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Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3620: Ingrid Helander shares five unexpected yet powerful lessons in self-confidence, creativity, and purpose drawn from observing her toddler grandson. Through playful moments and unfiltered honesty, she reveals how reclaiming childlike wonder and emotional authenticity can transform our approach to work and life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ingridyhelanderlmft.com/5-lessons-about-self-confidence-play-and-the-meaning-of-work-that-i-learned-from-a-toddler/ Quotes to ponder: "True confidence comes from the inside, not from what you do or how well you do it." "He takes his own ideas seriously and has no need to compare them to anyone else's." "When he's done with something, he's done. And he knows it." Episode references: Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul: https://www.amazon.com/Play-Shapes-Brain-Imagination-Invigorates/dp/1583333789 The Whole-Brain Child: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Brain-Child-Revolutionary-Strategies-Developing/dp/0553386697 Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff: https://self-compassion.org/ Greater Good Science Center: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3620: Ingrid Helander shares five unexpected yet powerful lessons in self-confidence, creativity, and purpose drawn from observing her toddler grandson. Through playful moments and unfiltered honesty, she reveals how reclaiming childlike wonder and emotional authenticity can transform our approach to work and life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ingridyhelanderlmft.com/5-lessons-about-self-confidence-play-and-the-meaning-of-work-that-i-learned-from-a-toddler/ Quotes to ponder: "True confidence comes from the inside, not from what you do or how well you do it." "He takes his own ideas seriously and has no need to compare them to anyone else's." "When he's done with something, he's done. And he knows it." Episode references: Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul: https://www.amazon.com/Play-Shapes-Brain-Imagination-Invigorates/dp/1583333789 The Whole-Brain Child: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Brain-Child-Revolutionary-Strategies-Developing/dp/0553386697 Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff: https://self-compassion.org/ Greater Good Science Center: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3620: Ingrid Helander shares five unexpected yet powerful lessons in self-confidence, creativity, and purpose drawn from observing her toddler grandson. Through playful moments and unfiltered honesty, she reveals how reclaiming childlike wonder and emotional authenticity can transform our approach to work and life. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ingridyhelanderlmft.com/5-lessons-about-self-confidence-play-and-the-meaning-of-work-that-i-learned-from-a-toddler/ Quotes to ponder: "True confidence comes from the inside, not from what you do or how well you do it." "He takes his own ideas seriously and has no need to compare them to anyone else's." "When he's done with something, he's done. And he knows it." Episode references: Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul: https://www.amazon.com/Play-Shapes-Brain-Imagination-Invigorates/dp/1583333789 The Whole-Brain Child: https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Brain-Child-Revolutionary-Strategies-Developing/dp/0553386697 Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff: https://self-compassion.org/ Greater Good Science Center: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Do you ever feel alone, even in your marriage? In this powerful episode of Master Your Marriage, we explore why loneliness hits so hard and how your brain is wired for connection. Sharla and Robert dive into the science of the relational brain, challenging the “go it alone” mindset of individualism. From Ed Tronick's “still face” experiment to James Coan's Social Baseline Theory, we uncover how co-regulation—syncing with your partner's nervous system—can transform your relationship. Through compelling stories, like a couple rediscovering connection amidst conflict, and the stark realities of isolation (from orphanages to solitary confinement), we reveal why connection isn't just a want—it's a survival need. Plus, we tackle the paradox: love can calm us, but it can also trigger us like nothing else. Tune in to learn how prioritizing your marriage can heal loneliness and build a healthier, happier life together.Key TakeawaysYour Brain Craves Connection: Science shows our nervous systems are designed to co-regulate, sharing emotions and stress with others to stay balanced and healthy.Loneliness Hurts—Literally: From infants in orphanages to adults in solitary confinement, disconnection can lead to physical and mental health crises.Co-Regulation in Action: Simple acts, like staying calm when your partner is stressed, can help them “borrow” your calm nervous system.The Paradox of Love: Marriage can be a lighthouse of safety but also a mirror, triggering old wounds—making a secure relationship essential for survival.Individualism's Downside: Prioritizing “me” over “we” can erode connection, but relationalism rebuilds trust and intimacy in marriage.Dive DeeperExplore these resources to deepen your understanding of how we're wired for connection:Ed Tronick's “Still Face” Experiment: Watch this YouTube video to see how a mother's blank face impacts her child, showing the power of emotional synchronicity. Search “Ed Tronick Still Face Experiment.”Social Baseline Theory by Lane Beckes and James Coan: Learn more about how our brains rely on close relationships to conserve energy and manage stress. Check out Coan's TEDx talk or their research at the University of Virginia's website (search “James Coan Social Baseline Theory”).Dr. Dan Siegel's Work: His book The Developing Mind explains how relationships shape our brains. A great starting point for understanding interpersonal neurobiology.Rene Spitz's Orphanage Studies: Read about Spitz's 1950s research on how emotional neglect led to infant mortality, highlighting connection as a survival need. Available in psychology journals or summaries online (search “Rene Spitz orphanage studies”).Book Recommendation: Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller. This book dives into attachment theory, offering practical insights for building secure connections in your marriage.Further Study: Visit the Greater Good Science Center (greatergood.berkeley.edu) for articles on the science of relationships and connection, including practical tips for couples.Connect with UsEmail: masteryourmarriage@gmail.com – Ask about our coaching options or share your story.Instagram: Follow @masteryourmarriage for daily tips and inspiration.Reviews: Loved this episode? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify, and share it with someone who'd benefit.Feedback: Have topic ideas or ways we can improve? Email us at masteryourmarriage@gmail.com.Parting WordsConnection is your nervous system's cry for...
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3105: Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock outline powerful strategies to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, unlocking financial clarity and emotional well-being. Their guidance encourages gratitude, generosity, and mindful living, helping you break free from limiting beliefs and align your lifestyle with your deepest values. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://womenwhomoney.com/adopting-abundance-mindset-important/ Quotes to ponder: “No one has ever become poor by giving.” “Reducing the time you spend connected to the TV or social media will boost your happiness and decrease your desire to waste money.” “When you get caught up competing with them, you end up with everything they wanted and not what you want.” Episode references: Anne Frank quote reference: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1905-no-one-has-ever-become-poor-by-giving Gratitude research - Greater Good Science Center: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude/definition Shoshin (Beginner's Mind): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoshin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3105: Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock outline powerful strategies to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, unlocking financial clarity and emotional well-being. Their guidance encourages gratitude, generosity, and mindful living, helping you break free from limiting beliefs and align your lifestyle with your deepest values. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://womenwhomoney.com/adopting-abundance-mindset-important/ Quotes to ponder: “No one has ever become poor by giving.” “Reducing the time you spend connected to the TV or social media will boost your happiness and decrease your desire to waste money.” “When you get caught up competing with them, you end up with everything they wanted and not what you want.” Episode references: Anne Frank quote reference: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1905-no-one-has-ever-become-poor-by-giving Gratitude research - Greater Good Science Center: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude/definition Shoshin (Beginner's Mind): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoshin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3105: Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock outline powerful strategies to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, unlocking financial clarity and emotional well-being. Their guidance encourages gratitude, generosity, and mindful living, helping you break free from limiting beliefs and align your lifestyle with your deepest values. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://womenwhomoney.com/adopting-abundance-mindset-important/ Quotes to ponder: “No one has ever become poor by giving.” “Reducing the time you spend connected to the TV or social media will boost your happiness and decrease your desire to waste money.” “When you get caught up competing with them, you end up with everything they wanted and not what you want.” Episode references: Anne Frank quote reference: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1905-no-one-has-ever-become-poor-by-giving Gratitude research - Greater Good Science Center: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude/definition Shoshin (Beginner's Mind): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoshin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Embrace the beauty of your accent in this self-compassion meditation that guides you in a reflection of your history, heritage, and connection to your ancestors.How To Do This Practice: Find a Comfortable Position: Sit in a relaxed yet alert posture, either on a cushion or chair. Gently lower your gaze or close your eyes if that feels comfortable. Focus on Your Breath: Take a deep breath in and slowly exhale. Allow yourself to transition from your daily activities into this moment of reflection. Acknowledge Your Accent: Bring awareness to the way you speak, recognizing that your voice carries your history, culture, and personal journey. Repeat Self-Compassion Phrases: Silently or aloud, repeat affirmations such as, “my accent makes me unique,” “my accent carries my story,” “my accent connects me to my ancestors.” Place a Hand on Your Heart: If it feels right, gently place a hand on your heart, offering yourself warmth and kindness as you continue to breathe deeply. Close with Gratitude: Take a final deep breath, sending appreciation to yourself, your ancestors, and the uniqueness of your voice before gently opening your eyes. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.Today's Happiness Break host:CRISS CUERVO is a mindfulness and meditation teacher, Bridging Differences Coordinator at the Greater Good Science Center, and author of PERTENÆCER: Eight-Week Mindfulness and Meditation Training and Practices for Latinx Immigrants in the United. Learn more about Criss Cuervo here: https://tinyurl.com/4npjwn6mRead her book here: https://tinyurl.com/3byby84bRelated Happiness Break episodes:A Meditation on Original Love: https://tinyurl.com/5u298cv4Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5Where Did You Come From: https://tinyurl.com/2y9uyjj6Related Science of Happiness episodes:How to Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xcHow to Tune Out The Noise: https://tinyurl.com/4hhekjuh How to Feel Better About Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/42fn62a2Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe'd love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/kv5ycj3v
Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Juliana Tafur, the inaugural director of the Bridging Differences Program at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. The conversation explores practical strategies for bridging divides in a polarized world, both in personal and professional contexts. Juliana shares insights from her experiences growing up in a divided Colombia, her work in the U.S. post-9/11, and research on bridging differences. The episode also covers the psychological roots of 'othering' and offers practical advice for fostering connections despite differences. Additionally, resources like the seven-day Campaign for Connection Challenge and the Bridging Differences Playbook are highlighted to help you apply these concepts in your daily life. What if you could get better at bridging divides in these polarized times? This episode will help you do that! Sound Bites "Disconnection is one of the evils of our time." "Our brains will always go to labeling. That is just how our brains function." "No one is a single label… we are so multi-dimensional." "Listening is truly like a hidden superpower." "Just by us listening, we are perceived as more trustworthy." "You can affirm their feelings while still disagreeing." "The value of humility, openness, curiosity, empathy—are not really front and center in our society." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:11 Start of Interview 02:24 Juliana's Background and Influences 04:29 Understanding 'Othering' and Tribalism 08:42 The Power of Listening with Compassion 10:33 Practical Steps for Deep Listening 16:40 Real-Life Examples of Bridging Divides 24:54 The Problem with Labels 27:10 The Seven Day Campaign for Connection Challenge 29:54 Resources for Bridging Differences 31:47 Teaching Kids to Bridge Differences 35:29 End of Interview 35:55 Andy's Comments After the Interview 39:23 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Juliana and her Bridging Differences program at GGSC.Berkeley.edu/What_we_do/Major_Initiatives/Bridging_Differences. You can download the Bridging Differences Playbook and access the Bridging Differences Videos from that page. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 380 with Monica Guzman about her book on a similar topic. Episode 371 with Amanda Ripley about her book High Conflict. Episode 276 with Buster Benson about his book Episode 284 with Peter Boghossian about having what seem like impossible conversations. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Listening, Empathy, Connection, Polarization, Leadership, Communication, Conflict, Project Management The following music was used for this episode: Music: Ignotus by Agnese Valmaggia License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tropical Vibe by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
What makes your jaw drop? A celestial event? A powerful piece of music? In this episode, explore awe in its many forms, from a total solar eclipse to the psychology of wonder. Psychologist Dacher Keltner breaks down the science of awe, cellist Yumi Kendall shares how music transports us, and Audacious listeners share their most treasured moments of awe. GUESTS: Mara Suttmann-Lea, Joseph Dickerson, and Stefan Keller: Awestruck with Chion in Vermont during the April 8, 2024 total eclipse Dacher Keltner: Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center. He hosts The Science of Happiness podcast, and he’s the author of many scientific articles and several books, including Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life Yumi Kendall: Assistant Principal Cellist at the Philadelphia Orchestra. She founded and co-hosts the Tacet No More podcast Awestruck Audacious listeners who sent in voice memos (in order of appearance): Brenton Graveley, Carissa Teff, Levi Lomasky, Vinny Camire, Khaleel Rahman, Anne Mercer, Michelle Horsley, Erin Shapland, Pamela Morrison-Wolf, Maria Raviele, Carl Delmolino, Paul Gladis, Jane Carroll, Nell Codner, Catherine Shen, Maggie Downie, Brian Foley, Allison Durham, Jennifer LaRue, Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez Jessica Severin de Martinez, Meg Fitzgerald, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, and Meg Dalton contributed to this show, with help from our interns, Kathy Wang and Angelica Gajewski. Audacious with Chion Wolf is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Tune In, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and email.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode I'm interviewing a thoughtful kindred spirit to the Rational View. Someone who has made it her mission to bridge polarizing gaps in society and work for the greater good. Please excuse my deep bass FM radio voice as I'm getting over a nasty virus. Juliana Tafur is the director of the Greater Good Science Center's Bridging Differences program at UC Berkeley. She is now leading a Campaign for Connection to bridge political and cultural divides using resources rooted in science. She's spent more than a decade creating spaces–through film and mediated dialogue–to bridge differences of race/culture, politics, socioeconomic status, and more. An Obama Foundation Scholar at Columbia University, Juliana's work combines research on the science of human connection with lived experience, making her insights both practical and deeply personal. Come find me on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube
When was the last time you felt awe? Perhaps it's an emotion you notice often, evoked by the trees, clouds, or people around you. Or maybe it's something you associate with more dramatic, less frequent experiences. Today's guest, Dr Dacher Keltner, has written a sublime book on the subject of awe. It's called Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life and in it he proposes that awe is an emotion that's all around us, waiting to be discovered – and in doing so, we can transform our health and lives for the better. Dacher is one of the world's foremost emotion scientists and Professor of Psychology at the University of California. He's also Director of the Greater Good Science Center, which studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of happiness and wellbeing. He has spent decades studying the science of happiness and believes that across the world, we are collectively having a moment of reflection and looking for more meaning. In this conversation, Dacher defines awe as our response to powerful things that are obscure, vast, and mysterious. They're beyond our frame of reference, making us feel small and filling us with wonder. But you don't have to go to the Grand Canyon or see the Northern Lights to find them. Having studied people's understanding and experience of awe in 26 different countries, he's found eight types which are common – and easily available – to us all. They include nature, music, moral beauty (noticing others' kindness), birth and death, and one of my favourites, ‘collective effervescence'. This is that feeling of coming together with others, moving as one, and sharing the same consciousness – and you may have experienced it in a sports stadium, at a music concert, on a dancefloor, in worship, in a choir, or even at parkrun. As to the benefits of awe, from calming inflammation to activating the vagus nerve; deactivating our brain's stress centre, to reducing pain perception, these awe experiences are buffers for many modern health conditions that we can't afford to miss. We spoke in depth about how birth and death are strong triggers for awe, sharing our own painful yet precious experiences of watching close relatives die. We also considered how awe reduces the ego and makes you humble. And how having a regular practice of contemplation, like meditation or breathwork, can open us up to easily noticing and benefitting from everyday awe. I truly believe that Dacher's work can help all of us find greater meaning and greater health. He's done a fantastic job of finding the science to support his words, but I think we also know intuitively that what he's saying makes perfect sense. This was a wonderful and deeply profound conversation that contains science, storytelling, raw emotion and so much more. I hope you enjoy listening. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. This January, try FREE for 30 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Thanks to our sponsors: https://exhalecoffee.com/livemore https://vivobarefoot.com/livemore https://drinkag1.com/livemore Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/527 DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.
Experience the physical sensations of love through this guided meditation that nurtures connection, relaxation, and emotional awareness.How To Do This Practice: Sit or lie down in a relaxed posture. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take a deep breath in, then slowly exhale. Notice the weight of your body and release any tension in your shoulders, jaw, or hands. Recall a time when you felt deeply loved and cared for—whether from a person, pet, or a meaningful experience. Instead of focusing on the memory itself, notice where love manifests in your body—warmth in your chest, a tingling in your hands, a soft smile, or gentle relaxation. With each inhale, visualize love spreading through your body like a warm light or soft energy, filling your heart, arms, and entire being. Allow yourself to fully experience this embodied sense of love, knowing it is always within you. When ready, bring awareness back to your surroundings, wiggle your fingers and toes, and take a final deep breath before opening your eyes. Set an intention to bring this felt sense of love into your interactions throughout the day. This episode is part of our series The Science of Love, supported by a grant from The John Templeton Foundation on spreading love through the media.Sign up for The Science of Happiness podcast's 7-Day Love Challenge to receive these science-backed practices delivered directly to your inbox: tinyurl.com/7daylovechallengeToday's Happiness Break Host:Dacher Keltner is the host of The Science of Happiness podcast and is a co-instructor of the Greater Good Science Center's popular online course of the same name. He's also a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.Related Happiness Break episodes:A Meditation on Original Love: https://tinyurl.com/5u298cv4Loving Kindness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/2kr4fjz5A Meditation for Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/485y3b4yRelated Science of Happiness episodes:36 Questions to Spark Love and Connection: https://tinyurl.com/ktcpz78uHow 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhrHow to Use Your Body to Relax Your Mind: https://tinyurl.com/yckyft6tHow To Tune Out The Noise: https://tinyurl.com/4hhekjuh How To Breathe Away Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/msmxtyesFollow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPodWe'd love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/3dmpfam6
A meditation to cultivate a sense of awe by focusing on new beginnings -- whether it's a budding plant, a new friendship, or a recent moment of wonder.How to Do This Practice: Find a quiet, comfortable space. Sit or lie down, close your eyes if you wish, and take deep breaths to center yourself. Bring your awareness to the present moment—notice your breath, body sensations, and surroundings without judgment. Reflect on new beginnings in your life. Picture meeting someone new and feeling curiosity about their stories, recall a moment of awe, like hearing a piece of music that moved you, imagine the growth of a budding plant, reaching for the light. Focus on a recent moment of awe that touched you. Notice how it feels in your body and let the sensations linger. When ready, gently open your eyes and carry this renewed sense of wonder into your day. Today's Happiness Break Host:Dacher Keltner is the host of The Science of Happiness podcast and is a co-instructor of the Greater Good Science Center's popular online course of the same name. He's also a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.We'd love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share The Science of Happiness! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscript: https://tinyurl.com/3pdp8nky
Happiness, it turns out, comes down to a science — even though what makes each of us happy can vary widely. Host Cristina Quinn talks to happiness scientist Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director at UC-Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, about exactly what makes us happy and how much our sense of joy is within our control. Drawing from the science of happiness, Emiliana explains that happiness isn't about chasing fleeting positive emotions, but rather about fostering an overarching sense of contentment, belonging and resilience. She also lays out how much of happiness is influenced by genetics, external circumstances and the choices we make.This course reminds us that happiness isn't out of reach — it's something we can cultivate every day. Emiliana and her colleagues at the Greater Good Science Center have been collecting data on happiness through the Big Joy Project, a seven-day online study where participants are assigned a micro-act of joy every day. Learn more about the project here. For some extra happiness tips, read about trying new things for joy and embracing “joy snacks.”Subscribe to The Washington Post or connect your subscription in Apple Podcasts.To hear more, check out “Try This” wherever you listen to podcasts.
Psychologists Off The Clock: A Psychology Podcast About The Science And Practice Of Living Well
Parental stress has been declared a public health crisis by the U.S. Surgeon General—and it's a conversation we all need to have. In this episode, Emily sits down with Debbie and our dear friend and guest Yael Schonbrun, a clinical psychologist and author of Work, Parent, Thrive, to explore what's behind the overwhelming stress so many parents are feeling and, more importantly, what we can do about it. We're talking about all the things that pile up: money worries, the constant rush, and that pressure to “do it all.” Plus, we dive into what parental burnout actually is (and why it's not your fault) and share simple, science-backed tips to make life a little easier. This isn't just about managing parental stress—it's about showing up for yourself and your kids in a healthier, more sustainable way. If you've ever felt like you're drowning in the demands of parenting, this episode is for you. It's a conversation that matters—and one that can truly make a difference. Listen and Learn: What is parental stress, why it matters, and how we can lighten the load together? How can we turn overwhelming parental stress into something manageable? Parenting burnout is skyrocketing—what's fueling it, and how can we reclaim balance in modern life? The pressures of modern parenting, how to find balance and break free from the stress. How working parents can shift from feeling torn between roles to using tension for enrichment What are the causes and consequences of parental burnout, and how driving awareness can help Why your well-being as a parent is crucial for your child's mental health, yet it's often overlooked—and learn how to break this unhelpful cycle How self-compassion and mindful check-ins can help ease your burnout and stress in daily life Supporting your child's autonomy to reduce parental burnout and strengthen your connections Resources: Yael's website: https://www.yaelschonbrun.com/ Connect with Yael on socials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yael-schonbrun-a26a5229/ http://x.com/DrYaelSchonbrun http://instagram.com/yaelschonbrun/ Our Substack Q&A, Is Parent Stress Breaking News? Three Clinical Psychologists Discuss the Surgeon General's New Advisory: https://emilyedlynn.substack.com/p/is-parent-stress-breaking-news About Yael Schonbrun Yael Schonbrun is a clinical psychologist, assistant professor at Brown University, author of Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like too Much), past Psychologists Off the Clock co-host, and parent of three. In her research, private practice, and writing, Yael draws on science, philosophy, and clinical practices to share practices proven to foster healthier relationships between partners, parents and children, and between our most important life roles. Yael is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and her writing on work, parenting, and relationships has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Greater Good Science Center, Behavioral Scientist, Tricycle, among others. Related Episodes: 306. Screaming on the Inside: The Challenges of American Motherhood with Jessica Grose 319. Autonomy-Supportive Parenting with the AMAZING Emily Edlynn 275. Work, Parent, Thrive with Yael Schonbrun 338. ACT for Burnout with Debbie! 146. Parental Burnout with Lisa Coyne 382. The Anxious Generation? The Conversation We Should Be Having About Kids, Technology, and Mental Health 379. Toxic Striving with Paula Freedman-Diamond https://offtheclockpsych.com/be-mighty/ 121. Be Mighty: An Episode for Stressed Out, Worried Women with Jill Stoddard 267. You are Not a Horrible Parent with Carla Naumburg 211. Subtract with Leidy Klotz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Happiness, it turns out, comes down to a science — even though what makes each of us happy can vary pretty widely. Host Cristina Quinn talks to happiness scientist Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director at UC-Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, about exactly what makes us happy and how much of our sense of joy is within our control. Drawing from the science of happiness, Emiliana explains that happiness isn't about chasing fleeting positive emotions, but rather it's about fostering an overarching sense of contentment, belonging and resilience. She also lays out how much of happiness is influenced by genetics, external circumstances and the choices we make.This course reminds us that happiness isn't out of reach — it's something we can cultivate every day. Emiliana and her colleagues at the Greater Good Science Center have been collecting data on happiness through the Big Joy Project, a seven-day online study where participants are assigned a micro-act of joy every day. Learn more about the project here. For some extra happiness tips, read about trying new things for joy and embracing “joy snacks.”Subscribe to The Washington Post or connect your subscription in Apple Podcasts.
He is a celebrated author, entrepreneur, leadership maven, and a founding Board Member of Burning Man Project. He's a serial contributor to the culture and the cause.In this episode, Chip and Stuart explore how to use the 10 Principles to make conversations interesting and how a description of Black Rock City always becomes a riddle.They resist the urge to quiz newbies on the 10 Principles, while they also say that Burners should not take themselves too seriously. They try on the notion that nothing matters and everything's humorous.They make sense of big ideas like collective effervescence, emotional equations, and the need for aesthetics and beauty.They talk about a deep diversity of ritual gatherings around the world, and the influence of the global community emanating from Regional Burns.They talk about all this and more, and somehow it all make sense. wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Conleychipconley.comwww.meawisdom.com LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG
f you've ever wondered what science has to tell us about being more fulfilled, feeling more joy, and living a good life, this is the episode for you. Today, we talk to happiness researcher and professor Dacher Keltner, from the University of California Berkeley and founding director of the Greater Good Science Center. How much money makes us happy? Is it harder to be happier today than it used to be? And what can we do to live a more meaningful life?Subscribe to our newsletter. For weekly episodes, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTCheck out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata
Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Jade speaks with Juliana Tafur, director of the Bridging Differences Program at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. They discuss the increasing polarization in society, particularly in the context of the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Juliana shares insights from her research on social connections across differences, emphasizing the importance of understanding value hierarchies, moral reframing, and the power of listening. They explore strategies for effective conversations, the role of social media in division, and the significance of finding common ground. The episode concludes with an introduction to a 7-day connection challenge aimed at fostering empathy and connection during a time of heightened political tension.takeawaysThree out of four Americans desire less polarization.Social media algorithms contribute to echo chambers and division.Moral reframing can help bridge value differences.Listening with compassion can change perceptions.Finding shared identities fosters connection.We can choose connection over division.Understanding personal stories enhances empathy.Common goals can unite people across differences.The 7-day connection challenge encourages practical skills.Bridging differences is beneficial for personal well-being.Chapters00:00Introduction to Bridging Differences02:18Understanding Polarization in Society05:47The Role of Social Media in Division09:43Moral Reframing and Value Hierarchies12:54Strategies for Effective Conversations16:24The Importance of Intent in Dialogue19:14Bridging Differences: A Health Perspective22:06Navigating Group Dynamics and Social Media27:33Finding Common Ground in Divisive Times33:40Finding Common Ground38:40Building Connections Through Shared Identities43:52The Power of Compassionate Listening55:00The 7-Day Connection Challenge Looking for a Next Level Human Coach? Get on the waitlist and get access to the brand-new science of quantum metabolism and identity restructuring with Dr Jade and the team.http://nextlevelhuman.com/human-coaching Want to become a Next Level Human Coach? Get on the waitlist. Go to: http://www.nextlevelhuman.com/human-coach Connect with Next Level HumanWebsite: www.nextlevelhuman.comsupport@nextlevelhuman.comConnect with Dr. Jade TetaWebsite: www.jadeteta.comInstagram: @jadeteta
This scientist says that walking is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Here are some ways you can incorporate it into your life.Today we're going to talk about something so obvious, but so incredibly powerful. Walking. This is the third of a three part mini-series we're doing focused on the benefits of spending time outdoors.Dr. Keltner is one of the world's foremost emotion scientists. He is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center. He has over 200 scientific publications and six books, including Born to Be Good, The Compassionate Instinct, The Power Paradox, and Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. He has written for many popular outlets, from The New York Times to Slate, and has consulted extensively for Google, Apple, and Pinterest, on issues related to emotion and well-being. He also hosts the podcast The Science of Happiness.In this episode we talk about:The practice of “awe walks”The ritualizing of walkingHow it can help your concentration and anxiety levelsWalking meetingsAnd walking meditationsRelated Episodes:The Science Of How Nature Changes Your Brain—From Sleep To Cognition To Your Nervous System | Dacher KeltnerHow To Get The Physiological And Psychological Benefits Of Nature If You Don't Live Near Nature | Dacher Keltner#546. This Scientist Says One Emotion Might Be the Key to Happiness. Can You Guess What It Is? | Dacher KeltnerWe Know Nature Is Good for Us. Here's How To Make Time for It, Scandinavian Style | Linda Åkeson McGurkSign up for Dan's newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/dacher-keltner-bonus-3Additional Resources:The Science of Happiness PodcastHow to Start (Restart, or Upgrade) Your Meditation Practice: A Master Class | Jon Kabat-Zinn#580. Tripping Out with a Legend: Jon Kabat-Zinn on Pain vs. Suffering, Rethinking Your Anxiety, and the Buddha's Teaching in a Single SentenceThe Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the BrainDownload the Happier app today: https://my.happierapp.com/link/downloadSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This is a special replay of an episode of the REJUVENAGING with Dr. Ron Kaiser podcast that was first posted on March 7th, 2023.Oftentimes, listening to the news can be difficult. Between wars, famines, climate change, and inequality (to name a few), happenings of the world can start to seem like a never-ending cycle of unfortunate events. It can be deflating to think this way and discouraging to feel like there's nothing that you can do about it. However, you have more power and influence than you may think, and the spark to light the flame of change could be as simple as… being compassionate.My guest on today's episode, Dr. Rick Hanson, is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His latest book, Making Great Relationships, offers practical guidance for developing a positive mindset and improving relationships. Rick joins me on my show today to talk about what compassion can do for the world as well as the Global Compassion Coalition, an organization that he founded that's focused on creating a compassionate world where people and nature are cared for and thrive. Tune in to Episode 176 of REJUVENAGING® and channel your compassion with Dr. Rick Hanson.Some Questions I Ask:How do you define compassion? (3:12)If an individual wants to join the coalition, how can they do it? (24:03)Why should I, as a listener, join the coalition? What's in it for me and the world? (24:46)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About the aim of the organization Rick founded - The Global Compassion Coalition (8:05)About what leads to the basis of the evolution of altruism (18:19)About Rick's theory of change (20:35)About some of Rick's foundational practices (29:39)ResourcesThe Being Well PodcastRick's Latest Book: Making Great RelationshipsRick's Other BooksGlobal Compassion CoalitionConnect with Dr. Rick HansonWebsiteTwitterFacebookUseful REJUVENAGING® ResourcesWebsite: https://www.thementalhealthgym.com/Book: Dr. Ron Kaiser -Rejuvenaging: The Art and Science of Growing Older with EnthusiasmEmail: ron.kaiser@thementalhealthgym.com TEDx Talk: Aging Enthusiastically to Make the World a Better Place Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Practical tips for accessing the healthcare of nature no matter where you live.It's very possible that you've heard the long list of physiological and psychological benefits that one can derive from getting out into nature. Those benefits include improved mood, boosted immune system, lowered blood pressure and more. That being said, 80 percent of Americans live in urban areas. So today, we're going to talk to an expert about how to derive the many benefits of nature, no matter where you are.Dr. Keltner is one of the world's foremost emotion scientists. He is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center. He has over 200 scientific publications and six books, including Born to Be Good, The Compassionate Instinct, The Power Paradox, and Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. He has written for many popular outlets, from The New York Times to Slate, and has consulted extensively for Google, Apple, and Pinterest, on issues related to emotion and well-being. He also hosts the podcast The Science of Happiness.In this episode we talk about:The importance of opening our senses to nature The power of birdsongThe science of street trees and their impact on depressionHow taking pictures of our local environment can enhance focus and productivityAnd lastly, how we can harness the power of our imagination Related Episodes:The Science Of How Nature Changes Your Brain—From Sleep To Cognition To Your Nervous System | Dacher Keltner#546. This Scientist Says One Emotion Might Be the Key to Happiness. Can You Guess What It Is? | Dacher KeltnerWe Know Nature Is Good for Us. Here's How To Make Time for It, Scandinavian Style | Linda Åkeson McGurkSign up for Dan's newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/dacher-keltner-bonus-2Additional Resources:Download the Happier app today: https://my.happierapp.com/link/downloadSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Psychologist Dacher Keltner guides you through a practice to help you see the good things in your life that you might otherwise overlook.How to Do This Practice:1. Sit or lay down somewhere comfortable. You may close your eyes if you wish, and take a slow, deep breath in to ground into the present moment. Then, scan your body from head to toe, noticing how you're feeling in this moment. Let worries and plans clear from your mind.2. Start by thinking about all the things that make your life comfortable: Clean water on tap, light at the flip of a switch, a roof over your head to protect you from the weather, warmth, and comfort when it gets windy, rainy, or cold.3. Let your mind wander to all the millions of people who have worked hard to make your life more comfortable: Those who plant and harvest the food you eat, who bring it to markets, people who ensure the water we drink is clean, delivery drivers, teachers, all the people who create art and music and books and films and all the things that can bring us so much meaning, and so on.4. Think about the acquaintances who bring richness to your life, like a colleague, neighbor, or someone you often see at the gym or a coffee shop.5. Take a moment to think about what you're really grateful for today, right now.6. Notice how you're feeling now, compared to when you started, and then start to bring movement back to your body, wiggling fingers and toes, maybe slowly standing up.7. If you have the time, spend a few minutes journaling about what you thought about.Today's Happiness Break host:Dacher Keltner is the host ofThe Science of Happiness podcast and is a co-instructor of the Greater Good Science Center's popular online course of the same name. He's also a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.This practice was created by Dr. Kathy Kemper, who's the director of the Center for Integrative Health and Wellness at the Ohio State University. Learn more about some of her work here: https://mind-bodyhealth.osu.edu/More resources from The Greater Good Science Center:Try GGSC's online Gratitude Journal, Thnx4: https://tinyurl.com/2s4e4bx6Take our Gratitude Quiz: https://tinyurl.com/yhbz6cwvFour Great Gratitude Strategies: https://tinyurl.com/2muyff64Is Gratitude Good for You?: https://tinyurl.com/ycknm2ruThree Surprising Ways Gratitude Works at Work: https://tinyurl.com/yc2c8y4nWe love hearing from you! Tell us about your experience with practicing gratitude. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave us a 5-star review and copy and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscript: https://tinyurl.com/r6pkw2xx
During this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are in conversation with Dr Dacher Kelter. Dacher is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center. His pioneering research focuses on the cultural and evolutionary origins of compassion, awe, love, beauty, power, social class and social inequality. He has over 200 scientific publications and has written several books, the latest of which is Awe - The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life. In this book, Dr. Keltner investigates the elusive emotion of awe - and presents incredible research on how the emotion of Awe can transform our brains and bodies, and how we can cultivate more experiences of awe in our everyday lives.Referenced during this episode:Greater Good In Action - https://ggia.berkeley.edu/Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender: Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023)The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)Social:Instagram @evolvingleaderLinkedIn The Evolving Leader PodcastTwitter @Evolving_LeaderYouTube @evolvingleader The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production.Send a message to The Evolving Leader team
Scientific evidence that spending time in nature has profound impacts on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.We've got something special planned for you today. We're talking about the massive psychological and physiological benefits of being in nature.Nature impacts your mood. It has a whole long list of positive benefits for your nervous system, and even changes how you are with other people. In fact, as you'll hear today's guest say, “nature is healthcare”. Dr. Dacher Keltner is one of the world's foremost emotion scientists. He is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center. He has over 200 scientific publications and six books, including Born to Be Good, The Compassionate Instinct, The Power Paradox, and Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. He has written for many popular outlets, from The New York Times to Slate, and has consulted extensively for Google, Apple, and Pinterest, on issues related to emotion and well-being. He also hosts the podcast The Science of Happiness.This is the first of a three-part series we're doing focused on the benefits of spending time outside. Today we talk about how it impacts sleep, cognition, memory, your nervous system, and your relationships. Next week, we address the 80% of Americans who live in urban areas—how do you derive these benefits? And in week three, we take a deep dive on the science of walking. Related Episodes:#546. This Scientist Says One Emotion Might Be the Key to Happiness. Can You Guess What It Is? | Dacher KeltnerWe Know Nature Is Good for Us. Here's How To Make Time for It, Scandinavian Style | Linda Åkeson McGurkSign up for Dan's newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/dacher-keltner-bonus-1Additional Resources:Download the Happier app today: https://my.happierapp.com/link/downloadSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The election is over and, is spite of Trump's clear victory, America remains as divided as ever. So how to put the country together again? Juliana Tafur, the director of the Bridging Differences Program at UC Berkeley, has been giving this existential question much thought. What all Americans need, Tafur tells me, is the compassion, empathy and humility to understand the other side. But, as I asked her, isn't that just shorthand for a progressive bridge building project in which the left defines the language of a reunited America?Juliana Tafur, the director of the Bridging Differences Program at UC Berkeley Her work focuses on strengthening social connections across lines of race, religion, culture, politics, and more, to foster a culture of understanding and belonging in the United States and beyond. Through partnerships, multimedia content, speaking engagements, and workshops, Juliana is committed to ensuring that bridge-building skills and resources reach people and inspire meaningful change. With experience as a social entrepreneur, workshop creator, Emmy-nominated senior producer, and award-winning documentary filmmaker, she has been working to foster human connection across complex societal divides for more than a decade. A TEDx speaker, she has led and facilitated speaking engagements and training sessions on bridging differences at more than 30 higher education institutions and organizations. Juliana is also a 2021–2022 Obama Foundation Scholar at Columbia University—a mid-career fellowship that recognized and deepened her work in the bridge-building field, expanding her research on intergroup relations, political polarization, and conflict transformation. She is an honors graduate of Northwestern University, where she earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Journalism and History.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.TRANSCRIPTKEEN: Hello, everybody. The easy bit's over! The election's finished, now the real challenge is bringing America back together. We always hear these terms from politicians and activists, but in practice, of course, it's a very challenging thing to do. My guest today on the show, Juliana Tafur, though, is somebody who's given a great deal of thought to bringing America back together, bridging differences. She is the inaugural director of the Bridging Differences Program at UC Berkeley. She's also very much involved in the Denver Foundation. She's based in Boulder, Colorado, and she's joining us today. Juliana, is that fair? Was the election the easy bit? Now, the challenge is putting Humpty Dumpty back together again?TAFUR: 100%. I love the Humpty Dumpty. Yes, we are broken. How do we come back together and mend those pieces while still acknowledging the brokenness, right? Yeah. With that analogy, there's a beautiful Japanese technique that aims to cover the fractures, but to cover the fractures with a strand of gold so that we're not pretending like the fractures aren't there, but we are making something better as a result of the recognition of those fractures.KEEN: Juliana, we've done a lot of shows about this sort of thing. In fact, I've worked with the Braver Angels group. I'm sure you're familiar with them. I have been to a couple of their conferences. There are more and more of these groups trying to bring Americans back together. Might one suggest that there is now a broader movement in America to bring Americans of different--particularly different political persuasions back together? You're doing it, braver angels are doing it. Many of the thousands of activists and hundreds of groups.TAFUR: Yeah. There is so many of us across the country that work tirelessly day in and day out, around elections and before and after elections to make sure we come together. And yes, Braver Angels is just one of them. I could certainly give you a list that you could attach to the show notes, because a lot of us are doing this work and it's good for people to know that we're out there and that this is possible. But sometimes it takes seeing it in action and understanding how to do it to really trust that you can do it, too.KEEN: Yeah, we've had lots of people on the show. I know you're familiar with the work of Eboo Patel. You've worked with him his book couple of years ago. We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy is another example of this kind of work. Tell me what you do at the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. What are you doing that's different or unusual or unique in terms of bringing Americans back together?TAFUR: Yeah, well, at the Greater Good Science Center, we study the psychology, sociology and neuroscience of well-being, or what we'd like to call the science of a meaningful life. And we break the science to the practice. So we take the science of how to have a meaningful life or how to bridge differences, and we translate it in a way that is accessible to people to apply in their own lives or to practitioners to help others apply the science. And in the bridging differences programs specifically, we do this through a series of videos, multimedia pieces that we publish in our magazine, Greater Good. We have a famous podcast called The Science of Happiness. We began in earnest in 2018, I would say, gathering what the science said about how to bring people together across differences. And when we talk about the science, we talk about skills, science-based skills, from compassionate listening to finding shared identities, etc., that have been tested in labs, and we translate them in a way that people understand how some of these skills applied, how they worked in labs, and how they can then work also in kind of real-life scenarios and situations. So we have a bridging differences playbook that has 14 science-based skills for bridging differences. We have an edX course that's free and available for everyone to take that also disseminates some of the science-based skills.KEEN: Tell me a little bit more about yourself. You've been involved in this space for a while. You're also a filmmaker, so you're very much committed on lots of fronts to this. How did you find yourself? Is this a reflection of your own upbringing, your own experience in the United States?TAFUR: Absolutely, yes. What you had up first was the page from the Obama Scholars Program. So a few years ago, 21, 22, I was an Obama scholar at Columbia University--KEEN: And you were the founder, at least at that point, of something called Story Powerhouse. I'm guessing you're still the founder, although you've moved on in a sense.TAFUR: Correct. Yeah. And Story Powerhouse was at the company Listen Courageously, which was a workshop series that I took around to universities and organizations and corporations talking about the power of empathic listening. And I got to that through film that I produced and directed that brought Americans together on opposite ends of the spectrum across the easy topics of abortion, guns and immigration. And the inspiration for this film came after the 2016 election. I felt a big need back then to try to bridge the divide that I was seeing and feeling, very explicitly, for the very first time in our country. And as a Colombian-American, I was beginning to talk to folks in my circles, and I was feeling this this real sense of othering that I had never, ever experienced and wondering and questioning what was my place and that of so many others like me in our country. And that led to to Listen, to this film that brought three sets of participants across these really tough topics together to explore if they could see each other as people and connect on a human level despite their differences. And I had no idea what the outcome would be. I had documented their conversations across a period of time. And I was truly moved by what I saw. I saw that those who were able to connect at a deep, human level were those who were able to listen. So then, that led me to study and explore and understand the power of listening and understood that it was a field. It's an arts, but it's also a science and connected with practitioners, but also researchers in the field of listening. And one thing led to the other, right? As a practitioner and filmmaker in the field of bridging differences, I found myself going back to intergroup relations and conflict transformation and other subjects too, to really understand why. Why was it that my film participants had come together, and how could I then equip others to continue doing the same? Less from a "we know this is possible" and more from a kind of research-grounded way.KEEN: Juliana, some people might be listening to this and...whilst on the one hand being, in a way, impressed they might be scratching their head, maybe listening to you, you use the E-word all the time empathetic, which is quite a kind of ideological character these days. You talk about othering, you're funded by, or you were funded by, the Obama Foundation. Now you head up a greater good institute at UC Berkeley, People's Republic of Berkeley, which is a place I know all too well, I used to live there for many years. Some people might be listening to this and thinking if you scratch the surface of what Juliana's saying, is she suggesting that this is the progressive version of the greater good? And as long as you're in our camp and you use her words like "empathy" and "othering" and love the Obamas and spend time at UC Berkeley, it's fine. But when you start perhaps putting red caps on and talking about America becoming great again or not being particularly sympathetic to immigrants, then you're outside your world. How would you respond to that? Is that a fair criticism or am I wrong, or would one be wrong?TAFUR: Well, obviously, people's criticisms are their criticisms, and that's absolutely okay. And there is no right or wrong. I just want to say--KEEN: Well, there is right and wrong, Juliana, isn't there? There's some things are certainly more right than wrong and some things are more wrong and right.TAFUR: Yes, but we don't judge that. I think, you know, people are right to believe what they believe, vote for who they vote, and be who they are. And we start bridging from the place of: I see you, and I hear you, and I might not understand you, but that's okay. I still don't dehumanize you. And that's the spirit of bridging differences. And yes, I don't hide where I stand. Politically, I am more progressive. And I have been an Obama scholar. And I work at Berkeley. So all of that is who I am. And from that place, I bridge. I bridge from the place of this is who I am, where I stand. I still love you and I still want to get to know you. And I still want to see you. And I just want to say, given that I'm Colombian American and I lived in Miami for the last ten years, I just recently moved to Boulder, Colorado, to lead a statewide initiative here in the state of Colorado called Belonging Colorado to make Colorado a place where everyone feels like they belong. Thank you for popping it up.KEEN: Called Belonging Colorado.TAFUR: Yeah, in Florida, I mean, I've had friends and neighbors who don't think like I do, who don't see the world like I do. And I've appreciated that. And I have not excluded them from our circles, from trying deeply to learn and understand what is it that they believe, what they believe. So I intentionally have made way to understand our country and and to try to tap into, honestly, what at the end of the day, are people's fears of what we need. And I approach them from that place. When you approach others from a place of "we are all walking with our fears in our foreheads," we begin to connect with your fear, my fear. But it's all fear and it's okay.KEEN: You used the term "humanizing differences," Juliana. Some people, again, might be listening and thinking to themselves, well, the guy who just won the election, more Americans voted for him than the other candidate. It's quite a decisive election. He doesn't seem to be in the business of "humanizing differences." In fact, many of the people he doesn't like, he seems, some people believe, I tend to be sympathetic there, he's dehumanizing them. So. So what do we do in an America, where the next president is, or appears to be, very often in the business of dehumanization?TAFUR: Hopefully we take back the narrative.KEEN: What does that mean, "take back the narrative"? He's been elected. It's his narrative.TAFUR: It is his narrative. But as people I don't believe that everyone who voted for him is voting for the dehumanization. I am holding firm to the belief that people are good, and that people have voted for other things and not for that. And I want people who voted for him to still see that we need to humanize each other despite our differences. And I believe that they do. I do not believe people are buying into that narrative and rhetoric. At least not everyone. Some may. But I think when we take back the narrative, we take back the narrative of: yes, right now there's a winning camp and a losing camp, and that's okay. And I would hope that those in the winning camp also want to see across differences and are reaching out to humanize those who are not in the winning camp. And, you know, that is now that is four years. But our country perseveres and continues and we are interdependent and need each other. Absolutely need each other. More than this rhetoric, more than the divisive politics. Politics is just one aspect of who we are.KEEN: There are others. I mean, you acknowledge that you're a progressive. There are other progressives who are preparing to resist the new--what they see as a regime, some people even think that the new president is a fascist. What would you say to resistors, people who don't believe that it's possible to, as you would put it, reshape the narrative or seize the narrative, that that the next president is in the business of dehumanizing many people, particularly people out of America and many people in America. And it's just pointless and that they're going to fight him, they're going to fight him in the courts, and maybe even on the streets.TAFUR: I don't think that's the way. I don't stand for that. And I'm also trying to bring those people along. I think the only way out of hate, sincerely, and I know it sounds cliche, but it's through love. I don't believe in resistance in that way. I am for peace and I will continue to promote peace. And I know that that is hard for people in the far left to also swallow. And I know it takes time and I know not everyone is there right now, especially right now. And not everyone will be there ever. And that's okay, too. We understand that bridging is not the right thing for every person in every situation. We know that a lot of people who feel that their identity is in danger or that they're being disrespected might not be called to bridge differences. And that is also okay. I don't think this is work that you do by demand. And and we know that it's not without risks. We know that it involves exposing vulnerability. And we also know that sometimes bridging work takes small shifts over time. What we like to call small to large, or big, bridges. Sometimes you don't start with the biggest bridge possible bridging across the biggest divide. So we know that it's work that requires the right mindsets and skills and attitudes, and that takes time.KEEN: You've used the word bridge a lot, bridging as a noun, as an adjective. I seem to remember Bill Clinton was very much in the, at least the etymological bridge building business. He would always talk about it. Are examples of American politicians in the past who have successfully built bridges? I mean, Clinton wanted to, of course, he had his own controversial personal narrative that didn't help. But when you look back into the American past, who are the bridging presidents? FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Lincoln?TAFUR: Yeah, those, and I would say, you know, yes, I may I'm totally biased because I am funded, have been funded, by the Obama Foundation. But sincerely, President Obama has taken bridging and pluralism, as he called it, as the work that he is doing, that he is centering on after his presidency, and he runs these democracy summits that happen once a year. And and it is a message that he deeply believes in and is trying to share with others.KEEN: Yeah, I mean, doesn't everyone bridge on their own terms? Obama campaigned aggressively for Harris. And in fact, a lot of people believe that Trump never would have got involved in politics had Obama not given him such a violent roasting at one of the White House correspondence evenings a few years ago. So isn't Obama an example of someone who bridges when they feel like it and when they don't, they accuse other people of not bridging?TAFUR: Yeah, I mean, honestly, I prefer not to get into politics. I do bridging differences work because I am equipping folks with the skills to be able to do this work. And I believe in humans. So so this is really not about politics for me. It never was. It never will be. I happen to be an Obama scholar, but I'd really rather not comment on what politicians are or not doing.KEEN: And I take your point, Juliana. But politics and the founders knew this, the politics in and out of America, is a dirty business. We pursue our own interests. Madison called them the pursuit of faction. That's why we have divisions, that's why we have branches of government which are designed to negate each other. Just as Madison so famously said, so profoundly said, "If men were angels (and he did say, man, he didn't say women as well, of course), if men were angels, there'd be no need for government." And I wonder whether...and again, I don't want a group for your movements or your thinking into one, but I wonder whether this kind of ambivalence, hostility, maybe even contempt for politics is problematic. When I think of someone like Michelle Obama, I have to admit I'm very, very disappointed that she didn't choose to enter into politics. She seems to be political when she feels like it. But not to participate in politics, she was probably the only person in America could have beaten Trump. Again, I don't want to turn this into a conversation about either Obama's. But my question to you is about acknowledging the dirtiness of politics, which reflects the dirtiness of the human condition, the fact that we all are, for better or worse, self-interested. Do you accept that Madisonian version of human nature?TAFUR: I honestly think there is a better future for us when we tap into what we can be and not what we are. And I know it's hard for many to do right now. And it's hard when what we see as reality is what politicians do. And I do see some examples of politics where people are coming together that I'd like to highlight, including Governor Spencer Cox. And he's led a national campaign called Disagree Better. And he's come on ads with Governor Jared Polis from--KEEN: Colorado, yeah?TAFUR: Colorado. And Governor Cox is out of Utah, Republican. Jared Polis is a Democrat from Colorado. And I think we need more of that. We need more examples of that, politicians coming together and showing how they are coming together so that we believe that it's also possible. So I'd like to hang on to those examples in the political realm. But again, I'm in the business of what we individuals can do at the interpersonal level to begin to cultivate the right skills and mindsets, to be able to come together and at the inter group level with others.KEEN: There's been a lot of conversation, debate after this election, Juliana, like many elections, about why and how people should vote. Should they vote out of self-interest or for the the greater good? Lots of comments about many of the people vote voting for Trump seem to be voting against their own interests, particularly the new American working class. Whereas the coastal elites in voting for Harris seem also in an odd way to be voting against their own--certainly economic--interests by voting for her, in your view, to get to this bridge and this ability to be empathetic and converse with others, do we need to overcome our own self-interest, particularly our own economic self-interest?TAFUR: I don't think you need to overcome your own economic self-interests to bridge. Not at all. Because when we bridge differences, we are not asking honestly people to leave aside any of what they value. It centers on this recognition of, yes, common humanity, which I know is very abstract to a lot of people. But it is not about persuasion and it does not require you compromising your beliefs or values. It just requires the ability for you to recognize that anyone, anyone can teach you something, which is a term called intellectual humility. So, no, not to bridge. I mean, you may be putting your self-interest aside, or some of your self-interests, aside when you're voting for certain candidates. But to bridge, we are just coming together to see each other and to be with each other.KEEN: You talk about intellectual humility. That word again, humility is another fashionable word that goes with empathy. Is there, do you think, a religious context to this? Do you think some of these movements, maybe yours, maybe even yourself, it grew out of a religious tradition. A Christian tradition? Humility, empathy, love, understanding. These are words that are traditionally used in religion.TAFUR: Yes, they are. I will say that we have not necessarily emphasized or called attention to these character virtues and moral virtues in our work. We do talk about them a lot and we will probably emphasize them a bit more moving forward, given interest that we have in doing so, because we do think that when you talk about civil, moral character virtues like respect and curiosity and courage, you are meeting different types of people at different places. And at the end of the day, this is about becoming better people.KEEN: Say that again: this is about becoming better people. So, it's a moral movement. You're suggesting people need to pull their their moral socks up if we're going to put Humpty Dumpty, to extend this rather childish metaphor, if we're if we're to put Humpty Dumpty back together again, we need to pull our moral socks up. Is that fair?TAFUR: Yeah. I mean, we believe that cultivating these virtues is not just about overcoming current societal divides, but about nurturing a deep commitment to, for a lack of a better word, the greater good. This is what this is about.KEEN: I don't know how many jobs you have, Juliana. I'm lucky enough that I don't have multiple jobs, but some people, again, might be watching this and saying this is all very well. Maybe in some biblical fantasy land, we can all put ourselves out and be better people. But most people are really busy. Many, particularly, working class people who perhaps voted for Trumo, they're working 2 or 3 jobs. They're busy. They struggle to pay their rent, feed their families. Does this require to be part of your bridging movement? Does it require, shall we say, moral...concentration? Or could you do it...occasionally?TAFUR: Absolutely. You can do it occasionally. You can do it in the weekend. You can do it with neighbors. You could do it at a school board meeting. You could do it in neighborhood meetings. You could do it wherever you are. You could do it at work. You could do it with colleagues. You could do it with your kids. It does not require more than anything that you are already doing. It's just about how you approach those who are in your circles and in your life.KEEN: What's the most difficult thing? You do this a lot. You run bridging programs. You run a school, essentially, designed to help people bridge. What does the movement most struggle with? When you see people who are open to the idea and say, you're right, I need to be able to talk responsibly with humility and empathy to people who I don't agree with on the other political side, culturally, racially, and all the rest of it. What do people most struggle with, what don't they expect? What would you warn people about who are trying to get into a movement like this?TAFUR: We are very clear that if the other person is dehumanizing you, and if you feel at risk or threatened by this dehumanization, that you should probably be careful in engaging. So that's where we draw the line.KEEN: Yeah, but then you're shifting the responsibility to somebody else. I mean, obviously, if they're dehumanizing you, you wouldn't want to talk to them. But what's hard about changing oneself, that's possible, that doesn't involve the other?TAFUR: I think this just requires the commitment to want to do it and then the right skills. To engage with it in a way that you see works, that feels good, and that invites you to continue trying it out. And all it takes is the willingness to say, "I'm exhausted by this. This is affecting me personally." Because we do know that our divides are consuming us. They're affecting our health, our well-being. We also know our divides are affecting our families and our closest circles. We know that our divides affect our children in schools. So there are many, many reasons for wanting to bridge, for saying, "this is enough. I am exhausted." And if you are, you are not alone. Three. Out of four Americans are. 75% of Americans in the most conservative estimates say they are exhausted by the division.KEEN: Exhausted by just this endless controversy of people not being able to talk to one another?TAFUR: Yeah. Research tells us that three out of four Americans see political hostility and divisiveness as a serious problem and want to live in a less polarized country. So we are just trying to meet that exhausted majority where they are. Because we do know that people value diverse perspectives. Again, research points to this, and a desire to shift the political discourse. So we're telling them: we hear you. We see you. Yes, this division hurts us. Let's do something about it. Do you need some skills? We got you.KEEN: Juliana, I asked you about other examples from American history. What about models from the rest of the world in these kinds of conversations? You often hear about the the reconciliation, the truth and reconciliation movement and Mandela, South Africa. Are there models overseas, which Americans can learn from? Americans often aren't very good at learning from other countries, particularly in Africa. But is the South African model a good one, do you think?TAFUR: Yes. I mean, clearly, they were able to come together across incredible fracture and division, and they were able to persevere and collaborate across differences. There is also the model in Ireland that we can point to. There is division that is hurting countries across the world right now. And I know ,I come from a country that is deeply divided, Colombia. And Colombians have also succeeded in bridging the great divide. But there's been strides, through peace treaties and others, to come together despite differences. So we can certainly learn from other countries that have been deeply divided and in deep conflict and have come together. We are not in a place in the US where our conflict has turned violent, thankfully, at least not openly. We are seeing signs of violence, but we are not in the midst of a war (although it seems like a moral war in many regards.) And and I do want to point to the hope that countries who have been in deeper fractures about how this is possible and and hopefully also show us that we must do something before the fracture goes wider and deeper. And where reconciliation seems harder to do.KEEN: Juliana, you mentioned Ireland. One of the things that comes to mind in the Irish model is the role of citizen assemblies in bringing people together to talk about very difficult issues. You brought up abortion, guns and immigration, in the U.S., the three most divisive issues, probably abortion, was and maybe still remains the most divisive in Roman Catholic Ireland. But the Citizens' Assembly movement in Ireland addressed the issue of abortion, and that was the way for the Irish parliament to actually develop some some quite interesting new legislation on abortion. Are you sympathetic to rethinking institutions, political institutions, political organizations like the Citizens' Assembly? Is this something that you've thought about, researched, is it part of a greater good future?TAFUR: Yeah, I mean, I do think we need to re-imagine. I do think we need to take good examples, including citizens' assemblies and in understand what's going to work for all of us. We know what we're doing now is not working for all of us. What does it take? How can we bring folks together to the conversation in a way that is bringing us all together? So, I do think bringing a diverse group of citizens to engage in structured dialogue, learn from experts, and also deliberate over complex topics could be the way. Maybe that's what we need. Maybe we do need more public participation in the democratic process in a way that ultimately ends up shaping legislation. And it does align with our bridging differences program, right? And and what we promote in in bringing people in and fostering inclusivity. So how can we bring different backgrounds together in structured discussions so that we can move beyond these partisan divides? Because we do understand that some of these issues do provoke, I would say, a really strong emotional response and and also carry significant social implications for folks.KEEN: Juliana Tafur, you've you've done very well with, my rather obnoxious question. So let's end with an opportunity for you to talk about, quite literally, where we go from here. You have some articles on your website, on the Bridging Differences website about where do we go from here, after the election. Perhaps you might touch on 3 or 4 bullets--concrete things of where we go from here in in early November 2024 that can bridge America, that can bring us back together. What would you suggest that's doable, viable, can be achieved in the next few months?TAFUR: It's great that you point to that article. I was obviously part of a group of us at the Greater Good Science Center that was very keen on publishing this the day after the election to--KEEN: And now you're on--I couldn't resist this one, Juliana, now you're on KEEN ON. I'm sorry for that rather silly joke, but anyway. Go on.TAFUR: Yep, yep, yep. Well, let me just, like, run through a bit of what some of the experts and researchers who we invited to be a part of this article with what they said.KEEN: And that included Eboo Patel, who, as I said, has been on the show. So you put together a very interesting group of people to write this thing.TAFUR: Thank you. Yeah, absolutely. So, yeah, so Eboo is saying keep doing what matters to you and the world, and he's trying to get us away from this catastrophe mindset, and he wants to remind us that what you are doing is sacred and it makes a difference. And even if the world is going to end, he says, the wisdom of the sages says to keep doing your meaningful work, because that work is part of the saving grace of humanity. So that was beautiful. Scott Shigeoka, who's a bridging differences fellow at the Greater Good Science Center, is inviting us to practice curiosity as an act of love. And for Scott, he says that we must practice curiosity if we want to transform our fear and hate. And he's reminding us that curiosity is a trait that we are all born with, and it's the desire to understand others more deeply. Again, this does not mean agreeing with views that clash with your own, but challenging the assumptions that you have about people who hold those views. So a lot about interrupting prejudice. Jeremy Smith, who's our editor at The Greater Good, he's inviting us to work to promote your values in community. I'll go high level on some of these. Get to know other humans, right? Get out of our silos as much as we can and connecting across our differences. Dr. Linda Traub, who is a close collaborator of ours, is inviting us to be good neighbors, even, and especially, to those who are different. So those are just a few. Choose nuance, not outrage. So I do invite folks to go through this article and and hopefully a few of the golden nuggets of inspiration do stay with you, do motivate you, to do something. It's been hard for many of us to understand what is it that we can do right now if bridging even is the calling of the moment when so many are struggling to understand what this means about our country, what this means about the next four years. But I understand others are not and are celebrating. Regardless of where you are, I think in a few weeks when you feel up for it, I think the calling of our times is to come together and to understand, again, our interdependence. We must break this cycle of othering us versus them. That does that does not exist. Those are constructs that that we have created. But we are better and we are more. And we are one. And sorry if this sounds cliche to some, but that's what I got for you.KEEN: That's interesting. And finally, Juliana, you mentioned one of your colleagues talked about what they would do if the world was to end tomorrow, what they would do this evening. It certainly reflects on you. I know if I knew the world was going to end tomorrow, I would go to Kentucky Fried Chicken. But that probably speaks of my own unsuitability for your movement. What would you do if you knew the world was ending tomorrow?TAFUR: I would speak to you, Andrew.KEEN: Oh my god, we can go together to the Kentucky Fried Chicken. Well, Juliana, it's been a real honor to have you on the show. Very interesting conversation, we're going to get you back on because this--one thing we can say for sure is this issue is not going away in 2024, 2025, 2026. Keep up the good work, Juliana, and we'll talk again in the not too distant future. Thank you so much.TAFUR: Thank you, Andrew. Thank you.For those impressed with what Julianna Tafur is doing and would like to participate, here are a couple of ideas:* Ready to turn division into connection? The Greater Good Science Center's 7-Day Campaign for Connection Challenge offers practical, research-based skills to ease stress and create understanding. Reserve your spot: http://tinyurl.com/7DayChallenge24* Feeling the weight of division this election season? You're not alone! Join the @Greater Good Science Center's 7-Day Campaign for Connection Challenge, to help you navigate these polarized times with science-backed skills. Reserve your place: http://tinyurl.com/7DayChallenge24Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe
After a grueling campaign season, Election Day has arrived. Here at Forum, we asked ourselves what we would want to hear on an anxiety-inducing day. To that end, we've brought together a panel of thinkers including Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate, Jenny Odell, an artist and author who has thought deeply about nature and time, and Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor, who has written about awe and wonder. We'll talk with them about how they find beauty, discovery and meaning in the face of worrying times, and hear from you: What is keeping you grounded today? Guests: Jenny Odell, author of "Saving Time: Discovering A Life Beyond the Clock". Odell is also the author of "How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy" Tracy K. Smith, poet; professor of English and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University - She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 2012 for her book, "Life on Mars." She is the author of five poetry collections, including "Such Color," "Wade in Water," among other volumes Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley -Keltner is the author of "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." He served as a consultant on the Pixar films, "Inside Out" and "Inside Out 2".
As we step into November, gratitude is at the heart of the season—but why does it matter so much? In this episode, we explore the science and significance of gratitude in transforming our mental health, relationships, and even our work lives. Join us as we dive into research-based insights, including how gratitude can reduce anxiety, boost resilience, and strengthen connections with those around us. We'll also share practical, simple ways to foster gratitude daily, even during challenging times. Whether you're looking to start a new gratitude practice or deepen your existing one, this conversation offers fresh ideas and inspiration to bring more positivity and appreciation into your life. Tune in and discover how gratitude can be the gift that keeps on giving, long after November. Show Notes: Sources Mentioned in This Episode:1.Harvard Health Publishing – Article on the benefits of gratitude and its impact on happiness and mental health.•Harvard Health Publishing2.Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley – Research on the role of gratitude in reducing negative emotions and enhancing resilience.•Greater Good Science Center3.American Psychological Association – Discussion on gratitude's physical health benefits, including better sleep and reduced stress.•American Psychological Association4.National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Research on the physiological effects of gratitude, such as lower blood pressure and improved immune response.•National Institutes of Health5.University of California, Davis – Studies on gratitude's effects on relationship satisfaction and social bonds.•University of California, Davis6.Psychology Today – Articles on gratitude's impact on social connections and the balance between gratitude and authenticity.•Psychology Today7.Forbes – Insights on how gratitude can improve workplace dynamics, productivity, and job satisfaction.•Forbes8.Journal of Positive Psychology – Studies on gratitude in professional settings, including effects on stress and job satisfaction.•Journal of Positive Psychology9.The Gratitude Project by Greater Good Science Center – Practical exercises and gratitude practices for everyday life.•The Gratitude Project10.Mindful.org – Resources and mindfulness practices to incorporate gratitude in daily routines.•Mindful.org11.Mental Health Foundation (UK) – Insights into fostering “healthy gratitude” and avoiding toxic positivity.
You don't have to be a news junkie to know that we are a deeply divided nation when it comes to politics. We've become polarized and estranged from one another over issues large and small. As we approach another contentious election season as well as the Thanksgiving holiday, we're going to explore productive ways to bridge the divides between us. Spoiler alert: it involves something called “courageous listening.” And it doesn't necessarily involve changing anyone's mind!Navigating polarization? We've got your back! Join the @Greater Good Science Center's 7-Day Campaign for Connection Challenge, starting Monday, 10/28, to learn skills that promote understanding and connection across our differences. Reserve your spot today: tinyurl.com/7DayChallenge2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Dacher Keltner is a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley and the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center. He also hosts a podcast called The Science of Happiness. Dacher has written over 200 scientific publications and six books, including Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. Dacher joins the podcast to discuss his personal experiences with awe, how awe relates to life and death, and the many ways people can cultivate awe in their daily lives. Have YOU ever gazed at the stars and felt humbled? Our story "What Stars and Saints Reveal About Awe" explains why. Read it here. Producer's note: This episode marks the debut of the Templeton Ideas podcast, originally released in March 2023. We're re-releasing it for our new listeners and for those who have been with us from the start. We hope you enjoy it. What did you think of this episode? Let us know with a rating and a review! Join the conversation on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Meghan is joined by her friend, Marianne Paventy, to discuss her recently released book of poems, "Walk in Wisdom's Paths." Topics include: - Preparing hearts for the ongoing restoration- Letting people be where they are- God's motivation- Using meditation to receive personal revelation- The true nature of God the Mother and God the FatherMarianne Paventy is a lifelong seeker of truth. She has written poetry since she was a child, but this is the first time she has shared it with a wide audience. She attended Brigham Young University after high school, where she studied fitness and wellness. She is now continuing her education through BYU, studying psychology. She is also in the process of certification with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach in their Mindfulness Meditation Teacher training program through Sounds True, the Awareness Training Institute, and the University of California at Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. She enjoys the beautiful mountains and skies of Idaho, where she and her husband, Tim, are the parents of four children. Have Feedback? Send the LDD team a text! "Consider Yourself As Eve: A Guide to Spiritual Development for Women (and the Men Who Love Them" will be available for pre-order in October 2024! Sign up to receive updates on the book release and future events.
Election season often highlights a range of hot-button topics, from abortion to immigration, which becomes trickier to navigate when conversations pop up with friends or at the dinner table. While we're often told to be curious about other perspectives, many of us do not know where to start. Worse, we don't know how to stay curious about issues that elicit our strong opinions. In this interview, curiosity expert Scott Shigeoka shares his research and in-the-field experience using curiosity to navigate polarizing issues. Scott talks about the personal benefits experience when people are curious. He goes on to talk about how people can become more curious and why maintaining boundaries and earning the right to be curious are important. He finishes the discussion by sharing what he learned on a year-long, 4,500 mile “curiosity journey” across the United States that gave him the opportunity to meet, talk with, and connect with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Scott Shigeoka is a globally recognized curiosity expert, speaker, and the award-winning author of SEEK: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World. He popularizes research that promotes positive well-being and relationships, including at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center and through his groundbreaking courses at the University of Texas at Austin. He has spoken at universities, schools, companies, and conferences around the world. He is also a screenwriter and playwright.
How can we more effectively navigate conversations with people who have different values, and beliefs than we do?Neighbors, community members, co-workers, and family members who care deeply about the same issues, but who have widely different views about them. What are the conditions that would be needed in order to have productive conversations? What are the intentions, skills and mindsets we need to cultivate? In this new 3-episode mini series we will explore these complex yet practical questions with Courageous Life guests new and old. You'll be exposed to leaders at the forefront of researching, facilitating, and sharing their hard earned wisdom, about how to have constructive dialogues, find win-win solutions to our hardest problems, and build bridges across difference. As we move into election season here in the US, these conversations are particularly timely,But the skills and insights contained within each conversation are also timeless.Today we'll continue this series with our second conversation - a past episode with Juliana Tafur who is the Program Director for the Greater Good Science Center's Bridging Differences Program. Together we explored the art and science of listening in ways that lead to meaningful connection, deeper relationships, empathy, and can build bridges across difference. Highlights include:A framework for compassionate listeningThe importance of giving ourselves and others grace while engaging in constructive dialogueWhy opening the heart across difference begins with tuning into selfDiscerning when to engage in constructive dialogue and when it's safer, and wiser, not to. The power of asking questions from a place of genuine curiosityLetting go of winning as a fundamental practice of effective listeningWhy listening is an act of courageThe importance of appreciating complexity in other people's stories, and lived experiences Ways to quiet the ego in tough conversations Interested in diving deeper into this topic? Check out the Bridging Differences Program for free resources including the Bridging Differences Playbook. Did you find this episode inspiring? Here are other conversations we think you'll love:Rediscovering the art of constructive dialogue | Dr. Mylien DuongIs curiosity a superpower? | Dr. Jud Brewer More about Juliana:Juliana Tafur is the Program Director for GGSC's Bridging Differences Program, applying her experience as social entrepreneur and founder of Listen Courageously, and as Emmy-nominated senior television producer and award-winning documentary filmmaker. Juliana creates resources rooted in science to bridge political and cultural divides. She also forges strategic partnerships across sectors—government, education, philanthropy, and public service—and oversees communities of practice, to ensure bridge-building skills and resources reach people and strengthen social cohesion across the US. As a Colombian-American devoted to listening to bridge what divides us (as seen on her TEDx talk), fostering a broader culture of belonging—through dialogue, connections, and understanding—is her life's mission.Support the show
Yesterday we re-released a moving Courageous Life conversation with Juliana Tafur. Juliana is a journalist, award winning documentary filmmaker, and bridge builder. She serves as the Program Director for the Greater Good Science Center's Bridging Differences Program. During our time together she shared shared some of her story, and insights from her incredible work as we explored the art and science of listening in ways that lead to: Meaningful connectionDeeper relationshipsAnd ultimately that build bridges across difference. Today I'd like build on that conversation by re-releasing a practice that can support finding ways to connect. Particularly when it's difficult. Given that we're human, imperfect, and not always at our best (at least speaking for myself) this idea of finding ways to connect when it's difficult, when we are in conversations that are charged, or there's reactivity etc… Can be quite a useful inquiry to explore. Today's practice will infuse a blend of storytelling, research-backed insights from leading organizational scholars, and simple ways to deepen self-awareness and tap into more empathy, understanding, and compassion. For more ways to have constructive conversations, including insights and practices for connecting across difference, check out these conversations (if you haven't already):Building Bridges Back to Each Other | Juliana TafurRediscovering the Art of Constructive Dialogue | Dr. Mylien DuongPracticing Courage #40: Let go of assumptions and embrace curiosity Thank you for your practice. I look forward to continuing together next Thursday! -Joshua Looking for more practice opportunities? Check out:LIVE 6 Week Training in Positive Neuroplasticity with Joshua (begins October 5th, 2024)Free Meditation Events - 60 minute gatherings with Joshua held 2x a month over zoomThe Practice Pass - An annual membership that gives you on-demand access to robust practice experiences including the 28-Day Practicing Courage Challenge, The 5-Day Transforming Stress Challenge and Unlocking Creativity a brand NEW 5-day challenge for realizing your unique creative potential.The FREE Practice LibrarySupport the show
We learned today that one of our favorite guests, Dr. Helen Fisher, passed away recently. I first heard her name from my daughter Claire. She and her friends had discovered this 79 year old researcher on sex and relationships and were hooked on her plain spoken insights. I tuned in. She was a spectacular communicator with vetted and validated information on a super important topic. In other words, my ideal guest. Here's where we started: the number one driver of happiness across time and culture is meaningful connection to others. So how do you get it and how do you keep it? Dr. Helen Fisher has been studying love for 5 decades. 5. That's a lot of information. Share this conversation with the people you love. Tons of takeaways that you can integrate immediately. (Previously aired)Take Helen's personality quiz and figure out who you are…and who you aren't.Funding for this episode was provided by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center as part of its "Expanding Awareness of the Science of Intellectual Humility" initiative, supported by the John Templeton Foundation.
What if you had a magic wand and could better the world in any way? What would you do? We explore a practice shown to help you find your purpose and feel more motivated, resilient and fulfilled in life.Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/bp7wv7ftEpisode SummaryWhat's your greater purpose in life? It's a tough question, especially if you're feeling uncertain about your future. In this episode, our guest explores that very question—and gets handed a magic wand with the power to make the world a better place.How To Do The Magic Wand Practice Set aside 15 minutes to reflect and write. Think about the world you live in – your home, your community, and the world at large. Imagine you've been given a magic wand, and you can change anything you want to change in the world. What would you want to be different? Why? Describe your ideal world in writing. Now, reflect on what it would take to change the world in this way. Is there anything you can do to help move the world closer to this ideal? If so, explain how; if not, explain why not. Guest: Selina Bilal is a UC Berkeley undergraduate student who is studying psychology, and a Fellow at Greater Good Science Center, where we produce The Science of HappinessExpert Guest: Kendall Cotton Bronk is a professor of psychology in the Division of Behavioral & Social Sciences at Claremont University. Learn more about Bronk's work: https://tinyurl.com/3s9sjp2d Connect with Bronk: https://tinyurl.com/3p5cepy3 Science of Happiness Episodes like this one How to Find Your Spark in Life: https://tinyurl.com/yc8j9a4u What's Your “Why” in Life? https://tinyurl.com/2vnaswpt Happiness Break Related Episodes A Meditation to Inspire a Sense of Purpose: https://tinyurl.com/54uuvh7z Visualizing Your Purpose, With Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/3jvnv35y Message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. E-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Help us share The Science of Happiness!Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap
This episode is a crossover with “The Science of Happiness,” a podcast where you can learn research-tested strategies for a happier, more meaningful life, drawing on the science of compassion, gratitude, mindfulness, and awe. Hosted by award-winning professor Dacher Keltner. Co-produced by PRX and UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center. Listen here https://pod.link/1340505607 or in your podcast app of choice!You can't really force lulls you just have to let them roll across the plain and that way they stay pointless and plain.Start a 7 day FREE trial of Sleep With Me Plus- The ultimate way to listen to show, based on how YOU listen! Get your Sleep With Me SleepPhones. Use "sleepwithme" for $5 off!!Learn more about producer Russell aka Rusty Biscuit at russellsperberg.com and @BabyTeethLA on IG.Show Artwork by Emily TatSupport our AAPI communityBlack Lives Matter. Here is a list of anti-racism resources.Support the people in Ukraine.Going through a hard time? You can find support at the Crisis Textline and see more global helplines here.CLARITIN - Nip your allergy symptoms in the bud this spring with Claritin D. Head to claritin.com to learn more and Live Claritin Clear.HELIX SLEEP - Take the 2-minute sleep quiz and they'll match you to a customized mattress that'll give you the best sleep of your life. Visit helixsleep.com/sleep for up to $200 off and 2 free pillows! ODOO - Simplify and connect every aspect of your company with this easy-to-use, all-in-one management platform software. Learn more at www.odoo.com/withme AIR DOCTOR PRO - Get a professional air purifier with a medical-grade UltraHEPA filter that's 100x more effective than ordinary HEPA filters. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code SLEEP for up to $300 off!ZOCDOC - With Zocdoc, you can search for local doctors who take your insurance, read verified patient reviews and book an appointment, in-person or video chat. Download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE at zocdoc.com/sleep PROGRESSIVE - With the Name Your Price tool, you tell Progressive how much you want to pay for car insurance, and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Get your quote today at progressive.com
With the U.S. election swiftly approaching, the political divide can feel overwhelming. But what happens when we recognize the limits of our knowledge? Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/83a5wbkp Episode SummaryWhen we internally acknowledge the limits of our knowledge, we create space to engage with other points of view. Allowing new perspectives in can help us better assess arguments, and decrease hubris. We will hear from psychologists Tania Israel and Daryl Van Tongeren about embracing opinions different from our own.How To Do This PracticeReflect on an issue you feel strongly about. Ask yourself the following questions when listening to someone's opinion that differs from your own: How can other people help me to develop a broader or deeper understanding of this topic? Whose story isn't being told here? What's the perspective I'm not seeing? Check in with yourself as you're reading the news, are you just saying, “I agree with that perspective” or are there moments in which you can say, “This challenges me.” This episode was supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation, as part of our project on “Expanding Awareness of the Science of Intellectual Humility.” To learn more, go to ggsc.berkeley.edu/ih.Today's guests: Our guest host today is Allison Briscoe-Smith, a psychologist and Senior Fellow at The Greater Good Science Center.Tania Israel is a psychology professor at UC Santa Barbara and author of the new book Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation.Daryl Van Tongeren is a psychology professor at Hope College and author of the book Humble: Free Yourself from the Traps of a Narcissistic World. Learn more about Allison Briscoe-Smith: https://tinyurl.com/p3eexvkf Take BerkeleyX: Bridging Differences by Allison Briscoe-Smith: https://tinyurl.com/58z9vmvb Read Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation, by Tania Israel: https://tinyurl.com/yeyw7k6j Read Humble: Free Yourself from the Traps of a Narcissistic World, by Daryl Van Tongeren: https://www.darylvantongeren.com/books Science of Happiness Episodes like this one:A Way to Make Work More Meaningful: https://tinyurl.com/mtpay9jwThe Questions to Ask Yourself in an Argument: https://tinyurl.com/3uajhp4tWhen It's Hard to Connect, Try Being Curious: https://tinyurl.com/nhzj52vcMaking Difficult Interactions More Respectful: https://tinyurl.com/bddafcrwHappiness Break Related Episodes:A Meditation For Connecting In Polarized Times, With Scott Shigeoka: https://tinyurl.com/y6e4vdsdDirect message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. You can also e-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap
Using modern tools to support inner transformation, ServiceSpace founder Nipun Mehta offers innovative solutions for turning artificial intelligence into collective heart intelligence.Learn more about ServiceSpace's unique model of organizing small acts of service at servicespace.org.In this episode, Nipun and Raghu chat about: Nipun's upbringing and finding the infinity behind each momentLiving a life of serviceUsing artificial intelligence for inner transformation and the emergence of compassionFear of AI versus it's potential positive usesCollective heart Intelligence versus today's artificial intelligenceTaking care of others as others take care of youNipun and his wife's pilgrimage through IndiaLooking at what we can do to offer kindness to the worldBeing sustainable through being relatedThe physical and emotional rewards of being generousShifting from transaction into relationshipAbout Nipun Mehta:Nipun Mehta is the founder of ServiceSpace (formerly CharityFocus), an incubator of projects that works at the intersection of volunteerism, technology, and the gift economy. What started as an experiment with four friends in Silicon Valley has now grown to a global ecosystem of over 400,000 members that has delivered millions of dollars in service for free. Mehta has received many awards, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service, the President's Volunteer Service Award, and Wavy Gravy's Humanitarian award. He serves on the advisory boards of the Seva Foundation, the Dalai Lama Foundation, and the Greater Good Science Center. Check out some of Nipun's TedTalks HERE and HERE.“Can we bring in this vision, this intention, this possibility? Can our modern tools support our inner transformation, which then can out of a heart of service flow out into the world through a very different design pattern?” – Nipun MehtaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
There's a scene toward the end of the new Pixar film Inside Out 2 where the main character, 13-year-old Riley, is having a panic attack in the penalty box at a hockey match. She's just been reprimanded for tripping an opponent in frustration. On the outside, she's seen sitting in the small space while grasping at her chest and neck, breathing in and out, faster and faster. On the inside, the character Anxiety, one of Riley's newest emotions, is spinning in a glitchy loop at her brain's control board. After a few moments, Riley slowly begins to notice and reconnect with the world around her. Her panic subsides, her breathing steadies and she centers herself.It's a gripping illustration of a common (and terrifying) experience, and a reminder for teens and parents alike that there's nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to anxiety. For experts who consulted on Inside Out 2, normalizing the emotion was part of the goal.“You have so much pressure on young people to be perfectionistic and excel in everything,” said UC Berkeley psychology professor Dacher Keltner, who consulted on how to convey and understand emotions in the film. “Panic and anxiety, those are part of our evolutionary design. They have their point. They can get excessive, of course, but just to be there and to have a language, to let the child know they're not alone, that these are common reactions, is such a powerful [message].”In Berkeley Talks episode 206, Keltner joins a panel of others who worked on Inside Out 2 — clinical psychologist Lisa Damour, who served as a scientific consultant on the film with Keltner, and the film's lead editor, Maurissa Horwitz. Together, they discuss the unique pressures that teenagers face, the science behind emotions, and how all of them, even the most uncomfortable, have a purpose.“I felt like I was learning more about my adolescent self as I worked on this movie,” said Horwitz. “I think being able to really name those emotions that come up during this period … and knowing that there's that amount of growth and reworking going on physically inside [your brain], it's just a great thing to be aware of as a touchstone.”“I'm hearing that conversations are happening in families, whether it's around anxiety or self-talk,” she continued, “and that parents and families are feeling seen by this movie and relate to it so much. It's really incredible to be a part of that.” This July 2024 conversation was moderated by Allison Briscoe-Smith, a child clinical psychologist and a senior fellow at Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, where Keltner is the faculty director.Listen to the episode and read the transcript on Berkeley News (news.berkeley.edu/podcasts).Music by Blue Dot Sessions.Screenshot from Inside Out 2. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Take a moment to appreciate the beauty and vastness of the sky. Dacher Keltner guides us through a practice of pausing to turn your gaze to the sky as a pathway to awe, creativity and wonder.Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yc5xfwp4Practice: Go someplace where you feel safe and also have a nice view of the sky. First, focus on your breathing. Take a few slow inhales and even slower exhales. As you breathe in and out, relax your shoulders, your hands, and your face. On the next breath in, look up at the sky. Notice how vast it is. Breathing naturally, notice everything you can about the sky. What colors are present? Are there any clouds? Do you see any gradation of light? Expand your gaze to get the fullest view and sense of the sky that you can. Spend a few moments taking it in. On the final deep breaths in and out, reflect on how doing this practice has made you feel. Today's Happiness Break host:Dacher Keltner is the host of the Greater Good Science Center's award-winning podcast, The Science of Happiness and is a co-instructor of the GGSC's popular online course of the same name. He's also the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center and a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.Check out Dacher's most recent book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life: https://tinyurl.com/4j4hcvyt Resources from The Greater Good Science Center:Why we Should Look up at the Sky (Podcast): https://tinyurl.com/fn3bttw6Six Ways to Incorporate Awe into Your Daily Life: https://tinyurl.com/3j5hdtj7How to Choose a Type of Mindfulness Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/py6b729hHow Nature Can Make You Kinder, Happier, and More Creative: https://tinyurl.com/2fmpdpkjWhy is Nature so Good For Your Mental Health? https://tinyurl.com/23zavth3Tell us about your experiences with wildlife! Leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. You can also e-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Help us share The Science of Happiness!Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap
Just a few moments of tuning into nature can make you feel more inspired, connected, and less lonely. Let us guide you through a five-minute noticing nature practice — you don't even have to leave your neighborhood.Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/aj34s585How to Do This Practice: Find somewhere where you can focus on the natural environment, like your backyard. Take a few slow, deep breaths. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Notice your belly and chest rise and fall as you breathe. Note the physical sensations of your breath. If you closed your eyes, open them. Let your breath fall into its natural rhythm. Look around you and let your eyes wander slowly through your surroundings: the plants, animals, and bugs. Let yourself be curious about anything that catches your eye and moves you. Rest your awareness there. Pause to appreciate it, and let it hold your attention for a few moments. Turn your awareness to your emotions. How are you feeling? When something you see evokes an emotion, take a mental photo of it. What about it captivated you? What did it make you feel? Write that down in just a few words or sentences, or make a mental note of it. Let your gaze wander again whenever you're ready, repeating these steps. Today's Happiness Break host:Dacher Keltner is the host of the Greater Good Science Center's award-winning podcast, The Science of Happiness and is a co-instructor of the GGSC's popular online course of the same name. He's also the founding director of the GGSC and a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.If you enjoyed this Happiness Break, you may also like these Happiness Breaks:Feeling the Awe of Nature From Anywhere, With Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/y4mm4wu9How to Ground Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/2wv69kwsCheck out these episodes of The Science of Happiness Walk Outside with Inside Out's Pete Docter: https://tinyurl.com/23vpuj8jWhy We Should Look up at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/mpn9vj2tHow Birdsong Can Help Your Mental Health: https://tinyurl.com/3tey4rb5Tell us about your nature experience! Direct message us or leave a comment on Instagram @scienceofhappinesspod. You can also e-mail us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Help us share The Science of Happiness!Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap
Hanson encourages us toward the upper reaches of our human potential as he reveals, in detail, the 7 practices: steadiness, lovingness, fullness, wholeness, nowness, allness, and timelessness and helps us to be clear, strong, centered, and stable no matter what's swirling around us (like a ninja warrior) with these practices. Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a psychologist with a deep interest in neuroscience and mindfulness. He is a senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California Berkeley and creator of the year-long course The Foundations of Well-Being. He is the author of many books including Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (New Harbinger 2009); Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time (New Harbinger 2011), Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (Harmony Books 2013), Meditations to Change Your Brain - CD Set (Sounds True 2009), Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength and Happiness (Harmony Books 2018) and NeuroDharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of the Highest Happiness (Harmony Books 2020)Interview Date: 2/24/2020 Tags: Rick Hanson, nervous system, four noble truths, suffering, spiritual bypassing, brain science, negative bias, cortisol, conscious evolution, common truth, common welfare, common justice, Steadiness, lovingness, fullness, wholeness, nowness, allness, timelessness, eddy in a river, Śūnyatā, emptiness, illusion, Yosemite, El Capitan, ever-unfolding edge of universe, helpless outrage, emergent edge, Dalai Lama, bodyguard, Buddhism, Meditation,Personal Transformation, science
In the Oscar-winning animated movie “Inside Out,” emotions like joy, anger and sadness populate the brain of 11-year-old Riley, the film's heroine. In the sequel, “Inside Out 2,” Riley is now a teen, and the emotions running headquarters have to make room for new feelings…. Hello, anxiety! Pixar's Pete Docter joins us to talk about the movie. Guests: Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer, Pixar - He directed "Inside Out," which won the 2016 Oscar for Best Animated Feature. He also directed "Monsters, Inc." and Oscar winners "Soul" and Up." He was the third animator to be brought on board at Pixar. Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley - He served as a consultant on the Pixar film, "Inside Out 2". Keltner is the author of "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." Riya Richardson, member of "Riley's Crew," the group of teen girls who served as consultants to the movie "Inside Out 2"
Experiencing awe can help us slow down and connect to the world around us. So how can we harness the power of this feeling? Host Dacher Keltner leads us in a colorful meditation to bring about awe. Link to episode transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3e9cyky5Practice: Please find a space, either inside or outside, where you can take a moment and pause and look slowly at a scene in front of you. Settle into a pattern of deep breathing and ease. Really focusing on how that pattern of inhalation and exhalation relaxes your body and slows your heart rate down. Now cast your gaze over the space around you. Take in what you see in the scene in front of you. You may shift your attention to colors present in the things around you or step back and get a sense of the scene in a more holistic way. Notice the variations and differences in the various colors in your visual field. What feelings do the colors evoke in you? Now, gently close and then open your eyes and notice how you feel. Today's guests:Dacher Keltner is the host of the Greater Good Science Center's award-winning podcast, The Science of Happiness and is a co-instructor of the GGSC's popular online course of the same name. He's also the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center and a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.More episodes like this one:How Awe Brings Us Togetherhttps://tinyurl.com/bdhy4sj5How Music Evokes Awehttps://tinyurl.com/mpkww4j9Happiness Break: Awe for Others, With Dacherhttps://tinyurl.com/3ptwh66jFeeling the Awe of Nature from Anywhere, with Dacher Keltnerhttps://tinyurl.com/4r7rjaxfWe love hearing from you! Tell us what brings you feelings of awe. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/6s39rzusHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapRate us on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/6s39rzus
Melissa McFadden always saw police officers as protectors. But when she became an officer, she found herself with almost no one to protect her.This episode contains strong language, sensitive listeners please be advised. Thank you, Lt. McFadden for sharing your story with us! Check out McFadden's book: Walking the Thin Black LineFunding for this episode was provided by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, as part of its "Expanding Awareness of the Science of Intellectual Humility" initiative, supported by the John Templeton Foundation. Produced by Anna Sussman, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo DucotSeason 15 - Episode 16
How can you cultivate more awe into your daily life? On the spectrum of emotion, awe is probably one of the most elusive and misunderstood. It's easy to feel awe when you encounter the wonders of nature, a piece of powerful music or art, or have a deeply spiritual experience. But is it possible to create and embrace a sense of awe in your everyday life? I'm excited to welcome Dacher Keltner to the show today. Dacher is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, the founder and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center, and a renowned expert on the science of human emotion. He's here to talk about his latest book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. When you're in a state of awe, your entire body opens up. It activates your parasympathetic system, reduces stress and inflammation, and provides incredible perspective that can improve your mental state. Listen in as Dacher talks about how important it is to embrace the wondrous feeling of awe and why you should find time for it every day. Link to Limitless Expanded Link to Kwik Success Program Link to Kwik Programs (Use code: PODCAST15) Link to Show Notes Link to Kwik Brain C.O.D.E. Quiz Link to Free Speed Reading Masterclass If you're inspired, I want to invite you to join me in my brand NEW 10-day course, specifically designed to boost your productivity. I know it sounds too good to be true, but I give you step-by-step guides using the accelerated learning model to help you get more done and achieve your goals.
Breaking down the principles, practices and tactics of conflict resolution to be shared with anyone who is struggling to reach new levels understanding with friends, family and neighbors. A very simple set of moves that just might break the tension. Reference: Bridging Differences Playbook created by the Greater Good Science Center.
In today's episode, we tackle empathy with Michael Ventura, Paul Bloom, Geoffrey Cohen, and Rick Hanson. Michael Ventura is the author of Applied Empathy: The New Language of Leadership. Paul Bloom is a professor at the University of Toronto and author of Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion. Geoffrey Cohen is a Stanford professor and author of Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides. And Rick Hanson is a psychologist and senior fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center and NYT bestselling author of Taking in the Good. How can empathy revolutionize your personal and professional relationships? Have you ever considered that empathy could be more than just understanding others' feelings? What if we told you that empathy is not just about being nice, but about wielding a deep, objective perspective that could unlock your true potential and transform your approach to social interactions? Discover how to identify your empathy archetype, why empathy is crucial in leadership, and how it can be a superpower in your interactions. Are you ready to challenge your perceptions and cultivate a skill that guarantees meaningful connections and success? What to Listen For Introduction – 0:00 What is the most common misconception about empathy? How do you develop empathy and why does it seem like so many people lack it these days? Do psychopaths have empathy? – 13:02 What do most people get wrong about empathy and sympathy? What are the 7 empathy archetypes? Forging a strong and confident brain – 19:12 How do you strengthen your brain and make it confident, and why would you want to? What tiny habit can you work on for moments each day that will enable you to build relationships with whoever you want? The approach to empathy most people avoid – 31:39 What is the most time-efficient way to maximize your empathy? What is the best way to stand up for yourself if someone says something that makes you or someone else uncomfortable? Leaders ignore this one skill to the detriment of their business – 39:31 How can leaders and team members integrate empathy into their work environment to improve dynamics and outcomes? What 15 minute exercise can you do every morning to cultivate deeper empathy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices