It Starts with Joy, with Sheryl Raphael Whitaker episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 15, 2026 · 29 MIN

It Starts with Joy, with Sheryl Raphael Whitaker

from Productive Joy · host Dr. Christie McMullen

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie welcomes Sheryl Raphael Whitaker, author of 'It Starts With Joy.' Sheryl is a TEDx organizer, artist, and joy creator. She shares her insights on finding and embracing joy, drawing from her Caribbean roots and personal journey. Sheryl emphasizes the importance of being your authentic self and discusses her book, which aims to help leaders uncover and cultivate joy. The conversation touches on dealing with past negative experiences and how to protect your joy. Sheryl also talks about her inner critic, 'Beatrice,' and her goals for the future, including a challenge to give 100 talks in 2026.Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:04 Sheryl's Background and Achievements01:03 The Magnetic Personality02:14 Embracing Authenticity04:23 The Journey to Writing a Book06:58 Challenges and Lessons Learned08:02 Dealing with Difficult Leaders14:10 Finding and Protecting Joy14:25 Defining Productive Joy16:20 Finding Joy in Leadership16:40 Creating Joy in the Workplace17:27 The Importance of Individual Joy18:07 Leadership Responsibilities and Impact18:42 Connecting with Sheryl19:12 Services Offered by Elite Talent Solutions20:16 The Role of Joy in Leadership21:14 Human-Centered Leadership and AI23:32 Embracing Your Inner Critic26:41 Rapid Fire Questions28:16 Final Thoughts on Joy#AuthenticLeadership#JoyAtWork#LeadershipDevelopment#HumanCenteredLeadership#LeadWithJoy#PurposeDrivenLeadership#ExecutivePresence#PersonalGrowthJourney#WorkplaceWellbeing#LeadershipPodcast#ConsciousLeadership#WomenInLeadership

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie welcomes Sheryl Raphael Whitaker, author of 'It Starts With Joy.' Sheryl is a TEDx organizer, artist, and joy creator. She shares her insights on finding and embracing joy, drawing from her Caribbean roots and personal journey. Sheryl emphasizes the importance of being your authentic self and discusses her book, which aims to help leaders uncover and cultivate joy. The conversation touches on dealing with past negative experiences and how to protect your joy. Sheryl also talks about her inner critic, 'Beatrice,' and her goals for the future, including a challenge to give 100 talks in 2026.Episode Highlights:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:04 Sheryl's Background and Achievements01:03 The Magnetic Personality02:14 Embracing Authenticity04:23 The Journey to Writing a Book06:58 Challenges and Lessons Learned08:02 Dealing with Difficult Leaders14:10 Finding and Protecting Joy14:25 Defining Productive Joy16:20 Finding Joy in Leadership16:40 Creating Joy in the Workplace17:27 The Importance of Individual Joy18:07 Leadership Responsibilities and Impact18:42 Connecting with Sheryl19:12 Services Offered by Elite Talent Solutions20:16 The Role of Joy in Leadership21:14 Human-Centered Leadership and AI23:32 Embracing Your Inner Critic26:41 Rapid Fire Questions28:16 Final Thoughts on Joy#AuthenticLeadership#JoyAtWork#LeadershipDevelopment#HumanCenteredLeadership#LeadWithJoy#PurposeDrivenLeadership#ExecutivePresence#PersonalGrowthJourney#WorkplaceWellbeing#LeadershipPodcast#ConsciousLeadership#WomenInLeadership

NOW PLAYING

It Starts with Joy, with Sheryl Raphael Whitaker

0:00 29:55

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Productive Joy?

This episode is 29 minutes long.

When was this Productive Joy episode published?

This episode was published on January 15, 2026.

What is this episode about?

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie welcomes Sheryl Raphael Whitaker, author of 'It Starts With Joy.' Sheryl is a TEDx organizer, artist, and joy creator. She shares her insights on finding and embracing joy, drawing from her Caribbean...

Can I download this Productive Joy episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!