Harvesting Happiness

The Power of Productivity with Lisa Feldman Barrett PhD & Chris Bailey

The quality of information we intake and the meaningful conversations we have directly equate to how productive and meaningful we consider our lives to be. When we add digital devices into the mix we add distractions that keep us from focusing on the task at hand. The distractions plus the frustration of being unable to focus our attention can lead to stress which wreaks havoc on our bodies. To find out how we can take a much-needed digital detox and focus to make the most out of every moment, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors about their work in the realm of evolved brain function, emotions, and productivity. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is a neuroscientist, psychologist, and author who dispels some popular brain myths and discusses the content of her book, Seven and A Half Lessons About the Brain. Chris Bailey has studied stimulation statistics and shares what lies at the core of what it means to be productive and how intention and focus can increase productivity.

Consciously Curated Digital Self- Mastery with Dr Ravi Chandra MD & Jordan Reid

Taking time away from our digital devices and engaging in the
present moment is becoming more difficult with each new social
media app. Each bell and ding is designed to hook us and keep us
engaged. When we are conscious and thoughtful about our screen
time, we put ourselves back in control of our human experience.
To find out how we can take a much-needed digital detox and re-
engage with society authentically, Positive Psychology Podcast
Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors about their work
in the realm of consciously curated digital self-mastery. Dr. Ravi
Chandra shares his insights about how social media can be toxic
to our relationships and Jordan Reid, shares excerpts from her
family life that enticed her to write The Big Activity Book for
Digital Detox

Mindful Mental Healthcare Management with Dr. Stuart Eisendrath MD & Dr. Ron Frey PhD

Human beings require interpersonal relationships to be fulfilled in
life. But many who suffer from bouts of depression find it difficult
to take the necessary steps to get motivated or to communicate
their needs with others. Researchers are studying how to create
mindfulness techniques that can break cycles of depression for
willing participants. To find out more about the mindfulness-
healthy mind connection, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa
Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors who promote being in the
present moment and who practice mindful mental healthcare
management. Dr. Stuart Eisendrath describes his alternative
method to mindfully manage depression. And, Dr. Ronald Frey,
whose book, Feeling Better: Beat Depression and Improve Your
Relationships with Interpersonal Psychotherapy, shares his
externally referenced relationship-based approach to overcoming
depression.
Dr. Stuart

Healthy Minds in a Digital World with Rachael Katz MS, ED, Helen Shwe Hadani Ph.D. & Amy Adams MSW, PPSC

Social connection is fundamental to the human experience. Our minds are incentivized to connect with other humans by the release of warm and fuzzy pleasure-inducing chemicals that encourage us to communicate with and touch other humans. Mimicking this strategy is how technology companies commandeer our bodies and minds to keep us transfixed on their product. Unfortunately, their products only feed us half of the normal biological reward and it can negatively impact our mental health. To decode the intense draw technology has for humans, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with three experts in emotional and social learning skills about how to create and maintain a healthy mind in a digital world. Rachael Katz and Helen Hadani describe the theory of mind and other findings from the book they co-authored, The Emotionally Intelligent Child: Effective Strategies for Parenting Self-Aware, Cooperative, and Well-Balanced Kids. And, the co-founder of the non-profit Healthy Screen Habits, Amy Adams, shares how technology hooks us, why teenagers are the most susceptible to the draw, and how a family tech plan can maintain balance in the home.

Get Tougher: Smart Moves for Resiliency and Performance with Daya Grant PhD & Steve Magness

Many humans are unaware of the depths of their physical and mental strength. When confronted with a task they fear, some use substances to mentally dull themselves while others say they are unable to take action. If the tools for reaching our next level of performance are all straightforward and free, why aren’t more of us shifting to become more resilient and tougher? To reveal the secrets of high-performing individuals, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two experts in performance consulting about how we all can get tougher with a few smart moves for resiliency and performance. Certified Mental Performance Consultant, Dr. Daya Grant shares the neuroscience of yoga and why we all should be motivated to meditate. Then, Podcast Host and performance expert, Steve Magness, discusses the central tenet of resilience and key principles from his book, Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and A Surprising Science of Real Toughness.

Rising Adult Professionals: Stand- Up, Stand-Out, and Succeed with Julie Lythcott-Haims & Mark Zides

Today’s job market is a stark contrast to the job market of 20-
years ago. Millennials and Gen Z’ers who are entering the
workforce have different ideas about what makes a successful
career and a happy work life. Young adults who are empowered
with the right tools to problem solve for themselves will be major
assets for the organizations they join. How long they maintain a
position will be up to the organization to foster their talent and
the ability of the young adult professional to rise to find different
opportunities within the same organization. To discover how
young adults entering the workforce can build a foundation of
trust and commitment to achieve work/life success, Positive
Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two
authors about how young adult professionals can stand-up, stand-
out, and succeed. Julie Lythcott-Haims is a New York Times
bestselling author and former Stanford Dean of Freshman. She
explores the role parents can play in raising empowered young
adults and other reflections from her book, Your Turn: How to Be
an Adult. Mark Zides is the CEO of CoreAxis Consulting and a
serial entrepreneur. He discusses the core concepts he provides to
young adults in his book, The #PACE Process for Early Career
Success.

From Survival to Success: Exploring Resilience & The Immigrant Experience with Justine Gatt PhD, Lan Cao & Harlan Lan Cao

Moving residences, whether elective or forced, is known to be one of the most stressful things humans can do. Dealing with the trauma of new places and new faces can be difficult for both parents and children. Why do some people bounce back after a change and others sink into themselves? What about when a family moves into a different culture? How do individuals maintain a sense of well-being in the face of 180-degree life change? To determine the role genetics and environment have in calculating survival or success, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with three women about the resilience across cultures and the immigrant experience. Justine Gatt is the Lead Scientist at Gatt Wellbeing and Resilience group. She describes the multiple studies she has been a part of that measure wellbeing and resilience in various cultures and with varying stressors. Mother, Lan Cao and Daughter, Harlan Lan Cao, co-authored Family in Six Tones: A Refugee Mother, An American Daughter. Each describes how her experience differed from the other in school, society, and when writing the book.

Religiously Curious and Spiritually Independent with Rabbi Rami Shapiro PhD, Amy-Jill Levine PhD & Marc Zvi Brettler PhD

Walk into a Christian church that preaches from the Old Testament and then walk into a synagogue that teaches from the Hebrew Bible, the scripture should be similar, right? Well, not exactly. Even though both books are known to depict the same stories, many factors go into how we interpret them. Certain works may be highlighted in one religion or omitted by another. To explore the intricacies of religion and spirituality, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with three authors and religious scholars about the purpose of religion, religious texts, and spirituality. Rabbi Rami Shapiro is a highly decorated, yet unorthodox Rabbi who has studied many religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, and is a Mason in the Scottish Rite. He joins Lisa to discuss the fine points of his book, Judaism Without Tribalism: A Guide to Being a Blessing to All the Peoples of the Earth, and to share spiritual practices that can be used to elevate us all. Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler discuss, the role of women in the bible, the different versions of the Bible, and the innumerable and diverse interpretations of individual religious texts based on research gained while writing, The Bible With and WIthout Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently.

Warehouses of Experience: Brain, Body, and Trauma with Dr. Paul Valent MD & Dr. Thomas Verny MD

Have you ever read a book or heard a story of an unusually cruel
or violent person and wonder what makes them capable of such
atrocities? A sound hypothesis would be that the person had a
very difficult and painful childhood, suffering abuses beyond
normal coping mechanisms. But, new discoveries suggest that
stress and trauma can be passed from one generation to
subsequent generations through RNA and DNA. Making humans
truly an amalgam of their ancestors. To discover the impact our
family of origin has on our cellular makeup and disposition,
Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with
two doctors who have a unique history about their fascinating
work and the application of it to the healing and recovery process.
Dr. Paul Valent specializes in the harm people inflict on one
another and why they do it. He is the author of Heart of Violence:
Why People Harm Each Other which he discusses in detail. Dr.
Thomas Verny is a clinical psychiatrist who has made strides in
the discovery of cellular memory and how stress affects
generations. His book, The Embodied Mind: Understanding the
Mysteries of Cellular Memory, Consciousness, and Our Bodies
investigates the storage of memories outside the brain, the
impact of organ transplants, and epigenetics

Psychology of Money: Finessing Financial Security with Michelle Singletary & Scott Nations

These days, more often than not, financial market headlines include the terms ‘market crash’, ‘bubble bursting’, ‘inflation’, or ‘downturn’. What do these terms mean for long-term investors or for those who don’t invest but are impacted by job loss or economic hardship? How can everyday Americans attain enough financial security to be happy? To get expert advice about staying financially healthy, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two economic experts who talk about the psychology of money and how to achieve financial security. Michelle Singletary is a well-known financial advisor and a syndicated columnist for the Washington Post and other high-profile news outlets. She discusses tips for creating a savings cushion in the case of an emergency and how financial security means paying for basic needs first. The information is from her book, What to Do with Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide. Scott Nations is the president of a financial firm and a regular contributor to CNBC. He talks about his book, The Anxious Investor: Mastering the Mental Game of Investing, and the human behaviors that lead us to either be averse to risk or embrace it.