Everyday Better with Leah Smart

Jeffrey Hall is a Professor of Communication Studies and the Director of the Relationships and Technology Lab at the University of Kansas. He studies the way technology influences relationships, including the impact of social media on feelings of belonging, connectedness and loneliness.The harms of social platforms have been well documented over the past decade – political polarization, misinformation – but is social media also to blame for the rise in loneliness? On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Jeffrey joins Leah to discuss the role of social media in the loneliness epidemic. Jeffrey argues that when used more intentionally, social media can fulfill its original promise: help us stay connected and deepen our connections with the people we care about most.Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow Jeffrey Hall on LinkedIn.Keep an eye out for Jeffrey’s forthcoming book The Social Biome: How Everyday Communication Connects and Shape Us.

Thubten Chodron is an American Tibetan Buddhist Nun and the founder of Sravasti Abbey, the only Tibetan Buddhist training monastery in the United States. In her recently re-released book Working With Anger, Thubten describes different practices for dealing with our anger that don't involve expression or suppression.On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Thubten and Leah explore the Buddhist perspective on some of the toughest emotions we experience, including anger. While many of us believe that anger is useful or even righteous, Thubten argues that anger distorts our perception of reality. She encourages us to reframe our anger using techniques such as meditation, self-reflection and humor.Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow Thubten Chodron on LinkedIn.To learn more about the Buddhist perspective on anger, check out Thubten’s book Working with Anger: Buddhist Teachings on Patience, Acceptance, and Transforming Negativity.

In this thought-provoking discussion, David Kessler, a renowned grief and loss expert, unpacks the sixth stage of grief—finding meaning. He emphasizes the importance of "excavating" pain as a vital part of healing and shares insights on supporting grieving colleagues by simply being present. The conversation also highlights that grief extends beyond death, touching on life changes like estrangement and job loss. Through personal anecdotes, Kessler inspires listeners to embrace their emotions, seek community support, and reclaim joy amid sorrow.

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, personal experiences with anxiety take center stage. The discussion distinguishes anxiety from stress, revealing impactful insights and transformative moments. It explores the concept of separating identity from intrusive thoughts, likening the mind to complex software. Practical strategies for management are shared, including breathing exercises and meditation, emphasizing a compassionate approach to self-healing. Listeners gain valuable tools to navigate their journey toward better mental well-being.

Bonnie Wan, a brand strategist and author of 'The Life Brief,' shares her passion for helping people uncover their true desires. She discusses the powerful concept of a life brief, which serves as a guide for intentional living without regrets. Bonnie emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and understanding personal wellness rituals. The conversation dives into how self-perception impacts relationships and career interactions, advocating for safe environments and recognition of personal worth in pursuing a fulfilling life.

Corey Keyes, a sociologist and professor emeritus at Emory University, dives deep into the concepts of languishing and flourishing. He argues that true mental health isn’t merely the absence of illness but the presence of well-being. Keyes emphasizes the necessity of mental health hygiene and shares five essential practices for maintaining it. He critiques traditional therapeutic approaches for focusing only on symptoms, promoting instead proactive strategies that nurture personal growth and emotional connections.

We’d love to hear from you! Take our audience survey here.Anna Sale is a journalist, author and host of the award-winning podcast Death, Sex & Money. On her show, Anna has intimate conversations with people about life’s toughest yet often under-discussed moments – infidelity, bankruptcy, aging and illness to name just a few.On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Anna joins Leah to discuss what it was like when her podcast was unexpectedly canceled after nearly ten years on the air. Anna talks about how she transformed a moment of major career uncertainty into an opportunity to clarify her purpose. Anna and Leah also explore the evolution of ambition and what happens when we mine deep meaning from our work.Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow Anna Sale on LinkedIn.To hear more from Anna, listen to Death, Sex & Money wherever you find your podcasts.

This week on Everyday Better, we’re featuring the first episode of Let’s Talk Offline, a new podcast from LinkedIn and iHeartPodcasts. Each week on the show, co-hosts Gianna Prudente, LinkedIn’s early career development editor, and Jamé Jackson Gadsden, a LinkedIn community manager, will answer your questions about what it takes to thrive in the early years of your career – without sacrificing your values, sanity or sleep.Listen to Let’s Talk Offline wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

We’d love to hear from you! Take our audience survey here.Oliver Burkeman is a journalist, author and former “productivity geek.” His bestselling book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals outlines a saner approach to managing your time in a world of never-ending demands and distractions. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Oliver explains why all of the tools and techniques meant to save us time and maximize our productivity ultimately make us feel more stressed and short on time. Oliver argues that the only time management technique that works involves recognizing that you’ll never feel on top of things. Once you accept that, you can actually start crossing things off of your to-do list – and he has strategies for how to do that as well.Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow Oliver Burkeman on LinkedIn.To learn more about how to actually get stuff done, pre-order Oliver’s new book Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts.

We’d love to hear from you! Take our listener survey here.Dr. Robert Waldinger is a psychiatrist, Zen master and director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running longitudinal studies on human happiness ever conducted. His TED Talk on the major takeaways from the study has received over 43 million views since 2015 and is one of the most-watched TED Talks of all time.Today, Robert joins Leah to discuss the most significant – and surprising – findings from the study, as well as how we can use these insights to build a healthy and happy life.To learn more about the Harvard Study of Adult Development, check out Robert’s latest book The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow Robert Waldinger on LinkedIn.