Joy Lab Podcast

Henry Emmons, MD and Aimee Prasek, PhD

Welcome to the Joy Lab Podcast! We're your hosts, Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek, and we blend soulful insights with practical strategies to help you navigate mental health challenges like chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. In each episode, we dive deep into the art and science of joy, exploring how to build resilience and flourish, even in the face of life's overwhelming moments. You'll probably resonate and benefit most from joining us if any of the below resonate: * You feel caught in cycles of worry or anxiety. * You feel STRESSED and sick of the symptoms that go along with it (feeling tired, achy/tight in your body, tension headaches, and lots of irritation or nervousness). * You feel overwhelmed by the news of the world around you and it's impacting your mood and focus. * The grind of day-to-day life doesn't feel meaningful to you and you want something more. * Your mind feels ridiculously busy, full, and foggy. You may even be waking up in the middle of the night (3am, anyone?), with your mind racing over stuff you can't shake. * You feel depressed too often or even just stuck in a "meh" or "bleh" kind of state. You also really want to get out of that low mood rut, feel happy again, and live your life more fully. Did you sense a heaviness in your chest or belly that was like... "yeah, I'm feeling that." If so, then join us every Wednesday for a new episode. As hosts of this pod and fellow humans, we've had those thoughts and felt those feelings too. We know the struggle. We also know the relief and what it's like to go beyond just a baseline of feeling "not so bad" and into a more joyful and flourishing state. Maybe best of all, we know how to help others do that too. We've been in the mental health field and doing this work for a combined 50+ years. You can also trust that what we talk about and explore are solid mental health tools and practices grounded by modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), positive psychology, and the science of mindfulness. We'll also adventure beyond what can be measured to explore wisdom from our deepest selves or "soul." But, there's a warning there... even when we're working with that deeper stuff, this is not some woo-woo, new age kind of psychobabble. It's the practical, whole-person approach to mental health that is necessary for our complex human lives. It will challenge you to address all the bits of your being, even those uncertain/uncomfortable sides, to help you cultivate joy right now—no procrastinating for the "perfect" moment. So, if you’re ready to redefine your relationship with mental health and unlock the joy that’s already within you, simply choose an episode that speaks to you and press play. Each episode is your personal guide to building true resilience, embracing self-care that truly nourishes you, and reigniting a deep sense of connection. You’ll walk away with practical insights to help you navigate life’s challenges with more confidence—because joy isn’t something you have to chase, it’s something within you that's waiting for you to rediscover. The Joy Lab Podcast and Program are powered by Pathways North. ________ This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

#16 in the Top 100 joy All time chart

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Top 10 Joy Lab Podcast Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Joy Lab Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Joy Lab Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Joy Lab Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Inspiration: The Engine of Joy

Joy Lab Podcast

01/01/22 • 26 min

The element for this episode is inspiration. It’s the magic of being awakened to new possibilities or feeling deeply passionate that you want to do something out of that passion. We all know inspiration can strike when we least expect it to, but perhaps there is a depth to its transcendence and interconnectedness within us that we can learn to tap into. Tune in as we talk about the five qualities of inspiration, how to avoid common pitfalls, and key ways to increase your likelihood of experiencing inspiration.

Key Takeaways:

The more inspiration you have, the more internal drive and purpose you have to be motivated in everyday work.
One of the pitfalls with inspiration is when you only rely on others to get it; that’s just not a reliable source. It is transcendent in how it comes to us, either from within us or from beyond us.
You can increase your likelihood of being inspired by being open to new experiences, practicing positive emotions, and through preparation.

Links Mentioned:

The Joy Lab Program

1 Listener

Here's a Resolution that Works [ep. 190]

Joy Lab Podcast

01/01/25 • 1 min

How have your New Year's resolutions worked out in the past? If you're the majority of us, then they haven't worked out too well. We've got an idea for you this year... it's a resolution that is empowering and nourishing... one that goes beyond self care and supports your mind and body in big ways. Here it is: Join us for the Joy Lab Program! It's open and ready to support you as you build more resilience and uncover more joy in 2025. Join us: https://www.joylab.coach/

Sources and Notes:

Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advice and treatment from a medical professional. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health professional before beginning any diet change, supplement, or lifestyle program.

Please see our terms for more information.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call the NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. OR text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email NAMI at [email protected]. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Antidepressant Withdrawal & Coming Off Antidepressants With Less Side Effects [ep. 149]

Joy Lab Podcast

06/01/24 • 21 min

In this episode, we talk about the experience of coming off antidepressants. It's important to note that there is a serious lack of attention and research on antidepressant withdrawal compared to starting these medications. We'll talk about the challenges of withdrawal symptoms, the importance of patient voices in healthcare research, and best practices for tapering off medications. We'll also touch on some natural ways to support the serotonin system during withdrawal, such as using supplements like 5-HTP. We hope this episode helps spread information about the realities of antidepressant withdrawal and that folks can have a more well-informed approach in collaboration with healthcare providers to navigate this process with less negative symptoms.

Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keep the Joy Lab podcast free for all!

Sources and Notes:

Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community!

NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going.

Many of our serotonin-supporting resources and additional self-care strategies can be found in your Resilience Mini Course. If you don't have your Course yet, simply take the Free Resilience Quiz and then sign up for your free Mini Course to identify your mental health strengths and obstacles and take meaningful actions to support your resilience.
Gabrielle Calvocoressi's website.
Where to shop:

Our partner store at Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for free.
Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies.

Davies, J., & Read, J. (2019). A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based? Addictive behaviors, 97, 111–121.
Van Leeuwen E, et al. (2021). Approaches for discontinuation versus continuation of long‐term antidepressant use for depressive and anxiety disorders in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021.
Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies.
Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads.

Full transcript here.

Fallacy of Fairness & Victim Mentality [ep. 186]

Joy Lab Podcast

12/04/24 • 22 min

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we're digging into a key obstacle of Sympathetic Joy (our element for December). This is important because Sympathetic Joy, or the practice of finding joy in someone else's good fortune or joy, is powerful. It's a quick mood boosting strategy, it can foster a deeper sense of connection and belonging, it can serve as an antidote to envy and jealousy, and can fuel our own motivation to get out of ruts that can keep us down. A key obstacle to sympathetic joy is the fallacy of fairness, a thought distortion that can cloud our perception and keep us trapped in negative thought patterns. This fallacy is related to another more commonly known concept called "victim mentality." We'll talk about how this fallacy and mentality shows up, some insights on overcoming these roadblocks, and how to align your heart and mind to navigate life's challenges with a more joyful perspective.

Sources and Notes:

Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
Episode on envy: Envy: Why it surges & what to do when it does

Full transcript.

Please see our terms for more information.

The Handle of Hope

Joy Lab Podcast

05/01/21 • 24 min

In this episode, we discuss the concept of hope as a tool to achieving joyful lives, drawing from traditional wisdom, neuroscience, and personal experiences. We'll also highlight what we call the "enemies of joy." These include brain imbalance, an unsettled mind, and the illusion of separation. As always, we'll also note the scientifically-backed benefits of being hopeful, which include better life satisfaction, a stronger sense of purpose, and higher possibility of achieving set goals.

Key moments:

00:00 Introduction to the Joy Lab Podcast 00:45 Unveiling the Theme: Hope 02:06 The Two Wolves: A Story of Hope and Fear 05:04 The Neuroscience of Hope 11:55 The Enemies of Joy: Brain Imbalance and Toxicity 13:39 The Power of Perception and Genetics 14:56 The Unsettled Mind and the Illusion of Separation 21:30 The Power of Hope in Mental Health 23:26 Conclusion: Embracing the Invisible Joy 23:57 Outro and Disclaimer

Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keeps the Joy Lab podcast free for all!

Sources and Notes:

Resilience Quiz and free Mini-Course: Based on decades of clinical experience, we've created a model of resilience that is both helpful and practical. True to our approach at Natural Mental Health, we start with strengths. You'll identify these strengths in your Resilience Type. Your Resilience Type highlights your unique strengths, what fuels your joy, what keeps you in balance, and the lifestyle practices that most nourish you. After you find your Resilience Type, sign up for your free mini-course to receive tailored lifestyle practices (e.g., foods to eat more of, ideal forms of exercise, supplements, and mindfulness activities) that can support your mood, resilience, and overall wellbeing.
Resilient Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources (like our Sleeping Well Workshop) AND you'll join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going... which means powerful resources stay accessible to everyone.
Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies.
Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads: https://bookshop.org/shop/NMHreads
Where to shop:
- Our partner store at Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for your free Fullscript account here: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/nmh/store-start
- Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies: https://www.resilientremedies.com/

Please see our terms for more information.

Accept Yourself Just As You Are & Then You Can Change [ep. 150]

Joy Lab Podcast

06/05/24 • 21 min

In this episode, we explore Carl Rogers' 'Curious Paradox'—the concept that true change comes from self-acceptance. We'll talk about the historical context of Rogers' humanistic psychology and his focus on unconditional positive regard and person-centered therapy. The big takeaway is the profound impact self-acceptance and self-compassion have on behavior change and healing.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Key moments:

00:00 Welcome to Joy Lab

00:39 Introducing the Curious Paradox

01:35 About Carl Rogers

05:00 The Power of Self-Acceptance

09:39 Personal Stories of Self-Acceptance

13:29 Embracing Authenticity

20:40 Closing Thoughts and Wisdom

Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keeps the Joy Lab podcast free for all!

Sources and Notes:

Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community!
- NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going.
Many of our serotonin-supporting resources and additional self-care strategies can be found in your Resilience Mini Course. If you don't have your Course yet, simply take the Free Resilience Quiz and then sign up for your free Mini Course to identify your mental health strengths and obstacles and take meaningful actions to support your resilience.
Gabrielle Calvocoressi's website.
Where to shop:
- Our partner store at Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for your free Fullscript account here: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/nmh/store-start
- Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies: https://www.resilientremedies.com/
Davies, J., & Read, J. (2019). A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based? Addictive behaviors, 97, 111–121.
Van Leeuwen E, et al. (2021). Approaches for discontinuation versus continuation of long‐term antidepressant use for depressive and anxiety disorders in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021.
Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies.
Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads: https://bookshop.org/shop/NMHreads

Please see our terms for more information.

Scarcity Mindset, Decision Making, & Mental Health [ep. 187]

Joy Lab Podcast

12/11/24 • 11 min

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we're digging into the fallacy of scarcity and its impact on mental health and decision making. Scarcity mentality can make us believe we lack sufficient resources, leading to anxiety, poor cognitive function, and decisions that leave us worse off. We'll talk about how to shift toward practicing sympathetic joy, which fosters a deeper sense of joy and a sense of enoughness.

Sources and Notes:

Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
Fallacy of Fairness and Victim Mentality

Full transcript here.

Please see our terms for more information.

5-Hydroxytryptophan Side Effects & Benefits [ep. 147]

Joy Lab Podcast

05/25/24 • 20 min

In this episode of the Joy Lab podcast, we're diving into the science and soul of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a supplement known for supporting mood through its role in serotonin production. We'll cover the basics of 5-HTP and its role in depression and anxiety along with the complex nature of depression and how 5-HTP might play a role in supporting mood (yeah, we'll even touch on the controversial serotonin hypothesis- we see you psychology and biology nerds!) Of course, since many of us want to know if supplementing with 5-HTP is helpful, we'll talk about the importance of quality in supplements, potential risks of serotonin syndrome, common 5-HTP dosages, and the nuanced approach needed when considering 5-HTP as part of mental health support.

Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support helps keeps the Joy Lab podcast free for all!

Sources & Notes:

Free Resilience Quiz and free Mini-Course: Take our Free Resilience Quiz and then sign up for your free Mini-Course to identify your mental health strengths and obstacles and take meaningful actions to support your resilience.
Supplements noted (see where to shop below):

NeuroMood Pure Pack (this is our favorite mood-supporting packet that includes vitamins, minerals, EFAs, curcumin, and amino acids [with 50 mg 5-HTP])
NeuroCalm (a blend that includes 5-HTP to support production of calming neurotransmitters)

Liposomal NeuroCalm (same as above, just liposomal delivery)

CereVive (includes amino acid precursors and bioactive nutrients that support healthy levels of neurotransmitters)
Cerenity (comprehensive formula designed to address daily stress by increasing the production of the calming neurotransmitters serotonin and gamma-amino butyric acid)

Cerenity PM (an alternative if sleep is also an issue)

5-HTP Synergy (this can be a good option for those who do not want a product that includes additional ingredients)

Where to shop:

Our partner store at Fullscript: This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for your free Fullscript account.
Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies: https://www.resilientremedies.com/

Read more at the NMH blog:

5-HTP for Anxiousness

Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community!

NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources AND join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going.

Blaze J. (2021). A Comparison of Current Regulatory Frameworks for Nutraceuticals in Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States. Innovations in pharmacy, 12(2), 10.24926/iip.v12i2.3694. https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v12i2.3694 ...

Building Resilience And An Open Heart With Your Heart-Brain (encore) [ep. 143]

Joy Lab Podcast

05/11/24 • 22 min

In this episode, we're working on our element Hope... and resilience as well! We're still adventuring through The Roots of Resilience (laid out in one of Dr. Emmons books, The Chemistry of Calm). We're talking about the sixth root, "Cultivating a Good Heart." What does this have to do with mental health?! A lot actually. We're not just a brain wandering around all alone. We're more than that. And this root opens up the rest of our body, and the world around us, so that we can not only improve our mental health, but connect with meaning and purpose, and tap into our joy, hope, and resilience. We'll get into some specifics with the factors of self-acceptance, loving-kindness, and compassion as foundational strategies to cultivate a good heart. Expect to learn some insights from neuroscience and traditional wisdom on the heart's central role in emotional processing and connection, along with key practices to cultivate kindness and compassion towards ourselves and others.

Joy Lab and Natural Mental Health are community-supported. When you buy through the links below, we may earn a commission. That support keeps the Joy Lab podcast free for all!

Sources & Notes:

Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life. Your Joy Lab membership also includes our NMH Community!

NMH Community: Access lots of extra resilience-boosting resources (like our Sleeping Well Workshop) & you'll join a group of inspiring folks who play an integral role in keeping this podcast going... which means powerful resources stay accessible to everyone.

Free Resilience Quiz and free Mini-Course: Based on decades of clinical experience, we've created a model of resilience that is both helpful and practical.
Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series)
Annual Research Review: Positive adjustment to adversity -Trajectories of minimal-impact resilience and emergent resilience
The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Hope and Stress
The role of Hope in subsequent health and well-being for older adults: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach
More on those snails/slugs:

Joy Lab Podcast ep #26: Self-Compassion: Don't Believe Everything You Think (about yourself)
The Three Kindnesses. Here are the three patterns of kindness to notice:

Notice someone acting kindly to another person.
Notice someone acting kindly to you.
Notice when you act kindly to someone else.

Hopelessness and Risk of Mortality and Incidence of Myocardial Infarction and Cancer
Shop:

Fullscript (partner store): This is where you can find high-quality supplements and wellness products. Except for our CBD Gummies, any product links mentioned in the show notes below will require an account. Sign up for your free Fullscript account,
Resilient Remedies: This is where you can find our line of trusted, high-quality CBD gummies.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at NaturalMentalHealth.com for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies.
Check out our favorite resilience-boosting reads here.

Full transcript available here.

Please remember that this content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice and is not a replacement for advic...

You Are Capable of Radical Change [ep. 209]

Joy Lab Podcast

05/14/25 • 18 min

You are capable of radical change. If you aren't convinced that you can create change in your life, take Aimee's story about how her hen became a rooster (seriously, just listen in and it'll make sense). Beyond that chicken talk, this episode is focused on our human potential for change and healing. We'll touch on neuroplasticity, epigenetics, and the motivational role of hope. We think you'll come away with a better understanding of how you're wired for change and can intentionally steer it towards greater wellbeing.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts!

Sources and Notes:

Joy Lab Program: Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with step-by-step practices to help you build and maintain the elements of joy in your life.
Emotional Inertia: Feeling Dull & Disconnected [Joy Lab ep. 207]
Zhang, X., et al. (2023). Overview of Avian Sex Reversal. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(9), 8284. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24098284
Bian, Z., et al. (2024). Genetic predisposition, modifiable lifestyles, and their joint effects on human lifespan: evidence from multiple cohort studies. BMJ evidence-based medicine, 29(4), 255–263. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2023-112583
Weger, U. W., & Loughnan, S. (2013). Mobilizing unused resources: using the placebo concept to enhance cognitive performance. Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006), 66(1), 23–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2012.751117
Head to YouTube to see Haley's new spurs (16:28)
Closing poem excerpt: Emily Dickinson, "Hope is the Thing With Feathers."

Full transcript here.

Please see our terms for more information.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Joy Lab Podcast have?

Joy Lab Podcast currently has 210 episodes available.

What topics does Joy Lab Podcast cover?

The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Happiness, Mental Health, Joy, Mentalhealth, Podcasts, Self-Improvement and Education.

What is the most popular episode on Joy Lab Podcast?

The episode title 'Inspiration: The Engine of Joy' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Joy Lab Podcast?

The average episode length on Joy Lab Podcast is 19 minutes.

How often are episodes of Joy Lab Podcast released?

Episodes of Joy Lab Podcast are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Joy Lab Podcast?

The first episode of Joy Lab Podcast was released on Apr 13, 2021.

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Joy Lab Podcast

Henry Emmons, MD and Aimee Prasek, PhD

Top 10 Joy Lab Podcast Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Joy Lab Podcast have?

What topics does Joy Lab Podcast cover?

What is the most popular episode on Joy Lab Podcast?

What is the average episode length on Joy Lab Podcast?

How often are episodes of Joy Lab Podcast released?

When was the first episode of Joy Lab Podcast?

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