Live Happy Now

Summer is all about fun and happiness, so this week, we’re looking at how to make this your family’s happiest summer yet.  On this week’s episode, educator and children’s emotional health expert Maureen Healy talks about how to do that! Her new book, The Happiness Workbook for Kids, looks at how to navigate the difficult times we’re in and create fun, positive experiences for children. In this episode, she talks about some of the things we all can do to make this summer happier – and healthier – for the whole family. In this episode, you’ll learn: The importance of teaching emotional health to children. How positive emotional health makes us happier. Ideas for where to start making this summer your happiest yet.

We all want and need relationships — but you might be surprised to find out how little we actually know about them! This week, bestselling author Eric Barker joins us to talk about his newest book, Plays Well With Others, that takes a deep dive into friendships, marital relationships and every other kind of relationship to explore what we’re doing right, where we could improve and how the pandemic has changed the way we look at our relationships. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why friendships are the most important relationships we have. What science says we can do to build stronger friendships. How the way we fight with our spouse predicts the outcome of our relationship.

If you’re one of those sensitive people out there, congratulations – you’re about to learn what an incredible superpower it is. This week’s guest is Katie Abey, author of the new children’s book We Feel Happy, which helps children explore their feelings. As a sensitive person herself, Katie is aware of some of the challenges that can bring, and her book is designed to help children learn more about their feelings and how to embrace them. And the great new is – it works for adults, too! In this episode, you’ll learn: Why it’s important for children to learn to identify and embrace their feelings. How parents and other adults can help on this journey. How Katie uses art to help others “be proud of their weirdness.”

Music is a great tool for bringing people together, and during the days of lockdown, the Marsh Family from the UK began sharing song parodies to express what they were going through. As it turns out they were exactly what the world needed, and their viral videos now have received more than 30 million views. They were dubbed the “Von Trapped Family” by the New York Times, and in this episode of On a Positive Note, parents Ben and Danielle Marsh talk about how their family’s humorous approach to the pandemic helped them keep their own sanity while turning their family into a global sensation. In this episode, you’ll learn: What inspired them to start doing parodies. How humor has helped them tackle tough topics. How singing together has brought them closer as a family.

June is Pride month, which makes it the perfect time to revisit the theme of unity. This week’s guest, Wes Schmitz, is co-host of the popular Two Bottles Deep Podcast, which is designed to open up conversations between the gay and straight communities. Wes has been connecting people his entire life and his podcast has picked up an unexpected following thanks to its honest, open conversational approach. Let’s hear what he has to say about how listening really can build a bridge and create more unity. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why it’s so important for the gay and straight communities to listen to one another. How this could help us find unity in other areas. Why Wes thinks the Two Bottle Deep Podcast has been so well-received by a surprising audience demographic.

In this always-on world, it can be a challenge to find downtime. But cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Sara Mednick, author of the new book, The Hidden Power of the Downstate, says that spending too much time in our upstate is leaving us unhappy, exhausted and unhealthy. In this episode, she explains the need for us to discover our downstate and leverage it to enjoy a healthier, happier life. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the downstate is and why it’s so important. How spending too much time in the upstate can harm your health. What activities we can engage in to get some of the same health benefits as being in our downstate.

Wil Wheaton burst into the spotlight in 1986 in the iconic coming of age movie Stand By Me. He went on to play many more roles throughout his teen and young adult years, including starring as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation and playing a version of himself on the hit TV show, The Big Bang Theory. But his success hid a childhood filled with trauma and abuse that led to a lifetime of depression, anxiety and complex PTSD. In his new memoir, Still Just a Geek, Wil opens up about his life and explains how he came to grips with his past. This week, he talks about why it’s so important to him to talk openly about mental health. In this episode, you’ll learn: What led Wil to revisit his life in his new memoir. How writing the book helped him find empathy and compassion for his younger self. Why it’s so important for him to normalize the conversation around mental health.

Can a doodle improve your mental health? If it’s drawn by Danny Casale, it just might! Under the moniker of Coolman Coffeedan, Danny is using his art to provide encouragement, make people laugh, and even explore the challenges of mental health. His work took off during the pandemic, and now he has millions of followers who rely on his adorable characters to uplift and inspire them. His new book UR Special: Advice for Humans from Coolman Coffeedan, tackles topics ranging from loneliness and anxiety to grief and self-confidence. And just like this conversation, his art will make you smile.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How Danny turned doodling into a mental health movement. Why it’s important to him to address mental health issues openly. Why he thinks so many people are connecting with his drawings.

Music is one of the most powerful — and accessible — tools we have for improving our mental health.  On this episode of On a Positive Note, host Paula Felps is joined by acclaimed music therapist Jennifer Buchanan, author of Wellness, Wellplayed: The Power of a Playlist, to talk about the many ways music can be used as a tool for healing and growth. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why music and mental health go hand in hand. How to make a purposeful playlist. What an “anchor song” is and how it can help change your mental state.

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental disorders today, and it affects more than 40 million people. Today’s guest, Liza Kindred is a licensed minister, reiki practitioner and meditation teacher whose work has been featured in publications worldwide. Her new Calm Your Anxiety Journal is a hands-on workbook to walk users through their anxiety, discover their personal triggers and use journaling and other practices to make peace with it finally. In this episode, you’ll learn: What happens in your brain when you’re feeling anxiety and overwhelmed—and what to do about it. Why it’s important to acknowledge and talk about our trauma. How to start rewiring your brain and develop new habits to calm the chaos.