Sword & Grace Unscripted

Tina Bender

Sword & Grace Unscripted is a podcast for women who lead businesses, ministries, churches, and organizations while carrying both conviction and compassion. This is not a platform for polished success stories. It is a space for honest, grounded conversations about the real cost of leadership, the unseen weight women carry, and the grace required to remain faithful through pressure, complexity, building and rebuilding. I am your host, Tina J. Smith, a 𝘓𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘵 of over 20 years, an international 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 for women, 𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 for pastors/ministry leaders, Author, and the Founder and CEO of both a for-profit organization and a not-for-profit charitable organization. I have spent decades working across mental health, leadership, and ministry contexts, walking alongside men and women through trauma, formation, leadership strain, collapse, and restoration. I am also a mother to two adult children, one teenager, and a mom to a childhood cancer survivor. My work is shaped by lived leadership, faith, and responsibility carried in real life. This podcast is especially for the stories that have been hard. The moments that left you betrayed, crying, and undone. The seasons where you stepped off the stage, walked out of the boardroom, closed the door, and carried pain no one saw and silence you felt you had to keep. These are the stories other Christian women need to hear so we can heal, walk with humility, love well, stand stronger, and rebuild for the Kingdom. 𝘚𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 & 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 features women who have built, shepherded, stewarded, or carried responsibility for others and who are willing to speak with humility and truth about how leadership has shaped their faith, nervous system, relationships, and sense of calling. We value formation over performance and wisdom refined through lived experience.

  1. Jul 30

    Who Gets Access? Discerning the Voices Influencing Your Assignment

    The conversation explores the significance of recognizing influential voices, defining relationship roles, and discerning access and relationship boundaries. It delves into the impact of sharing personal testimony, Jesus' example of relationship circles, and the challenge of drawing out the gold in others. It also addresses the endurance required in building from the ground up and maintaining a clean heart amid betrayal, emphasizing the sacred space between an individual and God. The conversation delves into the themes of overcoming betrayal, the challenges of apostolic leadership, the importance of consecration and intimacy with God, and the distinction between discernment and suspicion. It emphasizes the need to prioritize relationship with God and stay focused on one's own journey without falling into the trap of comparison. Takeaways Recognize the importance of discerning access and influence in relationships.Understand the challenge of drawing out the gold in others and the endurance required in building from the ground up. Trust and consecration are essential in overcoming betrayal and isolation.Prioritize intimacy with God and avoid falling into the trap of comparison. Chapters 00:00 Recognizing Influential Voices01:32 Introduction to Tiffany Donahue03:08 The Importance of Access and Influence04:17 Defining Relationship Roles05:37 Discerning Access and Relationship Boundaries06:40 The Impact of Sharing Personal Testimony07:18 Jesus' Example of Relationship Circles08:14 Connecting Through Stories and Experiences09:09 Discerning Readiness for Revelation11:55 The Challenge of Drawing Out the Gold17:28 Endurance and Building from the Ground Up20:03 Maintaining a Clean Heart Amid Betrayal21:14 The Sacred Space Between You and God22:16 Overcoming Betrayal and Trust23:43 Isolation vs. Consecration24:32 Challenges of Apostolic Leadership25:58 Building from a Healed Heart26:47 Consecration and Intimacy with God28:40 Discernment vs. Suspicion32:37 Prioritizing Relationship with God35:22 Staying in Your Lane

About

Sword & Grace Unscripted is a podcast for women who lead businesses, ministries, churches, and organizations while carrying both conviction and compassion. This is not a platform for polished success stories. It is a space for honest, grounded conversations about the real cost of leadership, the unseen weight women carry, and the grace required to remain faithful through pressure, complexity, building and rebuilding. I am your host, Tina J. Smith, a 𝘓𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘵 of over 20 years, an international 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 for women, 𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 for pastors/ministry leaders, Author, and the Founder and CEO of both a for-profit organization and a not-for-profit charitable organization. I have spent decades working across mental health, leadership, and ministry contexts, walking alongside men and women through trauma, formation, leadership strain, collapse, and restoration. I am also a mother to two adult children, one teenager, and a mom to a childhood cancer survivor. My work is shaped by lived leadership, faith, and responsibility carried in real life. This podcast is especially for the stories that have been hard. The moments that left you betrayed, crying, and undone. The seasons where you stepped off the stage, walked out of the boardroom, closed the door, and carried pain no one saw and silence you felt you had to keep. These are the stories other Christian women need to hear so we can heal, walk with humility, love well, stand stronger, and rebuild for the Kingdom. 𝘚𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 & 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 features women who have built, shepherded, stewarded, or carried responsibility for others and who are willing to speak with humility and truth about how leadership has shaped their faith, nervous system, relationships, and sense of calling. We value formation over performance and wisdom refined through lived experience.