Just & Joyful with Kristin Carver Smith

About Just & Joyful with Kristin Carver Smith

Are you trying to build a better world, yet you find yourself taking care of everyone in the process? Perhaps you’re focused on creating more justice and more joy for others, but somehow you ended up forgetting about yourself? Us too. On the Just and Joyful with Kristin Carver Smith podcast, we’re unpacking a critical truth. In order to create a more just and joyful world, we first have to create a more just and joyful life for ourselves. Come join us as we get into the details with leaders, mental health professionals, and experts across industries who are invested in creating justice and joy for themselves so they can go out and create the same for their communities and the world. A just and joyful world is possible. Let’s build it together.

Publisher

Kristin Carver Smith

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Feb 2026

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   The New Fashioned Co: The Rise & Reimagining Work | Just & Joyful S2E2

   Ever been curious about The New Fashioned Co? Today, we’re dishing on it. On this episode of Just and Joyful, host Kristin Carver Smith is joined by Angelina Burkholder to dissect the rise and fall of The New Fashioned Co., the agency KCS built to offer sustainable representation to brands and leaders working to create a more just and joyful world. Come peek behind the scenes to see what it looked like to dream up and then build a business founded on shared values and a desire to reimagine work and representation. And yes, we’re keeping it real about the challenges we met along the way. Join us as we travel back in time to chat about: The struggles and joys of starting a new business during the pandemic Where the idea of “new fashioned” originated and why it had to be built into the DNA of the business An early pivot that determined the entire direction of The New Fashioned Co. and the offerings the business provided What we built well and why we were so motivated to reimagine the workplace ⏱️ Timestamps & Chapters: 00:00 - What Happened to The New Fashioned Co.? 01:50 - 14 Years in PR & the Desire to Build it Differently 04:51 - Transitioning from 1099 Contractors to Creating a W-2 Agency 06:57 - The Origin of The New Fashioned Co.’s Name 10:41 - Creating an Accessible PR Course During 2020 12:28 - Dreaming Big: The $16k Investment & "Cricket" Launch 18:16 - The Big Pivot: How 13 Course Sales Launched a Full PR Agency 23:00 - Preparing for a Business Launch & Rapid Workload Expansion 27:46 - Building DEI & Workplace Equity Into the Business DNA 29:15 - Overcoming Underdog Energy & The Fear of Becoming Bad Leaders 31:34 - Looking Ahead to Part 2: The Fall of TNF Co. #JustAndJoyful #TheNewFashionedCo #KristinCarverSmith #PRagency #EntrepreneurshipStory #WomenInBusiness #ValuesBasedBusiness #WorkplaceCulture #PodcastPart1 #PRStrategy Have you ever had a business idea pivot into something completely unexpected? Share your story in the comments below! 🔗 Connect & Subscribe: Watch Season 2 Episode 1 of Just & Joyful to catch up on the full journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny2Q6d0vG7E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny2Q6d0vG7E) Subscribe to the channel for Part 2: The Fall of The New Fashioned Co.! Follow on Instagram: @JustAndJoyfulPodcast

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Mental Health Check-Up: Healing After Hospitalization | Just and Joyful S2E1

   How do you rebuild after experiencing a mental health crisis? To kick off season two of the Just and Joyful podcast, host and executive producer Kristin Carver Smith (KCS) marks two years since her mental health hospitalization, offering an honest mental health check-in on what life has looked like since then. Tune in to hear Kristin share more about her journey, both the trauma and the healing. In this deeply personal season premiere, Kristin reflects on the transition from sterilizing her environment with neutral tones to welcoming back color, creativity, and joy. She discusses why consistency matters when doing the hard work of getting well, how to stop getting stuck exclusively on the "justice" part of changing the world while forgetting the necessity of joy, and why curiosity must replace judgment in our healing journeys. During the episode, Kristin will touch on: How consistency mattered for her in showing up to do the work and get well again What it’s looked like to create a just and joyful life for herself instead of trying to help everyone else do it first Why it’s easy to get stuck on the justice part of creating a more just and joyful world while forgetting the necessity of joy The power of curiosity over judgment when exploring stories and experiences of mental health struggle and crisis Looking ahead to Season two: what’s next, including new guests, more humor, and upcoming music projects ⏱️ Timestamps & Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome to Season 2 of Just & Joyful 01:46 – Why This Podcast Exists: A Community for Nuanced Conversations 02:58 – Two Years Later: Reflecting on Hospitalization and Recovery 04:30 – The Metaphor of Wallpaper: Moving from Sterile Neutrals Back to Color 07:43 – The Power of Consistency in Mental Health Work 09:20 – Creating a Just and Joyful Life for Yourself 11:38 – Bringing Humor and Curiosity Back Into the Healing Process 13:20 – Don't Get Stuck on Justice Without Joy 16:30 – What's Coming in Season 2: Music, Journals, and New Guests 19:39 – Sneak Peek at Episode 2: What Happened to New Fashion Co? 🔗 Connect & Subscribe: Subscribe to the channel for more episodes on designing a just and joyful life and the mental health journeys that pursuit takes us on. Follow on Instagram: @JustAndJoyfulPodcast #JustAndJoyful #MentalHealthRecovery #MentalHealthCheckIn #KristinCarverSmith #BurnoutRecovery #Season2Premiere #HealingJourney #WomensWellness #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthcare #mentalhealthsupport #intentionalliving

3. 

   27 Jul 2026

   Season 1 Wrap: Take a Look Back at Our Favorite Moments w/ Host KCS and Producer Angelina

   Today, we’re wrapping season one of Just and Joyful with Kristin Carver. What a journey it’s been! We were honored to be joined in conversation with six guest experts to explore several different facets of mental health and how they affect our lives, play and work. We also shared three bonus episodes where we dove into the writing, music and art behind our personal mental health journeys. And all of it started with a powerful first episode (https://youtu.be/GVhD0V_NXt8?si=fBCkY0dRXMeRCtv1) where Kristin shared an essay chronicling a piece of her mental health journey. Today, we’re taking a look back at all that. Tune in to hear us revisit our favorite moments of season one AND give a special sneak peek at what’s coming in season two. Hint: we’re returning to the heart of stories and expanding from there. If you haven’t caught up on all the episodes, you can do so on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@justandjoyfulofficial), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3C0JeHvt9NRBaAJshmSJnk?si=e68af48e53174ce3), or Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-joyful-with-kristin-carver-smith/id1877139816). To stay up to date as we begin planning and producing season two, follow along with us on social media. Just and Joyful’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justandjoyfulofficial/ (https://www.instagram.com/justandjoyfulofficial/) Just and Joyful’s website: https://justandjoyful.com/ (https://justandjoyful.com/) Kristin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristincarversmith/ (https://www.instagram.com/kristincarversmith/) Kristin’s LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristincarversmith/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristincarversmith/)

4. 

   28 May 2026

   Silence Your Inner Critic & Find Permission to Speak with Samara Bay

   Are you struggling with how to stop overthinking every time you need to speak up? In this episode of the Just & Joyful podcast, host Kristin Carver Smith (KCS) sits down with Samara Bay, the global expert on leadership out loud and author of the bestselling book, Permission to Speak, to help us understand some of the complicated dynamics that keep so many of us quiet. If you’ve ever wondered how not to overthink your presence in the room, this conversation serves as a roadmap. Drawing on her decades of experience in helping celebrities, politicians, executives and more find their authentic voice, Samara discusses the transition from a "hard brain" to a "soft brain" and why learning to silence your inner critic is such a crucial step toward finding permission to speak. Whether you are preparing for a major presentation or just want to know how you can stop overthinking in daily life interactions, these insights will help you show up human and whole the next time you speak. ✨ In This Episode, We Discuss: Identifying the Inner Critic: How to change the conversation happening inside your head How Not to Overthink: Using the "Soft Brain" technique to access your intuition Permission to Speak: Why even Hollywood's biggest stars need help finding their authentic voice Public Speaking Tips: The three critical questions Samara always asks herself (and her clients) when preparing for a speaking engagement Embracing the Spirit of Mischief: Why mischief is such a crucial ingredient in speaking out loud and sharing our stories 00:00 – Finding Permission to Speak with Samara Bay 02:38 – How Your Inner Voice Impacts Your Wellbeing 06:12 – Tips for Public Speaking from a Hollywood Dialect Coach 08:51 – How to Stop Overthinking When You're in the Spotlight 11:42 – Finding Your Authentic Voice in Any Room 14:41 – Overcoming Your Inner Critic: Creating a Sense of Safety 18:45 – The Truth About Perfectionism and How to Not Overthink Everything 25:00 – Soft Brain vs. Hard Brain: The Secret to Finding Your Authentic Voice 28:35 – Moving from Scarcity to Abundance in Your Leadership 🔗 Connect with Samara Bay: ➤ Website: (https://prettydamnambitious.com/)https://www.permissioninc.co/ (https://www.permissioninc.co/) ➤ Get Samara’s Book: https://www.permissioninc.co/book (https://www.permissioninc.co/book) ➤ Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/iambiancabking/)https://www.instagram.com/samarabay (https://www.instagram.com/samarabay) ➤ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samarabay/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/samarabay/) Subscribe to Just & Joyful for more honest discussions about mental health that’ll help you feel less alone and get curious about your experience.

5. 

   7 May 2026

   Returning to Work After a Mental Health Leave & Rediscovering Ambition with Bianca B. King

   How do you return to work after a mental health emergency without falling back into burnout? In this powerful episode of the Just & Joyful Podcast, host Kristin Carver Smith (KCS) and Bianca B. King (founder of Pretty Damn Ambitious™) provide a tactical roadmap for shifting from extractive, traditional ambition to a regenerative Joyful Ambition™ framework, and the ways survival ambition can show up through it all. Bianca shares her incredible journey, from leaving home at 13 to building a marketing agency that has generated over $280M in revenue, and the pivotal moment her husband’s health crisis forced her to redefine success. By breaking down the "Ambition vs. Burnout" conflict, Bianca explains how to leverage your drive as a sustainable resource—ensuring your professional success (like her own $1.6B in transactions) never comes at the cost of your personal well-being. If you’ve ever felt like your business was flourishing while your personal life was in a "winter" season, or if you’re trying to navigate the return to work after burnout or a mental health emergency, this conversation is your roadmap. ✨ In This Episode, We Discuss: Survival vs. Joyful Ambition: Why traditional ambition is often extractive and how to pivot. The Seasons of Business & Life: Navigating a "Personal Winter" while your "Business Summer" is in full bloom. The Ambition Axis: Tactical tools to help you claim and harness your drive sustainably. The Recovery Process: How Kristin and Bianca recalibrated their lives after burnout. Ambition vs. Motivation: Why understanding the difference is critical for long-term success. ⏱️ Timestamps & Chapters: 00:00 - Redefining Ambition after a Mental Health Emergency 01:43 - Bianca B. King: From $700 to $1.6 Billion in Transactions 03:57 - When Your Business is in Summer but Your Life is in Winter 06:47 - How Ambition Ebbs and Flows During Personal Crises 09:33 - The Birth of Joyful Ambition™ 12:40 - Identifying "Survival Ambition" (Ambition at all costs) 15:49 - Coming Back from the Pit: The Reality of Burnout Recovery 19:37 - Becoming the "Ambition Architect" 24:45 - The 5 A’s of Joyful Ambition Framework 27:35 - The Power of Stillness and Internal Sounding Boards 🔗 Connect with Bianca B. King: ➤ Website: https://prettydamnambitious.com/ (https://prettydamnambitious.com/) ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambiancabking/ (https://www.instagram.com/iambiancabking/) ➤ The Ambition Axis: https://ambitionaxis.com/ (https://ambitionaxis.com/)➤ Bianca’s Newsletter: https://newsletter.prettydamnambitious.com/ (https://newsletter.prettydamnambitious.com/) ➤ Bianca’s Private Podcast: https://biancabking.substack.com/ (https://biancabking.substack.com/) Subscribe to Just & Joyful for more honest discussions about mental health that’ll help you feel less alone and get curious about your experience.

6. 

   23 Apr 2026

   Getting Dressed Again After a Mental Health Crisis with Brandi Johnson

   Welcome back to another guest episode of Just and Joyful! On this week’s guest appearance, Kristin is joined by Brandeis (Brandi) Johnson, a Style Alignment Strategist and the founder of Brandeis Nicole, a bespoke style and image consulting firm for high-impact women navigating growth, visibility, and reinvention, to talk about getting dressed again after experiencing a mental health emergency. When we get dressed in the morning, most of us aren’t thinking about how our choices highlight the state of our mental health. However, Brandi says the two are much more intertwined than we imagine. In this episode, she breaks down just how much of an impact clothes (and all of our conditioning around what we wear) has on how we show up to ourselves and the world through the various seasons of our lives. Tune in for more on: How style differs from fashion, plus ways to untangle our personal style from industry fashion (and why this shift is critical) Ways our relationship to style changes throughout different seasons of our lives Why it’s not frivolous or foolish to care about how we look and how to break down this belief How to start seeing style as a tool we can leverage to our benefit instead of viewing it as a moral judgment Why Brandi thinks there’s nothing more dangerous than a woman who feels herself To learn more about Brandi, explore her links below. Brandi’s Website: https://www.brandeisnicole.com (https://www.brandeisnicole.com) Brandi’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/brandeisnicole (https://instagram.com/brandeisnicole) Brandi’s Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/styleforsmartcookies (https://www.facebook.com/groups/styleforsmartcookies) Brandi’s Podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/undeniable-style/id1889658203 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/undeniable-style/id1889658203) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NXoCbY3fJWMOoXineHDyK?si=06uiDtXUQWOucQv2_XKCYw (https://open.spotify.com/show/5NXoCbY3fJWMOoXineHDyK?si=06uiDtXUQWOucQv2_XKCYw) Signup for Brandi’s email: https://brandeisnicole.kit.com/email (https://brandeisnicole.kit.com/email) Brandi’s Free 3-Day Style Challenge (kicking off May 20): https://brandeisnicole.kit.com/538293ed3f (https://brandeisnicole.kit.com/538293ed3f)

7. 

   16 Apr 2026

   BONUS EP: Behind the Scenes of LIGHT THROUGH

   This week’s bonus episode brings another behind-the-scenes look at Kristin’s musical journey to celebrate the release of her first album! Available to stream on April 17, LIGHT THROUGH Part 1 tells the story of the last several years of Kristin’s life as she has reached for music to help process through her mental health emergency and begin healing from that trauma. Tune in to hear more about: Kristin’s musical journey through the years, from singing karaoke as a kid to writing and recording her first record as an adult How time and distance have reframed the way Kristin views a critical moment of heartbreaking rejection from early on in her musical journey Why Kristin chose a non-traditional path for her music + a real look at what it takes to create an album without a label The story behind the divine download moment that inspired the album name LIGHT THROUGH What kind of musical journey to expect from part 1 of the album + Kristin’s hope for what listeners take away from the songs You can stream LIGHT THROUGH Part 1 on April 1, anywhere you listen to your favorite artists. You can also learn more about the music by visiting Kristin’s website at https://kristincarversmith.com/music/ (https://kristincarversmith.com/music/).

8. 

   9 Apr 2026

   Well-Being in the Midst of Life-Saving Work and Advocacy with Cece Jones-Davis

   If you haven’t had a chance to tune in to the Just and Joyful podcast yet, this is one episode you can’t miss. Today, Kristin is joined by the venerable Cece Jones-Davis, an award-winning faith leader, public speaker, human rights advocate AND singer/songwriter. She’s perhaps most known for her work in founding and leading the Justice for Julius campaign, which aimed and succeeded at saving a man from death row. She’s been named one of Change.org (http://Change.org)’s Changemakers of the Year, and today she’s reflecting on all that work with Kristin, sharing some stories and insights never before told in public. Listen in for more on: How Cece and others built a movement to save Julius Jones from death row How anyone can start a movement to help on an issue they care about Evidence for why people are stronger than systems What Cece’s mental health looked like during and after the Justice for Julius campaign How overwhelm can become inaction–and what you can do instead Cece’s advice to other activists and advocates on staying well and not losing themselves in the work Whether joy is really possible in advocacy work You can learn more about Cece Jones-Davis on her website at https://cecejonesdavis.com/ (https://cecejonesdavis.com/) or follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cecejonesdavis/ (https://www.instagram.com/cecejonesdavis/).

9. 

   26 Mar 2026

   Back to the Basics of Mental Health with Ali Rutowski

   Welcome to another guest episode! In this conversation, Kristin is joined by Ali Rutowski, an experiential therapist, maker and at-home herbalist with a passion for movement, art and the natural world, to return to the basics of mental health. Tune in for a conversation on: How to identify a mental health crisis Warning signs that can lead to a crisis How to talk to a loved one about warning signs What crisis care is and how to advocate for yourself Ways to tend to our mental health with simple daily practices What a personal care routine is and how to design one Explore Ali's shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaisiuwithHeart (https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaisiuwithHeart)

10. 

    19 Mar 2026

    BONUS EP: Journaling as a Way to Process and Heal

    We’re back with another short, bonus episode for you! In today’s episode, Kristin and Angelina are diving back into the world of words to dissect how the practice of journaling has benefited them both in their mental health journey. Tune in for thoughts on: How journaling aids processing and healing for Kristin and Angelina Ways that a perspective shift can release the pressure to perform on the page Questions to ask before you take something from the private page and share it publicly Why everyone is a writer and has permission to approach the page

11. 

    12 Mar 2026

    Who Gets to Need Mental Health Help with Sara Stanizai

    Welcome to our very first guest episode! Today, Kristin is exploring who gets to need help with Sara Stanizai, a licensed marriage and family therapist and business coach who founded Prospect Therapy to create a queer- and trans-affirming practice that focuses specifically on serving first-generation American and immigrant communities. Tune in to the episode for more on: Sara’s personal experience with mental health and the signs that finally alerted her to needing help Why you can’t deep breathe your way out of oppression, plus how to build a resistance plan that actually works How compassion fatigue has been misused (and even weaponized), what it really is, and how to accurately name the exhaustion we feel navigating the world For more on Sara’s clinical and professional work, you can find her at www.prospecttherapy.com (http://www.prospecttherapy.com) or on Instagram @prospecttherapy (https://www.instagram.com/prospecttherapy). You can also explore the compassion fatigue workshop (https://www.prospecttherapy.com/training-consultation-1) she offers to help professionals navigate burnout and sift through Prospect Therapy’s team of licensed therapists (https://www.prospecttherapy.com/about-us-1) who are currently accepting clients for both therapy and coaching.

12. 

    5 Mar 2026

    BONUS Ep: Behind the Scenes of BLOOM, Kristin’s Upcoming Single Release

    The Just and Joyful podcast will release episodes featuring conversations with a variety of experts every other week. In the weeks in between our guest episodes, like this one, we’ll occasionally share shorter conversations to give you behind-the-scenes access to other exciting work going on or to invite you to participate in a gut check after heavy episodes. This week’s bonus episode features an exclusive look at Kristin’s brand new single, BLOOM, set to release on 3/13/26. Tune in to hear the story behind the song, get a peak at Kristin’s songwriting process, and hear a little sample from the actual song!

13. 

    26 Feb 2026

    Welcome to Just & Joyful: The Emotional Essay that Inspired this Podcast

    Welcome to the first episode of Just and Joyful w/ Kristin Carver Smith, a podcast created to provide an honest, nuanced look at mental health and all the ways it impacts our lives, work and play. In this episode, Kristin will be reading, for the very first time, the essay she wrote last year while processing a mental health emergency she survived in 2024. You’ll also get to hear Kristin’s heart for the podcast, what conversations we have planned for the season, and why it’s all happening now. Follow Kristin and Just & Joyful on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justandjoyfulofficial/ (https://www.instagram.com/justandjoyfulofficial/) https://www.instagram.com/kristincarversmith (https://www.instagram.com/kristincarversmith)

14. 

    13 Feb 2026

    TRAILER: Just & Joyful with Kristin Carver

    Hello and welcome to Just and Joyful with Kristin Carver Smith. I’m your host, Kristin or KCS as people often call me. You may know me as the CEO and founder of The New Fashioned Co or as someone who spent the last decade helping clients develop business strategies, communications plans and publicity campaigns that produced winning results. You may also have noticed that I’ve been away from the public for a while. Well, I’m ready not only to return but also to tell you about why I was gone. This return will look different from how I’ve shown up before; it will be an embodied and holistic return. Through Just and Joyful, I want to introduce you to my full self—all the other sides of me that were too often dimmed while I kept busy with starting and running my business. I want to introduce you to my artist self—the writer, singer and performer that have always been within me but haven’t gotten as much room to breathe. Most importantly, I want to introduce you to the human self who has both struggled and succeeded through it all. The journey of Just and Joyful will center largely on mental health—my mental health experience as well as the ones of others I bring on the show. We’ll cover everything from the basics of mental wellbeing to more niche topics like how mental health manifests itself in our style, guided by guests who are experts in their fields, including licensed and credentialed mental health practitioners. But before we begin, I want to make one thing clear. I am not creating this podcast with the intent of offering answers or solutions to any mental health struggle. Although experts will join our conversations, I’m not an expert—just a human like you with a story to share. My hope in sharing mine is that you’ll feel less alone in yours. Perhaps you’ll even be able to give yourself permission to get curious about it all. The only thing I do know for sure is that healing is possible. Let’s discover it together.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact Just & Joyful with Kristin Carver Smith

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.