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
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: amyjuliabecker.com/subscribe
New! Take the Next Step podcast: amyjuliabecker.com/step
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
__
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior
_
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/
_
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
We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text!
Connect with me:
Thanks for listening!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!