Épisodes

  • Choosing Joy While Holding Grief with Lauren Johnson| Episode 21
    Jul 16 2025

    Ever wondered how to keep trusting God when life breaks your heart? In this honest, tender, and hope - filled episode of eighth & GRACE, Brandy sits down with Lauren Johnson- nurse, entrepreneur, and the heart behind Choose Joy Give Grace- to share her story of motherhood, loss, and building a life and business rooted in faith, even in the middle of grief.

    We talk about what it looks like to carry both sorrow and joy while letting God use it all.

    Lauren is the founder of Choose Joy Nursing, Choose Joy Concierge- companies that have supported thousands of women through overnight newborn care, in -home baby classes, sleep coaching, luxury post- surgical recovery, and beautiful journals that speak life in the hardest seasons.

    She opens up about her loss of her beautiful daughter Lily Ann, navigating the ache of grieving while holding space for joy that doesn't wait for life to be perfecr.

    If you're standing at the edge of something new or trying to find God in the middle of your pain- this episode will remind you that you are not alone.

    Listen as we talk about:

    • Leaving safe to walk in calling
    • Balancing motherhood, faith, and entrepreneurship
    • Building a business that meets real need with compassion
    • staying grounded when life feels overwhelming
    • Encouragement for dreamers in every season

    Grab your coffee or lace up your shoes- this is a conversation you'll want to carry with you.

    Connect with Lauren: Instagram @choosejoygivegrace

    Connect with Brandy for speaking inquiries and podcast collaboration: myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

    website + blog: https://www.brandyadawson.com

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/brandyadawson

    Substack:

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    1 h et 18 min
  • What About This? Apparently She Ate That- But I'm Not Even Hungry: On Faith, Culture, and Staying Real
    Jul 11 2025

    Have you ever felt like you need to be fluent in culture to fit in? What if you don't feel trendy, aesthetic, or "main character" enough to belong? In this refreshing episode of What About This? Brandy gets honest about faith, culture, and the pressure to perform.

    Listen as we explore:

    • Why you don't have to be culturally fluent to be spiritually relevant
    • How to embrace authenticity over algorithms
    • The freedom of living uncurated and rooted in Christ
    • Simple summer rhythms to stay grounded in what matters most

    Whether you're a Christian woman navigating social media, a mom feeling out of place, or someone craving deeper purpose beyond the trends, this conversation will remind you: you don't have to be relavant to be who you have been called to be.

    Tune in for encouragement, laughter, and practical wisdom to help you live a faithful unfiltered life.

    Listen now to rediscover the joy of ordinary faithfulness in an extraoridinary God.

    Connect with Brandy:

    www.brandyadawson.com

    myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

    instagram.com/brandyadawson.

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    16 min
  • When You Don't Have the Words: Faith, Grief, and Trusting God Anyway| Episode 21
    Jul 8 2025

    In this raw and honest mini solo episode of eighth & GRACE, Brandy shares a tender reflection on trusting God in the middke of tragedy and unanswered questions.

    As the nation mourns precious lives lost in Texas, she offers encouragement for women grappling with grief, exhaustion, and the ache of not knowing why.

    Brandy chats about:

    • Pretending helps no one
    • The power of honest faith when life is not tiday and just hard
    • Jesus modeled grief and compassion without performance
    • How prayer- as simple as it may feel moves heaven and earth

    Whether you're folding laundry, driving to work, or wiping away tears, this short conversation will remind you that you don't have to fake it to be loved by God.

    Listen now to discover:

    Why faith does'nt require all the answers

    To stop performing and start trusting

    A blessing over weary hearts longing for hope.

    Connect with Brandy:

    If you would like to inquire about Brandy speaking or being a guest on the podcast- myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

    Website + blog: brandyadawson.com

    Instagram @brandyadawson

    Substack- Brandy A Dawson- Musings of Grace

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    12 min
  • Mothering a Movement: Vivian Mabuni on Surrender, Identity, and the God Who Sees| Episode 20
    Jul 2 2025

    What does it look like to mother a movement, not jut family? To lead with open hands and awilling heart in a world that often sidelines women's voices?

    In this powerful episode of eighth & GRACE, Brandy sits down with Vivian Mabuni- international speaker, Bible teacher, author of Open Hands, Willing Heart, and host of the God Hears Her podcast. With decades of ministry experience and a deep commitment to cultural leadership, Vivian shares how surrender, suffering, and identity have shaped her calling to raise up the next generation of women leaders.

    Together, they explore:

    • Women in ministry and the thrology of being seen
    • The power of cultural identity in spiritual formation
    • How to disciple and empower the next generation
    • Practical encouragement for weary women called to lead
    • What it means to midwife movments with faithm not perfection

    Whether you're navigating your own hidden season or longing to create community where every woman feels seen + known, this conversation is for you.

    Listen now to discover:

    • How Vivian's experience as an Asian American leader shaped her ministry
    • The importance of generational discipleship
    • Wisdom for overcoming the whispre of unworthiness
    • Encouragement to keep showing up with open hands

    Grab your coffee and join us for this tender, empowering conversation about faith, surrender, and legacy.

    To connect with Vivian: instagram.com/vivmabuni

    To connect with Brandy for speaking engagement, podcast collaboration, or any request: myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

    Instagram: https://instagram.com/brandyadawson

    Website: https://www.brandyadawson.com

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    1 h et 13 min
  • Hair Dye, A Burning Bush Moment, And Sacred Rhythms| What About This?
    Jun 27 2025

    Ever felt like you were staring overr with nothing? In this poetic and puncy episode of What About This? Brandy gets real about dissapointment, disruption, and the slow sacred process of becoming.

    When the words vanish and the dye fades- this is about trusting the process when you'd rather just arrive already.

    From the frustration of her losing her writing to the svulnerabilityb of growing out years of black hair dye, Brandy weaves together humor, theology, and prophetic encouragement for anyone walking through the messy middle.

    Tune in for:

    The episode where my phone rings. Lucy Jade has a whole moment and her puppy Dolly wants to be noticed. ( This is Friday- in the summer)

    But really...

    A raw coversation about trusting God when everythig feels undone

    A reminder that waiting is not wasted- it's holy

    A journal prompt an mini devo-

    A rhythm list to help you embrace a slow summer (yes, it's possible- even in chaos:)

    Subscribe now to join the jpurney- new episodes drop every Tuesday + Friday.

    To connect with Brandy:

    https://www.brandyadawson.com

    myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

    https://instagram.com/brandyadawson

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    22 min
  • From Striving to Chasing Sacred with Mikella Van Dyke | Episode 19
    Jun 25 2025

    Have you been wanting to study the Bible but don't know where to start? In this powerful episode of eighth & GRACE, Brandy A. Dawson sits down with theologian, writer, and mama of five- Mikella Van Dyke, founder of Chasing Sacred - for a grace - soaked conversation about surrender, Scripture, and sacred rhythms in the chaos of life.

    Mikella shares her journey from living in Thailand to launching a global ministry that helps women study the Bible for themselves with obedience and clarity. Together, they unpack the tension between striving and surrender, purpose and presence and what it really means to trust God when control feels safer thaqn letting go.

    You'll hear about:

    • Letting go of striving in motherhood, mnistry, and idenity
    • The heart behind Chasing Sacred and biblical literacy for women
    • Writing a Bible study on Colossians & Philemon
    • Sacred rhythms in a loud and full life
    • Practical first steps for Bible studywhen you're overwhelmed

    This episode is for the woman who's weary from doing and ready to rest in deeper being. The one who longs to study God's Word but feels unsure where to start.

    Scripture, surrender, and sacred space- this conversation holds all three. When you press play on this sacred pause, you'll hear all about how you don't earn God's presence- you're alrrady in it.

    Connect with Mikella Van Dyke & Chasing Sacred

    Website: www.chasingsacred.com

    Instagram @chasingsacred

    To connect with Brandy for speaking engagements and podcast requests: myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

    website, resources, +blog https://www.brandyadawson.com

    Instagram:https://instagram.com/brandyadawson

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    1 h et 5 min
  • Wear the Shorts. Eat the Cheesecake: God is in the Small Things
    Jun 20 2025

    This episode? It's part story time, part soul revival, part sacred rant about shower filters, delayed podcast episodes, and why I only book hotels that serve cheesecake after 9pm.

    I lost a whole episode .

    Then my shower head exploded.

    Then God showed up anyway, with light on the lake, crumbs on a nightstand, and my last name etched on the wallpaper.

    We're calling this Helion Season - a golden stretch of days where the miracles look more like Monday afternoons, fireflies, and somone texting "I'm proud of you" a just the right time.

    Inside, we chat about:

    • The hotel hair saga that turned into holy ground
    • Divine detours with Shari + Kristel (podcast guests:)
    • Room service theology ( yes cheesecake counts)
    • A rhythm list for sacred summer slowness
    • And a body blessing for every woman to know she is seen

    If you've beenfeeling overwhelmes by life's headlines and timelines this wpisode will meet you right wheere you are. And if you're wondering if your miracle is too quiet to matter...

    Spoiler alert: It's not!

    Come for the shorts

    Stay for the cheesecake

    Leave with a little more light than you came with

    This is your sign t nottice the holy in the ordinary.

    Connect with Brandy: myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

    For speaking events + podcast collaborations

    Follow me on Instagram: @brandyadawson

    Website: https://www.brandyadawson.com

    Substack:substack.com/@brandydawson25

    Sacred Summer Rhythm located on website to download

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    41 min
  • Seen, Sent, and Set Apart: When the Wilderness is the Way with Kristel Acevedo| Episode 18
    Jun 17 2025

    Have you ever felt lost in a spiritual wilderness, wondering if God has forgotten you?

    In this tender and timely episode of eighth & GRACE, Brandy sits down with Kristel Acevedo, author of A Way in the Wilderness and Discipleship Director at Transformation Church, for a conversatoon full of presence, wisdom, and Spirit - filled hope.

    This one's for the woman who's faithful but tired. Curious but unsure. Present but still questioning her place in the story.

    Together, we chat about:

    • Why wilderness seasons are necessary for spiritual growth
    • How God meets us in hidden, quiet places
    • The power of biblical hospitality and compassion in multiethnic community
    • How to discern God's work when it all feels like He isn't moving at all

    Kristel, a Nicaraguan, born in Honduras, and raised in Miami - is a true beautiful mosaic of culture and calling. She's a leader, pastor's wife, and mom sharing her story of idenity, formation, and what it means to walk with God in dry seasons.

    She offers this gentle, Spirit -filled whispered reminder: You are not lost in the wilderness. You are being led.

    Even here, even now- the wilderness can be holy ground. He is making a way.

    Bonus: She shares her favorite beauty product, a word to her 18-year old self, and what she would say to the woman who feels overlooked and underqualified.

    If this episode meets you in your own quiet season: Grab A Way in the Wilderness by Kristel Acevedo

    Follow Kristel on https://instagram.com/kristelace

    If you want Brandy to speak at your event or be a guest on the podcast: myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

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    1 h et 16 min