She Chose Joy with Melanie

Melanie Foote-Davis

5.0 (4)
Self-Improvement
Updated Bimonthly

Sprinkles of Joy is found when we get curious and choose to play in those spaces between what our heart knows to be true and what our mind is trying to reconcile. I’m not here to perform joy. I create space where truth, tenderness, laughter, pain, possibility and joy feel safe enough to say out loud. This is where yummy moments like that organically unfold through heartfelt conversations with visionary woman.

4d ago

Julie Breckenfelder | The Healing Spiral

The advice to push harder, move faster, and stay productiveis burning people out. Julie Breckenfelder shares the moment that pulled her out of that cycle and into a completely different way of leading, living, and coaching; one built on pause, presence, and self-trust. What starts with a joyful memory of Cyndi Lauper and a little 80s nostalgia turns into a powerfulconversation about burnout, authenticity, and the surprising clarity that can come when life forces you to slow down. Julie opens up about a pivotal trip to Angkor Wat, the layered nudges that changed her career, and how those experiences eventually led her into coaching emerging leaders. You’ll discover: Why burnout can be a signal, not a failureThe difference between judgment and discernmentHow the "healing spiral" helps you recognize growth instead of shameWhy anger can be useful information,not something to suppressWhat it really means to create psychologically safe spaces at work and in lifeMelanie Foote-Davis brings her signature insight intoboundaries, emotional honesty, and the hidden cost of carrying too much for too long. Together, she and Julie unpack how we hide, protect ourselves, and wait until we're "up to here" before we finally make a change and how to catch those moments earlier. Julie also shares how she now supports leaders whoare holding it all together on the outside while quietly struggling on the inside and why helping people feel safe enough to be fully human is the real work. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of your next step, this conversation offers both relief and a roadmap. Perfect for leaders, coaches, and anyone who knows they need to pause before they break. If you're ready to rethink burnout, failure, and what growth actually looks like, this one belongs in your queue. More about Julie Julie Breckenfelder is a certified professional coach atJB Coaching with a gift for guiding and empowering leaders to rewrite their stories through an energy-focused lens. By bringing awareness to their unique leadership style and energy, clients are able to break through blind spots and unconscious behaviors to create a meaningful + intentional path forward. Beyond executive presence and confidence, Julie’s clients– both leaders and teams – gain deep self-awareness, mindfulness, and alignment in their work and their personal life, leading to deeper fulfillment and joy.She is known to be kind, yet bold in her approach – challenging her clients towards possibility, an open mind, and a perspective that rewrites the status quo of success. Her clients work across industries and company types, including Inc. 5000 start-ups and Fortune 500 ad agencies to automotive manufacturers andglobal insurance providers. Prior to coaching, Julie spent 14+ years as a Business-to-Business marketer in both corporate and agency high-pressuresettings. She holds an MBA in Management/Strategy and a credentialed Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation (ICF). She acquired her CPC and ELI-MP from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), earned certifications in: Trauma-InformedCoaching Certification (Moving the Human Spirit), Elements of Wellbeing (WOHASU) and Clifton Strengths Foundations (PowerUp Your Strengths). On days of rest, you can find Julie with her husband andpup-dog Charlie mindfully boating, exploring, or cooking up new business ideas and recipes—though she’s equally likely to be on the jiu jitsu mats getting humbled as a white belt. Connect with JulieWebsite LinkedIn Connect with MelanieBook a FREE Discovery Call Get the FREE Joy Guide Grab your signed copy of Radical Love: Your Path to Freedom and Bliss
Sep 21

Esther Bailey-Bass | One Question That Changes How You Show Up

Melanie and Esther also explore the impact of perfectionism, fear, self-abandonment, and the pressure to have everything figured out. They remind us that we are all leaders, not because of our titles or achievements, but because of the choices we make and the conversations we shape every day. This episode is for anyone who wants to build healthier relationships, trust themselves more deeply, and lead with greater honesty, courage, and care. As you listen, consider: What’s mine to do in the relationships and spaces I’m part of? More about Esther Bailey- Bass Esther Bailey-Bass is the founder and CEO of EBB 'n Flow Lifestyle | Leadership Coaching, LLC, where she empowers Executive Directors, Board Chairs & Teams to move beyond roles & titles to strengthen the relationships that drive mission impact. Through leadership coaching, systems facilitation & experiential learning. She helps organizations cultivate cohesive, collaborative teams and develop strong board relationships. Using tools from Organization Relationship Systems Coaching, Hogan, and Positive Intelligence, She guides leaders to alignwith their values, lead by example, and inspire others to embrace their leadership styles. I also support new and untitled leaders to discover their leadership strengths to make meaningful contributions. Esther asserts that EVERYONE IS A LEADER, and true leadership is about more than holding a title - it's about theability to influence, lead by example, and align your actions with your core values. Authentic leaders guide and inspire others to embrace their own abilities to lead and make meaningful contributions. Connect with Esther: LinkedIn: Connect with Melanie: Book a call: Get your free joy guide: Grab a copy of Radical Love
Aug 3

Maya Davis | Genealogy and the Stories That Bind Us

Maya Davis has spent her career learning that history is never really about facts on a wall. It's about family, memory, and the stories we choose to carry forward. In this episode, Maya shares her path from a curious student at Howard University into her current role as director of a historic house museum on a former plantation site in Prince George's County, Maryland. She talks about the challenge ofleading in spaces that were never built with her in mind, the small moments of mentorship that shaped her career, and how she has worked to build a team that feels like family. We also talk about her lifelong love of genealogy, the stick-figure family drawings she made as a child, each one carefully named, and the sister circles that keep her grounded. Maya shares what keeps her hopeful in the work of preserving storiesthat history often tries to suppress, and the simple joys, like travel, laughter, and a good book, that keep her choosing joy. Chapters00:00 – Cultivating Team with Intention 00:47 – Intro03::05 – Travel & Cultural Experiences 05:38 – Nature Appreciation & Learning 07:58 Celebrating Women & Culture 11:37 – Creative Collaboration & Joyful Connections 13:06 – Maya's Journey into Public History 20:12 –Serendipity and the People Who Shaped Her Journey 22:22 – The Weight of Working at a Former Plantation Site 24:22 – Genealogy and a Book That Found Its Way Home 27:11 – Childhood Creative Expression & Family Dynamics 29:34 – Importance of Family Storytelling 30:26- Creating a Supportive Work Environment 32:54 –Building a Diverse & Effective Team 37:44 – Exploring Personal Growth & Community Resources 40:41 - Value of Sister Circles 43:28 – Finding Joy in Everyday Life 48:17 –Gratitude & ConnectionMore about Maya Maya Davis is the director of Riverside House Museum on a former plantation site in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC, where her work lives within a parks and recreation department dedicated to preserving communityhistory. Her path into public history began at Howard University with an internship at the Smithsonian, followed by roles at the City Museum of Washington, DC, and the Maryland Historical Trust before she stepped into museum leadership. Her current work centers on descendant engagement, portraitcommissioning, and a permanent exhibit honoring the families once enslaved on the site she now leads. A lifelong lover of genealogy and family history, Maya was recently nominated to a retreat for women of color working in museums, libraries,and archives. Connect with Maya Connect with Melanie: Book a call Get your free joy guide Grab a copy of Radical Love
Jul 22

Tiffanie B. Powell | 50 Never Felt So Free

There's a moment in this conversation where Tiffanie Powellsays surrender feels like quitting, and then tells you why she chose it anyway.That's the heartbeat of this episode. Tiffanie is an estate planning attorney who has spent 25 years helping families plan for the parts of life no one wants to talk about.This conversation is really about what happens when a woman who built her whole identity on fighting, through law school, through motherhood, through survival, finally lays the armor down. We talk about turning 50 and the prayer that led her there,and the phone call with her sister that cracked something open in her. She shares what it's meant to move into a whole life, why the she-shed her husband built her became sacred ground, and how saying no to herself turned into one of her greatest acts of self-love. Finally, she talks about raising children whoalready know how to rest, something she is only now learning herself. This one moved me. I think it'll move you too. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to She Chose Joy 02:21 – Opening Her Heart: The Journey to Turning 50 07:04 – Discipline, Discomfort & New Habits at 5AM 09:46 – The Usher Story: A Wake-Up Call to Show Up for Life 17:15 – From Fighting to Surrender 23:59 – Joy vs. Happiness & Learning to Receive Love 30:06 – Not Just a Soft Life — A Whole Life 34:04 – Her Path Into Estate Planning Law 44:26 – Letting Go of Self-Doubt & Old Shackles 49:43 – Teaching Her Children to Rest and Choose Joy 53:42 – Simple, Everyday Ways Tiffanie Chooses Joy 1:04:17 – Gratitude, Faith & Walking in Her Best Self 1:09:54 – Connect with Tiffanie & Closing Thoughts Connect with Tiffanie B. Powell: Website: Facebook: LinkedIn: Connect with Melanie: Book a call: Get your free joy guide: Grab a copy of Radical Love: More about TiffanieTiffanie B. Powell is an estate planning and probate attorneyand the founder of Tiffanie Powell & Associates, P.C., based in Illinois. With 25 years in the practice of law and 15 years running her own firm, Tiffanie has built her career around helping families navigate one of life's most tender transitions: planning for disability and death with clarity, dignity, and peace of mind. She drafts wills, trusts, and powers of attorney,handles probate and trust administration, and says her mission is simple: to take the fight and the fear out of the legal process. Outside the courtroom and the conference room, Tiffanie is a wife of 20 years, a mother of two, and a woman who just stepped into 50, a season she describes as one of surrender, softness, and learning to receive.
Jul 10

Loretta Veney | Finding Her Words Again: A Story of Dementia, Legos, and Love

Loretta Veney has a story that holds heartbreak and humor in the same hand. In this episode, Loretta walks through a thirteen-year medical journey that started with a doctor telling her to get over it and eventually led to a diagnosis that nearly cost her life. Sheshares what it meant to build a marriage with her husband Tim around hospital rooms and Dairy Queen runs, and how that same resilience carried her through sixteen years of caring for her mother through dementia. She also traces how Legos found their way into her life. Her mother gave her a box of them as a child, something to build with during hard days at school. Decades later, when hermother's memory began to fade, those same bricks became the thing that helped her find her words again. Loretta shares how that discovery grew into Lego Serious Play sessions with families and care communities around the world, andhow a six-year-old boy who saw her on the news went home and taught his own grandmother to build. This conversation moves through grief, forgiveness, and joy, and shows what it looks like to keep choosing all three, even on the hardest days Chapters 00:00 Welcome and a lifelong friendship 01:56 "A walking miracle": introducing Loretta's story 04:49 The medical journey begins 07:06 A doctor dismisses her pain 10:03 A new doctor explains endometriosis 12:30 Thirteen years, and a warning that saved her life 15:21 Choosing joy in the hospital 16:26 A new chapter: her mother's dementia diagnosis 22:07 What ice cream taught her about care 25:01 "Understood the assignment": remembering joy 26:23 Becoming "very nice person" 34:27 Losing Tim 38:05 The village that stepped up 40:20 Writing the book, with her mother's blessing 43:31 A family secret, and choosing forgiveness 52:08 Turning caregiving into research on resilience 53:29 How the Legos really began 58:05 Discovering Lego Serious Play 59:57 Becoming the Lego Lady, globally 1:05:13 Building across generations 1:15:13 The small, everyday ways she chooses joy 1:22:06 Where to find Loretta, and closing thoughts More About Loretta Loretta Veney is known around the world as the Lego Lady, and for good reason. What began as a way to help her mother navigate dementia became a life's work: using LegoÒ Serious Play to help people with memory loss find their words,their calm, and their joy. Loretta cared for her mother for sixteen years, through a journey that also included the sudden loss of her husband Tim and a thirteen-year medical odyssey of her own. She's spoken across the globe, featured in Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The NY Times, Good Morning America and a PBS Special. Loretta was chosen as one of Robin Roberts Thriver Thursday recipients, honored with Maude Award for her work in dementia care and named 2019 John Hopkins Medicine’s Trailblazer of the Year. Her mother's own words became Loretta's guiding compass: when you find something that works, you share it. Loretta lives that legacy every day, one Lego brick at a time. Connect with Loretta Loretta on Good Morning America PBS: Alzheimers and Caregivers Connect with Melanie Download How to Consciously Create a Life of Joy Here Radical Love Book
Jul 1

Tami Chapek | How Authenticity Unlocks Your Greatest Impact

What does it really mean to lead… not by mimicking the person above you, but from the fullness of who you actually are? In this conversation, Melanie sits down with leadership coach and author Tami Chapek for a rich, honest exploration of whatit looks like to stop forcing alignment and start living from it. Tami shares the burnout, the misalignment, the "big down" that eventually cracked something open in her and the path that led her to redefine not just her career, but her entire understanding of what leadership is meant to be. Together, they talk about the difference between good leadership and great leadership, why organizations that develop people outperform organizations that only develop products, and what happens when you stop should-ing yourself and start honoring the strengths that are genuinely yours. This conversation is warm, grounded, and full of wisdom for anyone navigating their own crossroads in work, in leadership, or in life. Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back: Catching Up with Tami 01:34 Leadership Redefined: What Defying the Ordinary Really Means 03:31 From Marketing to Coaching: The Journey to WeInspireWe 05:50 The Midlife Crisis That Changed Everything 07:37 Set Up to Fail: When Assumptions Replace Support 10:54 Psychological Safety and the Cost of Silence 12:22 Pain as a Signal, Not a Sentence 15:32 Life Gets Easier When You're in Alignment 17:22 Going Against the Grain vs. Riding the Wave 17:58 The Mixed Bag of Starting Over 20:26 When Coaching Took Over Her Soul 21:44 Leading People First, Watching the Business Grow 23:46 The Bad Boss Epidemic and Breaking the Cycle of Mimicry 32:36 The Three Principles: Effective, Influential, Inspiring 34:54 Your Special Sauce: What Moves You from Good to Great 31:16 Goals Are a Direction, Not a Destination 37:33 The Ripple Effect of One Empowered Person 39:09 Gratitude for the Journey and the People Who Helped Write the Book 40:02 How to Choose Joy Every Day 41:12 Connect with Tami + Closing More about Tami Chapek Tami Chapek is the Founder and Head Coach of WeInspireWe, an award-winning, woman-owned leadership development firm committed to reDEFYning what leadership looks and feels like. A certified coach through the ICF and iPEC with nearly 25 years of corporate and coaching experience, Tami began her career in marketing and advertising before a pivotal season of burnout and misalignment led her to completely reimagine her path. That journey is now the heart of her work. Through her proprietary Leadership reDEFYned framework, she guides individuals and teams to step into their strengths, shatter limiting beliefs, and lead with the kind of authenticity that actually creates change. She has worked with leaders at organizations including Google, Delta, Novartis, and Uber, and her insights have been featured in Forbes and Thrive Global. She is also the author of her debut book, Leadership reDEFYned: DEFY the Ordinary to Unleash Your Potential Connect with Tami: Website: Book: Book Tami for Speaking Connect with Melanie: Work with Melanie: Download How to Consciously Create a Life of Joy Radical Love Book
Jun 29

Chef Elizabeth Falkner| The Art of Food: Creativity, Diversity, and Resilience

Chef Elizabeth Falkner has spent her career treating food as something far more than sustenance. It is art. It is theater. It is a living expression of culture, memory, and the human desire to connect. In this conversation, Elizabeth and I explore what it means to create with intention, why diversity in ingredients isa reflection of the world we want to build, and how the culinary community found ways to care for one another when the pandemic threatened to unravel everything they had built. Elizabeth shares the story behind T'Maro, a date-based spirit born from creativity and collaboration, her work in food rescue and waste reduction, and the simple, grounding joys that anchor her even in the most demanding seasons of life. This is a conversation about resilience, beauty, and what food can teach us about showing up fully... for our communities and for ourselves. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:26 Discovering a passion for culinary arts 07:32 Food as theater and art form 09:02 The physicality and teamwork in the culinary world 12:11 The evolution of California cuisine and women chefs 17:08 Inspiration from art, travel, and culture in cooking 20:24 The creative process in pastry and savory dishes 22:31 Documenting the pandemic's impact on chefs 28:21 Concerns for mental health and community support 30:40 The story of the date spirit and innovation in spirits 37:22 Using spirits in cocktails and mindful drinking 39:11 Food rescue and reducing waste 45:21 The diversity of food and the importance of variety 48:18 Simple joys and gratitude in everyday life 51:05 Family, community, and appreciating the moment 53:48 Connecting with the audience and closing remarks More about Elizabeth Falkner Elizabeth Falkner is an award winning chef who worked her way up in fine dining and then owned restaurants in San Francisco and then moved to open others in New York. She continues to cook at Food & Wine Festivals, fundraisers, and other events and has cooked for countless celebrities and personalities across multiple platforms. Elizabeth works also as a recipe/formula developer/consultant on projects and brands such as Molino Bianco/Barilla, Starbucks, Hershey, Pepsi, Compass Group, Nestle, Cliff Bar, Mondalez, Wrigley’s, Quaker, General Mills, Emmi Cheeses fromSwitzerland, M&M/Mars, Behave Candy, and more. She has appeared on television on multiple networks and all of the cooking competition reality series for the last twenty years and is a world recognized pioneer and leader in culinary. Chef Falkner is a fitness advocate and loves playing sports and staying “Fit to Cook” and continually speaks to working on life balance in the industry. She’s an author of three cookbooks, she cooks, speaks and teaches all over the world. She currently serves on the board of trustees of the James Beard Foundation and serves as the chair of the JBF awards committee. She’s on the culinary councilof City Harvest, NYC and Forever Oceans. In 2020 she re-located to Los Angeles and produced and hosts a documentary called, “Sorry We’re Closed”, which made festival circuits and won Best Documentary Feature at Pasadena Film Festival 2023, streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. Elizabeth and her partner, Heather Freyer founded T’MARO Brands Inc. and launched three innovative alcohol beverage products in 2024. T’MARO Amaro, T’MARO Eau de Vie and T’MARO Cacao Nib. All made with organic California dates. Connect with Elizabeth: Instagram: @cheffalkner @drinktmaro Countdown Boxing Club LA with Ariel Connect with Melanie ⁠⁠Work with Melanie Download How toConsciously Create a Life of Joy Here
Jan 27

Whitney Dawn Pyles | Connection and Joyful Sobriety

In this conversation, Whitney Dawn Pyles shares her journey of sobriety and how it has led her to a deeper understanding of authenticity, joy, and connection. She discusses thecomplexities of joy and grief, life’s transitions, the societal normssurrounding alcohol, and the importance of creating spaces for genuine connection. Whitney emphasizes the significance of micro-practices in accessing joy and the role of dance and movement in self-expression. This is an invitation for listeners to explore their own relationships with joy, sobriety, and connection, encouraging a journey of self-discovery and authenticity. Chapters 00:00 Trailer 02:14 Transitions and Cultivating Community 04:33 Well Blended Professional and Personal Lives 06:41 Complexities of Joy 11:31 The Return The Release The Renewal 16:05 Adventurous Spirit: Living Out of a Van 18:30 Existing Where We Are 22:28 Exploring Sobriety and Quality of Life 26:02 Sobriety As a Somatic Experience 33:01 Does Alcohol Have a Premium on Joy and Play 35:10 Impact of Imagery 37:32 Redefining Celebration and Play Beyond Alcohol 40:59 Reclaiming Authentic Connection and Vulnerability 44:29 Respect Choice. No Explanation Needed 48:14 The Role of Vulnerability in Authentic Sharing 51:43 Accessing Joy and Celebrating Life 57:31 The Power of Freeform Dance and Movement 01:02:00 Micro Practices for Cultivating Joy 01:05:29 Gratitude and the Importance of Connection More about Whitney Dawn Pyles Whitney Dawn Pyles is a Somatic Coach, facilitator, and creator of UNSTUCK, a self-paced series of body-based practices designed to help people move through emotionaland energetic stagnancy. After years of numbing and disconnecting from herself, her sobriety journey sparked a deep devotion to authenticity, nervous system literacy, and joy as a radical choice. Through movement, 1:1 and groupcoaching, and curated community spaces, Whitney supports people in reconnecting with one another, their bodies, and what truly moves them. She believes dance is our birthright, play is medicine, and that every moment offers an opportunity to return to ourselves with more compassion, clarity, and courage. Connect with Whitney Instagram @whitneydawnpyles SomaticSobriety UNSTUCK– A Space to Break Patterns and Build Momentum Together Connect with Melanie ⁠⁠Work with Melanie⁠⁠ Download How to Consciously Create a Life of Joy Here

5

out of 5

4 Ratings

Sprinkles of Joy is found when we get curious and choose to play in those spaces between what our heart knows to be true and what our mind is trying to reconcile. I’m not here to perform joy. I create space where truth, tenderness, laughter, pain, possibility and joy feel safe enough to say out loud. This is where yummy moments like that organically unfold through heartfelt conversations with visionary woman.

Creator

Melanie Foote-Davis
Years Active

2020 - 2026
Episodes

44
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Melanie Foote-Davis
Show Website

She Chose Joy with Melanie