Honey for Your Heart with Bryson Kessler

Bryson Kessler
  • 5.0 (125)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Bimonthly

The "Honey for Your Heart" podcast, hosted by Clover + Bee boutique owner and Birmingham resident, Bryson Kessler, is a podcast about life, legacy, and love for storytelling. Struck by the stories and special wisdom of the women walking into her storefront, Bryson decided to share these legacy leaving lessons with YOU. Once a month, Bryson welcomes a guest - just like welcoming a friend through the doors of her boutique, Clover and Bee, to chat about the struggles, successes, and the sweetness of life. Her hope is that you are able to take a touch of sweetness back to your homes and community from these conversations. In the weeks in between interviews, Bryson provides a short word of inspiration to help you "put on" encouragement for your head, heart, and [overall mental health]. Whether you are encountering a tough season, on a mountain top high, or maybe just somewhere in between - tune in for a touch of sweetness and sisterhood. This is the Honey for Your Heart Podcast. www.shopcloverandbee.com

  1. 17h ago

    72. Bonus Q&A: Randy Answers Your Hardest Questions From This Season

    You asked, and Randy answers: how to tell when today's pain is touching an old wound, and what to do when your heart feels stuck even though your head understands. In this bonus episode, Bryson brings your questions from the grief season to counselor Randy Hemphill, who answers them with warmth and practical wisdom. They cover grieving everyday disappointments, tracing big reactions back to their roots, and whether you need to confront the people who hurt you. They also talk about trusting God when prayers go unanswered and walking through anger and forgiveness after divorce. Pick one recent disappointment or one old wound and bring it to God this week, then share this episode with a friend who's carrying more than they realize. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Bonus Q&A 01:47 What We Hope You Understand About Grief Now 03:43 Does Every Disappointment Need to Be Grieved? 06:02 When Today's Pain Touches an Old Wound 09:32 How to Find the Wound Underneath 11:52 Is Story Work Just Dwelling on the Past? 14:05 Do I Need to Confront the Person Who Hurt Me? 18:44 Trusting God When Your Prayer Wasn't Answered 24:52 Healthy Anger After Divorce 30:12 Forgiveness When You're Co-Parenting 32:16 Where Do I Go From Here? 35:04 Where to Get the Book 36:06 Closing Prayer Links: Randy's book: randyhemphill.com/books Episode resources: randyhemphill.com/resources Instagram: @hemphillrandy | @shopcloverandbee | @honey_for_your_heart

  2. Sep 27

    71. How to Know You've Truly Forgiven Someone

    Learn how to tell whether you've truly forgiven someone, and why forgiveness is where grief is meant to lead. In this season finale, Bryson and counselor Randy Hemphill explain forgiveness as the removal of punishment, not consequences. They talk through forgiving people who never apologize, setting boundaries that aren't punishment, forgiving yourself, and even releasing the anger we hold against God. Bryson shares a deeply personal story of forgiveness, and Randy uses his Kilimanjaro climb to show why this final push of grief is worth it. Think of one person you're still punishing and take one small step toward releasing them this week, then share this episode with someone who's carrying the same weight. Chapters: 00:00 Forgiveness Opens Freedom 03:07 Defining True Forgiveness 04:26 Why Forgiveness Feels Hard 05:55 Punishment Versus Consequences 08:06 Boundaries With Forgiveness 11:02 Freeing Your Own Heart 22:18 Why Self Forgiveness Is Hard 23:24 Punishment Anxiety Addictions 25:32 Not Beyond Redemption 29:08 Practical Tools Prayer Journal 35:06 Ending The Story Well 36:22 Season Wrap Prayer Links: Randy's book: randyhemphill.com/books Episode resources (Forgiveness Prayer and "Who Do I Need to Forgive" handout): randyhemphill.com/resources Instagram: @hemphillrandy | @shopcloverandbee | @honey_for_your_heart

  3. Sep 20

    70. The Emotion You Feel You're Not Allowed to Bring to God (But Should)

    Learn how to move from reacting in anger to expressing it in a way that strengthens your relationships instead of damaging them. In this episode, Bryson and Randy get practical about healthy anger — defining it as emotional assertiveness, walking through how to set boundaries without exploding or imploding, and unpacking why opposite personality types (anger-doorway and sadness-doorway) need each other in relationships. They also dig into anger toward God, using Psalm 109 and Isaiah 57 to show how honest anger can lead to self-awareness and even worship. If you've been holding your anger in — or letting it spill out sideways — try Randy's practice this week: write your own psalm of anger, moving from honesty to self-awareness to worship. Chapter Timestamps 00:00 – Why Anger Matters 00:57 – Anger Is Not Enemy 01:57 – Healthy Versus Unhealthy 04:47 – Marriage And Opposites 06:32 – Boundaries Need Anger 08:34 – Story Work Patterns 11:50 – Fears About Anger 14:39 – Anger Toward God 17:26 – Psalm 109 Honesty 19:58 – Anger In Worship 22:00 – Emotional Honesty 22:54 – Prophets and Anger 24:48 – Isaiah 57 Healing 26:21 – Anger in Relationships 28:18 – Unity and Consequences 30:29 – Write Your Own Psalm 32:22 – Nighttime Release 35:06 – Prayer for Healing 38:45 – Forgiveness Next Links 📖 Get the book, We Grieve Our Losses by Randy Hemphill: https://randyhemphill.com/books 📝 This week's Resources: https://randyhemphill.com/resources ✅ Follow Randy: https://www.instagram.com/hemphillrandy/ ✅ Follow Clover + Bee: https://www.instagram.com/shopcloverandbee/ ✅ Follow Honey for Your Heart: https://www.instagram.com/honey_for_your_heart/

  4. Sep 13

    69. Explosive, Implosive, or Healthy? Making Sense of Your Anger

    Anger isn't a sin — it might be one of the most misunderstood gifts God gave you. Bryson and counselor Randy dig into anger as it relates to grief: why it gets such a bad reputation, how it's actually rooted in love ("anger is love disappointed"), and the difference between healthy anger (emotional assertiveness) and its two unhealthy extremes — explosive and implosive. They also connect unprocessed anger to depression and anxiety, and talk through what it looks like to express anger well in marriage, friendship, and with God. If you've spent your life believing anger is your biggest flaw, this episode might just reframe it as your greatest asset — pass it along to someone who needs that same freedom. In this episode: 00:00 Anger Isn't the Enemy 00:43 Season Recap on Grief 01:56 Why Anger Feels Sinful 02:20 Anger as a Hammer 03:24 Love Disappointed 06:44 God's Anger vs Ours 08:52 Healthy Anger Is Assertive 10:14 Anger in Marriage Talks 13:58 Anger as Grief Companion 15:14 Boundaries Need Anger 16:21 Jesus And Anger 17:03 Anger Reveals Values 18:38 Parenting Doorways Balance 19:57 Let Anger Breathe 21:52 Exploding Vs Imploding 23:40 Anger Depression Link 26:03 Ephesians Four Framework 28:24 Reframing And Prayer 32:11 Closing And Next Episode   Links: 📖 Get the book, We Grieve Our Losses by Randy Hemphill: https://randyhemphill.com/books 📝 This week's Resources: https://randyhemphill.com/resources ✅Follow Randy: https://www.instagram.com/hemphillrandy/ ✅ Follow Clover + Bee: https://www.instagram.com/shopcloverandbee/ ✅ Follow Honey for Your Heart: https://www.instagram.com/honey_for_your_heart/

  5. Sep 6

    68. From Stuck to Worship: What Lamenting Does That Complaining Can't

    Expressing sadness isn't weakness — it might be one of the most worshipful things you do. In this episode, Bryson and Randy dig into why sadness feels like the harder emotion to access (especially for those wired toward anger or control), the generational and cultural lies many of us were handed about tears meaning weakness, and Randy's practical "blue journal" practice for safely naming grief in small containers of time. They close by walking through what it means to hold grief and gratitude together, and how Biblical hope lets a loss mark us without defining us. If sadness has felt like something to avoid rather than express, let this be your invitation to set a 10-minute container this week and see what surfaces — and if it hits home, send it to a friend who needs permission to feel, too. Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 – Why Sadness Matters 01:02 – Series Recap and Focus 02:07 – Why Sadness Feels Hard 03:00 – Unhealthy Messages Learned 04:33 – Generational and Male Tears 06:57 – Fears That Keep Us Silent 08:50 – The Cost of Suppression 10:49 – Grief and Gratitude Overlap 12:43 – When Gratitude Becomes Avoidance 15:27 – Lamentations 3 and Hope 17:56 – Lament Versus Complaining 19:03 – Job And The Psalms 20:55 – Emotions In Worship 21:56 – Practicing Sadness With God 23:51 – Making Space For Tears 26:04 – Blue Journal Containers 28:04 – Biblical Hope In Sorrow 30:06 – Prayer And Closing Links: 📖 Get the book, We Grieve Our Losses by Randy Hemphill: https://randyhemphill.com/books 📝 This week's Assessment: https://randyhemphill.com/resources ✅Follow Randy: https://www.instagram.com/hemphillrandy/ ✅ Follow Clover + Bee: https://www.instagram.com/shopcloverandbee/ ✅ Follow Honey for Your Heart: https://www.instagram.com/honey_for_your_heart/

  6. Aug 30

    67. The Doorway Emotion You Didn't Know You Had

    What if sadness isn't something to fear, but a doorway to healing? Bryson and Randy continue their season on grief by digging into emotions — specifically, why sadness gets such a bad rap and what it actually does for us. They unpack Randy's concept of a "doorway emotion" (the one you default to — anger or sadness), why the emotion that isn't your doorway is usually the one you're most afraid of, and what happens when sadness gets buried instead of expressed. If you've been avoiding sadness because it feels weak, this episode might just change your mind — and if it does, send it to a friend who needs permission to feel it too. In this episode: 00:00 — Sadness as a Gift 00:28 — Episode Three Kickoff 00:52 — Recap and Today's Focus 01:20 — Why Emotions Feel Risky 02:39 — Doorways Not Destinations 03:09 — Finding Your Doorway Emotion 05:49 — What Sadness Really Does 06:30 — Fears of Sadness and Anger 08:07 — Avoiding Sadness Fuels Control 09:57 — Where Unfelt Sadness Goes 11:49 — Anxiety Depression Connection 12:21 — Depression and Anxiety 12:58 — Psalms and Lament 13:49 — God Wants Honesty 15:40 — Sibling Loss and Grief 17:59 — Jesus Wept Theology 19:26 — Doorway Emotion Quiz 21:30 — Prayer for the Listener 23:48 — Weekly Wrap and Next Week Links: 📖 Get the book, We Grieve Our Losses by Randy Hemphill: https://randyhemphill.com/books 📝 This week's Assessment: https://randyhemphill.com/resources ✅Follow Randy: https://www.instagram.com/hemphillrandy/ ✅ Follow Clover + Bee: https://www.instagram.com/shopcloverandbee/ ✅ Follow Honey for Your Heart: https://www.instagram.com/honey_for_your_heart/

  7. Aug 23

    66. The Grief You Didn't Know You Were Carrying

    Not sure why you're carrying a low-grade anger or sadness you can't explain? This episode might tell you why. Bryson and Randy dig into what actually qualifies as a loss — from everyday disappointments to the deeper "underlying wounds" from our families of origin — and why so many of us are grieving without realizing it. They unpack the difference between recent losses and older, unresolved wounds, why Randy believes grief is never fully "one and done," and how naming our losses honestly is where real healing starts. If something in this episode named a feeling you couldn't place before, that's worth sitting with — and if you know someone who's been carrying something they can't quite explain, this episode might be the nudge they need. In this episode: 00:00 Naming Hidden Grief 00:31 Why We Miss Loss 01:50 What Counts as Loss 03:24 Everyday Losses Matter 05:43 Seasons of Grief 09:09 Recent Losses vs Wounds 10:48 Signs of Old Wounds 12:56 Pivot Scenes and Mapping 14:34 God Near the Broken 16:09 Grief Deepens Intimacy 16:39 When Fatherhood Feels Unsafe 18:25 God Near the Brokenhearted 18:54 Misconceptions About Grief 20:04 Naming Losses One Step 21:24 Randy Shares His Story 24:11 Worksheets and Small Steps 25:59 Honesty Opens Healing 27:10 Encouragement and Prayer 28:59 Next Episode Doorway Emotions Links: 📖 Get the book, We Grieve Our Losses by Randy Hemphill: https://randyhemphill.com/books 📝 Randy's Control Assessment: https://randyhemphill.com/resources  ✅Follow Randy: https://www.instagram.com/hemphillrandy/ ✅ Follow Clover + Bee: https://www.instagram.com/shopcloverandbee/ ✅ Follow Honey for Your Heart: https://www.instagram.com/honey_for_your_heart/

  8. Aug 16

    65. When Hurry and Control Are Actually Grief in Disguise

    If you've ever thought grief was only for funerals and major loss, this episode will change how you see your own daily life. Bryson kicks off a new 8-episode season of Honey for Your Heart with her friend Randy Hemphill — congregational care pastor, counselor, and author of We Grieve Our Losses — as they lay the foundation for a season all about learning to grieve well. Together they unpack what grief actually is, why most of us were never taught how to do it, and the two most common ways we avoid it instead: hurry and control. This one might sting a little, in the best way. Take Randy's control assessment linked below, be honest with yourself about where you land, and if this hit home, send it to a friend who needs permission to slow down too. Chapters: 00:00 Why Grief Matters 00:38 Meet Randy and the Book 02:30 Defining Grief 03:46 Why We Need a Blueprint 05:08 Garage of the Heart 07:09 Grief as a Lost Discipline 08:39 Two Toxins Hurry and Control 09:12 Hurry and the Noisy Soul 11:36 Silence Solitude and Facing Loss 13:11 Mary and Martha Identity Check 16:07 Stillness in Grief 17:38 Grace Over Striving 18:26 Control and Avoidance 20:48 Outward vs Inward Control 23:09 Jacob Wrestles for Surrender 26:25 Practical Control Assessment 28:16 Prayer and Hope to Dream 30:40 Next Week What Am I Grieving Links: 📖 Get the book, We Grieve Our Losses by Randy Hemphill: https://randyhemphill.com/books 📝 This week's Control Assessment: https://randyhemphill.com/resources ✅Follow Randy: https://www.instagram.com/hemphillrandy/ ✅ Follow Clover + Bee: https://www.instagram.com/shopcloverandbee/ ✅ Follow Honey for Your Heart: https://www.instagram.com/honey_for_your_heart/

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About

The "Honey for Your Heart" podcast, hosted by Clover + Bee boutique owner and Birmingham resident, Bryson Kessler, is a podcast about life, legacy, and love for storytelling. Struck by the stories and special wisdom of the women walking into her storefront, Bryson decided to share these legacy leaving lessons with YOU. Once a month, Bryson welcomes a guest - just like welcoming a friend through the doors of her boutique, Clover and Bee, to chat about the struggles, successes, and the sweetness of life. Her hope is that you are able to take a touch of sweetness back to your homes and community from these conversations. In the weeks in between interviews, Bryson provides a short word of inspiration to help you "put on" encouragement for your head, heart, and [overall mental health]. Whether you are encountering a tough season, on a mountain top high, or maybe just somewhere in between - tune in for a touch of sweetness and sisterhood. This is the Honey for Your Heart Podcast. www.shopcloverandbee.com

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