She Chose Joy with Melanie

About She Chose Joy with Melanie

Sprinkles of Joy is found when we get curious and choose to play in those spaces between what our heart knows to be true and what our mind is trying to reconcile. I’m not here to perform joy. I create space where truth, tenderness, laughter, pain, possibility and joy feel safe enough to say out loud. This is where yummy moments like that organically unfold through heartfelt conversations with visionary woman.

Publisher

Melanie Foote-Davis

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 May 2020

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

44 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Julie Breckenfelder | The Healing Spiral

   The advice to push harder, move faster, and stay productiveis burning people out. Julie Breckenfelder shares the moment that pulled her out of that cycle and into a completely different way of leading, living, and coaching; one built on pause, presence, and self-trust. What starts with a joyful memory of Cyndi Lauper and a little 80s nostalgia turns into a powerfulconversation about burnout, authenticity, and the surprising clarity that can come when life forces you to slow down. Julie opens up about a pivotal trip to Angkor Wat, the layered nudges that changed her career, and how those experiences eventually led her into coaching emerging leaders. You’ll discover: Why burnout can be a signal, not a failure The difference between judgment and discernment How the "healing spiral" helps you recognize growth instead of shame Why anger can be useful information,not something to suppress What it really means to create psychologically safe spaces at work and in life Melanie Foote-Davis brings her signature insight intoboundaries, emotional honesty, and the hidden cost of carrying too much for too long. Together, she and Julie unpack how we hide, protect ourselves, and wait until we're "up to here" before we finally make a change and how to catch those moments earlier. Julie also shares how she now supports leaders whoare holding it all together on the outside while quietly struggling on the inside and why helping people feel safe enough to be fully human is the real work. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of your next step, this conversation offers both relief and a roadmap. Perfect for leaders, coaches, and anyone who knows they need to pause before they break. If you're ready to rethink burnout, failure, and what growth actually looks like, this one belongs in your queue. More about Julie Julie Breckenfelder is a certified professional coach atJB Coaching with a gift for guiding and empowering leaders to rewrite their stories through an energy-focused lens. By bringing awareness to their unique leadership style and energy, clients are able to break through blind spots and unconscious behaviors to create a meaningful + intentional path forward. Beyond executive presence and confidence, Julie’s clients– both leaders and teams – gain deep self-awareness, mindfulness, and alignment in their work and their personal life, leading to deeper fulfillment and joy.She is known to be kind, yet bold in her approach – challenging her clients towards possibility, an open mind, and a perspective that rewrites the status quo of success. Her clients work across industries and company types, including Inc. 5000 start-ups and Fortune 500 ad agencies to automotive manufacturers andglobal insurance providers. Prior to coaching, Julie spent 14+ years as a Business-to-Business marketer in both corporate and agency high-pressuresettings. She holds an MBA in Management/Strategy and a credentialed Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation (ICF). She acquired her CPC and ELI-MP from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), earned certifications in: Trauma-InformedCoaching Certification (Moving the Human Spirit), Elements of Wellbeing (WOHASU) and Clifton Strengths Foundations (PowerUp Your Strengths). On days of rest, you can find Julie with her husband andpup-dog Charlie mindfully boating, exploring, or cooking up new business ideas and recipes—though she’s equally likely to be on the jiu jitsu mats getting humbled as a white belt. Connect with Julie Website  (https://www.jbcoaching.com/) LinkedIn  (https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-breckenfelder) Connect with Melanie Book a FREE Discovery Call (https://calendly.com/melaniefootedavis) Get the FREE Joy Guide ( https://app.flodesk.com/form/69017c372ab2607b9066bc9d) Grab your signed copy of Radical Love: Your Path to Freedom and Bliss (https://melaniefootedavis.myflodesk.com/rlb)

2. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Esther Bailey-Bass | One Question That Changes How You Show Up

   Melanie and Esther also explore the impact of perfectionism, fear, self-abandonment, and the pressure to have everything figured out. They remind us that we are all leaders, not because of our titles or achievements, but because of the choices we make and the conversations we shape every day. This episode is for anyone who wants to build healthier relationships, trust themselves more deeply, and lead with greater honesty, courage, and care. As you listen, consider: What’s mine to do in the relationships and spaces I’m part of? More about  Esther Bailey- Bass Esther Bailey-Bass is the founder and CEO of EBB 'n Flow Lifestyle | Leadership Coaching, LLC, where she empowers Executive Directors, Board Chairs & Teams to move beyond roles & titles to strengthen the relationships that drive mission impact. Through leadership coaching, systems facilitation & experiential learning. She helps organizations cultivate cohesive, collaborative teams and develop strong board relationships. Using tools from Organization Relationship Systems Coaching, Hogan, and Positive Intelligence, She guides leaders to alignwith their values, lead by example, and inspire others to embrace their leadership styles. I also support new and untitled leaders to discover their leadership strengths to make meaningful contributions. Esther  asserts that EVERYONE IS A LEADER, and true leadership is about more than holding a title - it's about theability to influence, lead by example, and align your actions with your core values. Authentic leaders guide and inspire others to embrace their own abilities to lead and make meaningful contributions. Connect with Esther: LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherbaileybass/) Connect with Melanie: Book a call:  (https://calendly.com/melaniefootedavis) Get your free joy guide:  (https://app.flodesk.com/form/69017c372ab2607b9066bc9d) Grab a copy of Radical Love (https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Love-Your-Freedom-Bliss/dp/1518729010)

3. 

   3 Aug 2026

   Maya Davis | Genealogy and the Stories That Bind Us

   Maya Davis has spent her career learning that history is never really about facts on a wall. It's about family, memory, and the stories we choose to carry forward. In this episode, Maya shares her path from a curious student at Howard University into her current role as director of a historic house museum on a former plantation site in Prince George's County, Maryland. She talks about the challenge ofleading in spaces that were never built with her in mind, the small moments of mentorship that shaped her career, and how she has worked to build a team that feels like family. We also talk about her lifelong love of genealogy, the stick-figure family drawings she made as a child, each one carefully named, and the sister circles that keep her grounded. Maya shares what keeps her hopeful in the work of preserving storiesthat history often tries to suppress, and the simple joys, like travel, laughter, and a good book, that keep her choosing joy. Chapters00:00 – Cultivating Team with Intention 00:47 – Intro03::05 – Travel & Cultural Experiences 05:38 –  Nature Appreciation & Learning 07:58 Celebrating Women & Culture 11:37 – Creative Collaboration & Joyful Connections 13:06 – Maya's Journey into Public History 20:12 –Serendipity and the People Who Shaped Her Journey 22:22 – The Weight of Working at a Former Plantation Site 24:22 – Genealogy and a Book That Found Its Way Home 27:11 – Childhood Creative Expression & Family Dynamics 29:34 – Importance of Family Storytelling 30:26- Creating a Supportive Work Environment 32:54 –Building a Diverse & Effective Team 37:44 – Exploring Personal Growth & Community Resources 40:41 - Value of Sister Circles 43:28 – Finding Joy in Everyday Life 48:17 –Gratitude & ConnectionMore about Maya Maya Davis is the director of Riverside House Museum on a former plantation site in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC, where her work lives within a parks and recreation department dedicated to preserving communityhistory. Her path into public history began at Howard University with an internship at the Smithsonian, followed by roles at the City Museum of Washington, DC, and the Maryland Historical Trust before she stepped into museum leadership. Her current work centers on descendant engagement, portraitcommissioning, and a permanent exhibit honoring the families once enslaved on the site she now leads. A lifelong lover of genealogy and family history, Maya was recently nominated to a retreat for women of color working in museums, libraries,and archives. Connect with Maya (https://www.instagram.com/mmeditorinchie) Connect with Melanie: Book a call (https://calendly.com/melaniefootedavis ) Get your free joy guide (https://app.flodesk.com/form/69017c372ab2607b9066bc9d ) Grab a copy of Radical Love (https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Love-Your-Freedom-Bliss/dp/1518729010)

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

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

55

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

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