Meet the Joy Concierge! That's the nickname my guest Teresa Thomas earned after turning her 50th birthday into a wildly contagious practice: a list of 50 fun things to experience before the big day — everything from Santorini-sized dreams to finally ordering the latte instead of the regular coffee.

We dig into why saying what you want out loud seems to summon it (wait for the drum jam story), the real difference between toxic positivity and joy as an act of resistance, and why "I'm good at this" is one of the hardest sentences for women to say without flinching. We also get into foreboding joy, Teresa's decade-long refusal to skip dance, and the archery outing she still hasn't taken.

Grab your coffee (or your latte, no judgment) and press play.

If this one gave you a little spark, you can support the podcast by "buying me a coffee (or Teresa's latte)" at the link below. Every cup keeps these conversations coming.

Support the show

Find more episodes at www.iusedtobefunpodcast.com

Music from Uppbeat (https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/to-the-top), License code BC9SEN3G6PMABOA

What happens when your brain is really good at solving problems... and then, for once, there isn't one to solve?

This week's Nudge episode started with a line from a novel I read recently — "What am I supposed to seek justice for now?" — and a much bigger question from a conversation with my coach: what if the actual problem is that there isn't a problem? Turns out my nervous system finds "everything is fine" more than a little suspicious.

I get into hovering above our own lives with a clipboard, dragons we may have already finished slaying, and whether joy and ease ask something of us that achievement never had to.

But there's no seven-step plan here. Just some out-loud wondering about who we are when there's nothing left to fix.

If you are enjoying the show, please consider supporting the podcast by "buying me a coffee" at the link below. Every cup keeps these conversations coming.

Support the show

Find more episodes at www.iusedtobefunpodcast.com

Music from Uppbeat (https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/to-the-top), License code BC9SEN3G6PMABOA

What if the truest résumé of your life isn't the one with job titles on it?

This week's Play Date is with Cynthia Morris — writing and creativity coach, novelist, and former hot air balloon chef in the Alps (a real job, apparently) — who's spent 25+ years helping creative people clear out what she calls "the inner gunk." We dig into her concept of an adventure résumé: mapping the moments that actually shaped you instead of the ones that fit neatly on LinkedIn.

We also get into what happens once "good" already exists and you're reaching for spectacular and why Cynthia flatly rejects the word permission in favor of recognition.

Grab your coffee — this one's a generous, wide-reaching conversation about the detours that turn out to be the whole point.

Find Cynthia's novel Her Lisbon Colors, her Substack, and more in the show notes.

Support the show

Find more episodes at www.iusedtobefunpodcast.com

Music from Uppbeat (https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/to-the-top), License code BC9SEN3G6PMABOA