You’ve been grinding nonstop: chasing goals, managing pressure, holding it all together. But lately, even the wins don’t feel like wins anymore. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. In this solo episode of Badass Softie, Dr. J.J. Peterson unpacks how burnout quietly steals your joy, and how reclaiming joy isn’t about pretending things are fine. It’s about reconnecting to purpose, energy, and the strength to keep showing up. Here's what you'll get: -Why burnout happens even when you “love what you do” -The science behind joy and how it rewires your brain for resilience -How to stop seeing joy as a reward — and start practicing it as daily work -What leaders gain when they make space for joy: clarity, courage, and connection -3 practical ways to reclaim joy this week (even when you don’t feel it yet) 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube @BadassSoftie 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify Joy isn’t what happens after you succeed, it’s what keeps you going. When you stop waiting for joy and start practicing it, you’ll lead (and live) like a true Badass Softie. www.BadassSoftie.com

What do you do when life doesn’t go to plan — when the roadblocks, losses, and grief feel like they’ve stopped you in your tracks? In this episode of Badass Softie, Dr. J.J. Peterson opens up about the year he lost his father and became a dad in the same weekend. Through stories of heartbreak and unexpected joy, J.J. reveals how to keep moving forward when grief and growth show up at the same time. This episode isn’t prescriptive — it’s honest, human, and grounded in what it really means to lead through hard seasons without losing yourself. You’ll learn how to create small victories, stay connected to your community, and lead with compassion even when life feels uncertain. Here’s what you’ll take away: -How to keep moving when hardship hits at the most inconvenient time -Why creating small victories helps you stay grounded in chaos -The power of being fearlessly courageous with your community -How vulnerability builds strength, not weakness -Why compassion is the key to healing and forward movement -A simple monthly reflection practice to help you mark the moment and move 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube @BadassSoftie 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify When you stop waiting for life to get easier and start leading through both the heartbreak and the hope, you’ll discover what it truly means to lead with strength and softness — the heart of a Badass Softie. www.BadassSoftie.com

Most leaders don’t fail because they lack skill — they fail because they stop asking the right questions. When the path feels murky, pressure mounts, and clarity fades, it’s easy to slip into control or chaos. In this episode of Badass Softie, Dr. J.J. Peterson sits down with Amy Smith — a leadership coach and consultant who’s led global training for Apple, coached executive teams for McDonald’s, and served as VP of Certification at StoryBrand. Amy brings two decades of frontline leadership experience to show you how to build trust, create clarity, and lead through uncertainty. Together, J.J. and Amy unpack five guiding questions every leader should be asking to stay grounded and effective. You’ll learn why assuming positive intent changes every conversation, how to make confident calls when the path isn’t clear, and how the right one-on-ones can completely transform team culture. Here’s what you’ll take away: -The mindset shift that turns judgment into curiosity and builds lasting trust -How to lead with clarity when you don’t have all the answers -The five guiding questions that re-center your leadership in any situation -Why one-on-ones are your most powerful leadership tool — and how to use them -How to simplify meetings so they actually drive results -The single shift that unlocks trust, ownership, and growth on your team

Connect with Amy directly via email at Amy@HonuLeadership.comLinkedin.com/in/kudralobar/ 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube @BadassSoftie 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify When you stop leading from fear and start leading with curiosity and clarity, you create a culture where people thrive — that’s what it means to lead as a Badass Softie. www.BadassSoftie.com