Jump Start Your Joy

Signe Myers Hovem is a spiritual counselor, an energy worker, and the author of The Space in Between: An Empaths Field Guide. In this interview on Jump Start Your Joy podcast, we are talking about empaths and highly sensitive people (HSPs). If you are a highly sensitive person, or if you have a sense that you may be an empath, then I think you're going to get a lot out of this conversation (which ties so closely to this season's theme of intentional comfort on the podcast). HSPs and empaths notice the energy around people and places and things, and this can be overwhelming to them. The Empath's Field Guide, and this conversation, offers a lot of insight on how to manage your energy, hold space, and work with your gifts. In this episode, Signe Myers Hovem talk about: What it means to be a functional empath. The difference between empathy versus being an empath. Exploring what it means to identify as a highly sensitive person. The power of our words and what we choose to call things. Minding your energy, and h

Season 7 was all about "Intentional Comfort." This episode shares the top ten most downloaded and beloved episodes from season 7.  They are: 10. Emma Loewe, author of Return to Nature Listen to the original episode Buy the book 9. 5 Tips to Bring More Mindfulness to You Everyday Listen to the episode 8. Fred LeBlanc of Cowboy Mouth on Finding a Mardi Gras State of Mind Listen to the original episode Buy their best of album. 7. Heather Hall, Author of Step Up and Stand Out: 20 Tips for Aspiring Introverted Leaders Listen to the original episode Buy the book 6. Jenn Oglesbee: Intentional Comfort and Joy in the Midst of Grief Listen to the original episode 5. Stasia Savasuk: Wearing Your Word of the Year Listen to the original episode 4. 10 Things to Inspire More Passion and Joy in Your Life and Work Listen to the original episode 3. Finding Your Heart's Second Home Listen to the original episode 2. William J. Peters, Author of At Heaven's Door Listen to the original episode Buy the book 1. Scott Leftwich, owner

Are you looking for ways to define what brings you joy, and identify your passions? In this episode I'm sharing 2 exercises to help figure out what you're passionate about and 10 ways to bring more of that passion to your work and your life. Read the full show notes on my website Introspection - Using the tools above, or working with a coach, a mentor, or a journal can provide a lot of insight for you. It's also important that you take time to heal any sort of past trauma or issues that might be making it hard for you to define or get in touch with your passions. Just start moving and working on things. Lots of times people think that they need to have everything all figured out before they can take the first step. Instead, think of the first logical step and give it a try. Let your passion stand on it's own. If you're interested in something, give it a try. Sometimes, instead of taking a first step, you may think that you need to have a plan to monetize a hobby, or have an end goal in mind for why you'd beg

I'm really excited to have author Renee Linnell back on JSYJ!. This is her second time on the podcast, and in this brand new conversation, we're talking about her book that came out on August 16, 2022, which is titled "Still on Fire: A Memoir." Renee first came on the show when her first book, "The Burn Zone," came out.  This book was was all about how she found herself in a cult several years ago. Her new book is a delightful continuation of her amazing craft of storytelling. The themes that come through in her new book are all around  trusting your intuition, manifesting things in your life, and the idea that this life is a continuation of your soul's ongoing journey. Of course, these are some of my very favorite themes and there's such joy and delight in this conversation with Renee. Resources: Renee Linnell's first interview on JSYJ Renee Lineell's book: "Still on Fire: A Memoir" Renee Linnell's book: "The Burn Zone"  

Emma Loewe is the co-author of The Spirit Almanac, and she is the senior sustainability editor for mindbodygreen, and she has released the amazing book, Return to Nature: The New Science of How Nature Landscapes Restore Us. In it, she shares the different kinds of landscapes, how they effect your mental health, studies about why they improve your mental health, and things you can do to counter-act the effects of climate change on these landscapes. This discussion fits so well into this month’s theme of “finding home,” and I hope you love this conversation about the return to nature with Emma Loewe. Read the full show notes on my website. In this episode, Emma Loewe and I talk about: How the idea of this book came about A profound memory Emma has of a maple tree in her yard growing up, and why many of us have anchoring memories that revolve around nature. My resonance with the landscapes of oceans and coasts and forests and trees. What a forest bath is, and how to experience one The fractals in trees, and wh

Creativity and joy are closely related. If you're feeling stuck, and need some inspiration on how to tap into creativity - Marion Abrams of Grounded Content and I have 8 ideas for you to jumpstart your creativity and joy. Here they are: 1. Just do the thing. Starting is the hardest part. 2. Double down on what you've been doing. Recommit to it.  3. Take yourself on an "artist's date. " (as inspired by Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way) 4. Revisit the source of your inspiration. What started you on your creative journey? Spend time with that, and DO some of it.  5. If you're creating something and have data that can inform you as to what has done the best (on your blog, podcast, social media), spend some time looking at what past episodes or posts have done the best. Go back and look at what some of your favorite past work has been, and take inspiration from that. 6. Take a break or a breather. 7. What has been the favorite thing you've created for your show / blog / art? What did you love about it, or lo

The weighty-ness of the past two years means we're all working through difficult things. Joy is as important now as ever before. Joy gives you room for "overflow" which allows you to be more present & available for the things that matter most. In this episode, I'm sharing: 1. a quote that made me rethink the role of joy in the world, and why we must keep choosing it. 2. How the current news cycle, and use of fear by many politicians and mass media keeps us stuck in feeling like we can't do anything but stay plugged in to the fire hose of fear that they create. 3. Why and how joy is important: taking time for joy-filled things like concerts, writing, creative outlets, and other things means you build overflow. 4. How overflow allows you to do more of the important things you love. And how that can change the world. Sign up to receive the Jump Start Your Joy newsletter Follow Jump Start Your Joy on your favorite podcasting app Resources: Episode with Sonya Renee Taylor Support "The Body is Not an Apology" S

Jenn Oglesbee is a certified life coach and licensed clinical social worker, and the discussions that she and I had last summer on Instagram Live are what me to choose the “Intentional Comfort” for season seven on Jump Start Your Joy. We had a series called “What the Hell?,” and in it we discussed the events of the past couple of years, and how they impacted our lives. Jenn and I share a love of talking about joy, and have both woven it into our work. It’s an honor to have Jenn come back a year later, and share more about her own journey. In December of 2021, Jenn lost her sister to a rare form of brain cancer. She has been open in sharing about how the grief has shown up in her life, and how losing someone as close as a sibling has felt. She and I had had an interview on the books at the end of last year, and she asked to reschedule our discussion until after she felt ready to talk about things. And, she offered to dive into how finding and making space for intentional comfort in the midst of grief has looke

Mindfulness is a great way to find more joy and center yourself. In this time of transition, when things feel difficult, it's great to have a few easy, go-to mindfulness tools.  The five are: 1. Notice your emotions, and share them with someone else. 2. Breathe, as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. I share his practice of inhaling, exhaling, and smiling. 3. Observe (or spend time in) Nature. As discussed in my previous episode with Emma Loewe, author of Return to Nature, nature has restorative properties for humans. When you feel stressed, take a moment to look out your window or take a break for a walk if you have the time. 4. Meditate, using a visual or guided meditation. 5. Spend time walking a labyrinth, either by physically walking a labyrinth or using a hand labyrinth. Resources: Emma Loewe on Jump Start Your Joy Insight Timer (Sarah Blondin) - for guided meditations Insight Timer (my channel: Paula Jenkins) - for guided meditations World Labyrinth Locator to walk a labyrinth Veriditas, a non profit that offer

In tying in with this season's theme of "Intentional Comfort," and the mini series on "Finding Home," I'm excited to share about how finding and honoring your heart's second home. The idea of having homes beyond the physical place you dwell is one that hit me in about 2004, when I attended a retreat at San Damiano in Danville, CA. It became clear to me that some places feel like home, usually because of the community or the connection I had to them. In this episode, I'm sharing a few of those places, what they mean to me, and how you can also find and honor your heart's second home. Read the full show notes on my website.  Resources Laura Joyce Davis on Jump Start Your Joy, talking about Shelter in Place San Damiano Retreat in Danville, CA Kennolyn Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains The Sea Ranch UC Santa Barbara Sign up to receive the Jump Start Your Joy newsletter Follow Jump Start Your Joy on Apple Podcasts Love the show, and what to show your support? Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a

Laura Joyce Davis started her podcast, Shelter in Place, just as the pandemic shut California and the United States down on March 17, 2020. We talk about finding joy in hard times, defining the meaning of home, and sheltering in place as parents. Laura is a Minneapolis native who now calls Oakland home. She is an award-winning fiction writer, a Fulbright scholar, a WNYC Podcast Accelerator finalist, and a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee. She is a mom of three young kids who believe that anything is possible if you have a cape, a crown, and a very good book (she doesn’t disagree). In past lives she’s been a collegiate running coach, a Big Ten athlete, an award-winning a cappella singer, and a blue ribbon winner at the 4-H county fair. Both at Shelter in Place and in Laura’s past writing are grounded in the conviction that changing our communities begins with changing ourselves. In this episode, Laura and I talk about: what sheltering in place was like with children the overwhelming impacts of the fires in Cal

In this interview, I am so honored to be joined by author Sonya Renee Taylor. Sonya is the author of the the New York Times Bestselling book, “The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love.” She just recently released an updated version of that book, and the “Your Body is Not an Apology Workbook: Tools for Living Radical Self Love.” Sonya is joining me to talk all about radical self-love and joy. And, she shares that when we start to love ourselves, we can transform how we interact with others in the world. Sonya Renee Taylor and I talked about: – her early joys of creating radio shows with her friend – slam poetry festivals, and how entering them fed her soul – how “The Body is Not an Apology” got started – how the Genesis story in the Judeo-Christian tradition relates to shame and body image – how to tell if your joy is coming from an altruistic place, or if it may have residue on it – embracing radical self love – why radical self love is not easy work – the indoctrination of all of us in a so

for mindbodygreen, and she has just released the amazing book, Return to Nature: The New Science of How Nature Landscapes Restore Us. In it, she shares the different kinds of landscapes, how they effect your mental health, studies about why they improve your mental health, and things you can do to counter-act the effects of climate change on these landscapes. This discussion fits so well into this month’s theme of “finding home,” and I hope you love this conversation about the return to nature with Emma Loewe. Read the full show notes on my website. In this episode, Emma Loewe and I talk about: How the idea of this book came about A profound memory Emma has of a maple tree in her yard growing up, and why many of us have anchoring memories that revolve around nature. My resonance with the landscapes of oceans and coasts and forests and trees. What a forest bath is, and how to experience one The fractals in trees, and why that is soothing to humans How to handle grief and anxiety over climate change in an e

Fred LeBlanc is back for the third time on Jump Start Your Joy, and he’s joining me this time to talk about his new single, “Mardi Gras State of Mind” and his reflections on how things changed for him (and all of us) during the pandemic. In refreshing Fred style, we also dive into talking about the influences that shape people (including Elvis and Anne Rice), and how dreaming big can change the world. Read the full show notes on my website. In this episode, Fred LeBlanc and I talk about: His time during the pandemic: getting married, shelter in place, doing online concerts, and revisiting music Playing Lundy Gras and the Jazz Festival Tupolo Mississippi, the birth place of Elvis, and how our environments have a profound impact on our lives. Anne Rice, and how she was a friend of Cowboy Mouth The inspiration for Mardi Gras State of Mind His excitement about touring again. Their San Diego, CA concert. Resources Mardi Gras State of Mind by Cowboy Mouth The Things You Wanted to Do by Cowboy Mouth The

In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I’m so excited to welcome Heather Hall, a transformative Leadership Coach, strategic Executive Coach, and evocative Spiritual Director whom I met through CLCC. She’s also the author of Step Up and Stand Out: 20 Tips for Aspiring Introverted Leaders. Heather helps aspiring introverted leaders, and their managers, connect with their voices and values to bring their ideas and vision to life.  I hope that you enjoy this episode about stepping up and standing out for introverts with Heather Hall. In this episode, Heather and I discuss: What is an introvert, extrovert, and ambivert? What goes on inside the mind of an introvert? How discussions around “following your passions” puts pressure on introverts to prove themselves or go for something seemingly larger than life. The corporate world was created by extroverts for extroverts. So, how do you navigate leadership as an introvert? Why Heather wrote Step Up and Stand Out and the lessons she’s learned throughout her corporate

10 Things That Will Inspire More Passion and Joy in Your Work and Life Introspection - Using the tools above, or working with a coach, a mentor, or a journal can provide a lot of insight for you. It's also important that you take time to heal any sort of past trauma or issues that might be making it hard for you to define or get in touch with your passions. Just start moving and working on things. Lots of times people think that they need to have everything all figured out before they can take the first step. Instead, think of the first logical step and give it a try. Let your passion stand on it's own. If you're interested in something, give it a try. Sometimes, instead of taking a first step, you may think that you need to have a plan to monetize a hobby, or have an end goal in mind for why you'd begin working on it. Passion and creativity are often most joyful when they are done for the sake of being fun and playful. You don't need an end "result" on the horizon to begin. It's OK to make bold moves. Yo

In this interview, I'm excited to be joined by Scott Leftwich. Scott originally started collecting console video games, and then began collecting early arcade games. He now owns 125 video games, and has the largest privately held collection of video games on the East Coast. Once a month, he opens the arcade for "Wieners and Losers," where people can play games for three hours and enjoy hot dogs and other food. He also has a band named Scott Leftwich and The Atarians, and in 2021 he opened an 80s themed Airbnb in his home. I hope you enjoy this conversation celebrating the 80s!  Read the full show notes on my website. In this episode, Scott Leftwich and I talk about: the 1980s, and how as kids we had so much fun his love of early 1980s arcade games (1984 and earlier) how his collection of early 1980s arcade games grew, and how he learned to work on them Wieners and Losers, his monthly arcade event that he has 9 games of which there are 10 or less remaining in the world his band, Scott Leftwich and the Ata

In this episode, I'm honored to be interviewing Lauren Artress. She is an author, Canon of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, founder of Veriditas, and a spiritual pioneer and a leading force in popularizing the Labyrinth in the US and around the world. I have been fascinated with Labyrinths for years, and this last December became a trained Labyrinth facilitator. I'm excited to have Lauren joining me to talk about her experience with the Labyrinth, The Labyrinth Movement, and how it offers parallels and insights into our lives. In this episode, Lauren and I talk about: - the labyrinth and what it is - her journey in finding the labyrinth in Cathedral de Chartres, France - the role of the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco - both now, and during the AIDS epidemic - the Holy Fool and how it relates to the Labyrinth - Hand labyrinths: how they work and how they came about - The parallels and metaphors of our lives and the walk of the labyrinth Resources Lauren Artress' Website Veriditas Website World La

Liminal space is defined as the transitional space that can be physical, metaphorical, spiritual, or emotional. Pulling from examples in Disneyland, Proper People, & Station Eleven I'm looking at how we navigate through liminal space when we encounter it. In this episode, I'm discussing: - the definition of liminal space - the four types of liminal space: physical, emotional, metaphorical, and spiritual - examples of liminal space in every day life - intentional liminal space and happenstance liminal space, and how they are different - 5 ways to work with liminal space when you encounter it in your life Resources Interview with William J Peters on JSYJ What is Liminal Space on "A Liminal Space" The Impact of Liminal Space on Mental Health on Very Well Mind The Proper People on YouTube Liminal Space at Disney Parks by Offhand Disney Station Eleven on HBO Max Watch Jump Start Your Joy interviews on YouTube Love the show, and what to show your support? Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on

Marion Abrams of Grounded Content joins the show and we're talking all things content creation, with a special lens around pocasts. I know so many of you that listen, have some sort of entrepreneurial pursuit where you are creating content week over week or on a regular basis. And some of those past episodes about content creation and creativity have been the most downloaded here on JSYJ.  Good content all comes back to purpose. What is your mission and why are you creating this thing? This applies to whatever it is that you are making if you are an entrepreneur, whether that be social media, videos, blog posts or written work, etc. It all comes down to your filter and purpose, and offering up something that other people want to engage with. What is a podcast? Is it the same as a video on YouTube? Is it another word for interview?  How do you approach editing a podcast or other content? What do you need to know about crafting something for an audience? What about publishing options? (specific to podcasting -