Joy Before Fear

12. Annette Kennedy: “Recover, Adapt, Evolve” — Ankylosing Spondylitis, Vegan Strength, and Stepping onto the Bodybuilding Stage

In this episode, Stacey shares a conversation she had in November of 2025 with Annette Kennedy. Annette shares her “Fit for Life” approach to health, movement, and her athletic goals. In this conversation, we learn what it took to turn the dial from daily survival mode into thriving while living with ankylosing spondylitis. Annette was generous in sharing her story and candid about the ups and downs of navigating a chronic health condition while holding down jobs, being a mom, being a wife, and being a community builder, all while continuing to fight for her athletic identity. She shares how becoming vegan helped turn the dial from survive to thrive, how her quality of life changed, and what it was like to participate in her first bodybuilding competition in 2025 at the age of 50. This is a grounded and honest conversation about health, resilience, and athletic identity. 🏃‍♀️💪 Curious about coaching with Joy Before Fear? Schedule a free consultation call [https://my.practicebetter.io/#/65e4e825852f594c02a9d79e/bookings?s=65e6350c4d5b7fcf8eb5ff31&step=date]or send Stacey a note [https://www.joybeforefear.com/contact]. coaching@joybeforefear.com 🎙️ Have a story to share? Interested in being a guest on the Joy Before Fear podcast? Send Stacey a note [https://www.joybeforefear.com/contact]. coaching@joybeforefear.com 🌱 Curious about The Vegan Gym? Learn more here: https://www.thevegangym.com [https://www.thevegangym.com] Be Bold. Put Your Health First. You Got This. Choose Joy Before Fear. https://www.joybeforefear.com⁠ [https://www.joybeforefear.com] Instagram: @joybeforefear

11. Angel Mathis: "Biology Reacting to an Injustice", Lessons from the Pacific Crest Trail, the Power of Financial Resilience, and Nurse Wealth Coaching

In this episode, Angel Mathis shares lessons from hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail and her path from nursing burnout to financial freedom and resilience. She’s a powerful example of what happens when we step into our own power, build our resilience, and then turn around to help others do the same. We talk about athletic identity as something rooted in choice, and how sport and time on trail can create both simplicity and agency. Angel reflects on how her experience in nursing shaped her approach to well-being and led her to become a nurse wealth coach. If you’d like to connect with Angel or learn more about the work she’s doing with nurses, here’s where to find her: Nurses Investing for Wealth Teaching nurses to fund their future with small portions of their paycheck so they can work less (or retire early) if they want to. 🌐 Visit the Website: learn.nursesinvesting.com [https://learn.nursesinvesting.com/] 📱 DM Angel on Instagram: @nursesinvestingforwealth [https://www.instagram.com/nursesinvestingforwealth/] 👉 Interested in Athlete Health Resilience Coaching? ⁠Contact me directly [https://www.joybeforefear.com/contact]⁠ or ⁠schedule a free consultation call [https://my.practicebetter.io/#/65e4e825852f594c02a9d79e/bookings?s=65e6350c4d5b7fcf8eb5ff31&step=date]⁠. Be Bold. Put Your Health First. You Got This. Choose Joy Before Fear. ⁠www.joybeforefear.com⁠ [https://www.joybeforefear.com]

10. Monday Mindset Snack: Rest, Recalibrate, and Return

🎧 Monday Mindset Snack: Rest. Recalibrate. Return. This week’s Monday Mindset Snack is about rest— the reminder that every living thing needs recovery to adapt and grow, including you. Rest isn’t weakness — it’s biology. Every living thing needs recovery to grow, adapt, and thrive — and that includes you. In this episode, Stacey shares three connected mindset snacks: Rest — Needing rest is not a failure; it’s a necessity. Learn to recognize what kind of rest you need and catch it where you can. Recalibrate — Being a leader of your own life requires being honest about what is sustainable for you. Slow down, zoom out, and make intentional adjustments in training and in life. Return — Returning after rest, illness, or time away from training isn’t about quickly jumping back to 100%. It’s about rebuilding with alignment, support, and purpose so you can sustain longevity in sport and life. ✨ Rest. Recalibrate. Return. ✨ Be Bold. Put Your Health First. You Got This. Choose Joy Before Fear. 👉 Interested in Athlete Health Resilience Coaching? Contact me directly [https://www.joybeforefear.com/contact] or schedule a free consultation call [https://my.practicebetter.io/#/65e4e825852f594c02a9d79e/bookings?s=65e6350c4d5b7fcf8eb5ff31&step=date].

9. Monday Mindset Snack: Core Values, Seasons, and Capacity

Monday Mindset Snack Episode: the weekly mini-series from Joy Before Fear. Stacey shares three quick mindset snacks to help you start your week in the Joy Before Fear way — grounded, intentional, and connected to what truly matters. ✨ Core Values — Your values are your foundation — the why behind your goals and choices. When your training and life goals reflect what truly matters to you, everything feels more purposeful and sustainable. Revisit them often. They evolve with you. Build a living, breathing relationship with them — not just a list on paper. 🌿 Seasons — We move through seasons in life, sport, and energy. Honoring the season you’re in helps you plan and train from where you are vs. where you wish you were. 🔥 Capacity — Your capacity is dynamic and shifts with your physical, emotional, relational, mental and other life loads. Be real about what’s sustainable right now. You can "Be the person who....", no matter what your capacity is. 👉 Interested in Athlete Health Resilience Coaching? Contact me directly [https://www.joybeforefear.com/contact] or schedule a consult call [https://my.practicebetter.io/#/65e4e825852f594c02a9d79e/bookings?s=65e6350c4d5b7fcf8eb5ff31&step=date]. Be Bold. Put Your Health First. You Got This. Choose Joy Before Fear.

8. Monday Mindset Snack: Be Bold, Stand in Your Power, and Shine Your Light/Be the Lighthouse

This Monday Mindset Snack continues the weekly mini-series from Joy Before Fear. Stacey shares three quick mindset snacks to help you start your week grounded, strong, and radiant: Be Bold — Boldness is a daily practice of showing up in your truth — through your body, your voice, your choices, and your self-talk. It’s not about being loud or reckless; it’s about being real, compassionate, and aligned, even when your voice shakes. Stand in Your Power — It isn’t about control; it’s about connection — first with yourself, then with others. It grows through consistency: speaking your truth, setting boundaries, honoring your body, and remembering you are your own source of strength. Shine Your Light / Be the Lighthouse — When you live boldly and stand in your power, your light naturally shines brighter. Be the steady, imperfect light that helps guide others through their storms — and allow others to guide you when your own light needs tending. We thrive and shine together. 👉 Interested in Athlete Health Resilience Coaching? Contact me directly [https://www.joybeforefear.com/contact] or schedule a consult call [https://my.practicebetter.io/#/65e4e825852f594c02a9d79e/bookings?s=65e6350c4d5b7fcf8eb5ff31&step=date]. Be Bold. Put Your Health First. You Got This. Choose Joy Before Fear.