Live Happy Now

Reclaiming Happiness With Dr. Valerie Rein

Stress and anxiety are something we’re all familiar with, but this week’s guest uses the science of epigenetics to discover how stress and trauma from previous generations are affecting us today. Dr. Valerie Rein’s book, Patriarchy Stress Disorder: The invisible Inner Barrier to Women’s Happiness and Fulfillment, looks at the research behind this reality and provides tools for identifying and managing intergenerational stress. Today, she’s here to talk about how this works in our lives and how we can identify and overcome it. In this episode, you’ll learn: How toxic stress from trauma is passed on through generations. What Patriarchy Stress Disorder is and why it is the cause of so much underlying stress. Why the pandemic was particularly challenging for women — and what to do about it now.

Finding Unity in a Divided World With Peter Montoya

Our world has become increasingly divided, but this week’s guest tells us how we can begin to close that divide. Peter Montoya is a thought leader, speaker and author who promotes civility and self-leadership as tools for change. His new book, The Second Civil War: A citizen’s guide to healing our fractured nation, looks at the challenges we’re facing as a society, how technology and media consumption increases our anxiety, and what each of us can do to help stop the conflict. In this episode, you'll learn: What excessive news consumption and social media do to our brains. How to reduce your anxiety and create a new way to consume media. Actionable steps to begin healing damaged relationships.

Overcoming the Information Overload With Dr. Charles Chaffin

Today’s technology-driven world allows us to connect with others and stay informed like never before. But it’s no secret that living in the information age is also keeping us distracted and drained. In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Dr. Charles Chaffin, a researcher, educator and the author of Numb: How the Information Age Dulls Our Senses and How We Can Get Them Back. His research looks at how our attention is being affected by everything from social media and cable news to dating apps and pornography. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the information overload is doing to our mental health. How 24/7 news feeds are affecting our compassion. How we can better manage our attention in such a noisy world.

Discovering Fierce Self-Compassion With Dr. Kristin Neff

For almost 20 years, Dr. Kristin Neff has been teaching us about how to improve our well-being through self-compassion. Now, she’s teaching us how to get fierce. Kristin is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion and her newest book, Fierce Self-Compassion, looks at an often-overlooked aspect of self-compassion. But fierce self-compassion is just as important to our well-being as tender self-compassion, and she’s here to tell us why. In this episode, you’ll learn: The difference between tender self-compassion and fierce self-compassion. Why it’s particularly important for women to learn how to practice fierce self-compassion. Simple ways to begin implementing fierce self-compassion.

Discovering “For the Joy of It” Creativity With Jill Allison Bryan

Creativity is something that often gets put on the back burner in our busy lives filled with obligations and deadlines. But Jill Allison Bryan believes that saying “yes” to your creative dreams can help make you a happier, healthier and more fulfilled human being—while making the world a better place. Jill is the founder of Creative Oasis Coaching and she has devoted her life to helping people identify their creative desires and helps them lose their creative blocks to discover freedom, purpose and joy. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why using creativity affects your happiness. How to prioritize creativity — even if you think you’re too busy. How to create your own creativity summer camp.

Happier No Matter What With Tal Ben-Shahar

When the pandemic struck, many people wondered how it was possible to be happy with all the stress and tragedy going on around us. But this week’s guest saw this as a perfect opportunity to understand happiness even better. With his new book, Happier No Matter What, New York Times bestselling author Tal Ben-Shahar looks at how we can cultivate hope, resilience and purpose during the most difficult times of our lives. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why happiness matters during challenging times. What the SPIRE method is and how it can help us. The difference between being happy and being happier.

Happiness Habits With Jackson Kerchis

Many of us go through times when we wonder what it would take to make us happier, but Jackson Kerchis took that question to a whole different level.  Jackson created and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in happiness, integrating insights from neuroscience, positive psychology, religion, philosophy, and direct experience to provide a comprehensive study of what makes us happy. He designed and instructs the University of Alabama’s first ever Happiness 101 course, which is built around his Happiness Habits Project. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why he created his own happiness studies. The role of habits in promoting happiness. How the brain changes with mind training.

Mental Health Hygiene for Men With Quentin Vennie

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while there are more resources for mental health than ever before, it’s still a topic that’s often overlooked when it comes to men. In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with motivational speaker and wellness expert Quentin Vennie about overcoming the stigma men face when it comes to caring for their mental health. His bestselling memoir, Strong in the Broken Places, detailed his journey from anxiety, depression and addiction to his discovery of wellness practices that he now teaches to others. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why men need to put more focus on their mental health. How women can help on their mental health journey. What the Trinity of Wellness is and how to practice it.

Overcoming Your ‘Mom Rage’ With Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and since we also just celebrated Mother’s Day, it’s a great time to look at where those two things intersect. This week, host Paula Felps talks with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor about “Mom Rage.” This condition has become prevalent as mothers deal with the added stress of parenting during a pandemic and Dr. Jill, author of Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life, is here to talk about the four characters we all have that manage our emotional reactions. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why the pandemic has been harder on mothers. What the four characters in your brain do for you. How to use these four characters to create better outcomes.

Understanding Your Mom Genes with Abigail Tucker

In just a few days, we’re going to celebrate Mother’s Day, so there’s no better time to take with Abigail Tucker, an award-winning science journalist, New York Times bestselling author and mother of four. She’s also author of the brand new book, Mom Genes: Inside the New Science of Our Ancient Maternal Instinct. In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Abigail about what moms are made of and the many ways motherhood changes a woman. Her fascinating findings just might change everything you thought you knew about moms! In this episode, you’ll learn: What factors shape a mother’s behavior. How motherhood reconfigures a woman’s brain. How external events influence maternity.