Everyday Better with Leah Smart

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.

Tim Tamashiro, a jazz singer and author of 'How to Ikigai', dives into the ancient Japanese philosophy of Ikigai, which emphasizes finding one's true purpose in life. He shares his personal journey to uncover his Ikigai and guides Leah in her own exploration. They discuss the importance of trying new experiences to discover passions, the impact of stillness on achieving happiness, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment beyond traditional education. Tim also highlights how small doses of joy contribute to meaningful life.

Dr. Wendy Suzuki, a professor of neural science and psychology at NYU and author of 'Good Anxiety,' shares her insights on transforming anxiety into a superpower. She discusses the evolutionary purpose of anxiety and how recognizing it as a gift can empower personal growth. Wendy explores practical coping techniques, the benefits of tea meditation for mindfulness, and the role of exercise in enhancing mental health. Plus, she delves into navigating anxiety through grief and the importance of connection and love in achieving emotional well-being.

John and Julie Gottman are world-renowned relationship researchers and psychologists who have been happily married for the past 37 years. They’ve authored more than 40 books together, including Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict Into Connection. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, the Gottmans join Leah to share their perspectives on conflict resolution in relationships. They explain how disagreements, whether at home or in the office, present opportunities to strengthen bonds and deepen connections. They also discuss the three main styles of conflict management in couple relationships and propose a new method for voicing dissatisfaction that moves from criticizing to complaint-making. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow The Gottman Institute on LinkedIn.For more on conflict resolution in relationships, check out the Gottmans’ latest book, Fight Right.And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Dr. Michael Gervais is one of the world's top high performance psychologists. He’s worked with professional athletes, sports teams and executives, helping them to thrive in the most high-pressure of situations. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Michael joins Leah to unravel what he calls “FOPO” (Fear of Other People's Opinions), and to teach practical strategies for reducing our fear of external judgment. He also discusses the principles of high performance and the importance of developing your own personal philosophy.Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow Micheal Gervais on LinkedIn.For more on Michael’s work, check out his book The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of You.And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Personal growth educator Amanda Hilton says that when it comes to decision-making at work and in your personal life, there is never one ‘right’ answer. Instead of fretting over a list of pros and cons, Amanda offers a clearer path — one that uses our core values to center what matters most. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Amanda and Leah demystify the concept of core values. Amanda gives practical tips and offers provoking questions to help us define our core values and apply them to the decision-making process.Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow Amanda Hilton on LinkedIn.For more on Amanda’s work, visit The Simply Well’s website.And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

In part two of our conversation with psychotherapist and Enneagram expert Bea Chestnut, we explore how the Enneagram can be used at work. As an Enneagram coach, Bea has more than two decades of experience helping organizations strengthen their teams and workplace cultures.With attention to each Enneagram type’s particular strengths and blind spots, Bea describes how each of the nine types shows up at work as a colleague and as a leader. She also explains how the Enneagram can be used to help us develop our communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the people we work with. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow Bea Chestnut on LinkedIn.For more on the enneagram at work, check out Bea’s book The 9 Types of Leadership: Mastering the Art of People in the 21st Century WorkplaceAnd, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Psychotherapist Bea Chestnut discusses the enneagram, a personality typing system, and its use in personal development. She explains the nine enneagram types and their growth paths, highlighting the power of self-discovery and raising awareness. The podcast explores the Enneagram's impact on personal growth, overcoming skepticism, and the importance of self-observation for understanding motivations and behaviors.

Erin Cech is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan and the author of The Trouble with Passion: How Searching for Fulfillment at Work Fosters Inequality. She studies societal inequality and cultural forces which reproduce inequality. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Erin and Leah discuss what can happen when we turn our passion into a career. While many people believe this is the key to that feeling of never working a day in your life, the “passion principle,” as Erin calls it, doesn’t necessarily pave the way to personal fulfillment or financial stability. Instead, she argues, this advice can perpetuate socioeconomic inequality and unfair working conditions. She poses a question everyone should ask themselves when considering their career: what kind of relationship do you want to paid employment? Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn.Follow Erin Cech on LinkedIn.For more on the passion principle and its pitfalls, check out Erin’s book The Trouble with Passion: How Searching for Fulfillment at Work Fosters Inequality.And don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Ali Abdaal, author and productivity expert, shares tips on overcoming productivity blockers like uncertainty, fear, and inertia. He discusses building self-confidence, finding joy in work, and reframing self-improvement as enhancing a system. Strategies include using intentional actions, adopting alter egos to combat fear, and leveraging small adjustments for increased productivity.