There is so much joy in being an amateur. It's a word that often has a negative connotation attached, but there is far more to this word than we realise. It doesn't just mean "unskilled" as many have come to believe.

Once you reframe this word in your mind, there's advice within this episode that has been game changer for me when I approach any new project, any new hobby, or any new skill I want to learn.

I hope this advice will be releasing and empowering for you too!

Also, there’s a chance to win a giveaway inspired by recent topics. All the details are in the first few minutes of the episode, and you can enter on Instagram @carryconfetti 🎉

Love,

Darcie

PS - There won't be a new episode for a couple weeks, while I focus on a few big things in my own calendar. More info shared at the end of the episode. I'll be back soon though :)

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

What do "grandma hobbies" and therapy techniques like EMDR have in common? In this episode, we'll talk about the research and the intentional rest that old school hobbies are bringing young people that are overly saturated by a digital world.

To sit down with a creative project, get your hands messy, and create something tangible is beneficial to your mental health in a number of ways. I've even seen the real impact in my own life when I set time aside for projects like embroidery, sewing, weaving, and gardening.

Today, I'm also joined by my dear friend Maree Beaven, who is the "Queen of Crochet". She'll tell you about the role that crochet and other hands-on projects have played in her life and in her community work she regularly does with people of all ages in South Auckland, New Zealand.

Hope you enjoy this conversation!

Love,

Darcie

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Why the sudden trend towards an "analogue" life where people are filling bags with easy art kits, decks of cards, polaroid cameras, and more?

Well, our brains our facing digital fatigue and something tactile in our hands is helping people around the world reconnect with their physical world and feel in control of something.

Crafts help us cope. Busy hands help quiet a busy mind.

In this episode, I'll tell you about some research I've discovered and also chat through all the mental benefits of working with your hands in some capacity.

Go ahead and click play... craft or garden or clean while you listen. I promise your brain will love it ;)

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Did you know that the first person in the Bible explicitly mentioned to be filled with the Holy Spirit was an artist? Have you ever considered how many artisans were used by God throughout history? And what does that mean going forward with the ever-increasing use of AI?

Let's talk about it. Artisans vs AI.

Today, we'll open up the conversation and look into some scripture references about artisans and the role they played. In the coming weeks, we will dive into the brain benefits of working with your hands and the powerful effect it has on your mental health.

Even if you're not an "artist", these episodes will cause you to think and hopefully lead you to create in some way!

--

Easter Special from last year can be found here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2431016/episodes/16965681

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Let's talk about putting the findings of my "fun audit" to the test... with an experiment that required making space for my personal fun magnets to collide.

It was time to touch a soccer ball again.

And boy oh boy, did I learn some things along the way. I hope you are inspired by this honest reflection of a 35-year-old Mom of toddlers getting out onto the field again with some guys (even guys half her age) and seeing how it all played out physically and mentally.

I'll also teach you about psychoneuroimmunology and how your internal language is translated into real signals to your body. Fascinating research!

Would love to hear about your own experiments! Leave a comment or send an email to connect :)

--

This series was inspired by Catherine Price's book The Power of Fun: Why fun is the key to a happy and healthy life.

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Welcome to Part 2 of a mini-series on how to bring more fun into your life -- not the fake kind of fun, but rather the soul-filling kind that makes you feel fully alive.

I'm a firm believer that we're not meant to just "get by" in life. We're not meant to feel constantly stuck on hamster wheels of exhaustion and distraction. We were never meant to stop playing... yet somewhere along the line as more and more responsibility got added, we easily forget to remain playful. We become too tired for connection. We become too distracted to enter a state of flow.

Part 1 talked about the problem we're all facing, and Part 2 will provide you with a solution to explore and hopefully rediscover a part of you that you're missing. So, let's take a fun audit ;)

This series was inspired by Catherine Price's book The Power of Fun: Why fun is the key to a happy and healthy life.

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Welcome to a 3-part series where I unpack some of my own internal musings, alongside evidence-backed research to identify a problem that we're all currently facing... We've forgotten how to have true fun, because we've bought into the lies we've been sold by a society that is using our brains against us.

So, in a year where I'm reclaiming the joy of true fun, I invite you to journey with me through the problem this week. Next week, I promise to bring you the solution. And in the final part of this mini-series, I'll tell you about my own personal experiment -- what I loved, what I learned, and what I'll do differently next time.

This series was inspired by Catherine Price's book The Power of Fun: Why fun is the key to a happy and healthy life.

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti

Faith, Neuroscience & the Mental Health Benefits of Joyful Worship

Did you know the Bible connects joy and movement long before neuroscience did?

In this episode of Carry Confetti, we revisit the moment when David danced before the Lord with all his might... and explore what modern brain science says about why that matters.

From dopamine and endorphins to stress reduction and emotional resilience, movement isn’t just physical — it’s neurological and spiritual. What if practicing embodied joy is one of the most powerful tools God gave us for mental health?

In this episode, we explore:

• The neuroscience of joy and movement
• Why dancing reduces stress and boosts mood
• What David’s worship teaches us about freedom and courage
• How physical expression strengthens faith and emotional well-being

If you’re interested in Christian mental health, faith and neuroscience, worship, or practical ways to cultivate joy, this episode is for you.

Your brain will love it. And your soul just might too.

Connect with me on Instagram: @carryconfetti

Sign up to Cup of Confetti, my monthly newsletter: https://carryconfetti.kit.com/b58e8ac914

If you'd like to support the podcast or say thank you for a particular episode, you're welcome to buy me a coffee or purchase a poetry print here: https://buymeacoffee.com/carryconfetti