Joy Over Hustle, Every Damn Time with M. Shannon Hernandez

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In episode 159 of The Empowered & Embodied Show, Kim Romain and Louise Neil are joined by the magnetic and mission-driven M. Shannon Hernandez—founder of the Joyful Business Revolution—for a real-talk conversation about redefining success, saying no to burnout, and building businesses that are fueled by joy, not pressure.

From the streets of NYC to sacred silence in Bali, Shannon shares what it truly means to live and lead from a place of nothing to prove, nothing to lose. We unpack hustle culture, the art of slowing the f*ck down, and what happens when you finally give yourself permission to stop proving and start living.

This episode is a love letter to sensitive souls, multi-passionate creators, and anyone who's ever been told they have to grind to matter. Spoiler: You don’t. And you were never meant to.

“If it ain’t joyful, we ain’t doing that sh*t.” – M. Shannon Hernandez

Key Takeaways

• Why joy must be a non-negotiable in business
• How to reclaim your time, energy, and creative spark
• The truth about burnout, sensitivity, and proving energy
• Why “less but better” is the new marketing strategy
• How to stop consuming and start creating
• The power of showing up as a full, messy, magnificent human
• Why being human is a viable business plan

Key Moments

00:00 – Welcome and joy-filled intros
04:46 – The mantra that changed everything
07:00 – Choosing presence over panic
10:18 – Visioning from a place of alignment
13:28 – Business by the seasons (and the fire of Aries!)
17:36 – ASAP = As Slow As Possible
22:43 – Rubber time and redefining productivity
26:40 – Pinterest vs. Creating: the trap of inspiration hoarding
30:24 – Content paralysis and proving energy
33:57 – Why you don’t need more content to grow your business
36:49 – Letting go of bro marketing
39:32 – Showing up as a human, not a strategy
42:51 – Gunk, goo, and getting rid of what’s not yours
44:21 – The wisdom is already within you

Connect with Shannon:

Website: https://joyfulbusinessrevolution.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mshannonhernandez/

Join a circle of changemakers committed to leading with purpose, presence and ease inside Kim's Rising Visionaries mentorship program.

Reclaim your career and confidence during midlife through Louise's Rise & Redefine program.

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