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Sword & Grace Unscripted

Sword & Grace Unscripted

By: Tina Bender
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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.

2026 Tina Bender
Episodes
  • Who Gets Access? Discerning the Voices Influencing Your Assignment
    Jul 30 2026

    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 Voices
    • 01:32 Introduction to Tiffany Donahue
    • 03:08 The Importance of Access and Influence
    • 04:17 Defining Relationship Roles
    • 05:37 Discerning Access and Relationship Boundaries
    • 06:40 The Impact of Sharing Personal Testimony
    • 07:18 Jesus' Example of Relationship Circles
    • 08:14 Connecting Through Stories and Experiences
    • 09:09 Discerning Readiness for Revelation
    • 11:55 The Challenge of Drawing Out the Gold
    • 17:28 Endurance and Building from the Ground Up
    • 20:03 Maintaining a Clean Heart Amid Betrayal
    • 21:14 The Sacred Space Between You and God
    • 22:16 Overcoming Betrayal and Trust
    • 23:43 Isolation vs. Consecration
    • 24:32 Challenges of Apostolic Leadership
    • 25:58 Building from a Healed Heart
    • 26:47 Consecration and Intimacy with God
    • 28:40 Discernment vs. Suspicion
    • 32:37 Prioritizing Relationship with God
    • 35:22 Staying in Your Lane
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    37 mins
  • Wilderness Seasons for Christian Women Leaders: Identity, Faith, and the Promised Land
    Jun 25 2026

    Episode Description:
    Christian women in leadership often walk through wilderness seasons that test identity, obedience, faith, and calling. In this episode of Sword & Grace Unscripted, we talk about what the wilderness season is meant to expose, refine, and restore before God leads you into greater fruitfulness.

    This conversation explores the journey from wilderness to promised land, especially for women building businesses, ministries, churches, families, and assignments with God. We talk about the places where identity gets evaluated, where old patterns are exposed, and where faith is strengthened for the unknown ahead.

    You will also be encouraged through the image of speaking life into dry bones and trusting that what looked barren can still become fruitful in God’s hands. The promised land is not just about arriving somewhere new. It is about becoming the woman who can steward what God is placing before her with wisdom, rest, and obedience.

    Takeaways

    • Exposing and evaluating identity in the wilderness season
    • Transitioning to the promised land with faith and trust

    Chapters

    • 00:00 Introduction to Wilderness Season
    • 08:06 Exposing and Evaluating Identity
    • 12:56 The Journey Through the Wilderness
    • 17:57 The Transition to the Promised Land
    • 23:02 Stepping into the Unknown
    • 27:58 Fruitfulness and Rest in the Promised Land
    • 35:56 Conclusion and Encouragement
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    33 mins
  • People Are Not Numbers: The Sacred Work of Relational Leadership
    Jun 4 2026

    The conversation covers the importance of connecting with the ministry, valuing relationships, and seeing individuals beyond numbers. It emphasizes the significance of learning to lead and disciple, connecting with women in the ministry, and getting to know people on a personal level. The key takeaways include the value of relationships and the importance of seeing individuals beyond numbers.

    Takeaways

    • Valuing relationships
    • Seeing individuals beyond numbers

    Chapters

    • 00:00 Connecting with the Ministry
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
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