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Jump Start Your Joy®

by Paula Jenkins

Jump Start Your Joy is a podcast by Paula Jenkins, a business coach and podcast producer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Inspired by the quote "Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day (Henri Nouwen)," this lively show looks at the inspiration, intention, and action that lead to joy in your life, the world, and other people's lives.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Aug 15, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. An Interview with Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block (10 Years Later)

    In this special 10th anniversary episode, I'm revisiting one of my all-time favorite conversations from the Jump Start Your Joy archives: my 2016 interview with Danny Wood of New Kids on the Block. This conversation holds a deeply personal place in my heart, not just because of Danny's inspiring...

  2. 5 Mindfulness Tips to Ease Overwhelm in Difficult Times

    In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I'm taking a mindful pause to share five powerful techniques that can help you recenter when life feels overwhelming. Originally recorded after I led a mindfulness program at a summer camp (a place that holds such a special spot in my heart) this episode...

  3. Three Gentle Ways to Jump Start Your Joy (plus a quote from Michelle Obama)

    In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I'm diving into something we all need right now: gentle, accessible ways to reconnect with joy during difficult times. I open with a powerful quote from Michelle Obama about planning for joy, especially for those of us who are caretakers, empaths, or...

  4. Finding My Word of the Year 2026: How Music Brought Me Back to Joy

    Welcome back to Jump Start Your Joy! In this episode, I'm sharing something deeply personal my unexpected word of the year for 2026: HARMONY. This word literally came to me in the middle of the night, and as I share my story, you'll understand why it makes perfect sense. I'm diving into how…

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  5. One Person Can Change Everything: WWII Stories from Notre Dame, Chartres & the Arc de Triomphe

    In this episode, I share the deeply inspiring experiences from my recent trip to Paris with my 14-year-old son. What started as an eighth-grade graduation gift became a profound journey through living history, exploring three iconic sites that offered unexpected lessons about resilience, courage,...

  6. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For: Faith, Longing, and Finding Joy in the Messy Middle

    In this episode, I'm getting personal and sharing a discovery that felt like a gift at exactly the right time. While clearing out my closet in search of structure and calm, I found my old portable CD player from 1997, still loaded with U2's "The Best Of 1980-1990." When track four started…

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  7. Planning Your Year with Ease and Calm (2026)

    As we step into 2026, I'm excited to share my approach to planning your year with calm and ease. In this episode, I walk you through the exact planning methods I've used for over a decade to stay focused on what truly matters while maintaining peace and presence. Whether you're feeling…

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  8. Ten Years of the Podcast: Let's Talk About The Jump Start of Encouragement, Community and Finding Our Grounding

    Welcome back to Jump Start Your Joy! I'm so excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the show with you. In this special episode, I reflect on a decade of podcasting, the transitions that have shaped my life, and the importance of being present for the moments that matter most. From recording…

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  9. Rebirth and Resilience: Andrea Owen on Navigating Life's Most Difficult Times

    I'm excited to welcome back Andrea Owen! A lot has happened since her last visit in 2021, and she's here to share her powerful journey over the past few years. We dive into Andrea's experience during the pandemic and how 'pandemic time' reshaped her perspective on life and relationships. She…

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  10. DreamQuest with Judith Tripp - A Journey of Joy and Reflection in Liminal Space

    This episode is a heartfelt and inspiring conversation with Judith Tripp, a multifaceted leader who brings together spirituality, psychology, and art in her work. Judith is the force behind DreamQuest retreats at Grace Cathedral, a labyrinth facilitator, a transpersonal psychotherapist, and a...

  11. Finding Glimmers: Embracing Moments of Joy and Hope Amid Life's Chaos with host Paula Jenkins

    In this week's episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I'm talking about the concept of 'glimmers,' which are the small instances of joy, hope, or inspiration that counterbalance life's triggers. The episode aims to provide listeners with ways to identify and cherish these glimmers, especially during…

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  12. Journey into Sacred Spaces: Building Labyrinths with Master Builder Lars Howlett

    In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I'm thrilled to welcome Lars Howlett, a Master Labyrinth Builder and Advanced Labyrinth Facilitator, to explore the captivating world of labyrinths! Lars brings extensive knowledge about labyrinth building, labyrinth symbolism, and the power these sacred...

  13. Rediscovering Purpose and Connection: The 25th Yale Divinity School Reunion and The Transformative Power of the Labyrinth

    In this heartwarming episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I'm taking you along with me on a journey back to Yale Divinity School for my 25th reunion—a place where old friendships, profound growth, and life's deeper questions all come together. Reuniting with friends, revisiting cherished memories, and...

  14. The Yale Divinity School Labyrinth, Ecological Renewal and Spiritual Journeys with Christopher Freimuth

    In this episode of 'Jump Start Your Joy,' join Paula in a rich conversation with Christopher Freimuth, a Yale Divinity School student and owner of CF Gardens in New York City. The episode unpacks Chris's journey from his rural upbringing in Connecticut to becoming a professional gardener in New...

  15. How Illana Burk Revolutionizes Ethical Business with Joy and Integrity

    In this episode, Paula is joined by the remarkable Illana Burk, a coach and consultant with a passion for helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs thrive. Illana shares her journey from being a dancer to becoming a successful business mentor, diving into her philosophy on…

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  16. Liminal Space: Finding Comfort and Joy in the Space In Between

    Liminal space is defined as the transitional space that can be physical, metaphorical, spiritual, or emotional. Pulling from examples in Disneyland, Proper People, & Station Eleven I'm looking at how we navigate through liminal space when we encounter it. Read the full show notes:...

  17. Navigating Politics And Self-Care With Expert Tami Hackbarth

    Read the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2024/07/navigating-politics-and-self-care-with-expert-tami-hackbarth/ In this episode, I'm joined by Tami Hackbarth, a seasoned author, activist, and advocate for 100% Guilt-Free Self-Care. Together, they explore the crucial intersection of...

  18. Transforming Life and Leadership Through Kindness with Lara Heacock

    Read the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2024/07/transforming-life-and-leadership-through-kindness-with-lara-heacock In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, host Paula Jenkins welcomes Lara Heacock, executive coach, and Editor-in-Chief of Kind Over Matter. We discuss the practices…

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  19. Return to Nature with Emma Loewe

    Read the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2022/08/return-to-nature-emma-loewe/ Emma Loewe is the co-author of The Spirit Almanac, and she is the senior sustainability editor for mindbodygreen, and she has released the amazing book, Return to Nature: The New Science of How Nature...

  20. Celebrating 37 Years of Joy: An Interview with Retiring Educator Molly Barnes

    Read the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2024/07/celebrating-37-years-of-joy-an-interview-with-retiring-educator-molly-barnes/ In this heartfelt episode, Paula interviews Molly Barnes, the beloved principal and superintendent of Sunol Glenn Elementary. Molly shares her passionate...

  21. Activism and Resilience with Christy Tending: Writing Through Grief and Joy

    Read the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2024/07/activism-and-resilience-with-christy-tending-writing-through-grief-and-joy/ I'm welcoming back my friend and author Christy Tending. Christy is joining me to discuss her new book, "The High Priestess of the Apocalypse," which is a...

  22. Finding Joy through Structure and Elegance with Jennifer L. Scott, Author of The Madame Chic books

    Read the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2024/06/finding-joy-through-structure-and-elegance-with-jennifer-l-scott/ In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, Paula interviews Jennifer L. Scott, the New York Times bestselling author of the Madame Chic Series and content creator behind…

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  23. Embracing the Gifts of Nellie Oleson: Alison Arngrim on her time on Little House on the Prairie

    Get the full show notes: Follow/subscribe to JSYJ (free) on your favorite app: https://plnk.to/JumpStartYourJoy Alison Arngrim, the actress best known for her role as Nellie Oleson on 'Little House on the Prairie' joins Paula in this look back episode. This episode, originally recorded a few…

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  24. Exploring Trauma and Joy with author Jen Soriano

    Get the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2024/06/exploring-trauma-and-joy-with-author-jen-soriano Follow/subscribe to JSYJ (free) on your favorite app: https://plnk.to/JumpStartYourJoy In this episode of Jumpstart Your Joy, Paula interviews Jen Soriano, a Filipinx writer and movement...

  25. Embracing What You Stand FOR in This New Era of JSYJ

    Get the full show notes: https://jumpstartyourjoy.com/2024/06/what-do-you-stand-for/ In the first episode of Season 8 of 'Jumpstart Your Joy,' I'm returning after an 18-month break to discuss the profound changes and reflections experienced during the hiatus. The episode dives into themes of...

  26. 5 Ways to Find More Comfort and Joy (Season 7 Wrap Up)

    This week's episode is the finale of season seven where I've been talking all about intentional comfort and how to bring more comfort and ease into your everyday life. If you have not yet listened to the episode where I did the countdown of the top 10 most downloaded episodes, you can tune in…

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  27. Become A Wonder Seeker by Adding More Wonder, Magic, and Joy to Your Life with Andrea Scher

    Andrea Scher has thrilled and inspired others for nearly twenty years through her award-winning blog Superhero Journal, her international workshops, her Creative Superheroes podcast, and her joyful e-courses. In this episode, we discuss Andrea's new book, Wonder Seeker: 52 Ways to Wake up Your...

  28. Three Ways to Reconnect with Intentional Comfort as Inspired by the Art of Gathering

    Intentional Comfort is the theme of this season, and in this episode I'm taking inspiration from Priya Parker's Art of Gathering, and using her 3 rules of gathering to consider new ways to reconnect with what nourishes, fortifies, and supports you. While her Ted Talk is about how to interact in...

  29. Empaths and Highly Sensitive People with guest Signe Myers Hovem

    Signe Myers Hovem is a spiritual counselor, an energy worker, and the author of The Space in Between: An Empaths Field Guide. In this interview on Jump Start Your Joy podcast, we are talking about empaths and highly sensitive people (HSPs). If you are a highly sensitive person, or if you have a...

  30. Top 10 Most Beloved Episodes of Season Seven on Jump Start Your Joy (Finale Part One: A Countdown)

    Season 7 was all about "Intentional Comfort." This episode shares the top ten most downloaded and beloved episodes from season 7. They are: 10. Emma Loewe, author of Return to Nature Listen to the original episode Buy the book 9. 5 Tips to Bring More Mindfulness to You Everyday Listen to the...

  31. 10 Things That Will Inspire More Passion and Joy in Your Work and Life (Best of Season 7)

    Are you looking for ways to define what brings you joy, and identify your passions? In this episode I'm sharing 2 exercises to help figure out what you're passionate about and 10 ways to bring more of that passion to your work and your life. Read the full show notes on my website Introspection -...

  32. Still on Fire: Joy, Intuition, and Your Soul's Path with author Renee Linnell

    I'm really excited to have author Renee Linnell back on JSYJ!. This is her second time on the podcast, and in this brand new conversation, we're talking about her book that came out on August 16, 2022, which is titled "Still on Fire: A Memoir." Renee first came on the show when her first book…

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  33. Return to Nature with Emma Loewe

    Emma Loewe is the co-author of The Spirit Almanac, and she is the senior sustainability editor for mindbodygreen, and she has released the amazing book, Return to Nature: The New Science of How Nature Landscapes Restore Us. In it, she shares the different kinds of landscapes, how they effect your...

  34. Eight Great Ways to Jumpstart Your Creativity and Get Unstuck

    Creativity and joy are closely related. If you're feeling stuck, and need some inspiration on how to tap into creativity - Marion Abrams of Grounded Content and I have 8 ideas for you to jumpstart your creativity and joy. Here they are: 1. Just do the thing. Starting is the hardest part. 2.…

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  35. Finding Joy and Learning to "Give From Your Overflow" During Stressful Times

    The weighty-ness of the past two years means we're all working through difficult things. Joy is as important now as ever before. Joy gives you room for "overflow" which allows you to be more present & available for the things that matter most. In this episode, I'm sharing: 1. a quote that made me...

  36. Intentional Comfort and Joy in the Midst of Grief with Jenn Oglesbee

    Jenn Oglesbee is a certified life coach and licensed clinical social worker, and the discussions that she and I had last summer on Instagram Live are what me to choose the "Intentional Comfort" for season seven on Jump Start Your Joy. We had a series called "What the Hell?," and in it we…

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  37. Five Easy Mindfulness Tips to Help You Every Day

    Mindfulness is a great way to find more joy and center yourself. In this time of transition, when things feel difficult, it's great to have a few easy, go-to mindfulness tools. The five are: 1. Notice your emotions, and share them with someone else. 2. Breathe, as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. I…

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  38. Finding and Honoring Your Heart's Second Home

    In tying in with this season's theme of "Intentional Comfort," and the mini series on "Finding Home," I'm excited to share about how finding and honoring your heart's second home. The idea of having homes beyond the physical place you dwell is one that hit me in about 2004, when I attended a...

  39. Shelter in Place and Finding Your Way Home with Laura Joyce Davis

    Laura Joyce Davis started her podcast, Shelter in Place, just as the pandemic shut California and the United States down on March 17, 2020. We talk about finding joy in hard times, defining the meaning of home, and sheltering in place as parents. Laura is a Minneapolis native who now calls…

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  40. The Body is Not an Apology with Sonya Renee Taylor

    In this interview, I am so honored to be joined by author Sonya Renee Taylor. Sonya is the author of the the New York Times Bestselling book, "The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love." She just recently released an updated version of that book, and the "Your Body is Not an...

  41. Fred LeBlanc on Finding a Mardi Gras State of Mind

    Fred LeBlanc is back for the third time on Jump Start Your Joy, and he's joining me this time to talk about his new single, "Mardi Gras State of Mind" and his reflections on how things changed for him (and all of us) during the pandemic. In refreshing Fred style, we also dive into talking about…

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  42. Stepping Up and Standing Out as an Introvert with Heather Hall

    In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I'm so excited to welcome Heather Hall, a transformative Leadership Coach, strategic Executive Coach, and evocative Spiritual Director whom I met through CLCC. She's also the author of Step Up and Stand Out: 20 Tips for Aspiring Introverted Leaders. Heather...

  43. 10 Things That Will Inspire More Passion and Joy in Your Work and Life

    10 Things That Will Inspire More Passion and Joy in Your Work and Life Introspection - Using the tools above, or working with a coach, a mentor, or a journal can provide a lot of insight for you. It's also important that you take time to heal any sort of past trauma or issues that might be making...

  44. Long Live the 80s: Arcade Games, Music and an Airbnb with guest Scott Leftwich of Wieners and Losers

    In this interview, I'm excited to be joined by Scott Leftwich. Scott originally started collecting console video games, and then began collecting early arcade games. He now owns 125 video games, and has the largest privately held collection of video games on the East Coast. Once a month, he opens...

  45. Discovering the Sacred Path of the Labyrinth with guest Lauren Artress

    In this episode, I'm honored to be interviewing Lauren Artress. She is an author, Canon of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, founder of Veriditas, and a spiritual pioneer and a leading force in popularizing the Labyrinth in the US and around the world. I have been fascinated with Labyrinths for...

  46. Content Creation: Podcast Editing, Publishing, Interviewing, Audience Growth and More

    Marion Abrams of Grounded Content joins the show and we're talking all things content creation, with a special lens around pocasts. I know so many of you that listen, have some sort of entrepreneurial pursuit where you are creating content week over week or on a regular basis. And some of those...

  47. Understanding Shared Death Experiences with William Peters (author of At Heaven's Door)

    In this episode of Jump Start Your Joy, I am interviewing William J. Peters. He is the founder of the Shared Crossing Project and the director of its research initiative. He is the author of the new book, "At Heaven's Door: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach about Dying Well and Living...

  48. Taking the Best Care of Yourself by Addressing 'Deferred Maintenance' with Self Care Expert Tami Hackbarth

    I'm delighted to have guest Tami Hackbarth back for a second interview on Jump Start Your Joy. Tami is the host of a hundred percent guilt-free self-care podcast, and she runs a very successful coaching business where she works with women to help them define and follow up with self care. In this...

  49. Empaths and Highly Sensitive People with guest Signe Myers Hovem

    Signe Myers Hovem is a spiritual counselor, an energy worker, and the author of The Space in Between: An Empaths Field Guide. In this interview on Jump Start Your Joy podcast, we are talking about empaths and highly sensitive people (HSPs). If you are a highly sensitive person, or if you have a...

  50. Waking Up to the Truth of Who You Are with guest Jonni Pollard

    I truly enjoyed getting to speak with Jonni, and felt myself sinking into the conversation in a deep way. One of the most inspirational parts of the discussion for me was when we walked through the Four Golden Insights, which are the pillars for the work Jonni does. Life is Sacred Love is our...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Jump Start Your Joy is a podcast by Paula Jenkins, a business coach and podcast producer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Inspired by the quote "Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day (Henri Nouwen)," this lively show looks at the inspiration, intention, and action that lead to joy in your life, the world, and other people's lives.

HOSTED BY

Paula Jenkins

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Jump Start Your Joy® have?

Jump Start Your Joy® currently has 361 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Jump Start Your Joy® about?

Jump Start Your Joy is a podcast by Paula Jenkins, a business coach and podcast producer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Inspired by the quote "Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day (Henri Nouwen)," this lively show looks at the inspiration,...

How often does Jump Start Your Joy® release new episodes?

Jump Start Your Joy® publishes regularly with 361 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to Jump Start Your Joy®?

You can listen to Jump Start Your Joy® 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 Jump Start Your Joy®?

Jump Start Your Joy® is created and hosted by Paula Jenkins.
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