Impossible Beauty

Gabi Kahn is a non-diet dietitian and owner of Method Nutrition. After recovering from a lifetime of harmful dieting, Gabi earned her MA in Clinical Nutrition from NYU and has now made it her mission to protect the next generation from diet culture. More specifically, Gabi seeks to help moms find peace in their relationship with food and learn to love their bodies, so they can protect their young daughters from a lifetime of harmful dieting.

In my time with Gabi, we talk about what it might look like to move toward a more helpful relationship with food and our bodies, how pursuing “health” can become an obsession, and what might need to shift in our own lives to live more fully and help the next generation walk away from the cage that is diet culture. So, whether you are a mom or not, this episode is for you. We have all been swimming in the tainted waters of diet culture, so may we shed its toxic legacy, so we can hand the next generation something different and far better.

Molly LaCroix is a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and speaker. As a therapist, Molly knows that we need loving relationships when we are struggling with life’s challenges. However, she noticed that, due to fear of vulnerability, people often struggle with being a supportive presence in one another’s lives during times of suffering. And that’s exactly why Molly wrote her book, Restoring Relationship: Transforming Fear into Love Through Connection. In her book, Molly explores the root of our vulnerability and offers practical ways to transform fear into love through connection.

In my time with Molly, we talk about her experience of God amid her battle with cancer, some helpful ways of handling societal messages around ageing, some practical ways we can choose love over fear-in our relationship with ourselves and with others, and how miraculous it is that we can heal, personally and interpersonally. My hope is that this episode will leave you more hopeful and will encourage you to persevere in the lifelong journey of healing and transformation, as we are all being shaped to become more infused with Love.

Bruxy Cavey is the senior pastor at The Meeting House, a church for people who aren’t into church. The Meeting House is a multisite Anabaptist congregation in Ontario, Canada where thousands of people connect to God and each other through Sunday services, online interaction, and a widespread house church network. Bruxy is also author of the bestselling book, The End of Religion and his new book, (re)union: The Good News of Jesus for Seekers, Saints, and Sinners.

In my time with Bruxy, we talk about so many things: how legalism can find its way into our relationship with food or exercise, why he finds Jesus to be so magnetic, why God is more beautiful than we can fathom, and how we have a pivotal role in bringing about more beauty in the world. I hope this episode encourages you today and inspires all of us to be “part of the solution…partnering with God to bring about something good,” as Bruxy puts it.

Jess Connolly is an author, church leader, and coach. She’s also a woman who has experienced decades of shame and pain in her body. She’s been on a journey to break free from body shame using God’s truth and now she is inviting women to join her. As she puts it, she’s obsessed with the freedom that is ours for the taking.

Today’s episode is a little different. For one, we’re going to jump right into my conversation with Jess. Also, our conversation is going to largely focus on her new book, Breaking Free from Body Shame: Dare to Reclaim What God Has Named Good. As we consider letting go of what beauty is not, it is so important to release the lies that have been spoken over our good bodies. So, please settle in and listen in to a conversation that is long overdue. May God meet you in these tender places and may you know that your body is good.

Hope Carpenter is a pastor, author, wife, and mom. Along with her husband Ron, she pastors Redemption Church in Greenville, South Carolina and San Jose, California. She has also authored two books, The Little Pink Book, and most recently, The Most Beautiful Disaster. When Hope is not helping her husband lead Redemption or spending time with her grandchildren, she often travels to Pakistan, Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Mexico to do missions work under the umbrella of Hope for the Nations. Hope’s heart and passion is seeing people’s lives changed and transformed so that they can be everything God has created them to be.

In my time with Hope, we talk about the masks we wear as humans and how to work toward a different reality in the church and in our relationships. Hope also openly shares about her own story of infidelity and marital struggles, demonstrating what it looks like for leaders to “go first” in sharing their own vulnerabilities. I absolutely loved my conversation with Hope. Her words are so encouraging and filled with so much wisdom. She demonstrates the beauty of vulnerability, the beauty of rock bottom, and reminded me that the goal of following God is not perfection, but freedom.

These days the concept of self-love is tossed around a lot. And often, it can be assumed to be a shallow, abstract, or even self-indulgent concept. For that reason, and so many others, I am so glad I have Karlyn Benn on the show today. Not only does Karyln give us a helpful definition and understanding of this concept, but she explains how it has transformed her own life.

Karlyn Benn is licensed professional counselor and Glō Coach. In her coaching work, she helps women live a life full of joy, confidence, and courage all while embracing the beautiful body they have right now. Karlyn specifically emphasizes the inner work that must take place within each of us so that we can show up confidently and authentically to shine in the world around us. I can’t wait for you to listen today and hopefully sink a little more deeply into the reality of this infinite love we are all immersed in and then, offer some of that incredible love and acceptance to yourself.

Abby Turner is a food blogger, speaker, and writer. Born into a large family, she grew up in Central Arkansas, where she learned the importance of community and hospitality at a young age. After obtaining her master’s degree from Baylor, Abby lived in 6 states in 5 years and learned how essential community is to wellbeing and faith. Abby’s passion is to encourage women to stop wasting time waiting for the perfect family, house, or table and to start opening their homes, cooking for friends, and building community. Abby also recently released her latest book, The Living Table: Recipes and Devotions for Everyday Get-togethers.

What especially strikes me about Abby’s message is how she frames the importance of gathering at the table. She’s caused me to see how incredibly sacred and healing the table is. A meal is built in time to connect with others, be known, and let others know they are known and loved. It’s much more than recipes or meal planning, it’s about relationships. I can’t wait for you to listen in and learn from Abby.

Do you ever wonder how such incredible beauty and such profound brokenness can coexist in the world? And in the midst of those seeming competing realities, what does that mean about God and his goodness? It’s questions like these that today’s guest has studied, struggled with, and recently written a book about.

Sarah Clarkson is a writer and theologian who currently lives in West Sussex in England with her husband, son, and daughter. Sarah recently finished her MSt (Master of Studies) in modern doctrine at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford with a focus on theodicy and beauty, studying the presence of beauty in the midst of a broken work. Sarah also just completed her latest book, entitled This Beautiful Truth: How God’s Goodness Breaks Into Our Darkness, detailing the story of Sarah’s personal struggle with mental illness and the beauty that infiltrated and transformed her darkness, teaching her to hunger after hope.

Sarah’s insights are profound, hopeful, and have been fought for in the midst of her own suffering. She is a seasoned theologian and is an artist with her words. She has a beautiful way of speaking, of describing God, and of envisioning a world where Beauty is our ultimate reality and truth. My hope is that as you listen today, you may you know and feel that truth.

Katherine Wolf is a survivor, communicator, and advocate. After giving birth to her first son in 2008, Katherine miraculously survived a catastrophic stroke. Since that day, Katherine and her husband, Jay, have committed their lives to champion the truth that suffering and joy can coexist in your good/hard story. In that pursuit, Katherine and Jay have written two best-selling books (Hope Heals and Suffer Strong), created a thriving online community, and founded Hope Heals Camp for families affected by disability. Katherine and Jay currently live in Atlanta, Georgia with their two sons.

Today’s episode is one where I often found myself pausing after Katherine responded to my questions. The beauty and profundity of what she said threw me off, but in a good way. I wanted to sit in her words, rather than move on to the next question or topic. There is so much wisdom, humility, and depth in what Katherine has to say. Her words on today’s episode deeply impacted me and I hope they encourage you deeply too. I can’t wait for you to hear more about Katherine’s story, how she’s found authentic hope, and be reminded that each one of our lives is a profound miracle.

Melanie Penn is a gifted singer/songwriter who writes pop songs at the crossroads of faith and culture. Melanie began formal vocal training at a young age and eventually moved to New York City to pursue a career on Broadway. After years of being a mainstay in New York City’s theater scene, including a run of playing Sandy Dumbrowski in Grease for a Broadway touring company, Melanie decided to transition to song writing and pursue a career as a solo artist.

Melanie has released several albums, including Wake Up, Hope Tonight, Immanuel, Immanuel: The Folk Sessions, and her most recent album, More Alive. For many years Melanie also served as a worship leader at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, under the leadership of author and theologian Tim Keller.

In my time with Melanie, we talk about the unexpected turns during the pandemic, her journey and initial fears around songwriting, creativity, and the amazing privilege we have as image bearers of God to bestow beauty to the world around us. I truly loved this conversation with Melanie. She somehow managed to simultaneously challenge and inspire me…and as an added bonus, we laughed a lot. I can’t wait for you listen in!