podcast 018: the relationship standard that changes everything
In today’s episode, Deb is joined by her mentor, coach, and longtime catalyst for change, Joy Ready Johannes, for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like an invitation.
“Every time you talk to somebody and they have a shift, you're changing the world.”
An invitation to look at the stories you’ve been living inside and to decide quietly, powerfully whether you’re ready to choose something different.
This isn’t a conversation about self-improvement or chasing the next version of yourself. It’s about readiness. The kind that asks you to separate what actually happened from everything you layered on top of it. The kind that requires cleaning up resentment before it hardens, choosing courage over fear, and showing up fully for yourself and for others.
Together, Deb and Joy explore what it really means to be “radically ready” to change your world, not all at once, but through one honest shift at a time.
Key Highlights:
The moment Joy realized she was living for others at her own expense—and how that insight changed everything
Why readiness isn’t a feeling, but a decision and the READY framework that turns awareness into action
A deceptively simple language shift (“but” → “and”) that opens possibility instead of shutting it down
The uncomfortable “lifeboat” exercise that reveals how we unconsciously rank people and what it means to choose being a “four” for others
How separating facts from the stories we tell ourselves can instantly change relationships, leadership, and self-trust
About Our Guest:
Joy Ready Johannes is a transformational life and executive coach, advisor, and facilitator who has spent more than 25 years helping people step into authentic, meaningful possibility aligned with purpose. Her work centers on supporting individuals and leaders who are radically ready to change their world through honest self-awareness, powerful choices, and values-driven action.
About The HX Collective:
The HX Collective is a movement to elevate the human experience—at work, in relationships, and with ourselves. Through honest conversations and strategic insight, we explore how connection, context, and compassion can create a more flourishing world, starting right where we are.
