Researching Happy

In this heartfelt and practical conversation, Matt sits down with Associate Professor James Kirby — clinical psychologist, Director of Clinical Psychology Programs at the University of Queensland, and co-director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group.James is a leading expert in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), developed by Professor Paul Gilbert. He explores why self-compassion often feels so difficult — especially for high-achievers, athletes, dads, and anyone raised with the idea that self-criticism drives success.From unsolicited grandparent parenting advice to the surprising courage required to move toward suffering (instead of away from it), this episode challenges the myth that compassion is soft or weak. James shares research-backed insights on how compassion flows in three directions, why context matters, and how shifting from harsh self-criticism to a kinder inner voice can improve performance, parenting, and mental health.You’ll hear:The simple “best friend test” that reveals how we treat ourselves vs. othersWhy tough guys and elite athletes often resist self-compassion (and what actually works)The powerful Three Circles model (threat, drive, and soothing systems) and how to use it in daily lifeReal-world applications in parenting conflicts, sports, healthcare, and high-pressure environmentsTimestamps00:00 – Intro & the weather chat (Adelaide vs Sunshine Coast)00:39 – Introducing Associate Professor James Kirby04:48 – The “best friend test” for self-compassion07:02 – James’s journey: From Triple P parenting research to discovering Compassion Focused Therapy10:10 – The Paul Gilbert YouTube moment that changed everything15:04 – Why compassion isn’t automatic: Context, morality, and the Good Samaritan study22:56 – How self-compassion lands with “blokey” cultures, athletes & tough guys25:23 – Compassion as courage: Moving toward suffering instead of away31:17 – Self-criticism vs self-compassion in performance and sport39:43 – Two types of self-criticism (inadequate vs attacking)46:36 – Generational differences in coaching and the “fatherly” compassionate figure52:58 – The Three Circles model explained (red/threat, blue/drive, green/soothing)54:57 – My Three Circles app for tracking your emotional systems01:02:16 – Compassion at a societal & epidemiological level01:06:26 – Closing thoughtsResources:James Kirby’s website: https://jameskirby.com.au/My Three Circles app (available on iOS; Android coming soon) — a free tool to track your threat, drive, and soothing systems daily.James’s books:– Choose Compassion: Why It Matters and How It Works (2022)– The Essentials of Compassion Focused Therapy: A Practice Manual for Clinicians (Routledge, recent)Learn more about Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) via the Compassionate Mind Foundation.Follow James on Instagram: @drjameskirbyWhether you’re a parent, coach, leader, or someone who’s hard on yourself, this episode offers compassionate, evidence-based tools to build inner strength without lowering your standards.

In this insightful interview, Ruben Rusk shares his unique approach to understanding wellbeing through network analysis, emphasizing systemic factors, the importance of systemic change, and the limitations of current measurement practices in positive psychology.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background of Reuben Rusk02:59 The Intersection of Engineering and Wellbeing Science05:58 The Role of Communication in Wellbeing09:03 Critique of PERMA and Simplistic Approaches11:43 Current Work and Focus on Leadership14:45 The Importance of Systemic Change in Wellbeing17:48 The Dangers of Over-Abstraction in Wellbeing Metrics20:54 The Need for a Functional Approach to Wellbeing23:45 Challenges in Measuring Wellbeing Effectively26:41 The Complexity of Concepts in Wellbeing29:33 Mapping the Landscape of Wellbeing Concepts32:25 Exploring Open Flourishing33:21 Complexity in Leadership and Well-Being36:27 The Role of Virtues in Leadership39:13 The Intersection of Psychology and Philosophy41:59 Understanding Mental Health and Well-Being44:25 Nutrition's Impact on Well-Being49:06 Systemic Issues in Well-Being53:13 Parenting, Education, and Future Generations57:46 The Complexity of Well-Being Solutions01:04:19 Understanding the Relationship Between Variables01:05:39 Mapping Concepts and Scales

This engaging conversation explores the integration of wellbeing into psychiatric research and practice, highlighting innovative approaches, systemic challenges, and future directions in mental health care.Paper discussed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41253742/ Key topicsIntegration of wellbeing in psychiatric research and practiceSystemic barriers to holistic mental health careInnovative approaches to mental wellbeing and preventionChapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions00:54 How the Guests Met and Their Research Backgrounds01:56 The Role of Origin in Mental Health Research03:14 Discussions on Mental Wellbeing Promotion in Psychiatry08:39 Challenges of Advocating for Wellbeing in Psychosis Research11:15 The Duality of Health and Illness in Psychiatry14:47 Current Research and Future Directions in Mental Wellbeing19:42 Measuring Wellbeing and the Limitations of Current Scales24:55 Systemic Barriers and Cultural Resistance in Healthcare29:38 Innovative Interventions and Ecological Momentary Assessment32:37 Outcomes of Wellbeing Interventions and Long-term Benefits37:05 Shared Decision-Making and Agency in Mental Health Care41:03 The Social and Cultural Context of Mental Wellbeing44:46 Variation in Mental Wellbeing in Population and Clinical Samples49:57 The Urgency of Translating Wellbeing Research into Practice55:10 The Need for Structural and Systemic Change in Mental Health59:47 Ideal Care Models and Future Directions01:03:55 The Balance Between Objective Measures and Subjective Experience01:06:24 Closing Remarks and Future Outlook

Matt shares an update on his busy start to the year, focusing on his work in mental wellbeing, cancer research, and prevention initiatives. He reflects on the evolution of wellbeing concepts from PERMA to more integrated models, and seeks listener input on a personal anecdote about balancing academic and practical work.00:00 Introduction and Personal Update00:56 Work on Cancer and Mental Wellbeing Program02:45 Co-designing Support for People with Cancer04:12 Expanding Evidence for Mental Wellbeing Interventions06:48 Systematic Review Innovations with AI08:41Moving Beyond PERMA: The Evolution of Wellbeing Models11:28 Personal Journey from Academic to Impact-Driven Work13:02 The Future of Wellbeing Research and Models

In this episode, Dr. Shane Huntington discusses the challenges faced by early career researchers in the health research sector, particularly regarding funding applications. He highlights the significant decrease in success rates for grants, the importance of communication skills in grant writing, and the need for more funding to support researchers. Dr. Huntington also emphasizes the importance of redefining success for researchers and raising public awareness about the achievements in research. The conversation concludes with a call to action for advocacy efforts to address the issues within the research communityKeywords: mental health, research funding, ASMR, grant applications, early career researchers, communication in research, funding challenges, advocacy, PhD, success in researchChapters00:00 Introduction to Mental Health Research Funding03:00 Shane's Journey to ASMR CEO05:59 The Role of ASMR in Supporting Researchers08:46 The Valley of Death: Early Career Research Challenges11:56 The Changing Landscape of Grant Applications14:56 Communication: The Key to Successful Grant Writing17:58 The Importance of Clear Communication in Research20:40 Reforming the Grant Application Process23:40 The Need for More Funding in Research27:00 The Impact of PhD Numbers on Research Careers29:32 Redefining Success in Research Careers32:56 Advocacy for Researchers and Public Awareness35:47 Conclusion and Call to Action

In this conversation, Dr. Denise Quinlan discusses her journey in positive psychology, emphasizing the importance of context, cultural sensitivity, and the need for a human-centric approach in workplaces. She critiques the current state of wellbeing science, advocating for collaboration with other fields and addressing societal issues such as polarization and economic precarity. The discussion highlights the shift from shareholder to stakeholder capitalism and the need for organizations to value their employees as integral to their success.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Happiness Research01:00 Denise Quinlan's Journey and Current Work05:10 The Importance of Context in Positive Psychology09:57 Challenges in Applying Positive Psychology12:35 The Role of Work in Fulfillment15:24 Cultural Sensitivity in Strengths Work20:07 Reframing Strengths Conversations25:07 The Need for Diverse Strengths Research30:28 Financial Security and Wellbeing32:49 Resilience vs. Systemic Change33:18 The Changing Nature of Work and Well-being36:06 The Political Economy of Well-being39:35 Long-term Employment and Community Responsibility42:11 Making Work Better: Human-Centric Approaches46:04 The Importance of Leadership in Well-being51:02 Valuing People: Beyond Programs to Processes55:48 The Need for Collaboration in Well-being Science01:00:50 Addressing Polarization and Community Belonging

In this episode, Dr. Matthew Iasiello engages in a critical conversation with Diane Bowles and Dr. Kate Sollis about the importance of wellbeing in policy and the challenges faced in promoting it in Australia. They discuss the Measuring What Matters framework, the role of government, and the significance of community engagement in developing effective wellbeing policies. The conversation also touches on the Future Generations movement and local initiatives making strides in wellbeing. The guests emphasize the need for collaboration between government, community, and business to create a sustainable wellbeing economy and the importance of sustaining momentum across election cycles.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests02:59 The Importance of Wellbeing in Policy05:58 Measuring What Matters Framework08:34 Government's Role in Promoting Wellbeing11:44 Challenges in Implementing Wellbeing Policies14:41 Community Engagement in Wellbeing Initiatives17:37 Future Generations and Long-term Thinking20:26 Local and International Examples of Wellbeing Initiatives23:30 Sustaining Momentum Across Election Cycles26:41 Conclusion and Call to ActionKeywordswellbeing, mental health, policy, community engagement, government, Measuring What Matters, Future Generations, wellbeing initiatives, Australia, wellbeing economyTakeawaysAustralia is starting to take wellbeing seriously but needs to do more.The Measuring What Matters framework aims to go beyond GDP in measuring wellbeing.Community engagement is crucial for effective wellbeing policies.Embedding wellbeing into policy requires a long-term commitment.Local initiatives like the Bega Valley Data Collective are making strides in wellbeing.Future Generations movement emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking.Collaboration between government, community, and business is essential for progress.Sustaining momentum across election cycles is a challenge for wellbeing initiatives.Transparency and accountability in government can enhance community trust.Wellbeing frameworks need to be developed with community input to be effective.

In this engaging conversation, Paul Ollinger shares his unique journey from being a Facebook executive to a stand-up comedian, exploring the intersections of happiness, purpose, and societal expectations. He reflects on the impact of wealth on happiness, the importance of belonging, and the challenges of raising children in a materialistic society. The discussion also delves into the role of comedy in addressing social issues and the need for nuance in conversations about happiness and fulfillment.Chapters00:00 Exploring Happiness Through Diverse Perspectives01:09 From Facebook to Comedy: A Unique Journey05:22 Reflections on the Facebook Experience07:51 The Comedy Scene: Challenges and Growth10:51 The Intersection of Comedy and Happiness12:26 Understanding Reasonable Happiness20:10 The Pursuit of Happiness: Beyond Money27:11 The Complexity of Happiness and Expectations31:17 The Art of Comedy and Mastery33:02 Navigating the Comedy Scene33:40 Cultural Reflections Through Comedy38:02 Political Polarization and Its Impact on Happiness42:57 The Intersection of Family and Materialism53:02 Teaching Values in a Material WorldKeywords:happiness, comedy, mental wellbeing, Facebook, purpose, materialism, family, societal expectations, resilience, academic research

In this episode, Dr Matthew Iasiello speaks with A/Prof Claudia Trudel-Fitzgerald about her research in psychological, social, and behavioral determinants of mental health. Prof Trudel-Fitzgerald is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, with an appointment as a Regular Researcher at the Research Center of Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal.They discuss the importance of mental health in physical health outcomes, the role of resilience and coping strategies, and the need for cultural sensitivity in wellbeing measurement. Claudia shares her journey into positive psychology, the misconceptions surrounding resilience, and the future directions of wellbeing research, emphasizing the need for context-specific approaches.Keywords: mental health, wellbeing science, resilience, coping strategies, psychological wellbeing, health outcomes, positive psychology, cultural sensitivity, emotional regulation, researchChapters: 00:00 Introduction to Positive Psychology and Research Background02:54 Transition from Clinical Psychology to Positive Psychology05:42 Exploring the Link Between Mental Well-being and Physical Health08:27 The Importance of Psychological Well-being in Health Outcomes11:16 Understanding Mechanisms Linking Well-being to Health14:13 The Role of Optimism and Purpose in Health16:49 Challenges in Measuring Well-being19:46 Implications of Well-being Research for Cancer Patients22:26 The Debate on Well-being Measurement in Research34:16 Cultural Sensitivity in Measurement39:52 The Intersection of Coping and Resilience46:00 Misconceptions About Resilience52:27 Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Strategies58:21 Cross-Disciplinary Insights on Well-Being01:03:43 Contextual Factors Affecting Resilience

In this conversation, Professor Sarah Willen discusses the role of anthropology in understanding flourishing and wellbeing. Dr Willen is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Connecticut and Co-Director of the Research Program on Global Health and Human Rights at the university’s Human Rights Institute.She emphasizes the importance of structural circumstances and individual experiences in defining flourishing, while also critiquing the limitations of positive psychology. The discussion explores the concept of languishing, the significance of context in wellbeing, and the ethical implications of policy decisions related to health and flourishing. Prof Willen advocates for a more inclusive approach that engages marginalized voices and considers the complexities of cultural contexts in the conversation about wellbeing.Takeaways:Flourishing is defined by both individual experiences and structural circumstances.Anthropology offers critical insights into health and wellbeing that challenge conventional models.Positive psychology often overlooks the complexities of cultural contexts.Understanding flourishing requires a holistic approach that includes social and material conditions.Languishing has emerged as a relevant concept in public discourse during the pandemic.The definitions of flourishing can vary significantly across different cultures and communities.Policy decisions should be informed by the lived experiences of marginalized populations.Critical dialogue is essential for advancing the conversation around wellbeing.The relationship between spirituality and flourishing is complex and often overlooked.Engaging with diverse perspectives can enrich our understanding of wellbeing.Keywords: anthropology, flourishing, wellbeing, mental health, positive psychology, critical perspectives, cultural context, languishing, public health, policy

In this episode of "Researching Happy," Dr. Matthew Iasiello sits down with Professor Narelle Lemon, a leading expert in education and positive psychology, to explore the intricate balance between self-care and professional demands. They delve into the challenges faced by educators, the importance of wellbeing literacy, and how self-care can be redefined beyond commercialized notions. Join them for an insightful conversation on nurturing resilience and fostering a supportive community in educational settings. #Wellbeing #Education #SelfCare

In this episode of Researching Happy, Dr. Matthew Iasiello is joined by Dr. Katherine Nelson Coffey, an Associate Professor at Arizona State University and a leading expert in positive psychology. They discuss the impact of parenting on well-being, the importance of parental happiness, and how positive psychology interventions can enhance family dynamics. Dr. Nelson-Coffey shares insights from her research on gratitude and its ripple effects on family life, offering practical tips for parents to improve their well-being and relationships.

In this episode of Researching Happy, Dr. Matthew Iasiello sits down with Professor Mike Steger, a leading voice in positive psychology from Colorado State University, to explore the future of well-being science. They dive into Mike’s recent paper, Regenerative Positive Psychology: A Call to Reorient Well-Being Science to Meet the Realities of Our World, discussing how the field can expand beyond individual happiness to address social, political, and environmental challenges. Mike shares his journey from a curious kid in Buffalo to a prominent researcher, offering insights for PhD students and early-career researchers on how to make a meaningful impact. With the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) conference approaching, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to drive systemic change through well-being science. Topics include collective meaning-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and practical research questions to regenerate the field. Tune in to discover how positive psychology can create a healthier, more sustainable world!Link to Mike's paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17439760.2024.2365259

In Episode 51 of Researching Happy, host Dr Matthew Iasiello engages Dr. Carli Ochs, a postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University’s Happy Tech Lab, in a lively discussion about the impact of smartphones on social wellbeing. Dr. Ochs, fresh from her PhD in Switzerland, explores "phubbing" (phone snubbing), where smartphone use disrupts face-to-face interactions, and its effects on mood and social connectedness. Drawing from her field experiments, she reveals how even brief phone-free breaks in university settings boost conversations and wellbeing, while highlighting cross-cultural differences in social norms around phone use. The episode delves into the case for smartphone bans in schools, weighing their potential to enhance mental health against concerns about restriction, and reflects on the broader societal implications of our phone-dependent culture. With humor and insight, this conversation uncovers the delicate balance between technology’s benefits and its hidden costs.

In this milestone 50th episode of Researching Happy, Dr. Matthew Iasiello hosts a dynamic debate with Prof. Todd Kashdan and Dr. Eri Mountbatten-O’Malley on the state of positive psychology. Titled “Are We Lying to Ourselves in Positive Psychology?”, the discussion critiques the field’s disconnect from real-world impact, over-reliance on reductive science, and ethical pitfalls. Todd defends wellbeing science’s potential, while Eri calls for philosophical grounding and context-sensitive research. Together, they explore how to make positive psychology more inclusive, ethical, and effective. #PositivePsychology #Wellbeing #MentalHealth

Learn about the fascinating career of A/Prof Frank Martela. We cover:Frank's unique academic journeyThe inspiration for his work on purpose and pro-social behaviourHis experiences working with Prof Richard Ryan and the effort to test whether Beneficence could be the fourth human psychological needFrank's recent theory of wellbeingLearn more about Frank's work at https://www.frankmartela.com/

Dr Mark Fabian is an associate professor of public policy at the University of Warwick and an affiliate researcher at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at Cambridge University.He  is an area specialist (well-being) rather than a discipline specialist, which we discuss throughout the episode, and publishes in journals across multiple fields.This was a fantastic, broad-reaching discussion, where we covered:Mark's favourite footy teamPositive Psychology and its blind spotsThe role of gratitude for wellbeingThe intersection of suffering and humilityBalance between individual agency and structural challengesEmpathetic collaboration for wellbeing policyMark's latest book on wellbeingCheck out Mark's latest book: BEYOND HAPPY available here:https://www.amazon.com.au/Beyond-Happy-Mark-Fabian/dp/1835010490/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0

In this episode of Research Happy, we dive into Australia’slatest federal budget and its implications for mental health with Dr. Stephen Carbone, a seasoned mental health advocate and former GP. Recorded on April 3, 2025, Dr. Carbone shares his candid disappointment with the budget’s lack ofvision, describing it as "piecemeal" and insufficient to address the growing mental health crisis. From a meager $40 million for digital mental health to the absence of funding for prevention and promotion, he critiques the government’s reactive approach and the opposition’s vague promises.  We explore why mental health remains underfunded despite its rising prevalence—highlighted by a staggering 50% increase in depression and anxiety among young Australians over the past 15 years. Dr. Carbone calls for a bold, data-driven overhaul of the system, drawing parallels with successes incardiovascular and cancer care. He emphasizes the need for a cohesive strategy that prioritizes wellbeing, prevention, and treatment, rather than fragmented, short-term fixes.  Tune in for an honest, thought-provoking discussion on whatAustralians should expect from their leaders, the disconnect between public demand and political action, and why mental health deserves to be a national priority—not an optional extra.

Kelsey J. O’Connor is a Senior Researcher in the Economics of Well-Being with STATEC Research (part of the national statistics office of Luxembourg). He serves as Associate Editor (economics) for the Journal of Happiness Studies, and on the Executive Board of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS).This is a fantastic conversation with Kelsey, we cover a range of topics:How to measure progress as nations and individualsThe surprising role of social safety nets for national wellbeingKelsey's experiences working with the late Professor EasterlinCultural perspectives of happinessAnd the place for meaning and purposeRead Kelsey's latest book, co-authored with Prof Easterlin available FREE here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/happiness-revolution-in-europe/3D454C1B35A7B654B7BC73056BEB0BAA

Dr Matthew Iasiello's live presentation from the 2025 Society for Personality and Social PsychologyWe agree mental health is more than the absence of mental illness... but what is it? It was an honour to give an invited talk at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Convention in Denver last week. I spoke about our efforts at Be Well Co to develop a taxonomy of positive mental health, across a series of three studies. .There was lots of positive feedback for the work, with senior academics acknowledging the 'messiness' but importance of this endeavour. And as always, it was great to meet like-minded people doing important work from around the world .

Welcome to Episode 44 of Researching Happy.  This is a special episode of the show, as we celebrate the launch of Be Well Co’s Face of Languishing Campaign.  Dr Matthew Iasiello is joined by Amy Smith and returning guest Dr Joep van Agteren, as they discuss the marketing problem that so many people in mental wellbeing promotion will recognise - that wellbeing is still seen as a ‘nice to have’ rather than being valuable in its own right.  That’s why Be Well Co has launched this campaign, to shine a light on the issue of languishing, which often flys under the radar despite the real costs that it presents to individuals, workplaces, communities and societies.  Find out more about the campaign here: https://www.bewellco.io/languishing/ Watch the YouTube series here: https://youtu.be/9uHoZT71eNo?feature=shared Subscribe to Researching Happy at www.researchinghappy.com 

Welcome to Episode 43, Matt walks through the dual-continua model of mental health, which suggests that mental illness and mental wellbeing are separate, yet related, concepts. Starting with a clip from the Bad Friends podcast, Matt discusses the controversy around the relationship between mental health and mental illness - and what this means for our mental health care system. Show notes: - Keyes 2005 - Pawelski 2016 - Caccioppo and Berentson 1994 - Iasiello et al. 2020 - Zhoa and Tay 2024 - Iasiello et al. 2024 Subscribe at www.researchinghappy.com and LinkedIn

Listen to Dr Naomi Kakoschke from CSIRO on Researching Happy talking us through reliable ways to set consistent habits for achievable goal setting.   We discuss the common pitfalls that let us down when it comes to goal setting and New Year's resolutions.   Show notes: Find paper and app-based habit trackers as well as a Healthy Habits quiz CSIRO developed and Naomi’s CSIRO profile 

Why is wellbeing science like cage fighting? Find out here! Dr Matthew Iasiello reflects on the passing on some wellbeing science leaders in 2024, the differences and similarities between wellbeing science and the UFC, and considers the criteria for future leaders for the field. Link to Todd's substack article: https://toddkashdan.substack.com/p/why-do-smart-adults-downplay-hedonism Sign up for updates at www.researchinghappy.com or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/researching-happy/

Welcome to Episode 40. We are fortunate to have the very impressive Dr Lucy Grummit from the University of Sydney. We recorded this on just one of those days, nothing was going right, but fortunately Lucy carried us through with grace.  Lucy is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use. Her research focuses on the prevention of mental health and substance use problems among adolescents and young adults, with a particular focus on populations that suffer disproportionate rates of mental illness, such as those exposed to childhood adversity and trauma. As it turns out, we walk through two of Lucy’s papers… It was supposed to be one but turns out I got some of her work mixed up, but all’s well that ends well because the two papers told a very compelling story about the public health emergency that is childhood maltreatment. For mental health  issues, but for basically everything else.  So a huge thank you to Lucy, who was basically the host of this episode - check out researchinghappy.com and sign up for free to hear about upcoming episodes and submit your questions to future guests.  Links to Lucy's work: Burden of Mental Disorders and Suicide Attributable to Childhood Maltreatment Association of Childhood Adversity With Morbidity and Mortality in US Adults: A Systematic Review

Episode 39 of Researching happy. I’m Matthew Iasiello, trying to bring you the latest ideas and evidence in wellbeing research, direct from the academics who create it. Dr Xavier SIMMONS is a Director of the Plunkett Centre for Ethics at ACU. Prior to this, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Human Flourishing Program in the Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University. His research interests include ethical issues at the beginning and end of life, conscientious objection, the ethics of resource allocation, and the philosophy of wellbeing. This is a conversation that jumps between two papers by Xavier and his colleagues, one critically examining Aristotle’s concept of Flourishing, and one considering Flourishing at the End of Life (or in dying). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381830157_Flourishing_at_the_end_of_life https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-024-00723-0 It is fascinating work, and the biggest take away, spoiler alert, is the idea that Xavier describes, that there are potentially unique wellbeing experiences that we can ONLY reach in dying. We talk about the ‘risks’ of defining wellbeing as ‘reaching our full potential’ meaning that we really make flourishing unreachable in older age (when we are in physical decline).  This has so many implications for anyone working in aged care, disability, palliative care, and medicine. Thank you again to Xavier for his time, and make sure you share this episode. Check out ResearchingHappy.com to learn more about our upcoming guests and get the chance to submit your own questions for future episodes.

This episode is our first step into Neuroscience with Assistant Professor Sanne van Rooij from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University, and investigator and Associate Director of Scientific Outreach at the Grady Trauma Project.  Her research aims to identify neurobiological predictors for PTSD development and treatment response, and the investigation of novel neuromodulation treatments in a low resourced, civilian population. We explore the neurobiological mechanisms that drive Resilience in people who have experienced Trauma. The work is fascinating and challenging - but Sonne does a great job of walking us through the challenges and implications of the work. Watch out for a few times where I say ‘Gotcha” like I understood but I’m not sure it was as convincing as it should have been! 

This Matthew Iasiello and Episode 37 of Researching Happy, a podcast focused on the latest science on mental health and wellbeing, DIRECT from the researcher who product it.  I’m trying something different where every episode will focus on one research paper, this will help keep me a bit on track, but also help you decide which episodes will be most interesting to you.  I’ve also launched the Journal Club, which is a mailing list for the show, where I’ll keep you up to date on upcoming Guests and give you the opportunity to ask your own questions. Sign up at researchinghappy.com. and thanks to the 50 or so who have already signed up!  Today’s episode is with Nick Haslam, Professor of Psychology at the University of Melbourne. He completed his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania and then taught at the New School for Social Research in New York City before returning to Australia. Nick's research interests are in social, personality, and clinical psychology and he has published 11 books and more than 300 articles or book chapters in these and related areas. We focus on Nick’s paper titled: Ill-defined: Concepts of mental health and illness are becoming broader, looser, and more benign We work through the notion of ‘Concept Creep’ and the INFLATION OF MENTAL HEALTH LANGUAGE, the expansive idea of what mental health is, blurred boundaries between mental health and wellbeing, and the problems associated such as growing trends of self-diagnosis which may ultimately be hurting more than helping.  The importance of conceptual clarity is something that we’ve covered across lots of episodes, and this conversation was joy to have.  Thank you again to Professor Haslam, and enjoy the episode!  Considering joining the Journal Club, and give the show a rating wherever you find it!  Show notes: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560324000318?via%3Dihub   https://theconversation.com/do-you-have-a-mental-illness-why-some-people-answer-yes-even-if-they-havent-been-diagnosed-231687   https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/mental-health-wellbeing

Join the JOURNAL CLUB www.researchinghappy.com Prof Tony Jorm is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Melbourne and NHMRC Leadership Fellow. His research focuses on building the community’s capacity for prevention and early intervention with mental disorders. Prof Jorm is the author of 37 books or monographs, over 700 journal articles and over 40 chapters in edited volumes. He has been awarded a Doctor of Science for his research and elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. He is Editor-in-Chief of Mental Health & Prevention. Previous positions he has held include NHMRC Australia Fellow, Chair of the Research Committee of Australian Rotary Health, President of the Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research and Editor-in-Chief of the Australasian Journal on Ageing. He has been listed in ISI HighlyCited.com as one of the most cited researchers in Psychology/Psychiatry and received a Thomson Scientific Citation Award.

Join the JOURNAL CLUB at www.researchinghappy.com/home Dr Mohsen Joshanloo is an Associate Professor in Psychology at Keimyung University, South Korea. He is a personality psychologist and cross-cultural psychologist, and has dedicated his career to understanding mental well-being and the role of culture in shaping it. We work through Mohsen’s longitudinal research, and the powerful implications of using within-person, longitudinal research methods. It gets slightly technical, but Mohsen walks us through some examples where his work has shown some surprising results, in part from using uncommon research methods which can deal with some of the variability between people - something that is often overlooked (particularly in cross-sectional work). Mohsen has a great sense of humour, and (since we spoke) has just published a study debunking any link between zodiac signs and wellbeing. Follow Mohsen’s work at: https://mohsenjoshanloo.weebly.com/

Quick update from Matt - really looking for feedback!!

Matt sits down with James Lathe, who is an exciting prospect for the future of mental health economics. This conversation is mostly Matt getting overexcited, with James tempering expectations. We walk through James' first PhD paper, published in Lancet Psychiatry available here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215036623004364 James' work is the answer to a lot of people's questions so share this widely!

Learn more from an expert of economics and wellbeing, Professor Arthur Grimes. Find more information on Arthur's work here: https://www.motu.nz/about-us/people/arthur-grimes/ And a copy of his paper on Freedom of Speech and Wellbeing: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167268123002007?ssrnid=4098909&dgcid=SSRN_redirect_SD

https://phaa.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/preventive-mental-health-symposium/website

Welcome to Episode 30 of Researching Happy. This week we chat with Associate Professor Aaron Jarden of the University of Melbourne Centre for Wellbeing Science. Aaron is a great friend of the show and we have a fantastic wide-ranging conversation. We talk about the International Journal of Wellbeing, an exciting, multi-disciplinary open-access journal that Aaron co-developed, the ethics of positive psychology practice, the role of philosophy in guiding strong academic work, and Aaron's interesting work on lay perspectives of wellbeing. Some links: The IJW: https://www.internationaljournalofwellbeing.org/index.php/ijow Preventive Mental Health Symposium (March 12 Melbourne) https://phaa.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/preventive-mental-health-symposium/website

Welcome to Researching Happy This week we sit down with Dr Suzy Green, CEO and Founder of the Positivity Institute and Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney. Suzy shares her valuable experience, talking about the early days of Coaching, the differences she experiences as a clinical psychologist vs being a coach, and working with a founder of coaching research Tony Grant. Find out more about Suzy's work at: https://thepositivityinstitute.com.au/ And check out the Beyond Blue What Works for Mental Wellbeing Guide here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/resources/bb-guide-to-what-works-for-mental-wellbeing-final.pdf?sfvrsn=5ca0e3c_2

Welcome to Researching Happy with Dr Matthew Iasiello This is the weekly podcast, sharing the stories behind the studies of the wellbeing research world.  Welcome to Episode 28. This week we host Professor Jennifer Frey onto the podcast, who is the recently appointed Dean of Honors College at the University of Tulsa. Listen I get up pretty early for some of these conversations, and this week it was early enough for me to forget that we even have Deans at Australian Universities… which is sad when you think one of my closest mentors in research was himself, a Dean.  Anyway, as you’ve heard on the show, we want to expand this conversation beyond psychology, and hear how other disciplines understand Happiness. Theology and philosophy are two areas that I really want to learn more about, and I know that Thomas Aquinas is someone who famously crosses these two worlds. Thomas Aquinas is a Saint in the Catholic Church, and to be honest, when I started looking to see if anyone was writing about Aquinas and Happiness, I was expending some professor sitting in a dusty office somewhere who would be happy that someone who was just happy to be contacted. That’s when I came across Dean Frey’s work, and I couldn’t have been more wrong. She is by far the most popular guest I’ve had on the show, a mother of 6 children, and the host of her own podcast, Sacred and Profane Love, which I highly recommend for anyone interested in lessons in virtue from literary art.  I learnt so much from this conversation, and I expect you will too. We cover a lot of ground between Aristotle to Aquinas, and I think there is a lot for the positive psychology world to learn than the simplistic hedonistic/eudaimonic distinction that everyone cites.    Enjoy this episode, share it with someone who will love it, and stay in touch with us on social media and Ppotify! 

Welcome to Researching Happy with Dr Matthew Iasiello This is the weekly podcast all about the stories behind the studies of the happiness and wellbeing research world.  Welcome to Episode 23. This is an exciting example of us learning about efforts to improve wellbeing coming from other fields than psychology - this time from architecture and the built environment.  Today we welcome Dr Jenna Mikus, who uses her education and years of experience in engineering, architecture, and design to curate environments and experiences for flourishing, and her PhD was focused on understanding how to design for Eudaimonic wellbeing in the built environment. In her PhD research, Dr Mikus sought to gain this understanding by co-designing with older adults, within the context of their home environment.  Her research resulted in a Eudaemonic Design framework with design guidelines that will characterise Eudaemonia-supportive environments for older adults which of course can be instructive for other demographics. Stay in touch with us on Linked In, Twitter, Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribing and rating the show makes a huge difference. 

Welcome to Researching Happy with Dr Matthew Iasiello This is the weekly podcast, sharing the stories behind the studies of the wellbeing research world.  Welcome to Episode 27. This week we go back to Italy, back to Milan in fact, to chat with Associate Professor Marta Bassi. Marta is FLOW researcher at the University of Milano, Her research interests primarily focus on optimal experience and its role in psychological selection. She has conducted research concerning individuals’ quality of experience in areas such as education, leisure and health. She is a founding member of the Italian Society of Positive Psychology (SIPP) and of the European Flow Researcher’s Network (EFRN). As you will hear, Marta is already a favourite on Researching Happy, being the President of the European Network of Positive Psychology, and therefore host of the upcoming European Conference 2024, therefore responsible for inviting Professor Corey Keyes as a keynote in Austria… fingers crossed I can make it there too…  Find out more about the conference here: https://ecpp2024.com/ I really enjoyed this conversation with Marta, learning all about her work researching Flow in a wide diversity of contexts, and I really admired the working relationships she has had with her colleagues, particularly as you will hear, Fausto Massimini and Antonella Delle Fave. People who know about Flow will probably be familiar with Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, but it was really interesting to learn about the connection Mihály had with the Milan team.  Enjoy this episode, share it with someone who would like to learn more about flow, and stay in touch with us on social media and spotify!  Just a heads up, I’m planning to take a few weeks off in December, and come back bigger and better in 2024 for Season 2 of Researching Happy. If you have ideas of what you think that could or should look like, hit me up on linked in. Enjoy and welcome Marta! 

Welcome to Researching Happy with Dr Matthew Iasiello This is the weekly podcast, sharing the stories behind the studies of the wellbeing research world.  Welcome to Episode 26. This week we host Steve Peralta, the Co-Founder and Chief Wellbeing Officer of Unmind, an impressive workplace wellbeing company with offices in New York, London, and Sydney. https://unmind.com/ This was a great conversation, talking about how the workplace wellbeing scene has changed over the years, how Unmind empower employees and organisations to shift culture towards mental health and wellbeing, their Whole Person, Whole Organisation approach, and something very interesting called the performance paradox.  Steve has been a great person to meet and know over the last few years and I really enjoyed catching up once again.  Stay in touch with us on Linked In, Twitter, Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribing and rating the show makes a huge difference. 

Welcome to Researching Happy with Dr Matthew Iasiello This is the weekly podcast all about the stories behind the studies of the happiness and wellbeing research world.  Welcome to Episode 25. Coaching is massive these days, if you heard my wrap up from the IPPA conference you’d have heard me say that the conference felt like 60% coaches at the conference…  and I had a fantastic conversation with Existential Coach Yannick Jacob.   Yannick is a Positive Psychologist (MSc), Coach Trainer & Supervisor (DIP) and Mediator (SPCP Dispute Resolution).  Yannick is part of the teaching faculties at Cambridge University's Master’s in Coaching Program, Animas Centre for Coaching, the International Centre for Coaching Supervision and The School of Life, and he delivers talks and keynotes at conferences internationally. Basically, in this episode I asked every question about coaching that I could think of, and Yannick smashed them all out of the park. It was a lot of fun - I walked away from this conversation wanting a coach and wanting to be a coach.  Stay in touch with us on Linked In, Twitter, Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribing and rating the show makes a huge difference.  Find out more about Yannick here: https://www.coachingandmediation.net/

Welcome to Researching Happy with Dr Matthew Iasiello. This is the weekly podcast all about the stories behind the studies of the happiness and wellbeing research world.  Welcome to Episode 24. This week we have someone who came highly recommended to the show, Paul Tupou-Vea. Paul is the Director of Clifftop Wellbeing and the former President of the New Zealand Association of Positive Psychology.  Paul has years of experience in the promotion of wellbeing in schools, and works to meet the diverse wellbeing needs and challenges of learners, teachers, leaders and the community around the school. And that is the best part of the conversation - Paul really brings something that is often missing in wellbeing practice - Connection - or seeing the bigger picture.  Science has a pesky habit of atomising the human experience, meaning breaking down our experiences into their most basic parts, which is useful for research but stops working when we try and apply that knowledge into a complex setting like a school.  Paul walks us through Māori and Tongan models of wellbeing, and we get into this issue that comes up again and again: Times when science ‘discovers’ some wellbeing practice that traditional or indigenous communities have known for centuries.  Find out more: Paul’s work at Clifftop Wellbeing: https://clifftopwellbeing.co.nz/ Te Whare Tapa Whā model of wellbeing: https://mentalhealth.org.nz/te-whare-tapa-wha  Fonua Model of wellbeing: https://www.actionpoint.org.nz/pacific_health_models Stay in touch with us on Linked In, Twitter, Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribing and rating the show makes a huge difference. 

My name is Dr Matthew Iasiello, welcome to Researching Happy This is the podcast all about the stories behind the studies of the happiness and wellbeing research world.  Welcome to Episode 22. We are very fortunate to have Professor Karina Jorritsma with us this week, Professor at Curtin university and leader of Thrive at Work which is a world-first well-being initiative centred on designing work that helps employees, organisations and industry to thrive. Karina walks us through the origins of her work, the foundation of Thrive at Work, and steps through the Implementation Framework to take action in the workplace for wellbeing. As you will hear, this work is among the best in the world, and I highly recommend checking out their website which has lots of useful frameworks and tools to help workplaces and practitioners improve the quality of their work.  https://www.thriveatwork.org.au/ Stay in touch with us on Linked In, Twitter, Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribing and rating the show makes a huge difference. 

This is the weekly podcast all about the stories behind the studies of the happiness and wellbeing research world.  Welcome to Episode 21, we take a different approach today. While this show is mostly about the researchers, there’s an entire ecosystem around mental health research that’s worth listening to. Today is a new aspect to that ecosystem for the show, human right’s advocacy.  This week we host Simon Katterl, fresh from a legal battle with the Mental Health Complaints Commission of Victoria. Simon advocates for improved mental health and community services by promoting human rights, co-design and consumer leadership across all aspects of service planning, delivery and evaluation. He runs a consultancy company and by the sounds of things keeps himself very busy.  This is a riveting episode, as we walk through Simon’s experience seeking information on a particular set of data that can be useful for mental health system improvement, a rejection, Freedom of Information Request, a rejection, a successful appeal of the rejection, and now an appeal of the appeal. This is a really serious topic, but Simon brings plenty of levity and fun to the conversation. I’m sure there are two sides to the story, but Simon is transparent, and has all of the process document, He’s shared a range of links that he mentions throughout the episode, which available here: The petition: https://reformingcommission.good.do/ourcommission/know/ The website: www.ourcommission.au The decision-letter from the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner that directs the Mental Health Complaints Commission to release the recommendations and it's reasoning (that they've appealed): https://www.simonkatterlconsulting.com/s/C-23-00005-31May23-Katterl-and-Mental-Health-Complaints-Commissioner-Notice-of-Decision-reissue-31-M.pdf The Guardian covered it here: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/12/victorias-mental-health-watchdog-criticised-after-fighting-release-of-secret-recommendations.  And you can stay in touch with the show on Linked In, Twitter, Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Subscribing and rating the show makes a huge difference. 

This is the podcast all about the stories behind the studies of the happiness and wellbeing research world. Support the show at: researchinghappy.locals.com This is episode 20 - a mini milestone - and really happy with the progress so far! It’s been an honour to chat with so many respected researchers all of whom are doing amazing things in the world. Thanks for all of the support for the show, feedback, and ideas - as I’ve said every episode - please keep it coming!  Dr Jon Beale is a researcher, coach and educator whose research focuses on human flourishing, particularly in the workplace and education, and the science of learning. He's a Research Affiliate at the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, a Peak Performance Coach for the Flow Research Collective, and co-host of Flourish FM: a podcast for the good life. He's previously held research posts at the University of Oxford and Eton College. He's co-editor of four books, including The Future of Education, forthcoming from Oxford University Press. He's published 30 research articles and book chapters in leading academic journals, book publishers and media outlets, including The New York Times. Find out more at: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/people/jonathan-beale and https://www.flowresearchcollective.com/team-members/dr-jonathan-beale. If anyone watched the first episode of this podcast, I said I wanted to learn more about the issue of scientism - as defined by Jonathan as the "the pernicious manifestations of an excessive belief in the power of science". I was reading a book by Seraphim Rose just last night came across this passage: the unreflective scientific specialist sees no need need for any other kind of knowledge, occupied with the demands of his or her speciality, and has, perhaps, neither time nor inclination for “abstract” questions to inquire, for example, the basic presuppositions of that speciality.  As we discuss, this issue of scientism can affect wellbeing research, a field that has so much input from alternative ways of knowing than just the scientific method. Now, Jonathan has done much more work than his focus on Scientism, and while we did focus on that, we also chat his other work on the future of Education, coaching, and wellbeing research. 

SUPPORT THE SHOW: researchinghappy.locals.com  This week Matt chats with Annalise Roache, Co-President of the NZ Association of Positive Psychology and a PhD Candidate at AUT Auckland. We walk through Annalise’s PhD work, focused on Lay Perspectives of wellbeing - put simply - Annalise asked over 1000 New Zealanders what wellbeing means to them.  After an intense process of thematic analysis, Annalise constructed a model of two interwoven aspects of wellbeing, The Elements and The Golden threads, each working together yet unique and influential in their own right.  The elements are the core components of wellbeing, together forming a holistic picture of wellbeing. The golden threads are the unifying principles that bring the elements to life and which thwart and support wellbeing. GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK on Annalise’s work here: https://annaliseroache.com/research-publications/283-2/  Hear Annalise present this work at the IPPA World Congress in the last 20 minutes of the episode. 

SUPPORT the show: researchinghappy.locals.com This week I am joined by Professor Paul Wong, Professor Emeritus of Trent University and Trinity Western University.  At 86 years young, he has published eight books and 300+ journal articles and chapters; he is one of the most cited psychologists in areas related to existential positive psychology.  This was a great conversation, and raises lots of interesting questions, top of the list is the role of a transcendent creator or God in happiness, compared with other humanistic ideals like science and reason… This is not something I know a lot about so if anyone has any suggestions for future guests please let me know! 

Support the show: researchinghappy.locals.com Trying something different this week! Professor Gad Saad, Professor of Marketing at Concordia University has just released a book on 8 secrets of the good life. Love him or Hate him, this will be one of the best selling happiness books of all time. On a 15 hour flight home from the IPPA World Congress in Vancouver, Matt reads and reviews the book, finding some really great insights from Professor Saad (AKA the Gadfather, AKA Dr Good Looks) who brings levity, fun, and playfulness whilst drawing on ancient tradition, evolutionary theory, and academic literature. As a result, there's something for everyone, even those fully across the wellbeing and positive psychology literature. The unexamined life is not worth living, and Professor Saad provides 8 timely prompts for introspection and reflection to live with intention towards a good life. Let us know what you think! Accurate review or severe jet lag - you be the judge!

Coming to you LIVE from Vancouver BC. Hear some thoughts on the past 4 days of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress. Attached at the end are two of the presentations Matt gave at the conference. You can watch the slides in Spotify or on Youtube Support the show at: researchinghappy.locals.com