TopPodcast.com
Menu
  • Home
  • Top Charts
  • Top Networks
  • Top Apps
  • Top Independents
  • Top Podfluencers
  • Top Picks
    • Top Business Podcasts
    • Top True Crime Podcasts
    • Top Finance Podcasts
    • Top Comedy Podcasts
    • Top Music Podcasts
    • Top Womens Podcasts
    • Top Kids Podcasts
    • Top Sports Podcasts
    • Top News Podcasts
    • Top Tech Podcasts
    • Top Crypto Podcasts
    • Top Entrepreneurial Podcasts
    • Top Fantasy Sports Podcasts
    • Top Political Podcasts
    • Top Science Podcasts
    • Top Self Help Podcasts
    • Top Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Top Stocks Podcasts
  • Podcast News
  • About Us
  • Podcast Advertising
  • Contact
Not in our directory?
Add Show Here
Podcast Equipment
Center

toppodcastlogoOur TOPPODCAST Picks

  • Comedy
  • Crypto
  • Sports
  • News
  • Politics
  • True Crime
  • Business
  • Finance

Follow Us

toppodcastlogoStay Connected

    View Top 200 Chart
    Back to Rankings Page
    Education

    Flourishing Edge Podcast with Ashish Kothari

    Research backed leadership practices to build high performance cultures and improve workplace wellbeing and employee engagement.

    Every week, Ashish Kothari sits down with the researchers, executives and practitioners doing the most rigorous work on improving workplace wellbeing and turns what they have learned into something you can implement right away.

    Not wellness perks. Not engagement surveys nobody acts on. The specific behaviors, systems and daily habits that separate organizations where people burn out from those where they thrive.

    Conversations range across rewiring habits, building resilience, sustaining energy, cultivating purpose and leading with greater humanity, and how individuals, teams and organizations create the conditions for people and performance to thrive together.

    Recent guests include Barbara Jeffrey on workplace wellbeing, Zeynep Ton on the Good Jobs System, Zach Mercurio on why mattering drives retention, and Dr. Kristin Neff on self-compassion.

    Every episode gives you something you can use on Monday. How to build high performing teams. How to lead culture change that holds. Why managers shape employee motivation and employee experience more than any program ever will.

    Made for business leaders, HR and people teams who own organizational culture and get measured on what it produces.

    Ashish spent 17 years at McKinsey watching brilliant, exhausted leaders burn out and leaders prioritizing higher profits at the cost of their people. He wrote Hardwired for Happiness and founded Happiness Squad to fix it. He created the Organizational Human Potential Index, along with the REWIRE and PEARL models behind programs run at Google, PepsiCo, Danone and MUFG.

    This podcast is where that work happens out loud. 180+ episodes and counting.

    New episodes weekly. More at happinesssquad.com

    Advertise

    Copyright: © Copyright 2023 - Happiness Squad

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify

    Latest Episodes:
    Why the Most Powerful Leader in the Room Is Also the Most Present| Sophie Maclaren Apr 28, 2026
    Show notes

    The most powerful leader in the room isn't always the smartest—often, it’s the one who is most present. In this episode, Ashish Kothari is joined by Sophie MacLaren, a leadership consultant and mindfulness expert at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. They dive deep into why mindfulness is far more than just meditation, exploring how a calm, present mind is a biological necessity for long-term strategic thinking and high performance. Whether you are navigating the complexities of AI or leading a global team, this conversation will help you move from a state of "overstimulation" to one of "relaxed power."


    Inside the Episode:

    * [00:00] – The unique journey of being raised in a mindfulness tradition from age nine.

    * [09:30] – Why an overstimulated mind weakens your ability to think long-term and lead effectively.

    * [18:45] – Mindfulness vs. Meditation: Understanding the "State" vs. the "Trait."

    * [27:15] – The Neuroscience of Presence: How the prefrontal cortex shuts down under stress.

    * [35:50] – Why the most effective leaders are often the most relaxed people in the room.

    * [44:10] – Wisdom and AI: Navigating the future of technology with a human-centric mind.

    * [55:20] – Re-humanizing leadership through retreats and deep-work practices.

    * [1:05:00] – A special invitation to the upcoming Flourishing Retreat.


    Key Takeaways:

    * Presence is Power: High-stakes leadership requires the ability to stay relaxed and present, allowing for clearer decision-making and authentic connection.

    * The "Micro-Habit" of Awareness: Mindfulness isn't about clearing your head; it’s about noticing when you’ve drifted and coming back to the current moment.

    * Protecting the Prefrontal Cortex: Chronic stress and overstimulation force us into "reptilian brain" thinking, which kills creativity and empathy.

    * Leading the AI Revolution: As technology advances, the "uniquely human" traits of compassion, wisdom, and presence become a leader's most valuable assets.


    Connect with The Happiness Squad:

    - Website: Happiness Squad

    https://happinesssquad.com/

    - Ashish Kothari on LinkedIn

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/

    - LinkedIn: Happiness Squad Page

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/happiness-squad

    - Instagram: @myhappinesssquad

    https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

    - Facebook: Happiness Squad

    https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/


    If you enjoyed this episode, please Follow, Rate, and Share it with someone who is ready to lead with more clarity and joy. Join us as we hardwire happiness and mindful leadership into the world.


    Beyond the Robotic Mask: How “Generator” Leaders Fuel High Performance with Dr. Katina Sawyer Apr 21, 2026
    Show notes

    Are you a leader who drains energy or one who generates it? In this episode, Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Katina Sawyer, co-author of Leading for Wellness, to redefine what it means to be a "Generator" leader. They explore how to bridge the gap between high performance and human-centric wellness by shedding the "robotic mask" and showing up as a whole person. Whether you lead a small team or a global organization, this conversation offers a practical masterclass in hardwiring flourishing into the modern workplace.


    Inside the Episode:


    * [00:00] – The definition of a "Generator" leader and why it matters.

    * [08:45] – Moving beyond perks: Why wellness is about culture, not gym memberships.

    * [15:20] – The Trillion-Dollar Cost: The business case for human-centric leadership.

    * [22:10] – "Firing Your Work Self": Why authenticity is your greatest leadership superpower.

    * [31:05] – Emotional Contagion: How your state of mind ripples through your team and their families.

    * [40:15] – Creating "Pockets of Flourishing" even in toxic corporate environments.

    * [48:30] – The Legacy of Leadership: Choosing how you want to be remembered.


    Key Takeaways:


    * Wellness is an Outcome: High-performance cultures are "baked" through psychological safety and supportive relationships, not just added as "icing" through benefits.

    * The Power of Vulnerability: When leaders show up as "whole humans," they give their team permission to do the same, unlocking deeper engagement.

    * Your Sphere of Influence: You don’t need a CEO’s mandate to change how you show up for your immediate team today.

    * Sustainable Success: Protecting your own energy is the essential first step toward becoming a generator for others.


    Connect with Dr. Katina Sawyer:

    - Order the Book: Leading for Wellness

    https://www.google.com/search?q=http://www.workrbeeing.com/book

    - LinkedIn: Katina Sawyer, Ph.D.

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/katina-sawyer-ph-d/

    - Instagram: @workrbeeing

    https://www.instagram.com/workrbeeing/


    Connect with Ashish & The Happiness Squad:

    - Website: Happiness Squad

    https://happinesssquad.com/

    - Ashish Kothari on LinkedIn:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/

    - Instagram: @myhappinesssquad

    https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

    - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/


    If you found value in this conversation, please Follow, Rate, and Share this episode. Join us in our mission to hardwire happiness and mindful leadership into the world. Together, let’s make flourishing the new standard for success.

    #Leadership #Wellness #HappinessSquad #HighPerformance #MindfulLeadership #FlourishingEdge


    The Human-Machine Partnership: Mastering Level 7 Leadership with Jack Swift Apr 14, 2026
    Show notes

    In this transformative episode, host Ashish Kothari welcomes Jack Swift—a West Point graduate, former U.S. Army Airborne Ranger, and tech CEO—to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Level 7 Leadership: The Blueprint for the Human-Machine Era. Jack argues that in an age of exponential AI growth, the most critical leadership skill isn't "doing" more; it’s "being" more. We explore why traditional linear leadership models are "blue-screening" in the modern world and how cultivating internal coherence is the only way to lead teams that move with the speed and fluid trust of a murmuration of birds.

    Main Topics Covered

    Being vs. Doing: Why our "human doing" habits are causing us to suboptimize performance and burn out.


    Internal Coherence: Aligning the gut, heart, and brain to create a stable internal state that cascades through an organization.


    The "Ammonia" of Stress: A visceral look at how extreme stress physically manifests in high-pressure boardrooms and battlefields.


    Relational Alignment: Why trust is the "speed of light" for any organization and how to build it through radical honesty.


    The "I Don't Know" Advantage: How admitting ignorance and mistakes builds an upward spiral of psychological safety and learning.


    Systemic Learning: Moving away from "PowerPoint Theater" toward raw, real-time data loops and "edge listening."


    L7 (Level Seven): The Agentic Coach: An introduction to Jack’s AI agent designed to help leaders move from knowing to doing.


    Key Takeaways

    Your State is Your Reality: The internal condition of the leader determines the creative capacity of the team. A fear-based state limits innovation; a coherent state unlocks it.


    The "Do-Be-Do" Rhythm: Effective leadership isn't about constant meditation; it’s about taking intentional "being" pauses (like box breathing) to inform high-impact "doing."


    Trust is Mandatory for Speed: You cannot outwork a machine, but you can out-trust a competitor. High-trust teams operate in a "murmuration" state, sensing and reacting as one unit.


    Listen to the Edges: The most valuable insights often come from the most junior members or those on the periphery who see the world without the "film" of past experience.


    Intuition is LiDAR: In a world moving too fast for historical data (the rearview mirror) to be relevant, training your intuition is essential for navigating uncertainty.


    Episode Chapters

    0:00 - 3:10 Introduction: The Survival Struggle of Modern Leaders

    3:11 - 8:44 The Big Idea: Being as the Primary Driver of Doing

    8:45 - 14:30 Coherence Defined: Heart Math and the Battle for Clarity

    14:31 - 21:05 The TIFIN Story: When Old Frameworks "Blue-Screen"

    21:06 - 28:47 Shifting States: Learning from Elite Athletes and Special Ops

    28:48 - 34:36 The One-Minute Mindset: Rhythmic Entrainment in the Boardroom

    34:37 - 40:41 Relational Alignment: Why Servant Leadership is Evolving

    40:42 - 45:35 The Power of "I Don't Know" and "I Made a Mistake"

    45:36 - 50:21 Aspirational Teams: Moving Like a Murmuration

    50:22 - 57:18 Systemic Learning: Dropping the "Theater" for Raw Data

    57:19 - 1:03:03 LiDAR vs. Rearview Mirrors: The Future of Intuition

    1:03:04 - 1:08:19 Rapid Fire: L7 AI Agent and Closing Micro-Actions


    Connect with the Guest

    LinkedIn: Jack Swift

    The Book: Level 7 Leadership: The Blueprint for the Human + Machine Era

    Community: Sangha Conscious Leadership


    Stop "blue-screening" and start leading. Follow The Flourishing Edge, like this episode, and share it with one leader who is ready to upgrade their internal operating system.

    __________________________________________________


    Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/


    Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squad


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/


    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad


    Mending the Broken Rung: Why the First Manager Promotion Defines Your Career with Kweilin Ellingrud Apr 07, 2026
    Show notes

    In this eye-opening episode of Flourishing Edge, host Ashish Kothari sits down with Kweilin Ellingrud, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and co-author of The Broken Rung. While much attention is paid to the "glass ceiling" at the top of organizations, Kweilin’s research reveals that the most significant barrier to women’s advancement—and specifically women of color—happens at the very first step to manager. We unpack why educational achievements aren't translating into promotions, the hidden value of "experience capital," and how the disparity in sponsorship versus mentorship quietly stalls promising careers. This episode provides a data-backed blueprint for individuals looking to take agency over their advancement and for leaders committed to building truly equitable talent pipelines.

    Main Topics Covered

    The Broken Rung Defined: Why the first promotion to manager is the biggest point of inequality in the talent pipeline.

    The Education Paradox: Why women out-earn men in college degrees but stall at the entry level.


    Picking the Right Company: Why the organization you choose matters more for lifetime earnings than your specific job or boss.


    Experience Capital: Understanding the skills, knowledge, and wisdom learned on the job that account for half of lifetime income.


    The Sponsorship Gap: Why women are often over-mentored but under-sponsored, and how to fix it.


    Network Structures: The difference between open and closed networks and why mixing personal and professional circles is a career accelerator.


    Skill Signaling: How to quantify and communicate social and emotional skills for better career rewards.


    Key Takeaways

    Fix the Rung to Fix the Top: You cannot equalize the C-suite without first fixing the first promotion to manager; the "talent funnel" math simply won't work otherwise.


    Sponsorship is the Game-Changer: Mentors provide advice, but sponsors create opportunities. Aim for 2–3 active sponsors who will advocate for you when you aren't in the room.


    Beware the "Narrow" Network: Women are statistically more likely to have junior, gender-homogenous networks. Diversify your network across levels, functions, and genders to increase your "reach."


    Make "Big Bold Moves": To maximize experience capital, aim for roles where 25% or more of the required skills are new to you.


    Stay Near the "Cash Register": Spending time in the "Power Alley"—the functions that drive a company's revenue and profit—builds unrivaled credibility and career acceleration.


    Connect with the Guest

    LinkedIn: Kweilin Ellingrud

    The Book: The Broken Rung

    McKinsey Research: Women in the Workplace Report


    Don't let your career stall at the entry level. Follow Flourishing Edge, like this episode, and share it with a colleague or mentor to start building the sponsorship bridge today.

    __________________________________________________


    Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/


    Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squad


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/


    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad


    Breaking the Menopause Silence: A Leader’s Guide to Peak Performance with Kacy Fleming Mar 31, 2026
    Show notes

    In this vital episode, host Ashish Kothari kicks off the new year by tackling a topic that affects half the global population but remains shrouded in "perimenopause blindness." Guest Kacy Fleming, a healthcare veteran and founder of The Fuchsia Tent, shares her harrowing personal journey through a transition she wasn't prepared for. Together, they break down why menopause isn't just a private "bothersome" health issue, but a critical business priority impacting productivity, retention, and $26.6 billion in annual U.S. healthcare costs. This is an essential conversation for leaders of all genders to understand the "midlife collision" and how to support their most experienced workforce.


    Main Topics Covered

    • The "Blindness" Epidemic: Why both men and women often fail to recognize perimenopause symptoms, attributing them instead to stress or life crises.
    • The Business Case for Care: Analyzing the billions lost to absenteeism, turnover, and "presenteeism" due to unsupported hormonal transitions.
    • The Midlife Collision: Navigating the "barge" of a booming career and demanding home life while riding a hormonal roller coaster.
    • Fragmented Symptoms: Moving beyond hot flashes to understand the cognitive fatigue, anxiety, and "anhedonia" (loss of joy) that impact work performance.
    • The 3H Framework for Leaders: A strategic approach involving Healthcare (policies), Help (leadership skills), and HRT/Therapy access.
    • Clinical Advocacy: The importance of seeking menopause-trained clinicians and moving past dismissive medical advice.


    Key Takeaways

    • Menopause is a Biomarker: Symptoms like night sweats aren't just uncomfortable; they are biomarkers for future cardio-metabolic and neurodegenerative health.
    • Clarity Follows Physiology: Before blowing up a career or relationship during a midlife crisis, check if your "lens" is clouded by hormonal fluctuations.
    • Universal Leadership Skills: Supporting menopause doesn't require "special treatment"—it requires the universal skill of having compassionate, difficult conversations.
    • Audit, Don't Just Add: Before buying new "wellness apps," audit your current health plans for $0 co-pays on HRT and remove "step edits" that delay proper care.
    • Pay Now or Pay Later: Organizations can invest in proactive care now or pay much higher costs later in the form of healthcare claims and lost talent.


    Connect with the Guest

    • Website: The Fuchsia Tent
    • LinkedIn: Kacy Fleming
    • Free Resource: The Greene Scale (Symptom Tracker)


    Don't let your top talent suffer in silence. Follow The Flourishing Edge, like this episode, and share it with a colleague or leader to start the conversation that grows the pie for everyone. __________________________________________________

    Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/

    Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squad

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad


    Bridging Science and Spirit: The Path to Flourishing with Jessica Grossmeier Mar 24, 2026
    Show notes

    In this profound episode, host Ashish Kothari sits down with Jessica Grossmeier, a leading authority in workplace well-being with nearly 30 years of experience. Jessica bridges the gap between hard science and the "soft" concepts of purpose, connection, and transcendence. They discuss the current crisis of burnout and loneliness, but more importantly, the actionable "individual playbook" found in Jessica’s new book, Well at Work. This conversation is a call to move from merely knowing the research to embodying practices that foster spiritual groundedness and peak performance.

    Main Topics Covered

    The State of Work: Why employee engagement and loneliness are at critical levels despite a corporate focus on efficiency.

    The "Science to Action" Gap: How to move beyond head nods from executives to genuine organizational transformation.

    Workplace Spirituality: Redefining spirituality as a connection to something bigger and its impact on the "inner void."


    Self-Transcendent Mental States: Understanding the physiological and psychological benefits of awe, flow, and joy.


    The Power of Presence: Why high-end physical workspaces are a waste without the practice of mindful attention.


    Fostering Flow: The "monotasking" revolution and how to protect deep work in a world of 42 disruptions per hour.


    Replenishing Routines: Practical "Micro-Recoveries" to charge your inner battery throughout the workday.


    Key Takeaways

    Spirituality as Resilience: Science (including neuroimaging) shows that a spiritual life—a quest for meaning and connection—builds a more resilient brain and protects against cognitive decline.


    Awe at Work: You don't need a trip to the Grand Canyon to experience awe; focused attention on nature (even via a window or VR) can trigger a sense of connection that reduces stress.


    Monotasking is a Superpower: Multitasking results in a 10–20% productive loss. Protecting "deep work" containers is essential for creative and error-free output.


    The "Micro-Recovery" Strategy: Much like high-performance athletes, workers must integrate recovery (Vitamin M/Movement, journaling, awe walks) into their day to sustain high performance.


    Intention over Policy: Culture changes when individuals set an intention for how to show up and hold each other accountable to those values.


    Episode Chapters

    0:00 - 4:16 Loneliness, Burnout, and the Current State of Work


    4:17 - 10:25 Bridging the Gap: Moving from Research to Genuine Action


    10:26 - 15:25 Jessica’s Breaking Point: Breaking a Jaw and Finding Spirituality


    15:26 - 19:15 The Awakened Brain: The Neuroscience of Spirituality


    19:16 - 22:50 The Lever of Transcendence: Awe, Joy, and Flow


    22:51 - 26:33 Fostering Presence in the Mundane Tasks of Work


    26:34 - 32:39 Case Study: OCB Holdings and the Culture of Care


    32:40 - 38:00 Social Connection: Transforming Small Talk into Heart Work


    38:01 - 41:42 The Flow Deficit: Protecting Deep Work in Disrupted Environments


    41:43 - 46:19 Replenishing Routines: Moving from Doing to Being


    46:20 - 51:42 Vitamin M, Awe Walks, and Charging Your Inner Battery


    Connect with the Guest

    Website: JessicaGrossmeier.com

    Books: Well at Work and Reimagining Workplace Well-being

    Free Resource: Workplace Spirituality Practice Guide


    Don't wait for your organization to change. Follow The Flourishing Edge, like this episode, and share it with a colleague who needs a "Micro-Recovery" boost today.

    __________________________________________________


    Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/


    Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squad


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/


    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad


    Unleash Your Best Self: The Art and Science of Reinventability with Nataly Kogan Mar 17, 2026
    Show notes

    In this vibrant episode, host Ashish Kothari welcomes "reinventability queen" Nataly Kogan. Nataly's journey is a masterclass in metamorphosis—from arriving in the US as a refugee to a career at McKinsey, venture capital, and tech entrepreneurship, and now her ultimate evolution as a professional artist and speaker. They dive deep into Nataly’s Reinventability Framework, a structured yet creative approach to becoming more of who you are meant to be. This episode is for anyone feeling stuck in a career that looks good on paper but feels soul-crushing, and for leaders looking to foster a culture of growth and innovation.

    Main Topics Covered

    • Defining Reinventability:Why reinvention isn't about becoming someone new, but about uncovering the dimensions of yourself that have been waiting to emerge.
    • Step 1: The Zone of Greatness:How to find the intersection of what you love, what you're great at, and where you want to have an impact.
    • Step 2: Possibility-Driven Thinking:Moving from a "map of obstacles" to a "map of possibilities" by quieting the brain’s negativity bias.
    • Step 3: Challenging Limiting Beliefs:Using the story of a world-record hot dog eater to prove that psychological barriers are just stories we tell ourselves.
    • Step 4: Act to Learn:Why clarity and confidence only emergeafteraction, and how to use 14-day "activation sprints."
    • Step 5: Evolve and Experiment:Lessons from James Dyson’s 5,126 "failures" and the importance of measuring progress backwards.
    • The Alchemist & Personal Legends:The spiritual and psychological cost of rejecting your true calling.

    Key Takeaways

    • Authentic Impact:Just because your work is impactful for others doesn't mean it’s meaningful for you. True flourishing requires the bridge to be built on both sides.
    • Greatness is Effortless:Your "Zone of Greatness" often involves things that come so easily to you that you might discount them as "not real work."
    • Action Creates Clarity:Stop trying to plan your way into a new life. Take small, "pivotal experiments" to generate the data you need to move forward.
    • Measure the Gain, Not the Gap:Looking at how far you have to go kills motivation. Looking back at the actions you've taken this week builds the "blocks" of confidence.
    • The Cost of Inaction:Staying disconnected from your personal legend is a primary source of mental and physical suffering.

    Connect with the Guest

    • Website:NatalyKogan.com
    • LinkedIn:Nataly Kogan
    • Book:It's Okay to Be Awesome / Happier Now


    Leading from Within: The Vulnerable Path to Flourishing with Eleanor Allen Mar 13, 2026
    Show notes

    In this insightful episode, host Ashish Kothari sits down with Eleanor Allen—a powerhouse leader who has navigated the peaks of the engineering world, led global social impact as the CEO of Water for People, and served as CEO of B Lab. Eleanor shares her "accidental" discovery of inner development and how moving from a rigid, "controlled" masculine leadership style to one of vulnerability and radical self-awareness transformed not just her life, but her global organization. This conversation is a must-listen for leaders who feel they must carry the world on their shoulders and are looking for a more sustainable, joyful, and high-performance way to lead.

    Main Topics Covered

    1. The Leader’s Mirror:Why an organization’s state of being is a direct reflection of its leader’s personal flourishing.
    2. The Engineer's Armor:Eleanor’s journey from a "got all the answers" professional upbringing to embracing vulnerability.
    3. Leading Through Crisis:How the lack of a "COVID playbook" forced a shift toward asking for help and experimenting.
    4. Head, Heart, and Plate:A simple, powerful meeting ritual to build connective tissue and psychological safety in teams.
    5. The Drama Triangle & Responsibility:Understanding your share of responsibility in workplace conflict.
    6. For-Profit vs. Non-Profit Flourishing:Common drivers and unique stressors (like the "philanthropy myth") in different sectors.
    7. The Flourishing Leader Summit:A preview of the upcoming Denver/Boulder intensive on April 29th.

    Key Takeaways

    1. Self-Care is Organizational Care:Leaders stuck in "survival mode" cannot create thriving ecosystems; your personal well-being is a strategic priority, not an indulgence.
    2. Vulnerability is a Catalyst:Admitting you don't have the answers during uncertain times invites the team to step up, innovate, and co-create solutions.
    3. Mattering and Appreciation:The universal need to feel valued is often the simplest and most effective lever for increasing engagement in any sector.
    4. Measure What Matters:Move beyond superficial "wellness perks" and start measuring root causes like absenteeism, financial stress, and psychological safety.
    5. The Power of Slower:Being "calmer" and more intentional in decision-making leads to better outcomes and more trusting team dynamics.


    How Behavioral Science and AI are Revolutionizing Team Collaboration Mar 10, 2026
    Show notes

    Stop wasting 50% of your time in unproductive meetings and start leveraging the "Flourishing Edge." In this episode, Ashish Kothari sits down with John Betancourt, CEO of Humantelligence, to discuss how a 10-minute behavioral assessment can transform corporate culture from the bottom up. This episode is for leaders, HR innovators, and team members who are tired of miscommunication and want to unlock higher performance through science-based radical self-awareness. Discover why the future of work isn't just about AI replacing tasks, but about AI making us more human.

    Main Topics Covered

    • The "Transformational" Meeting:How behavioral insights can redesign agendas, optimize group discussions, and ensure every voice is heard.
    • John’s Leadership Journey:Lessons fromProctor & Gamble, Wharton, and interviewing over 5,000 C-suite executives.
    • The Three Pillars of Success:Why good judgment, managing by influence, and deep self-awareness are the ultimate markers of a great leader.
    • The Science of "Ask Aura":A look at how Humantelligence measures behaviors, motivators, and work energizers in just 10 minutes.
    • Culture as a Dynamic Force:Why a "one-size-fits-all" corporate culture is a myth and how sub-cultures vary by function and geography.
    • Operationalizing Insight:How to move beyond "personality tests in a drawer" by integrating AI coaching into Slack, Teams, and Outlook.
    • The "Mood Meter":A simple, non-tech ritual to foster compassion and psychological safety within teams.

    Key Takeaways

    • Agile Leadership:True leadership isn't about telling people what to do; it’s about becoming "five different people" to meet each direct report where they are.
    • Duality is an Asset:High-performing teams embrace the tension between opposites—being both deliberate and decisive, or conceptual and detail-oriented.
    • The Power of Misperception:The highest level of self-awareness is understanding how you aremisperceivedby others and having the tools to course-correct.
    • AI as a "Human" Enabler:AI should be used as a "vitamin" to enhance soft skills and empathy, rather than just a "painkiller" for administrative tasks.

    Connect with John Betancourt

    • Website:Humantelligence
    • LinkedIn:John Betancourt(Note: Profile URL uses legal name)
    • Tool:Explore Ask Aura


    AI and the Future of Well-Being with Llewellyn van Zyl Mar 06, 2026
    Show notes

    In this eye-opening episode, host Ashish Kothari sits down with positive psychology expert Llewellyn van Zyl to confront the double-edged sword of Artificial Intelligence. As AI shifts from a productivity tool to a source of "psychological support," we explore the thin line between technology that empowers us and technology that erodes our core human faculties. Whether you are a business leader, a mental health professional, or a curious tech user, this conversation matters because it defines the exact moment we must choose to remain the architects of our own flourishing before the algorithms do it for us. Main Topics Covered

    1. Hyperpersonalization vs. Scaling: How AI can provide granular, 1:1 care at a global scale.
    2. The "Friendship" Trap: A look at the ethical fallout when users become emotionally addicted to empathic AI models.
    3. Substitution vs. Support: The critical distinction between tools that help us grow and those that make our cognitive "muscles" atrophy.
    4. The Erosion of Agency: Why outsourcing our reasoning to AI might lead to a loss of autonomy and critical thinking.
    5. The AI-IARA Framework: An introduction to Llewellyn’s model for psychologically safe AI design (Awareness, Interpretation, Intention, Action, Relational Agency, and Autonomy).
    6. The Future of the Psychology Profession: Why practitioners must learn the language of engineers to remain relevant.
    7. The AI and Future of Well-being Summit: A preview of the upcoming global gathering of experts.

    Key Takeaways
    1. Skills are Muscles: When we outsource basic tasks like writing, spelling, or reasoning to AI, we don't just save time—we physically lose the cognitive capacity to perform those skills through "frictionless" living.
    2. Guard Against Engagement-Only Models: Much like social media, AI systems optimized for "eyeballs" rather than "impact" risk creating dependency and addiction rather than genuine flourishing.
    3. Demand Technological Humility: It is vital for professionals to admit what they don't know about AI to prevent harm and ensure that human-centric values are built into the "behavioral architecture" of new tools.
    4. Prioritize Agency: True well-being is the ability to write your own life story. We must ensure AI remains a partner in that process, not the author.

    Episode Chapters 00:00 - 00:52 Introduction to Flourishing Edge 00:53 - 02:04 Hyperpersonalization: The Future of Well-being 02:05 - 06:02 The Ethics of AI Friendship and Emotional Dependency 06:03 - 09:05 Moving Beyond the "Engagement" Business Model 09:06 - 15:06 The Continuum: Substitution vs. Support 15:07 - 18:03 Cognitive Atrophy and Technological Humility 18:04 - 24:14 Llewellyn’s Journey: From Clinical Burnout to Precision Well-being 24:15 - 31:42 Why Tech Needs Psychologists (and Vice-Versa) 31:43 - 40:20 Preview: AI and the Future of Well-being Summit 40:21 - 46:22 Deep Dive into the AIR Framework 46:23 - 50:25 Three Actionable Tips for Using AI Mindfully 50:26 - 54:19 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks Connect with the Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/llewellynvanzyl/ IPPA’s Virtual Summit on AI and the Future of Wellbeing (Late March): http://aisummit.ippanetwork.org/ (Use code for 10% discount) Connect with the Host Website: https://happinesssquad.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/ Book: https://happinesssquad.com/book/ If this episode challenged the way you look at your smartphone, don't keep it to yourself! Follow The Flourishing Edge, like this episode, and share it with a friend who is navigating the world of AI. Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/ Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/happiness-squad Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

    Previous 1 2 3 4 5 20 Next

    Related Podcasts

    Making Sense with Sam Harris

    1

    Making Sense with Sam Harris Education
    Grammar Girl

    2

    Grammar Girl Education
    Good Life Project

    3

    Good Life Project Education
    Explain It to Me

    4

    Explain It to Me Education
    Team Never Quit

    5

    Team Never Quit Comedy
    Optimal Living Daily – Personal Development and Self-Improvement

    6

    Optimal Living Daily – Personal Development and Self-Improvement Alternative Health
    footer-logo

    Contact Us

    Toll Free: 844-670-7747

    Links

    • Home
    • Top Charts
    • Networks
    • Apps
    • Independents Podcasts
    • Podcast Advertising
    • Podcast News
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Analytics & Insights

    Stay Connected

      Privacy, Terms of Use & Our Code of Ethics Protecting Content Creators Copyrights