Jump Start Your Joy

In this episode, I'm talking about the term "languishing," which is something that Adam Grant recently wrote about in the New York Times. His article was titled "There's a Name For The Blah That You're Feeling, and It's Called Languishing." When I read it, it struck me that languishing really is one of the predominant emotions that you find in the messy middle. It's languishing. Isn't full on depression. It's not boredom or anger. It's not any of those. It's just that vague feeling, that things aren't great. Adam Grant describes it this way, "Languishing is a sense of stagnation and emptiness. It feels as if you're muddling through your days, looking at your life through a foggy windshield, and it might be the dominant emotion of 2021." And, in reading this I felt similar to the way I did when I read about people naming the feeling of grief that was a predominant emotion at the beginning of the pandemic. It has also given me something to call the annoyance and mild overwhelm I've felt recently, and that I ev

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. One of my favorite parts of our discussion sits at the heart of something that has bothered me about joy recently; the question of “how can I embrace joy if that joy possibly comes at the expense of someone else’s freedom, joy, or access to things?” In other words, where does my own privilege enable me to experience joy when others may not have that same access to it. In talking about altruistic joy, Sonya and I talked about how this relates to her frame work of   “interest buying” or “detrime

In this episode, I’m delighted to have Fred Waitzkin return for his second interview, this time to talk about his brand new book “Strange Love.” Fred is the author of “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” which is based on his experiences with his son Josh who was a chess prodigy at age 7. In this new interview, we talk about his latest book (Strange Love), his time during COVID in New York and Costa Rica, and what drew him to write a story based in Costa Rica, and his writing process. What I love about this conversation is the way that Fred talks about his creative process. I find that creating a podcast weekly also takes a good deal of creativity, for my clients and for myself. It’s always interesting to me to learn how other creative people tap into creative flow. Fred uses real life to inspire the events of his book, and he talks about three key things as far as how he goes about writing. In this conversation, Fred Waitzkin and I talk about: – his new book, Strange Love, and how he crafted the characters – his i

In this episode, I am sharing about a couple of parallel "paths" I've noticed in the past few months: those of Labyrinths, making mindful choices about what to do next, and setting boundaries to support those choices and new directions. Your Unique Path In December 2020 I took a week long course and became a trained labyrinth facilitator. The labyrinth has been around for centuries and is a helpful mindfulness tool, and a lovely walking meditation. It struck me that much like there are parallels between the center of a labyrinth and the messy middle of this pandemic. Mindful choices on What's Next This time in the messy middle has offered us a lot of time to think. I hear from other people that they are reflecting about what really matters, what things merit their time, what they really want to do when they can go back out in the world and do things with other people. Boundaries These two things (Labyrinths and honoring one's path) benefit from boundaries. A labyrinth without a clearly marked path is confusi

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

In this episode, Erica and are diving in to the important topics of racism in the US, and what it means to be an imperfect ally. I had the pleasure of meeting her at ShePodcasts Live, and I was deeply inspired by her presentation there on imperfect allyship and anti-racism. Erica is an an entrepreneur and certified coach, and her work is focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), imperfect allyship, and imposter syndrome. I deeply appreciate her insights on how white people, like myself, can be better allies for people of color. I know from experience that it can be vulnerable to make changes and that there's an underlying fear that we may do something (with good intentions) that is more harmful than helpful. And, that if it's not right, it could backfire. And so many of us freeze and do nothing. The truth is, action is what is needed. We can't continue to do nothing because of our own discomfort. And, the only way to make any change is to start trying it out, in small steps, and in little ways. An

Intuition can give you powerful information about what you want and what brings you joy, but too often we ignore it. What can you learn from intuition, and what can you discover from getting curious about what annoys you?  Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website. Purchase my book, Jump Start Your Joy: Heart-Centered Ways to Find Joy in The Messy Middle

It’s so exciting to have Heather Chauvin back for a second time on the podcast! She has just released her brand new book, “Dying to be a Good Mother” and I was delighted that she reached out to connect again. Our interview is all about her journey with what she learned about self care after being diagnosed with cancer, and how 2020 has changed so much for so many of us.  As a former social worker, and mom of three boys Heather was juggling  family, health and happiness, and in doing so putting her own well being last on her priority list. And then, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer just one year after the birth of her youngest son. That’s when she took a hard look own self care, and how to place a priority on her own health, happiness and wellbeing. In battling through chemo, illness, and recovery she realized it was time to start living, not just for her family but for herself. Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website. Purchase my book, Jump Start

During the pandemic, it's been hard to find our joy. In this episode, I share how to change your perspective when the horizon shifts, and how to find joy in the messy middle. Also learn about how to craft an "easy week" to bring more joy to your life.   Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website. Purchase my book, Jump Start Your Joy: Heart-Centered Ways to Find Joy in The Messy Middle

In this interview, I’m delighted to be joined by life coach Mackenzie Eason. She is a love and relationship coach who specializes in helping her clients break free from toxic dynamics, develop emotional mastery, clear up communication, reclaim their power, and cultivate unshakable self love. In other words, she’s the most amazing person to have on to talk about how we look at love, how we can learn to love ourselves, and how we can talk about Valentine’s Day in a very different way. In this episode we are talking all about how to love yourself first, and looking at how COVID and shelter in place has taken a toll on existing relationships. Kenzie and I met through life coach training, and it’s a real treat to have her on the show. She fully embodies joy and love and she’s one of the most genuine and lovely people you’ll ever meet. I love that she’s dedicated her work to helping womxn through the breakups, and that she holds space for them to find transformation and joy on the other side of those hard times. I’

Barron Steffen is a Siddha Yoga practitioner, a big band crooner, and a widower. He is also the author of the book, “The Final Gift of the Beloved: Her Disappearance - 13 Days,” where he shares the story of the death of his wife Dr. Seana Lowe Steffen and the 13 days that follow. It is a joy to speak with him, and it is an honor to have him share his journey of saying goodbye to the love of his life, and the peace and joy that came with that journey. Barron now focuses his life’s work on “The Yoga of Mindset,” a program that helps children and other people to give them the “tools necessary to live harmoniously among our thoughts,” and spread the art of mindfulness. Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website. Purchase my book, Jump Start Your Joy: Heart-Centered Ways to Find Joy in The Messy Middle  

How do we welcome in a new year, after 2020 was full of so many difficult things? In this first interview of 2021, I'm so delighted to be joined by the five podcasters behind "The Best Parts Podcast:" Louise Neil, Nikki Baker Wulf, Laura Lively, Sara Doell, and Kim Romain. Their philosophy is that all parts of our lives are the best parts. I know that there is a really big desire to slam the door on 2020, and call it a dumpster fire. Instead, I want to focus on what is going on for each of us as we enter into a new year That said, there's something that's really juicy about the middle of all of this, because: One: I don't think all the problems that we've come up with and seen in 2020 are just going to end. We've already seen that that isn't true. Two: Much of the turmoil that's been put into motion across the board is also going to stay in play.  Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website. Purchase my book, Jump Start Your Joy: Heart-Centered Way

In this episode, we’ll be looking at how to bring joy into your life, even when it’s hard. Many of us are sitting in the midst of extremes right now: feeling isolated and wishing for connection, being overwhelmed and wishing for calm. We are sad over the current situation of the world, and also want to feel joy. In this episode I’ll share how you can integrate these things in your life, by looking for the “and.” Finding Joy in The Messy Middle  When we get into a place like the pandemic, and things have been difficult for a sustained amount of time, finding joy becomes a practice. And, it becomes more important than ever before. One way of doing this is to make sure that you become mindful of adding joy into your day, and scheduling in time (or taking the time) to do something that helps to connect you to joy each day.  Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website. Purchase my book, Jump Start Your Joy: Heart-Centered Ways to Find Joy in The Messy Middle

I could not be more excited to share this week’s interview with John McEuen of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. John is one of the most celebrated and best known banjo players in the world, and has had a long and exciting career in music. It was amazing to get to speak with him about his book, “The Life I’ve Picked,” his early days at the magic shop in Disneyland (where he became friends with Steve Martin), and about being the first American musical group to tour Russia in 1977.  I also loved getting to hear about John’s creative process, and how much he delights in creating music to share with others. You can hear the joy in his voice as he talks about his experiences. Plus, he talks about “bone records” which made to bootleg music into Russia in the 70s, and that is not something you are gonna hear on any other podcast today. Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website.

In this interview, I’m joined by Lan Cao and Harlan Margaret Van Cao, who are the mother and daughter team who have written the beautiful duet memoir, “Family in Six Tones: A Refugee Mother, an American Daughter.” Lan Cao immigrated to the United States in 1975, after the end of the Vietnam War. She raised her daughter, Harlan, in the US. In their beautiful memoir, they both share about their journey in growing up. In this interview, we talk about: Lan and Harlan’s experiences growing up The importance of the role of both of their fathers in their lives How they wrote a duet memoir as mother and daughter The relationships between mothers and daughters The awkwardness of high school Dealing with isolation and the longing to belong Vietnam, the war, and what it was like to move to the US as a Vietnamese immigrant Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website.

This episode’s interview is with Marsha Flowers of Five Blessings Candles in Leavenworth, Kansas. She’s been an entrepreneur for years, making candles and creating “Happiness in a Flicker” with unique scents and joyful names. She has had both a brick and mortar version of her business, and she is now all online. Marsha and I talk about: Her earliest sparks of joy: playing as the candlemaker How she and her sister started making candles and began their entrepreneurial  Why Marsha left the business for a bit, and why she’s back Going from brick and mortar to online sales (and why that’s great during COVID) The magic that’s happened along the way to discovering the pieces that have made her business work Ways to make the holidays feel a little merrier this year, even during COVID Her favorite scents and how she makes and names them Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website. Sign up for Newsletter on my website.

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

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.