When Joy Feels Risky: A Biblical and Neuroscience Perspective with Nicole Zasowski

Joy doesn’t always feel easy—it often feels vulnerable, even risky. In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, Amy Petersen sits down with author and therapist Nicole Zasowski to talk about her new Bible study Daring Joy: What Six Women in the Bible Teach Us About the Power of Celebration When It Feels Risky, Complicated, and Even Impossible.

Nicole shares how her own seasons of loss, transition, and disappointment led her to a deeper understanding of joy—not as a reward for when life goes well, but as a practice we can step into, even in life’s hardest seasons. 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode with Nicole Zasowski:

Why joy can seem like one of our most vulnerable emotions
The difference between gratitude and thanksgiving (and why speaking it aloud doubles your joy!)
Simple practices that retrain your brain toward joy
What six women of Scripture—Eve, Sarah, Miriam, Mary, Elizabeth, and Mary Magdalene—teach us about daring joy in the middle of uncertainty
And more!

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Daring Joy: What Six Women in the Bible Teach Us About the Power of Celebration When It Feels Risky, Complicated, and Even Impossible by Nicole Zasowski
What If It’s Wonderful?: Release Your Fears, Choose Joy, and Find the Courage to Celebrate by Nicole Zasowski
From Lost to Found: Giving Up What You Think You Want for What Will Set You Free by Nicole Zasowski

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