Live Happy Now Podcast

Graphic of an elderly woman seeing a reflection of her younger self.

Using Your Mind to Improve Your Health With Dr. Ellen J. Langer

It’s a common belief that we must live with ailments and declining well-being as we age. But this week’s guest, Dr. Ellen J. Langer, has decades of research that tells a different story. Known as the mother of mindfulness, Ellen is highly regarded as one of America’s most influential psychologists. Her new book, The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health, shows how our thoughts and perspectives can change our health. In this episode, you'll learn: Why embracing mind-body unity creates new possibilities for improving our health. How our thoughts could be undermining our health. Simple ways to change your way of thinking to improve your health. Links and Resources Watch Ellen talk about mindfulness here. Discover Ellen’s other books here. Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

Graphic of a sad person next to a dollar sign.

Podcast

Why More Money Doesn’t Equal More Happiness With Tal Ben-Shahar

We’ve all heard that money can’t buy happiness, and new research is telling us why. This week, host Paula Felps talks with author and lecturer Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, co-founder of The Happiness Studies Academy and creator of the Master’s Degree in Happiness Studies at Centenary University. Tal talks about recent findings that show how our perception of money is damaging our happiness — and what we can do about it. In this episode, you'll learn: Why our perceptions of money have changed in a post-pandemic world. How social comparison can negatively affect our views on money. Why it’s so important to change our view of money for the sake of our well-being. Links and Resources Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTalBenShahar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happiness.studies.academy/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TalBenShahar Website: https://www.happinessstudies.academy/ Learn about the MA in Happiness Studies program: https://www.centenaryuniversity.edu/academics/graduate/master-of-arts-in-happiness-studies/ Read the Bloomberg study on money: Are You Rich? Calculate the Best US Cities to Live in for Your Salary (bloomberg.com) Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

Podcast

The Science of Positivity With Marsha and the Positrons

We are now back in school, and this week’s guest is going to be everyone’s favorite science teacher! In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Marsha Goodman, a cognitive neuroscientist turned popular children’s singer, songwriter and recording artist who performs under the name Marsha and the Positrons. As the name implies, her music is imbued with positivity and teaches listeners about things like kindness, friendship, and taking care of the planet and the people who live on it. She also throws some science in there and makes learning as fun and easy as listening to a song. In this episode, you'll learn: How she went from being a cognitive neuroscientist to becoming a popular children’s artist. Why she wanted to use her music to spread positive social messages. What to expect from her new album, “Energetic.” Links and Resources Instagram: @marshaandthepositrons Facebook: Marsha and the Positrons Watch music videos, interviews and live performances on their YouTube channel. Discover the Marsha and the Positrons Spotify playlist here. Check out merch including t-shirts and music here. Win Free Music!! Enter to win our back-to-school prize pack that includes all three Marsha and the Positrons CDs, signed and personalized by Marsha herself, plus some other Marsha and the Positrons swag and a few gifts from Live Happy. Enter on our Instagram page, @mylivehappy Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

Podcast

Happy Activist Nancy Giammarco: Brightening Lives with Art

Doing good for others is good for us! This week, we’re talking with Happy Activist Nancy Giammarco, a musician who rediscovered her love of art during the pandemic. She started enhancing children’s simple drawings for fun, which led to the creation of The Joanne Project, which she named after her late mother. Now, she focuses on bringing joy to children by turning simple drawings into works of art. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the pandemic served as a catalyst for starting this project. What creating art for others has done for her. Why it’s so important to celebrate the artwork of children. Links and Resources Website: https://www.lilmonsto.com Instagram: @lilmonsto Twitter: @lilmonsto.com Facebook: @nancysdoodles Sign up to win a free drawing from Nancy! Visit littlemonsto.com/mailing-list/ Do you know a happy activist? Tell us about them! We want to share stories of people who are doing good in the world. Please email us at editor@livehappy.com to tell us about your Happy Activist and they might be featured in a future episode of Live Happy Now! Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

Podcast

IPPA Recap with Andrea Goeglein

The International Positive Psychology Association held its semi-annual World Congress in July. Over the next several weeks, Live Happy Now host Paula Felps is talking with thought leaders about some of the main themes that emerged during this year’s event and what takeaways we can borrow to improve our well-being. This week, Andrea Goeglein addresses some of the growing concerns about loneliness and the lack of social connections as well as giving us a fresh perspective on the World Happiness Report. In this episode, you'll learn: Why empathetic listening is so important. How individuals can take action to improve mental health policies — and why it’s so important. The difference between meaning and mattering. Links and Resources Download the World Happiness Report here. Learn more about the International Positive Psychology Association here. Learn more about Andrea Goeglein here. Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

A hand reaching out to a person feeling sad.

Podcast

Overcoming Loneliness With Dr. Randall Hansen

Loneliness is a tremendous problem in today’s world, and solving it begins with understanding the root cause of it. In this episode, author and educator Dr. Randall Hansen sits down with host Paula Felps to talk about why loneliness has become an epidemic, what it’s doing to us, and what we can do about it. In this episode, you'll learn: Why it truly “takes a village” to combat loneliness. How to reach out to others who may be feeling isolated and lonely. How our social media habits can make us feel more isolated — and how to use it wisely. Links and Resources Facebook: @randallshansen Instagram: @empoweringpines Twitter: @rshansen Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/randallshansen/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RandallHansen Website: http://www.randallshansen.com/ Read Randall’s column on how to overcome loneliness. Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

A woman celebrating with balloons around her.

Podcast

What’s New in Season 9 With Deborah K. Heisz

It’s the start of a brand-new season for Live Happy Now and we’ve added some things to make your life happier! In this episode, Live Happy CEO and co-founder Deborah Heisz and host Paula Felps share some of the new ways we’re working to deliver happiness to you every day. In this episode, you'll learn: What to expect from our new pet podcast, Happiness Unleashed with Brittany Derrenbacher. How to get happiness delivered to your inbox every week. Why we want to know about the Happy Activists in your life. Links and Resources Facebook: @livehappy Instagram: @mylivehappy Twitter: @livehappy Do you know a Happy Activist? Tell us about them at editor@livehappy.com! If you’re interested in partnering with Live Happy, please contact us at editor@livehappy.com and include “Partnership” in the subject line. Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter. Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

Two kids wearing backpacks happily going to school.

Podcast

Easing Back-to-School Anxiety With Dr. Laura Phillips

It’s time to go back to school, and for some kids — and their parents — that means a whole lot of stress. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Dr Laura Phillips, the Senior Director and a Senior Neuropsychologist in the Learning and Development Center at the Child Mind Institute. Laura specializes in working with children who have learning disorders, mood disorders and anxiety, among other things, and in this episode, she explains how going back to school can create anxiety for kids of all ages and how it also can affect their parents. Then, she tells us what we can do about it. In this episode, you'll learn: Some of the causes of back-to-school anxiety and why it is more prevalent today. The role that social media plays in cultivating greater anxiety — and how to manage it. Tips for starting the school year smoothly and creating new morning practices. Links and Resources Facebook: Child Mind Institute Instagram: @childmindinstitute Twitter: @childmindinst Website: https://childmind.org/bio/laura-phillips-psyd-abpdn/ Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

A map with the Democratic Republic of Congo highlighted

Podcast

Happy Activist Dawn McMullan: Changing Lives in the Congo

Doing good for others is good for us! With our new Happy Activist series, we’re spotlighting ordinary people who are changing the world around them just by doing good. Every few weeks we’ll introduce you to a new Happy Activist, and for this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Dawn McMullan, who found her calling when she met a woman who had fled the Democratic Republic of Congo. As Dawn learned more about the plight of girls and young women in the Congo, she was compelled to act. Today, she has helped change the future for hundreds of women while at the same time finding a greater sense of purpose. In this episode, you'll learn: Why giving back has become so important to her. How doing good for others and made her life better. How to find the “thing” that lights you up. Links and Resources Facebook: @CongoRestorationDRC Instagram: @congo_restoration Website: https://congorestoration.org/ Do you know a happy activist? Tell us about them! We want to share stories of people who are doing good in the world. Please email us at editor@livehappy.com to tell us about your Happy Activist and they might be featured in a future episode of Live Happy Now! Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

Graphic of a opened journal with a pen next to it.

Podcast

Writing for Well-being with Beth Kempton

Can picking up a pen change your life? This week’s guest says it can! Beth Kempton has been writing nearly her entire life, and she’s learned the value of a daily writing practice. Her latest book, The Way of the Fearless Writer, looks at the many ways writing can help clarify our goals, reconnect us with our dreams, and teach us to listen to our inner voice. In this episode, she explains how becoming a writer is more about what it does for your soul than becoming a best-seller — and how just a few minutes of writing a day can change the way you see the world. In this episode, you'll learn: Why writing is good for your overall well-being. How writing can help you reconnect with your creativity. Tips for starting a writing practice. Links and Resources Facebook: @DoWhatYouLoveXx Instagram: @bethkempton Twitter: @DoWhatYouLoveXx Website: https://bethkempton.com/ Listen to The Fearless Writer Podcast Download a free chapter of The Way of the Fearless Writer. Follow along with this episode's transcript by clicking here. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:

Using Your Mind to Improve Your Health With Dr. Ellen J. Langer

Why More Money Doesn’t Equal More Happiness With Tal Ben-Shahar

The Science of Positivity With Marsha and the Positrons

Happy Activist Nancy Giammarco: Brightening Lives with Art

IPPA Recap with Andrea Goeglein

Overcoming Loneliness With Dr. Randall Hansen

What’s New in Season 9 With Deborah K. Heisz

Easing Back-to-School Anxiety With Dr. Laura Phillips

Happy Activist Dawn McMullan: Changing Lives in the Congo

Writing for Well-being with Beth Kempton

Store

Articles

Quick Links