Harvesting Happiness

A study by the National Institute of Health found an estimated 21 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in 2020. Beyond the sheer number of people affected, what makes these findings astounding is the limited number of treatment options available for those who reach out for help. To gain perspective into the issue and discover why many suffering from clinica...

What is true is not always what some choose to believe. There are some people who subscribe to the ignorance is bliss philosophy and others have difficulty discerning which information is born in conspiracy or in science. To gain a better understanding of those who wish to remain passionately ignorant and willfully disinformed, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two aut...

A staggering statistic of today’s medical care is that in the average doctor-patient interaction, the doctor interrupts the patient within 18 seconds. This quick interruption offers very little time for a connection to be formed between a doctor and their patient. This transactional approach hinders the clinicians’ ability to provide solutions to patients who may not feel as if they were unable to...

There are many facets of the human experience we have yet to fully comprehend. While we have mapped out the systems and attributes of our physical bodies, very little is understood about the intuitive and spiritual aspects of our complex selves. Quantum physics offers us a glimpse into our connection with the universe. To help us navigate the widely uncharted territory of the ethereal, Positive Ps...

What navigates your internal moral compass? Do you subscribe to a religion or belief in supernatural power to guide you? Or do you allow innate love, compassion, and empathy to steer you toward a better earthly experience for all? To examine the moral weight of religious obedience, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two professors about their books that address the virt...

From the famous ‘I have a dream’ speech by Martin Luther King to referring to America as the land of dreams, society often guides us toward creating a dream, or aspiration, to attain. Studies show that those dreams may change over time due to age, race, gender, and societal factors. To get the low down on higher intentions, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with three autho...

There is a wide gap between feeling not enough and good enough. The secret to feeling good enough is using boredom and frustration to propel us forward toward achieving our goals. We become frustrated when we face obstacles to getting things we care about and it forces us to try another way of something new. By embracing our imperfections, and relinquishing our need to be right, we can all lead a...

Even though humans grasp the double-helix-shaped chain of our DNA strands, very little is understood about the information that is passed down from generation to generation. Physical attributes can be decisively attributed to the traits of our ancestors but what about the memories, and traumas that make up our emotional inheritance? To discover the ways emotional inheritance can nurture us, and ca...

With many US cities falling into disrepair following the pandemic, business downturns, and brain drains, the term ‘Hometown Proud’ has become almost non-existent. Young talent looks elsewhere for opportunities to make their mark leaving once vibrant towns uncared for. What will it take to empower inhabitants to restore our beautiful cities and rekindle once thriving communities? To merge architect...

Most people in our society celebrate life once a year with lavish birthday parties, happy songs, and sweet gatherings. But, when it comes to bereavement, grief, death, and loss we tend to tiptoe around the subjects. If we followed the philosophy of our ancestors we would appreciate life more by having meaningful conversations about our mortality. To traverse the normally taboo territory of loss, P...

Self-care has become a diluted term thrown about by many who only intend to sell beauty care products. But, true self-care is so much more than physical relaxation. Complete self-care encompasses mental and emotional health and psychological fitness. With over 40 million Americans struggling from some level of anxiety or depression, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen questions the...

Throughout human history, men have been the storytellers and the scribes. How might our cultures have changed if we also had versions of herstory to study and learn from? Who might we be today if matriarchy guided our dreams, ambitions, and basic needs? To ponder these questions and understand how women can lean into their power, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two a...

Our attitudes about our image and aging can directly affect our health and well-being. The over-publisized belief that we lose our value in society as we age can wildly diminish our quality of life. During a time of life that should be celebrated, women in their 50s are bombarded by the media with ideas of reconnecting to their youth. But, should they want to reconnect? To discover tools to keep u...

Factory-based farming and meat processing facilities have become part of the food chain for many developing nations but they are, in some circles, considered dirty little secrets. From birth to death, meat production sullies all aspects of the environment, not to mention the pain and suffering of the animals in this cycle. Plant-based eating is an alternative option that uses fewer resources and l...

There are times in all of our lives when we wish we would have said something differently or changed the way we reacted to something or someone. But, truth be told, very few of us have acquired the communication skills to express ourselves fully to the people we come into contact with, especially when it comes to a loved one. To shine a light on how to hone our communication skills and truly empat...

Overstimulation is affecting us all. Everywhere we turn screens, people, and devices are battling for our attention. Without the right tools, it becomes easy to get stuck in the mire or not advocate for ourselves in the best way possible and focus our attention on the future. To discover how we can regain personal agency and make better decisions, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen...

Some people grimace when talking about their job in the corporate world. Common complaints are they must comply with orders, they feel their voice isn’t being heard, or they must conform to the status quo. And, then there are some who buck the system and break the rules to innovate and drive positive change. How can organizations change an employee's experience to create constructive disruption? W...

During the 2000s, the number of people who say they are lonely has doubled and the number of suicides has gone up by 33% in the US. The recent COVID pandemic has only served to exacerbate these conditions. The one group that has fared better in terms of happiness and well-being is the elderly. To discover why maturity brings resilience and wisdom, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen...

Most people want to be happy. Yet, the moral fabric of society lays prey to degradation caused by our evolutionary need to tribalize. The reduction of our critical thinking abilities allows for mind parasites to take hold and inhibit well-being. Is it possible to inoculate our minds and make them immune to untruths and bad ideas that spread through social media? To unveil mental methods that keep...

Throughout our existence, humans have dipped our proverbial toes into the how and the why of our thoughts and actions. But as curious as we are, there is still a wide gap in our understanding of what is fact and what is fictitious. To discover how to thwart misinformation and move closer to understanding our psyches, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a scientist and a...

The quality of information we intake and the meaningful conversations we have directly equate to how productive and meaningful we consider our lives to be. When we add digital devices into the mix we add distractions that keep us from focusing on the task at hand. The distractions plus the frustration of being unable to focus our attention can lead to stress which wreaks havoc on our bodies. To fi...

Taking time away from our digital devices and engaging in the present moment is becoming more difficult with each new social media app. Each bell and ding is designed to hook us and keep us engaged. When we are conscious and thoughtful about our screen time, we put ourselves back in control of our human experience. To find out how we can take a much-needed digital detox and re- engage with society...

Human beings require interpersonal relationships to be fulfilled in life. But many who suffer from bouts of depression find it difficult to take the necessary steps to get motivated or to communicate their needs with others. Researchers are studying how to create mindfulness techniques that can break cycles of depression for willing participants. To find out more about the mindfulness- healthy min...

Social connection is fundamental to the human experience. Our minds are incentivized to connect with other humans by the release of warm and fuzzy pleasure-inducing chemicals that encourage us to communicate with and touch other humans. Mimicking this strategy is how technology companies commandeer our bodies and minds to keep us transfixed on their product. Unfortunately, their products only feed...

Many humans are unaware of the depths of their physical and mental strength. When confronted with a task they fear, some use substances to mentally dull themselves while others say they are unable to take action. If the tools for reaching our next level of performance are all straightforward and free, why aren’t more of us shifting to become more resilient and tougher? To reveal the secrets of hig...