Gift of Need

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Kim Pearson Bradley Description: We welcome author Kim Bradley back to the Gift of Need podcast to talk about historical fiction and why stories from other times and places can help us better understand ourselves and human nature. Kim shares how her love of reading, research, travel, and family stories led her to write the Merchant Tides historical fiction adventur...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Chris Davis Description: We welcome pastor and author Chris Davis back to the Gift of Need podcast to talk about why we all need hope. Chris explores the difference between genuine hope and wishful thinking, and explains how Christian hope in the return of Jesus can shape the way we live today. We discuss how hope can help us face suffering, injustice, death, uncer...

Description: We talk with award-winning author, illustrator, and designer Anna McGregor about the importance of children’s picture books and why children need stories that engage both their hearts and imaginations. Anna shares how her own childhood, love of creativity, and experience as a parent led her into creating picture books. We explore what makes a great picture book, the importance of read...

Description: We continue our conversation with Glen Fitzjerrell of Mission USA about spiritual growth, acceptance, and what churches can learn from people who have experienced incarceration, addiction, violence, and other difficult circumstances. Glen challenges the idea that spiritual growth should be neat and predictable, arguing that real growth is often messy and requires honesty, acceptance,...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guests: Patrick Lawrence and Chloe Bradford, First Step St Kilda, Melbourne, AU Description: We talk with Patrick Lawrence, CEO of First Step St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia and Chloe Bradford, manager of First Step’s ResetLife Intensive Outpatient Program, about addiction, recovery, and why we need to rethink what recovery actually looks like. They explain why addiction r...

Description: We talk with John Ryan, CEO of the Penington Institute in Melbourne, Australia, about addiction, drug policy, harm reduction, and the need for a more honest and compassionate approach to drug use. John shares how his early experiences with trauma and drug use shaped his career in human rights and drug policy, and why he believes prohibition has failed to adequately protect communities...

Description: Jude welcomes Harris Insler, retired teacher, athletic coach, dean of students, author, and founder of the Humane Organization for Substance Awareness ( The Zach Project), to discuss why students and parents need better education about addiction and substance use disorder. Harris shares the deeply personal story of losing his son Zach to an opioid overdose and how his grief eventually...

Description: Jude welcomes Pattie Vargas, author, speaker, activist, and certified grief professional, to discuss addiction, family trauma, grief, recovery, and the often-overlooked needs of families living alongside substance use. Pattie shares her deeply personal story of raising three children while navigating divorce, addiction, repeated attempts at recovery, and ultimately the devastating los...

Description: Jude welcomes Glen Fitzgerrell, co-founder of Mission USA in Chicago, to explore what decades of walking alongside former gang members, prison inmates, and people in recovery have taught him about authentic spiritual growth. Glen shares how genuine transformation begins not with preaching, but with listening, community, and acceptance. Together they discuss why some of the greatest le...

We are celebrating the release of fifty podcasts this month by starting a Gift of Need YouTube Channel. Each week for the next 5 weeks we will be releasing 10 of the previous 50 podcast episodes starting with the two-part introduction. Catch up on your favorite guests many who are now on video podcasts. If you are new to the Gift of Need you can head over to my Jude DiMeglio Trang Substack page fo...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Meera Govil Description: Jude sits down with Meera Govil, founder and owner of the beloved Eltham Bookshop in Melbourne, Australia, to explore why independent bookstores matter. Meera shares her remarkable journey from growing up in New Delhi with a love of books to building a thriving independent bookstore that has served its community for nearly three decades. To...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Sarah Bush Description: Jude welcomes mixed media artist, writer, and creativity coach Sarah Bush for a thoughtful conversation about imagination, creativity, and the ways these uniquely human gifts help us navigate life. From the artistic influence of Taos, New Mexico, to the challenges of perfectionism and the rhythms of the creative process, Sarah explores how c...

Description: In this episode, Jude talks with filmmaker, photographer, musician, and videographer Chris Carlone about the importance of independent filmmaking and the unique role indie artists play in preserving stories, building community, and bringing authentic voices to audiences. From music videos and documentaries to creative passion and perseverance, Chris shares why storytelling through fil...

Host: Jude DiMeglio TrangGuest: Elicia Johnson Description:In this episode, Jude sits down with author, artist, farmer, and educator Elicia Johnson to discuss her new novel Endling , a high-concept steampunk adventure that explores hope, purpose, imagination, and the power of story. Together they examine why content-appropriate epic fiction matters, how great literature inspires new adult readers...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Sam Quinones 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 inclu...

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 TrangGuest: John T Benedict Description:In Part 2 of this conversation, Jude continues her discussion with artist and sculptor John T Benedict about spirituality, creativity, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in art and human connection. John shares how his spiritual experiences, meditation practices, and conversations with AI inspired his book, The Artist a...

Description: In this episode, Jude DiMeglio Trang talks with Arizona artist and sculptor John T. Benedict, founder of Some Distant World. Known for his large-scale metal angel sculptures and celestial-inspired works, John shares how his childhood imagination, supportive parents, and creative spirit shaped his life as an artist. Together, they explore the role of imagination, beauty, and visual art...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Christina Dent Description: In Part 2 of this conversation, Jude DiMeglio Trang continues her discussion with Christina Dent, founder of End It For Good and author of Curious: A Foster Mom’s Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction . Together, they explore why traditional approaches to addiction recovery often fall short and why it’s time to recon...

Description: In this episode, Jude sits down with Christina Dent, author of Curious: A Foster Mom’s Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction , to explore a radically different way of understanding addiction. Drawing from her experience as a foster mom and nonprofit leader, Christina challenges the traditional view of addiction as a moral failure and instead reframes it as a compl...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Dr. Steve Tracy Description: In this episode, Jude DiMeglio Trang is joined by Dr. Steve Tracy, president of Mending the Soul Ministries and former professor of theology and ethics, to explore how Scripture is used within faith communities—either as a source of healing or as a tool that can unintentionally (or intentionally) cause harm. They discuss the realities o...

Description: Jude is joined by father-son artist team Mark and Jesse Smothers to explore the world of murals and public art. They share their journey into large-scale painting, the challenges and surprises of mural work, and how art can transform communities. The conversation also dives into the history of murals, artistic inspiration, and how creativity meets both personal and societal needs. We...

Host: Jude DiMeglio Trang Guest: Pastor Chris Davis Description: In this episode, Jude sits down with Pastor Chris Davis to explore how the “gift of need” intersects with immigration, mercy, and hope. Drawing from his experiences living among diverse immigrant communities, Chris shares how stepping outside of a life of comfort reshaped his faith and understanding of people. The conversation challe...

With Kim Bradley, Author of Shakespeare’s Guide to Living the Good Life Description: Jude welcomes back author Kim Bradley to explore the role of satire in Shakespeare’s works and why it still matters today. They discuss how Shakespeare used irony, humor, and exaggeration to challenge rigid social structures, political authority, and human folly without crossing the dangerous lines of Elizabethan...

Description: In this episode, Jude talks with Dr. Michelle Reyes about the importance of cultural intelligence (CQ) and why it matters in an increasingly diverse and globalized world. Michelle shares from her personal experience growing up in a multicultural family and her professional work teaching cultural engagement and through her Success Culture Coaching Program. Together they explore how cul...