BJ Fogg is an experimental psychologist who directs the behavior design lab at Stanford University.  He is renowned for creating breakthrough methods for changing human behavior. These methods are called, “Tiny Habits.”  Fortune Magazine has named BJ one of the 10 New Gurus You Should Know.

In this conversation, you will hear BJ talk about the tiny habits method.  He explains how small behavior changes are easier to implement and sustain when it comes to creating lasting positive changes.  He shares the three simple steps you can take to make tiny habits part of your daily wellbeing routine.

Connect with BJ Fogg:

Website: TinyHabits.com

You’ll Learn:

• [01:29] - BJ talks about his research on making positive behaviors stick.
• [02:09] - BJ explains what a “tiny habit” is and how it works.
• [04:12] - BJ describes how he used the tiny habits method with daily pushups.
• [06:19] - BJ talks about our brains adapting to tiny habits.
• [07:23] - In case the habit isn’t “taking.” BJ shares how to tweak the recipe.
• [10:26] - BJ explains that simplicity lies at the heart of behavior change.
• [13:35] - BJ tells us why celebration is important to help behavior changes continue.
• [18:34] - BJ shares how his newest research is looking to uncover super tiny ha bits that have the biggest impact on our wellbeing.
  

Your Resources:

• Persuasive Technology: Using Computers to Change What We Think and Do - BJ Fogg
• BJ Fogg Ted Talk

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Dr. Richard Davidson is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry and the Director of The Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, both at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a renowned neuroscientist and one of the world’s leading experts on the impact of contemplative practices, such as meditation on the brain. He is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work on the study of emotions in the brain. This conversation with Dr. Richard Davidson was recorded live at the 2014 World Congress on Positive Psychology.  This recording has never been played before on our podcast.  

In this conversation, you will hear Richard share what neuroscientists are discovering about ways to train our brains to improve wellbeing through small daily practices.

Connect with Richard Davidson:

Websites:

http://richardjdavidson.com
http://investigatinghealthyminds.org

You’ll Learn:

• [01:38] -  Richard shares what the latest neuroscience research shows in the area of ways to improve wellbeing.
• [03:10] - Richard explains that wellbeing can be improved with practice. He talks about practices when it comes to improving wellbeing.
• [05:30] - Richard recommends that people start implementing these practices gradually.
• [6:26] - Richard encourages you to go to InvestigatingHealthyMinds.org and download the Compassion Meditation Practice.
• [07:02] - Mindfulness-based stress reduction is another excellent place to start, according to Richard.
• [07:41] - Richard explains how gratitude practices can help train our brains.
• [09:30] - Richard says that turning behaviors into habits is an effective way to embed these practices, neurologically.
• [11:37] - Richard describes some of the newer research now underway to understand how we can train our brains for wellbeing.

Your Resources:

• The Emotional Life of Your Brain: How Its Unique Patterns Affect the Way You Think, Feel, and Live--and How You Can Change Them - Richard Davidson and Sharon Begley

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Lindsay Oades is the director and an associate professor at The Center for Positive Psychology at The University of Melbourne, where he oversees the masters of applied psychology program.  Lindsey’s study and application of wellbeing ranges from individuals, mental health systems, educational institutions, workplaces and liveable cities. He has published over 100 journal articles and books chapters on these topics.  He is the co-editor of the International Journal of Wellbeing and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board at the Institute of Coaching at Harvard University.

In this conversation, you will hear Lindsay shares some of the latest findings on how wellbeing practices can improve organizational performance.  He also explains why focusing on improving individual wellbeing alone is not enough, and why we need to also address wellbeing at the team and organizational level and how we can approach this in workplaces. 

Connect with Lindsay Oades:

LindsayOades.com  
Wiley.com  
education.unimelb.edu.au/cpp

You’ll Learn:

• [02:38] - Lindsay shares why he believes organizations are struggling to capitalize on the growing evidence about how wellbeing practices impact workplaces.
• [03:59] - Lindsay talks about the individual approaches for applying positive psychology at work.
• [06:09] - Lindsay explains why cultivating happy workers is overstated.
• [08:03] - Lindsay shares the importance of improving wellbeing at team levels and how this can be addressed.
• [14:30] - Lindsay talks about how organizational practices and policies and enable or restrict workplace wellbeing.
• [16:27] - Lindsay shares the advice he is currently giving to leaders about improving wellbeing at a systemic level.
• [20:33] - Lindsey explains why wellbeing literacy matters in workplaces.
• [22:22] - The Lightning Round with Lindsay Oades.

Your Resources:

• Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace - Christine Porath
• Eat Move Sleep: How Small Changes Lead to Big Changes - Tom Rath

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!

Emilia Lahti is a researcher and social activist whose life mission is to be a catalyst for human connection, compassion, and nonviolence.  She has given talks at Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Tedx, as well as at Singularity University at NASA Ames, where she studied futurism and exponential technology.  Her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Business Insider, and Forbes, among others.

In this conversation, you will hear Emilia explain Sisu, which I describe as my reserve tank of motivation and energy in those moments when I’m up against something. Sisu exists in the presence of some sort of adversity. As humans, we tend to shy away from things that are difficult, but Sisu allows us to exceed ourselves.

Connect with Emilia Lahti:

Website: http://emilialahti.com

http://sisunotsilence.com

You’ll Learn:

• [02:01] - Emilia explains that Sisu is a latent inner-power and she explains the difference between Sisu and power or grit.
• [05:07] - Emilia says that Sisu is a universal capability with all humans.
• [05:49] - Emilia addresses the question if Sisu is something we are born with or is cultivated.
• [06:52] - Emila explains what an action mindset is and how it relates to Sisu.  
• [08:33] - Emila talks about what she is learning about latent power.
• [11:46] - Emilia shares what we can do for ourselves with Sisu.
• [13:51] - Emilia provides with another way that we can cultivate Sisu.
• [17:29] - Emilia explains “Sisu Not Silence” and how she plans to change culture through this venture.
• [21:39] - Emilia defines the “Dark Sisu Zone.”

Your Resources:

• Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success - Adam Grant
• The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession - Paulo Coelho

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care! Thank you Emilia.

Emilia Lahti is a researcher and social activist whose life mission is to be a catalyst for human connection, compassion, and nonviolence.  She has given talks at Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Tedx, as well as at Singularity University at NASA Ames, where she studied futurism and exponential technology.  Her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Business Insider, and Forbes, among others.

In this conversation, Emilia shares her research on sisu,an ancient Finnish construct that describes what enables you to endure the toughest of life’s situations and take extraordinary action against seemingly impossible odds.  Emilia explains how we might be able to cultivate more sisu and why it can help us to exceed our own expectations and discover what we're really capable of.

Connect with Emilia Lahti:

Website: http://emilialahti.com

http://sisunotsilence.com

You’ll Learn:

• [02:01] - Emilia explains that sisu is a latent inner-power and the difference between sisu, resilience and grit.
• [05:49] - Emilia addresses the question if sisu is something we are born with or is cultivated.
• [06:52] - Emila explains what an action mindset is and how it relates to sisu.  
• [08:33] - Emila talks about what she is learning about our latent power to exceed our own expectations.
• [13:51] - Emilia shares why sisu is not a solo endeavor.
• [17:29] - Emilia explains her “Sisu Not Silence” movement and how she hopes to run the length of New Zealand to end the silence on interpersonal violence.
• [21:39] - Emilia defines the dark sisu zone and what to do if you find yourself there.

Your Resources:

• Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success - Adam Grant
• The Zahir: A Novel of Obsession - Paulo Coelho

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing. Thank you Emilia.

Until next time, take care!

Mathew White is an award-winning educator who brings a unique combination of a deep academic background in well-being with executive level leadership experience across education, public, and social sectors.  Mathew is the Director of Wellbeing and Positive Education at St. Peter’s College. He is an Associate Professor in the graduate school of education at the University of Melbourne.

In this conversation, you will hear Mathew talk about the new book he recently edited, "Future Directions In Wellbeing" and the ground-breaking ways positive psychology can be applied in workplaces and schools.  He also shares some of the gaps he encourages all wellbeing researchers and practitioners to be thinking about.

Connect with Matthew White:

Website: http://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/display/person174409#tab-overview

Twitter: @Mathew_WhitePhD

You’ll Learn:

• [01:45] -Mathew shares the three big a-ha moments for him as he reviewed the essays on the future on wellbeing for the book.
• [04:19] - Mathew discusses the idea of well-being models in schools and parenting.
• [07:13] - Mathew talks about how organizations can improve wellbeing.
• [09:32] - Mathew shares how positive psychology is being integrated into the human resource practices at St. Peter’s College.
• [11:18] - Mathew explains how St. Peter’s College is maintaining the momentum of wellbeing practices after seven years of implementation.
• [13:46] - Mathew talks about wellbeing literacy in workplaces.  
• [16:03] - Mathew lists a few gaps in the field of wellbeing.
• [18:00] - The Lightning Round with Mathew White

Your Resources:

• Future Directions in Well-Being: Education, Organizations and Policy - Matthew A White and Gavin R Slemp
• The Strength Switch: How The New Science of Strength-Based Parenting Can Help Your Child and Your Teen to Flourish - Lea Waters
• Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined - Scott Barry Kaufman
• Scott Barry Kaufman TedX
• I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban - Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for joining me again this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of this post.  

Please leave an honest review for the Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated. They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them.  And don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. It’s free!

You can also listen to all the episodes of Making Positive Psychology Work streamed directly to your smartphone or iPad through stitcher. No need for downloading or syncing.

Until next time, take care!