JOY Unfiltered: Joy is the strategy

What does a rescued dog teach you about leadership? More than you'd expect. In this episode, I'm sitting down with Dr. Andy Neillie — business coach, bestselling author, award-winning speaker, and owner of a $3M retail business — to talk about the thing most leadership conversations skip entirely: the inner game. We get into trust, transparency, authenticity, and why resolute joy is the foundation every high-performing leader is missing. This one is quotable from start to finish. What we dig into: Dr. Andy's first chapter in The Golden Principles isn't about strategy — it's about why trust takes time, and what a puppy mill rescue dog taught him about leading people who've been burned before. We unpack the difference between delegation and abdication (yes, there's a massive difference), and why "I'm giving you the keys" without a safety net isn't leadership — it's escape. Dr. Andy drops what might be the line of the episode: "Grow from your people, not just grow your people." Read that again. We talk about the loneliness epidemic, why social media has confused influencers with leaders, and what it actually looks like to be authentically transparent without emotion-dumping on your team. Dr. Andy introduces the Leader's Hour — the morning practice that separates reactive leaders from intentional ones. Not a perfect routine, but a powerful one. Hydration, movement, spiritual grounding, and getting in front of your day before it gets in front of you. And we close on this: the best leaders aren't at the top of the pyramid. They're at the bottom. And the ones who get that? They're the ones people actually want to follow. Connect with Dr. Andy Neillie: LinkedIn.com/in/AndyNeillieLinkedIn.com/in/AndyNeillie https://neillieleadershipgroup.com/ Enjoyed this episode? Hit subscribe and share it with the leader in your life who's ready to stop managing and start leading. From my heart to yours, I am celebrating you today and every day. Have fun. Live well. ENJOY. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are two versions of a lot of us. The one the world sees - capable, driven, always showing up. And the one that comes home at night, trying to hold it all together with whatever we can find to take the edge off. In this episode, I'm telling you the real version of my story. Not the polished bio. The actual truth - about drinking too much, being at war with my body, and genuinely believing joy was something that existed for other people but not for me. And then I'm going to tell you why your story - however messy, however non-linear, however unfinished - is the most powerful strategic asset you have. In this episode: The two versions of me I lived for years (and what finally cracked that open) My honest, non-linear journey to sobriety and what I wish someone had told me about recovery How reconnecting with faith changed everything and what "spirit guides" means to me Why my body didn't change until my inside changed (and the order actually matters) The Before / Turning Point / Now framework for finding your strategic story thread Why specificity is not a liability - it's the strategy What to do with your story this week Your homework: Write three sentences. Before. Turning point. Now. Don't make it perfect. Make it true. Then share it in The Joy Project on Skool, in my DMs, or wherever feels right. Your story doesn't just belong to you. It belongs to the woman who hasn't found her words yet. 📲 Join The Joy Project on Skool https://www.skool.com/thejoyproject/about 📖 Joy Is the Strategy https://a.co/d/0gslUbmc 🌐 www.enjoymyeveryday.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Guest: Alena Candova — Chiropractor, Neurocoach, and Author of Grace Over Grit Episode Description What if the reason you can't sustain joy isn't a mindset problem — it's a nervous system problem? Alena Candova joins me to talk about the deeper wiring beneath our behaviors, why "nervous system regulation" is so much more than a buzzy breathing exercise, and how to finally stop repeating the patterns that keep joy just out of reach. In This Episode Why most nervous system regulation tools are just band-aids — and what lasting rewiring actually looks like The difference between emergency regulation and neuroplasticity-based practice How to develop interoceptive awareness so your body can tell you what it needs before you hit a breaking point The 90-second rule: what neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor discovered about emotional activation Why you don't have to process the emotional story — just the neurochemical reaction underneath it How co-regulation with a skilled practitioner creates the safety your nervous system needs to release old patterns What it means when joy feels fleeting — and what that tells you about subconscious blockages Simple daily practices to start building nervous system flexibility today Alena's 3-Layer Framework Layer 1 — Neurocognitive Awareness: Recognize your nervous system's behavioral patterns — fight/flight vs. freeze/withdraw — and separate your identity from the activation. Layer 2 — Interoceptive Awareness: Tune into subtle body signals (jaw tension, chest tightness, clenched fists) before the amygdala takes over. Catch the pattern early. Layer 3 — Emotional Resolution: Allow the nervous system to complete the stifled neurochemical charge — not by reliving the story, but by letting the body process and release. Quotable Moment "Joy is a state of inner freedom. And when something bad happens and it hits me, if I've done the work, I have my feet on the ground. I know who I am. It's not going to shake me as badly." — Alena Candova Where to Find Alena Website: www.sattvaintegralhealth.com Book: Grace Over Grit — available on Amazon Free nervous system overview PDF: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the next version of you does not require more hustle? What if she requires more safety? In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel sits down with Melissa Hoffman, holistic mindset coach and breathwork facilitator, to talk about nervous system regulation, subconscious belief work, identity alignment, and what it really means to feel safe being seen. Melissa shares her journey from corporate sales to luxury makeup artistry to coaching women entrepreneurs through the deeper inner work of confidence, visibility, and business growth. After years of helping women feel beautiful on the outside, she realized many of them were still struggling with fear, self-doubt, and the belief that who they were was not enough. Now, through hypnosis, NLP, EFT tapping, somatic breathwork, and nervous system work, Melissa helps high-achieving women entrepreneurs grow their businesses with more ease, authenticity, confidence, and capacity. Rachel and Melissa explore the fear of visibility, imposter syndrome, subconscious rewiring, breathwork, emotional regulation, heart rate variability, and why a flexible nervous system may be one of the most underrated business tools a woman can develop. Because success is not just about what you build. It is about who your body feels safe becoming. Melissa Hoffman is a holistic mindset coach and breathwork facilitator who helps high-achieving women entrepreneurs regulate their nervous systems, rewire subconscious beliefs, and embody the version of themselves who feels safe being seen, fully expressed, and abundantly paid. Through her signature blend of nervous system work and identity alignment, Melissa guides women to grow their businesses with ease, confidence, and authenticity without the hustle. Before becoming a coach, Melissa spent 12 years as a luxury makeup and hair artist, helping women feel beautiful and confident for weddings, photo shoots, and brand sessions. That work revealed a deeper calling: helping women feel confident not just for a day, but from the inside out. www.melissahoffmann.com Instagram Support the show Connect with Rachel Joy-Led Leadership Forum Take the Pledge to send 1 Text a Day The JOY Project Joy is THE Strategy Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the next level of leadership is not about pushing harder, doing more, or proving yourself again and again?What if it is about awareness?In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel sits down with Steve Barton, executive coach, author, and creator of Game of Ten, an awareness-based framework that helps leaders operate with greater clarity, confidence, peace of mind, and purpose.Steve shares how many high-achieving leaders are operating from fear, self-doubt, guilt, or shame without even realizing it. Through his Game of Ten framework, he explains how we can begin to recognize those thought patterns, let them go, and return to a deeper truth:I am enough. I do enough. I have enough.Rachel and Steve talk about awareness, overthinking, leadership, emotional clarity, intuition, the power of the present moment, and why “enough” may be one of the most powerful words in both life and leadership.This conversation is part practical, part spiritual, part brain science, and fully human.Because joy is not fluffy. Awareness is not extra. And leadership does not have to be powered by pressure.Guest BioSteve Barton is an executive coach, author, and creator of Game of Ten, a powerful awareness-based framework that helps leaders operate at their highest level of clarity, confidence, and performance.With over 30 years of real-world business experience, Steve grew a company from $200,000 to $2 million in annual revenue. His work blends practical business strategy with deep insight into human awareness, decision-making, and emotional intelligence.Steve has presented his coaching process to the Harvard Business School case study team and works with executives, entrepreneurs, and high achievers who want more than financial success. They want peace of mind, stronger relationships, and a clear sense of purpose.He is also the author of The Father, the Son, and the Aha Moment and is currently writing his next book focused on helping leaders and professionals develop the mindset, emotional clarity, and inner alignment needed to succeed in both business and life.Steve Barton CoachingSupport the showConnect with RachelJoy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the first few minutes after waking could change the way you experience your entire day?In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel talks about the science of the waking brain, theta brain waves, nervous system regulation, priming, gratitude, and how to “brainwash” yourself for more joy.Not in a toxic positivity way.Not in a pretend-life-is-perfect way.In a grounded, practical, science-backed way.You’ll learn why your brain is especially open during the transition from sleep to waking, how your first inputs can shape your mood and attention, and what to do before reaching for your phone.Rachel shares a simple 5-minute joy reset you can try this week:Take three breaths. Ask one joy question. Choose one sentence. Do one joyful thing.Because joy is not waiting at the end of the day.Joy is available at the beginning.Support the showConnect with RachelJoy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel sits down with Anni Eza, mental health expert, master healer, shadow priestess, teacher, and co-founder of Seeds of Bliss.Annie brings a powerful perspective on healing, nervous system resonance, shadow work, fear, grief, and what it means to expand your capacity to hold the life you actually want.This conversation explores why the nervous system often chooses what is familiar over what is freeing, why shadow work is not about “getting rid” of the dark parts of ourselves, and how grief, fear, anger, and joy all belong in the full human experience.Rachel and Annie also talk about the difference between living from endurance and living from capacity, especially for high-functioning leaders, nurturers, creatives, and people who are used to holding everything together.This episode is a beautiful reminder that you are not broken. You are not here to fix yourself into perfection. You are a miracle in progress.Connect with Anni:https://seedsofbliss.lifeFREE NEWSLETTERInstagramFacebookSupport the showConnect with RachelJoy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailWhat does it actually mean to be the change — not just talk about it? In this episode, Rachel sits down with Jaclyn Orent, cultural catalyst and CEO of the Cultural Catalyst Network, for a rich conversation about inner transformation, feminine leadership, and what it really takes to shift culture from the inside out.Jaclyn shares her remarkable journey — from a 36-day water fast that cracked her world open, to building a science-backed framework that helps purpose-driven leaders create exponential cultural change. If you've ever felt like you've achieved what you set out to achieve and wondered now what? — this episode is for you.In this episode, you'll hear about:How a 36-day water fast became the unlikely catalyst for Jaclyn's transformation and life's workWhat a "cultural catalyst" actually is — and how to know if you are oneThe Cultural Catalyst System: visioning, setting impossible frames, and why your goals might be keeping you stuckWhy feminine leadership is rooted in desire rather than force — and how that distinction prevents burnoutThe Positive Emotional Attractor (PEA) and why your vision has to truly light you up to fuel changeWhy purpose-driven leaders are siloed right now — and what happens when they connectEFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) as a tool for expanding leadership capacityThe Gene Keys and finding your unique path to self-actualizationWhy joy, love, and inner states are not "fluffy" — they produce quantifiable, exponential outcomesResources & Links Mentioned:🌐 Cultural Catalyst Network & 15-page synopsis: culturalcatalysts.net🌐 Cultural Catalyst Initiation (half-day to full-day experience with Jaclyn & Tracy): culturalcontribution.com🌐 World Tapping Circle (EFT library with 300+ videos by Sonia Sophia): available at culturalcatalysts.net📖 Gene Keys by Richard Rudd📖 Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy📖 Power vs. Force by David Hawkins🔬 Intentional Change Theory (Richard Boyatzis)Connect with Jacqueline Orand:Website: culturalcatalysts.netSupport the showConnect with RachelJoy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the goal was never to simply endure more?After starting with one of the hardest endurance races in the world, Rachel learned a truth that reaches far beyond athletics: just because you can endure something does not mean endurance should become your life strategy.This episode introduces Rachel’s Joy-Led Leadership framework and the four shifts at the heart of The JOY Collective:Joy over Endurance Regulation over Urgency Integration over Compartmentalization Community over CompetitionThis is not about forced happiness, toxic positivity, or pretending life is easy. It is about building a new model of power where joy becomes strategic infrastructure, leadership becomes more sustainable, and women no longer have to abandon themselves in order to succeed.If you have ever been praised for carrying too much, leading through pressure, holding it all together, or proving how strong you are by how exhausted you are, this conversation is for you.Joy is not the reward.Joy is the strategy.Let’s use it.Support the showConnect with RachelJoy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailWhat if productivity wasn’t about doing more… but about missing less of your life?In this insightful and refreshingly honest conversation, Rachel sits down with Angela Jamieson - former petroleum engineer turned author, speaker, and creator of Relaxed Productivity - to challenge everything you thought you knew about success.Angela shares how a deeply personal loss led her to rethink life, work, and what actually matters—and how she now helps high-achieving professionals slow down mentally so they can show up more fully in their lives.This isn’t about doing less. It’s about living more.🎙️ In this episode, we explore: The hidden cost of “doing everything right”  Why your brain might be working against you (and how to override it)  The real meaning of productivity beyond work  How stress can actually point you toward what matters most  The power of stepping back to see the bigger picture  Why joy, presence, and success belong in the same sentence And yes… we also talk about her unforgettable book: https://mybook.to/2to1book - a wildly creative, hilarious, and surprisingly profound take on personal growth. 💩➡️🥇Website: https://www.angelajamieson.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angejamiesonFreebie: The Glide Test: https://www.angelajamieson.com/glidetestSupport the showConnect with RachelJoy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailWhat if joy isn’t something you wait for… but something you build?In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel breaks down the science and strategy behind joy—and how fun, variety, and happiness work together to create a life that actually feels good.Blending research from leading experts like Arthur Brooks, Catherine Price, Kelly McGonigal, Ross Gay, and Shawn Achor with her own ENJOY Method™, Rachel shows you how to move from checking boxes to truly experiencing your life.You’ll learn: Why happiness alone isn’t enough (and what’s missing)  The real definition of fun—and why it matters more than you think  How movement creates joy in your body (not just results)  Why variety is the secret to feeling alive again  How noticing small moments can rewire your brain for joy  Rachel’s “Macros of Joy” and how to use them daily This isn’t about doing more.It’s about feeling more… with what you already have.🎯 Your takeaway: Joy isn’t the reward. It’s the way forward.Support the showConnect with RachelJoy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailWhat if the life you’re building isn’t about perfection… but about curiosity?In this deeply honest and expansive conversation, Rachel sits down with author, traveler, and creative soul Luna Westish to explore identity, reinvention, and what it really means to become who you are—on your own terms.From leaving a high-control religion to navigating parenthood, neurodivergence, and creative expression, Luna shares a powerful story of self-discovery that will resonate with anyone who has ever asked: Who am I now?This episode is a reminder that you don’t need a complete roadmap. You just need the next right step.🎙️ We talk about: Rebuilding identity after major life shifts  Why curiosity is more powerful than judgment  The truth about perfectionism (and where it comes from)  Neurodivergence, creativity, and self-acceptance  Why you don’t need permission to call yourself a writer, artist, or leader  The healing power of storytelling—especially through fiction And of course, we dive into Luna’s novel Meet Me at the Ruins, a reflective, cross-genre story about identity, belonging, and love.If you’ve been feeling stuck, boxed in, or unsure of your next move… this episode will gently crack open the door.Purchase the book (also available on Amazon): https://bookshop.org/a/115025/9798986371665Social Media Links:https://www.instagram.com/lunawestishhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576278556728https://www.tiktok.com/lunawestishAuthor website:www.lunawestish.comNon-fiction writing: https://www.medium.com/@allisonbishinsSupport the showConnect with RachelJoy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us Fan MailWhat actually happens in your brain under stress… and how does joy help you recover?In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, Rachel goes deep into the neuroscience of resilience, breaking down how chronic stress impacts the brain and why joy is not a luxury—but a biological strategy.You’ll learn: How the amygdala becomes more reactive under chronic stress  Why your prefrontal cortex goes offline when you need it most  The role of blood flow, cortisol, and nervous system regulation How stress reshapes your brain—and how joy helps reshape it back  Why “pushing through” is not resilience (and what is)  Simple, science-backed practices to regulate your nervous system in real time This is a nerdy, empowering deep dive into how your brain actually works—and how to use joy to lead, live, and recover more powerfully.Because joy isn’t the reward.It’s the strategy.Support the showConnect with RachelJoy-Led Leadership ForumTake the Pledge to send 1 Text a DayThe JOY ProjectJoy is THE StrategyInstagramLinkedInYouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.