Gift of Need

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Dr. A.J. Swoboda Description: In this episode of The Gift of Need Podcast , Jude DiMeglio Trang is joined by theologian, author, and pastor Dr. A.J. Swoboda to explore the nature of human desire and why our longings—especially when frustrated—can become formative gifts rather than liabilities. Drawing from A.J.’s book The Gift of Thorns , the conversation examines...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Sam Quinones Description: In Part 2 of our conversation, New York Times bestselling author Sam Quinones returns to unpack one of the most intriguing threads in his book The Perfect Tuba: Forging Fulfillment from the Bass Horn, Band, and Hard Work. Sam shares the origin story behind the book’s title, exploring the near-mythical York tubas of the Chicago Symphony and...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Sam Quinones Description: In this episode, Jude sits down with acclaimed journalist and author Sam Quinones to explore how the themes in his bestselling books Dreamland and The Least of Us surprisingly dovetailed into his latest book, The Perfect Tuba: Forging Fulfillment from the Bass Horn, Band, and Hard Work. Together they unpack the concept of finding fulfillme...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guests: Dr. John Trang and Dr. Roger Stoller Description: Host Jude DiMeglio Trang, author of The Gift of Need , welcomes two scientists—her husband, Dr. John Trang (Pharmaceutical Scientist), and friend Dr. Roger Stoller (Material Scientist and Nuclear Engineer)—to discuss the essential roles of science and technology in meeting society’s needs. As with all of her podcas...

Description: In this episode of the Gift of Need , Jude welcomes back her friend and longtime collaborator Linda Bale. Together, they explore how understanding personality differences and collaborating with others can help us meet the needs of those around us. From personal growth to creative projects, they share stories and insights on why we need each other to go farther and achieve more. We tal...

Episode #21: Why We Need Poetry Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Dr. Abram Van Engen Description: Dr. Abram Van Engen, author, professor, and Chair of the English Department at Washington University in St. Louis, joins Jude to explore why we need poetry —not only as art but as something deeply human. From his podcast Poetry for All to his award-winning book Word Made Fresh: An Invitation to Poetry...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Robin Stoller Description: In this episode of The Gift of Need , Jude sits down with longtime friend Robin Stoller to explore the themes of resilience, adaptability, and the willingness to change. Robin shares her journey of faith, family dynamics, caring for aging parents, and learning to lean on her community and God through hardship. Together, Jude and Robin unc...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Gabe Kubanda Description: Singer-songwriter Gabe Kubanda joins us to explore the deep connection between music, creativity, and human need. From his roots in Seattle to touring worldwide, starting his own nonprofit, and finding creative inspiration on long drives and in quiet moments, Gabe shares how songwriting becomes both a personal outlet and a gift for others....

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Julie Nunn Description: Julie Nunn, a survivor of multiple sexual assaults, joins Jude to share her powerful story of pain, resilience, and healing. From the trauma of her teenage years to her decades-long battle with PTSD, anxiety, and shame, Julie opens up about her journey toward finding her voice. She reflects on the silence that surrounds sexual assault, the i...

Why We Need Third Places – Episode #17 Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Andy Littleton Description: In this episode of Gift of Need, Jude welcomes pastor, writer, and community leader Andy Littleton for a conversation about “third places”—the gathering spaces that connect us beyond home and work. Drawing on his experiences as an author, pastor and baseball enthusiast, Andy shares how community, ch...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: John Hendrix Description: New York Times bestselling author and illustrator John Hendrix joins Jude to explore the enduring role of fairy tales and myths in shaping imagination, literature, and our beliefs. With his newest graphic novel The Myth Makers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien , John shares how he brought their friendship to life...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Catherine Dahl Luckow Description: In this heartfelt episode, Jude sits down with Catherine Dahl Luckow—author, wife, mother, and grandmother—to explore the reality of suffering and grief. Cathy shares her personal story of losing her mother at a young age, how it shaped her empathy, and the ways God’s grace has carried her and others through unimaginable loss. Tog...

Description: In Part 2 of this conversation, Jude and Dr. Molly Worthen continue exploring the intersection of charisma, character, and human need. Drawing from Molly’s newest book Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History, from the Puritans to Donald Trump , they discuss how our search for meaning can both inspire faith and leave us vulnerable to manipulation. We talk about: · Why spiritua...

Description: In this episode, Jude speaks with Dr. Molly Worthen, professor, historian and author, about the role of charisma and character in leadership and faith communities. Drawing from Molly’s newest book Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History, from the Puritans to Donald Trump, together they explore how these traits shape influence, sustain trust, and impact both personal and publi...

Description: In this episode of The Gift of Need , Jude sits down with Gregory McNamee—writer, journalist, editor, publisher, photographer, lecturer, and self-described "desert rat." Author or editor of forty-five books and contributor to over 10,000 periodical publications, Gregory brings a lifetime of experience in journalism and storytelling. Together, they explore the human need for truthful,...

Description: In this episode of The Gift of Need , Jude welcomes Kevin Chandler, author and co-author of The Hospitality of Need: How Depending on One Another Helps Us Heal and Grow Together . Kevin shares his personal story of living with spinal muscular atrophy, his experiences of community care, and how vulnerability and interdependence can create deep, life-giving friendships. Together, they e...

Description: In this episode, Jude sits down with long-time friend and former Peace Corps volunteer Chuck Tampio to explore how serving in Malawi shaped his life and career. From witnessing crushing poverty in Sicily as a young man to building a school for women in rural Africa, Chuck shares how the needs of others became a lifelong gift of purpose, perspective, and skills he used to impact thousa...

Description: In this episode, Jude welcomes Rebecca Davis, co-director and producer of the award-winning documentary Join or Die . Created with her brother Pete, the film explores the decline of civic life in America and the urgent call to rebuild community through clubs, organizations, and shared social bonds. Drawing from the groundbreaking research of Harvard professor Robert Putnam ( Bowling A...

Description: In this moving continuation of their conversation on grief, Jude, her husband John, and their dear friend Linda Bale open up even more deeply about the loss of their 25-year-old son, JL. With vulnerability and grace, they explore the daily realities of life after unspeakable loss and how journaling, storytelling, and community were lifelines in their grief journey and became the 6th s...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guests: John Trang and Linda Bale Description: In this powerful and tender episode, Jude is joined by her husband John and dear friend Linda Bale to talk about the profound reality of grief. Together, they walk through the layered experiences of losing siblings, parents, and—most heartbreakingly—their 25-year-old son, JL. With honesty and courage, they share how loss has...

In this deeply moving episode, I speak with music therapist, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist Scott Rettedal about the healing power of music—not just as art, but as connection. We talk about music’s unique ability to reach the parts of us that words cannot, and how it offers safety, self-regulation, and even joy to those facing trauma, grief, and neurological differences. We talk about: – Why m...

Episode Summary: In this follow-up episode, I continue my conversation with investigative journalist and author Sam Quinones about the deeper roots of addiction—and how the unraveling of community has created fertile ground for despair, mental illness, and drug dependency. We revisit themes from Dreamland and The Least of Us but widen the lens to include the impact of high-potency marijuana, the f...

Episode Summary: In this episode, I sit down with acclaimed investigative journalist and author Sam Quinones to talk about the human cost of addiction, the silence that once surrounded it, and why community is a vital need in the face of overwhelming societal challenges. Sam is the author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic and The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope i...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Suzanne B. Hodges Episode Summary: In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Suzanne Hodges—a retired attorney turned full-time artist—to talk about the deep connection between art, beauty, and our human need to create. Suzanne shares how her creative instincts were nurtured by her artistic mother and resourceful grandmother, and how her years in law gave way...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Kelcey Rockhold / Pagefire Press Episode Summary: In part two of their rich and reflective conversation, Jude and Kelcey dive deeper into the themes behind The Gift of Need . They explore how needs show up in creativity, conflict, love, and even justice—highlighting how human limitation can lead to beauty, innovation, and meaningful connection. Jude shares the over...