Podcasts about harvesting happiness

  • 27PODCASTS
  • 283EPISODES
  • 37mAVG DURATION
  • 5WEEKLY NEW EPISODES
  • May 28, 2026LATEST

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Best podcasts about harvesting happiness

Latest podcast episodes about harvesting happiness

Harvesting Happiness
The Taoist Path to Joy: Finding Flow and Freedom with Dr. Robin Wang, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 31:43


Eastern Philosophy describes a peace that is found when we fast our minds to release preconceived judgments and get out of our own way. The Taoist Philosophy of Joy teaches that when we are disharmonized with the world, we feel it physically and emotionally, becoming susceptible to being too rigid or totally submissive. But Taoism and happiness aren't just intellectual thoughts to be debated; they are our natural flow. By aligning ourselves with the natural current of existence, we naturally step into effortless living. To discuss the crossroads of Eastern philosophy and effortless living, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes Professor of Philosophy and author, Dr. Robin R. Wang, PhD. Dr. Yang describes the Taoist principles that offer a short lesson of ancient wisdom for our modern world from her acclaimed book, Yinyang: The Way of Heaven and Earth in Chinese Thought and Culture. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

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Harvesting Happiness
The Connection Crisis: Decades of Research on Friendship and Belonging with Dr. Niobe Way, PhD Part II

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 36:03


Decades of data reveal a decline in our collective capacity to see other people's perspectives. This signals a connection crisis that stretches across generations. During this friendship recession, we live in a socially starved society where indifference is considered fashionable. This trend has devolved into a social health crisis, fueling a surge in adolescent mental health issues. Ignoring our inherent emotional vulnerability, boys are taught to suppress their feelings and that feelings are invaluable and weak. To discuss the growing connection crisis, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes author and developmental psychologist, Dr. Niobe Way, PhD. Niobe shares her unique insights about how our culture can unravel the damage and foster our ability to be emotionally sensitive and emotionally regulated, so that we may move forward into a more caring society. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
The Connection Crisis: Decades of Research on Friendship and Belonging with Dr. Niobe Way, PhD Part II

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026


Decades of data reveal a decline in our collective capacity to see other people's perspectives. This signals a connection crisis that stretches across generations. During this friendship recession, we live in a socially starved society where indifference is considered fashionable. This trend has devolved into a social health crisis, fueling a surge in adolescent mental health issues. Ignoring our inherent emotional vulnerability, boys are taught to suppress their feelings and that feelings are invaluable and weak. To discuss the growing connection crisis, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes author and developmental psychologist, Dr. Niobe Way, PhD. Niobe shares her unique insights about how our culture can unravel the damage and foster our ability to be emotionally sensitive and emotionally regulated, so that we may move forward into a more caring society. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

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Harvesting Happiness
The Connection Crisis: Decades of Research on Friendship and Belonging with Dr. Niobe Way, PhD Part I

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 34:48


The modern loneliness epidemic has cast a spotlight on a profound "crisis of connection," particularly within the realm of boys' friendships research. As children grow, developmental psychology suggests a sharp decline in emotional intimacy among males, often driven by rigid masculinity norms that equate vulnerability with weakness. This cultural pressure prioritizes hard skills over soft skills, forcing many young adults into social isolation, where the biological need for companionship is sacrificed to maintain a stoic facade. To discuss the developmental psychology behind modern masculinity norms, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes author and developmental psychologist, Dr. Niobe Way, PhD. Niobe shares her foundational research that was the source of her books Rebels with a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves, and Our Culture, and the forthcoming Our Social Nature in an Anti-social Culture. She suggests that disconnecting from the softer side of being human goes against our nature and is a by-product of modern American culture. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
The Connection Crisis: Decades of Research on Friendship and Belonging with Dr. Niobe Way, PhD Part I

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026


The modern loneliness epidemic has cast a spotlight on a profound "crisis of connection," particularly within the realm of boys' friendships research. As children grow, developmental psychology suggests a sharp decline in emotional intimacy among males, often driven by rigid masculinity norms that equate vulnerability with weakness. This cultural pressure prioritizes hard skills over soft skills, forcing many young adults into social isolation, where the biological need for companionship is sacrificed to maintain a stoic facade. To discuss the developmental psychology behind modern masculinity norms, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes author and developmental psychologist, Dr. Niobe Way, PhD. Niobe shares her foundational research that was the source of her books Rebels with a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves, and Our Culture, and the forthcoming Our Social Nature in an Anti-social Culture. She suggests that disconnecting from the softer side of being human goes against our nature and is a by-product of modern American culture. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Conscious Coupling: Relationship Maintenance Tune-Up with Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026 26:38


Long-term relationships require consistent relationship maintenance and a shared commitment to making it work. By embracing conscious coupling, we take the lead on our own emotional growth, learning how to handle the messy stuff instead of sweeping it under the rug. Improving our partner communication means listening to our partners even when we want to speak. To discover tried-and-true relationship maintenance techniques, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes author and couples counselor Raffi Bilek back to the show. Raffi doubles down on his straightforward and simple strategies designed to deepen partner connection and foster conscious coupling. He shares relatable examples taken from his book, The Couples Communication Handbook: The Skills You Never Learned for the Marriage You Always Wanted. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
Conscious Coupling: Relationship Maintenance Tune-Up with Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026


Long-term relationships require consistent relationship maintenance and a shared commitment to making it work. By embracing conscious coupling, we take the lead on our own emotional growth, learning how to handle the messy stuff instead of sweeping it under the rug. Improving our partner communication means listening to our partners even when we want to speak. To discover tried-and-true relationship maintenance techniques, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes author and couples counselor Raffi Bilek back to the show. Raffi doubles down on his straightforward and simple strategies designed to deepen partner connection and foster conscious coupling. He shares relatable examples taken from his book, The Couples Communication Handbook: The Skills You Never Learned for the Marriage You Always Wanted. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Persona Fog in a Digital World: Nurturing Selfhood in an Ever-Changing Algorithm with Patricia Martin, MFA

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 41:57


We have willingly been mentally restrained by technology, daily gifting our captors the mental cuffs to keep us psychologically bound. Haven't you realized this yet? Then they already have you. While this may seem like an intriguing sci-fi movie, it is the reality of our current digital overwhelm. To break these invisible chains, we must prioritize intentional self-care and commit to nurturing selfhood in the digital age. Only by reclaiming our attention can we move from being mere data points back to being the conscious architects of our own lives. To discover the necessary process of nurturing selfhood in the digital age, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes cultural analyst, researcher, speaker, and author Patricia Martin. Patricia explores the new frontier of intermittent reinforcement that jams the human operating system, and how her book, Will the Future Like You? Reflections on the Age of Hyper-reinvention can help people prepare for what's coming next and reclaim autonomy in an AI-driven world. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
Persona Fog in a Digital World: Nurturing Selfhood in an Ever-Changing Algorithm with Patricia Martin, MFA

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026


We have willingly been mentally restrained by technology, daily gifting our captors the mental cuffs to keep us psychologically bound. Haven't you realized this yet? Then they already have you. While this may seem like an intriguing sci-fi movie, it is the reality of our current digital overwhelm. To break these invisible chains, we must prioritize intentional self-care and commit to nurturing selfhood in the digital age. Only by reclaiming our attention can we move from being mere data points back to being the conscious architects of our own lives. To discover the necessary process of nurturing selfhood in the digital age, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes cultural analyst, researcher, speaker, and author Patricia Martin. Patricia explores the new frontier of intermittent reinforcement that jams the human operating system, and how her book, Will the Future Like You? Reflections on the Age of Hyper-reinvention can help people prepare for what's coming next and reclaim autonomy in an AI-driven world. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Diversity as a Joy Practice: The Power of Inclusive Leadership with S. Leigh Thompson

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026 34:05


The power of inclusive leadership faces a significant headwind today, even though diverse perspectives are the cornerstone of societal and organizational problem-solving. By adopting a diversity joy practice, values-driven leaders foster an environment in which inclusive leadership and happiness are prioritized over homogeneous hierarchies. This alignment creates a culture where diversity and well-being result in a fulfilled, joyful workforce whose collective engagement naturally strengthens leadership and produces a better bottom line. To discover where inclusive leadership and happiness converge, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes strategist, facilitator, and consultant S. Leigh Thompson (he/they). S. Leigh Thompson explores strategies for employers and employees align with their values and embrace, acknowledge, and work with diversity, equality, and inclusion to cultivate individual and collective joy. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

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Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
Diversity as a Joy Practice: The Power of Inclusive Leadership with S. Leigh Thompson

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026


The power of inclusive leadership faces a significant headwind today, even though diverse perspectives are the cornerstone of societal and organizational problem-solving. By adopting a diversity joy practice, values-driven leaders foster an environment in which inclusive leadership and happiness are prioritized over homogeneous hierarchies. This alignment creates a culture where diversity and well-being result in a fulfilled, joyful workforce whose collective engagement naturally strengthens leadership and produces a better bottom line. To discover where inclusive leadership and happiness converge, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes strategist, facilitator, and consultant S. Leigh Thompson (he/they). S. Leigh Thompson explores strategies for employers and employees align with their values and embrace, acknowledge, and work with diversity, equality, and inclusion to cultivate individual and collective joy. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

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Harvesting Happiness
How to Release Emotional Baggage and Create Secure, Lasting Relationships with Jessica Baum, LMHC

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2026 25:36


Our earliest psychological blueprint is mediated by an attachment to a primary caregiver. We internalize their moods, attachment styles, and internal struggles to create a foundational bond. To heal this early wounding, we must operate from the right hemisphere of the brain, yet modern culture has shifted so heavily toward "left-brain" dominance, which comes at the cost of genuine intimacy. To bridge this gap and create lasting relationships, we must consciously pivot back to this relational center, allowing us to release emotional baggage inherited from infancy. By moving beyond these internalized patterns, we cultivate the emotional agility required to sustain healthy relationships in our increasingly disconnected world. To explore how to release emotional baggage, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes therapist and author Jessica Baum, LMHC, back to the program to unpack her life's work. Jessica clearly defines the four human attachment styles and the relational process to create lasting, healthy relationships. She shares core principles from her book, Safe: An Attachment-Informed Guide to Building More Secure Relationships, along with how those principles can be utilized in today's modern, often isolated world. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
How to Release Emotional Baggage and Create Secure, Lasting Relationships with Jessica Baum, LMHC

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2026


Our earliest psychological blueprint is mediated by an attachment to a primary caregiver. We internalize their moods, attachment styles, and internal struggles to create a foundational bond. To heal this early wounding, we must operate from the right hemisphere of the brain, yet modern culture has shifted so heavily toward "left-brain" dominance, which comes at the cost of genuine intimacy. To bridge this gap and create lasting relationships, we must consciously pivot back to this relational center, allowing us to release emotional baggage inherited from infancy. By moving beyond these internalized patterns, we cultivate the emotional agility required to sustain healthy relationships in our increasingly disconnected world. To explore how to release emotional baggage, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes therapist and author Jessica Baum, LMHC, back to the program to unpack her life's work. Jessica clearly defines the four human attachment styles and the relational process to create lasting, healthy relationships. She shares core principles from her book, Safe: An Attachment-Informed Guide to Building More Secure Relationships, along with how those principles can be utilized in today's modern, often isolated world. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Navigating Conflicts with Chaotic Character Types: Bill Eddy's Roadmap to Reclaiming Your Peace (Part II)

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026 30:28


Bullying is rarely about you. It is often high-conflict individuals who project their internal traumas onto others. Whether the threats are physical or verbal, the goal is to create an environment of fear and intimidation. If you've been targeted, remember that you don't have to face it alone. There are effective ways to de-escalate these situations and professional resources available to help you. To explore how to respond to a high-conflict person, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with Billy Eddy, a licensed clinical social worker, attorney, author, and co-founder and Training Director of the High-Conflict Institute. As part of his series of de-escalation techniques for relationships, Bill Eddy shares successful strategies for setting limits with toxic people and navigating high-conflict personalities, as well as self-care methods from his book, SLIC Solutions for Conflict: Setting Limits and Imposing Consequences in 2½ Steps. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
Navigating Conflicts with Chaotic Character Types: Bill Eddy's Roadmap to Reclaiming Your Peace (Part II)

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026


Bullying is rarely about you. It is often high-conflict individuals who project their internal traumas onto others. Whether the threats are physical or verbal, the goal is to create an environment of fear and intimidation. If you've been targeted, remember that you don't have to face it alone. There are effective ways to de-escalate these situations and professional resources available to help you. To explore how to respond to a high-conflict person, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with Billy Eddy, a licensed clinical social worker, attorney, author, and co-founder and Training Director of the High-Conflict Institute. As part of his series of de-escalation techniques for relationships, Bill Eddy shares successful strategies for setting limits with toxic people and navigating high-conflict personalities, as well as self-care methods from his book, SLIC Solutions for Conflict: Setting Limits and Imposing Consequences in 2½ Steps. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
The Destructive Nature of Chaotic Character Types: Bill Eddy on High Conflict Personalities (Part I)

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026 41:42


Do you know someone who claims it is never their fault or blames somebody else for all their woes, or the person who uses bullying tactics to push people into doing what they want? Research shows that ten percent of the people you come into contact with have high-conflict personalities. These chaotic character types don't just experience occasional friction; they operate through a rigid pattern of all-or-nothing thinking and intense emotional outbursts that can exhaust even the most patient allies. Understanding these toxic relationship patterns is the first step in protecting your own mental well-being. To better understand the 5 types of people who can ruin your life, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with Billy Eddy, a licensed clinical social worker, attorney, and author. Bill details the toxic relationship patterns of high-conflict personalities. Drawing on his professional experience, he highlights strategies for navigating your way through conflict and uncomfortable situations from his book, SLIC Solutions for Conflict: Setting Limits and Imposing Consequences in 2½ Steps. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
The Destructive Nature of Chaotic Character Types: Bill Eddy on High Conflict Personalities (Part I)

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026


Do you know someone who claims it is never their fault or blames somebody else for all their woes, or the person who uses bullying tactics to push people into doing what they want? Research shows that ten percent of the people you come into contact with have high-conflict personalities. These chaotic character types don't just experience occasional friction; they operate through a rigid pattern of all-or-nothing thinking and intense emotional outbursts that can exhaust even the most patient allies. Understanding these toxic relationship patterns is the first step in protecting your own mental well-being. To better understand the 5 types of people who can ruin your life, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with Billy Eddy, a licensed clinical social worker, attorney, and author. Bill details the toxic relationship patterns of high-conflict personalities. Drawing on his professional experience, he highlights strategies for navigating your way through conflict and uncomfortable situations from his book, SLIC Solutions for Conflict: Setting Limits and Imposing Consequences in 2½ Steps. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Coloring Outside the Lines: How Playfulness Leads to Life Purpose with Ross Ellenhorn, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 40:35


At the intersection of playfulness and meaning, we find the space where individuality finally transcends the institutional scripts of conformity. Replacing the fear of failure with a cultivated sense of self-efficacy fundamentally changes how we overcome intellectual challenges and reveals our unique contributions. Discovering life purpose isn't a static, one-time goal—it's a dynamic process of playfulness and expression. To explore playfulness and meaning, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with a leading voice in community-based mental health care, Dr. Ross Ellenhorn, PhD. Dr. Ellenhorn uses coloring outside the lines as a metaphor for defying conformity. The idea, originally from Harold and the Purple Crayon, encourages individuality, risk-taking, and a tight social fabric. Dr. Ellenhorn describes a “state of play” as an improvisational lifestyle. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
Coloring Outside the Lines: How Playfulness Leads to Life Purpose with Ross Ellenhorn, PhD

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026


At the intersection of playfulness and meaning, we find the space where individuality finally transcends the institutional scripts of conformity. Replacing the fear of failure with a cultivated sense of self-efficacy fundamentally changes how we overcome intellectual challenges and reveals our unique contributions. Discovering life purpose isn't a static, one-time goal—it's a dynamic process of playfulness and expression. To explore playfulness and meaning, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with a leading voice in community-based mental health care, Dr. Ross Ellenhorn, PhD. Dr. Ellenhorn uses coloring outside the lines as a metaphor for defying conformity. The idea, originally from Harold and the Purple Crayon, encourages individuality, risk-taking, and a tight social fabric. Dr. Ellenhorn describes a “state of play” as an improvisational lifestyle. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
The Perfectionist's Toolkit: Daily Practices for Psychological Flexibility with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona PsyD, Pt. 2

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 31:28


Life can feel heavy, and for most people, pain and suffering are an undeniable reality. Those caught in the grip of perfectionism and anxiety struggle to make self-honoring choices or choose self-care. Yet, when we practice self-compassion, it soothes the nervous system and allows us to build the psychological flexibility we need to thrive. To discover tips for increasing psychological flexibility to combat perfectionism, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona, PsyD, an author and licensed psychologist specializing in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Z describes the six core psychological processes from her book, Acceptance and Commitment Skills for Perfectionism and High-Achieving Behaviors. She offers contemporary concepts for formulating self-honoring choices essential for overcoming procrastination and perfectionism. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
The Perfectionist's Toolkit: Daily Practices for Psychological Flexibility with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona PsyD, Pt. 2

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026


Life can feel heavy, and for most people, pain and suffering are an undeniable reality. Those caught in the grip of perfectionism and anxiety struggle to make self-honoring choices or choose self-care. Yet, when we practice self-compassion, it soothes the nervous system and allows us to build the psychological flexibility we need to thrive. To discover tips for increasing psychological flexibility to combat perfectionism, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona, PsyD, an author and licensed psychologist specializing in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Z describes the six core psychological processes from her book, Acceptance and Commitment Skills for Perfectionism and High-Achieving Behaviors. She offers contemporary concepts for formulating self-honoring choices essential for overcoming procrastination and perfectionism. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
The High-Achiever's Guide to Psychological Flexibility with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona PsyD, Pt. 1

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 33:06


Perfectionism and anxiety trap us in an exhausting cycle that drains happiness. Life agility requires psychological flexibility: choosing actions based on values rather than reacting. Accepting discomfort frees high achievement from stress, turning it into joy. To discover how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy functions, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona, an author and licensed psychologist specializing in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Z breaks down the core practice of her book, Acceptance and Commitment Skills for Perfectionism and High-Achieving Behaviors. She explores how those struggling with anxiety and perfectionism can build the psychological flexibility needed to thrive. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
The High-Achiever's Guide to Psychological Flexibility with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona PsyD, Pt. 1

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026


Perfectionism and anxiety trap us in an exhausting cycle that drains happiness. Life agility requires psychological flexibility: choosing actions based on values rather than reacting. Accepting discomfort frees high achievement from stress, turning it into joy. To discover how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy functions, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona, an author and licensed psychologist specializing in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Z breaks down the core practice of her book, Acceptance and Commitment Skills for Perfectionism and High-Achieving Behaviors. She explores how those struggling with anxiety and perfectionism can build the psychological flexibility needed to thrive. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
The Secular Seeker's Guide to Taoism: Inner Peace Without Incense with Diane Dreher, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 32:18


Finding connection and inner peace may seem unattainable in this chaotic, complex modern world, but a centuries-old text can serve as a vital guide. By exploring the Tao, beginners and seekers can navigate the complexities of contemporary life through the lens of secular spirituality. To discover how positive psychology can help us find connection, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Diane Dreher, PhD, bestselling author of eight nonfiction books, including The Tao of Inner Peace, and an award-winning professor and positive psychology researcher on hope. Diane unpacks the central tenet of her latest book, Pathways to Inner Peace: Finding Connection, Inspiration, and Renewal in Challenging Times, and offers insights on the different types of stress, the benefits of cultivating joy and hope, and a formula for goal setting and achievement. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
The Secular Seeker's Guide to Taoism: Inner Peace Without Incense with Diane Dreher, PhD

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026


Finding connection and inner peace may seem unattainable in this chaotic, complex modern world, but a centuries-old text can serve as a vital guide. By exploring the Tao, beginners and seekers can navigate the complexities of contemporary life through the lens of secular spirituality. To discover how positive psychology can help us find connection, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Diane Dreher, PhD, bestselling author of eight nonfiction books, including The Tao of Inner Peace, and an award-winning professor and positive psychology researcher on hope. Diane unpacks the central tenet of her latest book, Pathways to Inner Peace: Finding Connection, Inspiration, and Renewal in Challenging Times, and offers insights on the different types of stress, the benefits of cultivating joy and hope, and a formula for goal setting and achievement. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
From Algorithms to Intimacy: AI and Mating in the Digital Age with Dr. Justin Garcia, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 39:31


*This is part-two of a two-part conversation Recent Kinsey Institute research highlights that nearly half of single Gen Z adults now utilize algorithms to optimize their online dating profiles. Yet, they say it erodes their trust if they discover the other person uses it too. This paradox reveals a growing tension in the science of love and relationships: while we crave the efficiency of technology, we remain biologically wired for raw, uncurated vulnerability. **This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature audiences. To discover what lies ahead in the future of dating, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Justin R. Garcia, an award-winning researcher, educator, and Executive Director of Kinsey Institute Research. Justin continues the conversation with staggering statistics about AI usage in dating apps, expectations of Gen Z'ers when it comes to courtship, and the erosion of trust and transparency in the digital age. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
From Algorithms to Intimacy: AI and Mating in the Digital Age with Dr. Justin Garcia, PhD

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026


*This is part-two of a two-part conversation Recent Kinsey Institute research highlights that nearly half of single Gen Z adults now utilize algorithms to optimize their online dating profiles. Yet, they say it erodes their trust if they discover the other person uses it too. This paradox reveals a growing tension in the science of love and relationships: while we crave the efficiency of technology, we remain biologically wired for raw, uncurated vulnerability. **This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature audiences. To discover what lies ahead in the future of dating, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Justin R. Garcia, an award-winning researcher, educator, and Executive Director of Kinsey Institute Research. Justin continues the conversation with staggering statistics about AI usage in dating apps, expectations of Gen Z'ers when it comes to courtship, and the erosion of trust and transparency in the digital age. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
The Biology of Bonding: Understanding Human Sexuality with Dr. Justin Garcia, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 40:01


In the field of human sexuality, understanding the bridge between primal drive and complex affection is a central challenge. While sex functions as a biological imperative for species survival, the science of love and relationships reveals that modern intimacy is actually a precarious cocktail of physical, cultural, and psychological factors. Despite this complexity, Kinsey Institute Research suggests we are hardwired to pursue these connections; the powerful dopamine payoff acts as a neurological engine, urging us past the hurdles of modern dating toward connection. TTo better understand sex, love, and the future of dating, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Justin R. Garcia, an award-winning researcher, educator, and Executive Director of Kinsey Institute Research. In the first part of this conversation, Justin unpacks the provocative research behind his book, The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love. He candidly discusses compulsive sexual behaviors, unique challenges associated with polyamory, and the enduring benefits of coupledom. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
The Biology of Bonding: Understanding Human Sexuality with Dr. Justin Garcia, PhD

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026


*This is part one of a two-part conversation In the field of human sexuality, understanding the bridge between primal drive and complex affection is a central challenge. While sex functions as a biological imperative for species survival, the science of love and relationships reveals that modern intimacy is actually a precarious cocktail of physical, cultural, and psychological factors. Despite this complexity, Kinsey Institute Research suggests we are hardwired to pursue these connections; the powerful dopamine payoff acts as a neurological engine, urging us past the hurdles of modern dating toward connection. **This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature audiences. TTo better understand sex, love, and the future of dating, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Justin R. Garcia, an award-winning researcher, educator, and Executive Director of Kinsey Institute Research. In the first part of this conversation, Justin unpacks the provocative research behind his book, The Intimate Animal: The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love. He candidly discusses compulsive sexual behaviors, unique challenges associated with polyamory, and the enduring benefits of coupledom. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
In Sickness and In Health: Exploring America's Caregiving Crisis with Dr. Laura Mauldin, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 33:56


Sixty percent of American adults live with a chronic illness. Consequently, upwards of 53 million adults have assumed uncompensated caregiving roles—frequently alongside existing professional and personal obligations. As these demands intensify, the absence of mental health infrastructure and the persistence of social devaluation lead many toward the brink of caregiver burnout and compassion fatigue. To better understand the state of spousal caregiver mental health, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Laura Mauldin, PhD, an Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry at the University of Connecticut Laura draws from personal experience and years of research to share statistics and real-life examples of caregivers who find themselves at the intersection of their responsibilities and their human needs. Her book offers insights into those who provide essential support to those they love during a time of anti-ableism. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
In Sickness and In Health: Exploring America's Caregiving Crisis with Dr. Laura Mauldin, PhD

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026


Sixty percent of American adults live with a chronic illness. Consequently, upwards of 53 million adults have assumed uncompensated caregiving roles—frequently alongside existing professional and personal obligations. As these demands intensify, the absence of mental health infrastructure and the persistence of social devaluation lead many toward the brink of caregiver burnout and compassion fatigue. To better understand the state of spousal caregiver mental health, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Laura Mauldin, PhD, an Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry at the University of Connecticut Laura draws from personal experience and years of research to share statistics and real-life examples of caregivers who find themselves at the intersection of their responsibilities and their human needs. Her book offers insights into those who provide essential support to those they love during a time of anti-ableism. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Real Talk: How to Keep Your Relationship Thriving with Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026 31:05


Healthy relationships are not accidental; they are built on the foundational belief that we carry a personal responsibility to be our best selves. To keep a relationship thriving, we must develop the emotional vocabulary to process our discomfort. Real talk in partnership communications can help us translate our internal world to our partners, thereby boosting their understanding of what we are trying to convey. For communication tips for how to keep a relationship thriving, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Raffi Bilek, a licensed clinical social worker who helps couples hone their communication skills. Raffi breaks down four essential communication skills for couples, offering a roadmap for fighting fair and using real talk in partnership communication to become better partners. By clearing the path to simple, straightforward conversation, he challenges conventional wisdom with a liberating truth: it's actually okay to go to bed angry. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
Real Talk: How to Keep Your Relationship Thriving with Raffi Bilek, LCSW-C

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026


Healthy relationships are not accidental; they are built on the foundational belief that we carry a personal responsibility to be our best selves. To keep a relationship thriving, we must develop the emotional vocabulary to process our discomfort. Real talk in partnership communications can help us translate our internal world to our partners, thereby boosting their understanding of what we are trying to convey. For communication tips for how to keep a relationship thriving, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Raffi Bilek, a licensed clinical social worker who helps couples hone their communication skills. Raffi breaks down four essential communication skills for couples, offering a roadmap for fighting fair and using real talk in partnership communication to become better partners. By clearing the path to simple, straightforward conversation, he challenges conventional wisdom with a liberating truth: it's actually okay to go to bed angry. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
From Trauma to Triumph: How Post-Traumatic Growth Restores Happiness and Resilience After Life's Adversity with MC McDonald, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026 35:58


Adversity and grief are universal aspects of life. Most of us will encounter a form of trauma that triggers a survival response, anchoring the mind in past pain. However, this physiological loop does not have to be a life sentence. By cultivating resilience, we can navigate through the overwhelm and move toward post-traumatic growth, where it is possible to rediscover a profound sense of happiness and joy. To reframe how we think about trauma and post-traumatic growth, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with MC McDonald, a research professor and life coach specializing in trauma psychology and philosophy. MC describes the physiological survival mechanisms at the core of the body's trauma response and the benefits of post-traumatic growth. She offers insights about the in-depth research that is the foundation of her book, The Joy Reset: Six Ways Trauma Steals Happiness and How to Win It Back. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
From Trauma to Triumph: How Post-Traumatic Growth Restores Happiness and Resilience After Life's Adversity with MC McDonald, PhD

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026


Adversity and grief are universal aspects of life. Most of us will encounter a form of trauma that triggers a survival response, anchoring the mind in past pain. However, this physiological loop does not have to be a life sentence. By cultivating resilience, we can navigate through the overwhelm and move toward post-traumatic growth, where it is possible to rediscover a profound sense of happiness and joy. To reframe how we think about trauma and post-traumatic growth, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with MC McDonald, a research professor and life coach specializing in trauma psychology and philosophy. MC describes the physiological survival mechanisms at the core of the body's trauma response and the benefits of post-traumatic growth. She offers insights about the in-depth research that is the foundation of her book, The Joy Reset: Six Ways Trauma Steals Happiness and How to Win It Back. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
From People-Pleasing to Purpose-Driven: Breaking Love Addiction Patterns to Build Authentic Leadership and Self-Worth with Britt Frank, LCSW

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026 34:56


Through purpose-driven, self-honoring choices, we can reclaim our autonomy and replace old love addiction patterns with the self-love we truly crave and deserve. Empowering ourselves with the gift of a solid foundation, we build a life that's defined by our own rules, not someone else's. To unsheath the sword that slays people-pleasing and love addiction patterns, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Britt Frank, a clinician, speaker, and trauma specialist, and the author of The Science of Stuck. Britt describes a powerful approach to taming the inner critic and ending the cycle of people-pleasing. She shares strategies from her corporate work to describe the purpose-driven process of gaining authentic leadership over doubt about our self-worth. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
From People-Pleasing to Purpose-Driven: Breaking Love Addiction Patterns to Build Authentic Leadership and Self-Worth with Britt Frank, LCSW

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026


Through purpose-driven, self-honoring choices, we can reclaim our autonomy and replace old love addiction patterns with the self-love we truly crave and deserve. Empowering ourselves with the gift of a solid foundation, we build a life that's defined by our own rules, not someone else's. To unsheath the sword that slays people-pleasing and love addiction patterns, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Britt Frank, a clinician, speaker, and trauma specialist, and the author of The Science of Stuck. Britt describes a powerful approach to taming the inner critic and ending the cycle of people-pleasing. She shares strategies from her corporate work to describe the purpose-driven process of gaining authentic leadership over doubt about our self-worth. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Intelligent Communication Skills: How to Listen Better with Haru Yamada, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 38:02


Listening is a profound gift that honors both the speaker and the observer. By understanding our individual communication style, we offer others validation and sharpen our communication skills. This commitment to intelligent communication builds deeper trust and serves as a gift to ourselves. Learning how to listen better expands our perspective and fosters genuine connection. To gain a deeper understanding of how to listen better, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Haru Yamada, a sociolinguistics researcher and a writer with a PhD from Georgetown University. Haru describes the physical and contextual differences between hearing and listening, and the intricacies of listener-led cultures and speaker-led cultures. From her book, Kiku: The Japanese Art of Good Listening, Haru offers strategies for creating stronger personal relationships by strengthening our listening muscles.. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Nihilism vs. Existentialism: Is Life Meaningless or Full of Purpose? with Mark Fabian PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 30:04


Cultivating happiness requires an active investment, yet some believe true personal growth only follows a "dark night of the soul." By navigating the tension between nihilism and existentialism, we transform an existential crisis into a search for fulfillment. Is discovering the meaning of life an individual pursuit, or is metaphysical life devoid of a moral truth? For a thoughtful exploration of meaning, happiness, and the human search for fulfillment, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with public policy professor, author, and thought leader in the science of wellbeing, Dr. Mark Fabian. Mark describes the existence of nihilism and existentialism within the social and political spectrum as well as the key differences in how they translate into happiness and personal growth. He highlights the beneficial effects of being of use in one's community. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Joy and Hopefulness in Difficult Times: Positive Political Action from The Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 27:50


When we agree to practice joy through community, connection, and belonging in its own powerful way, it is an act of defiance to what's going on around us. We must ask ourselves, particularly in these difficult times, what we are fighting for? We fight for a meaningful world that yields joy. This commitment to fostering shared happiness becomes the ultimate evidence of resilience and a deeply healing public force. To discover how to find joy and hopefulness in difficult times, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with Roger Berkowitz, Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College and coordinator of the upcoming JOY: Loving the World in Dark Times conference.. Roger shares his intentions for the JOY: Loving the World in Dark Times conference, which are rooted in Hannah Arendt's philosophy that freedom is not a private endeavor but is best found in the public sphere. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Loving the World in Dark Times: Fearless Thinking from the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2025 34:02


Current research indicates that despite unprecedented levels of global connectivity, societies are experiencing an unparalleled state of metaphysical loneliness. This condition is a potent catalyst for political instability, making populations vulnerable to authoritarian and separatist movements. Political theorists explore the implications for democratic governance and social cohesion through Hannah Arendt's freedom theory. To discover how to recover joy in a loving world, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Roger Berkowitz, Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. Roger shares what led him to Bard College and Hannah Arendt. And how one of the most read political thinkers of the twentieth century might interpret freedom in today's political landscape. His forthcoming book, A World We Share: The Power of Friendship in a Time Without Truth, is scheduled for release in 2026. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Building Secure Attachment: Healing Emotional Baggage for Healthier Relationships with Jessica Baum, LMHC

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2025 39:50


Connection to others is our emotional lifeblood. The quality of our earliest connection determines how safe we feel in our bodies and how safe and secure we feel in the world. Healing emotional baggage is a crucial first step in fostering a secure attachment and achieving relationship healing, but we can not do it alone. It is only in relationship that we can heal relationship trauma. How do we hold compassionate space for people when we are also suffering? To explore how to heal imposed emotional baggage, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with therapist and author Jessica Baum, LMHC. Jessica offers a step-by-step scientific approach to healing emotional baggage and describes how we develop adaptive strategies to maintain connection and protectors to guard from what is out of our control. This episode is proudly sponsored by: Aura Frames — Offers the world's smartest digital picture frame. An easy and beautiful solution to instantly frame photos from your smartphone. Visit https://auraframes.com/ and use promo code HHTR at checkout to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Happiness Factor: Keys to Unlocking a Satisfying Life with Paul Ollinger

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 35:39


Achievable contentment isn't found by relentlessly chasing some massive, shimmering happiness jackpot; it's a series of practical keys you turn every day. A proven factor in unlocking a satisfying life is to prioritize experiences that warm the soul and provide comfort, whether it's savoring small positive moments or a rich life encounter, which beautifully illustrates that true wealth is found in connection and meaning, rather than buying a better widget. To explore the happiness factor, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a former Facebook executive turned comedian and podcast host, Paul Ollinger. Paul shares thought-provoking excerpts from the interviews that fueled his book, Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work and Other Things that Piss Me Off. This episode is proudly sponsored by: Cozy Earth — Offers luxury loungewear, premium pajamas, and essential home goods. Visit http://cozyearth.com// and use promo code HHTR to get up to 40% off your order. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
The Loneliness Epidemic: Cultivating Self-Love with Dr. Margaret Paul, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 32:55


Feeling alone in a crowded room is a hallmark of today's loneliness epidemic, proving that company alone isn't the answer. Healing loneliness starts by looking inward rather than outward. By cultivating self-love, you nurture the most important relationship of all—the one with yourself—which naturally leads to genuine contentment and stronger bonds with the people around you. To explore the deep-rooted aspects of the loneliness epidemic, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with bestselling author, relationship expert, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding® self-healing process, Dr. Margaret Paul. Margaret discusses how her 6-step Inner Bonding process leads to healing the soul and creates deeper bonds with ourselves and within our closest relationships. This episode is proudly sponsored by: Signos — Offers the world's first FDA-cleared AI-driven app and CGM for weight management and wellness that turns data into lasting habits for better health. Visit https://signos.com/ and use promo code HHTR to get $10 off select plans. Like what you're hearing? WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Harvesting Happiness
Communication Fix: Relationship Skills for Better Conversations and a Happy Life with Patricia Timerman Barbosa da Silva, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2025 43:27


Cultural differences profoundly impact our ability to communicate in relationships, often leading to misunderstandings when interpreting nonverbal cues, directness of speech, or emotional expression. To have better conversations and foster a happy life, it's crucial to cultivate strong communication skills. To explore communication strategies to cultivate deeper relationships, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Patricia Timerman Barbosa da Silva, aka Dr. T, a psychotherapist, author, and founder of Advocate2Create. Dr. T shares communication strategies from her book, Why Are We Fighting?, and explains how her IAP and preamble models empower people to have better conversations and strengthen their relationships.This episode is proudly sponsored by:Nature's Sunshine—Offers modern herbal supplements backed by science and harvested from the earth. Visit https://www.naturessunshine.com/ and use promo code HHTR to get 20% off + free shipping on your 1st order.and Cozy Earth—Offers luxury loungewear, premium pajamas, and essential home goods. Visit http://cozyearth.com/and use promo code HHTR to get up to 40% off your order. Like what you're hearing?WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Harvesting Happiness
The Altruistic Brain: Architecture of Connection and Community Amid Chaos with Nicole Karlis

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2025 33:01


Research studies reveal there are neurological, emotional, and physical rewards to acts of altruism. We experience awe, most often, when we witness acts of human kindness, no matter how small. Volunteering offers a powerful antidote to modern societal chaos by redirecting focus toward a shared, positive purpose, thereby strengthening the bonds of community.To explore the ways self-care can become other-care, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Nicole Karlis, a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and a senior writer at Salon covering health, science, and wellness. Nicole explains the neuroscience of altruism and how we can create a ‘culture of caring', which are central tenets in her book, YOUR BRAIN ON ALTRUISM: The Power of Connection and Community during Times of Crisis. This episode is proudly sponsored by: OneSkin —Offers longevity-focused skincare products designed to target skin health at the cellular level. Visit www.oneskin.co and use promo code HHTR to get 15% off your order. Like what you're hearing?WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Harvesting Happiness
Well-Being and Post-COVID Recovery: Exploring U.S. Consumer Pessimism Amid Economic Growth with Carol Graham, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2025 38:05


Well-being science reveals that, despite signs of economic growth during the post-COVID recovery, a widespread "vibecession" phenomenon of U.S. consumer pessimism persists. This challenges the traditional economic assumption that increased discretionary income automatically translates into higher national happiness. To explore well-being science, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Carol Graham, a senior scientist at Gallup, an author, and a senior fellow in the Economic Studies program at Brookings. Carol discusses the lack of civic and economic education in the US and how that affects vulnerable populations. She also presents statistics on the decline of mental health and wellness among US teens and how a loss of hope contributes to consumer pessimism.This episode is proudly sponsored by:Calm—Offers the #1 app for sleep and meditation. Download Calm and find a place made just for you to rest. Visit Calm.com/HHTR Listeners get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription. and LEAN—Offers clinically formulated weight management blended with ingredients that support metabolism, appetite control, and healthy fat utilization. Visit http://takelean.com/ and use promo code HHTR to get 20% off your order. and Signos—Offers the world's first FDA-cleared AI-driven app and CGM for weight management and wellness that turns data into lasting habits for better health. Visit Signos.com and use promo code HHTR to get $10 off select plans. Like what you're hearing?WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Harvesting Happiness
Public Perception: The Psychology Behind Public Acceptance of Misinformation & Political Rumors with Adam Berinsky, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2025 53:13


Misinformation is aggressively injected into the information ecosystem, and it is readily consumed and adopted by those who are too busy to fully pay attention, leveraging cognitive bias in a distracted society. This media manipulation is often fueled by financial incentives, rewarding so-called experts who deliver false narratives in entertaining and engaging ways. This weighs the heaviest on society when politicians can't agree on policy because they can't agree on facts. To search for the tools of truth, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Adam Berinsky, author and the Mitsui Professor of Political Science at MIT. Adam dissects the psychology of misinformation, by examining those who create it with malicious intent, the villains who disseminate it for profit, and the audience most likely to adopt it without question. This episode is proudly sponsored by:Signos—Offers the world's first FDA-cleared AI-driven app and CGM for weight management and wellness that turns data into lasting habits for better health. Visit Signos.com and use promo code HHTR to get $10 off select plans. Like what you're hearing?WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Harvesting Happiness
How Memory Works: The Science of Information Processing and Recall with Gillian Murphy, PhD

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2025 48:26


Many people liken recalling memories to accessing mental filing cabinets, but our memories are actually more disjointed. Memory science defines how memory works as a dynamic form of complex information processing, which relies on active reconstruction rather than simple retrieval. This reality means human recall is intrinsically malleable, making memories susceptible to suggestion, challenging its role in defining personal identity, and underscoring the necessity of protecting against the science of misinformation. To discover ways to use memories to cultivate a happy life, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Gillian Murphy, leader of the Everyday Cognition Lab at the School of Applied Psychology at University College Cork. Gillian explains how memory works, the science of information processing, recall, and the risks and benefits associated with trauma therapy. Her book, Memory Lane: The Perfectly Imperfect Ways We Remember, describes the malleability and vulnerability of human memory. This episode is proudly sponsored by:Nature's Sunshine—Offers modern herbal supplements backed by science and harvested from the earth. Visit https://www.naturessunshine.com/ and use promo code HHTR to get 20% off + free shipping on your 1st order. andCalm—Offers the #1 app for sleep and meditation. Download Calm and find a place made just for you to rest. Visit Calm.com/HHTR Listeners get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription. Like what you're hearing?WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Harvesting Happiness
Reawakening Sexuality After Trauma: Healing, Recovery, and Sober Sex for Survivors with Stephanie Covington, PhD, LCSW, and Vanessa Carlisle, PhD, MFA

Harvesting Happiness

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025 54:55


In the journey toward healing, survivors often find that intentional practices like sober sex foster a deeper emotional and physical intimacy, essential for their trauma recovery. This emphasis on connection stands in stark contrast to much mainstream sexual messaging, which frequently excludes the necessary emotional components for true sexual well-being. Development of safe relationships is threatened when media and politics overstep their bounds, making autonomous sexual expression and recovery a constant social and personal endeavor.*This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature listeners.. To lay the foundation for how intimacy is the cornerstone of sexual wellbeing, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors and experts in trauma and sexuality, Dr. Stephanie Covington and Dr. Vanessa Carlisle. Discussing their co-authored book, Awaken Your Sexuality: A Guide to Connection and Intimacy after Addiction and Trauma, Dr. Covington and Dr. Carlisle explore its core principles from various viewpoints. In the book, they examine the diverse facets of human sexuality, including the issues of entitlement and control that frequently surround it. This episode is proudly sponsored by:CB Distillery—Offers natural and convenient CBD gummies and other plant-powered remedies. Visit http://cbdistillery.com/ and use promo code HHTR to get 25% off your order.and OneSkin—Offers longevity-focused skincare products designed to target skin health at the cellular level. Visit http://oneskin.cond use promo code HHTR to get 15% off your order. Like what you're hearing?WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.