She Finds Joy

Ep 92 | The Ripple Effect: One Small Act of Kindness

In this uplifting episode, Kim Strobel shares a moving real-life encounter that beautifully illustrates how a single act of kindness can ripple out and change lives—starting with a meaningful conversation in her own backyard. Through the story of Cameron, a hardworking young father and dedicated service provider, Kim reveals how taking a few moments to connect, acknowledge, and uplift someone can foster deep connection and spark a brighter outlook—for both giver and receiver.
 
What’s in this episode:
The extraordinary impact of recognizing and uplifting the everyday people who cross our paths—for example, the service technician, cashier, or mail carrier
Kim’s firsthand account of meeting Cameron, an inspiring young father, and how their honest exchange opened doors for empathy and encouragement
The science behind our brain’s natural “negative bias” and how small acts of kindness can help retrain our minds for positivity and joy
How sharing someone’s story (even on social media) can create a wave of encouragement—sometimes making someone’s whole week or year
Simple, research-backed habits for cultivating daily happiness, drawn from Kim’s own teachings and latest book, “Teach Happy: Small Steps to Big Joy”
 
Kim challenges listeners to notice the “Camerons” in their lives—those whose stories often go unheard—and to take that extra moment to see, value, and encourage them. By sharing her experience and Cameron’s grateful response, Kim demonstrates that kindness is not only transformative for the receiver, but deeply rewarding for the giver.
 
Key Takeaways:
Pausing to make someone feel seen, heard, and valued can lift both your spirits and theirs—sometimes in ways you never expect.
Our brains may be wired for negativity, but cultivating daily acts of kindness can reprogram us for positivity and fulfillment.
Sharing and celebrating the hard work and resilience of others (even through a simple Facebook post!) can multiply hope in unexpected ways.
Practicing random acts of kindness is one of the top habits that improve overall happiness and well-being—for both giver and receiver.
 
“So please share this episode with a friend… and go out and practice your own random acts of kindness.” — Kim Strobel
 
Thank you for listening to She Finds Joy! If Kim’s story inspired you, pay it forward by sharing this episode and leaving your own story or review at www.kimstrobel.com/review.
 
Remember:
It only takes a small act—a smile, a kind word, a few minutes of attention—to set off a chain of positivity. You have the power to be that spark.
 

Ep 91 | From Scarcity to Creativity: Ditching Perfectionism & Embracing Action

In this raw and inspiring episode, Kim Strobel peels back the curtain on the persistent struggles with perfectionism and scarcity mindset that can hold us back from showing up as our fullest, most courageous selves. Through candid storytelling and relatable personal examples, Kim demonstrates how these limiting beliefs can creep into our lives—whether it’s launching a new podcast episode, stepping onto a stage for the first time, or simply navigating the unpredictable ebbs and flows of business.
 
What’s in this episode:  
Kim’s honest confession about overthinking her podcast, the pressure to “do it perfectly,” and how letting go of the need for perfection unlocked her ability to act and serve
The powerful reminder that “perfection is the lowest standard you can hold yourself to,” and why chasing it only serves to stall true progress and fulfillment
Behind-the-scenes stories of facing fear: From her first-ever keynote for 900 people, to building and evolving her business through periods of uncertainty
A look into the realities of slower seasons in business, and strategies Kim uses to shift from a scarcity mindset to creative, solution-focused action
The ripple effect of tough decisions—like reducing her assistant’s hours—sparking growth, independence, and creative hustle both in her team and herself
Practical encouragement to recognize when you’re stuck in perfectionism or fear, and how to take the next brave step—no makeup, no perfect plan, just real action
 
Kim urges listeners to embrace imperfection, acknowledge their fears, and push forward anyway—reminding us that abundance and growth are on the other side of discomfort.
 
Key Takeaways:  
Perfectionism is a trap that paralyzes progress; action—however imperfect—is what builds momentum and opens doors.
Periods of slow growth or uncertainty are normal; responding with creativity, outreach, and positive energy can reignite opportunity.
Scarcity mindset is a sneaky saboteur—recognize it, feel your feelings, and then use that discomfort to fuel your next steps.
Sometimes setbacks (like having to cut back team hours) can catalyze growth and innovation, benefitting everyone involved.
When you feel stuck or inadequate, let yourself move through the doubt and take action anyway—the magic lies in the doing.
“You don’t have to have everything perfect in order to take action. Perfection is the very thing that will get in your way, over and over again.”
 
Thank you for joining Kim in this moment of real talk and empowerment. If her reflections struck a chord with you, please share this episode with someone who could use a lift, tag Kim on Instagram with your biggest takeaway, subscribe for more encouragement and practical inspiration, and please leave a review here or at kimstrobel.com/review, to help others discover the show.
 
Remember:
Don’t wait for perfection—move forward with courage, creativity, and trust in your ability to create abundance, one imperfect but brave step at a time.

Ep 90 | 3 Tiny Life Reflections for Feeling Good

In this heartfelt episode, Kim Strobel opens up about three pivotal reflections that can help you create more joy, fulfillment, and vitality in your everyday life. Drawing from her personal journey—now at age 51—Kim shares the wisdom, challenges, and practical strategies she’s gleaned through decades of personal growth, marriage, and self-care.
What’s in this episode:
How investing intentionally in your marriage (or partnership) can lead to lasting happiness—even during the busiest parenting years
The crucial reminder that you are inherently worthy of goodness, joy, and abundance—regardless of your past or your inner critic
The transformative power of prioritizing movement and self-care, and a simple, eye-opening phone activity to reclaim time for what fuels you
Kim’s candid stories about therapy, reflection, and personal sticky notes that keep her centered during life’s ups and downs
Why creating boundaries around draining activities (like excessive social media) can make room for meaningful self-investment
Kim encourages listeners to pause and reflect on what matters most, take empowered action—no matter how small—and give themselves permission to prioritize well-being.
Key Takeaways:
If your marriage is important to you, invest in it intentionally—even when it feels hard or inconvenient.
You are already worthy of all that is good in life; the world can only value you as much as you value yourself.
Prioritizing movement, even 30 minutes a day, is one of the top five happiness boosters. Reclaim time from draining activities, starting with an honest look at your phone’s screen time.
Small shifts, done with self-love and intention, can yield lasting rewards.
"You are a worthy human being of being blessed beyond extraordinary in this life. But it starts with you understanding that and loving yourself."
 
Thank you for tuning in! If these reflections resonated, please leave a review at kimstrobel.com/review to help others find the show.Share this episode with a friend, subscribe for more uplifting wisdom, and tag Kim with your biggest takeaways!
Remember:
You deserve goodness, joy, and a life that fuels you—one tiny reflection and new habit at a time.

Ep 89 | What Lights You Up? How Joy Can Change Your Life

In this uplifting episode, Kim Strobel dives deep into the transformative power of following what lights you up. If you've ever found yourself stuck in a rut, feeling uninspired, or simply wondering, "Is this all there is?"—this conversation is for you. Kim candidly shares her own struggles with fear and self-doubt, as well as how reconnecting with joy became a catalyst for real change in her life and the lives of others.
What’s in this episode:
The importance of reconnecting with what excites and energizes you  
How to ignore the critics and keep shining your light
Why adulthood doesn't mean you should stop playing—or dreaming
Stuart Brown’s 8 Play Personalities, and how discovering yours can lead to more happiness and creativity
How to make small, meaningful shifts that bring more play, fun, and purpose into your everyday life
Kim encourages listeners to identify which resonates most—and to lean into those activities for greater happiness.
 
"You are not here to live a life that pleases others. You are here to live a life in which you feel fully alive and that sets your soul on fire—and that is available for each and every one of us."
 
If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review here or at kimstrobel.com/review, to help others discover the show.
Don’t forget to subscribe, share the episode, and tag Kim with your biggest takeaways and share what lights you up!
Subscribe so you never miss an inspiring episode; share this message of real talk and encouragement with people you care about.
 
Remember, you are deserving of joy and happiness. Take one small step toward what lights you up—you are worth it!
 

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.