Harvesting Happiness

<![CDATA[ <p>With access to mental health care in the United States out of reach or ineffective for some people, alternative treatments and medicines that alleviate symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD are sought after. Treatment seekers are more and more often finding ceremonies that feature doses of psychedelic medicine valuable in shifting their mental state.

To gain more information with a healthy dose of skepticism, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author, psychonaut, and explorer of the inner world, Matt Zemon about his psychedelic experiences, resources, and books.

Matt shares statistics about the efficacy and legality of different psychedelics, information about the manner in which they are used, and how people can find out more about deciding if psychedelics are right for their healing journey.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[<p>Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).

This episode is part of a series exploring disinformation, media literacy, and the emerging science of cognitive immunology.

In the last 20 years, humans have developed a set of mental challenges for themselves unlike any other in human history. The internet age has created a vast array of complications that our minds have not yet adapted to or evolved to process. Bad actors and those who wish to hijack the human mind and spirit have designed methodologies that manipulate traditional cognitive functions to push their agendas.

To learn more about how can we protect ourselves and strengthen our mental immunity, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the award-winning author of Mental Immunity: Infectious Ideas, Mind-Parasites, and the Search for a Better Way to Think and founder of the Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE) about the science of mental immunity.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:
OUAI — Offers beauty-boosting head-to-toe self-care rituals. Visit www.theouai.com

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[ <p>Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).

This episode is part of a series exploring disinformation, media literacy, and the emerging science of cognitive immunology.

As the 2024 election cycle begins, the amount of memes for and against political candidates in social media feeds will increase exponentially. Most of which will have been created by AI and will contain subtle influences designed to create polarization within the American voting public. Can you discern between a meme created for entertainment purposes and one created by a disinformation campaign?

To discover how to recognize the truth from fiction, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a Research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and an Instructor in Ethics at Harvard Extension School, Dr. Lee McIntyre. Lee talks about the inspiration for his book, On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy, and shares common practices and dissemination techniques of disinformation campaigns.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Nutrafol— offers a drug-free whole-body health approach to hair wellness and growth. Get $10 off your 1st month's subscription and free shipping at www.nutrafol.com/quiz promo code HARVESTING.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[ <p>Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).

This episode is part of a series exploring disinformation, media literacy, and the emerging science of cognitive immunology.

Mind viruses spread in the same manner as viruses in the body. Something is passed from one person to another. The person's belief system or mental immune system processes the content of the information and either overcomes it and discards it or the virus takes over and causes an illness.

To discover tips for mental vaccinations and truth recipes, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with an associate professor of English at the University of Central Florida and the author of Deadly Delusions: Right-Wing Death Cult and The Cognitive Immune System: The Mind's Ability to Dispel Pathological Beliefs, Dr. Barry Mauer. Barry shares ways we can fortify our thinking to be more productive and healthy.

Like what you're hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[ <p>Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).

This episode is part of a series exploring disinformation, media literacy, and the emerging science of cognitive immunology.

The reliability of the information we ingest is paramount in today’s world of misinformation. Because once we decide that we believe something our minds become much less malleable when it comes to adopting a new belief.

To learn how information literacy and power-thinking can be taught, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the Associate Professor of Biology at Massasoit Community College, and Education Director for the Mental Immunity Project and CIRCE, Melanie Trecek-King. Melanie shares classroom examples of the scenarios she poses to her students and the common thinking errors most humans make.

Like what you’re hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[ <p>Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).

This episode is part of a series exploring disinformation, media literacy, and the emerging science of cognitive immunology.

In the US, as the election season approaches many people will have the opportunity to have conversations at home, work, or on social media where their beliefs differ vastly. Without curiosity, kindness, or a sound tool for assessing reasoning some conversations could turn into disputes.

To discover communication tools that make us more streetwise and rationally philosophical, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Anthony Magnabosco, the current Executive Director of Street Epistemology International (SEI), a nonprofit educational organization committed to addressing dysfunction in public and private discourse by encouraging rationality through civil conversation. Anthony shares the Street Epistemology process, examples of how it can be used, and the societal benefits of using it.

This episode is proudly sponsored by

Nutrafol—Offers a drug-free whole-body health approach to hair wellness and growth. Get $10 off your 1st month's subscription and free shipping www.nutrafol.com with promo code HARVESTING.

OUAI— Offers beauty boosting head to toe self-care rituals. Visit www.theouai.com and use code HH to get 15% off of your entire purchase.

Like what you’re hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[ <p>Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).

This episode is part of a series exploring disinformation, media literacy, and the emerging science of cognitive immunology.

Fear and doubt serve as powerful tools in the political landscape, allowing politicians to manipulate public perception and sow confusion. By labeling legitimate investigations or criticisms as "witch hunts," these leaders attempt to delegitimize the concerns raised against them. This tactic not only deflects attention from the actual issues at hand but also erodes trust in the democratic process. To discover how we can inoculate ourselves against cultural viruses, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a lecturer of cultural history at the Department of History and Art History at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, Steije Hofhuis PhD.

Steije shares historical information about how witch hunts spread and how ideas about witchcraft adapted in new ways that stimulated more witch prosecutions. His research shows that cultural viruses, or mindbugs, adapted and evolved in a Darwinian manner throughout certain geographical areas and time periods.

Like what you’re hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[ <p>Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).

This episode is part of a series exploring disinformation, media literacy, and the emerging science of cognitive immunology.

The primary goal of most media sources is to make money by pushing an agenda. They may create false stories designed to increase advertising revenue, influence opinion, or in the case of the 2016 election cycle, upend the democratic institutions of the United States. To discover how to build resiliency against misinformation, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with cognitive scientist and CIRCE researcher Professor Stephan Lewandowsky.

Stephan shares his research on how alternative facts gain acceptance, how technology can undermine the democratic process, and tips on how to discern fact from fiction when consuming media.

Like what you’re hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[ <p>Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).

This episode is part of a series exploring disinformation, media literacy, and the emerging science of cognitive immunology.

Social isolation, technology, and environmental changes are responsible for many of today’s mental health problems including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Historical research suggests that humans perform better in communities and are not meant to go it alone. To discover the impact of social networks on human evolutionary history, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with evolutionary anthropologist, Dr. David Samson.

David introduces the key findings from his book, Our Tribal Future: How to Channel Our Foundational Human Instincts into a Force for Good. He offers historical examples and six core reasons why face-to-face social networks and community interactions increase mental well-being, happiness, and purpose.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Nutrafol— offers a drug-free whole-body health approach to hair wellness and growth. Get $10 off your 1st month's subscription and free shipping at www.nutrafol.com/quiz promo code HARVESTING.

Like what you’re hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[ <p>Harvesting Happiness is proud to partner with the researchers and scholars at the Mental Immunity Project (MIP) and Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE).

This episode is part of a series exploring disinformation, media literacy, and the emerging science of cognitive immunology.

The media has already begun priming the pump for the 2024 election cycle in the US. Swaying the average American to believe one thing over another will be the target of billions of dollars of advertising spending. Will all of the information we are exposed to be true? Probably not, but how do we know? What can we do to build our mental immunity and critical thinking skills? To discover how we can protect and preserve humanity when faced with misinformation, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with author, researcher, and founder of the Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative (CIRCE), Dr. Andy Norman.

Andy and Lisa delve into what to expect from their new collaborative effort to tone our mental muscles through the Mental Immunity Project. They also discuss how to discern false narratives, how to have open and compassionate conversations, and ten rules of thumb to make the mind less susceptible to misinformation, all just in time for the deluge of political rhetoric on the horizon. This episode is proudly sponsored by:

OUAI — Offers beauty-boosting head-to-toe self-care rituals. Visit www.theouai.com.

Like what you’re hearing?

WANT MORE SOUND IDEAS FOR DEEPER THINKING? Check out More Mental Fitness by Harvesting Happiness bonus content available exclusively on Substack and Medium.

<![CDATA[ <p>When you look around your space, what do you see? Is there a corner that seems a bit overcrowded? Is there a pile you’ve been meaning to tackle but can’t find the right time? Would you perhaps enjoy parking your car in the garage for extra comfort on cold, rainy days? To discover how we can all make space for joy, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with declutter queen, Tracy McCubbin.

Tracy is the founder of dClutterly, a business that helps people find joy in removing all the ‘stuff’ that no longer brings them joy. She shares the 5-minute decluttering challenge and how she helps people save money, organize, and flourish.

To learn more, visit www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com.

<![CDATA[ <p>What drives some people to take on circumstances they wouldn't choose for themselves to help those in need, speak for those who don't have a voice, or follow integrity toward the righteous path? Where does the spark of courage come from?

To illuminate what gives us inner grit, grace, and the power of courage, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the bishop and spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C., Mariann Edgar Budde.

Bishop Mariann reflects on the inspiration behind the writing of her book, How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, and shares words of encouragement for those who remain sturdy and resilient when faced with circumstances beyond their control.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Nutrafol— Offers hair wellness from within. Use promo code HARVESTING to save $10 off your first month's subscription + free shipping (US only) at www.nutrafol.com.

To learn more, visit www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com.

<![CDATA[ <p>The fast pace of today’s world can make us feel frantic and disconnected from our experiences. It has become too easy to focus on the expectations of others and succumb to fear-based motivations. Do simple tools exist to bring us back to peace-of-mind? Or, does everything have to be a struggle?

To understand how we can reclaim calm in this tumultuous world, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with meditation teacher and award-winning writer and journalist, Dr. Danny Penman.

Danny shares the latest neuroscience research findings and the meditations in his latest book, Deeper Mindfulness: The New Way to Rediscover Calm in a Chaotic World, which he co-authored with Dr. Mark Williams. He describes Feeling Tone mindfulness tools that help reduce stress, anger, and depression.

This episode is proudly sponsored by

OUAI— Offers beauty boosting head to toe self-care rituals. Visit www.theouai.com and use code HH to get 15% off of your entire purchase.

Skims— Offers the next generation of underwear, loungewear, and shapewear for every body. Get free shipping on orders over $75 all at www.skims.com.

To learn more, visit www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com.

<![CDATA[ <p>Study after study suggests that human brain development is greatly diminished by the use of digital media. One such study shows that for every hour of media a child consumes per day under the age of three, the risk of ADHD at age seven goes up by 10%. As new technologies, including AI, emerge, what can be done to protect mental health and brain development against them?

For insights about the effect of technology on neurodynamics, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with a leader in the fields of social and consumer neuroscience, Psychiatrist Dr. Carl D. Marci.

Dr. Marci shares research about the effects of social media and new technologies on a developing brain and unpacks the central tenets of his newest book, REWIRED: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age.

This episode is proudly sponsored by

Skims— Offers the next generation of underwear, loungewear, and shapewear for every body. Get free shipping on orders over $75 all at www.skims.com.

To learn more, visit www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com.

<![CDATA[ <p>The practice of meditation was developed in Asia by monks over two and a half thousand years ago. Their practices offered them an understanding of their own consciousness en route to enlightenment. Today amidst a barrage of technological distractions and uncertainty about the practice, meditation is elusive for many.

If there was a streamlined process for the practice of meditation that took people out of their mind maps could we better understand our personal experiences? For tips on how to achieve a clearer mind and a better life, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with Dr. Richard Dixey, a biophysicist, lifelong student of Buddhism, and author. He shares his philosophy and asserts that meditation is a basic life skill that should be practiced in schools. Richard’s book, Three Minutes a Day: A Fourteen-Week Course to Learn Meditation and Transform Your Life, offers a new way of understanding the age-old practice of meditation.

To learn more, visit www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com.

<![CDATA[ <p>Long-term partnerships can be one of life’s greatest achievements. But couples who have been together for many years, may succumb to bad habits that inhibit the growth of a healthy relationship. These bad habits, with some awareness and problem resolution skills, can alter the trajectory of a relationship and increase the joy derived from it for both partners.

To discover the do’s and don’ts of mentally muscular couples, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with psychotherapist, and international bestselling author of six books on mental strength, Amy Morin.

Amy shares the research and findings collected for her book, 13 Things Mentally Strong Couples Don't Do: Fix What's Broken, Develop Healthier Patterns, and Grow Stronger Together.

This episode is proudly sponsored by

HelloFresh—Offers farm-fresh meal kits designed to make life easier and happier. Get 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months at www.hellofresh.com/hhfree

OUAI— Offers beauty boosting head to toe self-care rituals. Visit www.theouai.com and use code HH to get 15% off of your entire purchase.

To learn more, visit www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com.

<![CDATA[ <p>Psychedelic compounds have been used for thousands of years in spiritual and healing rituals. Today, the experiences induced by the compounds produce an opportunity for modern healers to guide patients into releasing trauma and building a new mindset. But how qualified are the current shamans and guides to lead trauma therapy sessions with non-regulated psychedelic drugs?

And are the drugs essential to healing trauma, or can healing be achieved solely through enlightenment? To gather information from someone who in the name of scientific research, has first-hand knowledge of multiple psychedelics, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with clinical neuropsychologist and author Andy Mitchell.

After meeting a stranger who recommended a mind trip, Andy set out on a journey of using psychedelics for scientific research. The details of his forty trips in sixty days became the foundation of his book, Ten Trips: The New Reality of Psychedelics. Andy shares the elements of his most powerful trip and some of the mind-blowing experiences psychedelics have gifted him during his journey..

This episode is proudly sponsored by

Skims— Offers the next generation of underwear, loungewear, and shapewear for every body. Get free shipping on orders over $75 all at www.skims.com.

Nutrafol— Offers hair wellness from within. Use promo code HARVESTING to save $10 off your first month's subscription + free shipping (US only) at www.nutrafol.com.

To learn more, visit www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com.

<![CDATA[ <p>Happiness is a by-product of our life journey, not a destination. When we are able to acknowledge happiness in simple moments, we release life’s pressure valve and allow ourselves to be the best we can be without self-judgment.

But how much of our true nature gets lost as we fabricate our amalgamated identities?Our value lies not in our ability to achieve goals or quotas. Our value is inherent. We wake up every day worthy of living the life we want. To hear from someone who has capitalized on her value, Positive Psychology Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with podcast host, speaker, and author Nicole Walters about inherent worthiness.

Nicole shares the core principles from her book, Nothing is Missing: A Memoir of Living Boldly, how young people can capitalize on their value, and the beauty of finding happiness in moments.

To learn more, visit www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com.

<![CDATA[ <p>When we are truly curious about why things happen and why others do what they do, our judgment is suspended. We begin to gain empathy for the plight of others which opens our own lives up to deeper experiences, textured understandings, and richer lives. But paying attention in a world full of distractions is becoming a lost art.

To discover the many ways expanding our observation can serve humanity, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with the co-founder of the consulting firm ReD Associates, Christian Madsbjerg.

Christian is a speaker and author of the book, Look: How to Pay Attention in a Distracted World. He describes the beauty of hyper-reflection, provides tips for regaining our ever-decreasing skill of observation, and shares how stepping away from digital devices can revitalize our senses.

To learn more, visit www.harvestinghappinesstalkradio.com.