We recently connected with Gabrielle Leonard and have shared our conversation below.

Gabrielle, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

It’s interesting. A while back, I became really fascinated and drawn to the word “joy” in scripture. I remember, towards the end of 2018, preaching this sermon, “Count it All Joy.” The sermon was born out of my curiosity about what it means to count something as joy, as mentioned in James 1:2-4. I find the most life in Scripture when I don’t stop at a surface-level head knowledge. Head knowledge doesn’t transform us, and it surely doesn’t motivate us as effectively as curiosity, awe, and wonder. I had this expectation that maybe there’s more mystery to this word that God would have to unlock for me. This started a trend. I saw joy again in Hebrews 12, “For the joy set before him, he endured the cross.” My curiosity was incessant; I was seeking an embodied knowledge of this same joy that sustained Christ.
In 2019, I attended a workshop where a beloved friend and mentor taught about type A and type B trauma, using research from the Life Model created by Dr. Jim Wilder. She talked about the stages of maturity and used the phrase “return to joy,” a key concept in Life Model material. She explained that our brain is designed to be most optimal when we live from a place of joy. We’ve got all these pathways, and our brain is constantly figuring out how to return to joy. Joy is relational, and we act most like ourselves when we are connected and know someone is glad to be with us. This concept resonated deeply with me.
In the Life Model, neurotheologian Dr. Jim Wilder teaches that from ages zero to three, parents help their children build their joy capacity by constantly helping them return to joy. This joy capacity helps us endure hardship, recover well, and remember who we are. When she said “return to joy,” it clicked for me. After this long journey of thinking, studying, and meditating on joy, hearing that phrase felt like an aha moment. I thought, “Returning to Joy.” Isn’t that the process we are continually on in life? How fascinating of God to design our brains to mirror the longing of our souls. That deep desire to return home and experience relational wholeness with Christ, self, and others. One day, we will fully experience this joy eternally in God’s presence and new creation where nothing will disrupt or hinder it.
Ultimately, Returning to Joy reflects our journey toward God’s relational intent and design for all of creation. While our work produces a variety of fruits, one of the most significant is joy.

Gabrielle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, but my family relocated to Texas after Hurricane Katrina. I graduated from Baylor University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion.
A pivotal moment for me was in late high school when I realized God is near to the brokenhearted, loves me without conditions, and could heal the deep fractures in my heart. That revelation profoundly shaped my life. By 25, I had started my first business, offering marketing and consulting services to Chick-fil-A, Inc., individual franchisees, and small local businesses in San Antonio.
In 2016, I co-founded Wildfire Network, with Taylor Rogers, a microchurch network created to support and equip everyday people to surrender to Jesus, build community, and engage injustices in our city through prayerful action.
Returning to Joy started as a podcast in January of 2020. I wanted a way to communicate through stories how I processed through pain, disappointment, and uncertainty with God. My heart was to demonstrate the possibilities for recovery, perseverance, and healthier relationships with others when we learn to live from God’s voice. This process with God taught me a different way of being and helped me participate in the restorative work needed in my community. Alongside running Returning to Joy as founder and director, I have the pleasure of partnering with the H. E. Butt Foundation to design dialogue strategies like the Shared Tables program, which bridges racial, cultural, and economic divides in San Antonio.
Outside of work, my New Orleans roots fuel my love for good food. I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, traveling, and sharing laughter with friends. Whether I’m writing, teaching, or studying, you’ll often find me enjoying food that brings joy to my heart.

My work is dedicated to fostering wholeness and restoration in both individuals and communities.

At Returning to Joy, we focus on equipping individuals and communities with resources, tools, and learning experiences that nurture healthy attachments to God, self, and others. When people rediscover, embody, and live from the relational connection Jesus intended, it leads to sustainable joy. This joy empowers us to endure suffering and chaos and sustains us as we walk through the process of becoming who God created us to be. Ultimately, this journey of returning to joy fosters repair in a hurting and fractured world.

Our podcast, “Returning to Joy,” is intended to nourish your desire to walk with Jesus and be shaped by His teachings. You can listen to it anywhere you enjoy listening to podcasts. Our online resource center is still in its early stages, but it is expanding steadily. Returningtojoy.com currently offers free downloadable prayer and reflection guides, as well as devotionals. This November, we’ll launch an online course called “Hearing God: Aligning Your Life with God’s Creative Purpose.”  You can subscribe to our newsletter, where I send out new resources, upcoming events, and encouragements to stir your hope.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing our clientele has been to be relatable and accessible. You can’t expect people to just “find you.” Building trust and understanding still requires genuine proximity, even if it’s virtual. Many of the people, nonprofits, and church communities I support today are a result of showing up with a sincere desire to help, motivated by my convictions and obedience to Jesus. People can tell when you’re motivated by self-interest. While we all need resources to live, if your main driver is notoriety or money, accessibility will suffer, and people will find it harder to believe in your message.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

You know that moment when a successful entrepreneur takes the stage and discusses how often they fought their desire to quit? At first, I thought they were just trying to appear relatable and make their success seem more attainable. But now, I realize they were serious.

I’ve had countless moments of intense desire to quit even after experiencing wildly encouraging moments—like seeing the fruits of our work, being sought after to speak, or having the chance to coach and walk alongside people I deeply admire and witness the benefits of my work in their lives. Despite these highs, I still struggle with wanting to give up because it’s hard. Questions like, “Is this valid?” often come to mind, which really means, “Am I valid?” I sometimes wonder why I’m not doing something easier or simpler.

There’s immense pressure to get everything right and an ongoing need to unlearn many things. Yet, I continue because running Returning to Joy is one of the most transformative thing in my life right now. It’s pushing me to become more of who I truly am. I’m shedding old beliefs, learning to love people well, unselfishly and without an agenda. This journey has taught me that my work isn’t and cannot be my identity—because it’s just too volatile. It’s this transformation that keeps me going, despite the challenges. It’s good work, and I believe God’s using it to mold me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.returningtojoy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamgabriellemichelle?igsh=bDNrM2hhYWJ0aDRu&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/GKyW3iD3MVS7TN9m/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-leonard?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/Py0DSgQssw0
• Other: Decision Making with God Guide: https://www.returningtojoy.com/decisionmaking
  Soul Care Guide: http://returningtojoy.com//product-page/soul-care-guide

Image Credits

Esther Makau Photography