Podcast appearances and mentions of mike rucker

This week, we are happy to welcome Mike Rucker to The Hamilton Review Podcast.  In this conversation, Mike discusses his book, "The Fun Habit: How The Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life." The Fun Habit is an action-based approach that helps you critically examine your pursuit of happiness and make adjustments using evidence-based practices to invite more fun and joy in your life. We all need more joy and wonder in our lives - don't miss this episode with Organizational psychologist and behavioral scientist, Mike Rucker. About Mike Rucker (in his own words): I'm Mike Rucker. In no particular order: Author. Father. Husband. Organizational psychologist and behavioral scientist. Recovering entrepreneur. Fitness enthusiast with mechanical parts. VW Bus aficionado. Seeker. Traveler. Future astronaut. The story about myself that I tell in my book The Fun Habit starts in 2016, when the tools that I had built as a student of positive psychology suddenly failed me during one of my life's most difficult stretches. Finding myself unhappy, a bit lonely, and burnt out, I began to critically evaluate modern approaches to happiness. I quickly realized how much misinformation is out there. Years of research coalesced as The Fun Habit. The Fun Habit is an action-based approach that helps you critically examine your pursuit of happiness and make adjustments using evidence-based practices to invite more fun and joy in your life.    How to contact Mike Rucker:   Mike Rucker Official Website   How to contact Dr. Bob: Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/ Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656 Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/ Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/ Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/

This week, we are happy to welcome Mike Rucker to The Hamilton Review Podcast.  In this conversation, Mike discusses his book, "The Fun Habit: How The Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life." The Fun Habit is an action-based approach that helps you critically examine your pursuit of happiness and make adjustments using evidence-based practices to invite more fun and joy in your life. We all need more joy and wonder in our lives - don't miss this episode with Organizational psychologist and behavioral scientist, Mike Rucker. About Mike Rucker (in his own words): I'm Mike Rucker. In no particular order: Author. Father. Husband. Organizational psychologist and behavioral scientist. Recovering entrepreneur. Fitness enthusiast with mechanical parts. VW Bus aficionado. Seeker. Traveler. Future astronaut. The story about myself that I tell in my book The Fun Habit starts in 2016, when the tools that I had built as a student of positive psychology suddenly failed me during one of my life's most difficult stretches. Finding myself unhappy, a bit lonely, and burnt out, I began to critically evaluate modern approaches to happiness. I quickly realized how much misinformation is out there. Years of research coalesced as The Fun Habit. The Fun Habit is an action-based approach that helps you critically examine your pursuit of happiness and make adjustments using evidence-based practices to invite more fun and joy in your life.    How to contact Mike Rucker:   Mike Rucker Official Website   How to contact Dr. Bob: Dr. Bob on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ Dr. Bob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/ Dr. Bob on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656 Dr. Bob's Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/ Dr. Bob's website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/ Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/  

Sometimes your willpower seems pretty good but other times - especially right when you need it – it disappears. What if there was a way to boost your will power right when you need it most? This episode begins with a technique that can help you resist whatever that temptation when it is right in front of you. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/clenched-muscles-assist-self-contro-10-10-20/ When you think about it, being happy isn't something you do. Happiness is the result of something you enjoy. In other words, you must do something fun first, then happiness will follow. This is according to Mike Rucker, an educational psychologist and the author of a book called The Fun Habit (https://amzn.to/3inKGPT). Listen as Mike reveals why fun is the key to real happiness. And he explains how it only takes a little fun to create a significant increase in your happiness level. Listen as Mike offers some simple strategies to make time for fun and why it is essential to do so.  Having reliable electricity at the flip of a switch is something we all expect. Yet it's only been in the last 120 years or so that electricity has been in most homes. When you think about how much electricity has transformed our lives, it is really quite amazing. So how did science figure out how to tame this force of nature and harness it so it powers so much of our lives today? That is a story Kathy Joseph is here to tell. She holds advanced degrees in physics and engineering and has a YouTube Channel called Kathy Loves Physics and History (https://www.youtube.com/c/KathyLovesPhysicsHistory). She is also author of the book The Lightning Tamers: True Stories of the Dreamers and Schemers Who Harnessed Electricity and Transformed Our World (https://amzn.to/3CqcyJY) Whenever you feel down or depressed, it is usually because you are regretting something in your past or you worrying about something that may happen in your future – or it could be both. Listen as I reveal what you can do the next time that happens which may make you feel better in the moment. Source: Dr. Jeffrey Rossman author of The Mind-Body Solution (https://amzn.to/3QkommK) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! SHOPIFY:  "Established in 2025". Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk . Go to SHOPIFY.com/sysk to grow your business! HERS: Hers is changing women's healthcare by providing access to GLP-1 weekly injections with the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as oral medication kits. Start your free online visit today at https://forhers.com/sysk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A deep dive on combating parental burnout to start off 2025 with more balance.   In this episode I dive deep into…   - Understanding what parental burnout actually is and how it is different from regular “stress” in parenthood?   - The pros and cons of the rise of the “Parenting Industrial Complex.”   - The output/input formula that will inevitably lead to depletion, and why parents of sensitive children are more susceptible to an imbalance in this equation.   - An exercise you can use to address (and flip!) your personal output/input equation to create more balance for yourself.   - Taking a Family-Systems approach to addressing and treating parental burnout.   - How parental burnout can impact the parent-child relationship, leading to more dysregulated behaviors from our kids, us losing our cool, and creating a self-perpetuating negative feedback loop.   - Why traditional self-care strategies don't work for combatting parental burnout, and my recommendations for practical, realistic, and attainable strategies that actually do!     LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. SARAH BREN: https://drsarahbren.com/   FOLLOW DR. SARAH ON INSTAGRAM: @drsarahbren   ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND RESOURCES: The Surgeon General Report: Parental Mental Health & Well-Being  In one study, Parents whose children experienced anxiety or ADHD had two to four times higher risk of experiencing parental burnout (anxiety: OR, 2.54; ADHD: OR, 4.41) compared with those whose children had no anxiety or ADHD. [1] Addressing systemic problems with Raena Boston, Lauren Smith Brody, and Alexis Barad-Cutler Encouraging your child to engage in independent play   CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

Feeling overwhelmed by motherhood? Wondering how to inject more joy into your hectic days? In today's episode, Emily sits down with Dr. Mike Rucker, author of The Fun Habit, to explore how fun can be the antidote to burnout. Discover how to create micro moments of joy even in the most chaotic days, and why finding fun can transform your parenting and emotional health. Learn practical tips to recharge your energy and enjoy motherhood more—even when life feels overwhelming. Plus, we share how incorporating small moments of joy can build resilience and create a happier home for you and your kids. - - -

After a few 'heavy' episodes, it's time to turn to the lighter side of the workplace. Richard is joined by Dr. Mike Rucker for a discussion all about how to have more fun, inside and outside of work. Mike discusses his book about fun, the relationship between run, wellbeing and performance, the downsides of putting too much emphasis on 'future happiness'.  You can find the full show notes for this episode at worklifeposych.com/podcast/173 Thanks for listening!

keywords fun, self-care, joy, productivity, mindfulness, neuroplasticity, happiness, life balance, creativity, health benefits summary In this episode of the Ask Yourself Why Not podcast, hosts Shaye and Jayla welcome back Mike Rucker, author of 'The Fun Habit'. They discuss the importance of incorporating fun into daily life, the challenges of finding joy, and practical tips for creating space for enjoyment amidst busy schedules. Mike shares insights on the health benefits of fun, the concept of neuroplasticity, and the value of diverse perspectives. The conversation emphasizes the need to live in the moment and embrace creativity to enhance overall happiness and well-being. Takeaways Fun is essential for a fulfilling life. Daily reminders to have fun can improve mental health. The hardest emotion to feel is joy, especially in a busy culture. Balancing productivity with enjoyment is crucial for long-term satisfaction. Creating space in your schedule can lead to more fun experiences. Engaging in activities you love can enhance your overall well-being. Walking and connecting with nature can boost happiness. Neuroplasticity allows for learning and growth at any age. Diverse perspectives enrich our understanding and experiences. Living in the moment can lead to greater joy and fulfillment. Unlocking the Fun Habit Finding Joy in Everyday Moments "Who doesn't want to have more fun?" "The hardest emotion to feel is joy." "We need to create space for fun." Titles Sound Bites Chapters 00:00Introduction to Fun and Self-Care 04:58The Importance of Fun in Daily Life 10:06Overcoming Barriers to Fun and Happiness 15:11Creating Space for Fun and Joy 20:01Practical Tips for Infusing Fun into Life 24:56The Role of Mindset in Experiencing Joy 30:07The Benefits of Fun on Health and Well-Being 35:04The Power of Novelty and Learning 40:00Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Fun

keywords fun, self-care, joy, productivity, mindfulness, neuroplasticity, happiness, life balance, creativity, health benefits summary In this episode of the Ask Yourself Why Not podcast, hosts Shaye and Jayla welcome back Mike Rucker, author of 'The Fun Habit'. They discuss the importance of incorporating fun into daily life, the challenges of finding joy, and practical tips for creating space for enjoyment amidst busy schedules. Mike shares insights on the health benefits of fun, the concept of neuroplasticity, and the value of diverse perspectives. The conversation emphasizes the need to live in the moment and embrace creativity to enhance overall happiness and well-being. Takeaways Fun is essential for a fulfilling life. Daily reminders to have fun can improve mental health. The hardest emotion to feel is joy, especially in a busy culture. Balancing productivity with enjoyment is crucial for long-term satisfaction. Creating space in your schedule can lead to more fun experiences. Engaging in activities you love can enhance your overall well-being. Walking and connecting with nature can boost happiness. Neuroplasticity allows for learning and growth at any age. Diverse perspectives enrich our understanding and experiences. Living in the moment can lead to greater joy and fulfillment. Unlocking the Fun Habit Finding Joy in Everyday Moments "Who doesn't want to have more fun?" "The hardest emotion to feel is joy." "We need to create space for fun." Titles Sound Bites Chapters 00:00Introduction to Fun and Self-Care 04:58The Importance of Fun in Daily Life 10:06Overcoming Barriers to Fun and Happiness 15:11Creating Space for Fun and Joy 20:01Practical Tips for Infusing Fun into Life 24:56The Role of Mindset in Experiencing Joy 30:07The Benefits of Fun on Health and Well-Being 35:04The Power of Novelty and Learning 40:00Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Fun

In this lively and thought-provoking episode, I'm back with Mike Rucker, and we're diving into the deep end of fun - yet again! Nearly 18 months have passed since our last chat, and let me tell you, Mike's been knee-deep in all things fun and research, while I've been busy doing life with a side of introspection. We talk about the evolution of our thoughts, the balance between hustle and happiness, and why fun isn't just a luxury - it's essential. Whether you're an entrepreneur burning the candle at both ends or just someone looking to inject a bit more joy into your day, this episode is for you. So, grab a cuppa and join us as we unpack the fine art of living well, with a whole lot of fun. TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au MIKE RUCKER Website: michaelrucker.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree: linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches/ Website: rollwiththepunches.com.au LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tiffaneecook/ Facebook: facebook.com/rollwiththepunchespodcast/ Instagram: instagram.com/rollwiththepunches_podcast/ Instagram: instagram.com/tiffaneeandco    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students and teachers are heading back to school, but just because summer is ending doesn't mean our fun has to end, too. This summer, Live Happy teamed up with organizational psychologist Mike Rucker, PhD, to offer the Summer of Fun email series, filled with ideas about how to bring more fun to your summer. As we head into fall and winter, host Paula Felps sits down with Mike to talk about how we can carry this commitment to fun with us as the days get shorter.   In this episode, you'll learn: How (and why) to commit to fun when time seems to be in short supply. Why it's important to plan to have fun during the fall and winter. How scheduling fun adds joy to other areas of your life.

It's been said that loneliness is worse for our health than smoking cigarettes. Take a second to inhale that scary thought. In contrast, pro-social behavior triggers the release of oxytocin in our body. That's the love hormone, and it's crucial for happiness. We've all had that nagging feeling that we need to spend more leisure time with friends and family. But some of the options out there aren't realistic. People with careers and families don't have time for group yoga sessions or all-day escape room parties. In other words, we know what we need to do to be happy but don't know how to make it happen. Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Forbes, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the best-selling book The Fun Habit. Mike uses his “Rucker PLAY Model” to rank fun activities according to their level of challenge. The answers and timetables may be different for everyone, but embracing the overall need for joy and togetherness can help us avoid the unhealthy distractions that come along with isolation. The reality of modern life is that we don't have as much free time as we might want, but with a bit of self-empathy and Mike's creative outlook, we can find ways to dial up the fun meter and increase our happiness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second hour, Mac & Bone debate if Jonathon Mingo being WR3 would be a good thing, and what it would mean for Xavier Legette, Mike Rucker joins the show, to talk about his playing days with Julius Peppers, and they have an ask the audience segment about ice cream, after a viral DJ Khaled video See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Panthers defensive end, Mike Rucker joins the show, as he talks about what stood out about playing with Julius Peppers, he talks about the job that Dan Morgan is doing as the GM of the current team, & more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Charlotte Observer Panthers beat reporters Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow discuss who's stock is up and who is down in training camp after five practices. Also, who are their top 3 Panthers of all-time? Then, Alex is joined by former Pro Bowler and Carolina Panthers legend Mike Rucker to discuss the legacy of Julius Peppers in Carolina, his thoughts on Jadeveon Clowney and Bryce Young, and joining The Observer for an event next week. Want to see Mike Rucker too? Join us on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at OMB - Ballantyne for a Panthers season preview event. Tickets sold here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you worried about your child's lack of motivation or their constant struggle to keep up? This week I'm diving into the complexities of child motivation with Dr. Ellen Braaten.   In this episode we explore:  

Get ready for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Jessica Plancich Shinners as we explore the importance of cycle syncing, self-care, and holistic health.   In this episode, we delve into:   Whole Mind-Body Health: Insights into the importance of caring for our minds, bodies, and spirit in an integrated and holistic manner.   Biological and Evolutionary Perspectives: The natural caregiving instincts biologically hardwired in women and how leaning into these evolutionary traits can enhance our well-being.   Menstrual Cycle Awareness: A comprehensive guide to aligning self-care practices with the phases of the menstrual cycle, harnessing its power to enhance physical, emotional, and relational health.   Parental Guidance: Tips for educating ourselves and our daughters about the significance of our natural rhythms.   This episode is packed with wisdom, compassion, and actionable advice for women and mothers looking to live a more balanced, intentional, and fulfilling life.       LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. JESSICA PLANCICH SHINNERS: www.fiercegraceconsulting.com   CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL RELATED EPISODES:

Summer officially begins on June 20, and that's the perfect time to launch Live Happy's Summer of Fun! We've teamed up with organizational psychologist Mike Rucker, PhD, to offer a free eight-week email course based on the principles of his book, The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. In this episode, he explains how this course will help you learn to program your life for fun this summer — and beyond. In this episode, you'll learn: Why making a commitment to have fun is so important to your mental health. How to make room for more fun in your life. What to expect when you commit to having a Summer of Fun.

What do you do for fun? What brings you joy? How can you incorporate more of those things into your daily life? In this episode, I talk with organizational psychologist Dr. Mike Rucker about the "life-sustaining value and importance of fun". He is the author of 2023's top-rated happiness book, The Fun Habit and is widely published including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and Psychology Today (to name a few). Please enJOY this episode! Connect with Mike at https://michaelrucker.com/ and follow him @thewonderoffun Please be sure to subscribe, download, leave us a review & SHARE this podcast with others! We truly appreciate your support. Join our LIW community https://members.lastingimpactwellness.com/podcast-newsletter-signup As always, questions, comments & topic suggestions welcome at info@lastingimpactwellness.com Follow us on Instagram & Facebook @lastingimpactwellness Reach out to us at info@lastingimpactwellness.com to discuss how we can partner together to help you or your organization achieve improved, sustainable well-being. Original music by EP3

In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health podcast, Dr. Michael Rucker, Ph.D. discusses the science of fun and its impact on health and wellness.  Mike shares his journey from overemphasizing happiness to exploring fun as a means to live a joyful life despite adversities, emphasizing the concept of 'positive valence' or finding pleasure in the moment.  Delving into how fun can redefine one's approach to life and work, Dr. Rucker highlights research on the hedonic flexibility principle and emotional flexibility, suggesting that engaging in enjoyable activities can lead to resilience and better mental health outcomes.  He offers practical advice on integrating fun into daily routines and addresses common misconceptions, such as the guilt associated with prioritizing personal enjoyment.  Final Takeaway- Aim to incorporate fun into your daily life for better brain health.  00:00 Introducing Michael Rucker: A Deep Dive into Fun and Brain Health 00:55 The Science of Fun: Unpacking Positive Psychology 04:25 Defining Fun and Its Impact on Well-being 07:45 Fun and the Brain: Exploring Neural Mechanisms 11:56 Practical Strategies for Integrating Fun into Daily Life 18:54 Overcoming Misconceptions and Barriers to Fun 25:12 Personal Insights and the Future of Fun in Society 31:38 Wrapping Up: Key Takeaways on Fun and Brain Health Resources:  Learn more in Dr. Rucker's "The Science of Fun" blog for Psychology Today  Explore Dr. Rucker's website Connect with Mike on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/virtualbrainhealthcenter/support

Do you think fun has a place at work? I do! I think it's vital in fact and in this episode we are exploring the power of fun with my guest Dr Mike Rucker, author of The Fun Habit.  Mike has spent much of his career in service to workplace wellbeing and performance, as an organisational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He's a big believer that in our our overprescribed lives we need to seek fun where we can. We're not talking about zany fun here, it's finding pleasure in the everyday. It's not about the big milestones, but the small moments that build our rich tapestry of life. As leaders, creating an environment where fun is woven into the fabric of work can transform well-being and productivity. It's serious business to ensure our teams genuinely enjoy their work. Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-fun-mike-rucker Key Moments  Planet Human: A big win for carbon neutral cattle here in Australia. Planet Zoë: Olympus Bound has launched! It is out now, the advance reviews have been fantastic and I'm excited to see it getting in readers' hands. Order your signed copy from my site, or get the paperback and ebook options on Amazon. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!  The Importance of Fun at Work (00:03:28) Introduction to the concept of fun at work and its significance for workplace well-being. The Beginning of Fun as a Focus (00:04:38) Guest Dr. Mike Rucker shares how fun became a focus for him and its connection to positive psychology. Challenges with Pursuing Happiness (00:09:32) Discussion on the problematic pursuit of happiness as an outcome and its impact on emotional flexibility and comparison to others. The Role of Agency and Autonomy in Fun (00:14:10) Exploration of the importance of agency and autonomy in creating positive experiences and avoiding habituated routines. The Fun Habit Book Premise (00:18:30) Explanation of the premise of the book "The Fun Habit" and the importance of breaking habitual routines to incorporate joy into life. Defining and Incorporating Fun (00:21:40) Discussion on defining fun for oneself and strategies for incorporating it into the workday. The Valence of Fun (00:21:57) Mike explains the psychological concept of valence and its association with pleasure and enjoyment. The Misunderstood Concept of Fun at Work (00:24:17) Zoe and Mike discuss the misconception of fun at work, addressing the negative connotations and the need for a redefined understanding. Creating an Enjoyable Work Environment (00:29:11) Mike delves into the connection between meaningful work and enjoyment, emphasising the importance of creating an enjoyable environment. Future Technology and Work-Life Balance (00:33:44) Mike discusses a technology concept related to work-life balance and the potential benefits of AI in managing work communications. Transition Rituals in the Workplace (00:36:42) Mike highlights the need for transition rituals in the workplace to separate work and leisure life, promoting a healthier work-life balance. Parity and Reward for Work (00:38:35) Zoe and Mike touch on the topic of parity and reward for work, expressing their views on the unequal distribution of abundance resulting from labour. Reclaiming Control and Enjoying Work (00:41:42) Mike emphasises the importance of reclaiming control at work and finding enjoyment, particularly by reclaiming lunch breaks and other breaks in the workday. Enjoyment and Productivity (00:42:32) Focusing on the importance of enjoyment in pocket moments for increased productivity and creativity. Leadership and Interpersonal Dynamics (00:49:00) An excerpt from the novel Terra Blanca: Insurrection highlighting interpersonal dynamics in leadership.

Part 2 of Ask Dr Jessica with Mike Rucker--the conversation continues about incorporating fun into parenting.  Many of us parents are often so busy making a living, that it can feel we are not spending enough quality time with our children.  Dr Mike Rucker explains the importance of valuing time over money --and the benefits of focusing on quality experiences rather than material possessions.In addition to being the author of "The Fun Habit",  Dr Rucker is  an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, a father and a husband.Dr Jessica Hochman is a board certified pediatrician, mom to three children, and she is very passionate about the health and well being of children. Most of her educational videos are targeted towards general pediatric topics and presented in an easy to understand manner. Do you have a future topic you'd like Dr Jessica Hochman to discuss? Email Dr Jessica Hochman askdrjessicamd@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram: @AskDrJessicaSubscribe to her YouTube channel! Ask Dr JessicaSubscribe to this podcast: Ask Dr JessicaSubscribe to her mailing list: www.askdrjessicamd.comThe information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only. She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals. If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

Dr. Mike Rucker is the author of “The Fun Habit”. In this episode we'll discuss the concept of happiness, the moral injury that can occur when we seek it too much and the benefits and methods for fitting joy and awe into your life and through your parenting. Additional resource book mentioned in our convo: 50 Dangerous Things (you should let your children do) Follow Dr. Rucker on all his platforms: Website https://michaelrucker.com Twitter https://twitter.com/performbetterFacebook https://www.facebook.com/mike.rucker.phd Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thewonderoffunLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrucker Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/mikeruckerphd Simon & Schuster https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Fun-Habit/Mike-Rucker/9781982159054 Substack https://funhabit.substack.com***************************I am always looking for questions for the Q&A episodes. You can send me your questions at hello@alysonschafer.com For more of my advice, check out my website at: www.alysonschafer.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 133 of Ask Dr Jessica with Mike Rucker, PhD, author of "The Fun Habit" .  The conversation explores the concept of finding joy and pleasure in everyday life,  rather than solely pursuing happiness as an end goal.  He explains why we need to prioritize scheduling time for fun activities and creating core memories.  TakeawaysFinding joy and pleasure in everyday life is more sustainable and fulfilling than solely pursuing happiness as an end goal.Being present and mindful in the moment can enhance the enjoyment of daily activities.Blend fun into daily routines and co-create experiences with loved onesPlan and schedule fun activities to ensure they happenDr Jessica Hochman is a board certified pediatrician, mom to three children, and she is very passionate about the health and well being of children. Most of her educational videos are targeted towards general pediatric topics and presented in an easy to understand manner. Do you have a future topic you'd like Dr Jessica Hochman to discuss? Email Dr Jessica Hochman askdrjessicamd@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram: @AskDrJessicaSubscribe to her YouTube channel! Ask Dr JessicaSubscribe to this podcast: Ask Dr JessicaSubscribe to her mailing list: www.askdrjessicamd.comThe information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only. She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals. If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of 2023's top-rated happiness book, The Fun Habit, which is out now.TakeawaysToxic positivity and the pursuit of happiness can be detrimental to mental well-being.Acknowledging and processing trauma is essential for healing and personal growth.Positive psychology tools should be tailored to individual contexts and needs.Finding time for fun and adding enjoyable experiences to life can enhance overall well-being. The fun habit is an invitation to have joy in the present moment, rather than constantly chasing after happiness.Making deliberate choices to incorporate fun into life can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background01:11 Writing 'The Fun Habit'04:38 Personal Trauma and Identity Crisis06:08 Toxic Positivity and Glossing Over Experiences08:12 Positive Psychology and Processing Trauma10:02 Tailoring Positive Psychology Tools11:25 The Importance of Context in Positive Psychology13:13 Acknowledging Complexity and Individual Differences15:09 Empathy and Understanding in Parenting19:38 Connection and Rapport with Children22:11 The Impact of Internet and Access to Information25:16 The Changing Dynamics of Parenting27:11 The Importance of Fun and Connection in Parenting31:15 Creating Moments of Fun and Connection36:40 Embracing All Feelings and Adding Fun to Life38:47 Finding Time for Fun41:38 The Fun Habit as an Invitation to Have Joy in the Present43:58 The Impact of Lack of Leisure on Burnout and Productivity47:57 The Shift in Parenting Paradigms50:15 Navigating the Challenges of Parenting in the Digital Age53:04 The Negative Effects of Social Media on Children55:28 The Importance of Parental Guidance in the Digital World58:14 Making Deliberate Choices to Incorporate Fun into Life01:01:08 Overcoming Inertia and Finding Enjoyable Activities01:04:08 The Power of Environment, People, and Activity in Finding Joy01:07:29 The Hedonic Flexibility Principle and Seeking Challenges01:09:23 Balancing Hard Work and Rest through FunWhere to Find Mike:1) | website | https://michaelrucker.com2) | Twitter | https://twitter.com/performbetter3) | Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/mike.rucker.phd4) | Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thewonderoffun5) | LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrucker6) | Pinterest | https://www.pinterest.com/mikeruckerphd7) | Simon & Schuster | https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Fun-Habit/Mike-Rucker/97819821590548) | Substack | https://funhabit.substack.comWatch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@therelationalparentingpodcast/videosEmail us your parenting questions and stories!: jennie@jenniebee.co.Help us do what we do with a small monthly contribution: https://www.patreon.com/TheRelationalParentCoach/membershipJoin the WAITLIST for The Relational Parenting Village! - A New Monthly Membership Program where parents gather for community, growth, accountability and support.  PLUS ongoing monthly live events, classes and education resources to keep you motivated and growing on your parenting journey.  Let's do this!!Find me or book a free consult:Website: https://www.jenniebee.co/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therelationalparentingpodcast/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.hayes.507TikTok: @therelationalparentcoachSign up for the weekly newsletter here for a weekly parenting tip!Please leave us a review!  Your feedback helps others find us, and helps us grow so we can keep creating content for parents to benefit from.Creators & Guests Natalie Long - Editor Jennifer Hayes - Host Mike Rucker - Guest Happy Parenting and Good Luck Out There!

Let's bridge the gap! In this debrief episode, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett discuss key takeaways from the past three episodes of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast. They reflect on insights from guests  Dr. Mike Rucker, Dr. Todd Lubart, and Shafina Vohra. The conversation delves into the potential impact of identifying creative potential in students at a young age and the implications it may have on their further development. The hosts also explore the idea of using unconventional materials, such as LEGO® or common household items, to engage students in learning, while also highlighting the importance of educators' love and passion for their work and the potential for ideas to have an impact beyond the classroom. Listeners are given a glimpse into the hosts' upcoming appearances at the Learning and the Brain Conference in New York City and the Torrance Festival of Ideas Conference, where they will be sharing their expertise on creativity in education.  Eager to bring more creativity into your school district? Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org and CreativeThinkingNetwork.com What to learn more about Design Thinking in Education?  Do you want to build a sustained culture of innovation and creativity at your school? Visit WorwoodClassroom.com to understand how Design Thinking can promote teacher creativity and support professional growth in the classroom.  Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!  

With Dr. Mike Rucker | Organizational Psychologist | Behavioural Scientist | Author | Summary: This conversation is all about identifying and taking the steps to get out into the world to have more fun and how we can use our money as ways to allow more fun in our lives (and it does not need to cost lots of money). In this conversation, Dr. Rucker and Shaun discuss the importance of fun in life and how it can be pursued independently of money and power. They explore the limitations of pursuing happiness through external factors and the need for emotional flexibility. The conversation also touches on the challenges of finding fun in a busy life and the role of surprises and unexpected moments in bringing joy. They discuss the concept of the Fun Pyramid and how money can be used as a tool to facilitate authentic fun. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of finding fun in everyday life and how it can improve relationships and overall well-being. They also highlight the importance of being deliberate about incorporating fun into daily routines and the consequences of neglecting it. Finally, they talk about the importance of time affluence and creating lasting memories through fun experiences. BIO: Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of 2023's top-rated happiness book, The Fun Habit, which is out now. Takeaways Finding fun in everyday life can improve relationships and overall well-being. Learning how to spend your money on fun activities. How fun is a key driver to living a good life. Positional economics can help people access experiences they may not be able to afford on their own. Being deliberate about incorporating fun into daily routines is important for overall happiness and productivity. Creating lasting memories through fun experiences is valuable and can enrich one's life. LINKS: Website: Dive into the world of fun and exploration at Michael Rucker's website. Twitter: Follow Michael Rucker on Twitter @performbetter for daily doses of inspiration and fun! Facebook: Join the fun-loving community on Facebook at Mike Rucker, Ph.D.'s page. Instagram: Explore the wonders of fun on Instagram with @thewonderoffun. LinkedIn: Connect with Michael Rucker on LinkedIn at Michael Rucker's profile for insightful discussions and updates. Pinterest: Get inspired by Mike Rucker, Ph.D.'s Pinterest boards at mikeruckerphd. Simon & Schuster: Check out Michael Rucker's book, "The Fun Habit," on Simon & Schuster. Substack: Join the Fun Habit newsletter on Substack at funhabit.substack.com for exclusive content and tips on incorporating more fun into your life.

Dr. Mike Rucker, is the author of "The Fun Habit," a groundbreaking book that challenges the norms of positive psychology and delves into the transformative power of incorporating fun into our daily lives. Dr. Rucker's insights illuminate the distinction between the fleeting pursuit of happiness and the sustainable practice of cultivating joy through habitual fun. Join us as we uncover the keys to breaking free from the limitations of traditional happiness paradigms and embracing a more fulfilling path forward.For more, you can follow the show on:Instagram TikTok & Youtube!Produced by Peoples Media Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How might you build more fun into your classroom? In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Drs. Matthew Worwood and Cyndi Burnett engage with Dr. Mike Rucker, organizational psychologist and author of "The Fun Habit." Diving into the necessity of fun and pleasure in educational settings, Mike stresses how essential joy and enjoyment are in the daily routine of both learners and educators. He shares strategies such as "activity bundling," exploring the concept of novelty in learning, and the hedonic flexibility principle—all aimed at revamping the classroom with creative and engaging methods. The episode unpacks the delicate balance between routine and innovation in learning environments, discusses the effects of burnout on educators, and underscores the power of incorporating student input to co-create exciting educational experiences. Mike, alongside Matthew and Cyndi, also exemplifies how to diagnose and address the absence of enjoyment in schools, driving the conversation toward practical solutions to enhance engagement and enthusiasm from elementary to higher education levels. About Dr. Michael Rucker Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the best-selling book The Fun Habit, which is out now.   Eager to bring more creativity into your school district? Check out our sponsor Curiosity2Create.org and CreativeThinkingNetwork.com What to learn more about Design Thinking in Education?  Do you want to build a sustained culture of innovation and creativity at your school? Visit WorwoodClassroom.com to understand how Design Thinking can promote teacher creativity and support professional growth in the classroom.  Subscribe to our monthly newsletter!  

This episode features a special guest appearance by Omayra Mansfield, MD.Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the best-selling book The Fun Habit, which is out now.Thanks for tuning in! Check out more episodes of The Well-Being Connector Podcast at www.forphysicianwellbeing.org/podcast.

In this episode, Sami and Angela talk with Mike Rucker about the shift from pursuing happiness to cultivating a fun habit. They talk with Mike about his book The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life where they talk about the benefits of creating fun habits. They explore the importance of emotional resilience. They also emphasize the need to feel and express emotions and the benefits of making a habit of fun. The conversation highlights the four quadrants of fun and the importance of creating upward spirals and changing circumstances. Additionally, they discuss the role of parenting in incorporating fun into daily life. In this conversation, Sami and Mike discuss the importance of embracing playfulness and creativity in parenting. They highlight the magic of children's play and the benefits of co-creating experiences with them. They also share tips for finding joy in play, setting boundaries and time limits, and pretending to be a beginner. In addition, they discuss the power of disclosure and connection through play, as well as the role of modeling play and storytelling. The conversation concludes with a focus on mindfully choosing fun and information on where to find more resources. To buy Mike's book or connect with him, visit his website: https://michaelrucker.com/Order Traveling Light wherever you get your books!Sign up at bfreakingawesome.com to get the latest news, insights, and episodes straight to your inbox.Follow Be Freaking Awesome on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Instagram.Let us know what questions you want to be answered and discussed by emailing us at podcast@bfreakingawesome.com.

What do you do for fun and when was the last time you had it? What if I told you fun would make you a better parent, partner, friend and even better at your job! ⁠Dr Mike Rucker⁠ is an Organisational psychologist and author of the book - The Fun Habit joins me to talk about the importance of fun in our lives. We talk about so much in this episode including: what fun is how Mike went from focusing on happiness to fun, one of the best stories you'll ever hear about a mis-sent email ever can fun really become a habit and why it needs to be which cultures seem to have the best fun  and Mike's top three tips for getting more fun in your life Grab The Fun Habit in all good bookstores, and also head over to ⁠Dr Mike Rucker's website⁠ for a whole range of anecdotes and further tools for getting more fun in your life.  Also if you have a friend in your life who you maybe want to have more fun with, share this episode with them and let them know, good times are on the horizon! The episode opens with what I've been finding about the different age groups when I ask them about fun, and I wonder, how do you compare? This podcast is hosted and produced by Willy Russo and comes to you from the land of the Darkinjung people.

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you will learn from Priscilla McKinney about the power of collaboration in business. Priscilla emphasizes the mindset shift required for successful collaborations. She highlights the importance of embracing different perspectives, being prepared for unexpected situations, and thinking on your feet. Priscilla also discusses the value of connections and networking, sharing her own collaboration with host Melina Palmer at an event. They demonstrate that collaboration can exist even among competitors, bringing unique perspectives and ideas to the table.  Priscilla's book, Collaboration is the New Competition, provides practical guidance on fostering collaboration within organizations. By shifting from competition to collaboration, businesses can thrive in today's interconnected world. Key takeaways include understanding people's behavior in marketing, the value of collaboration in business success, the power of networking, and the need for differentiation. This engaging and thought-provoking conversation highlights collaboration as a key driver of innovation, growth, and success in business. In this episode: Enhance collaboration and foster partnerships for increased business success. Unlock the power of mindset to drive effective collaboration. Build valuable connections through strategic networking. Shift from scarcity to abundance mindset for greater collaboration opportunities. Harness the power of differentiation to drive successful collaborations. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Introduction to the episode and guest, Priscilla McKinney, who is the author of Collaboration is the New Competition. 00:02:06 - Background and Expertise Priscilla shares her background as the CEO of Little Bird Marketing and her experience in anthropology. She emphasizes the importance of understanding people and culture in marketing. 00:05:01 - Personal Experiences and Cultural Anthropology Priscilla discusses how her personal experiences as a missionary's child and living in different countries shaped her understanding of collaboration, culture, and the importance of getting along. 00:07:39 - Collaboration and Marketing Priscilla explains the connection between collaboration, marketing, behavioral science, and cultural anthropology. She highlights the role of collaboration in building strong relationships and achieving success in business. 00:09:52 - Origin of Collaboration The discussion revolves around Melina's collaboration with Maru Group and Protobrand, where Will Leach connected her as the MC. They emphasize the value of collaboration and how it can overcome competition. 00:16:09 - The Value of Collaboration Priscilla discusses the value of collaboration and how her early experiences in the credit union industry taught her the importance of cooperation and sharing ideas. She emphasizes the abundance mindset and the willingness of credit unions to help each other thrive. 00:17:30 - The Power of Networking Priscilla and Melina highlight their shared experiences in the banking and credit union industry. They highlight the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people who are willing to collaborate and share knowledge. Priscilla emphasizes the cooperative nature of the market research industry. 00:18:57 - Opening Minds to Collaboration Priscilla encourages readers to open their minds to collaboration and challenges them to rethink their previous experiences with it. She suggests that what people may have considered collaboration in the past may not have been true collaboration. She invites readers to give it another try. 00:20:21 - Collaboration Gone Wrong Priscilla discusses the common pitfalls of collaboration, using the example of a group project in which one student ends up doing all the work while others take credit. She emphasizes the need for equity, transparency, and a desire to win for true collaboration to occur. 00:24:24 - The Framework for Collaboration Priscilla outlines the three essential elements for successful collaboration: having something to lose and gain, being transparent and open, and having a desire to win for the benefit of all involved. 00:30:49 - Moving from Scarcity to Abundance Mindset Priscilla discusses the importance of shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset. Instead of always trying to get their way, she encourages a mindset of helping others and believing that everyone can achieve their goals. 00:31:26 - Itchy Backs - Cultivating a Helping Mindset Priscilla explains the concept of "itchy backs," where you focus on meeting the needs of others. By being aware of what others need and offering help, you can build strong relationships and collaboration opportunities. 00:34:31 - The Rule of 15 - Inspiring Collaboration Priscilla introduces the Rule of 15, which emphasizes the importance of creating content that inspires collaboration. Building relationships takes time, and it's essential to pay it forward and show genuine interest in others before expecting collaboration opportunities. 00:35:53 - LinkedIn Cocktail Party - Shifting Mindset Priscilla suggests thinking of LinkedIn as an online cocktail party rather than just a social media platform. She highlights the importance of showing up correctly, curating a great guest list, and being a good conversationalist to build meaningful connections. 00:38:59 - Avoiding Pitch Slapping - Building Relationships Priscilla discusses the negative impact of pitch-slapping, where people immediately try to sell or pitch their services without building a relationship first. She encourages being mindful of etiquette and building relationships before asking for anything. 00:44:49 - Collaboration and Feedback on the Book Priscilla discusses her book and invites Melina to read it and provide feedback for the second edition. They encourage listeners to connect with Priscilla on LinkedIn and check out her website to get a copy of the book and share it with others. 00:45:17 - Continued Collaboration and Friendship Melina expresses her enjoyment of talking with Priscilla and their ongoing collaboration. Priscilla is referred to as a friend of the podcast forever, and Melina offers her support for any future collaborations. 00:45:47 - Supporting the Podcast Priscilla encourages listeners to give an amazing rating to the Brainy Business podcast as a way to support Melina and help more people find the show. She emphasizes the importance of leading with giving and suggests this as a good deed for the day. 00:46:19 - Treating LinkedIn Like a Cocktail Party Melina recalls Priscilla's session at the IIEX Europe Conference where she talked about treating LinkedIn like a cocktail party. She mentions the relatability and engagement of the session and expresses her excitement about discussing it in Priscilla's book. 00:47:11 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Priscilla: Priscilla's Website    PRISCILLA ON LINKEDIN PRISCILLA ON TWITTER Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Collaboration is the New Competition, by Priscilla McKinney What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer You're Invited, by Jon Levy Think Faster, Talk Smarter, by Matt Abrahams Influence, by Robert Cialdini Top Recommended Next Episode: You're Invited, with Jon Levy (ep 348) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Anthropology, Behavioral Economics, and Marketing, with Priscilla McKinney (ep 196) The Power of Us, with Dominic Packer (ep 304) For The Culture, with Marcus Collins (ep 305) Vulnerability Loops (ep 229) Anchoring (ep 11) Reciprocity (ep 238) Influence, with Robert Cialdini (ep 312) Think Faster, Talk Smarter, with Matt Abrahams (ep 327) Marketing to Mindstates, with Will Leach (ep 88) Survivorship Bias (ep 110) Focusing Illusion (ep 330) Both/And Thinking, with Wendy Smith (ep 261) Framing (ep 296) Scarcity (ep 270) The Fun Habit with Mike Rucker (ep 251) The Human Experience, with John Sills (ep 277) The Science of Connection, with Nick Epley (ep 265) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter LITTLE BIRD MARKETING WEBSITE Women In Research website LittleBirdMarketing.com/Resources

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you will hear an insightful conversation between host Melina Palmer and guest Jon Levy, author of You're Invited. Jon shares his expertise on using behavioral science in event design and sponsorships to create memorable experiences for attendees. Drawing from his own experiences, Jon emphasizes the power of human connection and relationships in event planning.  He discusses the importance of assembling or working together on projects to foster a sense of connection and engagement. Jon also highlights the peak-end rule, which states that people remember the peaks of experiences and how they end, and shares strategies for creating lasting impressions. He offers valuable insights on engaging high-profile individuals, building trust through vulnerability, and the significance of genuine interest in others. If you are a professional seeking to enhance your understanding of human behavior and apply behavioral science principles to create impactful and attention-grabbing events, this episode is a must-listen. In this episode, you will: Enhance customer engagement and satisfaction by leveraging the power of human connection and relationships. Apply research-backed strategies to create impactful and memorable event experiences that resonate with attendees. Foster meaningful connections among attendees through shared activities, strengthening their bond and creating lasting memories. Build trust and rapport with attendees by demonstrating vulnerability and support, creating an environment where they feel safe and valued. Discover the influential impact of showing genuine interest and curiosity in others, leading to more meaningful connections and enriching event experiences. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina introduces the episode and her guest, Jon Levy. She mentions his work as a behavioral scientist and his book, You're Invited, which focuses on human connection, trust, and belonging. 00:03:26 - Behavioral Science and Research Jon discusses his work as a behavioral scientist, including his research studies on dating and consumer behavior. He highlights the importance of applying research findings to real-life situations. 00:07:56 - The Influencers Dinner Jon shares how he started the Influencers Dinner, a secret dining experience where guests couldn't discuss their careers or give their last names. He explains how the dinners helped create connections and a sense of belonging among industry leaders. 00:09:34 - Building a Community Jon explains how the Influencers Dinner evolved into a larger community of industry leaders. He discusses the in-person and digital events they organize and emphasizes the ephemeral nature of their interactions. 00:10:57 - Impact on Society Jon discusses his objective of bringing people together to improve their lives and potentially have a larger impact on society. He talks about raising money for social issues and getting media attention to raise awareness. 00:14:43 - Building Bonds through Shared Experiences The guest discusses the importance of getting people to assemble or work together as a way to strengthen relationships and create a sense of camaraderie within a company. By engaging high-profile individuals in unique and generous activities, such as assembling flowers, it creates a memorable experience that fosters emotional connections and generates positive word-of-mouth publicity. 00:16:16 - The Value of Being an Active Partner Rather than simply being a sponsor, it is more effective to actively design or be involved in the thinking process. By ensuring that people understand the core value and proposition of a brand, partners can forge stronger connections and leave a lasting impression. Quality over quantity is emphasized, focusing on meaningful engagements rather than broad-scale reach. 00:18:55 - The Power of Invitation in Building Connections The guest shares his experience in inviting impressive individuals to his events, even without extensive connections or resources. By starting with people he knew and gradually expanding his network through recommendations and research, he was able to build relationships with Nobel laureates, Olympians, and other accomplished individuals. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the behaviors and interests of specific groups in order to make meaningful connections. 00:20:42 - The Pitfalls of Scale and Misaligned Reach The discussion highlights the importance of targeted reach rather than focusing solely on scale. Having a large number of followers or attendees does not guarantee the right audience or meaningful connections. It is crucial to consider the relevance and alignment of the target audience when seeking partnerships or sponsorships. 00:29:29 - The Power of Influence and Trust Jon discusses the influence he has as a martial arts master and reverend, emphasizing the importance of trust in building connections. He explains that trust is created through competence, honesty, and benevolence, and that vulnerability loops can accelerate the trust-building process. 00:32:08 - Building Trust through Conversations Jon shares how his dinners create an environment where guests can have more intimate and vulnerable conversations, leading to accelerated trust between individuals. He also highlights the value of connecting on a personal level beyond discussing work-related topics. 00:34:50 - The Misunderstanding of Trust Jon explains that trust is often misunderstood, with many individuals leading with competence rather than benevolence. He discusses the importance of leveraging vulnerability loops and the Ikea effect to accelerate trust-building, emphasizing the need to ask for favors and provide support to create profound trust. 00:36:39 - Overcoming Fear of Asking for Help Melina and Jon share their personal experiences of asking for help, particularly in relation to promoting their books. They discuss the discomfort and fear that comes with asking for favors but highlight the importance of understanding that rejection or non-response doesn't necessarily reflect a personal dislike. 00:39:46 - Networking vs. Making Friends Jon challenges the traditional idea of networking and suggests that making friends is a more natural and effective way to connect with others. He emphasizes that networking often feels forced and unnatural, whereas making friends allows for more genuine and meaningful connections. 00:44:03 - The Importance of Relationships Relationships define the quality of our lives, whether in business or personal settings. Being vulnerable and reaching out to others can lead to meaningful connections and impactful experiences. 00:45:27 - Be Willing to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone To expand your social circle and create an impact, it's important to be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Take action, reach out to others, and engage in activities that bring people together. 00:46:29 - The Power of Social Catalysts Engaging in activities as social catalysts can make connecting with others feel less awkward. Activities like walking, playing games, or pursuing shared interests provide a natural context for conversation and connection. 00:48:07 - Embrace Anonymity and Genuine Interest By focusing on genuine interest in others, regardless of titles or achievements, deeper connections can be formed. Embrace anonymity and approach interactions with curiosity and authenticity. 00:50:15 -  Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Connect with Jon: Jon's Website Jon on Instagram Jon on Twitter Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: You're Invited, by Jon Levy The 2AM Principle, by Jon Levy Collaboration is the New Competition, by Priscilla McKinney What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer The Speed of Trust, by Stephen M.R. Covey Top Recommended Next Episode: The Speed of Trust, with Stephen M.R. Covey (ep 320) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Reciprocity (ep 238) Biases Toward Novelty and Stories (ep 54) The Power of Story, with Michelle Auerbach (ep 288) The IKEA Effect (ep 112) Peak-End Rule (ep 97) Surprise and Delight (ep 276) What is Value? (ep 234) Disney: A Behavioral Economics Analysis (ep 292) Get Your DOSE of Brain Chemicals (ep 123) Loss Aversion (ep 316) Status Quo Bias (ep 142) Framing (ep 296) Using Behavioral Science in Healthcare, with Aline Holzwarth (ep 135) Decision Fatigue (ep 244) Temptation Bundling (ep 250) The Behaviour Business, with Richard Chataway (ep 134) How To Change, with Katy Milkman (ep 151) The Fun Habit with Mike Rucker (ep 251) Happier Hour, with Cassie Holmes (ep 249) The Human Experience, with John Sills (ep 277) Anthropology, Behavioral Economics, and Marketing, with Priscilla McKinney (ep 196) The Science of Connection, with Nick Epley (ep 265) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

This week's episode of the Growth Guide podcast features Mike Rucker. Mike is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He joined us today to talk about his best-selling book, ‘The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life.'In this episode, Mike dives into the topic of finding joy and fulfillment in life by breaking free from the constant busyness trap. We discuss how the pandemic has allowed many of us to reflect on our goals and priorities, challenging the notion of a meritocracy and redefining what success truly means. Mike shares insights into the impact of social media on self-perception, the importance of setting achievable goals, and the significance of autonomy over our time. Tune into this episode to explore strategies for creating balance, embracing fun, and curating meaningful memories to live a more fulfilling and joyful life. [06.54] Social behaviors – Social behavior is a complex concept because, when it comes to times like COVID-19, people have difficulty coping without their rhythms and routines. [12.43] Different approaches – When you are trapped in a certain way, you have to try an approach that you are comfortable with, not what other people are comfortable with.[20.17] Happiness trap – Mike explains the difference between anticipatory pleasure and consummatory pleasure.[30.54] Sacrifice – There's a certain level of sacrifice you have to make when you dream big. Not everyone has the ability to do that. [37.15] Achieving goals – We talk about making the process of achieving goals enjoyable rather than the outcome enjoyable. [44.00] The trick – Mike explains how anything that will alleviate boredom, traumatic pain, or discomfort could sometimes trick us into thinking we are enjoying it.[50.00] Time - If you don't have any autonomy over how you spend your time, it creates the problem of feeling trapped. [01.00.48] SAVOR system – Story editing, activity bundling, variable hedonics, options, and reminiscing.[01.07.47] Reminiscing – We talk about the importance of remembering pleasant things we've had in the past. [01.18.50] Choose Your Own Adventure – When you've reached the foundation of what makes you happy, you don't need to fill your time with unnecessary goals.ResourcesConnect with MikeLinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/michaelrucker/ Instagram - instagram.com/thewonderoffun/ Twitter - twitter.com/performbetter Facebook - web.facebook.com/mike.rucker.phd/ Website - michaelrucker.com/ Book by Mike Rucker PhDThe Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your LifeBook by Yuval Noah HarariSapiens: A Graphic History: The Birth of HumankindBook by Bessel van der Kolk M.DThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has been academically published in publications like the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the best-selling book The Fun Habit.Mike talks through how think outside of the box when it comes to adding more fun to your life even with kids. Having said that, he speaks to burnout and how to change a few things to get through the burnout. He mentions how mistakes actually are a good thing and should be celebrated.Listen in for a real, honest conversation about being a parent and how isolating it can feel.Connect with Mike:Mikerucker.comInstagramFacebookTwitter/XWant a specific topic covered? Let me know here.After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.comGet on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

When was the last time you really noticed your world by focusing on one of your five senses? That's something Gretchen Rubin talked about in her episode with Humans Outside, and it's something I've recently been asking myself as I head outside daily. What would happen if I spent some time noticing each sense outside? What would I find? What would I experience? Listen now!   Connect with this episode: Listen to Gretchen Rubin on Humans Outside (“Advice for Making Outdoor Time Better via Life in 5 Senses”) Listen to Max Romey on Humans Outside (“How He Finds His Unique Art and Creativity Outside -- and You Can, Too”) Listen to Cordele Glass on Humans Outside (“How Heading Outside Makes Your Brain More Creative”) Listen to Mike Rucker on Humans Outside (“How to Create Your Own ‘Fun Habit' and Why It's Important) Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Some of the good stuff: [:35] One of the best parts of podcasting [:50] Let's talk about Gretchen Rubin for a sec [1:15] A little bit about “Life In Five Senses” [1:40] Leaning into “sight” [2:00] When was the last time I really, truly saw stuff? [2:25] Sparking awe through sight [2:42] Finding awe in the everyday sights [2:59] It went like this [4:00] But then there was irritation [4:20] New York City people problems [4:40] And how they reframed this for me [5:00] What's next for me

Join us on this enlightening episode as we delve into the transformative power of making fun a daily habit and finding solutions to combat unhappiness.

Derrick Brown is coming off a breakout 2022 season after tying Mike Rucker's franchise record for the most tackles by a defensive tackle in a single season. For Brown's efforts, the Carolina Panthers opted to exercise his fifth-year option for the 2024 season, showing an early investment in one of the team's stalwart defenders. Now that Brown has taken a step toward being a dominant defender, can he take the next step toward being a Pro Bowl honoree?Through Brown's first three seasons, he only has six sacks. These numbers align with Brown's college production as he only tallied 12.5 sacks through four seasons at Auburn. But new Panthers defensive line coach Todd Wash believes that Brown has the potential to be a pass-rushing threat and believes that he can get it out of him. Is this the year that Brown wreaks havoc as a pass rusher?What impact will the new additions to the defensive line have in Carolina in 2023? Is there set to be a three-man battle for the final roster spot?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Derrick Brown is coming off a breakout 2022 season after tying Mike Rucker's franchise record for the most tackles by a defensive tackle in a single season. For Brown's efforts, the Carolina Panthers opted to exercise his fifth-year option for the 2024 season, showing an early investment in one of the team's stalwart defenders. Now that Brown has taken a step toward being a dominant defender, can he take the next step toward being a Pro Bowl honoree? Through Brown's first three seasons, he only has six sacks. These numbers align with Brown's college production as he only tallied 12.5 sacks through four seasons at Auburn. But new Panthers defensive line coach Todd Wash believes that Brown has the potential to be a pass-rushing threat and believes that he can get it out of him. Is this the year that Brown wreaks havoc as a pass rusher? What impact will the new additions to the defensive line have in Carolina in 2023? Is there set to be a three-man battle for the final roster spot? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! LinkedIn LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNFL. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Make Every Moment More. Don't miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feel Good From Within with Yvette Le Blowitz - #SPAITGIRL Podcast EP.203 - The Fun Habit - Dr. Mike Rucker, PhD - Organisational Psychologist, Behavioural Scientist & Author  How The Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life The Fun Habit is the ultimate guide to the benefits of fun, drawing on cutting edge research and science, discover how to add more fun to your life Dr. Mike Rucker, PhD is an organisational psychologist, behavioural scientist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He has academically published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen and more. Dr. Mike Rucker, PhD serves as a Senior Leader for Active Wellness, a global health management company and he is the Author of The Fun Habit. Discover the latest compelling scientific evidence for the potent and revitalising value of fun and how to make having fun a habitual and authentic part of your daily life. Grounded in current research, accessible science, and practical recommendations, The Fun Habit explains how you can build having fun into an actionable and effortless habit and why doing so will help you become a healthier, more joyful, more productive person. Fun is an action you can take here and now, practically anywhere, anytime.  Through research and science, we know fun is enormously beneficial to our physical and psychological well-being, yet fun's absence from our modern lives is striking. Whether you're a frustrated high-achiever trying to find a better work-life balance or someone who is seeking relief from life's overwhelming challenges, it is time you gain access to the best medicine available. The Fun Habit is the ultimate guide to reap the serious benefits fun offers. Yvette Le Blowitz Podcast Host talks with Dr Mike Rucker, PhD author of The Fun Habit who shares an overview of the habit of fun and the benefits to our overall life, health and wellbeing. In Podcast Episode - EP.203 Dr. Mike Rucker, PhD shares: - a little bit about himself - insights into his book - The Fun Habit  - a practical overview of what Fun is - research, science about Fun and benefits - how to build having fun into an actionable habit - his own self-care rituals Plus we talk about so much more.... Get Ready to TUNE *click here --- Episode 203 - #spaitgirl Podcast with Yvette Le Blowitz  available on Apple, Spotify, Google, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Audible, iTunes, Libysn, Audiobookstore.com Available on all Podcast Apps  search for #spaitgirl on any podcast app or on google  -------- Available to watch on Youtube Channel - Spa it Girl or Yvette Le Blowitz Press the Play Button Below  - Subscribe to my youtube channel/s in support ----- JOIN OUR #SPAITGIRL BOOK CLUB Buy a copy of   **The Habit of Fun by Mike Rucker, PhD **order now through the spaitgirl podcast affiliated BookTopia link *any book purchase via this link will result in a small commission paid by BookTopia to spaitgirl **thanks for your support for more books search via Booktopia our affiliated online book store  *click here Hashtag #spaitgirlbookclub + tag @spaitgirl to share what book you are currently reading --- STAY IN TOUCH   Podcast Guest Dr. Mike Rucker, PhD Author of  The Fun Habit Website www.michaelrucker.com Instagram @thewonderoffun ------ Podcast Host  Yvette Le Blowitz  Instagram @yvetteleblowitz Website www.yvetteleblowitz.com Website www.feelgoodfromwithin.com Youtube Channel: Yvette Le Blowitz  TikTok: @yvetteleblowitz Become a Podcast Show Sponsor #SPAITGIRL  www.spaitgirl.com Email: info@spaitgirl.com Email: info@feelgoodfromwithin.com www.feelgoodfromwithin.com ---- JOIN OUR #SPAITGIRL Community  Instagram: @spaitgirl  @spaitgirl_travel TikTok: @spaitgirl Sign Up to my Mailing List: www.spaitgirl.com www.spaitgirl.com.au Sign Up to my Mailing List: www.feelgoodfromwithin.com Search for #spaitgirl on any podcast app, youtube and subscribe  ---- HOW TO SUPPORT Feel Good From Within with Yvette Le Blowitz - #SPAITGIRL Podcast  Little Random Act of Kindness - podcast show - support - ideas below  - subscribe to the #spaitgirl podcast show on any podcast app or youtube channel  - leave a 5* rating and review  - tell someone about the #spaitgirl podcast show - share your favourite episode - tag @spaitgirl in your stories - hashtag #spaitgirl to share the show &  Together "Let's Feel Good From Within" and #makefeelinggoodgoviral Please note - Affiliated Links included in this spaitgirl.com blog post includes affiliated links with Amazon.com and booktopia.com.au- should you order any books from Amazon.com or Booktopia.com.au via the links contained in this blog post spaitgirl.com will receive a small paid commission fee from the online book stores.  Please note - The information in this podcast is a general conversation between the podcast host and podcast guest and is not intended to replace professional medical advice and should not be considered a substitute for medical treatment or advice from a mental health professional or qualified medical doctor or specialist.  Use of any of the material in this podcast show is always at the listeners discretion.   The podcast host and guest accept no liability arising directly or indirectly from use or misuse of any of the information contained in this podcast show and podcast episode conversation, or any trauma triggered or health concerns associated with it. If you are experiencing depression, mental illness, PTSD, trauma, abuse or have any health concerns please seek medical professional help immediately.

Fun fact: fun is a fact of a healthy life. Brendan talks with the great Mike Rucker, Ph.D. and author of The Fun Habit. The two dive into all kinds of fun like: why fun doesn't live in outcomes, the number one reason relationships go sideways, how the Great Resignation turned into the Great Staycation, switching goals from a 'me' proposition to a 'we' proposition, the 3 keys to enjoying your work, breaking down all things toxic positivity, and if it's ok to 'YOLO' during open heart surgery.       

How can life be more fun? Mike Rucker, PhD, organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, author, and creator of The Fun Habit is on a mission to help people invite more joy and wonder into their every day. He shares how to intentionally add more fun in your routine and actually stick to it, how the pursuit of happiness can improve your physical and psychological wellbeing, and how you can have both a meaningful life and a joyful life. - Come to Cathy's retreat June 25-27 in Florida! Cathyheller.com/retreat - Get Mike's book The Fun Habit from his favorite indie bookstore, Scuppernong Books https://bit.ly/funhabit - More of Mike's writing on the science of fun at https://michaelrucker.com/ - Follow Mike on Instagram @thewonderoffun  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The manner in which we communicate plays an essential role in contributing to or easing microstress. With the proliferation of remote work and numerous communication channels, it is vital to be mindful and intentional in our communication with colleagues and acquaintances. Establishing positive communication norms can alleviate microstress and create a more collaborative and productive work environment. Rob Cross highlighted the need for thoughtful communication in his conversation with Melina Palmer. He shared that teams should establish clear communication norms, such as using bullet points rather than lengthy paragraphs, avoiding unnecessary CC in emails, and refraining from sending messages after a particular time. By adopting such positive communication practices, teams can work towards fostering a supportive workplace culture and minimizing the impact of microstress on all members. Unveil the methods for recognizing and neutralizing everyday workplace microstressors to elevate your work experience. Comprehend the ramifications of toxic relationships on your well-being and establish pathways for transformation. Benefit from Rob Cross's research on the microstress effect and its applications to your personal and professional sphere. Refine your communication skills to address microstress mindfully and cultivate enriching connections. Bring about small alterations that result in remarkable betterment of your holistic well-being. Show Notes: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Host Melina Palmer introduces Dr. Rob Cross, who is the Edward A. Madden Professor of Global Leadership at Babson College and the co-founder and director of the Connected Commons. The episode is about the new book he co-authored with Karen Dillon, The Microstress Effect. 00:03:02 - Background, Rob Cross talks about his background and his work with the Connected Commons, a consortium of over 150 leading organizations that sponsor research into ways of looking at networks and relationships in organizations. 00:06:32 - The Impact of Negative Relationships, Social psychology has shown that the negative interactions we have tend to have 3x to 5x the impact of the positive. Rob Cross shares his thoughts on the best practices for organizations to cultivate relationships that positively impact their employees' wellbeing. 00:08:15 - Resilience and Connections, Resilience is not just about grit and fortitude. It's about how we fall back on others in difficult times. Rob Cross discovered that there are eight predictable things we get from others when we have the connections in our lives. Without these, it's harder to navigate through difficult times. 00:12:23 - Understanding Microstress, Rob Cross shares how he stumbled onto the idea of microstress through his research. He found that there are 14 pretty consistent types of microstress that tend to accumulate around us each day and week at a pace and volume our brains just aren't designed to handle. These microstresses grow behind the scenes in a way that sneaks up on us until they become overwhelming. 00:14:55 - The Impact of Microstress, Rob discusses the impact of microstress on one's life, particularly when they are not aware of it. He talks about how the stress is just beneath the surface of awareness and can be creeping up on us. 00:17:09 - Types of Microstress, Rob explains that microstressors can come from different sources, including emails, instant messaging applications, and team collaborative spaces. He shares that it affects the metabolism differently, and people under this form of stress metabolize their meals differently. 00:22:44 - Cascading Effects of Microstress, Rob shares that microstressors can lead to cascading effects that people don't often think about. For example, a leader or stakeholder that shifts expectations can cause extra work, and employees may have to protect their team and go back into the team to keep engagement high. 00:24:24 - Tips on Dealing with Microstress, Rob suggests a table in the book with the 14 microstressors and categories of people where they come from, and answering three questions around them. He advises people to think about which stressors have become systemic in their lives and what stress they are creating for others. Rob also mentions the importance of finding groups outside of one's profession that they can be an authentic part of. 00:27:15 - Avoiding Getting into the Minutiae, Rob suggests focusing on getting out of the minutiae by finding groups outside one's profession that one can be an authentic part of. He shares that people who are happiest in this work typically have at least two or three groups outside their profession. 00:28:27 - The Impact of Traumatic Events, When experiencing a traumatic health diagnosis or event, people often reflect on what previously seemed important and realize it was insignificant. Those who maintain dimensionality in their life are better equipped to handle such events. Reflecting on interactions and adapting them can have a significant impact on how one feels day-to-day. 00:30:24 - The Impact of Communication on Stress, Poor communication habits, such as overdramatizing gossip or sending excessive emails, can lead to unnecessary stress and negative work interactions. Thoughtful and intentional communication, such as establishing positive norms and reducing unnecessary communication, can help reduce microstressors. 00:34:06 - Decreasing Collaboration Overload, Collaboration overload, where the amount of collaboration outweighs the increase in work, is a significant source of microstressors. By creating positive norms, such as bullet points instead of long paragraphs, or agreeing on a set number of emails per day, the collaborative footprint of work can be reduced. 00:37:36 - The Impact of Small Communication Habits, Small communication habits, such as sending vague or poorly-worded emails or leaving a negative aftertaste in interactions, can accumulate and have a significant impact on work stress levels. Thoughtful interactions, such as being intentional with emails or setting clear expectations for team collaborations, can help reduce microstressors. 00:41:20 - The Impact of Trust and Expectations, Lack of trust and unclear expectations can lead to stress when working on collaborative projects. People often work harder to compensate for small misses from team members, perpetuating the cycle of stress. Setting clear expectations and building trust can help reduce microstressors in collaborative work environments. 00:42:12 - Drains to Capacity, The 14 microstressors that affect our ability to get work done can be categorized as drains to capacity that hit us emotionally (such as worry or concern for people we care about), or value disconnects, where we slowly feel interactions moving us away from who we set out to be. 00:43:28 - Counterfactual Thinking, Dwelling on what had happened or what might happen in the future can be a big contributor to microstress. This can be interactions abroad where we are trying to protect our team, family, or friends. It can also be a conflictual conversation that needs to happen, which can cause disproportionate stress. 00:45:23 - Specific Ways to Manage Conflictual Conversations, Conflictual conversations can be cathartic and good for people if we keep things data-driven and do specific things. We tend to think a lot about it before, during, and after the interaction, and this can cause stress. There are specific ways to handle conflictual conversations that can reduce stress. 00:47:10 - Importance of Small Stuff, Small stressors in our lives and those of people around us can cause massive amounts of stress that are totally unnecessary. Often, we don't realize the impact that our actions are having on others. The book, The Microstress Effect, provides charts and mockups of questions to ask and ways to work through microstress to have an impact on our lives and those around us. 00:49:31 - Closing Thoughts, Melina's top insights from the conversation, and items for you to consider as you implement what you learn. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let's connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina's Books.   Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: The Microstress Effect, by Rob Cross and Karen Dillon The Fun Habit, by Mike Rucker Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes Getting Along, by Amy Gallo  What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer   Connect with Rob:  Rob on Twitter Rob on LinkedIn Rob's Website Top Recommended Next Episode: Counterfactual Thinking (ep 286) Already Heard That One? Try These:   The Fun Habit, with Mike Rucker (ep 251) Happier Hour, with Cassie Holmes (ep 257) Negativity Bias (ep 223) Find Your Purpose, with Gina Bianchini (ep 263) The Importance of Connection, with Nick Epley (ep 265) Framing (ep 16) IKEA Effect (ep 112) Prefactual Thinking (ep 232) The Speed and Economics of Trust, with Stephen M.R. Covey (ep 148) Reciprocity (ep 238) Getting Along, with Amy Gallo (ep 269) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina's LinkedIn Newsletter

Dr. Michael Rucker is the Chief Digital Officer of Active Wellness, and the creator and author of “The Fun Habit”, an action-based approach that helps critically examine one's pursuit of happiness and make adjustments using evidence-based practices to invite more fun and joy in life. Today, he joined Larry and shares about how the pursuit of joy and wonder can change your life. Mike Rucker believes that joy and wonder can be found in the simple things in life, like spending time with family and friends, playing with children, and taking time to appreciate the beauty of nature. Joy and wonder can also be found in larger, more meaningful moments, like celebrating a milestone, or mourning the loss of a loved one. Mike adds that the pursuit of joy and wonder is a powerful force that can change our lives for the better. It can be found in the little moments of everyday life and in the bigger, more meaningful moments. Joy and wonder bring us closer to our true selves, and can bring us closer to those we love. It is important to remember that life is too short not to have fun. When we are present for our families, we are showing them that we care and that we value our relationships. So, take the time to be present and enjoy the moments that we have with our loved ones. www.michaelrucker.com www.thedadedge.com/414 1stphorm.com/dadedge

Organizational psychologist Dr. Mike Rucker joins me on Passion Struck to impart his top tips for integrating fun activities into our daily routines. Drawing on scientific evidence from his book, "The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life," we'll explore the advantages of having fun and the kinds of enjoyable habits we can cultivate. Join us now as we explore why fun isn't solely reserved for children; it's a crucial element of adult life as well. In This Episode, Dr. Mike Rucker And I Discuss His Book "The Fun Habit." In our interview, Mike and I discuss the essence of fun and how it differs from happiness. As busy adults, why is it essential to prioritize fun? Discovering time for enjoyment and the significance of reflecting on fun experiences. Should we prioritize friendship or parenting when it comes to having fun? Creating and sustaining enjoyable practices utilizing the Rucker-PLAY model and learning how to infuse more fun into our relationships with friends. Full show notes and resources can be found here: https://passionstruck.com/dr-mike-rucker-change-your-life-the-fun-habit/  Brought to you by Green Chef. Use code passionstruck60 to get $60 off, plus free shipping!” Brought to you by Indeed. Head to https://www.indeed.com/passionstruck, where you can receive a $75 credit to attract, interview, and hire in one place. --► For information about advertisers and promo codes, go to: https://passionstruck.com/deals/  Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! --► Prefer to watch this interview: https://youtu.be/8j9-MlnNO5M  --► Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMiles Want to find your purpose in life? I provide my six simple steps to achieving it - passionstruck.com/5-simple-steps-to-find-your-passion-in-life/ Want to hear my best interviews from 2022? Check out episode 233 on intentional greatness and episode 234 on intentional behavior change. ===== FOLLOW ON THE SOCIALS ===== * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passion_struck_podcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnrmiles.c0m  Learn more about John: https://johnrmiles.com/ 

"It's not a matter of luck or magic. This is simply how your brain works. So take a break every now and then, and let your brain do what it does best."—Michael Hyatt & Megan Hyatt Miller, authors of Mind Your Mindset: The science that shows success starts with your thinking One of the Beatles most (of many) famous songs came to Paul McCartney simply upon waking up in the morning. As he did, at the age of 21, he was humming a tune that initially he titled "Scrambled Eggs", is better known as "Yesterday" (source). The founder of Ikea, Ingvar Kampard, came up with the concept that lays at the foundation of the now internationally recognized company - "modular furniture makes home decor more accessible", when while working at a furniture store, a customer who had purchased items for their home could not fit it into their car and had to disassemble the legs from the table in order to drive it home (source). And if you ever wanted to thank the person who made it easy and fuss-free to have your caffeine boost in the morning, thank German Melitta Bentz who, tired of "percolators prone to over-brewing coffee, espresso-type machines leaving grounds in the drink, and linen bag filters being tiresome to clean" came up with the drip coffee machine using "blotting paper from her son's school notebook". Patented in 1908, her grandchildren continue to head the "Melitta Group KG with some 3,300 employees in 50 companies" all for a simple idea that no one had thought so simple before: patented under the title “Filter Top Device Lined with Filter Paper”(source). Aha Moments can pertain to any number of areas of our world and lives. Yes, they may prompt us to come up with a promising business idea, much like Sara Blakely and Spanx, but more often, aha moments are seemingly out-of-nowhere discoveries that pop up in our minds that give us clarity, insight and/or direction about something that speaks to our true self. Webster's dictionary underscores and elongates the enumeration of what we are gifted with in such moments:  a moment of sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition, or comprehension. And I don't know about you, but these moments, these Aha Moments with a capital "A" and "M", are a thrill to experience. The dopamine no doubt floods our minds and the joy and lightness in our step feels spontaneous. We figured it out! What ever the "It" might be. Who wouldn't want more of these moments? And the exciting news I want to share with you today is that you can cultivate an environment - i.e. your daily life - to do just that. In a new book Mind Your Mindset, authors and husband and wife Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller share neuro-science and psychology research that demonstrates the power of the stories we tell ourselves and accept. Mind you, not all the stories we tell ourselves are constructive, least of all always accurate, and so for a portion of the book, they examine and reveal how to change the stories in our mind to live a more fulfilling journey of discovery and success. Which brings us to Aha Moments. Mind Your Mindset: The science that shows success starts with your thinking In order to change the stories that are limiting us from realizing our full potential and experiencing all that life can be when we gather up our courage to engage fully and with our true selves, we have to rewire our neurons, and without getting too complicated, we have to start thinking new thoughts. The authors go on to explain that while oversimplified, the brain does have a division of left and right (even though, not physically divided as each communicates with the other, which is how Aha Moments can occur). Explained as the left side being the executive network side which guides our conscious self, "it thinks about what you tell it to"; the right side is the default network side which "loves novelty and creativity and operates largely in your subconscious". Understanding this construction and function of the brain is crucial to enabling more Aha Moments to be a part of our daily life. Why? "To find creative solutions to your problems you need to get this second part of your brain [the default network] into action. This vast network of slower-firing neurons is highly adaptable. It can be endlessly reconfigured to provide new thought and connections. Sure, this takes longer than using conscious thought [executive network], but it's highly effective." —Mind Your Mindset Which leads us to revealing the answer to the question: How to experience more Aha Moments in your life. Let's take a look at the list below. 1.Consciously choose to not be physically 'working' all the time. Often work is only deemed as work if we can see something changing physically - so physical labor, cooking, cleaning, drawing, writing, correcting papers, etc. However, even Leonardo da Vinci took regular moments, even days to not be physically working on The Last Supper, but that didn't mean he wasn't working. His mind was busily meandering, not necessarily being directed by his left brain, but giving space and time to just meander about all that he held in his subconscious, letting his right side of the brain gradually discover connections that on the surface might seem completely disparate. 2. Make time for tasks unrelated to the 'problem' and somewhat quotidian, give you full attention to what you are doing - in other words, mono-task From walking, to cooking, to eating a meal to savor, gardening, any task that requires your full attention that you can let yourself get lost in and thoroughly enjoy, but is unrelated to the dilemma or question you are trying to answer, engage in it regularly. Seemingly out of nowhere, ideas will arise, but not if we force them to, and while not every time, you are giving your subconscious space to move about because your left side of the brain is taking a break. 3. Exercise vigorously (I will let you define what vigorous is) The reason I include the adverb vigorously is because when you are fully engaged with your workout - a long run, a cycling class, a yoga class, climbing a wall, swimming at a swift pace - your mind is held in the present moment which actually lets your subconscious dance about, yep, wander and meander seemingly aimlessly, but what it (your subconscious) is actually doing is very helpful. You just need to give it space to do that work and the time to connect any dots that you, your conscious mind, cannot see or understand. 4. Take a nap I was going to include this idea in #2, but it is quite different in the sense of being conscience. Similar to a good night's sleep, taking a nap. You will wake up with sharper ideas and a clear mind. On the topic of a good, deep sleep (at least 7-hours), such a regular health habit is vital to being able to experience Aha Moments. As we know while we sleep, our brain is 'cleaned' of toxins, certain thoughts are moved to long-term memory while others are swept away or taken deeper into the subconscious as deemed unnecessary for the conscious tasks we regularly tend to. There are many people, myself included, who go to sleep at night with a question about a particular situation and wake up with ideas anew for best approaching it, OR go to sleep with a worry and wake up having completely forgotten about it because the mind, based on our past experience and habits, deems it unimportant. Phew! 9 Benefits of Getting A Good Night's Sleep 5. Prioritize Play In 2017 after reading Alex Soojung-Kim Pang's book Rest: Get More Done by Doing Less I was inspired to write episode #137 of the podcast and disspell the idea that we must always be 'doing' in order to live a fulfilling and even, dare I say, productive and successful life. What Pang points out, along with so much more is that rest need not be sitting on the sofa (although it can). Rest includes giving our mind (in this case, our left-side) a break and letting ourselves play, have fun, and return to many activities that we enjoyed as a child. In Dr. Mike Rucker's recent book The Fun Habit, he concludes, "If you want a twist of fate, start twisting. Choosing fun every day in small, seemingly superficial ways can, over time, lead to new patterns of behavior—new and better choices." An Everyday Necessity: Deliberate Rest, episode #137 6. Enjoy a 'Lazy' Weekend or Day Regularly One of the direct points addressed in Mind Your Mindset regarding stories is what or how we should live, and all of the ideas, in any culture, are rooted in stories we accept. So often the image is presented, at least it was to my generation in our youth by our parents and grandparents that sitting in front of the 'boob-tube' was akin to being lazy. Now don't worry, I am not advocating for plopping ourselves down regularly for hours and days and weeks on end mindlessly watching whatever, but sometimes, we need time to sit down on the sofa and just rest. To physically not move and peruse magazines, books, newspapers, watch something or having something on in the background, listen to podcasts endlessly, the latter two we may not really be paying attention to, but it creates an environment urging us to just be still. And when we are still, when we rest, when we are idle physically with no directive for our mind to attend to or a task to complete, the right side of the brain becomes quite happy and starts to make connections or attempts to make connections to see what might be possible. The authors in Mind Your Mindset suggest if you are trying to figure something out, you can point your mind in the direction you wish it to figure out, but then you let go. Let go and go about relaxing and toodling about with no objective in mind and what you are enabling is something quite constructive. So long as you do this regularly, your mind will begin to offer you ideas that seem initially as if they came out of nowhere, but you and I know differently. :) Last but not least! 7. Feed your mind with a diverse serving of ideas and experiences The only way, unique and awesome Aha Moments can come to the forefront of your conscious mind is if you continue to remain curious about life. Since you were a child, you have been exposed to a vast breadth of ideas, objects, experiences, people and information. As an adult you have agency to choose to continue to explore new ideas, to deepen your learning, to see new places, experience new cultures, food and anything that is not part of what you already know (or think you know). By choosing to feed your mind with constructive nourishment, even if you don't know what you will do with the 'food' you receive, your subconscious holds on to these moments, and that is what it is dancing about with as you engage with each of the previous six ideas shared above. Which also means, mind what you feed your mind. Be conscientious about what you are exposed to, the information that swirls about, the words that are used, the attitudes, energy, etc. All of this will determine the quality of your life, and when you then make space to exercise your right-side of the brain, beautiful and what may have once seemed impossible discoveries will be made, and your life will change. Wishing you many Aha Moments in your near and distant future. Petit Plaisir Beyond Paradise

In today's episode, we cover fun with Mike Rucker. Mike is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, recovering entrepreneur, and the author of The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. The pursuit of pleasure has been beaten into us as an unhealthy one by many thought leaders throughout history, but what role do fun and leisure play in increasing our productivity, how can you leverage pleasure to make daily work more enjoyable, and what can you do to create more space in your day for pleasurable activities if you find yourself burning out on work? What to Listen For Introduction – 0:00 How does focusing on happiness lead to rumination and depression?  Hedonic Flexibility Principle – 16:02 What role do fun and leisure play in maximizing productivity and life satisfaction? How important is it to take a sabbatical periodically to recharge and regain a healthy focus on life and work? Activity Bundling – 34:03  What can you do to add fun and pleasure to your daily activities to make them more enjoyable and thus encourage you to do them better? Creating Options for Fun in Your Life – 43:28  What little decisions can you make everyday to make your life more fulfilling? What simple framework can you use to create space in your life to integrate more fun activities and decrease the number of soul-sucking activities? It is evident that happiness does not necessarily lie in big accomplishments or major life changes, but rather in the small choices we make each day. When we focus on making those choices fun and enjoyable, we are more likely to stick with them and see lasting results. What are some small decisions you can make today to add a little bit of fun and pleasure to your daily routine? A Word From Our Sponsors Are you ready to take your career to the next level in 2023? Looking to grow your high-value social circle? You are one relationship away from changing your entire life. Listen: your social circle, professional network, and lack of confidence are thwarting your attempts at accelerating your career. But there's something you can do about it. After coaching over 10,000 clients including military special operators and Fortune 500 executives we've learned a thing or two about what it actually takes to grow your network. In fact, over 90% of the amazing guests on this show are from referrals in our personal networks. We've packaged our best insights inside a course called, Social Capital. And, as a thank you for being a podcast listener, we want to give you this training for FREE to start 2023. To get your hands on this training and immediately start improving your relationships, go to theartofcharm.com/sc Do you LOVE the toolbox episodes? Did you know that every week we give a LIVE mini-toolbox lesson inside our Private Facebook Group? Best of all it is FREE to join. Join today and get access to all of our live training and level up your communication, leadership, influence and persuasion skills. With 14,000 members it's a great place to network, learn and overcome any obstacle that's in your way. Running out of things to say in conversation… and still struggling to get people interested in you? That's an uncomfortable position to be in. Don't want to risk getting tongue-tied and screwing things up the next time you meet someone? Check out Conversation Magic now to make sure you don't crash and burn. With our bulletproof formula, you'll be flirting up a storm, sparking fun and engaging conversations, and making high-value friends anywhere! Resources from this Episode The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life Mike Rucker's website Check in with AJ and Johnny! AJ on Instagram Johnny on Instagram The Art of Charm on Instagram The Art of Charm on YouTube The Art of Charm on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest on this episode, Dr. Mike Rucker, explains how we can all benefit physically and psychologically from adding more fun to our lives.  Dr. Rucker is an organizational psychologist who says fun is a direct neurological route to improving our well-being—and yet, it's also a skill that requires some training.  He's the author of the new book, "The Fun Habit:  How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life".   His website is michaelrucker.com.   Nom Nom uses the latest science and insights to make real, good food for dogs. Their nutrient-packed recipes are crafted by Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists, made fresh, and shipped FREE to your door.  Nom Nom's already delivered over 40 million meals to good dogs like yours, inspiring millions of clean bowls and tail wags.  Nom Nom comes with a Money Back Guarantee. If your dog's tail isn't wagging within 30 days, Nom Nom will refund your first order.  No fillers. No nonsense. Just Nom Nom.  Go Right Now for 50% off your no-risk two week trial at trynom.com/Nobody

Wouldn't it be great if you had a way to turbocharge your will power when you are faced with temptation? Well, you do have such a way. This episode begins with a simple technique that will help you resist whatever is tempting you in the moment and keep you on the straight and narrow. http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/clenched-muscles-assist-self-contro-10-10-20/ Everyone wants to be happy but being happy isn't something you do, it's the result of doing something you enjoy. You must first have fun, then happiness follows. This is according to organizational psychologist Mike Rucker author of a book on this called The Fun Habit (https://amzn.to/3inKGPT). Listen as Mike explains why fun is the key to happiness and why so many of us struggle with the idea of just playing and having fun. He reveals how the benefits of incorporating even just a little more fun in your life can be tremendous. Mike also offers some easy strategies to carve out time for fun. And he explains why everyone can and should do that as soon as possible.  The fact that we all have reliable electricity at the flip of a switch is really quite amazing when you think about it. It has only been in the last 120 years or so that having electricity in your home has been the norm. So how did scientists tame this force of nature so that it now powers so much of our lives? Here to tell the story is Kathy Joseph. She holds multiple advanced degrees in physics ad engineering and has a YouTube Channel called Kathy Loves Physics and History. https://www.youtube.com/c/KathyLovesPhysicsHistory. She is also author of the book The Lightning Tamers: True Stories of the Dreamers and Schemers Who Harnessed Electricity and Transformed Our World (https://amzn.to/3CqcyJY) Whenever you feel down or depressed, it is typically because you are regretting something in your past or you worry about something in your future – or both. Listen as I explain what you can do the next time that happens that should make you feel better in the moment. Source: Dr. Jeffrey Rossman author of The Mind-Body Solution (https://amzn.to/3QkommK) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Stop throwing your money away. Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the easy way – by going to https://RocketMoney.com/something ! Did you know you could reduce the number of unwanted calls & emails with Online Privacy Protection from Discover? - And it's FREE! Just activate it in the Discover App. See terms & learn more at https://Discover.com/Online Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's conversation is with Dr. Michael Rucker, an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. I've had the pleasure of knowing Mike for about two decades and I'm stoked to introduce him and his work to you. A former corporate executive, Michael found himself burnt out, unfulfilled in his career, and as he states “over-optimized in the pursuit of happiness”. So, he decided to make a change. He quit his job and set out on a journey to rediscover the joy of play and fun – and to help others do the same. This January, Michael will be publishing his first book, The Fun Habit, an action-based approach that helps you critically examine your pursuit of happiness and make adjustments using evidence-based practices to invite more fun and joy in your life.This is a fun conversation, about fun – how we can invite more of it into our lives, and why it is an essential piece to high performance, corporate cultures, and a life well-lived.-----You can also watch this - and every - conversation on our YouTube channel.Connect with us on our Instagram.For more information and shownotes from every episode, head to findingmastery.net.-----Please support our partners!We're able to keep growing and creating content for YOU because of their support. We believe in their mission and would appreciate you supporting them in return!!To take advantage of deals from our partners, head to http://www.findingmastery.net/partners where you'll find all discount links and codes mentioned in the podcast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.