what the heck is GRIT?

Our bodies do what now?! Historically, so many women have suffered from a serious lack of knowledge around their own physical and mental health. This episode, Audrey hosts two guests from the Biola Health Center, Dr. Tamra Hocking, and nurse practitioner Sofia Kim, to answer common questions that women have about their bodies. From menstruation to mood swings, to depression and social anxiety, Sofia and Dr. Hocking discuss what’s normal and what’s not, and that seeking help is never a bad thing!

To make an appointment with the Biola Health Center, use this link: Health Center

Access the PDF of the menstrual cycle visual aid: Menstrual Cycle

Talk to any woman born before the year 2000, and you’ll find that their lives and experiences as women are vastly different than those of this millenia. Today, the whole GRIT team is on the podcast to discuss the privileges and lingering  challenges of being a woman in the 21st century. From complex social movements such as the #MeToo movement and the rise and fall of purity culture, they explore the ways in which their upbringings in the modern era shaped their identities as 21st century women.

And that’s on period? In our episode today, Jenna, Ella, and Audrey talk about the transition from girlhood to womanhood, exploring the different cultural and personal milestones that come with that, namely, periods. The GRIT gals laugh, commiserate, and share about the awkwardness and horrors of menstruating, complete with reading anonymous period stories from Biola girls! 

Happy New Year! Last fall, the GRIT gals covered girlhood, now, we’re beginning a new season! Our theme? You guessed it: womanhood! In our theme episode, Jenna and Audrey talk about New Year’s Resolutions, what this next season is going to look like, and what they love about being a woman. The GRIT team is thrilled to navigate the way our identity as women has shaped us and is continuing to shape us today!

Luckily, we didn’t go through girlhood alone; we had many sweet friends to walk us along the way. Jenna, Ella, and Eme discuss their experiences with friendships in the process of girlhood. From asking kids on the playground, ”Do you want to be my friend?” to being “best friends” with someone, the GRIT girls talk about how our first years’ of friendships shaped us and our friendships today.

In so many settings, the experience of growing up as a girl was not an easy one. Eme, Jenna, Kaile, and Audrey get together to discuss the challenging experiences of being a girl in spaces such as school, church, and the home. From double standards for girls’ and boys’ behavior to dealing with weaponized incompetence at home, the GRIT girls explore how these matters shaped their girlhoods and have made them into the women they are today. 

Letter to My 13-Year-Old Self by Laufey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80Gf35I7n1w

This week the GRIT girls marvel at the art of female monologues in film, from Barbie to Little Women. Kaile and Audrey both share their experiences of giving their own monologue at different points in their life. They also highlight why we admire women who bravely speak up behind the camera, and how that leads to bravery and change in real life. 

Amy March Monologue: https://youtu.be/0D8nRpJsQlk?si=4YdoLxf5966s8DWg

America Ferrera Monologue: https://youtu.be/EsY9c9WodcE?si=qPusUn2bUEjxlcxS

The Barbie movie. You probably love it, hate it or haven’t seen it. Whatever camp you fall into, this episode is for you. This week Jenna sat down with Lisa Igram, dean of student wellness here at Biola, as well as Jenna’s husband Parker. Parker joined the ladies today in their discussion about the barbie movie that came out over the summer. Parker brings in cultural and biblical references you might have missed in the film and Lisa unpacks how words like “patriarchy” are only as scary as you make them. Tune in to hear about how Barbie can teach us about gender and more.

The GRIT gals chatted this week about all things girl. Hot girl walks, girl dinner and girl math. They dive into what makes these terms meaningful despite being silly and playful on the surface. Ella, Kaile and Jenna also get into how we are all really just girls, no matter how old we are. Tune in to hear about how the term “girl” is being reclaimed in culture, and what the GRIT gals have to say about it!

Welcome back to the podcast. The GRIT gals sure did miss you. Today Jenna and Eme sat down to discuss some very important business, this year's theme: GIRLHOOD! Buckle up and get ready to have your inner child healed, along with rethinking the way women are portrayed in media. The team is excited to explore this topic this fall, and would love to hear any/all suggestions from you! DM us on Instagram @GRITatBiola if you have any ideas related to the complexities of growing up as a gal!