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

Avsnitt(577)

Encore - Emily Fletcher - Meditation Transforms the Life of a Broadway Actress

Encore - Emily Fletcher - Meditation Transforms the Life of a Broadway Actress

The talented and creative Emily Fletcher is a former Broadway actress who began suffering from insomnia, anxiety, and graying hair at the age of 26. A fellow actress turned her on to meditation and it...

7 Nov 201728min

Waylon Lewis -  Elephant Journal Founder Shares Personal and Fun Buddhist Journey

Waylon Lewis - Elephant Journal Founder Shares Personal and Fun Buddhist Journey

Waylon Lewis is the Founder of Elephant Journal, a popular digital publication that focuses on 'the mindful life.' Waylon grew up with Buddhist parents and learned meditation at a young age. He shar...

31 Okt 201728min

Encore - Michael Apollo - Expert Shares Insights on Mindfulness, Meditation, and Buddhism

Encore - Michael Apollo - Expert Shares Insights on Mindfulness, Meditation, and Buddhism

Michael Apollo talks about Buddhism, mindfulness at work, and how to get started with your own meditation practice. Michael is an educator at the University of Toronto and leads the Meditation Studio ...

24 Okt 201731min

Penn Harris - 7-Year-Old Boy Shares his Adorable Perspective on Meditation

Penn Harris - 7-Year-Old Boy Shares his Adorable Perspective on Meditation

Penn Harris is the 7-year-old son of Shelby Harris, a psychologist and the flagship sleep meditation teacher on Meditation Studio. Penn shares how he has learned meditation at home and at school and h...

24 Okt 201710min

Lynne McTaggart - Award-Winning Journalist Explores the Power of Intention to Heal Others

Lynne McTaggart - Award-Winning Journalist Explores the Power of Intention to Heal Others

Lynne McTaggart is an award-winning journalist, science writer, and bestselling author of several books on the power of intention. She shares how she overcame her own skepticism and insights from her ...

17 Okt 201729min

Vanessa Potter - A Mysterious Illness Leads to Life and Work Transformation

Vanessa Potter - A Mysterious Illness Leads to Life and Work Transformation

Vanessa Potter is the author of "Patient H69: The Story of My Second Sight". She was a talented television producer until an illness caused her to suddenly become blind and paralyzed. Meditation and...

10 Okt 201729min

Rachel Cook - A Meditation Retreat Changed This Entrepreneur's Life

Rachel Cook - A Meditation Retreat Changed This Entrepreneur's Life

Rachel Cook is a former stock trader turned CEO of Seeds, a social impact tech company that provides tools that allow companies to donate a portion of every in-app purchase to microloans for those in ...

3 Okt 201725min

Encore - Stephen Batchelor - Intriguing Insights from a Skeptical Buddhist

Encore - Stephen Batchelor - Intriguing Insights from a Skeptical Buddhist

Stephen Batchelor is a contemporary Buddhist teacher and author, best known for his agnostic and controversial approach to Buddhism. He's known as a skeptical Buddhist who questions the strict dogmas ...

26 Sep 201729min

Populärt inom Hälsa

somna-med-henrik
rss-jossan-nina
inga-beiga-morsor
rss-bara-en-till-om-missbruk-medberoende-2
alska-oss
johannes-hansen-podcast
rss-vuxna-pa-latsas
not-fanny-anymore
rss-viktmedicinpodden
angestpodden
sexnoveller-deluxe
sova-med-dan-horning
sa-in-i-sjalen
brottarbroder
giggles-med-wiggles
rss-aldrig-lagom
rss-sjalsligt-avkladd
rss-psykoterapipodden
rss-basta-livet
smartare-fitness-podden