EPS 148: - 1. Then Came Joy: Finding Faith and Hope in the Hardest Chapters with Jodi Cowles

<p>What happens when life takes us places we never expected to go?</p><p><br></p><p>In this heart-to-heart conversation, author and storyteller Jodi Cowles takes us on a deeply personal journey through grief, faith, culture, family, and the unexpected ways joy can find us again.</p><p><br></p><p>Jodi spent more than half of her adult life living and working in seven different countries, including eight years in Istanbul, Turkey, where she lived with her husband and daughter. Her experiences abroad gave her a unique perspective on culture, connection, and the beautiful—and sometimes hilarious—ways human beings misunderstand one another.</p><p><br></p><p>But Jodi’s story goes much deeper than cross-cultural adventures.</p><p><br></p><p>Her memoir, Then Came Joy, explores grief, trauma, faith, and the fierce fight to find joy when there are no easy answers. She shares what it meant to leave “Flannelgraph Jesus” behind and wrestle with a faith that could hold both honest questions and profound pain.</p><p><br></p><p>Jodi also brings her expertise as the co-founder of Blue Hat Publishing and WellTold Studio, where she helps independent authors tell their stories with authenticity and intention.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, we talk about:</p><p><br></p><p>• Finding gratitude and joy in the aftermath of grief</p><p>• What Jodi means by leaving “Flannelgraph Jesus” behind</p><p>• Navigating faith when life doesn’t make sense</p><p>• The vulnerability of writing a deeply personal memoir</p><p>• Why everyone should consider writing their life story</p><p>• What it means to be a Third Culture Kid</p><p>• The blessings and challenges of raising children across cultures</p><p>• Lessons learned from living in seven different countries</p><p>• The funniest realities of cultural misunderstandings</p><p>• Common mistakes independent authors make when building their brands</p><p>• Why Jodi believes this may be the best time in history to be an author</p><p>• Finding hope when there are no easy answers</p><p><br></p><p>A Heart-to-Heart Takeaway</p><p><br></p><p>Sometimes joy doesn’t arrive because everything has been fixed.</p><p><br></p><p>Sometimes joy comes while we are still healing, still questioning, and still learning how to make peace with the story we’ve been given.</p><p><br></p><p>And sometimes, telling that story is part of the healing itself.</p><p><br></p><p>About Jodi Cowles</p><p><br></p><p>Jodi Cowles is an American author, storyteller, and co-founder of Blue Hat Publishing and WellTold Studio. After spending much of her adult life living and working internationally, including eight years in Istanbul, Turkey, Jodi brings a rich cross-cultural perspective to her writing and storytelling.</p><p><br></p><p>Her memoir, Then Came Joy, explores grief, faith, trauma, and the courageous pursuit of joy.</p><p><br></p><p>Connect with Jodi : <a href="https://jodicowles.com/">Jodi Cowles | Author of Then Came Joy</a> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Listener Invitation</p><p><br></p><p>What chapter of your own story deserves to be told?</p><p><br></p><p>Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that grief and joy can coexist—and that even when there are no easy answers, there can still be hope.</p>