Joy Found Here

What if aging wasn’t about years but about staying curious and alive? In episode 239 of Joy Found Here, Robin Kencel proves reinvention has no age limit. At 67, she’s a top real estate broker, Miss Connecticut Senior America 2025, a competitive dancer, and a spiritual director helping others rediscover faith and purpose. With warmth and wit, Robin shows that growth never stops—and that real joy isn’t fleeting, it’s fiercely cultivated.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Growing up around life and loss (05:08)Squeezing the juice out of every day (05:52)Lessons from ballroom and balance (07:04)What spiritual direction really is (09:37)Finding God in everyday moments (15:28)Curiosity as the key to staying young (17:19)The courage to try something new (21:31)Joy vs. happiness—what really lasts (26:51)The beauty of handwritten connection (33:36)Purpose, permission, and the next chapter (39:21)Robin Kencel is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, spiritual director, and lifelong learner who blends business success with soulful purpose. A top-producing Connecticut real estate broker and Miss Connecticut Senior America 2025, Robin is also a competitive ballroom dancer and trained Ignatian spiritual director, guiding others toward a more intimate relationship with the divine—whatever name they give it. Known for her warmth, wit, and grounded wisdom, she weaves together decades of professional excellence, spiritual formation, and creative exploration to help others live with greater clarity, intention, and joy. In this conversation, Robin reflects on what it means to stay fully alive at every stage of life—curious, engaged, and open to growth. She shares how her early exposure to aging and mortality shaped her drive to “squeeze every drop of juice out of life,” and how dance, spirituality, and improv acting continue to teach her the art of balance between strength and softness. From her work in real estate to her spiritual direction practice, Robin sees every encounter as an opportunity to notice grace and choose joy over fleeting happiness. Her message is a reminder that purpose doesn’t fade with age—it deepens when we keep showing up, keep learning, and keep finding the sacred in the everyday.Connect with Robin Kencel:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInYouTubeFacebookLet's Connect:WebsiteInstagram

What happens when midlife burnout becomes a full-body and mindset revolution? In episode 238 of Joy Found Here, certified coach Terry Tateossian shares how she went from 80 pounds overweight and pre-diabetic to rebuilding her life inside and out. Her story isn’t just about weight loss—it’s about unlearning old conditioning, finding strength through science, and proving that transformation at any age is entirely possible.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Immigrant roots and early body beliefs (04:02)Overwork, crash diets, and collapse (06:53)Chest pains and wake-up calls (08:28)Epigenetics and generational healing (10:40)Why diets don’t work (15:34)Building strength and self-trust (18:04)Redefining progress beyond the scale (25:13)Mastering macros and protein (32:14)Hormones, muscle, and midlife power (38:05)From marshmallow to momentum (47:14)Terry Tateossian is a certified Lifestyle Medicine Coach, Nutritionist, and Personal Trainer who helps women navigate midlife with strength and balance. As the founder of The House of Rose, she blends science, mindset, and holistic wellness to transform how women relate to their bodies and habits. With certifications from Harvard Medical School and a background in business, she leads global retreats and coaching programs that focus on sustainable health and empowerment. Her own transformation—from 80 pounds overweight and pre-diabetic to thriving athlete—drives her mission to redefine midlife wellness.In this episode, Terry shares how a series of health scares pushed her to break free from generational beliefs around food and body image. Through holistic medicine, epigenetics, and strength training, she learned that true healing starts with awareness, not restriction. She dismantles the myth of “quick-fix” diets, explains why the scale tells only part of the story, and shows how understanding macros and hormones can change everything. With honesty and humor, Terry reminds listeners it’s never too late to rebuild health—and self-worth—from the inside out.Connect with Terry Tateossian:Thor WellnessInstagramLinkedInFacebookLet's Connect:WebsiteInstagram

What happens when you pause long enough to see how much your life has changed? In Episode 237 of the Joy Found Here podcast, I’m reflecting on a year that transformed me in ways I never expected. This Thanksgiving episode is all about gratitude, healing, and the surprising power of letting yourself receive—especially if you’re a lifelong giver.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(01:10) How one year shifted everything in my life(02:05) The small sliver of hope that carried me through(04:56) Why receiving with grace became my new practice(06:39) Facing grief and holiday triggers with honesty(08:30) How to ground yourself when emotions run high(09:06) A holiday workshop for navigating loss and numbness(11:40) A peek at what’s next for Joy Found Here(15:19) My favorite mindset, wellness & shopping tools(19:34) A closing reminder about joy and staying openLast year was filled with loss, uncertainty, and heaviness. This year, I’m living a life I once only dreamed about: more freedom, more presence, more intention. I share how a small sliver of hope carried me through darker times, and why receiving with grace has become my new non-negotiable practice. And since the holidays can stir up grief and tenderness, I talk honestly about navigating those feelings and offer a helpful resource for anyone needing support.I also give a quick look at what’s ahead—our upcoming merch launch, my favorite affiliate finds that truly help, and the gentle reminder that nothing is permanent and change is always possible.Let's Connect:WebsiteInstagram

What happens when your finances fall apart—and instead of breaking down, you rebuild the system that failed you? In episode 236 of Joy Found Here, Lacy Garcia, founder and CEO of Willow, shares how a personal financial crisis and single motherhood inspired her to redefine financial advising. With honesty and insight, she shows that true empowerment with money begins with empathy and education—not spreadsheets—and that taking control of your finances is really about reclaiming confidence, independence, and joy.In This Episode, You Will Learn:When life “blew up” and money shame surfaced (04:13)Breaking the silence around women and money (04:38)Divorce, single motherhood, and a new mission (05:37)The three E’s: empathy, education, empowerment (07:20)Baby steps to build financial confidence (10:08)Busting money myths and budget guilt (15:57)Turning crisis into a company with purpose (16:52)Independence, relationships, and self-worth (29:24)Teaching kids the truth about money (35:54)Finding joy through financial clarity (43:05)As the Founder and CEO of Willow, Lacy Garcia is redefining financial advising for women and next-generation investors. With over 15 years in wealth management, she saw how few advisors truly understand the emotional and cultural realities of money—especially for women and underrepresented groups. Through Willow, she built an award-winning platform focused on empathy, education, and empowerment, connecting clients with advisors who listen, guide, and build confidence without judgment. A proud Cuban-American and single mom, Lacy’s mission is to make financial confidence accessible to everyone—because wealth-building isn’t about privilege, it’s about awareness and action.In this episode, Lacy shares how a mid-thirties financial crisis following divorce inspired her to create Willow and break the silence around women and money. She offers simple, sustainable steps—like automating savings, tracking expenses, and maximizing employer matches—and reminds listeners that it’s never too late to start. Together with Stephanie, she explores financial independence, teaching kids about money, and how neglecting self-care can cost more than dollars. Through her story, Lacy shows that taking control of your finances is one of the most powerful paths to freedom, confidence, and lasting joy.Connect with Lacy Garcia:Trust Willow WebsiteWillow Talk on YouTubeInstagramLinkedInLet's Connect:WebsiteInstagram

What if healing your body has less to do with food and more to do with your thoughts? In episode 235 of Joy Found Here, returning guest Natalia Garcia reveals why true wellness begins in the mind. A functional medicine practitioner and dietitian, she shares how awareness, self-compassion, and emotional regulation can transform health from the inside out—proving that when you shift within, your body follows.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The mind-body connection redefined (02:42)A divine download on joy and presence (04:01)Healing starts with awareness (08:49)Beyond meal plans and quick fixes (12:06)Reversing autoimmunity from within (17:51)Letting your inner compass lead (21:46)Spotting self-sabotage in daily habits (30:11)The mindset of true healers (32:39)Breaking the stress addiction (34:42)Consistency, compassion, and calm (39:44)As a registered dietitian, licensed nutritionist, and functional medicine practitioner, Natalia Garcia helps people heal from the inside out. Through her practice, FN Wellness, she blends science-based nutrition with mindfulness and emotional awareness to address the root causes of imbalance in the gut, hormones, and mind. Her approach combines functional testing, personalized nutrition, and mindset work to help clients break free from limiting beliefs, regulate their nervous systems, and build a sustainable relationship with food and themselves. She believes true wellness begins within and that reconnecting with the body’s innate intelligence unlocks deep healing.In this episode, Natalia shares a powerful message on joy, presence, and self-awareness, urging listeners to look beyond diets and quick fixes to the thoughts and emotions shaping their health. She explains how stress, negative self-talk, and unconscious habits keep people stuck—and how awareness, consistency, and compassion create lasting transformation. From autoimmune healing to mindset shifts, Natalia’s grounded wisdom reminds us that when we change within, everything else follows.Connect with Natalia Garcia:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedInFacebookLet's Connect:WebsiteInstagram

What if the moment that nearly broke you became the one that set you free? In episode 234 of Joy Found Here, author Megan Michelle shares how life-saving open-heart surgery became the spark for her debut novel Skylark. What began as weeks of darkness turned into a flood of inspiration—a story that would change her life and redefine her purpose. Through heartbreak, healing, and courage, Megan found her voice and a powerful reminder that sometimes the hardest detours lead us exactly where we’re meant to go.In This Episode, You Will Learn:From heart surgery to storytelling (02:59)The “dark room download” that sparked Skylark (03:56)A spiritual shift from fear to faith (08:12)Losing a marriage, finding herself (12:34)Writing as healing and purpose (16:40)Meet Rachel Riker, the first female Navy SEAL (17:07)When psychology meets storytelling (22:52)Turning fiction into advocacy (24:28)Editing, community, and creative growth (32:47)Trusting divine detours (38:13)Megan Michelle is the author of Skylark and Born in Blood, the first two novels in The Seal Saga—a blend of romance, action, and emotional depth. With a background in clinical psychology, she draws on her studies of grief and trauma, her family’s military roots, and her recovery from open-heart surgery to craft stories rooted in resilience and empowerment. Her work champions strong female leads and advocates for mental health, women’s strength, and creative freedom within the military community.In this episode, Megan reveals how Skylark was born during her recovery—typed out on her phone in the dark after surgery when she couldn’t even look at a screen. What started as a spontaneous download became the story of Rachel Riker, the first female Navy SEAL fighting global patriarchy. The experience transformed Megan’s life, leading her to leave her marriage and corporate career to follow her true calling as a writer. Through her series, she channels psychology, spirituality, and storytelling into one purpose: turning pain into power and inspiring others to listen when the universe nudges them toward change.Connect with Megan Michelle:WebsiteInstagramGet Megan’s books!Let's Connect:WebsiteInstagram