began leading biblical studies trips to Israel in 2008. Kristi is an author, professor at Williamson College, and a biblical culturalist who teaches the Bible in its historical, cultural context. Kristi's most recent book is entitled, Rediscovering Israel: A Fresh Look at God's Story in its Historical and Cultural Contexts. Kristi's study trips to Israel, Italy, Turkey, and Greece, as well as her in-person and online resources position Westerners to discover the Bible within the Middle Eastern context in which it was written.In my time with Kristi, we talk about what she experienced in Israel that helped her encounter the goodness of God in a new way. Kristi also talks about her reflections on the current situation in Israel, the relevance of the Bible in our lives today, why she believes the Bible is the greatest story there is, and how God is a God who sees his children and acts on their behalf. In this season when we reflect on the birth of Jesus, my hope is that this conversation may help us all enter more deeply into the reality of God's nearness to humanity, and to each one of us.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.

In this episode, Melissa Johnson helps us overcome body shame and choose body love. Check out Melissa's Impossible Beauty podcast. Get your copy of Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless.   Show Notes: Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: Welcome, everyone. This is Dr. Saundra, and you're listening to I Choose My Best Life. Today, we're going to be talking about our bodies, our temple, and how do we stay in love with our bodies and not get into a place of comparison and shame when we look at all the social media pics and all the different magazine articles. So I have joining me today, Melissa Johnson. She is an eating disorder survivor, Christian spiritual director, and author of the book Soul Deep. Beauty, and I'm looking forward to this conversation so that we can get back on track with some healthy self-talk and a healthy understanding of what wellbeing really means. Melissa, thank you so much for joining me today. Melissa Johnson: Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: Let me have you start by just sharing a little bit about your journey. I know that you recovered from an eating disorder. What was the scenario around that, that led to even beginning in that journey? Melissa Johnson: Yeah, that's a great question. About eight or nine years ago, I was working as a licensed marriage and family therapist, and it came to my attention via my own therapist that I was seeing. She flagged some of the behaviors that I was having around food and movement and noted that she called it an eating disorder. And to be quite honest, I was really taken aback. I think part of it probably was denial. But also, I do think we have a lot of these messages in our culture that aren't so helpful when it comes to food and bodies and what we see as beauty and uphold as beauty. And I ended up having to pause my work as a marriage and family therapist to do some intensive work around an eating disorder. The book goes into detail about how that came about and a bit more about my journey, but By the time I got into treatment, I think I had been balancing somewhere on the spectrum between disordered eating and eating disorder for about a decade. And I think that's what I'm trying to point out in this book is that I think there are likely a lot more disordered relationships with food bodies in our end movement. Because of the disordered nature of our cultural narratives around these things, and yeah, I was in intensive eating disorder treatment for about nine to 12 months. And through that journey, I started to see the depths to which these ideas around beauty and body image. Were not only impacting the women and men in intensive eating disorder treatment but also I started to see these same beliefs and behaviors and struggles in my peers, in a lot of our messaging around that I would see on commercials, this idea we should shrink our bodies and restrict our food. And so the things that we'll be calling were called Disordered in treatment, we're actually being upheld in popular culture. And on the other side of this, of my treatment journey, I became very passionate about redefining beauty and what is it that we're shooting for. My working definition in the book and currently is redefining beauty as the life of God at work in us and among us. I love Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: that. And it's so true. Our culture really does. Set us at war with our bodies and the way that it oftentimes present things. There are lots of body shame issues. And as you mentioned, eating disorders can take on various forms of what that looks like. I think too often, when we say eating disorders, we're automatically thinking of bulimia or anorexia. Can you go in a little bit more depth? I love something that you shared, which is that there are spectrums. And different ways that we have disorganized relations or dysfunctional relationships with food and well-being practices. Can you go a little bit deeper into that? Because I think that's the disconnect that, as you mentioned, even you had. It's I don't know if I would call this an eating disorder. What does that really mean? Melissa Johnson: Yeah. Thank you for pointing that out because I actually found that I was not alone. A number of people I've spoken with just in general but also on my podcast, impossible beauty. That's their story, too. They were, they didn't realize that it was an eating disorder because a lot of what they were doing was upheld by the popular culture. So yeah, so a disordered relationship. with with food or, I'll even say, quote health. I think that, yeah, so I will say too, like the spectrum, I think maybe if we imagine a spectrum, one side is disordered eating, one side is an eating disorder. I think that diagnoses can be helpful, but I think the reason I don't. I love even saying that I had an eating disorder diagnosis because I'm afraid that people listening might just tune it out and be like I don't have an eating disorder, so I don't need to listen to this conversation. But I do think that so much of our our cultural messages around these things are disordered. And like even me, probably when I would meet diagnostic criteria for entry for an eating disorder, I, I probably, I don't know, maybe two years before I would have been closer on the disordered eating side of the spectrum. So I think more so the way I like to look at it is this: is my relationship with food or body image depleting me of life, of the fullness of life that God invites us into? And so I think when I think about disordered relationships with food, there was a survey that was done out of, I think it was Chapel Hill. It was in that particular survey that 75 percent of the women surveyed reported disordered relationships with food. And okay, so what is disordered eating or disordered relationship with food? And some of the things that were labeled as disordered eating would have been like restricting whole food groups and restricting amounts of food. I'm trying to think of some other examples also deeming some foods as good and some foods as bad, having this binary of foods and having the fear around certain foods. So those are some examples. Yeah. Are there any other pieces of that that I could pick up on? Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: I Want to go into some very specifics with it, as it relates to teens because one of the studies that you mentioned is from the CDC from February 2023, which says three in five us teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in the past year since COVID. And that was double the rate of boys as a therapist. What role do you feel body image shame and self-esteem play? In those feelings of hopelessness that teen girls are experiencing? Melissa Johnson: Yeah, such a good question. And I don't know that we can. Research is interesting because we can say there's a likely correlation. I can't say causation at this point. However, I could say anecdotally and just logically, when we think about the inundation of social media currently, I have a couple of stats here. So we know that 80 percent of girls have used an app to change their appearance before the age of 13. We also know that girls ages 10 to 17 were found to spend five hours on social media every day. And I think when we consider the fact that there is this inundation of our developing neural networks of adolescent girls, I'll even say, I don't know. I think I recently heard that girls as young as eight are maybe getting social media. And so if we're thinking about the developing minds of these young girls who are literally, I heard someone use the phrase being disciplined by social media. And I think that's so true. If it is, five hours on social media every day, this inundation of literally fake. Images and this impossible standard because it is literally fake. And we know, through social comparison theory from psychology, that it is just our innate human instinct to compare ourselves with these images that are being presented before us. And I don't think it's a big jump to say that if we're comparing. Comparing ourselves to flawless images of what our culture upholds is beauty or beautiful. Likely, shame is being elicited, and I want to go ahead and just give us Brene Brown's definition of shame. I think it's a great definition. So she defined shame as an intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging the last part, the unworthy of love and belonging. Like Transcribed In these primary important developmental times where these girls are developing who they are, their identity, and this shame is likely being elicited five hours of their day. I don't think we could make it, I don't think that's a big jump. That is going to the core of who they are and their sense of worth and belonging. And so I. I do think we're on the cusp of the social media inundated youth being raised on social media. I don't think we've seen the effects of this to its extent, and I don't think it's a far stretch to say that it is deeply impacting them in some pretty significant ways. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: Absolutely. As an adult who has worked through their own identity things and their relationship with God, it can be very easy for the comparisons and all of those things to slip in when you're looking at them oftentimes on social media and within the general media. Images that appear to be perfect, you don't know what has been airbrushed. You don't know what has been electronically perfected when you're looking at those things. So how do we fight back against that type of kind of toxic imagery and keep in a place of healthy self-talk? Melissa Johnson: Yeah, such a good question. I really do think that a lot of this comes down to what we are inundating ourselves with and what are we allowing to impact us. And I think about the study of spiritual formation and how our soul is always, in that study, trying to have our soul formed more into the likeness of Jesus. But the truth is that our soul is being formed by whatever we're being exposed to. And so I would say, Turning down the volume on those influences is really pivotal to the formation of our soul in a way that is going to bring us wholeness and thriving. And so turning down the time and the, basically, the influence we're allowing social media to have, knowing that it is really like you said, it is so it is fake. And so I think the time, I think also the time we do spend there, if we are going to spend some time there, being careful of who is in our feed, maybe diversifying our feed, me, more realistic diverse body shapes and sizes. And I would say diversity in general as well. We tend to follow the same kinds of beauty and fitness influencers, but maybe trying to think of how can I use social media as a tool for good in my life and being really aware of having the sense of media literacy, meaning that we are, we become critical or analytical observers or recipients of media and social media, being aware that we are most often being sold a product. And what I have been just so frustrated to see and so sad to see is how often advertisers and corporations use shame, that sense that we are not good enough. to sell a product, to sell a diet, to sell a we have so many fitness influencers to sell a powder or a, a supplement of some kind. And so I think being really savvy about what someone is trying to sell me through this. Quote, flawless image, and trying to elicit the shame or the sense of I'm not good enough unless I do X, Y, or Z or look like X, Y, or Z. So I think turning down the volume there and turning up the volume on what I would call authentic beauty and starting to. I really have an eye for where is the life of God at work in us and among us in my life, in the world around me, and allowing that to enter in my experience through all five senses. And I think when we can actually start to allow, and also I would say, scripture and community where we feel loved and known for. For who we are at our core cause, at the end of the day, our soul is what's going to survive. I don't know exactly. We'll probably have renewed bodies. I think I don't know, like Jesus had, but I don't think that these cultural ideals of beauty are going to mean anything in, in our heavenly reality. What is really going to matter is how. Our souls were forged and formed by the reality of the goodness and beauty of God. And so I think it's important to allow that reality, that eternal reality, to impact us here and now because that's really the only thing that's going to last. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: Amen. Amen. And I think that's a great point because, when we think about food, we don't think about it as sometimes having a direct relationship with our spirituality or our relationship with God, especially what we're talking about. Dysfunctional eating or eating disorders, and I, as you mentioned, also fear that sometimes when people hear that, they're like, that's not me. I'm not doing what I typically see in the movies when someone says they have an eating disorder, but I caution you with this: for someone who's listening, when we're talking about an eating disorder, it could be something as simple as you are hiding out certain foods because you feel shame eating them in front of your husband or your kids or your girlfriends. You are eating large amounts of certain things and then purposely trying not to eat and back and forth and back and forth; you're running to food when you are stressed, when you're upset, when you're happy, when you're sad. Food can even become an idol in certain situations; it can become a comfort; it can start taking over different areas of our lives and stop simply being how we nourish our bodies. It starts taking on its own identity. So when we're thinking about just our relationship with food, I want you to think about your relationship with food in such that it is simply a resource for fueling you because, really, that's the beauty of food. It can be delicious. It can be fun. You can have fun with it, but really at the very core of it, the purpose of food is to nourish your body. So that it can function, and so when it starts taking on other roles, we are already starting to enter into this dysfunctional relationship. So, in your opinion, what are dysfunctional eating or eating disorders? How do you feel like they affect someone in every aspect, mentally, spiritually, and physically? Melissa Johnson: Yeah. One, a couple of different areas, for sure. I think across the board, it impacts every aspect of who we are. For me, it's a big one, and I think that from diet culture, we get this big message. I think oftentimes, restrictions on food are basically upheld. And so what happened in my own experience is when I tuned out to my own. Cues of hunger, as simple as that sounds, I started to mute my body's cues. And then, when I started to heal, I realized how much information my body was giving me, including my intuition, where I believe the still small voice of God speaks, feeling. Maybe my heart starts beating a little bit faster, or maybe I get butterflies in my stomach. I think those are all physiological cues that God can use. That, that he's speaking to us in some way. And I think when we cut ourselves off from those cues, from something that may seem really, really simple and maybe not too bad to do. I realized it had spiritual implications, also cutting myself off from my body as a whole and not seeing it as really a gift that God has given me to go throughout the world. And, I think we put qualifications on what a good body is and, usually, a good body these days; it looks like, again, like that fitness influencer, which I think is completely skewed and such a result of diet culture and this inundation with these false beauty ideals. It definitely impacted me. Spiritually, I think relationally as well. I think oftentimes when we are, our culture teaches us to use other women as a means of comparison, which I think is Very much in opposition to the kind of fellowship and community that I think we are invited into. Also, it put me at odds with myself as the voice of the self-critic has to become really loud in order to go another mile, maybe on whatever the treadmill or something, or not give my body something that's asking for, like food. And so, with the voice of the critic and how I am talking to myself, I think I realized how key that is. And I think it's so important to be gentle and kind to ourselves because that is actually the posture we're going to have toward other people. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: Yes, we're chatting with Melissa Johnson. She is the author of the newly released book Soul Deep Beauty, and I want to discuss just that term. When you say that, soul-deep beauty, what do you mean? What are you implying with that statement? Melissa Johnson: Yeah. Yes. I think I'm trying to contrast it with societal beauty because societal beauty, I believe, is beauty in a box. I think it's actually false beauty, and it's a beauty that doesn't give us what we crave. Whereas soul deep beauty again, which I would define as the life of God at work in us and among us. That is the kind of beauty that actually touches the deepest parts of us that societal beauty promised to fulfill, but it never could. And so I think that is the. Ultimate beauty, the beauty of God, essentially that I, and honestly, when I even say that I find myself like this, is like an adventure to me trying to see this all-encompassing mind-blowing beauty that I can't fully contain in words or my brain can't even fully conceive of it. Like I, I find myself in this posture of, okay, God, can you keep showing me what soul-deep beauty? I know it's way bigger than I can imagine. And it blows cultural beauty or societal beauty out of the water. But it is so deep beauty, I would say, is true or authentic beauty that our souls are purposed for. And when we find it and seek after it, that is what it ultimately gives us fulfillment. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: I think that's so beautiful. And I think that's part of the transition that most of us have to make to be able to get to a place where we are speaking positively about our bodies, where we are having a healthier relationship with food and with wellness-type activities. And I want you to take a moment, if you would, to share with us what this is; what is your vision for the American beauty standard? What would you like? Young teens, women, or women, in general, to know going into, when they're looking at all of these different things, what is it that needs to be in there at the forefront of their mind regarding their beauty? Hmm. Melissa Johnson: Yeah, I think that it's not one aesthetic that is that is beautiful. And I think that beauty reduced to being skin deep, I don't think is the full story at all. I also think when we're scrolling through our Instagram reel or feeds or whatever, I think what it does is actually it's, I think it's quite unhelpful for a number of reasons as we touched on, but I think what it also does is it causes us to objectify ourselves and see ourselves as from a third person perspective. And what we know about body image is that it is actually. Not helpful. Instead, we move toward a space of embodiment where we think about our bodies, like living in our bodies versus looking at our bodies. Maybe you're going out for a bike ride, and you're thinking about how strong your legs are and how energizing it feels when the wind is blowing by you. And when you're really experiencing living in the moment or enjoying being on that hike or how amazing it feels, it feels exhilarating. It is to water ski in your body. That, I think, is more like this holistic package of identity development and the gift of living in a body, I would invite those girls to a more holistic view of it. Identity of beauty and really turning down the volume on some of those more objectifying activities like scrolling on social media. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: Yes. As a woman who's been everything from a size six to a size 16 and everything in between, I have long ago had to come to the realization of. All the way back to Genesis, where God created mankind and looked at it and said, it is good. I found that has been a way that I have been able to accept myself at whatever position my physical body happens to be in at the moment because this is the body you get to do life in. And so if you have to be able to look at it and see it the way God sees it as something good. It's the house you've been given for Holy Spirit to abide. It's the vehicle you've been given to live out your gifts, callings, and talents. And whether you are any of those sizes, bigger or smaller, or if you are long hair or short hair, or if you wear makeup or don't wear makeup, that what's inside of you is so much deeper than that. And I love this. This. Thought of soul-deep beauty. That's really what the world needs to see the soul-deep beauty of Christ that emanates from us. Melissa, thank you so much for joining me. I want to make sure that people know how to get in touch with you and how to get a copy of your book and learn more about your Melissa Johnson: work. Yeah. Thank you so much. So, my website is impossible-beauty.com. My podcast is housed there as well on major platforms like Apple podcasts. And then on Instagram, I'm mostly active on Instagram. I'm @melissa.louise.johnson and @impossible.beauty. I'm also on Facebook. You can find me there at https://www.impossible-beauty.com/blog and https://www.impossible-beauty.com/podcast. Then, my book is at most major retailers. I think it heads up at Baker book house right now. I think it's 30 percent off, so that might be a good place to get it. But otherwise, Amazon, all the places. And, of course, if you always want to request it at your local bookstore, that's always a gift. So thank you. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: Excellent. I'll be sure to link to where you can get a copy of Melissa's books sold deep in the show notes, as well as a link to her website so that you can learn more about her and the work that she's doing until next time. Everyone live fully left boldly and rest intentionally. I Choose My Best Life Podcast is one of the  Top 20 Christian Women Podcasts I Choose My Best Life Books: Colorful Connections, Sacred Rest, Come Empty, Set Free to Live Free Connect with Saundra: Twitter: @DrDaltonSmith Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/drdaltonsmith Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrSaundraDaltonSmith

Registered dietitian and author, Dana Sturtevant, believes that society has ruptured our relationship with food, movement, and our bodies. Food has become something to restrict and our bodies a project to tweak and “perfect.” But Dana believes it doesn't have to be this way. She has spent more than 15 years helping people let go of chronic patterns of dieting and disordered eating and move ​​into a more authentic, sustainable way to occupy and nurture their bodies. Dana Sturtevant is the co-author of Reclaiming Body Trust: A Path to Healing and Liberation and the co-founder of the Center for Body Trust. In our time together, Dana discusses the origins of the Center for Body Trust, how diet culture so often gets in the way of trusting our bodies, how “health” has become an aesthetic, and how to engage joyful movement versus toxic fitness culture. Dana's insights are fresh and freeing. My hope is that this conversation may help lead us into more connected and nurturing relationships with our own bodies.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.

All too often these days, bread gets a bad rap. In many ways, diet culture has taught us to fear “carbs” in all forms. Today's guest, however, helps us see bread in a new way. She not only invites us to see bread as a gift, but as a sacred reminder of God's presence and provision. Kendall Vanderslice is a professionally trained baker, speaker, and author, including her most recent title, By Bread Alone: A Baker's Reflections on Hunger, Longing, and the Goodness of God. Kendall is the founder of the Edible Theology Project, an educational media project connecting the Communion table to the kitchen table. She holds a master's degree in Gastronomy (Food Studies) from Boston University and a Master's of Theological Studies from Duke Divinity School. Both personally and professionally, Kendall explores how God meets us in preparing food and sharing food with others. In today's episode, Kendall shares how she has come to love bread, how being a baker has shaped her faith, how what we do with our bodies shapes us spiritually, and how she has come to see food as a gift, after experiencing a disordered relationship with food. Kendall's insights are fresh and important. May this episode open our eyes to the gift of food, the gift of our bodies, and how God is forming us and teaching us through all of it.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.

Deb Benfield has helped hundreds of women heal their relationship with food, eating, and their bodies in her 35-year career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. In her own aging journey, she became frustrated by how difficult it was to find well-researched advice on aging with vitality that was not related to managing weight or youthful appearance. In her group and one-on-one coaching, Deb works with middle-aged women and beyond to help them feel vital and free of culture's stifling diet and movement rules.In my time with Deb, she names and disproves unhelpful myths about the aging process, discusses the prevalence of disordered eating in middle-aged women and beyond, the energy that is available to us if we aren't trying to white knuckle our bodies, and why elderhood is the time to emerge as our truest self. Deb Benfield's work, perspectives, and approach regarding aging are important and powerful. My hope is that this conversation might help you shed unhelpful societal beliefs about aging, so you might walk into the aging journey with more freedom, confidence, and vitality.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.

Several months ago, The Atlantic reported that forty million Americans have stopped attending church in the past 25 years, representing the largest concentrated change in church attendance in American history. In today's episode, I talk with pastor's kid turned pastor, Natalie Runion, about the trend of diminishing church attendance. Natalie Runion is the author of Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away, worship leader, and the former Pastor of Women and Creative Pastor of Family Ministry at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. Natalie has also established the Raised to Stay community “for anyone weary of God's people but longing to keep their faith in God.” In my time with Natalie, we talk about how her experience in the church has led to her current work and ministry, the beauty that is possible in the church, as well as the lies about beauty she's seen at work in women's ministry. Perhaps most importantly, Natalie reminds us that despite the brokenness we sometimes encounter in the church, God's steadfast beauty remains.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.

Donetta Floyd's compassion and perspectives are so refreshing. When it comes to societal messages around food and our bodies, we can often be left with the feeling that we aren't doing it right. In today's episode, registered dietitian Donetta Floyd helps dispel unhelpful ideas and misconceptions regarding our relationship with food, our bodies, as well as Type 2 Diabetes. Donetta is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who works with clients to help them find freedom in their relationship with food, using a Health at Every Size®, Intuitive Eating, and non-diet approach. In our time together, we talk about how Donetta became passionate about working from a non-diet approach, markers of disordered eating, and misconceptions about “health” having a certain look. Donetta's thoughtful approach to holistic wellbeing is inspiring. My hope is that you leave this conversation feeling more peace in your relationship with food and your body.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.

Today, I have author Melissa Johnson of Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless. Melissa is also the founder of Impossible Beauty, a blog and podcast dedicated to redefining beauty as “The life of God at work in us and among us.” She is a marriage and family therapist who has her own story of how God broke her free from the lies of a poor self-image to know her true worth in God. She talks about why we buy into the corrupt beauty standards that our culture pushes and how to be aware of how the beauty industry promotes insecurities among women. It was, for sure, an eye-opener for me as I will look at beauty advertising through a whole new lens! https://www.impossible-beauty.com/souldeep-beauty-book https://www.impossible-beauty.com/ CONNECT WITH JAYME ON SOCIALS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠ l⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ l ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠⁠⁠ l ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠JaymeElizabeth.com

It's time we get honest with ourselves as women today—we're being lied to. Today's cultural beauty standards are messed up. We all know it, and we all think we can resist the pull to look a certain way. But most of us—and our sisters, daughters, and nieces, too—are still striving for a broken kind of beauty while feeling like we're not good enough. In this episode, I'm sitting down with Melissa Johnson, a marriage and family therapist. The lie of today's beauty standards eventually led her to battling an eating disorder. Through that experience, she saw that chasing broken beauty breaks us as women in so many ways. And she also realized that true, soul-deep beauty is not impossible—it abounds in us and all around us.  Melissa and I are talking about how to uncover the hidden damage cultural lies about beauty have on your mind and soul, how to reconnect with God, in whose image you are made, and how to walk away from shame and striving. If you find yourself wishing that you were thinner or smaller, have a list of things you wish you could change about your appearance, or compare your body to other women's bodies, and you're longing for a more self-compassionate relationship with your body, sister, this letter is for you.  Topics we talked about in this episode: Melissa's story as a Christian woman The origin story of Melissa's new book, Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless and what you'll find when you open the cover The unhelpful (but normalized) beliefs we are buying as women when it comes to beauty What happens when we embrace our bodies as miracles and what it looks like to practice gratitude for our aging bodies What living in loving community with other women looks like How Melissa defines true beauty The ways that Melissa lives out the feminine genius in her own daily life Resources you should check out after listening to this episode: Pick up a copy of Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless Visit Melissa's website, Impossible Beauty and listen to the Impossible Beauty podcast Follow Melissa on Instagram Check out the sponsor for today's episode, CORDA, and use the code LETTERS to get 10% off your purchase at checkout Pick up a copy of the Letters to Women book (and use the code LETTERS at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase!) Check out my monthly newsletter, Naptime Notes Subscribe and Review Letters to Women in iTunes Are you subscribed to Letters to Women? If not, you should subscribe today! You don't want to miss any of the upcoming episodes. Click here to subscribe in iTunes.

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. Years later, Emmy sang with Willie Nelson's son, Lukas, at her grandmother's memorial. This special performance was nominated for Performance of the Year at the CMT Music Awards. 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. Emmy's song and authenticity are beautiful and courageous. She reminds us of the power of vulnerability in helping ourselves and others move toward healing.*This episode mentions eating disorder-related thoughts, behaviors, and symptoms. Please use your discretion when listening and speak with your support system as needed.Watch Emmy Russell's performance at The Song House here.Watch the official music video for "Skinny" here. 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.

Today on the Intuitive Eating for Christian Women podcast our guest Melissa Johnson explains why we need to redefine beauty and shares about her new book "Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless". In this episode we dig into: - Her experience of finding deeper intimacy with God in her eating disorder and her journey of treatment and healing. - The intertwining dangers of beauty culture and diet culture - How media saturation impacts our mind, body and soul - The power of shame in advertising and the importance of media literacy and being critical observers of the media we consume - Awakening to the spiritual battle in eating disorders and tools for fighting back - The importance of redefining beauty and how it changes our lives - Her book "Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless" This episode of Intuitive Eating for Christian Women is brought to you by our MEMBERSHIP. If you're ready to invest in your faith-based intuitive eating journey and invest in relationships with like-minded Christian women, then join us! You can try your first month for just $1. To learn more about the membership and join go to ⁠https://intuitiveeatingforchristianwomen.com/membership/⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/intuitiveeating/message

Gaelynn Lea is a professional musician and sought-after public speaker. She has opened for numerous artists including the Decembrists, composed the music for Macbeth on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig, and her perspectives have been shared on outlets such as On Being With Krista Tippett and PBS NewsHour.Having been born with Osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, Gaelynn has had to navigate the world differently. Such life experiences have shaped her perspectives in important in meaningful ways, including becoming an advocate for Disability Rights and Accessibility. In our time together, Gaelynn shares about the beautiful insight that disability can bring, as well as her passion for increased education about disability. She also discusses the transcendence of music, how she is able to hold life's beauty and pain, and how she broke free from lies associated with societal beauty.Gaelynn Lea is an incredibly talented musician, and she is so much more than that. She invites us all to take a deeper look at life, what it's ultimately about, and the kind of beauty that is truly worth pursuing.To watch Gaelynn's TED Talk, go here. 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.

Melissa Johnson joins Heather today to discuss the concept of beauty and how it can be redefined. Melissa shares her personal journey of simultaneously undergoing eating disorder treatment and spiritual formation classes, which prompted her to question societal beauty standards and discover true beauty. Through her own experiences and encounters with God, Melissa began to see the broken nature of cultural beauty and how it disintegrates individuals. Melissa highlights the mind-blowing beauty and expansive love of God revealed in his Creation and creations. True beauty, she explains, integrates and draws individuals towards wholeness and unity. To see and appreciate such beauty, Melissa suggests adopting a posture of presence and using our senses to notice the world around us. The conversation delves into Melissa's personal experience with the harmful beliefs around food, body image, and worth as a woman that she had to undo through intensive treatment. She emphasizes the importance of stopping objectification and embracing our bodies as integrated parts of who we are. We also cover touch on societal pressures, shame, and the impact of beauty standards on individuals' sense of self-worth and belonging. The toxic nature of these standards, perpetuated by media saturation and social media, leads to comparison, competition, and disconnection from our own bodies. Check out Melissa's new book or connect with Melissa at: https://www.impossible-beauty.com Learn more about Melissa's new book: "Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless" https://amzn.to/47diXWT (Amazon affiliate link - a tiny portion of your purchase supports this ministry) Learn more about Compared to Who? coaching opportunities and the brand new signature coaching program and online course here: www.improvebodyimage.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Societal notions of “beauty” and our relationship with our bodies and food have been deeply influenced by diet culture. Author and registered dietitian Christy Harrison defines diet culture as: “a system of beliefs that equates thinness, muscularity, and particular body shapes with health and moral virtue; promotes weight loss and body reshaping as a means of attaining higher status; demonizes certain foods and food groups while elevating others; and oppresses people who don't match its supposed picture of ‘health'…It masquerades as health, wellness, and fitness.” (Anti-Diet, Christy Harrison, p. 7).In today's episode, I talk with registered dietitian, sports nutritionist, and nutrition therapist Leslie Schilling about the widespread impacts of diet culture, including in our schools, medical offices, and places of worship. Leslie recently released her second book, Feed Yourself: Step Away from the Lies of Diet Culture and into Your Divine Design. She has also served as a performance nutrition consultant for Cirque du Soleil®, an expert contributor to U.S. News & World Report, and has been featured in media outlets like Health, Women's Health, Self, Pregnancy Magazine, Yoga Journal, The Huffington Post, and on HGTV.In my time with Leslie, she helps us unravel some of diet culture's lies, including how its beliefs and practices have infiltrated the church. She also helps us see that thinness isn't synonymous with health, our worth is not tied to our body size or what is on our plate, and that body diversity is divine. In so many ways, Leslie helps us name the lies of diet culture so we can fight back, live in freedom, and trust our body's divine design.Learn more about Leslie's book, here.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.

Grace Wabuke Klein has had her share of ups and downs. 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 has had a full life. She has also learned, and now encourages others, that we can find purpose even in difficult days and seasons of waiting. 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. Grace has empowered others in their leadership and spiritual growth as part of the pastoral leadership team at Faith Church in West Covina, California and now with her husband at focus412, a ministry that helps encourage church growth. 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.”Learn more about Grace's book, here.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.

Some of life's greatest lessons come from unexpected teachers. For Lacy Finn Borgo, some of her greatest teachers have been children. In Lacy's new book, Faith Like a Child: Embracing Our Lives as Children of God, Lacy invites us to consider what we might learn from children. Moreover, could welcoming our child selves draw us deeper into wholeness and our relationship with God?Lacy Finn Borgo teaches and provides spiritual direction through Renovaré, Mercy Center Burlingame, Companioning Center, and with children at Haven House, a transitional facility for families without homes. She holds a doctor of ministry degree in leadership and spiritual formation and a certificate in spiritual direction from Portland Seminary. Borgo has also authored Spiritual Conversations with Children and the children's book, All Will Be Well. In our time together, Lacy and I discuss what we can learn from children and what it means to welcome our child selves. We also consider the importance of tending to childhood wounds, how to remain open to wonder amidst life's griefs and brokenness, and why imagination is pivotal in the life of faith. This episode is filled with so much wisdom; I can't wait for you to listen.Learn more about Lacy's book, here.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.

Melissa L. Johnson is a licensed marriage and family therapist, adjunct instructor at Bethel University, and the founder of Impossible Beauty, a blog and podcast dedicated to redefining beauty as “the life of God at work in us and among us”. Melissa's writing and podcast interviews seek to uncover what true beauty is, what it is not, and how we go about finding beauty in a broken world. Melissa is releasing her debut book with Bethany House publishing in June, 2023, entitled Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless. LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE IF: You want to learn how we are being lied to about true beauty You seek to love yourself- and others - unconditionally You want a new perspective about how true beauty invites us into an adventure and affirms our true worth You can learn more about Melissa: Instagram: @Melissa.louise.johnson Impossible Beauty Podcast www.impossible-beauty.com

This conversation with my new friend, Melissa Johnson is such an important one to have. We talk about how media and other outside influences are determining our self worth and identifying who we are in every area of our lives. In her new book, Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting For Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless, Melissa discusses the importance of looking to God to find our identity. She talks about her struggle with an eating disorder that began in her adulthood and how the recovery journey has influenced her and led her to understand God and His Presence in a whole new way! I pray this conversation helps and encourages you today where you are to truly look beyond the exterior and into who God created you to be starting with the inside. Bio: Melissa Johnson is a marriage and family therapist, is a spiritual director, and teaches an undergraduate course at Bethel University on soul wellbeing. Melissa is also the founder of Impossible Beauty, a blog and podcast dedicated to redefining beauty as “the life of God at work in us and among us.” Melissa lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband. Anchor Verse: John 10:10 Connect with Melissa: Website: https://www.impossible-beauty.com IG: https://instagram.com/melissa.louise.johnson Ministry IG: https://instagram.com/impossible.beauty FB: https://www.facebook.com/impossible.beauty.podcast Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/impossible-beauty/id1473369496 Book Links: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/492083?fbclid=PAAaaCt5RYBLGaGHQNyrQumzNLEjAvxTaoASDL9Um20Xs1ERRpmbbwCCcj6vU_aem_th_AfT7B5AYDMGTyNAc8dPGJe0-CKjb8EDByNZ_qakaayg_shpvMm2LObZFttdTs-IraNE https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Deep-Beauty-Fighting-Demanding-Flawless/dp/0764241656/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= **This podcast is a proud member of the Spark Network! It is a network of Christian podcasts that cover so many different topics!  Head over to: https://www.sparkmedia.ventures/spark-network#/ to find more amazing podcasts!!**

On this episode of Today's Heartlift with Janell, I am joined by special guest Melissa L. Johnson, author of "Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless." In this bonus session, Melissa and I discuss our personal experiences with prayer and how it can shift our mindset toward a more compassionate God. Janell also shares her struggles with perfectionism and her reparative experience with Jesus. They also touch on the unrealistic beauty standards imposed by our culture and the importance of getting to know ourselves better.Learn more about Melissa and Impossible Beauty: Melissa JohnsonUse this hashtag to share your thoughts: #todaysheartliftwithjanellPlease send your questions here: janell@janellrardon.com and Text your questions and I'll answer them on the show!Meet me over on Instagram where we will share our thoughts on this week's podcast prompts: MEET ME ON INSTASo excited that the podcast has been voted in the Top 100 Mental Health Podcasts on Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/mental_health_podcasts/Listen to more great podcasts: ACCESS MORE

On this episode of Today's Heartlift with Janell, I am joined by special guest Melissa L. Johnson, author of "Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless." In this bonus session, Melissa and I discuss our personal experiences with prayer and how it can shift our mindset toward a more compassionate God. Janell also shares her struggles with perfectionism and her reparative experience with Jesus. They also touch on the unrealistic beauty standards imposed by our culture and the importance of getting to know ourselves better.Learn more about Melissa and Impossible Beauty: Melissa JohnsonUse this hashtag to share your thoughts: #todaysheartliftwithjanellPlease send your questions here: janell@janellrardon.com and Text your questions and I'll answer them on the show!Meet me over on Instagram where we will share our thoughts on this week's podcast prompts: MEET ME ON INSTASo excited that the podcast has been voted in the Top 100 Mental Health Podcasts on Feedspot: https://blog.feedspot.com/mental_health_podcasts/Listen to more great podcasts: ACCESS MORE

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. Also, in case the term “literary agent” is new to you, he/she basically represents a writer to promote and sell their work to a publisher. 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. I can't wait for you to meet Don and to hear more about how Soul-Deep Beauty came to be.

Are you being sold a broken brand of beauty?Beauty narratives our culture feeds us literally destroys lives. However, God has a different version of beauty, one that's life giving, and soul deep! So let's chat it about! On this episode we welcome Melissa L. Johnson, author of Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless. This conversation is so good and so necessary!Listen wherever you get your podcasts or use the link in our profile.And as always, we'd love if you'd share this episode with your friends and/or leave us a review. (Five star reviews are our faves—hint, hint, wink, wink, lol. Thank you!)About Melissa:Melissa L. Johnson (impossible-beauty.com) is a marriage and family therapist, as well as a spiritual director. She is also the founder of Impossible Beauty, a blog and podcast dedicated to redefining beauty as "the life of God at work in us and among us." Melissa lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband.Website | Podcast | Book:https://www.impossible-beauty.comSupport the showWhat's Your Story on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/whatsyourstory.podcast To connect with Hannah visit http://www.hannahrconway.com To connect with Stephani visit http://www.stephanicook.org