What if you’re not actually bad at having fun? What if you’ve just been looking for it in the wrong places?

In this episode of the Music is Therapy podcast, DJ and licensed therapist Hesta Prynn sits down with comedian and writer Josh Gondelman for an honest, funny, and genuinely useful conversation about what it actually means to have a good time. Josh Gondelman is a former writer for Desus & Mero and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and one of the most thoughtful optimists working in comedy today. Together, he and Hesta conduct a full Fun Audit — diagnosing what’s actually fun versus what adults have agreed to pretend is fun. Pickleball. Farmer’s markets. Music festivals. Therapy. Nothing is safe.

But the real music is therapy conversation is about friendship. About the spontaneous phone call versus the scheduled catch-up. About sending someone a song when you’re thinking of them instead of posting it into the void. About showing up for people in the small, consistent ways that actually keep relationships alive — even when you keep missing the big moments.

Josh Gondelman talks about staying optimistic when it takes real work, the concept of being a Beastie Boys Jew, why “play” might be a more useful word than “fun,” and the smallest possible adventure you can go on this week. (Hint: it involves walking into a store you’ve passed a hundred times and never entered.)

By the end of Music is Therapy , the answer is clear: fun isn’t something you chase. It’s something you create — in the margins, with the people who matter, in the places you’ve been ignoring.

This week’s challenge: What’s one small thing you could do today to make your life 5% more interesting? Go do that.

Music Connection Therapy July 1 LIVE Workshop:
The Soulful Art of Persuasion by Jason Harris — Music is Therapy free Zoom workshop July 1st at 12:15pm ET 
https://mct.hestaprynn.com/july-1

June Playlist: Therapy, DJ Set or Vacation: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/70qa5enke0r7kHtOSPockT?si=9c869d6e19564842

Connect with Josh Gondelman:
Standup Special "Positive Reinforcement"
Newsletter
Website

Connect with DJ Hesta Prynn and Music is Therapy:

https://hestaprynn.substack.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hestaprynnmusic
Send Hesta your fun songs: musicistherapypod@gmail.com

Music is Therapy is a production of iHeart Podcasts. Hosted by Hesta Prynn. New episodes every week.

What if you&rsquo;re not actually bad at having fun? What if you&rsquo;ve just been looking for it in the wrong places?
In this episode of the Music is Therapy podcast, DJ and licensed therapist Hesta Prynn sits down with comedian and writer Josh Gondelman for an honest, funny, and genuinely useful conversation about what it actually means to have a good time. Josh Gondelman is a former writer for&nbsp;Desus &amp; Mero&nbsp;and&nbsp;Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and one of the most thoughtful optimists working in comedy today. Together, he and Hesta conduct a full&nbsp;Fun Audit&nbsp;&mdash; diagnosing what&rsquo;s actually fun versus what adults have agreed to pretend is fun. Pickleball. Farmer&rsquo;s markets. Music festivals. Therapy. Nothing is safe.
But the real music is therapy conversation is about friendship. About the spontaneous phone call versus the scheduled catch-up. About sending someone a song when you&rsquo;re thinking of them instead of posting it into the void. About showing up for people in the small, consistent ways that actually keep relationships alive &mdash; even when you keep missing the big moments.
Josh Gondelman talks about staying optimistic when it takes real work, the concept of being a Beastie Boys Jew, why &ldquo;play&rdquo; might be a more useful word than &ldquo;fun,&rdquo; and the smallest possible adventure you can go on this week. (Hint: it involves walking into a store you&rsquo;ve passed a hundred times and never entered.)
By the end of Music is Therapy , the answer is clear: fun isn&rsquo;t something you chase. It&rsquo;s something you create &mdash; in the margins, with the people who matter, in the places you&rsquo;ve been ignoring.
This week&rsquo;s challenge: What&rsquo;s one small thing you could do today to make your life 5% more interesting? Go do that.
Music Connection Therapy July 1 LIVE Workshop: The Soulful Art of Persuasion&nbsp;by Jason Harris &mdash; Music is Therapy free Zoom workshop July 1st at 12:15pm ET&nbsp; <a href="https://mct.hestaprynn.com/july-1" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mct.hestaprynn.com/july-1&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781319590583000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3HAgSyBxIofuy_6SunswuY">https://mct.hestaprynn.com/july-1</a>
June Playlist:&nbsp;Therapy, DJ Set or Vacation:&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/70qa5enke0r7kHtOSPockT?si=9c869d6e19564842" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/70qa5enke0r7kHtOSPockT?si%3D9c869d6e19564842&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781319590583000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1bEvd5TaXPnv8xQBqgaya0">https://open.spotify.com/playlist/70qa5enke0r7kHtOSPockT?si=9c869d6e19564842</a> Connect with Josh Gondelman: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAvNlgpdKKo" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DRAvNlgpdKKo&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782498059225000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1JKikvSv8_OSRPC3EjPSyJ">Standup Special "Positive Reinforcement"</a> <a href="http://www.thatsmarvelousnewsletter.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.thatsmarvelousnewsletter.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782498059225000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0WhVFMG8DTZ61Vkurl3g9m">Newsletter</a> <a href="http://www.joshgondelman.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.joshgondelman.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782498059225000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ND98pU9ZiBcrSUltCc4RL">Website</a>
Connect with DJ Hesta Prynn and Music is Therapy:
<a href="https://hestaprynn.substack.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://hestaprynn.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781319590583000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3fuZnfkZNQ_UwVLIBLhoF_">https://hestaprynn.substack.com/ </a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hestaprynnmusic">https://www.instagram.com/hestaprynnmusic</a> Send Hesta your fun songs: <a href="mailto:musicistherapypod@gmail.com">musicistherapypod@gmail.com</a>
Music is Therapy&nbsp;is a production of iHeart Podcasts. Hosted by Hesta Prynn. New episodes every week.

A Jay-Z song changed my net worth.

What if the song you can’t stop playing isn’t random? What if it’s pointing to something you want - or someone you’re becoming?

DJ Hesta Prynn’s Music Is Therapy is a podcast about identity - and how music shapes the way we see ourselves, make decisions, and move through the world.

Hosted by Hesta Prynn, an NYC-based DJ and licensed therapist, each month focuses on one area of life - money, love, self-worth, relationships, career - using music not as entertainment, but as a tool.

Through personal storytelling, conversations with experts, and Hesta’s Music Connection Therapy method, the show explores how the songs you love can help you shift how you show up in your life.

This is not just a podcast.  It's unconventional therapy for your entire life. 

Music is Therapy - your session starts now.

A Jay-Z song changed my net worth.
What if the song you can&rsquo;t stop playing isn&rsquo;t random? What if it&rsquo;s pointing to something you want - or someone you&rsquo;re becoming?
DJ Hesta Prynn&rsquo;s Music Is Therapy is a podcast about identity - and how music shapes the way we see ourselves, make decisions, and move through the world.
Hosted by Hesta Prynn, an NYC-based DJ and licensed therapist, each month focuses on one area of life - money, love, self-worth, relationships, career - using music not as entertainment, but as a tool.
Through personal storytelling, conversations with experts, and Hesta&rsquo;s Music Connection Therapy method, the show explores how the songs you love can help you shift how you show up in your life.
This is not just a podcast.&nbsp; It's unconventional therapy for your entire life.&nbsp;
Music is Therapy - your session starts now.

DJ Hesta Prynn's Music is Therapy

A Jay-Z song changed my net worth.

What if the song you can’t stop playing isn’t random?
What if it’s pointing to something you want -
or someone you’re becoming?

DJ Hesta Prynn’s Music Is Therapy is a podcast about identity - and how music shapes the way we see ourselves, make decisions, and move through the world.

Hosted by Hesta Prynn, an NYC-based DJ and licensed therapist, each month focuses on one area of life - money, love, self-worth, relationships, career - using music not as entertainment, but as a tool.

Through personal storytelling, conversations with experts, and Hesta’s Music Connection Therapy method, the show explores how the songs you love can help you shift how you show up in your life.

This is not just a podcast. 

It's unconventional therapy for your entire life. 

Music is Therapy - your session starts now.

A Jay-Z song changed my net worth.
What if the song you can&rsquo;t stop playing isn&rsquo;t random? What if it&rsquo;s pointing to something you want - or someone you&rsquo;re becoming?
DJ Hesta Prynn&rsquo;s&nbsp;Music Is Therapy&nbsp;is a podcast about identity - and how music shapes the way we see ourselves, make decisions, and move through the world.
Hosted by Hesta Prynn, an NYC-based DJ and licensed therapist, each month focuses on one area of life - money, love, self-worth, relationships, career - using music not as entertainment, but as a tool.
Through personal storytelling, conversations with experts, and Hesta&rsquo;s Music Connection Therapy method, the show explores how the songs you love can help you shift how you show up in your life.
This is not just a podcast.&nbsp;
It's unconventional therapy for your entire life.&nbsp;
Music is Therapy&nbsp;- your session starts now.

Fun is Not a Destination: A Fun Audit with Comedian Josh Gondelman on Music is Therapy with DJ Hesta Prynn

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/53fe32d6-3b15-4ece-b7a1-b47400363d48/transcript