Live Happy Now

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A recent study showed that many Americans are feeling anxious about returning to their workplaces. To wrap up National Stress Awareness Month, host Paula Felps is talking with Darlene Marshall, who combines her master’s in applied positive psychology with fitness and personal training to create a well-rounded approach to well-being. She also hosts the Better Than Fine podcast, and she’s here to talk about how why going back to work is stressing us out … and what we can do about it. In this episode, you’ll learn: What could be making you feel stressed out about returning to work — and how to manage it. How employers can help ease workers’ stress. A simple practice that helps relieve stress.

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and as you might be aware … we’re a little more stressed out than we used to be! In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Dr. Dravon James — an author, host of Everyday Peace on Unity Radio and an inspirational speaker who has made it her life purpose to help others to tap into their natural ability to transform their lives. She tells us how we can change our lives for the better by changing our approach to stress. In this episode, you’ll learn: The surprising hidden benefits of stress. Why some stress-relieving practices may actually lead to more stress. How gratitude helps relieve stress.