Joy of the Hang | A Wellness, Connection & Empowerment Podcast with Sharon Stevenson

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What if aging isn't something that simply happens to us? What if we could influence how we age?

In this episode of Joy of the Hang, I sit down with Dr. Sandra Kaufmann, physician, researcher, and author of The Kaufmann Protocol, to explore the cutting-edge science of longevity and what it really means to age well.

Dr. Kaufmann explains why we age at the cellular level, the seven key mechanisms that drive aging, and how today's science may allow us to slow the process and improve both lifespan and healthspan.

We also discuss practical strategies for protecting your brain, preserving your energy, and making choices today that could significantly impact how you feel decades from now.

Whether you're 40, 60, or beyond, this conversation will challenge what you think you know about aging and leave you inspired to take charge of your future.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

•  Why we age at the cellular level 
•  The difference between lifespan and healthspan 
•  The seven drivers of aging 
•  How lifestyle choices influence longevity 
•  The role of supplements and emerging science 
•  What you can do today to age better tomorrow 
•  Why it's never too early—or too late—to invest in your future health 

Connect with Dr. Sandra Kaufmann:
https://kaufmannprotocol.com

Subscribe to Joy of the Hang for conversations that help you live with greater connection, purpose, and well-being.

#JoyOfTheHang #SandraKaufmann #Longevity #HealthyAging #Biohacking #TheKaufmannProtocol #AntiAging #Healthspan #Wellness #AgingWell #SocialWellness

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What if true healing isn't found in doing more, but in slowing down?

In this episode of Joy of the Hang, I sit down with Myra Maldonado, owner of Salt Caves & Spa, to explore the powerful connection between stress, wellness, and healing. We discuss why so many people are living in a constant state of overwhelm and how practices like salt therapy, mindfulness, and intentional self-care can help us reconnect with ourselves and others.

Myra shares her journey into the wellness industry, the science and benefits behind halotherapy (salt therapy), and why creating spaces for restoration and human connection may be one of the most important forms of medicine available today.

If you've been feeling exhausted, disconnected, or simply in need of a reset, this conversation is your invitation to pause, breathe, and prioritize your well-being.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

•  The hidden effects of chronic stress on the body 
•  What salt therapy is and how it works 
•  Why rest is essential for healing 
•  The connection between wellness and human connection 
•  Practical ways to create more peace and balance in everyday life 
•  Why self-care is not selfish—it's necessary 

Connect with Myra Maldonado:
https://thesaltcaveslwr.com/

Subscribe to Joy of the Hang for conversations that help you build connection, resilience, and a more meaningful life.

#JoyOfTheHang #MyraMaldonado #SaltTherapy #Wellness #SelfCare #StressRelief #MentalHealth #Healing #SocialWellness #Connection

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Tag someone who needs to hear this!  

Caitlin Croker did just that. Leaving behind her life in Maryland, she moved to Nashville, the city where artists go to shine. She's shared stages with legends and conquered iconic venues like the Bluebird Cafe.  

Caitlin’s journey is proof that courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s moving forward anyway. It's about finding your voice, taking risks, and building a life around your passion.  

Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking one at all.  

What dream have you been holding back on? 

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What would happen if your phone rang tomorrow with news that someone you love had suddenly passed away?

No will. No instructions. No plan.

Just grief, confusion, and a lifetime of unanswered questions.

In this powerful episode of Joy of the Hang, Sharon sits down with entrepreneur, storyteller, and founder of HeirLight, Jermaine Ee, to explore one of the most important—and most avoided—conversations we'll ever have: what we leave behind.

After unexpectedly losing his mother, Jermaine found himself navigating the overwhelming emotional and logistical challenges that come when a loved one dies without a clear plan. That experience inspired him to create HeirLight, a platform designed to help families preserve memories, document wishes, and protect the people they love.

Together, Sharon and Jermaine discuss:

✔ Why most families avoid conversations about death and legacy
✔ The emotional burden of dying without a will or estate plan
✔ How to organize your affairs before a crisis occurs
✔ What truly matters when you're remembered by others
✔ The difference between inheritance and legacy
✔ How preserving stories, values, and memories can become your greatest gift
✔ Practical steps everyone can take today to protect their loved ones

This isn't just a conversation about estate planning.

It's a conversation about love, family, memory, and making sure the people you care about aren't left carrying unnecessary burdens during the hardest moments of their lives.

Whether you're 30 or 80, married or single, wealthy or not, this episode may be one of the most important hours you invest in your future—and your family's peace of mind.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#EstatePlanning #LegacyPlanning #WillAndTrust #FamilyLegacy #EndOfLifePlanning #JoyOfTheHang #JermaineEe #HeirLight #PersonalLegacy #ProtectYourFamily

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At 21 years old, Christian "Boo" Boucousis was living his dream. After being selected for the Royal Australian Air Force's elite fighter pilot program, he was flying F/A-18 fighter jets and doing exactly what he had worked his entire life to achieve.

Then everything changed.

A diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis abruptly ended his military career, forcing him to walk away from the identity, purpose, and future he had spent years building. What followed was a journey through uncertainty, loss, reinvention, and ultimately, extraordinary growth.

In this powerful conversation, Boo shares what happens when life doesn't go according to plan—and how some of our greatest opportunities emerge from our most devastating setbacks.

Together, we explore:

✈️ What it feels like to lose a lifelong dream overnight

✈️ The emotional impact of having your identity stripped away

✈️ How to rebuild confidence when you're starting over

✈️ Why resilience is a skill anyone can learn

✈️ The surprising lessons fighter pilots use to navigate uncertainty

✈️ How to find purpose when life takes an unexpected turn

Whether you're facing a career change, a health challenge, a divorce, a loss, or simply wondering what's next, Boo's story is a reminder that your greatest chapter may begin after the one you never wanted to end.

Because sometimes the dream that falls apart is the very thing that makes room for the life you were meant to live.

#JoyOfTheHang #ChristianBooBoucousis #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #LifeAfterLoss #Reinvention #MentalStrength #Leadership #Purpose #Podcast

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What would you do if a doctor told you that you had a year to live?

For most people, a diagnosis of glioblastoma—the most aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer—would feel like the end of the story.

For Jody Mayo, it became the beginning of a new chapter.

In this powerful and deeply inspiring episode of Joy of the Hang, Sharon sits down with Jody to discuss the moment her life changed forever, the fear and uncertainty that followed, and the mindset that carried her through one of life's greatest challenges.

Together, they explore what happens when hope collides with impossible odds, how we find strength when the future feels uncertain, and why resilience is often built one day at a time.

This conversation isn't just about surviving cancer. It's about choosing to live fully, finding meaning in adversity, and discovering what truly matters when everything else falls away.

Whether you or someone you love has faced a serious illness—or you're simply navigating a difficult season of life—Jody's story is a powerful reminder that hope can exist even in our darkest moments.

In this episode:

• What it felt like to receive a glioblastoma diagnosis
• The emotional toll of facing a life-threatening illness
• How Jody found hope when the statistics weren't in her favor
• The role of mindset, resilience, and support during recovery
• What surviving cancer taught her about life, purpose, and gratitude
• Why none of us should wait to live the life we want

If this episode inspires you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a little hope today.

#Glioblastoma #BrainCancerSurvivor #CancerSurvivor #Hope #Resilience #JoyOfTheHang #SharonStevenson #Inspiration #OvercomingAdversity #LifeAfterCancer

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What happens when the people shaping our youngest minds are overworked, underpaid, and unsupported?

In this eye-opening episode of Joy of the Hang, host Sharon Stevenson sits down with entrepreneur, former preschool teacher, and Ratio Staffing founder Paul Buckley to unpack the growing childcare and early education crisis happening across America.

After nearly 20 years working directly in preschool classrooms, Paul saw firsthand how broken the traditional staffing model had become—for teachers, schools, parents, and ultimately, children. So he built a platform designed to change it.

Together, Sharon and Paul explore:

• The hidden challenges facing early childhood educators
• Why teacher burnout and staffing shortages are reaching critical levels
• How traditional staffing agencies fail schools and educators
• The importance of flexibility, transparency, and fair pay
• Why supporting teachers directly impacts childhood development
• The future of preschool education and childcare in America
• How better systems create better classrooms—and better outcomes for kids

Before launching Ratio Staffing, Paul spent years in biotech manufacturing leadership, earning a Six Sigma Green Belt and leading global training initiatives. Now, he’s combining operational excellence with deep compassion for education to build a more sustainable future for schools and educators alike.

This conversation is powerful, timely, and deeply human—because behind every classroom is a teacher trying to make a difference.

If you care about education, parenting, leadership, workforce culture, or the future of children, this episode is a must-listen.

https://ratiostaffing.com/about-us

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What if one encouraging voice could change the trajectory of a child’s life?

In this heartfelt episode of Joy of the Hang, I sit down with educator, author, and storyteller Bridget Gengler, whose work has impacted generations of students over more than 30 years in education.

From the classroom to the pages of her children’s books, Bridget’s mission is simple but powerful: help people recognize their worth, find their voice, and believe in their own story.

We talk about:

• What today’s children are truly struggling with emotionally
• Why confidence and kindness must be intentionally taught
• The lasting impact teachers can have on a child’s identity
• Rediscovering yourself after divorce and major life changes
• How storytelling helps both children and adults heal, grow, and connect
• Why every person — no matter their age — has a story worth telling

Bridget is the author of Hold Your Head Up and Walk with Grace, You Have a Story to Tell!, Rediscovering You: A Guide to Life After Divorce, and her upcoming children’s book You Can Do Anything!

This conversation is uplifting, wise, and filled with reminders we all need — especially in a world where so many people feel unseen.

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📲 Share this episode with a teacher, parent, friend, or anyone who needs to be reminded that their story matters.

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What happens after the introduction?
After the networking event ends?
After you finally get a seat at the table?

In this episode of Joy of the Hang, I sit down with entrepreneur and community builder Coreena Breazeale to talk about the skill nobody teaches women: how to turn connection into real opportunity.

Coreena is the founder of multiple purpose-driven companies helping women lead, grow, and scale with more clarity, confidence, and intention. Through The Collective and Revive Connects, she’s helping founders move beyond surface-level networking and build relationships, systems, and strategies that actually create momentum.

We talk about:

• Why networking alone often fails women
• What successful women do differently once they’re “in the room”
• The importance of communication, follow-through, and visibility
• Building businesses without losing yourself in the process
• Why authentic connection is still one of the most powerful currencies we have

This conversation is honest, empowering, and deeply practical for women navigating leadership, entrepreneurship, growth, and reinvention.

If you’ve ever wondered why some conversations change lives while others go nowhere, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Follow Joy of the Hang on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
📲 Share this episode with a woman who’s ready to stop simply showing up — and start truly stepping into her power.

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What if the pain you’ve been told to “live with” isn’t inevitable at all?

In this powerful episode of Joy of the Hang, Sharon sits down with Bruce Phelps—creator of the Stretch n’ Release Technique, founder of The Muscle Repair Shop, and author of Stretch n’ Release—to challenge everything we think we know about chronic pain, aging, and healing.

With a background in Aging Sciences and over two decades of hands-on experience, Bruce has helped thousands of people move beyond pain without relying on prescriptions, injections, or surgery. But what makes his story even more compelling is that his breakthrough didn’t begin in a lab—it began in his own body. While carrying an extra 135 pounds and battling severe back pain, Bruce set out to solve a problem most people are told to accept.

Together, Sharon and Bruce explore:

• Why pain is often misunderstood—and misdiagnosed
• The difference between managing pain and actually fixing it
• What your body is trying to tell you (and why most people miss it)
• How the Stretch n’ Release Technique works in real life
• What it really takes to reclaim mobility, strength, and confidence at any age

This conversation isn’t just about physical pain—it’s about reclaiming ownership of your body, challenging limiting beliefs, and realizing that what you’ve accepted as “normal” may not be normal at all.

If you’ve ever been told, “that’s just part of getting older,” this episode may change everything.

https://a.co/d/0gS8fdAS

Support the show

 Be sure to click the Follow button so you never miss an episode of Joy of the Hang! Join the conversation with us on Instagram @joyofthehang
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 If you love what you hear, consider becoming a supporter of the show with a small monthly investment—it helps us keep bringing you inspiring stories, meaningful conversations, and great content week after week.