Joy Class

“Time management is so personal. People should listen to their preferences and tendencies and have a system that molds to them in their life.” - Kelly Nolan At its core, time management is a tool to help you to be more present in your life. One of the biggest hurdles that stops us from taking care of ourselves is the feeling that there’s just not enough time in the day. We want to make time for ourselves or to create healthier habits, but when it comes down to it, it feels like there’s always something more urgent to do. The good news is you’re not alone. While many of us feel a lot of shame around never getting through our to-do lists, the reality is that even the most accomplished women are not immune to these feelings of being overwhelmed and constantly feeling like they’re running behind. Time management isn’t a skill that comes naturally to most of us. You need a strategy and system that will help you show up in the ways you want to. Today, I’m excited to share my interview with Kelly Nolan, where we talk about how to shift how we organize ourselves and manage our time to create more space to create the lives we want without guilt or shame. In this conversation, Kelly and I discuss why so many people are struggling with feeling overwhelmed, where you can start if you’re feeling like you just can't catch your breath, a step-by-step plan to get a better handle on your time, how you can find space for joy and pleasure in your life, and more.   Let's pull joy in together!       Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/30

“I show up for the things that feel good, and the things that don't, I stop doing.” - Lindsey Kaszuba So many of us are weighed down by all the things we “should” be doing for our health. Just because a habit is good for us doesn’t mean it will come easily, and even habits helping us feel better can sometimes be challenging to stick to. Add to that the tons of often-conflicting health advice floating around on the internet, and you have a recipe for overwhelm. That’s when our wellness routines become a source of stress instead of rejuvenation and joy. Today, I’m excited to be joined by Health & Habit Coach Lindsey Kaszuba to talk about how we can sustainably incorporate habits that are right for us. Finding your non-negotiable habits is a personal journey. Lindsey is a big advocate for building awareness and excellent intuition around caring for yourself.  In this conversation, Lindsey and I discuss the role of intuition in self-care, how mindfulness and meditation have positively impacted her life, teaching healthy habits to your children, overcoming societal pressures about what you should and should not be doing, tuning into what your body needs at any given time, and more. This is a conversation about coming home to yourself and knowing how to take care of who you are in this particular season of your life.    Let's pull joy in together!     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/29

“If you can deal with anger as it arises, none of its cousins - like resentment and contempt - will come in.” - Jordan Dann In the last couple of years, I’ve seen an overwhelming amount of resentment building in many relationships around me. With the drastic changes that came about because of the pandemic, the dynamics and systems we were accustomed to have dramatically shifted and it’s caused a lot of strain on us. Today, I’m talking to ​​dynamic psychoanalyst Jordan Dann about how we can shift from resentment into healthy connections in our relationships. This was one of the most critical conversations I've had on the podcast, and it honored the complexity and nuances surrounding our most important relationships. In this episode, Jordan and I discuss the importance of understanding your attachment story, how to set healthy boundaries (and the problem with boundaries becoming such a buzzword),  building tolerance for conflict, why resentment develops between couples, the connection between anger and vulnerability, and more.   Let's pull joy in together!       Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/28

“Authentic confidence comes as the reward for taking action.” Self-confidence is not something you build up once that lasts forever. It’s more like a living, breathing organism you need to nurture and care for. You will have phases in life where confidence comes easily and others where it’s hard to access. These seasons are a part of life; what matters is that you empower yourself with the tools to bring your confidence back to life when needed. In this episode, I’m answering a question I received from many listeners about how to build authentic confidence and self-trust. I’m talking about what self-confidence really means, why it has to be an inside-out job, the five cornerstone tools you can use to help build it, insights I’ve gathered over the years of working with clients, and more.   Let's pull joy in together!     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/27

“Most people are not taught to be in touch with their needs.” - Julia Stephanides We live in a hyper-capitalist society where it’s better for the system if we don’t have needs. We should work hard, never stop, and do our jobs quietly - as close to robots as possible. But at some point, we must stop, reclaim our humanity, acknowledge our needs and feelings, and reconnect with them. The law is so focused on the external process of advocacy that there’s little to no room for the internal process that a person has to go through when they decide to step into their power and advocate for themselves. That’s where people like today’s guest, Julia Stephanides, come in. I met Julia a year ago at a weekend retreat where we connected while talking about the nature of work culture in the US and how it gets in the way of people finding and sustaining joy in their lives. In this conversation, Julia and I are talking about how you can understand the law better, know your needs, and become your best advocate. We discuss common issues employees face in the workplace, Julia’s experiences with chronic health conditions, understanding what qualifies as a disability under the law, the importance of self-advocacy and awareness in securing reasonable accommodations at work, and more.  Let's pull joy in together!     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/26

“Enough of the world is out there fighting you. You have to have a haven, you can't come into a space that is fighting you as well.” - Alejandra Brady I’ve always believed that the physical spaces we live in influence our inner spades, how we feel in our lives, and what we think we’re capable of. Beyond that, our spaces have healing power and can influence our energy in immeasurable ways. This belief led me to explore more deeply and today I’m joined by feng shui expert, Alejandra Brady, to talk about how we can create intentional and supportive spaces in our homes so we can thrive in our lives.  In this conversation, Alejandra and I discuss the importance of intention in feng shui, how our homes can support our wellbeing, Alejandra’s journey to feng shui, the concept of the Bagua Map and how it’s used to analyze different areas of a home, Alejandra’s insights on the placement of plants and the use of color, and more.   Let's pull joy in together!     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/25

From a young age, society tells women how our bodies should look and judges us when we don’t match up with the unrealistic standards we’re fed. From idealized body shapes to how quickly we’re expected to lose baby weight, the whole topic of women’s weight can be triggering. One of the most challenging times to manage this is around perimenopause when many women experience weight gain unlike anything they have before. They’re eating the same way and moving the same amount, but the weight gets added, and it's tough to lose. The good news is that there’s so much we can do to support and nourish ourselves to feel healthy and vibrant during this change. Today, I’m joined by Erin Parekh, a Clinical and Functional Nutritionist, and Women’s Health Specialist, to talk about how we can empower ourselves as women in our late 30s and 40s when it comes to hormonal changes and weight loss.   In this conversation, Erin and I talk about the hormonal changes women experience in their 40s, how these changes impact our weight, practical tips for managing stress levels, how you can start prioritizing sleep, what it looks like to maintain a balanced diet, and more.   Let's pull joy in together!     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/24

Turning 40 often comes with a lot of mixed emotions. Some of us feel trepidation, some are excited; for others, it’s just another day. The good news is that despite that, most of us end up on the other side feeling empowered and loving the new decade. This birthday wasn’t easy for me, and I turned to my journals to process my emotions. What came out of that was a deeper understanding of my own discomfort and why I felt like I was struggling with the transition into my 40s. It also led me to the recognition that the only thing I have control over is how much I enjoy the time passing by. In this episode, I’m sharing why it’s important to find space to nourish yourself and refuse to live with a tight leash, how going solo to a creative retreat in Italy helped me and my family, what it looks like to come home to yourself, and more. By pushing yourself outside your routine and comfort zone, you’ll grow your self-trust and develop deeper confidence.   Let's pull joy in together!       Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/23

“The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives.” - Esther Perel My relationships are everything. That's true for my friendships, my extended family, my kids, and of course, my husband, with whom I'm co-creating our entire life. But even though romantic relationships are so meaningful, they can be some of the most tricky to navigate. So much pressure can be layered onto this relationship, from kids to money and all the other complexities. So how can we ensure we’re nourishing these relationships and setting ourselves up to thrive? As we head into the summer break, I’m dedicating this episode to the top five ingredients that make a relationship harmonious, functional, romantic, fun, and connected. These five ingredients often get neglected when our responsibilities bog us down and can make the most difference when we’re intentional about building back up.   Let's pull joy in together!     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/22

Skincare is a long game. How you treat your skin now will have a massive impact on how your skin looks and feels in the next twenty years. When your skin is vibrant and healthy, you feel much better in your body and life. For me, skincare has become a significant joy driver and something that makes me feel happy, nurtured, and nourished. As we get older, our skin changes, and it can feel overwhelming to figure out the best products and techniques to get your skin to the healthy place you want it to be. Today I’m joined by skincare expert Jennifer Adell to talk about how to get your best skin in your 30s, 40s, and 50s. I have to admit that this interview was very selfish because I love skincare and watching Jennifer's videos online.  In this conversation, Jennifer and I talk about common skincare struggles as we age, how lifestyle and nutrition impact skin health, different products and ingredients to look out for in your routine, what you need to know to give yourself a good foundation for aging gracefully, how to start building your skincare routine, and more. Jennifer’s approach is about being gentle with yourself, appreciating where you are, and starting where you can. I think you’re going to love this one.   Let's pull joy in together!       Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/21

“Calm is not something we're born knowing how to access. It's a muscle that needs to be flexed, grown, and nurtured.” - Jenna Hermans   Most of us didn’t grow up in a naturally calm, easy, and grounded setting. The world around us is very active and busy, and we’re constantly bombarded with messaging about hustling and productivity. Finding calm in chaos is a skill set we have to learn. While the occasional moments of chaos can be pretty fun, I always want more calmness in my life. Constant chaos leads to overwhelm for me, and everyone around me suffers too.  I'm so excited about today’s interview with Jenna Hermans, the author of Chaos to Calm. She’s an expert on helping parents move away from chaos and into calmness so that we can all create intentional lives that allow each member of the family to thrive.   In this conversation, we talk about the connection between joy and calm, the challenges of parenting, the effects of isolation on our mental health, what it takes for us to change our lives, how you can start your journey from chaos to calm, and more.   Let's pull joy in together!       Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/20

“Self-worth is an inside job, but it's also okay to want to hear that you’re attractive.” - Dana Myers If you feel like your libido disappeared or you’re struggling to feel sexy after having kids, you’re not alone. From my experience and the conversations I’ve had with clients and friends, I can tell you that this is something that many women struggle with. When so much of yourself is dedicated to caring for someone else, your pleasure can easily fall by the wayside. Today I’m excited to be joined by my friend, Dana Myers, to talk about how to reawaken that side of yourself. Dana is a leading voice in the sexual wellness and empowerment space, and I got to ask her so many juicy questions. In this conversation, Dana and I explore why so many women struggle with feeling sexy and alive in their femininity, how to confront the guilt that often comes with taking time for ourselves, tips and tools for how you can reclaim your pleasure, and more. Feeling alive in your body is essential to experiencing lasting joy, and Dana offers a fresh perspective and insights on how you can move closer to that goal. Let's pull joy in together!       Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/19

Perfectionism is a common struggle for many people. Over the last ten-plus years of coaching, I've seen so many women - who technically have everything they need - jeopardizing their growth and joy because they're so tightly wound up in perfectionism. So many individual and societal factors can feed into perfectionism, but we can strengthen our relationship with ourselves by finding joy in imperfection. Today I’m joined by writer, coach, and founder of UNMEASURED™ Simi Botic to talk about the root of perfectionism and how you can start to release perfectionistic tendencies and find joy in imperfection.  In this conversation, Simi and I talk about her struggles with perfectionism, the journey to accepting your authentic self, what inspired Letting Go of Leo, the power of vulnerability and sharing your story, how society itself feeds into our perfectionism, strategies to stop getting in your way, and more. I was so excited to have this conversation with Simi, and I know you’ll get so many valuable nuggets from this episode.   Let's pull joy in together!         Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/18

True healing requires addressing the root cause of the problem, not just suppressing the symptoms. When it comes to things like anxiety, the conventional medical approach is to go straight to medication. Unfortunately, these can often lead to undesirable side effects, which are then treated with additional medicines, and the snowball effect continues. As a functional medicine practitioner, today’s guest, Dr. Ellen Vora, believes in a holistic perspective. Her approach is focused on creating lives in which her patients can thrive. I was so excited to have Ellen on the show because I’ve been obsessed with her content since we met a few months ago. She shares incredible information about anxiety and mental health, and I find her approach really refreshing. In this conversation, Ellen and I discuss the problem with the conventional approach to mental health, the mind-body connection, tuning in to your intuition, the major causes of anxiety, a series of tools, habits, and practices that can help you overcome anxiety, and more. I loved this conversation, and I know you will too.   Let's pull joy in together!         Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/17

"Our darkness is also light; they're not separate." - Jeannine Yoder At first glance, grief and joy seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. But what if they could coexist? We all have or will experience grief and loss in one form or another. Whether it’s losing a loved one, experiencing heartbreak, or living through a traumatic event, none of us can avoid it. At the same time, we’re culturally conditioned to deal quietly with it on our own. Today I’m joined by life and business coach Jeannine Yoder to talk about grief and loss and how we can move through grief in a way that doesn't wholly exclude joy from our life. A couple of months ago, I hosted a dinner with a group of women at my house to share their grief experiences. Jeannine was at that dinner, and her insights were so poignant, beautiful, and wise that she opened up the whole conversation. After that, I knew I had to have her on the podcast to share her enriching perspective with you.   In this conversation, we talk about grief and joy, why the two are not mutually exclusive, Jeannine’s healing journey, her decision to listen to the quiet inner voice that told her to burn everything down, how she found the courage to build a new foundation, and more. I know that you're going to love this conversation.   Let's pull joy in together!       Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/16

You can create the life that you want. Believing in your enoughness is fundamental if we are to thrive in the long run. It makes us more resilient and allows us to tap into our power and potential fully. On the flip side, people with a strong inner voice telling them they're not enough usually don't have a lot of space for joy and pleasure. Today I’m doing things a little differently. This episode is a pep talk for you, telling you you are enough. I’ll share some of my experiences and journey with my enoughness and two stories from previous clients that illustrate the depth and width of this conversation of enoughness. I hope you enjoy this episode and leave with the information and motivation to look at yourself and see your own enoughness, beauty, and resilience.   Let's pull joy in together!     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? If you're curious about working with me 1-on-1, apply here for a free 20-minute Discovery Call: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVeYaoibC7wbAEbjoKy9gaG5augZvA4cA1c4g-XaW-Sbh8hQ/viewform A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)).       To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/15

“I’m afraid there's something inside of me that will never stop eating ice cream if I let it.” So many of us carry around a fear that our minds and our bodies are on different teams. That if we don’t hold the reins of our diet tightly and avoid all temptation, we’ll spin out of control. Fortunately, it’s not true. Your body wants to feel good, agile, flexible, energized, and healthy. It all comes down to reconnecting with your body and your intuition. Today I’m joined by Jamie Mendell to talk about intuitive eating and finding joy through food. It was so important to me to bring this conversation to the podcast because I know many people struggle with emotional eating and feel out of control around food, and it’s wrapped up in a lot of self-criticism and pain. In this conversation, Jamie and I talk about how intuitive eating is the gateway to living an intuitive life, how it helps to strengthen your relationship with yourself, and why being restrictive with food prevents you from feeling whole and in harmony with yourself. I loved this interview and know you’ll gain so much value from it.   Let's pull joy in together!     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/14

It’s not what you eat; it’s what you absorb. - Sarah Marlette Gut health is a foundational pillar for optimal overall health. It’s directly connected to several body systems, from the brain to reproductive health, thyroid, and more. Despite its central importance, the standard Western diet doesn’t do our gut a lot of favors, and many of us find ourselves in a less-than-ideal place with our gut health. Today I’m joined by functional medicine licensed nutritionist Sarah Marlette to talk about what it means to have a healthy gut and practical tools you can use in your everyday life to rebuild your gut health. Sarah works with women to help them break through the noise of diet culture by creating a realistic approach to nutrition using tools, not rules. Sarah's passion is to inspire realistic, manageable, education-based habits. From supplements to diet and mental health, this conversation hit on many simple ways to make mindful shifts in our lives, including ensuring that our nervous system is well-nourished. Having a joy practice is one of the best ways to combat stress and even things like your gut health benefit from having joy in your life.   Let's pull joy in together!       Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? A FREE GIFT: The Joy Playlist Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/13

Most of us experience burnout even though we might not recognize it. Far from just feeling tired, burnout can impact every area of your life and relationships and the topic deserves far more attention than it's already getting. Once you’re in that place, it’s challenging to understand what kind of burnout you're experiencing, where it's coming from, and how to heal from it so you can return to a life where you are thriving. Today I'm joined by Justine Carino, a licensed mental health counselor and anxiety treatment specialist. In this conversation, we will explore burnout in-depth and how to avoid or address it. We'll also examine if certain personality types are more prone to burnout and why boundaries play a vital role in protecting ourselves from it. So, if you're ready to understand burnout and how to heal from it, this episode is for you. Justine is an expert in her field and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conversation. I'm excited to share her insights with you and provide you with specific action steps that you can take to build better boundaries and protect yourself from burnout in the long run.    Let's pull joy in together!     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/12

Your joy has the power to change your life. By tuning into your joy and becoming an active joy seeker, you will gain joy from seemingly simple and mundane things. That’s when life gets really juicy. By tuning in to your experience on this planet, it becomes much easier to know what you want, what’s meant for you, and where you need to set boundaries.   In this episode, I’ll walk you through exactly how you can create a joy practice that is authentic to you. An aligned joy practice carries such beautiful energy and high vibrations that life gives you goodness right back. It all starts with dreaming bigger and trusting you can find a way.   Let's pull joy in together!   Mentioned in the episode Developing Your Own Joy Practice Worksheet https://www.carolinezwickson.com/11     Ready to cultivate more joy in your life? Learn more about 1-on-1 Healing Sessions https://www.carolinezwickson.com/healing Want to learn more about working together 1:1? Send me an email at caroline@carolinezwickson.com Join Easy Joy, my 28-day joy challenge (it’s easy + joyful;)). Work with me 1:1 in my private mentorship program called Space To Thrive.     To learn more, visit the show notes at https://www.carolinezwickson.com/11