The Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari

Despite countless self-help resources, workplace perks, and wellness programs, why are we still struggling to find real happiness? 

In this milestone 100th episode of The Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder and CEO of Happiness Squad, digs into the hard truth: happiness can’t be bought or chased—it must be cultivated from within.

Drawing on insights from top experts and 100 episodes of transformative conversations, Ashish reveals the four essential ingredients to lasting happiness and how to embed them in your core strategies.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Debunking myths about happiness

• The 4 Key Ingredients to Real Happiness

• Minfulness as a practical tool for leaders and teams

• The Problem with Workplace Wellness Programs

For a truly happy, healthy work environment, it’s time to rethink happiness from within.

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

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

• Check out all Happiness Squad Episodes here: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/?_gl=1*18szv5y*_ga*MTY3NDAwMTI1Mi4xNzI4NzA0NjYw*_ga_79YFEDB29K*MTczMTMwMjk3OC4yLjAuMTczMTMwMjk3OC42MC4wLjA 

• 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

Triggers are a part of the job—but constant reactions don’t have to be. It’s easy to get stuck in that reactive mode, but it’s exhausting and distracting from what matters. In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Renelle Everett Darr, Founder and CEO at InSight Coaching & Consulting LLC, dive into the tools you need to take back control from your triggers and learn how to respond, not react to them.

Renelle Everett Darr specializes in conscious leadership and organizational transformation, with 25+ years of experience. Certified in The Leadership Circle Profile and holding ICF’s PCC credential, she works with CEOs and Fortune 500 clients to foster impactful, human-centered growth. Renelle’s insights are shaped by her roles at EY and Deloitte, and she regularly speaks on emotional intelligence and leadership. Based in Golden, Colorado, she also mentors emerging leaders and founders.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Responding vs. Reacting to your inner triggers

• Trigger awareness and self-reflection techniques

• How our values and past experiences shape our triggers

• Knowing your triggers and practicing intentional responses

In today’s challenging world, thoughtful responses can set you apart. Tune in to his epic episode now!

• Insight Coaching and Consulting: https://insight-cc.com/about/ 

• https://insight-cc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Renelle_Everett_Darr_Speaker_2024vf-3.pdf

• Life’s Vital Chapters with Jen and Ren (podcast): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lifes-vital-chapters-with-jen-and-ren/id1731203686 

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life https://a.co/d/eFX8VMx

More than 50% of employees don’t feel heard at work. This disconnect can cost companies more than just morale—it’s affecting productivity, retention, and ultimately, profits. If your company is still relying on surveys and feedback forms as your main tools for "listening" to employees, it might be time to rethink your approach. 

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Angela Jackson, Founder of Future Forward Strategies and Author, dig into the Win-Win Workplace Framework, a paradigm-shifting strategy that uses employee voices to drive organizational success.

Dr. Angela Jackson is a professor at Harvard University and an expert in organizational development and employee engagement, with a focus on creating thriving workplaces where employees drive bottom-line success. With over five years of research and interviews with 1,200 companies, Dr. Jackson has developed the Win-Win Workplace Framework, which helps organizations operationalize employee voice and reimagine workplace culture. She is also the author of the upcoming book The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom Line Success.

If you’re serious about lowering turnover and creating a thriving workplace, don’t miss this episode!

Things you will learn in this episode:

• How investing in employees is generating more revenue

• The Win-Win Workplace Framework and its nine practices

• The importance of your employees’ voice

• Changing the traditional parent-child dynamic in the workplace to a peer-to-peer relationship

• Barriers to creating a win-win workplace

•  Dr. Angela Jackson website:  https://www.drangelajackson.com/ 

• Future Forward Strategies: https://www.futureforwardstrategies.com/about#:~:text=Our%20Founder%20and%20CEO,initiatives%20that%20create%20career%20pathways.

• Also mentioned in this episode:

• What Got You Here Won’t Get You There book by Marshall Goldsmith https://www.amazon.com/What-Got-Here-Wont-There/dp/1401301304 

• A Layman’s Guide to Separating Causation from Correlation … and Noticing When Claims of Causality are Invalid https://alexedmans.com/correlation/ 

• Alex Edmans episode at HAPPINESS SQUAD: https://happinesssquad.com/captivate-podcast/the-power-of-purpose-driven-organizations-with-alex-edmans/ 

• Positively Making Organizations and the World Better by Kim Cameron https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1548051821997414?icid=int.sj-abstract.similar-articles.8 

• The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Success https://www.amazon.com/Win-Win-Workplace-Thriving-Employees-Bottom-Line/dp/B0D6V6B4TN 

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life https://a.co/d/gsApfud

Did you know? Our brains make instant, unconscious judgments about who’s “safe” or “like us.” This hardwired survival instinct can make it tough to create inclusive workplaces! But the good news is there are crucial steps to overcoming it, and we’ll explore just that in this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast. 

Ashish Kothari sits down with Shannon Murphy, Co-founder of BrainSkills@Work and Co-Author of the Neuroscience of Inclusion, to dive into brain states, empathy circuits, and ways to build a culture where inclusivity is natural, not forced.

Shannon Murphy, M.A., is a sought-after consultant, executive coach, where she applies neuroscience to diversity and inclusion. For over 15 years, she’s led large-scale D&I initiatives for major clients like Deloitte and AT&T, impacting over 20,000 employees. Harvard-certified in NeuroBusiness coaching, Shannon co-authored The Neuroscience of Inclusion, offering leaders tools to address unconscious bias and foster inclusivity across cultures. 

Learn how to shape a brain-friendly work environment that breaks barriers and builds meaningful relationships. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• How the “us versus them” mentality impacts inclusivity

• How leaders can recognize and reduce biases within their teams

• Creating a brain-friendly work environment

• Why self-awareness if important in inclusivity

• The role of appreciation in inclusivity

• The HeartMath Institute: https://www.heartmath.org/ 

• The Welltory App: https://welltory.com/

• Sadhguru’s Isha Kriya Meditation: https://isha.sadhguru.org/sg/en/yoga-meditation/yoga-program-for-beginners/isha-kriya-meditation 

• Neuroscience of Inclusion by Mary E. Casey and Shannon Murphy Robinson: https://www.amazon.com/Neuroscience-Inclusion-New-Skills-Times/dp/1432787225 

• The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama

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

Do you want to know how to achieve peak leadership performance? A lof of people don't realize that athletes and corporate leaders share similar requirements to perform at their peak. The key difference is that athletes understand that peak performance requires nurturing the mind, body, and soul, while many leaders don’t. Today’s fast-paced corporate world often pushes leaders to the edge. How can leaders perform well without compromising their well-being?

In our latest episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Jeff Salzenstein, Former Professional Tennis Player, Keynote Speaker, and Success Coach, shares how leaders can achieve their Zone of Excellence by aligning mind, body, and soul to unlock peak performance.

Jeff Salzenstein is a former Top 100 ATP professional tennis player and two-time All-American at Stanford. Now a renowned keynote speaker and high-performance coach, Jeff empowers leaders and executives to reach their "Zone of Excellence" through principles inspired by elite athletic performance, focusing on holistic strategies for sustained success.

Things you will learn in thie episode:

• The concept of leading like an athlete

• Understanding the zone of excellence

• Mind, body, and soul connection in leadership

• Practical tips for incorporating athlete strategies in leadership

• Applying the athlete’s approach to the workplace

Learn how to lead like an elite athlete and tune in to the full episode now!

• Jeff Salzenstein website: https://www.jeffsalzenstein.com/

• Tennis Evolution: https://tennisevolution.com/about-jeff/

• Tennis Evolution on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPHbNsR8QmVSED8yRARf9Ww 

• ITF Tennis Profile of Jeff Salzenstein: https://www.itftennis.com/en/players/jeff-salzenstein/800183334/usa/mt/S/overview/

• Jeff Salzenstein on ATP Tour: https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jeff-salzenstein/s564/overview

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

We all have that little voice in our heads. The one that says, “You’re not good enough,” or “Why even bother?” Instead of letting it boss you around, what if you could turn that nagging voice into a helpful guide?

Rosi Greenberg, Artist, CEO & Leadership Development Facilitator at Drawn to Lead, calls her inner critic Sam, and in our latest episode at HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, she’s teaching us how to meet, greet, and tame that inner critic. 

Rosi Greenberg, a leadership development artist with 15 years of experience, empowers leaders to embrace their inner strength and creativity through bespoke workshops. Her book, Everyone Has a Sam: Meeting the Inner Critic and Re-Writing the Rules, tackles imposter syndrome with transformative strategies. 

With a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School and advanced leadership training, Rosi champions empathy as a crucial leadership skill, blending artistry and leadership to foster meaningful professional connections.

Things you will learn from this episode:

• Are inner critics useful?

• How our inner critic can hold us back

• The steps to befriending your inner critic

• Why everyone has an inner critic

• How the inner critic can appear in a parent-child relationship

Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to lead your life, learn how to befriend your Sam before it runs the show. Listen to the full episode now!

• Rosi Greenberg Website: https://www.rosigreenberg.com/ 

• Everyone Has a Sam: www.everyonehasasam.com

• Drawn to Lead: www.drawntolead.org 

• Exploring the Roots of the Inner Critic: https://s3.amazonaws.com/nicabm-stealthseminar/Next_Level_Practitioner/Week103/NEXT-Week103-Day3-DanSiegel.pdf

• Everyone Has a Sam by Rosi Greenberg: https://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Has-Sam-Rosi-Greenberg/dp/B0CGXR71CJ 

• Truths for Turbulent Times by Rosi Greenberg: https://www.amazon.com/Truths-Turbulent-Times-Rosi-Greenberg/dp/1088274412 

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

Are you making happiness a daily reality? The truth is, most of us have fallen into a routine where we're just surviving, not thriving. Our brains are wired to keep us safe, not happy—and that’s where the problem begins. We settle for less, waiting for weekends, vacations, or "someday" to finally feel alive. 

But in this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Brian Dubow shed light on a simple yet powerful approach designed to rewire your brain for happiness, one small step at a time.

Brian Dubow is the Founder of Hit of Happiness, where he helps individuals and organizations live more intentional and fulfilling lives through coaching, consulting, and community events. He is certified in happiness studies and passionate about health and wellbeing. 

Things you will learn from this episode:

• The “magic” of happiness framework

• Building the habit of mindfulness

• How physical activity boosts happiness

• Cultivating gratitude to rewire your brain for happiness

• Bringing back your childlike sense of inspiration

• Why connections matter and how to build them

Brian’s five-step framework will help you break out of autopilot and rediscover what it feels like to truly live every day.

• Hit of Happiness: Reframe Your Reality: https://hitofhappiness.com/ 

• The Hit of Happiness Podcast: https://hitofhappiness.com/latest-pod-episodes

• Project Smile by Hit of Happiness: https://hitofhappiness.com/project-smile

• #66Happy Guide eBook: https://hitofhappiness.com/%2366happy-guide 

• #66Happy Habit Building Program: https://hitofhappiness.com/%2366happy 

• 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

As the world's pressures pile up, many of us struggle to bounce back in life and at work. How do you keep performing at your best without losing your mental edge? Just like we can train our bodies to handle physical demands, we can also improve our mindsets to stay resilient under pressure.

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Karen Doll, explore the art of psychological fitness and how to build the mental muscle you need to handle stress, overcome setbacks, and thrive in any environment.

Dr. Karen Doll is a licensed psychologist, consultant, and coach specializing in workplace mental health and professional development. She has over 25 years of experience helping high-achieving professionals maximize their performance through strategic coaching and mental health initiatives.

Dr. Doll is the author of Building Psychological Fitness: How High Performers Achieve with Ease and focuses on improving mental resilience, workplace well-being, and psychological fitness. She also serves as the Chair of the Harvard University Human Flourishing Program's "Flourishing at Work" initiative, promoting mental health strategies for thriving work environments​.

Things you will learn from this episode:

• What is psychological fitness?

• The leadership impact of building psychological fitness

• Why we’re not as self-aware as we think

• Biggest drivers of stress and burnout

• The importance of integrating meaning into work

Your mind is your most valuable asset—time to treat it like one. Listen to the full episode now!

• Dr. Karen Doll’s Website: https://www.drkarendoll.com/ 

• The Johari Window - Building Self-awareness and Trust: https://www.mindtools.com/au7v71d/the-johari-window 

• Reflected Best Self Exercise: https://reflectedbestselfexercise.com/about 

• Building Psychological Fitness: How High Performers Achieve with Ease (Psychological Fitness (for individuals, professionals, organizations) by Dr. Karen Doll: https://www.amazon.com/Building-Psychological-Fitness-professionals-organizations-ebook/dp/B09GJ6MSVF 

• 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

Are you tired of waking up every morning, dragging yourself to the office, and counting the hours until you can clock out? If you feel your job is just a series of endless tasks without real meaning, you're not alone. Many professionals find themselves stuck in a cycle of monotony, feeling like they're just going through the motions. But work doesn't have to be this way.

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder of HAPPINESS SQUAD, shares how to uncover and activate your purpose to transform your work life into a happier and more fulfilling one.

Things you will learn from this episode:

• Rethinking the link between purpose and work

• The importance of purpose at work

• Strategies to activate purpose at work

• The impact of a purpose-driven culture in an organization

Finding and activating your purpose can turn any role into a rewarding adventure. Don’t settle for just a paycheck—find out how to ignite your passion at work.

Tune in to this epic episode now!

• Ikigai and subsequent health and wellbeing among Japanese older adults: Longitudinal outcome-wide analysis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8814687/ 

• The Power of Purpose: How Ikigai Can Help Us Live Longer: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nelldebevoise/2023/10/06/the-power-of-purpose-how-ikigai-can-help-us-live-longer/ 

• Effect of a Purpose in Life on Risk of Incident Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Community-Dwelling Older Persons by Patricia Boyle: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2897172/ 

• Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011 movie)

• 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

Life’s challenges are inevitable. The stress and setbacks are part of the deal. But while you can’t always control what happens to you, you can always control how you respond; you can always CHOOSE HAPPINESS! 

However, choosing happiness isn’t always easy. It takes effort, intention, and courage, especially when the going gets tough. But making that choice can help you reclaim your life and find peace amidst the chaos.

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Elia Gourgouris, America’s Happiness Doctor, dive deep into what choosing happiness every day means.

Dr. Elia Gourgouris is an acclaimed psychologist, author, and keynote speaker specializing in happiness and well-being. With over 30 years of experience, he helps individuals and organizations achieve lasting happiness through practical strategies and self-care practices. Dr. Elia is the author of Seven Paths to Lasting Happiness and Seven Keys to Navigating a Crisis and is dedicated to spreading joy and positivity worldwide. 

In the conversation, they share practical tips and insights on cultivating lasting happiness through simple, daily habits.

Things you will learn from this episode:

• The seven paths to lasting happiness

• What it means to “feed your soul”

• Why self-forgiveness is hard

• How to choose happiness every day

• The power of kindness

Ready to take back control and start living your best life? Let’s get into it.

Tune in to the full episode now!

• Websites:

• https://www.dreliagourgouris.com/

• https://www.thehappinesscenter.com/ 

• 7 Paths to Lasting Happiness: Happiness the Ultimate Success in Life: https://www.amazon.com/Paths-Lasting-Happiness-Ultimate-Success/dp/0996229000 

• 7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide to Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters: https://www.amazon.com/Keys-Navigating-Crisis-Practical-Emotionally/dp/1734943815 

• 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