Joy Unfiltered: Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald on Awe, Healing, and the Science of The Joy Reset

If you’ve ever felt like joy is just out of reach - especially in the aftermath of trauma - this conversation is for you.Dr. Mary Catherine McDonald, research professor, trauma expert, and author of The Joy Reset - joins us to break down the science and soul of joy. With deep compassion and clarity, she shares what trauma really does to the brain, how joy can be reclaimed, and why healing doesn’t have to mean being "fixed" - just more fully you.In this episode, you’ll learn:What the neuroscience says about joy - and how to access itThe “Six Joy Thieves” that keep us stuckHow simple practices can create real shifts in how we feelWe also touch on the hard stuff - suicide, grief, existential pain, and the radical possibility of finding light anyway.If you’ve been looking for a way back to joy, this is your invitation to begin again.Think of this as your reset button.Subscribe now and get real talk, radical honesty, and the spark to reconnect with your joy - automatically in your feed every Tuesday.More from MaryCatherine McDonald:Website: https://alchemycoaching.life/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mc.phd tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mc.phd Stay connected with us:Dr. Chrissie Ott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissieottmd Joy Point Solutions: https://www.instagram.com/joypointsolutions Solving for Joy Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/solvingforjoypodcast Full transcript and more: https://www.solvingforjoy.com Music by Denys Kyshchuk (AudioCoffee): https://www.audiocoffee.net