One Million Years Of Joy
Welcome to The One Million Years of Joy show. I am Dr. Andreea Vanacker, author, entrepreneur, speaker, brain tumor survivor and brain science lover, and my purpose is to spread more joy in this world. Join us weekly to listen to interviews with global guests who share their stories about finding and spreading joy, along with insights from my research on joy, purpose and holistic wellbeing. Help us spread the joy and tell us what brings you joy by taking part in our global study: https://www.andreeavanacker.com/joy
Episodes

3 days ago
Bold living with Leigh Burgess (USA)
3 days ago
3 days ago
What do boldness and fear have in common?
Discover Leigh Burgess’s answer along with insights to push new boundaries to live a more fulfilling life. As the CEO and Founder of Bold Industries Group, and author of two books, Leigh helps individuals catalyze positive change. Discover key insights from her latest book, The Bold Leader, so you can live and lead with more clarity and courage.

Tuesday Nov 11, 2025
Ending poverty with love, with Aidan Uttinger (Brazil)
Tuesday Nov 11, 2025
Tuesday Nov 11, 2025
Aidan Uttinger is a visionary entrepreneur who founded The World’s Greatest Experiment, a global movement inspired by the kindness of a Filipino family who once took him in during a tough chapter. Originally from New Zealand, Aidan’s journey spans from adversity and reinvention to building projects that harness love and human energy to end poverty.

Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Happier by design with Josh Perry (USA)
Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Tuesday Nov 04, 2025
Josh Perry, a former BMX athlete and brain tumor survivor, shares his journey of adopting a mindset of being "at cause" rather than "at effect," emphasizing ownership and empowerment in life's circumstances.
He highlights the importance of prioritizing health, both physical and mental, and shares insights on metabolic health, stress regulation, and the interconnectedness of the mind and body.
The conversation also touches on the role of joy, authenticity, and empathy in personal growth and resilience, with Josh offering practical advice on setting boundaries, avoiding burnout, and living a fulfilling life.
#mindset #health #empowerment #metabolichealth #stress #regulation #joy #authenticity #empathy #resilience #personalgrowth

Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Building a Legacy of Empowerment with Noella Coursaris Musunka (UAE)
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Noella Coursaris Musunka shares her inspiring journey from a challenging childhood in the Congo to becoming a successful model, philanthropist, and founder of the Malaika Foundation. Noëlla has received several awards including the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s 100 years award, BBC’s 100 Influential and Inspirational Women, 100 Most Influential Africans from New African magazine. She offers valuable advice for aspiring philanthropists and reflects on the ingredients of joy and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
Celebrate every win with Stephanie Sylvestre (USA)
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
Tuesday Oct 21, 2025
It's 2000x more difficult!
These were the words from Stephanie Sylvestre about her experience in launching her AI start-up. Yes, entrepreneurship comes with many challenges, but also many joys.
Stephanie shares her journey from managing public sector programs to co-founding AvatarBuddy, an AI venture focused on innovation and empathy. She discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of mental health, and the power of human-centric leadership. Discover her recipe for joy and why she has an unwavering belief in human nature.

Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
From Surfing to Sustainable Leadership with Dennis Hindsberg (Denmark)
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Tuesday Oct 14, 2025
Dennis Hindsberg, is the CEO of Plandent and Chairperson of Dental Health Without Borders.
Discover how his passion for surfing led to his journey of integrating sustainability into the dental industry. Under his leadership, Plandent achieved B Corp certification, setting a benchmark for environmental and social responsibility. Dennis discusses the importance of human-centric leadership, emphasizing the need to empower individuals to find purpose and joy in their work.

Tuesday Oct 07, 2025
The Joy of Belonging with Kira Miller Fabregat (Chile)
Tuesday Oct 07, 2025
Tuesday Oct 07, 2025
Kira Miller Fabregat is a global leader in diversity, inclusion, and adaptive leadership. Having lived in nine countries and across multiple cultures, Kira shares how her multicultural upbringing shaped her purpose and her deep understanding of human connection.
In this interview we explore how joy and gratitude are foundational to belonging, why psychological safety fuels inclusion and innovation, and how unconscious biases can be transformed into conscious leadership. Kira also opens up about motherhood, purpose, and love — and how these life experiences have reshaped her views on leadership and joy.
This episode is a celebration of humanity, inclusion, and the courage to put in the inner work to create meaningful change, in ourselves, our organizations, and the world.
#Leadership #Inclusion #JoyfulLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #PurposeDriven#DiversityAndInclusion #FutureOfWork #HumanConnection

Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Joy-centric cultures with Mark Beliczky (USA)
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Leadership Luminary Mark Beliczky explores how leaders can create organizations rooted in trust, authenticity, and joy. From transforming toxic cultures into thriving workplaces to sparking moments of joy through simple, human gestures, Mark illustrates why joy is not just a feel-good concept but a true competitive advantage. The episode dives into lessons on listening, family-inspired leadership, AI’s role in the future of work, and how leaders can foster environments where people love to show up, grow, and contribute.

Tuesday Sep 23, 2025
Joyspan: Reframing Aging with Dr. Kerry Burnight (USA)
Tuesday Sep 23, 2025
Tuesday Sep 23, 2025
Dr. Kerry Burnight, discusses her new book, JoySpan, a New York Times bestseller, which reframes the concept of aging by emphasizing the importance of joy and well-being over mere longevity. She introduces the JoySpan matrix, consisting of four essential elements: grow, connect, adapt, and give, which are crucial for thriving in later life. The discussion also touches on the unique challenges faced by women in aging, the role of technology and AI in elder care, and the significance of intergenerational connections. Dr. Burnight shares practical advice for enhancing joy and purpose in life, making this a valuable resource for anyone interested in aging gracefully and meaningfully.
00:00 Redefining Aging: The Concept of JoySpan
05:04 The JoySpan Matrix: Four Key Elements
10:23 The Importance of Connection and Adaptation
15:51 Women and Aging: Unique Challenges and Strategies
20:29 Navigating Caregiving and Aging Parents
26:12 The Role of Technology in Elder Care
30:39 Creating Intergenerational Connections
36:05 Recipes for Joy: Practical Tips for All Ages
Keywords: JoySpan, aging, well-being, social connection, growth, purpose, intergenerational, mental health, Alzheimer's, gerontology

Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
The Art of Resilience with Luis Velasquez (USA)
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
What if resilience isn’t extraordinary, but something you can train every day?
That’s the life’s work of Luis Velasquez, HBR and Fast Company contributor, Stanford University facilitator, and author of Ordinary Resilience.
Luis is not only an avid endurance athlete who has completed over 100 marathons and ultra events—he’s also a brain tumor survivor who has turned adversity into a framework for growth.
From coaching top executives to writing and running, he has distilled a formula for resilience and joy that anyone can apply when facing life’s toughest moments.



