Ever treated yourself the way you wish someone else would? In this episode, I talk about SOLO DATES and show you exactly HOW to do them. PLUS a new fun way to incorporate joy missions into them! Whether you’re craving deeper self-connection, want to romanticize your Tuesday again, or are simply looking for a playful push to get out of autopilot, this conversation has everything from reflection tips to glitter-forward guerrilla kindness ideas. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why solo dates matter (and how to do them without feeling awkward) How to seamlessly incorporate joy missions into your alone time How to officially submit your act to the 11K Tracker and be part of our global joy map 🧡 BONUS: Tap into Positive Pulse for extras like: 50+ solo date ideas A “joy mission” supply checklist 25 rebellious missions Acts of merriment you can do in 2 minutes or less Solo reflection prompts to deepen your self-love game 📌 Want in on the 11K movement? Submit your joy act or follow along in real-time at Uncustomary.org/11K. Remember: You don’t need a partner to be in love with the world. You just need a spark. 🕯️ And you’ve already got that. Get your bonuses for this episode in the Positive Pulse at Uncustomary.org/PP

Stuck in a DMV line? Sitting in a quiet waiting room? Driving home after something ends?  This episode helps you find joy in the in-between. We name why waiting (and liminal spaces) feels scary, tell real stories (medical tests, money stress, weird Tuesdays), and share tiny acts that make dull moments feel alive. You’ll get simple tools: a “doorway song,” a pocket anchor, micro-kindness missions, and better questions than “how’s the weather?”  Leave with a plan for fear, not just a scroll. Try this today: give one person in a waiting space something to smile about—even if it’s you. P.S. Positive Pulse is moving to Merriment Dues so we can keep the lights on. Current members: upgrade by Nov 21 (7-day free trial; 89¢/mo locked in). New members: paid starts Nov 1. There’s still a free section with select resources. 💛 Positive Pulse - Uncustomary.org/PP

Why do good things feel so terrifying sometimes? Why does joy make us hold our breath instead of exhaling? In this episode, we’re talking about the quiet, sneaky ways we brace for the end before the ending ever comes. Let’s talk about how betrayal, scarcity, control, and anticipatory grief all trace back to fear and lack of trust, and how pre-grieving doesn’t actually protect us. Using the famous “regrets of the dying” as guideposts, we’ll look at what people wish they’d done more of (being present, taking chances, trusting love) and how you can start doing those things now while you’re still very much alive. I share a personal story about love, trust, and waiting for the other shoe to drop, plus practical, weird, Merriment-Making ways to start living the “middle” instead of fearing the end. This episode is a soft rebellion against living half-alive. For more absurd ways to feel more alive, join us in Everything Sucks, Now What? Positive Pulse - Uncustomary.org/PP Everything Sucks, Now What? - Uncustomary.org/EverythingSucks

It’s that time of year! An unedited honest ramble of what’s been going on in my life and my take on the new Taylor Swift album.

Peppercorns of Pleasure is a quick-hit tasting menu of 33 delight bites.  Strange, sweet, and ridiculous moments that made me smile for no reason at all. Think bald heads in party hats, bears admiring the view, or the cozy click of adjusting your leggings just right. These aren’t grand gestures of happiness, they’re micro-merriments, proof that joy hides in the smallest corners of our days. Listen in, laugh with me, and maybe notice your own peppercorns of pleasure along the way. Check out 111 FM for more positive audio! Uncustomary.org/111

Part pep talk, part rebellion, very practical. If the world feels loud and gross and you can’t make yourself care, this one’s for you. We talk about practical optimism (realistic, not “everything’s fine”), how to move from disenchanted → enchanted in small steps, and what to try on days when feeling good feels out of reach. You’ll get nervous-system first aid, micro “caught beauty” practices, art-in-live-time experiments, and ways to create safe pockets of meaning for yourself and your people. This isn’t about fixing you. It’s about finding workable levers again. I’m also inviting you to catch the world being beautiful this week—photo, sentence, voice not, and send it in so we can feature a few next episode. If this resonates, my new self-paced program Everything Sucks, Now What? is open on pre-sale inside Positive Pulse. It starts Oct 5. Pre-sale is $88 (or $44×2) until September 21st, then it’s $111. If your heart perked up, grab the lower rate. Links: ↳ Submit your “caught beauty”: Uncustomary.org/11K ↳ Join Everything Sucks, Now What? (pre-sale): Uncustomary.org/EverythingSucks ↳ Join Positive Pulse (free community): Uncustomary.org/PP This episode is creative/philosophical support, not medical advice.

Happiness wasn’t handed to me. I built it on top of addiction, silence, and skeletons that still rattle when I celebrate. In this solo confessional, I share what had to die for me to become this loud about love... from K-holes and bloody journal pages to guerrilla art and practical optimism. This isn’t a tragedy story. It’s the truth behind my work, and why joy became my rebellion, play became my protest, and wonder is the work I’ll never stop doing. I talk about how I: - ended up finding myself through guerrilla art - was called boring by my boyfriend - was inspired by David Goggins in a surprising way - don’t believe in ”one arc” or turning point - my deconstructed my 3 childhood recurring dreams and how they gave me insight into my childhood trauma - am not my best student - JUST realized why I’m drawn to my two biggest hobbies (live on air) ... I cry in this one My new program is called ”Everything Sucks, Now What?” and if you feel like life sucks, you’re disconnected, or are OVER it. It’s on discount/pre-sale now... available only inside the Positive Pulse. Uncustomary.org/Positive-Pulse

I’m sharing the wild plan to complete 11,111 acts of kindness in under a year — and how you can be part of it from wherever you are. We’ll talk about joy as a movement, the surprising ripple effect of one small act, and I’ll even do a live act during this class. 🎁 Bonuses waiting in the Positive Pulse (free to join): 50 Places To Leave Guerrilla Art / Random Acts of Kindness 50 Notes To Leave For Strangers 25 Unique Compliments To Give Someone 111 Ideas for Acts of Joy PDF 👉 Join Positive Pulse free for instant access to the bonuses: Uncustomary.org/Positive-Pulse See more about the 11K Acts Of Merriment Project at Uncustomary.org/11K

Ever asked yourself, ”Why be a good person… when none of it seems to make a difference?” Let’s talk about it. When life feels chaotic, unfair, or deeply disappointing, it’s easy to wonder if anything actually matters. In this episode, Mary offers a sacred pep talk through the lens of existentialism—acknowledging the void, the absurdity, and the overwhelming nature of modern life… and then gently guiding you back to the power of choosing your own meaning. Whether you’re spiritual, skeptical, burned out, or somewhere in between, this is your permission slip to make hope your daily rebellion and meaning your own handmade masterpiece. 📍 At the end, you’ll be invited to reflect on: What meaning are you choosing to create this season? 🎁 Inside Positive Pulse, grab the free bonus pack that includes: A Journal Prompt Pack for exploring meaning in the midst of chaos 10 Micro-Meaning Practices to try today Affirmations for when you feel like nothing matters A printable Meaning Map to guide your day with tiny intentions A DIY Personal Philosophy Builder to anchor your outlook 🧭 Join the conversation + get your bonus resources inside Positive Pulse: Uncustomary.org/Positive-Pulse

Do you ever feel pulled in opposite directions? Like you want to be held and be free? Crave stability and change? You’re not a mess—you’re a multitude. In this episode, we explore 6 core human paradoxes—based in psychology, astrology, and real life—and how they show up in your identity, creativity, relationships, and self-worth. Through stories, examples, and reflection, you’ll learn how to hold space for your contradictions instead of trying to fix them. You’ll also get practical ways to embody both sides of yourself—from soft to wild, structured to chaotic, independent to deeply connected. 💛 Because the goal isn’t to choose—it’s to contain. — Want more support? Inside Positive Pulse, you’ll get a downloadable replay of this episode with: – 10 creative challenges to embrace your multitudes – A list of iconic people who lived their contradictions – A journaling prompt – A mirror mantra affirmation – And more bonuses for self-exploration Join the free community at: uncustomary.org/positive-pulse You have to feel good to do good. 💛

What if “feeling good” didn’t mean chasing happiness — but simply feeling at all? In this episode, we’re redefining what it means to feel good by making space for the full emotional spectrum — including grief, seasonal depression, numbness, anger, and those quiet in-between states we don’t always know how to name. Mary unpacks how toxic positivity, people pleasing, and emotional performance disconnect us from our truth — and how to gently return to presence, even when things don’t feel sparkly. You’ll hear: Why presence matters more than pleasure How grief and joy can coexist The Sandwich Metaphor (aka why faking joy backfires) How to stop sorting your feelings into “good” and “bad” The F.E.E.L. Process — a simple framework to help you navigate your emotions with honesty and care Positive Pulse (free resources) - https://Uncustomary.org/Positive-Pulse Merriment Vault (self-love library) - https://Uncustomary.org/Merriment-Makers

Let’s debunk the myth that your zip code is the problem. This episode explores the real psychology behind why we blame our environments for lack of joy, connection, or progress—and how fear, projection, and resistance keep us from actually going after what we say we want. We’ll talk: • Why “boring” is often code for “I’m scared” • How to identify the deeper fear under your avoidance • Reflection prompts to get radically honest with yourself • Super specific tools and websites for finding events, friends, and support—even in tiny towns • Tips for navigating chronic illness, transportation challenges, and social anxiety • How to re-enchant your own block if that’s all you’ve got • A rebellious challenge to try this week in your own town 🎁 Want all the links, tools, and prompts from this episode in one place? Join Positive Pulse, my free community of 550+ joy-seekers, and unlock: → Tools for finding events in your zip code → Apps and websites for making new friends → Public transit + rideshare solutions → Travel tips for chronic illness + low energy → Search tricks to uncover hidden gems → Reflection prompts to name your resistance → Creative ways to make your block joyful → This week’s Rebellious Joy Challenge 🆓 Join Positive Pulse now at uncustomary.org/PP and get instant access to 170+ free resources (and meet new friends)!

In 2013, I quit my day job, got my heart broken, danced in bars dressed like a mermaid, and filled my bedroom with 60 balloons. I swam in the ocean at 3am, measured a train platform with a banana, got interviewed on the news for guerrilla art—and was told by my blogging heroes that my work didn’t matter. Spoiler: they were wrong. This episode is a time capsule. I’ll walk you through everything that happened in 2013. It’s A love letter to the version of me who didn’t wait for permission to be weird, wild, or wonderful—and a reminder that you don’t need permission either. Inside this episode: What quitting my psych rehab job taught me about joy The street art challenge that changed my life How I built magic from heartbreak Why 2013 Mary still guides everything I do What I wish I had said to the people who didn’t “get it” 💛 Plus: A special 13% off celebration for 111 FM—my joy sanctuary built on everything 2013 Mary believed in. 📻 Tune into the frequency: https://uncustomary.org/111 PS - I got the math wrong, it’s not my 13th year of being in business, it’s my 12th! It’s my 13th year of MERRIMENT MAKING! But we’re celebrating 2013 Mary and 13 years of Merriment Making so it still works.

What if every day could be your luckiest day of the year? This episode invites you to tune into a new frequency—one where joy isn’t something you earn, but something you allow. Through honest storytelling, grounded tools, and playful philosophy, we explore how to reconnect with your authentic self in a way that feels real, not performative. In this episode, we cover: The Pygmalion Effect and how belief shapes what you attract The difference between faking it till you make it and being inauthentic Why confidence isn’t binary—and how you can feel unsure and still be radiant A personal story about being seen as confident even while feeling disconnected The power of radical honesty as a form of authenticity A short grounding exercise to reset your energy in 60 seconds Three ways to reconnect with yourself today 📡 Bonus Companion Kit inside Positive Pulse! Get these 4 extras to deepen the episode (free with replay access): ✅ Affirmation Pack: “Broadcast Beliefs” ✅ Journaling Prompts: “Tuning In” ✅ 3-Day Change the Channel Challenge ✅ Static-to-Signal Reflection Map 🎁 Access the replay + bonuses here → uncustomary.org/positive-pulse 🎶 Want to live life on a higher frequency? Join 111 FM — a joy-first audio sanctuary for just $37/month. Includes pep talks, tapping sessions, rituals, and real-world joy missions. → uncustomary.org/111

Have you ever looked at someone and thought, “That’s how I feel inside — I just don’t know how to get there”? In this episode of the Merriment Making Podcast, Mary England speaks directly to the part of you that’s still here — even if it’s been buried, muted, or made to feel like “too much.” You’ll hear why 111 FM was created as a safe space to expand, how to reconnect with your truest self (without a single self-help checklist), and what to do when you’re tired of performing and ready to simply be. 📖✳️ Includes a special teaser from the Unmuted Audio Program + practical tips to feel like you again. This isn’t about fixing. It’s about feeling — and remembering who you were before the world told you to shrink. 💛 Plus: Find companion affirmations, journal prompts, and a mini challenge that go along with this episode in Positive Pulse! Uncustomary.org/PP Join 111 FM ➡️ Uncustomary.org/111

What if your story didn’t have a final version? What if you got to rewrite it every time you learned something new or felt something deeper? In this week’s episode, I’m reading aloud my interview with Voyage Baltimore—a not-so-definitive autobiography of my journey from chaos to creativity, from pain to playful rebellion. I share about what it’s meant to grow up different, misunderstood, and misdiagnosed—and how that turned into a lifelong mission to make joy accessible for other overwhelmed humans. You’ll hear the raw, unfiltered moments that shaped me, the philosophy that fuels my work with Uncustomary, and why I believe feeling good must lead to doing good. This episode is a time capsule—capturing where I am, what I believe, and why I’ll always be a Merriment Maker. 🎧 Listen in, and then read the full interview here: 👉 voyagebaltimore.com/interview/community-highlights-meet-mary-england-of-uncustomary-merriment-maker 🌀 Want to join the movement? Start here for free: Uncustomary.org/Positive-Pulse

When the world tells you “this is it”—a diagnosis, a label, a limitation—you don’t have to accept it as your whole truth. In this episode, we’re breaking down the lie of “nothing can be done” and replacing it with creative, rebellious possibility. This is a wake-up call, a pep talk, and a reminder that you are not your prognosis—and that change is always possible. 💥 Inside Positive Pulse: A written pep talk for when you’re losing hope A guide to advocating for yourself at appointments A creative solutions worksheet for tough situations Affirmations to reclaim your agency Join for free: Uncustomary.org/Positive-Pulse Check out The Feel Good Troop: Uncustomary.org/Feel-Good-Troop

You don’t need to burn your life down to start over. Sometimes you just need to throw a little glitter in the gears. In this episode, I—your resident Joy Trickster and Sacred Disruptor—invite you to rethink what rebellion really looks like. We’re talking about disrupting guilt spirals, tuning into softer frequencies, and letting your weirdness be a form of wisdom. You’ll explore: 🎧 How sacred disruption interrupts burnout culture 🎧 Why joy is a neurological rebellion 🎧 Gentle ways to flip the script (without flipping out) 🎧 How to be your own Trickster friend—and make mischief your medicine ✨ Want more micro-revolutions in your inbox? Check out the 5 Day Reset or the 30 Day Reset as a journey into joyful rebellion and emotional alchemy. It’s the soft revolution you didn’t know you needed. 💖 🔗 5 Day Reset - Uncustomary.org/FeelGood5 🔗 30 Day Reset - Uncustomary.org/Merriment-Reset 🔗 Positive Pulse - Uncustomary.org/Positive-Pulse

What if being a little bad at things was actually the secret to a life that lights you up? In this joyful and insightful conversation, I chat with Brigid Gibson of Vibrant Badass about stress relief, breaking out of perfectionism, and letting joy guide your choices—even when it feels weird, messy, or unproductive. We talk creative identity, stress management tools (like brain dumps and challenge playbooks), and how authenticity is actually the ultimate form of self-care. 🌟 Want more? Check out the replay inside The Positive Pulse, where you’ll find exclusive bonuses for this episode including: Affirmations for releasing pressure Journaling prompts to rediscover joy A 3-part mini challenge to help you try playful discomfort Brigid is a fellow member of Positive Pulse, and you can find her at @vibrantbadass. 📩 Momentum Monday Newsletter Sign up for inspiration & practical magic 📚 Magic Moments Book Grab it on Amazon 📸 Follow on Instagram @vibrantbadass Let this episode be your permission slip to stop “doing it right” and start doing what feels good. Positive Pulse: Uncustomary.org/Positive-Pulse

When you spend your life caring for others, who cares for you? Today, we’re building a Joy Toolkit — a playful, powerful emotional first aid kit that helps caregivers, helpers, and heart-forward humans stay resourced, recharged, and radiant. This episode is especially for the Heartfelt Caregivers — the over-givers, the nurturers, the ones who feel guilty resting. Less about healing, more about sustaining your sparkle. ✨ You’ll discover real tools (plus some delightfully weird ones!) to stock your kit, tips for actually using it, and loving reminders that you matter even when you’re not “producing” or “helping.” We’re reclaiming joy as a necessity — not a luxury. 🎉 Special Announcements at the Beginning! Merriment Makers and Feel Good Troop have officially shifted into Vaults! You have a limited-time discount for lifetime access if you’re a current member — don’t miss out before May 5th! Our Positive Pulse Party is happening TOMORROW (Wednesday, April 30th at 7 PM ET)! Come celebrate with us! 🎈 🎁 Want even more support? Inside Positive Pulse you’ll find free bonus resources: 35 Things to Put in Your Self-Care Kit Playful Toolkit Name Ideas Printable Merriment Missions Cards Personalized Journaling Prompts Link to the 1-Minute Joy Challenge 🛎️ Helpful Links Mentioned in This Episode: Join Positive Pulse for free: https://uncustomary.org/positive-pulse Grab your Merriment Makers Vault: https://uncustomary.org/merriment-makers Grab your Feel Good Troop Vault: https://uncustomary.org/feel-good-troop Get your Merriment Missions Deck: https://uncustomary.org/deck 👉 And don’t forget: Take the free Joy Archetypes Quiz to find out if you’re a Heartfelt Caregiver (and get extra free resources!): https://uncustomary.org/quiz  Let’s build a world where joy is part of the plan — not the prize for surviving it.