For many of us, Thanksgiving is going to be really different this year—how can we find happiness in these strange times?

On today’s show, we learn about the power of gratitude to turn things around and offer a sense of well-being in the midst of challenges with Dr. Pelin Kesebir from the Center for Healthy Minds and psychologist emeritus Dr. Robert McGrath.

Then, we present two special pre-recorded interviews: first, Madison Youth Choir conductor Margaret Jenks talks about the power of music, then Drew Fleming, owner of Madison’s Original Pancake House, discusses his experiences as a restaurateur and why food makes us so happy.

Pelin Kesebir is an assistant scientist at the Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Robert McGrath is a psychologist emeritus with University Health Services at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Margaret Jenks is a music teacher with the Madison Metropolitan School District and a Madison Youth Choir conductor. She serves as a guest faculty at Carnegie Hall’s Music Educators Workshop.

Drew Fleming is the owner of the west side Madison Original Pancake House on University Avenue.

Cover photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash