Harvesting Happiness

Cultivating happiness requires an active investment, yet some believe true personal growth only follows a "dark night of the soul." By navigating the tension between nihilism and existentialism, we transform an existential crisis into a search for fulfillment. Is discovering the meaning of life an individual pursuit, or is metaphysical life devoid of a moral truth?

For a thoughtful exploration of meaning, happiness, and the human search for fulfillment, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with public policy professor, author, and thought leader in the science of wellbeing, Dr. Mark Fabian.

Mark describes the existence of nihilism and existentialism within the social and political spectrum as well as the key differences in how they translate into happiness and personal growth. He highlights the beneficial effects of being of use in one’s community.

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When we agree to practice joy through community, connection, and belonging in its own powerful way, it is an act of defiance to what's going on around us. We must ask ourselves, particularly in these difficult times, what we are fighting for? We fight for a meaningful world that yields joy. This commitment to fostering shared happiness becomes the ultimate evidence of resilience and a deeply healing public force.

To discover how to find joy and hopefulness in difficult times, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with Roger Berkowitz, Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College and coordinator of the upcoming JOY: Loving the World in Dark Times conference..

Roger shares his intentions for the JOY: Loving the World in Dark Times conference, which are rooted in Hannah Arendt's philosophy that freedom is not a private endeavor but is best found in the public sphere.

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Current research indicates that despite unprecedented levels of global connectivity, societies are experiencing an unparalleled state of metaphysical loneliness. This condition is a potent catalyst for political instability, making populations vulnerable to authoritarian and separatist movements. Political theorists explore the implications for democratic governance and social cohesion through Hannah Arendt’s freedom theory.

To discover how to recover joy in a loving world, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Roger Berkowitz, Founder and Academic Director of the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College.

Roger shares what led him to Bard College and Hannah Arendt. And how one of the most read political thinkers of the twentieth century might interpret freedom in today’s political landscape. His forthcoming book, A World We Share: The Power of Friendship in a Time Without Truth, is scheduled for release in 2026.

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Connection to others is our emotional lifeblood. The quality of our earliest connection determines how safe we feel in our bodies and how safe and secure we feel in the world. Healing emotional baggage is a crucial first step in fostering a secure attachment and achieving relationship healing, but we can not do it alone. It is only in relationship that we can heal relationship trauma. How do we hold compassionate space for people when we are also suffering?

To explore how to heal imposed emotional baggage, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with therapist and author Jessica Baum, LMHC.

Jessica offers a step-by-step scientific approach to healing emotional baggage and describes how we develop adaptive strategies to maintain connection and protectors to guard from what is out of our control.

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To explore the exercise of finding calm without religion, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with bestselling author and award-winning professor, Dr. Diane Dreher.

Diane presents statistics detailing the overwhelming anxiety of modern life, then reveals the accessible, ancient methods for comfort and renewal found within her book, Pathways to Inner Peace: Finding Connection, Inspiration, and Renewal in Challenging Times.

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Aura Frames — Offers the world's smartest digital picture frame. An easy and beautiful solution to instantly frame photos from your smartphone. Visit http://auraframes.com/ and use promo code HHTR at checkout to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames.

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Achievable contentment isn't found by relentlessly chasing some massive, shimmering happiness jackpot; it's a series of practical keys you turn every day. A proven factor in unlocking a satisfying life is to prioritize experiences that warm the soul and provide comfort, whether it’s savoring small positive moments or a rich life encounter, which beautifully illustrates that true wealth is found in connection and meaning, rather than buying a better widget.

To explore the happiness factor, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a former Facebook executive turned comedian and podcast host, Paul Ollinger.

Paul shares thought-provoking excerpts from the interviews that fueled his book, Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work and Other Things that Piss Me Off.

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Cozy Earth — Offers luxury loungewear, premium pajamas, and essential home goods. Visit http://cozyearth.com// and use promo code HHTR to get up to 40% off your order.

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Feeling alone in a crowded room is a hallmark of today's loneliness epidemic, proving that company alone isn't the answer. Healing loneliness starts by looking inward rather than outward. By cultivating self-love, you nurture the most important relationship of all—the one with yourself—which naturally leads to genuine contentment and stronger bonds with the people around you.

To explore the deep-rooted aspects of the loneliness epidemic, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with bestselling author, relationship expert, and co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding® self-healing process, Dr. Margaret Paul.

Margaret discusses how her 6-step Inner Bonding process leads to healing the soul and creates deeper bonds with ourselves and within our closest relationships.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Signos — Offers the world’s first FDA-cleared AI-driven app and CGM for weight management and wellness that turns data into lasting habits for better health. Visit https://signos.com/ and use promo code HHTR to get $10 off select plans.

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Big Tech, predominantly designed by those from Western cultures, embeds specific cultural norms into global systems, leading to culture shock for users across the world. This lack of diversity among developers results in designs that ignore local customs and needs, effectively creating a modern form of digital colonization where billions must conform to a narrow technological worldview.

To explore how Western digital culture is imposed upon the world, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the director of the interdisciplinary UW Center for Globally Beneficial AI, Katharina Reinecke, PhD.

Katharina presents key findings from her book, Digital Culture Shock, detailing how different cultural preferences shape global user behavior across social media platforms and how people search for and share information.

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Calm — Offers the #1 app for sleep and meditation. Download Calm and find a place made just for you to rest. Visit Calm.com/HHTR. Listeners get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription.

Signos — Offers the world’s first FDA-cleared AI-driven app and CGM for weight management and wellness that turns data into lasting habits for better health. Visit https://signos.com/ and use promo code HHTR to get $10 off select plans.

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WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Cultural differences profoundly impact our ability to communicate in relationships, often leading to misunderstandings when interpreting nonverbal cues, directness of speech, or emotional expression. To have better conversations and foster a happy life, it's crucial to cultivate strong communication skills.

To explore communication strategies to cultivate deeper relationships, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Patricia Timerman Barbosa da Silva, aka Dr. T, a psychotherapist, author, and founder of Advocate2Create.

Dr. T shares communication strategies from her book, Why Are We Fighting?, and explains how her IAP and preamble models empower people to have better conversations and strengthen their relationships.

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Research studies reveal there are neurological, emotional, and physical rewards to acts of altruism. We experience awe, most often, when we witness acts of human kindness, no matter how small. Volunteering offers a powerful antidote to modern societal chaos by redirecting focus toward a shared, positive purpose, thereby strengthening the bonds of community.

To explore the ways self-care can become other-care, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Nicole Karlis, a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and a senior writer at Salon covering health, science, and wellness.

Nicole explains the neuroscience of altruism and how we can create a ‘culture of caring', which are central tenets in her book, YOUR BRAIN ON ALTRUISM: The Power of Connection and Community during Times of Crisis.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

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