Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

These days, more often than not, financial market headlines include the terms ‘market crash’, ‘bubble bursting’, ‘inflation’, or ‘downturn’. What do these terms mean for long-term investors or for those who don’t invest but are impacted by job loss or economic hardship? How can everyday Americans attain enough financial security to be happy? To get expert advice about staying financially healthy, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two economic experts who talk about the psychology of money and how to achieve financial security. Michelle Singletary is a well-known financial advisor and a syndicated columnist for the Washington Post and other high- profile news outlets. She discusses tips for creating a savings cushion in the event of an emergency and how financial security means paying for basic needs first. The information is from her book, What to Do with Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide . Scott Nations is the president of a financial firm and a regular contributor to

The widely-used adage ‘ you can’t pick your family ’ generally translates into making the best of what you have when you have no choice in the matter. People rarely have the option to choose who provides their mental and physical nourishment, especially children. How we handle relationships with relatives once we reach adulthood is up to us. But, if we have been subject to years of gaslighting or mental manipulation, it can be difficult to discern between what we believe is good for us and what we truly need to thrive. To dissect the cycle of both gaslighting and estrangement , Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a therapist and a researcher about the complex relationships we engage in and disconnect from. Doctor of Psychology, Deborah Vinall offers an in-depth look at gaslighting, describes the key takeaways from her book, Gaslighting: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide to Heal from Emotional Abuse and Build Healthy Relationships , and shares the steps people can take to set self- honor

Think about all the times you felt angry today. Were you in traffic and someone using their phone cut you off? Did your teenager shout at you because you told them they couldn’t do something after school? How did you respond? Calmly or did you get defensive? To gain a better understanding of some specific tools we can use to de-escalate tense situations and have better communication with our friends and loved ones, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two legal professionals turned peacekeeping, conflict negotiators. The practice of Tai Chi helped Douglas Noll transform from lawyer to peacemaker. He explains a three-step process to peace, based on empathetic listening and emotional de-escalation from his book, De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less . Conflict resolution expert, Jim Tamm describes how to negotiate through conversations that are not easy to have and the reason people use defensiveness as a communication style from his book, Radical Collaboration

A study by the National Institute of Health found an estimated 21 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in 2020. Beyond the sheer number of people affected, what makes these findings astounding is the limited number of treatment options available for those who reach out for help. To gain perspective into the issue and discover why many suffering from clinical depression don’t reach out for help, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors experts about advanced mental health and alternatives to the medical merry-go-round. Integrative Psychiatrist Dr. Gregory S. Brown shares the Five Pillars of Self-Care from his book, The Self-Healing Mind: An Essential Five-Step Practice for Overcoming Anxiety and Depression and Revitalizing Your Life . The founding director of the UCSD Adult ADHD program, the UCSD Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) program, and the Center for Advanced Treatment of Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Dr. David Feifel shares

What is true is not always what some choose to believe. There are some people who subscribe to the ignorance is bliss philosophy and others have difficulty discerning which information is born in conspiracy or in science. To gain a better understanding of those who wish to remain passionately ignorant and willfully disinformed, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors who specialize in the science of the mind. In Andy Norman’s book, Mental Immunity: Infectious Ideas, Mind Parasites, and the Search for a Better Way to Think, he examines what makes some groups more susceptible to mind ‘bugs’ and mental hijacking. His cognitive hygiene concept offers mental immunity to those who prefer to think rationally and want to protect themselves from conspiracy theories. Sociologist Renata Salecl shares the core theme of her book, Passion for Ignorance: What We Choose Not to Know and Why. Her research studies why in this modern age of big data, genetics, and neuroscience people still choo

A staggering statistic of today’s medical care is that in the average doctor-patient interaction, the doctor interrupts the patient within 18 seconds. This quick interruption offers very little time for a connection to be formed between a doctor and their patient. This transactional approach hinders the clinicians’ ability to provide solutions to patients who may not feel as if they were unable to express their true needs. To discover the steps being taken to raise the bedside manner bar, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors about medical journeys, kinder doctors, and resilient patients. Dr. Adam Stern is a psychiatrist and author of Committed: Dispatches from a Psychiatrist in Training . He is back on the program to share how he teaches the softer side of medicine to doctors in training and the therapeutic power of listening. David Richman is an author, public speaker, and endurance athlete who interviewed hundreds of people about their medical journey and the impact of

There are many facets of the human experience we have yet to fully comprehend. While we have mapped out the systems and attributes of our physical bodies, very little is understood about the intuitive and spiritual aspects of our complex selves. Quantum physics offers us a glimpse into our connection with the universe. To help us navigate the widely uncharted territory of the ethereal, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with three authors who write about mental agility, mental hygiene, and spiritual practice. Elaine Fox is the Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide, Australia, and the author of Switch Craft: The Hidden Power of Mental Agility . She describes the concept of Switch Crafting and how to increase longevity and satisfaction in life. Quantum Physicist, Amit Goswami, and Valentina Onisor, a pioneer of quantum integrated medicine discuss the essence of the book they co-authored, The Quantum Brain: Understand, Rewire, and Optimize Your Brain . They also ex

What navigates your internal moral compass? Do you subscribe to a religion or belief in supernatural power to guide you? Or do you allow innate love, compassion, and empathy to steer you toward a better earthly experience for all? To examine the moral weight of religious obedience, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two professors about their books that address the virtues of love and morality. Prolific author Dr. Stephen G. Post discusses the virtue of love and unpacks the Eight Pathways of Positive Achievement and Goodness from his book, Give and Live Better . Executive Director of the Humanist Global Charity, Phil Zuckerman explains the virtue of morality and the research behind his book, What it Means to be Moral: Why Religion is Not Necessary for Living an Ethical Life .

There is a wide gap between feeling not enough and good enough. The secret to feeling good enough is using boredom and frustration to propel us forward toward achieving our goals. We become frustrated when we face obstacles to getting things we care about and it forces us to try another way of something new. By embracing our imperfections, and relinquishing our need to be right, we can all lead a good-enough life. To discover how to use our emotions in a way that creates a greater good for ourselves and our community, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two professors and authors about how to live a good life. The author of Propelled: How Boredom, Frustration, and Anticipation Lead Us to the Good Life, Professor Andreas Elpidorou describes how boredom and frustration are often misinterpreted and can be real opportunities for improving life experiences. And, the author of The Good-Enough Life, Professor Avram Alpert shares his secrets for good-enoughness and how being a part of the s

Even though humans grasp the double-helix-shaped chain of our DNA strands, very little is understood about the information that is passed down from generation to generation. Physical attributes can be decisively attributed to the traits of our ancestors but what about the memories, and traumas that make up our emotional inheritance? To discover the ways emotional inheritance can nurture us, and cause grief, secrets, and confusion, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two female authors about their findings about the legacy of trauma. Galit Atlas is a psychoanalyst whose book, Emotional Inheritance: A Therapist, Her Patients, and the Legacy of Trauma, explores how multigenerational trauma is held in our minds and body. Author of the bestselling, Survivor Cafe: The Legacy of Trauma and the Labyrinth of Memory, Elizabeth Rosner reveals the importance of unearthing the path, and atrocities of our ancestors so we may move into the healing phase.

With many US cities falling into disrepair following the pandemic, business downturns, and brain drains, the term ‘Hometown Proud’ has become almost non-existent. Young talent looks elsewhere for opportunities to make their mark leaving once vibrant towns uncared for. What will it take to empower inhabitants to restore our beautiful cities and rekindle once thriving communities? To merge architecture, positive psychology, and what it means to create a better and just life for all, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two women who invest their home and work life into their communities. Majora Carter is a real estate developer, urban revitalization strategist, and author who strives to inject joy back into the South Bronx and other established communities like it. She shares key concepts from her book, Reclaiming Your Community: You Don’t Have to Move Out of Your Neighborhood to Live in a Better One, and her strategies for getting residents to reinvest in their communities.

Most people in our society celebrate life once a year with lavish birthday parties, happy songs, and sweet gatherings. But, when it comes to bereavement, grief, death, and loss we tend to tiptoe around the subjects. If we followed the philosophy of our ancestors we would appreciate life more by having meaningful conversations about our mortality. To traverse the normally taboo territory of loss, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors who have written about life, death and loss in their newest books. In her book, A Heart's Landscape: An Invitation to the Garden of Moments, Susan Lax shares a collection of her morning inspirations. She explores how we all experience grief differently and how being a greater part of a loved one's death offers us a greater life experience. Barbara Becker studied with Zen monks to learn more about life, death, and dying. During the publishing of her book, Heartwood, in which she shares stories from her time as a hospice volunteer, she was diagno

Throughout human history, men have been the storytellers and the scribes. How might our cultures have changed if we also had versions of herstory to study and learn from? Who might we be today if matriarchy guided our dreams, ambitions, and basic needs? To ponder these questions and understand how women can lean into their power, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors who research stories of power, equality, and respect. Elizabeth Lesser shares stories of women in history who have had their voices quelled in her book, Cassandra Speaks: When Women are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes . Donna Freitas discusses the years of research she assembled which led to her book, Consent: A Memoir of Unwanted Attention .

Our attitudes about our image and aging can directly affect our health and well-being. The over-publisized belief that we lose our value in society as we age can wildly diminish our quality of life. During a time of life that should be celebrated, women in their 50s are bombarded by the media with ideas of reconnecting to their youth. But, should they want to reconnect? To discover tools to keep us hearty and healthful as we ripen, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two expert authors about how attitude can affect a healthy, happy, aging process. Dr. Louann Brizendine is a researcher, clinician, and professor who founded the Women’s Mood and Hormone Clinic at UCSF. She highlights the research at the core of her book, The Upgrade: How the Female Brain Gets Stronger and Better in Midlife and Beyond, and describes ways women can make the most of the second half of their lives. Dr. Becca Levy is a psychologist credited with creating a field of study that focuses on how positive and neg

There are times in all of our lives when we wish we would have said something differently or changed the way we reacted to something or someone. But, truth be told, very few of us have acquired the communication skills to express ourselves fully to the people we come into contact with, especially when it comes to a loved one. To shine a light on how to hone our communication skills and truly empathize with those around us, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors about strategies for competent communication skills and how to deal with difficult people. Jonathan Robinson describes the key tenets from his book, More Love, Less Conflict: A Communication Playbook for Couples and strategies for couples looking for more intimacy and love. Sarah (Sam) Elliston shares the story of her realization that she was a difficult person and her tips for dealing with difficult people.

Overstimulation is affecting us all. Everywhere we turn screens, people, and devices are battling for our attention. Without the right tools, it becomes easy to get stuck in the mire or not advocate for ourselves in the best way possible and focus our attention on the future. To discover how we can regain personal agency and make better decisions, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors about their literary guidebooks. Changemaker Paul Napper discusses key elements of his book, The Power of Agency , and the challenges many people face when making decisions in this overstimulated world. Futurist Daniel Burrus describes how we can become opportunity managers and make decisions with confidence using the tenets of his book, The Anticipatory Organization .

Some people grimace when talking about their job in the corporate world. Common complaints are they must comply with orders, they feel their voice isn’t being heard, or they must conform to the status quo. And, then there are some who buck the system and break the rules to innovate and drive positive change. How can organizations change an employee's experience to create constructive disruption? What new tools are available to retain creative, rebellionist talent? To discover how we can regain personal agency and reduce the amount of control industry- focused cultures have over us, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two thought leaders about their books that can transform industries. Francesca Gino is the author of Rebel Talent: Why it Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life . She shares her findings about why rebellious people create more and have deeper relationships. Aaron Dignan describes the principles of his book, Brave New Work: Are You Ready to Reinvent Your Organizatio