What happens when everything burns down — literally — and the woman left standing in the ashes decides she's done rebuilding the same life twice? In episode 254 of Joy Found Here, Melanie Rhora, author of The Phoenix Path, shares how losing her home and 15-year business to a fire on the same day became the brutal turning point she didn't know she'd been asking for — and how it led her to finally ask the one question she'd been avoiding: what do I actually need?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

03:42) When the house fire finally matched what was already burning inside

(07:11) Why she sat in the mess before rebuilding

(09:38) The shift from doing for everyone to asking what do I need?

(11:50) Walking away from a $200M career to follow an unexplainable idea

(14:07) What happened when Melanie finally stopped confusing control with strength

(15:57) Why women's circles feel nothing like a networking room

(19:23) How The Phoenix Path went from circle program to poolside in Costa Rica

(24:36) The mean girl dynamic — why their projection is never about you

(27:11) Self-trust as the quiet fire that brings you back to yourself

(35:55) The book, 12-week program, and Costa Rica retreats explained

Melanie Rhora is the author of The Phoenix Path: A Woman's Guide to Healing, Rebuilding, and Rising Stronger and founder of Phoenix Path Transformations. After losing her home and 15-year digital marketing business to a fire on the same day, she rebuilt her life from the ground up — this time on her own terms. Now a trauma-informed facilitator and CEO of Ascend Empower Group Inc., she leads women's circles, online programs, and Costa Rica retreats built around her four-step framework: recognize, release, reclaim, and rise.

In this episode, Melanie shares how her house fire became the catalyst that forced her to stop asking how do I fix this? and start asking what do I actually need? — a shift she credits with changing everything. She unpacks the power of women's circles, including her no-feedback model where women "beam" love instead of offering advice, creating rare space for women to hear their own inner voice. She also reframes the "mean girl" dynamic as a reflection of unhealed wounds, explores why self-trust is the quiet fire that reignites a woman's sense of self, and shares a practical gem she lives by: committing to three fun things a day to stay, as she puts it, a sparkly unicorn.

Connect with Melanie Rhora:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Book: Melanie Rhora - The Phoenix Path

Let's Connect:

Website

Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the stranger staring back at you in the mirror isn't a sign of decline — but an invitation to take back control? In episode 253 of Joy Found Here, Dr. Prudence Hall, founder of The Hall Center and pioneer in regenerative medicine, makes a compelling case that biological age is not a sentence — it's a choice. From the gut-hormone connection to why it's never too late to rebalance your body, this conversation is equal parts eye-opening and deeply hopeful.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(4:25) How France sparked Dr. Hall's calling to champion women's health

(7:20) Why biological age matters more than chronological — and how to reverse it

(10:41) Building an anti-inflammatory plate from the ground up

(14:52) Where to find fiber and why your gut depends on it

(17:09) The link between menopause, gut inflammation, and estrogen

(19:32) Sugar, smarter swaps, and hidden inflammatory triggers

(24:22) The hard truth about alcohol and women's hormones

(27:05) Perimenopause decoded: symptoms, timing, and missed diagnoses

(35:24) The thyroid-estrogen connection most doctors overlook

(39:46) Why it's never too late to rebalance your hormones

Dr. Prudence Hall is a board-certified physician, founder and medical director of The Hall Center in Santa Monica, and a leading voice in regenerative and integrative medicine. After training as a traditional gynecological surgeon, she pivoted to address the root causes of women's hormonal health through a whole-body, individualized approach. She is the author of Radiant Again & Forever (free download at drprudencehall.com) and has treated over 40,000 patients worldwide through her practice, Menopause Breakthrough Program, and virtual consultations.

In this episode, Dr. Prudence Hall reframes aging as something largely within our control, introducing the concept of biological vs. chronological age — and making the case that biological age can genuinely be reversed. She covers the foundational pillars: a plant-forward, low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet; gut health supported by fiber and clean oils; and eliminating hidden inflammatory triggers like gluten and dairy. The conversation's core lands on hormones — Dr. Hall demystifies perimenopause (which can begin as early as the late 30s), champions bioidentical hormone therapy for symptom relief and long-term brain health, and unpacks the underappreciated thyroid-estrogen connection. Her closing message: it is never too late, pointing to a 93-year-old patient whose cognitive clarity was restored through hormone rebalancing.

Connect with Dr. Prudence Hall:

Website

Instagram

YouTube

TikTok

Facebook

Book: Prudence Hall M.D. - Radiant Again & Forever

Let's Connect:

Website

Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a high-achieving woman checks every box society handed her — only to realize none of it was truly hers? In episode 252 of Joy Found Here, Recalibrate Coaching founder Hema Crockett shares the deeply personal moment that cracked everything open and led her to ask, for the very first time: what do I actually want?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:52) Meet Hema: coach and "recovered HR executive"

(04:45) Growing up between East and West

(06:09) Nearly 20 years in the corporate grind

(07:03) The turning point: living in Kathmandu, Nepal

(10:14) The IVF journey that changed everything

(13:00) How "what do I want?" became Recalibrate Coaching

(18:10) Introducing the Disrupting Default podcast

(21:51) Why awareness, once gained, can't be undone

(27:10) Inside the Recalibrate process: digging, the void, building

(33:23) Recalibration as a lifelong practice

Hema Crockett grew up as the daughter of Indian immigrants in Arizona, straddling Eastern traditions and Western culture — conditioning she didn't recognize until much later. After nearly 20 years as a corporate HR executive in tech and biotech startups, she had the corner office, the stock options, and the title, but felt completely disconnected. The breaking point came during IVF, when she realized mid-transfer that she didn't want children — and her husband, waiting in the car, felt exactly the same. That moment of radical honesty sent her on a years-long journey of unraveling everything she'd been told to want.

In this episode, Hema walks Stephanie through the philosophy behind her coaching practice, Recalibrate, where she works one-on-one with high-achieving women in midlife who have "made it" by every measure but feel unfulfilled. She shares her process of guiding clients from discovery to a conscious "choice point," then into intentionally building a life rooted in desire rather than expectation — no quitting required, just micro-shifts in awareness. She also introduces her new podcast, Disrupting Default, co-hosted with her retired Marine husband, which challenges the everyday autopilot habits we never stop to question.

Connect with Hema Crockett:

Website

Instagram

YouTube

LinkedIn

Podcast: Disrupting Default

Let's Connect:

Website

Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the secret to a happier life wasn't about doing more — but paying closer attention to what's already pulling you forward? In episode 250 of Joy Found Here, author and entrepreneur Emily Florence returns to share why choosing joy is less about grand gestures and more about small, intentional daily decisions. From dropping out of law school after four days to building a life entirely on her own terms, her story is a masterclass in trusting yourself — and Even Better: Easier Ways to a Happier Life is the roadmap she wishes she'd had all along.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(04:38) The four-day law school exit that changed everything

(09:20) Why "safe" choices aren't always the right ones

(10:33) From gallery walls to Beverly Hills: journalism, PR, and American Idol

(13:19) Learning to trust intuition even when the path isn't clear

(15:44) Why happiness is a decision, not a feeling

(20:08) Letting go of heavy thoughts — and what to replace them with

(24:28) Staying grounded when the world feels overwhelming

(28:31) The story behind Even Better's 101 bite-sized lessons

(35:32) Social media, dopamine, and why boundaries are non-negotiable

(40:18) The simple five-thing evening ritual that builds lasting joy

Emily Florence is a bestselling author, award-winning writer, and entrepreneur who believes life gets better when we stop being so hard on ourselves and start choosing joy with intention. A former Beverly Hills PR strategist who worked on American Idol and Gilmore Girls, she holds a Master's in Broadcast Journalism from Emerson College, is a certified life purpose and career coach, and founder of Everyday Happy — honoured as a Forbes Top 100 Website for Women. Her book Even Better: Easier Ways to a Happier Life was named the Feel-Good Book of 2024 by Yahoo Finance.

Emily opens with the moment that shaped everything: dropping out of law school after just four days at 22, choosing how she felt over what people thought — the seed of all she now teaches. She unpacks why happiness isn't a destination but a series of daily micro-choices, and introduces the practice of "paying attention to your attention" — noticing what leaves you feeling better or worse and deliberately choosing more of what lifts you. She also speaks to staying grounded in a noisy world through mindful media consumption, daily meditation, and a simple evening ritual of writing down five things you're grateful for or accomplished. The episode closes with exciting news: the audiobook for Even Better drops February 26, 2026.

Connect with Emily Florence:

Website

Substack

Instagram

Book: Emily Florence - Even Better

Get Emily’s free workshop & guide!

Let's Connect:

Website

Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a former lawyer and pop musician gets told she's "too old" to write about desire—and builds a literary empire instead? In episode 249 of Joy Found Here, author Lexy Shaw Delorme shares how she turned publisher rejection into fuel for independence. After being told it's "unbecoming for a woman in her forties to still have sexual feelings," Lexy chose self-publishing and proved that refusing to wait for permission creates something extraordinary.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(04:12) From Music to Law to Literature: Lexy's Multi-Hyphenate Journey

(05:38) Characters as Truth-Tellers: Why Fiction Lets You Say What You Can't

(10:17) Finding Her Tribe: How Comic-Con Became the Perfect Venue

(14:24) The Inclusive Magic of Comic-Con Culture

(22:13) The Limerent Series: Four Books, One Converging World

(29:30) Writing with ADHD: Achievable Goals and Family Accountability

(35:32) "I'm Not Going to Allow Myself to Think I Can't Do It"

(44:24) Fighting the Publishing Patriarchy: Why She Went Independent

(47:36) Building a Creative Empire: Her Self-Publishing Team

(53:06) Taking on Amazon and Where to Find Her Books

Lexy Shaw Delorme is an award-winning American author based in Paris, known for her genre-defying Limerent Series written under the pen name S. Delorme. A true Renaissance woman—pop musician with an MTV feature, lawyer, 23andMe science writer, and sound engineer—she channels all those experiences into fiction that blends paranormal romance with legal thrillers and metaphysical mysteries. After rejecting traditional publishing's limitations (including being told it's "unbecoming for a woman in her forties to still have sexual feelings"), she built an independent publishing empire with her family. With nine books completed and a relentless creative drive fueled by ADHD, Lexy regularly appears at Comic-Cons and literary festivals across Europe and the US, proving you're never too old to write complex stories on your own terms.

In this episode, Lexy returns with updates on launching her fifth book at New York Comic-Con and plans for a short story collection. She shares how Comic-Con became her ideal venue—a passionate, inclusive community of 250,000+ attendees who embrace boundary-pushing stories—and opens up about managing ADHD through achievable writing goals, treating her author career as a startup, and building a creative team with her son as developmental editor. Whether discussing constant creative momentum or recent Amazon challenges, Lexy's message is clear: passion, persistence, and refusing to wait for permission are the keys to creating the life and work you want.

Connect with Lexy Shaw Delorme:

Website

TikTok

Instagram

X

SoundCloud

Get Lexy’s books!

Let's Connect:

Website

Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a personal trainer loses the ability to walk and discovers a power she never knew existed? In episode 248 of Joy Found Here, Isabelle Daikeler shares how spending over a decade unable to move without pain after giving birth forced her into complete surrender. That breaking point became her awakening—when her body began moving on its own for three days, when channeling started, and when she discovered what she calls our "third limb": an aspect of ourselves we've all forgotten we have.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(04:59) From Skeptic to Healer

(07:18) The Car Crash That Changed Everything

(10:30) Discovering Adaptogenic Medicine

(15:13) Giving Birth and Losing Mobility

(17:10) The Prayer of Surrender

(22:00) Three Days of Somatic Unwinding

(24:30) Discovering the "Third Limb"

(30:44) Living with Inner Guidance

(34:08) Your Body's Ancestral Wisdom

(39:37) Inside the Harmonic Egg

(44:48) Why Knowing is Freedom

As the founder of Authenticity – The Malibu Sound & Light Healing Center, Isabelle Daikeler guides individuals toward inner alignment through intuitive channeling and the revolutionary Harmonic Egg chamber. Her journey into this work wasn't sought—it found her. After giving birth to her son seventeen years ago, she spent over a decade unable to walk, stripped of her identity as a strong, athletic personal trainer. Broken and surrendering in prayer on the floor of her Kauai home, her connection to divine guidance—what she calls her third "limb"—awakened through three days of involuntary somatic unwinding and the beginning of channeling. Her devastating loss became the doorway to a different kind of strength: one built from the inside out.

In this episode, Isabelle shares why surrender is the most essential step in healing, how our bodies hold ancestral wisdom and current-life lessons in every moment, and why the negative emotions we resist are actually our greatest teachers. She introduces the Harmonic Egg—a sacred geometry chamber using personalized sound and light frequencies to reset the nervous system and shift us from reactive to responsive. Whether you've spent years searching for answers or you're carrying pain that won't let go, Isabelle's message is clear: the wisdom you need is already within you, accessible here and now, and knowing—truly knowing—is the gateway to freedom.

Connect with Isabelle Daikeler:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Let's Connect:

Website

Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when grief becomes the catalyst for finally answering a lifelong creative calling? In episode 247 of Joy Found Here, Celeste Fenton shares how losing her husband in 2020 forced her to confront who she was beyond educator, wife, and mother. At 60+, she stopped making excuses and started writing the suspense romance series that had been "chirping" at her for decades. Her journey to self-published author isn't just about books—it's about giving yourself permission to fail, discover who you are, and step out of the "shadow of the but."

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(05:53) Leaving a Difficult Childhood Behind

(11:07) Divorce, Single Parenthood, and Going Back to School

(14:27) The Loss That Changed Everything

(14:29) Starting to Write at 60+

(15:53) Sharing Her Terrible First Draft

(17:59) Finding Her Identity Through Writing

(23:16) The Solo Trip to Maine That Sparked It All

(40:27) Creating Gabby Hart: A Messy Midlife Heroine

(46:26) Shifting from Success to Meaning

(49:26) Inspiring Other Women to Pursue Their Passions

Celeste Fenton spent 30 years as an educator and director in adult and continuing education, earning her degrees from Kansas State University and the University of South Florida. After growing up in a difficult household north of Tampa and navigating divorce as a single parent, she returned to school for her master's degree and built a fulfilling career in higher education. She remarried in 1997 to a fellow educator, but when her husband unexpectedly passed away in 2020, that loss became a catalyst. At 60+, grieving and searching for her identity beyond the roles of wife, mother, and educator, Celeste finally answered the creative calling that had been "chirping" at her for decades and began writing seriously in 2021.

In this episode, Celeste opens up about the vulnerable process of writing her first draft and discovering parts of herself she hadn't consciously acknowledged. Drawing inspiration from a solo trip to Maine, she created her "Mysteries of a Heart" suspense romance series featuring Gabby Hart—a midlife protagonist navigating family secrets, romance, and mystery. With two published books, "Lost Heart in King Manor" and "Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle," and a third coming in 2026, Celeste's purpose has shifted from seeking success to inspiring others. She now speaks to women's groups about stepping out of the "shadow of the but" and giving yourself permission to try, fail, and discover who you are. Her message is clear: it's never too late to answer the call that's been waiting for you.

Connect with Celeste Fenton:

Threads

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Get Celeste’s books!

Let's Connect:

Website

Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.