Harvesting Happiness Podcasts

We live in a moment when disagreement has become a spectator sport — louder, faster, and more polarized than ever. But what if the goal was never to win the argument, just to be heard, and to actually hear back?

In this episode, we sit down with Julia Minson, PhD, associate professor of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School and one of the leading researchers on the psychology of conflict and disagreement. Julia is best known for coining and studying “conversational receptiveness” — the measurable, learnable set of language cues that signal genuine openness to an opposing point of view, even amid deep disagreement.

We explore why our brains are wired to avoid engaging with people who see the world differently, why “winning” an argument rarely changes anyone’s mind, and what the research actually shows about the words and phrases that make people feel heard rather than dismissed. Julia walks us through her studies on political polarization, workplace conflict, and closed-door negotiations, and offers practical, research-backed tools for having harder conversations — with family, colleagues, and the people we’re most tempted to write off.

If you’ve ever walked away from a hard conversation wishing you’d handled it differently, this episode gives you the psychology — and the language — to do it better next time.

The growing alignment between conservative politics and traditional religion has alienated younger Democrats and Independents, leading many to abandon faith-based activism. This retreat begs the question: can religious leaders still mobilize to address racial inequality, or have structural forces like gerrymandering permanently entrenched these divisions?

To better understand the relationship between well-being and community activism, Harvesting Happiness host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author, sociologist, and Princeton professor emeritus Robert Wuthnow, PhD.

In this religion and social justice podcast, Robert explores why faith-based activism and the pursuit of racial justice and racial equality have fallen out of favor in the democratic mission, and whether religious institutions are obliged to address civic ideals and politics.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

The burgeoning neuroscience of meditation validates soul-centered psychology by revealing tangible, measurable changes in brain structure and stress regulation. Clinical investigations into mind-body medicine for anxiety demonstrate how integrative psychiatry successfully merges conventional treatments with holistic care to alleviate psychological distress and cognitive impairment.

To better understand the medical connection between spirituality and mental health, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Helen Lavretsky, a Professor of Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatrist, and Author.

In her book, “Living from the Soul: The Neuroscience of Spiritual Awakening”, Helen argues that yoga, chanting, meditation, and breathing techniques heal trauma. Long dismissed as alternative or marginal practices, these modalities now have solid clinical research backing them and demonstrating tangible medical results. .

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Democracy is imperfect because ‘we the people’ are imperfect. Yet through collaborative bargaining, compromise, and a willingness to govern ourselves, we can spark democratic renewal and press forward in our pursuit of happiness. Because our politics and personal well-being are deeply intertwined, healing our civic foundations and institutions can help us build a future free of authoritarian rule.

To better understand the connection between politics and personal well-being, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author and academic historian Brook Manville, PhD.

Brook discusses the foundations of democracy and the Civic Bargain. He describes the active participation required by all Americans to spark a civic renewal that will strengthen our democracy and more accurately reflect the intentions of the Founding Fathers.or economic and psychological safety nets from the state to employers.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Younger generations carry the burden of economic instability, often finding the milestones of homeownership and secure retirement slipping further out of reach than they were for their grandparents. As traditional social safety nets fray, many people are left navigating a profound sense of anxiety and social disconnection. This raises the question: Why do financial elites continue to achieve overwhelming success at the ballot box? How does the media manipulate voters to support outcomes that ultimately undermine their own well-being and psychological safety?

To better understand the connection between well-being and political anxiety, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Lorenza Antonucci, PhD, one of Europe's leading voices on the human cost of insecurity.

The discussion centers around her book, Insecurity Politics: How Unstable Lives Lead to Populist Support. In it, Lorenza addresses a troubling shift in global politics: abandoning the idea of meeting public needs, leaving individuals vulnerable and driving support for populism. She highlights the foundational, empathetic, collective solutions that shift responsibility for economic and psychological safety nets from the state to employers.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Growing up, very few of us had kitchen table conversations about how vulnerability builds intimacy. Instead, most of us were handed a survival guide that taught us to "never let them see you sweat" and to "be strong." As a result, walking into adult relationships and talking intimately about our attachment styles and desires can be terrifying. Yet, finding the courage to share our true desires—free from shame or fear—transforms not just our sex lives, but deepens the connection with our partners and ourselves.

*This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature listeners.

For tips on how to bring attachment theory into the bedroom, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two emotionally focused therapists and co-authors, Laurie Watson, PhD, LMFT, and George Faller, LMFT.

Laurie and George dive into what it takes to stay vulnerable and keep the spark alive for the long haul. They share expert strategies to help couples break free from the exhausting pursue-withdrawal cycle and reconnect on a deeper level.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Do elected officials actually represent you? Once they take office, governance often seems to turn into a black hole where democratic accountability disappears. And, depending on your perspective, we may be living through the most frustrating political climate in U.S. history, leaving many citizens feeling unheard. Democracy thrives not on passive observation, but on everyday people’s enduring commitment to make their voices heard. Do you know what actions your generation must take to spark change?

For expert insights on overcoming political anxiety, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Vermont, Minh Ly, PhD.

Minh highlights the rights and responsibilities of democratic citizenship, reminding us that every historical advance in justice and inclusion has relied on mass political action. True democratic responsibility goes beyond voting; it includes adult civic education, grassroots organization, and active cooperation to keep authoritarianism from festering.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Reflect on the judgments your culture holds regarding addictive behaviors. Do you proudly broadcast your intense gym workouts while quietly judging those on a smoke break outside the office? What makes their addiction different from yours? Many strive to amplify the habits our culture praises simply because they validate our commitment. When culture drives people into the shadows through shame and exclusion, it deepens the wound. Does healing begin not by policing willpower, but by replacing judgment with human connection?

To frame addiction through the lens of harm reduction psychology, Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Elizabeth F.S. Roberts, anthropologist and author.

Rethinking addiction and shame, Elizabeth’s book In Praise of Addiction: Or How We Can Learn to Love Dependency in a Damaged World draws on her first-hand experience of living in Latin culture. In this addiction anthropology podcast, she explains how these communities handle dependency and human connection, revealing how isolation, rather than the addiction itself, is considered the true danger.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Individual beliefs empower us. They embolden us with confidence and assuredness about issues we deem important. But what if some of our beliefs aren’t really ours? What if we are merely hosts to mind viruses that enter quietly and opportunistically, exploiting our trust and open-mindedness? No one is immune to misinformation. We all need to understand our vulnerabilities to protect ourselves and each other.

To better understand our vulnerability to misinformation, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with philosopher, cognitive scientist, author, and founder of the Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE), Dr. Andy Norman.

To promote mental immunity, Andy examines signs of mental immune disorder, what makes some groups more susceptible to mind ‘bugs’ and mental hijacking, and how to talk to someone who believes misinformation. His cognitive hygiene habits offer mental immunity to those who prefer to think rationally and want to protect themselves from conspiracy theories.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Do you wish your partner communicated better? Have you considered that they may not be wired to do so? Biology and chemistry play important roles in how we communicate. Testosterone and Estrogen play a major role in gender communication and social behavior from an early age.

*This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature listeners.

To better understand why men and women communicate differently, and the chemistry behind gender communication, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with sex and biology expert and author Dr. Stephen Furlich.

Dr. Furlich shares the scientific findings at the core of his book Sex Talk: How Biological Sex Influences Gender Communication Differences Throughout Life's Stages, strategies for how both genders can communicate with each other effectively, and why men and women are the way they are.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Understanding and navigating complex interpersonal dynamics is essential for building healthy relationships. In environments characterized by narcissistic abuse, with one or two narcissistic parents, children are denied the emotional safety needed to develop an independent identity. Instead, they learn to survive the abuse by stepping into predefined roles that serve the narcissist's needs.

To define narcissism and discover how to navigate relationships involving narcissistic personality disorder, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has forty years of experience in public and private practice, Dr. Karyl McBride.

Dr. McBride has focused on private research regarding parental narcissism, and the debilitating effects of narcissism in relationships. She describes the 5-step recovery process from her book, "Will the Drama Ever End? Untangling and Healing from the Harmful Effects of Parental Narcissism" and shares stories of the family drama experienced by clients on the road to recovery.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Do you have a chronic procrastinator in your life that just can’t seem to finish their task list? It’s easy to write it off as pure laziness or a lack of drive, but procrastination isn’t a time-management problem. At its core, the fear of failure and discomfort triggers a deep sense of shame, causing people to hit the brakes before they even start. To move past the cycle, we have to understand what is driving the behavior.

In this productivity and mental health podcast, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen interviews Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona, a psychologist, author, coach, and TEDX speaker, about key ‘how to stop procrastinating’ skills.

In Dr. Z’s book, “Acceptance and Commitment Skills for Perfectionism and High-Achieving Behaviors”, she lifts the veil of procrastination, demonstrating that it is not laziness but the fear of failure that inhibits people from completing tasks.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

*This episode explores human sexuality and is intended for mature listeners.

As the percentage of young people openly identifying as LGBTQ+ continues to rise, social media has become a vital catalyst for empowering youth who previously did not feel safe expressing who they are. Still, being seen is only the first step toward true acceptance. How can society shift the narrative from bullying to active allyship?

To glean guidance from a researcher studying real-world experiences with LGBTQ+ identity development in adolescents, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a Developmental Psychologist and Associate Research Scientist with the Kinsey Institute, Dr. Myeshia Price.

Dr. Price describes the stages of identity development throughout the human life cycle with a focus on adolescence and offers guidance on parenting LGBTQ+ children during their gender identity development.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Many have come to believe that AI is a universal solution for managing repetitive tasks and improving productivity. But, is it realistic to think that machines can replace humans in a world built on connection and belonging? Our soul, or life force, is the essence of who we are and cannot be replicated by a machine; instead, it relies on social architecture, human connectivity, and interdependence to thrive and flourish. As we navigate AI and the future of work, the question of human-machine coexistence looms. We are living in rapidly changing times in which AI is altering the way we learn and work, but it cannot replace the magic of human-to-human relational engagement.

To explore loneliness in the digital age, and AI and the future of work, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen interviews Dr. Allison Pugh, a professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University and the 2024-25 vice president of the American Sociological Association.

Allison discusses the research that led to her latest book, The Last Human Job, including the dilemma at the crossroads of AI and mental health, the impact of prioritizing data collection on human connective labor, and what is lost in technology and human relationships.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

From early childhood, our experiences shape a personal narrative that helps us make sense of the world; far from being an escape, story is how we navigate reality. Because our primal wiring compels us to defend this worldview as the only valid perspective, challenging our beliefs triggers us into action. Overcoming this defensiveness requires recognizing that vulnerability isn't a liability, but the ultimate strength in expanding our understanding — and in building real human connection.

To discover the art of changing someone's mind through brain science, Positive Psychology Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author Lisa Cron.

Lisa shares key insights from her book, Wired for Story, exploring the neuroscience of human connection and communication. Through raw storytelling, she shows how narrative can bridge the gap between conflicting worldviews, and reminds us that while changing minds is notoriously difficult, especially when deep-seated beliefs are at stake, narrative gives us a way in. For listeners navigating their own difficult experiences, she also points to the role mental health resources can play alongside this kind of self-understanding. .

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Navigating the changing needs of an aging parent can feel like a sobering wake-up call, especially as you balance respecting their role in their own care decisions with the growing weight of caregiving responsibilities. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but you don't have to carry the load alone. Palliative care, including hospice, offers essential support to guide families through this journey.

For sound advice on mindful aging-parent care, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes Dr. Suragh Grumet, MD, MPH, the Chief Medical Officer for North Carolina at Eventus WholeHealth, and the founder of Mindful Aging LLC.

In this caregiver support podcast, Dr. Grumet blends compassionate suggestions on relationships and spiritual connections with aging-parent care for the sandwich generation and beyond. She gently touches on end-of-life planning guidance and other caregiver tips taken from her book, Mindful Aging: A Compassionate Guide for Navigating the Journey.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

The interplay between money stress and mental health shapes how we perceive security, frequently trapping families in silent, inherited cycles of fiscal anxiety. Breaking these deeply entrenched patterns requires shifting our cultural discourse from financial judgment to financial empathy, allowing individuals to address their economic realities without shame.

To discover the secret to embracing the abundance-vs-scarcity mindset, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes Tari Vickery, author, Stanford-trained sociologist, financial well-being expert, and founder of Life Matters Financial Group.

As a financial well-being expert, Tari brings a nuanced perspective to the often-fraught discourse surrounding personal finance, offering strategies for initiating compassionate money conversations. Taken from her book, The Emotional Side of Money: A Roadmap to Financial Wellness, she details the foundational financial conversations often absent from most American households due to inherited cycles of economic stress and offers positive psychology interventions that transform avoidant financial behaviors.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Chronic fear and anxiety are destabilizing to the human nervous system. Healing stories can help calm and balance us, serving as vital mental health wellness strategies. As we learn to re-craft our narrative and implement structured rituals as tools for building resilience through pain, we allow our trauma and the societal pressures dictating who we should be to dissipate. Rooted in resilience and positive psychology, this transformative process affirms that knowing we matter to someone else can guide us through the darkest moments, offering a profound sense of meaning, connection, and direction in our lives.

To understand some small practices for building resilience through pain, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes Dr. Suzan Song, an internationally recognized humanitarian psychiatrist and anthropologist.

Suzan offers insights about the effects of trauma on the human psyche and the healing practices from her book, Why We Suffer and How We Heal. She describes how to release the stress of living in an environment of ambient threat through re-crafting our narrative, performing rituals, and embracing purpose.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Stigmas and a lack of hope afflict many who live through unimaginable traumas. PTSD is a common diagnosis, but it doesn’t quite fit the bill. By reframing the condition as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI), the focus shifts from managing a lifelong psychological 'disorder' to treating a physical, healable sympathetic nervous system in need of a reset, transitioning people from trauma to healing.

To better understand practices that migrate trauma to healing, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen welcomes Dr. Eugene Lipov, a board-certified anesthesiologist, pain specialist, and a champion for reframing PTSD as PTSI (Post-Traumatic Stress Injury).

Eugene offers a compelling rationale for the need to reframe the language associated with Post-traumatic Stress and a summary of The God Shot Book, which illuminates how resetting the autonomic nervous system can catalyze immediate biological healing.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.

Sustaining compassion during difficult times requires tapping into what compassion science reveals as pure, unlimited love. The science of altruism tells us that unlimited love is available to us as an unlimited resource. Channeling and sharing love nourishes us and activates the brain's reward and attachment systems, generating positive biological feedback. Love research shows that it provides a profound source of inner peace that stabilizes and sustains us through any crisis.

To discover the infinite potential of pure love, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen continues her conversation with Stephen G. Post, the Founding Director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine.

Stephen dissects the seven pathways to inner peace from his book, Pure Unlimited Love: Science and the Seven Paths to Inner Peace, translating these principles into daily practices that deepen our connection with others.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on https://harvestinghappiness.substack.com/ and https://medium.com/@HarvestingHappiness.