Open To Happiness

By Nicoleta Porojanu

This podcast is guiding trauma survivors through their journey of self-discovery, healing and personal growth.

Its host Nicoleta is a Romanian-British Psychologist, Therapist and Trauma Spec

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FAQs about Open To Happiness:

How many episodes does Open To Happiness have?

The podcast currently has 183 episodes available.

Open To Happiness episodes:

February 25, 2026 182 - 101 reasons to not have a secret affair

In this episode Nicoleta talks about love and happiness with Dr Keith Witt, clinical psychologist, author and teacher from California, USA.

A happy baby uncomfortable living in the 60s
Alcohol consumption and personality disorders in the family
Going through a depressive psychotic episode at 14
Death and rebirth through 23 electroconvulsive treatments
The magic of psychotherapy for the entire family system
Finding solace and discipline in martial arts
Grateful for the lived hardship and for own incarnation
How the “archetype of healer” inspired a career in serving others
The practice of psychotherapy in the 70s
Doing contemplative practices for 60 years
The development of own cosmology through writing 14 books
Fascinated by the concept of happiness
Happiness in the channel of being connected with spirit
When you start observing the evolution of your consciousness
The happy guy that had ups and downs
Why everything in life is about relationships
When improving relationships is essential to personal development
How to be at one with everyone and everything
Why love is compassion, unity and oneness
The learnings from 75.000 therapy sessions
How the School of Love was born
Learning to love completely
How to move through conflict and repair relationships
Why people with personality disorders struggle to love
Positive impact of sexual education in relationships
Stop relying on hormones and start having a more intentional relationship
Secret affairs are shortcuts to temporary happiness
The selfishness of seeking self-gratification
How affairs slip into the slightest loophole in monogamy
When monogamy turns into forced celibacy
Life of the third person in a relationship
Why couple therapy is cheaper than having an affair
The truth of modern psychology and psychotherapy
Attunement as the gate towards consciousness
Radical acceptance, gratitude and productive self-awareness

Connect with Keith: https://drkeithwitt.com/
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1h 2min
January 28, 2026 181 - Trust your intuition
In this episode Nicoleta is talking about healing and happiness with Lynda Samphire, intuitive and transformational guide from Seatle, USA.

The loss of mother at the age of 2
The confusion around a step mother
When grief is wired in your nervous system
Growing up feeling on guard all the time
Intuitive and sensitive as a little girl
The unsafetiness that develops unhealthy patterns
How to work with the dreams and the inner experiences
Why dreams can bring both nightmares and healing
Using night time as a therapeutic sanctuary
Open to receive messages from the symbols in the dreams
Why it is important to remember your dreams
Connection with the higher self
How to feel safe into your own body
The gift of the human experience
Listen to the night time wisdom
How to reconnect with our whole self
Why happiness runs through the sadness
Please the self and learn to feel
Stop outsourcing your inner truth
Start turning inwards and trust your intuition
Be guided by yourself not others

Connect with Lynda: https://www.lwsamphire.com/

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34min
December 17, 2025 180 - In conversation with a psychic medium
In this episode Nicoleta talks about spirituality and happiness with Karen Docherty, Psychic and Medium from Scotland

Parental divorce and sibling separation at 13
When you feel like living by yourself
The connection with the spirit
What is a medium and psychic
The psychic link and connection with the Self
Reading mediumship books at 10
When you embrace what life brings you
The deep feeling of the awakened one
Scholarship at the College of Psychic Studies
From 9 to 5 to full time psychic work
How mediumship uplifts people
Why many would be sceptical of talking to spirits
Is mediumship fraudulent and witchcraft?
When people look beyond the religion
The source of spirit and the higher power
The healing through talking to a medium
How meditation helps us center ourselves
Remember to have peace and balance

Connect with Karen here: https://www.karendocherty.com/

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39min
November 26, 2025 179 - About nutrion, health and happiness
In this episode Nicoleta talks about nutrition and happiness with Lea Dombrowski, Holistic Health Coach and Nutritionist from California, USA

Insight into trauma and chronic illness
Young and struggling with gut health
Diagnosed with autoimmune disease
Why conventional medicine cannot help sometimes
How functional medicine works holistically
The root cause of our symptoms
Why listen to your body and its illness
How to create a sustainable wellbeing plan
From processed to whole nutrients dense foods
Fitness and core strength training
Nourish your body, move and be present

Connect with Lea here: https://www.livingwithstrength.com/

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32min
October 29, 2025 178 - The return back to wholeness
In this episode Nicoleta explores trauma and happiness with Alsu Kashapova, holistic transformational coach from Barcelona
Trauma as the suppression of own self
Impact of growing up with addictive parents
From tech to the healing world
Touched by self-awareness, meditation and yoga
The return back to wholeness
Between personality and the true self
Consciousness vs unconsciousness
Ordinary and non-ordinary states of consciousness
The inner intelligence and our healing
Restoration of core beliefs for healing
The role of compassion in self-work
Appreciate the gift of life
Trust yourself and feel confident
Be present and curious

Connect with Alsu here: https://alsukashapova.com/
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45min
September 24, 2025 177 - Open to inter-racial dialogues
In this episode Nicoleta explores the link between inter-racial struggles and happiness with Urmi Hossain, finance professional, blogger and author from Montreal, Canada.
Happiness in the peace within you
The impermanent nature of happiness
Finding joy in the little actions
Happiness in high school and university
Identity trapped in between cultures
When you belong to two different nationalities
Displacement through migration and struggling to fit in
Attuned to the diversity of an adoptive country
How blogging helps you build a community
The power of sharing with others
Open to inter-racial dialogues
Frustrated by the racial prejudice
Learn, explore, socialize and be yourself

Connect with Urmi here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urmihossain/
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39min
August 27, 2025 176 - Here's the essence of happiness
In this episode Nicoleta explores trauma and happiness with Matt O’Neil, Happiness Coach and Best-Selling Author from South Carolina, USA.

Growing up with a tyrant father
The impact of parental abandonment
In therapy at 6 year old
Life in poverty and struggle
Finding joy in family connection
Between success and addiction
Resilience that follows trauma
Why hardship happen for us
The eternal soul as the essence of happiness
You choose how much you like the reality
How to heal the 8 bad moods and wounds
Why the truth is reality and love
Insight into the good mood revolution
The path of conscious happiness
How unresolved emotions affect our wellbeing
Healing in alignment with your soul
Happiness when you love reality the way it is
The awful existence of our abusers
Prioritise authentic loving relationships
Be grateful and appreciate the abundance around
Movement as antidepressant

Connect with Matt here: https://mattoneill.com/the-book/
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44min
July 30, 2025 174 - Mid-life career choices
In this episode Nicoleta explores trauma and happiness with Wendy Alexander, mid-life career coach, author and entrepreneur from Melbourne, Australia.

Life as a mixed race in the segregated South Africa
Trapped in protests and social unrest
Laughter and connection in the family home
The experience of migration to Australia
Domestic abuse throughout pregnancy
Losing the house after divorce
Embraced by the multicultural Melbourne
Growing resilience and cultivating gratitude
Inspired by the experience of motherhood
Fighting to pay off debts as a single mother
Mid-life career change in the corporate world
Coaching others to change their path
Seek help and take it one step at a time

Connect with Wendy here: https://happycareerhub.com/
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42min
June 25, 2025 175 - Tapping into the magic of yoga
In this episode Nicoleta explores yoga and happiness with Chloe Markham, award winning yoga teacher, writer and joyful living coach from York, England.

When life challenges wire our brain
Feeling life is short in childhood
When the parent goes through stroke rehabilitation
The joy following loss and trauma
From practicing to teaching yoga
Living more joyfully through you yoga
About the toll and magic of yoga
Yoga as the reminder of our aliveness
How to engage with stress more positively
Interoception and the connection with own body
Growing through therapy and self-work
Learn to navigate your nervous system
Accept boredom and stillness
Be present and mindful

Connect with Chloe here: https://www.chloemarkham.co.uk/
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40min
May 28, 2025 173 – Exploring the relational privilege
In this episode Nicoleta is talking about trauma and happiness with Akilah Riley-Richardson, clinical trauma therapist from Trinidad and Tobaggo.
Happiness in living aligned with own values
Trauma and the relationship with happiness
Understanding own value in the world
How to erect proper psychological boundaries
Moving through rough patches in life
From true pain to authenticity
Receiving validation for our internal experiences
The relationships we choose and choose not
When trauma and pain make you a better friend
Why we are all on the same path
The calling for a particular profession
Sitting with people that feel deep trauma
Why you are worth being here
The systemic trauma of marginalised people
Grief and self-compassion are immensely important
About your relational privilege
Various tools in healing trauma
The challenge of living in the now

Connect with Akilah here:
https://akilahrileyrichardson.com/
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46min

FAQs about Open To Happiness:

How many episodes does Open To Happiness have?

The podcast currently has 183 episodes available.

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