On S4E9 of the @MAGICademy Podcast, we’re joined by Michael Rucker to talk about something we often forget to prioritize: having fun! Michael is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and author of “The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life”. We talked about fun and happiness in organizations and in our personal lives, the different types of fun and how they have different effects on us, and how we react and process fun internally.

Michael's journey into the realm of fun began after a series of personal challenges in 2016, including the loss of his younger brother. This prompted him to reassess conventional approaches to happiness and led to the realization that chasing happiness often results in feelings of inadequacy. Michael talks about this and also shares some vital insights on fun and mental health while providing some tips on how to improve it by ourselves.

Conversation Outline

00:40 - Michael introduces himself and talks about positive psychology

05:29 - Focusing on fun while avoiding toxic positivity

11:50 - Different types of fun

15:24 - Stories on organization pivoting towards fun environments

24:18 - Role of childlike wonder in fun and mindfulness

27:59 - Tips on fostering type-2 fun

33:52 - Michael’s vision of organizational fun in the future

36:43 - Jiani’s recap of the episode

37:55 - Michael’s background and childhood

40:04 - Major challenges in Michael’s life