In this enlightening episode, Danielle Craig sits down with Pema Sherpa and Brendan Barca—partners in life and practice—who are bringing ancient Buddhist teachings into modern workplaces. As the co-founders of Brema Solutions and authors of the the new book The Daily Buddhist, Pema and Brendan are passionate about sharing Buddhist wisdom, mindfulness, and meditation with people across the globe.

Pema was born and raised in Nepal and has practiced Tibetan Buddhism since childhood. She holds a master's degree in Buddhist philosophy from Harvard Divinity School. Brendan came to Buddhism in his twenties after struggling with burnout, and has since devoted his life to studying and living these teachings. 

In this episode, we explore:

• How you don't have to be Buddhist to benefit from the philosophy

• The transformative power of understanding impermanence

• How generosity and compassion can reshape your life

• The importance of seeing our shared humanity

• What it really means to seek enlightenment in a modern context

• How Buddhist teachings can help us navigate stress, loss, and change with clarity and grace

CONNECT WITH PEMA AND BRENDAN 

Buy the Book* Or get it on Kindle*

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*Amazon affiliate links support my work. Thank you.

What happens when your identity is built on your voice—and then you lose it? In this powerful episode, we’re joined by Greta Morgan, a celebrated songwriter, storyteller, and multi-instrumentalist known for performing with Springtime Carnivore, Gold Motel, and The Hush Sound, and performing with artists like Vampire Weekend and Jenny Lewis.

She is the author of the new book, The Lost Voice.

Greta opens up about the disorienting experience of losing her identity as a singer due to long Covid, and how that loss became an unexpected invitation to redefine who she is.

We talk about:

• What it felt like to lose her voice.
• How she navigated suicidal thoughts.
• How she was able to move forward after the devastating diagnosis.
• The healing work that helped her become whole again and redefine her identity.

This conversation is a moving exploration of redefining identity, creativity as a path to healing, and finding meaning in life after everything changes.

Greta shares what she’s gained—spiritually, emotionally, and creatively—through surrendering the career that once defined her.

CONNECT WITH GRETA:

Buy The Lost Voice

or buy it for your Kindle

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CONNECT WITH DANIELLE

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Do you feel like you're constantly living in survival mode, battling an inner critic that just won’t quit?

In this episode of Happiness in Progress, we’re joined by Britt Frank, LSCSW, a clinician, speaker, trauma specialist, and the author of The Science of Stuck and her new book Align Your Mind. With her work featured by NPR, Forbes, Esquire, New York Magazine, and The New York Times, Britt brings clarity to the chaos of mental health.

Tune in to learn:

• How to work with your brain instead of against it

• What parts work is and how it can lead to healing

• Practical strategies to become aligned with your authentic self

• How to transform your inner critic into a supportive coach

• Why the words you use matter—and how to stop labeling everything as anxiety

This episode is packed with insights to help you get unstuck, overcome self-sabotage, and find true emotional freedom.

CONNECT WITH BRITT

Buy Align Your Mind Get Align Your Mind on Kindle

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CONNECT WITH DANIELLE

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"Although we may not remember what happned, the nervous system remembers how it felt." - Britt Piper

Brittany Piper is an internationally renowned speaker, author, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, author of Body-First Healing: A Revolutionary Guide to Nervous System Recovery and expert in sexual violence prevention and trauma-informed care. 

Over the past 13 years, she has delivered more than 400 programs across three continents. Her work has been recognized by the U.S. Army, the Department of Justice, the Laura Bush Institute for Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Elite Daily, and others. As a rape survivor and leading advocate on sexual violence prevention, Brittany speaks to tens of thousands each year. She is also a forensic neurobiology expert, conducting trauma-informed trainings with the U.S. Army and Sex Crimes Detectives.

Creator of @healwithbritt and founder of the internationally acclaimed Body-First Healing Program, Brittany continues to inspire and lead in the field of trauma recovery.

In this conversation we talk about the basics; what is somatic experiencing and what is trauma. We also talk about: - How to learn to live with trauma. - How our nervous sytems become unregulated and what to do moving forward. - An easy practice to begin healing.

CONNECT WITH BRITT:

Buy Body-First Healing

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CONNECT WITH DANIELLE:

Buy the HIP Habits Workbook

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Rickson Gracie is the New York Times bestselling author of Breathe. A member of the most prominent martial arts family, he entered his first Jiu Jitsu competition at the age of six. By the age of fifteen he was teaching his family’s martial art. Now, after almost two decades of fighting, Gracie is facing a new challenge, a Parkinson's diagnosis.

Today, he teaches seminars around the world and his students come from all walks of life: men, women, children, senior citizens, law enforcement officers, military personnel, veterans suffering from PTSD, and martial artists of all styles.

In this conversation, we will talk about his new book, Comfort in Darkness. That means this conversation includes:

- What invisible Jiu Jitsu is. - How you can get a strong psychological base and how it will help you through life. - How to conquer fear. - What getting a Parkinson's diagnosis felt like, especially given Rickson's physical career and passion. - How to find passion through life.

You'll also hear how he defines his passion today and it's nothing short of extraordinary.

CONNECT WITH RICKSON

Buy the book

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Connect with Danielle:

Buy the HIP Habits Workbook​

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Mory is a sought-after Intuitive Life & Leadership coach and the Founder of Eight22 Group, a consultancy that helps organizations elevate their consciousness. After a notable career as a crisis manager for Fortune 500 companies, Mory realized many leaders fail because they are disconnected from their intuition and purpose.

As an Intuitive Coach, Mory guides C-suite leaders, performers and other public personalities, to reconnect with their inner wisdom to successfully navigate change, challenges and growth. Her work is essential today to help move our society away from divisiveness and toward empathy, empowerment and unity.

Her first book is Higher Self: Reclaiming the Power of your Intuition.

In Mory's second visit on the Happiness in Progress podcast, we talk about how to reconnect with your higher self. 

Plus:

• How to differentiate between anxiety and your intuition.
• How to recognize our higher self.
• What happens when we cling to control and how to loosen the grip. 
• And so much more!

Show resources:

Mory's meditations

Happiness in Progress #164 Finding Your Passion and Purpose feat. Mory Fontanez

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Connect with Danielle:

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In this episode, we dive deep into the powerful connection between our emotions and the stories we tell ourselves.

When intense emotions arise—whether it's fear, self-doubt, or shame—they often come with narratives that shape how we see ourselves and our world. But here's where the power comes in - realizing those stories aren't true.

In this episode, Danielle Craig shares two powerful shifts you can take when you begin to tell yourself a negative story. She talks us through how to stay present and stick to the facts.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of self-criticism or overwhelmed by the weight of your own thoughts, this episode is for you. Tune in to discover how to take control of your inner dialogue and create a story that supports the life you truly want.

Connect with Danielle

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In this episode, Danielle sits down with Stephanie Barron Hall - an Enneagram expert and author of the new book, Enneagram in Real Life.

Danielle and Stephanie talk about how the powerful tool of the Enneagram has the potential to transform our relationships and communication.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the Enneagram is.
• A breakdown of all nine Enneagram types, focusing on their motivations, fears, and growth areas. Stephanie describes these by motivations, rather than behaviors.
• How understanding your own and others’ Enneagram types can improve communication, resolve conflicts, and deepen connections.
• Why curiosity is key to preventing miscommunication and fostering better relationships.
• Real-life applications of the Enneagram, from professional settings to personal relationships.

Stephanie shares her insights from interviewing individuals across different Enneagram types and provides practical tips for leveraging this tool for self-discovery and meaningful connection.

Connect with Stephanie

Get Enneagram in Real Life

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Find your type tool

Connect with Danielle

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Jennifer Jiménez is Founder of the Health & Well-Being Division at Brave Thinking Institute, as well as a highly sought-after speaker, consultant, trainer and coach.

Through her transformational retreats, workshops and cutting-edge Vibrant Healthy Woman Program, Jennifer has coached thousands worldwide to become more confident, healthy, joyful, abundant and full of life, so that they feel fully empowered to make the difference they are here to make in the world.

She's also the creator of the highly acclaimed transformative movement modality TranscenDance™️, helping people of all ages and backgrounds world-wide, move stuck energy, dance their dreams into reality, and truly thrive with joy and vitality in their body temple!

In this conversation, you'll hear about: 

• The power of vision over resolution

• How to craft a vision for your life

• Overcoming burnout and misalignment

• And how to keep a corner of your mind open for the possibility of your dreams coming true!

Mentioned in this Episode

Transcendance freebie Use code: freeclass Connect with Jennifer

Brave Thinking Institute

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This week on Happiness in Progress, I had the privilege of sitting down with Jordan Pickell to dive into a topic that resonates deeply during the holiday season—boundaries. Jordan is a trauma and relationship therapist. She helps people use self-exploration and boundaries to disrupt generaitonal patterns. She also hosts a holiday boundaries workshop, which you can access here.

• Why family gatherings can feel so triggering: From reverting to old roles to managing relational power dynamics.
• Preparation before stepping into challenging environments: Tools for grounding yourself, setting intentions, and pre-emptively managing boundaries.
• Effective communication strategies: From handling uncomfortable questions to addressing triggering behaviors with grace and assertiveness.
• Redefining traditions: Breaking free from guilt-driven participation and creating new rituals that resonate with you and your family.
• The importance of self-worth and boundaries: Why prioritizing your needs is not only okay but necessary for your well-being.
• Handling the aftermath of setting boundaries: Managing others’ emotions without taking responsibility for their feelings.
• Finding humor and compassion: Viewing family dynamics through a lens of grace and lightheartedness.

Jordan also shared about her Holiday Boundaries Workshop, a valuable resource for anyone wanting to feel more empowered this season.

This conversation is filled with practical tools, empathetic insights, and relatable anecdotes that will leave you feeling both seen and equipped for the holidays. To hear all the gems Jordan shared, be sure to tune in to the full episode of Happiness in Progress.

Mentioned in this episode Holiday Boundaries Workshop

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