Action for Happiness

In this enlightening episode, Mark engages in a heartfelt conversation with Stephanie Harrison, a best-selling author and happiness expert. Stephanie delves into the concept of the 'New Happy,' a philosophy for finding genuine happiness in a challenging world. Together, they explore how to move beyond societal pressures of perfection and achievement, embracing kindness, connection, and authenticity. Join us as Stephanie shares insights from her personal journey, offering practical tips to cultivate a more compassionate and joyful life. Let's transform the way we think about happiness and create ripples of positivity across the globe.

In this insightful episode of the Action for Happiness podcast, Mark Williamson has an engaging conversation with Daniel Goleman, the acclaimed author of best-sellers like 'Emotional Intelligence' and 'Social Intelligence'. Goleman, renowned for his contributions to understanding how emotional skills impact personal and professional success, shares strategies from his latest work, 'Optimal', on maintaining excellence and avoiding burnout. Join as they explore practical tools to enhance focus and happiness, delve into the contagious nature of emotions, and discuss the importance of finding purpose in daily activities. With meditative exercises and advice on fostering resilience, Goleman's insights offer valuable guidance for those seeking to improve both their emotional well-being and impact on the world around them.

In this episode of the Action for Happiness podcast, Mark Williamson engages in a profound conversation with Emma Seppälä, the science director at Stanford University's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. Emma shares her insights on achieving inner freedom by releasing destructive self-beliefs and discusses her latest book, "Sovereign". The discussion delves into Emma's personal journey from Paris to the U.S., and China, exploring cultural approaches to happiness and resilience. She highlights the concept of psychological sovereignty, emphasizing its importance in overcoming adversity and cultivating a resilient spirit. Listeners are invited to participate in a guided breathing exercise, demonstrating a practical tool for achieving emotional sovereignty. Emma also addresses the impact of societal norms on our emotional intelligence and shares strategies to connect with our intuition and creativity. Tune in to learn about Emma's innovative approach to well-being and discover tools to live a more empowered and joyful life.

Welcome to today's episode of the Action for Happiness podcast, featuring an enlightening conversation between Mark Williamson and Jamil Zaki, a renowned psychology professor at Stanford University and author of "Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness." Join us as we explore ways to overcome cynicism and foster hopeful skepticism amid challenging times. Delve into Jamil's personal experiences and insights on human connection, empathy, and trust. Discover the transformative power of embracing uncertainty and cultivating positive interactions, both locally and globally. Together, we aim to replace cynicism with actionable hope and optimism, empowering listeners to create a more connected and compassionate world.

Welcome to this Action for Happiness podcast, where we explore the transformative power of everyday mindfulness with Jon Kabat-Zinn, a pioneer in the field. In this insightful session, Jon delves into how mindfulness can be a profound practice embedded in our daily lives, offering more than just stress relief but a way of being. Join us as we discuss the concepts behind his influential work, including 'Full Catastrophe Living', and how mindfulness extends beyond individual healing to foster global well-being and ethical action. With participants across the globe, experience a guided moment of mindfulness and discover how you can incorporate it into your own life. Through thought-provoking dialogue, Jon addresses the broader implications of mindfulness on societal issues, the interconnectedness of humanity, and the potential for mindfulness to promote peace and transformation in the world. Tune in to connect, reflect, and engage with the community as we learn from Jon's wisdom and experience.

In this insightful episode of the Action for Happiness podcast, host Mark Williamson engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Kristin Neff, a world-renowned expert on self-compassion. Dr. Neff, known for her pioneering work in defining and measuring self-compassion, shares her personal journey and the profound impact self-compassion has had on her life. Listeners are invited to explore the transformative power of self-compassion, especially during challenging times. Dr. Neff introduces practical exercises that help cultivate kindness towards oneself and discusses the importance of balancing tender self-compassion with the fierce need to protect and motivate change in our lives. The episode also delves into the topic of burnout, emphasizing how self-compassion can serve as a vital resource for resilience and emotional well-being. Dr. Neff highlights the role of community in fostering a shared sense of humanity and offers guidance on integrating self-compassion into daily life. Join this enriching dialogue to discover how self-compassion can become a powerful ally in navigating life's difficulties, helping us to be more present, connected, and authentically ourselves.

Join Mark Williamson in this enlightening episode of the Action for Happiness podcast as he engages in a profound conversation with Professor Arthur Brooks from the Harvard Kennedy School. Arthur, renowned for his "How to Build a Life" column in The Atlantic and his best-selling book co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, shares invaluable insights on constructing a happier life despite challenging circumstances. The episode delves into the interconnectedness of self-care and caring for others, exploring the science of well-being and the timeless question, "Is love the secret to happiness?" Arthur discusses the transformative power of love, not just as a feeling but as a conscious decision to will the good of others, and how it plays a pivotal role in our happiness. Discover practical strategies for enhancing your life through enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning, and learn how these elements contribute to a fulfilling existence. Whether it's through building stronger family and friend relationships, finding purpose in work, or engaging in transcendental practices, Arthur provides a roadmap for leading a more joyful and connected life. Listen in to understand how you can become a beacon of happiness in your community and create ripples of positivity in the world around you.

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the Friendly February 2022 calendar.

Join Josie from Action for Happiness for an inspiring tour of the 'Happier January 2022' action calendar

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the Do Good December 2021 calendar.

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the New Ways November 2021 calendar.

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the Optimistic October 2021 calendar.

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the Self Care September 2021 calendar.

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the Altruistic August 2021 calendar.  

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the Jump Back Up July 2021 calendar.  

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the Joyful June 2021 calendar.  

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the Meaningful May 2021 calendar.  

Josie from Action for Happiness takes us on a short journey through the Active April 2021 calendar.  

In today’s episode we are again going to do a throwback to a wonderful conversation that our director Dr Mark Williamson had with the wonderful and longtime AFH friend, Ruby Wax.  Ruby is very well known for her successful TV career, but what is less well known is her long term struggle with depression. Ruby then stumbled across Mindfulness and the work of Mark Williams that sent her on a journey of self healing.  Ruby went on to get a degree in Mindfulness at Oxford university and was able to transition what she had learned about the brain and incorporate it in her work. In part two we dig into ruby’s new book, and now for the good news, and if you stick around to the end end, Ruby graciously guides us through a brief mindful exercise.   For the full video version of this audio podcast that includes extra bonus questions asked by our listeners during the live stream you can- visit youtube.com/actionforhappiness (link in the description), where you can also find the full archive of awesome videos.    Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society.  Visit actionforhappiness.org to join thousands of others who are spreading a bit more happiness in their homes, workplaces, schools and local communities.  Watch talks from inspiring speakers and check out our monthly groups and our online 10-day course) which is helping people world wide.    Don’t forget to subscribe, like and follow to keep up to date with all our content.  Find out more at AFH.org.  Join the movement, be the change.   Gui - @mindulnews.uk

Josie, from the Action for Happiness team, takes us on a short journey through the 2021 Mindful March calendar, sharing hints, tips and musings about some of the actions for this month. A must-listen for anyone with an interest in positive psychology or mindfulness.

Dr. Dan Goleman shares how Emotional Intelligence can help us live happier lives and contribute to a better world. This conversation with Dr. Mark Williamson was recorded at an Action for Happiness event on 24 November 2020 www.actionforhappiness.org. Full Youtube conversation with the audience questions available here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ADA5LcNzIE

What a great honour it is to talk with Andy Puddicombe, co-founder and the voice of the amazing Headspace app and website. The Headspace mission to improve the happiness and health in the world is making great progress and has become the most impactful mediation tool.  We talk about Andy's long term friendship with Action for Happiness, his 10 year monastic journey and how this led to creating the Headspace app.  We also talk about Headspace's contribution to the scientific research and get a unique insight into the patterns and trends that Andy has noticed, especially following the global pandemic and his outlook on the next five years.  I get to share my personal story about Headspace and it's impact on my life and I get to geek out in appreciation and end on community and how we can all help to take more action. We also talk about all the wonderful resources that are available for free such as his 'weathering the storm' section, mindful movement classes and much more.  Try it for free today at headspace.com Gui -Action for Happiness podcast host @mindfulnews.uk  

Giovanni Dienstmann is an author and meditation teacher based in Sydney.  On this podcast, we talk about the different styles of meditation, the importance of training self-discipline and its relationship to meditation. We discuss the difference between mindfulness and meditation, great tips on how to develop and maintain a practice during this lockdown. We also have fun discussing what is Spirituality and how this has impacted Giovanni. Giovanni has kindly set up a page with three guided meditations specifically for Action For Happiness listeners at: liveanddare.com/actionforhappiness -Emotional Emergency Pause -Effortless sleep -Letting go meditation Find out more about Giovanni and his work at liveanddare.com Gui @mindfulnews.uk

On today’s episode we have the pleasure of speaking with performer, author and public speaker David Pearl. David worked at the Royal Opera House as the boy soprano soloist for 4 years and Later in his life he played Double Bass, touring as a member of the London Schools Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. In 2009, David founded a not-for-profit social enterprise called Street Wisdom and we dig into this international, volunteer-led, movement that is active in more than 20 countries. We also talk about his latest book Wanderful, playing the piano, helping others, urban mindfulness and how to use the streets to answer questions.  Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society.  You can join thousands of others who are spreading a bit more happiness in their homes, workplaces, schools and local communities. Our website has all the information you need to sign up for our ‘exploring what matters course’ and also details about facilitating one yourself, all the information is online, and we are here to answer any questions you have.  Don’t forget to subscribe, like and follow to keep up to date with all our content.  Find out more at AFH.org. Join the movement, be the change.  Gui @mindfulnews.uk

Welcome to the Action for Happiness Podcast! In this first episode of 2020, we are joined by Dr Kelli Harding, author of the Rabbit Effect. When Columbia University Doctor Harding began her clinical practice, she never intended to explore the invisible factors behind our health. This path led her to discover the incredible beauty of kindness and how even rabbits lived longer and were healthier the more they were shown human kindness and touch. What does that say about how negative people can really affect us, and also how our kindness and how we choose to treat others can have amazing positive effects.  'Our bodies are constantly reacting to our social environment'  'It's our connections to other people that is the most important thing at the end of the day' And remember, if you would like to help create a kinder and happier world, please get involved with AFH.  You can join thousands of others who are spreading a bit more happiness in their homes, workplaces, schools and local communities. Our website has all the information you need to sign up for our ‘exploring what matters course’ and also details about facilitating one yourself, all the information is online, and we are here to answer any questions you have: www.actionforhapinness.org   Gui - @mindfulnews.uk

We are back on the road for another Carpool podcast. Our guest today is Mo Gawdat and he is the former Chief Business Officer for Google X, an entrepreneur, and the author of the book Solve for Happy. His understanding of Happiness is truly remarkable having spent over a decade researching and reading on the subject following the tragic death of his 21-year-old son. We talk about how he was able to turn this terrible event into a wonderful life of helping others and inspired his mission to make one billion people happy. Mo and I drive through west London, from Hammersmith to victoria via Buckingham Palace in all its glory. Mo’s breakdown of life, happiness, suffering, meditation, politics is a breath of fresh air and hits at the core. Visit www.actionforhappiness.org for more information, videos and podcasts. Gui - Podcast host www.mindfulnews.uk To support Mo and find out more, visit https://www.onebillionhappy.org/ For our full AFH podcast archive, visit https://www.actionforhappiness.org/podcasts    

How can Floating make us happier? What is an isolation chamber or a sensory deprivation tank? Floatworks co-founder talks about the evolution of floatation tanks over the last 5 years and the physical and mental benefits that it can bring. We also discuss the cross-over with mindfulness meditation and we touch on the importance of Philosophy as it relates to Ed's own happiness. For more information visit www.actionforhappiness.org

In this episode, Gui is joined by BBC radio sports presenter and Podcaster, Simon Mundie.  Simon talks about the common themes and learning lessons following his many interviews, especially those around psychology, wellbeing and resilience in sport.  We talk about Mindfulness and the significant impact this has had not only in his life but for many high performing athletes. His colleague and very good friend of mine, Marv, co-hosts this episode and this is truly one of my most enjoyable and fun podcast conversations.  Do check out Simon's podcast 'Don't tell me the score' here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06qbt0y/episodes/downloads For our full AFH podcast archive, visit https://www.actionforhappiness.org/podcasts For more about Gui, visit www.mindfulnews.uk

In this episode, Gui interviews Rick Sharpe, the author of "The price of heartbreak" about how we can respond constructively to challenging situations in our life - and how mindfulness can help.

In this episode, happiness expert Dr Andrew Parnham shares his thoughts on how we can find lasting happiness - by developing healthy relationships and cultivating a greater sense of meaning and purpose in life, even in the face of adversity.

This is our second Carpool chat with the remarkable Jon Kabat-Zinn. Co-host Will, joins me as we make our way through the streets of London with the father of modern day mindfulness.  Jon talks about the future of Mindfulness in education, the shadow side of 'making money' through mindfulness and towards the end answers a few of the listener's questions.  To watch the video podcast and for more information visit www.actionforhappiness.org/podcasts Hugs, Gui - Podcast host (mindfulnews.uk)  

Gui interviews Vanessa King, positive psychology expert with Action for Happiness and author of the 10 Keys to Happier living book

Ted Meissner hosts one of the most influential podcasts on Mindfulness, called Present Moment Mindfulness. Ted has had over 100 podcast conversations with experts, practitioners and influencers in the Mindfulness space.  We talk about the common themes and learning lessons he has had after interviewing so many amazing people. Ted is also a Mindfulness teacher and you can find out more about his courses (MBSR Live) and online material at presentmomentmindfulness.com. Some of the subjects we cover today are: -Learning lessons from over 300 podcast conversations (12:40) -Not letting the enthusiasm run ahead of the science (15:45) -Ted's feedback on 'negative' Mindfulness articles (20:05) -Even taught in the right way, Mindfulness is not for everybody (24:06) -Words of advice to those starting a Mindfulness practice  (33:50) Reach out to Ted at presentmomentmindfulness.com and follow him on Twitter @PresMomentMind To watch the video podcast, visit www.actionforhappiness.org/podcasts Hugs, Gui - Podcast host  About Gui - www.renaissancepodcast.com      

We return a year later to talk with Mindfulness researcher at Cambridge University, Julieta Galante.  We talk about the encouraging results and findings that invovled over 600 students accross 31 colleges.  The links we discuss can be found here:  1) www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(17)30231-1/fulltext 2) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/18/mindfulness-boosts-student-mental-health-during-exams-cambridge-university-study-finds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other For all AFH podcasts and to find out about the course, visit: actionforhappiness.org and subscribe to the channel to get updates. Gui Hung -  Actionforhappiness.orgRenaissancepodcast.com      

We kicked off 2018 with a Carpool conversation with the wonderful Matthieu Ricard. Nick-named the World's happiest man, we drive Matthieu from his hotel to the airport. We discuss mindfulness within a buddhist context, the concept of 'heartfulness', Descartes, and the 'convenient' illusion of the self. Matthieu gave up his scientific career to become a monk and moved to the Himalayas where he resides to this day. He translated for the Dalai Lama for over a decade, and has written many best selling books on the subject of happiness and altruism. His talk on Happiness is one of the most viewed Ted talks, and is one of the most influential figures in mindfulness and meditation today. For all AFH podcasts and to find out about the course, visit: actionforhappiness.org and subscribe to the channel to get updates. Gui Hung - Actionforhappiness.orgRenaissancepodcast.com

Rob has been directing and putting movies together for over 25 years. He is taking on a passion project to create one of the most influential movies on Mindfulness. He joins the podcast via the magic of Skype to talk about how he began his meditation practice over 10 years ago, his role is interviewing the leading thinkers in meditation (Jon Kabat-Zinn, Deepak Chopra, Goldie Hawn, Daniel Goleman) and how this led to 'The Mindfulness Movement'. The movie has been filmed and is in the process of being edited for an end of year release. Check out the link and show your support: themindfulnessmovement.com  If you'd like to help create a happier and kinder world then please get involved with Action for Happiness. You can join thousands of others who are helping to spread a bit more happiness in their homes, workplaces, schools and local communities. Find out more at actionforhappiness.org for more information about upcoming talks, the courses, the community and previous podcasts episodes (like, subscribe, follow:). Join the movement. Be the change Gui - Podcast hostRenaissancepodcast.com

What an incredible honour it was to spend time with one of the leading figures in Mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn.  His Mindfulness course (MBSR) is being taught all over the globe and his books on Mindfulness have been bestsellers since the 70's. Given that Anh and I have become so passionate about meditation and particularly Mindfulness, we were thrilled to have a back and forth conversation with Jon and really get to discuss the subjects that are important to us.  We talk about the pros and cons of social media, how we found out about Jon's incredible work, the AFH course and the Philosophy of Mindfulness. This is definately a canditate for podcast of the year.  If you'd like to help create a happier and kinder world then please get involved with Action for Happiness. You can join thousands of others who are helping to spread a bit more happiness in their homes, workplaces, schools and local communities. Find out more at actionforhappiness.org for more information about upcoming talks, the courses, the community and previous podcasts episodes.  Join the movement. Be the change Gui and Anh p.s Please gives us a like and a follow if you have enjoyed the content:)

On this episode, we speak to the Action for Happiness Director, Mark Williamson. Mark joins me at the Renaissance Podcast studios and talks about his personal journey, his corporate background, Mindfulness and his introduction to Lord Layard that led him to this incredible charity.  Mark breaks down what Action for Happiness is, it's mission, the courses, the goals, and also reflects on the results and success so far.  Mark has become a very good friend to both Anh and I, and has played a big role in taking our podcast to the next level.  He leads by example and is dedicating his life to leading the AFH charge and being the change in the world that he wishes to see. If you'd like to help create a happier and kinder world then please get involved with Action for Happiness. You can join thousands of others who are helping to spread a bit more happiness in their homes, workplaces, schools and local communities. Find out more at actionforhappiness.org for more information about upcoming talks, the courses, the community and previous podcasts episodes.  Join the movement. Be the change Gui and Anh p.s Please gives us a like and a follow if you have enjoyed the content:)    

What an honour it was to podcast with Daniel.  His knowledge on the brain, Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness is second to none and he is just as wonderful in person as we could have hoped. His latest book, The Science of Meditation (or Altered Traits, as it will be known in the US) is his latest book and we are proud to present our conversation Podcast with him.  This is the first episode on our new Podcast page and we would love your support and a 'follow' on the Podbean page. If you'd like to help create a happier and kinder world then please get involved with Action for Happiness. You can join thousands of others who are helping to spread a bit more happiness in their homes, workplaces, schools and local communities. Find out more at actionforhappiness.org. Join the movement. Be the change Enjoy the Podcast, Gui and Anh Time stamps: 6:46 Calming reactive emotions, gang culture and Mindfulness. 8:20 The different levels of Meditation. 11:50 The misconceptions of Mindfulness. 15:35 The Amygdala, what is it? 20:20 What is an Altered Trait and is it similar to 'waking up'? 22:55 Mc Mindfulness and technology. 24:53 The DEEP aspects of Mindfulness, the self is an illusion. 31:00 Is Mindfulness the foundation of Emotional Intelligence? 24:00 The concerns of social media. 37:36 What matters most in life? The Science of Meditation (UK) and Altered Traits (US) can be purchased via Daniels website where you find out about events and talks.  http://www.danielgoleman.info For the audiobook, go to https://morethansound.net/shop/altered-traits-science-reveals-meditation-mind-brain-body/