The Happier Life Project

We spend so much of our lives trying to stay in control. We plan for the future, strive to make the right decisions, and do everything we can to protect ourselves and the people we love from uncertainty, disappointment and pain. Yet despite having more control over our lives than ever before, many of us feel increasingly anxious, overwhelmed and afraid of getting things wrong. What if our relentless pursuit of control is actually making us less happy? And what might happen if, instead of holding on tighter, we learned how to let go? In this episode of The Happier Life Project, host Gabby Sanderson is joined by Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist, professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and bestselling author of Dopamine Nation, to explore the ideas behind her new book, Radical Surrender: Letting Go in a World Addicted to Control.  As Medical Director of Stanford Addiction Medicine, Programme Director of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, Dr. Anna has spent decades researching and treating mental illness and addiction. The recipient of numerous awards for her research, teaching and clinical innovation, she draws on both her professional expertise and deeply personal experiences of grief and loss to challenge our modern obsession with controlling every aspect of our lives, and explain why surrendering to uncertainty may be one of the most powerful things we can do for our mental and emotional wellbeing. Anna introduces the concept of pathological control, exploring how our attempts to manage situations, outcomes and even other people's behaviour can become a source of suffering. She reflects on the devastating loss of her infant son, Lucas, and how her experience of grief confronted her with the limits of control. The conversation also explores what Anna calls our culture of endemic narcissism, how our preoccupation with ourselves and our digital lives can disconnect us from the world around us, and why genuine connection, compassion and meaning often emerge when we stop trying to engineer every outcome. But radical surrender isn't about giving up, abandoning responsibility or simply accepting whatever life throws at us. Anna explains how surrender can be understood as a spiritual practice without requiring religious belief, and shares the three pillars of a surrendered life: reconnecting with ourselves, with other people and with the world around us. From navigating difficult relationships and learning to tolerate uncertainty to repairing mistakes and finding the courage to do the next right thing, she offers a different way of approaching life's inevitable challenges. Ultimately, this is a conversation about loosening our grip on how we think life should unfold, recognising what we can and cannot control, and discovering that some of life's most meaningful moments are the ones we could never have planned. To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself Dr Lembke’s new book Radical Surrender: Letting Go in a World Addicted to Control is out now (Headline Press £22)

Sound has the power to shape our emotions, influence how we feel in our bodies, and offer new ways to process experiences that can be difficult to put into words. From the music that brings memories rushing back to the sound of the natural world, we are constantly responding to what we hear. But what happens when we begin to work with sound more consciously? And how might our own voices help us understand our emotions and reconnect with ourselves? In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby Sanderson is joined by Jasmin Harsono, an intuitive wellness guide, multi-sensory artist, author and founder of Emerald and Tiger, for an exploration of sound healing, the power of the voice, and the relationship between sound and emotional wellbeing. With more than 15 years of experience across meditation, Reiki, sound healing and other wellbeing practices, Jasmin has developed an approach that brings together ancient rituals and contemporary living. Her work has been shaped by a lifelong relationship with music and sound, as well as personal experiences of grief and trauma. The author of Self Reiki, published by DK, Jasmin has collaborated with organisations including the BBC and was invited to open Glastonbury Festival’s Woodsies Tree Stage in 2024 with a live audiovisual sound meditation. Her second book, The Power of Sound and Voice, explores the transformative potential of sound and vocal practices and is published by Hachette on 5 November 2026. Jasmin reflects on how sound became a language through which she could understand her feelings from an early age, and how her own search for healing eventually led her towards Reiki and energy work. She explains her perspective on the relationship between sound, vibration and the body, exploring why music, voice and different soundscapes can evoke such powerful emotional responses, and why our experiences of sound are deeply personal. Host Gabby and Jasmin also explore the voice as a tool for emotional expression and self-connection. From the sounds we make instinctively to the words we choose to speak, Jasmin considers how becoming more aware of our voices can help us recognise and express what we are feeling. She shares her seven steps to unlocking the power of the voice, alongside simple practices involving breath, sighing and humming that listeners can experiment with in their own lives. The conversation also looks at the role of sound in relaxation and deep rest, including its relationship with the nervous system and different states of awareness. Jasmin discusses the importance of intention in sound healing, why there is no single approach that works for everyone, and how to find practices that feel supportive rather than overwhelming. Whether you're curious about sound healing or simply want to understand yourself a little better, this conversation invites you to pay closer attention to the sounds that surround you, the voice you carry within you, and the ways sound might help you feel more present, connected and in tune with your emotional world.   To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself For all things Jasmin Harsono: https://bio.link/emeraldandtiger Emerald and Tiger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emeraldandtiger Jasmin Harsono Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminharsono/ To purchase The Power of Sound and Voice book: https://linktr.ee/ThePowerofSoundandvoice  

When life gets difficult, many of us find ourselves searching for answers, reassurance, or simply a sense that we're not alone. We might turn to Tarot cards, seek guidance from a psychic, or wonder whether it's possible to connect with someone we've lost. But what are we really looking for in these experiences? And how do we make sense of the things we can't always explain? In this Halloween-week episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby Sanderson is joined by Linda Rauch, an internationally recognised psychic medium, Tarot reader, Wiccan priestess and author of the bestselling memoir The Psychic's Way, for a thought-provoking exploration of spirituality, intuition, and our search for connection, comfort and meaning. With more than 40 years of experience reading Tarot, Linda draws on her lifelong relationship with the unseen world. Using Halloween as a starting point, she explains the true meaning of Samhain, the ancient Gaelic festival marking the transition from autumn into winter. Traditionally associated with honouring the dead, Samhain is rooted in the belief that the boundary between the living and spirit worlds becomes thinner at this time of year. This opens the door to a wider conversation about spirit communication, as Linda shares her perspective on the possibility of connecting with loved ones who have passed and why these experiences can feel so significant for those who have them. Host Gabby and Linda explore the relationship between love, grief and consciousness, and consider why experiences that challenge our understanding of the world can hold such profound meaning. From spiritual guides and synchronicities to questions about the soul and what may exist beyond physical life, Linda reflects on some of the mysteries that have fascinated humanity for centuries. This isn’t a conversation about proving or disproving psychic abilities. It's about understanding why people seek these experiences, what they find in them, and how to approach them with both openness and critical thought. Linda discusses the ethics of mediumship, how to recognise a genuine spiritual practitioner, and the importance of developing our intuition while remaining discerning about the guidance we choose to trust. She also talks about the idea of living at a higher vibration, including how the people we spend time with, the environments we inhabit, and the choices we make can influence our energy and overall sense of wellbeing. It's an invitation to reflect on what helps us feel connected, grounded and resilient, particularly during life's more uncertain moments. Whether you're drawn to spirituality, curious about the unexplained, or simply interested in why we seek reassurance and meaning during difficult times, this conversation invites you to approach life's mysteries with curiosity, openness and a healthy sense of discernment. Disclaimer: This episode explores spiritual beliefs and personal experiences relating to mediumship, Tarot and spirit communication. The views expressed are those of the guest and do not constitute medical or mental health advice, nor are they a substitute for professional support. If you are struggling with grief or your mental health, please seek support from a qualified medical professional. To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself Linda Rauch’s Website: https://www.lindarauchmedium.com/ To sign up to Linda’s Witchcraft & Magic Masterclass live course: https://www.lindarauchtraining.com/witchcraft-masterclass-uk To book a reading with Linda: https://calendly.com/lindarauch Linda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindarauchmedium Linda’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindarauchmedium Linda’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindarauchmedium

Have you ever dreamed about someone you’ve lost and woken up feeling as though you’d truly spent time together again? Perhaps they were laughing, healthy and completely themselves, or perhaps the dream was harder, full of searching, illness or a goodbye you never got to say. In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby is joined by Dr. Joshua Black to explore one of the most mysterious, comforting and sometimes painful parts of grief: dreams about the people we’ve lost. Joshua is a grief and bereavement researcher, speaker, educator and host of the Grief Dreams Podcast. He holds a master’s degree and a PhD in Psychology, and his research has explored dreams and waking experiences of deceased loved ones, continuing bonds, bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and bereavement in the context of homelessness. He is also the co-director and co-producer of the documentary No Fixed Address: The White Cart Memorial, which sheds light on grief among people experiencing homelessness, and is dedicated to raising awareness of the needs of bereaved people who may not have access to support and resources after a loss. Gabby and Joshua begin with the basics: what grief dreams actually are, how common they are, and why our minds might bring a relationship back to us while we sleep. Joshua shares the personal experience that first drew him to this work, a dream about his dad that became a turning point, and reflects on what years of research and conversations with bereaved people have taught him. He also shares a surprising finding from his research: dreams of deceased loved ones are often positive, bringing feelings of comfort, love and connection. The conversation turns to visitation dreams and the big questions that come with them. Are these experiences visits from the people we’ve lost, or the mind finding its own way to process grief? Joshua explains how he approaches this question as a researcher while honouring how profound these experiences can feel, and explores what difficult dreams and nightmares might reveal about grief, including the relationship between trauma and our experiences of loss. Gabby and Joshua also discuss continuing bonds, the idea that our relationships with loved ones don’t end when they die but change shape. They explore how grief research has moved away from the old belief that healthy grieving means detaching and letting go, and what can happen when we try to suppress, avoid or deny our grief. This is a warm, honest and deeply human conversation about grief, dreams and the enduring nature of love. Because losing someone doesn't mean losing the bond we share with them. Sometimes, that connection finds its way back to us in our dreams. Whether you're curious about the psychology of dreams, trying to make sense of an experience of your own, or hoping to better understand grief and the people around you, this episode is for you. To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself Joshua’s Website: https://www.griefdreams.ca/ Joshua’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griefdreams Listen to The Grief Dreams Podcast with Dr. Joshua Black in all the usual podcast places.

What does it mean when ideas about gender that once seemed to belong to the past begin gaining momentum again? From the manosphere and looksmaxxing culture to the growing popularity of tradwife content, social media is filled with increasingly rigid ideas about what men and women should look like, how they should behave, and what their relationships and lives should be. But beneath the aesthetics and carefully curated videos are deeper questions about identity, belonging, certainty, power and our psychological wellbeing. In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby speaks to Anda Solea, a Senior Lecturer in Cybercrime and PhD Candidate at the University of Portsmouth, and a Fellow of the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism. Anda researches how extremist ideologies and online subcultures are disseminated and normalised through social media, specialising in incels, looksmaxxers and manosphere influencers, and the role of short-form content in spreading misinformation, propaganda, online radicalisation and gender-based violence. Together, Gabby and Anda explore why momentum is building around these ideas, why an idealised version of the past can feel increasingly appealing, and how social media algorithms can take seemingly harmless content and lead people towards increasingly rigid or extreme worldviews. They look at the psychological pressures created by looksmaxxing and incel culture, including appearance, masculinity, rejection and dehumanisation, as well as the appeal of tradwife culture and its promise of traditional femininity, domesticity and clearly defined gender roles. But this conversation isn't only about the people who come to believe these ideas. What happens to our mental health when we're repeatedly exposed to them without necessarily buying into them? How can they affect our self-worth, relationships, expectations of other people and understanding of gender? And as debates around misogyny, gender, power and sexual violence continue to play out both online and in the real world, what can we do to challenge harmful narratives, build healthier communities and protect our psychological wellbeing? Tune in to explore whether these seemingly opposing movements are responding to some of the same underlying psychological needs, and what their growing popularity reveals about the world we live in. To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself For more on Anda and her research: https://www.port.ac.uk/about-us/structure-and-governance/our-people/our-staff/anda-solea