We're not going to pretend the world isn't a dumpster fire right now. But we can make our chairs a little cozier while we watch it burn.

In this episode, we share a few joy moments—Sara hearing "cool beans" and "awesome sauce" in the wild, community members helping each other out, and the Olympic curling witchcraft that got us through a hard week. Joy isn't about ignoring what's hard. It's about finding support in the small stuff that still feels good.

00:00 Welcome to Joy Moments (and the chatty co-host Violet) 00:53 Joy isn’t ignoring the bad: the “dumpster fire” metaphor 02:56 Lacey’s joy moment: hearing “cool beans” & “awesome sauce” in the wild 04:11 Community joy callout: “tell me something good” responses 04:26 Joy moment #1: buying groceries for someone who was hungry 05:33 Joy moment #2: a client with disabilities lands his dream job (and hope spreads) 07:10 Finding joy in hard weeks: pain, dog snuggles, and Olympic binge-watching 08:06 Winter vs. Summer Olympics: flips, witchcraft, and giving it a real try 09:08 Submit your joy moment + closing thanks

We want to hear your Joy Moments.

Share yours at joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit.

In this episode, we talk about everyday joy moments—the ones you notice and the ones you create. Sara shares her friend Jim's $12 thrift store leather shoes and the compliments that landed from her Threads community, like being told "you may have saved a soul" and "a lovable dork." Lacey shares watching her teething baby and her son who just lost his front teeth discover they match. We talk about the difference between passive joy (noticing what's already there) and active joy (making it happen), and how compliments might be the easiest way to practice active joy. If you're looking for a simple tool to try today, this one's pretty accessible.

Submission form – joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit

[00:00:00] Welcome & Violet joins us

[00:01:00] Jim's joy moments - $12 thrift store leather shoes

[00:02:00] Sara's thrifting background & philosophy

[00:04:00] Violet's teething & Isaac's missing teeth moment

[00:05:00] "You have feet. I have feet." - niece story

[00:06:00] Best compliments from Threads community

[00:07:00] "A lovable dork" & other standout responses

[00:08:00] Lacey's Renaissance painter compliment

[00:09:00] Sara's job interview smile moment

[00:10:00] The power of compliments as joy ripples

[00:11:00] Active vs. passive joy

[00:12:00] Call to action: Give a compliment today

What's a compliment that's stayed with you? The one that still lights you up when you think about it?

If you'd like to share it with us, you can submit your Joy Moment at joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit

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In this Joy Moments episode, we’re talking about how the tiniest things can hold the biggest feelings. Lacey shares a simple moment from a hectic morning: trying to get Iris dressed for daycare, she tucks a tiny “I love you” note into the heart-shaped pocket of Iris’s shirt. That little scrap of paper travels with Iris all day, gets lost and found again, and turns an ordinary Thursday into what she calls “the best day ever.”

We connect that note to the ones our parents used to leave for us—lunchbox messages, dashboard surprises, doodles on napkins—and how those small, tangible reminders of love stay with us for years. We also talk about Christmas trees, ornaments, and even a listener story about a tree named after a loved one, and how those traditions quietly hold our stories. Together, we land on this: joy doesn’t have to be big or polished. It can be a note in a pocket, a name tag on a tree, or an ornament that makes you smile every single year.

1. 00:00 – Welcome and today’s Joy Moment theme: tiny notes, big feelings
2. 00:30 – Iris’s heart-pocket “I love you” note and the “best day ever”
3. 03:00 – Remembering the notes our parents left for us
4. 05:00 – Christmas trees, ornaments, and a tree named “Eric”
5. 08:00 – Reflection: small, tangible reminders of love
6. 09:00 – Prompt for you + how to share your Joy Moment

1. Joy Moments submission form – joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit
2. Family traditions around Christmas ornaments and named trees

What is one small, tangible reminder that you are loved—a note, an object, an ornament, or a routine—that brings you joy when you notice it?

If you’d like to share it with us, you can submit your Joy Moment at joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit.

This week Sara is flying solo on Joy Moments because Lacey is dealing with a flare-up. Which is actually a perfect reminder that joy moments aren't about ignoring what's hard. There's plenty we're not enjoying or wish weren't happening. Joy moments is about highlighting those little moments throughout the day that we can focus on to lift us up.

Sara asked friends to share their joy moments this week. Listen to hear about:

• Holiday cards that have become years of collected art
• An 1800s farmhouse that finally feels warm
• Feral holiday postcards made while watching Frozen 2
• A kindness rebellion that got 4,000 likes on Threads
• The warmest green thrift store coat
• Dancers in windows like living snow globes
• A 13-year-old bulldog getting a calendar launch party
• Unclaimed funds waiting to be discovered
• A hawk on a lamppost and the stranger who graciously indulged Sara's bird enthusiasm

Plus, there are some surprise guests you'll hear throughout the episode.

All these tiny drops in the bucket. That's the joy ripple.

Jim's Photography - Instagram @mandolincity

Lee Ainsley on Threads - @leighainsley spreading kindness as rebellion and revolution

Pedal and Hive - Clean beauty products at pedalandhive.com

Whitman Brewing - Location of Spencer the Bulldog's calendar launch party

Unclaimed Funds - Search your state's unclaimed funds database to see if there's money waiting for you

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What happens when you ask people to share their joy moments? You get a LOT of pets. In this episode, Lacey and Sara read through community submissions—cats, dogs, horses, and the small moments that matter.

From medical relief that's less scary than expected, to forced cat snuggles, foster cats finally feeling safe, prosthetic users walking further than they have in a year, and horses leaving surprise gifts in front yards—this episode is about the moments worth celebrating, no matter how small.

Plus, the legendary tale of Mr. Beans (the protective neighborhood cat) and why "lowkey excellent" is everyone's new favorite phrase.

In This Episode:

• Community joy moments: medical relief, pets finding safety, autumn afternoons
• Why pets are basically joy delivery systems
• The "lowkey excellent" phrase worth wrapping yourself in
• Sara's 7 AM horse text and the surprise pile of horse poo
• Lacey's Mr. Beans story: when a neighborhood cat attacks and a man comes sprinting down the street
• Why joy moments don't have to be marathon-sized to matter
• The invitation to share YOUR joy moment

Important Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Introduction & call-out for community joy moments
• [00:01:00] Medical relief joy: It's just a muscle strain!
• [01:30] Forced cat snuggles as the best part of the day
• [02:00] Foster cat looking out window for the first time
• [03:00] Real-life SpongeBob and Patrick ocean discovery
• [03:30] Walking further than in over a year with prosthetic
• [04:00] Why these moments are worth celebrating
• [05:00] "Lowkey excellent" cottage afternoon with walnuts
• [06:00] Sarah's escaped horses story
• [07:00] Todd and Kathy: The serial escape artist horses
• [08:00] Mr. Beans attacks Indy on their walk
• [09:00] The man sprinting down the street yelling "Mr. Beans!"
• [10:00] Mr. Beans as the new substitute swear word
• [10:30] Sara's grandparents' poodle and cat tag game
• [11:00] Wrap-up: Submit your joy moments!

Submit Your Joy Moment:

• Share your joy moment at joyfulsupportmovement.com/submit

Connect & Share:

• Join the Joyful Support Village
• Instagram: @joyfulsupportmovement
• Threads: @joyfulsupportmovement

The Joyful Support Network Podcasts

Join the Joyful Support Village

Sign up for The Practical Hug Newsletter

Sponsor Joy and Create a Joy Ripple

Ever wonder why some people love the anticipation of a surprise while others need to know right now? In this episode, Lacey and Sara dive into their opposite approaches to cliffhangers, gifts, and waiting for joy.

Lacey shares her audiobook miracle moment (thank you, Libby!) and why she literally cannot handle knowing a surprise exists. Sara reveals her "joy on joy" moment passing along beloved IKEA play cubes to a toddler who's loving them just as much as her son did. Plus, a mysterious TikTok submission about being the inspiration for an anti-hero in a book sparks a whole new mystery for Sara to solve.

In This Episode:

• [00:01:00] Lacey's library miracle: When the universe delivers book 2 exactly when you need it
• [00:03:30] The great surprise divide: "I need to know NOW" vs. "I love the anticipation"
• [00:06:00] Sara's joy perpetual motion: Passing on toys that keep spreading happiness
• [00:08:15] The anti-hero mystery: Tiktoker’s cryptic book inspiration confession
• [00:09:00] Sara finds her new mystery to solve (and Lacey gets anxiety just thinking about it)

Your Turn: What's your joy moment? Big, small, past, or present - we want to hear it all. Submit yours at joyfulupportmovement.com/submit

Because remember: joy ripples can spread across the universe. (We checked. It's possible.)

Submit Your Joy Moment:

Share your joy moment with us

Join the Joyful Support Village:

Join our free community for emotional support and navigating life's messy middle

More Podcasts:

• Sharing the Middle - Deep dives into our stories about the messy middles of our lives
• No Shame In Our Game - Real talk about the things we usually keep quiet

Connect With Us:

• Visit our website
• Subscribe to The Practical Hug newsletter
• Instagram: @JoyfulSupportMovement
• Threads: @JoyfulSupportMovement
• TikTok: @JoyfulSupportMovement
• YouTube: @joyfulsupport
• Email us

Hosts:

• Lacey: @laceyshares (Instagram/TikTok/Threads)
• Sara: @stepswithsara

Welcome to No Shame in Our Game: Where self-help meets community support.

This is the podcast that doesn't care about the right step, just your next step.

Not sure how to start a budget? Need help with home systems? Wondering about etiquette or boundaries? We're Sara and Lacey, your loving aunties who care about how your life feels, not how it looks.

We're co-founders of the Joyful Support Movement, and we created this podcast because we believe you shouldn't have to figure out life alone. We answer your real-life questions about home management, budgeting, life systems, and anything else where you're not sure where to turn.

We're anti-girl-boss, pro-community. No shoulds. No shame. Just possibilities and support.

Submit your questions at

Welcome to No Shame in Our Game: Where self-help meets community support.

This is the podcast that doesn't care about the right step, just your next step.

Not sure how to start a budget? Need help with home systems? Wondering about etiquette or boundaries? We're Sara and Lacey, your loving aunties who care about how your life feels, not how it looks.

We're co-founders of the Joyful Support Movement, and we created this podcast because we believe you shouldn't have to figure out life alone. We answer your real-life questions about home management, budgeting, life systems, and anything else where you're not sure where to turn.

We're anti-girl-boss, pro-community. No shoulds. No shame. Just possibilities and support.

Submit your questions and join us for real conversations about real life.

Connect with us:

Instagram, TikTok & Threads: @joyfulsupportmovement

Join The Village: village.joyfulsupportmovement.com

Newsletter: joyfulsupportmovement.substack.com and join us for real conversations about real life.

Connect with us:

Instagram, TikTok & Threads: @joyfulsupportmovement

Join The Village: village.joyfulsupportmovement.com

Newsletter: joyfulsupportmovement.substack.com

Welcome to No Shame in Our Game!

We are evolving from No Shame in the Home Game, and putting it on steroids (in a good way, not like a roid rage way). We're expanding from home management questions to being your resource for anything in life where you're not sure where to turn.

Not sure how to set up a laundry system? Ask us. Not sure how to start a family budget? Ask us. Not sure about the etiquette of gift-giving with neighbors? Ask us. Think of us as your loving aunties or big sisters who care about how your life feels, not how it looks.

We talk about why the self-help industry feels icky to us, why we don't do shoulds, and how community support beats solo hustle every time. We share our Enneagram helper energy, our love of advice-giving, and why shame has no place in getting help with life.

Plus, we get into Sara's perfect thrift store shirt from Zara and Lacey's wild week of unexpected TikTok validation involving the Sabrina Carpenter, “Tears,” trend.

• Why we're expanding beyond home management to all-life questions
• The difference between toxic self-help and community support
• How to submit your questions anonymously
• Why we focus on possibilities instead of shoulds
• The three pillars of Joyful Support: Story, Joy, and Step
• Why we're anti-girl-boss and pro-making-life-easier

• Submit your questions
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on TikTok
• Follow us on Threads
• Join The Village community
• Subscribe to The Practical Hug newsletter

We're so glad you're here. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or you're just joining now, we appreciate you being part of this journey with us.

We never expected to have such strong opinions about tooth logistics, but here we are.

Lacey navigates Isaac's first lost tooth (and the subsequent loss of that tooth somewhere in the house), while Sara spots an unexpected wildlife parade during a single walk and helps celebrate one of the most creative birthday gifts we've ever seen.

We talk about the surprising emotions that come with watching your kid grow up, the going rate for teeth in 2025, and why parenting requires more negotiation skills than anyone warns you about. We also dive into what happens when kids start thinking like entrepreneurs, the beauty of compounding joy ripples, and why three snakes in one walk feels like the universe saying hello.

This is real life in the middle. The part where you're simultaneously celebrating milestones and searching your couch cushions for lost body parts. The part where you make thank-you videos with your kid and discover you're actually having fun. The part where joy shows up in monarch butterflies and baby snakes trying to look tough.

• Navigating first milestones and the emotions that come with parenting moments
• Tooth fairy economics and negotiating with mythical beings
• Creating together as quality time with kids
• Joy ripples and how happiness compounds through creativity
• Finding unexpected joy in ordinary walks and wildlife encounters

The Joyful Support Network Podcasts

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Sponsor Joy and Create a Joy Ripple

Mentioned in this episode:

Cubtale

Make parenting easier with Cubtale.

In this episode of Joy Moments, we welcome Joe (Lacey's husband) to the podcast for the first time. We dive into a candid conversation about finding daily moments of appreciation, the differences in how we experience and express positive emotions, and the various ways families create meaningful rituals.

Joe shares his memorable experience of hearing his five-month-old daughter Violet say "dada" for the first time – a distinct moment that stood out from her usual baby chatter. Meanwhile, Lacey recounts a precious morning when her first-grader read books to his baby sister before school, and Sara delights in discovering beehives named "BS in the D" during her weekend trip to Detroit.

We also explore the lighter side of family life, including Joe's impressive cereal collection (featuring Reese's Puffs, Honey Bunches of Oats, Grape Nuts, Cheerios, Frosted Mini Wheats, Lucky Charms, Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Protein Cheerios, Fruit Loops, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch), our debate on the proper way to enjoy cereal milk, and why roller skating feels impossible even for someone with Joe's natural athletic abilities.

This conversation reveals how joy manifests differently for everyone – whether through "cool things that happened," shared family rituals like high/low dinner table discussions, or simple everyday moments that bring unexpected delight.

Submit your own joy moments to be shared on future episodes!