Flourish FM

In this episode we talked to Professor Lea Waters about the pathways towards well-being and why ‘strengths-based parenting’ is important.   Lea is Founding Director of and Inaugural Gerry Higgins Chair in Positive Psychology at the Centre for Positive Psychology (now the Centre for Wellbeing Science), University of Melbourne. Lea holds affiliate positions at Cambridge University and the University of Michigan and serves on the Scientific Board at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. Lea is the Past President of the International Positive Psychology Association, serves on the Council of Happiness and Education for the World Happiness Council, is the Patron of Flourishing Education Japan and Ambassador for the Positive Education Schools Association. She is a registered psychologist and a full member of the Australian Psychological Society.   Key convo points are: Lea’s tripartite account of flourishing as feeling good, functioning well and doing good. The connection Lea draws between her account of flourishing and positive psychology - the scientific study of the conditions and processes leading to human flourishing. Lea’s ‘SEARCH’ framework on the six pathways to well-being: Strengths, Emotional management, Attention & Awareness, Relationships, Coping, and Habits & goals. Lea’s view that flourishing is the aim of education, and her research on how improving well-being in education supports the fulfillment of students’ learning. Lea’s argument that to build well-being, we need to make well-being more visible, in similar ways to how we try to make thinking visible. The age at which humans gain a sense of purpose in life. What strengths-based parenting is and why parents should consider employing it.  flourishfmpodcast.com

In this episode we are talking to Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Ph.D., a Professor of Latina/o Studies and Race and Resistance Studies at San Francisco State University. He is also a founder of the Roses in Concrete Community School, a community responsive lab school in East Oakland (rosesinconcrete.org) and the Community Responsive Education Group (communityresponsive.org). As a classroom teacher and school leader in East Oakland (CA) for the past 28 years, his pedagogy has been widely studied and acclaimed for producing uncommon levels of social and academic success for students. Duncan-Andrade lectures around the world and has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters on effective practices in schools.  He has written two books and his third book with Harvard University Press is due for publication in spring 2022. In 2016, Duncan-Andrade was part of the great educators invited to the White House on National Teacher Appreciation Day by President Obama, and in 2019 he was chosen as the Laureate for the prestigious Brock International Prize in Education. In 2021, he was selected to join the Board of Prevent Child Abuse America. Duncan-Andrade has also been ranked as one of the nation’s most influential scholars by EdWeek’s Public Influence Rankings.   Key points we talked about:  Hear about how he’s navigating COVID as a father, professor and educational leader.  The childhood experiences that built him into the person he is today and field the things he cares.  The way unearned suffering cuts across so many groups. People are situated on the margins of society.  Consistent pursuit to keep his thumb of the heartbeat of research and narratives around educational reform and building a different type of educational experience. One that would eventually put well-being at the center of that educational experience. Mention his school Roses in Concrete a different kind of school Mention their definition of well-being for their students: ‘Youth Wellness’ The act of giving one’s child over to a school or teacher every morning We’re measuring the wrong stuff Keeping both individual and collective wellness in mind: ‘community-responsive youth wellness’ Tips from our expert as a part of the flourishing question

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.