Episode 145: Joy Has A Seat At The Table with guest, Gloria Custodio

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Joy doesn’t have to wait for a perfect day or a perfect world. We sit down with social leadership coach Gloria Custodio (ICF PCC) to unpack why so many high achievers believe joy belongs to someone else—and how to reclaim it as a practical tool for better thinking, stronger leadership, and sustainable impact. From family scripts and grind culture to burnout and systemic barriers, we map the forces that push joy out of reach, then show how to bring it back with care and rigor.

Gloria introduces the joy spectrum—absent, distant, conditional, tentative, integrated—as a clear, compassionate way to meet clients where they are. You’ll hear how to name joy directly with permission, design small experiments that fit real lives, and keep the work ethical by avoiding toxic positivity and honoring pace. We also dig into radical acceptance as a way to notice catastrophizing without judgment, create breathing room, and choose values-based actions that move people forward.

Along the way, we explore the research linking authentic joy to cognitive flexibility, collaboration, and performance, plus simple attention hygiene to reduce social media’s anxiety spiral. We ground joy in five pillars—meaning, purpose, values, fulfillment, and connection—so it becomes daily practice rather than a reward at the finish line. Expect concrete prompts, human stories, and a coaching stance that centers curiosity and agency.

Ready to turn joy from a buzzword into a leadership advantage? Listen now, try the prompts, and share where you land on the joy spectrum. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, leave a quick review, and pass it to a coach or leader who needs a brighter way forward.

Watch the full interview by clicking here.

Find the full article here.

Learn more about Gloria here.

Gloria has created a small companion gift for our podcast audience that builds on the article and this conversation. Click here to find out more: https://bit.ly/3N1NRf1

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