Good Life Project || Inspiration | Motivation | Happiness | Meaning | Success

Guest: Gretchen Rubin is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including The Four Tendencies, Better Than Before and The Happiness Project.On her weekly podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin, she discusses good habits and happiness with her sister Elizabeth Craft.Want to hear more from Gretchen? Listen here to her 2015 conversation with Jonathan.About The Four Tendencies: During her investigation into understanding human nature, Gretchen discovered that when it comes to our ability to start and stick with anything, people fit into Four Tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so using this framework allows us to make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress, and succeed in nearly anything meaningful.Big Idea: Gretchen reveals the surprising truth about the four hidden personality types or tendencies that drive everything we do. Learn how to understand yourself better

Good Life Riff: We've talked about happiness before, and it's relationships to a good life. And, we've done a pretty fierce deep-dive into the surprising relationship between money and happiness in a past episode. But, there's something else we've never shared. A little called the ARC of Happiness. Those three letters, A - R - C, are an acronym for three words that will dramatically enhance the happiness and fulfillment you experience in life. What are they? Listen and find out.Good Life Science: And, in our Good Life Science segment, we're diving into a fascinating bit of research about how it's not just what you eat that controls whether you lose weight, and how much you lose, but also the time of day. The results of this study were, well, how do we put this, rather jaw-dropping. We explore the details in today's Good Life Science Update. And, as always, for those want to go to the source, here's a link to the full study.Rockstar Sponsors: Wondering what's for dinner? Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredi

Glennon Doyle is an author, activist, founder of Momastery.com and co-founder of the Compassion Collective and Together Rising, a non-profit that has raised more five million dollars for women and children in crisis.Her latest book, LOVE WARRIOR is a #1 New York Times Bestseller and the Oprah's Book Club selection.I sat down with Glennon the morning after she had wrapped one of her gatherings at the legendary BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in New York City, where she was joined by a multi-denominational collective on-stage, including Alicia Keys who was so moved she couldn't help but belt out an impromptu song before leaving.In this conversation, we dip into her memoir. But that's more of a jumping off point that leads us into some very different waters, from leading as an introvert, her feelings about faith and how it informs what she's creating to how she's moving into a season of her life where the line between public and private, art and service, love and leading is shifting in profound and intentio

Good Life Riff: Ever hear the story about the guy trapped on his roof in a flood, waiting for a sign from God that he'd be saved? Well, turns out, a lot of us live our lives in a similar way. Waiting for someone or something to give us a sign, to tell us, "it's time." When, in reality, we are that sign. That's what today's riff is about.Good Life Science: And, in our Good Life Science segment, we're diving into fascinating new study on how one very specific type of kindness actually changes us on the level of DNA and makes our lives healthier and, very likely, happier. And, as always, for those want to go to the source, here's a link to the full study.Rockstar Sponsors: Get paid online, on-time with Freshbooks! Today's show is supported by FreshBooks, cloud accounting software that makes it insanely easy for freelancers and professionals to get paid online, track expenses and do more of what you love. Get your 1-month free trial, no credit card required, at FreshBooks.c

[Best Of Episode] Elizabeth Gilbert exploded into the public's consciousness in 2006 with the release of her mega-bestselling memoir, Eat Pray Love.Since then, she's published a series of books, given a TED talk on creative genius that's been viewed more than 10 million times, become a leading voice on the pursuit of a creative, connected and vital life.Gilbert's book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, takes you deeper into what it means to live a creative life, offering a wonderful blend of wisdom, unabashed magical thinking, amazing stories and a whole lot of unexpected myth-busting and contrarian insights.I had a chance to sit down with Liz and, as often happens with these Good Life conversations, we ended up going all sorts of places I'd never planned. We touched on the power of curiosity and the fallacy of passion, where creativity comes from, what stops us from doing the thing we're here to do, the importance of caring for your vessel, what happens when you think you've reached the end of you

Good Life Riff: We hear a lot of talk about finding your voice. Truth is, it matters, but it's also not enough. Not if you want to stand out, rise above, create impact and make meaning. There's something else that we need to both cultivate and share. And, in today's world, it matters more than ever. What is it? Your point of view. That's the focus of today's riff.Good Life Science: Swearing, cussing, cursing, it's got many names. Some people revile it, others revel in it. No matter how you feel about swearing, though, it turns out it has a very specific benefit when it comes to your ability to tolerate pain. In today's Good Life Science Update, we're diving into fascinating research on the topic. And, as always, for those want to go to the source, here's a link to the full study.Rockstar Sponsors: Are you hiring? Do you know where to post your job to find the best candidates? Unlike other job sites, ZipRecruiter doesn’t depend on candidates finding you; it finds them. And right now, my listener

So, how exactly did the global head of marketing for Nike become a podcaster?From studying Comparative Literature and French to becoming the head of marketing at mega-brands like Nike, OWN, National Geographic Channels and Fox International, Liz Dolan has taken the world of big business by storm.But in between these high-profile gigs, she found herself diving into deeply personal endeavors and side-hustles, with a focus on creativity, media and storytelling.Most recently, she left the world of mega-business to host a great podcast, I Hate My Boss, where Dolan and co-host, Larry Seal, help people navigate the drama, highs, lows and angsty moments of modern-day work. And as a fun bonus, on the same day we're airing her conversation on Good Life Project, GLP founder, Jonathan Fields, is also featured on I Hate My Boss.You’d Never Guess: What NIKE founder, Phil Night, said to her when she told him she was leaving.Current Passion Project: I Hate My Boss podcast.Rockstar Sponsors: Are you hiring? Do you know w

Good Life Riff: There's this thing that happens at the end of the day when you're near the water. The breeze settles down, everything slows and there's a window where everything becomes still.It only lasts for 15-20 minutes, but it's a powerful moment. Kind of nature's way of transitioning its environment from the high-pitch, frenetic, creative energy of the day into the ramped-down, chiller, more reflective energy of the evening. Thing is, it's not just nature that needs this. We need it to. That's what today's riff is all about.Good Life Science: And, in our Good Life Science segment, we're diving into some very cool new research that comes out of Binghamton University. Researchers used DNA as a sort of a second-skin that could take the hit before the UV rays could damage the skin. And the results are kind of remarkable. That's what we're talking about in today's Good Life Science Update. And, as always, for those want to go to the source, here's a link to the full study.-------------Have you discovere

What if most of what we've been taught about success was wrong?That's the question we're asking today's guest, Eric Barker. A former Hollywood screen-writer turned blogger, he shares science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life with his more than 300,000 subscribers. Barker's content is also syndicated by Time Magazine, The Week, and Business Insider and he has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic Monthly, and the Financial Times. His first book "Barking Up the Wrong Tree" is a Wall Street Journal bestseller.Story: Eric dives deep into the psychology of how we act in the world, often focusing on the paradoxes. The weird things we do and bringing research to illuminate why we do, how we do it. and trying to give us good wisdom to how we live our lives. Big idea: His deep fascination with human psychology grew a pretty giant global platform.You’d never guess: He posted a Facebook ad in 2009 when he g

Good Life Riff: Ever wonder why the internet is littered with a bajillion feel-good quotables, when the reality of most people's lives is pretty far from the utopian mumbo-jumbo we so often see hand-lettered all over insta?Ever wonder what might happen if you changed those quotables to something that was a little less aspirational and a little more real? The short answer just might surprise you. That's what we're talking about today.Good Life Science: And, in our Good Life Science segment, we're diving into an eye-opening bit of new research. It's about how we talk to ourselves when we're anxious and under stress. Turns out, we just might get better faster when we do something just a little bit, well, weird. When we shift our self-doubt to the third-person. Details in today's Good Life Science brief. And, as always, for those want to go to the source, here's a link to the full study.Rockstar sponsors:I'm joining Honest Tea in celebrating the lighthearted ways we're less than perfect through the 

Nilofer Merchant is a master at turning seemingly “wild” ideas into powerful new realities and showing the rest of us how we can do the same.Over the years, this has taken the form of books, her top-ranked TED talk, strategic advising for some of the largest, most-innovative companies in the world and game-changing startups, as well as being a member of organizational teams responsible for global impact and billions in product revenue.More recently, though, she's focused her fierce ideation and research lens on a bigger question. Nilofer asks, "do we really each have within us the unique capacity to make a substantial impact?"Her conclusion, indeed we do. And, we're living in times that, maybe for the first time ever, have made it possible for people who've been marginalized, disenfranchised and stripped of power to bring forth and build momentum around ideas that, in her words, are mighty enough to "dent the world." Merchant explores these ideas in her intriguing new book, The Power of Onlynes

We spend so much of life racing from one goal, one task, one agenda item to the next, we end up missing so many opportunities to experience grace and awe.In today's Good Life Dispatch, we're talking about how a simple moment reconnected us with the power of awe. Be sure to listen to understand the picture in the show notes.And, in our Good Life Science segment, we're diving into some interesting new research on something called "positive activity interventions" and how they affect mood, anxiety and depression. As always, here's a link to the full study, for those who'd like to dive deeper.Rockstar sponsors:Get paid online, on-time with Freshbooks! Today's show is supported by FreshBooks, cloud accounting software that makes it insanely easy for freelancers and professionals to get paid online, track expenses and do more of what you love. Get your 1-month free trial, no credit card required, at FreshBooks.com/goodlife (enter The Good Life Project in the “How Did You Hear Abou

Guest: For almost three decades Caroline Adams Miller, MAPP has been a leading voice in applying the science of goal-setting, grit, happiness and success.In 2015, she was named “one of the ten Positive Psychology coaches to follow.” Her latest book is, Getting Grit: The Evidence-Based Approach to Cultivating Passion, Perseverance, and Purpose.Story: A fiercely-competitive athlete and academic even in her youth, Miller was exposed to Bulimia at the age of 14 and turned to it as an outlet and control mechanism. Outwardly successful by every external measure, she eventually attended Harvard, got married and started a family, all the while keeping her disorder secret. Until one day, gripped by the need to control her disorder any more, she began to reveal her secret life and seek help.Fortunately, she heard the right words at the right time during a support group meeting, which helped turn her life into one of purpose. Caroline drew upon this life-changing experience to write a book about bulimia t

GLP Riff: Ever wonder how your work environment affects everything from your mood to your health and even your ability to do your best work? Turns out, it can make a huge difference. And, it's one of those decisions most of us never actually make. It's time to get more intentional about the environment that best supports your ability to rock your work and life. That what today's GLP Riff is all about.Good Life Science Update: Chocolate, it's pretty much proof of the existence of God, in our humble opinion! But, turns out, some fascinating research shows that it may also play a serious role in brain function and memory. Especially as we get a bit further into life. That's what we're talking about in today's Good Life Science update.Rockstar sponsors:Get paid online, on-time with Freshbooks! Today's show is supported by FreshBooks, cloud accounting software that makes it insanely easy for freelancers and professionals to get paid online, track expenses and do more of what you love. Get

Guest: Ryan Holiday is the bestselling author of multiple books, including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy and Growth Hacker Marketing.His company, Brass Check, has advised companies like Google, Taser and Complex as well as multi-platinum musicians and some of the biggest authors in the world, such as Tim Ferriss, Tony Robbins, and Arianna Huffington. His latest book, Perennial Seller, Ryan reveals to creatives of all stripes—authors, entrepreneurs, musicians, filmmakers, fine artists—how a classic work is made and marketed.Story: The art of making stuff and bringing it to the world. Stuff that lasts. Stuff that is designed to endure the test of time. We dive into his journey of becoming a writer, which was certainly not linear, and he's written some provocative things about what he's learned about the world of media, marketing and manipulation.Big idea: What we're really creating when we create something that we want to matter in the world.You’d never guess: At nineteen&nb

What if we didn't have to wait for tragedy in order to be kind?What if there was no WAY to kindness, but rather, kindness WAS the way? That's what we're talking about in today's GLP Riff, inspired by an awakening during a Broadway show about a powerful true-life story from the town of Gander, Newfoundland.And, be sure to tune in for today's Good Life Science Update, too.We're diving into some new research that shows something just a tiny bit terrifying about how even having a silent smartphone in the room with you might affect your ability to think and perform at the top of your game. For those who want to go deeper, here's a link to the research cited.Rockstar Sponsor:Thrive Market has all the top premium healthy and organic products that I usually get from a grocery store but unlike your typical organic & non-GMO products that are marked up to premium prices, Thrive Market sells the same organic & non-GMO premium products at wholesale prices! To start your FREE 30-day trial, 25% your first purc

Guest: Julie Piatt aka SriMati is a plant-based chef, meditation guide, yoga teacher, musician, and author of This Cheese is Nuts!: Delicious Vegan Cheese at Home.Story: In the midst of a successful career as a designer and business owner, Julie and her husband made radical changes in career. While this set in motion a powerful new path for both, it also led them into a financial collapse that took nearly 7 years to emerge from, all which navigating both their own individual evolutions and parenting four kids.This challenging time, or as Julie calls it “The Sacred Moment,” has not only defined she as a person but also allowed her to become the highest version of her true self and informed her journey as a teacher, creator, life-partner and parent.Big idea(s): Times in our lives that are filled with struggle and pain that bring us to our knees are Sacred Moments that strip us of anything false, show our true nature, and forge us into our highest selvesYou’d never guess: How receiving her spiritual name, SriMat

We're excited to premiere a new segment on today's episode. Along with our weekly Riffs, we'll be bringing you a new weekly Good Life Science Update™ where we share interesting research on a specific topic designed to help you live a better life.And, we'll also be bringing in other fun segments and maybe even a few new voices. So, stay tuned!Today's riff topic.When does it makes sense to go all-in on a new career, business or idea and "burn the ships" so you have to succeed, OR do it on the side and take the "safer" and less-disruptive approach? Hint - anyone who tells you to do one or the other without asking a critical question first...is very likely wrong!Today's Good Life Science Update.We all know that fruits and veggies can make us healthier, improve energy and reduce risk of disease. But, did you know that they also may make you more curious, creative, upbeat and cultivate a deeper sense of purpose? Some very interesting research suggests that veggies just might be power t

Guest: When Agapi Stassinopoulos walks into a room, you know you're in the presence of love. Her name, in fact, translates to "love." She is a sought-after speaker, teacher and a best-selling author of multiple books, the latest being Wake Up to the Joy of You: 52 Meditations and Practices for a Calmer, Happier Life.Story: Training at the Royal Academy of London, Agapi wanted to build a career in performing arts. But it seems the universe conspired to create a different path. Struggling to find her way on the stage and screen, she changed direction and instead pursued a Masters in psychology, seeking to inspire and elevate people not by taking on the persona of other characters, but by taking the stage as herself and sharing her own, very personal stories, ideas and wisdom.Big idea(s): If you’re stuck and you can’t seem to break out of it, help someone else get what they need and you’ll automatically be empowered.You’d never guess: How spontaneously performing Joan of Arc to a stranger on 

We tend to think that once we get to a certain place in life, everything just gets all dreamy.And, that makes us sometimes hold those who we look to as teachers and leaders to a different standard. But, what if we're all just in it together? What if life happens, humanity and all of its stumbles and struggles, highs and lows, grace and grind, no matter how far we get into a path of discovery?Nobody gets to opt out of the human condition.What if leading and living a good life wasn't about learning and practicing our way out of the realities of day-to-day existence, but rather owning the fact that, no matter what may come our way, the essential ingredients for a meaningful existence are here, in front of us, in each moment? Even the hard ones. What if a good life is not a place at which we arrive, but a lens through which we see and create our world?That's what we're talking about in today's GLP Riff. And, as part of that discussion, we offer a question to ask that just might guide better decisions as we tell t