Joyosity

What if your checklist is killing connection?   You can show intentional appreciation without making people feel like a task.   This month on the Joyosity™ Podcast, we’ve been getting cozy with gratitude. Far beyond the generic “thanks!” you reflexively say cause you were raised with manners.   We’re talking personalized , purposeful , and strategic appreciation that actually fuels...

Gratitude isn’t a garnish! It’s the main dish. In Part 2 of our conversation with “The Gratitude Guy” Kevin Monroe, we roll up our sleeves and get practical. This episode is all about turning appreciation into action — without falling into the traps of toxic positivity or meaningless thanks.   You’ll learn how to deploy gratitude as a leadership strategy , how to make it part of your workplac...

Gratitude isn’t just a warm fuzzy feeling — it’s a leadership superpower. But most of us are doing it wrong… or at least, doing it on autopilot.   Ready to learn how real gratitude can transform your team, your culture, and your own leadership mindset? Let’s dive in.   In this episode of The Joyosity™ Podcast , Jenn Whitmer welcomes Kevin Monroe — globally known as "The Gratitude Guy" —...

When is a cookie a giant letdown? (Nope, not a joke setup.)   When the cookie is a crumb compared to the work you do. Because a one-size-fits-all thank-you is just another way to say you don’t really see me.   In this episode of the Joyosity Podcast, Jenn gets fired up about the difference between generic appreciation and the kind that actually builds culture, boosts performance, and kee...

Turns out, shielding your team from stress doesn’t protect them—it breaks trust.   And if you’ve ever found yourself trying to carry it all alone? You’re not the only one.   There’s a swirl every modern leader experiences. So we’re going there.   Keynote speaker for joy at work Jenn Whitmer and podcast and livestream producer Shelby Merryweather are digging into what actually builds...

Stress, toxicity, and exhaustion at work is killing us. Literally. Leaders are burned out, disengaged, and desperate for something real. If that’s you… I wrote a whole book for you!   Joyosity: Cultivating Joy at Work. And today, I’m inviting you behind the scenes of what’s in this book for you.   This isn’t your typical leadership book (because I’m not your typical leadership “guru” who...

Titles. Egos. Positions. We can do with a few less of those and far more actual leaders.   In this episode of The Joyosity Podcast , Ron Tite , speaker, author, and founder of Church & State , returns for a deeper conversation on leadership, purpose, and impact . Jenn Whitmer and Ron break down how leaders at any level —not just CEOs—can bring purpose to life in their organizations. From...

“When the world hints at change, most businesses hesitate. When the world demands change, they take the easy way out.” Ron Tite with the mic drop moments on the podcast this week.   We both agree real leadership isn’t about superficial strategies. Running a business and leading is far more than just giving lipservice to purpose. You must anchor action to purpose.   In this episode of The...

Seriousness about destroyed me in 2nd grade. And unfortunately, it’s likely your path to failure as a full-grown adult human.   SO MANY messages about “professionalism” and “be serious.” It’s not shocking then that many leaders fall victim to the ideas that seriousness, discipline, and relentless productivity are the keys to success. But research — and real-world experience — prove otherwise....

Leaders, you running on empty? Exhaustion, overcommitment, and urgency culture are driving burnout (and you’re like tell me something new!). On this episode, Jenn Whitmer and Shelby Merryweather reflect on podcasts with Jo Saxton about why leaders keep pushing past their limits and how we can break the cycle.   Here’s the goods: - How do you lead like a human? Use the HALT method - The tyrann...

Joy isn’t light and fluffy. Joy has deep roots. And you desperately need that kind of leadership right now: for yourself.   How do leaders sustain joy, avoid burnout, and make strategic decisions in an overwhelming world?   In this episode of The Joyosity Podcast , leadership expert Jo Saxton returns to explore the long-term chess moves leaders need to make in their lives and organizatio...

Are you leading or just surviving?   My Enneagram Seven self desperately wants to reframe and excuse and brush (shove) it all under a nice area rug. But that plunges us all deeper into barely hanging on.   In this episode of The Joyosity™ Podcast , leadership expert, and my mentor-from-afar, Jo Saxton joins me to unpack the overwhelming reality facing leaders today. Layoffs, rapid change...

Are we in a leadership crisis? The statistics scream yes. Burnout, turnover, and the weight of constant change are overwhelming leaders everywhere. But you already knew that…because you feel it too.   In this episode, Jenn Whitmer dives into the two biggest myths holding leaders back and how you can shift from exhaustion and overwhelm to effectiveness and joy.   Myth 1: Leading means doi...

You don’t get to decide what feels like play for someone else. I see this all the time in team building exercises or team happy hours, the leaders walk away from it thinking, “Yes, we rocked that!” only to later find out others on the team felt drained or annoyed by the whole event. That’s where knowing your team members’ play styles really helps.   In this conversation, Shelby and I discusse...

We didn’t leave bullies behind in the 7th grade. That person will appear in any group of people where the leader allows it.       And it’s the worst. Especially when the bully is the manager.     A Workforce Institute study showed that your direct manager impacts your mental health more than your spouse, doctor, or therapist! So we need to deal with the bullies and unsafe...

Big with Tom Hanks thrilled me. But Jeff Harry loved it so much, he wanted that to be his job! After he made that happen, he quickly realized the toy industry had no joy, no creativity and the most shocking of all… no play!   In this episode Jeff shared his story about following the fun and how he’s built a career around the concept of play at work. We spoke about the difference between force...

Burnout rates among leaders range from 40% to a staggering 83%. So it's likely that you are feeling that crispy edge of overwhelm, exhaustion, or cycle of stuck, too.   Nobody wants it, and yet we're all living like this. The truth is we don't have to, but the solution isn't work harder or even maximize your time. One surprising part of the solution? Play.   In this episode of The Joyosi...

Stop breaking yourself into tiny pieces. You know what I mean; when you’re one way at work, one at home, one at church. It feels safer, it feels more acceptable, but often times you’re depriving yourself and others of your full magic.   In this episode, Shelby and I recap the beautiful Jade Simmons’ wisdom and what we learned over the month. A few things that stood out to both of us was this...

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I wince a little when I hear adults ask kids that question because I know it’s laying a sandy foundation for their understanding of work and life.   This week, I continued our conversation with the incredible Jade Simmons who knows a thing or two about living with purpose and a few more things about thinking outside the box in her career.   Jade...

Jade is living proof that you don't have to choose just one activity to be successful, but you must have purpose.   In part one of this conversation with Jade, a true Renaissance woman who's not afraid to embrace all her gifts, she brings the straight talk of hope to exhausted leaders.   We dove deep into the idea of purpose and leadership, particularly why purpose is the ultimate guide...

83% of American’s report having significant workplace anxiety. In 1990 that number was 30%.   How did we get here? And more importantly, how to restore? In this episode, we’ve got some compelling research and a few historical stories to really illustrate why centering people versus profit is what leads to long term success at work.   If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know...

As the new year begins, do you feel it? That relentless pull?   The questions shout at us, demanding answers. What’s your plan? Your word of the year? Your goals? Your resolutions? The messages are everywhere: Strive harder. Add more. Be perfect.   But what if the real question isn’t about more ? What if, instead, we started with a different question: What creates joy?   In this spe...

What’s your knee jerk reaction when someone disagrees with you? I’m sure none of us were born with the instinct to lean in with curiosity. It’s definitely something I have learned and a skill I’ve worked on (and literally just this week had to practice in some big disagreements!)   Thinking back of this month’s focus on getting to joy through disagreement proved to me yet again the power of h...

On The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air when Will goes to confront his birth father is emotional and beautiful. And in this episode of the podcast, Justin Jones-Fosu and Jenn Whitmer connect this episode not only to Justin’s journey, but also you as a leader.   The big idea Justin brings from his experience with his father is the power of conversation over a confrontation.   And he gives us his f...

Do you thank someone for disagreeing with you? Not usually! But after this conversation with Justin, I hope you consider the benefits of respectful disagreement.   Justin’s most recent book, I Respectfully Disagree , takes readers on the journey to one of my favorite topics: conflict is a necessity in a functional workplace.   In this conversation, Justin shares how his mother challenged...