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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Are you tired of waiting? Maybe you’re waiting on a future spouse to walk into your life, sitting in fast food lines that feel anything but, or pining for that dream job opportunity to fall into our laps. We’re all excitedly—and usually impatiently—waiting for something. Why do all the good things in life take so long?
One could argue those things wouldn’t be very good to begin with if they didn’t require at some patience, but we think there’s more to it. In this episode of Smart Living with Grit and Grace, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss why waiting actually serves us more than immediately getting what we want and how you can purposefully fill the time in between.
Quote of the episode:“Everything that is worth waiting for is not always on your timeline.” —Darlene Brock
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The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived—the Smart Living in Small Bites book series is officially live and available for purchase now on Amazon!
If you have experienced (or are still walking through) a challenging life circumstance and wish you could talk with a friend who has been there and understands, look no further. Each book in the series is written by a woman who has experienced that same challenge. These authors detail the difficulties they encountered, the wisdom they gained, and the practical steps they took to find hope and healing so that you might do the same.
In this special podcast episode, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender share an inside look at the structure of the books, the first four subjects in the series, and some exciting additional features that are available to you with your purchase, right now.
Purchase Your Copies Now! When Marriage is HardAuthor Julie Bender walks you through her difficult first marriage, applying the lessons learned in her current marriage. She offers an honest picture of common marital challenges and the beauty of committing to working toward their resolutions. This book will help you uncover the steps to face your trials head-on to repair your relationship and rebuild a healthy, resilient marriage for a lifetime.
When Suicide Touches Your Life Author Darlene Brock shares her story of the devastating loss of her father to suicide. As one who understands the depths of your sorrow, Darlene gently nudges you toward healing and hope. Her words will help you find strength in the face of pain and peace in the chaos left by suicide’s wake. She trusts this book will be a guiding light toward healing after a loss like no other. When Anxiety Won’t Let Go Author Caroline Beidler, MSW, takes you on a transformative exploration through her struggle with anxiety and the many ways she learned to flip the script on the challenges it presents. If you feel like your anxiety follows you like a shadow each day, robbing you of healthy relationships, self-worth, and promising opportunities, please know you aren’t alone. In this book, you’ll learn how to identify your strengths and shift your perspective to uncover a fulfilling life beyond anxiety’s clutches. When Your Past Abuse Still Hurts Author Allison McCormick shares her deeply personal journey toward finding healing and redemption after enduring the haunting effects of childhood sexual abuse. Allison’s story is an invitation to identify the brokenness in your life and develop a path toward freedom. She believes that as you retrace the path of your own story, you will discover the comfort of knowing you are not alone. There is a path that leads to healing. ResourcesMentioned
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Exciting changes are in store for This Grit and Grace Life podcast!
If you’ve been with us for a while, you know we launched a new endeavor called Smart Living with Grit and Grace last year and will be releasing an eponymous book series this month (keep your eye on your inbox over the next few days!). Now, we’re rebranding the podcast with a new look and feel—and a new name!
In this episode, Darlene and Julie share what’s in store for the new Smart Living with Grit and Grace podcast: fresh content, shorter episodes, increased frequency and more! You’ll learn how they landed on the new name and what topics you can expect in the next few weeks. It’s an exciting season for Grit and Grace Life, and we’re thrilled to have you along for the ride!
Quote of the episode:“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
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We’re celebrating our 250th podcast episode of This Grit and Grace Life with 26 wise quotes from a literary classic: Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.
Whether you’ve read the novel or not, there’s much to be gleaned from the conversations among its four protagonists, the young March sisters. If you need some encouragement in your relationships and goals or need to be reminded of the qualities of a confident woman, take a few minutes to tune into this episode. Darlene and Julie also share their favorite lessons learned from the This Grit and Grace Life podcast archive.
Quote of the episode:“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5
ResourcesClick HERE to download a printable PDF copy of this episode’s Little Women quotes!
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How do you respond when you see a child with special needs? Most of us fall into one of two camps: We either choose to engage or we look the other way. But choosing to engage is always the right answer.
Russ and Gail Ewell will tell you the same thing. After dealing with judgment and unsolicited advice from others on how to raise their two special needs children, the couple decided the best way to inform others was to educate and integrate.
In this episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Russ and Gail explain the importance of addressing misconceptions and cutting through the discomfort around special needs and building a community around those with special needs instead. The couple created a series of inclusive programs that unite special needs and typical kids to forge friendships, grace and understanding for a lifetime, and they discuss how, in addition to inclusive programming, we can all support those with special needs.
Russ and Gail Ewell have been married for 35 years and are the proud parents of adult children with special needs. They have been leading ministry together at Bay Area Christian Church for three decades. Russ, a minister for more than 40 years, serves as the Executive Minister at BACC, where his teaching is rooted in providing hope for those turned off by tradition. Gail is the Lead Women’s Minister at BACC and serves as the executive director of Hope Technology School, a nationally recognized full-inclusion school in Palo Alto, California, which she and Russ founded together.
Quote of the episode:“You only benefit from inclusion; you don’t get hurt.” —Gail Ewell
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Be sure to follow us on social media!When it comes to battling life’s challenges, the odds are rarely in our favor. We might feel as though we’re putting forth a ton of effort into making our circumstances better, only to find we didn’t make much headway after all.
It feels like a far cry from the life God designed for us to live, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss new ways to approach these challenges—and they’re all rooted in the mission of Grit and Grace Life: To transform women’s lives by sharing our hard-earned wisdom, equip them with the grit and grace needed to conquer life’s challenges, and inspire a passion to follow Christ, the greatest source of our strength.
Together, they share the power of community in overcoming obstacles; tips for living proactively instead of reactively; how to depend on God for an abundant life; and more. If you’re close to feeling defeated, we encourage you not to give up yet. Reinforce your mental strongholds with the advice shared in this episode and conquer life’s challenges with the ultimate victor at your side.
Quote of the episode:“Our life is not one individual moment or place we find ourself. It does not define us… .What defines us is what we do in the process.” —Darlene Brock
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Be sure to follow us on social media!We’re likely to bounce between feelings of happiness, sadness, anger, excitement, exhaustion or any number of other emotions every day. No matter which ones you experience, they are all normal and they deserve to be listened to. Where we often go wrong, according to licensed psychotherapist Dr. Zoe, is in our reaction to those feelings—either lashing out at someone or making an impulsive decision we later regret. Even when we choose not to react by suppressing our emotions, we are entering into dangerous territory.
Learning how to control your feelings and they way you respond to them is such a critical part of life that Darlene and Julie decided to bring back a previous podcast episode—where Dr. Zoe appears as a guest—on the topic.
In the episode, Dr. Zoe shares several reasons why we fear our emotions, how we can develop emotional intelligence in ourselves and our children, and how to communicate our feelings in a healthy way with our spouse and coworkers. And yes, vent sessions count—with the right parameters!
Dr. Zoe is a passionate practitioner in the field of clinical psychology. She is licensed as a psychotherapist and divides her time between her family life, clinical practice, virtual life, and relationship coaching, speaking, writing and hosting her podcast. You can follow Dr. Zoe by visiting her site, or finding her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well as her podcast, Stronger in the Difficult Places.
Submit a question to our free Ask Dr. Zoe column.
Quote of the episode:“We have a fear of social rejection. That’s really why we fear our feelings.” —Dr. Zoe
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Be sure to follow us on social media!Are your kids heading back to school?
They’ll undoubtedly learn a few math equations or how to read between the lines of a historical novel, but some of the most important back to school lessons your kids will take away from this school year are the ones that will carry them through life.
In this episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss how, as a parent, you play a critical role in facilitating how well your kids receive these life lessons. They share how to instill guidance in your kids around things like:
Some of the best lessons start at home. This episode shares how to tactfully discuss these with your child to ensure they develop the skills needed to excel in the classroom and beyond.
Quote of the episode:“There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent.” —Mahatma Gandhi
Resources Be sure to follow us on social media!Are you putting off scheduling your next OB-GYN appointment? We get it—it can be uncomfortable, awkward, and even embarrassing to chat with the doc about issues or questions related to down there.
That’s why we’re bringing back this episode of This Grit and Grace Life with guest Dr. Holly Miller, a board certified OB-GYN, to answer all the hard OB-GYN questions you need to know about feminine health but are probably too embarrassed to ask about.
This episode is filled with questions that women tend to run from, including:
When do we see a gynecologist? Why do we see gynecologists? Do we have to see a gynecologist? And the biggest question, why are we terrified of seeing a gynecologist?
Whether you’re busy or scared something is wrong and you don’t want to face it, you need to go see a gynecologist. It’s that simple! Neglecting your health is no way to handle potential issues you may be facing. We know after listening, you’ll feel comfortable and confident scheduling your next appointment!
What else you’ll learn:
Dr. Holly Miller completed medical school at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She’s currently an OB-GYN physician in Florida. Outside of the office, Dr. Miller enjoys reading, running and spending time with her husband and four children.
Find more from Dr. Miller by visiting her practice website here.
Quote of the episode:“It’s extremely important that women of all ages have a relationship with a doctor, specifically a gynecologist.” —Dr. Holly Miller
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How do you measure your self-worth? Is it determined by a respectable title at work or the approving nods ands compliments you receive on an outfit? Is it measured by how similar your home looks to your favorite influencer’s or your own personal follower count on Instagram?
This week, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender get together to offer a single resounding answer to all those questions: No. Your self-worth isn’t determined by any of these things.
And yet, the culture we live in upholds this pervasive idea that our worth is dependent on what we do or how put-together our lives appear, when in reality—in God’s reality—it’s who we are that matters.
If you struggle, like Julie did, with feeling like you’re not enough or even too much for others, listen to this episode to learn where your worth comes from and how you can walk boldly in who you are. The world doesn’t dictate your self-worth. Remember—God has a plan for you, and you’re on the road to who you’re becoming. Give grace to yourself on the way there.
Quote of the episode:“Stop shrinking to fit places you’ve outgrown.” —Darlene
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