Megan and Deedra combine their two heroes, Taylor Swift and Dr. Brené Brown, into one epic conversation about hope, overwhelm, vulnerability, and connection.

Besties of the podcast, Meg and Kami, join today's episode to talk about their own words of the year: what they chose for 2023 and how it manifested, and what they're focusing on moving into 2024. Plus, it's always lots of laughs when these four are together!

The annual words of the year episode is back! Deedra and Megan discuss how their 2023 words finished, and they share their new words for 2024.

What is your word for 2024? Share it with us!

The both/and we experienced in 2021 stays true today: the world is full of joy and sorrow.

The Christmas season especially magnifies it all: it's a season of awe, wonder, hope, and expectations, but it also holds the tension of exposing sadness, grief, longing, and loneliness. Whatever your circumstances are this season, there is an Emmanuel, God with us, who brings us a hope to carry us through the unmet expectations.

After a whirlwind tour of Washington DC, New York City, and Boston, Megan and Deedra are back to share how God brings the right people along our paths. Whether it's meeting new friends in person for the first time or ministering to strangers in restaurants, we are wired for connection with others.

Plus, they share exciting news about a former special guest of the podcast!

Whether you have your head down to get everything done in December, or whether your head is buried under the covers until December is over, Jesus is waiting to encounter you.

Megan and Deedra each share a recent personal story of how Jesus encountered them in a way that brought a new perspective and more healing.

PLUS, you don't want to miss the picture of Deedra as a baby that she talks about. Head on over to dauntlessgrace.org for that gem!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so Deedra and Megan share how they've been giving thanks in 2023. Gratitude isn't about ignoring the painful parts of life; it's about finding beauty even in the midst of the mundane or sorrowful parts. Each of them shares about their personal eucharisteo list and how it's helped them find joy in new places.

As we enter into the holiday season, gathering (with family, friends, colleagues, or crowds) is expected. But what if we could turn gatherings into spaces of intention and connection?

Deedra and Megan share some insights they recently heard from Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering, and they explain how they've been cultivating these in their friendship all along.

Plus, hear how they set their retreat gatherings to be full of intention and connection for everyone who joins!

Sign up for more retreat info at: https://forms.gle/ebBMkKG5zZKhF8yS8

Megan and Deedra reminisce about the last three years of The Dauntless Grace Exchange--why it started, what they've learned, and where it's going! They each share some of their favorite episodes and guests, and they had big plans to link all the episodes they discuss in these show notes, but there are just too many!

However, you can find all their episodes in order on their podcast page.

Megan's daughter Jorie joins Deedra and Megan to discuss the pandemic's impact on this generation's teens. Jorie, a young teen herself, tells her own journey through the pandemic during middle school, discovering she is an enneagram Nine, and what navigating relationships with emotional intelligence is like in high school.

Jorie Hall is a 15-year-old sophomore from the greater St. Louis area. She is involved in drama, speech, literature, and her new school newspaper. She was recently accepted into the National Honor Society.