Joy isn’t a luxury. It’s a strategy.

In this episode of Rebranding Mental Health, Iman and Kurt explore Joyful Defiance. Kurt coined this approach as the radical act of choosing play, pleasure, and presence even when the world feels chaotic. This is not about denial or bypassing pain. It’s about staying soft, grounded, and awake in a hard world and reclaiming your emotional sovereignty.

You’ll learn:

• Why joy builds resilience in your brain and body (hello, Polyvagal Theory and endorphins!)
• How political stress and cultural chaos dysregulate your nervous system—and what to do about it
• How to engage with the world without losing yourself to it
• Practices that cultivate joy as resistance: humor breaks, tiny joy rituals, creative rebellion, and reframing narratives
• Why protecting your peace is not selfish, it’s a public service

“Joy is an act of resistance.” – Toi Derricotte

You are allowed to be informed without being consumed.
Let joy be your anchor, your compass, and your rebellion.

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"Rebranding Mental Health: A Movement, Not a Label."