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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Life offers an endless rotation of surprises, so the only thing not surprising is our desire for order—often in the form of control. When we believe we can control what goes on around us, we can somewhat come to terms with the way our lives unfold. But controlling everything is impossible, and when we make that our aim, consciously or not, it can leave us on edge and erode our relationships.
In this podcast episode, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss all the areas we might find hard to control—our tongues, our children, our appetite for more—and when our desire for control inches into dangerous territory.
If you brand yourself a control freak, or if others around you suggest as much, you’ll learn some tips for reining in your tendency to control your circumstances so you can begin to graciously accept your life for what it is—ups and downs included.
Quote of the episode:“Your way isn’t the only way, and it may not even be the best one.” —Julie Bender
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If you’ve been putting it off, consider this podcast episode as a sign to clean up your clutter!
As we get swept up in the busyness of life, we inadvertently let things accumulate. We outgrow our clothes or forget the items we’ve once loved and the gifts we’ve been given. Over time, we stash these items away to make room for new stuff we need or want. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Sadly, no. These items tend to pile up, consuming space in our homes and in the back of our minds.
If you’re ready to free up that space and finally tackle that pile in the corner that’s been haunting you for months, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender can advise on where and how to start. In this episode, they talk through how you can define ‘clutter’ and share a series of questions designed to help you determine whether you should truly hold onto something or toss it. They also dish on some cleaning perks that will keep you motivated. If you still need a little extra push, consider Darlene’s clutter-cleaning mantra: “I live in a home, not a storage unit.”
Quote of the episode:“If you want to improve your life immediately, clean out a closet. Often what we hold onto holds us back.” —Cheryl Richardson
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Forget setting goals and drafting New Year’s resolutions. We’re making 2025 about you—more specifically, your character.
Who do you want to be this year? Every season of life (new years included) allow us the opportunity to evaluate our priorities, how much we’ve grown and where we want to see ourselves in another 365 days. Is it in the same place you’re at now? Most likely, the answer is no.
In this episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss the importance of using this time to reassess our character and the changes we may need to make in our lives right now to bring our long-term goals to pass. They offer several rhetorical questions that will prompt you to ponder the type of person you want to be in 2025. Then, they share a list of traits ideal for building or refining your character, along with some advice on how to begin implementing them.
If you’re ready to craft a new you in 2025, settle in and press play!
Quote of the episode:“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” —Romans 5:3-5
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In this season of “tidings of great joy,” what if joy doesn’t come easily to you?
As women of faith, there’s an unspoken expectation that we should live in a constant state of joy, that it should be the lens with which we view our lives and circumstances. Although the Bible states we aren’t of the world, we are still in it, which means our perception of joy is often colored by the world’s ideals—namely, success, status and money. But there’s more to real joy.
In this Smart Living podcast episode, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender share how we can cultivate the joy we should have access to as women of faith, which looks like:
And if you’re still struggling to reach a place of true joy, Darlene and Julie underscore the importance of getting honest with God and telling him how you feel. If there’s anything or anyone that can help you rediscover joy at Christmas (and all year long), it’s him!
Quote of the episode:“You make known to me the path of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures in your right hand.” —Psalm 16:11
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The sibling that got away with everything. The coworker that scored your promotion. The “friend” who stopped including you in group conversations.
We’re all familiar with resentment, and the mutated ball of anger, hurt, disgust and annoyance it leaves in the pit of our stomachs. Whether someone outright betrayed you or you were inadvertently treated unfairly, resentment can slowly creep into your heart and rob you of joy and gratitude. It’s a human response, but a dangerous one if left to fester.
In today’s episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss how resentment can erode our relationships and our ability to trust. They also unpack an 8-step checklist designed to help us assess the situation fairly and avoid resentment’s slippery slope:
You may not be able to restore a healthy relationship with the person who wronged you, but you can arrive at a place where bitterness no longer has a hold on you. All the tools you need to do that are in this episode!
Quote of the episode:“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” —Saint Augustine
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“You’ll never know unless you try” is sound advice to soothe our doubts. But doubt doesn’t always come with ulterior motives; sometimes, it’s merely a cautionary measure meant to protect us.
So how do you decipher the root of your doubt? Smart Living with Grit and Grace co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Bender answer that question with several actionable steps to help you work through your doubt and determine its purpose. Whether you’re struggling with self-doubt, doubting others, or even doubting God’s promises, rushing into the next season or next step to move past it could result in missed opportunities or even dangers if not properly considered.
Let your doubt inform you, but don’t let it control you.
Quote of the episode:“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” —Suzy Kassem
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It’s usually early- to mid-fall when we hear others expressing a desire to fast forward through the season and jump right into the holidays. The year has been too long, too hard, too unforgiving. Wouldn’t it be better to skip right to the Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities and brush all our complications behind us (at least until the New Year)?
The fast forward button isn’t a thing—at least not yet—so you’re better off focusing on the good in each day. In fact, studies show that just a few minutes of practicing gratitude each day reaps numerous health benefits—stress relief, reduced depression, and better sleep among them.
In this episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender offer hope for the woman looking for a reason to be thankful. Darlene vulnerably reveals the small but bright moments that carried her through her young daughter’s hospitalization years ago, and together, the duo shares the benefits of committing to daily gratitude practices, such as journaling or vocally expressing your appreciation for big and small joys alike, even in seasons of hardship.
It may feel forced initially, but over time, you’ll find your perspective shifting to see the highlight of each day, rather than the lows. And those will cultivate a heart that rests in gratitude.
Quote of the episode:“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” —Psalm 95:1-2
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We don’t need research studies to tell us we’re stressed (although they do, and frequently—a 2021 Gallup poll found that 41% of adults worldwide experience a lot of stress). We feel it everywhere: demanding hours and clients at work; raising kids; the news; the ever-ending list of things to do—the list goes on. Are you ready to leave stress behind? We’ve got you covered!
In this podcast episode, co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Bender rip off the band-aid: We can’t get rid of stress entirely. But we can get a better handle on it by dealing with it in healthier ways. Part of the trick is recognizing when you’re stressed; what responses and behaviors you default to when overwhelm takes a hold. Then, when you feel it coming on, implement one or more of these six practical tips for mitigating stress:
As Darlene and Julie chat through each of these tips and their application, you’ll find specific combinations and variations that work best with your schedule and emotions to deal with stress head-on.
Quote of the episode:“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” —James 14:27
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Are you feeling a little aimless at the moment? Perhaps you’re in a season of life that has you questioning your purpose. If that sounds frighteningly familiar, don’t fret—even the seasons that feel purposeless have a purpose!
In this episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss how to find confidence when you’re transitioning into a new stage of life. Starting retirement, getting married, entering motherhood, searching for your next job can all leave you with a fuzzy vision of your purpose and the value you offer. To get you back on track, the duo shares the importance of detaching yourself from your role and learning how to embrace change as an opportunity for a blank slate. You’ll also discover how to find meaning in the slow, quiet seasons in between.
Quote of the episode:“For I am about to do something new. See? I’ve already begun. Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness; I will create rivers in a dry wasteland.” —Isaiah 43:19
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Do you have a tendency to repeat reminders to those closest to you? Perhaps you feel like you’re constantly asking your husband to get off the couch or urging your kids to clean their rooms. While your intentions are good, your delivery may be perceived as nagging.
In this episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender dive into the prickly topic of nagging. It’s something many of us would like to think we don’t do, but we often innocently fall into the habit. They share the tell-tale signs of nagging, how to uncover the root cause of our repeated requests, and the way we can more clearly and kindly communicate them to those we care about.
Quote of the episode:“It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.” —Proverbs 21:19
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