Live Happy Now Season 11

One of the most universal struggles today is a feeling of disconnection, so this week host Paula Felps talks with Anna Runkle — better known as the “Crappy Childhood Fairy” — about her new book Connectability: Heal the Hidden Ways You Isolate, Find Your People, and Feel (At Last) Like You Belong. Anna shares how her own journey from childhood trauma to building genuine, sustaining friendships shaped the practices she now teaches to thousands. With humor and heartfelt insight, she explains why connection is essential yet elusive — and how we can all start creating it for ourselves. In this episode, you'll learn: Why disconnection is often a hidden symptom of early trauma and how it affects our ability to build relationships. Practical, nontherapy tools from Connectability to regulate your nervous system and begin forming authentic bonds. How letting go of unhealthy relationships and practicing new social skills can help you “find your people” at any age or stage of life. Visit Anna's website here. Check out her book, CONNECTABILITY: Heal the Hidden Ways You Isolate, Find Your People, And Feel (At Last) Like You Belong. Sign up for Anna's free Daily Practice. Follow along with the transcript. Follow Anna on Social Media: Instagram: @crappychildhoodfairy YouTube: @crappychildhoodfairy Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:  

What if everything you believe about mental health is wrong? In this episode, host Paula Felps chats with psychotherapist and author Joe Nucci about his myth-busting new book, Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free. Joe dives into the wild world of mental health misinformation — especially the kind that spreads like wildfire on social media. From self-diagnosis pitfalls to the overuse of therapy-speak, he offers a refreshing reality check and empowers listeners to better understand their emotional lives. In this episode, you'll learn: Why not every tough emotion equals a mental illness — and why that distinction matters. How social media can distort mental health conversations (and what to watch out for). The difference between emotional intelligence and just “sounding like a therapist.” Visit Joe’s website Joe's website here. Check out his book, Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free. Listen to Joe’s Psychobabble podcast. Sign up for Joe’s newsletter. Follow along with the transcript. Follow Joe on Social Media: Twitter: @joenuccitherapy Instagram: @joenuccitherapy Facebook: @joenuccitherapy Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:  

 What if practicing happiness were as simple as learning your ABC’s? This week, host Paula Felps talks with work psychologist and certified Chief Happiness Officer Klaudia Mitura, author of The Alphabet of Happiness. After a series of life challenges during the pandemic, Klaudia embarked on a hands-on happiness experiment, testing evidence-based practices and transforming them into accessible, everyday tools. That led to a podcast and her new book, which helps us cultivate happiness through small, intentional habits. From cold showers to gut health, Klaudia offers a fresh, practical take on what it means to thrive. In this episode, you'll learn: How to create your own happiness experiments using science-backed micro-habits. Why cold showers can boost dopamine and improve mood for hours. How gut health directly influences emotional well-being and resilience. Visit Klaudia's website here. Check out her book, The Alphabet of Happiness: 26 science-backed principles to create more happiness at work, in relationships and in your own skin. Listen to her award-winning podcast, The Happiness Challenge. Sign up for her free September 29 webinar, The Science of Happiness: How to Create Lasting Well-being at Work. Follow along with the transcript. Follow Klaudia on Social Media: LinkedIn: @klaudiamitura Instagram: @thehappinesschallenge_klaudia Substack: https://thehappinesschallenge.substack.com/ Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:  

We talk a lot about how trauma affects our mental health, but have you thought about what it does to your body? In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with Dr. Aimie Apigian, author of The Biology of Trauma, to explore how trauma is stored not just in our minds but in our bodies — and how that impacts our physical health, relationships, and overall well-being. Drawing from her experience as a physician and foster parent, Dr. Aimie shares how traditional talk therapy often misses the mark, and why understanding trauma as a biological process opens the door to more effective healing. In this episode, you'll learn: How trauma differs from stress — and why trauma, not stress, is what makes us sick. Why stored trauma shows up in physical symptoms, emotional patterns, and relationship dynamics. How somatic self-practices can help shift your nervous system and begin healing — even when energy is low. Visit Dr. Aimie’s website Dr. Aimie's website here. Check out her book, The Biology of Trauma: How the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm and how to heal it. Sign up for her online 21 Day Journey to heal trauma. Follow along with the transcript. Follow Dr. Aimie on Social Media: LinkedIn: @dr-aimie-apigian Instagram: @draimie Facebook: @draimie YouTube: @DrAimieApigian Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:  

Now that Labor Day is behind us, we’re putting the lid on summer and getting ready to roll into fall. But that doesn’t mean we can’t carry our lighthearted summer vibe with us. This week, on the heels of our Summer of Fun campaign with Mike Rucker, Ph.D., we’re talking about how to start planning now to use what we’ve learned to create a fun-filled fall. In this episode, you'll learn: Why it’s so important to commit to fun during the fall and winter. Tips for incorporating more fun into life’s busy seasons. How scheduling fun adds joy to more areas of your life. Visit Mike Rucker's website. Check out Mike’s book, The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. Follow along with the transcript. Follow Mike on Social Media: X: @performbetter LinkedIn: @michaelrucker Facebook: @mike.rucker.phd Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:  

In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with psychotherapist and author John Tsilimparis, MFT, about his transformative approach to grief. John shares insights from his new book, Magic in the Tragic: Rewriting the Script on Grief and Discovering Happiness in our Darkest Days, that blends emotional healing with beauty, purpose, and resilience. Drawing from personal loss and clinical experience, John introduces powerful concepts like “constructive aching” and “painful joy,” encouraging listeners to move toward their grief rather than away from it. He also shows how grief can become a gateway to growth, meaning, and even happiness. In this episode, you'll learn: How to use “inspiration exposure” to activate healing and emotional resilience. Why pairing grief with beauty can transform your experience of loss. Practical tools to reframe painful memories and foster personal growth. Visit John's website. Download a free chapter of Magic in the Tragic. Follow along with the transcript. Follow John on Social Media: Instagram: @jtsilimparis X: @johntsilimparis TikTok: @johntsilimparis Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:  

This week, meet Happy Activist Gabri Blankson, who is using film to illuminate teen mental health. Her award-winning short film MIME, created through the Black Girls Film Camp, explores the emotional impact of pandemic isolation through a fantasy lens, using mimes as metaphors for internal struggles. Drawing from personal experience and inspired by Inside Out, Gabri crafted a visually expressive story that resonates deeply with young audiences. She also developed a downloadable viewers guide to help audiences interpret emotional cues and access mental health resources — proving that storytelling can be both healing and transformative. In this episode, you'll learn: How Gabri used metaphor and fantasy to express complex emotional experiences. What led her to focus on the challenges of mental health and isolation during the pandemic. How she developed her viewers’ guide — and how it enhances emotional awareness and encourages open dialogue. Visit Gabri’s website. Watch MIME online. Follow along with the transcript. Follow Gabri on Social Media: Instagram: @gabriblankson Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:  

If you’re looking to lose the stress in your life, this week’s guest has a spoiler alert: The only people without stress are dead. But the good news is, you can learn to turn that stress into a powerful ally for change and growth. This week, host Paula Felps talks with stress physiologist Dr. Rebecca Heiss, whose new book, Springboard: Transform Stress to Work For You, explains how to make the most of it. She offers tips on how to harness stress and look at it in a whole new way to help you change your relationship with it. In this episode, you'll learn: Why self-help practices often fall short in managing stress and what to do instead. How transforming your physiology allows stress to serve you rather than causing you to spiral into fear. What the FEAR(less) Stress Formula is and how it can help you manage stress effectively. Visit Rebecca’s website. Pre-order her newest book, Springboard: Transform Stress to Work For You. Follow along with the transcript. Follow Rebecca on Social Media: LinkedIn: @rebeccaheiss Instagram: @drrebeccaheiss/ YouTube: @DrRebeccaHeiss Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:  

Many people today feel unfocused or overwhelmed, and that’s not just a challenge for our heads; it could be harming our hearts. Join us as host Paula Felps talks with cardiologist and health psychologist Dr. Alan Rozanski, who offers a groundbreaking look at how our mindset influences our heart and overall well-being. He explains how chronic stress, emotional negativity, and mental clutter can physically impact your heart function and increase disease risk. Then, he shares how to shift your thinking and cultivate energy, optimism, and a sense of purpose to thrive in today’s distracted world. In this episode, you'll learn: How mental clutter and chronic stress trigger harmful physical effects like inflammation and heart dysfunction. Why focusing with intention and nurturing emotional vitality are key to sustained well-being. How the Six Domains of Health can guide you toward a more balanced, purpose-driven, and heart-friendly lifestyle. Visit Dr. Rozanski’s website. Discover Dr. Rozanski’s Six Domains of Health. Follow along with the transcript. Follow Dr. Rozanski on Social Media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanrozanski/ Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places:  

Are you struggling to find hope these days? You’re not alone. This week, resilience expert Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe returns to share what hope can do for you and, more importantly, where to find it. With her signature blend of science and soul, Dr. Robyne explains how hope calms the brain, strengthens resilience, and helps us navigate uncertainty. If you’re managing stress, feeling world-weary, or just need a reset, this conversation reminds us that hope is something we can build into our everyday lives. In this episode, you'll learn: Why hope is biologically and psychologically beneficial. (Hello, hope molecules!) How to design your day to support resilience and emotional well-being. The difference between hope and optimism — and why it matters. Check out Dr. Robyne’s podcasts. Visit Dr. Robyne’s website here. Discover Dr. Robyne’s latest book, Stress Wisely: How to Be Well in an Unwell World. Follow along with the transcript. Follow Dr. Robyne on Social Media: Instagram: @dr_robynehd LinkedIn: drrobynehd YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr_robynehd Don't Miss a Minute of Happiness! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! Interested in advertising or partnering with us? Complete this quick form. Don't miss an episode! Live Happy Now is available at the following places: