The Thief of Joy
LIVE from Iowa from Steve Deace’s studio, this episode features Moms for Liberty Iowa leaders Geralyn Jones (Linn County Chapter Chair and Secretary of the Iowa Legislative Committee) and Jenn Turner (Polk County Chapter Chair).
Coming off the momentum of hosting the Iowa governor debate the night before, we will take a look behind-the-scenes look at how an ordinary group of moms went from everyday life to welcoming gubernatorial candidates. We will discuss the highlights of the evening and what it takes to step into leadership when you never planned to. Also, we will get personal and practical around the things that quietly steal joy: perfectionism, unrealistic expectations, losing sight of the bigger mission, and allowing selfishness or pride to creep in.
Jenn and Geralyn dig into what it really looks like when joy is stolen in daily life, especially in relationships, working alongside people you didn’t choose, but with whom you share an important mission. Geralyn and Jenn share their own journey through a difficult working relationship, how they learned to grow through tension, and how choosing joy daily transformed not just their effectiveness, but their friendship.
Geralyn also speaks candidly about adversity, being targeted after school board meetings, having her office vandalized while she testified at the Capitol and why she continues to choose joy anyway. The episode underscores the discipline of staying focused on the mission, refusing to get lost in drama, and standing firmly in truth. This episode is a powerful reminder that joy isn’t passive.
It’s a choice made daily, even in the middle of opposition.