The JOY Hour

Maya Gandaia
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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

  1. 23 hr ago

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 82: Choosing the Path That Is True with Sohyoung Ward

    ABOUT THIS EPISODE:Sohyoung Ward is the founder of True Level Leaders, and her own path took her from physicist to economist, from Wall Street to law school, from corporate restructuring attorney to holistic health counsellor and yoga teacher. In this conversation, we talk about what happens when the safe path and the true path are not the same thing... and what it costs to keep choosing safety over truth. Sohyoung shares the moment childbirth showed her what really matters in life, the year and a half she didn't speak to her mother over the choice to marry outside her culture, and how she taught her 9 year old son alchemy through the imagination. We talk about softness as a cellular, structural quality rather than a soft option, and why every human being is capable of choosing change in favour of their own joy.  LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Recorded between London and Indianapolis. We acknowledge the colonial histories of the UK, and the Miami and Potawatomi peoples upon whose ancestral lands Indianapolis now stands.  Grab your free gift from Journal to JOY: mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift  IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:Why the safe path was never really saferSoftness as an ingredient of opennessThe moment childbirth showed Sohyoung what life is really all aboutChoosing your path against your parents' expectationsTeaching children to imagine something other than fearBringing consciousness and joy into corporate culture  TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Welcome01:37 A recent joy: helping her son imagine sleep instead of catastrophe06:14 Journeying softness and vulnerability after stepping off an old identity12:14 Why the safe path was never guaranteed24:16 What was your truth, or is your truth?27:02 Marrying outside her culture and not speaking to her mother for a year and a half28:17 The moment of childbirth that changed her understanding of the world35:18 Bringing consciousness, creativity and joy into corporate culture37:41 Every human is capable of choosing change in favour of their joy  ABOUT SOHYOUNG:Sohyoung Ward is the founder of True Level Leaders, coaching and training leaders and high performance teams to create what they love and serve the world with their vision and heart. She is also an artist, writer, and mother of two. Her own background spans physics and economics, portfolio analysis and corporate restructuring law, alongside her training as a holistic health counsellor and yoga teacher.  RESOURCES MENTIONED:True Level Leaders: truelevelleaders.com CONNECT WITH SOHYOUNG:Website: truelevelleaders.comEmail: sohyoung.choo@gmail.com CONNECT WITH ELLA MESMA:Website: goddxxpath.comFree Gift: goddxxpath.com/joyhourgift LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ybUzyvIV4PVoZ3S9ZK1pEGKuY7XcY8M ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:Music by LamRock. Thank you to Sohyoung and to you for listening.

    39 min

  2. 14 Jun

    Episode 81: Even AI is Nature with Canay Atalay

    LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:Recorded between Ibiza and London. We acknowledge the colonial histories of Spain and the UK, and honour the diverse communities whose lands and labour built these cities. ABOUT THIS EPISODE:Canay Atalay is a regenerative innovation architect who works at the intersection of business, AI, and planetary regeneration... and in this conversation, she invites us to question one of the assumptions we most take for granted: that technology and nature are separate things. They are not. We are not.We talk about human agency in an age of AI, why your body is still the most sophisticated technology available to you, and how the quality of what you are feeling shapes everything you create. This is one of those conversations that asks you to sit with a tree, look honestly in the mirror, and take responsibility for the energy you bring into everything you touch.🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERSGrab your free gift from Journal to JOY: mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE:Why AI is not separate from nature... and neither are youHow your emotions shape the reality you are co-creatingWhat "recoding" means in business and personal transformationStrength training, embodiment, and women in leadershipWhy asking the tree in your garden might give you better answers than you expectTIMESTAMPS:00:00 Welcome02:04 The gym, accumulated stress, and a moment of recognition: this is the life I was dreaming of06:15 What her daughters reveal about ego and what is truly meaningful09:44 How the world is a mirror of what we have not yet integrated within ourselves15:50 Finding discernment with AI: what is good for me, and what is good for us?19:33 Thoughts are using humans, not the other way around25:19 Forgetfulness and remembrance... the game of being human29:21 Have you asked the tree in your garden?39:27 Canay's invitation: drink water, bless it, move it, be grateful for it ABOUT CANAY:Canay Atalay is a regenerative innovation architect and founder of the RX Innovation Institute and The Heroines, curator of Heart Masters Ibiza, and host of Regenerative Innovation with Canay at Harvard Business Review. She advises executives and boards on cultural transformation, intelligent systems design, and token economics across organisations and ecosystems. RESOURCES MENTIONED:RX Innovation InstituteThe Heroines: theheroines.coHeart Masters IbizaCONNECT WITH CANAY:Instagram: @canay.atalayLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/canayEmail: canay@theheroines.coCONNECT WITH ELLA MESMA:Website: mayagandaia.comFree Gift: mayagandaia.com/joyhourgiftLISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzrYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ybUzyvIV4PVoZ3S9ZK1pEGKuY7XcY8MACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:Music by LamRock. Thank you to Canay and to you for listening.

    41 min

  3. 31 May

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 80: Being Aware of the Rhythm I'm Choosing with Cliff Tang

    In this conversation, we explore what it means to find your own rhythm in life... We talk about structure and freedom, manifesting dreams into reality through Lifebook, how to show up as your authentic self, and why martial arts, healing work, and teaching are all expressions of genuine human connection. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Recorded between London and Antwerp. We acknowledge the colonial histories of the UK and Belgium, and honour the diverse communities whose lands and labour built them. 🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS: Download your free Joy Hour resource at www.mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift IN THIS EPISODE: Why choosing your rhythm is more important than the choreography itselfThe journey from physiotherapy to energy healing to teaching to stunt fight choreographyHow healing work taught Cliff that the heart matters more than techniqueStructure and freedom: the paradox of real freedom living in structureManifesting through Lifebook: writing down your dreams and watching them unfoldThe childlike energy of curiosity and awe... and how to keep it aliveThe power of community and doing things togetherFrom lightsaber videos to Netflix sponsorships: the unfolding of a creative dreamTIMESTAMPS: 00:01 - Welcome and introduction 06:06 - Michael Jackson and keeping childlike energy alive 11:28 - Cliff's teacher in Malaysia: the missing piece is feeling 13:09 - Healing people with your heart not just technique 24:24 - Inner and outer journey: we need mirrors from other people 28:26 - This year my journey is more rhythm 40:37 - Love for Wushu sparked again after prison in Indonesia 43:22 - Creating Team Kai and the lightsaber journey 48:06 - Lifebook: the sacred book holding your vision ABOUT THE GUEST: Cliff Tang is a Belgian-born Chinese energy healer, body worker, stunt fight choreographer, and newly minted teacher based between London and Antwerp. His journey reflects a deep commitment to learning from lived experience... beginning with medical school, then physiotherapy and manual therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, and training in bone setting with a master in Malaysia who taught him the most crucial lesson: healing happens through the heart, not through technique alone. That teaching shifted everything. When Cliff returned to Belgium, his clients began releasing emotional baggage simply by being given space to feel. His work evolved to include intuitive energy healing, and he now teaches physical education to children aged 9-12, bringing that same heart-centred approach to helping young people discover their own light. Beyond that, Cliff is part of Team Kai, a stunt fight choreography group that creates martial arts content for films, recently sponsored by Kenjo Sabers. He's a dreamer who writes his vision down, takes small consistent actions, and trusts that the rhythm of life will carry him where he needs to go. RESOURCES & MENTIONS: Lifebook: A vision-crafting program for imagining your life across multiple categoriesMindvalley platform & Vishen LakhianiChinese bone settingPhysiotherapy and manual therapyTraditional Chinese medicineWushu (modern martial arts)Team Kai (stunt fight choreography group)Kenjo Sabers (high-quality lightsaber sponsorship)Jackie Chan films and philosophyBruce Lee philosophy: truly express yourselfHubert Goddard and tonic function theoryCONNECT: Cliff Tang Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaizen_project Ella Mesma Website: www.mayagandaia.com Book: https://mayagandaia.com/journal-to-joy/ Current offers: https://mayagandaia.com/links/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellamesma/ 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!

    1hr 4min

  4. 17 May

    The JOY Hour Hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 79: Blooming Bravely with Tanya Richam-Odoi

    In this episode of The JOY Hour, I sit down with Tanya Richam-Odoi who is craniosacral therapist, sound healer, choreographer, and community instigator - to explore the journey from professional dancer to healer, and what it means to bloom bravely into your authentic self. Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of emotional trauma, challenging family relationships, and psychological demands in the dance industry. Land Acknowledgement: Recorded between Shipley and London, England. We acknowledge the colonial histories of the UK and honour the diverse communities whose lands and labour built these cities. Timestamps: 00:01 - Welcome and introduction 00:33 - Tanya's incredible journey from age 9 02:01 - Training at Northern School of Contemporary Dance 02:46 - Phoenix Dance Theatre and critical acclaim 03:04 - Moving into choreography and teaching 03:59 - The psychological demands of dance 05:03 - Dance as healer and grounding force 05:40 - Discovering craniosacral therapy 07:15 - How craniosacral therapy works 09:53 - Where Tanya is joining from and recent joy 13:42 - What Tanya is journeying right now 16:28 - The ongoing journey of healing work 20:19 - Giving permission to be multifaceted 23:09 - Awakening joy as purpose of the work 25:41 - Growing up without emotional availability 28:11 - Boundaries and embodied experience 29:19 - Stephen King quote and the healing journey 31:09 - Where to connect with Tanya In This Conversation We Explore: Dance as the healer that kept Tanya grounded from age 9 through traumaThe transition from professional dancer to craniosacral therapist after intense experiences with DV8What craniosacral therapy is: tuning in, listening to the body, sound healing, and facilitating the body's own healingTanya's first craniosacral session and feeling "unplugged from the matrix"Working with the Performance Ensemble of elders (60+) and the "bloom bravely" concept of moving from seed to full expressionAuthentic self and showing up fully, especially for perimenopausal women and neurodivergent clientsBoundaries as the Great Wall of China and embodied practice over book learningThe vision for community arts in Shipley and being a "community instigator"Awakening joy as the purpose of therapeutic workHow therapy and healing work is as much for the practitioner as for clientsThe multifaceted human experience and giving permission to be silly, beautiful, and genius all at onceGrowing up as an African-Scottish woman in Dundee without emotional availabilityThe power of holding safe space where nervous systems can settle and bodies can be heldAbout Tanya: Tanya Richam-Odoi is a craniosacral therapist, sound healer, choreographer, and self-described community instigator based in Shipley, West Yorkshire. Resources Mentioned: Stephen King quote: "Things conceived by minds and made by hands can never be quite the same, even if they try their best to be identical, because they're never the same from day to day or even moment to moment."Dundee Rep TheatrePhoenix Dance TheatreDV8 Physical TheatreNorthern School of Contemporary DancePerformance Ensemble Leeds (10-year anniversary)Methodist church in Shipley (potential social arts and culture centre)Critics Circle National Dance AwardsDancing Times magazineConnect with Tanya: Website: https://www.theayapractice.com/about-tanya Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_aya_practice/ LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tanya-richam-odoi-b56a4b71 In-person sessions: Shipley, West Yorkshire Online sessions: Available worldwide Connect with Ella Mesma: Website: mayagandaia.com | goddxxpath.com Free Gift: Grab a free practice from Journal to JOY at mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift Subscribe to The JOY Hour: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1e2AslgK9q1hnEimdgQHzr Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ybUzyvIV4PVoZ3S9ZK1pEGKuY7XcY8M Like, Subscribe, and Share!

    34 min

  5. 3 May

    The JOY Hour Podcast hosted by Ella Mesma. Episode 78: The Science of Orgasmic Expansion with Lil

    Lil Muxoll Nielsen is a neurobiologist-turned consciousness mentor who blends hard science with ancient wisdom... and she wants you to know that joy is not just a feeling; it's a biochemical choice. In this conversation, we explore why our nervous systems keep us stuck, what horses can teach us about shaking off trauma, and what it actually means to experience orgasmic expansion. Lil breaks down the science of how our cells literally change their receptors when we choose joy over survival... using the most delicious metaphor involving coconut and chocolate sprinkles. Content Warning: This episode references trauma, somatic release, and Kundalini energy experiences. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Recorded between Munich and Southern Denmark. We acknowledge the colonial histories of Germany and Denmark, and honour the diverse communities whose lands and labour built these nations. 🎁 FREE GIFT FOR LISTENERS: Download your free Joy Hour resource at www.mayagandaia.com/joyhourgift IN THIS EPISODE: Why your nervous system might be the thing holding you back from joy The coconut vs chocolate sprinkles metaphor: how our cells change What horses teach us about releasing trauma and moving on Kundalini energy: what it feels like and why it matters The difference between trauma release and Kundalini activation Full body orgasmic expansion... and why it's our innate state Making the difficult times "exquisite pain" Choosing joy as an everyday expression, not a destination TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction 00:29 – Welcome, and where is Lil joining from? 01:34 – Recent joy: the foal bringing heart explosions 02:45 – Ella's joy: nervous system relaxation through Rolfing 03:46 – Lil's journey from neuroscience to embodiment06:21 – The embodiment part of neuroscience 08:29 – Ella's honeymoon and the nervous system shock of re-entry 09:57 – Why the body's adaptation process is slow 11:30 – Coconut sprinkles vs chocolate sprinkles: how cells change 14:08 – Kundalini and connecting to source 15:07 – Horses, shaking and trauma release 20:39 – Kundalini yoga, KAP and energy rising 22:06 – What Kundalini activation actually feels like 25:41 – Being an ambassador for orgasmic expansion 29:27 – How to connect with Lil 30:36 – Closing ABOUT THE GUEST: Lil Muxoll Nielsen is a neurobiologist, consciousness mentor and embodiment facilitator based in Southern Denmark, surrounded by her husband, four horses and a dog. She blends modern science with ancient wisdom to support embodied transformation... helping people remember that we're not here to merely survive life but to consciously create it. Through coaching, Kundalini work, Sensory Energetics and retreats at powerful nature sites, Lil facilitates what she calls orgasmic expansion into joy, aliveness and creative power. She is currently writing her book on the science of magic, Quantum Intelligence, launching soon. RESOURCES & MENTIONS: Kundalini activation and alignment Sensory Energetics Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) Quantum Intelligence: the merge of spiritual and scientific approaches Rolfing Structural Integration 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/ Lil Muxoll Nielsen (The Infinite Me) Website: https://www.theinfinite.me/ Instagram: @discover.theinfiniteme 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, Comment and Share! Thank you!

    32 min

  6. 12 Apr

    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

  7. 29 Mar

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

    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... 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. 🎁 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 movement The unclenching journey: discovering how much pain I was holding What Rolfing has been teaching me about my body and my patterns Choosing dance over the university path my mum had planned The 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 reality The three months I stopped doing the work and what happened Being in a self-aware relationship and dancing with friction What I offer: Journal to JOY, the One Choice Challenge, the Goddxx Path TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction 00:35 – Ahmad reads Ella's bio from the room upstairs in Wanstead 02:22 – Recent joys: climbing, honeymoon, the gym 03:32 – What are we journeying right now? 05:28 – The unclenching: Rolfing and discovering held tension 06:56 – Enlightenment through letting go of the body's grip 08:22 – Ahmad reflects: a type of ego death? 09:32 – The dancer's performance energy and learning to receive 10:51 – Choosing dance over the expected path 12:22 – The protection pattern in relationships 13:56 – From rebellion to surfing in freedom 15:16 – The Land of Plenty and seeing Ahmad ten years before 18:08 – Was there always a knowing? 20:45 – The Enneagram, not good enough, and the push to achieve 25:48 – How meditation and intuition show up day to day30:57 – Your focus creates your reality 31:15 – Survival mode in teenage years and the transformation 34:45 – Can anyone achieve this? What is the Land of Plenty? 36:54 – The daily practice: 11 minutes to transform your life 38:13 – 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 programme Rolfing Structural IntegrationTRE (Trauma Release Exercises) Wheel of Consent The Enneagram Pilar Martin (Rolfing teacher) CONNECT: Ella Mesma Website: www.ellamesma.co.uk | www.goddxxpath.com Book: https://mayagandaia.com/journal-to-joy/ Current offers: https://mayagandaia.com/links/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellamesma/ Ahmad Jooma Website: www.shookman.com | https://ahmadjooma.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahmad.jooma Full episode and links coming soon 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, Comment and Share! Thank you!

    41 min

  8. 15 Mar

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

    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. Content Warning: This episode references parental depression, suicide, and mental health medication. 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. 🎁 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 coaching The first cacao ceremony that changed everything... and the vision of Guatemala Learning from shamans and finding her own way with the medicine Singing through fear: overcoming a throat chakra blockage Helping her mum heal from 10 years of deep depression The meditation vision that led to India, to Varkala, to her future husband Trusting intuition even when you have no plan B Asking her boss for remote work... and getting a yes Finding joy in the little things: presence, nature, breath TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction 01:26 – What does Maria's life look like now? 03:43 – The first cacao ceremony and the vision of Guatemala 07:41 – Singing through fear: the throat chakra journey 10:26 – The ceremony where she made 20 mistakes 12:26 – Life between Austria, Egypt and India 13:11 – The meditation vision of a cliff in Kerala 14:58 – Meeting her future husband at a yoga resort 17:14 – From rational thinker to visionary 20:42 – Her mum's 10-year depression 23:19 – "I'm her daughter. I have the power." 23:42 – Drinking cacao together: the moment her mum cried 26:38 – What role does joy play in your life? 28:30 – The bridge: authenticity and vulnerability 31:49 – From full-time to 15 hours and travelling the world 36:52 – 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 trainings Arush: intuition coaching (Maria's first coach) Lake Atitlan, Guatemala: birthplace of modern cacao ceremonies Varkala, Kerala, India Ceremonial cacao as heart-opening medicine 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/ Maria Instagram: @maria.earthrituals LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE TO THE JOY HOUR: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-joy-hour/id1849505845Spotify: 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, Comment and Share! Thank you!

    39 min
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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
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Maya Gandaia
  • Show Website
    The JOY Hour