Shows
Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerWhy Ignoring the Body Never Works with Justin Whitmel EarleyS9 E7 — Your body is trying to tell you something. Are you listening? In this episode, corporate lawyer Justin Whitmel Earley joins Amy Julia Becker to explore how spiritual life is also embodied life. As you reflect on the year ahead, this conversation invites you to think not in terms of resolutions, but in terms of habits that nurture health and wholeness. Justin and Amy Julia reflect on:How breathing can reconnect body and soulHow fasting, feasting, and everyday meals contribute to the spiritual lifeHow to understand pain and sickness in a world that is both be...
2025-12-3048 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerChristmas and the Hospitality of Need with Kevan ChandlerS9 E6 — In a season of parties and entertaining, it’s good to remember that hospitality means something very different—welcoming the stranger and caring for one another. In The Hospitality of Need, Kevan Chandler, born with a progressive disability, explores how dependence can expand life and deepen community. His story points us back to our shared human neediness, reflected in the baby lying in the manger. 00:0 Reimagining the Good Life06:12 Gift of Interdependence12:52 Understanding Need and Hospitality17:37 Proximity and Need21:43 Peer to Peer Caregiving26:39 A Journey to Skellig Michael32:53 Spiritual Realiti...
2025-12-1647 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerThe World Is the Wrong Shape for Women with Leah Libresco SargeantS9 E5 — There is a lot of conversation right now about the role of women and men in society. Whether we’re talking about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal or the viral essay "The Great Feminization" and all the commentary it sparked, it’s clear we’re in a cultural moment where we don’t quite know how to talk about men and women. Should we see men and women as interchangeable? What does equality look like when our bodies are not the same? Can we admit our neediness and maintain our dignity as women or as men? These are some of th...
2025-12-0249 min
Take the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerFrom Chaos to Calm-ish: Holiday Survival for Disability Parents with Niro Feliciano, LCSWE11 — Feeling the holiday overwhelm creep in already? Psychotherapist Niro Feliciano, author of All is CALMish, unpacks why disability families carry extra emotional weight this time of year—and how small, doable shifts can bring more peace. We explore:realistic expectationsmicro-moments of delightasking for helpbuilding a holiday season that fits your family, not InstagramMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:All is CALMish: How to Feel Less Frantic and More Festive During the Holidays by Niro FelicianoSubscribe to Amy Julia’s Substack newsletter: amyjuliabecker.com/subscribe__WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Ju...
2025-11-2627 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerThe Power of Proximity in Disability Parenting with Sho BarakaE10 — From Frustration to Connection: If your home feels tense or chaotic, connection might be a missing piece. Recording artist Sho Baraka joins Amy Julia Becker to share how his family moved from daily breakdowns and aggression to a home marked by peace. Sho reflects on his story of parenting two sons with autism and the surprising power of proximity—how simply being with our kids can open doors to communication, trust, and calm.00:00 Introduction to Sho Baraka03:07 Navigating Communication with Nonspeaking Children11:14 The Power of Proximity
2025-11-1926 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow to Break the Self-Improvement Cycle with Sharon Hodde MillerS9 E4 — What if real freedom doesn’t come from more self-esteem—but from self-forgetfulness? Amy Julia Becker and author and pastor Sharon Hodde Miller explore the difference between the false self and the true self—and how thinking about ourselves less without thinking less of ourselves leads to healing, humility, and purpose.00:00 Introduction01:58 Defining Self and Self-Forgetfulness07:33 Understanding the Self and Healing09:50 Noticing Ourselves14:12 False Self vs. True Self16:31 The Concept of Self-Denial19:18 The Role of the Body in Self-Understanding22:08 Embracing Insecurity, Humility, and Limitations29:3...
2025-11-1843 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerHow to Handle Awkward Questions About Disability with Carrie HahnE9 — Awkward questions about disability happen. Here’s how parents can respond. Carrie Hahn, a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mother, joins Amy Julia Becker to share actionable strategies to:navigate conversations and correct misconceptionsmake disability normal in playhelp kids feel seen and respected without feeling singled out00:00 Intro03:14 Myths About Disability05:33 Talking About Disability in Public09:05 Challenging Assumptions of Incompetence14:32 Making Disability Normal in Play19:08 Turning Conversation Mistakes into Learning23:38 Practical Tools for CaregiversMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Beyond Inclusion: Raising Anti-Ableist Kids by Carrie Hahn_
2025-11-1227 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerThe Help Disability Parents Actually Need (But Rarely Ask For) with Jordan ArogetiE8 — Asking for help shouldn’t feel impossible. In this episode, Jordan Arogeti, CEO of SupportNow, joins Amy Julia Becker to talk about why asking for help can feel so hard, especially for disability families. They explore how SupportNow offers a simple path toward connection and lasting support.Connect to Community download: A one-page guide to help families experiencing disability map out the connections that matter most within their communities. Get the guide: amyjuliabecker.com/connect-to-community-guide-free-download/00:00 Introduction to Support Now05:11 Barriers to Connection and Asking for Help10:07 How to Ask for Help...
2025-11-0525 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerYou Were Never Meant to Do It All with Kelly KapicS9 E3 — What is the good life? Is it a life marked by money and success and achievement? Or a life marked by love? Author and professor Kelly Kapic joins Amy Julia Becker to rethink our obsession with productivity and self-reliance. They explore:Why “independence” is not the idealHow love—not intelligence or achievement—defines our humanityHow receiving our limits can lead to rest, belonging, and deeper joySubscribe to Amy Julia’s Substack newsletter: amyjuliabecker.com/subscribe/00:00 Exploring Humanity's Limits and Gifts 04:30 The Distinction Between Limits and B...
2025-11-0445 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerWhat If I’m Just Exhausted? {Questions from Disability Parents} with Matt MooneyE7 — Q+R: How do I take care of myself and avoid burnout? How do I make sure siblings aren't overlooked? Is it okay to grieve? Where can my child build lifelong friendships? How do I stop feeling guilty? In this episode, Amy Julia Becker and Matt Mooney, co-founder of 99 Balloons, respond to your questions. Thank you to our audience for your thoughtful contributions!Chapter List00:00 Introduction04:30 I’m so tired as a parent. How do I avoid burnout?06:13 How do I make sure siblings aren't overlooked?10:35 Is it o...
2025-10-2932 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerFrom Deficit to Delight: Changing the Disability Narrative with Heather AvisE6 — What if one powerful way to advocate for your child is simply to delight in who they are? Author and advocate Heather Avis talks with Amy Julia about learning to find joy in family life, even when the world isn’t built for disability. They explore:Why delight can rewrite the disability narrativeWhat it takes to move from deficit to delightThe ripple effect of delight in our relationships and communitiesHow to lean into love and delight instead of anxiety and fear__UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Resp...
2025-10-2228 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerWhen the Church Tries to Fix What God Calls Good with John SwintonS9 E2 — What if disability isn’t something to fix, but a way to see God and one another more clearly? Theologian John Swinton joins Amy Julia Becker to explore how our ideas of perfection, healing, and humanity can distort—or deepen—our understanding of the good life. Together, they imagine a church and a world that welcomes every body as good, beloved, and whole. They explore:How culture shapes (and distorts) our perceptions of disability and beautyWhat it means for a world to be both wounded and belovedWhy the difference between goodness and perfectio...
2025-10-2145 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerDisability & Belonging: “We Aren’t Us Without You” with Erik CarterE5 — We all long to belong. But for many families experiencing disability, true belonging can feel out of reach. In this episode, researcher and advocate Erik Carter joins Amy Julia Becker to unpack how small steps toward inclusion and belonging can transform entire communities. They explore:How families can foster communities of belongingCommon barriers that block belongingThe benefits for everyone when communities embrace belonging__UPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/__MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:10 Dimensions of Be...
2025-10-1525 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerDisability & Family: The Yes/No Filter Every Parent Needs with Jillian BenfieldE4 — Overwhelmed by therapies, appointments, and never-ending “to-dos”? Author Jillian Benfield shares practical tools for families experiencing disability—offering parents guidance on setting limits, saying yes to what matters, and finding beauty in everyday life. Jillian and Amy Julia Becker explore:Parenting and caregiving without burning outDeveloping a yes/no filterTurning routines into lasting habitsCreating a clear vision for your familyHonest gratitude as a tool for resilienceUPCOMING Q+R EPISODE: Record your question for our upcoming Question & Response episode: amyjuliabecker.com/qr/__FREE DOWNLOAD: 30 Next Steps for Parents availabl...
2025-10-0827 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow Do You Know Your Calling? with Karen Swallow PriorS9 E1 — Some people get paid to do what they love, but most don’t. How can we find meaning in everyday work that we don’t always love doing? How can we discover our purpose in life? Author Karen Swallow Prior and Amy Julia Becker explore:Why passion is not the same as callingHow vocation centers on service and relationships, not just careerPursuing truth, goodness, and beauty in ordinary lifeHow multiple callings unfold across a lifetimeWisdom for discerning and living into a deeper purposeSubscribe to my weekly newsletter: amyjuliabecker.com/sub...
2025-10-0744 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerThe Hospitality of Need: Disability and Interdependence with Kevan ChandlerE3 — Many of us don't want to ask for help, but what if being needful isn’t weakness but a doorway to connection, friendship, and belonging? Kevan Chandler, coauthor of The Hospitality of Need, shares his personal story with Amy Julia Becker, reflecting on his experiences with spinal muscular atrophy, neediness, and the ways mutual care shapes his life. They explore:What peer-to-peer caregiving looks likeHow disability opens doors to friendshipWays to start supportive friendshipsHow your view of need shapes connectionWhy vulnerability and care are worth the riskConnect to Community download: A one-page guide to h...
2025-10-0128 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerReimagining the Good Life: What's Coming This SeasonWhat really makes life worth living? This season on Reimagining the Good Life, Amy Julia Becker dives into the ideas, assumptions, and cultural narratives that shape how we live. Upcoming conversations include:Karen Swallow Prior on callingSharon Hodde Miller on self-forgetfulnessKelly Kapic on human limitationsLeah Libresco Sargeant on the dignity of dependence If you’re curious about culture, disability, family, and faith—and how big ideas can change everyday life—this season is for you.__WATCH on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTubeSUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyju...
2025-09-3003 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerParenting Kids with Disabilities: The Power of Delight with Sissy GoffE2 — What if delight is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child? In this episode, Amy Julia Becker talks with therapist and author Sissy Goff, LPC-MHSP, about how parents—especially those raising children with disabilities—can bring delight into everyday family life. Together, they explore:What gets in the way of delighting in our childrenHow to shift focus from deficits to strengthsWhy a parent’s own sense of being delightful mattersHow honesty about both joy and sorrow helps children build resilienceSimple, practical ways to start delighting in your kids today__UPCOMI...
2025-09-2426 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerDon’t Wait to Celebrate: Disability and Delight with Katherine WolfE1 — "How could there be a good future in the midst of so much loss?" If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the challenges of disability—or if you know a family walking that road—you won’t want to miss this conversation with Katherine Wolf. She is an author, advocate, and co-founder of Hope Heals. Together, Katherine and Amy Julia Becker explore how families can reimagine disability, build connection, and celebrate life—even when it doesn’t look the way they once imagined.From the dinner table to the slow work of recovery, learn how to find delight i...
2025-09-1731 min
Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia Becker[Take the Next Step] Ep 1 • Don’t Wait to Celebrate: Disability and Delight with Katherine WolfThis is the very first episode of my new podcast, Take the Next Step, and I’m sharing it here so you won’t miss the launch. Be sure to follow Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker wherever you listen so you don’t miss future episodes. (New episodes of Reimagining the Good Life are coming in October!)Follow the new podcast at: amyjuliabecker.com/step/__Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of disability? Katherine Wolf, author, advocate, and co-founder of Hope Heals, joins Amy Julia Becker to explore how families can reimag...
2025-09-1731 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerSomething New: Take the Next Step PodcastI’m so excited to share something new with you! My new show, Take the Next Step, is a podcast for families experiencing disability—filled with real talk, real tools, and real hope. Tune in over at Take the Next Step each week for conversations with parents, therapists, and advocates about how we can cultivate belonging and build a flourishing future for the entire family.You can find the new show by searching "Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker" on your podcast app, or find it online at amyjuliabecker.com/stepAnd stay tune...
2025-09-1103 minTake the Next Step with Amy Julia BeckerIntroducing: Take the Next StepWelcome to Take the Next Step, a weekly podcast for families experiencing disability, offering practical guidance, encouragement, and hope.I’m Amy Julia Becker, writer, speaker, and mom to Penny, my 19-year-old daughter with Down syndrome. Each Wednesday, I’ll bring you short, hope-filled conversations with fellow parents, therapists, and disability advocates. We'll explore how to:Navigate the challenges of disability parentingCreate moments of delight, joy, and connection at homeConnect with a supportive community where your family belongsTake small, doable steps toward a flourishing futureOur first season features Katherine Wolf, stro...
2025-09-1002 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerThe Lucky Few: Finding Delight and Belonging in Disability with Heather AvisWhen Heather Avis says she’s one of “the lucky few,” she means it. In this episode, we talk about growing up with our children with Down syndrome, what it means to delight in our kids, and how all of us can participate in shifting the narrative around disability toward love and belonging. Our conversation highlights her new children’s book, I Like You So Much, and focuses on:Proclaiming the worth of our childrenThe role of children's books in shifting disability narrativesUnderstanding identityExploring mutuality in relationshipsThe importance of spaces of belongingDelight and celebration in parentingMENTIONED IN THIS...
2025-06-1747 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerThe Cost of Ambition with Miroslav Volf, PhDAmbition is the air we breathe—but what is it costing us? In this episode, Amy Julia Becker and theologian Miroslav Volf discuss his latest book, The Cost of Ambition. They unpack the hidden damage of a culture obsessed with competition and invite us to imagine a new way of being, for ourselves and our society, rooted not in achievement, but in love, mutuality, and genuine abundance. They explore: Striving for superiority in American cultureThe dark side of competitionLonging for what we haveStriving for excellence vs. striving for superiorityThe illusion of individual achievementPractices for embracing love and generosityReimagining hum...
2025-06-0350 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerThe Myth of the Perfect Family—and the Truth of Love with Emily Hunter McGowin, PhDWhat if the perfect family doesn’t exist—and never was supposed to? Theologian Emily McGowin, PhD, joins Amy Julia Becker to explore family life in America and what the Bible really says (and doesn’t say) about family life. They discuss:the idealized version of the American familythe misconceptions surrounding a biblical blueprint for familycreating a home centered on love, not expectationsapprenticing ourselves to love through daily household practices___MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Households of Faith: Practicing Family in the Kingdom of God by Emily Hunter McGowin, PhDAmy Julia's episode with Matthe...
2025-05-2046 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerRFK Jr., Autism, and the Story We Need Instead with Matthew MooneyIs disability a tragedy? Is it a gift? What place is there for grief and for joy in this story of disability so many of us are living within our families? Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently portrayed disability as tragic, as something that needs to be fixed, in his comments about autism. In response, Matthew Mooney, co-founder of 99 Balloons, joins Amy Julia Becker to share a better and truer story of disability. They explore: Societal perceptions of disabilityHow relationships change the story of disabilityRecognizing the inherent worth of every individualNavigating grief, loss, and sufferingCultivating the beauty found in c...
2025-05-0652 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerWhy I Haven’t Sent My Kids to Church Camp with Cara MeredithFor some of us, Christian summer camp is where we felt most at home. But for campers at white Evangelical church camps in particular, camp was also often the place to inherit an image of God—and of each other—that was incomplete at best and toxic at worst. Author Cara Meredith joins Amy Julia Becker on the podcast to explore belonging, betrayal, and new beginnings as they talk about Cara's latest book, Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation. They examine:Personal experiences of church camp, including joy, exclusion, and betrayalComplexities of fa...
2025-04-2243 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerReimagining Family Life with Autism with Adrian Wood, PhDHow do we redefine success, community, and family when parenting a child with disabilities? In this conversation, Amy Julia Becker and Adrian Wood, PhD, creator of the vlog Tales of an Educated Debutante and co-author of Autism Out Loud, discuss community, belonging, autism, and the ways they have grown up with their children. They explore:Cultural perceptions of family life with disabilityNavigating family dynamicsCommunication Building community connectionsCollaborating with schools for better outcomesRedefining success_MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Autism Out Loud: Life with a Child on the Spectrum, from Diagnosis to Young Adulthood b...
2025-04-0850 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerWant to Change Culture? Show Up With Care with Andy CrouchHow does language, both careless and careful, shape our world? What's the connection between social status and the words we choose? How does technology influence our understanding of culture and control? Amy Julia Becker and special guest Andy Crouch examine these questions in a conversation about language, culture, and culture making. They also ask:What does the recent rise of the r-word tell us about our culture? In what ways are technology and vulnerability interconnected? How can we show up with care in our relationships and creative endeavors?_MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:...
2025-03-251h 03Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerWhat Solitude Gives Us After Catastrophe with Pico IyerWhat happens when we step into silence? Author Pico Iyer joins Amy Julia Becker to discuss his book Aflame: Learning from Silence. He reflects on his time spent in monasteries and how he grounds the ethereal idea of silence in the very earthy realities of everyday life—filled with deadlines, relationships, and the unexpected, like the wildfire that consumed his home in southern California. Pico and Amy Julia examine:the profound lessons that arise from moments of crisishow practices of silence transform lives and relationshipsthe importance of community and servicethe essence of a good life_...
2025-03-1158 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerAmericans & Foreign Aid: A Crisis of Compassion? with Dr. Matthew LoftusWhen U.S. foreign aid is frozen, what happens to the people who depend on it? In this episode, Dr. Matthew Loftus and Amy Julia Becker dive into the effects of USAID cuts, including:The life-or-death consequences for HIV patientsThe difficult choices clinics and hospitals now faceThe political and religious divisions driving the debateWhat it means to be pro-lifeHow concerned Americans can respondMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Amy Julia's Substack email newsletter about USAID: Caring for Humans is Slow, Messy, and BeautifulNYT opinion essay by Leah Libresco Sargeant, Matthew Loftus...
2025-03-0445 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerWhy Religion Still Matters with Ross DouthatIn the work of reimagining, religion can play a significant part. What does it mean to be human? Does God exist? Is the universe good? Is there order and purpose to human life? These are the types of questions that help to shape our imagination about our individual lives and our life together. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat joins Amy Julia Becker to discuss his latest book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. They explore:the current cultural landscape of religion in Americathe rise of secularism and the existential angst many face in a post-religious worldthe importance...
2025-02-2552 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerThe Myth of a Colorblind, Meritocratic Society with David M. BaileyRecent political changes and executive orders have polarized the complex conversation around diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). David M. Bailey, the Founder and CEO of Arrabon, joins Amy Julia Becker to discuss: the consequences of dismantling DEIA initiativesthe implications of colorblindness and meritocracythe role of the church in advocating for justicethe importance of maintaining hope and engagement amidst societal polarizationthe need for critical thinking and compassionpractical steps for hope and community involvement_Amy Julia's Lenten Daily DevotionalAmy Julia's To Be Made Well Lenten Bible Study—Small Gro...
2025-02-1146 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerThe New Testament in Color with Esau McCaulley, Ph.D.How do we attend to diverse voices in our churches and society without silencing or patronizing each other? Author and professor Esau McCaulley, PhD, joins Amy Julia Becker to discuss The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary. They talk about:the importance of connecting church and culturethe insights provided by scholars from diverse backgrounds and ethnicitiesthe harm caused by limiting biblical interpretation to a Western-centric lensthe role of the church in today's societythe transformative power of listening and learning from each other_
2024-12-0344 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow to Be Christian During Election Season with Corey Widmer, Ph.D.Political divides don't just disappear after elections. If you long for a hopeful way forward, this conversation is for you. Pastor Corey Widmer talks with Amy Julia Becker about how to navigate political polarization with humility, love, and a commitment to Jesus' way of life.Corey and Amy Julia discuss:Political engagement and identity formationThe dangers of political idolatry and hyperindividualism How to embody love and curiosity in political discourseLiving out the way of Jesus in a polarized worldHow to respond to the election results ...
2024-11-0548 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerThe Measure of Intelligence with Pepper Stetler, Ph.D.What freedom could we offer one another as humans if we weren’t so stuck on the "treadmill of achievements and quantified learning"? Pepper Stetler, PhD, is the author of A Measure of Intelligence: One Mother's Reckoning with the IQ Test. She joins Amy Julia Becker on the podcast to share her personal journey navigating the world of IQ testing with her daughter Louisa, who has Down syndrome. Amy Julia and Dr. Stetler explore: the historical roots of these intelligence assessmentsIQ testing's societal implicationsthe ethical dilemmas the tests present for parents and edu...
2024-10-2250 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow Stories of Hope Empower Justice with Jemar Tisby, Ph.D.The way we tell the stories of our past plays a crucial role in shaping our imagination for the future. Author and historian Jemar Tisby, Ph.D., insists in his work that we tell a fuller story of our past, especially when it comes to the history of race and justice within the United States. Jemar joins Amy Julia Becker to discuss his latest book, The Spirit of Justice. Their conversation includes:The persistent spirit of justice in the Black Christian experience in AmericaThe historical and ongoing struggles against racismHow faith and storytelling fuel resilience and hope
2024-10-0850 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerNarrow Path, Spacious Life with Rich VillodasThe ways we have envisioned success—whether it’s more wealth, social media followers, recognition, or power—might actually lead us away from an abundant, spacious life. Pastor Rich Villodas, author of The Narrow Way, joins Amy Julia Becker on the podcast to examine how the Sermon on the Mount challenges prevailing notions of success and the good life and invites us to reimagine faithfulness to Jesus. Amy Julia and Rich discuss:Reimagining success, morality, and individualismInterior examination and the integration of loveThe paradox of the narrow path and the spacious life in Jesus’ wordsPra...
2024-09-1049 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerExploring the Good Life with Meghan Sullivan, Ph.D.What does it mean to live a good life? How do we find meaning and happiness in our everyday lives? In this episode, Amy Julia Becker sits down with Meghan Sullivan, co-author of The Good Life Method and philosophy professor at Notre Dame, to explore:The narrow American understanding of the good lifeHow to help students (and all of us) explore the big questions about life, purpose, and meaningHow individuals with intellectual disabilities contribute to our understanding of humanityThe relationship between love, attention, and the good lifeExpanding our conceptions of work and vocation _SUBSCRIBE t...
2024-06-1146 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerChasing the Intact Mind with Amy Lutz, Ph.D.In a society often obsessed with intelligence, can we reimagine a good life that encompasses joy, meaning, and respect for all? What does it mean to respect and support individuals with profound intellectual disabilities? What role do those most intimately involved in providing care have in advocacy? Professor Amy Lutz, Ph.D., author of Chasing the Intact Mind, joins Amy Julia Becker to discuss:How the severely autistic and intellectually disabled were excluded from the debates that affect them mostControversy and misconceptions about sheltered workshops/14(c) programsThe importance of meaningful relationships and communityBuilding a caring and committed workforce...
2024-05-2854 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerBringing Politics Under the Power of Love with Michael WearWe are heading into another contentious Presidential election. For people of faith, for people who care about character and gentleness and values, for people who are inclined to disengage from politics altogether, what are we to do? Michael Wear, author of The Spirit of Our Politics, joins Amy Julia Becker to talk about:His work as a staffer in the Obama White House (Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships)How political anger and polarization malform individuals, families, churches, and communitiesHabits and practices for gentle, hopeful political engagementStewarding political influence for the good of our neighborsPolitics and identityA new...
2024-04-3046 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow to Honor Limits in a World That Doesn’t with Micha BoyettWhat's the difference between limitations and brokenness? What does it mean to be blessed? How can a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism be a part of a flourishing life? Micha Boyett, a writer, poet, and mom, joins Amy Julia Becker to talk about her new book Blessed Are the Rest of Us. They explore the intersection of blessing, limits, and longing within the context of the Beatitudes, including:The meaning of 'blessed' and how it relates to the gifts and challenges of being humanFlourishing in the midst of grief and hardshipThe importance of insisting on presence...
2024-04-1655 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerWhen Your Church and Political Group Turn on You with Nancy French{Please note that we discuss abuse in this episode.}How do we love people across our political and social divides? What are the costs and gifts of loving our political neighbor? Nancy French, author of Ghosted: An American Story, talks with Amy Julia Becker about:Her experiences as a ghostwriter for GOP politicians and her decision to leave the industryPolarization within the church and the political landscapeInadequate responses to abuse from both the church and the cultureThe cost of speaking outFinding hope and connection in surprising waysNew Workshop with Amy Julia: Reimagining Family...
2024-04-0248 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerDisability and the Language We Use with Andrew LelandIs blindness an incidental characteristic, like hair color? Or is it an identity? What language should we use to talk about disability, and why does it matter? Andrew Leland, author of The Country of the Blind, joins Amy Julia Becker on the podcast for a conversation examining:Blindness and identityThe importance of language and the use of metaphors in relation to disabilityHow the experience of disability can involve beauty, power, and lossThe role of allies in advocating with disabled individualsHow Andrew has reimagined the good life_Amy Julia’s upcoming events_
2024-02-201h 01Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerReimagining the Good LifeThis podcast has a new name: Reimagining the Good Life. If you’re asking, “Why a name change?” and “Why now?”—I have answers! Author and teacher Patricia Clarke talks with me about:How disability challenges assumptions about the good lifeAccepting limitations and finding freedom within themHow faith and culture shape our understanding of the good lifeThe power of reimagining what’s possibleWhat all of this has to do with changing the podcast name!_GUEST BIO:Patricia Clarke is a speaker, teacher, and writer who brings people from different backgrounds together to talk about faith. S...
2024-02-1330 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow Advent Resists the Culture Wars with Tish Harrison WarrenHoliday culture wars and consumerism bring more chaos than joy to the world. But there’s hope. The countercultural season of Advent offers a different way to prepare for Christmas. Tish Harrison Warren, former New York Times columnist and author, talks with Amy Julia Becker about:How the practices of Advent disarm the culture warsWays that Advent helps us grieve and hopeWhy waiting to celebrate Christmas mattersPLUS why Tish chose to leave the New York TimesGive a book for Christmas!...
2023-11-2846 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow to Become a Worry-Free Parent with Sissy Goff, LPC-MHSPAnxious parents. Anxious families. Anxiety is contagious. How do I know if I’m an anxious parent? And if I am one, how is that affecting my kids? What can I do about it—for their sake and for mine? Therapist and author Sissy Goff, LPC-MHSP, joins Amy Julia Becker on the podcast to talk about:How to identify and stop anxiety loopsWhy failure is good for parents and kidsCommon parenting strategies that DON’T workPractical tools for changing thought and behavior patternsPLUS you get to lis...
2023-11-1449 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerFinding Hope in the Dark with Curt Thompson, MDHow do we show up for each other in the midst of pain? Is it possible to hope when we’re suffering? Psychiatrist Curt Thompson, author of The Deepest Place, joins Amy Julia Becker to talk about:How to identify the denial and shame we’ve connected to sufferingHow to form durable hope in the darkest placesHow to help a friend in the midst of suffering__Guest Bio:“Inspired by deep compassion for others and informed from a Christian perspective, psychiatrist Curt Thompson shares fresh insights and practical applications for developing more authen...
2023-10-3152 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow a Mystery Series Tells Black History with Patricia RaybonWhat is casual racism? And how did a non-fiction writer end up writing a mystery series? Author Patricia Raybon talks with Amy Julia Becker about faith and “casual racism,” Black history month, and the beauty and truth that emerge from creative storytelling.__Giveaway: Share this episode on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter by February 26th and tag me when you share. You’ll be entered for a chance to win a copy of Patricia’s latest book, Double the Lies.__Guest Bio:“A writer of faith by day and mystery by night, Patr...
2023-02-2146 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow to Cultivate Racial Healing with David M. BaileyIn the wake of Tyre Nichols’ death in Memphis, David M. Bailey, founder of Arrabon, talks with Amy Julia Becker about the long, deep, painful, hopeful work of healing in a world that is often filled instead with quick reactions.__Guest Bio:David M. Bailey is the founder and chief vision officer of Arrabon, which “cultivates Christian communities to pursue healing and reconciliation in a racially divided world…For the past 5 years we have successfully partnered with organizations across the country, providing guidance, education and the tools to build more empathetic, reconciled communities.”Connec...
2023-02-0758 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerChristmas, When Church Lets You Down with Bekah McNeelIt’s Christmastime! But how do we celebrate Christmas when consumerism and church hurt bring complicated feelings to this season? Journalist Bekah McNeel and Amy Julia Becker talk about divisions within the American church and Bekah's book Bringing Up Kids When Church Lets You Down. If you are someone who is wrestling with questions of faith and doubt and how to raise kids with faith without force-feeding them answers, this conversation is for you. __Guest Bio:"Bekah McNeel is a journalist, wife, and mother of two. She is the author of Bringing Up Kids Wh...
2022-12-1349 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerThe Beauty of Life Together with Willie James Jennings"The challenge is to trust again the beauty of life together.” Professor and author Willie James Jennings talks with Amy Julia Becker about the beauty, promise, and hope of Christianity, especially if and as we are able to untether Christianity from whiteness and reimagine institutions and relationships built upon mutual dependence.__Guest Bio:“Willie James Jennings is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies at Yale University. His book The Christian Imagination won the American Academy of Religion Award of Excellence in the Study of Religion and the Grawemeyer Award in Religion. He h...
2022-10-1855 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerDisability Belongs in Church with Dr. Amy KennyWhile Jesus welcomed the disabled, the poor, and the outcast, Christian communities are often spaces of exclusion. Dr. Amy Kenny is a disabled scholar, a Shakespeare Lecturer, and the author of My Body Is Not a Prayer Request. In this conversation, she talks with Amy Julia Becker about disability, the church, ableism, and creating communities of belonging.___GIVEAWAYRate and review this podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Then go here and fill out the form to enter the giveaway for the To Be Made Well audiobook! ___Guest Bio:
2022-05-3148 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerTo Be Made Well: An ExcerptFor anyone struggling with pain or loss, for anyone concerned about the things that divide us, this episode—this book— is for you. It’s launch day for my latest book, To Be Made Well. I'm celebrating by sharing an excerpt with you! I hope you enjoy it, and if you think of other people who might find this relevant and helpful in their own lives, please pass it along to them as well.You can find more info about To Be Made Well here.“From hurting bodies and souls to hurting relationships and comm...
2022-03-1515 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerBlack Jesus, White Spaces, and Sacred Beauty with Danté StewartBlack literature powerfully expands our theological imaginations. Danté Stewart, writer, speaker, and author of Shoutin’ in the Fire, talks with Amy Julia Becker about literature, theology, Black Jesus, and finding beauty and faith free from traditions bound to white spaces. Giveaway: We’re giving away a copy of Shoutin’ in the Fire. To enter, complete the following 2 steps:Follow Amy Julia Becker on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.Share this podcast episode on one of the above social media platforms and tag Amy Julia when you share OR find this episode's post on one of Amy Juli...
2021-11-1654 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerGod Has Something to Say About Privilege with Dominique GilliardWhat is privilege? How can we leverage it to proclaim God’s love to the world and create communities that flourish? Dominique DuBois Gilliard, the author of Subversive Witness, talks with Amy Julia about the church and privilege, economic justice, and how to leverage privilege in order to demonstrate the Gospel in innovative and faithful ways.Show Notes:Guest Bio: “Dominique DuBois Gilliard is the Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Evangelical Covenant Church. He is the author of Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice that Restores, which won a 2018 Book of the Year...
2021-09-2155 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerHow Disability Taught Me the Goodness of Vulnerability with Heather LanierWhat is a meaningful life? Does thinking about disability change your answer? Heather Lanier, author of Raising a Rare Girl, talks with Amy Julia about her daughter’s diagnosis and subsequent reactions from medical professionals, parents’ expectations for their children, the gift of vulnerability, the power of language, and the truth that love is stronger than fear.SHOW NOTES:Heather Lanier “is a poet, essayist, teacher, and speaker. An assistant professor of creative writing at Rowan University, she is the author of the memoir, Raising a Rare Girl.”Connect Online: Website...
2021-09-0741 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E16 | Dear White Peacemakers with Osheta MooreCan peacemaking dismantle racism? Osheta Moore, author of Dear White Peacemakers, offers a warm and welcoming invitation to White people as she talks with Amy Julia about antiracism, the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking, and the equalizing nature of our belovedness. Show Notes:“Osheta Moore is a writer, pastor, speaker, and podcaster in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as well as a mother of three and economic justice advocate for women in developing countries.” Preorder her book Dear White Peacemakers: Dismantling Racism with Grit and Grace.Connect Online:Website: osheta.comInstagram: @oshe...
2021-05-0454 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E15 | Reparations: Imagining Ways to Repair and Restore with Duke Kwon and Greg ThompsonWhy should Christians in particular participate in the work of reparations? Duke Kwon and Greg Thompson, the co-authors of Reparations, talk with Amy Julia about white supremacy, the harms and thefts of centuries of racism, and the imaginative, beautiful, restoring work of reparations. (scroll down for book giveaway!)Show Notes:Duke L. Kwon is the lead pastor at Grace Meridian Hill in Washington, DC, and Gregory Thompson is a pastor and the executive director of Voices Underground. They are the co-authors of Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair.Connect...
2021-04-2757 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E12 | The White Church, Segregation, and Discipleship with David SwansonIs diversity or discipleship the answer to segregation within the American church? David Swanson, pastor and author of Rediscipling the White Church, talks with Amy Julia about the segregated American church, the white church’s discipleship problem, and how rethinking discipleship can grow communities of welcome that break down barriers. (Scroll down for book giveaway details!)Show Notes:“David W. Swanson is the pastor of New Community Covenant Church, a multicultural congregation in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. He helps lead New Community Outreach, a nonprofit that collaborates with the community to reduce sources of trauma, and...
2021-04-0649 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E10 | Why Christians Should Welcome Immigrants with Briana StensrudHow should Christians care for immigrants and respond to the divisiveness surrounding immigration policies in the United States? Briana Stensrud, director of Women of Welcome, talks with Amy Julia about her journey from working in the pro-life movement to working with immigrants, biblical hospitality, and what extending welcome to immigrants could look like today.SHOW NOTES:Briana Stensrud is a human dignity advocate and the Director of Women of Welcome. Connect online:Women of Welcome: womenofwelcome.comInstagram: @womenofwelcomeInstagram: @bri.stenzFacebook: @WomenofWelcomeOn the Podcast:Women of WelcomeLatasha Morrison and...
2021-03-2353 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E9 | Choosing Courage in a World Divided with Natasha Sistrunk Robinson and Raymond ChangHow do we respond with courageous love in order to bridge the divisions facing our country? Natasha Sistrunk Robinson, Raymond Chang, and Amy Julia Becker reflect on racial injustice, unity, discipleship, and ways to courageously love our neighbors.Show Notes:Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is an author, speaker, former US Marine Corps captain, Naval Academy Graduate, and founder of Leadership LINKS, Inc. Raymond Chang is the president of the Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC), a pastor, and writer. On the Podcast:Wheaton CollegeAsian American Christian Collaborative A Sojourner’s Truth by N...
2021-03-161h 05Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E7 | Are Christians Afraid to Talk About Racism? with Corey WidmerMarxism is often mentioned when talking about progressive views of justice, but what are the secular concepts that shape conservative views of justice? Are they biblical? Corey Widmer, lead pastor of Third Church in Richmond, VA, tells his story of moving into, and out of, a neighborhood in the inner city of Richmond, and he talks with Amy Julia about race, white evangelicalism, faith, and biblical justice.Connect Online:Third Church website: thirdrva.orgInstagram: @thirdrvaFacebook: @ThirdRVATwitter: @coreywidmer and @ThirdRVAOn the Podcast:White Picket Fences and A Good and Perfect...
2021-03-0252 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E6 | The Reunited States: Love Big Enough to Heal with Erin LeavertonErin and David Leaverton sold their house, loaded their three, young children into an RV, and traveled the country for a year. Their family’s journey is part of the documentary The Reunited States. Erin Leaverton talks with Amy Julia about their search for what divides our nation, the false hierarchy of human value, and the durable power of God’s love to heal division.SHOW NOTES:Erin Leaverton is a wife, a mom to three children, an interior designer, and a blogger. Her family’s “life-altering adventure, traveling across America by RV for one year...
2021-02-2350 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E5 | Healing the Harm of White Evangelicalism with Kristin Du MezCan acknowledging the wounds of white evangelicalism actually bring healing? Kristin Du Mez, author of Jesus and John Wayne, talks with Amy Julia about the harm of militant masculinity and Christian nationalism found within white evangelicalism and the hope for healing by exposing and addressing those wounds.SHOW NOTES:Kristin Kobes Du Mez is professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University and the author of Jesus and John Wayne. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame, and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics.
2021-02-1647 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E4 | Spiritual Practices That Heal with Rich VillodasHow do spiritual practices equip us to participate in God’s healing work in the world? Rich Villodas, pastor and author of The Deeply Formed Life, talks with Amy Julia about social divisions, the relationship between inner spiritual formation and outward actions, and God’s healing work within individuals and communities.SHOW NOTES:“Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large, multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens.” Connect with Rich online:Website: richvillodas.comFacebook: @rvillodas
2021-02-0941 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E3 | How Brokenness Brings Healing with Katherine WolfCan God truly heal, redeem, and transform brokenness? Katherine Wolf, coauthor of Suffer Strong and cofounder of Hope Heals, talks with Amy Julia about the reality of disability and pain, redefining brokenness and healing, and the game-changing nature of community. (Keep scrolling for book giveaway!)“Katherine Wolf miraculously survived a catastrophic stroke caused by a congenital brain defect she never knew she had. After a sixteen-hour brain surgery, forty days in the ICU, a year in neuro rehab, and eleven operations, she continues her recovery to this day.” Katherine and her husband, Jay, are the authors of Suff...
2021-02-0247 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E2 | Where Is God When the Pain Won’t Stop? with Liuan HuskaLiuan Huska, author of Hurting Yet Whole, talks with Amy Julia about chronic illness and pain, experiencing wholeness while living in suffering, and the relationship between community and healing for both the individual and society. (scroll to the end for book giveaway details!)A freelance writer and speaker, Liuan focuses on topics of embodiment and spirituality. Her writing, on everything from chronic pain to evangelical fertility trends, appears in publications including Christianity Today and The Christian Century. She lives with her husband and their three little boys in the Chicago area.Connect with Liuan...
2021-01-2649 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS4 E1 | How Do We Fight Racism? with Jemar TisbyHow do we fight racism? Is there reason to hope when history reveals the continuity of racism’s tactics and its multifaceted exploitation? Historian and author Jemar Tisby talks with Amy Julia about racial identity, Black Lives Matter, laboring for racial justice, and reasons to hope for racial healing.Jemar Tisby is the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Color of Compromise, and the newly released book How to Fight Racism. He is the president and co-founder of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective and co-host of the podcast Pass The Mic. Con...
2021-01-1953 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E20 | When Love Is Our Home, Healing BeginsDo we want to get well? Within the reality of the harm of privilege and ongoing division, Amy Julia concludes this season of the podcast by examining how healing begins when love is our home. She provides solutions of hope and reconciliation that begin and end with, and flow from, the abundant love of God. (Plus a sneak peek into Season 4 of Love is Stronger Than Fear!)SHOW NOTES:“If we just tackle these problems [of division] with policies, if we just tackle them with to-do steps and practices, we’re going to scratch the...
2020-11-1723 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E19 | Loving Our Enemies in a Nation Divided with David BaileyThe presidential election does not change the church’s assignment. David Bailey, the executive director of Arrabon, talks with Amy Julia about the practices of reconciling communities, the divisions that result from misplaced hope in political power, and the foretaste of God’s kingdom that comes through loving our enemies.SHOW NOTES:David Bailey is the executive director of Arrabon, a ministry that helps churches become reconciling communities. Arrabon also includes Urban Doxology, ministry that writes the soundtrack of reconciliation in a racially diverse and gentrifying neighborhood. Connect online:Websites: arrabon.com; urbandoxology.comIn...
2020-11-1054 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E18 | American Politics, Power, and Human Flourishing with Andy CrouchAs Americans vote in national and local elections, is there hope for power, politics, and privilege to foster human flourishing? Andy Crouch, author of Strong and Weak, talks with Amy Julia about the paradox of authority and vulnerability, how political leaders can use power and risk for the good of humanity, the distinction between blessing and privilege, and pragmatic ways to contribute to human flourishing.Show Notes:Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship. His two most recent books—2017's The...
2020-11-031h 06Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E17 | How the Church Can Support School Reform with Nicole Baker FulghamDo we, as a society, truly think that every child can succeed in school? Nicole Baker Fulgham, president and founder of The Expectations Project, talks with Amy Julia about the societal expectations for children in schools, the inequity within public education, and how to mobilize the church to work towards education reform.SHOW NOTES:Nicole Baker Fulgham (PhD, UCLA) is the president and founder of The Expectations Project and author of Educating All God’s Children and Schools in Crisis. Follow Nicole:Twitter: @nicolebfulghamConnect with The Expectations Project: Webs...
2020-10-2743 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E16 | Normie: What is Normal Through the Lens of Down Syndrome with Annemarie Carrigan and Kurt NealeWhat is normal? Normie, a coming-of-age film about a young woman with Down syndrome, examines this question. Today, Annemarie Carrigan, the lead cast member of Normie, and Kurt Neale, the director and producer of the film, talk with Amy Julia about the illusions and reality of “normal,” the truth that all humans are broken and beloved, and how the creation of Normie changed how they viewed themselves and others.SHOW NOTES:Stream Normie from October 20-31, 2020: Go to amyjuliabecker.com and subscribe to receive monthly updates. You’ll receive an email with a link to wat...
2020-10-2042 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E15 | Who Belongs? Disability and the Built World with Sara HendrenHow does “the built world”—the chairs, rooms, and streets that guide our bodies every day— implicitly ascribe worth to human beings? How does the built world welcome or exclude individuals in public space? Sara Hendren, author of “What Can A Body Do? How We Meet the Built World,” talks with Amy Julia about disability and the built world, how disability is fundamental to our common humanity, and reimagining the built world in a way that gives dignity and worth to all human beings.SHOW NOTES:Sara Hendren is an artist, design researcher, professor at Olin Coll...
2020-10-131h 01Reimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E14 | The Astonishing Hope of a Mortal Life with Todd BillingsMortality is often connected to fear, so how does embracing mortality provide hope to individuals and communities? Professor Todd Billings, author of “The End of the Christian Life: How Embracing Our Mortality Frees Us to Truly Live,” talks with Amy Julia about lamenting and embracing mortality, the potential for mortality to exacerbate divisions or create connections, and how the presence of God brings freedom from our slavery to the fear of death.SHOW NOTES:Dr. J. Todd Billings is a professor at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. An ordained minister in the Reformed Chur...
2020-10-0645 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerBonus | What Is Privilege?What is privilege? What is it not? How does privilege cause harm? In this bonus episode, Amy Julia describes her working definition of privilege, the ways that privilege leads to unjust social divisions and disparities, and how we can participate in healing from the harm of privilegeSHOW NOTES:“Privilege is a set of unearned social advantages that lead to unjust social divisions and disparities.”“Privilege is not a guarantee of an easy life and it’s not an accusation of an easy life.”“As unearned social advantages lead to unjust socia...
2020-09-2934 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E13 | Privilege, Wealth, and the Christ-Shaped Life with Paul MillerHow does the pattern of Jesus’ life reshape privilege, wealth, and community? Paul Miller, author of “J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life,” talks with Amy Julia about the J-curve and how this daily dying and rising with Christ can create communities where the potential divisions of wealth and privilege are reshaped by love.SHOW NOTES:Paul Miller is Executive Director of seeJesus, a global discipleship mission, which he founded in 1999 to help Christians and non-Christians alike “see Jesus.” His books include “J-Curve” and the instant bestseller “A Praying Life.” Follow him on Twitter at @_pa...
2020-09-2251 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E12 | What Is Unjust About the Criminal Justice System with Dominique GilliardWhat would it mean for the criminal justice system to be unjust? And if it is, what should Christians do about it? Dominique Gilliard, author of “Rethinking Incarceration,” talks with Amy Julia about the history of injustice in this system, reimagining justice, punishment, and reconciliation in light of the gospel, and practical ways the church can love people who have been incarcerated.SHOW NOTES:Dominique DuBois Gilliard is the Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Love Mercy Do Justice (LMDJ) initiative of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). His book “Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Ju...
2020-09-1558 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E11 | The Black Church’s Gift to Christianity with Esau McCaulleyThe Black church has a gift for American Christianity. Are we all willing to receive it? New Testament scholar Esau McCaulley, author of “Reading While Black,” talks with Amy Julia about Black biblical interpretation, distorted views of the gospel, the importance of identity within a Christian’s story, and the Black church’s commitment to both the theological tenets of Christianity and advocating for justice.SHOW NOTES:Esau McCaulley (PhD, St. Andrews), author of “Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope,” a priest in the Anglican Church in North Ame...
2020-09-0852 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E10 | Anxiety, Affluence, and Identity with Niro FelicianoIn an achievement-oriented culture, how do we risk vulnerability in order to move toward personal and racial healing? Cognitive therapist Niro Feliciano talks with Amy Julia about the complexities of privilege, race and identity, affluence and anxiety, and the hurt and the hope found within communities of faith.SHOW NOTES:Niro Feliciano is a certified cognitive therapist and co-founder of a multi-specialty mental health group in Connecticut where she treats anxiety in adults and adolescents. Connect with Niro: nirofeliciano.com, her All Things Life podcast, @niro_feliciano on Instagram, and Niro Feliciano, The Incidental...
2020-09-0155 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E9 | How Jesus Overcomes the Barrier of Wealth with Marlena GravesFear often inhabits both wealth and poverty. How does viewing money and self-sacrifice through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus bring freedom and joy? Writer and speaker Marlena Graves, author of The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself, talks with Amy Julia about wealth, poverty, faith, and the freedom that comes from being filled up with God’s love.SHOW NOTESMarlena Graves received her M.Div. from Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, New York and is pursuing her Ph.D. in American Culture Studies as she researches the in...
2020-08-2546 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E8 | Equality, Equity, and Education with Subira GordonWhat is the difference between equality and equity and how does that affect education? Subira Gordan, executive director of ConnCAN, talks with Amy Julia about the lack of equity in education, the effects this has on opportunities for children, the role of antiracism in education, and the questions we can ask to move our communities toward affirming antiracist policies.SHOW NOTES:Subira Gordan is the executive director of ConnCAN, an organization that is “leading a movement to improve education outcomes for Connecticut’s kids...to ensure that all kids in The Constitution State have acce...
2020-08-1843 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E7 | Conversations about Whiteness with Cara MeredithHow does “color blindness” actually enable blindness to racism and the system of whiteness? Cara Meredith, author of The Color of Life: A Journey Toward Love and Racial Justice, joins Amy Julia to talk about racism in the north, the harm of “color blindness,” the tenants of whiteness, and creating space to process whiteness in a way that’s “not all about me.”Show Notes:Cara Meredith is a writer, speaker, and coach. Connect with her online: carameredith.com, @carameredithwrites on Facebook and Instagram, and @caramac54 on Twitter.“Love help...
2020-08-1244 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerOn Vacation Amy Julia is on vacation. Tune back in next week for a new episode and interview. Be sure to check out these interviews from Season 3: White Picket Fences:S3 E1 | Waking Up to Privilege with David BaileyS3 E2 | Living into the Really Real with Micha BoyettS3 E3 | Our Different Stories Divide Us with Patricia RaybonS3 Bonus | Talking with Our Kids about Race, Justice, Love, and PrivilegeS3 E4 | Challenging Comfort, Acknowledging Power, and Using Privilege with Natasha RobinsonS3 E5 | Why I Wrote White Picket FencesS3 E6 | Now Is the Time for Justice with Jemar TisbyWe wa...
2020-08-0403 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E5 | Why I Wrote White Picket FencesWhen it comes to the enduring legacy of racism, what place is there for forgiveness, humility, and healing? On today’s episode, Amy Julia’s friend Niro Feliciano interviews her about how she came to write White Picket Fences and what she has learned in talking about social divisions over the past few years. {This episode originally aired on Niro's podcast—All Things Life.}Show Notes:Niro Feliciano is a certified cognitive therapist and is the co-founder of a multi-specialty mental health group—Integrative Counseling and Wellness Group in Wilton...
2020-07-2146 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 Bonus | Talking with Our Kids about Race, Justice, Love, and PrivilegeIn this follow up to last week’s interview with Patricia Raybon, Amy Julia interviews her three children. Penny, William, and Marilee all talk about what they’ve learned from books, museums, and the recent protests after the death of George Floyd.Show Notes:We begin our conversation by talking about our family’s Civil Rights tour in 2019. Here’s a description of our four-day tour, as well as a recommended itinerary, which includes the Whitney Plantation that Marilee mentions, as well as the Legacy Museum, which is where we saw the jars of dirt that Pen...
2020-07-0725 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E3 | Our Different Stories Divide Us with Patricia RaybonHow do white parents talk with their children about race and racism? Why do white evangelical and Black Christians seem so socially and politically divided? How can we move towards one another in love even when we disagree? Author Patricia Raybon and Amy Julia discuss these questions and more in this conversation about race, books and reading, parenting, and faith. (Also, check back next week for a bonus episode where Amy Julia talks with her kids about what they’ve learned from talking about racism and injustice at home.)Show Notes:Patricia begins by...
2020-06-3048 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E2 | Living into the Really Real with Micha BoyettHow can we talk about race and disability without conflating the two? How can white, able-bodied, neurotypical people enter into this conversation? What is the difference between “white fragility” and being vulnerable? What is the connection between contemplation and activism? Amy Julia talks with author, podcaster, and advocate Micha Boyett today about all these questions and more. Show NotesFollow Micha Boyett online:Website: michaboyett.comInstagram (features Micha’s writing): @michaboyettInstagram (features life with Micha’s son Ace, who has Down syndrome): @acefaceismyfriendFacebook: @MichaBoyettTwitter: @michaboyettMicha also co-hosts a podcast called The Lucky Few, with...
2020-06-2348 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS3 E1 | Waking Up to Privilege with David BaileyRace, class, and the kingdom of God all come up in this conversation between Amy Julia and David Bailey, Director of Arrabon, a ministry to help churches become reconciling communities. In this introductory episode for Season 3, David and Amy Julia talk about why white people can feel afraid to enter into conversations about race, the controversies over Confederate monuments in David’s hometown of Richmond, Virginia, whether this moment of protest and activism will translate into lasting social change, and more. Show Notes:David references a lot of rich material in this show, so hopefully I’l...
2020-06-1642 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS2 Ep 112: Hope, Strength, and Contentment in the Midst of Civil UnrestFinding contentment and strength in all circumstances has never been easy. That was true for Paul 2,000 years ago writing from a prison cell, and it is true now for those of us in the midst of very ordinary hard days and those of us in extraordinarily hard days. This week, Amy Julia talks about small but hopeful steps people are taking in response to the recent protests in cities and towns across the country, and she explores the final verses of Paul’s letter to the Philippians and how they can find strength and contentment. She talks about how we...
2020-06-0928 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS2 Ep 111 Cultivating Peace in a Week of ProtestIn the midst of a week of social unrest across the nation, how can we work towards peace? This episode looks at Paul’s words, “do not worry” and talks about how we can cultivate personal and social peace. Amy Julia examines the problems of reading the Bible individualistically and considers how we can also read it in the context of a broader community of faith and humanity. This episode is especially relevant for white Christians who are looking for ways to learn, listen, lament, and love. Show Notes:Today’s Bible passage c...
2020-06-0233 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerBonus Episode: Hope and the Spiritual ImaginationIn a time of uncertainty and lethargy, Amy Julia offers thoughts on the nature of hope, the vehicle for hope, and the source of our hope. This bonus episode comes from a talk she gave years ago that details how she moved from fear to hope after her daughter Penny’s diagnosis of Down syndrome. She encourages all of us to cultivate hope—not optimism—in the face of fear. We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text!Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Website Thanks for listening!
2020-05-2621 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS2 Ep 110 What to Do if You’re Feeling HopelessHave you felt a little hopeless lately? Have you had a hard time feeling like your days have any meaning or purpose? Have you compared your life to the movie Groundhog Day? In this episode, Amy Julia talks about the way our imagination is linked to our ability to hope, and how right now it is hard to have hope in politics or the economy or our social or professional lives. She discusses the idea of cultivating the “spiritual imagination” in order to connect the pain of the present moment to the promises of the future, and how to brin...
2020-05-1926 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS2 Ep 109 How Love Brings Power in the Midst of PowerlessnessThe power of love works differently than the power of status. In this episode, Amy Julia shares stories of powerlessness in the midst of this pandemic, and she talks about how we will only feel increasingly powerless if our identity comes from achievement or social status. But if we understand our identity as given to us by God then we can enter into seemingly hopeless situations with the power of love. Show Notes:Philippians 3:1-11A Good and Perfect Gift: Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named PennyWe w...
2020-05-1228 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS2 Ep 108 Carrying Love Letters from GodHow does God communicate love? In this episode, Amy Julia talks about how God uses people to carry “love letters”—messages of care and kindness and hope. She shares stories of how this happens right now when we pay attention to the whispers and nudges that prompt us to reach out and care for other people in need, and she refers back to stories in the Bible that show how God has always used people to carry his messages of love and blessing. SHOW NOTES:In this episode, Amy Julia speaks from Philippians 2 in orde...
2020-05-0529 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS2 Ep 106 Where is God When People Suffer?Science, medicine, and politics can answer lots of our questions about where the coronavirus came from and what it is doing in and among humans. But another set of questions arises in times like this. Can we find any meaning or purpose in this suffering? Can we find any meaning or purpose in our lives right now? Is God present, and loving, and real? Where is God in the midst of suffering? In this episode, Amy Julia looks at what Paul writes about who Jesus Christ is as a way to understand who God is in the midst of...
2020-04-2128 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerS2 Ep 105: COVID-19, Privilege, and What Keeps Us from Living in LoveWhat does COVID-19 tell us about our humanity? In today’s episode, Amy Julia talks about the way this pandemic exposes three truths of human nature. She also explores three impediments to living in love: distraction, fear, and injustice. With a look at Philippians 2:1-4 as an ideal way to live, she offers thoughts on the way social divisions impede living in love. Show Notes:For the Life of the World podcast (Miroslav Volf)Article in Washington Post by Sarah Pulliam Bailey re Samaritan’s Purse and Cathedral of St. John the D...
2020-04-1436 minReimagining the Good Life with Amy Julia BeckerSeason One Trailer: Prepare Him RoomListen now to get a sense of season one of the Love is Stronger than Fear podcast. Amy Julia Becker introduces a series of reflections about God showing up in the midst of the everyday life of eating, drinking, and doing too much, and experiencing love and grace through it all. We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text!Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Website Thanks for listening!
2019-11-1501 min
Give and TakeEpisode 132: White Picket Fences: Turning Toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege, with Amy Julia BeckerMy guest is Amy Julia Becker. Her new book White Picket Fences: Turning Toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege welcomes us into her life, from the charm of her privileged southern childhood to her adult experience in the northeast, and the denials she has faced as the mother of a child with special needs. She shows how a life behind a white picket fence can restrict even as it protects, and how it can prevent us from loving our neighbors well.
White Picket Fences invites us to respond to privilege with generosity, humility, and hope...
2018-10-2442 min