Karen Swallow Prior is one of those writers and thinkers I’ve enjoyed reading for years. Her book On Reading Well inspired me to tackle some challenging literature. The wisdom of The Evangelical Imagination has helped illustrate more than one of my sermons. And now Karen’s rare and signature mix of depth, courage, and wisdom shows up on every page of her fabulous new book, You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful.

Today she joins us on the show to talk about the idea of vocation and how we might discern God’s calling all the days of our lives. Plus: what’s the difference between calling and passion? How can we seek truth, goodness, and beauty in jobs we may not love? And what is Karen’s favorite bird? (You’ll never guess. Except… yes, you might.)

From not backing down in the face of corruption to loving one another well in painful seasons, Karen shares some of her own vocational journey as a professor, a daughter, a writer, and beyond.

If you’re facing questions about your own calling, perhaps as you near retirement or consider a job change or prepare for graduation, this is the podcast for you. And who among us won’t face this question multiple times in our lives?

Check out You Have a Calling anywhere books are sold. I enjoyed it so very much, and I expect that you will, too.

Emily McGowin is an associate professor of theology at Wheaton College as well as a priest in the Anglican diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others. She is the author of three books: Quivering Families, Christmas, and Households of Faith.

Today Emily comes on the show to talk about family: what it is, what Scripture says about it, and how family can be a blessing to our communities and our world. We dig into her newest book, Households of Faith: Practicing Familiy in the Kingdom of God, and

From parenting as accompaniment to seeking justice, our conversation was a deep encouragement and blessing to me and I pray it will be one to you as well.

Starting a business is not for the faint of heart. Starting a publishing business might take the most courage of all.

Enter Karin Hoyle. This author and birder wanted to broaden the landscape of middle grade literature with more books that feature the good, the beautiful, and the true. Middle grade lit is a field that is often filled with books that skew much older than the kids preteens and teens who read them. As a parent myself, I know firsthand that finding books that are both challenging enough for my young readers and still being age-appropriate can be a real uphill climb.

Join us as we pick Karin’s brain about Owl’s Nest Publishers, the state of young adult literature, the joys and struggles of writing, and why owls just might be the coolest birds.