In this episode of Grit, Grace, Growth, hosts Kim & Ken welcome Alicia Barr, a real estate entrepreneur, mentor, and author of More Than a Secret: How a Mistress Broke Free From Her Affair.

Raised in small-town America with a strong foundation of faith and hard work, Alicia demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. She purchased her first house at 16, renovated another at 17, and has spent more than two decades flipping homes. After a failed livestock venture left her owing $35,000 as a teenager, she paid back the debt and committed to building a life without credit cards, car loans, or traditional real estate financing.

But beneath her professional success, Alicia was carrying a painful secret.

More than a decade ago, she entered a four-year affair that eventually brought her to rock bottom. What began as excitement and connection became a cycle of secrecy, shame, grief, and emotional turmoil. Alicia knew the relationship was no longer serving anyone, but walking away from someone she loved—and from a life that had become deeply intertwined with her own—proved far more difficult than she imagined.

A pivotal moment at a conference finally gave Alicia the courage to end the affair and tell someone the truth. She confided in her sister, began counseling, and committed herself to healing one difficult day at a time. When she searched for stories from women who had occupied the role of “the other woman,” however, she found very few resources offering honesty, accountability, or hope.

That absence ultimately gave Alicia’s pain a new purpose.

Drawing from years of journal entries, counseling, and personal reflection, Alicia wrote More Than a Secret for the woman she once was—the woman who knows she needs to leave but cannot yet imagine a life on the other side. By sharing her experience, Alicia hopes to challenge shame, create space for honest conversations, and remind others that no one was meant to live as a secret.

At the heart of this conversation is the reminder that healing begins with telling the truth. Although stepping into the light can be difficult, it can also offer the freedom, hope, and future that secrecy never could.

In this episode, we talk about:

• An air-conditioning-themed “Two Truths and a Lie” featuring movie theaters, Willis Carrier, and the White House

• Buying her first house at 16 and renovating another at 17

• Losing nine of 35 steers and owing $35,000 as a teenager

• Paying back that debt and committing to a debt-free life

• Building a successful career flipping homes without traditional bank financing

• How a painful experience within her church affected her faith and sense of belonging

• Entering a four-year affair and recognizing when excitement had become toxicity

• The emotional weight of secrecy, shame, and living a divided life

• The conference moment that gave her the courage to end the affair

• Why telling her sister became the first step in Alicia’s healing

• The importance of counseling and trusted support when navigating grief

• Turning years of journal entries into More Than a Secret

• Writing the resource she desperately needed during her own rock-bottom moment

• Finding purpose in pain and using her story to help others step into the light

  
  

Connect with Alicia:

Website: aliciabarr.com

Book: More Than a Secret: How a Mistress Broke Free From Her Affair, available wherever books are sold in print and audiobook formats.

Connect with Grit, Grace, Growth:

Email: support@gritgracegrowth.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that healing begins with honesty—and that no one is meant to remain a secret.

In this episode of Grit, Grace, Growth, hosts Kim & Ken welcome special guest Erica Neal, co-founder of Infinity Investment Strategies, an authorized Infinite Banking Concept practitioner, real estate investor, and author of Mind of Gold: The Girlfriend’s Guide to Financial Freedom.

Erica shares the journey that took her from growing up in West Texas and buying her first “money pit” of a house to building a career focused on helping entrepreneurs take greater control of their financial futures. After beginning her career at a large investment firm, Erica started noticing a disconnect between the financial advice people were given and the outcomes they experienced particularly when hardworking clients reached retirement only to discover their money might not last.

That realization led Erica away from traditional investment planning and toward a more comprehensive approach centered on cash flow, real estate, business ownership, and creating financial strategies in which every piece works together.

Along the way, Erica opens up about surrendering the investment licenses she had tied to her identity and sense of worth, learning to trust a different path, and giving herself grace when that path didn’t unfold exactly as planned. She also discusses why financial education must feel accessible—especially for women who are capable, hardworking, and intelligent but may not feel confident asking questions about money.

At the heart of this conversation is the idea that growth begins when we stop waiting for permission, accept that the world has changed, and start taking action with the resources and opportunities available to us.

In this episode, we talk about:

• An August-themed “Two Truths and a Lie” featuring the dog days of summer, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Mount Vesuvius
• Growing up in West Texas and attending the high school featured in Friday Night Lights
• Buying and renovating her first house at 19
• Entering the financial industry without growing up around financial education
• Why Erica believes clarity creates confidence
• The inspiration behind Mind of Gold and its focus on helping women understand money
• Looking at financial planning as a puzzle rather than a collection of separate accounts
• The moment Erica realized traditional investment planning wasn’t showing clients the full picture
• Moving beyond saving and returns to focus on income and cash flow
• Investing in real estate, businesses, and other income-producing opportunities
• The difficult decision to surrender her investment licenses and redefine her professional identity
• Why financial advice that worked for previous generations may not fit today’s economy
• The importance of surrounding yourself with people who offer both support and accountability
• Erica’s vision for a collaborative financial hub serving entrepreneurs

Connect with Erica:

YouTube: @theericaneal
Social media: @theericaneal
Website: Infinity Investment Strategies

Connect with Grit, Grace, Growth:

Email: support@gritgracegrowth.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share it with someone who you think would like this episode.

In this episode of Grit, Grace, Growth, hosts Kim & Ken welcome Dana Walker-Jackson, breast cancer survivor, certified mastectomy fitter, and founder of Cinderella’s Closet Lingerie, a specialty boutique supporting women before and after breast cancer surgery.

Dana’s journey began in 2013 when she heard the words, “You have breast cancer.” While undergoing treatment, she returned to school and earned her bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in marketing, graduating at the top of her class. Still, it would take a personal realization to reveal her greater purpose.

After experiencing firsthand the physical and emotional challenges that follow breast cancer surgery, Dana recognized a critical gap in care. Her doctors had worked tirelessly to save her life, but few people were addressing what came next: rebuilding confidence, reconnecting with her femininity, and learning to recognize herself again.

That realization inspired Cinderella’s Closet Lingerie, where women can receive personalized fittings for post-surgical garments, post-mastectomy bras, and breast prosthetics in a warm, welcoming environment. Dana opened the boutique on March 3, 2020 (just two weeks before the world shut down). Although she served only five clients during that first year, she used the unexpected pause to learn, secure insurance contracts, and build a strong foundation. Six years later, Cinderella’s Closet has supported more than 1,600 women.

At the heart of this conversation is the powerful reminder that our most difficult experiences can lead us toward our purpose and that while we may not simply “get over” life-changing challenges, we can discover courage as we move through them.

In this episode, we talk about:

• A 1976-themed “Two Truths and a Lie” featuring Jaws, Apple, and red M&M’s
• Dana’s breast cancer diagnosis and the words that helped quiet her fear
• Returning to school while undergoing cancer treatment
• How her personal experience revealed the emotional gap in breast cancer care
• Why beautiful, properly fitted post-mastectomy garments can help restore confidence
• Creating a boutique that feels like home rather than a clinical setting
• Opening Cinderella’s Closet just two weeks before the 2020 shutdown
• Growing from five clients in the first year to more than 1,600 women served
• Navigating insurance while ensuring clients receive compassionate care
• The importance of personalized fittings, conversation, and emotional support
• Dana’s plans to scale the business without losing its personal touch
• How her breast cancer journey ultimately led her to her purpose
• Why courage is forged in grit—and grace is essential along the way

Connect with Dana:

Website: cinderellasclosetlingerie.com
Instagram: @cinderellasclosetlingerie
Facebook: Cinderella's Closet (@WhereBeforeMeetsAfter)

Connect with Grit, Grace, Growth:

Email: support@gritgracegrowth.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that even the most difficult journeys can lead us toward purpose, confidence, and meaningful growth.