The Joy Reset: Rewiring our Brains and Discovering our Capacity to Cultivate Joy. With Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald
Untangle2 Des 2025

The Joy Reset: Rewiring our Brains and Discovering our Capacity to Cultivate Joy. With Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald

Our guest today is Dr. MaryCatherine McDonald, Trauma researcher and Author of the book, "The Joy Reset: Six Ways Trauma Steals Happiness and How to Get It Back.” Her book isn’t just about finding joy; it’s about rewiring our brains and rediscovering our power to cultivate joy EVEN in the darkest moments of life.

She describes the barriers that keep us from accessing joy—hypervigilance, emotional numbing, fear of loss, conditioning, guilt, and shame—and then defines ways to tap into positive emotions that can become the very foundation of psychological resilience.

In our interview she shares some exercises that make joy, hope and gratitude both bite-sized and accessible and how they can show up even in our toughest moments.

I love how she weaves neuroscience into her exploration of trauma and joy, explaining how our brains are biologically wired to both adapt to trauma and heal from it. And…good news…we ARE always biologically capable of joy.

Quote from her website: "Joy does not exist only in the moments that are free of pain. In fact, the brightest, tiniest, most important pieces can only be found in the dark. I want to teach you how to harness and amplify the power of that glinting magic–because this sustainable, endless light source will do more than help you get through your darkest, scariest, loneliest times."

As always, we’re untangle, the podcast from Muse the brain sensing headband that helps to transform your brain. Use promo code untangle 15 at choosemuse.com for your discount.

Resource: https://www.drmcmcdonald.com/

Thanks, as always, to our sponsors. Rula. Quince. Born Shoes.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(573)

Encore - Brigit Ritchie — How to Make the Future of Office Work, Work for You.

Encore - Brigit Ritchie — How to Make the Future of Office Work, Work for You.

Work has looked very different over the pandemic. In this episode, we look at what we learned in the transition to work from home, and what work can look like when we go back to the office…. Or not. W...

29 Mar 202237min

James Baraz - Finding Joy and Wellbeing During the Most Difficult Times

James Baraz - Finding Joy and Wellbeing During the Most Difficult Times

James Baraz is the author of the book, Awakening Joy. 10 Steps to Happiness. Many of us are asking the question, ”how can we feel joy in the midst of war and suffering — and the many terrifying things...

22 Mar 202244min

Encore — Dr. Chris Winter - Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix it.

Encore — Dr. Chris Winter - Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix it.

Chris Winter is a neurologist, sleep specialist, and author of the book, "The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It." He explains why we’re a culture of poor sleepers and how we g...

16 Mar 202234min

Dr. Jennifer Heisz - How to Move the Body to Heal the Brain

Dr. Jennifer Heisz - How to Move the Body to Heal the Brain

Want a Fitter Mind? Better Mental Health? Better Brain Health? Neuroscientist Dr. Jennifer Heisz shows us what kind of exercise will get you there, with an in-depth dive into the mechanisms that make ...

9 Mar 202240min

Dr. Steven Laureys - Your Brain on Meditation: A Neurologist's Perspective.

Dr. Steven Laureys - Your Brain on Meditation: A Neurologist's Perspective.

World-leading Neurologist and best-selling author, Dr. Stephen Laureys is our guest. His latest book is called the No Nonsense Meditation Book— a Scientists Guide to the Power of Meditation. He shares...

1 Mar 202236min

Encore - Emily Fletcher - Your Relationship and Sex Questions Answered

Encore - Emily Fletcher - Your Relationship and Sex Questions Answered

Emily Fletcher, Ziva Meditation founder, and Meditation Studio app teacher, shares how meditation helps us to be a more ‘present’ partner in our relationships and--bonus!--gives us a boost in our sex ...

22 Feb 202229min

Dr. Helen Fisher - Your Brain on Love: How It Finds It & How to Keep It

Dr. Helen Fisher - Your Brain on Love: How It Finds It & How to Keep It

We look into our brains to answer if True Love is real? How to find a mate? Keep one? Do opposites really attract? Our guest is Dr. Helen Fisher, anthropologist, an expert on the neuroscience of love,...

14 Feb 202234min

Encore - Jessica Graham - How Mindfulness Can Enhance Our Sex Lives, With or Without a Partner

Encore - Jessica Graham - How Mindfulness Can Enhance Our Sex Lives, With or Without a Partner

In this Valentine's day edition, we learn about Mindful sex. Our guide is Jessica Graham mindfulness teacher, actor, and author of “Good Sex” A fun, sensitive, and informative guide that shows you how...

9 Feb 202243min

Populært innen Helse

lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
fastlegen
hvordan-har-du-det-mann
rss-gukild-johaug
psykodrama
leger-om-livet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
rss-garne-damer
foreldreradet
rss-lopedrommen
morten-ramm-lar-kakla-ga-til-du-sovner
hjernesterk
bak-fasaden-en-reise-i-livet-med-sykepleier-ine
klimaks
g-punktet
treningsprat
sinnsyn
helsetipspodden
rss-kull
rss-kunsten-a-leve