What if the thing holding you back isn’t laziness, procrastination, or perfectionism—but fear wearing a clever disguise?

In this unforgettable episode of A Joyful Rebellion, Emmy Award-winner and Fearless Living founder Rhonda Britten shares the unthinkable story of what happened to her at age 14—and the decades-long journey that followed. After witnessing the murder-suicide of her parents, Rhonda spiraled into guilt, addiction, and self-destruction. But a failed suicide attempt became the moment she decided to start over. And she did.

Today, she’s helped thousands reclaim their lives using the Wheel of Fear and Wheel of Freedom, tools that help people stop trying harder and start transforming. We talk about emotional fear vs. physical fear, why most self-help doesn’t stick, and how real change comes through awareness, not willpower. Whether you’re overwhelmed, people-pleasing, or perfectionist-ing your way through life, this conversation will shift how you see yourself—and what you do next.

• [00:00] What fearlessness really is (it’s not skydiving)

• [02:00] Rhonda’s backstory: Emmy-winner, coach, and trauma survivor

• [04:30] The worst day of her life—and the guilt that followed

• [07:30] Alcohol, suicide attempts, and the turning point

• [09:00] The gold star calendar that changed everything

• [11:00] Why knowledge doesn’t equal transformation

• [13:00] What fear actually looks like in daily life

• [14:30] The fear quiz (and how you probably passed it 100%)

• [17:00] Reframing “problems” as fear responses

• [19:00] Identifying your core fear—and how it runs the show

• [22:00] The Wheel of Fear vs. Wheel of Freedom

• [25:00] How shame melts when fear is named

• [28:00] Healing, regret, and radical self-forgiveness

• [31:00] Rhonda’s essential nature: authenticity

• [34:00] Generational trauma and fear in your DNA

• [36:30] Why your worst behavior doesn’t define you

• [38:00] Age, awareness, and how fast change can happen

• [40:00] The #1 fear people don’t talk about

• [43:00] Coaching that actually works—and why

• [46:00] Stretch, Risk, or Die: tools for transformation

• [49:00] Fear as your outdated protector (and how to retrain it)

• [52:00] The difference between venting and complaining

• [55:00] Building sovereignty and agency—one choice at a time

• [58:00] What healthy people really look like—and how to find them

• [01:00:00] Final takeaway: There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s just fear.

• Website: fearlessliving.org

• Free Video Class: Stretch Risk or Die | Fearless Living

• Book: Fearless Living by Rhonda Britten

• Instagram: @‌rhondabritten

How do you build a family when the system is designed to tear it apart?

In this powerful episode of A Joyful Rebellion, writer, professor, and father Lane Igoudin shares the deeply human story behind his memoir A Family, Maybe: Two Dads, Two Babies, and the Court Cases That Brought Us Together. Lane and his husband Jonathan were among the first openly gay couples to adopt through the foster system in Los Angeles County. What followed was a three-year legal and emotional rollercoaster that tested their resolve, their relationship, and their sense of justice.

We talk about the failures of the child welfare system, the invisible labor of parenting under legal threat, and what it really means to create family—not just legally, but spiritually and emotionally. Lane opens up about raising two daughters, navigating stigma, building community, and the quiet strength it takes to hold your family together when others have the power to pull it apart.

• [00:00] Grafting onto a new family tree: How love can create roots

• [01:00] Meet Lane Igoudin: Writer, father, and accidental memoirist

• [03:00] The first chapter: curbside delivery and becoming instant parents

• [06:00] Birth, sepsis, and a cooler bag full of formula

• [08:30] Parenting under legal threat: Living through uncertainty

• [10:00] Two babies, no safety net, and a perfect storm of life transitions

• [12:00] Why Lane always knew he wanted to be a father

• [14:00] The landscape of early LGBTQ+ adoptions in the 2000s

• [16:00] Legal limbo: Being married in one state, single in another

• [18:00] Parallel paths: Parenting, career change, and teaching

• [20:00] The emotional cost of parenting through a courtroom

• [23:00] Denied status, silenced voices, and fighting for your family

• [25:00] The problem with “best interests” being decided 30 miles away

• [27:00] What true attachment looks like—and what disruption could do

• [30:00] Building bridges: Allies, moms, and chosen community

• [32:00] Identity, culture, and raising bicultural kids with care

• [34:00] What the girls know, and what they want to know, about their past

• [36:00] Reactions to the book—from readers, family, and adoptees

• [39:00] Why Lane wrote the story he never planned to write

• Lane’s Website: http://laneigoudin.com

• Book: A Family, Maybe (Available via Amazon, Bookshop, and his website)

• Publisher: Ooligan Press, Portland State University

• Instagram: @laneigoudin

• Facebook: Lane Igoudin

What do you do when life hands you a story you never asked for?

Ray Hartjen is a writer, musician, father, and cancer patient who didn’t just survive a diagnosis—he rewrote the narrative. After learning he had multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, Ray chose to reframe instead of retreat. In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, we explore how a routine blood test cracked his world open—and how he rebuilt it with music, meaning, and the mantra, If not now, when?

We talk about the emotional toll of illness, the power of perspective, and the roles we take on when everything changes. Ray shares what it means to show up fully, how support groups shaped his recovery, and why he believes in “punching the day in the face.” Whether you're facing a life detour or just waiting to start the next chapter, this conversation is a powerful reminder that clarity often follows chaos—and it’s never too late to begin again.

• [00:00] Opening reflection: Clarity after crisis

• [01:00] Meet Ray Hartjen: writer, musician, father—and cancer patient

• [03:00] A routine blood test leads to a life-changing diagnosis

• [06:00] What 90% bone marrow cancer looks like when you feel “fine”

• [08:00] Reframing the story: Same roles, new lens

• [10:00] The “mixing board” model of healing: mind, body, spirit

• [12:00] The timeline exercise that redefined his urgency

• [15:00] “If not now, when?”—and the motto that lit a fire

• [17:00] Book 1: Immaculate and the Steelers’ role in Pittsburgh’s revival

• [20:00] Why big dreams require small steps

• [22:00] Advice for anyone with a full journal and an unfinished dream

• [24:00] What support groups reveal about the healing journey

• [26:00] From patient to advocate: reaching back to pull others forward

• [28:00] Hesitations, control, and why vulnerability builds strength

• [30:00] What not to say—and what to say instead when offering help

• [33:00] Book 2: The Indy 500 and chasing long-held passions

• [35:00] Making music, dreaming bigger, and playing Vegas

• [37:00] The hardest conversation: telling his daughter

• [40:00] Grace, grit, and why the world needs your story

• [43:00] Final encouragement: “You are stronger than you think”

• Website: rayhartjen.com

• Book: Me, Myself, and My Multiple Myeloma

• Book: Immaculate: How the Steelers Saved Pittsburgh

• Book: The Indy 500: A Year-Long Quest… (coming soon)

• Connect on social: @‌rayhartjen (except TikTok: @‌rayhartjen5)

• Email: rayhartjen@gmail.com

You’ve taken the tests—Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, DISC—but what if they’re missing the real point? In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, personality expert and educator Eric Gee breaks down why most models get it wrong—and how his Project Utopia framework gets it right.

Instead of focusing on traits or labels, Eric’s system centers on values, using animal archetypes grouped into four core packs: Gatherers, Hunters, Smiths, and Shamans. With over 50,000 people personally profiled, Eric shares how understanding your true motivation—not just your behavior—can reframe everything from your relationships to your career choices.

Whether you’ve always felt a little “off-type” or you’re deep into self-discovery, this episode is a funny, thoughtful, and wildly insightful look at what really drives us.

• [00:00] What most personality tests get wrong—and why values matter more

• [03:00] Eric’s origin story: RadioShack computers and personality geekery

• [06:00] Superficial traits vs. deeper drives: A shift in methodology

• [08:00] Why Eric uses animal archetypes—and what makes them stick

• [10:00] The four core packs: Gatherers, Hunters, Smiths, and Shamans

• [12:30] Using values to communicate more effectively (especially in school)

• [14:00] How personality typing transforms marriages and partnerships

• [15:30] Nature vs. Nurture—and the effects of parenting styles

• [18:00] Gatherer overconfidence, shaman midlife clarity, and personality pivots

• [20:00] Why you can’t “change” your type—and what happens when you try

• [23:00] The burnout factor: When teachers’ personalities clash with systems

• [25:00] Magic, personality, and breaking assumptions

• [27:00] When others know you better than you know yourself

• [30:00] The least common types—and what makes them powerful

• [32:00] How to find your type (and why it should be fun)

• [34:00] Energy, intuition, and reading people in the wild

• [36:00] Why Hemingway isn’t for everyone—and how writing reflects values

• [38:00] A final takeaway: The power of self-honesty and personal rebellion

• Website: ProjectYOUtopia.com

• Book: The Power of Personality by Eric G

• Free personality test: Available on Eric’s site

• Eric’s social links: Included on the Project YOUtopia website

What if the key to happiness wasn’t in getting what you want—but in choosing how you respond when you don’t? In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, international bestselling author and cartoonist Andrew Matthews joins us from Australia to unpack what it really means to bounce back. With over 8 million books sold in 49 languages, Andrew’s simple, illustrated messages about happiness have helped millions reframe their pain, reclaim their power, and live with more joy—even in the midst of hard times.

We explore the difference between people who move forward and those who stay stuck, why acceptance is the real first step toward healing, and how a slice of cake might be all it takes to shift your mindset. Whether you're recovering from loss, trying to find meaning in the mess, or just want to feel a little more like yourself again—this conversation is packed with insight, humor, and hope.

• [00:00] Introduction: When life knocks you down, then what?

• [01:00] Meet Andrew Matthews: The decision that changed everything

• [03:00] The happiness myth—and the truth he discovered at 25

• [06:30] Rejection, risk, and the cartoon book that went global

• [08:15] What happy people have in common (hint: it’s not stuff)

• [10:45] The cake cartoon and the power of what we focus on

• [12:00] Lessons from people with “bigger problems and better attitudes”

• [14:15] Why bouncing back starts with acceptance

• [17:00] The trap of “it shouldn’t have happened”—and how to move on

• [19:00] Resilience, stoicism, and choosing how we interpret events

• [21:30] Nick Vujicic, country western songs, and perspective shifts

• [24:00] When self-help stops working—and what to do next

• [26:00] The problem with overthinking and the gift of self-awareness

• [28:00] Social media, short attention spans, and the myth of comparison

• [30:00] Decision vs. transformation: the real turning point

• [32:00] Different books for different seasons of hardship

• [34:00] Supporting people around you without pushing them

• [36:00] Being the best example—not the loudest voice

• [38:00] Real-life stories: from broke and hopeless to joyful and thriving

• [42:00] Start where you are—there’s no other place to begin

• [44:00] Where to find Andrew’s books and newsletters

• [45:00] Final thoughts and thank yous

• Andrew’s Website: andrewmatthews.com

• Books by Andrew Matthews:

  • Being Happy

  • Bouncing Back

  • Happiness in Hard Times

  • Follow Your Heart

• Audiobooks available on Audible

• Andrew’s newsletter (sign up on his website)

What if your favorite suspense novel could help you rebalance your entire life?

In this episode of A Joyful Rebellion, host James Walters talks with bestselling author, business strategist, and resilience coach Rhonda Parker Taylor. Her debut novel Crossroads is more than a legal thriller—it’s a mirror for self-reflection. Rhonda shares how each of her flawed-yet-relatable characters embodies a different dimension of imbalance, from workaholism and grief to loyalty and burnout. The plot may be fiction, but the emotional truths are very real.

Together, James and Rhonda explore the invisible tug-of-war so many of us feel between responsibility and self-worth—and why joy often takes a back seat. They unpack Rhonda’s powerful “13 Dimensions of Life Balance” framework, the quiet rebellion of saying yes to what lights you up, and how seemingly small daily choices—like cutting up fruit—can become acts of self-love.

Rhonda also opens up about her decades-long journey to publishing Crossroads, how her sister’s blunt wisdom reignited her dream, and why she believes legacy is built in everyday moments. Her next project? A sequel and a series of personal development books rooted in the lives of her characters.

Whether you're craving change, feeling out of sync, or just love a good story with soul, this episode will help you see your own life through a new lens.

• [00:00:00] Welcome and Rhonda’s Daily Joy Practice

• [00:01:00] Introducing Crossroads—a Suspense Novel with a Purpose

• [00:04:00] Finding Joy in the Midst of Struggle

• [00:07:00] Why Fiction Can Be a Mirror for Your Own Life

• [00:11:00] The 13 Dimensions of Life Balance

• [00:17:00] Vulnerability, Success, and the Fear of Rewriting Your Story

• [00:25:00] Small Practices That Create Big Shifts

• [00:29:00] Balancing Joy with Real Life

• [00:35:00] What’s Next: Life Balance Workbook, Resilience Guide & Sequel

• [00:38:00] Rhonda’s Final Wisdom: Extend the Moments That Make You Smile

• Rhonda’s website: Suspense Thriller Crossroads by Rhonda Parker Taylor -

• Crossroads by Rhonda Parker Taylor – Available on Amazon

• Follow Rhonda on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Sometimes your life doesn’t change with a big decision—it changes because of a single step. In this powerful episode, James talks with Austin Page, mindset-driven coach and former patient who went from self-destruction to self-mastery after a near-fatal car crash left him hospitalized and immobile.

What started as physical rehab soon turned into an identity shift. Austin shares how daily, uncomfortable action rebuilt his confidence, how self-discipline sparked real transformation, and why most people stay stuck not because life is “bad”—but because it’s “not that bad.”

They talk about the Region Beta Paradox, how to create a “brand book” for your future self, and why belief only comes after action. If you’ve ever said, “I just need to get motivated,” this episode is the wake-up call—and the roadmap—you’ve been waiting for.

Episode Title: From Hospital Bed to Mindset Coach: Austin Page on Rebuilding Your Life

Chapter Markers:

1. [00:00] The Moment Everything Changed – A drunk driving accident and the wake-up call

2. [02:00] Hospital to Rehab – Facing reality and getting uncomfortable

3. [04:30] Resistance Meets Rubber Bands – Building strength from rock bottom

4. [06:00] From Bedbound to Walking Again – Why physical progress fuels mental change

5. [08:00] Building Self-Belief One Day at a Time

6. [10:00] The Region Beta Paradox – “It’s not that bad” is a trap

7. [12:30] Writing Your Own Brand Book – Identity, habits, and standards

8. [14:30] What the Future Version of You Would Do

9. [17:00] Action Before Belief – Why confidence follows reps

10. [19:00] Attracting What You Want by Becoming It

11. [21:00] Inputs = Outputs – Energy in, energy out

12. [24:00] Saying No & Losing Friends – Navigating social friction during growth

13. [27:00] The Alcohol Test – What people say when you start to change

14. [29:00] Deposits or Deductions – Every choice adds up

15. [34:00] Presence & Pride – If you’re not proud of your presence, you can’t be present

16. [37:00] Who > How – The person you want to be already knows what to do

17. [43:00] The Cornfield Analogy – Progress grows where belief used to be.

• Instagram: @‌apageman

• Coaching Website: Flow Coaching

• Free Mindset Resources: Shared regularly on his Instagram Stories

• *DMs open for coaching inquiries and collaboration

What if your diagnosis isn’t your destiny—and the real problem isn’t you, but the system that told you something was wrong in the first place?

In this bold and eye-opening episode, James sits down with Dr. Fred Moss, a former psychiatrist who spent 45 years inside the mental health system—only to walk away. Known today as The UNDoctor, Fred now helps people “UNdiagnose, UNmedicate, and UNindoctrinate” themselves through creativity, communication, and conscious choice.

We talk about the origins of the modern psychiatric model, the myth of the chemical imbalance, and why discomfort isn’t a disorder—it’s part of being human. Fred shares how 100,000+ prescriptions and 30,000 patients eventually pushed him to break the cycle, and how healing actually begins when we stop trying to be “fixed.”

This episode is for anyone who’s ever questioned their diagnosis, their medication—or what it really means to be okay.

Episode Title: Welcome to Humanity: Dr. Fred Moss on Psychiatric Truth and Creative Healing

Chapter Markers:

1. [00:00] What If the Problem Isn’t You? – Redefining the “disorder”

2. [03:00] Growing Up in Chaos & Learning to Communicate – Fred’s early love of human connection

3. [08:00] A Job That Was Supposed to Last 3 Weeks – How a childcare gig changed everything

4. [10:00] The Birth of a Healer – First encounters with barbaric psychiatry

5. [13:00] Why Prozac Changed Everything – The rise of biological psychiatry

6. [15:00] The Thousand-Cut Career – When prescribing becomes soul-sacrifice

7. [17:00] The Razor Blade in the Band-Aid – Medication as symptom generator

8. [20:00] The Mindset That Keeps People Stuck – Why people fight to keep their diagnosis

9. [22:00] Becoming The UNDoctor – Shifting from psychiatrist to life coach

10. [26:00] On Anxiety, Sunday Scaries & Social Media – Real talk on what’s “normal”

11. [29:00] 20 Ways to Manage Discomfort – Non-pharma tools for being human

12. [33:00] The Power of Creativity – Art, gardening, dancing & expression as healing

13. [36:00] Agency & Sovereignty – The reminder no one gives you

14. [40:00] “I Just Want to Be Better” – Why medication won’t get you there

15. [45:00] The Starting Line – Step one for those wanting a different way

16. [48:00] Welcome to Humanity – The messy truth and beautiful possibility

• Fred’s Website: welcometohumanity.net

• Books by Dr. Fred Moss:

  • Find Your True Voice

  • Creative Eight

• TEDx Talk & Speaking Engagements: Available via his website

• The UNDoctor Podcast: Streaming everywhere

• Follow Fred on Instagram: Fred Moss