Julia Baird, an award-winning journalist and author of "Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything," explores the transformative power of grace in her life. She shares personal stories of resilience through her battle with cancer and highlights the importance of compassion and connection. Baird illustrates how cultivating grace can foster forgiveness, promote kindness, and provide light during dark times. With insights on awe and the human experience, her uplifting narrative encourages listeners to embrace grace as a source of strength.
57:30
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Invincible Summer Tattoo
Julia Baird has a tattoo that says "an invincible summer" which is a quote by Albert Camus.
It reminds her that even during difficult times, like her cancer battles, there's still light within her.
insights INSIGHT
Tattoo Placement
Julia Baird's tattoo is placed on her forearm, a place often used for medical procedures.
This placement reminds her of her strength during cancer treatments.
insights INSIGHT
Bad Luck vs. Misfortune
Jonathan Fields reflects on a Camus quote: "There is merely bad luck in not being loved; there's misfortune in not loving.".
He emphasizes the agency we have in giving love, even when receiving love feels beyond our control.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In 'Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything,' Julia Baird delves into the multifaceted concept of grace through a wide range of stories, personal anecdotes, and quotes from various authors. The book explores how grace manifests in cycles of life, family and friends, strangers, forgiveness, justice, and nature. Baird defines grace as being fully alive, something undeserved, and the ability to see good in others. The book is filled with inspiring stories of kindness, acts of love, and unmerited favor, including personal accounts of her own experiences with cancer and the support she received from medical professionals and loved ones.
Silent Spring
Rachel Carson
Published in 1962, 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson is a seminal work in environmental science. The book documents the harmful effects of DDT and other pesticides on the environment, including their impact on bird populations, other wildlife, and human health. Carson argued that these substances should be called 'biocides' due to their broad impact on ecosystems. The book was serialized in 'The New Yorker' before its full publication and generated significant public and scientific debate. It led to a reversal in U.S. pesticide policy, the banning of DDT for agricultural use in 1972, and the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1970. Carson's work challenged the prevailing attitudes towards scientific progress and human control over nature, advocating for responsible and careful use of pesticides and highlighting the need for environmental stewardship.
The Life Impossible
A Novel
Matt Haig
Matt Haig's "The Life Impossible" follows a retired math teacher who unexpectedly inherits a house in Ibiza. Upon arrival, she discovers a mysterious jar containing seemingly magical water. As she investigates the circumstances surrounding her friend's death, she encounters events that defy logic and challenge her worldview. The novel explores themes of grief, loss, and the unexpected possibilities of life, even in its later stages. Haig masterfully weaves together elements of realism and fantasy, creating a poignant and thought-provoking narrative.
Can grace truly change everything? In this thought-provoking conversation, Julia Baird, author of Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything, shares how cultivating awe, wonder, and the capacity for grace has sustained her through battles with cancer and life's darkest moments.
From profound acts of forgiveness to the untold generosity of blood donors, Baird explores how opening your heart to grace can light an "invincible summer" within - even when the world feels brutally dark. An uplifting listen for anyone seeking light amidst suffering.
Good Life Project 
