Discover how a moment of quiet desperation sparked a simple practice that’s now helping people around the world find clarity, connection, and hope—one question at a time.

In today's episode, I’m joined by Anne Barry Jolles, the founder and creator of Grace Trail®—a transformative life practice designed to help people navigate challenges through five simple but powerful questions. A professional coach, TEDx speaker, and award-winning author, Anne first developed the concept in 2000 during a personal crisis. Since then, she has expanded Grace Trail into a nationwide movement with public installations, interactive kits, and programs for individuals, schools, hospitals, and corporations. Her work has guided thousands toward resilience, hope, and clarity. Rooted in compassion, nature, and authentic connection, Anne’s mission is to make grace accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Throughout this episode, Anne brings warmth, vulnerability, and profound insight as she shares how Grace Trail evolved into a deeply healing practice for individuals from all walks of life. She breaks down the meaning behind each letter in the GRACE acronym—Gratitude, Release, Acceptance, Challenge, and Embrace—and explains how asking these questions can help shift perspective and restore hope. Anne also explores the role of nature in amplifying the trail’s impact and highlights the power of simply being present and listening without judgment. Her stories—from walking the trail with cancer patients to designing large-scale community activations—reveal the universal need for reflection and self-compassion. Whether taken on a walk, practiced at a desk, or explored in a group, Anne invites everyone to take that first step toward inviting grace into their lives.

Tune in to episode 207 of Joy Found Here as Anne Barry Jolles shares how the Grace Trail® can help you find your footing in life’s toughest moments—through five simple questions that lead to clarity, connection, and hope. Discover how grace, nature, and curiosity can guide you back to yourself, one powerful step at a time.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The moment Grace Trail was born (4:01)

The five Grace Trail questions explained (5:20)

Grace in marriage: Walking through pain together (6:30)

Building the first Grace Trail in Plymouth, MA (7:43)

Grace Trails across the country (8:45)

What is grace, really? (11:25)

Nature as a conduit for clarity (13:47)

The prayer bench that speaks back (14:40)

Bringing grace to 11,000 women (24:14)

Adapting grace trail for events and teams (25:57)

Grace Trail kits and creative applications (29:16)

Redefining self-care: Stay home, slow down (35:49)

Daily rituals that invite grace (39:03)

Final invitation: Grace is waiting (41:00)

Connect with Anne Barry Jolles:

Website

Facebook

LinkedIn

X

YouTube

Get Anne’s book!

Let's Connect:

Website

Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, Nicole Van Valen was told soft skills didn’t matter—now she’s helping top leaders rewrite the rules on resilience, burnout, and what it really takes to thrive in today’s workplace.

In today's episode, I’m joined by Nicole Van Valen, a licensed marriage and family therapist, behavioral health expert, and founder of Keane Insights—a consultancy dedicated to resilience, leadership, and joyful living. With over 25 years of experience spanning healthcare and human resources, including leadership roles at Fortune 6 companies, Nicole combines deep clinical insight with real-world corporate strategy. She’s also a dynamic speaker, coach, and the author of The Joyful Leader, a forthcoming book that explores how joy can be a transformative force for managing stress, preventing burnout, and leading with authenticity. Known for her uplifting energy and grounded wisdom, Nicole is on a mission to help people reconnect with their purpose and lead from a place of heart and intention.

Throughout this episode, Nicole brings both personal depth and professional clarity to the topic of joy as a resilience practice. She opens up about her own journey—overcoming workaholism, learning to slow down, and rediscovering joy in everyday rituals like dancing, gardening, and quiet tea breaks. Nicole also walks us through her signature “three-step model” (Discover Yourself, Design Your Landscape, Deliver on Your Goals), offering listeners a practical framework for meaningful change. Along the way, she shares behind-the-scenes moments from writing The Joyful Leader, including how she confronted her own discomfort with vulnerability to embrace joy as her leadership superpower. Through heartfelt anecdotes and actionable insights, Nicole invites us to not only reflect on what truly brings us joy—but to prioritize it, unapologetically.

Tune in as Nicole Van Valen shares how joy became her secret weapon for building resilience, setting boundaries, and leading with authenticity—plus how you can rediscover what energizes you and turn it into lasting transformation.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Resilience reimagined: Dancing, HR, and climbing the corporate ladder (3:44)
• Redefining resilience through joy (5:32)
• Burnout, boundaries, and the joy of saying ‘no’ (10:00)
• The three-step model for sustainable joy (13:27)
• Leading with joy at work - Yes, even in corporate! (18:21)
• The book she was scared to write (19:46)
• “We’re all just people”: The human side of leadership (24:35)
• AI can’t replace this: Why human connection is the true high-value currency (27:26)
• The resilience menu: Why one size doesn’t fit all (33:11)
• Your personalized joy plan starts now (42:41)

Connect with Nicole Van Valen:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X
• YouTube
• Get Nicole’s book!

Let's Connect:

• Website
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the very body you once trusted suddenly felt like the enemy—and the only way to heal was to rewrite the story of your loss, one page at a time?

In today's episode, I’m joined by the resilient Madeleine Garner—a writer, children’s literature enthusiast, and former preschool teacher whose work explores the intersection of storytelling, healing, and parenthood. With a background in early childhood education and a deep appreciation for the emotional power of picture books, Madeleine has long used storytelling to help others navigate life’s big feelings. Her debut picture book for adults, Your Baby Will Find You, was inspired by her own experience with pregnancy loss and aims to gently open space for honest conversations around grief, love, and healing. A mother herself, she brings authenticity, compassion, and insight to every story she tells, working alongside acclaimed data designer Giorgia Lupi to pair poignant visuals with heartfelt prose.

Throughout this episode, Madeleine opens up about the miscarriage she experienced in 2022 and how writing became her pathway through grief. Drawing on her lifelong connection to children's literature, she processed the loss by crafting a picture book-style story that could hold the weight of her emotions while offering comfort to others. She speaks candidly about the emotional and physical toll of pregnancy loss, the feelings of isolation it often brings, and the journey toward trusting her body again. Through her collaboration with Giorgia Lupi, the book became a layered visual and emotional experience—one that captures the duality of joy and sorrow. Madeleine’s hope is to provide a resource that is both factual and tender, creating space for healing and helping others feel less alone in their grief.

Tune in to episode 205 of Joy Found Here as Madeleine Garner shares her powerful journey through miscarriage, the healing power of storytelling, and how her debut picture book offers comfort, connection, and hope to anyone navigating grief.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Meet Madeleine: From preschool teacher to author (3:50)
• Learning to trust her body again (6:30)
• The journey of writing and healing (8:30)
• Creating a book that speaks to all grief (10:15)
• Navigating relationships through grief (12:40)
• The complexity of pregnancy and loss (16:15)
• Finding joy amidst grief (20:32)
• Conception, pressure, and letting go (24:37)
• The importance of community and support (31:25)
• Creating a resource for healing (34:17)
• Final thoughts and encouragement (39:28)

Connect with Madeleine Garner:

• Website
• Instagram
• Get Madeleine’s books!

Let's Connect:

• Website
• Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.