28. Walking Through Valleys of Grief with Mattie Jackson-Smith
Your Brand of Beautiful with Bailie White
Release Date: 03/18/2025
Your Brand of Beautiful with Bailie White
In this behind-the-scenes solo, I'm sharing a real-time look at starting our family’s newest business, The Tide & Table Collection. From luxury travel roots to short-term rental dreams, I'm unpacking the vision behind the brand, the meaning of its name, and the wild plot twist that's putting our Hilton Head condo on a brief pause just days after closing. It’s messy, unfiltered, and honest — because starting something new is never linear. I'm opening up about the hurdles, the mindset shifts that kept me grounded, and why your “messy middle” is not proof you’re failing…it’s...
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In this solo episode, I’m sharing 20 things I’d tell my 20-year-old self—from career tips and baby timelines to dating, friendships, and finding your balance. Whether you're in your twenties, just came out of them, or find yourself starting fresh at any age, I hope this episode reminds you that you don’t have to have it all figured out. You can enjoy life where you are, dream big, learn along the way, and trust your next step—even when it’s uncertain. Some of these are heartfelt, some are practical, some are funny, and some might make you cry (looking at you, girlfriend poem at...
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What does it really take to build a PR firm and a family — on your own terms? In this episode, I’m chatting with Morgan Mitchell — Founder + CEO of Two PR in Nashville — about her journey from celebrity PR to launching her own agency, building a thriving business, and navigating life as a working mom. From career pivots in her 20s… to taking big leaps without a “perfect plan”… to figuring out how business + motherhood can truly coexist — Morgan shares so many honest insights that will inspire any woman building a career and life she loves. We talk about: • What it actually...
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What if your “now” didn’t have to define your forever? In this candid conversation, I’m joined by my friend Jennifer Jacob — COO of Tique and founder of Explorateur Travel — to talk about the real-life pivots that helped her rebuild a beautiful life. From sewing curtains in a Tuscan farmhouse as a form of escapism to launching a thriving travel business after a painful divorce... to mentoring other women in her field and launching a second thriving company in the same industry, Jen’s story is full of resilience, exploration, and evolution. In this episode, we chat about: •...
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In this solo episode, I’m sharing 5 real-life rhythms I’m leaning on right now to simplify life — from meal planning and date nights to slow mornings and protecting white space on my calendar. Whether you’re in back-to-school mode or just in a season that feels full, this is your permission slip to pause, rethink your routines, and make room for what actually matters. None of these tips are groundbreaking, but they’ve made a big difference in how grounded, steady, and connected I feel in this chapter — and I hope they help you too. Inside the episode: My Sunday meal planning...
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In this episode, I’m sharing something I’ve been excited (and a little hesitant!) to bring to the podcast—an honest preview of the Your Brand of Beautiful Method: the 3-part framework I teach at retreats, sorority chapters, and conferences to help women stop spinning their wheels and start designing a life that actually feels like theirs. You’ll hear how this method was shaped not only by my own personal journey, but also by the common threads I’ve seen across countless conversations—with podcast guests, audiences I’ve spoken to, and women from all walks of life. If you’ve ever...
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In this episode, I’m joined by my friend and attorney Paisley Piasecki — and y’all, this conversation is such a special one. We’re talking all about writing new chapters, navigating big transitions, and what it really looks like to build a life (and community) from scratch in a brand new city. Paisley shares her journey of leaving a high-powered law career in NYC, moving to Savannah, and founding the now-thriving networking group Square 25. We talk about following your gut, creating space to think, and the underrated power of finding your favorite coffee shop when you’re starting...
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Hi friends! I've decided to turn season 3 into a two-part podcast season in the name of summer. Listen in for a quick update from me! For speaking inquiries (note: fall 2025 is booking up!*) email: PROGRAM 1 | Ownership of Your Brand of Beautiful (Motivational Keynote) PROGRAM 2 | Creating Your Brand of Beautiful (Goal Setting Workshop) PROGRAM 3 | Ownership of Your Recruitment Experience for PNMs (For PNMs entering the sorority recruitment process) For further program descriptions, please email me with more information on your community + the nature of your event. See...
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Hey friends + welcome to what will actually be the last conversation episode for the spring of 2025 + part 1 of what will now be a 2-part season of the Your Brand of Beautiful Podcast. This is a little bit of a change of plans but don’t worry, more updates on a solo-episode coming your way next week! This week, we’re chatting about a true underdog story with author, Mary Marantz. For those who don’t know her, Mary’s story is something special. She grew up in a West Virginia mountainside trailer + ended up being the first in her family to go to college — which just so happened to be...
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Hey friends + welcome to another episode on the Your Brand of Beautiful Podcast! In case you're new, this is the podcast where we chat with women who have created their own unique version of a beautiful life, in hopes that their stories, life experiences, or insider tips might inspire others to do the same. This week, I got the chance to chat with Madeleine Raiford Holland about going from a Kitchen Table Breaking Point to a 7-Figure Family. Madeleine is the founder + CEO of MHM Luxury Properties, a 7 figure boutique Short Term Rental company. She’s also the founder & CEO of MRH...
info_outlineThere is this universal truth that — no matter who you are, what you believe, or where you came from — no one experiences life without grief.
Not even Mattie Jackson, daughter of country music icon, Alan Jackson, and now best-selling author, speaker, and podcaster.
In September of 2018, Mattie became a widow at age 28 when she tragically and very suddenly lost her husband, Ben. Since then, she has used her work and her platform to share her grief, her healing, and her unshakeable faith with women and men across the country.
Today, you’re going to hear our conversation about walking Through The Valley of Grief, which is the title of her new 365 day devotional of Spiritual practices for hope in suffering.
You’ll hear us discuss things like:
- Motherhood and parenting journeys (from Mattie’s family’s humble beginnings and her mom’s profound impact on her life, to Mattie’s motherhood journey and what parts of her parent’s parenting she plans to implement into her own family).
- The 4 spiritual practices to take you from broken and resentful to a restored relationship with and trust in God: Wail, Connect, Worship and then Hope (my personal favorite part here is the way Mattie describes How helplessness of realizing you’re not in control after tragedy eventually, evolves to freedom).
- How to find and choose joy — and the indescribable happiness we can look for and even expect to find on the other side of the valley of grief…
Mattie is salt of the earth and as humble as they come. I was touched while having this conversation with her, and I hope you have the same experience listening back to it!
About Mattie Jackson-Smith: Mattie Jackson is a best-selling author, speaker, and podcaster with a degree in creative writing from the University of Tennessee. Tragically, she lost her husband of less than a year, Ben Selecman, in September 2018 after he suffered a traumatic brain injury while on vacation in Florida. Despite her grief, Mattie is pushing forward and has dedicated herself to helping others through her writing and podcast, In Joy Life with Mattie Jackson. Mattie is also the co-founder of philanthropic organization "NaSHEville,” which supports groups serving orphans, widows, and trafficked women. Mattie lives with her husband and son in Nashville, TN.
Buy Mattie's 365 Day Devotional: Through The Valley of Grief: https://amzn.to/41JDoZo
Get Mattie's first book, Lemons on Friday: https://amzn.to/4iHOTHG
For more info on Mattie's courses, resources, and podcast: https://mattiejackson.net/
Follow Mattie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattiejackson
About Your Brand of Beautiful Host, Bailie White: Bailie White is a motivational speaker with nearly 10 years of entrepreneurial experience and a heart for serving, motivating, and encouraging women.
After starting and scaling her first business — a luxury travel agency with a team of 15 women, a celebrity clientele, and multi-millions of dollars in annual sales — she sold the business after realizing what she once thought was her dream, didn’t fully align with the woman she wanted to become.
Today, Bailie is the host of the Your Brand of Beautiful Podcast (debuting on Apple’s Top Charts) and a published author and speaker. Bailie facilitates workshops and delivers keynote speeches to college women, young professionals, and mamapreneurs. Bailie teaches these women how to Stop Being Busy, Quiet The Noise, and Start Being Them — she teaches them how to become Their Own Brand of Beautiful.
Bailie has been featured in media outlets like Buzzfeed and Forbes, but is most proud of her title as ‘wife’ and ‘mom’ to her two small children. Bailie lives with her family on the outskirts of Savannah, Georgia.
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