Harvesting Happiness

There are approximately 6,500 languages spoken in the world. In each of those, there are multiple dialects, meanings, and expressions. While some Cincinnatians may say ‘Jeezle Petes’ when they are confused by someone’s behavior. Our friends across the pond say ‘for Pete’s sake’ with a similar connotation, even though both groups are both speaking English. Consider some of your favorite words and expressions. Where do they originate? Did your grandparents create it out of thin air or is it a turn of phrase rooted deep into linguistic history? To investigate all the joy this human communication tool can offer, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two wordsmiths about the origin story of age-old expressions and how language is ever-evolving. Martha Barnette is the host of A Way with Words, a radio show that investigates the connection between dialects and linguistic diversity in languages as well as the origin of widely-used phrases. Beth Kobliner recounts her parents' journey of collecting 11,000 different language expressions which they compiled in their book, So to Speak: 11,000 Expressions That'll Knock Your Socks Off. Beth also engages Lisa with some fun word and expression games.

The widely-used adage ‘you can’t pick your family’ generally translates in to making the best of what you have when you have no choice in the matter. People rarely have the option to choose who provides their mental and physical nourishment, especially children. How we handle relationships with relatives once we reach adulthood is up to us. But, if we have been subject to years of gaslighting or mental manipulation, it can be difficult to discern between what we believe is good for us and what we truly need to thrive. To dissect the cycle of both gaslighting and estrangement, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a therapist and a researcher about the complex relationships we engage in and disconnect from. Doctor of Psychology, Deborah Vinall offers an in-depth look at gaslighting, describes the key takeaways from her book, Gaslighting: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide to Heal from Emotional Abuse and Build Healthy Relationships, and shares the steps people can take to set self-honoring boundaries when confronting a gaslighter. Kristina Sharp, Director of the Family Communication and Relationships Lab, at the University of Washington and Michigan State, describes her role as a researcher who studies estrangement from first-hand accounts of those who have severed ties with families and the misguided perception of what a family is as portrayed by American media.

What do you think about when you pass a homeless encampment or homeless shelter? Do you assume most of the people living there have substance abuse or mental health issues? It is a common myth. The truth is the age at which people are most likely to find themselves in a homeless shelter in the US is in infancy. To shine a light on important initiatives and programs currently available to reduce homelessness in the US and how we all can make a positive impact, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two educators about solutions proven to work to alleviate homelessness. Coauthor of In the Midst of Plenty: Homelessness and What to Do About It, Marybeth Shinn dispels common myths about homelessness and shares how we all can be part of the solution. Associate Director of Rural Studio at Auburn University, Rusty Smith, describes how reducing homelessness strengthens communities, especially in persistently impoverished communities and the innovative approaches of Rural Studio and Front Porch Initiative.

Being sleep-deprived leaves us vulnerable to sickness and

disease, both physical and mental. Plus, during the pandemic

protecting our immune system is of the utmost importance as it is

the surest way to stave off a sometimes deadly, long-haul virus.

Most of us know the benefits of getting more and better sleep but

few of us know how we can achieve it. To uncover the key

components of how to sleep more solidly and become more

rested, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen

speaks with two sleep experts about the main factors that prohibit

us from sleeping and how we can increase well-being through

better sleep. The host of the Talking Sleep podcast, Dr. Seema

Kholsa describes the effects of COVID on sleep patterns and sleep

apnea and ways to fall asleep more quickly. And, author of The

Natural Sleeper: A Bedside Guide to Complementary and

Alternative Solutions to Better Sleep, Julie Wright, describes which

natural substances aid the body when falling asleep and

alternative therapies that promote sleeping more soundly.

When we are children, unbeknownst to us, neural pathways are

being wired together in our brains. This neural-biological wiring

colors all our future decisions, how we deal with stress and

trauma, and our level of contentment. If we experienced trauma

as children, shifting how we interact with the world is not always

easy. To discover strategies and concepts that help us heal,

Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with

two authors who have their own personal, transformational

journeys. Dr. Elizabeth Stanley studies the neural biological wiring

in our brain as it relates to stress and trauma. She shares

concepts and strategies from her book, Widen the Window. And,

Blake D. Bauer found his way out of addiction through meditation

and mindfulness which he describes in his book, You Were Not

Born to Suffer.

For most people, finding happiness and meaning isn’t the first

thing that comes to mind when they think of work. But what if it

was? What if individuals funneled their creativity and a little of

their personal magic into designing a new work-life that was

meaningful and fulfilling? To extract advice about designing a life

of meaningful work, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers

Kamen speaks with two authors who have channeled their

creativity into new careers and serve others through their books.

Dr. Katharine Brooks revamped the famous career guide, What

Color is Your Parachute? for 2021 and wrote two additional books

during the pandemic. And, Forensic Psychiatrist, Dr. Amber Fossey

found herself with a substantial Instagram and Etsy following

when she tapped into her creative inner child. Her sense of

childlike wonder is accompanied by her poetry and illustrations in

the book, Be Wild Be Free.

According to Pew Research, about one-quarter of Americans identify as spiritual, but not religious. It is becoming apparent that communicating with the divine need not be done in a church or a place that identifies with one religion, as many have done in the past. As universal consciousness awakens, how will our relationship with God transform? Will we be able to embrace stillness and quiet moments to allow God, the Divine, Source, or the Universe to speak to us in a way that lights the way toward compassion and love? To seek out guidance on how we can redefine our spiritual practice, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two theologists who have contemplated ethics, evolution, and the divine. Rabbi Wayne Dosick is the host of Spirit Talk Live!, a visiting professor at the University of San Diego, and the author of many books including Radical Loving: One God, One World, and One People, which he discusses during the conversation. Jan Phillips is a speaker and award-winning author. She was excommunicated from the catholic church for her lifestyle choices. Jan recounts her life experiences as a former nun, an activist, a spiritual guide, and a writing coach in her memoir, Still on Fire: Field Notes from a Queer Mystic. She shares stories from the book and the spiritual journey of following her truth.

Navigating the bureaucracy of the US healthcare system for

patients and their families can be a trauma over and above the

adverse medical event. Over 100,000 Americans are waiting for

an organ transplant and many of them may not have enough

insurance coverage to cover the cost of the operation and the

required post-op pharmaceuticals during recovery. To determine

what can be done to repair our failing healthcare system and

what it will take to have a nation of healthy people, Positive

Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two

medical doctors who wrote books about their respective fields of

care. Dr. Deane Waldman is on a mission to cure the US

healthcare system. He describes how the system is ill and the key

takeaways from his book, Curing the Cancer in U. S. Healthcare:

StatesCare and Market-Based Medicine. Dr. David Weill details the

stories of the organ transplant process in his book, Exhale: Hope,

Healing, and a Life in Transplant. He shares information about the

donors, the recipients, and the vast network of people involved in

the logistics of organ transplantation.

‘Tis the season for spending most of the next few months indoors. Many of us will be breathing recycled air while we do our best to avoid COVID, prevent colds, and the flu. But, with the holidays approaching people will be out en masse. So, what can we do to decrease our chance of infection and keep ourselves and the people we care about healthy? To discover a remedy for a possible health crisis, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen asks doctors who promote preventative medicine to their patients. Dr. Aaron Hartman, founder of the Virginia Research Center and is board certified in Integrative and Functional Medicine, shares a plethora of foundational lifestyle basics and supplements to boost the immune system when it is needed the most. And, Dr. Neil Schacther, author of The Doctor’s Guide to Colds and Flu: How to Prevent Strep Throat, Pneumonia, and COVID at Any Age offers tips and tricks that help keep bodily systems running smoothly and help stave off infection.

Parenting in the digital age is a journey none of our ancestors had

to traverse. And, until now, there were very few guidebooks for

parents who are negotiating this new territory. Questions such as

— How involved should parents be in their young adults’ digital

life? Can a child’s developmental journey be disrupted by excess

social media usage? Or, Do well-known parenting rules of the

past, such as modeling the behavior you want your child to

exhibit, apply to technology? were only recently studied. To reveal

the data, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen

asks two educators to discuss their parental guidebooks and

provide their expert insights on this newly charted subject matter.

Award-winning author, Dr. Alex Packer describes the key

takeaways from his newest book, Slaying Digital Dragons: Tips

and tools for protecting your body, brain, psyche, and thumbs

from the digital dark side. And, therapist Neil Brown LCSW shares

actionable strategies from his work Ending the Parent-Teen

Control Battle: Resolve the Power Struggle and Build Trust,

Responsibility, and Respect