Your Joyful Life Podcast

Michael Fall and Evan Wainberg
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Life feels complicated. Joy doesn’t have to be. Welcome to Your Joyful Life Project - a refreshingly human look at why we think, feel, and struggle the way we do - and how life tends to get easier once we stop fighting our own minds. Through real conversations and simple experiments, we explore how our thoughts create our experience and how small shifts in attention can change everything.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode #19 - The Three Principles That Change Everything

    In this episode of Your Joyful Life Podcast, Mike and Evan dive into The Inside-Out Revolution by Michael Neill and explore the foundational ideas behind the Three Principles developed by Sydney Banks. Together, they unpack the principles of Mind, Consciousness, and Thought, and examine a simple but profound idea: our feelings don’t come from our circumstances—they come from the meaning we give to our thinking. The conversation explores: Why thoughts seem real, even when they aren’tThe difference between thought and thought believedHow feelings act as a guide to our state of mindWhy insight often arrives when we stop trying so hardThe freedom that comes from realizing you don’t control your thoughts - but you don't have to follow themHow seeing experience as an inside-out process dissolves blame, victimhood, and judgmentThe surprising connection between personal well-being, compassion, and universal intelligenceAlong the way, Mike shares the life-changing realization that "I've been making it all up," while Evan reflects on finally understanding the Three Principles after years of hearing about them. Together, they explore why the simplest truths are often the hardest to see - and why a deeper understanding of how experience is created can transform the way we relate to ourselves, others, and the challenges of everyday life. If you've ever wondered why some thoughts grip us while others pass by unnoticed, or why peace can return in an instant after periods of struggle, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the nature of the human experience. Book discussed: The Inside-Out Revolution by Michael Neill #ThreePrinciples #SydneyBanks #PersonalGrowth #Mindfulness ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our free Substack Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in diving into the Joyful Life Project experiments? Check out our online course hosted through⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Udemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    48 min

  2. May 27

    Episode #18 - Seeing Beyond the Story: A Multidimensional View of Life

    What if the situation you’re in isn’t the whole picture? In this episode, we explore the different dimensions of awareness we bring to our lives and relationships—and how shifting levels can completely change the way we experience what’s in front of us. From the immediate story and emotional charge to a broader and more spacious perspective, we talk about what it means to zoom out, soften our attachment to the surface narrative, and see life from a deeper lens. When awareness expands, conflict can reveal connection, triggers can reveal insight, and the moment we thought was closing in on us can become an invitation into something bigger. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our free Substack Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in diving into the Joyful Life Project experiments? Check out our online course hosted through⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Udemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    43 min

  3. May 20

    Episode #17 - You Don't Need A Better Story To Be Happy

    Mike and Evan explore the idea that happiness may not come from finding the “perfect” spiritual framework, belief system, or intellectual answer. Instead, they dive into the tension between overthinking and direct experience - and why constantly searching for the “right” perspective can sometimes become another form of resistance. Using examples from spirituality, consciousness, personal growth, and everyday life, this conversation unpacks: Why intellectualizing your healing can keep you stuckThe difference between understanding joy vs experiencing itSpiritual frameworks, ego, identity, and self-narrativesHow resistance hides inside “self-improvement”Letting go of the need to constantly fix yourselfWhy peace may already be available beneath the mental noise⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our free Substack Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in diving into the Joyful Life Project experiments? Check out our online course hosted through⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Udemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    35 min

  4. May 13

    Episode #16 - Resistance is THE Problem

    In this episode, Mike and Evan unpack a simple but powerful idea: resistance is the problem. From overthinking inspiration to resisting everyday tasks, they explore how our suffering often comes not from reality itself, but from wishing things were different. Through stories about meditation, washing dishes, traffic, and life’s unexpected challenges, they examine how letting go of resistance can create more presence, ease, and connection. This conversation dives into: Why inspiration often gets blocked by overthinking and “but…” thinking The difference between forcing yourself and following what feels aligned How resistance creates suffering by making reality “wrong” Meditation, mindfulness, and learning to let go of rigid expectations The Buddhist connection between craving, suffering, and acceptance Why everyday moments like washing dishes or sitting in traffic can reveal your deeper patterns How dropping resistance can lead to more ease, presence, and even love If you’ve been feeling stuck, frustrated, overwhelmed, or like life is harder than it needs to be, this episode offers a practical mindset shift toward more allowing, less struggle, and a more joyful life. #joyfullife #selfawareness #innerexperience ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our free Substack Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in diving into the Joyful Life Project experiments? Check out our online course hosted through⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Udemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    30 min

  5. May 6

    Episode #15 - The Problem Isn’t Life - It’s Your Resistance to It

    In this episode of Your Joyful Life Podcast, we explore a deceptively simple idea: what if most of our struggle in life comes from resistance? Starting with a simple metaphor—holding a ball underwater—we unpack how much of our effort, stress, overthinking, and emotional friction comes from trying to force, control, suppress, or manage life instead of allowing it to unfold. This conversation dives into: Why resistance often creates the very suffering we’re trying to avoid The difference between action and forcing What it means to “get out of your own way” Trust, intuition, and allowing life to move through you How over-identification with the mind can block clarity and wisdom We didn’t know where this episode would go, so come along for this live exploration between two people thinking out loud about consciousness, surrender, personal growth, and the hidden mechanics of inner peace. If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re working way harder than life should require, this conversation might land for you. #joyfullife #selfawareness #innerexperience ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our free Substack Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in diving into the Joyful Life Project experiments? Check out our online course hosted through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Udemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    40 min

  6. Apr 29

    Episode #14 - How to Take Back Control of Your Life’s Story

    In this episode of Your Joyful Life Podcast, we explore what it means to get pulled into other people’s stories - and how easy it is to lose sight of your own values, priorities, and sense of self along the way. Through simple everyday examples, we unpack how relationships, expectations, and unconscious patterns can quietly shape the direction of our lives without us even noticing. How do you know when you’re making a conscious choice versus just being carried along by someone else’s narrative? This conversation dives into self-awareness, personal alignment, boundaries, relationships, identity, and the subtle ways we give away our agency. If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “How did I get here?”, this episode is for you. In this episode: How we unconsciously get pulled into other people’s narratives The difference between conscious compromise and self-abandonment Why feeling “off track” may actually be a sign of misalignment How to reconnect with your own values and life direction #joyfullife #selfawareness #innerexperience ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our free Substack Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in diving into the Joyful Life Project experiments? Check out our online course hosted through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Udemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    44 min

  7. Apr 22

    Episode #13 - The Role of Compassion in Living a Joyful Life

    In this episode, Evan and Mike explore compassion as a way of being that transforms how we move through the world. It starts with a simple question: when you're stressed, rushed, or overwhelmed, do the people around you stop feeling like full human beings? Evan introduces the NPC concept - the idea that other people can start to feel like background characters in your own story - and how compassion might be the antidote. Evan shares a real-life example: a tense call with a government worker who was anything but warm. What does it look like to meet that with compassion instead of frustration? The conversation that followed might surprise you. They also get into why compassion so rarely starts with ourselves - why we'd never talk to a friend the way we talk to ourselves - and whether that's where it actually needs to begin. Plus: the Metta meditation from Buddhism, the meaning of Namaste, and how compassion might be the one thing every culture and religion on earth has agreed on. This isn't a conversation about being nice. It's about recognizing the humanness in every person you encounter - including yourself. #joyfullife #selfawareness #innerexperience ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our free Substack Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in diving into the Joyful Life Project experiments? Check out our online course hosted through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Udemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    37 min

  8. Apr 20

    Episode #11 - Why "I Don't Know" Might Be the Best Answer You've Ever Given Yourself

    We explore two ideas that changed how we think about uncertainty. The first comes from coach Michael Neill: when you're facing a decision, there are only three possible answers - yes, no, or I don't know. But here's the part that stopped us in our tracks: "I don't know" is a complete statement. It's not a failure or a call to action. Just… a place to be. From there, we get into why we're so afraid of not knowing - how school, society, and social media have conditioned us to always have an answer - and what opens up when we stop forcing one. The second idea builds on the first: instead of trying to figure everything out, ask "what can I learn?" or even "what is there for me to notice?" It's a shift from solving to listening - and it opens us up to new possibilities.

    47 min
See All (19)

About

Life feels complicated. Joy doesn’t have to be. Welcome to Your Joyful Life Project - a refreshingly human look at why we think, feel, and struggle the way we do - and how life tends to get easier once we stop fighting our own minds. Through real conversations and simple experiments, we explore how our thoughts create our experience and how small shifts in attention can change everything.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Fall and Evan Wainberg
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michael Fall and Evan Wainberg
  • Show Website
    Your Joyful Life Podcast