All About The Joy

Carmen Lezeth Suarez

All About The Joy is a weekly hang-out with friends in the neighborhood! We share insight, advice, funny-isms and we choose to always try and find the positive, the silver lining, the "light" in all of it. AATJ comes from the simple concept that at the end of the day we all want to have more JOY than not. So, this is a cool place to unwind, have a laugh and share some time with friends!   Watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth.

  1. When Power Has No Consequences: The Pope, Trump, and the Swalwell Fallout

    22H AGO

    When Power Has No Consequences: The Pope, Trump, and the Swalwell Fallout

    In this episode of Culture & Consequence, Carmen and Andrea dive into a wide‑ranging, unfiltered conversation about power, accountability, and the public figures shaping today’s headlines. From the Pope’s viral social‑media statements to the political fallout surrounding Eric Swalwell, the discussion explores how influence, ego, and entitlement collide in modern culture. Carmen and Andrea break down: • The Pope’s latest tweet and why it sparked political backlash • The unusual Pentagon–Vatican tension and what it reveals about power • How public figures react when moral authority challenges political agendas • The long‑standing patterns of behavior that shape Donald Trump’s public persona • Why some supporters remain loyal despite decades of documented controversy • The allegations surrounding Eric Swalwell, his resignation, and the broader conversation about men, power, and accountability • How entitlement, boundary‑breaking, and social conditioning contribute to harmful behavior • The emotional impact on voters when leaders they trusted fall from grace This episode is candid, intense, and deeply human — a conversation about culture, consequences, and the systems that allow certain behaviors to persist. If you’re interested in the intersection of politics, psychology, gender dynamics, and public accountability, this episode offers a raw and insightful look at the stories dominating the week. Thank you for stopping by.  Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share.   You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth  You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly.  Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481 Editing by Team A-J Host, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER:  As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast.  Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

    44 min
  2. Being Wrong: Why Knowing Your Lane Is Your Real Superpower

    5D AGO

    Being Wrong: Why Knowing Your Lane Is Your Real Superpower

    In this final installment of the Know Thyself series, Carmen digs into one of the most uncomfortable but essential parts of being human: being wrong. Why do we double down? Why is it so hard to say “I don’t know”? And how does knowing your lane protect your integrity, your relationships, and your influence? Using real‑life examples—from cars to sports to the cosmos—Carmen breaks down the difference between being familiar with something and actually knowing it. She explores why humility, curiosity, and the ability to say “I made a mistake” are not weaknesses but superpowers that build trust and community. This episode also looks at how misinformation spreads, why so many people talk confidently about subjects they barely understand, and how that dynamic has shaped everything from friendships to politics to the influencer era. Carmen shares how she handles her own mistakes, why she avoids speaking outside her lane, and how you can do the same without losing your voice. If you’ve ever felt pressured to have all the answers—or frustrated by people who pretend they do—this conversation will hit home. Topics in this episode: Why humans hate being wrongThe difference between expertise and familiarityHow doubling down damages trustWhy humility is a superpowerKnowing your lane (and staying in it)How to apologize and recover from mistakesThe influencer era and the cost of loud ignoranceHow to listen better, speak smarter, and stay curiousSeries Note: This is Part 5 of the Know Thyself series. If you missed the earlier episodes, check the show notes for links.  All About The Joy is a network of four shows: Friday Night Live — our weekly neighborhood hangout (Fridays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET)Culture & Consequence — Carmen and Andrea’s weekly conversation on politics, culture, and the world we’re navigating (Thurs 6pm PST / 9pm EST)The Private Lounge — intimate conversations with brilliant guests from our community  (Sun 12pm PST / 3pm EST) Carmen Talk — personal reflections, life lessons, and grounded conversations like this one  (Also intermittenly Sun 12pm PST / 3pm EST) Carment Talk - 1: You Don't Need to Love Yourself! https://youtube.com/live/e7QHJKYIJU4 Carmen Talk - 2:  There are NO 5 Easy Steps https://youtube.com/live/NTLy5AmMfxc Carmen Talk - 3: My Brain - What is Aphantasia  https://youtube.com/live/42ex0fe-ick Carmen Talk - 4:  How Art Changed Who I Am https://youtube.com/live/0-0X_yaOhyM Thank you for stopping by.  Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share.   You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth  You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly.  Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481 Editing by Team A-J Host, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER:  As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast.  Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

    30 min
  3. Know Thyself: Books That Changed Me

    APR 5

    Know Thyself: Books That Changed Me

    In this Know Thyself installment, Carmen explores the books that have shaped her inner life - not to recommend or sell them, but to show how rereading meaningful works can reveal identity, perspective, and joy. She reflects on the intimacy of physical books, the value of reading slowly (especially with aphantasia), and the grounding effect of returning to stories that stay with us. Carmen discusses four works that continue to influence her: Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist and its reminder that courage and the journey matter more than the treasure; Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, a lyrical collection she revisits by topic to reframe life with clarity and compassion; Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet, which affirms that creative identity comes from within, not from fame or validation; and Maya Angelou’s Complete Collected Poems, a source of strength, dignity, and the conviction that one’s voice matters. She invites listeners to revisit the books, films, or music that resonate with them, reflect on why those choices endure, and consider what they reveal about self‑knowledge and joy. Thank you for stopping by.  Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share.   You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth  You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly.  Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481 Editing by Team A-J Host, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER:  As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast.  Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

    24 min
  4. Birthright Citizenship, Supreme Court Tensions, and the Politics of Hypocrisy

    APR 3

    Birthright Citizenship, Supreme Court Tensions, and the Politics of Hypocrisy

    In this episode, we start with a little travel fatigue and crowd overload before diving straight into the Supreme Court’s latest hearing on birthright citizenship. We break down the 14th Amendment’s language, the history behind “subject to the jurisdiction,” and the arguments being made to restrict citizenship for children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents. We look at the legal precedent, the potential fallout, and the real‑world consequences of creating a stateless underclass in America. From there, we talk about the political hypocrisy surrounding anti‑immigrant rhetoric, the Kristi Noem scandal, and the halted White House ballroom project that sparked its own wave of outrage. We also touch on Trump’s attacks on Bruce Springsteen, the cultural obsession with “the hottest country,” and a Supreme Court decision striking down Colorado’s ban on talk‑based conversion therapy for minors. The conversation centers on empathy, harm, and the human impact behind these policies. We wrap with genuine excitement for NASA’s upcoming Artemis II mission — because sometimes you need a little joy and wonder to balance out the chaos. Thank you for stopping by.  Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share.   You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth  You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly.  Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481 Editing by Team A-J Host, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER:  As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast.  Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

    47 min
  5. What I Learned When I Finally Understood My Brain: Living With Aphantasia

    MAR 29

    What I Learned When I Finally Understood My Brain: Living With Aphantasia

    In this episode of the Carmen Talk: Know Thyself series, I share something I’ve never talked about publicly: I have aphantasia — a cognitive variation where the mind doesn’t create visual images. I discovered this in 2016, and it completely changed how I understand myself, my learning style, my memory, and the way I move through the world.  I get into what aphantasia actually is, how it shows up in everyday life, why meditation and visualization never worked for me, and how understanding this difference helped me stop blaming myself for things I simply process differently. I also walk through the pros, the challenges, and the surprising strengths that come with having a non‑visual mind. This episode is ultimately about self‑knowledge — learning how your brain works, honoring your wiring, and seeing your differences as part of your design, not a flaw. When you understand yourself clearly, life gets easier, boundaries get cleaner, and everything makes more sense. At the end of the day, it really is all about the joy. Thank you for stopping by.  Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share.   You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth  You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly.  Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481 Editing by Team A-J Host, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER:  As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast.  Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

    25 min
  6. The Week Everyone Lost Their Damn Minds

    MAR 27

    The Week Everyone Lost Their Damn Minds

    This week felt like a masterclass in incompetence, and Andrea and I have… thoughts. From Tulsi Gabbard insisting her literal job isn’t her job, to RFK Jr. resurrecting a food pyramid no one has used in 15 years, to Speaker Mike Johnson inventing an award just to soothe a fragile ego — the bar somehow keeps dropping and they keep finding new floors beneath it. We talk about the shamelessness, the grift, the erosion of basic standards, and what it means to watch people in power proudly refuse to do the work. And then, because the chaos isn’t limited to politics, we pivot into Hollywood’s renewed obsession with extreme thinness and why the culture seems determined to sprint backward. It’s exasperation, clarity, and a little bit of laughter — because if we don’t laugh at the absurdity of it all, we’ll lose our own damn minds too. Please, pull up a chair, sit with us and let's walk on through it together...  Thank you for stopping by.  Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share.   You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth  You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly.  Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481 Editing by Team A-J Host, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER:  As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast.  Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

    45 min
  7. Stop Looking for the Five Steps - Start Looking at Yourself

    MAR 22

    Stop Looking for the Five Steps - Start Looking at Yourself

    In this Carmen Talk, I get honest about why the self‑help industry keeps selling “five easy steps” while real life keeps proving there are none. Love, joy, relationships, purpose — none of it comes from a formula. It comes from knowing yourself, asking the hard questions, and being willing to see where you’re lying to yourself or avoiding the work.  I talk about why love feels magical at first, why every relationship eventually requires effort, and why trusting your own lived experience matters more than any guru’s blueprint. I share what I learned growing up in other people’s homes, watching real relationships behind closed doors, and how that shaped my understanding of connection, boundaries, and authenticity.  If you’ve ever felt pressured to “fix” yourself through someone else’s method, this episode is a reminder that you already know more than you think. The work isn’t about loving yourself — it’s about knowing yourself. And once you do, the rest starts to make sense.  At the end of the day, it really is all about the joy. Thank you for stopping by.  Please visit our website: All About The Joy and add, like and share.   You can now watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth  You can also support us by shopping at our STORE - We'd appreciate that greatly.  Also, if you want to find us anywhere on social media, please check out the link in bio page. Music By Geovane Bruno, Moments, 3481 Editing by Team A-J Host, Carmen Lezeth DISCLAIMER:  As always, please do your own research and understand that the opinions in this podcast and livestream are meant for entertainment purposes only. States and other areas may have different rules and regulations governing certain aspects discussed in this podcast.  Nothing in our podcast or livestream is meant to be medical or legal advice. Please use common sense, and when in doubt, ask a professional for advice, assistance, help and guidance.

    20 min

About

All About The Joy is a weekly hang-out with friends in the neighborhood! We share insight, advice, funny-isms and we choose to always try and find the positive, the silver lining, the "light" in all of it. AATJ comes from the simple concept that at the end of the day we all want to have more JOY than not. So, this is a cool place to unwind, have a laugh and share some time with friends!   Watch the livestream version of the show on YouTube at @CarmenLezeth.