Flourish FM

In this episode we talked to Professor Angie Hobbs about how we can apply the ancient Greek philosophy of flourishing to our lives today.    Angie gained a degree in Classics and a PhD in Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. After a Research Fellowship at Christ’s College, Cambridge, she moved to the Philosophy Department at the University of Warwick; in 2012 she was appointed Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield, a position created for her.  She now holds a position with this title at the University of Warwick. Her chief interests are in ancient philosophy and literature, and ethics and political theory from classical thought to the present, and she has published widely in these areas, including Plato and the Hero (C.U.P).  Her most recent publication for the general public is Plato’s Republic: a Ladybird Expert Book.  She contributes regularly to radio and TV programmes and other media around the world, including 24 appearances on In Our Time on BBC Radio 4.  She has spoken at the World Economic Forum at Davos, the Athens Democracy Forum, the Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and Westminster Abbey and been the guest on Desert Island Discs, Private Passions and Test Match Special.    Angie was a judge of the Man Booker International Prize 2019 and was on the World Economic Forum Global Future Council 2018-9 for Values, Ethics and Innovation. www.angiehobbs.com Twitter @drangiehobbs  Key conversation points: Why flourishing is about the best actualization and fulfillment of all our faculties. Why flourishing means living the best life, both individually and as communities.  The values and virtues that best help us fulfill our faculties. The relevance and importance of Plato’s and Aristotle’s accounts of flourishing to the world today and how we live. Flourishing and the wholeness of our lives, in terms of lifespan, our characters, and our relations with others. Why flourishing gives you a secure framework of what it means to live a full, rich human life, both for yourself and your community. The role and importance of social connection in flourishing, particularly friendships and community connection. The dark side of flourishing. flourishfmpodcast.com

In this epsiode we talked to Dr Tom Chatfield. He is a British author, philosopher of technology, and educator. He is interested in improving our understanding of digital technology and its uses in policy, education and engagement. He’s particularly interested in the teaching and practice of critical thinking skills, and has worked with schools, universities and companies around their development, as well as creating award-winning online courses for both academic institutions and businesses. Key conversation points were: Our relationship with technology and how this impacts our flourishing How to reduce technology blurring the lines between work and leisure How to use technology well, rather than being used by technology Attention: what it is; its importance for living a good life; and the dangers of monetizing attention The importance of collaboration and humility as virtues for thinking and living well The importance of critical thinking skills for leading flourishing lives - in particular, avoiding coercion, reaching effective collaborative decisions, and identifying misinformation and disinformation

Dr. David Johnson and Dr. Matthew T. Lee discuss the multidimensional nature of flourishing, pathways to global flourishing, and the limits of physical and emotional load for human beings. They also touch on the metaphor of discovering greater depth in oneself as a better metaphor for flourishing than growth.

Today we are talking to Anna Lemke, MD about the relation between dopamine and fourishing.  Overarching themes: Dopamine, it’s role in pleasure and motivation  The relation between dopamine and human flourishing How to flourish while navigating addiction   Dr. Anna Lembke received her undergraduate degree in Humanities from Yale University and her medical degree from Stanford University. She is currently Professor and Medical Director of Addiction Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also Program Director of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship, and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic.   Her latest book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence (Dutton/Penguin Random House, August 2021), was an instant New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller, and explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world.

Join a discussion with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman on human flourishing, personal development, and growth. Topics include the sailboat metaphor, education, the parallels between meaningful life and flourishing, ancient philosophy virtues, Will Smith's actions, and flourishing education.

Discover the importance of finding meaning in life with Emily Esfahani Smith. Explore the 'four pillars' of meaning, the role of storytelling, spirituality, and belonging in human flourishing. Learn how to embrace a mindset centered around purpose and significance in everyday experiences.

In this podcast, Todd Kashdan, author and TEDx speaker, discusses flourishing and the relationship between curiosity and openness to experience, affective science, and psychological flexibility. The conversation explores negative emotions in education, the importance of an open mindset for creativity, navigating motivations and change in work, and the significance of negative emotions in leading a good life. Kashdan also emphasizes the lack of curiosity and interest in exploring diverse topics and discusses building cultural norms and embracing boredom to stimulate new possibilities.

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.