What can it look like to put joy back in our relationship with Food? In my Joy First journey I've definitely embraced comfort food and that food is a REALLY important part of my joy... so I think this conversation is SUPER important. So today we're chatting with Laura Lacey Nutritionist and Health Coach for Women (specializing in Perimenopause & Menopause) Laura believes in wellness, nutrition, science and compassion.

Today Laura and I are diving in to a delicious conversation about 'eating the rainbow'. We're exploring the ways food gives us clues about its goodness (as well as discussing the 'bad foods'). If you're feeling drawn to eating more wholesome, real foods... modifying what you feed your body... improving your gut health, or losing weight... or if you're simply interested in learning more about what we eat - you're going to LOVE this episode.

We're going to go 'colour by colour' through the rainbow of food available to us, what to eat more of, and what to avoid, based on its phytochemicals (the stuff that gives fruit and veg its colour).

Recent related episode with Dr.Janna Scharfenberg (touching-on Ayurvedic nutrition)

https://joyfirstworld.com/blogs/joy-first-podcast/finding-winter-joy-with-colour-ayurveda-episode-7

Learn more about Laura and her practice:

visit www.lauralacey.com

To receive weekly tips from Laura about nutrition and menopause subscribe to the Menopause Musings Newsletter:

https://www.lauralacey.com/newsletter

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How about we skip the New Year's Resolutions this year and instead get real about the practical how-to's of finding and prioritizing joy amidst the challenges of entrepreneurship and family life? Today we've got ten road-tested, simple but powerful recipes for making joy easier to find, choose and share each day. If you're ready to shrug off the expectations society, our families and friends put on us in favor of a personal truth that feels more authentic - you're going to love this conversation.

Takeaways:

• Pick one of 10 simple recipes for joy first living and working
• Inspo for a 'word of the year' that leads to the type of change and growth you want most
• How to ditch the one thought pattern that is enemy #1 of growth
• The fastest route to greater intimacy and trust
• My #1 non-negotiable to improve and maintain my mental health.
• Top tips for how to reject societal 'shoulds' that kill joy
• What to measure on the way to success
• The most effective tool we've found in 20 yrs for increasing productivity and consistency
• The contagious way your joy can help everyone around you

Links:

Join our Joy Focus Planning Circle

Join our next Live round of Colour Joy

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Dr. Janna shares how to navigate darker, colder months that often have a negative impact on our mental and physical well-being. Together we explore the symptoms and causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and we unpack light, colour, and nature's powerful role in lifting our mood and supporting our overall health during winter.

Dr. Janna shares her unique approach to well-being, a blending of the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with modern medicine. We talk about the importance of balance—how to navigate lower-energy seasons with grace, and why slowing down and creating space for self-reflection can be the very thing our bodies and minds need.

We touch on the magic of Ayurvedic nutrition, and which spices and foods have healing properties and how mindful choices in what we eat can profoundly influence our mood, energy, and happiness.

If the winter months have you feeling a little low, this conversation is a warm and nourishing invitation to embrace the season, build rituals that support your well-being, and tap into the small, intentional changes that can help you feel lighter, more grounded, and more connected to your joy.

In this episode, we explore:

• What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and how does it impact us?
• What role can colour play in our well-being during winter.
• Highlights of Ayurvedic philosophy
• Does colour matter on your plate?
• What activities should we be pursuing in winter?
• How should we navigate low-energy phases?
• What sort of rituals can help us fell good this winter?

This episode reminds us that the quieter, slower months can be a gift—a chance to nourish yourself, reconnect with your body, and create more ease and joy in the season ahead.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Please share your thoughts, rituals, or winter wins with me on Instagram at @JoyFirstWorld. I’d love to hear how you’re finding light and colour this season!

Here's where you can find Dr. Janna: Instagram | Website

• Dr. Janna believes in Creating Fast, Living Slow
• She is a serial entrepreneur, passionate investor in the health sector and on a great mission to not only make our world healthy, but above all to redefine and live high performance and leadership.
• She has been able to support hundreds of people in following their heart's calling with the Ayurveda Lifestyle Coaching training
• Her offers and training courses are the most cutting-edge in the German-speaking online training market
• She has had the pleasure of being able to support thousands of people on their way to a simply healthy life and, above all, a healthy working environment

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In response to recent announcement, in which it named 'Mocha Mousse' the 2025 Colour of the Year, we've pulled this special episode from our previous show: 'joy, colour, impact and dogs'...

In a nutshell, my opinion on about glorifying this delicious shade of brown is: yes please, especially if it takes us further away from our obsession with grey.

This topic gets me super fired-up because grey is powerful trend that most people think is fabulous, but is actually just not good for us. Neutral is not as aspirational as we make it out to be: grey-white-beige spaces are not the recipe for a joy first life.

In this episode we'll explore:

• Where our obsession with neutral colours comes from
• The shadow side of neutral - and the darker places it can lead
• The connections between our fears and our reliance on white, black and grey
• The role picking a lane, and taking a stand play in a strong and authentic brand
• How taking risks and embracing colour (your colours) can lead to more joy and self-expression.

Episode links:

Take the Quiz: https://jnicholesmith.com/quiz/

Find your Colour Joy: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/colour-joy-course

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In this episode, I’m exploring the magic of the holiday season and how traditions, colour psychology, and personal expression can help create more meaningful celebrations.

As Christmas approaches, I reflect on how the holidays often amplify both joy and stress and why it's so important to redefine traditions in ways that feel authentic to you.

If you don’t celebrate Christmas, that’s completely okay—this season is still an opportunity to find joy in your own way, and creating personal rituals can be just as meaningful.

I also share some emerging trends, like the rise of pink Christmas decor, which brings a sense of emotional warmth to celebrations, and how you can use colour psychology to align your holiday aesthetics with your personality type.

For example, Seaside types often lean toward muted and serene decor, Fireside types embrace warmth and texture, and Starshine types prefer minimalism and clean designs.

By understanding your unique preferences, you can create a more personal, joyful holiday atmosphere that aligns with who you are.

Throughout our time together, I talk about how joy can be found in the little things—from sharing food and music to creating moments of connection.

It’s not about perfection; it’s about presence. This season is a chance to focus on what truly matters, embrace self-expression, and celebrate in a way that feels true to you.

Whether you’re reimagining Christmas traditions or carving out space for a quieter, more intentional holiday, I hope this episode inspires you to rediscover joy and make this season uniquely yours.

I’d love to see how you’re bringing joy to your holidays.

Share your moments with me on social by tagging @JoyFirstWorld and using #joyfirstworld

Links:

Freebie: https://joyfirstworld.com/#free

Explore Colour Joy: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/colour-joy-course

Take the Quiz: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/quiz

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Today I want to offer some context for joy in the 'fight against evil'. Yeah, it might sound a bit dramatic, but sadly it resonates right now given current events.

Where is joy's role in the face of adversity, particularly in the context of political and social turmoil? I want to acknowledge that this episode might feel 'too soon', but I hope you come back to it when you're ready. While it may seem inappropriate to focus on joy during difficult times, it is precisely when we need it the most.

In this episode I outline how joy can serve as a form of resistance and healing, and I provide several practical steps and rituals for cultivating joy in our lives, including how to use color as a tool for self-care.

I also invite you to join us for our #joyfriday joy activation on black friday - links below.

LINKS:

• Join our joy activation on black friday #joyfriday | joyfriday.org
• Learn how to Colour Joy your Wardrobe

SOURCES:

https://www.headspace.com/articles/election-anxiety

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (there was also a film)

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/col.21949?undefined=&utm_campaign=color-therapy&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=blog

https://www.thoughtco.com/dalai-lama-world-saved-western-woman-3971297

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/anti-trump-blue-bracelet-trend-1235163151/

https://medium.com/demagsign/the-colors-of-protest-46289d141e2b

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What if the colours you wear could bring you joy, energy, and confidence every day? In this episode, Nic invites you to reimagine “dopamine dressing”—not just as a fleeting trend, but as a meaningful, joy-first practice. Instead of focusing on fashion, we’re exploring how aligning your wardrobe with your personality type and mood can bring out a new level of self-empowerment and well-being.

Nic dives into the science of colour psychology and the Joy First method, showing us how we can use colour to cultivate a sense of control in our lives. Could a small shift in what you wear each morning lead to a more fulfilling day, or deepen your sense of connection with others?

In this episode, you’ll explore:

• The power of intentional colour choices – Could dressing by colour be a tool for creating daily joy?
• Your colour personality type – How might knowing your type help you rediscover your authentic self?
• The “upward spiral” of joy – What shifts happen when your clothing choices are joy-driven, not on auto-pilot?
• The truth behind colour harmony – How do the colours you wear work together to influence your mood and energy and how do they impact those around you?
• An empowered morning routine – Could getting dressed each day become a moment of joy and purpose?

Nic shares stories of transformation from clients who found new confidence and energy by rethinking their clothing colours. How does this simple ritual help them… could it work for you?

Links:

Explore Colour Joy: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/colour-joy-course

Take the Quiz: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/quiz

• 00:00 – Introduction to "Colouring Joy Your Closet"
• 02:36 – Rethinking Dopamine Dressing
• 06:22 – Finding Your Colour Personality Type
• 10:45 – The Impact of Intentional Colours
• 15:33 – Energizing Your Wardrobe
• 20:12 – The "Upward Spiral" of Joy
• 25:44 – Living in Colour Harmony
• 30:18 – Turning Mornings into Joyful Rituals
• 35:50 – Colour and Connection: Sharing Joy

Join us for an episode that shows how choosing colours for yourself can spark joy—not only in your life but in the lives of everyone around you. Let’s explore together how “colouring your closet” might be the most uplifting change you make this year.

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In this episode, Nic explores the importance of finding 'fit' in marketing, and in life. She discusses the lack of nuance in discussions around how to be more happy or how to leverage the insights from positive psychology. She explains how understanding your unique personality type can give you insight into your personal joy profile, which can lead to all kinds of positive shifts.

Nic shares her personal journey of self-acceptance, overcoming body shame and the many ways she had internalized familial and societal pressures to be thin. She reveals her experience, and the experience of her students and clients with the transformative power of applied colour psychology, which is rooted in the connection between personality types and color preference. She let's us in on the ways joy and applied colour psychology can trigger an upward spiral of joy, self-discovery, and acceptance- which becomes contagious - creating exponential positive impact.

You'll discover applied colour psychology's four distinct personality types, which she calls: Sunshine, Seaside, Fireside, and Starshine—and how each is characterized by unique preferences with significant implications for color, design, and professional preferences. She'll delve into how these personality types influence branding, the design choices we make in the spaces we spend the most time in, and our personal expression through the clothes we choose to wear.

Take the quiz to find your unique personality type: https://go.jnicholesmith.com/quiz

• What Happiness research has overlooked for years
• The essential missing ingredient for truly finding personal happiness.
• Why and how our definitions of joy are different
• What personality type and colour have to do with self-worth.
• What is Applied Color Psychology and how is it unique
• What do our Color preferences have to do with our personality type
• What is an upward spiral and why do you want to be part of one
• A concise explanation of each of the Sunshine, Seaside, Fireside and Starshine personality types

02:46 Understanding Fit in Happiness

06:02 Nic's Personal Journey of Self-Acceptance

08:51 The Power of Color Psychology

12:10 Applied Color Psychology Explained

13:36 The Upward Spiral

18:11 Exploring Personality Types and Colors

21:13 Introducing the Four Personality Types

23:58 The Science Behind Color Preferences

37:27 Understanding the Sunshine (Spring) Personality Type

41:09 Exploring the Seaside (Summer) Personality Type

47:57 Diving into the Fireside (Autumn) Personality Type

56:11 Unpacking the Starshine (Winter) Personality Type

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This show starts in the way it means to go in: with science, inspiration and a powerful case for the importance of joy in our individual lives and workplaces, as well as our communities.

In this episode, Nic introduces the idea that joy is a revolutionary act and a powerful tool for personal and societal change. Drawing on insights from various thinkers, her own experiences and those of her clients, plus the research on joy and happiness, she makes a compelling argument for the idea that prioritizing joy can lead to greater resilience, connection, and well-being... and even a longer life. Nic gives us the lowdown on what joy is, and what it isn't, what makes it different from happiness, and how and why applied colour psychology is an easy, addicting, delightful way to cultivate joy in our lives.

• Why joy is a revolutionary act.
• The role joy can play in the fight against oppression.
• Why choosing to prioritize joy can lead to a more positive impact.
• The qualities of Joy that make it so powerful
• Key differences between Joy and Happiness.
• The relationship between Joy and comfort
• How much of joy is hedonism? Can we prioritize it and still be high-performing & productive?
• One common reason our joy can be incomplete
• Why Colour psychology can be a powerful tool for cultivating joy.
• What we can do with others to enhance our own joy.

00:00 The Revolutionary Act of Choosing Joy

03:12 Joy as a Catalyst for Change

08:36 Understanding the Nature of Joy

15:10 What Joy Is Not

20:12 Applied Colour Psychology: A Tool for Joy

https://austinchanning.substack.com/p/joy-as-resistance

https://www.rattle.com/from-the-telly-cycle-by-toi-derricotte/

https://aestheticsofjoy.com/joy-is-an-act-of-resistance-how-celebration-sustains-activism-2/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29496453-the-book-of-joy

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...Nearly all of which require us to constantly be more, do more, and especially buy more.

On top of that, we are constantly told that our safety is at stake: politicians, newscasters and marketers use fear mongering tactics to fuel flames of outrage and division… Exploiting our fear of rejection, our fear of failure, and our biggest deepest scariest fear, that we’re not enough.

How do we turn things round? 

Maybe it starts with another question: 

What if we weren’t so susceptible to fear? 

What if instead of being fuelled by fear… our lives and businesses could be anchored in joy?

What if bit by bit, we could build an entire world that operates this way? Focusing not on what divides us, but by what connects us… joy.

Welcome to the Joy First podcast, the place for good, hard-working folks who want to live a full and joyful life, and leave the world a better place for the next generation, but don’t know where to start.

If you identify as a perfectionist, a high-achiever, a workaholic, or parent and you want to experience less fear, anxiety and stress… and more joy… but struggle because you are just so busy surviving - you’re in the right place.

Hi, I’m your host J.Nichole Smith, you can call me Nic. 

I am an artist, author, creative consultant and marketing expert who builds profitable brands, products and campaigns that have one job: sell joy. 

I've spent 20 years selling joy for huge brands like Purina, Fosters and Columbia hospitality as well as best-selling authors, tech startups, B corporations and Fortune 500 companies... and a few of my own successful brands as well. Through this work, a Masters in Marketing and decades of talking to real people about the things they love, I’ve developed a unique talent for understanding, capturing, conjuring and selling joy.

For over a decade I've been a mentor to other creatives and female Founders, sharing my insider expertise on colour psychology and the joy first way of living and working.

Here in the Joy First podcast we will explore why and how to put joy first in a world that rewards hustle over happiness.

Joy isn’t extra

You don’t have to earn joy

Joy is your birth right, your medicine, and your resistance.

In this show you can expect inspirational personal stories, deep-dives into the science of joy and practical how-to’s involving tools like colour psychology. The longer you’re here, the easier and more automatic it will feel for you to notice, prioritise and share joy each day… so that you can step into the kind of living and working that makes you feel good, look great, love better and live longer… Together we CAN co-create a joy first world.

Let's start now!

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