Harvesting Happiness

Is desire discrepancy hurting your relationship? When one partner wants sex more than the other, it's common in long-term relationships, and it's fixable. Sex therapist Anna Elton, PhD, explains why desire fades and how couples can reignite intimacy.

This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature listeners.

If closeness has been slipping away, you're not alone. Mismatched libido is one of the most common struggles couples bring to therapy. In an era when screens often replace face-to-face connection, unresolved issues easily turn into silence.

Harvesting Happiness host Lisa Cypers Kamen and Anna talk about her new book, "The Formula of Desire: What Brings Us Together and Drives Us Apart, and the Science of Connection." They cover why a sexless marriage isn't a lost cause and practical ways to rebuild physical and emotional connection.

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Articles about rewiring your brain seem to be everywhere these days. From mainstream media headlines to the glossy covers of supermarket magazines, brief snippets promise to teach us how to “think like a monk” through quick-fix meditation advice. However, these surface-level summaries rarely include the practical skills needed to cultivate a calm, clear mind. Without understanding the applied neuroscience behind meditation, following overly simplified advice can actually leave us more stressed.

If you have ever sat down to meditate only to feel a wave of frustration after just a few moments of lost focus, you are far from alone. Ordained Buddhist monk and FitMind founder, Liam McClintock discusses the neuroscience of meditation with Harvesting Happiness host Lisa Cypers Kamen.

They explore what it looks like to train for happiness the way we train for fitness without the fluff. Gain actionable insights about transforming the mind’s predictive processing to create a lasting shift toward sustainable happiness.

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We live in a moment when disagreement has become a spectator sport — louder, faster, and more polarized than ever. But what if the goal was never to win the argument, just to be heard, and to actually hear back?

In this episode, we sit down with Julia Minson, PhD, associate professor of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School and one of the leading researchers on the psychology of conflict and disagreement. Julia is best known for coining and studying “conversational receptiveness” — the measurable, learnable set of language cues that signal genuine openness to an opposing point of view, even amid deep disagreement.

We explore why our brains are wired to avoid engaging with people who see the world differently, why “winning” an argument rarely changes anyone’s mind, and what the research actually shows about the words and phrases that make people feel heard rather than dismissed. Julia walks us through her studies on political polarization, workplace conflict, and closed-door negotiations, and offers practical, research-backed tools for having harder conversations — with family, colleagues, and the people we’re most tempted to write off.

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The growing alignment between conservative politics and traditional religion has alienated younger Democrats and Independents, leading many to abandon faith-based activism. This retreat begs the question: can religious leaders still mobilize to address racial inequality, or have structural forces like gerrymandering permanently entrenched these divisions?

To better understand the relationship between well-being and community activism, Harvesting Happiness host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author, sociologist, and Princeton professor emeritus Robert Wuthnow, PhD.

In this religion and social justice podcast, Robert explores why faith-based activism and the pursuit of racial justice and racial equality have fallen out of favor in the democratic mission, and whether religious institutions are obliged to address civic ideals and politics.

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The burgeoning neuroscience of meditation validates soul-centered psychology by revealing tangible, measurable changes in brain structure and stress regulation. Clinical investigations into mind-body medicine for anxiety demonstrate how integrative psychiatry successfully merges conventional treatments with holistic care to alleviate psychological distress and cognitive impairment.

To better understand the medical connection between spirituality and mental health, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Helen Lavretsky, a Professor of Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatrist, and Author.

In her book, “Living from the Soul: The Neuroscience of Spiritual Awakening”, Helen argues that yoga, chanting, meditation, and breathing techniques heal trauma. Long dismissed as alternative or marginal practices, these modalities now have solid clinical research backing them and demonstrating tangible medical results.

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Democracy is imperfect because ‘we the people’ are imperfect. Yet through collaborative bargaining, compromise, and a willingness to govern ourselves, we can spark democratic renewal and press forward in our pursuit of happiness. Because our politics and personal well-being are deeply intertwined, healing our civic foundations and institutions can help us build a future free of authoritarian rule.

To better understand the connection between politics and personal well-being, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author and academic historian Brook Manville, PhD.

Brook discusses the foundations of democracy and the Civic Bargain. He describes the active participation required by all Americans to spark a civic renewal that will strengthen our democracy and more accurately reflect the intentions of the Founding Fathers.or economic and psychological safety nets from the state to employers.

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Younger generations carry the burden of economic instability, often finding the milestones of homeownership and secure retirement slipping further out of reach than they were for their grandparents. As traditional social safety nets fray, many people are left navigating a profound sense of anxiety and social disconnection. This raises the question: Why do financial elites continue to achieve overwhelming success at the ballot box? How does the media manipulate voters to support outcomes that ultimately undermine their own well-being and psychological safety?

To better understand the connection between well-being and political anxiety, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Lorenza Antonucci, PhD, one of Europe's leading voices on the human cost of insecurity.

The discussion centers around her book, Insecurity Politics: How Unstable Lives Lead to Populist Support. In it, Lorenza addresses a troubling shift in global politics: abandoning the idea of meeting public needs, leaving individuals vulnerable and driving support for populism. She highlights the foundational, empathetic, collective solutions that shift responsibility for economic and psychological safety nets from the state to employers.

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Growing up, very few of us had kitchen table conversations about how vulnerability builds intimacy. Instead, most of us were handed a survival guide that taught us to "never let them see you sweat" and to "be strong." As a result, walking into adult relationships and talking intimately about our attachment styles and desires can be terrifying. Yet, finding the courage to share our true desires—free from shame or fear—transforms not just our sex lives, but deepens the connection with our partners and ourselves.

*This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature listeners.

For tips on how to bring attachment theory into the bedroom, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two emotionally focused therapists and co-authors, Laurie Watson, PhD, LMFT, and George Faller, LMFT.

Laurie and George dive into what it takes to stay vulnerable and keep the spark alive for the long haul. They share expert strategies to help couples break free from the exhausting pursue-withdrawal cycle and reconnect on a deeper level.

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Do elected officials actually represent you? Once they take office, governance often seems to turn into a black hole where democratic accountability disappears. And, depending on your perspective, we may be living through the most frustrating political climate in U.S. history, leaving many citizens feeling unheard. Democracy thrives not on passive observation, but on everyday people’s enduring commitment to make their voices heard. Do you know what actions your generation must take to spark change?

For expert insights on overcoming political anxiety, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Vermont, Minh Ly, PhD.

Minh highlights the rights and responsibilities of democratic citizenship, reminding us that every historical advance in justice and inclusion has relied on mass political action. True democratic responsibility goes beyond voting; it includes adult civic education, grassroots organization, and active cooperation to keep authoritarianism from festering.

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Reflect on the judgments your culture holds regarding addictive behaviors. Do you proudly broadcast your intense gym workouts while quietly judging those on a smoke break outside the office? What makes their addiction different from yours? Many strive to amplify the habits our culture praises simply because they validate our commitment. When culture drives people into the shadows through shame and exclusion, it deepens the wound. Does healing begin not by policing willpower, but by replacing judgment with human connection?

To frame addiction through the lens of harm reduction psychology, Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Elizabeth F.S. Roberts, anthropologist and author.

Rethinking addiction and shame, Elizabeth’s book In Praise of Addiction: Or How We Can Learn to Love Dependency in a Damaged World draws on her first-hand experience of living in Latin culture. In this addiction anthropology podcast, she explains how these communities handle dependency and human connection, revealing how isolation, rather than the addiction itself, is considered the true danger.

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