Read the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2022/08/return-to-nature-emma-loewe/
Emma Loewe is the co-author of The Spirit Almanac, and she is the senior sustainability editor for mindbodygreen, and she has released the amazing book, Return to Nature: The New Science of How Nature Landscapes Restore Us. In it, she shares the different kinds of landscapes, how they effect your mental health, studies about why they improve your mental health, and things you can do to counter-act the effects of climate change on these landscapes. This discussion fits so well into this month’s theme of “finding home,” and I hope you love this conversation about the return to nature with Emma Loewe.
In this episode, Emma Loewe and I talk about:
Resources
Emma Loewe’s book, “Return to Nature: The New Science of How Natural Landscapes Restore Us” on Bookshop.org
Others:
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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:40 Reflecting on Nature's Restorative Power
01:04 Engaging with the Audience
02:24 Introducing Emma Lowey and Her Book
03:18 Emma's Early Inspirations and Environmental Path
04:26 The Personal and Passionate Journey of Writing
06:21 The Impact of Nature on Mental Health
09:20 The Science Behind Nature's Benefits 09:48 Creative Processes During the Pandemic
12:14 Exploring Different Landscapes 13:35 The Healing Power of Water and Forests
23:08 Practical Steps for Environmental Action
26:21 Emma's Personal Practices and Final Thoughts
31:22 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
Read the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2024/07/activism-and-resilience-with-christy-tending-writing-through-grief-and-joy/
I'm welcoming back my friend and author Christy Tending. Christy is joining me to discuss her new book, "The High Priestess of the Apocalypse," which is a lyrical exploration of disobedience, grief, healing, and climate activism. Packed with heartfelt reflections and practical advice for activists, Christy's book offers a unique blend of memoir and guide.
We also dive into a thoughtful conversation about the personal and societal challenges we've faced over the last few years, highlighting the importance of community, preparedness, and personal resilience. We discuss the practical aspects of activism, the emotional toll of recent global events, and how Christy's writing has navigated these complex landscapes.
Key Highlights:
Resources:
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Warm Welcome
00:20 Introducing Christy and Her New Book
00:33 Exploring the Themes of the Book
01:04 Community and Resources for Listeners
02:08 Christy's Journey and Writing Process
03:37 Navigating Modern Challenges
10:47 Practical Tips for Activists
15:13 Emergency Preparedness and Community Support
21:39 The Power of Community in Publishing
26:56 The Weird Book Thing
27:05 Self-Publishing Journey
27:48 Making Cool Stuff Without Permission
29:04 The Challenges of Writing a Book
30:18 Processing Isolation and Loss
39:37 The Role of an Editor
41:16 The Importance of Specificity in Writing
48:58 Finding Joy in the Little Things
50:59 Final Thoughts and Inspiration
Read the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2024/06/finding-joy-through-structure-and-elegance-with-jennifer-l-scott/
In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, Paula interviews Jennifer L. Scott, the New York Times bestselling author of the Madame Chic Series and content creator behind The Daily Connoisseur, who shares how adding structure and more formality to life can bring intentional joy.
Jennifer highlights her experiences living with a traditional family in Paris, her journey as a YouTuber through the Daily Connoisseur, and how she navigates homeschooling while balancing her professional life.
The conversation dives into how self-discipline and mindful living can transform daily routines, and Jennifer offers tips on being present, observing nature, and incorporating lifelong learning into one's lifestyle. Paula also introduces a new segment on inspiration, intention, or action, encouraging listeners to continually seek personal growth.
Resources:
Buy Jennifer's Book, Lessons From Madame Chic: https://amzn.to/3KYSCln
The Daily Connoisseur on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEnEnLT5wBVnK56QFRg_Iwg
Jennifer L. Scott's website: https://jenniferlscott.com/
Jump Start Your Joy's website: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/
Labyrinth Walk information: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/labyrinth-basics/
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:42 Jennifer L. Scott's Background and YouTube Channel
03:34 The Joys of Childhood and Early Inspirations
05:40 Writing the Madame Chic Series
08:08 Living a Formal Life: Lessons from Paris
10:43 Pandemic Reflections and Seeking Structure
16:23 Community Feedback and Personal Transformations
22:28 The Struggles of YouTube Content Creation
22:58 Taking YouTube Seriously
24:25 Balancing YouTube and Personal Life
26:36 The Chic Assignments
29:54 Homeschooling and Delegation
31:17 The Reality Behind YouTube Success
34:21 Future Plans and Community Building
37:37 Final Thoughts and Inspirations
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Andrea Scher has thrilled and inspired others for nearly twenty years through her award-winning blog Superhero Journal, her international workshops, her Creative Superheroes podcast, and her joyful e-courses. In this episode, we discuss Andrea’s new book, Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy Today, and how and she describes why this is the perfect time to tune into the small things that bring you joy.
Read the full show notes on my website. Click here.
In this episode, Andrea and I talk about:
Resources
Preorder Andrea Scher's book: Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake Up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy
Get your free gift from Andrea after purchasing Wonder Seeker here
Other books and resources we mention in this episode
The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Wisdom, and Love: Buddha's Brain by Rick Hanson
Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence by Rick Hanson
Signe Myers Hovem is a spiritual counselor, an energy worker, and the author of The Space in Between: An Empaths Field Guide. In this interview on Jump Start Your Joy podcast, we are talking about empaths and highly sensitive people (HSPs).
If you are a highly sensitive person, or if you have a sense that you may be an empath, then I think you're going to get a lot out of this conversation (which ties so closely to this season's theme of intentional comfort on the podcast). HSPs and empaths notice the energy around people and places and things, and this can be overwhelming to them. The Empath's Field Guide, and this conversation, offers a lot of insight on how to manage your energy, hold space, and work with your gifts.
In this episode, Signe Myers Hovem talk about:
Resources
The Space in Between: An Empaths Field Guide by Signe Myers Hovem
Love the show, and what to show your support?
Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.
I'm really excited to have author Renee Linnell back on JSYJ!. This is her second time on the podcast, and in this brand new conversation, we're talking about her book that came out on August 16, 2022, which is titled "Still on Fire: A Memoir."
Renee first came on the show when her first book, "The Burn Zone," came out. This book was was all about how she found herself in a cult several years ago. Her new book is a delightful continuation of her amazing craft of storytelling. The themes that come through in her new book are all around trusting your intuition, manifesting things in your life, and the idea that this life is a continuation of your soul's ongoing journey.
Of course, these are some of my very favorite themes and there's such joy and delight in this conversation with Renee.
Resources:
Renee Linnell's first interview on JSYJ
Renee Lineell's book: "Still on Fire: A Memoir"
Renee Linnell's book: "The Burn Zone"
Emma Loewe is the co-author of The Spirit Almanac, and she is the senior sustainability editor for mindbodygreen, and she has released the amazing book, Return to Nature: The New Science of How Nature Landscapes Restore Us. In it, she shares the different kinds of landscapes, how they effect your mental health, studies about why they improve your mental health, and things you can do to counter-act the effects of climate change on these landscapes. This discussion fits so well into this month’s theme of “finding home,” and I hope you love this conversation about the return to nature with Emma Loewe.
Read the full show notes on my website.
In this episode, Emma Loewe and I talk about:
Resources
Emma Loewe’s book, “Return to Nature: The New Science of How Natural Landscapes Restore Us” on Bookshop.org
Love the show, and what to show your support?
Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.
Sonya Renee Taylor and I talked about:
– her early joys of creating radio shows with her friend
– slam poetry festivals, and how entering them fed her soul
– how “The Body is Not an Apology” got started
– how the Genesis story in the Judeo-Christian tradition relates to shame and body image
– how to tell if your joy is coming from an altruistic place, or if it may have residue on it
– embracing radical self love
– why radical self love is not easy work
– the indoctrination of all of us in a society where the hierarchy has a vested interest in keeping us from embracing self love
– giving from your overflow, and how that can help you steer clear of burnout
– that choosing to spread radical self love feeds itself, and creates room for more radical self-love
Resources
Sonya Renee Taylor’s Website
The Body is Not an Apology Website
Support The Body is Not an Apology by making a contribution
Sonya Renee Taylor on Unlocking Us with Brene Brown
Sign up to receive the Jump Start Your Joy newsletter
Follow Jump Start Your Joy on Apple Podcasts
Love the show, and what to show your support?
Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.
for mindbodygreen, and she has just released the amazing book, Return to Nature: The New Science of How Nature Landscapes Restore Us. In it, she shares the different kinds of landscapes, how they effect your mental health, studies about why they improve your mental health, and things you can do to counter-act the effects of climate change on these landscapes. This discussion fits so well into this month’s theme of “finding home,” and I hope you love this conversation about the return to nature with Emma Loewe.
Read the full show notes on my website.
In this episode, Emma Loewe and I talk about:
Resources
Emma Loewe’s book, “Return to Nature: The New Science of How Natural Landscapes Restore Us” on Bookshop.org
Love the show, and what to show your support?
Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.
In this episode, Lauren and I talk about:
- the labyrinth and what it is
- her journey in finding the labyrinth in Cathedral de Chartres, France
- the role of the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco - both now, and during the AIDS epidemic
- the Holy Fool and how it relates to the Labyrinth
- Hand labyrinths: how they work and how they came about
- The parallels and metaphors of our lives and the walk of the labyrinth
Resources
Lauren Artress' Website
Veriditas Website
World Labyrinth Locator
Interview with William J Peters on JSYJ
Watch Jump Start Your Joy interviews on YouTube
Love the show, and what to show your support?
Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.
In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I am interviewing William J. Peters. He is the founder of the Shared Crossing Project and the director of its research initiative. He is the author of the new book, "At Heaven's Door: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach about Dying Well and Living Better." Recognized as a global leader in the field of shared death studies, he has spent decades studying end of life experiences. He is a practicing grief and bereavement therapist, and he holds degrees from Harvard and UC Berkeley. In this interview, we are talking about understanding shared death experiences.
Read the show notes on my website.
In this episode, William J. Peters and I discuss
Resources
At Heaven's Door (the book) by William J. Peters
Love the show, and what to show your support?
Buy me a cup of coffee, and I'll give you a shout out on the next episode.
Signe Myers Hovem is a spiritual counselor, an energy worker, and the author of The Space in Between: An Empaths Field Guide. In this interview on Jump Start Your Joy podcast, we are talking about empaths and highly sensitive people (HSPs).
If you are a highly sensitive person, or if you have a sense that you may be an empath, then I think you're going to get a lot out of this conversation (which ties so closely to this season's theme of intentional comfort on the podcast). HSPs and empaths notice the energy around people and places and things, and this can be overwhelming to them. The Empath's Field Guide, and this conversation, offers a lot of insight on how to manage your energy, hold space, and work with your gifts.
In this episode, Signe Myers Hovem talk about:
Resources
The Space in Between: An Empaths Field Guide by Signe Myers Hovem
Sign up for the January 14, 2022 Podcaster meetup (online) and Ask Me Anything
Sign up for the January 21, 2022 Podcasting Quarterly Content Planning Session
I truly enjoyed getting to speak with Jonni, and felt myself sinking into the conversation in a deep way. One of the most inspirational parts of the discussion for me was when we walked through the Four Golden Insights, which are the pillars for the work Jonni does.
4. Fulfillment is our Purpose – we find our purpose by fully understanding who we are
Resources
The Golden Sequence by Jonni Pollard on Amazon
Jonni Pollard and I talk about:
Andrea Scher has thrilled and inspired others for nearly twenty years through her award-winning blog Superhero Journal, her international workshops, her Creative Superheroes podcast, and her joyful e-courses. In this episode, we discuss Andrea’s new book, Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy Today, and how and she describes why this is the perfect time to tune into the small things that bring you joy.
Read the full show notes on my website. Click here.
In this episode, Andrea and I talk about:
Resources
Preorder Andrea Scher's book: Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake Up Your Creativity and Find Your Joy
Get your free gift from Andrea after purchasing Wonder Seeker here
Other books and resources we mention in this episode
The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Wisdom, and Love: Buddha's Brain by Rick Hanson
Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence by Rick Hanson
Pamela Seelig began her yoga journey more than 25 years ago when an illness (Bell's Palsy) interrupted her Wall Street career. As part of her recovery from that diagnosis, she she began meditating and it brought her some amazing results. Not only did it speed up her recovery, but the impact of meditating at during that time in her life led to a lifelong pursuit of sharing yoga wisdom with others. In this interview, she joins me to talk about Stress Relief, Meditation and "Threads of Yoga," her new book.
What that means for you is whether or not you are currently practicing yoga, there will be something for you to glean from this conversation.
We talk about:
I feel like this weaves in so beautifully with the theme for season seven, which is all about intentional comfort and joy.
Resources
Centering Prayer Meditation by Paula Jenkins on Insight Timer (free)
Jump Start Your Joy: Heart-Centered Ways to Find Joy in The Messy Middle
In this interview, I am so honored to be joined by author Sonya Renee Taylor. Sonya is the author of the the New York Times Bestselling book, “The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love.” She just recently released an updated version of that book, and the “Your Body is Not an Apology Workbook: Tools for Living Radical Self Love.” Sonya is joining me to talk all about radical self-love and joy. And, she shares that when we start to love ourselves, we can transform how we interact with others in the world.
One of my favorite parts of our discussion sits at the heart of something that has bothered me about joy recently; the question of “how can I embrace joy if that joy possibly comes at the expense of someone else’s freedom, joy, or access to things?” In other words, where does my own privilege enable me to experience joy when others may not have that same access to it.
In talking about altruistic joy, Sonya and I talked about how this relates to her frame work of “interest buying” or “detriment buying” – in other words, there are things that we do or things that we consume that are in the better interest of all people (altruistic) and there are things that we consume or do that are at the detriment of others.
And here’s where it got really juicy. Sonya shared that she feels that true, altruistic joy is the kind of joy that has no residue. And, this is perhaps one of the most amazing reflections I’ve heard about joy in the 7 years I’ve been talking to guests about it. Here’s what she had to say about it:
“What it brings up for me is: joy doesn’t have a residue. There’s no residue on joy. It’s beautiful. If there’s a residue, that’s information for you. That’s information to say, “this might not actually be best interest. This might actually be detriment by it. There is something on it that is not about simply living into the most joyful, highest vibration of myself in the world. There is something that says, ‘I’m trying to clean up something. I’m trying to fix something. I’m trying to extract something externally because it’s coming from a place of lack or scarcity.'”
That’s what the residue piece is. And so I think if we can start noticing and getting present with the question of is there a residue after I do a thing? And then, how can I let that be an indicator of whether or not I’m actually in a joy practice. Am I in an interest / buying practice? Or am I in a detriment practice?”
Sonya Renee Taylor and I talked about:
– her early joys of creating radio shows with her friend
– slam poetry festivals, and how entering them fed her soul
– how “The Body is Not an Apology” got started
– how the Genesis story in the Judeo-Christian tradition relates to shame and body image
– how to tell if your joy is coming from an altruistic place, or if it may have residue on it
– embracing radical self love
– why radical self love is not easy work
– the indoctrination of all of us in a society where the hierarchy has a vested interest in keeping us from embracing self love
– giving from your overflow, and how that can help you steer clear of burnout
– that choosing to spread radical self love feeds itself, and creates room for more radical self-love
Resources
Sonya Renee Taylor’s Website
The Body is Not an Apology Website
Support The Body is Not an Apology by making a contribution
Sonya Renee Taylor on Unlocking Us with Brene Brown
Sign up to receive the Jump Start Your Joy newsletter
In this episode, I’m delighted to have Fred Waitzkin return for his second interview, this time to talk about his brand new book “Strange Love.” Fred is the author of “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” which is based on his experiences with his son Josh who was a chess prodigy at age 7. In this new interview, we talk about his latest book (Strange Love), his time during COVID in New York and Costa Rica, and what drew him to write a story based in Costa Rica, and his writing process.
What I love about this conversation is the way that Fred talks about his creative process. I find that creating a podcast weekly also takes a good deal of creativity, for my clients and for myself. It’s always interesting to me to learn how other creative people tap into creative flow. Fred uses real life to inspire the events of his book, and he talks about three key things as far as how he goes about writing.
In this conversation, Fred Waitzkin and I talk about:
– his new book, Strange Love, and how he crafted the characters
– his inspiration for writing, often taken from day to day life and people he knows
– Costa Rica and New York City during the COVID pandemic
– his creative process in writing
– how the pandemic has changed us as people
– the resurgence of interest in his book, Searching for Bobby Fischer, after the release of The Queen’s Gambit
Resources
Fred Waitzkin’s website
Strange Love by Fred Waitzkin
Searching for Bobby Fischer by Fred Waitzkin
Fred’s first interview on Jump Start Your Joy
Sign up to receive the Jump Start Your Joy newsletter
In this episode, I'm honored to be interviewing Lauren Artress. She is an author, Canon of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, founder of Veriditas, and a spiritual pioneer and a leading force in popularizing the Labyrinth in the US and around the world. I have been fascinated with Labyrinths for years, and this last December became a trained Labyrinth facilitator. I'm excited to have Lauren joining me to talk about her experience with the Labyrinth, The Labyrinth Movement, and how it offers parallels and insights into our lives.
In this episode, Lauren and I talk about:
- the labyrinth and what it is
- her journey in finding the labyrinth in Cathedral de Chartres, France
- the role of the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco - both now, and during the AIDS epidemic
- the Holy Fool and how it relates to the Labyrinth
- Hand labyrinths: how they work and how they came about
- The parallels and metaphors of our lives and the walk of the labyrinth
Resources
Lauren Artress' Website
Veriditas Website
World Labyrinth Locator
The author of “You Were Not Born to Suffer,” Blake Bauer and Paula talk about the themes of initiation, struggle, and hardship as a path to knowing yourself and finding your purpose wove through the conversation and finding joy in the messy middle.
In this episode, Blake and I talk about:
Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website.
This week, Molly McGlynn Knoderer joins me on the podcast. Molly is the co-founder of Legacy Concierge Services in Northern California. She also recently published a chapter in her first book, “Awakening and Deepening to Truth.” She has deep experience as an entrepreneur, and has followed her own curiosity and passion in her career in elder services after graduating from UC Davis. In the last year, she also wrote about her own journey and truth and so many powerful things to say about the writing process, and how to overcome shame that was present in her life and in so many of our lives.
Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website.
Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website.
In this episode we talk about:
In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy podcast, I’m delighted to be sharing an interview with Dr. Jeff Spiess. Author of the book, “Dying with Ease: A Compassionate Guide for Making Wiser End-of-Life Decisions,” Dr. Spiess was an oncologist, and later a hospice physician. He spent his medical career working with people were facing serious illness and death, and had a lot of experience in how to navigate both for all who are involved.
I’m honored to have Dr. Spiess on the show, and really excited to talk to him about how to find joy now, when we are alive. And, we talk about how to find joy even with the existential knowledge of knowing we are all headed toward death. What do we need to do now, to set ourselves up for more joy while we’re alive?
How do we help others who are facing death feel contentment and joy in their time here?
What’s it like to hold joy and the reality of our own mortality in the same moment?
Get all the show notes and a full transcript at the website.
Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website.
Oren Jay Sofer is a communication expert and mindfulness teacher at Spirit Rock in Woodacre, California. He recently wrote the book “Say What You Mean: A Nonviolent Approach to Communication,” and I’m delighted to have him as a guest on the podcast.
In this look back episode episode, Oren and I talk about:
-Mindful communication
-That language is an inherited phenomenon
-How to stop ruminating over anger when you are upset
-The work of Marshall Rosenberg around non-violent communication
-Active listening and how to build understanding in communication
-His thoughts on how to Jump Start Your Joy: find ways to be kind and generous, attune to beauty, connect to meaning and purpose, and play more
Read the full show notes on the website.
Sign up for "Three Joyful Things" Newsletter on my website.
Resources
Say What You Mean: A Nonviolent Approach to Mindful Communication by Oren Jay Sofer (on Amazon)
Sign up for Oren’s class that starts October 17, 2019
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
In this episode, I’m delighted to be joined by Dr. Ezzie Spencer, author of “Lunar Abundance” and the “Lunar Abundance Journal.” After first hearing her interview with Jess Lively in 2017, I was deeply inspired by her story. Ezzie started out as a lawyer in Australia, and also holds a Ph.D in emotional well being. Starting in childhood, Ezzie found herself drawn to the moon and its phases in cycles, and found herself returning to its magic and cycles as she looked for ways to cope with the stress of life as a lawyer.
In this episode, Dr. Ezzie Spencer and I talk about:
-Her early sparks of joy in watching the moon
-Working as a lawyer, and finding herself at the brink of burn out
-Returning to the inspiration of the moon and its cycles and phases
-How to take inspiration from the lunar phases and cycles as a way to pace our own lives
-Re.love, and her work with women who have experienced toxic relationships
-How to jump start your joy: set an intention to be joyful, meditation, asking what is the one thing you’re grateful for, right now?
Resources:
Lunar Abundance: Cultivating Joy, Peace, and Purpose Using the Phases of the Moon by Dr. Ezzie Spencer
Lunar Abundance Journal (on Amazon)
Re.Love program for recovering from toxic relationships by Dr. Ezzie Spencer
Dr. Ezzie Spencer on The Lively Show Episode 212
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Jennifer Louden is a coach, author, and all around delightful powerhouse of self care, and I’m delighted to have her on the show to talk about her upcoming book: Why Bother: Discover the Desire for What’s Next. Considered a pioneer in the self care movement, Jennifer wrote her first book, The Woman’s Comfort Book, in 2005. I really enjoyed talking to Jennifer, and it was an honor to have her on the show.
Jennifer Louden and I talk about:
-How masterminds and coaches can help shed light on things that you can’t see for yourself
-Why Bother: Discover the Desire for What’s Next
-Using what bothers you as an invitation to dig deeper and create transformation
-Rock bottom as a place to transform from
-Why we need to normalize that life has hard parts to it, and struggle
-Taking action is the key transforming
-Living a human scale life - one that honors your need for boundaries and care instead of being focused on hustle
-Why “faster” and “hacking” and “hustle” don’t equate to “better” and why we need to set kind goals for ourselves
-“Net joy” and how to keep it as a compass for your life
-Change and growth are not linear
-How Wonder can help you get your bother on
-Grit without compassion is just grind
Resources
Jennifer Louden’s website
The Life Organizer: A Woman’s Guide to a Mindful Year by Jennifer Louden on Amazon
Order Why Bother: Discover the Desire for What’s Next by Jennifer Louden on Amazon
Episode 247: Why it's time to embrace playing small
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