Episode 44: Joy as Resistance and Birthday Revelations

What if joy itself is a form of protest? In this episode, Denise and Jackie reflect on a powerful week marked by national unrest, a shared birthday, and what it means to find moments of joy and connection amidst political chaos.Key Times:00:00:00 – Welcome back + gratitude breathwork 00:01:36 – Celebrating their shared birthday and reflecting on protest energy 00:04:33 – Street vending, community care, and giving out goldfish 00:06:05 – Angel City FC: surprise seats, frosé, and emotional moments 00:08:27 – “Immigrant City FC” shirts and the bittersweet game 00:13:42 – Denise’s 60th birthday party: tarot, tacos, and radical joy 00:17:43 – Jackie’s Scholastic-style book fair and curated party favors 00:21:02 – Crack Krispies and charcuterie: making joy delicious 00:24:30 – Political tension, privilege, and community protection 00:30:26 – Announcing 12 Steps for Everyone virtual meetings 00:33:37 – Jackie is off to grad school! Overwhelm and transition talk 00:35:20 – Closing thoughts: showing up anyway, with fresh breathShow Notes / Episode Summary:In this richly layered episode, Denise and Jackie bring listeners into a week of deeply personal and collective reflection. From participating in a massive protest against state violence to throwing an intentionally joyful, women-centered birthday celebration, they unpack what it means to hold rage and gratitude in the same breath.Denise turns 60 and goes all out - hosting a dreamy day of tacos, tarot, books, and body positivity. Jackie surprises her with a meticulously curated “adult Scholastic book fair” filled with crystals, claw clips, finger massagers, and more. But even in the joy, they remain grounded in the reality that many people can’t access such safety and celebration, especially as immigrant communities across LA face escalated threats and disappearances.They reflect on the ethics of privilege, how to support others while staying spiritually regulated, and what it means to keep showing up for joy when the world is on fire. The episode ends with an invitation to join their virtual Sunday meetings and a reminder that showing up, fully and honestly, is revolutionary.Topics Covered:Finding joy during times of political and social unrestMutual aid and small acts of protest supportThe emotional complexity of celebrating in hard timesBuilding women-centered spaces of delight and healingImmigrant labor, fear, and solidarity in LAThe balance of grief, activism, and joyCreating a book fair, party favors, and rituals of careEmpathy collapse and why joy is not frivolousJackie’s upcoming move for grad school + Denise’s tech trainingFollow Us:Follow Jackie: @jackiefreed.laFollow Denise: @denise.freedFollow us on Instagram: @12stepsforeveryoneFollow us on TikTok: @12stepsforeveryone