Happy You Asked: The Podcast That Explores Happiness One Awkward Conversation at a Time

Dr. Lynnette Gilbert, an associate professor of art, joins me in this episode to talk about the importance of family in shaping our lives and how the practice of finding just five things can help get us through difficult times.

In this episode, Dr. Christina Hinton, who leads research on education and parenting at Harvard University's Human Flourishing Program, joins me by phone. Christina is one of the leading world experts on flourishing and happiness. She shares with us her research on the key components children need to grow into happy adults and how we can craft a life that helps us flourish.

Dr. Catherine Pierce, former poet laureate of Mississippi, joins me in this episode to explore the connection between daily time spent in nature and our capacity for joy, wonder, and creativity.

In this episode I am joined by the Episcopal Bishop of Idaho, Fr. Jos Tharakan. We talk about who or what God is, whether the Christian church is dying, if hell exists, reincarnation, and if Mother Theresa was happy. Honestly, this conversation may have changed my life. 

This episode features Dr. Wayne Powell, President Emeritus of Lenoir-Rhyne University. We chat about what led him to serve in several interim positions after retirement and discuss how both good leadership and happiness arise from helping others. 

I am joined in this episode by Cora Wilson, two-time women's amateur IKF bantamweight world champion and co-owner of Força Martial Arts & Fitness in Russellville, Arkansas, to discuss the relationship between violence and happiness. Can knowing how to protect ourselves and our communities allow for greater peace? Can fighting not be about violence at all, but about art? It’s fascinating stuff.

Dr. Constance Bailey, a professor of African American Literature and Folklore, joins me on this episode to talk about Black humor, the multidimensional lives of academics, and why we need to aggressively pursue the things that bring us joy. 

Dr. Rob Stevens, a professor of rehabilitation science, joins me to talk about his work training students for careers that help disabled people live independent, happy lives. Find your joy, friends.

In this episode, I chat with yoga therapist Kelly Gardner about the mind-body connection when it comes to experiencing emotions, and the key practices one should do to help bring the mind and body closer together. 

In this episode, I am joined by Mary Grimm, author of three books of fiction, to talk about how the process of writing can become a practice to cultivate happiness. It's all about the journey and not the destination.