Positivity Matters

David Thomas: On Becoming a Playvolutionary for FunDave's CliftonStrengths: Ideation | Strategic | Intellection | Input| MaximizerDavid Thomas hosts the podcast The Fun Question and co-founded Professors at Play — the nearly-1,000-member "Playvolution" remaking higher education — and co-author, with John Sharp, of Fun, Taste, and Games (MIT Press, 2019). His work argues that play isn't ornamental or adjacent to serious work. It's a distinct aesthetic with its own structure: ludic form, ambiguity, and set-outsidedness. Recorded: Friday, May 8th, 2026

Jarrod Elwell: MI ↝ ABCD ↝ AI ↝ CI = How Community Change Happens Along the Lines of Relationships at the Speed of HopeJarrod Elwell is the Community Development regional manager for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, serving Virginia and Washington D.C.Strengths: Fairness, Love of Learning, Kindness, Spirituality, HopeRecord: March 31, 2026

Retired police lieutenant and positive psychology practitioner David Berez, MAPP, DRE joins us to discuss how we can transform trauma into a catalyst for growth. David shares his journey from a 20-year career in law enforcement—where "resilience" meant simply bouncing back—to his development of "Courageous Optimism," a framework that empowers first responders to become "anti-fragile" in the face of chaos. By blending the science of human flourishing with the gritty reality of police work, David illustrates how storytelling and vulnerability can break the stigma of silence and save lives.David Berez’s VIA Strengths: Honesty | Kindness | Curiosity | Perspective | Social IntelligenceAudio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com)Recorded: January 7, 2026

Dele Davies, MD, Interim Chancellor at University of Nebraska Medical CenterEmotional Intelligence (EQ) = (Personal Competence = Self Awareness x Self-Management) x (Social Competence = Social Awareness x Relationship Management)CliftonStrengths: Significance | Futuristic | Focus | Maximizer | Strategic | Learner | Achiever | Responsibility | Belief Recorded: January 8, 2026

Grant Stonebraker: Building a Pay-It-Forward CultureSpeaker, coach, and author Grant Stonebraker shares how his signature strengths of honesty, kindness, and love fuel both his entrepreneurial work and his grassroots kindness movement, Operation: Pay It Forward. Grant discusses how spirituality and creativity guide his approach to building authentic connections and inspiring others to make progress through simple, intentional acts of goodness. This conversation offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking to live their values and spark positive change in their community.A visualization of the aggregated VIA Strengths of people who have been guests on the podcast after adding Grant’s top VIA Strengths: Honesty | Kindness | Love | Spirituality | CreativityAudio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com/)Recorded on: 11/20/2025

Jacob Kendall: Curiosity, Creativity, and Rethinking How We Grow OlderDr. Jacob Kendall—gerontologist, social worker, and two-time open-heart surgery survivor—joins us to share a fresh lens for understanding health across place, and time. Drawing on his signature strengths of creativity, curiosity, and humor, Jacob challenges one-dimensional thinking about aging and advocates for a pro-aging mindset grounded in fairness and forgiveness. This conversation will transform how you think about growing older—and inspire you to approach life's challenges with both scientific rigor and deep humanity.A visualization of the aggregated VIA Strengths of people who have been guests on the podcast after adding Jacob’s top VIA Strengths: Creativity | Fairness | Curiosity | Humor | ForgivenessAudio Editor: Kyle Gross (https://kylegross.myportfolio.com/)Recorded on: 11/19/2025

Leo Louis II: Identity Formation, Community Building, and Cultural TransformationLeo recently co-authored the book: The Grownfolks and the Magic WandRecorded: November 14, 2025

Lakesha Green: Speaking Love into Community through the Arts and VisionLakesha is the Executive Director of the Union for Contemporary ArtCliftonStrengths: Self-Assurance | Learner | Input | Arranger | StrategicRecorded: October 30, 2025

Amy Goodburn: Building the Good Life with Husker P.O.W.E.R. Senior Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean of Undergraduate Education, University of Nebraska-LincolnCliftonStrengths: Learner | Achiever | Input | Discipline | ArrangerRecorded: September 10, 2025P.O.W.E.R. = Purpose, Ownership, Well-being, Engagement, and RelationshipsFrom the Inter-association Wellbeing Collaborative:We define well-being as an optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential. Our focus is on two interdependent types of well-being: 1) individual and 2) community.

Amy Lanham: Creating Wellbeing Through RecreationCampus Recreation Director, University of Nebraska-LincolnCliftonStrengths: Responsibility | Communication | Developer | Relator | BeliefRecorded: September 3, 2025From the Inter-association Wellbeing Collaborative:We define well-being as an optimal and dynamic state that allows people to achieve their full potential. Our focus is on two interdependent types of well-being: 1) individual and 2) community.

Daryl Davis: How to be Prohuman with Music and FriendshipRecorded 8/7/2025

Becca Schusler: The Win-Win of Workplace WellnessVIA Strengths: Gratitude | Learner | Hope | Forgiveness | Self-RegulationBorn in a struggle for justice (Horace Carter Fights the Klan), Atlantic Packaging works to build wellbeing (Atlantic Wellness) and a thriving planet (A New Earth Project)Core Values: Connection, Nourishment, Purpose, Movement, Nature, PreventionVision: To establish health, in all of its dimensions, as the fundamental guiding principle that informs all of our decisions.Mission: Health & well-being is the throughline connecting our employees, our business community, and the overall vision for our company.Recorded: July 25, 2025

Maital Neta: Positivity Matters to Our Brains!Professor of Psychology at UNLCliftonStrengths: Empathy, Achiever, Responsibility, Relator, Learner  Recorded: 7/23/2025

Josha Sietsma: The Nebraska Capitol is a Question Mark The Nebraska Capitol asks us to respond to a series of profound questions:What does it mean to live a good life? How best to live a good life to the fullest together and transmit that wisdom to future generations in ways that expand that fullness?www.21panels.orgRecorded: July 17, 2025

Meghan TalarowskiFounder and Executive Director, Studio LudoA finding a the study that Meghan draws on to inform her playground designs: “Play builds grit, prevents burnout, ignites joy through movement, and helps us become better people together.“ 

Carlos GarciaCo-Founder & CEO, True Progress LabVIA Strengths: Honest | Perseverance | Hope | Humility | SpiritualityRecorded on July 11, 2025

Tracy Edgerton: Leveraging Our Unique Strengths to Achieve a Shared VisionPresident & CEO, Lincoln Community FoundationLincoln Vital Signs | Prosper LincolnCliftonStrengths: Learner | Input | Intellection | Developer | AchieverRecorded: July 1, 2025

Zoya Awan - Creating Sparks of HopeDirector of Public Affairs, WalmartZoya the Explorer!CliftonStrengths: Positivity | WOO | Includer | Adaptability | ConnectednessRecorded: July 9, 2025

Andrew Hanna - Emerging Leadership, Life Design, & MoreAssistant Professor of Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Prof. Hanna spoke at Nebraska's International Day of Hope celebration.CliftonStrengths: Woo | Relator | Input | Positivity | FuturisticRecorded: June 25, 2025Brought to you by Positivity Matters!

Kathryn Goetzke - How to S.H.I.N.E. Hope• Stress skills• Happiness habits• Inspired actions• Nourishing networks• Eliminating challengesKathryn's top VIA Strengths: Curiosity | Love of learning | Spirituality | Honesty | FairnessRecorded 6/19/2025

Rebecca Davis - Dimensions of Connectedness (Social Capital & Social Health) Director & ProducerRebecca speaks on the community engagement she has generated around the country with the documentary, Join or Die, and we also explore themes of wellbeing present in the film.  Recorded 6/5/2025

Rob Lion - Black RiverC.A.R. from Self-determination Theory:CompetenceAutonomyRelatednessRecorded 2/18/2025

Joshua created Econic to partner with leaders who envision a better world and desire someone to help them build it.Joshua’s CliftonStrengths: Strategic | Maximizer | Ideation | Futuristic | IndividualizationRecorded: 2/15/2025

Dan Martin VIA Strengths: Humor | Creativity | Love of Learning | Curiosity | BraveryAssociate Professor of Management at California State University, East Bay.Director of Corporate Compassion Education at the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University.Recorded 2/4/2025

David B. Feldman, PhD, is a clinical health psychologist and Professor of Counseling Psychology at Santa Clara University. Prof. Feldman's top VIA strengths: Love of learning | Curiosity | Hope | Judgement | KindnessHope science developed in a playful laboratory. Hope develops in the playful laboratory of the imagination.Recorded May 7, 2025

Chan HellmanFounding Director of the Hope Research CenterHope Rising USARecorded 4/29/2025

Matthew W. Gallagher, Ph.D.Updates in Hope ScienceRecorded 4/18/2025

Lorraine BesserReady to Live Your Best Possible Life?Recorded 3/14/2025

Shigehiro OishiWhat’s the real key to a fulfilling life?Recorded 3/12/2025

Omani (formerly Ron) Carson is the founder of the Carson Group and Omya. Omani shares about purpose, kindness, strengths, community, and more!Recorded 1/22/2025

Prof. Steger is the director of the Center for Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University.Recorded 12/2/2024

Rose Liesveld: Building a Strengths-Based Law School Rose’s CliftonStrengths: Futuristic | Activator | Significance | Relator | Command | Belief | Focus | Maximizer | Communication | Self-Assurance Recorded: 11/25/2024

Carol Graham is a senior fellow in the Economic Studies program at Brookings, a College Park Professor at the University of Maryland, and a senior scientist at Gallup.In this episode, we discuss her most recent book, The Power of Hope, and she kindly reflects with us on our H.A.P.P.Y. L.I.F.E. meta-model of wellbeing models:Recorded: 2024-11-13

Meet Roger DeWitt and AI Coach RogerRoger’s Masters capstone: ADHD, Willpower, and Interest: A Positive ApproachRoger’s top 5 VIA strengths: Perspective | Humor | Kindness | Love | Social Intelligence Recorded: 9/4/2024

Guest: David Lay Williams is professor of political science at DePaul University and author of The Greatest of All Plagues: How Economic Inequality Shaped Political Thought from Plato to MarxProf. Williams’ top five VIA Strengths: Perseverance | Love of Learning | Judgment | Curiosity | Appreciation of Beauty & ExcellenceProf Williams and I converse about the nature and harm of economic inequality, wellbeing, friendship, and much more. This episode is dedicated to the memory of T.K. SeungRecorded: August 30, 2024

Guest: Prof. Tim Hodges, Executive Director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and Assistant Professor of Practice in Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Prof. Hodges' top Gallup strengths: Maximizer | Relator | Belief | Woo | PositivityRecorded: June 19, 2024

Guest: Professor Isaac Prilleltensky, Director of the Community Leadership Doctoral Program at the University of Miamiwww.professorisaac.comPillars of wellbeing and drivers of change:www.funforwellness.comRecorded: 6/7/2024

Guest: Bruce Smith, Associate Professor of Psychology at The University of New Mexico  Move from Surviving to Thriving: The Positive Psychology Workbook for Challenging Timeshttps://shac.unm.edu/resources/counseling-resources/positive-psychology-workbook.htmlProf. Smith’s top VIA strengths: Authenticity, Leadership, Creativity, Love, SpiritualityVIA Inventory of Character Strengths: www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/testcenterRecorded: May 29, 2024

Guest: Cormac Russell, Co-Author of The Connected Community: Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of NeighborhoodsRecorded: May 23, 2024

Guest: Kimberly Rath, Chairman and Co-Founder of Talent Plus and Co-Author of Near, Now, NextVIA Strengths:Fairness | Honesty | Kindness | Teamwork | ForgivenessCore Values:Integrity | Kindness | Positivity | Love | BelongingVision:“My goal is to inspire and empower individuals and unlock their potentiality and achieve personal and professional collective joy to create a better world.” Recorded: May 1, 2024

Guest: Dr. Eri Mountbatten-O'Malley, Senior Lecturer in Education at Bath Spa University. Eri's strengths: Humor | Creativity | Fairness | Curiosity | Appreciation of Beauty & ExcellenceRecorded: 4/24/2024Forthcoming Book - Human Flourishing: A Conceptual Analysis

Guest: Ryan Wieber, Director, Lincoln City LibrariesRyan’s strengths: Arranger | Futuristic | Learner | Responsibility | StrategicRecorded: 3/29/2024

Guest: Dr. Gustavo Carlo, Professor in the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine. Gus and I explore the idea that there may exist at least three kinds of kindness. The following are the kinds of kindness discussed and an example of each: Playful:  host a block party.Compassionate: become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Generative: become a mentor.Gus’s Strengths: Curiosity | Teamwork | Love | Judgment | PerspectiveDiscover your strengths and use them for kindness: ⁠www.viacharacter.orgRecorded: 1/22/2024

Guest: Corey Keyes, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Emory UniversityRecorded: 1/12/2024Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us DownBy Dr. Corey Keyes Publication date: February 20, 2024www.languishingbook.comAdam Grant’s article from the NY Times discussed in this episode:There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishinghttps://tiny.cc/languishing

Richard DienstbierProfessor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Nebraska-LincolnRecorded: 1/1/2024Building Resistance to Stress and Aging: The Toughness Modelby Richard A, Dienstbier"As we engage in toughening activities, physiological toughness develops in response to various genes being turned on or off—sometimes temporarily, but sometimes for a lifetime. Those physiological events lead to modifications of our neurochemistry and the development of various neurons and structures within our brains. As we become physiologically tougher, those modifications lead, in turn, to positive psychological and mental outcomes that include emotional stability, enhanced energy, more efficient cognitive functions, fluid intelligence, and even self-control... Once toughness begins to develop, the experience of enhanced mental and physical energy, and of sustained mental abilities, allows us to optimistically approach life’s various challenges. Confronting those challenges toughens us even more. Thus once we begin to toughen we experience an upward spiral where toughness leads to choices that in turn continue to toughen us."