We’ve been sold this idea that work and life are two separate things—one to survive, the other to enjoy. But here’s the truth: It’s all just life.  The best workplaces don’t force people to "balance" their time between stress and fulfillment. They create cultures where work itself is a source of purpose, growth, and well-being.

That’s exactly what Teresa Roche, Chair of the Learning Innovation Laboratory at Harvard and CHRO at the City of Fort Collins, has helped build—an adaptive and well-being-driven organization where people don’t just work, they flourish. 

Teresa Roche is a transformational HR leader with expertise in building well-being-driven workplaces. As CHRO of the City of Fort Collins, she has led innovative talent strategies, inclusion initiatives, and the Future of Work, shaping a culture where people and performance thrive. Previously, she drove leadership development at Agilent Technologies, ensuring 90% of senior roles were filled internally. 

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Teresa Roche explore how leaders can start designing purposeful workplaces that fuel both performance and well-being.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• The myth of work-life balance

• The importance of building a workplace culture that prioritizes well-being

• Why well-being must be an organizational priority

• Why organizations need to make the systemic shift to promote wellness

• The ROI of creating flourishing organizations

• The role of leaders in driving a flourishing culture

The system needs to change! If you want to be a part of it, start by tuning into this epic episode. 

• City of Fort Collins Health and Wellness Programs: https://larimer.senioraccesspoints.colostate.edu/blog/2021/11/16/city-of-fort-collins-health-and-wellness-programs/

• IFTF Palo Alto: https://www.iftf.org/ 

• Harvard Flourishing Network: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/flourishing-network-HFH  

• Chief Learning Officer: https://resource.chieflearningofficer.com/chief-learning-officer-resource-center

• Related episode: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/episode/the-power-of-purpose-driven-organizations-with-alex-edmans 

• Alex Edman’s research proving that employee satisfaction leads to 2–3.5% incremental shareholder returns.  https://alexedmans.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Finding-the-Purpose-of-Your-Business.pdf

• McKinsey Health Institute - A holistic health approach for employees: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/reframing-employee-health-moving-beyond-burnout-to-holistic-health 

• Oxford Economics on prioritizing workplace well-being: https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/why-companies-should-prioritise-their-employees-wellbeing/ 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/7cgP2X8

keep up with endless demands. Trying to "just get through the day" instead of truly thriving can impact you far beyond your personal well-being. It cascades down to your teams, organizations, and long-term success. So how do you shift from just surviving to actually thriving? 

That’s what we dive into in this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari and Renee Moorefield, CEO of Wisdom Works Group, Inc.

Renee Moorefield, PhD, is the CEO of Wisdom Works, a social enterprise she co-founded in 1999 to promote leadership and organizational cultures that empower people to thrive. With over 30 years of experience, she has coached and advised executives from Fortune 500 companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Nike, and Hyatt. 

Renee is also the author of "Driven by Wellth," a book that explores how contemporary leaders can integrate wealth with well-being. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Global Wellness Institute and is an international speaker, as well as a Master Certified Coach and Certified Health & Wellness Coach. 

In the conversation, Ashish and Renee break down what it really means to thrive as a leader and why so many leaders struggle to make the shift. Renee shares a simple but powerful framework that helps leaders build resilience, stay energized, and lead with clarity—even in high-pressure environments.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Defining thriving ang its importance in leadership

• The six-part thriving framework (Developed by Wisdom Works)

• Why thriving is a leadership responsibility

• Practical Strategies for Moving from Survival to Thriving

If you’re feeling stretched too thin, constantly reacting, or struggling to find balance, this conversation will give you the practical tools you need to take back control and lead with energy, confidence, and purpose.

Tune in now to learn how to stop leading in survival mode and start thriving!

• Wisdom Works website: http://wisdom-works.com/

• Be Well, Lead Well Pulse Assessment: https://www.wisdom-works.com/assessment/ 

• Be Well, Lead Well: https://www.bewellleadwellpulse.com/ 

• Wisdom Works Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wisdom-works-group/ 

• “Driven by WELLth” by Julie Maloney and Renee Moorefield: https://a.co/d/83TGDFc 

• "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn: https://a.co/d/gIeCdCF 

• "Leadership and the New Science" by Margaret Wheatley: https://a.co/d/6vWxdR6 

• Hardwired for Happiness book by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Episode Summary:

In this episode, we dive deep into the power of rewiring our minds and relaunching our lives with transformational coaches Hillary DeCesare and Ashish Kothari. We explore how limiting beliefs hold us back, why traditional habits don’t always stick, and how the Belief Blaster tool can help you break free from subconscious patterns. Plus, we introduce the Rewire & Relaunch program—a 40-day journey designed to help you make lasting changes in the four key domains of life: Wealth, Health, Love, and Meaning.

What You'll Learn:

• How hidden beliefs sabotage success and happiness.

• The neuroscience behind rewiring the brain (and why it takes 62-67 days!).

• Why radical life changes don’t always lead to lasting transformation.

• The 5-step process to release limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones.

• The role of mind, body, and spirit in creating sustainable change.

• How community, accountability, and personal networks fuel transformation.

• The importance of energy alignment and using ancient wisdom for success.

Key Takeaways:

• We don’t see the world as it is; we see it as we are.

• Success and happiness don’t happen overnight—they require intentional rewiring.

• Knowledge isn’t power—practice is power.

• To create real change, you must change from within first.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Rewire & Relaunch program: Link to website

• Read Ashish Kothari’s book: Hardwired for Happiness (available on Amazon)

• Check out Hillary DeCesare’s book: Relaunch: Spark Your Heart to Ignite Your Life

Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs a transformation! Don’t forget to

subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

Most leaders think of creativity as something exclusive to artists, but it’s actually a skill leaders can learn to master. Just like art, leadership requires taking risks, challenging assumptions, and building what doesn’t exist yet. If you’re ready to stop playing it safe and start making a real impact, it’s time to unleash your creative edge.

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Will Day, Award-winning Abstract Painter-Artist, break down exactly how to turn creativity into your biggest leadership advantage.

Will Day is a Boulder-based contemporary artist known for his bold, large-scale abstract paintings that capture movement and transformation. With a background in architecture and finance, he brings a unique perspective to the art world, blending structure with expressive creativity. His work has been exhibited across the U.S., earning recognition for its emotional depth and dynamic energy. Through his art, Will inspires others to embrace risk, resilience, and the power of creative expression.

Will shares powerful lessons on why creativity is essential for leadership, how to embrace failure, and why relentless self-expression helps you lead with confidence. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Creativity as a leadership skill

• How to apply creativity as a daily practice

• The role of vulnerability in creativity

• Creativity as a tool for resilience

• Why leaders must think like an artist

If you’ve ever doubted your creative potential, this episode will challenge you to rethink leadership as an art form—one that requires courage, curiosity, and an unshakable commitment to growth. Tune in now!

• Will Day Art: https://www.willdayart.com/ 

• Will Day on the CanvasRebel Magazine: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-will-day/ 

• Wil Day on Saatchi Art: https://www.saatchiart.com/willday?srsltid=AfmBOorV40nKMstu9n8hbu5rtWjgw6DWf1LN_xpso7TGQD1UkWDi8fkk 

• Will Day’s Artworks: https://www.artsy.net/artist/will-day 

• Will Day - TedX - Finding Creativity in the Chaos: https://www.ted.com/talks/will_day_finding_creativity_in_the_chaos 

• Hardwired for Happiness book by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

The world glorifies the grind of entrepreneurship, but nobody talks about the toll it takes on your well-being. Stress, self-doubt, and a constant need to prove yourself can leave even the most driven entrepreneurs feeling stuck. Without addressing the root cause, you risk burnout and a loss of purpose. Self-discovery is the game-changer most entrepreneurs overlook. 

In this Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Alex Raymond, Founder of AMplify, Board at Kapta, and Host of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast, explore how self-discovery empowers entrepreneurs to face their toughest challenges, find clarity, and sustain long-term success in their ventures. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Overcoming imposter syndrome in entrepreneurship 

• The importance of self-discovery for resilience

• Reframing success as a journey, not a destination

• How to operate in your zone of genius

• Preventing burnout through alignment and relationships

If you want proven, actionable tips to address the most pressing challenges in entrepreneurship, this is an episode you wouldn’t want to miss.

• The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast by Alex Raymond: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-entrepreneur/id1708478000

• The Conscious Entrepreneur Summit by Alex Raymond: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ 

• The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI): https://www.mindgarden.com/117-maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi 

• Well-being in the Workplace by McKinsey & Co.: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/well-being-in-the-workplace 

• Related Episode with Dr. Srikumar Rao: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/episode/living-in-pure-awareness-with-professor-srikumar-rao 

• "10X Is Easier Than 2X" by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy: https://a.co/d/2OCtzHs 

• "How Will You Measure Your Life?" by Clayton Christensen: https://a.co/d/eZaR7pn

• "Finite and Infinite Games" by James Carse: "Finite and Infinite Games" by James Carse  

• Hardwired for Happiness book by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

We live in a world where success often leads to burnout, anxiety, and loneliness instead of fulfillment. Ashish Kothari, Founder and CEO of Happiness Squad, faced this firsthand, realizing that titles and achievements alone weren’t enough. His journey from relentless striving to meaningful happiness led him to uncover truths about well-being that many miss.

In our latest episode, Ashish shares how he founded Happiness Squad to help people find purpose, resilience, and true joy in life. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• How burnout, stress, and anxiety have become widespread challenges across industries
• The science behind individual and organizational flourishing
• Using data and continuous insights to build effective well-being programs
• Why community support and continuous practice are essential for real change

• Sadhguru, Isha Foundation: https://isha.sadhguru.org/sg/en 

• The Art of Living by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: https://www.artofliving.org/in-en

• Vipassana Meditation: https://www.dhamma.org/  

• Rewire Program: https://happinesssquad.com/rewire-program/  

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-squad/id1663683864

• Website: https://happinesssquad.com/

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Uncertainty has become the new normal, and as a leader, it can feel like the ground beneath you is constantly shifting. How do you inspire confidence when you're struggling to find it yourself? Without a strong foundation in your leadership, it can be difficult to respond to challenges and your team could feel it too. 

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Jason Hanson show you how to change the game with grounded leadership and lead with strength, clarity, and conviction—no matter what comes your way. 

Jason Hanson is the Director of the President's Leadership Class at the University of Colorado Boulder, specializing in mentoring future leaders. A former Senior Manager of Enterprise Learning at Charles Schwab, he is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach with expertise in leadership development and talent strategy. Jason holds a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Understanding the importance of grounded leadership in times of change

• How to build grounded leadership by leveraging your values and strengths

• The role of strengths-based development in unlocking individual and team potential

• Practical leadership tools for building high-performing teams

• Why meaningful relationships are critical for leadership success

• Navigating career transitions with self-awareness and intentionality

Tune in now to learn how to lead with clarity and resilience in the most volatile of times.

•   Gallup StrengthsFinder: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx 

• VIA Character Strengths: https://www.viacharacter.org/ 

• Harvard Business School Net Promoter Score Case Study: https://www.hbsp.harvard.edu/product/8573BC-PDF-ENG 

• The ADKAR Model: https://www.prosci.com/methodology/adkar 

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html 

• Job Crafting by Jane Dutton: https://positivepsychology.com/job-crafting/ 

• https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/Glance-Leading-Positively.pdf 

• A Model for Change in Business, Government, and Our Community: https://a.co/d/9kSsCqw 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/iXGAjje

Leadership often feels like navigating a high-stakes game where every decision could make or break the outcome. Yet, the best leaders aren’t the ones who power through with toughness alone—they are the ones who master the ability to stay calm under pressure. 

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Brent Lang explore how mental calmness helps leaders build resilience, maintain optimism, and inspire teams to thrive under pressure.

Brent Lang is an Olympic gold medalist and accomplished business leader. As the former CEO of Vocera Communications and current Chair of the Board at Eko Health and Movella, Brent combines his athletic discipline with strategic leadership to inspire resilience, mental calmness, and innovation in the organizations he serves.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• The power of persistence and resilience

• The importance of coaching, mentorship, and empathy

• Staying present and cultivating mental calmness

• Building strong foundations for well-being

• The value of positive thinking and openness

Don’t miss this inspiring episode! Hear Olympic gold medalist Brent Lang share his secrets to staying composed under pressure and building habits for success.

• Brent Lang’s website: http://www.brentdlang.com/ 

• Brent Lang’s appointment to Chair of the Board of Directors at Eko Health  https://www.ekohealth.com/blogs/newsroom/brent-lang-joins-eko-board-of-directors?srsltid=AfmBOorgkQ3U3t_WX0sRAzzGyppxGseEpfrPgvNnFwccQCb9y7EO84hg 

• Brent Lang as Chairman of the Board at Movella: https://www.movella.com/investors/governance 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/iXGAjje

Social media was supposed to connect us, but instead, it’s become a source of stress, manipulation, and mental health challenges. From endless scrolling to harmful algorithms, the negative effects are clear. In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, we uncover the truth about social media’s negative impact on our minds and explore practical ways to take back control with Mark Weinstein.

Mark Weinstein is a social media pioneer and privacy advocate. He founded early social media platforms (Superfamily.com, Superfriends.com) and MeWe, a privacy-focused social network. He is also an author (Restoring Our Sanity Online) and a leading expert on privacy and ethical digital practices.

Mark shares actionable strategies to reduce social media dependency, set healthy boundaries between our personal and virtual lives, and restore our overall mental well-being in a digital age.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• The mental health crisis driven by social media

• Social media’s negative impact on the youth and on adults

• How to restore your sanity online

• Parenting in the digital age

• Ethical digital practices to protect your privacy

Being social media savvy doesn’t have to mean losing your sanity. Discover Mark’s actionable strategies to protect your mental well-being and restore your balance in today’s hyperconnected world.

•  Mark Weinstein’s website: https://www.markweinsteininventor.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabV2aoowooKGM7uNIHm5bNth2caBCCgv8Fpwpdf-_7gUmGGMcDQ4ve01NA_aem_opeSAO_sU2svv-sgBUAkWg

• Mark Weinstein TEDx Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoYC4ogezE4  

• Jonathan Haidt on The Effects of Social Media on Teen Mental Health: https://jonathanhaidt.com/social-media/ 

• Restoring Our Sanity Online by Mark Weinstein: https://www.amazon.com/Restoring-Our-Sanity-Online-Revolutionary/dp/1394273967

Stress and burnout aren’t inevitable—they’re symptoms of how we’ve been working. Habits like juggling too many tasks, always staying connected, and back-to-back meetings have become so routine that we hardly question them anymore. But these habits are taking a toll on our happiness and well-being. 

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder of Happiness Squad, explores the hidden costs of these behaviors, the drivers behind them, and how we can build a more intentional, fulfilling approach to work.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Understanding the myth of multitasking

• Breaking free from the need to always stay connected

• How to plan and execute efficient meetings

It’s time we stop wearing busyness as a badge of honor and start building habits that make us more resilient, adaptable, and—above all—happier.

• Rewire Program: https://happinesssquad.com/rewire-program/ 

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-squad/id1663683864

• Website: https://happinesssquad.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad/ 

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655