The Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari

When an organization is trapped in survival mode, it doesn’t just face external pressure. It suffers an internal collapse of energy, creativity, and coherence. Chronic stress becomes the culture, innovation dries up, and people burn out trying to keep the lights on. But just as individuals can heal from trauma, so can organizations, if leaders are willing to shift from constant doing to conscious being. In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Mieke Jacobs explore how energy mastery and systemic intelligence can help leaders break free from the freeze response, reconnect to purpose, and restore wholeness to their teams and systems, unlocking the kind of flourishing that outlasts any crisis.Mieke Jacobs is a Belgium-based leadership advisor serving as Transformational Faculty and Senior Executive Coach at Mobius Executive Leadership. Drawing on two decades at DuPont in operations and large-scale change, she now guides executive teams worldwide with systemic intelligence and energy mastery. Mieke is also the author of Poet Assassin and co-author of Emergent: The Power of Systemic Intelligence to Navigate the Complexity of M&A.This episode is your invitation to lead differently by slowing down, tuning in, and trusting that wisdom lives not in doing more, but in being fully present.Things you will learn in this episode:• What happens when leaders create space for silence and stillness• Practical energy mastery tools for leaders and facilitators• Why systemic intelligence is essential for modern leadership• Rituals to shift team energy—songs, silence, and charged fields• How to spot invisible dysfunctions hidden in your company’s “order”• Ways to create workplaces that energize rather than depleteStop chasing productivity and start leading with presence, energy, and wholeness. Take a pause and check out this episode.Resources:• On Children (Poem) by Khalil Gibran: https://poets.org/poem/children-1 • ‘Stop Treating Well-being as a Side Hustle’ with Ashish Kothari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij4WcZWFMTg Books:• Poet Assassin by Mieke Jacobs: https://amzn.eu/d/aPfsENl • Emergent by Mieke Jacobs: https://amzn.eu/d/1To2DOK • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://amzn.eu/d/1To2DOKBooks mentioned:• The Prophet by Khalil Gibran: https://a.co/d/3pPl6Ea • Hiring the Heavens by Jean Slatter: https://a.co/d/4waFDhI • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: https://a.co/d/4oRfck8

The happiness we used to know was like a reward, something that shows up once life finally goes our way. But what if that moment never comes? What if life hands you unimaginable loss instead, and you're left trying to piece together who you are and what comes next? The truth is, happiness isn’t a finish line. It’s a conscious choice, and a lifelong practice. And no one embodies that truth more powerfully than Karen Guggenheim.Karen Guggenheim is the founder and CEO of WOHASU®, the organization behind the World Happiness Summit. A leading voice in global well-being, she is recognized for turning personal adversity into a powerful mission: helping individuals and organizations thrive through science-based strategies for happiness. Most recently, Karen led the expansion of WOHASU to the United Nations and global cities, advancing the conversation on mental health and well-being at the highest levels. Karen is the author of Cultivating Happiness: Overcome trauma and positively transform your life.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Karen Guggenheim, explore what it means to treat happiness not as a fleeting emotion, but as a conscious, lifelong practice.Things you will also learn in this episode:• Defining happiness as a framework, not a feeling• The misunderstood nature of happiness• The urgent need for systemic change in how we lead, work, and educate• Why forgiveness is the most challenging but transformational pillar of personal growth• What every leader, parent, and teacher needs to hear about happinessThis episode will remind you that happiness is not something you wait for, but something you build, even in the aftermath of heartbreak. Give it a listen, and you’ll never think about happiness the same way again.Resources:• Karen Guggenheim: http://karenguggenheim.com/ • World Happiness Summit: https://worldhappinesssummit.com/• Wellbeing Leadership Certification by World Happiness Summit: https://worldhappinesssummit.com/wellbeing-leadership-certification/ • World Wellbeing Policy Forum: https://wohasu.com/portfolio/world-wellbeing-policy-forum/ • Conscious Entrepreneur Summit: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-conscious-entrepreneur-summit • The Bridge to Happiness by Karen Guggenheim at TEDxMiami: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcgJo9IGxxk • World Happiness Summit on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mbWbPUjzHCVQ0iU3rmCsQ • Dr. Fred Luskin - Forgiveness and Happiness from WOHASU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaklxaKGWNU&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD • Truth and Reconciliation Commission with Desmond Tutu: https://www.theforgivenessproject.com/stories-library/desmond-tutu/ Books:• Cultivating Happiness by Karen Guggenheim: https://amzn.eu/d/hla8Eey • The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu: https://a.co/d/0GYRdSx • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari:https://amzn.eu/d/1ZdsT4g

We often treat money as the finish line. We chase it, measure ourselves by it, and let it shape our choices. But in doing so, we lose sight of the real question: What are we trading our money for—and is it making us truly flourish?As we live in a world that often celebrates achievement, it's easy to build wealth while unintentionally bankrupting other parts of our lives, such as our time, our energy, and our relationships. In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Tom Shepard to unpack the frameworks and habits that can transform how you relate to money, not just to grow your wealth, but to help you flourish.Tom Shepard is the Founder and CEO of Shepard Financial and author of Money Isn’t Everything, Everything Is Money. With over two decades of experience, Tom brings a human-centered approach to financial planning, helping individuals align their money with what truly matters. His book introduces the Seven Financial Natures framework—a practical guide to transforming your relationship with money by valuing not just wealth, but also time, energy, and connection.Many of us follow money patterns inherited from the past, without ever pausing to ask if they align with the future we hope to create. That's why even though we live a life that looks "successful," it doesn't really feel fulfilling.Today, you can change that. Tune in to learn how to stop letting money control your story, and start using it to write a more fulfilling one.Resources:• Money Isn’t Everything, Everything Is Money: https://tomshepardeverythingismoney.com • Shepard Financial’s website: https://www.shepard-financial.com• Currency Camp: https://www.currencycamp.com/ Books:• Money Isn't Everything, Everything Is Money: A Personalized Approach to Valuing and Trading Time, Energy, Relationships and Money by Tom Shepard : https://a.co/d/h69psqf • The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks: https://a.co/d/5FBeEpE • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/8Lj9uZy

We often talk about strategy, technology, and profit as the engines of success. And in times of rapid change and uncertainty, it’s easy to double down on those levers. But what if we’re missing the most important one?In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Niren Chaudhary, former CEO of Panera Brands, joins Ashish Kothari to share a leadership philosophy rooted in something many leaders overlook: love and care for people. Because at the end of the day, companies aren’t machines, they’re human systems. And when we treat people like family, they show up with heart, commitment, and a desire to go above and beyond.Niren reflects on lessons from decades at Tata, Yum! Brands, and Panera, breaking down how to build cultures where values are lived, not laminated, and how leaders can turn care for people into a competitive advantage. He also opens up about how the loss of his daughter Aisha Chaudhary profoundly reshaped how he sees leadership, success, and the legacy we leave behind.What you’ll also learn in this episode:• Why business is fundamentally a human-to-human experience• The leadership model that starts with love and leads to profit• How to hire for attitude and train for skill• Why success begins with the right people, doing the right things, the right way• The butterfly effect of investing in your people• Why resilience, curiosity, and generosity are non-negotiables in business and lifeThis conversation is a reminder that in business and in life, what matters most is how we show up for one another.Tune into the full episode to hear Niren’s powerful stories and practical wisdom on what it really means to lead with love.Resources:• Smile A Lot by Thich Nhat Hanh: https://www.awakin.org/v2/read/view.php?tid=168 • The Sky is Pink (Aisha Chaudhary): https://youtu.be/OnBN5b48HBc?si=_FcybEn8N_yhatF9 • Black Sunshine Baby (Aisha Chaudhary): https://youtu.be/Hkf7n7m_KgY?si=THIQQMkGNUE3_-9c • The Power of Well-being at Work by Jan-Emmanuel De Neve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4OWg12Xl5E • CORE Meditation: https://get.hyperice.com/core Books:• My Little Epiphanies by Aisha Chaudhary: https://a.co/d/2E4vtQx • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: https://a.co/d/2CvRJSu • How Will You Measure Your Life by Clay Chistensen: https://a.co/d/jkZPwb5 • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/gML83VJ

What if the success stories you believe, the leadership advice you follow, and the wellness rules you swear by are built on shaky evidence—or no evidence at all? Even well-meaning ideas like grit, purpose, and diversity can cause harm when taken at face value. So, we challenge you to think critically before embracing feel-good narratives.In today’s Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Alex Edmans expose the dangers of misinformation in the pursuit of happiness, well-being, and leadership. Alex Edmans is a British economist and Professor of Finance at London Business School, renowned for his work on responsible business and corporate governance. He authored the influential book Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit, which argues that businesses can achieve sustainable success by creating value for all stakeholders—not just shareholders. This book was named a Financial Times Book of the Year in 2020 and has been translated into nine languages .In addition to Grow the Pie, Edmans co-authored the 14th edition of Principles of Corporate Finance and released May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases – And What We Can Do About It in 2024.In the conversation, Alex reveals how many popular beliefs are based on flawed data, biased research, and confirmation bias. Ashish and Alex discuss how critical thinking is the most underrated skill in the age of instant advice.Things you will also learn in this episode:• How confirmation bias shapes what we want to believe• The unproven hype behind Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why”• The shaky science behind the 10,000-hour success rule• The confusion between correlation and causation in diversity studies• The overgeneralization of grit as a universal success factor• How to build smarter organizations through dissent and inclusionDon’t let bad data shape your decisions. Learn how to think critically. Explore these lessons and more in the full episode.Resources:✅• Related episode with Alex Edmans: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/episode/the-power-of-purpose-driven-organizations-with-alex-edmans • Alex Edmans’ website: http://www.alexedmans.com/   • Growth the Pie website: http://www.growthepie.net/  • TED Talk: The Pie-Growing Mindset https://www.ted.com/talks/alex_edmans_the_pie_growing_mindset  • TED Talk: The Social Responsibility of Business  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5KZhm19EO0 Books:✅• Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit• May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases – And What We Can Do About It: https://a.co/d/4ZSp6Up • Principles of Corporate Finance ISE by Alex Edmans: https://a.co/d/aglrrnu • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/4HwnUVQOther books mentioned:• The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-10x-rule-grant-cardone/1100173447 • Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World https://a.co/d/5DGPHqI • Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker: https://a.co/d/ayLQn4R • Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance: https://a.co/d/5IEIjqE 

Ever walked into a conversation with the best intentions…only to walk out with a broken relationship? The cost of emotional avoidance in the workplace is massive, and invisible. Most people don’t fail at communication because they’re cruel. They fail because they never learned how to do it without causing damage.In today’s Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Carole Robin, co-author of Connect and co-founder of Leaders in Tech, explore how small changes in how we communicate can lead to big breakthroughs in how we connect and make exceptional relationships, both at work and in life. Drawing from decades of experience teaching Stanford’s legendary Interpersonal Dynamics course, Dr. Carole shares practical tools that help individuals move beyond surface-level interactions to build deep, meaningful, and resilient connections.And let’s just say, what Dr. Carole shared might make you rethink every “We need to talk” you’ve ever had.Things you will also learn from this episode:• What separates exceptional relationships from average ones• How to give feedback that connects instead of divides• The power of “If you really knew me…” for team connection• Why 15% outside your comfort zone is the sweet spot for growth• The OILs model: a better way to structure tough conversationsIt’s time to move from knowledge to practice. Tune into our full episode and spark real connections, one courageous, vulnerable conversation at a time.Resources:• Leaders in Tech (Co-founded by Carole Robin): https://leadersintech.org/• Connect - Building Exceptional Relationships: https://connectandrelate.com/ • Interpersonal Dynamics Course: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/experience/learning/leadership/interpersonal-dynamics • Transforming Through T-Groups by National Training Laboratories (NTL) Institute for Applied Behavioral Science: https://www.ntl.org/transforming-through-t-groups-tttg/ • Film Reference: Inside Out (Pixar)Books:• Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues (Co-authored by Carole Robin): https://a.co/d/67ZqL3B • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/5aGRDgh

We live in a world that glorifies hustle, high performance, and constant doing. We rarely pause to ask what truly drives us or what it might cost to keep going without pause. Success demands work, but what if it's not always about pushing harder? While it might not sound like it, slowing down, looking inward, and rediscovering your purpose can redefine your performance and growth.In this powerful episode of The Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Alison Tetrick to explore what it really means to find joy, purpose, and performance—on and off the bike.Alison Tetrick is the President and Co-Founder of Saga Ventures, an entrepreneur and former professional cyclist and World Championship medalist known for her bold leadership and storytelling. With a background in science and a master’s in psychology, she brings a unique blend of athletic grit, strategic thinking, and purpose-driven advocacy to everything she does.From her beginnings on a California cattle ranch to racing at the highest levels of sport, Alison opens up about how she navigated identity shifts, rediscovered joy through gravel racing, and now helps others—especially women—find their footing through grit, grace, and community.Here are the things you will learn in this episode:• Redefining peak performance as alignment of mind, body, and spirit—not just output.• Creating space for curiosity as a nonjudgmental leadership superpower.• Knowing when to push and when to pause: the real power of grit and grace.• Shifting focus from results to effort to build resilient, motivated teams.With stories that span from Olympic training centers to launching bandana-funded scholarships for girls in sport, Alison reminds us that success isn’t always about pushing harder. Sometimes, it’s about pulling back, staying grounded, and listening to what makes your heart flutter.Get ready to feel inspired! Tune into this powerful episode now.Resources:• Alison Tetrick’s website: https://www.alisontetrick.com/ • National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA): https://nationalmtb.org/ • NICA’s GRIT Program: https://nationalmtb.org/grit • The Move: A Cycling Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVxvkgh82tFopMoCcV4AgNqvgeBj2JfPq&si=HKvYgn_Jb0d-e82j • The Happiness Project: https://www.thehappinessproject.global/home.html • The Cycling Independent article featuring Alison Tetrick: https://cyclingindependent.com/bandanas-for-bikes-with-saga-ventures-alison-tetrick-is-giving-back/ • Alison Tetrick on the Cheeseboard Snacking Bar: https://www.cheeseboardsnacking.com/about • Alison Tetrick, Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame: https://www.gravelcyclinghof.com/hall-of-famers-2023/alison-tetrick • Saga Ventures: https://saga-ventures.myshopify.com • Alison Tetrick at LoveYourBrain.com : https://www.loveyourbrain.com/alison-tetrick-bio Books:• Book mentioned in the episode: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho”: https://a.co/d/6hQduBj • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/eADyDuv

Sometimes, it feels like work wasn't designed with us, humans, in mind. Human suffering at work is becoming far too common in our tech-driven world of work. It’s burning us out, disconnecting us, and draining our energy. We’ve lost sight of the one thing that truly powers progress: people. But there's a way to break that mean cycle. A better way to redesign work to fuel joy, not exhaustion. In this inspiring Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Rich Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller of Menlo Innovations, talk about how to radically reimagine work to end human suffering in the world of technology.Richard Sheridan is the co-founder, CEO, and "Chief Storyteller" of Menlo Innovations, a software and IT consulting firm renowned for its innovative and joyful workplace culture. Disillusioned by the chaos of the tech industry, Rich co-founded Menlo in 2001 with a mission to end human suffering in the workplace. His passion for creating joyful work environments led to his bestselling books, Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy Officer, and he has shared his insights through over 1,000 talks worldwide.It’s time to redesign your tech organization into a place where people feel more alive.Things you will learn in this episode:• Pair programming as a tool for collaboration and continuous learning• Replacing fear and micromanagement with clarity and trust• How laughter, energy, and joy signal a healthy workplace• Ending tech burnout through intentional systems design• The ROI of flourishing: higher quality work, retention, and impactIf you’ve ever questioned whether work has to be painful to be productive, this conversation offers a hopeful, proven alternative. Tune into this epic episode now.Resources:• Menlo Innovations: http://www.menloinnovations.com/ • Menlo Innovations Case Studies: https://menloinnovations.com/stories • Richard Sheridan on X: https://x.com/menloprez • Get to know Richard Sheridan: https://richardsheridan.com/meet-rich Books:• Joy Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love by Richard Sheridan: https://a.co/d/6C4HJbe • Books from Richard Sheridan: https://richardsheridan.com/books• Chief Joy Officer by Richard Sheridan: https://a.co/d/7F4t8HA • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome-ebook/dp/B0BCXDCLX1?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Many leaders today are emotionally dysregulated, and that shows up in the way they lead, communicate, and coach others. If you think emotional intelligence is just a “soft skill,” this one’s your wake-up call.In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Dan Docherty, President of Braintrust and Neurocoach, to expose the hidden cost of emotional dysregulation at work.They discuss how neurocoaching helps turn emotional intelligence from a theory into a repeatable daily practice, why self-regulation is non-negotiable in today’s high-stress environments, and how building a coaching climate starts with your own internal work.Dr. Dan Docherty is a pioneer in neurocoaching with 25 years of leadership experience in pharma sales, marketing, and operations. He holds a PhD in Management from Case Western Reserve University, where his research focused on the neuroscience of coaching, engagement, and performance. Dan is the co-author of the upcoming book NeuroCoaching, blending science and practice to help leaders build high-impact, emotionally intelligent teams.Things you will learn in this episode:• Emotional Intelligence Is Common Sense, But Uncommon Practice• The Four Domains and Twelve Competencies of Emotional Intelligence• How Unchecked Emotions Can Hijack Your Leadership• Why Emotional Intelligence Is Declining in a Hyper-Connected World• The Building Blocks of Neurocoaching: Vision, Mission, and Real Conversations• Science-backed Practices to Reset the Nervous System and Improve Emotional RegulationIf performance starts with emotional regulation, this episode will show you how to get there. Tune in now and learn to lead with greater impact.Resources✅:• Braintrust Growth: https://braintrustgrowth.com/dan-docherty/ • Dr. Dan Docherty’s website: https://dandocherty.com/ • Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI): https://www.eiconsortium.org/measures/eci_360.htmlBooks✅:• Dr. Dan Docherty’s upcoming book “NeuroCoaching”: https://braintrustgrowth.com/neurocoaching-the-book-2/ • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/ Other books mentioned in the episode:• Primal Leadership by Richard Boyatzis: https://a.co/d/atZGzoD • Helping People Change by Richard Boyatzis: https://a.co/d/bIyrV1X • The Science of Change by Richard Boyatzis: https://a.co/d/2sxNlVT • Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman: https://a.co/d/70ZQvwV • The New Emotional Intelligence by Travis Bradberry: https://a.co/d/70ZQvwV • How Will You Measure Your Life? By Clay Chistensen: https://a.co/d/8LVugK1

Our workplaces are full of smart, capable people who are stuck in survival mode. They’re overwhelmed, constantly busy, and unsure how to sustain high performance. Meanwhile, organizations continue to default to control-based leadership, even though it's no longer effective in a fast-changing, “loosely coupled” world.Does this mean consistently driving high performance while maintaining personal well-being is impossible today? Not when you have the right tools.In this Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari sits down with Angus Ridgway, former McKinsey partner & co-founder of Potentialife, to unpack the SHARP framework: a research-backed system that helps leaders and teams flourish through Strengths, Health, Absorption, Relationships, and Purpose.Angus Ridgway is a seasoned leadership expert with a 20-year tenure at McKinsey & Company, where he held senior roles, including leading the Strategy Practice across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He co-founded Potentialife with Tal Ben-Shahar to democratize leadership development, making it accessible and impactful at all organizational levels.Things you will learn in this episode:• Strengths: Rediscovering What Makes You Shine• Health: Why The Real Problem Isn’t Stress But Lack of Recovery• Absorption: Monotasking Is the New Superpower• Relationships: The Power of Being Positively Authentic• Purpose: The Final Lever for FlourishingIf you’re ready to become an up to 10X more effective leader, don’t miss this epic episode. Tune in now.Resources:✅• Potentialife: https://www.linkedin.com/company/potentialife/ • Kagan’s Theory of Adult Development: https://medium.com/@NataliMorad/how-to-be-an-adult-kegans-theory-of-adult-development-d63f4311b553 • Owning the difference you make to the world | Angus Ridgway | TEDxIEMadrid: https://youtu.be/o-tdmbiQ-yE?si=x9owGL-5QQyNons9 Books:✅• The Joy of Leadership by Angus Ridgway & Tal Ben-Shahar: https://a.co/d/8BFQHGz • 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman: https://a.co/d/3sAJi0d • Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg: https://a.co/d/6A5Bzur • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/asM0o0c