Joy in the Journey Podcast with Jaja Fortuna

Jaja Fortuna

A soulful podcast for individuals navigating burnout, grief, heartbreak, and chronic illness—and still choosing joy. Hosted by Jaja Fortuna. Joy in the Journey Podcast is a safe space for healing, faith, emotional wellness, and stories that remind you: you are not alone. Let’s cry, laugh, and rediscover joy together.

Episodes

  1. 07/22/2025

    Episode 9: “I Know I’m Broken”: When Infidelity Shatters a Family (The Quiet Pain Behind the Coldplay Kiss Cam) - Sé que estoy rota”: Cuando la infidelidad rompe una familia -Eu sei que estou quebrada

    It's a sad reality, but you’ve seen the clips —the Coldplay song, the kiss cam, the couple sitting in silence while the world watches their distance, their heartbreak.Behind the awkward smile… is a story. Divorce isn’t always loud.Sometimes, it’s quiet heartbreak.It’s the slow grief of watching something sacred fall apart.It’s sitting next to someone who once promised forever — now a stranger. In this episode, I open up about my own divorce.Not for drama. Not for pity.But for the woman who’s been there.And the family still picking up the pieces. I talk about: The betrayal that broke my heart The shame that almost silenced me The grief of dreams that would never come true The weight of blame — on him, on me, and even on God And how God met me in the mountains of the Dominican Republic with gentle, redeeming love Because infidelity is not a joke.It shatters trust. It breaks hearts.And it leaves real people — including children, spouses, and families — trying to make sense of the wreckage. But here’s the truth I learned through tears and therapy:💛 God still meets us in the ruins.💛 You are not too broken to be loved.💛 He does beautiful things with broken pieces. This is the most personal episode I’ve shared — and next week, I won’t be alone.My husband (the man who met the almost healed version of me) will join me for Part 2 of this story — not as a fairytale, but as a testimony of redemption. 🕊️This is Joy in the Journey, with Jaja Fortuna.For every woman who’s lived through betrayal, grief, or silent separation — I see you. God sees you.And healing… is still possible. If you’re walking through the pain of divorce — especially after betrayal — please hear me:You are not alone.You are not disqualified from love, purpose, or God's plan for your life. This space was created for you —to breathe, to grieve, to be real without shame. ✨ Send me a message on Instagram @joyinthejourney_podcast if this episode spoke to your heart.You don’t have to unpack this pain in silence.Let’s walk this journey together — one honest conversation at a time. Because even in the ruins, God still writes beautiful stories.And yours isn’t over yet.

    23 min

  2. 07/08/2025

    Episode 8: What They Don’t Tell You About Recovery: The Emotional Storm No One Sees | Lo Que No Te Cuentan de la Recuperación | O Que Ninguém Conta da Recuperação

    Everyone talks about surgery prep — but no one tells you how lonely recovery can be. In this raw and honest episode, Jaja opens up about the emotional toll of her first hip replacement surgery. From late-night panic attacks to the silence that felt heavier than the pain, she shares what it’s like to heal when your body hurts and your spirit feels stretched. With tender reflections, faith-filled encouragement, and wisdom from friends who’ve walked similar roads, this episode is for anyone in a season of recovery — physically or emotionally. You're not weak. You're healing. And you're not alone. 🌿 Highlights: • The mental and emotional cost of recovery no one prepares you for • The scripture that carried her through the hardest nights • How community, faith, and honest conversations helped her survive • The second surgery — and why it felt both familiar and different • A prayer for anyone who feels invisible in their pain 💛 Whether you're recovering from surgery, grieving, or just navigating a hard chapter — there’s joy to be found, even in the fog. 🎧 Listen now and share with someone who needs this reminder.

    23 min

  3. 07/01/2025

    Episode 7: Healing Isn’t Just Physical | Sanar No Es Solo Físico | Curar Não É Só Físico: My Left Hip Surgery + Recovery Lessons

    There’s something about going through something again—whether it’s surgery, recovery, or emotional healing—that gives you both courage… and caution. You know what to expect, but your heart still hopes it’ll be easier. This episode shares the story of my second hip replacement, and what I learned about healing through chronic illness, community, and quiet faith. From navigating a pain crisis due to a med delay, to walking into church with a walker as a symbol of strength—I take you into the raw and holy places recovery led me. My surgeon prayed with me before the procedure. My husband held my hand. My mom cared for me with her quiet strength. And my community kept showing up—in gentle, deeply healing ways. I also talk about how emotional pain can be just as real as physical, and how Lysa TerKeurst’s words reminded me: “We must feel the pain to heal the pain.” 💬 If this episode speaks to you, I’d love to hear from you.Tell me your healing story or how someone showed up for you:📲 Instagram: @jajinha.afortunada🕊 And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with someone in a healing season. 🛒 Recovery Tools I Used: I used the RMS Premium 7-Piece Hip/Knee Replacement Kit, and honestly—it helped so much. The grabber tool was especially popular with the kids who came to visit me 😊👉 Affiliate link: RMS Premium Recovery Kit on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting this podcast! 🧡 Healing isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, spiritual, and deeply communal. 🎧 Subtitles available on YouTube in English, Spanish & Portuguese.

    22 min

  4. 06/24/2025

    Episode 6: You Need a Hip Replacement—Wait, Me?! I’m only 37! Pt. 1 of 2, maybe 3 - because the comeback needs both legs.

    This episode isn’t from a place of arrival. It’s from the messy middle—from pain, denial, and the process of healing. At 37, I did not expect to hear the words: “You need a hip replacement.” But that’s exactly what happened. I had just gotten back from a fun road trip to Chicago with my husband. I was walking fine (or so I thought) and hoping for an injection or some physical therapy. Instead, I got a diagnosis: AVN—avascular necrosis. And I was told surgery needed to happen immediately. I left that appointment in complete denial. I tried to keep doing life like “normal,” but by November the pain had me walking with a cane. A second opinion confirmed what I didn’t want to hear—except this time, the doctor actually saw me. He didn’t just see a chart. He let me feel all my emotions. He prayed with me. He made me feel human again. This is the story of how I ended up having hip surgery right after Thanksgiving, the unexpected peace God gave me, and the card from my surgeon that I’ll never forget—with Exodus 14:14 written on it. If you’ve ever felt dismissed by doctors, blindsided by your body, or seen only in crisis—this one’s for you.

    23 min

  5. 06/17/2025

    Episode 5: Healing the Part of Me No One Knew Was Hurting

    Sometimes the deepest pain is the kind we carry in silence. In this episode, I’m sharing a part of my story I rarely talk about—what it felt like to grow up feeling invisible, only noticed in moments of crisis. From early childhood in Angola to the quiet ache of rejection and abandonment, this is the healing work I never knew I needed. Inspired by Ann Voskamp The Broken Way, and Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst. Cherished words that helped me name what I couldn’t explain, this episode is for anyone who’s ever felt unseen, too sensitive, or quietly breaking inside. Your feelings are not too much. Your story matters. And healing—real, honest healing—is possible. 🎧 Listen in and take a breath with me. 🎥 Subtitled version available on YouTube 🌿 Explore more on the blog at: https://joyinthejorney.wixsite.com/joyinthejourney/blog Butterflies and healing? Yes, please.This Insect Lore Butterfly Garden Kit is more than a STEM project—it’s a lesson in patience, growth, and transformation. I mentioned it on the podcast because it reminds me that even slow seasons bring beauty. 🌸🦋 As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. #JoyInTheJourney #HealingInProgress #EmotionalHealing #FaithAndFeelings #ChronicIllness #YouAreNotAlone

    17 min

  6. 06/10/2025

    Episode 4: Healing Isn’t Linear—And That’s Okay

    In this episode, Jaja shares her honest journey through identity, grief, and emotional healing — from growing up with sickle cell and being labeled "sickly," to carrying the ache of not knowing her father, to finally learning that her identity is not in her pain... but in Christ. With gentle encouragement, a touch of humor, and deep vulnerability, Jaja reminds us that it’s okay to not be okay — and that real healing rarely happens in a straight line. It happens in spirals, in silence, in moments when we feel unknown and unseen — and yet, God never asks us to fake joy. He asks us to abide. This episode is for anyone feeling weary, unseen, or “behind” in their healing. ✨ Topics in this episode: Feeling invisible even in crowded rooms The labels we carry (and why they don't define us) What the women at the tomb teach us about fear and joy Why messy healing is still healing A gentle reminder: You’re not broken. You’re unfolding. 💛 Stay soft-hearted. Stay rooted. Stay real. And keep finding joy — even in the middle. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube (with subtitles), or your favorite podcast app. #HealingIsntLinear #ChronicIllness #EmotionalHealing #FaithPodcast #JoyInTheJourney #ChristianPodcast #SickleCellAwareness #SpiritualEncouragement 📺 HOW TO TURN ON SUBTITLES / CÓMO ACTIVAR LOS SUBTÍTULOS / COMO ATIVAR AS LEGENDAS ENGLISH:To turn on subtitles: Tap the ⚙️ Settings icon (or three dots ⋮) on the video. Select Subtitles/CC. Choose English, Spanish, or Portuguese if available. ESPAÑOL:Para activar los subtítulos: Toca el ícono de ⚙️ Configuración (o los tres puntos ⋮) en el video. Selecciona Subtítulos/CC. Elige Inglés, Español o Portugués si están disponibles. PORTUGUÊS:Para ativar as legendas: Toque no ícone ⚙️ de Configurações (ou nos três pontos ⋮) no vídeo. Selecione Legendas/CC. Escolha Inglês, Espanhol ou Português, se disponível.

    13 min

  7. 06/03/2025

    Episode 3: My Fight Was Hers First: A Mother’s Strength, Sickle Cell, and the Village That Raised Me

    When I was just nine months old, my mother ran to save my life—literally. No transportation, no warning—just her intuition, God’s grace, and a family friend who happened to be in the path. This is the story of how I was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia in Malanje, Angola—and how my mom’s strength, faith, and community gave me a fighting chance. In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on childhood memories of walking miles, traditional healing, mulberry-stained hands, and the village of women (and siblings!) who supported me. From my grandmothers to my second mom, from herbal remedies to laughter in the dirt roads—this one is a love letter to the caregivers who never gave up. If you're navigating chronic illness, caring for a loved one, or healing from the inside out—I want you to know: you're not a burden. You are a miracle. 🎧 Listen now to Joy in the Journey and share with someone who needs this reminder.

    15 min

  8. 05/28/2025

    Episode 2: Who is Jaja Fortuna: Her Story, Her Truth, Struggles and Strength

    In this heartfelt episode, Jaja Fortuna shares her story—from the warmth and beauty of growing up in Angola, to the emotional and physical weight of navigating high school in a new country while living with sickle cell anemia. What felt like a death sentence before age 18 wasn’t just her fear—it was her mother’s fear and constant burden. Jaja opens up about carrying that fear, facing each crisis, and the miracle of a family who stepped in with generosity and care, becoming a beacon of hope during her darkest season. If you’ve ever lived with chronic illness, wrestled with fear, or longed for a miracle—this episode is for you. ✨ Listen in for a story of resilience, unexpected joy, and the kind of faith that refuses to let go. 💬 And don’t forget to leave a comment sharing one thing you're grateful for today. 📺 Instrucciones en Español: Cómo activar los subtítulos en YouTube: Abre el video en YouTube. Haz clic en el ícono de engranaje ⚙️ en la esquina inferior derecha del reproductor. Selecciona “Subtítulos/CC” en el menú. Elige el idioma que prefieras (inglés, español o portugués, si está disponible). ✅ ¡Y listo! Los subtítulos deberían aparecer automáticamente en el video. 📺 Instruções em Português: Como ativar as legendas no YouTube: Abra o vídeo no YouTube. Clique no ícone de engrenagem ⚙️ no canto inferior direito do player. Selecione “Legendas/CC” no menu. Escolha o idioma desejado (inglês, espanhol ou português, se disponível). ✅ Pronto! As legendas devem aparecer automaticamente no vídeo.

    26 min

  9. 05/22/2025

    Episode 1: Born from the Storm — The Resilient Soft Heart

    In this debut episode of Joy in the Journey, Jaja Fortuna shares her story of being diagnosed with a chronic illness at just 9 months old. Through pain, grief, and big emotions, she’s learned the beauty of soft strength. This podcast is for anyone seeking emotional healing, joy, and hope in hard seasons. 📺 Watch with subtitles on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vk2x0ffurgs?si=0HahKWWuNPfWe_LZ Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

    14 min
  • 9 Episodes

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A soulful podcast for individuals navigating burnout, grief, heartbreak, and chronic illness—and still choosing joy. Hosted by Jaja Fortuna. Joy in the Journey Podcast is a safe space for healing, faith, emotional wellness, and stories that remind you: you are not alone. Let’s cry, laugh, and rediscover joy together.

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