The Joy Project With Julia

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how easy it is to open up quickly when everything feels exciting and new… but also how important it is to stay grounded in emotional awareness. I’m learning that protecting your heart doesn’t mean being guarded or distant—it means listening to your intuition, setting gentle boundaries, and trusting yourself to hold space for both joy and discernment. Hard-launching...

YAY!!! 21st episode of season 3 on my 21st birthday...I think YES!! Every year I write a letter to my future self on my birthday to open the next year. This letter is full of wisdom, predictions, and manifestations for the year. This has easily become my favorite birthday tradition. Listen to this episode recap to listen to me read & debrief you on my letter!

I am officially halfway through my 365 days of joy journaling, and I wanted to make a little episode talking about some of the most valuable takeaways I’ve gained from this type of reflection. Every day, I have the opportunity to express my gratitude and feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose in my 3 S's: self, school, and social. This journaling technique has motivated me to find the good...

Every day, we have the chance to see the world through our own unique lens. Lately, I’ve been practicing how to notice and celebrate natural beauty — not just in nature itself, but in people and everyday moments. As I reflected, I realized the moments that moved me most fell into three themes: human interactions, human appearances, and human experiences of the world. In this episode, I’m sharing s...

Being sick is something I’ve constantly had to navigate. From missing playdates in elementary school, to high school & college events, and to now even my study abroad experiences, illness has often been a joy stealer in my life. So, with my current situation—spending two days in the hospital while studying abroad in Spain—I decided it was time for a mindset reevaluation. Instead of focusing on...

Once you start doing things on your own, you become more aware of what you're truly seeking for yourself. Use your failures as fuel to propel you toward pursuing your passions and opportunities that will bring fulfillment. Being authentically yourself allows others to meet you where you are. This episode recounts my study abroad experiences over the past two weeks—sweet friendships I’ve formed...

Have you ever met someone so full of knowledge that you can’t help but wonder how they became so wise? Well, in this episode, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about finding joy in the journey of becoming—with Nicole Calero. When she reached out about coming onto the podcast, I instantly jumped at the opportunity. She has been such an incredible mentor to me and has so much to share with others...

Having the ability to evaluate certain situations with a specific attitude and perspective enables us to fully experience the growth we desire. This week, I was prompted by my Principles of Entrepreneurship class to share what I've learned about the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset. I found it insightful to learn the definitions, reflect on my personal experiences with each mind...

In this uplifting episode, we sit down with Owen Nash to explore the art of embracing joy through a lighter perspective on life. Together, we unpack why so many of us get caught up in seriousness—and how Owen has learned to balance lightheartedness without slipping into carelessness. We dive into how humor and a playful mindset have helped Owen navigate life’s toughest moments, along with practica...

What if the key to joy isn't in holding on—but in letting go? In this week's episode of The Joy Project with Julia, I sat down with Jared, @theheadbandgolfer, a passionate golfer and storyteller, to explore how living authentically can be liberating. Jared opens up about his personal evolution, reminding us that “you can’t be the victim of your own life” and that transformation begins with...

Today’s episode is all about finding joy in the time we share with others, especially during life’s big transitions. In this interview, I sit down with Brooke Flask, who is wrapping up her semester at the University of Florida before transferring to the United States Naval Academy. Together, we reflect on the people who have shaped us—family, mentors, friends—and the values they have instilled: ki...

Today, Ariel Gabriely and I dive into what it truly means to find joy in letting go — releasing the need for control, validation, and perfection, and making space for real growth, healing, and peace. To do this, we must lead with kindness, empathy, and self-respect. Honoring our time and energy as valuable currencies can completely shift the way we move through the world. Growth and healing are ne...

Hello beautiful people! I came across this recording I had happened to film during one of my long walks a few weeks ago (hence the Final Four reference), and realized I had never posted and shared it with all of you! This episode was incredibly liberating for me to film as I fully embraced how beautiful it is to be in solitude sometimes. My content and thoughts were incredibly chaotic and so &quot...

Finding people in life who make you feel seen, heard, and loved is so important. Small acts of kindness can change the world, which is why we all must work to master the art of intentionality. This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Janelle Sumbeling—someone who truly embodies what it means to be intentional on a daily basis. From her unprompted hype-up texts, to always greeting people with...

Life can be overwhelming and often presents us with challenges and obstacles that we must navigate. However, it’s important to understand that everything happens for a reason. This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing a dear friend, Arjun Doshi. He shared incredible insights on how he’s overcome many obstacles in his life, the people who’ve helped him grow, and offered inspiring anecdotes abou...

For those of us at the University of Florida, this week is our spring break—and trust me, it couldn't have come at a better time. Life had become overwhelming with all the involvement commitments, academic deadlines, and social obligations that always seem to pop up...to say I was ready for a break was an understatement. Now, as I wrap up day 6 of 10, I already feel like a completely new perso...

For today’s episode, I’m beyond excited to share an interview with someone whose story has seriously inspired me—Jeremy Rich! He’s honestly one of the most down-to-earth, fun, and driven people I’ve ever met, and just such a joy to be around. I was totally thrilled when he agreed to come on the podcast, and I really hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! We hear the words "purpose&...

One of the most common requests I get for my podcast is to include more episodes with acronyms or numbered lists—something that makes key takeaways clear and easy to apply. So, this week, I’m diving into The 3 C’s to Unlock Your Light (Leadership Potential): Courage, Curiosity, and Confidence. But here’s the twist—these 3 C’s aren’t a rigid step-by-step formula. Instead, they’re customizable, allo...

Hello, beautiful people! On this episode of The Joy Project with Julia, we're diving into the power of perspective, the beauty of secret moments, and how small, intentional joys can transform our lives. Last week, I talked about the importance of finding joy in shifting our mindset. This week, I’m opening up about my own struggles, what I experienced, and how I worked through them (getting raw and...

Life can be overwhelming, and lately, I’ve found myself struggling to protect my peace—to stay afloat amidst the chaos. But the other day, I made a simple yet powerful decision: to step outside and just be. As I soaked in the warmth of the sun and felt the breeze brush past me, I reconnected with the beauty of the world around me. In that moment, I was reminded of how incredibly lucky I am—to be a...

Wow, life has been a whirlwind lately..can anyone else relate? With the chaos that comes at the start of every semester, I hope you're all managing to stay afloat. Personally, I've been buried under meetings, events, workshops, classes, and assignments (cue internal scream). But amidst the fast pace, I’ve made a conscious effort to prioritize scheduling—and let me tell you, it’s been a game-change...

Happy New Year and welcome to season THREE(eek so exciting) of The Joy Project with Julia! I hope you all have had a great start to 2025 and are super excited for all the opportunities, lessons, experiences, growth, and joy you are going to have this year! In order to make my bucket list items, resolutions, and goals more achievable...I find that creating an engaging visual always incentivizes me...

As the year draws to a close, I've found myself spending more time reflecting on the lessons I've learned, the adventures I've experienced, and the wonderful people I've had the pleasure of meeting. I believe taking time to reflect at the end of the year is crucial because it allows us to appreciate our growth and set meaningful goals for our future selves. Journaling has been an invaluable tool i...

I hope you all have enjoyed your freedom post finals week & are getting excited to join me in finding joy in being home for break. This episode is mildly chaotic as I energetically describe the wholesome visit of my sweet friend Charlotte! Char was my freshman year roommate and is truly so unapologetically herself and incredibly kind! I am so lucky to have such an intentional friendship (eek s...

If you are listening, I'm assuming you are officially done with your Fall 2024 semester! Congratulations on finishing your finals!! You are officially free...so sit back, take a deep breath, & get ready to relax. This episode is all about what I have been up to since Thanksgiving break, the things I learned about myself & life during finals week, and ways I am excited to grow during break....