The JOY Hour

Maya Gandaia
  • 0.0 (0)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

Welcome to The JOY Hour with Ella Mesma. Each episode, creative entrepreneurs share their real stories: the struggles, the transformations, and what it truly takes to build a business and life that feels aligned. This isn't about hustle culture or overnight success. It's about the messy, beautiful journey to choosing joy, creativity, and authenticity over everything else. Grab a tea, get cosy, and join us for The JOY Hour

Episodes

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 77: Sunflowers, Divine Timing and Zero F's Given with Anita Kopacz

    Sunflowers, Divine Timing and Zero F's Given with Anita Kopacz This episode is lovingly dedicated to Ginalda Tavares Manuel (Leeds/Cape Verde/Angola) - poet, artist, writer, language graduate, and radiant sunflower soul, who passed away in 2024. Her light continues to shine upon all who knew her. Land Acknowledgement:Recorded between New York State and London. We acknowledge the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Lenape peoples as the original stewards of the lands now known as New York State, and the colonial histories of both the USA and the UK. Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of death, near-death experiences, and references to sexual trauma and healing. About this Episode: In this episode of The JOY Hour, I sit down with Anita Kopacz - author, spiritual psychologist, certified Tantra coach, and founder of Zero F's Given - to explore divine timing, the medicine of the sun, and why joy is our birthright. Timestamps:00:01 - Welcome and intro00:37 - Anita's bio and Zero F's Given02:03 - Where Anita is joining from and her recent joy02:47 - The Orishas: Oshun, Yemaya, and Oya06:47 - Spiritual technology and the revolution of love12:04 - What Anita is journeying right now as a human14:25 - Motherhood and reclaiming creative space17:13 - Sunflower energy and the medicine of the sun19:37 - Did you always know? Anita's journey with her gifts22:22 - Hearing voices and discovering channeling26:37 - Creating in expansive space27:26 - Divine timing and joy as our birthright28:45 - Ella's name revelation: complete29:32 - Pixie Coleman-Smith and the World card30:26 - Where to connect with Anita In This Conversation We Explore: The Orishas: Yemaya, Oya, and Oshun and their medicine for our timesAnita's near-death experience at birth and her lifelong relationship with deathThe moment she discovered her gift for channeling and readingWhy the sun doesn't choose who it shines upon - sunflower medicineMotherhood, the empty nest, and reclaiming creative spaceThe revolution of love happening in small groups around the worldWhy we are already complete - we don't need fixingHer mother's affirmation: "Everything that comes out of you is God"About Anita:Anita Kopacz is the author of the Simon & Schuster fiction novels Shallow Waters, The Wind on Her Tongue, and the forthcoming A Taste of Honey (2027) - the Daughter of Three Waters trilogy released on Charlemagne tha God's Black Privilege Publishing imprint. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Heart & Soul Magazine, an award-winning writer, a spiritual psychologist, and a certified Tantra coach. Anita created the nonprofit Zero F's Given to help victimized and disenfranchised populations heal from sexual trauma, find their voice, and reclaim their power. Through leading retreats with the Goddess Wisdom Council, working with private clients, and storytelling, Anita awakens divine simplicity, pleasure, and joy. Resources Mentioned: Shallow Waters by Anita KopaczThe Wind on Her Tongue by Anita KopaczA Taste of Honey by Anita Kopacz (coming 2027)Goddess Wisdom Council monthly callsPixie Coleman-Smith and the Rider-Waite tarot deckGinalda Tavares Manuel memorial page: ginalda-tavaresmanuel.muchloved.comConnect with Anita:Instagram: @anitakopaczBooks: Available at independent Black bookstores and everywhere books are soldGoddess Wisdom Council: goddesswisdomcouncil.com - monthly calls on the last Sunday of each month, 3pm ESTMerch: Link in Instagram bio Connect with Ella Mesma:Website: mayagandaia.comFree Gift: Grab a free practice from Journal to JOY at mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift victimised Subscribe to The JOY Hour: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzrApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ybUzyvIV4PVoZ3S9ZK1pEGKuY7XcY8 M

    34 min

  2. 29 MAR

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 76: From Survival Mode to Flow State with Ella Mesma

    LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Recorded in Wanstead, London. We acknowledge the colonial histories of the UK and honour the diverse communities whose lands and labour built this city. ABOUT THIS EPISODE:In this special episode, my husband Ahmad Jooma interviews me. We talk about what it took to go from survival mode to flow state... from clenching through life as a dancer, a performer, a 'rebellious' daughter, to learning to receive, to let go, and to trust that the ground will hold me. I share how Rolfing has been showing me just how much tension I've been carrying, why I chose dance over the path I thought I had to follow, and what it means to live by intuition after a decade of this work. We also get into what it looks like to be in a relationship with someone who sees all of you... and how that changes everything about how I am doing life now... 🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS:Download your free Joy Hour resource at www.mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift IN THIS EPISODE:Recent joys: climbing, honeymoons and getting back into movementThe unclenching journey: discovering how much pain I was holdingWhat Rolfing has been teaching me about my body and my patternsChoosing dance over the university path my mum had plannedThe survival energy of "I have to catch up, I can't rest"Learning to receive... in bodywork, in relationship, in lifeHow intuition and the Land of Plenty transformed my realityThe three months I stopped doing the work and what happenedBeing in a self-aware relationship and dancing with frictionWhat I offer: Journal to JOY, the One Choice Challenge, the Goddxx Path TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Introduction00:35 – Ahmad reads Ella's bio from the room upstairs in Wanstead02:22 – Recent joys: climbing, honeymoon, the gym03:32 – What are we journeying right now?05:28 – The unclenching: Rolfing and discovering held tension06:56 – Enlightenment through letting go of the body's grip08:22 – Ahmad reflects: a type of ego death?09:32 – The dancer's performance energy and learning to receive10:51 – Choosing dance over the expected path12:22 – The protection pattern in relationships13:56 – From rebellion to surfing in freedom15:16 – The Land of Plenty and seeing Ahmad ten years before18:08 – Was there always a knowing?20:45 – The Enneagram, not good enough, and the push to achieve25:48 – How meditation and intuition show up day to day30:57 – Your focus creates your reality31:15 – Survival mode in teenage years and the transformation34:45 – Can anyone achieve this? What is the Land of Plenty?36:54 – The daily practice: 11 minutes to transform your life38:13 – What is the Goddxx Path?39:24 – Closing ABOUT AHMAD:Ahmad Jooma is Ella's husband, a men's mental fitness coach and creator of Shook Man, reconnecting men to their inner compass so they navigate life with confidence and authenticity. His full episode on The JOY Hour is coming soon. RESOURCES & MENTIONS:Journal to JOYThe Land of Plenty: 22 free spots offered twice a year (Feb and Nov)The One Choice Challenge: Use intuition to become an action taker The Goddxx Path: 9-month transformation programmeRolfing Structural IntegrationTRE (Trauma Release Exercises)Wheel of ConsentThe EnneagramPilar Martin (Rolfing teacher) CONNECT:Ella MesmaWebsite: www.ellamesma.co.uk | www.goddxxpath.comBook: https://mayagandaia.com/journal-to-joy/Current offers: https://mayagandaia.com/links/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellamesma/ Ahmad JoomaWebsite: www.shookman.com | https://ahmadjooma.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahmad.joomaFull episode and links coming soon LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO THE JOY HOUR:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ybUzyvIV4PVoZ3S9ZK1pEGKuY7XcY8M ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS:Music: LamRockEverything else: Brought to you by Ella and guests ❤️ Enjoyed this episode? Like, Subscribe, and Share!

    41 min

  3. 15 MAR

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 75: I met my husband following Intuition with Maria

    LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Recorded between London and Austria. We acknowledge the colonial histories of the UK and Austria, and honour the diverse communities whose lands and labour built these cities. We also honour the Indigenous peoples of Guatemala and Mesoamerica, whose sacred relationship with cacao is central to this conversation. ABOUT THIS EPISODE:Content Warning: This episode references parental depression, suicide, and mental health medication. Maria's dad took his life when she was 16. Her mum fell into a decade-long depression. And Maria made it her mission to bring healing... first to herself, then to her mum, then to the world. This is a conversation about following intuition even when it terrifies you, the magic of cacao, and how Maria met her husband in India after seeing the exact place in a meditation a year before she got there. 🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS:Download your free Joy Hour resource at www.mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift IN THIS EPISODE:From corporate life to cacao ceremonies, sound healing and coachingThe first cacao ceremony that changed everything... and the vision of GuatemalaLearning from shamans and finding her own way with the medicineSinging through fear: overcoming a throat chakra blockageHelping her mum heal from 10 years of deep depressionThe meditation vision that led to India, to Varkala, to her future husbandTrusting intuition even when you have no plan BAsking her boss for remote work... and getting a yesFinding joy in the little things: presence, nature, breath TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Introduction01:26 – What does Maria's life look like now?03:43 – The first cacao ceremony and the vision of Guatemala07:41 – Singing through fear: the throat chakra journey10:26 – The ceremony where she made 20 mistakes12:26 – Life between Austria, Egypt and India13:11 – The meditation vision of a cliff in Kerala14:58 – Meeting her future husband at a yoga resort17:14 – From rational thinker to visionary20:42 – Her mum's 10-year depression23:19 – "I'm her daughter. I have the power."23:42 – Drinking cacao together: the moment her mum cried26:38 – What role does joy play in your life?28:30 – The bridge: authenticity and vulnerability31:49 – From full-time to 15 hours and travelling the world36:52 – How to live a life of joy ABOUT THE GUEST:Maria describes herself as a joyful being, deeply connected to nature, channelling her wisdom to bring healing to others. At 16, both her parents fell into depression. Her dad took his life and her mum remained in deep depression for years. Knowing she carried a strong energy, Maria made it her mission to bring healing... first to herself, then to her mum, then to the world. After years of personal growth and travelling, she helped her mum fully recover after 10 years. Today her mum is the healthiest she has ever been and medication-free. Maria now offers 1:1 intuition coaching, in-person cacao ceremonies and sound healing in Austria and wherever she travels. RESOURCES & MENTIONS:William Whitecloud: Natural Success and intuition trainingsArush: intuition coaching (Maria's first coach)Lake Atitlan, Guatemala: birthplace of modern cacao ceremoniesVarkala, Kerala, IndiaCeremonial cacao as heart-opening medicine CONNECT:Ella MesmaWebsite: www.ellamesma.co.uk | www.mayagandaia.comBook: https://mayagandaia.com/journal-to-joy/Current offers: https://mayagandaia.com/links/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellamesma/ MariaInstagram: @maria.earthrituals LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO THE JOY HOUR:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ybUzyvIV4PVoZ3S9ZK1pEGKuY7XcY8M ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS:Music: LamRockEverything else: Brought to you by Ella and guests ❤️ Enjoyed this episode? Like, Subscribe, and Share!

    39 min

  4. 15 FEB

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 74: Gloopy Time with Harinder

    LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Recorded in London. The JOY Hour acknowledges the colonial histories of the UK and honours the diverse communities whose lands and labour built this city. ABOUT THIS EPISODE: Harinder Virdee spent 25 plus years in large multinational corporations working in finance across the US, Austria and the UK... then one day chose something completely different. In this conversation, we explore what she calls "gloopy time": this unhurried, present, heart-led way of experiencing life that opened up when she stepped away from the doing and the delivering. We talk about the tussle between head and heart, the courage it takes to park everything you know and try something different, and how the body always knows the truth before the mind catches up. 🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS: Download your free Joy Hour resource at www.mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift IN THIS EPISODE: "Gloopy time": the unhurried experience of presence after leaving corporate lifeThe tussle between head and heart... and choosing the heartMoving from productivity and "doing" into being and receivingNot being good enough, not being worthy... and the burnout that followedThe ego growing alongside us and continuing to "protect"How the body knows before the mind does, every single time"My head drew the lines, but my heart adds the colour"Looking for the stars: finding light in the darknessLife in two tomes... and choosing to open the second book TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction 00:38 – A day in the life of Harinder: unhurried 01:32 – Gloopy time and the quality of presence 03:38 – Drawing, presence and stepping into infinity 05:41 – The transition from structure to beingness 06:15 – Moving from masculine doing to feminine being 08:36 – The old me versus the emerging me 09:34 – Life in two tomes 11:03 – When you're not on the right path, you'll get hints 13:52 – Spiralling to be more childlike 15:32 – Moving from acquiring into being 17:11 – Who am I actually living this life for? 17:49 – The body knows before the mind does 20:19 – Life before: not knowing what I was feeling 21:07 – Not being good enough and not being worthy 24:18 – Gravitating towards coaching 26:44 – The catalyst: was there a definitive moment? 29:01 – Where the joy exists 29:37 – Carrying the light into the darkness 32:01 – Closing ABOUT THE GUEST: Harinder Virdee spent over 25 years working in finance across large multinational corporations, living in the US, Austria and the UK. It was in the corporate world that she first found coaching, and when she stepped away three years ago, everything opened up. Today, Harinder is a transformational coach, artist, illustrator, clothing designer and host of the Belly Button Musings podcast. She describes her life now in one word: unhurried. CONNECT: Ella Mesma Website: www.ellamesma.co.uk | www.mayagandaia.com Book: https://mayagandaia.com/journal-to-joy/ Current offers: https://mayagandaia.com/links/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellamesma/ Harinder Virdee Podcast: Belly Button Musings (available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/1bPubYSYTRkzdFWrsgJjuq LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harinder-virdee-73a54630/ LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO THE JOY HOUR: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ybUzyvIV4PVoZ3S9ZK1pEGKuY7XcY8M ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS: Music: LamRock Everything else: Brought to you by Ella and guests ❤️ Enjoyed this episode? Like, Subscribe, and Share!

    28 min

  5. 18 JAN

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 73: What would you tell your 14 year-old self with Isik Tlabar

    THE JOY HOUR PODCAST Hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 73: What would you tell your 14 year-old self with Isik Tlabar LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Recorded between Munich and Istanbul. The JOY Hour celebrates and gives thanks to the lands of Türkiye (Isik's homeland) and Germany (where Ella is studying Rolfing). We honour in particular the rich heritage of Anatolia and the Indigenous communities who have called these lands home, and recognise the painful legacies of war, displacement, and violence alongside the ongoing work of healing and remembrance that continue to shape both places. ABOUT THIS EPISODE:Content Warning: This episode references burnout, dark night of the soul experiences, relationship healing, and nudity in therapeutic breathwork context. Isik Tlabar shares her journey from architecture to intuition coaching and Naked Breathwork. Discover how a TikTok series became a book, why bodies are just bodies, and the powerful advice she'd give her 14-year-old self. 🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS:Download your free Joy Hour resource at www.mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift IN THIS EPISODE: Following joy as your primary guidance—sunshine in the chestFrom architecture to coaching via sandwich delivery and nannyingHow a dark moment led to a TikTok series that became a bookNaked Breathwork: creating safe spaces where bodies can just be bodiesThe conscious undressing ritualWorking with teenage girls and the pressure to have it all figured outWhat to do when you're thinking of quitting TIMESTAMPS:00:01 – Introduction01:38 – A day in the life of Isik03:43 – Following joy and intuition08:30 – The journey: was it always sunshine?10:01 – Architecture: feeling like a bird trying to swim underwater12:22 – Starting Goddess Circles in 201715:34 – The dark night moment that led to TikTok explosion17:57 – The birth of Naked Breathwork22:10 – The conscious undressing ritual27:32 – What Isik would tell her 14-year-old self31:15 – Closing ABOUT THE GUEST:Isik Tlabar is an intuition coach, breathwork facilitator, and author who helps people connect with their intuition to find the most direct routes to what they want. She's the creator of Naked Breathwork and author of "140 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 14". With 18 years of experience in personal development, psychology, intuition, shadow work, alchemy, shamanic practices, sacred sexuality, and breathwork, she brings depth and wisdom to her work. Based in Istanbul, she travels to facilitate workshops and retreats worldwide. RESOURCES & MENTIONS: Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way": Morning Pages practiceEnneagram Type 3: The AchieverWilliam Whitecloud, Natural Success and Ryan Pinnock"140 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 14": Available on AmazonIllustrator Iram KaleNaked Breathwork and the conscious undressing ritualIntuition Course: https://www.isiktlabar.com/CONNECT:Ella MesmaWebsite: www.ellamesma.co.uk | www.mayagandaia.comBook: https://mayagandaia.com/journal-to-joy/Current offers: https://mayagandaia.com/links/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellamesma/ Isik TlabarInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/isiktlabar/Book: "140 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 14" on AmazonWebsite: https://www.isiktlabar.com/ LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayagandaiaAmazon: https://shorturl.at/uFKCh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS:Music: LamRockEverything else: Brought to you by Ella and guests ❤️ Enjoyed this episode? Like, Subscribe, and Share!

    32 min

  6. 21/12/2025

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 72: Take up your Space with Nidhi Bhatia

    THE JOY HOUR PODCAST Episode 72: Take up your Space with Nidhi BhatiaRelease Date: 21st December 2025 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Recorded between London and Lisbon. The JOY Hour acknowledges the Yavapai-Apache Nation as Traditional Custodians of Sedona, and pays respect to their Elders past, present, and emerging. We acknowledge the colonial histories of the UK and Portugal, and honour the diverse communities whose lands and labour built these cities. ABOUT THIS EPISODE:Content Warning: This episode references mental health struggles, suicidal ideation, and ayahuasca use. Nidhi Bhatia shares her journey from feeling trapped to discovering that taking up space is the most natural, divine thing we can do. Explore the daemon: the inner force that either consumes us when we suppress our truth or supports us when we follow our authentic path. 🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS:Download your free Joy Hour resource at mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift IN THIS EPISODE: The daemon concept: your inner North StarMoving from entrapment to freedom through storytellingWhy facing the monster is more powerful than runningTaking up space as a divine act and permission slipThe shift from "I need fixing" to "I'm invited to expand"How to step out of the shadows overnight TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Introduction01:20 – What is the daemon?05:57 – Working with the mud to create gold08:12 – Turning to face the monster22:37 – The pink poncho story: taking up space in public26:25 – Message to those hiding in the shadows30:12 – Closing ABOUT THE GUEST:Nidhi Bhatia is a storyteller: both visual and word, and through every story she moves from entrapment to freedom. She's learning the truth is magnetic, and it's what we're all seeking from each other and ourselves. Storytelling is her way to freedom, and she'll take as many people as possible with her. RESOURCES & MENTIONS: The Daemon concept: From Greek mythology, psychologist Rollo May, and Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" seriesHindi phrase: "Bhagwan utahlai" - God, lift me upThe pink poncho: Nidhi's favourite item of clothing, from Ecuador "In the Shadows" open mic night: Run by Giel in Lisbon - https://www.instagram.com/heyitsgiel CONNECT:Ella MesmaWebsite: www.ellamesma.co.uk | www.mayagandaia.comBook: https://mayagandaia.com/journal-to-joy/Current offers: https://mayagandaia.com/links/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellamesma/ Nidhi BhatiaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nidhibhatiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnidhibhatia/Substack: https://substack.com/@itsnidhi LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayagandaiaAmazon: https://shorturl.at/uFKCh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS:Music: LamRockEverything else: Brought to you by Ella and guests ❤️ Enjoyed this episode? Like, Subscribe, and Share! If you or someone you know is struggling:UK: Samaritans - 116 123 | US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | International: findahelpline.com

    29 min

  7. 23/11/2025

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 71: Be Unacceptable with Alex Harvey

    THE JOY HOUR PODCAST Episode 71 – Be Unacceptable with Alex Harvey Release Date: 23rd November 2025 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & THANKS: Recorded between Bali and Lisbon. The JOY Hour honours the sacred lands of Bali and the Indigenous communities of Indonesia. We acknowledge the colonial histories of both Indonesia and Portugal, and recognise that the land we stand on carries stories of Indigenous peoples, resistance, and resilience. ABOUT THIS EPISODE: Content Warning: This episode references depression, mental health struggles, self-worth challenges, sex and occasional strong language. Alex Harvey shares her journey from depression and engineering to helping women break free from good girl conditioning. Discover how joy serves as a compass, the antidote to perfectionism, and why choosing yourself first serves the world. 🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS: Download your free Joy Hour resource at ⁠mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift⁠ IN THIS EPISODE: Breaking free from good girl conditioning and perfectionism Alex's journey from depression through engineering to creative entrepreneurship Using joy as an indicator of flow vs. stress states The paradox of serving yourself first to serve the world Living authentically outside the boxes of "acceptable" Managing multiple creative projects whilst maintaining balance The freedom that comes from choosing your own path TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction 00:56 – Welcome and life in Bali 01:11 – Creating multiple projects: book, fashion line, and pleasure art 03:27 – The role of joy in business and creative life 06:27 – Alex's journey from depression to purpose 09:46 – The transition from engineering and finding a creative path 11:42 – Discovering pleasure and sensuality as a pathway 15:08 – Working with the nervous system and stress responses 19:25 – The pressure of good girl conditioning 27:22 – Society's impossible expectations 28:37 – The antidote: Being unacceptable 31:26 – Living for yourself vs. living for others 32:02 – How to connect with Alex and find the book 32:56 – Closing ABOUT THE GUEST: Alex Harvey is a transformational coach, author, and creator helping women remember who the f*ck they are and live it. Through Feminine Alchemy, Alex guides women to break free from the "good girl" conditioning that keeps them playing small and step into their wildest creative power, leadership, and feminine magnetism. She is the founder of The Modern Woman Academy, author of Be Unacceptable, and creator of Dare the Label, featuring a fashion range and glass pleasure collection. Known for her raw honesty and no-fluff wisdom, Alex blends deep spiritual alchemy with real-world results, helping women shift from self-doubt and people-pleasing to unapologetic confidence, embodied purpose, and authentic success. When not creating in Bali, Alex pursues dance, travel, and living fully turned on and free. RESOURCES & MENTIONS: Book: Be Unacceptable by Alex Harvey www.beunacceptablebook.com Book mentioned: The Courage to Be Disliked by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi Feminine Alchemy: Alex's signature body of work Dare the Label: Women's fashion and glass pleasure art collection The Modern Woman Academy: Alex's coaching platform CONNECT: Ella Mesma Website: ⁠www.ellamesma.co.uk⁠ | ⁠www.mayagandaia.com⁠ Book: ⁠https://mayagandaia.com/journal-to-joy/⁠ Current offers: ⁠⁠https://mayagandaia.com/links/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ellamesma/ Alex Harvey Book: ⁠beunacceptablebook.com⁠ Current offers: ⁠www.themodernwoman.academy/links ⁠Podcast: ⁠www.themodernwoman.academy/podcastlinks⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/alexh.co/ LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mayagandaia Amazon: https://shorturl.at/uFKCh ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THANKS: Music: LamRock Everything else: Brought to you by Ella and guests ❤️ Enjoyed this episode? Like, Subscribe, and Share!

    34 min

  8. 19/07/2025

    PowerUp! Podcast 70: Writing is the Act of Listening to Oneself with Toni Giselle

    Writing is about listening. Connecting and tuning in. All of this enables the words to come through the body.   “When we only move from the logical mind and we don’t move from the body mind and the heart mind, and we don’t integrate these different parts of ourselves, then it can feel like it’s [writing] taking and not also nourishing us.”  What an incredibly special episode to close the season and the show on. The wisdom and generosity that Toni brings to this episode around the power of language through her embodiment as a listener who listens through writing, poems, and the earth - for the stories that help us remember our power and our magic, is precious and invaluable. Toni Giselle Stuart works as a poet, performer, creative writing facilitator & healer. Her work includes Krotoa-Eva’s Suite – a cape jazz poem in three movements with filmmaker Kurt Orderson; Poetry, Paramedics and Film with filmmaker/health researcher Leanne Brady (2018); What the Water Remembers at Woordfees (2020); forgetting. and memory with vangile gantsho Vusumzi Ngxande, at the Virtual National Arts Festival (2020). She has an MA Writer/Teacher (distinction) from Goldsmiths, University of London, where she was a 2014/2015 Chevening Scholar. Mentions: Connect with ToniWebsite: https://tonistuart.com/IG: @tonigiselle_official Email: mail@tonistuart.com Dot Dot Dot Dance: https://www.dotdotdotdance.com/ Anis Mojgani: Shake the dustBadilisha Poetry Festival D'bi Young: Rivers and Other Blackness Between Us Gabeba Baderoon Shine Lulu Kitololo Business course for creatives: http://www.lulukitololo.com Speculative fiction trilogy and verse In bloom: Poetry with time on the land The Writers Oasis: https://tonistuart.com/the-writers-oasis Rah Nomvula Busby of Divine Lotus Waatlemoen konfyt: Watermelon preserve In Bloom: https://tonistuart.com/_____in-bloom Cairn = A pile of stones or rocks intentionally piled up one on top of the other as ways to show the path Connect with us: Ama Rouge Website: www.wearewildwithin.com IG: @powerup.podcast @ama.rouge @wearewildwithin  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ama-rouge-870b60138FB: AmaRougemoves Twitter: @podcastpowerup Ella Mesma Website: www.ellamesma.co.uk, www.mayagandaia.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-mesma-b6071320/IG: @powerup.podcast @Ellamesma FB:@EllaMesma Twitter: @podcastpowerup Music by Tomo Carter IG: @tomocarter Everything else brought to you by us, the PowerUp! power team

    47 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Welcome to The JOY Hour with Ella Mesma. Each episode, creative entrepreneurs share their real stories: the struggles, the transformations, and what it truly takes to build a business and life that feels aligned. This isn't about hustle culture or overnight success. It's about the messy, beautiful journey to choosing joy, creativity, and authenticity over everything else. Grab a tea, get cosy, and join us for The JOY Hour

Information

  • Creator
    Maya Gandaia
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Maya Gandaia
  • Show Website
    The JOY Hour