JOY Unfiltered: Joy is the strategy

Rachel
  • 5.0 (9)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Joy Unfiltered is the podcast where joy gets real, grounded, and useful. Hosted by Rachel Bents, author of Joy Is the Strategy, this show explores joy not as a reward you earn, but as a practical strategy for living, leading, and feeling better in real life. Each week, you’ll hear honest conversations, solo reflections, and guest episodes that unpack how joy impacts leadership, wellbeing, resilience, mindset, and connection without bypassing hard things or pretending life is perfect. This podcast is also the heartbeat of two growing movements: 📘 Joy Is the Strategy (the book) A deeper exploration of how joy works, why it matters, and how choosing it can change your life and leadership.  ✨ The Joy Project A global, joy-first community built on connection, conversation, and collective momentum.  If you’re tired of hustle culture, burned out on forced positivity, or curious what changes when joy becomes the way forward, you’re in the right place. Joy isn’t the reward.It’s the strategy.

  1. 1D AGO

    Playing at a Level 10: Awareness, Leadership, and the Power of Enough with Steve Barton

    Send us Fan Mail What if the next level of leadership is not about pushing harder, doing more, or proving yourself again and again? What if it is about awareness? In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel sits down with Steve Barton, executive coach, author, and creator of Game of Ten, an awareness-based framework that helps leaders operate with greater clarity, confidence, peace of mind, and purpose. Steve shares how many high-achieving leaders are operating from fear, self-doubt, guilt, or shame without even realizing it. Through his Game of Ten framework, he explains how we can begin to recognize those thought patterns, let them go, and return to a deeper truth: I am enough.  I do enough.  I have enough. Rachel and Steve talk about awareness, overthinking, leadership, emotional clarity, intuition, the power of the present moment, and why “enough” may be one of the most powerful words in both life and leadership. This conversation is part practical, part spiritual, part brain science, and fully human. Because joy is not fluffy.  Awareness is not extra.  And leadership does not have to be powered by pressure. Guest BioSteve Barton is an executive coach, author, and creator of Game of Ten, a powerful awareness-based framework that helps leaders operate at their highest level of clarity, confidence, and performance. With over 30 years of real-world business experience, Steve grew a company from $200,000 to $2 million in annual revenue. His work blends practical business strategy with deep insight into human awareness, decision-making, and emotional intelligence. Steve has presented his coaching process to the Harvard Business School case study team and works with executives, entrepreneurs, and high achievers who want more than financial success. They want peace of mind, stronger relationships, and a clear sense of purpose. He is also the author of The Father, the Son, and the Aha Moment and is currently writing his next book focused on helping leaders and professionals develop the mindset, emotional clarity, and inner alignment needed to succeed in both business and life. Steve Barton Coaching Support the show Connect with Rachel Joy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    45 min

  2. 2D AGO

    Brainwash Yourself for Joy: The Power of Your First 30 Minutes

    Send us Fan Mail What if the first few minutes after waking could change the way you experience your entire day? In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel talks about the science of the waking brain, theta brain waves, nervous system regulation, priming, gratitude, and how to “brainwash” yourself for more joy. Not in a toxic positivity way. Not in a pretend-life-is-perfect way. In a grounded, practical, science-backed way. You’ll learn why your brain is especially open during the transition from sleep to waking, how your first inputs can shape your mood and attention, and what to do before reaching for your phone. Rachel shares a simple 5-minute joy reset you can try this week: Take three breaths.  Ask one joy question.  Choose one sentence.  Do one joyful thing. Because joy is not waiting at the end of the day. Joy is available at the beginning. Support the show Connect with Rachel Joy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    23 min

  3. 5D AGO

    Your Nervous System Is Choosing the Familiar, Not the Joyful with Anni Eza

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel sits down with Anni Eza, mental health expert, master healer, shadow priestess, teacher, and co-founder of Seeds of Bliss. Annie brings a powerful perspective on healing, nervous system resonance, shadow work, fear, grief, and what it means to expand your capacity to hold the life you actually want. This conversation explores why the nervous system often chooses what is familiar over what is freeing, why shadow work is not about “getting rid” of the dark parts of ourselves, and how grief, fear, anger, and joy all belong in the full human experience. Rachel and Annie also talk about the difference between living from endurance and living from capacity, especially for high-functioning leaders, nurturers, creatives, and people who are used to holding everything together. This episode is a beautiful reminder that you are not broken. You are not here to fix yourself into perfection. You are a miracle in progress. Connect with Anni: https://seedsofbliss.life FREE NEWSLETTER Instagram Facebook Support the show Connect with Rachel Joy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    46 min

  4. MAY 19

    Finding Your Cultural Catalyst: Leading Change from the Inside Out with Jaclyn Orent

    Send us Fan Mail What does it actually mean to be the change — not just talk about it? In this episode, Rachel sits down with Jaclyn Orent, cultural catalyst and CEO of the Cultural Catalyst Network, for a rich conversation about inner transformation, feminine leadership, and what it really takes to shift culture from the inside out. Jaclyn shares her remarkable journey — from a 36-day water fast that cracked her world open, to building a science-backed framework that helps purpose-driven leaders create exponential cultural change. If you've ever felt like you've achieved what you set out to achieve and wondered now what? — this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll hear about: How a 36-day water fast became the unlikely catalyst for Jaclyn's transformation and life's workWhat a "cultural catalyst" actually is — and how to know if you are oneThe Cultural Catalyst System: visioning, setting impossible frames, and why your goals might be keeping you stuckWhy feminine leadership is rooted in desire rather than force — and how that distinction prevents burnoutThe Positive Emotional Attractor (PEA) and why your vision has to truly light you up to fuel changeWhy purpose-driven leaders are siloed right now — and what happens when they connectEFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) as a tool for expanding leadership capacityThe Gene Keys and finding your unique path to self-actualizationWhy joy, love, and inner states are not "fluffy" — they produce quantifiable, exponential outcomesResources & Links Mentioned: 🌐 Cultural Catalyst Network & 15-page synopsis: culturalcatalysts.net🌐 Cultural Catalyst Initiation (half-day to full-day experience with Jaclyn & Tracy): culturalcontribution.com🌐 World Tapping Circle (EFT library with 300+ videos by Sonia Sophia): available at culturalcatalysts.net📖 Gene Keys by Richard Rudd📖 Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy📖 Power vs. Force by David Hawkins🔬 Intentional Change Theory (Richard Boyatzis)Connect with Jacqueline Orand: Website: culturalcatalysts.netSupport the show Connect with Rachel Joy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    50 min

  5. MAY 18

    Joy Is the Strategy: A New Model for Joy-Led Leadership

    Send us Fan Mail What if the goal was never to simply endure more? After starting with one of the hardest endurance races in the world, Rachel learned a truth that reaches far beyond athletics: just because you can endure something does not mean endurance should become your life strategy. This episode introduces Rachel’s Joy-Led Leadership framework and the four shifts at the heart of The JOY Collective: Joy over Endurance  Regulation over Urgency  Integration over Compartmentalization  Community over Competition This is not about forced happiness, toxic positivity, or pretending life is easy. It is about building a new model of power where joy becomes strategic infrastructure, leadership becomes more sustainable, and women no longer have to abandon themselves in order to succeed. If you have ever been praised for carrying too much, leading through pressure, holding it all together, or proving how strong you are by how exhausted you are, this conversation is for you. Joy is not the reward. Joy is the strategy. Let’s use it. Support the show Connect with Rachel Joy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    1h 12m

  6. MAY 15

    Relaxed Productivity: Angela Jamieson on Doing More of What Actually Matters

    Send us Fan Mail What if productivity wasn’t about doing more…  but about missing less of your life? In this insightful and refreshingly honest conversation, Rachel sits down with Angela Jamieson - former petroleum engineer turned author, speaker, and creator of Relaxed Productivity - to challenge everything you thought you knew about success. Angela shares how a deeply personal loss led her to rethink life, work, and what actually matters—and how she now helps high-achieving professionals slow down mentally so they can show up more fully in their lives. This isn’t about doing less.  It’s about living more. 🎙️ In this episode, we explore:  The hidden cost of “doing everything right”  Why your brain might be working against you (and how to override it)  The real meaning of productivity beyond work  How stress can actually point you toward what matters most  The power of stepping back to see the bigger picture  Why joy, presence, and success belong in the same sentence And yes… we also talk about her unforgettable book:  https://mybook.to/2to1book - a wildly creative, hilarious, and surprisingly profound take on personal growth. 💩➡️🥇 Website: https://www.angelajamieson.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angejamieson Freebie: The Glide Test: https://www.angelajamieson.com/glidetest Support the show Connect with Rachel Joy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    52 min

  7. MAY 14

    Joy Is the Strategy: The Science of Fun, Variety, and Feeling Alive

    Send us Fan Mail What if joy isn’t something you wait for… but something you build? In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel breaks down the science and strategy behind joy—and how fun, variety, and happiness work together to create a life that actually feels good. Blending research from leading experts like Arthur Brooks, Catherine Price, Kelly McGonigal, Ross Gay, and Shawn Achor with her own ENJOY Method™, Rachel shows you how to move from checking boxes to truly experiencing your life. You’ll learn:  Why happiness alone isn’t enough (and what’s missing)  The real definition of fun—and why it matters more than you think  How movement creates joy in your body (not just results)  Why variety is the secret to feeling alive again  How noticing small moments can rewire your brain for joy  Rachel’s “Macros of Joy” and how to use them daily This isn’t about doing more. It’s about feeling more… with what you already have. 🎯 Your takeaway: Joy isn’t the reward. It’s the way forward. Support the show Connect with Rachel Joy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    14 min

  8. MAY 12

    You’re Not Lost - You’re Becoming: Luna Westish on Identity, Curiosity, and Creative Courage

    Send us Fan Mail What if the life you’re building isn’t about perfection… but about curiosity? In this deeply honest and expansive conversation, Rachel sits down with author, traveler, and creative soul Luna Westish to explore identity, reinvention, and what it really means to become who you are—on your own terms. From leaving a high-control religion to navigating parenthood, neurodivergence, and creative expression, Luna shares a powerful story of self-discovery that will resonate with anyone who has ever asked: Who am I now? This episode is a reminder that you don’t need a complete roadmap. You just need the next right step. 🎙️ We talk about:  Rebuilding identity after major life shifts  Why curiosity is more powerful than judgment  The truth about perfectionism (and where it comes from)  Neurodivergence, creativity, and self-acceptance  Why you don’t need permission to call yourself a writer, artist, or leader  The healing power of storytelling—especially through fiction And of course, we dive into Luna’s novel Meet Me at the Ruins, a reflective, cross-genre story about identity, belonging, and love. If you’ve been feeling stuck, boxed in, or unsure of your next move… this episode will gently crack open the door. Purchase the book (also available on Amazon):  https://bookshop.org/a/115025/9798986371665 Social Media Links: https://www.instagram.com/lunawestish https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576278556728 https://www.tiktok.com/lunawestish Author website: www.lunawestish.com Non-fiction writing: https://www.medium.com/@allisonbishins Support the show Connect with Rachel Joy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube

    59 min
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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Joy Unfiltered is the podcast where joy gets real, grounded, and useful. Hosted by Rachel Bents, author of Joy Is the Strategy, this show explores joy not as a reward you earn, but as a practical strategy for living, leading, and feeling better in real life. Each week, you’ll hear honest conversations, solo reflections, and guest episodes that unpack how joy impacts leadership, wellbeing, resilience, mindset, and connection without bypassing hard things or pretending life is perfect. This podcast is also the heartbeat of two growing movements: 📘 Joy Is the Strategy (the book) A deeper exploration of how joy works, why it matters, and how choosing it can change your life and leadership.  ✨ The Joy Project A global, joy-first community built on connection, conversation, and collective momentum.  If you’re tired of hustle culture, burned out on forced positivity, or curious what changes when joy becomes the way forward, you’re in the right place. Joy isn’t the reward.It’s the strategy.

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