Nine to Thrive: The Well-Being Podcast

We all have blind spots. And if you’ve ever found yourself stuck, resentful, caught in the blame game, or struggling to take full responsibility for your life — there’s a good chance one of them is at play. In this conversation, Julie is joined by Celi Arias, founder and CEO of ScalePilot and a strategic business coach who has advised over 500 businesses across 22 years. Together, they explore wha...

Can you believe that we are half-way through 2026? In this episode, Julie shares her mid-year ritual and the questions she asks herself to review, realign and reset. Reflecting on progress, celebrating wins and learning from our successes and setbacks is an essential part of our growth, along with staying open to new possibilities, and a willingness to adjust our goals if need be. Here are the que...

What do you do when you are? In this solo episode, Julie  makes a case for curiosity as the most reliable way through. Not pushing harder, not forcing clarity — but asking yourself better questions. The kind of questions that open doors instead of closing them. Drawing on Barbara Fredrickson’s Broaden-and-Build theory and her own coaching practice, Julie walks you through 18 self-coaching question...

What does it really mean to flourish — not just survive, not just keep up, but genuinely thrive from the inside out? In a world of political polarization, chronic stress, loneliness, and uncertainty, that question feels more urgent than ever. In this episode Julie sits down with Emiliya Zhivotovskaya — founder of The Flourishing Center, pioneer of the PERMA-V model, and one of the world's leading...

When was the last time something stopped you in your tracks — not in a stressful way, but in a “wonder” kind of way? If you're struggling to remember, or want to create more moments like this in your life, this episode is for you. One of the most powerful well-being practices available to you requires nothing more than slowing down and paying attention. In this episode, Julie dives into the scienc...

The Art of Deep Rest — Rethinking Rest, Productivity, and What It Really Takes to Thrive Episode Overview What if rest isn't the obstacle to thriving — but actually the foundation? In this episode, Julie is joined by Maegan Megginson, a spiritual strategist and sabbatical coach for small business owners, to explore why so many of us struggle to rest, what real rest actually looks like, and how des...

Spring is here — and she has something to teach us. In this episode, Julie  invites you to step outside and experience one of the most powerful, most accessible, and most underrated well-being practices available to us: time in nature. As the season shifts and the world outside our windows begins to wake up again, this is your reminder that nature isn't a luxury — it's medicine. And spring is roll...

We have more information, more options, and more ways to connect than ever before — and yet so many of us feel adrift. In this episode, Julie explores one of the most essential questions of our time: how do we create meaning and live with purpose when the world feels chaotic and uncertain? Drawing on the work of Viktor Frankl, the PERMA-V framework from positive psychology, and the concept of post...

In this re-shared episode, I have the privilege of having a profound conversation with Kathryn Goetzke, the Chief Hope Officer of the Shine Hope Company. We explore the delicate balance between despair and hope, discussing how individuals can navigate these emotions in a world filled with challenges. Kathryn shares her personal journey through mental health struggles and her mission to teach hope...

In this solo episode, Julie explores one of the most transformative ideas in positive psychology and in our ability to thrive: that our beliefs don't just reflect reality — they create it. Drawing on her own personal story about inherited beliefs around rest and worth, she walks listeners through the science of how beliefs wire the brain, and shares a simple four-step inquiry practice for identify...

We're living through a period of profound disconnection—from ourselves, from each other, and from any sense of peace. The pandemic, technology, political division, and the World Health Organization's reported rises in anxiety and depression have left many of us feeling fragmented and alone. AND there is a pathway forward. In this episode, Julie sits down with Dr. Diane Dreher, positive psychology...

Ever feel like you're constantly chasing the next achievement, the next milestone, the next thing—thinking that “happiness” lives there?  Like most of us at some time or another, you are on the hedonic treadmill. If you have ever felt like you are on this treadmill, this episode is for you. We explore why we adapt so quickly to the good things in our lives and how our culture keeps us “running in...

What if you approached your own life with the same strategy and intention as a major global exec or a brand launching a major campaign? In this conversation, Julie will sit down with reputation strategist and communications advisor Kate Haranis to explore how the principles of PR can be powerful tools for personal transformation.   Kate will share why narrative matters not just in business, but in...

This is our final episode of 2025! We're taking a break over the holidays and will return mid-January with new episodes, guests, and conversations about thriving and flourishing. In this episode, Julie shares her year-end practice for 2025—a powerful framework for looking back with awareness, taking stock of where you are, and looking ahead with intention to create the 2026 you want. What You'll E...

For thousands of years, people have gathered during the darkest time of year to celebrate light, warmth, and the promise of renewal. Our winter holidays—whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, or Kwanzaa—originated as acts of hope about what would be, not celebrations of what was.   In this episode, we're reclaiming that ancient tradition of hope for modern life. You'll discover what hope ac...

The holidays can feel like a tug-of-war between expectation and reality. In this episode, Julie is sharing nine evidence-based practices to help you approach the season with intention rather than obligation, and presence rather than perfection. These aren't more things to add to your overwhelm—they're permission slips to create a holiday season that actually brings you more joy, a greater sense of...

What if the path to your goals isn't about adding more—it's about subtracting what's in the way? As we approach the end of the year, most of us are thinking about what to ADD: more workouts, more meditation, more productivity. But research shows we have an "addition bias"—we instinctively solve problems by adding rather than removing, even when subtraction would be more effective. In this episode,...

Is pursuing happiness frivolous when there's so much suffering in the world? Science says it's exactly what we need most. In these complex and divisive times, we need all of our resources available to be the agents of change for creative solutions, people who see possibilities (not just pitfalls) and can hold multiple perspectives to build bridges, instead of walls. Here are a few highlights that...

In this milestone 50th episode, Julie explores how understanding and using your character strengths can actually rewire your brain's natural negativity bias. She explains the neuroscience behind why we focus on what's wrong and how positive psychology offers a powerful counter-practice. Our brain is wired with an over active threat detection system from a time when it was essential to be able to d...

In this episode, Julie explores why saying "no" can be so transformative. She explores saying no as an act of honesty and self-respect, examining the cultural programming and neuroscience behind our people-pleasing patterns.  The Cultural Programming We come by our people pleasing honestly, Since the time we were little, we have been rewarded for being good and compliant. Today, in our culture tha...

In this episode, Julie explores the hidden stories that hold us back at work and in life with business strategist Katherine Danesi, diving into unconscious narratives and commitments that keep us stuck despite our conscious desires to grow and thrive. Many of us have heard Carl Jung’s famous quote… "Until you make the subconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”Toda...

In this solo episode,  Julie Fischer explores the critical role of empathy in every area of our lives, from leadership and professional growth to personal well-being. There has been an alarming decline in empathy levels over the past 30 years, and it makes sense… the rapid rise in digital communication, living in “echo chambers” of like-minded people, fierce individualism are three of key factors...

Soulful Listening in a Noisy World with Terri Lonowski In our increasingly noisy world filled with distractions and divisiveness, we've lost the art of truly listening. Julie sits down with Terry Lenowski, founder of Soulful Listening, to explore how we can reconnect through deeper, more intentional listening practices. We are living in a listening crisis -50% of Americans experience loneliness -...

Episode Overview Julie explores how our ancient threat-detection system impacts modern life and shares a powerful mind shift: asking "What if it all works out?" instead of defaulting to worst-case scenarios. Key Concepts Our Evolutionary Wiring Negativity Bias: Brains give 5x more weight to negative information Survival Mechanism: Ancestors who constantly scanned for threats survived The Amygdala:...

In this episode of Nine to Thrive, Julie and Taylor Harrington explore the profound importance of community in our lives. They discuss how humans are innately wired for connection, the challenges of building community in today's divisive world, and the role of technology (both in the way it can enhance and hinder) in fostering relationships. Taylor shares her personal journey into community buildi...