Flourish FM

About this episode:    Michael Easter is a journalist, professor, and bestselling author who writes about how modern environments shape human behavior, health, and performance. He’s best known for translating scientific research and immersive reporting into practical insights about living better in an age of abundance.    Michael is the author of two New York Times bestsellers: The Comfort Crisis (2021) and Scarcity Brain (2023). Comfort Crisis explores how modern life has become too easy and why seeking out purposeful discomfort can improve our mental and physical health. Scarcity Brain examines how evolved human instincts collide with today’s world of endless food, information, and stimulation, leading to overconsumption and addictive behaviors.    Michael’s work has appeared in over sixty countries and in media outlets including Men’s Health, Outside, New York, Scientific American, Esquire, and Vice. Through his writing and speaking, he focuses on how people can design their environments and habits to live healthier, more intentional lives in a world built for comfort and excess. His work has been adopted by NASA, special forces units, Fortune 500 companies, top pro teams, and millions of readers worldwide. Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast   Links: Website LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Facebook Book: The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self (2021) Book: Scarcity Brain: Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough (2023) Newsletter: Two Percent   02:35 Why Discomfort Matters 04:25 Stress Sweet Spot 07:42 First World Problems 12:37 Arctic Reset Story 17:19 Boredom as Signal 21:24 Unpleasant Emotions Help 24:47 Misogi Annual Challenge 28:12 Physical or Mental Misogi 28:41 Sushi Fear Breakthrough 29:41 Anti Fragile Academy Update 31:12 Chosen Stress And Proactivity 33:39 Beneficial Versus Harmful Stress 36:01 Finding The Sweet Spot 38:11 Daily 2 Percent Mindset 42:13 Movement Culture And Walking 43:32 Why Walk With Weight 48:31 Rucking Gear And Sex Differences 50:06 Designing Environments For Discipline

About this episode:    Karen Guggenheim is a pioneer in the global happiness movement, a leader in promoting the science behind well-being to an international audience, and a motivational speaker inspiring people about how to grow post trauma and rebuild a life focused on meaning, purpose, and happiness.    Kareni is author of Cultivating Happiness: Overcome Trauma and Positively Transform Your Life (2024), and has given a TED Talk entitled “The Bridge to Happiness.” She is the producer of the World Happiness Summit®, a leading well-being conference promoting the benefits of an evidence-based approach to increase happiness in all areas of life. She is also CEO of WOHASU®, the comprehensive wellbeing ecosystem named after the Summit which is inspiring a fast-growing movement sending a positive rippling effect around the world.   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast   Links: Website LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Facebook Book: Cultivating Happiness: Overcome Trauma and Positively Transform Your Life (2024) TED Talk: “The Bridge to Happiness” (2024) World Happiness Summit: listeners get a 20% discount to the 2026 Summit with the code “FLOURISH” 00:00 Meet Karen Guggenheim 00:59 Why Trauma and Happiness 02:39 Loss and Choosing Life 05:28 Meaning as a Shield 09:09 From Accidental to Intentional 12:12 Relationships and Legacy 16:07 World Happiness Summit Origins 20:59 WOHASU Discount Details 21:48 Defining Post Traumatic Growth 25:31 Beyond Positivity Mindset 27:23 Gratitude As Reset 28:45 Presence Through Grief 30:02 Practical Happiness Tools 33:52 Design Your Day 37:53 Acceptance Not Suppression 40:13 Values As Lighthouse 43:23 Forgiveness Frees Energy 44:59 Choose Life Focus 46:38 Explorer Mindset 48:38 Summit And Farewell

About this episode:    Annie Duke is an author, speaker, and consultant in the decision-making space. She loves to dive deep into decision-making under uncertainty. Her latest obsession is on the topic of quitting. In particular, she is on a mission to rehabilitate the term “quitting” and get people to be proud of walking away from things.    Annie is the author of two bestsellers, Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away (2022), and Thinking in Bets (2018). As a former professional poker player, she has won more than $4 million in tournament poker. During her career, Annie won a World Series of Poker bracelet and is the only woman to have won the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions and the NBC National Poker Heads-Up Championship.    Annie retired from poker in 2012. Prior to becoming a professional poker player, she was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship to study Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her master’s degree. In 2023, Annie completed her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology.    Annie is the co-founder of The Alliance for Decision Education, a non-profit whose mission is to improve lives by empowering students through decision skills education.      Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast   Links: Website Substack LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Twitter Facebook The Alliance for Decision Education Make Better Decisions course on Maven Decision Education Podcast   00:00 Meet Dr. Annie Duke: Decision-Making, Poker, and the Case for Quitting 05:22 Defining a “Good Decision”: Goals, Values, and the Four Quadrants 09:14 Luck vs. Choice: Avoiding Nihilism and Leaning Into Uncertainty 12:49 Sponsor Break: The Anti-Fragile Academy 14:21 Decision-Making for Flourishing: Agency Without Illusions of Control 18:33 Quitting Well: Updating Beliefs, Identity Threats, and Mental Time Travel 28:03 Quitting, Happiness & the Forecasting Problem (Tying the Strands Together) 29:38 Why We Misread Our Values—and Resist Changing Course 30:52 The ‘Future Unhappy’ Exercise: Mental Time Travel for Better Decisions 32:42 Get Outside Perspectives (Independently): Friends, Mentors & Written Answers 34:11 Real-World Example: Forecasting Reveals It’s Time to Shut the Business Down 35:15 Why Focus on What Could Go Wrong: Optimism, Faster Pivots & Opportunity Cost 37:01 Flourishing Takeaway: Tech-Free Savoring Walks (and the Dog Rule) 43:26 Flow, Sports & Real Connection: Pickleball/Tennis as Tech-Free Joy 46:10 Wrap-Up: Courses, Decision Education in K–12, and Final Thanks

About this episode:   Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky is the world’s preeminent expert on happiness. She is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and is the author of The Myths of Happiness and the bestseller The How of Happiness, which have been published in 39 countries. Her next book, co-authored with Harry Reis, is coming out in February and is titled, How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most.   Sonja received her degrees from Harvard and Stanford. She has been awarded many grants and honors for her research, which focuses on how and why happiness can shift over time, and how to build lasting happiness via gratitude, kindness, and connection interventions.    Sonja’s work has been written up in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, and she has appeared on multiple TV shows, radio shows, and feature documentaries worldwide.    Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast   Links: Website The Happiness Files Newsletter Elevate Your Happiness Membership LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Facebook Books Happiness and Mindset Quizzes Google Scholar   02:05 Defining Happiness  03:56 Happiness and Human Flourishing 07:17 The Benefits of Happiness 11:56 Effective Happiness Interventions 13:55 Gratitude Interventions 21:35 Acts of Kindness and Their Impact 23:38 Connection Interventions and Upcoming Book 28:14 Understanding Loneliness and Connection 29:51 Introducing the New Book: How to Feel Loved 33:26 Mindsets for Feeling Loved 39:23 The Role of Negative Emotions 41:20 The Power of Gratitude 45:33 The Secret to Happiness: Deep Conversations 50:11 Holiday Conversations and Final Thoughts

Sonya Looney is a World Champion mountain biker with nearly two decades of elite racing experience across 25+ countries, earning titles including 2015 World Champion and four times USA National Champion. Her unique background combines endurance sports with a deep expertise in positive psychology. She holds a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Electrical Engineering with a focus on neuroscience.   Driven by her passion for personal growth and well-being, Sonya focuses on helping high performers navigate perfectionism and balanced striving while cultivating vitality, purpose, and resilience. Known for her infectious energy and relentless curiosity, she is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach dedicated to guiding others toward meaningful accomplishments – without burning out.   Through her work as a TEDx speaker, podcast host, consultant, writer, and professional speaker, Sonya brings her knowledge and experiences to life. As the host of the Grow the Good podcast, Sonya inspires listeners by diving into topics like grit, mindset, self-worth, purpose, success, and healthy striving.  Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Links: Website Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Facebook Twitter Grow the Good podcast Timestamps: 00:02:30 - Sonia's Background and Journey 00:05:00 - Interdisciplinary Approach to Well-being and Performance 00:07:00 - Defining Well-being and Balance 00:09:00 - Problems with Sacrificing Well-being 00:11:00 - The Role of Relationships in High Performance 00:14:00 - Mastery vs. Outcome-focused Goals 00:15:00 - Meaningful Accomplishment 00:18:00 - Social Contribution and Mattering 00:19:00 - The Dark Side of Meaningful Work 00:20:00 - Balancing Vitality and Meaningful Work 00:24:00 - Personal Fulfilling Goals vs. Meaningful Otherish Goals 00:25:00 - Building on the Initial Model 00:27:00 - The Six Striving Mindsets 00:29:00 - The Importance of Belonging 00:30:00 - The Role of Recognition and Self-acceptance 00:32:00 - Practical Advice for Finding and Maintaining Meaningful Accomplishments 00:33:00 - The Importance of Savoring and Celebrating Wins

Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, M.D., is Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London, and a consultant psychiatrist for the NHS in London. She studies the effects, action, use and representation of psychiatric drugs, including antidepressants and antipsychotics, and has also written about the history and philosophy of psychiatry.    Joanna has published several books, the most recent of which is Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth (2025). Her previous books include The Myth of the Chemical Cure, The Bitterest Pills and A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs.   Joanna has written for The Guardian, Daily Mail, The Conversation, Literary Review, was profiled in The Spectator and has been interviewed for Channel 4’s Ways to Change the World Podcast, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s Feel Better, Live More podcast, The Guardian’s Science Weekly podcast and the Evening Standard’s Tech and Science Daily, among others.    Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast   Links: Website University College London webpage Twitter Publications Google Scholar Psychology Today blog Timestamps:   [00:03:04] Critical psychiatry's alternative perspective. [00:04:10] Questioning the pharmaceutical industry's dominance. [00:09:40] Emotional reactions to personal loss. [00:14:00] Serotonin theory of depression. [00:17:27] SSRIs versus benzodiazepines distinction. [00:21:44] Biological vs. psychological treatment approaches. [00:27:50] Flourishing despite mental illness. [00:30:56] The role of suffering. [00:36:09] Emotions as signals for change. [00:42:07] Psychedelics and depression treatment. [00:46:19] Depression's complex nature. [00:48:38] Finding purpose in life.

Dr. Laurie Santos is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University and one of the world’s leading experts on the science of happiness. She is also an expert on the evolutionary origins of human cognition and the ways our minds lie to us about what makes us happy.    Laurie’s course at Yale, “Psychology and the Good Life,” teaches students how the science of psychology can help us make wiser choices and live a happier and more fulfilling life. It’s the most popular class ever taught at Yale, with almost one out of four students enrolled. It has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times, [and] NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, GQ Magazine and Slate. The publicly available online version of the class, called “The Science of Well-Being,” has attracted more than 4 million learners worldwide.   Laurie has won numerous awards, both for her science and teaching. She was recently voted one of Popular Science Magazine’s “Brilliant 10” young minds and was named in Time Magazine as a “Leading Campus Celebrity.” Her podcast, The Happiness Lab, is a top-3 Apple podcast which has attracted over 100 million downloads. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Links: Website Yale webpage Yale course: “The Science of Well-Being” (publicly available version of the most popular class in Yale’s history) Podcast: The Happiness Lab Google Scholar Recent article: “Laurie Santos’ Pursuit of Happiness,” The New Yorker, March 19, 2025 Instagram LinkedIn YouTube TikTok Facebook Twitter Timestamps: [00:02:46] Definition of happiness. [00:04:09] Balancing affective and cognitive happiness. [00:06:57] Happiness in vs. Happiness with. [00:10:25] Misunderstandings about happiness. [00:12:27] Evolutionary perspective on happiness. [00:16:09] Happiness is within our control. [00:19:08] Pursuing happiness the wrong way. [00:23:14] Misguided happiness metrics. [00:31:40] Social comparison and happiness. [00:35:25] College student mental health crisis. [00:39:05] Changing thought patterns for happiness. [00:45:06] Parenting practices and discomfort. [00:48:10] Practical steps for happiness.

Dr. Judith Joseph MD, MBA is a world-renowned, board-certified psychiatrist and researcher specializing in mental health and trauma. She is the founder and chief investigator at New York City’s premier clinical research base, Manhattan Behavioral Medicine, assistant professor in child and adolescent psychiatry at New York University, and chair of the Women in Medicine Board at Columbia University.    Judith conducted the world’s first peer-reviewed clinical research study on high functioning depression in her laboratories. She recently published her instant national bestselling book based on her findings from this study, High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy (2025). She has become the world’s leading voice on high functioning depression.   Judith received a 2023 Congressional Proclamation from the US house of representatives for her social media advocacy and research in mental health. She has received several awards, including Share Care Awards in 2020 and 2023 for her MedCircle series on PTSD and a Good Morning America investigative special on ADHD. In 2025, Judith was featured as a Mental Health Thought Leader on CNN’s Game Changers series. She has written for or been quoted in media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post and Forbes, and has been featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Oprah Daily and more.    Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast   Links: Website NYU webpage Book: High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy (Penguin Random House, 2025) Podcast: The Vault with Dr. Judith High Functioning Depression and Anhedonia quizzes Psychology Today page Google Scholar Instagram LinkedIn YouTube TikTok Facebook     Timestamps:   [00:02:19] Understanding high functioning depression. [00:09:06] High functioning depression explained. [00:14:05] Anhedonia and trauma connection. [00:19:28] Pathologically productive behaviors. [00:20:44] Joy and technology's impact. [00:25:17] Joy vs. pleasure in happiness. [00:28:46] The hedonic treadmill explained. [00:32:45] Awareness of anhedonia in therapy. [00:35:43] Role of gratitude in healing. [00:39:49] Gratitude practices for mental health. [00:42:39] Tapping into your values. [00:45:38] Overcoming hidden depression.

Shigehiro Oishi, Ph.D., is the Marshall Field IV Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago, and a leader in the study of happiness, psychological well-being, the experience of a meaningful life and cultural psychology. He has published over 200 journal articles and book chapters with over 100,000 citations. He is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and won the 2017 Society of Experimental Social Psychology Career Trajectory Award, the 2018 Carol and Ed Diener Award from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, and the 2021 Outstanding Achievement Award for Advancing Cultural Psychology.    Shigehiro’s research focuses on culture, social ecology, and well-being. His most recent book is Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life (Penguin Random House, 2025). His research lab is particularly interested in investigating questions about the concept of well-being, such as “What is a good life?”, the predictors of well-being, such as “What are the predictors of a good life?”, and the consequences of well-being, such as “Are there benefits to a happy/meaningful/psychologically rich life?”. He is also interested in how the concepts, predictors, and consequences of well-being might differ across cultures.    Shigehiro’s research also explores socio-ecological conditions that are detrimental or conducive to well-being, such as income inequality, residential mobility, and walkability. Currently, he is focusing on the effects of economic inequality and residential mobility on the well-being of individuals and communities.    Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast   Links: University of Chicago webpage Book: Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life (Penguin Random House, 2025) Article: “A Psychologically Rich Life: Beyond Happiness and Meaning” (Psychological Review, 2021, with Erin Westgate)  Google Scholar LinkedIn Twitter (X)  Timestamps:   00:01:00 - Anticipation for the Conversation Hosts express their excitement about the conversation and discuss the relevance of psychological richness. 00:02:09 - Defining a Good Life Dr. Oishi discusses the empirical consensus on what constitutes a good life, including subjective well-being and meaningful life. 00:07:11 - Psychological Richness Defined Dr. Oishi defines psychological richness and provides examples of experiences that contribute to it. 00:08:49 - Distinguishing Meaning from Richness Discussion on how psychological richness differs from a meaningful life and the role of perspective-changing experiences. 00:11:34 - Personal Experiences and Psychological Richness Hosts share personal experiences that resonate with the concept of psychological richness. 00:13:10 - Values and Psychological Richness Dr. Oishi explains how different value orientations can lead to the pursuit of psychological richness. 00:19:05 - Biological Predispositions and Values Discussion on the role of biological predispositions and upbringing in shaping values and the pursuit of psychological richness. 00:26:39 - Flourishing and Its Relationship with Happiness, Meaning, and Richness Dr. Oishi's perspective on flourishing and how it can be achieved through happiness, meaning, or psychological richness. 00:30:08 - Obituary Study on Flourishing Lives Findings from a study analyzing obituaries to identify lives that were happy, meaningful, and psychologically rich. 00:32:00 - Regrets and Psychological Richness Research findings on how undoing life's biggest regrets could lead to a more psychologically rich life. 00:36:22 - Preference for Security Over Adventure Discussion on why people might prefer security and stability over the adventurous pursuit of psychological richness. 00:41:35 - Criteria for Psychological Richness Dr. Oishi explains the threshold for an experience to be considered psychologically rich. 00:43:35 - Emotional Complexity in Psychological Richness The relationship between psychological richness and the experience of both positive and negative emotions. 00:44:17 - Practical Steps for a Psychologically Rich Life Dr. Oishi shares practical advice for living a more psychologically rich life, including being playful and saying yes to new experiences. 00:48:24 - Flourishing Question Dr. Oishi's advice on flourishing, emphasizing the importance of saying yes to new experiences. 00:49:00 - Conclusion and Contact Information Closing remarks, where to find more about Dr. Oishi's work, and current research focus.  

Paul J. Zak is a professor at Claremont Graduate University, where he directs the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies. He is ranked in the top 0.3% of the world’s most cited scientists, with over 200 published papers and more than 20,000 citations to his research. Paul’s two decades of research have taken him from the Pentagon to Fortune 50 boardrooms to the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. Along the way he helped start a number of interdisciplinary fields including neuroeconomics, neuromanagement, and neuromarketing.    Paul has written four general audience books and is a regular TED speaker. His latest book, The Little Book of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Living Better (2025) aims to show people how to live a longer, happier and healthier life by investing in improved relationships. Zak’s other books are Immersion: The Science of the Extraordinary and Source of Happiness (2022), Trust Factor: The Science of Creating High Performance Companies (2017) and The Moral Molecule: The Source of Love and Prosperity (2012).    Trust Factor applies neuroscience to efficiently build high-performance organizations by creating a culture of trust. The Moral Molecule received much attention for Zak’s discovery of the key role played by the neurochemical oxytocin to explain virtuous behaviors and happiness. Zak delivered a TED Talk titled “Trust, Morality—and Oxytocin?” in 2011 that has been viewed two million times. He also co-founded the first neuroscience-as-a-service (NaaS) company, Immersion Neuroscience. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Links: Website Claremont Graduate University webpage Most recent book: The Little Book of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Living Better (2025) Other books Six: emotional fitness app LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Google Scholar “The Neuroscience of Trust,” Harvard Business Review, 2017 Timestamps: [00:05:08] PlaySpan and human flourishing. [00:09:46] Investing in relationships. [00:10:41] Stress and bonding experiences. [00:18:17] Strategies for improving relationships. [00:28:55] Six high value experiences daily. [00:35:35] Optimizing high-value experiences. [00:39:12] Neuroscience of trust. [00:46:27] Trust's role in flourishing. [00:48:27] Strengthening relationships daily.  

Michael Mannino, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist, AI expert, educator, and philosopher, whose work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, ethics, neuroscience, and optimal human performance. He holds a Ph.D. in Computational Cognitive Neuroscience, an M.A. in Philosophy, and a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Science. He is an adjunct professor, and has taught AI ethics, cognitive psychology, critical thinking, and applied neuroscience.  Michael has led multiple initiatives focused on the responsible development, education, and application of AI, including serving as the Director of AI Center at Miami Dade College, and the Director of Programs at the Institute for Data Science and Computing at University of Miami. He also served as the Chief Science Officer at the Flow Research Collective, founded by Steven Kotler, where he researched the science that underscores ultimate human performance, flow, and well-being.  Michael’s current work integrates brain science, technology, and systems thinking to optimize team performance. What drives his work is a belief in human potential and consciousness – particularly how science and technology can be used to expand it responsibly. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Timestamps: [00:01:15] AI and human flourishing. [00:05:06] Definition of human flourishing. [00:09:01] AI in mental health therapy. [00:14:45] AI as a therapeutic tool. [00:18:34] AI's impact on parenting. [00:21:38] Human flourishing and AI impact. [00:28:37] Cognitive offloading. [00:32:11] Impact of AI on learning. [00:35:25] AI-assisted personal flourishing plan. [00:41:52] AI ethics and responsibility.

David Radosevich, Ph.D., is a psychologist and coach specializing in high performance, leadership, and team culture. He is an associate professor of management for the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. He is also co-founder of Flow Prone, a flow and high performance training and coaching organization.    David has published peer-reviewed articles in leading academic journals and chapters in #1 international bestselling books. He works with C-suite leaders of Fortune 500 companies, and coaches individuals and leaders to enhance their leadership, teamwork, and emotional intelligence.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast   Links: LinkedIn Academic webpage Flow Lab Publications   Timestamps: [00:02:12] Defining flourishing. [00:07:16] Psychological strengths and flourishing. [00:11:49] Protective and promotive strengths. [00:14:06] Self-efficacy and burnout prevention. [00:19:06] Flourishing and anti-fragility contrast. [00:20:27] Anti-fragility in mental performance. [00:25:04] Self-talk and self-efficacy. [00:28:56] Assessing optimism in individuals. [00:31:48] Importance of optimism for flourishing. [00:33:58] Gratitude-forward exercises. [00:38:39] Flourishing as a daily activity. [00:40:41] Psychological strengths in flourishing.  

Matthew Lee, Ph.D., is a Research Associate at the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, a member of the Global Study of Human Flourishing research team, and Director of the Human Flourishing Program's Flourishing Network. He is Professor of the Social Sciences and Humanities at the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University and a Distinguished Visiting Scholar of Health, Flourishing, and Positive Psychology at Stony Brook University’s Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics, as well as a Visiting Scholar at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.    Matthew’s current research explores topics such as well-being and flourishing, benevolent service to others, and the integration of social science and the humanities. He is co-editor of Measuring Well-Being: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from the Social Sciences and the Humanities and Leadership for Flourishing, both published by Oxford University Press, as well as, Transcending Crisis by Attending to Care, Emotions, and Flourishing (Routledge, 2023).   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast     Timestamps: [02:49] Global Flourishing Study overview. [08:18] Understanding flourishing through context. [00:12:43] Flourishing vs. Resilience Debate. [00:17:01] Wholeness amidst adversity. [00:22:20] Harmonizing well-being across outcomes. [00:27:01] Negative relationship between GDP and flourishing. [00:32:08] Japan's unique societal challenges. [00:36:45] Spirituality and community impact. [00:42:06] Lifelong effects of childhood experiences. [00:44:31] Researching human flourishing data.

Dr. Alison Jane Martingano is a social psychologist at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, where she leads the Social Research Lab dedicated to investigating empathy and perspective-taking. She has published her research in leading academic journals such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Social Psychological and Personality Science, and Popular Media.  Alison hosts the fortnightly Psychology & Stuff podcast, chatting with psychologists and Green Bay locals about topics ranging from sports to false confessions. In addition, she blogs for Psychology Today, translating cutting-edge psychology research into clear, relatable insights.  As an immigrant and military wife, Alison appreciates the difficulties and opportunities that communicating with those dissimilar from ourselves can bring. She is a passionate educator and TEDx speaker and hopes to inspire her students, and others, to nurture empathy in a changing world. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Links: Website Academic webpage Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Google Scholar Psychology Today blog Psychology and Stuff podcast TEDx Talk: “How to train your empathy muscles” Timestamps: 00:01:51 - Defining Empathy and Perspective Taking 00:03:08 - Types of Empathy and Research Disagreements 00:07:07 - Negative Effects of Mirroring Negative Emotions 00:11:01 - Empathy Without Negative Emotional Mirroring 00:15:10 - Is Empathy Always Good? 00:17:47 - The Paradox of Empathy and Helping Behavior 00:18:42 - Compassion as a Buffer Against Burnout 00:20:41 - The Warm Glow of Helping Others 00:25:25 - Chosen Suffering and Antifragility 00:26:15 - The Upper Limit of Compassion 00:27:21 - Empathy and Burnout: Positive and Negative Connections 00:30:27 - Practical Strategies for Developing Empathy 00:32:29 - Recommended Books for Building Empathy 00:34:06 - Summary of Empathy Types and Benefits 00:35:03 - Practical Strategies to Avoid Burnout While Building Empathy 00:35:36 - Controversial Tip: Eavesdropping to Build Empathy 00:36:46 - Children Learning Empathy Through Observation 00:37:14 - Safe Settings for Practicing Perspective Taking 00:42:09 - Role-Playing and Social Networks in Empathy Development 00:42:55 - “Toxic Empathy”: Misunderstandings and Clarifications

We’re delighted to host two guests on today’s show, both of whom are expert psychotherapists and counselling psychologists: Dr. Ritika Suk Birah – AKA “Dr. Ritz” – and Dr. Victoria Uwannah. Ritz is a counselling psychologist specializing in guiding high-performing individuals toward profound self-awareness and transformative growth. She studied neuroscience and psychology at King’s College London and has a Ph.D. in psychotherapeutic and counselling psychology. With over 12 years experience in the clinical field, she delivers sought-after mental health and well-being programs rooted in neuroscience.  Ritz balances her time between individual therapy, giving keynote talks, delivering workshops and developing bespoke programs for workplaces. Her work focuses on mental health, resilience, and the power of reflection, delivering actionable strategies that inspire and motivate.​ Ritz co-hosts the Therapy Floor podcast with our second guest, Dr. Victoria Uwannah. Victoria is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with a Ph.D. in psychotherapeutic and counselling psychology. She’s been working in mental health for over 15 years, including for the UK’s National Health Service and in education, providing therapeutic and consultation services.  Victoria is trained in several therapy modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, mentalization-based therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy. Her experience has covered working with individuals at all stages of life, as well as more specialist areas such as group therapy, relational work with couples and families, schools and corporate environments. Her aim across all these individuals and groups is the same: to bring clarity, compassion and understanding to people to propel them towards change and help them lead fulfilling lives.  Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Ritz links: Website Reflect with Dr. Ritz Podcast: The Therapy Floor Instagram LinkedIn TikTok YouTube Facebook Victoria links: Website Podcast: The Therapy Floor Instagram LinkedIn Timestamps: 00:01:22 - Welcoming Dr. Ritz and Dr. Victoria 00:01:57 - Main Struggles Preventing Flourishing 00:04:18 - The Role of Authenticity in Flourishing 00:07:03 - The Dark Side of Constantly Striving to Flourish 00:08:32 - Understanding Authenticity 00:10:31 - The Importance of Somatic Awareness 00:12:57 - The Role of Intuition 00:14:21 - Practical Strategies 00:17:04 - Cultivating Trust in Yourself and the Process 00:23:44 - Strategies for Building Resilience and Emotional Regulation 00:34:16 - The Bi-Directional Nature of Emotion Regulation 00:40:47 - Acceptance and Distress Tolerance 00:44:49 - Final Thoughts on Flourishing

Dr. Satchin Panda is a world-leading expert in circadian rhythm research. He’s an Associate Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a Pew Scholar, and a recipient of the Dana Foundation Award in brain and immune system imaging.  Satchin is the author of two best-selling books, The Circadian Code and The Circadian Diabetes Code. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Links: Website Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Book: The Circadian Code: Supercharge Your Energy and Sleep Well Every Night (2018) On Time Health Timestamps: [00:06:29] Circadian rhythms and health. [00:09:35] Circadian rhythm disruption examples. [00:18:01] Shift work and health risks. [00:27:49] Circadian rhythm and body clocks. [00:34:36] Eating timing and sleep quality. [00:39:05] Balancing social and physical health. [00:45:31] Sleep-wake cycle and caffeine. [00:50:49] Sleep's impact on daily function. [00:54:31] Circadian rhythms and diabetes.

Stephanie Harrison is an expert in the science of happiness, author of the international bestseller New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World that’s Got It Wrong (2024), and creator of the new happy philosophy. In New Happy, Stephanie argues that the secret to happiness is helping others, and that by adopting this philosophy in our lives, we will be able to solve the world's toughest problems. Stephanie leads an international movement devoted to spreading the New Happy philosophy. Her organization, the New Happy, reaches millions of people around the world every month, offering award-winning art, a podcast, a newsletter, articles, and unique tools for building happiness. Stephanie speaks about happiness, culture, and leadership at companies around the world, and has been featured in publications including the New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Forbes, Fast Company, Oprah Daily, Harvard Business Review, BigThink, and more. She is a regular speaker at Fortune 500 companies and has been recognized as one of the top 25 global leaders in mental health. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Links: Website Instagram LinkedIn Facebook TikTok YouTube Substack Book: The New Happy: Getting Happiness Right In A World That’s Got It Wrong (2024) Timestamps: [03:55] Old happy and its beliefs. [07:21] How worldview shapes happiness. [11:10] Paths to happiness. [18:14] Old happy vs. new happy. [21:28] Helping as the core of happiness. [28:54] Individualism and its consequences. [32:36] Autonomy and social connection. [34:44] Self-acceptance and perfectionism strategies. [38:01] Self-acceptance and personal growth. [42:49] Self-acceptance vs. perfectionism. [46:47] Happiness is shared.  

Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author who is passionate about helping people with all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. His early educational experiences made him realize the deep reservoir of untapped potential of students, including bright and creative children who have been diagnosed with a learning disability. He is among the top 1% most cited scientists in the world for his research on intelligence and creativity. Scott is a professor of psychology at Columbia University and director of the Center for Human Potential. He has also been a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and NYU. He hosts The Psychology Podcast which has received over 30 million downloads and is widely considered among the top psychology podcasts in the world.  Scott’s writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review, and he is the author and editor of 10 books, the most recent of which is Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential, published in April 2025.  Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Links: Website Instagram LinkedIn Facebook The Psychology Podcast Books  Timestamps: [00:01:34] What is a victim mindset? [00:03:52] Vulnerable narcissism in culture. [00:10:30] Honest love vs. victim mindset. [00:12:54] Victim mindset and self-actualization. [00:17:44] Victim mindset and empowerment. [00:20:43] Victim to self-esteem issues. [00:27:20] Collective victimhood and empowerment. [00:30:24] Malevolent intent in ambiguity. [00:34:07] Victim mindset in everyday life. [00:39:28] Virtuous victim mindset. [00:41:29] Final thoughts on human potential and growth.

Drew Ramsey, MD, is a leading board-certified integrative psychiatrist, best-selling author and leading proponent of nutritional psychiatry and mental fitness. He served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeon for twenty years. He also founded the Brain Food Clinic in New York City, a digital mental health practice, and Spruce Mental Health in Jackson, Wyoming. Using the latest research along with decades of clinical experience, he hopes to help people improve their mental health and build resilient mental fitness. Drew is a sought-after speaker, conducts workshops nationally, and his work has been featured throughout the media. He co-hosts the Men’s Health Magazine series Friday Sessions and has delivered three TEDx talks, a video series with Big Think, and the BBC documentary Food on the Brain. His work and writing have been featured by The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Lancet Psychiatry, TIME and NPR. Drew’s books have helped establish nutritional psychiatry and explore the connection between food and mental health: the international best-seller Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety (HarperWave 2021), now translated into 9 languages; the award-winning cookbook Eat Complete: The 21 Nutrients that Fuel Brain Power, Boost Weight Loss and Transform Your Health (HarperWave 2016); the bestseller 50 Shades of Kale (HarperWave 2013), and The Happiness Diet: A Nutritional Prescription for a Sharp Brain, Balanced Mood and Lean, Energized Body (Rodale 2011). His latest book is Healing the Modern Brain: Nine Tenets to Build Mental Fitness and Revitalize Your Mind (March 2025).  Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Links: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Forthcoming book: Healing the Modern Brain: Nine Tenets to Build Mental Fitness and Revitalize Your Mind (March 2025) Podcast Timestamps: [00:03:36] Mental fitness and health. [00:09:53] Mental fitness and modern challenges. [00:10:24] Modern mental health strategies. [00:19:04] Lifestyle medicine and self-awareness. [00:24:05] Connection and mental fitness. [00:31:18] Nature's impact on mental health. [00:38:13] Hedonism vs. Eudaimonia. [00:45:07] Dopamine and pleasure balance. [00:55:03] Goals for mental health.

Dr. Lindsay G. Oades is an internationally acclaimed, multi award-winning well-being scientist, researcher, public policy strategist, educator and author. He is Deputy Dean and Professor of Wellbeing Science at the University of Melbourne. He has recently worked with UNESCO on the International Science and Evidence Based Education Assessment. He is former Director of Action for Happiness Australia and non-executive Director of the Positive Education Schools Association. He was awarded the Australian Government citation in 2013 for an outstanding contribution to student learning.   Lindsay’s major research contribution has been in well-being and mental health recovery. He developed a mental health recovery model – the Collaborative Recovery Model – which is a positive psychology coaching model, used to assist people with mental illness.    Lindsay is the author of six books, and over 150 journal articles and book chapters related to well-being, recovery and coaching. As a sought after speaker known to provoke thought, Lindsay has given keynote or invited presentations in 14 nations.    Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Links: Website LinkedIn Twitter Google Scholar page Wikipedia page Forthcoming book: The Health and Well-Being Coaches’ Handbook (co-edited with Jonathan Passmore & Badri Bajaj) (Routledge, 2025) Book mentioned in episode: Psychological Recovery: Beyond Mental Illness (co-authored with Retta Andresen and Peter Caputi) (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011) Timestamps:   [02:12] Recovery model stages explained. [04:25] Importance of relationships for well-being. [09:25] Language's impact on wellbeing. [12:18] Well-being literacy framework. [18:31] Organisational language and wellbeing. [21:24] Mental illness vs. well-being. [28:48] Autonomy and agency in recovery. [37:46] Stages of collaborative recovery. [39:57] Collaborative recovery model in practice. [45:17] Human flourishing in education. [50:30] Central purpose of education. [54:29] Wellbeing literacy community.

Gretchen Rubin is one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. She’s known for her ability to convey complex ideas – from science to literature to stories from her own life – with levity and clarity. Gretchen is the author of many books, which have sold millions of copies in more than thirty languages, and include five New York Times bestsellers: The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, The Four Tendencies, Happier at Home and Outer Order, Inner Calm. Her most recent book is Life in Five Senses. Gretchen is host of the popular podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin, which has more than 220 million downloads, and is founder of the award-winning Happier app, which helps people track their happiness-boosting habits. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Links: Website LinkedIn Instagram Twitter YouTube TikTok Facebook Course: The Happiness Project App: Happier Podcast: Happier with Gretchen Rubin Gretchen’s happiness quizzes Latest book: Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World (2023) New York Times bestseller: The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun (2009) Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Gretchen Rubin 02:09 - Defining Happiness 06:04 - Practical Approaches to Happiness 08:18 - Key Elements for Building Happiness 12:37 - Feeling Good, Feeling Bad, Feeling Right, and Growth 18:13 - The Usefulness of Terms like Flourishing 23:25 - Happiness Doesn't Always Mean Feeling Happy 31:47 - Identifying Key Habits for Happiness 35:56 - Unorthodox Strategies for Happiness 40:06 - The Value of Repetition and Familiarity in Happiness

Oliver Burkeman is a British journalist, author, and speaker whose work focuses on productivity, time management, and finding meaning in our fast-paced world. He graduated from the University of Cambridge, where he studied Social and Political Sciences, informing his critical examination of societal expectations around productivity and success. Burkeman’s focus often centers on rethinking productivity and well-being, as he explores the limitations of traditional time management strategies in his popular book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, which has sparked broad interest for its unique perspective on finding balance in a finite life. His most recent book is Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts (2024), which offers a map for a liberating journey towards a more meaningful life, beginning with where we actually find ourselves, not with a fantasy of where we’d like to be. His unique approach has resonated with readers worldwide, and his regular newsletter, The Imperfectionist, delves into themes of productivity, mortality, and intentional living. Previously, Burkeman was a longtime columnist for The Guardian, where he explored the intersection of psychology and self-help. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Links: Website Twitter Most recent book: Meditation for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts (2024)  Previous books: Four Thousand Weeks, The Antidote and Help!  Newsletter: The Imperfectionist Blog Timestamps: [01:57] Finite nature of our lives. [06:40] Imperfectionism as a solution. [09:34] Acceptance of human finitude. [12:51] The limits of optimization. [22:09] Being vs. doing in life. [29:30] Toxic productivity vs. healthy productivity. [30:33] Human discomfort with mortality. [35:27] Burnout and productivity relationship. [39:58] Dysfunctional attempts at spirituality. [43:25] Meaningful life and flourishing. [45:26] Confronting life’s finitude and discomfort. [50:54] The role of discomfort in growth. [53:08] Living a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Dr. Christopher Ryan is a thought-provoking author, researcher, and host of the podcast Tangentially Speaking. He gained international recognition with his New York Times bestseller Sex at Dawn (co-authored with Cacilda Jethá), which reexamines human sexuality through the lens of anthropology and evolutionary biology, challenging conventional views on monogamy and societal norms. His latest book, Civilized to Death, critiques modern society, arguing that progress has often detracted from our well-being.  Chris’s work has been translated into over twenty languages, and appeared on Netflix, HBO, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, NPR, The New York Times, The Times of London, The Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, and The Atlantic. Chris has been a featured speaker at TED, SXSW. With a Ph.D. in psychology, Chris combines his expertise with wide-ranging experiences from his global travels, where he has lived among diverse cultures and explored alternative lifestyles. Chris’s work explores human nature, questioning the narrative of civilization as inherently beneficial, invites readers to rethink how we live and relate to one another, engaging audiences with a critical yet hopeful perspective on human potential and flourishing. His work bridges the gap between academic theory and practical wisdom, engaging audiences with a critical yet hopeful perspective on human potential and flourishing. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Links: Website Substack Twitter Instagram Facebook Podcast: Tangentially Speaking Books: Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What It Means for Modern Relationships (2010, co-authored with Cacilda Jethá); Civilized to Death: The Price of Progress (2019) Civilized to Death Cocktail Party Cheat Sheet (common objections to arguments and Chris’ replies)  Timestamps: [00:02:53] Detrimental effects of modern progress. [00:06:29] Social isolation and community decline. [00:17:21] Cultural differences in lifestyles. [00:20:56] Hunter-gatherer societal values. [00:24:42] Interdependence and community importance. [00:39:47] The importance of "enough." [00:41:47] Wealth and happiness paradox. [00:46:07] Disaster sociology and human resilience. [00:49:10] Pursuing true personal values.

Israa Nasir, MHC-LP, is a psychotherapist, writer, and the founder of WellGuide, a digital community for mental health awareness. She recently published Toxic Productivity: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Energy in a World that Always Demands More (November 2024), a book that demonstrates how to challenge the various masks of toxic productivity and societal pressures around managing time by focusing on emotional regulation. A Pakistani-Canadian child of immigrants, Israa has a specific focus on mental health, identity formation and healing for the AAPI first- and second-generation immigrant community. Israa has been featured in major publications including NBC, Vox, Huffpost and Teen Vogue, and has been invited to speak at corporations and institutions such as Google, Meta, and Yale University. Israa sits on the Mental Health Advisory Board for both PopSugar (Vox Media) and the menstrual health product and advocacy brand, August. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Toronto, a Master’s in Counseling from Adelphi University, and certifications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy.  With over a decade of experience as a licensed therapist in Ontario and New York, Israa specializes in empowering individuals through therapy, workshops, and engaging content that addresses emotional well-being. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Links: Website Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Newsletter Recently published book: Toxic Productivity: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Energy in a World that Always Demands More  Timestamps: [04:08] Emotional intelligence domains explained. [11:06] Emotional intelligence in society today. [19:02] Emotional intelligence and optimal performance. [23:15] Importance of emotional intelligence in leadership. [29:29] Emotional intelligence and health. [34:39] Emotional intelligence and flourishing. [36:55] Emotional intelligence in education. [41:40] Learning new habits through mindfulness. [47:29] Cognitive control and flourishing. [49:16] Cognitive control's long-term effects. [58:49] Group-level emotional intelligence.

Psychologist and author of Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman, Ph.D., has transformed the way the world educates children, relates to family and friends, leads, and conducts business. A frequent speaker on campuses and to businesses of all kinds and sizes, he has worked with organizations around the globe, examining the way social and emotional competencies impact the bottom-line. Ranked one of the 10 most influential business thinkers by the Wall Street Journal, Goleman’s articles in the Harvard Business Review are among the most frequently requested reprints. Goleman has won many awards, including the HBR McKinsey Award for best article of the year. Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences awarded him its Centennial Medallion.    Apart from his writing on emotional intelligence, Goleman has written books on topics including self-deception, creativity, transparency, meditation, social and emotional learning, eco-literacy and the ecological crisis. His latest book, Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day (2024), shows why emotional intelligence can help each of us have rewarding and productive days. Goleman’s online Emotional Intelligence Program offers anyone a deep understanding of the competencies of self-awareness, self-management, empathy and social skill.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Links: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Bestselling book: Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (1995) Most recent book: Optimal: How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day (2024) Other books Goleman’s online Emotional Intelligence Program Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations Timestamps: [04:08] Emotional intelligence domains explained. [11:06] Emotional intelligence in society today. [19:02] Emotional intelligence and optimal performance. [23:15] Importance of emotional intelligence in leadership. [29:29] Emotional intelligence and health. [34:39] Emotional intelligence and flourishing. [36:55] Emotional intelligence in education. [41:40] Learning new habits through mindfulness. [47:29] Cognitive control and flourishing. [49:16] Cognitive control's long-term effects. [58:49] Group-level emotional intelligence.

Zach Mercurio, Ph.D., is a researcher, author, and speaker specializing in purposeful leadership, mattering, meaningful work, and positive organizational psychology. As author of The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpose, Zach has inspired individuals and organizations to discover and leverage their unique purpose to drive engagement and success. He is also a leading expert on workplace culture, helping leaders cultivate environments where people feel valued and motivated. His research on meaningful work has received awards from the Association for Talent Development, the Academy of Management, and the Academy of Human Resource Development.    With a Ph.D. in Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change, Zach’s work research and practical insights have been featured in major outlets like Forbes, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review. He works with hundreds of organizations worldwide to forge purposeful leaders who enable mattering, motivation, well-being, and performance.    Zach’s next book is The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance (Harvard Business Review Press, 2025), which reveals how experiencing mattering to others is a fundamental, yet often overlooked, requirement for thriving. Zach’s mission is to help people and organizations realize their potential by unlocking the power of purpose and meaning in their work.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Links: Website LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Facebook Forthcoming book: The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance (Harvard Business Review Press 2025) Most recent book: The Invisible Leader: Transform Your Life, Work, and Organization with the Power of Authentic Purpose (Advantage, 2017) “How to Create Mattering at Work,” Medium, November 2022. Timestamps: [00:03:06] Importance of mattering to others. [00:11:44] Mattering and self-actualization. [00:15:01] Community and individual well-being. [00:21:25] The power of mattering. [00:22:29] An anti-mattering epidemic. [00:26:30] Resilience in toxic environments. [00:35:01] Feeling irreplaceable in the workplace. [00:38:03] Value of recognizing individuals. [00:44:34] Moments of mattering in work. [00:49:17] Mitigating burnout through social support. [00:56:05] Reskilling to combat loneliness. [00:59:05] Helping others flourish through connection.

Dr. Caroline Leaf is a clinical and research neuroscientist, communication pathologist, and author, recognized for her groundbreaking work on brain science and mental health. With a Ph.D. in Communication Pathology, Caroline focuses on the mind-brain connection and the transformative power of thought management for enhancing mental well-being. Her mission is “to make mental healthcare, knowledge about the power of our minds, and tools for improving learning and memory affordable, accessible, and applicable to everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, or religion.” Caroline is the author of several bestselling books, including Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health, which explores the impact of neuroplasticity and thought management on personal growth. Her most recent book, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: Five Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking (2021) offers practical strategies for overcoming mental clutter and enhancing emotional well-being. Through her work, Caroline integrates scientific research with actionable insights, helping individuals harness the power of their thoughts to create meaningful and positive changes in their lives. As a sought-after speaker and global advocate, she continues to inspire and educate on the intersection of cognitive neuroscience and holistic mental health. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Links: Website Instagram TikTok Facebook Twitter YouTube Podcast Most recent book: Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: Five Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking (Baker Books, 2021) Neurocycle app Cleaning Up the Mental Mess podcast Timestamps: [01:58] Neurocycling. [06:58] Non-conscious mind functions explained. [10:20] Neuroplasticity and conscious mind interaction. [18:11] Habit formation and trauma processing. [00:25:37] Neuroplasticity and brain change. [00:31:21] Neuroplasticity and mental mess cleanup. [34:41] Neurocycle for managing trauma. [41:08] Biomedical model of mental health. [49:19] Mindstorm writing process. [54:15] Daily mental health practices. [57:23] Overcoming learned helplessness. [01:00:04] App for mental health support.

Dr. Federica Amati is a postdoctoral medical scientist and public health nutritionist, committed to advancing our understanding of nutrition and lifestyle interventions for optimal health. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Medicine Research from Imperial College London, where her work focused on the gut microbiome and its impact on human health. She focuses in particular on maternal and early childhood health, emphasizing the first 1,000 days of life, women’s health, and the role of nutrition in improving health outcomes.    Federica is currently a Research Associate at Imperial College London’s School of Public Health, and Nutrition Lead at Imperial’s School of Medicine. Beyond her academic work, Federica is Head Nutritionist at ZOE, a health science company leveraging data-driven insights to empower individuals to achieve better health outcomes through personalized nutrition. At ZOE, she contributes her expertise in nutrition science to help develop innovative solutions that translate cutting-edge research into practical dietary recommendations.    Federica’s recently published book, Every Body Should Know This: The Science of Eating for a Lifetime of Health, outlines how to eat for best health at each life stage. With a passion for public health, Federica has made a real difference to both individual and community health.    In this episode, we discuss what are the most important factors about nutrition to support human thriving, and how nutrition supports flourishing at various stages across the human lifespan.    Key conversation points are:  the fundamentals about nutrition that we all need to know;  how to improve our healthspan, as well as our lifespan;  Federica’s groundbreaking research on how to thrive across the different stages of life that impact nutrition, which she describes as ‘the biggest “windows of opportunity” that human development offers us – the key moments when our physiology, metabolism and needs for certain foods change’;  and why ultra-processed foods are bad for our health, and strategies we can employ to consume far fewer ultra-processed foods, despite them being so readily available and well marketed.   flourishfmpodcast.com    Links: Website Imperial College webpage ZOE Science and Nutrition webpage ZOE Science and Nutrition podcast Substack LinkedIn Instagram Twitter TikTok Recent book: Every Body Should Know This: The Science of Eating for a Lifetime of Health (2024) Recent interview with ZOE (May 2024)

Daniel H. Pink is a renowned author known for his groundbreaking work on motivation, work, and human behavior. He is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, the most recent of which is The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward, which explores the role of regret in personal and professional growth, offering new insights into how embracing our past can lead to a more fulfilling future. His other books include the New York Times bestsellers When and A Whole New Mind — as well as the #1 New York Times bestsellers Drive and To Sell is Human.  Daniel’s books have won multiple awards, been translated into 46 languages, sold millions of copies around the world, and consistently appeared on bestseller lists. His work has garnered widespread acclaim from business leaders, educators, and policymakers. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Slate, and other publications. He has appeared frequently on NPR, PBS, ABC, CNN, and other TV and radio networks in the US and abroad. Dan’s ability to blend scientific research with compelling storytelling provides actionable insights for individuals and organizations looking to improve their performance and well-being.  Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Links: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Twitter Most recent book: The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward (2022) World Regret Survey American Regret Project Timestamps: [02:15] The power of regret. [05:32] Regret and its usefulness. [08:35] Resistance to discussing regret. [12:29] Regrets of action and inaction. [15:42] Core regrets identified in the research. [19:29] Cultural differences in regrets. [25:45] Four core regrets for flourishing. [31:42] Types of regrets and well-being. [35:42] Regrets and positivity in life. [41:14] Dealing with regrets. [50:55] Anticipating future regrets. [56:36] The Flourishing Question

Kasley Killam, MPH, is the author of The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier (HarperCollins, June 2024). She is a Harvard-trained social scientist, award-winning innovator, and is internationally recognized as a leading expert in “social health”: the dimension of well-being that stems from relationships.  Kasley champions social health as a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and founder of Social Health Labs, a national nonprofit that empowers community builders. Drawing from over a decade of studying, sharing, and applying the science of human connection, her expertise has been featured in major outlets including the New York Times, Scientific American, and Washington Post, and she pens the Social Health Blog for Psychology Today. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Links Website LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Timestamps: 02:12 - Defining Social Health 04:02 - The Temple Analogy for Social Health 06:07 - The Importance of Connection for Longevity 00:10:01 - Assessing Social Health as a Positive Indicator 00:13:13 - Characteristics of Social Health 00:15:28 - Diverse Ties and Their Importance 00:19:12 - The Role of Casual Interactions 00:21:45 - Framework for Assessing Social Health 00:25:52 - Strategies for Strengthening Social Muscles 00:27:08 - Making Social Health a Priority 00:30:37 - Connection Preferences and Styles 00:35:02 - Blending Connection Styles 00:37:15 - Loneliness and Its Impact on Health 00:41:29 - Recognizing and Addressing Loneliness 00:44:13 - Localized Types of Loneliness 00:46:45 - Positive Psychology Approach to Social Health 00:47:48 - One Action to Improve Social Health

Susan Kaiser Greenland is a mindfulness educator and bestselling author, who teaches mindfulness to children, teens, parents, and educators for everyday practices. She is a former corporate attorney, but transformed her career after discovering meditation, founding Inner Kids to teach secular mindfulness in schools and community programs. She has been studying Buddhism for over 30 years. She has authored several widely translated books, including her latest release in July 2024, Real-World Enlightenment: Discovering Ordinary Magic in Everyday Life. The book offers 50 powerful tools for modern seekers, providing practical strategies to foster meaningful connections and alleviate the pressures of modern life. Susan is a respected speaker and mentor, whose insights draw from global wisdom traditions and scientific research, aiming to foster meaningful connections and well-being in everyday life. Her work has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post and CNN, and she speaks globally on mindfulness and its benefits.  Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Susan Kaiser Greenland Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok Twitter YouTube Latest book: Real-World Enlightenment: Discovering Ordinary Magic in Everyday Life (2024) Timestamps: 00:02:38 - Defining Real World Enlightenment 00:05:04 - Real World Enlightenment in Unpleasant Experiences 00:08:13 - Wonder, Awe, and Ambiguous Experiences 00:10:13 - Demystifying Traditional Enlightenment 00:12:00 - Examples of Real World Enlightenment 00:15:00 - Seeking vs. Allowing Enlightenment Experiences 00:19:19 - Grasping vs. Experiencing Non-Conceptual Moments 00:24:10 - Process Over Outcome in Meditation 00:27:35 - Indications of Real World Enlightenment 00:29:02 - Shifts in Perspective and Experience 00:30:08 - Meditation and Modern Relevance 00:35:02 - Sequential Process of Awareness and Self-Regulation 00:38:08 - Golden Threads in Wisdom Traditions 00:41:06 - Leading a Meaningful Life Through Golden Threads 00:43:08 - Small Daily Actions for Transformation 00:45:42 - Practical Advice for Adults and Children 00:49:48 - Where to Find Susan Kaiser Greenland

Dr. Craig Dowden is a bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and executive coach born and raised in Newfoundland. He is celebrated for his expertise in bridging the gap between the science and practice of leadership excellence, and has spent over 25 years exploring the connections between leadership theory and application. Craig’s career spans academia, keynote speaking, and executive coaching, where he currently coaches leaders across the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Craig has a Ph.D. in Psychology and Business and was a Professor at Carleton University, where he was nominated twice for the Capital Educators Award. He is a prolific contributor to top publications like Forbes, CEOWORLD, Psychology Today, and the Huffington Post, and has been featured on various TV, radio, and podcast platforms. His accolades include being named in the Ottawa Business Journal “Top 40 Under 40” list in 2009. Craig has authored two bestselling books: Do Good To Lead Well: The Science and Practice of Positive Leadership (2019) and A Time To Lead: Mastering Your Self So You Can Master Your World (2022), co-authored with Alan Mulally and Sarah McArthur. His podcast, Do Good To Lead Well, ranks in the top 1% globally, featuring interviews with notable thought leaders and CEOs.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Dr. Craig Dowden: Website LinkedIn YouTube Twitter Podcast     Timestamps: [01:10] Positive Leadership and Self-Mastery. [05:20] Self-mastery and self-reflection. [07:10] Building leadership skills as habits. [12:39] Mindset shifts and reframing. [16:41] Mastering our strengths. [20:28] Authentic leadership. [27:56] Building optimal team dynamics. [29:32] Building diverse and enhancing teams. [35:06] Feedback strategies. [37:30] Seeking feedback for personal growth. [42:36] Positive leadership and energy. [46:07] Leadership for flourishing.

Dr. Maike Neuhaus is a future-oriented positive psychology coach dedicated to empowering individuals, teams, and organizations to flourish. As co-founder and Self-Leadership Driver of Ducidium, she spearheads a mission to equip others with the tools and mindset needed to confidently lead transformative journeys. She is also founder of the Flourishing Doc, offering courses, coaching, and resources to empower people to live life to the fullest, free of regret.   Having earned her Master's Degree in Psychology with specializations in Health and Organizational Psychology, and a PhD focused on effective behavior change strategies, Maike is a recognized expert in her field. She has held various academic positions, including Lecturer in Positive Psychology at the University of Queensland. She’s a highly-cited author, having published in international scientific journals, encyclopedias, and the world’s largest psychology and wellness platforms and magazines.   Maike's innovative spirit is evident in her creation of the first evidence-based Self-Leadership Course and her ongoing collaboration with global researchers to develop Self-Leadership 2.0. Through her work, she is determined to demonstrate that happiness can be cultivated and success achieved through the practice of self-leadership.   In her personal life, Maike took a significant step towards her own flourishing journey in 2019, when she exited the grind and started working for herself digitally on a global scale while travelling the world.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Elena Aguilar: Website LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok YouTube Newsletter Podcast: Flourishing Unfiltered Maike’s other company she co-founded: Ducidium     Timestamps:   [04:29] Near-death experiences and appreciation. [08:21] Self-leadership and positive psychology. [13:34] Changing career paths. [19:49] Exiting the grind and fulfillment. [23:32] Burnout and exiting the grind. [26:45] Categories of regrets. [32:16] Self-leadership and flourishing. [37:54] Pursuing happiness and life fulfillment. [44:15] Social connections and wellbeing. [46:47] Managing relationships with others. [51:47] Goal setting challenges and motivation. [55:01] Self-compassion and self-regulation.

Elena Aguilar [Ay-lay-nuh Ar-gue-la] is a bestselling author and coaching expert known for her eight books on coaching and leadership development, including The Art of Coaching and The Art of Coaching Teams. Her forthcoming comprehensive coaching book, Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching, highlights conversational skills to help you thrive and will be released in July 2024. She hosts The Bright Morning Podcast where she shares tools for educators.   Elena is the founder and CEO of Bright Morning Consulting, an organization dedicated to empowering educators and leaders with the skills and insights needed to create resilient and inclusive learning environments. Through Bright Morning, Elena offers workshops, coaching and consulting services focusing on equity, social justice, and emotional resilience.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Elena Aguilar: Bright Morning Website LinkedIn Instagram TikTok Bright Morning Instagram Bright Morning on Apple Podcasts Forthcoming book: Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching Most recent book The PD Book: 7 Habits that transform professional development Most renowned book: The Art of Coaching: Effective Strategies for School     Timestamps: [01:16] Emotional resilience habits. [07:03] The need for belonging. [15:19] Creating a sense of belonging. [22:47] Transformational coaching model. [29:35] Power dynamics in conversations. [34:09] Empowerment through effective communication. [42:34] Building emotional resilience. [46:48] Resilience and societal structures. [53:28] Resilience and emotional regulation. [55:21] Cultivating awareness of thoughts.

Dr. Miroslav Volf is a prominent theologian, scholar, author, and founding Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. Born in Croatia, Miroslav experienced the religious and political tensions of his homeland firsthand, which deeply influenced his academic and theological pursuits. He has authored numerous influential books, including Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation and Allah: A Christian Response, which engage with pressing theological and ethical questions in a globalized world. His most recent book is the New York Times bestseller Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most, co-authored with Matthew Croasmun and Ryan McAnnally-Linz last year. Miroslav's work emphasizes the importance of dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation across religious and cultural divides, making him a significant figure in contemporary Christian thought and interfaith discourse. In the episode, we discuss what we can learn about what it means to flourish and how to flourish from Life Worth Living and the Yale course of the same name, and how to answer what Miroslav calls “The Question” concerning human flourishing. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Dr. Miroslav Wolf: Website LinkedIn Twitter     Timestamps: [01:05] A fresh perspective on flourishing. [04:38] Education and human flourishing. [08:49] Engaging with religious traditions. [16:25] The meaning of human existence. [20:08] Emotional side of life. [24:27] Question of human existence. [27:33] Components of the good life. [34:32] The pursuit of eudaimonia. [39:37] Values in different traditions. [44:25] A life with pain. [49:49] The beauty of suffering. [53:33] The definition of success. [56:04] The flame of ambition.

We interview Dr. Gemma Leigh Roberts, a chartered psychologist and author specialising in wellbeing, resilience and mindset. She is a Top 5 LinkedIn Learning instructor, and over five million people have taken her LinkedIn Learning courses. Over 650,000 people subscribe to her 'Mindset Matters – Thriving at work' newsletter. The newsletter led to the publication, in 2022, of her first book, Mindset Matters: Developing mental agility and resilience to thrive in uncertainty.   Gemma has written for or been featured in Stylist, the Guardian, Yahoo Finance, Forbes and Business Insider and has appeared on the BBC. She specializes in helping people, teams and organizations understand what it takes to navigate challenges successfully, build resilience in the face of adversity, and create environments where it's possible for each individual to thrive and perform at their peak in their own unique way. Her clients include BP, Oracle, HSBC, Microsoft, Spotify, Vodafone, Nestlé and Disney and for the last 10 years she has worked with individuals, teams and organizations to help create agile resilient teams at work.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Dr. Gemma Leigh Roberts: Website LinkedIn Instagram   Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Flourish FM and Dr. Roberts 00:02:19 - Key Mindset Skills for Thriving at Work 00:02:41 - Importance of Resilience in the Evolving Workplace 00:03:45 - Cognitive Flexibility and Adapting to Change 00:04:48 - Growth Mindset and Learning in the Workplace 00:06:25 - The Role of Connection in Mental Health and Productivity 00:07:06 - Factors Leading to the Importance of Mindset Skills 00:10:52 - Conceptualizing Resilience and Antifragility 00:14:56 - The Sliding Scale of Resilience 00:16:35 - The Six Pillars of Resilience 00:24:49 - Connection as a Core Component of Resilience 00:27:27 - Mental Agility vs. Emotional Agility 00:28:13 - Acceptance and Resilience 00:34:19 - Flow and Resilience 00:36:22 - Acceptance as a Meta Pillar 00:41:04 - Practical Coaching Strategies for Building Mindset Skills 00:47:21 - Detailed Example of a Coaching Exercise

We interview Dr. Rick Hanson, a prolific writer and practitioner of all things psychology, neuroscience, resilience and well-being.  Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain,  and Mother Nurture – with over a million copies in English alone.  Rick is the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the co-host of the Being Well Podcast – which has been downloaded over 15 million times. His free newsletters have over 260,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial needs.  Rick has lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, Rick’s work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media.  Rick began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Dr. Rick Hanson: Website LinkedIn Twitter Instagram  

We interview Dr. Rick Hanson, a prolific writer and practitioner of all things psychology, neuroscience, resilience and well-being.  Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain,  and Mother Nurture – with over a million copies in English alone.  Rick is the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the co-host of the Being Well Podcast – which has been downloaded over 15 million times. His free newsletters have over 260,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial needs.  Rick has lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, Rick’s work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media.  Rick began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Dr. Rick Hanson: Website LinkedIn Twitter Instagram   Timestamps: [00:06:13] Flourishing and well-being. [00:09:24] Awakening and self-actualization. [00:14:03] Red zone and green zone. [00:18:42] The utility of the red zone. [00:23:51] Post-traumatic growth and resilience. [00:25:19] Choosing Challenges vs. Life's Hardships. [00:31:29] Practical advice for the green zone. [00:32:49] Character strengths acquisition. [00:40:24] Enoughness and satisfaction. [00:44:49] Understanding brain evolution stages. [00:49:41] Understanding trauma and resilience. [01:04:23] Creating a global compassion coalition.  

We interview Dr. Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, a chair established to support the study of human interactions that lead to the creation of successful enterprises that contribute to the betterment of society. She has pioneered the concept of psychological safety for over 20 years and was recognized in 2021 as #1 on the Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers. Amy is the author of Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate, and Compete in the Knowledge Economy (2012), The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth (2018), and, most recently, Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive (2023). We speak to Amy about how to build psychological safety and learn from failure to promote flourishing, in teams, organizations, and our own lives. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Dr. Amy Edmondson: Website Harvard Business School webpage LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Bio Psychological safety Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive (2023)   Timestamps: 00:00:05 - Introduction to Professor Amy C. Edmondson 00:00:27 - Defining Psychological Safety 00:01:10 - Disrupting Misconceptions About Psychological Safety 00:01:50 - Linking Psychological Safety to Thriving 00:02:21 - Exploring Psychological Safety and Learning from Failure 00:03:08 - Clarifying Psychological Safety in the Workplace 00:05:03 - Examples of Interpersonal Risk-Taking 00:06:35 - Insights from Amy's TED Talk on Teamwork and Error Rates 00:09:41 - The Role of Discomfort in Psychological Safety 00:10:07 - Creating a Psychologically Safe Environment 00:12:18 - The Relationship Between Psychological Safety and Performance 00:15:37 - The Spectrum of Psychological Safety in Teams 00:20:34 - Challenges in Creating Psychological Safety in Certain Industries 00:22:59 - Transition to Discussing "Right Kind of Wrong" 00:23:27 - The Connection Between Psychological Safety and Types of Failure 00:26:09 - Personal Stories of Intelligent Failure 00:29:18 - Distinguishing Between Types of Failure 00:37:19 - The Impact of Perfectionism on Psychological Safety 00:38:55 - Psychological Safety Beyond Interpersonal Environments 00:41:16 - Applying Right Kind of Wrong in Personal Lives 00:44:03 - Practical Steps for Embracing Failure and Thriving 00:48:01 - Leadership Behaviors to Avoid for Psychological Safety 00:50:07 - The Importance of Context in Embracing Failure 00:53:05 - When to Persist and When to Pivot in the Face of Failure 00:56:18 - Final Practical Advice and Resources

We interview Dr. Sara Kuburic, existential psychotherapist, writer, and columnist for USA Today, about how existential psychotherapy can help us to flourish. In particular, we discuss Sara’s work on “self-loss”: what it is, how to identify it and rebuild our sense of self; how overcoming self-loss can help us flourish; and how to live a more authentic and meaningful life. Sara is the author of It’s On Me: Accept Hard Truths, Discover Your Self, and Change Your Life (Penguin Random House, 2023). The book is a guide to identifying self-loss – one of our greatest unspoken human sufferings, that feeling of being estranged or disconnected from your true self – so we can stop feeling the pain and emptiness that comes from performing or observing life, rather than living it. Sarah was born in Yugoslavia and raised in Canada, and completed her doctorate in psychotherapy science in Vienna, under the supervision of Dr. Alfried Längle, the founder of existential analysis. She is a trauma-informed clinician with a person-centered approach that is grounded in existential analysis, as well as somatic and experiential techniques. She specializes in moral trauma, identity, existential crisis, and relationship issues.   Sara is passionate about helping people seek change and live authentic, free, and meaningful lives. Her interest in psychology stems from her personal experience living through wars, navigating complex relationships, and continually learning what it means to be human.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Dr. Sara Kuburic: Website Substack Instagram LinkedIn TikTok YouTube Facebook Twitter It’s On Me: Accept Hard Truths, Discover Your Self, and Change Your Life (Penguin Random House, 2023)   Timestamps: 00:00:05 - Introduction to Dr. Sarah Kuburic 00:00:26 - Understanding Self-Loss 00:00:37 - Sara's Approach to Psychotherapy 00:01:05 - The Existential Lens on Flourishing 00:02:02 - Defining Existential Psychotherapy 00:03:04 - Core Concepts in Existential Psychotherapy 00:03:38 - Empowering Clients to Face Truths 00:04:08 - Sara’s Specialisms: Moral Trauma and Identity 00:04:42 - Insights from Existential Psychotherapy Practice 00:05:05 - Study on Moral Injury in Infidelity 00:06:20 - Understanding our Sense of Self 00:07:09 - The Ingredients of our Sense of Self 00:08:33 - Constructing vs. Finding the Self 00:09:34 - Self-Loss and the Journey to Self-Discovery 00:10:19 - The Process of Creating the Self 00:11:42 - The Role of Community in Self-Formation 00:12:17 - Trauma and Its Impact on the Self 00:13:33 - The Importance of Facing Ourselves 00:14:15 - The Role of Responsibility in Flourishing 00:16:09 - The Complexity of Human Psychology and Trauma 00:17:33 - The Connection Between Trauma and Self-Loss 00:18:32 - The Role of Flourishing in Existential Psychotherapy 00:19:32 - The Complexity of Moral Trauma and Infidelity 00:20:37 - The Relationship Between Flourishing and Suffering 00:21:07 - The Importance of Community and Humor in Well-Being 00:22:21 - Psychological Flexibility and Inner Safety 00:23:27 - The Role of Responsibility in a Good Life 00:25:06 - Building Inner Safety and Trust in Oneself 00:26:08 - The Empowering Message of Responsibility 00:27:16 - The Role of Reflection in Building Well-Being 00:28:46 - Practical Tips for Self-Discovery and Well-Being 00:30:14 - The Role of Community in Authentic Living 00:31:24 - Using Humor and Reflection for Self-Understanding 00:32:20 - The Runaway Bride Analogy for Self-Discovery 00:33:11 - The Importance of Continual Self-Exploration 00:34:03 - Disconnection from Self: Emotions, Body, and Mind 00:35:17 - Cultural Observations on Flourishing and Self 00:36:07 - The Role of Community and Confidence in Self-Formation 00:37:04 - Finding Meaning in Suffering for Fulfillment 00:38:58 - Psychological Richness and Flexibility 00:39:55 - WEIRD Populations in Psychological Research 00:40:05 - Building Psychological Agility and Inner Safety 00:41:09 - The Relationship with Oneself and Inner Safety 00:42:12 - The Impact of Meaning and Happiness on Well-Being 00:43:45 - The Importance of Emotional and Psychological Flexibility 00:44:59 - Inner Safety and Standing Behind Oneself 00:45:44 - Journaling for Self-Reflection and Well-Being 00:47:55 - The Role of Community and Humor in a Good Life 00:49:28 - Final Thoughts on Self-Reflection and Well-Being 00:50:36 - Where to Find Sara’s Book

In this episode we dive into the extraordinary life journey of a Josh Hernandez. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, to teenage parents, our guest grew up in a nurturing environment where his father was in trucking and his mother ran a home daycare. This early exposure to leadership and working with people laid the foundation for his path. Despite growing up in a lower-middle-class household, he found his way to a medical magnet high school situated in a lower socioeconomic area of the city. Here, he formed deep bonds with students from diverse backgrounds, enriching his worldview and empathy. A self-described late bloomer in sports, he stood at just 4 feet 11 inches and weighed 100 pounds in his freshman year. Choosing to pivot from playing sports, he merged his love for athletics and medicine by becoming an athletic trainer, a decision that would shape his future. His academic prowess led him to the University of New Mexico on a scholarship. He studied athletic training during this time and also received a scholarship for this. However, a lack of study skills resulted in the loss of this scholarship, bringing him back to El Paso where he attended UTEP. It was here that he honed his study techniques and refocused on a new goal: medical school. Returning to UNM with a renewed academic scholarship, he graduated with a degree in Exercise Science. He then gained valuable experience working in a cardiac rehab clinic and as a Health Educator. But life had other plans. In 2003, his father requested his help with a small trucking company, which they expanded from 3 to 75 trucks. Balancing the business with also completing medical school prerequisites, he also completed an MBA in 2007 and gained entry into UT Medical School at Houston in 2008. However, the Financial Crisis demanded more of his time in the family business, leading to a tough decision to step away from medical school. His life took a profound turn in 2009 with the birth of his first child. This joy was shadowed by a traumatic event in 2013, when his son was attacked by a neighbor's dog, a harrowing experience that deeply impacted him and shaped his outlook on life. Today, he is a dedicated husband and father of three. In May 2023, his trucking company was acquired, marking a significant transition in his life. Under his leadership, the company earned national recognition from the EPA, winning the Smartway Excellence Award thrice and the Smartway High Performer Award for seven consecutive years, accolades reserved for the top echelons of logistics companies.   Continuing on this remarkable journey, after leaving the trucking company, our guest embarked on yet another ambitious venture. Leveraging his diverse experiences in business, healthcare, and management, he founded an artificial intelligence (AI) consulting agency. This venture represents the culmination of his lifelong passion for technology and innovation. His agency specializes in helping businesses integrate AI into their operations, focusing on areas such as machine learning, data analytics, and process automation. His deep understanding of both the technical aspects of AI and the practical needs of businesses positions him uniquely to offer insightful, customized AI solutions. This new chapter in his career is not just a business endeavor but a mission to empower other organizations to harness the transformative power of AI, driving efficiency, innovation, and growth. Join us as we delve deeper into his journey and explore how his AI consulting agency is making a significant impact in the world of technology and business. Learn More About Josh Hernandez LinkedIn   Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast     Timestamps: 00:04:01 - Josh's Introduction to Antifragility and Its Application 00:06:11 - Proactive Planning and Business Resilience 00:08:39 - Honoring Others' Antifragility 00:09:25 - Josh's Upbringing and Family Background 00:12:11 - Learning from Challenges and Building Resilience 00:14:43 - Josh's Academic and Professional Journey 00:16:58 - Pivotal Life Events and Adaptability 00:19:29 - Josh's Athletic Training and Academic Struggles 00:21:36 - Transition from Medical School to Family Business 00:23:17 - Overcoming the Financial Crisis with the Family Business 00:24:10 - Personal Crisis and Seeking Counseling 00:27:22 - The Dog Attack Incident and Its Aftermath 00:28:54 - Partnership Announcement with Antifragile Academy 00:31:36 - Josh's Approach to Fear and Vulnerability 00:33:07 - The Role of Social Support in Resilience 00:34:20 - Flexibility and Emotional Response in Antifragility 00:36:09 - Social Interaction as a Key to Resilience 00:38:26 - Instilling Resilience and Antifragility in Children 00:40:22 - Parenting Strategies for Building Resilience 00:43:07 - Well-being as a Collective Endeavor 00:44:02 - Teaching Children Through Explicit and Implicit Lessons 00:46:15 - Personal Anecdotes of Guiding Children's Development

In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Bob Goulet. Bob is an American entrepreneur, inventor, and life artist. He is the inventor on more than two dozen patents globally and is a two-time Inc. 500 award winner who has also been recognized globally in the sciences.  A passionate student of life, he has traveled the world and studied with many of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time. He also holds a BS and MS in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut and Clemson University, respectively as well as an MBA from Duke University. In 2022 Bob published Chasm: A Deep Journey in Meaning and Wholeness, a memoir about Bob’s journey from tragedy to deep personal growth and evolution.  He currently resides in North Carolina with his son.   Learn More About Bob Goulet LinkedIn Substack Chasm: A Deep Journey into Meaning and Wholeness   Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com  Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast

In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Jackie Space, a highly accomplished individual with experience in national security, aerospace, and academia. Jackie's journey through professional challenges, failures, and successes sheds light on the concept of anti-fragility. We explore how she navigates discomfort and strives to create opportunities for herself and her daughter. Tune in to gain insights from Jackie's inspiring story and approach to life. Jackie is a co-founder and senior vice-president of BMNT, a national security focused innovation consultancy and early-stage technology incubator. She was also part of the first teaching team for the Hacking for Defense course at Stanford University, and now supports the expansion of H4D into 30 Universities as an advisory board member of the Common Mission Project, the non-profit that develops and supports H4D and other “Hacking for” programs.   Jackie is a thought leader on public-private partnerships, called to the White House and Pentagon to contribute on topics of national security and technology. She is an advisor to the aerospace focused venture capital fund, Kluz Ventures/The Flying Object, and is a contributor to the Defense Investors Network facilitated by BMNT.   In her previous service in the Air Force, Jackie led joint aerospace programs for military and intelligence customers. Jackie has a B.S. in Behavioral Sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. in Systems Engineering from Loyola Marymount University.   Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Jackie Space LinkedIn   Timestamps: [00:05] Jackie Space's professional background [04:42] Career-changing experiences. [12:24] Finding alignment with values. [13:13] Pursuing a career in space. [25:10] Commercial Space and Military Challenges. [29:28] Building a startup in Silicon Valley. [39:43] Success and Growth Journey. [42:50] Embracing failure and success. [49:38] Self-discovery journey. [55:13] Increased self-awareness through therapy. [56:26] The myth of productivity hacks. [01:00:12] Shifting perspective for personal growth. [01:06:26] Parenting and self-worth. [01:09:04] Helicopter parenting and independence.

Peter Goldstein is a seasoned entrepreneur, capital markets expert, and investor with over 35 years of diverse international business experience. Throughout his career, he's held pivotal roles, including CEO, chairman, investment banker, founder, board member, investor, and advisor to public, private, and emerging growth companies.  Peter's achievements span capital markets specializing in equity financing, strategic planning, and transaction structuring. These include numerous successful IPOs, M&A, uplisting, reverse merger transactions, private placements, and crowdfunding campaigns.  He's the founder of Exchange Listing, LLC, dedicated to facilitating growth companies' listings on esteemed exchanges like NASDAQ and the NYSE, and Emmis Capital, a specialized boutique fund investing in global small and microcap pre-IPO growth companies.    Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com    Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Peter Goldstein LinkedIn Twitter Exchange Listing   Timestamps: 00:01:09 - Introducing Peter Goldstein 00:02:23 - Peter's background and achievements 00:04:34 - Defining Antifragility 00:07:46 - The role of adaptability in antifragility 00:10:02 - Entrepreneurship and antifragility 00:12:36 - Chosen suffering and meaningful pursuits 00:14:07 - Peter's early entrepreneurial experiences 00:20:29 - The influence of family values on Peter's resilience 00:27:44 - Parenting and instilling antifragility 00:30:36 - Embracing uncertainty in a global context 00:37:11 - Rebuilding After Setbacks 00:40:14 - Wellbeing, skills, and performance in Antifragility 00:42:41 - Peter's approach to well-being and self-Care 00:47:32 - Managing stress and embracing support networks 00:50:15 - The role of coaching in optimal Performance 00:51:13 - Parenting and teaching antifragility to Kids

Donene Taylor is a professional author and speaker who delivers energizing, inspirational, and motivational presentations and workshops to many different communities, teams, and organizations.   Donene is the #1 best-selling author of two books. Her first book, Heart of a Champion, unpacks her journey of self-discovery as she attained her dream to become a world champion. Her second and latest book, Master the Art of Winning, provides readers with steps to take so they can dig digger, and do the transformational work needed to build their Championship Playbook of how-to rundown their Bold Goals, at an optimal level.   Donene is a Certified Mental Performance Coach. She coaches athletes with tried and true, proven strategies that help them close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. She empowers athletes to reach their full potential as they run down their Bold Goals to become the best version of themselves.   She joined the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) in 1998 and became a WPRA World Champion Tie-Down Calf Roper in 2016. Donene is also a 4-time WPRA Mountain States Circuit Champion Tie-Down Calf Roper.   Donene and her husband, Stan, reside in one of the best small towns ever, Glenrock, Wyoming. She continues to compete with the most elite women rodeo athletes in the world, in the WPRA. Just like you, she has Bold Goals and is running them down, one step at a time.   Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com    Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Donene Taylor LinkedIn Instagram Website   Timestamps: 00:27 - Donenes Background and Achievements 01:09 - The Role of Antifragility in Life and Parenting 02:44 - Donine's Personal Definition of Anti-Fragility 03:47 - Misconceptions About Anti-Fragility 04:40 - Embracing Vulnerability and Courage 05:20 - Breaking Away from Patterns & Overcoming Personal Loops 07:09 - A Pivotal Moment at a Bull Riding School 10:06 - Seeking Out Role Models and Coaches 11:45 - Building an Elite Inner Circle 13:01 - The Importance of Support Structures 14:28 - The Decision to Seek Help and Change 17:12 - The Shift from Resilience to Antifragility 18:55 - Leveraging Emotional Regulation for Growth & Antifragility 24:09 - The Impact of Family Dynamics on Personal Growth 25:18 - The Choice to Survive and Thrive 26:13 - Leveraging Negative Emotions for Positive Change 27:36 - The Complexity of Parent-Child Relationships 34:05 - Creating Space for Mindful Responses 37:08 - Being Your Own Best Coach 38:19 - Parenting with Antifragility in Mind 39:37 - Encouraging Independence in Children 40:50 - Balancing Challenge and Support in Parenting 42:53 - Allowing Children to Face Challenges 45:00 - Teaching Children to Earn Their Achievements 47:34 - The Role of Support in Antifragility 49:03 - Modeling Antifragility for Children

Across our nearly 40 conversations with experts on flourishing one of the most consistent themes we’ve heard is that consistent flourishing often depends on ability to endure, and even leverage chosen unpleasantness. In other words, to develop antifragility. So, we decided to dig deeper!  In this special series on antifragility, Nick dives deep with clients, friends and colleagues who exemplify what it means to embrace and live with antifragility as a foundation for more frequent flourishing. In each episode, you’ll hear about our highly accomplished guest, there lived examples of antifragility and how they go about embedding elements of antifragility into the parenting of their children.  In this first episode of the series, the show hosted Kawika Lau. Kawika is a keynote speaker, facilitator, and educator who is passionate about adding value to your leadership journey. Kawika has found purpose in sharing philosophy, empirical data, and personal stories to inspire and illuminate a path for people to lead full and complete lives, and flourish forward after the storms of life hit. Kawika holds several professional certifications and teaches in areas that include: DISC Model Train the Trainer, Motivators Model Train the Trainer, and Tactical Medical Instructor, Physical Fitness and Wellness Coordinator, and Leadership Concepts. Kawika has delivered keynotes and facilitated learning experiences in several nations. After the 9/11 attacks, Kawika spent over fourteen years serving as an international team leader with the Federal Air Marshal Service, and was also an instructor at the Federal Air Marshal academy. Kawika retired from the U.S. Army in 2014 with 21 years of service in the active, reserve, and National Guard components, having served as the Deputy Team Chief of an Embedded Counterinsurgency Advisor mission to Afghan National Security Forces during his last deployment. Kawika was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his actions in combat. Kawika remains active in the veteran community as a volunteer with local combat wounded veterans, and enjoys giving back by volunteering with nonprofit organizations like Task Force Hydro 1 and the Warrior Surf Foundation.   Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com    Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Kawika Lau LinkedIn   Timestamps: [02:22] Antifragility demonstrated in life. [04:50] Family tradition of military service. [09:41] Memory and traumatic brain injury. [13:23] Survivor's guilt. [17:46] Surviving trauma and self-blame. [20:09] Post-traumatic growth concept. [22:36] Post-traumatic growth. [26:20] Living for something greater than self. [30:26] The military camaraderie concept. [35:30] Resilience in ethnically divided society. [39:24] The power of memories. [43:23] Purpose and forgiveness. [45:08] Spiritual experience during survival. [49:56] Spirituality and faith journey. [53:41] Cultivating pillars of personal growth. [57:36] Building resilience in children. [1:00:10] Dealing with bullies and challenges. [1:05:00] Distractions in modern life. [1:08:03] Pursuit of meaning over happiness.  

We interview Emmie Bidston and Dr. Katy Granville-Chapman, authors of Leader: Know, love and inspire your people (2020), about leadership for flourishing. Our conversation focuses on what makes a great leader and how to promote flourishing through leadership. Emmie is an Associate Fellow of the Oxford Character Project and a Senior Fellow of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard’s Flourishing Network. Emmie studied Economics at the University of Cambridge before working for the UK civil service in a range of areas from education to contingency planning. She is currently head of Economics at Wellington College and Director of the Wellington Leadership and Coaching Institute. She co-founded a charity to help develop young leaders in Africa and runs conferences, coaching and leadership training for adults and young people. Katy is an associate fellow of the Oxford Character Project, a Doctoral Teaching Fellow at Oxford University’s Department of Education, a Research Associate at the Oxford University Wellbeing Research Centre, and a Senior Fellow of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard’s Flourishing Network. She is the co-founder of Global Social Leaders, a movement of young people in 105 countries who design and lead social action projects that make a meaningful change in their communities. Katy is also a Deputy Headteacher at Wellington College, focusing on teacher performance and development, and founder of the Wellington Leadership and Coaching Institute. Emmie and Katy’s book Leader has been shortlisted for the Business Book Awards ‘leadership book of the future’ and longlisted for the Chartered Management Institute’s Management Book of the Year.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Emmie’s LinkedIn Katy’s LinkedIn Katy’s Instagram Leader: Know, love and inspire your people (2020) Leadership for flourishing course, based on the book Leadership for Flourishing Global Social Leaders Wellington College Leadership and Coaching Institute Oxford Character Project   Timestamps: 00:00:06 - Introduction to the Episode 00:00:17 - Emmie's Background 00:00:48 - Katy’s Background 00:01:21 - Their book on Leadership for Flourishing 00:02:27 - Guests' Connection with the Hosts 00:03:09 - Guests' Varied Career Paths 00:03:27 - Emmie's Journey to Leadership 00:04:47 - Katy's Military Experience and Leadership Insights 00:06:12 - Katy's Transition into Education and Leadership 00:08:36 - Emmie and Katy's Collaboration 00:09:33 - Overview of their Various Projects 00:10:56 - Katie's Role at Wellington College 00:11:34 - Leadership for Flourishing 00:15:03 - Defining Human Flourishing 00:18:16 - Hedonic vs. Eudaimonic Well-Being 00:22:16 - The Role of Unpleasantness in Flourishing 00:24:03 - What Makes a Great Leader 00:26:01 - Examples of Courageous and Loving Leaders 00:30:38 - The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership 00:32:23 - Developing Character and Virtues 00:34:14 - The Double-Edged Sword of Character Strengths 00:37:49 - The Three Key Lessons for Leaders 00:39:09 - Practical Advice for Leaders 00:41:11 - The Role of Authenticity in Leadership 00:42:37 - Factors for Outstanding Team Performance 00:44:59 - Love as a Central Leadership Skill 00:47:19 - Love's Role in Team Dynamics 00:50:59 - Matthew Lee's Work on Love in Education

We interview Dr. Adam Wright, Director of Mental Performance at the Washington Nationals and Co-founder at the Antifragile Academy, about how to build antifragility to fulfil your potential and maximize your performance. Adam Wright is a certified mental skills consultant and executive coach with broad experience and interdisciplinary academic training. His primary professional focus is enhancing individual and team performance while fostering a sense of flourishing in their pursuit of excellence. With over two decades of experience in high-stakes environments where excellence is not an option but a necessity, Adam has supported a wide range of clients, including amateur and professional athletes, corporate executives, emergency first responders, and prominent figures in the arts. His consulting expertise spans performance arenas, such as the NFL, MLB, European PGA, MLS, Hollywood, and Wall Street. Adam operates a performance consulting practice based in New York City. He also serves as the Director of Mental Performance for the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball Team and is a Co-founder of the Antifragile Academy. He has taught in the various colleges' exercise science and psychology departments and continues mentoring early career professionals.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com/adamwright   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Adam’s website Adam’s LinkedIn profile The Antifragile Academy   Timestamps: 00:00:27 - Adam’s Expertise and Background 00:01:00 - Upcoming Series on Antifragility 00:01:24 - Understanding Antifragility and Related Concepts 00:02:09 - Adam’s Career Journey and Personal Insights 00:08:19 - The Big Why: Motivations Behind Pursuing Human Performance 00:10:03 - Defining Flourishing and Its Distinction from Mental Health 00:12:09 - The Ingredients of Flourishing 00:13:08 - The Role of Self-Awareness in Flourishing 00:14:06 - Adam’s Personal Struggles and Overcoming Them 00:16:07 - The Relativity of Flourishing to Individual Baselines 00:17:13 - High Performers' Attributes and Their Connection to Flourishing 00:18:19 - The Surprising Reality of High Achievers' Lives 00:19:23 - The Recipe for Antifragility 00:22:54 - Age and Development of Antifragile Attributes 00:24:03 - The Foundation of Antifragility: Self-Knowledge and Skills 00:25:07 - The Antifragile Mindset and Embracing Discomfort 00:26:42 - Nassim Taleb's Concept of Antifragility 00:28:10 - Supercompensation and Its Relation to Antifragility 00:29:44 - Resilience, Mental Toughness, Grit, and Antifragility 00:31:11 - Building Antifragile Behaviors 00:32:35 - Choking Under Pressure vs. Leveraging Skills 00:33:34 - The Importance of Self-Awareness in Antifragility 00:34:50 - The Role of Interoception and Emotions in Antifragility 00:37:02 - Accepting Unpleasantness as Part of Growth 00:38:25 - The Challenge of Deep Self-Reflection 00:39:30 - Practical Steps to Begin Cultivating Antifragility 00:41:34 - The Scariest Thing: Deep Self-Reflection 00:44:42 - Closing Remarks and Invitation to Subscribe

We interview Dr. Sharon Grossman, also known as the “Burnout Doc,” about how to prevent and recover from burnout, and manage stress. We discuss what burnout is, its symptoms and causes, and how to identify and reduce the risk of it. The conversation provides practical tips and strategies for preventing and recovering from burnout, managing stress, and building resilience.  Sharon Grossman is a leading expert on burnout, stress, productivity, and employee well-being. She is a psychologist, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of the international bestseller The Solution to Burnout: 7 Steps from Exhausted to Extraordinary (2020). Her most recent book is The Stress Advantage: Lessons from the Tennis Court (2023).    Sharon teaches, trains and coaches people and organizations to become resilient in the face of stress, build the skills for optimal performance, redesign their mindsets, habits and lifestyle, and overcome resentment.    Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com/sharongrossman    Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Sharon’s website: drsharongrossman.com Sharon’s LinkedIn Sharon’s YouTube Sharon’s Instagram The Solution to Burnout: 7 Steps from Exhausted to Extraordinary (2020) The Stress Advantage: Lessons from the Tennis Court (2023) Sharon’s Burnout Meter quiz   Timestamps: 00:00:05 - Introduction to Dr. Sharon Grossman 00:00:53 - Burnout and Its Symptoms 00:01:36 - Stress and Burnout 00:02:21 - The Complexity of Burnout 00:03:14 - Empowering Individuals to Address Burnout 00:04:08 - Chronic Stress and Its Impact 00:05:26 - The Role of Organizational and Personal Factors in Burnout 00:06:11 - Understanding Stress and Its Chronic Nature 00:07:07 - Psychological Triggers and Chronic Stress 00:08:12 - The Stress Bucket Analogy 00:09:17 - Identifying Patterns in Burnout Experiences 00:10:07 - Mindset Shifts to Combat Burnout 00:11:00 - The Importance of Personal Responsibility in Burnout 00:12:15 - The Stress-Burnout Continuum 00:13:17 - The Stigma Around Burnout 00:14:19 - The Role of Personal Factors in Burnout 00:15:20 - Defining Burnout Beyond Workplace Stress 00:16:26 - The Stress Bucket Overflowing 00:17:19 - Symptoms of Burnout: Exhaustion, Cynicism, and Reduced Performance 00:18:35 - The Emotional Impact of Stress and Burnout 00:19:14 - The Importance of Coping Mechanisms 00:20:20 - The Role of Triggers in Stress and Burnout 00:21:20 - The Importance of Self-Awareness in Managing Stress 00:22:22 - Clarifying the Definition of Stress 00:23:09 - The Role of Emotional Responses in Stress 00:24:29 - The World Health Organization's Definition of Burnout 00:25:21 - Challenging Standard Definitions of Burnout 00:26:16 - The Three Contributing Factors to Burnout 00:27:21 - The Thinker, Feeler, and Doer Personality Structures 00:29:29 - The Nuances of Burnout and Personalized Recovery 00:30:32 - The Symptoms of Burnout and Their Variability 00:31:31 - Gender Disparities in Burnout Experiences 00:32:37 - The “7E Solution” to Burnout 00:35:18 - Understanding the Spectrum of Burnout Symptoms 00:36:05 - Necessary Conditions and Symptoms of Burnout 00:37:09 - The 7E Solution to Burnout and Emotional Intelligence 00:38:13 - The Importance of Self-Awareness in Burnout Recovery 00:39:09 - Identifying Personal Contributors to Burnout 00:40:26 - The 7E Solution Framework for Burnout Recovery 00:41:10 - The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Burnout Recovery 00:42:35 - The 7E Solution to Burnout: Emotional Intelligence 00:43:47 - The Impact of Appreciation and Purpose on Burnout 00:44:29 - Deciding to Stay or Leave a Stressful Work Environment 00:45:12 - The Trap of Financial Obligations and Burnout 00:46:06 - A Blueprint for Self-Coaching 00:47:14 - Emotional Intelligence as the First Step to Burnout Recovery 00:48:06 - Breaking Negative Thinking Patterns to Prevent Burnout 00:49:00 - A Client's Experience with Catastrophizing and Burnout 00:49:54 - Realizing the Power of Networking to Overcome Burnout Fears  

We interview Tonille Miller, a prominent organizational psychologist and consultant with expertise in human behavior, high performance, and organizational dynamics, about how to create thriving workplaces. We discuss her recently published book, The Flourishing Effect, a playbook for unlocking employee and organizational thriving and sustainable performance. The book aims to show leaders and changemakers how to create the conditions that engage their people and facilitate high performance in today’s world.   Tonille presents a compelling research-backed argument for why companies should prioritize employee well-being, and explains how they can do this while improving performance and success. She shares insights from her expertise and extensive experience of advising and consulting leading global businesses to provide actionable steps for organizations to create thriving workplaces.    With over 15 years of experience advising Fortune 500 corporations, top consulting firms, and high-growth start-ups, Tonille Miller has become a respected figure in the business transformation, leadership, and employee experience space. She has been featured on various shows and in media outlets, including the Huffington Post, Nasdaq, TechFunnel, Employee Experience Magazine, and the American Journal of Health Promotion.    Tonille is author of The Flourishing Effect: Unlocking Employee Thriving and High Performance as Your Competitive Edge (2023), a playbook for unlocking employee and organizational thriving and sustainable performance, aiming to show leaders and changemakers how to create the conditions that engage their people and facilitate high performance in today’s world.   Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com/tonillemiller  Tonille’s website: tonillemiller.com   Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast TikTok @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast   Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Tonille 00:00:47 - The Flourishing Effect Book Discussion 00:01:02 - The Importance of Employee Well-being for Success 00:02:00 - Toneil Miller's Background and Expertise 00:02:31 - Blind Spots in Organizations 00:03:03 - Linking Employee Thriving to Business Results 00:03:57 - Addressing Organizational Blind Spots 00:05:04 - Human Needs in the Workplace 00:06:41 - The Process of Flourishing 00:07:09 - Embracing Workplace Challenges 00:08:34 - Practical Strategies for Developing Human Needs 00:09:16 - Flourishing and Embracing Difficulty 00:10:09 - Burnout and Its Impact on Work 00:11:10 - Key Areas for Cultivating Intrinsic Motivation 00:11:37 - Meaning and Purpose in Work 00:13:22 - The “Me and We” of Well-being and Performance 00:14:05 - The Role of Individual Agency 00:16:09 - Eudaimonia and Flourishing 00:17:34 - The Utility of Unpleasantness in Flourishing 00:18:07 - Embracing Challenge and Difficulty at Work 00:19:55 - The Five Chapters of Tonille’s Book on Human Needs 00:20:50 - Workaholic Tendencies and Stretching Employees 00:23:08 - The New Social Contract in Work 00:25:45 - Embracing the Difficulty of Work 00:27:24 - The ROI of Employee Well-being 00:29:02 - Work Alumni Programs 00:30:05 - The Changing Nature of Work 00:31:57 - Leading with Numbers to Convince Leaders 00:33:01 - The New Social Contract Explained 00:34:08 - Alumni Programs in Big Consulting Firms 00:36:55 - The Shift in Leverage from Employers to Employees 00:38:08 - Work Alumni Programs in Various Industries 00:39:01 - The Challenge of Changing Certain Ecosystems 00:40:06 - Leading with Numbers for Organizational Change 00:41:55 - The ROI of Employee Well-being and Performance 00:44:19 - Well-being as the Foundation of High Performance