Good Life Project

What if mattering could be the key to living your best life? Psychologist Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky joins us to unpack the profound human need for mattering. Isaac explains the two components of mattering—feeling valued and adding value. Discover how cultivating mattering through fairness, purpose, and small generous acts can transform health, happiness, work, and relationships. Learn why extremism...

What if your closest friendships were just as significant as your marriage? My fascinating guest Rhaina Cohen, author of The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center , reveals compelling research on how profound platonic bonds can provide the same fulfillment and devotion as romantic ones. Tune in to hear Rhaina's eye-opening stories that reimagine social connection...

After following in her activist parents' footsteps, Blair Imani reached her breaking point organizing protests in college. She shares how rediscovering spirituality helped her let go of toxic expectations and heal. Blair realized education was a more sustainable way for her to impact change as a historian and creator of the popular Smarter In Seconds educational video series. She discusses learnin...

Do you ever feel like you barely slept even after a full night in bed? You're not alone. Sleep expert Dr. Christopher Winter reveals the truth about the perception gap between how we think we're sleeping and reality. Discover science-backed techniques to get better rest, change your mindset around sleep, and stop obsessing over routines. Dr. Winter shares insights from his book The Sleep Solution...

Sex educator Emily Nagoski reveals how to sustain passionate intimacy over the long haul with research from her groundbreaking new book, Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections . She explains why pleasure trumps desire, how stress impacts connection, and the importance of open communication about desires. Emily offers practical steps to invite more pleasure int...

This January Jumpstart episode explores how we can rediscover our deepest sense of belonging within. Zen priest Rev. angel Kyodo williams and spiritual leader Melissa Carter share how embracing all of ourselves allows us to fully inhabit our humanity. By returning to our inner wholeness through mindfulness, we can move through the world from a place of truth, connect authentically with others, and...

In this episode, Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, author of The Five Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience, shares how to reframe our relationship with stress. She explains why feeling overwhelmed is a common human experience, not a personal failing. Simple, science-backed techniques like breathing, social connection, journaling, and eliminating multitasking can help our minds...

This January Jumpstart episode explores how movement strengthens your mind, body, and immunity. What if exercise could unlock your brain's creativity and make you happier, healthier, and more focused? Neuroscientist Dr. Jennifer Heisz and physician Dr. Gabrielle Lyon reveal how movement strengthens your mind, body, and immunity. Learn how to reframe exercise as playful self-care, not monotonous dr...

Feeling like you're always behind in life? Leo Babauta joins us to explore why we get stuck chasing unrealistic expectations, and simple mindset shifts that can transform your days into a graceful, meaningful, and fun game worth playing. Discover how to ditch perfectionism and embrace self-compassion to experience more ease and joy right now. You can find Leo at: Website | Instagram | Zen Habits P...

This January Jumpstart episode explores the power of exquisite attention - the ability to direct your focus with intention to create moments of profound presence. Renowned mindfulness teacher Tara Brach shares practices like RAIN to help awaken us from anxious, judgmental trances. Leading researcher Dacher Keltner illuminates how awe opens our eyes to everyday wonder and possibility. Learn simple...

When constant ringing and noise from tinnitus brought anxiety, despair and sleepless nights, Jonathan stumbled upon an unlikely antidote - mindfulness meditation. What began as therapy to cope with daily torment evolved into a profound practice for creativity, clarity and calm. Learn how mindfulness helped Jonathan find peace despite unrelenting symptoms, trained his brain to let go of fixating on...

Change is hard. But what if embracing change led to your greatest growth? My guest is Brad Stulberg, bestselling author of Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing – Including You. Brad shares how we can cultivate “rugged flexibility” to gracefully navigate cycles of order, disorder and reorder. Imagine harnessing the storms of change to help you grow into your best self. Brad up...

What really brings meaning and purpose to life? This episode is part of our January Jumpstart series where each week we dive into concepts to drive real change through learning and action. Get science-backed insights from an 80-year Harvard happiness study revealing how relationships and activities—not money or fame—unlock fulfillment with our guide, Robert Waldinger. Discover philosophical wisdom...

If you have big goals and dreams but struggle with making them happen, this episode is for you! We're sharing our powerful 8-part Success Scaffolding framework to finally accomplish your most meaningful visions this year. We'll create a vivid picture of the outcome you want and understand your deeper purpose behind it. Jonathan will walk you through making an adaptable plan, opening a possibility...

What if small, incremental actions could transform your life? In this fascinating conversation with James Clear, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Atomic Habits , you’ll get proven strategies based in psychology and neuroscience for building the habits you want and breaking the ones holding you back. Learn how to create an environment that reinforces positive change and the crucial role iden...

Reignite your passion for life in 2024 with our January Jumpstart episode! We debunk false beliefs about finding your one true passion, reveal the science behind harmonious vs. obsessive pursuits, and explore why curiosity offers a healthier path than waiting for a thunderbolt moment. You'll hear insights from positive psychology expert Dan Lerner and author Elizabeth Gilbert on embracing gradual...

What does your Contribution Bucket look like these days? On this special year-end reflection episode, we dive deep into the work and effort that fills you up rather than drains you. Jonathan shares what he's learned from researching human flourishing at work, including identifying the 5 key qualities that make work energizing: purpose, excitement, flow, full expression, and meaning. Jonathan then...

What does it mean to live meaningfully? Journey with us as we revisit poignant moments from conversations on presence, curiosity, self-acceptance, integration, community, and the power of our stories. We'll dive into chats with Pico Iyer on living fully through presence, Karen Walrond on embracing change and aging with creativity, and violinist Vijay Gupta on building community beyond prestige and...

What makes some couples thrive for decades while others fizzle out? Psychotherapist and bestselling author Amy Morin reveals the habits that erode relationships and the tools needed to build resilient joy in her latest book, 13 Things Mentally Strong Couples Don't Do . Drawing on research and years of counseling experience, Amy shares how small changes can transform even the most challenged partne...

In this illuminating episode, we dive deep into the power of human connection for a fulfilling life. Jonathan shares insights from decades of research showing our most important relationships are key to wellbeing. We explore how to take stock of your Connection bucket and nurture the few deep bonds that matter most. Learn simple but profound practices to be more present with loved ones, keep your...

Discover the winning money mindset to change your financial life. Personal finance phenom and TikTok star Vivian Tu decodes finances in simple steps so you can stop living paycheck-to-paycheck. Learn how to negotiate your true worth, overcome investing fears, adopt wealth-building habits, and use money as a tool for good. Vivian shares insider strategies from her new book Rich AF: The Winning Mone...

Have you ever wondered about the secret fungal networks operating unseen beneath your feet? My guest Merlin Sheldrake, author of the New York Times bestseller Entangled Life, reveals a surreal subterranean cosmos of mycelium underlying life as we know it. In this mind-expanding conversation, Sheldrake illuminates the alien intelligence of fungi and their profound interconnectedness with human exis...

It's been a turbulent year for many of us, taking a real toll on our vitality buckets - our energy levels, physical health, mental focus and overall sense of well-being. In Part 2 of this special Year-End Reflection series, we're tapping into the wisdom of the Good Life Buckets model to help you understand how the last year has impacted your own vitality. Jonathan shares the key ingredients for re...

Have you noticed patterns in your life traced back generations? My guest Dr. Mariel Buqué shares how trauma gets embedded in our biology and psychology, passed down through families. In her new book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma , this psychologist provides clinically proven techniques to regulate our nervous systems, restore secure attachment, process grief, and bre...

What if you could rewrite the subconscious scripts controlling your life? Harness untapped mental powers to conquer pain, anxiety, and addictions? My guest Dr. David Spiegel, renowned psychiatrist & director of Stanford's Center on Stress and Health, pulls back the curtain on hypnosis. With 45+ years of researching and successfully treating patients, he's on a mission to reveal hypnosis as a g...