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Dr. Sue Varma talks about her groundbreaking work showing that “optimism” goes beyond just having a positive outlook—it brings about better outcomes: more success, higher incomes and job satisfaction, healthier habits, stronger relationships, and greater overall life satisfaction. And it ultimately can lead to increased happiness. In this episode, we discuss the 8 pillars of Practical Optimism—from creating purpose and processing emotions to cultivating healthy habits and strong social connections. Guest: Dr. Sue Varma, MD, PC, DFAPA, psychiatrist and cognitive behavioral therapist, and author of Practical Optimism: The Art, Science, and Practice of Exceptional Well-Being.

Is there more to life than happiness? For decades, positive psychologists have agreed that there are two crucial dimensions to living a happy and fulfilling life: An overall sense of happiness, and a sense of purpose. In recent years, Dr. Oishi has uncovered a third dimension needed to have a fuller, better life: psychological richness. A psychologically rich life prioritizes curiosity, exploration, and a variety of experiences. Learn how anyone can build a fuller, more authentic life. Guest: Shigehiro Oishi, PhD, positive psychology and happiness expert, and author of Life In Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life.

The foods we eat are directly linked to our health and health issues. Recently, scientific studies have shown that what you eat can have a big impact on your mind: how clearly you think, how much energy you have, how you feel . . . even your mood. Learn how to eat a brain-healthy diet. It can optimize your thinking today and can even help prevent brain disorders like MS, ALS, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s in the future. Guest: Brenda Navin, registered dietitian, and founder and president of Launch My Health.

For over 100 years, scientists have searched for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Now, for the first time ever, there is hope. Dr. Dale E. Bredesen, a neuroscientist and neurologist, has announced groundbreaking results from decades of research and a precision-medicine-based protocol that has not only reversed cognitive decline, but has even improved brain function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. In this episode, we provide scientifically based advice for ending Alzheimer’s and living a long, healthy life, free of dementia. Guest: Dale E. Bredesen, M.D., author of The End of Alzheimer’s Program: The First Protocol to Enhance Cognition and Reverse Decline At Any Age.

Dr. Elisa Song is a trusted pediatrician who provides science-based, easy-to-understand ways to raise happier and healthier kids—starting with a healthy gut microbiome. After training to be a medical doctor, Dr. Song realized that conventional medicine was missing some key components to raising resilient kids with strong immune systems. Today, Dr. Song is an integrative pediatrician who has shared her learning through a comprehensive guide to whole child resilience. Guest: Elisa Song, M.D., author of Healthy Kids, Happy Kids

Many new mothers experience “baby blues” after giving birth. However, some new moms—and even dads!—experience more intense and prolonged feelings of depression that can interfere with their ability to care for their baby and perform other daily tasks. This condition is known as postpartum depression (PPD), sometimes referred to as peripartum depression or perinatal depression in certain countries. The encouraging news is that PPD can be effectively treated. Guest: Dr. Linda Kim, founder and CEO of Moon Mental Health.

What are the secrets of living a longer, more fulfilled life? Answering that big question has been the quest of a company called Blue Zones for more than 2 decades. “Blue zone” is a term coined by its founder, Dan Buettner, to describe specific locations around the world where people regularly live to be 100 years old and beyond. The company examines how and why these people live far longer and happier lives than the average. Guest: Dexter Shurney, M.D., president/chief health and well-being officer, Blue Zones Well-Being Institute.

In today's fast-paced society, many of us spend our days balancing countless meetings and endless work with school and family responsibilities. If we have any free time, we might complete a few more errands or perhaps squeeze in some exercise. But something critically important to your health and happiness is missing: Social connection. Loneliness is at epidemic levels. How do we break the barriers of loneliness and lay the cornerstone of a more satisfying and connected life? Guest: Brad Shuck, PhD, University of Louisville.

Is there truly a road to happiness? And if so, how can we get there? You might be surprised! This episode contains many practical tips—“happiness hacks”—that can help you increase the happiness level in your life. Guest: Stella Grizont, positive psychology and happiness expert.

No one ever imagines, much less prepares, for the day they will become a caregiver—providing necessary care for a loved one whose health is declining because of age or a disability, or whose health is affected because of a sudden accident or serious illness. But there’s a good chance that most of us will become caregivers during our lives. Learn practical tips about caregiving for your loved one . . . and yourself. Guest: Jessica Kim, cofounder of the caregiver app ianacare.

When a loved one dies—whether a parent, a child, a life partner, a family member, or a friend, or even a beloved pet—giving yourself time and permission to grieve that loss is an important step in healing. Although grief might include feelings of sadness and heartbreak, just remember that those feelings are not because of the love you’ve lost. Rather, they are proof that love is still there. Guest: Marisa Renee Lee, author of Grief Is Love: Living with Loss.

Whether at work, in the community, or at home, you want to create an environment that brings out the very best in everyone, so your “team” can thrive. Years of research have revealed that the most important ingredient in “super-charging” any team—at work or at home—is to ensure a “psychologically safe” environment. In this episode, we’ll tell you how to do it. Guest: Brad Shuck, PhD, University of Louisville.

Addiction affects many people . . . people you know, love, or work with—perhaps even you. What happens to our brains when we become addicted to substances like alcohol or drugs or to behaviors like gambling? And what can we do about it? In this episode, we hear a very personal story about how alcohol addiction affected an HPE team member’s life. We also talk to an addiction and medical expert who was New York’s “chief” psychiatrist during times when the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Sandy affected the mental health of millions of people. Guests: HPE team member Allison; Lloyd I. Sederer, MD, psychiatrist, teacher, public health administrator, and author.

Imagine having a disability or condition that no one can see. For a majority of people around the world—and even people you may know—it’s a reality. They might have autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or other conditions that affect how they learn and think. In this episode, we explore the benefits of neurodiversity, and we provide helpful tips for colleagues, managers, and those with hidden disabilities. Guest: Ted Smith, author of Hidden Disabilities and Conditions: Creating an Inclusive Workplace.

Nearly all women go through menopause—and many younger women go through perimenopause. But because it’s a subject we rarely talk about, many women don’t know what to expect, especially when they start to experience mental health issues. Guest: Catherine O’Keeffe, known as the Wellness Warrior and “Ireland’s first menopause coach.” Guest hosts: Holly Greer, HPE’s Global Wellness Program Manager; and Kim Field, HPE’s UKIMESA HR Director.