A man sitting in a wheelchair

Telling Stories With Dan Tomasulo

Dan Tomasulo, Ph.D., is a sought-after speaker and author on topics including positive psychology, positive education and positive psychotherapy. His new book, American Snake Pit: Hope, Grit and Resilience in the Wake of Willowbrook, tells the story of the fallout after the closing of New York state’s most controversial state hospital for the mentally disabled. After a groundbreaking expose from Geraldo Rivera about the horrendous living conditions at Willowbrook State School, including overcrowding, patient abuse and questionable treatment methods, plans were made to close its doors. Dan, then a young post-graduate student, was hired to relocate and treat its most seriously disabled residents. What you'll learn in this episode: How storytelling can be used as a positive intervention. Why group therapy and role playing can be an effective tool toward positive mental health. How to practice a virtual gratitude visit. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Read the first 2 chapters of American Snake Pit for free! Purchase his bookAmerican Snake Pit: Hope, Grit and Resilience in the Wake of Willowbrook.
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Positive Education Changes Lives With Emily Larson

Emily Larson is a researcher, instructor and practitioner in the fields of education and public policy. As director for the International Positive Education Network (IPEN), which was formed by Martin Seligman, Angela Duckworth and Sir Anthony Seldon, Emily is part of a movement that is turning the academic research surrounding positive psychology into practical lesson plans and interventions for educators and students. In this episode, Emily talks with Live Happy CEO and IPEN Advisory Board member Deborah K. Heisz about how positive education is changing the way students learn and tells listeners about the upcoming World Positive Education Accelerator(WPEA). What you'll learn in this episode: Why positive education is so important in today's world. How positive education changes the lives of students. What the World Positive Education Accelerator is and how you can get involved. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Register for the WPEA and receive 15% with code WPEAHAPPY. Can’t attend the full conference? Single Day Tickets are available. Follow the event with #WeFlourish and find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
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The Pursuit of Endurance With Jennifer Pharr Davis

If someone’s ever told you to “take a hike,” chances are you never took it as seriously as Jennifer Pharr Davis. Named a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Jennifer has hiked more than 13,000 miles on six continents. She was the first woman to set a Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail, and during her time on the trails she has learned some incredible things about setting goals, bouncing back and pushing through. What you'll learn in this episode: How hiking can change the way you look at the world. Why connecting with nature is so important. How changing your focus can change your outcome. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Follow Jennifer on Twitter and Instagram. Read an excerpt and purchase her bookThe Pursuit of Endurance.
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Two women in the workplace

Can We Be Civil? With Christine Porath

Inspired by an unfortunate toxic work environment in her first job out of college, Christine Porath took on the topic of workplace incivility and its cost to both companies and employees. She’s been running with it ever since. Christine Porath, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and the author of Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace and co-author of The Cost of Bad Behavior. She works with leading organizations to help them create thriving workplaces. What you'll learn in this episode: What companies can do to encourage a culture of civility, including the benefits of creating workplaces where people can thrive. Steps to help you become more civil at work, including tips on how to respond to those ever-common scenarios of phone snubbing and rudeness in meetings. The economic and health costs of incivility in the workplace. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Read more aboutChristine on herwebsite. Purchase her book Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace. Follow her onTwitter.
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Soldiers Tell Stories Through Song With Mary Judd and Jay Clementi

Music has the power to change lives, and nowhere is that more evident than in the powerful SongwritingWith:Soldiers program. This unique program pairs members of the military with professional songwriters to craft songs about their experiences. Through their songs, they learn to release pain, tell their stories and build a strong bond with one another. Program co-founder Mary Judd and singer/songwriter Jay Clementi talk about the power of the program—and what it’s taught them. What you'll learn in this episode: What happens at aSongwritingWith:Soldiers retreat. Why the tools of positive psychology are such an important part of the retreats. How the program is changing—and even saving—lives. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Follow SongwritingWith:Soldiers on Facebook and Twitter. Donate to thisorganizationhere. Listen to their inspiring songs here.
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Helping Children Thrive With Michelle Kinder

How do you encourage children to thrive when their lives are filled with stress and trauma? As executive director of the Momentous Institute in Dallas, Michelle Kinder carries on a century-old mission to help children overcome trauma and toxic stress to learn how to live happy, healthy lives. She explains how methods practiced at Momentous are changing the lives of the entire family. What you'll learn in this episode: What social emotional health is—and how to help children achieve it. How trauma and adverse childhood experiences affect development. What we all can do to help children overcome barriers to positive mental health. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Follow MichelleonTwitter. Learn more about Momentous Institute on their website and blog. Download freelesson plans forEarly Childhood, Elementary and Middle School. Momentous Institute’s seventh annual Changing the Odds Conference will be held September 27-28, 2018 at Omni Dallas Hotel. The 2018 theme is Belonging: Because Together We Are Better.
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Business man calling his mother

Good, Motherly Advice With Becky Blades

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.
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Flips for Happiness With Pat Graves

When Pat Graves was going through a difficult time in his life, he flipped out. But not in the way you might think: He committed to doing a backflip every day and videotaped his flips for an audience that quickly grew. Doing flips reconnected him with something he had loved doing since he was a child and also gave him a mission. Find out how his simple idea launched the #InspireHappiness movement, and how he is using it to spread joy while maintaining his own balance. What you'll learn in this episode: Why it's important to do something you love every day What the Inspire Happiness movement is all about How each person can learn to Inspire Happiness Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Follow Pat on Facebook,Twitterand Instagram.
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Illustration of two kids sharing books to each other.

How to Raise Kind Kids With Thomas Lickona

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).
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Building Resilience and Well-Being With Karen Reivich

As director of the Resilience and Positive Psychology Training program at the Psychology Center of the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Karen Reivich specializes in what makes us bounce back from adversity. Join us as she shares the attributes that help us create more resilience in our lives—and how we can teach our children to become more resilient, too. What you'll learn in this episode: Why some of us are naturally more resilient than others How to start teaching resiliency skills to children The role of optimism in resilience Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Purchase herbookThe Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strengths and Overcoming Life's Hurdles. Follow KarenonTwitter. Karen's course, "Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills" is offered online. To enroll in the Foundation of Positive Psychology Specialization, visithttps://www.coursera.org/specializations/positivepsychology#courses.
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