<h2><strong>Episode 1: And Here Ya Have It – The Origins of The Contagious Joy Podcast. </strong></h2><h2><strong>Welcome to the debut episode of The Contagious Joy Podcast! In this introductory session, hosts Kim (from Oregon, USA) and Jenny (from Sydney, Australia) share the heartwarming and often hilarious story of how two families from opposite ends of the globe became "framily".</strong></h2><h2></h2>

Portland

Inside the Episode
The Fortune Cookie Prophecy: Kim reveals how a fortune cookie she received 30 years ago—stating she lived her life with "contagious joy"—became the lifelong mission and inspiration for this podcast.

A Tale of Two Dads: The hosts trace their connection back over 50 years to a chance meeting between their fathers, Chuck and Alan, in a Minneapolis motel.
The Coffee Pot Incident: Hear how a friendship was sparked when Kim’s father rescued Jenny’s father from a sad hotel dinner of "kettle-cooked" curry and introduced him to his first "American taco".

Global Adventures: From snowy Minnesota winters and frozen lakes to surprise holiday reunions in Hawaii and a wedding in Australia, the hosts reflect on the memories that bonded them as sisters.

The Mission: Kim explains why her work as a counselor inspired her to start this show: to combat a decline in joyful living and spread happiness across borders.

Key Highlights
The "Biscuits" Debate: A lighthearted look at the linguistic differences between American "cookies" and Australian "oh biscuits," inspired by the show Bluey.

International "Troublemakers": Kim recounts the "official" notice she received from Australian customs during her visit.

Joy vs. Happiness: A teaser for the deep dives to come regarding personal growth and finding light in "tricky times".
Join the Conversation
What brings you joy? We want to hear your stories!
Submit Your Story: Visit TheContagiousJoyPodcast.com and click on the "What’s Your Joy?" segment to share your moments of light with us.

Next Time: We’ll be diving into the fundamental difference between joy and happiness.