Live Happy Now

Small Practices for Brighter Days With Paula Felps and Michelle Jones

A new Gallup poll says that Americans are feeling unusually pessimistic about the future, with optimism hitting its lowest point in two decades. This week, host Paula Felps and social media manager Michelle Jones dig into the poll results and explore why so many people are struggling emotionally, and — more importantly — what practical, evidence‑based habits can help us stay grounded, hopeful, and connected during difficult times. They also share what’s ahead for Happiness Month and how listeners can participate in this year’s community‑driven #HappyActs initiative.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why Americans are reporting historically low levels of optimism.
How negativity bias and nonstop news consumption intensify feelings of gloom.
Why balancing heaviness with humor or uplifting content can help regulate emotions.

Adapting to a Chaotic World With Anne Grady

During chaotic times, our ability to adapt is more important than ever. In this episode, resilience expert and author Anne Grady sits down with host Paula Felps to share how to stay grounded in a world that’s changing faster than our nervous systems can keep up. Drawing on personal experiences and insights from her new book EvolvAbility, Anne explains why adaptability is not a soft skill but a critical survival skill.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Anne’s EVOLVE framework and how emotions shape our reactions.
How to reduce overwhelm and navigate uncertainty with intention.
How simple, science-backed practices — like gratitude, humor, and setting boundaries — build adaptability over time.

Choosing Hope (Even When It’s Hard) With Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

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.

The Art of Adult Friendships With Anna Runkle

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.

Becoming a Better Friend With Barnet Bain

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.

Why Mattering Matters With Rebecca Newberger Goldstein

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.

What Happens in Vagus With Rebecca Kase

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.

Move From Surviving to Thriving With Jon Rosemberg

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.

Become Astonishingly Alive in 2026 With Jodi Wellman

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.

Ignite Your Purpose and Embrace Change With Madi Murphy

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.