Harvesting Happiness

Latest Episodes:

Peacemaking with Our Minds: Soothing Pesky Voices with Britt Frank LCSW May 21, 2025

Show notes

We live with a symphony of inner voices. Some are critics, and others are cheerleaders. The chatter in our minds is not adversarial, even though it might feel that way at times. The diverse aspects of our personality equip us with compassion in times of need and offer different perspectives for problem-solving. Achieving internal harmony hinges on peacemaking within our minds and soothing the inner critical voices. But, how do we take the reins and slow down the overwhelm when it takes over?
To discover how to turn on the peacemaking channel in our minds, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with clinician, speaker, trauma specialist, and author, Britt Frank, LCSW.
Britt shares insights and brain hacks from her newest book, Align Your Mind. Her “micro-yeses” process moves us past the why of why we do things and springs us into the action of doing something else.
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Brain Boosting Happiness: Chemistry, Technology, and Well-Being with TJ Power May 14, 2025

Show notes

To effectively unwind from the demands of modern life, we can tap into our body's internal chemistry. Overcoming the fatigue induced by constant technological stimulation is achievable by recognizing our need for rebalancing and actively changing our habits. The solution lies in getting a daily dose of nature, whole foods, physical exercise, and minimizing screen time.
To introduce practices that activate and boost our natural stress defence, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with neuroscientist, best-selling author, and founder of The DOSE Lab, TJ Power.
TJ empowers us with brain boosting tips from his book, The DOSE Effect: Optimize Your Brain and Body by Boosting Your Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins.
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Addiction Treatment: Humanistic Models of Harm Reduction and Healing with Dr. Stephanie S. Covington PhD May 07, 2025

Show notes

A lack of emotional literacy often lessens our ability to face life's storms. As a result, many women resort to self-medicating behaviors to cope. In a more compassionate world, addiction recovery would nurture human needs and prioritize genuine healing. As many global strategies are evolving beyond abstinence, in the US, it is time to recognize that harm reduction programs offer a safe alternative to crisis care.
To highlight some more humanistic and lesser-known strategies of harm reduction and healing, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with clinician, author, and consultant Dr. Stephanie Covington.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of her breakthrough book, Hidden Healers: A Woman’s Way through the Twelve Steps, Dr. Covington shares recently revealed research and the latest statistics that dispel old beliefs about coping mechanisms, harm reduction strategies, addiction treatment, and healing.
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SEL: Social-Emotional Learning for Stronger IQ and Relationships with Dr Steven Baron PsyD Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Feeling purposeful is a fundamental driver of self-worth and a powerful antidote to despair at any age. To increase a sense of purpose, children and adults can leverage strength-based interventions to significantly reshape learning behaviors in a variety of situations. And, considering the pervasive mental health challenges in the United States today, social-emotional learning (SEL) emerges as a critical tool for fostering emotional intelligence, resilience, and positive relationships.
For compelling examples of how SEL impacts behaviors, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with school psychologist, therapist, and author Dr. Steven Baron.
Dr. Baron offers a glimpse into the concept of social-emotional learning based on individual strengths. In his book, Teaching with a Strength-Based Approach: How to Motivate Students and Build Relationships, Steven provides examples of how empowering children to take control of their behavior can maximize learning, engagement, and social interactions.
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Caregiving: A Journey of Selflessness, Responsibility and Love with Sarah Cart Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

At some stage in life, most people will be charged with caring for someone else. During a health crisis, caregivers, especially those with children, face intense demands on time and personal resources. If you are tasked with a caregiving role, prioritizing self-care is vital for your well-being and ability to provide care. If someone you love is a caregiver there are simple ways to support their journey including offering practical help and emotional understanding.
To better understand self-support amidst selflessness, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen interviews caregiver and author Sarah Cart.
Sarah Cart shares the intimate details of her caregiving journey. Her book, On My Way Back to You: One Couple’s Journey Through Catastrophic Illness to Healing and Hope, is a chronicle of the profound impact of illness on a relationship, resilience, and how she kept herself healthy during her family’s health crisis.
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World Happiness: Reporting on Life Satisfaction and Well-Being with Lara Aknin PhD Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

In 2025, the United States is experiencing a troubling downward trend in its ranking on The World Happiness Report. This is a significant departure from its usual position within the top 20 globally. The exact causes are complex, but emerging evidence suggests that various psychosocial stressors are leading to a decrease in life satisfaction among US citizens, a trend that should concern us all.
Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with social psychologist and co-editor of The World Happiness Report, Lara Aknin, PhD, to explore what manifests as happiness and life satisfaction in the US and worldwide.
Dr. Lara Aknin shares specific findings from The World Happiness Report and provides valuable insights into the global cultural factors that contribute to life satisfaction. She particularly emphasizes the role of generosity, volunteerism, and donations as significant sources of happiness, shedding light on these often overlooked contributors to our well-being.
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Bias and Equality: Social Justice Impacting Mental Health with Jo-Ann Finkelstein, PhD Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

The United States ranked 43rd out of 146 countries for gender equality in the World Economic Forum's 2024 Global Gender Gap Report. In addition to that staggering result, the current administration is eliminating DEI efforts to further erode progress toward social justice for women. How can we empower girls and women to ensure their voices are heard and their contributions are valued at all levels of society?
To explore gender bias and the generational transmission of sexism, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Jo-Ann Finkelstein, PhD.
Jo-Ann highlights emotional labor as a generationally transmitted unfair bias against females. She offers guidance on promoting equality within the home and explores how social conditioning might influence empathy in males. Her book, Sexism & Sensibility, emphasizes the importance of fostering five specific female voices and provides practical tips for reducing negative bias in women and advancing overall gender equality.
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Secular Mindfulness: Magic for Peace of Mind with Susan Kaiser Greenland, JD Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Navigating the emotional challenges of modern secular living can be eased by cultivating inner peace of mind. Mindfulness practices, though sometimes challenging to adopt, can ground us in gratitude. How can we actively seek out the everyday magic and truly appreciate each mindful moment as a source of relief?
To explore strategies that increase our capacity to deal, and heal, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author and mindfulness educator Susan Kaiser Greenland.
Susan shares her wisdom of secular mindfulness from her latest work, Real-World Enlightenment: Discovering Ordinary Magic in Everyday Life. She offers simple techniques that quiet the monkey mind, alleviate the emotional toll of modern life, and cultivate peace of mind. The three-part practices are so easy that adults and children can do them.
WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Grounded in Nature: Sacred Search for Spiritual Awakening with Dr. John Philip Newell PhD Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Nature offers a profound secular and sacred sanctuary that presents a landscape of opportunities for spiritual awakening beyond traditional walls. The divine exists within the cathedral of the earth, sea, and sky. It is at the core of every human soul. It is not confined to the walls of a physical structure, nor does it exist under the guise of any specific religion. The divine is everywhere—around us and within us. Spending time in nature offers a sacred path to individual and collective healing, but are we curious enough to discover its solace when we need it most?
For a deeper understanding of how to ground ourselves in nature, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Celtic teacher and author Dr. John Philip Newell.
Dr. John Philip Newell describes humanity’s spiritual yearnings and offers insights into the quest for spiritual awakening through Celtic wisdom. In his book, The Great Search, he thoughtfully draws upon the teachings of revered prophets of the past, gently leading us towards a deeper connection with the Earth and, ultimately, the sacred divine that resides within us.
WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

Mastering Motivation and Productivity: Exploring the Roots of Procrastination with Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona PsyD Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

Benjamin Franklin's "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today" sounds simple, yet for many, it's a monumental challenge. Well-intentioned individuals often find their to-do lists perpetually lingering, not from laziness or a lack of motivation, but from a more complex, underlying struggle. This persistent inaction isn't a matter of willpower; it often stems from deeper issues like fear of failure, perfectionism, or an overwhelming sense of responsibility.
To better understand what lies at the core of procrastination and how to overcome it, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with psychologist, coach, and author Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona, aka Dr. Z.
Dr. Z’s research goes beyond the surface of procrastination and perfectionist behaviors. In her book, Acceptance and Commitment Skills for Perfectionism and High-Achieving Behaviors, she lifts the veil of procrastination demonstrating that it is not laziness but the fear of failure that inhibits people from completing tasks.
WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

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