Scott Rick is a behavioral scientist and marketing professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He holds a PhD in Behavioral Decision Research from Carnegie Mellon, where he was a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Scott joins Leah to explore the complicated role of money in relationships. He shares advice for couples who have different views on spending money, including strategies for those who hate spending and those who enjoy it too much. He also discusses the importance of gift-giving in relationships and how to use psychology to find the perfect gift this holiday season. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Scott Rick on LinkedIn. To learn more about how money messes with relationships – and how you can keep it from messing with yours – check out Scott’s book Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships.

Shasta Nelson is a leading expert in healthy relationships and intimacy. For over 15 years, she’s been translating the science of human connection into actionable practices for enhancing belonging and well-being. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Shasta joins Leah to discuss the key components of healthy relationships. Shasta shares strategies for developing new friendships and nurturing existing ones, as well as advice for ending a friendship. She also draws on data about loneliness and happiness to explain why working on our relationships is the most important thing we can do to improve our overall health.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Shasta Nelson on LinkedIn. To learn more about how to foster healthy relationships, check out Shasta’s book Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness.

Lynne Peeples is a journalist and author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync With Our Circadian Rhythms. She covers science, health and the environment and holds master’s degrees in biostatistics and science journalism. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Lynne joins Leah to discuss the science behind our circadian rhythms. Lynne explains why our inner clocks are out of sync and what that means for our physical and mental health. She also offers strategies for resetting our clocks, including limiting the hours during which we eat and following a consistent sleep/wake schedule. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Lynne Peeples on LinkedIn. To learn more about circadian rhythms, check out Lynne’s book The Inner Clock.

Carole Hopson is a Boeing 737 captain for United Airlines and the author of ‘A Pair of Wings,’ a historical fiction novel about Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to get her pilot license. After a successful twenty-year career working for iconic brands like the National Football League, Foot Locker and L’Oréal, Carole quit her job to pursue her lifelong dream of flying planes.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Carole tells the story of how she turned that childhood dream into a second-act career. She shares wisdom on balancing your career alongside the responsibilities of being a parent, demonstrating why moms make for some of the best employees. She also discusses her novel and her next big dream: sending 100 Black women to flight school by 2035.  Follow Carole Hopson on LinkedIn.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. To learn more about the life of Bessie Coleman, check out Carole’s novel A Pair of Wings.

Cassie Holmes is a Professor of Marketing and Behavioral Decision Making at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. Her first book Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most is a practical guide for how to think about and spend time in order to experience joy every day.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Cassie joins Leah to discuss her research on time and happiness. After dispelling the notion that more free time equals more happiness, Cassie offers tips for making the things you have to do every day – commuting, house chores, etc. – more enjoyable. She also explains the concept of ‘time crafting’ and why it’s so important to account for how we spend the hours in our days. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Cassie Holmes on LinkedIn.

Jeffrey Hall is a Professor of Communication Studies and the Director of the Relationships and Technology Lab at the University of Kansas. He studies the way technology influences relationships, including the impact of social media on feelings of belonging, connectedness and loneliness. The harms of social platforms have been well documented over the past decade – political polarization, misinformation – but is social media also to blame for the rise in loneliness? On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Jeffrey joins Leah to discuss the role of social media in the loneliness epidemic. Jeffrey argues that when used more intentionally, social media can fulfill its original promise: help us stay connected and deepen our connections with the people we care about most. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Jeffrey Hall on LinkedIn. Keep an eye out for Jeffrey’s forthcoming book The Social Biome: How Everyday Communication Connects and Shape Us.

Thubten Chodron is an American Tibetan Buddhist Nun and the founder of Sravasti Abbey, the only Tibetan Buddhist training monastery in the United States. In her recently re-released book Working With Anger, Thubten describes different practices for dealing with our anger that don't involve expression or suppression. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Thubten and Leah explore the Buddhist perspective on some of the toughest emotions we experience, including anger. While many of us believe that anger is useful or even righteous, Thubten argues that anger distorts our perception of reality. She encourages us to reframe our anger using techniques such as meditation, self-reflection and humor. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Thubten Chodron on LinkedIn. To learn more about the Buddhist perspective on anger, check out Thubten’s book Working with Anger: Buddhist Teachings on Patience, Acceptance, and Transforming Negativity.

We’d love to hear from you! Take our audience survey here. David Kessler is a grief and loss expert and the author of several bestselling books, including two he co-authored with Elizabeth Kubler Ross. He’s worked with thousands of people on the edge of life and death, helping them to find happiness and fulfillment after experiencing life’s gravest tragedies.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, David joins Leah to discuss the role of meaning and how we make it after experiencing a loss and the grief that accompanies it. He describes the process of ‘excavating’ one’s pain – a crucial step in the grieving process that must precede meaning-making. He also offers advice for talking to your coworkers about grief, stressing the importance of simply being present for those who are in the midst of grieving as opposed to offering solutions.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow David Kessler on LinkedIn. To learn more about the meaning-making process, check out David’s new workbook, The Sixth Stage of Grief: Tools for Releasing Pain and Remembering with Love.

We’d love to hear from you! Take our audience survey here. This week, in honor of World Mental Health Day, Everyday Better host Leah Smart is sharing her story of living with anxiety – and how she’s learned to manage it.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Additional Resources: Anxiety and Depression Association of America A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson Anxiety Rx by Dr. Russell Kennedy Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts by Dr. Martin Seif and Dr. Sally Winston The Tapping Solution by Nick Ortner

We’d love to hear from you! Take our quick audience survey here. Bonnie Wan is a brand strategist and author of The Life Brief: A Playbook for No Regrets Living. She’s passionate about helping people uncover their true desires and believes deeply in the power of intention to propel personal and professional growth. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Bonnie joins Leah to explain the concept of a life brief, which is a tool for getting clear on what you want and how you’re going to get it. Bonnie highlights the importance of wanting when it comes to personal growth, as well as the role privilege plays in shaping our desires. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Bonnie Wan on LinkedIn. To learn more about Bonnie’s work, check out her book The Life Brief: A Playbook for No Regrets Living.

We’d love to hear from you! Take our quick audience survey here. Corey Keyes is a sociologist and professor emeritus at Emory University. He studies how people find satisfaction in their lives, and why achieving a sense of well-being is no easy feat.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Corey joins Leah to discuss his research on languishing, flourishing and how to move from one to the other. Corey argues that good mental health isn’t just the absence of mental illness but the presence of well-being. He also explains the concept of “functioning well” and why working towards that is more important than chasing happiness.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Corey Keyes on LinkedIn. For more tips on how to move out of languishing and into flourishing, check out Corey’s book, Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down.

We’d love to hear from you! Take our audience survey here. Anna Sale is a journalist, author and host of the award-winning podcast Death, Sex & Money. On her show, Anna has intimate conversations with people about life’s toughest yet often under-discussed moments – infidelity, bankruptcy, aging and illness to name just a few. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Anna joins Leah to discuss what it was like when her podcast was unexpectedly canceled after nearly ten years on the air. Anna talks about how she transformed a moment of major career uncertainty into an opportunity to clarify her purpose. Anna and Leah also explore the evolution of ambition and what happens when we mine deep meaning from our work. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Anna Sale on LinkedIn. To hear more from Anna, listen to Death, Sex & Money wherever you find your podcasts.

This week on Everyday Better, we’re featuring the first episode of Let’s Talk Offline, a new podcast from LinkedIn and iHeartPodcasts. Each week on the show, co-hosts Gianna Prudente, LinkedIn’s early career development editor, and Jamé Jackson Gadsden, a LinkedIn community manager, will answer your questions about what it takes to thrive in the early years of your career – without sacrificing your values, sanity or sleep. Listen to Let’s Talk Offline wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

We’d love to hear from you! Take our audience survey here. Oliver Burkeman is a journalist, author and former “productivity geek.” His bestselling book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals outlines a saner approach to managing your time in a world of never-ending demands and distractions.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Oliver explains why all of the tools and techniques meant to save us time and maximize our productivity ultimately make us feel more stressed and short on time. Oliver argues that the only time management technique that works involves recognizing that you’ll never feel on top of things. Once you accept that, you can actually start crossing things off of your to-do list – and he has strategies for how to do that as well. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Oliver Burkeman on LinkedIn. To learn more about how to actually get stuff done, pre-order Oliver’s new book Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts.

We’d love to hear from you! Take our listener survey here. Dr. Robert Waldinger is a psychiatrist, Zen master and director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running longitudinal studies on human happiness ever conducted. His TED Talk on the major takeaways from the study has received over 43 million views since 2015 and is one of the most-watched TED Talks of all time. Today, Robert joins Leah to discuss the most significant – and surprising – findings from the study, as well as how we can use these insights to build a healthy and happy life. To learn more about the Harvard Study of Adult Development, check out Robert’s latest book The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Robert Waldinger on LinkedIn.

Tim Tamashiro is a jazz singer, radio broadcaster and the author of How to Ikigai: Lessons for Finding Happiness and Living Your Life's Purpose. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Tim joins Leah to explore the concept of Ikigai, an ancient Japanese philosophy that encourages us to live our “life’s worth.” After explaining what his Ikigai is and how he discovered it, Tim guides Leah through the process of uncovering her own. He also shares his perspective on how to achieve lasting happiness, and offers tips for when you get stuck in the process of identifying your own Ikigai. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Tim Tamashiro on LinkedIn. To learn more about Ikigai, check out Tim’s book, How to Ikigai. And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Dr. Wendy Suzuki is a professor of neural science and psychology at New York University and the author of Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion. In 2022, she was appointed Dean of NYU's College of Arts & Science. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Wendy joins Leah to discuss strategies for turning our anxiety from a weakness into a superpower. She digs into the evolutionary purpose of anxiety and explains why the feelings of anxiousness we all experience don’t have to hold us back from achieving success. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Wendy Suzuki on LinkedIn. For more anxiety-transforming techniques, check out Wendy’s book, Good Anxiety.   And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

John and Julie Gottman are world-renowned relationship researchers and psychologists who have been happily married for the past 37 years. They’ve authored more than 40 books together, including Fight Right: How Successful Couples Turn Conflict Into Connection.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, the Gottmans join Leah to share their perspectives on conflict resolution in relationships. They explain how disagreements, whether at home or in the office, present opportunities to strengthen bonds and deepen connections. They also discuss the three main styles of conflict management in couple relationships and propose a new method for voicing dissatisfaction that moves from criticizing to complaint-making.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow The Gottman Institute on LinkedIn. For more on conflict resolution in relationships, check out the Gottmans’ latest book, Fight Right. And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Dr. Michael Gervais is one of the world's top high performance psychologists. He’s worked with professional athletes, sports teams and executives, helping them to thrive in the most high-pressure of situations.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Michael joins Leah to unravel what he calls “FOPO” (Fear of Other People's Opinions), and to teach practical strategies for reducing our fear of external judgment. He also discusses the principles of high performance and the importance of developing your own personal philosophy. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Micheal Gervais on LinkedIn. For more on Michael’s work, check out his book The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of You. And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Personal growth educator Amanda Hilton says that when it comes to decision-making at work and in your personal life, there is never one ‘right’ answer. Instead of fretting over a list of pros and cons, Amanda offers a clearer path — one that uses our core values to center what matters most.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Amanda and Leah demystify the concept of core values. Amanda gives practical tips and offers provoking questions to help us define our core values and apply them to the decision-making process. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Amanda Hilton on LinkedIn. For more on Amanda’s work, visit The Simply Well’s website. And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

In part two of our conversation with psychotherapist and Enneagram expert Bea Chestnut, we explore how the Enneagram can be used at work. As an Enneagram coach, Bea has more than two decades of experience helping organizations strengthen their teams and workplace cultures. With attention to each Enneagram type’s particular strengths and blind spots, Bea describes how each of the nine types shows up at work as a colleague and as a leader. She also explains how the Enneagram can be used to help us develop our communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the people we work with.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Bea Chestnut on LinkedIn. For more on the enneagram at work, check out Bea’s book The 9 Types of Leadership: Mastering the Art of People in the 21st Century Workplace And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Bea Chestnut is a psychotherapist, consultant and globally-recognized expert on the enneagram, a personality typing system based on ancient spiritual traditions. For the past 27 years, Bea has studied, written about and taught the enneagram in both therapeutic and business settings. She uses it as a map for guiding her clients towards a deeper understanding of themselves and others. On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Bea and Leah dive deep into the enneagram – what it is, where it comes from and how it can be used to raise your level of awareness. Bea describes each of the nine enneagram types, including each type’s growth path for reaching a higher level of consciousness. She also shares how she discovered the enneagram and explains why she thinks it’s one of the most powerful personal development tools in the world. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Bea Chestnut on LinkedIn. For more on the enneagram, check out Bea’s book The Enneagram Guide to Waking Up: Find Your Path, Face Your Shadow, Discover Your True Self. And, don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Erin Cech is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan and the author of The Trouble with Passion: How Searching for Fulfillment at Work Fosters Inequality. She studies societal inequality and cultural forces which reproduce inequality.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Erin and Leah discuss what can happen when we turn our passion into a career. While many people believe this is the key to that feeling of never working a day in your life, the “passion principle,” as Erin calls it, doesn’t necessarily pave the way to personal fulfillment or financial stability. Instead, she argues, this advice can perpetuate socioeconomic inequality and unfair working conditions. She poses a question everyone should ask themselves when considering their career: what kind of relationship do you want to paid employment?  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Erin Cech on LinkedIn. For more on the passion principle and its pitfalls, check out Erin’s book The Trouble with Passion: How Searching for Fulfillment at Work Fosters Inequality. And don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Ali Abdaal is an author, YouTube star and productivity expert. In his book Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You and on his YouTube channel, he shares research-backed strategies for improving focus, building habits and meeting goals.  On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Ali breaks down the three main blockers to productivity: uncertainty, fear, and inertia. He shares tips for overcoming each one of these blockers, as well as the fear of judgment from others. He also discusses science-based approaches to building self-confidence and the importance of finding joy in your work. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Ali Abdaal on LinkedIn. For more tips on sustainable productivity, check out Ali’s YouTube channel.  And don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Marc Champagne is a philosopher, podcaster and the bestselling author of Personal Socrates: Questions That Will Upgrade Your Life from Legends & World-Class Performers. An expert in what he calls “mental fitness,” Marc teaches daily practices designed to enhance creativity, clarity and focus. On today’s episode of Everyday Better, Marc and Leah ask each other a challenging question: when it comes to the work of personal development, can you ever reach a stopping point? Through sharing their personal stories of growth, Marc and Leah discuss the challenges that brought them to this work – and then, years later, what sparked their curiosity around taking a sabbatical from personal development. They also share their favorite tools and non-negotiable self-care practices for whatever season of life they find themselves in. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Marc Champagne on LinkedIn. To learn more about mental fitness, listen to Marc’s podcast Behind the Human with Marc Champagne. And don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author. In his third book, Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, he explores the science behind good communication and offers strategies for connecting more deeply with others. On this episode of Everyday Better, Charles joins Leah to explain why communicating effectively is the key to deepening our interpersonal connections, whether at home or in the workplace. Charles discusses strategies for asking more thoughtful questions, being a better listener and discussing controversial topics. He also explains the science behind effective communication and why it’s so important for our mental and physical well-being to connect with the people around us. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Charles Duhigg on LinkedIn. To learn more about improving your communication skills, check out Charles’s book Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. Don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Known as “Nurse Hadley” to her nearly 2 million followers on TikTok, Hadley Vlahos is a hospice nurse, content creator and New York Times bestselling author. Her first book, The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments, is a collection of stories and lessons she’s learned from 12 patients she cared for in their final months on earth. On today’s episode of Everyday Better, Hadley reflects on how an unexpected life pivot led her to her dream career as a hospice care nurse. While hospice care nursing is viewed as a tough job by many outside of the profession, Hadley shares lighthearted, poignant, humorous and mystical experiences she’s had caring for patients in hospice. She discusses the importance of getting comfortable talking about death, and offers advice for how to get better at having those conversations. She also shares what she’s learned about what it means to live a meaningful life, and how work can play such an essential role in making life meaningful, no matter what kind of work you do. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Hadley Vlahos on LinkedIn. To learn more, check out Hadley’s book The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments. And don’t forget to sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

This week on Everyday Better, we’re featuring an episode from a new bonus series from our sister podcast Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel. “Hello Monday Master Class” is a distillation of hundreds of Hello Monday conversations, broken down into five essential rules for navigating and thriving in an ever-changing professional landscape. The first episode in the series is all about defining your values.  Tune in each Thursday through the end of June for more actionable insights and collaborative exercises to elevate your career. And for more from Jessi, join the Hello Monday Group on LinkedIn by clicking here.

Thomas Curran is a Professor of Psychology at the London School of Economics. His first book, The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough, charts the recent rise in perfectionism among young people, exposes the paradoxical effects of perfectionism on everything from work performance to relationships and argues for a “good enough” approach to work that prioritizes sustainability over growth. On this episode of Everyday Better, Thomas joins Leah to talk about where perfectionism comes from, why it’s so harmful and how to break free from the internal and external pressures we feel to be perfect. They also take a critical look at the “growth mindset” and reflect on their own journeys towards overcoming perfectionism in their professional and personal lives. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Thomas Curran on LinkedIn. For more on perfectionism, check out Thomas’s book The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough. Sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Myisha Cherry is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at UC Riverside and a self-proclaimed “public defender of anger and proud withholder of forgiveness.” In her second book, Failures of Forgiveness: What We Get Wrong and How to Do Better, she argues that forgiveness – a much-lauded moral good in American culture – rarely achieves what we think it does, and that in reality, forgiveness often does more harm than good. She puts forth her own, broader definition of forgiveness that holds space for anger, repair and accountability for the wrongdoer. On today’s show, Myisha and Leah dive deep into forgiveness to understand its role at work and in society, as well as how race and gender complicate the act of forgiving. Myisha explains why withholding forgiveness can actually be a moral good, both for the wronged and for the wrongdoer. She also shares her revised definition of forgiveness and explains how to get better at asking for and receiving it. For more on forgiveness, check out Myisha’s book Failures of Forgiveness: What We Get Wrong and How to Do Better. Sign up for Leah’s weekly newsletter to get practical tips on how to level up with small steps every day.

Dr Tara Swart is a neuroscientist, leadership adviser and best selling author. She works with executives and leaders all over the world to help them achieve mental resilience and peak brain performance, helping them to manage stress, regulate emotions and retain information. Her scientific knowledge and expertise helps people optimize their brain health and achieve their full potential. Tara joins Leah to discuss the brain-body connection and the importance of emotional well-being. She explains how chronic stress can impact the brain and body, leading to physical and mental health issues, and emphasizes the power of intention and visualization in shaping our brain's interpretation of reality.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Tara Swart on LinkedIn

Dr. Casey Means is a physician, tech entrepreneur and the author of Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health. She is passionate about metabolic health and dedicated to helping people better understand their bodies.  Casey joins Leah to highlight the interconnectedness of various symptoms and diseases, all of which she sees as stemming from metabolic dysfunction. She discusses the impact of the modern environment on our metabolic health and offers practical strategies for optimizing our metabolism through sleep, movement, stress management techniques, toxin reduction and light exposure. By adopting a metabolic framework and focusing on cellular health, we all can cultivate good energy and live happier, healthier lives. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Casey Means on LinkedIn. For more on how to improve your metabolic health, check out Casey’s book, Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health.

In part II of our conversation with Stephanie Harrison, author of New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong, we explore what it looks like to apply Stephanie’s New Happy philosophy to personal and work areas of our lives. We discuss strategies for setting and achieving your big goals, what the research suggests about the role of helping others in the context of happiness and how privilege and oppression shift our approach to and experience of happiness. We also contemplate the notion of the “best self” and take a hard look at wellness culture to better understand how mainstream ideas of happiness and well-being hold us back from achieving true contentment.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Stephanie Harrison on LinkedIn. To learn more about Stephanie’s philosophy on happiness, check out her book, New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong.

Stephanie Harrison is an expert on the science of happiness. Her first book, New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong, explores the structural forces that prevent us from achieving true happiness and teaches us how to find it by looking outside ourselves.  Stephanie joins Leah to discuss why so many of us are unhappy (despite trying our very best to be), and what we can do to experience more joy and contentment in our everyday lives. Helping others, Stephanie argues, is the key to improving our mental and emotional well-being. She also shares research-backed strategies for connecting with our true selves and quieting down the voice in our heads that tells us we’re not good enough. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Stephanie Harrison on LinkedIn. To learn more about Stephanie’s philosophy on happiness, check out her book, New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That's Got It Wrong.

Dr. Barry Kudrowitz is a Professor of Product Design and Head of the Department of Graphic Design at the University of Minnesota. He studies the connection between what he calls “haha” and “aha”, and argues that humor and play are powerful tools for boosting creativity and idea generation at work.  Dr. Kudrowitz joins Leah Smart to discuss the science behind the causal relationship between humor, play and creativity. He lays out his argument for why these often trivialized domains actually belong at work, and shares strategies for integrating play and humor into our everyday lives. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn. Follow Barry Kudrowitz on LinkedIn. Check out Barry’s book, Sparking Creativity: How Play and Humor Fuel Innovation and Design.

Ellen Langer is a renowned Harvard professor and psychologist who has been studying mindfulness for over 40 years. She is the first woman to be tenured in psychology at Harvard and has conducted extensive research in her lab. She is also known as the “Mother of Positive Psychology.” Langer is the author of numerous books, including The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health. Langer joins Leah Smart to discuss the power of mindfulness for improving our health and well-being. By being mindful, we can enliven our brains, improve our physical health, and live longer. Langer's research has shown that simply noticing and being present can reverse signs of aging, enhance healing, and improve our overall well-being. She also encourages us to embrace uncertainty, as it opens us up to new and interesting possibilities.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Ellen Langer on LinkedIn

Breathwork might just become your favorite meditation practice once you understand its benefits. Led by renowned breathwork teacher JP Crimi, Leah Smart and Michele O’Brien experiment with conscious connected breathing, and explore its transformative effects. Think of it as personal training for your breath, promising to reduce stress, boost energy, and enhance mental well-being. Join them as they experience the blissful effects of this practice. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow JP Crimi on LinkedIn

Dacher Keltner, founding director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and author of "Awe: The Nature of Awe and the Power to Transform Your Life”, joins Leah Smart to discuss the transformative power of awe and its impact on our minds and bodies. They explore the profound effects of awe on personal growth, well-being, and social connection, and offer practical strategies for cultivating awe in everyday life to lead a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dacher Keltner on LinkedIn 

Lynne Twist is a renowned writer, speaker, and global activist who has worked with influential figures such as Buckminster Fuller, Mother Teresa, and the Dalai Lama over the course of her career. She’s also the author of the groundbreaking book "The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life", which encourages readers to adopt a new philosophy on money that’s rooted in sufficiency and purpose. Lynne joins Leah Smart to explore the toxic myths of scarcity and discuss how to adopt a new money philosophy. She shares her personal journey of untangling from a mindset of affluence and discovering the power of sufficiency, and emphasizes the importance of connecting our financial resources to the deepest commitments of our souls in order to live a life of purpose and service.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Lynne Twist on LinkedIn

Michelle Thaller serves as the Assistant Director for Science Communication at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, where she has dedicated over two decades to sharing the wonders of science with audiences worldwide. Michelle’s journey is marked by resilience, as she shares stories of grief after losing her husband. As a scientist, she goes beyond facts and theories, seeking connections that infuse our existence with deeper meaning. Michelle joins Leah Smart to emphasize the importance of intentionality in our lives, and why being in awe is the key to everyday life. According to her, the universe grants us just one chance to see the world through our own eyes, urging us to live purposefully and consciously. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Learn More about Michelle Thaller

Bonnie Wan is a globally-renowned career brand strategist and the author of "The Life Brief: A Playbook for No Regrets Living." She is passionate about helping people uncover their true desires and show up authentically, and believes deeply in the power of intention to propel personal and professional growth. Bonnie joins Leah Smart to explain the concept of a life brief, which is a tool for getting clear on what you want and how you want to show up in various areas of your life. She highlights the importance of wanting in driving personal growth and creativity, the value of self-reflection, and the role privilege plays in shaping our desires. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Bonnie Wan on LinkedIn Read More on The Life Brief

It’s Women’s History Month, so we’re featuring exceptional women who are introducing refreshing perspectives on mental, physical and emotional thriving in this series, Women Making Waves.  If someone asked you to point to who you are, where does your finger naturally point? Your heart. It turns out your heart stores its own perceptions and memories that influence cognitive and emotional functions. Deborah Rozman Ph.D., is the Founding Executive Director of HeartMath Institute. She joins Leah to share the real, and often undiscussed, function of the heart, how it has more power over the brain than you think, and ways to become more aware of its intelligence for practical decision-making.  Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Deborah on Linkedin Learn more about HeartMath Institute

We’re dedicating Black History Month to Black voices who inspire excellence in all of us. You're going to hear honest stories and guidance from four women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence.This is our final episode of our four-part series. Dr. Mariel Buqué is a trauma psychologist and author of the book "Break the Cycle." With over a decade of experience in the field, Dr. Buqué specializes in healing intergenerational trauma and helping people rewrite their narratives. She is dedicated to making trauma healing accessible to all and empowering individuals to create positive change in their lives. Dr. Buqué joins Leah Smart to discuss the impact of trauma and how it is passed down through generations. She explains that trauma is not limited to major events but can also result from everyday traumatic experiences. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and acknowledging trauma in order to begin the healing process, and also provides practical tools and practices for healing, which can help regulate the nervous system and promote better stress responses Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Mariel Buqué on LinkedIn Learn More on Break The Cycle

February is Black History Month so we’re dedicating it to Black voices who inspire excellence. In this four-part series, you'll hear women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence. This week Hello Monday’s Jessi Hempel hosts Everyday Better podcast host Leah Smart, to reflect on her career journey and the roadblocks she has overcome to reach her current position at LinkedIn. She shares her experiences of navigating through different roles, making difficult decisions, and trusting her gut instincts. Leah discusses the importance of finding purpose in work, managing anxiety, and embracing personal growth. She also highlights the power of synchronicity and the role it has played in her career. Through her story, Leah encourages listeners to trust themselves, be open to new opportunities, and set conditions for personal and professional success. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn

February is Black History Month. We're dedicating it to Black voices who inspire excellence. In this four-part series, you're going to hear honest stories and guidance from four women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence. This week Leah Smart sits down to talk with beloved Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin about trusting that everything that’s for you will come exactly when it’s supposed to, how to keep showing up when life doesn’t go your way, and the internal “drumbeat” we can all follow.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Tunde Oyeneyin on Instagram

February is Black History Month. We're dedicating it to Black voices who inspire excellence. In this four-part series, you're going to hear honest stories and guidance from four women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence. The series kicks off with Jenee Desmond-Harris, the current Prudie and writer behind Slate's beloved Dear Prudence advice column. She joins Leah Smart to share her story and insights on the importance of self-discovery, navigating obstacles, and the significance of taking risks. From her initial doubts about her role to becoming a prominent advice columnist, Jenee's journey exemplifies the power of surrounding oneself with the right people and making choices aligned with personal fulfillment, defining your desires and pursuing your passions. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Jenee Desmond-Harris

This is the final episode of our series, “The Better Blueprint for Your 2024,” focused on spiritual health. Dr. Deepak Chopra, a pioneer in blending Eastern wisdom with Western medicine, joins Leah Smart to talk about his 94th book, 'The Quantum Body: The New Science of Living a Longer, Healthier, More Vital Life.' In it, Dr. Chopra, along with physicist Jack Tuszynski and endocrinologist Brian Furtig, explores the world of quantum science and its potential to transform well-being, potentially eradicating disease and helping us live healthier for longer. In this conversation, Dr. Chopra shares innovative research and prescriptive exercises aimed at enhancing our understanding of how to improve spiritual well-being. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Deepak Chopra on LinkedIn

Annie Grace is the author of "This Naked Mind" and an educator on changing your relationship with alcohol, and offers a unique approach to understanding and transforming our subconscious beliefs and habits. Annie joins Leah Smart to discuss the concept of liminal thinking and how it can be applied to change our relationship with any behavior we want to transform. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity and self-compassion in this process. By examining our beliefs and experimenting with new behaviors, we can make informed choices that align with our well-being goals.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Annie Grace on LinkedIn Read more about "This Naked Mind"

Daron K. Roberts is a former NFL & college coach and the founding director of the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation at the University of Texas. In this conversation Leah and Daron talk about the abundant opportunity in the emerging creator economy and embracing discomfort as a professional growth tactic. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Daron K. Roberts on Linkedin