PODCAST · society
A Joyful Rebellion
by James Walters
This is a joyful rebellion. The podcast that explores the moment you realize the life and success you worked so hard to create didn’t come with all of the fulfillment you thought it would.Each week, we attempt to inspire bold answers to the question, “What do I do now to create a life I love?”If you are ready to start answering that question for yourself, you’re in the right place. Let’s start A Joyful Rebellion.
Episodes
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Self-Trust Over Self-Confidence — Reese Wilson on the Slow, Unremarkable Work of Becoming Herself Again
For 24 years, Reese Wilson believed that if something felt wrong in her marriage, the problem had to be her — she just wasn’t trying hard enough, wasn’t seeing things clearly. It took a stack of her own recorded conversations, a cup of coffee handed to her in the wrong color mug, and years of...
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You've Already Hypnotized Yourself — Craig Meriwether on Taking Back Control
Craig Meriwether is a hypnotherapist who works with the 95% of the mind that talk therapy often can't reach — the subconscious. His core idea: the anxiety, anger, and self-sabotage that won't budge aren't malfunctions. They're old protective instructions, written by a scared child to survive a...
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Rebuilding Identity Later in Life- Laurie Kirk's Story
After raising five kids, Laurie Kirk found herself asking a question a lot of parents eventually face: who am I now? Her answer came through acting first, then writing, and eventually her first novel, a psychological horror-thriller called Baby Marvin. In this conversation, Laurie and James talk...
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OMG, That’s Me! - Why Dave Mowry’s Jokes About the Darkest Stuff Help a Million People Feel Less Alone
In 1994, Dave Mowry was driving down the freeway when he heard something like a twig snapping in his mind. His face went slack, his voice went monotone, and a deep sense of dread moved in that wouldn’t leave for 14 years. He lost his businesses, his home, spent 18 months homeless with his family....
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Every Hardship You’ve Survived Is Already a Story Someone Needs to Hear — with TJ Baird of Warrior Dad Stories
TJ Baird joined the U.S. Army at 17, turned 18 three days before graduating basic training, and spent the next 32 years in uniform — nine deployments, multiple combat tours. He came home each time carrying more than he showed. The armor held, until his six-year-old daughter told him he was too...
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300,000 Pairs of Pink Socks Later- How One Kilt-Wearing Hippie Is Rebuilding Human Connection One Gift at a Time
Nicholas Adkins spent his career as a healthcare executive — COO, 37 states, custom suits, cufflinks. Then his father was diagnosed with cancer, and in 2010, while sitting in a boardroom deciding the company’s future, Nick told them he’d have an answer after Burning Man. He came back in blue…
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You Can’t Be Wallpaper in a Place With No Walls — Sarah Marshall on Burning Man and Radical Belonging
Sarah Marshall spent over two decades attending Burning Man — starting in 2001 when she arrived tightly wound, ready to bolt, and wholly unprepared for a place that asked for the full, unguarded version of herself. A military veteran turned engineer who had recently transitioned, she wasn’t ready...
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Golden Handcuffs Are Still Handcuffs — Drewbie Wilson on Freedom, Sales, and Starting Over
Drewbie Wilson did everything right. He climbed from $40,000 a year in insurance to half a million, landed private jet trips, built a commercial gym in the garage, and bought the second fridge — the garage fridge, which he’ll tell you is the true sign you’ve made it. Then in 2023, he walked away...
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It's Gonna Get Messy- Becca Eve Young on Intuition, Grief, and the Courage to Stop Performing
Most of us are really good at looking like we've got it together. Becca Eve Young decided to stop pretending. She's a coach, author, and former corporate climber who did all the things — MBA, corner office, company going public — and watched it all collapse in the same year her dad died, stranded...
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Your Focus Determines Your Reality- with Author Aaron Ryan
Aaron Ryan didn't wait for someday. He left a steady career, burned the bridges behind him, and started building something entirely his own. Nearly 50 books later, he's watching the two creative industries he's devoted his life to — voiceover and fiction writing — get quietly dismantled by AI.…
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Seeing the World from Four Foot Two- Identity, Access, and Advocacy with Jenna Udenberg
Most people move through the world without thinking about how they move through the world. The door opens. The bathroom fits. The seat is reachable. For Jenna Udenberg, none of that has ever been a given. And after nearly four decades navigating life from a wheelchair, she has stopped waiting for...
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Why Being Important Is the Wrong Goal — and What to Aim for Instead with Chip Scholz
Most of us spend our careers trying to become important. We perform, we climb, we accumulate — and somewhere along the way we confuse being needed with actually being useful. Chip Scholz has spent decades coaching leaders through exactly that confusion, and he'll tell you plainly: the freedom...
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Kidnapping Billionaires to Save the Planet — The Novel That Goes There with Diana Colleen
What if the only way to save the planet was to kidnap the world's billionaires and dose them with psychedelics? That's not a joke — that's Diana Colleen's debut novel. But here's what makes it more than just a wild premise. Diana is a trained psychedelic facilitator. She's lived through the kind…
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When Your Dream Life Stops Feeling Like Your Life- with Kate Kayaian
After spending decades performing at the highest levels of classical music, Kate Kayaian did something almost unthinkable in her industry: she walked away. In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, Kate shares the deeply personal process of untangling herself from an identity she had carried since...
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Dreaming of Things That Never Were — with Kenneth Kunken
At 20 years old, Kenneth Kunken broke his neck during a college football game at Cornell University and was told he likely wouldn’t survive the week. Doctors warned his family that even if he lived, he’d spend the rest of his life in a nursing home with little hope for independence. They were...
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Monetize What You Already Know- Turning Skills Into Income with Bart Merrell
Most people think they need a new idea to make more money—but what if they’re just overlooking what’s already there? Bart Merrell helps people create financial security by monetizing what they already know, already do, and often completely ignore. From building a DJ business at 15 to working...
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Redefining Success, Identity, and Growth with Kristan Swan
Why do so many people say they want change—but keep repeating the same patterns? In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, James sits down with Kristan Swan to unpack the uncomfortable truth behind personal growth, identity, and self-awareness. Kristan shares her journey from business coaching...
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It’s Never Too Late for Something Epic- Rand Timmerman on Faith, Recovery, and the Trail
What kind of conviction does it take to begin a nearly 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail hike at 72 years old? For Rand Timmerman, the answer is layered in grief, sobriety, brotherhood, faith, and unfinished business. A Vietnam veteran, longtime attorney, and recovery advocate, Rand set out on the...
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Burnout Isn’t What You Think: Garrett Wood on Stress, Success, and Nervous System Truth
Burnout doesn’t show up when it’s convenient. It shows up when you can least afford to slow down. In this episode, Garrett Wood breaks down what burnout actually looks like—not the Instagram version, but the real, physiological, day-to-day experience of it. From sleep disruption and irritability…
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Know What You Want- Cinda Gault on Living Boldly and Writing Fearless Women
A joyful rebellion isn’t reckless—it’s intentional. In this conversation, novelist Cinda Gault breaks down a truth most people avoid: the hardest part of living on your own terms isn’t courage—it’s clarity. Because if you don’t know what you actually want, every decision becomes harder. Cinda’s...
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When the Legal System Becomes the Battle- Lisa Johnson on Surviving Legal Abuse
Episode Summary What happens when the system meant to protect you becomes the thing that wears you down? In this powerful episode of A Joyful Rebellion, James sits down with Lisa Johnson — educator, author, and co-founder of Been There Got Out — to talk about surviving legal abuse, reclaiming...
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Play From Your Heart: Scott Martin on Loss and Resilience
Episode Summary In the early 1990s, college soccer coach Scott Martin walked into an emergency room with flu-like symptoms. A month later, he woke from a coma to learn he had contracted necrotizing fasciitis — and that his mother and brother had been forced to choose between letting him die or...
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A Quiet Rebellion- Carrie Birde on Shame, Voice, and Uncommon Grace
Episode Summary Some people rebel by getting louder. Carrie Birde rebelled by getting gentler. After years of writing in secret—carrying shame, creative fear, and a persistent who am I to do this?—Carrie finished A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace, a novel that intentionally pushes back against a...
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Stop Grinding, Start Playing- Paul Pape on Turning Work Into Adventure
Episode Summary Creatives are often told business has to be rigid, serious, and exhausting — spreadsheets, rules, and hustle until you lose the joy that got you started. But what if the real rebellion is treating your business like a game instead of a grind? In this energizing conversation, James...
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Why Artists Don’t Have to Suffer for Their Art- with Alexandra Beller
Episode Summary In this deeply resonant episode of A Joyful Rebellion, James sits down with choreographer, director, educator, and somatic movement analyst Alexandra Beller to explore the profound intersection of art, healing, embodiment, and authenticity. Alexandra has spent over 25 years…
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The New Old- How to Craft Your Best Later Life with Erika Andersen
Episode Summary What if aging wasn’t something to fear… but something to design? In this empowering conversation, bestselling author and leadership expert Erika Andersen introduces the radical idea at the heart of her new book The New Old: that your “third act” can be your most vibrant chapter…
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How a Cross-Continental Road Trip Became a Book- Matt Savino on Courage, Curiosity & Starting Anyway
Episode Summary In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, James sits down with writer, programmer, photographer, stand-up comedian, and self-described “professional dabbler” Matt Savino to unpack the winding path behind his debut book A Land Without a Continent. What starts as a practical decision…
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Stop Settling for Mediocrity- Dr. Matt Kutz on Leadership, Chaos & Contextual Intelligence
Episode Summary Leadership isn’t about titles, charisma, or being the loudest voice in the room. According to Dr. Matt Kutz — professor, Fulbright scholar, organizational coach, and author of Becoming Epic — leadership begins with learning to lead yourself. In this raw, energizing conversation,...
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Tear Gas, Thrillers, and Truth- The Life Lessons of Journalist John DeDakis
Episode Summary Award-winning journalist and novelist John DeDakis joins A Joyful Rebellion to talk about the craft—and catharsis—of writing. From getting tear-gassed in the middle of an anti-war riot during his college days to serving two decades as a White House correspondent and CNN senior...
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Walking Away from Who You Were “Supposed to Be” — A Joyful Rebellion with Wes Towers
Episode Summary When his marriage ended and his life unraveled, Melbourne-based entrepreneur Wes Towers found himself sleeping under his desk—emotionally exhausted and completely untethered. What followed wasn’t an overnight transformation but a two-year process of unlearning, rebuilding, and...
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Creativity Is a Habit- Mark Firehammer on Systems, Story, and Showing Up
Episode Summary Creativity isn’t a lightning strike—it’s a practice. In this candid conversation, songwriter–novelist–systems thinker Mark Firehammer unpacks why creativity is a habit you can train, and how treating it like a system beats waiting for the muse. We get the backstory of his new…
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Stop Giving Your Power Away: Conscious Love in Real Life with Christian De La Huerta
Episode Summary We’re taught to chase the feeling of love, then panic when the feeling fades. In this wide-open conversation, Christian de la Huerta—spiritual teacher, TEDx speaker, and author of Conscious Love—draws a clean line between worldly (ego) power and soulful (inner) power, and why...
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Financial Alchemy- Turn Fear into Freedom with Morgana Rae
Episode Summary Most people try to fix money with tactics—budgets, scripts, spreadsheets. Morgana Rae argues the real block isn’t financial; it’s emotional. In this conversation, Morgana shares how a 2003 rock-bottom moment led her to personify money as a “monster”—then destroy it and build a…
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The Radio Is On- Tuning into Spirits with Kate Branagh
Episode Summary Baker by day, medium by night, Kate Branagh treats the spirit world like a conversation—not a performance. From a first dorm-room visitation in New York to a Massachusetts guesthouse where an enslaved woman kept shouting “Get out,” Kate shares how she learned to listen, set...
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AI Won’t Save Us or Doom Us—We Will- A Conversation with Guy Morris
Episode Summary Former Fortune 100 exec turned award-winning thriller author Guy Morris writes high-octane fiction that doubles as a field guide to the near future. After leaving home at 13, working his way from janitor to software architect, and spending decades at the edge of enterprise tech…
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Write the Book You Can’t Find- T.L. McCoy on Disability, Courage, and Middle-Grade Magic
Episode Summary When a study showed that only 3.4% of children’s books feature a disabled protagonist, psychiatric nurse and educator T.L. McCoy realized the story her granddaughter needed didn’t exist—and decided to write it. Her middle-grade fantasy, Delilah vs. the Ghastly Grim, follows a...
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The Other Side of the Gun- Susan Snow on Surviving, Healing, and Owning Your Story
Episode Summary At 17, Susan Snow’s father—a Los Angeles robbery–homicide detective—was assassinated while picking up her younger brother from school. Overnight, her life became sirens, cameras, and a brave face that hid years of panic and hyper-vigilance. The first therapist told her she was...
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Be the Author of Your Own Story- Self-Talk, Convergence, and the Power to Choose with David Alan Brown
Episode Summary What if the voice that saves your life is your own? In this deeply human conversation, writer and coach David Alan Brown traces the slow erosion of self that came from always being “the good one”—the supportive partner, the present dad, the dependable friend—until one pandemic…
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From Fog to Forward- Blindness, Identity, and Daily Courage with Laura Bratton
Episode Summary In middle school, Laura Bratton looked up at the blackboard and the words had disappeared. A rare retinal disease began taking her sight piece by piece—with no timeline, no roadmap, and no way to “prepare.” What followed was denial, panic attacks, and a daily apprenticeship in…
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Trust the Inklings: Anna Quigley on Intuition, Midlife, and the Second Act
Episode Summary What if the feeling you can’t explain is actually the clearest voice you have? In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, intuition coach and speaker Anna Quigley breaks down how to recognize, trust, and train your inner guidance—especially in midlife. Anna shares the surprising...
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God Money, and the Edge- Dean Patrick on Ambition, Addiction, and Awakening
Episode Summary What happens when the identity you built your life around falls apart overnight? In this raw interview, Dean Patrick—Stanford dropout, former crypto fund manager, and now author of God Money: Lost and Found in the Crypto Wilderness—traces the arc from early “prodigy” ambition to...
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From Autopilot to Awake- David Richards on Faith, Focus, and Reinvention
Episode Summary Former Marine officer and bestselling author David Richards shares how a life built on momentum—and other people’s expectations—finally hit a wall. From a childhood head injury and constant relocation to 15 years in the Marines, two divorces, and a pandemic-era low point, David...
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Becoming Spiritual People in Physical Bodies- Heather-Ann Ferri on Healing
Episode Summary What if talk therapy isn’t enough—because your trauma lives in your body? In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, world-record tap dancer turned trauma recovery coach Heather-Ann Ferri shares the raw story behind her work: childhood abuse, brain-level injury, and the long road from...
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From Tales from the Crypt to Telling His Own- Alan Katz’s Joyful Rebellion
Episode Summary What happens when the secret holding you back is one you’ve been keeping from yourself? In this raw, unguarded conversation, writer–producer Alan Katz (HBO’s Tales from the Crypt) traces the arc from early Hollywood wins to a two-decade spiral—then the moment truth became...
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The Case for Reinventing Fatherhood and Masculinity- with Jack Kammer
Episode Summary Jack Kammer has spent over four decades asking the uncomfortable questions about gender, power, and fairness—and he’s not done yet. In this episode, the former social worker, parole officer, and longtime advocate for men’s issues joins A Joyful Rebellion to unpack what he calls a...
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My Unexpected Life- Jennifer Gasner on Disability, Identity, and Belonging
Episode Summary Sometimes the most unexpected stories aren’t about what happens—but how someone chooses to live through it. In this powerful episode of A Joyful Rebellion, disability advocate and author Jennifer Gasner shares what it’s like to receive a life-altering diagnosis at 17—and then keep...
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How to Think Like a Futurist- Steven Zeller on AI, Risk, and the Power of Iteration
Episode Summary What if the hard season you’re in isn’t a detour—but the actual path? Steven Zeller is a serial entrepreneur, technologist, and futurist who’s built and lost businesses, found clarity in discomfort, and never stopped chasing what’s next. In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion…
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There’s Nothing Wrong with You—It’s Just Fear- Rhonda Britten’s Story
Episode Summary What if the thing holding you back isn’t laziness, procrastination, or perfectionism—but fear wearing a clever disguise? In this unforgettable episode of A Joyful Rebellion, Emmy Award-winner and Fearless Living founder Rhonda Britten shares the unthinkable story of what happened…
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Two Dads, Two Kids, and a System That Fought Them- Lane Igoudin’s Adoption Story
Episode Summary How do you build a family when the system is designed to tear it apart? In this powerful episode of A Joyful Rebellion, writer, professor, and father Lane Igoudin shares the deeply human story behind his memoir A Family, Maybe: Two Dads, Two Babies, and the Court Cases That…
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From Diagnosis to Determination- Ray Hartjen on Cancer, Clarity, and Living Out Loud
Episode Summary What do you do when life hands you a story you never asked for? Ray Hartjen is a writer, musician, father, and cancer patient who didn’t just survive a diagnosis—he rewrote the narrative. After learning he had multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, Ray chose to reframe…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This is a joyful rebellion. The podcast that explores the moment you realize the life and success you worked so hard to create didn’t come with all of the fulfillment you thought it would.Each week, we attempt to inspire bold answers to the question, “What do I do now to create a life I love?”If you are ready to start answering that question for yourself, you’re in the right place. Let’s start A Joyful Rebellion.
HOSTED BY
James Walters
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does A Joyful Rebellion have?
A Joyful Rebellion currently has 115 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is A Joyful Rebellion about?
This is a joyful rebellion. The podcast that explores the moment you realize the life and success you worked so hard to create didn’t come with all of the fulfillment you thought it would.Each week, we attempt to inspire bold answers to the question, “What do I do now to create a life I love?”If...
How often does A Joyful Rebellion release new episodes?
A Joyful Rebellion publishes regularly with 115 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to A Joyful Rebellion?
You can listen to A Joyful Rebellion on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts A Joyful Rebellion?
A Joyful Rebellion is created and hosted by James Walters.
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