The Joy Project With Julia

Facing negative experiences in life can be incredibly challenging, but it's crucial to remember that you are never alone and possess the strength to overcome any obstacles. This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lindsay Hersh, a junior at the University of Florida, who has bravely navigated numerous mental battles during her transition to college. Lindsay describes a mental battle as "an in...

Happy Thanksgiving, beautiful people! This holiday is incredibly special because it allows us to spend cherished moments with loved ones and celebrate the wonderful experiences, memories, and lessons from the past year. This week, I want to share how expressing gratitude—not just on Thanksgiving, but every day—has changed my life for the better. Before filming this episode, I took some time to ref...

This week has been full of so many epic memories, loving moments, and silly smiles. So grateful to be alive and appreciate the world around me! This week I kept it SUPER conversational and casual (sorry it is low key chaotic my mic did break mid episode *moment of silence*). Butttt, I am super pumped to be talking about ways to protect your peace! The concept for this episode emerged when I was ha...

Happy World Kindness Day!! As Clare Pooley wisely said, "In a world where you can be anything, be kind." Today, let's embrace this powerful message and embody kindness in all our actions. In this special episode, we celebrate World Kindness Day by exploring the connection between joy and kindness. I want to highlight how simple acts of kindness can create ripples of happiness in our lives and the...

Firstly, I hope you all had the most incredible time celebrating National Joy Day! Thank you for all the love and support you showered me with. I am deeply grateful to have such amazing friends and listeners. I hope you're as excited as I am to embark on the next 365 days together! In this week's episode, I start with a recap of my National Joy Day antics, sharing my personal takeaways and some ca...

HAPPY NATIONAL JOY DAY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!! Today is extra special, marking 365 days since I first realized that my true mission in life is to help others discover, seek, and spread joy in every possible way. This past year has been nothing short of magical—filled with overwhelming love, awe, and pure joy—and I am endlessly grateful for each and every moment! So today, I invite you all to join me i...

As I have reached the halfway mark of my fall semester, I have been overwhelmed with all the opportunities and experiences my university has to offer. There are so many exciting "doors", but rejection has become a shared experience amongst me and my peers. However, it is important to understand that rejection is a normal byproduct of putting yourself out there...which you should ALWAYS do for the...

This past week, I had the opportunity to fly back to my hometown, Pittsburgh, PA. As someone whose favorite season is fall, I was thrilled to take a break from the Florida hurricane season and see the beautiful leaves that the north has to offer. Being able to reconnect with my family and hometown friends who were on their college fall breaks was the breath of fresh air I didn't know I needed. See...

This week, I had the incredible opportunity to interview someone who embodies authenticity and pours her heart into everything she does—my sister, Emma Scarton! This past summer, Emma embarked on a solo backpacking adventure across Europe for four weeks, and her ambition to pursue her dreams is nothing short of inspiring. A mantra Emma lives by is, "Live your life how you want, and you will be sat...

This week I had the opportunity to interview an inspiring individual in my life, Summer Haura. She is one of the most intentional people I have met since coming to college and has encouraged me to grow in so many ways. She is very in tune with her emotions and is a big advocate on campus for mental health. While preparing for our interview, I asked her what she wanted viewers to gain. Summer respo...

Conflicts arise on a daily basis, so it is important to find healthy ways to manage these situations. Establishing open communication with those you have a relationship with, voicing how you feel as soon as you feel it, and striving to remain respectful during those tough conversations are all solutions to creating healthy boundaries. I encourage you to stand up for yourself and stay true to who y...

Saying "no" should never be seen as a "bad thing". It instead should be viewed as you choosing to remove yourself from a situation that does not enable you to grow into the best version of yourself. This episode talks about saying "no" to relationships that are not encouraging you to grow, habits that are not pushing you to be your most productive self, and situations...

Saying "yes" takes on a whole new meaning whenever you say it with intention and the end in mind. This episode talks about healthy ways to say "yes" to personal growth, exciting experiences, memorable moments with friends, involvement opportunities, and YOU BEING YOU. I challenge you to say "yes" with intentionality to as many positive opportunities as you can this week, this month, this year(basi...

Society and social media oftentimes make us feel that we have to look, talk, and act a certain way in order to be loved/respected. Being "perfect" for others is something I have struggled with for the majority of my life. Since coming to college, I have found people who can meet me where I'm at and love me inspite of my flaws. This episode is meant to help break down a "perfecti...

With the beginning of the school year approaching, I felt like it was important to talk about healthy ways to hold yourself accountable to living a healthier lifestyle. No solution will ever be perfect, but I found that using the 3 S's was a quick and easy way to check in with my progress and reflect on everything that I learned that day. The 3 S's stand for self, school, and social. These are are...

If you are eager to go through recruitment, or even still deciding, then this episode is for you! Joining a sorority enables you to be immersed and involved in many involvement opportunities on campus, network with inspiring individuals, attend social experiences, and gain lifelong friends. As someone who was unsure of joining a sorority myself, I hope to provide you with some things to keep in mi...

Finding a way to acknowledge your accomplishments is important because it gives you a sense of fulfillment. However, it is also essential to recognize minor setbacks and bad days, as they are key moments that contribute to our growth as individuals. There are many healthy ways to reward yourself for positive experiences, milestones, and SMART goals. It is up to you to find positive, healthy, and u...

Each year we are gifted new friendships, experiences, and lessons. Finding Joy in another year is making an active choice to decide which direction you would like to go and taking the steps to make that dream a reality. Since turning 20 years old, I have really taken the time to evaluate what I want for this next year, next decade, and next chapter of life in general. A tradition I started several...

Hello beautiful people & welcome to season 2!!! I am so so excited to come back better than ever and talk about how to find joy in a fresh start! A fresh start is whenever you decide you want to take an active change to become a better version of yourself! Whether you are going to college for the first time, just had a birthday, or just want to change for the better...this episode is for you!!...

Establishing a system filled with repetition and specific goals encourages accountability of our actions and overall growth. Habits = Happiness…so I hope you will join me in working towards removing the negative connotation behind the word “routine”! During this episode, I discuss different types of healthy habits that lead to personal development, how to create a SMART goal, and creative methods...

We live in a highly competitive society that focuses on creating a “standard” that we should compare ourself to. This is an extremely unhealthy way of living and the constant comparison will lead to dissatisfaction with ourselves, our life, and the people we are surrounded by. Instead of focusing on what everyone else is doing, it is important to recognize what you can offer... because you can off...

Being notified of a life-changing diagnosis can be incredibly daunting. All of the plans you had imagined for your future are forever changed by this diagnosis. This type of uncertainty is overwhelming. You are quickly filled with a sense of urgency and recognize that NOW is the time to start living. This diagnosis forces you to make necessary life changes, prioritize important relationships, and...

Social media is meant for communication & collaboration...NOT comparison!! Listen to learn more about finding joy in social media. Find your community, explore how you want to express yourself, and identify what steps you should take in order to actually enjoy "the art of scrolling." Follow me on instagram (@julia.scarton) so we can join each other in our mission to seek & spread joy!

Congratulations for finishing finals! As you prepare for your summer plans, take some time to reflect on how you can grow through the transition. Each opportunity you take is unique to you, so fully embrace the good vibes that are coming your way! Can't wait to see you explore, network, learn, and grow this summer!

Finals week is upon us! This super short episode is all about quick & easy ways to adjust your mindset as you begin your exam season: find things to look forward to, focus on what you can control, and empathize with those around you. I can't wait to see you guys CRUSH your exams!!