The Happier You: Empowering Your Journey to a Joyful and Fulfilling Life

The Easy Plus One Method: A Nutrition Coach's Simple Approach to Lasting Health Guest: Staci Lynch, Certified Functional Nutrition Coach Episode Summary Have you ever experienced "food fear"? That anxiety around social eating, not knowing what's safe for your body, or feeling like a high-maintenance guest everywhere you go? In this powerful episode, Bona sits down with function...

You know that feeling when you're "doing everything right" but still feel exhausted by 3 PM? Or when your doctor says your labs look "normal" but you definitely don't feel normal? This week, I'm chatting with Sharleen Lucas—an RN who left traditional hospital nursing because she was tired of seeing people suffer without real solutions. Sharleen breaks down metabo...

In today's episode I'm talking to empty nest coach Diana McIntosh about navigating the emotional and identity shifts that come with children leaving home. Diana shares her personal journey as a single mom, her “3C Framework” for rediscovering passion and purpose, and practical tools—like her “Magic Morning Reset”—to help women move from surviving to thriving. Key Takeaways: The emotional...

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Chris Ayotte , former Army officer and host of The Northern Sentinels podcast, to explore what it means to live a life shaped by intentionality, priorities, and personal fulfillment . After years of military service and multiple deployments, Chris made a life-changing decision: to step away from the Army and spend his daughter’s final two years of high sc...

The Power of Creative Expression: Healing & Transformation with Sam Horton Have you ever felt stuck in your emotions or struggled to find a way to express yourself? In this episode of The Happier You , we explore the transformative power of creative expression with special guest Sam Horton . Sam shares her journey of using creativity as a tool for healing and personal growth, showing us how ta...

Does February ever feel like the longest, toughest month? You’re not alone! From the post-holiday slump to the pressure of Valentine’s Day, February can be a hard month to get through. But what if you could change that? In this episode, Bona discusses how small mindset shifts and intentional actions can transform February from a dark, dreary month into one filled with light and joy. Discover pract...

 In this episode of The Happier You podcast, I sit down with transition coach Jodi Webster to discuss navigating life’s major changes. Whether a transition is planned or unexpected, it can be difficult to handle. Jodi shares her personal journey into transition coaching, reflecting on her own career shifts and the challenges she faced without guidance.  This episode dives into Jodi’s top tools and...

Do you want to make 2025 the year you truly love? In this episode, I simplify the process of goal-setting and annual planning with a fun and practical approach designed to work for you . Whether 2024 left you feeling accomplished or drained, this framework will help you celebrate your wins, set meaningful goals, and create a life you’re excited to wake up to every day. If you’ve ever struggled wit...

In this heartfelt episode of The Happier You podcast, I sit down with Patricia Van Der Laan, my happiness mentor of over four years. Patricia has been a guiding light in my own happiness journey, and this year, she has faced incredible challenges with resilience, grit, and grace that continue to inspire me. Together, we discuss the real, messy truth about happiness—how it’s not always easy, and wh...

December at The Happier You community is all about gratitude! It’s one of the first happiness tools I implemented, and it’s simple, free, and life-changing. In this episode, I’m sharing a heartfelt story from Benjamin Hardy’s book The Gap and The Gain that hit me right where I live. It’s about focusing on what’s missing instead of appreciating what’s already there—and how gratitude can shift that...

Episode Description: The holiday season can be both magical and overwhelming. As we navigate the busy festivities, it’s easy to forget to pause and appreciate the blessings we already have. In this weeks episode I am inviting you into our December Gratitude Challenge , a simple and powerful way to bring more holiday happiness into your life. I discuss how practicing gratitude, especially during ch...

As the holiday season approaches, we're surrounded by ads telling us that happiness can be wrapped, boxed, and gifted. But is the best gift you can give yourself something you can buy? In today’s episode, we’re exploring what it really means to give ourselves a gift that brings true joy and fulfillment—no price tag required. Using Gary Chapman's concept of the Five Love Languages as our...

Episode Summary: The holidays are just around the corner—are you ready? Whether you’re the type to have your Christmas shopping done in September or you prefer to wing it, this episode is for you! Today, we’re diving into how planning ahead can transform your holiday season from chaotic to calm. With practical tips and personal stories, you’ll learn how to set boundaries, create new traditions, an...

In today’s episode, I’m diving into how we can turn setbacks into stepping stones. Instead of seeing failure as something that happens to us, what if we could see it as something happening for us—a way to help us learn and grow? I share a personal story about some of the setbacks I faced early on in my military career and the lessons I learned that still help me today. I’ll walk you through a five...

Hey, happy people! In today's episode, I’m thrilled to welcome back Diane Sorensen. You might remember Diane from her previous appearance on the podcast, where we dived into the Rescue and Empowerment Triangles. This time, Diane and I explore the powerful and sometimes misunderstood topic of boundaries. Have you ever found yourself saying yes when you really wanted to say no? I know I have! I...

Episode Title : What You Offer to Others, You Give to Yourself: Happiness Tools for Real Life Welcome back to season five of The Happier You podcast! In this episode, Bona shares a powerful interview with Teri Murray, who participated in one of the early 21 Day Happiness Challenges. Together, they explore key happiness tools, including “What You Offer to Others, You Give to Yourself” and the impor...

Episode Summary: In the final installment of the summer rerun series, I am encouraging you to focus on your strengths and stop being your own worst critic. This episode is all about recognizing the amazing things you're good at and embracing them instead of fixating on your weaknesses.  Key Takeaways: Focus on Strengths: Stop dwelling on your shortcomings and start acknowledging what you do w...

In today's special rerun episode, we delve into the transformative power of play. Following up on our exploration of creativity in the first part of this two-part series, we now turn our focus to how play can rejuvenate our lives, reduce stress, and spark joy. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or simply in need of a little fun, this episode is for you! Why Play Matters Discover...

Host: Bona Normandeau Episode Title: " Rediscovering Joy: Why Creativity and Play Matter (Part 1)" Podcast Website: The Happier You Episode Summary: Welcome to the Happier You Podcast! In this week's episode, I delve into the transformative power of creativity and play. This is the first part of a two-part series exploring how these elements can rejuvenate our lives. Do you feel uni...

Episode Title: Don’t Wait for a Crisis: Life Lessons from a Plane Crash Survivor Original Air Date: August 9, 2020 (Don't Postpone Your Life) Hosts: Bona Normandeau & Dany Normandeau Episode Summary: In this thought-provoking episode, we revisit our conversation inspired by Ric Elias' impactful 2011 TED talk, "3 Things I Learned While My Plane Crashed." Ric Elias was one of...

 In this episode, I’m reminiscing about summer reading programs from my childhood. Whether you're traveling, relaxing by the lake, or diving into a good book, summer can be a time for fun and personal growth. Join me as I share  some fantastic book recommendations to inspire your summer reading list. Book Recommendations: Take the Stairs by Rory Vaden: The Happiness Equation by Neil Pasricha:...

In this episode I discuss the power of "Easy Wins" – small, manageable version of your habits that can transform your day and enhance your happiness. Drawing inspiration from Brené  Brown and James Clear, I talk about actionable steps to help you stay on track and cultivate positive habits, even on the busiest days. Key Topics Covered: Understanding Easy Wins: Learn why small victories m...

Join me this week for an enlightening conversation with one of my favorite people in the world, Doris Belland. Doris is not only a close friend but also a renowned women's money coach , bringing a wealth of wisdom and experience to our discussion. In this episode, we delve deep into the transformative power of identifying and living by your core values . I've been reflecting a lot on my...

Welcome back to The Happier You! In today's episode, we're diving deep into the Empowerment Dynamic with our returning guest, Diane Sorensen. The Empowerment Dynamic serves as the antidote to the familiar Drama Triangle we explored in a previous episode. As we unravel the roles entrenched in the Drama Triangle, a newfound awareness emerges. We start questioning our involvement in the dra...

 In today's episode we have Lori Mitchell back on the podcast to talk about how her journaling practice has supported her over the past year.  Lori was on the podcast almost a year ago when she agreed to let us join her on her journey of creating a journaling practice.  Today we check in with her so she can share her thoughts on journaling. Loir is a fun guest because she is open, honest and...