JOY Unfiltered: Joy is the strategy
Joy Unfiltered is the podcast where joy gets real, grounded, and useful.
Hosted by Rachel Bents, author of Joy Is the Strategy, this show explores joy not as a reward you earn, but as a practical strategy for living, leading, and feeling better in real life.
Each week, you’ll hear honest conversations, solo reflections, and guest episodes that unpack how joy impacts leadership, wellbeing, resilience, mindset, and connection without bypassing hard things or pretending life is perfect.
This podcast is also the heartbeat of two growing movements:
📘 Joy Is the Strategy (the book)
A deeper exploration of how joy works, why it matters, and how choosing it can change your life and leadership.
✨ The Joy Project
A global, joy-first community built on connection, conversation, and collective momentum.
If you’re tired of hustle culture, burned out on forced positivity, or curious what changes when joy becomes the way forward, you’re in the right place.
Joy isn’t the reward.
It’s the strategy.
JOY Unfiltered: Joy is the strategy
Building Vegan Muscle on a Budget
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Think you need a $90 protein powder and a boutique gym membership to build muscle on a vegan diet? Think again. In this episode of Joy Unfiltered, I’m busting the myth that strength gains require deep pockets. With 25 years of plant-based living under my belt - and muscles built during broke, busy, and just plain chaotic seasons - I’m sharing exactly how you can get strong without going broke.
What You’ll Learn:
💪 The 5 budget-friendly habits that fuel real plant-based muscle
🥦 How to shop smart (yes to bulk bins, no to $7 jerky)
📅 Why a loose meal plan saves you more than just time
🏋️ The minimalist workout gear that actually gets results
🍛 How batch cooking keeps your macros and money on point
✨ Plus, some good ol’ mindset truth bombs (as always)
Mentioned in this Episode:
✅ ENJOY Community — your hub for joyful, plant-powered strength
✅ My go-to high-protein vegan meal staples
✅ Why perfection is a myth and action is where it’s at
Links & Resources:
👉 Join the ENJOY Community
👉 Download my free plant-based protein cheat sheet
👉 Follow me on Instagram or LinkedIn
👉 More tips on my website
Subscribe & Review:
Love what you heard? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review. It helps more women find the joy in getting strong, healthy, and energized - without the BS.
Connect with Rachel