Story is our brain’s first language.
And our minds fill in a story’s blanks long before the facts catch up.
Before we consciously interpret an event, our nervous system has already scanned for threat and sent that information to our brains, which in turn builds a narrative about what it means. We’re constantly interpreting events, and not always accurately.
Research has shown that negative information carries more psychological weight than positive information. That bias isn’t a flaw–it’s survival wiring.
But what protects us biologically can distort us relationally.
Unexamined stories shape our leadership. They shape how we interpret feedback. They shape how we respond to conflict. They shape culture. They shape trust.
Which is why reclaiming “storyteller” as a skill set matters.
Good storytelling connects to our capacity for joy, along with our ability to connect to what is truly authentic for us, which plays a role in the stories we tell ourselves and others.
Today’s guest digs into how to become a better storyteller—with yourself and with others—why joy is a skill that helps regulate our state and expand capacity, and how connecting to our authenticity is essential to telling good stories.
Shabnam Mogharabi is an entertainment executive, producer, and New York Times bestselling author with 20 years of experience in mission-driven media. She is currently the founder of The Joy Brigade, a boutique production company, and also serves as Executive Director at Soul Boom, which creates media to ignite a spiritual revolution. Prior to that, Shabnam was an EVP at film company Participant and also co-founded the uplifting content studio SoulPancake with actor Rainn Wilson, which she ran as CEO for nearly a decade, amassing one billion video views. She has a certificate in positive psychology and believes joy is transformational.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
- Why joy is not about bypassing, but actually helps us navigate and weather our hardest days
- The difference between experiencing the emotion of happiness and cultivating the tools and practices of joy
- Three tools Shabnam returns to over and over in her own life to reset her perspective
- Why we have to play the long game with joy practices through consistency and time
- Key elements that make for an impactful story, and why you don’t need to be an artist or writer to hone your storytelling skills
- How Shabnam built and sustains the trust at the foundation of her 17-year creative partnership with Rainn Wilson
Learn more about Shabnam Mogharabi:
Learn more about Rebecca:
- rebeccaching.com
- Work With Rebecca
- The Unburdened Leader on Substack
- Sign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader Email
Resources:
- Soul Boom Workbook: Spiritual Tools for Modern Living
- The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett
- Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl
- The Goonies
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- When Harry Met Sally
- Spaceballs
Favorite Moments
“Joy isn’t about ignoring the hard—it’s about navigating it.”
“Joy is a set of tools.”
“Our brains are wired to look for the negative—but we can train them to see the good.”
“Happiness is an emotion. Joy is a practice.”
“You’re not chasing a feeling—you’re building a skillset.”
“The hardest part of joy is the practice.”
“We don’t have a joy problem—we have a consistency problem.”
“Small practices done consistently change your brain.”
“Nature, music, and laughter can reset your entire state.”
“You don’t need an epic story—you need a true one.”
“The more specific the story, the more universal it becomes.”
“Everyone is a storyteller.”
“Stop trying to be epic—start being real.”
“Rejection is God’s protection.”
“Success is no longer what the world says—it’s what feels aligned.”
“We need less self-care and more care for others.”
“Identity matters—but so does remembering we’re human together.”
“Leadership isn’t ‘follow me’—it’s ‘how can I help?’”
“Joy expands your capacity to face the hard—not avoid it.”
Conversation Highlights
02:00 — Joy in a Heavy World
Why joy is not bypassing pain—and how it actually helps us face difficult realities more effectively.
05:00 — The Science of Joy
Understanding how our brains are wired for negativity—and how joy practices rebalance that.
08:00 — Why Joy Gets Rejected
How cultural norms and vulnerability make joy harder to hold than we think.
12:00 — Joy vs Happiness
A powerful distinction: happiness as an emotion vs joy as a practice and perspective.
18:00 — Practicing Joy (Not Waiting for It)
Why joy is something you build—not something you stumble into.
22:00 — Simple Practices That Actually Work
Nature, music, laughter—and why they’re so effective from a neuroscience perspective.
28:00 — The Real Challenge: Consistency
Why most people don’t experience the benefits of joy (hint: they stop too soon).
32:00 — Gratitude (The Long Game)
Why gratitude works—but only when practiced consistently over time.
36:00 — Rewiring Your Relationship with Joy
Shifting from chasing happiness to developing a skillset.
42:00 — Storytelling & Identity
How storytelling connects us—and why everyone is already a storyteller.
48:00 — The EPIC Framework for Storytelling
Elevation, Pride, Insight, Connection—and how these emotions move people.
52:00 — Why People Get Stuck Telling Their Story
The biggest mistake: trying to be “epic” instead of being real.
56:00 — Letting Go of Achievement-Based Identity
Decoupling self-worth from success and redefining fulfillment.
1:00:00 — Social Media, Comparison & Mental Noise
Why curating your environment is essential for clarity and alignment.
1:05:00 — The SoulPancake Story
Following a “long shot” intuition—and how it turned into a 17-year partnership.
1:12:00 — Building Long-Term Creative Trust
Shared values, complementary skills, and the ability to detach from ego.
1:18:00 — Feedback, Trust & Leadership
Why honest communication and inner work are essential for strong partnerships.
1:22:00 — Joy, Storytelling & Human Connection
How storytelling can expand empathy and reconnect us to humanity.
1:27:00 — Letting Go of “Lightning in a Bottle”
Why not every project needs to recreate your biggest success.
1:32:00 — Soul Boom & Modern Spirituality
Reintroducing spirituality (without religion) as a tool for navigating suffering.
1:38:00 — Meaning in Suffering
How perspective and connection can transform even the hardest experiences.
1:42:00 — Redefining Leadership
From authority and control to service, empathy, and community.
Closing Reflection
This conversation reframes joy in a way that feels honest and grounded:
👉 Joy is not about pretending things are okay
👉 It’s about building the capacity to face what’s not
It also challenges two common traps:
- Waiting to feel better before doing something
- Thinking small practices don’t matter
Instead, it invites a different approach:
- Practice before you feel it
- Stay consistent, even when it’s simple
Because over time:
What feels small… becomes transformative.
💬 Reflection Prompt
What’s one small joy practice you can return to consistently—even when life feels heavy?
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