Divas That Care Network
The #DivasThatCare movement is a dynamic force of positivity and progress. It's a collective of empowered women united by a shared vision: to pave the way for future generations. These women are not only breaking barriers—they’re also committed to equipping the next generation with the tools, resources, and confidence to lead with purpose.
By discovering and defining your purpose, you unlock the power to uplift those around you and contribute to a better world—every single day.
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Divas That Care Network
Guided Joy
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Come and listen to our Host, Candace Gish, as she chats with inspiring guest Laura-May Culver for our “Speak Up & Stand Firm” Podcast Mini-Series.
This powerful series is all about finding your voice, trusting your truth, and having the courage to stand firm in what matters most. We’ll explore what it means to speak with confidence, create healthy boundaries, advocate for yourself and others, and stop allowing fear, guilt, or the opinions of others to silence you.
Through honest conversations, real-life stories, and practical wisdom, we’ll encourage DIVAS to step into their power—not by being the loudest person in the room, but by being confident enough to know that their voice matters.
Whether you’re learning to say “no,” having a difficult conversation, standing up for yourself, or finally speaking the truth you’ve been holding inside, this series will remind you that your voice has value, your boundaries deserve respect, and your story deserves to be heard.
Laura-May Culver is a visionary success coach, acclaimed author, and inspiring speaker with over 25 years of experience in human behavior and mindset transformation. She is the founder of KnowSelf Services, creator of The Joy Journal©, and host of the Hot for Success podcast.
With Master's degrees in Social Work and Culture and Spirituality, Laura-May brings a unique blend of clinical insight and spiritual depth to her transformative work. She empowers individuals and organizations worldwide to tap into their inner "spark of the divine" and achieve self-defined success.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotforsuccess
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-may-culver-72ab861b/
We welcome mentor and author Laura May Culver to our Speak Up and Stand Firm series and dig into how Guided Joy builds confidence by helping us focus on what is true and working. We talk fear, outside influence, sustainable success, and a practical way to reconnect with ourselves when the world gets loud.
• why standing firm starts with recognizing our inner blueprint
• creating a separate joy journal to harvest what is working
• making room for feelings without feeding negativity
• how the reticular activating system shapes what we notice
• questioning “whose fear is that” to clear outside influence
• defining authentic success and sustaining it when life happens
• ways to work with Laura May through coaching, workshops, and groups
• her Hot for Success podcast and the idea of a worthy ideal
• unplugging from screens to plug into our inner voice through simple childhood basics
For more Divas That Care Network Episodes visit www.divasthatcare.com
Welcome To Divas That Care
SPEAKER_01It's Divas that Care Radio. Stories, strategies, and ideas to inspire positive change. Welcome to Divas that Care, a network of women committed to making our world a better place for everyone. This is a global movement for women, by women engaged in a collaborative effort to create a better world for future generations. To find out more about the movement, visit divas that care.com after the show. Right now, though, stay tuned for another jolt of inspiration.
SPEAKER_00Well, good morning and welcome back to the Divas That Care. My name is Candice Gish. If this is your very first time tuning into the Divas, a huge welcome. We are now in our, oh my gosh, 16th season. We are listened to in over 35 countries around the world. And it's all because of our amazing listeners, our tribe, our guests, you know, our hosts, everybody that's been a part of our journey. You know, we are able to do this, and we're so grateful because we have the opportunity to uh interview and get to know some amazing individuals, and we get to share that with you. So, you know, a huge welcome. You know, today is part of our August series.
Speak Up And Stand Firm Series
SPEAKER_00We're going to be talking about speak up and stand firm. This powerful series is all about finding your voice, trusting your truth, and having the courage to stand firm in what matters most. We'll explore what it means to speak with confidence, create healthy board boundaries, advocate for yourself and others, and stop allowing fear, guilt, or the opinions of others to silence you. I'm excited because I'm going to be introducing to all of you a brand new div to our family.
Meet Laura May Culver
SPEAKER_00Her name is Laura May Culver.
SPEAKER_02Hi, Candace. Hi, thank you so much for including me today. I really appreciate it. I'm excited.
SPEAKER_00Well, I'm excited to actually be getting to know you also. But Laura May, would you mind introducing yourself to our listeners today?
SPEAKER_02Sure. Okay. I'm Laura May Culver. I'm a mentor with master's degrees in both spirituality and social work. I have over 25 years of experience, and I'm the author of Guided Joy, Power of the Joy Journal. I believe that standing firm starts with recognizing your inner blueprint. I empower people who set the ultimate boundary, refusing to live a life defined by other people's expectations, including their fears, and by aligning with the power of joy. We don't just speak up, we advocate for the authentic success that belongs solely to us. That's me.
SPEAKER_00Oh, I love it. I absolutely am so excited because I had the opportunity to kind of go through your website briefly and you know see a little bit of what you do. But I want to know, Laura May, how did you get into this? Like tell us a little bit about your background and why you decided to get into coaching and write this journal.
Why A Joy Only Journal
SPEAKER_02Okay. So it's, I mean, there we can give you the short, shortened version version, it will help for folks as they're getting to know me. But I, as serving from the perspective of a therapist for over 25 years, as I was going through my career, I ran into an awesome business program and started to study with a number of wonderful folks. And one of the main points that kept coming back during the time that I was studying was the importance of focusing on what works and not what doesn't work. And I had heard about it and I journaled. I was told to journal when I was little. I had journaled forever and I would write all these things. Uh, but I would write everything. I wouldn't just write about what was working. I would write about the arguments and all the negativity and the fears, et cetera. And one day it clicked for me that we needed a journal that was separate from all others in our life. Wasn't that we would stop journaling, but that we focused our attention on harvesting the good in our life. And I've always been uh, you know, nauseatingly optimistic. I've always looked for the good, but to really understand the science behind this and the and that focus, how much it changes us all in our lives. And so I just started to test it out with some of my clients. I was a therapist, so I saw a lot of clients, and I had just opened my coaching business. So I was testing it out, and I would say to folks, well, get a little notebook, but only the good stuff goes in it. I don't know, call it a joy journal. And so from there it went from grassroots movement of well, people were bringing these journals back with stickers and markers and and self-expression, and some were turning it into all sorts of creative projects. And they said, This is my happy book, this is my joy journal. This is this is mine, this is me, this is my expression of what's working, my gratitude. And so it just took off. And then I had folks asking me to do little workshops and events, and then somebody said, You need to publish this. So I self-published the first version, which is power of the joy journal, and then we moved to a second version, which was the first time on Amazon, and now we move to the third version, which is the simplified form um that covers more of more audience, and and it's called Guided Joy. And and we're pretty happy with the version, and I'm hoping to bring out uh like a therapist um type manual that goes with the joy journal so more folks have access to it and some more of the research and the science behind why joy works.
SPEAKER_00Oh my gosh, I love that, you know, and it's and it's really funny because I had come across like an old journal that I wrote years ago, and it's amazing how powerful and how emotionally attached, and you don't realize what a difference it makes in your life when you start journaling. You know, I know this is a lot different than a lot of people are thinking because this is really um something that you're you're helping people with. It's like a step-by-step, correct?
SPEAKER_02Yes and no. Uh it's it does have a guide to it, absolutely, but there's some free form to it as well. So, but I do understand what you mean. There's a work um methodology component to it, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00And I think that's wonderful. Because I honestly think, you know, when you're with myself, you know, I I all my emotions and my feelings and what I'm doing through that day, you know, I really threw it out there. But I think having something that would allow me to kind of focus a little bit better would have really helped me in the long run, also.
SPEAKER_02Yes,
The Brain Science Behind Focus
SPEAKER_02and that's the feedback because there's a time and a place for that venting. We need it, uh, and women tend to get full. You know, you say to your kids, if you do one more thing, I'm here, you know, you put your hand above your head, like I'm here, I'm here. Uh, so we get full, we get full of information and we need to just get it out. But there's a time place for that. But when it comes to actually creating our own, we're we're architects, we're creators of our own life. And so if we're focusing our attention on things that we actually are purging or letting go of, then we're actually asking for more of it. And it's not just the the law of attraction component, although there's something to be said for that. It's the reticular activation system in the science. The science of this is the brain says, I will give you more of this. You're focusing your attention here, I will show more because your brain looks for more. Once whatever message you give to your reticular activating system, it activates you to look for more. So when you are disciplined around what are you looking for, it doesn't mean that you don't acknowledge your upsets and you don't feel your feelings. No, this isn't toxic positivity. This is harvesting the good. So if you were to go to the strawberry patch and you were to look for a strawberry to bring home for your strawberry shortcake, you're not going to bring home the one that was smushed on the ground and eaten by ants. You're going to be grateful for that because it helps the earth, but you're going to find the best berries and you're going to come home to feed your family with the best. That's harvesting the good. So we do that with our life. We sort through what's working, what's not working, and then we make sure we say thank you to what it is that it that we want and what we're receiving from life.
Clearing Fear And Outside Influence
SPEAKER_00Can you give us a little bit of um art of the journal with us?
SPEAKER_02Sure. So I actually have it open here. I wanted to talk about the uh the muck of influence a little bit, because when we're able to stand firm, which is part of what we're talking about with this series, how do you stand firm when you're when you're being influenced by the muck of fear, other people's fear, the collective fear, et cetera, et cetera, which you've talked about in in past in past series, it's so important. It all comes down to fear and the lack thereof when it comes to create being that creator in your own life. And so in the journal, we talk about where it comes from. And I'm never making definitives, meaning everybody's the same. There's of course not. But generally speaking, to get folks asking questions and doing their own research, I say, where did you learn that from? Whose fear is that? Is that as Christy Marie Sheldon would say, is that mom, dad, sell for someone else? Where are you getting that from? So one of the things that we do with the Joy Journal process, which I love doing it in live workshops because people hear one another and they watch each other shift. What we do is we talk about, well, where did that come from? When you were a brand new baby on the scene, you weren't worried about hiding your knees from your neighbors because they were maybe had a little bit too many roles on your knees. You weren't hiding yourself from anyone. You were expressing yourself, you were in your full glory. And so, how do we stand firm in our authentic success? Well, we allow ourselves to focus on what's who we actually really are, as opposed to the muck of influence or who we were told we had to be in order to be from a place of survival, from a place of success in the world. So the journal is a general introduction to some of the deep dives I do one-on-one with folks. Let's get to the root of this. Let's help us, let's clear what's not true, let's clear what's not true so that the truth of who you really are, your purpose in life, your definite chief aim, your worthy ideal can come to the forefront and be what leads you through the world, not the half-alive feeling of ah, something's not right, but I have to do it because this person expects me to, or our family always has. So it's really, again, it doesn't seem light, it doesn't seem simple. If we start with simple to open the door, which is another aspect of the joy journal, is that releasing of resistance. We're all a little bit nervous about change. Some of
Sustainable Success And Staying On Track
SPEAKER_02us more than others, right?
SPEAKER_00Isn't that the truth? And I'm finding also in the last, I don't know, the last couple of years, people are really starting to find their voices. You know, they're starting to be more authentic. I don't know if there's a shift somewhere in the universe, but I find that I'm seeing more of that. More people have more confidence in themselves like never before.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes, exactly. And how and so there's the there's the two two pieces to that is the importance, what's so important is to ride that, but then also stay there. So how so it's not just about success, it's sustainable success. So for me, I help define what sex success, sex, I help people with sex. Um, what defines success for folks for their from their own internal, but then once they're there, how do they maintain the fire? Right? How do they stay hot for success? So it's good to know what you're hot for and why, and how do you sustain it? Because life happens and we do have our tough moments and we do lose our way, right? We do get lost in the seas, as it were. So how do we get how do we have that that rudder, you know, through the seas of life? Uh and and it starts from within ourselves. So it's that connection with who we are, yeah, and what we believe to be can we're can what we're connected to. And so I help folks with with with also remembering the truth of who they are, and even if they're feeling a little lost at sea, how to come back to themselves.
SPEAKER_00Oh, this is fantastic. I love that. I can't wait to check this out. Uh, Laura May, can how do our listeners get a copy of this journal?
SPEAKER_02So uh it's available on Amazon. If you just if you just put in the keywords Laura May, Culvert, and Guided Joy, it's available across the world on Amazon and it's available in Kindle. I don't recommend Kindle because I love the book because you feel it and you actually it's a workbook. So your journal inside the book, and you don't just do your gratitude and your affirmation, but you also work a goal, and I help teach what type of goal there is. So we have three different kinds of goals, and we go through that, and so it's a workbook, and uh, but if you if you wanted to purchase it as a as a Kindle, that's available as well. So it's also available in yeah, we have it in Malayalam now as well, and and I'm looking into different it right now, it's just in Kindle, but I want to translate it and have it in more than one language as well.
SPEAKER_00So I think that's gonna be wonderful. Yeah, because our show is listening to in over so many countries, I think that would be a great thing for them. So please let us know when that happens and we can get the word out there.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes, I will.
SPEAKER_00That'd be awesome.
Coaching Options And Workshops
SPEAKER_00I do want to ask you also, Laura May, tell me a little bit more about your your coaching and how our listeners, because obviously you do your coaching online. Um, so our listeners from around the world could be a part of that.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yes, and so I uh when when you get to know me, you know you'll know that I have a full-fledged therapy practice that is running. The coaching is from that. When folks hire me as their coach, I always encourage them to consider the one-on-one work first and foremost so that we can have that time together to really dive in and find out more about who they are, what they want. A lot of folks feel successful, but at the same time, two things can be true at the same time. They also, there's something that feels like it's missing. And so I help folks get a sense of what that is and how to really enjoy what they're doing and how they're serving and what they're bringing out. So I have the one-on-one coaching. I also have workshops and events if people want to do something for their groups. I love going in, I've done big brothers, big sisters, I've gone to staff at in teacher staff days, I've done grade eight, grade seven days. I will customize. So if folks want to bring me in for their organization, I real estate agents really love me too, because we get really clear on the goal and then also that that um a sustainable success piece is is huge for them. So, yeah, that's an option as well. Or if you had a small group of folks that wanted to do a group coaching, we can also do that. And then I'm looking into possible intent it to intensives. That's the next thing that seems to be coming through that's needed, maybe a day or two where I just work with one person, but then we're a couple and we deep dive.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I can see that. That's wonderful. Well, I'm really excited. And to all of our listeners, I'm gonna be posting all of Laura May's social media links so that you can go and get a hold of her. I think it's really important for people to connect. Uh, there's just so much out there, and there's I think there's always the need, and you never know what part of that you might need in your life. Um, one last thing I do want to ask you, Laura May, tell us about your podcast. I love meeting other podcast hosts. I love how their shows are out there because it's you never know what show is going to resonate with pre-a person out there. So tell us more about what yours is all about.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
Hot For Success Podcast Philosophy
SPEAKER_02So it's called Hot for Success. And and so Hot for Success is all about the philosophy that we all have a burning desire, a goal inside of us, and it's unique to us. It's an intense, passionate, uh it's a craving or a motivation for a specific goal or dream. So Earl Nightingale refers to that as a worthy ideal. And so when we're hot for success, we're following that truth of our own definite chief aim or our own purpose in life, or another way of saying it is our worthy ideal. What we deem to be worthy is key here. And so my podcast, I actually started the podcast more just to be able to throw things up as I go. I mean, I've been a I've been a servant to the world and is, you know, I in service for many, many, many years. And every once in a while I get an idea or I run into someone and I realize, oh, there's something that might match. So I love being able to throw things like a meditation up on the podcast. So you might see a few fun things on there. Um, and then most recently I've been interviewing people who are hot for success. So I'm so excited about it because I get to interview folks that are already or have found what they believe to be their definite chief aim. And then I get to find out more about what they're doing and what's hot for them. And so if somebody wants to come on as a guest, please reach out. I have um on my website, you can just click discovery call uh or DM me on Instagram. I'm open and uh and we'll get back to you and set an appointment and we can talk about what you're looking to do and what you need. And that's not just for the podcast, that's for anything that we've talked about today.
SPEAKER_00That's fantastic. I love that. This is gonna be so much, so great for so many people. Uh Laura
Unplug To Hear Your Inner Voice
SPEAKER_00May, one of the things that I ask our listeners at the end of the podcast is is there any tips, tools, things you'd like to share with our listeners that may help them today?
SPEAKER_02Well, I think it's important for all of us to take time to ourself. And what I mean by that is getting off of our phones, getting off of being plugged into something that is um, you know, flat screen perhaps, and really unplugging to actually plug in. And so one of the ways that folks can figure out the difference between being plugged into something that is um synthetic, as it were, um, or or that's very distracting from listening to our own inner voice and unplugging from that and plugging into our inner voice is what would you have been doing if you were little and you had a few moments to yourself? And chances are you were watching a ladybug go by, or you were rolling around on the grass, or you were maybe you were five and hanging upside down in a tree. You were you were watching the tree sway, or you're humming to yourself or skipping, or or bouncing, or or jumping, jumping around to see how how high you can go, but you were not so much worried about what other people were thinking or the latest posts that you were missing, or any of those distractions that are key in our society right now, but you were actually connected to you and what you needed and what you wanted and what your body was saying. So I encourage folks to start there, go back to the basics and really just be with you and feel breathe who you are and connect with something that feels good for you that maybe you leaned on when you were a kid. Like you'd go out to the trees and lean on a tree or play in the grass. So do something that's simple and that actually will bring you back to yourself. That's a great starting point.
SPEAKER_00That's perfect advice. Absolutely perfect. That's something that I've been wanting to do and actually been doing a lot this summer is trying to get back to the basics and really taking that time. So for you to say that just to say that's wonderful. So thank you so much, Lorraine.
SPEAKER_02You're welcome. My pleasure.
SPEAKER_00Oh my
Closing Thanks And Listener Actions
SPEAKER_00gosh. Well, I've had so much fun with you. I think that you definitely have to come back on the Divaset Care. We would love to have you back on. I'm just thinking about so many different topics that we can talk about in the future.
SPEAKER_02Yes, I'd love to. I'd absolutely love to. And there really are many, many topics. It all comes down to what about what about you and what what is your worthy idea? I'd love to interview on my podcast if you'd have me.
SPEAKER_00Yes, we will have to do that.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_00Well, Laura May, I just said thank you so much for being my amazing guest on Speak Up and Stand for mini the mini podcast series that we're doing right now, because I think that you are a perfect fit for this amazing series. And I hope that all of our listeners out there do take this information, you know, and really internalize it. I think it's really important. I think you should go and check out this amazing journal of hers. Uh I am a person that loves journaling, and I think that something like this would definitely help me in the future to, you know, kind of stay more focused because I'm not a person that's a focused journaler. And I think having the intention out there is really important. So, Laura, may I thank you again for being that person that shared that with us today. And to all of our listeners, you know, make sure that you like, share, and comment on this podcast. It's really important to get the information out there. And also remember to do something kind today. That's so important. Until next time, everyone.
SPEAKER_01Thanks for listening. This show was brought to you by Divas That Care. Connect with us on Facebook, on Instagram, and of course on divas that care.com, where you can subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a thing.