Harvesting Happiness

We all have the freedom to be happy or the liberty to be

miserable with every new day. Suffering and challenges are

occurrences we all experience. Some people prove to be resilient

during difficult times, like this pandemic, using their unique

perspectives to rise up and turn struggles into opportunities.

Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with

ever-ebullient Scott Hamilton and resilient Sebastian Matthews

about they are the embodiment of a phoenix rising. Award-

winning Figure Skater, Scott Hamilton describes why he created

the Live Your Days Campaign and how he hopes the program will

encourage resilience and strengthen emotional fitness in the

world. And Writer, Sebastian Matthews details the life-altering

accident that led him to author two books about the importance

of examining our values

The search for the meaning of life has seemingly eluded humans since our existence began. In most cases, the best we can hope for is to live a life filled with purpose and joy. But, what if it was possible to give our lives meaning by making decisions that lead us toward our life’s purpose? What if the energy our brains emit through waves could determine what intrinsic abilities we could nurture to lead us to contentment and better health? To understand more about how certain practices can put us in control of our destiny, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors who are practiced in manipulating the human mind. The author of more than 50 books, Eric Maisel describes the framework and the benefits of adopting a daily practice of doing or not doing something every day related to a person’s life purpose. And, R. Douglas Fields discusses the unique opportunity of researching and reading brain waves. He offers mind-expanding insights into the contents of his book, Electric Brain.

Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, “Life is what you make it.” And while it is true, we have little control over what happens outside of ourselves, we have total control over the experience we have on the inside. We all make mistakes but there is no need to judge ourselves for them. When we give ourselves permission to let things go we regain our power and become better aligned with the rhythm and flow of life. During the global pandemic, many people are feeling a sense of loss. To uncover strategies for creating opportunities from the uncertainty, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors who flirt with profanity to help people shift their outlook on life. Jodie Eckleberry-Hunt is a Clinical Psychologist who researches and writes about how targeted profanity provides emotional catharsis. Gary John Bishop is a personal development sage who takes a practical approach to the game of life.

One truth of the pandemic is that the entire world is going through this together. This distinctive time offers our species a unique opportunity for growth and transformation but only if we can transcend the fear and work together in unity. Mother Earth is flexing her lungs again and recalibrating as the ‘Great Pause’ lengthens. If we collectively invest in the present, this strange period just might be remembered as the ‘Great Reset’. To find out what individuals can do to reignite the economy and leave a better planet for those who will inherit the earth, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Author, John Perkins, about his thought-provoking book about confronting fear, Touching the Jaguar. And, Financial Analyst, Manny Weintraub about how using mindful practices can lead to better investment decisions.

The current 24-hour ‘news’ cycle was created to sell products and push agendas. It does not matter which media outlet you subscribe to, they all have a message to send with hopes of manipulating the mind. And, with the discouragement of critical thinking, deciphering fake news from real news becomes harder and harder with every headline we read. For tips on how to delve deeper to find the truth in the news stories we ingest, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors who dissect the way news, past and current, is presented. Nolan Higdon shares tips for identifying fake news and discusses key elements from his current book, The Anatomy of Fake News: A Critical News Literacy Education. John O’Connor details best practices for reconciliation in a hostile political climate and shares information about his book, Postgate: How the Washington Post Betrayed Deep Throat, Covered Up Watergate, and Began Today’s Partisan Advocacy Journalism.

Our modern society throws many expectations at us that we can

never catch. We have moved so far from the ancient knowings of

our ancestors that we have difficulty accepting who we

authentically are and looking outside of ourselves for validation or

to feed our egos is futile. With all the noise and distractions

surrounding us today, how do we attain a greater quality of life?

To gain a greater understanding of the actions we can take to

better identify with our true nature and to learn to focus on what

is in our control, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers

Kamen speaks with two enlightened authors about bringing calm

into the things we can control. Panache Desai discusses

revelations and commitments from his book, You Are Enough:

Revealing the Soul to Discover Your Power, Potential, and

Possibility. And, Kanwer Singh aka Humble The Poet describes

how his journey from elementary school teacher to entertainer

and author was filled with learnings and reads gems from his

newest book, Things No One Else Can Teach Us.

The average American’s diet includes highly-caloric foods that

start with a base of white flour or sugar. This dangerous

combination is a nightmare for the body’s natural defenses and

immune system. It is the primary cause of chronic disease and

ailments. Pharmaceuticals are often used to treat the symptoms

of an illness but rarely get to the root cause, which is improper

nutrition from consuming highly-processed food products. To

discover how we can enhance our physical and emotional health

and well-being through the food we put into our bodies, Positive

Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two

authors who whole-heartedly believe in consuming a holistically

plant-based diet for better health. Dr. Joel Fuhrman shares key

takeaways from his book,

Eat for Life: The Breakthrough Nutrient-

Rich Program for Longevity, Disease Reversal, and Sustained

Weight Loss,

and important statistics from his work in nutritional

science that proves the connection between proper nutrition and

living a disease-free life. Andrea Hanneman, aka Earthy Andy,

describes her health journey from chronically ill to perfectly

healthy. Recipes from her entirely plant-based adopted diet are

featured in her book,

Plant Over Process: 75 Delicious and Simple

Plant-Based Recipes for Nourishing Your Body and Eating from the

Earth.

It may seem frivolous to discuss finances during the ‘Great Pause’ the human race

is experiencing now due to the COVID-19 pandemic but what if this downtime is a

glimpse into our retirement years? What other opportunity will we have to create

our own schedules and follow our body’s circadian rhythm with no fear of missing

out? Now seems to be the perfect time for us, women in particular, to redefine

what wealth means and evaluate whether meaning and purpose have more value

than material gains. Are we able to adopt a mindset that goes far beyond feeling

financially secure? To investigate the ways we can prepare ourselves the future

we want, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the

Financial Editor of NBC’s Today show, Jean Chatsky about her new financial

guide, Women with Money, the HerMoney podcast, and simple ways women can

clean up their money life. And, the author of Retirement by Design, Ida Abbott who

shares how design thinking principles can play a role in creating a retirement life

that brings purpose and meaning to the golden years.

Challenges are a fact of life and some of us face the same challenges time and time again. And even though we may not recognize it, many of our deep-seated patterns have their origins in our early childhoods. Becoming cognizant of our patterns is the first step in overcoming the fear and shame that resides at the base of our unconscious actions. It is only after we recognize our fears for what they are that we can lift the veil that created our blind spots and move forward toward courage. To better understand the processes and strategies that breakthrough destructive cycles, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Ken Foster, an author and expert in business development and marketing about how to take the necessary steps to embody courage and transform your vision into reality. And, Dr. Seth Kadish and Teri Jensen MFT, the duo behind the Pop Your Pattern Youtube channel, speak about the process of becoming aware of the patterns that perpetuate recurring challenges in our lives.

It may seem improbable for us to change the world but, if we can do the inner work and bring peace to ourselves we individually add to the collective good. To find inner peace we must manage our negative thoughts and quiet our overstimulated minds. While it may be easier said than done, researchers are working to create mindfulness techniques that soothe and tame our monkey brain. To find out what alternative therapies exist to treat depression and ease suffering, Positive Psychology Podcast Host, Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two authors who promote being in the present moment and practicing mindfulness to heal the mind. Dr. Stuart Eisendrath developed an alternative method to mindfully manage depression and Mark Coleman is a meditation teacher who founded the Mindfulness Institute where he guides students through mindfulness and meditation practices.