Impossible Beauty Melissa Louise Johnson

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.

John Van Sloten is a Calgary-based writer, teacher, and pastor who is passionate about helping people engage God everywhere. Over the past ten years he has preached dozens of creation and Bible-based sermons on topics like radiation therapy, river hydrology, chemical catalysts, tree branches, human knees, and DNA repair mechanisms. John is a regular columnist with the Calgary Herald and his books include The Day Metallica Came to Church and Every Job a Parable. Over the past ten years, he has been awarded three John Templeton Foundation subgrants for preaching science, has been part of an Ambrose Seminary Science for Seminaries, and has been a Sinai and Synapses fellow. 

In my time with John, we talk about his latest book, God Speaks Science: What Neurons, Giant Squid, and Supernovae Reveal About Our Creator. John teaches that we can not only learn about God through the Bible, but through creation as well. He shows us that God’s love and character can be known more deeply as we marvel at the complexities of His amazing creation. John also shares how his conversion to following God caused him to change his vocation, as well as about the new journey God is leading Him on. John’s heart for God and his ability to see him in all things is inspiring. My hope is that this conversation may awaken us all to experience God’s presence and work everywhere.

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.

Diane Summers, MS, RDN, CD is the founder of Hope Nutrition Therapy and a nationally registered and state certified dietitian. Diane has treated the full spectrum of eating disorders and concerns since 2004, has been supervising eating disorder dietitians since 2009, and works with clients and consultees around the world. She is also a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and a Narrative Focused Trauma Care practitioner.

In my time with Diane, we talk about what diet culture is and how it impacts our relationship with our bodies, how diet culture impacts societal beauty ideals, and the prevalence of disordered eating. Diane also helps us unpack the topic of religious fasting during this season of Lent, including disentangling some unhelpful ideas often surrounding this practice. She also reminds us of the redemption and healing present in story work, as well as the richness that can come from growing older. Perhaps most importantly, Diane calls us back to the wild beauty that is innate in all of humanity, including 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.

In today’s episode, we consider how looking heavenward can breathe new life into the present. This consideration is not a practice of escapism, but an opportunity to take a step back to see the larger story of humanity, where we’ve been and where we’re headed.

Thankfully, today’s guest is a gracious and thoughtful guide. Amy Baik Lee is the author of This Homeward Ache: How Our Yearning for the Life to Come Spurs on Our Life today, a literary member of the Anselm Society Arts Guild, and a contributing writer at Cultivating Magazine and the Rabbit Room.

In our time together, Amy unpacks what she calls our homeward ache, those moments of beauty or peace that cause us to long for a world we haven’t yet experienced. In Amy’s view, these moments are piercing hints of heaven that reveal “the great promise of a coming restoration.” Amy helps us understand why this homeward ache matters, how it has altered every area of her life, and how it helps her live more fully in the present. As Amy explains it, Beauty is breaking into this world and someday (to paraphrase J.R.R. Tolkien) everything sad will come untrue; here and now we are invited to be a part of that work of restoration.


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.