Stories of Inspiring Joy

Dudley Evenson

Dudley Evenson co-founded Soundings of the Planet in 1979 with her husband Dean Evenson. Together, they have produced over 80 albums and videos. She has been the Executive Producer, art director and copy writer for all of the Soundings releases in addition to performing her harp and doing guided meditations on many albums. Dudley is a certified professional life coach and has trained with Impact Coaching Academy. She is an AARP Life Reimagined Guide and leads Life Reimagined Checkups. She writes the Healthy Living Dreams blog on the Soundings home page.

Their most recent LP, Monet’s Garden, released in May 2021 and was created after a lifelong love affair with the work of the famed French impressionist painter, Claude Monet. Dudley also is author of several books, including her most recent: A Year of Guided Meditations: 52 Weekly Affirmations.

In today’s episode, Dudley shares her journey finding her place in the world, discovering her passions, and developing her personal dreams. For years Dudley was on a quest of personal discovery. From facing depression in college to traveling the country in search of inspiration and meaning, if there’s anything her life and travels have taught her it’s this, that we’re all on a quest of understanding and discovery, and that while life is full of joy, it’s also full of struggle and challenge. She met her partner Dean in New York, and together they’ve explored the field of music. Starting from scratch to create musical experiences that could touch everyone around the world, Dudley has found great joy in music. As Dudley shares, part of the joy of exploring life has informed her music with Dean, and their dreams. Today, Dudley is dreaming of a better life for everyone in the world, and how we can help create it.

To learn more and connect with Dudley visit her website www.soundings.com where you can find their award-winning music, books, blog, podcast, and videos and on YouTube here and here and Instagram @soundingsoftheplanet and Facebook @soundingsoftheplanet and you can tune to their music on your favorite streaming service https://orcd.co/monetsgarden

tories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.

Margo Carroll

Margo Carroll is an email marketing strategist and sales funnel copywriter for online business owners. Through her company, Remedy Writing LLC, she helps trained experts sell their coaching, courses, and services with adaptable evergreen sales funnels that grow alongside their business. She supports entrepreneurs with her high-touch Funnel Build Intensives in Bellingham, WA and her signature group program, the Trailblazer Toolkit™️.

In this week’s new episode, Margo shares her journey moving from seeking accomplishment, to seeking joy. She shares how she’s always been someone who sought the reward for achievement and executing on skills that she had developed. That started from a very young age - she was always at the front of the desk, or the one to finish her test first. She thought that a big part of her value came from her brain, and being rewarded for what she could accomplish. She shares her passion for working for social justice causes, working with international students, and becoming a social worker. She shares the highs and lows, the anxiety she experienced, and the difficulty she had finding joy in her journey. She shares the moment everything changed - and the questions she asked herself in that moment will remind you just how important it is to value, celebrate, and love your life, and every moment that we’re given.

To learn more about Margo and her work visit her website www.margocarroll.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @margocarroll and you can download your Trailblazer’s Roadmap for Online Course Sales here: bit.ly/antiroadmap

tories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.

Dinara Mukh

Dinara is a certified Health Coach and her passion is to educate and empower women to take charge of their hormonal health. Dinara helps women balance their hormones naturally by teaching them how to nurture and move their bodies in sync with their feminine biology using integrative and holistic approaches combine with evidence-based medical research.

In today’s episode Dinara shares her journey empowering herself to take charge of her hormonal health so that she can now help others to do the same. After experiencing intensely painful periods, stubborn weight gain, and mood swings, among others. After trying birth control and an IUD and experiencing symptoms that left her feeling worse, Dinara knew she needed to take matters into her own hands. After a conversation with a friend she realized her periods didn’t need to be painful, but instead she needed to listen to her body. Dinara shares what she’s learned throughout the journey, the perspective shift that changed everything, and her passion for helping women look at the their cycle for guidance, see it as a joyful experience, and our superpower.

To learn more and connect with Dinara visit her on Instagram @dinara.mukh

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy

Stephen D’Angelo

Stephen D’Angelo is a best selling author and Silicon Valley veteran with more than 30 years experience in the tech industry. He has led global sales organizations as a CRO and served as CEO and President of both private and publicly traded companies. Stephen has been an integral part of IPO’s and company acquisitions and has helped build global organizations that become leaders in their respective market segments. His book A Single Day of Peace serves as a guide for self empowerment and how to climb to success in both business and personal endeavors. Stephen now leads D’Angelo Advisors providing go-to-market and fundraising consulting to CEO’s and leadership teams, serving global companies of all sizes. He is a strong proponent of the power of the mind. He believes great things are possible for all who blend their brain power with faith, hard-work, positive inspiration, and good will.

In today’s episode Stephen shares his journey taking his business career and utilizing that experience to become an author, and why he decided to write an inspirational novel to help people live a happier and more successful life. Stephen knew he wanted to give back to society and others through figuring out what makes happy and successful people just that, happy and successful, and how we can avoid the pit of negativity and unhappiness. Throughout his journey Stephen often doubted if he could pull this off, but he knew he had to put the self-doubt aside and really get started. Stephen shares the important role of spirituality in all of our journeys, and the power of mindset, persistence and self-belief in allowing ourselves to pursue our biggest dreams.

To connect with Stephen visit him on LinkedIn here and make sure to check out his new book A Single Day of Peace

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.

Abbey Griffith

Abbey Griffith is an inspiring personal trainer and coach based out of Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in Industrial Engineering last fall, she’s combined her education and life experience to launch her coaching business and Clarity Fitness - a gym launching later this year centered around positivity, self-love, body positivity, and inclusion.

In this week’s new episode Abbey shares her beautiful intention around health, fitness, and coaching, and the impact that this intention and mindset has had on her life and career. Abbey’s journey started in middle school when she realized for the first time that her body was “different” from those around her. She wanted to “fix it,” and feel worthy in her own skin. She thought that changing her weight would change her perspective around her worthiness. Abbey lost the weight, but it wasn’t sustainable. Her disordered eating spiraled out of control, and by the time she was in her junior year of college she was suffering from anorexia and bulimia. She was sure she was in control of the situation, but she wasn’t.

As a result of her experiences she began to blog her journey going through recovery, and she went on to obtain her personal training certification to teach the world how to enjoy fitness and honor their bodies, instead of using fitness to change their bodies. This, partnered with her knowledge of Industrial Engineering, has allowed her to make a strong impact through her online platform and across Atlanta, Georgia. Through sharing her journey, Abbey is inspiring other women to follow their dreams, all while empowering themselves along the way. At the end of the day, it’s about the communities we build, grow, and join as a result of our experiences. Abbey has so beautifully allowed her experiences to drive her passions, and by helping others who are going through similar experiences has meant everything to her. Today, she’s building a gym and a community that people can go to heal, recharge, experience and awesome workout, and leave feeling healthier and happier than when they walked in. going through the same thing she has, has meant everything.

To connect with Abbey and Clarity Fitness visit her on Instagram @Abbeygrif.fit YouTube @Abbeygrif.fit and on her website www.clarityfitness.com and e-mail abbey@clarityfitness.com

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.

Emily Rotondi

Emily Rotondi is a middle school language arts teacher and published author. She grew up in Massachusetts. Her stories are inspired by growing up in New England and her love of travel. The Wedding Toaster is her debut novel. She has a second manuscript for a new story completed and is working on a third.

In today’s episode Emily shares the story behind her debut novel “The Wedding Toaster”, and what she learned along the way while writing it. The Wedding Toaster is a romance novel, and it’s been a labor of love and fourteen years in the making! For Emily, it’s first and foremost a story of transformation and of second chances. It’s has been a journey of transformation for Emily too, and it’s taught her to never give up on her dreams. Emily’s story is a beautiful reminder that it’s never too late to trust your soul’s path and purpose and follow your dreams. It’s the journey that matters and along the way there are always “aha!” and tiny moments that change everything and mean the most.

To learn more and connect with Emily visit her website www.emilyrotondicom.com and on Twitter @EmilyRotondi and Instagram @emily_rotondi

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.

Cathy Jean Norman

Cathy Jean Norman was born in California and spent her early years in Caracas, Venezuela until the age of 13. She describes her childhood as being surrounded by silent applause from a very encouraging family. She graduated from Unity ministerial school in 1983 and went on to get 2 Master’s degrees. One master’s degree in Theology and the other in Spiritual Psychology. 

In today’s episode Cathy Jean shares her story moving away from any attachment to how she felt things should look, and instead trusting the synchronicity of life. Out of her passion and along with her business partner Hope DeLong, they have created Keto baking mixes called “It’s All in the Mixx”. Currently they are in over 500 markets across the nation and they keep on growing beyond their wildest expectations. Cathy’s story is a beautiful reminder that one step leads to the next, and the Universe already knows how to get you to where you need to be.

To learn more and connect with Cathy visit her website www.itsallinthemixx.com and on Facebook @itsallinthemixx Instagram @allinthemixx Twitter @itsallinthemixx and YouTube here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.

Elisabetta Franzoso

Elisabetta Franzoso is a life & wellness coach, counselor, trainer, speaker and social activist on a mission to inspire and motivate individuals to re-engage with their authentic inner selves.

Elisabetta’s global work as a coach and trainer brings her joy, and her journey to teaching others how to communicate better first began with her. As a child Elisabetta suffered abuse and neglect, and it’s these experiences that inspired her and set her on the path of being an activist and life coach. In this week’s new episode Elisabetta speaks openly and frankly about her relationship with her daughter Stella, and how she found herself repeating the cycle of physical and emotional abuse she encountered as a child. Her journey seeking help and changing her pattern of behavior inspired her first book, “Stella’s Mum Got Her Groove Back.” Her decision to no longer revisit the past and take responsibility for her behavior and ask for help allowed her to embark on a journey of self-awareness that completely altered her life. Elisabetta’s reflections on this journey, and why becoming self-aware is so important, will remind you that there is so much joy and strength that comes from knowing who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going.

With a willingness, commitment, and courage, Elisabetta was able to transform the negative experiences she suffered as a young woman into something joyful. Her reflections on how these experiences mad her wiser and gave her a sense of strength she didn’t know she had will remind you that every experience in our lives serve a purpose. It’s this strength and wisdom that Elisabetta now shares with her clients all around the world. Elisabetta’s reflections on her journey of transformation and its impact, is a beautiful reminder that despite the ups and downs, we are all here to remember the joy in the journey. Today, Elisabetta lives in Barcelona and works with clients all over the world and her life is full of joy - the kind where she wakes up in the morning and feels happy and inspired no matter what is going on around her.

To learn more about Elisabetta visit her website www.elisabettafranzoso.com and you can connect with her on Instagram @elisabettafranzoso

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.

Ameé Quiriconi

Ameé Quiriconi is a seasoned entrepreneur and businesswoman with nearly 20 years at the helm of many organizations, from small home-based businesses to multi-million dollar companies. Her professional career spans a variety of industries such as construction & architecture, manufacturing, government consulting, real estate, and health care. In 2018, she started podcasting about mental health, parenting and self-improvement on her show, One Broken Mom. And by 2019, she began to steer her personal and professional goals toward the integration of trauma informed practices into entrepreneurship and business. ​ Ameé is also the author of The Fearless Woman's Guide to Starting a Business: What Every Woman Needs to Know to Be a Courageous, Authentic, and Unstoppable Entrepreneur. And with her study in the fields of neuroscience, psychology and self-improvement, she brings a thought-provoking harmony of practical business strategies with the underlying drives that affect people and their business success.

In today’s episode, Ameé shares her story reframing her past experiences from a belief that she was “cursed” to an understanding that it was the journey that allowed her to become who she was always meant to be, and to do what she always dreamed of doing: being a writer and speaker. Ameé shares the minute she knew she needed to change her life, the self-exploration journey she embarked on, and how she’s sharing her lessons through both her podcast and new book, The Fearless Woman's Guide to Starting a Business: What Every Woman Needs to Know to Be a Courageous, Authentic, and Unstoppable Entrepreneur". It’s Ameé’s hope that we all learn how to have a compassionate view of ourselves through understanding our trauma.

To learn more and connect with Ameé visit her website https://www.ameequiriconi.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/ameequiriconi/ and you can find her Podcast here and book trailer here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.

Rachel Engstrom

Rachel Engstrom is a young woman who has survived one of the toughest tragedies one can face in life, that has come out on the other side wanting to help others. She lives in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area with her family and beloved dog Greta. By day she helps consumers get connected to mental health and substance abuse services, and on evenings and weekends she is a podcast guest, guest blog writer, and volunteer, when not spending time with family or friends. She’s the author of “Wife, Widow, Now What?”

In today’s episode, Rachel shares her journey navigating the cancer world and ultimately writing her memoir, “Wife, Widow, Now What?” When Rachel was 28 years old, her husband was diagnosed with leukemia. What they thought was the flu after working too many hours, turned out to be the life altering illness that would forever change everything they knew. Rachel became a cancer wife, manager, team cheerleader and expert juggler at life, while supporting her husband throughout his illness, until he died two days after she turned 31. She had to reboot her life and learn how to start over as a widow, without a map or guidebook to lead her. Rachel's humor, moxie and faith helped get her through the cancer world, and survive the calamity of errors that kept-on coming after he died. Today, Rachel’s hope is to provide you with some laughter, comfort, solace and guidance on your own journey, whether it be through the world of cancer, or any other life challenges.

To learn more and connect with Rachel visit her on Instagram @wifewidownowwhat Facebook @wife.widow.now.what and you can find her book on Amazon here

Stories of Inspiring Joy is a production of Seek The Joy Media and created by Sydney Weiss. To learn more and submit your story, click here.

*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Stories of Inspiring Joy.