This Grit & Grace Life Podcast

This Grit and Grace Life hosts, Darlene Brock and Julie (Graham) Bender cross generational lines and draw from life experience to discuss all things life—from the boardroom to the bedroom, car-lines to college, being single, married, or single again. Combining the two traits found in all women, grit and grace, they laugh, share insights and explore the road taken to find strength every day.

Get Ready to Break Free of Self-Doubt and Shame - 220

Get Ready to Break Free of Self-Doubt and Shame – 220

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWould you say you’re confident? Or would it be more accurate to say that you experience flickers of self-doubt now and again? If you said the latter, you’re not alone. This week, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss the plague of self-doubt and shame we face as women, and how we get caught in the trap of comparison. They break down the most common areas we struggle with, including feeling too old; feeling too young; wondering if we’re good enough; feeling burdened by our pasts; and more, and share ways to identify your strengths (rather than focus on your perceived weaknesses). If you’re looking to […]

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Your Back to School Strategy: Life Lessons and Daily Hacks - 219

Your Back to School Strategy: Life Lessons and Daily Hacks – 219

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreJust like that, summer is wrapping up and the next school year is around the corner. As a mom, maybe you’re breathing a sigh of relief, knowing you’ll gain a few hours back in the day where you won’t be pestered (we get it!). Or maybe you’re a bit apprehensive—you don’t know what’s in the curriculum this year, whether your child will get along with their teacher, or what they’ll hear from other students. No matter which feeling you identify with, this episode of This Grit and Grace Life will help you feel more at ease in the new school year. Darlene Brock and Julie

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From Living on the Streets to Finding Redemption with Laila Schell - 218

From Living on the Streets to Finding Redemption with Laila Schell – 218

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreYour circumstances don’t define you. Take it from this week’s podcast guest, Laila Schell, whose upbringing was anything but conventional. In this raw narration of her life story, Laila shares how she grew up poverty-stricken, bouncing between family homes and foster care and feeling the sting of rejection from her parents. Living on the street, Laila struggled with drugs and discovered she was pregnant. Her life seemed hopeless until one unexpected moment of deliverance changed everything. Now, Laila sees the beauty of leading an imperfect life—recognizing our past doesn’t define us. It only points back to God’s ability to pull us from our deepest despair

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graphic for episode 217 on being an independent woman

It’s Independence Day—Are You an Independent Woman? – 217

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreHappy 4th of July! While we’re celebrating our nation’s independence and the individual freedoms over backyard cookouts and late-night fireworks, we also can’t help but wonder: What does it look like to be an independent woman? In this episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender unpack the characteristics of an independent woman. They also discuss the importance of identifying your value outside of your job title or relationship status and, most importantly, how to channel confidence and find contentment in who you are. The independent woman is one who makes a difference because she knows what she brings to the

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You Can Get to Where You Want to Be with Mignon Francois - 216

You Can Get to Where You Want to Be with Mignon Francois – 216

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreHardly anything is impossible. Take it from Mignon François—a speaker, entrepreneur and owner of The Cupcake Collection, a specialty cupcake business that ships nationwide—who, only a few years ago, found herself with only $5 in hand to feed her family as a single mom. On this episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender chat with Mignon on how to get to where you want to be in life, and the ability to be resourceful even when it seems all the odds are against you. Mignon shares her unexpected journey from living paycheck to paycheck to investing seed money that would

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How Do We Embrace Truth in a Radically Shifting Culture? - 215

How Do We Embrace Truth in a Radically Shifting Culture? – 215

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWe’re witnessing radical changes in our culture. Topics ranging from gender identity and sexual boundaries to living “your truth” are making both headlines and appearances in our daily life. And many times, these issues run counter to what we believe as women of faith. So how do we adapt to a shifting culture and still pursue what we know to be true? In this episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender discuss the ways that traditional values and the understanding of what’s right or wrong have changed over the years, touching on topics like casual sex and family dynamics. They

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Is Your Man a Keeper? Here's How to Be Sure - 214

Is Your Man a Keeper? Here’s How to Be Sure – 214

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreAre you dating someone or looking to date? Regardless of where you might be in those two categories, it’s never too late to evaluate whether your potential life partner is a keeper. In this podcast episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender outline what characteristics you need to look out for—both the red flags and the green flags—so you can quickly identify whether your man is a keeper, or someone who should see the door. Quote of the episode: “If we want to be a keeper, we need to have the same attributes we’re looking for in them.” —Darlene Brock

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Ready to Unpack the Baggage in Your Marriage? with Rachel Hagstrom - 213

Ready to Unpack the Baggage in Your Marriage? with Rachel Hagstrom – 213

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWe often hear that marriage is work—once the honeymoon phase is over, of course. And it’s true; marriage does require some adjustments and compromises. But what about the things that happened before marriage? The situations that may have taken place years ago, but the repercussions of which are still creeping into your union? Co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Bender are joined by Grit and Grace Life writer Rachel Hagstrom to talk about how to unpack the baggage in your marriage. Both Rachel and her husband experienced separate traumatic events that slowly began chipping away at the foundation of their union. In this episode, she speaks

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Change Your Life with These Tips for Smart Living - 212

Change Your Life with These Tips for Smart Living – 212

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWe launched our sister project, Smart Living with Grit and Grace, a few months ago as a dedicated platform for women to exchange all the practical tips, advice and encouragement they’ve gleaned over the years. They cover everything from both heartwarming and not-so-pretty motherhood moments; how to overcome loneliness and adapt to change; the top things they wish they knew in their twenties; Valentine’s Day gifts that women really want; their favorite quotes and one-liners that help them walk their own grit and grace life, and tons more. In this episode, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender share several of the Smart Living tips submitted by

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Afraid Your Relationship with Your Daughter Can’t Thrive? with Marlys Johnson Lawry - 211

Afraid Your Relationship with Your Daughter Can’t Thrive? with Marlys Johnson Lawry – 211

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWhen you think of mother-daughter relationships, the many film renditions of “Freaky Friday” might come to mind. That relationship dynamic is not at all uncommon, but maybe it’s one you’re looking to pivot from, or avoid entirely as you raise your daughter. On this episode of This Grit and Grace Life, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender welcome back Marlys Johnson Lawry, a writer for Grit and Grace Life and mom of an adult daughter. Marlys recalls the relationship she had with her mom, which was strong and dependable, but lacked some of the tender moments that Marlys desired while growing up. To change the narrative

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Finding Happiness In an Unhappy World - 210

Finding Happiness In an Unhappy World – 210

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreHappiness in America is dwindling, according to a 2022 Gallup survey. There are several factors that play into this trend, but perhaps the most important question is whether we’re stuck being unhappy. Do we have to just endure? In this podcast episode, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender address the state of unhappiness that’s rippling through the world right now and answer the age-old question of whether or not it’s appropriate to pursue happiness as a Christian. Together, they lay out practical steps for finding happiness and boosting your overall mood, which covers everything from being aware of the content you consume and where you’re spending

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The Beauty of Our Imperfect Lives with Jesus - 209

The Beauty of Our Imperfect Lives with Jesus – 209

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWhat does it mean to follow Jesus or to say, “I am a Christian?” With the recent Asbury Revival igniting new conversations around faith, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender decided to share the highs and lows of their individual faith journeys and getting to know Jesus. Darlene grew up in a strict church environment with a lot of rules, while Julie’s Methodist church emphasized the importance of relationships and feeling connected with others in the house of God. Both took paths that brought them closer to Jesus but encountered moments of pride and self-righteousness in their faith that they later learned couldn’t prevent real-life heartache.

The Beauty of Our Imperfect Lives with Jesus – 209 Read More »

My Parents’ Murder-Suicide and the Road to Forgiveness with Tracy Brandt - 208

My Parents’ Murder-Suicide and the Road to Forgiveness with Tracy Brandt – 208

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreHow do you forgive the unforgiveable? This week’s guest, Tracy Brandt, did just that after losing her parents to murder-suicide: Her father took her mother’s life, just before taking his own. Tracy joins Darlene Brock and Julie Bender to share details of the dysfunctional and tumultuous upbringing that preceded the loss of her parents. They fought often, held bitterness toward each other and seemed incapable of communicating in a healthy way. After learning the news, Tracy had no intention of forgiving her father. About a year later, however, she felt God place it on her heart. In this episode, she recalls the emotional back and

My Parents’ Murder-Suicide and the Road to Forgiveness with Tracy Brandt – 208 Read More »

Our Duty to Celebrate Racial Diversity as Women of Faith - 207

Our Duty to Celebrate Racial Diversity as Women of Faith – 207

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More“Are you approaching people the way God would want you to?” It’s an important question posed by Darlene Brock and Julie Bender in this podcast episode. This week, they continue the conversation from the previous episode, where Grit and Grace Life writer Allison McCormick, a biracial woman married to a Black man, shared her perspective on race relations in the world today. In an honest conversation from women of faith, Darlene and Julie discuss what we can do to fight racism, including taking on some tougher assignments: setting aside your defenses and learning to listen to others. They also share our biblical responsibility to address

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Racism—How Can We Help Fight It? with Allison McCormick - 206

Racism—How Can We Help Fight It? with Allison McCormick – 206

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More There is an undeniable tension that exists when dealing with race in our world today. So when it comes to having those hard conversations and arriving at a place of better understanding each other, many people don’t know where—or how—to start. Longtime Grit and Grace Life team writer Allison McCormick joins Darlene and Julie this week to share her advice. As a biracial woman married to a Black man, Allison details the confusion and complexity of discovering her true biracial identity and the situations her husband has had to endure. She shares what we and other Christian women can do to fight hate and

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Cohost Julie Bender: Life Lessons Learned in her Newest Chapter - 205

Cohost Julie Bender: Life Lessons Learned in her Newest Chapter – 205

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More In our nearly six month hiatus, a lot has happened in the lives of This Grit and Grace Life‘s hosts. Darlene developed and  launched Grit and Grace Life‘s sister project, Smart Living with Grit and Grace, while Julie welcomed a brand new baby girl named Reverie Bender. Like any good friends would do after being apart, Darlene and Julie spend some time catching up and discussing what else is new in Julie’s life (hint: a lot!). For our newer listeners, Julie recaps her first marriage, her sudden widowhood, getting back into the dating scene and how she met her now-husband, Donny. She also speaks

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We Lied 🤦‍♀️But We're Back! 💁‍♀️ - 204

We Lied 🤦‍♀️But We’re Back! 💁‍♀️ – 204

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Email | TuneIn | RSS | MoreWe lied! In our last episode, Darlene Brock and Julie Bender signed off with a promise to return in September 2022 after Julie had her baby. Well, life happened, and This Grit and Grace Life’s return got pushed back to January. Better late than never, right? At least we’re starting off the new year with a bang! In this episode, Darlene and Julie share some of the new changes happening behind the scenes at Grit and Grace Life and give a preview of this season’s upcoming podcast guests. We have a lot in store—you don’t want to miss it! Quote of the episode: “There’s nothing

We Lied 🤦‍♀️But We’re Back! 💁‍♀️ – 204 Read More »

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