My Southern Godmother

Jena Dunay & Debbie French
  • 5.0 (54)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

My Southern Godmother is a cross-generational, faith-based podcast designed to help you navigate the ups and downs of life.  Hosted by Debbie French (70-something) and Jena Dunay (30-something).We'll learn what it looks like to walk with Jesus through all seasons of life - from those that have lived it. So if you’re feeling discouraged in this season. Or you’re looking for some encouragement. Or just some inspiration to re-engage your faith. You’ve come to the right place. Welcome to My Southern Godmother.

  1. 42. How to Trust God When You're Afraid

    MAR 11

    42. How to Trust God When You're Afraid

    Fear has a sneaky way of showing up everywhere — in big decisions, small decisions, motherhood, work, uncertainty, and all the “what ifs” we carry around without even realizing it. In this episode of My Southern Godmother, Jena and Debbie talk honestly about what it looks like to trust God when fear feels loud. Jena shares about declaring this her “no fear year,” only to quickly realize how often fear still bubbles up in everyday life. Debbie offers wisdom from her own journey with fear and explains why the goal isn’t to never feel afraid — it’s to know what to do when fear shows up. Together, they talk about: Why fear doesn’t mean you’re failing at faithHow fear can quietly make your decisions for youThe importance of bringing fear into the light instead of keeping it hiddenThe comfort of knowing God goes before you and stays with youWhy Hinds’ Feet on High Places is such a powerful picture of trusting God through the unknownIf you’ve been feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or disappointed in yourself for still struggling with fear, this episode is a gentle reminder that God is not asking you to fake bravery — He’s asking you to trust Him on the path. Question to reflect on: Where are you feeling afraid right now — and are you willing to let God go before you there? 🤍 Leave a rating or review  📲 Share it with a friend or family member  📸 Follow us on Instagram: @MySouthernGodmother  ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@MySouthernGodmother  📩 Email us at mysoutherngodmother@gmail.com  with topics you'd love us to cover

    32 min
  2. 41. Mad at God? Let's Talk About It.

    FEB 19

    41. Mad at God? Let's Talk About It.

    What do you do when things don’t go your way? If you’re being honest…  Do you ever wonder: Is this my fault?  Is this God’s fault?  Why isn’t He fixing this? In this episode of My Southern Godmother, Jena and Debbie have a real conversation about what it looks like to wrestle with God — without walking away from Him. From Debbie’s emotional week thinking her 97-year-old mother was about to pass… to Jena admitting she sometimes feels like a “grumbling Israelite,” this episode dives into the tension between faith and frustration. Together, they unpack Philippians 3 and explore: Why Paul called all his accomplishments “rubbish”The difference between shallow roots and deep rootsWhy we’re quick to blame God when things go wrong (but slow to credit Him when they go right)What it means to know Christ as the “surpassing greatness”How to stay tender toward God in seasons of sufferingIf you’ve ever felt disappointed, confused, or even angry with God… this conversation is for you. -- 🤍 Leave a rating or review  📲 Share it with a friend or family member  📸 Follow us on Instagram: @MySouthernGodmother  ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@MySouthernGodmother  📩 Email us at mysoutherngodmother@gmail.com  with topics you'd love us to cover

    36 min
  3. 40. How to Navigate Change with Peace and not Anxiety

    FEB 4

    40. How to Navigate Change with Peace and not Anxiety

    Change is inevitable… but bitterness doesn’t have to be. In this episode, Jenna and Debbie talk about what it looks like to respond to change with faith—especially when it’s unwanted, unexpected, or uncomfortable. Debbie shares a vulnerable personal update (and a reminder to take your health seriously), and together they unpack why some people get stuck looking backward while others learn how to embrace what God is doing next. You’ll hear: Why change can feel extra hard when you’re wired for routineThe difference between resisting change vs. adapting with trustHow bitterness can block blessings (and how to shift your posture)A powerful story of faith after a life-altering setbackThe anchor verse for every season: Hebrews 13:8 — “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”Question to reflect on: How do you typically respond when change shows up in your life—fear, frustration… or faith? -- 🤍 Leave a rating or review  📲 Share it with a friend or family member  📸 Follow us on Instagram: @MySouthernGodmother  ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@MySouthernGodmother  📩 Email us at mysoutherngodmother@gmail.com  with topics you'd love us to cover

    37 min
  4. 39. How to Stop Making Life About You (Philippians 2)

    JAN 21

    39. How to Stop Making Life About You (Philippians 2)

    In this week’s Philippians study, we’re diving into Philippians 2—the chapter that lovingly (and painfully 😅) calls all of us out: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit…” We talk about what humility actually looks like in real life—not the Pinterest version. The kind that shows up in marriage, leadership, friendships, church life, and even the way we walk into conversations asking, “What do you need?” In this episode, we unpack: Why selfish ambition is sneakier than we thinkHow to do a “calendar audit” that reveals what you really prioritizeWhat it means to “consider others more important than yourself” (without becoming a doormat)The powerful relationship Paul had with the believers in Philippi—and the words he used to describe themWhy Paul says, “Honor men like him”—and how to identify the people in your life who are worthy of honorAnd we end with a simple but challenging question:  Who in your life is worthy of honor… and do they know it? 🤍 Leave a rating or review  📲 Share it with a friend or family member  📸 Follow us on Instagram: @MySouthernGodmother  ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@MySouthernGodmother  📩 Email us at mysoutherngodmother@gmail.com  with topics you'd love us to cover

    32 min
  5. 38. What is Spiritual Warfare (and What to Do About It)

    JAN 14

    38. What is Spiritual Warfare (and What to Do About It)

    Spiritual warfare can sound intense… but it’s also incredibly practical. In today’s episode, Debbie and I break down what spiritual warfare actually is, what the Bible says about it, and what to do when you feel stuck, anxious, or under attack — mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Debbie shares a powerful story and visual from history — the Berlin Wall — to explain what Scripture calls strongholds (a “wall of resistance”) and how those walls can build up over time in our lives. Then we walk through the weapons God gives us to tear them down — not worldly weapons, but ones with divine power (2 Corinthians 10:3–5). In this episode, we talk about: What spiritual warfare is (and what it isn’t)What a “stronghold” means and how it formsWhy the battle is often won or lost in the mindHow fear, anxiety, and mistrust can become “walls of resistance”The 4 weapons God gives us: the Word of God, the Armor of God, Praise, and PrayerA simple question to help you identify what wall might need to come down in your lifeQuestion for you: What’s one “wall of resistance” you sense in your life right now — and what would it look like to start tearing it down, brick by brick? ---- 🤍 Leave a rating or review  📲 Share it with a friend or family member  📸 Follow us on Instagram: @MySouthernGodmother  ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@MySouthernGodmother  📩 Email us at mysoutherngodmother@gmail.com  with topics you'd love us to cover

    37 min
  6. 37. Here's How to Keep a Heavenly Perspective (Philippians 1)

    12/17/2025

    37. Here's How to Keep a Heavenly Perspective (Philippians 1)

    Life is still hard — even when you’ve walked with Jesus for a long time. In this episode, Jena and Debbie settle into a real, honest conversation about the season they’re in right now — motherhood messes, busy weeks, Scripture, and the challenge of keeping an eternal perspective when life feels loud and heavy. They talk through Philippians 1, reflecting on Paul’s ability to hold joy and suffering at the same time, what it means to live as citizens of heaven, and how to stay grounded in faith when circumstances don’t feel joyful at all. This episode is part Scripture study, part life catch-up, and part gentle reminder that joy doesn’t mean ignoring reality — it means anchoring yourself in something deeper. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why joy and happiness are not the same thingHow Paul’s imprisonment reframes our perspective on sufferingWhat it looks like to live with heaven in mind while handling everyday lifeA simple, no-pressure way to study Scripture in busy seasonsWhy community and spiritual rhythms matter more than everIf you’ve been feeling stretched, distracted, or spiritually dry, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, open your Bible, and remember where your hope comes from. --- 🤍 Leave a rating or review  📲 Share it with a friend or family member  📸 Follow us on Instagram: @MySouthernGodmother  ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@MySouthernGodmother  📩 Email us at mysoutherngodmother@gmail.com  with topics you'd love us to cover

    34 min
  7. 36. The Worship Songs that Change Our Lives

    12/10/2025

    36. The Worship Songs that Change Our Lives

    Some songs are just… songs. And then there are the ones that mark you forever.  In this episode, Jena and Debbie swap stories about the worship songs that literally stopped them in their tracks - pulling over on country roads, kneeling on the den floor with a laundry basket, and meeting God in unexpected places. They share: The Larnelle Harris songs that helped Debbie experience God’s grace in a whole new wayThe Good Friday service where one lyric made her sit in silence for 20 minutes while the Holy Spirit worked on her heartThe simple camp song Jena still sings over her kids every night at bedtimeHow a Phil Wickham song became the soundtrack to Jena’s single years and her walk down the aisleWhy God often meets us in the mundane - like doing laundry, driving to church, or walking the West Side HighwayA gentle encouragement to start looking for God in the small, ordinary moments of your lifeWe’d love to hear from you: 💬 What are the top 1–2 worship songs that have shaped your faith story? Send us a note or DM - we might share some of them in a future episode! --- 🤍 Leave a rating or review  📲 Share it with a friend or family member  📸 Follow us on Instagram: @MySouthernGodmother  ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@MySouthernGodmother  📩 Email us at mysoutherngodmother@gmail.com with topics you'd love us to cover

    37 min
  8. 35. Debbie Said "Send Me" to God & Almost Sold Her House: What Happened Next Will Surprise You

    12/03/2025

    35. Debbie Said "Send Me" to God & Almost Sold Her House: What Happened Next Will Surprise You

    What happens when you tell God “I’ll go anywhere. I’ll do anything” — and mean it? In this episode, Debbie shares one of the most pivotal stories of her life. After a sermon on Romans 12, she and her husband stood up in church and said the boldest prayer a believer can pray: “Here am I, Lord. Send me.” Within days they had their house on the market, preparing to follow God anywhere He wanted to send them. But what happened next was nothing like they expected. This episode explores:  ✨ What it really means to surrender your plans to God  ✨ Why God’s direction often looks completely different than you imagine  ✨ How He brought the mission field straight to their doorstep  ✨ What obedience looks like in the everyday… not just overseas  ✨ Why saying “Send me” is the most life-changing prayer you can pray This story will challenge you, encourage you, and inspire you to ask the same question: What if God is calling you somewhere — and it’s closer than you think? QUESTION FOR YOU: Where do you sense God is trying to send you in this season? -- 🤍 Leave a rating or review  📲 Share it with a friend or family member  📸 Follow us on Instagram: @MySouthernGodmother  ▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@MySouthernGodmother  📩 Email us at mysoutherngodmother@gmail.com with topics you'd love us to cover

    34 min
See All (43)

5
out of 5
54 Ratings

About

My Southern Godmother is a cross-generational, faith-based podcast designed to help you navigate the ups and downs of life.  Hosted by Debbie French (70-something) and Jena Dunay (30-something).We'll learn what it looks like to walk with Jesus through all seasons of life - from those that have lived it. So if you’re feeling discouraged in this season. Or you’re looking for some encouragement. Or just some inspiration to re-engage your faith. You’ve come to the right place. Welcome to My Southern Godmother.

Information

  • Creator
    Jena Dunay & Debbie French
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 My Southern Godmother
  • Show Website
    My Southern Godmother

You Might Also Like