Ever felt that electric energy ripple through a crowd at a concert, sports game, or peaceful protest? That's not just your imagination—it's collective effervescence, and it's something we're deeply wired for as humans. In this episode, we'll dive into the fascinating science behind why gathering together matters for our mental health, especially in our increasingly isolated modern world.

French sociologist Émile Durkheim coined this term over 100 years ago, nearly a century before we could take all of our gatherings online. Even then, Durkheim noticed that folks were missing some of these necessary experiences in their lives. The good news is there are lots of diverse ways to experience more collective effervescence (e.g., concerts, grief groups, sports events, game nights, book clubs, weddings, funerals, and fitness classes). We'll talk more about how to incorporate these experiences into your daily life and some of the obstacles that might pop up.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

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Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• Joy Lab Podcast Episodes:
• Sympathetic Fear vs. Sympathetic Joy: What Are You Tuning Into? [ep. 238]
• Caring What Others Think Isn't Your Weakness [ep. 239]

Full transcript here.

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Have you been told (or told yourself) not to care what others think? Spoiler alert—caring what others think isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's completely natural and wired into us as humans. The real issue? Trying to stop that caring or caring too much about what others think and letting that concern disconnect us from ourselves and others. We'll cover some strategies to address both of these common tendencies so that your caring can nourish you rather than deplete you.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

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Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• Joy Lab Podcast Episodes:
• Sympathetic Fear vs. Sympathetic Joy: What Are You Tuning Into? [ep. 238]
• Unmasking Your True Self: Exploring Authenticity and Awe [ep. 216]
• Embrace Your True Self: Accepted, Connected, & In The Game [ep. 217]
• The Road Most Travelled: Awakening Through Suffering [ep. 218]
• Follow Your Bliss: Awakening to Joy [ep. 219]
• The Still Small Voice: Awakening with Soulfulness [ep. 220]

Full transcript here

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode, Henry and Aimee explore the fascinating science behind emotional contagion and how we're constantly picking up signals from those around us. They dive into why sympathetic joy can be such a powerful practice—and why it's often harder than it seems. Learn how to become more aware of the emotional "frequency" you're tuned into and discover practical ways to shift toward joy, connection, and love.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey and pair this podcast with the Joy Lab Program. You'll learn step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

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Sources and Notes:

• The Asch conformity experiments. Learn more here.
• Dr. Elaine Hatfield's work on emotional contagion: Hatfield's website
• Related Joy Lab Podcast Episodes:
• Self-Compassion: Remembering You're Not Alone [ep. 28]

Full transcript here

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

'Tis the season of giving! Or maybe the season of giving too much? In this episode, we'll talk about the positive effects of giving, such as the release of dopamine and endorphins, which create a 'helper's high.' And then... we'll talk about the importance of recognizing and respecting our limits so we don't give too much (and venture into that space sometimes called 'pathological altruism'). We'll cover some strategies to navigate healthy giving, including the reminder that giving and receiving must come together.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

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TikTok

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Watch on YouTube

Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• Joy Lab Podcast Episodes:
• Gratitude: Beyond the Hashtags and Eye Rolls [ep. 234]
• Reducing Negative Self-Talk With Illeism (it's a thing!) [ep. 235]
• The Power of Good Enough Parenting & Calling Out Our Moms [ep. 236]
• Worrier? You're Not Alone. Here's Why We Worry... [ep. 213]
• Fast-Acting Strategies to Combat Worry and Anxiety [ep. 214]
• Rumination: What It Is And How To Break Free From It [ep. 205]
• Learning to Love Well: Be More Permeable [ep. 23]

Full transcript here.

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

How's In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek explore the theme of gratitude, specifically focusing on the nurturing roles of mothers and other caregivers in our lives. They discuss the concept of 'good enough parenting' as introduced by Dr. Donald Winnicott, emphasizing that parents don't need to be perfect but should provide sufficient love and care. The hosts highlight the historical context where mothers were unfairly blamed for children's mental health issues and discuss the broader societal implications of appreciating maternal figures. They encourage listeners to recognize and express gratitude towards the various 'mothers' in their lives.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

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Watch on YouTube

Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• Book: Winnicott on The Child by Donald Winnicott

Full transcript here

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

How's your self-talk? If you're like most folks, it's probably not as kind as you'd like. In this episode, we'll talk about the power of positive self-talk and gratitude. We'll get into how the chatter of those more critical self-talk "voices" can be navigated and even the positives behind them (with some attention to Internal Family Systems perspective). We'll also guide you through some power strategies to make your self-talk kinder. A few of these include 'Grateful Self-Talk' and the concept of 'distanced self-talk' or 'illeism,' which involves speaking to yourself in the second or third person to create psychological distance and foster self-compassion. After listening, be sure to give these practices a try. They're powerful and well worth your time. Incorporating more positive self-talk is a real pathway to better mental health and wellbeing.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

How's your self-talk? If you're like most folks, it's probably not as kind as you'd like. In this episode, we'll talk about the power of positive self-talk and gratitude. We'll get into how the chatter of those more critical self-talk "voices" can be navigated and even the positives behind them (with some attention to Internal Family Systems perspective). We'll also guide you through some power strategies to make your self-talk kinder. A few of these include 'Grateful Self-Talk' and the concept of 'distanced self-talk' or 'illeism,' which involves speaking to yourself in the second or third person to create psychological distance and foster self-compassion. After listening, be sure to give these practices a try. They're powerful and well worth your time. Incorporating more positive self-talk is a real pathway to better mental health and wellbeing.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

Watch on YouTube

Key moments:

00:00 Introduction to Joy Lab Podcast

00:32 Exploring Grateful Self-Talk

02:22 The Role of Internal Family Systems (IFS)

06:09 Distanced Self-Talk: Illeism Explained

08:55 Practical Applications and Personal Experiences

14:39 The Power of Gratitude and Self-Compassion

17:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• More episodes about self-talk... our self compassion series is a great place to start:
• Self-Compassion: Don't Believe Everything You Think (about yourself) [ep. 26]
• Self-Compassion: Easing Up On Yourself [ep. 27]
• Self-Compassion: Remembering You're Not Alone [ep. 28]

Full transcript here

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

Watch on YouTube

Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• More episodes about self-talk... our self compassion series is a great place to start:
• Self-Compassion: Don't Believe Everything You Think (about yourself) [ep 26]
• Self-Compassion: Easing Up On Yourself [ep. 27]
• Self-Compassion: Remembering You're Not Alone [ep. 28]

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Do you feel like you *should* be more grateful? Yeah, we get it. Gratitude is funny like that. Of all our Elements of Joy, gratitude likely has the strongest scientific evidence right alongside the most bad takes and eye rolls. That's why we're digging into gratitude as more than just a feel-good hashtag. We'll explore how it helps build resilience and how it often intertwines beautifully with life's hardships. So, grab your favorite gratitude-stamped mug and join us for a practical discussion on this powerful Element of Joy.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

Watch on YouTube

Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• Wake Up Grateful by Kristi Nelson

Full transcript here

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In this episode, we're exploring Dr. Gabor Maté's fifth and final level of compassion: The compassion of possibility. We'll dig into how we can see beyond suffering and dysfunction to recognize the good within ourselves and others. This is a skill we can all practice and get better at. And importantly, this isn't some toxic positivity exercise. This is a skill that helps us see the whole picture, the full truth of whatever we're looking at. Seeing that full picture allows us to step into our wisdom and power so that we can make decisions that are more nourishing.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

Watch on YouTube

Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• Previous episodes for this series:
  • Part 1: Ordinary Human Compassion & Self-Compassion to Improve Mental Health
  • Part 2: Understanding Ourselves & Others
  • Part 3: Reducing Self-Criticism & Judgment by Recognizing Our Shared Human-ess

  • Part 4: Facing Pain and Finding Freedom

• Gabor Mate's website.

Full transcript here

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

The poet Rumi shared this wisdom: "Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, Your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom." The poetry of Rumi makes that process sound like a smooth and blissful journey. Of course, the reality is that the work of being open amidst tough stuff, seeing our suffering, accepting our pain, and moving on can be messy and difficult. AND, no matter how many times we try and fall short, it's still healing work. We'll dig into this journey throughout the episode, how we can be open to and see the truth of our pain, and how to apply compassion and practical steps to move beyond what might be holding us back.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

Watch episode on YouTube

Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• Previous episodes for this series:
• Part 1: Ordinary Human Compassion & Self-Compassion to Improve Mental Health
• Part 2: Understanding Ourselves & Others
• Part 3: Reducing Self-Criticism & Judgment by Recognizing Our Shared Human-ess
• Gabor Mate's website

Full transcript here

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

We're digging into the Dr. Gabor Maté's third level of compassion in this episode: The compassion of recognition. This level emphasizes realizing the shared nature of pain and loss, reminding us that we are not alone. We'll highlight the 'illusion of separation' and how breaking through it can deepen our connections and ease our struggles. We'll also share the 'Judge, Mirror, Bridge' exercise to help us practice compassion by identifying judgments, finding similarities within ourselves, and bridging connections with others.

About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials:

Instagram

TikTok

Linkedin

YouTube

Sources and Notes:

• Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
• Previous episodes for this series:
• Part 1: Ordinary Human Compassion & Self-Compassion to Improve Mental Health
• Part 2: Understanding Ourselves & Others
• Gabor Mate's website.
• How can I love myself more... and love others more too? [ep. 174]

Full transcript here

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.