Finding Joy in the Hard

Suzanne Andora Barron
  • 5.0 (27)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Finding Joy in the Hard is a weekly podcast about how we meet life when it stretches us — in grief and growth, in ordinary struggles and unexpected turns. In short minisodes, I share honest reflections, gentle nervous system awareness, and simple embodied practices to help you steady yourself when things feel uncertain. From time to time, I sit down with guests who have walked through difficulty and found light in the dark and joy in the hard. I’m your host, Suzanne Andora Barron — yoga and meditation teacher, Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, and writer. Through breath, awareness, and simple practices, I help people ease tension and reconnect to their inner steadiness.

  1. 4D AGO

    156: Always a Sibling – An Interview with Annie Sklaver Orenstein

    When Annie lost her brother Ben to a suicide bomber in 2009, she went to a bookstore looking for a book about sibling grief. She couldn't find one. So she wrote it. Always a Sibling: The Forgotten Mourner's Guide to Grief is a practical and compassionate guide for one of the most overlooked groups in grief — the sibling. In this episode, Annie shares: The story of her brother Ben — his service, his values, and how he was killed by a suicide bomber in October 2009Why she catastrophized his death for years before it happened, and why she still couldn't believe it when it didWhat it means to be a forgotten mourner — and why siblings are so often expected to simply be okayWhy the word "acceptance" felt impossible to her, and how she came to understand radical acceptance on her own termsHow grief resurfaces at unexpected life milestones — and why she recommends siblings revisit therapy around age 30The long road to writing this book, including three proposals, an auction, and one publisher who asked her to remove the word "sibling" from the titleFive takeaways from Suzanne: Radical acceptance doesn't mean you're okay with what happened. It means you acknowledge it, you don't run from it, and you don't suppress it.Siblings are often expected to be fine because all attention goes to the parents, surviving spouse, or surviving children.Until a sibling lets themselves say I'm allowed to be upset, full grieving is nearly impossible.Sibling grief resurfaces throughout your life — at milestones, in new relationships, in parenthood. It doesn't end.There is no possible way to be the parent you want to be for a grieving child. You do the best you can. That is enough.Find Annie: Instagram: @annisklaverorenstein Always a Sibling is available wherever books are sold, including bookshop.org, Amazon, and your local bookstore. About Annie: Annie Sklaver Orenstein is a cultural researcher, writer, and storyteller who has spent over a decade conducting in-depth qualitative research with thousands of people around the globe on behalf of brands including Viacom, Crayola, Twitter, Netflix, Instagram, Pfizer, and more. Her mission is to illuminate the true — and often difficult — realities of the human experience in order to build social empathy, provide validation and empowerment, and influence meaningful change. The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

    58 min

  2. MAR 15

    #155 Would you ever talk that way to a friend?

    Would You Talk That Way To A Friend? You know that voice in your head — the one that says "that was so dumb" or "you said too much." But would you ever say that to a friend? In this episode, Suzanne walks you through a simple but powerful experiment to help you become aware of your inner critic — and start replacing it with something kinder. Because the way you speak to yourself matters more than you might think. Try it yourself: Make a list of what your inner critic says. Then imagine saying it to a friend. Notice how that feels. Now flip it — and say the kinder version to yourself instead. Practice this every day for 3 weeks and notice how that inner critic starts to become an inner cheerleader. Try it and let me know how it goes — find me on Instagram and share your experience. The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

    6 min

  3. MAR 8

    #154 What If Those Emotions Aren't Even Yours?

    Do you ever wake up feeling agitated, heavy, or triggered — and can't figure out why? In this episode, Suzanne shares what she discovered after waking up unsettled one morning: the culprit wasn't stress or worry. It was a TV series she'd been watching the night before. What follows is an honest, relatable exploration of what it means to be someone whose nervous system absorbs the emotions of others — from fictional characters on screen to the people sitting right next to you. In this episode, Suzanne covers: Why some of us carry the emotional residue of what we watch long after the screen goes darkThe difference between being emotionally engaged and actually absorbing others' emotionsHow this plays out in real life — including a story about her husband walking into the kitchen "revved up" and walking out calm while she was left reelingFive things you can do when you realize the emotions you're feeling aren't yoursWhy resisting those emotions makes them linger — and what to do insteadKey takeaway: Our ability to feel deeply is a gift. When we learn to work with it rather than against it, we can sense things others miss — and move through emotion rather than being stuck in it. Mentioned in this episode: Process What You Feel to Heal — Suzanne's monthly membership, diving deep into this topic this month. Reach out to me via Instagram to say hi, share a comment or ask a question. Click here. The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

    8 min

  4. MAR 2

    #153 What if Beauty is in the In-Between?

    I recorded this episode literally from my car right after an all-day Feng Shui Art Workshop — still in the energy of it. Here's what I discovered: judgment isn't something to shame yourself for. It's a signal. A clue that your nervous system is feeling unsafe, closed off, or resistant to something new. I also talk about what happens when beauty is still developing — how messy and disorganized it can look right before it becomes something meaningful. And why stepping away when you're too close might be exactly what you need. In this episode: Why judgment is a signal, not a flawWhat resistance is really protecting you fromThe in-between stage — in art, in hair, in lifeWhy stepping away can help you see more clearlyA gentle reminder that we're all still in processCan you relate to this?  I'd love to get your feedback. You can DM me on Insta here. The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

    5 min

  5. FEB 13

    Something to remember as you go about your day

    Some days are harder than others. They can start to seem all of the same. But this simple message is a reminder that today will be amazing because you are in it.  Be well.  And remember you are so much stronger than you think you are.  The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

    2 min

  6. JAN 22

    #151 When you give yourself 2 choices

    In this episode, I share a real-life moment from a cold winter morning — a missed phone call, unexpected traffic, and the familiar urge to spiral. Instead of bracing, I practiced something different: breathing, noticing, and staying in the moment. This episode explores: How the body often braces before the mind starts spiralingWhy familiar patterns of worry and fear feel so automaticHow to interrupt the loop by returning to breath and sensationWhat it looks like to choose presence, even when you can’t close your eyesA simple Jin Shin Jyutsu hold (the thumb) to calm worryHow tiny shifts open the door to clarity, steadiness, and possibilityI also share surprising insights from a blindingly bright sunrise — and why that moment became an anchor for staying open instead of contracting. If you’ve ever been pulled into future-tripping, tension, or “what if” thinking, this episode gives you a grounded way back to yourself. Resources Mentioned: Jin Shin Jyutsu thumb holdBreathwork: inhale / long slow exhaleProcess What You Feel to Heal Monthly Membership (now open)You can learn more about the membership here And I'd love to connect with you on Instagram. You can reach me here The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

    8 min

  7. JAN 12

    #150 Do you complain a lot?

    Most of us don’t think we complain very much — until we actually pay attention. In today’s episode, I share what I discovered when I started noticing my own complaints, and why these seemingly small moments matter more than we realize. Complaining isn’t just a habit — it creates a subtle contraction in the body that makes it harder for joy to land and stay. You’ll hear: why we rarely notice when we’re complaininghow complaining tightens the body and shifts our emotional statethe surprising things my students discovered during a “no complaining” experimentwhy stopping the cycle isn’t about being positive — it’s about giving the body room to feel something newIf you'd like to learn how to connect to more joy - consider joining my 90 minute workshop this Thursday, January 15th at 4pmET, called Connecting to Joy.  It's $27. Everyone who signs up - whether you attend live or not - gets access to the 30 day replay. You can learn more here.  I'd love to have you join us!  Questions or comments, please reach out to me on IG, here The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

    5 min

  8. JAN 1

    #149 A Beautiful Ending

    In October, I said goodbye to a very special part of my life—the foundation I created in honor of my little boy, Christopher. This episode is different. I recorded our closing celebration on my phone that night, not knowing exactly why—only that it mattered. What you’ll hear is the magic of that evening: voices, laughter, reflection, and what becomes possible when we honor an ending instead of rushing past it. There are so many takeaways in this episode. Just a few: What can unfold when we say yesWhen there’s will and passion, what once felt impossible becomes possibleMost of all, this episode is a reminder that something deeply beautiful and meaningful can come from something devastating and traumatic. I’m so grateful I pressed record. The information presented on this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prescribe for any medical or psychological condition, nor to prevent, treat, mitigate or cure any such conditions.

    43 min
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About

Finding Joy in the Hard is a weekly podcast about how we meet life when it stretches us — in grief and growth, in ordinary struggles and unexpected turns. In short minisodes, I share honest reflections, gentle nervous system awareness, and simple embodied practices to help you steady yourself when things feel uncertain. From time to time, I sit down with guests who have walked through difficulty and found light in the dark and joy in the hard. I’m your host, Suzanne Andora Barron — yoga and meditation teacher, Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, and writer. Through breath, awareness, and simple practices, I help people ease tension and reconnect to their inner steadiness.

Information

  • Creator
    Suzanne Andora Barron
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    157
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Finding Joy in the Hard
  • Show Website
    Finding Joy in the Hard

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