Be Sweet Ya'll

Hey y'all! Sometimes we get so caught up lookin’ at the rest of the world, thinking about what everyone else needs to fix or how everything else ought to change. But real transformation always starts in our own hearts! This week, I’m comin’ to you with a special little pop-up episode to talk all about personal responsibility spiritually, physically, and financially. Today, I'm openin' my heart wide to share why takin' care of our minds, bodies, and sweet spirits is a holy responsibility we owe to ourselves and to the precious ones we love. Finally, let's stop lettin' our lack o...

Y'all, we recorded this one in May for Mental Health Awareness Month, but this conversation is so good it will carry you well into June  and honestly, straight through the rest of the year. I sat down with one of my most favorite precious humans on this planet, my sweet friend Brandy Haiman, a licensed therapist and social worker with nearly 30 years of experience.  She is everything: compassionate, kind, empathetic, a free thinker, and a true champion of the underdog. 

Brandy opens up about the deeply personal experiences that led her to the therapy profession and y'all, it is...

Sometimes, we get so scattered by the craziness of life, the never-ending projects, and the habit of saying "yes" to everyone  we miss the beautiful masterpiece God has already put right in front of us!!! This week, I’m coming to you with a pop-up episode recorded on May 15th my wedding anniversary to my beloved late husband, Hugh F. Smith. Today, I open my heart to share the story of how Hugh walked into my life after a deeply painful first marriage that left me feeling broke, rejected, and unworthy. Hugh taught me what it means to be truly res...

When service becomes the foundation of your life, the structure you build is unshakable. This week, I’m sitting down with Ronnie Grissett, owner of Team Patriot Home Stewardship Services and a medically retired Army veteran. Ronnie  joins me for a conversation that spans from construction mission fields in Honduras and Uganda to the importance of proactive home maintenance right here in Bay County.

Ronnie shares his incredible journey of recovery following a traumatic brain injury in 2020, exploring how that experience deepened his appreciation for health and his commitment to helping others. He also gives us an insightful loo...

It’s  mental health awareness month and today I’m reflecting on how much has changed... I can remember when I was younger, if you needed to go to therapy, it was almost a secret. We were surrounded by shame, feeling like we were defective if we couldn’t handle it all on our own. But now, things have shifted, and we are finally dropping that stigma thanks to the brave young people in our lives who have embraced it.Today I’m joined by my precious grandchild, JJ, who is truly wise beyond their years, to talk about their mental he...

What if the secret to a truly happy life... is being sweet enough to release what isn't working? 
Y’all, this episode is a big one. It’s the end of our seventh season, and while this season was long my heart is just full! I have something else I’d like to share with you…We are closing the chapter on My Happy Ass Life and adopting a new name and it’s Be Sweet, Y’all.

I’ll be honest with you I ran into some friction with the old name. Between social media algorithms blocking the wo...

I just have to tell you how much I adore Sue Monk Kidd’s book, When the Heart Waits! I've read it four times (and counting!) because it holds the secret to one of the hardest lessons I've ever had to learn: how to simply slow down. Today I share how I’m actively working to build quiet space and find "white space" in my life. I also introduce the Magic Wand Theory. This concept challenges us to drop our logical thoughts, tap into our spirit, and dream about what is truly possible for our business and life, encouraging us to r...

What if the secret to a happy life isn't just about the highlight reel, but about the depth you build during the "late bloomer" seasons?

This week, I am bringing you a very special Happy Ass Encore episode because y'all loved her so much the first time, and she is just too precious not to share again. I’m sitting down with one of my happiest, most energetic friends, the "Lipstick Diva" herself, Jade Patronis

Jade opens up about her journey of reinvention at age 40 moving from being a stay-at-home mom to launching a lipstick line. We...

What if the messages playing in your head were actually holding you back from the life you were meant to live?

Today I am joined in the studio by my effervescent and darling daughter, Britt, for a conversation that is as deep as it is spicy. Today we’re talking about soundtracks, which are the internal voices and repetitive thoughts that shape our reality. Inspired by the work of Jon Acuff, we explore how to identify the broken records of overthinking and replace them with messages that are much more aligned with our values and are more positive. 

What if the secret to a truly happy life… is giving something away? 💛Y’all… this conversation  made my heart so happy I could barely stand it. I got to sit down with the absolutely beautiful, warm,  and generous Angela from Habitat for Humanity, and let me tell you… this is what it looks like when someone is living a life of purpose.We talk about what Habitat really does…Of course, they build homes, but let’s not forget they also build hope, instill belonging, and plant the seeds of  community. When Angela shares her story of growing up in foster care and...

Today I’m asking a question that hit me right in the heart…what is stuck in your craw?I’m sharing where I’ve ignored the little irritations in my life until they turned into something bigger… and where I’ve finally made changes before things reached a breaking point. I also talk about something powerful I heard: most people don’t change out of desire…they change because of disasters. And that made me stop and ask myself… what can I change today before it gets to that point? This message is your gentle nudge to pause, reflect, and choose growth...

This week I’m bringing back an encore episode with the hilarious and inspiring Lacy Branch Counts. If you’ve ever spent time on social media in our community, you probably already know Lacy. She’s a successful business owner, a mama raising a child with autism, and someone who keeps life refreshingly honest and funny.In this conversation, we talk about what it really looks like to juggle business, motherhood, marriage, and community involvement. Lacey shares the real-life moments behind the highlight reel—how she balances running The Yard Bar, being a wife to Steven, and raising her son Crew whi...

What if the love you’ve been searching for your whole life was already inside you?
Today I’m sitting down with my friend Maurice, an incredible artist whose work is rooted in one powerful idea: self-love. What started as a letter he wrote to his young daughter eventually grew into a personal philosophy about love, relationships, and the responsibility we have for our own emotions.
In this conversation we talk about how many of us spend years looking for love outside ourselves, only to discover that the deepest love begins within. Maurice shares how that realization shaped his...

Have you ever overreacted to something minor and realized it wasn’t about now it was about then? Today, I’m sharing a practical way to retrain that response using positive triggers. I call them joy buttons, small moments that help me shift into gratitude, compassion, and calm. I’ll show you how to build your own list and actually use it when your mind starts to spiral. Mine include coffee, outfit joy, and gym time. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, let this be your gentle reset.

Episode Highlights: 
[01:39] The dark house memory and what...

Ever catch yourself mentally drafting a “what they should do” speech… while your own side of the street is a mess? Today’s episode is a loving gut-check about the one thing I actually have control over: me.I talk about how easy it is to point outward when I’m tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, and why that always leads to a cascade of drama I didn’t need. The real work is noticing my part, owning my response, and choosing peace instead of trying to manage everyone else’s behavior. I share the mindset shift that keeps bringing me back: I can’t...

Building a business will expose every weakness you didn’t know you had. What really happens when you stop chasing two dreams and commit fully to one?Today  I sit down with Daniel Pratt, owner of Panama City Coffee Company, to talk about what entrepreneurship demands and requires. Daniel shares about his transition from musician to business builder, and the hard decision he made in 2020 to go all in on one path instead of doing two things halfway.This conversation addresses solving the problem you’ve been avoiding instead of distracting yourself with what feels easier.We talk about starting small...

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed, not depressed, just stretched too thin and living everywhere except the present moment?Today, I share honestly about being in a funk and what helped me find my way back. I talk about slowing down and remembering that joy and delight are inseparable. We explore what it means to have a low bar for delight, and how neglecting the things that nourish us can quietly steal our peace. This episode is for anyone who feels scattered, tired, or unsure which direction to go. It’s your chance to return to what rings true in yo...

What happens when you stop living on autopilot and start choosing yourself with intention?
Today, I sit down with the radiant and wise Kandi Gardiner Woods, performance psychologist, author, speaker, and mentor, for a deeply honest conversation about love, healing, mindfulness, and personal growth. Kandi shares her powerful life story, including growing up in a dysfunctional home, navigating abusive relationships, and how intentional inner work helped her break generational trauma patterns and reclaim her life.

We talk about her book The MANual Chronicles and why understanding your core values is transformational. She explains how mindfulness, visualization, and...

Who’s behind the scenes holding everything together?
 In this episode, I sit down with two women who know my life, my work, and my heart better than just about anyone. This conversation is a reminder that strong workplace culture isn’t built on titles or tasks, but on trust, love, and showing up for one another over time.

Together, we reflect on what it truly means to love your people well. We talk about loyalty, service, shared values, and the kind of behind-the-scenes support that often goes unseen but makes everything possible. From laughter and quirks to ha...

I’ve learned something the hard way: intensity feels productive, but it doesn’t actually change your life. If you keep starting strong and burning out, this episode is for you.

Today, I unpack why goals so often fall apart, not because we’re lazy or undisciplined, but because our inputs and self-talk are quietly working against us. We explore why consistency beats intensity every time, how the words you repeat shape your identity, and why sustainable growth comes from daily agreements with yourself, not big emotional pushes.

I share real-life examples from health, leadership, and mindse...

Growth doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from awareness, honesty, and the courage to try again differently. Today, I’m back with my friend Dan Hinz for a conversation that goes deeper into habits, health, mindset, and what it really looks like to invest in yourself over the long haul. We talk about systems versus goals, why daily habits matter more than big promises, and how psychology plays a bigger role in change than strategy ever will. Dan shares how coaching helped him identify blind spots, pivot careers, and create sustainable habits around work, health, and life. I also open...

Sometimes growth doesn’t come from fixing what’s broken. It comes from realizing there’s more inside you waiting to be unlocked. Today, I sit down with my friend Dan Hinz for a conversation about mindset, coaching, and my word for the year, which is courage. Dan shares his experience attending Tony Robbins events, including literally walking on fire, and how investing in himself through coaching transformed the way he approaches business, relationships, money, health, and purpose. We talk honestly about blind spots, why success is more about psychology than strategy, and how growth doesn’t require your life to fall a...