JOY Unfiltered: Choose Joy on Purpose

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What if joy isn’t something you earn—but something you lead with?

In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel challenges the deeply ingrained belief that burnout is the price of success. Instead, she introduces a powerful reframe: joy is not the reward—joy is the strategy.

Blending science, nervous system awareness, and practical tools, this episode explores how your thoughts shape your internal state, how your state drives your behavior, and how that ultimately creates your life.

If you’ve been stuck in pressure, urgency, or constant “doing,” this conversation will help you shift into a state where creativity, clarity, and connection actually thrive.

🔑 Key Takeaways

•  Your thoughts are not harmless—they are generative
•  Your internal state directly shapes your outcomes 
•  The nervous system prioritizes safety, not success 
•  Productivity ≠ creation (you can be busy and still stuck) 
•  Endurance is often just survival in disguise 
•  Joy shifts your brain into a state of creativity and possibility 
•  Leadership is about the energy you bring, not just what you say 
•  Small state shifts create massive long-term change 

🧠 Core Concept

Repeat that loop—and you create your life.

🛠️ Practical Tools You Can Use Today

1. Regulate Before You Create
Try box breathing:

•  Inhale 4 
•  Hold 4 
•  Exhale 4 
•  Hold 4 

2. Use Your Body to Shift Your State
Move for 30 seconds—walk, shake, stretch, or dance.

3. Direct Your Attention
Train your brain to notice what’s working—not just what’s wrong.

4. Interrupt Thought Loops
Try tapping (EFT-style) and say:
“I don’t have to solve everything right now.”

5. Ask Better Questions
Instead of “What should I do?” ask:
“What state am I in—and how can I shift it?”

🔥 Memorable Quotes

•  “Joy is not the reward. Joy is the strategy.” 
•  “Endurance is survival with good PR.” 
•  “You can be productive and still not be creating anything new.” 
•  “Leadership is not just what you say—it’s the state you bring.” 

💬 Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you:

•  Hit Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes 
•  Share this with someone who needs this message 
•  Leave a quick review—it helps others find the show 

And if something shifted for you today, even just a little… that matters.

Support the show

Connect with Rachel

• Joy-Led Leadership Forum
• Take the Pledge to send 1 Text a Day
• The JOY Project
• Joy is THE Strategy
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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What if joy isn’t something you wait for… but something you learn to see?

In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel sits down with fellow author Peg Guilfoyle to explore the art of noticing joy in everyday life.

From small, surprising moments (like finding “a million dollars” in a grocery aisle) to deeper reflections on curiosity, connection, and attention, Peg shares how cultivating awareness can transform how we experience the world.

This conversation is a gentle invitation to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the beauty that’s been there all along.

🔑 Key Takeaways

•  Why joy is something you train yourself to notice
•  How curiosity opens the door to everyday wonder 
•  The role of small moments in creating a joyful life 
•  Why “running with the enthusiasts” can elevate your energy 
•  How connection amplifies joy (even with strangers) 
•  The science behind noticing more of what you focus on 
•  Why joy becomes even more important during difficult times 
•  How storytelling helps us see the world differently 

💡 Memorable Quotes

•  “The more you look for joy, the more you find joy.” 
•  “We are ignitable.” 
•  “Enthusiasm is transmissible—and life-giving.” 
•  “Joy exists in the world. You just have to look.” 
•  “These small connections are what knit the world together.” 

📚 About Peg Gilfoyle

Peg Guilfoyle is the author of An Eye for Joy: Noticing the Good World Everywhere, a collection of essays inspired by curiosity, connection, and the beauty of everyday life.

She is also the creator of the Motley Peg essay series, where she shares short, reflective pieces every couple of weeks.

🔗 Resources & Links

•  🌐 Website + Motley Peg essays: https://www.pegguilfoyle.com/
  
  
•  📖 Get the book: Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, and independent bookstores 

💛 Call to Action

If this episode brought you a moment of joy:

•  Share it with someone who could use a little light today 
•  Subscribe to Joy Unfiltered
•  Leave a review to help others discover the show 

And today, try this:
 ✨ Notice one small, beautiful thing you might normally miss.

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Connect with Rachel

• Joy-Led Leadership Forum
• Take the Pledge to send 1 Text a Day
• The JOY Project
• Joy is THE Strategy
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
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What if leadership didn’t require burnout, pressure, or constant proving?

In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel breaks down a new way of leading—one rooted in joy as a strategy, not a reward.

She introduces the 4 pillars of joy-led leadership and a powerful reframe: joy isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you practice.

If you’ve been leading from exhaustion, this episode will help you shift into something more sustainable, grounded, and energizing.

🔑 Key Takeaways

•  Why traditional leadership models are unsustainable 
•  The 4 pillars of joy-led leadership: 
  •  Joy over endurance 
  •  Regulation over urgency 
  •  Integration over compartmentalization 
  •  Community over competition 
•  The difference between joy vs. happiness 
•  The 3 “macronutrients” of joy: 
  •  Noticing 
  •  Allowing 
  •  Sharing 
•  How your energy directly influences others (emotional contagion) 
•  A simple daily practice to create more joy immediately 

💡 Key Quote

“Joy isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you practice.”

🔗 Call to Action

✨ Start your joy practice today:

•  Notice one thing 
•  Stay with it for 10–20 seconds 
•  Share it with someone

Support the show

Connect with Rachel

• Joy-Led Leadership Forum
• Take the Pledge to send 1 Text a Day
• The JOY Project
• Joy is THE Strategy
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
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What happens when getting fired becomes the best thing that ever happened to you?

In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel sits down with business coach Tammy Johnston—self-proclaimed “hold your hand and kick your ass” coach—to unpack the real, unfiltered truth about starting and growing a business.

From navigating the chaos of early entrepreneurship to understanding the four core activities that actually drive results, Tammy shares battle-tested insights that every new (and struggling) business owner needs to hear.

If you’re in your first two years—or thinking about making the leap—this episode will save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.

🔑 Key Takeaways

•  Why getting fired can be the push you actually need 
•  The brutal truth about the first 2 years of business 
•  The difference between working hard and working on the right things
•  The 4 “20% activities” that drive 80% of your results: 
  •  Marketing 
  •  Systematizing 
  •  Knowing your numbers 
  •  Building a strong advisory team 
•  How lack of structure quietly kills new businesses 
•  Why boundaries are essential (and how to actually enforce them) 
•  The danger of taking advice from the wrong people 
•  How to avoid “building a skyscraper with no foundation” 
•  Why most businesses fail—and how to stay in the game 

💡 Memorable Quotes

•  “You’re not a business owner—you’re a volunteer going broke if you’re not marketing.” 
•  “You eat what you kill in business.” 
•  “Most people are working hard… just on the wrong things.” 
•  “If you don’t survive the first two years, nothing else matters.” 
•  “You are devaluing yourself when you let your time be interrupted.” 

🔗 Resources & Links

•  Connect with Tammy Johnston:
   👉 https://ksabusiness.ca 👉KSA Business.ca: Overview | LinkedIn               👉 Instagram

🚀 Call to Action

If this episode resonated with you:

•  Subscribe to Joy Unfiltered
•  Share this episode with an entrepreneur who needs to hear it 
•  Leave a review to help more people find the show 

And remember—you don’t need perfection… you need foundation.

Support the show

Connect with Rachel

• Joy-Led Leadership Forum
• Take the Pledge to send 1 Text a Day
• The JOY Project
• Joy is THE Strategy
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In this episode of Joy Unscripted, Rachel Bents explores how embracing joy can transform leadership from one of exhaustion to one rooted in energy, authenticity, and long-term sustainability. Challenging the belief that great leadership requires sacrifice and depletion, Rachel offers a refreshing alternative - one where joy becomes a powerful and practical leadership strategy.

She introduces four foundational pillars of joy-led leadership: joy over endurance, integration over compartmentalization, community over competition, and regulation over urgency. Together, these principles create a framework for leading with greater clarity, creativity, and connection—even in complex, high-pressure environments.

Drawing on research, real-world examples, and thoughtful reflection, Rachel highlights how positive emotions expand cognitive flexibility, improve decision-making, and foster more collaborative, resilient teams. From cultivating authenticity and aligning personal values with organizational purpose to building trust through community and leading with calm instead of urgency, this episode is filled with insights leaders can apply immediately.

If you’ve ever felt drained by traditional leadership models, this conversation offers a new path - one where joy isn’t a reward at the end, but a resource you lead from every day.

Key Takeaways

•  Leadership doesn’t have to be exhausting to be effective 
•  Joy enhances creativity, clarity, and team performance 
•  Authentic, values-aligned leadership builds trust and engagement 
•  Strong communities outperform competitive, siloed teams 
•  Slowing down and regulating responses leads to better decisions 
•  Small, intentional shifts can bring more joy into everyday leadership

Support the show

Connect with Rachel

• Joy-Led Leadership Forum
• Take the Pledge to send 1 Text a Day
• The JOY Project
• Joy is THE Strategy
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

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In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, I sit down with Nicole Kelly for a deeply honest conversation about race, inequality, and community in Minnesota.

Nicole shares what it was like growing up in Minneapolis in a multi-ethnic family, with a Black father and a white mother, and how those different perspectives shaped the way she sees the world. We talk about how important it is to ask hard questions, examine our own assumptions, and have conversations that move beyond surface-level understanding.

We also reflect on the impact of George Floyd’s murder, what it means to build trust across communities, and how each of us can take small, meaningful steps toward greater awareness and accountability. This is a conversation about discomfort, courage, and the ongoing work of listening, learning, and showing up for one another.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Growing up in a multi-ethnic household in Minneapolis
• How personal experiences shape the way we see race and inequality
• The impact of George Floyd’s murder on Minnesota communities
• Why uncomfortable conversations matter
• How to question our assumptions and biases
• Small ways to become a more aware and engaged community member

Connect with Nicole

Home | respectfullynicole

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In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, I sit down with Tasha Wilson for a powerful conversation about inner healing, boundaries, purpose, and what it really means to embody joy.

Tasha shares her journey as a speaker, author, educator, and community leader, and how life experiences, grief, and personal transformation led her to help other women find their voice and strength. We talk about the inner critic, how to respond when that voice gets loud, and why giving ourselves grace is such an important part of growth.

We also explore boundaries, rest, listening to our bodies, and the courage it takes to live a fulfilling life that feels aligned. Tasha’s wisdom is both grounding and uplifting, and her reminder that joy is something we embody, not chase, is one I’ll be holding onto.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What the inner critic is and how to quiet it
• Why grace and self-awareness matter in healing
• The importance of boundaries and rest
• How to listen to your body and honor what you need
• Tasha’s work as an author, speaker, and community leader
• Why joy is something we embody, not something we chase

Connect with Tasha
Website: www.lifewithtashaw.com

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• Joy-Led Leadership Forum
• Take the Pledge to send 1 Text a Day
• The JOY Project
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• Instagram
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In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, I sit down with Rebecca Thomas for a thoughtful conversation about joy, self-trust, boundaries, and what it means to slow down in a world that constantly pushes us to do more.

Rebecca shares how her background in hospitality, hosting, and deep relational work led her into coaching women who appear capable on the outside but are quietly carrying too much. We talk about the difference between joy and happiness, how many of us live in a constant state of bracing, and why true growth is less about having the right language and more about actually integrating what we know.

We also explore boundaries, burnout, emotional honesty, and Rebecca’s work through Maria Venus and her AI reflection guide, Mira. This conversation is full of gentle but powerful reminders about presence, discomfort, and learning to trust ourselves more deeply.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The difference between joy and happiness
• What embodied self-trust looks like
• How high-capacity women can move out of chronic self-questioning
• Why slowing down is often the real work
• How boundaries create more freedom and flow
• The idea of “bracing” against joy and life

Connect with Rebecca
Nurture Your Nature | Substack

Rebecca Thomas (@marieofvenus) • Instagram photos and videos

Nurture Your Nature | Podcast on Spotify

LinkedIn

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In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel sits down with artist, designer, and watercolor coach Chris Vabre for a heartfelt conversation about creativity, fear, inspiration, and the healing power of art. Chris shares her journey from a creative childhood to working in retail and fashion, and how she eventually found her way back to her artistic voice through watercolor.

Together, they explore why so many people believe they are “not creative,” how to reduce the friction that keeps us from creating, and why inspiration is often rooted in joy, memory, and action. Chris also shares practical beginner tips for getting started with watercolor, how color connects to emotion, and why creative expression matters more than doing it “right.”

This episode is an invitation to stop waiting, release perfectionism, and reconnect with the part of you that simply wants to make something beautiful.

Full show notes

What if creativity isn’t something reserved for “real artists,” but something every human being already has?

In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel welcomes artist, designer, and watercolor coach Chris Vabre for a rich conversation about creativity, confidence, color, and self-expression. Chris shares how she returned to her creative roots after years in more traditional careers, and how watercolor became both a healing practice and a way to help others reconnect with themselves.

They talk about the fears that keep people from creating, the limiting beliefs many of us carry from childhood, and the powerful connection between inspiration and joy. Chris explains how creativity can calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and help us process emotion — and she offers simple, practical ways for beginners to get started without pressure.

Whether you see yourself as artistic or not, this conversation will encourage you to notice what lights you up, trust your inner spark, and take one small step toward creating again.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Chris’s journey from creative child to artist and watercolor coach
• Why so many adults believe they “aren’t creative”
• How fear, shame, and limiting beliefs block self-expression
• The connection between inspiration, memory, and joy
• Why reducing friction makes it easier to create
• How watercolor became a calming, grounding practice for Chris
• The emotional and personal meaning behind color
• Beginner-friendly watercolor supplies to start with
• How to reclaim your creative power without needing perfection

Connect with Chris Vabre:

Website: octopusconnection.com
Community: The Watercolor Journey

Be sure to subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review if this conversation inspired you.

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• Joy-Led Leadership Forum
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• The JOY Project
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• Instagram
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Is joy just a nice feeling—or is it actually a leadership advantage?

In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, we explore the surprising science behind joy and how it impacts the way we think, lead, create, and connect with others.

Research in neuroscience and psychology shows that joy isn’t just an emotional experience—it changes the way our brain functions. When we experience joy and other positive emotions, our thinking expands, creativity increases, and our ability to build meaningful relationships improves.

In this episode, we break down the neuroscience behind joy and explore why leaders, entrepreneurs, and creators may actually perform better when joy is part of the process—not something saved for the end.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to hustle harder, push through exhaustion, or sacrifice well-being in order to succeed, this conversation offers a different perspective.

Joy might not be the reward for success.

It might be the path to it.

• The neuroscience of joy and how it affects brain function
 • The Broaden-and-Build Theory and why positive emotions expand thinking
• Why joy improves creativity and problem-solving
• How emotional states influence team culture and leadership
• The role joy plays in resilience and stress recovery
• Why joy may be one of the most overlooked leadership strategies

• Barbara Fredrickson – Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions
 • Research on dopamine and creativity
 • Neuroscience studies on mirror neurons and emotional contagion

Where in your work do you feel the most energized, curious, and aligned?

Those moments of joy may be pointing you toward the work where your leadership and creativity are most powerful.

If you enjoyed this episode of Joy Unfiltered, be sure to subscribe and share it with someone who could use a little more joy in their leadership and life.

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• Joy-Led Leadership Forum
• Take the Pledge to send 1 Text a Day
• The JOY Project
• Joy is THE Strategy
• Instagram
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