Podcast | Joy vs. Happiness: Dr. Judith Joseph on Healing from HFD

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In this episode of the Commune Podcast, Jeff Krasno speaks with psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr. Judith Joseph about high functioning depression (HFD) — a condition she identified through research and clinical practice that affects millions but often goes unnoticed.

Dr. Joseph explains why HFD doesn’t look like “classic” depression, how trauma and scarcity drive overwork and people-pleasing, and why joy and presence are key to healing. Together, they examine how productivity culture masks pain, how technology and social media amplify disconnection, and what practices can help us reclaim everyday joy.

About the Commune Podcast

Hosted by Jeff Krasno, the Commune podcast features thoughtful conversations for modern times. Not always comfortable but definitely needed, we explore both humanity and our human-ness. How can we live healthy, purpose-filled lives and be in service of something bigger? Guests include spiritual teachers, poets, scientists, philosophers, and activists for food sustainability, functional medicine, mental and physical health, and collective healing.