Stay ConnectedTwo women. Two generations. Each with a mic and lots to talk about.
Hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Bender dive into honest, funny, and practical conversations about bridging faith with today’s cultural realities. They ask the hard questions and unpack what it looks like to bring smart living to a modern world—without losing your mind (or your sense of humor).
Expect laughter, gentle truth-telling, and the kind of advice you’d actually text a friend about
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We’re having a party! On August 21 at the Evereve store, a contemporary fashion and styling company for women in Franklin, Tennessee, we are celebrating the release of Darlene’s new book Raising Great Girls! Combining Evereve, which provides a unique shopping experience for moms who want to feel good about themselves, with a book about moms raising confident and capable daughters felt like the perfect fit. To give you a little preview of what you will experience at this event, Darlene and Julie brought in two special ladies from the Evereve store, stylist Dorena Williamson, and store manager Shelley Kirkman, to chat about how moms can lose their sense of style during the crazy season of motherhood. Facing busyness, some days apathy, and even a mom’s changed body can create dread while shopping for yourself. Can someone say, “Amen!"? You'll get to know these ladies as they offer practical advice on finding your style while also sharing about what makes Evereve special. Megan Tamte (co-founder of Evereve) has said, “When you give so much to your family, just getting dressed can be a big win. As the fashion authority for moms, Evereve strives to empower you every day to pull on the jeans that make you look amazing and take a step forward, wherever you’re going.” If you’re near Franklin, TN on 8/21, join us at the launch party from 6-8PM at the Evereve store! It will be a night that Julie and Darlene celebrate the launch of Darlene’s new book (and will have them available for purchase at the event) and maybe do a little shopping too. RSVP here if you can come; we would love to meet you in person! If you can’t make the party, you can still grab Dar's book here! To learn more about Evereve, click here to find store locations or sign up for their Trendsend program! You can also follow them on their social media accounts and find inspiration to step up your style now! Click here to determine your body type as we discussed on the episode! We can’t end our show notes without giving you an opportunity to buy Dorena’s children’s books about the beauty of diversity in race and disabilities. We love them and believe you will too. You can get ColorFull here, and ThoughtFull will be released on 8/15/18! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love What to Wear When You Feel Less Confident Even though I have a passion for fashion, there are many (and I mean a whole lot of) days when I wear an old t-shirt and shorts with no makeup Read more Can You Start a Career Later in Life? Absolutely. Depending on whom you ask, being a stay at home mom can be: fulfilling, exhausting, joyful, mundane, and so on and so forth. Often times,
Did you know that the majority of women in America today are in the workplace? Of course, you did; you’re probably one of them. Something you may not know is, there’s a difference between how the genders approach challenges at work. How can we thrive as women in the workplace? What does it look like when we apply both grit and grace? With these thoughts in mind, Darlene and Julie discuss the common issues we face in our jobs, as well as, how to find the balance between work and home life. They share laughs over their least and most favorite jobs and admit their pitfalls as working women who also love being moms. If you’re looking to get back to work, how to prioritize your schedule or hear from other women who are trying to “do it all,” this episode is for you. Listen on your way to work or during your much-needed “me-time." More on the research Darlene mentioned from FairyGodBoss here! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love How to Handle Workplace Criticism with Grit and Grace “Every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration. Constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought.” -Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both houses Read more 5 Quotes That Will Encourage You, Working (Super) Mom Working moms do it all—but it’s hard! The struggle to find work and life balance is real, but in the end, what really matters is that Read more We Need a Wife—a Working Woman’s Challenge It was a weeknight and our family was sitting over another thrown-together meal from whatever I could find in an almost empty refrigerator. The laundry was mounting, the house a mess, and my calendar in hand as I reviewed every event Read more When You Feel Like Something’s Not Right About the “Right Thing” Has anyone else always been this way? Like the fate of humanity depends on you doing everything that is expected of you and nothing less. I’ve read a lot of books and articles about how the firstborn child has an Read more When a Strong Woman Is Quitting, But Not Failing You’re reading this because there is something in your life that you have an inkling you need to let go. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, a dream, or a life path, you know you really shouldn’t be involved
Suddenly summer ends. Faced with the start of the new school year, relief and anxiety collide as the transition begins. Your to-do list multiplies with shopping, meetings, reprioritizing your schedule, and dealing with the stress of your student(s) entering a new classroom. How can you handle it all without losing your mind? Darlene and Julie talk about saving money on back-to-school necessities, how to talk to your kids about the emotional changes they’ll face, and even give you some ideas on caring for yourself during this often stressful change of seasons. Know this: you’ve got the grit and grace for this, mom! Listen as you shop or plan lunches—it’s time to get back in the swing of things! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love 7 Helpful Tips to Relieve Your Middle Schooler’s Anxiety Middle school is one of the most emotionally-charged seasons in every human’s life. Bringing up this rite of passage, from elementary age to high school, is always a good way to create lively conversation between adults. Although it’s a Read more Teachers, We’re Praying These Things For You Dear Teachers, We are praying for you… For energy to keep up with your students, lesson planning, grading, and the many Read more 8 Guilt-Free After-School Snacks For Your Littles If your kids are like mine, they come home from school hungry! I’ve been working a lot on packing healthy lunches for them, and consequently on providing healthy snacks for Read more Your Bad Kid Doesn’t Make You a Bad Mom You have just received your first phone call, the one every mother dreads and hopes to never receive. The preschool wants you to know that your child is hitting or biting or kicking. That little guy or girl, who has Read more Less is More in Your Child’s Schedule It doesn’t take long after a new school year begins for our family to realize we need to dial back our activities. With the start of a new grade comes the introduction of new opportunities and an abundance of activities Read more Quote of the episode: "Summer’s over. Time to remember what day of the week it is." Check out Can You Really Leave Your Past Behind You? – 028 as well as Darlene's site for her book!
Since nearly 50% of new marriages are remarriages, it should come as no surprise that many women are blending families. It doesn’t take long after making those marriage vows to discover combining families can be complicated. It can also be beautiful. How? We brought in our most reliable expert, psychotherapist, and relationship counselor, Dr. Zoe, to share a balanced and a realistic view of how to blend these separate families into one unit with equal parts grit and grace. Darlene (married mom of two adult daughters) and Julie (widowed single mom) ask the often searched for questions that are frequently found at The Grit and Grace Project online magazine. Listen for practical advice on how to communicate, discipline, co-exist with the other parents, and even how to build a relationship with the child that isn’t your own. Whether you are entering a new relationship after divorce, navigating the potential pitfalls of co-parenting, or need ways to handle everyday struggles that blended families face, this episode is one you don’t want to miss. And you may want to share it with a friend! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. You can follow Dr. Zoe by visiting her site, or finding her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well as her podcast, Redefining Your Superwoman. Click the image to submit your question for our new Ask Dr. Zoe feature! Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love You, Your Man, and His Baby Mama All Need Grit and Grace So your man is a pretty wonderful guy. Things are going so well. You might have even married him. What in the world could mess this up? Oh, the Read more 5 Ways Blended Families Can Be Happy and Healthy I didn’t set out to be a “stepmother;” I never thought I would have a “second” husband. The words, “divorce,” “single mom,” “stepparent,” and “blended Read more Stepmother: The Most Difficult Job in a Family What is the most difficult and underappreciated role in a family? Why, a stepmother of course! No, I am serious. The majority of my counseling practice is working in family law, a.k.a. divorce. In my capacity, I deal with Read more
Cameron James’ moving story of hardship and hope continues in this second installment. She first joined us on episode 048 when she shared her heartbreaking and inspiring journey of learning about her daughter’s ultra-rare disease. In part 2, she discusses the next season. As life became manageable and her daughter made progress (which seemed so unlikely when first diagnosed), she once again found herself in an all-out war with her husband in the crosshairs. This war led to her standing in Washington, D.C., passionately pleading with politicians and lobbying for a change. Listen to her open up to Darlene and Julie about the rest of the journey and how her music has been part of her healing. We too can survive hard things when we, like Cameron, embrace both grit and grace. If you want to help Cameron pass the Access to Marketplace Insurance Act (Bill 3976) be sure to contact your congressman and ask that they vote in favor of it. Learn more here. You can follow Cameron James by visiting her site or finding her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Mi4bL7ZIs Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love What Your Grieving Friend Really Wants You to Know When I first lost my mom, I had so many well-meaning friends, and relatives offer help, advice, and words of encouragement. The outpouring of support was amazing, yet a little overwhelming at the same time. Everyone meant well, and Read more 10 Ways to Advocate for Your Special Needs Child As parents, we are all aware of the need to advocate for our children. But, when you have a special needs child, the stakes seem that much higher considering the assistance you will inevitably need to face the extra Read more Love Not Lost: Giving the Best Gift to Grieving Families It’s challenging to bring awareness to something that’s terribly heartbreaking and downright depressing, but we must. All people share the need to be loved and understood, and I hope these stories of love, loss, and redemption inspire you to Read more
Have you ever experienced hardships that felt insurmountable? Have you been tested on every side, not even sure you would survive? Our guest has been there. A few times. Singer/songwriter and mom of two, Cameron James, shares her moving story that began the day she discovered her daughter had an extremely rare disease. In this episode, she recounts her journey from devastation to hope and belief that miracles can still happen even in the midst of fear. James has learned to keep fighting, even with odds stacked against her. This episode is only part 1 of her heart wrenching story. Listen to her gripping interview with Darlene and Julie, where they ask pointed questions of this woman who has learned to find light in the midst of incredible darkness. We know her story will encourage you as you wage your fight too. Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. You can follow Cameron James by visiting her site or finding her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love 15 Ways to Care for Yourself When You Have a Child with Special Needs When your child has special needs, much of the day, and sometimes even the night, is spent taking care of someone extremely dependent upon you. A significant amount of energy and time is spent planning and strategizing to stay Read more Battered Faith: Holding on to Hope Even When You Struggle I was 13 years old when I was diagnosed with a muscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis. I had a year of repeated testing before the final diagnosis was made. Yet even with the naming of my illness, I was Read more A Life Full of Hardship Has Made Me Joyful Creating an article about my life story had me really unsure about where to start or what to share. My story is not neat and tidy or easy to understand. There are a lot of loops, dips, and plot twists. Read more When Bearing Their Burden Breaks You We all know someone carrying a burden. A friend on Facebook who recently got divorced, a friend in a bad relationship, a coworker with a wayward child, a mom friend who lost her husband. We don’t have to look Read more
What does it mean to be an independent woman? Is this description only for the single, carefree women with no man or children in tow? Or does every woman need to master self-sufficiency in all our relationships? Whether we are a girlfriend, wife, or mother, it’s essential to be able to stand on our own as well as mastering healthy dependence. In this episode, Darlene and Julie reflect on culture’s definition of Miss Independent and The Grit and Grace Project’s take on being healthy, strong and dependent enough to be genuinely independent. We’re convinced we can balance it all with grit and grace. Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love 5 Tips for Successful Independence Ladies, whether you are single, dating, married, widowed or divorced, having the ability to live independently is a vital part of life. It’s important for every relationship to be built upon two healthy individuals as well as creating within us a strength that Read more Do Women Need to Be “Empowered” to Display Strength? When speaking to the world of women’s issues, one of my least favorite words in the entire world is empowerment. Not only do I find it entirely overused, but I believe our gender already has within us an enormous Read more Do All Strong Women Hate Men? I am so very weary of the notion that the sure sign of a strong woman is that she is angry with men. Outspoken or implied, this utter nonsense is everywhere. I’m not saying I’m not angry with some Read more It’s OK to Be Assertive and Make Decisions Have you ever been in a group of friends that is too nice? You know the scene: you’re all trying to decide what to do, but everyone keeps asking, “Well what do you want to do? What do you Read more How I Find Time for Me (Even As a Mom) Self-care is becoming a buzzword in our society. As we are able to work from home (or anywhere), connect with hundreds of people at the touch of a button, and multitask like true professionals … but we’re only getting busier. Read more Establishing Healthy Boundaries in the Grit and Grace Life Healthy personal boundaries are the key to healthy relationships. Without them, healthy relationship...
With half of the year already behind us, we're wondering how you've done with all those New Year’s resolutions? Did you keep one, two, or any? Yeah, same here... Statistically, only 8% of us ever do. So, let’s all breathe a collective sigh of relief and remember that we care about progress, not perfection, and always—give ourselves a little bit of grace! But let’s not entirely leave resolutions behind; let’s apply a little grit and see if we can think of a few ways to maximize the rest of this year. In this episode, Darlene and Julie reflect on the ones they did or didn’t make, laugh about some that we could all probably keep (low expectations ladies!), then talk through practical ways to set little, attainable goals. With some intentionality, we can still make this year one of our best yet! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love Discovering Your Child’s Talents You want to sign your child up for activities that develop their talents. Where to start? Before you sign a single piece of paper committing you and that sweet thing you will transport on a weekly basis to some Read more How to Enjoy Your Staycation on a Budget Motivated by a love for family and a lifestyle of living within their means, my parents planned a stay-at-home vacation before staycations were a “thing,” and it ranks as one of the most memorable vacations I have ever had. Read more How to Declutter the Chaos in Your Home and Get Organized I am one of those crazy-productive, ultra-organized people you love to hate. Yep, I was born that way. But I was also born with an analytical mind and a heart to teach Read more 3 Ways Positive Self-Talk Can Improve Your Life Relationships are a gift. They challenge us to think outside of our own perspective and expand our ideas about the world. Many would report that relationships make life more enjoyable as they share life’s important milestones and the sweet Read more Beginning Faith: Walking This Life With Grit, Grace, and God When I was loading the car to fly my elder daughter off to college, I stopped and made her look me in the eye to tell her this: “Life is hard.” Not sure why that was on my mind except that Read more People Are Becoming Increasingly Lonely: Here’s How to Fight It
Moms want to put a label on everything, including themselves. Are you a crunchy mom? Free-range mom? Do you practice attachment parenting or grace-based? What do these even mean? In this episode, Darlene (who raised her daughters a couple decades ago) and Julie (in the thick of it now) poke fun at themselves as they try to figure out what their styles would be called while they highlight the great parts of each style discussed. But no judgement here—we believe all moms are doing the best they can and deserve to be encouraged to find their own grit and grace along their motherhood journey. Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love What Your Kids Get When You Let Them Fail I am not letting you off the hook as parents, but we seriously work way too hard sometimes. I’m talking about myself here. Scenario: I just got back home from taking my son to school. I have a million things Read more Dear Mama, You Need to Break up With These 3 Things Dear Mama, There’s no doubt about it: motherhood isn’t for Read more 5 Ways to Make Parenting Your Strong-Willed Child Easier Friends, I like to think that I have a black belt in strong-willed parenting. My oldest child is one for the record books. He’s loving, he’s kind, and he’s a joy Read more This is Why I Don’t Have Just One Parenting Style Just because I videoed my son jumping off the roof onto the trampoline before I made him stop does not make me a total free-range parent. My kids are gymnasts, dancers and daredevils… kinda like their mom. Wanna snowboard Read more Dear SAHM: I See You and Want You to Know These 8 Things Dear Stay-at-Home Mom, If you had told me 10 years ago that I would end up being a stay-at-home mom who home-schooled her children, I would have straight up punched you in Read more Quote of the episode: "Motherhood is like Albania- you can't trust the descriptions in the books, you have to go there." Marni Jackson Be sure to follow us on social media! Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest
What happens when an incredible opportunity comes your way? Fear? Anxiety? Belief that you aren’t qualified? Well, you’re not alone; that is precisely where today’s guest found herself. Drummer, Jen Ledger, joined the multi-platinum, world-touring rock band, Skillet, at 18 years of age, all the while struggling with feelings that she didn’t have what it takes. Now a decade later, she’s facing her fears again with the release of her first solo EP “Ledger.” In this episode, Jen shares how her fear can derail her, bringing anxiety and panic along with it. Yet, it is in her faith that she finds strength. Whether you’re facing change, challenge, or daily chaos as a woman who can sometimes doubt herself, Jen, Darlene, and Julie will challenge you to tap into your inner grit and grace and find your strength too. Jen also shares how her mentor, Korey Cooper, believed in her when she couldn’t even believe in herself, so definitely share this one with a girlfriend who could use some encouragement! Viewing in an app? Full show notes here. You can follow Jen Ledger by visiting her site, or finding her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Articles We Mentioned or Know You'll Love Skillet’s Korey Cooper Talks Music, Faith and Family A multi-platinum record-selling, international touring rock band is hardly the first place one would look to discover the formula for a great marriage. Celebrities of any type are not generally known for their ability to begin, build, and maintain Read more How Do I Know What Defines Me? I am single. I am widowed. I am married. I am divorced. I am a mom. I have no children. I am a career woman. I stay at home. I am an artist. I am a cancer survivor. I Read more Battered Faith: Holding on to Hope Even When You Struggle I was 13 years old when I was diagnosed with a muscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis. I had a year of repeated testing before the final diagnosis was made. Yet even with the naming of my illness, I was Read more Bible Verses From the Grit and Grace Team on Anxiety We all face anxiety, some more than others. It’s part of being human. So, what do you do when fear strikes? When a thought of the unknown future taunts even the most confident fiber of your being? The ladies Read more Every Woman Is Unique,
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