
Flourish FM
What does it take to flourish? We started Flourish FM to share cutting edge research from world experts on how to thrive, so you can take away big ideas and practical steps to enhance your life, the lives of others, and, ultimately, make the world a better place.
Flourish FM is hosted by Dr. Jon Beale and Dr. Nick Holton, and in collaboration with the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, and The Shipley School.
Latest episodes

Mar 12, 2024 • 51min
Episode #40: Special Series on The Antifragile: Antifragility with world champion, bestselling author and performance coach, Donene Taylor
Professional author, speaker, and world champion Donene Taylor discusses antifragility and personal growth. She shares insights on embracing challenges, overcoming self-defeating loops, and the path to antifragility. The podcast explores developing resilience, emotional regulation, and the impact of mindset shifts. Donene's journey from victimhood to empowerment is highlighted, inspiring listeners to thrive through adversity.

Mar 5, 2024 • 1h 10min
Episode #39: Special Series on The Antifragile: Antifragility with combat veteran and leadership trainer, Kawika Lau
Combat veteran and leadership trainer Kawika Lau discusses embracing antifragility for personal growth after trauma. He shares insights on navigating trauma, finding purpose in adversity, and weaving anti-fragility principles into parenting for holistic well-being.

Feb 13, 2024 • 58min
Episode #38: Leadership for Flourishing, with Emmie Bidston and Dr. Katy Granville-Chapman
We interview Emmie Bidston and Dr. Katy Granville-Chapman, authors of Leader: Know, love and inspire your people (2020), about leadership for flourishing. Our conversation focuses on what makes a great leader and how to promote flourishing through leadership.
Emmie is an Associate Fellow of the Oxford Character Project and a Senior Fellow of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard’s Flourishing Network. Emmie studied Economics at the University of Cambridge before working for the UK civil service in a range of areas from education to contingency planning. She is currently head of Economics at Wellington College and Director of the Wellington Leadership and Coaching Institute. She co-founded a charity to help develop young leaders in Africa and runs conferences, coaching and leadership training for adults and young people.
Katy is an associate fellow of the Oxford Character Project, a Doctoral Teaching Fellow at Oxford University’s Department of Education, a Research Associate at the Oxford University Wellbeing Research Centre, and a Senior Fellow of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard’s Flourishing Network. She is the co-founder of Global Social Leaders, a movement of young people in 105 countries who design and lead social action projects that make a meaningful change in their communities. Katy is also a Deputy Headteacher at Wellington College, focusing on teacher performance and development, and founder of the Wellington Leadership and Coaching Institute.
Emmie and Katy’s book Leader has been shortlisted for the Business Book Awards ‘leadership book of the future’ and longlisted for the Chartered Management Institute’s Management Book of the Year.
Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com
Follow us:
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Emmie’s LinkedIn
Katy’s LinkedIn
Katy’s Instagram
Leader: Know, love and inspire your people (2020)
Leadership for flourishing course, based on the book
Leadership for Flourishing
Global Social Leaders
Wellington College Leadership and Coaching Institute
Oxford Character Project
Timestamps:
00:00:06 - Introduction to the Episode
00:00:17 - Emmie's Background
00:00:48 - Katy’s Background
00:01:21 - Their book on Leadership for Flourishing
00:02:27 - Guests' Connection with the Hosts
00:03:09 - Guests' Varied Career Paths
00:03:27 - Emmie's Journey to Leadership
00:04:47 - Katy's Military Experience and Leadership Insights
00:06:12 - Katy's Transition into Education and Leadership
00:08:36 - Emmie and Katy's Collaboration
00:09:33 - Overview of their Various Projects
00:10:56 - Katie's Role at Wellington College
00:11:34 - Leadership for Flourishing
00:15:03 - Defining Human Flourishing
00:18:16 - Hedonic vs. Eudaimonic Well-Being
00:22:16 - The Role of Unpleasantness in Flourishing
00:24:03 - What Makes a Great Leader
00:26:01 - Examples of Courageous and Loving Leaders
00:30:38 - The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership
00:32:23 - Developing Character and Virtues
00:34:14 - The Double-Edged Sword of Character Strengths
00:37:49 - The Three Key Lessons for Leaders
00:39:09 - Practical Advice for Leaders
00:41:11 - The Role of Authenticity in Leadership
00:42:37 - Factors for Outstanding Team Performance
00:44:59 - Love as a Central Leadership Skill
00:47:19 - Love's Role in Team Dynamics
00:50:59 - Matthew Lee's Work on Love in Education

13 snips
Feb 6, 2024 • 42min
Episode #37: How to get on the path to antifragility, peak performance and fulfilling your potential, with Dr. Adam Wright
In this episode, Dr. Adam Wright discusses building antifragility for peak performance and fulfilling potential. He shares insights on mental skills, working with high-stakes clients, and the importance of fostering flourishing. The conversation explores the journey to alignment and self-discovery, the Anti-Fragile Academy, and the transformative nature of embracing discomfort for personal growth.

Jan 30, 2024 • 57min
Episode #36: How to prevent and recover from burnout, with “The Burnout Doc,” Dr. Sharon Grossman
We interview Dr. Sharon Grossman, also known as the “Burnout Doc,” about how to prevent and recover from burnout, and manage stress.
We discuss what burnout is, its symptoms and causes, and how to identify and reduce the risk of it. The conversation provides practical tips and strategies for preventing and recovering from burnout, managing stress, and building resilience.
Sharon Grossman is a leading expert on burnout, stress, productivity, and employee well-being. She is a psychologist, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of the international bestseller The Solution to Burnout: 7 Steps from Exhausted to Extraordinary (2020). Her most recent book is The Stress Advantage: Lessons from the Tennis Court (2023).
Sharon teaches, trains and coaches people and organizations to become resilient in the face of stress, build the skills for optimal performance, redesign their mindsets, habits and lifestyle, and overcome resentment.
Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com/sharongrossman
Follow us:
YouTube @flourishfmcast
Instagram @flourishfmpodcast
TikTok @flourishfmpodcast
Twitter @flourishfmcast
Facebook @flourishfmcast
LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast
Sharon’s website: drsharongrossman.com
Sharon’s LinkedIn
Sharon’s YouTube
Sharon’s Instagram
The Solution to Burnout: 7 Steps from Exhausted to Extraordinary (2020)
The Stress Advantage: Lessons from the Tennis Court (2023)
Sharon’s Burnout Meter quiz
Timestamps:
00:00:05 - Introduction to Dr. Sharon Grossman
00:00:53 - Burnout and Its Symptoms
00:01:36 - Stress and Burnout
00:02:21 - The Complexity of Burnout
00:03:14 - Empowering Individuals to Address Burnout
00:04:08 - Chronic Stress and Its Impact
00:05:26 - The Role of Organizational and Personal Factors in Burnout
00:06:11 - Understanding Stress and Its Chronic Nature
00:07:07 - Psychological Triggers and Chronic Stress
00:08:12 - The Stress Bucket Analogy
00:09:17 - Identifying Patterns in Burnout Experiences
00:10:07 - Mindset Shifts to Combat Burnout
00:11:00 - The Importance of Personal Responsibility in Burnout
00:12:15 - The Stress-Burnout Continuum
00:13:17 - The Stigma Around Burnout
00:14:19 - The Role of Personal Factors in Burnout
00:15:20 - Defining Burnout Beyond Workplace Stress
00:16:26 - The Stress Bucket Overflowing
00:17:19 - Symptoms of Burnout: Exhaustion, Cynicism, and Reduced Performance
00:18:35 - The Emotional Impact of Stress and Burnout
00:19:14 - The Importance of Coping Mechanisms
00:20:20 - The Role of Triggers in Stress and Burnout
00:21:20 - The Importance of Self-Awareness in Managing Stress
00:22:22 - Clarifying the Definition of Stress
00:23:09 - The Role of Emotional Responses in Stress
00:24:29 - The World Health Organization's Definition of Burnout
00:25:21 - Challenging Standard Definitions of Burnout
00:26:16 - The Three Contributing Factors to Burnout
00:27:21 - The Thinker, Feeler, and Doer Personality Structures
00:29:29 - The Nuances of Burnout and Personalized Recovery
00:30:32 - The Symptoms of Burnout and Their Variability
00:31:31 - Gender Disparities in Burnout Experiences
00:32:37 - The “7E Solution” to Burnout
00:35:18 - Understanding the Spectrum of Burnout Symptoms
00:36:05 - Necessary Conditions and Symptoms of Burnout
00:37:09 - The 7E Solution to Burnout and Emotional Intelligence
00:38:13 - The Importance of Self-Awareness in Burnout Recovery
00:39:09 - Identifying Personal Contributors to Burnout
00:40:26 - The 7E Solution Framework for Burnout Recovery
00:41:10 - The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Burnout Recovery
00:42:35 - The 7E Solution to Burnout: Emotional Intelligence
00:43:47 - The Impact of Appreciation and Purpose on Burnout
00:44:29 - Deciding to Stay or Leave a Stressful Work Environment
00:45:12 - The Trap of Financial Obligations and Burnout
00:46:06 - A Blueprint for Self-Coaching
00:47:14 - Emotional Intelligence as the First Step to Burnout Recovery
00:48:06 - Breaking Negative Thinking Patterns to Prevent Burnout
00:49:00 - A Client's Experience with Catastrophizing and Burnout
00:49:54 - Realizing the Power of Networking to Overcome Burnout Fears

Jan 23, 2024 • 50min
Episode #35: How the "flourishing effect" can help you thrive in the workplace, with Tonille Miller
Tonille Miller, organizational psychologist, discusses creating thriving workplaces and shares insights from her book 'The Flourishing Effect'. Topics include meeting individual needs for autonomy, connection, mastery, esteem, purpose, and meaningful results, developing capacity to thrive, applying scientific guidance in the business world, shifting dynamics of work, and advice for flourishing in the workplace.

Jan 16, 2024 • 49min
Episode #34: How to flourish through fitness and movement, with Krista Stryker
Author, entrepreneur, and self-actualization coach Krista Stryker talks about flourishing through fitness. Topics include the link between mental and physical fitness, benefits of physical exercise for mental health, practical advice for maintaining physical fitness, using journaling for motivation, finding intrinsic motivation, and the importance of enjoyable activities in staying consistent.

Jan 2, 2024 • 54min
Episode #33: How to harness self-reflection to do hard things, develop psychological richness and create optimal happiness, with Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener
Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, expert in positive psychology, discusses psychological richness, optimal happiness, and the importance of self-reflection in improving well-being. Topics include embracing negative emotions, asking provocative questions for growth, and prioritizing relationships for overall well-being.

Aug 16, 2023 • 55min
Episode #32: Building Well-Being in the Workplace, with Former Director of Global Mental Health and Well-Being at Google, Dr. Kristin Maczko
Gone are the days of pitting productivity against well-being in the workplace. Imagine a world where the elements that boost collective productivity also ignite motivation and personal fulfillment within each individual. In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome the brilliant Dr. Kristin Maczko, a trailblazer at the crossroads of psychology and organizational success, as we embark on a journey through the corridors of workplace effectiveness. She is an expert in the intersection between productivity and well-being in the workplace, and her work focuses on the collective and systemic factors that influence them. Dr. Maczko previously served as the Director of Global Employee Mental Health and Well-being at Google for 15 years and now is the host of the Your Self at Work Podcast and founder of Xoogler.
In this riveting episode, we demystify burnout; its origins, ways to sidestep its grasp, and powerful strategies for recovery. Discover the art of crafting an environment that nurtures growth, as we delve into the nuanced facets of workplace well-being. From the intriguing interplay between work, productivity, and well-being, to Dr. Maczko's pioneering perspective on what burnout truly entails, it's all here. Tune in for an illuminating discussion that shatters old paradigms, fuels your passion for holistic success, and equips you with the tools to thrive in an ever-evolving workplace. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just someone eager to unlock your full potential, this episode is your compass to steering the ship of your mental well-being toward fulfilling horizons.
Key Points From This Episode:
The definition of burnout and the six factors that help identify it.
Whether personal aspects can exacerbate workplace stress.
Explore the synergy between productivity, performance, and well-being.
We unpack the spectrum of employee health.
Common misconceptions about a healthy work environment
Dr. Maczko shares her progressive and holistic view of burnout.
Insights into the interpersonal network aspect of burnout.
Strategies to prevent, avoid, and overcome workplace burnout.
Shifting from an individual to a collective mindset.
Burnout in the context of a freelancer and small teams.
Perfectionism, caregiving roles, and the link to burnout.
Lessons from her role at Google about workplace well-being.
Organizational change management and navigating transitions.
Her motivation for starting Xoogler and the podcast.
Pragmatic advice to help thrive in the workplace.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
The Antifragile Academy
Dr. Kristin Maczko on LinkedIn
Your Self at Work Podcast
Xoogler
The Flourishing Network
A World Without Email
Crucial Accountability
Compassionate Accountability
The Shipley School
Flourish FM Podcast
Flourish FM on X
Flourish FM on Instagram
Jon Beale
Nick Holton

Aug 1, 2023 • 53min
Episode #31: How To Flourish in Your Career in an Uncertain Future of Work, with Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman
Joining us today is Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman a respected author, entrepreneur, and Harvard-trained physician, who has extensive expertise in the realms of behavioral and organizational change, digital health, well-being, and AI. In collaboration with Professor Martin Seligman, Gabriella co-authored her debut book Tomorrowmind, which provides crucial strategies and practical guidance to confronting the ambiguous prospects of the workplace. Throughout her career, Gabriella has held significant roles in the corporate world. She served as the Chief Product Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at BetterUp, a prominent transformation platform catering to global professionals.
In our conversation, we discuss her motivation behind writing the book on workplace well-being, the key components of the Tomorrowmind, and why there is a need for broader dissemination of their research. Dr. Kellerman unpacks the PRISM concept and explains the skills needed to excel in the current work environment. We also explore concepts of well-being, shifting from “meaning” to “mattering”, fostering a positive mindset, and how to measure well-being. Additionally, Dr. Kellerman shares the story behind BetterUp, the incredible and much-needed research the company performs, and the science of thriving at work. Tune in and discover the path to increased well-being, performance, and fulfillment with Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman!
Key Points From This Episode:
The motivation behind writing the book and why the research is so crucial.
Essential skills for thriving in today's work environment: PRISM.
How technology is shaping the workplace and driving change.
Why resilience and mattering are crucial for flourishing in a changing workplace.
Shared experiences, social connection, and the impact of remote work.
Shifting from time famine to time abundance to foster social connection.
We explore the PERMA model and the concept of well-being.
Transitioning from "meaning" to "mattering" in relation to work.
The role of vitality and physical health in thriving in the workplace.
BetterUp, how it was founded, and its research focus.
How coaching can help individuals in the workplace.
Insights and advice for flourishing in the workplace.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
The Antifragile Academy
Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman
Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman on Instagram
Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman LinkedIn
BetterUp
Tomorrowmind
‘Homo Prospectus’
‘Giving Time Gives You Time’
Professor Martin Seligman
The Shipley School
Flourish FM Podcast
Flourish FM on Twitter
Flourish FM on Instagram
Flourish FM on YouTube
Flourish FM Survey
Jon Beale
Nick Holton