Play Deprivation + The Science of Joy

And 1 Kawaii Thing I Just Bought in Tokyo

Hi there,

When was the last time you did something just for fun?
Not to impress anyone. Not to post. Not to check a box.
But simply because it made you feel alive?

I know—the world is on fire, and this might sound like a privileged thing to focus on. But in the midst of devastation and uncertainty, joy (and the pursuit of it) is a right we all deserve to reclaim.

I’m the kind of person who will throw myself into work, get deep into whatever’s in front of me, and rarely prioritize fun. Then I found myself at a mood board night I co-hosted with my friend, writer Amanda Fairbanks, sitting next to women I admire, one of them being Ingrid Fetell Lee, author of Joyful. We were cutting up magazines, gluing tears onto paper, laughing like kids, and suddenly, it hit me.

That night, I was playing. And I realized just how play deprived I’d become.
As a mother, “play” for the last 14 years has meant centering my children, not my own needs. I realized that if I want more joy, I have to figure out how to invite more play into my life.

So I asked Ingrid to join me on the podcast.
This week, we talk about the science of joy: what it is, how it works, and why we need more of it. Because joy, as it turns out, just doesn’t “happen to us”. It’s something we can actually design. You can seek it out. Curate it. Protect it. Make space for it, even in the middle of chaos.

One of the most liberating ideas she shared was that we need to lower the stakes of play. TO ALL THE PERFECTIONISTS OUT THERE: make the bad cake. Paint with no expectations. Play just for yourself, with no pressure to post it .

This is great advice! But play is just one layer.

We also explore abundance, not just in energy or color, but in money. Why women are conditioned to shrink our desires. And how cultivating joy can expand our sense of worth, confidence, and enoughness.

🎧 Available now on Apple, Spotify, and Youtube
💌 Full audio, video and + weekly episodes for Paid Subscribers in our Podcast page

This conversation felt especially resonant as I write this from Japan.