Chasing Joy

On this powerful episode of Chasing Joy, Spencer, Bryan and Wayne sit with someone whose transformation has unfolded right in front of them… Spencer’s daughter, Brittany Phillips. Brittany opens up about her journey through addiction, family chaos and the difficult work of rebuilding a self rooted in honesty, vulnerability and contentment. She shares how recovery helped her break old patterns, con...

Welcome back to Chasing Joy. In this episode, we sit down again with the luminous Shelby Figueroa… healer, musician, and one of the few people who can drop a room’s blood pressure with a single song. She comes back to dig even deeper into the real meaning of self care… not the commercial version we’re handed, but the kind that pulls us back into our bodies, our creativity, and our connection with...

In “Fragile Future,” Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne reflect on the season’s biggest themes... from healing and purpose to the messy beauty of uncertainty. They unpack why not knowing often feels harder than bad news, and how anxiety, control, and the endless what-ifs keep us stuck in survival mode. Through humor, honesty, and real-life reflection, the crew explores how awe, curiosity, and mindful pause...

Welcome to another episode of Chasing Joy . Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne sit down with Dr. Tipu Khan... a family physician from Ventura County who recently returned from Gaza after volunteering as an ER doctor in the middle of an active war zone. What he shares isn’t easy to hear... but it’s real. Tipu talks about the conversations he had with his family before leaving... the letters he wrote to his...

Welcome back to Chasing Joy ! In this episode, Spencer, Wayne, and Bryan revisit a long-lost conversation that became legend in their archives—the infamous “Diamonds and Measuring Sticks.” What begins as playful banter quickly unfolds into one of the show’s most profound discussions: how our perspective shapes our reality, how our “measuring sticks” define what we value, and how shifting our view—...

In this heartfelt episode of  Chasing Joy , Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne welcome singer-songwriter and music therapist  Shelby Figueroa , whose journey from nursing to healing through music is as moving as the songs she writes. Shelby opens up about losing her mother while in nursing school, discovering songwriting as a way to process grief, and the profound moment she realized her soul was...

Welcome back to Chasing Joy ! In this episode, Spencer, Wayne, and Bryan sit down with Doug Marone , whose inspiring journey from chasing career success to embracing philanthropy has completely reshaped his outlook on joy and fulfillment. After years of 80-hour workweeks and corporate achievement, a single moment at a friend’s funeral, and two chance encounters at a charity event, set Doug on a ne...

In this episode of Chasing Joy, musician ( Beware of Darkness ) and author ( Thank God for Depression ) Kyle Nicolaides, joins us alongside SoCal Sound host  Hillary Gordon  to explore what it really means to chase joy. Kyle opens up about how depression and anxiety ended his rock career—touring with the Smashing Pumpkins, performing on  Conan , topping charts—yet became the doorway...

In this week's episode of Chasing Joy we journey into the dark and silence within... sensory deprivation. It started with a card in a Berkeley bookstore. “The secret to getting everything you want is…” it read. That simple line opened the door to a deeper conversation—about joy, about contentment, and about the quiet practice of wanting less. In this episode, we talk about the difference between c...

Welcome back to Chasing Joy! After a 20-month hiatus, Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne—the original “band” behind the podcast—reunite for a raw and honest conversation about what it really means to pursue happiness in a world that seems to only get more complicated. In this episode, they reflect on life’s unpredictable twists, changing definitions of joy, and the tools they’ve gathered (and sometimes los...

Welcome back to another episode of Chasing Joy! Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne, dive into a truly thoughtful conversation with our guest, award-winning singer-songwriter, faculty member of Influential U, and podcast host, Josh Damigo. In this episode, we unpack the art and practice of deliberately cultivating joy in our daily lives. Josh shares his journey of moving from simply reacting to life’s chall...

On this episode of Chasing Joy , we’re joined by Russell Burke—a man whose outlook on life redefines what it truly means to find light in the darkest places. Spencer welcomes his old friend Russell to share the story of how his life changed literally in a split second: one moment he was a fun-loving, active dad and friend; the next, a shallow dive in Lake Havasu left him a quadriplegic, ventilator...

Welcome back to Chasing Joy ! In this episode, Spencer, Wayne, and Bryan welcome back Ishaan, a college student from USC, for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about what it means to pursue a meaningful life while grappling with the realities of our world. With Ishan offering his honest, youthful perspective, the group dives into some of the big questions facing his generation—from the c...

Welcome to another episode of Chasing Joy! In today’s conversation, Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne are joined in the studio by Ishaan—a bright, thoughtful double major at the elite high-pressure University of Southern California. If you’ve ever wondered what the pursuit of joy, connection, and purpose looks like from the perspective of Gen Z, you’re in the right place. Ishaan opens up about tackling th...

Welcome to another episode of Chasing Joy! In today’s conversation, Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne are joined by the vibrant and brutally honest Christian James Hand—radio personality, music producer (yep, his work is on the Guardians of the Galaxy 3 soundtrack!), and noted “music dissector.” Christian doesn’t just share his professional highlights; he brings us deep into his personal journey, opening...

On this episode of Chasing Joy , our hosts Spencer, Wayne, and Bryan welcome back special guest Samantha for a candid, thought-provoking conversation about self-perception, mindfulness, and the practice of finding joy in everyday moments. The group opens up about their own personal histories and challenges, sharing stories that range from goth adolescence and comfort food confessions, to the real-...

Welcome to another episode of Chasing Joy ! In this lively and insightful conversation, Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne, are joined by their first guest, Samantha, a therapist and life coach with a deep passion for helping others find real contentment. The group dives into what it truly means to “chase joy” (and why it’s so different from chasing happiness), tackling the nuances between fleeting pleasur...

Welcome back to Chasing Joy ! In this episode, Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne dive headfirst into the modern maze of social media, media, and consumerism—and explore how our endless scrolling, news consumption, and buying habits impact our happiness. You’ll hear candid personal stories (including Spencer’s adventures in hair dye and bunny parenting), honest admissions about marketing tactics, and insig...

Welcome back to another episode of Chasing Joy ! This week, Spencer, Wayne, and Bryan dive deep into the messy, imperfect process of seeking happiness and meaning. Join the crew as they candidly explore the slip-ups and life lessons that come with the pursuit of joy—debating what really counts as a “mistake,” sharing personal stories of loss, boundaries, and second chances, and examining how we de...

Welcome back to Chasing Joy! In this episode, Spencer, Wayne, and Bryan dive deep into the art—and challenge—of pursuing happiness in everyday life. With Spencer’s radio-ready warmth, Bryan’s strategic insights, and Wayne’s rich experience as a former educator and behavior specialist, the crew unpacks what it means to “chase” joy, questioning whether the pursuit itself often places happiness just...

Welcome to the very first episode of Chasing Joy ! In this premiere, hosts Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne invite listeners on a fresh, honest conversation about what it really means to pursue a joyful life. They introduce themselves—not as experts with perfect lives or secret formulas—but as real people exploring joy in all its messy, complicated, and deeply personal forms. Drawing from their own diver...