July 23, 2025

Fiercely Joyful: Tash Durkins on Owning Joy Without Apology

54 minutes

Joy is your birthright. It is that belief that underlies Tash Durkin's work as a bestselling author and founder of Fiercely Joyful. In this episode, Tash joins Dr. Payal Beri to explore the transformative power of joy, not only as an escape, but as a strategy for alignment, authenticity, and resistance.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction to Joy as a Birthright

01:14 Meet Tash Durkins: Advocate for Authentic Joy

03:16 The Journey from Grief to Joy

06:10 Choosing Joy Amidst Pain

08:27 Micro Steps to Embrace Joy

19:33 The Concept of Fiercely Joyful

22:02 Toxic Positivity vs. Authentic Joy

27:38 Addressing Masked Emotions

28:18 Cultural Perspectives on Vulnerability

28:56 The Importance of Support Systems

30:29 Acknowledging and Supporting Others

32:12 The Role of Joy in Difficult Times

37:56 Escapism and Joy in Media

44:37 Creating Joyful Work Environments

48:43 Leading with Humanity and Compassion

52:41 Final Thoughts and Farewell

In the episode, Tash shares how losing her mother at 20 set her on a journey to reframe grief, reclaim joy, and help high-achieving women reconnect to who they were before the world told them who to be. From dismantling toxic positivity to creating micro-moments of joy in the workplace, this episode is a masterclass in emotional freedom and fierce self-permission.

If you’ve ever felt the guilt of feeling good in a heavy world, or wondered how to protect your light when things get hard, this conversation is your permission slip to choose joy, boldly and unapologetically.