We hear that we should be happy, and that happiness helps you live longer, brings more tranquility to your life, and to the lives of your family and friends. But do you know what happiness truly is? We talk to a psychologist and a philosopher about the essence of happiness, how to find it and how it’s different from person to person and across the globe.

We talk to a historian about how executive powers and privilege for the President were created not by Congress but by the first man to hold the nation’s highest office.

We talk to jazz legend Sheila Jordan and her biographer about Jordan’s career, the racism that jazz musicians experienced, and the need to preserve this music for future generations.

We talk to Patricia Cornwell about how she gathers her facts and actually experiences some of the dangerous situations that she puts her heroine through in her books.

We talk to two specialists in human trafficking about the issue and what’s being done to help the survivors of this horrible crime and their families.

We talk to a philanthropy specialist about how to give wisely and make sure your money is used in the way you intend.

We talk to a veteran comedy writer about the process of writing funny stuff and the successes and failures that make a comedian a star.

We talk to a self-proclaimed “odd child” and imaginative artist and also to a psychotherapist about the pitfalls of over-involved parenting and the benefits of letting kids be on their own to use their imaginations.

We talk with two psychologists about what kind of person perpetrates partner and domestic violence, what victims can do to remove themselves from the abuse, and how being a witness to or a victim of abuse affects the family dynamic.

We talk to an author and dad about why it’s important for employees to receive paid family leave to take care of new babies, sick relatives and elderly parents. He also explains why paid leave is good for business and the economy.