S9 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 calling
How vocation centers on service and relationships, not just career
Pursuing truth, goodness, and beauty in ordinary life
How multiple callings unfold across a lifetime
Wisdom for discerning and living into a deeper purpose

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00:00 Introduction

02:04 Exploring the Call to Creativity

05:39 The Myths of Passion and Work

08:55 Defining Calling and Vocation

12:32 The Relational Aspect of Calling

15:31 Pursuing Truth, Goodness, and Beauty

22:28 The Intersection of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful

26:04 The Good Life and Purpose

31:46 The Role of Suffering in Calling

36:55 Navigating New Callings and Responsibilities

40:44 Finding Meaning and Calling in Everyday Tasks

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior

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WATCH this conversation on YouTube: Amy Julia Becker on YouTube

SUBSCRIBE to Amy Julia's Substack: amyjuliabecker.substack.com

JOIN the conversation on Instagram: @amyjuliabecker

LISTEN to more episodes: amyjuliabecker.com/shows/

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ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Karen Swallow Prior, Ph.D. is the 2025-26 Karlson Scholar at Bethel Seminary. She is a popular writer and speaker, a contributing writer for The Dispatch, and a columnist for Religion News Service. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Vox, The Washington Post, Christianity Today, and many other places. Her most recent book is You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful (Brazos 2025).

CONNECT with Karen: karenswallowprior.com

Facebook: Karen Swallow Prior
Instagram: karenswallowprior
X: @KSPrior
Substack: @karenswallowprior

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