Hi guys! This is the last episode of Joy :'(. Thank you so much to all the people who have kept up with this podcast all summer! In this last episode, I talk about gratitude, why it's important, and the things I'm grateful for, both in relation to this podcast and in general! Links to articles I used: https://www.mindful.org/the-science-of-gratitude/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2021/11/22/the-science-of-gratitude-how-thankfulness-impacts-our-brains-and-business/

In our second to last episode, I am joined by Celeste Trianon, a trans-feminine activist and jurist located in the unceded Tiohtià:ke land, colonially known as "Montréal." They coordinate the Trans ID clinic, which works to provide administrative and legal aid to trans folx seeking name and gender marker changes. We talk about the difficulties of finding joy as a trans person in an increasingly transphobic world, the systematic barriers trans folx face day-to-day, and the ways in which Celeste hopes to overcome these barriers, both in her personal and professional life. Celeste's Info: Website - https://celeste.lgbt/en/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/itscelesteffs Instagram - @celestetrianon

Hello everyone! In today's episode, I talk about the evolutionary, biological, and psychological benefits of community, how the structure of modern society keeps us isolated, and what people are doing to find community despite these challenges. I hope you enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend! Sources Bonsaksen, Tore, et al. “Associations between Social Media Use and Loneliness in a Cross-National Population: Do Motives for Social Media Use Matter?” Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9817115/. Cherry, Kendra. “How Do Individualistic Cultures Influence Behavior?” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 10 Mar. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/what-are-individualistic-cultures-2795273#:~:text=In%20an%20individualistic%20culture%2C%20people,others%20are%20of%20greater%20importance. “The Importance of Community: Why Community Matters - 2024.” MasterClass, 2 Nov. 2022, www.masterclass.com/articles/importance-of-community. Kugler, Jeffrey. “Why Americans of All Ages Are Embracing Communal Living.” Time, Time, 26 May 2021, time.com/intentional-communities/. McMillian, DW, and DM Chavis. “[PDF] Sense of Community: A Definition and Theory | Semantic Scholar.” Wiley Online Library, Journal of Community Psychology, Jan. 1986, www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Sense-of-community:-A-definition-and-theory-McMillan-Chavis/e5fb8ece108aec36714ee413876e61b0510e7c80. Park, Eunice Y, et al. “Sense of Community and Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Household Survey in Wisconsin.” Family Medicine and Community Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10314672/#:~:text=In%20this%20study%2C%20we%20find,of%20depression%2C%20anxiety%20and%20stress.

Hello everyone! Today I talk about all things love, including the physical aspects of love (sex). I discuss the stages and science of falling in love, the attachment styles that determine how we love, and a new way of conceptualizing our sex lives. I hope you enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend! Sources Cohut, Maria. “Sex: How Does It Impact Brain Activity?” Edited by Jasmin Collier, Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 6 Apr. 2016, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321428. Nagoski, Emily. Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2015. Odell, Shannon. “The Science of Falling in Love.” YouTube, Ted-ED, 8 Dec. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_OPjYQovAE&ab_channel=TED-Ed. Robinson, Lawrence, et al. “Attachment Styles and How They Affect Adult Relationships.” HelpGuide.Org, 20 June 2024, www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/attachment-and-adult-relationships.htm. Sarkis, Stephanie. “Why Anxious and Avoidant Attachment Attract Each Other.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 1 July 2023, www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/202306/why-anxious-and-avoidant-attachment-attract-each-other. Whiteman, Honor. “How Do Orgasms Affect the Brain? Study Investigates.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 6 Nov. 2016, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/313894.

Hello everyone! Due to me being sick this previous week, today's episode is an unscripted description of my personal journey with mental illness and joy. I talk about the loneliness of depression, compassionate self-talk, finding joy internally, and more!

Hello wonderful people! In today's episode, I am joined by Furaha Sadi, a Montréal-based singer, songwriter, and producer, to discuss the joy in pursuing your passion – in Furaha's case, making music – despite the inevitable challenges. We talk about the difficulty of being a woman in male-dominated spaces, the importance of maintaining balance and prioritizing health over productivity, and the sheer joy of doing what you love.

Hello everyone! In today's episode, I discuss the joy of being alone, focusing on the differentiation between loneliness and being alone, the benefits and downsides of solitude, and my personal experiences with solitude throughout my university years. I hope you enjoy! Sources Albrighton, Tom. “One for Joy: An Introvert’s Guide to the Secret World of Solitude.” Google Books, Google, 10 Jan. 2023, books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=OV3DEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=joy%2Bsolitude&ots=N6b4CjQYFK&sig=aYslW9vdyVhp3q4i0794amXOm8g#v=onepage&q=joy%20solitude&f=false. Buchholz, Ester. “The Call of Solitude.” Google Books, Google, books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hgkHCHEgwEcC&oi=fnd&pg=PA15&dq=joy%2Bsolitude&ots=cb2UZ-Pe2Q&sig=6IcAEaYRnFFuIR886uM62y42XLo&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=joy%20solitude&f=false. Accessed 18 July 2024. Haney, Craig. “Restricting the Use of Solitary Confinement.” Annual Review of Criminology, Annual Reviews, 13 Jan. 2018, www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-criminol-032317-092326. Willis, Paul. “This Reclusive Life: What I Learned about Solitude from My Time with Hermits.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 6 Oct. 2017, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/oct/06/hermits-solitude-wilderness-new-mexico.

Hello beautiful people! In today's episode, I had the joy of interviewing Miss Benn, the host of the annual "Heal, Black Girl, Heal" on CKUT’s “The Montréal Sessions.” This interview is the second of the identity portion of the podcast, which focuses on how identity shapes our experiences of joy. We discuss the challenges of speaking up for yourself as an outsider, the breadth of black joy, the joy that comes with finally becoming comfortable with who you are, and more.

Hello everyone! In today's episode, I explore the healing powers of nature for both our body and mind. I delve into how urban development has limited our access to natural environments, the numerous biological and mental benefits of spending time in nature, and the socioeconomic barriers that prevent many from fully enjoying these benefits. Sources Bratman, Gregory, et al. Nature and Mental Health: An Ecosystem Service Perspective, 24 July 2019, www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aax0903. Hammoud, Ryan, et al. “Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment Reveals Mental Health Benefits of Birdlife.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 27 Oct. 2022, www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-20207-6?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template. Jarvis, Ingrid, et al. “Assessing the Association between Lifetime Exposure to Greenspace and Early Childhood Development and the Mediation Effects of Air Pollution and Noise in Canada: A Population-Based Birth Cohort Study - the Lancet Planetary Health.” Planetary Health, The Lancet, www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00235-7/fulltext. Accessed 5 July 2024. Laguite, Madeline. “Nature Therapy: Types and Benefits.” WebMD, WebMD, 2021, www.webmd.com/balance/features/nature-therapy-ecotherapy. O’donnell, Ellen. “Bratman Describes Science of Nature’s Effects on Psychological Health.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 10 Apr. 2019, nihrecord.nih.gov/2018/12/14/bratman-describes-science-natures-effects-psychological-health. Rowland-Shea, Jenny, et al. “The Nature Gap.” Center for American Progress, 20 Oct. 2023, www.americanprogress.org/article/the-nature-gap/. Summers, J Kevin, et al. “The Role of Interaction with Nature in Childhood Development: An under-Appreciated Ecosystem Service.” Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (New York, N.Y. 2012), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 5 Nov. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7424505/. Weir, Kirsten. “Nurtured by Nature.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature. Accessed 5 July 2024. Wells, Nancy. At Home with Nature: Effects of “Greenness” on Children’s Cognitive Functioning, Sage Journals, 2000, journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00139160021972793.

Hello wonderful people! In today's episode, I discuss the mental illness epidemic among comedians, whose primary job is to bring joy to those around them. We cover the "sad clown paradox," the personality traits underpinning an individual's desire to become a comedian and their simultaneous predisposition to mental illness, the drawbacks and positives of using comedy to cope with difficult times, and so on. I hope you enjoy, and tune in every Friday at 12pm for more! Sources Used Ando, Victoria, et al. “Psychotic Traits in Comedians.” The British Journal of Psychiatry : The Journal of Mental Science, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24434072/. Accessed 26 June 2024. Boerner, Michaela, et al. “The Association between Sense of Humor and Trauma-Related Mental Health Outcomes: Two Exploratory Studies | Request PDF.” Taylor & Francis Online, Journal of Loss & Trauma, www.researchgate.net/publication/315872356_The_Association_Between_Sense_of_Humor_and_Trauma-Related_Mental_Health_Outcomes_Two_Exploratory_Studies. Accessed 26 June 2024. Christensen, Jen. “The Deep Emotions behind Stand-up Comedy.” CNN, Cable News Network, 4 Dec. 2018, www.cnn.com/2017/03/01/health/sad-clown-standup-comedy-mental-health/index.html. Doughty, Bryony, and Craig Perryman. “No Fooling around: Humour and Mental Health.” MQ Mental Health Research, 31 Mar. 2023, www.mqmentalhealth.org/no-fooling-around-humour-and-mental-health/. Roy, Lipi. “If Laughter Is the Best Medicine, Why Are so Many Comedians in Poor Health?” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 25 Nov. 2019, www.forbes.com/sites/lipiroy/2019/11/14/if-laughter-is-the-best-medicine-why-are-so-many-comedians-in-poor-health-and-dying/. Tsoi, D, et al. “Humour Experience in Schizophrenia: Relationship with Executive Dysfunction and Psychosocial Impairment.” Psychological Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18177530/#:~:text=In%20patients%2C%20d%27%20%28humour%29%20had%20significant%20negative%20correlation,detecting%20humour%20but%20similarly%20able%20to%20appreciate%20humour. Accessed 26 June 2024. “What’s the Deal With Comedians and Depression?” ABC News, ABC News Network, 12 Aug. 2014, abcnews.go.com/Health/deal-comedians-depression/story?id=24945911.