Learning From Your World

Happiness was never meant to be an individual pursuit. In this conversation, Nic Marks, founder of Friday Pulse and creator of the Happy Planet Index, explains why happiness evolved as a social emotion, and why our brains light up in connection with others. We explore why so many of us are stuck in “okay” lives, why individualism has unintentionally disconnected us from what makes us thrive, and how our relationships are the most powerful predictors of our health and longevity. Nic also reveals why anger spreads faster than joy and how trust transforms entire communities. And in a world where people report more loneliness, more fear, and more fragmentation than ever, his message is a wake-up call: happiness isn’t something we chase alone. It’s something we create together.

What actually helps you trust again after you’ve been hurt or manipulated? In this episode, author and educator Tracy A. Malone joins me to talk about what it takes to rebuild self-trust after narcissistic abuse. We unpack why awareness alone isn’t enough, how “sweet words” without consistent action break trust, and why self-forgiveness is often the hardest (and most freeing) part of healing. We explore how fear and people-pleasing keep us stuck in old patterns, how to recognize your role without blaming yourself, and what it really means to trust your own voice again. You’ll walk away with simple, real-life ways to rebuild confidence, set boundaries without guilt, and choose relationships that feel mutual, safe, and real.

Love is not chemistry, compatibility tests, or waiting for someone who magically “gets us.” According to Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt, the couple behind Getting the Love You Want, love is a practice that rewires us over time. In this episode, we talk about how two therapists who literally wrote the book on marriage came within inches of divorce, and why their relationship became stronger not by knowing more, but by doing things differently. We explore how conflict can actually be a doorway into connection, why our brains go to war with the people we love, and how simple daily habits (like asking for permission before speaking, mirroring, and genuine affirmations) can change how safe we feel with others… and how safe they feel with us.

In this episode, divorce coach Karen McMahon and I unpack why the same relationship patterns keep showing up, even when the people change. We look at the childhood dynamics that shape how we communicate, handle conflict, set boundaries, and respond under stress. Karen breaks down the difference between being victimized and seeing yourself as a victim, why people-pleasing and perfectionism form so early, and how recognizing your part in a dynamic gives you your power back, without shame or blame.

We often talk about connection, but rarely about affection - the love we give and receive through our words, actions, and touch. In this conversation, Dr. Kory Floyd, professor and author of The Loneliness Cure, helps make sense of how affection shapes our health and our relationships. We talk about how our families and culture teach us to show love, why the same gesture can land differently with different people, and what it actually means to feel affection deprived. Kory explains how affection lowers stress, supports our immune system, and meets our deep need to belong, and why giving affection is often even more powerful than receiving it. He closes with a simple but profound challenge: Be the one who gives affection first.

We’re not in a connection crisis because we don’t care.  We’re disconnected because our environment (our systems, our tech, and our pace) makes real connection harder than ever. In this opening episode of The Connection Series, I share the personal and professional journey that led me to the question:  What is real connection, and how do we rebuild it in a world designed for disconnection? In this episode, we explore… The real enemy of connection (hint: it’s not our screens) Why we so often mistake interaction for connection What it actually takes to rebuild presence in a distracted world This episode kicks off a 10-part series featuring authors, therapists, researchers, and community builders who are redefining the future of connection from every angle. If you're craving more presence, more meaningful relationships, and more honest conversations, this series is for you.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and a leading voice in moral development, we explore what it really takes to build character and live with purpose. We discuss: - What Really Drives Action: Why character is about behavior, not just beliefs, and how to act on what matters most. - The Power of Purpose: How even simple goals (like a push-up contest) can provide meaning and motivation. - Rewiring Your Inner Voice: How to reshape negative self-talk through daily value-based habits. - The Role of Environment and Culture: How your surroundings shape your character…and how to build the culture you need to grow.   Challenge: Find an image that represents the kind of character you want to build, and keep it somewhere visible as a daily reminder. Resources: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Soar with Your Strengths by Donald O. Clifton The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt Chatter by Ethan Kross Grit by Angela Duckworth The Path to Purpose by William Damon

Is empathy enough to create real change? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and lifelong advocate for character development, about why empathy alone doesn’t create change, and what it really takes to live with integrity, purpose, and courage. We discuss: - Why Empathy Isn’t Enough: What most people get wrong about empathy, and how too much of it can block justice and enable harm. - Character vs. Compliance: The difference between doing the right thing because you have to vs. because it’s who you are. - Building A Virtue Habit: How Arthur built a gratitude practice from scratch and why small habits matter.   Challenge: Choose a character trait that doesn't come naturally to you, and create a small daily habit to practice it.   Resources: FREE VIA Character Survey Soar With Your Strengths by Donald Clifton (Book) StrengthFinder 2.0 (Book) Chatter by Ethan Kross (Book) Character.org

What if your mind was never meant to fit the system? In this episode, Perry Knoppert shares what happened after he gave everything up, and what he built. From living without a home to founding the Octopus Movement, Perry explores the power of nonlinear thinking and creating outside the lines. *This is Part 2 of our conversation. In Part 1, Perry shares how his  journey began.   We talk about: The moment he realized his brain didn’t belong in a linear world The difference between creativity and innovation What AI can’t do, and why human intelligence has never been more essential How fear shapes our world and what it takes to shift from conformity to connection Challenge (at 00:43:00): Perry shares a personal technique to quiet your mind and access stillness in a noisy world.   The Octopus Movement Website

What happens when someone steps outside the system? In this episode, Perry Knoppert, founder of The Octopus Movement, shares the story of the seven months he spent without a home. What began as a personal decision rooted in curiosity quickly became a deeper experience of disconnection, challenge, and insight. With honesty and reflection, Perry talks about: Why he gave everything up, and what happened next The emotional and mental toll of being unhoused The unexpected phone call that helped him begin again