Explore every episode of the podcast Live Happy Now

Hope isn’t a soft emotion; it’s a powerful, science‑backed strategy for navigating stress, uncertainty, and the challenges of modern life. In this episode, resiliency expert Dr. Robyne Hanley‑Dafoe joins host Paula Felps to discuss strategies from her new book, I Hope So: How to Choose Hope Even When It’s Hard. Dr. Robyne explains how cultivating a hope practice can calm the nervous system, strengthen resilience, deepen connection, and help us show up more fully for ourselves and others, even in difficult times.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why hope is different from optimism — and why it’s a more sustainable tool for resilience.
• How hope physiologically shifts your brain and body, helping you think more clearly and make better decisions under stress.
• Simple daily practices to build a “hope habit,” from morning rituals to community‑building conversations that elevate your emotional well‑being.

We know we need friends, but finding “our people” can be hard! In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with therapist and author Anna Runkle about why so many of us struggle to build meaningful friendships, how covert avoidance keeps us from true connection, and what practical steps help us identify the relationships that genuinely support who we’re becoming.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why finding your people matters more than simply having people.
• How to recognize red flags, energy drains, and covert avoidance.
• Practical steps and mindset shifts that make adult friendship easier and more authentic.

As we kick off International Friendship Month, it’s the perfect time to talk about what it means to be a friend in a world that often feels disconnected. Join host Paula Felps as she sits down with award‑winning filmmaker and author Barnet Bain to explore the surprising origins of his fascination with friendship, the “bubble” we all live inside, and why genuine connection requires presence, curiosity, and courage.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why friendship is a skill — not something we simply “fall into.”
• How to create safety, consistency, and presence in your closest relationships.
• A simple 24‑hour practice that can transform how you see and respond to others.

We all have a deep desire to matter, but do we know why? In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with philosopher and author Rebecca Newberger Goldstein to explore the “mattering instinct” and why it shapes everything from our personal fulfillment to our political divides. She explains our longing to feel significant influences our choices, our relationships, and even our conflicts — and how reframing our own mattering projects can lead to a more meaningful, connected life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the need to matter often drives us more powerfully than the need to be happy.
• How different “mattering projects” shape our behavior and our relationships.
• What we can do — individually and collectively — to create a world where everyone feels they count.

If you’ve been hearing everyone talk about the vagus nerve but aren’t totally sure what the buzz is about, this episode is your shortcut to understanding it. Trauma therapist, author, and polyvagal expert Rebecca Kase joins host Paula Felps to break down what the vagus nerve actually does, why it affects everything from your stress levels to your relationships, and how simple daily practices can help you feel calmer, more connected, and more resilient.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the vagus nerve plays such a central role in both physical and emotional well-being.
• How breathwork and other everyday practices can strengthen vagal tone.
• What your nervous system has to do with connection, compassion, and healthier relationships.

Are you thriving in life, or merely surviving? This week, host Paula Felps talks with leadership coach Jon Rosemberg, author of A Guide to Thriving, to explore what it truly means to thrive. Jon shares how connection and purpose shape our capacity to flourish, and introduces his AIR framework (Awareness, Inquiry, Reframing) to provide practical, compassionate guidance for building habits that support long‑term thriving.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why thriving is not the same as succeeding.
• How to recognize when you’re stuck in survival mode.
• A simple, science‑based formula for increasing your sense of agency.

To kick off the new year, host Paula Felps sits down with Jodi Wellman, author of You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets, to explore how to make the most of the new year. Jodi explains how embracing life’s ultimate deadline can spark astonishing aliveness and help us break free from our comfort zones, rediscover what lights us up, and consciously reprioritize what truly matters. Listen as Jodi tells us how to stop postponing joy and start living like we mean it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why acknowledging life’s “deadline” can motivate us to live more fully.
• How to recognize signs of feeling “dead inside” and reignite vitality.
• Practical ways to say yes to experiences that create meaning and aliveness.

As we look toward the new year, it’s the perfect time to look at how to make lasting change. In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with Madi Murphy — author of In the Cosmic Zone and host of the CosmicRX Podcast — to explore how astrology, neuroscience, spirituality, and practical tools can help us ignite our purpose as we step into a new year. Madi shares her personal journey of transformation, the lessons she’s learned from leaving her comfort zone, and how we can all activate our purpose rather than simply search for it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why leaving your comfort zone is essential for growth — and how to recognize when it’s time.
• How to activate your purpose through alignment, rather than waiting to “discover” it.
• Practical tools and mindset practices to overcome blocks and live in flow more often.

This is the season for giving back, which makes it the perfect time to talk to a Holiday Happy Activist! In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Lindsay Morehead-Oates, a Dallas-based graphic designer who has turned her passion for giving into meaningful action. Lindsay shares how her early experiences with volunteering shaped her values, why she continues to dedicate time to both people and animals, and how she recently fulfilled a long-time dream by cooking and delivering Thanksgiving meals to those in need.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How childhood traditions like the Angel Tree inspired Lindsay’s lifelong commitment to giving.
• Why volunteering at a wildlife refuge and serving her community bring her joy and perspective.
• How she and her best friend turned a simple idea into a Thanksgiving feast for 50 people, proving that generosity can be both affordable and transformative

The holidays are a time for togetherness — so why do so many people feel lonely during this time of year? This week, host Paula Felps sits down with psychologist and author Dr. Jody Carrington to talk about why loneliness feels worse during the holiday season, the role modern technology plays in increasing loneliness, and how we can navigate holiday loneliness and rediscover joy through authentic connection. You’ll also learn about the Live Happy Holiday Loneliness Toolkit, filled with resources to support anyone who is navigating feelings of isolation during the holiday season.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why loneliness is not just a mental health issue but a human epidemic shaped by modern life.
• How emotional regulation practices — like simple body cues — can help restore connection and reduce stress.
• Practical ways to build depth in relationships, embrace chosen family, and find community during the holidays.

As the holidays approach and everyone gets busier than ever, feelings of goodwill can give way to stress and anxiety. This week, host Paula Felps sits down with licensed mental health counselor Travis McNulty, clinical director and founder of McNulty Counseling and Wellness, to explore how we can reduce holiday stress and emotional overwhelm. Travis explains why the season often triggers old family roles and patterns, how expectations can set us up for disappointment, and what practical tools we can use to stay grounded. From breathing techniques to boundary-setting, he shares strategies to help us move through the holidays with more calm, intention, and joy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why holiday environments can trigger old emotional roles and stress responses.
• Simple tools like exercise and diaphragmatic breathing to calm the nervous system.
• How setting boundaries and redefining expectations can make the holidays more enjoyable.

As the holidays approach, it’s time to plan family gatherings — and that can often mean stress and conflict. In this episode, host Paula Felps welcomes mother-daughter duo Leslie and Lindsey Glass, authors of the Mother Daughter Relationship Makeover Workbook to explore the emotional complexities of family dynamics during the holidays. Drawing from their personal journey and professional work in recovery and relational healing, they unpack why the season often amplifies unresolved tensions — and how to navigate them with compassion, boundaries, and grace.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to set loving boundaries before holiday gatherings to reduce conflict and anxiety.
• Why childhood memories can distort present-day interactions — and how to reframe them.
• Tips for navigating grief, crisis, or estrangement during the holiday season.

Unhappiness at work is a growing problem, but reconnecting with purpose can change everything. Join host Paula Felps as she sits down with WorkHappy founder Greg Kettner to explore why so many people feel unfulfilled at work and what steps they can take to discover their passion and use purpose to fuel resilience — even on the hardest of days.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why lack of communication — not workload — is often the biggest source of workplace unhappiness.
• How living with purpose makes it easier to navigate setbacks and stay motivated, even in uncertain times.
• Simple, daily practices to cultivate more happiness and meaning — without needing to quit your job.

November is National Gratitude Month, and that makes it a great time to talk about what new research says about gratitude. Host Paula Felps welcomes social media manager Michelle Palmer Jones for a heartfelt conversation about the power of gratitude in everyday life: From personal stories of resilience to emerging research on how gratitude supports mental and physical health, this episode explores how intentional practices can transform our well-being. Paula and Michelle also highlight new studies on gratitude’s impact across generations, including college students and older adults, and invite listeners to share their own gratitude stories for a chance to win Live Happy merch.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How gratitude improves mental health in young adults through tech-based interventions.
• The link between gratitude and increased longevity in older adults.
• How to practice “gratitude in disguise” during difficult times and emotional challenges.

We’ve heard a lot about the dangers of loneliness, but how is loneliness different from solitude? In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with psychologist and author Dr. Robert Coplan to discuss his new book, The Joy of Solitude. Rob shares insights from decades of research on how intentional alone time can foster emotional clarity, creativity, and well-being — and how it differs profoundly from loneliness. From childhood development to adult relationships, he reveals why solitude is a vital part of a balanced life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The surprising benefits of spending just 15 minutes alone each day.
• Myths about loneliness and solitude, including why living alone doesn’t mean being lonely.
• The science of “aloneliness” — the longing for solitude — and how it impacts mental health.

We’re getting ready to turn back our clocks this weekend, and for some people, the shorter days can spark mental health challenges. In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with Dr. Hannah Nearney, a clinical psychiatrist and medical director at Flow Neuroscience, about the mental health challenges that arise during seasonal changes — particularly the onset of winter. Dr. Hannah explains how shorter days and reduced sunlight can disrupt circadian rhythms and neurotransmitter balance, then discusses the importance of proactive strategies like light therapy and changes in lifestyle to better manage symptoms.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How seasonal changes affect brain chemistry and mood regulation.
• The difference between winter blues and clinical seasonal depression.
• Practical tools and practices to protect your mental health as the days get shorter.

Halloween might be all about ghosts, costumes, and candy—but science says it’s also a powerful happiness booster. In this episode of Live Happy Now, host Paula Felps and social media manager Michelle Palmer Jones explore the surprising research behind why the spooky season lifts our spirits. From the nostalgia of childhood traditions to the thrill of a safe scare, Halloween taps into the emotions that help us feel more playful, connected, and calm — just when we need it most.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How nostalgia and play during Halloween boost joy and reduce stress.
• Why even a small piece of candy can trigger big feelings of happiness.
• How safe scares — like haunted houses — can actually make us less anxious afterward.

If you’re dealing with feelings of stress and anxiety, you’re not alone! But this week, host Paula Felps sits down with psychologist and author Dr. Seth J. Gillihan to explore his latest book, Your Daily Reset: 366 Practical Exercises to Reduce Anxiety and Manage Stress Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Designed as a daily companion, the book offers bite-sized, actionable practices rooted in CBT and mindfulness to help you gently reset your emotions and navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and compassion. Find out how embracing anxiety, practicing self-compassion, and tuning into the present moment can transform your mental health — one small step at a time.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “just this” might be the most powerful phrase for calming overwhelm.
• How to restart your mental health habits without guilt or judgment.
• A simple framework for embracing anxiety instead of fighting it.

One of the most universal struggles today is a feeling of disconnection, so this week host Paula Felps talks with Anna Runkle — better known as the “Crappy Childhood Fairy” — about her new book Connectability: Heal the Hidden Ways You Isolate, Find Your People and Feel (At Last) Like You Belong. Anna shares how her own journey from childhood trauma to building genuine, sustaining friendships shaped the practices she now teaches to thousands. With humor and heartfelt insight, she explains why connection is essential yet elusive — and how we can all start creating it for ourselves.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why disconnection is often a hidden symptom of early trauma and how it affects our ability to build relationships.
• Practical, non-therapy tools from Connectability to regulate your nervous system and begin forming authentic bonds.
• How letting go of unhealthy relationships and practicing new social skills can help you “find your people” at any age or stage of life.

What if everything you believe about mental health is wrong? In this episode, host Paula Felps chats with psychotherapist and author Joe Nucci about his myth-busting new book, Psychobabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free. Joe dives into the wild world of mental health misinformation — especially the kind that spreads like wildfire on social media. From self-diagnosis pitfalls to the overuse of therapy-speak, he offers a refreshing reality check and empowers listeners to better understand their emotional lives.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why not every tough emotion equals a mental illness — and why that distinction matters.
• How social media can distort mental health conversations (and what to watch out for).
• The difference between emotional intelligence and just “sounding like a therapist.”

What if practicing happiness was as simple as learning your ABC’s? This week, host Paula Felps talks with work psychologist and certified Chief Happiness Officer Klaudia Mitura, author of The Alphabet of Happiness. After a series of life challenges during the pandemic, Klaudia embarked on a hands-on happiness experiment, testing evidence-based practices and transforming them into accessible, everyday tools. That led to a podcast and her new book, which helps us cultivate happiness through small, intentional habits. From cold showers to gut health, Klaudia offers a fresh, practical take on what it means to thrive.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to create your own happiness experiments using science-backed micro-habits.
• Why cold showers can boost dopamine and improve mood for hours.
• How gut health directly influences emotional well-being and resilience.

We talk a lot about how trauma affects our mental health, but have you thought about what it does to your body? In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with Dr. Aimie Apigian, author of The Biology of Trauma, to explore how trauma is stored not just in our minds but in our bodies — and how that impacts our physical health, relationships, and overall well-being. Drawing from her experience as a physician and foster parent, Dr. Aimie shares how traditional talk therapy often misses the mark, and why understanding trauma as a biological process opens the door to more effective healing.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How trauma differs from stress — and why trauma, not stress, is what makes us sick.
• Why stored trauma shows up in physical symptoms, emotional patterns, and relationship dynamics.
• How somatic self-practices can help shift your nervous system and begin healing —even when energy is low.

Labor Day is behind us, so that means we’re putting the lid on summer and getting ready to roll into fall. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take our lighthearted summer vibe with us. This week, on the heels of our Summer of Fun campaign with Mike Rucker, PhD, we’re telling you how to start planning now to use what we’ve learned from this campaign to make it a fun-filled fall.

What you’ll learn:

• Why it’s so important to commit to fun during the fall and winter.
• Tips for incorporating more fun into life’s busy seasons.
• How scheduling fun adds joy to more areas of our life.

In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with psychotherapist and author John Tsilimparis about his transformative approach to grief. John shares insights from his new book, Magic in the Tragic: Rewriting the Script on Grief and Discovering Happiness in our Darkest Days, offering a that blends emotional healing with beauty, purpose, and resilience. Drawing from personal loss and clinical experience, John introduces powerful concepts like “constructive aching” and “painful joy,” encouraging listeners to move toward their grief rather than away from it. He also shows how grief can become a gateway to growth, meaning, and even happiness.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to use “inspiration exposure” to activate healing and emotional resilience.
• Why pairing grief with beauty can transform your experience of loss.
• Practical tools to reframe painful memories and foster personal growth.

This week, meet Happy Activist Gabri Blankson, who is using film to illuminate teen mental health. Her award-winning short film MIME, created through the Black Girls Film Camp, explores the emotional impact of pandemic isolation through a fantasy lens, using mimes as metaphors for internal struggles. Drawing from personal experience and inspired by Inside Out, Gabri crafted a visually expressive story that resonates deeply with young audiences. She also developed a downloadable viewers guide to help audiences interpret emotional cues and access mental health resources — proving that storytelling can be both healing and transformative.

What you'll learn:

• How Gabri used metaphor and fantasy to express complex emotional experiences.
• What led her to focus on the challenges of mental health and isolation during the pandemic.
• How she developed her viewers’ guide — and how it enhances emotional awareness and encourages open dialogue.

If you’re looking to lose the stress in your life, this week’s guest has a spoiler alert: The only people without stress are dead. But the good news is, you can learn to turn that stress into a powerful ally for change and growth. This week, host Paula Felps talks with stress physiologist Dr. Rebecca Heiss, whose new book, Springboard: Transform Stress to Work For You, explains how to make the most of it. She offers tips on how to harness stress and look at it in a whole new way to help you change your relationship with it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why self-help practices often fall short in managing stress and what to do instead.
• How transforming your physiology allows stress to serve you rather than causing you to spiral into fear.
• What the FEAR(less) Stress Formula is and how it can help you manage stress effectively.

Many people today feel unfocused or overwhelmed, and that’s not just a challenge for our heads; it could be harming our hearts. Join us as host Paula Felps talks with cardiologist and health psychologist Dr. Alan Rozanski, who offers a groundbreaking look at how our mindset influences our heart and overall well-being. He explains how chronic stress, emotional negativity, and mental clutter can physically impact your heart function and increase disease risk. Then, he shares how to shift your thinking and cultivate energy, optimism, and a sense of purpose to thrive in today’s distracted world.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How mental clutter and chronic stress trigger harmful physical effects like inflammation and heart dysfunction.
• Why focusing with intention and nurturing emotional vitality are key to sustained well-being.
• How the Six Domains of Health can guide you toward a more balanced, purpose-driven, and heart-friendly lifestyle.

Are you struggling to find hope these days? You’re not alone. But this week, resiliency expert Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe returns to share what hope can do for you and, importantly, where to find it. With her signature blend of science and soul, Dr. Robyne explains how hope calms the brain, strengthens resilience, and helps us navigate uncertainty. If you’re managing stress, feeling world-weary, or just need a reset, this conversation reminds us that hope is something we can build into our everyday lives.

What you'll learn when you listen:

• Why hope is biologically and psychologically beneficial (hello, “hope molecules”!).
• How to design your day to support resilience and emotional well-being.
• The difference between hope and optimism — and why it matters.

Summer vacations aren't just fun; they’re essential for your mental well-being. In this episode, host Paula Felps and Live Happy CEO Deborah Heisz share how unplugging from daily stress can spark creativity and emotional clarity, and why even a staycation (if done right!) can deliver major mood boosts. Whether you're heading to Hawaii or hanging out in your backyard, this episode is your permission slip to reset, reflect, and reconnect.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why taking a vacation can make you a better parent, partner, and employee.
• The best ways to prepare for a vacation to make it more refreshing.
• How to make the “reset” of a vacation last longer.

Can you giggle your way to inner peace? In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with author Tom Rosshirt to explore the joyful — and surprisingly profound — power of silliness. Drawing from his book, Chasing Peace: A Story of Breakdowns, Breakthroughs, and the Spiritual Power of Neuroscience, Tom reveals how embracing our goofy side can be both spiritually liberating and scientifically beneficial. From dancing like no one’s watching to reciting nursery rhymes alone, silliness helps us sidestep rigid self-images, face embarrassing emotions, and retrain our brains for resilience.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How silliness acts as a spiritual practice.
• Why laughter and childlike play can retrain the brain and reduce stress.
• Simple, everyday ways to embrace your silly side (even if it feels embarrassing at first).

This summer, recharge your happiness with a tech break! In this episode of Live Happy Now, Paula Felps sits down with digital wellness expert Amy Blankson to explore how an intentional digital detox can bring more joy, focus, and freedom to your day. Whether you're unplugging for five minutes or five days, Amy shares clever strategies to help you reconnect — with yourself and your summer bucket list.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why summer is the perfect time to ditch your device.
• How tiny tech-free habits can spark lasting happiness and calm.
• Smart tips for replacing screen time with soul-filling activities.

This week, host Paula Felps chats with Scott Crabtree, chief happiness officer at Happy Brain Science, about the surprising science behind music festivals. In this energizing episode, you’ll discover how live music fires up your brain with feel-good chemicals, why dancing helps bust stress and boost memory, and how festivals foster powerful connections that fight loneliness. Whether you're a seasoned festivalgoer or thinking about jumping back in, this episode makes the case for putting live music on your summer self-care list.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why music festivals support improved well-being.
• How music festivals can help us feel more connected.
• How to start your own “music therapy” practice.

This week on Live Happy Now, host Paula Felps sits down with Emely Rumble — licensed clinical social worker, bibliopsychotherapist, and author of Bibliotherapy in the Bronx — to explore the healing power of stories. Emely shares how fiction, poetry, and even children’s books can help us reflect, process emotions, and build empathy in ways traditional self-help books can’t. With summer reading season in full swing, she explains how to create your own “book prescription” for better mental health and reconnect with the joy of reading — not as a task, but as a tool for transformation.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What bibliotherapy is — and why it works.
• How engaging with fiction can help us heal.
• How to start your own bibliotherapy practice.

Dreams aren’t just fleeting images; they’re powerful tools for transformation. This week, host Paula Felps sits down with Bonnie Buckner, PhD, founder of the International Institute for Dreaming and Imagery®, to explore how dreams can unlock creativity, solve life’s toughest challenges, and help us live with greater purpose. As an expert in creative dreamwork, Buckner blends insights from cognitive psychology, neurobiology, and leadership coaching to reveal how an ancient dreaming method can reshape personal and professional lives. Her new book, The Secret Mind: Unlock the Power of Dreams to Transform Your Life, explains how to embrace dreamwork for deeper self-discovery and creative breakthroughs. Get ready to rethink the way you dream!

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How dreams can tell us more about what we need.
• How to create a dreaming practice and use it to solve challenges.
• How children can use dreaming as a tool for creativity and transformation.

Summer officially begins on June 20, and that’s the perfect time to bring back 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.

When we talk about becoming strong women, we’re often not talking about something physical. But this week’s guest explains how reclaiming our physical power can also build our inner strength. Anne Marie Chaker is a veteran journalist and professional bodybuilder who discovered the connection between strength training and inner transformation. In her debut book, LIFT: How Women Can Reclaim Their Physical Power and Transform Their Lives, she shares her personal story and the research showing how strength training can help women find true power and confidence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What led Anne Marie to discover the transformative power of strength training — and how it changed every aspect of her life.
• Why increasing physical strength has such a powerful emotional effect for women.
• Where women can start their own quest for strength.

In a time of deep division and unease, overcoming our loneliness and uncertainty is a massive challenge. This week, award-winning author, educator, lawyer, scientist, and meditation teacher Anu Gupta sits down with host Paula Felps to explain how — and where — we can start. His best-selling book, Breaking Bias: Where Stereotypes and Prejudices Come From and the Science-Backed Method to Unravel Them, is a rich toolkit to help each of us understand how to cultivate the wisdom and compassion we need to transcend the bias, exclusion, and turmoil in the world around us.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The five causes of biases and how they’re playing out today.
• How social media reinforces our biases and how to use it more intentionally.
• How to stay calm and mindful when we’re feeling emotionally triggered.

As we wrap up mental health awareness month, it’s a great time to talk with someone who is literally changing how we talk about mental health. This week, host Paula Felps is joined by Dominic Lawson, an accomplished, award-winning podcaster whose new show, Mental Health Rewritten, is tackling stigmatized mental health topics head-on. By taking on issues surrounding addiction and recovery, he is changing the way we talk about such things as sex, suicide, and cultural identity — and is teaching all of us about the role of empathy in overcoming shame. 

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The connection between addiction, recovery, and mental health.
• Why it’s important to break through shame and isolation.
• The role of family in mental health and addiction recovery.

Our brains are incredibly powerful, and the trick is to learn how to make them work for us, not against us. This week, host Paula Felps sits down with Dr. Kyra Bobinet, a physician, public health leader, and behavior change designer whose work focuses on how to build optimal health for a more fulfilling life. Her new book, Unstoppable Brain: The New Neuroscience That Frees Us From Failure, Eases Our Stress, and Creates Lasting Change explores a relatively new area of study that changes what we know about how our brain influences our habits, self-care, and addictions — and how we can use these findings to improve our well-being. 

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The role of the habenula in losing our motivation and managing failure.
• How growing up in trauma hijacks our brains and heightens our reactivity.
• How social media and doomscrolling affect your brain — and how an iterative mindset can help you get unstuck.

By now, we’ve all heard how important friendships and connections are for our well-being, but sometimes we’re unsure where to find those connections. This week, host Paula Felps sits down with Dr. Lori Whatley, a clinical psychologist and author who specializes in the effects of digital usage on our relationships. Her new book, Happier Together: How to Find Your People and Make Friends That Last, walks us through how we can create new connections, deepen existing ones, and discover what we need from our friends. She’ll even tell us the exact number of close friends that we need for our well-being!

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to intentionally seek out friends.
• How to identify what you need in a friend.
• Tips for deepening your current friendships.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which makes it a great time to remind ourselves of some of the best practices to improve our well-being. Join host Paula Felps as she talks with Live Happy CEO and co-founder Deborah Heisz about some of the new research around happiness, why our mental health is at risk these days, and what we can do about it.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why our happiness is declining and how the lack of civil discourse is exacerbating it.
• The dangers of toxic positivity.
• Tips for preserving your mental health in trying times.

We are living in rapidly changing times, and many people feel exhausted by the events that are unfolding. But this week’s guest says that letting go of our attachment to what’s happening could be the best thing for our mental health. Host Paula Felps talks with Dr. Bob Rosen, a bestselling author known for his work on leadership and personal development, about his latest book, Detach: Ditch Your Baggage to Live a More Fulfilling Life. He explains how we sabotage our happiness with unhealthy emotional attachments to events we can’t control and how his strategies can help us detach from the political whiplash we’re experiencing right now.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The 10 attachments that hold us back and block our joy/fulfillment.
• The role that fear plays in our attachments – and how to confront that fear.
• How looking at world events objectively changes our response to them.

Scott Crabtree founded the company Happy Brain Science to help others discover well-being rooted in positive psychology. And, as a semi-professional musician, he knows firsthand how we can use music as a tool for boosting our mood and regulating our emotions. During difficult times, music can be particularly helpful, and in this episode, Scott sits down with host Paula Felps to talk about why music is so good for your brain, how it can help us find a state of flow, and how songwriting is a great tool for releasing emotions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the science says about music and well-being.
• How Scott uses music to boost his mood.
• Scott’s top three tips for improving happiness during hard times.

What if the only thing standing between you and a more fulfilling life was your mindset? This week, host Paula Felps talks with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman — a leading cognitive psychologist, professor at Columbia University, director of the Center for Human Potential, and host of The Psychology Podcast — about how today’s culture has helped foster a victim mindset. His latest book, Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself & Realize Your Full Potential, explains what is driving a rise in victim mindset and how it impedes our development. He also tells us how we can start changing this mindset and take control of their lives.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How social media reinforces and rewards the victim mindset.
• The payoffs that keep us in a victim mindset.
• How overcoming the victim mindset creates full aliveness and cultivates a richer life.

When Sam Simon’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, he used his theatrical experience to chronicle his journey as a caregiver. And when he was diagnosed with cognitive decline in 2022, he turned that into a theatrical experience as well. Today, his one-man play, Dementia Man: An Existential Journey, recounts his journey and reshapes the narrative for families living with dementia and cognitive decline, offering hope and encouragement along the way.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Sam discovered the power of theater.
• How being on stage and talking about his journey has helped him see his condition differently.
• What others can learn about living with a terminal condition.

We all have birthdays, but maybe we’re not getting as much out of them as we could! This week, host Paula Felps is joined by Tamar Hurwitz-Fleming, a birthday aficionado and author of the book and workbook, How to Have a Happy Birthday: Create Meaning, Fulfillment and Joy on Your Special Day. Tamar offers a new spin on how we approach birthdays and explains how we can use it as a yearly chance to drive lasting growth and change.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Tamar discovered the transformational power of birthdays.
• What happens when you make your birthday an opportunity for growth.
• Simple ways to change how you celebrate birthdays.

In tumultuous times, mindset matters more than ever. So this week, host Paula Felps sits down with Michael Pilarczyk, bestselling author of the book Master Your Mindset: Live a Meaningful Life and founder of the Meditation Moments app. Michael shares how we can create a happier life — even in the most challenging times — by changing our mindset.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to let go of negative thinking patterns.
• Why meditation can be done anywhere — and doesn’t have to take a lot of time.
• Simple ways to start mastering your mindset.

The release of the World Happiness Report each year offers insight into our global well-being. This week, host Paula Felps is joined by Dr. Felix Cheung, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and a faculty fellow at the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society. He’s also the Canada Research Chair in Population Well-being at the University of Toronto and one of the co-authors of this year’s report. Felix shares what the report tells us about social connections – and where the U.S. stands on this year’s list of Happiest Countries.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What a wallet taught researchers about well-being.
• The role that sharing meals with others plays in our happiness.
• Where the U.S. stands on this year’s list of happiest countries.

March 23 is National Puppy Day, which makes it a great time to talk about how and why we celebrate puppies. But before talking about how and why we celebrate that event, host Brittany Derrenbacher sits down with Paula Felps to dive into some new research on petting your dogs that just might change the way you leave the house. Then, Brittany explains what your dog might be thinking while you’re gone.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How petting your dog before you leave the house helps ease their anxiety.
• The physical and emotional benefits humans receive by petting dogs.
• The origins of National Puppy Day and how to celebrate it.

Some of our most vital connections are those we make with our romantic partners, but they can also be our most challenging. This week, host Paula Felps is joined by Greg Kettner, relationship expert Dr Gloria Lee, a professor of counselling psychology and clinical director at Brentwood Counselling Centre in Vancouver, Canada, and author of the best-selling book, The Connected Couple: 7 Secrets to Transforming Your Relationship. She explains what it takes to truly connect as a couple, how to navigate conflict for greater connection and shares a gratitude practice that can change your entire relationship.

 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why we need to learn our triggers and conflict habits.
• Tips for de-escalating conflict.
• Why women are more comfortable seeking therapy — and what men are often surprised to discover.