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Gary King: The Happiness Experiment
Host: Zack Knight
Guest: Gary King — Navy veteran, speaker/author, creator of the St. Pete HAPPINESS signs, subject of The Happiness Experiment film
Episode vibe
A candid, hopeful conversation about trauma, perspective, and building everyday interrupts that keep people here. Practical tools. No fluff.
Timestamps
00:00 – 06:00 Cold open + Centre Club welcome, Monday-night football slander, Marine banter.
06:00 – 12:40 ATLVets updates: Elite Rewards monthly travel voucher, Clearwater wellness workouts, Atlanta Center of Excellence coming online.
12:41 – 14:10 Gary takes the mic: why this room matters to him.
14:10 – 18:50 Background in fast-forward: Navy, VIP security (incl. Gen. Schwarzkopf), speaking/author work across the globe.
18:50 – 23:40 The weight: 36 traumas, the loss of his son Jason at the Skyway, and the near-death experience that reset his lens.
23:40 – 27:00 Perception vs. perspective: the “circle and the ant.”
27:00 – 33:30 PTSD reframed as post-traumatic trigger disorder; the “hard drive (subconscious) + RAM (conscious)” analogy; the wallet story.
33:30 – 38:30 Autosuggestion 101 and the twine-and-20-knots practice.
38:30 – 44:30 Birth of the HAPPINESS signs (Nov 2019), first takedown, then liftoff; why simple words in public space matter.
44:30 – 48:10 The Happiness Experiment film; the woman who turned around at the sign.
48:10 – 55:30 The Happiness Formula book: F² H² = H (forgiveness of self/others; honesty with self/truth with others; self-worth).
55:30 – 1:01:30 Quick exercise: your Top 5 partner traits, and why “emotionally available” rarely makes the list (but should).
1:01:30 – 1:06:30 Self-acceptance vs. chasing approval; how we’re taught to outsource worth.
1:06:30 – 1:10:55 Q&A: faith, discipline, and why Gary still climbs the ladder.
1:10:55 – end Wrap, selfies with the signs, Gary’s open offer: “If I can help a vet, I’m in.”
Key ideas & takeaways
Triggers work like algorithms. If you can spot the pattern in real time, you can choose a different next move.
Perspective is a practice. Get above the moment; don’t let the moment run you.
Short beats clever. The brain remembers simple, repeated lines—use them on purpose.
Public words change private minds. A six-inch sign can be the inch someone needs.
Notes & care
Gary shares personal methods and beliefs. They’re not medical advice. If you’re struggling, talk to a qualified professional, reach out to a peer, or call/text 988 (in the U.S.) for support.
View all episodes
By Zack A. Knight
5
9090 ratings
Host: Zack Knight
Guest: Gary King — Navy veteran, speaker/author, creator of the St. Pete HAPPINESS signs, subject of The Happiness Experiment film
Episode vibe
A candid, hopeful conversation about trauma, perspective, and building everyday interrupts that keep people here. Practical tools. No fluff.
Timestamps
00:00 – 06:00 Cold open + Centre Club welcome, Monday-night football slander, Marine banter.
06:00 – 12:40 ATLVets updates: Elite Rewards monthly travel voucher, Clearwater wellness workouts, Atlanta Center of Excellence coming online.
12:41 – 14:10 Gary takes the mic: why this room matters to him.
14:10 – 18:50 Background in fast-forward: Navy, VIP security (incl. Gen. Schwarzkopf), speaking/author work across the globe.
18:50 – 23:40 The weight: 36 traumas, the loss of his son Jason at the Skyway, and the near-death experience that reset his lens.
23:40 – 27:00 Perception vs. perspective: the “circle and the ant.”
27:00 – 33:30 PTSD reframed as post-traumatic trigger disorder; the “hard drive (subconscious) + RAM (conscious)” analogy; the wallet story.
33:30 – 38:30 Autosuggestion 101 and the twine-and-20-knots practice.
38:30 – 44:30 Birth of the HAPPINESS signs (Nov 2019), first takedown, then liftoff; why simple words in public space matter.
44:30 – 48:10 The Happiness Experiment film; the woman who turned around at the sign.
48:10 – 55:30 The Happiness Formula book: F² H² = H (forgiveness of self/others; honesty with self/truth with others; self-worth).
55:30 – 1:01:30 Quick exercise: your Top 5 partner traits, and why “emotionally available” rarely makes the list (but should).
1:01:30 – 1:06:30 Self-acceptance vs. chasing approval; how we’re taught to outsource worth.
1:06:30 – 1:10:55 Q&A: faith, discipline, and why Gary still climbs the ladder.
1:10:55 – end Wrap, selfies with the signs, Gary’s open offer: “If I can help a vet, I’m in.”
Key ideas & takeaways
Triggers work like algorithms. If you can spot the pattern in real time, you can choose a different next move.
Perspective is a practice. Get above the moment; don’t let the moment run you.
Short beats clever. The brain remembers simple, repeated lines—use them on purpose.
Public words change private minds. A six-inch sign can be the inch someone needs.
Notes & care
Gary shares personal methods and beliefs. They’re not medical advice. If you’re struggling, talk to a qualified professional, reach out to a peer, or call/text 988 (in the U.S.) for support.