Episodios

  • Radical Joy: Finding Time to Tarry
    Dec 19 2025
    Ever feel like you're doing all the things — and still not getting better?

    What if the missing piece isn’t more effort... but making space to slow down?In this episode, we talk about the lost art of tarrying — and why pressing pause might be exactly what your growth needs.

    🌀 Tarry, don’t hustle — reclaiming an old church word as your new go-to for mental health
    🔊 Why the gym told me to chill — and why I’m actually grateful
    🍰 Cheese cake diplomacy — how talking kunefe at Tal Cafe helped me connect in Dutch
    🧠 Diminishing returns are real — and your brain needs time to file things away
    🔥 Envy and spite... as motivation? — hear me out
    🎭 Comparison is forever — but here’s how I’m making peace with it
    🎮 Gamify it or forget it — why play makes everything stick better
    🥴 Duolingo is driving me wild — but I keep showing up anyway
    💪 Growth happens during rest — in the gym and in life
    📌 You’re not behind — you’re just marinating in your own magic

    Slowing down isn’t lazy—it’s smart. Hit play and give yourself permission to tarry a little.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support.

    🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔ ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕
    Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and breathe!
    ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕ 🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔
    Got something on your mind? James never runs out of things to say, so tell us what you want to discuss!

    Remember there is no shame in joy or for asking for what you need.

    Leave a review, send us a screenshot, and we’ll mail you a sticker! See you next FRIDAY for another dose of Radical Joy.

    James is not a therapist, but you’re not alone. If you're in crisis, call 988 for professional help.

    For non-emergencies, Psychology Today can connect you with support and therapists who fit your needs.

    This podcast and CLW Studios content are not therapy or a substitute for it. Guest opinions are their own.

    We're here for insight and encouragement but always seek professional support when needed.

    This episode was Produced and edited by Kerri J of CLW Studios
    Más Menos
    33 m
  • Choosing Connection in a World That Divides
    Dec 12 2025
    Feel like the world’s on fire and love isn’t enough?

    This episode gets real about fear, connection, and the messy work of choosing joy anyway.

    What it's about:
    Two old friends get vulnerable about what it actually takes to lead with love—even when everything around you says don’t bother.

    You’ll hear about:
    🌱 Why Ben says it all comes down to “love vs. fear”
    😳 The wild idea that “you can’t hate something unless you fear it first”
    🔥 What a self-immolating monk has to do with unshakable inner peace
    🥊 A surprising take on “punching Nazis” (and what it’s really about)
    🌀 How to stay grounded when the world keeps swinging from one extreme to the other
    👀 Why “care” might be the emotion hiding under your rage
    🛋️ The power of curiosity to pull us back from the edge
    🤝 How getting punched in the face (literally or metaphorically) can build unexpected bridges
    🐟 What we can learn from koi fish, Costa Ricans, and homemade biscuits

    Big takeaway:
    Radical joy isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about staying open when it’s easier to shut down—and choosing connection anyway.

    If your nervous system whispered “yes” at any point—come hang with us again.We’re here every week with tender, messy, sometimes salty conversations that won’t fix your life—but will make you feel a little less alone in it.
    Tap follow. Bring a friend. Bonus points if they cry at dog videos too. 💛

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support.

    🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔ ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕
    Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and breathe!
    ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕ 🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔
    Got something on your mind? James never runs out of things to say, so tell us what you want to discuss!

    Remember there is no shame in joy or for asking for what you need.

    Leave a review, send us a screenshot, and we’ll mail you a sticker! See you next FRIDAY for another dose of Radical Joy.

    James is not a therapist, but you’re not alone. If you're in crisis, call 988 for professional help.

    For non-emergencies, Psychology Today can connect you with support and therapists who fit your needs.

    This podcast and CLW Studios content are not therapy or a substitute for it. Guest opinions are their own.

    We're here for insight and encouragement but always seek professional support when needed.

    This episode was Produced and edited by Kerri J of CLW Studios
    Más Menos
    1 h y 11 m
  • Don’t Be Stingy with the Good Stuff
    Dec 5 2025
    Ever seen something beautiful on someone… and said nothing?

    This episode is your nudge (and permission) to speak the compliment, even if it’s awkward, weird, or wildly unexpected.

    😏 What if your throwaway “nice shoes” is actually a life raft in disguise?
    🔥 The neon-orange pedicure that turned an elevator into a joy grenade
    🧹 A secret trick to know exactly what someone wants you to notice
    👀 The quiet epidemic of compliment stinginess—and why we’re all catching it
    🎭 The compliment ambush: when you’re ready to give one… but they beat you to it
    📉 One simple move that boosts human connection and battery life
    👻 Why invisibility haunts more than just the elderly—and how to undo it in 3 seconds
    💬 A subway, a metallic coat, and the awkward art of saying the thing out loud
    🧠 “Put your give-a-shit in the right spot”—the mindset shift that changes everything
    🎯 The tiny, free, underrated superpower you already have—but might be hiding

    Say the thing. Make the day.

    And if this episode sparked something in you, share it with someone who needs the reminder.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support.

    🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔ ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕
    Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and breathe!
    ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕ 🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔
    Got something on your mind? James never runs out of things to say, so tell us what you want to discuss!

    Remember there is no shame in joy or for asking for what you need.

    Leave a review, send us a screenshot, and we’ll mail you a sticker! See you next FRIDAY for another dose of Radical Joy.

    James is not a therapist, but you’re not alone. If you're in crisis, call 988 for professional help.

    For non-emergencies, Psychology Today can connect you with support and therapists who fit your needs.

    This podcast and CLW Studios content are not therapy or a substitute for it. Guest opinions are their own.

    We're here for insight and encouragement but always seek professional support when needed.

    This episode was Produced and edited by Kerri J of CLW Studios
    Más Menos
    33 m
  • Take a Break Before You Break: Why Rest Is Your Holiday Superpower
    Dec 1 2025
    Feeling fried, frazzled, or full-on fed up—even before the holidays hit? You might just need a break (and no, that’s not laziness—it’s strategy).

    This week on Radical Joy, James unpacks the sacred (and sometimes scandalous) art of stepping away—from workouts, language apps, news cycles, and soul-sapping conversations—and why taking a break before the holiday chaos sets in might be the boldest act of self-care you can commit to.

    In this episode:
    Workout wipeout 🏋️‍♂️ — “I’m walking like I’m 187,” and it’s time to rest
    Muscle growth magic 💪 — Hint: it doesn’t happen at the gym
    Digital detox 📵 — The bedtime blue-light buzzkill you might need to ditch
    Language surprise 🇳🇱 — Took a break from Dutch and somehow got better
    Holiday warning 🎄 — Burnout is not a great stocking stuffer
    Hard truth alert ⚠️ — “If you can’t name someone in the group you're raging against…”
    Boundary-setting 101 ⛑️ — Respectful clapbacks welcome
    Your new holy trinity ✨ — Naps, trampoline parks, and beeswax
    Faith, not fury 🙏 — Maybe take a break from all the hollering
    Rest as resistance 🛌 — Be the weary soldier in the tent, not the one sharpening swords

    Because sometimes the bravest thing you can do—especially during the holidays—is stop. 🎿 Take a breather with us—then share this episode with someone who needs permission to pause.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support.

    🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔ ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕
    Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and breathe!
    ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕ 🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔
    Got something on your mind? James never runs out of things to say, so tell us what you want to discuss!

    Remember there is no shame in joy or for asking for what you need.

    Leave a review, send us a screenshot, and we’ll mail you a sticker! See you next FRIDAY for another dose of Radical Joy.

    James is not a therapist, but you’re not alone. If you're in crisis, call 988 for professional help.

    For non-emergencies, Psychology Today can connect you with support and therapists who fit your needs.

    This podcast and CLW Studios content are not therapy or a substitute for it. Guest opinions are their own.

    We're here for insight and encouragement but always seek professional support when needed.

    This episode was Produced and edited by Kerri J of CLW Studios
    Más Menos
    33 m
  • Hot Takes & Humble Truths: Nik Walker’s Rules for Rest, Realness, & Radical Joy
    Nov 21 2025
    Ever felt like you had to earn your right to rest or be heard or that asking for help is harder than hitting a Broadway high note?

    This week on Radical Joy, we’re rolling out the red carpet for Nik Walker—a dynamo of stage, screen, and sincere self-reflection. From Hamilton to handling hard feelings, Nik gets real about mental health, humility, and the radical magic of admitting you don’t have it all figured out. (Spoiler: nobody does.)

    🎭 Come for the Broadway cred, stay for the cartoon-deep wisdom and snack-fueled truth bombs. 🎢 ADHD, anxiety, and why being “a beautiful mess” beats faking perfection
    🧠 “Can I defuse this bomb myself?” — how Nik tackles big feels before they tackle him
    💬 Feedback without freakouts: “Don’t hear what I didn’t say” is the T-shirt we all need
    🛠️ From venting to investigating—how to handle your own heaviness with heart
    🌪️ What to do when you’re the eye of someone else’s emotional hurricane
    🎭 Why Nik still feels like he “snuck in the back door” of Broadway—and how that’s a blessing
    🧃 Rest, snacks, and naps that slap—Nik’s radical rejection of hustle culture
    🥁 Punk rock curiosity + radical rest = the plot twist we didn’t know we needed
    🌍 A hot take from the pale blue dot: life’s too big to sweat the small stuff alone
    🪞 Putting down the ego (gently!) and picking up more grace—for yourself and your people

    Whether you're carrying too much or just craving a little calm—this episode is your reminder to pause, get curious, and breathe.

    If it resonated, leave us a review, share it with a friend, and snag your Radical Joy sticker by sending us a screenshot. 💌✨ See you next week—until then, Love y’all!

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support.

    🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔ ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕
    Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and breathe!
    ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕ 🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔
    Got something on your mind? James never runs out of things to say, so tell us what you want to discuss!

    Remember there is no shame in joy or for asking for what you need.

    Leave a review, send us a screenshot, and we’ll mail you a sticker! See you next FRIDAY for another dose of Radical Joy.

    James is not a therapist, but you’re not alone. If you're in crisis, call 988 for professional help.

    For non-emergencies, Psychology Today can connect you with support and therapists who fit your needs.

    This podcast and CLW Studios content are not therapy or a substitute for it. Guest opinions are their own.

    We're here for insight and encouragement but always seek professional support when needed.

    This episode was Produced and edited by Kerri J of CLW Studios
    Más Menos
    1 h y 4 m
  • From Heavy to Holy Sh*t: Your Joy Gets to Be Loud
    Nov 15 2025
    Are you stuck in self-doubt, playing small while secretly craving something wildly more freeing?
    This week on Radical Joy, James invites us to try on something better—emotionally, mentally, even sartorially—by shedding the heavy sweaters of self-sabotage and donning the wings of self-trust. ✨

    Top Takeaways:
    🔁 “Put yourself outside the circle every day”—a mantra for ditching doubt
    👕 That old belief? Just a too-tight sweater—time to donate it
    🧠 Obstacle or outfit? Why your inner critic might just be bad fashion advice
    💥 Smash your stuckness—yes, literally, with a sledgehammer
    👢 Hooker boots, biker jackets, and bold nails—because joy has a wardrobe
    🐝 Got wasps in your hive? Here’s your permission to kick them out
    ❌ “Thanks, but no thanks”—how to say no to unsolicited feedback
    ☁️ Radical Joy isn’t toxic positivity—it’s survival with style
    🌍 You don’t have to fix the world to light it up
    👤 From obstacle to wing—the upgrade your spirit’s been waiting for

    📬 Loved this episode? Leave a 5-star review and send us a screenshot—we’ll send you a little swag love (stickers, anyone?) to brighten your day. And remember: your joy isn’t a luxury—it’s a lighthouse. Let it shine.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support.

    🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔ ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕
    Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and breathe!
    ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕ 🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔
    Got something on your mind? James never runs out of things to say, so tell us what you want to discuss!

    Remember there is no shame in joy or for asking for what you need.

    Leave a review, send us a screenshot, and we’ll mail you a sticker! See you next FRIDAY for another dose of Radical Joy.

    James is not a therapist, but you’re not alone. If you're in crisis, call 988 for professional help.

    For non-emergencies, Psychology Today can connect you with support and therapists who fit your needs.

    This podcast and CLW Studios content are not therapy or a substitute for it. Guest opinions are their own.

    We're here for insight and encouragement but always seek professional support when needed.

    This episode was Produced and edited by Kerri J of CLW Studios
    Más Menos
    33 m
  • Pumpkin Rituals, Sage-Scented Sanity & Vanquishing Energy Vampires—From Summerween to Halloween and Everything In Between
    Oct 31 2025
    Returning guest Spooky Melanin Magic is back with cozy chaos, full-moon rituals, and the unapologetic art of protecting your peace.
    Totally tapped out but still trying to feel festive this fall?
    Same. Let’s fix that.
    This week, nurse practitioner and paranormal investigator Bianca Pierre Louis (aka Spooky Melanin Magic) returns to talk all things ghosts, gourds, and grounding. From Halloween film cameos to candlelit rituals, she’s bringing spooky season magic—and some serious self-care reminders.
    Big mood: Radical joy isn’t a luxury. It’s a life skill. Especially when your nervous system is running on fumes.
    In this episode:
    ✨ Summerween is a thing – July 5th hits and Bianca’s spooky switch flips
    🎥 Halloween movie moment – She’s on-screen and overjoyed
    🍂 Apple picking, pumpkin beer, corn maze chaos – Fall is her full-body love language
    🧼 Sage, smoke & sacred space – Her nightly ritual is chef’s kiss
    💸 Energy is currency – Watch those emotional overdraft fees
    🧠 Morning magic – 10 calm minutes > 10 chaotic hours
    🥣 Trader Joe’s therapy trip – Butternut mac ‘n cheese, anyone?
    📿 Crystals, candles, clarity – Woo-woo with a why
    😮‍💨 “Damn, that’s crazy” x3 – Time to wrap up the rant, babe
    🚪 Permission to peace out – Clip the convo, exit the energy, save yourself
    This episode’s a cozy coven call-in—equal parts comfort and clarity, with a pinch of pumpkin-spiced protection. Wrap yourself in a scarf, light something that smells like fall, and hit play.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support.

    🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔ ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕
    Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and breathe!
    ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕ 🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔
    Got something on your mind? James never runs out of things to say, so tell us what you want to discuss!

    Remember there is no shame in joy or for asking for what you need.

    Leave a review, send us a screenshot, and we’ll mail you a sticker! See you next FRIDAY for another dose of Radical Joy.

    James is not a therapist, but you’re not alone. If you're in crisis, call 988 for professional help.

    For non-emergencies, Psychology Today can connect you with support and therapists who fit your needs.

    This podcast and CLW Studios content are not therapy or a substitute for it. Guest opinions are their own.

    We're here for insight and encouragement but always seek professional support when needed.

    This episode was Produced and edited by Kerri J of CLW Studios
    Más Menos
    1 h y 14 m
  • Boo-tox & Boundaries: Surviving Spooky Season with Sass w/ Guest Melanie Moses
    Oct 26 2025
    Is the scariest part of your week the news… or your group chat? When life’s a haunted house, joy is your flashlight. This episode dives into ghosts, girlhood, and getting older—with filmmaker and spooky sisterhood sage Melanie Moses—and it’s way more treat than trick.

    🎧 This Episode Has It All (No Ouija Board Required):

    🎃 Monster timing, bad manners – Melanie’s hot take on what horror movies get dead wrong
    The ADHD audio hack – Why speeding things up might slow your brain down (in the best way)
    🧴 Injectable intel – What she tried, why it’s different, and how it totally twisted her take on aging
    👀 Spooky scams or sacred skills? – The one big question haunting the paranormal community
    📰 Breaking news… or broken trust? – A media moment that made us both bite our nails
    💔 When ghosts aren’t just in graveyards – The quiet collapse of a decade-long friendship
    💅 One man, one pedicure, one perfect pun – A story that left us screaming (in a good way)
    🧃 Joy as rebellion – What happens when a drag show becomes divine intervention
    🧭 The unsung heroes of hard times – Not everyone’s marching, but someone’s making the muffins
    🧠 Do your own due diligence – And why that’s harder (and more hopeful) than it sounds

    👻 Wanna hear how spooky stories, surprise Botox, and sacred truth-telling all wind up in the same conversation?

    Hit play and find out. And hey—if this episode tickled your brain or hugged your heart, share it with someone who needs a little radical joy right now.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radical-joy-with-james-bullard--5644728/support.

    🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔ ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕
    Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and breathe!
    ❤️🍊🟨💚💙💜🟤🖤❕❕ 🌹🧡🟡🌳🔷🟪🤎🖤❔
    Got something on your mind? James never runs out of things to say, so tell us what you want to discuss!

    Remember there is no shame in joy or for asking for what you need.

    Leave a review, send us a screenshot, and we’ll mail you a sticker! See you next FRIDAY for another dose of Radical Joy.

    James is not a therapist, but you’re not alone. If you're in crisis, call 988 for professional help.

    For non-emergencies, Psychology Today can connect you with support and therapists who fit your needs.

    This podcast and CLW Studios content are not therapy or a substitute for it. Guest opinions are their own.

    We're here for insight and encouragement but always seek professional support when needed.

    This episode was Produced and edited by Kerri J of CLW Studios
    Más Menos
    1 h y 4 m