About this episode

Dr. Autumn and Joshua Symonette discuss the importance of emotional health in leadership and everyday life.

In this episode of Aligned Living, Dr. Autumn speaks with Joshua Symonette—pastor of Hopeville in Baltimore, nonprofit leader, husband of 23 years, and father of four—to explore the hidden cost of unprocessed emotions in leadership and everyday life. Joshua shares a vulnerable turning point when an unexpected emotional breakdown revealed he had been living in constant problem-solving mode—running on "survival skills" instead of "thriving skills." Together, they unpack why emotional health isn't optional for leaders, why ignoring emotions quietly shapes our relationships and environments, and how practices like silence, slowing down, naming emotions, and prayer help cultivate true wholeness. If you've ever felt like you're holding everything together on the outside while something inside feels off, this conversation offers a powerful invitation to pause, pay attention, and ask one honest question: Why do I feel this way? Intro and Outro Music Credit: Savage by Beat Mekanik, Free Music Archive, License type: CC BY Please visit: www.autumnswain.com [http://autumnswain.com/] Contact: autumn@thealignedleader.org IG: @drautumnswain FB: Autumn Alena Swain Guest Info: Joshua Symonette…

People in this episode

Host: Autumn Swain

Guest: Joshua Symonette

Topics covered

• emotional health
• leadership
• wholeness
• problem-solving
• relationships
• self-awareness

Keywords

• emotions
• leadership
• wholeness
• survival skills
• thriving skills
• self-reflection
• prayer

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hopeville, iamhopeville.com

More episodes of Aligned Living with Dr. Autumn

• Ep 30: What Narratives Shape Your Life? · May 29, 2026 · 27 min
• Ep 27: Refined Through the Stretch: Trusting God in Hard Seasons · March 7, 2026 · 37 min
• Ep 26: The Thought That Changes Everything: A Series Finale on Aligned Living · December 30, 2025 · 39 min
• Ep 25: When Purpose Speaks: Reclaiming Voice and Wholeness · October 10, 2025 · 37 min
• Ep 24: The Body Remembers: Healing Trauma and Realigning with Your True Self · October 2, 2025 · 42 min
• Ep 23 The Courage to Rethink Faith · August 3, 2025 · 31 min

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