The Joy Minimum

The advice most people give about joy is backwards.

Evan Lucy makes the case that joy is not a mood you chase, it is something you build, protect, and return to - even when life gets chaotic.

A New Yorker, event marketer, soon-to-be children’s book author, and self-described polymath, Evan joins That Quirky Bird Girl to unpack the real-life messiness behind resilience. From leaving a dysfunctional home, to losing a job that turned out to be an MLM scheme, to getting laid off right after his honeymoon, he shares the moments that forced him to rethink independence, love, and what actually sustains a person.

You’ll discover:

• Why Evan believes joy is more permanent than happiness
• How humor and honest self-awareness helped him survive some of his lowest moments
• The relationship lesson that changed how he thinks about love at your “worst”
• Why he thinks many people are outsourcing too much - especially to AI
• How his upcoming children’s book tackles tech boundaries, family connection, and what should never be replaced by machines

Steph also digs into Evan’s creative side, from his obsession with mythology and video games to the way he sees everyday life as a place to practice delight.

It all connects back to a bigger idea: if you want a more resilient life, you have to stop waiting for the perfect moment to show up, love people well now, and laugh at the parts of yourself that are still under construction.

If you need a reminder that hardship does not have to steal your joy, this conversation delivers it. Perfect for anyone navigating change, rebuilding trust, or trying to stay soft in a world that keeps asking you to harden.

Who is Evan? Evan Lucy is an events marketer, community builder, and writer based in New York, known for his work on major B2B events and his upcoming children’s book about healthy boundaries with technology and AI.

Instagram: @boxofwondersbook

LinkedIn: Evan Lucy

Have you ever looked at someone who is radically joyful and wondered… How do they do that?

Or maybe you’re someone who feels deeply joyful yourself, but you’ve never been able to put words to why.

Primadonald joins (me) That Quirky Bird Girl to break down the ins and outs of being a joy entrepreneur alongside grief. He shares how his joy is a tribute to his late father Stu, a beloved man who cared deeply about the little things that made the people that he loved who they are and Magnolia's Banana Pudding too. Donald honors his father by celebrating this love and continuing to be radically himself whether that be online through his social media channels as @Primadonald and co-host with his best friend of You Think?, or celebrating Pride here in NYC.

Donald isn't just joyful, he chooses joy every single day. Every small act, he seeks joy, and we can all yearn to learn a little bit more from the Donald's of the world.

This conversation is full of hope, self-acceptance, and a reminder that we all have something to learn from the people who choose to live boldly.

What questions do you have for Donald?

See ya on the next one! 🌻