Happy New Year, Curious People! It’s 2025! Kick off the New Year with a truly transformative conversation with Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy! In this episode, we dive into what it means to leave behind “Old Happy”—the toxic pursuit of perfection, individualism, and relentless achievement—and embrace “New Happy,” a philosophy rooted in connection, self-compassion, and contributing to the world. JVN gets candid about navigating shame and embarrassment while Stephanie shares her expert insights on managing emotions, cultivating resilience, and finding joy in uncertain times. Together, they explore everything from the pitfalls of toxic positivity to how capitalism affects our collective well-being (spoiler: it’s a lot). Whether you’re looking to thrive in 2025, find your purpose or just feel a little less alone - we’ve got you covered for the year ahead!

Stephanie Harrison is an expert in the science of happiness and a writer, designer and speaker. Since receiving a master’s degree in positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, she has devoted her life to the study of well-being. Her company, The New Happy, has revolutionized the way that people understand and pursue happiness. Their artwork, newsletter, videos, podcast, and resources reach millions of people around the world every month. She is a Harvard Business Review and CNBC contributor and her expertise has been featured in publications such as Fast Company, Forbes, and Architectural Digest. She is a regular speaker at Fortune 500 companies and advises on employee well-being and company culture. She lives in California with her partner and their dog.

You can find Stephanie Harrison on Instagram and TikTok @stephaniehson

Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN.

Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.

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Our senior producers are Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall.

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