The Joy and Gratitude Podcast

Fear can hold us back.  Although it serves as a protector, it can also deplete our energy and keep us stuck.  What if we go to the places that scare us?  Can we use fear as a motivator?   When we ask questions like “what makes us afraid” and “what is the worst thing that can happen” we can release some of the fear that is holding us back.  We can free ourselves from overthinking and use that energ...

Caregiving can sometimes feel like balancing on a tight rope.  Are you helping and supporting in a way that is truly received as helpful?  Are you projecting what is supportive when maybe it is not?  Can we pause and ensure that we are caregiving ourselves as a foundation for authentic and heart led care/kindness?  If we own what is ours and ask questions first, perhaps we can create a more mutual...

With Special Guest Dr. Argie Nell Nichols “Dr. A” shares about how she is helping women enter their “golden chapter”. It is our time to honor our story, celebrate life, and ensure we have no regrets.  In this special episode, we explore the importance of simple ways to ensure stability and ease as we enter this new phase of life.  We can do things now to create a soul-aligned life plan and legacy....

With Special Guest John Holcombe (JH Leadership and Strategy, Inc) We have so much fun in this episode as we define innovation and discuss the learner’s mindset and the positive impacts of diversity of thought (the “we” dynamic).  It is so easy to think in a linear way and to stay in the same routine, but innovation happens when we get uncomfortable and start to iterate.  John shares how we can de...

Beth and Nio share their take on the 4 P’s - a marketing mix strategic tool. Instead of marketing we talk about the 4 Ps of living a thriving life and the first critical “P” is preparation (followed by Presence, the Pause and Practice).  What happens when we trust ourselves and do not doubt that we are prepared and have done the work? Can we use our past to help us better prepare for our present a...

Adaptability is a powerful tool we can use to stay in flow.  We know change is a constant, so how can we practice being adaptable and knowing that we can indeed choose how we react to each and every circumstance, even if it is not what we planned or hoped for.  Beth and Nio talk about using grace and space to make shifts and move forward when we are confronted with being stuck or find ourselves in...

As humans we each define and live by our own personal values. Beth and Nio talk about how values are more easily identified in the storms when we have to hold on tight to what matters to us.  Do not judge your personal values but rather use them to understand why you show up the way you do. Can we also get curious about what others value and why?  The more we understand our own values and those of...

If we all need more joy in our lives, how do we find it? Beth and Nio explore the difference between finding joy and creating joy.  How can we be more open to joy and tune into the moments where we experience joy.  Joy is a decision and a choice, and it gives you power. We each have joyful memories that can be recalled when we need to be resourced and rejuvenated.  Music is one universal way to ca...

Have you ever thought about the state of overwhelm as a habit?  Nio and Beth dig into this topic and get excited about the idea of shifting this “habit” of overwhelm into movement and action.  Can we get focused, be disciplined and allow ourselves to prioritize our energy and our essence?  If we give 1000% to one thing and remove the noise, how could that feel?  What if that laser focus makes us f...

Beth and Nio talk about how our ego can be a saboteur of growth and centeredness. Learning how to handle our ego and use it to feel confident and empowered in the service of others can be positive but when we allow our ego to be self-serving the impacts are often negative and we miss opportunities to grow and show up as our best selves. ✨ Joy Notes Song: “Bag Lady” — Erykah Badu 🪨 Gratitude Rock...

This simple question “How are you doing?” can provide us with a much-needed personal check in.  Are we honest with our answer?  Is our answer surface level or do we provide a deeper answer that builds connection?  Are there people and places that impact how we answer?  Why do we ask about “doing” instead of “being”?  We are conditioned to be performative instead of just being present in ourselves....

Knowing our own personal rhythm, maintaining a tempo and understanding the “dance” steps are all critical to how we connect with others and show up as our best selves.  With practice we know the rhythm that allows us to thrive.  We may speed up or slow down with intention to stay in a rhythm that seamlessly moves us forward. What is your rhythm? Do you know?  Can you create a new rhythm when conne...

Join us in this very special episode where Nio and Beth learn just how aligned they are with an amazing group of young adult women. Beth’s daughters, Lila and Annie and their “people” Megan, Betsy, Taylor and Ellie share their personal values and help us understand how their lives have been shaped.  After much discussion on what has shaped us and why we are who we are, we realized that we all agre...

What does it mean to be a life-long learner?  We each have a unique foundation of learning from different areas, whether it be education, experiences, generational wisdom, etc.  There is a superpower in being open and curious about expanding your foundation. Do you ask clarifying questions, do you try new things, do you learn from your children, do you learn from your elders?  What if at the end o...

Nio and Beth go deep on what respect means and why it is so important, especially now.  Can we hold ourselves accountable and de-escalate when someone disrespects us?  It takes self-leadership to pause and make a choice about how we react.  To practice respect, we must start with ourselves.  If we lead from a place of centeredness and self-respect, we are more readily able to grant grace and assum...

In this episode we talk about what abundance means and how we can achieve abundance when we are worthy, capable and respect ourselves.  Beth and Nio share what it feels like to live in a world of possibility and how abundant energy is contagious. How can we recognize when we are falling into a mode of scarcity and make choices to shift back into living fully. Abundance is not about material goods...

We know one thing is for certain - change happens.  Small, silly things can throw you off.  Big, hard things hit when you least expect it.  How can we create a strong and sturdy foundation so that when the change comes, we can come back to center and reground?  Whatever happens, it is temporary.  Focus on what you can control, get clarity, be kind to yourself and build a strong foundation.  Like a...

In this very special and memorable episode, Beth and Nio sit down with Beth’s father, Win Hodges, to hear about his learning journey and the wisdom he wants to share after 85 years of life.  We learn about Win’s view that cancer was a gift to him as it forced him to think about what he wanted in life and how to shift towards a more centered way of living:  one where he was able to be himself and f...

Beth and Nio were intrigued by the idea of a Midlife “Calling” instead of a Midlife Crisis.  Midlife can be a time of freedom and exploration. Let’s celebrate those individuals that are finding or re-finding what brings them joy and are identifying new ways to lean into purpose and do what is most fulfilling/energy giving.   Joy Notes Songs:   Nio:  Album by William Tyler - Time Indefinite Beth: F...

In a complex time of change and a frenzied pace, it can feel like the waves keep crashing on us with no time to breathe or get on our feet. How can we resource ourselves to be unstoppable regardless of what is handed to us?  Nio and Beth talk about their inner core and what they pull from in distressing moments.  We explore rest, mindset shifts, community, alone time, friends, spirituality and lau...

In this episode Nio says, “Rest is Power”. Beth and Nio reflect on human design, the need to always be doing something and our current tendency to override our body’s need for rest and rejuvenation. Why can’t it be more commonplace and acceptable to not have plans and to just “be”.  What if we started to celebrate those that carve out time for rest, prioritize listening to what they need, and show...

Nio and Beth discuss the power in choosing to say YES but acknowledge that there is tremendous value in being discriminatory.  Can you ask questions to enable you to show up more fully and in alignment with your purpose and capacity?  We have an open dialogue about the role of “No” or “YES, AND . . .” in ensuring you are driving value and creating impact when you do say YES. We also talk about int...

Laughter is good for us. We know it calms us, lifts us up, lightens our mood and adds levity, so how can we get more of it? Join Nio and Beth as they talk about laughter, the longevity of funny family stories/jokes and then consider how we can be more intentional about adding a little more laughter into our lives. Can we laugh at ourselves more? Can we find little moments that can be funny if we l...

Why do we fill the gap with words when there is so much power in the silence?  Can we “Mind the Gap” and take a moment to be still and ensure there is value in what we want to say? When we slow down and overcome our instincts to insert ourselves, we allow for more impact and connection.   Joy Notes Songs:   You Talk Too Much by Joe Jones Empty Words by Death Gratitude Rocks!: Beauty Follow us: htt...

We know that creativity can get lost when we are frenzied and buried in the chaos and complexity of life.  Beth and Nio discuss how we can choose to create space, let ourselves feel the freedom of unleashing our imagination and promote our creativity to flow.  Remember when we were kids and we created games and enjoyment out of simple things - boxes became spaceships!  Join us in finding ways to b...