Why Joy Is a Success Tool (Not a Bonus): Nourishing Your Life from the Inside Out with DJ Blatner
In this episode, I sit down with DJ Blatner, registered dietitian, author, media nutrition expert, and one of the most radiant humans I know, for a powerful conversation about why joy is not a bonus you earn after success, but a tool that actually creates it.
If you’ve been doing all the “right” things, working hard, checking the boxes, chasing goals, but still feel depleted or disconnected, this conversation is your permission slip to pause and reorient.
DJ shares the moment she realized her life looked incredibly successful on the outside, yet felt empty on the inside, and how that wake-up call led her to redefine nourishment, presence, and success itself. We explore why joy is a nutrient, how fun fuels creativity and opportunity, and why small moments of aliveness matter more than we’ve been taught.
This is a grounded, refreshing, soul-meets-real-life episode about slowing down, noticing the glimmers, and nourishing your life from the inside out.
Key insights:
• Why joy is a success tool, not a reward
• How presence amplifies creativity and opportunity
• DJ’s “Joy Hustle” and the power of noticing small glimmers
• Why fun isn’t fluff, it’s essential for sustainable success
• Single-tasking vs. multitasking and nervous system nourishment
• How to rethink nourishment starting with desire, not discipline
• The cost of hustle when it disconnects us from what we love
• Why doing less can actually create more alignment and momentum
• How joy supports health, energy, and resilience over time
Living well isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about feeling more alive while you do it. When joy leads, everything else begins to work better.
Dive deeper with us!
The conversations don’t end here, they ripple into real life.
Ways to be Supported:
• Follow DJ Blatner: @djblatner
• Explore DJ’s books and work: djblatner.com
Ways to Support the Show
Join our We Shine Well community on Substack to: Dive deeper with with guided prompts, resources, and community conversations with fellow listeners and guests to expand you
Connect with us on Instagram at @weshinewell
If you enjoy the show, I’d love your help by …
• Following or subscribe wherever you listen
• Rating + reviewing to help others find our community• Share this episode with a friend who needs permission to choose joy
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