Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker

Amy Julia Becker
  • 5.0 (72)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semimonthly

A podcast about reimagining the good life through the lens of disability, faith, and culture. Host Amy Julia Becker interviews guests in conversations that challenge assumptions about the good life, proclaim the inherent belovedness of every human being, and help us envision a world of belonging. 

  1. 1d ago

    When God Feels Absent: How Faith Makes Room for Doubt and Hope with Christian Wiman

    If you’ve struggled with questions about God, suffering, or whether faith can make sense of the world’s brokenness, you’re not alone. Poet Christian Wiman joins Amy Julia Becker to talk about pain, joy, doubt, and the lifelong hunger for God. Together, they explore a faith honest enough to hold both questions and hope. S10 E10: 00:00 The Genesis of Glimmerings 04:41 Navigating Differences in Faith 12:24 The Role of Personal Encounters 18:45 The Intersection of Suffering and Longing for God 23:33 The Relationship Between Love, Suffering, and Hope 36:37 Sustaining Faith in Everyday Life 39:53 Cutting Through the Noise: Faith Beyond Differences MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Glimmerings: Letters on Faith Between a Poet and a Theologian by Miroslav Volf and Christian Wiman My Bright Abyss by Christian WimanMiroslav Volf on Reimagining the Good Life: The Cost of Ambition _ SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Christian Wiman is the Clement-Muehl Professor of the Arts at Yale Divinity School. He is the author, editor, or translator of fifteen books, including Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair and Hammer Is the Prayer: Selected Poems.  His work appears regularly in Harper’s, The New Yorker, and Commonweal. More about Chris: https://divinity.yale.edu/profile/christian-wiman Glimmerings: Letters on Faith Between a Poet and a Theologian We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text! Connect with me: InstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteThanks for listening!

  2. Jul 14

    Love, Guilt, and Care: A Sibling’s Disability Story with Brian Trapp

    When a child grows up with a sibling with a disability, what defines their childhood? Author Brian Trapp reflects on life with his twin brother with cerebral palsy. Brian shares how his childhood was a source of unexpected gifts, deep connection, and lifelong formation. He joins Amy Julia Becker to consider: Limits of labels like “glass child” and “mental age”Family and flourishing togetherThe complexity of identitySibling and caregiving relationshipsRange of Motion by Brian TrappS10 E9:  00:00 The Bond of Brotherhood: Growing Up with Disability  08:55 Glass Child Syndrome and Sibling Experiences  18:23 Analogies for Family Life with Disability  23:27 The Complexity of Identity within Relationships and Caregiving  32:07 Fiction vs. Memoir: Exploring Personal Narratives  35:31 Understanding Mental Age and Its Implications  40:23 Reimagining Disability: A House of Laughter MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Cognoscenti essay by Brian Trapp: My twin brother was disabled, but I don't consider myself a 'glass child'Julia Miele Rodas’ essay: “Limited Visibility; Or Confessions of a Satellite”Range of Motion: A Novel by Brian Trapp_ SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Brian Trapp is the author of Range of Motion. He is director of Disability Studies at the University of Oregon, where he also teaches creative writing and edits the Northwest Review. His essay about being a sibling to his twin brother Danny was featured on NPR’s Here and Now. Find out more at: https://briantrappwriter.com/ __ We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text! Connect with me: InstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteThanks for listening!

  3. Jul 7

    Who Counts as Human? with Brian Brock, PhD

    Difference exposes our tendency to rank people as “better” or “worse.” Theologian Brian Brock, PhD, joins Amy Julia Becker to explore a life rooted in connection, creatureliness, and love. They consider: Social hierarchy and disability stigmaDietrich Bonhoeffer, community, and moral responsibilityHuman worth and personhoodJoining Creation's PraiseS10 E8: 00:00 Introduction: Joining Creation's Praise 04:35 Human Beings Are Creatures 11:57 Human Exceptionalism and Disability 16:00 Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Disability, Moral Responsibility, and Community 21:19 Euthanasia and Historical Context 24:07 Creation, Redemption, and Human Worth 32:22 Understanding Personhood in Modern Ethics 40:59 Reimagining the Good Life Through Creation MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Joining Creation's Praise: A Theological Ethic of Creatureliness by Brian Brock _ SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Brian Brock (DPhil, King’s College, London) is Chair of Moral and Practical Theology at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He has written scholarly works on the use of the Bible in Christian ethics, the ethics of technological development, the theology of disability and the doctrine of creation. He is founder and managing editor of the academic monograph series T&T Clark Enquires in Theological Ethics, is Managing Editor of the Journal of Disability and Religion and President of the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics. He is also a husband and father of three children, including Adam, who is 21, a delightful human being with Down’s Syndrome and autism. His most recent book is Joining Creation's Praise: A Theological Ethic of Creatureliness. Professor Brian Brock | The University of Aberdeen __ We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text! Connect with me: InstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteThanks for listening!

  4. Jun 30

    Why Forgiveness Isn’t the First Step with Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg

    S10 E7—Saying "I'm sorry" isn't enough to repair personal or institutional harm. Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, author of On Repentance and Repair, joins Amy Julia Becker to share an ancient framework for repentance and repair that challenges our culture's obsession with quick apologies. Together they discuss forgiveness, institutional responsibility, and breaking cycles of harm. 00:00 Defining Repentance and Repair 04:29 The Current State of Repentance in Society 07:10 Maimonides' Process of Repentance 17:00 The Influence of Distorted Protestantism on American Culture 22:50 The Complexity of Forgiveness and Purpose of Repentance 28:45 Institutional Harm and the Challenges of Repair 41:59 Repentance as a Path to a Good Life MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg_ SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg is the award-winning author of eight books who now makes her primary writing home at LifeIsASacredText.com  She has received the Lives of Commitment Award from Auburn Seminary, and the Rabbinic Human Rights Hero Award from the human rights organization T’ruah, was named by Newsweek as a “rabbi to watch,” and as a “faith leader to watch” by the Center for American Progress. Her newest book, On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World is a National Jewish Book Award winner and an American Library Association’s Sophie Brody Honor Book. It was hailed by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley as “A must read for anyone navigating the work of justice and healing.”   __ We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text! Connect with me: InstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteThanks for listening!

  5. Jun 23

    Who Gets to Tell the Story? Disability, Hollywood, and Family with Craig Thomas

    S10 E6—Is disability a tragedy to overcome, a burden to bear, an inspirational lesson for everyone else? Or is there a different story to tell, and who gets to tell it? Craig Thomas, co-creator of How I Met Your Mother, joins Amy Julia Becker to discuss That’s Not How It Happened, his novel written from nearly two decades of growing up with a son with a rare genetic condition. Together they explore:  Disability representationOverprotective parentingIndependence and agencyThe power of authentic storytelling00:00 The Story Behind "That's Not How It Happened" 08:15 Character Perspectives and Empathy in Storytelling 10:50 Disability and Family Dynamics: Parents and Siblings 15:26 Exploring Agency, Independence, and Shared Humanity 20:55 The Complexity of Emotions in Disability Narratives 27:42 Challenging Myths Around Disability 29:30 The Importance of Authentic Disability Representation in Media 38:45 Reimagining Life with Disability MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Novel: That’s Not How It Happened by Craig ThomasTV Show: How I Met Your MotherMovie: Champions_ SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Craig Thomas is the co-creator of the Emmy-winning comedy series How I Met Your Mother. His prose has appeared in The New Yorker, The Boston Globe, McSweeney's, and The Iowa Review. He lives in New York City with his wife, Rebecca, his daughter, Celia, and his son, Elliot, whose unique journey has had a huge impact on his life and work. That’s Not How It Happened is his first novel. https://www.instagram.com/craigtthomas/ and https://craigthomaswriter.com/ __ We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text! Connect with me: InstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteThanks for listening!

  6. Jun 16

    Racism, Greed, and the Good Life with Malcolm Foley, PhD

    S10 E5—Where does racism come from? Many of us assume it's rooted in hatred or fear, but what if it’s actually rooted in greed? As we approach Juneteenth, a day that commemorates freedom while reminding us of the work still before us, pastor and historian Malcolm Foley, PhD, joins Amy Julia Becker to talk about his book The Anti-Greed Gospel. He traces the roots of racism to economic exploitation and invites the church to respond with solidarity, truth-telling, and tangible love. 00:00 Introduction to the Link Between Greed and Racism 10:56 Ida B. Wells and the Power of Economic Appeals 18:11 The Cycle of Exploitation and Status 22:54 Creative Resistance to Exploitation, Violence, and Lies 29:05 Economic Solidarity in Contemporary Church 35:23 Examples of Creative Anti-Violence in Action MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money Is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward by Malcolm FoleyBook of RevelationMatthew 6:24Acts 2 and 4Philippians 2_ SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Malcolm Foley (PhD, Baylor University) is a pastor, historian, and speaker who serves as special adviser to the president for equity and campus engagement at Baylor University. He has written for Christianity Today, The Anxious Bench, and Mere Orthodoxy. Foley copastors Mosaic Waco, a multicultural church in Waco, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Desiree. Insta & threads: @revdocmalc @BrazosPress We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text! Connect with me: InstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteThanks for listening!

  7. Jun 9

    The Life You Planned vs. the Life You Got with Karen Swallow Prior, PhD

    S10 E4—Do you ever wonder what your life would look like if you had made different decisions a long time ago? Author Karen Swallow Prior joins Amy Julia Becker for a conversation about regret, human limitations, and her experience of not having children. Together, they explore what it means to face the losses of the past while remaining open to the unexpected opportunities and possibilities that can emerge alongside them. 00:00 Introduction to Personal Narratives 04:22 Navigating Infertility and Ethical Dilemmas 07:10 The Role of Faith and Community in Decision-Making 11:01 Control, Risk, and Reproductive Technologies 17:30 The Intersection of Calling and Life Choices 20:57 Navigating Regret, Limits, and Choices 25:07 Historical Context of Childlessness 29:07 Imagination and Reality in Family Dynamics 37:25 Reimagining the Good Life Without Children MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Christianity Today essay by Karen Swallow Prior: “The Birds and the Bees, Babies and Me”Institute for Family Studies essay by Amy Julia Becker: “Confessions of a Middle-Aged Mother”You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow PriorThe Midnight Library by Matt Haig_ SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Karen Swallow Prior, Ph.D. is the 2025-26 Karlson Scholar at Bethel Seminary. She is a popular writer and speaker, a contributing writer for The Dispatch, and a columnist for Religion News Service. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Vox, The Washington Post, Christianity Today, and many other places. Her most recent book is You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful (Brazos 2025). CONNECT with Karen: karenswallowprior.com Facebook: Karen Swallow PriorInstagram: karenswallowpriorX: @KSPrior Substack: @karenswallowprior__ We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text! Connect with me: InstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteThanks for listening!

  8. Jun 2

    The R-Word and the Language of Disability with Christina Cipriano, PhD

    S10 E3—The return of the R-word is about more than language. The words we choose both reflect and shape our moral imagination. When disability becomes an insult or a political weapon, it influences how we understand human worth, vulnerability, and belonging. In this conversation, Christina Cipriano, PhD, joins Amy Julia Becker to explore her research on political language and disability, including the return of the R-word. They discuss what these patterns reveal about the systems shaping care, education, and belonging, and they consider: how can we resist dehumanizing language and  choose words that move us toward justice and joy? 00:00 Introduction to Disability Discourse Matters 06:53 Asset-Based vs. Deficit-Based Perspectives 10:27 Personal Narratives and Language Choices 19:49 The Rise, Fall, and Rise of the R Word 23:42 Dehumanization in Political Rhetoric 28:47 Historical Context of Disability Discourse 33:00 Disability Language and Future Generations 40:48 Reimagining Disability and the Good Life MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Disability Discourse MattersThe Education Collaboratory at Yale | Child Study CenterSpread the Word – Special OlympicsMontclair University: Use of the Slur [r-word] Triples on X After Elon Musk Shares the Word in a PostBe Unapologetically Impatient by Christina CiprianoEuphemism Treadmill article_ SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/ _ ABOUT OUR GUEST: Christina Cipriano, PhD, is currently an associate professor of applied developmental and educational psychology at the Yale Child Study Center in the Yale School of Medicine and Director of the Education Collaboratory. This fall Dr. Cipriano will transition to be the inaugural Joseph W. and Alma W. Keilty Endowed Chair in Education and Professor with tenure at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Education Collaboratory will be moving to the College of Education at UMass Amherst. An award-winning scholar and internationally regarded expert in the science of learning and development, Chris received her PhD from Boston College, her EdM from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and her undergraduate degree from Hofstra University. Dr. Cipriano has published over one hundred and twenty papers, commentaries, and reports, spanning top-tier journals such as Child Development and the Review of Educational Research as well as media outlets including The Washington Post, NPR, The New York Times, PBS, and Education Week. Her award-winning and best-selling new book, Be Unapologetically Impatient: The Mindset Required to Change the Way We Do Things (2025), is the latest must-read for every educator, provider, parent, and person interested in improving the lives of children and families, right now. A prolific public scholar, educator, and speaker, Chris privileges her positionality as a first-generation high school graduate and mother of four children in her science. https://www.drchriscip.com/ https://www.disabilitydiscoursematters.org/ https://www.beunapologeticallyimpatient.com/ https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/christina-cipriano/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinacipriano/ LinkedIn @ChristinaCipriano Instagram @DrChrisCip BlueSky @DrChrisCip Twitter @DrChrisCip We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text! Connect with me: InstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteThanks for listening!

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A podcast about reimagining the good life through the lens of disability, faith, and culture. Host Amy Julia Becker interviews guests in conversations that challenge assumptions about the good life, proclaim the inherent belovedness of every human being, and help us envision a world of belonging. 

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