Episodes

  • Episode 200: Nathan L. Nicholson- You Are a Limited Edition

    Episode 200: Nathan L. Nicholson- You Are a Limited Edition
    Nov 10 2026
    The truth is, you are an original, a limited edition. Another person with your DNA, passions, strengths, and story will never exist again. In today's episode, Nathan L. Nicholson reminds us of our originality and the distinctive creativity that flows from that uniqueness.

    Nathan L. Nicholson is an artist, award-winning graphic designer, consultant, and creative director. He is also an ordained elder in the Church of God in Christ, the host of the Culture Critic podcast and the founder of NUMA Art, LLC, an independent creative services and communications agency.

    In our time together, Nathan shares about his book, In the Beginning We Create: Reflections on Collaboration, Creativity, and Rest. Specifically, we discuss the importance of collaboration and rest in the creative journey, as well the transformational power of creativity amid pain. So, if you’re needing to remember your worth, your God-given uniqueness, or the importance of your creative work, 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.
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    41 mins
  • Episode 199: Dr. Charlotte Ord- Body Image, GLP-1s, & the Resurgence of Diet Culture

    Episode 199: Dr. Charlotte Ord- Body Image, GLP-1s, & the Resurgence of Diet Culture
    Oct 27 2026
    Dr. Charlotte Ord is a UK-based Counselling Psychologist who specializes in helping adolescents and adults with issues around body image, eating disorders, self-esteem and self-acceptance. She was formerly an international strength and conditioning coach and was twice named UK Personal Trainer of the Year.

    In today’s episode, we discuss the current resurgence of diet culture, the complexities around the increased usage of GLP-1s, the unhelpful conflation of weight and health, and how the inundation of weight loss ads might be impacting our relationships with our bodies. Dr. Ord also discusses her book entitled, Body Confident You, Body Confident Kid, including ideas for how we might help ourselves and the children in our lives move toward increased body confidence.

    So, if you long to feel more grounded in a culture that seeks to stir up, then profit on body insecurities, 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.
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    41 mins
  • Episode 198: Jeremy Sims-Noticing God’s Movement in Your Life

    Episode 198: Jeremy Sims-Noticing God’s Movement in Your Life
    Oct 13 2026
    What if the Life of God, His very Spirit, is actively at work in our lives, our hearts, and in the world around us right now? And what might it be like to cultivate an attentiveness and language for such movement in our lives? These are the topics I dive into on today’s episode with Jeremy Sims.

    Jeremy is a professor of spiritual formation at Southeastern University, where he leads the Doctor of Ministry and Master of Arts in Ministerial Leadership programs. He previously served in pastoral ministry for twenty-five years and most recently authored, The Way of the Spirit: Recognizing and Responding to God’s Subtle Movements.

    In our time together, Jeremy discusses what the Holy Spirit is, why it’s important to notice God’s movement in our lives, and how we might begin to do so. So, if you’ve ever wondered if God sees you or is at work in your life or in the lives of those around you, 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.
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    45 mins
  • Episode 197: Andrew Camp- Can Meals Transform Us?

    Episode 197: Andrew Camp- Can Meals Transform Us?
    Sep 29 2026
    Diet and wellness culture often lead us to fear or restrict certain foods or amounts. Food is often seen as something to be optimized or controlled. But what if we began viewing food from a completely different lens-one of gratitude, abundance, enjoyment, and even deep meaning? That is the conversation I dig into with Andrew Camp in today’s episode.

    Andrew Camp is a former chef and pastor, who holds a master’s degree in spiritual formation and soul care. Andrew also hosts The Longest Table Podcast, where he explores how the intersection of food and faith can foster community and connection.

    In our time together, we explore the themes of food, hospitality, and the table in the Biblical narrative, as well as tensions around food and the table in modern-day society. I was also fascinated by our discussion on the transformational, even mystical, elements we might experience around the table. For me, this conversation was refreshing and intriguing. I hope the same is true 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.
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    52 mins
  • Episode 196: Stephanie Rousselle- Awaken Delight

    Episode 196: Stephanie Rousselle- Awaken Delight
    Sep 15 2026
    To “delight” in something or someone is to experience deep joy or to turn toward something with great affection and priority. But what does it mean to delight in God and why does it matter for our faith, for our lives? Those are the questions we tackle in today’s episode with Stephanie Rousselle, a French-born Bible teacher, speaker, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, and founder of Gospel Spice Ministries.

    In our time together, Stephanie shares how delight is central to the life of faith, how beauty and delight are deeply connected, how we might remain open to delight amidst life struggles, and what moved her to convert to Christianity from atheism in her late teenage years.

    If you’ve perhaps lost your delight in God, never really experienced it in the first place, or are experiencing a season of discouragement, this episode is for you.

    **Learn more about Stephanie’s book, Awaken Delight 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.
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    53 mins
  • Episode 195: Dr. Liz Hall-Can Suffering Lead to Flourishing?

    Episode 195: Dr. Liz Hall-Can Suffering Lead to Flourishing?
    Sep 1 2026
    Dr. Elizabeth or Liz Hall is Professor of Psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University in La Mirada, California, where she researches and teaches at the intersection of suffering, meaning-making, and Christian spirituality. For over 30 years she has been exploring how faith and psychology can work together to help people flourish—especially amid suffering. She also coauthored Relational Spirituality with her husband, Todd, and has published over 150 academic works.

    In my time with Dr. Hall, we discuss her most recent book, entitled When the Journey Hurts: Finding Meaning in Suffering for Heart, Mind, and Soul. In her book, and in our time together, she shares about her own personal experience with breast cancer and her learnings from her extensive research on suffering. Specifically, she discusses how suffering can lead to flourishing, how she holds on to God’s goodness and beauty amidst life’s difficulties, and how suffering can open us up to God’s presence. Truth be told, I was surprised to come away from this conversation on suffering feeling inspired and hopeful. I deeply hope it does the same 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.
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    48 mins
  • Episode 194: Lisa Diers RDN, LD, E-RYT-Is Diet Culture Disconnecting You from Your Body?

    Episode 194: Lisa Diers RDN, LD, E-RYT-Is Diet Culture Disconnecting You from Your Body?
    Aug 17 2026
    Diet and wellness culture have a way of disconnecting us from our bodies and a life-giving relationship with food. Thankfully, professionals like Lisa Diers are working to help people heal their relationship with their bodies and with food.

    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 my time with Lisa, we discuss current lies associated with diet culture, how nutrition therapy and yoga can bring about reconnection with food and our bodies, and more about the Soul-Deep Beauty Retreat at Hinshon Farms on October 3rd. In a world where messages around food and our bodies can bring about confusion and disconnection, my hope is that this episode and the upcoming Soul-Deep Beauty Retreat might bring about grounding and reconnection. 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.
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    34 mins
  • Episode 193: Lanta Davis-The Power of Your Imagination

    Episode 193: Lanta Davis-The Power of Your Imagination
    May 27 2026
    The truth is what our minds dwell on forms us. The stories and images we behold imprint themselves on us, shape who we become, and impact how we see the world. In this way, our imaginations are powerful. In today’s episode, Lanta Davis helps us better understand the power of our imaginations and how what we dwell on forms who are becoming.

    Lanta Davis is professor of humanities and literature in the John Wesley Honors College at Indiana Wesleyan University and the author of Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation. Her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, the Christian Century, Smithsonian Magazine, Plough, and Christ and Pop Culture. In my time with Lanta, she discusses the importance of training our imaginations, why the imagination is a ‘stamp for the soul,’ and how and why it’s important to allow beauty to shape our imaginations.

    Lanta’s insights are fascinating and formational; I can’t wait for you to listen to our conversation.

    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.
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    46 mins