What if obedience feels more like overflow than performance? On this week's What About This? Brandy Dawson invites you behind the scenes as she prepares to speak at the Open Cup Collective Women's Conference in Florida. Just days after Denver and Charlotte she's catching her breath, repacking her bags, and sitting poolside at a quite Airbnb- processing what it means to be entrusted to speak when you feel both undone and expectant.

This episode is for every woman who's ever wrestled with obedience. Who's been entrusted weith something holy- while still healing. Who's said yes even when her hands were shaking and before she was ready.

Brandy shares honest refolections on calling, spiritual trust, and how God meets us in the quiet before we are asked to pour out again.

We talk about:

• The sacred tensio between being poured into and poured out
• How Moses, Esther, and Mary wern't impressive- they were available
• Why you don't have to or need to hustle for holiness
• A blessing for the undone woman who said yes anyway

Plus: what I packed in my carry on and the quiet poolside moment where God met me before the conference wven begins

Spoiler alert: He already went before me. And He's already gone before you, too.

An Altar Moment (for you)

If you're holding something heavy today- a calling, a dream, a microphone, a story......

May you feel the nearness of the God who entrusted you with it.

He's not asking you to be impressive.

He's asking you to be present.

And He will fill what you offer.

So bring your notes.

Bring your tears.

Bring your yes.

Even from the in -between.

Even from the Airbnb.

And thank you-

For being a part of this grace - drenched journey. For every review, every DM, every story you tell me about how God met you in the ordinary.

Because He is who He says He is.

Even here.

Even now.

Subscribe: Substack: Musings of Grace- Brandy A Dawson

Instagram: https://instagram.com/brandyadawson

Connect:myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

Website: brandyadawson.com

What if Joy wasn't just a feeling to chase- but a place to dwell?

What if delight isn't something we find when life finally gets easier, but something we discover when we anchor ourselves in the ONE Who sustains us through the mess?

Is joy still possible when life feels anything but delightful? Can you really believe God delights in you.... even on the days you don't feel delightful and aren't sure if you're even ready to?

In this soul - steadying, grace - drenched episode, Brandy Dawson sits down with Elle Cardel - Bible teacher, mama, and author of She Delights, to talk about the kind of joy that doesn't evaporate when life gets hard. The kind that shows up in grief, lingers in overwhelm, and suprises you on an ordinary Tuesday.

Together they explore:

• What it really means to be delighted in by God, even in the messy middle
• How to cultivate joy that holds steady when life doesn't
• Why delight is more than a fleeting emotion - it's a spiritual practice
• How Scripture roots us deeper than striving ever could

Elle shares her journey through motherhood, ministry, and her daughter's diagnosis offering a tender invitation to trade hustle for holy rest - and to believe that God's delight in you is not conditional..... it's constant .

If your soul could use a breath of fresh grace, this conversation is for you.

Grab Elle's book: She Delights

Connect: daughterofdelight.com

Instagram: @daughterofdelight

To connect with Brandy for speaking engaement or podcast collaboration: myeighthandgrace@gmail.com

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

Follow me on Substack: Musings of Grace

Instagram: Brandyadawson

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:

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.

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

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

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

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