What if respect isn’t something we owe to power, but something power owes to us? We start with a listener’s challenge - “say one nice thing about Trump” - and follow the thread through the messy intersection of office, behavior, and accountability. Titles don’t launder harm, and a single human moment can’t offset a pattern of contempt. From there, we look at how policy choices reveal priorities: a proposed five‑year social media review for visa waiver travelers as North America prepares for the World Cup and the Olympics. The contradiction is stark - inviting the world to celebrate while signaling suspicion at the border - and it raises real questions about free expression, privacy, and soft power.

We also zoom in on shifting political ground at home, from Miami’s new Democratic mayor to a heavyweight Texas primary shaped by gerrymandering and court decisions. Then we widen back to Central America, where Honduras faces a pivotal choice between corruption and hardline order. We talk candidly about security, due process, and the risks of letting fear do the policymaking. Power without guardrails breeds hypocrisy; pardoning a convicted trafficker while pushing extrajudicial force is the definition of mixed signals.

Underneath these stories runs a deeper current: empathy fatigue. A San Diego freeway closure for a suicidal man triggered more outrage over delays than concern for a life in crisis. We connect that brittleness to our unprocessed pandemic grief and the way social media rewards performative cruelty as often as it amplifies care. And because joy is part of the antidote, we end with a Hallmark curveball - yes, a firefighter, two cats, and a soft landing. Comfort isn’t an escape from seriousness; it’s fuel for showing up with more humanity the next day.

If this resonates, share it with a friend, hit follow, and leave us a review with one takeaway you’re still thinking about. Your notes shape what we explore next.

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

A candid conversation with Blake Fischer on rebuilding trust, cutting through outrage, and restoring self‑government.

Politics shouldn’t feel like a loyalty test, but for a lot of people it does. We invited Blake Fischer, creator of The Homeless Conservative, to talk about why so many “exhausted citizens” are stepping back, how the parties lost their grip on governing, and what it takes to rebuild trust in a system that seems to reward outrage over outcomes. From his early days on a mayoral campaign to launching a podcast meant to add clarity instead of heat, Blake lays out a simple frame: conserve the constitutional order, return Congress to legislating, and stop treating presidents like kings.

We dig into the century-long power shift from Capitol Hill to the White House, why executive orders keep multiplying, and how court rulings and crisis politics nudged us toward a presidency that tries to do everything. Blake explains how weak parties and strong PACs pushed primaries to extremes, sidelining nuance and elevating personalities. We trade notes on media incentives, the dopamine economy of fear and anger, and what younger voters—who only know politics in the Trump era—have been taught to expect. The throughline is practical: write down your principles before you pick your person, follow sources that cite evidence, and reward anyone who corrects themselves in public.

This conversation isn’t about agreeing on every issue; it’s about restoring the habits that make self-government possible. If you’ve felt torn between teams, wary of headlines, or unsure where to start, you’ll leave with a clearer map: how to talk across differences without losing your friends, how to pressure representatives to do their job, and how to sort fact from noise when the feeds light up. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s checked out, and leave a review telling us one principle you won’t compromise on—what would help you re-engage?

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

Part 1 - Politics US

A cabinet official leaks sensitive strike details on a personal Signal account, a suspected war crime at sea ignites bipartisan scrutiny, and Trump drops 158 posts to flood the news cycle. We connect the dots between bad judgment, broken incentives, and a culture that rewards noise over integrity—then pivot to how ordinary people can still choose clarity, community, and joy.

We unpack what the Pentagon’s inspector general actually found, why firing on survivors violates both law and conscience, and how institutional timidity lets reckless decisions stand. From Congress to corporate suites, too many stakeholders run a personal cost-benefit analysis and call it leadership. We talk candidly about due process, soft power, and the growing distance between American ideals and American behavior that allies can’t ignore.

Part 2 - Social Media Australia Doings

The conversation shifts to Australia’s under-16 social media ban: bold signal or blunt tool? We weigh the mental health upside against enforcement pitfalls like age verification, privacy risks, and teen workarounds. What works better is intentional digital life - parent-guided norms, critical thinking, and open talk about algorithms, creator incentives, and AI fakery. For today’s kids, the phone is the new street corner because the real one is empty; rebuilding offline freedom matters as much as any app rule.

Part 3 - Hallmark Update with Andrea

To close, we check in on small comforts with Hallmark and holiday movies - why cozy tropes help our nervous systems, what makes a good one (chemistry, clean writing, a near-kiss well-earned), and where the genre needs to grow. Authentic diversity isn’t a checkbox; it’s the texture that keeps stories honest!   

Heavy news and light stories can live side by side. Hit play, share with a friend, and tell us: what’s your go-to comfort watch this season? If this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and join the conversation.

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

This week we’re taking a pause for the holiday and bringing you something different: a rewind across all four shows under the All About The Joy umbrella — Friday Night Live, The Private Lounge, Culture and Consequence, and Carmen Talk. 

Friday Night Live: The week didn’t go as planned: too-early holiday decorations, energy at zero, and a funeral that brought everything into focus. That’s where our conversation starts—at the messy edge of real life—before opening into a thoughtful, myth-busting look at cosmetic care, modern healthcare, and a practice of joy that actually holds up.

The Private Lounge: We’re joined by a cosmetic dermatology pro who reframes “Botox” as wrinkle relaxer treatment and walks us through natural results that preserve expression, not erase identity. We talk candidly about safety for immunocompromised folks, when to get physician clearance, and how neuromodulators began as medical tools for migraines, movement disorders, and excessive sweating. The difference between ethical, individualized care and fast-talking upsell culture becomes stark: tailored injections by region, attention to anatomy, and transparency make all the difference. If you’ve ever worried about looking “done,” this segment will calm your nerves and give you smarter questions to ask any provider.

Culture and Consequence: From there, the lens widens to healthcare itself. A simple request for help with sleep turns into a quick pivot toward weight-loss meds, highlighting how billing codes, short appointments, and fragmented referrals undermine whole-person care. We unpack the policy whiplash around insurance, coverage, and political strategy that leaves patients feeling like afterthoughts.

Carmen Talk: And then we ground it all with a deeper idea: happiness is fleeting, sadness is fleeting, but joy is a skill you can build. Joy becomes the throughline—from grief and rain-soaked days to better skincare choices and the courage to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office.

If you’re craving conversations with good friends, from gossipy fun to politics and just good insights, please join and follow along!  Share this with a friend who needs encouragement, subscribe for more grounded conversations, and leave a review to tell us where you’re finding joy this week.

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

What if the feeling you’re chasing isn’t meant to be chased at all? Carmen shares why happiness is a spark and joy is a lighthouse, and how learning the difference changed her life. From a tender childhood memory - horseback riding boots -  that cut into the back of her knees while her heart soared - to a recent doctor visit that spiraled into anger, she shows how accessing joy can steady your breath, shift your perspective, and help you move forward when everything feels heavy.

We talk about happiness as external and fleeting: bonuses, sunny walks, a favorite song that hits just right. Then we pivot to joy as internal, durable, and trainable - an inner practice built on stored memories of being loved, seen, and worthy. You’ll hear practical ways to build a “joy library,” from saving three anchoring memories to keeping a playlist ready for emotional first aid. Carmen also digs into negativity bias, why we rubberneck at wreckage, and how to flip that reflex so your attention feeds what you want more of.

Boundaries play a starring role. Protecting joy means becoming more selective with people and inputs, not as a wall but as a welcome mat for the right ones. As you curate relationships that amplify your peace, you create space for new light to enter. The goal isn’t to erase sadness or cling to happiness. It’s to trust that both pass - and to practice the skill that outlives every mood: joy.

If this conversation helped you see a way through, share it with a friend who needs the reminder. Subscribe for more grounded, practical tools, and leave a review to tell us your favorite joy memory - we’d love to hear it!  

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

A political pivot is easy to post but hard to prove. We open with Marjorie Taylor Greene’s sudden distance from Trump, then ask the harder question: what does real accountability look like for anyone who cheered harmful policies and normalized cruelty? Drawing on Alyssa Milano’s sharp Substack, we separate performance from change and make the case that words aren’t enough - consistent votes, policies, and courage under pressure are the only receipts that matter.

From there, we trace the currents feeding our polarized moment: the male loneliness crisis as both a real ache and a gateway to resentment, the status whiplash some white men feel as equity advances, and the stereotype panic that erupts when joyful representation clashes with old narratives. We talk about why empathy must live alongside boundaries, and why character is revealed by how we meet discomfort. Then the stakes rise. We unpack veterans in Congress urging service members to refuse unlawful orders and Trump’s furious response, including amplified calls for violence. Normalization is the authoritarians’ favorite tool; accountability is how we blunt it.

To breathe again, we end with the coziest of escapes: Hallmark movies. Yes, the tropes are real - the almost‑kiss, the bakery, the small town miracle - and yes, we lovingly roast the “indicating” acting and chaste finales. But there’s value in comfort, especially as the genre diversifies and challenges narrow ideas of “traditional family.” Joy is not frivolous; it’s fuel.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs both moral clarity and a cozy watch list, and leave a review with your favorite Hallmark trope. Your support helps more curious, compassionate listeners find us.

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

A kindergartener chasing laughs becomes a Netflix‑credited actor with a thriving improv trio - that’s the arc Jack Seavor McDonald shares as we explore what it really takes to build a creative life. From landing the Mad Hatter in a community musical to working on shows like Modern Family and Never Have I Ever, Jack reveals how small stages, supportive mentors, and relentless reps turn ambition into momentum. He breaks down the difference between improv and stand‑up with crisp clarity, showing why ensemble listening, playful risk, and physical comedy shaped his voice more than scripted punchlines ever could.

We go behind the camera to decode set life: how art departments build partial homes that feel whole, why a great take is a dance of lighting, sound, camera, and timing, and how “pampering” is actually smart safety and insurance at work. Jack’s pool‑cramp story delivers both a laugh and a lesson about teamwork. He also opens up about the lines he draws—avoiding racist roles and not mimicking disabilities he doesn’t have—explaining how ethics and representation guide choices without stifling storytelling. Along the way, we touch on his new horror‑comedy film Or Else, demystifying fear by appreciating craft through behind‑the‑scenes features.

When the conversation turns to AI, Jack is pragmatic: powerful for math, limited for art. You can automate a render; you can’t automate presence. We trade views on whether Hollywood is dying or evolving and arrive at a shared belief that live performance, improv, and human collaboration will only grow more valuable. If one era ends, another is waiting backstage. Want more from Jack? Follow him on Instagram at @JackSeavor and on TikTok at @JackSeavor8 for show updates and appearances. If this conversation sparks you, tap follow, share with a friend who loves comedy, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us.

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

A rushed doctor visit, a push for weight loss meds, and a simple question about sleep spiral into a bigger truth: our healthcare system is built for billing codes, not people. We share what it feels like to chase rest through a maze of referrals, to be offered a prescription for the wrong problem, and to long for the old-school visit where a doctor sat down, listened, and connected the dots.

That frustration sets the stage for the week’s political whiplash. We unpack the shutdown theater that cost workers paychecks and put safety nets at risk while inching the ACA back onto the chopping block. If leadership planned to cave, why inflict the pain? We pull apart the optics of “strategy,” the empty promise of replacements for Obamacare, and the downstream consequences for anyone who relies on guaranteed coverage and preexisting condition protections.

Then the headlines shift: the Epstein files resurface old truths about power and impunity. Does any of it move minds? Maybe not—but it matters for survivors, for accountability, and for understanding how institutions slow-walk the stories that define public memory. And just when it’s all too heavy, we land on something tender and real: Jimmy Kimmel’s 22-minute tribute to his friend and bandleader, Cleto. It’s a masterclass in showing up—proof that masculinity can be love, loyalty, and bringing your people with you when success finally arrives. We talk chosen family over DNA, the kind of friend who flies in for your surgery, and why care—not outrage—is the only strategy that scales.

If this resonates, tap follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review. Then text someone you love. Show up. That’s the whole point.

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

Ever wonder why some leaders pull us toward our better selves while others license the worst in us? I sit down with director and activist Joel Lava for a candid, funny, and sometimes fiery conversation that moves from election reactions to what conviction really looks like under pressure. We unpack the Mamdani win in New York, the trap of demanding perfect candidates, and how media platforms reward hysteria over nuance. Joel doesn’t hold back - he names the permission structure for open racism and still argues for leadership that inspires dignity instead of mob energy.

Then we tackle a shift shaking the creative world: AI’s impact on filmmaking. Joel, a DGA Director, predicts a brutal reset for Hollywood as text-to-video tools generate studio-grade scenes in seconds. He mourns the loss of tactile, collaborative production while recognizing the upside for audiences and emerging creators. We explore what survives - taste, story judgment, leadership of tiny teams - and how artists can future-proof by building distinct voices, owning their audience, and learning to direct systems as much as people.

Along the way, we time-travel through Austin, Texas before it was a brand, swap motion graphics war stories, and talk protest design that actually lands. Joel shares a childhood moment he’d rewrite with adult boundaries, a burrito-fueled recovery strategy, and the craft sequence he studies -  shot by shot from The Martian. My own take: I’m making this show without a rigid plan because the work teaches and fuels me - editing, interviewing, lighting, and the patience to listen. The metrics are human: emails that say a mind changed, comments that push back, and a community that shows up even when it stings.

If you care about politics, culture, or the future of creative work, you’ll find perspective here - and maybe a nudge to claim your own agency. If this conversation resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review with your bold prediction for where AI and leadership take us next.

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

In this episode of All About The Joy, Culture and Consequence: 

The lines wrapped around buildings, the speeches were unapologetic, and for a moment the air felt lighter. We dive into why this week’s blue wave hit so hard, not as a finish line but as proof that showing up still moves the needle. From New York’s historic win to California’s focused ballot, we celebrate the turnout while arguing for what comes next: sustained participation, smarter information diets, and a hard reset on political passivity.

We get frank about media literacy and how to build it. Instead of trusting brands, we talk about following journalists who bring receipts, checking quotes against transcripts, and separating interpretations from facts. That thinking shapes a deeper look at Democratic coalition politics: the tension between big-tent pragmatism and democratic socialist energy, why endorsements matter symbolically even if they don’t decide races, and how purity tests can stall progress. We don’t chase heroes; we ask for accountable policies and a coalition that can actually govern.

The conversation turns to age and power, and what it means for leaders to step aside while remaining influential as mentors and advisors. Then we take on the legacy of Dick Cheney, tracing a direct line from the unitary executive theory, the Iraq War, and torture to the democratic strain we’re living with now. Late-life repudiations don’t erase earlier harm, and we wrestle with forgiveness, boundaries, and the right to withhold absolution when public choices cost lives. Along the way, we call out corporate media’s selective silence and make a practical case for following credible reporters, tracking money, and refusing distraction.

If you care about turnout, truth, and the hard work of governing a plural country, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Then take one concrete step this week—register a voter, read beyond the headline, or have the hard conversation—and tell us what you did.

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share. You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly. Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page.

Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481
Editing by Team A-J
Host, Carmen Lezeth


DISCLAIMER: As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast. Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.