Podcasts about wonder can change your life

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Best podcasts about wonder can change your life

Latest podcast episodes about wonder can change your life

The Hamilton Review
Mike Rucker: Author of "The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life."

The Hamilton Review

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 36:52


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/

The Hamilton Review
(PT. 2) Mike Rucker: Author of "The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life."

The Hamilton Review

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 20:37


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/  

Live Happy Now
Commit to a Summer of Fun with Mike Rucker, PhD

Live Happy Now

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 26:33


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.

Be Freaking Awesome Podcast
EP106 Fun February: Making Fun a Habit with Mike Rucker

Be Freaking Awesome Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2024 54:30 Transcription Available


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.

The Pursuit of Learning
Finding Joy in Simple Pleasures with Mike Rucker, Ph.D.

The Pursuit of Learning

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 94:46


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

New Books Network
The Power of Play in Higher Education: A Conversation with Alison James

New Books Network

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 73:05


Why are academics encouraged to be rigorous and exhausted, instead of innovative and engaged? What learning outcomes are we sacrificing by being so serious? Dr. Alison James joins us to share insights from her research and practice of emphasizing play in higher education. This episode explores: How having fun can strengthen problem solving skills and learning outcomes. Why higher education doesn't take play, creativity, and fun seriously enough. What led her to prioritize play when other educators weren't. A discussion of her books The Value of Play in Higher Education, and The Power of Play in Higher Education. Our guest is: Dr. Alison James, who is Professor Emerita of the University of Winchester. She is the author of numerous articles and publications on play and creativity in university learning, and of the three year study The Value of Play in HE, supported by the Imagination Lab Foundation and available free here. She is the co-editor, with Chrissi Nerantzi, of The Power of Play in HE: Creativity in Tertiary Learning, and the co-author, with Stephen D. Brookfield, of Engaging Imagination: Helping Students Become Creative and Reflective Thinkers. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is a freelance book editor. She has served as content director and producer of the Academic Life podcast since she launched it in 2020. The Academic Life is proud to be an academic partner of the New Books Network. Listeners to this episode may also be interested in: Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, by Dacher Keltner Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time, by Sheila Liming Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age, by Katherine May The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, by Dr. Mike Rucker The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature, by Sue Stuart-Smith This conversation about seeking meaning instead of happiness This conversation about the importance of spending time in nature This conversation about the need to take a break from overworking and underliving This conversation about belonging and the science of creating human connections This conversation about the value of living a “good-enough” life Welcome to the Academic Life! Join us here each week to learn from experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world, and embrace the broad definition of what it truly means to live an academic life. Missed any of the 150+ Academic Life episodes? You can find them all archived here. And check back soon: we're in the studio creating more episodes for your academic journey—and beyond! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The Academic Life
The Power of Play in Higher Education: A Conversation with Alison James

The Academic Life

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 73:05


Why are academics encouraged to be rigorous and exhausted, instead of innovative and engaged? What learning outcomes are we sacrificing by being so serious? Dr. Alison James joins us to share insights from her research and practice of emphasizing play in higher education. This episode explores: How having fun can strengthen problem solving skills and learning outcomes. Why higher education doesn't take play, creativity, and fun seriously enough. What led her to prioritize play when other educators weren't. A discussion of her books The Value of Play in Higher Education, and The Power of Play in Higher Education. Our guest is: Dr. Alison James, who is Professor Emerita of the University of Winchester. She is the author of numerous articles and publications on play and creativity in university learning, and of the three year study The Value of Play in HE, supported by the Imagination Lab Foundation and available free here. She is the co-editor, with Chrissi Nerantzi, of The Power of Play in HE: Creativity in Tertiary Learning, and the co-author, with Stephen D. Brookfield, of Engaging Imagination: Helping Students Become Creative and Reflective Thinkers. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is a freelance book editor. She has served as content director and producer of the Academic Life podcast since she launched it in 2020. The Academic Life is proud to be an academic partner of the New Books Network. Listeners to this episode may also be interested in: Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, by Dacher Keltner Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time, by Sheila Liming Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age, by Katherine May The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, by Dr. Mike Rucker The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature, by Sue Stuart-Smith This conversation about seeking meaning instead of happiness This conversation about the importance of spending time in nature This conversation about the need to take a break from overworking and underliving This conversation about belonging and the science of creating human connections This conversation about the value of living a “good-enough” life Welcome to the Academic Life! Join us here each week to learn from experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world, and embrace the broad definition of what it truly means to live an academic life. Missed any of the 150+ Academic Life episodes? You can find them all archived here. And check back soon: we're in the studio creating more episodes for your academic journey—and beyond! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/academic-life

New Books in Education
The Power of Play in Higher Education: A Conversation with Alison James

New Books in Education

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 73:05


Why are academics encouraged to be rigorous and exhausted, instead of innovative and engaged? What learning outcomes are we sacrificing by being so serious? Dr. Alison James joins us to share insights from her research and practice of emphasizing play in higher education. This episode explores: How having fun can strengthen problem solving skills and learning outcomes. Why higher education doesn't take play, creativity, and fun seriously enough. What led her to prioritize play when other educators weren't. A discussion of her books The Value of Play in Higher Education, and The Power of Play in Higher Education. Our guest is: Dr. Alison James, who is Professor Emerita of the University of Winchester. She is the author of numerous articles and publications on play and creativity in university learning, and of the three year study The Value of Play in HE, supported by the Imagination Lab Foundation and available free here. She is the co-editor, with Chrissi Nerantzi, of The Power of Play in HE: Creativity in Tertiary Learning, and the co-author, with Stephen D. Brookfield, of Engaging Imagination: Helping Students Become Creative and Reflective Thinkers. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is a freelance book editor. She has served as content director and producer of the Academic Life podcast since she launched it in 2020. The Academic Life is proud to be an academic partner of the New Books Network. Listeners to this episode may also be interested in: Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, by Dacher Keltner Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time, by Sheila Liming Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age, by Katherine May The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, by Dr. Mike Rucker The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature, by Sue Stuart-Smith This conversation about seeking meaning instead of happiness This conversation about the importance of spending time in nature This conversation about the need to take a break from overworking and underliving This conversation about belonging and the science of creating human connections This conversation about the value of living a “good-enough” life Welcome to the Academic Life! Join us here each week to learn from experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world, and embrace the broad definition of what it truly means to live an academic life. Missed any of the 150+ Academic Life episodes? You can find them all archived here. And check back soon: we're in the studio creating more episodes for your academic journey—and beyond! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/education

New Books in Higher Education
The Power of Play in Higher Education: A Conversation with Alison James

New Books in Higher Education

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 73:05


Why are academics encouraged to be rigorous and exhausted, instead of innovative and engaged? What learning outcomes are we sacrificing by being so serious? Dr. Alison James joins us to share insights from her research and practice of emphasizing play in higher education. This episode explores: How having fun can strengthen problem solving skills and learning outcomes. Why higher education doesn't take play, creativity, and fun seriously enough. What led her to prioritize play when other educators weren't. A discussion of her books The Value of Play in Higher Education, and The Power of Play in Higher Education. Our guest is: Dr. Alison James, who is Professor Emerita of the University of Winchester. She is the author of numerous articles and publications on play and creativity in university learning, and of the three year study The Value of Play in HE, supported by the Imagination Lab Foundation and available free here. She is the co-editor, with Chrissi Nerantzi, of The Power of Play in HE: Creativity in Tertiary Learning, and the co-author, with Stephen D. Brookfield, of Engaging Imagination: Helping Students Become Creative and Reflective Thinkers. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is a freelance book editor. She has served as content director and producer of the Academic Life podcast since she launched it in 2020. The Academic Life is proud to be an academic partner of the New Books Network. Listeners to this episode may also be interested in: Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, by Dacher Keltner Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time, by Sheila Liming Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age, by Katherine May The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, by Dr. Mike Rucker The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature, by Sue Stuart-Smith This conversation about seeking meaning instead of happiness This conversation about the importance of spending time in nature This conversation about the need to take a break from overworking and underliving This conversation about belonging and the science of creating human connections This conversation about the value of living a “good-enough” life Welcome to the Academic Life! Join us here each week to learn from experts inside and outside the academy, and around the world, and embrace the broad definition of what it truly means to live an academic life. Missed any of the 150+ Academic Life episodes? You can find them all archived here. And check back soon: we're in the studio creating more episodes for your academic journey—and beyond! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Books Network
The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

New Books Network

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 54:39


When we are tethered to our responsibilities, it can feel like we need someone to give us permission to go have fun. Maybe some of us have begun to forget what “fun” is? And what it feels like to have it? Have we talked ourselves into the idea that fun is just for kids…and that truly responsible people don't have time for it? Dr. Mike Rucker joins us to explain the value of fun for our personal and our professional life. It turns out, it's even good for our health. Today's book is: The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, by Dr. Mike Rucker. 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. 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. Our guest is: Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association whose work has been published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, mindbodygreen, and more. Named one of ten digital changemakers by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, he currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness. Learn more at MichaelRucker.com. He is the author of The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, a historian of women and gender. Listeners to this episode may be interested in: Belonging, by Dr. Geoffrey Cohen It's a Wonderful Life: Insights on Finding a Meaningful Existence, by Dr. Frank Martela The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature, by Dr. Sue Stuart Smith This podcast on the value of spending time outside Academic Life podcast on how to stop chasing happiness and make a meaningful life instead Academic Life podcast on belonging and the science of creating connections Academic Life podcast on navigating difficult conversations Academic Life episode on a college baseball league that puts fun first Welcome to The Academic Life! Join us here each week, to learn from experts inside and outside the academy, and embrace the broad definition of what it means to lead an academic life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

New Books in Psychology
The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

New Books in Psychology

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 54:39


When we are tethered to our responsibilities, it can feel like we need someone to give us permission to go have fun. Maybe some of us have begun to forget what “fun” is? And what it feels like to have it? Have we talked ourselves into the idea that fun is just for kids…and that truly responsible people don't have time for it? Dr. Mike Rucker joins us to explain the value of fun for our personal and our professional life. It turns out, it's even good for our health. Today's book is: The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, by Dr. Mike Rucker. 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. 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. Our guest is: Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association whose work has been published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, mindbodygreen, and more. Named one of ten digital changemakers by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, he currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness. Learn more at MichaelRucker.com. He is the author of The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, a historian of women and gender. Listeners to this episode may be interested in: Belonging, by Dr. Geoffrey Cohen It's a Wonderful Life: Insights on Finding a Meaningful Existence, by Dr. Frank Martela The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature, by Dr. Sue Stuart Smith This podcast on the value of spending time outside Academic Life podcast on how to stop chasing happiness and make a meaningful life instead Academic Life podcast on belonging and the science of creating connections Academic Life podcast on navigating difficult conversations Academic Life episode on a college baseball league that puts fun first Welcome to The Academic Life! Join us here each week, to learn from experts inside and outside the academy, and embrace the broad definition of what it means to lead an academic life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

The Academic Life
The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

The Academic Life

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 54:39


When we are tethered to our responsibilities, it can feel like we need someone to give us permission to go have fun. Maybe some of us have begun to forget what “fun” is? And what it feels like to have it? Have we talked ourselves into the idea that fun is just for kids…and that truly responsible people don't have time for it? Dr. Mike Rucker joins us to explain the value of fun for our personal and our professional life. It turns out, it's even good for our health. Today's book is: The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, by Dr. Mike Rucker. 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. 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. Our guest is: Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association whose work has been published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, mindbodygreen, and more. Named one of ten digital changemakers by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, he currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness. Learn more at MichaelRucker.com. He is the author of The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, a historian of women and gender. Listeners to this episode may be interested in: Belonging, by Dr. Geoffrey Cohen It's a Wonderful Life: Insights on Finding a Meaningful Existence, by Dr. Frank Martela The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature, by Dr. Sue Stuart Smith This podcast on the value of spending time outside Academic Life podcast on how to stop chasing happiness and make a meaningful life instead Academic Life podcast on belonging and the science of creating connections Academic Life podcast on navigating difficult conversations Academic Life episode on a college baseball league that puts fun first Welcome to The Academic Life! Join us here each week, to learn from experts inside and outside the academy, and embrace the broad definition of what it means to lead an academic life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/academic-life

Dads Making a Difference Podcast
The FUN Habit: How to Bring More Fun and Joy Into Your Home With Dr. Mike Rucker

Dads Making a Difference Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 50:49


As men, we can often feel burdened by the responsibilities of home and work. So much so, that our ability to have fun is affected. This then impacts the way we connect with our kids, especially when it comes to play. We may even begin to view play and fun as an event, as a product, instead of as the valuable pursuit of joy and wonder. But just because dads have serious stuff to take care of doesn't mean they don't get to have fun anymore. With the right approach, dads can become leaders who bring joy and play into their own homes even as they take care of work and other responsibilities.In this episode, Dr. Mike Rucker shares what happiness really is about and how to be the bearer of joy in their own families. “Of course we want to be happy. It's an interesting by-product of living a joyful life. But when we make it an outcome-based goal, it's clear that bad things can happen.” - Mike RuckerIn This Episode:Mike talks about positive psychology and why he started to study the concept of happiness in depthLearn how dads can bring more joy into their family's livesDiscover how dads can find balance between work and family life while still having funLearn the value of fun and play even as an adultLearn tips on how to effectively play with your kidsLearn how to be more present when playing with your kids...and more!Resources:The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker PhD Connect with Dr. Mike Rucker:WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInConnect with Cam Hall:WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInYouTubeEmail - cam@dmdpodcast.comWant to join a holistic group coaching call with Cam? - Send him a message on Instagram @fightthedadbods

Healthcare Unfiltered
“The Fun Habit” With Mike Rucker

Healthcare Unfiltered

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023 51:11


Mike Rucker, PhD, a behavioral scientist and organizational psychologist, joins the show to discuss his writing and publishing of the book “The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life.” Dr. Rucker explains how you can build having fun into an “actionable and effortless habit” and simultaneously reduce burnout. He shares why Americans have a difficult time enjoying themselves outside of work, what it means to “stop chasing happiness and start having fun,” what kind of societal reset is needed to change the work culture mindset in the US to lead to more productivity, how to “expand your fun file,” and why friendship is the “glue” to good mental hygiene. Read more about Mike Rucker. https://michaelrucker.com/bio/ Check out Chadi's website for all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes and other content. www.chadinabhan.com/ Watch all Healthcare Unfiltered episodes on Youtube. www.youtube.com/channel/UCjiJPTpIJdIiukcq0UaMFsA

Your Anxiety Toolkit
Make FUN a priority | Ep. 329

Your Anxiety Toolkit

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 17:01


Welcome back, everybody. I had a whole other topic planned to talk with you about today and I've had to basically bench it because I feel so compelled to talk to you about this topic, which is the topic of having fun. Now, you might be having a strong reaction to this and maybe there's a bunch of people who didn't listen because the idea of having fun feels so silly when you are anxious and depressed. It feels like a stupid idea, a ridiculous idea. But the last few weeks have taught me such valuable lessons about mental health. I talk about mental health all the time. That's what I live and breathe pretty much. Sometimes when you have an experience—I keep saying it changes your DNA—I feel to a degree my DNA has been changed these last few weeks and let me share with you why.  For those of you who follow me on social media, you will know that in the last couple of weeks, I made a very last-minute trip to the United Kingdom. What happened was pre-COVID, I had booked tickets to visit London for a work event, and COVID happened. I had a certain amount of time to use these tickets, and I actually had thought that those tickets had expired on December 30th of last year. And then one Friday morning, I woke up and checked my email and it said, “You have 18 days until you depart.” I'm thinking, 18 days to depart, where? I haven't booked any tickets. Only to find out that my tickets were put on what's called an “open hold,” which meant they had just put a date to a trip knowing that I would log in and reschedule it when I was ready. It turned out to be three years later. And then I logged on and saw I have 19 days to use my ticket.  I went upstairs, I talked to my husband, and I said, “I have this ticket to the United Kingdom I've never been to. I would really love to go.” He said, “You should go. I think it would be really good for you. I'll stay home with the kids. You go.” That was the plan. I was going to go, I was going to keep working, I was going to see my clients, but when I wasn't working, I would go out and have British food and maybe go walk around London and maybe visit a castle or two. That was the plan. I was so excited.  I happened to mention it to my sister-in-law who I love, and I said, “Ha-ha, you should come.” She said, “Oh! No, there's no way I could come and I didn't think anything of it.” And then the next morning I woke up, she had messaged me and said, “I've changed my mind. I'm coming.” Now, there is a point to this story, which is, my first thought was, “Oh my gosh, that's so exciting.” My second thought was, “Oh my gosh, that is scary,” because my sister-in-law is the most wonderful human being and she loves to have fun. What was shocking to me is I started to notice I was going to pump the brakes on fun. No, no, no, no, no, no. Oh my gosh. Now quickly, of course, I said, “Come, I'm so excited.” We went, but that response was so interesting to me. What it was, was my anxiety did not like the idea that we were going to go and let loose. My anxiety did not like that inhibitory piece, that amygdala deep in my brain was like, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, pump the brakes. This is going way too fast for me.”  The reason I'm doing today's episode is I bet you that's what your brain does too. It wants to pump the brakes on fun and pleasure because it creates uncertainty and it creates vulnerability and it creates where things aren't in control anymore. Letting go and having fun is hard when you have anxiety. Letting go and having fun is hard when you have depression.  “Yes” Week We went and we called the week “YES week.” Actually, I called it “YES week” because I knew this was an exposure I needed to do. We made an agreement that if one person wanted to do something, both of us had to say yes. If someone wanted to try a food, and my sister-in-law loves to try all the different foods, we both had to say yes. It was such a deep exposure experience for me. A deep, oh my gosh, pleasurable. I don't want you to think it was all hard because the truth is, it was all pleasurable and I was so surprised at how my brain kept making problems out of having fun.  I'll give you another example. We're sitting at this Indian restaurant. We kept saying to the maitre d' or the people at the front desk, “Tell us the best Indian restaurant. Tell us the best high tea. Tell us the best place to go and have drinks. Tell us the best place to get scotch eggs. Tell us the best place to have Scottish pie. Tell us the best.” We kept saying that. We were sitting at this Indian restaurant and my sister-in-law was like, “We'll have one of those and one of those and one of those and one of those.” She's a foodie. I could even feel my body going like, “No, no, no, no, that's too much fun.” It's so interesting to me how my brain was pumping the breaks on fun and how when you have fun, again, after doing this for one week, I felt like my DNA was changed. I realized how-- I don't want to use the word controlling because I don't consider myself a controlling person, but how much my brain wants to monitor the amount of fun that happens and how much my brain's anxiety wants to raise alerts about the simplest things. We went to a million abbeys and I realized that I have this deep love for visiting churches and abbeys. Oh my gosh, I feel like my whole heart just shines bright. I'm not particularly a religious person at all, but just visiting these abbeys in these gorgeous places. And then she'll come up and she'll pull on my sleeve and she'll say, “Let's go do this extra tour.” My mind wants to be like, “No, no, no, no. We've done enough fun for one day.” She's like, “Let's go.” I'd be like, “Yes,” because we have to say yes.  There's this place called Duck & Waffle, which is a ‘70s nightclub restaurant. It was fabulous. She's like, “We should try that.” My brain kept going, “No, no. We just had some food before.” It was all these things and it was just keep saying yes to fun. Keep saying yes, keep saying yes. Yes week, that's what it was. I realized after a week of doing this how little power my anxiety had. I'm thinking about it. I'm just dropping down into it. You can see I'm slowing down. Now, number one, I want to acknowledge, you can't live like that forever. That was a vacation. I would never do that on a day-to-day basis because it's not realistic, it's not reasonable. We have to live a reasonable life. But I made a deal with myself as I was going back over Greenland. I was flying over Greenland looking at this huge snowy country and I was thinking, wow, I wish I lived in a country this beautiful. And then I was like, “Wait, I do.” You could start to practice being in the beauty of your country more. And then I started thinking, what would happen if I went home and I deeply enjoyed the food? Like I slowed down to actually take in the pleasure of the food. I mean, I think I do an okay job at this, but on vacation, like I said, we were practicing going, “Ooh, I love the flavor of this. Ooh, that's so soft and that's so sweet and that's so tender,” and all the things.  What if I actually really allowed pleasure and fun to tickle my senses here in my daily life? What if instead of making dinner like a serious mom, which I often do because I don't want to embarrass my children—what if instead I let myself dance more? What if I goofed off more? What if I enjoyed laughing more? What if I practiced and made a habit of implementing fun into my life on the daily? This is what I was thinking about, what's the ratio of work to fun in your life? I mean, I'm guessing you have either school or work or family or a mental health issue that you're managing or a medical health issue that you're managing. That's work. What's the ratio of work to fun? It made me really think like I have a wonderful life and I'm so grateful for my wonderful life, but the ratio of work to fun is not ideal. It's not where I want it to be. Once I had spent a week of just saying yes, yes, yes, and not letting fear ever say no, it was so cool because I had this accountability buddy right next to me. I realized like once I'd done that for a week, I wanted to keep it going. I didn't want to go back to pumping the brakes anymore. It's been such a beautiful gift that I had.  The Fun Habit Now, I'm going to encourage you to create a yes week or a yes day, or a yes hour. I just finished a book called The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. It's by Mike Rucker. A friend of mine encouraged me to read it after I had told her like I literally just had this date with fun. I had this exposure of fun. I had a yes week where we said yes to. If we wanted to sleep in, we slept in. If we wanted to read, we read. It was really beautiful. Again, I understand the privilege of having that experience, but I worked my butt off too. I needed that. I really, really needed that. My mental health really needed it and so forth. But the book is talking about how we have talked about and trained ourselves to be afraid of fun. We've demonized fun as if it's irresponsible or unnecessary or ridiculous or lazy.  I want to leave you today with the idea to plant a seed where you go and have more fun. I was thinking about it. For those of you who have anxiety disorders or depressive disorder, this is the biggest FU to anxiety. It's the biggest FU to depression. It's the biggest “Don't tell me what to do” when it comes to recovering from anxiety and depression. Is it going to fix it completely? No. I don't want to oversell it here. But is it a major game changer? Does it change the way we see the world? Does it increase the dopamine that gets released into your body? Does it make the hard work worth it? Yes.  I was thinking like, I was so excited to go back to work because I had a week of fun. If I had have done my original plan, which is where I worked while I was in London, and I just visited a little on the side, I wouldn't have been that excited to come back to work. But I was so excited to come back to work and I was so excited to sit down and talk to you on this podcast. I don't think that would've been the case if I had have pumped the brakes like I was planning to for that week. Have More Fun! There you have it. I'm going to ask you, please give you permission. Go and have more fun. Increase the percentage a few percent or 100% or 50% or 10%, whatever you can do. But do your best to implement pieces of fun into your daily life. It will literally change your DNA. Not literally, that's scientifically not true. Don't take that as literal. But for me, I felt like my DNA had been changed. I kept saying it. I'm like, “I feel like my DNA has something shifted in me.” It's because I realized even though I have so much joy in my life, I do still pump the brakes on fun and I want there to be more and I'm dedicating more time to fun and savoring pleasure.  So that's all I want to say. Go and have some fun, please. I'd love to hear about the fun that you're having. When fear shows up, try to confuse it by saying, “You know what, fear? You can be here and I'm going to go choose fun anyway.” Fun can be whatever it is for you. There's no right way of having fun and it doesn't have to be expensive here either. Like I said, a lot of the things that my sister-in-law and I did cost no money. It's just that we were saying yes to silly things. Some of it was even like cartwheeling in the underground train station or giggling at stupid things that are so silly and so immature, but having fun with it. Just have some fun. I love you. I hope you're having a wonderful day. It is a beautiful day to have fun is all I'm going to say to you today. I will see you next week. We have a very cool series coming up, which you are going to love, so stick around. I'll see you next week.

HER | Mind Body Life
The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

HER | Mind Body Life

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023


Everyone deserve to have fun. Dr. Mike Rucker shares about his life and discusses his book "The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life."

HER | Mind Body Life
The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

HER | Mind Body Life

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023


Everyone deserve to have fun. Dr. Mike Rucker shares about his life and discusses his book "The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life."

Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Dr. Mike Rucker on How to Change Your Life With the Fun Habit EP 267

Passion Struck with John R. Miles

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2023 63:11 Transcription Available


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/ 

The Brain and Brand Show
The Science of Fun with Mike Rucker

The Brain and Brand Show

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 36:58


Timothy explores the science of fun with Mike Rucker, the author of ‘The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life’, and why it's critical to have it to ensure your brain thrives. They unpack what science has to say about designing a fun mindset, and how to integrate it across your life. cliffcentral.com

science pursuit mike rucker wonder can change your life
Parenting Understood
Ep. 79 - How to Have More Fun In Parenting with Mike Rucker

Parenting Understood

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2023 35:36


In this episode we are joined by Mike Rucker, an organizational psychologist and author of "The Fun Habit: How the Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life," to discuss the importance of finding joy and wonder in parenting. Mike emphasizes the importance of emotional flexibility and shared control with children to create positive relationships and memories. He suggests that parents should focus on finding enjoyable activities with their children, rather than just scheduling activities out of duty. By doing so, parents can create lasting memories and positive experiences for both themselves and their children. Rucker also shares what inspired him to write his book, and how the disciplined pursuit of joy and wonder can change one's life for the better. This episode offers valuable insights for parents who want to cultivate more fun and joy in their relationships with their children. To learn more about Michelle's Pocket Parenting Membership, please visit https://www.thrivingtoddler.com/offers/u9UQ2BgG To learn more about Mike Rucker, please visit https://michaelrucker.com/ “The Fun Habit: How the Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life” is available now at booksellers everywhere.

Chris Voss Podcast
Chris Voss Podcast – The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker PhD.

Chris Voss Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2023 37:34


The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker PhD. Discover the latest compelling scientific evidence for the potent and revitalizing value of fun and how to make having fun a habitual and authentic part of your daily life. Doesn't it seem that the more we seek […] The post Chris Voss Podcast – The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker PhD. appeared first on Chris Voss Official Website.

The Art of Charm
The Science of Fun and 3 Ways to Add More to Your Life | Mike Rucker

The Art of Charm

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2023 68:54


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

Parent Footprint with Dr. Dan
The Fun Habit with Mike Rucker

Parent Footprint with Dr. Dan

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2023 64:12


Dr. Dan and guest Mike Rucker talk about fun today on the podcast - including a discussion about Mike's book The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. Mike offers the latest compelling scientific evidence about the concept of fun and teaches us all how to make having fun a habitual and authentic part of our daily life. This episode is for anyone seeking joy, happiness, and specific ways to build fun into an actionable and effortless habit. For parents, kids, and everyone craving a more enjoyable and fulfilling life.Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, father, husband, and author. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, mindbodygreen, and more. Learn more at www.MichaelRucker.com. Email your parenting questions to Dr. Dan podcast@drdanpeters.com (we might answer on a future episode).Follow us @parentfootprintpodcast (Instagram, Facebook) and @drdanpeters (Twitter).Listen, follow, and leave us a review on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Wondery, or wherever you like to listen!Don't forget, you can hear every episode one week early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in the @WonderyMedia App.For more information:www.exactlyrightmedia.com www.drdanpeters.comFor podcast merch:www.exactlyrightmedia.com/parent-footprint-shopSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Grit NW -  A Carpenters Union Podcast
The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life - Dr. Mike Rucker

Grit NW - A Carpenters Union Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 39:52 Transcription Available


On today's episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Mike Rucker about his book, The Fun Habit - How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life.The Fun Habit is a science-backed, actionable case for the importance of seeking fun, rather than happiness, in our daily lives. Mike argues that fun is a resource available to anyone, at almost anytime, yet most people are not having enough of it. His insightful new book reveals how intentionally increasing your joyful moments can improve your health, relationships, and productivity.During our conversation we'll unpack the 4 quadrants of the P.L.A.Y model and how it can help you assess your daily activities so you can incorporate for fun into your life.NW Carpenters Union United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Regional Council in the Pacific NorthwestUnion Home Plus Union Home Plus helps union members save money when they buy, sell, or finance their home. Grit Nation Webpagehttps://www.gritnationpodcast.comEmail Grit Nation:joe@gritnationpodcast.com

Psychologists Off The Clock: A Psychology Podcast About The Science And Practice Of Living Well

We all want to live a fun and fulfilling life, but the hustle and bustle of everyday life can leave us feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. That's why it's so important to make time for fun, even as an adult. From reducing stress to better relationships and improving mental and physical health, carving out time for fun activities can have a transformative impact on many aspects of our lives.  Mike Rucker, an organizational psychologist, is here to share his best practices for incorporating fun habits into our day-to-day lives. Illustrating scientific evidence from his book, The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life, we discover why fun is beneficial and what fun habits you can create to make life more enjoyable. So, let's dive in and learn why fun isn't just for kids—it's an essential part of adult life too. Listen and Learn:  Fun: what is it all about? What makes fun different from happiness Why is it beneficial for us to prioritize fun as busy adults? Finding time for fun  The importance of reminiscing on fun experiences  The question of friendship or parenting How to create and maintain fun habits The Rucker-PLAY model  How to incorporate more fun into our friendships Resources:  To learn more about creating fun habits, visit Mike's website: https://michaelrucker.com/ Visit https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9781982159054 to purchase The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. Grab your copy of all our favorite books at bookshop.org/shop/offtheclockpsych, including Yael's new book, Work, Parent, Thrive! Check out Debbie, Yael, and Jill's websites to access their offerings, sign up for their newsletters, buy their books, and more! About Mike Rucker  Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association whose work has been published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fast Company, The Telegraph, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, mindbodygreen, and more. Named one of ten digital changemakers by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, he currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness. Related Episodes: 99. Make the Most of Your Time with Laura Vanderkam 130. Working Less with Alex Pang 192. Happier With Tal Ben-Shahar 247. Find Your Unicorn Space with Eve Rodsky 251. Wonder with Frank Keil 271. Cultivating Friendships in Adulthood Featuring Adam Dorsay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nobody Told Me!
Dr. Mike Rucker: ...being overly concerned with your happiness is problematic

Nobody Told Me!

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 32:26


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

The Intentional Clinician: Psychology and Philosophy
Can fun actually change your life? Who is talking of fun at a time like this with Mike Rucker, Ph.D. [Episode 98]

The Intentional Clinician: Psychology and Philosophy

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2023 64:44


Mike Rucker, Ph.D. delivers a simple and powerful message backed by research: Fun is good for you! Not only that, he explains the difference between "pleasure seeking" and Fun, how to get more fun into your life, and the many different types of fun. Traditionally, the word "fun" has not been one you would hear in most academic or research literature, however, fun is an element that many people are missing in their lives. And this lack of fun can have dire consequences on our mental and physical well-being. Paul Krauss MA LPC and Mike Rucker, PhD. discuss his new book: THE FUN HABIT: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life on this episode of The Intentional Clinician podcast. Doesn't it seem that the more we seek happiness, the more elusive it becomes? There is an easy fix, hiding in plain sight. Fun is an action you can take here and now, practically anywhere, anytime. Grounded in current research, accessible science, and practical recommendations, THE FUN HABIT: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker, PhD (Atria Books; Hardcover; $27.99; on sale January 3, 2023; ISBN: 9781982159054) 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. 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. Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association.   Get involved with the National Violence Prevention Hotline: 501(c)(3) Donate Share with your network Sign our Petition Preview an On-Demand Online Video Course for the Parents of Young Adults EMDR Training Solutions (For all your EMDR training needs!) Paul Krauss MA LPC is the Clinical Director of Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids, home of The Trauma-Informed Counseling Center of Grand Rapids. Paul is also a Private Practice Psychotherapist, an Approved EMDRIA Consultant , host of the Intentional Clinician podcast, Behavioral Health Consultant, Clinical Trainer, and Counseling Supervisor. Paul is now offering consulting for a few individuals and organizations. Paul is the creator of the National Violence Prevention Hotline (in progress) as well as the Intentional Clinician Training Program for Counselors. Paul has been quoted in the Washington Post, NBC News, and Wired Magazine. Questions? Call the office at 616-200-4433.  If you are looking for EMDRIA consulting groups, Paul Krauss MA LPC is now hosting weekly online and in-person groups.  For details, click here. For general behavioral and mental health consulting for you or your organization. Follow Health for Life Grand Rapids: Instagram   |   Facebook     |     Youtube  Original Music: ”Shades of Currency" [Instrumental] from Archetypes by PAWL (Spotify) "Fun, Fun, Fun" from Despicable Me: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Pharrell Williams (Spotify)

KERA's Think
Why you should be scheduling time for fun

KERA's Think

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2023 33:14


Of all the things on our daily to-do list, one thing most of us probably leave off is: Have fun. Mike Rucker, organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why adding fun back into the daily grind will make you more productive and lead to a happier life. His book is “The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life.”

pursuit scheduling mike rucker wonder can change your life
The Show UP Dad
Creating Fun Habits for your Family.

The Show UP Dad

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2023 57:16


Dads, What Fun Habits are you Creating? The more we seek Happiness, the more elusive it becomes. Today Guest is Mike Rucker PHD , He is a Author. Father. Husband. He is a organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and author of the forthcoming book "The Fun Habit" (Atria, 2023). He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CIO.com, and elsewhere. He has earned five advanced degrees, Including a MBA from the University of Southern California. Mike was another Solid guest, thank you. @thewonderoffun on Instagram. You can find his book on AMAZON under Mike Rucker PhDhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/1982159057/ref=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_8MQCT2CD2PJXNN9JES5E "The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life." Through research and science, we know that FUN is beneficial to our Physical and psychological well-being. Join us a Michael and I discuss:

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts
Fun and Your Health: A Joyful Prescription with Mike Rucker PhD

Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023


n western cultures, many people have been led to believe that if we consume, share, or do the right things, happiness is right around the corner. But, how many of us have turned the corner only to find boredom or loneliness? To unpack the secret to finding joy in everyday activities, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with organizational psychologist and behavioral scientist, Mike Rucker about the connection between, fun, health, and time management. He describes the SAVOR and hedonic adaptation concepts from his book, The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. And, he shares the secret sauce to escaping the perceived pursuit of happiness and toxic positivity.

The Chris Voss Show
The Chris Voss Show Podcast – The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker PhD.

The Chris Voss Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2023 37:34


The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker PhD. Discover the latest compelling scientific evidence for the potent and revitalizing value of fun and how to make having fun a habitual and authentic part of your daily life. Doesn't it seem that the more we seek happiness, the more elusive it becomes? There is an easy fix, hiding in plain sight. 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. 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. In the vein of Year of Yes, 10% Happier, and Atomic Habits, The Fun Habit is an inspiring and motivational guidebook that you will want to share with everyone in your life.

Live Happy Now
Create Your Fun Habit With Mike Rucker

Live Happy Now

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2023 25:48


It's a brand-new year and we're all thinking about creating new habits, so … why not make yours a fun one? This week's guest is Mike Rucker, PhD, an esteemed organizational psychologist and author of the new book, The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. His research shows us how prioritizing fun can make us happier, more productive, and more energetic. In this episode, you'll learn: The difference between happiness and fun. Why the pursuit of happiness may make us miserable. How to assess your daily activities and design your day for fun.

I'd Rather Be Reading
Dr. Mike Rucker on Having More Fun This Year

I'd Rather Be Reading

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2023 37:28


Who among us wouldn't benefit from adding more fun to their lives in 2023? We've got an expert here to help you do just that! The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Dr. Mike Rucker

pursuit rucker mike rucker wonder can change your life
The Retirement Wisdom Podcast
The Fun Habit – Mike Rucker, PhD

The Retirement Wisdom Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2023 30:18


Living well is the best revenge.  Design a Retirement Your Boss Will Envy. Group programs start January 20th & 26th | Learn more here ________________________ Happy New Year!  I've been discussing with my clients recently what they'd like to do more of and less of in this new year. A common theme?  More fun. Sometimes our work persona can dull our sense of play and fun. Mike Rucker, PhD joins us to discuss his new book The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life and how you can renew your sense of fun and retire happy. Mike Rucker joins us from North Carolina. _________________________ Bio In no particular order, Mike Rucker is a: Author. Father. Husband. Organizational psychologist and behavioral scientist. Recovering entrepreneur. Fitness enthusiast with mechanical parts. VW Bus aficionado. Seeker. Traveler. Future astronaut. The story he tells in his book The Fun Habit starts in 2016 when the tools he knew as a student of positive psychology suddenly failed him during one of his life's most difficult stretches. Finding himself unhappy, a bit lonely, and burnt out, he began to critically evaluate modern approaches to happiness. He quickly realized how much misinformation is out there about happiness. Years of research coalesced as 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. Every story has many beginnings. A major commitment to fun as an intentional way of life came in 2007 when Mike announced the Live Life Love project, where he publicly committed himself to 25 years of documented self-development and self-discovery. After a long stint as an entrepreneur, he was heading back to Corporate America, and wanted to make sure that he continued to experience and contribute to this collaborative effort we all call “Life.” The rules of the project are straightforward. From 2007 to 2032, Mike has committed to interviewing two thought leaders each quarter, or 200 in total. He has also committed to experiencing something new each quarter by way of an interesting life event, activity, or trip, ensuring that by the end of 2032, he will have 100 unique experiences to relish when the project concludes. Finally, Mike has committed to contributing a year's salary and a year's work hours to charity. The project officially kicked off in 2007, but its spark was lit in 2005 when he took an early interest in peak performance and positive psychology. Through good fortune, he was introduced to an early mentor, Dr. Mike Gervais, and was also invited to be one of the first charter members of the International Positive Psychology Association. During this period, he was a sponge, soaking up knowledge from these emerging fields of psychology and using what he learned to personally thrive. So that's how it started. How's it going?  In 2020, he reached the project's halfway point.  100+ interviews  50+ unique life experiences  One honorable philanthropic scorecard During all this, Mike also became a peer-reviewed and widely published author, including his new book The Fun Habit. For many years he served as the Health Tech expert for About, Inc's Verywell Health. He is currently on sabbatical from being an executive for Active Wellness. Mike has been published in the academic journals International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research, and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and elsewhere. In all, he has earned five advanced degrees, including a Ph.D. in organizational psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He's a member of the American Psychological Association, International Positive Psychology Association,

The Virtual Couch
The Fun Habit - An Examination of Modern Approaches to Happiness w/Michael Rucker Ph.D.

The Virtual Couch

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2022 43:04


Tony interviews Michael Rucker, Ph.D. In 2016, Michael experienced a series of serious setbacks that caused him to challenge the tools he had built over the previous two decades as a student of positive psychology. Ultimately finding himself “unhappy, a bit lonely, and burnt out,” Michael critically evaluated modern approaches to happiness. He quickly realized how much misinformation was being spread, and that caused Michael to spend the next few years researching the evidence-based practices that ultimately led him to discover the real way to “invite more fun and joy” into his life. Michael's book, “The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life,” https://amzn.to/3jAtln8 is the result of his journey. You can learn more about Michael at his website https://michaelrucker.com/ If you are interested in being coached in Tony's upcoming "Magnetic Marriage Podcast," please email him for more information. You will receive free marriage coaching and remain anonymous when the episode airs. Go to http://tonyoverbay.com/workshop to sign up for Tony's "Magnetize Your Marriage" virtual workshop. The cost is only $19, and you'll learn the top 3 things you can do NOW to create a Magnetic Marriage. You can learn more about Tony's pornography recovery program, The Path Back, by visiting http://pathbackrecovery.com And visit http://tonyoverbay.com and sign up to receive updates on upcoming programs and podcasts. Tony mentioned a product that he used to take out all of the "uh's" and "um's" that, in his words, "must be created by wizards and magic!" because it's that good! To learn more about Descript, click here https://descript.com?lmref=bSWcEQ

A Dad's Path
#64 - The Fun Habit: A New Approach to Finding Happiness

A Dad's Path

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 33:07


Today we speak with Michael Rucker, Author of the upcoming book The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. Michael is a charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association and has been a follower of positive psychology for years. He realized that chasing happiness can actually make you less happy and can lead to mental illness after losing his younger brother and being told he needed a hip replacement. This inspiring conversation will hopefully get you in the "Fun Habit." We discuss: Specific ideas to improve your base level of happiness and well-being. How giving your kids more autonomy can help with their joy. How to create "fun habits." The importance of focusing on activities that bring joy rather than seeking happiness directly. The potential negative effects of focusing on happiness during times of change or loss. The psychological research supporting the idea of having a bias toward joyful activities. ------------------ Find more Dad Podcasts from A Dad's Path, a website for dads.

Power Your Parenting: Moms With Teens
#193 How Fun Connects Parents and Teens

Power Your Parenting: Moms With Teens

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 42:40


As we approach January we are starting to think about healthy habits for the new year. Our guest today has a habit that I want to master in the new year. Dr. Mike Rucker is the author of the upcoming book, The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life available January 23. I think this is a perfect podcast to be released in the holiday season. How about starting this fun habit during the holidays. 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. There are so many gems in this episode. Why develop a fun habit? "It increases vitality and makes life worth living." Connect with Mike at https://michaelrucker.com Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thewonderoffun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Friedemann Schaub
Don't Give Up: Finding Fun & Happiness in the Midst of Struggle | ES140

Dr. Friedemann Schaub

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 51:25


Do you have a hard time finding the mental and emotional space to just enjoy the pleasures of life and have fun? Do you mostly push through your endless daily tasks, trying to ignore stress, anxiety, maybe even anger?  Many people feel that this is the most challenging period in their lifetime, which is why fun and pleasure are not at all on their radar. However, studies have shown that if we live this way long term, we are not only overall less productive, we are also shortening our life expectancy. There is a biological reason why we have countless neurons that are all designed for us to experience joy and pleasure. But how can we make use of them if we are always living in a state of struggle and never recharging our system with the things that make our minds and heart truly happy? Are we even allowed to have fun when the world seems to be falling apart? Well, this is what my next guest Dr. Michael Rucker has been writing about in his new book, “https://www.amazon.com/Fun-Habit-Disciplined-Pursuit-Wonder-ebook/dp/B09JPGPNQL (The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life)”. So tune in to learn more. Dr Friedemann's Key Takeaways: Intro (00:00) Dr Rucker Origin Story (00:37) Trying To Use The Tools (3:18) What Was No Longer Working? (7:51) Sometimes There Is More Joy In The Hardship (13:18) What Is Happiness? (19:16) Experience Is Better Than Things (25:02) Find A Replacement Behavior (33:12) Set Of Tools Called Savor (37:50) Change Is Always Hard (42:07) You Don't Just Stop One Thing And Feel Happier (46:11) Meet Dr 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. Website: https://michaelrucker.com/ (https://michaelrucker.com/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewonderoffun/ (https://www.instagram.com/thewonderoffun/) Friedemann Schaub, MD, PhD, is the award-winning author of The Fear + Anxiety Solution. Dr. Schaub has helped thousands of people with his Personal Breakthrough and Empowerment program to overcome their fear and anxiety by addressing the deeper, subconscious root causes of these emotional challenges. Learn more at: https://DrFriedemann.com FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com//DrFriedemann INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dr.friedemannschaub PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/drfriedemann TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/DrFriedemannS LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfriedemannschaub/

This Might Get Uncomfortable
Ways To Invite More Fun Into Your Life Fun Expert Michael Rucker, Ph.D

This Might Get Uncomfortable

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 56:53


Does having fun equal happiness? How can you invite more fun into your life, and why do you need to? Here to answer all these questions is Michael Rucker, Ph.D. Mike, aka the Fun Expert, is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He joins host Whitney Lauritsen to discuss and explain the challenges in “chasing” happiness and when it starts being problematic. Mike also dissects the concept relative to concepts such as toxic positivity and hustle culture. Psychology terms happiness as “subjective well-being” because it's all in how you perceive it. You have more agency in it than you think. Listen in to learn about the different ways you can invite fun and happiness into your life with more insights from his upcoming book, The Fun Habit: How the Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here's How »Join the This Might Get Uncomfortable community today:wellevatr.comWellevatr FacebookWellevatr TwitterWellevatr Instagram

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Shrink Rap Radio Psychology Interviews: Exploring brain, body, mind, spirit, intuition, leadership, research, psychotherapy a
#796 Mike Rucker PhD on How the Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life

Shrink Rap Radio Psychology Interviews: Exploring brain, body, mind, spirit, intuition, leadership, research, psychotherapy a

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022


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, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindful, mindbodygreen, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the upcoming book The Fun Habit: How The Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life available January 2023. Sign up for 10% off of Shrink Rap Radio CE credits at the Zur Institute