Happy Life Studios Podcast

PODCAST DISCLAIMER: Please note: this episode contains sensitive content, including discussion of childhood abuse, and isn't intended for younger listeners.
"I lost love. I lost worth. I lost a lot of things, but I never lost hope."
In this powerful episode, I interview fellow podcaster and author Jonathan Merchant. Jonathan's story runs through valleys most of us could never imagine: molested as a nine-year-old at a Christian camp, a deployment to Bosnia as an Army peacekeeper, and a 1999 car accident that left him a quadriplegic — plus a suicide attempt he survived only because he called 911 first. And ye...

Is it trick or treat? Some see Halloween as one, and some see it as the other, but truthfully, Halloween is both. And so is life. In this special Halloween-week episode, we take a look at the contrast between the two through the poetry of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Mary Oliver. Whether we see life or death, fear or wonder, trick or treat...it really is up to us. Life can bring us some pretty scary tricks, but it also offers some incredible beauty as well. Sometimes we can become so focused on the dark that we miss the light...

We've been trying something new the last couple weeks and it's been amazing. So we wanted share it with you. We are also trying something new, to us anyway, for this episode. So listen and get that Happy going.

Help us spread the Happy

PayPal: www.PayPal.me/StevoHays

Cash App: $HappyLifeStudios

Zelle: [email protected]

Venmo: @StevoHays

Buy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/HappyLifeStudio

Check: Payable to Hays Ministries or Steve Hays and send to 27240 213th Place S.E. Maple Valley, WA 98038

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What would we do without these guys? Since Labor Day, we have been honoring laborers. Particularly those who go unnoticed by the majority of us and yet continue to show up and go to work day after day, year after year, making our lives not only better, but Happier. Today we talk with Aubrey Crawford who is a...well I'll let Aubrey tell you. Aubrey's been around and has some great stories, as well as incredible insight. So, come along for the ride. You'll be Happy you did.

Help us spread the Happy

PayPal: www...

A Happybellion is for those who are willing to think differently, live authentically, and rebel against the things that keep us from being our best selves. In a world that often rewards outrage, fear, negativity, and simply going along with the crowd, Happybellion is about choosing something different—looking for the good, searching for what’s real, creating with purpose, and spreading a little more happiness wherever we go. In this episode we talk about life, creativity, relationships, purpose, personal growth, and the people who keep show up to help us with that, even when nobody seems to be watc...

Have you ever wondered if anyone out there even notices the work you do?
Have you ever wondered if anyone notices the work you do? Welcome to Week 2 of Labor Month!
This week, Crystal Smiley, who is no stranger to Happy Life Studios, turns the tables and interviews me as we talk about influencers, content creators, life coaches, podcasters, and all kinds of people whose work happens behind a screen—whose work sometimes goes unnoticed, yet they continue doing their thing, changing our world.
Labor isn’t always a person punching a clock or doing a job...

Being a parent isn't easy. Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs around. Which is why we decided to celebrate Labor day with Crystal Smiley and honor Mothers as the hardest working laborers of all. Happy Labor Day!

Contact us

Linktree: www.Linktr.ee/HappyLifeStudios

Email: [email protected]

Yo Stevo Hotline: (425) 200-HAYS (4297)

Webpage: www.HappyLife.lol 

YouTube: www.YouTube.com/StevoHays

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hays-b6b1186b/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@happylifestudios

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/HappyLifeStudios 

Last episode we talked about removing interference--getting rid of those things that interfere with our Happy, with the direction we want our life to go. We want to continue on with that idea by talking about running interference, because when we run interference, we remove our interference. Not to mention, when we run interference for someone else and they win...then we win too. Listen as well as share with someone who has run interference for you and your life, you'll be Happy you did, and they will be Happy as well.

Help us spread...

Interference is for real. In football it can change the outcome of the game. From winning to losing with one whistle from the referee. It is one of the most detrimental penalties in football. The same is true in life as well. The interference we allow, can quite literally change the direction and outcome of our lives. When interference happens in football they keep playing. That's the good news. For the way to overcome interference and win in life is the same...we keep P.L.A.Y.ing and who doesn't want to do that? Listen to see...

A farmer works hard from sunrise to sunset and beyond. They plant. They harvest. We enjoy. That's what I call Farmer Style. Unfortunately, weeds grow just as fast, if not faster as plants do in August. So how we live our lives is really determined by what we are planting; our lives are the field and our words are the seeds. What we allow to be planted into us, what we say, think about or even listen to, will determine whether we will harvest Happy or sad, freedom or burdens.

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Sometimes, to find or keep your happy means to remove yourself from certain places, people, circumstances or things. To free yourself from environments that look to destroy your Happy. This is vital, because, once you find your Happy, you want to go back. You have to go back! Listen and find out how Crystal Smiley, our guest this episode, literally went from Cloudy to Happy herself. You can too.

Help us spread the Happy

PayPal: www.PayPal.me/StevoHays

Cash App: $HappyLifeStudios

Zelle: [email protected]

Venmo: @StevoHays

Living in freedom is like throwing a party in your heart and in your head every day. We celebrated our freedom on Independence Day, but do we activate our freedom the rest of the year?

In this episode, we will give you a High 5 of Freedom—5 tips on now you can live free all year long.

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We also used "Be Kind To Yourself" by Andrew Peterson. We don't own any ri...

After a crazy dream and watching the FIFA World Cup game with England and Norway, I decided to share a couple of funny stories I had in my travels to both Norway and England. 

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We also used "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car" by Billy Ocean. We don't own any rights.

Contact us

Linktree: www.Linktr.ee/HappyLifeStudios

Email: [email protected]

America just turned 250 and we think that's a pretty big deal. So join Joe MoJOE McCarthy of our brother studio in Southern California and me as we converse about freedom as well as a sampling of things we love about our country.  Freedom isn't just about what we've been set free from. It's about what we've been set free to become. 

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We don't own any rights.

Contact us
...

In this episode we talk about things I learned from The World Cup so far this year. We also celebrate flag day from a couple weeks back, all leading up to America's epic 250 year birthday this weekend on July 4th. We use an acronym for flag that lead us to end with this sentence. Fans Lend a hand and Adapt because they know they are a part of something Greater than themselves. Happy 4th and Happy 250th birthday America!

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending...

What's rarer than Sasquatch and only comes every 250 years? Join Joe MoJOE McCarthy of our brother studio in Southern California, as we make trailers, create dopamine endorphins and bring in one of the best freedom experiences ever.
Sorry this episode wasn't posted on Monday as it was supposed to be. We ran into some issues, so we're putting it out Tuesday instead. 
 

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We don't own any rights.

C...

Listen and find out about the greatest gift you can give a Dad, the top 10 things Dad's wished their kids would say, the hardest and best part of parenting captured in one simple moment and more in this Father's Day special. Happy Father's Day! 

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We don't own any rights.

We also used "It's You I Like" performed by "SamoanJosephDale" here's his Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/samoanjosephdale

Join Joe MoJOE McCarthy of our brother studio in Southern California, as we continue on with last weeks episode "What's Your Superpower" and talk about our favorite college professor's ultimate superpower. You'll be Happy you did! We certainly were.

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We don't own any rights.

Contact us

Linktree: www.Linktr.ee/HappyLifeStudios

Email: [email protected]

Yo Stevo Hotline: (425) 200-HAYS (4297)

Webpage: w...

If you could have one superpower what would you choose? Super strength? Super speed? Invisibility? I know which one I would pick now, but I wouldn't have picked it before even a month ago.

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We also played a portion of "The Welsh national anthem "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadaua" performance by Welsh icon, Dafydd Iwan. We don't own any rights.

Contact us

Linktree: www.Linktr.ee...

Life gets hard. Plans fall apart. People disappoint us. Stress builds. We all face moments where we wonder, "What do I do now?" In this episode, we're talking about one simple practice that can change the way you respond when life gets difficult. It may not change your circumstances overnight, but it will certainly change the way you walk through them. 

We would like to give a special thanks to James Kocian, for the use of his amazing songs "Head Boppin", "Light As A Feather" and "Mission". Check out more of his amazing stuff here 

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If you have a mother or are a mother, this episode is for you. It's a Mother's Day special that encourages everyone. With that being said, there are a lot of acronyms out there for M.O.T.H.E.R. Listen here for ours and then share it with someone who has inspired you in this way in your life. It's what Mr. T. would want you to do.

We would also like to give a special thanks to James Kocian, for the use of his amazing songs "Light As A Feather" and "More Beautiful". Check...

If you're going through something difficult take courage from this quote that came across my path last week. "Most troubles are not as black as they seem if you pull them into the sunshine and shine the light on them." - Robert Alden. Here's yet another quote that came across my path while playing a game on my phone. “A single Sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” St Francis of Assisi (as well as my Word Cookies game). The sun is so good for us in so many ways. This episode is a continuation of last week's epis...

In this episode, we show you a different way of looking at The Declaration of Independence, as well as becoming Happy, and being a Lert - because the world needs more Lerts!

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We don't own any rights.

If you would like to help us spread the Happy

PayPal: www.PayPal.me/StevoHays

Cash App: $HappyLifeStudios

Zelle: [email protected]

Venmo: @StevoHays<...

Would you like to live in peace? For to live in peace, especially in our current day, it's simple. We must protect our peace. When it comes to living in peace, we really have two options. We can either keep chasing peace, keep replacing the sheep, or we can build a cage for the lion. Listen and find out what we're talking about, you'll be Happy you did!

If you would like to help us spread the Happy

What if the crowd isn’t always right? From a time when handwashing was mocked to when tulips were worth more than houses, history reminds us that popular opinion can miss the truth. In this episode, we walk through Holy Week—from Palm Sunday to Easter—uncovering powerful, everyday lessons about faith, purpose, betrayal, perseverance, and hope. This isn’t just a story about what happened then—it’s an invitation to rethink what you believe now, stand firm when the crowd shifts, and discover how even the darkest moments can lead to resurrection. 

The song we used for the...

A couple of quotes from today's episode. "Sometimes we get so busy focusing on the physical that we forget the rest of it all." "Wondering and pondering are vital to really living." This is especially true if we want to live a Happy Life. One of the easiest ways to get to wondering is by wandering. Giving ourselves space to just walk. Not to think. Not to do. To just be.  Because we wonder as we wander, but we don't wander when we wonder. 

We would also like to give a special thanks to James Kocian, for th...

Happy International Day of Happiness! A lot of people chase Happy. When you chase something it usually runs away. Or, it running away/eluding us is the very reason we chase it. There is a better way however. Do this and Happy will follow you around instead.

A couple of Day of Happiness sites for you:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/happiness-day
https://www.dayofhappiness.net/

If you would like to help us spread the Happy we would appreciate it immensely

PayPal: www.PayPal.me/StevoHays

Cash App: $...

St. Patrick's Day, International Day of Happiness and the Paralympics so eloquently tell us that we are all on the same team, team human being. Paralympic snowboarder, Brenna Huckaby's parents told Brenna, “We just want you to find happiness in who you are because you are the gold, and we love you.” Jason Brown, Olympic figure skater said, "When you can embrace and see how much you’re supported and loved, that’s winning." So smile, because your life is Olympic, you are the gold and you've already won!
 

If you would like to help us spread th...

Olympic Smiling isn't a sport in the Olympics, but if it was, here are my top contenders for the podium. Listen and be inspired as we talk about the Happy of the Olympics, celebrating the start of the Paralympics. There are some great stories in here that will motivate you and increase your Happy!
As Google would tell you...
“The Paralympics are widely considered as, or in some cases more, motivational than the Olympics, as they showcase elite athleticism alongside stories of overcoming immense physical, social, and personal obstacles. While Olympic broadcasts often focus on high-stakes competition, th...

The stories, lessons and Happy of the 2026 Winter Olympics. It's the Olympics Happy Life Studios style. (Or should I say Happy Life Stoatios? Huh??? Listen and find out what we're talking about. You'll be inspired, as well as Happy you did.

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We don't own any rights.

We would also like to give a special thanks to James Kocian, for the use of his amazing songs "Head Boppin'", "Jonesin'" and "Another...

The stories, the lessons and the Happy of the Winter Olympics 2026. It's Stevo on Milano bringing you some inspiration and motivation from the Winter games, Happy Life Studios style. 

Contact us

Linktree: www.Linktr.ee/HappyLifeStudios

Email: [email protected]

Yo Stevo Hotline: (425) 200-HAYS (4297)

Webpage: www.HappyLife.lol 

YouTube: www.YouTube.com/StevoHays

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hays-b6b1186b/

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@happylifestudios

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/HappyLifeStudios 

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HappyLife_Studios 

A super podcast for a super weekend.

A special thank you to James Kocian, for the use of his amazing songs "Mission" and "Another Perfect Day". Check out more of his amazing stuff here. www.JamesKocian.com or here www.Facebook.com/jameskocianmusic and tell him thanks from Happy Life Studios.

The song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We don't own any rights.

Contact us

Linktree: www.Linktr.ee/Ha...

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving them” - Henry David Thoreau. So, what kind of a person would you like to become this year? Many rely on New Year's resolutions to help get them there. Unfortunately, resolutions don't work for a lot of people; search online and find out for yourself. The statistics are staggering. When our resolution attempts fail, we tend to stay the same person year after year. The good news is, WE HAVE A SOLUTION, UP YOUR RESOLUTIONS. Say "so long" to New Year's Resolutions and...

3 things that are unhinged: New Years Resolutions, the most depressing day of the year and yes, Martin Luther King Jr. was unhinged too. We need to unhinge from some and hinge ourselves to others, so listen and become unhinged. You'll be Happy you did.

Boopsy clip: 
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@b.u.p.c/video/7590169907568889143
YouTube https://youtube.com/shorts/7vS3x4RnPcs?si=f0OWi-Sc0PX4MZ8X
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS8la9BCSet/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AhBH87JYJ/

Built from Damage c...

Do you have a Giraffe mindset or a Hippo state of mind? Soren Kierkegaard said that “The door of happiness opens inward.” Dr. Seuss said, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Wait, did Dr. Seuss really say that? The Cranberries said, "Do you have to let it linger?" We think you do. We also think that Dr. Seuss didn't really say that, but we know who did. So come and Linger with us and bring in the New Year correctly. You'll be Happy you did.
By the way we meant to post this Monday but d...

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!?" - Charlie Brown. Have you ever felt that way? I know I certainly have. Not this year however, thanks to the amazing Christmas present I received this year that I want to give to you. So we created this special Christmas Day episode for that purpose. Listen until the end where I pray a prayer of blessing over you, especially if Christmas is a struggle for you this year. Listen and share with someone who could use a Christmas blessing and Merry Christmas!

The song we used...

Katrina Mayer's quote, “Time spent among trees is never wasted time" is never truer than at Christmas time. You know, Christmas, the only time of the year in which one can sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of socks. Listen and increase the Happy and decrease the stress in your Holidays...you'll be Happy you did.

The Nate Bargatze angel clip is from his Nashville Christmas Special from 2024. You can stream it on Paramount+, Apple TV and possible other platforms. Here's the clip from YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpPPKtaayhM

This Holiday season we have been tapping into two main things to make our Holidays Happier. Thanksgiving (the Holiday as well as the mentality) and our inner child. The last several episodes we have been focusing on the Thanksgiving side. So this episode we will be getting back to our inner child as we talk about that Holiday classic, and one of my favorites, The Little Drummer Boy. We will also be talking about my favorite Drummer Boys as well. Listen and share, and bring out the inner child in yourself as well as someone else. Merry Christmas and...

The Holiday season comes with lots of lists. If you happen to be looking for a Happier Holidays, it's vital that you make the RIGHT ones. So make that list and check it twice, but leave the naughty and nice part for Santa.
 
The song we used for the intro was "Happy Holidays (Beef Wellington Remix)" by Beef Wellington and 2003 Christmas Chill Inc.. The ending song was Irving Berlin's "I've Got Plenty To Be Thankful For" sung by Bing Crosby. We don't own any rights.

We would also like to give a special Holiday Holla t...

This is what happens when Thanksgiving becomes The Godfather. Happy Thanksgiving!

Speaking of thankful, we would like to again thank James Kocian, for creating and giving those songs to Happy Life Studios. The ones we used in this episode were "Another Perfect Day" and "Light As A Feather". Check out more of his amazing stuff here www.JamesKocian.com or here www.Facebook.com/jameskocianmusic and tell him thanks from Happy Life Studios.

The song we used for the intro was "Happy Holidays (Beef Wellington Remix)" by Beef Wellington and 2003 Christmas Chill Inc.. The...