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The author of “You Were Not Born to Suffer,” Blake Bauer and Paula talk about the themes of initiation, struggle, and hardship as a path to knowing yourself and finding your purpose wove through the conversation and finding joy in the messy middle. In this episode, Blake and I talk about: Early joys of falling in love His “initiation” into adulthood in high school, when he was arrested for a DUI and was deep into addiction and drug use. How he found his way back to his own purpose and center after a rough time in his teen years Getting curious about your interests, and giving yourself permission to follow them What to do when you feel that your energy, blood, or emotions are stuck Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website.

This week’s podcast is a new solocast all about the courage and joy … and I also share some of my favorite things that might not seem to all match at first glance. Princess Diaries, Battlestar Galactica, and Brené Brown ?!?! Well, they all have a thing or two to say about courage, about facing our fears, and about being vulnerable and embracing joy. Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website.

This week, Molly McGlynn Knoderer joins me on the podcast. Molly is the co-founder of Legacy Concierge Services in Northern California. She also recently published a chapter in her first book, “Awakening and Deepening to Truth.” She has deep experience as an entrepreneur, and has followed her own curiosity and passion in her career in elder services after graduating from UC Davis. In the last year, she also wrote about her own journey and truth and so many powerful things to say about the writing process, and how to overcome shame that was present in her life and in so many of our lives. Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website. In this episode we talk about: Molly reflects on her work with elderly people and families who are looking for elder care for people they love. The importance of being part of a team, even when you’re not on a “winning” team.  Curiosity of trying things out, like when she shared what she wanted to do and then did an internship.  Listening to other people’s stories and recognizing and learning from the history they share Being very present in others lives to really hear them. Sharing your story, even when it’s hard, and the freedom that it brings.  The evolution and transformation that comes from sharing the fullness of your story.  Understanding the legacy we want to create and the legacy elders in our life want to create.

In this episode, Megan Gallagher joins me to talk about anxiety, and how to navigate it. After living with intense panic attacks (up to 20 a day) and anxiety as a teenager, Megan made it her life mission to inspire teenagers and parents on how to deal with anxiety in today's modern world by speaking at countless middle schools and high schools about her story.  Megan has written an amazing book, and she's a two time TED Talk giver. Today, she is a resource and inspiration for so many teenagers navigating the world of mental health.  I'm really excited to have her join me on the show. Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website.  

In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy podcast, I’m delighted to be sharing an interview with Dr. Jeff Spiess. Author of the book, “Dying with Ease: A Compassionate Guide for Making Wiser End-of-Life Decisions,” Dr. Spiess was an oncologist, and later a hospice physician. He spent his medical career working with people were facing serious illness and death, and had a lot of experience in how to navigate both for all who are involved.   I’m honored to have Dr. Spiess on the show, and really excited to talk to him about how to find joy now, when we are alive. And, we talk about how to find joy even with the existential knowledge of knowing we are all headed toward death. What do we need to do now, to set ourselves up for more joy while we’re alive? How do we help others who are facing death feel contentment and joy in their time here? What’s it like to hold joy and the reality of our own mortality in the same moment? Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website.  

In the season 6 opener, I'm looking at the Messy Middle, and how we are living in it right now. What is the Messy Middle? Why is it hard? Why do we long to know the ending, while still needing to lean into this time of transformation? Join me. Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website.

Recorded live from the She Podcasts Live Conference, we are sharing the six most joyful things we've seen and heard here - from podcasters doing innovative things, to the community, to the spirit of altruism and inclusion, it's been an amazing conference. Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website.

How do you find a career that you love, especially when you're working a 9 to 5 that feels soul sucking? Have you decided it's time to make the change? Laura Simms is the expert in helping people find careers that feel like home. In this episode, Laura Simms and I talk about: The kinds of people she works with Marketing during a pandemic The trends she’s seeing in people looking to make a career change now How to make the change: define what you want, and then make a plan to get there Developing Quiet Confidence How to know if you’re ready for a career transition Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website.

Oren Jay Sofer is a communication expert and mindfulness teacher at Spirit Rock in Woodacre, California. He recently wrote the book “Say What You Mean: A Nonviolent Approach to Communication,” and I’m delighted to have him as a guest on the podcast. In this look back episode episode, Oren and I talk about: -Mindful communication -That language is an inherited phenomenon -How to stop ruminating over anger when you are upset -The work of Marshall Rosenberg around non-violent communication -Active listening and how to build understanding in communication -His thoughts on how to Jump Start Your Joy: find ways to be kind and generous, attune to beauty, connect to meaning and purpose, and play more Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website. Resources Say What You Mean: A Nonviolent Approach to Mindful Communication by Oren Jay Sofer (on Amazon) Oren Jay Sofer’s Website Sign up for Oren’s class that starts October 17, 2019 Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg

From mindfulness to lunar abundance, and quiet bohemians to happiness coaches, and self care and creative process, this season has been an amazing gathering of people who embrace playing small in their own way. This is the finale for Season 5. Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for the newsletter to receive these episodes in your inbox each week.

How do you move forward and find joy when you're in the middle of upheaval, tough times, and everything has changed? And how to you build a foundation during that time? In Part one of my season 5 finale, I share thoughts on joy during the pandemic. Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for the newsletter to receive these episodes in your inbox each week.  

The pandemic has added a layer of stress to basic things like school and daily family life for many. Tami Hackbarth joins to talk about how you and your family can honor what what each person needs, adding kindness, grace, and ease to your days.

This week on Jump Start Your Joy, I'm sharing 6 ways to create a foundation for a joy-filled life during the pandemic. It's no secret that living in 2020 has brought many of the things that we considered foundational to our world into question. Health, school, our work, groceries, equality, safety, and freedom have all come into question as the world grapples with the immense change that COVID-19 has brought with it. One of the questions I'm getting asked on interviews and from listeners is: how do I find joy now, in the midst of the pandemic? Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for the newsletter to receive these episodes in your inbox each week.

Author, artist, and entrepreneur, Colin Egglesfield joins to talk about creating connection authentic connection, listening, and how to become an "Agile Artist." He also shares testicular cancer, his role on All My Children, and his new online courses.

Starting a business can feel overwhelming and scary, but if you embrace starting small, and following what lights you up - it doesn't have to be. Inspired by a listener's question, this episode tells you how to embrace your dreams. Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for the newsletter to receive these episodes in your inbox each week.

I'm delighted to have the founder and CEO of Remix PR joining me today. Andi Albin works with big names in the music and entertainment industry, and she has lovingly built her business from the ground up. With clients like Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block, Matthew Morrison (of Glee), and Colin Egglesfield, Andi and her team focus on creating digital experiences and building relationships for clients. I'm honored to have her join the podcast to talk about the key to finding joy after hitting rock bottom. Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for the newsletter to receive these episodes in your inbox each week.

Elsie Escobar of She Podcasts and Libsyn joins me today to talk about finding your voice, how to pick a name for your show, that change is the only constant, and how she learned to ground in and get connected (and encourages others to do the same). Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for the newsletter to receive these episodes in your inbox each week. In this podcast interview, Elsie Escobar and I talk about: Her earliest sparks of joy, having soft serve ice cream with her grandmother, and playing with the contents of her wallet. Starting her podcast back in 2005 (Elsie’s Yoga Class) How to name your podcast (and why you should not stress that much about it) Change being the only constant in podcasting and life How to create a community How podcasters can ground into their truth and share their stories What’s bringing her joy: gardening, and walking in nature Resources Elsie Escobar’s Website  Elsie on Twitter  Elsie on Instagram  She Podcasts on Facebook  She Podcasts Live  Recode Decode with Kara Swisher  My recap on the 2019 She Podcasts Live Conference

The author of "Moving Beyond Trauma," Ilene Smith is a somatic experiencing practitioner, trauma healer and speaker. She shares the role trauma plays in our lives, how to work with trauma, and how to approach the current trauma vortex we're all living in, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for the newsletter to receive these episodes in your inbox each week.

It takes a lot of heart, courage, and vulnerability to reject the pressure to "play big." By letting go of the expected hustle, and efforting, you can find joy in ways that are small, manageable, and noticeable, everyday. Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for the newsletter to receive these episodes in your inbox each week.

Inspired by the Erica Cordea's presentation at She Podcasts Live, in this episode I'm reflecting on how you can use the inspiration, intention, and action framework to embrace Imperfect Allyship and the work of dismantling racism. Read the full show notes on the website. Sign up for the newsletter to receive these episodes in your inbox each week. Here are the actions I will take (to begin): 1. Show up in "imperfect ally-ship" Learn more about this from Erica Cordea at Pause on the Play  or tune into Erica on Amy Porterfield's Online Marketing Made Easy podcast.  2. Keep working, and doing the work, while acknowledging that "The line of progress is never straight." You can read more about this, which is in Martin Luther King, Jr's "Where do we go from here?" 3. Be mindful of intent AND Impact Jamie Utt talks about this on Everyday Feminism  4. Provide feedback to other allies in a way that the person can hear it. When sharing feedback with other white allies; insight from Kathryn Britton in Positive Psychology News.  5. Honor that "the hidden work is the heart work is the hard work." Doing the work doesn't need to be done real-time or publicly. Doing the work means I will share learnings and resources. Read about this quote from Ashlee Eiland on Instagram. Resources mentioned in this episode Erica Cordea Pause on the Play Rachel Cargle The Great Unlearn Patreon Trudi LeBron  Nicole Cardoza's Anti-Racism Daily Newsletter Layla Saad: Good Ancestor Podcast and Me and White Supremacy