Donkey Time: Learn to Appreciate Doing Nothing for Emotional Wellness | Dr. Genie Joseph | Ep 30

What if the secret to calming your anxious mind isn't doing more, but doing absolutely nothing?Dr. Genie Joseph joins me to explore "donkey time": a radical approach to stress relief and mindfulness that involves sitting still with therapy animals and letting them lead. Genie shares how her miniature therapy donkeys naturally embody presence, safety, and boundaries in ways that help people reconnect with their own inner calm.These wise animals see beyond our stories, disabilities, and chaos to connect with our true essence. This episode offers a beautiful reminder that sometimes the most healing thing we can do is simply be present.In this episode you'll learn:How to get out of the "worry brain"How animals see our essence beyond limitations, disabilities, or emotional chaosPractical techniques for being fully present in the momentWhy doing nothing is essential for nervous system regulationSimple ways to practice "donkey time" with your own pets or in natureEpisode ResourcesShow Notes, Transcript & Conversation: omwowpod.com/30Free tapping, breathwork & emotional resilience tools: askjenniferrobin.com/resourcesEpisode 11 with Dr. Genie Joseph: omwowpod.com/11The Human Animal Connection: thehumananimalconnection.orgMeet Your GuestDr. Genie Joseph is a therapy dog trainer, author, and Executive Director of The Human-Animal Connection— a nonprofit dedicated to reducing stress and building empathy through the healing power of animals. Her organization brings therapy dogs to those in high-stress service roles and helps people connect more deeply with animals and themselves. Genie’s Canines Teach Compassion program teaches social and emotional skills to high schoolers through animal interaction. She has worked with over 4,000 Service Members and their families, earning her the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Obama.Connect with Genie: Website | YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook | InstagramAbout Your HostAfter years of searching for answers, including literally googling "how to be happy,” Jennifer Robin O’Keefe discovered why mainstream self-help doesn’t work for everyone. She learned the hard way that most struggles aren't a willpower problem, they're rooted in subconscious beliefs, childhood experiences, and nervous system responses that traditional self-help often overlooks. That search led her to become an EFT Practitioner and Journalist. Jennifer Robin continues to explore the deeper layers of emotional wellness, personal growth, and self-discovery. Through research, personal practice, and conversations with leading experts, she helps listeners better understand themselves and create emotional wellness on their own terms.Come say hi: askjenniferrobin.com/connectGently UntangledGently Untangled is Jennifer Robin's free space to shift the subconscious patterns that keep you stuck, untwist your nervous system, and create emotional wellness on your own terms. It's calm inner work: journaling, EFT tapping, breathwork, and conversation, just a quiet email away. Joining is free, with scholarships available for the expanded version, because this kind of support shouldn't be exclusive. Find it at gentlyuntangled.com.About Om WOWOm WOW is a self-help podcast for people on a healing journey, including those carrying the invisible weight of past trauma. We explore emotional wellness, inner child work, personal growth, EFT tapping, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation. Through personal stories, practical tools, and conversations with leading experts, each episode helps you understand the deeper patterns shaping your thoughts, emotions, and reactions. Join me on this journey toward more peace, joy, clarity, and authenticity in our lives.Resources, show notes, and transcripts: omwowpod.comHang out between episodes on social: omwowpod.com/socialSupport the ShowBeyond listening, one way to support this podcast is through my Media Studio. That’s where I help podcasters and authors in the wellness, self-help, and spirituality space sound as good as their message deserves with professional audio/video editing and voiceover/narration support. If you know a podcaster who needs an editor, or an author who needs a narrator, send them my way: askjenniferrobin.com/studio. It's one of the best ways to support what I do here. Thank you!Things I RecommendMy favorite books, tools & wellness resources: omwowpod.com/shopDisclaimerThis content is for informational purposes only and does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or psychological mental health disorder. Consult with your healthcare provider for medical problems and before making changes to your physical activity, eating habits, supplements, or wellness strategies. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, the show, its advertisers or partners. This content may contain affiliate links, which means we might receive a commission if you make a purchase using those links.© 2025 Glikstorm LLC