Today’s guest makes me joyful. That’s because it’s Shemaiah Gonzalez, author of the Substack and soon to be book, Undaunted Joy. And true to the Substack, it really was a joy speaking with her. I first learned of her work through past guest Joseph Massey and I couldn’t be more grateful. And like all good podcasts, we start with alcohol. Shemaiah has known for a long time that she wanted to be a writer but her early ideas of what that meant were very different from what she has found herself doing. She started off hoping to be an academic writer, but that’s just not what God had planned for her. One thing He DID have planned for her was an inclusion of one of her works in Pope Francis’ book, Sharing The Wisdom of Time. She tells me why it’s important to get excited about trash bags and how she started her Substack, Undaunted Joy that will become a book in the not too distant future.
Shemaiah and I discuss writing to help with depression and the difference between happiness and joy. I also uncover her fear of capybaras and how a British Abbott is connected to The Night Stalker. Give Shemaiah a follow on X @shemaiahng and on Instagram @shemaiahg. Check out Undaunted Joy on Substack and look for Undaunted Joy the book in 2025. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on X & Instagram. Subscribe to us everywhere. Pick up merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Support our coffee habit at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And let’s get joyful with Shemaiah Gonzalez on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.
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