Productive Joy

Dr. Christie McMullen

Welcome to Productive Joy with Dr. Christie. I'm your host, Christie McMullen, and together we are going to make sure we turn fun into action. How will we do that? By thoughtfully taking AIM. AIM stands for Analyze Improve Move. We're going to analyze the things that you're currently doing that you're like, I probably could find more joy in this. We're going to improve on those things by listening to experts and learning all kinds of new ways to do business. And then we're going to move. It is time to learn and grow together...let's do this.

  1. 5 days ago

    Alive Again with Dr. Michelle Machado

    Today on Productive Joy, Dr. Christie interviews Dr. Michelle Machado, a global educator, two-time TEDx speaker, medical education expert, and human performance strategist, about her new book, “Alive Again: Four Steps to Reclaim Your Life in a Distracted World,” launching today and available widely (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target).  Dr. Machado explains how high achievers can feel exhausted and stuck in survival mode, especially as post-COVID wellbeing challenges and distraction increase. She shares how her own demanding years—moving across Australia, Hong Kong, the UK, and Canada with two children, full-time roles, and an MBA—led to an awakening and the book’s four pillars: Awaken (awareness), Align (examine programming and values), Activate (practices supported by neuroscience), and Anchor (consistency through life’s challenges). She and Dr. Christie also discuss daily grounding habits like meditation, prayer, and a morning practice to show up better for your family.  Episode Highlights: 00:00 Meet Dr Michelle Machado 01:06 Never Say No Mindset 03:20 Alive Again Book Launch 05:39 From Academia to Burnout 09:46 Four Pillars Framework 14:01 Defining Productive Joy 16:04 Practices for Presence 19:12 Morning Routine Reset 21:41 Writing Lessons and Purpose 23:12 Rapid Fire Q and A 24:58 One Takeaway to Remember 26:48 Final Challenge to Listeners  #ProductiveJoy #DrMichelleMachado #AliveAgain #BurnoutRecovery #HighAchievers #MentalHealthAwareness #AttentionManagement #DigitalDistraction #Neuroscience #MindBodyConnection #Presence #GratitudePractice #Mindfulness #Meditation #Prayer #MorningRoutine #NervousSystemRegulation #PersonalDevelopment #SelfAwareness #Habits #Productivity #Wellbeing #Leadership #HumanPerformance #PodcastInterview

  2. 4 Aug

    Your Diagnosis Is NOT Your Destiny with Justin Roethlingshoefer

    Today Dr. Christie welcomes Justin Roethlingshoefer, founder of Own It Coaching, human health and performance expert, and best-selling author, to discuss a different approach to health that centers the whole person. Justin shares how a lifelong calling to help redeem global health was shaped by 25 years of personal struggles including anorexia, obesity, anxiety, addiction, organ failure, burnout, depression, suicidal ideation, and serious gastrointestinal issues, despite outward success in elite performance and advanced health education.  He argues most wellness advice is overly tactical and misses the “why,” emphasizing integrated mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health. They connect “productive joy” to choosing joy daily and note that pain, fatigue, and poor sleep make joy difficult. Justin highlights his book Holy Health (habits and rhythms aligned with science and scripture), discusses identity-first change, and shares ways to connect. Connect with Justin -  holyhealthbook.com and Instagram @justinroth.  Episode Highlights: 00:00 Welcome Justin Roethlingshoefer 00:50 Why Health Feels Stale 02:15 Justin Story And Breakdown 04:49 Pain Into Purpose 06:54 Coaches And Humility 09:44 Defining Productive Joy 11:57 Holy Health And Joy 17:04 Integrated Whole Person Healing 20:39 Holy Health Framework 25:33 Find Justin And Rapid Fire 29:50 Mic Drop And Sendoff  #ProductiveJoy #HolyHealth #JustinRoethlingshoefer #ChristianWellness #HolisticHealth #HealthAndWellness #IntegratedHealth #MindBodySpirit #Healing #ChronicIllness #MetabolicHealth #SleepHealth #BrainFog #BurnoutRecovery #FunctionalMedicine #HealthCoaching #HabitsAndRhythms #ScriptureAndScience #JoyIsAChoice #FaithAndFitness #WellnessPodcast #MentalHealth #SpiritualHealth #HeartRateVariability #OwnershipMindset

  3. 31 Jul

    Be Curious For Better Conversations & More From Jennifer Robin Wilson

    On today's Productive Joy, the recap, Dr. Christie discusses Jennifer Robin Wilson’s work with the KOLBE strengths assessment and her book 'The Heart of Homestay' about hosting exchange students. The key takeaway is that we rarely know what others bring to the table unless we ask, and meaningful connections happen when we choose curiosity over judgment. Dr. Christie shares a personal example of housing two out-of-state church interns and how living together created deeper understanding and support. Drawing on a Ted Lasso scene about being “curious, not judgmental,” the episode challenges listeners to notice implicit bias, ask better questions, and approach people and situations with openness. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Welcome to the Recap 00:05 Meet Jennifer Robin Wilson 00:25 Kolbe Strengths and Genius 00:49 Heart of Homestay Lessons 01:23 Hosting Summer Interns 02:11 Culture Plus Strengths 02:42 Ted Lasso Curiosity 03:22 Choose Curiosity Daily 04:00 Curiosity in Conversations 05:12 Practical Curiosity Challenges 05:48 Share Your Curiosity Story 06:15 Turn Insight Into Action  #ProductiveJoy #Curiosity #BeCuriousNotJudgmental #PersonalDevelopment #MindsetShift #ImplicitBias #CommunicationSkills #AskingQuestions #RelationshipBuilding #StrengthsAssessment #Kolbe #UniqueGenius #PodcastRecap #Homestay #ExchangeStudents #Hosting #CulturalAwareness #LeadershipSkills #EmotionalIntelligence #TedLasso #Community #Connection #IntentionalLiving #SelfImprovement #PositiveChange

  4. 28 Jul

    Your Strengths Make You Epic with Jennifer Robin Wilson

    On Productive Joy, Dr. Christie talks with Jennifer Robin Wilson—writer, coach, consultant, and certified Kolbe consultant—about leveraging strengths to create more productive, joyful work and relationships. Jennifer explains the Kolbe assessment (K-O-L-B-E) as a validated tool that measures how people take action (not personality), helping teams reduce friction, delegate effectively, hire for role fit, and avoid burnout.  She shares examples of action modes (Fact Finder, Follow Through, Quick Start, Implementer) and how teams can “borrow” each other’s energy to prevent stress and analysis paralysis. Jennifer also discusses her family’s nonprofit, Canada Homestay Network, and her book on making homestay work by treating guests like family, learning about culture, and learning about yourself—addressing bias, difficult conversations, and forgiveness.  Looking to level up? Contact Dr. Christie at christie@intentionalitygroup.com for support.   Episode Highlights: 00:00 Meet Jennifer Wilson 01:20 Kolbe Explained 02:34 Team Benefits 04:31 Consulting In Action 07:22 Borrowing Energy 10:24 Defining Productive Joy 11:27 Purpose Over Paycheck 14:47 Homestay Network 17:07 Hosting Stories 18:32 Book Framework 19:09 Culture Shapes Everything 20:29 Exchange Student Lessons 21:11 Marriage as Culture Clash 22:45 Curiosity Over Judgment 24:32 Curiosity Pop Culture 27:19 Self Threat and Regulation 28:59 Find Jennifer Online 29:30 Rapid Fire Reflections 30:51 Permission to Be You 31:48 Turn Insight Into Action

  5. 24 Jul

    Suck It Up and Figure It Out & More From Leza Danly

    On Today’s Productive Joy, the recap, Dr. Christie reflects on Leza Danly and her production Soul Breadcrumbs, which shares snapshots of Leza’s life at different stages. Dr. Christie connects Leza’s story about receiving a text that her mother died right before a major in-home performance, to her own habit of emotional bypassing.  Raised with a “suck it up, buttercup” mindset and identifying as an Enneagram 7 enthusiastic optimist, Dr. Christie recalls a vivid childhood moment at age seven when she cried while being filmed for a video montage for her entertainer father’s show. She explains how unaddressed emotions can still influence behavior, and encourages listeners to revisit and honor old memories,  Looking to level up? Contact Dr. Christie at christie@intentionalitygroup.com for support.  Episode Highlights: 00:10 Welcome 00:30 Suck It Up Lens 01:14 Enneagram Seven Vibe 01:34 Leza Worst Day Story 02:27 Balloon Memory Trigger 04:03 Pushing Past Emotions 05:42 Why It Still Matters 06:50 Revisit Your Moments 07:12 Thanks and Challenge  #ProductiveJoy #PodcastRecap #EmotionalHealth #EmotionalHealing #ChildhoodMemories #InnerChildWork #EmotionalBypassing #Enneagram7 #PersonalGrowth #MindsetWork #GriefSupport #ProcessingEmotions #MentalWellness #SelfAwareness #EmotionalResilience #HealingWork #StagePresence #PerformanceAnxiety #ShowMustGoOn #SoulBreadcrumbs #LezaDanly #IntentionalLiving #SelfReflection #MotivationPodcast #FunIntoAction

About

Welcome to Productive Joy with Dr. Christie. I'm your host, Christie McMullen, and together we are going to make sure we turn fun into action. How will we do that? By thoughtfully taking AIM. AIM stands for Analyze Improve Move. We're going to analyze the things that you're currently doing that you're like, I probably could find more joy in this. We're going to improve on those things by listening to experts and learning all kinds of new ways to do business. And then we're going to move. It is time to learn and grow together...let's do this.