Mama Mudra - The Joy Movement

About Mama Mudra - The Joy Movement

A podcast that helps you think differently about how to live. The Joy Movement is about joyful living, positive psychology, happiness, and modern wellness, for anyone who wants to enjoy life again, not just optimise it. We've never known more about wellness. Yet we've never found it harder to enjoy our lives. If you've tried chasing perfect routines, productivity hacks, or wellness trends only to feel more exhausted than alive, you're not alone. Wellness can become another performance project, and the harder you push, the further joy seems to disappear. The Joy Movement offers a different path: joyful living rooted in positive psychology, movement, nutrition, brain health, and everyday practice. Instead of asking how to do more, this show explores how to create more joy, cultivate vitality, strengthen emotional wellbeing and resilience, and enjoy life again without sacrificing your ambition, health, or sense of meaning. Hosted by Kate Thompson-Duwe, entrepreneur, joy advocate, and founder of Sunshine People, each episode explores what it means to live with greater purpose, connection, and joy. Her approach is wellness without hustle: practical joy practices for intentional living, and everyday habits that support longevity and healthspan. Whether you're recovering from burnout, looking for sustainable wellbeing, exploring conscious living, sober curious, or simply wondering how to find more joy every day, each conversation gives you practical ideas for building greater vitality, deeper connection, lasting resilience, and more joy in everyday life. The Joy Movement is where the science of wellbeing meets the practice of joyful living. Here, you'll be introduced to Kate's growing philosophy of Joy Intelligence: the idea that joy isn't simply the reward for living well, but an important part of building a healthier, more meaningful life and greater human flourishing. New episodes every Tuesday.

Publisher

Kate Thompson-Duwe | Mama Mudra

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Dec 2025

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

35 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Child Development: Are we helping kids become independent or holding them back? | Sharon Aitken

   How do you know when your child is ready for more independence? And how do you tell the difference between normal growing-up behaviour and something that needs your attention? Child development doesn't happen according to a neat timetable. In this episode of The Joy Movement, Kate speaks with educational psychologist Sharon Aitken about what actually happens as children move through different developmental stages, and why parents need to look beyond age-based milestones when understanding who their children are becoming. From early childhood and school comparison to puberty, adolescence and the gradual transition into adulthood, Sharon explains why resilience is built through challenges, why children learn more from what parents model than what they tell them, and why being present matters so much to emotional security. Sharon challenges the idea that parents should simply step back as children get older, explaining why developmental readiness matters more than a fixed age and why staying connected can be one of the most important things a parent does. In this episode: - Why child development is much more fluid than traditional age-based milestones suggest - How parents can build resilience, confidence and a growth mindset - Why active listening can help children develop problem-solving skills - What happens psychologically when puberty begins - Why parents shouldn't confuse age with developmental readiness - How to gradually build the independence children will eventually need If you're raising children and sometimes wonder whether you're protecting them too much, expecting too much, or letting go too soon, this conversation offers a thoughtful way to look at the journey.

2. 

   21 Sept 2026

   How to Stay True to Yourself When the World Expects More | Elana Fabian

   What happens when the life you've worked hard to build starts asking you to become someone you're not? Former international model Elana Fabian has spent much of her life in environments where appearance, performance and other people's expectations matter. Yet one of the things that stands out most about her is how firmly she seems to know who she is. In this conversation, Kate Thompson-Duwe explores authenticity, self-worth, success, values and the choices we make when the world keeps asking for more. Elana talks openly about reaching the top of the modelling world and realising that the next mountain wasn't one she wanted to climb. She also shares why she believes a profession should never become your identity, and how that distinction helped protect her sense of self. The conversation also moves into something much bigger: what does success actually mean, and how do we know when enough is enough? For Elana, the answer increasingly comes down to time, health, family, meaningful relationships and living according to her values. In this episode: * Why staying true to yourself can become harder when other people's expectations get louder * How Elana learned to separate her modelling career from her identity * Why she chose to walk away from parts of a successful career that didn't align with her values * How her definition of success and enoughness has changed * Why time has become more valuable than possessions, status or convenience * The values she hopes to pass on to her children, including responsibility, resilience and self-respect It's a conversation about authenticity, but ultimately it's about something bigger: building a life that still feels like yours. Listen to The Joy Movement with Elana Fabian.

3. 

   14 Sept 2026

   Fasting Explained: Autophagy, Hunger, Hormones and Common Myths | Krystyna Blonski

   Why is fasting so difficult for some people, and can women fast without disrupting their hormones? In this episode, Kate speaks to certified fasting and functional medicine practitioner Krystyna Blonski about intermittent fasting, extended fasting, autophagy and how to begin without forcing your body into an extreme regime. After years of debilitating fatigue, brain fog and a diagnosis of Lyme disease, Krystyna completed a supervised 12-day water fast that changed the direction of her health and ultimately her career. She now helps others understand fasting as a flexible practice rather than another rigid wellness rule. Together, Kate and Krystyna explore what happens inside the body when we stop eating, why juice cleanses may make fasting harder, how women can adapt fasting around their menstrual cycles and why metabolic flexibility needs to be trained gradually. They also tackle some of the most common questions about fasting: • What actually breaks a fast? • When does the body enter ketosis and autophagy? • Why do some people feel dizzy, irritable or exhausted when they fast? • Is intermittent fasting different for women? • Should women fast during every stage of their menstrual cycle? • Can you drink coffee while fasting? • Does fasting slow your metabolism? • Will fasting cause muscle loss? • Is a longer fast always better? • How can you distinguish genuine hunger from habitual hunger? • Who should avoid fasting or seek medical guidance first? Krystyna also explains why fasting should be approached like training for a marathon. You begin with a manageable overnight fast, learn how your body responds and gradually build your capacity, rather than jumping immediately into a 24-hour or multi-day fast. The conversation moves beyond food and explores the psychology of fasting too. What changes when fasting is no longer framed as punishment or deprivation, but as an intentional act of care? If this conversation helped you understand fasting differently, please share it with someone who has been curious about fasting but does not know where to begin. The wellness industry has a joy problem, and we’re fixing it. Subscribe to The Joy Movement so you do not miss our weekly conversations about the science of wellbeing, behaviour change and joyful living. Please note: This episode shares Krystyna’s personal experience and professional perspective and is intended for general education only. Fasting is not appropriate for everyone. Anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, under 18, managing a medical condition, taking medication or considering an extended fast should seek appropriate professional medical guidance.

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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