Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Grit, Grace, and the Power Tools of Courage with Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde What drives some people to take on circumstances they wouldn’t choose for themselves to help those in need, speak for those who don’t have a voice, or follow integrity toward the righteous path? Where does the spark of courage come from? To illuminate what gives us inner grit, grace, and the power of courage, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the bishop and spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C., Mariann Edgar Budde. Bishop Mariann reflects on the inspiration behind the writing of her book, How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, and shares words of encouragement for those who remain sturdy and resilient when faced with circumstances beyond their control. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde — Power Tools of Courage: ● Bishop Mariann shares the inspiration behind her book, How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith. [1:57] ● Bishop Mariann theorizes

The effects of trauma for those who endure it vary widely from person to person. Why are some able to use their traumatic experiences as a springboard for personal growth to lead fulfilling lives, and others become trapped by the injustice and are unable to escape the emotional, physical, and spiritual weight of it? To discover more about the aspects of post-traumatic growth and how it can offer a greater appreciation for life, improved relationships, and spiritual awakenings, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with clinical psychologist and author, Dr. Edith Shiro. Dr. Shiro describes, in detail, strategies from her book, The Unexpected Gift of Trauma: the Path to Post-Traumatic Growth. She also shares frameworks for transforming and transcending trauma on personal and collective levels. Dr. Edith Shiro — Transforming & Transcending Trauma: ● The inspiration for writing, The Unexpected Gift of Trauma, started with a question about what makes some people thrive and others stuck a

What if it was possible to have a roadmap to optimize the health trajectory of your body? Wearables and AI can utilize set parameters based on personal genetic and historical data and help mitigate risk by suggesting preventative practices, decreasing the chance of suffering chronic illness. How much control will we have over our health in the future? To discover new scientific wellness techniques, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Nathan Price about putting healthcare in our hands. Dr. Price is the Chief Science Officer of Thorne Health Tech and co-author of The Age of Scientific Wellness: Why the Future of Medicine is Personalized, Predictive, Data-rich, and in Your Hands. He shares information about the scientific research that has led to breakthroughs in preventative wellness for elongated health spans, and the part AI will play in the future of medicine. Nathan Price — Healthcare in Our Hands: Nathan describes how science has changed medicine in the past and how it will

From birth, our self is created by other people. We inherently carry intergenerational baggage from our ancestors, then the process of constructing our ‘self’ comes from feedback about who we are from the time, culture, and society we grow up in. Do we truly have any control over who we are and who we will become? To discover the social construction behind what we consider our sense of self, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with social psychologist, and the Walter Kenneth Kilpatrick Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford University, Dr. Brian Lowery. Brian explains the premise of his book Selfless: The Social Creation of “You”, and describes the multidimensional facets of self. Dr. Brian Lowery — The Journey of Self-construction: ● What Brian means when he says the self is a social construction. [2:25] ● Making sense of ourselves and our stories. [6:21] ● In his book, Selfless, Brian imparts that humans can not be a self by themselves and that our worlds are smaller whe

How do you feel on Mother’s Day? Is it a day when you turn away from social media because you don’t have a flattering Mother’s Day meme you want to share? Do you spend time reflecting on your relationship with your mother and wish it would have been or will be different? Many people, including mothers, have a mother wound. To uncover ways we can heal our primal mother wound and be our true authentic selves, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with writer, coach, and international speaker, Bethany Webster. Bethany shares insights about cultural and generational mother wounding and offers healing practices to relieve the shame often felt by our inner child. Bethany E. Webster — Healing Primal Wounds: ● Bethany defines the different aspects of the mother wound. [2:07] ● In her book, Discovering the Inner Mother, Bethany offers a way to break the generational cycle of passing down the mother wound to children by healing our inner child. [5:49] ● How the mother wound manifests itself in

Look around your home. Notice what catches your eye that causes you stress and what things make you happy. More often than not, a pet or a photo of a family outing brings a moment of happiness, a new appliance or pair of shoes probably not as much. As the old adage says, money can’t buy happiness. So what can be done in and around the home to provide small bits of day-to-day joy? To find out, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the CEO of the Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, Meik Wiking about hygge and happiness. Meik shares the research behind his latest book, My Hygge Home: How to Make Home Your Happy Place, and offers design hacks everyone can use to create an atmosphere of happiness. Meik Wiking — The Good Life: ● The principles of Hygge, or the art of creating a nice atmosphere to encourage everyday happiness. [3:09] ● Meik focuses on the little things that bring us happiness in our day-to-day lives. [6:50] ● A research study of 13,000 households in ten countries found cl

Do you wish your partner understood you better? Have you considered that they may not be wired to? Biology and chemistry are important factors in why we communicate the way we do. Testosterone and Estrogen play a major role in social behaviors from a very young age. To empathetically examine what places men and women on opposite sides of the communication spectrum, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with sex and biology expert, Dr. Stephen Furlich. He shares some of the research behind his book Sex Talk: How Biological Sex Influences Gender Communication Differences Throughout Life's Stages, strategies for how both genders can communicate with each other effectively, and why men and women are the way they are. Dr. Stephen Furlich — Sex, Biology, and You: ● Stephen explains the social and behavioral differences between men and women and why communication difficulties arise. [1:56] ● How to bridge the gap for better communication at home and work. [5:13] ● Strategies to improve commun

How would you define the American Dream? For some, it means hard work pays off, and for others, it represents a period of time in their lives. Some believe that time has come to a close. What makes different groups perceive things differently? To find out how culture impacts people’s perception of success and what hope has to do with it, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Leo Pasvolsky Senior Fellow at Brookings, College Park Professor at the University of Maryland, and a Gallup Senior Scientist, Carol Graham. Carol shares the research that supports her book The Power of Hope: How the Science of Well-Being Can Save Us From Despair. Her findings encompass the hopefulness of minority groups, how the political polarization in the US has led to increased despair, and why money doesn’t increase happiness or hopefulness.

Most teenagers' default setting is mimetic desire. Before online technologies were ubiquitous, teens would mimic the behavior of familial or social influences to shape their morality and conduct. During times of quiet reflection, they indulged in self-assessment. But with social media algorithms designed to manipulate the mind through wasted time, there are entire age groups that are becoming externally referenced. To discover ways to retain our individualism, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author and professor Dean Rickles PhD. Dean offers a philosophical and psychological look into the damaging effects of social media on social connections. He shares the core principles from his book Life is Short: An Appropriately Brief Guide to Making it More Meaningful as examples of how death can be a driver to embark on a richer, more meaningful life.  Dean Rickles PhD — Forging a Meaningful Life: Dean describes the focus of his Seneca-esque book Life is Short: An Appropriately Brief G

As a human certain anxieties are a natural part of life. But, in our current culture, lack of alone time, screens that pummel us with non-stop data, and expectations of instant results and quick fixes, how do we have time to appreciate the awe that is our existence? To take a deep dive into how we can repair trauma and restore vitality to our lives, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Psychologist and Author, Kirk J. Schneider about how to enhance life through anxiety. In his book, Life-Enhancing Anxiety: Key to a Sane World, he shares the experience of how a therapist provided him a sense of safety after a childhood trauma by bearing witness and being present. Kirk now assists others in utilizing fear as a mobilizer to enhance their lives.

What comes to mind when you think of retirement? Do you picture yourself lounging in a hammock on an island surrounded by aqua-blue water? Or, are you considering a job you can do to fill your time? To discover how we can best design our wisdom years, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with long-time Los Angeles Times columnist, four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and best-selling author, Steve Lopez. Steve shares essential takeaways from his book, Independence Day: What I've Learned About Retirement from Some Who‘ve Done it and Some Who Never Will. This conversation is rich with stories of research and interviews about individual retirement dreams and how people plan for an ever-changing landscape. Steve Lopez — Retirement or Reinvention?: ● Steve spent a year interviewing retired people to create a roadmap for his own retirement and to add to his book. [2:15] ● A sense of purpose and identity and feeling like we matter in life is the key to planning a healthy retirement. [8:15] ● S

When you look around your space, what do you see? Is there a corner that seems a bit overcrowded? Is there a pile you’ve been meaning to tackle but can’t find the right time? Would you perhaps enjoy parking your car in the garage for extra comfort on cold or rainy days? To discover the art of lightening the load to uncover happiness, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with declutter queen, Tracy McCubbin. Tracy is the founder of dClutterly, a business that helps people find joy in removing all the ‘stuff’ that no longer brings them joy. She shares the 5-minute decluttering challenge and how she helps people save money, organize, and flourish. Tracy McCubbin — Making Space for Joy: ● Tracy describes our habits, acquisition cycle, and what we are seeking through the stuff we buy and collect. [3:38] ● In her book, Make Space for Happiness: How to Stop Attracting Clutter and Start Magnetizing the Life You Want, Tracy highlights the human connections and actions that can get us closer t

Did you know that 80% of heart disease and 70% of cancers can be prevented through diet and lifestyle changes? And that starting some monthly supplements before allergy season can keep you breathing freely? For an in-depth look at the environmental toxins that impact our health, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Aaron Hartmann MD, the founder of Richmond Integrative and Functional Medicine. Aaron offers tips for maintaining a healthy immune system and shares statistics and insights to help people take control of their health, eliminate toxins, and stave off chronic illness.  Aaron Hartman MD — Achieve Overall Health & Wellbeing: ● Andrew describes the impact of the environment and the water we drink on human health. [2:06] ● The air quality of indoor environments can dramatically affect health. [6:59] ● How to support overall health through the GI tract and if eating organic is worth it. [11:06] ● How the gut, sinuses, and lungs all support the immune system. [20:39] ●

A medical doctor often diagnoses physical ailments through a series of lab tests, x-rays, observations, and data analysis. There are multiple proven guidelines and resources in place for the treatment of disease, fractures, organ failure, and other physical illnesses. But, for mental health diagnoses, one book, currently in its fifth revision, is the go-to manual for all mental health professionals. To explore how the manual was created, its major flaws, and the consequential misdiagnoses that come from it, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author and activist Sarah Fay about her investigation and dissection of the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , or DSM . In her book, Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses, Sarah shares the personal mental health journey that led to her writing the book and why she created a public awareness campaign to identify the dangers of the DSM. Sarah Fay — Mental Health Diagnosis: ● Most of the conditions included in t

For those who suffer from chronic pain, depression, or burn-out many physicians turn to pharmaceuticals as treatment. While pharmaceuticals may offer the temporary relief of symptoms, most have unpleasant side effects and never treat the root cause of an illness. Researchers are discovering that mindfulness and meditation practices are important factors in improving physical and mental health for complete wellness. To explore the awe-mazing possibilities of new treatment methods, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author, physician, and awe researcher, Michael Amster about the benefits of micro-dosing mindfulness. Michael’s book, The Power of AWE: Overcoming Burnout & Anxiety, Ease Chronic Pain, Find Clarity & Purpose — In Less Than 1 Minute Per Day , contains a quick and easy method for tapping into awe. Michael shares his research on the impact of experiencing awe, and details studies that prove that awe is a prosocial emotion that offers mental and physical benefits to t

The inability to focus on the task at hand plagues all of us, sometimes. But there are times when distractions such as our phones, long to-do lists, and multiple people wanting our attention can be more mentally taxing than others. So, what can we do to build our mental resilience, improve memory, reduce stress, and live longer happier lives? To help clear out the cognition clutter, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks to doctor and author Marc Milstein about a blueprint we can use to age-proof our brains for better living. Dr. Milstein shares excerpts from his book, The Age-Proof Brain: New Strategies to Improve Memory, Improve Immunity, and Fight Off Dementia, and cites examples of how a healthy diet, sufficient sleep, and physical movement can boost our immune system and stave off dementia. Marc Milstein PhD — Age-Proofing the Brain: ●Marc reminds us that the brain is like a battery that needs recharging. [1:52] ●Marc offers tips to optimize our brain function to improve memory, fo

There are 40.4 million unpaid caregivers of adults ages 65 and older in the United States today. A high percentage of those caregivers are female adult children who have children of their own and are managing households and careers. There are few guidebooks on how to deal with the tender strain of the changing family dynamics. To discover how taxing the emotional, mental, and physical strain can be, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks candidly with author Maya Shanbhag Lang about love, legacy, and relational role-shifting. In Maya’s book, What We Carry: A Memoir, Maya shares the deeply personal story of the relationship changes that take place as we grow and age. She also touches on the expected role of women in certain families and how making self-honoring decisions changed her life, her daughter's, and her mother’s lives for the better. Maya Shanbhag Lang PhD — Relational Role-Shifting: ● Maya describes the predicaments caregivers often find themselves in when they are thrown into th

A sense of belonging is essential to human existence. Our ancestors needed to be part of a social group to be safe and provided for. Our need for acceptance still drives us. As an example, being ostracized in today’s ‘cancel’ culture has been referred to as a type of death. To better understand how the human mind has evolved to deal with the pressures of 24-hour access to social media and more, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, Paul Bloom. Paul shares the key concepts from his latest book, PSYCH: The Story of the Human Mind, and provides answers about how social interactions, or the lack of them, might stave off human happiness.

Yoga studios have become ubiquitous in cities all over the US, and sales of yoga clothes and accessories are projected to grow by over 8% by 2029. But what does yoga’s popularity have to do with a personal yoga practice? To illuminate the real impacts of yoga beyond the mat, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Deepak Chopra’s private instructor and co-founder of ISHTA Yoga, Sarah Platt-Finger. Sarah shares core learnings from her book, Living in the Light: Yoga for Self-Realization, and tells how the practice of yoga is a personal journey into changing our senses, perceptions, and realities.

Age-related memory loss is a natural part of the aging process. Some people experience a more deeply-rooted memory issue, such as Alzheimer’s, and become deeply forgetful. Deeply forgetful people often need caregivers for what used to be normal activities. While every case is different, there are some general guidelines on how to restore dignity and selfhood to those afflicted with dementia. To dig deeper Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with physician, speaker, and author, Dr. Stephen G. Post about the latest findings about how to care for loved ones. Dr. Post shares common questions of caregivers and patients, how caregivers can respect the wishes of those they care for, and the proven positive psychological aspects of treatment. All from his book, Dignity for Deeply Forgetful People: How Caregivers Can Meet the Challenges of Alzheimer's Disease.