Dr. Bower explores the connection of purpose to living a life of happiness. We will unpack the importance of considering happiness for yourself vs. connecting with others. Some surprising research will give insights into how you can to live a more purposeful life!

Guest:
Dr. Tracy Brower is a sociologist studying work life fulfillment, happiness and the future of work. She is the author of two books. The Secrets to Happiness at Work provides insights for joyful work and life. Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work provides fresh perspectives and alternative ways to consider and achieve work-life “balance” (hint: it’s not about balance, it’s more than that). Tracy is also a senior contributor for Forbes and a contributor to Newsweek and Fast Company, and the Vice President of Workplace Insights for Steelcase.

To learn more about Dr. Bower, please visit:
https://tracybrower.com/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/

Dr. Bowers' Books:
The Secrets to Happiness at Work
Bring Work to Life by Bringing Life to Work

Please note the time stamps for podcast content:
5:20 - Concepts - Myths of Happiness at Work
6:00 - Concepts - Create Conditions for Happiness
8:30 - Research - Commitment to a purpose in life: An antidote to the suffering by individuals with social anxiety disorder - Kashdan & McKnight (2013)
9:40 - Research - Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing - White et al. (2019)
11:20 - Concepts - Harm of Social Comparison
12:30 - Primer for E10 - Purpose in Practice (w/ Jeff Wang)
14:00 - Concepts - 3 Aspects of Purpose
18:15 - Concepts - Passions (Individual) vs. Purpose (Societal)
24:20 - Concepts - Different Ways of Experiencing Happiness
27:10 - Strategy - Making a Commitment / Take Action
28:30 - Strategy - Do Things You're Passionate About
31:00 - Research - Memorability shapes perceived time (and vice versa) - Ma et al. (2023)
33:00 - Concepts - How to Create Conditions for Happiness
35:10 - Adult Strategies - Presence. Eliminate Distractions. Validate. Ask Questions. Be Transparent About Our Own Experience.
39:30 - Personal Strategy - Gratitude. Making Knowledge Accessible
44:00 - Concepts - How to Make Choices to Move On (How Much Can I Influence/How Big is this Issue)
48:30 - Personal Strategy - Weekend Naps. Walks with Audiobooks
49:00 - Research - Influence of mid-afternoon nap duration and sleep parameters on memory encoding, mood, processing speed, and vigilance - Leong et al. (2023)

Special thanks to musical artists:
Psalm Trees: https://psalmtreesbeats.bandcamp.com/
Homage: https://homagebeats.bandcamp.com/

To provide suggestions for new topics in future episodes, visit:
present-mind.org/podcast

Dr. Luke unpacks a number of concepts around the neuroscience of anxiety. We dive into understanding how the brain functions around fear and anxiety.

Guest:
Chad Luke holds a Ph.D. in counselor education from the University of Tennessee, and teaches at St. Bonaventure in Saint Bonaventure, NY. Dr. Luke is also a licensed professional counselor and an approved clinical supervisor, whose writing has appeared in the International Journal for Education and Vocational Guidance and the Journal of Counseling and Development. He has authored more than 20 journal articles, book chapters, and books. He is a member of the American Counseling Association and the Tennessee Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.

To learn more about Dr. Wilkinson, please visit:
https://www.sbu.edu/academics/faculty/luke-chad
https://drchadluke.com/

Please note the time stamps for podcast content:
3:30 - Idea - Culture of Childhood & Adolescence
6:30 - Idea - A Culture of Fear
8:50 - Concepts - Anxiety vs. Fear
11:40 - Concepts - Brain Functioning for Anxiety vs. Fear
16:00 - Concepts - Understanding the Fear Response
21:10 - Concepts - Retraining the Brain for Anxious Responses
27:00 - Concepts - Relationship of Thoughts and Emotions
32:00 - Concepts - The Importance of Play
32:00 - Research - The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children - Yogman et al. (2018)
35:30 - Strategy - Familiarity with Nervous System
42:00 - Strategy - Slowing Down to Build Emotional Awareness
43:55 - Strategy - Shifting Into Neutral
49:10 - Research - Activities and Programs That Improve Children’s Executive Functions - Diamond (2012)
58:30 - Adult Strategy - Seek Authentic Connections
73:00 - Adult Strategy - Seek Finding a New Connection
78:30 - Personal Strategy - Act Don't Think!

Special thanks to musical artists:
Psalm Trees: https://psalmtreesbeats.bandcamp.com/
Soii: https://soii.bandcamp.com/

To provide suggestions for new topics in future episodes, visit:
present-mind.org/podcast

Dr. Wilkinson explores two theories for constructing emotions and their value in interpreting emotions. We pull apart key ideas of each theory to explore how they can me utilized for improving our emotional lives.

Guest:
Dr. Brett Wilkinson serves as Director of the Counselor Education program, founding Director of the PFW Institute for Counseling Research (ICR), and Editor-in-Chief for the ACA's national Journal of Humanistic Counseling. A Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), he earned Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Kentucky and a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Eastern Kentucky University. His doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision is from the University of Northern Colorado with a cognate in couples and family counseling.

To learn more about Dr. Wilkinson, please visit:
https://www.pfw.edu/about-pfw/who-we-are/directories/brett-wilkinson

Please note the time stamps for podcast content:
2:10 - Research - More than a feeling: Constructing emotion in theory and practice - Givens & Wilkinson (2020)
2:50 - Concepts - Natural Kind Emotions & Constructed Emotions
4:20 - Concepts - Natural Kind Emotions
5:40 - Concepts - Theory of Constructed Emotions
9:05 - Concepts - Cultural Interpretation
12:20 - Concepts - Positive Cultural Interpretations
13:30 - Example - Friend Problems (from Natural Kind Viewpoint)
21:00 - Example - Friend Problems (from Constructed Emotions Viewpoint)
25:00 - Idea - Emotions and Teenagers
28:10 - Idea - Body & Mind Distinctions and Cultural Values
31:00 - Example - Paying attention to body sensations around Depression
38:45 - Strategy - The Importance of Pausing
41:55 - Strategy - Giving Space to Feel Emotions (Modeling)
44:40 - Adult Strategy - Giving Space for Context
49:00 - Idea - Regulating when we become Dysregulation
50:35 - Strategies - Noticing vs. Rationali
61:00 - Personal Strategy - Exercise
62:30 - Personal Strategy - 5 Minutes of Breathing
63:30 - Book - Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art - James Nestor
64:10 - Personal Strategy - Creative Music

Special thanks to musical artists:
Psalm Trees: https://psalmtreesbeats.bandcamp.com/
HVYEVY: https://hvyevy.bandcamp.com/

To provide suggestions for new topics in future episodes, visit:
present-mind.org/podcast