Wildly Hopeful with Brandy Dawson

What if preparation isn't just about time waiting, it's about being willing to be known? Sometimes God invites us past the lobby of simple waiting into a deeper kind of trust, one that requires us to be seen. In this soul-steadying episode of What About This? Brandy A. Dawson names the tension we all feel- holding joy while holding grief in a hurting world. scrolling past violence we can't unsee,...

When life feels like it is "too much"- too good, too heavy, too fast - Jesus meets us in the both/and, even in the ache that lingers underneath.  In this tender and timely episode of eighth & GRACE, Brandy Dawson leans into the real and raw tensio of carrying both joy and grief and the ache that lives between them.  You'll hear: Why new seasons (kid's first days of school, gradations, college drop...

Back -to-school is in full swing, and Brandy shares a voice memo style catch-up: a bittersweet Tennessee "home -home" trip, a new seminary semester (hello, Apostle Paul), conference worship, Emmy turning 24, and prepping for Dan the Man's 50th (yes... Em spilled the tea!) Plus: fake fall pumpkin everything. Then Brandy turns holy gossip girl, (is that even a thing?) don't worry it's just gossip ab...

Update*** If you're hearing double on this episode, scroll up to download and click to remove download and then re-download this episode.  What happens when you sit down with your adult children, press record, and ask them about life- unscripted, unedited, snd unfiltered.  Three kids. Three different seasons. One honest conversation about growing up and raising kids in today's world.  In this powe...

From Nashville Tennessee to the red dirt roads of Uganda, discover how HEAL Minisitres preserve families, restores dignity, and births a movement of hope- where restoration takes root. In this episode of eighth & GRACE, host Brandy Dawson sits down with Lauren Johnson (Choose Joy, Give Grace/ Choose Joy Nursing, board member of HEAL Ministires) and Rebekah Etyang ( Executive Director of HEAL Minis...

What About This ? Five days in Tennessee, back to my roots and remembering how much I love a small town life!  This fun trip started  in Nashville with a heart stirring conversation for Heal Minisitries- a Chrisitan missions ministry in Uganda that's changing lives by living out the gospel message. Then it was on to Franklin for their benefit gala, where I left praying that someone listening to th...

When life feels heavy, you don't need more cliches, you need truth told in tenderness. In this raw and unfiltered, grace -filled solo epsode of eighth & GRACE, Brandy A. Dawson sits down at the table to give some of her momma B advice. Hard but holyb reminders your soul might need right now. She shares seven thngs she'd tell you if she wasn't afraid of hurting your feelings. And it's not cringe- w...

Can you love Jesus and still feel anxious? Can you walk through a wilderness season and still believe in peace, here too?  In this prophetic and grace-filled episode, Brandy A. Dawson, weaves together two powerful teachings on mental health and wilderness worship. With Isaiah 26:3 and 1 Peter 5:7 as anchors, she speaks tenderly to the woman who feels overwhelmed by anxious thoughts, tired from hol...

In a world that constantly tells women to shrink, fix, or hide their bodies, what if God's Word says something entirely different? In this powerful episode of eighth & GRACE, Brandy sits down with best-selling author, Bible teacher, and Jesus Over Everything podcast host Lisa Whittle to talk about her brand-new Lifeway Women Bible study, Body and Soul: A Biblical Look at the Whole Person God Creat...

Is it possible to love your life, even when you don't always like it? In this candid and faith - filled episode, Brandy sits down with Rachel Awtrey- host of Real Talk podcast and author of Love Your Life (Even When You Don't Like It All the Time )- to explore how to hold joy and struggle in the same hands. Together, they talk about: What it looks like to embrace honest, unfiltered faith How to cr...

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...

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 su...

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 carr...

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 algorit...

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...

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 comm...

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 ye...

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...

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...

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...

What if grace isn't waiting for us at the end of the to-do list, but right in the middle of the mess? In this episode, Brandy sits down with ministry leader and mama of five, Emilie McCormack, for a real, raw, and grace-drenched conversation about motherhood, ministry, and letting go of the pressure to be everyone's savior. From juggling family life and leadership at Breakaway Ministries to findin...

There's alot going on right now- in the world, in the group chat, in your heart... and even in Target's seasonal isle. What About This ? An unfiltered extension of eighth & GRACE -  where theology meets real life, and sacred conversations unfold in the messy middle.  There's a lot going on right now- in the world, in the group chat, in your heart… and even in Target's seasonal aisle. In today's ep...

What if the walls trying to keep you out were actually the ones God called you to  break down ? Have you ever felt like you were living a life someone else scripted for you? Like the blueprint doesn't quite fit your soul? If you said yes, you're listening to the words meant for you today. For the one who's tired of waiting for permission- because deep down, she knows she was born to build... Buid...

Still feeling overstimulated by Maycember and longing for a slower, soul- filled June? Can you see the hand raise, because- SAME! Girl, Me TOO !  In this unscripted solo episode, Bran invites you into a real, raw, and grace- soaked ramble through the first sacred days of summer. From homemade juice popsicles to neigborly tensions, hot weather beauty favorites, barefoot rhythms- this is an honest c...

Ever feel like your faith is ore messy than magnificent? This episode is for you. In today's heaartfelt conversation, I sit down with Monica Ritchie- theologian, seminary graduate, mother, and host of of Theologically Fashioned -  to talk about what it means to embrace the wisdom spots and wonder of faith in rea life. From fashionista to faithful student of Scripture, Monica's story reminds us tha...