Less Stress, More Joy with Amy Leneker is the joyful rebellion you’ve been waiting for. If you’ve ever woken up on a Monday already exhausted, or spent Sunday night bracing yourself for the week ahead, the problem isn't you — the problem is work. But there’s a better way. A simpler way. Each week on the Less Stress, More Joy podcast, Amy shares the same coaching she brings to Fortune 100 companies and public sector organizations — helping you understand your stress, break old patterns, and rediscover the joy you were meant for. Less stress, more joy, and zero toxic positivity — that’s the joyful rebellion. Less Stress, More Joy is based on Amy's forthcoming book Cheers to Monday: The Surprisingly Simple Strategy to Lead and Live with Less Stress and More Joy. Editing and production is by Brandi Neal. If you've been searching for podcasts for anxiety and stress, leadership coaching for women, or job and life coaching tips, you're invited to tune in and join the joyful rebellion!
5 Things You Can Do Today for Less Stress & More Joy at Work
Stress isn't the price of success—it's the thing getting in the way of it.
On this episode, Amy shares five practical actions leaders, teams, and organizations can take right now to reduce workplace stress and create the conditions for greater joy, engagement, and performance.
Drawing on insights from her national State of Stress and Joy at Work research study, Amy explains why overwhelmed teams struggle, how stress spreads through organizations, and what leaders can do to create healthier, more sustainable workplaces.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Why Stress Wins
00:56 Where to Start With Change
02:02 Protect Capacity Not Overload
03:38 Address Stress Together
05:33 Real Joy Over Forced Positivity
09:15 Redesign Work and Find Clarity
11:29 Five-Step Recap and Sendoff
On This Episode
Why protecting capacity is essential for performance
How stress spreads through teams and organizations
The hidden cost of forced positivity at work
What the Stockdale Paradox teaches us about leadership
Why younger workers experience higher levels of workplace stress
How to distinguish between what's urgent and what's important
Key Takeaways
Stop overwhelming people and start protecting capacity.
Stop ignoring stress and start addressing it together.
Stop faking positivity and start creating conditions for real joy.
Stop blaming generations and start redesigning work.
Stop confusing urgent with important and start pausing for clarity.
Resources Mentioned
The State of Stress and Joy at Work Research Study
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Connect with Amy
Visit Amy's website (https://www.amyleneker.com/) to learn more, download the research study, and access additional resources.
18 May 2026
The Unexpected Drivers of Stress and Joy at Work
What if stress isn’t the price of success — but the thing stealing it from you?
On this episode of Less Stress, More Joy, Amy Leneker shares powerful new research on the hidden drivers of workplace stress, burnout, and joy. Drawing from her national State of Stress & Joy study, Amy reveals the top “joy busters” draining people at work — from overwhelming workloads to feeling underappreciated — and the “joy builders” that help people thrive, including purpose, progress, and meaningful impact.
You’ll also hear why 79% of people say joy helps them do their best work, why stress and joy ripple far beyond the workplace, and the unforgettable conversation Amy had with a CEO who said he just wasn’t “into joy.”
If you’re exhausted by the way work has been functioning, this episode offers a practical, hopeful roadmap toward less stress and more joy.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Big Myth
00:56 Research and Ripple Effects
02:51 Why Joy Matters at Work
05:03 Top Joy Busters
08:22 Top Joy Builders and Wrap
Get the State of Stress & Joy report here: amyleneker.com/research
Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amyleneker
11 May 2026
Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should
What if one of the biggest sources of stress at work is everything you keep fixing that was never yours to carry?
On this episode of Less Stress, More Joy, Amy Leneker explores why “just because you can” doesn’t mean you should. Through a personal story about leadership, boundaries, and people-pleasing, Amy shares how over-functioning at work quietly increases stress, drains energy, and weakens relationships.
You’ll learn the 6 benefits of accepting without fixing, including how it:
Frees up mental energy
Reduces unnecessary stress
Protects your time and boundaries
Strengthens relationships
Builds resilience to discomfort
If you constantly feel responsible for everything, this episode will help you let go of what was never yours to carry.
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Less Stress
00:44 Unstressing Method Recap
01:52 Quadrant Four Explained
02:58 Sharpie Toddler Metaphor
04:30 Boundary Break Story
11:08 People Pleasing Caveat
14:17 Six Benefits of Letting Go
23:54 Practical Steps and Wrap Up
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Contact Less Stress, More Joy with Amy Leneker
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Less Stress, More Joy with Amy Leneker?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
