Ep. 239 Stephanie Duncan Smith - Knowing the Risks and Loving Anyway

In this episode, Stephanie Duncan Smith takes us on a profound journey through grief, loss, and the resilience required to open ourselves up to love again. She beautifully weaves together themes of time, the liturgical calendar, and the radical empathy of a God who meets us in every moment - whether joyful or sorrowful. Stephanie shares her own experiences with pregnancy loss, and how she grappled with the dissonance of everyday life and the world's expectations in the midst of her grief. She redefines resilience not as "overcoming," but as the ability to hold joy and sorrow together, to live in the uncomfortable tension. This conversation is a masterclass in finding hope, courage and the freedom to feel the full range of human emotion, even in the darkest of times. Stephanie's words offer a path forward for anyone who has experienced profound loss, and a reminder that love is always worth the risk. Stephanie Duncan Smith is a writer and senior editor at HarperOne who has spent her career developing award-winning and bestselling authors. She is the creator of Slant Letter, a bestselling Substack email newsletter for writers looking to deepen their craft and do it in style. Duncan Smith completed her master’s in theology at Western Theological Seminary, where she was the winner of the Frederick Buechner Prize for Excellence in Writing. She lives with her husband, Zach, a professor, and their two children in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Stephanie's Book: Even After Everything Join Our Patreon for Early Access and More: Patreon Connect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.us Go to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy. Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcast https://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/ https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2 https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcast https://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcast Consider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Friar Time Through meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr.... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the show