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 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.

The relationship between mothers and daughters can be tricky, so this week, host Paula Felps sit down with co-authors and mother/daughter duo Leslie and Lindsey Glass, who’ve just released the book, The Mother-Daughter Relationship Makeover: 4 Steps to Bring Back the Love. They know all too well how fraught the mother/daughter relationship can be, and they’re here to talk about what makes this relationship so difficult for many and how to start rebuilding fractured family ties.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• The most common areas of conflict between mothers and daughters.
• Why learning your mother’s and grandmother’s mental health history plays an important role in the mother/daughter relationship.
• Where to start reconciling a damaged relationship.

As companions for our animals, most of like to take a hands-on approach. But learning the ancient art of Jin Shin Jyutsu can take that one step further by deepening the human/animal connection and keeping everyone happy and healthy. Join host Brittany Derrenbacher as she sits down with internationally known teacher Adele Leas, the originator of Jin Shin Jyutsu for animals. Although this practice was originally designed for humans, Adele has discovered its amazing ability to balance the body, mind, and spirit in diverse species of animals and now helps others learn how to use it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What Jin Shin Jyutsu is — and how it can improve health and happiness.
• How Adele discovered its powerful healing abilities.
• How it can be transformative for rescue animals.

We’re going to celebrate Mother’s Day in just a few days, but in reality, moms should celebrate themselves every day. This week, host Paula Felps sit down with Jennifer Mulholland, a working mom, conscious leadership expert, and co-author of the book Leading with Light: Choosing Conscious Leadership When You’re Ready for More. Jennifer’s work focuses on cultivating presence and rediscovering the light within, and she’s here to talk about how we can bring that business principle into our lives as mothers and how it can change the world for us — and around us.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What it means to be a mindful mother.
• Why our presence is the greatest gift we can give our loved ones.
• Simple tips for practicing being present even in chaotic times.

As we enter May — which is Mental Health Awareness Month — it’s the perfect time to talk about recent findings about Gen Z. Multiple recent studies show that Gen Z has unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.  In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with Live Happy CEO and co-founder Deborah Heisz to talk about what’s causing this mental health crisis among young people and what we all can do about it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What recent research shows us about Gen Z’s mental health.
• How social media and traditional media are contributing to the problem.
• Why it’s important to be aware of this mental health crisis. 

In a time when we are increasingly distracted and overwhelmed, many people are rethinking what’s important and how to achieve it.  In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with acclaimed psychologist Emma Seppälä, author of the new book, Sovereign, who explains how our we can overcome the chaos around us and take steps to live a more vibrant, courageous life that aligns with our true desires and potential.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The danger of self-criticism and how to overcome it.
• The importance of becoming more aware of the information you’re exposing yourself to.
• How self-care improves every area of your life — and where to start.

As we get ready to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, it’s the perfect time to talk about how we can better care for our planet. In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Live Happy Marketing Manager Casey Johnson, who created the Earth Day Happy Acts campaign and is a fierce advocate for the planet. She talks about the daily practices she uses to help preserve and protect Mother Earth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Millennials and Gen Z are so passionate about environmental issues.
• Small steps we all can take to help improve the health of the planet.
• The importance of being in nature and learning to appreciate it.

What if thinking about death could give more meaning to your life? In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Jodi Wellman, who founded Four Thousand Mondays to help people make the most of the time they have left on this planet. Her new book, You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets furthers that mission by providing readers with a roadmap to live each day to the fullest. Find out how and why Jodi started this mission and how we all can live better by counting the Mondays we have left.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to prevent deathbed regrets.
• Why reflecting on death can help us start living the life of our dreams.
• How counting down the Mondays you have left can make them more valuable.

We know that a positive mindset is good for your health, but did you realize it can change how you age? In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with lifelong adventurer and New York Times bestselling author Caroline Paul about her new book, Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking — How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age. In Caroline’s book, you’ll meet inspiring women in their 70s, 80s and beyond who combine a positive mindset with outdoor adventure to defy common beliefs about aging. Caroline also shares the science and psychology of how outdoor adventure affects both your brain and your body — and can help you become more active, joyous, and adventurous later in life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How a negative view of aging changes your brain.
• Why outdoor adventure isn’t usually encouraged for older women—and why it should be.
• The five pillars for fulfilling aging and the role going outside plays in them.

Each year, the release of the World Happiness Report gives new insight into global well-being. On this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Dr. Lara Aknin, a distinguished professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University and one of the editors of the report. Lara explains why the U.S. fell out of the top 20 happiest countries for the first time in the report’s history, which age group is thriving in the U.S., and shares some encouraging findings about how benevolence is changing worldwide.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What age group is happiest around the world — and how it differs in the U.S.
• What is driving unhappiness among America’s young people.
• Good news about well-being and dementia.

Plenty of research shows that pets can help us heal, and now even hospitals are warming up to the idea. On this episode, host Brittany Derrenbacher sits down with Heather Stohr, a certified child life specialist at Norton Children’s in Louisville, KY.  Heather manages the facility dog program at Norton Healthcare, which allows animals to play a very important role in the healing process for patients, families, and caregivers. Find out how they are changing lives one hospital bed at a time.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What a facility dog does in a hospital — and how it changes the way patients heal.
• How dogs are trained to become facility dogs.
• How dogs are also changing the lives of prisoners as they are being trained.

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.

March 20 is the International Day of Happiness, and that makes it the perfect time to meet Will Thomas, a Happy Activist who founded Good News magazine during the pandemic to give people a break from the steady stream of negative news. What was supposed to be a one-off publication has grown into a thriving media brand with magazines in eight communities. In this episode, Will joins host Paula Felps to explain how it evolved and why it’s so important to spread positivity in your own community.

Then, Live Happy’s Casey Johnson and Laura Coppedge talk about how you can celebrate the International Day of Happiness and share some of their favorite ways to make the most of the day. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How sharing positive stories can change the way people see their community.
• Why it’s important to celebrate the International Day of Happiness.
• How to spread happiness on Live Happy’s Digital Happiness Wall.

If you feel like you’re stuck in survival mode, this week’s episode is just what the doula ordered! Host Paula Felps sits down with life doula and author Brandi Sellerz-Jackson to talk about her new book, On Thriving: Harnessing Joy Through Life’s Great Labors, which is part memoir, part roadmap to leading a happier, healthier life. She’s here to offer tips on how each of us can go from surviving to thriving and discovering true joy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why we should treat ourselves like a houseplant.
• The four labors of life that everyone experiences.
• Brandi’s three tips for cultivating joy.

This week, we celebrate International Women’s Day, which makes it the perfect time to talk about how women can help empower and support each other. In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Amber Olson Rourke, an award-winning marketing executive, mom, co-founder of the direct sales company Neora, and co-host of the Built to Win podcast. Amber is passionate about empowering women to step into their full potential and reach for more than they think is possible, and she’s here to talk about how we can look for opportunities to support one another — and how that can change the world.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The importance and value of women supporting each other.
• How raising girls to support one another can change their future.
• How to create your own community of supportive women. 

To hear more from Amber follow her on Instagram and subscribe to the Built to Win podcast.

Throughout March, Live Happy celebrates Happiness Month with 31 days of happy actions that we call #HappyActs. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Live Happy CEO and co-founder Deborah Heisz about how we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary of #HappyActs and how you can share happiness with our new digital wall on the International Day of Happiness on March 20.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why practicing happiness with intention is so good for you.
• What a #HappyAct is — and how you can practice them.
• New ways to celebrate the International Day of Happiness.

Music has the power to help us heal, and that’s why one Musicians on Call delivers music where it might be needed most: the hospital. This volunteer organization connects musicians with hospitals to provide live and recorded music to patients. In this episode, host Paula Felps is joined by Katy Epley, executive vice president at Musicians on Call, to learn how this program came about and how it has changed the lives of both patients and the musicians who perform for them.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The physical, emotional, and mental benefits of experiencing live music in a hospital setting.
• How this program has changed the landscape for accessing live music in the hospital.
• How to get involved with Musicians on Call.

Enduring the Loss of Love With Clare Mackintosh

Grief and loss are an inevitable aspect of love, and this week, best-selling author Clare Mackintosh sits down with host Paula Felps to discuss her new book, I Promise It Won’t Always Hurt Like This. Written years after the death of her son, it’s filled with important insights about love, loss, and the journey to healing — and shares hope for those who are walking through a painful time.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why grief and love are two sides of the same coin.
• The importance of understanding grief before losing someone.
• How writing about grief can help with healing.

This week, we celebrate Valentine’s Day, so today, we want to talk about the greatest love of your life — yourself. In this episode, host Paula Felps is joined by Brittany Derrenbacher and Sarah Pavey of The Healing Collective in Louisville, Kentucky. In their practices, Brittany and Sarah teach clients how to discover a deep lasting love for themselves, and they also hold workshops on creating self-love vision boards. Today, they’re sharing some insights on how self-love improves our lives and our relationships and offer some tips for starting your own self-love practice.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why self-love is the foundation of all our relationships.
• How practicing self-love changes the way you interact with others.
• Simple ways to begin practicing self-love.

It’s February, which means the message of love and Valentine’s Day is all around us. But did you know this is the make-or-break time for many couples? This week, host Paula Felps welcomes Dr. Julia DiGangi, a neuropsychologist and author of Energy Rising: The Neuroscience of Leading with Emotional Power. She’s here to discuss some common mistakes we make in our relationships and how we can improve those relationships by learning more about what our brains – not our hearts – are doing to complicate things.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The three styles of attachment and how they affect your relationships.
• How the patterns in your brain affect how you respond to your partner.
• Why self-love is a vital part of every relationship.

As we approach February, our minds turn to love. For the next few weeks, Live Happy Now will look at the many ways love shows up in our lives and how we can create more of it. To kick it off, host Paula Felps talks with Maria Baltazzi, author of Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct and Produce the Life You Want. In her book, Maria outlines eight happiness essentials and, not surprisingly, one of them is love. In this episode she talks about some of the practices we can use to build more love into our lives.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to use journaling to build more love in your life.
• Using photography to retrain your brain to look for love.
• How a loving kindness meditation can create more love for yourself and others.

Throughout January, we’ve been sharing practices that can help you create habits that increase your wellbeing. And now, it’s time for an adventure! This week, host Paula Felps talks with Steve Taylor, a best-selling author and senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University in England. Steve has devoted his life to investigating spiritual awakenings for himself and others and his new book, The Adventure: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Awakening, provides a roadmap to walk through practices to help you embark on your awakening journey. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why awakening is the greatest adventure any of us will ever experience.
• The eight qualities of wakefulness and why they matter.
• How embracing our mortality improves our spiritual awakening. 

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.

As we venture a little farther into the new year, it’s a good time to pause, take a breath, and – if you have three minutes – learn to meditate! This week, host Paula Felps is joined by  Richard Dixey, a lifelong student of Buddhism who has devoted the past 15 years of his life to teaching meditation. His new book, Three Minutes a Day: A Fourteen Week Course to Learn Meditation and Transform Your Life, is designed to teach readers how to change their lives with simple meditation practices that truly do take just three minutes a day.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why meditation is so good for us.
• How learning to meditate for just three minutes a day can transform us.
• Simple practices to begin your meditation journey.

Dr. Joanne Cacciatore knows first-hand the trauma caused by grief and loss. And she also knows how animals can help us heal. On this episode, host Brittany Derrenbacher sits down with Dr. Jo, founder of the Arizona-based Selah Carefarm, which provides a compassionate, healing space for those who have suffered trauma and loss. Listen in as they discuss how humans and animals help each other heal from abuse, trauma, and grief.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why animals are such experts at helping us heal from trauma.
• How working with abused animals has had a profound effect on Dr. Jo’s life.
• What a day on Selah Carefarm is like.

What’s so funny about 2024? You’re about to find out! This week, host Paula Felps talks with Paul Osincup, a speaker, corporate trainer, and author of the forthcoming book The Humor Habit. Paul recognizes the importance of humor as a tool to relieve stress, improve our physical and mental health, and to make the world more enjoyable for ourselves and those around us. He’s here to tell us how to create a humor strategy for 2024 and make it a healthier, funnier, and happier year.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What humor does for your mental health.
• The value of finding your Humor Homie.
• How to become hardwired for humor.

If you’re looking for an adventure to start the new year, why not take an inner field trip? This week, host Paula Felps sits down with Leesa Renee Hall, a mental health wellness advocate and author of the Inner Field Trip workbook, which helps explore what drives us, what oppresses us, and helps us identify our personal biases. Armed with that information, Leesa says we can change the way we move through the world and transform our relationships — which seems like a great way to start the year.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What it means to go on an inner field trip.
• How going on this journey is helpful to your mental health.
• Why self-reflection is such a powerful tool for healing.

The holidays are here, which means we’ve been filling our ears with the sounds of the season. As we hit the final stretch, host Paula Felps sits down with Jasper Smith of the popular a capella group Straight No Chaser. Since being discovered on YouTube, this group has become an international sensation and has become part of a holiday tradition for many.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How a 10-year-old video from college launched the band’s career.
• Why Straight No Chaser has become synonymous with the holiday season.
• Why the band loves delivering happiness for the holidays.

Grief is a difficult path to walk any time of the year, but during the holiday season, it becomes even more challenging. This week, host Paula Felps sits down with Gina Moffa, a licensed psychotherapist specializing in grief and trauma. Her new book, Moving On Doesn’t Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss, is a travel companion guide to the most difficult journey people will take in their lives. In this episode, Gina talks specifically about how grief is compounded during the holidays and tells us how to navigate it. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to take care of ourselves during the holidays if we are suffering fresh loss.
• How grief manifests itself in our bodies and how we can practice self-care.
• Tips for supporting someone who is experiencing grief during the holidays (and beyond).

If you’ve ever wished you could talk to the animals, we’ve got great news for you: Today’s guest says you can! Join host Brittany Derrenbacher as she sits down with Joan Ranquet, a well-known animal communicator, author, TEDx speaker, educator, and animal advocate. Joan and Brittany talk about the many ways we can learn to listen to our animals and they also discuss the benefits of “tapping,” which Joan talks about in her newest book, Emotional Freedom Technique for Animals and Their Humans: Creating a Harmonious Relationship Through Tapping.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Joan believes all of us have the ability to tune into what animals are telling us.
• Simple ways we can learn to listen to animals.
• How the emotional freedom technique, or “tapping,” can ease anxiety in pets.

Holidays are the time for gathering with family and that can often be stressful. But having a good strategy in place can help make the season run more smoothly. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Trakida Maldonado, a licensed professional counselor for SonderMind who brings more than a decade of clinical experience to the table. In this episode, Trakida offers actionable advice for navigating common holiday situations with family members, setting boundaries before your holiday gatherings, and how to make the holidays a little bit easier on everyone — no matter what your situation is.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to handle family gatherings when your relationships aren’t going well.
• Managing the expectations of your extended family to make the holidays a positive experience for children.
• Tips for setting boundaries and managing conflict at gatherings.

This year, as you’re shopping for the perfect holiday gift, why not put forgiveness on your list? It’s always the perfect size, never goes out of style, and it’s also like giving a gift to yourself. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Barbara J. Hunt, a forgiveness specialist, speaker, workshop leader, and bestselling author of Forgiveness Made Easy. Barbara explains how forgiveness is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves and how we can use forgiveness as a practice to help us navigate those often-tricky holiday gatherings.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why forgiveness feels so hard. 
• What forgiveness really is — and what it isn’t.
• How forgiveness can transform relationships.

Studies show that our world is becoming less optimistic, but this week’s guest believes we can change that — and we can start this holiday season. Dr. Emily Bashah is a psychologist whose private practice specializes in mental illness, collective trauma, grief, and relationship dynamics. She’s also co-host of The Optimistic American podcast, where she and Paul Johnson create space for a positive and hopeful view of America and help us feel more optimistic about the future. In this episode, she shares how we can regain our optimism by changing how we think.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why we’re feeling less optimistic these days.
• How to overcome your innate negativity bias and find your optimism.
• What to keep in mind this holiday season to boost optimism. 

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.

For many people, the holiday season marks an increase in anxiety. But this week’s guest explains why that’s not always a bad thing! Dr. David Rosmarin is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, program director at McLean Hospital, and founder of the Center for Anxiety. He’s also author of the new book, Thriving with Anxiety: 9 Tools to Make Your Anxiety Work for You, and in this episode he talks about why the holidays cause so much anxiety and offers tips for thriving throughout the season (and beyond!).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between stress and anxiety.
• How to identify your anxiety triggers so you can manage them.
• The importance of self-care — especially during times of stress — to reduce anxiety. 

November is Adopt a Senior Pet month, and that makes it the perfect time to talk to Dr. Julie Buzby, an integrative veterinarian with a special place in her heart for senior pets. She’s here to talk with host Brittany Derrenbacher about some of the misconceptions we often have about senior dogs and why in many cases a senior pet may be the best option for adoption. So listen in as she and Brittany talk about what senior pets can do for us—and what we should be doing for them.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What age dogs are considered seniors.
• Tips for caring for a senior pet.
• Benefits of senior pets for senior citizens.

November is National Gratitude Month, and this year, we decided to look at gratitude through a new lens. Host Paula Felps and Social Media Marketing Manager Casey Johnson went on a quest to find fresh new ways to practice gratitude, and in this episode, they share several unique ways to bring gratitude into your life. They’re here to talk about what they found and how these new practices can help improve your well-being — and they even share ways to get the whole family involved.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why finding a new way to practice gratitude is a great way to change your daily routine. 
• How to turn gratitude into a game the whole family can play.
• How to participate in the Live Happy Gratitude Challenge. 

Now that we’ve turned back our clocks, it’s time for shorter days — and for many, that also means the onset of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. This week, host Paula Felps sits down with world-renowned researcher and psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal, the doctor who was instrumental in identifying SAD and also pioneered light therapy as treatment. His new book, Defeating SAD: A Guide to Health and Happiness Through All Seasons, provides a roadmap for beating this disorder and in this episode, he explains how we can better prepare for the next few months.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• How Dr. Norm’s own experiences with seasonal affective disorder inspired him to research it.
• The role that light plays in seasonal affective disorder.
• Simple steps you can take to minimize the effects of SAD. 

When you’re going on a trip, it’s important to make sure you pack all the essentials. And when you’re starting a journey to well-being, you need to pack the happiness essentials. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Emmy Award-winning television producer, well-being teacher, and author Maria Baltazzi about her new book, Take A Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct and Produce the Life You Want. A world traveler who has developed and produced TV shows around the globe, including the hit reality show Survivor, Maria has truly used the planet as an extraordinary classroom. Her book explores the eight happiness essentials she’s discovered and teaches us how we can use them to improve well-being.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What she considers her three most important Happiness Essentials.
• Why she created a practice of photo journaling and how to use it for greater well-being.
• How her work on “Survivor” changed the way she looks at the world.

Sound frequencies can change not only our mental state, but change how we feel physically, too. Laura Widney first began using sound frequencies to help her wellness clients manage stress and anxiety. As she learned its many applications, she became chief innovation officer of Soaak, a company that offers sound therapy on the go. In this episode, she talks about how we all can use sound frequencies to boost our energy, enhance our focus, and improve our overall sense of well-being.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How different sound frequencies affect our physical and mental health.
• Why sound is so effective at changing how we feel.
• How to use sound as part of a daily wellness practice.

The world is experiencing an extremely difficult time right now, and sometimes that can leave us wondering if it’s selfish — or even possible — to pursue happiness in such a chaotic time. This week host Paula Felps sits down with Matt Derrenbacher, Solo Rabbi for Congregation Beth Shalom in Columbia, Missouri, to talk about why searching for happiness right now is so important and how we can find — and offer — comfort in the face of so much uncertainty.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What we can do for others when we’re not sure what to say.
• Why it’s important to look for ways to pursue happiness during hard times.
• Tips for managing anxiety and/or feelings of being overwhelmed by the news. 

If you don’t love your life at work, you’re not alone. New research shows that workers are the unhappiest they’ve been in years, so this week host, Paula Felps sits down with Greg Kettner, founder of the organization Work Happy and an expert in workplace well-being. They’re here to talk about what’s making us so unhappy on the job and what we can do about it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why workers are less satisfied now than during the pandemic.
• What unhappiness on the job is doing to our mental health.
• How finding your purpose can change how you view your job. 

We know that the bonds we have with our pets are special, but this week’s guest may have you thinking about that connection at a deeper level. Jen Golbeck is the creator of social media’s popular The Golden Ratio channel, which shares photos and videos of her rescued golden retrievers. In this episode, she talks with host Brittany Derrenbacher about her new book, The Purest Bond: Understanding the Human-Canine Connection, which provides the science behind those incredible bonds and offers new insight into how we can use that information to improve our relationships with our own animals.

• Why our bond with our pets is so powerful — and so important.
• How pets help make us happier and healthier.
• What Jen learned from working with special needs and senior dogs.

If you’ve ever wished there was a magic way to make anxiety disappear, this week’s guest has the next best thing! Brad Yates is an expert in emotional freedom tapping, also known as EFT or tapping. This practice combines the principles of acupuncture and positive psychology to help people overcome fears, relieve stress, and enjoy greater well-being. In this episode, Brad — author of the best-selling children’s book The Wizard’s Wish and co-author of the book Freedom at your Fingertips — explains how tapping works, some of the different ways to use it, and how to get started. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The science behind tapping and why it works
• How tapping can help in stressful situations
• Simple ways to start a tapping practice 

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.

Ten years ago, the happiness movement was just beginning to gain a global presence – and that paved the way for the birth of a company called Live Happy. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Deborah Heisz, CEO and co-founder of Live Happy LLC, to look back on 10 years of sharing happiness. Deb explains how her work in personal development led to discovering positive psychology and how that opened the door to launching a company that remains committed to sharing the many ways we can discover greater well-being and lead more fulfilling lives. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Live Happy began and why it was so important to be rooted in science
• How the Live Happy mission has evolved over the past decade
• What to expect from the next 10 years

Anxiety is so pervasive today that more than 40 million adults in the U.S. are living with it. This week’s guest, Dr. Jud Brewer, offers new insights into this growing problem and provides simple steps to help end the cycle of constant worrying.  As New York Times best-selling author and director of research and innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, Dr. Jud released the book Unwinding Anxiety in 2021 and now the same techniques used in his book are available the Unwinding Anxiety app. In this episode, he tells us how we all can start breaking free from anxiety.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why willpower isn’t the answer to overcoming anxiety
• Three steps to breaking an anxiety habit
• How curiosity can help disarm anxiety

Creative arts such as painting, dancing, acting, and singing can play a powerful role in self-care and mental health, but they’re often overlooked – especially in rural communities. This week, host Paula Felps sits down Happy Activist Becca Finley, founder of This is Noteworthy, a nonprofit designed to help creatives explore their artistic gifts and discover what it can do for them and the community they live in. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why it’s important for creatives to learn how to express themselves through their gifts.
• How we all benefit from tapping into our creative side.
• How celebrating the arts can enhance a community.