Your Day Brighter®

Part 2 of celebrating our first year of Your Day Brighter is like MasterClass on overcoming struggles. Tracey shares amazing moments of wisdom from guests like Amy Grant, Joni Eareckson Tada, Dr. John Perkins, Eli Hernandez, Wayne Thomas Batson, Rick Little, Matthew West, Nikki Lerner, Izidor Ruckel, Pat Barrett, John Lawhon, Mike Alley, David Paul, Natalie Grant and Pat Linnell and more.   So muc...

What do Natalie Grant, Tony Evans, Jessica Long, Mandisa, and Rebekah Lyons all have in common? They’ve all been on Your Day Brighter, the podcast!   We are celebrating one year and in our 1-year Happy Birthday episode Part One,  you’ll hear bright spots of wisdom from my very special guests. Such good stuff here you may want to take notes.   2:25- Episode 2 Anne Graham Lotz 4:50- Episode 3 Anna K...

What’s even better than random acts of kindness? Intentional Divine appointments. Tracey talks with pastor, author, and movement leader Pat Linnell about Grace Bomb- tapping into God’s kindness assignments for you. 1:28- What is a Grace Bomb 4:38- How God birthed this movement in Pat 6:20- What's the difference between random acts of kindness and grace bombs 9:27- Stories from Pat "Grace...

Tracey talks with Natalie Grant about lessons learned in the hardest year of the pandemic and the gifts God gave her that she won’t give back. 2:31- The balance of being a mom during the pandemic 7:32- Some of the hardest things Natalie's kids have had to grieve 10:04- What Natalie learned during this time and "pause" 18:05- Love and kindness in the church 21:12- Natalie's crea...

Tracey talks with the winsome and wonderful singer/songwriter Pat Barrett about the gifts of creativity and simple connection to God that he discovered during the pandemic, writing the songs he needs to hear and the treasures found on his voice memos on his phone.  2:40- Recording and writing music during the pandemic 6:41- Pat Barrett's family and home life 7:38- How Pat experienced God as a...

One year after church closed its doors, Tracey talks with three young creatives from Bridgeway Community church about how they kept creating, collaborating, and changing how they do ministry during the most unpredictable year of their lives and... how God grew their faith and creativity thrived - even when there were more limits.   Special guests Ronald Greene, worship director, Dante Shepard, sen...

Tracey is joined by friends/colleagues, John and Dave, to talk about 2 new podcasts that are being released in April that you don’t want to miss... and why we podcast in the first place. 1:48- Why are podcasts important 3:11- How a podcast is different from radio 7:01- John's podcast Versed 14:49- Dave's podcast Long Story Short 21:33- John's vision for the future of Brighter Media...

Tracey talks with sought-after psychotherapist and speaker Tamia Barnes Tomasek about our mental health in the year of pandemic, racial tensions, and political divides. How do we navigate these crises with a healthy mind?   Tamia gives some practical help to measure how we are really doing, warning signs of needing professional care, and ways we can practice self-care and care for others.   1:45-...

Tracey saw her on Tik-Tok sharing Jesus and loving on people struggling through addiction and had to hear her story.   Dallas Barbee is a barber, a recovery pastor, and a social media influencer. Her motto is helping people find and follow Jesus one recovery story at a time and her faith is contagious.   What does it look like to follow Jesus out of the pit and into the calling to help others? It...

In Curtis Bay, a neighborhood on the southern tip of Baltimore City, a community struggles to rise above poverty, crime, drugs, and trafficking. And standing strong in the struggle is a community of women helping one another to heal and thrive called “The Well.”   Tracey talks with Mandy Memmel, founder and executive director of The Well and Hon’s Honey about stepping out of her comfort zone and i...

Tracey talks with singer/songwriter Matthew West about living out what he sings about, lessons and blessings of the pandemic, and using music to bring hope. 3:13- The messages in Matthew's songs 6:05- A character in the Bible that Matthew resonates with 11:10- How Matthew and his wife integrates the Spiritual together 15:08- Family life and parenting 17:58- Teachable moments during this pande...

A conversation with a national treasure, legendary civil rights activist, pastor, author, and founder of CCDA Dr. John Perkins.   His tireless work to end racism, oppression, and injustice begins and ends with Jesus and acknowledging the brokenness inside all of us.  2:02- What started Dr. Perkins passion to speak up 9:51- How can we get our hearts right in the American Church 16:28- 87th Birthday...

Tracey talks with Izidor Ruckel and screenwriter Sarah Padbury about his life in a Romanian orphanage during the communist reign of Ceausescu, and the horrific conditions that were kept a secret from the world until journalists found out about it.   Izidor’s story is one of survival, pain, and the healing power of love. Soon to be made into a series, this is a conversation you will want to share w...

Do you set goals in your life and feel like you fall short? Do you sometimes feel like you’re stuck and you’re not growing the way you’d like to?   Join Tracey as she has a fascinating conversation with life coach Nikki Lerner. Nikki talks about what a life coach can offer and how having a great life coach can help you get to the next level of growth in your life.   And... Tracey gives you an insi...

Tracey talks with her new morning show co-host and long-time friend, Mike Alley about some of the stuff he loves most: coffee, food and his bariatric surgery, marriage, and most of all- Jesus. 1:43- Mike’s passion for coffee 5:18- Mike’s top coffee spots 7:32- Mike’s journey with Bariatric surgery 10:39- What is Bariatric surgery 19:05- How the surgery changed the dynamics in marriage  22:23- Stac...

Did you know that over 92% of people that set New Year’s goals will abandon them within 10 weeks? Tracey talks with author, mentor, and leadership coach Jimmy page about his book, “One  Word That Will Change Your Life”.   Picking a one-word theme or focus for your year instead of a New Year’s resolution could be the answer to real growth and living a more intentional life!  1:28- The concept of pi...

Tracey talks with best-selling author, veteran teacher, and local treasure Wayne Thomas Batson, about his latest book, teaching middle-schoolers in a pandemic and how great stories still have the power to change us.  3:30- Teaching during a pandemic in 2020 5:48- Behind the passion of teaching 7:00- Experimenting with on-line teaching 8:43- A special story for Tracey 13:30- Why Wayne was drawn to...

We can get a bigger understanding of God when we get to know His people from all over the world!   Tracey has a fun conversation with friends from India, Puerto Rico, and the Filipino culture about Christmas traditions and how they integrate their family culture with their own children growing up in the U.S.   Special guests: Fidelia Israel, Margarita Cabellon, Yahaira Mattias   2:45- Christmas tr...

He’s the founder of multiple organizations working in over 100 countries around the world, creating opportunities for young people, lifting up the marginalized, sharing wisdom and guidance for world leaders that seek his counsel and you may have never heard his name. Tracey talks with entrepreneur, world changer and thought leader Rick Little about loving God and people around an uncommon table. ...

Tracey talks with radio veteran and her morning co-host and friend David Paul, about decades of life on the radio and making the decision to step into the new.  2:43- How Dave's interest in radio began 6:33- Being an introvert and on the air 8:30- Learning from Johnny Walker 10:01- Significant moments on the air that are unforgettable 12:50- Experiencing 9-11  15:45- How radio has changed ove...

They made it to the finals on season 14 of America’s Got Talent, but this singing quartet comprised of military active duty and veterans are going for a greater reward.   Tracey talks with Master Sgt. Caleb Green, Staff Sgt. Ron Henry, Sgt. Maj. Christal Rheams, and Sergeant First Class Jason Hanna about sacrifice, courage, and the healing power of music.  2:45- The purpose and passion behind Voic...

So you want to be thankful but you’re just not feeling it? Tracey talks with her husband, Pastor Gary Coiro about cultivating a grateful heart. If you’ve struggled with feeling thankful this year, here’s some good news. Gratitude is something we can grow in our lives, no matter what the circumstances- when we get a biblical perspective.  2:35- How do you endure when it hurts 5:16- Focus on the goo...

Tracey talks with the courageous, resilient, joy-filled Joni Eareckson Tada about being faithful, fighting fear, and what she believes God is speaking to us through what may be the hardest year of our lives.  4:54- Count it all joy 8:10- Who Joni wants to meet in Heaven 10:30- Navigating the pandemic 12:42- What God might be speaking to us 14:16- Genesis 50:20 16:08- Joni & Friends 20:18- Prac...

His mom tried to abort him. He was abused and ended up on drugs and on the streets. He was a gang member at 9 years old. By 18 he was in prison. He shouldn’t even be here. But God had a plan for his life that nothing could stop.   Tracey talks with Pastor Eli Hernandez who shares his incredible story of God’s grace, rescue, and the transformation that only God’s love can bring.  3:16- Get to know...

Tracey has a rich conversation with pastor, blogger, runner, and friend, Todd Gaddy, about the diagnosis of MS that changed his faith forever.  Are you navigating a hard season and asking the question, “Why me?” Todd did and says we’re in good company-with Jesus.   He shares his journey with vulnerable authenticity and offers insight and hope for all who don’t want to be where they are right now....