Harvesting Happiness

Fear and doubt serve as powerful tools in the political landscape, and disinformation is used by politicians to manipulate public perception and sow confusion. By labeling legitimate investigations or criticisms as witch hunts, these leaders attempt to delegitimize the concerns raised against them. This tactic not only deflects attention from the actual issues at hand but also erodes trust in the democratic process. Using common sense when evaluating information can help counteract these manipulative strategies.

To discover how we can inoculate ourselves against fear and cultural viruses, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a lecturer of cultural history at the Department of History and Art History at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, Steije Hofhuis PhD.

Steije shares historical information about how witch hunts spread and how ideas about witchcraft adapted in new ways that stimulated more witch prosecutions. His research shows that cultural viruses, or mindbugs, adapted and evolved in a Darwinian manner throughout certain geographical areas and periods.

Maintaining a philosophical approach rooted in critical thinking can help us make sense of the barrage of information we experience during election cycles. Our natural anxieties are often preyed upon by masters of persuasion. We must enlist our powers of discernment to protect our mental health during this important election season.

Large media outlets often highlight the extreme sides of our nation, amplifying polarized perspectives that distort the bigger picture. This coverage can create a sense of isolation, especially when reality doesn't align with our expectations. It is only when we perform our civic duty and get involved in our local communities that we feel a sense of control over our lives and the personal pursuit of happiness.

To discover how we can better fulfill our civic duty, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks to the President of the National Civic League, Doug Linkhart.

Doug describes how decisions made at the local level of government are foundational for the pursuit of happiness in America. And how citizens who express their needs are at the intersection of personal civic duty and government effectiveness.

This episode is a special edition of the Good Citizens Election Season Survival Guide which is designed to help restore common sense and sanity in a crazy world… Remember, civic duty plays a role here.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

BIOptimizers — Offers health and fitness supplements for optimal well-being and performance. Visit bioptimizers.com/happiness and use code HAPPINESS to get 10% off at checkout.

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WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

When we experience fear, we often instinctively push things away, which only amplifies that fear and tests our resilience. However, by embracing awareness and leaning into our relationships, we create a pathway for personal growth. By staying fully present and avoiding the urge to build emotional walls, we enhance our well-being and lay the foundation for spreading love and positivity in the world, thereby strengthening our resilience.

Desire and intimacy are words often associated with the pleasures of the physical body, but human desire is the foundation of our deepest motivations, driving our pursuit of connection, purpose, and personal fulfillment. Therefore, we must question the societal forces that shame us for our desires, compelling us to suppress or deny them rather than embrace their role in our growth and well-being.

To discover the secret of mastering pleasure through desire and sexual sovereignty, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with an expert on women's sensuality and transpersonal psychology, Dr. Saida Désilets.

In her book Desire, Saida explores how individuals can cultivate their well-being and fulfillment, shedding light on the essence of intimacy and its influence on our lives. She emphasizes that when women embrace and marinate in their own essence, they enhance their ability to experience pleasure and build deeper intimacy in their relationships..

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Beducated — Offers online shame-free, pleasure-based sex education for everyone. Spice up your sex life today and get 50% off the yearly pass. Visit beducate.me/summer50 and use code HAPPINESS.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

The learning mechanism in the human brain is not yet equipped to deal with information meant to deceive or manipulate. Armed with a computational approach to civilization but lacking the ability to discern fact from fiction, we find ourselves at the precipice of a new digital world for which we may not be prepared.

To reveal how human cognition processes information, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the T. Jefferson Coolidge Professor of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, Dr. Leslie Valiant.

Leslie discusses a human’s predisposition to accept the information we ingest as truth and explains the central tenet of his newest book, The Importance of Being Educable: A New Theory of Human Uniqueness.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Ouai — Offers beauty-boosting head-to-toe self-care rituals. Visit theouai.com and use code HH to get 15% off of your entire purchase.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.