We're kicking of Season 2 of Joy Is My Middle Name with Amanda Smith, Founder and CEO of Dallas Girl Gang.

Amanda's path to joy and business ownership was not a straight line. She was a teacher during Covid and when we she went back to the classroom, she realized she had a gift to bring joy to so many others in a different way.

Fast forward to one of the biggest, most influential communities in Dallas with over 100,000 active members where membership is an action.

Events, meet-ups, conferences, She Means Business networking group -- Amanda is constantly innovating and evolving what Dallas Girl Gang means.

Learn about her journey, get inspired, and get involved. You can sit with us!

https://dallasgirlgang.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dallasgirlgang

https://www.instagram.com/dallasgirlgang

After a successful season one of When the Dog Bites, why change the name? Why are journeys to joy so important? Is Joy really Allison's middle name?

Find out the answer to all of these questions and more as host Allison Joy is interviewed by Ron Corning.

And stay tuned for impactful, gripping, and emotional tales of joy during this season of, Joy Is My Middle Name.

All episodes are recorded at little joy cafe, a place for community where all are welcome in the heart of Oak Cliff in Dallas, TX.

For many people experiencing PTSD of any kind, they've probably done a lot of different therapies.

But what about ketamine?

Allison sits down to chat with Reese Ormand, CEO of Neuroglow, the leading ketamine therapy in North Texas, to learn about his own dog bite moments and what led him to changing his entire life after a transformative experience.

As we wrap up this season, you won't want to miss this deeply impactful episode .

Allison sits down with Meaghan Hurley to learn about her journey through an abusive marriage and when/how she knew it was time to leave.

She is the true definition of resilience and her story is heartbreaking, yet empowering.

SAFE was there to help her and we want to share this resource for anyone else going through something similar: www.safeaustin.org.

Meaghan also references other resources and groups in the podcast as well like RAINN. Just know there is help available!

It's not every day you meet someone who was lost at sea. Literally lost at sea. For days and days!

Allison sits down with Chris Mabry, a well-known VP in the tech world, to learn how his incredible survival story has shaped his lifelong view on resiliency.

This one is especially fun because Allison has a very healthy fear of the sea. So learning about Chris' first-hand account was enough to ensure this is the closest our host will ever get to being anywhere she can't see the coastline.

**TRIGGER WARNING**

Please note that this episode includes mentions of suicide ideation and attempts. If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7; call or text 988.

This episode also includes mentions of domestic abuse. If you or a loved one is experiencing domestic abuse, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.

We are including this trigger warning to only listen if you are able.

Season 1, Episode 5: A Pottery Studio

Jane Parsons shares her resilience story in a way we haven't heard before. She said she shares in such a brutally honest way because she has to -- it could help save a life.

Her journey to finding herself and creating a literal space of peace and beauty was not easy. But she didn't give up. Even when she felt she had nothing left to fight for (what she calls at the very bottom of the ladder).

She grabbed one rung of the ladder. And another. And another. And tells her heartbreaking, yet beautiful story in such a compelling way that you will be hanging on every word.

When Sam Higdon's mom unexpectedly passed, opening a coffee shop in Brooklyn, New York was not in her plan. But through her grief, she co-created a beautiful, welcoming space for all.

Allison sits down to chat with Sam at Saturn Road Coffee to learn about her journey of resilience in a real, raw, unfiltered conversation that only comes with being best friends of almost 25 years.

A car accident in college left Sean Chang living with paraplegia. His route to med school was flipped upside down and he decided to follow his inner voice and passion: Become a chef.

His journey to becoming the chef at Mukja, a Korean American Fried Chicken hot spot in Atlanta, has been nothing short of miraculous.

Tune into this inspiring, one-of-a-kind story of resilience.

Meggie, also known as @heartmeggieheart on TikTok, shares her experience of how she found herself during her marriage and now happy divorce. But she also found how to supercharge her intuition along the way and wants to share this with women everywhere. Tune into hear Meggie's resiliency story, learn from her magic, and hear what it's like to interview one of your closest friends!

You remember the pandemic. But have you ever imagined what it was like to be a principal of a 5A high school during the pandemic? Allison interviews Claudia Vega and learns about what it was like during that time, and what led her to open up her multi-cultural bookstore in Oak Cliff, Whose Books.