JOY Unfiltered: Joy is the strategy

Rachel
  • 5.0 (7)
  • 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. 4D AGO

    Living in Rhythm: How Safety Restores Energy and Clarity

    In this grounding episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel sits down with Leah Piera Murphy, a somatic practitioner, nervous system educator, and habits health coach supporting midlife women who feel tired, wired, or disconnected to rebuild a steady, trusting relationship with their bodies. Leah’s work lives at the intersection of nervous system science, body awareness, and daily rhythm. Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: real change begins with safety. When the body feels safe, energy returns, clarity deepens, and sustainable habits stop feeling like a battle. Together, Rachel and Leah explore: • Why midlife women often feel simultaneously exhausted and overstimulated  • The nervous system as the hidden driver of consistency and behavior change  • How body awareness helps rebuild trust after burnout and chronic stress  • The role of rhythm in restoring energy, focus, and emotional steadiness  • Why pushing harder rarely creates lasting wellness  • Gentle ways to begin living in sync with your body instead of against it Leah shares how her own journey through healing, motherhood, and burnout reshaped her understanding of wellness, revealing that ease is not something we earn through effort, but something we experience when we learn to listen. Living in coastal Alaska, Leah draws daily inspiration from tides and seasons as reminders that balance is never static. It is rhythmic, alive, and continually unfolding. If you’ve ever felt like you know what to do but can’t sustain it, this conversation offers a compassionate reframe and a softer, wiser path forward. 🌿 Connect with Leah Website: https://www.leahpieramurphy.com Living in Rhythm Community: https://www.skool.com/livinginrhythm/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahpiera/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leah.piera 📘 About Rachel Rachel Bents is the author of Joy Is the Strategy, a book exploring how joy isn’t a reward waiting at the finish line but a powerful approach to living, leading, and caring for ourselves in the middle of real life. Through personal storytelling, science, and reflection, Rachel invites readers to reimagine joy as something accessible, sustainable, and deeply transformative. 👉 Get your copy of Joy Is the Strategy on Amazon. 🔗 Connect with Rachel Join The JOY Project community Listen to more episodes of Joy Unfiltered Instagram LinkedIn Website ✨ Joy Unfiltered Reminder If this episode resonated, share it with someone who could use a little more calm, clarity, or rhythm in their life. Joy isn’t something we earn someday. It’s something we practice today. Support the show

    49 min

  2. FEB 19

    Rewire Your Brain for Joy Every Morning

    In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel explores the neuroscience behind morning mindset and identity change. Key Topics Covered: Why the brain is in a theta-dominant state upon wakingNeuroplasticity and identity formationThe Reticular Activating System (RAS) and attentional biasThe Broaden-and-Build Theory (Barbara Fredrickson)How positive emotion increases resilience and cognitive flexibilityThe impact of movement on dopamine, serotonin, and BDNFGrowth mindset vs perfectionism and cortisol regulationVagal tone and emotional resilienceFive Daily Rewiring Phrases: Today, I lead myself.Joy is available to me.I move my body because I love it.I choose progress over perfection.Joy is my strategy.This episode explores how intentional morning language shapes perception, behavior, and long-term identity. Because joy isn’t the reward at the end. Joy is the operating system. 🔗 Connect with Rachel If this episode resonated, let’s stay connected. 📘 Grab the book: Joy Is the Strategy Discover how choosing joy on purpose can reshape your mindset, relationships, leadership, and everyday life. 📸 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn 🎥 YouTube 🌐 Website 💛 Join The JOY Project Community A space to practice joy daily, connect with others, and sprinkle joy like glitter in the world. Support the show

    19 min

  3. FEB 17

    From Lived Experience to Lasting Legacy with Dinah LaPrairie

    What if the book inside you isn’t about becoming an author… but about becoming clearer, braver, and more impactful? In this episode, I sit down with certified book coach Dinah LaPrairie, who helps everyday experts transform their lived and professional experience into big-hearted nonfiction and memoir. Dinah works with writers who feel called to share their wisdom, spark change, or leave something meaningful behind. With a deeply reader-centered approach and rich editorial experience, Dinah guides writers from fuzzy idea to focused message, from scattered notes to solid structure. She helps authors clarify what they really want to say, shape it into something readers can receive, and stay accountable from first draft to final plan. This conversation is for anyone who has ever thought: I think I have a book in me…Where would I even start?Does my story matter?How do I turn experience into something cohesive?Dinah reminds us that writing a book is not just about publishing. It’s about purpose. It’s about contribution. It’s about possibility. We also explore the practice of delight, creative courage, and what it means to write in the margins of real life. In This Episode, We Talk About: Why “everyday experts” are exactly who the world needsThe difference between having a story and shaping a messageThe power of accountability and structure in creative workThe role of delight in sustaining long-term creative energyHow to know if your book idea has the heart and heat to growConnect with Dinah LaPrairie 📚 The Book Case – Dinah’s Substack publication  One of her regular features is 3 Small Items of Great Delight, where she explores the practice of delight in everyday life. (You can read her first post describing the inspiration behind this series there.) ✍️ Writing What’s Possible – A Skool community A supportive space for nonfiction and memoir writers who are writing in the margins of real life. 🔥 The Book Spark Test – Free Downloadable Worksheet Wondering if your book idea has the heart, heat, and purpose to grow? This worksheet includes five coaching-style prompts to help you explore your idea and take your first step. Why This Conversation Matters So many people carry wisdom. Fewer feel qualified to share it. Dinah’s work sits at that intersection of courage and craft, helping thoughtful humans turn experience into impact. If you’ve ever felt the nudge to write something meaningful, this episode may be the permission slip you didn’t know you were waiting for. Support the show

    46 min

  4. FEB 13

    Coming Home to Your Body: Nervous System Healing & the Courage to Feel

    In this powerful and honest conversation, I sit down with Jennifer J. Grove, Nervous System Whisperer and Venting Coach, to talk about what it really means to stop performing “fine” and start feeling safe again. Jennifer works with high-functioning, emotionally exhausted women who look like they have it all together… but feel anything but. Through breathwork, EFT tapping, somatic tools, and real emotional release, she helps women soften, regulate their nervous systems, and come back to themselves. Together, we explore: Why so many high-achieving women live in chronic stress modeWhat nervous system dysregulation actually feels likeThe difference between coping and healingHow breathwork and EFT tapping help the body release stored emotionWhy venting in a safe space is not weakness but medicineThe connection between emotional safety and sustainable joyJennifer shares practical tools listeners can begin using immediately, along with compassionate insight into why pushing harder is rarely the answer. If you’ve been holding it together for everyone else, this episode is your invitation to exhale. About Jennifer Jennifer J. Grove is a Nervous System Whisperer and Venting Coach who helps high-functioning, emotionally exhausted women soften, release stress, and return to themselves. Through breathwork, EFT tapping, somatic practices, and honest emotional release, she creates spaces where women stop performing “fine” and start feeling safe in their bodies again. She is also the host of the podcast Gettin’ in the Grove, where she shares real-life nervous system support, self-care that truly heals, and the courage to feel what’s been buried. Connect with Jennifer: JGroveWellness Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn  Listen to Gettin’ in the Grove Connect with Rachel:  Book: Joy Is THE Strategy The JOY Project Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube Support the show

    52 min

  5. FEB 10

    Joy Is Built, Not Found: How pauses. pushups. plants. biologically create joy

    In this episode: We unpack how joy isn’t something you wait for - it’s something you build through small, biological inputs that influence your nervous system, mood chemistry, and overall wellbeing. You’ll get practical science-backed tips around: ✨ Pauses — how interrupting stress helps your brain and body rest 💪 Pushups — how consistent movement rewires your chemistry and builds self-trust 🌿 Plants — how gut-focused nutrition supports your brain and mood You’ll also hear personal stories about convincing yourself to move consistently, why joy shows up after effort, and simple everyday actions you can start today to feel better. 🛠️ What You’ll Learn • Pauses: Why pausing actually resets your nervous system and how to practice it without meditation pressure. • Pushups / Movement: How consistency trumps intensity, the brain chemicals involved, and a personal story of how movement changed self-trust. • Plants / Nutrition: Why gut health matters for mood, simple ways to add more plant foods, and nutrition tips that support joy. 🧠 Tools Mentioned • Headspace — for nervous system pauses and guided breaks • AG1 — foundational nutrition to support gut health, energy, and recovery ✨ Quick Practice Tips ️Pauses • Bookend your day with intentional breath • Pause between tasks — let your body catch up to your brain • Breathe with longer exhales to signal safety Movement / Pushups • Start with tiny doses (5–10 minutes) • Prioritize consistency over intensity • Notice how you feel after you move Nutrition / Plants • Add plant foods before restricting anything • Put a plant on every plate — simple and sustainable • Stay hydrated and support gut health daily 🗣️ Stay Connected 📍 Instagram 📺 YouTube: 📘 Book: Joy is THE Strategy ❤️ If You Loved This Episode ⭐ Subscribe and rate the show  💌 Share this episode with someone who needs joy today  📲 Tag me on Instagram and let me know what tip you’re trying first Support the show

    23 min

  6. FEB 6

    Healing Beyond the Individual: A Conversation with Chase Thayer

    Guest: Chase Thayer — Long-Term Recovery Coach & Family Systems Specialist Website: https://www.austinintegrationcoaching.com/ About Chase: Chase Thayer brings nearly 20 years of experience supporting individuals and families impacted by addiction, mental health challenges, and complex relational dynamics. As both a professional coach and someone with lived experience in recovery, Chase combines empathy with accountability — guiding not just clients, but entire families — toward deeper understanding, structural healing, and long-term sustainable change. 💡 What We Explore in This Episode 🔹 Chase’s personal recovery journey We dive into how his lived experience shapes his work, his lens on resilience, and the shifts that led him to family systems work. 🔹 What “long-term recovery” really means This isn’t quick fixes or surface-level tools — Chase talks about recovery as an ongoing process, rooted in identity, connection, and self-trust. 🔹 Supporting families, not just individuals Why individual change often stalls without healthy relational shifts — and how families can become part of the solution instead of the backdrop of the problem. 🔹 The role of boundaries, accountability, and compassion Chase unpacks how compassion and accountability aren’t opposites — they’re the foundation for real transformation. 🔹 Breaking generational cycles We talk about structural patterns in families, how they persist across generations, and the intentional work it takes to change them. 🔹 What sustainable change actually looks like From emotional literacy to systems thinking — real stories, real challenges, and practical perspectives that go beyond slogans. 🎧 Key Takeaways Recovery is relational. Healing happens not just within the person, but within the network of those who love them.Families have roles. Understanding those roles (and reconfiguring them) can unlock deeper healing.Accountability and compassion are partners. One without the other gets stuck in blame or permissiveness.Patterns aren’t destiny. Generational cycles can be interrupted with intention, support, and insight.Long-term growth > quick relief. Sustainable change is messy, but it’s also real.🧠 Quotes to Share “Recovery isn’t about behavior change alone — it’s about identity change in the context of relationships that matter.” — Chase Thayer“You don’t heal in isolation. You heal in connection — and connection requires accountability.”📌 Connect With Chase 🌐 Austin Integration Coaching: https://www.austinintegrationcoaching.com/ Chase’s work with individuals and families blends trauma-informed systems thinking with compassion-based accountability. Support the show

    57 min

  7. FEB 3

    Why Joy Works (Even When Life Is Hard)

    Joy isn’t about ignoring stress, grief, or reality.  It’s about how we stay human inside of it. In this episode, Rachel explores why joy isn’t fluff, a personality trait, or a reward for surviving hard things. It’s a practical, science-backed strategy that helps us regulate our nervous systems, make better decisions, lead more effectively, and avoid burnout. You’ll learn: Why pressure and discipline alone don’t create lasting changeHow joy signals safety to the brain and bodyWhy joy leads to consistency, resilience, and clarityHow joy can coexist with stress, grief, and hard seasonsWhy joy isn’t a luxury, but a life and leadership skillThis conversation isn’t about forced positivity.  It’s about understanding how we’re wired, and choosing a way of living that actually works. Joy is not the reward.  Joy is the strategy. 👉 Learn more about Rachel’s work and upcoming book Joy Is the Strategy 👉 Join The Joy Project community and practice joy together Support the show

    17 min

  8. JAN 29

    Joy Is the Strategy (Not the Reward)

    What if joy isn’t something you earn after everything is fixed, but the strategy that helps you live, lead, and feel better now? In this first solo episode of Joy Unfiltered, I’m setting the foundation for everything this podcast stands for. Not forced positivity. Not bypassing hard things. And definitely not joy as a personality trait reserved for a lucky few. This episode is about choosing joy as a practical, grounded, repeatable strategy, especially in seasons that feel heavy, uncertain, or exhausting. I share how joy became the throughline in my work, my wellness, and my leadership, why it works when motivation runs out, and how small, intentional choices can change how you move through your day, your body, and your life. This conversation also connects directly to two things I’ve poured my heart into: 📘 My upcoming book, Joy Is the Strategy A deeper dive into why joy works, how it’s built, and how choosing it can change the way you live and lead. 👉 Pre-sales are open now. ✨ The Joy Project A growing community for people who want joy that’s real, human, and shared. This is where connection, conversation, and collective joy live. 👉 Join The Joy Project. If you’re tired of chasing happiness, burned out on hustle culture, or quietly wondering if there’s a better way to feel good without waiting for life to cooperate, you’re in the right place. Joy isn’t the reward.  It’s the strategy. Support the show

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 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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