Shows
Life with God: A Renovaré PodcastAmanda Held Opelt — God, Goodness, and GriefAmanda Opelt talks with Nathan about finding her theological assumptions challenged during a season of deep grief. The two discuss the difference between wholeness and happiness and between goodness and prosperity in this music-filled episode. 2025-03-1438 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 27 - When Disaster Strikes - with Josie GwinIn the last week, we've all witnessed the terrible devastation unfold in Los Angeles. Images of destruction - of loss of life, property, and community - are filling our news feeds. Meanwhile, here in North Carolina, my region continues to recover from Hurricane Helene. How are we to process the impact of these natural disasters from both near and far? Josie Gwin is the CEO and co-founder of The Resilience Resource, an organization that seeks to equip individuals, leaders, and organizations facing challenge and change. She is a Mental Health Coach, a Spiritual and Psychological First Aid Instructor, and...2025-01-1454 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltAdvent 2024 Week 4 - Love with Kendall VandersliceChristmas Day is almost upon us, and during this last week of Advent, we focus on the theme of love - its challenges, its requirements, its embodiment. Today, I speak with baker and theologian Kendall Vanderslice about the way we offer and experience love through the foods we eat. She talks about her new book, Bake and Pray, and walks us through some of the traditional practices of Christmastide and Epiphany.2024-12-2241 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltAdvent 2024 Week 3 - Joy with Corey FreyWe live in a time that is dominated by cynicism and suspicion...and joy is sometimes in short supply. Today, I speak with artist and poet Corey Frey about the role curiosity and imagination have in cultivating a life of joy - and why we in the modern West have lost so much of our capacity for wonder. We talk about the power of paradox, the mystery of a dynamic and incarnate God, and the way the holidays habituate delight.2024-12-1546 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltAdvent 2024 Week 2 - Peace with Rich VillodasHow do we define peace? Is it a feeling? A disposition of the heart? A state of being? To help answer these questions as we meditate on the theme of week two of Advent, I talk with Pastor Rich Villodas about what Jesus has to say about peace in the Sermon on the Mount. Pastor Rich unpacks the difference between peacemaking and peace keeping, and he also talks about his new book The Narrow Path: How the Subversive Path of Jesus Satisfies Our Souls.2024-12-0834 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltAdvent 2024 Week 1 - Hope with Ian HarberWeek 1 of Advent is focused on the theme of hope, so for this conversation I wanted to speak with someone who knows what it's like when doubt and shifting faith threaten to steal your hope. Ian Harber is the author of the forthcoming book Walking Through Deconstruction, a gentle guide for anyone who wants to be a companion to those who are struggling in their faith. Ian's voice is a trusted one, as his own journey of deconstruction and reconstruction was forged in the fires of grief and loss. And because Advent is a season of waiting and longing...2024-12-0152 min
Poema PodcastPoema S10 016 | Amanda Held Opelt on Grief, World Wars & Queen VictoriaIn this new episode, recorded pre-election 2024, Amanda Held Opelt joins me again, this time for a conversation about some major events in history & their impact on how our culture processes grief.
We talk at length about the two World Wars, and how different outcomes for different nations impacted how their cultures responded to them, and how it changed their culture. We explore how one bad response from WWI may have led to WWII and how the outcomes of both may have contributed to where we are now.
We also look at Queen Victoria, a monarch wh...2024-11-111h 01
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 22 - Dr. Alan Noble and Mental Health Awareness MonthToday I am privileged to speak with Dr. O. Alan Noble, professor and author of the book On Getting Out of Bed, which is one of the best books I've ever read about the reality of struggling with mental health as a person of faith. Dr. Noble and I discuss the broken anthropology that may be contributing to the unique anxieties of our age and reflect on the message we send when we choose to persevere through suffering.2024-05-2926 min
Bring Me My BooksA Journey Through Grief | Amanda Held Opelt (A Hole in the World) | Author InterviewThis week, we have an enlightening interview with Amanda Held Opelt, author of "A Hole in the World." Join us as Amanda shares the inspiration behind her book and her profound journey through grief. Don't miss this heartfelt conversation! #BringMeMyBooks #Podcast #AuthorInterview #AmandaHeldOpelt #AHoleInTheWorld
2024-05-2426 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 21 - Meredith McDaniel and Mental Health Awareness MonthToday, I talk with Meredith McDaniel, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and director of Milk + Honey Counseling in Davidson, North Carolina. Meredith and I cover A LOT in this episode, as she helps me unpack a few ideas that are still a bit unresolved in my mind: the role our spiritual practices play in our mental health, our current cultural obsession with wellness, and our sense of personal identity as it relates to a mental health struggle. This conversation was so rich for me, so honest, practical, and helpful.www.meredithmcdaniel.com 2024-05-2240 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 20 - Dr. Mekel Harris and Mental Health Awareness MonthGrief has been an enormous part of my own mental health journey. Today on the podcast, I talk with Dr. Mekel Harris who had a profound encounter with grief, one even a Ph.D. in clinical psychology did not fully prepare her for! I consider Dr. Mekel to be a kindred spirit; her deep passion is to offer resources both to individuals and organizations for managing the challenges of grief and mental health needs. Together, we'll discuss the impact grief had on our mental health and ways we learned to move forward with the new burden of grief.2024-05-1542 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 19 - Chuck DeGroat and Mental Health Awareness MonthMental health continues to be a taboo topic in many churches, but today's guest - Chuck DeGroat - has spent years as both a pastor and a psychologist. He brings insights on how the tools of psychological study can be an asset for the church, but also how the rich tradition of soul care in the Christian tradition has a role to play in the lives of those seeking mental wellbeing.2024-05-0836 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 18 - Aundi Kolber and Mental Health Awareness MonthMay is Mental Health Awareness Month, so for the next five weeks, I'll be having conversations with licensed counselors, therapists, psychologists, and pastors about the intersection of faith and mental health. Today, we talk with best-selling author and therapist Aundi Kolber about trauma, listening to our bodies, and why she likes to describe strength like water.2024-05-0149 min
Human TogetherS1, E10: The Risk of Rootedness with Amanda Held OpeltMusician and writer Amanda Held Opelt joins Sarah to talk about what place has to do with the communal life. They cover a little bit of everything: church, creative circles, online life, as well as Amanda’s latest book Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life.Find episode notes and ways to connect with Sarah at sarahewestfall.comConnect with Amanda at amandaheldopelt.com.To support the podcast and access extended episodes, essay series, and book club, become a Human Together subscriber.The Human Together podcast is wr...2024-04-1751 min
4:13 Podcast with Jennifer RothschildCan I Trash Expectations and Still Be Happy? With Amanda Held OpeltWhat does it mean to be blessed? Are Christians automatically entitled to happiness, fulfillment, and perfect peace? Does God’s presence guarantee us emotional ease amidst suffering? Wow! Those are some very interesting questions, aren’t they? Well today, you are about to get far more than interesting answers. You are going to be enlightened and inspired as we talk about our expectations of what a life of faith should feel like when facing difficulties. Author Amanda Held Opelt joins us and shares her own experience of loss and grief. And, like so many...2024-04-1134 min
Bring Me My BooksFor Whom the Bells Toll Now? | A Hole in the World - Part 3We made it! The final episode covering Amanda Held Opelt’s “A Hole in the World”!
As we complete our first book, we would like to open our comments and direct messages for your final thoughts! Please feel free to join in our conversation, and see Kristi's thoughts below:
Kristi's Closing thoughts:
I first heard about "A Hole in the World" from a close friend. She had lost a spouse and was struggling to sit down and concentrate on any reading. Yet, this was one she connected with; I think it helped her feel s...2024-03-1825 min
Makers & MysticsS13 E04: The Art of Lament with Amanda Held OpeltAmanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds.In today’s episode Amanda discusses the art of lament and how deep-rooted communal practices of shared grief can help us heal and grow through the difficult experiences of our lives. Drawing from her book Holy Unhappiness: God, Grief and the Myth of the Blessed Life, Amanda shares her journey of grappling with experiences of disillusionment when life with God didn’t fee...2024-02-2747 min
Makers & MysticsS13 E04: The Art of Lament with Amanda Held OpeltAmanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds.In today’s episode Amanda discusses the art of lament and how deep-rooted communal practices of shared grief can help us heal and grow through the difficult experiences of our lives. Drawing from her book Holy Unhappiness: God, Grief and the Myth of the Blessed Life, Amanda shares her journey of grappling with experiences of disillusionment when life with God didn’t fee...2024-02-2747 min
Dream Big Podcast with Bob Goff and FriendsKnowing When Your Book is Finished with Amanda Held OpeltIn this conversation, Bob Goff and Kimberly Stuart interview Amanda Held Opelt, author of her latest release "Holy Unhappiness". They discuss the myth of a blessed life and the pressure to always be happy. Amanda shares her personal journey of vocational angst and the struggle to find happiness in her work.
They explore the importance of curiosity and permission to feel, challenging expectations, and embracing hard feelings. The conversation also touches on the role of humility and authenticity in writing, dealing with misunderstandings, and knowing when a writing project is finished.
Connect with Amanda: @amandaheldopelt
Connect with Bob: @bobgoff
Connect w...2024-02-1427 minDream Big Podcast with Bob Goff and FriendsKnowing When Your Book is Finished with Amanda Held OpeltIn this conversation, Bob Goff and Kimberly Stuart interview Amanda Held Opelt, author of her latest release "Holy Unhappiness". They discuss the myth of a blessed life and the pressure to always be happy. Amanda shares her personal journey of vocational angst and the struggle to find happiness in her work.
They explore the importance of curiosity and permission to feel, challenging expectations, and embracing hard feelings. The conversation also touches on the role of humility and authenticity in writing, dealing with misunderstandings, and knowing when a writing project is finished.
Connect with Amanda: @amandaheldopelt
Connect with Bob: @bobgoff
Connect w...2024-02-1427 min
The God And My Girlfriends Podcast"Holy Unhappiness" with special guest, Amanda Held Opelt. : also, the girlfriends chat about the importance of good news w/guest girlfriend, Juli Maners-Hood.Our special guest this week is Amanda Held Opelt. Marcia and Stacey talk with Amanda about her newest book, "Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and The Myth of The Blessed Life". If you have ever wondered why life can seem so hard, even though you are trying your best to do everything "right", this episode is for YOU. Also, Juli-Maners Hood returns in the girlfriend seat and brings us a beautiful "good news" story that you don't want to miss!---Amanda is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about f...2024-02-051h 13
Jesus Calling: Stories of FaithWhere is Hope When God Doesn’t Take Away Our Burdens?: Jay Hewitt & Amanda Held OpeltPerhaps you are facing a time in your life where the world around you seems to be crumbling, and your heart is heavy with the weight of unexpected trials. How, in the midst of our struggles, can we remain steadfast, continue to show up, and face each day with courage and resolve when the pain and fear threaten to steal any last shred of hope we have? Our guests this week believe that every challenge, every hardship, is a part of God's grand design. They found strength in the belief that their trials were not random occurrences, but purposeful...2024-01-0436 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltAdvent Week 4 - Love with Lore Ferguson WilbertOn week four, the Church focuses on the theme of Love. Today I am joined by author and friend Lore Ferguson Wilbert. This was such a timely conversation for me. As we head into a week of celebrations with family and friends, we are all carrying our own burdens - both joy and pain, longings and frustrations. The holidays are not always easy for everyone, and we are pulled in many directions. Christ is the one who helps us show up with love. Lore and I talk about the importance of God incarnate, present in the body, giving of...2023-12-2239 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltAdvent Week 3 - Joy with Joy Marie ClarksonAdvent Week 3: JOY! This upcoming Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday…taken from the Latin word for Rejoice! This week, I talk with Joy Marie Clarkson who is a professor and author of the book Aggressively Happy: A Realist’s Guide to Believing in the Goodness of Life. We discuss why it’s important to notice where and how Jesus embodied joy in his experience as a human in the incarnation, and we talk about the difference between toxic positivity and wise, resilient, tenacious joy.2023-12-1544 min
Missionary LifeGrief, Rituals, and Allowing Joy with Amanda Held OpeltThis is my favorite episode so far as I'm honored to have Amanda Held Opelt, sister of Rachel Held Evans, and author of A Hole in the World, sharing about the excruciating grief she went through with the loss of her sister and how through the practice of rituals she was able to heal and reconnect with her faith. We also discuss her humanitarian aid work, and how she learned to allow joy and grief to coexist, as well as what it looks like to grieve alongside others. This is a special episode you won't want to miss. To...2023-12-1042 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltAdvent Week 2 - Peace with Dr. Benjamin NorquistFor week 2 of Advent, the church has historically focused on the theme of peace. Today, I talk with Dr. Benjamin Norquist, whose work and study led him to spend a lot of time Israel and the West Bank. Ben focused his research on higher education in active conflict zones and in other contested areas. In this episode, we discuss a Biblical view of shalom and also examine the impact of personal, structural, and cultural violence on the world. Ben shares his wisdom on how we might act as peacemakers even as the culture around us temps us with vitriol...2023-12-0852 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltAdvent Week 1 - Hope with Cole Arthur RileyThe podcast is back for the season of Advent! Historically, the church has recognized four themes through the four weeks of Advent, and we begin with the theme for week one: Hope. I speak with Cole Arthur Riley, author and creator of Black Liturgies, about the role memory, discipline, and awe have to play in our formation of hope. 2023-12-0134 min
Journey of JoyAmanda Opelt Offers A Space for Dealing With GriefAmanda Opelt enlightens audience members with her candid and humble approach to dealing with and talking about grief. Come join the conversation, and let us know your story of grief that may add to the complexity of how people grieve. 2023-11-2258 min
Becoming ChurchAmanda Held Opelt: What Good is God When Life Hurts?Are we allowed to admit when life is hard? When there are so many other heavy things happening, when other people are experiencing widespread devastation, when our lives on paper are pretty privileged…are we allowed to say we aren’t exactly finding the joy of the Lord as our strength?
In this interview, Amanda Held Evans talks about the emotional prosperity gospel: the belief that if we have enough faith, God will make us happy and give us emotional abundance in our careers, marriages and lives. She challenges some religious platitudes to show how we may be m...2023-11-051h 00
We Have This HopeRemember: Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held Opelt“Maybe this is an image of God some people find hard to bow before or praise. But for me, a God who grieves is a God I am more willing to trust…” - Amanda Held Opelt, Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, & the Myth of the Blessed LifeFriends, I can't wait to get this episode to your ears. Last week I sat down with Amanda Held Opelt, author of Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, & the Myth of the Blessed Life and I haven't stopped thinking about our conversation. Amanda speaks beautifully about her life with Go...2023-10-1152 min
Make Life MatterAmanda Held Opelt: Holy Unhappiness Ep. 232What does it mean to be blessed? Are Christians entitled to happiness, fulfillment, and perfect peace? Amanda Held Opelt is a songwriter, speaker, and writer, and in her new book, Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life, she explores these questions, challenges false teaching, and helps us reimagine what the “blessed” life can be like if we release some of our expectations and seek God in places we never thought to look.2023-09-2737 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 13 (Finale) - Afterword with Ethan Hardin and Graham AitkenAs I bring the Holy Unhappiness podcast to a close, I wanted to process some final thoughts with two close friends: Ethan Hardin and Graham Aitken, who both serve in pastoral roles at my church here in Boone. I hope this conversation is a reminder that working out concepts as complex as happiness, blessing, sadness, doubt, and holiness must be done in community, in embodied ways with trusted friends and mentors. I’m grateful to Graham and Ethan and their families for the way they’ve helped me wrestle with the topics I write about in my book. I real...2023-09-201h 02
Be Love. Do Good. with Kristi HayesWhat to do when I don’t feel happy? with Amanda Held OpeltIn our podcast interview with Amanda Held Opelt, author of "Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life," we discussed the powerful role our emotions play in shaping our lives. Amanda's profound understanding, shaped by her own experiences, including the sudden loss of her sister Rachel Held Evans and her battle with infertility, serves as a poignant reminder to explore a more profound sense of fulfillment through faith while embracing the intricate tapestry of our emotions in our pursuit of genuine happiness. Amanda challenged the conventional idea that achieving external markers of suc...2023-09-2032 min
Understand Your Bible | Bible Verses, Inductive Bible Study, Biblical Encouragement, Bible Study Method, Scripture Study ToolsWhy Emotions are ImportantAuthor and songwriter Amanda Held Opelt talks about the dangers of pushing away unhappy feelings and why negative emotions are important in our walk with Christ. https://livesteadyon.com/Email Angie at: steadyonpodcast@gmail.comFacebook: @livesteadyonInstagram: @angiebaughman421 Grab freebies and subscribe to the weekly Steady On newsletter at: https://livesteadyon.com/live-steady-on-newsletter/ Looking for something not listed? It’s probably here: https://linktr.ee/livesteadyon http://amandaheldopelt.com/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id...2023-09-1532 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 12 - A Blessing: Hope with Matthew Soerens of World ReliefSometimes, it feels like the church in America is void of hope. With failures and abuses continuing to make headlines, how do keep our eyes fixed on the vision of redemption and new creation that has always been the cornerstone of our faith? Today, I am honored to speak with Matthew Soerens, Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief. He shares how his interaction with the global church has strengthened his hope and faith. We discuss the work of World Relief, the resilience we've witnessed in the midst of suffering, and how communal hope can spring from...2023-09-1340 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 11 - Sanctification with Karen Swallow PriorWhen it comes to spiritual growth and personal righteousness, many Christians have a set of expectations for themselves and for God. What happens when our sanctification process isn't as smooth as we think it should be? How do we handle doubts and failures? Today, I speak with Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, author of the new book The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis. We discuss some of the cultural and historical factors that led to these expectations, and what to do when the life of faith doesn't always feel like we think it...2023-09-0636 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 10 - Suffering & Lament with Leah WrenneWhat do we do when life gets really hard and we pray for the peace that passes understanding…but the peace doesn’t come? Is God still present? Is our suffering an anomaly or aberration? Have we failed or has God failed? Today I talk with singer/songwriter Leah Wrenne about her struggles with anxiety, chronic health issues, and her advocacy for mental health awareness in the church. We talk about the role lament has to play in communities of faith and re-learning what goodness looks like when pain persists.2023-08-3039 min
The Church Needs TherapyAmanda Held Opelt 2This week is a great conversation with Amanda Held Opelt. In this conversation we talk about her newest book, “Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, And The Myth Of The Blessed Life”
2023-08-291h 05
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 9 - Church with Katelyn BeatyIt is no secret that participation within institutions of faith is significantly declining in this country. While the reasons for this are complex, the decline has coincided with a series of very public failures and scandals involving prominent Christian leaders, denominations, and institutions. Today on the podcast we talk with Katelyn Beaty - journalist, editor and author of the book Celebrities for Jesus. We discuss the church (the subject of chapter 6 in my book) and how to deal with disappointment with the church in healthy, honest ways. Katelyn shares her perspective on the importance of accountability and truth-telling within...2023-08-2332 min
From the Front PorchEpisode 438 || From The Bookshelf Files, Vol. 4This week on From the Front Porch, it’s another episode of From The Bookshelf Files! In this episode series, Annie and The Bookshelf’s Community & Public Relations Liaison, as well as the visionary responsible for the concept of the "From The Bookshelf Files" podcast series, Felicia Dilbert, talk about the ups and downs of running a small business. Today, it’s all about what it looks like to approach life and business from the heart.
If you have a business-related question you’d like Annie and Felicia to explore in a future episode of From The Bookshel...2023-08-1749 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 8 - A Blessing: Humility with Hannah AndersonHumility, while it is often a stated value of many Christians, is difficult to truly put into practice, to embrace with our whole beings. Too often, it is a lack of humility that stands in the way of our peace and contentment, as we strive to accomplish more, desperately seek recognition or importance, and wrestle with our own failures. Today, I talk with author and speaker Hannah Anderson about her book Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes the Soul. We talk about the importance of seeing ourselves rightly - not as God, not as worms, but as human...2023-08-1640 min
Courage Becomes HerBONUS - SUMMER READS: Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life with Amanda Held Opelt In this bonus episode of Courage Becomes Her, we continue our summer reads series with Amanda Held Opelt to talk about her new book, Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life. Amanda talks about how disappointment, restlessness, and the feeling that life had let her down led her to realize that she thought she was entitled to happiness. An opponent of the health and wealth prosperity gospel, Amanda came to see that she was believing a similar ideology about happiness, that since she had done “all the right things” that God would grant her emotional pros...2023-08-1146 min
Pivotal PeopleEp. 58: Author Amanda Opelt, "Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life"Send us a textAmanda Opelt, author of "Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness and the Myth of the Blessed Life" invites readers to challenge the false beliefs many in the church hold about “the good life” and what it means to walk in communion with God. Amanda examines some of the historic, religious, and cultural influences that led to the idolization of positive feelings and the marginalization of negative feelings. Amanda acknowledges the value of pursuing happiness but advocates for embracing a broader range of emotions within the Christian experience. She urges for the normalization of feelin...2023-08-0925 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 7 - Body (and Bread!) with Kendall VandersliceMany of us have complicated relationships with our bodies. We have certain expectations of what it can and should be able to do for us. We feel the pressure for it to conform to certain societal ideals. We wonder if physical pleasure can be holy. We esteem physical productivity over physical rest. Today, I talk with author and baker @knvslice about what bread has taught her about the body, rest, community, and God - all things I write about in chapter 6 of my book. (Content warning: we do discuss diet culture and issues surrounding body image in this episode...2023-08-0938 min
Faith Inspired Podcast101. Holy Unhappiness: Releasing expectations and challenging the myth of a ‘good life’ – Amanda Held OpeltIn a world of abundant opportunities, wealth, and choices, many of us wonder why we remain unhappy. We expect life to be good, especially as Christians, but what happens when our expectations don't align with our life with God? In this episode, Amanda Held Opelt challenges us to release expectations and find God in unexpected places. We explore the idea of holiness in unhappiness, embracing pain instead of seeking quick fixes. Join us as we discuss the pursuit of constant happiness and the pressure of unrealistic expectations. Discover a new path forward—one that embraces life's complexities and reimagines what it...2023-08-0842 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 6 - Community with Shannan MartinWhat does it mean to live as neighbors, to build community in a way that is healthy and whole? Today we talk with author Shannan Martin about loving and being loved by your neighbor, something I write about in chapter 5 of my book. We discuss the costs of getting stuck in the Christian subculture, learning to converse with people who think differently than you, and the challenges and beauty that come with living in proximity to others.2023-08-0235 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 5 - Calling with Jon Guerra "Calling" is a loaded term, especially for those of us who grew up in the American Christian subculture. Whether it was the pressure to find just the right job or ministry to fit our gifts and passions, or the imperative that we "do something important for God," the term calling can often be associated with stress and anxiety...something I write about in chapter 5 of my book. Today, I talk with singer-songwriter Jon Guerra about the idea of calling and vocation. We discuss the creative life, stewarding our gifts, holiness in the mundane, and the transformation that can occur...2023-07-2638 min
Let It Matter Podcast31: Holy Unhappiness & The Emotional Prosperity Gospel with Amanda Held OpeltIn this episode, host Kelly Wolfe is joined by author, speaker, and songwriter, Amanda Held Opelt, to discuss themes found in her new book, Holy Unhappiness, such as:-what the emotional prosperity gospel is and how we see it manifest in our lives of faith and how it doesn't hold up to be true-work, marriage, children and how those things promise meaning and ultimate joy, but in reality are still difficult and don't often prove to be the cure-all for bad feelings, and how delight is the invitation to us in those bad feelings2023-07-2458 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 4 - A Blessing: Delight with Rachel Marie KangEcclesiastes, that ancient book of wisdom, tells us there is nothing better than for us to be happy and do good...to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in our work when we can. Today, I talk with Rachel Marie Kang, author of the book Let There Be Art to talk about the holy practice of noticing beauty and joy. This is something I write about in a mini-chapter of my book entitled: "A Blessing: Delight." Rachel and I discuss how the formula that promises happiness can sometimes distract us from noticing the simple blessings that exist all around us...2023-07-1941 min
Listen With Your Imagination, Free Audiobook Are Your DestinationHoly Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life Audiobook by Amanda Held OpeltListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 642684
Title: Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life
Author: Amanda Held Opelt
Narrator: Amanda Held Opelt
Format: Unabridged
Length: 07:55:18
Language: English
Release date: 07-18-23
Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Health & Wellness, Christianity, Mindfulness & Meditation, Death & Bereavement
Summary:
Discover what it means to be blessed and challenge the false beliefs many in the church hold about “the good life” and what it means to walk in communion with God.
American Christians have developed a long list of expectations about what the life...2023-07-187h 55
Listen to Trending Full Audiobooks in Health & Wellness, Mindfulness & MeditationHoly Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life by Amanda Held OpeltPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/642684 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life Author: Amanda Held Opelt Narrator: Amanda Held Opelt Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 7 hours 55 minutes Release date: July 18, 2023 Genres: Mindfulness & Meditation Publisher's Summary: Discover what it means to be blessed and challenge the false beliefs many in the church hold about “the good life” and what it means to walk in communion with God. American Christians have developed a long list of expectations about what the life with God will feel like. Many Christians rightly deny the prosperity gospel—...2023-07-1803 min
Listen to New Full Audiobooks in Religion & Spirituality, ChristianityHoly Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life by Amanda Held OpeltPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/642684 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life Author: Amanda Held Opelt Narrator: Amanda Held Opelt Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 7 hours 55 minutes Release date: July 18, 2023 Genres: Christianity Publisher's Summary: Discover what it means to be blessed and challenge the false beliefs many in the church hold about “the good life” and what it means to walk in communion with God. American Christians have developed a long list of expectations about what the life with God will feel like. Many Christians rightly deny the prosperity gospel—the idea...2023-07-1803 min
Liturgies for Parents with Kayla CraigA Prayer for the Fears Our Kids Have (And We Do Too)Our guest liturgist for this episode is author, speaker, and songwriter Amanda Held Opelt, who writes about faith, grief, and creativity—believing in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda wrote and shared this heartfelt prayer with us about coming before God with all of our apprehensions, asking for courage and guidance as we teach our children how to lament and worship, despite the fears we have. You can listen to Kayla’s interview with Amanda on the Holy Unhappiness Podcast here. Find Amanda on Instagram at @ama...2023-07-1720 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 3: Parenting with Kayla CraigHave you ever heard that "motherhood is a woman's highest calling" or been told that children are the key to a happy, sanctified life? Today, Kayla Craig - creator of Liturgies for Parents - offers her thoughts on the reality of parenting, both the good and the challenging. She and I discuss chapter 3 of my book, the pitfalls of ranking "callings," the myth of balance, and the joy of noticing God's presence as we caretake our families,2023-07-1035 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 2: Marriage & Singleness, with Kaitlyn SchiessModern, Western society tends to elevate romantic love as the highest form of love, and the post-Reformation Church has too often implied that Biblical womanhood is best embodied through marriage and motherhood. But have these assumptions perhaps been harmful for both single and married people? Today, I talk with writer and speaker Kaitlyn Schiess about marriage, singleness, and the family of God, which I write about in chapter 2 of my book.2023-07-0535 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltEpisode 1: Work, with Sharon Hodde Miller"Find a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." Ever heard this? Ever wonder if it's actually true? Today I'm joined by author and pastor Sharon Hodde Miller to discuss work and labor, which I write about in Chapter 1 of my book.2023-06-2834 min
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held OpeltHoly Unhappiness IntroductionWelcome to the Holy Unhappiness Podcast! This week, Amanda will share a little bit about how her book Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, and the Myth of the Blessed Life came to be, and what inspired her to start this podcast as a companion to the book.2023-06-1613 minPoema PodcastPoema S9 017 | Amanda Held Opelt on Grief, The Two World Wars & Queen VictoriaThis week my friend Amanda Held Opelt returns, and we discuss grief rituals, why they were popular in the reign of Queen Victoria, and the impact of the first world war on our cultural grief rituals and how we process grief & loss.
We also explore how the trauma and grief culturally felt and experienced in the first World War, had an impact on the allied nations initial response to Hitler's tyranny and how this could have inadvertently contributed to WWII.
We then discuss how defeat and having to face up to their actions as a n...2023-05-151h 01
Poema PodcastPoema S9 015 | Loki, Wanda & Grief with Amanda Held OpeltThis week Amanda Held Opelt returns to continue our exploration of grief and transformation in pop culture.
Today we talk about the contrasting experiences of Loki, brother of Thor and Wanda Maximoff, and how we see this ultimately play out in their respective MCU shows.
We explore how Loki's confrontation with his own trauma, grief, and his actions, ultimately transforms and heals him. In contrast we discuss how Wanda's unhealthy response to trauma and grief causes harm to others, and herself.
We then touch on what lessons we can learn from their respective j...2023-05-0354 min
Poema PodcastPoema S9 012 | Superman, Grief & Hope with Amanda Held OpeltThis week, in our 350th episode, Amanda Held Opelt joins me again for the second part of our series on superheroes, grief and modern mythology.
This week we explore the character and story of Superman, in particularly the one we see in the Christopher Reeve movies. He's a character who loses his adoptive father as a teenager, an event which drives him into a life trying to save people, never expressing his emotions, until another event finally unlocks his buried grief.
We explore how Superman is a more hopeful character, and how his processing of g...2023-04-031h 01
Poema PodcastPoema S9 011 | Batman, Mythology & Grief with Amanda Held OpeltThis week I begin a new series with my friend Amanda Held Opelt to discuss how grief is explored in superhero stories, and how they have become our modern mythology.
Today we focus mainly on Batman, exploring his story sand how his grief transforms and initially controls him, with Batman an expression of his raw grief. We discuss some of the stories in prominent Batman movies, as Bruce Wayne processes his grief and eventually Batman becomes a symbol of hope.
This episode explores how grief can control us if we let it, but if we al...2023-03-2756 min
Impossible BeautyEpisode 122: Amanda Held Opelt- We Don't Grieve AloneAmanda Held Opelt got a lesson in grief she never wanted. After a series of miscarriages, the loss of her grandma, and then her beloved sister, Amanda found solace in an unexpected place, in exploring ancient grief rituals in practices. In her first book, A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing, Amanda explores how such ancient grief rituals and practices can be a vessel for honest expression, communal connection, and even healing. Amanda is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity. She has spent 15 years serving in...2023-03-2047 min
Encounters With GodFinding God in Our Grief - Amanda Opelt - Full InterviewAmanda Opelt is the Author of "A Hole In The World" in which she shares her story of tragic loss. During her grieving periods, she researched different traditions and superstitions regarding grief. This research and her heart is poured into writing this best seller.
To buy her book "A Hole In The World" go to: https://amzn.to/3Y3QblQ
To Pre - order her book "Holy Unhappiness" go to: https://amzn.to/3ItQccS
To visit her website go to: http://amandaheldopelt.com
2023-02-2758 min
Keeping Up With The Joneses292: Reflections on AsburyWe went to Asbury. On this episode we share our reflections from our time there. That and AJ gets her first speeding ticket in America, we hangout with John and Carol Arnott for 48 hours, the guinea pigs have a mani/pedi and we answer a question from a listener that goes something like, “How do you not retaliate when people say unkind and untruthful things about you?”SHOW NOTES:John & Carol ArnottIHOPFavorite tweets on Asbury- Amanda Held Opelt- Shane Pruitt- Preacher tweetPreparation to m...2023-02-271h 08
Poema PodcastPoema S9 006 | Amanda Held Opelt on the Black Death, COVID & Cultural GriefIn this week's episode author Amanda Held Opelt joins me to discuss the cultural and historical impact of the Black Death during the 1300's.
We discuss the collective grief and trauma experienced by the countries impacted by the Black Death, and the longer term consequences for the church, culture and ultimately the history of western culture.
We explore the consequences of collective cultural grief and trauma, and talk about what the potential long term impact of COVID has and potentially will be for the world and our culture as a whole.
2023-02-201h 11
Let It Matter Podcast6: On Grief, Rituals, and Creative Expression with Amanda Held OpeltThis is a really special episode of the Let It Matter Podcast. My guest this week is Amanda Held Opelt, who joined me for a very personal, intimate conversation about our respective experiences of grief and:the ways it transformed us (hint: entirely and forever, in big and small ways),the ways our grief itself has transformed and evolved over time,and how engaging creativity and creative outlets for helped us to process our grief and preserve our memories of such hard, sacred, holy moments.WANT TO EXPLORE THIS TOPIC FURTHER...2023-01-2339 min
The Stories Between Us168 Amanda Held Opelt was a Novice at GriefAfter a series of heartbreaking losses, Amanda Held Opelt set aside the book she was working on and instead delved into the world of grief. She had been to war zones, Ebola hotspots, and the aftermath of significant tragedies . . . but with her own tragedy, she realized she was just a beginner, a novice, when it came to grief. Today she shares with us how she explored her grief in a real and human way while writing her book, A Hole in the World.2023-01-1039 min
Fill To Capacity (Where Heart, Grit and Irreverent Humor Collide)End of Life Care- A Path of ConnectionsSend us a textIn this episode, Michelle Kolling, candidly shares her story about losing her husband, months after his diagnosis and her grief journey in search of the person she would become. With wit, humor, and grace she found her calling as an end-of-life doula.Her firsthand, intimate connection to loss, grief and transformation gave her clarity in that she could help patients and their loved ones, make their way in an end-of-life process that is humane, compassionate, and meaningful. “Approaching the last days with intention, gives the dying person a sense of control and...2022-12-2149 min
You Have PermissionGrief & Christian Grief Rituals (#171)Joining me today is Amanda Held Opelt, sister of Rachel Held Evans, to talk about her book "A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals and Grief of Healing." After a season of multiple losses, Amanda found herself studying grief rituals. We talk about what she learned and consequently wrote about. We also cover her experience with international aid work, making meaning out of suffering, resilience in the context of high trauma, and more.Amanda’s Website: http://amandaheldopelt.com/Amanda's episode on The Bible for Normal People: ://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/th...2022-12-191h 11
You Have PermissionGrief & Christian Grief Rituals (#171)Joining me today is Amanda Held Opelt, sister of Rachel Held Evans, to talk about her book "A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals and Grief of Healing." After a season of multiple losses, Amanda found herself studying grief rituals. We talk about what she learned and consequently wrote about. We also cover her experience with international aid work, making meaning out of suffering, resilience in the context of high trauma, and more.Amanda’s Website: http://amandaheldopelt.com/Amanda's episode on The Bible for Normal People: ://podcasts.apple.com/us...2022-12-191h 18You Have PermissionGrief & Christian Grief Rituals (#171)Joining me today is Amanda Held Opelt, sister of Rachel Held Evans, to talk about her book "A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals and Grief of Healing." After a season of multiple losses, Amanda found herself studying grief rituals. We talk about what she learned and consequently wrote about. We also cover her experience with international aid work, making meaning out of suffering, resilience in the context of high trauma, and more.Amanda’s Website: http://amandaheldopelt.com/Amanda's episode on The Bible for Normal People: ://podcasts.apple.com/us...2022-12-191h 18
For Real with Kimberly StuartEpisode 24 - Amanda Held OpeltI’m just going to take a big, deep breath about getting to talk with my guest for today. Amanda Held Opelt joins me on the podcast today, and I counted it a privilege to talk with her about her new and debut book, A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing. Amanda’s book is part memoir, part history of bereavement rituals, and altogether one of the most stunning books I have ever read, particularly on the subjects of grief, community and faith. Amanda joined me from her home in Appalachia, and I am s...2022-12-1340 min
Grief Is My Side HustleEp. 77. Amanda Held Opelt: Bereaved Sibling & Author of A Hole in the WorldAmanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, worship and shared stories to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent the last 15 years as a social worker and humanitarian aid worker. She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina with her husband and young two daughters.
http://amandaheldopelt.com
2022-11-1758 min
Kitchen Meditations with Kendall VandersliceOn Grief with Amanda Held OpeltJoin us as Kendall Vanderslice sits down with author, speaker, and songwriter Amanda Held Opelt. We reflect on what it’s like to move through grief. How grief affects our whole personhood - spirit, mind, and body. And how food rituals can be a healing and transformative way to tend to our bodies, and experience healing in community. Listen in.
Get a copy of Amanda Held Opelt’s book, A Hole in the World
Connect with Amanda Held Opelt on Instagram @AmandaHeldOpelt or on her website
Download our show transcript or subscribe to our weekly newsletter at www.edibletheology.com/kitc...2022-10-3031 min