Many of us have complicated relationships with our bodies. We have certain expectations of what it can and should be able to do for us. We feel the pressure for it to conform to certain societal ideals. We wonder if physical pleasure can be holy. We esteem physical productivity over physical rest. Today, I talk with author and baker @knvslice about what bread has taught her about the body, rest, community, and God - all things I write about in chapter 6 of my book. (Content warning: we do discuss diet culture and issues surrounding body image in this episode, so if that’s a difficult topic for you, I just wanted you to be aware).

What does it mean to live as neighbors, to build community in a way that is healthy and whole? Today we talk with author Shannan Martin about loving and being loved by your neighbor, something I write about in chapter 5 of my book. We discuss the costs of getting stuck in the Christian subculture, learning to converse with people who think differently than you, and the challenges and beauty that come with living in proximity to others.

"Calling" is a loaded term, especially for those of us who grew up in the American Christian subculture. Whether it was the pressure to find just the right job or ministry to fit our gifts and passions, or the imperative that we "do something important for God," the term calling can often be associated with stress and anxiety...something I write about in chapter 5 of my book. Today, I talk with singer-songwriter Jon Guerra about the idea of calling and vocation. We discuss the creative life, stewarding our gifts, holiness in the mundane, and the transformation that can occur in our hearts when we are willing to see God in the small, the simple, and the hidden things rather than just the large, the grand, and the eye-catching things.

Ecclesiastes, that ancient book of wisdom, tells us there is nothing better than for us to be happy and do good...to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in our work when we can. Today, I talk with Rachel Marie Kang, author of the book Let There Be Art to talk about the holy practice of noticing beauty and joy. This is something I write about in a mini-chapter of my book entitled: "A Blessing: Delight." Rachel and I discuss how the formula that promises happiness can sometimes distract us from noticing the simple blessings that exist all around us. She offers some practical steps for being present with God even in the seemingly mundane and ordinary.

Have you ever heard that "motherhood is a woman's highest calling" or been told that children are the key to a happy, sanctified life? Today, Kayla Craig - creator of Liturgies for Parents - offers her thoughts on the reality of parenting, both the good and the challenging. She and I discuss chapter 3 of my book, the pitfalls of ranking "callings," the myth of balance, and the joy of noticing God's presence as we caretake our families,

Welcome to the Holy Unhappiness Podcast! This week, Amanda will share a little bit about how her book Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life came to be, and what inspired her to start this podcast as a companion to the book.