Summer has arrived, and with it the shift from school busy has been replaced by summer busy. Hopefully, you’re going to get some time to relax, even a vacation in the schedule too! With this in mind, we’re going to change our podcast publishing rhythm and release a new episode every other week to give us a break. Also to give you time to catch up on any shows you may have missed while living your grit and grace life! In this short episode, Darlene and Julie recap some of their favorite conversat...
Jun 04, 2019•10 min
A catchphrase often used among the Christian community "a Proverbs 31 woman" is thrown about with underlying expectations. It can bring with it inspiration, but also pride, fear, and even insecurity. This passage is referenced when discussing "how we should live" as women of faith and even the way it begins, the "wife of noble character" can be intimidating. Can you be like her? Should you even try? Co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Graham (both Christian women who have been in church for decades...
May 28, 2019•26 min
“A lot of women treat everything in their life as equal, so when push comes to shove and you’re needed in two places, you don’t know what to choose.” That quote from this week’s guest resonated with your co-hosts, Darlene Brock and Julie Graham. It probably does you too! To discuss this struggle and offer possible solutions for most women’s busyness, we brought in an expert on the subject. Meet our new best friend; Author, Business Coach, Ramsay personality and busy wife and mom, Christy Wright....
May 21, 2019•31 min
“Girl code,” you know what we’re talking about! Those unofficial rules that every member of our tribe understands, the code of behavior that governs female friendship. We have guidelines (even if we don't say them out loud) on everything from dating to clothing, keeping secrets, and how we mother each other’s children. In this episode, cross-generational friends and co-hosts, Darlene Brock and Julie Graham, give real-life examples of how women live by this set of rules. When we do, our relations...
May 14, 2019•29 min
Every mother-daughter relationship is unique. While some inspire the prose written in a Hallmark card, others can be much more challenging. Knowing this (and having their own complicated mother-daughter stories), Darlene Brock and Julie Graham devote this episode to the woman who might not have that picture-perfect relationship. Daughters, if your mom can be harsh, distant, controlling, neglectful, or absent, this episode is for you. In this real-life discussion, you'll learn how to set healthy ...
May 07, 2019•33 min
A life of grit and grace sounds like a great plan, something every woman wants. Right? But certain roadblocks just keep rearing their ugly heads! These struggles keep us from feeling strong: we have poor self-esteem, we’re riddled with shame or guilt from our past, or we feel the need to be perfect at everything. These plus a few more are the barriers that keep us from the life we all want to lead. In their relatable banter, your co-hosts Darlene and Julie admit to facing these struggles, but al...
Apr 30, 2019•32 min
Isn’t every parent’s goal to raise happy, well-adjusted, and, yes, responsible kids who can find success in life? Even comedienne, Phyllis Diller said, “I want my children to have all the things I couldn’t afford...then I want to move in with them.” We may not want to live with them, but we do want them to be able to build a life for themselves. In this episode, single boy mom Julie Graham asks all these questions and more of Darlene Brock, who literally wrote the book on raising great girls. Th...
Apr 23, 2019•30 min
Who doesn’t love Easter—another opportunity to eat candy, decorate our home, create new family memories, and, of course, the dress. But at the core of this holiday lies the pinnacle of our Christian faith, so we wanted to take this opportunity to address what it is that we hold so dear. Since we couldn’t just do it the obvious way, Darlene and Julie spend this episode unpacking seven lessons discovered when looking at Jesus’ life—focusing in on the time before His death and resurrection. These l...
Apr 16, 2019•25 min
Has your life taken an unexpected turn after experiencing disappointment? Perhaps it’s left you feeling like you’re not good at what you thought you were, or worse, not good at anything at all. This week’s guest, JJ Heller, will inspire you. Her unlikely journey from basketball player to recording artist entailed many unexpected turns. She admits that “finding her voice” (not just musically, but figuratively) took time, tweaks, and listening to valuable feedback from others. It also required pat...
Apr 09, 2019•29 min
Most women are looking for a healthy, secure, and romantic relationship with the man in their life. Sometimes we do things that, instead of making it better, are killing it. Now, we know that men can be relationship killers too, but we will leave that for another discussion. So, we're asking you, are you making these common mistakes that undermine the foundation of the relationship you hold so dear? We all do them, but if we don't have a bestie who tells it to us straight, sometimes we don’t eve...
Apr 02, 2019•33 min
What makes a woman able to live This Grit and Grace Life? The desire to be strong and secure in her worth. A woman who loves people well and is confident in her talents, demonstrating tremendous character. That’s true, too. You see it in how a woman carries herself in her relationships, whether at home, at work, or in her community. With this goal in mind, our fearless leader, (Co-Founder of The Grit and Grace Project) Darlene Brock, took an inventory of the life philosophies that she’s followed...
Mar 26, 2019•30 min
What happens when you mix a creative dad, a multi-tasking home-school mom, five kids, and a unique idea inspired by their family chaos? A new business! One that will help manage some of the chaos in your home, too! Darlene and Julie chat with Adam and Dana Sue Hinkle, owners of CreativeQT about their family and business journey. It's the phrase "Make Time Together" that became their simple reminder for families—and spurred them to create practical yet inspired tools to help families have it. Thr...
Mar 19, 2019•30 min
Healthy friendships can bring joy to your life. Unhealthy ones, well, they can make it complicated and bring a list of questions with them. What does it take to create a friendship that flourishes? How do you know when a friendship should end because the harm outweighs the good, bringing hurt instead of joy? Can women have long-term friendships? Can they be “just friends” with men? These are just a few of the issues that co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Graham consider while unpacking how to dee...
Mar 12, 2019•28 min
Women have changed the world. And we know we can do it again. As a place for strong women and those who want to be, we understand that looking back at the accomplishments of women in the past gives us confidence that we can create our own. Realizing, "If they can do it, maybe I can too." March is Women’s History Month. So, to celebrate, Darlene and Julie bring a few of these ladies to life, remembering their accomplishments and their words—many of which still impact us today. We hope that you wi...
Mar 05, 2019•25 min
Looking back we all recall the mom phrases: “Don’t roll your eyes, they’ll get stuck like that”, “If your friend jumped off a bridge...” and “Because I said so, that’s why!” These all-too-familiar phrases became ones we mouthed in the backseat of the car as we were growing up. There also may have been phrases like “I love you no matter what” that she never said, but you wished she would have. On this episode, Darlene and Julie revisit several expressions moms are famous for, as well as ones they...
Feb 26, 2019•29 min
How would you describe yourself? Is it your relationship status, whether you hold the title of Mom, is it your career path or even your personality type? Do you believe there is anything that makes you special or unique? While these things are part of who you are, they are not the things that make up your worth. We often define ourselves by life stage, titles we hold or groups that we are a part of; but at The Grit and Grace Project we encourage you to look deeper, to your character, the real yo...
Feb 19, 2019•28 min
We’re feelin’ the love this week! Curl up with your valentine (chocolate) as we do a deep dive into the eight duos we love to watch--on TV, that is. These couples, both real and writer-created, cross genres and generations, each with their very own unique charm. Co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Graham went to the tribe at The Grit and Grace Project to crowdsource who needed to be a part of this episode. As they chat about the couples chosen, they share why each of these relationships works in th...
Feb 12, 2019•28 min
Women are faced with decisions every day—from the tiny, seemingly insignificant ones like what to wear, eat or watch, to the big ones. You may be deciding what job to take, where to move or how to deal with friendships gone awry. Our lives can change by the decisions we make, and they even can be affected by those we refuse to make. With that in mind, co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Graham take this episode to outline five steps that help when making a decision. They also spend a little time on...
Feb 05, 2019•30 min
Feelings. We are all affected by them, even driven by them, whether we want to admit it or not. Our emotions can harm us but they are helpful too, often depending upon how we process them. So, to sort all of these feelings out, we invited our friend, licensed therapist and relationship expert, Dr. Zoe Shaw, back to the show to help women discover the road to healthy emotions. Co-hosts Darlene Brock and Julie Graham don’t shy away from asking the personal questions as they reflect on how feelings...
Jan 29, 2019•32 min
One of the reasons we love the internet and especially social media is the wealth of inspiration and entertainment that you will find there. The memes and quotes that we post and often share are worthy of repeating. We went to our tribe of strong women and asked them to give us ones that they like, ones that make you laugh and even make you think! Join co-hosts Darlene Brock, and Julie Graham as they bring these to you. You’ll relate, laugh, and also ponder the truth behind these sayings that ar...
Jan 22, 2019•24 min
Are you single? The dating waters can be treacherous, but they don’t have to take you under! You’re looking for a good man. Maybe you already have a list of must-haves and deal-breakers. Or perhaps you need to make one. Does this current dating world scare you? Do you assume online dating doesn’t work? What qualities do you find in a good man? Co-hosts Darlene (who is “very married”, as she puts it), and Julie (widowed boy mom re-entering the dating scene) discuss how to find a man worth your ti...
Jan 15, 2019•29 min
This Grit and Grace Life is a podcast for strong women and those who want to be. After several conversations with friends and hearing from readers of The Grit and Grace Project online magazine, co-hosts Darlene and Julie realized that you might not be so sure you have this inner strength at all. Or, maybe you’re unclear of what exactly makes a woman strong. In this week’s episode, they explore what a strong woman looks like, what qualities she possesses, and society's view of empowerment, even i...
Jan 08, 2019•25 min
Before you gear up for a fresh start in the new year, a strong woman sets aside a few moments to pause and reflect on the year that she’s leaving behind. It’s an opportunity to be reminded of growth, to acknowledge our mistakes honestly, then recognize the opportunities ahead for change; never forgetting the hidden blessings scattered throughout the year. On this episode, Darlene and Julie give a ‘year in review’ of what they’ve learned and lost in 2018 and what they intend to carry into 2019. T...
Dec 18, 2018•31 min
Do the words “hormone health” make you cringe? Our hormones get blamed for mood swings, tiredness, complexion nightmares, and even weight gain! But, could there be a little truth in that blame game? There is something to be said about understanding the things that can make you crazy! So, Darlene and Julie are joined by their resident “hippie in heels,” friend, and writer at Grit and Grace Life, Ashby Duval. Having lived through a personal battle with this issue, she brings insights into what rol...
Dec 11, 2018•34 min
Society has a lot of misconceptions about women. Are we emotional, unable to handle a budget, or into shopping? The answer is maybe yes and maybe no. Stereotypes can often be harmful, and a few are downright ugly! While we admit our shortcomings, we believe each woman has unique traits and qualities that set her apart. So, how does a woman of grit and grace combat these cultural assumptions? We start by realizing that we aren’t all alike, yet we do possess many characteristics that unite all wom...
Dec 04, 2018•32 min
Your man has a lot of other women in his life who require attention and often demand his interaction. It could be his mom, coworkers, a daughter, an ex, friends, or a baby mama to name a few. If this relationship requires his attention, it might need yours too! Because we love our men, we want great relationships with them, but it’s impractical (and unhealthy!) to try to keep them all to ourselves. So, can you find the grit and grace to give him space to have healthy relationships with these wom...
Nov 27, 2018•27 min
It’s Thanksgiving week....be honest, are you not feeling all that thankful right now? Maybe “thankful” has lost its effect on you? Too much to do, too much drama, or you may be struggling to find a reason to celebrate. We get it—we’ve all been there. And there’s grace for you in that! In this episode, Darlene and Julie give you a fresh perspective to consider as you indulge in all the highly-caloric-yet-oh-so-worth-it-fare. They share what they’re glad about, which might get your thoughts going ...
Nov 20, 2018•27 min
Are you looking for unique Christmas gifts this year? Something a little different and more personal than what you will find in the avalanche of sale guides that hit this time of year? Since this is an excellent time to start your Christmas shopping you have to look no further. This episode will introduce you to a collection of 7 unique shops which will offer something special for every person on your list. Darlene and Julie would like you to meet a few friends of This Grit and Grace Life who ma...
Nov 13, 2018•26 min
Can you start a business, build a strong marriage, be a present mom, and take care of your health too? If you do attempt that balancing act, can you expect to be perfect, accomplishing all without the occasional failure? Absolutely not—but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to chase that dream you have! On this episode, Darlene and Julie talk to Morgan Kline, Co-Founder and CEO of Burn Boot Camp. She and her husband, Devan, defied odds (and haters!) to launch Burn Boot Camp in 2012, and today t...
Nov 06, 2018•36 min
The holiday season is upon us, and with it: the stress. We find ourselves with an overloaded schedule, and often in the midst of the fun is family drama. Maybe this is the year you'll get ahead of the hustle of the season and find a way to slow down. Wouldn’t we all like to experience real celebration and enjoy it, not merely survive "the most wonderful time of the year?” Darlene and Julie discuss what they love about each holiday as well as ways to get the most out of the gatherings and how to ...
Oct 30, 2018•30 min
