did I talk too much?

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!

This week Eme takes the mic and shares her experience as a freshman. Jenna and Eme mostly spent the episode chatting about college friendships. What they look like, and creative ways to be intentional with the people in your life. They also talk about staying connected with friends at home, while embracing new connections at college. Eme also answers some common questions that incoming freshmen have at the end of the podcast, like how to pick your classes, how much time we actually spend studying, and how to get involved on campus.

EMAIL: GRIT@BIOLA.EDU

INSTAGRAM: GRITATBIOLA

BLOG: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/grit

Trigger warning: This week's episode contains content discussing sexual assault. 

Jenna and Nallely discuss a variety of topics on this week's episode while bringing awareness to SAAM. From what consent looks like in our daily lives, along with what not to say when a friend opens up about sexual assault, ways to support survivors, and the resources that are available at Biola. They also answered some anonymous student questions as well. This year Biola’s SAAM theme is, care and communicate. 

EMAIL: GRIT@BIOLA.EDU

INSTAGRAM: GRITATBIOLA

BLOG: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/grit

Jenna sits down with Ellie, a fellow junior, and they talk about the experience they had with their first year of college being remote. They go into the weirdness of perceiving your classmates based on their online aesthetic, the fear of being put in a breakout room in your zoom class, and how their friendships have shifted over time. They laugh over the awkwardness of seeing someone in the caf whose Instagram stories you have watched dozens of times but you are afraid to approach…and they reflect on how sweet their time at Biola has been despite the unprecedented beginning. 

EMAIL: GRIT@BIOLA.EDU

INSTAGRAM: GRITATBIOLA

BLOG: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/grit

If you are strolling around Biola’s campus on an average sunny day, more often than not you will find that most of the women passing you have their hair neatly curled and are wearing a cute top or dress. Very rarely do you see people who have just rolled out of bed. This phenomenon called “compulsive cuteness” is the topic for discussion in this week's episode. Why do women feel the pressure to look so put together, especially at Biola? Stick around to hear about what role compliments play, along with self-objectification, insecurity, and more! 

EMAIL: GRIT@BIOLA.EDU

INSTAGRAM: GRITATBIOLA

BLOG: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/grit

This week the GRIT girls sit down to talk about the difficulty of existing in male-dominated spaces, and the insidious barriers that keep women from leadership positions. They chat towards the end of the episode about sexist jokes, and what happens when you peel back the layers of contempt hidden behind humor. The girls offer their own experiences of the nuance of being in male-dominated majors (CMA & Business), and their fears and hopes for their future work in their fields.

EMAIL: GRIT@BIOLA.EDU

INSTAGRAM: GRITATBIOLA

BLOG: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/grit

Sit down with Sarah Schwartz, a Biola alum, as she speaks on the unintentionally damaging impacts of purity culture and a way forward. 

EMAIL: GRIT@BIOLA.EDU

INSTAGRAM: GRITATBIOLA

For the past few years, it has been a beloved tradition to do a “last word” when a staff member graduates or steps away from their role at GRIT. This usually takes on a written form (which she reads at the end) but we decided to format it as a conversation. Rachel McCready faithfully served at GRIT for years, and we are better off because of her. Tune in to hear about Rachel’s post-grad experience, how she is processing her Biola experience, how she has found a community outside of college, and a whole lot of silly tangents along the way. 

EMAIL: GRIT@BIOLA.EDU

INSTAGRAM: GRITATBIOLA

At this point in the semester, the odds are high you have stayed up far past your bedtime to complete a lofty project or cram for an exam at least once or twice. With finals week looming, Lauren and Jenna decided to sit down and chat about academic validation, a common issue women (and men) deal with in higher education. They dive into perfectionism and what it means to be “gifted”. 

EMAIL: GRIT@BIOLA.EDU

INSTAGRAM: GRITATBIOLA

BLOG: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/grit

Are you a female Biola student who has asked yourself, “How can I get involved with GRIT?” Well, you have made it to the right place! Tune in to hear more about our mission and founding, how to get involved, our theme this year, and get to know our 2022-23 staff. New episodes are released every other Wednesday!

EMAIL: GRIT@BIOLA.EDU

INSTAGRAM: GRITATBIOLA
BLOG: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/grit