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Becky Blades is author and illustrator of the award-winning book Do Your Laundry or You’ll Die Alone: Advice Your Mom Would Give if She Thought You Were Listening. You can also find her writing on blogs including Oprah.com, The Huffington Post and Grown and Flown, or follow her on Twitter and Facebook at LaundryorDie. What you'll learn in this episode: How loving, motherly advice can be part of the recipe for happiness for the giver and receiver. Why a humorous approach to advice giving may resonate more with our kids. What moms really want for Mother’s Day. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Follow Becky on Facebook and Twitter. Purchase her book Do Your Laundry or You'll Die Alone: Advice Your Mom Would Give if She Thought You Were Listening.

World-renowned developmental psychologist Thomas Lickona, Ph.D., joins the Live Happy Now podcast to discuss his latest book, How to Raise Kind Kids: And Get Respect, Gratitude, and a Happier Family in the Bargain. Wouldn’t it be great if kids came with a handbook? Well they don’t, so How to Raise Kind Kids may be the next best thing. Join us for this episode of Live Happy Now as we talk to Thomas and tackle issues such as reducing screen time, developing positive attitudes and what to do in challenging situations. What you'll learn in this episode: How to create a positive family culture. How to help your kids navigate strong emotions like anger, jealousy and fear. Common mistakes parents make—and how to avoid them. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Purchase his book How to Raise Kind Kids. Follow Dr. Thomas Lickona on Twitter. Learn how he is promoting the development of performance character and moral character—excellence and ethics—in schools, families, and communities through The Center for the 4th and 5th Rs (Respect and Responsibility).

Most of us wish we had just a little more free time in the day. Now, Live Happy host Jeff Sanders tells us how we all can discover free time that we didn’t even know we had! Jeff, who is host of the top-ranking weekly podcast on productivity, The 5 AM Miracle Podcast, shares some of the secrets from his new book, The Free-Time Formula. He tells us how we can get more out of each day—and how productivity and happiness go hand in hand. What you'll learn in this episode: How to have more free time every week How to block distractions and focus like a pro The value of downtime Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Purchase his book The Free-Time Formula. Follow Jeff on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about him on his website.

Courtney Carver is one of the world’s top bloggers on the topic of minimalism and author of the new book, Soulful Simplicity. Courtney’s simple experiment to live with less stuff grew into a complete overhaul of her mind, body and spirit. She found that clearing her physical space improved her psychological space, too—and has learned firsthand how ridding ourselves of excess can actually lead to enjoying more of what life has to offer. What you'll learn in this episode: The value of learning to live with less What we can learn about ourselves as we begin clearing clutter How living more simply can improve your relationships Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Courtney on her website. Purchase her book Soulful Simplicity. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

GripTape is an initiative committed to putting young people in the driver's seat of their learning. They create opportunities for youth to follow their passions — as inventors, designers, and producers, actively constructing their path for success and supporting other young people to do the same. The GripTape Learning Challenge is a call to action to youth to design, create, and execute their own learning journeys. What you’ll learn in this podcast: Why the way formal schooling traditionally functions can be an impediment to the development of agency The "supports" that adults often put in place in service of helping youth to develop and learn run counter to the development of independence The 3 things young people request to better own and drive their own learning Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Visit griptape.org

Sarah Ockwell-Smith is a mother of four children, founder of the parenting website GentleParentingInternational.com and author of eight parenting books, including the upcoming release Gentle Discipline. What you’ll learn in this podcast: How to effectively discipline your children for a peaceful, harmonious family life How to raise kids who will be emotionally intelligent, confident and independent How to control your temper and reduce yelling in the household Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Visit GentleParentingInternational.com Follow Sarah on Twitter and Facebook Purchase a copy of Gentle Discipline: Using Emotional Connection—Not Punishment—to Raise Confident, Capable Kids

Lea Waters is an Australian positive psychology expert and educator who specializes in positive education, parenting and organizations. Her first book The Strength Switch: How the New Science of Strength-Based Parenting Can Help Your Child and Your Teen to Flourish shows how focusing on our children’s strengths rather than trying to correct their weaknesses may be the key in raising a resilient, optimistic and successful child. What you’ll learn in this podcast: What is strength-based parenting and what are its benefits How to address your child’s weaknesses Two easy tips to implement strength-based parenting Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Download free strengths-based parenting resources here. Purchase The Strength Switch: How the New Science of Strength-Based Parenting Can Help Your Child and Your Teen to Flourish. Learn more about Lea Waters and The Strength Switch.

                 Laurie Berkner is a best-selling, award-winning children’s recording artists and widely recognized as the uncrowned queen of children’s music. Laurie’s albums have been best-sellers on a chart typically dominated by movie soundtracks and major label compilations. Laurie has written the music and lyrics for two Off-Broadway children's musicals produced by New York City Children’s Theater: Wanda's Monster (2013) and The Amazing Adventures of Harvey and the Princess (2014). What you'll learn in this podcast: What children can teach us about music How music can help children learn and grow How to get rid of self-criticism and let go Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Visit Laurie's YouTube channel Follow Laurie on Twitter and Facebook Purchase Laurie's book We Are the Dinosaurs and album Superhero

                 Amy Blankson has become one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between positive psychology and technology and is the only person to be named a Point of Light by two presidents (President George H. W. Bush and President Bill Clinton) for creating a movement to activate positive culture change. In this episode of Live Happy Now she expands on her article Get a Grip on Your Gadgets in the February 2017 issue of Live Happy magazine.  What you'll learn in this podcast: Tips on a healthy and happy digital cleanse The steps to de-clutter your tech devices How organization contributes to your overall happiness Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Amy at AmyBlankson.com Recycle your electronics at e-stewards.org or BestBuy.com

                 Bruce Cameron began his writing career as a humor columnist for the Denver Rocky Mountain News. Sadly, the Rocky went out of business, but he says that was not his fault. He is a Benchley award winner for humor and was the 2011 NSNC Newspaper Columnist of the Year. His novel A Dog’s Purpose spent 52 weeks on the NY Times best-seller list and DreamWorks has developed it into a film currently playing at theaters across the country. What you'll learn in this podcast: The amazing story of how A Dog's Purpose became such a huge hit The true message of the book and of our dogs What prompted the writing of A Dog's Purpose Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Purchase a copy of A Dog's Purpose and visit the website Learn more about bringing A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey to your school