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Joy Lab | navigate depression, anxiety, & stress with the science of joy: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Henry Emmons, MD and Aimee Prasek, PhD
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- 3 days ago2 min
Not a Fan Of Three Hour Morning Routines? Why Joy Lab Is Different (And Free This May) [265.1]
This is your final invitation! The Joy Lab Program's free 30-day offer ends May 31st — and we want to make sure you know what you're actually being invited into before the door closes. It's not a slick two-and-a-half-hour morning routine. It's not cold plunges or weird concoctions. It's deep, real inner work that often looks a little messy, requires genuine courage and self-compassion, and is worth every bit of the effort. And one of its quieter, underrated gifts: you are not doing it alone. Inside the Joy Lab Program, you're part of a community working on the same experiments, sitting with the same questions, and doing the same hard, worthwhile work together. That matters more than any choreographed wellness performance. Try It Free 🎉 The Joy Lab Program is free for 30 days — offer ends May 31st. Head to JoyLab.coach/program to sign up. Not interested in joining? Consider supporting Joy Lab Joy Lab is a nonprofit committed to keeping mental health tools accessible to everyone — ad-free, no paywalls. If these tools have made a difference for you, consider supporting the work at joylab.coach/donate. Even $5 makes a real difference. Can't give financially? Share this episode with someone who needs it. That's its own kind of giving. About the Joy Lab Podcast: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! And... if you want to spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free, then please join our mission by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible). Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials: Instagram Linkedin Watch this episode on YouTube Key Moments: [00:00] — Final reminder: 30 days free in the Joy Lab Program, ends May 31st — and yes, that's an invitation, not a threat [00:20] — The quieter gift of Joy Lab: you are not doing this alone [00:35] — What Joy Lab is not: no wellness performance, no curated TikTok morning routines [00:50] — What Joy Lab actually is: deep inner work that takes courage, diligence, and self-compassion [01:10] — Why doing this alongside others matters — shared Experiments, shared struggles, shared effort [01:25] — Messy inner work is real inner work; that's a good sign, not a bad one [01:40] — How to join: try an Experiment, notice what happens, cancel anytime — no cold plunges required [02:00] — Head to JoyLab.coach to sign up <a href= "https://www.joylab.coach/podcasts/joy-lab-podcast/episodes/21
- 6 days ago29 min
The Art & Science (+ Shoveling) of Letting Emotions Move Through You [265]
In this episode of the Joy Lab Podcast, Dr. Aimee Prasek and Dr. Henry Emmons dig into one of the most counterintuitive resilience skills we can build: turning toward negative emotions instead of running from them. This isn't about wallowing. It's about befriending the feelings that are already there so they can actually move through you, instead of getting lodged and piling up. We're talking fear (the emotion at the core of so many others), the science of emotions vs. feelings, why your emotional immune system needs exposure to develop, and three grounded steps (embody, observe, yield) to help you navigate the next emotional flurry before it becomes a blizzard. This one pairs beautifully with our Grief Series (starting at Episode 248) and our last episode on the observer self. Whether you're new to this work or deep in it, there's something here for you. Try It Free 🎉 The Joy Lab Program is free for 30 days — offer ends May 31st. Head to JoyLab.coach/program to sign up. About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy. Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with the Joy Lab Program. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! And... if you want to spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free, then please join our mission by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible). Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials: Instagram Linkedin Watch on YouTube Full transcript here Sources and Notes for our Element of Resilience: 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. Joy Lab Episodes referenced: How to Calm the Mind & Not Feed the ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) (ep. 264) From Surviving to Thriving: The Science and Soul of Resilience (ep. 263) Start of our Grief Series: The Wholeness of Being Human (ep. 248) Know Your Obstacles to Joy... Two Small Ones And A Really Big One (ep. 38) <a href= "https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-chemistry-of-calm-a-powerful-drug-free-plan-to-quiet-your-fears-and-overcome-your-anxiety-original-henry-
- 1 weeks ago1 min
You Are Wired for Resilience: Join the Joy Lab Program Free This Mental Health Awareness Month [264.1]
Dr. Aimee Prasek drops in with a quick Mental Health Awareness Month reminder and Joy Lab's 30-day free offer. Joy Lab has just launched into the Element of Resilience, and there's no better time to join the Program and start doing this work together. Try It Free 🎉 The Joy Lab Program is free for 30 days — offer ends May 31st. Head to JoyLab.coach/program to sign up. Not interested in joining? Consider supporting Joy Lab Joy Lab is a nonprofit committed to keeping mental health tools accessible to everyone — ad-free, no paywalls. If these tools have made a difference for you, consider supporting the work at joylab.coach/donate. Even $5 makes a real difference. Can't give financially? Share this episode with someone who needs it. That's its own kind of giving. About the Joy Lab Podcast: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! And... if you want to spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free, then please join our mission by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible). Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials: Instagram Linkedin Watch YouTube Key Moments: [00:00] — The Mental Health Awareness Month gift: 30 days free in the Joy Lab Program (ends May 31st) [00:20] — Joy Lab just launched into the Element of Resilience — now is the time to join [00:35] — The real message: you are wired for resilience and joy — it is part of who you are and why you're here Full transcript 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 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 helpline@nami.org. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
- 1 weeks ago21 min
How to Calm the Mind & Not Feed the ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) [264]
Calming the mind sounds simple, right? And yet most of us would rather do almost anything other than sitting quietly with our thoughts. In this episode, Dr. Aimee Prasek and Dr. Henry Emmons dig into the science of Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs), the surprising research on just how much we think, and the powerful practice of the observer self: the part of your mind that can step back, see what's happening, and choose differently. This episode makes the case that our relationship with our own minds might be the most important resilience work we do. Try It Free 🎉 The Joy Lab Program is free for 30 days — offer ends May 31st. Head to JoyLab.coach/program to sign up. About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy. Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with the Joy Lab Program. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! And... if you want to spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free, then please join our mission by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible). Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials: Instagram Linkedin Watch on YouTube Full transcript here Sources and Notes for our Element of Resilience: 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. Joy Lab Episodes referenced: Last episode: From Surviving to Thriving: The Science and Soul of Resilience (ep. 263) Chemistry of Calm (Dr. Emmons' book referenced in this series) Dr. Catherine Panter-Brick- Yale faculty page Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: interdisciplinary perspectives Annual Research Review: Positive adjustment to adversity -Trajectories of minimal-impact resilience and emergent resilience Adaptive growth of tree root systems in response to wind action and site conditions. Brain meta-state transitions demarcate thoughts across task contexts exposing the mental noise of trait neuroticism. <str
- 2 weeks ago6 min
The Truth About Depression, Anxiety, and Your Inner Strength (Joy Lab's Origin Story) + Joy Lab Free for 30 Days [263.1]
In this episode, Dr. Aimee Prasek shares some of the origin story behind the Joy Lab Program — from her own years-long climb out of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, to a pivotal (and infuriating) moment on a psychiatrist's couch that lit a fire for her. Joy Lab exists to normalize mental health experiences, to build on inner strengths, and to help people do more than just survive and to actually flourish. Try It Free 🎉 The Joy Lab Program is free for 30 days — offer ends May 31st. Head to JoyLab.coach/program to sign up. Not interested in joining? Consider supporting Joy Lab Joy Lab is a nonprofit committed to keeping mental health tools accessible to everyone — ad-free, no paywalls. If these tools have made a difference for you, consider supporting the work at joylab.coach/donate. Even $5 makes a real difference. Can't give financially? Share this episode with someone who needs it. That's its own kind of giving. About the Joy Lab Podcast: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! And... if you want to spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free, then please join our mission by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible). Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials: Instagram Linkedin Watch this episode on YouTube Key Moments: [00:00] — Why Aimee is sharing the story behind the Joy Lab Program [00:20] — Struggling with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks without access to professional care [00:40] — An online depression forum: finding normalcy, community, and the realization that she wasn't crazy or alone [01:00] — The forum's limits: helpful, but ultimately a rehashing of hard things — and a sign that more was needed [01:20] — Years of cobbling together support without financial access to professional help [02:00] — Finally getting insurance and sitting down with a psychiatrist — and what happened next [02:20] — "There's nothing you can do. You're broken." — the moment that helped spark a mission [02:45] — No issue with medications; the real problem was the message of powerlessness [03:00] — What the science actually says: we have real agency when it comes to depression and anxiety [03:30] — Two moments that shaped everything: the forum that normalized, and the psychiatrist who enraged [03:50]</s
- 2 weeks ago22 min
From Surviving to Thriving: The Science and Soul of Resilience [263]
What does it actually mean to be resilient? Spoiler: it's not about white-knuckling through hard times or being the type of person who just 'endures' everything. In this episode, Dr. Aimee Prasek and Dr. Henry Emmons kick off Joy Lab's month-long exploration of Resilience. They'll share a science-grounded, warmly human look at what resilience really is, where it comes from, what depletes it, and, most importantly how to keep filling it back up. About: The Joy Lab Podcast blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! Important 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. Subscribe to our Newsletter: Join us over at Joylab.coach for exclusive emails, updates, and additional strategies. Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials: Instagram TikTok Linkedin Watch this episode on YouTube Key moments: [00:00:00] — Welcome & introduce Resilience as this month's Element of Joy. [00:00:35] — Defining Resilience: Dr. Catherine Panter-Brick's definition: "a process to harness resources to sustain wellbeing" Resilience isn't a fixed state; it doesn't require the absence of illness, a certain mood, or a feeling of confidence. You can be resilient even when you feel completely unresilient. [00:01:40] — Henry's Take: Resilience as a Natural, Inborn Quality Henry frames resilience as something every human already carries — we wouldn't be here without it. He describes it as a capacity to face life's challenges with enough skill to deal with them "more or less successfully" (emphasis on more or less), get back up after being knocked down, and still hold onto some equanimity and connection to joy. [00:03:20] — Why Equanimity and Joy Are Part of Real Resilience: Aimee highlights that joy and equanimity aren't commonly included in definitions of resilience — and argues they should be. She makes the case that teaching people to simply endure hardship without attending to their relationship with it leads to only survival, not wellbeing. Personal story: her family's history of survival alongside deep, untended grief. [00:05:25] — The Research: Resilience Is Inborn and Universal- Aimee reviews longitudinal research on resilience: no single demographic, personality trait, or biological factor strongly predicts resilience. Chronic stress and difficult childhoods can "dent or delay" it, but they don't break it. The Joy Lab approach: tapping into the factors that boost resilience in meaningful, joyful ways. [00:07:10] — Henry's "Resilience Container" Model: Henry introduces a central metaphor for the episode- imagine a container in your brain/body holding a "magical elixir" that keeps you afloat. The size of that container differs between people — influenced by genetics and early environment. But the most important thing isn't container size — it's how well you keep refilling it. <p class= "font-claude-
- 2 weeks ago16 min
What Are You Doing This For? Breaking Free From Joyless Urgency (encore) [262]
We're in our new "month of renewal" format. We're essentially exploring this question throughout the month... what if growth required less effort? This is an encore episode that helps us answer this question. Reminder that we'll be back with new episodes May 1, 2026. "Joyless urgency." Two words that probably just hit a little too close to home. In this episode, Henry Emmons, MD and Aimee Prasek, PhD dig into the Element of Fun — and why so many of us have so little of it. Drawing on the writing of Marilynne Robinson, the surprising decline of kids biking, and sobering research on social media's role in what researchers call problematic engagement, Henry and Aimee make a compelling case that fun isn't frivolous. It's foundational. And reclaiming it might be one of the most radical — and effective — things you can do right now. About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy. Take the next leap in your wellbeing journey with the Joy Lab Program. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! And... if you want to spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free, then please join our mission by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible). Full transcript here Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials: Instagram Linkedin Watch this episode on YouTube 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. More about Marilynne Robinson from The Poetry Foundation Farivar, S., Wang, F., & Turel, O. (2022). Followers' problematic engagement with influencers on social media: An attachment theory perspective. Computers in Human Behavior, 133. Access here. Joy Lab Episodes referenced: Worrier? You're Not Alone. Here's Why We Worry... [ep. 213] Unmasking Your True Self: Exploring Authenticity and Awe [ep. 216] Embrace Your True Self: Accepted, Connected, & In The Game [ep. 217] The Road Most Travelled: Awakening Through Suffering [ep. 218] Follow Your Bliss: Awakening to Joy [ep. 219] The Still Small Voice: Awakening with Soulfulness [ep. 220]
- 2 weeks ago4 min
Free Joy Lab Program Access + Big Updates: New Elements, New Rhythm, New Experiments [261.1]
May is just around the corner and it's Mental Health Awareness Month. At Joy Lab, we believe awareness alone isn't enough. It's time to actually care for your mental health. So we're offering the full Joy Lab Program free for 30 days (offer ends May 31st). No paywall. No catch. Just a genuine invitation to experiment with more joy. In this episode, Aimee walks through exactly why now is the right moment to try the Program and shares the exciting updates that make this the best version of Joy Lab yet. Try It Free 🎉 The Joy Lab Program is free for 30 days — offer ends May 31st. New Experiments begin May 1st. Head to JoyLab.coach/program to sign up. Not interested in joining? Consider supporting Joy Lab Joy Lab is a nonprofit committed to keeping mental health tools accessible to everyone — ad-free, no paywalls. If these tools have made a difference for you, consider supporting the work at joylab.coach/donate. Even $5 makes a real difference. Can't give financially? Share this episode with someone who needs it. That's its own kind of giving About the Joy Lab Podcast: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, ease anxiety, and uplift mood. Join Dr. Henry Emmons and Dr. Aimee Prasek for practical, mindfulness-based tools and positive psychology strategies to build resilience and create lasting joy. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! And... if you want to spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free, then please join our mission by donating (Joy Lab is powered by the nonprofit Pathways North and your donations are tax-deductible). Like and follow Joy Lab on Socials: Instagram Linkedin Watch this episode on YouTube Key moments: [00:00] — May is Mental Health Awareness Month: a free 30-day offer for the Joy Lab Program (ends May 31st) [00:30] — Why Joy Lab believes Mental Health Month should be about action AND awareness [01:00] — A refreshed Program: years of feedback, real impact, and room to improve [01:15] — New rhythm: three active months + one intentional rest month, and why that cycle matters for mental health [02:00] — New weekly Experiments: now directly tied to podcast episodes for a more powerful learning loop [02:30] — New Elements of joy: expanding beyond the original 12 to include more paths to mental health and flourishing [03:30] — Even non-Program listeners will encounter new Elements through the podcast each month [03:45] — How to join: head to JoyLab.coach or the show notes link; cancel anytime, no questions asked Full transcript 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 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 helpline@nami.org. Visit NAMI for more. You can also call or text SAMHSA at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
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About Joy Lab | navigate depression, anxiety, & stress with the science of joy
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 (3
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