What 25 years of marriage taught us about faith, family, and leading well—together.

In this special Graced to Lead season finale, I’m joined by my husband, Michael, for his very first appearance on the podcast! Together, we reflect on:

• The leadership lessons we’ve learned in 25 years of marriage
• How we’ve navigated seasons of transition—retirement, new callings, and raising kids in different stages
• Why faith has been the anchor holding our marriage, family, and leadership together

This is a real, honest, and faith-filled conversation about supporting one another, letting go when God says “it’s time,” and staying grounded in family and laughter. Whether you’re leading at home, in business, or in ministry, you’ll find encouragement and practical wisdom here.

Don’t miss this close to Season 2 and get ready for what’s coming next in Season 3!

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What happens when you completely stop your business activities and only do what God specifically tells you to do? Well, it happened to me! I felt a divine nudge to pause everything – the social media posts, the marketing efforts, the constant activity that defined my days. This wasn't a sabbatical; it was a complete surrender of strategy.

The journey that has followed in not just changing my business but my entire approach to leadership. Initially, the silence was deafening. I felt unproductive, worried about losing momentum, and anxious about what wasn't happening. But as I settled into this sacred pause, something remarkable occurred: my perspective shifted dramatically. Like stepping from a noisy conference into a quiet courtyard, I could suddenly see and hear what had been there all along.

This approach has now extended beyond my business to how I lead in my corporate role, my family relationships, and every area of influence. I'm inviting you to experiment with this counter-cultural approach to leadership. Set aside time to specifically ask, "Lord, what would you have me do today?" in your leadership contexts. Be prepared for initial discomfort, but know that clarity, direction, and supernatural provision await on the other side of surrender.

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Ever caught yourself running full speed with a God-given vision, only to realize you've left God behind in the planning process? That's exactly where I found myself with Grace to Lead, and this raw, unfiltered episode pulls back the curtain on my personal struggle with spiritual obedience in leadership.

When God first gave me the vision for Grace to Lead, He provided clear initial steps: start a podcast and write a book. I followed through faithfully, and both initiatives began bearing fruit. That's when something subtle happened – success made me believe in my own abilities more than God's continued guidance. I joined mastermind groups, implemented marketing strategies, and created elaborate growth plans without once returning to ask, "God, what's next?" I was still praying, but my prayers had shifted from seeking direction to merely asking for blessings on plans I'd already made.

The dangerous part? This form of disobedience doesn't look like rebellion – it looks like initiative, enthusiasm, and good stewardship. I was working hard, investing resources, and pursuing growth, but I had substituted worldly business tactics for divine strategy. Despite all my efforts, I felt frustrated that results weren't matching the vision God had originally shown me. The disconnect wasn't in my work ethic but in my failure to continue seeking specific direction.

For leaders carrying God-given assignments, this serves as a crucial reminder: our obedience isn't just personal – it demonstrates a lifestyle of faith to everyone under our influence. When we get ahead of God's timing or substitute our plans for His, we model self-reliance rather than God-dependence. If you're feeling stuck with a vision that once seemed crystal clear, perhaps it's time to pause and honestly assess: are you still following God's specific instructions, or have you veered into implementing your own strategy?

Take a moment this week to surrender your plans back to God and ask Him if you've gotten off track. Remember, it's not about doing less – it's about doing exactly what He's called you to do, nothing more and nothing less.

Mentioned during the show:

Chatty Hosting- Building high-quality websites, offering reliable hosting, and securing your perfect domain. https://blinq.me/ulxW2yyRMRkP?bs=db

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Authenticity isn't just a buzzword—it's the foundation of true leadership. Cassandra Williams pulls back the curtain on what happens when leaders present polished exteriors while struggling silently within. As a certified professional life coach specializing in helping high-functioning women, she brings profound insight into the journey toward unapologetic leadership.

The conversation opens with Cassandra's powerful declaration that she's in an "unapologetically me" season—showing up as her whole self rather than compartmentalizing different roles. This authenticity didn't emerge overnight but through intentional self-awareness and embracing every part of her story. "Everything that happened was on purpose for purpose," she shares, highlighting how even difficult experiences shape effective leadership.

What makes this discussion particularly valuable are the practical indicators of inauthentic leadership Cassandra identifies: micromanaging, emotional volatility, decision paralysis, conflict avoidance, and chronic procrastination. These behaviors often stem from unresolved wounds that manifest in leadership settings. "Sometimes the most insecure people are the people with the biggest titles," she notes with striking clarity.

The concept of "leading from the inside out" forms the heart of Cassandra's approach. Using the movie "Inside Out" as an analogy, she describes how many leaders have emotional chaos internally while maintaining composed exteriors. True leadership requires addressing those internal "characters" to create alignment between inner reality and outer expression.

Perhaps most compelling is Cassandra's vulnerability about her own marriage journey, where she had to "surrender daily" during challenging seasons. Now helping other wives create the safe space she once needed, she demonstrates how authentic leadership extends beyond professional settings into our most intimate relationships. Her wisdom that "submission doesn't mean you're a doormat—it takes strength to surrender" offers a refreshing perspective on balancing personal relationships with leadership roles.

Ready to embrace your authentic leadership journey? Connect with Cassandra at www.thecassandrawilliams.com and discover her children's book "Lead Anyway, Layla" and forthcoming work "Lead with the Limp"—encouraging leaders to stop hiding their limitations and instead lead powerfully through them.

Mentioned During the Show:

Connect with Cassandra (website): thecassandrawilliams.com

Lead Anyway Layla (Children's Book): Amazon

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Danette Toole brings a wealth of experience to this candid conversation about authentic leadership across multiple domains. A corporate leader with over 20 years in HR and talent acquisition, a US Army Reserve veteran, entrepreneur, ministry leader, and devoted mother, Danette offers profound insights on maintaining priorities while excelling in diverse roles.

The heart of our discussion centers on Danette's refreshing approach to work-life integration. "Family always comes first," she declares with conviction. "The work is always going to be there, but your family time is not always guaranteed." Rather than compartmentalizing her life, Danette has developed practical strategies for moving between leadership spaces while preserving what matters most.

We explore the delicate balance of expressing faith in professional environments, where Danette shares her journey from reluctance to confidence. "You don't have to wear a flag and wave it around, but it is okay to express your beliefs and stand on them," she reflects. This authenticity has unexpectedly opened doors for others to share their own beliefs and values.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when discussing entrepreneurship through a spiritual lens. Danette and her husband launched Grenada Nut Company with their natural pain relief products because they felt "convicted" to share these solutions with others who needed them – viewing their business much like sharing the gospel.

Perhaps most powerful is Danette's revelation about recognizing leadership within yourself before external validation arrives. "Know that you already are a leader, and when you start functioning in that, the positions come," she advises. This wisdom epitomizes her approach: leadership isn't bestowed by titles but demonstrated through consistent action, faith-based values, and prioritizing relationships.

Ready to transform your approach to leadership across the various domains of your life? Listen now and discover how to lead with both grace and effectiveness.

Connect with Danette:

• LinkedIn: Danette Toole
• Facebook: Cinnamon Sugar

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In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on leadership loneliness and the power of Godly friendship. With more than 60% of leaders reporting feelings of isolation, it’s clear that success doesn’t always come with support. But it can and it should!

We’ll explore how authentic friendships can strengthen your leadership journey. I share how showing up for friends (and letting them show up for me) has brought healing, encouragement, and a safe space to rest from the constant pressure of performance.

If you’ve ever found it hard to build meaningful friendships because of past hurt or the demands of leadership, this episode is for you. You’ll walk away with spiritual and practical steps to help you:
✨ Show yourself friendly
✨ Embrace vulnerability
✨ And build lasting friendships—one intentional moment at a time

This episode is a reminder: your title doesn’t disqualify you from needing people. It’s okay to need safe places. It’s okay to be a leader who also needs love.

As you listen, ask yourself:
What kind of friend am I to other leaders?
And… who might God be calling me to build with?

Purchase my new book now!

• Amazon: https://a.co/d/dGOXfUa
• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/equipped-by-god-graced-to-lead-belinda-gaston/1147567136?ean=9798991928854
• Online: https://payhip.com/GracedtoLead

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What's holding you back from your most authentic leadership? Today, Belinda takes a bold departure from the usual podcast format to share one of the most vulnerable chapters from my new book, Equipped by God. Graced to Lead. Reading from Chapter Four, "Time to Strip," she invites listeners into a profound space of reflection about how our unaddressed wounds and hidden struggles affect our ability to lead effectively.

The most compelling revelation? Your greatest leadership moments will likely emerge from your places of deepest weakness. As Scripture reminds us, God's power is made perfect in weakness—not in spite of it. Belinda vulnerably shares how her own journey of stripping away pretense unlocked her ability to finish writing her book after a year-long standstill.

For every leader who's felt like an impostor, for everyone who's questioned their qualifications, this episode offers a liberating truth: you don't have to be perfect to be chosen. God deliberately places broken people in positions of influence, equipping them with everything needed to fulfill their purpose. Your scars don't disqualify you—they're part of your unique qualifications.

After listing, take 10 minutes today to honestly identify what you might be hiding, even from yourself. Write it down without editing or explaining it away. Then watch as God begins a healing process that will revolutionize how you lead. Remember, you weren't haphazardly chosen for your position—you were purposefully placed there, and you are indeed graced to lead.

Get your copy of Equipped By God. Graced to Lead. now!

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• Online or www.belindagaston.com

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What happens when a leader's world completely falls apart? When the carefully constructed life you've built suddenly crumbles beneath you? Dawn Mann Sanders knows this territory intimately. After experiencing three miscarriages and the sudden death of her husband within a single year, Dawn found herself in an uncharted wilderness no leadership manual had prepared her for.

This powerful conversation unveils the rarely discussed intersection of personal devastation and leadership responsibility. Dawn, a spiritual architect and associate minister, shares how losing her husband and unborn children didn't just represent the loss of loved ones—it represented the loss of her future, identity, and the dreams she had carefully nurtured. For women in leadership positions, these profound disruptions create unique challenges as they navigate their grief while maintaining their responsibilities to lead others.

Drawing from Genesis, Dawn reveals how she discovered a framework for rebuilding by studying the creation story. She found parallels between the formlessness and void described at the beginning of creation and her own experience of emptiness after loss. This biblical foundation provided her with practical steps: remaining connected to God, recognizing that parts of her identity remained intact even when others were lost, and creating steady flows of nourishment in her life.

Dawn challenges several misconceptions leaders often hold about healing and restoration. She dismantles the notion that if we do everything "right," we can avoid setbacks or ensure they're temporary. Using examples from Adam and Eve in paradise to Job's blameless character, she shows how even perfect circumstances or righteousness don't exempt us from profound disruption. She also emphasizes that authenticity matters more than facades—contrary to what many leaders fear, people connect more deeply with leaders who acknowledge their struggles while working through them.

Ready to rebuild after your own devastation? Dawn's forthcoming book "When Your World Ends" and her new podcast "Rebuilding Your Life" provide resources for moving from shell-shocked to spirit-sheltered. Connect with Dawn at DawnMannSanders.com or join her Creative Restoration Movement for ongoing support in your rebuilding journey.

Connect with Dawn Online:
Instagram: @dawnmannsanders
Facebook: Dawn Mann Sanders
Threads: @dawnmannsanders
X (Twitter): @DawnMannSanders
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dawnmannsanders

Get the book on Amazon!

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