Flourishing Edge Podcast with Ashish Kothari

It's no secret that artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of work. But one question looms large: will AI strip us of our humanity—or help us become more of who we’re meant to be? As technology accelerates, it's easy to fear that empathy, connection, and self-awareness will fall behind. But what if the secret to thriving in the age of AI is not rejecting it—but learning how to pair it with something deeply human?In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Rasmus Hougaard, Managing Partner of Potential Project and best-selling author of More Human, explore how leaders can use AI not to replace their humanity—but to amplify it.Rasmus Hougaard is the author of Compassionate Leadership and The Mind of the Leader, and has been recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the world’s top leadership thinkers. He coaches C-suite leaders at global companies like IKEA, Accenture, and Unilever, and regularly writes for Harvard Business Review and Forbes.Things you will learn in this episode:• The Power of Common Humanity• How AI Can Make Us More Human• The Human Operating Model: Awareness, Wisdom, Compassion• Leaders Must Set Context, Not Just Deliver Content• Meditation as the Antidote to AI Overload• How to Develop the Beginner’s Mind• Compassion in Action: Doing Hard Things in a Human Way• The Inner and Outer Technologies of LeadershipTune in now and discover how you can lead not just with your head, but with your heart, in an AI-powered world.Resources: ✅• Potential Project: https://www.potentialproject.com/ • Vipassana Meditation: https://www.dhamma.org/ • Quote by Zen master Shunryu Suzuki"In the expert’s mind, there are few possibilities. In the beginner’s mind, there are many."Books: ✅• More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter: https://a.co/d/d8UtOdZ • Compassionate Leadership: How to Do Hard Things in a Human Way by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter: https://a.co/d/cVDrtl8 • A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger: https://a.co/d/0pGLBlK • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/fybNBNK

Would you trade your brain health for career wins? You might already be and you're not noticing it. It's in the way you push through the back-to-back meetings, rely on caffeine to stay sharp, and squeeze in rest when you can. Your brain is keeping score of that behavior, and if you keep doing it, your performance, energy, and health will slowly decline—even while you’re “succeeding.”Today’s Happiness Squad Podcast episode is your chance to flip the script. Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Ryan Williamson about how you can actively protect your brain, extend your health span, and sustain peak performance—not just today, but for the decades ahead.Dr. Ryan Williamson is a board-certified neurologist, U.S. Navy veteran, and founder of Transcend Health. Focused on brain health and longevity, he helps individuals optimize performance and build lasting legacies through evidence-based wellness strategies. His work includes a membership program, educational resources, and an upcoming book aimed at expanding his impact on health and success.Things you will learn in this episode: • Why you have more control over your health than you think• The four pillars of brain longevity• How to manage chronic stress• How to improve your sleep quality and why it matters• How having a community helps you take control of your healthWe’re all going to live longer—but how we live matters more than how long. If you’re ready to make the shift now, check out our full episode here: [link]Resources:• Transcend Health: https://transcendhealthgroup.com/ • Brain-Computer Interaction study by Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/brain-computer-interaction-applying-minds-human-computer-interaction/ • Dr. Peter Attia: https://peterattiamd.com/ • Dr. Andrew Huberman: https://www.hubermanlab.com/ Books:• Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity Book by Bill Gifford and Peter Attia: https://a.co/d/dFKDGOX • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/6TnTq5h

What do you do when $150 billion in economic pressure is knocking on your door?If you're leading a small or medium-sized business right now, you're not just navigating volatility—you're steering through a full-blown storm. Between plummeting markets, rising tariffs, and a fog of uncertainty, we can no longer afford to keep doing business as usual.In this special episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder & CEO of Happiness Squad, addresses the urgent challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the face of unprecedented economic turbulence—triggered by sharp market downturns and a new wave of import tariffs.These external pressures are putting nearly $150 billion of headwinds on SMBs, threatening both financial stability and long-term survival.Ashish shares three critical leadership capabilities that can help SMB leaders to survive and thrive through this storm:Adaptability and Resilience – Cultivating inner calm, shifting into resilient mindsets, reconnecting to purpose, and leading with vulnerability and psychological safety.Leveraging Data and Analytics – Using data to assess risk, segment customers, evaluate suppliers, and make strategic, insight-led decisions.Negotiation Excellence – Preparing for tough conversations with customers and suppliers and acting decisively with clarity, fairness, and confidence.Ashish also introduces support offerings from Happiness Squad and a team of seasoned experts to help business leaders navigate these times—ranging from free white papers and webinars to a deep-dive bootcamp and mastermind community.Be the clarity, courage, and calm your people need in this time of chaos. Tune into this episode now and get the edge your business needs.Resources:✅http://tariffresponseteam.com/ Cultivate Focus and Calm: https://insighttimer.com/bfcmind/guided-meditations/abc-meditation-for-focus-and-calmness Should-Cost Modeling Tool: https://www.gep.com/blog/technology/should-cost-modeling-because-you-must-get-the-cost-rightGrowth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/growth-mindset-vs-fixed-mindset Books:✅The Lexus and the Olive Tree: https://www.thomaslfriedman.com/the-lexus-and-the-olive-tree/ Man's Search for Meaning By Viktor Frankl: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ by Daniel Goleman: https://amzn.eu/d/dsLrKrS Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/ 

So many of us are negotiating every day: at work, at home, and most importantly, with ourselves—without even realizing it. Yet, when we think of “negotiation,” we often imagine a high-stakes business deal or a zero-sum game where someone wins and someone loses. That mindset is long obsolete. It's been holding us back from better relationships, greater confidence, and even personal happiness. In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Mori Taheripour—renowned negotiation expert, Wharton professor, and author of Bring Yourself—reframe what negotiation really means.Mori Taheripour is a globally recognized negotiation expert, a 12-time award-winning faculty member at the Wharton School, a highly sought-after speaker, and the author of Bring Yourself: How to Harness the Power of Connection to Negotiate Fearlessly.Things you will learn in this episode:• What negotiation really means in everyday life• The importance of negotiating with yourself• Why leading with curiosity makes you a better decision-maker• How to turn rejection into opportunity• Why self-awareness starts with stillness• The difference between perfection and excellence• What it means to show up as your full self• How to handle conflict by gaining perspectiveGet ready to negotiate fearlessly from the inside out. Tune in—you’ll never see negotiation the same way again.Resources:✅• Mori Taheripour website: http://www.moritaheripour.com/• Wharton Legal Studies and Business Ethics: http://lgst.wharton.upenn.edu/ Books:✅• Bring Yourself by Mori Taheripour: https://a.co/d/34lTnOZ • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/2iRN8rK • Getting to Yes Book by Roger Fisher and William Ury: https://a.co/d/4YNbIZu

Most businesses start with a bold “why,” but along the way, profits take over, and purpose fades into just another corporate slogan. Now, with ESG and purpose-driven business facing backlash, companies are backing away, fearing controversy and short-term losses. But the truth is that leaders who abandon purpose risk more than just bad PR; they lose trust, culture, and long-term success.In this episode of The Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Thomas Eckschmidt to explore how organizations can evolve beyond profits, embrace conscious leadership, and create a culture of trust and impact—without sacrificing success. Thomas Eckschmidt is the co-founder of the Conscious Capitalism movement in Brazil and CEO of CBJ Conscious Business Journey, a global network driving conscious business transformation. A seasoned entrepreneur and advocate for Conscious Capitalism, he has launched multiple ventures, won 12 business awards, authored 11 books, and filed four patents. He also serves on corporate boards, helping organizations integrate conscious business practices.Things you will learn in this episode:• Understanding the Four Tenets of Conscious Capitalism• The Danger of Losing Your "Why" in Business• Ego vs. Ecosystem Leadership• The Power of Stakeholder Orientation• Reframing Business Success Beyond Just Profit• The Rise and Challenge of Conscious Capitalism• The Leadership Reset—Why This Matters NOWResources:✅• Thomas Eckschmidt’s website: http://www.cbjourney.com/ • Creating Better Businesses for a Better World | Thomas Eckschmidt | TEDx: https://youtu.be/9Oqy8zywipU?si=GOnG6TCj7HFcBdeC • Harvard Global Leadership Development Study 2023: https://www.harvardbusiness.org/leadership-learning-insights/global-leadership-development-study/• The Conscious Business Activator: https://www.cbactivator.cc/ Books:✅• “Purpose Canvas for Business: Making it clear why we are in business” by Thomas Eckschmidt: https://a.co/d/gRYSAfy • Conscious Capitalism Field Guide (Harvard) co-authored by Thomas Eckschmidt: https://a.co/d/gRYSAfy • Shakti Leadership by Nilima Bhat and Rajendra Sisodia: https://a.co/d/3Vao9Ra • The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben: https://a.co/d/bSSr9nE• I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong: https://a.co/d/hIFnx7K • Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl: https://a.co/d/jiIH4Gk

Employees are burnt out, disengaged, and silently struggling with their mental health. Meanwhile, leaders assume they’re doing enough because their company offers an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) or has a "Mental Health Matters" poster in the breakroom. But most employees never use these resources. Not because they don’t need help, but because they don’t feel safe enough to ask for it. This silence is costing businesses productivity, innovation, and even lives. So, how do we change this? How can leaders not just acknowledge workplace mental health but actually win the fight for better well-being—permanently? That’s exactly what we unpack in this powerful episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari and Michael Landsberg, a leading voice in mental health advocacy.Michael Landsberg is a Canadian sports journalist and mental health advocate, best known as the longtime host of Off the Record on TSN. He has been a prominent voice in raising awareness about depression and anxiety, openly sharing his own struggles to reduce stigma. Landsberg founded SickNotWeak, a mental health advocacy initiative, and continues to speak publicly about the importance of mental health support.For leaders who want to fix workplace mental health for good, it’s not about offering more benefits. It’s about changing how it is talked about and handled at work.Things you will learn in this episode:• Why People Stay Silent About Mental Illness• Hope as the Missing Piece in Depression Recovery• The Business Case for Mental Health in the Workplace• First Step: A Mental Health Program That Actually Works• Why Leaders Need to Be Vulnerable to Fix Mental HealthTune into our full episode with Michael Landsberg and take your first step toward better mental health.Resources:✅• Michael Landsberg’s website: https://www.michaellandsberg.ca/• First Step – Mental Health Program by Michael Landsberg: https://www.greenshield.ca/en-ca/health/letsbereal • Sick Not Weak - Mental Health Community: https://www.sicknotweak.com/ • Alcoholics Anonymous Program: https://www.addictioncenter.com/treatment/12-step-programs/alcoholics-anonymous/ • Health Insight with Michael Lansberg: https://www.healthinsight.ca/advocacy/michael-landsberg-on-the-record-about-mental-health/• Darkness and Hope: Depression, Sports, and Me (Documentary featuring Michael Landsberg) : https://www.mcintyre.ca/titles/SST001 • McKinsey Study on Mental Health and Burnout: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-burnout • Deloitte’s Mental Health in the Workplace Study: https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Life-Sciences-Health-Care/gx-mental-health-2022-report-noexp.pdf Books:✅• The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran : https://a.co/d/h6Jfjav• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/e9sUUpL

If you want your company to scale, here's one question you need to ask yourself: Are you growing your people as fast as you're growing your revenue? Too many leaders obsess over business expansion but ignore the foundation that makes it possible—PEOPLE. In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Ryan Heckman remind us that when you invest in your people’s growth, your business follows. Ryan reveals the leadership shift that can turn any stagnant company into an unstoppable force.Ryan Heckman is a seasoned private equity investor with over 25 years of experience, currently serving as co-founder, managing partner, and CEO at Rallyday Partners, a lower middle market investment firm. He also co-founded the Colorado Impact Fund, a Denver-based social impact fund. Previously, Ryan was the CEO and Chairman of EVP Eyecare and co-founded Excellere Partners, a private equity firm managing approximately $1.3 billion in capital. A two-time Olympian in skiing, he is also the Chairman of CiviCO, a founding board member of Endeavor Global/Colorado, and a Trustee at the University of Denver.Things you will learn in this episode:• Why growing your people is the fastest way to grow your business• How leadership is not about control—it’s about empowerment• Why culture should get better as a company grows—not worse• Why leaders must be coaches, not just managers• How trust and psychological safety drive performanceThis episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about leadership and business growth. Don’t miss it!Resources:✅• Rallyday Partners: http://www.rallydaypartners.com/ • Colorado Impact Fund: http://www.coloradoimpactfund.com/ • CiviCO: https://www.livecivico.org/ • Intrinsic Value (Wall Street Journal Column by Roger Lowenstein) https://rogerlowenstein.com/ • First Biography of Warren Buffett – By Roger Lowenstein: https://hbr.org/1996/01/what-i-learned-from-warren-buffett • Research from the Michigan Ross Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/an-introduction/ • Clay Christensen's Work on Management as a Noble Profession: https://hbr.org/2020/01/clayton-christensen-the-gentle-giant-of-innovation • Jan-Emmanuel De Neve & Sonja Lyubomirsky (Oxford Research on Workplace Well-Being): https://d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net/ews/20220817145319/Work-Wellbeing-2022-Insights-Report-.pdf Books:✅• The Heart of Business by Hubert Joly: https://a.co/d/eVeJrY1 • Grow the Pie by Alex Edmans: https://alexedmans.com/books/ • Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/5G5k5IX

We’ve been sold this idea that work and life are two separate things—one to survive, the other to enjoy. But here’s the truth: It’s all just life.  The best workplaces don’t force people to "balance" their time between stress and fulfillment. They create cultures where work itself is a source of purpose, growth, and well-being.That’s exactly what Teresa Roche, Chair of the Learning Innovation Laboratory at Harvard and CHRO at the City of Fort Collins, has helped build—an adaptive and well-being-driven organization where people don’t just work, they flourish. Teresa Roche is a transformational HR leader with expertise in building well-being-driven workplaces. As CHRO of the City of Fort Collins, she has led innovative talent strategies, inclusion initiatives, and the Future of Work, shaping a culture where people and performance thrive. Previously, she drove leadership development at Agilent Technologies, ensuring 90% of senior roles were filled internally. In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Teresa Roche explore how leaders can start designing purposeful workplaces that fuel both performance and well-being.Things you will learn in this episode:• The myth of work-life balance• The importance of building a workplace culture that prioritizes well-being• Why well-being must be an organizational priority• Why organizations need to make the systemic shift to promote wellness• The ROI of creating flourishing organizations• The role of leaders in driving a flourishing cultureThe system needs to change! If you want to be a part of it, start by tuning into this epic episode. Resources: ✅• City of Fort Collins Health and Wellness Programs: https://larimer.senioraccesspoints.colostate.edu/blog/2021/11/16/city-of-fort-collins-health-and-wellness-programs/• IFTF Palo Alto: https://www.iftf.org/ • Harvard Flourishing Network: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/flourishing-network-HFH  • Chief Learning Officer: https://resource.chieflearningofficer.com/chief-learning-officer-resource-center• Related episode: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/episode/the-power-of-purpose-driven-organizations-with-alex-edmans • Alex Edman’s research proving that employee satisfaction leads to 2–3.5% incremental shareholder returns.  https://alexedmans.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Finding-the-Purpose-of-Your-Business.pdf• McKinsey Health Institute - A holistic health approach for employees: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/reframing-employee-health-moving-beyond-burnout-to-holistic-health • Oxford Economics on prioritizing workplace well-being: https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/why-companies-should-prioritise-their-employees-wellbeing/ Books: ✅• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/7cgP2X8

keep up with endless demands. Trying to "just get through the day" instead of truly thriving can impact you far beyond your personal well-being. It cascades down to your teams, organizations, and long-term success. So how do you shift from just surviving to actually thriving? That’s what we dive into in this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari and Renee Moorefield, CEO of Wisdom Works Group, Inc.Renee Moorefield, PhD, is the CEO of Wisdom Works, a social enterprise she co-founded in 1999 to promote leadership and organizational cultures that empower people to thrive. With over 30 years of experience, she has coached and advised executives from Fortune 500 companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Nike, and Hyatt. Renee is also the author of "Driven by Wellth," a book that explores how contemporary leaders can integrate wealth with well-being. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Global Wellness Institute and is an international speaker, as well as a Master Certified Coach and Certified Health & Wellness Coach. In the conversation, Ashish and Renee break down what it really means to thrive as a leader and why so many leaders struggle to make the shift. Renee shares a simple but powerful framework that helps leaders build resilience, stay energized, and lead with clarity—even in high-pressure environments. Things you will learn in this episode:• Defining thriving ang its importance in leadership• The six-part thriving framework (Developed by Wisdom Works)• Why thriving is a leadership responsibility• Practical Strategies for Moving from Survival to ThrivingIf you’re feeling stretched too thin, constantly reacting, or struggling to find balance, this conversation will give you the practical tools you need to take back control and lead with energy, confidence, and purpose.Tune in now to learn how to stop leading in survival mode and start thriving!Resources: ✅• Wisdom Works website: http://wisdom-works.com/• Be Well, Lead Well Pulse Assessment: https://www.wisdom-works.com/assessment/ • Be Well, Lead Well: https://www.bewellleadwellpulse.com/ • Wisdom Works Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wisdom-works-group/ Books: ✅• “Driven by WELLth” by Julie Maloney and Renee Moorefield: https://a.co/d/83TGDFc • "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn: https://a.co/d/gIeCdCF • "Leadership and the New Science" by Margaret Wheatley: https://a.co/d/6vWxdR6 • Hardwired for Happiness book by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Episode Summary:In this episode, we dive deep into the power of rewiring our minds and relaunching our lives with transformational coaches Hillary DeCesare and Ashish Kothari. We explore how limiting beliefs hold us back, why traditional habits don’t always stick, and how the Belief Blaster tool can help you break free from subconscious patterns. Plus, we introduce the Rewire & Relaunch program—a 40-day journey designed to help you make lasting changes in the four key domains of life: Wealth, Health, Love, and Meaning.What You'll Learn:• How hidden beliefs sabotage success and happiness.• The neuroscience behind rewiring the brain (and why it takes 62-67 days!).• Why radical life changes don’t always lead to lasting transformation.• The 5-step process to release limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones.• The role of mind, body, and spirit in creating sustainable change.• How community, accountability, and personal networks fuel transformation.• The importance of energy alignment and using ancient wisdom for success.Key Takeaways:• We don’t see the world as it is; we see it as we are.• Success and happiness don’t happen overnight—they require intentional rewiring.• Knowledge isn’t power—practice is power.• To create real change, you must change from within first.Resources & Links:• Learn more about the Rewire & Relaunch program: Link to website• Read Ashish Kothari’s book: Hardwired for Happiness (available on Amazon)• Check out Hillary DeCesare’s book: Relaunch: Spark Your Heart to Ignite Your LifeLoved this episode? Share it with someone who needs a transformation! Don’t forget tosubscribe, rate, and leave a review.