Everyday Better with Leah Smart

Dr Tara Swart is a neuroscientist, leadership adviser and best selling author. She works with executives and leaders all over the world to help them achieve mental resilience and peak brain performance, helping them to manage stress, regulate emotions and retain information. Her scientific knowledge and expertise helps people optimize their brain health and achieve their full potential. Tara joins Leah to discuss the brain-body connection and the importance of emotional well-being. She explains how chronic stress can impact the brain and body, leading to physical and mental health issues, and emphasizes the power of intention and visualization in shaping our brain's interpretation of reality.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Tara Swart on LinkedIn

Dacher Keltner, founding director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and author of "Awe: The Nature of Awe and the Power to Transform Your Life”, joins Leah Smart to discuss the transformative power of awe and its impact on our minds and bodies. They explore the profound effects of awe on personal growth, well-being, and social connection, and offer practical strategies for cultivating awe in everyday life to lead a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dacher Keltner on LinkedIn

Lynne Twist is a renowned writer, speaker, and global activist who has worked with influential figures such as Buckminster Fuller, Mother Teresa, and the Dalai Lama over the course of her career. She’s also the author of the groundbreaking book "The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life", which encourages readers to adopt a new philosophy on money that’s rooted in sufficiency and purpose. Lynne joins Leah Smart to explore the toxic myths of scarcity and discuss how to adopt a new money philosophy. She shares her personal journey of untangling from a mindset of affluence and discovering the power of sufficiency, and emphasizes the importance of connecting our financial resources to the deepest commitments of our souls in order to live a life of purpose and service.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Lynne Twist on LinkedIn

Michelle Thaller serves as the Assistant Director for Science Communication at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, where she has dedicated over two decades to sharing the wonders of science with audiences worldwide. Michelle’s journey is marked by resilience, as she shares stories of grief after losing her husband. As a scientist, she goes beyond facts and theories, seeking connections that infuse our existence with deeper meaning. Michelle joins Leah Smart to emphasize the importance of intentionality in our lives, and why being in awe is the key to everyday life. According to her, the universe grants us just one chance to see the world through our own eyes, urging us to live purposefully and consciously. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Learn More about Michelle Thaller

Bonnie Wan is a globally-renowned career brand strategist and the author of "The Life Brief: A Playbook for No Regrets Living." She is passionate about helping people uncover their true desires and show up authentically, and believes deeply in the power of intention to propel personal and professional growth. Bonnie joins Leah Smart to explain the concept of a life brief, which is a tool for getting clear on what you want and how you want to show up in various areas of your life. She highlights the importance of wanting in driving personal growth and creativity, the value of self-reflection, and the role privilege plays in shaping our desires. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Bonnie Wan on LinkedIn Read More on The Life Brief

We’re dedicating Black History Month to Black voices who inspire excellence in all of us. You're going to hear honest stories and guidance from four women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence.This is our final episode of our four-part series. Dr. Mariel Buqué is a trauma psychologist and author of the book "Break the Cycle." With over a decade of experience in the field, Dr. Buqué specializes in healing intergenerational trauma and helping people rewrite their narratives. She is dedicated to making trauma healing accessible to all and empowering individuals to create positive change in their lives. Dr. Buqué joins Leah Smart to discuss the impact of trauma and how it is passed down through generations. She explains that trauma is not limited to major events but can also result from everyday traumatic experiences. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and acknowledging trauma in order to begin the healing process, and also provides practical tools and practices for healing, which can help regulate the nervous system and promote better stress responses Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Mariel Buqué on LinkedIn Learn More on Break The Cycle

February is Black History Month so we’re dedicating it to Black voices who inspire excellence. In this four-part series, you'll hear women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence. This week Hello Monday’s Jessi Hempel hosts Everyday Better podcast host Leah Smart, to reflect on her career journey and the roadblocks she has overcome to reach her current position at LinkedIn. She shares her experiences of navigating through different roles, making difficult decisions, and trusting her gut instincts. Leah discusses the importance of finding purpose in work, managing anxiety, and embracing personal growth. She also highlights the power of synchronicity and the role it has played in her career. Through her story, Leah encourages listeners to trust themselves, be open to new opportunities, and set conditions for personal and professional success. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn

February is Black History Month. We're dedicating it to Black voices who inspire excellence. In this four-part series, you're going to hear honest stories and guidance from four women who advocate for chasing your own version of excellence. This week Leah Smart sits down to talk with beloved Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin about trusting that everything that’s for you will come exactly when it’s supposed to, how to keep showing up when life doesn’t go your way, and the internal “drumbeat” we can all follow.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Tunde Oyeneyin on Instagram

This is the final episode of our series, “The Better Blueprint for Your 2024,” focused on spiritual health. Dr. Deepak Chopra, a pioneer in blending Eastern wisdom with Western medicine, joins Leah Smart to talk about his 94th book, 'The Quantum Body: The New Science of Living a Longer, Healthier, More Vital Life.' In it, Dr. Chopra, along with physicist Jack Tuszynski and endocrinologist Brian Furtig, explores the world of quantum science and its potential to transform well-being, potentially eradicating disease and helping us live healthier for longer. In this conversation, Dr. Chopra shares innovative research and prescriptive exercises aimed at enhancing our understanding of how to improve spiritual well-being. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Deepak Chopra on LinkedIn

John and Julie Gottman are top relationship researchers, psychologists, and the power couple behind the new book, “Fight Right." They joined Leah Smart to share eye-opening perspectives on conflict management and resolution. We’re all familiar with those tense moments at home or office disagreements. The Gottmans reveal that these aren't just hurdles to overcome; they're valuable opportunities to strengthen bonds with family, colleagues, and even yourself. The Gottmans highlight the transformative power of the simple shift from criticizing to making complaints, give their take on and reveal the three styles of handling conflict that can change your perspective on disagreements. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn  Follow The Gottman Institute on LinkedIn Listen to the previous conversation with The Gottmans

Annie Grace is the author of "This Naked Mind" and an educator on changing your relationship with alcohol, and offers a unique approach to understanding and transforming our subconscious beliefs and habits. Annie joins Leah Smart to discuss the concept of liminal thinking and how it can be applied to change our relationship with any behavior we want to transform. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity and self-compassion in this process. By examining our beliefs and experimenting with new behaviors, we can make informed choices that align with our well-being goals.  Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Annie Grace on LinkedIn Read more about "This Naked Mind"

This is the first episode of our four-part series, The Better Blueprint for Your 2024, focused on training your mind by building stronger internal resources. Dr. Michael Gervais is a high-performance psychologist who has worked with top athletes, sports teams, Olympians, and executives and is the author of Finding Mastery. He joins Leah Smart to unravel the concept of FOPO (Fear of Other People's Opinions), teaching practical strategies to stop worrying about external judgments. Michael shares the principles of high performance and shows listeners how to define a personal philosophy they can live by every day.   Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Micheal Gervais on LinkedIn Read more about The Fist Rule of Mastery

Daron K. Roberts is a former NFL & college coach and the founding director of the Center for Sports Leadership and Innovation at the University of Texas. In this conversation Leah and Daron talk about the abundant opportunity in the emerging creator economy and embracing discomfort as a professional growth tactic. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Daron K. Roberts on Linkedin

The Danish prepare for their cold, dark winters by leaning into hygge, which loosely translates to “coziness.” To understand how hygge and happiness are linked, Leah sits down with Meik Wiking, founder and CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen – and author of the books The Little Book of Hygge and the new My Hygge Home. They dive into the art of hygge and how connection – and simple pleasures – are key to happiness. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Meik Wiking on LinkedIn

Almost everyone has experienced burnout in the past few years – and if you didn’t personally, you probably know someone who did. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that results and hyperproductivity define our value. But what if resting is actually the key to maintaining an ambitious life? Author Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith joins Leah to dig in to the 7 (yes, 7!) different types of rest, and why we need to reframe how we think about taking a break and taking care of ourselves. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Saundra on LinkedIn

Dr. Wendy Suzuki, dean at New York University, neuroscientist and professor of neural science and psychology returns to talk about everyday anxiety as it relates to social experiences. She emphasizes the importance of putting in effort to build social connections despite your nerves and offers tips for overcoming everyday social anxiety from her book “Good Anxiety.” Instead of fearing imperfections and awkward moments in social interactions, Dr. Suzuki encourages us to expect them.Ultimately, she says anxiety is a tool for learning and growth that helps us appreciate the contrast between negative and positive experiences. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Dr. Wendy Suzuki on LinkedIn Read more about Good Anxiety

Shasta Nelson, an expert on friendship and healthy relationships and Author of Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Health and Happiness, sits down with Leah Smart to dive into the three components every relationship needs to be healthy and how to nurture connections that truly last. Follow Leah on LinkedIn Follow Shasta on LinkedIn

Sara Kuburic aka “The Millennial Therapist” and author of the book 'It's On Me', joins Leah Smart to discuss the experience of navigating from self-loss to self-discovery. Sara reflects on the shared human experience of living non-linear paths filled with surprises and discoveries. As someone whose self-loss was instigated by living through the trauma of multiple wars, she emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for our own lives. Sara gives practical insights and tools for making genuine choices and finding meaning along the way. Follow Leah Smart on LinkedIn Follow Sara Kuburic on LinkedIn Learn more about “It’s On Me” here

Paco de Leon is the founder of the Hell Yeah Group and the author of "Finance for the People." With a background in finance and personal financial planning, Paco is on a mission to help people improve their relationship with money and find their own power. Paco joins Leah Smart to discuss how to make progress with money, and why we need to confront our own beliefs and behaviors around it. She emphasizes that knowledge alone is not enough and that we must challenge our limiting beliefs and recognize our own power. Follow Leah Smart on LinkendIn  Follow Paco de Leon on LinkedIn Learn more about the Hell Yeah Group

April Rinne is a futurist, author, and change navigator. She is a world economic correspondent, a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, and was ranked one of the top 50 leading female futurists in the world by Forbes. April helps individuals and organizations navigate change and uncertainty, and she is the author of the book "Flux." April joins Leah Smart live from Linkedin’s Talent Connect to discuss how to navigate uncertainty and live with more ease. She shares how her personal story of loss, and love for language and culture shaped her work in helping others handle the unknown. April encourages us to see ourselves and the world differently by embracing uncertainty and choosing optimism. Follow Leah Smart on Linkedin Follow April Rinne on LinkedIn Learn more about April Rinne Get April's Book "Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change."