Podcast Summary: We Can Do Hard Things

Episode: Follow the Tingle with Justina Blakeney
Hosts: Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle, Brené Brown (guest hosting)
Guest: Justina Blakeney
Release Date: January 27, 2026

Overview

In this rich and uplifting episode, the Pod Squad — Glennon, Abby, Amanda, and Brené — are joined by designer, artist, and creative force Justina Blakeney. The conversation centers around the idea of "the tingle": that spark of creativity and delight that leads us back to our authentic selves. Justina shares how she finds and follows her own tingle, cultivating self-respect and harmony in her art, home, and life. The episode dives deep into belonging, sovereignty, discipline, intuition, and the challenges of both chasing and maintaining joy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reframing Resolutions (00:00–02:58)

• The Pod Squad opens the conversation by poking fun at failed resolutions, championing self-acceptance over self-fixing.
• Amanda suggests, "Why don't we resolve to not change ourselves and just get to know who the hell we are underneath all that we desire to change?" (00:34)
• The path to authenticity: Instead of forcing change, trust what delights you — your "tingle" — as a clue to who you are.

2. Meet Justina: Living Close to the Wild (02:58–05:35)

• Glennon admires Justina's authentic, inside-out way of living: "You seem like a human being who lives very from the inside out and not from the outside in." (02:58)
• A memorable anecdote: Justina and Emily forge a connection through an awkward post-pandemic eye-staring exercise, symbolizing instant intimacy.

3. On Belonging & Finding Freedom (06:27–11:22)

• Justina’s multicultural background gave her both ambiguity and adaptability — a "hack" for feeling belonging wherever she went.
• "My parents made a pretty concerted effort not to put any kind of identity onto us as we were growing up... it allowed me the freedom to be on a journey to figure out what that meant for myself." (Justina, 09:48)
• Glennon connects Maya Angelou’s wisdom: "You are only free when you realize you belong no place. You belong every place — no place at all... And more and more, I belong to myself." (10:22)

4. The Power of Self-Sovereignty & Self-Respect (11:35–17:53)

• Brené recounts Justina’s mantra at a lunch: “It’s for the good of the realm,” emphasizing individual choices that serve broader well-being (12:15).
• Justina expands on this with a focus on self-respect: "Something that really hit me hard that I don’t feel like is as much part of the conversation is self respect... it’s making myself feel respected by myself that I think is really important." (13:00–15:13)
• Self-respect as an encouraging — not shaming — inner voice: "It’s a kind voice, but it’ll kind of whoop your ass a little bit."
• Emily observes: "If I think through that lens, like of needing to have respect for myself, automatically that voice softens a little." (17:16)

5. How Meditation & Listening to the Body Unfolded (23:03–29:54)

• Justina shares a turning point: ignoring her persistent digestive issues until an "inner voice" finally screamed, "You are not listening." (23:41)
• Starting small, with five minutes of meditation and somatic awareness, led her to slowly decode her body’s signals and needs.
• "Now, three years in, I am so much healthier and happier... that mindfulness piece... is a game changer." (Justina, 28:14)

6. Intuition, Life Force, and Making Decisions (29:54–33:54)

• Meditation has helped Justina feel her "life force" — clarity on what drains or feeds her.
• Business decisions are now filtered by whether they “add to or drain” her life force: "That is the measure by which I'm currently evaluating all my business decisions. Is it giving life or is it taking it away?" (Justina, 31:02)
• Glennon recognizes this as the spark behind Justina’s Jungleo style: seeking vitality, color, and vibrancy.

7. Following the Tingle & Intrinsic Motivation (33:54–37:50)

• Glennon: "Is following the tingly how you do all of your next creative decisions?" (33:54)
• Justina: "Yeah, I am just trying to follow the tingly... I actually have this, like, wacky woo woo theory that if everybody in the world was following their tingle... the world would be perfect." (34:13)
• Intrinsic motivation remains key, especially as Justina transitions from design to painting. She finds joy in loving her own art more over time, cherishing her unique voice regardless of external validation.

8. The Sacredness of Stuff, Spaces, and Beauty (41:20–49:44)

• Justina collects objects and art that tell her life story. Her home becomes an evolving autobiography and a way to be "known."
• "I love experiencing that not just with myself, but with others... it’s stories, you know, it’s beautiful stories." (Justina, 49:13)
• She draws parallels to visiting Frida Kahlo’s home and feeling her presence in her possessions.
• Acknowledges the personal nature of beauty and the need to “find the resonances” that spark joy.

9. Creativity, Discipline, and Maintenance Energy (44:01–54:05)

• Justina admits, "I'm not at risk of becoming too rigid... I definitely lean in the other direction of the too wild." (44:01)
• She needs discipline for non-creative tasks, not for creativity itself, and relies on routines/rituals (meditation, journaling) to keep centered.
• The struggle of "maintenance energy" versus "challenge energy" comes up: maintaining wellness goals, business rhythms, and a slower life pace can feel less tingly but are vital.
  • Glennon: "Maintenance energy is very different than challenge energy.” (52:58)
  • Justina: "It's really hard to feel the tingles when you're moving really quickly... and getting more comfortable in that maintenance energy." (53:42)

10. Harmony, Dreams, and What’s Next (56:04–59:44)

• Justina is co-authoring a book with her mom (a psychologist) about growing through transitions, complete with an oracle card deck: "That's been just such a beautiful, soulful project." (58:05)
• She’s also starting a “Song Club,” returning to her love for communal singing and harmony: "I think it's so incredibly healing to sing in community." (58:33)
• Brené ties it together: “How you make a beautiful space and how you make a beautiful life, and harmony is part of all of that.” (59:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Amanda: “Why don’t we resolve to not change ourselves and just get to know who the hell we are underneath all that we desire to change?” (00:34)
• Justina: “It feels good to be known.” (05:50)
• Glennon: “Much of my anorexia control, rigidity was about suppressing life force.” (32:20)
• Justina: “If everybody in the world was following their tingle to their most tingliest tingle, the world would be perfect.” (34:30)
• Brené: “What you’re doing — it’s not just about spaces. It’s about making your life express who you are and having harmony in it.” (58:57)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–02:58: Rejecting resolutions; introducing the “tingle”
• 06:27–11:22: Belonging, identity, and freedom
• 13:00–17:53: Self-respect and self-sovereignty
• 23:41–28:24: Justina’s crisis, ignoring her body, and starting meditation
• 31:02–33:54: Life force as a guide for decisions
• 34:13–37:50: The global necessity of “following the tingle”
• 44:01–46:08: Creativity and discipline: rituals over rigidity
• 49:44–50:06: Minimalism vs. maximalism: the art of making a home your own
• 52:58–54:05: The challenge of "maintenance energy"
• 56:04–59:44: Upcoming projects: the “Grow” book and “Song Club,” ending with a harmony metaphor

Tone & Style

The conversation is playful, candid, and encouraging, warm with laughter, self-deprecation, and mutual admiration. The Pod Squad’s trademark chemistry is present, and Justina’s wisdom radiates as accessible and actionable, especially for listeners feeling stuck or yearning for more creative delight in everyday life.

Conclusion

This episode is a celebration of living from the inside out, following what lights you up, and respecting yourself enough to listen deeply. Through honest stories, practical rituals, and soulful encouragement, Justina inspires the Pod Squad and listeners alike to “track your tingle” — and shape a life and home that sing in harmony with your truest self.