{"podcast":{"title":"Joy Lab |  navigate stress, anxiety, & depression with the science of joy","slug":"joy-lab-navigate-depression-anxiety-stress-with-the-science-of-joy-3565440","podcast_index_feed_id":3565440,"rss_url":"https://joylabpodcast.libsyn.com/rss","website_url":"https://www.joylab.coach/","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/a/9/9/5/a995083a8723a3bb88c4a68c3ddbc4f2/JoyLab_Cover_Art-20230731-f6j50qqxtm.png","author":"Pathways North 501(c)(3)","episode_count":277,"summary":"Joy Lab isn't your typical happiness podcast. We focus on navigating mental health experiences like depression, anxiety, stress, grief, and burnout with the science of joy. You can expect a blend of the best cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, positive psychology practices, stress management techniques, and mindfulness skills. Each month we focus on building one Element of Joy such as gratitude, self-compassion, confidence, self-acceptance, humility, and self-connection. It's a holistic approach to mental health that's refreshingly free of finger-wagging and toxic positivity and full of practical, whole-person support that's empowering and actually helps. Joy Lab is hosted by two leaders in mental health, Henry Emmons, MD (integrative psychiatrist) and Aimee Prasek, PhD (mental health researcher). You'll probably find this podcast most useful if any of these feel familiar: * You feel caught in cycles of worry, anxiety, or panic attacks. * Stress has settled into your body, with tension, fatigue, and irritation showing up too often. * The news of the world is getting under your skin, affecting your mood and focus more than you'd like to admit. * Day-to-day life feels too…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-29T16:17:18.011774+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/joy-lab-navigate-depression-anxiety-stress-with-the-science-of-joy-3565440"},"episode":{"title":"Self-Focused vs. Task-Focused Attention & How Great Things Are Done by a Series of Small Things [277]","slug":"self-focused-vs-task-focused-attention-how-great-things-are-done-by-a-series-of-small-things-277","published_at":"2026-07-29T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/joy-lab-navigate-depression-anxiety-stress-with-the-science-of-joy-3565440/self-focused-vs-task-focused-attention-how-great-things-are-done-by-a-series-of-small-things-277","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/joy-lab-navigate-depression-anxiety-stress-with-the-science-of-joy-3565440","url":"https://www.joylab.coach/podcasts/joy-lab-podcast/episodes/2149235377","audio_url":"https://pdrl.fm/f0b7bd/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/joylabpodcast/277._Self-Focused_vs._Task-Focused_Attention__How_Great_Things_Are_Done_by_a_Series_of_Small_Things.mp3?dest-id=2775224","summary":"This final episode of our Confidence series ties everything together: the inner work of accepting discomfort and self-doubt, defusing from self-critical thoughts, and clarifying values now becomes the foundation for outer action. You can build confidence through the daily practice of taking small committed actions, again and again, in alignment with your values, even when you don't feel ready. We'll dig into strategies like psychological flexibility: the ability to be present with thoughts, feelings, and sensations without letting them stop you from doing what matters. With that flexibility, we can shift from self-focused attention (consumed by what others are thinking, picking apart your own performance in real time) to task-focused attention. Self-focused attention takes the prefrontal cortex partially offline and redirects computing power to threat-detection and self-monitoring. Shifting attention to the task brings it back online. You think more clearly. You respond more flexibly. You perform closer to the level you're actually capable of. The practice is simple to describe and genuinely hard to do: when you notice self-focused attention taking over, pause, ask \"What does this moment call for?\" and do the next best thing, imperfectly. You'll get pulled back into self-monitoring. That's okay. That's actually the practice. That's where the real strength is built. About: The Joy Lab Podcast is an Ambie-nominated podcast that blends science and soul to help you cope better with stress, anxiety, and depression. It's hosted by integrative psychiatrist Dr. Henry Emmons and holistic mental health researcher Dr. Aimee Prasek. The podcast is best paired with the Joy Lab Program (get your 7-day free trial!) . Bonus: spread some joy and keep this podcast ad-free by donating (J…","meta_description":"This final episode of our Confidence series ties everything together: the inner work of accepting discomfort and self-doubt, defusing from self-critical t…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1307,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/joy-lab-navigate-depression-anxiety-stress-with-the-science-of-joy-3565440/episodes/self-focused-vs-task-focused-attention-how-great-things-are-done-by-a-series-of-small-things-277/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/joy-lab-navigate-depression-anxiety-stress-with-the-science-of-joy-3565440/self-focused-vs-task-focused-attention-how-great-things-are-done-by-a-series-of-small-things-277.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}