The “Joy Wave” Effect: How Lisa W. Miller’s Research is Changing the Game!

03/31/25 • 43 min

Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney

What if joy was the key to economic recovery? That’s exactly what consumer strategist and data whiz Lisa W. Miller (https://www.lwm-associates.com/) discovered when the world turned upside down in 2020. Instead of getting stuck in fear and uncertainty, Lisa had a bold realization: When joy is greater than fear, everything starts to turn around.

Armed with this insight, she launched the Journey Back to Joy research project, gathering a staggering 78,000+ surveys over five years. Her groundbreaking data didn’t just track what makes people happy—it became a leading economic indicator, landing her on the pages of The Wall Street Journal and NBC Nightly News.

💡 Joy vs. Fear: The surprising connection between happiness and economic recovery.
💡 Data that Predicts the Future: How Lisa’s research became a crystal ball for businesses.
💡 The Youth Crisis: What her data reveals about job satisfaction and social connection.
💡 The “Joy Wave” Hypothesis: Can joy really be contagious? Lisa says yes!
💡 The Power of Connection: Why human interaction beats digital convenience every time.

If you’re ready for a fresh, data-backed perspective on happiness, business, and the economy, this episode is a must-listen! 🎙️✨

All the places you can find Lisa are here https://linktr.ee/lisawmiller

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BIO:

Lisa W. Miller is a consumer strategist, researcher, and author with three decades of experience. As Vice President of Innovation at Brinker International and Vice President of Insights at Frito Lay/PepsiCo, she led transformative initiatives. Her groundbreaking Journey Back to Joy research, based on over 78,000 consumer interviews, became a key indicator of economic recovery during the pandemic. A trusted media resource to the WSJ, Fox New, and more, her work has been featured in over 250 media interviews. Lisa is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), blending storytelling and data-driven insights driving business growth and meaningful connections.

If you’re ready for a fresh, data-backed perspective on happiness, business, and the economy, this episode is a must-listen! 🎙️✨

All the places you can find Lisa are here https://linktr.ee/lisawmiller

One Chart in 2 Minutes or Less - Sign Up Here bit.ly/3Rwh6FO

BIO:

Previous Episode

Laurie Haley on Waiting for the Right Opportunity (even though it was SCARY!)

When the Job Hunt Drags On: Laurie’s Journey from Unemployed to Unstoppable

Job searching is rough—but nine months of rejection? That’s next-level tough. In this episode, Laurie gets real about what it’s like to be a seasoned professional suddenly feeling unemployable in a brutal job market. From self-doubt to ageism to the soul-crushing sting of rejection emails, she shares the highs, the lows, and the surprising lessons she learned along the way.

But this story isn’t just about struggle—it’s about resilience, reinvention, and the power of knowing what truly matters. Tune in for a candid, insightful, and (yes) hopeful conversation about bouncing back when your confidence takes a hit.

🔹 Title vs. Happiness: Why Laurie chose work-life balance over a bigger, shinier role.
🔹 Ageism Alert: The unexpected factor that made her job search even harder.
🔹 Rejection Overload: How she handled the emotional toll of constant “nos.”
🔹 Network = Net Worth: The real MVP in her job hunt (hint: it wasn’t online applications).
🔹 Lessons in Leadership: What this experience taught her about hiring, culture fit, and passion.

If you’ve ever struggled with job search burnout or wondered why the heck you’re not landing offers, this one’s for you!

Next Episode

Whose Life Is This Anyway? Battling the internal tug-of-war between SHOULD and WANT

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a mental game of tug-of-war between what you should do and what you actually want to do? Welcome to the club, my friend—membership: basically everyone. In this episode, your host Anne Bonney (https://YourChangeSpeaker.com) dives into the oh-so-human struggle between following the path society (or family or convention) paved for us... and the one that lights our own fire.

This isn’t about being reckless or rebellious (we’re not talking illegal shenanigans here), but about tuning into the quiet inner voice that whispers, “There’s more for you.”

🎙️ Buckle up for a real-talk ride through:

Why “should” can feel safe—but suck the soul out of your decision-making.
How to spot when you’re making choices to please, impress, or perform.
Several juicy self-reflection questions to help you break free from the Should Shackles.
The unexpected power of asking, “Whose voice is in my head right now?”
Why saying “yes” to one thing might mean saying “no” to another.

If you've ever ignored your gut in favor of playing nice, blending in, or keeping the peace—you’re gonna want to hear this.

👉 Press play and give yourself permission to go against the grain!

Anne Bonney, CSP®, is a high-energy keynote speaker, engaging emcee, and transformational workshop facilitator specializing in resilience, change leadership, emotional intelligence, and courageous communication. Known as the go-to authority on embracing change and thriving through discomfort, Anne delivers unforgettable and fun keynotes and corporate trainings—both in-person and virtually—that spark confidence, connection, and resilience in audiences around the world.

With over 20 years of experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership, Anne brings practical, real-world strategies that empower teams to navigate change, lead with emotional intelligence, and tackle tough conversations head-on. She's the author of two impactful books on leading through change and host of the top-rated Dancing in the Discomfort Zone Podcast (you're here now! You already know that!), where she interviews people (some thought-leaders, some regular people who have experienced challenges) and shares content to help YOU get more comfortable being uncomfortable and build your resilience in transition and uncertainty!

Anne’s unforgettable presentations blend humor, heart, and high-energy storytelling—drawing on her wildly diverse experiences: from growing up overseas, training animals, and climbing Kilimanjaro to running marathons on all seven continents, singing opera, and entertaining troops in Iraq. She might even surprise your audience with a custom song on her guitar!

Whether you’re planning a leadership retreat, sales kickoff, association event, or hybrid conference, Anne Bonney is the motivational speaker who will light up your stage, fire up your people, and leave them ready to embrace change, boost resilience, and lead boldly.