Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast

Paul Zak is the founding director of the Centre for Neuroeconomic Studies and professor of economics, psychology, and management at Claremont Graduate University. Paul is part of the team of scientists that first made the connection between oxytocin and trust, and this TED Talk on the topic has received over a million views. His latest book, Trust Factor, The Science of Creating High-Performance Companies uses neuroscience to measure and manage organizational cultures to inspire teamwork and accelerate business outcomes. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing the effects of oxytocin on trust and how heightening the OXYTOCIN factors can help to build stronger and more effective teams in workplaces. Connect with Paul: Website: pauljzak.com [free_product_purchase id="26345"] You’ll Learn: [01:57] - Paul explains how neuromanagement works. [04:33] - Paul outlines the OXYTOCIN factors that workplaces can build to improve trust in organizations. [08:30] - Paul explains how to confidently share neuroscience findin

Dr. Elaine O’Brien is an educator, trainer, author, presenter, speaker, and pioneer in the Health, Exercise, and Fitness Industry, as well as a leader in the burgeoning science of Applied Positive Psychology. She is CEO of Lifestyle Medicine Coaching & Training, a consultancy, & FitDance: Move2Love providing training, presentations, and program content development around positive health, whole fitness, optimal performance, exercise and aging well through the lifespan. Elaine delivers positive exercise programming, and training protocols to help boost motivation, exercise adherence, enjoyment, and whole health and wellbeing across domains and through the lifespan.  In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing the psychology of human movement and the small steps you can take in workplaces to keep people’s bodies, hearts and minds functioning at their best. Connect with Elaine: Website: Elaine O'Brien (LinkedIn) [free_product_purchase id="26102"] You’ll Learn: [02:07] - Elaine explains the psychology of huma

  Rick Hanson is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at the Greater Good Science Centre at UC Berkeley, and New York Times bestselling author. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, he’s been an invited speaker at NASA, Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and other major universities, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. His books are available in 26 languages and include Hard Wiring Happiness, and his newest book, Resilient, has been featured on the BBC, CBS, and NPR. In today’s episode, we’ll be talking about how to develop the traits of resilience to help people manage their levels of anxiety and stress in the workplace. Connect with Rick: Website: www.rickhanson.net/ [free_product_purchase id="25900"] You’ll Learn: [02:12] - Rick explains why modern life is neurologically heightening our levels of anxiety. [04:38] - Rick explains how we can be more resilient in the face of constant change, uncertainty and complexity in workplaces. [07:37] - Rick shares the three simple ste

Zoe Galvez and Betsy Crouch, co-founders of ImprovHQ, help leaders and organizations develop effective communication, exceptional collaboration, and engaged cultures through interactive learning experiences, based on the principles of improvisation and positive psychology. They deliver workshops, keynotes, and executive coaching programmes, to workplaces that include Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, Dropbox, and many more. Today we’ll be discussing how the principles and practices of improvisation can be used to teach people the skills of positive psychology in workplaces. Connect with Betsy and Zoe: Website: improvhq.com [free_product_purchase id="25798"] You’ll Learn: [02:36] - Zoe and Betsy explain how positive psychology practices can be fused with improvisation techniques to help people flourish at work. [05:40] - The Improv HQ team give examples of how improvisation skills can develop people’s resilience. [09:02] - Zoe explains why every conversation at work is an opportunity for connection or conf

Dr. Tal Ben Shahar is the co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy and the creator and instructor of the Certificate in Happiness Studies Programme. Known around the world for teaching two of the most popular courses in Harvard’s history, Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Leadership, Tal is also an international best-selling author and the co-founder of Potential Life and Happier TV. Today we’ll be exploring the concept of wholebeing and why our happiness at work and in life is interconnected. Connect with Tal-Ben Shahar: Website: talbenshahar.com [free_product_purchase id="25707"] You’ll Learn: [01:37] - Tal shares the impact positive psychology has had over the last decade in workplaces. [02:30] - Tal talks about the need to bring together different scientific disciplines in order to further the study of happiness. [04:23] - Tal introduces the concept of wholebeing and why people need to SPIRE. [06:38] - Tal explains why our happiness is interconnected with our environment and what this means pr

Jenn Lim is the CEO of Delivering Happiness, a company she and Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, co-founded to inspire passion and purpose as part of their profitable happiness business model. To achieve this, Jenn delivers talks, interactive workshops, executive alignment sessions and culture team training for companies all over the world, and with the help of her team, they also create some wonderful tools to measure and improve happiness in workplaces. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing how to leverage Self-Determination Theory practices to help employees feel happier, ensure customers are more satisfied and deliver and improve the bottom line for your workplace. Connect with Jenn Lim: Website: deliveringhappiness.com [free_product_purchase id="25441"] You’ll Learn: [02:00] - Jenn shares the story of Zappos and how they have created a flourishing culture. [06:21] - Jenn explains how Self-Determination Theory provides the foundation for a happiness business model. [07:36] - Jenn shares practical examples

Dr. Timothy Sharp runs one of Australia’s most respected clinical psychology practices, is a highly regarded executive coaching practice, and is the founder and chief happiness officer of the happiness institute, Australia’s first and now largest organization devoted solely to enhancing happiness in individuals, families, and workplaces. An adjunct professor in positive psychology at the University of Technology in Sydney and RMIT University, Tim is a sought-after public speaker who makes frequent media appearances, and is the author of, among other things, “100 Ways to Happiness: A Guide for Busy People” and most recently, “Live Happier, Live Longer: A Guide to Positive Ageing”. In today’s episode we’ll discuss how to help people find the time to integrate wellbeing practices into their workplace. Connect with Tim Sharp: Connect with Tim Sharp: Website: www.drhappy.com.au/ [free_product_purchase id="25009"] You’ll Learn: [03:28] - Tim details the acronym CHOOSE, which relates to the idea of choosing happine

Stella Grizont is a graduate at the University of Pennsylvania’s Master’s of Applied Positive Psychology programme and is an executive coach who has worked with over 14,000 people in 21 countries. Stella has also delivered workshops to organizations including Google, Johnson and Johnson, Young & Rubicam to inspire their employees to develop a positive work culture. Her unique approach to loving your work has been featured on MSNBC, ABC news and the Today Show. In today’s episode Stella explains the power of playful mindset to help us avoid getting stuck in the common mind traps most of us struggle with at work. Connect with Stella Grizont: Website: www.woopaah.com  You’ll Learn: [05:06] – Stella explains how the playful mindset can help approach uncertain situations with curiosity rather than fear at work. [10:38] – Stella shares how complaining can become a common mind trap, because it triggers our negativity bias over and over again. [11:56] – Stella talks about how comparing yourself to others is anot

Dr. Diana Whitney is the founder and president of Positive Change, a global consultancy that helps executives and their teams design and facilitate high engagement, appreciative inquiry processes in support of business goals, strategies and innovation. Diana is also the co-founder of the Taos Institute, an education think-tank with over 500 international associates, teaching and doing research into constructive, relational processes in business, education families and communities. Diana is also the author of 18 books and dozens of articles and chapters including the Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide to Positive Change. She has more than 30 years of experience in helping make change happen, and teaching people how to make change happen around the world. In today’s episode, Diana shares how she uses appreciative inquiry approaches to help organizations have a curious mindset and discover what gives life to their people to help systems create changes that work.  Diana shares several case studies a

Reuben Rusk is the founder of Mind Quip, a social enterprise in Christ Church New Zealand whose vision is to create a happier and more productive workforce. Reuben is a lifelong learner and a big picture thinker who's passionate about teaching people to improve their lives and their wellbeing by distilling large amounts of research into down to earth training about what matters most. An experienced presenter and recognized expert in well being and resilience, Reuben’s research has been published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, the psychology of wellbeing, and the Journal of Happiness studies. In today’s episode, we’ll be talking about the five domains Rueben’s research has found lie at the heart of more than 18,000 peer-reviewed positive psychology intervention articles and how these can be combined to create a synergistic and holistic approach to create wellbeing behavior changes that work. Connect with Reuben Rusk: Website: mindquip.com [free_product_purchase id="24176"] You’ll Learn: [02:00] - Reub

David Desteno is a Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University where he directs the social immersions group. David’s research examines the mechanisms of the mind that shape vice and virtue, and his work continually reveals that human moral behaviour is much more variable than most would predict. He’s regularly featured in the media, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Harvard Business Review to name just a few. David is the author of several books including Emotional Success, The Truth about Trust, and the co-author of the Wall Street Journal’s spotlight psychology best seller, Out of Character. In today’s episode David shares his research on self-control and why harnessing social emotions – like gratitude, compassion and pride – can be an effective and energizing way to improve our levels of grit. Connect with David Desteno: Website: www.davedesteno.com [free_product_purchase id="24033"] You’ll Learn: [01:56] - David talks about the ability to be future oriented and perseve

Jo Mitchell is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Mind Room, a health, wellbeing and performance psychology practice in Melbourne, Australia. Jo has over 20 years of sports industry experience and has a specialist interest in working with high performers across all fields to improve their wellbeing, particularly by using the tools of Positive Psychology, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness. She is also on the board for Action for Happiness Australia. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing how to introduce wellbeing practices into workplaces that are cautious or skeptical about ‘soft skills’. We’ll explore how to tailor language, create a systems approach and a new app that opens this science up to a much wider market. Connect with Jo Mitchell: Website: themindroom.com.au [free_product_purchase id="23878"] You’ll Learn: [01:58} - Jo explains how she taylors the language used to present ideas of positive psychology, to be openly accepted in typically tough and competitive workplaces. [04:

Patty McCord is a workplace innovator, culture and leadership consultant, and former chief talent officer at Netflix. Patty has many years of working with business leaders and aspiring management to help people realize and practice leadership. She is the author of a wonderful new book, Powerful: Teams, Leaders and the Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, which pushes the boundaries of thinking about the way we work. From abolishing performance reviews to challenging the need for policies, Patty believes people come to work as fully formed adults with a desire to make an impact and to be proud of what they do. Her ideas have been featured in publications around the world, including the Harvard’s Business Review, Fast Company and The Wall Street Journal. In today’s podcast Patty explains why mapping engagement and happiness measures against productivity in workplaces may undermine the very results workplaces are trying to create.  She also shares how Netflix built a thriving culture by treating employees like

Dr. Peter McGraw is an associate professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. As a behavioral scientist, his research examines the interrelationship of judgment, emotion, and choice—with a focus on the production and consumption of entertainment. McGraw directs The Humor Research Lab (HuRL) and is the co-author of The Humor Code: A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny. His research has been covered by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, TIME NPR, BBC, and CNN. His work appears in the Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing Research, Management Science, Psychological Science, and the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.  He is currently trying to kick a sweater vest habit – even if it does get him kicked off the Stylist Scientist List. Today we’re talking all about humor; how it can bring people together and push them apart. We’ll also cover it’s role in generating success for several key business areas. Connect with Pete

Gervase Bushe is the Professor of Leadership and Organisational Development at the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. His career spans over three decades of transforming organisational structures, cultures and processes, away from command and control and towards more collaborative work systems. Gervase is an award winning author of over one hundred papers and has three books on organisational change, leadership, teams and teamwork. His newest co-authored book, “Dialogic Organisation Development: The Theory and Practise of Transformational Change,” builds on his ground breaking research into how appreciative inquiry leads to transformational change, and is gathering international acclaim. He has consulted to blue chip corporations and start-ups, public sector and business corporations in a variety of sectors and, in 2016, HR Magazine in the UK added him to their list of the 30 Most Influential HR thinkers. Today we’re talking with Gervase about how to create changes in wor

Peggy Holman is an author and consultant who employs dialogical practices to turn passivity into participation. Her award-winning book, Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity, provides a roadmap for tackling complex systems challenges. In the Change Handbook she and her co-authors profile 61 processes that enable diverse groups to create their desired future. As co-founder of the non-profit, Journalism that Matters, Peggy has helped to cultivate a journalism community of practise that is committed to journalism, which supports communities and democracy to thrive. Today we’re talking to Peggy about what researchers are learning enables workplaces and systems to flourish, and why chaos rather than balance holds the key to learning and growth. Peggy shares her insights on how to create positive disruptions that enable a system to change, why passion and responsibility are the keys to authentic leadership and how leaders can mobilize and support people in taking action. Connect with Peggy Holman: W

Jacqueline Stavros is an Associate Professor at the Lawrence Technological University and has been honored with the LTU Inaugural Presidential Research Award. She’s known for her creation of SOAR, a profoundly positive approach to strategic thinking, planning, and leadership, based on the concept of Appreciative Inquiry. Today we’re talking to Jacqui about how the SOAR framework and how this can be used to help organizations and teams take a strengths-based, systems approach to strategic planning. and the kind of results they might expect.  Jacqui helps us to understand how SOAR differs from SWOT approaches, how to help the cynics embrace a more strengths-orientated approach and how you conduct a quick SOAR in just a few hours with a team. Connect with Jacqueline Stavros: Website: http://soar-strategy.com/ [free_product_purchase id="22823"] You’ll Learn: [02:14] - Jackie talks about 'meeting people where they're at]. [02:50] - Jackie explains generative questions. [03:43] - Jackie gives an introduction to SO

Reb Rebele is the Research Director for Wharton People Analytics, and teaches in the Masters in Applied Positive Psychology Programme at the University of Pennsylvania. Reb's research, writing and consulting projects bring behavioral science and research into the world of work, to drive better employee experiences and organizational outcomes. Today we're talking to Reb about why being a 'giver' at work can backfire and cause you to hurt the very people you want to help and burn yourself out in the process.  Discover what drives giving behaviors at work, the practical steps you can take to be a self-protective giver and what leaders can do to create their dream team of reciprocity approaches. Connect with Reb Rebele: Website: www.rebrebele.com [free_product_purchase id="22570"] You’ll Learn: [01:44] - Reb explains how helpfulness creates value in the workplace. [03:21] -  Reb talks about how giving too much can be draining and counter-productive. [08:05] - Reb discusses the generosity spectrum that he calls '

Amy Wrzesniewski is a Professor of organizational behavior at the Yale School of Management. For almost two decades, her research has focused on how people make meaning of their work in challenging work contexts or conditions Her findings have been published in a wide range of top academic journals, and highlighted in several best-selling books and popular press outlets, including Forbes, Time, Business Week, Harvard Business Review, U.S. News and World Report, The Economist, as well as bestselling books such as Drive by Daniel Pink, The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor, Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman, and The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler. Do you wish you had more meaning in your work?  Amy explains how you can craft your job, whatever your role and status, to find more meaning in what you do each day at work.  She also shares practical tips for leaders to create an environment that encourages job crafting among employees to help them feel more proactive, engaged and producti

Christopher Kukk is a Professor of Political Science and Social Science at Western Connecticut State University, the Founding Director for the Centre for Compassion, Creativity and Innovation, the author of the Compassionate Achiever, and the co-host of the Compassionate Achiever Podcast. Chris’ research and publications combine neuroscience with the social sciences and focus on education issues, the political economy of natural resources, and the creation and sustainability of civil society. Chris was also a counterintelligence agent for the United States Army, and is regularly featured in the media for his analysis on a wide range of topics and issues. Today Chris explains the neurological differences between empathy and compassion and why compassion may be the key to success in workplaces. He also shares his simple four step approach to creating more compassion and ways this can be practically be applied in workplaces. Connect with Chris Kukk: Website: http://chriskukk.com/ You’ll Learn: [02:16] - Chris e