On this powerful episode of Chasing Joy, Spencer, Bryan and Wayne sit with someone whose transformation has unfolded right in front of them… Spencer’s daughter, Brittany Phillips. Brittany opens up about her journey through addiction, family chaos and the difficult work of rebuilding a self rooted in honesty, vulnerability and contentment.

She shares how recovery helped her break old patterns, confront hard truths and discover a deeper sense of contentment than she’s ever known. The conversation is heartfelt, sometimes funny, and always real… touching on forgiveness, identity, the 12 Steps, and the courage it takes to begin again.

Whether you’re in your own season of struggle or looking for grounded inspiration, Brittany’s story offers hope, clarity and the reminder that joy can grow in even the most fragile places.

Tune in.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Chasing Joy. In this episode, we sit down again with the luminous Shelby Figueroa… healer, musician, and one of the few people who can drop a room’s blood pressure with a single song.

She comes back to dig even deeper into the real meaning of self care… not the commercial version we’re handed, but the kind that pulls us back into our bodies, our creativity, and our connection with each other. Together, we explore why the word health carries so much baggage, how creativity can become a lifeline, and why sharing something you’ve made can feel like an act of courage.

Shelby also reveals her new Creative Circle — an open space for music, poetry, drawing, and anything else that brings people back to themselves. It’s adult show and tell, but with soul.

This conversation moves from laughter to honesty to those moments where something slows down and everyone remembers what it means to be human. If you’ve been feeling disconnected… overwhelmed… or stuck in the “I’ll get healthy tomorrow” loop, this episode is a gentle doorway back to joy.

Tune in, sit with us, and let Shelby’s presence remind you that self care isn’t a task list… it’s an invitation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In “Fragile Future,” Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne reflect on the season’s biggest themes... from healing and purpose to the messy beauty of uncertainty. They unpack why not knowing often feels harder than bad news, and how anxiety, control, and the endless what-ifs keep us stuck in survival mode.

Through humor, honesty, and real-life reflection, the crew explores how awe, curiosity, and mindful pauses can help us meet change with creativity and peace.

If you’ve ever struggled to stay grounded when life feels unpredictable, this conversation is your reminder that even in chaos, joy — and a little grace — are still within reach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another episode of Chasing Joy.

Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne sit down with Dr. Tipu Khan... a family physician from Ventura County who recently returned from Gaza after volunteering as an ER doctor in the middle of an active war zone.

What he shares isn’t easy to hear... but it’s real. Tipu talks about the conversations he had with his family before leaving... the letters he wrote to his children in case he didn’t make it home... and what it means to step into a place where even hospitals aren’t safe.

Through his firsthand stories, we hear about the staggering level of trauma unfolding every day... and the small, human moments that somehow keep people going. Children laughing and playing at the water truck. A wedding that fills a tent city with music. A stranger offering a warm meal to tired doctors.

This conversation moves through heavy, deeply human themes... the purpose of advocacy in medicine, the privilege of safety and stability, and the struggle to process suffering once you’ve seen it up close. Dr. Khan also shares his perspective on how narratives are shaped from afar... and how, even in the darkest places, simple acts of love and connection can begin to restore faith in humanity.

On the Ground in Gaza is a raw, unguarded look at what it means to stay human amid chaos... and a reminder that healing—personal and collective—often begins with small steps... taken with great love.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Chasing Joy! In this episode, Spencer, Wayne, and Bryan revisit a long-lost conversation that became legend in their archives—the infamous “Diamonds and Measuring Sticks.”

What begins as playful banter quickly unfolds into one of the show’s most profound discussions: how our perspective shapes our reality, how our “measuring sticks” define what we value, and how shifting our view—even slightly—can change everything.

Bryan introduces the metaphor of the “joy diamond,” a lens through which every facet of life refracts a different truth. Wayne brings it down to earth with practical tools like breathwork, presence, and curiosity—reminding us that transformation starts with a single pause. Spencer challenges both with his trademark skepticism, grounding the philosophy in real-world struggle: bills, responsibility, and the chaos of everyday life.

Together they explore how we evolve, how to find serenity in the middle of crisis, and why joy is less about perfection and more about perspective.

A conversation on awareness, sustainability of the soul, and the courage to re-measure what truly matters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this heartfelt episode of Chasing Joy, Spencer, Bryan, and Wayne welcome singer-songwriter and music therapist Shelby Figueroa, whose journey from nursing to healing through music is as moving as the songs she writes.

Shelby opens up about losing her mother while in nursing school, discovering songwriting as a way to process grief, and the profound moment she realized her soul was “dying” inside a career that no longer aligned with her values. Through stories of courage, self-discovery, and connection, she shares how leaving the safety of a “sensible” path led her toward a life of purpose—and how music became both her own medicine and a bridge to heal others.

With her ukulele in hand, Shelby gives the hosts (and all of us) a firsthand experience of the calm, presence, and emotion she brings to hospital rooms every day—where music can ease anxiety, unlock memory, and even spark miraculous awakenings.

From laughter about “death-metal therapy” to tears over the power of song, this episode is a beautiful reminder that joy often arrives when we quiet the noise, follow what feels alive, and allow ourselves to be instruments of healing.

Links to Shelby's Music:

Amazon

Spotify

Apple Music

For more information about music therapy, you can contact Shelby at Shelbymusictherapist@gmail.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Chasing Joy! In this episode, Spencer, Wayne, and Bryan sit down with Doug Marone, whose inspiring journey from chasing career success to embracing philanthropy has completely reshaped his outlook on joy and fulfillment.

After years of 80-hour workweeks and corporate achievement, a single moment at a friend’s funeral, and two chance encounters at a charity event, set Doug on a new path. He went on to co-found the Ride for Autism Foundation, spending nearly two decades raising funds and awareness for families affected by autism. What started as an effort to give back became a transformative lesson in perspective, gratitude, and genuine connection.

Through candid stories and plenty of humor, Doug reflects on how giving to others fed his own soul, why joy requires daily intention, and how even a simple smile can change the course of someone’s day. The conversation explores the power of gratitude, the challenge of slowing down, and the truth that fulfillment isn’t found in more... but in meaning.

It’s a warm, thoughtful, and inspiring conversation that reminds us: sometimes joy isn’t something to chase... it’s something to share.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Chasing Joy, musician (Beware of Darkness) and author (Thank God for Depression) Kyle Nicolaides, joins us alongside SoCal Sound host Hillary Gordon to explore what it really means to chase joy.

Kyle opens up about how depression and anxiety ended his rock career—touring with the Smashing Pumpkins, performing on Conan, topping charts—yet became the doorway to healing, spirituality, and self-compassion. From ayahuasca journeys and silent retreats to confronting early trauma, he reframes depression not as a curse, but as a messenger pointing toward liberation.

Alongside Hillary’s grounded wisdom, we unpack:

• Why you can’t hate yourself into change
• How trauma gets stuck in the body (and how to release it)
• The difference between external success and inner freedom
• Why joy is often found in letting go, not adding more

Kyle also teases his next book, Thank God for Anxiety, and the spiritual practices behind it.

This is a conversation about healing, compassion, and finding joy in the very places we try to avoid.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.