Why do so many of us struggle to live authentically, even when we know who we are deep down? Leona deVinne reveals that finding joy isn't about positive thinking or life hacks – it's about doing the brave work of owning who you really are.

Through the JOY framework and three powerful personas, this episode provides a research-backed roadmap from clarity to confidence to courage. You'll discover why we choose belonging over authenticity and learn practical ways to stop living as "adult software running on childhood algorithms."

In this episode, we explore:

(00:38) Why authenticity is the bravest work we'll ever do

(01:23) How childhood attachment needs shape adult behavior 

(03:05) Why we choose belonging over being real

(05:33) Grace as the pathway to true self-clarity

(08:04) The five-minute writing practice for self-discovery

(10:23) How to practice self-compassion like a loving friend

(12:15) Why joy requires courage over comfort

(14:38) The 5% braver question that changes everything

The JOY Journey

The JOY Journey is an online space for women ready to reconnect, reset, and grow – at your own pace or alongside a supportive community.

What you get:

• 10 emails each month with simple, research-backed tools
• Guided meditations, journalling prompts, and practical techniques
• Ongoing support designed to help changes actually stick
• Access to a dedicated app with all content anytime

Community option:

• Live sessions twice a month (1 hour)
• Reflect, write, and connect with others on the same path
• Fridays at 11:30 MT

If something in this episode resonated, this is your next step.

Get 30% off as a Finding Joy listener:

https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page 

Connect with Finding Joy:

Website: https://www.leonadevinne.com and https://devillepartners.com 

Subscribe for weekly emails: https://ghl.devillepartners.com/widget/form/Dvb9FUenar3xybDTFeww 

The JOY Journey https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoyspot  

Finding Your Joy Spot Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991707583

What if everything you chased – success, validation, achievement – wasn’t what truly mattered?

Leona deVinne sits down with her partner, Rod Miller, to explore how trauma, identity, and a life-changing cancer diagnosis reshaped his definition of fulfilment. Rod shares raw reflections on resilience, healing, and letting go of inherited expectations. Together, they unpack how adversity can clarify what matters most: relationships, health, and living in alignment with who you really are.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Prioritizing what truly matters

(05:28) Redefining success and priorities

(06:49) Finding meaning beyond traditional success

(09:32) Childhood trauma that shaped identity

(13:05) Purpose, leadership and legacy

(17:19) Turning adversity into growth

(22:32) Understanding identity through early life

(25:27) Creating a meaningful life

(26:49) Choosing to be true to yourself

Links mentioned in this episode:

Rod Miller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodmiller/ 

Connect with Finding Joy:

Website: https://www.leonadevinne.com and https://devillepartners.com/

Subscribe for weekly emails: https://ghl.devillepartners.com/widget/form/Dvb9FUenar3xybDTFeww

The JOY Journey https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoyspot 

Finding Your Joy Spot Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991707583 

Ever had a day where joy felt impossible to find? In this minisode, I unpack the ‘3 Ps’ of resilient people, from Martin Seligman.

Next time life gets messy – remember the key takeaway: Check your thinking, stay centered, and come back to joy. You’ve got this.

Connect with Finding Joy:

Website: https://www.leonadevinne.com and https://devillepartners.com 

Subscribe for weekly emails: https://ghl.devillepartners.com/widget/form/Dvb9FUenar3xybDTFeww 

The JOY Journey https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoyspot  

Finding Your Joy Spot Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991707583

Welcome to Finding Joy! In this season’s opening episode, I provide a candid exploration of my own relationship with joy – especially how it shows up in life’s messiest moments.  Tune in as I share my philosophy: joy isn’t about ignoring pain or spreading superficial positivity, but rather it’s deeply linked to authenticity, meaning, and finding purpose even when circumstances are tough.

Through stories, science, and soulful discussion, this episode sets the stage for a season committed to helping listeners Just Own You – the acronym for JOY discovered in a moment of self-reflection.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:09) The power of joy in challenging times

(04:03) The true nature of joy

(04:54) The power of unfinished conversations

(06:27) Owning yourself

(07:16) Embracing authenticity

Links mentioned in this episode:

Brené Brown

Website: https://www.leonadevinne.com and https://devillepartners.com/

Subscribe for weekly emails: https://ghl.devillepartners.com/widget/form/Dvb9FUenar3xybDTFeww

The JOY Journey https://go.leonadevinne.com/the-joy-journey-landing-page 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejoyspot 

Finding Your Joy Spot Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0991707583 

🎙️ Finding Your Joy Spot with Leona deVinne
Episode Title: The Vulnerability Hangover
Length: 5–6 minutes

💡 Episode Summary

What does The Lion King have to do with courage, self-doubt, and grace?

In this honest and relatable episode, author and guide Leona deVinne shares a story about waking up with what Brené Brown calls a vulnerability hangover, that moment when bravery feels more like panic than power.

From nearly “throwing in the towel” to being reminded (by both her coach and Mufasa) to remember who you are, Leona takes us inside a morning of stretching, self-doubt, and grace.

She reminds us that bravery doesn’t always look bold; sometimes it looks like rolling out your yoga mat when you want to hide, listening for the still, small voice that says remember, and choosing not to back down when the stretch feels uncomfortable.

Because this is the art of not giving up.

🪞 In This Episode

• What it feels like to have a vulnerability hangover - and why it’s not a sign to stop.
• How small grounding practices can anchor courage when you feel uncertain.
• The unexpected wisdom of The Lion King and the power of remembering who you are.
• The poem that brought Leona back to her purpose - and what “Just Own You” really means.
• How grace helps us hold both self-doubt and self-belief at the same time.

📝 Journal Prompts

• Where in my life am I being stretched right now?
• What would it look like to offer myself grace instead of criticism?
• When I “remember who I am,” what truths rise to the surface?
• What does Just Own You mean to me in this season?

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• Grace - Leona’s meditation soundtrack from The Womb series.
• Blog: When Courage Feels Uncomfortable
• Learn more about Leona’s work at leonadevinne.com

✨ Connect with Leona

• Website: leonadevinne.com
• Instagram: @thejoyspot
• Substack: Finding Your Joy Spot
• YouTube: Leona deVinne - Finding Your Joy Spot

💬 Episode Quote

“Grace is what we need when our courage feels shaky - it’s what keeps us from quitting when the stretch gets uncomfortable.” - Leona deVinne

Episode Title: Be a Bob: The Hardest Thing I Did Wasn’t Changing the Tire
Host: Leona deVinne
Podcast: Finding Your Joy Spot

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and surprisingly funny reflection, Leona shares the story of a flat tire that turned into an unexpected retreat — and the moment she realized that the hardest thing she did that day wasn’t changing the tire.

It was asking for help.

From a dusty roadside to a chance encounter with a stranger named Bob, this episode explores what it means to lead, live, and love without armouring up — and how courage sometimes looks like raising your hand instead of holding it all together.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why “muscling through” can quietly become a coping strategy that keeps us disconnected.

  
  

• How to reframe asking for help as a strength, not a weakness

  
  

• What a flat tire can teach us about self-reliance, grace, and the real work of joy

  
  

• The power of small, ordinary acts of kindness (and how to be a Bob for someone else)

  
  

• Why life’s detours often deliver the lesson we needed most

  Key Quote

“The hardest thing I did that day wasn’t changing the tire — it was admitting I couldn’t do it all myself.”
 — Leona deVinne

Reflection Prompt

Where in your life are you still trying to muscle through something alone?
 And who could you reach out to — or quietly help — this week?

Connect with Leona

🌐 Website: www.leonadevinne.com
📰 Subscribe to the Newsletter: leonadevinne.com/subscribe
💫 Join the Membership: The J.O.Y. Journey — a community for women ready to live, lead, and love without apology.
📸 Follow on Instagram: @thejoyspot
🎧 Listen & Share: Finding Your Joy Spot is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you listen.

❤️ If You Loved This Episode

• Share it with a friend who tends to do it all by themself.

  
  

• Leave a review — 

What if your life were a movie — and the audience was screaming for you to stop hiding?

In this episode of Finding Your Joy Spot, Leona explores the paradox so many of us live: desperately wanting to be seen, while making ourselves invisible through people-pleasing, perfecting, and performing.

You’ll learn:
 ✨ Why being needed isn’t the same as being valued
 ✨ How to take off the “superhero cloak” of always being the helper
 ✨ What it looks like to live with clarity, confidence, and courage
 ✨ How JOY — Just Own You — can become your daily practice

Reflection Questions:

• Where are you hiding behind a helpful persona?
• Where are you overextending instead of showing up authentically?
• What’s one boundary you know you need to set?

Take some time to journal these questions and notice where the audience of your life might be screaming for you to speak up.

Want to go deeper?

Join me for the Just Own You Retreat on October 18 in Bragg Creek, Alberta — a day to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with your authentic self and discover life changing JOY! https://leonadevinne.com/events/

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Finding Your Joy Spot where we explore what it means to live and lead with clarity, confidence, and courage.

What if the highest tax you’re paying isn’t financial — but personal? In this episode of Finding Your Joy Spot, Leona introduces the concept of the Integrity Tax: the hidden cost of saying yes when you want to say no, of staying small when you’re called to more, and of silencing your truth.

Drawing on personal stories, Brené Brown’s research on resentment, and Gabor Maté’s insights on health, Leona unpacks how integrity tax accrues quietly — and what it takes to stop paying it.

You’ll discover:

-How integrity shows up through clarity, confidence, and courage.
-The real costs of living out of alignment.
-Practical prompts to help you audit your life and realign with your truth.

Because integrity isn’t about perfection — it’s about alignment. And the more aligned you are, the less you owe.

Please stay connected with Leona, sign up for my weekly emails https://leonadevinne.com/subscribe

Free reflection & resources:

Values Finding Tool: https://leonadevinne.kit.com/keynote

Blog post https://leonadevinne.com/personal-growth/the-integrity-tax/

Just Own You Retreat (Oct 18): https://leonadevinne.com/events/

Self-Compassion Meditation: https://share.transistor.fm/s/504a9ea9

Looking for more Quiet Space? Join The Womb —a monthly reflection circle, Sept 14 at 1 pm MT, a camera-off, no sharing space, simply a time to relax, reflect, reset: https://leonadevinne.kit.com/f7d99ccdac

🎙️ Subscribe to Finding Your Joy Spot on YouTube and your favourite podcast platform for more conversations on clarity, confidence, courage, and joy.

Bury Doubt Before It Buries You

Episode Summary

Doubt has a way of slipping in quietly, convincing you that you’re not ready, not enough, or not the right person for the job. And when we believe it, we start living smaller—bit by bit—until we’re only bringing a fraction of ourselves into the world.

In this episode of Finding Your Joy Spot, Leona shares how she confronted her own self-doubt—literally burying it in her backyard—and why this simple ritual can help you reclaim your voice and power. She dives into how doubt keeps you from living the essence of JOY (Just Own You), what science says about using your own name to shift your inner dialogue, and how intentional action sends a powerful message to your brain that things have changed.

You’ll walk away with a set of powerful journal prompts, a guided reflection to help you rewrite your doubts into truth, and a tangible ritual you can use any time those old voices start to creep back in.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Doubt is one of the most effective jailers of your true self.

  
  

• The role of distanced self-talk (from Ethan Kross’s Chatter) in quieting mental chatter.

  
  

• How small rituals can create big shifts in your mindset.

  
  

• The JOY framework—Just Own You—and why doubt is its biggest obstacle.

  
  

• Seven journal prompts to uncover, challenge, and release your doubts.

Links & Resources Mentioned
Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross
Jefferson Fisher Podcast featuring Damon West  https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/podcast/damon-west-communication

Connect with Leona

Instagram: @thejoyspot
Website: leonadevinne.com
Get the Book: Finding Your Joy Spot https://www.amazon.ca/Finding-Your-Joy-Spot-Unexpected/dp/0991707583

Join the Finding Your Joy Spot newsletter https://leonadevinne.com/subscribe

Finding Your Joy Spot - Episode: When Finding Your Voice Requires a Shovel 

Episode Summary

In this episode, Leona explores why women often silence themselves, play small, or soften their edges in both personal and professional settings. Drawing from evolutionary psychology and her own Lioness Project research, she discusses how our ancient brain wiring still impacts how we show up today—and what we can do about it.

Leona shares practical reflection exercises to help listeners excavate old patterns, heal childhood wounds, and step into their full power with courage and compassion.

Key Topics Discussed

• Why women experience safety differently and how it impacts our behaviour
• The evolutionary wiring that keeps us playing small
• The difference between "pushing through" and doing the deeper excavating work
• How childhood experiences shape our adult patterns
• Practical exercises for healing and integration using Internal Family Systems principles
• Finding joy in courageous acts and making courage contagious

Reflection Exercises

Take these at your own pace—one a day, one a week, or all at once with strong coffee:

1. Stream of consciousness writing: How did a difficult childhood situation impact you? Write for 2-5 minutes without stopping.
2. Pattern recognition: What has that situation imprinted on you? How does it impact you now?
3. Inner child work: Go back to that situation and comfort your younger self. Write from their voice—let them express their fear, sadness, or devastation.
4. Compassionate acknowledgment: How has that moment shaped you? Write a compassionate note to that part of yourself.
5. Strategy awareness: What did you learn from that pattern? What strategies did you develop to avoid feeling that way again?
6. Integration: Welcome your younger self in. Remind them they don't need to keep you small anymore.
7. Honouring: Ask how that younger part wants to be honoured—through play, creativity, or simple pleasures.

Resources Mentioned

Internal Family Systems Research:
IFS Institute

The Lioness Project:
www.thelionessproject.com

Connect with Leona

Website: www.leonadevinne.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thejoyspot

Facebook: @thejoyspot

Subscribe & Share

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe to Finding Your Joy Spot wherever you listen to podcasts. Share it with someone who might need to hear this message—remember, courage is contagious, and joy shared is always joy squared!

Quote of the Episode

"The digging is about cultivating the soil of our hearts and lives to make room for our truth to grow. And when one has the courage to do that, there's often a spot of joy in those courageous acts."