BrighterDaze with Sara

Sara Dorris

BrighterDaze with Sara is a space where we get lost in gratitude instead of drowning in despair.  We talk to real people. We celebrate victories. We have honest conversations about gratitude, resilience, and the motivation it takes to keep showing up every day.

Episodes

  1. Jun 23

    Ep. 9: James “The Faithful Light” Haley | Identity, Obedience & Finding Yourself Beyond Titles

    Send us Fan Mail ✨ In this episode of BrighterDaze with Sara, Sara sits down with her cousin James Haley for a heartfelt conversation about faith, obedience, identity, and finding yourself again after life changes in ways you never expected. James opens up about walking through a season of obedience with his wife after leaving their church to help plant a new one — trusting God without having the full plan and watching doors open along the way. He also shares one of the hardest seasons of his life: going through divorce and a layoff at the same time, and the identity crisis that followed: “Who am I now?” Through prayer, therapy, community, and three intentional years of being single, James began rebuilding from the inside out. He shares how he learned that his worth was never tied to a job title, a relationship status, or any role he carried — because before the titles, before the losses, and before the rebuilding, James was still James. Sara and James also talk about gratitude, fatherhood, marriage, community work in Milwaukee, and what serving others taught him about homelessness, compassion, and seeing people beyond their circumstances. This episode is a reminder that even when life strips away the roles you thought defined you, you are still here, still loved, and still have purpose. Content Note: This episode includes conversations about divorce, job loss, identity struggles, homelessness, and difficult life transitions. Support the show Email: Ask4BrighterDaze@gmail.com  IG: @brighterdazepodcast TikTok: BrighterDazePodcast FB: BrighterDaze with Sara

    39 min
  2. May 19

    Ep. 4: Xavier “The Chaos Calmer” Ezra | Gratitude, Service & Taking Control of Your World

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of BrighterDaze with Sara, Sara sits down with Xavier Ezra for a powerful conversation about gratitude, service, hardship, and learning how to take control of your world when life feels chaotic. Xavier opens up about his work in the nonprofit space, including housing support, transitional living, community initiatives, and violence prevention. He shares the reality of helping people through unstable seasons, the emotional weight of service work, and why compassion matters when people are trying to rebuild their lives. He also reflects on his own experiences with hardship, including moments of homelessness, separation, uncertainty, and starting over. Through those seasons, Xavier learned to shift his mindset, embrace gratitude, and find strength in the things that cannot be taken away — health, family, purpose, and the ability to keep moving forward. Together, Sara and Xavier talk about the power of perspective, the importance of balance, and the reminder that happiness and gratitude often require daily intention. Xavier also shares the story behind his 108-bead gratitude practice and how naming what he is grateful for helps him reset during difficult moments.  Listen in for an honest and inspiring conversation about service, resilience, gratitude, and choosing to move through life with purpose — even when things are not perfect. Amazon: The Art of Us: Bridging the Gender Divide Support the show Email: Ask4BrighterDaze@gmail.com  IG: @brighterdazepodcast TikTok: BrighterDazePodcast FB: BrighterDaze with Sara

    46 min
5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

BrighterDaze with Sara is a space where we get lost in gratitude instead of drowning in despair.  We talk to real people. We celebrate victories. We have honest conversations about gratitude, resilience, and the motivation it takes to keep showing up every day.