Hack Your Happiness

This episode is for you: the person who’s trying hard, but feeling stuck.

If you’ve been putting pressure on yourself, doubting your progress, or wondering whether you’re doing enough, this is what you need to hear right now.

Today, Mercedes and Anastasia sit down with Alan Stein Jr.: renowned performance coach who spent 15+ years working with elite NBA superstars, including Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Kobe Bryant. Alan has spent years studying what actually separates people who grow from people who stay stuck. But this conversation is not just about performance. It’s about responsibility, self-worth, discipline, and what it really means to become the person you want to be.

Alan’s message is not about perfection. And it’s not about grinding yourself into exhaustion. He talks about something much more honest: learning how to stop blaming, stop waiting, and start taking ownership of your life in a way that builds confidence, peace, and real fulfillment.

This episode is not a lecture about hustling harder. It’s a reset for the person who wants to grow, but also wants to feel okay while doing it.

By sitting down with us for this conversation, you will:

- Learn why success can feel empty (and how to avoid this!)

- Understand how discipline can create freedom, not pressure

- Hear what top performers do differently when life feels hard

- Finally gain control over your life and thoughts

- Get a one-on-one motivational speech from Alan, explaining exactly what to do if you feel stuck right now

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m behind,” “I keep getting in my own way,” or “I don’t know if I should keep going,” this episode will help you breathe, reflect, and take your next step with more clarity. Because growth is not about becoming perfect. It’s about becoming more honest and more aligned with who you want to be.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Get your own Manta Sleep mask (seriously, they're so worth it!)⁠

Visit Alan's website

Follow Alan on Instagram

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, Duncan Wardle. We know you'll love it: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen + watch now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

(00:00) Why This Episode Matters For You

(02:05) Becoming A Top Performance Coach

(04:58) From The King of Blaming To The King of Self-Accountability

(08:15) You're Overcomplicating Success!

(13:25) The SECRET To Achieving BOTH Success + Wellbeing

(17:20) Why Do I Want This?

(19:38) Inside The Mind of A Top Performer

(22:45) Average vs Good vs Great

(28:28) Hacks For Perfectionism

(32:03) Who Comes To Your Mind?

(32:23) Hacks For Performing Under Pressure

(39:38) How Can I Sustain Performance Overtime?

(43:53) What Would Your Future Self Do?

(47:38) The Ultimate Performance Hack

(48:13) Reframe Your Daily Actions

(49:09) Most Extreme Discipline Habits of Elite Athletes

(53:22) Persevering vs Quitting: How To Decide

(1:00:51) Want To Quit? Alan Wants You To Hear This

(1:03:53) Rapid Fire!

(1:06:56) Find Alan Here

(1:07:57) Get Your Creativity + Curiosity BACK!

In this episode, you’re going to learn how to slow down and enjoy your everyday life more - without disconnecting from the modern world.

Whether you’re in a season of change, feeling stuck, questioning your current path, trying to get off your phone more, or simply wanting to enjoy your life again, this episode is for you.

Today, Mercedes and Anastasia are joined by Chloe Crane-Leroux. Chloe is a photographer, cookbook author, content creator, and visual storyteller known for finding and sharing the beauty in everyday life.

In this heartfelt conversation, Chloe opens up about what it looked like to have a 5-year-plan for her entire life -- and then to suddenly change course! She gets deep with us about how she left an environment that didn’t feel good, and unveils all that you need to know to create a life that feels beautiful, grounded, and true to who you are.

Chloe breaks down why so many of us are craving a slower pace right now, how to know when a situation is no longer serving you, and how to romanticize your everyday life in a way that is real, meaningful, and sustainable.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- How to recognize if something in your life FEELS right for you
- Tips for pivoting your life plans
- How to handle toxic or draining situations
- What to do when you feel stuck, uninspired, or burnt out
- Hacks to romanticize your everyday life without making it fake or forced
- Why people are craving slower, more offline living in a fast-paced digital world
- How to build a stronger relationship with your parent or child

After this episode, you’ll know how to slow down, trust yourself, and create a life that feels beautiful in real life.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get your own Manta Sleep mask (seriously, they're so worth it!)

Follow Chloe on Instagram

Check out Chloe on TikTok

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with food blogger, Monique Volz. We know you'll love it: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen + watch now!⁠⁠⁠⁠

(00:00) Meet Chloe Crane-Leroux

(02:20) The Lifelong Dream

(04:28) 5-Year Plan From Age 5

(06:30) Amori Fati: Why Letting Go is Important

(07:39) How Can I Leave A Toxic Environment?

(12:35) Advice For Pushing Through Toxic Situations

(18:50) Chloe's Identity Crisis

(21:42) How Can I Manage Creative Ruts?

(23:26) Send This To That Person!

(24:00) Feel Stuck? Try This

(25:21) Chloe's Guide To Finding Beauty in Every Day

(27:42) Ready To Romanticize Your Life? Start HERE

(30:29) A Beautiful Instagram Feed vs Accepting Life's Imperfections

(32:33) The Pressure To Sugarcoat Life

(36:42) Tips For Slow-Living in A Fast-Paced World

(41:33) Are We in a Phone Rebellion?(45:59) A Cornerstone Of Our Happiness

(46:30) Chloe's Relationship With Her Mom

(48:41) Working Together & Maintaining A Relationship

(50:37) How Can I Boost My Relationship With My Kids?

(54:17) Do THIS To Get Better At Cooking

(56:25) The Role of Food and Cooking in Happiness

(1:00:15) Rapid Fire!

(1:05:14) Find Chloe Here

(1:06:03) Transform Your Relationship With Food

Today’s episode will change how you see your life, especially in moments that feel uncertain or out of your control.

Because today, you’re meeting someone who will help you answer a question most of us don’t stop to ask:

How do you stay hopeful when the world feels heavy?

Maybe you’ve been feeling overwhelmed -- like there’s so much going on, and you don’t even know where to start.

Maybe you’ve been questioning if anything you do actually makes a difference.

Or maybe you’re just trying to stay positive, but it feels harder than it used to.

Well, that’s exactly what this conversation is going to help you with.

In this powerful episode, we’re sitting down with Alan Gratz -- a bestselling author whose books bring some of the hardest moments in history to life through the eyes of young people, showing not just what people went through… but how they found courage, resilience, and hope anyway.

Together, we unpack what history actually teaches us about hope, why you don’t have to solve everything to make a difference, and how people -- even in the darkest moments -- have always found ways to keep going and help each other. By the end, you’ll see your own challenges differently.

Today, you are learning:

- How to stay hopeful even when the world feels heavy and uncertain
- Why you don’t have to fix everything to make an impact

- Tips to build real resilience

- How to find your voice when you feel powerless

- The mindset shift that helps you keep going through rejection and self-doubt

- Why there are always “helpers” and how to find them & be them

This episode will give you a new perspective on your life, your challenges, and your ability to create change. Above all, this conversation with Alan will remind you that even in times of chaos, hope is something you can choose and build.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Visit Alan's website

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with Professor of Classics, Michael Scott. We know you'll love it: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen now!⁠⁠⁠

(00:00) Meet Alan Gratz

(02:19) The Career Switch That Changed It All

(04:57) Everyone Needs THIS Person In Their Life

(05:28) Why YOU Can Make An Impact

(08:03) The Truth About Hope and Help

(09:54) Alan's MOST Important Lesson For You

(13:00) Why Should I Care About History?

(15:09) History's BIGGEST Lesson For You

(18:11) How Can I Find Hope In The Midst of Challenge

(22:35) Spreading Hope

(23:26) Be A Helper + Find The Helpers

(24:32) What Is Hope?

(28:43) BTS of Alan's Writing Process

(32:50) History's MOST COMPELLING Story of Hope

(37:26) How Can I Be More Resilient?

(41:19) From Rejection to Bestselling Author

(45:52) REFRAME: Think About Rejection This Way, Instead

(48:44) Alan's Most SURPRISING Questions!

(52:30) Pick An Event From The Past 10 Years

(58:57) Rapid Fire!

(1:08:35) Were People Really Happier Back Then?

If you feel like the world is exhausting right now - and you’re just trying to stay happy and calm in the middle of all of it - you are not the only one.

So many people are carrying stress they can’t even name. Constant news. Social media overload. Friendship drama. Toxic people. Uncertainty about the future. And underneath all of it, this quiet question: How do I stay okay when everything feels like a lot?

That’s why we wanted to have Kati Morton on the podcast today.

Kati is a licensed therapist, author, and one of the internet’s most trusted voices on mental health. She has spent years helping people understand anxiety, relationships, resilience, boundaries, therapy, and the real-life tools that help when your mind feels overwhelmed.

In this episode, Kati shares an honest and practical guide for protecting your peace, building resilience, and feeling more stable in an unstable world.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

- Feel more stable and hopeful in our modern world

- Stop letting other people’s moods control yours

- Recognize healthy and unhealthy relationships

- Handle uncertainty

- Build tips for being more resilient

- Understand how social media affects your nervous system

If you’ve been feeling emotionally overloaded, mentally drained, or like you’re waiting for the world to calm down before you let yourself feel okay, this episode is for you.

Kati will leave you feeling seen, steadier, and better equipped to handle real life.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Shop the Manta Sleep Mask⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Follow Kati on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Check out Kati's website for her books

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with psychiatrist, Dr. Tracey Marks. We know you'll love it: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen + watch now!⁠⁠⁠

(00:00) Welcome, Kati

(01:41) Becoming A Therapist

(03:19) From Therapist To Social Media

(05:10) How Does Social Media Benefit Mental Health?

(06:23) Hacks To Becoming More Resilient + Happier

(12:04) Why People Are Mean + Hacks For Dealing With Them

(16:10) The Influence of Other People's Moods

(21:52) Who Comes To Your Mind?

(22:30) Mirror Work: What Is It & How Can I Do It?

(24:24) Do THIS To See If A Relationship Is Healthy

(28:13) Hacks For Managing Toxic Relationships

(31:18) Acknowledging Your Role In Your Own Suffering

(35:22) The Role Of Uncertainty In Our Lives

(38:52) Social Media = Smoking?

(41:30) What Is The 'Whole Foods' Of Dopamine?

(42:35) Hacks For Finding A Sense Of Stability

(47:47) A Message From Us To You

(48:19) Change Your Thoughts To Change Your Outlook

(49:48) Feeling Overwhelmed? Start HERE!

(50:37) Are Humans Wired For Our Modern World?

(53:08) Hacks For Raising Resilient Kids

(56:29) Kati's MOST ASKED Question

(58:41) Her Most Personal Book Yet

(1:01:18) Daily Wellness Habits

(1:03:39) Rapid Fire!

(1:07:09) Find Kati Here

(1:07:39) ADHD, Stress, and Anxiety

If you’re tired of tying your worth to achievement, this episode is for you.

If you’ve ever felt like your worth depends on how well you perform… if you’ve ever wanted to quit when something got hard… or if you’ve ever thought, once I achieve this one thing, then I’ll finally feel good - this episode is for you.

Today, Molly Seidel is here for you. Molly is an Olympic bronze medalist, elite distance runner, and one of the most honest voices in sports when it comes to failure, pressure, discipline, self-worth, and mental health.

But this conversation is not just about running.

It’s about what happens when you lose, when you doubt yourself, when you tie your identity to achievement, and when you realize that success doesn’t automatically = happiness.

Molly opens up about the pressure of perfectionism, the mindset that helped her push through pain, what winning an Olympic medal actually felt like, and why she had to rebuild her life in a way that was additive instead of hollowing herself out just to achieve.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

- Keep going when you feel like quitting

- Build discipline without needing to be perfect

- Stop tying your self-worth to achievement

- Totally reframe failure

- Build your own Olympic winning mindset

- Win and be successful in a way that feels good

For anyone who feels tired of the pressure, stuck in perfectionism, or afraid they’re falling behind, this conversation will help you breathe, reset, and keep going.

After this conversation, you’ll never think about success, failure, or discipline the same way again.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠Follow Molly on Instagram⁠⁠

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with Olympic gold-medalist, Gwen Jorgensen. We know you'll love it: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen + watch now!⁠⁠

(00:00) Welcome, Molly

(01:52) What Molly's First Loss Felt Like

(03:09) Molly's Advice For Moving Through The Hard

(06:48) Discipline in Sport Translating To Discipline In Life

(10:14) Losing By ONE Spot

(14:12) You Know This Person

(14:54) The Power of People

(17:22) Hacks To Detach Your Self-Worth From Achievement

(21:04) Molly's Winning Mindset + Tools That You Can Use

(23:56) Pushing vs Resting - How To Find A Balance

(26:48) THIS Separates Top-Performers From Amateurs

(29:57) The Mental Health of Sports

(32:07) What You Need To Know About Post-Olympic Blues

(37:29) Eating Disorder Recovery IS NOT Linear!

(40:23) A Hack You Need To Try

(41:23) How Can I Accept Myself?

(43:44) Molly's Favourite Rest Activity

(45:26) Rapid Fire!

(49:54) Find Molly Here

(50:37) Gold Medalist On Pressure & Setbacks

This conversation changed how we view our body.

Truly, this might just be the MOST important fitness and body advice that you ever hear.

Today’s guest, Sadie Lincoln, is the co-founder and CEO of Barre3. She's also one of the boldest voices redefining what success, fitness, and belonging really mean.

But Sadie Lincoln didn’t build her company on six-packs or before-and-after photos. She built it after realizing that the fitness industry, and her own relationship with her body, was breaking her.

She’s here to tell you the truth most wellness programs won’t: chasing physical results won’t make you happy, and punishing your body in the name of “health” is a trap far too many of us fall into.

Today, Sadie’s going to walk you through the small shifts, in mindset, in movement, in how you talk to yourself, that lead to true, lasting wellness. The kind that actually feels good.

And unlike most advice out there, hers isn’t just inspirational — it’s been tested on thousands of clients, franchisees, and people rebuilding their relationship to their body from the inside out.

After listening, you'll know:

- Why achieving your “goal body” won’t fix how you feel inside, and what will

- How to know when to take a risk — and how Sadie knew selling her house for her business would pay off

- The top mindset shifts that build self-trust, calm, and confidence, even during chaos

- How to build fitness into your life (even when you “don’t have time”)

- Mindset hacks for reframing your body image.

- The simple way to spot whether a relationship is draining or energizing you

If you’re burned out from pushing, striving, or feeling like you’re never enough, this conversation will feel like a full-body exhale.

And if you’re ready to reconnect with your body and your purpose, this episode will show you exactly where to start.

Sadie’s story will shift how you move and live - from the inside out.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠Follow Sadie on Instagram⁠

⁠Check out Barre3 on Instagram

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with Peloton Instructor, Marcel Dinkins. In this episode, Marcel opens up about her journey from the army to Peloton, tips for embracing the journey, and hacks for self-growth: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen + watch now!⁠

(00:00) Welcome, Sadie Lincoln!

(02:02) An Unconventional Childhood

(04:07) How Did Sadie's Childhood Influence Her Business?

(05:51) Tips For Self-Acceptance

(10:18) Getting Into Fitness & Starting Barre3

(12:30) The Downturn of Sadie's Health & Happiness

(18:25) How Can I Heal My Relationship To Fitness & My Body?

(21:20) Here's Why You Need A Safe Space

(23:24) Who Comes To Your Mind?

(24:06) Risking It All For Barre3 & Advice For Taking Risks + Bold Moves

(28:43) Growing Barre3 While Prioritizing Core Values

(30:37) Why Are The People in My Life So Influential & Important?

(31:42) Hacks To Finding 'Your' People

(34:37) Do THIS When Seeking External Validation

(38:27) Knowing When To Stop vs Keep Pushing Yourself

(41:06) How Can I Find Supportive People?

(45:35) How Can I Find Time For Exercise?

(48:58) Sadie's First Step For Listening To Your Body

(51:41) What Are Sadie's Daily Wellness Habits?

(53:09) Go-To Weekday Meal Ideas!

(54:08) Sadie To Her Teenage Self

(55:22) What Brings Sadie A Small Bit of Happiness?

(55:31) Sadie's Motivational Quote

(56:03) Find Sadie Here

(56:52) Self-Growth Tips From A Peloton Instructor

A successful business and meaningful relationships. A stacked work schedule and time for self-care. Reaching all your goals and time with family. Can you have it all? Well, today, we're diving into the mind of a brilliant entrepreneur who shows us how.

Mercedes and Anastasia are joined by Alina Starr Morse, founder of Zolli Candy. Alina didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur - she was just seven years old when she asked a simple question that turned into a global business. Today, she leads a company sold in major retailers while navigating college, public pressure, and the realities of growing up running a company and being in the spotlight.

In this powerful and refreshingly honest conversation, we’re not just talking about entrepreneurship — we’re talking about courage, self-worth, rejection, and what it really takes to grow up while building something meaningful.

Alina opens up about rejection, bullying, imposter syndrome, and the sacrifices that come with chasing a dream — and she shares the mindset shifts that helped her stay grounded and keep going.

If you’ve ever doubted yourself, felt overwhelmed, or wondered whether you’re capable of more, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

After this episode, you’ll know:

– How to stop letting “no” define you.

– How to calm anxiety and perform under pressure when it matters most.

– The mindset shift that helps you move forward even when you feel afraid.

– How to balance ambition with real life.

– Real tips for building confidence.

– BTS of building Zolli Candy as a child, teen, and now, young adult.

Whether you’re raising a teen, stepping into something new, navigating self-doubt, or trying to build a life that feels meaningful, this episode offers practical tools that you can use right away.

If you put what Alina shares into practice, you’ll stop waiting for permission, stop letting fear make your decisions, and start trusting that you are capable of more than you think.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow Alina on Instagram

Check out Zolli Candy

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with young sister entrepreneurs, Sydney & Toni Loew. In this episode, Sydney and Toni share how anyone can start their own business, advice for taking bold risks, and how to release the fear of judgement: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen + watch now!⁠

(00:00) Welcome, Alina

(01:47) What Started Zolli Candy?

(04:02) Inside The Factory: Formulating A NEW Type of Candy

(07:57) The Role of Alina's Parents

(10:51) What Can I Do To Foster An Entrepreneurial Child? (advice from Alina's dad!)

(12:23) Did Alina Miss Out On Her Childhood?

(17:28) Building A Business While In Middle & High School

(22:37) Alina's Hardest Lesson

(25:24) Who Else Needs To Hear Alina's Story?

(25:47) Tips For Managing Nervousness

(30:49) Hacks For Staying Calm Under Immense Pressure

(33:32) On AI: Alina's Thoughts, Feelings, and How She Uses AI

(39:22) This Is How You Can Bet On Yourself

(41:47) Maintaining Self-Value Despite External Challenges

(45:10) Has Alina Experienced Imposter Syndrome?

(49:16) We Have A Gift For YOU!

(49:42) Entrepreneurial Thinking Applied To Daily Life

(53:08) Interested In Business? Start HERE

(55:21) Alina's Day-in-the-life

(59:07) Rapid Fire!

(1:05:49) Find Alina Here

(1:07:05) The Tale of Two Sister Entrepreneurs

You’re about to learn how to understand your brain, steady your emotions, and build habits that actually stick.

In this firecracker of an episode, we're not just diving into brain health - we're diving into hormones. Women's hormones. Teenage hormones. The hormones behind happiness, stress, and change.

Mercedes and Anastasia are joined by Dr. Sarah McKay. Dr. McKay isn’t just a neuroscientist trained at Oxford — she’s built a career translating brain science into real-life tools you can use at home, at school, at work, and inside your relationships.

So, prepare to dive deep into the often under-explored realm of women's health; we're getting into all the facts behind women's emotional stability and resilience, brain health, and even understanding why women struggle so much with body image.

After this episode, you’ll know:

– Why “it’s just hormones” is often an oversimplification (and what matters more).

– The impact of your environment and attention on your life and health.

– The most underrated brain-health “non-negotiable” hacks.

– Simple focus shifts that protect learning, memory, and calm.

– How habits actually form in the brain.

Whether you’re raising a teen, trying to stay steady in a chaotic season, or just want science-backed tools to feel more focused, resilient, and grounded, this conversation is for you.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop the Manta Sleep Mask⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit Dr. McKay's website

⁠Follow Dr. McKay on Instagram⁠

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with neuroscientist and memory expert, Dr. Charan Ranganath. In this episode, Dr. Ranganath explains why we are wired to FORGET, hacks for boosting memory, and how memory and happiness are connected: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen + watch now!⁠

(00:00) Welcome, Dr. Sarah McKay!

(00:52) Getting Into Neuroscience

(03:55) Changing Life Trajectories

(06:03) Teen Brain vs Young Adult Brain vs Adult Brain

(16:39) Most SURPRISING Changes in Female Brain!

(26:19) Why is This Conversation So Important?

(26:56) How Do Hormones Influence My Mood + Happiness?

(34:17) Body Image: Why We Struggle

(39:17) Thoughts On a Phone Ban

(43:35) Brain Toolkit: Must-Know Hacks To Optimize Your Brain

(53:27) We Need Better Sleep!

(53:52) How Can I Build Positive Habits?

(59:24) Do THIS For Better Brain Health

(1:00:15) Dr. McKay To Her Teenage Self

(1:05:37) What Brings Dr. McKay a Small Bit of Happiness?

(1:07:07) Dr. Mckay's Motivational Quote

(1:08:45) Find Dr. McKay Here

(1:09:59) Check THIS Out

Most people spend years trying to fit into systems that were never designed for how they think, create, or dream. The moment you step into an environment that values curiosity, courage, and creativity, everything changes.

Interlochen Center for the Arts isn’t just a school. It’s a launchpad. In 2026, it was ranked the #1 School for the Arts in America - and today, we're all getting to attend.

Mercedes and Anastasia sit with Trey Devey, the president, and Tristan Lysonge, a senior student actor. Together, they pull back the curtain on what it takes to grow in a high-pressure, high-performance environment, and how to stay grounded while doing it. This episode isn’t just about the arts. It’s about resilience, identity, pressure, belonging, and building a life with meaning.

After this episode, you’ll know:

– How to build resilience when you’re overwhelmed, homesick, or facing a major life transition.

– The mindset shift that turns passion into purpose.

– How to think on your feet and stay calm when the pressure is on.

– Hacks for managing nerves + handling criticism.

– What Interlochen is really teaching their world-changing students.

Whether you’re navigating a big transition, raising a teen, chasing a dream, or trying to figure out where you belong, this conversation is for you.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Shop the Manta Sleep Mask⁠⁠⁠

Visit the Interlochen website

Follow Tristan on Instagram

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with jazz singer, Stacey Kent. In this episode, Stacey shares her road to fame, advice for managing judgement, and hacks for pursuing your passion: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen + watch now!⁠

(00:00) Welcome, Trey and Tristan!

(01:42) Why is Interlochen Center for the Arts Unique?

(03:14) Interlochen's FORMULA For Creativity(05:36) How Can I Be More Creative?

(08:15) Tristan's Passion For Acting

(09:53) Moving Out For High School

(12:28) Hacks For Handling MAJOR Change

(13:52) Turning Passion & Potential Into Purpose

(17:11) Attend Interlochen For A Day - Here's What You'll Learn

(19:28) Regular School vs Interlochen Center for the Arts

(22:01) Pause For A Second!

(22:21) Tips For Avoiding Burnout (at any age)

(25:15) How Can Build Resilience & Empathy?

(28:00) Wifi + Internet On Creativity and Productivity

(30:03) Storytime: Rejection As A Young Actor

(33:13) 100 Year Anniversary: Important Changes Over the Last Century

(36:34) How Can I Pursue My Passion?

(38:39) On AI: How Trey Views Creativity & Careers Changing

(40:59) On AI: How Tristan Views His Future

(43:22) Looking At Tristan's Horizon

(44:14) Don't Miss Out On Your Best Sleep

(44:46) Rapid Fire!

(50:13) Find Interlochen & Tristan Here

(51:09) Your Next Stop

We’re hitting rewind on history and stepping into the ancient world.

Michael Scott is a professor of Classics at the University of Warwick, a bestselling author, and the historian behind hit documentary series like Invisible Cities.

Mercedes and Anastasia join Michael for a journey back in time to ancient Greece and Rome, uncovering the hidden layers beneath modern cities and the timeless questions that have shaped humanity for thousands of years. Along the way, Michael shares the ancient wisdom and practices that can boost our happiness - and modern habits that are preventing us from living our best lives.

This episode isn’t just about history- it’s about perspective. It’s time travel without a machine; learning from lives lived long before ours and realizing that feeling unsure about your next step is part of the human experience.

After this episode, you’ll know:

– Why the biggest myth about the past is that it’s “over.”

– How people 2,500 years ago dealt with uncertainty, purpose, and happiness.

– Were people in the past happier than us?

– Ancient life hacks that we can utilize today!

– A simple way to bring the joy of discovery into your everyday life.

Whether you’re questioning your future, feeling overwhelmed by decisions, or just curious about how people lived & thought before us, this episode will make you feel less alone in your questions and more excited about exploring what’s next.

Explore our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Shop the Manta Sleep Mask⁠⁠

Check out Michael's Website + buy his new book (US)!

Buy Michael's new book (UK)

Follow Michael on Instagram

Ready to Hack Your Happiness some more? Listen to our interview with creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and star of Somebody Feed Phil, Phil Rosenthal. In this episode, Phil shares his learnings from traveling the world, his favourite food, and hacks for being more spontaneous: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠listen + watch now!

(00:00) Welcome, Michael!

(01:36) Falling In Love With The Ancient World

(02:54) How Can I Become A Better Communicator?

(05:27) Why Should I Care About History? 

(09:40) Storytime! Visiting Ancient Roman Sites

(12:56) The Joy of Discovery

(15:34) Happiness From Ancient Civilizations

(18:17) How Can I Deal With Life's Challenges?

(21:19) Did People Used To Be Happier? 

(23:17) Pause This!

(23:49) Connection: Then vs Now

(27:25) Lessons From The Silk Road

(30:21) The Psychology Of The Ancient World  

(32:16) Similarities Between Today & The Ancient World 

(34:50) How Can I Make My Passion Into My Career?

(36:20) Did Ancient Civilizations Care About Passion?

(38:25) You Should Be Thankful For THIS!

(39:37) Want To Learn About History? Start Here

(41:53) Your Best Sleep Ever Awaits...

(42:25) Michael's Ultimate Bucket List

(43:59) The BIGGEST Historical Myth

(49:59) You Can Visit ONE Ancient Civilization

(50:23) Michael's Go-To Weeknight Dinner

(50:43) Michael To His Teenage Self

(51:26) What Brings Michael A Small Bit of Happiness?

(51:44) Michael's Motivational Quote

(52:24) Find Michael Here

(52:59) Your Next Stop