Episode: "Bless Your Heart: Southern Sass, Holy Spirit Nudges, and BOGO Blessings with Debora Coty"

Episode Summary

Join Michele Vrabel on Old School as she welcomes award-winning author, humorist, and speaker Debora Coty (aka the "Irma Bombeck of Florida"), who shares her remarkable journey from 30+ years as a piano teacher and occupational therapist to penning over 40 books, including the Too Blessed to Be Stressed series (2M+ copies sold worldwide). Starting writing at 45 after a God-ordained "two-by-four" nudge in a dentist's office, Debora's first novel sprang from a Florida cracker patient's grandmother's memoir. She decodes the Southern gem "Bless Your Heart" (sympathy or shade?) and celebrates her new 365-day devotional, Bless Your Heart: Daily Devotions to Warm Your Heart and Feed Your Soul, born from personal losses and COVID chaos—complete with a wild China shipping hostage saga.

Debora's grocery store "Holy Spirit elbow jab" tale—buying toilet paper for a desperate family after her cart mysteriously brakes—proves obedience unlocks double blessings. They dive into tuning into God's voice (audible nudges, scripture, even non-believers), with her nugget: 1 Peter 3:9's BOGO—"Be a blessing, get a blessing!" Perfect for women seeking faith-fueled laughter, this episode sparks hope, humor, and holy prompts. Grab Bless Your Heart, enter their collab giveaway, and practice those divine listens!

Chapters00:00 - Intro & "Bless Your Heart" Double Meaning01:40 - Southern Sayings & Grandma Wisdom02:40 - Debora's Writing Journey at Age 4507:00 - First Articles, Column & Novel Spark11:00 - Too Blessed to Be Stressed Explosion14:00 - Bless Your Heart Amid Loss & Delays18:00 - Holy Spirit Toilet Paper Miracle24:00 - Hearing God: Nudges, Obedience & Non-Believers27:00 - Future Books, YouVersion Plan & Giveaway30:00 - Nugget: BOGO Blessings (1 Peter 3:9)

KeywordsDebora Coty, Bless Your Heart devotional, Too Blessed to Be Stressed, Christian humor, women's inspiration, Holy Spirit nudges, writing journey, Florida author, faith laughter, daily devotions, BOGO blessings, Southern sayings

Guest ContactDebora M. Coty | Author, Speaker, HumoristWebsite: deboracoty.comBuy Book: Bless Your Heart on AmazonFacebook: @AuthorDeboraCotyInstagram: @deboracotyX/Twitter: @deboracotyEmail/Contact Form: deboracoty.com/contact | deboracoty@gmail.com