The Contagious Joy Podcast

Kim Anderson & Jenny Chate
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Mental Health
  • Series

The Contagious Joy Podcast helps you build a life that feels good from the inside out—no matter what’s going on around you. If you’re ready to carry joy into rooms that have forgotten it, this is your place. Tune in. Take a breath. Together, let’s spread Joy like it's Contagious!

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  1. Episode 1

    Beyond the Bar: Annie’s Journey from High-Stakes Law to Sustainable Joy

    Episode SummaryIn this episode of the Contagious Joy podcast, hosts Kim and Jenny return from a two-week hiatus to interview Annie, a former family lawyer from Mudgee, New South Wales. Annie shares her powerful journey from living a high-pressure, "unsustainable" life in the legal field to finding a new purpose after a serious health diagnosis. The conversation explores the hidden burdens lawyers carry, the importance of listening to your body, and how to find clarity and joy even in life’s heaviest moments. Show NotesMeeting Annie: Jenny describes her "instant" connection with Annie at a conference a year ago and introduces her background as a dedicated professional in country New South Wales.The Life of a Family Lawyer: Annie reflects on 12 years of "jumping from deadline to deadline," juggling a massive workload with personal responsibilities and the emotional toll of managing clients' lives.Accidental Self-Care: How losing a car for a month forced Annie into a walking commute, revealing the desperate need for breaks and movement.Finding the "Wins": Annie discusses the rewarding side of law—using behavioral psychology to help clients move toward a "future-focused" life after separation.The Weight of Vicarious Trauma: A deep dive into the emotional burden lawyers carry, the "mask" of invulnerability they must wear, and the moment Annie realized she had to retire for her own sanity.Windshields vs. Rearview Mirrors: A discussion on why looking forward is more vital than dwelling on the past.The Turning Point: Annie begins to share the onset of a health crisis in late 2022 that ultimately changed the trajectory of her life.You can find Annie at https://anniesievers.com/ Instagram @anniessievers Facebook @Annie Sievers

    49 min

  2. Episode 2

    From High-Stakes Solicitor to Wellbeing Coach: A chat with Annie Part two

    Episode SummaryIn this episode, Annie continues to share her transformative journey from a high-pressure career as a family lawyer to her current role as a health and wellbeing coach. After a life-altering trip to New York that served as a catalyst for change, Annie realized she could no longer sustain the stress and constant deadlines of her legal practice. She discusses the challenges of balancing a demanding career with motherhood, her transition into "Bodies Before Business" coaching, and the importance of maintaining meaningful professional relationships while prioritizing personal health. Show NotesThe Catalyst for Change: Annie discusses how a three-week trip to New York with her husband helped her reconnect with joy and clarity, leading to a courageous decision to reshape her life.The Reality of the "Return": Returning to Australia and facing a mountain of emails, Annie quickly realized her body could no longer handle the habitual tension of her full-time legal role.Career Evolution: From running corporate health programs in the 1990s to becoming a family lawyer and eventually pivoting back to coaching, Annie explores the cyclical nature of her professional path.Defining Success in Law: Annie reflects on her time as a solicitor, defining success as helping clients navigate the "messiness" of separation and moving them toward a stable future."Bodies Before Business": An introduction to Annie’s current coaching program, which helps senior lawyers and law firm owners avoid burnout and prioritize their wellbeing.The Power of Connection: Annie emphasizes the value of her "Central West Therapy Group"—a close-knit circle of colleagues who provided essential support during her most challenging health and professional moments.You can find Annie at https://anniesievers.com/ Instagram @anniessievers Facebook @Annie Sievers Books mentioned in this episode: Dr. Lisa Miller https://www.lisamillerphd.com/ The Awakened Brain Dr. Aditi Nerurkar https://www.draditi.com/ The 5 Reset- Your Personalized Roadmap to Rewire Your Brain You can find us at www.TheContagiousJoyPodcast.com where you can submit a What's Your Joy Story. Facebook: The Contagious Joy Podcast Facebook Group: What's Your Joy Instagram @thecontagiousjoypodcast

    1h 6m

  3. Episode 3

    Vertigo, Wipes, and the Esky Ritual

    Episode SummaryIn this episode, Kim and Jen dive deep into the concept of "joy" as a response to last week’s conversation with Annie. They explore the physical toll of high-stress environments, with Kim sharing her personal battle with vertigo and a familial health crisis that forced her to re-evaluate her priorities. Meanwhile, Jen shares a heartwarming and humorous story about stepping out of her comfort zone to care for her brother Brendan, who has autism, and the specific rituals (involving KFC and a specific placement of the spoon and straws) that brought them a unique moment of connection. Together, they discuss how to find "flow," the importance of mental health, and the joy of rediscovering old passions like sewing and crafting. Show NotesRecap of Annie’s Story: Reflecting on the "word of the year"—Joy—and how a health crisis can lead to a more purposeful life.The Physical Cost of Stress: Kim discusses her experience with vestibular neuritis and vertigo brought on by a high-stress school environment and the pressure of being a new mom.Prioritizing Mental Health: A discussion on why women often "muscle through" stress and the importance of pausing before reaching a breaking point.Finding "Flow" in Creativity: Jen talks about her return to sewing after 18 months and the peace found in being creative.The KFC Ritual: Jen shares the detailed system required to take her brother Brendan out for lunch, including the precise placement of straws and spoons in the center console.Communication Beyond Words: How Brendan’s "happy noises" and specific demands for disinfectant wipes showed a deep sense of connection and joy.

    51 min

  4. Episode 4

    Phoenix Rising: How a Small Town Fire Led to a Community Sanctuary

    Episode SummaryIn this episode of Contagious Joy, hosts Kim and Jenny interview Lois Pajari, the owner and operator of Cook’s Country Connection. Lois shares the devastating story of the June 2013 fire that destroyed her business, the Cook Dollar Barn, and left eight families homeless. Out of that tragedy, Lois returned to her great-grandparents' 1900 homestead to build a new sanctuary. Now celebrating its 10th season, the farm has become a vibrant community hub featuring a mobile zoo, farm yoga, summer camps, and a sanctuary for "misfit" animals. Show NotesThe Catalyst for Rebirth: Kim introduces Lois Pajari and the history of the catastrophic 2013 fire in Cook, Minnesota.Life Before the Fire: Lois discusses her transition from the airline industry to opening the "Dollar Barn," which became a community hub for local tenants.The First Field Trip: The emotional moment a school bus arrived at the farm, sparking the idea for a permanent farm-based business.The Day of the Fire: Lois recounts receiving the phone call that changed everything and the loss of her business and family heirlooms.Building a New Dream: Using graph paper and inspiration from other agritourism farms to sketch the layout of Cook’s Country Connection.Building the "Ark": Learning to raise Nigerian dwarf goats, llamas, and sheep through trial, error, and "Stories Guides".Lessons Learned: The importance of "test families" and why you should never put concrete pavers at the bottom of a slide.Searching for a Matt Damon connection. Cousin Matt come to Cook!You can find Lois at Cook’s Country Connection at www.cookscountryconnection.com Instagram: cookscountryconnection Facebook: Cook's Country Connection Check out Cook’s Country Connection on HipCamp.com/Cooks Country Connection

    1h 9m

  5. Episode 5

    The Overachiever's Guide to Menopause

    Show SummaryIn this episode, the hosts celebrate a major milestone—surpassing 700 downloads—before diving into deeply personal updates. Kim shares the surprising results of her recent blood work, revealing she has moved into the post-menopausal stage of life at age 52. This sparks a broad, heartfelt discussion on the "Remarkable" nature of the female body, ranging from the struggles of infertility and miscarriages to the complexities of Mother’s Day and the "Cruel" judgments women sometimes face from one another. The episode also touches on the humor of midlife crises—including a sudden interest in colorful underwear—and the importance of knowing when to "Think it" rather than "Say it". Show NotesCelebrating Success: A big thank you to the listeners for reaching 700 downloads.Cook’s Country Connection: Recapping the joy of last week’s guest, Lois Pajari, and her 11-year-old petting farm in Cook, Minnesota.The Post-Menopause Surprise: Kim discusses her high FSH levels and low estrogen, and how she seemingly skipped perimenopause to become a "Menopause overachiever".The "Say It vs. Think It" Filter: A lesson from Kim’s days as a school counselor on how to avoid being a "Woman's worst enemy" by filtering judgmental thoughts.Fertility Journeys: Personal reflections on difficult pregnancies, HSG procedures, and the emotional toll of miscarriages.Male Cycles and Midlife Crises: A lighthearted look at how men experience their own "Cycles," featuring a story about a husband’s sudden switch from plain white to bright, stripy underwear.Mother’s Day Reflections: Acknowledging that Mother’s Day can be difficult for many, including those who struggle to conceive or those who have complicated relationships with their own mothers.

    54 min

  6. Episode 6

    More Than Just Flowers: Navigating the Realities of Mother’s Day

    SummaryIn this episode of the Contagious Joy podcast, Jen and Kim dive deep into the multifaceted journey of motherhood. Set against the backdrop of Mother’s Day, the hosts share their personal and often contrasting experiences—from the physical toll of difficult pregnancies to the emotional complexities of family legacies. They discuss the societal expectations placed on women regarding starting families, the current financial barriers like rising housing costs and interest rates that impact young people's decisions today, and the reality that Mother's Day can be a day of both celebration and grief. Show NotesIntroduction: The hosts celebrate Kim entering a new stage of life ("a woman of a certain age") and transition into the primary topic: Mother's Day.Societal Expectations: A discussion on the pressure young women feel to marry and have children, contrasted with modern trends of delaying or opting out of parenthood.Economic Realities: How high real estate prices (specifically in Sydney) and rising interest rates create significant barriers for young couples wanting to start families.Pregnancy Journeys:Jen’s Story: Dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum, resulting in extreme illness and multiple hospitalizations during her two pregnancies.Kim’s Story: Navigating a high-risk pregnancy at age 45, including gestational diabetes and a 14-day NICU stay for her son, Haakon.The Emotional Spectrum of Mother's Day:Jen reflects on her "traumatizing" childhood with a mother who suffered from untreated schizophrenia.Kim discusses the beauty of her evolving relationship with her mother, Gail.Acknowledging those facing infertility, loss, or difficult maternal relationships.The Joy of Motherhood: Highlights including watching children learn, grow, and eventually teach their own parents.Poem by: Sara_rian_books on instagram

    43 min

  7. Episode 7

    Flashes, Flushes, and First Homes

    Show SummaryIn this episode of the Contagious Joy Podcast, hosts Jenny and Kim celebrate a massive milestone—reaching 800 downloads! Before diving into the main celebration, they pull back the curtain on their typical pre-recording technical chaos and dive into a hilarious debate over American versus Australian terminology. From the quick onset of American "hot flashes" to the enduring body-heat of Australian "hot flushes" (accompanied by toilet-flushing hand gestures), they compare the cultural quirks of their respective home countries. The heart of the episode centers around a major family milestone: Jenny’s adult daughter, Emily, and her husband, Phil, have officially exchanged contracts on their very first home in Sydney’s notoriously brutal housing market. Jenny shares the grueling 12-month journey of hunting through poorly constructed units, avoiding real estate tricks, and the sheer pride she and her husband, Tim, feel in helping the couple finally break into the property ladder. The hosts also discuss the emotional side of packing up 28 years of life, how furniture reveals a couple's true personality, and why neither of them will ever live in a minimalist, all-white house. Show NotesBehind-the-Scenes Technical Bloopers: Jenny and Kim share the reality of logging into their recording software, which accidentally kicks off a conversation about mid-recording hot flashes.Welcome & Milestone Celebration: The hosts officially welcome listeners back and celebrate hitting 800 downloads, thanking their community for being ambassadors of joy.Hot Flashes vs. Hot Flushes: A deep dive into regional lingo. The hosts compare how Americans view a "hot flash" versus how Australians experience a "hot flush". Plus, a breakdown of American high-water toilet bowls vs. Australian button-flush toilets.Menopause in the Wild: Kim shares a funny story about trying to cool down during a rainy 51°F parkour competition in Seattle , while Jenny recounts her athletic history of turning "strawberry red".Breaking into the Sydney Housing Market: Jenny details her daughter Emily and son-in-law Phil's year-long journey searching for an apartment (or "condo") in Sydney. They swap stories on navigating "badly built" modern units with curved brick walls versus how Jenny's grandfather used to build sturdy structures.Finding "The One": How a sudden call from Jenny's husband, Tim, led them away from an agricultural show and straight to the winning 3-bedroom unit. Jenny breaks down how they beat the real estate agents at their own game to exchange contracts.Personalities Through Furniture & Decor: Jenny talks about the excitement of seeing Emily and Phil design their own home. Kim relates by sharing her memory of moving in with her husband, Eric, and adding personal color to the walls.Generational Real Estate Reflections: Jenny reflects on how hard she and Tim worked to buy their first home 1.5 hours outside of the city , and the deep pride they feel in helping the next generation secure a spot closer to home.The Logistics of Home Buying: A quick educational breakdown of Australian real estate processes, including the 10-day cooling-off period, strata reports, and the 42-day settlement period.Packing Up 28 Years of Life: Emily starts sorting through her massive book collection (including saying goodbye to Percy Jackson) as she transitions into a new phase of life.The Sofa Scale & Design Style: Kim warns about the deceptive size of sectional couches in large furniture warehouses , and both hosts proudly embrace having "lived-in" homes filled with family memories and dog hair over minimalist aesthetics.

    1h 1m

  8. Episode 8

    Boredom, Boundaries, and the Full Circle of Family Systems

    Episode Summary In this episode of The Contagious Joy Podcast, hosts Kim and Jenny wrap up their month-long series on family and motherhood as they prepare for contrasting seasonal changes—with Kim heading into summer holidays and Jenny bracing for a rainy Australian winter. The episode centers on the complex, beautiful, and sometimes difficult realities of parenting and family systems. Kim shares an intimate look at a real-time parenting standoff with her son over chores and screen time, explaining why it is vital for children to safely experience boredom and why she purposefully uses a positive reinforcement structure to build an internal sense of pride in her child. Jenny reflects on how her own family dynamic has shifted over time. Deepening the conversation, the hosts candidly look back at their own upbringings to explore how childhood structures shape adulthood. They discuss the profound impact of rules and expectations, navigating childhood traumas to dealing with ADHD and rejection sensitivity in motherhood, Kim and Jenny offer a comforting, raw reminder that while parenting stages never truly stop being hard, they are filled with opportunities to heal, grow, and pass down love. Show Notes Welcome Back to The Contagious Joy Podcast Kim and Jenny officially open the show by welcoming listeners back for the final week of May. They touch on their contrasting climates as Kim prepares for the U.S. summer break and Jenny faces a long, rainy winter in Australia. Cross-Continental Core Memories The hosts reminisce about past family travels, detailing the lasting impact that cross-continental visits between American and Australian cultures have had on their children's worldviews. Life Under Chuck’s Roof: Rules, Manners, and Telephone Etiquette Kim fondly remembers her father, Chuck, and his strict but loving rules for teaching neighborhood kids accountability, proper manners, and how to respectfully answer a landline telephone. The Hard Realities of High School Counseling Drawing from her background as a school counselor, Kim discusses the heartbreaking realities of hidden childhood neglect, referencing an old family friend who realized for the first time as a guest in another home that "normal" fathers didn't have to be abusive alcoholics. Rewriting the Script on Discipline Kim opens up about her childhood as a "prickly pear" and explains how her past experiences with strict parental yelling led her to consciously develop safe, boundary-focused parenting style with her son. The Memorial Day Pool Standoff & Brain Rot Kim shares a humorous, real-time look at managing a three-day holiday weekend. She explains her strategy for handling her son’s reliance on YouTube, using the setup of a backyard pool to teach the valuable lesson that "if you want to have the fun, you've got to do the help too". Parental Burnout and Mothers Who Are Jealous of Their Kids Jenny reflects on falling into a parenting role at just five years old to care for her siblings. She bravely opens up about her mother's severe mental illness and the complex trauma of having a parent who felt envious and frustrated by her child's capabilities. Navigating ADHD and Rejection Sensitivity in Motherhood Kim dives into the emotional layers of parenting with ADHD, explaining how Rejection Sensitivity Dysmorphia (RSD) can make criticism agonizingly heavy. She shares how she actively manages her instinct to be a "prickly pear" so she can remain a safe, comforting space for her son. From Everyday Chores to Prison Escapes Jenny tells a wild piece of family folklore about an ancestor who famously broke out of prison multiple times, bringing a hilarious conclusion to a conversation that started with simple childhood chores. The Bittersweet Evolution of Motherhood The hosts close the episode by debunking the myth that the newborn phase is the only difficult part of parenting. They reflect on the bittersweet emotional trials of watching adult children pack up their things to officially move out, reminding listeners that motherhood is a beautiful, lifelong commitment.

    1h 1m

  9. Episode 9

    Just Give Me a Hug

    Show SummaryJoy doesn’t always arrive on the timeline we expect, but when it does, it can be profoundly sweet. In this episode of Contagious Joy, hosts Kim and Jenny sit down with Kim's dear friend Wendy to pull back the curtain on the emotional rollercoaster of reproductive grief, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and infertility. Wendy shares her raw and beautiful story of traveling across the world to Ukraine during the Orange Revolution to adopt her eldest son, Eagan. Just when she and her husband thought their family map was set, a switch in medical care led to the absolute shock of back-to-back natural pregnancies. From dealing with dismissive medical advice to navigating the beautifully chaotic reality of raising three boys, Wendy’s story is a vibrant reminder that your story is never truly finished. Show Notes Episode HighlightsThe Isolation of Infertility: Wendy discusses the painful emotions of facing years of negative test sticks, the pain of Mother's Day, and dealing with well-meaning but clumsy comments from people around her.The Power of Validation: Why a simple hug is often the best thing you can give a friend navigating reproductive grief.The International Adoption Journey: Packing up in two weeks to fly to Ukraine, staying with an attorney’s mother (and surviving endless bowls of cabbage borscht!), and bringing home 15-month-old Eagan.The Medical Shift & Miracle Pregnancies: How switching to a female gynecologist who understood PCOS led to a new medication regimen and the shock of two back-to-back natural pregnancies (Cooper and Brock).The Beautiful Chaos of Motherhood: Raising three kind, active boys on a lake in Northern Minnesota and finding joy in their unique personalities.

    52 min
See All Season 2 (9)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Contagious Joy Podcast helps you build a life that feels good from the inside out—no matter what’s going on around you. If you’re ready to carry joy into rooms that have forgotten it, this is your place. Tune in. Take a breath. Together, let’s spread Joy like it's Contagious!

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