Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Gifts from Dr.Laurette: Christianmeditationkit.com http://christianweightlosskit.com/

Also connect at drlaurette.net and praisemoves.com

Why doesn’t willpower work—no matter how hard you try?
Why do cravings feel stronger than your best intentions?
And is it possible to pursue health without shame, deprivation, or obsession?

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Dr. Laurette Willis, who shares her powerful journey from New Age practices into a faith-centered life rooted in Jesus—and how that transformation reshaped her understanding of health, healing, and freedom.

Dr. Laurette explains:

• Why willpower alone fails when it comes to food and habits
• How neuroscience and Scripture work together to renew the mind
• And why inner transformation matters more than external control

They also discuss her program, Weight Loss Without Willpower, which helps women pursue health without feeling deprived by:

• Using a bilateral brain stimulation technique paired with Scripture to calm cravings
• Replacing shame-driven cycles with grace-based practices
• Building daily rhythms that support lasting change

Dr. Laurette shares simple, actionable habits that support whole-person health, including:

• Prayer and renewing the mind
• Hydration and gentle movement
• Journaling, sleep, and nervous system care

This episode is for anyone asking:

• “Why do I keep sabotaging myself?”
• “Why is food such a battle?”
• “Can faith help me change my habits—not just my mindset?”
• “Is it possible to live healthy without hating my body?”

If you’re tired of striving and ready for a different kind of freedom, this conversation offers a hopeful reminder: lasting change doesn’t come from more effort—it comes from transformation rooted in grace.

00:00 Introduction to Weight Loss Without Deprivation

00:46 Dr. Laurette Willis' Journey to Faith

04:48 The Turning Point: Surrendering to God

07:05 From Addiction to Redemption

08:54 Empowering Women Through Faith-Based Weight Loss

12:18 Practical Exercise: Cutting Cravings in Seconds

16:28 Transforming from the Inside Out

17:44 The Power of Renewing Your Mind

19:28 Meditation and the Word of God

23:04 Practical Steps for a Healthy Lifestyle

25:19 Encouragement and Final Thoughts

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Connect with Jenna at https://www.aboveandbeyondwithu.org/

What happens when the life you loved is no longer possible?
How do you rebuild purpose after disability changes everything?
And can grace meet you when your identity has to be rewritten?

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Jenna Udenberg, a disabled former music educator who had to leave the career she loved after her employer chose not to accommodate her needs—and who went on to discover a new calling she never expected.

Jenna shares:

• The grief of losing a beloved vocation and sense of identity
• How disability reshaped her understanding of purpose, worth, and dependence
• What led her to become a nonprofit founder and accessibility educator
• Why accessibility, inclusion, and community support are essential—not optional

They also discuss:

• The mindset shift from independence to interdependence
• How curiosity opens doors when certainty is gone
• And the role of grace in building a meaningful life after loss

Jenna reflects on themes from her memoir, Within My Spokes, and the mission of her nonprofit, Above and Beyond With U, which works to create spaces where people of all abilities can belong and thrive.

This episode is for anyone asking:

• “Who am I if I can’t do what I used to do?”
• “How do I find purpose after disability or chronic illness?”
• “Does my life still have value when everything has changed?”
• “How can we better support one another in real, tangible ways?”

If you’re grieving a lost future—or learning how to walk alongside someone who is—this conversation offers a hope-filled reminder: grace doesn’t erase loss, but it can open the door to a deeper, more connected life than you imagined.

00:00 Introduction to Jenna Udenberg's Story

00:34 Jenna's Journey: From Music Educator to Disability Advocate

03:12 The Birth of Above and Beyond With U

04:53 Challenges and Reflections on Accessibility

12:34 The Importance of Community and Interdependence

15:49 Personal Growth and Vulnerability

29:30 Final Thoughts and How to Connect with Jenna

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Connect with Constance Hastings at https://constancehastings.com/

Is it okay to doubt God?
What if faith doesn’t come easily—or neatly?
And what does following Jesus look like when life is full of fear, trouble, and unanswered questions?

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Constance Hastings, author of The Trouble With Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away, about the honest intersection of faith, doubt, fear, and God’s grace.

Constance shares her personal journey from an unconventional upbringing into a life shaped by calling, compassion, and grace—and why doubt didn’t push her away from faith, but deeper into it.

Together, they explore:

• Common misconceptions about faith and what belief actually requires
• Why doubt is not the opposite of faith, but often part of a living one
• How fear distorts our image of God—and how grace restores it
• What love and empathy really look like in the way Jesus lived
• And how churches can better support people who feel unsure, skeptical, or spiritually tired

They also reflect on how Jesus Himself faced trouble, suffering, and misunderstanding, and what His responses teach us about courage, honesty, and trust.

This episode is for anyone asking:

• “Am I a bad Christian for questioning?”
• “Why does faith feel harder than it’s supposed to?”
• “Where is God in suffering and uncertainty?”
• “Is there room for me if my faith doesn’t look like everyone else’s?”

If you’ve ever felt like faith was more complicated than you were told—or wondered whether grace still applies when life is messy—this conversation offers a freeing reminder: grace doesn’t remove trouble, but it expands our lives with meaning, love, and unexpected adventure.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:23 Constance Hastings' Faith Journey

05:43 The Trouble With Jesus: Book Insights

10:51 Understanding Love and Empathy

12:55 Faith, Doubt, and Fear

19:37 Creating a Safe Space for Doubt in Church

27:04 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb