Maria Baltazzi - Take a Shot at Happiness

Maria Baltazzi is an Emmy Award winning television producer, traveler, marathon walker who raises money for cancer charities, author and longtime Charity Miler with over 8500 Charity Miles!   Maria recently wrote a book called "Take a Shot at Happiness" which invites and coaches us to explore happiness in our own lives. While Maria discovered that her own "happiness essentials" include faith, self-love and physical health, she encourages people to explore and understand their own personal meanings of happiness. She also draws from her experience as a producer on shows like Survivor to help us all think like storytellers to script, perform in and capture our own reality shows of happiness. Thank you to Maria for sharing so much with us. Thanks also to our sponsors at Factor 75. Eating better is easy with Factor's delicious, ready-to-eat meals. Every fresh, never-frozen meal is chef-crafted, dietitian-approved, and ready to go in just 2-minutes.  You'll have over 35 different options to choose from every week, including Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, and Keto. Also, there are more than 60 add-ons to help you stay fueled up and feeling good all day long.  I've been enjoying Factor for two months now, as I get back in shape. I've lost 15 pounds since starting Factor, and I've taken nearly 90 seconds off my mile pace for my long runs. My favorite things about Factor are:  The variety of meals, all of which have been delicious. The convenience.  They're really ready in less than two minutes which makes the healthy choice the easy choice when it comes to mealtime during a busy/hectic schedule. You all know that we work hard to develop partnerships with brands that we believe in, brands that share our values, and brands that can help us all live healthier and make an impact. That's why we're truly grateful for our partnership with Factor and I hope you'll check them out. Head to Factor75.com and use code MILES to get 50% off your first box while subscription is active.    --- Here are some noteworthy timestamps for the interview.... 02:59 Maria's Journey with Charity Miles 04:08 Maria's Role on Survivor and Connection to Ethan Zohn 06:19 Maria's Transition from Producer to Author 06:46 Understanding Happiness through Survivor 08:27 Maria's Personal Journey to Happiness 09:19 The Role of Storytelling in Happiness 10:06 The Power of Photography in Capturing Happiness 17:06 The Impact of Storytelling on Personal Behavior 25:40 The Foundational Three Elements of Happiness 29:07 Exploring the Concept of Happiness 30:00 Making a Choice for Happiness 31:04 The Role of Education in Happiness 31:47 Personalizing Your Happiness Essentials 33:09 The Importance of Exploration in Happiness 35:13 The Role of Faith in Happiness 37:21 The Problem with Prescriptive Self-Help Books 38:18 Understanding Happiness as a Choice 45:53 Practical Steps to Cultivate Happiness 51:48 The Connection Between Happiness and Resilience