Live Happy Now

Some days kindness seems in short supply, but this week host Paula Felps is joined by Kristina Joy Carlson, founder of the KINDd Method and managing director of global philanthropy at Carter Global. Kristina has turned her personal practice of outrageous kindness into an inspirational campaign that can be practiced by individuals and corporations alike. In this episode, she explains what it means...

Election season is now officially underway and that means that many of us are already feeling election stress. That’s why Live Happy has partnered with licensed clinical psychologist and author Dr. Lauren Cook to offer a free four-week email course, Overcoming Election Stress. In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with Lauren to talk about some of the symptoms of election stress and explain...

If you’ve never thought of cows as intuitive healers, this episode just might change your mind. Ellie Laks is the founder of The Gentle Barn Foundation, a national organization that rescues and rehabilitates abused and discarded farm animals. She is the creator of cow hug therapy and, as she explains in her  book by the same name , she has learned amazing lessons from these animals about life, dea...

If you feel like your workday never ends, you aren’t alone! This week, host Paula Felps is joined by Janelle Wells and Doreen MacAulay, partners in the consultancy WellsQuest and authors of Our (In)Visible Work: How Everyone Everywhere Experiences It Every Day. Their work focuses on the effect of the unpaid work we do both on the job and at home, and they’re here to talk about how taking on these...

Students and teachers are heading back to school, but just because summer is ending doesn’t mean our fun has to end, too. This summer, Live Happy teamed up with organizational psychologist Mike Rucker, PhD, to offer the Summer of Fun email series, filled with ideas about how to bring more fun to your summer. As we head into fall and winter, host Paula Felps sits down with Mike to talk about how we...

As we head toward the end of summer, many of us are talking about the contentious election environment. In this episode, host Paula Felps is by Rob Volpe, an empathy activist, consultant, and author of Tell Me More About That: Solving the empathy crisis one conversation at a time, who talks about how we can avoid some of the hazards that come with discussing differing opinions. He’ll also explain...

As Live Happy Now wraps up its ninth season, we’re looking ahead to some exciting new things to share with our listeners. In this episode, Live Happy CEO and co-founder Deborah Heisz flips the script to interview host Paula Felps and find out what’s in store. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why we’re going to look at Election Stress in Season 10 and how to sign up for our related email course. Why...

Acclaimed soprano Renee Fleming has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, performing in operas, concerts, theater, and films. But now, the five-time Grammy Award winner is using her voice to help improve our wellbeing. In her new book, Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness, Renee has curated a collection of essays from leading scientists, artists, musicians, creati...

Summer is a recess for all of us, but what if you could prioritize play all year long? This week, host Paula Felps talks with Jeff Harry, who uses a combination of positive psychology and play to foster healing and help individuals overcome their biggest challenges. Learn why we all need to embrace the power of play and how to create your personal play practice.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Ho...

We’ve all heard the advice to stop and smell the roses, but this week’s episode is a reminder to take a moment to arrange them. Talia Boone is a social entrepreneur whose work has centered around human and civil rights issues. A few years ago, she discovered flower arranging as a form of meditation and self-care, and in the height of the pandemic she launched Postal Petals to help others relieve t...

For years, wolves have been revered as spirit animals and in many spiritual traditions, they’re believed to help people connect with their instincts and inner wisdom. At the Sedona Wolf Sanctuary in Arizona, rescued wolves on sacred land create a healing experience for those who have experienced trauma or who are looking for a renewing spiritual experience. In this episode, host Brittany Derrenbac...

If you’re feeling more stressed than usual these days, you aren’t alone. But this week, host Paula Felps is joined by author, psychology instructor, and resiliency expert Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe to find out why that is and what you can do about it. Dr. Robyne’s latest book, Stress Wisely: How to Be Well in an Unwell World, looks at why the stress of today’s fast-paced world is having such a devast...

It’s summertime, and if your body feels like it needs a vacation, it’s not alone – so does your brain!  This week, join host Paula Felps as she talks with Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science and Brain HQ, who explains why vacations are so good for your brain. As you’re about to find out, when you go on vacation, you’re giving your brain all kinds of ways to stay healthy and happy. Listen in to...

We know that kindness is crucial, but sometimes it seems to be in short supply these days. That’s why Randall Hutto, mayor of Wilson County in Tennessee, has made his office the starting point for spreading kindness. This week, Mayor Hutto and project administrator Susan Shaw explain why they created the initiative known as Wilson County Kind and how it is helping create a happier, kinder place to...

Summer officially begins on June 20, and that’s the perfect time to launch Live Happy’s Summer of Fun! We’ve teamed up with organizational psychologist Mike Rucker, PhD, to offer a free eight-week email course based on the principles of his book, The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life. In this episode, he explains how this course will help you learn to program your l...

Loneliness is one of the major challenges facing our society today, and since this is Loneliness Awareness Week, it’s a great time to look at what’s behind this loneliness epidemic. This week, host Paula Felps sits down with physician, teacher, innovator, and author Dr. Jeremy Nobel, founder of The Foundation for Art & Healing and the Project UnLonely initiative. Jeremy, who is also on the fac...

Younger generations are experiencing stress and anxiety differently than previous generations, and that’s something we’re making part of the ongoing conversation at Live Happy.  For this episode, host Paula Felps is joined by author and clinical psychologist Dr Lauren Cook. Her latest book, Generation Anxiety: A Millennial and Gen Z Guide for Staying Afloat in Uncertain Times , looks at why millen...

As we wrap up Mental Health Awareness month, it’s a great time to talk about how social media affects mental health — and how you can use it to support a happier, more meaningful life. Host Paula Felps is joined by coach, speaker and influencer Giselle Ugarte, who helps people learn how to build their confidence, reframe their relationship with social media, and show up more authentically at work...

Music can be a powerful tool for improving mental health, and in this episode, host Paula Felps talks with Brandon Staglin, co-founder and president of One Mind, a mental health nonprofit organization committed to improving brain health by supporting research and providing resources. Central to their mission is music, which Brandon explains has been an incredible healing tool in his own struggle w...

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and this episode is a reminder that we can’t just be aware of the problem – we need to take action. Host Paula Felps is joined by mental health advocate Patrick J. Kennedy, whose new book, Profiles in Mental Health Courage, shares the dramatic stories of people who are living with mental illness. Because of his own challenges with mental illness and addiction,...

The relationship between mothers and daughters can be tricky, so this week, host Paula Felps sit down with co-authors and mother/daughter duo Leslie and Lindsey Glass, who’ve just released the book, The Mother-Daughter Relationship Makeover: 4 Steps to Bring Back the Love. They know all too well how fraught the mother/daughter relationship can be, and they’re here to talk about what makes this rel...

As companions for our animals, most of like to take a hands-on approach. But learning the ancient art of Jin Shin Jyutsu can take that one step further by deepening the human/animal connection and keeping everyone happy and healthy. Join host Brittany Derrenbacher as she sits down with internationally known teacher Adele Leas, the originator of Jin Shin Jyutsu for animals. Although this practice w...

We’re going to celebrate Mother’s Day in just a few days, but in reality, moms should celebrate themselves every day. This week, host Paula Felps sit down with Jennifer Mulholland, a working mom, conscious leadership expert, and co-author of the book Leading with Light: Choosing Conscious Leadership When You’re Ready for More. Jennifer’s work focuses on cultivating presence and rediscovering the l...

As we enter May — which is Mental Health Awareness Month — it’s the perfect time to talk about recent findings about Gen Z. Multiple recent studies show that Gen Z has unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.  In this episode, host Paula Felps sits down with Live Happy CEO and co-founder Deborah Heisz to talk about what’s causing this mental health crisis amon...

In a time when we are increasingly distracted and overwhelmed, many people are rethinking what’s important and how to achieve it.  In this episode, host Paula Felps talks with acclaimed psychologist Emma Seppälä, author of the new book, Sovereign, who explains how our we can overcome the chaos around us and take steps to live a more vibrant, courageous life that aligns with our true desires and po...