Dr. Sunita Puri is the Medical Director of the Palliative Medicine Service at Keck Hospital and Norris Cancer Center of the University of Southern California, where she also serves as Chair of the Ethics Committee. Sunita is the author of That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour, an acclaimed literary memoir examining her journey to the practice of palliative medicine, and her quest to help patients and families redefine what it means to live and die well in the face of serious illness. Her work has been featured on PBS' Amanpour Show, the Guardian, NPR, the Atlantic, Forbes, and People Magazine, which named her book the Book of the Week. She has received writing residencies from the MacDowell Colony, UCross Foundation, and the Mesa Refuge. The recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship and the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship, she has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Slate, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. 

In this episode we explore:

• Sunita’s personal journey toward greater self-acceptance

• Why honesty is a form of kindness

• How curiosity can be a key factor in keeping the heart open in the face of difficulty

• Strategies for having courageous conversations about what really matters in life

• What death can teach us about living well

• Empathy - why it’s about asking the questions that need to be listened to

• A few of Sunita’s learnings about when to keep fighting, and when to let go

• The role of courage in living a life without regret

Melvin L. Smith, Ph.D., is a Professor of Organizational Behavior and Faculty Director of Executive Education at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management. Melvin's teaching and research focus on leadership, leadership development, executive coaching and the development and use of human and social capital in organizations.  He is coauthor of the book Helping People Change: Coaching for Lifelong Learning and Growth. Prior to his academic career, Melvin spent nearly 15 years in a series of Sales, Marketing and Organization Development roles at a number of Fortune 500 companies including IBM, Pepsi and H.J. Heinz. 

In this conversation Melvin and I explore:

• What renewal is and why it's fundamental to thriving

• How we can navigate stress in uncertain times using practices of renewal

• Every day practices for finding renewal, including meditation, deep breathing, and more

• How community and compassionate relationships support renewal and thriving

• Why negative emotions help us survive, and positive emotions + renewal help us thrive

• Why questions are so powerful when it comes to pursuing your dreams

• The importance of having a dream, and pursuing it with intentionality

• How Melvin works with coaching clients to realize their dreams

• The 4 foundations of a courageous life

Jeffrey Hull, Ph.D. is an author, educator and consultant with over twenty years experience partnering with C-suite executives on issues of high performance leadership, change management, organizational strategy, structure and culture. Dr. Hull is a highly sought-after facilitator, keynote speaker and executive coach to both non-profit and for-profit global organizations. Dr. Hull is Director of Education & Business Development at the Institute of Coaching, McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School Affiliate. He is also a clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct professor of leadership at New York University. For more about Jeff, and his new book Flex: The Art and Science of Leadership in a Changing World, please visit jeffreyhull.com

In this episode Jeff and I explore:

• The current landscape of leadership and who is rising to the top

• Why agility and being able to flex your communication style is key to succeeding as a leader

• Practical strategies that will help you to flex

• Stories of inspirational leaders Jeff has worked with

• Vulnerability as a form of courage

• How to tap into creativity including practices that are supportive of innovation

• Jeff's latest thinking on the future of leadership and why compassion is at the core

Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a humanistic psychologist exploring the depths of human potential. He has taught courses on intelligence, creativity, and well-being at Columbia University, NYU, and the University of Pennsylvania. He is interested in using his research to help all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. Scott's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review. In his latest book Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization, he presents a new hierarchy of human needs for the 21st century, one that allows for the fulfillment of individual potential as well as the actualization of transcendent purpose and peak experiences. Scott also hosts the #1 psychology podcast in the world, The Psychology Podcast. To learn more, please visit scottbarrykaufman.com

In this episode Scott and I discuss themes from his new book Transcend, including:

• His deep interest in the Abraham Maslow's work and motivation for writing Transcend

• The psychology of everyday saints

• The link between a "quiet ego" and self-actualization

• Acceptance as a form of courage

• Practical strategies for living a more authentic and fulfilling life

• Finding meaning and joy in everyday experiences

• How setting personal boundaries can unlock a deeper capacity for compassion

Dr. Jud Brewer is passionate about understanding how our brains work, and how to use that knowledge to help people make deep, permanent change in their lives — with the goal of reducing suffering in the world at large. He is the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Center and associate professor in psychiatry at the School of Medicine at Brown University. As an addiction psychiatrist and internationally known expert in mindfulness training for treating addictions, Dr. Jud has developed and tested novel mindfulness programs for habit change, including both in-person and app-based treatments for smoking, emotional eating, and anxiety. He has also studied the underlying neural mechanisms of mindfulness. He has trained US Olympic athletes and coaches, foreign government ministers and corporate leaders. His work has been featured on 60 Minutes, TED, Time magazine, Forbes, CNN, BBC, NPR, The Washington Post, Businessweek and others. You can find out more at drjud.com

In this episode:

• How the science of habit change can be used to break habits of us and them thinking, judgment and blame

• A 3 step process for habit change that Jud and his team developed

• Why Jud believes curiosity is a superpower

• How to rewire your brain for greater kindness, curiosity, and connection

• The key to adopting a growth mindset

• What Jud's team found when they analyzed Anderson Cooper's brain during meditation

• How findings from Jud's neuroscience lab can be used to build bridges, counter tribalism, and foster community

• Practical ways to keep your heart open when it begins to close

• How mindfulness can be helpful in dealing with difficult emotions

Samantha Novick is passionate about amplifying the voices of people with disabilities, creating connections and sharing kindness with others. She pursues these passions as a speech-language pathologist, owner of her private practice Bridge Therapy, and President of The Friendship Journey, a charitable organization that cultivates equitable friendships and experiences amongst people of all abilities. Samantha grew up in Parkland, Florida. After a violent mass shooting devastated her community, her passion for activism, social justice and philanthropy grew. Samantha is committed to honoring those who lost their lives to hatred through acts of love and meaningful action in their memories. This summer, The Friendship Journey partnered with Dylan’s Wings of Change of the Sandy Hook community to create a free virtual summer camp for teens and adults with disabilities through the Covid-19 crisis. Their camp motto this summer was “look for the good.” For more about Samantha please visit thefriendshipjourney.org

In this episode Sam shares:

• Strategies for finding joy when times are hard

• How she has developed a quality called equanimity, the ability to "hold it all", and how this has helped her during the pandemic

• The power of self-care and why she was resistant to it at first

• Highlights from Camp Wings of Friendship, a free virtual summer camp for teens and adults with disabilities she co-created this summer

• Why acts of kindness may be a key to resilience and thriving

• Why "looking for the good" can be a life-changing mindset

Fred Guttenberg began his public life after the murder of his beautiful 14-year-old daughter Jaime in the Parkland school shooting on Feb 14, 2018.  The day after the murder, Fred decided to attend a public vigil in Parkland.  While there, the Mayor asked him to speak.  His words shook a nation and he has not stopped since. Only four months prior to the murder of his daughter, Fred's brother Michael passed away in October 2017 from cancer related to his service in 9/11.  He was one of the original first responders at the World Trade Center with a team of doctors who got trapped in the building as it collapsed. Amazingly, the room that they hid out in did not collapse and Michael and his team of physicians spent 16 days at ground zero taking care of others. Following his involvement in these two distinct American Tragedies, Fred has traveled the country talking about both events but also talking about perspective, perseverance, and resilience.  He discusses pivotal moments in life and how we respond to those moments.  Fred uses his speech to inspire others. Learn more about Fred's work at orangeribbonsforjaime.org and pick up his book, Find the Helpers: What 9/11 and Parkland Taught Me About Recovery, Purpose, and Hope now. 

In this episode Fred and I discuss themes from his new book Find the Helpers including:

• Who his helpers are and how they have helped him to deal with grief, transform pain into purpose, and find hope after Parkland and 9/11

• What Joe Biden taught him about grief

• How he has been able to respond to acts of hate from a place of compassion, and love

• The importance of community when it comes to being resilient

• Practical strategies for overcoming 'us and them' thinking

• More about his mission of reducing gun violence, and some of the incredible progress that has been made in terms of new laws and bills, including Jaime's Law that honors his daughter's death by continuing to save lives in her name

• Why it's not what happens to you, but your response that matters most

Sharon Salzberg is a central figure in the field of meditation, a world-renowned teacher and NY Times bestselling author. She has played a crucial role in bringing meditation and mindfulness practices to the West and into mainstream culture since 1974, when she first began teaching. She is the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA and the author of over ten books including NY Times bestseller, Real Happiness, her seminal work, Lovingkindness, Real Love, and her latest release Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World. Acclaimed for her humorous, down-to-earth teaching style, Sharon offers a secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings, making them instantly accessible. She is a regular columnist for On Being, a contributor to Huffington Post, and the host of her own podcast: The Metta Hour. For more, visit www.SharonSalzberg.com.

In this episode Sharon and I discuss themes related to her new book Real Change including:

• How to deal with strong emotions using mindfulness

• Working with anger in a skillful way, harnessing it's benefits for action while not getting overwhelmed by it

• Finding joy today, in the face of these tumultuous times

• Why joy is a strategy for resilience

• Equanimity and how to find a sense of balance even in the face of tremendous challenges like the pandemic, election stress, or other adversity

• Moving away from us and them thinking by embracing common humanity

• Finding compassion for people we may disagree with or not like

Tal Ben-Shahar is an author and lecturer.  He taught two of the largest classes in Harvard University’s history, Positive Psychology and The Psychology of Leadership.  Today, Tal consults and lectures around the world to executives in multi-national corporations, the general public, and at-risk populations.  The topics he lectures on include leadership, happiness, education, innovation, ethics, self-esteem, resilience, goal setting, and mindfulness. His books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages, and have appeared on best-sellers lists around the world. Tal is a serial entrepreneur, and is the co-founder and chief learning officer of Happiness Studies Academy, Potentialife, Maytiv, and Happier.TV. An avid sportsman, Tal won the U.S. Intercollegiate and Israeli National squash championships. Find out more about Tal at talbenshahar.com

In this episode we discuss:

• Perfectionism - what it is, how it works, and how to work with this tendency more skillfully in one's life

• How Tal works with perfectionism in his own life

• The power of acceptance and this is such a powerful approach to working with perfectionism and finding happiness

• Details on Tal's approach to teaching and speaking. How he prepares, and thinks about connecting with his audience

• Why reminders are so critical to a happier and more optimal way of living and working

• Strategies and approaches for increasing gratitude, and for working with difficult emotions

Chris Germer, PhD is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. In 2007, Chris began collaborating with Kristin Neff, psychology professor at the University of Texas, Austin, and pioneering researcher on self-compassion.  In 2009, he wrote the book, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion, and, in 2010, Chris and Kristin co-developed Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), an empirically-supported, 8-week training program for the general public.  The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion was established in 2012 and since then tens of thousands of people have learned MSC. Additionally, they have co-authored two books on MSC, The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbookand Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program. Chris spends most of his time lecturing and leading workshops around the world on mindfulness and self-compassion, supporting MSC teachers and students, and maintaining a modest psychotherapy practice. To learn more about Chris, check out chrisgermer.com

In this episode Chris and I explore: 

• How compassion meditation helped him overcome a long battle with public speaking anxiety

• How acceptance can be a powerful way to reduce suffering and stress

• Fierce compassion, and why compassion can be a form of courage

• What self-compassion is and what it's not

• The myths and misconceptions about self-compassion

• Why self-compassion helps build resilience, enhance motivation, and improve relationships

• The health benefits of self-compassion

• How self-compassion can be an antidote to shame

• Practical strategies for building mindfulness and compassion in one's life

Background:

Goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé has been part of the Canadian Women’s Soccer program since 2002. She made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 where she started five of six games, allowing just four goals, as Team Canada won the bronze medal. Labbé was on the Canadian roster for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, 2015, and 2019 (starting all 4 games in 2019). Labbé played collegiate soccer for the University of Connecticut. In her senior year she was named the 2008 Big East Goalkeeper of the Year. Labbé is the current starting goalkeeper for the professional team the North Carolina Courage. Learn more about Steph at stephlabbe.com or on instagram @stephlabbe1

In this episode Steph shares: 

• Her inspiring story of walking away from the Canadian National Team to work on herself, and how she came back stronger, happier, and better than ever. 

• Tips and strategies for performing under pressure and boosting resilience

• How to learn from failure

• Mindset practices for dealing with uncertainty, particularly during COVID

• The importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in you and allow you to be who you are

• Key learnings from her ongoing journey toward living a more authentic life 

• The importance of humor for getting through challenging times

• Tips for anyone looking to pursue really big dreams and goals

When the Hockley family relocated from England to Connecticut in the winter of 2011 it was the realization of a family dream. Ian had visited the United States regularly since childhood, Nicole was from Rhode Island and Jake was born on the 4th of July; in many ways it was coming home.They moved to the idyllic town of Sandy Hook which Ian selected after touring the beautiful neighborhoods and meeting the staff at the elementary school, knowing Dylan especially would get a fantastic start as they made their new life. This bright beginning ran full force into the American nightmare on December 14th, 2012 when Dylan was shot and killed in his first-grade classroom alongside 19 of his fellow students and six educators in one of the worst mass shootings in recent U.S. history.

 Ian and Nicole created Dylan’s Wings of Change, dedicated to his memory with a mission to inspire empathy, courage & hope. everywhere. Working with experts the foundation created Wingman, a program of experiential learning activities that foster deeper conversations, stronger teams and more connected communities. Wingman is effective for humans of all ages and works especially well as a peer-led social and emotional learning program both in and out of schools.

In this episode we explore:

• More about Ian's story and the events that occurred on December 14, 2012

• His road to healing

• His motivation for spreading messages of love, kindness, and empathy after experiencing acts of hate and violence

• Details about the Wingman Program and Dylans Wings of Change

• How the Wingman Program promotes social and emotional learning, and positive leadership in schools 

• Why Ian views empathy as an antidote for our time

• Why it is so important to focus on the things we have, as opposed to things we don't, in the face of adversity

Scholars, consultants, teachers, and researchers Monica Worline and Jane Dutton are co-authors of the book Awakening Compassion at Work. Monica and Jane are co-founders of the CompassionLab, the world’s leading collaboratory for research on compassion and work organizations. Working together for more than fifteen years, Monica and Jane offer key insights regarding the value of compassion for addressing pain people bring into the workplace and pain that is created in the conduct of daily work. Monica and Jane teach and consult with leaders, managers, students, and change agents in a variety of organizations who are striving to awaken compassion in their work lives. For more on Monica and Jane, including their background and the important work they are doing please check out https://awakeningcompassionatwork.com

In this episode we explore: 

• The stories behind how Monica and Jane got interested in studying, researching, and teaching compassion.

• The 4 parts of compassion

• Training compassion - looking at compassion as a skill that can be developed

• The importance of noticing suffering and how to do so in organizations

• How, and why, the stories we tell ourselves about other people amplify (or hinder) our ability to be compassionate

• The business case for compassion

• Ways to build compassion into processes, roles, and routines within organizations

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times best-selling author. His books have been published in 29 languages and include Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture – with 900,000 copies in English alone. His free weekly newsletter has 150,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those with financial need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and is the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom. For more about Rick, his teachings, books, and events please visit rickhanson.net.

Rick is back for round 2! In this episode we explore:

• How he thinks about the heights of human potential

• What he has learned from exemplars, neuroscience, and decades of meditation experience about realizing one’s potential

• 7 practices for achieving the highest happiness

• HEAL - a practice for turning positive states into lasting traits

• How Rick thinks about being driven, and achieve-oriented while simultaneously having a sense of ease

• What Rick learned from the Dalai Lama’s body guard about being tough and loving

• Some of my experiences with Rick as a participant on two of his 10-day meditation retreats

• And more!

Dr. Jo Boaler is a professor of education and equity at Stanford University and the faculty director of youcubed—an education resource that has reached over 230 million students. She is the author of the first MOOC on mathematics teaching and learning, as well as nine mathematics books and numerous research articles. Her work has been published in the New York Times, TIME magazine, The Telegraph, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and many other news outlets. She was named by the BBC as one of eight educators “changing the face of education.” Her latest book is: Limitless Mind: Learn, Lead & Live without Barriers, published by Harper Collins.

In this episode Jo shares:

• Her incredible story of overcoming academic bullying and what it taught her about resilience and connection

• What neuroplasticity is, why it's a game changing finding in neuroscience, and how understanding the way our brains work can transform the ways we learn, lead & live

• The neuroscience behind why mistakes are actually a good thing

• How she teaches students to embrace mistakes, and learn from failure

• The neurobiology of fear, and how curiosity may be an antidote to the fear response

• How adopting a growth mindset can be a key to living without limits

• The importance of believing in oneself and why anyone can learn anything

Tania de Jong (pronounced Yong) AM is a trail-blazing Australian soprano, global speaker, award-winning social entrepreneur, creative innovation catalyst and spiritual journeywoman. Tania is one of Australia’s most successful female entrepreneurs and innovators, developing 5 businesses and 3 charities over the past 3 decades including, but not limited to Creative Universe, Creativity Australia and the With One Voice program, Creative Innovation Global, and Mind Medicine Australia. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and named one of the 100 Women of Influence and the one of the 100 Australian Most Influential Entrepreneurs. Tania has released eleven Albums and her TEDx Talk How Singing Together Changes The Brain has sparked international interest. To learn more about Tania, and the work she is doing please visit taniadejong.com

In this episode Tania shares: 

• Her incredible story of being told by her best friend at 14 years old not to bother having singing lessons, and how this drove her to a successful career as a singer and entrepreneur

• Powerful lessons in unlocking creativity and innovation she first learned from the inventor of the foldable umbrella, who just happened to be her grandmother

• The backstory on the With One Voice choir program, a non-profit focused on empowering individuals to find their voice through community

• How she deals with fear and uncertainty

• How to turn failure into opportunities for learning and growth

• Her thoughts on the importance of diversity, inclusion, and community for creativity

This is one of the most important and timely conversations I have had on the Courageous Life. Shelly Tygielski, a friend and return guest to the show, has started a movement called The Pandemic of Love. In response to the challenges surrounding COVID-19 including job loss, furloughs, illness, etc - the Pandemic of Love has connected over 7,000+ families (to-date) in need of basic essentials like food and medicine with 7,000+ patrons who are offering support (financial or otherwise). Launched on March 14th, 2020 this movement is already going viral, with over 240 volunteers working behind-the-scenes, and more and more people connecting to help each other, and to spread love each and every day. Shelly and I will get into all the details and backstory on the Pandemic of Love about 30 minutes into the episode. If you want to get involved now, please go to pandemicoflove.com

In this episode Shelly shares:

• Her inspiring story of how and why she got into the work she is doing today as a community organizer, activist, and meditation teacher

• How meditation has helped her to rise up in the face of adversity and challenges in her life

• What her meditation practice involves today

• Coping strategies for dealing with fear and uncertainty related to COVID-19

• The incredible story behind the Pandemic of Love, why she started it, and how to get involved

Shelly has also offered a brief meditation for dealing with uncertainty that you will find included as a BONUS mini episode of the Courageous Life. 

Background:

Shelly Tygielski is a “modern-life mindfulness” teacher and “self-care activist” who focuses much of her time on communities that are underserved, with social justice and community organizations, non-profits and schools. Shelly was made to create movements and regularly runs into the flames to help people in need. She is deeply involved in offering trauma-informed healing practices to communities affected by gun violence and mass shootings and has led retreats for survivors and victims’ families representing Parkland, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Aurora, Columbine and more. 

She also started the “Sand Tribe”community in Hollywood Beach, Fl that grew from 12 friends meditating together to over 15,000 individuals that practice together on a regular basis. She was featured on the cover of Mindful Magazine® in June 2019 for her work in this space and was recently referred to as one of the most “Powerful Women in Mindfulness” by mindful.org. She has written over 200 guided meditations and her work and classes have been featured on mindful.org, Tricycle, The New York Times and dozens of national and international television and online platforms.

Background:

Jerry Colonna is the CEO, and co-founder, of Reboot.io, an executive coaching and leadership development firm whose coaches and facilitators are committed to the notion that better humans make better leaders. For nearly 20 years, he has used the knowledge gained as an investor, an executive, and a board member for more than 100 organizations to help entrepreneurs and others to lead with humanity, resilience, and equanimity. He believes not only that work does not have to destroy us, but that work can be the way to achieve our fullest selves. Jerry is the author of Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up. Previous to his career as a coach he was a partner with JPMorgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of JP Morgan Chase. He joined JPMP from Flatiron Partners, which he launched 1996 with partner, Fred Wilson. Flatiron became one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs in the New York City area. You can learn more about Jerry at www.reboot.io

In this episode Jerry and I discuss:

• The process of moving from reaction to choice in our lives

• How slowing down and engaging in deep questions about what matters can be a radical act

• How he defines "radical self-inquiry" and why this is so foundational to his work with leaders

• How to let go of old patterns of behavior and ways of being that are no longer serving us

• Stories from his 1x1 work with some of his coaching clients

• Why resilience and equanimity are the larger aims of the work he does

• Overcoming fear through courage and curiosity

• The importance of a compassionate approach when we reboot our lives, and the way we lead

Shauna Shapiro, PhD is a best-selling author, clinical psychologist and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and self-compassion. She is a professor at Santa Clara University and has published over 150 papers and three critically acclaimed books, translated into 16 languages. Shauna has presented her research to the King of Thailand, the Danish Government, Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Summit, and the World Council for Psychotherapy, as well as to Fortune 100 Companies including Google, Cisco Systems and LinkedIn. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Mashable, Wired, USA Today, Dr. Oz, the Huffington Post, and the American Psychologist. Shauna is a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute, co-founded by the Dalai Lama. Her TEDx Talk, The Power of Mindfulness, has been viewed over 1.5 million times.

In this episode Shauna shares:

• How meditation helped her during one of the darkest times in her life

• Tips for getting started with a daily mindfulness practice

• The IAA (Intention, Attention, Attitude) framework for practicing mindfulness

• A simple equation for reducing suffering in our lives

• How, and why, she let go of perfectionism and embraced self-compassion in her own life

• How mindfulness and self-compassion can change your brain for greater calm, clarity, and joy

• Why shame and self-criticism are poor strategies when it comes to achievement

Robin Dreeke is a best-selling author, professional speaker, trainer, facilitator, and retired FBI Special Agent and Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, which has been depicted in TV and movies, including the acclaimed show Mind Hunter on Netflix. Robin has taken his life's work of recruiting spies and broken down the art of leadership, communication, and relationship building into Five Steps to TRUST and Six Signs of who you can TRUST. Since 2010, Robin has been working with large corporations as well as small companies in every aspect of their business. Whether it is newly promoted leaders, executives, sales teams, or customer relations, Robin has crafted his People Formula for quick results and maximum success. He is the author of multiple books, including Sizing People Up, and The Code of Trust. Learn more about Robin at www.peopleformula.com

In this episode Robin shares: 

• His background working in counterintelligence for the FBI

• What he learned about building trust from recruiting spies.

• Why building healthy professional relationships is one of the keys to living a fulfilling and meaningful life

• Strategies for regulating emotions and staying rational and calm under pressure

• Why curiosity may be an antidote to fear

• How to build trust in the face of division and tribalism

Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University who specializes in understanding the mind-body connection. She is the best-selling author of The Willpower Instinct and The Upside of Stress. Through the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism, she helped create Stanford Compassion Cultivation Training, a program now taught around the world that helps individuals strengthen their empathy, compassion, and self-compassion. Her new book, The Joy of Movement, explores why physical exercise is a powerful antidote to the modern epidemics of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Learn more about Kelly at kellymcgongial.com

In this episode Kelly shares:

• Why reflecting on your values and clarifying what matters most to you can be one of the most powerful practices for changing habits and behavior

• Practical skills for being able to better tolerate distress and discomfort

• Strategies for dealing with fear and cultivating courage including one of Kelly's favorite practices

• More skillful ways to navigate stress

• Why asking for help, and receiving support from others can be a strength, and a form of self-compassion

• How exercise and movement can create hope, courage, connection, and happiness in our lives (and some of the science as to why)

• Her process for creating powerful public talks, writing books, and connecting with audiences

Cory Muscara is an international speaker and teacher on the topics of presence and wellbeing. He has taught mindfulness-based leadership at Columbia University, and currently serves as an instructor of positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed his graduate work. In 2012, Cory spent six months in silence living as a monk in Burma, meditating 14-20 hours each day under the instruction of the late Sayadaw U Pandita. A frequent guest on the Dr. Oz show, he now aims to bring these teachings to people in a practical and relatable way, presenting to schools, organizations, and healthcare systems, as well as through workshops and retreats for the general public. Cory’s meditations have been heard more than 10 million times in over 50 countries. He looks forward to connecting with you through his first book, Stop Missing Your Life: How to Be Deeply Present in an Un-Present World. For more on Cory visit www.corymuscara.com.

In this episode we explore:

• Cory’s journey around writing his new book, Stop Missing Your Life

• Insights Cory gained in overcoming roadblocks in the creative process

• What presence is and why it is so important

• 4 pillars for building more presence in your life and relationships

• Why curiosity is the opposite of fear and how it can help you to deepen your meditation practice or presence

• How to let go of old habits, and patterns that are no longer helpful

• Practical strategies for building, or deepening a meditation practice

Parker J. Palmer is a writer, teacher, and activist. Founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal, he has written ten books, including the bestselling Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, A Hidden Wholeness, Healing the Heart of Democracy, and On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and thirteen honorary doctorates. In 1998, The Leadership Project, a national survey of ten thousand educators, named Palmer as one of the thirty “most influential senior leaders” in higher education and one of the ten key “agenda-setters” of the past decade. Since 2002, the Accrediting Commission for Graduate Medical Education has given annual Parker J. Palmer “Courage to Teach” and “Courage to Lead” Awards to directors of exemplary medical residency programs around the U.S. In 2010, Palmer received the William Rainey Harper Award, whose previous recipients include Margaret Mead, Elie Wiesel, and Paolo Freire. In 2011, the Utne Reader named him one of 25 Visionaries on its annual list of “People Who are Changing the World.” To learn more about Parker and his latest project, The Growing Edge, please visit newcomerpalmer.com

In the first episode of Season 2 we explore: 

• Some of Parker's personal story including challenges and adversities he has faced and how these have shaped his life

• What wholeness is and the courage it takes live an undivided life

• Parker's insights about writing, speaking, and connecting with an audience

• Lessons Parker has learned about finding courage and working with fear

• The power of reframing situations and circumstances one faces

• How to listen deeply

• Finding one's vocation in life

• How to create conditions that foster courage in others 

Mark Coleman has studied mindfulness meditation practices for three decades, and has taught mindfulness workshops and meditation retreats in six continents for the past twenty years.  He is a senior meditation teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a trainer for Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (developed at Google), and holds a MA in Clinical Psychology, drawing on his extensive experience in working with people as a therapist and coach. Mark leads Professional Mindfulness Teacher Trainings in the US and UK annually, and has brought mindfulness training programs to companies and the nonprofit sector across North America and Europe. He also leads wilderness meditation retreats from Alaska to Peru, taking people on inner and outdoor adventures through his organization Awake in the Wild. Mark is the author of several books including: Make Peace with Your Mind: How Mindfulness and Compassion Can Help Free You from the Inner Critic. For more, visit: www.markcoleman.org

In this episode: 

• Evolutionary reasons behind why we have an "inner critic"

• How and why the inner critic can hold us back in our lives

• Mark's own journey with the inner critic, and how meditation has helped free him from it's negative impact

• The importance of humor when dealing with the critic

• Neuroplasticity, and how meditation and compassion practices can change our brains

• Mark's favorite practices for working with the inner critic

Bill Burnett is the Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford. He directs the undergraduate and graduate program in design at Stanford, both interdepartmental programs between the Mechanical Engineering department and the Art department. He got his BS and MS in Product Design at Stanford and has worked professionally on a wide variety of projects ranging from award-winning Apple PowerBooks to the original Hasbro Star Wars action figures. Bill co teaches Designing Your Life, one of the most popular elective courses at Stanford. Centered on the principles taught in the Product Design Program and the d.school at Stanford, called “design thinking”, it is a process and a way of thinking about tough-to-solve problems. For more on Bill, his book Designing Your Life, and upcoming events please visit www.designingyour.life

In this episode: 

• We unpack what life design really is, and how design thinking can be used to build a meaningful and fulfilling life

• Learn why “finding your passion” is often bad advice

• Bill shares findings from neuroscience about how the brains of the most creative people in the world are different and what we can learn from them about overcoming fear

• 5 fundamentals of brainstorming that will help unlock innovative new possibilities

• What prototyping is and why it is important to designing your life

Ali Smith co-founded the Holistic Life Foundation in 2001, where he currently serves as Executive Director. He is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and graduate of the Friends School of Baltimore and the University of Maryland, College Park, receiving a BS in Environmental Science and Policy with a Biodiversity specialization.  He has over 15 years of experience teaching yoga and mindfulness to diverse populations. Through his work at the Holistic Life Foundation he has helped develop and pilot yoga and mindfulness programs at public and private schools, drug treatment centers, juvenile detention centers, mental crisis facilities, and retreat centers, nationally and internationally.  Ali has authored a series of children’s books, and co-authored several yoga and mindfulness based curriculum’s, as well as developed numerous workshops and training’s. His work with the Holistic Life Foundation has been featured on Making a Difference on the NBC Nightly News, CNN, and CBS, as well as O the Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post, Upworthy, Mindful Magazine, Yoga Journal, Shambala Sun, and many other publications.

In this episode: 

• Ali’s story about growing up, learning meditation, and starting a movement of bringing meditation and yoga into schools in Baltimore

• How Ali thinks about influencing and connecting with people

• How meditation, and connecting with oneself can foster hope and inspire people to dream

• The origin story of the Holistic Life Foundation, from humble beginnings in the basement of one school to teaching contemplative practices to students around the world

• The transformative effects of meditation and yoga programs in schools including large scale reductions in fights, detentions, and suspensions

Oren Jay Sofer is the author of Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication, a practical guidebook for having more effective, satisfying conversations. Oren leads retreats and workshops on mindful communication and meditation at retreat centers and educational settings around the United States. A member of the Spirit Rock Teacher's Council, he holds a degree in Comparative Religion from Columbia University, teaches in the Insight Meditation community, and is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication. Oren creates mindfulness training programs for a number of organizations, including Mindful Schools, Kaiser Permanente, Calm, SImple Habit, and 10% Happier. He is also the founder of Next Step Dharma and Mindful Healthcare. For more information, visit www.OrenJaySofer.com.

In this episode:

• Oren shares his story of finding meditation and why he is so passionate about mindfulness and communication

• Oren discusses how mindfulness can be applied to communication to support more satisfying and effective conversations

• We discuss how to have difficult conversations including practical strategies for regulating your emotions, your body, and your mind when stressed, triggered, or upset

• We explore moving from reaction to choice

• How curiosity can foster connection, help maintain relationships, and resolve difficult conversations

Douglas Stone is a Founder of Triad Consulting Group and a Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, where he teaches negotiation. Through Triad, he consults to a wide range of organizations, including Fidelity, Honda, HP, IBM, Merck, Microsoft, and Shell. Doug is co-author of the New York Times bestsellers Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most (Penguin 2000), and Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well (Even When It’s Off-Base, Unfair, Poorly Delivered and Frankly, You’re Not in the Mood) (Viking/Penguin 2014). His articles on negotiation and conflict resolution have appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Boston Globe. He has appeared on many TV and radio shows, including Oprah. For more on Doug please visit www.triadconsultinggroup.com

In this episode

• The three types of feedback (coaching, evaluation, and recognition), what they are, why they are important, and why we so often miss the mark with feedback

• What gets in the way of receiving feedback

• How to deliver feedback more effectively

• The importance of moving from judgment to curiosity (and compassion) to foster learning

• Why stories are so important in difficult conversations

• Strategies and insights for engaging in difficult conversations more skillfully

Amy C. Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School, a chair established to support the study of human interactions that lead to the creation of successful enterprises that contribute to the betterment of society. Edmondson has been recognized by the biannual Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 and was honored with the Talent Award in 2017. This year (2019) she is nominated for the Breakthrough Idea award. Her work on psychological safety is considered to be thinking that has the potential to change the world. 

 Dr. Edmondson studies teaming, psychological safety, and leadership, and her articles have been published in numerous academic and management outlets. Her new book,The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation and Growth (Wiley, 2018), offers a practical guide for organizations serious about success in the modern economy. Edmondson received her PhD in organizational behavior from Harvard University.

In this episode we explore:

• Amy's unexpected journey to discovering the importance of psychological safety

• Why fear is not an effective motivator for learning, teamwork, and innovation

• A closer look at organizations like Pixar and how they have built strong psychological safety within their teams

• How psychological safety is a catalyst for courage

• Practical strategies for creating psychological safety

• How leaders can make, or break, psychological safety within organizational cultures

• And more!

Kevin Cashman is a best-selling author, global thought leader, CEO Advisor, keynote speaker, and pioneer of the ‘grow the whole person to grow the whole leader’ approach to transformative leadership. He is the founder of LeaderSource Ltd, and the Chief Executive Institute® recognized as one of the top three leadership development programs globally. In 2006, LeaderSource was acquired by Korn Ferry, where Kevin is now Global Leader of CEO and Executive Development across 130 offices that touch the lives of 100,000+ leaders monthly. Kevin has advised thousands of CEOs, senior executives and senior teams in more than 80 countries worldwide. He has written six books including Leadership from the Inside Out, named the #1 best-selling business book of 2000 by CEO-READ and is now used at over 150 universities globally. You can find out more about Kevin at www.cashmanleadership.com

In this episode we explore:

• The importance of, and challenges with, bringing your whole self to work

• Why the art of asking questions is one of the most effective ways to influence

• The courage it takes to grow authentically as a leader

• The importance of storytelling to inspire

• Why courage may be the most important quality in leadership development

• And more!

In this episode I sat down with Dr. Brianna Booth, the Director of Positive Sexuality at Stanford University. Compelled by a deep belief that we as a society can do better on the challenges of sexuality, Brianna aims to transform the cultural conversation to more fundamentally level-up on both the challenges and possibilities of sexuality. She earned her PhD in Human Sexuality Studies, focusing her research on the lived experience of sexuality and the skills of navigating it well. Brianna is working with students to create a series of programs for undergraduates--Beyond Sex Ed--which take a whole-person, whole-culture approach, centering on student storytelling, the skills for growth and connection, and a recognition of sexuality as an integral part of what it is to be human.

In this episode we explore:

• Why listening is the first and most advanced skill related to sexuality

• Brianna’s courageous story of starting a movement to expand how we conceive of and discuss the topic of sexuality

• The importance of storytelling and how it fosters connection, intimacy, and courage

• How to develop self-trust

• What positive sexuality is, and why Brianna is so passionate about it

In this episode I sat down with bestselling author, TED speaker, and acclaimed psychologist, Dr. Meg Jay. I had been looking forward to this conversation for years, and it did not disappoint. In this episode we explore Meg's wisdom and insights related to her recent book, Supernormal - The Untold Story of Adversity and Resilience, including:

• How we can build resilience

• How love can transform the effects of adversity and trauma (and the science behind it)

• The relationship between courage, empathy, and deep listening

• How to support friends, colleagues, and loved ones in the face of adversity

• How to challenge the stories we tell ourselves and how learning this skill leads to resilience

• Why the past does not define the future

• And much more!

In this episode I sat down with acclaimed author, trauma expert, leadership coach, and renowned mindfulness teacher, Dr. David Treleaven. This wide-ranging conversation included a variety of topics related to his recent book Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness including: 

• David's experiences and challenges with meditation

• Why David is so passionate about looking at mindfulness from a trauma informed perspective

• The danger of looking at mindfulness as a panacea and why mindfulness is not always beneficial

• Ways to engage in meditation and mindfulness practice that maximize the benefits while minimizing potential downsides

• What trauma is, and why David believes that a greater understanding of trauma can make the benefits of mindfulness even more powerful for individuals, coaches, teachers, and leaders

• Ways to stay engaged and present in difficult conversations

• How organizations and leaders can build more positive and inclusive cultures

• Practical strategies to stay grounded when triggered or overwhelmed

In this episode I had a moving and powerful conversation with four members of the Parkland community who were impacted by the school shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Senior High School on February 14, 2018. In this conversation MSD students - Danielle Gilbert and Danny Tabares, Adult Chair of March for Our Lives Parkland - Samantha Novick, and community organizer and respected meditation teacher Shelly Tygielski courageously share their experiences of that day and the road to healing that they have been on since. This is one of the most hopeful and inspirational conversations that has taken place on this show (and that I have ever witnessed). I hope you enjoy.

**This show contains content that some may find to be upsetting, disturbing, or triggering. Please listen at your own discretion. Thank you.**

In this episode we explore:

• Their experiences of Valentine’s Day 2018

• Insights about transforming pain into purpose

• Staying hopeful when times get tough

• How they have found the courage to be compassionate, and to love after experiencing hate

• The importance of listening, and healthy debate

• What they’ve learned about creating conditions that promote healing

• Why little acts of kindness are so important

• And much more.

Thomas Crum is an acclaimed author, martial arts instructor, and presenter in the fields of conflict resolution, peak performance, and stress management.  He is known throughout the world for The Thomas Crum Approach, taught through best-selling books (including The Magic of Conflict), audio and visual materials, and live presentations of varying length and designed to help people become more centered under conflict, more resourceful when facing challenges, and more effective under stress. For over 30 years, Tom has delivered dynamic presentations to management and employees at all levels.  Some of his clients include Amgen, Sony Entertainment, Intel, the Navy SEALS and the National Football League. You can find out more about Tom at www.aikiworks.com

In this episode we explore:

• Tom’s unexpected journey to becoming John Denver’s personal body guard and coach

• What aikido taught Tom about working with conflict

• Strategies to stay centered and perform under pressure

• Tom’s insights about captivating audiences

• Overcoming fear

Rhonda V. Magee, J.D. is a Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco, and an internationally recognized thought and practice leader focused on integrating Mindfulness into Higher Education, Law and Social Justice. She also is a leading expert on how mindfulness can be an effective way to reduce implicit bias. You can find out much more about Rhonda's remarkable background in her bio located in the show notes.  

In this episode we had a deep and authentic conversation that covered a wide array of topics related to mindfulness, race, and social justice including: 

• Rhonda’s perspective on building organizational cultures that are diverse and inclusive

• Implicit bias, what it is, how it works, the research behind it, and how mindfulness can be an effective means for reducing it

• How Rhonda teaches mindfulness and compassion to law students

• Practices for engaging in meaningful and difficult conversations about race, politics, and other often challenging issues

• Rhonda’s story, and why she is passionate about mindfulness as a means for addressing race and social justice issues

• Themes from her upcoming book, The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Our Communities Through Mindfulness, which arrives September of 2019

And more!

In this episode I sat down with Frank Ostaseski and had a wide ranging and deep conversation about courage, authenticity, and living life fully by embracing all aspects of one's experience. Frank Ostaseski is an internationally respected Buddhist teacher and visionary cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project (the first Buddhist Hospice in America). He has lectured at Harvard Medical School, the Mayo Clinic, Wisdom.2.0 and teaches at major spiritual centers around the globe. His groundbreaking work has been highlighted on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and honored by the Dalai Lama. He is the author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully.

In this conversation we explore:

-Background on Frank’s pioneering work in end-of-life care

-Frank's remarkable stories, and the lessons he has learned, about living with greater meaning, purpose, and love from the thousands of people he has sat with as they went through the process of dying

-Practical ways of finding rest in the midst of the fast pace of modern life

-How mindfulness can be useful as a means for dealing with fear and finding courage

-And much more!

Background -

Thupten Jinpa holds his Ph.D. from Cambridge University and has been the principal English translator to the Dalai Lama since 1985. He has translated and collaborated on numerous books by the Dalai Lama including the New York Times Bestsellers Ethics for the New Millennium and The Art of Happiness. He is also the author of A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives and is the main author of Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) developed for Stanford University in 2009. 

In this conversation -

• How compassion differs from empathy

• How compassion can be trained and the some of the neuroscience behind it

• What Jinpa has learned about compassion from the Dalai Lama

• How compassion training may be the next big wave (particularly in healthcare settings) after mindfulness

• How compassion may be able to help bring us together, overcome tribalism and decrease polarization

Mark Nepo is a world renowned poet, story teller, teacher, New York Times best-selling author and past guest on Oprah Winfrey’s: Super Soul Sunday. In this episode we sat down to explore many topics from his teachings, his life, and his new book, More Together Than Alone, including:

• Loneliness and it’s antidote

• Building community, connection, and belonging

• Mark’s creative process and how he approaches writing

• Mark’s journey with cancer and how that has impacted his life and his work

• Courage and compassion

In this episode - Author, renowned meditation teacher, and Senior Director of the NYU Global and Spiritual Life Center, Yael Shy, and I sat down to discuss:

• Mindfulness (what it is, and why many people practice)

• How mindfulness and meditation can support people as they navigate major life transitions (like going to college, starting a career, becoming a parent, etc) 

• Why mindfulness can be considered a form of courage

• How meditation can help with challenges and difficulties including strong emotions, and feelings of anxiety

• More topics out of her outstanding new book: What Now? Meditation for Your Twenties and Beyond

Background: Yael is the Senior Director of the NYU Global Spiritual Life Center and the NYU 'Of Many' Institute for Multifaith and Spiritual Leadership, as well as the Founder and Director of MindfulNYU, the largest campus-wide mindfulness initiative in the country. She teaches regularly at MNDFL in NYC and is a sought after speaker, teacher, and writer on meditation, interfaith engagement and spirituality. She is the author of the award-winning book, What Now? Meditation for Your Twenties and Beyond(Parallax, November 2017). 

Drs. James and Janice Prochaska, and I, sat down to discuss a wide variety of topics related to their new book, Changing to Thrive:

• How we can successfully make changes in our lives, around our health, or in our work that we may have put off, or struggled with in the past

• Overcoming fear and other obstacles that hold us back from changing

• How to skillfully support people as they go through the process of change

Background:

James O. Prochaska is Director of Cancer Prevention Research Center and Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Rhode Island. He is the author of over 400 publications, including four books, Changing to Thrive, Changing for Good, Systems of Psychotherapy, and The Transtheoretical Approach. Additionally, Dr. Prochaska is internationally recognized for his work as a developer of the stage model of behavior change and is the founder of Pro-Change Behavior Systems. He has also recently been recognized as one of the top three most preeminent clinical psychologists. For more about James or Janice Prochaska please visit www.jprochaska.com

 One of the most published authors in the field of social work, Dr. Janice M. Prochaska has led research and development teams for health behavior and organizational change programs as the CEO at Pro-Change Behavior Systems, Inc. from 1997 – 2015. Her collaborations include applying the Model to cutting edge issues like simultaneously reducing multiple risk behaviors and enhancing multiple domains of well-being, healthy weight management in children and adults, preventing bullying, keeping individuals out of trouble with the law, and advancing careers with populations like women scientists.

In this episode I sat down with Professional Coach, Peace Corps Volunteer, Entrepreneur, and Storyteller, Lisa Daron. Lisa has set off on a mission she calls "The Connection Cure" to see if she can heal herself from chronic illness by traveling across the country and forming meaningful moments of connection with people she meets along the way. For more on The Connection Cure please visit www.theconnectioncure.com

Lisa Daron Grossman has been a practicing certified Professional Coach from the Coaches Training Institute and the International Coaches Federation since 2010. She is a practitioner of Positive Psychology, holds her MFA in Creative Nonfiction writing, BA in Anthropology, and a certificate in Mind-Body Medicine. As a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Lisa draws on fifteen years of learning and experience working with non-profits and NGOs in the public health and arts sectors of Swaziland.

Prior to working as a coach Lisa worked with storytelling as a documentary filmmaker, a copywriter for the Smithsonian channel, a New York City tour guide, and a professional team builder for over ten years.

Lisa is currently living on the road full-time.

Alison Canavan is an award winning author of wellness book “Minding Mum”, a health and wellness coach, Master NLP Practioner, motivational speaker and mindfulness facilitator. Having travelled the world as one of Ireland’s most successful international models for nearly two decades, in recent years she has devoted her time to her greatest passion: true health and wellbeing.

Helping people to join the dots with their health and wellbeing is Alison’s primary goal and passion. Her interest in nutrition began in 2009 when she started studying Fitness Nutrition Coaching under NESTA (National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association), in the United States. She graduated with distinction in Nutrition and Health Coaching from Irish Institute of Nutrition and Health (IINH). She holds an Advanced Diploma in Diet and Nutrition therapeutics. She is currently continuing her studies in mindfulness at UCLA.

Alison has become a highly sought after motivational speaker, regularly being invited to deliver talks and workshops on health, wellbeing, meditation, mental health and sobriety at conferences, festivals and events for both the general public and corporate clients. She spoke at The Mindful Life Conference in Washington in April 2017. She has lectured in Trinity College on the module of Motherhood and Mental Health. She also delivers talks on stress in the workplace to CEO’s and business leaders across the country.

Alison has a weekly wellness column called ‘NIRVANA’ in The Sunday Independent in Ireland and a column in Positive Life Magazine. She has contributed to numerous publications through the years including You Magazine, VIP Magazine, The Daily Mail and many more. She is also a regular contributor to radio and TV shows. For more on Alison visit www.alisoncanavan.com

Roshi Joan Halifax, Ph.D., is a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, and pioneer in the field of end-of-life care. She is Founder, Abbot, and Head Teacher of Upaya Institute and Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She received her Ph.D. in medical anthropology in 1973 and has lectured on the subject of death and dying at many academic institutions and medical centers around the world. She received a National Science Foundation Fellowship in Visual Anthropology, was an Honorary Research Fellow in Medical Ethnobotany at Harvard University, and was a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library of Congress.

She is Director of the Project on Being with Dying, and Founder of the Upaya Prison Project that develops programs on meditation for prisoners. She is also founder of the Nomads Clinic in Nepal.

 A Founding Teacher of the Zen Peacemaker Order and founder of Prajna Mountain Buddhist Order, her work and practice for more than four decades has focused on engaged Buddhism. She is the author of multiple books, with the most recent being: Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet.

James Doty, MD, is a clinical professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford University and the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University School of Medicine. CCARE is a research center that examines the neuroscience of compassion and altruism collaborating with Stanford colleagues in neuroscience and psychology, as well as throughout the world. He trained in neurosurgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and completed fellowships in pediatric neurosurgery at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia (CHOP). He also spent 9 years on active duty service in the U.S. Army Medical Corp. Dr. Doty is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart that has been translated to over 30 languages. He is also the senior editor of the Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science and Presently is developing collaborative research projects to assess the effect of compassion training on immune function and other physiologic determinates of health, the use of mentoring as a method of instilling compassion in students and the use of compassion training to decrease pain. His work has been quoted in a variety of publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. He speaks frequently throughout the world on the science of compassion. For more about Dr. Doty go here. 

Leah Weiss, Ph.D., MSW, is a teacher, researcher, and meditation expert at Stanford University specializing in the application of mindfulness and compassion in secular contexts. Her perennially waitlisted course at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, Leading with Mindfulness and Compassion, is breaking new ground in an MBA program already famous for innovation. In 2015, she was given the role of Women in Management Facilitator at Stanford business school. As Principal Teacher and Trainer for Stanford’s Compassion Cultivation Training program, founded by the Dalai Lama, Leah developed the curriculum to train more teachers to meet a growing interest in compassion as it applies to people’s work, family, community, and selves. Her first book, How We Work, has recently been released. In addition to her wide range of speaking and consulting work for leading organizations and healthcare settings, Leah also works with the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she teaches mindfulness and compassion to help veterans cope with post-traumatic stress, and to help VA staff around the Bay Area cope with the stress of their jobs helping veterans. For more on Leah go here. 

Daniel Lerner is an in-demand speaker, author, strengths-based performance coach and instructor of the science of happiness, one of the most popular undergraduate courses at New York University. Employing cutting-edge research into positive psychology and peak performance, Dan works with students, established and high-potential performing artists, athletes and numerous Fortune 500 companies and executives around the world helping them manage stress and anxiety, achieve well-being, uncover their core strengths and define and realize their own brand of success. With a deep passion for helping the next generation of talent achieve their utmost potential, Dan, along with his co-author and teaching partner Dr. Alan Schlechter, penned U Thrive: How to Succeed in College (and Life). For more on Dan visit www.daniellerner.com

Sharon Salzberg is a central figure in the field of meditation, a world-renowned teacher, and New York Times best-selling author. She has played a crucial role in bringing meditation and mindfulness practices to the West and into mainstream culture since 1974, when she first began teaching. She is the cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts and the author of ten books including the New York Times best-seller, Real Happiness, her seminal work,Lovingkindness, and, Real Love, her latest release by Flatiron Books. Acclaimed for her humorous, down-to-earth teaching style, Sharon offers a secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings, making them instantly accessible. She is a regular columnist for On Being, a contributor to Huffington Post, and the host of her own podcast: The Metta Hour. For more on Sharon visit www.sharonsalzberg.com

Mike Erwin is the CEO of The Character & Leadership Center and co-founder & president of the Positivity Project - a non-profit organization with the mission to empower America’s youth to build stronger relationships. He is the co-author of Lead Yourself First by Bloomsbury Press (2017). The book focuses on how solitude strengthens people’s character---and their ability to lead with clarity, balance and conviction. Mike is also a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in Leadership & Psychology.

 While in graduate school at the University of Michigan in 2010, Mike founded a non-profit organization named Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB). Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their communities through physical and social activity. Team RWB has 138,000 members and 212 chapters across the world.

Emily Esfahani Smith is a journalist and the author of The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed With Happiness. Her articles and essays have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Atlantic, The New Criterion, and other publications. 

The former managing editor of The New Criterion, Smith is also an editor at the Stanford University's Hoover Institution, where she advises the Ben Franklin Circles project, a collaboration with the 92nd Street Y and Citizen University to build meaning in local communities.

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times best-selling author. His books are available in 26 languages and include Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture. His latest book, Resilient, is due out in 2018. A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA and founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, he’s been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, Harvard, and other major universities, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. In 2016 he gave a keynote address at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association. His work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and other major media. His free offerings include the Just One Thing newsletter (over 120,000 subscribers), Buddha’s Brain Facebook (over 650,000 likes), and Being Well podcast. His online Foundations of Well-Being program helps people use positive neuroplasticity to grow key inner strengths like resilience, self-worth, and compassion, and anyone with financial need can do it for free.

Through executive education Johann Berlin is committed to harnessing people's passions by strengthening the connection individuals, teams and organizations have to themselves, to each other, and toward greater shared  purpose.  Prior to joining TLEX Institute, Johann scaled boutique triple bottom line and social sector companies from concept to high-impact with a special focus on: innovative and disruptive wellness, leadership, innovation initiatives with projects being mentioned in Harvard Business Review, New York Times, Psychology Today, Washington Post and Wharton School Of Business Journal. Johann has given talks at places like: TEDx London, GE HealthCare, Stanford Center for Compassion, Microsoft, Intuit,  Shell, AMEX, Amazon, and the Wharton School of Business, among others. He also is a writing contributor for Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, Virgin Unite, Real Leaders, Thrive Global, and the Huffington Post. For more on Johann visit: http://tlexinstitute.com

Dr. Fred Luskin is the author of multiple books, including the bestseller, Forgive For Good. He is also the Director of the Stanford Forgiveness Projects, an ongoing series of workshops and research projects that investigate the effectiveness of his forgiveness methods on a variety of populations. The forgiveness project has successfully explored forgiveness therapy with people who suffered from the violence in Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone as well as the attacks on the World Trade Center during 9/11. In addition, his work has been successfully applied and researched in corporate, medical, legal and religious settings. He currently serves as a Senior Consultant in Health Promotion at Stanford University and offers lectures, workshops, seminars and trainings on the importance, health benefits and training of forgiveness, stress management and emotional competence throughout the United States. For more on Dr. Luskin visit: learningtoforgive.com

Dr. Judson Brewer is a thought leader in the field of habit change and the “science of self-mastery”, having combined over 20 years of experience with mindfulness training with his scientific research therein. He is the Chief of the Division of Mindfulness, Director of Research at the Center for Mindfulness and associate professor in medicine and psychiatry at UMass Medical School. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, trained US Olympic coaches, and his work has been featured on 60 Minutes, TED (4th most viewed talk of 2016, with over 8 Million views), Time magazine (top 100 new health discoveries of 2013), Forbes, BBC, NPR), Businessweek and others. A psychiatrist and internationally known expert in mindfulness training for addictions, Brewer has developed and tested novel mindfulness programs for habit change, including both in-person and app-based treatments for smoking, emotional eating, and anxiety. He is the author of The Craving Mind: from cigarettes to smartphones to love, why we get hooked and how we can break bad habits. For more on Dr. Brewer visit: www.judsonbrewer.com

Kevin Adler is the Founder and CEO of Miracle Messages, an award-winning nonprofit that reunites the homeless with their loved ones. To date, MM has facilitated over 100 reunions, with 25% getting a person off-the-streets. Their vision is to reunite 1 million people by 2023. For his work, Kevin has been named a TED Resident, TED Speaker, MassChallenge winner, and "Emerging Innovator" by American Express / Ashoka. Miracle Messages has been featured widely, including in the New York Times, NPR, People, on a Shinola billboard in Times Square, and NowThis, whose video reached 26 million views. As a speaker, Kevin has given talks at TED, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Occidental, Singularity University, Microsoft, and Zappos, to name a few. For more on Kevin check out kevinfadler.com

Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, is an author, researcher, speaker, and public science communicator who is interested in using psychological science to help all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and meaningful life. He is a professor of positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, and author and/or editor of 7 books, including Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined and Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind (with Carolyn Gregoire). His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review, and he writes a blog at Scientific American called Beautiful Minds. Kaufman is also host of The Psychology Podcast.

Dr. Joyce Mikal-Flynn received her BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing) from University of San Francisco, her FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) from University of California, Davis, and her MSN (Master’s of Science in Nursing) from California State University, Sacramento. Her Doctor of Education was completed in 2007 at St. Mary’s College, Moraga. She is CEO of Metahab.com and an associate professor at Sacramento State University teaching courses in: Neuroscience and Traumatology. Her system of recovery and rehabilitation, MetaHabilitation©, guides survivors and families toward posttraumatic growth (PTG) and is currently utilized in veteran and oncology programs, individuals with chronic pain, addiction and dependency and in private practices. Her work is presented internationally and nationally. Multiple publications include her book, Turning Tragedy Into Triumph. Metahabilitation; A Contemporary Model of Rehabilitation. For more on Dr. Mikal-Flynn go here. 

Cory Muscara is on a life-long journey to understand the causes and conditions that lead to suffering and wellbeing. As founder of the Long Island Center for Mindfulness, Cory's work is primarily in the field of mindfulness meditation. In 2012, he spent 6 months in silence practicing Vipassana meditation as a Buddhist monk in Burma under the instruction of Sayadaw U Pandita. Cory currently serves as faculty at Columbia Teachers College where he teaches mindfulness to school leaders from across the country, and is also an assistant instructor for the Master of Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He offers keynotes, mindfulness training and mindfulness-based leadership consulting to businesses, schools and healthcare systems, and is a regular guest on the Dr. Oz show in the topic of mindfulness meditation. You can learn more about Cory here

Sunny Grosso is a happiness consultant, a Zappos culture specialist, and a thought leader in the culture movement. She helped found the Delivering Happiness consulting team where she co-built the model, developed the approach and led the coaching team. Passionate about creating positive work cultures, she travels the world speaking, coaching and consulting on sustainable culture building. She brings an informed, lively brand of energy to her clients, focused on revealing and transforming their best authentic culture from the individual to the team to the organizational level. 

Cindy Pury sits on the faculty at Clemson University where she is a professor of psychology and serves as an undergraduate coordinator. Trained as both a clinical psychologist and a researcher, Cindy started out with an interest in studying cognition and fear, looking specifically at threat appraisals. In 2003 Cindy began to wonder about whether there was a different way people might cope when faced with threats. This led to her work to better understand courage from an empirical standpoint. Cindy is now one of the world's leading thinkers on the science of courage. In conjunction with Shane Lopez, she co-edited the first major book on the psychology of courage which compiled leading scientific and philosophical underpinnings of this ancient virtue. She was also instrumental in bringing together the first courage summit in 2007. An event sponsored by the American Psychological Association that brought together researches to discuss the topic. Cindy has also published a number of peer reviewed scientific journal articles on the subject of courage. You can find out more about Cindy here

Emilia Lahti, MsC, MAPP, is a doctoral candidate at the Aalto University School of Science and Technology in Helsinki. She is passionate about action research, social justice, and unearthing new, innovative ways to apply scientific knowledge to solve humanity's grand challenges. She holds master's degrees in social psychology (University of Tampere, Finland) and applied positive psychology (MAPP, University of Pennsylvania) and is an alumna of the Singularity University Global Solutions Program located at NASA Ames Research Park in California. Under the guidance of Dr. Angela Duckworth, Emilia completed her master's thesis on the Finnish construct of 'sisu'. She is also the founder of the Finnish Positive Psychology Association. To find out more about Emilia, her mission, or how to support the SISU Not Silence campaign check out www.emilialahti.com