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

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

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

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 emerge after action, 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

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.

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 from Proctor & 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 are misperceived by 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

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

Together, they explore why so many leaders want flourishing workplaces but struggle to create them—and reveal the missing ingredient:

Shared human dignity.

Beck introduces her transformative model of People-Hearted + Business-Minded leadership, showing how fear, core wounds, and over-indexing on one side of leadership keep organizations stuck in survival mode. She shares a roadmap for leaders to reconnect with their intrinsic worth, regulate their nervous systems, and lead in ways that create sustainable organizational health and performance.

This is not a conversation about theory—it’s about lived experience, emotional truth, and the real work leaders must do to cultivate conditions where people and businesses thrive.

🎯 Key Topics Covered

1. What Flourishing Really Means at Work

Why flourishing requires both performance and well-being

The five essential elements: meaning, energy, growth, abundance mindset, and belonging

Why businesses flourish when their people flourish

2. The Missing Foundation: Human Dignity

How disconnection from our own worth derails leadership

Understanding dignity as birthright—for ourselves and for every person we lead

Why programs fail when leaders haven’t done the inner work

3. Fear as the Real Barrier to Flourishing

How fear creates armor, perfectionism, overachieving, people-pleasing, or disconnection

The way fear masquerades as productivity or “high standards”

Founders’ core wounds and how they shape leadership behavior

4. The People-Hearted + Business-Minded Model

Balancing targets with operating conditions

The danger of over-indexing on either business needs or people needs

How to hold two truths at once to access wisdom, creativity, and possibility

5. Building Cultures of Shared Human Dignity

Why leaders must go first—before rolling out programs to their teams

Why belonging, trust, and psychological safety emerge from leadership embodiment

How to navigate tension, conflict, and accountability humanely

6. Letting People Go with Dignity

Why leaders wait too long—and how avoidance is rooted in fear

Practices that help leaders handle heartbreak without shutting down

How honesty, compassion, and clarity shorten recovery for everyone involved

7. Moving from Fear → Possibility → Wonder

Regulating the nervous system to move out of survival mode

Inquiry-based practices leaders can use in difficult moments

What a regulated, dignified leadership presence looks and feels like

8. Three Actionable Steps for Leaders

Return to Yourself – Ask “Where am I right now?” to soften fear and re-enter awareness.

Identify What’s Happening – Recognize whether you’re in fear, possibility, or grounded presence.

Make One Active Choice – Even a tiny aligned action builds agency and breaks fear cycles.

👤 Connect with Beck Sydow:

Founder, HumanKind Business Leaders

Former CEO, StickerGiant | Operations Leader | Mental Health + Well-Being Practitioner

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becksydow/

Beck brings a rare blend of operational excellence, leadership experience, and deep training in contemplative psychotherapy—making her uniquely qualified to guide leaders through meaningful, transformative change.

__________________________________________________

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

Key Topics Covered

1. Why flourishing is a strategic lever for CEOs and CFOs
2. Culture as a hidden driver of health risk and performance
3. Anti-inflammatory vs. inflammatory workplaces
4. The limits of traditional employee benefits and cost-shifting
5. Designing equitable, accessible, and preventive health benefits
6. Manager trust, psychological safety, and engagement decline
7. Emotional intelligence as a performance differentiator
8. The SAFE framework for individual clarity, reflection, and better decisions

Connect with Jaqueline Oliveira-Cella:

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

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

Key Topics Covered:

1. Why every business is ultimately a people business
2. Soulgery: a holistic model for personal growth and self-leadership
3. The inner vs. outer self and the role of awareness
4. The four acts of growth: direction, impact, excellence, and resilience
5. How meaning, love, and wisdom shape leadership and fulfillment
6. Performing with excellence through rhythm, not perfection
7. Responding vs. reacting to life’s challenges
8. Growth as a lifelong, interconnected journey

Connect with Ahmet Bozer:

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

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

🔑 Key Topics Covered

1. Why chasing revenue alone leads to burnout and stalled growth
2. Purpose-driven leadership vs. survival-mode entrepreneurship
3. Small Giants principles: values, people-first culture, intentional growth
4. How leadership growth must match business growth
5. Early warning signs founders are stuck in fear, firefighting, or plateau
6. Redefining success beyond profit, scale, and vanity metrics

If you’re a founder, executive, or leader feeling stuck, exhausted, or disconnected from your original mission—this conversation offers a powerful reframe: profit is the outcome, not the purpose. Flourishing starts with people, values, and leadership from the inside out.

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

This episode blends lived experience, leadership insight, and science-backed practices to help working parents move from exhaustion and self-blame to clarity, boundaries, and sustainable performance.

Key Topics Covered

Why guilt is the #1 struggle for working mothers—and how societal expectations amplify it

Values-based decision making as a practical antidote to burnout

The hidden cost of broken corporate systems: RTO mandates, inflexibility, childcare, and unpaid parental leave

Leadership’s role in inclusion: why flexibility and outcomes-based work benefit everyone

Mary’s powerful concept of the “Minimum Viable Person (MVP)”—small daily practices that restore energy and identity

Micro-practices for self-compassion, nervous system regulation, and resilience

How leaders at every level can redesign teams to support parents without sacrificing performance

Only ~20% of people are thriving at work—and working mothers are disproportionately paying the price. This conversation reframes flourishing not as a perk, but as a strategic leadership responsibility and a deeply human necessity.

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

Key Topics Covered

1. Why people-first leadership drives sustainable profit and performance
2. How true and honest relationships build trust with employees and clients
3. Moving from annual performance reviews to developmental check-ins
4. Creating psychological safety and distributed leadership
5. Supporting employee growth, well-being, and individual “genius”
6. Navigating crises with strong culture and deep relationships
7. Practical examples of human-centered workplace practices that work

David Hughes is a leader at BCR Engineering, a company known for prioritizing employee well-being, trust, and long-term relationships as the foundation of success.

🔗 Connect with David Hughes & BCR Engineering

1. Website: https://www.bcreng.com
2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bcr-engineering

🎧 Subscribe to Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly conversations on leadership, culture, and unlocking human potential through flourishing.

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

Key Topics Covered:

The human capacity crisis vs. traditional performance challenges

Why stability must come before agility in leadership and organizations

The neuroscience of safety, mindset, and intentional focus

Crystal’s SIMPLE framework for sustainable leadership and flourishing

Moving from busyness to intention and from reaction to clarity

How empathy fuels innovation, trust, and long-term performance

Letting go of control to unlock flow, creativity, and resilience

Practical micro-practices to restore agency and calm in daily work

This episode is a powerful invitation to slow down, reconnect with what makes us human, and redesign work so people—and performance—can truly flourish.

Connect with Crystal:

Founding Partner and CEO, Whatbox Innovation Partners

https://www.linkedin.com/in/crys-fernando/

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

In this inspiring episode of The Flourishing Edge Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Jeffrey Schmitz, CEO of Zebra Technologies, to explore how the global tech leader is redefining success through its brand philosophy: Better Every Day.

From engineering to marketing to becoming Chief People Officer and now CEO, Jeff’s career journey embodies a human-centered approach to leadership — one that proves people and purpose are at the heart of innovation and performance. Together, they dive deep into how flourishing cultures, inclusive leadership, and continuous learning create long-term business success in a rapidly changing, AI-driven world.

Key Insights & Takeaways:

1. 🧭 The heart of leadership: Why people, not products or profits, define the true strength of a company.
2. 🌱 The power of purpose: How Zebra Technologies built its “Better Every Day” brand around continuous improvement and collective growth.
3. 🤝 Culture as a competitive edge:
4. How Zebra successfully merged two massive companies (Zebra + Motorola Enterprise) through shared experiences, not slogans.
5. Why culture must be defined, invested in, and lived — not left to chance.
6. 💬 Belonging as survival: How inclusion and belonging fuel creativity, innovation, and retention across 54 countries and 9,900+ employees.\
7. 🚀 Ownership and growth: Why the key to flourishing careers is never outsourcing your development — and how Zebra empowers employees to own their Individual Development Plans (IDPs).
8. 🧠 Happiness & resilience: Jeff’s personal “5-3-2” practice — five gratitudes, three acts of kindness, and two minutes to reset before reentering family life — and why positivity, hard work, and curiosity are his “three foundations for success.”

1. 🤖 Leading in the age of AI:
2. How Zebra is creating safe AI sandboxes for experimentation and play.
3. Why curiosity is now a hiring requirement and the key to thriving in a fast-changing tech landscape.

1. 🌍 The future of flourishing leadership: Practical advice for executives who want to build purpose-driven, adaptive, and joyful organizations — even under shareholder pressure

🧘 Guest Spotlight: Jeffrey Schmitz

CEO, Zebra Technologies

🔗 Connect with Jeffrey on LinkedIn

Jeffrey Schmitz is a visionary leader who believes culture is the ultimate driver of business success. His career spans engineering, marketing, and HR — culminating in his leadership of Zebra Technologies, a global powerhouse known for its people-first, innovation-driven approach.

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

In this fascinating conversation, Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Ethan Kross, acclaimed psychologist and author of Chatter and Shift, to explore the science of emotional mastery — and how simple, research-backed tools can help you transform anxiety, anger, and stress into clarity, focus, and resilience.

Dr. Kross unpacks the six core “emotional shifters” — from sensory awareness to perspective-taking — that anyone can use to quiet mental chatter, navigate life’s chaos, and thrive in both work and life.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

🧠 What emotions really are — and why they’re not the enemy.

⚡ The purpose of “negative” emotions like anger and anxiety (and how they can fuel growth and innovation).

🎧 The six emotional shifters you can use to regulate your emotions:

1. Sensory Shifters: Use music, touch, or nature to calm the nervous system.

2. Attention Shifters: Learn when to focus and when to take mental breaks.

3. Perspective Shifters: Reframe your challenges by changing the lens you view them through.

4. Relationship Shifters: Choose the right “emotional advisors” — people who listen and help you move forward.

5. Environmental Shifters: Design physical spaces that restore focus, calm, and creativity.

6. Cultural Shifters: Build and participate in cultures that support emotional well-being.

🌬️ How to manage anxiety in real time using a “1-2-3” combination of tools.

💬 The science behind why venting alone doesn’t help — and what actually does.

🌱 How leaders can create emotionally intelligent, high-performing cultures at work.

Guest Spotlight: Dr. Ethan Kross

📚 Author of Chatter and Shift

🎓 Professor of Psychology and Management, University of Michigan

🔗 Connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekross/

Ethan Kross is one of the world’s leading experts on controlling the conscious mind. His work bridges neuroscience and practical tools, helping people regulate their inner voice, harness emotions, and turn stress into strength.

🪞 Key Insight:

Mastering your emotions isn’t about eliminating them — it’s about learning to work with them.

#FlourishingEdgePodcast #HappinessSquad #EthanKross #AshishKothari #EmotionalIntelligence #FlourishingAtWork #MentalFitness #NeuroscienceOfEmotions #MindfulLeadership #PositivePsychology #ChatterBook #ShiftBook #StressManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #shorts

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

In this episode of The Flourishing Edge Podcast, host Ashish Kothari sits down with Tamara Myles, author, researcher, and founder of Keynote Speaker, to explore the science of meaningful work. Together, they reveal how leaders can turn workplaces into thriving communities where employees feel valued, challenged, and connected.

From her groundbreaking research, Tamara shares the Three C’s of Meaning — Community, Contribution, and Challenge — and how these elements can unlock performance, loyalty, and fulfillment across organizations.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

1. 🌱 What makes work meaningful: Why it’s not what you do but how you experience what you do.
2. 🧩 The 3 C’s Framework:
3. Community — Creating belonging through care and authentic connection.
4. Contribution — Recognizing impact and helping people see how their work matters.
5. Challenge — Stretching potential with support to inspire growth and pride.
6. 💬 Leadership’s impact on meaning: Research shows leaders shape 48% of how meaningful work feels.
7. 🪞 The power of positive feedback: How one simple “thank you” per week can halve burnout and disengagement.
8. 🔁 Gratitude as culture: A story of how one leader’s “five Friday thank-you emails” transformed an entire team.
9. 🧠 The ROI of meaning: How fostering meaningful work drives productivity, retention, engagement — and even financial performance.
10. 🤖 Meaning in the age of AI: Why human connection, purpose, and mattering are more vital than ever in a technology-driven world.

🧘 Guest Spotlight: Tamara Myles

Founder, Keynote Speaker & Researcher on Meaningful Work

🔗 Connect with Tamara on LinkedIn

Tamara Myles is a leading expert in organizational psychology and meaningful work. Her research, consulting, and talks help companies cultivate workplaces where people don’t just perform — they flourish.

🪞 Key Insight: “Meaningful work isn’t about what you do — it’s about how you experience what you do.”

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

In this inspiring episode of the Flourishing Edge Podcast, host Ashish Kothari is joined by Jennifer Cohen, Founder and Director of Seven Stones Leadership Group, to explore how shifting from scarcity to sustainable abundance can transform your leadership, your relationships, and your life.

Together, they uncover the seven timeless laws that help us move beyond fear, scarcity, and separation—toward joy, connection, and sufficiency.

💡 In This Episode: Key Takeaways

1. 🌎 The root of scarcity: Why our modern systems of economics and culture condition us to feel “not enough.”
2. 💫 The 7 Laws of Enough:
3. Stories Matter – Recognize that the context you live in shapes your reality.
4. I Am Enough – Shift from striving to sufficiency.
5. I Belong – Remember your inherent connection to everything.
6. No One Is Exempt – Accept both life’s joys and sorrows as part of being human.
7. Resting Is Required – True peace begins when we stop resisting what is.
8. Joy Is Available – Learn to access the inner joy that isn’t dependent on outcomes.
9. Love Is the Answer – The universal truth that heals and unites us all.
10. 🌱 The origin of the Seven Stones philosophy: How Jennifer’s own healing from trauma and systems thinking shaped her life’s work.
11. 💬 From scarcity to sufficiency: How to live and lead from the truth that there is enough for all, for all time.
12. 🔁 Daily practices for flourishing: Create intentional connections, reflect on “What is happening now?” and “How is that enough?”, and anchor your day in gratitude.
13. ❤️ Love as leadership: Why authentic care and connection are the most powerful forces in business and beyond.

🧘 Featured Guest

Jennifer Cohen

Founder & Director, Seven Stones Leadership Group

Co-author of The Seven Laws of Enough

Jennifer helps individuals, teams, and organizations redefine success through sufficiency, sustainable abundance, and conscious leadership.

🔗 Connect with Jennifer Cohen

1. LinkedIn

🧭 Connect with the Host

Ashish Kothari

Founder of Happiness Squad

Host of Flourishing Edge Podcast

Helping leaders unlock breakthrough performance through science-based practices of flourishing.

🪞 Quote-Worthy Insight

“Enough isn’t an amount — it’s a place to come from. It’s a stand.”

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

This week on The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari welcomes Emma Seppala, Yale School of Management faculty member, bestselling author of Sovereign and The Happiness Track, and pioneering researcher in well-being science.

Together they explore what it truly means to be sovereign—to live with awareness, agency, and mastery over one’s mind and emotions—even amid the chaos of technology, AI, and nonstop change. Emma shares groundbreaking research on breathing, intuition, and emotional regulation, revealing how ancient contemplative wisdom meets modern neuroscience to help us flourish in work and life.

💫 Key Topics & Insights

What “Sovereign” Really Means:

Reclaiming inner mastery in an age of distraction, self-criticism, and external noise.

Why self-awareness—not self-judgment—is the foundation for resilience and performance.

The Science of Self-Compassion:

How harsh self-talk lowers creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence—and how awareness and kindness to self reverse it.

Technology, AI & the Age of Uncertainty:

Why constant stimulation erodes intuition, and how stillness, silence, and mindful discernment safeguard our humanity.

→ “AI can inform us, but only intuition can guide us.”

The Power of Intuition & Alpha States:

Neuroscience behind gut wisdom and creativity: relaxed minds in alpha-wave mode generate breakthrough ideas.

How to train intuition through rest, presence, and trust in your inner knowing.

Sovereign Relationships:

Why the most loyal teams and cultures are built on care, not control.

The two simple leadership moves:

1️⃣ Make people feel seen, heard, valued, appreciated.

2️⃣ Model calm self-awareness through your own meditation or reflective practice.

Sovereign Emotions & Healing Trauma:

Adults suppress; children feel and release. Emma explains how emotional endurance and courage transform leadership presence.

→ “Feeling is not weakness—it’s wisdom.”

The SKY Breath Meditation Breakthrough:

Emma’s landmark research at Yale and Stanford showing that the SKY (Sudarshan Kriya Yoga) breathing practice:

Rapidly reduces PTSD symptoms in veterans

Normalizes anxiety responses for up to a year

Outperforms standard therapy for emotion regulation

Prevents burnout in college students

Proven pathways to emotional sovereignty and nervous-system healing.

Daily Practices for Sovereignty:

🌞 Morning: Yoga + SKY Breath + Meditation (≈ 1 hr)

🌅 Evening: 30 min silent meditation

🌳 Nature immersion & walking daily

🙏 Gratitude for life’s simple privileges

💻 Strict boundaries with technology & news

💞 Service mindset—leave everyone feeling better than before they met you

💬 Memorable Quotes:

“Self-awareness, not self-criticism, is the key to unlocking your potential.” — Emma Seppala

“We can’t stop the waves of change, but we can learn to master the inner ocean.” — Ashish Kothari

“Feeling is not weakness—it’s wisdom. Sovereignty begins when you allow yourself to feel.” — Emma Seppala

🪷 About the Guest:

Emma Seppala is a psychologist, researcher, and faculty member at Yale School of Management. She is the author of Sovereign and The Happiness Track, and Science Director of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Atlantic, and TIME. Emma’s research bridges neuroscience, psychology, and ancient contemplative practices to help individuals and organizations thrive.

🔗 Connect with Emma on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaseppala/

🌻 About the Host:

Ashish Kothari is the founder of Happiness Squad, author of Hardwired for Happiness, and creator of the Flourishing Edge Podcast, where science-based practices meet soulful leadership to help people live, work, and lead with joy, health, love, and meaning.

If this conversation sparked your curiosity about reclaiming your own sovereignty, share the episode with a friend or teammate who’s ready to flourish too.

Subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast and leave a review to keep spreading science-backed tools for living and leading with purpose.

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

In this powerful episode of The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari sits down with Lisa Mikkelsen, Partner at Flourish Ventures, to explore the hidden mental and emotional costs of entrepreneurship — and how founders can thrive without sacrificing their well-being.

Lisa shares hard-won insights from 25 years in startups and venture capital, where she’s seen firsthand how “image management,” stigma, and burnout quietly derail brilliant founders. Together, they unpack how the VC world can evolve from “get rich or die trying” to “grow well and thrive together.”

This is a must-listen for founders, funders, and anyone passionate about building sustainable success — from the inside out.

💡 Key Topics & Takeaways:

1️⃣ The Hidden Barriers to Founder Well-being

Image management: Founders feel pressured to project confidence even when struggling.

Fear and stigma: Many hide their stress to avoid losing investor trust.

Reality check: Nearly 70–90% of founders experience mental health challenges — they’re not alone.

2️⃣ The Survival Trap of Startups

How founders slip into “I’ll rest when…” thinking.

Reframing survival mode with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs — recognizing safety and rest as non-negotiable for creativity and performance.

Why postponing self-care leads to operating at 30–50% capacity when founders need 100%.

3️⃣ Lisa’s Journey: From Startups to Mental Health Advocacy

25 years across startups and VC revealed one truth: behind every business problem lies a human one.

Personal inspiration: raising a neurodiverse child changed how Lisa views inclusion, empathy, and awareness in leadership.

How Flourish Ventures shifted its mission to center founder mental health.

4️⃣ The Flourish Ventures Model: Investing in Human Flourishing

Beyond capital: providing coaching, therapy access, and community circles for founders.

Hosting monthly CEO and CXO gatherings designed for real conversations, not “chest-pounding.”

Funded and validated the first 7-question mental health diagnostic tool designed specifically for entrepreneurs.

Taking the movement global — reshaping the VC–founder relationship through empathy, trust, and transparency.

5️⃣ Rethinking the VC–Founder Relationship

Only 10% of founders tell investors when something’s going wrong.

Flourish Ventures combats that by training investors in:

6️⃣ The Organizational Ripple Effect

Founder well-being sets the tone for company culture.

Flourish Ventures runs CXO retreats and leadership coaching to spread healthy habits beyond the C-suite.

Spotlight on the “frozen middle” — how empowering middle managers transforms entire organizations.

7️⃣ Flourishing at Work and in Life

Ashish and Lisa reflect on the Happiness Squad model and McKinsey research:

97% of burnout factors come from job, team, and organizational systems — not individuals.

To flourish at work = to flourish in life. You can’t “survive work” and hope to thrive elsewhere.

“Work is where we spend most of our waking hours — it should be a source of joy, not depletion.”

8️⃣ Lisa’s Daily Practices for Flourishing

🌿 Time in nature — even 5 minutes daily

📝 Journaling to process emotions and build self-awareness

💤 Sleep as a non-negotiable

🧘‍♀️ Quarterly rest breaks to reset energy and clarity

💨 Breathwork & mindfulness to stay anchored in the present

9️⃣ Advice for Founders

“Find a way to disconnect from work every single day — even for five minutes. Build that muscle.”

And for investors:

“The next time you talk to your founder, ask how they are doing — not how the business is doing. Then ask again: how are you really?”

👩‍💼 About the Guest

Lisa Mikkelsen is a Partner at Flourish Ventures, a global venture firm redefining what responsible investing looks like. She leads initiatives that support founder mental health and organizational well-being, integrating empathy, psychology, and business performance.

🔗 Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamikkelsen1/

🧘‍♂️ About the Host

Ashish Kothari is the founder of Happiness Squad, author of Hardwired for Happiness, and host of The Flourishing Edge Podcast.

He helps leaders unlock joy, resilience, and performance through science-based habits of flourishing.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a founder or leader who needs permission to rest and reconnect.

Subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly insights on living, leading, and working with greater joy, health, love, and meaning.

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

In this eye-opening conversation, Ashish Kothari sits down with Karen Lowe, South Africa’s lead advocate for the 4-Day Workweek movement and founder of 4 Day Week South Africa, to explore how shorter work weeks are transforming productivity, culture, and well-being across the globe.

Karen shares how a passion project in Cape Town became the world’s fourth major pilot of the 4-Day Workweek — and the results are nothing short of revolutionary: higher revenue, lower burnout, better sleep, deeper engagement, and teams that flourish together.

This episode challenges the modern obsession with “more” and makes a powerful case for the 4-day week as both a science-backed productivity strategy and a human sustainability movement.

💡 Key Takeaways & Topics Covered:

Karen’s Origin Story:

How a curiosity about human well-being and burnout in South Africa led to running a national pilot for the 4-Day Workweek — now one of the most successful global case studies.

The 180-100 Model Explained:

100% pay, 80% time, 100% productivity — a simple but transformative framework for redesigning work around efficiency, not excess.

Flourishing Defined:

Flourishing isn’t just about happiness — it’s a felt sense of capacity, energy, connection, and purpose.

Time is our new currency, and how we spend it determines how much we truly thrive.

Workplaces Are Broken — Here’s How to Fix Them:

With only 20% of people thriving at work, Ashish and Karen discuss why most workplaces are “fundamentally broken” and how human-centered redesign can heal them.

Trust, Autonomy, and Agency:

Successful 4-day week cultures are built on permission — trusting employees to co-create boundaries, prioritize deep work, and use time wisely.

The South African Case Study:

Over 82% of organizations kept the 4-day workweek two years after the pilot.

Science Meets Flourishing:

German trials even measured lower cortisol in hair samples, proving physiological stress reduction.

From Burnout to Breakthrough:

A powerful story from Stellenbosch University shows how cutting hours from 5 days to 4 dropped absenteeism from 51 days to 4 — while improving service delivery and saving millions in costs.

Leadership Lessons for the Future of Work:

→ Productivity starts with permission

→ Recovery is doing

→ Trust and meaning drive output

→ Rest fuels creativity and innovation

Ashish’s Personal Reflection:

From his own experience at McKinsey working 70% time while increasing client impact, Ashish reflects on how less can truly be more — when done with purpose and trust.

🧭 Notable Quotes:

“Flourishing is a felt state — a sense of capacity, connection, and purpose that comes from using time deliberately.” – Karen Lowe

“We don’t need to fix work; we need to redesign it for humans.” – Ashish Kothari

“The 4-day week isn’t about working less — it’s about working better.” – Karen Lowe

🪴 About the Guest:

Karen Lowe is the Founder and Director of 4 Day Week South Africa, a nonprofit initiative driving the movement toward shorter, smarter, and more humane work weeks across the African continent. Her work bridges neuroscience, productivity research, and organizational psychology to help businesses thrive through human flourishing.

🔗 Connect:

Host: Ashish Kothari | Founder of Happiness Squad and author of Hardwired for Happiness

If today’s conversation inspired you to rethink how you work, share this episode with your team or leader.

Subscribe to the Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly insights on how to lead, live, and flourish at the edge of what’s possible.

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

In this eye-opening episode of The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari sits down with David Shapiro to unpack how recovery-friendly workplaces are redefining what it means to truly support employees.

From mental health to substance use recovery, David reveals why inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety aren’t “nice-to-haves”—they’re the foundation of human flourishing at work. Together, they explore how stigma, stress, and hidden workplace norms silently fuel substance misuse—and how small cultural shifts can create massive change.

💡 Key Topics & Takeaways:

1️⃣ The Human Side of Workplace Health:

David’s journey from anthropology and family-friendly policies to leading the Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative.

How his personal story of recovery informs his mission to make work environments more empathetic, inclusive, and safe.

“My work matches my life”—the power of aligning personal purpose with professional service.

2️⃣ Understanding Substance Use & Recovery:

What substance use disorder really means—and why it’s a medical condition, not a moral failing.

The spectrum from low-risk social use to addiction, and how 30 million Americans live with diagnosed substance use disorders.

The ripple effect: for every person impacted, two to three others are affected at home or at work.

Why workplace culture and chronic stress can drive coping behaviors—and what employers can do differently.

3️⃣ Redefining “Recovery”:

SAMHSA’s inclusive definition: “a self-directed process of change.”

→ Recovery can mean abstinence, harm reduction, or simply the courage to seek help.

Why judgment—not lack of resources—is the biggest barrier to recovery.

“We rally around cancer, but we isolate addiction.” How empathy transforms stigma into connection.

4️⃣ Culture Shift: From Judgment to Curiosity:

Don’t label—listen. Describe what you see objectively before assuming impairment.

Replace words like “addict” with “a person experiencing substance use disorder.”

“Connection is the opposite of addiction.” – Johan Hari

Language matters: empathy and curiosity are the foundation for healing cultures.

5️⃣ Building a Recovery-Friendly Workplace:

David outlines the three pillars (the 3 P’s) of Total Worker Health®:

Policies: Shift from “zero tolerance” to “we care about you and want to help.”

Practices: Encourage leaders to model openness, empathy, and awareness.

Programs: Offer real support—Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental health resources, Narcan/Naloxone training, and flexible benefits.

💡 “If your policy doesn’t reflect how you actually care for people—it’s time to rewrite it.”

6️⃣ The “Frozen Middle” Problem:

Leaders may support recovery, but real culture change happens in the middle—among supervisors and managers.

Middle managers often feel overworked, under-supported, and hesitant to engage in sensitive issues.

Why equipping the “frozen middle” with empathy and training unlocks lasting change.

7️⃣ Practical, Low-Cost Shifts That Make a Big Difference:

Offer mocktails and non-alcoholic options at company events.

Avoid centering celebrations around alcohol—make inclusion visible.

Provide healthy alternatives in breakrooms (fruit alongside candy).

Reconsider payday timing (e.g., Tuesday instead of Friday) to support budgeting and reduce relapse triggers.

Equip first-aid kits with Narcan/Naloxone for overdose preparedness.

Encourage leaders to test their own EAP before recommending it—know what the employee experience is like.

8️⃣ Stories of Impact:

ODB’s Sandwich Shop (Denver): 60–70% of staff are in recovery. Alcohol still served—but the culture is care-first, not cocktail-first.

JHL Contractors: Supported an employee through opioid treatment and welcomed him back; he’s now a top performer.

Absolute Caulking & Waterproofing: Frequent conversations about recovery helped normalize help-seeking behavior.

State of Colorado: Now exploring recovery-friendly policies across public agencies.

9️⃣ The Bigger Picture: Flourishing Through Compassion

From fear to curiosity, from stigma to support—these are the building blocks of a flourishing workplace.

When businesses choose empathy over judgment, they not only retain talent—they redefine leadership.

If this conversation inspired you, share it with your HR team or leadership circle—because every workplace can become a recovery-friendly one.

Visit recoveryfriendlyworkplace.com to take the pledge, or explore how Happiness Squad can help your team build a culture of flourishing.

Subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly insights on leading and living with more joy, health, love, and meaning.

__________________________________________________

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

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

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad

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

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

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

In this deeply moving episode of The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari sits down with Ian Ziskin, President of EXec EXcel Group LLC, author, and leadership thought leader, to explore the powerful connection between loss, learning, and leadership.

Ian shares the personal story that shaped his life from age 13 — losing his father to multiple sclerosis — and how that early experience of grief forged his lifelong commitment to intentional living, compassion, and resilience. Together, Ashish and Ian unpack what it truly means to flourish through adversity, why intentionality (not time) heals wounds, and how leaders can create workplaces where people feel trusted, valued, and alive.

This episode is a masterclass in transforming suffering into strength — and leading with both heart and purpose.

💡 Key Topics & Insights:

The Early Loss That Defined a Leader:

At 13, Ian lost his father to multiple sclerosis — a moment that sparked his lifelong choice to turn lemons into lemonade and lead with empathy and purpose.

The Fork in the Road: Grief or Growth

How an 11-year-old learned to focus on helping others, mastering his emotions, and finding meaning — three timeless principles for navigating hardship.

Intentionality Over Time:

“Time doesn’t heal all wounds — intentionality does.”

Ian shares how conscious reflection, not waiting, transforms loss into wisdom.

Flourishing Beyond Balance:

Ian’s modern definition: “Do what I want, when I want, where I want, with whom I want.”

True flourishing is about reconciling passions, relationships, and purpose — not chasing work-life balance.

Lessons from Sweden: Systems That Support Life

Through time spent with family in Sweden, Ian discovered how public policy and culture can align to prioritize humanity — a stark contrast to the U.S. work model.

The Trust Crisis at Work:

Why only 20% of people are thriving — and how rebuilding trust between leaders and teams is the missing link to organizational flourishing.

→ “Do what you say you’ll do, and treat others with dignity and respect — that’s real trust.”

Rethinking HR and Engagement:

Ian challenges outdated corporate norms:

Stop overcomplicating engagement surveys

Measure fewer things, more often

Hold leaders accountable for culture and well-being, not just performance metrics

Lives Lost and Leadership Found: The Book

Inspired by the loss of his brother and mother within six months, Ian’s latest book compiles stories from leaders who found meaning, courage, and compassion through grief.

The Smoothie Effect 🥤:

A brilliant metaphor for blending life’s contrasting emotions into something nourishing and whole.

Ingredients = People and experiences you choose

Blending = Processing chaos into growth

Intention = The key to turning pain into purpose

A Call to Write Your Own Story

The book includes writing prompts to help readers process their own loss — of a loved one, relationship, or career — and find wisdom through reflection.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

“Time doesn’t heal all wounds — intentionality heals all wounds.” — Ian Ziskin

“We can hold grief, but we don’t have to let grief hold us.” — Ashish Kothari

“Flourishing isn’t balance. It’s reconciliation — between passion, purpose, and the people we love.” — Ian Ziskin

“Trust isn’t doing what makes others happy. It’s doing what you said you would, with honesty and respect.” — Ian Ziskin

👤 About the Guest:

Ian Ziskin is the President of EXec EXcel Group LLC, leadership advisor, and author of Lives Lost and Leadership Found: Life and Leadership Lessons Learned from Lost Loved Ones. With over 40 years of experience as a CHRO, coach, and consultant, Ian’s work bridges strategy, culture, and human potential to help leaders flourish through authenticity and purpose.

🔗 Connect with Ian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-ziskin-bb1504/

If this conversation moved you, share it with someone navigating loss or leading through challenge.

Get your copy of Lives Lost and Leadership Found and try the reflective writing exercise Ian includes at the end of the book.

Then, subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly inspiration on leading and living with purpose.

__________________________________________________

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

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Michelle McQuaid, to explore why flourishing isn’t about being happy all the time — it’s about learning how to rise with confidence, compassion, and courage when life knocks us down.

Dr. Michelle McQuaid, Ph.D. is an award-winning researcher, best-selling author, and workplace wellbeing teacher who translates positive psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies for leaders and teams. 

She is an honorary fellow at Melbourne University’s Centre for Wellbeing Science, hosts the Making Positive Psychology Work podcast, and has helped organizations globally to build psychological safety, strengths-based cultures, and more resilient workplaces. 

This episode teaches how leaders and individuals can cultivate true flourishing not by avoiding discomfort, but by embracing it as a path to deeper growth, purpose, and human connection.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Why happiness alone isn’t the true measure of flourishing

• The power of confidence in navigating life’s highs and lows

• How embracing imperfection fuels learning and growth

• Why self-compassion is a leadership advantage

• The neuroscience behind psychological safety at work

• How to shift from chasing happiness to building inner strength

Listen to the full episode now and discover practical tools you can use to redefine what it means to flourish.

✅Resources:

• How to make flourishing your competitive edge by Ashish Kothari on TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRV-2C-fkNg&t=146s 

• michellemcquaid.com  (Company)

• thewellbeinglab.com  (Company)

• permahsurvey.com  (Free Wellbeing Survey)

• Dr. Michelle McQuaid on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/chellemcquaid 

• Seligman’s PERMA+ model: https://positivepsychology.com/perma-model/ 

• Oxytocin shot tool: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6949379/ 

• Carole Dweck’s The Power of Yet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-swZaKN2Ic 

✅Books:

• Your Wellbeing Blueprint by Dr. Michelle McQuaid: https://a.co/d/8mLoSHr 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/ftKT8SZ

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Tamara Lechner to explore how AI can bridge the gap between what we know and what we practice in the pursuit of human flourishing.

Tamara Lechner is a happiness expert, author, and global speaker. As Chair of the AI & Human Flourishing Working Group at Harvard, she helps leaders and organizations apply the science of flourishing to create meaningful, human-centered futures.

In the conversation, Ashish and Tamara unpack how AI can either harm or uplift us, and what it will take for leaders, organizations, and individuals to put humans at the heart of this powerful technology.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Why AI is both friend and foe depending on how we use it.

• The three ethical AI pillars: productivity, protection from harm, and fairness.

• The overlooked dimensions of flourishing AI must support

• Why organizations—not just individuals—must own responsibility for burnout and culture.

• How to shift from audience to activist in shaping the future of technology

Join us in building a future where technology enhances humanity rather than diminishes it. Tune in now to hear how we can harness AI to truly help humans flourish.

✅Resources:

• How to make flourishing your competitive edge | Ashish Kothari | TEDxGreenhouse Road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRV-2C-fkNg 

• AI for Human Flourishing: https://www.aiforhumanflourishing.com/

• The Human Flourishing Program: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/ai-human-flourishing 

• Reframing employee health: Moving beyond burnout to holistic health by McKinsey Health Institute: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/reframing-employee-health-moving-beyond-burnout-to-holistic-health

• Conscious Capitalism Movement: https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/ 

• IEEE 7010: A New Standard for Assessing the Well-being Implications of Artificial Intelligence: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2005.06620 

✅Books:

• The Happiness Reset: What to do When Nothing Makes You Happy by Tamara Lechner: https://a.co/d/gZY7eXu 

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/9LWxYmV

We’ve never had more knowledge about wellbeing, yet we remain starved for practice, with millions stuck in jobs that deny them dignity, security, and purpose. But today, that changes.

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Andrew Soren to explore how to design organizations where people can flourish using the ancient Greek concept of Eudaimonia—living a life of purpose, growth, and virtue.

Andrew Soren is the founder and CEO of Eudaimonic By Design, a global network of facilitators, coaches, and advisors who partner with organizations to design systems that enable people to flourish. For more than 20 years, he has worked at the intersection of positive psychology, organizational design, and leadership development, helping companies around the world embed purpose, meaning, and wellbeing into the heart of work. Andrew also teaches in the University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology program, sharing the science and practice of human flourishing with the next generation of leaders.

Things you will also learn in this episode:

• The meaning of Eudaimonia and how it differs from Hedonia.

• Why modern society is disconnected from nature and what it means to “suffer well.”

• The role of decent work (freedom, equity, security, dignity) as the foundation for flourishing.

• The business, competitive, and moral cases for designing organizations where people thrive.

• Practical ways leaders can create cultures of care, growth, and purpose at work.

Tune in now and learn how ancient wisdom and modern science can help us bring virtue and flourishing back into our workplaces.

✅Resources:

• Eudaimonic by Design: https://www.eudaimonicbydesign.com/andrewsoren 

• Eudaimonic by Design: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eubd/ 

• Confuscian and Aristotelian Philosophy: https://bigthink.com/thinking/confucius-aristotle/ 

• Changemaker Wellbeing Index: https://wellbeingindex.ca/ 

• Column: U.S. Surgeon General: Loneliness Is at Heart of Growing Mental Health Crisis: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/publication/column-us-surgeon-general-loneliness-heart-growing-mental 

✅Books:

• The Case for Good Jobs: How Great Companies Bring Dignity, Pay, and Meaning to Everyone's Work by Zeynep Ton: https://a.co/d/f8OmSfT 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/8qWGfEU 

In this episode, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Tenzin Dadul explore how leaders can build a flourishing life by aligning service with self-care, gratitude, and continuous growth.

Dr. Tenzin Dadul is a Clinical Associate Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology and Director of Educational Research at the University of Detroit Mercy. He is also the founder of "Wild Flower," a mission-driven organization that, since around 2009, has provided free medical, dental, and cancer care and educational support to underprivileged children and Himalayan refugee communities. In 2022, he was awarded the Agere ex Missione Award by Detroit Mercy for his outstanding service and other honors from institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

His story is a powerful reminder that true leadership and flourishing begin when we care for ourselves as deeply as we care for others.

Things you will also learn in this episode:

• Why service without self-care leads to burnout

• How Dr. Tenzin transformed failure and hardship into a flourishing life of purpose

• The importance of mentorship and education as a “golden ticket” for generational impact

• Insights on preventing burnout in healthcare and leadership

• How Eastern and Western philosophies can be integrated for resilience and wellbeing

Tune in now to hear how you can lead a flourishing life with both service and self-care at the center.

✅Resources:

• Michigan Ross: michiganross.umich.edu

• Dr. Tenzin Dadul's website: tenzindadul.org/ 

• Cancer Medical Dental Organization founded by Dr. Tenzin Dadul: https://www.tenzindadul.org/mission 

• His Holiness The Dalai Lama: https://www.dalailama.com/

• Sadhguru: https://isha.sadhguru.org/en/sadhguru 

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: https://www.unc.edu/ 

• University of Detroit Mercy: https://www.udmercy.edu/

• Saveetha Medical College: https://www.smc.saveetha.com/ 

• Andrews University: https://www.andrews.edu/index.html 

• University of Michigan Center for Positive Organizations: https://michiganross.umich.edu/terms/center-positive-organizations 

✅Books:

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Sri Kaza, Advisory Board at Markaaz and author of the upcoming book UNCONVENTION: A Small Business Strategy Guide, to explore how SMBs can thrive by leaning into what makes them different: positioning, proximity, and purpose. They discuss why small doesn’t mean weak, and how founders can unlock resilience, loyalty, and growth by playing their own game.

Sri Kaza is an entrepreneur, investor, and former McKinsey consultant with a career spanning engineering, consulting, finance, and startups. He has helped scale visionary companies like Viking Cruises, co-founded ForwardLine to provide innovative financing for small businesses, and worked closely with entrepreneurs across industries to unlock growth. 

Ashish and Sri unpack inspiring stories, actionable insights, and practical strategies that will change the way you think about leading and growing a small to medium business. Tune in to discover how to turn your size into your greatest strength.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• The three Underdog Principles—Positioning, Proximity, and Purpose—and how to apply them

• Why focusing on your core customers builds resilience during crises

• How closeness to employees and community becomes a competitive edge

• How AI can serve as a growth engine for SMBs rather than just a cost-cutting tool

• Practical ways to stay grounded as a founder and align every decision with purpose

If you want to discover how small and medium businesses can outcompete giants and make flourishing their competitive edge, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

✅Resources:

• How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit by Alex Edmans: https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2020/10/01/how-great-companies-deliver-both-purpose-and-profit/ 

✅Books:

• Unconvention: A Small Business Strategy Guide by Sri Kaza: https://a.co/d/aYYfD8w 

• The Experimentation Machine by Jeff Bussgang: https://experimentationmachine.com/

• Hardwired for happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/ 

Leaders often miss this because they’re chasing quarterly targets or process checklists, leaving human potential untapped. Grace Zuncic’s journey from small-town roots to Chobani, Cotopaxi, and now Manna Tree Partners shows a different path.

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Grace Zuncic explore how flourishing comes when work itself is designed around courage and kindness.

Grace Zuncic is a seasoned executive and board member with deep experience in scaling purpose-driven companies. She has held leadership roles at Chobani, Cotopaxi, and now serves as Partner at Manna Tree, a private equity firm focused on improving human health through investment in food and wellness businesses.

In the conversation, Ashish and Grace highlight why the answer isn’t to bolt wellbeing programs onto broken systems but to build workplaces where flourishing is the operating model—unlocking both human potential and business performance.

Things you will also learn in this episode:

• Why fear is the biggest barrier to flourishing at work

• How Chobani became a model of human-centered leadership during COVID

• The role of courage and kindness in effective leadership

• Why private equity has more influence on culture than it realizes

• How board service shapes perspective on building enduring, purpose-driven companies

Don’t miss this episode—an urgent call for leaders to lead with courage, act with kindness, and create workplaces where people can truly flourish.

✅Resources:

• How to Make Flourishing Your Competitive Edge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRV-2C-fkNg 

• What Does a Compassionate Workplace Look Like? With Jane Dutton and Monica Worline: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_does_compassionate_workplace_look_like 

• The Cotopaxi Foundation: https://www.cotopaxi.com/pages/our-impact?srsltid=AfmBOoqOcdspf6JmJREdKix62bge5cFMOpEioKkGK1xVMs76EY1mrIUg 

• Women on Boards: https://www.womenonboards.net/

• Tugboat Institute: https://www.tugboatinstitute.com/ 

✅Books:

• Shift by Ethan Cross: https://a.co/d/8ioBnAM 

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: https://a.co/d/aj9Uubw 

• Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman and Raj Sisodia: https://a.co/d/4AWqNws 

• Ray Dalio’s Principles: https://a.co/d/5wfMHzQ 

• Another Way by Dave Wharton: https://a.co/d/gPnSTGC 

• You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh: https://a.co/d/03S2CGn 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/gqZ0SyV 

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Gretchen Spreitzer, Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, to explore how leaders can empower teams to flourish through meaning, competence, autonomy, and impact. Together, they uncover the science of positive organizations and how leaders can create workplaces where people come alive.

Gretchen Spreitzer is a pioneering scholar in the field of positive organizational scholarship. At the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, she has spent decades researching and teaching topics such as thriving at work, leadership development, and empowerment. Her work has shaped how leaders and organizations around the world design conditions for people to flourish and succeed. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to truly unleash your people’s full potential at work and create a positive organization, this conversation will change the way you approach leadership and people empowerment.

Things you will also learn in this episode:

• Why small acts of leadership can have a bigger impact than grand gestures

• The four dimensions of empowerment and how to apply them in your team

• How recognition and authentic feedback can transform workplace culture

• Why managers—not just executives—hold the key to reducing burnout

• The role of empowerment in the age of AI and organizational change

• How to spot and spread the “bright spots” of flourishing inside your company

Tune in now to discover how you can start building a workplace where people flourish—not someday, but today.

✅Resources:

• Center for Positive Organizations: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/ 

• Reflective Best Self Exercise

• McKinsey: A holistic approach for employees: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/reframing-employee-health-moving-beyond-burnout-to-holistic-health 

• Conscious Capitalism: https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/

✅Books:

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: https://a.co/d/0HDetDR

• Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman: https://a.co/d/5niWg2c 

• Another Way by Dave Whorton: https://a.co/d/j6GUo1E 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/1aWVYEx

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Shawn Quinn talk about the deep reflection leaders need to build their own reality and move from victimhood to agency in life and leadership.

Shawn Quinn is the Managing Partner of Lift Consulting and Faculty Director of the Positive Leadership program at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. A leading voice in positive leadership and organizational transformation, he has advised global companies including GE, Coca-Cola, American Express, and the U.S. Army. Shawn is also co-author of Leading Innovation: How to Jumpstart Your Organization’s Growth Engine.

Shawn and Ashish explored how transformation doesn’t come from another training, another framework, or another leadership fad. It happens when we pause, reflect, and face the beliefs that hold us back.

Things you will also learn in this episode:

• Breaking free from a victim mindset

• Why belief shifts matter more than skills in true transformation

• The power of small experiments, reflection, and awareness to spark change

• How leaders at any level—not just executives—can create meaningful impact

• How workplace behaviors ripple outward into family, children, and community

• The challenge of systems and people resisting change

Tune in now and see for yourself how this shift unlocks the kind of transformation no trend or tactic can deliver.

✅Resources:

• Related episode: (Robert Quinn) https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1b7c5df6-06e1-4929-83d3-5849caa6b9b5 

• Strengthsfinder by Gallup: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx 

• A Fundamental State of Leadership Approach: https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1444&context=jvbl 

• Charles Snyder’s Hope Theory: https://www.mindtools.com/aov3izj/snyders-hope-theory 

• The Sunflower Model: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ee784c9c-cf26-48df-b07f-b4c0dcc638f3 

• The Sunflower Model: https://happinesssquad.com/the-sunflower-model-career-transition-guide-with-ashish-kothari/ 

• The Power of the 5:1 Ratio: https://michiganvirtual.org/blog/the-power-of-the-51-ratio-in-the-classroom-how-fostering-positive-interactions-can-transform-student-learning/ 

• Martin Seligman’s Learned Helplessness: https://www.simplypsychology.org/learned-helplessness.html 

✅Books:

• Deep Change: Discovering the Leader Within by Robert E. Quinn: https://a.co/d/dDxJb77 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/fpmucOP

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Stacey Dietsch—former McKinsey partner and senior executive at Liberty Mutual— to explore how skills-based practices, leadership investment, and responsible AI adoption can help organizations empower people and close the talent gap.

Stacey Dietsch is Executive Vice President of Talent Pipeline at Liberty Mutual Insurance, where she leads the end-to-end talent lifecycle—including strategic workforce planning, talent attraction, onboarding, learning and development, performance management, and career growth across 45,000 employees globally. 

Before joining Liberty Mutual in January 2024, Stacey spent nearly two decades as a Partner in McKinsey & Company’s People & Organizational Performance Practice, helping organizations align their talent, culture, and operating models to drive sustainable performance and meaningful work.

Stacey emphasizes that building thriving organizations requires deliberate choices—simplifying structures, developing leaders at every level, and giving people ownership of their growth and impact. Tune in now and learn what unlocks your team’s real potential.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Why empowered workplaces outperform bureaucratic ones

• The role of purpose, autonomy, and trust in employee flourishing

• The shift from credential-based to skills-based hiring and promotion

• The promise of STARS (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) in widening talent pipelines

• Using AI responsibly: not just for cost savings, but for growth and workplace transformation

✅Resources:

• Liberty Mutual Insurance: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liberty-mutual-insurance/ 

• STARS (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) framework: https://www.opportunityatwork.org/stars 

• Positive Organizational Scholarship: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/an-introduction/ 

✅Books:

• Multipliers, Revised and Updated: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman: https://a.co/d/cgjo5ij 

• The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Success by Angela Jackson: https://a.co/d/awtKbEP 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/fpmucOP

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Julie Rust-Bodenmann, former Global Head of Wellbeing at Credit Suisse, reveal what it takes to embed wellbeing into the DNA of a business, even during a crisis. 

Drawing from her time at McKinsey, Credit Suisse, and UBS, Julie walks us through how she designed and rolled out a global wellbeing strategy, secured C-suite buy-in, and mobilized a 500-person wellbeing champion network across the organization.

Learn how you can make wellbeing a strategic lever, not just a benefit.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Why most wellness programs fail to move the needle

• How to shift from treating wellbeing as a benefit to a business strategy

• The critical role of role modeling and middle managers

• How storytelling and regulatory pressure can win executive support

• Why starting small and scaling what works beats big, flashy initiatives

• Julie’s own wellbeing practices, and why leaders must start with themselves

Tune in now and walk away with a practical blueprint and the conviction that flourishing workplaces aren’t just possible, they’re profitable.

✅Resources:

• Julie Rust-Bodenmann’s website: https://www.rust-bodenmann.com/ 

• Oxford University Research: https://hubstaff.com/blog/employee-satisfaction-and-productivity/ 

• Me-Search by Tal Ben Shahar: https://podcast.wellevatr.com/me-search-the-journey-to-happier-living-with-tal-ben-shahar 

• Michael Landsberg’s Sick Not Weak movement: https://www.sicknotweak.com/about/# 

• “This Is Me” Campaign (London): https://www.thelordmayorsappeal.org/news-and-events/events-calendar/1198/this-is-me-2023-event/ 

• World Economic Forum Study: https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Thriving_Workplaces_How_Employers_can_Improve_Productivity_and_Change_Lives_2025.pdf 

• Addressing Employee Burnout: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/addressing-employee-burnout-are-you-solving-the-right-problem 

•

✅Books:

Hardwired for Happiness: https://a.co/d/eoPlwdE

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Joseph Loizzo and Elazar Aslan, co-authors of Boundless Leadership, join Ashish Kothari to talk about how you can move from survival mode to truly flourishing by activating boundless leadership.

Joseph Loizzo, MD, PhD, is a renowned human flourishing consultant, meditation researcher, and contemplative psychotherapist. He founded the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science and co-developed the Boundless Leadership program, integrating rigorous scientific research, deep meditation practice, and compassionate psychotherapy.

Elazar Aslan, MBA, CPC, is an accomplished author, speaker, and executive coach who has pioneered the field of Conscious Leadership, guiding leaders in cultivating clarity, compassion, and embodied presence. As Director of Boundless Leadership at the Nalanda Institute and founder of Caterfly Solutions, Elazar empowers organizations to shift from stress-driven survival to purpose-driven flourishing.

What does it mean to be a boundless leader? Learn how to rewire your mind, heart, and body so you can lead with clarity, compassion, and energy, and turn from survival mode to flourishing.

Things you will learn from this episode:

• Why workplaces keep us stuck in survival mode—and how to break free

• The leadership risk of AI if we don’t use it with intention

• The three disciplines of Boundless Leadership: mind, heart, and body

• How self-awareness helps you lead with more clarity

• Why compassion is a leadership superpower, not a soft skill

• How somatic practices shift your energy and presence

• Simple ways to start flourishing—wherever you are right now

We got all the expert insights you need in this episode. Tune in now!

Resources:

• Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science: https://nalandainstitute.org/ 

• Boundless Leadership Program: https://nalandaboundlessleadership.org/ 

• Vipassana Meditation: https://www.dhamma.org/ 

Books:

• Boundless Leadership: The Breakthrough Method to Realize Your Vision, Empower Others, and Ignite Positive Change by Elazar Aslan and Joseph Loizzo https://a.co/d/a6FB83v 

• More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead by Rasmus Hougaard: https://a.co/d/4O3poBf 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/6MKT87e 

Often, the real barrier isn’t a lack of strategy. It's because your people don't feel safe to bring their best selves to work. The issue is in your culture, which may have been shaped by years of fear and pressure. And in trying to fix things, it’s common to reach for more structure: more meetings, tighter KPIs, added pressure. 

But that rarely works. That only feeds the cycle of stagnant growth, silent disengagement, and widespread burnout. The missing ingredient isn’t strategy. It’s trust.

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Michelle Poole unpack the trust-first, people-first leadership approach that transforms cultures and leads to company breakthroughs.

Michelle Poole is a seasoned consumer and footwear leader with over three decades of experience, most notably as Brand President at Crocs where she spearheaded a cultural and financial turnaround. She champions authentic, people-first leadership, fostering psychological safety, inclusivity, and trust to drive high-performing, engaged teams.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• How life experiences shift priorities from achievement to well-being

• Gender balance at work and feminine leadership energy

• Turning around a struggling brand into a market leader

• How inclusivity and belonging drive performance

• Three key practices for building trust in times of change

If you feel your results are stagnant, it’s time to stop pushing harder and start leading differently.

Tune in now and change the trajectory of your team and your business.

Resources:

• Crocs: https://www.crocs.com/stories/come-as-you-are.html 

• StrengthsFinder (now CliftonStrengths): https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx

• How employers can create a thriving workplace: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/thriving-workplaces-how-employers-can-improve-productivity-and-change-lives

Books:

• Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware: https://a.co/d/eAO9RYv 

• My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future by Indra Nooyi: https://a.co/d/cBY3kES 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/bPWHmUG

Leaders, you need to wake up!

Only 20% of employees are thriving.

More than 60% report daily stress.

And the economic cost of poor workplace well-being is an estimated $12 trillion.

It’s time to fix the way we work.

It’s easy to slap “well-being” on a poster. Harder to design work that doesn’t drain people in the first place. In this special solo episode of Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder and CEO of Happiness Squad, explores why flourishing at work must be a strategic imperative for leaders and organizations. 

Drawing on decades of research and lived experience, Ashish makes a clear case for why organizations that invest in well-being don’t just support their people, they outperform the rest. 

Things you will also learn in this episode:

• A 5-question diagnostic to assess if you're truly flourishing at work

• How traditional wellness programs fall short—and what to do instead

• Why organizations must move from treating symptoms to redesigning work

• The science-backed PEARL model and Human Potential Index for building resilient, high-performing teams

• A practical playbook for implementing flourishing as a scalable organizational strategy

Flourishing isn’t reserved for top performers or well-funded companies. It’s a way of working, and leading, that any team and leader can choose.

Tune in now to discover how to unlock workplace flourishing, not just for the bottom line, but for the people who make it possible.

Resources: 

• Pioneering work on the economics of happiness and wellbeing by Jan‑Emmanuel De Neve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV1ks-TLYoM

Books:

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/gML83VJ 

• Why Work Wellbeing Matters by Jan-Emmanuel: https://a.co/d/aQdXmE3 

• Awakening Compassion at Work: The Quiet Power That Elevates People and Organizations by Jane Dutton and Monica Worline: https://a.co/d/3onS12d 

• Connect by Carole Robin: https://a.co/d/gKFbtgH 

• How Will You Measure Your Life by Clay Christensen: https://a.co/d/1zN1vCt 

• The Win-Win Workplace by Dr. Angela Jackson

If a system glitch halts production, it’s triaged immediately.

But when a team’s morale is tanking, the response takes 6–12 months—if it comes at all. 

How did we get to a point where our physical assets get more respect than our human ones? We've spent years treating burnout like a solo thing to fix when it’s actually an organizational problem.

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Jennifer Moss tackle this problem head on, and discuss what it truly takes to build happy, healthy organizations.

Jennifer Moss is an award-winning journalist, international speaker, and workplace culture strategist. She co-founded Plasticity Labs and is the author of Why Are We Here?, and The Burnout Epidemic (Harvard Business Review Press, 2021), which was named one of the 10 Best New Management Books by Thinkers50 and shortlisted for the 2021 OWL Literary Award. A regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Forbes, and Fortune, she’s renowned for reframing burnout as an organizational rather than individual issue.

In the conversation, Ashish and Jennifer unpack the evolution of happiness at work, from early “choose happiness” mantras to a more nuanced understanding of systemic well-being.

Things you will also learn from the episode:

• Rethinking the phrase “Happiness is a Choice”

• How both individual practices and organizational design influence happiness

• The problem of blaming individuals for burnout instead of fixing workplace environments

• Understanding the concept of the “continuum of well-being”

• The Role of AI in Happiness and the Future of Work

Stop waiting for the next annual survey. Start investing like your people matter, because they do.

Resources: ✅

• Jennifer Moss’ website: http://www.jennifer-moss.com/ 

• Burnout Is About Your Workplace, Not Your People (article by Jennifer Moss): https://www.jennifer-moss.com/writing/burnout-is-about-your-workplace-not-your-people 

• Mercer Trends study: https://www.mercer.com/en-ca/insights/people-strategy/future-of-work/four-day-workweek-the-cure-for-burnout/#:~:text=If%20you%20feel%20exhausted%2C%20you,industries%2C%20making%20work%20more%20intense. 

• Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory Of Motivation-Hygiene: https://www.simplypsychology.org/herzbergs-two-factor-theory.html 

• World Happiness Report: The Lost Wallets Experiment: https://worldhappiness.report/news/world-happiness-report-2025-people-are-much-kinder-than-we-expect-research-shows/ 

Books: ✅

• The Burnout Epidemic by Jennifer Moss: https://a.co/d/bVuMU9G 

• Why Are We Here?: Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants by Jennifer Moss: https://a.co/d/1spyHXX 

• Unlocking Happiness at Work: How a Data-driven Happiness Strategy Fuels Purpose, Passion and Performance: https://a.co/d/j57U6X5 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/hsJLwcv

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Mieke Jacobs explore how energy mastery and systemic intelligence can help leaders break free from the freeze response, reconnect to purpose, and restore wholeness to their teams and systems, unlocking the kind of flourishing that outlasts any crisis.

Mieke Jacobs is a Belgium-based leadership advisor serving as Transformational Faculty and Senior Executive Coach at Mobius Executive Leadership. Drawing on two decades at DuPont in operations and large-scale change, she now guides executive teams worldwide with systemic intelligence and energy mastery. Mieke is also the author of Poet Assassin and co-author of Emergent: The Power of Systemic Intelligence to Navigate the Complexity of M&A.

This episode is your invitation to lead differently by slowing down, tuning in, and trusting that wisdom lives not in doing more, but in being fully present.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• What happens when leaders create space for silence and stillness

• Practical energy mastery tools for leaders and facilitators

• Why systemic intelligence is essential for modern leadership

• Rituals to shift team energy—songs, silence, and charged fields

• How to spot invisible dysfunctions hidden in your company’s “order”

• Ways to create workplaces that energize rather than deplete

Stop chasing productivity and start leading with presence, energy, and wholeness. Take a pause and check out this episode.

Resources:

• On Children (Poem) by Khalil Gibran: https://poets.org/poem/children-1 

• ‘Stop Treating Well-being as a Side Hustle’ with Ashish Kothari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij4WcZWFMTg 

Books:

• Poet Assassin by Mieke Jacobs: https://amzn.eu/d/aPfsENl 

• Emergent by Mieke Jacobs: https://amzn.eu/d/1To2DOK 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://amzn.eu/d/1To2DOK

Books mentioned:

• The Prophet by Khalil Gibran: https://a.co/d/3pPl6Ea 

• Hiring the Heavens by Jean Slatter: https://a.co/d/4waFDhI 

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: https://a.co/d/4oRfck8

Karen Guggenheim is the founder and CEO of WOHASU®, the organization behind the World Happiness Summit. A leading voice in global well-being, she is recognized for turning personal adversity into a powerful mission: helping individuals and organizations thrive through science-based strategies for happiness. 

Most recently, Karen led the expansion of WOHASU to the United Nations and global cities, advancing the conversation on mental health and well-being at the highest levels. Karen is the author of Cultivating Happiness: Overcome trauma and positively transform your life.

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Karen Guggenheim, explore what it means to treat happiness not as a fleeting emotion, but as a conscious, lifelong practice.

Things you will also learn in this episode:

• Defining happiness as a framework, not a feeling

• The misunderstood nature of happiness

• The urgent need for systemic change in how we lead, work, and educate

• Why forgiveness is the most challenging but transformational pillar of personal growth

• What every leader, parent, and teacher needs to hear about happiness

This episode will remind you that happiness is not something you wait for, but something you build, even in the aftermath of heartbreak. Give it a listen, and you’ll never think about happiness the same way again.

Resources:

• Karen Guggenheim: http://karenguggenheim.com/ 

• World Happiness Summit: https://worldhappinesssummit.com/

• Wellbeing Leadership Certification by World Happiness Summit: https://worldhappinesssummit.com/wellbeing-leadership-certification/ 

• World Wellbeing Policy Forum: https://wohasu.com/portfolio/world-wellbeing-policy-forum/ 

• Conscious Entrepreneur Summit: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-conscious-entrepreneur-summit 

• The Bridge to Happiness by Karen Guggenheim at TEDxMiami: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcgJo9IGxxk 

• World Happiness Summit on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mbWbPUjzHCVQ0iU3rmCsQ 

• Dr. Fred Luskin - Forgiveness and Happiness from WOHASU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaklxaKGWNU&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD 

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission with Desmond Tutu: https://www.theforgivenessproject.com/stories-library/desmond-tutu/ 

Books:

• Cultivating Happiness by Karen Guggenheim: https://amzn.eu/d/hla8Eey 

• The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu: https://a.co/d/0GYRdSx 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari:https://amzn.eu/d/1ZdsT4g

As we live in a world that often celebrates achievement, it's easy to build wealth while unintentionally bankrupting other parts of our lives, such as our time, our energy, and our relationships. 

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Tom Shepard to unpack the frameworks and habits that can transform how you relate to money, not just to grow your wealth, but to help you flourish.

Tom Shepard is the Founder and CEO of Shepard Financial and author of Money Isn’t Everything, Everything Is Money. With over two decades of experience, Tom brings a human-centered approach to financial planning, helping individuals align their money with what truly matters. His book introduces the Seven Financial Natures framework—a practical guide to transforming your relationship with money by valuing not just wealth, but also time, energy, and connection.

Many of us follow money patterns inherited from the past, without ever pausing to ask if they align with the future we hope to create. That's why even though we live a life that looks "successful," it doesn't really feel fulfilling.

Today, you can change that. Tune in to learn how to stop letting money control your story, and start using it to write a more fulfilling one.

Resources:

• Money Isn’t Everything, Everything Is Money: https://tomshepardeverythingismoney.com 

• Shepard Financial’s website: https://www.shepard-financial.com

• Currency Camp: https://www.currencycamp.com/ 

Books:

• Money Isn't Everything, Everything Is Money: A Personalized Approach to Valuing and Trading Time, Energy, Relationships and Money by Tom Shepard : https://a.co/d/h69psqf 

• The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks: https://a.co/d/5FBeEpE 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/8Lj9uZy

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Niren Chaudhary, former CEO of Panera Brands, joins Ashish Kothari to share a leadership philosophy rooted in something many leaders overlook: love and care for people. 

Because at the end of the day, companies aren’t machines, they’re human systems. And when we treat people like family, they show up with heart, commitment, and a desire to go above and beyond.

Niren reflects on lessons from decades at Tata, Yum! Brands, and Panera, breaking down how to build cultures where values are lived, not laminated, and how leaders can turn care for people into a competitive advantage. 

He also opens up about how the loss of his daughter Aisha Chaudhary profoundly reshaped how he sees leadership, success, and the legacy we leave behind.

What you’ll also learn in this episode:

• Why business is fundamentally a human-to-human experience

• The leadership model that starts with love and leads to profit

• How to hire for attitude and train for skill

• Why success begins with the right people, doing the right things, the right way

• The butterfly effect of investing in your people

• Why resilience, curiosity, and generosity are non-negotiables in business and life

This conversation is a reminder that in business and in life, what matters most is how we show up for one another.

Tune into the full episode to hear Niren’s powerful stories and practical wisdom on what it really means to lead with love.

Resources:

• Smile A Lot by Thich Nhat Hanh: https://www.awakin.org/v2/read/view.php?tid=168 

• The Sky is Pink (Aisha Chaudhary): https://youtu.be/OnBN5b48HBc?si=_FcybEn8N_yhatF9 

• Black Sunshine Baby (Aisha Chaudhary): https://youtu.be/Hkf7n7m_KgY?si=THIQQMkGNUE3_-9c 

• The Power of Well-being at Work by Jan-Emmanuel De Neve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4OWg12Xl5E 

• CORE Meditation: https://get.hyperice.com/core 

Books:

• My Little Epiphanies by Aisha Chaudhary: https://a.co/d/2E4vtQx 

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: https://a.co/d/2CvRJSu 

• How Will You Measure Your Life by Clay Chistensen: https://a.co/d/jkZPwb5 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/gML83VJ

In today’s Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Alex Edmans expose the dangers of misinformation in the pursuit of happiness, well-being, and leadership. 

Alex Edmans is a British economist and Professor of Finance at London Business School, renowned for his work on responsible business and corporate governance. He authored the influential book Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit, which argues that businesses can achieve sustainable success by creating value for all stakeholders—not just shareholders. This book was named a Financial Times Book of the Year in 2020 and has been translated into nine languages .

In addition to Grow the Pie, Edmans co-authored the 14th edition of Principles of Corporate Finance and released May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases – And What We Can Do About It in 2024.

In the conversation, Alex reveals how many popular beliefs are based on flawed data, biased research, and confirmation bias. Ashish and Alex discuss how critical thinking is the most underrated skill in the age of instant advice.

Things you will also learn in this episode:

• How confirmation bias shapes what we want to believe

• The unproven hype behind Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why”

• The shaky science behind the 10,000-hour success rule

• The confusion between correlation and causation in diversity studies

• The overgeneralization of grit as a universal success factor

• How to build smarter organizations through dissent and inclusion

Don’t let bad data shape your decisions. Learn how to think critically. Explore these lessons and more in the full episode.

Resources:✅

• Related episode with Alex Edmans: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/episode/the-power-of-purpose-driven-organizations-with-alex-edmans 

• Alex Edmans’ website: http://www.alexedmans.com/   

• Growth the Pie website: http://www.growthepie.net/  

• TED Talk: The Pie-Growing Mindset https://www.ted.com/talks/alex_edmans_the_pie_growing_mindset  

• TED Talk: The Social Responsibility of Business  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5KZhm19EO0 

Books:✅

• Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit

• May Contain Lies: How Stories, Statistics, and Studies Exploit Our Biases – And What We Can Do About It: https://a.co/d/4ZSp6Up 

• Principles of Corporate Finance ISE by Alex Edmans: https://a.co/d/aglrrnu 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/4HwnUVQ

Other books mentioned:

• The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-10x-rule-grant-cardone/1100173447 

• Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World https://a.co/d/5DGPHqI 

• Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker: https://a.co/d/ayLQn4R 

• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance: https://a.co/d/5IEIjqE 

The cost of emotional avoidance in the workplace is massive, and invisible. Most people don’t fail at communication because they’re cruel. They fail because they never learned how to do it without causing damage.

In today’s Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Carole Robin, co-author of Connect and co-founder of Leaders in Tech, explore how small changes in how we communicate can lead to big breakthroughs in how we connect and make exceptional relationships, both at work and in life. 

Drawing from decades of experience teaching Stanford’s legendary Interpersonal Dynamics course, Dr. Carole shares practical tools that help individuals move beyond surface-level interactions to build deep, meaningful, and resilient connections.

And let’s just say, what Dr. Carole shared might make you rethink every “We need to talk” you’ve ever had.

Things you will also learn from this episode:

• What separates exceptional relationships from average ones

• How to give feedback that connects instead of divides

• The power of “If you really knew me…” for team connection

• Why 15% outside your comfort zone is the sweet spot for growth

• The OILs model: a better way to structure tough conversations

It’s time to move from knowledge to practice. Tune into our full episode and spark real connections, one courageous, vulnerable conversation at a time.

Resources:

• Leaders in Tech (Co-founded by Carole Robin): https://leadersintech.org/

• Connect - Building Exceptional Relationships: https://connectandrelate.com/ 

• Interpersonal Dynamics Course: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/experience/learning/leadership/interpersonal-dynamics 

• Transforming Through T-Groups by National Training Laboratories (NTL) Institute for Applied Behavioral Science: https://www.ntl.org/transforming-through-t-groups-tttg/ 

• Film Reference: Inside Out (Pixar)

Books:

• Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues (Co-authored by Carole Robin): https://a.co/d/67ZqL3B 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/5aGRDgh

In this powerful episode of The Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Alison Tetrick to explore what it really means to find joy, purpose, and performance—on and off the bike.

Alison Tetrick is the President and Co-Founder of Saga Ventures, an entrepreneur and former professional cyclist and World Championship medalist known for her bold leadership and storytelling. With a background in science and a master’s in psychology, she brings a unique blend of athletic grit, strategic thinking, and purpose-driven advocacy to everything she does.

From her beginnings on a California cattle ranch to racing at the highest levels of sport, Alison opens up about how she navigated identity shifts, rediscovered joy through gravel racing, and now helps others—especially women—find their footing through grit, grace, and community.

Here are the things you will learn in this episode:

• Redefining peak performance as alignment of mind, body, and spirit—not just output.

• Creating space for curiosity as a nonjudgmental leadership superpower.

• Knowing when to push and when to pause: the real power of grit and grace.

• Shifting focus from results to effort to build resilient, motivated teams.

With stories that span from Olympic training centers to launching bandana-funded scholarships for girls in sport, Alison reminds us that success isn’t always about pushing harder. Sometimes, it’s about pulling back, staying grounded, and listening to what makes your heart flutter.

Get ready to feel inspired! Tune into this powerful episode now.

Resources:

• Alison Tetrick’s website: https://www.alisontetrick.com/ 

• National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA): https://nationalmtb.org/ 

• NICA’s GRIT Program: https://nationalmtb.org/grit 

• The Move: A Cycling Podcast:

• The Happiness Project: https://www.thehappinessproject.global/home.html 

• The Cycling Independent article featuring Alison Tetrick: https://cyclingindependent.com/bandanas-for-bikes-with-saga-ventures-alison-tetrick-is-giving-back/ 

• Alison Tetrick on the Cheeseboard Snacking Bar: https://www.cheeseboardsnacking.com/about 

• Alison Tetrick, Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame: https://www.gravelcyclinghof.com/hall-of-famers-2023/alison-tetrick 

• Saga Ventures: https://saga-ventures.myshopify.com 

• Alison Tetrick at LoveYourBrain.com : https://www.loveyourbrain.com/alison-tetrick-bio 

Books:

• Book mentioned in the episode: "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho”: https://a.co/d/6hQduBj 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/eADyDuv

But there's a way to break that mean cycle. A better way to redesign work to fuel joy, not exhaustion. In this inspiring Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Rich Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storyteller of Menlo Innovations, talk about how to radically reimagine work to end human suffering in the world of technology.

Richard Sheridan is the co-founder, CEO, and "Chief Storyteller" of Menlo Innovations, a software and IT consulting firm renowned for its innovative and joyful workplace culture. Disillusioned by the chaos of the tech industry, Rich co-founded Menlo in 2001 with a mission to end human suffering in the workplace. His passion for creating joyful work environments led to his bestselling books, Joy, Inc. and Chief Joy Officer, and he has shared his insights through over 1,000 talks worldwide.

It’s time to redesign your tech organization into a place where people feel more alive.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Pair programming as a tool for collaboration and continuous learning

• Replacing fear and micromanagement with clarity and trust

• How laughter, energy, and joy signal a healthy workplace

• Ending tech burnout through intentional systems design

• The ROI of flourishing: higher quality work, retention, and impact

If you’ve ever questioned whether work has to be painful to be productive, this conversation offers a hopeful, proven alternative. 

Tune into this epic episode now.

Resources:

• Menlo Innovations: http://www.menloinnovations.com/ 

• Menlo Innovations Case Studies: https://menloinnovations.com/stories 

• Richard Sheridan on X: https://x.com/menloprez 

• Get to know Richard Sheridan: https://richardsheridan.com/meet-rich 

Books:

• Joy Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love by Richard Sheridan: https://a.co/d/6C4HJbe 

• Books from Richard Sheridan: https://richardsheridan.com/books

• Chief Joy Officer by Richard Sheridan: https://a.co/d/7F4t8HA 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome-ebook/dp/B0BCXDCLX1?ref_=ast_author_mpb

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Dan Docherty, President of Braintrust and Neurocoach, to expose the hidden cost of emotional dysregulation at work.

They discuss how neurocoaching helps turn emotional intelligence from a theory into a repeatable daily practice, why self-regulation is non-negotiable in today’s high-stress environments, and how building a coaching climate starts with your own internal work.

Dr. Dan Docherty is a pioneer in neurocoaching with 25 years of leadership experience in pharma sales, marketing, and operations. He holds a PhD in Management from Case Western Reserve University, where his research focused on the neuroscience of coaching, engagement, and performance. Dan is the co-author of the upcoming book NeuroCoaching, blending science and practice to help leaders build high-impact, emotionally intelligent teams.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Emotional Intelligence Is Common Sense, But Uncommon Practice

• The Four Domains and Twelve Competencies of Emotional Intelligence

• How Unchecked Emotions Can Hijack Your Leadership

• Why Emotional Intelligence Is Declining in a Hyper-Connected World

• The Building Blocks of Neurocoaching: Vision, Mission, and Real Conversations

• Science-backed Practices to Reset the Nervous System and Improve Emotional Regulation

If performance starts with emotional regulation, this episode will show you how to get there. Tune in now and learn to lead with greater impact.

Resources✅:

• Braintrust Growth: https://braintrustgrowth.com/dan-docherty/ 

• Dr. Dan Docherty’s website: https://dandocherty.com/ 

• Emotional and Social Competency Inventory (ESCI): https://www.eiconsortium.org/measures/eci_360.html

Books✅:

• Dr. Dan Docherty’s upcoming book “NeuroCoaching”: https://braintrustgrowth.com/neurocoaching-the-book-2/ 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/ 

Other books mentioned in the episode:

• Primal Leadership by Richard Boyatzis: https://a.co/d/atZGzoD 

• Helping People Change by Richard Boyatzis: https://a.co/d/bIyrV1X 

• The Science of Change by Richard Boyatzis: https://a.co/d/2sxNlVT 

• Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman: https://a.co/d/70ZQvwV 

• The New Emotional Intelligence by Travis Bradberry: https://a.co/d/70ZQvwV 

• How Will You Measure Your Life? By Clay Chistensen: https://a.co/d/8LVugK1

Does this mean consistently driving high performance while maintaining personal well-being is impossible today? Not when you have the right tools.

In this Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari sits down with Angus Ridgway, former McKinsey partner & co-founder of Potentialife, to unpack the SHARP framework: a research-backed system that helps leaders and teams flourish through Strengths, Health, Absorption, Relationships, and Purpose.

Angus Ridgway is a seasoned leadership expert with a 20-year tenure at McKinsey & Company, where he held senior roles, including leading the Strategy Practice across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He co-founded Potentialife with Tal Ben-Shahar to democratize leadership development, making it accessible and impactful at all organizational levels.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Strengths: Rediscovering What Makes You Shine

• Health: Why The Real Problem Isn’t Stress But Lack of Recovery

• Absorption: Monotasking Is the New Superpower

• Relationships: The Power of Being Positively Authentic

• Purpose: The Final Lever for Flourishing

If you’re ready to become an up to 10X more effective leader, don’t miss this epic episode. Tune in now.

Resources:✅

• Potentialife: https://www.linkedin.com/company/potentialife/

• Kagan’s Theory of Adult Development: https://medium.com/@NataliMorad/how-to-be-an-adult-kegans-theory-of-adult-development-d63f4311b553

• Owning the difference you make to the world | Angus Ridgway | TEDxIEMadrid: https://youtu.be/o-tdmbiQ-yE?si=x9owGL-5QQyNons9

Books:✅

• The Joy of Leadership by Angus Ridgway & Tal Ben-Shahar: https://a.co/d/8BFQHGz

• 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman: https://a.co/d/3sAJi0d

• Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg: https://a.co/d/6A5Bzur

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/asM0o0c

The only way to make meaningful connections is intentionally embracing positive communication. However, it’s easier said than done. That’s why we partnered up with Dr. Julien Mirivel for the second time in this episode to explore the elements of positive communication so that you can lead and connect with your people more meaningfully.

In Part 2 of this powerful episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Julien Mirivel returns to unpack the final three behaviors from his model of Positive Communication: Disclosing, Encouraging, and Listening. 

He explores how small acts, like sharing your own story, offering meaningful praise, or even opening your hand, can create deeper trust and connection at work.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• “Disclosing” as a reciprocal and deeply humanizing act

• How “Encouraging” moves people from who they are to who they can become

• How “Listening” helps transcend perceived differences especially for leaders

• The three forms of support

• Making Positive Communication a Habit

This is your playbook for building lasting connections. Don’t miss it!

If you’ve missed part 1 of our conversation, check it out here: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/episode/how-to-lead-better-through-positive-communication-with-julien-mirivel-part-1

Resources:✅

• The Art of Positive Communication: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/Model-of-Positive-Communication-Copyright-Julien-C-Mirivel.pdf 

• The Six Keys to Positive Communication (article by Dr. Julien Mirivel): https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_six_keys_to_positive_communication 

• Dr. Julien Mirivel’s website: https://www.julienmirivel.com/ 

• TEDx with Dr. Julien Mirivel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmmlA19WLgs 

• Unconditional Positive Regard by Carl Rogers: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589708/ 

• The Electric Connection: Martin Buber's View on Authentic Human Relationships and the Divine: https://worldmindhub.tistory.com/1717 

Books:✅

• Positive Communication for Leaders by Alexander Lyon and Julien Mirivel: https://a.co/d/ahFgouG 

• The Art of Positive Communication by Julien Mirivel: https://a.co/d/24bwU1k

• How to Smile by Thich Nhat Hanh: https://a.co/d/9AEZ2hJ  

• A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen: https://a.co/d/iMksSlT 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/3uUuteQ

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Julien Mirivel explore a new model of communication with small, intentional practices that help leaders strengthen relationships, elevate performance, and bring more humanity into the way work gets done.

Dr. Julien C. Mirivel is a professor of applied communication at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, an author specializing in positive communication, and a professional speaker. He is the co-author of multiple books, including The Art of Positive Communication and Positive Communication for Leaders. 

Dr. Julien reveals in this episode how you can communicate more intentionally to build stronger relationships at work and in life.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Redefining communication from exchanging information to building relationships

• The six foundational behaviors of positive communication

• How positive communication can create connection, trust, and performance at work

• Why leaders must learn to see and reflect the effort behind the work—not just the outcome.

• How to reframe tough conversations through curiosity and open-ended questions.

This episode will leave you with practical tools and deep insights you can start using today to communicate with more humanity and impact. Tune in now!

Resources:✅

• The Art of Positive Communication: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/Model-of-Positive-Communication-Copyright-Julien-C-Mirivel.pdf 

• The Six Keys to Positive Communication (article by Dr. Julien Mirivel): https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_six_keys_to_positive_communication 

• Dr. Julien Mirivel’s website: https://www.julienmirivel.com/ 

• TEDx with Dr. Julien Mirivel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmmlA19WLgs 

Books:✅

• Positive Communication for Leaders by Alexander Lyon and Julien Mirivel: https://a.co/d/ahFgouG 

• The Art of Positive Communication by Julien Mirivel: https://a.co/d/24bwU1k 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/3uUuteQ

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Rasmus Hougaard, Managing Partner of Potential Project and best-selling author of More Human, explore how leaders can use AI not to replace their humanity—but to amplify it.

Rasmus Hougaard is the author of Compassionate Leadership and The Mind of the Leader, and has been recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the world’s top leadership thinkers. He coaches C-suite leaders at global companies like IKEA, Accenture, and Unilever, and regularly writes for Harvard Business Review and Forbes.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• The Power of Common Humanity

• How AI Can Make Us More Human

• The Human Operating Model: Awareness, Wisdom, Compassion

• Leaders Must Set Context, Not Just Deliver Content

• Meditation as the Antidote to AI Overload

• How to Develop the Beginner’s Mind

• Compassion in Action: Doing Hard Things in a Human Way

• The Inner and Outer Technologies of Leadership

Tune in now and discover how you can lead not just with your head, but with your heart, in an AI-powered world.

Resources: ✅

• Potential Project: https://www.potentialproject.com/ 

• Vipassana Meditation: https://www.dhamma.org/ 

• Quote by Zen master Shunryu Suzuki

"In the expert’s mind, there are few possibilities. In the beginner’s mind, there are many."

Books: ✅

• More Human: How the Power of AI Can Transform the Way You Lead by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter: https://a.co/d/d8UtOdZ 

• Compassionate Leadership: How to Do Hard Things in a Human Way by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter: https://a.co/d/cVDrtl8 

• A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger: https://a.co/d/0pGLBlK 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/fybNBNK

Today’s Happiness Squad Podcast episode is your chance to flip the script. Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Ryan Williamson about how you can actively protect your brain, extend your health span, and sustain peak performance—not just today, but for the decades ahead.

Dr. Ryan Williamson is a board-certified neurologist, U.S. Navy veteran, and founder of Transcend Health. Focused on brain health and longevity, he helps individuals optimize performance and build lasting legacies through evidence-based wellness strategies. His work includes a membership program, educational resources, and an upcoming book aimed at expanding his impact on health and success.

Things you will learn in this episode: 

• Why you have more control over your health than you think

• The four pillars of brain longevity

• How to manage chronic stress

• How to improve your sleep quality and why it matters

• How having a community helps you take control of your health

We’re all going to live longer—but how we live matters more than how long. If you’re ready to make the shift now, check out our full episode here: [link]

Resources:

• Transcend Health: https://transcendhealthgroup.com/ 

• Brain-Computer Interaction study by Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/brain-computer-interaction-applying-minds-human-computer-interaction/ 

• Dr. Peter Attia: https://peterattiamd.com/ 

• Dr. Andrew Huberman: https://www.hubermanlab.com/ 

Books:

• Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity Book by Bill Gifford and Peter Attia: https://a.co/d/dFKDGOX 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/6TnTq5h

If you're leading a small or medium-sized business right now, you're not just navigating volatility—you're steering through a full-blown storm. Between plummeting markets, rising tariffs, and a fog of uncertainty, we can no longer afford to keep doing business as usual.

In this special episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder & CEO of Happiness Squad, addresses the urgent challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the face of unprecedented economic turbulence—triggered by sharp market downturns and a new wave of import tariffs.

These external pressures are putting nearly $150 billion of headwinds on SMBs, threatening both financial stability and long-term survival.

Ashish shares three critical leadership capabilities that can help SMB leaders to survive and thrive through this storm:

1. Adaptability and Resilience– Cultivating inner calm, shifting into resilient mindsets, reconnecting to purpose, and leading with vulnerability and psychological safety.
2. Leveraging Data and Analytics– Using data to assess risk, segment customers, evaluate suppliers, and make strategic, insight-led decisions.
3. Negotiation Excellence– Preparing for tough conversations with customers and suppliers and acting decisively with clarity, fairness, and confidence.

Ashish also introduces support offerings from Happiness Squad and a team of seasoned experts to help business leaders navigate these times—ranging from free white papers and webinars to a deep-dive bootcamp and mastermind community.

Be the clarity, courage, and calm your people need in this time of chaos. Tune into this episode now and get the edge your business needs.

Resources:✅

• http://tariffresponseteam.com/ 
• Cultivate Focus and Calm:https://insighttimer.com/bfcmind/guided-meditations/abc-meditation-for-focus-and-calmness 
• Should-Cost Modeling Tool:https://www.gep.com/blog/technology/should-cost-modeling-because-you-must-get-the-cost-right
• Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset:https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/growth-mindset-vs-fixed-mindset 

Books:✅

• The Lexus and the Olive Tree:https://www.thomaslfriedman.com/the-lexus-and-the-olive-tree/ 
• Man's Search for Meaning By Viktor Frankl:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning 
• Emotional Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ by Daniel Goleman:https://amzn.eu/d/dsLrKrS 
• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari:https://happinesssquad.com/hardwired-for-happiness/ 

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Mori Taheripour—renowned negotiation expert, Wharton professor, and author of Bring Yourself—reframe what negotiation really means.

Mori Taheripour is a globally recognized negotiation expert, a 12-time award-winning faculty member at the Wharton School, a highly sought-after speaker, and the author of Bring Yourself: How to Harness the Power of Connection to Negotiate Fearlessly.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• What negotiation really means in everyday life

• The importance of negotiating with yourself

• Why leading with curiosity makes you a better decision-maker

• How to turn rejection into opportunity

• Why self-awareness starts with stillness

• The difference between perfection and excellence

• What it means to show up as your full self

• How to handle conflict by gaining perspective

Get ready to negotiate fearlessly from the inside out. Tune in—you’ll never see negotiation the same way again.

Resources:✅

• Mori Taheripour website: http://www.moritaheripour.com/

• Wharton Legal Studies and Business Ethics: http://lgst.wharton.upenn.edu/ 

Books:✅

• Bring Yourself by Mori Taheripour: https://a.co/d/34lTnOZ 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/2iRN8rK 

• Getting to Yes Book by Roger Fisher and William Ury: https://a.co/d/4YNbIZu

In this episode of The Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Thomas Eckschmidt to explore how organizations can evolve beyond profits, embrace conscious leadership, and create a culture of trust and impact—without sacrificing success. 

Thomas Eckschmidt is the co-founder of the Conscious Capitalism movement in Brazil and CEO of CBJ Conscious Business Journey, a global network driving conscious business transformation. A seasoned entrepreneur and advocate for Conscious Capitalism, he has launched multiple ventures, won 12 business awards, authored 11 books, and filed four patents. He also serves on corporate boards, helping organizations integrate conscious business practices.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Understanding the Four Tenets of Conscious Capitalism

• The Danger of Losing Your "Why" in Business

• Ego vs. Ecosystem Leadership

• The Power of Stakeholder Orientation

• Reframing Business Success Beyond Just Profit

• The Rise and Challenge of Conscious Capitalism

• The Leadership Reset—Why This Matters NOW

Resources:✅

• Thomas Eckschmidt’s website: http://www.cbjourney.com/ 

• Creating Better Businesses for a Better World | Thomas Eckschmidt | TEDx: https://youtu.be/9Oqy8zywipU?si=GOnG6TCj7HFcBdeC 

• Harvard Global Leadership Development Study 2023: https://www.harvardbusiness.org/leadership-learning-insights/global-leadership-development-study/

• The Conscious Business Activator: https://www.cbactivator.cc/ 

Books:✅

• “Purpose Canvas for Business: Making it clear why we are in business” by Thomas Eckschmidt: https://a.co/d/gRYSAfy 

• Conscious Capitalism Field Guide (Harvard) co-authored by Thomas Eckschmidt: https://a.co/d/gRYSAfy 

• Shakti Leadership by Nilima Bhat and Rajendra Sisodia: https://a.co/d/3Vao9Ra 

• The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben: https://a.co/d/bSSr9nE

• I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong: https://a.co/d/hIFnx7K 

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl: https://a.co/d/jiIH4Gk

This silence is costing businesses productivity, innovation, and even lives. So, how do we change this? How can leaders not just acknowledge workplace mental health but actually win the fight for better well-being—permanently? 

That’s exactly what we unpack in this powerful episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari and Michael Landsberg, a leading voice in mental health advocacy.

Michael Landsberg is a Canadian sports journalist and mental health advocate, best known as the longtime host of Off the Record on TSN. He has been a prominent voice in raising awareness about depression and anxiety, openly sharing his own struggles to reduce stigma. Landsberg founded SickNotWeak, a mental health advocacy initiative, and continues to speak publicly about the importance of mental health support.

For leaders who want to fix workplace mental health for good, it’s not about offering more benefits. It’s about changing how it is talked about and handled at work.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Why People Stay Silent About Mental Illness

• Hope as the Missing Piece in Depression Recovery

• The Business Case for Mental Health in the Workplace

• First Step: A Mental Health Program That Actually Works

• Why Leaders Need to Be Vulnerable to Fix Mental Health

Tune into our full episode with Michael Landsberg and take your first step toward better mental health.

Resources:✅

• Michael Landsberg’s website: https://www.michaellandsberg.ca/

• First Step – Mental Health Program by Michael Landsberg: https://www.greenshield.ca/en-ca/health/letsbereal 

• Sick Not Weak - Mental Health Community: https://www.sicknotweak.com/ 

• Alcoholics Anonymous Program: https://www.addictioncenter.com/treatment/12-step-programs/alcoholics-anonymous/ 

• Health Insight with Michael Lansberg: https://www.healthinsight.ca/advocacy/michael-landsberg-on-the-record-about-mental-health/

• Darkness and Hope: Depression, Sports, and Me (Documentary featuring Michael Landsberg) : https://www.mcintyre.ca/titles/SST001 

• McKinsey Study on Mental Health and Burnout: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-burnout 

• Deloitte’s Mental Health in the Workplace Study: https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Life-Sciences-Health-Care/gx-mental-health-2022-report-noexp.pdf 

Books:✅

• The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran : https://a.co/d/h6Jfjav

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/e9sUUpL

Too many leaders obsess over business expansion but ignore the foundation that makes it possible—PEOPLE. 

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Ryan Heckman remind us that when you invest in your people’s growth, your business follows. Ryan reveals the leadership shift that can turn any stagnant company into an unstoppable force.

Ryan Heckman is a seasoned private equity investor with over 25 years of experience, currently serving as co-founder, managing partner, and CEO at Rallyday Partners, a lower middle market investment firm. He also co-founded the Colorado Impact Fund, a Denver-based social impact fund. 

Previously, Ryan was the CEO and Chairman of EVP Eyecare and co-founded Excellere Partners, a private equity firm managing approximately $1.3 billion in capital. A two-time Olympian in skiing, he is also the Chairman of CiviCO, a founding board member of Endeavor Global/Colorado, and a Trustee at the University of Denver.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Why growing your people is the fastest way to grow your business

• How leadership is not about control—it’s about empowerment

• Why culture should get better as a company grows—not worse

• Why leaders must be coaches, not just managers

• How trust and psychological safety drive performance

This episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about leadership and business growth. Don’t miss it!

Resources:✅

• Rallyday Partners: http://www.rallydaypartners.com/ 

• Colorado Impact Fund: http://www.coloradoimpactfund.com/ 

• CiviCO: https://www.livecivico.org/ 

• Intrinsic Value (Wall Street Journal Column by Roger Lowenstein) https://rogerlowenstein.com/ 

• First Biography of Warren Buffett – By Roger Lowenstein: https://hbr.org/1996/01/what-i-learned-from-warren-buffett 

• Research from the Michigan Ross Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/an-introduction/ 

• Clay Christensen's Work on Management as a Noble Profession: https://hbr.org/2020/01/clayton-christensen-the-gentle-giant-of-innovation 

• Jan-Emmanuel De Neve & Sonja Lyubomirsky (Oxford Research on Workplace Well-Being): https://d341ezm4iqaae0.cloudfront.net/ews/20220817145319/Work-Wellbeing-2022-Insights-Report-.pdf 

Books:✅

• The Heart of Business by Hubert Joly: https://a.co/d/eVeJrY1 

• Grow the Pie by Alex Edmans: https://alexedmans.com/books/ 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/5G5k5IX

That’s exactly what Teresa Roche, Chair of the Learning Innovation Laboratory at Harvard and CHRO at the City of Fort Collins, has helped build—an adaptive and well-being-driven organization where people don’t just work, they flourish. 

Teresa Roche is a transformational HR leader with expertise in building well-being-driven workplaces. As CHRO of the City of Fort Collins, she has led innovative talent strategies, inclusion initiatives, and the Future of Work, shaping a culture where people and performance thrive. Previously, she drove leadership development at Agilent Technologies, ensuring 90% of senior roles were filled internally. 

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Teresa Roche explore how leaders can start designing purposeful workplaces that fuel both performance and well-being.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• The myth of work-life balance

• The importance of building a workplace culture that prioritizes well-being

• Why well-being must be an organizational priority

• Why organizations need to make the systemic shift to promote wellness

• The ROI of creating flourishing organizations

• The role of leaders in driving a flourishing culture

The system needs to change! If you want to be a part of it, start by tuning into this epic episode. 

Resources: ✅

• City of Fort Collins Health and Wellness Programs: https://larimer.senioraccesspoints.colostate.edu/blog/2021/11/16/city-of-fort-collins-health-and-wellness-programs/

• IFTF Palo Alto: https://www.iftf.org/ 

• Harvard Flourishing Network: https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/flourishing-network-HFH  

• Chief Learning Officer: https://resource.chieflearningofficer.com/chief-learning-officer-resource-center

• Related episode: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/episode/the-power-of-purpose-driven-organizations-with-alex-edmans 

• Alex Edman’s research proving that employee satisfaction leads to 2–3.5% incremental shareholder returns.  https://alexedmans.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Finding-the-Purpose-of-Your-Business.pdf

• McKinsey Health Institute - A holistic health approach for employees: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/reframing-employee-health-moving-beyond-burnout-to-holistic-health 

• Oxford Economics on prioritizing workplace well-being: https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/why-companies-should-prioritise-their-employees-wellbeing/ 

Books: ✅

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/7cgP2X8

That’s what we dive into in this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast with Ashish Kothari and Renee Moorefield, CEO of Wisdom Works Group, Inc.

Renee Moorefield, PhD, is the CEO of Wisdom Works, a social enterprise she co-founded in 1999 to promote leadership and organizational cultures that empower people to thrive. With over 30 years of experience, she has coached and advised executives from Fortune 500 companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Nike, and Hyatt. 

Renee is also the author of "Driven by Wellth," a book that explores how contemporary leaders can integrate wealth with well-being. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Global Wellness Institute and is an international speaker, as well as a Master Certified Coach and Certified Health & Wellness Coach. 

In the conversation, Ashish and Renee break down what it really means to thrive as a leader and why so many leaders struggle to make the shift. Renee shares a simple but powerful framework that helps leaders build resilience, stay energized, and lead with clarity—even in high-pressure environments.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Defining thriving ang its importance in leadership

• The six-part thriving framework (Developed by Wisdom Works)

• Why thriving is a leadership responsibility

• Practical Strategies for Moving from Survival to Thriving

If you’re feeling stretched too thin, constantly reacting, or struggling to find balance, this conversation will give you the practical tools you need to take back control and lead with energy, confidence, and purpose.

Tune in now to learn how to stop leading in survival mode and start thriving!

Resources: ✅

• Wisdom Works website: http://wisdom-works.com/

• Be Well, Lead Well Pulse Assessment: https://www.wisdom-works.com/assessment/ 

• Be Well, Lead Well: https://www.bewellleadwellpulse.com/ 

• Wisdom Works Group: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wisdom-works-group/ 

Books: ✅

• “Driven by WELLth” by Julie Maloney and Renee Moorefield: https://a.co/d/83TGDFc 

• "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn: https://a.co/d/gIeCdCF 

• "Leadership and the New Science" by Margaret Wheatley: https://a.co/d/6vWxdR6 

• Hardwired for Happiness book by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

In this episode, we dive deep into the power of rewiring our minds and relaunching our lives with transformational coaches Hillary DeCesare and Ashish Kothari. We explore how limiting beliefs hold us back, why traditional habits don’t always stick, and how the Belief Blaster tool can help you break free from subconscious patterns. Plus, we introduce the Rewire & Relaunch program—a 40-day journey designed to help you make lasting changes in the four key domains of life: Wealth, Health, Love, and Meaning.

What You'll Learn:

• How hidden beliefs sabotage success and happiness.

• The neuroscience behind rewiring the brain (and why it takes 62-67 days!).

• Why radical life changes don’t always lead to lasting transformation.

• The 5-step process to release limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones.

• The role of mind, body, and spirit in creating sustainable change.

• How community, accountability, and personal networks fuel transformation.

• The importance of energy alignment and using ancient wisdom for success.

Key Takeaways:

• We don’t see the world as it is; we see it as we are.

• Success and happiness don’t happen overnight—they require intentional rewiring.

• Knowledge isn’t power—practice is power.

• To create real change, you must change from within first.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Rewire & Relaunch program: Link to website

• Read Ashish Kothari’s book: Hardwired for Happiness (available on Amazon)

• Check out Hillary DeCesare’s book: Relaunch: Spark Your Heart to Ignite Your Life

Loved this episode? Share it with someone who needs a transformation! Don’t forget to

subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Will Day, Award-winning Abstract Painter-Artist, break down exactly how to turn creativity into your biggest leadership advantage.

Will Day is a Boulder-based contemporary artist known for his bold, large-scale abstract paintings that capture movement and transformation. With a background in architecture and finance, he brings a unique perspective to the art world, blending structure with expressive creativity. His work has been exhibited across the U.S., earning recognition for its emotional depth and dynamic energy. Through his art, Will inspires others to embrace risk, resilience, and the power of creative expression.

Will shares powerful lessons on why creativity is essential for leadership, how to embrace failure, and why relentless self-expression helps you lead with confidence. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Creativity as a leadership skill

• How to apply creativity as a daily practice

• The role of vulnerability in creativity

• Creativity as a tool for resilience

• Why leaders must think like an artist

If you’ve ever doubted your creative potential, this episode will challenge you to rethink leadership as an art form—one that requires courage, curiosity, and an unshakable commitment to growth. Tune in now!

Resources:✅

• Will Day Art: https://www.willdayart.com/ 

• Will Day on the CanvasRebel Magazine: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-will-day/ 

• Wil Day on Saatchi Art: https://www.saatchiart.com/willday?srsltid=AfmBOorV40nKMstu9n8hbu5rtWjgw6DWf1LN_xpso7TGQD1UkWDi8fkk 

• Will Day’s Artworks: https://www.artsy.net/artist/will-day 

• Will Day - TedX - Finding Creativity in the Chaos: https://www.ted.com/talks/will_day_finding_creativity_in_the_chaos 

Books: ✅

• Hardwired for Happiness book by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

In this Happiness Squad Podcast episode, Ashish Kothari and Alex Raymond, Founder of AMplify, Board at Kapta, and Host of The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast, explore how self-discovery empowers entrepreneurs to face their toughest challenges, find clarity, and sustain long-term success in their ventures. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Overcoming imposter syndrome in entrepreneurship 

• The importance of self-discovery for resilience

• Reframing success as a journey, not a destination

• How to operate in your zone of genius

• Preventing burnout through alignment and relationships

If you want proven, actionable tips to address the most pressing challenges in entrepreneurship, this is an episode you wouldn’t want to miss.

Resources: ✅

• The Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast by Alex Raymond: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conscious-entrepreneur/id1708478000

• The Conscious Entrepreneur Summit by Alex Raymond: https://consciousentrepreneur.us/ 

• The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI): https://www.mindgarden.com/117-maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi 

• Well-being in the Workplace by McKinsey & Co.: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/well-being-in-the-workplace 

• Related Episode with Dr. Srikumar Rao: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/episode/living-in-pure-awareness-with-professor-srikumar-rao 

Books: ✅

• "10X Is Easier Than 2X" by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy: https://a.co/d/2OCtzHs 

• "How Will You Measure Your Life?" by Clayton Christensen: https://a.co/d/eZaR7pn

• "Finite and Infinite Games" by James Carse: "Finite and Infinite Games" by James Carse  

• Hardwired for Happiness book by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

In our latest episode, Ashish shares how he founded Happiness Squad to help people find purpose, resilience, and true joy in life. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• How burnout, stress, and anxiety have become widespread challenges across industries
• The science behind individual and organizational flourishing
• Using data and continuous insights to build effective well-being programs
• Why community support and continuous practice are essential for real change

Resources:✅

• Sadhguru, Isha Foundation: https://isha.sadhguru.org/sg/en 

• The Art of Living by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: https://www.artofliving.org/in-en

• Vipassana Meditation: https://www.dhamma.org/  

• Rewire Program: https://happinesssquad.com/rewire-program/  

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-squad/id1663683864

• Website: https://happinesssquad.com/

Books:✅

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Jason Hanson show you how to change the game with grounded leadership and lead with strength, clarity, and conviction—no matter what comes your way. 

Jason Hanson is the Director of the President's Leadership Class at the University of Colorado Boulder, specializing in mentoring future leaders. A former Senior Manager of Enterprise Learning at Charles Schwab, he is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach with expertise in leadership development and talent strategy. Jason holds a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Understanding the importance of grounded leadership in times of change

• How to build grounded leadership by leveraging your values and strengths

• The role of strengths-based development in unlocking individual and team potential

• Practical leadership tools for building high-performing teams

• Why meaningful relationships are critical for leadership success

• Navigating career transitions with self-awareness and intentionality

Tune in now to learn how to lead with clarity and resilience in the most volatile of times.

Resources:✅

•   Gallup StrengthsFinder: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx 

• VIA Character Strengths: https://www.viacharacter.org/ 

• Harvard Business School Net Promoter Score Case Study: https://www.hbsp.harvard.edu/product/8573BC-PDF-ENG 

• The ADKAR Model: https://www.prosci.com/methodology/adkar 

• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html 

• Job Crafting by Jane Dutton: https://positivepsychology.com/job-crafting/ 

• https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/Glance-Leading-Positively.pdf 

Books:✅

• A Model for Change in Business, Government, and Our Community: https://a.co/d/9kSsCqw 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/iXGAjje

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Brent Lang explore how mental calmness helps leaders build resilience, maintain optimism, and inspire teams to thrive under pressure.

Brent Lang is an Olympic gold medalist and accomplished business leader. As the former CEO of Vocera Communications and current Chair of the Board at Eko Health and Movella, Brent combines his athletic discipline with strategic leadership to inspire resilience, mental calmness, and innovation in the organizations he serves.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• The power of persistence and resilience

• The importance of coaching, mentorship, and empathy

• Staying present and cultivating mental calmness

• Building strong foundations for well-being

• The value of positive thinking and openness

Don’t miss this inspiring episode! Hear Olympic gold medalist Brent Lang share his secrets to staying composed under pressure and building habits for success.

Resources:✅

• Brent Lang’s website: http://www.brentdlang.com/ 

• Brent Lang’s appointment to Chair of the Board of Directors at Eko Health  https://www.ekohealth.com/blogs/newsroom/brent-lang-joins-eko-board-of-directors?srsltid=AfmBOorgkQ3U3t_WX0sRAzzGyppxGseEpfrPgvNnFwccQCb9y7EO84hg 

• Brent Lang as Chairman of the Board at Movella: https://www.movella.com/investors/governance 

Books:✅

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/iXGAjje

Mark Weinstein is a social media pioneer and privacy advocate. He founded early social media platforms (Superfamily.com, Superfriends.com) and MeWe, a privacy-focused social network. He is also an author (Restoring Our Sanity Online) and a leading expert on privacy and ethical digital practices.

Mark shares actionable strategies to reduce social media dependency, set healthy boundaries between our personal and virtual lives, and restore our overall mental well-being in a digital age.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• The mental health crisis driven by social media

• Social media’s negative impact on the youth and on adults

• How to restore your sanity online

• Parenting in the digital age

• Ethical digital practices to protect your privacy

Being social media savvy doesn’t have to mean losing your sanity. Discover Mark’s actionable strategies to protect your mental well-being and restore your balance in today’s hyperconnected world.

Resources:✅

•  Mark Weinstein’s website: https://www.markweinsteininventor.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabV2aoowooKGM7uNIHm5bNth2caBCCgv8Fpwpdf-_7gUmGGMcDQ4ve01NA_aem_opeSAO_sU2svv-sgBUAkWg

• Mark Weinstein TEDx Talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoYC4ogezE4  

• Jonathan Haidt on The Effects of Social Media on Teen Mental Health: https://jonathanhaidt.com/social-media/ 

Books:✅

• Restoring Our Sanity Online by Mark Weinstein: https://www.amazon.com/Restoring-Our-Sanity-Online-Revolutionary/dp/1394273967

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder of Happiness Squad, explores the hidden costs of these behaviors, the drivers behind them, and how we can build a more intentional, fulfilling approach to work.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Understanding the myth of multitasking

• Breaking free from the need to always stay connected

• How to plan and execute efficient meetings

It’s time we stop wearing busyness as a badge of honor and start building habits that make us more resilient, adaptable, and—above all—happier.

Resources:✅

• Rewire Program: https://happinesssquad.com/rewire-program/ 

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-squad/id1663683864

• Website: https://happinesssquad.com/

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

Books:✅

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Jen Fisher, Former Human Sustainability Leader and Chief Well-being Officer at Deloitte, uncover why workplace well-being is directly tied to your organization’s success and how you can make it a cornerstone of your strategy.

Jen Fisher is a leading expert in workplace wellbeing and human sustainability, known for her groundbreaking role as Deloitte US's first Chief Wellbeing Officer. She is the bestselling co-author of Work Better Together and host of The WorkWell Podcast. Her work has been featured in major outlets such as Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and CNN, making her a sought-after thought leader and speaker in the field.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Why well-being is a strategic imperative

• The real causes of burnout and how to address them

• Building a culture of permission and psychological safety

• The ROI of investing in well-being at work

• Non-negotiables for thriving leaders

Resources: ✅

•  Jen Fisher on Substack: https://jenfisher.substack.com/

• Work by Dr. Alex Edmans: https://alexedmans.com/correlation/  

• McKinsey: Addressing Employee Burnout: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/addressing-employee-burnout-are-you-solving-the-right-problem 

Books: ✅

• Work Better Together book co-authored by Jen Fisher: https://a.co/d/1imvQxy 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/3SixHKF

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, we’re taking a fresh look at what it takes to thrive. As 2024 comes to a close, we’re celebrating the standout episodes that resonated with listeners worldwide. This special compilation brings you three impactful conversations packed with insights to help you thrive in life and work.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Driving Deep Organizational Change with Robert Quinn

• Embracing Modern Leadership with Andrew White

• Building Happy Habits for Long-Term Joy with Ashish Kothari

We learned a lot this year about dealing with challenges and creating a better future. Join us as we revisit the year's most inspiring conversations on leadership, change, and happiness, and discover useful lessons for the coming year.

Resources:✅

• Robert E. Quinn

∙ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-e-quinn-57b9a9100/ 

∙ http://www.bob-quinn.com/ 

∙ https://michiganross.umich.edu/faculty-research/faculty/robert-quinn 

∙ Deep Change by Robert Quinn: https://michiganross.umich.edu/faculty-research/faculty/robert-quinn 

∙ More books by Robert Quinn: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001H6MQSK 

• Andrew White

∙ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-andrew-white/?originalSubdomain=uk 

∙ Transcend.Space on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transcend-space/  

∙ Transcend.Space Website: https://transcend.space/who-we-are/  

∙ Andrew White’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9fwC3tInlo  

∙ Leadership 2050 Newsletter: https://transcend.space/leadership-2050/   

• Ashish Kothari

∙ https://www.facebook.com/ashish.kothari.397

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

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

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

Books:✅

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655 

• Andrew White’s Harvard Business Review article: https://hbr.org/2016/06/lessons-from-companies-that-put-purpose-ahead-of-short-term-profits

In this episode of the Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Anil Ramjiani are joined by Raj Sisodia, co-founder of Conscious Capitalism and author of Awaken, to explore how conscious purpose-driven leadership can transform not just organizations, but lives.

Raj Sisodia is a distinguished author, speaker, and educator, recognized as a founding figure in the Conscious Capitalism movement. He serves as the FEMSA Distinguished University Professor of Conscious Enterprise and Chairman of the Conscious Enterprise Center at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico. 

Raj shares powerful insights into the role of conscious leadership, explaining how aligning personal and organizational purpose can foster resilience, improve outcomes, and create meaningful connections. 

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Why purpose is the foundation of conscious leadership

• The connection between healing, self-awareness, and leadership effectiveness

• Aligning individual purpose with organizational goals

• Practical steps to embrace conscious leadership

Follow The Happiness Squad Podcast for weekly insights and inspiration on how to lead with purpose, joy, and authenticity.

Resources:✅

 • Raj Sisodia on X : https://x.com/RajSisodiaCC  

• https://rajsisodia.com/ 

• Center for Positive Organizations - University of Michigan

Books:✅

• AWAKEN: The Path to Purpose, Inner Peace, and Healing

• The Healing Organization

• Conscious Capitalism

• All Books Written by Raj Sisodia: http://rajsisodia.com/books.html 

• Man's Search For Meaning

• Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life

Chris Wright is a tech nerd turned entrepreneur. With a deep-rooted passion for energy in all its forms, he has journeyed through various sectors, from fusion, solar, and geothermal, to his current focus on oil and gas and next-generation geothermal. 

His guiding principle is clear: the source of energy matters less than its ability to be secure, reliable, affordable, and, most importantly, its capacity to better human lives. Chris’ commitment is not just to energy itself, but to unlocking its potential to enrich communities worldwide.

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Chris, shares with us the power of a people-first culture and how to lead one. Join us as we uncover how Chris’ passion for energy and commitment to improving lives translates into a leadership style that puts people at the forefront.

Episode highlights:

• The power of meaningful relationships

• How vulnerability creates connections

• The importance of a People-first Business Strategy

• How to Lead a People-first culture

Ready to learn from a master? Tune in to hear Chris Wright talk about building a thriving people-first culture. Listen to the episode here! 

Resources:

• Liberty Energy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibertyFrac

• Liberty Energy on linkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/libertyenergy/ 

• Bettering Human Lives Report - https://www.libertyenergy.com/betteringhumanlivesv2/ 

Books:

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari

• Grow the Pie by Alex Edmans

In this episode, we feature Barbara Jeffery, a Partner at McKinsey & Company in the London office who leads the People and Organizational Performance practice in the UK, Ireland, and Israel. With over 15 years of experience in various sectors, including healthcare and public services, Barbara specializes in strategy development, organizational design, and driving large-scale change. 

She is also deeply involved with the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) as an Affiliate Partner, focusing on Employee Health and Wellbeing. Moreover, Barbara is a Board member for Business in the Community (BITC), a prominent organization championing responsible business in the UK.

In this episode of the HAPPINESS SQUAD Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Barbara Jeffery, Partner at McKinsey & Company, discuss how addressing our holistic health could transform our work lives. 

Things you will learn from this episode:

• Holistic health in the workplace

• The 4 dimensions of holistic health

• How organizations can foster holistic health

• Understanding burnout

Resources:

• Addressing Employee Burnout: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/addressing-employee-burnout-are-you-solving-the-right-problem

• Barbara Jeffery: https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/barbara-jeffery 

• Working Nine to Thrive: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/working-nine-to-thrive 

• Reframing employee health: Moving beyond burnout to holistic health: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/reframing-employee-health-moving-beyond-burnout-to-holistic-health

• Present company included: Prioritizing mental health and well-being for all: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/present-company-included-prioritizing-mental-health-and-well-being-for-all 

Books:

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

In this second part of our two-part episode, Ashish Kothari and  Kim Cameron, Professor and Co-founder of the Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship at The University of Michigan, dig deeper into the impact of positive leadership and how small, intentional actions can drive real results by showing people they matter.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• How positive leadership boosts morale, productivity, and even physical well-being

• Simple practices that create a positive shift in team culture

• Moving from task-driven to purpose-driven leadership

• Why kindness, trust, and compassion are essential leadership skills

• The ripple effect that positive leadership can have across an organization

Without a sense of purpose and meaning, even the best teams can lose their drive. Don't let that happen! Listen to this episode now. 

Resources:✅

•   https://www.kimscameron.com/

• Center for Positive Organizations: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/people/kim-s-cameron/ 

• https://michiganross.umich.edu/faculty-research/faculty/kim-cameron

Books:✅

• Positive Leadership: Strategies for Extraordinary Performance by Kim Cameron: https://a.co/d/giji6pC 

• Positively Energizing Leadership: Virtuous Actions and Relationships That Create High Performance by Kim Cameron: https://a.co/d/4ZakMBi 

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/beRWWsN

Kim Cameron is the William Russell Kelly Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and a pioneering scholar in positive organizational scholarship. As co-founder of the Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship, his influential research on organizational virtuousness, culture, and leadership excellence has shaped the field, with his work among the most downloaded in organizational sciences. With over 130 published articles and 15 books, Kim’s insights on achieving extraordinary outcomes guide leaders across sectors worldwide.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Understanding positive leadership and virtuousness

• The Heliotropic Effect in organizations

• The power of meaning and purpose in work

• Case Study: Rocky Flats Nuclear Arsenal Cleanup

If you’re still underestimating the impact of a positive leader, here’s a quick refresher: Positive leadership fuels REAL business results. Check out our full episode and see for yourself.

Resources:✅

• https://www.kimscameron.com/

• Center for Positive Organizations: https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/people/kim-s-cameron/

• https://michiganross.umich.edu/faculty-research/faculty/kim-cameron

Books:✅

• Positive Leadership: Strategies for Extraordinary Performance by Kim Cameron: https://a.co/d/giji6pC

• Positively Energizing Leadership: Virtuous Actions and Relationships That Create High Performance by Kim Cameron: https://a.co/d/4ZakMBi

• Hardwired for Happiness by Ashish Kothari: https://a.co/d/beRWWsN

In this milestone 100th episode of The Happiness Squad Podcast, Ashish Kothari, Founder and CEO of Happiness Squad, digs into the hard truth: happiness can’t be bought or chased—it must be cultivated from within.

Drawing on insights from top experts and 100 episodes of transformative conversations, Ashish reveals the four essential ingredients to lasting happiness and how to embed them in your core strategies.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Debunking myths about happiness

• The 4 Key Ingredients to Real Happiness

• Minfulness as a practical tool for leaders and teams

• The Problem with Workplace Wellness Programs

For a truly happy, healthy work environment, it’s time to rethink happiness from within.

Resources:✅

• Rewire Program: https://happinesssquad.com/rewire-program/  

• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-squad/id1663683864

• Check out all Happiness Squad Episodes here: https://podcast.happinesssquad.com/?_gl=1*18szv5y*_ga*MTY3NDAwMTI1Mi4xNzI4NzA0NjYw*_ga_79YFEDB29K*MTczMTMwMjk3OC4yLjAuMTczMTMwMjk3OC42MC4wLjA 

Books:✅

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life.https://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Happiness-Proven-Practices-Overcome/dp/1544534655

Renelle Everett Darr specializes in conscious leadership and organizational transformation, with 25+ years of experience. Certified in The Leadership Circle Profile and holding ICF’s PCC credential, she works with CEOs and Fortune 500 clients to foster impactful, human-centered growth. Renelle’s insights are shaped by her roles at EY and Deloitte, and she regularly speaks on emotional intelligence and leadership. Based in Golden, Colorado, she also mentors emerging leaders and founders.

Things you will learn in this episode:

• Responding vs. Reacting to your inner triggers

• Trigger awareness and self-reflection techniques

• How our values and past experiences shape our triggers

• Knowing your triggers and practicing intentional responses

In today’s challenging world, thoughtful responses can set you apart. Tune in to his epic episode now!

Resources: ✅

• Insight Coaching and Consulting: https://insight-cc.com/about/ 

• https://insight-cc.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Renelle_Everett_Darr_Speaker_2024vf-3.pdf

• Life’s Vital Chapters with Jen and Ren (podcast): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lifes-vital-chapters-with-jen-and-ren/id1731203686 

Books: ✅

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life https://a.co/d/eFX8VMx

In this episode of the M&A Science Podcast, Ashish Kothari and Dr. Angela Jackson, Founder of Future Forward Strategies and Author, dig into the Win-Win Workplace Framework, a paradigm-shifting strategy that uses employee voices to drive organizational success.

Dr. Angela Jackson is a professor at Harvard University and an expert in organizational development and employee engagement, with a focus on creating thriving workplaces where employees drive bottom-line success. With over five years of research and interviews with 1,200 companies, Dr. Jackson has developed the Win-Win Workplace Framework, which helps organizations operationalize employee voice and reimagine workplace culture. She is also the author of the upcoming book The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom Line Success.

If you’re serious about lowering turnover and creating a thriving workplace, don’t miss this episode!

Things you will learn in this episode:

• How investing in employees is generating more revenue

• The Win-Win Workplace Framework and its nine practices

• The importance of your employees’ voice

• Changing the traditional parent-child dynamic in the workplace to a peer-to-peer relationship

• Barriers to creating a win-win workplace

Resources: ✅

•  Dr. Angela Jackson website:  https://www.drangelajackson.com/ 

• Future Forward Strategies: https://www.futureforwardstrategies.com/about#:~:text=Our%20Founder%20and%20CEO,initiatives%20that%20create%20career%20pathways.

• Also mentioned in this episode:

• What Got You Here Won’t Get You There book by Marshall Goldsmith https://www.amazon.com/What-Got-Here-Wont-There/dp/1401301304 

• A Layman’s Guide to Separating Causation from Correlation … and Noticing When Claims of Causality are Invalid https://alexedmans.com/correlation/ 

• Alex Edmans episode at HAPPINESS SQUAD: https://happinesssquad.com/captivate-podcast/the-power-of-purpose-driven-organizations-with-alex-edmans/ 

• Positively Making Organizations and the World Better by Kim Cameron https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1548051821997414?icid=int.sj-abstract.similar-articles.8 

Books:✅

• The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Success https://www.amazon.com/Win-Win-Workplace-Thriving-Employees-Bottom-Line/dp/B0D6V6B4TN 

https://www.readwinwinworkplace.com/

• Hardwired for Happiness: 9 Proven Practices to Overcome Stress and Live Your Best Life https://a.co/d/gsApfud