The Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari

Relationships can be tricky because they mix together two people with different backgrounds and habits, and sometimes things get a bit tangled up. It’s like blending two different paint colors without making a mess! Every relationship hits rough patches, but we can turn those bumps in the road into springboards for growing closer. In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder of Happiness Squad, discusses how to cultivate positive emotions to deepen our relationships.Things you will learn from this episode:• How to generate positive emotions• Practice being a ‘gratitude detective’• Managing negative emotions and interactions• The most destructive behaviors in relationships. Resources:• Rewire Program: https://happinesssquad.com/rewire-program/ • The Happiness Squad on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-squad/id1663683864 • Happiness Squad Podcast: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/ • Happiness Squad website: https://happinesssquad.com/• Happiness Squad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad/ • The Magic Relationship Ratio by Dr. John Gottman: https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-magic-relationship-ratio-according-science/ Books:• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655• The Prophet by Khalil Gibran: https://www.amazon.com/Prophet-Kahlil-Gibran/dp/B001AGWEMK

We're investing big bucks in employee well-being programs without really addressing the real problems affecting employees' performance. In fact, shocking stats from the McKinsey Health Institute reveal that a mere 3% of burnout comes from individual factors, while a staggering 97% is due to organizational, team, and job-related issues. It looks like we’re spending a lot of money on wellness without tackling the bigger problem. Shouldn’t we be aiming for solutions that address the whole picture? In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Ali Khan will discuss this issue with you.Ali Khan is an accomplished entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of SHAPE - The Employee Experience Measurement Company. His leadership is marked by a commitment to creating flagship products that enhance flourishing and drive positive outcomes in workplaces facing unprecedented change. An expert in chronic and infectious disease diagnosis, Ali excels in transforming clinical, technical, and operational growth through data-driven services. In the conversation, Ashish and Ali redefine employee flourishing and organizational success. They discuss how well-being and happiness are not merely byproducts of successful workplace environments but are foundational to creating them.Things you will learn from this episode:• Defining flourishing and what helps individuals and organizations flourish• The Flourishing Wheel: 12 domains of flourishing• Effectiveness of Well-being Initiatives• Data-driven insights in transforming organizational practicesResources:• SHAPE Website: https://www.shapepowered.com/• SHAPE Global news: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sheilacallaham/2023/09/19/startup-advances-employee-productivity-measurement-captures-attention-of-global-leaders/?sh=4d0ff1f541c9 • Check out our related episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/lv/podcast/the-power-of-purpose-driven-organizations-with-alex-edmans/id1663683864?i=1000633983201 Books:• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Do you know how stressed people are at work these days? Studies show a startling fact: nearly 40% of young workers feel they're on the edge because of job stress. It's clear we have a serious issue that's hurting both people's well-being and their job performance. Could our work environments be contributing to the problem? In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Genevieve Bonin explore this critical topic.Genevieve Bonin is the Managing Director and partner at Boston Consulting Group. She is a seasoned leader with over 27 years of experience in the public and private sectors, specializing in solving complex problems and leading transformational change. At BCG, she leads the global public sector practice with a focus on Defence and Security and heads the Canadian Public Sector practice. A recognized thought leader in diversity, equity and inclusion, mental health and well-being, and leadership, she has authored numerous articles and delivered keynotes on these topics.Her military background as a Naval Engineering Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy deeply influences her ongoing commitment to philanthropy, particularly in supporting troops, veterans, and their families. She serves on several boards, including the True Patriot Love Foundation, Invictus Games 2025, and the Royal Ottawa Hospital Institute for Mental Health Research.Genevieve holds professional titles as a Fellow Certified Management Consultant and Professional Engineer and has been honored with the Telfer School of Management Philanthropy Award and the Veterans Affairs Ministerial Medal for her contributions to society. In this conversation, Ashish and Genevieve discuss the importance of ongoing attention to workplace mental health and the need for businesses to prioritize improving their employees’ well-being and productivity at work.Things you will learn from this episode:• Combating Workplace Burnout• Research on Mental Health Among Canadian Workers• Determining Workplace Stressors• The Concept of Generative Leadership• Organizational Strategies for Mental HealthResources:• Genevieve Bonin at Boston Consulting Group: https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/genevieve-bonin • Genevieve Bonin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/genbonin?lang=en • The Royal Mental Health Center: https://www.theroyal.ca/research/biography/genevieve-bonin • The Next Frontier of Workplace Culture: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/workplace-burnout-costing-canadian-companies-billions • Why Canada Needs Generative Leaders: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2022/generative-leadership-aiding-canadas-public-sector Books:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Our world feels increasingly divided, largely because we tend to surround ourselves with people who think the same way we do. This creates a cycle where we constantly reinforce our own beliefs and opinions. Over time, this makes it challenging to see or appreciate different viewpoints, as we're not regularly exposed to them. In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Diana McLain Smith, Founder and Author of Remaking the Space Between Us, discuss overcoming our divides by transforming how we interact and understand each other in a divided world.Diana McLain Smith is a distinguished author and consultant specializing in leadership and organizational development. She has a robust academic background in psychology and social systems, and her work primarily focuses on helping leaders and teams navigate complex relationships and organizational challenges. Diana is also well-known for her insightful book, "The Elephant in the Room: How Relationships Make or Break the Success of Leaders and Organizations," where she explores the dynamics of human relationships within a professional context. Her expertise is frequently sought by leading organizations looking to enhance their leadership effectiveness and team collaboration.In the conversation, Ashish and Diana share their insights and provide actionable advice for improving societal and personal connections.Things you will learn from this episode:• Ending the Epidemic of Loneliness• Hope as a crucial political act• Empathy as a superpower• Transforming conflict into an opportunity for improvementTune in now and find out how you can take part in remaking the space between our divided world!Resources:• Diana’s website: http://www.dianamclainsmith.com/ • Company website: http://www.newprofit.com/ • Remaking the Space Between Us on Substack: https://remakingthespace.substack.com/about • Citizen Connect Organization: https://citizenconnect.us/ • Listen First Project: https://www.listenfirstproject.org/ • Roots & Shoots Organization by Jane Goodall: https://rootsandshoots.org/ • Solutions Journalism Network: https://www.solutionsjournalism.org/ Books:• Remaking the Space Between Us by Diana McLain Smith• Elephant in the Room by Diana McLain Smith• Divide of Conquer by Diana McLain Smith• Waking Up White by Debbie Irving: https://www.debbyirving.com/the-book/ • Primal Fear: Tribalism, Empathy, and the Way Forward by Rob Smith• Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life• Begin Again by Eddie Glaude• Difficult Conversations by Bruce Patton• Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Here's a thought: What if the real secret to making more money was to focus less on the money itself? True success in organizations isn't just about chasing profits, but about being driven by a genuine purpose. It’s about making a meaningful impact, serving a greater cause, and adding value to the world.In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish chats with Alex Edmans, a multi-award-winning professor of finance at London Business School with a PhD in finance from MIT Sloan. As a Fulbright scholar, he joined Wharton in 2007 before moving to London Business School. His TED talk, "The Pie Growing Mindset” and “The Social Responsibility of Business," has a combined 2.8 million views. He's written for the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and the Harvard Business Review.The focus of this conversation is Alex's book, 'Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit'. Through quantitative research, Alex introduces the concept of growing value for all stakeholders rather than merely dividing it. He presents three pivotal principles that guide organizations in defining their purpose. Ashish supplements this with examples from his own work, ensuring that leaders, shareholders, or stakeholders of organizations will benefit. Ready to redefine success and discover the power of purpose in organizations? Listen to this episode now!Things you will also learn from this episode:• The concept of ‘growing the pie’ and long-term greed• The correlation and causation of employee satisfaction and stock returns• The power of purpose in maximizing profitResources:• 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

Do you ever feel like you're juggling work and your personal life at once, trying to keep them from crashing down? You're not alone. The traditional notion of work-life balance often paints an unrealistic picture of perfectly equal scales. But let's face it; the scales are rarely balanced.  Stress builds as you struggle to keep up, leaving you exhausted and frustrated. What if there was a better way to balance work and life? In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits with Scott Shute, Founder of Changing Work. Scott Shute is a keynote speaker, author, and leadership coach with extensive experience as an executive. He is passionate about people development, integrating the practical aspects of leadership in the modern business world with the wisdom of ancient traditions. With over twenty-five years in customer-oriented leadership and executive roles, including three years leading Mindfulness and Compassion programs at LinkedIn, Scott now aids other leaders and companies to become more compassionate and effective. Scott aims to weave these practices into the fabric of company culture, influencing how products are developed, sold, and serviced to benefit employees and customers. His background in operations allows him to scale these transformative practices across organizations effectively.In the conversation, Ashish and Scott discuss the concept of work-life integration and the best approaches to blending work and life.Here are other things you will learn from this episode:• The meaning and inspiration of the ‘Full Body YES’• Work-life balance vs Work-life integration• Handling unmeaningful work• Mindfulness and compassion programs• The Changing Work CollectiveResources:/• Scott Shute website: https://www.scottshute.com/ • Work with Scott Shute here: https://www.scottshute.com/work-with-me • Changing Work Movement: https://www.changingwork.org/ Books:• The Full Body YES by Scott Shute: https://www.scottshute.com/the-book • Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Ever feel like chasing personal achievements isn't really making you happy? You're not alone. It's a common trap that leaves many of us feeling empty. It's a frustrating realization that success and status often fail to fill the void we hope they would. It leaves us questioning, what does happiness truly mean?In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Stephanie Harrison, Founder of The New Happy, discuss a groundbreaking approach to finding your ‘new happy’. It's happiness, redefined.Stephanie Harrison, Founder of The New Happy Co., is a multifaceted entrepreneur, acclaimed writer, innovative designer, and engaging speaker. Holding a master's degree in positive psychology from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, she has dedicated her career to pioneering a transformative philosophy of happiness.As the author of the upcoming book NEW HAPPY: Getting Happiness Right In A World That’s Got It Wrong, set to be published by Penguin Random House on May 14, 2024, Stephanie continues to influence and reshape the conversation around what it truly means to live a fulfilled life.In the conversation, Ashish and Stephanie discuss a new formula for happiness that’s about more than just personal gain—it's about community and helping others.Things you will learn from this episode:• The Old vs. New Concept of Happiness• The importance of self-acceptance• Growth through self-love• Discovering your talents• Serving others with your giftsTune into the full episode here to hear their insightful discussion on the new meaning of happiness.Resources:• The New Happy website: https://www.thenewhappy.com/about • New Happy Book: https://www.thenewhappy.com/book Books:• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655• Author of New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong: https://www.amazon.com/New-Happy-Getting-Happiness-Right/dp/0593541383

Have you ever wondered how many people change careers after a job loss or by choice? Studies show that, on average, individuals undergo a career transition about five to seven times during their lifetime. The problem is that each transition is not without its own challenges. So, what does it take to navigate these waters successfully?In this episode, Ashish Kothari, Founder of HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, offers a comprehensive guide to career progression, specifically how to secure promotions or transition into new roles and leveraging the "Sunflower Model" to achieve professional growth and success.The episode serves as a comprehensive guide for listeners to reflect on their current positions, identify what they truly want from their careers, and make strategic moves to achieve those goals while maintaining personal well-being and a sense of purpose.Things you will learn from this episode:How to assess your skillsThe importance of feedback and coachingThe concept of Job CraftingThe benefits of open vs closed networksTune in now and discover the secrets to the smoothest career transition! Check out our latest article here for insights and strategies that work.Resources:Rewire Program: https://happinesssquad.com/rewire-program/  The Happiness Squad on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-squad/id1663683864 Happiness Squad Podcast: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/  Happiness Squad website: https://happinesssquad.com/ Happiness Squad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad/ Books:Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Many organizations and individuals often find themselves stuck making only small, incremental changes that don't really solve the bigger issues. Sticking to minor adjustments means missing major opportunities and failing to meet evolving challenges. There’s a clear need for a more impactful approach to change.In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD podcast, Ashish Kothari and Robert Quinn discuss how to drive deep organizational change effectively.Robert E. Quinn, Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, is a leading expert in leadership, culture, and change. He co-founded Positive Organizational Scholarship and the Center for Positive Organizations. Robert is among the top 1% of cited professors in organizational behavior. His notable books include the global bestseller Deep Change and the award-winning The Best Teacher in You. His latest work, The Positive Organization, explores breaking free from conventional business cultures. Things you will learn from this episode:• The purpose-driven definition of happiness• Concept of Deep Change versus Incremental Change• Role of Leadership in Organizational Change• Integration of Well-being into Corporate CultureTo explore their insights in detail, listen to the complete episode now!Resources:• Robert Quinn’s website: https://robertequinn.com/ • Robert Quinn’s blog: https://robertequinn.com/blog/Books:• Deep Change by Robert E. Quinn: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Change-Discovering-Jossey-Bass-Management/dp/0787902446• The Best Teacher in You: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Teacher-You-Accelerate-Learning/dp/1626561788 • Watch out for Prof. Robert Quinn’s upcoming book: “The Transformational Moment”• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Have you ever wondered if there's a secret recipe for genuine happiness? Imagine if you could break down happiness into a formula, one that would guide you through the complexities of emotions and lead you to a life of fulfillment and joy. In this episode, we’ll unravel just that together with Ashish Kothari and Dr. Alphonsus Obayuwana.Dr. Alphonsus Obayuwana, a physician-scientist and happiness coach, is the founder and CEO of Triple-H Project LLC, specializing in training and certifying happiness coaches. His contributions to the field include the renowned Hope Index Scale, widely adopted by major corporations and academic institutions, including the Coca-Cola Company and General Motors. A Literary Titan Gold Award-winning author, Dr. Obayuwana has published extensively on human hope and happiness, culminating in his groundbreaking work, "The Happiness Formula."In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish and Dr. Alphonsus unpacks the ‘happiness formula’ – a concept that delves into the very essence of what makes us truly happy.Things you will learn from this episode:The happiness formulaFive sources of human hopeFive inborn human hungersFive triggers of happinessThe relationship between hope and happinessSo, grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let’s walk through their insights together – it’s a conversation that might just change the way you see happiness.Resources:Triple H Project LLC - https://triplehproject.com/ Books:The Happiness Formula: A Scientific, Groundbreaking Approach to Happiness and Personal Fulfillment - https://www.amazon.com/Books-Alphonsus-Obayuwana-MD/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AAlphonsus+Obayuwana+MD Hardwired for Happiness - https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534663/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1665467131&sr=8-3 Other books mentioned:The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall - https://www.amazon.com/Book-Hope-Survival-Trying-Global/dp/1250784093The Awakened Brain by Lisa Miller - https://www.amazon.com/Awakened-Brain-Science-Spirituality-Inspired/dp/198485562X