Joy of the Hang | Connection & Empowerment Stories
Hosted by Sharon Stevenson | Connection & Empowerment Host Join Sharon Stevenson on Joy of the Hang, a podcast dedicated to storytelling, connection, and empowerment. Explore how vulnerability and meaningful relationships impact your emotional wellbeing, spiritual health, and overall wellness. As a certified Health and Wellness Coach and former bodybuilder, Sharon dives deep into the eight pillars of health, shedding light on the importance of social and occupational wellness. Discover inspiring stories that empower you to foster connection, resilience, and a balanced lifestyle. If you're seeking authentic connection, emotional growth, and empowerment, this podcast is your sanctuary for wellness coaching and real-life wisdom. https://joyofthehang.com/
Episodes
At 21 years old, Christian "Boo" Boucousis was living his dream. After being selected for the Royal Australian Air Force's elite fighter pilot program, he was flying F/A-18 fighter jets and doing exactly what he had worked his entire life to achieve.
Then everything changed.
A diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis abruptly ended his military career, forcing him to walk away from the identity, purpose, and future he had ...
What would you do if a doctor told you that you had a year to live?
For most people, a diagnosis of glioblastoma—the most aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer—would feel like the end of the story.
For Jody Mayo, it became the beginning of a new chapter.
In this powerful and deeply inspiring episode of Joy of the Hang, Sharon sits down with Jody to discuss the moment her life changed forever, the fear ...
What happens when the people shaping our youngest minds are overworked, underpaid, and unsupported?
In this eye-opening episode of Joy of the Hang, host Sharon Stevenson sits down with entrepreneur, former preschool teacher, and Ratio Staffing founder Paul Buckley to unpack the growing childcare and early education crisis happening across America.
After nearly 20 years working directly in preschool classrooms, Paul sa...
What if one encouraging voice could change the trajectory of a child’s life?
In this heartfelt episode of Joy of the Hang, I sit down with educator, author, and storyteller Bridget Gengler, whose work has impacted generations of students over more than 30 years in education.
From the classroom to the pages of her children’s books, Bridget’s mission is simple but powerful: help people recognize their ...
What happens after the introduction?
After the networking event ends?
After you finally get a seat at the table?
In this episode of Joy of the Hang, I sit down with entrepreneur and community builder Coreena Breazeale to talk about the skill nobody teaches women: how to turn connection into real opportunity.
Coreena is the founder of multiple purpose-driven companies helping women lead, grow, and scale with more...
What if the pain you’ve been told to “live with” isn’t inevitable at all?
In this powerful episode of Joy of the Hang, Sharon sits down with Bruce Phelps—creator of the Stretch n’ Release Technique, founder of The Muscle Repair Shop, and author of Stretch n’ Release—to challenge everything we think we know about chronic pain, aging, and healing.
With a background in Agin...
Some stories don’t just inspire you—they change you.
In this deeply moving episode of Joy of the Hang, Krystal Geist opens up about her journey through trauma, survival, and ultimately, transformation. As the founder of Her Warrior Heart, she’s on a mission to help women rediscover their strength and reclaim their lives.
Together, we explore what it means to heal emotionally, rebuild self-worth, and ...
What does it truly mean to lead from the front—not just in combat, but in life?
In this powerful episode of Joy of the Hang, Sharon sits down with retired Brigadier General Remo Butler, a trailblazer, leader, and the first Black man to achieve the rank of Brigadier General in his division. With decades of military service and leadership at the highest levels, General Butler shares the principles that shaped his...
What’s the secret to living a long life—and more importantly, a meaningful one?
At 101 years old, Olga Genersich has lived through over a century of change, challenge, love, and growth. In this powerful episode of Joy of the Hang, she shares her perspective on longevity, healthy aging, life lessons, and what truly matters in the end.
This isn’t about quick fixes or longevity hacks. It...
Listener Note:
This episode contains sensitive content, including discussion of child trafficking and abuse. Please listen with care, and take breaks if needed. If this topic is personal for you, you are not alone—support resources are included below.
In this deeply moving episode of Joy of the Hang, Sharon sits down with Chasity Vannatter, a survivor of child sex trafficking who was exploited by her own mot...
In one of the most powerful conversations on Joy of the Hang, Sharon sits down with Mark Geist—one of the security operators portrayed in 13 Hours—and his wife, Krystal, to share the real story behind the 2012 Benghazi attack.
This is not a retelling of headlines. This is a firsthand account from someone who lived it.
Mark takes us inside the chaos of that night—the decisions, the danger, and the mom...
What if everything we’ve been told about education… is wrong?
In this episode of Joy of the Hang, Sharon sits down with actress, author, and education advocate Sam Sorbo for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about parenting, homeschooling, and the systems shaping our children’s futures.
From questioning traditional schooling to redefining what it means to truly educate, Sam shares why she ...
In this episode of Joy of the Hang™, Sharon sits down with author, content creator, and military spouse Kendall Mariah for a deeply honest conversation about what happens when life doesn’t unfold the way you expected.
From navigating ADHD and fertility struggles to the realities of motherhood, marriage, and identity, Kendall shares what she calls “soul friction” — those seasons where everythin...
Today, I turn 60. And instead of slowing down, I’m stepping fully into who I was always meant to be.
In this special solo episode of Joy of the Hang, I’m sharing the life lessons that didn’t just shape me — they transformed me. The moments that broke me open, the experiences that rebuilt me, and the connections that reminded me what it truly means to belong.
This isn’t just a reflection o...
What turns an event into an experience people talk about for years?
In this episode of Joy of the Hang, Sharon Stevenson sits down with Gillian Marto and Debra Hull, the creative minds behind Events of a Lifetime Productions, an award-winning event production and branding company known for turning ordinary gatherings into unforgettable experiences.
Gillian, named Atlanta’s Event Industry “Rising Star,&rdqu...
Success on paper doesn’t always feel like peace in your body.
In this episode, Emilee Tucker shares how corporate stagnation and a painful breakup forced her into a deeper journey of self-discovery — one that went beyond productivity hacks and leadership books.
Emilee believes the soul is the missing piece in modern self-development. Through energetics, breathwork, Human Design, and deep self-awareness, sh...
In this episode, I sit down with Kortney Farhat for an honest and energizing conversation about what it really takes to build, lead, and evolve in today’s fast-changing world.
Kortney shares her journey—lessons learned, pivotal risks taken, and the mindset shifts that helped her navigate challenges and step confidently into new levels of growth. We talk about leadership under pressure, trusting your insti...
What if turning 50 wasn’t the beginning of the end — but the start of your most powerful chapter?
In this episode of Joy of the Hang, I sit down with Lorraine Ladish, CEO and co-founder of Viva Fifty!, a dynamic bilingual community celebrating life at 50 and beyond.
Originally from Madrid and now based in Sarasota, Lorraine shares her bold reinvention story — from losing her print journalism career d...
In this honest and heartfelt episode, Sharon sits down with interior designer and new mom Christiana Engert to talk about the life shift no one can fully prepare you for: your first baby.
We go beyond the cute photos and nursery décor to unpack the real changes that happen after becoming parents. Christiana opens up about what surprised her most — from the emotional and physical transformation of her body to th...
In this heartfelt episode of Joy of the Hang, I sit down with Christina Ordonez for an honest conversation about the emotional, physical, and relational challenges of pregnancy and IVF treatments.
Christina shares what it’s really like to walk through uncertainty, medical interventions, hope, disappointment, and resilience—often quietly, and often without enough support. We talk about the parts of fertili...
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