The Art of Creating Joy: Clown College Wisdom and Lasting Social Change w/ Aaron Schettler
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Welcome to The Joy Revolution Podcast—where we don’t just talk about happiness, we throw pies at it, juggle with it, and invite it to come flourish with us under the brightest spotlights life has to offer. I’m Marc Cordon, and today I’m joined by Aaron Schettler—a guy who made the leap from the relentless grind of Wall Street to the utterly unpredictable world of the circus ring. Seriously, how many people do you know who’ve traded hedge funds for red noses and slapstick?
But hold up—this isn’t just another “follow your dreams” tale. Aaron’s story is a masterclass in living out loud, a celebration of the messy, exhilarating stuff that happens when you scrap the script society handed you and write your own. We go deep on childhood shyness, what it’s like to grow up in the orbit of a father whose charisma sucked the air out of a room (in the best way), and how embracing the life of a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey clown wasn’t just about circus antics—it was about choosing flourishing over just existing.
Together, we tumble straight into big questions: How do you step off the hedonic treadmill—the endless sprint for pleasure, success, or approval—and stop postponing your joy for some mythical “someday”? What if flourishing means not choosing between the joy of today and the meaning of tomorrow, but blending both, right now, in the wild, present moment?
We’ll juggle lessons old and new (sometimes literally), explore the transformative value of stillness, and get real about the behind-the-scenes grit of circus life—and how every lesson in vulnerability, laughter, and crowd connection shapes not just entertainers…but anyone willing to show up authentically, whether in a ring, a boardroom, or a bustling neighborhood. And, spoiler alert, these hard-won lessons led Aaron right back into the heart of service—as a fierce community-builder and, yes, a financial advisor with his own unique brand of joy.
So, if you’re ready to stop chasing happiness and start living it—if you want tangible insight, raw honesty, and a revolution that starts from within—this episode is for you. Let’s embrace the paradox: balancing purpose and pleasure, finding joy in the mess, and living with the kind of intentionality that not only lights you up, but sparks laughter, connection, and change everywhere you go.
Welcome to your Joy Revolution. Let’s get this circus started.
140 episodes