She Finds Joy

Ep 88 | Let Them Judge: How Owning Your Shine Inspires Others to Rise

In this deeply inspiring episode, Kim Strobel shares a personal and transformative journey about stepping out of self-doubt and people-pleasing, and into confidence and self-love. Building on last week’s theme of “Let Your Light Shine,” Kim introduces listeners to Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” theory—a powerful mindset shift that encourages letting others have their judgments while you show up authentically and boldly. Kim opens up about her own struggles with judgment, her body image, and the fear of being “too much.” She shares how owning her story (and even her selfies) helped launch a viral moment and gave her the confidence to keep shining, unapologetically.
 
What’s in this episode:
Kim’s honest story about overcoming people-pleasing and judgment in her business and on social media
The life-changing concept behind Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” theory
How self-love is at the root of happiness, confidence, and stepping into your true power
The transformation Kim experienced when she changed her fitness journey—and her mindset
The power of celebrating yourself, even when others don’t understand or approve
Inspired wisdom from Rebecca Campbell and Marianne Williamson about shining your light
A heartfelt call to action for listeners to take up space, share their wins, and allow themselves to be seen
 
“Let them misunderstand you, let them roll their eyes, let them think what they want—and let you shine anyway.”
If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review here or at kimstrobel.com/review, and share the show with someone who could use a little encouragement.
You can also subscribe to never miss an episode.
Thank you for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe, share the episode, and tag Kim with your biggest takeaways and how you’re going to show up more boldly in your life.
You are deserving of joy and happiness—keep shining!
 

Ep 87 | Don't Dim Your Light to Make Others Feel Better

After a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, Kim Strobel returns to the She Finds Joy podcast with renewed energy, ready to share personal insights and practical advice for embracing your authentic self. In this shorter, heart-to-heart episode, Kim opens up about her own struggles with criticism, judgment, and the societal pressure—especially on women—to “dim their light.” She tackles the common experience of being labeled as “too much” and shares raw stories from her teaching career, highlighting how she’s learned (sometimes the hard way) to refuse to shrink herself for others’ comfort.
Kim draws on messages from Rebecca Campbell’s book, Light is the New Black, and encourages listeners to reflect on how they might be holding themselves back. The episode offers empowering mindset shifts, a big dose of real talk, and plenty of encouragement to show up boldly, unapologetically, and let your light shine.
 
What's in the episode:
Why Kim took a podcasting sabbatical—and what inspired her return
The societal and workplace pressures (especially for women) to play small or dim your light
Personal stories of criticism and judgment Kim has faced for being confident, positive, and authentic
The importance of not shrinking to make others comfortable
Insights from Light is the New Black and the message that your light may trigger others who are afraid to shine
The transformational moment when Kim decided never to make herself small for others again
How embracing your boldness and light actually empowers others to do the same
 
“The world does not need more women who shrink themselves to fit outdated expectations. The world needs your boldness.”
If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review here or at kimstrobel.com/review, and share the show with someone who could use a little encouragement.
You can also subscribe to never miss an episode.
 
Thank you for being here and showing up. Keep shining—because when you do, you give others the courage to shine their light, too.
For more encouragement and real talk, follow Kim Strobel and She Finds Joy!
 
Produced with love and realness, dogs barking included. 🐾✨

Ep 86| Kim needs a sabbatical

I have decided to take a break from podcasting. After much reflection, I can see that my mind is exhausted from all of the content creation I do on a weekly basis. I write to emails/blogs. I create video clips for courses. I create slide decks for presentations. I create contact for my Facebook Group and try to engage with them. And I create this podcast, which includes recording an episode, getting it transcribed, writing shownotes, video-editing, social media creations, etc.
And I’ve decided it’s time to simply parts of my business and all of the “creating” I do in a week. This is not an easy decision because I feel like I’m letting all of you down. But for now it feels like the one that will most serve me when I ask myself, “How do I want to feel in my life.”
What’s in the episode: 
How our inner critical fights back when we make decisions that serve our mental health
Why rest is a right and not a reward
How to make hard decisions and stop dealing with all the “shoulds”
How to dial back while also dialing in to your inner self.
“It’s time to replace the “shoulds” in our lives and ask ourselves, “How do I really want to feel in my life?”
 
If you enjoy this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me, @kimstrobeljoy.
I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-finds-joy/id1487739752 
 

Ep 85 | Breaking the Silence and Opening Up About Mental Illness with Vaughn Rush

Vaughn Rush is a liberated, black, gay man who served as a behavioral specialist in the Army serving in Iraq. He’s also an entertainer and go-go dancer who travels the world performing. I met Vaughn in Stowe, Vermont, while he was vacationing, and I was on a sabbatical writing my book. We instantly connected over having real conversations and sharing our most authentic truths. 
In this episode, Vaughn opens up about his bipolar disorder and what it means to navigate life by loving all parts of himself. He gets very vulnerable about what it means to be a gay, black man, endure mental health struggles, and advocate for himself and countless others. 
What’s in the episode: 
Vaughn’s time in the military as a gay, black man
What it means to feel supported in WHO you are 
Why being open about mental health is so important 
His mental illness challenges
Strategies he uses to navigate the dark times
“In a way, I feel very blessed for my mental health struggle because I've had a lot of things along the way that safeguarded me and kept me alive.” - Vaughn Rush
 
If you enjoy this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me, @kimstrobeljoy.
I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review!
You can follow Kim’s journey on Instagram at @KimStrobelJoy, and in the free private, She Finds Joy Facebook community.
 
Connect with Vaughn Rush
INSTAGRAM
About Vaughn Rush
Vaughn Rush, professionally known as Sean Vaughn Carter is an Army Veteran, entrepreneur, Male Lead & Entertainer, go-go dancer and international traveler. He currently lives in New York City and San Diego California, although frequently traveling the states and abroad. Vaughn graduated from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School in New York City and is currently pursuing his Master of Social Work at Fordham University.
Vaughn served in the United States Army for 7 years, deploying to Iraq in 2011 as a Behavioral Health Specialist and medic. For 6 years prior to the Covid pandemic, Vaughn owned ad operated a backpackers hostel in San Diego California. Currently, you can catch Vaughn, or Sean Vaughn Carter, go-go dancing in New York City, San Francisco, Long Beach, and abroad, as well as a Male Lead in pageants, nightclubs, and Brunch drag shows. Vaughn’s passions include travel, mental health, physical fitness, gay pride, and authenticity. 

Ep 84 | Managing Your Inner Critic & Practicing Compassion

In our everyday lives, we spend a great deal of time telling ourselves that we aren't good enough, smart enough, talented enough, or thin enough. Our minds tell us we don't deserve the things we want. Our desires will never come true; even if they do, they will disappoint us. It’s called the inner critic―that part of us that judges us, shames us, and makes us feel inadequate And it affects us in very powerful ways.
 
In this episode, Kim explains we get messages from our primary caregivers, society, and our community that tell us how we are supposed to operate in the world. There are invisible rules and expectations of how we are supposed to “do life.” In order to protect ourselves, our inner critic shows up to keep us in line. But the inner critic exaggerates and judges, and while it has our best interest at heart, it doesn’t help us or motivate us to change. Instead, it keeps us from being true to ourselves. 
 
Kim walks you through 4 layers of self-talk, according to Jack Canfield, and how we can coach ourselves in a positive and more rewarding way.  
 
What’s in the episode: 
The role of the inner critic
How we are living in the emotional traps we grew up in
How our beliefs shape our perceptions of how we show up in the world
The 4 layers of self-talk to overcome your inner critic
 
 
“When guilt and shame are used to control you, you become someone you’re not. ”-Kim Strobel
 
If you enjoy this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me, @kimstrobeljoy.
I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review! 
Kim's Happy Academy is Open Now!
If you’re tired of putting yourself on the back-burner and ready to learn powerful strategies for increasing your happiness levels and reclaiming your life, you might want to grab a spot on the Happy Academy Waitlist. Over 17,000 people signed up for this 10-month program last year, now it's your turn! Register at the link below! 
Register for The Happy Academy now! 
You can follow Kim’s journey on Instagram at @KimStrobelJoy, and in the free private, She Finds Joy Facebook community.

Ep 83 | How to Overcome Perfectionism and Embrace Who You Are

We all struggle with the fear of not being enough. We are good at faking it. We go through the world smiling, acting as if we are okay when in reality, we might be inwardly struggling. Perfectionism is striving for flawlessness by setting unrealistically high standards for ourselves.
We use perfectionism as a shield to avoid rejection, shame, criticism, and failure. We try to be the perfect worker, spouse, parent, follow the rules, and so on, yet it leaves us feeling exhausted.
In today’s episode, Kim explains how perfectionism shows up in our lives and provides insight into how to rewrite our stories and begin living a bigger, bolder life full of imperfection that is a truer version of yourself and feels so much better. 
 
What’s in the episode: 
What is behind our “not-enoughness”
The definition of perfectionism and why it keeps us stuck
How the fixed mindset and getting praised for achievements create perfectionism
What perfectionism is actually hiding
How to rethink our stories and embrace our authentic selves
 
“When you start to make decisions that are more aligned with who you are at your core, you will probably outgrow a lot of people ” -Kim Strobel
 
If you enjoy this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me, @kimstrobeljoy.
I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review! 
Kim's Happy Academy is Open Now!
If you’re tired of putting yourself on the back-burner and ready to learn powerful strategies for increasing your happiness levels and reclaiming your life, you might want to grab a spot on the Happy Academy Waitlist. Over 17,000 people signed up for this 10-month program last year, now it's your turn! Register at the link below! 
Register for The Happy Academy now! 
You can follow Kim’s journey on Instagram at @KimStrobelJoy, and in the free private, She Finds Joy Facebook community.

Ep 82 | Sharing Our Shame Stories and Getting What We Need

Shame is a powerful emotion and happens to all of us. It involves looking inwardly in a harsh way with a critical eye while we beat ourselves up even for the smallest mistakes.
We are so overly critical of ourselves, and then we hide or bury our feelings of shame when we need to learn to release them with people who have earned the right to hear our stories.
Through sharing our stories, we free ourselves from some of the pain we are carrying and holding inside of ourselves. 
What’s in the episode: 
Why shame needs words and a voice to be free
Hustling for worthiness to account for our believed inadequacies 
Six types of people not to share your shame story with
How to exercise compassion towards ourselves and others
 
“You have to love yourself enough to reach out for help and support when going through hard things. ”-Kim Strobel
 
If you enjoy this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me, @kimstrobeljoy.
I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review! 
Kim's Happy Academy is Open Now!
If you’re tired of putting yourself on the back-burner and ready to learn powerful strategies for increasing your happiness levels and reclaiming your life, you might want to grab a spot on the Happy Academy Waitlist. Over 17,000 people signed up for this 10-month program last year, now it's your turn! Register at the link below! 
Register for The Happy Academy now! 
You can follow Kim’s journey on Instagram at @KimStrobelJoy, and in the free private, She Finds Joy Facebook community.

Ep 81| Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

Are you afraid of making decisions? Asking your boss for a raise? Launching your own business? Asking for what you want in your relationship? What prevents us from taking the actions we need in our lives to get to the next level? FEAR!
Fear is one of the greatest obstacles to our success because with fear comes uncomfortableness and many people wait for uncomfortableness to leave before they act. In this episode, I’m going to teach you why you must learn to feel uncomfortable, to feel the fear, and do it anyway!
What’s in the episode: 
Why “action” is the bridge between our inner world and outer world
The inner journey it takes to get the outer results we want
How to move from stuckness to action
The mindset it takes to play in the arena of bigness
 
“Many times our fears are so strong and dramatic that they keep us stuck. ” - Kim Strobel
 
If you enjoy this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me, @kimstrobeljoy.
I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review!
Kim's Happy Academy is Open Now!
If you’re tired of putting yourself on the back-burner and ready to learn powerful strategies for increasing your happiness levels and reclaiming your life, you might want to grab a spot on the Happy Academy Waitlist. Over 17,000 people signed up for this 10-month program last year, now it's your turn! Register at the link below! 
Register for The Happy Academy now! 
You can follow Kim’s journey on Instagram at @KimStrobelJoy, and in the free private, She Finds Joy Facebook community.

Ep 80 | How Gratitude Increases Happiness

Ep 80| How Gratitude Increases Happiness
 
Dr. Masuro Emoto discovered that molecules in water are affected by our thoughts, words, and feelings. Humans are made up of 70% of water, which means the words we expose ourselves and others to have an impact on them.
He discovered that crystals formed in frozen water with positive words written on them formed brilliant, clear, snowflake patterns while negative words directed toward water formed fragmented, dark crystals.
This research proves that when we practice gratitude and send that positive energy towards ourselves, mostly made of water, we get positive results and feel happier in our lives. 
What’s in the episode: 
The science between thoughts and water
How our thoughts affect our lives in big ways
The practice of gratitude creates positive emotions and feelings.
How to practice gratitude 
 
“It’s time to build a life you don’t feel you have to regularly escape from.” Kim Strobel
 
If you enjoy this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me, @kimstrobeljoy.
I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review! 
Kim's Happy Academy is Open Now!
If you’re tired of putting yourself on the back-burner and ready to learn powerful strategies for increasing your happiness levels and reclaiming your life, you might want to grab a spot on the Happy Academy Waitlist. Over 17,000 people signed up for this 10-month program last year, now it's your turn! Register at the link below! 
Register for The Happy Academy now! 
You can follow Kim’s journey on Instagram at @KimStrobelJoy, and in the free private, She Finds Joy Facebook community.

Ep 79 | The Magic Keys to Happiness

Is it possible to create more happiness in our life? Should we be interested in happiness, or is that silly?
I feel like we all want to be happier, but we are a bit afraid to admit it because it makes us feel like something is wrong in our lives. But creating intentional happiness habits in our lives improves every area of our lives. But are we focusing on the wrong things?
Yes, we are much of the time, but I’m about to give you an education on the Science of Happiness. 
What’s in the episode: 
The things we chase in hopes of fulfillment
Understanding the components of happiness 
The control you have over your happiness 
A happiness strategy to help when you feel down
“We get to create our happiness from the inside out.” - Kim Strobel
 
If you enjoy this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories and tag me, @kimstrobeljoy.
I would also love if you subscribed to the podcast and left a review!
Kim's Happy Academy is Open Now!
If you’re tired of putting yourself on the back-burner and ready to learn powerful strategies for increasing your happiness levels and reclaiming your life, you might want to grab a spot on the Happy Academy Waitlist. Over 17,000 people signed up for this 10-month program last year, now it's your turn! Register at the link below! 
Register for The Happy Academy now! 
You can follow Kim’s journey on Instagram at @KimStrobelJoy, and in the free private, She Finds Joy Facebook community.