What happens when the qualities you spent a lifetime apologizing for suddenly make you famous? That’s the story of Annie Korzen, an actor, writer, and now an accidental influencer who skyrocketed to social media fame in her 80s. You may recognize her from Seinfeld, but today, she’s captivating millions with her unfiltered wisdom, humor, and brutally honest takes on life, aging, and saying “Yeah, why not?” to unexpected opportunities.

In this episode, Annie shares how she went from bit-part actress to viral sensation, the lessons she’s learned about storytelling, rejection, and reinvention, and why she believes embracing your true self is the key to success. We also dig into her new book, The Book of Annie: Humor, Heart, and Chutzpah from an Accidental Influencer, and her thoughts on aging, money, and why everyone needs a little rebellion in their lives.

Whether you’re 25 or 85, this conversation will leave you laughing, inspired, and maybe even rethinking your own next big leap.

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Annie Korzen’s Website: AnnieKorzen.com

Buy The Book of Annie: Amazon

YouTube Channel: Annie Korzen Videos

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[00:00] Introduction – Meet Annie Korzen and her unexpected journey to viral fame.

[03:00] Embracing Change in Your 80s – How TikTok transformed Annie’s career.

[07:00] The Power of Saying “Yeah, Why Not?” – Why taking risks leads to unexpected rewards.

[12:00] Life Lessons from Hollywood and Seinfeld – How Annie’s iconic TV role shaped her career.

[18:00] Storytelling, Rejection, and Resilience – The craft of storytelling and why persistence matters.

[24:00] Ageism, Social Media, and Finding Your Voice – Annie’s take on how older voices are gaining traction.

[31:00] The Book of Annie – What inspired Annie’s memoir and the stories inside.

[37:00] Breaking Free from Society’s Expectations – Owning who you are at any age.

[42:00] Final Thoughts & Where to Find Annie – Links, social media, and how to get the book.

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In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, host James sits down with R.L. Carpentier, a veteran law enforcement officer turned crime fiction writer. Rodney shares his journey from studying English literature to unexpectedly entering law enforcement and how he rekindled his love for storytelling after nearly two decades on the force. His debut novel, Our Lady of the Overlook, is the first in a gripping crime thriller series that merges real-world policing experience with compelling storytelling.

Rodney walks us through the moment of inspiration that led to his novel, how he overcame imposter syndrome, and the writing strategies that helped him bring his book to life. He shares insights on crafting realistic police procedurals, the importance of self-imposed deadlines, and how he balances his creative work with his career. He also discusses his approach to self-publishing, working with editors, and building a writing platform ahead of his upcoming retirement.

If you've ever wanted to write a book but struggled with getting started, this episode is packed with actionable advice and motivation.

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:01:00] The Inspiration for Our Lady of the Overlook

[00:03:30] From College Writer to Police Officer

[00:06:00] The Turning Point: Why Writing Had to Happen

[00:09:00] Learning the Craft & Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

[00:12:00] Self-Publishing: The Reality of Making a Book Happen

[00:18:00] Realistic Crime Writing: Blending Fact with Fiction

[00:22:00] The Evolution of a Trilogy

[00:26:00] Financing & Marketing a Self-Published Book

[00:30:00] Building a Writing Career Before Retirement

[00:34:00] Final Thoughts & Advice

Guest Website & Newsletter Signup: rlcarpentierwriter.com

Podcast Episode Summary

In this insightful episode of A Joyful Rebellion, host James sits down with Kareen Aristide, a human behavior consultant and mental health advocate, to discuss the profound difference between happiness and joy. Kareen shares her personal journey—from a thriving career to a life-altering crash that forced her to reevaluate success, purpose, and well-being.

She introduces the DISC personality model, explaining how self-awareness can help individuals break free from societal expectations, avoid burnout, and make career and life choices that align with their true nature.

They dive deep into why high-achievers often struggle with fulfillment, the dangers of overachievement, and the warning signs that signal an impending crash.

Kareen also provides actionable advice on how to cultivate joy, set boundaries, and align personal and professional growth with individual strengths. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a high-performer, or someone feeling stuck, this episode will inspire you to rethink success and embrace a more intentional, fulfilling path.

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Guest Website: KareenAristide.com

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Tune in to learn how to shift from doing to being—and discover a more joyful, authentic way to live.

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:02:00] Understanding Societal Expectations

[00:03:30] Kareen’s Personal Journey

[00:07:00] The Concept of "Being Before Doing"

[00:10:00] Exploring the DISC Personality Model

[00:18:00] Applying DISC to Work and Life

[00:25:00] The Warning Signs of Burnout

[00:30:00] Managing Mental Health as an Entrepreneur

[00:36:00] Cultivating Joy Over Happiness

[00:42:00] Final Thoughts & Takeaways

https://kimrahir.com/

https://ajoyfulrebellion.com/

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In this inspiring episode of A Joyful Rebellion, James chats with Kim Rahir, a 60-year-old mother of three, European Masters Weightlifting Champion, and health coach. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 10 years ago, Kim defied conventional advice and used strength training to reclaim her health and independence.

Kim shares her journey from paralysis and uncertainty to empowerment and strength, discussing how her personal rebellion against her diagnosis transformed her life. She now dedicates her work to helping women in midlife rediscover their health, confidence, and resilience through fitness and strength training.

Whether you’re navigating a health challenge or simply want to feel stronger and more in control of your life, Kim’s story offers actionable insights and motivation to take charge of your well-being.

[00:00] Introduction: Meet Kim Rahir, her inspiring bio, and the importance of joyful rebellion.

[03:00] Receiving the MS Diagnosis: Facing darkness, fear, and redefining life after a life-altering diagnosis.

[07:30] Choosing Strength: How Kim began strength training to take back her power and rebuild trust in her body.

[12:00] From Gym Newbie to Champion: The journey to becoming a European Masters Weightlifting Champion.

[16:00] Helping Women in Midlife Thrive: Kim’s work with women over 40 and why strength training is essential.

[20:30] Breaking Myths Around Women and Fitness: Addressing fears about “bulking up” and starting slow.

[25:00] The Power of Simple, Sustainable Habits: Why small steps and consistency make all the difference.

[31:00] Nutrition and Common Misconceptions: Dispelling food myths and how to reconnect with your body.

[36:00] Finding Your Pivotal Moment: Why mindset shifts are key to starting a health journey.

[40:00] Final Advice: Kim’s empowering message—ask yourself, “What can I do now?”

Men’s Groups and the New Masculinity: A Conversation with Jason Lange

In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, James sits down with Jason Lange, men’s guide, coach, and founder of Evolutionary Men. Together, they explore the modern challenges men face and why men’s groups are becoming a powerful solution for personal growth. Jason shares his journey from feeling disconnected to becoming a leader in men’s development, offering insights into how cultural shifts have redefined masculinity. From navigating relationships to building better communities, this conversation dives deep into how men can find purpose and thrive.

00:00 – Introduction: Meet Jason Lange and the importance of men’s groups.

05:00 – Redefining Masculinity: How cultural shifts shaped modern manhood.

15:00 – Finding Your Tribe: Why men’s groups matter and how to find one.

25:00 – Breaking the Lone Wolf Myth: The importance of community for men.

35:00 – Actionable Insights: Jason’s advice for men ready to grow.

50:00 – Closing Thoughts: Key takeaways and how to connect with Jason.

Jason Lange’s Website: evolutionary.men

Book Mentioned: No More Mr. Nice Guy by Dr. Robert Glover

Jason’s Podcast: Evolutionary Men Podcast

men’s groups, modern masculinity, Jason Lange, personal growth for men, mentorship for men, breaking stereotypes, men’s mental health, emotional resilience, nice guy syndrome, community for men, purpose-driven life.

In this episode, James sits down with Tess Callahan, novelist, teacher, and meditation guide, for a deeply inspiring conversation about creativity, writing, and the transformative power of mindfulness. Tess shares the story behind her upcoming novel Dawnland, a rich exploration of family, secrets, and redemption.

Together, they discuss how Tess uses meditation and dreams as part of her creative process, the concept of creative constraints, and her personal journey balancing the demands of life with her passion for storytelling. Whether you’re a writer, a seeker, or someone curious about unlocking your own potential, this episode is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical advice.

00:00 – Introduction: Setting the stage for a conversation with Tess Callahan.

02:00 – Meet Tess: Tess introduces herself and her new book, Dawnland.

09:00 – The Writing Process: Insights into the messy yet magical journey of writing.

17:30 – Dreams and Creativity: How Tess uses dreams to spark inspiration.

24:00 – Meditation for Focus: The role of meditation in her creative and personal life.

32:00 – Creative Constraints: How limits can fuel innovation in writing.

42:00 – Journaling for Self-Discovery: Tess’s advice on writing to pursue your questions.

51:00 – Book Promotion Challenges: Tess reflects on transitioning from writing to promoting.

57:00 – Wrapping Up: James and Tess discuss joyful rebellion and embracing life’s challenges.

Tess Callahan’s Website: http://www.tesscallahan.com

Dawnland (Preorder/Order): http://www.tesscallahan.com/dawnland

Heart Haven Meditations Podcast: Heart Haven Meditations

ajoyfulrebellion.com

infinitylifestyledesign.com

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If you are anything like me, you’ve made the mistake of blaming time for not getting everything you want to do in your life. Statements like “I don’t have time " or “There aren’t enough hours in the day” are as common to say as they are to hear from others, but if we’re being honest with ourselves, they’re just excuses that help us feel better about how our priorities are playing out in our lives.

If you are curious about becoming more intentional about how you use time, then turn up your volume. My guest today is David Buck, who wrote the book on this subject. It’s called The Time Optimized Life, and I feel certain you’ll get at least one great nugget of wisdom out of our conversation.

And hey, if not, you’ll at least get to hear about the type of person I find to be more proud of their lifestyle than both vegans and crossfitters combined, and man, that’s saying a whole lot.

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https://ajoyfulrebellion.com/

https://rkblog.com/

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Do you consider yourself to be creative? My guest today shares his insights on the types of creativity everyone has access to if they work to develop it for themselves.

Rich Kirkpatrick writes, consults, and speaks about the intersection of creativity, faith and leadership. He’s the author of a book called, MINDBLOWN: Unlock Your Creative Genius by Bridging Science and Magic. and today, we are talking about one of my favorite subjects, creativity.

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If you could have the ability to remember the details of every single day of most of your life, would you want to? Recalling every conversation, adventure, misadventure, the weather and the day’s current events on a whim might seem cool at first, but do you think it would it eventually become a burden?

My guest today is Frank Healy. He’s one of about 100 people in the world who can recall every day of his life in vivid detail since he was six years old.

He’s spent his career helping people become the best version of themselves and written several books on the topic of memories and how we can not only heal from, but also triumph over our past traumas to live our best life.

So many of our results in life are a product of our communication. From simple things like sharing what we want for lunch that day, to the more complex tasks like inspiring others with a vision of the future, words and our use of language tend to do the heavy lifting.

On the flip side, lack of communication earns its own set of results. Just ask anyone who has experienced a failed business, relationship or lost opportunity because of poor communication.

My guest today has dedicated her last twenty years to the field of speech pathology and recently wrote a book about how anyone with a child in their life can help them develop the language skills that will set them up for more confidence and success in their future.

Jeaneen Tang’s book is called Play Dumb and Sabotage and she explains what it means to mindfully underestimate a child’s needs, in order to create opportunities to practice language.