Impossible Beauty Melissa Louise Johnson

In today’s conversation, I was blown away by how a popular therapy model demonstrates the image of God in each of us. More specifically, author and marriage and family therapist, Molly LaCroix helps us see the relevance of the Internal Family Systems therapy model on the journey to healing and wholeness.  

In our time together, we talk about her latest book, Journey to Shalom: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Freedom in Sacred Stories. Molly helps us see the relevance of Biblical stories in our own lives, how our personal healing brings more wholeness in our relationships, and the God-given resources for resilience and healing that are innate in all of us. What I love about this episode is that it speaks to each person’s inherent beauty. 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.

So often diet culture disconnects us from our bodies and from having a peaceful relationship with food. In today’s episode, I talk with registered dietitian and therapist, Alice Baker, MSRD CEDS-C LMHC LPC LDN, about shedding unhelpful beliefs from diet culture.  

Alice Baker has over 27 years’ experience in the field of eating disorders. She currently sees clients in private practice as a dietitian and/or therapist, facilitates support groups, presents locally and nationally, and supervises new dietitians in the eating disorder field. In my time with Alice, we talk about the normalization of disordered eating in our culture, the infiltration of diet culture in the church, and how a non-diet approach is compatible with health. Thankfully, Alice also gives us some practical ideas on how we can move toward wholeness in our relationship with food and our bodies amidst diet culture.  

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.

Dr. Jason Nagata is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, and is an expert in eating disorders, particularly in boys and men. He has published over 300 articles in academic journals and serves as Senior Editor for the Journal of Eating Disorders, on the International Advisory Board of The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Adolescent Health.  

In my time with time with Dr. Nagata, we consider the damaging effects of societal body image ideals among boys and men. We also discuss the lack of research and awareness regarding eating disorders in males, the increasing prevalence of eating disorders in general, the normalization of disordered food and exercise-related behaviors in athletics, and how social media plays into body image struggles and eating behaviors. According to Dr. Nagata, 2/3 of American teenagers want to change their bodies. In today’s episode, he helps us better understand food and body image-related struggles among boys and men. This is such an important episode; I’m so glad you’re 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.

Joy Marie Clarkson has learned the art of seeing goodness, truth, and beauty in our midst and she helps us do the same.  

In case you are new to Joy, she holds a PhD in theology from the University of St. Andrews and is the author of two books, Aggressively Happy and, most recently, You Are a Tree. She is also a research associate in theology and literature at King's College London and the books editor for Plough Quarterly.  

In our time together, Joy shares about how teaching a course on the idea of beauty in Western Theology has shaped her views on topic, as well as her study of how art can prepare us for death. Joy also explains the power of the metaphors we use and how those metaphors shape us and our experience. In our discussion, and in her latest book, You Are a Tree, she helps us move away from impersonal, productivity-oriented metaphors to help us live into more life-giving and generative ways of being human.


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.

Heather Creekmore is a podcaster, mom of four, body image coach, and author. In our time together, Heather describes what inspired her to write her latest book, The 40-Day Body Image Workbook, as well as why she’s so passionate about guiding women out of diet culture and into truth. Heather also describes what has helped her improve her own relationship with her body, she exposes lies associated with diet culture, and helps us reframe aging in a helpful way.

If you have ever struggled with body image or beauty ideals, my hope is that Heather’s story and authentic reflections will help you feel less alone and bring you greater freedom.

*This episode mentions eating disorder-related thoughts, behaviors, and symptoms. Please use your discretion when listening and speak with your support system as needed.

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.

In today’s episode I talk with Dr. Charlotte Markey about body image pressures impacting us and the next generation. Dr. Markey is a body image expert, professor of psychology and director of the Health Sciences Center at Rutgers University-Camden. She has authored several books, including The Body Image Book For Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless, Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys, and the forthcoming Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life. 

Dr. Markey also writes monthly for U.S. News and World Report, Psychology Today, as well as other publications, focusing on individuals’ eating behaviors, body image, and health. She has also been featured in and interviewed by The New York Times, The Economist, The Today Show, ABC News, Time Magazine, and Men's Health, among others.

In our time together, we talk about recent trends related to social media use and body image, how to build body confidence in ourselves and the next generation, as well as what’s behind the increasing rates of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders among males. Dr. Markey’s wisdom is a needed voice in our increasingly image-focused society. May we become thoughtful observers of these trends, so we can opt out of the messages and beliefs that don’t bring life.  

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.