Harvesting Happiness

A sense of belonging is essential to human existence. Our ancestors needed to be part of a social group to be safe and provided for. Our need for acceptance still drives us. As an example, being ostracized in today’s ‘cancel’ culture has been referred to as a type of death. To better understand how the human mind has evolved to deal with the pressures of 24-hour access to social media and more, Ha...

Yoga studios have become ubiquitous in cities all over the US, and sales of yoga clothes and accessories are projected to grow by over 8% by 2029. But what does yoga’s popularity have to do with a personal yoga practice? To illuminate the real impacts of yoga beyond the mat, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Deepak Chopra’s private instructor and co-founder of ISHTA Y...

Age-related memory loss is a natural part of the aging process. Some people experience a more deeply-rooted memory issue, such as Alzheimer’s, and become deeply forgetful.. Deeply forgetful people often need caregivers for what used to be normal activities. While every case is different, there are some general guidelines on how to restore dignity and selfhood to those afflicted with dementia.. To...

Socrates is credited with saying, “the unexamined life is not worth living”. Yet, our contemporary world of results-driven work leaves us very little time for ponderance. To unearth the benefits of growing our inner worlds through examination and contemplation, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author and founder of the Catherine Project, Zena Hitz . Zena shares examp...

Can you remember the last time you woke up feeling completely refreshed and ready to start the new day with bright eyes? If not, you may be like the millions of other people around the world who suffer from some form of sleep deprivation. To discover the keys to more restful sleep and how to eliminate the distractions that keep us from fading into all stages of sleep, Harvesting Happiness Podcast...

Every person’s experience in life is different. From a very young age, we learn what actions help us get what we need to survive and thrive. All of these learnings eventually form our belief system, our story. When our beliefs are challenged we are hard-wired to defend ourselves or flee. To find out if these early evolutionary patterns help us in modern-day society or are an outdated response we h...

In western cultures, many people have been led to believe that if we consume, share, or do the right things, happiness is right around the corner. But, how many of us have turned the corner only to find boredom or loneliness? To unpack the secret to finding joy in everyday activities, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with organizational psychologist and behavioral scienti...

These days, more often than not, financial market headlines include the terms ‘market crash’, ‘bubble bursting’, ‘inflation’, or ‘downturn’. What do these terms mean for long-term investors or for those who don’t invest but are impacted by job loss or economic hardship? How can everyday Americans attain enough financial security to be happy? To get expert advice about staying financially healthy,...

The widely-used adage ‘you can’t pick your family’ generally translates into making the best of what you have when you have no choice in the matter. People rarely have the option to choose who provides their mental and physical nourishment, especially children. How we handle relationships with relatives once we reach adulthood is up to us. But, if we have been subject to years of gaslighting or me...

Think about all the times you felt angry today. Were you in traffic and someone using their phone cut you off? Did your teenager shout at you because you told them they couldn’t do something after school? How did you respond? Calmly or did you get defensive? &nbsp To gain a better understanding of some specific tools we can use to de-escalate tense situations and have better communication with...

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...